How would you compete against sportscenter?

[M2d]

more aussie rules football and world's strongest man? seriously, to me, the best shows they have (outside of actual games), are the ones that come on mid day (PTI, etc) and eaaarly sunday morning (sports reporters, etc), where actual sports guys are discussing actual sports topics. even PTI is getting a little MTV-ish and played out, though. admittedly, I'm a pretty small demographic, so there's no way they'd cater to me, anyway. I think sportscenter delivers what their main target wants/expects, so I don't see them changing much soon.

[niss]

Among other things everyone has already said and otherwise are obvious, I'd go back to the old days where each sport had its own "segment" and stop jumping around from sport to sport. This idea of a highlight of a basketball game, and then a highlight of a hockey game, and then a story about Pedro Martinez's boil, and then back to the NBA, drives me nuts.

[UATrewqaz]

As an avid sports fan who used to watch Sportscenter EVERY night I can tell you I have not an more than 5 minutes of sportscenter in several years.

I have even begun missing large portions and entire shows of my beloved College Gameday, as I find ESPN's coverage of college football to be the worst of any major sport.

ESPN has infrastructure and alot of contracts and that will make them hard to take on for anyone without an ass load of money.

[tech]

[ QUOTE ]
Among other things everyone has already said and otherwise are obvious, I'd go back to the old days where each sport had its own "segment" and stop jumping around from sport to sport. This idea of a highlight of a basketball game, and then a highlight of a hockey game, and then a story about Pedro Martinez's boil, and then back to the NBA, drives me nuts.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is an excellent point that is not mentioned often. I can't remember exactly when they switched to the current format, but it sucks.

[tolbiny]

Apparently Canada has a station (TSN or something) where you almost never see commentators on the highlight shows. Just highlights. Thats basically what's wrong with ESPN. All their shows are about the commentators getting face time and spitting out catch phrases.
Basically there is no nead for lead ins, or "he grew up dirt poor but now he gives back to the community" stories, there are enough channels out there doing that stuff. In fact CNN had it right like 10 years ago with headline sports. Just straight highlights- slow it down a bit, add tons more to fill in the 1/2 or full hour and i'll watch.

[bills217]

Almost weekly I swear I'm boycotting ESPN and SportsCenter, but there just isn't anything else, at all.

I hate everything about it now. I hate the coverage, the anchors, the MVT-ization, the politics, the outrageous hyperbole about everything...but there isn't anything else. I wish there was.

P.S. I do like PTI, though not as much as I used to, and I liked Around the Horn before they got rid of Max Kellerman...he made that show. The only anchor I like on the whole network is Chris Fowler.

[Rubeskies]

Well, let's try to figure what sports fans like us like and dislike about Sportscenter. The below lists are my opinions and are obviously open to debate in order to figure out what should stay and what should go in a new sports show format.

Sportscenter Pros:

-Meat and potatoes segments: Generally show highlights of the biggest games of the night/previous day. The stats are readable and generally the most exciting plays are shown. Lots of these are good.

-Top plays of the day/week etc. This idea is the basis behind what we turn on the TV to watch. And I don't mean the Chris Berman "top 10 random plays that strike my fansy." I mean, best dunks, craziest catches, nastiest hits, and best saves/slapshots. I wouldn't even mind if this was expanded to top 15,20 or even 25. I love watching them. And I think many fans would agree.

-What to watch segment. This segment is usually excellent except FAR too short. I love to watch great games but usually don't even know when they are on and end up only seeing highlights. Instead of just showing us 2 random games that might be good like they do now, it should be much longer.

-Ultimate Highlight segment. This is not a terrible idea, all the best highlights of the day packed into one reel set to music. I generally enjoy it as it rarely takes up more than two minutes. The problem with it is that they'll often pick songs that many people hate and it ruins the segment.



Sportscenter Cons:

-Annoying personalities that become bigger than the sports they are reporting. I want witty sports lovers who are there to bring me all the action I missed, not to overshadow it and make we want to turn the TV off. Is it just me or did in the past the anchors get much more excited and seem to love what they were doing so much more?

-Human interest pieces. These things are touching and sometimes get me all welled up and teary, but honestly, it is not what I am looking for when I turn on a sports show. I want to be exhilarated and impressed by the height of human athletic capabilities, not depressed. One once in awhile is probably fine, but when they have a 5+ minute piece like this every show, it kind of gets annoying and tends to lessen the drama since you get a little numb to it.

-Bad analysis from ex players and morons. This one is obvious. Make the analysis better and more interesting.

I have lots of others in each category but this post is too long as it is and I'd like to hear other people's thoughts as to what should stay and go.

[gonores]

[ QUOTE ]
Among other things everyone has already said and otherwise are obvious, I'd go back to the old days where each sport had its own "segment" and stop jumping around from sport to sport. This idea of a highlight of a basketball game, and then a highlight of a hockey game, and then a story about Pedro Martinez's boil, and then back to the NBA, drives me nuts.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a great post and exactly what I'm looking for.

[UATrewqaz]

My biggest pete peeve is the way everything is so ULTIMATE and ABSOLUTELY!

"This is the GREATEST TEAM"
"This is the BIGGEST CONTROVERSY"
"There is NO WAY team X will beat team Y"

There is nothing like hearing one of their "analysts" rail for 20 minutes about how team X stands no chance whatsoever against team Y and anyone who disagrees is a moron.

And then after the game try to explain why team Y's only real chance was to do what they did

AND IT JUST DRIVES ME F'ING INSANE.

Not every highlight is meant to have a funny quip ejaculated all over it.

Hey Chris Berman, NOT EVERY F'ING PLAYER IN THE NFL NEEDS A GAY NICKNAME.

Hey Lee Corso, your whole "piss of the fans of the home team we are visiting for Gameday" crap is old and not funny.

Hey Mark May, do you watch sports? I mean at all? Do you actually like follow anything? Or do you just smoke crack and sniff glue and then go talk about them?

[aheravi]

Any network that would give a show to Steven A. Smith (even if it IS on The Ocho or whatever) deserves a swift kick to the nuts.