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Friday marks the final episode of the long-standing ESPN Staples. “Around the Horn” is because it is away from the air after about 20 years of action.
Jay Mariotti, a regular on the show until his domestic violence arrest in 2010, said in a recent interview that the show was cancelled because he was “awakening.”
However, another panelist, Sara Spain, questioned whether the network had canceled the show.
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Disney has partnered with Penn Entertainment to create an ESPN branded sportsbook. (Mike Windle/Getty Images from ESPN)
“They're cancelling it, confusing me. This format allows for a continuous stream of new people to highlight reporters on your network. I'm certainly biased, but this is a progressive voice and people of color you're stripping off the TV. She said in an interview with the Washington Post.
Tony Leary, the show's longtime host, said he “doesn't believe it” that's why.
“I don't believe what it is. I honestly think I've done 50,000 topics in 23 years. Are you saying that 10 or 15 turned your eyebrows upside down? “Yeah, we were doing complicated topics at times.” I don't have a face so if you're not my regret, you might think I would like.
ESPN has fired about 20 prominent on-air personalities. (Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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In one of the final episodes earlier this month, Kate Fagan, who had made a rare appearance since leaving the network in 2018, was decided as the “winner” of the show with Jemel Hill, who hadn't been on the show since that same year after being fired for a negative post about President Donald Trump.
In her victory monologue, Fagan pleaded that “trans kids deserve to play sports.”
“Think of what you remember from your time playing sports. 99% of that is the first time Jersey discovers your favorite numbers, community, joy, and those high fives,” Fagan said. “It's a moment when you play great with your teammates. It's a sense of belonging. You don't know gender. Trans kids deserve you the same as everyone else. Sports is joy. Sports is humanity.
ESPN president John Skipper has denounced the Barstool brand for his decision to cancel the show. (Reuters/Mike Segar)
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Mariotti added that the show “lost an audience” on the hill that he dropped his name in that aforementioned interview. In another post about his own substance, Mariotti, who got the headline “Around Horn ended a long time ago – when I left the show,” reiterated that some of the panelists “woke up” and others went to “dope.”
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