An ESPN basketball analyst issued an immediate on-air apology during Sunday’s WNBA broadcast after making a comment about what “makes America great,” apparently due to concerns about its similarity to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.
Rebecca Lobo found herself in an awkward situation during the Indiana Fever versus Las Vegas Aces game when she expressed disagreement with a referee’s call.
The incident unfolded late in the game as Lobo provided commentary on a controversial foul call that she questioned.
Play-by-play announcer Pam Ward informed Lobo that officials disagreed with her assessment of the call.
Lobo responded by acknowledging the disagreement and stating her position on the matter.
“They do, and I disagree with them,” Lobo said during the broadcast.
“And that’s fine. That’s what makes America great, right Pam Ward?”
The comment immediately created tension in the broadcast booth, with both announcers falling silent for an extended period.
The uncomfortable pause stretched long enough to become noticeable to viewers watching the game.
Lobo quickly recognized the potential issue with her statement and attempted to correct course during the live broadcast.
“I should rephrase that,” Lobo said, breaking the silence that had developed between the two broadcasters.
Ward agreed with Lobo’s assessment that the comment needed revision, responding with a simple “Yes.”
The play-by-play announcer then offered an alternative phrase for Lobo to use instead of her original comment.
Ward suggested that Lobo should have said “difference of opinion” rather than referencing what makes America great.
Lobo accepted Ward’s suggested revision and incorporated it into her commentary moving forward.
“Sorry about that,” Lobo added before the broadcast team returned their focus to covering the remainder of the basketball game.
The apparent cause of the awkward exchange was the proximity of Lobo’s comment to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
The phrase has become synonymous with the President’s political brand and campaign messaging since he first used it during his 2016 presidential run.
ESPN’s handling of the situation reflected the network’s approach to political content during sports broadcasts.
The incident occurred during what proved to be an exciting finish to the WNBA matchup between two competitive teams.
Las Vegas ultimately secured an 89-81 victory over Indiana in the contest that featured the exchange.
Indiana entered the fourth quarter with a lead they had maintained through the first three periods of play.
The Fever, featuring popular rookie Caitlin Clark, could not maintain their advantage as Las Vegas mounted a comeback.
Clark has become a significant draw for WNBA viewership since joining the league as a highly touted prospect.
The Aces demonstrated their championship experience by outscoring Indiana in the final quarter to secure the win.
WATCH:
The WNBA has made numerous headlines over the year as various players have spoken out about their own “white privilege.”
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers recently reinforced her stance on racial disparities in sports coverage and marketing opportunities in an interview with Time magazine.
“It’s still an issue, every single day,” Bueckers told Time regarding the coverage disparity.
“There’s not ever equal coverage.”
Clark, for her part, ignited controversy after reaffirming her views on white privilege during the Year in Time event in New York last year.
The controversy first erupted following Clark’s TIME interview, where she stated that the WNBA has “been built on” black players and acknowledged her own “privilege as a white person.”
The post Awkward Moment ESPN Analyst is Forced to Apologize On-Air After Saying What ‘Makes America Great,’ Tensions Flood Broadcast Booth appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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