I don’t have any children yet, but when I do, I look forward
to being able to tell them that we didn’t always have smartphones, life-like
video games and Twitter.
I will get the chance to tell them about my little yellow
cassette recorder that I took to school, opposed to an iPod or a smartphone.
I also look forward to telling them stories of a sports
network that gave the fans sports news and analysis.
Just as kids are growing up today wondering why the pages of
magazines don’t have interactive links like they do on their iPads, they are
growing up watching the 2012 version of ESPN deliver up-to-the-minute Tebow
news. Just Google ESPN and Tebow to see the “Linsanity” — another ridiculous
over-hyped story by ESPN.
Personally, I gave up on ESPN a few years ago, so now all I
see is the snapshots on the Internet.
The other day, I thought I saw the official end of the
“Sports Leader” with the full-screen computer graphic displaying the movieoptions for the Jets at training camp, because I’m sure ESPN showed what all 32
camps were providing to their players.
But then today, on Bleacher Report, I saw the screen shot that
ended my hope in ESPN ever returning to the way it was 10, 15 years ago. The
screen shot showed an on-air birthday party for Tim Tebow, complete with hats,
decorations, cake and fake presents.
What is gained from this? How does this even make it to air?
Current Saturday Night Live writers have better discretion on what to air and
what not to air, and 90 percent of their skits are unwatchable.
ESPN has become just as unwatchable.
The network somehow thinks that
the audience is yearning for Tebow news, but this cannot be true based on the
amount of negative-Tweets and critical articles online condemning such Tebow
love.
You think ESPN would have learned from the negative
commentary and jokes based around its famous 24/7 coverage of Brett Favre, but
it hasn’t.
Yes, I will admit. Tebow winning in Denver last season was
amazing. It was fun to watch and it was fun to re-watch. I personally made sure
to watch the entire Bears-Broncos game. I was hypnotized by what was happening
on the field.
But when we start to break it down past the Xs and the Os,
it starts to become a little ludicrous. When we get to the point that Tim
Tebow’s birthday is celebrated on air — all while the birthday’s of future Hall
of Famers Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are ignored — it has reached a level
that cannot be excused.
I know my column won’t change a thing because it’s way too much
to hope that a big-wig at ESPN reads this and has an epiphany, but I just hope
that the audience for ESPN starts to disappear and do what I did — move to the
MLB, NFL and NHL Networks for their news.
Maybe by Tebow’s next birthday, this will happen.
And if it does, I’ll be sure to buy a cake, put on a hat and
create a YouTube video of myself celebrating his 26th.
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