ESPN: Where's the Line between Journalism and Blatent Self-Promotion?

[Fergasun]

Maybe this type of thread comes up every sports season when ESPN provides coverage to sports that it also carries on the network. But I thought ESPN's coverage after the MNF game was completely ridiculous. By my clock, once the MNF game ended they ended up providing 25 minutes of post-game coverage on a game they just covered during "Sportscenter". What made matters worse was they had that new bar which shows the stories they are going to cover; one of which was "NFL player found dead". However, even though they proceeded to exclusively provide post-game coverage, they didn't get rid of the bar. It made it appear that ESPN didn't really think it was important that an NFL player was dead, rather they felt it more important to cover games for 30 minutes.

Furthermore their coverage sucked. I happened to be in the Sacramento area listening to the radio coverage for most of the 2nd half. I perfectly understand the San Francisco homer announcers saying things like "is this going to be a defining moment for Alex Smith?" (guess what guys, NO!), "this could be a real coming out"... however to see those lines being parroted by Jaws, and Steve Young was farking' ridiculous.

Alex Smith is an average QB. Just like Jason Campbell is an average QB. There's nothing wrong with being average, in fact the NFL needs average QBs just as much as it needs great ones. Howver they proceeded to take 1 drive and then pretend that Alex Smith had nothing to do with the interceptions he threw... rather they simply pretended those interceptions didn't exist.

A real outlet dedicated to sports journalism (I'm fully aware ESPN acts like a rah-rah promotional machine for the sports its covers, however its annoying as hell, hence this thread). A truly dedicated outlet to sports journalism would simply say "that's why he's Alex Smith, and he's Drew Brees"; for instance, the 49ers did not run enough time off the clock, isn't that poor clock management? Shouldn't Alex Smith have realized that running out of bounds wasn't the best thing to do once you already were within range of the end zone?

In parting, I just want to give the finger to ESPN for the unabashed Alex Smith cheerleading. Maybe I've seen it more than enough times from them when some average player has the occaisional and as expected above average game (and let's face it, i was one drive!) and then they pump him up like the "next big thing". Alex Smith has been in the NFL for what, 5 years now? And he's still on the 49ers? And they still think he's going to be good? That is effin' delusional. I was completely gratified to hear the news the Skin's didn't retain Campbell for another year, in fact I would've "given up on him" earlier. The fact that ESPN doesn't point out these flaws on teams is maddening. Why pretend that Alex Smith is a rookie QB? Hello! Your analysis is *wrong*. If you are the leader in sports than you should at least try to put up honest analysts willing to say what what your analysts don't want to say "Hey, wow, I'm shocked Alex Smith drove them into the TD and scored a 2-point conversion, a blind squirrel is sometimes able to find a nut... although 99% of them end up dying nutless".

Here's another shocker for ESPN. Maybe the Saints aren't that good either. Maybe their defense got "lucky" that San Francisco was dropping balls and they were in the right position to pick them up. Maybe everyone overhyped Minnesota, and instead of playing a really good team and an up-and-coming team, New Orleans played two mediocre teams and hasn't really gotten tested. But that would hurt your "2-0" narrative and emphasizing that only 3 teams won the Super Bowl after starting "0-2". Maybe that should've been a part of your analysis. Oh wait, instead you can throw out cliche's like "it's hard to win in the NFL". Guess what d'asses if it's so hard to win in the NFL how come 50% of the teams manage to do so every week?

Just wanted to point this out, I feel better now.

[BeachSkin]

You act like ESPN is the only culprit...tune in to FOX, NBC & CBS and you'll see the same thing.

[MattFancy]

Jon Gruden acts like every player they see on MNF is the next best thing. He LOVES every player. And I agree, I don't see why they spend so much time talking about the game on SportsCenter. If it was a big game, then sure talk about it for awhile. But a Week 2 game between the Saints and 49ers doesn't need 5 or 6 SportsCenter segments.

[China]

Maybe this type of thread comes up every sports season when ESPN provides coverage to sports that it also carries on the network. But I thought ESPN's coverage after the MNF game was completely ridiculous. By my clock, once the MNF game ended they ended up providing 25 minutes of post-game coverage on a game they just covered during "Sportscenter". What made matters worse was they had that new bar which shows the stories they are going to cover; one of which was "NFL player found dead". However, even though they proceeded to exclusively provide post-game coverage, they didn't get rid of the bar. It made it appear that ESPN didn't really think it was important that an NFL player was dead, rather they felt it more important to cover games for 30 minutes.

I agree they're coverage is overkill, but I wouldn't call it self-promotion. If it's that bad people won't watch it and their ratings will go down. I didn't watch it, though I did watch the game.

Furthermore their coverage sucked. I happened to be in the Sacramento area listening to the radio coverage for most of the 2nd half. I perfectly understand the San Francisco homer announcers saying things like "is this going to be a defining moment for Alex Smith?" (guess what guys, NO!), "this could be a real coming out"... however to see those lines being parroted by Jaws, and Steve Young was farking' ridiculous.

Parroting implies that they heard the local broadcast and were just repeating what they heard. I don't think that was the case, I think they just came to the same conclusion or had the same thought, whether you agree with it or not.

Alex Smith is an average QB. Just like Jason Campbell is an average QB. There's nothing wrong with being average, in fact the NFL needs average QBs just as much as it needs great ones. Howver they proceeded to take 1 drive and then pretend that Alex Smith had nothing to do with the interceptions he threw... rather they simply pretended those interceptions didn't exist.

Alex Smith may be an average QB, I haven't seen enough of him to make a complete judgement. Although I will say that he was more impressive on that one drive than I can ever remember Jason Campbell being. He at least drove them for a score and tying two point conversion. I can't ever remember Jason Campbell bringing the Redskins back for a tying or go ahead score late in a game.

A real outlet dedicated to sports journalism (I'm fully aware ESPN acts like a rah-rah promotional machine for the sports its covers, however its annoying as hell, hence this thread). A truly dedicated outlet to sports journalism would simply say "that's why he's Alex Smith, and he's Drew Brees"; for instance, the 49ers did not run enough time off the clock, isn't that poor clock management? Shouldn't Alex Smith have realized that running out of bounds wasn't the best thing to do once you already were within range of the end zone?

To be fair, I did hear the Jaws or Gruden (I can't remember which) say that the game tying drive, if done by Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees would be considered part of their legacy of greatness, whereas if SF went on to lose the game the drive by Alex Smith would simply be forgotten, indicating they know that all QBs aren't created or treated equally. Oh, and there's always the bit about leaving too much time on the clock, but the priority is to score first. At some point you have to trust your defense to make a play as they had done all game up until that last drive by Brees and NO. They SF defense is equally to blame, not just Alex Smith for going out of bounds.

In parting, I just want to give the finger to ESPN for the unabashed Alex Smith cheerleading. Maybe I've seen it more than enough times from them when some average player has the occaisional and as expected above average game (and let's face it, i was one drive!) and then they pump him up like the "next big thing". Alex Smith has been in the NFL for what, 5 years now? And he's still on the 49ers? And they still think he's going to be good? That is effin' delusional. I was completely gratified to hear the news the Skin's didn't retain Campbell for another year, in fact I would've "given up on him" earlier. The fact that ESPN doesn't point out these flaws on teams is maddening. Why pretend that Alex Smith is a rookie QB? Hello! Your analysis is *wrong*. If you are the leader in sports than you should at least try to put up honest analysts willing to say what what your analysts don't want to say "Hey, wow, I'm shocked Alex Smith drove them into the TD and scored a 2-point conversion, a blind squirrel is sometimes able to find a nut... although 99% of them end up dying nutless".

Here's another shocker for ESPN. Maybe the Saints aren't that good either. Maybe their defense got "lucky" that San Francisco was dropping balls and they were in the right position to pick them up. Maybe everyone overhyped Minnesota, and instead of playing a really good team and an up-and-coming team, New Orleans played two mediocre teams and hasn't really gotten tested. But that would hurt your "2-0" narrative and emphasizing that only 3 teams won the Super Bowl after starting "0-2". Maybe that should've been a part of your analysis. Oh wait, instead you can throw out cliche's like "it's hard to win in the NFL". Guess what d'asses if it's so hard to win in the NFL how come 50% of the teams manage to do so every week?

Just wanted to point this out, I feel better now.

Glad you feel better. Sometimes it's good to rant. And I agree with much of what you say about how ESPN plays cheerleader when it isn't warranted sometimes. This game is just another example.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Alex Smith > Jason Campbell