High school coaches riled by ESPN

I'm about to cover one of these ESPN prep games in a few weeks and this story got me wondering how miserable it's going to be for me.

 

Covered the game... goons around the "talent" until ESPN was done, then the locals could come in..
Originally, ESPN didn't want local media between the 10s, The collective threat from the local print and electronic media on the spot of not covering a Hoover game the rest of the season ended that. The then-Hoover AD (now at another school) told me he'd never heard the phrase "fuck those fuckers" used so many times in two minutes. I don't even think I came up for air.

 

Push it, push it, push it.

Walk where ESPN tells you not to walk. Talk to the people to whom ESPN tells you not to talk. Take pictures where they tell you not to. Go anywhere and everywhere you want and refuse to budge unless and until an actual law enforcement officer (most emphatically NOT an ESPN rent-a-flunky) tells you to move.

 

ESPN (and its lackeys) bigfoots everything. About six weeks ago "Friday Night Fights" came out to the local casino's outdoor ring. Card starts at 5 or so on a 100-degree-plus day (don't even want to think about how the fighters had it, with the TV lights and having to look into the sun). First two fights go the distance, followed by a 20-minute break, the two TV bouts, then the rest of the undercard (highlighted by the local up-and-comer knocking over a tomato can, er, late replacement in less than a minute). Love sititng in the heat waiting for the TV folks when I can't grab a cold one because I'm working! (But I was seated right behind the ring girls ...)

High school football on national TV? How do I start to count the problems I have with this. Hell, outside of playoff games, I don't even like the idea of local broadcasters doing games (Friday night highlight shows excepted, of course).

 

I don't like high school sports on national TV. It just feeds the animal of 16-17 year olds thinking are entitled to something. If it's a huge local game I have no problem with it being on local TV.

The problems here aren't exclusive to ESPN. The same crap happens when any of the national/regional TV asses show up, at least when it comes to trying to big time the local media. It pisses me off to no end when these jerks come to town once every three years or so and think they dictate what the folks that are there every week can and can't do. Notice I said think they can dictate. I don't mind if my routine is thrown out of whack a little (really I do but can live with it) but don't even think you're going to restrict my access.

When an SID, who is usually the poor guy that gets stuck between a rock and a hard place by some slobbering with excitement AD, tries to say "this is how TV wants it" I just say "OK. Next week when you want volleyball covered or a feature on some cross country runner, you'll need to call them." and that usually gets the message across.

 

Agree 100 percent. They might be ESPN, but who are they to tell other folks what to do.

As Slappy said, "Fuck the fuckers."

 

Maybe its just me - but I'd go the opposite direction and try and do a "behind the scenes" of what goes in to an ESPN broadcast at a high school game. Get the access and find out where the money goes, who pays and why. Somebody is making money on these things.

 

LAT column highlights one big-footing attempt by ESPN at that game.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-onthemedia-20100901,0,4460074,full.column

Would love to hear what Davidson's reply was.

 

Hopefully, it was "that won't make much of a cushion to land on when I throw YOU out of here ..."

 

"I don't give a shit if you're my mother. I'm working. Here."

 

Me too!

 

I checked out the Paragon website. I'm sure ESPN is pleased to see their name get dragged through the mud.
Here is the key nugget:
"Paragon manages all elements related to ESPN’s High School football events including: securing the teams and venue, managing team travel and accommodations, developing a ticket sales marketing plan, managing game day operations and selling national sponsorships."

In short - it is a Paragon show.