ESPN's E:60

[SPTO]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I second goblue's ode to the late, great D*ck Schaap. He was an oasis of journalistic ethics and balanced reporting on ESPN, and I hope Jeremy follows his path. Sadly, I fear Jeremy will become "ESPNized" for the sake of ratings, something to which his father never would have succumbed.

Take care,
PK

I think Jeremy's already been ESPNized. I mean, his father wouldn't be caught dead doing this tripe.

[bkfount]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I saw the opening tonight, which might be the gayest thing I've ever seen on TV disguised as a serious journalism show.

Hey, let's show all of our reporters supposedly hard at work while hustling to the studio for an editorial meeting, and let's film that editorial meeting to prove their credentials as serious reporters.

Uh, if you need those kinds of props to prove your journalism cred, then you probably didn't have any to start with. You never see that bullsh*t with "60 Minutes," the model for this show, did you? The opening of that show features highlights of each of the stories for that night, with the famous clicking stopwatch, not some ham-fisted, vain attempt to prove the reporters' street cred.

And if you don't have an "E" in your name, I guess it's impossible to be a reporter on this show, right? After all, ESPN couldn't use that ridiculous stylized "E" when it identifies each reporter in the open.

I watched a bit of the story on the statch rape case, and the reporter arguing in the editorial meeting that this story had it all, "sex ... " As soon as I heard that, I winced. Yeah, let's sensationalize sex among teens. That's a great sports story.

All flash, no substance. So typically ESPN. Tom Mees must be rolling in his grave, God rest his soul.

I second goblue's ode to the late, great D*ck Schaap. He was an oasis of journalistic ethics and balanced reporting on ESPN, and I hope Jeremy follows his path. Sadly, I fear Jeremy will become "ESPNized" for the sake of ratings, something to which his father never would have succumbed.

Take care,
PK

no truer words.

The stories were nothing different than what they used to put on Outside The Lines before that got cut to a short show. The whole meeting setup before each story is laughable and made me think of that south park episode for some reason. Sexy Action News.

[pk500]

Re: ESPN's E:60

The stories were nothing different than what they used to put on Outside The Lines before that got cut to a short show. The whole meeting setup before each story is laughable and made me think of that south park episode for some reason. Sexy Action News.

HAHAHAHAHA!

Spot-on, man!

I'm definitely dating myself here, but all I could think of when I saw that incredibly bad open for "E:60" was the opening for the 60s hipster cop show, "The Mod Squad." Both equally horrid and campy to the point of great humor.

Take care,
PK

[Rocky]

Re: ESPN's E:60

HAHAHAHAHA!

Spot-on, man!

I'm definitely dating myself here, but all I could think of when I saw that incredibly bad open for "E:60" was the opening for the 60s hipster cop show, "The Mod Squad." Both equally horrid and campy to the point of great humor.

Take care,
PK

I'm not a huge fan of Real Sports w/ Bryant Gumbel, but I think that is 100x's better than this crap. At least they try to make it credible and look at things with some objectivity instead of just hyping a story. Also James Brown, Bernard Goldberg, and Mary Carillo do a good job on this. I feel bad for Michael Smith and Jeremy Schaap on this show.

[mgoblue]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I'm not a huge fan of Real Sports w/ Bryant Gumbel, but I think that is 100x's better than this crap. At least they try to make it credible and look at things with some objectivity instead of just hyping a story. Also James Brown, Bernard Goldberg, and Mary Carillo do a good job on this. I feel bad for Michael Smith and Jeremy Schaap on this show.

I agree with Bryant Gumbel, I just really hate how that show always brings out the race card. Happened recently with McNabb, and I know it's happened a few other times. They do it to get ratings on an HBO show (the race stuff is always leaked a couple days in advance), but it's really annoying.

[Rocky]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I agree with Bryant Gumbel, I just really hate how that show always brings out the race card. Happened recently with McNabb, and I know it's happened a few other times. They do it to get ratings on an HBO show (the race stuff is always leaked a couple days in advance), but it's really annoying.

Well race IS a huge factor in sports. No way around that. However, it's often about the same things we heard before. I would like to see them bring a new perspective on race to the table

[Money99]

Re: ESPN's E:60

Sorry to take this a bit off topic, but I don't have ESPN so I'm unaware of the issues with John Clayton.

I did read that piece on Jason Ray and thought it was awesome. And then I saw the piece on ESPN (they have it at the gym).

Why is Clayton not given respect? Who has issues with him? What's happened in the past?

Thanks!

[Money99]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I'm not a huge fan of Real Sports w/ Bryant Gumbel, but I think that is 100x's better than this crap. At least they try to make it credible and look at things with some objectivity instead of just hyping a story. Also James Brown, Bernard Goldberg, and Mary Carillo do a good job on this. I feel bad for Michael Smith and Jeremy Schaap on this show.

That's ESPN though. They've become a joke. I still can't believe nobody's started their own Sports television channel.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: ESPN's E:60

Sorry to take this a bit off topic, but I don't have ESPN so I'm unaware of the issues with John Clayton.

Clayton is a great NFL insider that has a bunch of great scoops and info. He does a really good job whenever I can hear him but he's called the Professor because he looks like an uber nerd.

[pk500]

Re: ESPN's E:60

That's ESPN though. They've become a joke. I still can't believe nobody's started their own Sports television channel.

True. But ESPN's marketing muscle, cross-platform integration and PR machine are matched by few companies in the U.S. Maybe Nike.

There's probably not a breathing soul older than 12 in the U.S. who hasn't heard of ESPN. And to think the network is less than 30 years old.

Amazing marketing and brand building. Too bad its programming and content blows heavy, bile-laden chunks that do little other than promote ESPN and its properties.

That's the secret of ESPN -- it's cross-promotional synergies. Everything ESPN does -- EVERYTHING -- promotes either the brand or one of its properties. Nothing is presented for just the content's sake. It's content with promotional push, which is fine if you're selling shoes, not news.

Need an example? Look at "SportsCenter." Ever wonder why sports that ESPN televises receive more prominent and extensive coverage on "SportsCenter?" It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that coverage also promotes ESPN's broadcasts of those sports. Ever wonder why someone like Dan Patrick or Stuart Scott, who aren't writers, get columns in ESPN: The Magazine? Because they are/were popular anchors on "SportsCenter," ESPN's flagship show that generates mucho advertising dollars, even more when its ratings climb. Expose those anchors in more ESPN mediums, and their exposure and ratings will grow.

Take care,
PK

[mgoblue]

Re: ESPN's E:60

True. But ESPN's marketing muscle, cross-platform integration and PR machine are matched by few companies in the U.S. Maybe Nike.

There's probably not a breathing soul older than 12 in the U.S. who hasn't heard of ESPN. And to think the network is less than 30 years old.

Amazing marketing and brand building. Too bad its programming and content blows heavy, bile-laden chunks.

Take care,
PK

I completely agree with you there...it's amazing how integrated into our culture ESPN has gotten over 30 years.

We rip on ESPN, but isn't local news and even national news just all based on sensation and less what really matters? I don't think it's just the direction of ESPN, but more the direction of news reporting in general. Great reporting doesn't sell as well as sensationalism. Mention TO, the war in Iraq, Patriots cheating, a murder somewhere....all those will sell more than a heartfelt piece about a high school athlete or a great, inspiring local news story.

[pk500]

Re: ESPN's E:60

I completely agree with you there...it's amazing how integrated into our culture ESPN has gotten over 30 years.

We rip on ESPN, but isn't local news and even national news just all based on sensation and less what really matters? I don't think it's just the direction of ESPN, but more the direction of news reporting in general. Great reporting doesn't sell as well as sensationalism. Mention TO, the war in Iraq, Patriots cheating, a murder somewhere....all those will sell more than a heartfelt piece about a high school athlete or a great, inspiring local news story.

Absolutely. ESPN is just one of the flag bearers of the trend, and it has taken cross-platform promotional incest to an art form.

Take care,
PK

[Boltman]

Re: ESPN's E:60

Tonights Parkour part was pretty awesome.

[mgoblue]

Re: ESPN's E:60

Bill Simmons is trash as a reporter...comedic relief, maybe, even then not that great...

[Boltman]

Re: ESPN's E:60

Tonights Parkour part was pretty awesome.

QFT