ESPN's Scott Van Pelt Names Doesn't Hold Back On 'Fractured' United States

ESPN's Scott Van Pelt doesn't often get political, but he made a rather interesting comment about the United States this week. 

In an effort to bring "SportsCenter" to every state, ESPN is heading on a cross-country journey this summer. The network's "50 States in 50 Days" tour kicked off this Friday with Van Pelt in the nation's capital.

While discussing ESPN's "50 States in 50 Days" tour, Van Pelt suggested that America is a "fractured" country right now. However, he believes sports can connect everyone when times get tough. 

"The reason I am still here and enjoy it as much as I ever have is that sports remain the greatest thing we got. And that is the ethos of this summer stunt, as it’s known in the television business," Van Pelt said. "It’s a celebration of that and how great our country is. Of course, we dive into both on the 4th of July with another great American tradition, sanctioned gluttony. The hot dog eating contest and Yankees-Mets. Nothing is red, white, and blue as baseball and hot dogs.

"For as fractured as things occasionally feel along the lines of red and blue, as in the supposed colors of states, we are still red, white and blue. And our greatest connector in divided times has always been sports."