BREAKING NEWS: Vick to Enter Guilty Plea

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Who cares about Mike Vick. I am so sick of hearing about this 24hrs a day on ESPN, and Sports radio. It seems like ESPN can't go two mins without mentioning this story, and it is really getting annoying.

I hear there was a time in this country when people who engaged in this kind of ugly behavior were ostracized and then ignored. It would have been bad form to mention them in polite company. Now, we celebrate them. We get down in the muck with them and scrutinize every move they make from every angle. It would be nice if ESPN and the others would simply let us look away.

They do this every year, though. Last year it was the guy who plays WR in Dallas. It's as if they have a staff meeting where the head guy begins:

"Okay football season is coming. How can we avoid talking about football?"

Lackey1 "Put Kornheiser in the booth!"
Lackey2 "Better yet, put entertainment figures in the booth so they can promote their projects during the game!"
Lackey3 "Two words: Mike Vick!"

[RMSkins]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I hear there was a time in this country when people who engaged in this kind of ugly behavior were ostracized and then ignored. It would have been bad form to mention them in polite company. Now, we celebrate them. We get down in the muck with them and scrutinize every move they make from every angle. It would be nice if ESPN and the others would simply let us look away.

They do this every year, though. Last year it was the guy who plays WR in Dallas. It's as if they have a staff meeting where the head guy begins:

"Okay football season is coming. How can we avoid talking about football?"

Lackey1 "Put Kornheiser in the booth!"
Lackey2 "Better yet, put entertainment figures in the booth so they can promote their projects during the game!"
Lackey3 "Two words: Mike Vick!"

I couldn't agree with you more.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I hear there was a time in this country when people who engaged in this kind of ugly behavior were ostracized and then ignored. It would have been bad form to mention them in polite company. Now, we celebrate them. We get down in the muck with them and scrutinize every move they make from every angle. It would be nice if ESPN and the others would simply let us look away.

They do this every year, though. Last year it was the guy who plays WR in Dallas. It's as if they have a staff meeting where the head guy begins:

"Okay football season is coming. How can we avoid talking about football?"

Lackey1 "Put Kornheiser in the booth!"
Lackey2 "Better yet, put entertainment figures in the booth so they can promote their projects during the game!"
Lackey3 "Two words: Mike Vick!"

With 24 hour media coverage you can't ignore it.

ESPN was not the only network to devote many hours to this MAJOR (had to capitalize for emphasis) story. FOX News, CNN and MSNBC were all over it as well

Again, it's a major story and ESPN wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't provide full coverage of the biggest stories

ESPN is part of one of the biggest international companies, why shouldn't it take advantage of all of Disney's properties? Plus, keep in mind that MNF isn't meant to appeal just to football fans, but to all television viewers

[RMSkins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

With 24 hour media coverage you can't ignore it.

ESPN was not the only network to devote many hours to this MAJOR (had to capitalize for emphasis) story. FOX News, CNN and MSNBC were all over it as well

Again, it's a major story and ESPN wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't provide full coverage of the biggest stories

ESPN is part of one of the biggest international companies, why shouldn't it take advantage of all of Disney's properties? Plus, keep in mind that MNF isn't meant to appeal just to football fans, but to all television viewers

Yeah that is the problem with ESPN, and all of the other major news providers they blow stories like these up to unbelievable proportions it just becomes unbearable to listen to it anymore. Isn't ESPN a sports network? Shouldn't MNF be more appealing to football fans instead of the casual MNF viewer? Instead of bringing in people such as Dennis Miller, and Tony Kornheiser in the booth, who talk about EVERYTHING other than the game, ESPN should be bringing in real analysts, who actually pay attention to the game. By the way I understand the Vick story is huge news, but the same things are being said about the story in EVERY ESPN show, it could be a girls volleyball game, and somehow ESPN would manage to sneak in something about the Vick story. I understand it's ESPN's job to be providing us with this story, but it's becoming really overblown. Sorry, this has been bothering me the last few weeks, and I needed to get it off my chest.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Yeah that is the problem with ESPN, and all of the other major news providers. Isn't ESPN a sports network? Shouldn't MNF be more appealing to football fans instead of the casual MNF viewer? Instead of bringing in people such as Dennis Miller, and Tony Kornheiser in the booth, who talk about EVERYTHING other than the game, ESPN should be bringing in real analysts, who actually pay attention to the game. By the way I understand the Vick story is huge news, but the same things are being said about the story in EVERY ESPN show, it could be a girls volleyball game, and somehow ESPN would manage to sneak in something about the Vick story. I understand it's ESPN's job to be providing us with this story, but it's becoming really overblown. Sorry, this has been bothering me the last few weeks, and I needed to get it off my chest.

I guess my most simple answer is...then don't watch.

From a purely business standpoint, ESPN can't just appeal only to diehard sports fans. You can't grow an audience and revenue if you're just reaching out to the same people over and over again.

And ESPN has plenty of "real analysts"

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

With 24 hour media coverage you can't ignore it.

ESPN was not the only network to devote many hours to this MAJOR (had to capitalize for emphasis) story. FOX News, CNN and MSNBC were all over it as well

Again, it's a major story and ESPN wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't provide full coverage of the biggest stories

ESPN is part of one of the biggest international companies, why shouldn't it take advantage of all of Disney's properties? Plus, keep in mind that MNF isn't meant to appeal just to football fans, but to all television viewers

If Fox, CNN, and MSNBC all jumped off a bridge...

As for MNF, I think there is some room for jocularity and pop culture but the current broadcast overdoes it. I think most people still tune in to the football game expecting to see... the football game.

And, I've said this before but these criticisms are not intended to get a rise out of you or anyone else and I hope you don't take offense or even feel the need to act as an apologist or spokesperson on their behalf.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

If Fox, CNN, and MSNBC all jumped off a bridge...

As for MNF, I think there is some room for jocularity and pop culture but the current broadcast overdoes it. I think most people still tune in to the football game expecting to see... the football game.

And, I've said this before but these criticisms are not intended to get a rise out of you or anyone else and I hope you don't take offense or even feel the need to act as an apologist or spokesperson on their behalf.

All I meant with the network comparisons is don't act like it's only ESPN.

As for the apologist/spokesperson part, I mean it's only natural for ESPN to get grief. When you're at the top, people want to knock you down. I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes I just feel the need to point out what some people aren't aware of "behind the scenes"

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

All I meant with the network comparisons is don't act like it's only ESPN.

As for the apologist/spokesperson part, I mean it's only natural for ESPN to get grief. When you're at the top, people want to knock you down. I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes I just feel the need to point out what some people aren't aware of "behind the scenes"

The real problem is with the culture's appetite for all this - with our appetite for it. I think it would be refreshing, though, if some entity would stand up and say, "we're" not going along for the ride this time."

On a happier note, I think Parcells is great as a TV guy. He always has something interesting to say. I think there will be a key moment in the Cowboys season this year when everyone will say, "Parcells would never have done something that stupid." I think they are whistling passed the graveyard if they think Wade Phillips will be able to do what Parcells could not.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

All I meant with the network comparisons is don't act like it's only ESPN.

As for the apologist/spokesperson part, I mean it's only natural for ESPN to get grief. When you're at the top, people want to knock you down. I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes I just feel the need to point out what some people aren't aware of "behind the scenes"

While there is some validity to your point, as an insider myself (not at ESPN but previously at another national network) you have to admit these days the media 'creates' more out of a story than simply reporting it. There have been no less than 12 'experts' weighing in on the same story, saying the same things in different words. There is a difference between spinning a story forward and rehashing the same information we've had for 24 hours to fill up time on the rundown.

[PhxRedSkin]

Vick should be bloodied, shot, electrocuted, hung or all together. Not to forget cropping his ears as a pup with a steak knife. Let's move on to subjects that warrant intelligent(us) people giving attention.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by PhxRedSkin

Vick should be bloodied, shot, electrocuted, hung or all together. Not to forget cropping his ears as a pup with a steak knife. Let's move on to subjects that warrant intelligent(us) people giving attention.

You forgot drowned.

I've always been a proponent of punishing people with he crime THEY inflicted on someone else.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

While there is some validity to your point, as an insider myself (not at ESPN but previously at another national network) you have to admit these days the media 'creates' more out of a story than simply reporting it. There have been no less than 12 'experts' weighing in on the same story, saying the same things in different words. There is a difference between spinning a story forward and rehashing the same information we've had for 24 hours to fill up time on the rundown.

True. It's a fine line really. We just got out of a two hour meeting here arguing over how much coverage we are and should/should not be giving Vick. Lest anyone think we don't think about these things.

CNNSI right?

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

True. It's a fine line really. We just got out of a two hour meeting here arguing over how much coverage we are and should/should not be giving Vick. Lest anyone think we don't think about these things.

CNNSI right?

The ill fated marriage of a sports magazine and a sports department at a news organziation.. Fun while it lasted, happy I'm not doing it anymore.

[memphisskin]

I agree dogfighting is despicable, but unfortunately the only people who know what happened at that ranch are those four guys charged. Vick has pleaded guilty, and will be punished for his actions. Is banning him for life really necessary? Vick will go to jail and be suspended by the NFL, and he will never be able to recoup what he once had. Seems like punishment enough to me, he'll forever be associated with dogfighting, but is the enemy Mike Vick or dogfighting?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

I agree dogfighting is despicable, but unfortunately the only people who know what happened at that ranch are those four guys charged. Vick has pleaded guilty, and will be punished for his actions. Is banning him for life really necessary? Vick will go to jail and be suspended by the NFL, and he will never be able to recoup what he once had. Its mighty convenient how people want to punish Vick, and he deserves every minute of jail time he gets. However, since none of us actually knows the depth to which he was involved, and the statement of facts that he signed doesn't specify his level of involvement, then its hard for me to digest the level of vitriol and anger that this case has brought out.

To me, it smells of something else...

C'mon don't even try to toss out the race card.