There’s no longer any denying it: ESPN is the worldwide leader in creating its own news. The most recent example is the new report that network MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has been charged with 11 counts of battery for attacking six people, including a woman.
Also, ESPN college women’s basketball announcers made their own news last week by going silent on a broadcast over Florida’s law banning sexual indoctrination in schools.
It goes without saying that current and former on-air buffoons Jemele Hill, Keith Olbermann, Mark Jones and many others at ESPN created their own news, too.
Sonnen, age 44, was at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas Dec. 18 when he allegedly attacked those six people, Outkick reported. He was only detained and given citations for the charges that night. Those charged were dropped on Jan. 27.
However, Sonnen (seen at right in ESPN First Take appearance with Stephen A. Smith) could not escape this legal choke-hold forever, not after the county attorney discovered new information about the incident. On March 14, the 11 charges were filed by Clark County. Among them are charges for battery and felony battery by strangulation.
Many times, when ESPN personalities crossed the line, the network treated them with kid gloves. This time, ESPN announced, “Chael will not appear on ESPN as we explore the details of these serious charges.”
A 1998 All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon and former UFC middleweight champion, Sonnen stands accused of punching a man, punching and kicking a second man, punching a third man in the face, punching and kneeing a fourth man and striking a fifth man with his elbow.” He also struck a woman.
An eye witness told TMZ she saw Sonnen, 6-foot-1 and over 200 pounds, loudly banging on a hotel room door at 7 p.m. on the night of the incident. Two people walked by, and a fracas ensued. Sonnen subdued the man, the woman screamed and someone phoned Las Vegas police. Sonnen was eventually led away in handcuffs.
Sonnen is due to make a court appearance in Nevada April 27.
Additionally, Sonnen got into trouble in 2011, when he pleaded guilty to money laundering. He was fined $10,000 and sentenced to two years of probation.
When ESPN talks about newsmakers, it isn’t kidding. And it’s not necessarily referring to non-employees or good news either.
Last week, ESPN college women’s basketball broadcasters created a huge controversy by going silent to protest the Florida indoctrination ban. Hill talked and tweeted her way out the door at ESPN by calling Republicans “white supremacists.” Jones expressed joy when Rush Limbaugh died and spewed hatred toward unvaccinated white athletes.
That's the latest from ESPN, the worldwide leader in creating its own news.