MLB All-Star Break Swings and Misses

Another Midsummer Classic has come and gone for Major League Baseball and it is always hit or miss when it comes to the All-Star festivities. Minneapolis seemed to be a great host in a great ballpark, but there was plenty that went wrong. It is clear that there needs to be a change if the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are going to continue as must-see television. Here are a few of my thoughts on the happenings this weekend.

1. The Home Run Derby was awful
Normally, the Home Run Derby is the most fun part of the All-Star festivities, but this year it was a complete disaster. The weather, which is beyond anyone's control, caused the Derby to start an hour late. Once the competition finally began the league had tinkered with the format, which was regrettable to say the least. Rather than eight competitors, the event had ten with five players from each league. To combat the extra two players, MLB decided to give hitters only seven outs in the first round instead of the usual ten.

This hardly seemed to work as many players had low home run totals and the event still took hours. That brings me to my next point: the event is too long. The Home Run Derby lasted nearly as long as the entire All-Star Game. The new format may have been the cause of this, but whatever MLB decides to do, they need to limit the Derby to only eight players.

The new bracketed format worked against the MLB as Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Bautista each had to wait nearly two hours before they hit for the second time. Consequently, fans were hardly given the show they came to see and hurt the event. Low home run totals at a Home Run Derby is nothing to brag about and MLB will have to go back to the drawing board before Cincinnati in 2015.

2. Adam Wainwright did nothing wrong
There always has to be a story and sometimes the media has to dig pretty deep and blow something way out of proportion to make a story. This is exactly what has happened with Adam Wainwright's "pipe shot" to Derek Jeter when he led off the first inning. Before Jeter came to bat Wainwright performed one of the classiest gestures by stepping back off the mound and dropping his glove to join in the standing ovation for the soon-to-be retired Jeter. It was a beautiful moment.

To make it even more beautiful, Jeter sent a leadoff double down the line and would finish the game 2-2. Shortly after Wainwright exited the game he made a comment to reporters that he basically threw the ball right down the middle for Jeter to hit. So what? Perhaps he shouldn't have said that, but who cares if he did? It doesn't take away from the fact that it was a great night in honor of Jeter and it doesn't take away from Wainwright's classy move before the inning began.

In fact, here's why what Wainwright said is awesome: it shows that All-Star Game counting for World Series home-field advantage is the stupidest thing. That is a rule that has to go as soon as Bud Selig gets out of office. This is a fun exhibition game that is for the fans and for the players to have fun. It shouldn't count for home-field advantage and it's time to realize how silly that rule is. Props to Wainwright for a great moment and for shedding light on the fact that the game counting is dumb.

3. ESPN and FOX struggled
The coverage of the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game wasn't terrible, but there were silly mistakes and omissions in both telecasts. During ESPN's broadcast of the Derby they messed up graphics three different times. They listed Jose Bautista as a Yankees player, Troy Tulowitzki has an American League player and referred to the Marlins as the Florida Marlins. These are small things, but not mistakes you want happening with all eyes on your network. In addition, when MLB did their Stand Up To Cancer moment, Chris Berman and John Kruk's mics were still on and during what should have been a moving moment, the whole world could hear Berman say, "Should we stand up for this?" and then grunt while getting out of his chair.

The next night FOX did a decent job with the broadcast as Joe Buck always delivers. However, the night had some glaring omissions. Amid all the Jeter talk, FOX never once honored Tony Gwynn, Ralph Kiner or Don Zimmer who all passed away in the past year. The three legends of the game couldn't get a mention, but Jeter was the subject of talk all night. Not taking anything away from Jeter, but it certainly would have been a nice tribute if FOX would have honored the other three or at least mentioned them.

Lastly, CBS sent out a tweet that said it was Michael Jeter's last All-Star Game and Sports Illustrated tweeted that Mike Trout had won the MVP after going 3-2. That truly is an MVP-type game for Trout if that's the case.

All in all, it was a poor All-Star break and MLB has work to do to fix the Midsummer Classic. A change in commissioner could bring about new ideas and new life and that would certainly be welcomed. Improvements are needed across the board.

LeBron's Latest Foray into Free Agency Much Better

A lot has changed for LeBron James in the last four years. On July 8, 2010 James made the worst mistake of his career, announcing his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami with the slimy Jim Gray as host on what was dubbed The Decision. Televised on ESPN, The Decision set off jersey-burning in Cleveland and has guaranteed that James will be booed mercilessly in every city that he spurned.

Now in 2014, James has two rings on his fingers, two more MVP awards (which brings the overall count to four), is the undisputed best player in the league and has taken the Heat to four straight Finals. But free agency has come calling again and James is still undecided on his future. Twitter has never been more abuzz with speculation and poor reporting. The need to "get the scoop" has usually-credible journalists losing some of that credibility every day.

Some people are mad at James. Make a decision and keep us from waiting any longer, they say. His every move is followed and documented by a basketball paparazzi. Everybody and their mother seems to be a source these days and that includes the Akron police force. Akron's finest set the Twitter nation in motion the other day, telling reporters that they were asked to station a few men outside James' home and expect a 3:30 announcement. That announcment never came, but Clevelanders came out in droves to park their cars in front of James' home. What were they waiting for? Who knows -- James was in Las Vegas at his annual basketball camp.

People seem to be growing angry at James for not announcing his decision. He is made out to be the villain again if he chooses against Cleveland. Yet there is no need for animosity towards LeBron this summer. He has done everything right.

Amid all the tweets, all the speculation, all the propaganda put out by ESPN, remember this: LeBron James has not said a word. He has not led any fan base on nor has he really given any team hope. If you have hope of James returning to Cleveland then it wasn't he who gave it to you. It was ESPN and the rest of the basketball reporting world.

I don't particularly like LeBron James. I appreciate his greatness and understand I will probably never watch another player with his set of skills and size. I don't think he's the greatest player ever and I don't think he ever will be. However, I do appreciate his maturity in this case and it clearly shows he has learned from his mistakes.

Chris Sheridan, Frank Isola and whoever else can keep on giving false reports from their "sources." LeBron is entitled to make a decision when he sees fit and he has handled it correctly. Why don't we all get off the guy's back and slow down with the Twitter reports.

Stop calling this "Decision 2.0" because James has never called it that. ESPN has. The network has employed all the best gossip journalism tactics and has set up James to be the villain once more. However, be smart enough to really look at the situation and see that LeBron James has handled this round of free agency with much more maturity than he did last time. He shouldn't be the villain this time.

So don't make him one.

Celebrity Role Models: Though Hard to Come By, They're Out There

If you haven't yet seen the footage of Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMAs then you probably haven't been near a TV or computer all day. The dreadful and horrendous performance that Cyrus and Robin Thicke put on last night is one that may just top Madonna and Britney Spears' kiss as well as Justin Timberlake's revealing of Janet Jackson's chest on stage. What happened last night left many people asking how Miley Cyrus could act in such a manner that would make those who grew up idolizing her as "Hannah Montana" wonder what they saw in her. Not only was credibility lost, but so was a little bit of faith in celebrities as a whole.

It has become that way in sports as well. This entire summer has been all about yet another performance-enhancing drug bust with Alex Rodriguez being the main perpetrator. The same A-Rod who was said to beat Hank Aaron's home run record the right way is now potentially, though not likely, facing a lifetime ban from the game.

Thinking back to being a kid that just ended my Little League career when the Mitchell Report was released and seeing my childhood idol Sammy Sosa be labeled a cheater was one of the more crushing blows I have dealt with while being a fan of baseball. It's never fun being lied to and it's never fun knowing that the excitement of someone's career was done with dishonesty and carelessness.

It is becoming tougher and tougher to find those celebrities that kids, teenagers, and adults can admire and hold on a pedestal. While not every singer prances around a stage with a foam finger between their legs and not every baseball player cheats, there comes a stereotype and collective skepticism whenever a situation such as these arise. Celebrities are constantly called in to question and must deal with more pressure in the public eye than most of them care to endure.

Yet there are people that handle themselves in a way that, like them or not, deserve respect and admiration. In the game of football Tim Tebow and Robert Griffin III have dealt with being in the spotlight nearly everyday this summer. With Tebow now a New England Patriot and RGIII recovering from a torn ACL, both have been egged on by reporters to say something negative or call someone out via interview. However, handling themselves with nothing but class, both athletes have turned away from these chances.

For Tebow coming off a frustrating stint with the New York Jets, reporters practically drooled over the chance to hear the goody two shoes Tebow speak his true thoughts on the Jets organization and head coach Rex Ryan. For RGIII, the questions early on were all about what he thought of head coach Mike Shanahan leaving him in late in the game when the Redskins appeared to have the game in the bag. Both deflected the negativity and failed to take advantage of the media's encouragement to speak ill of their head coaches.

The point is that even though our society has come to focus on the negative side of show business, there are those that represent the profession and sport in a way that we as fans and viewers can still admire and respect. While everyone is watching and waiting for the next athlete to slip up and make headlines on ESPN for weeks, there are athletes that we can be assured will never fill ESPN for negative reasons. Yes, role model-worthy athletes and celebrities are becoming hard to find, but they're most definitely not extinct.

Odd Draft Brings Plenty of Surprises

Last night's NBA Draft was so unpredictable that from the get-go even the analysts were unsure and surprised. Rarely is there a draft in professional sports where the number one pick is unknown before the commissioner walks to the podium to deliver the selection, but the Cleveland Cavaliers kept everybody on their toes until David Stern announced that Anthony Bennett would go number one. From surprising selections to heartfelt moments to great quotes, last night's draft cannot be called boring by any means. Here were some of my observations.

Most Surprising Pick: Anthony Bennett to Cleveland with top pick
It didn't take long for jaws to drop in the Barclays Center and around the nation. Sure, the number one pick was not clear cut as it usually is, but many believed that Nerlens Noel would be number one and others thought that it could be Alex Len, Victor Oladipo or Otto Porter. No one mentioned Anthony Bennett, but he was the Cavs' choice and shook Stern's hand before anyone else. There's little reason to doubt Cleveland's choice because, if history tells us anything, they don't miss when they pick number one. In the past ten years they have selected LeBron James and Kyrie Irving with the top pick and both of them won Rookie of the Year and are now All-Stars. The reason Bennett seems like an odd selection is because he is not exactly the mold of a 3-man, but Cleveland selected Tristan Thompson just two years ago at the four spot. Seeing how Bennett fits in with the Cavaliers roster will be interesting.

Biggest Drop: Nerlens Noel to New Orleans at pick six
Noel, thought by many to be the top pick, had to wait longer than he thought. Bennett went first and then two other big men (Cody Zeller and Alex Len) were chosen before the former Kentucky star. Noel tore his ACL last season and his services won't be available until around the New Year, but his talent is obvious. He protects the rim and blocks shots at an incredibly high rate. Along with the injured knee, there are a few concerns such as Noel's slender frame and limited offensive game. However, there's no doubt that he will make a good pro. A trade sent him to Philadelphia which all but seals Andrew Bynum's fate in the City of Brotherly Love and Noel has already vowed to make those teams that passed on him pay. Should be an intriguing story to watch unfold.

Steal of the Draft: Jamaal Franklin to Memphis at pick 41
Franklin could have gone much earlier in this draft because he is a do-it-all shooting guard. During his junior season at San Diego State he led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. He is athletic and can defend well which will fit in with the Grizzlies. He does need work on his jump shot and he only shot 28 percent from three point range last season. Those things will come, but for now he is a guy who could play some meaningful minutes and give the Griz whatever they need be that scoring, rebounding or defense. Definitely a great pick for it being the 41st selection.

Weird Moment of the Night: Shabazz Muhammad's introduction six picks late
It seems that trouble and boneheadedness (made that word up myself) are going to follow Shabazz Muhammad wherever he goes. Something as simple as walking across the stage to shake David Stern's hand didn't come so easy for Shabazz and that seems to be the story of his basketball career since enrolling at UCLA last season. Stern came out and announced that the Chicago Bulls had selected Tony Snell with the 20th pick. He proceeded to say that Snell was not in Brooklyn, but that Shabazz Muhammad was and that he wanted to have his moment after being selected 14th. The weird thing about all this is that nobody quite knows why Shabazz showed up late. He wasn't invited to the green room, but there were several guys not in the green room that still walked across the stage when their name was called. Between the Gucci backpack, leading everyone to believe he was a different age and showing up late to the draft, Muhammad is compiling an impressive list of bonehead moves and he hasn't even played an NBA game yet. Stay tuned.

Best Moment of the Night: Hakeem Olajuwon returns to honor David Stern
As David Stern rides into the sunset of retirement after 30 years at the top of the NBA, this was his last draft to orchestrate. Stern basked in the boos and enjoyed every second of his last draft night. In 1984 he announced the first pick of Hakeem Olajuwon and, at the end of the first round last night, deputy commissioner Adam Silver came out and announced they had a surprise for Stern. Emerging from the back room, and in the same tuxedo he wore on draft night, was Olajuwon and he and the commissioner shook hands, hugged and the crowd rose to their feet to give Stern a deserving standing ovation. In 30 years Stern has completely revolutionized the NBA and made it a global power. To see the NBA, fans and past players honor him like they did last night was special.

Best Quote of the Night: Doc Rivers to Shelley Smith
Bill Simmons, ESPN's analyst for the NBA, was covering the draft last night and never hides his love for the Boston Celtics. Despite being an analyst, Simmons regularly calls the Celtics "we" and talks about them any chance he gets. Doc Rivers recent move to the Clippers didn't sit well with Simmons and he said that Rivers quit on the team. During ESPN's coverage last night Shelley Smith interviewed Rivers and asked him what he thought of Simmons' accusation. Why Smith thought this would be a good idea or have a good outcome I have no idea and it couldn't have gone worse for Simmons and ESPN. Rivers answered, "I would really like to call him an idiot, but I'm classier than that. He needs to get all the facts and know the whole truth." To be fair, Doc has danced around the subject and the truth seems to have changed, but the look on Simmons' face was priceless when ESPN cut back to Brooklyn.

Last night was a fun draft, but in terms of talent it wasn't exactly deep. Next year should be one of the better draft classes in history, not to mention the wild summer of free agency that will commence. For now though, the newest NBA ballers have found a home and summer league will kick off in the coming weeks. From the weird to the touching, last night's draft had it all.

Technology Keeps Fans on the Couch, Rather than in the Bleachers

Bleacher Report posted this photo from last night's Game 1 in OT

It’s Sunday afternoon on a crisp, fall day, and National Football League games are being played all around the country. The fans have their seats with a great view, food in hand and favorite beverages within reach. Yet most fans aren’t in the bleachers; they’re at home. 

This is the reality of sports now. The in-home experience is arguably becoming more appealing than the in-stadium experience. Even when fans attend the games it’s not what it once was. When someone scores a touchdown, fans at the 50-yard line no longer high five each other in celebration. Instead, they immediately reach into their pocket for their smartphone so they can fire off their next tweet.  

“I believe it has taken away from some of the fun of experiencing a live professional game,” said Kyle Krueger, a college student and Chicago sports fan. “Considering the cost to attend a game, we are distracting ourselves from enjoying the full live experience of a pro game.” 

It doesn’t matter what sport you look at, the numbers clearly reflect the falling attendance. A study of NFL attendance showed that the league reached an all-time high in 2007, but since then the attendance has steadily declined. In 2011 the league reached their lowest totals since expanding to 32 teams in 2002. The in-home experience is credited for much of the decline, and teams are now trying to enhance the in-stadium experience so that fans will buy tickets instead of staying home to watch the game on a 50-inch widescreen. 

That’s a tall task considering that the NFL is heralded for some of the best television coverage in sports. Multiple games are shown on national television every week, and the NFL RedZone channel allows fans to watch any game at its most crucial points. New apps such as NFL ’12, Yahoo! Sportacular and a host of apps from ESPN have given fans a place to interact with others during the game. Add in the enormous HD televisions for consumer purchase or found at the local sports bar, and the league is in a deep hole. 

It’s not just the NFL that has had issues. The National Basketball Association has experienced the same ordeal, and league attendance is down for the third straight year. However, that doesn’t mean that interest in the sport is declining as well. The NBA recently announced that television ratings for games on ESPN and TNT were up more than 20 percent compared to last season.  

Players have expressed disdain for the matter as well, and Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill was the most vocal critic of fans preoccupied with their social media this season. After a home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in March, Hill ripped Pacers fans, saying they were quiet, outnumbered and it didn’t feel anything like a home game. 

“Energy is down,” said Hill after that game. “(We’re) not a team that’s in the bottom in the East. We’re one of the top three teams in the East. We’re winning the Central Division, and it should show. Right now it’s not, and it’s been all season long where it’s not showing, and I don’t think there’s nothing else we can do as an organization and as players. Now it’s up to the community.” 

A study done by Integrated Marketing Communications showed that 20 percent of fans say they use tablets or smartphones to access sports content while attending a sporting event. When they are at home that number rises to 78 percent; clearly, we are not always engaged in the game 100 percent. 

That 20 percent may seem like a small number, but when smaller attendance is taken into account, that means 20 percent is larger than it appears. For example, the Pacers averaged just 15,269 fans this season. If 20 percent of the crowd is on their phone, that means that on average, there are 3,053 fans multitasking during the game.  

And that’s just the number of people looking up sports content. Thousands of others are doing other things on their phones not related to sports content. 

These are the realities, though, and teams like the Pacers have realized it. Doug Morgan, Associate Director of Game Operations and Fan Development for the Pacers, is a part of a team that tries to allow fans to use technology to enhance their in-arena experience. 

“We have added in-game elements so that fans can connect with the game,” Morgan said. “We have the #PacersCheer where we put the pictures that fans take at a game up in the third quarter. We have “text to win” promotions throughout the game, and we do a Klipsch Text to hear the next song played at halftime of every game. We give the fans three choices, and they text the song they want to hear, and it is played a couple minutes later. They have all went very well.” 

Along with the interactive elements that Indiana has debuted this season, they have also unveiled a mammoth JumboTron that spans from free-throw line to free-throw line and stands 21 feet tall. A new sound system was also installed to give fans the best sound quality possible. 

“Technology is an ever changing part of the game, and we do our best to try and stay out front to make the fan experience the best it can be,” said Morgan. 

For other fans though, the technology is all just a distraction from the root of the reason they are at the game. 

“It’s not just a game anymore,” said Ryan Harter, an Anderson University student and former high school and collegiate basketball player. “I go to watch the game, but people don’t just go to watch anymore. They want to be entertained, so instead of immersing themselves in the actual game, they are very much into the JumboTron and things like that.” 

Mark Cuban, the rambunctious owner of the Dallas Mavericks, would agree more with Harter’s statement rather than the moves of the Pacers organization. In 2011, about the time that smartphones were starting to weave their way into the in-arena experience, Cuban posted a blog to speak out against the use of them at games.  

“I can’t think of a bigger mistake than trying to integrate smartphones just because you can,” said Cuban. “The last thing I want is someone looking down at their phone to see a replay. The last thing I want is someone thinking that it’s a good idea to disconnect from the unique elements of a game to look at replays or update their fantasy standings or concentrate on trying to predict what will happen next in the game.”

“There is a huge value to everyone collectively holding their breath during a replay, or responding to a great play or a missed call and then spontaneously reacting to what they see. You lose that if people are looking down at their handhelds.  The fan experience is about looking up, not looking down. If you let them look down, they might as well stay at home, the screen is always going to be better there.”  

However, there is a group of people in sports who do enjoy the change. Naturally, it’s the media. Twitter, especially, has made it easy for fans to connect with players, coaches and media members, and media personnel agree that it’s made their job more fun. 

Chuck Swirsky, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls, frequently tweets back and forth with Bulls fans before, during and after ball games. His partner, former NBA player Bill Wennington, does the same. “I think [new technology] is great,” said Swirsky. “The good outweighs the bad, and I love communicating with Bulls and NBA fans.”  

Dave Shore, an Anderson University graduate and current Operations Manager at ESPN Los Angeles, has worked with the NBA for years and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers pregame show on 710 ESPN in Los Angeles. Shore said that while he thinks the technology has affected attendance some, it really has affected the demand for more information. 

Shore has been on several social media panels and is quick to point out how much of an effect the social media has had on the sports radio business. Like Swirsky, Shore says tweeting with fans has become a large part of what he and his co-workers do during the Lakers’ season. 

Whether or not the technology is good or bad for the games depends on who you talk to. Some people are all for it, but others despise it. Despite the opposition to it, this is just the beginning. Every year we become more of a technology-driven society. 

So next time the big game is about to start, make sure you have all the essentials for good viewing: great food, a cool beverage, comfy chair and, of course, your smartphone and tablet. Because was a play really that great if you didn’t tweet about it?



This post was originally written as a story for a class at Anderson University

ESPN's Reporting Continues to Falter

As an aspiring sports journalist/broadcaster it once was my dream to work at ESPN. While I still watch the various ESPN stations and enjoy some of the programming, it is my view that the business has gone downhill. No longer is ESPN an unbiased sports news station. Instead it centers around it's favorite teams and leagues. Rather than reporting on stories and issues, the various shows that ESPN airs would rather debate about the topic in an almost-uncivilized manner. It's all too much. It's not good reporting or journalism and it has brought ESPN's credibility down. Below are my observations.

There's an ESPN favorites club
If you're in the ESPN favorites club then life is sweet. If you're not then forget about being covered. For example, if LeBron James changes his shoes at halftime of tonight's game then I'm sure even that will be covered by Sportscenter tomorrow morning. However, if Indiana's Paul George records a double-double in the series clincher against the Knicks then it will register as just a blip on the radar. Why is that? Well it's obvious. Carmelo Anthony is a member of the Knicks and a member of the ESPN favorites club. When the Pacers defeat the Knicks that is not a story. The story is that Carmelo didn't get it done for the Knicks. Same story with the Heat. Instead of asking, how did the Bulls win, they ask, how did LeBron let the Heat lose?

Brett Favre might be the president of the ESPN favorites club. Remember his multiple retirement saga? ESPN followed him around like it was some kind of reality show. If Favre was caught throwing passes at a local high school then it was the top story. Meanwhile, the quarterbacks who were actually on teams at the time were getting zero press.

ESPN has there favorite teams too. The Cowboys and the Jets are always going to be top stories when it comes to the NFL. If it's the NBA then it's the Heat or the Lakers. Never mind that LA was ousted by the Spurs almost two weeks ago; ESPN still discusses the future of the Lakers despite all the other playoff series still going on. The Yankees are always going to be covered when talking MLB and the NHL hardly exists to ESPN. They have their favorite teams and players and those are the ones that will receive the coverage.

The sports world revolves around the NFL
ESPN has plenty of different shows that air on a daily basis, but there is an obvious favorite among the major pro sports. The NFL has almost five shows that air during a week and all of them cover the same topics. In contrast, the MLB has Baseball Tonight, the NBA has Fastbreak and the NHL has nothing. It is the middle of May and there is still NFL Live, NFL 32 and NFL Insiders airing on a daily basis. Why do we need that much NFL coverage? I couldn't tell you because Sportscenter also feels the need to use much of their program to cover pro football.

It's not fair at all because the reality is that most fans' only avenue to sports news on television is ESPN. That means that all they hear about is football. But you know what ESPN can't figure out? They will be the ones to comment on how hockey seems to be lacking attention, lacking fans and lacking interest in the United States. They fail to realize that their lack of coverage on the sport is part of the problem.

Right now I should turn on ESPN and see plenty of coverage on the NBA and NHL playoffs to lead off. Following that there should be coverage of last night's MLB games and then lastly there should be news from the NFL. The NFL is irrelevant right now because it's out of season, but someone forgot to inform ESPN about that.

A story isn't worth reporting if ESPN can't argue and debate it
Here's the perfect example on this new-found phenomenon at ESPN of always debating stories. When Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay athlete in American pro sports, it was a huge day for the LGBT community. It was a monumental moment and no one can argue that fact. Whether you support gay rights or not, this was a story worth reporting because it signals a change that is imminent in our professional leagues. Sports Illustrated reported on the story and did a magnificent job of letting Collins tell his story. That's it. Just tell his story.

Smith has become the poster child for the Debate Era

ESPN couldn't merely tell his story. Instead, the found a way to twist what should have been an informative story into a raging debate. LZ Granderson, an openly gay journalist for ESPN, and Chris Broussard, a Christian reporter on the NBA for ESPN, both appeared on ESPN's Outside the Lines just hours after Collins' announcement. What happened on the show was disgraceful and should not have happened. Broussard was asked several questions and basically baited into sharing his personal views on homosexuality. I'm fine with Broussard's opinion and I'm fine with Granderson's, but I have a problem with debating whether homosexuality is okay or not on a show that shouldn't be used as a platform for that.

I used to like watching ESPN First Take, but I no longer watch it because I cannot stand to listen to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless yell at each other about every topic put in front of them. There is room for debate in sports journalism, there is no doubt about that. Pardon the Interruption has found the happy medium between debating and discussing. First Take would rather yell their way through the show and that is not enjoyable at all. Sometimes a story is just made to to be reported, not to be debated.

These are three of the biggest faults ESPN commits and it has hurt the television shows, their reporting and their entire programming in general. I sometimes wonder what direction ESPN is headed in because, in the day and age of reality television, it really seems like that's the direction that ESPN wants to go. They are not worried about giving equal coverage to all leagues and teams, but they would rather focus on the teams and leagues that they find most exciting. That's not good reporting.

ESPN is highly-regarded as the best option for sports reporting. If we really do consider them the best then it's time they be held accountable.

Collins Steps to the Forefront of Gay Athlete Movement

The movement is like a freight train. It starts out slow, takes it awhile to get going, but by the time it starts rolling it comes at full force. It appears that this is how the gay athlete movement is going to happen in America. It has been a long time coming, but Jason Collins is just the beginning it would seem. With his admission that he is gay he has stepped to the forefront of a movement that is sure to gain speed in the coming years.

This post is not to express my personal viewpoints on gay marriage. It's not my intent to choose sides on this post and if I do so I apologize in advance. Because here is the reality: whether you support the movement or not, it is coming and Jason Collins will forever be remembered as one of the trailblazers. While I may not agree with everything on the matter I will say this: I respect the move Collins made.

It takes extreme courage to do what he did, especially in this period of his career. Before Collins the only athletes in America that had come out as gay were retired. Not only is Collins still playing, but he is a free agent. That means that Collins not only came out, but he was willing to take that chance with strong possibility that a team may not sign him because of it.

The reaction among players in the league has been mixed, but the majority of high-profile players have been in support. Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker have tweeted their support and President Obama phoned Collins to say he was proud of him. Others in the sports world have not been so supportive. Mike Wallace, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, sent out a series of tweets that questioned the idea of homosexuality.

Most notably, ESPN's NBA reporter Chris Broussard, made headlines for his personal views expressed on Outside the Lines. Broussard expressed his Christian views on homosexuality and has been criticized heavily by some, but heavily supported by others. What is most irritating is that ESPN took the news of Collins' admission and turned it into a sideshow on their show by goading Broussard into a debate.

That's not what this should be about. The world is changing. That doesn't mean anybody's views have to change. I, as a religious man myself, believe that Christians should stand to their morals and values. However, I do believe respect should be shown from both sides. Social media has served as the platform for the raging debate, but no solutions or peace is made through anger. I respect what Collins did and I respect what Broussard said because he expressed his opinion in a polite manner.

People who can't see past their own narrow viewpoint are too close-minded for the times. I'm not saying you have to agree with everything, but you have to see that the world is changing. A changing world will be a better place if respect is shown.

Collins is a true American trailblazer. That cannot be denied and he will face unabashed support and criticism as the rest of his career plays out. There will be players who openly support Collins and there will be those that openly say they don't want to be in the same locker room as him. For American sports it is a huge change.

It's a change that is gaining force and it's a movement that is upon us whether you support it or not. And whether you support it or not, the right way to react to it is with respect. Otherwise there is no peace, common ground or solution to the issue.

Gonzaga's Success Brings High Expectations

Every Monday when I log onto ESPN.com I check the updated college basketball polls to see what changes occured the past week. Normally I don't look over it too hard, just a quick glance to see where my favorite team is and where other interesting teams are ranked. This past Monday something caught my eye though. As I looked up and down the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and the AP Top 25 poll I noticed that Gonzaga was not ranked in either. How could this be?? Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs have been a perennial Top 25 team since they burst onto the scene with Casey Calvary way back in 1999 with an Elite 8 appearance. Since then they have qualified for the Big Dance every year and made a Sweet 16 appearance four of those years. Because of that, America has come to expect big things from the Zags and to see them out of the Top 25 is almost unthinkable.

Here's the odd thing about Gonzaga: despite their successes they have recently been overlooked when it comes to mid-majors. Sure, they qualify for the NCAAs every year and have been to the Sweet 16 four times but they haven't made the Final Four. I say that like it's unbelievable that they haven't, but again, the expectations for Gonzaga are quite different from other so-called "mid-major" programs. George Mason sent shockwaves through the college basketball land in 2006 when they upset several powerhouse teams to make the Final Four, a first for the program. Butler has been the Cinderella the past two seasons, finishing as national runner-up and VCU appeared in the Final Four last year as well. That's three quality programs who have qualified for the Final Four, but none of them stack up with Gonzaga. When will we see the Zags in a Final Four? It seems long overdue.

How good has Gonzaga been since the 1998-99 season? Consider these numbers: 13 NCAA appearances, 4 Sweet 16's, 1 Elite 8, 12 Honorable Mention All-Americans or higher, 1 National Player of the Year, 3 NBA first-round picks. Under Mark Few the Zags are 314-82 and they simply don't lose at home. Since the McCarthey Athletic Center opened in 2004, Gonzaga is 93-7. What that number doesn't tell you is all the teams that won't come to "The Kennel" to play the Bulldogs. Big name programs would rather Gonzaga came to them or, instead of playing them on campus, would opt to play them at Key Arena in Seattle. Tom Izzo and Mike Brey took their teams into Spokane this year and, while Izzo and Michigan State escaped with a seven point victory, Brey's Notre Dame team was dominated by 20. The Zags demand respect and they are willing to travel all over the globe to get it.

Since 98-99 Gonzaga is 21-40 against Top 25 teams and they have defeated the third-ranked team three times and the second-ranked team once. Also, expect it to be a hard-fought game when they match up with a top team. Only five of those 40 losses have been by 20 points or more. There's not many teams in America who can say they have played 61 ranked opponents in that span and there are none of Gonzaga's size that can say that. Forget Butler when it comes to determining who is the best mid-major program. Gonzaga is the top dog.

The expectations for the program are always going to be high. That's a nice problem to have if you are Mark Few, but the question I have constantly been asking myself is, "When will Gonzaga appear in a Final Four?" Perhaps that isn't fair but they routinely show they are competitive on the national scene and that they have players capable of playing at the next level. It doesn't appear that this year will be the year, but how much longer will it be before Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are playing in early April?

Pujols Bolts for LA But Don't Compare Him to LeBron (100th Post)

Albert Pujols: A Cardinal no more

The deal has only been made public for about thirty minutes, and already I’ve been hearing the statement “Pujols is just like LeBron.” Really? Just because he left St. Louis doesn’t make him like LeBron.

Pujols spent his first ten years in the league with the Cardinals and it doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure out that he staked his claim as one of the best players in the game just a few seasons into his career. He racked up two Gold Glove awards, one Batting Title, and two World Series rings. He’s been named MVP three times and was named NL Rookie of the Year in 2001. If you compare his stats through the first half of his career to LeBron’s, they’ve enjoyed much of the same success. LeBron won two MVPs back-to-back in 2009 and 2010, he made a trip to the Finals in which his team got swept (mind you he had to face the most dominant team of the decade in the San Antonio Spurs), and he was named Rookie of the Year in 2004. It’s not a secret that the two stars are the best in their respected businesses.

You can’t argue statistics, they’re set in stone, but you can argue character and personality. Pujols brought St. Louis baseball back to the top, and LeBron James brought Cleveland basketball up from the bottom. They were their cities’ most beloved athletes and were treated like kings (no pun intended, LeBron). However, the fact that someone could say “Pujols is just like LeBron” is downright ignorant. I’m a Cubs fan, I should hate Pujols, but you can’t hate the player Pujols is. He’s about hard work, never making excuses, and always being humble.

That’s not to say that LeBron is necessarily a polar opposite of that; I will say that LeBron recognizes when his team needs to improve and when LeBron himself needs to make adjustments. That brings us to the next two subjects on the list in never making excuses and always being humble. After Pujols failed to cut off a throw from the outfield that ultimately seemed to cost St. Louis Game 2 of the World Series, he refused to talk with the media yet still owned up to his mistake. He knew that as a big-time player he should’ve made that play, but he screwed up, accepted it, and moved on. LeBron, on the other hand, struggles with making excuses. After Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Championship this past year, in which the Bulls absolutely embarrassed the Miami Heat, LeBron blamed his poor performance on the head cold he was currently suffering. Give me a break, Michael Jordan dropped 38 points in a game where he had the flu and had to basically be helped off the floor by Scottie Pippen. Kobe Bryant played how many games with a sprained ligament on a finger that was on his shooting hand? Dirk Nowitzki played the entire Finals series with the same injury just on his non-shooting hand. Great players don’t make excuses, they learn from mistakes and admit to them and use them as motivation to get better.

And who could forget the way that the two went about their free agency decisions? I heard about Pujols from my Sociology teacher during school. Sources simply told Buster Olney of the deal and then ESPN.com was filled with news shortly after; nothing was heard from Pujols. I could be wrong, there might be an hour long program on ESPN dedicated to Pujols telling us of his move to the Angels, but Pujols doesn’t care that much about being the center of attention; he’s more of a “pick up your lunch pail and go to work” kind of guy.

So is it fair to say that Pujols and LeBron are alike? When you’re discussing their dominance and mind-boggling statistics, absolutely. When you’re speaking of Pujols’ decision to move to LA as opposed to LeBron’s decision to move to Miami, don’t even say that. Pujols isn’t calling any of the other free agents and asking if they want to team up with him, and he isn’t going to predict the amount of championships the Angels will win. Pujols, though the amount of money is definitely outrageous and over-the-top, is never going to be the selfish player that LeBron made himself look like throughout his free agency.

St. Louis will certainly be bitter with Pujols for leaving, I bet most of us will be, but that city has far too much tradition and has had far too much success to let Pujols’ exit set them back too far. It’s sad to see Pujols leave knowing he could’ve been the best Cardinal ever, but his legacy in St. Louis will no doubt last forever.

Tim Tebow Just Wins

Go ahead and say what you want about Tim Tebow. He has a terrible throwing motion, only completes a handful of passes per game, and has a quarterback rating that looks like a good college student's GPA. However, is best at what matters the most and that's winning. Tim Tebow just wins. After the Thursday night defeat of the New York Jets he is now 4-1 and the Denver Broncos are 5-5 and second in the AFC West. It's already impressive that Tebow is winning these games but what makes it all the more heroic is that he is doing it under the most intense scrutiny.

There has never been a backup player in any sport who attracted so much media attention and there has also never been a backup more criticized than Tebow. There are plenty of scrubs running around on NFL Sundays such as Rex Grossman, John Beck and Curtis Painter and none of them are dissected or ripped apart by Merrill Hoge on ESPN. Why Tebow? What makes him different? For some reason we just care about this guy more. He is intriguing on the field because he does things so much differently than a "real quarterback" does. Off the field he is open about his faith and that sets him apart from so many others in the league. Whatever the reason, analysts everywhere have shared their doubts about why Tim Tebow will never be a good quarterback and, despite all that, he keeps on winning games which is all that matters.

There can't be more exciting fourth quarter player in the NFL. He's the kind of guy that always seems to find a way. He might be the worst quarterback for three quarters-plus but, as the Jets found out, he can be the greatest quarterback in the final few minutes with the game on the line. Last night the first 11 drives for the Broncos resulted in just 134 yards of offense and the previous eight possessions ended in punts but on the final drive Tebow rallied his troops, leading the team to a 95 yard game-winning drive. Tebow accounted for 92 of those yards, 35 through the air and 57 with his legs. He took the game into his own hands and calmly led his team down the field against a defense that had pounded him the entire game to that point. The win was his third comeback win this season and after he said, "I love winning but I wish it wasn't this stressful." Well Tim, I don't have a problem with it, considering it's some of the best entertainment in the NFL.

I know that he may never shut up all the idiots like Merrill Hoge but Hoge has to feel like an absolute moron every week when the Broncos win. He LOVES ripping apart Tim Tebow on national television and week after week Tebow pulls out a win. So go ahead and keep ragging on him but the guy is a winner. Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez may have better mechanics and what not but Tebow has already shown he can win games consistently, something those two struggle with at times. To win under the kind of scrutiny he is under is remarkable. But that's what he does. He makes those around feel the passion he has and he inspires his teammates better than most. Does he make them better players? I don't know about that, but he does make them want to be there. His passion rubs off on others and the Broncos now have something special in Denver.

Time will tell if Tebow can keep this up for the entire season or for an entire career. Maybe he can lead the Broncos to the playoffs and if he wins there his legend will only grow larger. It would be nice to see him keep winning and maybe, just maybe, shut the critics up. That may never happen. One thing is for sure though, Tim Tebow will always be fun to watch

Reaction to Catching Hell

ESPN Films continues to impress with it's recent line of documentaries and "Catching Hell," directed by Alex Gibney, could be the best yet. The two hour show discussed everything that went into that unfortunate night when Steve Bartman, like any fan would, reached for a foul ball that the Cubs' Moises Alou might have caught during the 8th inning of Game 6 in the 2003 NLCS. Alou didn't catch the ball and the Cubs' collapsed, giving up eight runs in the inning, and went on to lose Games 6 and 7. The Florida Marlins would beat the New York Yankees and Cubs' players, executives and fans were left to ponder what might have been. Gibney's film tugged at the heart and made me truly feel for Bartman, a man whose life has been ruined because of the unintentional incident. It was truly one of the saddest shows I have ever seen.

We all know what happened in that moment and the events that took place afterwards. However, what I didn't know was the immediate threats and chants that were made in Bartman's direction. Unless you were at Wrigley Field that night you can't understand how awful that scene must have been. I sat on the couch watching the segment of the film and I could feel anger swelling up in me. Some time during the madness the fans at "The Friendly Confines" forgot how to behave and they also didn't stop and think about what they would have done in Bartman's place. Any fan would have reached for the ball. Yet, the thousands who weren't in position to reach for it let a game become more than it ever should and Bartman was showered with beer, food and profanity laced tirades. And what did he do? He sat in his seat and didn't say a word. He was walked out of the park and people were able to see his face and scream at him, curse him and threaten to kill him. Kill him. That part stunned me. People actually stood there and yelled "Kill him!" and "Put a gun to his head!!" When does a game or a play become more than it should?

People have changed their opinions of the Bartman incident and some no longer put the blame on him. Others still see that play as the one that ruined the Cubs' chances for the NLCS. It was disgusting to watch the one fan who threw a beer on him sit there in his interview and smirk as he talked about what he did, not an ounce of remorse in his voice. Funny thing is, he would have done the exact same thing and I can guarantee that. It's instinct to reach for a foul ball and you don't consider the player coming at you or the situation in the game.

However, like the film said, we need a scapegoat. Somebody to point a finger at and somebody to pin the blame on. That play was shown so many times and it was easy to peg Bartman as the man at fault. I have always wondered how Alex Gonzalez feels about that. It was he who really started the mess on the field yet his error is forgotten. He literally would have been crucified in the same way Bill Buckner was but instead Bartman was thrown into the fire. The Cubs have nobody to blame but themselves for losing that series and I don't see why the fans didn't, and still can't, see that. Gonzalez made the error and then the pitching fell apart. They lost Game 6 because of it. Still, Game 7 was a new game and the Cubs even had the lead with Kerry Wood on the mound. They couldn't keep that lead and Bartman had nothing to do with that. But it was Bartman's fault to Cubs' fans and some of the media.

His life is ruined and there will never be another day of 'normal' for him. It's the saddest thing ever. Steve Bartman could never go back to a Cubs game with the way people treated him that night. I thought the best line in the film was at the end when Gibney said, "We're not waiting for fans to forgive Bartman. We're waiting for Bartman to forgive the fans." That is so true and I don't know if we will ever see that happen. To walk out of that stadium with your clothes drenched in beer and to hear people shout death threats and curse words in your face is something that seems unforgivable. And what was all of that for? One play in a Major League Baseball game. It seems fans are prone to blowing sports games and plays out of proportion.

After watching that film I don't know how anybody could still blame Bartman or even be mad at him for it. Gibney did a phenomenal job and his underlying message was a jab at the fans who were relentless in their venom towards Bartman on October 14th, 2003. The Cubs have yet to win a World Series and with the way the team looks now it seems that there isn't a championship coming anytime soon. However, a championship would be the best thing for this situation because once the trophy comes to Chicago the healing can begin. It's unfortunate that it's like that but it's the truth. Fans will not begin to forget Bartman until a championship is won. Time has lessened the anger towards Leon Durham and maybe the same can be said for Bartman, but neither man will be welcomed back to Chicago with open arms until the Cubs break the curse.

Fans have a tendency to put a little too much emotion into their favorite team's games and this is at the forefront of that discussion. Steve Bartman didn't want to interfere with Moises Alou but he did. And what does he have to show for it? A life that's been ruined because of thousands of pathetic "fans."

The Heartwrenching Story of Steve Bartman

Tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time ESPN will air "Catching Hell," it's newest installment in the recent boom of ESPN films. The film discusses Steve Bartman, the now infamous Chicago Cubs fan, and how he became the scapegoat for the Cubs' choke in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins. It was the Cubs best chance to go to the World Series in a long time, but instead the Marlins defeated the Yankees and partied down in South Beach. It bugs me to no end that Bartman is blamed for the Cubs collapse that year and I can't understand how people can really believe that. One man in one moment does not make the outcome for a seven-game, 67-inning series yet no one can talk about the 2003 NLCS without saying, "Oh yeah, the Bartman series."

The ball traveled up into the air down the left-field side. Obviously it was hit into foul territory but it appeared that the Cubs' Moises Alou might have a play on the ball. The ball came down, heading for the first row of seats in mid-left field, Alou leaped for the ball with his glove fully extended into the stands. As he did, three men lunged for the ball in hopes of catching a playoff foul ball. The fan in the middle, wearing a sweatshirt, ball cap and headphones reached for it, blocking Alou's glove from the ball. The ball richocheted off the fan's hands and fell to the concrete. Just a strike. Alou screamed and threw a fit while other Cubs stood stunned. Steve Stone said on the air, "If a fan just gets his hand out of the way, Moises makes the catch." That fan was Steve Bartman and Steve Bartman instantly became the most infamous fan in sports history.

There is the billy goat, the black cat and then Steve Bartman. All three have one thing in common: they are symbols of The Curse on the Chicago Cubs. A symbol is just one way to describe Bartman these days. Some say scapegoat while others tab him as a villain. He is a forgotten man in a physical sense because no one ever sees him in public but in the minds of sports fans, and especially Chicago fans, he will never be forgotten. How fair is that? Not fair at all but that's the way it is. Steve Bartman didn't make Alex Gonzalez commit an error a few plays later, nor did he make the Cubs lose Game 7 at Wrigley Field. He can not be blamed for the outcome of the series but, like the film will explain tonight, we all need someone to point a finger at.

Every fan in the general area made an attempt for that foul ball and no one can sit here and say today that they wouldn't have tried to grab it because they knew Alou might catch it. Yeah right. In the moment, any man on the face of the Earth would have attempted to catch that foul ball. Steve Bartman is no villain. He was simply being a normal fan. Who knows if Alou would have even caught the ball. It is sad that some fans still want to put the Cubs PLAYERS mistakes on a fan and, because of that, his life is ruined. He can never set foot in Wrigley Field again and he probably doesn't even consider it a possiblilty. That's the saddest thing I have ever witnessed in sports. I'm a die-hard Cardinals fan but I feel for this guy because he was a fan of the Cubs and that was taken away from him basically. I can not think of a more appropriate film title than "Catching Hell." Who knew, eight years later, we would still be talking about that moment?

Once again, the film will be on ESPN tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time and should be very interesting and really tug at viewers' emotions. To see previews go to Youtube or ESPN.com.

Osama, 9/11 and Sports

Shea Stadium a week after 9/11

By now everyone has heard the news that the United States conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. President Barack Obama informed the nation at about 11:45 p.m. on May 2nd and it is one of those moments that you will always remember where you were. Although the war on terrorism is far from over, the killing of bin Laden, and the reaction of the American people, is a symbol of the continued healing America is going through nearly 10 years after the horrific events of September 11th, 2001. For those who lost loved ones that day it is a bittersweet moment. President Obama said it is "a good day" for America, but it is also one that brings back those haunting images and memories of what happened to the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon and in an empty field in Pennsylvania.

Where does sports fit into all of this? We get so worked up over a silly little game that, in the grand scheme of things, means nothing. However, after the 9/11 attacks sports took a week off as our nation began the recovery. When baseball took the field again one week later, people were moved by the New York Yankees and Mets who wore New York Fire Department and Police Department hats during their games. A moment of silence was taken before every game and baseball seemed to be part of that healing process. Especially for fans in New York, it was three hours where they could escape from everything else that was going on around them. Of course, nothing could make someone forget about the events that had occurred a week before, but baseball served as a short distraction for a nation that was hurting.

It was a day that everyone remembers where they were. On September 11th, 2001 I was riding the school bus to fourth grade when I noticed that nobody was outside playing on the playground like we normally did before school. The bus driver said that we couldn't go outside and we needed to go straight in to the gym. Later on we saw the events on television and those images will forever be seared into our minds. In contrast to that, last night's message is another event that we will always remember where we were. Going back to sports, the scene in Philadelphia was touching as the Mets and Phillies played on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. News spread throughout the stadium about the killing of bin Laden and fans chanted, "U-S-A! U-S-A!" The players looked around and had no idea what was happening but the scene was one that will leave you with goosebumps. David Wright, Mets third baseman, said afterward, "As proud and as great as the moment was being on a baseball field -- you multiply that by a million and that's probably what they're feeling at the fire houses, at the police stations." Bobby Valentine was commentating the game and said he would never forget that moment or the feeling he had when he was manager of the Mets in '01 and they took the field for the first time after the attacks.

In the big picture sports are a small thing but they have proven to be a healing factor and, as last night showed in Philly, a group of people can come together, no matter what team they root for, and be one as a nation. Thousands at the ballpark stopped caring about the baseball game on the field and shifted their attention to more important matters. At a time when fan violence is at an all-time high and people are ending up in the hospital just because of what team they root for, it was a great feeling to see fans of two teams come together and cheer for America. Americans all over have a good feeling after the death of the mastermind behind 9/11 but let us never forget those who were lost on that terrible day. God Bless America.

The link below describes the fan reaction in Philadelphia.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6463361

Photo courtesy of New York Daily News

Too Much NFL Draft

Mel Kiper: NFL Draft guru

Hello everybody, I want to apologize for the long gap between this post and my last one. With the school year winding down I had quite a bit of homework to do, but now it's bloggin' time once again! Last night ESPN televised the first round of the NFL Draft in primetime and there were quite a few surprises. The NFL and the NBA are two exciting drafts to watch, especially to a die-hard fan. The casual fan can probably make it through two days of the NFL Draft and can probably watch the entire NBA Draft since it is only two rounds. However, the NFL Draft is the most overhyped thing in sports. Seriously, the Super Bowl ended nearly three months ago and ever since the final seconds ticked off ESPN has had Mel Kiper and Todd McShay analyzing the draft. Who cares what they have to say?!?! It's unbelievable how two guys can get a job off of guess work. Again, I think the NFL Draft is fun to watch but I don't need the hype and analysis for three months leading up to the event.

Mock drafts are silly because they are never true. Sure, they are fun to read but does the world really need a new one from ol' King Kiper every single week? Hold on, don't think to hard because I can answer that one for you-- NO. I can handle the analysis the week before the draft and during draft day but the mock drafts every week for three months and the constant Sportscenter segments irk me. Yet, I shouldn't be surprised that's how it is because that's the way ESPN operates these days. The sports juggernaut can't simply report on a story. They must drill it into the viewer's head with every single minute detail they can possible give. They have given a new meaning to the term "maximum coverage" and that's not necessarily a good thing. There was so much coverage on the draft last night that ESPN was scrolling tweets from NFL players at the bottom of the screen. That's the sort of thing where I just want to say stop. We can only handle so much coverage, so much opinion and so much analysis. ESPN throws so much at it's viewers that it becomes irritating and boring. By the time tomorrow rolls around we don't even want to talk about the topic with our friends or the people at the workplace. The subject seems worn out.

LeBron James on ESPN for The Decision

This summer may have been the worst ever for two reasons. The Brett Favre Saga and the Miami Heat Big Three being assembled. ESPN had a field day with both stories and was even generous enough to televise The Decision live with LeBron James and Jim Gray. Gosh, that was great to see LeBron sitting on stage with little kids (who he donated money too) sitting all around him and Jim Gray, the only broadcaster with low enough standards and morals to appear on the show, interviewing him. The event became a complete mockery and the famous line, "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach," will forever be etched into our minds. Just when you thought that was the worst of it, it got worse! ESPN showed highlights of the Heat's big bash to introduce their three superstars and Sportscenter was clogged with stories on Miami. Every single person seemed to have an opinion and ESPN was their platform to speak about the Heat.

Around the same time, Brett Favre was going through his annual dilemma on whether to play football or not. Looking at the calender I would say in about exactly two weeks we could hear from Favre saying that he wants to come back this upcoming season. Last summer was the worst it has ever gotten with teammates going down to Mississippi to basically kidnap Favre and bring him to Minnesota. ESPN was there for that and Ed Werder followed Favre around like a lost puppy, broadcasting his every move to the world. Finally when a decision had finally been made the analysts could come out and start guessing where the Vikings would finish.

It was an unbelievable time for The Worldwide Leader in Sports and one that, for me at least, wrecked public opinion of the company. ESPN has almost become the sports reality network and no small detail slips by them. The Heat's tears, Brett's nude pics and Cam Newton's latest workout are all covered 24/7 for all fans. Again, I love to watch the draft and I love to watch sports but ESPN has gone too far with their coverage. It's one thing to be The Worldwide Leader but stop throwing so much information at fans about one topic. To all my readers: have fun watching the next three days of draft coverage. After that, Mel Kiper will go back into hibernation until next February.