The Evolution of Sportscenter

boots here to get you all straightened out. ESPN. Entertainment Sports Programing Network. The first word says it all - Entertainment.

 

Then how come on those rare occasions I watch it I'm not entertained?

 

I think ESPN sucks in general, but in reality, what else is there? Am I going to watch the Best Damn Sports Show? Am I going to watch the local news? No. I still need my sports fix and ESPN is there to fit the bill, whether it annoys me or not. I watch it, but not Sportscenter nearly as much anymore, because my need for sports scores and info overrides the annoyance (though not by much) emitted from the screen by Stuart Scott, Sean Salisbury or any of those other morons.

I almost think ESPN has become like McDonalds. We realize it sucks and in the long run will likely make us die quicker, but when we are in a pinch, it's right there for our consumption.

With that said, I'm hoping for this Fox Sports show to go off. But with ESPN's power and Van Earl's ability to make the most basic highlight as painful as Chinese water torture, I'm skeptical.

 

SportsCenter finally went overboard for me when it went from a 60-minute newsgathering show (even if the news often was just highlights) and became a blatant, 60-minute commercial enterprise.

The anchor schtick is bad too, but don't forget, the schtick could be bad back in the supposed good old days too, it was just balanced with moments of brilliance. But the SportsCenter commercialism (Budweiser Hot Seat, etc.) is worse and it what ultimately turned me away.

Sadly, ESPNews is doing some of the same. If I see another interview/highlight that leads with that fucking ESPN mobile phone ... grrr!

 

Doubt it. I actually *watched* the NHL all season. ;D

 

That eating contest champion -- a jackass whom any well-adjusted society would never stoop to recognize -- says it all about ESPN. And his performance got as much play on SportsCenter tonight as Wimbledon.

 

The question about writers on vacation? There are no writers there! The anchors write their own copy, which sets up a problematic dynamic. When someone like Stu Scott is spewing garbage, the CP on duty for that show is not going to call him out on that, too fragile an ego involved. If there actually were writers, who had a stylebook and some quidelines, the shows actually might be more consistent, but we wouldn't have been blessed with the witticisms of Olbermann and Kilborn over the years. However, we wouldn't be saddled with the dinosaurs that we have to deal with now, either.

 

Seems like a lot of people on this board would be happier if there were no large and overly successful people or companies in this world and sports scores and statistics scrolled across the TV screen while a slideshow of still pictures displayed in the background.

 

Ohhhh, shit. No he di'int.

Prepare for the shitstorm, newbie.

 

Oh shit. Yes I did. Just an observation, if people feel the need to get defensive and give me a "shitstorm" then so be it. I didn't single anyone out.

 

That would be bliss. Thanks for conceptualizing it for me.

 

I believe someone just defended ESPN.