re: .

quote:

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There's good programming on ESPN and there's gimmicky, tedious programming. It's not all great and it's certainly not all horrible like the hipster sports crowd would have you believe.

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I sort of agree with this.

I watch ESPN, but not near as much as I used to. I do watch SportsCenter sometimes, but have to stop every now and then when they just refuse to leave something alone. I want to watch SC for the highlights, but sadly those are fewer and farther between than they used to be. Now it's all about "breaking" or "sexy" news. Or major points that bring endless discussion (like Tebow or Lebron, for example). Weirdly enough, I don't really like MLB, but it's the best time of year for SC because it means they actually have to show highlights. But that doesn't mean they still don't try to get into TMZ mode and make a huge deal about David Ortiz tossing a bat after a game-winning HR. If SC stuck to highlights and light commentary, it'd still be one of the best shows out there (like it used to be in the late 90s).

Outside of SC, I watch ESPN for games obviously. But I do watch some original programming. I really enjoy a lot of the 30 for 30 series. And sure, a lot of their talking head shows are annoying, but I do still enjoy Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption most of the time...and I watch those knowing that people like Wilbon or Plaschke may piss me off at the drop of a hat. And even though there is some solid stupidity spewed on those shows, I mainly watch them because it hits the major sports news points of the day and I can sort of keep up with what is going on.

Outside of those specific shows I mentioned, I don't watch much ESPN. I do think NFL Insiders is decent, but it comes on too early for me to watch it, and I don't like it enough to DVR.

I do think their NFL coverage is okay, despite Chris fricking Berman anchoring it. I think Ditka is an idiot as well. But I find the overall, the show/coverage works fairly well.

I do find it funny when people act like there is literally nothing good that ESPN does though...it's almost like the cool thing to do is to hate on that network. And the most annoying shows are VERY easy to avoid. As for why ratings are so high for shows with the likes of Stephen A. Smith, Skip bayless, and Jamele Hill? You got me...I don't get it, unless people are just looking for drama (even if it is fake).