Yes, it's corrupt, but ESPN did everything in their power to address this for their employees.

The four-letter network came up with a plan to use fake names to win Emmy statuettes for unqualified on-air talent. ESPN continued to operate for 13 years until it was discontinued by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), which oversees the Emmy Awards. The Athletic.

The plan for ESPN, which has run the show since 2013, is to submit a fake name for a fake person in the fake role of “associate producer” (who happens to have the same initials as the talent) and have the statuette re-engraved. It was to be issued to the stars who belonged to it. , for each outlet.

ESPN's Plot even won an Emmy Award (if you want to use that word) for the superstar talent of “College Gameday” — yes, that “College Gameday” and how they still won the trophy. It's pretty incredible to me that I didn't have it.

from @Athletic: Since at least 2010, ESPN has been inserting fake names into Emmy Award entries and taking awards won by some of its fictional characters and re-engraving them and giving them to on-air personalities. https://t.co/v0Gr9woOnR pic.twitter.com/19mGuXPO76

— New York Times (@nytimes) January 11, 2024

I'm not condoning ESPN's conspiracies, but I can give them some credit for taking care of theirs.

Today, most companies just hand you a paycheck and tell you to quit your job, chew it up and spit it out, wear it out and get fed up with life, you get the point…but ESPN? (Related: Taylor Swift, subscriptions and cupcakeism: What the heck is going on in the NFL?)

They were literally here trying their best to win an Emmy for their talent. I can't even hate it.