The Undefeated (website)

The Undefeated is a sports and pop culture website owned and operated by ESPN. Officially launched May 17, 2016,[1] the site describes itself as “the premier platform for exploring the intersections of race, sports and culture.”[2] The Undefeated is overseen by ESPN senior VP and editor-in-chief Kevin Merida.[3]

The Undefeated
Type of site
Sports website
Available inEnglish
OwnerESPN Inc.
EditorKevin Merida
URLtheundefeated.com
CommercialYes
Launched17 May 2016 (2016-05-17)

History

In 2014, ESPN announced the creation of a new website "that will provide in-depth coverage, commentary and insight on sports, race and culture directed towards the African-American audience".[4] Editor-in-chief Jason Whitlock described the then-unnamed site as a “Black Grantland,”[5] a reference to the now-defunct ESPN sports website overseen by popular sports columnist Bill Simmons. Whitlock said the name "The Undefeated" was inspired by a passage from American poet Maya Angelou: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”

While the site was still in development, a Deadspin report alleged that Whitlock was “poisoning” The Undefeated with an unconventional management style that made it difficult for the site to attract and retain prime talent, with several anonymous sources documenting an extremely negative work environment.[6]

On June 12, 2015, the New York Times reported that Whitlock had been removed from his post.[7] Whitlock attributed his dismissal to “numerous reasons, including my foolish belief that I could manage like a football coach. I learned there’s an art to corporate politics that I’m not good at.”[8]

On October 19, 2015, ESPN issued a statement announcing that Kevin Merida, author, journalist and Washington Post managing editor, would assume the editor-in-chief position at The Undefeated.[9]

On January 25, 2018, ESPN announced that Jemele Hill would begin a new role at The Undefeated.[10]

Notable achievements

On June 25, 2016, Michael Jordan issued an exclusive statement to The Undefeated announcing his $2 million donation to organizations working to improve police-community relations.[11] In August, 2015, The Undefeated hosted a town hall meeting entitled “An Undefeated Conversation: Athletes, Responsibility, and Violence.”[12] The event occurred at the South Side YMCA in Chicago. Among the panelists was Chicago native and Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade, who appeared via satellite. Other panelists included Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo, former Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas, WNBA/Chicago Sky guard Cappie Pondexter, and ESPN analysts Doug Glanville and Marcellus Wiley.

On October 11, 2016, the site hosted "The Undefeated Conversation with President Obama: Sports, Race and Achievement," a forum at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro.[13]

References
  1. "ESPN's The Undefeated to Launch May 17 - ESPN MediaZone". 18 April 2016.
  2. "About". 15 June 2015.
  3. "Kevin Merida".
  4. "Three Journalists Join Jason Whitlock's ESPN Site for African-American Audiences - ESPN MediaZone". 18 November 2014.
  5. "Jason Whitlock and the Messy Saga of ESPN's 'Black Grantland'".
  6. Howard, Greg. "How Jason Whitlock Is Poisoning ESPN's "Black Grantland"".
  7. "Jason Whitlock Out as Head of ESPN Website Built for Him". The New York Times. 13 June 2015.
  8. Boren, Cindy (October 14, 2015). "Jason Whitlock begins his 'Explanation' with a few shots at Deadspin". Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  9. "Kevin Merida Named Editor-in-Chief for "The Undefeated"– ESPN Site on Sports, Race and Culture". ESPN MediaZone.
  10. Hall, Andy (January 26, 2018). "Jemele Hill Getting New ESPN Duties; Michael Smith Continuing as SportsCenter Host" (Press release). ESPN. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  11. "How The Undefeated Got Michael Jordan Exclusive".
  12. Bembry, Jerry (26 August 2016). "Hard stories of violence and loss".
  13. Rascoe, Ayesha. "Obama tells students at town hall about how failures have shaped him".
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