Upset with ESPN

bigaxel123 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:09 PM

Once again, I watch ESPN astounished at the lack of knowledge these so called 'analysts' portray. I've seen them showcase a ten minute piece on Chess-Boxing, I shit you not, show poker, which isn't a sport, darts and pool, bar games at best, but not mma. UFC is the most popular combat sport in the world, period. It's not a fad Mayweather, who last saturday proved why boxing is in the shitter. If anyone watched that fight, you'll know that it looked like Sylvia vs Slyvia in there.

/sigh

Can someone please explain why ESPN shows unncecessary 'sport' events and then recycles the same shows and topics over and over, while not covering the, arguably most popular sport in the world, minus soccer and football? It's getting ridiculous.

smoogy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:13 PM

The game of chess... is like a swordfight. *SHING! Haphahuhya!* You must think first- HAI! - before you move.

Mirko45 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:15 PM

Raw, I'mma give it t'ya

smoogy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:26 PM

Peace to mankind Ghostface carry a black nine, nigggggaaaaaaaa.

Ramma · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaxel123

If anyone watched that fight, you'll know that it looked like Sylvia vs Slyvia in there.

lol

And give it time, UFC is already getting their stuff on ESPN

joeyt · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:50 PM

It's a work in progress. I was excited when they started interviewing fighters and Dana on ESPNews and then it was highlights of the GSP/Serra fight and now a link to a MMA website, albeit the not the best one, on espn.com. ESPN is with out a doubt the greatest sports network and in due time MMA will be covered and covered more than boxing due to it's popularity and the regularity of the fights. Good days are coming.

Zenshotokai · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 08:56 PM

A few years ago I saw an article in a MMA magazine called Hey,ESPN, I want my MMA! The article questioned why ESPN covered so many obscure sports and not MMA. ESPN's answer was that it was not sure if the demographics were there for the audience that they wanted. SAY What!?! MMA has the perfect demos (18-35) for their network. But they also look at Fox and Spike and they can see the competition. Honestly, I think that they were too slow and the other networks beat them to the punch.

hanman · #8 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 09:06 PM

ESPN are the ones losing on this issue if they dont showcase MMA, not the other way around

Clint · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 09:11 PM

My guess is that ESPN was afraid to make the initial commitment and now other companies have all of the exclusize deals. All that ESPN is left to do is cover the events (which they have started doing although still not very heavily) or make their own show to talk about MMA.

TravelinMonty · #10 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 09:15 PM

I saw the chess boxing segment. That's not really coverage. Do you think they'll cover it on sportscenter? It was more just a gimmick than anything else. Do you really want gimmicky coverage of mma? I think they even mentioned the ufc in the segment.

Anyway, coverage will come as it becomes more recognized. It's been covered on espn.com. Don't get so worked up about it. MMA seems to have mostly loyal fans and few casual fans. The opposite of many sports. But if you look at sports teams in major markets there are a couple of million fans as opposed to mma with a few of million fans nationwide. Just look at the web where there is no hurdle to access. As a fan you probably know most of the dedicated mma discussion sites out there. There are thousands of dedicated sites to following football, baseball, basketball, soccer, boxing, etc. MMA is still in its infancy, it'll take time before people go to espn to see the results of an mma match.