ESPN Is Pathetic

ifmanis5

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ESPN PrimeTime is back... on ESPN+
https://deadline.com/2019/09/nfl-primetime-espn-plus-return-chris-berman-tom-jackson-1202734264/
ESPN’s NFL PrimeTime, the sports network’s flagship NFL show almost two decades, is returning with its original hosts Chris Berman and Tom Jackson. The new incarnation of the highlights show will air on the ESPN+ streaming service beginning Sunday, returning it to screens after a 14-year absence.
View: https://twitter.com/ESPNPR/status/1172617498220474373
 

Marciano490

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Nov 4, 2007
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On the one hand, Berman looks like shit. On the other, he’s aged better than I would’ve expected.

Weren’t there a ton of sexual harassment claims against him?
 

ifmanis5

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ESPN makes distribution deal with Facebook for several shows including Katie Nolan
https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/espn-facebook-watch-exclusive-katie-nolan-1203343213/
Disney’s ESPN is looking to expand digital reach across Facebook, under a new deal to distribute exclusive digital shows and content on the social giant’s Facebook Watch video platform.

At launch, ESPN’s Facebook Watch lineup includes additional segments from “Always Late With Katie Nolan,” the late-night sports/comedy show premiering this week on ESPN2; exclusive versions of college-football “Countdown to GameDay” and “Fantasy Focus Live,” and “The People’s MMA Show,” a weekly series about mixed martial arts fighters.
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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Mar 14, 2006
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http://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/topperformers/_/type/pitching
Just noticed this, the way they calculate game score is way wrong. Like it's not even close to being correct.
Yeah, it’s way off. Verlander’s 14K, 1BB no-hitter is ranked 29th. Ranked 28th? Scherzer allowing 3 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings (no decision). I’m not sure what got screwed up in the calculations there.

EDIT: I submitted a bug report to ESPN. No idea if they’ll see it or correct it.
 

Hearts Alive

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Mar 5, 2006
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Every year in preseason, I check the Bruins roster on ESPN to see if they still have David Pastrnak listed as a left shot left winger. Then I don't return to espn for the remainder of the season. I know it's small potatoes compared to other things, but it's my molehill to die on for that site.
 

edoug

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Yeah, it’s way off. Verlander’s 14K, 1BB no-hitter is ranked 29th. Ranked 28th? Scherzer allowing 3 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings (no decision). I’m not sure what got screwed up in the calculations there.

EDIT: I submitted a bug report to ESPN. No idea if they’ll see it or correct it.
And 9 of those games don't even qualify as quality starts.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
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It is outrageous how much better the statcast broadcast on ESPN2 is as compared to the "traditional" broadcast on ESPN.
 

InstaFace

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It is outrageous how much better the statcast broadcast on ESPN2 is as compared to the "traditional" broadcast on ESPN.
Was a near-unanimous consensus in the WC gamethread. I enjoyed the hell out of it, even though I like A-Rod as a commentator. Holy shit, a telecast that tells me things I didn't already know! Who knew they could do that?
 

TheDivision

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Jun 21, 2019
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ESPN pressuring English language users to use their App in Ecuador. There’s no option on Iphones to choose an “edition” as Spanish is the default language, the only option is Colombia which is also Spanish. I have nothing against Spanish and speak it, but the stats are limited especially for USA sports (NFL for example). Why I have to use their App to get news and stats in English? BTW, I messaged them and asked where is the option to change editions (languages and regions).
 

NoXInNixon

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If they don't give Katie Nolan, Sarah Spain and Mina Kimes their own show five days a week, they hate money.
 

edoug

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FWIW T&R were listing this as a possibility because the Los Angeles Chargers may want to move on from their aging QB.....so the logical play apparently is going with a guy 6 years older
Slight edit to make it make a little sense. Not much but a little.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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So I’m watching The Jump, and the four person panel they have to talk about the NBA is:

Rachel Nichols
Zach Lowe
Perk
Scottie Pippen

It wasn’t bad, it was just a bizzare collection of people.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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So I’m watching The Jump, and the four person panel they have to talk about the NBA is:

Rachel Nichols
Zach Lowe
Perk
Scottie Pippen

It wasn’t bad, it was just a bizzare collection of people.
The regular host of the show, one of the network's leading NBA reporters, and two former players. Not really seeing how that group talking NBA is all that bizarre.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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The regular host of the show, one of the network's leading NBA reporters, and two former players. Not really seeing how that group talking NBA is all that bizarre.
Whatever Mr. Party Pooper; I’d just like to know what they talk about during the breaks.
 

BoSox Rule

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Jul 15, 2005
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Finally unfollowed them on Instagram. Every single post is one year ago Lebron did this, 5 years since LeBron did that. 48 weeks ago today LeBron ate this. Not that anyone cares who I follow but it’s kind of ridiculous to see it every single day.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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Finally unfollowed them on Instagram. Every single post is one year ago Lebron did this, 5 years since LeBron did that. 48 weeks ago today LeBron ate this. Not that anyone cares who I follow but it’s kind of ridiculous to see it every single day.
How are you going to get your updates on Bronny???
 

Average Reds

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If CBS matches or comes close to what ESPN is offering, I cannot imagine that Romo would leave his current gig. He's the #1 guy, he works a soft schedule, he gets to pretend he's Walter Mitty in one or two golf tournaments a year and I can easily see him sliding into a role as the sidekick for Jim Nantz in golf coverage.

Of course, proximity to Nantz may be a factor driving him to a competitor, but that aside, he seems to have a great job in a better situation (surrounded by talent) than ESPN could offer.
 

Kliq

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My desired scenario would be to pair Ian Eagle or Kevin Harlan with Romo on CBS, they would be awesome together.
 

OurF'ingCity

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If CBS matches or comes close to what ESPN is offering, I cannot imagine that Romo would leave his current gig. He's the #1 guy, he works a soft schedule, he gets to pretend he's Walter Mitty in one or two golf tournaments a year and I can easily see him sliding into a role as the sidekick for Jim Nantz in golf coverage.

Of course, proximity to Nantz may be a factor driving him to a competitor, but that aside, he seems to have a great job in a better situation (surrounded by talent) than ESPN could offer.
Yeah, it really depends what he wants. If he wants a relatively quiet, soft schedule where he can announce a game a week and maybe some golf, CBS seems like the obvious fit. If he wants money above all, or just wants his face plastered across a screen as much as possible, then ESPN may be a more attractive option because they could put him on their numerous podcasts, talk shows, etc. along with announcing.

I get the sense that he values the former more so I suspect he'll stay with CBS. One thing that we probably don't have much visibility into that could affect the decision is the respective quality of the "booth" setup for CBS vs. ESPN. From a viewing perspective the production quality seems if anything to be better for CBS, but if ESPN is able to provide more camera angles or other tools I could see Romo taking that into consideration given how nitty-gritty his analysis often gets (relative to most other color guys, anyway).

Edit: and, yes, from a fan perspective Tessitore and Romo would be awful, but then again Nantz and Romo is not great either due to Nantz, so not sure how much difference that makes.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Let me begin by saying, I know, but I was at the gym today running and whatever passes for ESPN's morning program was playing on the TVs. I thought, "Huh, I wonder what they're going to say about the Mookie Betts deal?" They spent the 30 or so minutes that I was on the treadmill talking about the NFL, Joe Morrow and then the XFL. I understand that baseball isn't the sexiest sport in the world anymore, but really? a big trade like this goes down and you all but ignore it? There was also nothing on the leagues that actually played games last night either: NBA, NCAA or the NHL (the latter is a given, I suppose).

At some point, it might be better for ESPN to just run all of their programming on the NFL Network.
 

InstaFace

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There is probably at this point room for a market entrant to challenge ESPN as a 24-hour network devoted entirely to sports, assuming it is run by and for people who actually like sports, as opposed to just FOOTBAW.

On-air talent is cheap and somewhat replaceable, with a few notable exceptions. Broadcast rights are very expensive, but you can also start small there.
 

OCST

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There is probably at this point room for a market entrant to challenge ESPN as a 24-hour network devoted entirely to sports, assuming it is run by and for people who actually like sports, as opposed to just FOOTBAW.

On-air talent is cheap and somewhat replaceable, with a few notable exceptions. Broadcast rights are very expensive, but you can also start small there.
Many here will fondly remember CNN's sports show with Nick Charles and Fred Hickman. Good rapport, easygoing, knowledgeable, focused on the actual games, low % of filler. I'd watch something like that.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Many here will fondly remember CNN's sports show with Nick Charles and Fred Hickman. Good rapport, easygoing, knowledgeable, focused on the actual games, low % of filler. I'd watch something like that.
I think that was airing some time around the golden age of SportsCenter. I don't know whether I didn't notice or care, but before these sports networks got in bed with every league, it seemed better. Though I will agree, that there's probably no need for SportsCenter anymore.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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I'm amazed at ESPN.com's lackadaisical coverage of the current on-going Red Sox developments -- the Mookie trade hanging in the balance, and Roenicke's apparent appointment as manager. On the former, they let Passan update the story maybe once a day, maybe less, with rehashed news about the trade being on hold but no new information or interviews. And on the latter, a hour after multiple sources have reported Roenicke will be getting the offer, nary a whisper about it on the website.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Apr 12, 2001
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I'm amazed at ESPN.com's lackadaisical coverage of the current on-going Red Sox developments -- the Mookie trade hanging in the balance, and Roenicke's apparent appointment as manager. On the former, they let Passan update the story maybe once a day, maybe less, with rehashed news about the trade being on hold but no new information or interviews. And on the latter, a hour after multiple sources have reported Roenicke will be getting the offer, nary a whisper about it on the website.
That's because the Red Sox don't play FOOTBAW! Maybe if these "athletes" grow a set and play a man's sport, EPSN will cover them.
 

ifmanis5

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ESPN, even though they air tons of MLB games on their family of networks, doesn't care about baseball and barely covers it. This has been the case for a long time. ESPN needs the games as inventory during the summer months but MLB is apparently unable to make ESPN care about the sport. It has become a unhealthy co-dependent relationship with no winners.