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Michael Wilbon announces indefinite leave from ESPN, ‘PTI’ due to ‘multiple health issues’
Michael Wilbon says he is taking an indefinite leave from ESPN because of multiple health issues. He described the break as a temporary step rather than retirement, leaving his roles on “Pardon the Interruption” and NBA coverage while he focuses on his health.
Wilbon did not identify his current health problems, though he has previously discussed diabetes and related complications. He co-hosted “PTI” from his Arizona home last Monday, then missed the rest of the week. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said the network supports Wilbon and looks forward to his return when he is ready; colleagues and commentators also shared messages wishing him well.
In short
- Wilbon is taking indefinite leave from ESPN.
- He cited multiple health issues but gave no specifics.
- ESPN says it will welcome him back when he is ready.
Explained simply
Michael Wilbon is a US sports journalist and television presenter who has worked at ESPN for decades. He is best known as a co-host of Pardon the Interruption, a programme in which presenters discuss and debate sports news, and he also covers the NBA, the top professional basketball league in the US.
ESPN is a major US sports broadcaster, and Wilbon’s roles have made him a familiar voice in American sports coverage. He has previously spoken publicly about having diabetes, but the health issues behind his current break have not been specified. His leave therefore affects two prominent parts of his work, while the timing of his return remains unknown.
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