Sage Steele has been plenty busy pursuing opportunities to use her First Amendment rights since announcing she would leave ESPN.
This week, she made a special visit to the University of Alabama where head football coach Nick Saban had invited the outspoken sports anchor to share her “why” with his players.
The football program shared images of Steele speaking with players and meeting independently with Saban.
What is your Why?
Thank you, @sagesteele for sharing your Why with @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/EDpd8asOrp
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 22, 2023
Steele left ESPN last week, issuing a statement after her lawsuit settlement, saying she is leaving ESPN to “exercise my first amendment rights more freely.” Her last SportsCenter on ESPN was July 27. Steele shared with Megyn Kelly that she felt “scared” working at the company after she was removed from the air over controversial comments about Disney’s vaccine mandate and the Blackness of Barack Obama. She also shared a story of Barbara Walters allegedly assaulting her during an appearance on The View.
Steele appearing at Alabama to speak with Saban and Crimson Tide players certainly raised some eyebrows and garnered reactions on social media.
I thought she was being silenced. https://t.co/0bqZErqn0O
— Stephen (@nipsey) August 22, 2023
"In closing, don't forget your technique. If your leverage is wrong, even a 140-year old woman can put you in a trash can." https://t.co/uQX0g3ruOf
— Gray Hardison (@BellyoftheBeast) August 22, 2023
7-5 season coming https://t.co/RM456jl9U9
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) August 22, 2023
“What is your WHY” is the perfect nothingburger of a talk for someone like Sage Steele to give. https://t.co/BVkONxAP8a
— Rob Slater (@RobSlater10) August 22, 2023
Oh, I have a "why?" alright… https://t.co/t4blFgK5Fw
— Christopher Novak 🥎 (@ChrisMNovak) August 22, 2023
Whatever you think of Steele, it is certainly a bold choice by Saban to promote her speaking with Crimson Tide players a week after leaving ESPN. Steele is also an outspoken critic of transgender athletes so you’re certainly saying something by aligning yourself with her, even if you claim you’re not.
