Maria Taylor is among the faces of ESPN and sports activities media. She graduated from the College of Georgia in 2009. Taylor began her profession as a reporter for IMG School earlier than touchdown roles at ESPN, overlaying faculty soccer, the NBA, and the NFL. Taylor has hosted and coated practically each large sporting occasion just like the Olympics, NBA Finals, and the Tremendous Bowl, and she or he at present hosts “Soccer Night time in America” earlier than each “Sunday Night time Soccer” recreation on NBC Sports activities. Throughout Tremendous Bowl week, she was a panelist on the Fritz Pollard Alliance Basis’s Feminine Trailblazers occasion, and afterward, she spoke with rolling out to drop some gems and speak some soccer.
Are you able to share what challenges you face as a black lady on this area?
The most important challenges come from doubting whether or not or not I truly need to be within the room. I grew up loving sports activities broadcasting however hardly ever noticed myself sitting within the [seat] I now occupy each Sunday. So, at times, I’ve to remind myself that you simply deserve it. I do know that there are different ladies on the market who generally really feel the identical means, however I need to reassure you that you simply’ve earned your spot, and rocking it out simply makes area for the following one.
How have you ever seen the spot’s media area evolve, and the way might DEI impression that?
I first began sports activities broadcasting once I graduated from faculty in 2009. I really feel like the way in which that variety has advanced, particularly, I imply, in entrance of the digital camera. Nonetheless, behind it, we’re additionally seeing extra producers and administrators who look totally different and have totally different backgrounds, which suggests they may inform totally different tales. The bottom line is simply ensuring that the goalpost doesn’t transfer simply because somebody appears to be like totally different, that everybody’s given the identical requirements, the identical alternatives, and is judged by the identical deserves. And that’s one thing that we’re getting nearer and nearer in direction of. There’s nonetheless loads of work to do, however persons are working in direction of it in sports activities.
Give some recommendation to the younger Black lady who desires to be in your sneakers.
Yeah, to the younger black lady who hopes to be on Sunday Night time Soccer, work the Olympics, or get into sports activities broadcasting, I need you to know that you are able to do it and you’ll be able to be higher than me. I’m right here holding down the road, however I’ll fortunately open this circle to welcome you. You’re stunning, and you’re born to succeed. So don’t neglect that or let anybody make you’re feeling such as you’re incapable since you are. Yeah, let’s do it.
Who needs to be the MVP this 12 months?
If we’re judging simply by the numbers, it’s most actually Lamar Jackson. In the event you have a look at each single class, he has outshined everyone else. Saquon Barkley actually deserved to get the votes due to how he got here in and what he did for the Eagles is one thing that you simply hardly ever see. He might of simply set the report for speeding in a single season. Clearly, Josh Allen is within the dialog. The one purpose Lamar Jackson ought to get it’s whenever you have a look at his numbers, and they’re plain. And sports activities is the last word meritocracy. So there you could have it.
What’s Tremendous Bowl prediction?
Actually, I don’t need to decide a workforce as a result of I’m not about to have y’all mad at me. That’s what y’all not gonna do. However right here’s what I wouldn’t be shocked by is that if the Chiefs discover a option to get the three-peat. There’s one thing about historical past being made that’s fueling this workforce proper now, like the chance to do one thing that’s by no means been executed earlier than. You may see it written throughout Patrick Mahomes’s face. He desires to do this. He desires to go and break that tumbler ceiling. They usually’re a workforce able to doing it as a result of they’ve confirmed that they will win by the protection and the offense. They’ll kick a area purpose on the finish of the day and get the victory. So, I wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they made historical past. No downside.