ESPN's Own Golf Site Bashes The Network's Coverage Of The Sport
Thursday, March 06, 2008
I really don't know how the whole "In Partnership With ESPN" thing works, but there are a multitude of websites that ESPN has brought on to add online content. One of those is Golf World and a writer for the magazine/website is none too happy with the network...
My friends at ESPN have decided golf is no longer worthy of more than a drive-by on "SportsCenter," maybe 15 seconds after a race-car reporter gives me three minutes on Jimmie Johnson's intake manifold prior to the start of the GreaseMonkey 500. If Tiger Woods is playing, however, we might get a half-dozen highlights and Stuart Scott's best Flip Wilson impersonation....Well then. Golf is such an enigma these days, but the "Tiger Factor" plays such a huge role in coverage. I'm willing to be that Mr. Hawkins won't feel this way when ESPN covers the first two rounds of the Masters this year. It's like they make up for all of the lack of coverage in two days.
It's arrogant. It's a bit irresponsible. More than anything, it's so petty. The worldwide leader can talk all it wants about how golf doesn't fit its demographics, but there are a zillion middle-aged men in this country whose only use for the remote is to turn on ESPN. A lot of them play golf. I'm relatively certain more than a few of them care about what's going on in pro golf, even at the Honda Classic.
Editor's note: John Hawkins appears regularly on Golf Channel, but even if he didn't, he would still be mad at ESPN because of its lack of golf coverage. Trust us.
The Angry Golfer: Hey ESPN—Give Golf Its Due (Golf Digest)
15 Comments:
If he's upset with ESPN's coverage of golf (or lack thereof), that's fine, but he sure comes across like a self-righteous arrogant jerk with his NASCAR bashing.
Yeah he kinda does Anon.
you think their lack of coverage now is sad, wait a month until their 2 days of masters coverage begins. it will be the exact opposite, non-stop golf. espn doesn't deserve the masters.
-dan
It'll be just like the NASCAR coverage I mentioned earlier. It'll be a five-minute package. Three minutes dedicated to Tiger. One minute of Mickleson. 30 seconds of "notables" (Els, Garcia, Singh). And then a brief mention of the leader.
This complaint is so tired. ESPN has no obligation whatsoever to give equal time to sports. They are in the BUSINESS of sports - and if making more money means devoting more time to products within their umbrella, then that's what they will do.
The Golf channel blatantly "overcovers" the stars of their world why wouldn't ESPN be expected to do the same?
And that defense is so tired. If that is the case, then they shouldn't call themselves the self-proclaimed "Worldwide Leader in Sports." They should call themselves the "Worldwide Leader in Sports That Appear on Our Networks." There wouldn't be this many complaints if they were doing their job the right way. They have become a de-facto monopoly in the sports news business, and, like real monopolies, they do a lot of shit that they wouldn't do if they had competition because they know they couldn't get away with it.
NHL fans would like to tell the golf people where to stick it regarding griping about ESPN's coverage.
Sorry Mr. Hawkins, but Stewart Cink and Dickie Pride do not equal ratings. No Tiger = no coverage
They don't bang the drum for golf because they didn't get the TV contract. That's the way ESPN thinks. They cover the stuff they broadcast...so it's not about the sports for them, but the money. They are utterly SIMONIACAL. (its a perfect word for them...)
@anon
The Worldwide Leader in Sports.
It's a slogan. For a product. It has no more obligation to be completely true than any other corporate slogan.
And what is a de-facto monopoly anyway - is that like being a little bit pregnant? ESPN isn't a monopoly because there are many, many other options for sports news. They just happen to be the biggest kid on the block. I'm sure every small business would love to see their product featured in wal-marts across the country, but guess what - wal-mart controls their business and sells what they want.
If golf doesn't like it, they should start their own network devoted entirely to the sport. Oh wait....
ESPN isn't a monopoly because there are many, many other options for sports news.
Name one on television
@anon
"name one on television"
Fox springs to mind.
@gibbon jockey
If you mean Fox Sports Net, you deserve ridicule if you think "The Best Damn Sport Show Period" is sports news.
What about FSN Final Score?
And I'm surprised GJ didn't bring up "fair and balanced".
All of ESPN's highlights are like this. It's funny that he brought up NASCAR, because NASCAR has the same problem. ESPN's NASCAR highlights consist of the following: a Dale Earnhardt Junior highlight, a Jeff Gordon highlight, a Jimmie Johnson highlight, and a Tony Stewart highlight. And then they finish the highlight with "Oh, by the way, Matt Kenseth won the race."