The award for the most ridiculous, self-absorbed, overzealous all sports entertainment network in the world goes to...
ESPN, for the 10th year running.
They have once again proven that outside the 4 major sports, Tiger Woods, and the Williams sisters, you're really not much of an athlete. Unless you count token consideration of Cael Sanderson and -ahem- Sarah Hughes (don't even get me started on figure skating).
No offense to college athlete of the year Sue Bird (UConn BB) but a certain swimmer from Cal who set at least 6 AR and 1 WR over the short course season would have had my vote.
Anyone else? Natalie Coughlin, female college athlete of the year as awarded by the USMS discussion crew?
-RM
Parents
Former Member
Leaving the sports vs. game debate aside, intersting and funny in some cases as it is (and thanks to Rob Copeland for the ESPY to Ion for the most posts - I needed the laugh tonight)...
Did tennis get as much hype and TV coverage *before* the Williams' phenoms as it does now? I play it myself, but never paid much attention to the pro aspect of it until the last few years. I seem to recall growing up, that tennis was about like swimming in that it was a country club sport not destined for TV greatness. Now tennis has broken that mold, personally I think mainly because of a few greats that have sprung up.
Our famed swimmers (at least famed to us) are phenomenal in our minds, and I find myself asking... how much more do they have to do? Swim through hoops, literally?
So is it all the sport in general or how much do you think has to do with individual players in general and their media attractiveness.
Leaving the sports vs. game debate aside, intersting and funny in some cases as it is (and thanks to Rob Copeland for the ESPY to Ion for the most posts - I needed the laugh tonight)...
Did tennis get as much hype and TV coverage *before* the Williams' phenoms as it does now? I play it myself, but never paid much attention to the pro aspect of it until the last few years. I seem to recall growing up, that tennis was about like swimming in that it was a country club sport not destined for TV greatness. Now tennis has broken that mold, personally I think mainly because of a few greats that have sprung up.
Our famed swimmers (at least famed to us) are phenomenal in our minds, and I find myself asking... how much more do they have to do? Swim through hoops, literally?
So is it all the sport in general or how much do you think has to do with individual players in general and their media attractiveness.
