ESPN is destroying sports in this country

[mattbeymvp]

The most recent example of this is the coverage of what Donovan McNabb's mom posted on her blog. So she said that she worries about what will happen if Philly wins the Super Bowl without Donovan. Big deal.

ESPN jumps on this story and brings it up consistently even almost two weeks after the fact. They ask about how big of a distraction it will be, and how it's going to affect the Eagles.

Here's the problem. Would it have been a distraction if ESPN had not decided to make it one? Who on the Eagles would have found out about it or cared if the media was not reporting on it as if it was a huge story and constantly pestering them with questions about it?

ESPN actively creates controversy and stories to report on.

They may not discuss how unethical that is in the first day of Journalism School, but it's probably something you learn in the first year.

[Garcia Bronco]

You would be correct. They call it a distraction and make it one. It's pure comedy. Don't watch their network.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Not enough sports news for a 24-hour sports news cycle, hence you get ESPN trying to create controversy. Palantonio doing 3 updates a show from TO's house last summer is the perfect example. Maybe they wouldn't try to create controversy if they actually tried to cover more than just the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAAF, and NCAAB?

[Garcia Bronco]

Not enough sports news for a 24-hour sports news cycle, hence you get ESPN trying to create controversy. Palantonio doing 3 updates a show from TO's house last summer is the perfect example. Maybe they wouldn't try to create controversy if they actually tried to cover more than just the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAAF, and NCAAB?

They've got too many netwroks as well. Kill ESPiN 2 and start showing actual sports again before they MTV out.

[broncosteven]

I wish ESPN Classic actually showed or covered sports Classics.

[OrangeShadow]

I hate eSPIN. the have 1 maybe 2 good shows. around the horn and......

[-Slap-]

Mattbeymvp, I agree with you one billion percent.

ESPN has steadily morphed into a Satanic blend of the National Enquirer meets MTV over the last several years.

I yearn for the days of the tractor pulls, when Boomer didn't have to start his combover from half an inch above his ear.

[-Slap-]

I wish ESPN Classic actually showed or covered sports Classics.

What, as opposed to poker?

:rofl:

[Garcia Bronco]

Fork TV poker...it's effing stupid.

[Killericon]

Wow, you mean TSN(Canadian ESPN Affiliate) is better than TSN?

The first I'd heard of it was on PTI. Today.

[sirhcyennek81]

I remember watching ESPN in the morning before school and liking it. Then came Irvin, and Stuart Scott, and the idea that sports is all about hip hop and thugs. I hate f'ing ESPN now.

:Broncos:

[Garcia Bronco]

Stewart Scott has to be the most annoying. His act was funny for a season or two...but after that. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[usedupbraids]

hey its a good story :)

[Breck Bronc]

The only thing on ESPN that's any good these days is their baseball coverage when Peter Gammons is healthy.

ESPN is unwatchable between the months of January and June if you don't like basketball.

It's too bad Versus didn't get the Thursday/Saturday slate of NFL games, because they're the only network that can give us another sports network option with their huge Comcast pocketbooks. Fox Sports Net is too regional to compete with the big boys and have failed every time they've tried to take on Sportscenter.

[Sgt Sauce]

If Denver would of stepped up and beat the 49ers we all would get to hear clowns like Salsibury, Hoge, Irvin, and Berman talk up New England (and Tom Brady and Coach Sweatshirt) all week.. as painful as it is, I miss it this year!


Jack 'em all up Tom & Stink!! :strong:




Watch out NFL in '07, Denver is going to stomp on a 3rd place schedule!!

[watermock]

Nothing better than reruns of Texas Holdem. Such drama shouldn't be missed.

In all fairness, the NFL basically cut their balls off by pulling archived NFL footage. I still don't get that channel.

A year ago, I enjoyed watching coaches squirm monday at noon...that's gone. I'm much more angry at NFL Network than ESPN...at least I could get prime time games before.

[rubaiyat]

They've got too many netwroks as well. Kill ESPiN 2 and start showing actual sports again before they MTV out.

Well, actually they should go back to their roots on that. Showing random stuff before they could pick and choose what they wanted.

I'm talking Magic the Gathering tourneys, bowling, outdoor competitions, etc.

ESPN should be left to major sporting news/events and if it's a slow news day then so be it.

[SprintRightOption]

At least they just showed the Texas Michigan Rose Bowl from 2 years ago on Ess - Pin Classic. They should show old football games, college and pro more often this time of year instead of the other crap (classic POKER ?!?! WTF?).

Let's see, tonights Classic lineup includes Stump the Schwab, Kickboxing, Poker, "classic" X games from way back in 2005, boxing, and 60 Minutes.

There are about 400 classic bowl games from the last 30 years they should be showing this week instead of one game thrown in with the above listed crap.

As for McNabb's mom, I'm rooting for the Eagles now until the Superbowl.

I agree with all you guys, Ess - Pin has become a caricature of MTV Sports.

[usedupbraids]

espn should do a story on global warming LMAO

[epicSocialism4tw]

That network is an absolute beating to watch. It doesnt matter what they cover, they find some way to make it less and less palatable for anyone above the age of 13.

I believe that there is a market out there in the demographic of twenty-and-thirtysomethings in sports media. You could tone down the superstar hype, add balanced coverage, include debate in a more sophisticated/less opinionated fashion, bring in legit statisticians into the landscape of ideas in a more prominant role than finding stats for Berman to throw up on, and save the news-breaking reporting jobs for balanced people like Mortensen.

You could add a sophisticated presentation including interesting music, pictures and video that give insight to the personalities of the players...

Just throwing some ideas out there of a sports show that I would watch.

[DomCasual]

Stewart Scott has to be the most annoying. His act was funny for a season or two...but after that. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Amen! Amen! A-freakin-men! I watched Sportscenter the other day when Darrent Williams died - I hadn't really watched it in a long time. Scott is such an ass. Two minutes into it, I remembered why it stopped being a staple in my daily television viewing long ago. It's unbelievably pretentious for these guys to come up with all their cute little comments - like anyone is saying, "I really need to watch Sportscenter to see what Stuart Scott has to say."

It's about the sports, stupid.

"Booyah!" Seriously funny stuff, Stu.

Douchebag.

[Hogan11]

ESPN is only good for the games they carry, period.

I do agree, they've gone a long way towards infecting the sports they cover, as well as entire generations now of players/fans, with sensationalist bullshat.

A pox on them.

[ton80]

The bilge shown on ESPN is simply a reflection of society and pop-culture. ESPN shows what they show because advertisers pay ESPN money to advertise their products. The lemmings that can be manipulated by advertisers are the same dolts that find ESPN anything less than repulsive. For all you ESPN haters, like myself, don't watch their shows and don't by products advertised on that network.

It's unfortunate that the NFL is even a partner with ESPN. I feel like a hypocrite even watching NFL football on that network. It's a damn shame.

[ludo21]

Cold Pizza is actually decent IMO. More actual sports talk than boring stories.

[-Slap-]

The bilge shown on ESPN is simply a reflection of society and pop-culture. ESPN shows what they show because advertisers pay ESPN money to advertise their products. The lemmings that can be manipulated by advertisers are the same dolts that find ESPN anything less than repulsive. For all you ESPN haters, like myself, don't watch their shows and don't by products advertised on that network.

It's unfortunate that the NFL is even a partner with ESPN. I feel like a hypocrite even watching NFL football on that network. It's a damn shame.

Why is it unfortunate? The NFL is run by just as sleazy a pack of scumbags as ESPN. Its only fitting they would partner up.

[KipCorrington25]

Peter Gammons? That jackanapes? You must be a Dead Sox fan...

[Garcia Bronco]

The bilge shown on ESPN is simply a reflection of society and pop-culture. ESPN shows what they show because advertisers pay ESPN money to advertise their products. The lemmings that can be manipulated by advertisers are the same dolts that find ESPN anything less than repulsive. For all you ESPN haters, like myself, don't watch their shows and don't by products advertised on that network.

It's unfortunate that the NFL is even a partner with ESPN. I feel like a hypocrite even watching NFL football on that network. It's a damn shame.

I disagree...I think most people hate it, but the viewing of actual sports keeps them coming back.

[Kaylore]

I yearn for the days of the tractor pulls, when Boomer didn't have to start his combover from half an inch above his ear.

Remember when Rich Eisen had hair and he had that sweet early 90's swoosh-of-the-feathered-bangs? I love that man.

[BroncoInferno]

I wish ESPN Classic actually showed or covered sports Classics.

Oh, c'mon. Who gets tired of watching the legendary April 2, 2004 bout between the immortal Emmanual Augstus Burton and Alex Truijilo? I'll be watching that stunner tonight for the fifth time in the last two weeks, and it never gets old.

[-Slap-]

I remember Keith Olbermann coming aboard and then SportsCenter became all about comedy routines and on-air oneupmanship between the anchors.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Why is it unfortunate? The NFL is run by just as sleazy a pack of scumbags as ESPN. Its only fitting they would partner up.

This is the state of professional sports.

Keep on buying jerseys.

[ton80]

Why is it unfortunate? The NFL is run by just as sleazy a pack of scumbags as ESPN. Its only fitting they would partner up.

Agreed.

[RhymesayersDU]

When you consider what else is on television, ESPN ain't that bad. I'm not saying that a lot of the comments here are wrong, but man, when I'm watching TV, I'd take ESPN over a lot of programming.

I guess that's why I spend more time on this board or playing Nintendo rather then watching TV. Outside of sports, IMO at least there's not a lot of good stuff out there. I can name like 3 shows I make it a point to watch each week, at best.

I guess the state of TV isn't really the issue here, but I don't know, I cut them some slack. Especially now that I don't live in Denver and don't get the coverage I used to get of the Broncos and Nuggs. SportsCenter highlights are better than nothing.

[NaptownChief]

ESPNEWS killed any use whatsoever for ESPN other than the actual NFL games shown. With ESPNEWS you get the stats and results you want with little to none of the worthless Too Cool Stu Scott, Combover Berman type garbage...


I just hope they can mix in some more of that AND1 rat ball with Norman Chad's coverage of Texas Holdem...hard to get enough of that stuff.

[ton80]

I disagree...I think most people hate it, but the viewing of actual sports keeps them coming back.

Trust me. It is all about the advertising dollars and the people that can be manipulated into buying those products. What else could it be?

You and me hate it. I'm 35, married, one kid, live in my own house, have a college degree and a good job. I'm guessing you are similar. ESPN and their advertisers know that we cannot be manipulated into buying products advertised on their network. Those that advertise on ESPN aren't advertising to you and me, they're advertising to teenagers, the uneducated, and the easily manipulated. ESPN's programming is geared towards those idiots.

When I was in highschool, I watched Sports Center twice per day and thought Chris Berman was a stud. Today, I never watch Sports Center and think Chris Berman is the biggest fn idiot on that network.

Tell me what else it could be other than programming geared toward those that can be manipulated by advertising?

[NaptownChief]

Tell me what else it could be other than programming geared toward those that can be manipulated by advertising?




Whatever gave you that idea? It's not like they are showing coverage of Madden video game contests or anything.

[ton80]

I watch the very rare college football game and the NFL game each week on ESPN. After that, I don't watch the network. It's garbage.

[NaptownChief]

I watch the very rare college football game and the NFL game each week on ESPN. After that, I don't watch the network. It's garbage.


That is it for me also...The NBA product is so bad that despite growing up a basketball junky in Bloomington, IN that I haven't watched a single game in a few years. IU's handling of the basketball coaching job with Mike Davis has all but killed my interest in college basketball outside of March. So it is pretty much college football and NFL games of interest that I watch and nothing else.

[Sodak]

I don't watch ESPN...EVER. Unless Denver is playing on Monday night.
Their programming is ****.

[ton80]

When you consider what else is on television, ESPN ain't that bad. I'm not saying that a lot of the comments here are wrong, but man, when I'm watching TV, I'd take ESPN over a lot of programming.

I guess that's why I spend more time on this board or playing Nintendo rather then watching TV. Outside of sports, IMO at least there's not a lot of good stuff out there. I can name like 3 shows I make it a point to watch each week, at best.

I guess the state of TV isn't really the issue here, but I don't know, I cut them some slack. Especially now that I don't live in Denver and don't get the coverage I used to get of the Broncos and Nuggs. SportsCenter highlights are better than nothing.

And the reason there is so much garbage on TV is because it is the garbage TV show that attracts the dolts that can be manipulated by slick advertising. I used to be a FOX News fan, but the same applies to that network. It's garbage just like ESPN and it is all driven by programming that attracts viewers that can be manipulated by advertising.

[Atwater His Ass]

ESPN is such a joke. Used to watch Sports Center every morning before class, but I don't think I've watched it in over 5 years now.

There are a lot of things wrong with the network, most already covered in the thread.

Basically there isn't enough to cover to warrant the 24/7 coverage they attempt. So they make stories up out of nothing (e.g. McNabbs mother) to keep people watching to they can sell advertising dollars. I mean really. Who, outside of Philly fans, really gives a **** what McNabb's mother says in a blog? C'mon, it's not news for a mother to be worried for her son. Whoopie.

[ZONA]

I don't know if Brown works for ESPN or not but his "paydirt" comments every sunday are well beyond the days when that was cool to say. He's holding on to that stupid arse saying why? Everybody else stopped saying that like 5 years ago. He's the only dumb ass still using it.

[Play2win]

What's the difference between FOX NEWS, MTV and ESPN... Aren't they all really the SAME Channel...

[Mtbrncofn]

Huh, I watch ESPNnews all the time. It's the first place I head in the morning and last place I check before I go to bed. That's the only ESPN I watch. Ok, wait ESPN 2 covers drag racing, so I watch that too when it's on.

[Bronx33]

Mattbeymvp, I agree with you one billion percent.

ESPN has steadily morphed into a Satanic blend of the National Enquirer meets MTV over the last several years.

I yearn for the days of the tractor pulls, when Boomer didn't have to start his combover from half an inch above his ear.



And yet the dipsticks tune in, we just need smarter fans (it's that simple) :wiggle: