“I didn’t get here like Mike [Golic] did — Mike played nine years in the NFL. I’m not here because I went to journalism school. I’m here because I’m a sports fan."
"The quote I gave them was something along the lines of making fun of how vague it was that they would not tell me what I was really going to do. It should have been a red flag."
The company claimed that the changes were being made so it could continue to bring fans “more exclusive live sports, ESPN+ originals and premium editorial.”
Douthat’s opinion-writing background, which I once viewed as a liability, actually helped him here. He thinks about big questions for a living. Therefore, he knew where to push Trump beyond the usual talking points.
"I get to talk about sports on a daily basis. I haven't lost the fandom for these teams. This is what I want to do, be as successful as possible. And do it for as long as I possibly can."