Elle Duncan knew what she was doing, right?
As she introduced a new NFL-centric segment during SportsCenter on Thursday night, the ESPN anchor explained the premise of “All Three Phases.” That included Dan Orlovsky breaking down the offense, while, in Duncan’s words, “Ryan Clark’s gonna bring that D…
“Fense.”
Duncan went on to explain that the third phase of the segment would see Anita Marks providing a special bet. But by that point, the rest of the crew was still registering her dramatic pause, with Clark placing his face in his hands and Orlovsky staring straight forward while clenching his jaw.
“You’re both trying to hold back laughs,” Duncan noted before seamlessly pushing the segment forward.
😳 https://t.co/X528UIB2As pic.twitter.com/aKlGey6oem
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 3, 2024
Ultimately, there are only two real plausible explanations for what happened here: Either Duncan got tripped up speaking just a little too casually and wasn’t able to recover until it was too late or she knew exactly what she was doing when she referenced Clark bringing “that D.”
We won’t make that judgment, as Duncan’s track record suggests that both explanations are plenty viable. In any event, her ability to make such a statement and then effortlessly move the segment forward somehow showcased the versatility that has helped establish her as one of ESPN’s signature talents.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.