I think Michelle Beadle is a remarkable talent. I’ve enjoyed her work, especially when she was co-host of “SportsNation” on ESPN.
That said, WWE should not care one iota that A.J. Lee chewed out Beadle for flirting with Lee’s boyfriend, C.M. Punk.
That’s obviously what Beadle was doing. That’s what she does. She flirts.
Beadle was reportedly overheard saying “I just want to get ****ed” to Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a party that followed the 2011 ESPY awards. She was also romantically linked with Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews and dated one of her ESPN co-workers, former NHL player Matt Barnaby.
Who knows, or cares, who Beadle hits the sheets with? Point is, Beadle socializes with the people she covers. That used to be taboo. But now there’s a new breed of sportscaster who does that, and tongues start wagging.
They wag especially furiously in the case of Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews: Andrews has been linked with Jason Varitek, J.J. Redick, Vincent Lecavalier, Aaron Rodgers, Jarrett Stoll, David Wright, the list goes on and on.
At one time, that compromised your credibility. Now it enhances your career.
To be fair, Beadle doesn’t cover wrestling. But I’m betting her reputation preceded her as far as A.J. Lee is concerned.
Backstage blowups are never a good thing. But WWE should not be worried in the least about this one, and should take A.J.’s side. Since joining NBC Sports last year, Beadle has already presided over a failed show. She’s devolved into a B-lister trying to tweet her way to increased relevance. Stuff like this helps.
WWE needs to worry less about marginal celebrity and more about doing right by its employees, especially a considerable talent like A.J. Lee.
WWE obviously did the right thing by not bringing back Maria Kanellis. Kanellis has since eschewed burning the bridge in favor of nuking it, burying the Bella Twins every chance she gets and alleging that the Bellas’ father called her to tell her to stop being mean to her daughters. Kanellis’ father supposedly wound up on the phone with the Bellas’ father and heated words were exchanged.
Could anything possibly be more childish? The principal might have to get involved. Girls, you’re all pretty.
Follow Mark Madden on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
