Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit
Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit originally appeared on The Spun.
Sam Ponder, the former Sunday NFL Countdown host and College GameDay reporter, was fired by ESPN ahead of the 2024 football season. It would be understandable for the Liberty University graduate to hold some animosity toward the network and her former colleagues, given how her tenure at ESPN ended.
Advertisement
The New York City resident hasn't worked in TV since she was fired. Some have speculated that Ponder, who leans right on many social and political issues, was let go due to her politics. ESPN maintains that she was let go due to budgetary cuts, as she was making north of $1 million to host a once-a-week show in the fall.
'I don't believe that anything is just budget cuts anymore,' former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who worked at ESPN from 2000-2011, said. 'I think that they clearly wanted to find an off-ramp for Sam. What's troubling to me is the timing.
'This is three weeks before the NFL season begins. Her show, Sunday NFL Countdown, is coming off its best ratings year in quite some time. So I don't know why they would do this so close to the season and bring so much attention, unless they want to bring in the next host and give that host a lot of attention.'
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Samantha Ponder speaks at Inside the Game Q&A presented by IFA on February 2, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Thaddaeus McAdams/WireImage)Ponder, though, showed her true character this week, when she was asked about her time at ESPN, specifically College GameDay. She had nothing but good things to say.
Advertisement
"Do you ever talk to the college gameday guys anymore?" a fan asked Ponder.
She responded: "David Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired. 🤣 Rece Davis is my forever favorite. I'll never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people. I will be a college gameday fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It's such a special show."
It would be understandable if Ponder, who is enjoying time off while raising her three kids in New York, had negative things to say about ESPN - or her former colleagues. However, she chose to take the high road, doing nothing but complimenting her former show and network.
Ponder is rightfully being praised for her classy remarks on Herbstreit and the rest of the College GameDay crew.
Advertisement
The ESPN college football pregame show, meanwhile, will get back on the air on Saturday, Aug. 30, live from Columbus.
Sam Ponder Shows True Character With Comment On Kirk Herbstreit first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Disneyland to temporarily shutter 7 attractions amid 70th anniversay celebrations — these are the rides impacted
Disneyland is celebrating its 70th birthday this summer, but be warned before booking your trip — some attractions are temporarily closed. The iconic Anaheim, Calif. amusement park's official anniversary takes place July 17, with a new show titled 'Walt Disney – A Magical Life' debuting on that date. However, the Orange County Register reports that the Pixar Pal-A-Round eccentric wheel and the Star Tours motion simulator in Tomorrowland will both be closed for seasonal refurbishments at that time. Advertisement 3 The iconic Anaheim, Calif. amusement park's official anniversary takes place July 17, with a new show titled 'Walt Disney – A Magical Life' debuting on that date. christopher – Additionally, the Main Street Cinema will also be closed to install the new 'Last Verse' video, which forms part of the park's 'Platinum Jubilee' celebration. Four other attractions are set to shutter temporarily later in July. Advertisement The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and the Storybook Land Canal Boats will both close July 21, per the publication, and are expected to reopen sometime in August. Meanwhile, DCA's Incredicoaster will close temporarily July 28 for refurbishment. Casey Jr. Circus Train will also shutter on that same date for an undisclosed period. 3 Disneyland's Pixar Pals parking garage tram loading area on its last day before closing due to the coronavirus. The Pixar Pal-A-Round eccentric wheel will be closed during Disneyland's official celebration on July 17. MediaNews Group via Getty Images Advertisement 3 The Star Tours Mural at Disneyland is pictured. Iy will be closed for part of the summer for a seasonal refurbishment. Eric BVD – However, those looking to head to Disneyland in the coming weeks shouldn't be disheartened. From now through August 14, the park is offering families special prices with their anniversary ticket offers. The company is currently offering a special four-day pass for $100 per day or a three-day pass for $120 per day.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Sauce Gardner opens up on how LeBron James played role in him meeting Ice Spice
LeBron James, even if unintentionally, helped play the role of matchmaker for Sauce Gardner's rumored relationship with rapper Ice Spice, the Jets cornerback told TMZ. Gardner appeared on an April 2024 episode of 'The Shop' — a podcast featuring James — alongside rapper Travis Scott, former NFL wideout Chad Ochocinco and star Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, and Gardner told the outlet he believes that's when the couple met in person for the first time. They seemingly became Instagram official just over one year later in a post shared by Ice Spice with her and Gardner posing in front of a bathroom mirror. Advertisement 3 Ice Spice and Sauce Gardner are pictured at the Knicks' game May 16. AP While Gardner told TMZ that he wasn't 'trying to speak too much on it' when approached in Los Angeles, he did acknowledge that he and the rapper are 'cool' — and proceeded to reveal a bit about their relationship. 'We just be having a good time,' Gardner told the outlet. 'Two young individuals, you know. She from New York. I play in New York. She talented, real talented, when it come to what she do. Same thing for me. Two people that get hated on that's really good at what we do, so we got a lot in common. We cool.' Advertisement 3 LeBron James is pictured at Fanatics Fest on June 21. Getty Images Before Ice Spice's post, the duo had been spotted out in public on different occasions, and Gardner appeared to tease the relationship earlier in April by sharing a photo on Instagram that showed them standing next to a car in New York City. When they attended a Knicks playoff game at the Garden in May, they received a loud ovation from fans in attendance as they watched the Knicks close out their second-round series against the Celtics. Gardner, 24, will enter the 2025 campaign off a rough season and is entering the last year of his rookie deal, but he still attended the Jets' mandatory minicamp instead of holding out, getting fined and attempting to make a contract statement. Advertisement 3 Sauce Gardner addresses reporters during a June 12 press conference. Bill Kostroun/New York Post 'I just wanted to show my teammates and the coaches how much I'm bought into this,' Gardner told reporters on June 12. 'I want to win. I want to be a part of changing the organization.' He earned consecutive First-Team All-Pro appearances in his first two NFL seasons — as well as winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and securing a pair of Pro Bowl spots — but failed to even make the Pro Bowl last year.
Elle
2 hours ago
- Elle
Rihanna Wears Sheer Blue Chanel Gown to ‘The Smurfs' World Premiere
THE RUNDOWN On Saturday, Rihanna attended the world premiere of Smurfs in Brussels wearing a custom Chanel ensemble in baby blue. Rihanna voices the character of Smurfette in the new animated movie. Her chiffon top was constructed with layers of sheer fabric that swung lightly over her torso—she and her partner, A$AP Rocky, revealed they were expecting their third child at the Met Gala in May this year. Under the top, which was hung with dangling crystals and feathers, she wore a long silk skirt in the same delicate shade with embroidery along the hem. She had her hair half up and wore several pieces of delicate jewelry around her neck and wrists. By her side, A$AP Rocky was wearing a striped red-and-white button-down shirt and a red and blue tie. He was wearing wide-legged slacks and a pair of dark sunglasses. Both stars have been in Paris the last few days, first making an appearance at a show for the Dior menswear collection. Rihanna wore an embroidered cape-style coat over a mint green vest and button-down, while the rapper wore a brightly striped Dior tie. They then appeared at Rocky's show for AWGE as part of Paris Fashion Week. They were joined by their son, Riot Rose, making his fashion show debut. Rihanna was wearing a loose button-down shirt in a blue and red stripe pattern that opened over her belly, paired it with a pleated black miniskirt. She accessorized with white pointed-toe heels with criss-crossed laces over tall gray socks. She left her long hair down in gentle waves and wore a number of different chains and pendants of different lengths. Riot was also styled for the night, wearing purple pants, Vans, and a cute denim jacket over a white T-shirt.
