ESPN Who's Now stupidity | aglebagel's Blog

I don't know how many of you have been paying attention to the "Who's Now" segment on SportsCenter recently, but yesterday's panel made the most idiotic decision I could think of. "Who's Now" is supposed to be a "combination of on-the-field accomplishments and off-the-court buzz." So I was excited when yesterday's bracket matchup included Roger Federer, one of my favorite athletes and the number 2 seed in the Ruth Bracket, against the 7-seed Tony Parker. I could not believe it when the three "expert" panelists basically convinced themselves that marrying Eva Longoria was enough to make Tony Parker more "Now" than Roger Federer, and they all voted for Parker. I don't know who picked this panel, but what an idiotic decision it was. The panel, made up of Keyshawn Johnson, Kirk Hirbstreet, and Michael Wilbon (who I love on PTI) are obviously completely biased towards their sports (football and basketball) and maybe baseball and don't know anything about other sports, especially ones not broadcast by ESPN. (see Hockey) Their ignorance was shown before when Kirk Hirbstreet declared that the Derek Jeter/Sidney Crosby matchup would be the biggest landslide vote of the whole tournament! It wasn't even CLOSE to that. Guess what, Kirk, some people actually do watch hockey! Oh, wait, I forgot: ESPN decides what sports are "in" and which ones aren't. The panel has completely forgotten that this is suppposed to be a combination of on-the-court and off-the-court and are basically making their decisions based upon hormones and number of appearances on the E Channel. Roger Federer is among a very small handful of the greatest tennis players of all time and the second-most dominant athelete in the world right now (behind Michael Phelps) and he loses to a guy who is not the best player at his position nor the best player on his team, but who happened to marry a hot TV star. I agree that Parker has some more off-field buzz than Federer, but it is ONLY because of Eva. Just ridiculous.

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July 16, 2007 02:59 PM ET

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WHO,S KNOW ON ESPN IS ALMOST LIKE THROWDOWN ON FANNATION A LOT OF FAVORTISM WHEN IT COME TO VOTING!

AMAZING GRACE

Danielson, CT

Total Comments (1529)

July 16, 2007 03:00 PM ET

WHO KNOW,S ON ESPN IS TIME FILLER FOR ESPN AND THEY HOPE TO STRIKE GOLD WITH THAT

July 16, 2007 03:11 PM ET

And they make match ups like peyton vs beard you think beard can win and brady vs ortiz does ortiz have a chance

Metfan4life is a…

East Elmhurst , NY

Total Comments (411)

July 16, 2007 03:39 PM ET

I don't like the new look for sportscenter. Totally agree about Who's Now too.

damocles

Total Comments (138)

July 16, 2007 03:51 PM ET

They're just trying to branch out in order to get a little more market share. People like drama so when you mix the professional lives of athletes with the drama that people oh so love to discuss it HAS to be a hit show... right?

I for one think the show is a degradation of sports. I don't care who creates an "off-court buzz" but I can't hate on a company trying to make some money. Just wish I'd thought of this show format because it's pretty simplistic and even a novice can pick this stuff...

Robby

Thompsons Station , TN

Total Comments (2)

July 16, 2007 07:29 PM ET

anybody wonder who steals more ideas than ESPN? remember cold pizza? it's now called "First Take" after a famous Jim Rome staple saying "Have aTake and don't suck".

ALL ABOUT LIFE &…

Denver , CO

Total Comments (660)

July 16, 2007 07:37 PM ET

Actually winning? So not now, these days, dude.

upstatebosoxbabe

Rochester , NY

Total Comments (853)

July 26, 2007 05:24 PM ET

Ay yi yi. I have an anti-ESPN group that's getting going. It's about the ever expanding monopoly that is ESPN that spews crap at us instead of sports and is in love with the Eastern United States. You should join.