ESPN has issued a short statement after a barrage of criticism over a report discussing if the NFL’s first openly-gay player showers with his teammates.
Sports network ESPN came under fire yesterday for an on-camera report that included a conversation between an anchor and a reporter discussing whether or not Michael Sam showers with his teammates.Â
This was a planned segment. As ESPN anchor Jay Crawford starts to mention “roster cuts,” an on-screen chyron reads: “How Michael Sam is fitting in with teammates.”
Crawford then “casually” asks reporter Josina Anderson, “How is he fitting in with his Rams teammates so far?”
Clearly, Anderson was well-prepared for the planned segment, reporting that while one defensive player told her Michael Sam is feeling his way on the team, trying to figure out with whom he can relate. But Anderson also had reports from other players.Â
“Another Rams defensive player told me,” Anderson said, “that ‘Sam is respecting our space’ and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable.”
Anderson also had spoken with two other players who “weren’t tracking” when Sam showers.
Watch:
Meanwhile, St. Rams defensive end Chris Long offered this response to ESPN:
Dear ESPN, Everyone but you is over it.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) August 26, 2014
ESPN first tried to wiggle out of the offensive “report.”
“In response to recent questions about Sam fitting in with the team, the Rams brought up the shower topic and we relayed that information as part of our reporting,” ESPN spokesperson Josh Krulewitz told Outsports’ Cyd Zeigler.
Calling ESPN’s report “pathetic,” Zeigler added:
No one has reported any issues about Sam and being around his teammates. In fact, many of the Rams players seem to be embracing him. Chris Long for one has made it a point to give Sam pointers. When he sacked Johnny Manziel in their latest preseason game agains the Cleveland Browns, the Rams sideline erupted. Many players have openly supported him, as has the coaching staff and front office.
Yet Anderson reduces Sam to a side show who has to tiptoe around the showers. Pathetic.
Finally, today, ESPN published a two-sentence statement about the report.
“ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report. Clearly on Tuesday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports.”
Ziegler also offered this more personal commentary:
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Image of Michael Sam via his Instagram account
Hat tip: Think Progress and NY Daily News
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