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Does ESPN drive sports stories?

Bighit15Bighit155,000+ posts
As expected, ESPN is all over the A-Rod situation this morning.

It got me wondering about ESPN's role in sports news. It has becoming increasingly apparent to me that they are driving a lot of the negative sports stories in today's sports culture. Do the postive sports stories get back burnered while the negative ones fuel our airways. I liked the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Are we losing that focus in sports?

Do many of you think that this is a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think that driving negative sports stories with endless streams of talking heads is counter productive? If espn doesn't continue to drive the steroids story, does baseball get the chance to move on?

I believe that getting things out in the open and clearing the air is a good thing. I think that focusing only on the negative to drive a story is a little self serving. The amount of speculation and guessing about things while throwing around accusations is unprofessional. jmo

I would be interested in others opinions.
"Don't sweat the small stuff." "I am responsible for the effort -- not the outcome. "
Last edited {1}
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CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Bighit15:
...is a little self serving.


Having been employed by ESPN (on a free lance basis) in several capacities, I can say that your above statement is the essence of the organization.

You need look no further than the X-Games or Pro Poker for evidence. Their goal is to provide as much programming with as little cost as possible and contiually shove the ESPN brand down your throat.
DE Double Eagle100+ posts
I have little evidence to back it up, but I attribute some of the worst behaviour on the field to the constant exposure to the "web gem". I believe the game is filled with players who "watch" instead of play. How often do see a player looking into the left field gap instead of picking up the 3rd base coach when running from 1st to 3rd. I always thought you ran faster when you did not track the ball, but maybe I'm just old fashioned.

Many great defensive plays are followed by bonehead styling instead of getting the ball back where it belongs.

My theory has been that it is because players are consumed by the thought of watching and being watched, rather than just playing and letting the fans watch. This is not necessarily attributed only to ESPN, over exposure by the media is not concentrated just there. But, I did notice this change in behaviour on the field shortly after the highlight reel on ESPN became a staple in our sports info diets.
jerseydadjerseydad1,000+ posts
da-da-da... da-da-da...

I can't count the number of times I have heard this sung out after some 12 YO makes a nice play. Kinda cute but it goes to show how much ESPN is part of our culture.

Like it or not ESPN drives much of how we form our opinions about sports and now subjects far outreaching sports. (Vick, Artest, Plaxico, PacMan, Bonds, Arod... unfortunatly the list is far too long to continue)

Boooya!
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
quote:
Originally posted by Bighit15:
...is a little self serving.


Having been employed by ESPN (on a free lance basis) in several capacities, I can say that your above statement is the essence of the organization.

You need look no further than the X-Games or Pro Poker for evidence. Their goal is to provide as much programming with as little cost as possible and contiually shove the ESPN brand down your throat.




That is their job and if they don't do it, they won't be in business very long. You can't be average or go with the easy flow and survive. I don't like it, but it is what it is.

I hate reality TV also, but unfortunately, it sells! You have to take the good with the bad. With the good things I get from ESPN, they get a bit of a pass from me on the sensationalism to a large extent.
08Dad08Dad1,000+ posts
Heck - I'd settle for the DAs chasing the financial crooks as hard as they are chasing the athletes.

The recent article in ESPN the magazine

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3896480

is really making me question the legality let alone the priority of the whole Bonds thing.

As for ESPN, no doubt in my mind that they are making the news as opposed to reporting it - and that athletes are playing to the cameras more than they should.
OnWabanaOnWabana100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by powertoallfields:
quote:
Originally posted by OnWabana:
quote:
Originally posted by powertoallfields:
I hate reality TV also, but unfortunately, it sells!


So does crack.

------------------------------



You think maybe we could get a law passed to make reality TV illegal? Big Grin



I'd sure as heck vote for it!

------------------------------
Last edited by OnWabana
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
quote:
That is their job and if they don't do it, they won't be in business very long. You can't be average or go with the easy flow and survive. I don't like it, but it is what it is.

I hate reality TV also, but unfortunately, it sells! You have to take the good with the bad. With the good things I get from ESPN, they get a bit of a pass from me on the sensationalism to a large extent.


BINGO!!!

I have watched the transformation of TV and the media in general. Over the years it has become a VERY competitive business. SPIN and DELIVERY (not accurate reporting) means the different in financial success or financial failure.

I was raised on serious facts and unbiased news reports and have a hard time accepting the new formats that use sensationalism as their main draw ---- I admit I engage the "Fungo Filter" on a lot of this stuff.
Fungo
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
quote:
I have watched the transformation of TV and the media in general. Over the years it has become a VERY competitive business. SPIN and DELIVERY (not accurate reporting) means the different in financial success or financial failure.

I was raised on serious facts and unbiased news reports and have a hard time accepting the new formats that use sensationalism as their main draw




Fungo,

I work for a TV station and I hate it too. I can remember when Walter Cronkite or Huntley/Brinkley said something, it was gospel, you could take it to the bank that it was investigated and found to be true BEFORE it went on the air!
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
I agree we get editorials over news now. The problem with the media is not just so much competition for stories. With Watergate Woodward and Bernstein brought us Gotcha journalism. They became media stars. There was a rush to journalism schools and the path to stardom became gotcha jounalism.

In an attempt to maintain the baseball aspect of this conversation, how often do you hear an irrelevant topic turned into news on sports talk radio? An insignificant story becomes water cooler discussion.

There was a day when the sportswriters traveled and partied with the players. They wanted to nhang with the stars. Todays media plays gotcha because they want to be the stars.
D 62423DPMember
I agree that ESPN is a shell of what it once was. My biggest beef with ESPN and the media in general is the credibility.

There are great writers/reporters out there and they will make a mistake from time to time.

I ask that the media hold their own credible for the fabrications. The media seems to be taking on more of a papparazzi personality and trying to be the first to break the big story rather than giving the story and having substance behind it.

Plus ESPN seems to hire any ex-pro that has a heartbeat. Some of these clowns are beyond bad.

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