ESPNs

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt owes debt to Justin Thomas for Alabama basketball beating Maryland

By Elsie A. Dotson 4 weeks ago

ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt went to Maryland.

Professional golfer Justin Thomas went to Alabama.

So when Thomas appeared on “SportsCenter” with Van Pelt the night that the NCAA Tournament bracket was chosen, Van Pelt noted that Maryland and Alabama could play in the second round. The two joked about a wager on the potential game that involved Thomas’ $2.7 million purse for winning The Players Championship.

Alabama and Maryland ended up meeting Monday night in the round of 32. Alabama won comfortably, 96-77.

Van Pelt tweeted Monday night during the game, “I’m going to owe @JustinThomas34 2.7”

They settled on something more reasonable — lunch at The Masters.

Thomas replied to Van Pelt on Tuesday, “:) it’s ok. The win was enough for me. Buy me lunch at @TheMasters we’ll call it even.”

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ESPN’s Pedro Gomez Dead at 58

By Elsie A. Dotson 2 months ago

Veteran ESPN SportsCenter reporter Pedro Gomez died suddenly on Sunday. He was 58.

“We are shocked and saddened to learn that our friend and colleague Pedro Gomez has passed away,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Pedro was an elite journalist at the highest level and his professional accomplishments are universally recognized. More importantly, Pedro was a kind, dear friend to us all. Our hearts are with Pedro’s family and all who love him at this extraordinarily difficult time.”

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“Pedro was far more than a media personality,” his family said in a statement to ESPN. “He was a dad, loving husband, loyal friend, coach and mentor. He was our everything and his kids’ biggest believer.”

Gomez joined ESPN in April 2003 as a reporter based in Phoenix, serving as a correspondent on SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and other studio shows. For much of 2005

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ESPN’s latest SportsCenter shakeup sees Sage Steele move to noon ET show, Elle Duncan head to 6 p.m. ET

By Elsie A. Dotson 2 months ago

There are some further changes ahead for ESPN’s SportsCenter lineup. As per a release from ESPN’s Andy Hall Tuesday, Sage Steele (who had been co-hosting the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter alongside Kevin Neghandi since mid-2018, filling the slot previously held by Jemele Hill and Michael Smith’s SC6) will now shift to the noon Eastern SportsCenter alongside Matt Barrie after the College Football Playoff. The regular spot alongside Barrie had been held by Elle Duncan (seen at left above), who went out on maternity leave earlier this month; when she returns in February, she’s now set to join Neghandi on the 6 p.m. SC. Here’s more from that release, which also mentions that Steele (seen at right above) is set to launch a new “periodic interview program” on ESPN+:



Elle Duncan, Sage Steele posing for the camera: Elle Duncan and Sage Steele.

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Elle Duncan and Sage Steele.

Sage Steele will move to the noon ET edition

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Woj Was Giddy To Break The James Harden Trade On ESPN’s ‘NFL Live’

By Elsie A. Dotson 2 months ago

James Harden is a Brooklyn Net. And Victor Oladipo is a Houston Rocket. And Caris LeVert is an Indiana Pacer. And Jarrett Allen is a Cleveland Cavalier.

Basically, a lot happened on Wednesday afternoon in the NBA, and when something as monstrous as the four-team James Harden deal takes place, it is Adrian Wojnarowski’s job to deliver the details to the masses both on the internet and on television. Usually, Woj pops up on The Jump or SportsCenter to talk NBA gossip and break down a trade like this, but in this instance, ESPN simply cannot wait to have him explain how a deal that sends a former MVP to play with another MVP and involves eight (8) draft picks and swaps and an All-Star going from a surprise fourth team back.

As it so happens, this trade broke just as the crew from NFL Live was settling in to

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