PragerU Presents Michele Tafoya: ‘My Freedom To Speak Meant More Than My Job’

Why would Emmy-winning sportscaster Michele Tafoya quit her successful television career after being awarded with Emmys? PragerU presents Tafoya’s account in its latest “Stories of Us” video.

Tafoya talks about the highlights of her work in sports journalism, her struggle to start her own family and why she refuses any apology for her beliefs.

Tafoya was one of four children who was raised in Manhattan Beach, California. She recalled watering the neighbor’s plants from the age of 11 and getting a paper route two years later.

Tafoya studied journalism at college and found a job on Charlotte’s sports talk radio before moving to ESPN. After working with the network’s NBA crew, she became a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and later moved on to NBC.

Tafoya had several miscarriages and then gave birth to her son. The family adopted a daughter with open heart disease who was then adopted by the couple.

Her concerns about her freedom grew as her family grew.

“Outside of that world, I was paying attention to politics, to policy, to where we stood on the world stage of history. I really started reading a lot of history. And there was a lot of perspective to be gained,” Tafoya said. “And I realized I wanted to preserve the freedom and the liberty in the beauty that is America, for my kids, for the future.”

Tafoya stated that she couldn’t keep silent any longer “the more divisive things” Between 2016-2020, she got and grew frustrated. Despite her admiration for Sunday Night Football and NBC she knew she needed a change.

“I knew that if I said anything too controversial, it would reflect on those entities and I didn’t want to do that. So if I wanted to speak I had to leave,” She spoke. “My freedom to speak meant more to me than staying in that job.”

Tafoya feels that she is the luckiest person in the world to be able to do what hers, but she believes there’s more for her. Since then, she has started her own business. podcastThe name of the company is “Sideline Sanity,” She will use her voice in order to make a difference.

The ex-sports media personality stated that she will not be “canceled” They will continue to speak out. Tafoya challenged people to “find your courage and use it.”

“I’m not going to apologize for my values, because I’ve looked at them really closely and I know they’re wholesome and they’re good,” She spoke.

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