Following ‘Bigot Accusation’, Sam Ponder Finally Issues Stern Response With ESPN Colleagues’ Backing

Posted on by Alexa Connes

Sam Ponder, an ESPN colleague who was referred to as a “bigot” in a USA Today column by Nancy Armour, is being supported by Sage Steele.

Steele, a “SportsCenter” host, defended Ponder in a tweet by writing, “Pathetic attack on a WOMAN who is simply fighting for other WOMEN in sports.”

“(Nancy Armour) chooses to lead w her emotions vs facts. ‘Follow the science’, right?! When in doubt, just pull the bigot/race card! Comical. Stay strong (Sam Ponder) ..this is a lonely fight, but it’s worth it!”

Ponder responded with this tweet on Wednesday, “Biology is not bigotry. Loving people does not require the absence of boundaries.”

Steele praised Sam Ponder on Twitter, writing, “As always, well said by (Sam Ponder)”.

Outkick said that Sarah Spain, a reporter for ESPN and a coworker of Ponder’s, liked a tweet boosting Armour’s essay, indicating that Spain agrees with Outkick that Ponder is “a bigot.”

When contacted by the publication, ESPN declined to comment on Spain’s social media behaviour.

Ponder and former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines came under fire from Armour for allegedly using Title IX as a cover to discriminate against transgender athletes.

“Don’t be fooled by the people who screech about ‘fairness’ to cloak their bigotry toward transgender girls and women, the transgender girls and women who have the audacity to want to play sports, in particular,” Armour wrote in her column.

She also criticised Ponder for not using her platform to advocate for increased financing for women’s sports and labelled her support for Ponder a “sham”.

Gaines has been the major voice for female student-athletes concerned about transgender women competing in sports against biological women. Gaines and transgender swimmer Lia Thomas tied for fifth in a race last year.

Steele has never been afraid to voice her opinions; she recently supported Gaines after she claimed she was accosted by students while speaking at San Francisco State University and is currently suing ESPN for allegedly violating her free speech rights.

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