Sage Steele was harshly compared to Stacey Dash for their views that have alienated the Black community. (ESPN headshot/Gilles Toucas)
Sage Steele is out at ESPN as the host of “NBA Countdown” and has been replaced by Michelle Beadle, much to the delight of Black Twitter.
The sports network announced Beadle, who hosts ESPN2’s SportsNation, will take over “NBA Countdown” on ESPN and ABC as full-time host and she’ll cover NBA pregame and halftime shows in the process. Beadle will take on the remaining regular-season ESPN and ABC episodes of “NBA Countdown,” which she joined in October, including the upcoming season finale Saturday, April 8.
“The only thing better than working for [producers] Connor Schell and Kevin Wildes is being able to spend each day with all of the incredibly talented people at ‘NBA Countdown’ and ‘SportsNation,'” Beadle said in a Tuesday, April 4, press release. “It’s the best job in sports. Did I mention that [San Antonio Spurs forward] Kawhi Leonard is the MVP of the league?”
Wildes sang Beadle’s praises in the press release, saying “It’s very rare to find a commentator who can so masterfully combine intelligence, candor and humor …”
The shakeup means Steele, who was not acknowledged in the press release, will likely be axed from ESPN’s NBA coverage. She hasn’t remarked publicly on the revelation and her last tweet linked to a Monday, April 3, Instagram post remarking on Final Four coverage. Steele should remain onboard as host of ESPN’s “SportsCenter on the Road.”
Twitter didn’t keep quiet on the report and many celebrated Steele’s termination after she blamed Black people for a supposed lack of community unity and proclaimed she experienced the “worst racism” from Black people.
Some compared the situation to when Stacy Dash, who notably bashed the necessity of Black History Month and BET, was fired as a Fox News contributor.
Sage Steele looking at Stacey Dash in unemployment pic.twitter.com/0olx1kW9Bq
— Cornelius Trillmore (@TChalla_Jones) April 4, 2017
Sage Steele & Stacey Dash both unemployed. Let that be a lesson 2 Toms: Your shelf lives R very limited, unless U get a lifetime SCOTUS seat
— Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) April 4, 2017
Sage Steele and Stacey Dash at the unemployment line right now like this.. pic.twitter.com/ta67JPMTr3
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) April 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/rodimusprime/status/849328285347721216
Stacey Dash, Sage Steele, and Tomi Lahren got fired bill orielly going through a scandal now we just gotta get Trump impeached 👍🏾
— Mawkees 🪮 (@QuesTheGenius) April 4, 2017
Others took delight in Steele’s job loss, poking fun at her circumstance.
Sage Steele got fired!? pic.twitter.com/cXklAOMAto
— Stormtrooper Union Rep (@FN_2123) April 4, 2017
Sage Steele at the unemployment office tomorrow 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/tjyW5WW7LR
— The Mermaid 🧜🏾♀️ (@AuriTheMermaid) April 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/Smartguygemini/status/849296640892645377
Sage Steele got fired on her day off pic.twitter.com/7nC1XHGGTo
— Wholesome Hokage (@JustJayBBK) April 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/jayserius/status/849276586247557121
