I originally came up with the idea for a blog post absolutley blasting and bashing ESPN's biased sports coverage and lack of versatile opinions and/or personalties. Then I realized that I live an hour away from their headquarters and I might like to pursue a career in broadcasting or journalism here in Connecticut and then send them my resume and pray. Unfortunately for my future family's ability to afford the finer things in life, I decided it was too important to expose the truth. They are a company, and as with other businesses, it is more important for them to grow and succeed and make money, than it is for them to stay ethically responsible and promote honest journalism. They are all about creating the controversy as opposed to finding legitimate sources and establishing factual reporting. Contrary to my opening line, I do not intend to blame and denounce ESPN itself, as I said they are like every other business trying to maintain success and stay on top of the industry. They must have solid leadership as a corporation to not only sustain its current standing as the leader in sports entertainment television, but to ward off even facing a competetive television network. Instead of a general Fox Sports or NBC sports channel on regular cable found next to ESPN, we have ESPN 2 and ESPN 3...and ESPN 3D...and ESPN 360...and ESPNews...etc. I believe MSNBC has a sports channel, but I'll be damned if I can find it, and Fox Sports has many local/regional channels, but for whatever reason, no national network. The local sports channels I have, be it NESN flaunting sexy reporters and very little entertaining programming or the YES network (owned and operated by the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets) hmm... I wonder if they might have a slightly prejudicial perspective? (with the exception of The Mike Francesa Show, his knowledge is limited to sports and books and the 60's, and his views may be outdated, but his opinion is actually analytical and intelligent, and most importantly, respectable) CSN has intriguing bostonian sportscasters with attitude, but instead of taking a cynical look at ESPN and their non-objective reporting, they completely dismiss ESPN in general and seem to go too far in the other direction. I feel like you can't act that way, standing on one side of the fence or the other. I choose to stand on top of the fence, observing both sides in all directions, and thats what should make this blog informative as well as interesting.
Brett Farve has manipulated ESPN's coverage of him yet again. This on the verge of returning to the Minnesota Vikings training camp this past week. Along with so many other fans of football and Brett Farve in general, I knew that this guy had no choice but to play one more season. I will tell you right now that this will be his last season, and it will only be because his body will be unable to withstand one more season of punishment following this one. Whether our last memory of him is on a stretcher being carried off the field in week one, or with the crowning of his second superbowl championship, noone knows. Though it is more likely, based on his record in his last 11 playoff games (4-7), that it will be in some sort of dramatic, losing effort. Brett Farve threw 33 TD passes, and only 7 interceptions in leading what many (including me) considered the most talented team to the conference championship game last year. It was his best statistical season and he re-established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Those numbers, along with his charisma, popularity and off-field drama have clearly made Brett Farve one of the biggest stories for this upcoming NFL season. ESPN's Ed Werder may still be camped out in front of Brett Farve's home for all we know. Entertainment is the 'E' in ESPN...and honestly I dont mind all the rumors, gossip, and unsubstantiated opinions and predictions on the network, because it is a business built on entertainment to go along with sports reporting. The problem I have with ESPN is when they spend a whole day having their on-air talent explain to you why Brett Farve REALLY is retiring this time based on a text message he sent to a teammate. Everyone gets so sick of hearing about the Brett Farve nonsense that all the local sports reporters start blaming it on Brett Farve the PLAYER, and they downplay his actual signifigance to the sport. ESPN praises Farve, and hangs on his every action and word, to the point that they make the viewer or reader believe he is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Meanwhile everyone else acts as if they're entirely wrong and that Brett Farve is no longer good or even that relevant. The truth lies somewhere in between, Farve has made terribly dumb mistakes in the most critical of moments in the conference championship game two of the last three seasons. At the same time, people tend to forget that Farve has lead two different franchises to the conference championship game two of the last three seasons. The greatest historical figures, including sports heroes, tend to be walking contradictions, and Brett Farve is no different. He is great and he does suck. Brett Farve may have been holding out for more money or seeking more attention from the media as usual and he also may have honestly come back to play again for the love of competition and the respect he has for his teammates and franchise. Even though it can be so frustrating and ESPN's coverage of him may be relentless, Brett Farve is exciting and we will all watch him until he finally does the unthinkable, and actually retires.
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