Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele said the network deserved to be shut down for not playing the national anthem on its main channel before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in the wake of the terrorist attack in New Orleans the day before. Ta.
Steele appeared in “Outkick the Morning” And he seemed surprised that ESPN didn't play the national anthem that day, with the company claiming it was a “timing issue.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The national anthem will be played before the 2024 Sugar Bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Stephen Lu-USA TODAY Sports)
“It's so bad that I've tweeted about it and posted about it on Instagram. And I try to avoid too much centering around my former employer. That life is gone, and I'm so glad it's gone.''Charlie, I couldn't help but be grateful for that year, because for me it was a blatant decision to be absent,'' Steele told the host on Tuesday. told Outkick's Charlie Arnolt.
“You're probably a mile further away than New Orleans from where all those people were murdered on the morning of the game that was supposed to be on ESPN. And while people are suffering, you… 'I made the choice to ignore it.' Is it much bigger than football? They were defeated, and rightfully so, they didn't do it. ”
Steele said ESPN's airing of the pregame prayer last week was a response to the backlash it received at the Sugar Bowl.
sage steel (Jesse Grant/Bullseye Event Group/File via Getty Images)
ESPN prays before Cotton Bowl after backlash for not playing national anthem after terrorist attack
“So I absolutely think this was a response to that. I actually think it went too far… bring on the national anthem,” she said. “Do we need to show a prayer? And I believe that prayer was. They said it was to pray for the victims of the California fires and the terrorist attacks in New Orleans.” [We’re] I'm a little late for that. ”
“Listen, I pray every day. I pray constantly for those people. So I don't think we should focus on that,” Steele continued. “But from a business perspective, what are we doing? Just being consistent. And in this case, even if they were consistent, wouldn't that be a good thing?” I don’t think so, right? Because they’re consistent.” [would’ve] He continued to do things that were wrong for humanity. ”
(John Corduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/File)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“That's what this is. This is bigger than business, this is bigger than sports. This is about humanity, and I think that's probably what it is.” [I] I wasn't surprised by what happened at the Sugar Bowl. I was really sad and disappointed, because this is one of the many reasons ESPN as a whole isn't what it used to be. ”
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
