Malik Scott, the husband of CBS Sports presenter Kate Abdo, has opened up on his relationship with her all-male pundit panel of Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
Former heavyweight boxer Scott tied the knot with Abdo this month despite fans speculating about a possible romantic link between the presenter and Henry. Scott claims there is no bad blood between himself and the Frenchman, and they had even spoken on the day of his interview with Genting Casino.
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"I actually just got off FaceTime with Thierry," he explained. "I was really proud of the job he did with the team in the Olympics. No matter how big of a star you are in your craft—transitioning to coaching comes with a lot of pressure.
"He took a team missing seven to nine of their key players and had just a month to work with them, and they went out fighting, all the way to the finals. His heart, desire, and passion to win—it’s all there. He connects with the players, not just because of who he is but because of the wisdom he shares. It's very impressive.
"He has a lot to be proud of, stepping into a completely different realm. Coaching isn’t like playing or fighting. You have to translate your vision and teach people to capitalise on their opponents’ mistakes. Most people don’t realise what a job that is, but I’m proud of him."
Carragher may have been fearful of a run-in with Scott, who fought Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora during his professional career, after making a joke which questioned Abdo's loyalty to the American live on air earlier this year.
Abdo later revealed that Carragher apologised, and Scott insists that although the Liverpool legend was never going to make their wedding invite list, they are on perfectly friendly terms. "I don't know (if Jamie would have been invited to the wedding).
"I don’t know how to answer that because having a bigger wedding was never a possibility. That’s something that wouldn’t have happened. Thierry, Michah, Jamie—they all sent their wishes.
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"There’s nothing wrong with my relationship with Jamie. It was never broken. Jamie has a good understanding of how people are, especially in this social media era. We sat down, broke bread, and had good conversations. I’ve never had a problem with him.
"I’ve connected with all of them. Micah just messaged me yesterday to congratulate me and send his love. We check in with each other from time to time. They're a good group of people. I may not know the full ins and outs of their status, but what impresses me most is the kind of men they are. The respect they carry, the pride they walk into a room with. They're men’s men."
