Is anyone else sick of ESPN?

[Decepticons_Rule]

I'm talking about all the advertisements, hype, stupid specials, and annoying anchors.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Olbermann, Patrick, Berman, Steiner, and the rest of the old gang that just gave you sports.

[Hoss]

Well, I'm way more of an ESPN radio guy and Mike and Mike and Cowherd get me through the day til Jason Ellis comes on Faction (I'm in pharma sales and in the car aaaaalot.)

[Decepticons_Rule]

Well, I'm way more of an ESPN radio guy and Mike and Mike and Cowherd get me through the day til Jason Ellis comes on Faction (I'm in pharma sales and in the car aaaaalot.)


Oh God. ESPN radio is the worst.

Talk sports for 2 minutes, hype some product for two minutes, tease what comes after commercial, rinse, repeat. It sucks.

Cowherd is an arrogant moron, who listens to that guy?

I prefer FSR, JT the Brick is amazing, and nationally, Rome is always funny at least.

[Hoss]

Oh God. ESPN radio is the worst.

Talk sports for 2 minutes, hype some product for two minutes, tease what comes after commercial, rinse, repeat. It sucks.

Cowherd is an arrogant moron, who listens to that guy?


I do - and alot men 18-49 that like sports themed talk. But if you have alternatives that you enjoy more both on TV and Radio, why waste time on an ESPN hatefest?

[Blueferret]

I'm talking about all the advertisements, hype, stupid specials, and annoying anchors.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Olbermann, Patrick, Berman, Steiner, and the rest of the old gang that just gave you sports.

Those guys actually knew their stuff. The guys now are basically card readers who try to create a catch-phrase.

[Decepticons_Rule]

Those guys actually knew their stuff. The guys now are basically card readers who try to create a catch-phrase.

EXACTLY!!! :frown:

[Hoss]

Those guys actually knew their stuff. The guys now are basically card readers who try to create a catch-phrase.

There are a few business models that you can follow when you create a 24 hour news source - you can go the Fox News route and basically become owned by two ratings blockbuster personalities (Hannity and O'Reily) or you can make the brand bigger than any of the personalities on screen.

On top of that, doing Sports Center is not a glamorous gig. The hours are long and you work all year long. So, Berman is now a football specialist. Steiner gets paid a boatload of money to do what he'd want to do anyway, watch the Dodgers. And Patrick went free agent.

ESPN is all about upkeep now - they are the top brand by far and no one is coming close to threatening their market share. Whether that is "right" or not is completely dependent on how much cash they rake in and keep raking in. ESPN is pretty straightforward in admitting that they are a for-profit business - heck, the decision to keep Hockey as long as they did was a sentimental one even though the spreadsheets were telling them to go otherwise.

If the brand starts to detiriorate among the key 19-48 male demographic then they'll make some adjustments. Right now, they are a well run machine. That isn't to say anyone is wrong for disliking what they have become, but from both a short-term and long-term business model they are doing the exact right thing.

[kalorama]

The only things I watch on ESPN are NBA games, Monday Night Football, and PTI, so I don't really consume enough to make myself sick (plus, I didn't have cable during the formative salad days of the channel, so I have no "good ol' days" nostalgia fueled discontent with the current state. That being said, Stuart Scott and Stephen A. Smith never fail to get on my nerves.

[Jared]

Usually I only get upset with ESPN when they show Poker. It's just ...so far from being a sport that it irritates me. I have no interest in golf either, but at least I understand why it's on.

I love PTI, and sometimes watch Around the Horn, though I really don't need both on the same day.

Sportscenter was better back in the old days. Craig Kilborn was another great anchor who often gets forgotten. Back then, the guys could be funny but it seemed like they were being off-the-cuff (even if they really weren't). Nowadays, it seems like everybody went to Sportscenter Anchor 101 together. The fact that they even had a reality show about it pretty much says it all.

I've had no qualms with MNF since the move.

[noh-varr]

Once they show nothing but reality shows and never discuss sports, they are nothing like MTV and it's kind of silly to compare the two.

I just watch the football stuff though, and over all I have no complaints about that.

[FanboyStranger]

It's also the slow sports time of the year, and the programming reflects that. You're down to two NBA playoff series, a few baseball games during the week and on Sunday, and some college sports like baseball, softball, and even lacrosse over last weekend. Basically, this is the time of year where I really begin to miss college football and basketball, but it's only three months away.

[Nightstar1441]

Yep - won't watch them anymore - or if I do - I use the mute button.

They've become the Enquirer of the sports world basing their stories more on rumors than fact.

They've also have a hypocritcal view on athletes with drug issues - one day - they are the bane of sports exsistence or if its an athelte that caters to them - then they are mis-understood and the rules are at fault.

[marvell2100]

My only problem with ESPN is their love affair with Brett Favre and Tom Brady. Why don't they just marry them and be done with it.

[Nightstar1441]

Ugh - I had to mute Monday Night football because no matter who was playing that would be all they talked about - shut up and comment on the game at hand - jeez - it made me miss John Madden which is just depressing

[Blueferret]

Usually I only get upset with ESPN when they show Poker. It's just ...so far from being a sport that it irritates me. I have no interest in golf either, but at least I understand why it's on.

I love PTI, and sometimes watch Around the Horn, though I really don't need both on the same day.

Sportscenter was better back in the old days. Craig Kilborn was another great anchor who often gets forgotten. Back then, the guys could be funny but it seemed like they were being off-the-cuff (even if they really weren't). Nowadays, it seems like everybody went to Sportscenter Anchor 101 together. The fact that they even had a reality show about it pretty much says it all.

I've had no qualms with MNF since the move.


That bit Kilborn in the butt when he made fun of the company on-air. He said something to the effect of "ESPN is the first to report that the Pistons beat the Knicks". I think he was removed from sportscenter after that.

[jdwrocks]

I rarely watch Sportscenter, if I want a highlight recap show, I'll watch the "Final Wrap" on FSN. But I will give props to Karl Ravich & Baseball Tonight. They do a good job as far as MLB is concerned, especially Buck Showalter. Plus Karl doesn't ham it up either. I just wish Harold Reynolds was still involved.

[Nightstar1441]

Reynolds got a raw deal - ESPN wanted out of his contract so they pretty much stretched the truth (suprise, suprise) to justify voiding it.

I know there is a lawsuit Reynolds filed against them - suprised they are not reporting on it :rolleyes:

[jdwrocks]

Reynolds got a raw deal - ESPN wanted out of his contract so they pretty much stretched the truth (suprise, suprise) to justify voiding it.

I know there is a lawsuit Reynolds filed against them - suprised they are not reporting on it :rolleyes:
I thought I read there was a settlement on that, can't remember the details. I figure Harold wouldn't shill for the Red Sox & Yankees. :tongue:

I know your a East coast boy, Nightstar, but let's face it ESPN bias is out there for the 2 teams.

I find it funny how they discuss how Joe Mauer will fit better with the Sox or the Yanks. As a Twins fan I wanna punch someone on the show in the face.

[Sir Tim Drake]

It's also the slow sports time of the year, and the programming reflects that. You're down to two NBA playoff series, a few baseball games during the week and on Sunday, and some college sports like baseball, softball, and even lacrosse over last weekend. Basically, this is the time of year where I really begin to miss college football and basketball, but it's only three months away.

Of course football, basketball and baseball are not the only sports in the world. I wish it was possible to watch things like badminton, handball, volleyball, table tennis and rugby on American TV.

[Deathstroke]

Yeah I'm kind of sick of the network. I want sports results and news, interviews and features not hype.

Too many talking heads.

Too many catchphrases.

[Zero Hunter]

About the only "shows" I watch anymore on ESPN are Around the Horn and PTI. Any other time I am just tuning in for a game that on.

[Nightstar1441]

I thought I read there was a settlement on that, can't remember the details. I figure Harold wouldn't shill for the Red Sox & Yankees. :tongue:

I know your a East coast boy, Nightstar, but let's face it ESPN bias is out there for the 2 teams.

I find it funny how they discuss how Joe Mauer will fit better with the Sox or the Yanks. As a Twins fan I wanna punch someone on the show in the face.

So true - there are so many great stories in baseball and they always seem to wind it back to the Yankees and Red Sox.

Sort of like when they talk about the New Orleans Saints, they usually finish the coversation mentioning Farve or when they are talking about the Denver Nuggests - then feel the need to mention Kobe.

Just give us the news and the facts - not the purile speculation

[Kylun123]

Yeah, I don't really get the MTV comparison but I try not watch ESPN if I can help it.

It's not so much the kitchiness and promotions but the blatant inability to separate content from hype and to provide honest commentary & analysis.

Bothered me the most during college football season and will only get worse when ESPN actually carries the bowl games. How can they provide unbiased coverage of sports when they make their money selling certain sports stories?
So of course it makes sense to focus on the big markets, or in this case the big colleges, b/c they are the ones bringing in the most viewers & therefore the most $$.

I find that most of their commentators do the same, and simply regurgitate whatever storyline they're supposed to be selling instead of giving an honest read on any particular story.

I wish there was a legitimate place to go for for the same amount and breadth of sports coverage, but I wish it could be without the bias.

[DubipR]

I gave on ESPN (or BSPN as the great sports talk show host Joe McDonald calls it) years ago. As everyone mentioned, its just faces reading from teleprompters and trying to capture what Berman, Patrick, and Steiner did best. Also when they 'break news' they don't credit where they get it from; I've seen them literally steal Fox Sports news newsbreaks and say they broke it.
ESPN= Ever Self Promoting Network

Personally, I like Fox Sports Radio. At least the Dan Patrick, Jim Rome, Myers & Hartman, PMS, and Looney know their stuff.... I'll stick with that.

[marvell2100]

The best thing on ESPN is College GameDay for both basketball and football and the recap shows. I like Outside The Lines(Bob Ley is great), Baseball Tonight and Mike and Mike In The Morning as well. E:60 looks promising at times. Sportscenter and NFL Live make me want to vomit sometimes.

[TitoJones]

I thought I read there was a settlement on that, can't remember the details. I figure Harold wouldn't shill for the Red Sox & Yankees. :tongue:

I know your a East coast boy, Nightstar, but let's face it ESPN bias is out there for the 2 teams.

I find it funny how they discuss how Joe Mauer will fit better with the Sox or the Yanks. As a Twins fan I wanna punch someone on the show in the face.

I remember him being on the Dan Patrick show saying that they settled out of court. As for my baseball news, if I want scores and highlights I just go to the MLB channel. That way I can see more than two highlights of ALL the teams instead of the Yanks/Redsox/Mets lovefest on ESPN.

[spoon_jenkins]

Yeah I'm kind of sick of the network. I want sports results and news, interviews and features not hype.
Yeah, certain stuff is just repeated ad nauseum. If they're going on depth on an event, I'd like to hear analysis rather than loud personalities.

That's why, for example, I find the local broadcasts of Mets games on SNY much more enjoyable than a lot of stuff on ESPN. I learn lots about baseball strategy and the nuances of the game. ESPN basketball analysts are the opposite end of the spectrum; I don't learn anything about the game from them. Magic Johnson is particularly useless. Here's just there because he's a big name.They should employ analysts who can communicate well about Xs and Os even if they weren't big name players.

Although I like a lot of the old school personalities, I'm not a Chris Berman fan. When he shows up on a halftime show, I usually change the channel. I wasn't the least bit surprised when the outtakes of him throwing tantrums appeared online. That's exactly how I imagined he'd be when he's not on-the-air. He's also the number one guy who wants to canonize Favre.

[Decepticons_Rule]

Baseball Tonight is 23 minutes about the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox.

2 minutes of steroids.

3 minutes of top plays and homeruns.

1 minute about the rest of the teams in MLB.

1 minute hyping Sportscenter.

[jdwrocks]

Baseball Tonight is 23 minutes about the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox.

2 minutes of steroids.

3 minutes of top plays and homeruns.

1 minute about the rest of the teams in MLB.

1 minute hyping Sportscenter.
I gotta disagree here. Baseball Tonight does a pretty good job covering the entire league...unless Steve Phillips & Peter Gammons are on together, then all bets are off.

[Royal]

There's as many Sports fans on ESPN as there are art critics on A&E

[Titan76]

The only shows I like on ESPN are First Take(Cold Pizza), PTI, Outside the Lines, Sports Reporters, and sometimes E: 60. Of these shows, First Take is the one I watch the most because I'm home all the time when it comes on in the morning. I love it when Steven A Smith is on the show because the guy just talks and knows his sports and isn't just a talking head like a lot of the other guys on there.

I can't stand MNF on ESPN, nor most of their NFL coverage, because the majority of all the people covering it are all talking heads like Chris Berman, who is a loud month fool.