ESPN, how we hate thee

[Handy Smurf]

I'm going to stick an example in here for every time this station/website/one of its employees pisses me off

I'll begin with this, because its an example of why I hate Stu Scott that always remains with me

After (whoever was working that night with Stu) made a humorous remark about Royce Clayton (with his massive dreads) looking like The Predator, Stu fires back with this classic call of an OF making a diving catch (keep in mind, you wouldve thought Stu was watching a basketball game in Rucker Park by the tone and volume of his voice) "HATER IN DA HOUSE!!!**"
Yes, someone makes a diving catch of a fly ball and we now get "hater in da house" Jesus outfielder, quit "hating" and let the damn ball drop next time.



**after he said this I threw a leg of lamb thru the tv screen

[gwar469]

Anytime John Kruk opens up his mouth, I feel a little dumber. His shining moment was when Farley impersonated him on SNL, during a weekend report.

Also, last night was a classic ESPN annoyance moment. During the Yankees game (which I was only watching because it was the only thing I could find at the time, and I can't turn off any baseball game), Tino Martinez lets a hard grounder go through the wickets. For a good 5 minutes, the announcers go off on how Mr. Reliable (Tino) never has that happen. After their tirade, they proceed to mention that it was Tino's 5th error on the year. 5th?!?! Wouldn't someone being called Mr. Reliable have fewer than 5 errors at first base -- especially at barely past the midpoint on the season?! I get sick of 95% of the announcers performing fellatio on every member of the Yankees. One of these days, one of these announcers is going to choke on that shit.

[The_Deacon]

I get it man, shit. I do agree that ESPN is heading the way of MTV. That is why I have not watched MTV in maybe 10 years or so.

Point: Save your lamb legs and TV's, and STOP WATCHING ESPN! If you stick a pencil in your eye, and it hurts, STOP STICKING A PENCIL IN YOUR EYE! If you hit yourself in your balls with a hammer, and it hurts, STOP HITTING YOURSELF IN THE BALLS WITH A HAMMER!!!!!! :rolleyes:

[Dumb Hick]

I like Stu Scott. He's good but sometimes goes ghetto when he calls stuff.

I don't like Kruk mcuh but I do like what Harold Reynolds has to say.

[The_Deacon]

"This is ESPN" is on right now. It is a behind the senses look at Sports Center. I am sure you are watching Handy!!!
:D

[paranoidandroid]

while i agree some of the espn commentators can get a little on the "pain in ass" side of things...you guys do know they're
just reporting on sports right?

for the most part, these are not life and death stories.

one of my fave espn guys is kenny mayne. his dry sense of humor has struck me well. and he's also a great writer.

i also just got finished watching the behind the scenes sportscenter. pretty good stuff on actually a pretty sloppy show from thetop.

and now i know why the freaking red sox's or yankees seemingly always lead a sportscast...if you caught some the worker bio's that they flashed up on the screen, you could see that at least 90% of the creative staff were from the east coast. no wonder there is the east coast bias.

but back to the point. yeah stuart scott can a little to cute for is own good, but again, this is sports we're talking about here, and i think stuart caters to a different kind of audience.

I'll begin with this, because its an example of why I hate Stu Scott that always remains with me


i love that you criticize stuart scott, but call him "stu" in your rant :p

?? what are you guys boyz now? :confused:

[Jonathan]

one of my fave espn guys is kenny mayne. his dry sense of humor has struck me well. and he's also a great writer.
He also hardly ever seems to be on camera anymore, either.

The days of Olbermann, Mayne, Kilborn and Eisen are over. Now we're stuck with Stuart Scott and the interchangable anchors (Anderson, Van Pelt, etc.). Snore!

[RedRigmaJacket]

fuck you guys. i loooooooove espn.

[shivui]

espn is boring. whenever i watch tv that is usually it, but it's not near as entertaining as it was. buccigross used to be pretty funny but he has gotten old.

steve levy, bill clement, and gary thorne are my favs. for obvious reasons.

you could throw in "bubba" melrose as well, but he seems like he's too pro-america these days.

[The_Deacon]

fuck you guys. i loooooooove espn.
I agree Paranoid, Kenny Mayne's dry humor is great!!! :D

As far as you Red,,,,,,fuck you too ;)

[Jonathan]

fuck you guys. i loooooooove espn.

I loved ESPN, but that ESPN is long gone. They got too full of themselves, basically. It's as though they think people tune in to ESPN because it's ESPN, as opposed to tuning in because they have sports on. Thus, the glut of "ESPN Original Entertainment" -- although I'll be the first to admit that some (but not all) of it was because of the giant hole left in the prime-time schedule by the NHL lockout.

The beginning of the end was when they started calling themselves "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" - whether or not it was true, it showed a certain level of conceit.

[Jake_Barnes]

Has anyone else seen this? Brillant

http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/bristol/

[sabos_glasses]

Has anyone else seen this? Brillant

http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/bristol/

Thanks for the link, this is very funny stuff.

[Handy Smurf]

I loved ESPN, but that ESPN is long gone. They got too full of themselves, basically. It's as though they think people tune in to ESPN because it's ESPN, as opposed to tuning in because they have sports on.
Right on

Deacon, I dont really throw produce, poultry, or anything else for that matter at my tv. I was using hyperbole...of sorts.

Berzerker, I was calling him Stu Scott to be derisive. There is such a thing as professionalism and journalistic integrity, wether its a sportscast or not. Screaming something as ridiculous and ebonical (I totally made that up) as "Hater in da House!" to try and give yourself "street cred" doesnt make for good tv. The subject matter is still to be taken somewhat seriously, wether its sports or not. Why dont they wear Hawaiian shirts and jean shorts?

[RedRigmaJacket]

i never had cable until college, so i dont know any better.

but gimmee a break. who else does a 'sportscenter' type show with all the highlights and countdowns and insider information? hate is a strong word. if you're not careful, espn is going to pack up its shit and then where will you be?

[Jonathan]

i never had cable until college, so i dont know any better.

but gimmee a break. who else does a 'sportscenter' type show with all the highlights and countdowns and insider information? hate is a strong word. if you're not careful, espn is going to pack up its shit and then where will you be?

On the Internet, where I am now anyway.

And I seriously doubt ESPN will ever "take its ball and go home."

But for me, it's not the content of SportsCenter that's the problem, it's the presentation. Which had been in a decline for a long time, and is close to, if not already, hitting rock bottom.

Besides, frankly, I can't be arsed to wait until 11 pm to find out who won, not when I can jump on the web and find out right now. Seeing the highlights...eh, that's just not a big deal to me anymore. I can live without it, given the yahoos and stuffed shirts who present them nowadays.

[The_Deacon]

Right on

Deacon, I dont really throw produce, poultry, or anything else for that matter at my tv. I was using hyperbole...of sorts.

Berzerker, I was calling him Stu Scott to be derisive. There is such a thing as professionalism and journalistic integrity, wether its a sportscast or not. Screaming something as ridiculous and ebonical (I totally made that up) as "Hater in da House!" to try and give yourself "street cred" doesnt make for good tv. The subject matter is still to be taken somewhat seriously, wether its sports or not. Why dont they wear Hawaiian shirts and jean shorts?
They do at the Pro Bowl :D :cool:

I know Handy,,,,just playing :cool:

But I used to throw ash trays full of cig butts at the TV every time Atrell Hawkins got burned for 40 yards.

[The_Deacon]

Has anyone else seen this? Brillant

http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/bristol/
This link is fantastic! Neato! Laughing my ass off kind of funny ! :D

[sabos_glasses]

Besides, frankly, I can't be arsed to wait until 11 pm to find out who won, not when I can jump on the web and find out right now. Seeing the highlights...eh, that's just not a big deal to me anymore. I can live without it, given the yahoos and stuffed shirts who present them nowadays.

This is an interesting point. Its like the "get it now" attitude that ESPN took advantage of has passed it by. Now people can "get it sooner."

[Handy Smurf]

They do at the Pro Bowl :D :cool:

I know Handy,,,,just playing :cool:

But I used to throw ash trays full of cig butts at the TV every time Atrell Hawkins got burned for 40 yards.
I dont know if I would be more enraged when Artrell got burnt for a 40 yard gain, or when Artrell got burnt, the WR dropped the pass, and Artrell spent the next 3 minutes acting like he was at a Soul Train audition, celebrating the fact that while he had failed, he didnt fail quite as badly as he normally failed.

[sabos_glasses]

I dont know if I would be more enraged when Artrell got burnt for a 40 yard gain, or when Artrell got burnt, the WR dropped the pass, and Artrell spent the next 3 minutes acting like he was at a Soul Train audition, celebrating the fact that while he had failed, he didnt fail quite as badly as he normally failed.

Pick on Artrell all you want, but NOTHING was worse than Rod and Roger Jones in the secondary. Ah, those were the days...

[paranoidandroid]

Pick on Artrell all you want, but NOTHING was worse than Rod and Roger Jones in the secondary. Ah, those were the days...


ahhhh the good old "toast" jones days.

those guys were horrible!!


i'm still pissed that the bengals passed on champ baily to take freaking akili smith?? what a fuck-up that was...

[The_Deacon]

Pick on Artrell all you want, but NOTHING was worse than Rod and Roger Jones in the secondary. Ah, those were the days...
Ooops! I almost forgot about toast #1 and #2. Toast #3 was just the first thing I thought of. Sorry! :o

[jcarwash31]

They are adding ESPN Hollywood to the ESPN2 lineup. I don't care about scores and highlights, I just want to know the latest gossip on Kobe and Kournikova. This is what sports coverage should be.


*shakes head in disgust*

[Patas]

They are adding ESPN Hollywood to the ESPN2 lineup. I don't care about scores and highlights, I just want to know the latest gossip on Kobe and Kournikova. This is what sports coverage should be.


*shakes head in disgust*
hey I just made a thread about this. I wonder what you are watching this morning.

[Jonathan]

After the addition of "Page 3" to the ESPN website, is anybody really surprised?

[blahdre]

espn is boring. whenever i watch tv that is usually it, but it's not near as entertaining as it was. buccigross used to be pretty funny but he has gotten old.

steve levy, bill clement, and gary thorne are my favs. for obvious reasons.

you could throw in "bubba" melrose as well, but he seems like he's too pro-america these days.


im not a fan of levy or clement, but thorne has to be one of the most annoying hockey sportscasters around. every single shot, whether it's wide by 5 feet or if it's right into the goalie, he goes apeshit. their comments are pretty useless too...canadian broadcasts or local sportscasters (who usually have some hockey background) are always a ton better. i do the same thing that i do with Michael Kay and the Yankee games, i shut off the audio on the TV and turn on the local radio broadcast for commentary.

[Patas]

im not a fan of levy or clement, but thorne has to be one of the most annoying hockey sportscasters around. every single shot, whether it's wide by 5 feet or if it's right into the goalie, he goes apeshit. their comments are pretty useless too...canadian broadcasts or local sportscasters (who usually have some hockey background) are always a ton better. i do the same thing that i do with Michael Kay and the Yankee games, i shut off the audio on the TV and turn on the local radio broadcast for commentary.
It's all about Darren Pang.

[blahdre]

It's all about Darren Pang.

Pang is good in small doses, just like John Davidson...i guess goalies all have similar traits

[Jonathan]

Pang is good in small doses
I thought Pang only came in a small dose? :confused:

:D

[blahdre]

I thought Pang only came in a small dose? :confused:

:D


true :)

i guess they should limit "panger's" airtime even further.

[noonan]

Once the big show was no more, ESPN died to me.

http://olbermann.org/ko/images/gallery/small/83.jpg

Just give me the sports, be smart and have some wit. In that order.

[blahdre]

Once the big show was no more, ESPN died to me.

http://olbermann.org/ko/images/gallery/small/83.jpg

Just give me the sports, be smart and have some wit. In that order.

*sigh* Dan Patrick... he needs to do ALL the shows, then ESPN will get back the credibility it lost with ESPN Hollywood. I miss him so...

[Picaroon]

You guys are right, ESPN really blows these days. The one thing that really pisses me off about the network, like you guys have alluded to, is the fact that self-absorbed no-talent hacks like Skip Bayless and Steven "A" Smith get their own shows, while someone like Kenny Mayne, who actually has a good sense of humor and is entertaining to watch, is relegated to covering something as obscure as horse racing (sorry to all horse racing fans out there).

And getting back to Stuart Scott, why the f*** does he host EVERY SINGLE SHOW the channel has to offer? I imagine something like Stump the Schwab would actually be fairly entertaining if anyone else was hosting it.

And does anyone remember Two-Minute Drill? What the hell happened to that show? It was on for two or three years and I thought it was great (mainly because of Mayne's dry wit and sarcasm), but then for no apparent reason ESPN cancelled it. Now all they show are programs where so-called "journalists" yell at each other for half an hour or so about the same old tired topics. I miss the days when the channel offered actual "analysis" from actual analysts, not just guys who think they know what they're talking about because they read a box-score or looked at a highlight reel.

[sabos_glasses]

And does anyone remember Two-Minute Drill?

Yeah I remeber that show. It was pretty good, but I actually like the Stump the Schwab premise. Except for, as you mentioned, Stu Scott.

I agree with almost everything else you said, except that I kinda like Bayless in moderation. I like when he's on the Jim Rome radio show.

[The_Deacon]

Kenny Mayne's dry humor when he did sportscenter was just perfect!!! I looked forward to sportscenter then, even when it was not football season.

I would love to know why he is not on sportscenter anymore, and Tray of meat Wingo is!!! (Yeah, that's right, I busted out a Chris Bermanism) :p

[sabos_glasses]

I would love to know why he is not on sportscenter anymore, and Tray of meat Wingo is!!! (Yeah, that's right, I busted out a Chris Bermanism) :p

C'mon, even Boomer is more clever than that.

[blahdre]

C'mon, even Boomer is more clever than that.

there really should be a thread: "Worst Chris Berman names"

[The_Deacon]

there really should be a thread: "Worst Chris Berman names"
Let ARTPUNCHHORSE start thread. That will make his day!!!! :D

[Handy Smurf]

And does anyone remember Two-Minute Drill? What the hell happened to that show? It was on for two or three years and I thought it was great (mainly because of Mayne's dry wit and sarcasm), but then for no apparent reason ESPN cancelled it. Now all they show are programs where so-called "journalists" yell at each other for half an hour or so about the same old tired topics. I miss the days when the channel offered actual "analysis" from actual analysts, not just guys who think they know what they're talking about because they read a box-score or looked at a highlight reel.
you know, I can respect that people dont like these shows, but I hear the argument so often that theyre "yelling at each other about the same thing"
A) there are really only 2 shows, PTI and ATH (daily shows, that is)
B) there is little to no yelling that actually goes on
C) if you really consider the topics tired and old, maybe you've watched too many of these shows already. If I see ATH 3-4 times in a week, they generally tend to be covering the relevant sports topics of the day. I prefer to get my sports info that way. Other options as I rank them: ESPNews, local radio, local sports page, national radio, internet, local tv news, Sportscenter, sports magazines.
D) As Ive made apparent ATH is my favorite. I consider reading the same old morons in the local sports rags to be "old and tired." Also, even though I like local radio jock Lance McAllister, I can only take so much of "I believe Wednesday." At least on PTI and ATH they have guest interviews and guest panels, respectively that they switch daily. You also get to see different panelists on Sports Reporters, which I rarely get to watch but enjoy

[sabos_glasses]

I really can't stand "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter. Just an incoherent series of one-second highlights set to rap music. And it goes on forever.

Last night's/today's Sportscenter, however, did have a great human interest story about 6 grandmothers that brought baseball to Sumerton, SC.

[crazybob60]

I was watching last night's highlights and I don't know if they do this all the time or this broadcaster...but Antonio Alfonseca (if you don't know the story behind this adage please just google his name), well he ends with a strike he usually throws his arm in the air, and the announcer said something to the effect of giving the high six (instead of a high five)

[Handy Smurf]

I really can't stand "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter. Just an incoherent series of one-second highlights set to rap music. And it goes on forever.

Last night's/today's Sportscenter, however, did have a great human interest story about 6 grandmothers that brought baseball to Sumerton, SC.
yeah, what ever happened to the sportscenter top 10? i couldnt tell you when the last time is that I saw sportscenter all the way thru, so maybe im missing it. this was a cool part of the program, though, and as far as i know, theyve phased it out

[jcarwash31]

yeah, what ever happened to the sportscenter top 10? i couldnt tell you when the last time is that I saw sportscenter all the way thru, so maybe im missing it. this was a cool part of the program, though, and as far as i know, theyve phased it out
It's still there. But it is not always top plays. They will often do a themed top 10...meh, I'd rather just have top plays every day.

[george]

Has anyone else seen this? Brillant

http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/bristol/

That's great.

The Stuart Scott vs. Stephen A. Smith matchup is a tough choice; only exceeded by the fact that the winner has to take on Michael Irvin.

[The_Deacon]

yeah, what ever happened to the sportscenter top 10? i couldnt tell you when the last time is that I saw sportscenter all the way thru, so maybe im missing it. this was a cool part of the program, though, and as far as i know, theyve phased it out
They still do the top 10. But is more like the top 30 plays.

[the happy prole]

Remember when Stuart Scott got nailed in the eye by a football and had to leave the desk for six months? That was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

I like Kenny Mayne, but probably not in a good way. I just think it's really fun that he has this dry, ascerbic wit like he's above caring about sports. But then when they mic him up for celebrity softball games he turns into an over-competitive asshole.

[Artpunchehorse]

Anyone see the 50 states, 50 days in Sparta, KY?

[sabos_glasses]

Remember when Stuart Scott got nailed in the eye by a football and had to leave the desk for six months? That was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

That was some dope shit.

[sabos_glasses]

Anyone see the 50 states, 50 days in Sparta, KY?

They interviewed Tubby from the race. I also heard an interview of Pitino.

[crazybob60]

Remember when Stuart Scott got nailed in the eye by a football and had to leave the desk for six months? That was as cool as the other side of the pillow.


when did this happen? i missed that.

[Handy Smurf]

Remember when Stuart Scott got nailed in the eye by a football and had to leave the desk for six months? That was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

I like Kenny Mayne, but probably not in a good way. I just think it's really fun that he has this dry, ascerbic wit like he's above caring about sports. But then when they mic him up for celebrity softball games he turns into an over-competitive asshole.
I think you just described my feelings for the guy exactly
I will admit that his mayne event pieces were often very funny, but the crap he would actually spout off during sportscenter broadcasts was awful.
My favorite was always Rich Eisen, he was funny
I do have to add that I never had cable and the ability to regularly watch espn until about '99, and some of the "classic sportscenter" guys were already phased out entirely. Maybe I just never saw enough of Mayne in his "prime"

[Picaroon]

you know, I can respect that people dont like these shows, but I hear the argument so often that theyre "yelling at each other about the same thing"
A) there are really only 2 shows, PTI and ATH (daily shows, that is)
B) there is little to no yelling that actually goes on
C) if you really consider the topics tired and old, maybe you've watched too many of these shows already. If I see ATH 3-4 times in a week, they generally tend to be covering the relevant sports topics of the day. I prefer to get my sports info that way. Other options as I rank them: ESPNews, local radio, local sports page, national radio, internet, local tv news, Sportscenter, sports magazines.
D) As Ive made apparent ATH is my favorite. I consider reading the same old morons in the local sports rags to be "old and tired." Also, even though I like local radio jock Lance McAllister, I can only take so much of "I believe Wednesday." At least on PTI and ATH they have guest interviews and guest panels, respectively that they switch daily. You also get to see different panelists on Sports Reporters, which I rarely get to watch but enjoy

Truth be told, I actually enjoy PTI and ATH as well (although these days I prefer the latter). My problem isn't so much with these two shows, but all the other ones that have been popping up as of late. I believe that preceding ATH and PTI are 1st and 10 (with Skip Bayless and Woody Paige) and Jim Rome Is Burning (which, ironically, never seems to be hosted by Jim Rome). In addition, on ESPN2 there's that Hollywood-type show (which I've never seen) and Quite Frankly with Steven A. Smith (why this guy got his own show I'll never know). All of these shows cover almost the exact same topics every single day, and they're shown pretty much back-to-back, which makes watching them even more tedious. So I guess I don't really hate the concept so much as I hate the repetitiveness of it all. I just thought I'd clear that up, since I don't want to be a (total) hypocrite and say I hate these type of shows despite watching them on a fairly regular basis.

I think mainly it just goes to show the laziness of ESPN's programming executives. They discover that these shows are popular and then decide to make near carbon copies of them to replace everything else. I like seeing actual sports televised during the day, especially those that don't get as much recognition, like tennis, soccer, billiards, bowling, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, table tennis, etc. Admittedly some of these are kind of hard to get into, but it's nice to watch them just because they're a departure from the norm (and some are actually pretty entertaining). But now that these talk shows are on the air there's not much time to show these sports anymore (aside from really late at night), which is a shame. But I suppose it all comes down to ratings anyway, and since most people (including myself) watch all these shows, I guess there's no reason to go back to the old format.

[Artpunchehorse]

AC Slater is hosting that espn hollywood show. I guess Zack Morris was busy

[Picaroon]

Really?! Suddenly I'm intrigued (seriously). I kinda like Mario Lopez, mainly because I've felt sorry for the guy ever since he started hosting "Pet Star" on Animal Planet. I always thought A.C. deserved a better fate, especially since Zack got to be on NYPD Blue. I mean, Slater always lived in Zack's shadow, and had to accept being second best all the time, despite being an all-around better guy than Zack. I tell you, where's the justice in this world? All I can say is, good luck A.C. Slater, I wish you all the best, and I hope that someday you get the credit you truly deserve.

[sabos_glasses]

Really?! Suddenly I'm intrigued (seriously). I kinda like Mario Lopez, mainly because I've felt sorry for the guy ever since he started hosting "Pet Star" on Animal Planet. I always thought A.C. deserved a better fate, especially since Zack got to be on NYPD Blue. I mean, Slater always lived in Zack's shadow, and had to accept being second best all the time, despite being an all-around better guy than Zack. I tell you, where's the justice in this world? All I can say is, good luck A.C. Slater, I wish you all the best, and I hope that someday you get the credit you truly deserve.

Didn't A.C. steal Kelly from Zack for a short period of time? I think A.C. deserves all the bullshit gigs he gets for banging Zack's girl.

Plus, the guy was like 25 in a show about high school.

[Artpunchehorse]

Really?! Suddenly I'm intrigued (seriously). I kinda like Mario Lopez, mainly because I've felt sorry for the guy ever since he started hosting "Pet Star" on Animal Planet. I always thought A.C. deserved a better fate, especially since Zack got to be on NYPD Blue. I mean, Slater always lived in Zack's shadow, and had to accept being second best all the time, despite being an all-around better guy than Zack. I tell you, where's the justice in this world? All I can say is, good luck A.C. Slater, I wish you all the best, and I hope that someday you get the credit you truly deserve.

I think this show is a step below "Pet Star". Today he had to introduce a story about Jermaine O'Neal playing the brother from everyone loves raymond in texas hold 'em

[sabos_glasses]

All of these shows cover almost the exact same topics every single day, and they're shown pretty much back-to-back, which makes watching them even more tedious. So I guess I don't really hate the concept so much as I hate the repetitiveness of it all. I just thought I'd clear that up, since I don't want to be a (total) hypocrite and say I hate these type of shows despite watching them on a fairly regular basis.


I'm always a little surprised when ATH and PTI have the EXACT same topics. I guess it just seems like they would coordinate the topics better.

But yeah, they get the ratings for being somewhat general, at least across the Big 4 sports. I mean, I know I've never watched NHL Tonight and very rarely watch Baseball Tonight.

I do like the idea of the Trifecta. In fact, I watch it every day on lunch break.

[bjk15]

i just wanted to throw in how unbelievably pathetic espn has become... um, i guess, just to throw that on the pile, so yeah.

[Artpunchehorse]

I loved "The Season" but haven't seen much of it lately. Anyone catch the Iowa wrestling episodes a while back. FANTASTIC

[Jonathan]

AC Slater is hosting that espn hollywood show.
See what happens when you're married to Ali Landry, and you screw it up by cheating on her?

Dumbass. This is a justified penance.

[blahdre]

I loved "The Season" but haven't seen much of it lately. Anyone catch the Iowa wrestling episodes a while back. FANTASTIC


That was an amazing series. My favorite was the Red Wings season. Even though im not a big fan of them, it was cool to see how the team worked...

[The_Deacon]

I loved "The Season" but haven't seen much of it lately. Anyone catch the Iowa wrestling episodes a while back. FANTASTIC
I loved "The Season" that featured the Bearcats last year. I have not seen it since.

[sabos_glasses]

ESPN, rather than its regularly scheduled noon programming, instead showed a live practice of the Tennessee Vols football team. Most boring thing ever. But, considering the day-time TV alternatives, I watched it for an hour.

Oh, how I hate thee.

[The_Deacon]

ESPN, rather than its regularly scheduled noon programming, instead showed a live practice of the Tennessee Vols football team. Most boring thing ever. But, considering the day-time TV alternatives, I watched it for an hour.

Oh, how I hate thee.
Those days will soon end due to the arrival of "THEE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE" :D :D

[Artpunchehorse]

ESPN, rather than its regularly scheduled noon programming, instead showed a live practice of the Tennessee Vols football team. Most boring thing ever. But, considering the day-time TV alternatives, I watched it for an hour.

Oh, how I hate thee.

The office was closed on Monday so I got the day off. I went to BW's with the chicky and got drunk at noon watching Va Tech practice. Note, PRACTICE not scrimmage. Marcus Vick literally had on the yellow jersey

[Artpunchehorse]

Those days will soon end due to the arrival of "THEE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE" :D :D

I really can't wait to watch the same stale high lights for a week

[jcarwash31]

I really can't wait to watch the same stale high lights for a week
I really can't wait until they cover nothing but T.O. I mean Sportscenter only devotes about 30-40 minutes of the show to T.O. They need to cut the highlights to 1 play a game so we can get more T.O.

[Jonathan]

"the arrival of THEE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE" :D :D
What the hell is that?

Football started last weekend. Didn't you see that Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal all won?




:D

[jcarwash31]

What the hell is that?

Football started last weekend. Didn't you see that Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal all won?




:D
Deacon is talking about football and not fooootebowl . :p

[Jonathan]

fooootebowl . :p
Right. Fútbol is in Mexico. And Spain. :p

I'm talking about football, too. Or footy, if you prefer.

They haven't started the Spanish season yet. Maybe that's what he was talking about.

[The_Deacon]

I really can't wait to watch the same stale high lights for a week
Hey, me too!!! :D :D :D :D

[The_Deacon]

Deacon is talking about football and not fooootebowl . :p
Is foooootebowl that game that looks like a slow version of hockey on grass, and you can actually score 1 point and win the game?? :confused: :D

[Jonathan]

Is foooootebowl that game that looks like a slow version of hockey on grass, and you can actually score 1 point and win the game?? :confused: :D
1 point? No. 1 goal? Yes. :D

And heck, everything looks slow compared to hockey. Except maybe jai-alai...

[sabos_glasses]

I've tried to watch foooootbowl, but the time thing confuses me.

[Jonathan]

How is it confusing? The game is over when the referee says it's over. :D

[The_Deacon]

How is it confusing? The game is over when the referee says it's over. :D
I don't think it is confusing. :confused:

I just think it is much more entertaining when the clock (0:00) says it's over......and also when the score is 27-23...or somthing like that. NOT 1-0 :confused:

"That is just my opinion, I could be wrong" --- Dennis Miller

[sabos_glasses]

Newsflash: Mike Golic has stated that the Bears season could be in jeopardy without Rex Grossman.

:confused: wha? :confused:

Not that these people are known for stunning predictions, but this was just silly.

[Artpunchehorse]

Newsflash: Mike Golic has stated that the Bears season could be in jeopardy without Rex Grossman.

:confused: wha? :confused:

Not that these people are known for stunning predictions, but this was just silly.

and the pressure is on joey Harrington

[The_Deacon]

and the pressure is on joey Harrington
Not sure what that means.....please tell me!!!

[Jeffino]

Espn was best back when it was mainly Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Craig Kilborn, and ..... uh someone else who I forget now. hehe. Anyways, I used to consider Rich Eisen and Kenny Mayne the dorks and now I consider them the most tolerable.

Although Espn is becoming sucktastic, there's a show on some other network with a sort of crossfire setup. I don't know the name, the network, or the guys but..... It is truly the most annoying sports associated television viewing available in my opinion. I think it might be the same network that has Cold Pizza. msnbc maybe?

I just hate the fact that I can't tell if I'm watching the intro to sportscenter or some Fox News program. I guess that's a diss on both.

[Jeffino]

Wait... I think i'm talking about Cold Pizza. Skip Bayless and Woody Paige are the two dudes. I love the fact that, no matter what one says, they're always diametrically opposed to each other. It's so stupid. And I guess it's on espn2. ouch. I'm just waiting for " the ocho ".

[sabos_glasses]

It is truly the most annoying sports associated television viewing available in my opinion.

C'mon, aren't you overlooking Quite Frankly, anything with Stu Scott, and the latest and greatest, ESPN Hollywood starring A.C. Slater.

[chuxxter]

C'mon, aren't you overlooking Quite Frankly, anything with Stu Scott, and the latest and greatest, ESPN Hollywood starring A.C. Slater.
Stuart Scott makes me ill. Maybe Pat Robertson could take him out! :eek:

[Artpunchehorse]

Not sure what that means.....please tell me!!!

Well Deacon, The lions have invested their last 3 first round draft picks on WR's to surrond Harrington.

Rumors are if he doesn't have a good start to the season, Jeff Garcia will take over. Now how is that for going out on a limb

[sabos_glasses]

and the pressure is on joey Harrington

yep, they pretty much said exactly this last night/today on the trifecta.

[Artpunchehorse]

Now for the next couple days we will hear how the third preseason game is the one where the starter play the most

[The_Deacon]

Well Deacon, The lions have invested their last 3 first round draft picks on WR's to surrond Harrington.

Rumors are if he doesn't have a good start to the season, Jeff Garcia will take over. Now how is that for going out on a limb
Got it now. I was a little slow on that one :o :o

[Jonathan]

C'mon, aren't you overlooking Quite Frankly, anything with Stu Scott, and the latest and greatest, ESPN Hollywood starring A.C. Slater.

I love how nobody knows his real name. Or if they do, they don't care.

He should just legally change his name to A.C. Slater and be done with it.

[Handy Smurf]

I love how nobody knows his real name. Or if they do, they don't care.

He should just legally change his name to A.C. Slater and be done with it.
Its Mario Van Peebles, right?

[The_Deacon]

I really thought ESPN was ganna let this Huggins thing go after a day, but they did not. :mad:

[Homsar]

Hey, you can only show Sports Center so many millions of times before it gets old.

[Jonathan]

Its Mario Van Peebles, right?
Close... :p

[gwar469]

<sigh> sad to say, but I think A.C. Slater is played by Mario Lopez, and I think I even know what the A.C. stands for. Stupid Saved By The Bell reruns that I watched every day for 2 years while I was getting ready for work.

[Jonathan]

I think I even know what the A.C. stands for.

Really? It actually stands for something? I had no idea.

What is it?

[sabos_glasses]

Really? It actually stands for something? I had no idea.

What is it?

Allow me. Albert Clifford?

[sabos_glasses]

Is ESPN trying to alienate its white demographic?

Scoop says Dusty should be fired because Chicago is racist. Whitlock says Huggy was fired because Cincinnati is racist. Stu Scott "stuing it up" with sha-nay-nay at the picnic wit the cornbread and grits and ...(that's really one of his bits), haven't watched Stephen A. Smith's show because, well, it's SAS (SOS) so don't know whether it's afrocentric or not.

Seems to be a nasty case of angry black man syndrome floating around the world wide leader - methinks that don't sit so well with whitebread america.

I would hope that people wouldn't be upset about Scoop and Whitlock. I mean, I don't really agree with Whitlock, but I did enjoy reading the article, which is really all I ask.

Now Stu Scott with sha-na-nay at the pinic...I just wish it could stop. It just gets annoying, and I don't need that shit when I'm trying to see some highlights.

[The_Deacon]

I would hope that people wouldn't be upset about Scoop and Whitlock. I mean, I don't really agree with Whitlock, but I did enjoy reading the article, which is really all I ask.

Now Stu Scott with sha-na-nay at the pinic...I just wish it could stop. It just gets annoying, and I don't need that shit when I'm trying to see some highlights.
Sabos, that take was as cool as the other side of the pillow!! :p

[Jonathan]

Allow me. Albert Clifford?
Oh, that's just beautiful.

I wonder what Zack Morris's middle name is...

[Handy Smurf]

Is ESPN trying to alienate its white demographic?

Scoop says Dusty should be fired because Chicago is racist. Whitlock says Huggy was fired because Cincinnati is racist. Stu Scott "stuing it up" with sha-nay-nay at the picnic wit the cornbread and grits and ...(that's really one of his bits), haven't watched Stephen A. Smith's show because, well, it's SAS (SOS) so don't know whether it's afrocentric or not.

Seems to be a nasty case of angry black man syndrome floating around the world wide leader - methinks that don't sit so well with whitebread america.
eh, I used to love Scoop Jackson when he wrote for Slam magazine

Funny thing is, on most of their programs, I prefer the African American commentators, panelists, etc. Keith Russell is one of my favorite anchors on ESPNews, Harold Reynolds is my favorite baseball commentator, Greg Anthony is my favorite in basketball, Michael Smith is my favorite guest on ATH and one of the best personalities to appear on any ESPN medium.
None of these guys rely on trying to "Stu it up" while on air, though. Theyre professionals who rely on insightful, intelligent commentary and in some cases, very quick clever wits.

[gwar469]

Allow me. Albert Clifford?

thank you. i was thinking Alfonso Clifford, but Albert is right. mentioned only once in the entire series, both high school and college Saved by the Bell.

[sabos_glasses]

Oh, dear.

http://sportscenteraltar.com/

Here you can find brilliant information, such as a list of Chris Berman's catch phrases:


He...could...go...all...the...way! [and he does!/but he doesn't!]
Back, back, back, back, back.
It's a fumble!
Swami sayz...
Rumblin', stumblin', bumblin'...
The frozen tundra of...
This just in...Mario is good.
But that's why they play the game!
Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.
Marshall, Marshall, Marshall!


OR, our favorite of them all Stu Scott


Cool as the other side of the pillow.
Can I get a witness from the congregation?
Representin'.
Rock me Amadeus.
Hear the drummer get wicked!
He's got his mojo workin'. (or just plain MOJO!)
Don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind.
Like gravy on a biscuit, it's all good!
Doin' it and doin' it and doin' it well.
Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Wow! That one's as hardcore as the Wu-Tang Clan on steroids!
Gettin' his freak on! (or ...his schwerve on!)
Break him off something proper. (or ...off a little somethin' somethin')
You better recognize.
Got more flavor than Kool-Aid and cocoa.
Boo-yah!
Ready or not, refugees, here I come.
That is soooo five minutes ago.
You see what happened...was...I don't know.
He treats him like a dog. Sit. Stay.
Just call him butter cuz he's on a roll.
I play my enemies like a game of chess.
[Gangsta/pimp] slaps...

[The_Deacon]

I have to admit that Stu has one that I love!!!!

"just call him butter, cuz he's on a roll"" ... Love that!!!!!

I just noticed your sig Sabos. :D :D nice work ;)

[xu92]

They hired that UC loving toolbox Nick Lachey.

That pretty much sums up ESPN right there.

ESPN is becoming the MTV of sports. In 2 years we'll be lucky to see a sporting event a week.

[sabos_glasses]

They hired that UC loving toolbox Nick Lachey.

That pretty much sums up ESPN right there.

ESPN is becoming the MTV of sports. In 2 years we'll be lucky to see a sporting event a week.

haha...I gotta admit, I kinda like Nick. He seems like he would be a cool guy to have a beer with. (Am I really saying that about a man that dances in unison, in uniform, with other men?)

[Handy Smurf]

haha...I gotta admit, I kinda like Nick. He seems like he would be a cool guy to have a beer with. (Am I really saying that about a man that dances in unison, in uniform, with other men?)
I can agree with this, and he seems to be a pretty genuine hardcore sports fan and I respect that

I hafta say, I heard Stu Scott drop quite possibly the best line he's ever had in his broadcast history on Sunday, when he described a hit as a guy "getting baptized"
Now if he only drops about 80,000 more clever phrases like that, he'll be back to even

[The_Deacon]

haha...I gotta admit, I kinda like Nick. He seems like he would be a cool guy to have a beer with. (Am I really saying that about a man that dances in unison, in uniform, with other men?)
No, no, no, no!! Say it ain't so Sabos :(

[sabos_glasses]

I really like Rachel Nichols for ESPN.

I wanted to post a picture of her, but apparently there is a model/actress by the same name, which made it difficult.

This was the best I could find
http://espn.starwave.com/media/motion/2005/0707/security_thumbnail_big.jpg

[The_Deacon]

I really like Rachel Nichols for ESPN.

I wanted to post a picture of her, but apparently there is a model/actress by the same name, which made it difficult.

This was the best I could find
http://espn.starwave.com/media/motion/2005/0707/security_thumbnail_big.jpg
she is sooooooo sexy hot. I would go on, but you know how I get. I don't want to go into a perv rant :p

[DoRabbitsWonder]

she is sooooooo sexy hot. I would go on, but you know how I get. I don't want to go into a perv rant :p

I couldn't agree more. She's got it going on.

[The_Deacon]

I couldn't agree more. She's got it going on.
Hey....easy now. Don't be trying to snag my girl yo... :cool:

[sabos_glasses]

Hey....easy now. Don't be trying to snag my girl yo... :cool:

All I'm saying is, as long as I have a face she'll have a place to sit.

[The_Deacon]

All I'm saying is, as long as I have a face she'll have a place to sit.
Alright now Sabos!!! :mad: ..You stole that line from The_Deacon!! :mad: Now say you are sorry to the Boards. ;)

[sabos_glasses]

Alright now Sabos!!! :mad: ..You stole that line from The_Deacon!! :mad: Now say you are sorry to the Boards. ;)

Shit, like you made it up.

[Fourthisto]

I hate it when mommy and daddy fight. :( :(

[sabos_glasses]

I hate it when mommy and daddy fight. :( :(

Go to your room. We're not fighting...mommy and daddy are just..uh...upset.

You know how daddy deacon is when he drinks his beatin juice.

[sirgareth]

man, i'll bump this just 'cuz i hate the espn. the fox news of sports.

[The_Deacon]

man, i'll bump this just 'cuz i hate the espn. the fox news of sports.
bad example.

ESPN does not have any compatition. :confused:

[sabos_glasses]

Fox Sports Net?

[DoRabbitsWonder]

bad example.

ESPN does not have any compatition. :confused:

You could say Fox Sports Net? but thats not even the same level as ESPN. I doubt if anything is created to compete with ESPN, it will lose. With Monday night football going to espn eventually( i think thats right), there will be nothing to ever compete with it. I really don't have that much of a problem with ESPN. That's just me.

[Seattle93]

Fox Sports Net?


Not so much.

Fox Sports has been trying for years, but they just can't compete because the network is regionalized. Nor do I think they will ever try to compete. ESPN, to a certain extent is regionalized when it comes to game broadcasts, but FSN doesn't have one, national-type broadcast ala SportsCenter. They've tried attracting viewers by luring away "talent" like Chris Myers and Max Kellerman, but that hasn't worked. Constant repeats of Best Damn Sports Show and Poker Superstars II isn't going to cut it either when it comes to ratings. Plus, at 3am, they go to paid programming. The powers that be know that if they keep it regional, they can make more money in commercial sales. FSN lost too much money trying to be just like ESPN, so they have become content to be second place. They still make money and they aren't dependent on national ratings.

[Ibis]

Fox Sports Net maintains very niche sports coverage. Poker, Rodeo, etc.

They abandoned their national sports news show a couple years back; which was simultaneously the last anybody has seen of Van Earl Wright in recent memory.

Espn, much like the elevator business, has its ups and downs. I was on temporary personal strike from Espn and its offspring earlier this fall when the Terrell Owens controversy was in the news. It seemed like every show started with "TO did this, TO said that, TO is gonna do this," with incessant and pointless commentary from so-called "experts" (Ron Jaworski? Merril Hodge? Please. Stick to selling tvs).

By the end, it seemed like if Owens sneezed in the direction of Eagles training facilities that it was breaking news. You can see I have quite a thorn to pick with this issue. So the receiver is unhappy. So he likes to pout. So his coach and QB either don't know or don't care about dealing with him. Who gives a rat's flying be-hind anyway!

Do you really need to roll out and endless line of NFL "experts" to give B.S. answers to such mindnumbing questions as which touchdown dance was his best? I don't see any reason why besides the shortsighted bums in Bristol trying to fill tv space.

This is not my only gripe. But I will spare you the time of reading such long and drawn out opinions. The bottomline is this: I put SportsCenter (and likewise programming such as Around the Horn, PTI, NFL Live, etc.) in the same class as most MSNBC or CNN programming. I can bear it when I got 5 minutes and I need to catch a bit of news and get on the move. But any longer, and I want to gouge my eyes out. I just don't find it entertaining at extended periods anymore.

I'll end this post now before I even start to think about the made for tv movies, Playmakers, and those stupid, stupid, stupid mock press conferences with Steve Phillips a couple weeks back. But I will say this about Stephen A. Smith If his mouth is a'moving, my remote is a'clicking.

[DoRabbitsWonder]

This is not my only gripe. But I will spare you the time of reading such long and drawn out opinions. The bottomline is this: I put SportsCenter (and likewise programming such as Around the Horn, PTI, NFL Live, etc.) in the same class as most MSNBC or CNN programming. I can bear it when I got 5 minutes and I need to catch a bit of news and get on the move. But any longer, and I want to gouge my eyes out. I just don't find it entertaining at extended periods anymore

I agree with you on this. I used to watch PTI and those shows alot. 1st and 10 is probably the worst of them all. Woody Paige and that other guy( I forgot his name) arguing about if Naomi Watts is hot and if she should have been cast in King King or not is just ridiculous. It seems no matter what they talk about, one has to disagree, there's never an agreement. PTI is probably my favorite, because they seem to branch out on topics that aren't always repeated on NFL live and sportscenter. They're probably a few of my more favorite analysts on ESPN. Around the Horn can be watchable sometimes.

[Jonathan]

those stupid, stupid, stupid mock press conferences with Steve Phillips a couple weeks back.

That pissed me off. I turned on my TV and thought that Steve Phillips was hired as the new Red Sox GM. Then the crawl across the screen said it was all an act.

I haven't watched SportsCenter since, because obviously they don't give a shit anymore about the line between fact and fiction.

[Jonathan]

I agree with you on this. I used to watch PTI and those shows alot. 1st and 10 is probably the worst of them all. Woody Paige and that other guy( I forgot his name) arguing about if Naomi Watts is hot and if she should have been cast in King King or not is just ridiculous. It seems no matter what they talk about, one has to disagree, there's never an agreement.

Skip Bayless.

And Naomi Watts is alright, but she's not my favorite Aussie. ;)

[DoRabbitsWonder]

Skip Bayless.

And Naomi Watts is alright, but she's not my favorite Aussie. ;)

Ah Skip Bayless. That guy kills me.

[sabos_glasses]

But I will say this about Stephen A. Smith If his mouth is a'moving, my remote is a'clicking.

Oh yeah, I have not paid any attention to that guy in a long time.

[Louisianagrl]

Sportscenter was just ribbing on the "Who Dey" Bootsie song that's played at the Jungle(the newest one).... :p

[miami2112]

espn has become the a&e of sports.

i used to be sports obsessive, listening to sports talk radio, jim rome, sports center, etc.... then i realized all those shows are self-promoting, self perpetuating pieces of crap. if a real sports issue doesnt exist, we'll invent one!! piss the listeners off, so they'll call and more importantly, LISTEN SO WE CAN CHARGE MORE FOR COMMERCIALS.

i was naive, i know, but i thought all these sports outlets were discussing legit sports issues. not overinflated nothing stories.

so i realized i was a lemming. jumped out of the heard, and havent listened to sports talk since. (i only watch sportscenter for the entertainment value now, since they dont really give any sports news).

[jcarwash31]

That pissed me off. I turned on my TV and thought that Steve Phillips was hired as the new Red Sox GM. Then the crawl across the screen said it was all an act.

I haven't watched SportsCenter since, because obviously they don't give a shit anymore about the line between fact and fiction.
That was the worst piece of crap ever put on tv in the history of broadcasting. Yes, even worse than Hope & Faith. At first I was quite interested because I was confused.....did Steve Phillips become a GM ? (I don't remember which one I saw. I believe they did the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, and Dodgers before they stopped it.) Wait.....what the hell is a simulated press conference? Fuck you, SportsCenter. Everything he said was utterly pointless. Nobody knows what GM's are thinking and what they are going to do, so don't act like you do. It's one thing to do something to try to shed light on what a GM actually does, but to disguise your analysis of a team and your speculations as reality, or at the very least validated rumors, is irresponsible.

There used to be a time, and it wasn't that long ago, where SportsCenter was nearly an hour of highlights with Top Plays and Did You Know? at the end. You would see so many cool highlights that you wanted to see them all again so you watched the repeat immediately afterwards. Now there can't be hardly more than 20 minutes of highlights.

[sirgareth]

Some of this was stated above, but here is why I think the ESPN-Fox News comparison is apt:

Both were upstarts that have come to be the loudest voice in cable news. Not the best, but the loudest.

They both present news in an extremely short sighted way, with little thought given to longer term stories or ramifications. More thought goes in to stories that can help promote their other programs.

Did I mention that they are so needlessly loud?

Then there's the crawl...while I'm watching a Sports Center piece on teen gambling problems, the crawl at the bottom of the screen is reminding me it is only 45 minutes until the premiere of the World Series of Poker. That is O'Reilly Factor-esque in its ridiculousness.

So, in the delivery, and the screaming talking heads, the lack of context or follow-up, ESPN is following the Fox News model.

My two cents.

[Artpunchehorse]

I really like Rachel Nichols for ESPN.

I wanted to post a picture of her, but apparently there is a model/actress by the same name, which made it difficult.

This was the best I could find
http://espn.starwave.com/media/motion/2005/0707/security_thumbnail_big.jpg

I brought her up months ago. Deacon said she has summer teeth, which she does and I find very hot

[Artpunchehorse]

Well, Cheap Seats is very funny. I love that freaking show

[sabos_glasses]

Well, Cheap Seats is very funny. I love that freaking show

I thought it was funny at first, but it got old pretty fast.

I think a funny show would be one that spoofs other ESPN shows, like PTI or Around the Horn.

[Ibis]

Cheaps Seats is a nice gimmick show to kill time on Espn Classic. I don't mind it - at least its not the two Sklar brothers sitting an arguing about some mindnumbing headline that wont matter in three days.

The one thing I would like to see on Espn Classic is more "instant classics" - but rather than water down the term "instant classic ," I would like them to just replay the games.

Thankfully, many college games like this are replayed on EspnU, which i get down at Uc. I like watching games in this manner sometimes - replayed, cut down in time to fit tv slots, the outcome already known - not bad television trying to shake off a hangover when you can relax and get everything back together.

[sabos_glasses]

Thankfully, many college games like this are replayed on EspnU, which i get down at Uc.

Cool. I'm envious.

[paranoidandroid]

Not so much.
. FSN lost too much money trying to be just like ESPN, so they have become content to be second place. They still make money and they aren't dependent on national ratings.

rumor has it that fox sports will once again try and start up an all-sports national channel.

with news corps now being a majority owner in directv, which gets them maybe 20 million homes right off the bat...things may change

plus the NFL is dangling a "Thursday" night football package to the major networks, which if fox sports bought, would add nicely to a start up channel.

of course they could be just content to show poker all the time.

[Ibis]

Another show that I find useless: the new Classic Now show with the host Josh (something? Schwartz?). The point of the show is supposedly to compare old historic teams/games/events to current ones.

Much like communism, it sounds good in theory but in function it (in its purest form) fails miserably. Once again, the show is Josh hosting and so called "experts" which are basically washed up players with some small tie to the team/game/event getting airtime to tell his or her losuy opinion.

Again, its a nice concept, but its no way to spend my 7 oclock hour. Then again, since CNBC abandoned Conan reruns, there's not much else on the plate.

[sabos_glasses]

Another show that I find useless: the new Classic Now show with the host Josh (something? Schwartz?). The point of the show is supposedly to compare old historic teams/games/events to current ones.

Much like communism, it sounds good in theory but in function it (in its purest form) fails miserably. Once again, the show is Josh hosting and so called "experts" which are basically washed up players with some small tie to the team/game/event getting airtime to tell his or her losuy opinion.

Again, its a nice concept, but its no way to spend my 7 oclock hour. Then again, since CNBC abandoned Conan reruns, there's not much else on the plate.

So it sucks huh? I don't have classic so I've never seen it. I thought it sounded pretty neat, but the way you described it makes sense though.

[sabos_glasses]

Important programming note: Quite Frankly is moving to 11pm. Set your Tivos accordingly.

[Jonathan]

Last night, the Hurricanes won, 7-3. The Bottom Line ticker just showed the score. For all the other completed NHL games, it showed the score, plus selected goalscorers. No additional information on the Canes game.

I then had to explain to my girlfriend about the Hartford Whalers and why ESPN hates the Hurricanes, and why I in turn hate ESPN.

[Jonathan]

Important programming note: Quite Frankly is moving to 11pm. Set your Tivos accordingly.

My DVR is set up so that if Quite Frankly changes time slots, the machine will notice that and adjust accordingly.

If, you know, I had it set up to record Quite Frankly.

[Somerset Frisby]

A reason why I LOVE ESPN - they just hired a close personal friend of mine.

[Handy Smurf]

Stuart Scott home run calls tonight

for Thome- "Big tall brutha 6'2" wanna hit you" -thats right, he quoted Salt n Pepa for a home run call...and last time I checked, Thome isnt a "brutha"

Angels game- (like a preacher) "THERE IS A GOD! AND HIS NAME IS JEE-SUS!"



somebody get him off the air, please

[sabos_glasses]

But that Rachel Nichols has been looking sooo cute lately.

[blahdre]

she talks like a robot though...she's gotten a little better with her commentary but it really seems as if they go through multiple takes of her bits with the director being like, "Rachel, you're stiff as a Giambi's shriveled testicle...come on! a little emotion or something!"

At least Linda Cohn comes off as laid back and natural. Oh Linda...if only you were 20 years younger...

[Artpunchehorse]

Fuck Bill Simmons

Anyone see Bill Simmons chat today?


Jason (Santa Monica): bill, are the clippers really that much better than the nuggets? should they re-sign sam cassell?

Bill Simmons: (1:49 PM ET ) Yeah, they're that much better. The Nuggets stink. Any playoff team that has Earl Boykins playing more than 10 minutes stinks in my opinion. Plus, take out Carmelo and they're useless. They were even getting every call from the second quarter on in Game 2 (just a classic one-sided performance by Joey Crawford) and couldn't even come within 10. And now they have the whole Kenyon Martin fallout happening. They stink. Seriously, how far did you expect a team with three Cincinnati alums to go?

[Jumpman]

I'll tell you why I hate ESPN. The guys on baseball tonight were going nuts after Arroyo's last fantastic outing.

They were like:

"Here's Arroyo getting the put-out at first....LOOK AT THE MULLET, ARE YOU KIDDING ME, A MULLET! ARROYO! MULLET!"

Those idiots wouldn't know a good mullet if it grew down their back and bit them in the ass.

[The_Deacon]

Fuck Bill Simmons

Anyone see Bill Simmons chat today?


Jason (Santa Monica): bill, are the clippers really that much better than the nuggets? should they re-sign sam cassell?

Bill Simmons: (1:49 PM ET ) Yeah, they're that much better. The Nuggets stink. Any playoff team that has Earl Boykins playing more than 10 minutes stinks in my opinion. Plus, take out Carmelo and they're useless. They were even getting every call from the second quarter on in Game 2 (just a classic one-sided performance by Joey Crawford) and couldn't even come within 10. And now they have the whole Kenyon Martin fallout happening. They stink. Seriously, how far did you expect a team with three Cincinnati alums to go?

For real??? I thought you liked this guy???.....anyway, if this is how it went down, well then FUCK Bill Simmons!!

[The_Deacon]

But that Rachel Nichols has been looking sooo cute lately.
She sure does have a perrrrty mouth :D

[Artpunchehorse]

For real??? I thought you liked this guy???.....anyway, if this is how it went down, well then FUCK Bill Simmons!!

Fuck em. You mess with Huggs guys you mess with me.

[1979]

Fuck em. You mess with Huggs guys you mess with me.


Good Lord, you take that Huggins shit WAY to seriously. The fact of the matter is that Cincy had a good, not great, basketball program under Huggins. They got a reputation for being a bunch of thugs. Simmons ran with it. It was a joke.

[RedRigmaJacket]

Didn't know if I should post this here or in the McSweeney's thread:

Further Evidence that SportsCenter has Lost all Connection to Reality (http://www.mcsweeneys.net/)

[Sunshine]

Didn't know if I should post this here or in the McSweeney's thread:

Further Evidence that SportsCenter has Lost all Connection to Reality (http://www.mcsweeneys.net/)

Wow. That's why I watch my SportsCenter with the volume down and my music up.

Actually, that's the way I watch most actual games, too. There are very few announcers I care to hear.

[Artpunchehorse]

Good Lord, you take that Huggins shit WAY to seriously. The fact of the matter is that Cincy had a good, not great, basketball program under Huggins. They got a reputation for being a bunch of thugs. Simmons ran with it. It was a joke.

And I'm not laughing

[stakeraiser]

I'm to the point where I catch myself waiting for a score on ESPN's super slow ticker, then I realize "screw this, I got yahoo sports"

[sabos_glasses]

I'm to the point where I catch myself waiting for a score on ESPN's super slow ticker, then I realize "screw this, I got yahoo sports"

Yeah, I think they go too far with the stats for baseball. I think the winner, loser, and the stats of one position player are sufficient.

I also hate Stuart Scott.

[Breeze]

Yeah, I think they go too far with the stats for baseball. I think the winner, loser, and the stats of one position player are sufficient.


You have roto baseball leagues to thank for that. Football's the same way--all those individual stats are for the fantasy leaguers.

[1979]

This infatuation with aged white athletes is absurd. The daily updates on the Brett Favre saga seems more interesting than the screwjob the Titans are putting on Steve McNair. The McNair issue seems more complex than the Favre thing - yet, no big deal.

Roger Clemens whole will he/won't he coverage was equally ludicrous - and to give front page/headline coverage to this guy's 3 innings in class A ball at the expense of say, the World Cup? or Michelle Wie's nearly qualifying for the US Open or maybe the discovery of HGH by the Feds at Diamondbacks pitcher Grimsley's house and the report that he rolled over and named names or something.

I wish ESPN would just get back to the business of covering sports news and stop trying to create news.

As much as I agree that ESPN spends too much time on non-news issues, Roger Clemens and Brett Farve are both some of the greatest athletes ever in professional sports. Each is a Hall of Fame lock. McNair isn't, the United States as a whole doesn't really care about soccer, Jason Grimsley is a journeyman pitcher, and Michelle Wie didn't qualify. I personally would like to hear more about the World Cup and hockey, but I understand that those aren't high on most folks lists. I have had enough of McNair, Wie, steroids, and the like as well. I wish they would just stick to reporting sports scores.

[jcarwash31]

The reason you are sick of steroids is probably because ESPN has spent at least half of their broadcast time over the last 2 years covering Barry Bonds and not because of actual steroid news.

Is it Terrell Owens season yet?

[The_Deacon]

I have just turned Sportcenter off. I can't stand it. They have spent the first half hour talking about Human Growth Hormone shit, and a Yankee (me off) and Red Sucks fucking rain out. It is a fucking rain out. It is not sports news. The Reds are on fire, and the NBA finals start tomorrow. I don't give a fuck about a rain out, and some juice. :mad:

[jcarwash31]

So, I'm watching today at Belmont and the 15 second sportscenter teaser comes on during the break and these are the leads:

1) All eyes are on Germany
2) Are the Heat in trouble?
3) How long will Bill Cowher keep coaching?


WTF? Which one of these doesn't belong? I guess it's not just creating news that I hate ESPN for, it's this constant, meaningless speculative game.
It wasn't even speculation. He was on to promote his new video game, EA Sports Head Coach. I didn't realize SportsCenter was a talk show now.

[Wondertastic]

It wasn't even speculation. He was on to promote his new video game, EA Sports Head Coach. I didn't realize SportsCenter was a talk show now.

it's like a sportswriter said not too long ago, to the effect that sportscenter has become an hour long infomercial. it's no wonder i've stopped watching it with their speculation, their coverage biases, and all the stupid "top 10" everythings.

[Artpunchehorse]

If you think it is bad now, wait until Grimsley's "list" comes out. I'm ordering me a pizza and sitting home all night for that.

[Artpunchehorse]

Yeah, it's gonna be good. Six Degrees of the HGH Distributor. Hmmmm, looks like someone's already played that game and "named" a big fish:

Your Daily Grain of Salt.....or not (http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseball/so-weve-got-some-affidavit-names-179400.php)

Yeah, I've heard the Pujols connection. Hopefully they leak these names when nothing else good is on TV

[jcarwash31]

it's like a sportswriter said not too long ago, to the effect that sportscenter has become an hour long infomercial. it's no wonder i've stopped watching it with their speculation, their coverage biases, and all the stupid "top 10" everythings.
I find myself stopping on SportsCenter when there is nothing else on. In fact just now I got to see them talk to Vince Vaughn since he is a Cubs fan. Turns out he has a new movie coming out. What a funny coincidence.

[sabos_glasses]

Does anyone else still watch Outside the Lines? I watch it as part of the Trifecta on lunch. It is still, in my opinion, one of the few good things ESPN produces.

[Breeze]

it's like a sportswriter said not too long ago, to the effect that sportscenter has become an hour long infomercial. it's no wonder i've stopped watching it with their speculation, their coverage biases, and all the stupid "top 10" everythings.

I agree. I quit watching awhile ago--it's just to irritating. The schtick is relentless.

[Artpunchehorse]

ATH should be good today. Ozzie Gullien called Mariotti a Fucking Faggot in the paper the other day

[jcarwash31]

ATH should be good today. Ozzie Gullien called Mariotti a Fucking Faggot in the paper the other day
Ha! I hate ATH. Tony is waaaaay better than Max was, but I can't stand Woody Page and I don't like Mariotti either.

[The_Deacon]

ATH should be good today. Ozzie Gullien called Mariotti a Fucking Faggot in the paper the other day
and you really think they are going to bring that up. I don't think so.

[The_Deacon]

haha, Marriotti did say somthing about it. He said that he did not really mind, he gets called worse things than that everyday.

[sabos_glasses]

haha, Marriotti did say somthing about it. He said that he did not really mind, he gets called worse things than that everyday.

But I think he also said he wants MLB to take disciplinary action.

[The_Deacon]

But I think he also said he wants MLB to take disciplinary action.
yeah, he did say that didn't he.......what a fucking faggot :p :p :p

[Artpunchehorse]

yeah, he did say that didn't he.......what a fucking faggot :p :p :p

HA HA HA HA HA HA

[Jim Schue]

ESPN ceased to be entertaining when the Patrick-Olbermann Sportscenter team was split up. Since then, each and every talking head to come through the pipe there has tried to imitate that with their own schtick, and failed miserably.

I'm a sportswriter by trade, and I can't bear to watch ESPN more than just a brief stop while flipping through the channels, if that tells you anything.

[Artpunchehorse]

ATH should be good today. Ozzie Gullien called Mariotti a Fucking Faggot in the paper the other day

He won't be going to sensitivity training

"I don't think I'll be going, I don't think that'll happen,"

BEST MANAGER EVER

[jcarwash31]

2 days in a row they have screwed up an article online about Joe Mauer. Yesterday in an article about the All-Star race they referred to the Twins catcher as Jim Mauer. And today the link to an article about last night's game and Mauer's hitting reads "Mauer power: Twins catcher bats average to .369". Add 20 points to that. He is hitting .389.

[bjk15]

EDIT: Late night - Thomas Jefferson's brain exploded and it's top shelf news story on the headlines section of the site. Proving once more that it's not about the story, it's about the personality.
i'd hope it was the top story; it was one of the their on-air personalities and they would be privy to the most information. besides, have some decency. i suppose it would be appropriate to say that your grandpa's (or dad's) brain exploded if they had an aneurysm. proving once again, that most people just don't understand life.

[summerteeth]

Harold Reynolds fired. here's the story according to the Seattle Times:


Analyst Reynolds out at ESPN
By Seattle Times news services

KEVIN WINTER / GETTY IMAGES

Harold Reynolds, one of ESPN's most visible analysts and a long-time panelist on "Baseball Tonight," has left the network in the wake of one or more incidents of sexual harassment.

An ESPN spokeswoman Tuesday confirmed Reynolds' departure but repeatedly declined to provide a reason for it.

Three people who work at ESPN and were familiar with the case said the cause was a pattern of sexual harassment, apparently culminating in a recent incident involving one of the network's young production assistants.

Reynolds, a major-leaguer for 12 seasons before joining ESPN in 1996, did not appear on "Baseball Tonight" Monday after having worked the Sunday show, during which he joined fellow analyst Steve Phillips in suggesting the Yankees trade Alex Rodriguez.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Reynolds, from Corvallis, Ore., said he was fired by ESPN at a meeting Monday while in the first year of a six-year pact.

Sexual harassment charges are nothing new at ESPN, which operates out of a sprawling "campus" in relatively isolated Bristol, Conn., and employs many production assistants in their early 20s looking for a start in the television business.

The network has an extensive program of education and sensitivity regarding gender issues and an elaborate system for pursuing claims of sexual harassment.

Reynolds was a Gold Glove-winning second baseman for the Mariners, and also played for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels.

In addition to "Baseball Tonight" Reynolds, 45, who is married and has an infant daughter, worked as a game analyst for special events such as the Little League World Series and College World Series.

Reynolds was extremely popular personally among ESPN staffers, many of whom were shocked when the story of his dismissal began to circulate Monday afternoon.

[bjk15]

btw st, we did comment on the HR thing in the general baseball thread.


also, to reiterate appropriately:

and i'd like to comment on the newer ESPN acquisition; Keith Law is an idiot. He belongs with Sports Illustrated or Fox Sports and all of their idiotic bantering. there is almost no where safe now. pretty soon, i'll be reminiscing about the good ol' days of Tim McCarver... :sigh:

[The_Deacon]

I am getting very sick and tired of seeing the Steelers and TO on ESPN all the fucking time. Enough already. :eek:

[jcarwash31]

I saw this link on the front page of espn.com when I scrolled down to Columns and Features.

Klapisch: Not much categorizes Wang as ordinary (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=2553144)

Somebody didn't really think that one through, did they?

[Wondertastic]

Steelers prevail for a city in mourning (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2578617)

PITTSBURGH -- On a day when this city experienced the confluence of grieving and glory, burying a popular mayor in the morning and then having to turn out to support its beloved Super Bowl champions just a few hours later, it was left to a Pittsburgh Guy to turn tears into cheers.



What a bunch of romantic bullshit. i'm sure the entire city was just moping around and then a glimmer of hope...the Steelers were playing! Maybe, maybe they could win one for the gipper.

Hopefully Pittsburgh will lose a few games and we won't have to listen to this nut-swinging garbage anymore.

[Breeze]

Steelers prevail for a city in mourning (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2578617)

PITTSBURGH -- On a day when this city experienced the confluence of grieving and glory, burying a popular mayor in the morning and then having to turn out to support its beloved Super Bowl champions just a few hours later, it was left to a Pittsburgh Guy to turn tears into cheers.



What a bunch of romantic bullshit. i'm sure the entire city was just moping around and then a glimmer of hope...the Steelers were playing! Maybe, maybe they could win one for the gipper.

Hopefully Pittsburgh will lose a few games and we won't have to listen to this nut-swinging garbage anymore.

No one's making you listen to it now, genius.

[Breeze]

I am getting very sick and tired of seeing the Steelers and TO on ESPN all the fucking time. Enough already. :eek:

Well, if the Bungles ever become the champs, they'll be all over the TV. And I'm sure you'd be sick and tired of that, too. Not that this is likely to happen...

[jcarwash31]

Ahhh the return of the NFL, which means the return of Chris Berman's 2-Minute Drill, the best 10 minutes in sports.

[Handy Smurf]

Ahhh the return of the NFL, which means the return of Chris Berman's 2-Minute Drill, the best 10 minutes in sports.
:p
I think I'll make this a "why I hate NBC and CBS" thread too. I just commented in the Steelers thread about how fucking horrible the coverage was last night...I was trying to be pretty objective, too. I don't like Madden or Bettis, but I normally like Michaels, Sharpe, Collinsworth, and I love Costas.

I did notice a few things that I really liked, which consisted primarily of the different shots they had of the city. There was one really nice one along the river, looking at the stadium and all the spotlights after they returned from commercial. They also had a really cool shot of a steel plant before going to commercial.

I am 100% serious--I challenge anyone who is a "fan" of that blubbering bastard John Madden to watch a game with me that he broadcasts and point out to me why he is so fucking special. I garuntee I would site 5 times more examples of why he is a fucking hack.

[sabos_glasses]

Nice job showing the best NFL plays from yesterday on Sportscenter. It really helps me understand the play when you fast-forward through the middle third of the clip. It would have been asking way to much to see all of Justin Miller's KO return. Honestly, how much time does this save? 1-3 seconds?

[Artpunchehorse]

Nice job showing the best NFL plays from yesterday on Sportscenter. It really helps me understand the play when you fast-forward through the middle third of the clip. It would have been asking way to much to see all of Justin Miller's KO return. Honestly, how much time does this save? 1-3 seconds?


You can mention a sponsor in those 3 seconds

[kollontai]

I'd just like to say, Mr. Tirico, that it's william fucking penn, not ben franklin. It's only one of philadelphia's most famous landmarks. you douchebag.

[Handy Smurf]

Everything about the way they do these Monday night games pisses me off.

-Why are they showing me highlights with all of these ridiculous cuts and HS film class special effects thrown in? I guess ESPN is too cool and cutting edge to show a play from start to finish so that you can actually see what happens.

-Does hearing Berman/Young/Irvin scream "jacked up!" in unison drive anyone else up the fuckin wall? Not only is "jacked up" a (as TJ would say) retarded expression, but when did sports on tv finally decide to fully cross that line between professional journalism and "hey, we're "cool" guys just like you"

[1979]

I just got back from lunch at a local establishment here in Minneapolis - and the ENTIRE time, ESPN had a special devoted to the Joe Torre conference. WHO CARES? Honestly? They need to do a special show just to say that Joe Torre is coming back? They couldn't talk about the upcoming divisional series, or football, or hockey, or the upcoming basketball season, or water polo, or ping pong, or ANYTHING else other than Joe Torre? Man I hate ESPN sometimes...

[Handy Smurf]

I just got back from lunch at a local establishment here in Minneapolis - and the ENTIRE time, ESPN had a special devoted to the Joe Torre conference. WHO CARES? Honestly? They need to do a special show just to say that Joe Torre is coming back? They couldn't talk about the upcoming divisional series, or football, or hockey, or the upcoming basketball season, or water polo, or ping pong, or ANYTHING else other than Joe Torre? Man I hate ESPN sometimes...

Its like when they have entire segments discussing the topic, "Terrel Owens: Why is he constantly in the news?"
I actually watched an ESPN anchor segue one time by saying something to the effect of, "Well, it seems like you can't discuss the NFL anymore without someone mentioning Terrel Owens. That being said, here's a story on Terrel Owens and his slightly bruised ego, status for Sunday's game: D(ouchebag)"

everything before "and his slightly bruised ego" is almost exact

[Artpunchehorse]

I just got back from lunch at a local establishment here in Minneapolis - and the ENTIRE time, ESPN had a special devoted to the Joe Torre conference. WHO CARES? Honestly? They need to do a special show just to say that Joe Torre is coming back? They couldn't talk about the upcoming divisional series, or football, or hockey, or the upcoming basketball season, or water polo, or ping pong, or ANYTHING else other than Joe Torre? Man I hate ESPN sometimes...


Funny, because on Sunday they were the one's that said he was going to be fired and replaced by Lou

[Unrequited]

Yesterday, after the bombastic intro to MNF, Tirico gushed "Does any one else want to crank the volume up when they hear the Hank Williams intro song"?

No asshole, I actually want to throw a shotput at my TV during that awful bit. Get rid of that shit already.

[bjk15]

#197

because chris berman will just not die

[Artpunchehorse]

#197

because chris berman will just not die

"You're with me leather"

[snarf!]

I am amazed at how much ESPN knows what the average sports fan wants to see. I was watching some football today and asking myself, "Self...I wonder what T.O. has to say? It's been at least a month since ESPN interviewed him. I sure wish Michael Irvin can get to the bottom of just what makes T.O. tick because he's such an introvert that shuns the spotlight and they hardly ever give him the coverage he deserves."

Lo and behold - T.O. the sunday night conversation. with michael irvin. I will now gouge out my eyeballs with grapefruit spoons and jam bunny rabbit thighbones in my ears.

HA! Wonder what they'll have to say about T.O. and the catastrophically dismal performance that was the Cowboys tonight! Hee-hee!

[miami2112]

i stopped wathcing espn. i assume the hockey coverage is nonexistant, and they're still shilling for the abc/espn nba coverage.

[1979]

Watching ESPN last night, going over the top 10 stories from 2006. Number 1? T.O.'s "suicide" attempt.

[jcarwash31]

Last night I saw the first half of Berman's Top 10 Plays of the Year. I'll try to recap it.

10. That one dude (Travis Pastrana? or something like that) does a double back flip on a motorcycle in the X Games, Kobe scores 81 points, and there was something else from the NBA.

9. I think 9 was George Mason making the Final Four and Florida winning the championship.

8. Federer wins two tournaments (Wimbeldon and French?) and Agassi wins the US Open.

7. 7 was a cluster fuck of soccer and hockey highlights. There were at least 4 different plays.

6. Three different catches by center fielders; Coco Crisp, Aaron Rowand, and Gary Matthews Jr.

I'm pretty sure I got the order wrong. I think the baseball stuff was lower and the college hoops was higher. It doesn't fucking matter.

Who let it get to this? Not only is it obviously not just 10 plays, many of them aren't even plays. Florida winning the national championship is not a play. Kobe scoring 81 is not a play. Agassi winning the US Open is not a play. If you want to do a top 10 moments, you could use these. Grow some nads and pick 10 plays that you think are the best of the year. It shouldn't take half an hour to show the Top "10 Plays" of the year.

[Handy Smurf]

Who let it get to this? Not only is it obviously not just 10 plays, many of them aren't even plays. Florida winning the national championship is not a play. Kobe scoring 81 is not a play. Agassi winning the US Open is not a play. If you want to do a top 10 moments, you could use these. Grow some nads and pick 10 plays that you think are the best of the year. It shouldn't take half an hour to show the Top "10 Plays" of the year.

This is one of my biggest problems with ESPN. I hate this. You said it exactly as I would have jcarwash, and I've been saying it for years.

[RedRigmaJacket]

can i throw it how i would LOVE to strangle the PTI woman announcer?

what the fuck is up with her inflection?

[jcarwash31]

This is one of my biggest problems with ESPN. I hate this. You said it exactly as I would have jcarwash, and I've been saying it for years.
That's why I stopped on ESPN while I was flipping channels in the first place. I saw Top 10 Plays of the Year and Chris Berman and wondered how bad this was going to be. He's been doing this crap for years now with multiple plays and moments as 1 "play". He exceeded my expectations. I think he stepped it up a notch. He even admitted that he took some liberties before he started, which was a bad omen. Then BAM, the first one had 3 "plays" that weren't related to each other at all, well I guess two of them were basketball for whatever that's worth. The soccer and hockey one was genius. Both sports have nets and goalies. Since it takes 2 segments to complete the whole thing, I didn't bother to stick around for the top 5.

[blahdre]

i just caught a bit of Madden Nation last night.

reason #9833 i hate ESPN: giving video game chumps a 30 minute show.

it's a FUCKING VIDEO GAME! the punks on the show think they're the hottest shit in the world. worse yet, when they lose it's as if they've lost a close friend- sobbing and weeping. jeeeeebus. :mad:

[Breeze]

...it's about damned time this happened.

For anyone else like me who could not stand Stephen A. Smith, here's (http://www.deadspin.com/sports/espn/thatll-be-all-for-quite-frankly-228343.php) some good news about his ESPN show.

[The_Deacon]

...it's about damned time this happened.

For anyone else like me who could not stand Stephen A. Smith, here's (http://www.deadspin.com/sports/espn/thatll-be-all-for-quite-frankly-228343.php) some good news about his ESPN show.
Good news indeed. :cool:

[coach]

...it's about damned time this happened.

For anyone else like me who could not stand Stephen A. Smith, here's (http://www.deadspin.com/sports/espn/thatll-be-all-for-quite-frankly-228343.php) some good news about his ESPN show.
unfortunately, he's still going to be on the network. hopefully he'll sexually harrass someone and go the way of harold reynolds.

i like some espn (well, pretty much just ATH and PTI ), but the thing that really irks me is the espn radio slogan: "it's everything all the time." what the fuck is that supposed to mean? does that mean that whenever i need information on namibia's parliament, knitting, the anatomy of a kangaroo OR sports, all i need to do is turn on espn radio? it makes no fucking sense! there are plenty of things about espn that bother me, but come on! at least come up with a slogan that makes sense. jeez.

[Handy Smurf]

...it's about damned time this happened.

For anyone else like me who could not stand Stephen A. Smith, here's (http://www.deadspin.com/sports/espn/thatll-be-all-for-quite-frankly-228343.php) some good news about his ESPN show.

His show has been on in the bar a few times while I was there, and it always makes me think of that chappelle skit for sam jackson beer.

"Can you stop yelling at me Stephen A?"
"NO I CANT STOP YELLIN, CAUSE THATS HOW I TALK! HAVENT YOU EVER SEEN MY SHOW?"

[Artpunchehorse]

I kinda liked Stephen A . . .

[Breeze]

I kinda liked Stephen A . . .

Well, there's always Jim Rome. He's and Stephen A. are peas in a pod--no matter what the topic, it's always about them.

[Artpunchehorse]

Well, there's always Jim Rome. He's and Stephen A. are peas in a pod--no matter what the topic, it's always about them.

To me, that is entertaining

[Breeze]

To me, that is entertaining

Obviously. So even if SAS is gone, you still have Rome.

[Predot listener]

The only discouraging part about the demise of Screamin' A's show is that the nitwits at ESPN will be in charge of finding a replacement program. And since the next show is more likely to invovle Tommy Lee than Bob Ley, my hopes aren't exactly sky high for quality programming.

[Breeze]

The only discouraging part about the demise of Screamin' A's show is that the nitwits at ESPN will be in charge of finding a replacement program. And since the next show is more likely to invovle Tommy Lee than Bob Ley, my hopes aren't exactly sky high for quality programming.

You can always hope for the Sklar brothers...

[bjk15]

i dunno, but bill simmons is dead to me now. bitching about people not liking his patriots. dead to me. there are parts i liked about you billy, but too bad, cos you dead.

[1979]

A little bit of controversy swirling around Sean Salisbury again and surprisingly it has nothing to do with his junk.

At risk of slanting the potential listener, listen to this audio taken from an nfl live segment on sportscenter - does SS say something offensive or not.

You Be The Judge (http://profootballtalk.com/NFLLive1-22-07.wav)


Perhaps I totally missed it. What is supposed to be offensive there?

[The Sheck]

Perhaps I totally missed it. What is supposed to be offensive there?

I didn't hear anything, either. I thought today's 5 PM Sportscenter where SS bashed the hell out of T.O. was more offensive than this.

[1979]

When SS talks about Manning's calmness he says, "No need to panic. We'll nip, we'll tuck, we'll go, we'll punch, we'll Jew..we'll do it all... and they nickel and dimed 'em and Peyton made the play..."

Anyway, the sporting blogosphere jumped all over it and ESPN is saying that Salisbury said "chew" although I don't see how that makes any sense in front of nickel and diming somebody. Then again SS doesn't make a whole lot of sense normally.

Oh well, the dude sent camera phone pictures of little sean around and didn't get fired, what's a little anti-semitism.

and for the record, I thought he was just never finished the word "juke" but I don't know, really.


Listening to it a second time it sounds like he might say 'Jew' there. I didn't catch it at all the first time, I am kinda amazed that someone else did.

[miami2112]

dude shows his johnson and is still employed??? wtf?? :eek: :eek: :mad: :mad:

[Artpunchehorse]

I don't think it is even close that he said "Jew"

[Breeze]

I don't think it is even close that he said "Jew"

As much as it pains me to say this...

I agree with Art.

[Breeze]

Doesn't mean Salisbury isn't an idiot blowhard.

I don't think that's even in question. ;)

[the_birds]

I don't think it is even close that he said "Jew"

Its beyond doubt he said "ju," but he didn't say "jew." Its not remotely controversial AT ALL. Its all about context. He was in the midst of a slew of boxing metaphors, and he didn't completely annunciate the word, "JUKE," which would totally fit amongst the run of boxing metaphors.

Most bloggers are stupid, anyway.

[jcarwash31]

That's what I said in the beginning, but if it's all about context then, not to beat a dead horse, but how do you go from boxing to "nickel and diming someone"?
Because it's the same metaphor, just no longer a boxing expression.

I've noticed that these "analysts" don't like to finish words and sentences and rather go for talking louder and faster and more. I think that is exactly what happened. He was probably saying "juke" and just didn't finish the word. You ever listen to Ditka talk? He says about half of ever single word he says. It annoys me to no end.

[Breeze]

I've noticed that these "analysts" don't like to finish words and sentences and rather go for talking louder and faster and more. I think that is exactly what happened. He was probably saying "juke" and just didn't finish the word. You ever listen to Ditka talk? He says about half of ever single word he says. It annoys me to no end.

What the hell are you talk

[coach]

I've noticed that these "analysts" don't like to finish words and sentences and rather go for talking louder and faster and more. I think that is exactly what happened. He was probably saying "juke" and just didn't finish the word. You ever listen to Ditka talk? He says about half of ever single word he says. It annoys me to no end.

chris berm does tha as we.

ditka takes the cake though.

what is so hard about finishing words?

[Breeze]

chris berm does tha as we.

ditka takes the cake though.

what is so hard about finishing words?

It's not so ha

[jcarwash31]

What the hell are you talk
It's important for people to hear their analyThey have a lot of ideas and thoughThey don't have timeYa..ya..ya..ya What you need to understand is that they get interup and cut-off all the time. Bu..bu..but so they need to cut themselves off so they can get their point acroThey need to pressu Rex Grossman.

[Breeze]

It's important for people to hear their analyThey have a lot of ideas and thoughThey don't have timeYa..ya..ya..ya What you need to understand is that they get interup and cut-off all the time. Bu..bu..but so they need to cut themselves off so they can get their point acroThey need to pressu Rex Grossman.

I completely agrIf you knock Grossman off his gaTotally changes the tempMake big plays hapPoints on the boar

[The_Deacon]

Bill P. retires, and it is bacause of OT. ok, we fucking get. we knew that was going to happen. stop fucking talking about it Bristol. :mad: jeez :mad:

[The_Deacon]

Mike Lupica and Skip Bayliss are crap.
Not just crap, .... a pile of it.

[Handy Smurf]

"Thats cause ya'll done run the table, cat! Ya'll done run the table cat!"

-Stu Scott, from Stump the Schwab


I really, really, really wish he would go away...or at least cease in his quest to try and verify his blackness to the masses through his own idiotic vernacular

[WonderBoy]

"Thats cause ya'll done run the table, cat! Ya'll done run the table cat!"

-Stu Scott, from Stump the Schwab


I really, really, really wish he would go away...or at least cease in his quest to try and verify his blackness to the masses through his own idiotic vernacular

yeah i used to like him a lot (pre weird looking eyes), but since stump the shwab has been on he's really gotten on my nerves. I really cant stand any of the sports center anchors except for kenny mayne.

maybe george grande needs to come back.

[Breeze]

I really, really, really wish he would go away...or at least cease in his quest to try and verify his blackness to the masses through his own idiotic vernacular

It's even worse when the white guys start doing this.

[Artpunchehorse]

Well ESPN thought it would be a good idea to have a comments section after articles. Deadspin kinda made a mockery out of it

[Breeze]

Well ESPN thought it would be a good idea to have a comments section after articles. Deadspin kinda made a mockery out of it

Deadspin makes me laugh out loud a couple of times a day.

Have we found common ground, art?

[emmanuellewis]

Indiana, (20-9, 10-6), RPI 21, SOS 42.

The third seed in the big ten tournament is "securely on the bubble."

These fucking people....

a few days ago, they were going through the bubble teams in the acc and the first team mentioned was duke. fucking duke. at the time, they had won 4 straight and had a top 10 rpi, sos, and were in the top 20 in both polls. the two guys concurred that they were in. however, the two guys (i forget who they were, think digger phelps was one) also said every fucking team afterwards was in, with one guy saying 'out' for florida st (the other guy said theyd beat miami, win a game in the acc tourney and get in).

so essentially, if you have a winning record in the acc you are in the tourney and duke is a bubble team.

[frizgolf]

Indiana, (20-9, 10-6), RPI 21, SOS 42.

The third seed in the big ten tournament is "securely on the bubble."

These fucking people....
Absolutely, unequivocally, undeniably, maybe.

[jcarwash31]

SportsCenter just showed Jason Tyner of the Twins, who has over 1,000 career at bats without a homerun, hit a ball high off the Metrodome baggie in last night's game and gave him credit for a homerun. WTF? It was a double. They even showed it in slow motion and highlighted the ball as it hit the wall.

Oh...they just corrected themselves at the end of the show. Ha!

[emmanuellewis]

the new ombudsman agrees with every other sensible person out there

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=schreiber_leanne&id=2834650

she also ripped colin cowherd earlier this week. 2 for 2

[Predot listener]

I agreed with virtually all of her take (except perhaps her kind of hedging at the end). The value placed on decibels over reasonable analysis is one of my biggest gripes about ESPN, and I too welcome the guys like Ley, Mortensen, Jeremy Schaap and even Schlereth. To me, the network officially lost it when they replaced the reasoned, intelligent David Aldridge with Screamin A. Smith.

[emmanuellewis]

I agreed with virtually all of her take (except perhaps her kind of hedging at the end). The value placed on decibels over reasonable analysis is one of my biggest gripes about ESPN, and I too welcome the guys like Ley, Mortensen, Jeremy Schaap and even Schlereth. To me, the network officially lost it when they replaced the reasoned, intelligent David Aldridge with Screamin A. Smith.

yeah i really enjoyed aldridge (who is on tnt now). i also love greg anthony, even though i dont agree with him a lot of times. there are just too many sean salisbury-level douche bags on there though.

[The Sheck]

Harold Reynolds wins Round 1 of his lawsuit against ESPN. Now, the sports leader has to make all their documents public regarding the case.

Click. (http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/05/breaking-news-harold-reynolds-wins.html)

[emmanuellewis]

ive been looking for this thread.
those fucking mike and mike in the morning commercials
'whats makes them different... makes them great'.
jesus christ.

[mistergugi]

Harold Reynolds wins Round 1 of his lawsuit against ESPN. Now, the sports leader has to make all their documents public regarding the case.

Click. (http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/05/breaking-news-harold-reynolds-wins.html)
Reynolds was my favorite analyst on ESPN. Other than suing them, what's he up to these days? Is he on another network?

[c-lando]

Trey Wingo ate my baby!

[Unrequited]

Reynolds was my favorite analyst on ESPN. Other than suing them, what's he up to these days? Is he on another network?

I could never understand a word he was saying.

[The Sheck]

Reynolds was my favorite analyst on ESPN. Other than suing them, what's he up to these days? Is he on another network?

This was taken from a Seattle paper a month or so back...note the part in bold. He may not get a job until the case is settled.

Reynolds returns

Throwing out the first pitch for the Mariners as part of a celebration of their 30-year anniversary was Harold Reynolds, ex-All Star second baseman and a member of the club from 1983-92.

"It's been an interesting year," Reynolds said wryly before the game, "but I'm doing well."

Reynolds, an 11-year employee of ESPN, mostly as a studio analyst, was fired last July by the cable network, which declined to explain the move. Several media outlets reported ESPN alleged Reynolds violated its sexual-harassment policies.

Reynolds has filed a $5 million lawsuit in Connecticut, charging breach of contract and wrongful termination.

"The thing that's amazing to me is how long the legal process takes," said Reynolds, who says depositions haven't yet been taken and the case isn't scheduled for trial until February of 2009.

"I've never had any upper-management person tell me why I got fired," he said. "I'm not bitter, but I'm definitely angry. Had I had a chance to sit down and explain situations, we wouldn't have been in this."

In a quest to land another broadcasting job, Reynolds said he has "talked to every high-level executive in baseball to explain what's going on, and I think we're close to a breakthrough."

Reynolds has gotten involved in other business ventures, including an instructional video, and a program called Game Plan designed to educate high-school athletes interested in pursuing sports at a higher level.

In the meantime, he said he watches a lot of televised baseball, and "the funny thing is, you always have some comment you want to make. So I just yell at the TV now. You get a little different perspective when you're not sitting in the studio watching."