Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele said the network deserved to be crushed for failing to show the national anthem on its main channel ahead of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans after the terrorist attack that took place in the city just the day prior.

Steele appeared on "OutKick the Morning" and appeared flabbergasted over ESPN failing to show the national anthem on that day, which the company chalked up to "timing issues."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"It was so egregious, and I tweeted about it and I put it on my Instagram, and I really do try and stay away from too much that revolves around my former employer. That life is gone, and I am so glad to be past it, grateful for those years. I couldn’t help it Charly, because it was such, to me, a blatant decision to skip," Steele told host OutKick’s Charly Arnolt on Tuesday.

"You are a mile away, maybe less than in New Orleans, from where all of those people were murdered on the morning of what was supposed to be the game that was airing on ESPN. And you chose to ignore it when people are suffering and it’s so much bigger than football? They were crushed. They were crushed, and deservedly so, for not doing it."

Steele said ESPN showing the pregame prayer last week was a reaction to the backlash it received over the Sugar Bowl.

ESPN AIRS PRE-GAME PRAYER FOR COTTON BOWL AFTER BACKLASH FOR NOT SHOWING NATIONAL ANTHEM AFTER TERROR ATTACK

"So, I absolutely think that this was a reaction to that. I think it actually went overboard … show the national anthem," she said. "Do you need to show the prayer? And I also believe that the prayer was – they said it was to pray for the victims of the California fires as well as the terrorist attack in New Orleans. [We're] a little late for that."

"Listen, I pray every single day. I pray for those people constantly, so I guess we shouldn’t be focused on that," Steele continued. "But from a business perspective, what are we doing? Just be consistent. And I guess it wouldn’t be a good thing if they were consistent in this case, would it? Because they [would’ve] continued to do the wrong thing for humanity."

"That’s what this is. This is bigger than business, this is bigger than sports. It’s about humanity, and I guess [I] wasn’t surprised by what happened at the Sugar Bowl. I was just so sad and disappointed because this is the reason why, one of many reasons why, ESPN as a whole is no longer what it once was."

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The rivals had been due to meet in October 2022, before Benn failed a voluntary drug test.

© PA Archive

The Rangers returned to full strength in their 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.

A sixth person was arrested in the betting scheme that saw Jontay Porter banned for life from the NBA.

Porter, who is facing criminal charges himself, was barred from the NBA after it was revealed he bet on the NBA and was involved in a scheme in which conspirators would profit based off information given by him.

Court documents revealed this week that Porter texted those involved in the scheme, with one text saying that betting on his "unders" propositions would reel in "big numbers."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"No blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again," Porter is said to have texted Shane Hennen, the latest person arrested, on Jan. 26 before his Toronto Raptors played a game.

Hennen was arrested at a Las Vegas airport on Sunday before he was set to board a one-way flight to Colombia.

Earlier last January, Porter also texted, "I went back to the locker room to get eye checked on. Idk if imma play much more. I'm Not starting second half. But if it's garbage time I will shoot a million shots."

Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces over 20 years in jail, although prosecutors believe he will be sentenced to around four. His sentencing will be on May 20.

In court in July, Porter said he agreed to withdraw early from games to get out from under large gambling debts so he and co-conspirators could win bets on his performance.

LAKERS RETIRE MICHAEL COOPER'S NO. 21 JERSEY ON AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT

"I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry," he said.

Porter received a lifetime ban on April 17 after the NBA found in an investigation that he had disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and bet on games in violation of league rules. The NBA prohibits players from betting on the league or any of its properties.

The NBA said it found that, from January to March of this year, while Porter was either with the Raptors or its G League team, Raptors 905, he placed "at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s betting account."

Porter's lawyer, Jeff Jensen, said in June that Porter had been "in over his head due to a gambling addiction" but was getting treatment and cooperating with law enforcement.

One of Porter's brothers, Coban, began serving a six-year sentence in April for a fatal DUI crash. Another brother, Michael, is a mainstay with the Denver Nuggets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Coco Gauff stretched her unbeaten start to 2025 to seven matches and 14 sets by moving into the third round at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

At 17, Littler became the youngest player to win the World Championship at Alexandra Palace earlier this month.

The Briton produced an impressive performance on Rod Laver Arena in a 6-3 7-5 defeat.

© AP

Cam Johnson and D’Angelo Russell returned Tuesday night for the decimated Nets, though Nic Claxton got added to their long injury list.

The former Burnley boss spent two years at Goodison Park.

© PA Wire

Los Angeles cruised to victory at the SoFi Center, with Jupiter Links’ only point of the game coming on the sixth hole.

© AP

The British pair are set to square off at last, more than two years after their fight fell through

© Chris Dean

After St. John's victory over Georgetown, Rick Pitino said he is hopeful that Deivon Smith will return on Saturday against Seton Hall in Newark.

Marc Gatcomb was pulled off the ice in Bridgeport on Tuesday morning and told he was headed to Long Island.

Jamal Murray, who signed a four-year, $208 million contract extension last year, produced his best offensive performance of the season Tuesday, scoring a season-high 45 points in leading the Denver Nuggets to a 118-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

There was a moment early Tuesday night when St. John’s missed another shot — it’s hard to remember if it was a 3-pointer or a midrange jumper or a layup; at that part of the game, they were equal opportunity bricklayers — when the overhead scoreboard recalculated the Johnnies’ shooting percentage.  And if you listened...

Tiger Woods isn't sure what's going to happen with next month's Genesis Invitational, the PGA Tour event he hosts in the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades.

Osaka came from a set down to beat Muchova, having lost the Czech in last year’s US Open

© Getty Images

Alcaraz breezed past Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4 to reach the third round

© Getty Images

Djokovic moved out of a tie with Federer to claim another record by taking to the court for his 430th grand slam match

© Getty Images

Ella Hamlin, one of the TCU students who joined the women's basketball team in January 2024 to save its season, earned a full scholarship Tuesday.