12:58 AM ET  07.17 |     After getting back from a friend's house around 11:00, I grab a water, sit down and flip on channel 202, here in NJ, ESPN. A sportscenter edition is on. Top story: The Brett Favre soap opera. Now, while I believe this is big news, I don't feel it is completely necessary to have it break into news every time he sends a text message to the Packers. Next story: Same old same old. Yanks/Red Sox. A-Rod and Pappelbon. The typical. This is what ESPN is though now. The top story features 2 MLB teams, sometimes adding in the Mets and Cubs, followed by a over-dramatized story. Wheather it is Favre, or the A-Rod divorce, or something off the field making too much news.
 
    Later in the show, they bring up their feature, "Titletown". A clip featuring the top 25 sports cities/towns in America and usually interview a player from their town telling why this city should win Titletown. Not much to get excited being a Philadelphia fan, as our last title was 25 years ago. But nonetheless, it is obvious who will be there in the end. Boston, New York, Detroit. Just another thing that ESPN is doing that will try to spice up their program. A few years ago it was 50 days, 50 states, which wasn't as bad as Titletown, but not great either. Who's Now. Just awful. Obvious who was going to win in Tiger. It was trying to turn sports into a celebrity contest.

   Then, each night NFL Live comes on. It's been on all offseason. I love football and the NFL. I love Sundays, picking the games, living and dying with both my fantasy teams and beloved Eagles. But come on. Other than the Brett Favre saga, how much is there to talk about. 

    I'm not saying the whole system is screwed up. There are several things I enjoy. Baseball Tonight, in my opinion is one of the best shows on ESPN. Great analysis, constant updates, they show highlights from each game, and get to the point. Also, they have Web Gems, Touch Em' All, and That's Nasty. Also, something I enjoy is the "My Wish" for a week. I usually don't like the Sportscenter's shows in the show, but this was usually very good. All great stories of kids with medical problems spending a once in a lifetime opportunity with their sports idol. Usually very good, with great narration by Tim Connelly. A show that doesn't have celebrities or awards, but comes from the heart and truly helps the kids.

    But all in all, ESPN is dying. A place people go to for highlights has turned into a soap opera and constant coverage on New York and Boston. The mini clips are getting desperate and the balance just isn't there. It is sad to see such a accomplished sports channel get caught up in the media and money world we live in today.