Denise Austin,Tony Randall, Chuck Norris, and Suzanne Somers are coming back to ESPN Programing. ESPN has decided to bring back paid programming to fill their 24 hours of coverage across ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN News.
“We finally realized how difficult it is to fill the 24 hours news cycle on 3 cable networks. Customers can only hear about Brett Farve’s retirement and penis so many times throughout the day” Said one ESPN rep
ESPN has decided to fill 8 of the 24 hours on ESPN and ESPN 2 with Paid Programming. Only live games will override the planned change of paid programming so no worries WAC Football fans. In addition to the paid programming, ESPN will add coverage of previously seen on ESPN 3 to regular cable TV. This will mean addition games and additional sports genres will be added. Sports like Men’s rugby will once again appear on ESPN.
One ESPN network executive warned that network favorites such as First and Ten, Around the Horn, SportsNation will be terminated with extreme prejudice. The Sports Reporters and Pardon the Interruption are expected to be retained. ESPN News is expected to run highlights and news for 24 hours straight. ESPN Classic will remain largely unchanged.
Fan reactions were mixed. Jimmy from Jersey said I won’t be able to get through my day without breaking stories such as Deron Williams may play in Turkey if there is an NBA lockout. This is something that needs to be discussed every five minutes and every ESPN personality should give his opinion on the matter. The paid programming and actual live sports events will severely cut into discussion time.
Doyle from Texas had another take. I cannot stand to watch ESPN unless there is a live event I need to see. This new programming initiative should be positive because things cannot get any worse then they are right now. Paid programming with the bottom line running across the bottom of the screen sounds like a plan. I just want sports news and live events the talking heads must be stopped.
ESPN is expected to phase in the new changes starting August 1 of this year.
Showing posts with label ESPN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ESPN. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Over Used Terms/Phrases/Cliches in Sports Media
So over at Mgoblog.com today a thread was started on the most annoying modern day media cliches. I borrowed some of the better ones and created my own. Here is a brief list.
Players say the same canned answers in interviews
- Using "Gate" to Describe Scandals
- SEC Speed- You cannot be more ignorant if you say or believe this.
- This is a bad time for an error/interception/fumble- When is a good time?
- Giving 110%- This is most prominent in youth sports and pissed me off in my childhood. 100% will do fine
- The kid has great motor, can tackle in space, can make all the throws, factor back, game changer, potential upside- Mel Kiper, FUUUUU
- Describing white players as gritty, smart and tough. Black players as athletic and fast, and Hispanics as fiery
- Comparing all White Receivers to Wes Welker
- Calling Black Coaches in football class acts
- ____ Nation. It was bad enough with the Red Sox can we stop the epidemic from spreading
- Finally _____team is back. Last I checked Michigan Football is not back but I have heard it several times in the last couple seasons
- Pluralizing Bostons Miamis, Dukes. Sportscasters love to say team X is good but they won't be elite until they can beat the Alabamas of the world. Last I checked you can't pluralize singular entities.
- Remember there has to be indisputable video evidence to overturn the call.
- The game is war- No it ain't
- Manchester United is 18-0-1 when Wayne Rooney scores the first goal of the match. Really I didn't think goals were so important in Soccer.
- The other team didn't want it bad enough- Sometimes this is true but sometimes one team is better. Really you don't think Butler wanted to win a National Title? They probably just decided to mail it in.
- Football: This team needs to figure out how to make plays.
- Baseball: He has a closer's mentality- He's crazy?
- Any ESPN Catch phrase after 1996
- Calling a Running Back a Home Run Threat, A baseball draft pick a slam dunk pick
- Nicknaming anyone with Rodriguez as a last name as ____Rod
- Using the term literally when you really mean figuratively.
- He catches the ball at its highest point.- Actually far from it man.
- College Sports: The kid gets in done in the classroom
Players say the same canned answers in interviews
- One game at a time
- I'm just happy to be here
- I just want to help the team
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wake Me Up in a Month
Coming up tonight, on TNT: Overmatched Team A tries to steal a playoff game from Juggernaut Team B! And if they do so, don't miss the next 6 months, during which Team A will try to sell its fanbase on the idea that a 5-game playoff loss is a successful season! Be sure to treat yourself to this compelling melodrama, the only thing more viewer-enticing than Charles Barkley doing a Sodoku puzzle!I've tried. I've tried and tried and tried and tried. I've picked a few teams I wanted to root for and against. I've set aside time to watch games. I've even gambled on a game or two (note to the Blazers: putting a hand in a guy's face is not only allowed, but it may actually make your opponent's shot more difficult. Try it sometime.). But I just can't get into the NBA Playoffs until the Conference Finals at the earliest.
With rare exception, the NBA's first two playoff rounds are brutal. When you think "playoffs" in general, you think of a heightened level of competition and intensity that is not found in the regular season very frequently. You think of hot underdog teams making the odds-on favorites sweat. The NHL, NFL, and MLB deliver on this more often than not. The NBA? Eh, not quite.
Why? Well, for starters, too many teams make the postseason. When a league sends more than half (16 out of 30) of its teams to the playoffs, it's begging for mediocrity. For instance, the Indiana Pacers, for all their pluck and relative likability, wedged themselves in as the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference with a 37-45 record. Give me a break. That's like a 73-win baseball team playing in October. Now, I know I'm walking right into it because the NFL saw a 7-9 playoff team just last season, but this sort of thing happens almost every year in the NBA, while the 2010 Seahawks were the first sub-.500 NFL team to ever make the playoffs in a full 16 game season.
Couple the overload of teams with the fact that the first round is best-of-7, and you've reduced basically the first two weeks of the postseason to a formality. You know what else makes the other three major sports' playoffs great? It's the fact that if you're in it, you've got a chance to win it. Baseball only sends 4 teams per league and is possibly the ultimate playoff crapshoot. The NFL has seen two #6 seeds in the past six seasons win the Super Bowl, as well as several other #6 seeds reach the AFC or NFC Championship in the past decade. The NHL playoffs routinely see upsets and edge-of-your-seat Cinderella runs, thanks many times to the all-powerful "hot goalie" equalizer. Equalizers are hard to come by in basketball. The best-of-5 opening round used to make for some compelling series - who doesn't remember the image of Dikembe Mutombo after his 8th-seeded Nuggets stunned the Sonics in 1994? Unfortunately, since playoff gates, parking, and concession sales are too much to pass up, all rounds are now best-of-7. Not only does the 7-game format make it significantly harder on the underdog, but the multiple off days between games are a momentum-killer in addition to making the series take for-ev-er. Of course, it is possible to get a big upset (see the 2007 Warriors-Mavericks first round) or a terrifically played series (i.e. the 2009 Bulls-Celtics series that I linked to previously), but memorable moments in the NBA's early rounds are much, much scarcer than those in the other sports.
What you need to win 16 postseason games in the NBA is three or more elite players and/or a great defense. So that boils it down to maybe 4-5 teams that have a legitimate chance to be the ones standing at the end in mid-June. In about half of these early series, the favored team only needs to shift it into high gear when absolutely necessary. Defense is optional. The opening round is turned into more of a tune-up than anything else, almost like a top college football team opening its regular season with a small-conference or FCS school. You know how baseball has extended spring training for injured players and/or slow-to-develop minor leaguers? More often than not, the first round of the NBA Playoffs is just an extended regular season.
And those are just the on-court issues. Arguably the least bearable element of the NBA Playoffs is the coverage. TV and radio heads go blue in the face breaking down these series, which I suppose is understandable. What is bothersome is a channel like ESPN constantly pumping up its own NBA coverage in an attempt to boost ratings for the games that it carries. I don't need Sportscenter cutting away to the side studio every 6 minutes to pore over a mid-April playoff game where one team is happy just to be there. I also don't need Mike and Mike, who sometimes provide a listenable morning radio program, being force-fed for 9 weeks a guest list of stiffs like Tim Legler, Jamal Mashburn, and occasionally even Dick Vitale, all of whom -you guessed it- studio analysts at ESPN. The hosts have a comfortable, if not cliché, dynamic to their show. Mike Golic plays very well the role of "ex-lineman who is the butt of jokes about being fat and dumb," while Mike Greenberg holds his own as the "wimpy, somewhat dorky lifelong fan who could never really make it onto the field." It's unfortunate to see them constantly being put out of their element by endlessly pining over a sport they don't know that well, all seemingly under the direction of the mother ship.
Besides the relative pointlessness of some of the early round games, there is also a monotone nature to a basketball playoff series that makes it excruciating to break down game-in and game-out. In football, games are once a week, so opponents, locations, and conditions are constantly changing. In baseball, every game is its own entity - the pitchers are different every night (which often brings about significant lineup shifting), and the parks provide unique dimensions, weather conditions, and even rule changes (i.e. the DH or no-DH in the World Series). Leaving hockey aside (since we're not clubbed over the head with hockey coverage in this country), football and baseball warrant the ad-nauseam playoff talk. Basketball? You're often looking at the same starting fives night after night, playing in standardized atmospheres (now that the Boston Garden and its famed dead spots on the floor are long gone) where most of the time the only variable is home-court advantage. Is there an interesting dynamic to see how teams may approach defending and attacking each other differently on a game-to-game basis? Sure there is, but not to a level that justifies the skull-numbing NBA playoff coverage from all angles.
The long and the short of it is that bigger is not always better. The NBA appears to be learning this lesson now. I've written on this topic before. Too many big guaranteed contracts, too many teams, too many playoff teams, and in turn too many playoff rounds and too many playoff games have watered down the product immensely. The league's labor situation after this season will likely end up even more dicey than that of the NFL. Now, I don't want to full-on blast the NBA, because at its best it's a great product. In recent years the NBA adopted the slogan "Where Amazing Happens." Well, amazing does happen. But you've got to wait a month or so first.
Monday, December 13, 2010
30 for 30
ESPN deserves every bad thing that gets said about them. However, they deserve credit for when they get things right. They embarked on an ambitious mission to produce documentaries on the level of HBO. They reached out to the best filmmakers and you know what they put on a few documentaries on par with HBO. They limited commericals and for the most part stayed away from stories that were already overplayed.
Pony Excess is the last of the 30 for 30 series. Due to the success of the series, ESPN will extend their documentary series and if your not on board yet you should be. I remember watching the first one, Kings Ransom when it debuted in October 2009. I was as bored as can be staying in a hotel in Honesdale, PA. I have seen all the ones that I'm am going to watch and missed just 2 of 30. I decided to lump them into viewing priorities for you to catch up.
The Elite
"Into the Wind" The Terry Fox Story-
Steve Nash was actually a big part of making this film. Terry Fox is a Canadian Hero who decided to run across the country to raise awareness of cancer in children. You may have heard the story but there is some great footage that will have you fighting back the tears.
"The 16th Man"
The story of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The film follows the impact of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and his attempt to unite the country through sport. It's Invictus without Matt Damon playing a 6-5 South African. in otherwards, it doesn't suck. The film chronicles the emotions of the people in the country throughout the tournament. It's interesting to see the people who cheered together after years of fighting and even those who despised Nelson Mandela for what he did.
"The Two Escobars"
Groundbreaking from ESPN and worthy of the full two hours the network gave it. The relationship between Pablo Escobar and Colombian Soccer and their deaths.
"The Best That Never Was"
The 1981 recruiting of high school football player Marcus Dupree and his life. The film behind the book that changed college recruiting forever. This is my favorite documentary thus far but the margin is small.
"The U"
This is one most people have seen. It discusses the impact of the University of Miami football in the 1980s. Good news is a sequel is on the way.
The Very Good -I'll admit there is not much difference between the solid and very good.
"Winning Time"
Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks in the mid 1990s when M.J. was away.
"The King's Ransom"
Wayne Gretzky's Babe Ruth like sale to L.A. The doc examines the reason for the Great One being sold to the Kings and the heartbreak it caused. It also focuses on the typical L.A trend that followed.
"June 17th 1994"
This is essential just a well but together montage of clips, but for someone who was old enough to understand the gravity of situation but too young to really understand what was happening its interesting how the day unfolded.
"Solid
Pony Excess"
Even though I don't feel this quite lived up to the hype, it's still good. I disagree with those in the doc who said that SMU didn't deserve the death penalty and the everybody was doing it, and everybody does it attitude, but that's not to take away from the amount of interviews they got for this. A
"Tim Richmond: To the Limit"
This has several good interviews and outlines the reluctance to accept AIDS in this country. This doc loses some points for not going after Richmond more and not answering about those he had sex with.
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
Wow Donald Trump is a dickhead. If you didn't already think so, you probably will after watching this doc. There is some nice insight into the USFL but it leaves you wanting more.
"Guru of Go"
Paul Westhead and the Run and Gun offense at Loyola Marymount. There is a special mention of Hank Gathers and his tragic death but chances are you know that story. The strength of the documentary is the interviews with Paul Westhead.
"Muhammad and Larry"
There is some quality footage that was unearthed for this documentary. It was interesting seeing Ali near the end of the line and and his mental capacity before and after the fight. You can tell that Larry Holmes is pained to be figthing Ali when hes not 100%.
"The Birth of Big Air"
I wasn't sure about this one because I'm not into extreme sports. I started watched casually but it roped me in. Matt Hoffman's passion for what he did and the home footage of his jumps were awesome. Check this one out and I think you will be surprised too.
"Once Brothers"
The story of Croatian Dražen Petrović and Serbian Vlade Divac, NBA players and Yugoslavian national teammates, and how upheaval in their homeland adversely and irretrievably affected their friendship.
"Fernando Nation"
I can remember my Dad telling me about Fernando and how good he used to be. I only saw Fernando play for the Phillies so I found this hard to believe.
Without Bias"
Although this doc feels like a rerun because I've seen the story quite a few times, it's still solid, especially if your not familiar with the story.
Fair
"The Legend of Jimmy the Greek"
Maybe I had higher hopes for this but it wasn't as interesting as I was expecting. The fake Jimmy the Greek voice overs were frustrating to listen to.
"Jordan Rides the Bus"
Probably another doc that didn't need to be made due to the high profile of the story at the time. There are good interviews with Terry Francona and Phil Jackson though.
Disappointing
"Run Ricky Run"
I've heard people say this one is awesome. I guess I expected more from a guy claiming to have 6 years of footage to sift through. If you saw the 60 minutes on Ricky Williams, you basically saw this doc.
"House of Steinbrenner"
I know this may offend about half the readership, but I felt this documentary should not have been made. It's unclear what its purpose ultimately is. Are they talking about Steinbrenner, the fans, the new regime? Perhaps the project was started before George's death ( I'm certain it was but this felt slapped together) but it comes off as lame to me. The interviews with Hank Steinbrenner were interesting as was the little nugget about Joe DiMaggio, but this did not need to be done by ESPN. The YES network would have been the perfect forum for this.
"One Night in Vegas"
Ok so Tupac and Tyson were kinda sorta friends. This doesn't exactly break ground on Tupac's death but gives some back story on the relationship between Tupac and Tyson while talking about the two individually. The rapping done but no names in this video to explain the story was painful to listen do and killed this for me.
"No Crossover"
A.I.'s upbringing and his trial. The guy in charge of the doc goes out of his way to thrust himself into the story and its painful to watch.
"The Band that Wouldn't Die"
This was just boring to me. Its an unexplored topic but I would have preferred to see more fan reaction about the Colts leaving Baltimore than the band.
"Straight Outta L.A."
This belonged on BET more than ESPN. Dear Ice Cube and Snoop, you guys aren't major Raider fans so don't be tossing around stories in the Coliseum.
Skip
"Marion Jones: Press Pause"
Is it possible to have less respect for Marion Jones? After watching this documentary I wanted to smack her. It's a brutal hour of her publicly defending herself.
"Four Days in October"
Really ESPN, did we really need a Red Sox documentary on one of the most publicized stories of all time. This product was watched rather reluctantly, and I would bet Red Sox fans would struggle to argue it was better than an extra on a DVD.
Not Viewed
"Unmatched"
This is probably a good documentary if you like women's tennis. Full interviews with Nartolova and Evert.
"Silly Little Game"
Fantasy baseball and dorky reenactments. I passed on this one. I can't see it being good even if you like fantasy sports.
Pony Excess is the last of the 30 for 30 series. Due to the success of the series, ESPN will extend their documentary series and if your not on board yet you should be. I remember watching the first one, Kings Ransom when it debuted in October 2009. I was as bored as can be staying in a hotel in Honesdale, PA. I have seen all the ones that I'm am going to watch and missed just 2 of 30. I decided to lump them into viewing priorities for you to catch up.
The Elite
"Into the Wind" The Terry Fox Story-
Steve Nash was actually a big part of making this film. Terry Fox is a Canadian Hero who decided to run across the country to raise awareness of cancer in children. You may have heard the story but there is some great footage that will have you fighting back the tears.
"The 16th Man"
The story of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The film follows the impact of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and his attempt to unite the country through sport. It's Invictus without Matt Damon playing a 6-5 South African. in otherwards, it doesn't suck. The film chronicles the emotions of the people in the country throughout the tournament. It's interesting to see the people who cheered together after years of fighting and even those who despised Nelson Mandela for what he did.
"The Two Escobars"
Groundbreaking from ESPN and worthy of the full two hours the network gave it. The relationship between Pablo Escobar and Colombian Soccer and their deaths.
"The Best That Never Was"
The 1981 recruiting of high school football player Marcus Dupree and his life. The film behind the book that changed college recruiting forever. This is my favorite documentary thus far but the margin is small.
"The U"
This is one most people have seen. It discusses the impact of the University of Miami football in the 1980s. Good news is a sequel is on the way.
The Very Good -I'll admit there is not much difference between the solid and very good.
"Winning Time"
Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks in the mid 1990s when M.J. was away.
"The King's Ransom"
Wayne Gretzky's Babe Ruth like sale to L.A. The doc examines the reason for the Great One being sold to the Kings and the heartbreak it caused. It also focuses on the typical L.A trend that followed.
"June 17th 1994"
This is essential just a well but together montage of clips, but for someone who was old enough to understand the gravity of situation but too young to really understand what was happening its interesting how the day unfolded.
"Solid
Pony Excess"
Even though I don't feel this quite lived up to the hype, it's still good. I disagree with those in the doc who said that SMU didn't deserve the death penalty and the everybody was doing it, and everybody does it attitude, but that's not to take away from the amount of interviews they got for this. A
"Tim Richmond: To the Limit"
This has several good interviews and outlines the reluctance to accept AIDS in this country. This doc loses some points for not going after Richmond more and not answering about those he had sex with.
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
Wow Donald Trump is a dickhead. If you didn't already think so, you probably will after watching this doc. There is some nice insight into the USFL but it leaves you wanting more.
"Guru of Go"
Paul Westhead and the Run and Gun offense at Loyola Marymount. There is a special mention of Hank Gathers and his tragic death but chances are you know that story. The strength of the documentary is the interviews with Paul Westhead.
"Muhammad and Larry"
There is some quality footage that was unearthed for this documentary. It was interesting seeing Ali near the end of the line and and his mental capacity before and after the fight. You can tell that Larry Holmes is pained to be figthing Ali when hes not 100%.
"The Birth of Big Air"
I wasn't sure about this one because I'm not into extreme sports. I started watched casually but it roped me in. Matt Hoffman's passion for what he did and the home footage of his jumps were awesome. Check this one out and I think you will be surprised too.
"Once Brothers"
The story of Croatian Dražen Petrović and Serbian Vlade Divac, NBA players and Yugoslavian national teammates, and how upheaval in their homeland adversely and irretrievably affected their friendship.
"Fernando Nation"
I can remember my Dad telling me about Fernando and how good he used to be. I only saw Fernando play for the Phillies so I found this hard to believe.
Without Bias"
Although this doc feels like a rerun because I've seen the story quite a few times, it's still solid, especially if your not familiar with the story.
Fair
"The Legend of Jimmy the Greek"
Maybe I had higher hopes for this but it wasn't as interesting as I was expecting. The fake Jimmy the Greek voice overs were frustrating to listen to.
"Jordan Rides the Bus"
Probably another doc that didn't need to be made due to the high profile of the story at the time. There are good interviews with Terry Francona and Phil Jackson though.
Disappointing
"Run Ricky Run"
I've heard people say this one is awesome. I guess I expected more from a guy claiming to have 6 years of footage to sift through. If you saw the 60 minutes on Ricky Williams, you basically saw this doc.
"House of Steinbrenner"
I know this may offend about half the readership, but I felt this documentary should not have been made. It's unclear what its purpose ultimately is. Are they talking about Steinbrenner, the fans, the new regime? Perhaps the project was started before George's death ( I'm certain it was but this felt slapped together) but it comes off as lame to me. The interviews with Hank Steinbrenner were interesting as was the little nugget about Joe DiMaggio, but this did not need to be done by ESPN. The YES network would have been the perfect forum for this.
"One Night in Vegas"
Ok so Tupac and Tyson were kinda sorta friends. This doesn't exactly break ground on Tupac's death but gives some back story on the relationship between Tupac and Tyson while talking about the two individually. The rapping done but no names in this video to explain the story was painful to listen do and killed this for me.
"No Crossover"
A.I.'s upbringing and his trial. The guy in charge of the doc goes out of his way to thrust himself into the story and its painful to watch.
"The Band that Wouldn't Die"
This was just boring to me. Its an unexplored topic but I would have preferred to see more fan reaction about the Colts leaving Baltimore than the band.
"Straight Outta L.A."
This belonged on BET more than ESPN. Dear Ice Cube and Snoop, you guys aren't major Raider fans so don't be tossing around stories in the Coliseum.
Skip
"Marion Jones: Press Pause"
Is it possible to have less respect for Marion Jones? After watching this documentary I wanted to smack her. It's a brutal hour of her publicly defending herself.
"Four Days in October"
Really ESPN, did we really need a Red Sox documentary on one of the most publicized stories of all time. This product was watched rather reluctantly, and I would bet Red Sox fans would struggle to argue it was better than an extra on a DVD.
Not Viewed
"Unmatched"
This is probably a good documentary if you like women's tennis. Full interviews with Nartolova and Evert.
"Silly Little Game"
Fantasy baseball and dorky reenactments. I passed on this one. I can't see it being good even if you like fantasy sports.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
C'Mon Man!
Every now and then you have to give ESPN its due, and I'll gladly say the "C'Mon Man!" segments during Monday Night Countdown are pretty funny. For those who did not watch the video I linked to, "C'mon Man!" is something of a blooper reel from the previous day's NFL games, in which each studio guy points out someone who did something stupid, goofy, annoying, or all of the above. Every time I see the segment, I feel obligated to relate it to recent people and happenings from my life and all of our lives. So, here goes:
-The Princeton Junction NJ Transit station, for giving me a $60 parking ticket for parking in the farthest stretch of their lot, in off-peak hours while all the permit holders already had a spot and there were about 100 empty spots left over. C'mon man!
-Jason Garrett and his "I went to Princeton and I want to remind you guys every chance I get how smart I am" approach to playcalling. C'mon man!
-Whoever the decision-makers are behind 75% of this year's especially terrible political commercials leading up to Election Day. C'mon man!
-Roger Goodell and the NFL's higher-ups, who in one breath tell you the game has gotten too dangerous, and in the next breath tell you the regular season should be 18 games long. C'mon man!
-Anyone I've been stuck behind on a golf course in the past 5 months. C'mon man!
-The guy who eats tuna from the can at work and stinks up the whole floor. C'mon man!
-The AL and NL Central, whose champions each got swept out of the Division Series (even though I wasn't rooting for either of them). C'mon man!
-Dudes who do curls while standing in a squat rack. C'mon man!
-Javier Vazquez, AJ Burnett, and pretty much every Yankee pitcher not named Andy, CC, Phil, Kerry, or Mariano. C'mon man!
-Dallas area sports fans and Cowboys season ticket holders, for allowing the Cowboys-Bears game in Week 2 to be played in front of 35-40% Bears fans. C'mon man!
-Anyone who plays softball and yells "left foot!" when a left handed batter comes to the plate. What the hell is "left foot?" That's the stupidest goddamn thing I've heard in my life. C'mon man!
-People who change lanes in a tight spot without signaling. C'mon man!
-Vinny from Jersey Shore acting like a total sucker for that Ramona girl in Miami. She had a body like a 10 but a face like a Yogi Berra 1953 game-used catcher's mitt. C'mon man!
-Anyone who buys jewelry from a store such as Jared, Kay, or anywhere else that makes those putrid commercials that will be consistently polluting my TV for the next 8 weeks. Buying jewelry is fine. Buying from one of those stores? Not fine. You are not only indirectly supporting those commercials, but you are also potentially contributing to more of this utter garbage down the road. C'mon man!
-Those who have lived in the Northeast their whole lives yet still react as if the next Ice Age is imminent once November hits and we see highs of less than 60. Not only does this happen every year, but two months from now you'll be killing for this kind of weather. C'mon man!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Why ESPN Sucks
Corporate Whores-ESPN has an advertisement in every section of Sportscenter. Coors Light Six Pack of Questions, Budweiser Hot Seat, Bud Light Freeze Frame, Gatorade Ultimate Highlight. All these segments are garbage anyways and are manipulated on what is supposed to be a news show for the sake of corporate sponsors.
Women's basketball doesn't equal men's basketball. I don't need Uconn women's basketball in primetime. I'm not watching ESPN to glory in the equality of women. Apparently ESPN doesn't realize that they don't have to adhere to Title IX.
Skip Bayless- The guy would yell at a toddler and accuse him of being lazy. He has been a mainstay on ESPN in the afternoon for talking louder than you.
ESPN Original Entertainment- Two minute drill was cool. Season on the Brink, Junction Boys, Beg, Barrow, and Deal, and so on suck.
Mike Golic-"I don't think he is qualified to read the morning announcements, let alone co-host a radio show"HT: EDSBS. It's amazing that Bob (Saved by the Bell College Years) and Mike Golic broke into the entertainment industry.
Synergy- Promo the games you have the rights to while barely mentioning the big games on in other places, no matter how important they might be. Push your product over THE GAME. Vile corporate entertainment thinking that yields little but viewer disgust. HT:EDSBS
Sportstainment! The concept of the idea that sports isn't entertainment all by itself. Consider them pieces of evidence in one long indictment of Disney's attempt to force ESPN into becoming the story, not the medium.
E! Television. See Tiger Woods. ESPN has become like every other crap gossip show.
ESPN the Magazine: Although I hear its in two ply now
ESPN Insider- I am curious to hear who actually pays for this. Is Merril Hodge's insight into the Bills-Jags game that important.
Experts- Everyone with a microphone is an expert. Experts pick. Let's here what the experts have to say. Fuck that.
PTI- Not for the show itself, but for its shambolic impact on ESPN programming, which now features argumentative elements in even the least confrontational formats. HT: mgoblog.com
Mel Kiper Jr- His expert analysis on quarterbacks consists of saying he can throw the football. Gee Mel thanks that's dynamite. The guy is so arrogant and often infuriates me.
Mark Shapiro- He's currently running Six Flags into the ground as CEO. He previously derailed ESPN. He is largely responsible for the garbage TV you see today like Around the Horn.
Neil Everett- The guy has an irritating voice. 2-1 the troll still can't get any even though he's on TV.
Flavor in broadcasts- Yes, Dan Patrick and Keith Oberman did it very well. But show us a goal, TD, basket, point, or homer without a "SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND" once, and we will send you a shiny dollar in the mail. Everyone tries to be like the originals, but instead come off as jackasses. Hat tip Mgoblog
Sideline reporters - For some reason they have been deemed useful but rarely do they even add anything to the game. Sure Erin Andrews shes hot blah blah. I don't care. I prefer my sex appeal and sports separate. You know church and state.
Pam Ward- If there is someone who is a worse announcer on national TV, let me know. Otherwise the bashing continues. She should be doing WNBA games permanently.Women's basketball doesn't equal men's basketball. I don't need Uconn women's basketball in primetime. I'm not watching ESPN to glory in the equality of women. Apparently ESPN doesn't realize that they don't have to adhere to Title IX.
Skip Bayless- The guy would yell at a toddler and accuse him of being lazy. He has been a mainstay on ESPN in the afternoon for talking louder than you.
ESPN Original Entertainment- Two minute drill was cool. Season on the Brink, Junction Boys, Beg, Barrow, and Deal, and so on suck.
Mike Golic-"I don't think he is qualified to read the morning announcements, let alone co-host a radio show"HT: EDSBS. It's amazing that Bob (Saved by the Bell College Years) and Mike Golic broke into the entertainment industry.
Synergy- Promo the games you have the rights to while barely mentioning the big games on in other places, no matter how important they might be. Push your product over THE GAME. Vile corporate entertainment thinking that yields little but viewer disgust. HT:EDSBS
Sportstainment! The concept of the idea that sports isn't entertainment all by itself. Consider them pieces of evidence in one long indictment of Disney's attempt to force ESPN into becoming the story, not the medium.
E! Television. See Tiger Woods. ESPN has become like every other crap gossip show.
ESPN the Magazine: Although I hear its in two ply now
ESPN Insider- I am curious to hear who actually pays for this. Is Merril Hodge's insight into the Bills-Jags game that important.
Experts- Everyone with a microphone is an expert. Experts pick. Let's here what the experts have to say. Fuck that.
PTI- Not for the show itself, but for its shambolic impact on ESPN programming, which now features argumentative elements in even the least confrontational formats. HT: mgoblog.com
Mel Kiper Jr- His expert analysis on quarterbacks consists of saying he can throw the football. Gee Mel thanks that's dynamite. The guy is so arrogant and often infuriates me.
Mark Shapiro- He's currently running Six Flags into the ground as CEO. He previously derailed ESPN. He is largely responsible for the garbage TV you see today like Around the Horn.
ESPN Hollywood: Do we really care where the show is done? Does it add value to the broadcast?
Surely you can think of more but this is starting to take too long.
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