Who is Doris Burke? Jason Whitlock slams ESPN for promoting 'unqualified' analyst after Mark Jackson's exit
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ESPN has reportedly laid-off NBA analyst Mark Jackson and has decided to appoint Doris Burke and Doc Rivers as the lead analysts for the upcoming NBA season. On August 1, Jason Whitlock, the host of 'Fearless with Jason Whitlock' on BlazeTV, vehemently voiced his disapproval of Burke's promotion to a position that no female analyst has held before
According to the New York Post, during a discussion with Steve Kim, a contributor and former ESPN employee, Whitlock acknowledged his respect for Burke while emphasizing on her lack of qualifications as compared to Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy for the lead analyst's role.
'She is not qualified'
Whitlock said, "I absolutely love Doris Burke, I think she does a really good job - but she is not qualified to be the number one broadcaster on the NBA," adding, "And I really like Doris Burke. Give me a break, Steve. Give me a break. You're replacing an All-Star NBA player [and] a head coach who mattered in the league for many years. They had great chemistry, they were willing to criticize people during the game, during the broadcast."
"All of that is out the window. You place a woman in this spot - Doris Burke is good, but if you think she's woman enough to criticize these multimillionaire NBA players and coaches, it's not gonna happen," Whitlock further said, explaining why he throught promoting Burke was a bad idea.
Rivers and Burke's partnership is expected to foster a more NBA-positive atmosphere, in contrast to Van Gundy's occasional criticism of the league and its players. Whitlock clarified that his concerns were not directed at Burke personally but rather stemmed from ESPN's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives rather than serving the best interests of NBA fans. He criticized the network for prioritizing a political agenda over the suitability of its broadcasting decisions.
Whitlock said, "And this is this is my problem with ESPN. What's their slogan? 'Serving sports fans anytime, anywhere?' No decision they make has anything at all to do with serving sports fans. This isn't about serving sports fans. This is about serving diversity, equity and inclusion, ESG score. This is about a political agenda. This has nothing to do with what's best for the NBA or NBA fans - and I like Doris Burke."
Who is Doris Burke?
Burke is a sports broadcaster and former basketball player. She is well-known for her work as a basketball analyst and sideline reporter for ESPN. She covers covers NBA and college basketball games. She has been a prominent figure in sports media for many years and is highly regarded for her insightful analysis and extensive knowledge of the game.
Throughout her career, Burke has broken barriers and become a trailblazer for women in sports media. She has earned widespread acclaim for her contributions to sports journalism, and her presence on NBA broadcasts has helped pave the way for other female analysts and reporters in the male-dominated world of sports broadcasting.