The 2025 Sugar Bowl was postponed to Thursday after host city New Orleans was hit by a deadly terrorist attack on New Year's Day. A moment of silence was held for the victims at the stadium during a pregame ceremony, followed by a powerful chant of “USA” from Georgia and Notre Dame fans.
The scene highlighted the power and unity of American sports. But viewers on ESPN, which had exclusive coverage, didn't get to see a moment of silence, the singing of “USA” or even the national anthem.
A panoramic view of the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. (Stephen Lou Iman image)
ESPN did not air any of the three during the broadcast.
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It's a shame that the players didn't kneel during the national anthem in the name of “Black Lives Matter.” ESPN surely could have shown that like they did during the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Outkick asked ESPN about the decision not to play the national anthem before the Sugar Bowl, but did not receive a response. We will update this story if the network responds.
Aerial full exterior view of Caesars Superdome on Sunday, December 15, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
The Daily Mail recorded an overwhelmingly negative reaction to ESPN's decision ahead of the Sugar Bowl. Some of the more notable reactions are listed below.
Sugar Bowl corporate sponsor CEO criticized for 'addiction to discord' comments after terrorist attack
ESPN is already facing criticism for its coverage of the Bourbon Street attack into the evening, during which police say a terrorist suspect who displayed an ISIS flag on his car killed 15 people and injured dozens. announced that it had.
ESPN called the news a “truck attack,” as if there wasn't a monster behind the wheel of the car.
Police investigate a crime scene on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The driver plowed into the crowd celebrating the New Year and began firing shots early in the morning. Kat Lumleys, FOX News Digital (Kat Ramirez, Fox News Digital)
CNN blames “cars'' for black supremacist Darrell Edward Brooks Jr.'s SUV killing six people and injuring 62 at a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. What 2021 looks like.
In fact, almost 24 hours later, ESPN was still downplaying the news as a “truck attack” on “SportsCenter” at 1 a.m., hosted by a creepy, obsessive DEI recruiter named Stan Verrett.
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Damn self-driving cars. They keep running people over.
Don't expect ESPN to air highlights of the “USA” chant anyway. Instead, expect the network to return to its regular programming of using race to pressure NFL voters to award MVP to Lamar Jackson over Josh Allen.
