I Don't Think ESPN Fired Sam Ponder for Conservative Politics

Also Tim Walz, Mina Kimes vs. Outkick, and COACH as propaganda

Okay, this one might be all over the place.

After Zoomer genius Vish Kumaran let me yap about the 49ers on his show last Thursday, I noticed the following headline in my Twitter/X Explore Section: ESPN Fires Ponder, Griffin III Over Views.

The Grok story summary read as follows:

ESPN has reportedly fired sports analyst Sam Ponder and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III. The decision has sparked a significant backlash online, with many expressing support for Ponder and Griffin and criticizing ESPN for what they perceive as a dismissal of women's rights in sports. Some users have called for boycotts of ESPN and its parent company, Disney, while others have expressed hope that Ponder and Griffin will take legal action against the network.

I don’t think this framing of the story, which I’ve seen elsewhere at some media outlets, is accurate. Ponder has been outspoken about keeping women’s sports biologically female, but that wasn’t the case for former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin. More to the specific point, after making some phone calls, I just don’t think Ponder’s takes have anything to do with the end of her reign as Sunday NFL Countdown host. Money is tight at ESPN/Disney, and life is hard for those who aren’t doing more than one role. So no, I don’t believe activist Riley Gaines’ contention that the ouster is “not a coincidence.” That said, I understand the general conservative complaint about how there’s been a political double standard at ESPN, where right-leaners were more frequently ostracized for their takes.