What is wrong with ESPN??

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Heck so do I. But to paint such a large brush against all of ESPN and usually only ESPN is what gets to me. I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does. I'm sure you'd feel the same if every other week there were threads here about how all lawyers are money-hungry soulless scumbags. Granted, this isn't a message board about law firms.

People keep saying talk about the good person he is. Well ESPN has been, but the reality is that there was much more to him than just that. And it can't be nor should it be ignored. Problem is all people seem to be hearing is the negative.

It's okay to mention the negatives. My big problem was with media outlets starting the story with all the negatives. Just seemed insensitive.

[70Chip]

A couple of points about the press covering this story:

1. Reporters will often confuse press availability with the quality of a person's character. Someone that won't help them do their work must not be a good person. For those of us who are not in the media and are even a little skeptical of the press ourselves, this confusion is particularly irritating. Does anyone doubt that if Taylor had been source for Bayless or a guest on Cowterd's show that they would be singing a different tune today? A greater effort needs to be made to treat everyone fairly and not play favorites with sources. This is called objectivity.

2. Taylor lives in the same kind of affluent neighborhood that a lot of these reporters like Skip Bayless live in. It's much easier to believe that Taylor brought this on himself through his life choices than it is to think that it was merely a random occurrence that could happen to anyone - even those in million dollar homes. This is called denial.

3. In watching ESPN2 this morning Mike Golic and the other Mike's stand in were trying to be sensitive to the situation but it was obvious as the show dragged on that ESPN's connections to the Redskins are tenuous at best and they were not able to line up anyone (except for Mort and Clayton who were going to be on anyways) to talk with them about it in a meaningful way at least at that early hour. Perhaps this will compel them to repair the breach. I have been extremely critical of ESPN in the past but in fairness, they are at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to the Skins and all of that is not their fault.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

A couple of points about the press covering this story:

1. Reporters will often confuse press availability with the quality of a person's character. Someone that won't help them do their work must not be a good person. For those of us who are not in the media and are even a little skeptical of the press ourselves, this confusion is particularly irritating. Does anyone doubt that if Taylor had been source for Bayless or a guest on Cowterd's show that they would be singing a different tune today? A greater effort needs to be made to treat everyone fairly and not play favorites with sources. This is called objectivity.

2. Taylor lives in the same kind of affluent neighborhood that a lot of these reporters like Skip Bayless live in. It's much easier to believe that Taylor brought this on himself through his life choices than it is to think that it was merely a random occurrence that could happen to anyone - even those in million dollar homes. This is called denial.

3. In watching ESPN2 this morning Mike Golic and the other Mike's stand in were trying to be sensitive to the situation but it was obvious as the show dragged on that ESPN's connections to the Redskins are tenuous at best and they were not able to line up anyone (except for Mort and Clayton who were going to be on anyways) to talk with them about it in a meaningful way at least at that early hour. Perhaps this will compel them to repair the breach. I have been extremely critical of ESPN in the past but in fairness, they are at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to the Skins and all of that is not their fault.

Wait, I'm not understanding- Which is denial? Believing it was random or believing Taylor somehow brought this on himself?

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Wait, I'm not understanding- Which is denial? Believing it was random or believing Taylor somehow brought this on himself?

It's denial to pretend that death doesn't come for each of us. When you suggest that Taylor brought this on himself you are trying to make yourself exempt somehow. As the man said,

"While them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely."