ESPN sucks, so do thread closers

[Guest Princess Leena]

Treating the gay Amaechi thing like it's incredibly important.

 

Stat Boy wouldn't give any points during that segment!

[MrRant 0]

The ESPN.com redesign.

[2GOLD 0]

ESPN NEWS interrupting the actual sports coverage to inform me that ESPN has signed an exclusive content deal with Verizon. And then spending 3 of the 30 minutes that originally were to be used for highlights and sports to tell me I could get highlights and sports on my cell phone if I have Verizon.

 

Guess I have to do that, since ESPN damn well won't show highlights.

[Bored 0]

We're probably not that far way from when ESPN just becomes it's own 24 hour infomercial for everything ESPN related. Hell the only reason why they are giving John Amaechi as much attention as they are is because they are publishing his book.

[Vern Gagne 0]

It was a fucking torch.

[naiwf 0]

NASCAR Now replacing ATH/PTI for a whole week. This is ridiculous.

[CanadianChris 0]

I couldn't believe it either. That has to be one of the more boneheaded programming decisions ever.

[MFer 0]

Such bullshit.

[cabbageboy 0]

Oh so I take it that this NASCAR show isn't a permanent thing? I damn near freaked out when I tuned in a few minutes ago and saw that shit instead of Kornheiser and Wilbon.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I couldn't believe it either. That has to be one of the more boneheaded programming decisions ever.

 

How exactly? NASCAR programming is going to smoke ATH/PTI in the ratings.

[Hawk 34 0]

Considering that they have done full coverage of the Indy 500 from testing to qualifying to pre-race action for years, how exactly is giving the Daytona 500 the same coverage a bad idea especially since the Daytona 500 is by far a bigger event and holds more relevance to the general viewers right now when sports is typically quiet with the exception of college basketball.

 

It's one a week hype event. It's not like PTI and ATH had much to talk about. I really don't care to see Tony's take on the Dog Show and Wilbon praise whichever old motown act he chooses that played the grammy's last night.

[Guest Smues]

I am so fucking sick of PTI getting bumped. A fucking week of Nascar? Fuck you ESPN. And obviously PTI must get decent ratings if they have to rape it by putting the last segment in the middle of sports center.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

I couldn't believe it either. That has to be one of the more boneheaded programming decisions ever.

 

How exactly? NASCAR programming is going to smoke ATH/PTI in the ratings.

That stuff really gets better ratings than PTI? I doubt it...

 

Considering that they have done full coverage of the Indy 500 from testing to qualifying to pre-race action for years, how exactly is giving the Daytona 500 the same coverage a bad idea

Because ESPN doesn't preempt one of the few shows people still want to watch on their channel, in order to give time to Indy.

 

Besides, isn't this what ESPN2 is for. ESPN usually has poker or those lame car shows for ancient people at 5-6.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

I,Max should be resurrected and brought to ESPN.

[Guest Smues]

I,Max should be resurrected and brought to ESPN.

 

No

[Mecca 0]

I couldn't believe it either. That has to be one of the more boneheaded programming decisions ever.

 

How exactly? NASCAR programming is going to smoke ATH/PTI in the ratings.

That stuff really gets better ratings than PTI? I doubt it...

 

Considering that they have done full coverage of the Indy 500 from testing to qualifying to pre-race action for years, how exactly is giving the Daytona 500 the same coverage a bad idea

Because ESPN doesn't preempt one of the few shows people still want to watch on their channel, in order to give time to Indy.

 

Besides, isn't this what ESPN2 is for. ESPN usually has poker or those lame car shows for ancient people at 5-6.

 

You'd be shocked at how many people like Nascar.....there's alot of redneck dumbasses in this country.

[Hawk 34 0]

Wilbon and Tony take breaks all the time, especially during the dead periods and this is one those times because with the exception of the NBA All-Star Game and The Daytona 500 (Which is a major event). Do you really want another Lebatard/McMullin show? Wilbon is busy hanging off Barkley's balls in Vegas anyways.

 

When they take days off, it's usually replaced by a horrible pair of guest hosts or with an extended sportscenter/baseball tonight. Even though it is in neutral right now, NASCAR still pops a great rating for any network, so airing coverage is hardly a bad move.

[CanadianChris 0]

It's not like there anything going on between now and race day, though. What's happened between yesterday and today that's so newsworthy, they need an hourlong show this afternoon? And every other day this week?

[Hawk 34 0]

It's not like there anything going on between now and race day, though. What's happened between yesterday and today that's so newsworthy, they need an hourlong show this afternoon? And every other day this week?

 

There are the Duels on Thursday and that should get coverage as it's pretty much a big deal in relation to the actual race. I'll grant that coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday (since Monday deals with the fallout from qualifying and of course, the controversy that always comes about) but Thursday and Friday are actually important and carries over intrigue.

 

I don't think people should make a big deal out of this. It's not like it's going to be a weekly thing. Daytona 500 is a major sporting event and given that sports isn't that active right now, ESPN isn't making a silly move to give this more coverage.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

There was also talk of people getting suspended for making illegal modifications to their cars. In NASCAR, around Daytona time, that's a big deal. I'm in the middle of NASCAR country, so I'm stuck hearing it all the time too. I just accept it and move on.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

I couldn't believe it either. That has to be one of the more boneheaded programming decisions ever.

 

How exactly? NASCAR programming is going to smoke ATH/PTI in the ratings.

That stuff really gets better ratings than PTI? I doubt it...

 

Considering that they have done full coverage of the Indy 500 from testing to qualifying to pre-race action for years, how exactly is giving the Daytona 500 the same coverage a bad idea

Because ESPN doesn't preempt one of the few shows people still want to watch on their channel, in order to give time to Indy.

 

Besides, isn't this what ESPN2 is for. ESPN usually has poker or those lame car shows for ancient people at 5-6.

 

You'd be shocked at how many people like Nascar.....there's alot of redneck dumbasses in this country.

I know there are tons of Nascar fans...

 

But, a daily show at 5pm doing better ratings?

 

I don't know.

 

If ESPN really cared about ratings at that spot, they'd replay NFL Today, NFL Matchup 24/7. Since anything football owns the ratings.

[the pinjockey 0]

I don't think it is an attempt at a ratings grab, but an attempt to build the NASCAR audience. Now that they have a vested interest again (Busch series and 2nd half of Cup series on their network) they are putting the promotional blitz behind it. Using one of their only real premier time slots for a week is not the worst idea in the world for them to try and expose people to it.

 

Time to throw Dick Vitale under the bus again. Watching Mike and "whoever it was that cohosted for" Mike yesterday, they were talking about the pros and cons of what ESPN has done to the sports world with the whole 30000th episode crap. They raised the issue of the announcers making too much of an attempt to become personalities themselves and were actually pretty realistic about how it is. Of course their next guest is Vitale who babbles for a minute then launches into his DICKIE V voice "I remember being told people want the two E's: education and entertainment, blah blah blah entertain blah blah blah". People watch the games to be entertained, they don't tune in to be entertained by you you stupid fuck. If you can be entertaining while still focusing on the game great, but that is clearly not the case here. It doesn't say "Dick Vitale announces basketball game" in TV Guide.

[snuffbox 0]

Aren't there other channels already catering to the car drivin' hobby?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Wilbon and Tony take breaks all the time, especially during the dead periods and this is one those times because with the exception of the NBA All-Star Game and The Daytona 500 (Which is a major event). Do you really want another Lebatard/McMullin show? Wilbon is busy hanging off Barkley's balls in Vegas anyways.

 

When they take days off, it's usually replaced by a horrible pair of guest hosts or with an extended sportscenter/baseball tonight. Even though it is in neutral right now, NASCAR still pops a great rating for any network, so airing coverage is hardly a bad move.

 

 

That was my first thought. Didn't think anyone liked ATH and one of the two hosts of PTI is usually on vacation.

[naiwf 0]

The problem is that unless you like NASCAR you won't watch any program about it for an hour. Even if you don't like ATH or one of the PTI guys isn't around, you still have the chance to hear news/thoughts about at least one of the sports you do watch. I just think it's silly to alienate the non-NASCAR base even if it is during a down week in February.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I don't think it's a big deal. If Kornheiser and Wilbon are on vacation or something, why not just let the show rest for a week instead of bringing in unpopular guest hosts?

[Art Sandusky 0]

Because the denizens of forums.thesmartmarks.com have no tolerance for motor sports.

 

Haha, Toyota's gone and cheated before the season even started.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I'm not a NASCAR fan, but I realize that there are a bunch of them out there. If it wasn't making money, then ESPN wouldn't do it. Then again, there was that whole thing with the cell phone...

[Guest Smues]

I don't think it's a big deal. If Kornheiser and Wilbon are on vacation or something, why not just let the show rest for a week instead of bringing in unpopular guest hosts?

 

But that's a big if. ESPN is notorious for bumping PTI for stupid stuff when Kornheiser and Wilbon aren't on vacation or otherwise unavailable. I wish The Tony Kornheiser show had already re-started so I'd know if this was a planned vacation thing or an ESPN fucking stupid thing.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

NASCAR is transitioning from being a "good ol' boy" sport, to being mainstream entertainment. It makes sense for ESPN to cater to and build that audience.