Why, exactly, do people watch ESPN commentary?

[desura]

It is mostly a sports gossip channel, akin to TMZ. How is this interesting?

It never has anything as in-depth as sports illustrated, no character profiles or so forth.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Why do people watch reality shows?
Why do people listen to talk radio?

 

[PottedMeat]

commentary i can understand

pre and post game press crap unless there was some weird event i don't see the point

'blah blah thank jesus'
'we should have blah blah blah'
'we want it more blah blah'

moar vicious shit talking is ok though.

 

[Red Storm]

Why, exactly, do some people say, think, and do things that I don't? What's up with that?

 

[chimaxi83]

Why, exactly, do useless threads get made on the Anandtech Off Topic forum?

 

[IronWing]

It's more interesting than the sport.

 

[QueBert]

ESPN has a lot of good programming, I love listening to Skip Bayless & Stephen Smith argue about basically everything. The documentary No Mas they did on the Sugar Ray & Roberto Duran fight was fucking amazing. While I say they could vary up the programming a bit and not show so much damn repeats. When I'm at work ESPN is pretty much the only channel I'll put on the TV.

 

[nurturedhate]

I listen to ESPN a lot. It is by far my most watched channel and basically the only non kid related reason that I have cable. They do repeat themselves a whole lot but it is different people going over the same talking points. For me personally ESPN is simply very good background noise. It is not something I actively watch outside of Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. I'll sit at my computer playing a game or browsing the internet with ESPN on in the background. I also know that a lot of my friends do the same thing.

 

[SaurusX]

Who wouldn't want to watch a bunch of jabbering hyenas going on about obscure topics involving people and things you care nothing about?

 

[SP33Demon]

Because they like sports. Duh. Not the brightest bulb at Home Depot are we?

 

[acheron]

What they're looking to do here is score more points than the other team.

 

[pete6032]

I am a huge sports fan, but I cant ever bring myself to watch pre/post game for more than 10-15 minutes. If you're a big enough fan, you probably already know what they're going to say about the game before and after it happens.

I used to live with a guy who had ESPN on TV every waking moment after he got home from work until he went to bed. It was just a bunch of middle aged guys arguing with one another. It's like a mens talk show.

The worst one is Pardon the Interruption, where the constantly argue and have a set full of random shit in the background.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

i like watching it. can be entertaining. i disagree about skip bayless and stephen smith though. skip is such a troll.

 

[Wingznut]

I love Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. (Not really a fan of the rest...)

Why? Same reason I like podcasts (and talk radio before podcasts), read reviews, and message boards. I like to hear other people's opinions on things. Often, it makes me think about issues outside of my box.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It is mostly a sports gossip channel, akin to TMZ. How is this interesting?

It never has anything as in-depth as sports illustrated, no character profiles or so forth.

Because for some people, ESPN commentary actually qualifies as deep and thoughtful discussion.

 

[manimal]

Why do people care so much about what other people do?


Care more about yourself and what you do.

 

[KeithTalent]

I love Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. (Not really a fan of the rest...)

Why? Same reason I like podcasts (and talk radio before podcasts), read reviews, and message boards. I like to hear other people's opinions on things. Often, it makes me think about issues outside of my box.

Yep, same on all of this. PTI is great. If you want a really terrible show, listen to Mike & Mike. D:

All of the pre and post-game NFL shows are awful; I honestly cannot watch any of them. The TNT guys for NBA are very good, so I can watch that and a couple of the hockey ones up here are decent.

Honestly though, decent sports shows on TV are very few and far between. There are, thankfully, more podcasts that are pretty good so I listen to a handful of them.

KT

 

[Mixolydian]

Why, exactly, do some people say, think, and do things that I don't? What's up with that?

Everyone should be like me.

Why, exactly, do useless threads get made on the Anandtech Off Topic forum?

Where else would they go? :hmm:

 

[who?]

Are you sure that many people are watching it? What are their ratings? There was an article yesterday that claimed people only watch about 17 channels.

 

[FallenHero]

ESPN has a lot of good programming, I love listening to Skip Bayless & Stephen Smith argue about basically everything. The documentary No Mas they did on the Sugar Ray & Roberto Duran fight was fucking amazing. While I say they could vary up the programming a bit and not show so much damn repeats. When I'm at work ESPN is pretty much the only channel I'll put on the TV.

Any credibility you thought you had just went right out the window with that comment. Those two epitomize what is wrong with ESPN.

Btw, after the whole concussion documentary fiasco which basically had ESPN bowing to the will of the NFL, I wouldn't trust ESPN to report the truth on any sports related matter. They are nothing but a shill for the major sports. Trust your local sports radio, not these clowns.

For those that don't know what I am talking about:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/sports/football/espn-exits-film-project-on-concussions.html?_r=0

 

[KeithTalent]

Any credibility you thought you had just went right out the window with that comment. Those two epitomize what is wrong with ESPN.

Yep. I've seen bits and pieces of that show and wow, it is truly awful. Grating on my brain.

KT

 

[bobeedee]

Because for some people, ESPN commentary actually qualifies as deep and thoughtful discussion.

That's what worries me about the future of our country.

 

[pyonir]

ESPN stopped reporting news, and started trying to create news. The only time I watch the channel now is for live sporting events.

 

[bryanl]

It's far more intelligent than CNN, MSNBC or Fox News.

 

[desura]

But you can safely drop ESPN and still get most sports, just no commentary? What do they show...nba right now, anything else? Mostly sports are on broadcast channels...