Hotdog & Friends

Sager Bombs

OK, so I know bashing ESPN is not exactly blazing a new trail, and I’m all for making wishes come true. HOWEVUH, ESPN insists on placing non-news into the one show that is supposed to be focused on actually reporting sports news. That’s right, it’s time for the return of My Wish, ESPN’s series where the hook up disabled kids with sports stars to grant their wildest dreams.

Is this really cool for the kids? Sure. Is it so cool that it might be deserving of its own show? PLEASE. Here are the things I want on Sportscenter: sports news, sports highlights, in depth coverage of bigger stories, and if it’s Sunday, a Sunday Conversation. Nothing else. Here are things I don’t want, ever: Who’s Now, Titletown USA, Ultimate Highlight, My Wish, and anything relating to Dancing With The Stars (No really. Don’t even say those four fucking words ever again). Not only are these segments a little awkward in between baseball analysis and two talking heads screaming at each other, they kind of smack of ESPN wanting to remind us just how great they are. The whole My Wish concept is the most egregious example of program filler that isn’t called “Who’s Now”. And worse, while it makes me happy for the kids, a lot of times the segments come off as manipulative of the audience and feel a bit greasy.

So how can this be fixed? Turns out ESPN has a daily show that relates to sporting issues that would be considered a little on the fringe for Sportscenter. Hell, you could even say they cover things that are “Outside The Lines”. Oh yeah, it’s called Outside The Lines. Segments like My Wish would be perfect there. Placing them inside Sportscenter makes me (a) change the channel, and (b) get angry at disabled people for screwing up my Sportscenter. And that’s something neither of us want. So please, for the love of god, just stop. It’s well intentioned, but absolutely fucking horrible.