It is accurate that the Walt Disney Company and ESPN are committed to diversity and inclusion. These are long-standing values that drive fundamental fairness while providing us with the widest possible pool of talent to create the smartest and most creative staff. We do not view this as a political stance but as a human stance.
The consumption of highlights on ESPN is greater than everybody else's combined. Fifty-six percent of all news and information consumed in sports is consumed on the ESPN platforms.
We at ESPN like competition. It makes us better. It makes us sharper.
Brand matters. And ESPN is, by far, the most popular sports brand. People trust ESPN.
If ESPN ever kicked me out the door and I had to get back to coach, I have to stay on top of what's going on.
I did radio for a year and did some TV things, and I was already in place at ESPN before 'The Bachelorette' started.
Playing at Kentucky, before 24,000 people, you have to learn how to grow real fast and play under pressure and playing on ESPN with millions of people watching. Right away, you learn how to play under control.
Remember one thing about ESPN: People can be critical of them sometimes for being a large corporation but nine years ago I had a stroke and I couldn't talk. That's the way I made my living. ESPN could've dumped me very easy, but they didn't. They helped me and presented me an opportunity to get back on the air.
You can't buy the loyalty that ESPN has showed to me.
I reflect on my 30 years at ESPN and continue to count my blessings each time I walk on the 'College Gameday' set.
