ESPN is killing sports media--Whitlock

(Jason Whitlock): "My goal as a journalist/columnist is to be right about issues

• others don't see coming or don't have

• the courage/intellect to address....

I believe the World Wide Leader is the most evil and destructive force in the sports world. It has driven and hastened the destruction of authentic,

• independent,

• democratic,

• courageous sports journalism.

ESPN is the enemy of the truth, and all who believe a pursuit of the truth

• is the lifeblood of a genuinely free society must stand

• against the Wal-Mart-ization of sports journalism.

I reached this conclusion when trying to figure out why Ball State quarterback Nate Davis isn't one of the top-five Heisman Trophy candidates and Ball State coach Brady Hoke isn't the front-runner for national coach of the year....

• I love Ball State. I'm not willing to lie for Ball State.

If it was 1985 and Sports Illustrated and print journalism were still the institutions driving the conversation in the sports world, a Ball State football alum and

• a late-night talk-show host wouldn't be the media people telling you
• about Davis and Hoke.

Believe it or not, before ESPN purchased the majority of relevant sports programming and

• seduced most of the creative, independent-thinking, connected sports writers to join its evil empire, there was this magical time

• when substance and the little guy actually had a voice in the sports world....

Yes, back before one television enterprise monopolized the sports world, you actually could put together a serious run at the Heisman even if you weren't the starting quarterback of the top-ranked team Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger just anointed....

• Look, if the sports world didn't operate under the control of a
• sports-media dictatorship, I wouldn't have to provide you the context.

• A powerful, unbiased, independent journalist would've traveled

to Ball State during the summer and talked with the man who recruited Tom Brady to Michigan (Brady Hoke) and the man who coached Tom Brady at Michigan (Ball State offensive coordinator Stan Parrish)....

• As a journalist, it's important that I disclose to you that I love Ball State. When I have a bias, I let you know it in hopes that you will read my commentary in context.

• I'm hoping most of you reading this realize or remember that I worked at ESPN for many years and parted company
• (was fired) with the network three years ago

primarily after Mike Lupica and "Sports Reporters" producer Joe Valerio made it clear that I would not be allowed to talk about Barry Bonds and steroids in a way they found disagreeable. (There's more to the story and you can Google and find all of the additional background rather easily.)

• ESPN is so financially tied to the organizations it covers and so
• devoid of basic journalistic ethics that it cannot properly analyze the sports world....

If you're going to televise multiple Big 12 games in primetime on ABC and ESPN, you have every reason to promote

• the myth that the majority of Heisman Trophy candidates play in the Big 12....

This is the combination that is killing the sports media. No journalism background, no real athletic experience

• and no backbone. No clue.

• (Chris) Fowler wouldn't make a competent blogger....

Hoke built one of the nation's best teams, is the MAC's eighth-highest-paid coach and still doesn't have his own office.

Stories like Hoke's and Davis' used to define my profession and enrich our enjoyment of sports.

• Now we're fed a steady diet of Donovan McNabb didn't know games could end in a tie

• and fake Red Sox press conferences.

Sports media is dying by suicide and ESPN is Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

• You're dying, too. ESPN just hasn't told you yet." via Neil Best Watchdog

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