We're in day 123 of the NFL Lockout today. The only reason I can tell you the specific number is because of ESPN's continual belaboring of the point that the NFL is indeed at an impasse where as of now there would be no football games played this fall. We know, ESPN, that the NFL owners and the players are having a hard time coming to a deal they can both agree upon so that everyone can get back to business as usual. We know that. You don't have to remind us of that fact every 5 minutes on SportsCenter. It absolutely drives me nuts. If I have to hear the SportsCenter anchors or Adam Schefter say one more time that today is a "key day" in the dealings between the two parties I may entirely lose it. Its day 123 and the last 123 days have been "key days" in getting this lockout resolved. ESPN is just looking to make a news story out of it everyday, and that notion is ridiculous. There are so many other quality sports stories that can be dealt with right now that could fill the void that NFL training camp preparation would be taking up right now (that's such a huge topic to begin with, by the way). This is how ESPN responds to the fact they don't have to tail Brett Favre all summer, they hound us with nonsense lockout talk that gets us nowhere, informs us of nothing more than we knew before, and takes time away from better stories that could be told.
ESPN, take an extra five minutes and talk about the US Women's Soccer team a little more. Have someone educate the people about soccer and how it works more so that people could develop into better soccer fans and in turn, as a broadcast outlet you can open up a truly new asset to your portfolio. You do a great job bringing in Barry Melrose for the NHL playoffs, do something like that for this major soccer tournament where there's been lots of national pride involved that has already peaked America's interest.
If you're focused on football, talk about the arena league instead. Or if you want to stay with other major sports, baseball is in full capacity right now and its been a very good season. I'm tired of having something like 2 highlights per MLB game on SportsCenter. Stop talking NFL lockout garbage and actually let the fans get a feel for the baseball games through the highlights, without having to watch Baseball Tonight.
I understand that the NFL is the most powerful and captivating sport in America right now due to the people's interest, but that doesn't mean we need to hear you talk about it every day when there is nothing new to talk about. We get it. Millionaires and billionaires are fighting over money, but get back to us when its over. Until then, give us some alternatives and if those alternatives happen to keep our attention a little more and take it away from the NFL when it does come back then so be it. The NFL should've thought of that before locking out, it comes with the consequences.
Of course, the problem with all this is that I just took all this time and effort now to bring up this post about the lockout when I could've used it to highlight the USA Women or talk about something baseball related or another alternative. I recognize that, and its a definite fault, but I just felt like it had to be said. ESPN, and really the national sports media in general have failed us in another situation where I feel the media is dictating the people's attention as opposed to how it should be, where the people dictate the media's attention. Its too bad there isn't a competent national alternative to ESPN to watch (looking at you Fox Sports), one that could do this right. Its just another example of the people's wishes suffering at the hands of those that think they know better.
But really, best wishes to the US Women's Soccer team, I wish I had a better knowledge of the sport to provide some analysis and talk more in depth. Now I'm going to go watch some baseball.
What's the baseline?
No one cares about a miniscule change in the NFL lockout from day to day. Just tell us when its over. Until that happens, there's plenty of good sports out there in full force right now, and I'd be more than happy to hear about them.
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