Is ESPN good or bad for sports?

[Rogue II]

This is something I've been thinking about lately. ESPN is the only national sports network, more or less. Fox does have a couple national shows, but for the most part, is regional. OLN picked up hockey, but the rest of their line-up is hunting, fishing, and rodeos. Then, of course, TBS, TNT, WGN, etc. broadcast some sports events, but it isn't their main thing.

ESPN turns all sports into a highlight show. They have also decided hockey isn't worth their time, but poker, figure skating, and outdoor games are. Now, they are trying to do a reality show by following around Barry Bonds, which brings up the whole steroid issue. I think the media is partially to blame that the steroid issue went on so long. The media who cover baseball on a daily basis didn't notice the players getting bigger? One of the beneficiaries of the steroid era, Barry Bonds, will get a show from "The worldwide leader in sports" as he cheats his way to the home run record. Nice.

[JimJamBonds]

I know last year they had Pedro Gomez (sp??) follow Bariod around everyday. As far as a show about Bonds? That would suprise me coming from ESPN.

You are right though Rogue that the writers know what is going on but they never say anything while its going on. Sure they will write stories how such and such a player was a real ash but that usually happens after the fact. They don't want to alienate those that allow them to make their living. This can be said of writers not just of the MLB but any league.

[Rocketboy]

ESPN considers Poker a sport and doesn't think hockey is worth it.

ESPN blows and has for a few years.

[Slicker]

Don't forget ESPN2 and there Scrabble tourneys.

[Blue2th]

All I know is that my cable tv bill is really high because of the sports channels that are included with the package deal. I would just as soon not have any sports programming. I get enough of it on network tv (I do watch football, baseball) I don't need anymore on my cable. That's what makes it so high I was told by the cable co. While we're at it, ixnay religion and shopping channels. Sorry about that, I had to vent.

[Lowly Bantha Cleaner]

ESPN is a network that is very full of its image and as Rogue II stated, an image that is getting more inflated everyday. They have a lot of personalities on the show that are exuberant (Chris Berman) but many of the Sports Center Anchors/Commentators who are too idiotic or to full of themselves (Sean Salisbury).

They have too many sports personality talkshows like Kornheiser & Wilbon (who are not that bad), Jim Rome (who is bad) and Stephen Smith (who is really bad). Turn down the sports rhetoric, and cover sports in equal time. Does anyone watch TSN in Canada? They actually devote much of their time to world sporting events, or amateur sports, besides Tennis, or Golf. You'll find nary the coverage of those on ESPN. And yes, now that the NHL is gone from the airwaves, I have no reason to tune in now, except to watch ESPN Classic, or maybe the odd billiards match.

[JetsAndHeels]

The main ESPN channel I watch for highlights and other stuff is ESPN News. To me that is the best choice if you are simply looking for scores and highlights. None of the crazy talk by folks like Stuart Scott (tarheel grad too but I swear he gets on my nerves) and Sean Salisbury. I do watch ESPN2 in the mornings sometimes to catch Mike and Mike. If I had to choose I would definately keep ESPN News and ditch the rest. Give me that and NFL Network (which I absolutely love) and I am all set. I could care less about the other channels.

[UKWildcat]

The only time I really watch ESPN/2 is for football and select basketball games. Those are my two sports of choice so the only time I tune in is if there is a good game on. Other than that I get my scores and highlights and stuff from the web and occasionally ESPN News.

Like Jango said, the NFL Network is pretty sweet. My cable company here just added it this past season so it was all new to me and I fell in love with it right away. Good stuff.

[Kidhuman]

This is a touch and go question. ESPN is great to catch up on sports from tyhe prior night of stuff. They tend to run things into the ground. They praise Kobe for his ridiculous 81 points, but dont get on the Toronto D.

They like to over analyze every little thing. I was thinking today two weeks of superbowl coverage is overkill. How much can they break it down. I do like to listen to ESPN Radio, but only the first thirty minutes of each show. Get each persons takes and then switch to Jim Rome show, who tells it like it is.

Poker, X-games, Outdoor games and other stuff is boring after 5 minutes. Recently I have found myself watching ESPNnews for 30 minutes of highlights and thats it. Screw sportscenter.

[kool-aid killer]

When i was a teen i liked watching ESPN but now that ive gotten older ive realized that ESPN sucks. The channel hypes way too many teams/players to exhaustion. Theyve got their favorites (USC being a prime example) and endlessly promote them. They show stupid things like poker and the worlds strongest man competitions but they dont give soccer (my favorite sport) much airtime at all. Im sure many of you guys arent fans of the sport either but the day is coming when it will be bigger than all other sports except football here in the States. But instead they show a couple of matches here and there and highlights are rare to come by. Then the anchors all think they are comedians. I cant stand all the talking heads they have on their various programs. And the final straw, they are hypocrites. During the Nebraska vs. Michigan Alamo Bowl of this year Mike Tirico made a comment about how it was a shame that some teams wouldnt be able to meet because of influences outside of college football. Apparently Tirico wasnt aware that ESPN had pushed for Nebraska and Michigan instead of Nebraska and Iowa because they figures the two prominent names would be a bigger ratings grabber. ESPN sucks.