mooose kiiisses 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 They also have Scrabble Championships on ESPN now didn't you know? It's a bit pathetic really. They won't play hockey but will show scrabble games. My cheers go to FSN Detroit for now. :beerbuddy: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 Other than a couple fairly insignificant points, so far I see nothing here that stands as a truly legit, factual criticism of ESPN. Lot of opinions (ESPN hates hockey! Biased!) but nothing on which to base those claims. Has anyone at all considered that ESPN doesn't do much with hockey because FRICKING NOBODY WATCHES IT? Does anyone remember the ratings for the Finals? They also have Scrabble Championships on ESPN now didn't you know? It's a bit pathetic really. They won't play hockey but will show scrabble games. My cheers go to FSN Detroit for now. :beerbuddy: When the NHL decides to put its games on at 12 noon on Tuesdays in order to fill the Scrabble, poker, and pool timeblocks - or allow its games to be showed on tape delay - then I suspect ESPN will be happy to accommodate the NHL. Until then, all the complaints that "ESPN will show X and Y but not hockey" are off base. I will worry when trick billiards hits prime time.....and then, I suspect, hockey will not be the only one with a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heaton 1 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 (edited) Has anyone at all considered that ESPN doesn't do much with hockey because FRICKING NOBODY WATCHES IT? I'll take a stab at this, there's plenty of programming that ESPN has pushed over the years, the MLS is the latest, same goes with the WNBA. When ESPN had the NHL it was an after thought, a butt of jokes and when the NHL turned their back on ESPN it seems that ESPN turned it up a notch to try and undermine the NHL and turn people away from it with the snide comments on Around the Horn or those two morons on 1st and Ten. ESPN had the responsibility to try and promote a product on their station and they decided not to, they'd show a small window on some telecast about log rolling saying there would be hockey on Thursday nights, there was never a real attempt to try and help the sport like they've tried and succeed with other things. I'm not blaming ESPN for the NHL not being where it wants to be, far from it, but I'm not going to just accept the fact that ESPN has done almost everything they could to hurt the game of hockey after the NHL left because it wasn't a cash cow like poker is for them. My main problem with ESPN is just how they allow their employees to bash the NHL on a regular basis and now they're wanting the NHL back on ESPN? How is that going to work? Is Skip Bayless going to say "haha I was kidding, I love the NHL?" I mean s***, they're CRAMMING David Beckham down our throats, think they'd do the same with Sidney Crosby if they still were showing NHL games? Doubtful. ESPN has turned into what MTV turned into when they sold out and stopped actually playing music, it's a joke and I'm a hypocrite because I watch it every day. Instead of posting about truly legit, factual criticism, how about we see some legit, factual positives that ESPN has given the NHL? Convenience is about the only thing I can think of. Edited August 25, 2007 by Heaton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildwings44 5 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 ESPN has turned into what MTV turned into when they sold out and stopped actually playing music Truer words have not been spoken! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tweekvp 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 Other than a couple fairly insignificant points, so far I see nothing here that stands as a truly legit, factual criticism of ESPN. Lot of opinions (ESPN hates hockey! Biased!) but nothing on which to base those claims. Please reference the article in this thread. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...=44732&st=0 ,,, Even ESPN’s ombudsman, Le Anne Schreiber, felt compelled to examine hockey coverage on the network. In an article last month, she confirmed that hockey coverage has indeed diminished 28% on Sportscenter over the last three years and that hockey-oriented shows such as NHL 2Night were cut altogether since ESPN’s loss of NHL rights. The reduced exposure on ESPN can only be harmful to the NHL. By minimizing coverage and highlights, the network is effectively reducing the imprint of the game on Americans’ collective sports consciousness. Worse still, several ESPN writers and commentators have gone out of their way to emphasize the demise of hockey. Le Ann Schreiber recently noted that during the NHL’s regular season, hockey was only mentioned on-air if there happened to be “some egregious brawl†or if it was being “dissed†for its invisibility and irrelevance. I think that shows pretty clearly it is not just a lot of opinions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hiei 192 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 ESPN loves up to teams on the east coast, or controversial situations, like Michael Vick's troubles. or they'll love up to Kobe Bryant or Peyton Manning or whichever dickhole they can get, so long as the team is not in Chicago or Detroit. They make obviously snide remarks against said teams, as well as cheap shots against the NHL. Hell, look at who they picked to represent the City of Chicago's sportswriters! THE BIGGEST COCKSUCKER IN THE WORLD, ****** Mariotti. Don't believe me? check out www.jaythejoke.com And look at what they turned Monday night Football into. The game's going on, but they drag some sorry ass movie star or rap star in there to do an interview WHILE THE GAME IS IN PLAY. No wonder NBC took Sunday Night Football and ran with it. ESPN BOTCHED it. and you and I know that if ESPN started NHL again, they'd do something stupid and get someone like Jeremy Roenick to announce. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 (edited) http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/sto...&id=2866241 In all other segments of the 1 a.m. "SportsCenter," the show with the heaviest emphasis on highlights and events coverage, there were 29 fewer minutes of standard, daily NHL coverage in March 2007 than in March 2004. Those 56 seconds a day amount to a 28 percent decline in hockey's allotment of airtime, ... .... we used to run for 20-30 minutes, typically after NHL games on ESPN2. What that article fails to mention is that ESPN 86ed that show pre-lockout, in 2003 IIRC http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/m...ombudsman_N.htm With rights deals to air Monday Night Football and now the Arena Football League, ESPN's football coverage has "monstrously ballooned," she says. The "excessive," year-round coverage hurts leagues such as the NHL, which has no rights deal with ESPN. "I think the coverage of hockey is inadequate, particularly at the time of the Stanley Cup playoffs." During the NHL's regular season, the only time hockey came up was when there was "some egregious brawl" or it was being "dissed" by some on-air talent. "It was dissed for its invisibility  because it's no longer on ESPN," she says. She in this case Le Anne Shreiber, writer of previous article, and current ESPN ombudsman, a decorated sports journalist and first woman sports editor of the New York Times. Hopefully her criticism is legit and factual. Edited August 25, 2007 by auxlepli Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kozac 10 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 I like ESPN.com I think they do a good job with hockey on that site too. As for the channel, hockey gets no ratings and it is a business first so that's why theres very limited hockey coverage. No real legit reasons to hate espn imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 why do i dislike ESPN? because they show poker over the NHL oh, and their "coverage" of the NHL during the season via sportscenter is a complete joke. it'd be nice to see NHL2night back, but trust me, i wont hold my breath. Versus actually seems to be doing a fine job with shows like that, i just dont have the channel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 snowman, you love espn because you don't know any better. f*** ESPN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 (edited) ESPN is picking up the NHL back up in '09. I don't dislike ESPN at all. The NHL issues are water under the bridge, however, yes it does irritate me the lack of hockey coverage on sportscenter though. I must say I like ESPN though.. they pay the bills in my house..since my father works for them .. Edited August 25, 2007 by DyingAlive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiantRobot 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 I dont think they Hate hockey, they just dont carry it so why should they report it, Because theyre the total sports network? When ESPN had the NHL it was an after thought, a butt of jokes and when the NHL turned their back on ESPN it seems that ESPN turned it up a notch to try and undermine the NHL and turn people away from it with the snide comments on Around the Horn or those two morons on 1st and Ten. My main problem with ESPN is just how they allow their employees to bash the NHL on a regular basis and now they're wanting the NHL back on ESPN? Exactamundo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 (edited) I usually just watch sports network channels to watch live game action, and maybe highlights. Commentary and other shows are secondary to me. Now, I understand people's bias, TO AN EXTENT, against it b/c they don't show hockey, but whenever ESPN is mentioned in here, usually the negativitiy towards them goes way overboard or it's just, "ESPN DOESN'T SHOW HOCKEY?!?!?!?! THAT SUX AND THEY SUCK OH MY FRICKEN GOD!!!!!!!!!", without any legitimate reasoning. And for those who whine and complain that they show Poker or Spelling Bee tournaments over hockey, you know that a lot of those programs come on during the morning or middle of the day, when hockey has never been shown during the weekdays, even when it was on ESPN or ABC? It's a business. They cater to the American public and what the American public wants to see. And, I know this is a hard pill for some in here to swallow, but a lot of the general American public doesn't want to see hockey as a first choice. ESPN makes money by showing programs and sporting events that they think the general American public will watch, and get as much market share as possible. They don't focus on one/a few particular groups of fans when it comes to a particular sport. That's how they make their money. 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. Whats with all the little league baseball they have been showing lately?? Im flippin through channels, and there I come across little kids playing baseball... Dont get me wrong, little league baseball is great for the kids and all that, but I mean come on... seriously ESPN.... you have NOTHING better to cover. Gimme a break. The Little League World Series is going on right now. They show it every year. snowman, you love espn because you don't know any better. f*** ESPN. Care to give some more detail/insight outside a 1-liner of why don't you like ESPN? Edited August 25, 2007 by SouthernWingsFan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 ESPN is picking up the NHL back up in '09. I don't dislike ESPN at all. The NHL issues are water under the bridge, however, yes it does irritate me the lack of hockey coverage on sportscenter though. I must say I like ESPN though.. they pay the bills in my house..since my father works for them .. Took the words out of my mouth. I love ESPN because I am a fan of all sports. But because hockey is my favorite sport, I am annoyed that they don't show or report on hockey as much as a die-hard hockey fan would like. They're picking it back up in 09? Sorry if this is old news, but when did this happen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 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. Well it is baseball season... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted August 25, 2007 Better baseball than football IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted August 26, 2007 Why I dislike ESPN... Because they turn every game of Yankee's-Red Sox's into the Superbowl of baseball... like 30 times a year. Because they don't really do anything to avoid the perceived bias towards New York and LA. (But hey what else is there right?) Because it's about the stars more than the scores and teams now. Because their anchors and sportscasters talent have declined. Because I don't like having who my sports teams should be dictated to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted August 26, 2007 They also have Scrabble Championships on ESPN now didn't you know? awww crap i mustve missed it! (*not kidding*) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest snowman89 Report post Posted August 26, 2007 Other than a couple fairly insignificant points, so far I see nothing here that stands as a truly legit, factual criticism of ESPN. Lot of opinions (ESPN hates hockey! Biased!) but nothing on which to base those claims. Has anyone at all considered that ESPN doesn't do much with hockey because FRICKING NOBODY WATCHES IT? Does anyone remember the ratings for the Finals? When the NHL decides to put its games on at 12 noon on Tuesdays in order to fill the Scrabble, poker, and pool timeblocks - or allow its games to be showed on tape delay - then I suspect ESPN will be happy to accommodate the NHL. Until then, all the complaints that "ESPN will show X and Y but not hockey" are off base. I will worry when trick billiards hits prime time.....and then, I suspect, hockey will not be the only one with a problem. Thank You! snowman, you love espn because you don't know any better. f*** ESPN. Know any better than what? What is there to know better than? Do you hold the secret to TV sports universe. Plus I never said anyone else had to like it, I was just checking, plus I wanted to get everyone fired up and it worked! LOL Why I dislike ESPN... Because they turn every game of Yankee's-Red Sox's into the Superbowl of baseball... like 30 times a year. Because they don't really do anything to avoid the perceived bias towards New York and LA. (But hey what else is there right?) Because it's about the stars more than the scores and teams now. Because their anchors and sportscasters talent have declined. Because I don't like having who my sports teams should be dictated to me. Its clear you dont understand how people and the world and money work. THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE MONEY, THEY PUT ON TV WHAT MAKES MONEY, YANKEE's vs. RED SOX's MAKE MONEY, ROYALS vs. ORIOLES NOT MAKING MONEY AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW THE GAMES WHY NOT HYPE THEM UP! THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY! There is a ton more sports new outlets then there was 10-15 years ago, the talent is going to decline some because it is spread out. Im sure the original 6 teams were more talented then the teams now. But you still watch hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted August 26, 2007 Its clear you dont understand how people and the world and money work. THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE MONEY, THEY PUT ON TV WHAT MAKES MONEY, YANKEE's vs. RED SOX's MAKE MONEY, ROYALS vs. ORIOLES NOT MAKING MONEY AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW THE GAMES WHY NOT HYPE THEM UP! THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY! There is a ton more sports new outlets then there was 10-15 years ago, the talent is going to decline some because it is spread out. Im sure the original 6 teams were more talented then the teams now. But you still watch hockey. So because I don't like having Yankee RedSox baseball shoved down my thoat I don't understand people, world and money? And get yelled at for stating my opinion? Wow... just wow.... definitely put in my place with that one. So tell me this... why is it that ESPN and ESPN 2 can never make it out of the teenager with ADD view of sports while ESPNnews and radio can? Oh wait that's right... they have to keep up with the local stations and Regional FoxSports. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2007 ESPN has turned into what MTV turned into when they sold out and stopped actually playing music. Sigged for truth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2007 Has anyone at all considered that ESPN doesn't do much with hockey because FRICKING NOBODY WATCHES IT? Does that give them an excuse to constantly bash it though? I don't think it does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kage5691 3 Report post Posted August 28, 2007 Some argue its what the general public want to see. One time I turned on ESPN2 to find a ROCK PAPER SCISSORS tournament. Thats definitely going get some viewers on a sports channel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted August 28, 2007 While the "other" pro leagues are up to their eyeballs in their own filth; ESPN still finds some time to bash the NHL...A BIG to them for doing so! What was said? I missed it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
