ESPN 100

[kcchief19]

Since it's the end of the year, we are once again assaulted with everyone's 10 best this and 100 that of the year. ESPN is weighing in with their ESPN 100 of the "stories that mattered most."

Sure, Kobe's No. 1 followed quickly by LeBron, and the Marlins and whatnot. Annika's in there, along with El Rushbo.

However, when discussing the 100 "stories that mattered most," I was perplexed when I hit this entry:

No. 86 Playmakers

That's right, ESPN saw clearly enough to put their own "original" program on the list. Other than an occassional conversation about just how badly the show sucked, I am aware of no other discussion of the show, except that Paul Tagliabue also thought it sucked.

Was this an actual news story that interested anyone? Or is this simply ESPN pimping their own crap? Granted, they did cover the Rush situation and raked him over the coals, although I think that story should have been ranked higher than No. 36.

[Ragone]

i'm surprised they put rush on there at all.. i figured they wanted to bury him..

[The_herd]

Some of the people at ESPN have hinted in the past that they are pressured by the higher ups into referencing certain things. I'm sure this is just another instance of it.

[SackAttack]

"mattered most" in quotes is absolutely right.

I'm sorry, but Kobe and LeBron have had next to no effect on my perception of the NBA, whatsoever.

In fact, outside of Cleveland, I'm not sure LeBron matters much at all, unless you're talking about the self-masturbatory hype machine that ESPN and its ilk like to propagate.

[ISiddiqui]

Other than an occassional conversation about just how badly the show sucked, I am aware of no other discussion of the show, except that Paul Tagliabue also thought it sucked.

Well it was a big deal that some coaches commented on it and Tags had to say how it was giving a bad view of football players. So I think it deserves to be there.

[Ragone]

I'm Shocked Vick's injury wasn't #1 and vicks return #2

[The_herd]

Originally posted by Ragone
I'm Shocked Vick's injury wasn't #1 and vicks return #2

And Jamal Lewis goes for the record at 1a.

[digamma]

Originally posted by The_herd
And Jamal Lewis goes for the record at 1a.

I guess Larry Fitzgerald being a Heisman candidate would have to be 1c, then.

[kcchief19]

Unfortunately, I see ZERO reference to Broadway Joe Namath putting the moves on Suzy Kolber. Now that was WAY bigger than Playmakers.

[TroyF]

Sorry, I just don't see the bashing here. Playmakers made a lot of news, especially when the NFL made it news by pressuring ESPN not to renew it for a second season. I read articles about this in Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, CBS Sportsline, and even Newsweek. It was talked about on the Sunday morning political talk shows. . . even when we were at war.

The top 100 news stories of the year are about hype. Playmakers generated hype and there isn't anything wrong with ESPN putting it on their list.

Clearly, Lebron and Kobe were one and two in just about any order you'd want to put them in. That couldn't even be argued IMO. (BTW, if you still think Bron Brons all hype, you really need to watch the kid sometime)

[Craptacular]

Too bad they couldn't wait and include all of 2003. The last two weeks of the NFL season were full of stories (Favre's performance on Monday night; amazing endings of Saints/Jaguars and Cardinals/Viqueens game).

I think it's absolutely pathetic that the Kobe story is #1.

[miami_fan]

Originally posted by Craptacular
Too bad they couldn't wait and include all of 2003. The last two weeks of the NFL season were full of stories (Favre's performance on Monday night; amazing endings of Saints/Jaguars and Cardinals/Viqueens game).

I think it's absolutely pathetic that the Kobe story is #1.

Why? Cause of what the story entailed or how hungry the general public was with it?

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by miami_fan
Why? Cause of what the story entailed or how hungry the general public was with it?

Cause it's certainly not the story that "mattered most". A star athlete in arguably this country's third (or fourth) favorite professional sport is accused of a crime. He hasn't even had his trial yet. Does this really affect the average sports fans' enjoyment or interest in sports more than any other story from the last year? If so, I feel sorry to be a sports enthusiast.

[miami_fan]

Originally posted by Craptacular
Does this really affect the average sports fans' enjoyment or interest in sports more than any other story from the last year? If so, I feel sorry to be a sports enthusiast.

I would say yes. You are right the trial has not been held, yet it is the lead story on every sports show in the nation. As much as I love all sports on the field and try my best to concentrate on the matters on the field, this is what the AVERAGE sports public is talking about. Hardcore sports are going to find other things to talk about. But this story drew the average fan and the non-sports fans in a way most leagues try to do in a positive light Many sports fans, when asked about their interest in the NBA point to the Kobe saga as one of the main reasons for their dislike. Sports fans love a negative story and this was the MOST negative story of the year

[JonInMiddleGA]

Whether you agree with Kobe as top story or not, it's certainly not just ESPN that put it there -- It was the Associated Press top sports story as well.

http://sports.myway.com/news/12292003/v2038.html

AFAIK, unless they've changed the process over the past few years, that isn't just voted on by sportswriters but by various reporters & editors as well.

[Craptacular]

Yeah, I saw the AP put it there too. How frickin' sad.

P.S. Stuff like this IS THE REASON I don't listen to sports talk radio and rarely watch SportsCenter.