It’s been a rough week for ESPN’s analyst and sideline reporter Maria Taylor. Women are more visible in sports now than ever but that doesn’t stop people from trying to shade their work the first time they have a chance. Taylor drew a lot of attention around the league after the NBA revealed the media ballots for every award of the season. Fans were quick to notice that Taylor didn’t include Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis in any of her All-NBA teams.
To put things in perspective, her 1st team was Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic, Lebron, Harden. 2nd team was Tatum, Simmons, Embiid, Luka, Lillard. 3rd team was Middleton, Siakam, Bam, Butler, Paul Ben Simmons was 2nd team as a forward while LeBron was 1st team as a guard, according to Taylor.
Of course, that was curious for a lot of people and some didn’t take this ‘news’ as lightly as others. Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb didn’t hold anything back and attacked Taylor, asking why she had the right to vote in the first place.
Why does Maria Taylor have a vote? Real question. She is a studio host/sideline reporter in her first year covering the NBA. She works a ton, not just on the league. No reason for her to have a vote https://t.co/Sy2M2jW9Pb
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 19, 2020
Taylor wasn’t having any of that and she replied explaining it was a mistake and that didn’t mean the league has to take her voting rights away.
Because I PLAYED basketball…I COVER the league. And I DESERVE everything I’ve worked hard for. https://t.co/JwLjk6dsb9
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) September 19, 2020
Wow it’s been a long week. But if everyone would now like to take away my voter privileges because of a CLEAR mistake. Please feel free.
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) September 19, 2020
Utah Jazz’s superstar Donovan Mitchell also came in Taylor’s defense, firing back at Gottlieb’s remarks.
Because she knows what she talking about … and worked hard to get where she at… and hooped…. y’all really gotta stop trying @MariaTaylor its corny! https://t.co/p9g6pSIftB
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 19, 2020
Some fans weren’t happy, either, as they explained these mistakes, regardless of how tiny they are, affect players’ career and how history will remember them.
https://twitter.com/DrGuru_/status/1307407022338514944
I honestly believe Maria Taylor vote gotta be revoked after that bra.
Leaving AD off of All NBA is the literal worst snub of the year. No way that was a basketball decision.
— OG Slim (@Jody_McFly) September 19, 2020
I need Maria Taylor banned from NBA voting immediately
— Yunel #PerSourcesENT MEDIA (@YunelDudley) September 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/zenmoon7/status/1307483193688252419https://twitter.com/datboyjohnnyy/status/1307409285572247552
Earlier this week, Taylor was compared to an “AVN” (Adult Video News) award show host due to her outfit while she was working as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”. A Chicago radio host didn’t have anything better to say, saying a very questionable comment about the 33-year-old.
Just like she did with Gottlieb, she had a classy response for Dan McNeil, who lost his job after these remarks.
Well Danny Dearest if you would like to continue making sexist comments about me…please bring your misogyny with you to the NBA Countdown double header I’ll be hosting tomorrow night. Hey ladies remember you can wear whatever you feel confident in! @670TheScore @DannyMac670 https://t.co/bN0H582isU
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) September 15, 2020
Even though women are more present in sports nowadays, they still have to battle with these comments. It’s not like Taylor changed the whole result of the voting and AD doesn’t seem to be so bothered about him. Yet, other people feel like it was a personal attack.
