Pam Oliver Breaks Silence on Being Replaced by Erin Andrews on Fox Sports Sidelines

[big dog cowboy]

Pam Oliver Breaks Silence on Being Replaced by Erin Andrews on Fox Sports Sidelines
By Debbie Emery
12 hours ago

When Fox kicks off its NFL coverage on Sunday, Pam Oliver will not be in the prime role that she has held for almost two decades.

The 53-year-old sports reporter has been replaced from her usual spot on the field by “Dancing With the Stars” co-host Erin Andrews, with Oliver being moved to the number two Fox team with Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch.

The official announcement sent ripples through the sports world when it was reported by Sports Illustrated in July, and now Oliver has broken her silence on the issue in a new interview with Essence magazine.

“Even before my bosses told me what was going on, there had been rumblings that my days as a sideline reporter were coming to an end,” she told Essence, after Andrews was hired from ESPN two years earlier. “I knew they hadn't brought her on just to be a benchwarmer.”

Rather than getting caught up in a catfight, Oliver's colleagues credited her for the classy way she handled the situation as she kept her head down and did her job, but “still, I was humiliated.”

Finally by April, her bosses called a meeting and flew out to look her “in the eye” when they delivered the news that there would be a “change of direction within the company” and she would be working on Fox Sports 1, the secondary cable sports channel that launched in 2013, to work on specials and longer form stories.

Read much more at: https://tv.yahoo.com/news/pam-oliver-breaks-silence-being-replaced-erin-andrews-001700162.html

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

yea, ripples sent through the sports world! When they pan to the sideline reporters, that's my cue to get another cold one.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

yea, ripples sent through the sports world! When they pan to the sideline reporters, that's my cue to get another cold one.

hahaha

 

[viman96]

Two times the writer mentions "Dancing With the Stars" like that is Erin's main job experience. LOL...

I like Pam and think she has done a great job and they should have let her finish the 20th season with her crew.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

but “still, I was humiliated.”

Amazing how a reduction in one's paycheck or facetime on national tv can cause that.

 

[BAZ]

Clearly Pam's career can benefit from a "hidden" hotel cam, let me be the first to volunteer my services....

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

If I had a sports reporting company. I would hire her!

 

[zrinkill]

Wonder if the person she replaced back in 1993 was humiliated?

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Wonder if the person she replaced back in 1993 was humiliated?

Seriously. I like her & all but that's the nature of that business. She won't starve.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Maybe the person she replaced, if she replaced anyone, at all, may very well have been humiliated. I took it to mean that she's probably never been fired before. She'd been on an upward path all her career, I imagine. It can be a shock to be fired unexpectedly. And since she's a public figure, much more upsetting, I guess.

Either way, her comments re: the transition aren't new. She had told her story to Sports Illustrated awhile back. Not sure why her story in Essence got picked up like it was a brand new take. Her only new details were how she spoke of coping with this new career direction.

 

[joseephuss]

Pam should be happy she wasn't a part of that horrible promo for FOX NFL with Joe and Troy.

 

[Biggems]

I could care less....I never liked her, nor do I like Andrews. I always liked Bonnie Bernstein. In the NBA, I always liked Hannah Storm.

I remember as a kid, watching Ahmad Rashad and Irv Cross as sideline reporters. I liked those two. I like Goose, cause he is a clown and just has fun out there.

One thing I wish Fox would do, but they won't, is come to their senses and realize that Moose is their best Commentator. I can listen to him calling a game all day long. I cannot stand Benadict Aikman or Buck. I can barely tolerate Kenny Albert.

 

[zrinkill]

Benadict Aikman

 

[Biggems]

you may not like the comment, but I stand by it. He has gone out of his way to be anti-Dallas during his telecasts. He has become very pro-Eagles over the years. Moose is a fine example of how you are able to call a game with the team that you played for, and still call it without bias.

I couldn't remember his name yesterday, but I would love to see Moose with Dick Stockton. I believe we would get an outstanding telecast.

 

[zrinkill]

you may not like the comment, but I stand by it. He has gone out of his way to be anti-Dallas during his telecasts. He has become very pro-Eagles over the years. Moose is a fine example of how you are able to call a game with the team that you played for, and still call it without bias.

I couldn't remember his name yesterday, but I would love to see Moose with Dick Stockton. I believe we would get an outstanding telecast.

Aikman is not biased against the Cowboys ...... they have sucked and he says they suck.

When they were 13-3 he was singing their praises.

He has the right to say whatever he wants about the Boys as long as he is fair ....... he earned that right with 3 SB's and a lifetime of back and head trauma.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Troy has to say what he thinks. That's his zillion dollar job.

If he compliments them people will say oh he's kissing their butt because he played for them..he can't be fair..Dallas homer.

If he criticizes them it's well he hates the team,,how dare he..he's an ex Cowboy for goodness sake.

It's a very thin line he walks. I think he's great in the booth. Big fan of his work.

 

[AbeBeta]

but “still, I was humiliated.”

Amazing how a reduction in one's paycheck or facetime on national tv can cause that.

She lost her job to someone who has about 10% the football knowledge. I can see why that would cause someone to feel that way.

 

[AbeBeta]

Aikman is not biased against the Cowboys ...... they have sucked and he says they suck.

When they were 13-3 he was singing their praises.

He has the right to say whatever he wants about the Boys as long as he is fair ....... he earned that right with 3 SB's and a lifetime of back and head trauma.

I've never found him to be biased at all. He's honest - even when talking about guys he is friendly with.

One funny thing I heard yesterday was Troy saying that it appeared like Tony wasn't seeing the field very well. Garrett said exactly the same thing at the half. A biased comment would be some rant about how Tony isn't right after back surgery, etc.

 

[joseephuss]

I've never found him to be biased at all. He's honest - even when talking about guys he is friendly with.

One funny thing I heard yesterday was Troy saying that it appeared like Tony wasn't seeing the field very well. Garrett said exactly the same thing at the half. A biased comment would be some rant about how Tony isn't right after back surgery, etc.

Troy was right and Tony probably wasn't seeing the field very well. That tends to happen when you get very few snaps in pre-season games and limited work in training camp. As you say that is a an unbiased comment by Aikman.

 

[CyberB0b]

Pam is 53?