Manti Te'o got ate by a catfish or something

[ghostrunner]

ESPN continues to demonstrate that they are nothing more than whores and a propaganda machine for athletes they want access to. They don't report stories they can't "independently verify" (Rothlesberger sexual assault, Favre sexting) until it becomes too big a story that they have to reluctantly report it. But, they will run with a "spreadsheet" of phone records they can't "independently verify" that may support Te'o and his lies. Why? Because they want access to these athletes so they ignore certain stories, but run with others. It's the same reason they didn't report the story when they learned of it as they were negotiating an interview. It is shameful, and in my opinion is becoming a bigger story than the Te'o lies. The majority of people get their sports "news" from this network, and it is insulting to those of us who follow sports. ESPN is the reason that I enjoy sports less and less. I don't watch the network, but one cannot follow sports without having some intersection them. And, I hate that.

http://deadspin.com/5978410/espn-has-ma ... ne-records

I think sexual assault is a genuine story. Favre's sexting and this thing - IMO it's borderline tabloid journalism, which is why Deadspin was all over both of them, along with what random girl Steve Phillips was shtupping. If Vanity Fair neglected to report on some actor doing these same things, would we consider it a big deal? When it comes to the sort of personality coverage ESPN does, my expectation is on about the same level as Entertainment Tonight or Access Hollywood. And in fact I could do without any of the personal tripe. Just show me the games and the highlights.

[stlouie_lipp]

Just show me the games and the highlights.

That's how it used to be, and I wish sports coverage would go back to that. Now they all have to fill air time for multiple shows/networks/blogs/web sites and it lessens my enjoyment of sport. sadly

[go birds]

Stopped watching ESPN a long time and haven't gone back since (except for when the cards are on Sunday night or weds night baseball).

(Oh and the 30 for 30 series).

[lukethedrifter]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... e-identity

[Vidor]

If ESPN crawls any farther up Te'o's rear end they are going to need medical intervention to be pulled out.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... e-football

[stlouie_lipp]

Stopped watching ESPN a long time and haven't gone back since (except for when the cards are on Sunday night or weds night baseball).

(Oh and the 30 for 30 series).

I stopped watching about 3 years ago. Problem is, it is nearly impossible to follow sports and not have some intersection with the network. Maybe that's part of the reason I get so worked up when stuff like this pops up...in between I forget how bad they have become and these stories remind me.

[sighyoung]

Time for Steve Phillips to have an affair with a killer whale at Sea World.

[stlouie_lipp]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... e-identity

If the Redskins were playing in the Super Bowl, I wonder if the players would still speak fondly of their relationship, how much they loved her and still miss her, and how her death has inspired them?

[TimeForGuinness]

I don't know what's more depressing: that Te'o fell for a hoax, that Te'o lied to boost his stock, that people fell for Te'o, or that people are upset about the Te'o fallout.

I still don't know why people are getting so emotionally involved in this whole thing.

The reason isn't that people are emotionally invested in this Te'o thing. The issue is that people are emotionally invested in college football. This Te'o incident is just the latest one of many that have exposed college football as a farce. People generally don't like learning that their favorite hobby is a farce.

There isn't a bigger farce out there than the "student athlete" (I realize I'm painting with a broad brush there...some kids really take advantage of college scholarships)...can't wait to see the fallout when Saban/Meyer/Kelly finally get pinched.

In many of the lesser sports, I think most really are student athletes. I've taught soccer, volleyball, baseball, swimming, and track athletes, and even cheerleaders, and all were really smart and dedicated. But I've never taught a basketball in 19 years at the university, and only two football players--both redshirt freshmen who would have done well in any class. It's like they quarantine the rest.

I agree, which is why I acknowledged painting with a broad brush...I think it's great that people have an opportunity to attain a college education while pursuing sports at the same time. The larger programs that focus their programs as a springboard to professional sports are questionable "student atheletes"...maybe that should have been my point. That being said, college does prepare you for your career, and professional football/basketball/baseball is a career...so maybe I'm making a bigger deal of this than I should.

Sorry to sidetrack the "Manti Te'o: Catfish Hunter" discussion.

[go birds]

Stopped watching ESPN a long time and haven't gone back since (except for when the cards are on Sunday night or weds night baseball).

(Oh and the 30 for 30 series).

I stopped watching about 3 years ago. Problem is, it is nearly impossible to follow sports and not have some intersection with the network. Maybe that's part of the reason I get so worked up when stuff like this pops up...in between I forget how bad they have become and these stories remind me.

Twitter + the Internet (Rotoworld in particular). Makes following the sports so much easier.