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ESPN Personalities Address Company Layoffs With Heartfelt Messages, Well Wishes

Several ESPN personalities yesterday took time to address the net's layoffs on-air, with "SportsCenter" anchor Scott Van Pelt dedicating his popular "1 Big Thing" segment to the topic. Van Pelt said, "This was a very difficult day in our neighborhood. People we care about, some of our neighbors who have been here a long time, lost their jobs. They are our friends and yours. We value them because they’re valuable." He added, "They’re folks who'll bring with them great value to wherever it is they call home next. Our neighborhood will lose much in the absence of their presence" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 4/27). Jemele Hill said she hopes that those who lost their jobs know that ESPN is a "weaker company without them." Hill: "Their work was valued, it was admired. They’re treasured talents, and I hope they don’t take what happened here as an indication that they’re not worth it in this business, because they are” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 4/26). Bob Ley at the conclusion at "OTL," said, "Usually we close ... each day with an item to make you smile or laugh. Today it is not a good day for that. ... A number of our colleagues are leaving us today here at ESPN, so today is that time to reflect on what they have contributed through the years to our many platforms, what they brought to you" (“OTL,” ESPN, 4/26).

TOUGH DAY FOR ALL: Rachel Nichols noted while industries "change and shift," it "stinks when actual human people have their lives thrown into chaos by that." Nichols: "It stinks because we will miss some very cool and smart and hard-working people who every day made things better and brighter around here" (“The Jump,” ESPN, 4/26). Tony Reali said, "There’s not much you can say other than today stunk and tough days in our industry are here. We must recognize there are tough days in many other industries as well" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 4/26). Michelle Beadle: "It’s a very rough day for us here at ESPN. A lot of our friends, our colleagues are now without a job, a lot of whom have been here for decades and done a lot of service" (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 4/26). Mike Greenberg this morning said, "A lot of people that we know lost their jobs yesterday. It’s excruciating to watch. It’s difficult to see that happen to people that you know and that you care about." While he called it a "reality of life in corporate America," he said yesterday "was a terrible day at our company" (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 4/27).

FROM THE OTHER SIDE
: FS1's Colin Cowherd appeared on Cleveland's WKRK-FM yesterday and said the layoffs "are awful and they make me sick." Cowherd: "The good news is that most of the people let go are really talented, but this is all about business. When you have overpaid for products ... this is the result. It is awful" (“Bull & Fox,” WKRK-FM, 4/26). TNT’s Charles Barkley said, "This is a tough business at times and you see these people all the time on television and then you see them during events. ... I know a lot of them are household names, but we're thinking about them because ESPN is not our competition. We're in this thing together.” TNT’s Ernie Johnson said, “We're all in the toy department. We're all getting to work in sports and it's all fun and games. But then a day like this happens, and we’ve got a lot of friends up there. We wish you well” (“Hawks-Wizards,” TNT, 4/26).

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