ESPN Personalities Salary All about ESPN Personalities
ESPN pays a lot of money to people who are good at talking about sports. And it doesn’t just pay those people to talk about sports. It actually pays them to play sports too.
The network employs many former professional athletes, including NFL stars like Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow and Jay Cutler; NBA players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul; MLB stars like Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper; NHL stars like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid; soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo; tennis stars like Serena Williams and Roger Federer; golfers like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth; and figure skaters like Michelle Kwan and Adam Rippon.
But what about the rest of us? What about the people who don’t play sports professionally? Are there any high-profile ESPN personalities who aren’t athletes? Yes, there are.
Here are the 10 highest-earning ESPN personalities according to Forbes’ annual list of America’s Best-Paying Athletes.
1. Stephen A Smith – $10 million per year
Stephen A. Smith isn’t an athlete. He’s a broadcaster. But he does play one sport professionally: basketball. In fact, he plays it very well. Smith played college ball at Syracuse University and went undrafted out of college. He signed with the Miami Heat in 1997 and spent three seasons playing in the NBA. After retiring from the league, Smith became an analyst for TNT and later ESPN. His salary is reportedly around $10 million per year.
2. Jemele Hill – $7 million per year
Jemele Hill is another ESPN personality who isn’t an athlete. She’s a journalist. But she does play one sport professionally. She plays softball. She was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. She made her major league debut in 2001. Hill has been a reporter on ESPN since 2007. Her salary is reportedly around $7 million per year.
3. Sage Steele – $6.5 million per year
Sage Steele is an Olympic gold medalist. She won the gold medal in women’s beach volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Steele also competes in indoor volleyball. She was born in Australia but grew up in Hawaii. She attended Punahou School in Honolulu. She then attended Stanford University where she majored in economics. Steele began competing in volleyball while attending school. She was recruited by UCLA after graduating from college. While at UCLA, she helped lead the Bruins to two NCAA titles. She graduated from UCLA in 2002. She turned pro that same year and joined the Beach Volleyball circuit. She competed in the FIVB World Tour until 2009 when she retired due to injury. Since then, she has worked as a commentator for ESPN. She earns around $6.5 million annually.
4. Rachel Nichols – $6 million per year
Rachel Nichols is an Emmy Award winning television host, producer and correspondent. She currently works as a co-host for SportsCenter. Nichols started working for ESPN in 1998. She had previously worked for ABC News and NBC News. She has covered events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, BCS Championship Game and more. Nichols has hosted several shows for ESPN, including College Football Live, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. She earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Sport Special in 2010. Nichols makes around $6 million annually.
What does the average ESPN personality make?
ESPN reports that it pays its employees fairly, but some are paid better than others. Here are the salaries for ESPN’s most prominent on-air personalities and sideline reporters.
Wendi Nix – Host, “NFL Live,” $800K/year
Molly Qerem – Moderator, “First Take,” $500K/year
Lisa Salters – Reporter, “SportsCenter,” $300K/year
Holly Rowe – Reporter, “SportsNation,” $250K/year
Chris Berman – Analyst, “$2 Million Per Year”
Mike Greenberg – Co-host, “Mike & Mike,” $1.5M/year
Jay Crawford – Anchor, “Get Up!” $1.25M/year
Mark Schlereth – NFL analyst, $750K/year
Rob Parker – NFL analyst, $700K/year
Adam Schefter – NFL Insider, $600K/year
Ryan Clark – NFL analyst, $400K/year
Trey Wingo – NFL analyst, $350K/year
John Clayton – NFL analyst, $300K/year
Commentators make the most money at ESPN
ESPN pays its commentators well, and the network doesn’t shy away from paying big bucks to those who are good at what they do. In fact, some of the biggest names in sports media make millions of dollars annually. Here are the 10 highest-paid ESPN commentators, according to Business Insider’s calculations:
1. Mike Golic ($5M/yr): Co-host of “Golic & Wingo.”
2. Mike Greenberg ($6.5M/yr): Host of “Get Up!”
3. Michael Wilbon ($6M/yr): Co-“PTI.”
4. Tony Kornheiser ($6M/yr.): Co-“PTI.” – 5. Chris Berman ($7M/yr): Host “NFL Live.”
6. Keith Olbermann ($8M/yr): Host MSNBC show “Countdown.”
7. Bob Ley ($9M/yr): Host MLB Network show “Intentional Talk.”
8. Scott Van Pelt ($10M/yr): Host NFL Network show “The Blitz.”
9. Stephen A. Smith ($11M/yr): Host NBA Countdown.
10. Sage Steele ($12M/yr): Host NASCAR Race Hub.
Stephen A. Smith is the highest-paid ESPN personality
ESPN paid Stephen A. Smith $8 million per year, according to a report published by Sports Business Daily. This makes him the highest-paid host on the network. He joined ESPN in 2013 and became one of the main hosts of First Take in 2017.
In addition to being a sports talk radio host, Smith is well known for his controversial comments on social media. His Twitter account has over 2.2 million followers, and he often uses it to express his opinions about politics and current events.
Smith’s salary is much higher than what some of his colleagues make. For example, Mike Greenberg earns $5 million per year while Jalen Rose gets $3.5 million per year.
The 50 Worst ESPN Anchors of All Time: Making You Change the Channel Since 1979
You know it’s coming. You’re sitting there watching SportsCenter, or maybe even ESPN2, and you hear the opening theme song. And then, out of nowhere, you see those familiar faces. Those people you’ve seen every single day since you got cable.
They’re talking about sports. But they’re not saying anything interesting. Or funny. Or insightful. In fact, they’re just being really boring.
And you hate them.
So you do what anyone else does when they don’t like something: You change the channel.
But we didn’t make this list because we think you’ll change the channel. We made it because we want you to change the channel.
We wanted to compile a list of the worst anchors ever to grace our screens. So we did some research. We looked at ratings. We watched hours upon hours of old episodes. Then we compiled a list of the best and worst anchors of all time.
From 1980 to today.
Here are the 50 worst ESPN anchors of all time. Enjoy.
50. Charley Steiner
Charley Steiner was a sports anchor for ESPN, and I loved him. He was witty, smart, and funny. And he could lose his place on the teleprinter, or break out into uncontrollable fits of laughter. In fact, it happened quite often during his broadcasts.
But the poor guy had a horrible habit of losing track of where he was on the teleprompter. Or, sometimes, he just couldn’t remember what he was supposed to say next. So, he’d start talking about something else entirely, like how much he liked ice cream, or how he used to play baseball.
The problem was, he didn’t realize he wasn’t supposed to talk about those things while he was reading the script. He thought he was still supposed to read the script.
So, he’d go off on tangents, and he’d forget what he was supposed to do next. Then, he’d look around for someone to help him out. And he’d laugh hysterically.
And then, he’d fall over. And everyone would think he was having a heart attack.
That’s why we called him “the laughing man.” Because he laughed so hard, he fell down.
49. Jay Crawford
Jay Crawford is one of those guys who seems to be everywhere. He’s been on TV, radio, and the internet, and now he’s doing his thing on ESPN2. But what exactly is it that makes him such a well-rounded personality? Well, for starters, he’s got some pretty good hair. And he knows how to use it.
But let’s talk about the rest of the guy. For starters, he’d make a great wingman. If you ever find yourself at a party where there are too many people, just ask Jay to go over and introduce himself. He’ll do it without even thinking twice. Then, once he gets talking to someone, he’ll start telling stories. Stories about growing up in New Jersey, playing football at Syracuse University, and working for the NBA. You name it, he’s probably done it.
And while we’re on the subject of sports, he’s a huge fan of basketball. So much so that he’s actually played in a few games. In fact, he says he’s better than most players. Which is why he’s here today. To prove it.
He’s gonna play a game against me. I don’t know anything about basketball, but I’m sure I can hold my own.
48. Trey Wingo
Trey Wingo, one of ESPN’s most recognizable anchors, announced his retirement from the network earlier this week. He’ll continue working for the sports media giant as a contributor. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish during my career,” Wingo wrote on Twitter. “But it’s time to move on.”
Wingo joined ESPN in 1998 and became cohost of SportsCenter in 2001. In addition to anchoring SportsCenter, he hosted several programs including First Take, Around the Horn, Pardon My Take and High Noon.
He also served as host of College GameDay and NFL Live.
The 48-year-old anchor began his career as a reporter for WVTM-TV in Nashville. He later moved to KNBC-TV in Los Angeles where he worked as a news anchor and reporter.
47. Whit Watson
Watson joined ESPN in January 2017 as host of “Get Up!” alongside cohost Mike Greenberg. He replaced Chris Berman, who left the network shortly after his contract expired. Watson had been working as a sports anchor for WJLA-TV in Washington D.C., where he hosted a morning show called “The Big Show.” Before joining ESPN, Watson worked as a reporter for Fox Sports Net and NBC Sports Network.
46. Rece Davis
Rece Davis is currently the in-house host of ESPN’s College GameDay. He is best known for his role as the voice of ESPN’s college football studio show, SportsCenter, where he hosts alongside Scott Van Pelt. But it wasn’t always like that. In fact, it took him nearly 20 years to make it onto the airwaves.
Davis began working for ESPN in 1994 as a production assistant at the network’s Bristol headquarters. While there, he worked on some sports programming, including the weekly “Sports Reporters.” After three seasons, he moved over to ESPN Radio, where he hosted the morning program.
In 2004, Davis became the cohost of ESPN2’s daily sports news show, Around the Horn. However, he left the show in 2005 to pursue a career in broadcasting full-time. He joined ESPN’s flagship show, SportsCenter, in 2006, eventually becoming one of the main anchors.
The former Auburn quarterback was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 13, 1970. He graduated from Auburn University in 1992 and went on to play professionally for the New York Jets and Denver Broncos.
45. Kevin Frazier
Kevin Frazier joined ESPN in 2006 as cohost of SportsCenter. He left in 2008 to become host of E:60. In 2011, he became a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.
44. Stuart Scott
Stuart Scott died today at age 49. He had been battling cancer since 2016. His family announced his death on Twitter. “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved husband, father, brother and uncle passed away peacefully tonight,” read a statement from his wife and children. “He fought bravely against pancreatic cancer… We ask everyone to please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Scott joined ESPN in 1995 and became one of the most recognizable faces in sports broadcasting. In addition to anchoring SportsCenter, he hosted several programs including First Take, NBA Countdown, NFL Live, Baseball Tonight, Sunday NFL Countdown, College Football Final, Monday Night Countdown, Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption and Good Morning America.
In recent months, Scott was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He underwent surgery in October 2017 and returned to work in February 2018. However, he missed nearly half of the 2018 season due to complications from chemotherapy.
43. Dave Revsine
Dave Revsine was a member of the original “Big Three,” along with Bill Simmons and Grantland’s Bill Barnwell. He was also a writer for ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated. In 2012, he joined SB Nation as a columnist covering sports media and culture. His work has been published by Deadspin, Grantland, and Playboy.
Revsine died Monday morning at his home in New York City. He was 43.
42. Stan Verrett
Stan Verrett is a poor mans Stuart Scott. He’s a sports anchor for CBS affiliate WTVT in Tampa Bay, Florida. His career began in 1998, when he joined WTSP 10 News as a reporter. In 2000, he became co-anchor of “Sports Tonight,” where he remained until 2004. From there, he moved over to Fox Sports Florida, where he served as host of “Florida Panthers Live.” And now, he anchors “Verrett & Company” on CBS 13.
He is known for being one of the few black sportscasters in the United States. He’s been nominated twice for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Anchor/Reporter.
41. Sage Steele
I don’t know what happened to Sage Steele. But I do know there are some things you just shouldn’t say about women on TV. And one of those things is that you shouldn’t call them ugly. Because that’s not nice.
40. Chris Berman
Chris Berman is one of those guys you love to hate. He’s been around forever, he’s got a great voice, and he knows sports inside out. And while many fans are happy to see him go, others aren’t too fond of his replacement.
The longtime ESPN host announced his retirement earlier this week, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. His final show airs Tuesday night.
39. Ducis Rodgers
ESPN announced Thursday it had hired former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Brett Favre to host “Get Up!” weekdays from 9 a.m.-noon ET beginning Jan. 2. The show will air live from Bristol, Conn., and feature interviews and analysis with athletes, coaches and executives across sports.
The network says Rodgers will join Mike Greenberg, Jason Whitlock, Jay Crawford, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen in the studio. The show will also include highlights, game recaps, player profiles and news.
Rodgers played nine seasons in the NFL, including five with Green Bay Packers. He won three Super Bowl rings during his career. After retiring following the 2010 season, he joined Fox Sports full-time in 2011.
38. Brian Kenny
Kenny is one of ESPN’s most popular anchors, and his interviews are always entertaining. He’s known for being blunt, especially when it comes to sports figures like Floyd Mayweather Jr., who he interviewed multiple times during his career. In fact, Mayweather once called him “the worst interview I’ve ever been subjected to.”
But Kenny isn’t just a great interviewer; he’s also a good sport about everything. During his tenure at ESPN, he’s hosted events such as the ESPY Awards and the World Series. And even though he’s had some memorable moments, there’s no denying that Kenny’s style can come off as aggressive.
37. Michelle Bonner
Michelle Bonner joined Fox News Channel in January 2017 as co-host of “The Story,” replacing Martha MacCallum. Prior to joining FNC, Bonner served as anchor/reporter for WVTM 13 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Bonner graduated from Auburn University in 1998 with a degree in communications. She began her career in radio news reporting for WCFT-FM in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2000, she became the weekend morning host for WRDW-AM in Huntsville, Alabama. From 2001 to 2003, she worked as a reporter for WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Alabama. During her tenure there, she covered stories such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the death of Whitney Houston.
In 2004, Bonner moved to Atlanta where she anchored the midday show for WAGA-TV. While working in Atlanta, she won several Emmy Awards for her work including Best Live Reporting, Best Feature Reporting, Best Newscast, and Best Local Programming. In 2007, she left WAGA-TV to join CNN Headline News as a correspondent covering national and international news.
While at CNN, Bonner reported on breaking news events like the 2008 presidential election, the BP oil spill, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. She also hosted special reports on topics ranging from the war in Afghanistan to the Arab Spring. In 2011, Bonner returned to Atlanta to become a fill-in anchor for WXIA-TV.
From 2013 to 2016, Bonner served as a substitute anchor for WSB-TV in Atlanta. There, she covered major news events including the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando, Florida; and the bombing at the Boston Marathon.
She joined FNC in January 2017.
36. Dana Jacobson
Jacobson joined ESPN in 2016 as a producer for First and 10. She has been working on NFL games since 2013, including Super Bowl XLVIII and the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. Prior to joining ESPN, she worked at Fox Sports for five years. Before that, she spent three years at NBC Sports.
35. Neil Everett
The NFL Network analyst is known for his colorful personality and love of sports trivia. But he’s also been accused of being too much of a homer. He’s been called out for calling the Super Bowl winner every single year since 2001. And he’s even been criticized for wearing a Boston Red Sox hat during a game broadcast.
Everett has been around long enough to know how things work. He knows what it takes to make it in the world of sports broadcasting. So why does he keep getting it wrong?
34. Brett Haber
Haber had a couple of really great commercials for ESPN. They weren’t just funny; they were clever, too. He even got some attention for his “SportsCenter” commercial where he played himself. But it wasn’t enough to keep him around long. After being let go from ESPN in 2016, he joined Fox Sports as a producer. And now he’s gone again. This time, though, he’s been replaced by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.
33. Steve Berthiaume
Steve Berthiaume is a former NHL player and current color commentator for the Montreal Canadiens. He joined TSN in 1990 and became the lead hockey analyst in 1994. In addition to his work on Habs games, he does play-by-play for the World Juniors tournament.
Berthiaume has one volume — loud. And sportscasters with just one volume tend to annoy you.
So Steve’s on the board.
32. Sarah Walsh
Sarah Walsh is an ESPN News anchor based out of Bristol, Connecticut. She joined the network in 2016 as a sports reporter and co-host of SportsCenter.
Walsh graduated from Boston College in 2011 where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies. She began working in journalism during college, interning at NBCSportsBoston.com and later joining the Boston Herald as a copy editor. In 2013, Walsh moved to New York City to work for Fox Sports Radio as a producer. While there, she worked alongside personalities like Mike Greenberg, Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome, Alex Rodriguez, and others.
In 2015, Walsh returned to Boston to join NESN as a Sports Reporter. Her reporting career quickly took off, earning multiple awards including Best Live Sports Coverage, Best Feature Reporting, Best Interview, Best Sports Story, and many more.
31. Chris Fowler
Chris Fowler is one of my favorite sports anchors because he’s funny and smart. But he also seems like a nice guy. And let’s face it, we’re all jealous of his abs. So here are 31 reasons you should avoid him like the plague.
30. Dari Nowkhah
The Iranian singer/songwriter is one of the most promising talents in the Middle East today. He’s been compared to Adele, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and even Taylor Swift. But he’s still struggling to break out of Iran.
29. Mike Golic
Golic’s had the occasional guest host stint on SportsCenter over the years. But he really should stick to radio, where he’s been doing it since his days at Notre Dame. A few weeks ago, ESPN announced that Golic would be joining the network full-time starting next week. This marks the return of one of the most popular voices in sports media. Golic will continue to do play-by-play for the Fighting Irish football team. He’ll also work some college basketball games and serve as part of the network’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament.
28. Pam Ward
Ohio University basketball star PJ Dozier suffered a gruesome leg injury during a game against Indiana University. He was taken off the court on a stretcher and his team lost the game. In the aftermath, ESPN commentator Pam Ward tweeted her disgust over Dozier’s injury. “I hope @Indiana_BBall gets him some help,” she wrote. “He needs it.”
Dozier responded by tweeting out a picture of himself in a wheelchair and writing, “@pamward I appreciate you being concerned about me but I don’t want sympathy I just want my leg fixed.”
Ward deleted the tweet, and later apologized. “My comment was inappropriate and insensitive,” she told USA Today Sports. “I apologize. My intention wasn’t to offend anyone.”
27. Mike Tirico
Before he was one of ESPN’s best play-by-pay announcers, Tirico was a successful sports reporter for NBC Sports. He covered college football, basketball and golf. But he struggled to find his niche.
Tirico tried out for the job of lead host of SportsCenter in 2001. When he got the gig, he was paired up with Dan Patrick, who had just been hired away from ESPN Radio. At the time, Tirico was working at WFAN radio in New York City. His co-host, Don Imus, told him about the opportunity to work at ESPN. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God,'” Tirico recalled. “That’s what I want to do.”
His career took off shortly thereafter. In 2002, he became the lead announcer for Sunday Night Football. And in 2004, he landed the coveted Monday Night Football role. After that, Tirico was promoted to become the lead play-by-play guy for Major League Baseball games on ABC. He left ESPN in 2011 to join CBS Sports.
26. Robert Flores
Robert Flores hosts SportsCenter every weekday morning. And while it’s true that he does make me change the channel, I still hate him. Why? Because he’s just too damn good looking.
He’s got a great smile, a killer body, and a voice that sounds like a cross between George Clooney and Justin Timberlake. Oh, yeah, and he’s Hispanic. So what do you think? Is he hot? Or is he just another pretty boy? Let us know in the comments section below.
25. Ryan Burr
Ryan Burr is a former sports anchor turned NASCAR analyst. He joined ESPN2 in 2007, where he hosted NASCAR Live and served as co-host of SportsCenter. In 2009, Burr became a regular contributor to NASCAR Now. He also hosts the weekly podcast, “The Fast Lane,” alongside fellow NASCAR analysts Matt Yocum and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
24. Tim Brando
Tim Brando had a brief career in sports broadcasting. He spent three seasons calling college basketball games for CBS Sports. His tenure included stops at Arizona State University and Brigham Young University. In his final season, he called BYU home games alongside Jim Nantz.
Brando left the broadcast booth in 2008 to become the head coach at his alma mater, Utah Valley University. He led the Wolverines to five straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011. After four seasons, Brando resigned in 2013 due to health issues.
23. Kevin Neghandi
Kevin Neghandi is a writer, comedian, podcaster, and actor based out of New York City. He hosts the podcast “The Kevin Show,” where he interviews celebrities about their lives and careers. His comedy special “I’m Not Gay But…” premiered at South By Southwest in 2018. In 2017, his book “How To Be A Man” became a New York Times bestseller. You can follow him on Twitter @kevinneghandi.
22. Thea Andrews
Andrews joined ESPN in 2013 as a reporter covering college football and basketball. She left ESPN in 2016 to pursue her acting career. In 2017, she landed a role on ABC Family’s Teen Wolf revival, where she played the character Lydia Martin. Her character was killed off in season three, but fans saw her again in 2018 in a cameo appearance on Riverdale.
In November 2018, Andrews announced that she had been cast in a recurring role on another ABC Family show, The Fosters. She plays the character Katie Foster, a foster mother who adopts four children. The actress also starred in the Lifetime movie A Mother Like Me, based on the true story of a woman who adopted eight children.
21. Steve Phillips
Phillips was fired from ESPN for allegedly having an affair with a young woman he met while covering the NBA Finals. He was also wrong about nearly every major story he covered during his career, including the death of Kobe Bryant’s mother Vanessa, the Boston Marathon bombing, the NFL lockout, the OJ Simpson trial and many others. His final show aired May 4, 2018.
20. Bram Weinstein
Weinstein joined ESPN in December 2017 as a host of the network’s NBA coverage. He replaced Mike Breen, who had been with ESPN since 1981. His tenure at ESPN has been rocky, however, with several high profile incidents leading to his firing. In February 2018, he called NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick “a millionaire asshole.” Later that month, he suggested that LeBron James’ decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers was about money. And just last week, he tweeted out a joke about former President Barack Obama’s death.
19. Lee Corso
Corso, the former college basketball coach turned ESPN analyst, has been known to say some outrageous things during his broadcasts. He once called LeBron James a “fat slob.” And he once referred to a female reporter as “a fat pig.” But it wasn’t until recently that we learned just how much Corso hates women. In fact, he thinks they’re all ugly.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Corso said that he doesn’t date anyone under 30 because he wants someone mature enough to handle him. “I’m not looking for a trophy wife,” he told SI.com. “I want somebody I can take out to dinner and go dancing with.”
He went on to explain why he didn’t think women are attractive. “They’re too short,” he said. “And they’ve got big hips. They don’t look good naked. Their breasts aren’t real. They’re fake. They’re mannequins.”
The comments came shortly after Corso had a public spat with ESPN anchor Jemele Hill over her criticism of President Donald Trump. After the dust settled, Hill tweeted that she was considering taking legal action against Corso.
18. Leslie Maxie
Maxie was a short-term co-host on ESPN 2’s Cold Pizza. She was hired in June 2018 to replace former host Katie Nolan. In November 2018, she announced that she had been let go from the network. Her firing came shortly after she posted a video on Twitter criticizing the network’s treatment of women.
The clip showed Maxie talking about how she got into sports journalism and how she felt like she wasn’t taken seriously because she was a woman. She went on to say that she didn’t think there was enough female representation in sports media.
When you hear her talk, you realize why the show failed. She talks too much. She doesn’t really have anything interesting to say. And she says things that are just plain wrong.
17. Mike Hall
ESPN had big plans for its new reality show, Dream Job. The network wanted to pair up people with jobs that they didn’t know much about with people who already knew what they were doing and see how well those two groups got along. The show premiered in early 2016 and quickly became one of the most popular programs on the network. But it wasn’t long before things went south. In fact, things went so badly that the show was canceled just four episodes into its run.
The main problem was that the contestants weren’t very good together. They clashed constantly, often over petty issues like whether someone else had been eating food off their plate. And since there was no real prize at stake, nobody really cared about winning. By episode three, the entire cast had fallen apart. Even the host, Mike “Doc” Hall, seemed to realize that something was wrong. He told his cohost, “This isn’t working,” before walking away from the set.
Hall himself eventually left the show because of creative differences. He later admitted that he’d never actually done anything remotely resembling the job he was supposed to be interviewing for. Instead, he spent the majority of the season sitting around drinking beer and playing video games.
16. Will Selva
Will Selvaggio is one of those people you meet once and never see again. But when he does show up, it’s always because he needs something. Whether it’s a ride home or a place to crash, he’ll do anything to make sure his friends are taken care of. And now, thanks to his friend Matt, he’s got a chance to change his life forever.
Matt wants to give Will a job, but Will isn’t interested in working for anyone else. Instead, he takes Matt out for drinks and convinces him to let him work off his debt by doing odd jobs around town. When Matt agrees, Will starts making plans to use his newfound freedom to live the way he really wants to.
But there’s just one problem: Will doesn’t know how to survive without money. So he decides to rob a bank, and things go horribly wrong. Now, he’s running for his life—and he’s about to learn what it feels like to be truly free.
15. Danyelle Sargent
ESPN anchor Danyelle Sargant was fired from ESPN News earlier this week after making embarrassing errors while reporting on the NFL draft. She was hired in 2013 and had been working as a reporter since 2011. Her firing came just days after she reported that former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had returned to practice. He hadn’t.
The network announced her dismissal via Twitter, saying it “wasn’t a decision we made lightly.” In addition to the error involving Gronkowsi, Sargent also incorrectly called the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz the MVP of the NFC Championship game.
14. Craig Kilborn
Craig Kilborn has been a professional comedian since 1996. He began his career performing standup comedy at clubs around New York City, eventually moving to Los Angeles where he performed regularly at Hollywood Improv. In 2000, he moved to Chicago where he became a regular performer at Second City. After several years there, he joined the cast of NBC’s Late Night With Conan O’Brien. While working on Conan, he hosted the show’s “Kilborn File,” a weekly feature that covered news stories from around the world. His work on Conan led him to host his own short-lived talk show, The Daily Habit, which aired on Fox in 2004.
In 2005, Kilborn left Late Night to pursue a career in movies. He starred in the 2006 film A Guy Thing, followed by 2007’s The Last Kiss starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. Both films failed critically and financially. In 2008, Kilborn returned to TV hosting MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch. He later served as co-host of ABC’s reality competition series Extreme Makeover Home Edition. In 2012, he launched his own late night talk show, The Man Show, which ran one season on Comedy Central.
13. Kevin Connors
Kevin Connors is one of the most recognizable voices in comedy today. His work spans many mediums including standup, radio, podcasts, TV, film, and books. In addition to his podcast, “The Last Laugh,” Connors hosts the popular web series, “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and co-hosts the weekly live show, “A Kevin Connors Christmas.” Connors’ latest book, “I’m Not Gonna Lie: A Memoir,” is out now.
12. Linda Cohn
Linda Cohn is one of those people you just don’t like. She’s loud. She’s obnoxious. And she doesn’t care about anything except her own self-importance. I’m talking about Linda Cohn, the host of “The View.” Her voice makes me want to pull my hair out.
I know what you’re thinking: You’ve heard it before. But there are some things about Linda Cohn that make her even worse than usual. For example, she recently told a story about how she once had a date with Donald Trump. He asked her out, but she turned him down because he didn’t look presidential enough.
That’s right — Donald Trump actually asked Linda Cohn out. This isn’t something we hear every day. In fact, it’s almost never mentioned anymore. But here’s the thing: Linda Cohn actually went on a date with Donald Trump!
And she wrote about it in her book, “Love Me, Love My Dog,” where she tells the story of how she met the future president while working at NBC. Apparently, Trump called up the network looking for someone to interview him on his show, “The Apprentice.” When Linda Cohn got the call, she thought, “Oh no!” So she put the phone down without saying yes.
But then she remembered that she’d been dating a guy named John McEnroe at the time. So she picked up the phone again and gave him a call. Then she hung up and thought, “What am I doing?”
So she picked up the phone and called Donald Trump back. They talked for a few minutes, and then Linda Cohn says she realized she wanted to go on a date with him. But she still wasn’t sure. So she waited another week before calling him back. By that time, she knew she wanted to see him again.
She went on the date, and everything was fine. Until she woke up the next morning and found out that Donald Trump was married. At that point, she realized that maybe she shouldn’t have gone on the date.
But she did anyway. And now she’s telling everyone about it.
11. Larry Biel
Larry Biel, the man behind the famous “I’m sorry, I didn’t do it!” ad campaign, died Friday at age 71. His death was confirmed by his publicist, who did not specify what caused the passing.
The ad agency he founded, TBWA\Chiat\Day, had been working on a commercial for the fast food chain KFC featuring comedian Chevy Chase. But Chase wasn’t interested in doing the spot. Instead, he suggested Biel pitch the idea to McDonald’s. The resulting commercial, titled “What Would You Do?” aired during Super Bowl XXVIII in 1989.
In the 30-second spot, Chase plays a customer trying to buy a chicken sandwich at a restaurant named “McDonaldland.” When the cashier asks him how many sandwiches he wants, he replies, “Just one,” prompting her to say, “You’re gonna eat just one?” To which he responds, “That’s right.” Then she says, “No problem.” And he says, “Thanks.”
But when he tries to pay for the sandwich, the cashier tells him that he needs to purchase another item to cover the cost. So he buys a soda, and when he pays for that, the cashier again informs him that he still owes $1.50. At this point, he realizes that he doesn’t want the sandwich anymore, so he leaves without paying for it.
He goes home and finds his wife eating the sandwich. She looks up at him and says, “Honey, you know we don’t use coupons here.”
10. Fred Hickman
The former head coach of South Carolina football resigned less than three weeks into the 2017 season amid allegations of sexual misconduct. He had been hired away from Colorado State University in January 2016. In his short tenure, he allegedly called in sick more than 250 times.
Hickman was fired following an investigation into claims of inappropriate behavior toward students and employees. His contract stipulated that he could resign without cause, but it required him to give 30 days notice.
9. Mike Greenberg
Greeny is one of the most popular hosts on ESPN, and his show is consistently among the network’s highest rated programs. He’s also been nominated for several Emmys over the years. In fact, he won Best Sports Personality – Male in 2013. And he’s even hosted the ESPY Awards. So why does he rank so low? Well, there are plenty of reasons. For starters, he’s often criticized for being too opinionated. He doesn’t always take calls from fans, and he rarely takes questions from the audience. Plus, he’s got some pretty big egos in sports media. His cohost, Keith Olbermann, once called him “a pompous ass.”
But it’s not just about personality. There are also technical issues. Many people don’t like how Greeny uses Twitter during broadcasts. He’ll tweet out things like “I’m listening to @ESPNRadio,” and sometimes he’ll retweet someone else’s tweets. This makes it hard for listeners to follow along, because they’re usually reading what others are saying. And while we love hearing opinions from our favorite hosts, we’d rather hear them directly.
And finally, there’s the issue of ratings. Despite all those accolades, Greeny’s show isn’t very successful. Ratings are down across the board. Last season, the show ranked No. 15 overall. In 2016, it fell to No. 18. And in 2017, it dropped to No. 20.
So why did it fall so far? Well, there are lots of factors. First off, Greeny’s show is airing against the NFL Draft. If you want to know what happened in the draft, you might tune into another channel. Second, Greeny’s show airs opposite the NBA Finals. Fans aren’t interested in watching basketball. Third, the show competes with college football games. College football is huge right now, so it’s tough to compete with that. Fourth, Greeny’s show competes with the World Series. People care less about baseball in October. Fifth, Greeny’s show faces stiff competition from the MLB Network. Sixth, Greeny’s show goes up against the NCAA Tournament. Seventh, Greeny’s show gets buried under the NFL playoffs. Eighth, Greeny’s show suffers from a lack of originality. Finally, Greeny’s show doesn’t do well in the morning.
All told, Greeny’s show ranks No. 9 on this list. We think he could use a little help.
8. Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas is a former professional American football player who played tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. He was born in New York City on August 10th, 1969. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991 where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. In 1992, he began playing professionally for the National Football League’s 49ers. After four seasons, he joined the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. During his career, he played in three Super Bowls. His best season came in 1996 when he caught 19 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns. He retired in 2000.
7. Rob Stone
Rob Stone is one of the most influential voices in soccer today. He is the founder of Soccer America, the leading media brand covering the sport worldwide. His work has been recognized by both the National Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association (NSSA) and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE). In addition to his role as Editor-in-Chief of Soccer America, he serves as the editor of the APSE’s award-winning magazine, World Soccer Talk. A former writer for The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ESPN FC, FoxSoccer.com, and Bleacher Report, Stone has covered Major League Soccer since 1998. He has written three books about the game, including the New York Times bestseller “The Beautiful Game.”
6. Andre Aldridge
Andre told bad jokes. He told lots of them. But no one got his jokes, so he was fired.
5. Jonathan Coachman
Coachman is the host of WWE Raw and SmackDown Live. He’s been around since 1993, when he joined WCW. In 2001, he became the color commentator for Monday Night RAW. Then, in 2002, he began hosting Sunday night Smackdown. He’s still there today.
4. David Holmes
Dream Job’s first winner, Hall appeared in Season 2 of Survivor, but his second win came via the show’s online application process. He didn’t make it to the live finale, but he did go home with $50K. Now, he’s competing again, this time on Season 3 of Survivor.
David Holmes, a 28-year-old software developer, won Dream Job’s second season in November 2018. He beat out five others in a field of 20 applicants, including a former contestant from Survivor. His prize included a trip to Fiji, where he competed against 11 other contestants in the game.
Holmes was one of four finalists chosen to compete in the third season of Dream Job, which premieres January 8 on CBS All Access. In addition to being a contestant on Survivor, he’s also been cast in the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT.
3. Kit Hoover
Kit Hoover had been working at Cold Pizza since it opened in January 2016. She was one of the original six employees hired to help launch the restaurant chain. But now, she’s out of a job because she didn’t know anything about sports.
Hoover worked at the restaurant while she was still studying at university. After graduation, she got a full-time job at a different restaurant, where she learned how to cook food and serve customers. When Cold Pizza came along, she jumped at the chance to work there.
But despite knowing next to nothing about sports, Hoover was promoted to manager of the sports team. And soon enough, she found herself managing the entire operation, including hiring and firing people.
When the news broke that she was fired, Hoover took to Twitter to express her disappointment. “I am beyond devastated to announce I’ve lost my job today,” she wrote. “I love @coldpizza & the team. This is such a bummer.”
The reason why she wasn’t given the opportunity to learn about sports before being put in charge of the team was because she hadn’t been around long enough. In fact, she joined the company just three months prior to the opening day. So, even though she was responsible for making sure the team ran smoothly, she couldn’t do much about it.
2. Steve Weissman
Steve Weissman, CEO of the New York City-based digital marketing agency, Digital Marketer, had been working hard to build his brand. But it wasn’t enough. So he took matters into his own hands. After months of research, he came up with a plan to make himself look better online. And he did. In just one week, he went from being a nobody to a somebody.
Weissman spent $5,000 on Facebook ads, including buying likes, followers and shares. Then he posted about 10 times per day, sometimes even multiple times per hour. His posts included photos of him wearing expensive clothes, posing next to celebrities, and showing off his fancy cars. “I wanted people to see me,” says Weissman. “I wanted them to know I’m important.”
The strategy worked. Within days, Weissman had gained over 50,000 followers on Instagram, where he now boasts nearly 300,000 followers. He also got hired by a PR firm to help promote his social media presence. Now, he’s getting paid gigs promoting brands like Apple, Nike, and Mercedes Benz.
But there’s a downside to this newfound fame. Weissman says he feels uncomfortable around strangers because he doesn’t want to come across as fake. He’s also worried that people might think he’s trying too hard. “People are always asking me what my secret is,” says Weissman.
1. Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann was a great sports commentator. He was smart, witty, and often controversial. But he wasn’t always entertaining. Here are 10 reasons why we think Olbermann was a terrible host for ESPN.
#10 – Pretentious
Olbermann was a self-proclaimed “political analyst.” He often referred to himself as a political journalist. He even called himself a “political satirist.” However, he never really did anything satirical. Instead, he just talked about politics. And it didn’t matter what topic he discussed, whether it was politics or sports, he still acted like he was smarter than everyone else.
#9 – Poor Humor
Olbermann was known for making jokes that weren’t funny. He tried to make fun of everything, including people with disabilities, the media, politicians, and athletes. His jokes were usually unfunny because he failed to deliver punch lines. They sounded good, but they fell flat.
#8 – Offensive
Olbermann was offensive to many different groups. For example, he once compared the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter to Hitler. He also made racist remarks against black players such as Terrell Owens.
#7 – Unprofessional
Olbermann’s behavior on air was unprofessional. He would curse during broadcasts, interrupt other hosts, and talk over his co-hosts. He also had an annoying habit of laughing too much.
#6 – Overrated
Olbermann is one of the most famous commentators in America. But he doesn’t deserve it. He was only good at criticizing others. When he hosted SportsCenter, he rarely showed any enthusiasm for sports. In fact, he seemed bored while doing so.
#5 – Lackluster Interviewing Skills
When Olbermann interviewed guests, he was boring. He asked the same questions over and over again. He didn’t seem interested in the answers either.
#4 – Annoying Behavior
Olbermann was very rude to his guests. He interrupted them all the time and talked over them. He also criticized their opinions without giving them a chance to respond.
#3 – Insensitive Comments
Olbermann was insensitive towards certain topics. He said things like “I’m not going to be politically correct” when discussing politics. He also made comments about 9/11 victims.
#2 – Irresponsible
Olbermann was irresponsible. He once got into a fight with a fan who disagreed with him. He also cursed on live television.
#1 – Bad Taste
Olbermann was bad taste. He dressed inappropriately (he wore a hat indoors) and used foul language. He also insulted women by calling them “bimbos.”