"When you're a man in his position, you don't answer to anybody if you don't want to, and that's fine. But he will continue to be a villain, which is what he is now."
"If FOX Sports wants validation, it doesn't need to look any further than the numbers. Viewership is soaring, social engagement is exploding, and the World Cup is breaking through with American audiences in ways few could have imagined. That's the victory."
"The Stanley Cup Final capped a historic postseason across ESPN platforms, as ESPN delivered its most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs ever (1994-2002, 2021-present)."
"The 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20.6 million viewers across five games, setting an ABC and ESPN audience record. ABC and ESPN also scored the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998 (average 29 million)."
"Producing the World Series of Poker Main Event & Main Event Final Table gives us an exciting opportunity to expand our live event slate and bring our production approach to one of the most recognizable competitions in sports and entertainment."
"Women's Sports Sundays reflects ESPN's continued commitment to giving fans a dedicated destination for the biggest matchups, brightest stars and most compelling stories across women's sports."
"Don brings experience, expertise and unmatched persistence to his work every day, and we’re thrilled that he will be contributing to our journalism for years to come."
"ESPN has spent years building around star power, and no two stars shine brighter than McAfee and Smith. With New York celebrating its first NBA title in more than five decades, the timing couldn't be better."
"The network holds eight additional games outside Monday Night Football. Seven on the newly acquired NFL Network, including five international contests this fall."
"The story is that ESPN has completely changed its philosophy. For decades, ESPN sold the network. It sold SportsCenter. It sold highlights. Now it sells personalities."
"When you're a man in his position, you don't answer to anybody if you don't want to, and that's fine. But he will continue to be a villain, which is what he is now."
"I'm confident they will help us move quickly, enhance innovation and stay at the leading edge of a changing media landscape as we build toward the future."