My random thoughts on this issue.
I dislike ESPN for other reasons, like for the way they covered Deflategate. 😎 They lied and then recanted after midnight when no one was watching.
As a politics junkie the politics issue is an interesting one for me. We live in a very polarizing (political) time and I understand ESPN's not wanting to get into any controversy in that regard. An employer should be allowed to tell an employee what is allowed and what isn't at the workplace.
On their personal time they should be allowed to exercise their first amendment rights however. As far as Colin Kapernick goes. If I was an NFL owner I would hire him with the understanding that he can protest issues outside of his workplace, but not inside.
I happen to agree with Hill on her opinion of Trump, but ESPN has the right to tell her that her opinion is off limits on the air. I remember when Rush Limbaugh was fired from ESPN for his comments about black quarterbacks. Disagree with Schilling's politics as well. But as I remember he made his comments outside of the workplace so their is some duplicity with how ESPN handles these situations.
However, bottom line is an employer can fire you for any reason as long as they don't violate any of the discrimination laws. They can fire you because it happens to be a Wednesday. This is for "at will' employees. Employees with contracts can be fired as long as it doesn't violate their contract. Otherwise settlements are reached.
I remember when black athletes like Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Tommy Smith and other former and current (at the time) prominent black athletes asked O.J. Simson to join them in speaking out against racism and he declined just as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have done. Simpson, Jordan and Woods put their wallets ahead of equality and justice for their race.
Having a spokesperson for the President saying a person should be fired is a scary thing. However, Donald Trump when he worked for NBC (The Apprentice) called President Obama a racist. And no repercussions were brought about by NBC towards Trump. I don't remember Trump calling for his own firing. 😯
Trump started his political rise on a racist lie when he propagated the Birther bullshit that Obama was not born in this country.
I find myself watching more of Fox Sports 1 than ESPN. I like the Bayless and Sharp show and Colin Coherds show. They have a new show early in the morning with Chris Carter and Nick Wright that I catch some of. My favorite is with Coherd and Jason Whitlock (Speak for Yourself). Also like Katie Dolan, but they can't seem to find what to do with her.
ESPN's Mike and Mike is a good show, but Greenie is leaving that his show to have his own show.