April 28, 20179 yr Not enough for them to layoff 100 people and most of those people complaining about ESPN still pay for ESPN in their monthly cable/satellite bills. Maybe not just by itself, of course there are other factors at play, but the "politicizing" of ESPN in many peoples minds IS a factor that cannot be dismissed or overlooked. Even if it's not the main factor, it might be the proverbial "straw that broke the camels back" for many people. Me, personally, I see/hear it and am not necessarily a fan, however ESPN lost me a LONG time ago, at least to the level I used to watch/listen. Now I listen occasionally on radio and as soon as the topic goes political (and many topics inevitably do in time) I more often than not turn the station. I watch ESPN programming even less that I listen.
April 28, 20179 yr You're definitely not alone. I'll always love Jemele Hill. I love a woman who can hold her own in an conversation about sports and her passion about sports is always clear when she discusses things. I think she does her best work on Sports Reporters when the vibe is a more serious vibe. Tons of people can't stand her and I've never understood why because she doesn't say off the wall stuff like Skip and Stephen A do just to be noticed and her opinions are always informed and thoughtful opinions. I've been jealous of Michael Smith since the first time I watched him on ESPN. I'll always be a big fan of his and hers. No pun intended. Now talk about unlikable, for me, Skip B. is absolutely to worst thing on tv/radio. How that guy still has a job I just don't know.
April 28, 20179 yr Maybe not just by itself, of course there are other factors at play, but the "politicizing" of ESPN in many peoples minds IS a factor that cannot be dismissed or overlooked. Even if it's not the main factor, it might be the proverbial "straw that broke the camels back" for many people. Me, personally, I see/hear it and am not necessarily a fan, however ESPN lost me a LONG time ago, at least to the level I used to watch/listen. Now I listen occasionally on radio and as soon as the topic goes political (and many topics inevitably do in time) I more often than not turn the station. I watch ESPN programming even less that I listen. Can't disagree more especially since ESPN is moving more to that format than ever before. Two of their more socially vocal people are the anchors of their prime SportsCenter slot. People like me who could care less about their politics but will still cut the cord come August when my Directv contract is up ultimately hurts them more than people who hate their politics but still keep their channels. I'll also add that sports in general has become more political than ever before and that isn't ESPN's fault. Between Kaepernick, Trump, Patriots not going to the White House, HB2 in North Carolina we have athletes and coaches speaking out more than ever before. Steve Kerr. Greg Popovic. Roy Williams. For everyone mad that ESPN covers those topics they may as well just quit watching sports. It's not going to slow down any and that isn't ESPN's fault that athletes and coaches are using their platforms to voice their opinions.
April 28, 20179 yr Can't disagree more especially since ESPN is moving more to that format than ever before. Two of their more socially vocal people are the anchors of their prime SportsCenter slot. People like me who could care less about their politics but will still cut the cord come August when my Directv contract is up ultimately hurts them more than people who hate their politics but still keep their channels. I'll also add that sports in general has become more political than ever before and that isn't ESPN's fault. Between Kaepernick, Trump, Patriots not going to the White House, HB2 in North Carolina we have athletes and coaches speaking out more than ever before. Steve Kerr. Greg Popovic. Roy Williams. For everyone mad that ESPN covers those topics they may as well just quit watching sports. It's not going to slow down any and that isn't ESPN's fault that athletes and coaches are using their platforms to voice their opinions. That's kind of where it's heading, isn't it? I mean even NFL ratings are down are they not? And doesn't it seem somewhat ironic...you mention that ESPN is "moving more to that format than ever before" (assuming you are referring to political commentary), yet they are struggling more than ever before and just let go 100 people as a result. Maybe they are moving in the wrong direction?:idunno:
April 28, 20179 yr Uppity is the perfect word to describe him IMO.How? I think he's a pretty humble guy.
April 28, 20179 yr That's kind of where it's heading, isn't it? I mean even NFL ratings are down are they not? And doesn't it seem somewhat ironic...you mention that ESPN is "moving more to that format than ever before" (assuming you are referring to political commentary), yet they are struggling more than ever before and just let go 100 people as a result. Maybe they are moving in the wrong direction?:idunno: Bad TV contracts and lack of preparation for the digital age is their issue. Not content.
April 28, 20179 yr How? I think he's a pretty humble guy. He acts like he's so refined and better than everyone else IMO. Not sure how else to describe it. You either see it or you don't. Doesn't matter either way.
April 28, 20179 yr I find it interesting and funny that folks are acting like the intersection of sports and social/politics is something new. Some more "new" examples: From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali Teddy Roosevelt calling for the banning of football WWI soldiers having a cease-fire so they could play a soccer game Tommie Smith and John Carlos Jesse Owens winning at Hitler's Olympics 1972 Munich terrorist attacks Jackie Robinson Roberto Clemente
April 28, 20179 yr Does ESPN own the SEC and ACC channels? I don't know if "own" is the proper term. More of a partnership between the network and the conferences.
April 28, 20179 yr Bad TV contracts and lack of preparation for the digital age is their issue. Not content. No disagreement there, that's a huge issue.
April 28, 20179 yr I find it interesting and funny that folks are acting like the intersection of sports and social/politics is something new. Some more "new" examples: From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali Teddy Roosevelt calling for the banning of football WWI soldiers having a cease-fire so they could play a soccer game Tommie Smith and John Carlos Jesse Owens winning at Hitler's Olympics 1972 Munich terrorist attacks Jackie Robinson Roberto Clemente One could argue most of not all of those are examples where sports intersected politics. Now many seem to want to intersect politics into sports at every opportunity/turn, many times artificially. Sometimes its a natural fit and one melds with the other and a certain sports event/topic can't be discussed without also discussing politics. However, not everything is a black/white left right commie/democracy event. Some are just tired of shoehorning politics in to EVERYTHING.
April 28, 20179 yr I find it interesting and funny that folks are acting like the intersection of sports and social/politics is something new. Some more "new" examples: From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali Teddy Roosevelt calling for the banning of football WWI soldiers having a cease-fire so they could play a soccer game Tommie Smith and John Carlos Jesse Owens winning at Hitler's Olympics 1972 Munich terrorist attacks Jackie Robinson Roberto Clemente If I were alive for any of those, I'd have tuned it out just like I do now.
April 28, 20179 yr I don't know if "own" is the proper term. More of a partnership between the network and the conferences. Do they pay both conferences for broadcast rights?
April 28, 20179 yr One could argue most of not all of those are examples where sports intersected politics. Now many seem to want to intersect politics into sports at every opportunity/turn, many times artificially. Sometimes its a natural fit and one melds with the other and a certain sports event/topic can't be discussed without also discussing politics. However, not everything is a black/white left right commie/democracy event. Some are just tired of shoehorning politics in to EVERYTHING. Everything is black/white, left/right, commie/democracy. The refusal to acknowledge it and discuss it is why there is such a great divide in America right now. Everyone wants to "tune it out" and I guess they think it will go away and heal itself.
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