What did Adam Silver say about Rachel Nichols?
THE Rachel Nichols headlines continue. Earlier in July 2021, ESPN broadcaster Rachel Nichols went viral after apologizing for the "racial" comments she made about colleague Maria Taylor after a video from 2020 leaked. As the controversy surrounding Nichols' comments continues, NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, has stepped in to comment on the situation. In a press conference prior to the tip off of the first game in the 2021 NBA Finals, Silver addressed the controversy after being asked about it by a reporter. I think its particularly unfortunate that two women in the industry are pitted against each other, he said. I know that both Rachel and Maria are terrific at what they do. They work extraordinarily hard.  We should be judging people by the larger context of their body of work and who they are and what we know about them, he added. Silver also went on to add that the conversation about diversity is not just at ESPN, it is throughout all companies. These issues are not specific to ESPN, said Silver. The league is working on its own issues in terms of doing a better job with diversity. Not just in sports, but in companies across America. The New York Times released a report about Nichols' 2020 comments about Taylor. I wish Maria Taylor all the success in the world - she covers football, she covers basketball, she said to Adam Mendelsohn, the sports advisor of LeBron James, about ESPN giving Taylor the 2020 NBA Finals hosting gig over her. But if you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity - which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it - like, go for it." I just want them to go somewhere else  its in my contract, by the way; this job is in my contract in writing, she continued. After her comments surfaced, ESPN did not fire the long-time reporter. While she was not fired, she was pulled from reporting the 2021 NBA finals following her comments and replaced by Malika Andrews. The network confirmed the decision on July 6, 2021, saying it is the "best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals." Nichols still continues to host The Jump on ESPN, and has also since apologized on-air about her comments. So the first thing they teach you in journalism school is dont be the story. And I dont plan to break that rule today or distract from a fantastic Finals, Nichols said on The Jump on ESPN 2 on July 5, 2021. But I also dont want to let this moment pass without saying how much I respect, how much I value our colleagues here at ESPN. How deeply, deeply sorry I am for disappointing those I hurt, particularly Maria Taylor, and how grateful I am to be part of this outstanding team.  Taylor has not yet commented on the controversy, her ESPN contract is set to expire in under two weeks and prior to the headlines, she declined a deal from the company that would have given her a $5million salary.