Sage Steele

it is what it is God gave me I can't straighten it like go for it so I got the call and went up for the audition and I crushed it because I had more important things I had this baby bouncing on my bladder and so when they tried to like roll the wrong tape to see how I handle adversity I'm like guys whatever go for it got the offer when I got back and I talked about it with her dad with my parents with my agent and I prayed about it and I knew I couldn't take the job

it is what it is God gave me I can't straighten it like go for it so I got the call and went up for the audition and I crushed it because I had more important things I had this baby bouncing on my bladder and so when they tried to like roll the wrong tape to see how I handle adversity I'm like guys whatever go for it got the offer when I got back and I talked about it with her dad with my parents with my agent and I prayed about it and I knew I couldn't take the job

So the dream job since I was 11 years old, I turned it down. My agent said, you're crazy. ESPN does not need you. You need ESPN. As that Army kid growing up around the world, all I saw was the example my parents set. that family comes first. And I knew that I wanted at least one more kid. I mean, I was about to have number two.

So the dream job since I was 11 years old, I turned it down. My agent said, you're crazy. ESPN does not need you. You need ESPN. As that Army kid growing up around the world, all I saw was the example my parents set. that family comes first. And I knew that I wanted at least one more kid. I mean, I was about to have number two.

And my dear friend, the late, great Stuart Scott, booyah, who took me under his wing before I even got to ESPN. Yeah, he was my best friend at ESPN. Stuart believed in me a long time before I believed in myself. And the human being that he was, I talked to him daily. And he told me, before I even got there, he said, don't come here until you're ready because you'll get eaten alive.

And my dear friend, the late, great Stuart Scott, booyah, who took me under his wing before I even got to ESPN. Yeah, he was my best friend at ESPN. Stuart believed in me a long time before I believed in myself. And the human being that he was, I talked to him daily. And he told me, before I even got there, he said, don't come here until you're ready because you'll get eaten alive.

So that's what I was thinking when I turned down the job. And they all said I was nuts and they're gonna blackball you and good luck, you're done, your career's done. Had the baby, signed another contract for three years and just thought, if this is what's meant to be, what God wants me to do, to get to ESPN and fulfill that dream, then that's what he'll make happen.

So that's what I was thinking when I turned down the job. And they all said I was nuts and they're gonna blackball you and good luck, you're done, your career's done. Had the baby, signed another contract for three years and just thought, if this is what's meant to be, what God wants me to do, to get to ESPN and fulfill that dream, then that's what he'll make happen.

And three years later, I got another call. And it happened to be a better offer this time, too. So, because I was better at my job. I had worked on my craft. But that was, in hindsight, Charlie, one of the first big tests. Because I was scared to turn it down. It was this big dream. And back then in 2004, I mean, there were fewer, many fewer women.

And three years later, I got another call. And it happened to be a better offer this time, too. So, because I was better at my job. I had worked on my craft. But that was, in hindsight, Charlie, one of the first big tests. Because I was scared to turn it down. It was this big dream. And back then in 2004, I mean, there were fewer, many fewer women.

And certainly no one that, there are a few that look like me. Robin Roberts was really the only one. And she was certainly my idol. Absolutely the trailblazer. So in 2007 went, and I got to tell you, 16 and a half years at ESPN. When I got there, my kids were 11 months old, two and four. I don't remember much from those days. I don't regret a thing. I got to do things that I never dreamt of.

And certainly no one that, there are a few that look like me. Robin Roberts was really the only one. And she was certainly my idol. Absolutely the trailblazer. So in 2007 went, and I got to tell you, 16 and a half years at ESPN. When I got there, my kids were 11 months old, two and four. I don't remember much from those days. I don't regret a thing. I got to do things that I never dreamt of.

SportsCenter was that childhood dream, but it ended up being hosting coverage pregame halftime at the NBA finals with 30 million viewers and Super Bowls and seven straight Masters tournaments and World Series and like... I get emotional still thinking about what I got to do. And despite how it ended, no regrets. I loved it.

SportsCenter was that childhood dream, but it ended up being hosting coverage pregame halftime at the NBA finals with 30 million viewers and Super Bowls and seven straight Masters tournaments and World Series and like... I get emotional still thinking about what I got to do. And despite how it ended, no regrets. I loved it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. What a fun time. I had actually lived here from 2014 through 17. And so when I come back to Scottsdale, I cry because this is, oh gosh, right Quinn? We were landing today and I started crying. I'm like, this was home. I hope you appreciate where you live. This is the best place.

Yeah. What a fun time. I had actually lived here from 2014 through 17. And so when I come back to Scottsdale, I cry because this is, oh gosh, right Quinn? We were landing today and I started crying. I'm like, this was home. I hope you appreciate where you live. This is the best place.

It is. I will be back. Mark my words. And I had to come back to Connecticut in 2017 when they were going through layoffs. Said, we want to keep you, but you got to come back. So smart. And I loved my job. And so you leave and you go back. And I was watching how it was being handled here. And it was a lot different than the Northeast, as you know, just like California.

It is. I will be back. Mark my words. And I had to come back to Connecticut in 2017 when they were going through layoffs. Said, we want to keep you, but you got to come back. So smart. And I loved my job. And so you leave and you go back. And I was watching how it was being handled here. And it was a lot different than the Northeast, as you know, just like California.