mikerams

In a SportsCenter segment on Tuesday, ESPN reporter Josina Anderson was asked if Michael Sam would make the St. Louis Rams roster cut based on his performance on the field and how he was fitting in with the team. Unexpected by anyone, she responded by reporting on Sam’s showering habits in the locker room with teammates.

In her reporting she said, “Another Rams defensive player told me that ‘Sam is respecting our space’ and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is kind of waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable.”

She went on by saying that other players, including fellow defensive lineman Kendall Langford, said that they hadn’t been tracking Sam’s showering habits.

The report, understandably, went viral with both athletes and fellow reporters voicing their disapproval.

Rams Defensive Lineman Chris Long had possibly the best response:

After initially defending their reporting on the subject, today representatives for ESPN issued this statement:

“ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report. Clearly yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports.”

Translation: Someone lost their job today.