Latest news with #SamPonder
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sam Ponder breaks silence on ESPN firing, claims transgender views and social media activity led to silent blacklisting
Sam Ponder claims her ESPN departure wasn't due to budget cuts, but rather her support for female athletes (Getty Images) More than a year after her unexpected exit from ESPN, former NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder is finally sharing the behind-the-scenes truth—and it's nothing like the 'budget cuts' explanation viewers were fed in 2023. In a candid appearance on The Sage Steele Show, Ponder claimed that her support for female athletes and her cautious views on transgender participation in women's sports led to internal pushback, quiet censorship, and ultimately, her departure. A retweet that triggered a warning and set the tone for her ESPN exit The tipping point came in July 2023, when Ponder retweeted a video of Paula Scanlan—a former teammate of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas—sharing her experience at UPenn. Ponder's comment was mild: she simply encouraged followers to 'listen.' But that act alone sparked a warning from a higher-up at ESPN. She recalled receiving a private email urging her not to 'misgender people,' which she interpreted as a veiled threat. 'I knew I was on the clock,' Ponder admitted. The network reportedly flagged more of her online activity, including a 'liked' tweet from Megyn Kelly joking that 'men don't need gynecologists.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investigadora argentina revela hallazgos sobre el magnesio Salud Esencial Leer más Undo Ponder didn't think it was controversial. 'It was just a favorite,' she said. 'I didn't think that was a big deal.' ESPN listed it as budget cuts, but Sam Ponder says her schedule wasn't the problem While ESPN cited cost-cutting as the official reason behind her departure—lumping her in with figures like Robert Griffin III—Ponder believes her limited role on Sunday NFL Countdown wasn't actually draining company resources. Instead, she feels her open support for female athletes like Riley Gaines made her an internal liability. She even mentioned avoiding coverage of Gaines during Women's History Month out of fear of backlash. 'I knew I was supposed to talk about Riley,' Ponder confessed. 'But I didn't.' Sam Ponder has no regrets: 'I wasn't trying to be controversial' Samantha Ponder Breaks Her Silence Since ESPN Firing (FIRST Interview) | The Sage Steele Show Despite the fallout, Ponder doesn't feel bitter. She called her firing 'one of the best things that's ever happened' to her, saying, 'I was on the hamster wheel. I wasn't going to jump off on my own.' Her final message was clear: 'I wasn't trying to be controversial. I just wanted people to hear stories I wasn't seeing on SportsCenter.' Also Read: Joy Taylor's FOX Sports scandal: Everything about the backstage drama, show cancellations, and lawsuit that led to her exit With the debate around inclusion in women's sports only growing louder, Ponder's revelations have reignited a culture war ESPN may not be able to sidestep much longer. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ex-NFL head coach stuns fans with NSFW shirt to celebrate Fourth of July
ESPN analyst and ex-NFL coach Rex Ryan celebrated the Fourth of July with two former co-workers - but drew snickers for his NSFW and punny t-shirt. Ryan was joined by a pair of former on-air personalities at the 'Worldwide Leader': Sage Steele and Sam Ponder. Steele and Ponder, both of whom have been critical of their former employer in the past and have since expressed their more conservative political views not in line with the company, were seen flanking Ryan standing on a lakeside dock. But what attracted attention was Ryan's red t-shirt featuring a patriotic looking firework with the caption: 'Just here to bang'. Steele shared the photo to her X account, finding the fun in the suggestive phrase on Ryan's shirt. 'If Rex Ryan's t-shirt doesn't make your day like it made mine (and @samponder) not sure what will. Happy belated 4th of July!,' Steele captioned the post. Plenty of fans and even some others who work in sports reacted to the photo. Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin quote tweeted the photo with a facepalm emoji. 'Gotta be the most American shirt ive seen in years,' said one user on the site. Another remarked, 'I love that conservative women have a sense of humor. Also I need this shirt.' Ryan had been linked with a return to coaching at the end of last season - including a potential reunion with his former team, the New York Jets. But after the Jets hired former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Ryan hadn't been linked with a move to another team.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit
Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit originally appeared on The Spun. Sam Ponder, the former Sunday NFL Countdown host and College GameDay reporter, was fired by ESPN ahead of the 2024 football season. It would be understandable for the Liberty University graduate to hold some animosity toward the network and her former colleagues, given how her tenure at ESPN ended. Advertisement The New York City resident hasn't worked in TV since she was fired. Some have speculated that Ponder, who leans right on many social and political issues, was let go due to her politics. ESPN maintains that she was let go due to budgetary cuts, as she was making north of $1 million to host a once-a-week show in the fall. 'I don't believe that anything is just budget cuts anymore,' former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who worked at ESPN from 2000-2011, said. 'I think that they clearly wanted to find an off-ramp for Sam. What's troubling to me is the timing. 'This is three weeks before the NFL season begins. Her show, Sunday NFL Countdown, is coming off its best ratings year in quite some time. So I don't know why they would do this so close to the season and bring so much attention, unless they want to bring in the next host and give that host a lot of attention.' MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Samantha Ponder speaks at Inside the Game Q&A presented by IFA on February 2, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Thaddaeus McAdams/WireImage)Ponder, though, showed her true character this week, when she was asked about her time at ESPN, specifically College GameDay. She had nothing but good things to say. Advertisement "Do you ever talk to the college gameday guys anymore?" a fan asked Ponder. She responded: "David Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired. 🤣 Rece Davis is my forever favorite. I'll never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people. I will be a college gameday fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It's such a special show." It would be understandable if Ponder, who is enjoying time off while raising her three kids in New York, had negative things to say about ESPN - or her former colleagues. However, she chose to take the high road, doing nothing but complimenting her former show and network. Ponder is rightfully being praised for her classy remarks on Herbstreit and the rest of the College GameDay crew. Advertisement The ESPN college football pregame show, meanwhile, will get back on the air on Saturday, Aug. 30, live from Columbus. Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-ESPN host opens up on former colleagues a year after being fired amid Olympics' trans boxer controversy
Sam Ponder's departure from ESPN didn't end her relationship with her on-air College GameDay cohosts thanks to their shared faith, the broadcaster revealed on social media. 'I'll never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people,' wrote Ponder, a mother of three and the wife of former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder. 'I will be a "college gameday" fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It's such a special show.' Specifically, Ponder was referring to colleagues, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and David Pollack. 'David Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired,' Ponder, 39, wrote in the post, uncovered by Athlon Sports. 'Rece Davis is my forever favorite.' Ponder was let go in August of 2024 amid a series of layoffs at ESPN. She still had one year left on her three-year, $3 million deal, but was supposed to receiver her full salary, Daily Mail learned at the time. Although a source told Daily Mail the timing of her dismissal was dictated by the end of the 2024 fiscal year, skeptics claimed she was fired over her condemnation of trans athletes in female sports. The story emerged amid controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the 2024 Paris Games. The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) claimed Khelif failed a gender test at a 2023 competition leading many to criticize the IOC for permitting her to compete at the Olympics, where the 26-year-old ultimately won gold. The IBA claims remain in dispute. Herbstreit, the former Ohio State quarterback and long-time football analyst, was asked on X in 2024 if 'men belong in women's sports,' to which he replied: 'Of course not. Ridiculous question.' Herbstreit was not fired or publicly reprimanded by the network over the comment, which Ponder applauded online before adding: 'XY = male XX = female.' Curiously, Ponder was let go by ESPN at the same time as NFL analyst Robert Griffin III, who took an opposing stance on that exact issue. 'Imane Khelif is a biological woman and if you want to protect our daughters, you should protect her,' Griffin wrote on X about Khelif. '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.
