SVP was clearly caught off guard, but he kept his poise.

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt wasn’t quite ready for what the cameras caught during ‘SportsCenter’ as he rang in the new year.

Van Pelt, one of the most experienced and respected sportscasters in the business, is known for his wit. And he needed every bit of it to keep things in stride after the clock hit midnight on Thursday.

SVP was signing off when the cameras panned to a man and a woman kissing.

“Yeah… Live makeouts on SportsCenter. Get into it,” he said, unaware of what was to come next.

The cameras then panned to two men doing the same thing.

“Ohhhhhhhh! What are we….” Scott began.

“What have we got? We got love in the air,” he said after catching himself.

Check out the video below:

Fans Applaud Scott Van Pelt After ESPN Put Him In A Tough Spot

Scott Van Pelt (Photo via awfulannouncing/Twitter)
Sports fans had nothing but praise for SVP, given the manner in which he handled himself after his ‘SportsCenter’ shock.

“He was rightfully disgusted, but soon realized his next words might get him fired,” someone commented.

“SVP should have just gone all in! He’s still a legend for this though😂,” someone else wrote.

“If a kiss breaks SportsCenter maybe the problem isnt the kiss,” another user claimed.

“he wants to speak up the whole paragraph but also loves his job 😭,” a comment read.

“SVP is one of the few ESPN OGs who never sold out to the woke narrative,” another read.

“They set him up 😂,” someone laughed.

He really did well to avoid getting into hot water with the network. It’s more than we can say for Charles Barkley, who might already be in trouble over there.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.