ESPN ENDS RIDICULOUS NEWS BOYCOTT
ESPN ended their absurd boycott of the Ben Roethlisberger story Wednesday evening. Linda Cohn mentioned it on ESPN News & their website finally posted the Associated Press version, even though it's more than 2 days old, since they have no version of their own. Reading ESPN's rationale for their blackout in an email to ProFootballTalk.com almost made me feel sorry for the "Worldwide Leader in Sports". Honestly, it couldn't have been more lame. As of 1 AM CDT, there are over 1800 comments on their website regarding their decision to avoid this story & most are quite negative, no surprise right?
The Wall Street Journal commented on ESPN's absence on the story. Several other newspapers did as well & ESPN was about the only television news outlet that didn't cover this story. Honestly, the blackout at ESPN had quickly become a bigger story than the sordid one involving a star player. Vince Doria, ESPN spokesman, told the Philadelphia Enquirer "we don't think this story meets our standard of reporting". WHAT???? Just recently this network reported on a civil suit pending against Roberto Alomar for giving his girlfriend AIDS, so let's not get all high & mighty, O.K.?
After Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the story Tuesday night, ESPN looked even more inept. It's a lead pipe cinch the NFL Czar doesn't want to talk about a possible scandal involving one of the league's premier players, but the story called for it. So doesn't ESPN's holier-than-thou attitude look truly laughable?
Maybe this was a good thing, knock the king down a few pegs, problem is, they don't have any real competition, which is never a good thing, but in this economy & start-up costs being what they are, I doubt they will ever have a serious competitor. That's why so many newspapers, cable news outlets, internet websites & those of us in the blogoshpere, rather enjoyed seeing ESPN totally blow a big story. And make no mistake about it, they looked ridiculous making their righteous decision to sit on the story & order all of their people to do the same, then just over 48 hours later, do a 180 degree turnaround. Complete with an explanation that insulted our intelligence. Nice work Bristol.
The Wall Street Journal commented on ESPN's absence on the story. Several other newspapers did as well & ESPN was about the only television news outlet that didn't cover this story. Honestly, the blackout at ESPN had quickly become a bigger story than the sordid one involving a star player. Vince Doria, ESPN spokesman, told the Philadelphia Enquirer "we don't think this story meets our standard of reporting". WHAT???? Just recently this network reported on a civil suit pending against Roberto Alomar for giving his girlfriend AIDS, so let's not get all high & mighty, O.K.?
After Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the story Tuesday night, ESPN looked even more inept. It's a lead pipe cinch the NFL Czar doesn't want to talk about a possible scandal involving one of the league's premier players, but the story called for it. So doesn't ESPN's holier-than-thou attitude look truly laughable?
Maybe this was a good thing, knock the king down a few pegs, problem is, they don't have any real competition, which is never a good thing, but in this economy & start-up costs being what they are, I doubt they will ever have a serious competitor. That's why so many newspapers, cable news outlets, internet websites & those of us in the blogoshpere, rather enjoyed seeing ESPN totally blow a big story. And make no mistake about it, they looked ridiculous making their righteous decision to sit on the story & order all of their people to do the same, then just over 48 hours later, do a 180 degree turnaround. Complete with an explanation that insulted our intelligence. Nice work Bristol.
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