ESPN Sensationalism
by timlacy on Mar 20, 2008 9:53 AM CDT
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PrintESPN.com loves to tug on the emotions of Cubs fans. As an "Exhibit A," I offer the following misleading headline: "Cubs would-be closer Wood hurt; 'pen implodes ." Here are two excerpts from the story:
- "Kerry Wood's back is bothering him, and the Chicago Cubs still have an opening at closer."
- "Prior to the setback, Wood had the inside track on the job. Now, it's anybody's job. Marmol and Bobby Howry are the other candidates."
This is great. It plays on the tired old story, one especially loved by the Sun-Times (read Mariotti), that Kerry Wood is brittle. It also implies---fasely---that he's the link to whether we'll have a good bullpen or not---with no in-between.
After watching the team this spring, I would argue that our bullpen might be the best in the league ~without~ Wood. He's the icing on an already fantastic cake. He's a feel-good story that'll make our victories this year that much sweeter.
What's the point of this post? Don't get your Cubs news from ESPN. Or at least read it with a highly skeptical eye. - TL
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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the eastern seaboarding programming network is as evil as satan himself
my advice? don't watch their east coast biased programming....
i haven't been to espn.com in 5 years.
Mario Kart Wii -- April 27th!
Don't write everything associated with espn.com off
They actually have some good baseball writers. Rob Neyer, Keith Law, and Jayson Stark all provide great insight from the statistical, scouting, and beat writer perspectives. Of course, they're all inside content you'd have to pay for, but, well worth it.
We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan
Either
ESPN changed the headline or you provided the wrong link because the headline of the article you linked to says "Wood scratched with bad back, then Marmol struggles."
Headlines are written by the lowest schlub on the totem pole anyway.
As far as the article goes, it's an AP article. ESPN didn't write it. Bitch about the AP if you have a problem with it, not ESPN.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
"Bitch about the AP if you have a problem with it, not ESPN"
Dont you get tired of making children cry and running over dogs crossing the street?
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
What your point
Don't you just get tired of being an asshole?
What child is crying by the fact that this was, in fact, an AP article and not an example of ESPN hating the Cubs?
I've got a suggestion. You obviously hate my guts for some fucking reason. Just ignore me.
If Al wants me to stop posting around here, I will. But I don't need you trying to tell me to shut up.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 20, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
I see your lips moving, but
all I hear is blah blah blah, blah blah, blah blah blah blah.
"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"
by lostinthevines on Mar 20, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I would advise against you not posting here
I like when people actually have baseball knowledge around here, makes for far better baseball reading
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
Ive disliked you
since you berated my gammar. Ever since then I notice your post and they are always negative and high and mighty. Last time I called you on it you called me a f&^%ing asshole, whos the a$$hole?
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
OK...
... let's stop right here.
Both Josh and Hammer are valued posters here, and I want both of them to stay. However, I will not tolerate this sniping, and the profanity, Hammer.
So stop now.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Fair enough
Remember though----I never used profanity, if you want me to pull up old posts of him referring to me as a _ _ _ _ing _ _ _ hole I will; including the one above.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
All I'm asking...
.... is let's put the past in the past, be nice, and both of you just carry on.
Deal?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Deal or no Deal
Unlike those idiots on the show, Ill accept the deal.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
I wonder, though...
... whether someone at ESPN.com changed the AP headline to be more "sensationalistic", then changed it back when someone higher up noticed.
The point, I think, is taken. ESPN does sensationalize things. I find a lot of their "news" programming unwatchable.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
As an aside though...
I'm surprised that you seem so unfazed by the Kerry Wood development. He's effectively out a week at minimum, on what is a recurring (if not chronic) problem.
Is there any concern about this at all down there in Mesa?
by Damen Jackson on Mar 20, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
You're right, dude
there should be concern. It seems like every time this organization starts to rely on Woody, he gets hurt. Not his fault, mind you, but history keeps repeating itself!
BRob, DLee, Fuke, ARam, Sori, Soto, Pie, Theriot - Done.
by Canadian Cubs Fan on Mar 20, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Sure
But apparently no one is allowed to point out that this was an AP article without getting attacked by the asshole brigade around here.
Al, I'm sorry. But I'm probably out of here now. I've had it with assholes like Hammer and Santoswoodenlegs. I'm not enjoying this board anymore.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 20, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Stick around Josh.
Don't let'em grind you down. I'm not even taking sides here. I don't know what all has gone one between you; I just would hate to see us lose one of the posters that've been here for awhile.
"Just because you've had enough/ doesn't mean you wanted too much." -Dean Young
Not funny.
And not appropriate, because you have attacked someone who is one of the most valued posters at this site.
I'll expect a public apology from you to Josh. Thank you.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
For that I am sorry then.
FYI, Im not doing any name calling.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
Dude...
Take a breath...I had no idea you were taking posts on a cubs blog so personally. I apologize if I've crossed the line with you. Aren't we all here to root for our team and have some fun with each other?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 20, 2008 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions
You keep doing what you're doing man..
It really isn't my taste, but some of the snipes at you have been wildly inappropriate, given the forum.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 20, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
There is nothing worse..
than wildly inappropriate Snipes.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 20, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
No problem
Actually it's called Halas Hotel. Here's a link:
http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=25#s=25&F=1752
I provided the...
...link and headline as it was written per the post (9:50ish CST). - TL
"Why shouldn't we believe that we're going to win the World Series?" - Ted Lilly, 1/19/2008, Daily Herald interview w/Barry Rozner
I see: Mine was the...
...link headline, not the headline given in the piece itself. - TL
"Why shouldn't we believe that we're going to win the World Series?" - Ted Lilly, 1/19/2008, Daily Herald interview w/Barry Rozner
Ha I read that yesterday
It was funny. Werent they referring to Hart imploding for 4 runs?
Agreed, the Cubs have a good bullpen.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
I love how Marmol is struggling
2.08 ERA are horrible these days.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer
Reliever's ERA's are misleading.
Marmol IS struggling. He's walked way too many hitters and can't seem to find the strike zone. It's a bit worrisome, but he does still have 10 days to figure it out.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I love how they used the word "Prior"
in a sentence also containing "setback" and "Wood"
Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson
ESPN
I wouldn't trust ESPN if they said it was Thursday.
We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.
by puckishcubsfan on Mar 20, 2008 10:18 AM CDT reply actions
Ha ha ha
"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"
by lostinthevines on Mar 20, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Good question
I don't mind Fox Sports, they don't seem as biased and sensational as ESPN, so maybe the PBS of sports?
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
Um...
Just so Al doesn't have to step in, I'll just leave it as I completely disagree with that statement. Unless you are implying that to compare anything to Fox News is just plain cruel, than I completely agree.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
Really just pointing out that
I don't like CNN and that you were making a political opinion.
by LT on Mar 20, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
No I wasn't
I was making a news gathering service opinion. If you took it as political, fine, but I don't like Fox News on a Journalism level.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
Sad thing is
I used to rely on them for my Cubbies/Bears news until I found BCB and WCG. Haven't watched Sportscenter in probably 2 years.
Off-Topic: Harold Reynolds interviewed Mark Prior on mlb.com if you are interested.
Windy City Gridiron
It's a Bears blog like BCB. If you are a Bears fan, check it out. www.windycitygridiron.com
I know what your are talking about
I for some reason was thinking it stood for a cubs blog. I am familiar with WCG and atleast during the season, to me I would consider it to the baseball version of the Cubs.com fan forum. It's good for news like you said, because of it's traffic but as far as actual football talk I prefer Halas Hall at Scout.com.
RELATED -
is there any part of ESPN 1000 (here in the Chicago area) that's remotely tolerable?
The correct answer is No, there is not.
"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"
by lostinthevines on Mar 20, 2008 11:55 AM CDT reply actions
Agree
The Cubs bullpen is very good even if Wood doesn't pitch one regular season inning.
The team may be better off with Wood closing and Marmol and Howry pitching the 7th and 8th innings a la the Tigers with Zumaya and Rodney ahead of Jones and the Indians with betancourt in front of Borowski.
ESPN
I only watch poker on ESPN and Sunday Nite Baseball..... otherwise it's self promotion at it's worst....... what crap they shovel out and news.... they give Fox News credibility.....!!!
ESPN is the egocentric anal orifice of sport ..
Their baseball universe rotates about the binary black holes of the Red Sox and the Yankees. Isn't that enough to deal with? The baseball story of the summer was the Cubs moving from worst to first after that chaotic June, having the second best record then the Yanks. Do you think those ding dongs in Connecticut ever looked anywhere then the Red Sox telex? FEH.
While working out at the Y on Wednesday, I decided to watch ESPN and almost lost my lunch while on the cross trainer. You'd have thought the President was shot the way they covered every angle they could on the Red Sox brouhaha over the dissing of their coaches and trainers. Enough. Excuse me now while I hurl ..
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
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