OT: Padres closer rips ESPN

This is about as off topic as it gets, but I figured with all the talking we do about the Duke/UNC basketball bias and the SC/SEC football bias ESPN has it's pretty funny to see a pro athlete say the same thing. And he's right. ESPN's coverage sucks.

almost 3 years ago bucknellbruin 6 comments 0 recs |

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A perfect pitch

Bravo Heath.

by Nestor on Apr 14, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

What's sad is . . .

I used to love ESPN. Watched SportsCenter every night. Loved the Stuart Scott and Rich Eisen team do their thing. I wrote a paper on the founding of ESPN for my History of Television course. I used to get up early every Saturday morning to watch College Gameday at it’s Eastern start time. But somewhere along the way it changed. It’s no longer about reporting the sports news or being the best at it. It’s a hype machine with obvious agendas. I remember when you couldn’t escape a mention of the NHL during the hype hockey period. Now-a-days they are relentlessly hyping up NASCAR.

It began when ESPN was acquired by ABC/Disney. Or, soon thereafter. It’s sad because it used to be so good; so integral to any sports fan’s life. Now, It’s for people too lazy to do their own homework.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Apr 14, 2009 11:17 PM PDT reply actions

I think the internet had a lot to do with it as well

Accessibility to information only a decade ago was largely disseminated through the traditional outlets, TV, newspapers, and the like. The internet when I graduated (2008) bore little resemblance to the internet when I started at UCLA (2003). The volume of information has changed, and so have the outlets we get it from, and we can get that information on demand. You’re right that ESPN has changed from the “old days” but I think your choices as far as where you get your information have changed far more, and for some (but obviously not all) it obviates sources like SportsCenter.

by Tydides on Apr 15, 2009 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions

I was the same way

up until a year or two ago i would do the same thing with College Gameday. It was my favorite sports show on TV. I didn’t watch a single show of it this past season. I’m sure some of the reason is because i’m in college now and don’t want to wake up early…but it’s not on until 10 am here. It’s just sad that their coverage has gone so far downhill

by bucknellbruin on Apr 15, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

There is a way to keep the good and dump the bad

If I watch ESPN (which is rare), I leave the sound off. I can tell what’s going on without the sound. When the talking head comes back on, I know he’s talking about the Red Saaaaax or the Yankees or the Mets, so I don’t need to hear it. If I see something incomprehensible without sound, I just find it on the net.

I have made a few converts with my preaching, and I will keep it up until the networks broadcast without announcers. I encourage you all (I’m now in the South, but I don’t yet have a y’all) to try it.

by Fox 71 on Apr 15, 2009 5:28 AM PDT reply actions

I miss the good old days

ESPN has become the MTV of the sports industry. Like MTV, ESPN used to be a unique vehicle to promote an industry. ESPN reported the sports news and brought national exposure to teams across the country. It kind of reminds me of when MTV used to actually play music videos to promote bands. Well, they both grew exponentially to a size where they didn’t need the industries they used to serve.

Nowadays, ESPN is winning broadcasting rights to the games they used to report on. Instead of reporting on the games, ESPN uses its media machine to promote itself through the games. Instead of playing music videos to promote bands, bands are now trying to promote themselves by getting MTV shows to feature them on their soundtracks.

by ishXdavid on Apr 16, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions