--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to…" description: "\"Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about something and I would extend that beyond my radio show to 'First Take,' as well.\" — Will Cain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg" --- # Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about… ![“Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about something and I would extend that beyond my radio show to 'First Take,' as well.” quote by Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg) > “Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about something and I would extend that beyond my radio show to 'First Take,' as well.” [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims that ESPN never censored him, implying a broader freedom to discuss controversial topics across media platforms. **In simple terms:** ESPN allowed open discussion, suggesting broader media freedom. Key Takeaway Value and protect open dialogue. Themes media freedom of speech journalism controversy broadcasting Mood assertive analytical skeptical Type opinion media critique When to use this quote - sports commentary - radio shows - television - online media Key Concepts censorship platform policy public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How does platform ownership affect content? - What are the limits of “free” discussion? A Different Perspective The statement may ignore subtle editorial pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) ## Related quotes > [If something touches on the world of sports, ESPN has never told me that I cannot discuss a sports-related matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-something-touches-on-the-world-of-sports-espn-has-never-told-me/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [“I told her I'd rather talk about her, instead of listening to her drone on about the weather. Little did I know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-told-her-i-d-rather-talk-about-her-instead-of-listening-to-her/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Nobody told me how to talk or think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk-hogan/nobody-told-me-how-to-talk-or-think/) [Hulk Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk-hogan/) > [As a kid, I was told to talk as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/as-a-kid-i-was-told-to-talk-as-much-as-possible/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I am told that I talk in shorthand and then smudge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-4/i-am-told-that-i-talk-in-shorthand-and-then-smudge-it/) [J R R Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-4/) > [When I was ten, my pa told me never to talk to strangers. We haven't spoken since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-was-ten-my-pa-told-me-never-to-talk-to-strangers-we-haven-t/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Journalists told me that a talk show wouldn't work. Some told me I was going to get canceled before my first season was up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/journalists-told-me-that-a-talk-show-wouldn-t-work-some-told-me-i-was/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [“It is the kernel of truth in every story that makes its writing beautiful beyond standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psyche-roxas-mendoza/it-is-the-kernel-of-truth-in-every-story-that-makes-its-writing/) [psyche roxas-mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psyche-roxas-mendoza/) > [I can tell you beyond any doubt, that my lady is able to control herself and stick to her values regardless of circumstance. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/i-can-tell-you-beyond-any-doubt-that-my-lady-is-able-to-control/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [Ranked Choice Voting is simple, empowers voters, and rewards candidates who broaden support beyond their base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/ranked-choice-voting-is-simple-empowers-voters-and-rewards-candidates/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [The difficulty with poetry is that it doesn't have the life that Shakespeare or Jane Austen have beyond the page. 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She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [If our species is to survive, our future will probably require outposts beyond our own planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/if-our-species-is-to-survive-our-future-will-probably-require/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Will Cain > [Look, everyone wants justice to be served. Everyone wants justice to be blind. We want people to make it home or to jail for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/look-everyone-wants-justice-to-be-served-everyone-wants-justice-to-be/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I like interaction. I like engagement. My favorite part of Twitter is really the mentions and interacting with people. It's rarely just the broadcasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-like-interaction-i-like-engagement-my-favorite-part-of-twitter-is/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [The Biden administration is not just letting a record number of illegal immigrants cross our border, they are bringing them here. They are prohibiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/the-biden-administration-is-not-just-letting-a-record-number-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I was ready to talk about... and I'm ready to die on the hills of due process, individualism, and free thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-was-ready-to-talk-about-and-i-m-ready-to-die-on-the-hills-of-due/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I'm into interesting ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-m-into-interesting-ideas/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I want the 'Will Cain Show' to be a place where nothing goes unchecked, nothing goes unchallenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-want-the-will-cain-show-to-be-a-place-where-nothing-goes-unchecked/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [Unlike so many other conservative politicians, Paul Ryan doesn't duck from answering questions about the reality of our entitlement problem. Ryan doesn't only provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/unlike-so-many-other-conservative-politicians-paul-ryan-doesn-t-duck/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [A lot of tribalism we want to stamp out - racial tribalism, for example. But I love that Boston fans are Boston fans, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/a-lot-of-tribalism-we-want-to-stamp-out-racial-tribalism-for-example/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [We adults need to stand up for our kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/we-adults-need-to-stand-up-for-our-kids/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [Americans love football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/americans-love-football/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [You know what makes life harder? 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Politics is full of hyperbole and partisanship, and every four to eight-year cycle, those that disagree with the platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/politics-is-full-of-hyperbole-politics-is-full-of-hyperbole-and/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [This is what the Democrats want - for you to ignore whoever is pulling the strings of Joe Biden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/this-is-what-the-democrats-want-for-you-to-ignore-whoever-is-pulling/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I loved my time at ESPN and deeply appreciated everybody who listened to the 'Will Cain Show' everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-loved-my-time-at-espn-and-deeply-appreciated-everybody-who-listened/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [I don't feel like emotion has place in a debate, because emotion doesn't encourage rational debate - it shuts it down. It supplants rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/i-don-t-feel-like-emotion-has-place-in-a-debate-because-emotion-doesn/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) [Explore all 100 Will Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) ## More Beyond quotes > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [If our species is to survive, our future will probably require outposts beyond our own planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/if-our-species-is-to-survive-our-future-will-probably-require/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. 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Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/i-can-tell-you-beyond-any-doubt-that-my-lady-is-able-to-control/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [“It is the kernel of truth in every story that makes its writing beautiful beyond standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psyche-roxas-mendoza/it-is-the-kernel-of-truth-in-every-story-that-makes-its-writing/) [psyche roxas-mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psyche-roxas-mendoza/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [My beloved dog defied treatment from the best and most expensive veterinarians, holistic practitioners, trainers, and animal communicators. He was simply beyond my ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/my-beloved-dog-defied-treatment-from-the-best-and-most-expensive/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [I miss Italy; that's beyond doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/i-miss-italy-that-s-beyond-doubt/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [Even beyond policy considerations, Romneycare was a horrible model to suggest for the federal government because the Constitution does not give Congress the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/even-beyond-policy-considerations-romneycare-was-a-horrible-model-to/) [Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/) > [When you're reaching out to people beyond the scientific community, image does matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/when-you-re-reaching-out-to-people-beyond-the-scientific-community/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) Browse all 1,092 Beyond quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about something and I would extend that beyond my radio show to 'First Take,' as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Will Cain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to-talk-about-something-and-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beyond" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to-talk-about-something-and-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/will-cain-5680_beyond_not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to_2914610.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not once at ESPN was I ever told not to talk about something and I would extend that beyond my radio show to…” — Will Cain", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Will Cain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Not once at ESPN was I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to-talk-about-something-and-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/not-once-at-espn-was-i-ever-told-not-to-talk-about-something-and-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```