E$PN Sold You Out a Long Time Ago

onezuke18 by Correspondent Written on November 27, 2008
Espn_feature

So it's been a few days since I've last graced you with an article, (I know
you've been waiting with baited breath for my next words).

And I'm still basking in my beloved Buckeyes proving me 100% correct by beating Michigan all the way back to Ann Arbor this past weekend, (but I still have it ALL
wrong about the thought that the Michigan program is in the tank and has no
direction under Rich Rodriguez). But with the Ohio State season on hold now
until bowl season, (by the way by FAR Zuke's favorite season), I found
myself searching for something to write about.

I could put in my take on the joke of a program that Notre Dame is right
now following their defeat to the football powerhouse that is the now 3-9,
Syracuse Orange, but I'm pretty sure Mr. Weis has enough people who want
his head on a platter.

I could go into further discussions that Michigan fans need to realize that
Rich Rodriguez is not the right guy for Michigan. But they are still
celebrating their 42-7 stunning upset over Ohio Sta ERRR....wait a
second...they lost? Oh, nevermind.

But then ESPN came in and saved my potential writer's block by littering
their programming a few days ago with the topic of LeBron James. LeBron James,
gold medal winner, No. 1 overall pick in 2003 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, host
of SNL and the ESPY's, posterboy for Nike, Ohio native, and global icon.

Why was LeBron James the topic of the day? Because LeBron James and the
Cleveland Cavaliers were in New York to play the Knicks at MSG. What was
all the hub bub about? Was it the 10-3 Cavaliers playing terrific
basketball early in the season and their chances in the Eastern Conference?
Was it the addition of point guard Mo Williams to the Cavaliers, his
stellar play, and the improvements to the Cavaliers? Was it New York's new
head coach and their changes? NOOOOOO...of course not. That would
constitute REAL SPORTS NEWS TOPICS...something ESPN the "worldwide leader
in sports", abandoned about 10 to 15 years ago now.

No, the raging topic was whether or not LeBron James was going to leave
Cleveland in free agency in 2010 to sign with either the New York Knicks or
the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets. ESPN and its entertainers (Skip Bayless, the
"Two Live Stews", Steven A. Smith, Tony Reali...etc.), and yes they are now
just entertainers in my book, continued with comments along the lines of
'LeBron James is too big for Cleveland,' 'LeBron James needs the lights of
New York to be a global icon,' 'The NBA needs the New York Knicks to be
relevant and good for the NBA to thrive.' I'm not kidding with you.

ESPN, considering their financial ties to the NBA to me, is borderline tampering in the case of LeBron James and if I were the Cleveland Cavaliers I would bring it to the attention of David Stern and have it stopped.

I would officially like to give my response to ESPN, WHAT ARE YOU INHALING,
DIGESTING, OR SHOOTING THAT MAKES 2010 A RELEVANT TOPIC?!?!? Check your
calendars ESPN, its 2008, NOT 2010! Where LeBron James is headed in 2010
isn't relevant until the 09/10 NBA season is over in June of that year!

But this is an example what ESPN is and has been doing for about 10 to
15 years now. They are no longer a news outlet. A network that

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written on November 27, 2008 Opinion

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