The Worldwide Cheerleader

Finally, some news organization has finally noticed and written a piece on the rampant boosterism that now passes for journalism and commentary at ESPN. My gosh, the “espys” are the very embodiment of this self-referencing and self-glorificating culture in Bristol.

Writes Newsweek: “Some of this is inevitable. ESPN's lucrative partnerships with the NFL, the NBA, MLB and NASCAR, among others, have put its news operation, and "SportsCenter" in particular, in a unique bind. "Imagine The New York Times owning half of the Broadway theaters whose plays it reviews. Or imagine CNN paying billions of dollars for exclusive ... rights to cover the War in Iraq," wrote ESPN's own ombudsman, Le Anne Schreiber, in a May 10 Web column titled "At ESPN, Conflict of Interest Is Business as Usual." It has led to the occasional gaffe, like ESPN's decision to cancel its well-regarded drama "Playmakers" after the NFL complained about the show.”

The truth is, ESPN can no longer afford to bite the hands that feed it. Thus, we get schlock and jive from hosts such as Stu Scott and nary a word of criticism of the leagues with which the network has deals. Kobe rape trial? What rape trial? Tim Donaghy? Never heard of him.