Michelle Beadle's Departure from ESPN Would Be the Death of SportsNation

I like ESPN's SportsNation. I think it's a fun concept, I think having Colin Cowherd play the contrarian on the show totally works and I think it is one of two ESPN programs that is self-aware and doesn't take itself too seriously.

(In case you were wondering, the other show being Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable, which you should be watching if you aren't already.)

All of that said, if Michelle Beadle isn't one of the co-hosts on the show, I probably won't continue to watch it. And all of the recent buzz seems to point toward Beads signing a new contract with NBC.

Darn.

While Cowherd obviously has a schtick that is elitist, pretentious and delivered like a true devil's advocate (that's not an insult, by the way, as it is often quite funny), Beadle is the "hot chick who hangs with the dudes" that likes WWE, hockey goons, thinks baseball is boring and never lacks for a snappy comeback or some down-to-earth sensibilities.

The contrast between her and Cowherd is perfect. But don't get it twisted—he often needs her to make his character bearable, but the opposite does not hold true.

Beadle will do just fine without SportsNation—even if the thought of her on Access Hollywood with Billy Bush makes me want to kick a kitten—but SportsNation won't have the right balance without her.

I've seen them try to substitute Charissa Thompson on the show from time to time, and it just doesn't work. Thompson is great on Numbers Never Lie, but she just never seems loose or even goofy enough to feel as natural on SportsNation as Beadle does.

Beadle and SportsNation were meant for one another. If she does indeed leave ESPN, I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

And I wish SportsNation luck trying to find the right balance on the show in the future. Without the Beads, I think they'll struggle to do so.

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