This Wednesday, I stayed at home and slept and watched TV all day, getting rid of the "May Flu" that was going around (No, not swine flu). I turned on SportsCenter and I realized that something was making me more sick, and I couldn't figure out what.
That previous night, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost on the road to the Orlando Magic in a stunning game that went into OT, and soon fell to a 3-1 hole coming back to Cleveland for Game 5. Not only was it bad for Lebron, who put up 40 that night and still lost to the Magic, but the 3 million watching were cringing because their dream of a Cavs-Lakers NBA Finals were slowly diminishing.
One person of that "3 million" that was getting crushed the most out of everyone was ESPN. So, what do they do? They send out discreet messages to everyone out there that this series is not over, and the Cavs still have a chance to come back and win the series. And guess what? Sooner or later, the people will buy it, continue to watch ABC (note, an ESPN affiliate for sports) or ESPN and pray that the Cavs get back in the series.
Sportscenter today has talked about Lebron and the Cavs more today than usual. They usually spend 15-20 minutes on Lebron, today it was 45. We haven't seen this much coverage on one topic since the Brett Favre fiasco. It was crazy! Not only did ESPN spend 20 minutes on Lebron and the Cavaliers loss last night, their goal was to ask any analyst whether they thought the Cavaliers were done. The analyst didn't have to be an NBA analyst: all they had to do was tell the camera and the thousands watching that the Cavs were not done. Through 40 minutes, the crew at SportsCenter asked Tim Kurkijan, Matthew Barnaby, Erik Allen, and Avery Johnson whether they thought the Cavs were done. All of them, except for Erik Allen who is slowly becoming my hero, said no; the Cavs were not done.
You could even see that ESPN wanted to shut the camera off, give Erik Allen a black eye, and give him "a second chance" to apologize and tell the people watching ESPN that he was lying, and the Cavs were going to comeback and win Game 7. Granted, Avery Johnson is an NBA analyst, but they asked 3 other analysts whether they thought the Cavaliers' season would be over, and yet, they did not ask Stuart Scott, Magic Johnson, or Michael Wilbon whether the Cavs would continue on to the NBA Finals.
Now, don't get me wrong, but I love when other analysts comment on other sports (See Barry Melrose and his hair analysing the Toronto Blue Jays), I get a laugh out of it; it changes the usual up. But when you continuosly ask analysts what they think, and they all say the same thing, then you realize something is up. SportsCenter also put up an ESPN Poll asking "SportsNation" whether you thought the Magic would win the series or not. Don't be surprised if 100% say the Cavs will ultimately win the series.
You really have to ponder, and ask yourself, "Why the Eastern Conference Finals?" Sure, Memorial Weekend was UNBELIEVABLE, the drama was stellar, and no one could ask for better NBA games. Yet, more people watch the NFL, MLB, or even NASCAR (YES!). Yet, we don't see ESPN asking other analysts who's going to win the Daytona 500, who's going to win the World Series, or who's going to make the playoffs for the NFL. This isn't even the NBA Finals, and analysts HAVE to have their take on whether the Cavs will collapse or not.
Finally, I know Lebron's shot was incredible, I'm not taking anything away from that. But when you have announcers screaming "JORDAN-esque!", you know something is wrong. How come Robert Horry or Chauncey Billlu
ps, or Hedo Turkoglu never have shots that are called "Jordan-esque"?We are all witnesses....of the media blowing things completely out of proportion, and instead of allowing us to watch the games and enjoy it, SportsCenter has to be about the "King". That's it, I'm calling Lebron, the next phenom, "The King of the Media". Watch, once the Cavs lose this series, ESPN will not hop off Lebron's "rod" until 3 months later, when Lebron needs some time off.
Tony Kornheiser was just asked whether the Cavs were done from SportsCenter. He made an idiotic remark about him not wanting to travel to Cleveland or even fly to Orlando, but then ESPN made some sense into the "baboon"'s head and Kornheiser easily replied, "Cavs will win, no doubt." God, I may need a pot.
- DC on BTR
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