Tired of ESPN?

In what could become an ongoing segment, I will begin to chronicle that, while ESPN continues to be the best in sports coverage, their spins, agendas, politics and hypocrisy can be detrimental to sports journalism as a whole.

Case in point:

Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 11:00 PM SportsCenter
(well, actually started after the South Carolina-Auburn game which ended around 10:54 PM)

After a quick blurb about Pedro's torn calf muscle, the lead was, of course, T.O.'s suicide story. Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt began with a sarcastic quip about how big of a media circus this became, even referring to this whole thing as a "saga".

Yet, do they not realize that they are contributing to the media circus? It's like the man who can't stand Wal-Mart shopping there because he doesn't have the time to go to seven different stores to get what he needs.....not to mention "Falling Prices".

Hypocrites.

Now yes, I commend ESPN for gaining access to the 911 call of the Terrell Owens' publicist and for revealing the reason for her heightened concern.......the fact that she knew T.O. could not spend time with his son on his 7th birthday and that he'd recently broke up with his fiancee. Good for you ESPN.

But really, this style of coverage is completely overboard. They even rehashed the story around 12 minutes later at 11:08.

ESPN, you are part of the problem.

Sports is the story. The MLB Pennant race is the story. Not T.O.'s "saga".

I'm in no way a fan of Terrell Owens, but do we have to invade his privacy on this level. I find it almost disgusting that this man's dirty laundry has to be aired out to such an extreme.

Now, I'm not saying don't cover this at all. Professional athletes and their lives are part of the total package. They are celebrities. That being said, lead stories such as this are the equivalent of tabloid magazines.

Does the world wide leader in sports really want to associate itself with tabloid journalism?

You decide.