Has there ever been a sports reporter more outspoken, brash, and spirited than former ESPN host Michelle Beadle? Whether she’s talking Major League Baseball or the NFL, you can be certain that this knowledgable and outspoken lady has something to contribute to the discourse about your favorite sports.
When a sports reporter has a voice and personality like Michelle Beadle’s, you notice when that voice has gone quiet. Most of us haven’t heard anything from the former ESPN reporter since 2019. What happened to Michelle Beadle, and what is she doing now?
While a glance at Michelle Beadle’s Twitter will tell us that she’s alive and well, there’s a lot more to the story than is being posted on social media. Keep reading to learn more about how Michelle Beadle began her career in sports reporting, and where she went when she seemed to suddenly vanish off the air.
Michelle Beadle and Her Early Career
In the beginning, Michelle Beadle was a mere intern with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, where she started strong. She attracted enough attention in her role to land a reporting gig with Fox Sports Net immediately afterward. The regional gig was small potatoes for Beadle, whose big dreams and bigger opinions would lead to a role as a sideline reporter for TNN, where she reported on professional bull riding.
From there, Beadle sought to expand her repertoire, cross-training in a wide and varied range of sports and events. She began with major league baseball, then pivoted to basketball. Her shift to the YES network would provide her with the opportunity to cover the New Jersey Nets.
At the same time, she began to expand to football, landing herself a gig with the show Under The Helmet through NFL Films. With so much success in the realm of sports, Beadle took the opportunity to expand her horizons and experiment with other kinds of reporting.
During her early career, Beadle would feature on programs from The Discovery Channel and the Travel Channel. A stint with People.com would lead to more work in the world of entertainment reporting.
By the time Beadle returned to ESPN she would have appeared on programs including Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show, and Extra. She had more than proven that she was capable of reporting on a variety of topics and engaging her audience. It wouldn’t be long before she found her way back to the world of sports reporting.
Michelle Beadle at ESPN
Michelle returned to sports as an anchor on The Michael Kay Show in 2009. The role on the ESPN radio program lead her into a role as a co-host on SportsNation, where she worked with Colin Cowherd. She flourished in this role for three years, cementing herself as a knowledgable and vibrant source of sports news and opinions.
After three years, she transitioned to NBC, where she became a host of Sports Network. She would gain international attention during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was the daily studio anchor for the duration of the games.
While NBC provided her with that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Beadle didn’t stay long. She found herself back at ESPN just two years later, by 2014. The return was an easy transition, as she reclaimed her role as a co-host on Sports Nation after her five-year hiatus.
SportsNation Controversy
The trouble began when Beadle challenged popular television personality Stephen A. Smith, who also worked for ESPN. Smith had made remarks about the Ray Rice domestic abuse situation that didn’t sit well with Beadle. As had become her custom and her trademark, the firecracker spoke her mind.
Ultimately, Smith received a week-long suspension for his less than wholesome opinions on the matter. Beadle would walk away unscathed, for now. She would be named a host of the NBA Countdown, where she rose to popularity due to her nightly previews.
Why Michelle Beadle Left ESPN
Michelle Beadle remained the host of Countdown for two years, where she gained fans and notoriety. ESPN was not blind to her rising popularity and hoped to leverage it in their favor. They planned to find a role for her on the popular morning show “Get Up!”
Initially, Beadle wasn’t interested in shifting her role. It took an offer of $5 million per year to change her mind, and she joined the program in the Spring of 2018.
Unfortunately, a lot of the success of talk-based programs is due to the chemistry of the hosts, and Beadle’s chemistry with Mike Greenberg just wasn’t there.
Beadle remained outspoken about the controversies in the sports world. Much like when she spoke out against Stephen A. Smith, she continued to take a stand for her beliefs. She began to boycott both college football and professional football.
From then on, her focus would switch back to covering the NBA, but it was clear by then that the new role wasn’t ideal for her. Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols became the new hosts on Countdown. It’s presumed that ESPN bought out Beadle’s contract, but there was never a formal announcement from the network.
Where Is Michelle Beadle Now?
Since leaving ESPN, Michelle Beadle hasn’t had much attention on her. You can find out what she’s doing now on the official Michelle Beadle Instagram. She continued posting throughout the pandemic, encouraging civic engagement and vaccination – and also sharing quite a few photos of her goofy, geriatric pugs.
Recently, there has been some news regarding Beadle’s next gig. She’ll be returning to her roots by reporting on select games with the San Antonio Spurs this season, which began on October 20th, 2022.
Check Out Total Pro Sports for More News
Whatever else Michelle Beadle does next, Total Pro Sports will be following her career and reporting on where she ends up. With such a wealth of varied experiences in sports, travel, and entertainment, Beadle is more than qualified to step into any role in the world of sports reporting. We can’t wait to see where this one-of-a-kind reporter will end up next!
If you can’t wait for more news, Total Pro Sports has you covered. Check out the rest of our archives for more news about all of your favorite personalities. Whoever you’re curious about, Total Pro Sports has got you covered!
