Comments on: Off-Topic: Why are there so many Sports articles about Tim Tebow? http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563 "... the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same - pitching.” -- Earl Weaver Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7614 Todd Boss Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:24:52 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7614 I have a couple of rising concerns with ESPN generally (both of which have been well documented): - they some times "sit" on stories that are detrimental to leagues with which they have broadcast contracts. They're being compromised as a news organization and their sense of independence is skewed. - their opinion makers are purposely antagonistic in their views to drum up interest, kind of like a blogger putting a fake picture to get hits or like a shock talk radio host doing something provocative just to get listeners. I have a couple of rising concerns with ESPN generally (both of which have been well documented):
- they some times “sit” on stories that are detrimental to leagues with which they have broadcast contracts. They’re being compromised as a news organization and their sense of independence is skewed.
- their opinion makers are purposely antagonistic in their views to drum up interest, kind of like a blogger putting a fake picture to get hits or like a shock talk radio host doing something provocative just to get listeners.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7613 Todd Boss Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:02:28 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7613 I don't even have a click monitor installed on this blog :-) I have no idea if I have 5 readers or 1000. I count my dad as at least one reader :-) I know I get almost all my traffic by virtue of being listed on Zuckerman's blogroll though, so thanks much to him. I will readily admit; one of the regular sports blogs I write does exactly this; every single post includes a shot of a celebrity in a swimsuit. And I click on the damn picture sometimes. What can I say, I'm a guy. I don’t even have a click monitor installed on this blog :-) I have no idea if I have 5 readers or 1000. I count my dad as at least one reader :-) I know I get almost all my traffic by virtue of being listed on Zuckerman’s blogroll though, so thanks much to him.

I will readily admit; one of the regular sports blogs I write does exactly this; every single post includes a shot of a celebrity in a swimsuit. And I click on the damn picture sometimes. What can I say, I’m a guy.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7612 Todd Boss Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:02 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7612 No no, you were right. I can't believe I didn't think of his heavily religious standing when considering why he's constantly in the news. I have been thinking its simply because its New York. I actually called into a radio show once because I was so irritated with the whole Tebow line. The question the sports talk guys were asking was whether Tebow or Jeremy Lin was a "bigger story" (this was right when Lin-sanity had just happened). Tebow was the heisman trophy winner for crying out loud; its not like he came out of nowhere. Meanwhile Lin was undrafted, cut by two other NBA teams, and was in the d-league a year ago. His meteoric rise has been nothing short of amazing. No no, you were right. I can’t believe I didn’t think of his heavily religious standing when considering why he’s constantly in the news. I have been thinking its simply because its New York.

I actually called into a radio show once because I was so irritated with the whole Tebow line. The question the sports talk guys were asking was whether Tebow or Jeremy Lin was a “bigger story” (this was right when Lin-sanity had just happened). Tebow was the heisman trophy winner for crying out loud; its not like he came out of nowhere. Meanwhile Lin was undrafted, cut by two other NBA teams, and was in the d-league a year ago. His meteoric rise has been nothing short of amazing.

]]> By: Wally http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7611 Wally Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:31:01 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7611 PDowdy/Luke - I totally agree with you. I don't know where the future of actual news is headed, regardless of the format. It is becoming one gigantic popularity contest. ESPN is nothing but an advertising distribution network the days. I know that I sound like one of those old guys who yell 'hey you kids, stay off my lawn' but i think it is getting pretty hard to find legitimate discussions across all news spheres. PDowdy/Luke – I totally agree with you. I don’t know where the future of actual news is headed, regardless of the format. It is becoming one gigantic popularity contest.

ESPN is nothing but an advertising distribution network the days. I know that I sound like one of those old guys who yell ‘hey you kids, stay off my lawn’ but i think it is getting pretty hard to find legitimate discussions across all news spheres.

]]> By: Luke Erickson http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7609 Luke Erickson Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:12:11 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7609 Seeing this trend everywhere... if it gets views/clicks, it gets coverage. One of the funny things I learned while doing this year's Rule 5 posts is that there is a conservative blogger that has figured out that if you want to get million hits in less than a year, you have to have periodical cheesecake pictures (he called it the Christina Hendricks rule). Sadly, not only do I believe this to be true, there's probably a functional equivalent when it comes to Nats blogs, which is why every other post is about Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, or both. Seeing this trend everywhere… if it gets views/clicks, it gets coverage. One of the funny things I learned while doing this year’s Rule 5 posts is that there is a conservative blogger that has figured out that if you want to get million hits in less than a year, you have to have periodical cheesecake pictures (he called it the Christina Hendricks rule). Sadly, not only do I believe this to be true, there’s probably a functional equivalent when it comes to Nats blogs, which is why every other post is about Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, or both.

]]> By: PDowdy http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7606 PDowdy Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:35:56 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7606 ESPN is to sports like MTV is to music these days. ESPN is to sports like MTV is to music these days.

]]> By: PDowdy http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7605 PDowdy Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:35:07 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7605 Fundmentalist angle or not this just proves ESPN is no longer a true sports network. They only focus on narrow topics and beat them to death. Tebow should have been an irrelevant topic all season due to his lack of time of the field but they drum up anything and everything about him because they think everyone in the world cares. I don't even turn on sportcenter or 90% of their programming unless it is a college sports event. Fundmentalist angle or not this just proves ESPN is no longer a true sports network. They only focus on narrow topics and beat them to death. Tebow should have been an irrelevant topic all season due to his lack of time of the field but they drum up anything and everything about him because they think everyone in the world cares. I don’t even turn on sportcenter or 90% of their programming unless it is a college sports event.

]]> By: Tegwar http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7603 Tegwar Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:19:15 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7603 Todd I was just joking around with. There was so much coverage of him from the religious angle I was surprised you missed it. There have been a few overtly religious sports athletes in the past like Kurt Warner, Reggie White and Josh Hamilton but most of them just credit their faith with a change in their life. Tebow was a little more over the top with bible verses in his eye black and his patented kneel. Winning 6 games in a row most of them in the 4th quarter helped make it a good story. Evangelicals love a good miracle story, most of them think or hope that Jesus will come back in their lifetime even tho the rest of us will die. Got nothing against Tebow and I guess it does no harm probably put more pressure on him. Todd I was just joking around with. There was so much coverage of him from the religious angle I was surprised you missed it.

There have been a few overtly religious sports athletes in the past like Kurt Warner, Reggie White and Josh Hamilton but most of them just credit their faith with a change in their life. Tebow was a little more over the top with bible verses in his eye black and his patented kneel. Winning 6 games in a row most of them in the 4th quarter helped make it a good story. Evangelicals love a good miracle story, most of them think or hope that Jesus will come back in their lifetime even tho the rest of us will die. Got nothing against Tebow and I guess it does no harm probably put more pressure on him.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7580 Todd Boss Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:20:19 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7580 I just wasn't thinking of that angle, thinking of sports. When I read about sports, I'm not thinking of any religious aspects. Can we think of another sports figure for comparison purposes? Another fundamentalist who draws significant media presence simply because of this fact? I just wasn’t thinking of that angle, thinking of sports. When I read about sports, I’m not thinking of any religious aspects.

Can we think of another sports figure for comparison purposes? Another fundamentalist who draws significant media presence simply because of this fact?

]]> By: Tegwar http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563&cpage=1#comment-7577 Tegwar Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:09:59 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=5563#comment-7577 "I forgot the fundamentalist angle" Bingo we have a winner. ;-) Really you forgot that? They did a SNL skit that I saw on the internet with Jesus in the locker room with the Bronco players. It was actually kind of funny. Try this link. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/18/tim-tebow-saturday-night-live-skit-jesus-broncos_n_1156393.html “I forgot the fundamentalist angle”

Bingo we have a winner. ;-)

Really you forgot that? They did a SNL skit that I saw on the internet with Jesus in the locker room with the Bronco players. It was actually kind of funny. Try this link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/18/tim-tebow-saturday-night-live-skit-jesus-broncos_n_1156393.html

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