The NBA Finals begin Tuesday night! It should be a fun and epic series, as Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns host the Milwaukee Bucks in an exciting matchup that features two exciting, young teams looking to thrust themselves into the NBA’s elite.
Unfortunately, the game is be the second biggest story in the NBA, thanks to all the drama at ESPN regarding sideline reporter Rachel Nichols.
The New York Times ran a story over the weekend that contained the content of a leaked private conversation Nichols was having with the publicist for LeBron James, regarding her role as host of the ESPN NBA studio show, and the fact she was worried ESPN was giving it Maria Taylor and yanking it from her.
On the recording, one of the things she said was; “If you need to give [Taylor] more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it.
“Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away.”
Tuesday ESPN has decided to bench Nichols from the Finals, taking the sideline reporting gig from her and giving it to Malika Andrews.
The always politically correct sports network sent out a statement that accompanied their decision. “We believe this is best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals.”
Too late for that. This story has overshadowed almost everything about the game.
Again, just in case you haven’t heard, Game 1 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.
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