Maria Taylor really enjoyed introducing Rachel Nichols' replacement | New York Post

Maria Taylor joyfully embraced ESPN reporter Malika Andrews in her NBA Finals sideline debut on Tuesday night amid major drama at the network.

The "NBA Countdown" host was all smiles in her first broadcast since a leaked video over the weekend exposed white ESPN host Rachel Nichols' for making disparaging "diversity" comments about Taylor, a black rising star at the network.

#MariaTaylor #ESPN #MalikaAndrews

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[kellyantle]

It's all fun and games till your viewers evaporate. Clowns.

[fritzvolz]

ESPN went from a sports news Outlet; to a political, propaganda Outlet.

[BlogofTheWst]

Nichols was fired for connecting affirmative action to a specific person. Apparently, we are allowed to criticize affirmative action generally, but not specifically.

[southgabro]

Black women like this won't finish on top because of one Achilles heel their attitudes

[neokali]

Maria Taylor is conniving. I don’t trust her at all. Bring Rachel Nichols back!

[playthatfunkymusicrobot]

No one wants Rachel Nichols' radiant smugness on their TV screen anyway

[bemeek]

They replaced her with a black chick.

I have a feeling that was intentional. These people are memes.

[mjjumps]

Hire the best employee, black, white whatever.

[byron]

Gotta check those boxes. Thats all that matters anymore.

[susanlester]

Awesome to be judged by the color of your skin and not the content of your character. King would be so proud🙄

[Nextraker]

In that case we need more latin representation ESPN. You are just 1 sided

[msperry]

Smiling as a oppose to what? Dumb headline but it is what they do at The Post.

[mitchmiller]

Who are these woman ? And why should I care about what they think about basketball or each other ?

[christopherpryor]

This is suppose to be sports not a lot of drama between females. Rachel, Maria, and now Malika, looks like a lot of eye candy fighting for camera time. Lets send the finals to TNT.

[Culture-and]

Malika is doing a great job. Maria Taylor is petty and more replaceable than she thinks.

[djkmya]

Nope … Taylor should have been on the floor.. smiling for what?

[joejuarez]

Republicans, who are known for racist comments, racist Senators, and with racist supporters, are criticizing what's happening over at ESPN between Nichols & Taylor.

[eblsymk]

Not that important. But you know what is important? Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Repent today and accept Jesus as your Lord before it is too late. No one is guaranteed another day.

[angelicaestrada]

Maria Should of exposed the audio a year ago. Maria tried to leverage the audio to get a bigger payday. This was a public EEO case played out in front of millions but did not work. Maria Taylor counted on the audio and public to get a big payday. Whoever advised Maria, should have advised Maria to be patient and do not try to play the race card. Maria Taylor was on the up but tried to skip 20 steps and get to the top without putting in the work. Beauty is skin deep but a failed attempt to extort money from ESPN cuts deeper. If Maria Taylor was serious about equality and racial divide, she would have addressed this immediately and not try to use it to force ESPN to pay her.