Tuesday, July 3, 2007

True or False: ESPN is sucking some bad air.


A friend of mine recently made the following comment that I feel accurately sums up many people's frustration at the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network these days:

ESPN is ridiculous. There are a number of sporting events worldwide and I would even take some of their more esoteric events such as curling or [explicit comment not suitable for a family blog] but currently they are showing the Best of Mike and Mike. So they are showing television clips of highlights of a radio show that they already showed in its entirety this morning. I already have a problem with the HD televising of a radio show but to show clips of the show is just uncalled for.


I think I have to agree with my friend's analysis. What's with the programming these days? And has anyone seen this SportsCenter "Who's Now" segment? The question "why not never?" comes to mind.

This to say nothing of the fact that in recent memory the network has completely and unreservedly jobbed our beloved Commies in pretty much every sport imaginable, women's bowling excepted.

Is anyone else feeling frustrated with ABC/ESPN these days? Is the station that has given us all so much joy since the days when Keith, Dan, and Rich were the coolest guys on television losing its edge, or is this merely a case of the summertime blues? Or am I missing something?

10 comments:

Stanimal said...

Summertime blues. There is literally NOTHING going on.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how I feel about the addition of Keyshawn Johnson. Guess I'll get a better feel come the fall.

Tom said...

Sportscenter has become tedious in the world of DVRs, YouTube, and Vandy Sports Line. I can control my own highlights and don't need ESPN to tell me what to watch.

Not only that, but the endless PTIs, Round the Horns, Mike and Mike, etc have moved a channel that was great for watching sports into sports radio with cameras.

It's not really a question of content, there's an abundance of sports to be broadcast, ESPN just chooses to carry cheaply produced shows much like the major networks have decided to carry cheaply produced shows like American Idol and other reality crap.

Rant over...

Anonymous said...

American Idol sucks pure extract of a55 royally.

So does any "sports networks" that try to broadcast guys playing cards as a "sporting event."

Anonymous said...

PTI and Mike and Mike are great shows.

anyone catch the show on Comcast called "Washington Post Live" or something like that? it's a daily show that is a hour and half long

Douglas James said...

I rather enjoy all the talking head shows (PTI, Mike and Mike) and don't mind the "Best of Mike and Mike" as they show interviews that i usually miss in the morning since I only get about 15 minutes of tv in the morning. My bigger problem with ESPN is the cross promotion BS they do (Dancing w/ the Stars, We are Marshall)

Anonymous said...

"Who's Now?" is the dumbest, most pointless thing they've had in a while. It's totally something that belongs on E! or VH1.

Mike & Mike are fine...as a radio show. Simulcasting it on TV is supid.

Bobby O'Shea said...

Simulcasting it on TV is brilliant from ESPN's point of view. For a minimum production cost, they have a show that isn't bad and some people (myself when I am home) will watch. The "What's Now" segment is awful and doesn't seem to serve any real purpose.

Seamus O'Toole said...

I have to take issue with Stanimal saying "there is literally nothing going on." Team USA futbol is in high gear, dog-gone-it, and I wasn't even able to see my own country's team dominate the Gold Cup.

While it might be economical for ESPN to air "Mike & Mike" in high-definition (not to mention highlights of previously aired shows), it certainly doesn't inspire much confidence in the network's vision for improving the quality of sports entertainment that the American public receives.

At least Baseball Tonight, one of the finest programs ever conceived, is still going strong. 57 days, 18 hours, 30 minutes until GameDay...

Stanimal said...

I would expect a card-carrying communist such as yourself to watch soccer when its not even the world cup.

Don't get me wrong, great sport, admire the athletes, but not interested.