Thursday, September 25, 2014
Boycotting ESPN
I am done with ESPN. I will no longer frequent their website, nor watch their programming. Bill Simmons was suspended for three weeks for calling Roger Goodell a liar on his podcast. On the flip side, Stephen A Smith was suspended for one week for suggesting that women should stop provoking men into beating them. For further effect, understand that this is not the first on-air display of ignorant sexism, as this sort of behavior was rampant when he was on the radio. I don't really like Simmons, but this suspension is ridiculous, and suggests that calling somebody a liar is far worse than calling out women for provoking abuse.
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i've been done with espn for some time, from their shitty newscasters to ignorance on many issues and making stories out of nothing (favre, tebow, manziel, etc). Fox sports one has been a suprise now that they've gotten their groove. EVERYONE knows goodell is lying. EVERYONE knows goodell mishandled the situation. But because espn has a contract for monday night football games they basically have to walk a tight rope with anything they say or any of their reporters say away from the "mothership." There are a lot of good podcasts and other media sources that you can get much better unbiased journalism or commentary. I feel that way among any media outlet that their commentators can't say what's on their mind. As much as i hate limbaugh i was against his firing when he called out many media members out for putting mcnabb on a pedastial when he very well could have been an above average qb and that the media wanted him to do well because he was african american...ok, if that was controversial, debate it. Costas went on a rant about gun control, talk about it. I would rather espn sit down and talk sports along the social spectrum than 2 hours of dumbed down talk between 2 ex football players and berman about whether or not manziel will be a hall of famer, when the motherfucker has played 3 snaps in the nfl. glad you've decided to turn off espn. jeff goldblum's giving the mothership a "virus" in independence day was a metaphor for espn nowadays.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a reminder that ESPN is a company in the business of selling a product--live sports and all the BS that surrounds them--to the extent that it can/has manufactured product (like Favre, Tebow, Manziel), which is also a reminder it is NOT a news company, since one rule of journalism is you report but don't make the news. ESPN has completely departed from that stricture--the company, its talking heads, and its stories are all manufactured products. Which is fine. And the Simmons suspension serves ESPN's purposes by (1) obstructing criticism of one of its major products (NFL broadcasts and information), (2) creating/bolstering Simmons' image and value as an ESPN product. It isn't a move meant to serve viewers and readers, and it doesn't have to be because ESPN's overriding responsibility is economic, to its owners/shareholders.
ReplyDeleteBut we, as consumers, have the option not to consume the product, and that's what you guys are committing to, and that's great because that loss of attention and sales is the only thing that matters to ESPN, and a part of what they're trying to prevent by suspending Simmons. I consciously abandoned ESPN awhile ago, and I'm glad others are on board. I can't stand talk radio, but it's sure as heck preferable to ESPN.
(Nice Independence Day reference, B.)
I have people telling me that they suspended him because he talked a bunch of shit to ESPN. While that is their excuse, that still is not as egregious as suggesting that women invite beatings. I have not used their phone app, mobile website, regular website, nor listened to their sports talk. I'm totally done with ESPN, and I'm proud that I stood by my morals.
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