Burned Out

By: Nick Shears

ESPN has been notorious for inflating the importance of trivial games and news, but lately the trend of over-emphasizing the expected or mundane has gotten worse for the media monolith.Take, for instance, college hoops. The build up to the Tennessee vs. Memphis match was similar to a Democratic Primary debate, as ESPN disputed, dramatized, and advertised the game to the point of exhaustion a week before tip off. Dining at a seafood bar and grill in Gainesville, Fl, I could not escape the frenzy College Gameday, as the event was played on all twenty televisions and actually broadcasted through the restaurant’s speakers. “What a meal,” I thought, “King Crab, onion rings, and Dick Vitale saying ‘Ohhh Babyyyyyyy.’”

The recent Duke vs. North Carolina game was worse. I was watching TV on the morning of the game and flipped to ESPN, or so I thought it was ESPN. What was supposed to be the nice stream of game highlights and Sports Center was more like a bad reenactment of the Punic Wars. There was blood, blue face paint, and people screaming amidst the sounds of clashing symbols and drums. Had I turned to the History Channel? No, it was advertising for the “historic” match-up between Duke and North Carolina, with theatrics and dramaturgy so obnoxious it would make Fox executives blush.

And then there’s good ole’ Brett Farve. “I’m really gonna miss this game.” Save me your tears Bret, you have dangled your retirement on a string for so long that I only get annoyed at the sight of a weepy press conference. I can’t remember the last time ESPN made such a fuss over the retirement of a quarterback who won ONE super bowl.

For three straight days, the news of Farve flooded the ESPN news ticker; the familiar MLB, NBA, NCAA categories at the bottom of the screen accompanied by FARVE. What’s the big deal? First, it shouldn’t be news to anyone that one of the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL retired this year. After 17 seasons and 275 consecutive appearances it was about time the truly grizzled veteran just gave it up. I mean, seriously, how much longer did fans expect Farve to come out and perform his crazy antics? After so many Hail Mary’s and last-minute laterals, it was easy to pinpoint the guy’s appeal: he played spontaneously, sometimes stupidly; he had a cohort of emotional baggage and a grit that every middle-aged white guy fawned over.

I am not denying Farve’s talent, after all, he is a three-time MVP for a reason and holds the passing records for TDs, completions, attempts and yards; he is the most productive passer in history and at 38 years old had a miraculous season last year. Nevertheless, it’s hard to watch his retirement, with all its staginess and repetition, and not block out the voice in the back of your head that whispers, “overrated.”

The same goes for the big college hoop games. Publicizing regular season showdowns a la ESPN is a profitable ploy to the network but a disappointing device for the viewer. While the Tennessee vs. Memphis game drew the largest ESPN audience ever, the game itself was dull because of its exaggerated anticipation. Some hype is expected, too much and it’s overkill.

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After growing up in Evanston and New Jersey, Nick Shears is a Yankee fan by blood (his uncle gave him a signed Joe Dimaggio book at birth) and a Cubs fan by principle. Although this may be one reason you do not like what he says, understand that this complicated baseball enthusiast offers a necessary East Coast perspective in an all too central minded town. He is ready to take on any of your questions or comments at shearsna@eckerd.edu.

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