An open letter to ESPN

Over the years the ‘worldwide leader’ has done many wonderful things for sports entertainment and television. They have always been on the forefront of what’s next and what can improve the fan experience. The internet has been and will continue to be the future of television. ESPN, keeping with their traditions, is surging forward with Espn3.com (formerly espn360.com) and access to games from TV, PC, phone, Ipad etc etc etc… GREAT!! So what could be wrong with this, for starters forcing it on cable and satellite providers and fans before technology is ready. Also, doing it at the expense of quality, quality you ask? Yes quality, like quality producers, editors, writers, and directors. In the last two weeks, I personally have been affected by this lack of quality control and/or common sense broadcasting from ESPN.

Incident 1: The World Series of Poker November 9

The boom of poker can be attributed to the likes of guys like fossil man or the original moneymaker, and yes even the worldwide leader. The coverage of all things WSOP and hype machine that is ESPN has brought poker way into the mainstream. They typically do a great job of condensing thousands of hands into the best action or best story lines and then add new excitement like last year adding the thrill of a final suspenseful night. “The November 9”, pause the action in the spring when it gets down to the final table of the main event and then bring them back in November for a live online final or a tape delayed and edited final 2 hours of great poker! How can you screw that up? Maybe by not understanding DVR (tivo for those of you still going old school)! That’s right ESPN, people have lives, jobs, families and DVR is the true technology break through that has changed how people think about and use television. People are responsible for understanding how DVR has limitations for live sports or even shows that follow live sports (i.e. Sunday night programming during football season), but for a taped event touted as 2hr primetime must see tv from 10 to Midnight (that did start on time at 10) should be easily able to run in the allotted time. Not cutting off as the river card (last card for non poker people) of the final hand for the WSOP main event bracelet! Now as bad as this was, I knew who won and didn’t need to see him celebrate, but come on – it’s just pathetic for a multi billion dollar company to have Snafu’s of this nature.

Incident 2: #4 Ohio State at #9 Florida basketball

So the beginning of the game was not available because the game before ran over, but that is not ESPN’s fault and the start of the game was available on the non HD channel in Ohio and Florida and supposedly on espn3.com. Well first, let that information be known before tip off not right at tip off; secondly, espn3.com was a definite no go for connection to watch the game. You could watch the end of the other game on espn3.com, that worked, but it was on ESPNHD, so why would you need to? Anyway, that was just the beginning; the real problem was the end of the game. After the past two national spotlight games in which the gators have ‘gotten over’ on the bucks it was nice to see our returning players and young freshman go down to Gainesville and put a whooping on the gators. It would have been even better to see the last minute and maybe an interview with winning coach Thad Matta, but NOOOO. We got switched to GIRLS basketball! That’s right, you heard me, the half empty stadium of #1 Uconn vs. #2 Baylor WOMENS basketball (and this ‘game’ was already airing espn2)! Call me any name you want for my non evolved, title 9 hating Neanderthal self, but that is ridiculous! You have lost it ESPN, I’d rather you just go back to ESPN plus where the local affiliates can pay to pick up the buckeye games. You suck! You are no longer ‘cooler than the other side of the pillow’ you now are misguided and out of focus like the other ‘lazier’ eye! You need to go back back back to quality production, directing, and editing. Entirely stupid pointless network, you should change your name to MMSN, Money Money Sports Network.