ESPN - The Leader in Sports?

[ZMan83]

I have to wonder, does anyone out there actually like the :30 at :30? I mean anyone, anywhere, not just here.

I find it pretty annoying. ESPN already has the "crawl" at the bottom of the screen for scores and stories. I am happy to get the latest news from the crawl rather than the 30 at 30 overlay on part of a game.

[Duke15304]

that for a while now, on college football, baseball, so i assume they will continue

[dukemath]

There is a "Contact Us" button on ESPN's website. Maybe we should all write in to complain about the game scheduling at 30 at 30 update. I just did and if a lot more did too, then they just might get the message.

[Duke15304]

I maybe beating a dead horse, but the other night made me mad, I have direct tv, so they have espn alternative channels so i go over there and they have the nova uconn game on as well, but i assume at 910 they will flip over, well they keep that game on, so i had that dumb game on two channels while i missed 8 mins of the duke games, it was ridicolous, whatss the point of the alternative channel if you arent going to use it

[feldspar]

I maybe beating a dead horse,

I'd say so

[Jumbo]

I'd say so

This is a good test for me to see if I can merge this thread into the other one. Let's see how this goes...

[feldspar]

This is a good test for me to see if I can merge this thread into the other one. Let's see how this goes...

Well done!

[Duke15304]

srry about putting it in a new thread in the first place

[MattyB.]

ESPN . . . sigh. There's so much incompetence there, it's postitively heartbreaking. I wonder how many regular ESPN viewers were aware that the largerst bicycle race in North America was going on last week, with one of the best international fields ever assembled on American soil. A race that drew over a million roadside spectators. A race with BOTH reigning road cycling world champions (road race and time trial).

We were kept VERY well apprised, however, of NFL draft speculation. Thank goodness.

Kudos to Mike Patrick for switching into radio play-by-play mode when the video feed cut out (something he did quite well, actually). Vital's absolute obliviousness was certainly not surprising, but does ESPN "management" need any more evidence that the guy's best years are DECADES behind him? How many years left on that godforsaken contract of his???

Anyway, GTHC GTH.

--D

Mostly testing out the "quick reply" feature here, which the new boards seemed to botch previously... but in any event:

seriously? are you really trying to bolster your case of poor ESPN coverage by using a BIKE RACE vs. NFL FOOTBALL?? NFL is by far the most wildly popular sport in the US. last i checked, they don't have wagering on bike races, nor do they have Fantasy Tour de France. i'm sorry - i love the Tour (have actually be in France for it), and i think the NFL combine coverage is overkill, but a bike race of any sort will never, EVER win against NFL football in this country.

i agree with the premise, tho: ESPN coverage of NCAA Bball games has gone precipitously down hill the last several years, only to arrive at downright awful at this point. the 30-in-30 thing has GOT TO GO. that, would be a start...

[Jumbo]

Well done!

Woohoo! I've figured out how to use one tiny facet of this monstrous board. Of course, I can't figure out how to delete the other thread. I guess we'll just have to let it fade away unless an admin or mod knows what to do.

[MattyB.]

didn't mean to be overly harsh there, esp. when we agree: ESPN really needs to shape up. sure, they can do a lot of neat fancy things with their graphics/feeds, but please: not at the viewer's expense!

and take a note from FSN: run your NCAA bball games in 2.5 hour slots!

[feldspar]

Woohoo! I've figured out how to use one tiny facet of this monstrous board. Of course, I can't figure out how to delete the other thread. I guess we'll just have to let it fade away unless an admin or mod knows what to do.

Meh, I think it's fine to just let it wither away. Even when you click on it, it just leads you to the merged thread.

That's a tight feature. I get frustrated sometimes at how often topics get repeated and repeated and repeated...

[MattyB.]

Woohoo! I've figured out how to use one tiny facet of this monstrous board. Of course, I can't figure out how to delete the other thread. I guess we'll just have to let it fade away unless an admin or mod knows what to do.

well done, indeed. the other thread refers/redirects to this one, tho, so i guess it works as designed. ;-)

[DvB]

Mostly testing out the "quick reply" feature here, which the new boards seemed to botch previously... but in any event:

seriously? are you really trying to bolster your case of poor ESPN coverage by using a BIKE RACE vs. NFL FOOTBALL?? NFL is by far the most wildly popular sport in the US. last i checked, they don't have wagering on bike races, nor do they have Fantasy Tour de France. i'm sorry - i love the Tour (have actually be in France for it), and i think the NFL combine coverage is overkill, but a bike race of any sort will never, EVER win against NFL football in this country.

i agree with the premise, tho: ESPN coverage of NCAA Bball games has gone precipitously down hill the last several years, only to arrive at downright awful at this point. the 30-in-30 thing has GOT TO GO. that, would be a start...

I think I didn't adquately communicate my point. I'd never argue that the NFL isn't (unfortunately) "the most wildly popular sport in the US." I was simply mentioning that while an actual sporting event was actually going on -- that is, a drama-filled, star-laden bike race that was drawing over one million roadside spectators -- ESPN felt more compelled to offer air time to talking heads offering jabber on the upcoming NFL draft. Regardless of your athletic loyalties, I ask you: Which "story," at that moment in time, was more newsworthy?

I'm in the VAST, VAST minority when it comes to enjoying bike racing more than NFL football, granted. But that's irrelevant. I'd still rather see timely coverage of a great play in [curling, cricket, figure skating, pole-vault . . . name your unpopular sport] than conjecture in draft positions and contract values.

Since I wrote my original post, I noticed Dick Vitale in a Hooters commercial. That -- right there -- is reason enough to boycott ESPN. Vitale. Ugh. Nance and Packer were actually REFRESHING yesterday. Did I just write that?

--DvB

[dukemsu]

Been a rough day to be a Duke fan. Looking forward to the day being over.

Anyway, as I've read, viewed, and listened to ESPN's "macro" level personnel (Patrick, Sports Guy, etc) and found myself curling my toes in anger at their short-sighted hatred and knee-jerk reaction, I was able to make myself feel better by reminding myself of the following fact:

These guys only watch college basketball for one month. March.

ESPN is so far in bed with the NFL that the NFL is almost all the major talking heads and writers cover-and for one month a year, they watch college basketball. The one overriding theme that hasn't changed for 20 years in college basketball?

Everyone hates Duke.

Therefore, these clowns (other offenders include Bob Ley, Greenberg and Golic {so ignorant about the sport that they should be forbidden to discuss it} and on and on) play to that storyline repeatedly. Then, when the Final 4 ends and the NFL Draft nonsense starts, they go back to football. This is the only logical explanation for anyone referring to Billy Packer as a Duke homer. Complete and total ignorance.

As for the Micro guys, (Elmore, Davis, Bilas, Phelps, etc) I just try and listen with a grain of salt remembering their school and conference affiliation (especially with Gottlieb, who's emerging as the newest loudmouth flamethrower) and hope that every once in a while, they speak objectively.

I haven't posted much, but I see many of those listed here in chat. I must confess I'm a bit embarassed at my reaction to the incident yesterday that I posted in chat-I was a bit overheated and said I was glad G went after Hansblahblah. My apologies. Hope to see you in chat on Thursday.

dukemsu

[weezie]

And bear in mind that espn has also fallen head over heals in love with Nascar.
They're loopy for the car racing now.
So who cares what they think, anyway.

[hurleyfor3]

Espn does not hate Duke. Espn, in fact, LOVES Duke.

Duke = ratings.
Ratings = $.
$ = love.

If Espn hates Duke so much, why did the unc game in Cameron last year have the Sideline Cam, the Endzone Cam, the Cameron Crazy Cam, the Krzyzewski Cam and the Tyler Hansbroken Nostril Cam occupying every espn in existence?

If espn really hated Duke, we wouldn't be on their precious network so damn much.

[dukemsu]

Espn does not hate Duke. Espn, in fact, LOVES Duke.

Duke = ratings.
Ratings = $.
$ = love.

If Espn hates Duke so much, why did the unc game in Cameron last year have the Sideline Cam, the Endzone Cam, the Cameron Crazy Cam, the Krzyzewski Cam and the Tyler Hansbroken Nostril Cam occupying every espn in existence?

If espn really hated Duke, we wouldn't be on their precious network so damn much.

Not saying the Network hates them, you're right...they clearly like showing Duke games. I'm talking about the obnoxious, ignorant "personalities" who don't watch college ball but for four or five weeks a year because they're too busy talking about potential trades for 4th round NFL draft choices or whatever Terrell Owens is doing today.

[jafarr1]

ESPN loves putting Duke in the role of the villain. They bring in the most money that way.

[SMO]

You hit it on the head! Televise Duke and talk about Duke as much as possible because most college basketball fans (even passive ones) either love or hate the team so much they'll tune in, click to read more, or listen on the radio just to hear more. Just look at this site for crying out loud (like Tyler)! ESPN, like many major media, does not care about objectivity, but ratings.

ESPN loves putting Duke in the role of the villain. They bring in the most money that way.