There’s nothing quite like a hefty dose of hypocrisy during the national title game.

ESPN’s claim to “stick to sports” suffered a major setback on Monday night as its broadcast transformed into a platform for government propaganda. President Donald Trump was given an opportunity to extend his good wishes to Ohio State and Notre Dame but instead offered a campaign-style speech filled with falsehoods and a distorted depiction of America.

“In recent years, we have endured significant hardships. However, starting now, we will restore America, making it safer, wealthier, and prouder than ever,” proclaimed the man who had just pardoned 1,500 individuals linked to the January 6 insurrection, among them those who violently confronted law enforcement. Trump also lightened the sentences of some convicted of seditious conspiracy, a crime that is nearly as severe as treason.

“We will earn back respect and admiration, something we haven’t had for many years,” Trump asserted. “… In just under three months since the election, you can already see the changes taking place. The excitement and confidence are returning to our nation.”

What you won’t see is the price of eggs decreasing. But I digress…

Trump is going to act like Trump. There’s an old saying that goes, “How can you tell he’s lying? When his lips are moving.” His impending second term seems poised to serve as a grand scheme for lining his pockets, boosting his family’s wealth, and assisting his oligarch pals while making life tougher for everyday Americans, and many of us have tried to sound the alarm.

But this isn’t solely about Trump; it’s about ESPN and its parent company, Disney, bowing to a would-be autocrat while those demanding athletes to “stick to sports” applaud their actions.

It has always been difficult to ignore the intersections of sports and politics. From Jackie Robinson breaking racial barriers to Billie Jean King’s fight for equality or Colin Kaepernick’s protest against racial injustice years before George Floyd’s murder, sports reflect and influence societal issues. They provide a lens to understand some of our biggest controversies while creating common ground for resolution.

However, a segment of society claims they prefer to keep politics out of sports. What they truly mean is they want to shield themselves from the political narratives they disagree with—particularly those voiced by Black, brown, or LGBTQ individuals.

It’s acceptable when it aligns with their interests, or comes from those who share their views. This is why Kaepernick faced blackballing while Nick Bosa received a shoutout from Trump. Reactions turn hostile when figures like LeBron James comment on systemic racism or Megan Rapinoe addresses sexism and homophobia.

ESPN professed a desire to remain neutral and focus on sports, steering clear of the social issues that influence it all.

Yet, their decisions reveal this notion to be utterly false.

Recall when ESPN anchor Jemele Hill garnered Trump’s wrath in 2017 by labeling him a “white supremacist”?

“Before long, we found ourselves on camera less frequently,” Hill remarked about her experience on Kenny Mayne’s podcast in 2022, referring to her co-host Michael Smith. She left the network in January 2018.

On Monday, ESPN sacrificed precious airtime—30-second ad spots that usually cost upwards of $1 million—to give Trump a platform.

“Including a message from the President makes sense since Donald Trump’s inauguration coincides with the CFP National Championship,” ESPN stated to YSL News Sports, adding that such practices are commonplace during significant sporting events—citing President Biden’s earlier message before the Sugar Bowl.

Biden’s comments followed a terrorist attack in New Orleans that postponed the Sugar Bowl by a day, and they were both brief and apolitical. This is not comparable to Trump’s self-serving monologue, and everyone—including ESPN—recognizes that.

One of the more disheartening developments since Trump’s re-election has been the undue deference shown by individuals who should know better. Disney, ESPN’s parent company, took the lead, agreeing to pay Trump $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit it likely could have won. Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook have been equally eager to appease him.

What they fail to realize is that Trump is not an all-powerful figure. His narrow 1.5-point victory margin is one of the slimmest ever, with more people voting against him or abstaining than supporting him. Roughly half the country expresses disapproval of him. He is also term-limited, suggesting his grasp on American politics is relatively short-lived.

Yet ESPN readily surrendered its airwaves, and its credibility, at the first opportunity. “Stick to sports?” You first.

Follow YSL News Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.