What is wrong with ESPN??

[sportscurmudgeon]

Let me say something in defense of ESPN here.

They have a story on their hands today that they are not accustomed to covering. Star athletes in the prime of their careers and in the middle of their seasons just don't get killed [maybe murdered with pre-meditation?] very often. In fact, I'm trying to think of a previous case with all of those factors in it. I can't come up with one that has all of the factors. ESPN is "feeling its way" in its coverage here...

There was more "info" to report in the T.O suicide nonsense and the Ben Roethlisberger accident stories because there were more "publicity folks" involved and fewer "police folks". When the police are investigating a homicide - particularly one that has all the earmarks of being a "really high profile case" - they tend to play their cards very close to their vest. So, ESPN - and the rest of the media - cannot come up with new info on any regular basis. And ESPN does have lots of time to fill on the air...

So, what does ESPN have at its disposal to talk about. It can show Sean Taylor playing football at Miami and in Washington. They can show his highlight plays. They can show his teammates/coaches saying what a wonderful person/player he was. [They even have to be careful there lest someone criticize them for "intruding on the grief" suffered by those players/coaches.] Then what? Remember, ESPN has lots of time to fill on the air...

What else is "background info" here? That's the sordid stuff that seems to get folks riled up here. But there isn't all that much more that ESPN has at the moment.

And if they just mentioned his killing and then ignored the story, people here would be angry at ESPN for snubbing Sean Taylor and/or the Redskins and/or ...

No one is really to blame for the coverage of this tragedy so far because there just isn't enough factual info yet to make it into anything meaningful.

And for those of you who are angry at ESPN's coverage, just wait until Nancy Grace and Larry King get on the story.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

If this happened to Favre, would there be such a focus (or at all) about his past drug addiction or his hard partying ways when he was a younger man? I'd be shocked if it was made mention at all. Certain aspects of the media make their name and revel in negativity and exploit it when it's convenient to their story or overall agenda.. This is what I see in the national coverage.

I think if BF died of a drug overdose or at a party the focus would be there. Favre's partying days were years ago now and the addiction to drugs he had a prescription for was even maybe 5 years ago. Most of the ST things were barely 2 years ago and most of those were negative. If ST had a past of singing in the church choir and helping little old ladies across the street then that's what the media would be talking about but for better or worse he didnt have that kind of past. The media is only showing his history, the good, bad & ugly.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by irish

I think if BF died of a drug overdose or at a party the focus would be there. Favre's partying days were years ago now and the addiction to drugs he had a prescription for was even maybe 5 years ago. Most of the ST things were barely 2 years ago and most of those were negative. If ST had a past of singing in the church choir and helping little old ladies across the street then that's what the media would be talking about but for better or worse he didnt have that kind of past. The media is only showing his history, the good, bad & ugly.

In light of the circumstances I'll agree to disagree with you on this. My past personal experience in that field tells me the media tend to be selective historians on stories (whatever makes the story more salacious) and is generally less gracious to those who don't choose to be media friendly.

[over the mountain]

espn blows hard . . . . where is a video highlight reel thread for ST with high school, college, draft day, nfl footage?

[irish]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

In light of the circumstances I'll agree to disagree with you on this. My past personal experience in that field tells me the media tend to be selective historians on stories (whatever makes the story more salacious) and is generally less gracious to those who don't choose to be media friendly.

I'm sure they are selective but what I am saying is that ST was only 24, he didnt have much of a history to select from and what was there could be seen as negative.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

espn blows hard . . . . where is a video highlight reel thread for ST with high school, college, draft day, nfl footage?

Everything but HS has been on ESPN throughout the day, and probably online I imagine. But where is it on the official network of the NFL? Why no outrage over that?

Bottom line, if you don't like it don't watch. Parents just lost their child, a child just lost her father. And yet we all want to bitch about the media coverage. Fine, whatever.

[over the mountain]

smootsmack - i was reffering to a highlight reel thread started on here on this site, not on espn

[pg86]

Sports center did a good recap of ST.

This is too sad I don't know how im going to keep a straight face today.

[MTK]

I think to be fair his past is fair game and is just another part of the entire story.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Everything but HS has been on ESPN throughout the day, and probably online I imagine. But where is it on the official network of the NFL? Why no outrage over that?

Bottom line, if you don't like it don't watch. Parents just lost their child, a child just lost her father. And yet we all want to bitch about the media coverage. Fine, whatever.

I personally don't have a big problem with ESPN specifically as I do the media in general. When the story first broke yesterday, most media outlets led their coverage with the all the bad stuff. Certainly as the news of his death came out and the hours passed, the broadcasts have softened quite a bit. I understand they have an obligation to report the facts, but the emphasis on the bad over the good just irked the sh!t outta me. That was my issue. And you gotta admit, hearing Skip Bayless run his mouth about the negatives is maddening.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

smootsmack - i was reffering to a highlight reel thread started on here on this site, not on espn

Understood. Wasn't clear.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Let me say something in defense of ESPN here.

They have a story on their hands today that they are not accustomed to covering. Star athletes in the prime of their careers and in the middle of their seasons just don't get killed [maybe murdered with pre-meditation?] very often. In fact, I'm trying to think of a previous case with all of those factors in it. I can't come up with one that has all of the factors. ESPN is "feeling its way" in its coverage here...

There was more "info" to report in the T.O suicide nonsense and the Ben Roethlisberger accident stories because there were more "publicity folks" involved and fewer "police folks". When the police are investigating a homicide - particularly one that has all the earmarks of being a "really high profile case" - they tend to play their cards very close to their vest. So, ESPN - and the rest of the media - cannot come up with new info on any regular basis. And ESPN does have lots of time to fill on the air...

So, what does ESPN have at its disposal to talk about. It can show Sean Taylor playing football at Miami and in Washington. They can show his highlight plays. They can show his teammates/coaches saying what a wonderful person/player he was. [They even have to be careful there lest someone criticize them for "intruding on the grief" suffered by those players/coaches.] Then what? Remember, ESPN has lots of time to fill on the air...

What else is "background info" here? That's the sordid stuff that seems to get folks riled up here. But there isn't all that much more that ESPN has at the moment.

And if they just mentioned his killing and then ignored the story, people here would be angry at ESPN for snubbing Sean Taylor and/or the Redskins and/or ...

No one is really to blame for the coverage of this tragedy so far because there just isn't enough factual info yet to make it into anything meaningful.

And for those of you who are angry at ESPN's coverage, just wait until Nancy Grace and Larry King get on the story.

I don't buy it. Yes, this is unprecedented on some level, but ESPN like most of media outlets are reaching for the most convenient narrative here - "Yet another young star athlete caught in the cross-fire of violence."

I believe ESPN calls itself the "Worldwide Leader In Sports? Well then act like it! Don't re-hash what everyone is re-hashing. Dig deep and get beneath the surface. In other words, do some reporting not repeating. Get on the front end of this story and tell us something we don't already know. And because they are a national outlet, they have a much bigger responsibility.

As far as background info not available, if ESPN can routinely run footage of a guy running touchdowns in college, dunking a basketball in high school, swinging a golf club at the age of three, and other background facts that we aren't privy to, I'm sure they have the resources to talk about the good human being Sean Taylor is.

[pg86]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I don't buy it. Yes, this is unprecedented on some level, but ESPN like most of media outlets are reaching for the most convenient narrative here - "Yet another young star athlete caught in the cross-fire of violence."

I believe ESPN calls itself the "Worldwide Leader In Sports? Well then act like it! Don't re-hash what everyone is re-hashing. Dig deep and get beneath the surface. In other words, do some reporting not repeating. Get on the front end of this story and tell us something we don't already know. And because they are a national outlet, they have a much bigger responsibility.

As far as background info not available. If ESPN can routinely run footage of guy running touchdowns in college, dunking a basketball in high school, swinging a golf club at the age of three, and other background facts that we aren't privy to, I'm sure they have the resources to talk about the good human being Sean Taylor is.

The sad part is disney owns this network.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Understood. Wasn't clear.

I don't have beef with ESPN; I couldn't live without that channel or their site. I do, however, have a serious problem with certain figures on ESPN and associated with certain other media outlets.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I don't have beef with ESPN; I couldn't live without that channel or their site. I do, however, have a serious problem with certain figures on ESPN and associated with certain other media outlets.

Heck so do I. But to paint such a large brush against all of ESPN and usually only ESPN is what gets to me. I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does. I'm sure you'd feel the same if every other week there were threads here about how all lawyers are money-hungry soulless scumbags. Granted, this isn't a message board about law firms.

People keep saying talk about the good person he is. Well ESPN has been, but the reality is that there was much more to him than just that. And it can't be nor should it be ignored. Problem is all people seem to be hearing is the negative.