Why is everyone so against ESPN?

[Opie 308]

They constantly make jokes about hockey, for example:

During PTI, Wilbon will say something like,

and now for some Hockey news, Yeah like anyone cares

or on around the horn when Tim Calishaw (sp) talks about hockey the host and the other reporters all s*** on him for talking about hockey.

Sportcenter never craps on hockey that blatantly but they do it by barely ever showing Hockey highlights.

[BlakChamber 8]

I've never bought into the whole ESPN hates hockey and is out to get the NHL. Even after reading the article auxlepli posted, I'm still not convinced. The article cites a statement from a dj, a couple coulmns by Bill Simmons (who's paid to be opinionated) and a blanket statement from the espn ombudsman (who by the way is the only reason to read espn.com right now). To me, that doesn't equal proof that ESPN has an anti-hockey agenda.

I think the simplest explanation is that ESPN is interested in whatever can make them money. If they feel that they're going to make more money commenting on Barry Bonds instead of the Stanley Cup, then that's what they're going to do. It's like they say in The Godfather, it's not personal, it's strictly business. Looking at the ratings on VS. and the Stanley Cup ratings, I don't think its hard to understand why ESPN isn't pimping hockey.

As far as ESPN glossing over NASCARS declining ratings and pimping MLS and arena football, even with NASCAR declining, they're still in a hell of a lot better situation than the NHL is. The pimping of MLS and AFL is annoying. But it gives me an idea. The NHL should sell ESPN a stake in the NHL. That seems to be what worked for arena football.

Personally, I don't watch espn except for sporting events. Sportscenter sucks. There's less focus on showing the highlights and more focus on anchors trying to think up catchphrases, human interest stories, and corporate sponsership. All I want is to know the score of the game and what happened. Boo-yah this.

For those of you who get a Fox Sports channell, I highly recommend watching FSN's Final Score instead of Sportscenter. There's more highlights and less fluff. And yes, they show hockey.

[Curban915 0]

I dont understand some of you ppl, you hate ESPN cuz of lack of hockey well maybe cuz outside die hard hockey fans no one watchs hockey. Why show 30min of highlights if no one watchs that sport or cares. Its time to wake up and understand that hockey is not something everyone likes. I enjoy watching ESPN cuz i enjoy all sports. Also where have you all been saying ESPN hates Det teams hell they shown about 20 tigers games this year. I think everyone needs to get over this ESPN hates hockey thing, it almost sounds like everyone is in high school and hate espn cuz someone said for you to. Its simple if you dont like it dont watch it i'm sure ESPN will be hart broken cuz of it.

[Curban915 0]

I did take the time to read the post and all noticed that alot of them where i hate espn cuz they dont show hockey highlights or NHL 2 night

[Curban915 0]

"Then maybe I need to spend more time reading each, & every post"

Hey when work is slow you have to find something to do.

[Jwo 7]

Nobody liked Nascar and you could not find it on in any bar and let alone find someone who knew what #3 ment, so why does ESPN show it?

No one really played poker, so why did ESPN show it?

If Hockey is not liked by others then Why is ESPN not showing it and shoving it down people's throats like all the other stuff people never cared about?

Edited August 28, 2007 by Jwo

[Curban915 0]

Nascar is bigger then you think. Poker's run is over

Edited August 28, 2007 by Curban915

[Zion 93]

I got nothing against ESPN whatsoever. I could care less what station hockey games are played on, as long as they are on somewhere. They could be on the Family Channel for all I care, I just want see the game action.

The Little League World Series is going on right now. They show it every year.

Care to give some more detail/insight outside a 1-liner of why don't you like ESPN?

I don't have to. There are many LGWers who mirror my opinion of ESPN.

ESPN has nothing going for it. Annoying broadcasters, constant repetitions of boring ass Sportscenters (how many times can you see a guy swing a bat in twenty different shots). I have NEVER seen so much baseball in my life. It sickens me.

And the "ESPN is to sports as MTV is to music" is exactly what I'm talking about. I've watched MMA endure the same snubbing hockey is enduring now since 1993. Only now is Jim Rome forced to talk about it, John McCain no longer blacklisting it trying to use the "family agenda" pandering. ESPN, however, still offers little to no coverage of it, and if it is on, it is to bash it and call it "not a sport". And this is just one additional example as to why I hate ESPN. I prefer not to write an entire essay, but I am enjoying your similar and differing opinions.

Let me also add this: if you DON'T think there's anything wrong with ESPN, that should say something about you.

f*** ESPN.

Edited August 28, 2007 by Zion

[BlakChamber 8]

Nobody liked Nascar and you could not find it on in any bar and let alone find someone who knew what #3 ment, so why does ESPN show it?

No one really played poker, so why did ESPN show it?

If Hockey is not liked by others then Why is ESPN not showing it and shoving it down people's throats like all the other stuff people never cared about?

Um, NASCAR is generally considered the second most popular sport in America. For some reason, poker really took off with ESPN. I think the TV poker boom is probably over, but they showed it because people watched it.

[Opie 308]

Besides Soccer I believe Nascar has the largest attendance numbers in the world.

You may say well yeah you can fit a lot of fans in a stadium that is over a mile in circumference, but you couldn't get that many people at a hockey game on a regular basis.

BTW I hate Nascar.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Let me also add this: if you DON'T think there's anything wrong with ESPN, that should say something about you.

f*** ESPN.

And what should it say about these people? That they are idiots for watching ESPN, perhaps just to tune into a football or basketball game, and not really caring about the other things on the network? That these people are idiots because they don’t tune into hockey as much or watch hockey at all? That these people are somehow being brainwashed in a conspiracy by ESPN? For people that might not hate ESPN to the degree of some people in here, such as yourself, what does that say about them then?

Look, there’s no denying a decent ESPN to MTV reference, I can go with that to a large extent, but let’s be serious here. Even when they showed hockey, how many of you put as much time or dedication of watching ESPN outside of hockey coverage or NHL2Night? I’m betting not a lot, and I can bet not as much effort as people put in now to find every single little thing that might be wrong with the network, largely just because they don’t show hockey. Am I far off on this assumption? You could easily have done that for Fox Sports Net Detroit or TSN or other local sports stations if you live north of the border for highlights, more local commentary, and such.

I’m no ESPN representative or slappie, I could really care less about many of the talk shows, continuous commentary and the like, all I really watch it for are live games and post-game highlights. It’s not that I hate the other shows, I just don’t care to watch them one way or the other. ESPN serves my purposes just fine right now, I don’t need more from them and don't watch them more than necessary. I’m not high maintenance, I just want to see the game, maybe a highlight here or there, and I’ll read articles/news on the Internet later. Now I know some people are looking for more when it comes to watching sports and the like, but you and everybody else knows that a lot people in here are ridiculously overdramatic about their rants about the network and don't provide any, or any good, logic or reasoning why (not including this thread which is actually pretty decent). I don’t care that badly to try to watch or get angry about the ESPN material that might be more "MTV like". It’s not worth my time or energy.

While there’s no denying the jabs on hockey every now and then, to think that there is a network or large presence out there to ruin the sport is also being overdramatic and ludicrous. We all need to get this through our heads and accept the obvious. While most or all of us might consider hockey king, the large majority of people in the U.S. do not, and will not anytime soon. These people don’t understand the sport for better or worse, and they don’t want to take the time to try to understand it because either they just don’t want to, or are too busy with work or personal life, or whatever else.

Again, MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES DON’T CONSIDER HOCKEY #1 OR DON’T UNDERSTAND THE SPORT, which will probably result in people having an initial unfavorable opinion of the game. It may not be good or "right", but it is what it is. Let these people alone and quit wasting energy getting mad at these people. There’s nothing wrong with that as the game isn’t going away anytime soon. If they don’t like it and don’t want to watch, who cares? It’s their loss. You and I like it most, we think it’s good, we are going to watch it regardless of general public opinion, it’s not going to disappear anytime soon despite the frequent BETTMAN IS THE WORST THING SINCE DESERT SAND comments, so why don’t we just enjoy watching it, instead of focusing on all the negatives that we have no control over?

Can ESPN improve themselves? Without question. Are they as bad as dramatized in here every 3 days? Not even close.

[Jwo 7]

Um, NASCAR is generally considered the second most popular sport in America. For some reason, poker really took off with ESPN. I think the TV poker boom is probably over, but they showed it because people watched it.

Not Five-Six years ago. How do I know? because I use to watch it and no one knew what #3 ment before he died or even watched it.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Jwo

[BlakChamber 8]

Not Five-Six years ago. How do I know? because I use to watch it and no one knew what #3 ment before he died or even watched it.

I'm not getting your so-called point here.

And yes, 5-6 years ago there were plenty of people who knew who #3 was and plenty of people who watched nascar.

[auxlepli 17]

#3 is for Babe Ruth right? I mean that's what I think of when I think of the #3.

[Zion 93]

I dont understand some of you ppl, you hate ESPN cuz of lack of hockey well maybe cuz outside die hard hockey fans no one watchs hockey. Why show 30min of highlights if no one watchs that sport or cares. Its time to wake up and understand that hockey is not something everyone likes. I enjoy watching ESPN cuz i enjoy all sports. Also where have you all been saying ESPN hates Det teams hell they shown about 20 tigers games this year. I think everyone needs to get over this ESPN hates hockey thing, it almost sounds like everyone is in high school and hate espn cuz someone said for you to. Its simple if you dont like it dont watch it i'm sure ESPN will be hart broken cuz of it.

And what should it say about these people? That they are idiots for watching ESPN, perhaps just to tune into a football or basketball game, and not really caring about the other things on the network? That these people are idiots because they don’t tune into hockey as much or watch hockey at all? That these people are somehow being brainwashed in a conspiracy by ESPN? For people that might not hate ESPN to the degree of some people in here, such as yourself, what does that say about them then?

Look, there’s no denying a decent ESPN to MTV reference, I can go with that to a large extent, but let’s be serious here. Even when they showed hockey, how many of you put as much time or dedication of watching ESPN outside of hockey coverage or NHL2Night? I’m betting not a lot, and I can bet not as much effort as people put in now to find every single little thing that might be wrong with the network, largely just because they don’t show hockey. Am I far off on this assumption? You could easily have done that for Fox Sports Net Detroit or TSN or other local sports stations if you live north of the border for highlights, more local commentary, and such.

I’m no ESPN representative or slappie, I could really care less about many of the talk shows, continuous commentary and the like, all I really watch it for are live games and post-game highlights. It’s not that I hate the other shows, I just don’t care to watch them one way or the other. ESPN serves my purposes just fine right now, I don’t need more from them and don't watch them more than necessary. I’m not high maintenance, I just want to see the game, maybe a highlight here or there, and I’ll read articles/news on the Internet later. Now I know some people are looking for more when it comes to watching sports and the like, but you and everybody else knows that a lot people in here are ridiculously overdramatic about their rants about the network and don't provide any, or any good, logic or reasoning why (not including this thread which is actually pretty decent). I don’t care that badly to try to watch or get angry about the ESPN material that might be more "MTV like". It’s not worth my time or energy.

While there’s no denying the jabs on hockey every now and then, to think that there is a network or large presence out there to ruin the sport is also being overdramatic and ludicrous. We all need to get this through our heads and accept the obvious. While most or all of us might consider hockey king, the large majority of people in the U.S. do not, and will not anytime soon. These people don’t understand the sport for better or worse, and they don’t want to take the time to try to understand it because either they just don’t want to, or are too busy with work or personal life, or whatever else.

Again, MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES DON’T CONSIDER HOCKEY #1 OR DON’T UNDERSTAND THE SPORT, which will probably result in people having an initial unfavorable opinion of the game. It may not be good or "right", but it is what it is. Let these people alone and quit wasting energy getting mad at these people. There’s nothing wrong with that as the game isn’t going away anytime soon. If they don’t like it and don’t want to watch, who cares? It’s their loss. You and I like it most, we think it’s good, we are going to watch it regardless of general public opinion, it’s not going to disappear anytime soon despite the frequent BETTMAN IS THE WORST THING SINCE DESERT SAND comments, so why don’t we just enjoy watching it, instead of focusing on all the negatives that we have no control over?

Can ESPN improve themselves? Without question. Are they as bad as dramatized in here every 3 days? Not even close.

Great post. I don't agree with a lot of what you are saying, but I understand your viewpoint. And yes, some of the arguments on here are ridiculous and overdramatic, but some (like many of your points and views) aren't far off from the truth. I personally believe that Canadian-bashing is very trendy right now, and ESPN is a pop-culture entity, and I take note at the jabs at hockey like I notice the MMA-bashing (the only sports I consider myself a diehard fan of).

#3 is for Babe Ruth right? I mean that's what I think of when I think of the #3.

For heaven's sake, do we have to go over this again?

#3 is reserved SOLELY for the one and only

ANDREAS "THE PAIN TRAIN" LILJA

[WhiteCloud 0]

I agree with the ESPN=MTV theory. I still enjoy some of the shows but IMO ESPN has gone from reporting the sports news to trying to create the sports news. ESPN news is for the reporting of news the other stations are there to push their agenda and create stars out of their anchors and "reporters". As far as the argument that nobody watches hockey so why should they show highlights. On one hand you are right but the fact is that many Americans like what they are told to like by the TV shows that they watch. Many watch ESPN all day long and they are told that hockey sucks and nobody likes hockey so they parrot that same garbage. Now I don't think this is hockey's only problem but I think it is part of the reason hockey is so unpopular in the US.

[mooose kiiisses 0]

#3 is reserved SOLELY for the one and only

ANDREAS "THE PAIN TRAIN" LILJA

When someone talks about "#3" in general and not with a certain sport he is who i think of.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Nobody liked Nascar and you could not find it on in any bar and let alone find someone who knew what #3 ment, so why does ESPN show it?

No one really played poker, so why did ESPN show it?

If Hockey is not liked by others then Why is ESPN not showing it and shoving it down people's throats like all the other stuff people never cared about?

No one really played poker??? Everyone has! That is the reason why poker took off so much, because it was very identifiable for people. Maybe not professionally, but who hasnt sat around and played poker with some buddies at one time or another? Seeing the whole cards of the players on tv was cool because it gave everyone an oppurtunity to watch what the pros do in situations we all encounter playing. Also im sure many felt they could improve their own game by watching it. It has definitely burned itself out nowadays, but it was legit, very popular programming a few years ago.

[Zion 93]

Just like music, poker became a fad...

... ESPN/MTV connection yet again.

[Jwo 7]

I'm not getting your so-called point here.

And yes, 5-6 years ago there were plenty of people who knew who #3 was and plenty of people who watched nascar.

I remember saying to people I watched nascar and they would give me a dirty look and say nascar is boring and their was no point to it because they went around in circles and that you could not find it by default on any tv in a bar in the years i mentioned. But I guess that is what you call plenty of people who watched it.

No one really played poker??? Everyone has! That is the reason why poker took off so much, because it was very identifiable for people. Maybe not professionally, but who hasnt sat around and played poker with some buddies at one time or another? Seeing the whole cards of the players on tv was cool because it gave everyone an oppurtunity to watch what the pros do in situations we all encounter playing. Also im sure many felt they could improve their own game by watching it. It has definitely burned itself out nowadays, but it was legit, very popular programming a few years ago.

No one played it like how it is being played today is what I was saying.

[kylee 727]

For those of you who get a Fox Sports channell, I highly recommend watching FSN's Final Score instead of Sportscenter. There's more highlights and less fluff. And yes, they show hockey.

i really like final score, but i do watch sportscenter as well.

i think itd be great if FSN put together a nightly or even weekly hockey show.

[auxlepli 17]

Yes, FinalScore is infinitely better than SportsCenter.

[Mickeyisms Rule! 0]

Why do I hate ESPN?

2 words:

Skip Bayless

[auxlepli 17]

Six more words ...

Chris Berman

Stuart Scott

Tony Kornheiser

[Kp-Wings 3]

i think itd be great if FSN put together a nightly or even weekly hockey show.

Certain FSN markets have hockey shows geared towards their own team. Example: Shark Bite on FSN Bay Area, which is a half-hour show about the Sharks.