More ammunition for the anti-ESPN crowd

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:02 pm

SportsCenter will televise Roger Clemens' first pitch for the Class A Lexington Legends at 7:05 p.m. ET Tuesday. The show also will expand its 6 p.m. program until 8 p.m. ET to cover the 60-75 pitches Clemens is scheduled to throw.

Baseball Tonight's Karl Ravech, Harold Reynolds, John Kruk and Peter Gammons will describe the action and analyze the seven-time Cy Young winner's performance. Analyst Jeff Brantley will join reporter Pedro Gomez at the 6,000-seat Applebee's Park in Lexington to provide additional analysis, interviews and updates.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:13 pm

So? There aren't any other sports on tonight that ESPN is allowed to show. Better that, than the 2001 World Series of Poker for the 50th time.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:19 pm

According to the ESPN listings, they could show the Womens College World Series or the Churchill Cup. I'd take either over Clemens and I'm not interested in either.

vanburen · Post by **vanburen** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:45 pm

I'm most pissed about their decision to show college baseball super regional on espn June 12 at 11 am instead of the USA/Czech World Cup match (on espn2).

world cup happens every 4 years, and usa may have only 3 matches. It's not even the college world series yet!

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:49 pm

plus, do they really need 4 analysts plus 2 more at the ballpark?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:49 pm

vanburen wrote:I'm most pissed about their decision to show college baseball super regional on espn June 12 at 11 am instead of the USA/Czech World Cup match (on espn2).

world cup happens every 4 years, and usa may have only 3 matches. It's not even the college world series yet!

College baseball is their baby, they are trying to make it a big deal.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:59 pm

Go Lake County Captains!!!

Not that anybody cares, but I wish Clemens would have waited one more week, I have tickets for next Monday's Lexington at Lake County game. It's "Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark Night".

Even though my dog would have been disappointed, apparently I could have made a killing selling those tickets.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:50 pm

I thought this was going to be about the Michelle Wie-athon going on recently.

Bogey after bogey after bogey, boo-yah!

By the way, has Nintendo signed her yet?

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:32 pm

vanburen wrote:I'm most pissed about their decision to show college baseball super regional on espn June 12 at 11 am instead of the USA/Czech World Cup match (on espn2).

world cup happens every 4 years, and usa may have only 3 matches. It's not even the college world series yet!

That super-regional will not be shown at 11 am because all the series would have to go to a deciding game for that to happen.

I think the WC game should be on ABC!!!!

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:16 am

Fat Boy got taken on a long flight by the professional equivalent of a little leaguer, but other than that he was pretty effective getting 6 of 9 outs on strikeouts. We'll see if the competition (AA up next) steps it up another notch at the next stop in his self-congratulatory warm-up parade, err -- tune up starts.

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:25 am

I agree, I am so sick of all this hype. To think I turn on Sports Center to see Yankees - Red Sox highlights, and see the lead story is Clemens in Class A. How many times did we have to see his son hand him the baseball before starting the game. Give me a break. Roger Clemens was one of the best pitchers of all time before these "comebacks." Now I think it's more about trying to be some sort of savior. If Houston fails again, what will Roger do next year? He'll probably do the "I'll think about it" b.s. and hope to have the same teams lined up again. I for one, am tired of it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:34 am

If you think this is bad, wait until NASCAR returns to ESPN next year. We're going to see cutaways of Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr. taking a sh*t in lavatories in racetrack infields across America.

ESPN is more about self-promotion of its "franchises" and ratings than news and coverage. It's the MTV of televised sport, and it's laughing all the way to the bank.

It's not just ESPN, though. Look at the 24-hour news networks' coverage. It's saturated with sensational overkill.

Take CNN and Fox News' coverage of the Natalee Holloway case, for example. It's tragic that this girl apparently is dead, but CNN and Fox News have covered this story like it's a major event in everyday Americans' lives for the last year.

Meanwhile, there are hundreds of Natalee Holloway-type cases every month across America that receive zero coverage. But because Holloway was cute, white, blonde and was apparently assaulted by "them furriners" while on vacation in Aruba, CNN and Fox have anointed this as a story that matters.

Take care,
PK

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:36 am

I dunno, I thought it was fun to watch. I'm glad ESPN showed it. Of course if it wasn't the Lake County Captains, who play their home games 5 min. from my house, I probably wouldn't have cared as much.

And how about that kid who homered off him? I'm sure he'll never forget that night. It was funny, as soon as Peter Gammons finished saying, "This kid is one of the top prospects in the Indians' farm system..." then BOOM... he hits a homer. Nice.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:30 am

Top story last night on SC should have been Grimsley and his Steroids allegations. They covered Bonds so heavily but not Jason Grimsley?? Hmmm...I find that weird since the Govt has actual proof on Grimsley now too.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:35 am

pk500 wrote:ESPN is more about self-promotion of its "franchises" and ratings than news and coverage. It's the MTV of televised sport, and it's laughing all the way to the bank.

It's not just ESPN, though. Look at the 24-hour news networks' coverage. It's saturated with sensational overkill.

I don't understand some of this mentality. These are businesses people! They are doing what they do to make money. It's not a public service, it's not a non-profit. Obviously ESPN is successful at what they do (absurd phone service notwithstanding), otherwise they would be changing it up.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:41 am

I think PK is talking about the difference between the news part of ESPN and the entertainment part of ESPN. Kind of like you don't see CBS Evening News hawking a special just because Everyone Loves Raymond is going off the air.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:42 am

My point is that news, based on sound journalistic judgment, used to be enough to make networks money in the U.S. in the past. Now it's not. People prefer info-tainment over hard news, and that pisses me off as a former journalist.

The blame can be shared by the media outlets and the public. The media outlets have shoved this info-tainment down our throats, and we've happily engulfed it by the buffet-full.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:43 am

fsquid wrote:I think PK is talking about the difference between the news part of ESPN and the entertainment part of ESPN. Kind of like you don't see CBS Evening News hawking a special just because Everyone Loves Raymond is going off the air.

Very well said, Squid. You nailed it.

NBC's shameless and seemingly endless promotion of Katie Couric's final day on "Today" was another example. This was a non-story, in the big scheme of worldwide events. But NBC and MSNBC.com played it that day as if it was a bigger story than Iraq, African famine or U.S. politics.

Thankfully, other news outlets downplayed it. Well, CBS played it up, because Couric is coming to them. She's a f*cking news reader, nothing more. It's not news.

Clemens pitching at the Class A level is a non-story in the sports world. But ESPN put as many people on it as it does the NBA Finals, and more than it does for the World Cup, Triple Crown horse races, major golf tournaments, Indy 500, Daytona 500, Stanley Cup Finals and more.

Take care,
PK

Programmed2Kill · Post by **Programmed2Kill** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:54 am

I'm sick of hearing about Clemons...but I'm not going to lie, I tuned in last night to watch him pitch.

As much as I want to like Harold Reynolds, he gets on my friggin' nerves. I'm a Kruker fan, though.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:02 pm

It could have been worse, ESPN could have run an 'in depth' story about the Duke Lacrosse team!

There is nothing that reporters like more than when things come around. After years of glowing coverage of Duke, ESPN was more than ready to do this story. Instead of images of Grant Hill playing the piano and Coach K talking about 'teaching' and 'relationships' and 'leadership,' we get to see upper middle class white kids in handcuffs. Build them up and then knock 'em down. Predictable.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:53 pm

grtwhtsk wrote:I agree, I am so sick of all this hype. To think I turn on Sports Center to see Yankees - Red Sox highlights, and see the lead story is Clemens in Class A. How many times did we have to see his son hand him the baseball before starting the game. Give me a break.

I agree that the hype is overblown, but consider that MLB is desperate to get the media and fan focus off of Bonds* and steroids.

grtwhtsk wrote:Roger Clemens was one of the best pitchers of all time before these "comebacks."

And still is.

grtwhtsk wrote:Now I think it's more about trying to be some sort of savior. If Houston fails again, what will Roger do next year? He'll probably do the "I'll think about it" b.s. and hope to have the same teams lined up again. I for one, am tired of it.

If Houston fails again? What do you mean by that? The past two years with Clemens they have gone farther than they ever have. If you mean winning the WS, then I see your point. I do not think Clemens is the answer to what ails the Astros this year, but I have learned from the past two years not to count them out until the fat lady has finished singing....

As far as lining up teams each offseason, if you were him, wouldn't you do the exact same thing? I would....

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:51 pm

DivotMaker wrote:I agree that the hype is overblown, but consider that MLB is desperate to get the media and fan focus off of Bonds* and steroids.

True. But why should ESPN be a complicit partner in that PR machine? Isn't it obliged to cover the news with a certain level of news judgment and responsibility?

I guess not, considering Roger Clemens throwing pitches in Class A is bigger news than Jason Grimsley admitting he was on HGH and naming names of players who did the same.

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:55 pm

I just wish they'd take that damn "Chasing Aaron" crap off the bottom line. It was annoying as hell before he tied Ruth and it's more annoying now. How bout putting it back up when he's 1 shy of Aaron. He won't even sniff it this year do we really need to see it for the rest of the season?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:56 pm

In fact, here's even more proof that ESPN is part of the MLB PR machine. Look at this tease for the lead story about Grimsley on ESPN.com at 1:51 p.m. (EDT):

*****

Tired of BALCO and Barry? Brace for a new drug scandal, one that Buster Olney says could rip baseball at its seams. Federal agents claim Jason Grimsley used human growth hormone and steroids and named players he believes have used, too. Expect leaks, Olney says. Story Insider

*****

Just the tone of that first sentence infers that we should all just forget about Bonds and steroids. Tired about BALCO and Barry? I'm not, and I'm not even a baseball fan. If you're a baseball fan and you're tired of the steroids investigation, then you really must not give a sh*t about the integrity of the game.

And what's even worse is that ESPN isn't exposing this news story to the general public. It's only offering it for Insider subscribers, a backhanded way of filtering the damaging news for MLB and keeping it away from as many eyeballs as possible.

This isn't some exclusive column, analysis or tear-jerking feature story that should have the Insider subscriber carrot hung in front of it. This is a breaking, major news story that should be accessible to everyone.

But of course, ESPN.com editors can retort, "Well, we made it our lead story." To be fair, ESPN did offer the link to the news story as part of the package. But hey, let's make Buster's blog the lead so we can divert as many eyeballs from this story as possible.

And too bad about nine-tenths of your readers can't access Buster's blog. I'm sure the MLB PR execs in New York are pleased. Well done.

Take care,
PK

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:59 pm

pk500 wrote:
True. But why should ESPN be a complicit partner in that PR machine? Isn't it obliged to cover the news with a certain level of news judgment and responsibility?

I don't know, ask them. I agree, but like you, I am just one of the observers....

pk500 wrote:I guess not, considering Roger Clemens throwing pitches in Class A is bigger news than Jason Grimsley admitting he was on HGH and naming names of players who did the same.

Take care,
PK

I have no answer for that. If I had been the Producer, I believe I would have made the right call....