Linda Cohn Took a Swipe at Michelle Beadle

Linda Cohn apparently won’t be part of the welcome committee when Michelle Beadle makes her likely return to ESPN later this year. TMZ Sports conducted a brief interview with Cohn asking about the role of women in sports reporting and if they know as much as their male counterparts.

It started off innocently enough. Cohn said she encourages women, if they know their stuff, to aim higher than being a sideline reporter and “go out there and kick some butt.” Then Cohn dropped a not-so-subtle swipe at Beadle, saying, “If you’re just using it as a stepping stone to be on Access Hollywood, you’re not needed here.”

Cohn’s worked at ESPN since 1992 and unlike many of her colleagues she’s never appeared to be an attention seeker looking for the spotlight. It makes her dig at Beadle all the more surprising. [H/T Awful Announcing]