Ohlmeyer named new ESPN ombudsman

[Steak Snabler]

I think someone mentioned this move was imminent when Schreiber stepped down, but it's official now ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4327128

Don Ohlmeyer, one of television's most successful and honored innovators as a producer and programmer in both sports and entertainment television, has been appointed as ESPN's third ombudsman.

Ohlmeyer will begin an 18-month term in August, offering independent examination, critique and analysis of ESPN.

"Few people on the planet could bring to the role of ESPN ombudsman more credentials, intelligence, a track record of success and the fearlessness to speak his mind than Don Ohlmeyer," John Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor, said in a statement. "He is a noted maverick in the industry with a vast understanding of media, and we look forward to his contributions."

 

[BYH]

You gotta be ****ing kidding me. A guy who fired Norm McDonald for making OJ jokes on SNL is now going to be ESPN's internal watchdog?

 

[Jack_Kerouac]

You gotta be ****ing kidding me. A guy who fired Norm McDonald for making OJ jokes on SNL is now going to be ESPN's internal watchdog?

He's quite obviously going to be the "Paula Abdul" to Ms. Schreiber's "Simon Cowell" bulldog approach the she often took.

 

[spaceman]

What difference does it make who the ombudsman is, other than for entertainment purposes? It's not like espn is ever going to bother listening to anything they say. It's just so they can say they have an ombudsman.

 

[Clerk Typist]

Why don't they just hire Ohlmeyer to run the joint?

 

[DanOregon]

I don't know. Maybe Ohlmeyer will, instead of focusing on the journalism and ethics, focus on the content and start ripping on the talent for not being funny, the producers for wasting time and not giving viewers scores and highlights, and it will be interesting to see his analysis of how ESPN produces football, baseball and basketball.

 

[spnited]

ESPN ombudsman is the most irrelevant job in America.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

DO's mistake here is following the greatest act to hold the position.

I'd feel more comfortable following Solomon, myself. One looks much better, by comparison.

 

[DanOregon]

I'm really hoping Ohlmeyer opens his stint with a live blog of the ESPYs.

 

[Second Thoughts]

I wish he would write
"ESPN screwed up last week with XXXX. Since then, Stuie Scott (or insert your most disliked here) has been suspended indefinitely for ..... In other actions, 3 producers have been fired for coming up with the inane "Find the Best Small-town Pony League team" escapade that covered all 50 states and cost the network $1.3 million for an asinine idea."

Now, see, that would be worth his while.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

My respect for Simmons would double if his first podcast guest of the Ohlmeyer era was Norm MacDonald and they did O.J. jokes for 20 minutes.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

What he said ...

"Few people on the planet could bring to the role of ESPN ombudsman more credentials, intelligence, a track record of success and the fearlessness to speak his mind than Don Ohlmeyer," John Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor, said in a statement. "He is a noted maverick in the industry with a vast understanding of media, and we look forward to his contributions."

What he meant ...

"Few people on the planet could bring to the role of ESPN ombudsman more credentials, intelligence, a track record of success and the fearlessness to speak his mind than Don Ohlmeyer," John Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor, said in a statement. "He is a noted maverick in the industry with a vast understanding of media, and we look forward to his contributions (which we will completely and totally ignore)."