ESPN’s Max McGee Crafted a Classic Feel-Good Story
By Ken Reed
Five years ago, Max McGee was a server at a couple different restaurants, trying to make ends meet. Today, he’s a sports anchor for ESPN.
McGee, a Cherry Hill, New Jersey native, had dreamt about being an ESPN Sports Anchor since he was a boy growing up. He went to Temple University and after getting his degree, he needed to make some money to pay bills. He took any food services and media-related job he could find to make ends meet. He served burgers, fries, ribs and steaks for Famous Dave’s and Capital Grille.
His big break came when he landed a job with KPLC-TV in Louisiana. He eventually became a reporter and producer there. He moved on to be a sports anchor in Baltimore at WJZ-TV, covering pro sports teams and University of Maryland athletics.
Then he saw a random LinkedIn ad for an ESPN audition. McGee made the most of the try-out and was offered an ESPN Sports Center anchor position.
“I’m so fired up to be with the best in the business,” said the 31-year-old McGee, who credited his family for the belief and support they provided him on his journey. “Every stop in my career has helped prepare me for this, so I’m eager to get started.”
McGee and ESPN have provided us with a nice feel-good sports story this winter, especially since it comes during a pandemic, war and baseball lockout.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans

Sports Forum Podcast
Episode #21 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Chatting About a Broken Game With Baseball Writer Pedro Moura – Moura is a national baseball writer for Fox Sports. He previously covered the Los Angeles Dodgers for The Athletic. His new book is titled “How to Beat a Broken Game: The Rise of the Dodgers in a League on the Brink.” We discuss how and why the game of baseball is broken, what factors caused it, and offer a few thoughts on how to “fix” a great game.
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More Episodes on Apple Podcasts; Spotify; Google Podcasts; PocketCasts; & Anchor
Episode #20 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Coaching Youth and High School Sports Based On What’s Best for the Athlete’s Holistic Development – We chat with long-time youth, high school and college basketball coach Jim Huber.
Episode #19 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Capturing the Spirit of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League with Anika Orrock – We discuss the hoops AAGPFL women had to jump through to play the game they loved as well as the long-term impact and legacy they have in advancing sports opportunities for girls and women.
Episode #18 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking about the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and the Lia Thomas Controversy with Nancy Hogshead-Makar – Hogshead-Makar is a triple gold medalist in swimming, a civil rights attorney and CEO of Champion Women.
Episode #17 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking Sports With Legendary New York Times Sports Columnist Robert Lipsyte – We chat about Lipsyte’s amazing career and some of the athletes he covered.
Episode #16 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Andrew Maraniss: Outstanding Author of Books That Focus On the Intersection of Sports, History and Social Justice.
Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
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