ESPN Cannot Have Me!

A wise friend once told me that “I would never be hired by ESPN because I actually knew what I was talking about.”

Now the reason I label him as “a friend” is because I honestly cannot remember who told me that, I just remember that it was said to me and I have to admit that he was right on the ball. No pun intended. I even forget the discussion, but I can probably assume we were viewing some show and or game on the aforementioned ESPN station when someone said something that was stupid, wrong, or just down-right uneducated about baseball. This is not a rare occurrence for ESPN. One cannot watch the network within hearing at least one thing said that makes the educated viewer cringe.  

Now what does that have to do with recent events you may ask. Well, I was viewing the MLB page of the ESPN website when I came across a video entitled “Trouble in Philadelphia”. As a diehard fan of the Phillies and as a fan who cannot explain to their current power outage, I was curious to see what some of these “experts” believed was wrong with the Phillies recently.   Now the video was just a minute long so I knew there was not going to be much of an analysis in it. However, when the video finally played, I was even more disappointed than I was when I first saw the video.

For those of you who haven’t seen the video, I am going to give you a summation of what it contained. (Warning: Spoilers ahead) The video was John Kruk’s “analysis of the Phillies recent struggles. His conclusion?  To paraphrase the Kruker: “The Phillies are struggling to win because they are not scoring runs. They are not hitting with runners in scoring position and are not hitting home runs.”

How much do they pay these “experts” to analyze these games?  That was not an analysis, it was pointing out the obvious. I could have done a better job and I know for a fact that I have. At least once, but I think more, I have posted my analysis of what is going on with the Phillies. Analysis involves breaking down the obvious points that Captain Obvious Kruk pointed out in the video.  I think its safe to say that watching that video may be the most pointless minute of my life. I could have told you everything that he said in that video. What exactly was the point of telling people what they already knew? I’m confused.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love John Kruk as much as the next Phillies fan, but he has fallen into the trap that is ESPN. Here is the problem with ESPN and it all comes down to two simple terms: Bias and ignorance. ESPN has chosen their favorite teams and players and they are the teams and players that they cover most. You cannot watch an episode of Sports Center without having extended segments involving the Yankees, Red Soxs, Mets, Lakers, Penguins, Capitals, Patriots, Colts and Celtics.  Do they realize there are more teams then this in their respective sports? Do they even consider that there are more hockey players then Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin or that there are more NBA players then Lebron and Kobe? Earth to ESPN: Derek Jeter, A-Fraud, and Albert Pujols are not the only players in the MLB! Even if they attempt to talk about their favorites, they continually show little ability to understand and analyze. Take this video as just a small shred of evidence.

For those of you ESPN viewers, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you aren’t, just watch one day and you will know what I am talking about. If a team is hot and not listed here then you may hear about them, but once they go cold, ESPN could care less about them.  I witnessed a top 10 plays once where one of the  top plays was a play by Mariners shortstop Jack Wilson I believe it was. Did the hosts discuss Wilson’s play? Well very little. Most of the conversation was concerning Derek Jeter and how the play resembled what Wilson had done. Even during other sports plays, they managed to work a Derek Jeter comment in there.  If that is not bias, then I do not know what is. Here’s a tip guys, I know Derek Jeter isn’t gay so get off his d*** for once. Thanks.

Even if the day ever came that I was offered a job by ESPN, there is a high chance I wouldn’t think twice about turning it down. I have too much dignity to associate myself with those bias, uneducated twerps that work for that network. My friend was right; I know too much to work there and they cannot afford me even if they wanted to.