NEWS
Woke’ ESPN accused of firing NFL anchor Sam Ponder for her stance on trans athletes – including controversial Olympics boxer Imane Khelif
ESPN is accused of firing NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder over her criticism of trans women in sports and Olympic boxer Imane Khelif.
‘So ESPN fires @samponder, the only woman at the network who [has] publicly said men don’t belong in women’s sports 3 weeks before football season?’ former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines wrote on X, echoing comments from many others.
‘Pathetic… The woke media just got woker,’ one person responded. ‘It’s why ESPN is failing.’
The 38-year-old Ponder is being released two years into her three-year, $3 million deal, but will receive her full salary
Ponder recently posted a comment on X about the gender controversy surrounding Khelif, a women’s boxer accused of having XY chromosomes.
‘XY= male XX= female,’ Ponder wrote.
Imane Khelif is a biological woman and if you want to protect our daughters, you should protect her,’ Griffin wrote on X about Khelif, who won gold at the Paris Olympics. ‘If you don’t do the research to find the truth, then we should be protected from you.’
Griffin’s dismissal led to similar suspicions that ESPN fired him over his opinion on Khelif.
‘Did ESPN fire RG3 for this piece on Imane Khelif?’ asked journalist Chuck Modi on X. ‘Or something else?’
Ponder wasn’t the only ESPN personality to question the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Khelif to compete as a woman.
Long-time college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was asked on X if ‘men belong in women’s sports,’ to which he replied: ‘Of course not. Ridiculous question.’
Herbstreit has not been fired or publicly reprimanded by the network over the comment, which Ponder applauded online.
Ponder has not spoken publicly about her dismissal.
ESPN declined to speak about Ponder or Griffin’s departure when contacted by DailyMail.com.
Ponder previously weighed in on the issue in May of 2023 on social media.
Responding to a social media post by Gaines, Ponder wrote: ‘I barely said anything publicly abt this issue & I’ve had so many ppl msg me, stop me in the street to say thank you+ tell me stories abt girls who are afraid to speak up for fear of lost employment/being called hateful.
An outspoken Christian and Liberty University graduate, Ponder is the wife of former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder. The couple has three children.
Gaines, meanwhile, is a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been a critic of trans women in sports since tying trans swimmer Lia Thomas for fifth in the 200-meter freestyle final at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
(Armani)
NEWS
Beverly Hills Cop’ actor John Ashton dead at 76 after battle with…see more
Beverly Hills Cop” star John Ashton has died. He was 76.
The actor passed away “peacefully” in Ft. Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Page Six confirms. TMZ reports he died after a battle with cancer.
“John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication and service,” his rep Alan Somers told us in a statement.
His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, as well as his brother, sisters, his extended family and all who loved him,” the statement continued.
John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”
Ashton is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye.
He was the father of two children, Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton, and three stepchildren. His grandson, Henry, “held a cherished place in his heart.”
He filmed over 200 movies during his 50 years in Hollywood and was well known for his role as Sergeant John Taggart in the 1984 movie “Beverly Hills Cop” with Eddie Murphy.
Ashton recently reprised his role in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” which was released on Netflix in July.
In June, he attended the film’s premiere at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Massachusetts native also starred in the 1988 film “Midnight Run” alongside Robert De Niro and in John Hughes’ 1987 comedy, “Some Kind of Wonderful.”
During a break from acting, he co-hosted the “Ashton and Davis Show” on ESPN Radio.
(Armani)
NEWS
Baseball icon Ozzie Virgil Sr – the first Dominican to ever play in MLB – dead of…see more
Ozzie Virgil Sr, the first Dominican to ever play in the MLB, has died.
He was 92 years old.
Virgil Sr. began his nine-year career in 1956 with the Giants (then of New York), who remembered him on Sunday with a tribute on X.
He later spent time with the Tigers, Athletics, Orioles and Pirates before wrapping up his career back with the Giants in separate stints in 1966 and 1969.
The MLB wrote on its official X account that it was ‘deeply saddened’ to learn of his passing.
Our thoughts are with his son, two-time All-Star catcher Ozzie Virgil Jr., and the rest of the Virgil family,’ they wrote.
Virgil’s presence in the MLB opened the door for many other Dominican players to follow suit.
Today, Dominican players make up 9.83% of all MLB rosters according to World Population Review – the highest figure of any country other than the USA.
Virgil served as a utility player in the big leagues and had a career batting average of .231 with 14 home runs.
After he finished his playing career, he spent 19 years as a coach with the Giants, Expos, Padres and Mariners.
He was born in Monte Cristo, Dominican Republic on May 17, 1932.
(Armani)
NEWS
Will Taylor Swift be at Travis Kelce’s game for Chiefs-Chargers on Sunday?
Travis Kelce is back to playing NFL games in 2024, and now that Taylor Swift is off from the Eras Tour for a couple of months, she has some time when she can once again come to cheer him on at Kansas City Chiefs games. She was there for the Week 1 win and attended the Week 2 victory. She wasn’t there for the Week 3 game in Atlanta.
MORE: 8 photos of Taylor Swift having a blast at the Chiefs-Bengals game
So the question is: will she be there for the Week 4 matchup on Sunday afternoon between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Chiefs? According to our handy Taylor Swift calendar, she appears to not have anything planned that day. Which means we might see her there!
Stay tuned and we’ll see if she’s there.
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