Re: Re: ESPN Conspiracy? eh? I'm surprised they didn't call the movie "Soccerfan" instead of "Swimfan." Go for that whole believable subtext thing.
Re: Re: Re: ESPN Conspiracy? eh? Sportscenter anchor: No, I can't show MetroStars highlights...I love baseball Soccerfan: (out of breath) Its OK, I want you to
Re: Gimme a break Red Herring as far as I am concerned. I have not read one post that even suggested that Soccer highlights should replace or come in front of ANY sport.... Only thing I see (normally) are complaints of ZERO coverage on ESPN or negative coverage on ESPN (or Romey or whomever). Normally these people are than called to carpet for complaining (which, does grow somewhat tiresome, I agree). My point was simply to imply that those complaining about those complaning, doth complain to much (to quote Shakesphere in a round about way)!
Re: Re: Gimme a break By definition, if you're adding something to a show with a time limit, you have to take something else out. So yes you have read such posts.
This is what is called in my business.... A strawman! There is also another term I will give you... you go figure it out "Post Hoc, ergo Proctor Hoc." If you took Logic or Latin, you will understand the point. Your conclusion is based on faulty logic. No one suggests that Soccer deserves more highlights than any other sports. But in a 90 minute sportscenter, I would think that a few seconds of highlights, or even a mention of the score could do. What had more interest. The highligts of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays game, or a 10 second mention of the Metrostars important win toward their playoff drive. Justify editorially that decision.
Re: Re: Re: Gimme a break Like I said, those Devil Ray highlights where crucial. So were those KC highlights. Especially in light of the fact that you had 60 minutes of Baseball tonight following that 90 minute long sportscenter. Try again!
Re: Re: ESPN Conspiracy? eh? Or is that people cut back on the whinning because soccer coverage improved?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Gimme a break Oh, I forgot about that heavy cross soccer fans have to wear where our highlights are more important than the highlights of other sports. People tune in for Devil Ray highlights. People tune in for KC highlights (especially that last series where they were playing the A's). More people than tune in for soccer highlights. Try again
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Gimme a break No, you are right. Absolutely no one cares. In fact, had sportscerter devoted an ENTIRE 10 seconds of their show, millions of fans would have turn the show off immediately in outrage. Fox Sports Net would have scene an incredible ratings increase from the disaffected Devil Rays and Expos fans who had only FOUR HIGHLIGHTS rather than the FIVE THEY EXPECTED. PATHETIC!
To add to a debate about a sportscenter I didn't see last night: I do find it strange they showed a Brazilian highlight when they had one from the Metros game which was probably just as good - if not better - right here at home. The Williams pass to Diallo, the Diallo right footed/across body cross, followed by the Faria bullet header, was brilliant stuff, and most likely stands up to the Brazilian highlight. I say that, of course, without actually seeing the Brazilian highlight, so I'm open to justifiable criticism. Still, the Metros play was good soccer being played right here at home - on ESPN's channel no less - and would have fit right in in any highlights package. Just a strange editorial decision it seems to me. I don't believe in any conspiracies, but their decisions still often mystify me.
well said, FlashMan... that was as beautiful a goal as you'll see, and SportsCenter blew it as usual.
Conspiracy?? Let's everyone start to breathe oxygen from planet Earth. All things on this planet are about money and advertising dollars, anyone not breathing oxygen and not making transactions with dollars, please make a comment about ESPN.
ESPN...??? Why does this site still insist on complaining about the programming habits of ESPN? How many of us have watched all the MLS programming on their stations?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Gimme a break The only thing pathetic I see is the many soccer geeks here on Big Soccer constantly complaining that our marginal sport doesn't get enough coverage . The Devil Rays and Royals regularly get crowds that the Mutiny ( when they were around) and the Wizards could only hope to get .
Oh scr*w it. When are you guys gonna wake up? There is a conspiracy. It is in the interest of ESPN and all the major networks to diss MLS, or any other "sport" that would displace revenue producing commercial programming with "no commercial" programming. That is why skateboarding and other Xgames are on every other day, and NFL, MLB etc are on multiple times a day, while Soccer Saturday (commercials only at half time) gets aired once a week IF MLS BUYS THE TIME (now on Thursdays), like some sleezy infomercial. ESPN, like the major networks, cover sports which bring in the ADVERTISING dollars. These networks have no commitment to sports, just to money. They don't hate soccer, so much as they hate that those 45 minute time blocks between halftime which produces no revenue. LIKE MLS, ESPN IS A BUSINESS. This ofcourse, explains why both suck. I remember the early "promise" of ESPN... After a hard day of LIVE NFL, NBA or MLB, those lucky stiffs who had CABLE would stay up long into the night watching live or recently recorded CFL, Grand Prix, cricket, Irish Hurling, ausie-rules football, and yes the ROUND football... But look what we've got... The occaisional canned commercial sporting event, and sports highlights of the MLB, NFL and NASCAR events they or their affiliates broadcast earlier, out the yingyang. The same highlights, over and over again, hour after hour, day after day and night after night. No variety, no excitement. JUST CHEAP PROGRAMMING. ESPN sucks, and they suck ON PURPOSE. And only the stupidity of MLS mgt prevents MLS from seeing that. MLS should have gone to FOX long ago, instead of stroking MICKEY MOUSE, hoping for a treat.
Re: ESPN...??? Me, and I'm sure most other "soccer geeks" who don't have the dish or the $70/mo. dig cable package...
Re: ESPN...??? Not me. Im sorry to diss MLS, but it lies outside of some apparent "American soccer conspiracy" - fact is, basher or not, MLS is considered a minor league sport in this country (that in itself is another debate). I think that Sportscenter relegates it, not because its soccer, but because the league is considered so feeble. Whereas Beckham, Brazil and the World Cup are seen by ESPN as (foreign, but nevertheless) a big deal. Thats all they care about...whats perceived as important to their audience. Case in point - the Basketball World Champs - sure you'd think that an Intl tournament is more important than 1 NFL game - but in American reality, its not.
ESPN? "Soccer geeks"? Where are you going to be for the Champions League on ESPN? How about the UEFA Cup on FSW? I dont think it really matters how many of us watch, all that matters is that we all remember the difficulties of our search. As long as we are diligent, we will win the battle. Then, after the battle is won we will have the story to tell to our children. "This is the bar that I was at when the US beat Portugal..." How great is that?
Re: ESPN? Oh yeah , constantly harping that ESPN Sportcenter has made fun of soccer will win the battle ,, right . Or when some minor newpaper writer or radio guy says something about bad soccer , people breathlessly come here to Bigsoccer to whine about it . Those are the people I call Soccergeeks .
Re: Re: ESPN? Ed: Re-read my posts. You will note that I was not harping. And those who know mel know that I don't generally harp. But it is not a defensible position to suggest that ESPN Sportscenter acts in a consistent manner toward soccer as it relates to other sports similarily situated. The fact remains, they make an editorial decision on MLS and soccer in general to which I disagree. The first amendment, and this web site, has provided me a forum to voice my displeasure with their often strange editorial decisions. I am certian no one in Bristol could care one cent about my opinion. If they did, then you could be certain that MLS would get 10 SECONDS OF HIGHLIGTS, and the D-rays-Royals game would get only 30 seconds, rather than 40 seconds of highlights. You see, they are not mutually exclusive. Adding MLS highlights does not mean excluding (place your team here) highlights. However, it may mean showing 3 replays, rather than 4. What is consistently strange to me is the growing sentiment that suggests that I, and those who may feel the same way I do, should just lie down, take the crumbs we are feed, and be happy about it. In other words, I should just lie down and take it! There is a growing Stockholm Syndrome on this board that is becoming breathtaking! (That last line should get some intereting commentary) There is a difference between whinning and constructive critizism. Know it, learn it, love it!
And he finishes it off with a "let's move to Fox" just in case anybody wanted to give his sanity the benefit of the doubt.