I Have A Problem With ESPN
I may be the first in the world, but it’s true.
I actually began writing this article/blog two days ago, but I had to it on hold because my memory had faded and my examples were flawed. I didn’t have anyway to convey my point in one fell swoop.
Guess what, now I do.
Earlier today I was in the NFL section of ESPN to check on the latest news in pro football. I clicked on three articles. The Tank Johnson suspension, Asante Samuel possibly sitting out until week 10 and Tom Brady dodges personal questions.
The last one should have been reserved for the Celebrity Gossip mags.
As a read the piece (of trash) I became sympathetic to a degree for Tom Brady. I can’t feel sorry for the guy because he makes millions playing professional football, but still articles such as this one get me to put myself in the other person’s shoes. And If I’m Tom Brady, I would have some choice words for ESPN, the AP, and any other media was involved.
I’m not going to paste a link or quote the article because its just easier that way for copyright sake, etc. Instead let me give you my breakdown of the article:
a. Article begins talking about how almost nothing phases Brady. 300 lb lineman, whatever else.
b. Unnamed writer notes the exception, explaining how Brady’s words and smile are uneasy when talking about his child out of wedlock.
c. Article details the pregnancy on the who and when.
d. Article announces there is plenty of football to talk about and moves to football.
Most people probably don’t even think twice about reading this kind of info on ESPN, but I do.
Ok 1, who would be comfortable talking about this subject to a bunch of middle aged men with voice recorders, pens, and paper ready to print, televise, and broadcast your comments about your personal life?
2. I thought this was an AP article. AP articles are supposed to be factual and be void of opinion. How is the author’s impression of Brady a fact? This article sounds more like a narrative to me than a good ol’ fashion Associated Press report.
3. If there is so much football to talk about, why is half of the article devoted to this aspect of Tom Brady’s personal life which has absolutely no relevance to football?
4. Am I correct that ESPN, the world wide leader in sports, posted an article in which the whole point was to re-mention that Tom Brady has a child out of wedlock and how he looked uncomfortable when some jackass reporter had the gaul to ask him about it at minicamp?
5. Did they really admit half way through the article there was plenty of football to talk about when they had been focusing on Tom Brady’s uneasyness when asked a personal question?
Look, I know ESPN has to continue spurring interest in their website and 10 or so TV channels because there are still some people in Antartica that don’t keep up on a regular basis. I know they have to milk the drama or pursue the negativity because that’s what people want.
But still, let’s draw a line in the snow ESPN/AP/whoever else.
This is the line. You keep on reporting sports with the more than occassional drama, gossip, bad taste articles, but you have to leave the stuff that has zero connection to sports besides the fact that it happened to a sports figure out.
The line may sound exclusive, but tons of off the field drama and negativity can be implicated into news because suspensions, fines, and missed playing time can all be tied into sports.
I know I focused in on the Tom Brady article to exemplify my problem with ESPN, but this reaction didn’t result from one article. My response culminated from years of tricky wording, misleading titles, unnecessary throw-ins, overkill on certain topics, overreactions, and so on.
You may ask, if I have such a problem with ESPN, why do I continue to support them by watching the channel and visiting the website?
Honestly, they are the best there is. I don’t always like their supposedly nuetral coverage (I have no problem with the opinion commentary), but these guys run wall-to-wall sports in a timely and efficient manner. They are pioneers in the sports news industry and no matter what, they will always be first. I’m not going to stop watching or reading because I get irked, but I do think they would be better served letting certain articles go.
Next time you are listening to a Trey Wingo, Michael Kim, or Bob Ley announce the news, see if you can detect an opinion in the presentation. If you check out the AP reports or headlines on the .com, ask yourself, does the writer take a side?
I think so.
Reference: SportsBlog.ws