Beadle a Hater

I recently got rid of the My Girls list from the side of the webpage. The simple fact was that every week only two women - Erin Andrews and Michelle Beadle - were worthy enough for the top spot (we're talking sports here, not overall Girls). In terms of the sports world they are my two favorite women. Shocked was I to find out that actually they hate each other. Ok, there is no evidence of Erin hating Beadle, but Beadle certainly doesn't like Erin. In a new 750-page book about ESPN, authors Jim Miller and Tom Shales give an oral history of the company and more importantly, delves into numerous rivalries and fights over the years. From what I hear, there's the normal stuff like fights between alpha-males (Berman vs Kornheiser) and I imagine lots of other details surrounding run-ins with the law. To me, though, the most interesting stuff is what Beadle had to say about Erin and her peeping Tom ordeal. She noted, "I felt bad for her. She looked fabulous but it was such a violation. I mean, I've had moments in my apartment in New York when the blinds were up for one brief second and you think, "Ugh!" but that's nothing compared to what happened to her. Nothing." She then added that "I think things might have been handled differently, but she seems to be moving on. Sometimes these things turn out better for people." Finally, she noted that she is not a fan of Andrews and that "Everyone who knows me knows that." Obviously I have not read the book yet and are simply getting these quotes from book reviews, but wow, if they read the same in context, then that totally skews my view of Beadle.

Look, I think we can all agree that not only has Erin survived the situation but she has actually seen an uptick in her career. It's kind of a fact. Before the incident she was popular sideline reporter whose only hosting gig was for the College World Series. Since then she has been a guest on Oprah, was on Dancing with the Stars, got a co-hosting gig on College Football Gameday and has even been seen on Access Hollywood as a red carpet interviewer. Certainly her professional life is different now than it was before.

The thing I don't like is the tone in which Beadle talks about the whole situation. First, bringing up how good Erin looked in the video does not give off the impression that you take what happened seriously. It's just disrespectful. I mean, this was a serious crime against Erin and I can't believe that a fellow female would brush it off so casually like it's not a big deal. I know she said it was 'such a violation', but you can't it seriously. Second, implying that things could have been handled differently certainly suggests resentment. I'm sure that ESPN handled the situation with kid gloves and I'm sure that they messed up along the way, but honestly, how do you handle a situation like that? As it is, female sideline reporters get little to no respect. Andrews was no better than some of the other reporters and yet was most popular for reasons apparent to every heterosexual male. She is attractive and talked sports, but still couldn't gain the same respect as a dude who talks sports. When she is violated in such a way, how do you handle it? How does she not lose all credibility when she is simply the girl who got secretly taped? Finally, suggesting that she has benefited is one thing. However, when you lead into that with your other quotes, you again sound resentful. Just overall a terrible job by her.

Beadle is obviously resentful that Erin used her ordeal to further her career to which I ask, "What was she supposed to do?" Some people in her situation might have been afraid to come back into public. Some might have been afraid to continue working. She decided not only to acknowledge what happened, but she took it a step further and sat down with Oprah. I can understand why some people may feel uncomfortable with this decision, but as for the other opportunities, I don't see how you can say no. What was Erin supposed to do? Say no when Gameday asked her to host the first hour of the show? Was she was supposed to go to her boss and say, "You know sir, I think I might only be getting this job because of what happened to me in my private life. I should hope you gave equal weight to equally qualified people like Michelle Beadle..."? Come on, that's crazy. It's not like ESPN was committing a crime. They are in the entertainment business and drive towards higher ratings. It's not like they are compromising their values by putting Erin on tv. She has never been convicted of any sort of crime, been in porn, gotten hooked on drugs or done anything wrong besides be attractive and get spied on. There is not a single legitimate reason why she shouldn't be a host. She didn't ask to be spied on. She didn't ask for it to come out in public. She didn't want or expect it to happen, but that doesn't mean she can't turn it into a positive.

So if I'm Michelle Beadle, I try to keep my mouth shut regarding this topic. To me, this is a big hit to her credibility. If she wants to move up in ESPN, all she has to do is continue what she is doing. I love her on SportsNation and I know the rest of America does too. She is the 'kind of chick' you want to have a beer with and talk sports. That is something that possibly only Linda Cohn and Suzy Kolber can say - and she does it better than the both of them. Just do what you do. Don't be hateful. (oh, and don't be a home wrecker...look it up if you want more info)