My Hatred for ESPN is Now Complete

[Townhallsavoy]

From Cowherd to Bayless to Smith to Wilbon to Finebaum and now Whitlock.

http://www.sportsgrid.com/espn/jason-whitlock-hired-espn-leave-fox-sports-1-tv/

Jason Whitlock, provocative sports columnist, used to write for ESPN. Since he left for Fox Sports, he’s criticized them a ton, and said lots of things that have made people mad. You may know him for the time he made a super-duper-clever joke about Jeremy Lin having a small penis. That was really dumb.

Well, he just got hired by ESPN. The timing is perfect, for them. This is a big coup, ‘cuz the dude attracts eyeballs, and I swear that’s not a fat joke.

ESPN president John Skipper has capped a whirlwind month by snatching Fox Sports’ top digital talent and longtime ESPN nemesis Jason Whitlock, just days before the launch of Fox Sports 1, sources exclusively tell The Big Lead.

This shocking development – Whitlock famously left ESPN in 2006 after an interview with this website – culminates Skipper’s master plan to define ESPN as the Worldwide Leader in original sports thought and intellect, while letting his new challenger, Fox Sports 1, go the “jockularity” route.

I’m sure if you go on Twitter, you will that Whitlock is now the butt (or penis?) of many jokes. He has said plenty of legitimately inflammatory things, so this makes sense. But he gets a bit of a bad rap. Skipper said he’s looking “for smart talent and unique points of view … we’re on the lookout for people who can make us smarter.” You can joke all you want, but Whitlock is smart. Recently, he was very smart about Trayvon Martin. He was also very smart about Riley Cooper.

He might say some stupid things, he might yell, but he won’t be Skip Bayless. He won’t be Stephen A. Smith. He’s far smarter than them (yeah, I know, so is your pet turtle), and he’s going to be interesting to watch, and interesting to discuss.

Don’t get used to this, ESPN, but… good job. You’re growing up.

Photo via

This article is spinning this as a positive, but I'm not.

I don't like Whitlock because he's opinionated politically and socially and that's all he is. 

In fact, look at that list up top.  None of those guys are known for playing sports.  None of them.  They're pencil-dick assholes who are controversial and stir up bullshit just to get attention and money. 

I'm surprised College Gameday still features the same guys.  I'm surprised they didn't boot Lee Corso for being too fun and collegiate and hire Richard M. Huffington the Fourth to fill his spot to offer commentary on the latest Twitter updates. 

The days of watching and learning about sports are over.  I know sports are just a game, but they were a bit different by definition in my mind.  They were a sport.  Mario is a game.  Monopoly is a game.  Football is a sport.  Basketball is a sport. 

But they're turning into cartoons if you watch ESPN.

[AUTiger1]

You know that Olberman is back on the air as well?

[Snaggletiger]

You know that Olberman is back on the air as well?

From way downtown.....BANG!

[GH2001]

You know that Olberman is back on the air as well?

He is very good at the sports gig. Not so much in politics.

[Snaggletiger]

He is very good at the sports gig. Not so much in politics.

^^This^^  Entertain me.  Don't try and influence me or give me your opinion.

[Godfather]

^^This^^  Entertain me.  Don't try and influence me or give me your opinion.

You should dress like you live in 2013 and not 1985

[dallaswareagle]

^^This^^  Entertain me.  Don't try and influence me or give me your opinion.

Guess you don't watch much TV these days. Its Hollywood's job to tell how to think. Its ESPN job to tell us who to root for.

[AUTiger1]

He is very good at the sports gig. Not so much in politics.

Too bad he will bring his politics to the sports world.  He won't be able to help himself. 

http://www.allmediany.com/articles/7425-keith-olbermann-mixing-sports-and-politics-on-new-espn2-show

Keith Olbermann Mixing Sports and Politics on New ESPN2 Show

15 Aug 2013 09:03 PM EST

- by Alex Mangini, Staff Writer; Image: Keith Olbermann at an event in 2012 (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Newly-reappointed ESPN host Keith Olbermann sat down with The Hollywood Reporter this week to address the parameters of his new show, expressing interest in convincing President Obama and former President George W. Bush to come on as guests.

The former Sportscenter anchor, MSNBC and Current TV host has had falling-outs with his last few employers before finding a new home back where he started. Olbermann claims his new late-weeknight ESPN2 program will focus on sports but could see politics creep in.

“I would like to sit down and talk baseball with George Bush, because I think it would be astounding, and I think there’s a small chance his Secret Service detail would tackle me and throw me to the ground, just for the hell of it,” Olbermann said.

The commentator admitted that his past relationships with employers have soiled his reputation, and that he hopes his new gig can help toward repairing it.

“"I could see it on my tombstone, or at least in my obit: 'Keith Olbermann, who left ESPN in a tempest,’” Olbermann said. "What I would like to go for is: 'Keith Olbermann, who left ESPN in a tempest in 1997 and then returned later and retired with a gold watch.' I'd like to give that a shot, having repaired most of the damage. I think that really would be great."”

He did, though, have some harsh words for former Current TV boss Al Gore.

"When you're working for somebody whom you admired politically, who turns out to be a clod, the scales fall from your eyes,” Olbermann said. “Sorry. Al underdelivered. I mean that's just simply the case. I don't want to dwell on it, but it's true.”

I would bet dollars to donuts he will get political. 

[Godfather]

Too bad he will bring his politics to the sports world.  He won't be able to help himself. 

I would bet dollars to donuts he will get political.

Donuts....mmmmm 

[Townhallsavoy]

Guess you don't watch much TV these days. Its Hollywood's job to tell how to think. Its ESPN job to tell us who to root for.

This x 10000. 

ESPN wants you to know who to root for, who's the bad guy, and even further, they want you to know how you should react to stories like Trayvon Martin, Riley Cooper, and other scandals/political stories. 

[Godfather]

This forum is becoming very cynical. Can't we just make fun of Snaggle.

[WiregrassTiger]

This x 10000. 

ESPN wants you to know who to root for, who's the bad guy, and even further, they want you to know how you should react to stories like Trayvon Martin, Riley Cooper, and other scandals/political stories.

Are you seriously promoting the idea that one shouldn't watch Sports Center in order to become a more well informed voter? What do you do then? Flip a coin?

[AUChizad]

Too bad he will bring his politics to the sports world.  He won't be able to help himself. 

I would bet dollars to donuts he will get political.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/sports/after-16-year-absence-olbermann-is-said-to-be-returning-to-espn-to-host-show.html?_r=0

On his new show, Olbermann will be free to discuss matters other than sports, including pop culture and current events, but not politics, the two-year pact specifies.

[Snaggletiger]

This forum is becoming very cynical. Can't we just make fun of Snaggle.

Why don't you like me, dude?  You keep following me around making jokes about my weight and my height.  I'm very sensitive about those things but you just keep on and on. 



Oh....and do you have a hundo you could loan me?  You know, for travel expenses.

[AUTiger1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/sports/after-16-year-absence-olbermann-is-said-to-be-returning-to-espn-to-host-show.html?_r=0

Just wait.  As soon as someone pulls a Riley Cooper he won't be able to stop himself.  There is a reason why he can't keep from pissing off all his higher ups that he has worked for.

[Godfather]

Why don't you like me, dude?  You keep following me around making jokes about my weight and my height.  I'm very sensitive about those things but you just keep on and on. 



Oh....and do you have a hundo you could loan me?  You know, for travel expenses.