ESPN pay cuts?

Much like Howard Stern. Making boatloads of money, but he's no longer the It guy. Mad Dog Russo had to navigate his way back to spots on ESPN & MLB Network to find the audience he lost when he went satellite.

 

I don't think that Steven A. is all that comparable to Stern, who essentially had to fight hard to build his audience. I think he's more like a Tucker Carlson, who got to benefit from an initial huge platform and user base. I think he quickly becomes irrelevant once he leaves ESPN. It's not like he's some Simmons or LeBatard type that's shown a ton of interest in building up a vertical.

 

I think Stephen A needs ESPN as much as ESPN needs him. He's a 24/7, 365 pot-stirrer. Hell, ESPN shows clips of him entering the building for NBA playoff games. Is he a journalist? Not really, but he represents the average fan, he provides a narrative to the network, a guide for what sports fans should be interested in. He's probably the "one" common thread that runs through all of the network's offerings. Which IS really important.

 

https://nypost.com/2024/07/09/sports/espns-joe-tessitore-joining-wwe/

 

I got real excited until I got to this part ...

 

He might be too over the top for WWE.

 

Is Joe Tessitore "elite?" Really?

 

So "elite" that he only lasted one season on Monday Night Football.

 

Had trouble making it past the "Star announcer" reference in the headline.

 

Yeah, I’m with you. Doesn’t bother me at all. Plus my wife and I will laugh until we’re in tears every time they show him on camera - his “who farted?” expression on his face is fantastic. She knows him only as Fartface.

 

And he's a primary reason why I no longer watch non-game programming on ESPN. His volume and inflections make me think I'm watching an infomercial with Tony Little or Andrew Lesko, circa 1997 or so. I hate the FS1 chatterboxes for the same reason, but Stephen A. Smith seems to know only one volume.