It was one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in the history of ESPN.
The day that the state of Florida enacted a Parent Rights in Education bill that prevented schools from advocating controversial gender ideology in the classroom, the Disney-owned network couldn't help but lament the obstacle it would cause their "allies" in confusing and indoctrinating young people.
Their grief led to this amazing segment:
Yes, that's real.
Once the undisputed king of sports-television programming, ESPN has become a shell of its former self, having willfully eschewed entertaining their audience of men who like sports, choosing instead to subject them to lectures from woke women.
And yes, what Clay Travis noted is also real. Despite ESPN "standing in solidarity" with confused or depraved adults wanting to teach kids that boys can be girls, they weren't interested in "standing in solidarity" with the people of New Orleans (or the United States at large) against terrorism.
From The Washington Times:
ESPN is facing criticism after its main broadcast of Thursday's Sugar Bowl in New Orleans didn't show the moment of silence or national anthem before the game.
The game, a College Football Playoff matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia, was postponed until Thursday after Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a truck into a crowd on New Year's Day, killing 14 and injuring several others …
A commercial break started before the moment of silence and ended in the middle of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'
Commenters on social media blasted the network's choice not to air the anthem and 'USA' chants from the Superdome crowd, and also criticized ESPN's parent company, Disney.
Responding to the backlash, ESPN blamed a "timing issue" that prevented them from covering the patriotic moments, a confusing explanation since they were able to manipulate their "timing" to include President Biden's bizarre, uncomfortable musings about the attack. They also figured out the "timing" enough to include sponsor All-State's now infamous and incredibly out of touch statement that somehow failed to condemn ISIS-inspired terrorism.
Multiple television personalities and executives also confirmed that when it comes to major games like the Sugar Bowl, the network producing the television event has significant influence over the timeline.
Here are a few of the inspiring, unifying moments of the game that ESPN missed:
1) Prior to the opening ceremonies, the public address announcer asked the crowd to pause for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragedy:
2) Recording artist Samyra, a New Orleans native, then performed the national anthem, complete with a large American flag stretched across the field. After her stirring rendition, Notre Dame and Georgia fans rattled the SuperDome with raucous chants of "USA! USA!"
3) The two teams then re-emerged onto the field for the opening of the game. When Notre Dame appeared from their tunnel, head coach Marcus Freeman and two of his senior captains led their team onto the field carrying the American flag.
'It was just an idea we all had collectively,' Notre Dame center Pat Coogan said. 'It was a unique opportunity as well because we've never run out with a flag or been presented with a situation of that magnitude. Really honored. It was a special moment.'
A special moment that the massive television audience tuning into the game was deprived of seeing because ESPN production team couldn't find "time" for it. Is it possible that the issue really was innocent and unintentional? Of course.
