Back in July of 2021, the New York Times published a story that included a leaked recording of a conversation between Rachel Nichols, an employee of ESPN for 16 years, and an adviser of LeBron James by the name of Adam Mendelsohn. The audio included complaints from Nichols that Maria Taylor, an ESPN employee of color, was getting major opportunities at the network because her employer, ESPN, was trying to make up for a history of issues with diversity within the company.
Her exact words being "I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world — she covers football, she covers basketball," Nichols told Mendelsohn before discussing the network's record on diversity.
"If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity — which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it — like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else. You are not going to find it from me or taking my thing away."
The backlash to these comments came hard and fast from the social media mob, but perhaps the most damaging to her career was the seemingly severed relationship between her and the network. Rachel apologized for those statements that leaked out on The Jump, the show she used to host every weekday afternoon. Still, the damage had been done. Nichols's opportunities for TV time quickly dried up and she and the company parted ways mutually earlier this year.
Not exactly the way you'd want to end a 16-year run with a company, but we don't always get to choose our exit. Frankly, in my view, Nichols did little wrong in this situation. She was recorded without any knowledge, those comments never should've seen the light of day. Did she make her company look bad? Absolutely. Was it racist what she said to the point that she should've been blackballed? Absolutely not.
She spoke her mind, gave Maria Taylor all the credit in the world for being a talented anchor, but simply was frustrated that her opportunities were being snatched from her without any good reason as to why. I think Rachel Nichols was and is incredible at what she does. She's a pro's pro and a class act on the screen. However, through the ashes of controversy comes the Phoenix.
As ESPN makes its way out of the wreckage of two prominent personalities feuding, leaked tapes, perceived racial conflict in a racially charged era, and both employees opting to leave the company anyway, they tripped into something quite wonderful: Malika Andrews.
Prior to joining ESPN in October 2018, Andrews worked for one year as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Prior to joining the Tribune, Andrews worked for one year as a James Reston Reporting Fellow in the sports department at The New York Times.
Andrews made her debut with ESPN during the 2019-20 season, right in the heart of a global pandemic inside ESPN's World of Sports Complex at Disney World, during what was known as the "NBA Bubble". Andrews was one of the first reporters on the ground to report from the NBA's temporary Florida campus after the league's decision to resume the season following a four-month hiatus due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Early on, Andrews, in my view, was stiff. She felt something between uncomfortable and overprepared on the screen. I got a similar feeling as she helped host the COVID restricted NBA Draft that year for ESPN. The interviews with players felt forced, there was little heart or authenticity in any of it. Initially, it felt like ESPN had swung and missed with this move. But since then, my opinion has changed drastically. Andrews has since taken over as host of ESPN's NBA studio show NBA Today (which is just The Jump rebranded) and she is a marvel on screen.
Andrews's personality is beaming! She's likable, funny, and witty, plus her delivery has become silky smooth. Often we hear that someone either has "it" or doesn't. But if we box ourselves into that mentality, we can truly miss out on gems that just need more reps, and talent that you know will put the work in to get better.
Andrews was stepping into an unenviable situation. She was going to be judged harshly by those who preferred Maria Taylor's style or by those who were frustrated by the way in which Rachel Nichols left the company. She handled it all like a pro. And in time, she became a polished host.
Her career at ESPN may not have started in the ideal fashion for everything that was going on around her, but they have found their next star, without question.
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