Asleep on the job: ESPN's Brian Windhorst accused of dozing off in the middle of live SportsCenter interview

  • ESPN writer Brian Windhorst, who covers basketball for their online site, appeared on SportsCenter Monday 
  • In the middle of a question his head slowly began to tilt down and he appeared to fall asleep during the live interview 
  • Windhorst later wrote on Twitter that he had not fallen asleep and was simply checking his notes on his phone
  • Champion confirmed this as well after people began posting videos and vines of the incident on social media 

An ESPN writer is being accused of falling asleep during a live interview.

Brian Windhorst, who covers basketball for the sports media conglomerate, appeared on SportsCenter Monday to talk about the NBA with host Cari Champion when in the middle of a question his head slowly began to tilt down and he appeared to doze off for a few seconds. 

Soon after his head snapped back up and he was able to answer Champion's question. 

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Big moment: ESPN writer Brian Windhorst, who covers basketball for their online site, appeared on SportsCenter Monday (above on right with Cari Champion)

Big moment: ESPN writer Brian Windhorst, who covers basketball for their online site, appeared on SportsCenter Monday (above on right with Cari Champion)

Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook

Not a good look: In the middle of a question his head slowly began to tilt down (above) and he appeared to fall asleep during the live interview

Many on Twitter so posted videos and vines of the incident, leading Windhorst to deny that he was asleep on the job. 

'When @AdamSchefter looks at his phone on TV he gets endorsement deals. When I do people think I have narcolepsy. #SportsCenterProblems,' wrote Windhorst on Twitter.

Champion also came to his defense, responding to one users tweet point out that he was asleep by writing; 'He didn't. Looks that way.'

Windhorst's comment about Schefter, who covers the NFL for ESPN, is likely a dig at the fact that he is constantly checking his phone during interviews.

Schefter even answered a call during a live segment earlier this month

Clear the air: Windhorst later wrote on Twitter that he had not fallen asleep and was simply checking his notes on his phone

Clear the air: Windhorst later wrote on Twitter that he had not fallen asleep and was simply checking his notes on his phone

Defender: Champion confirmed this as well after people began posting videos and vines of the incident on social media

Defender: Champion confirmed this as well after people began posting videos and vines of the incident on social media

It is likely Windhorst was simply checking his phone for stats before answering Champion's question about Oklahoma City Thunderguard Russell Westbrook, and that given how tight the shot was he simply appeared to be dozing off.

ESPN has also denied that Windhorst fell asleep, with a SportsCenter rep telling Variety he was 'looking at his notes.' 

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