ESPN is admitting they made a mistake. The network dove deep into coverage after current NBA player Jason Collins announced that he was gay. ESPN interviewed multiple people on how Collins' brave statement would impact sports and the future of homosexuality in athletics. During a segment on Outside the Lines, NBA analyst Chris Broussard stated that he believed homosexuality was a sin, leaving many to criticize the network for putting him on the air in the first place. Now, ESPN president John Skipper is admitting mistake.
While discussing Collins, Broussard said, "If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, but adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals...I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ."
Broussard had spent all day on Sportscenter covering the Collins story. When the network switched over to a different format of programming, Broussard let his true feelings on the mater be known. It was not the first time Broussard had let his feeling on homosexuality be heard, speaking on it once before in 2009. ESPN was aware of where he stood on the issue.
ESPN was quick to release a statement saying they regretted that the discussion became a distraction to Collins' overall statement. However, that was not enough because it only fueled a firestorm of backlash on social media. Now, Skipper is diving a bit deeper, admitting that the network should have acted better.
"I think we did great other than we made one mistake: The mistake was not being more careful with Chris Broussard, and there is a collective responsibility there. Chris Broussard's job was to come on and talk about the news of the league, how the league was representing it, and through a series of events he made personal comments which was a mistake," Skipper said.
Broussard stands by the comments he made on OTL. He believes his response was a statement to his faith and is completely his own personal belief. This is not the first time ESPN has found itself in trouble for comments made by an employee. In December, commentator Rob Parker was suspended for commenting on the race of Robert Griffin III. He chose not to renew his contract and has left the network. Skipper and ESPN are hoping their apology quiets some on the controversy.
