OT: Wilbon joins ESPN FT

I realize espn is incredibly frustrating (Favre, Heat, East Coast stuff, repeat) and I may be one of the few here who still go to espn.com for sporting news, but I was certainly pleased to see Wilbon now doing articles and full time work for ESPN.

In this article, he acknowledges the East Coast Bias and promises to deliver a midwestern slant to his writing. NIce move for ESPN. And being a Midwestern guy, I'm excited to see ESPN address a glaring weakness. Wojo isn't enough.

over 1 year ago Kansas25 11 comments 0 recs |

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Wilbon is a shell of himself

If there is an unkissed superstar ass in the NBA, it’s only because Wilbon is stuck in traffic.

He is approaching Bill Rhoden territory in his reflexive defense of players who commit crimes (For the unaware, Bill Rhoden is a New York Times writer who appears on “The Sports Reporters” and honestly may be functionally mentally disabled.) I seriously wonder if he has suffered a stroke every time I see him on TV.

And lastly, Wilbon’s performance in the wake of Bartman bordered on the criminal. Had some lunatic actually killed or injured Bartman, I think his family would have had a hell of an incitement case against Wilbon. He was unconscionable and irresponsible.

Other than that, I like him.

"It's all in the game, yo"

by Worf on Dec 8, 2010 8:58 PM CST reply actions

I agree, Worf...

and nobody…and I mean absolutely NOBODY, plays the “race card” quite like Wilbon does. It really gets sickening at times.

"I don't care who the manager is OR who they sign in the off-season...I just want a frickin' World Series winner" - Easy Ed

by Easy Ed on Dec 8, 2010 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

What? Examples?

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Dec 9, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

I don't read Wilbon articles, because...

…the guy is an a-hole. Examples? Watch PTI and just listen to him. Very one sided towards the black athlete or the black executive or manager. Blatantly one sided, in fact. Even Kornhiser will get a look of pure disgust on his face from time to time. Just my opinion on him. Apologies if it offended you or anyone else.

"I don't care who the manager is OR who they sign in the off-season...I just want a frickin' World Series winner" - Easy Ed

by Easy Ed on Dec 9, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

I kind of figured that was the whole point of PTI. And Tony’s rep as an a-hole is documented. That said I like both of them and the show. They’re columnists/tv personalities not journalists.

One of the Fins players said he was in complete shock because he thought they were going to crush the Browns. That is just bad coaching if that is the case.

by Villeslgr on Dec 9, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

I watch PTI every day on DVR.

I have never once got that impression. But I also don’t read his stuff, so I thought maybe it comes across there.

I think he defends athletes in general, not black over white. For instance, no one defends Big Ben more than Wilbon.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Dec 9, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I've never really understood Wojo's high ranking in the columnist world.

That’s not to say he’s a poor writer, far from it. But I don’t recall ever reading a column of his and thinking, “wow, this guy’s a premier sports writer.” But that’s just me. I admit I did find his book, “About 80% Luck,” a fictional account of a beat writer following the Cubs in Mesa, to be fairly entertaining.

by shoemile on Dec 9, 2010 4:39 AM CST reply actions

Agree completely,

I find him quite boring.

"You've got to get your damn shirts rolled up and go out and kick somebody's ass. That's what you've got to do. Period." -- Lou Piniella

by tripdenten on Dec 9, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

No I don't think he's a premier sports writer

But I think he is ok. There are ALOT worse out there. I’ll admit I don’t remember his reaction to 03 loss. I must be in the same minority Kansas25 is in; b/c I didn’t cringe when I saw he’ll be writing columns.

''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly

by Madison Cub Fan on Dec 9, 2010 11:44 AM CST reply actions

The fact that Bartman is alive and well today

is in spite of Wilbon, put it that way

"It's all in the game, yo"

by Worf on Dec 9, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

At the very least its nice that ESPN

will have someone writing with “midwestern sensibilities” but IMO Wilbon is yesterday’s news, I remember in college thinking that PTI was the best half-hour of TV. Not anymore, the show has passed its prime.

I also lost a lot of respect for Wilbon when I saw him in person: I was getting off the 152 bus at Clark & Addison before a game and saw Wilbon standing at the corner, I was going to say hello but stopped myself when I noticed that he had his Cubs jersey tucked in.

"You've got to get your damn shirts rolled up and go out and kick somebody's ass. That's what you've got to do. Period." -- Lou Piniella

by tripdenten on Dec 9, 2010 2:24 PM CST reply actions