"With the merger, Skydance now will have access touchpoints in nearly every major pro and college sports entity in the U.S., with the notable exception of the NBA."
"It didn't mix well with the other hosts. It didn't mix well with the audience. It didn't set the tone that [Dave] Portnoy wants to set with his shows. Bringing that tone to the pregame show is not at all interesting for those watching."
"Sorry that it's over because you were one of the voices of baseball for a really long time on a channel right now that doesn't seem to love baseball."
"I certainly have literally no ill will to a company that's provided me with a life that has that has exceeded any expectation I had coming out of Needham High School or Ithaca College."
"ESPN doesn't deserve to get Karl Ravech for a discount or for free. He worked there for a really long time, and shows his loyalty to that company. This to me feels like that's being exploited."
"There is a responsibility that comes with making these decisions, not just in who is let go, but in how the news is communicated. When that control slips and information leaks before leadership delivers the message directly, it doesn't just create headlines—it erodes trust.
"It didn't mix well with the other hosts. It didn't mix well with the audience. It didn't set the tone that [Dave] Portnoy wants to set with his shows. Bringing that tone to the pregame show is not at all interesting for those watching."
"I have real confidence that they both understand and will fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent news that CNN has always stood for."