Probably one of the biggest sporting events of the century will be without two of the sports worlds most notable journalists tonight. It’s been reported that ESPN’s Michelle Beadle and CNN’s Rachel Nichols have had their media credentials revoked for the Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao tonight from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather's team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
The ban was initiated reportedly by Floyd Mayweather’s camp probably because they’re females and you can’t have too many of those types around to muck up a prize-fight featuring a women beater. However the more notable reason for Beadle and Nichols having their credentials revoked is probably because of their firm stances against domestic violence in the past. This includes Beadles very public criticism of Mayweather’s domestic violence history in the past and Nichols’ grilling of the fighter during an interview last fall.
I guess something like this though is exactly what you would expect from a complete coward like Mayweather. What continues to be surprising though is Showtime continuing gloss over Mayweather’s questionable past while continuing to promote some asinine agenda that he’s actually some kind good and misunderstood public figure.
Meanwhile the denials have come in regarding Beadle and Nichols ban.
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
I guess it’s kind of perplexing why two well-respected members of the sports media would make this sort of thing up though…