The Rise and Fall of ESPN (2 Viewers)

[flapgreen]

It's not that, it's ESPN apologized.  

Seriously? idiots 

 

[rockaction]

Haven't watched in years. Looks like there's no reason to start back now. 

ESPN seems set on turning themselves into just another cable station with a niche market like Deadspin or Gawker. Right now, their message appeals to the twenty or thirty leftists that dominate the political subforum of this message board. Hardly universal, and hardly a way to earn advertising revenue.

 

[flapgreen]

Never listen to to ESPN radio but for some reason had it on Mike and Mike last year sometime.  I think was was just zoning out driving and it stopped on ESPN radio. I started paying attention about the time both of them started talking about how good Jenner looked now after his woman impersonation. That was the last time I ever had it on ESPN radio.  Outside if a game, I haven't had it on the TV station any.  

 

[rockaction]

Never listen to to ESPN radio but for some reason had it on Mike and Mike last year sometime.  I think was was just zoning out driving and it stopped on ESPN radio. I started paying attention about the time both of them started talking about how good Jenner looked now after his woman impersonation. That was the last time I ever had it on ESPN radio.  Outside if a game, I haven't had it on the TV station any.  

I never watch their news coverage nor heed their talking heads' opinions. 

 

[Joe T]

Sportscenter is unwatchable.

 

[Joe T]

I watch NFL Network or Golf Channel for sports now.  That's it.

Good riddance, ESPN.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Entertainment and (some) Sports (but mostly) Politics Network

 

[flapgreen]

ESPN

According to a report from college football blog Outkick the Coverage, ESPN pulled college football announcer Robert Lee from a game between William & Mary and the University of Virginia because they were concerned students and viewers might be offended by his name.

Lee, who is Asian-American, and who is likely not named after the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is one of ESPNU's biggest names, and, for the record, did not fight in the American Civil War, because he wasn't alive in 1861 (though he is nicknamed, "the General").

 

[flapgreen]

ESPN issues official statement to @outkick, acknowledges pulling Robert Lee off Virginia game based on name

 

[whoknew]

That's obviously completely idiotic.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

ESPN

According to a report from college football blog Outkick the Coverage, ESPN pulled college football announcer Robert Lee from a game between William & Mary and the University of Virginia because they were concerned students and viewers might be offended by his name.

Lee, who is Asian-American, and who is likely not named after the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is one of ESPNU's biggest names, and, for the record, did not fight in the American Civil War, because he wasn't alive in 1861 (though he is nicknamed, "the General").

 

[JaxBill]

I thought for sure that this was some stupid joke or Internet prank to get some clicks. But if you check Richard Deitsch timeline from SI, he confirms it and has the quote from ESPN PR.

 

[mquinnjr]

ESPN

According to a report from college football blog Outkick the Coverage, ESPN pulled college football announcer Robert Lee from a game between William & Mary and the University of Virginia because they were concerned students and viewers might be offended by his name.

Lee, who is Asian-American, and who is likely not named after the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is one of ESPNU's biggest names, and, for the record, did not fight in the American Civil War, because he wasn't alive in 1861 (though he is nicknamed, "the General").

 

[GROOT]

I thought for sure that this was some stupid joke or Internet prank to get some clicks. But if you check Richard Deitsch timeline from SI, he confirms it and has the quote from ESPN PR.

This is definetly going to blow up in their faces

 

[dschuler]

ESPN

According to a report from college football blog Outkick the Coverage, ESPN pulled college football announcer Robert Lee from a game between William & Mary and the University of Virginia because they were concerned students and viewers might be offended by his name.

Lee, who is Asian-American, and who is likely not named after the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is one of ESPNU's biggest names, and, for the record, did not fight in the American Civil War, because he wasn't alive in 1861 (though he is nicknamed, "the General").

This has to be the most ridiculous story I've ever read.  He should sue for $100 billion and end ESPN to do the world a favor.

 

[Boston]

If this is true it becomes the Babe Ruth/Michael Jordan/Muhammad Ali of political correctness...

 

[tommyGunZ]

This has to be the most ridiculous story I've ever read.  He should sue for $100 billion and end ESPN to do the world a favor.

Sue for what? Getting reassigned to another game that Saturday?   

It's a stupid decision IMO, but on the scale of injustices, it doesn't even register a mark.  Who cares? 

 

[Boston]

This might as well be the plot for PCU part two...the comedy is awesome...an Asian guy can not announce a college football game because his name is Robert Lee...you just can not make this up...if there is a God they will leak out the footage of the corporate meeting where this decision was made...

 

[hagmania]

ESPN was plagerizing Clay Travis the other day.  And blocking people that called them out for it.  Pure garbage

Of all the folks to plagiarize, yikes.

 

[Joe Summer]

This is the same network that cropped Tiger's afro.

 

[rockaction]

ESPN hatred will unite us all!

Follow me to freedom, indeed.

It's so bad that we can euthanize it, I think.

 

[NFL2DF]

Too bad the Confederacy didn't have a General Bayless.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Has anyone gotten original ESPN anchor and current Outside the Lines host Robert (A.) Ley's thoughts on this?

 

[Tom Servo]

ESPN

According to a report from college football blog Outkick the Coverage, ESPN pulled college football announcer Robert Lee from a game between William & Mary and the University of Virginia because they were concerned students and viewers might be offended by his name.

Lee, who is Asian-American, and who is likely not named after the Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, is one of ESPNU's biggest names, and, for the record, did not fight in the American Civil War, because he wasn't alive in 1861 (though he is nicknamed, "the General").

The stupidity of ESPN's social justice crusade

For anyone – ANYONE – who said “No, you guys. ESPN’s leftward shift in social issues isn’t ruining their brand,” I present to you this entire @#$%show.

ESPN is, in many cases unwatchable. I refuse to watch their commentary shows, and their live events I usually leave on mute. I still like to watch sports, and I like talking about them from time to time, but I am damn sure not going to be preached to by many of the talking heads that are hired to go beyond the scope of athletic events in their commentary. They march ever onward, completely oblivious to the fact that it is damaging their brand.

But this? This prances merrily into the realm of the absurd. Someone decided an Asian guy with the name of Robert Lee would be insensitive to the people of Virginia. The brand be damned, we must now make sure that everyone is happy. Well, except for the athletes, half of whom will lose the game and the other half will have a victory in a game that is largely talked about because of ESPN’s staffing decisions.

That’s what really irritates me. ESPN is, like main of America’s mainstream reporters, likes to make itself as important as the story. “Hey look at how culturally sensitive we are! We’re removing an offensive name from a broadcast team! Look at us go!” If CNN’s Jim Acosta had a photographer who was named Jeff Davis, he’d proudly announce he was asking for a different guy. To give ESPN a little bit of frankly undeserved credit, at least they tried to hide it.

 

[JaxBill]

This is definetly going to blow up in their faces

Not too long ago, this would have been the subject of hilarious SportsCenter commercial:

(Confederate re-enactors approach ESPN headquarters front desk)

Johnny Reb: "We're here to see the General."

**** Vitale (walking by): "Sir Robert Montgomery Knight is outta here, baby."

Reb: "No, the General, Robert Lee."

(Both Robert Lee and Bob Ley appear together and say in unison)

Ley/Lee "Which one?"

(fade out)

 

[rockaction]

This must be a satire piece because I've been assured by my left-wing compatriots on the board that there is no such thing as a slippery slope when it comes to the Confederacy and things involving removal.   

 

[IvanKaramazov]

ESPN issues official statement to @outkick, acknowledges pulling Robert Lee off Virginia game based on name

This, on the heels of the idiotic "auction drafts are racist" thing.

 

[Boston]

I wonder what Chris Berperson thinks of this...

 

[rockaction]

I wonder what Chris Berperson thinks of this...

That reminds me. We had a head of our Women's Studies Dept. at college with the name of "Mandle." When Paula Poundstone, comedienne, came to campus she asked why she hadn't changed her name to "Persondle." 

 

[BassNBrew]

This must be a satire piece because I've been assured by my left-wing compatriots on the board that there is no such thing as a slippery slope when it comes to the Confederacy and things involving removal.   

I have to admit that I was laughing at you with them, but you were correct.  

 

[BassNBrew]

Sue for what? Getting reassigned to another game that Saturday?   

It's a stupid decision IMO, but on the scale of injustices, it doesn't even register a mark.  Who cares? 

For unfairly associating his name with racists.  Maybe Joe should re-assign you to the ###'t Coach forum since you have "gun" in your name.

 

[rockaction]

I have to admit that I was laughing at you with them, but you were correct.  

Aside from previous intra-board squabbles, I find ESPN's statement revealing. It, on one hand, quotes safety as a concern but then goes on to worry about memes and student joke responses. 

Well, which is it? The safety of the broadcaster, or the response on social media? It's a troubling, inconsistent statement and reveals that this is more an instance of complete cowardice by the network to do this than for "safety's" sake.  

 

[otb_lifer]

That reminds me. We had a head of our Women's Studies Dept. at college with the name of "Mandle." When Paula Poundstone, comedienne, came to campus she asked why she hadn't changed her name to "Persondle." 

was this prior to her arrest for performing lewd acts/molesting some of the minors in her care?

 

[rockaction]

was this prior to her arrest for performing lewd acts/molesting some of the minors in her care?

Prior. I remember the charges. Sad all around.  

 

[Boston]

To be somewhat serious here (which is difficult) I would absolutely love to know how this went down...who first thought an Asian guy announcing football games in Virginia would be insensitive...what was the title/context of the email alerting the powers-that-be of this situation...what the presentation was to the people who are responsible to make this decision...whether they had any clue how utterly ridiculous this would end up looking...anyone who knows corporate America knows there are processes that take place with these type of decisions...no way this was some snap of the finger decision made by a low-level employee...I know I have zero experience in film-making but I am offering up my time to do the 30 for 30 on this...I promise it will be tastefully done because ESPN deserves credit for saving the people of Virginia so much anxiety...

 

[Statorama]

ESPN was destined to fall. It's model of sports highlights and commentary became obsolete as the internet grew and things like Twitter and streaming allowed us to consume our sports content immediately wherever and whenever we wanted to. By the time Sportscenter broadcasts something it's already been processed and forgotten by most of us. ESPN is on the same boat newspapers were at the turn of the century. 

The only sports-related content that people will flock to the television for are the actual live games. Everything else is just a waste of time,

Kind of like "Inside the NFL" on HBO before it.  By the time the show aired, the information was dead.

 

[Boston]

The good news is every panel ESPN has on to discuss this will have one female on it...very, very important...

 

[MattFancy]

ESPN seems set on turning themselves into just another cable station

I agree with this. ESPN feels like it has become the sports version of CNN/Fox News/MSNBC. They drum up stories to get you watch their other shows and 99% of the time, the stuff they are talking about is just opinion. Unless you really care what "experts" think, it's pretty much just noise.

If there's some crazy sport highlight that happens throughout the night, I can find it much faster on Twitter than having to wait until the 11pm SportsCenter to see something.

 

[Statorama]

To be somewhat serious here (which is difficult) I would absolutely love to know how this went down...who first thought an Asian guy announcing football games in Virginia would be insensitive...what was the title/context of the email alerting the powers-that-be of this situation...what the presentation was to the people who are responsible to make this decision...whether they had any clue how utterly ridiculous this would end up looking...anyone who knows corporate America knows there are processes that take place with these type of decisions...no way this was some snap of the finger decision made by a low-level employee...

"Happens all the time"

- Barack Harold Obama, after being told he would not be allowed to commentate on FIFA World Cup games involving Afghanistan

 

[rockaction]

I agree with this. ESPN feels like it has become the sports version of CNN/Fox News/MSNBC. They drum up stories to get you watch their other shows and 99% of the time, the stuff they are talking about is just opinion. Unless you really care what "experts" think, it's pretty much just noise.

If there's some crazy sport highlight that happens throughout the night, I can find it much faster on Twitter than having to wait until the 11pm SportsCenter to see something.

I learned a lot about media cycles by watching ESPN. They are the masters of drumming up controversy in a statement, making it a controversy, and then having the controversy become an actual story simply because they'd chosen to drum it up in the first place. 

I can't think of specific instantiations, but I can just remember so many innocuous statements becoming such big stories because someone at ESPN had deemed it a "controversy," even if there wasn't one. This applies both to the left and right of the sociopolitical spectrum of things. For instance, I don't think Kaep's story is as big as a story without ESPN magnifying it ten million times.  

 

[tommyGunZ]

This must be a satire piece because I've been assured by my left-wing compatriots on the board that there is no such thing as a slippery slope when it comes to the Confederacy and things involving removal.   

Let's keep the Confederate flag statues or else an ESPN announcer will be switched from calling one game to calling another. 

Sound logic there.  

 

[MattFancy]

I learned a lot about media cycles by watching ESPN. They are the masters of drumming up controversy in a statement, making it a controversy, and then having the controversy become an actual story simply because they'd chosen to drum it up in the first place. 

I can't think of specific instantiations, but I can just remember so many innocuous statements becoming such big stories because someone at ESPN had deemed it a "controversy," even if there wasn't one. This applies both to the left and right of the sociopolitical spectrum of things. For instance, I don't think Kaep's story is as big as a story without ESPN magnifying it ten million times.  

Speaking of Kap, I remember a couple years ago when Jaws was going over his top QBs for the season and he said Kap could be one of the best ever. This article from Deadspin captures this whole thing perfectly: http://deadspin.com/how-espn-manufactures-a-story-colin-kaepernick-edition-1185400028

 

[rockaction]

Let's keep the Confederate flag statues or else an ESPN announcer will be switched from calling one game to calling another. 

Sound logic there.  

Never made that leap. 

I would say that the reasoning being used to remove the Confederate flag and the statues would lead to something like this, and it has.  

 

[RUSF18]

Dan Wolken ✔@DanWolken

ESPN source on the Clay Travis/UVA game brouhaha: There was a sensitivity about Robert Lee, a young, new announcer doing the game...

...that his intro to CFB broadcasts would be Robert E. Lee memes. ESPN had conversation with him, they mutually decided to switch assignment

If you want to think it's ridiculous, PC culture run amok, that's fine. But seems to me ESPN was trying to do a new employee a solid.

ESPN felt like they were trying to avoid stupid, unnecessary headlines because of the guy's name. But now here we are.

I think they were trying to avoid the Deadspin or Awful Announcing post talking about "Hey, look, Robert Lee is calling the UVA game!"

 

[rockaction]

Speaking of Kap, I remember a couple years ago when Jaws was going over his top QBs for the season and he said Kap could be one of the best ever. This article from Deadspin captures this whole thing perfectly: http://deadspin.com/how-espn-manufactures-a-story-colin-kaepernick-edition-1185400028

I don't even need to click the link, because I specifically remember that story. It was jaw-dropping if you really thought about it and extended that sort of circular media logic to other things. 

Talking head at ESPN says something. Something becomes news. Therefore, get ESPN talking head to comment on news that he himself created.  

 

[rockaction]

Dan Wolken ✔@DanWolken

ESPN source on the Clay Travis/UVA game brouhaha: There was a sensitivity about Robert Lee, a young, new announcer doing the game...

...that his intro to CFB broadcasts would be Robert E. Lee memes. ESPN had conversation with him, they mutually decided to switch assignment

If you want to think it's ridiculous, PC culture run amok, that's fine. But seems to me ESPN was trying to do a new employee a solid.

ESPN felt like they were trying to avoid stupid, unnecessary headlines because of the guy's name. But now here we are.

I think they were trying to avoid the Deadspin or Awful Announcing post talking about "Hey, look, Robert Lee is calling the UVA game!"

Then that's not a safety concern like they're claiming, that's free speech.  

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Mike and Mike interviewed Dirk Koetter this morning and their last question to him was about removing confederate statues.  What a garbage network.  

 

[GroveDiesel]

ESPN is almost beyond parody at this point. I thought this was almost certainly fake.

 

[flapgreen]

For unfairly associating his name with racists.  Maybe Joe should re-assign you to the ###'t Coach forum since you have "gun" in your name.

 

[flapgreen]

ESPN is almost beyond parody at this point. I thought this was almost certainly fake.

Me too