What is the deal with ESPN...

[UK3K]

Some posters on here have been blasting ESPN and their coverage of UK for years now. I didn't really agree with those posters. I think that ESPN has has shown obvious favoritism toward UNC and Duke, but I also felt like they (for the most part) gave UK its due. Starting last year and into this year I think that has changed. It seems to me like they are actively trying to undermine and suppress UK and Cal. We all know the lovefest that is going on for Duke right now. We also know that ESPN glossed over UK's recruiting class and wouldn't make any changes to the rankings or even really address the addition of more players. Now I am watching this Alabama game and they are doing everything they can not to talk about UK directly. They had a spotlight on tonight's games that mentioned the great coaches and teams we'd be seeing: K, Izzo, Self, and Pitino, but no mention of UK or Cal. They did a halftime segment on the Duke vs UK game night that showed highlights of Duke's players and games and then talked about how the SEC is improving with no focus on UK at all.

This game I'm watching now is just sort of the straw on that camel's back that made me think, "What the hell." What has happened to turn ESPN against UK? Is this push back for the dumpster fire that is UNC or were they just waiting for K to win another championship to show their true colors?

 

[IL Wildcat]

I think much of it depends on who is calling the shots for a particular game or set of games. I'd say the personalities involved, doing their commentating and color, likely have input into that as well. So, it may not be an ESPN conspiracy as much as it is a couple of their producers and several of their talking heads who have, let's say, a very strong distaste for Calipari. But yes, it's not imaginary. You're not crazy and neither are other UK fans who say similar things. It is clear that there are many times ESPN producers and personalities go out of their way to avoid giving Calipari or Kentucky any attention. They don't want to "help" fuel the phenomenon that UK has become under Calipari.

But, just to be clear, I don't think it's a company wide memo that has gone out saying, "Ok, no talk about UK. Remember, we hate them." For example, this morning on Mike and Mike, after the BAM commitment, they were repping Kentucky and Calipari big time. It's clear those guys, who are big in the ESPN family, didn't get any such memo. But it's also clear that whoever produced this college hoops tipoff for ESPN has a serious problem with Kentucky and Calipari, which is not surprising. Many hate Calipari. The fact that he just went into North Carolina and took the best recruit they've had in several years right from under the nose of all those Carolina and ACC schools this morning, likely didn't help the situation.

 

[blubo]

Some posters on here have been blasting ESPN and their coverage of UK for years now. I didn't really agree with those posters. I think that ESPN has has shown obvious favoritism toward UNC and Duke, but I also felt like they (for the most part) gave UK its due. Starting last year and into this year I think that has changed. It seems to me like they are actively trying to undermine and suppress UK and Cal. We all know the lovefest that is going on for Duke right now. We also know that ESPN glossed over UK's recruiting class and wouldn't make any changes to the rankings or even really address the addition of more players. Now I am watching this Alabama game and they are doing everything they can not to talk about UK directly. They had a spotlight on tonight's games that mentioned the great coaches and teams we'd be seeing: K, Izzo, Self, and Pitino, but no mention of UK or Cal. They did a halftime segment on the Duke vs UK game night that showed highlights of Duke's players and games and then talked about how the SEC is improving with no focus on UK at all.

This game I'm watching now is just sort of the straw on that camel's back that made me think, "What the hell." What has happened to turn ESPN against UK? Is this push back for the dumpster fire that is UNC or were they just waiting for K to win another championship to show their true colors?

yeah, i was watching that too. couldn't believe they didn't mention cal.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

ESPN is a huge company with tons of on-air personalities, online journalists, etc. Probably the vast majority of them have no problem with UK or Cal. Some of them love him. However, to deny they have some current and former employees that were not at all favorable to us or Cal is ludicrous. They hired Knight and continued to employ him after he publicly and falsely accused UK players of not even attending class after the season was over. The entire starting five. Feinstein was an avowed UK hater. Forde was too. He quit there so he could write on them again after being given a gag order.

ESPN gives UK a TON of good press and coverage. However, many of their on-air personalities take pot shots at us whenever they can. This may happen to other programs as well, but we don't notice it. I've never held the position that all of eSPN is out to get us, or that there is a big conspiracy with a cabal with secret meetings about bringing us down. That is not the case. However, UK fans can and do have specific things we can point to and call out when we see it. Too bad other UK fans accuse us of being whiners or conspiracy theorists when we do.

 

[MuEvans]

never a lack of ESPN conspiracy theory threads on the front page at any one time. they are annoying and fun to read at same time. if i had to guess, they are most likely ted cruz supporters as well.

 

[caneintally]

never a lack of ESPN conspiracy theory threads on the front page at any one time. they are annoying and fun to read at same time. if i had to guess, they are most likely ted cruz supporters as well.

Just b/c it is a conspiracy doesn't make it false.

 

[MuEvans]

can't argue with that logic....You win!

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

never a lack of ESPN conspiracy theory threads on the front page at any one time. they are annoying and fun to read at same time. if i had to guess, they are most likely ted cruz supporters as well.

Explain this leap of logic please. Would love to hear this.

 

[electricdreammachine]

I was thinking this was going to be a Seinfeld bit.

 

[.S&C.]

never a lack of ESPN conspiracy theory threads on the front page at any one time. they are annoying and fun to read at same time. if i had to guess, they are most likely ted cruz supporters as well.

Moron. I could only dream of the idiots you support.

ESPN has a clear bias and they employ 50 UNC and Duke alumn to our one. You don't understand it, IDGAF.

 

[MuEvans]

dude, just stay in your hole, sane people understand me. It's not worth explaining

 

[kitkoodle]

hmmm no one will be seeing Pitino..there is no tv for them..therefore, prob ESP another groof and meant UK and Cal wtg espn

 

[MuEvans]

ah yes, the age old alumni argument at espn! i love it!

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

dude, just stay in your hole, sane people understand me. It's not worth explaining

 

[Ugoff]

So having a problem with ESPN's coverage = Ted Cruz supporter? Is there a friggin full moon tonight? Duke/UK games must bring the loonies out.

 

[Aike]

dude, just stay in your hole, sane people understand me. It's not worth explaining

Sane people understand that ESPN is an entertainment company with barely a hint of journalistic integrity.

 

[UK3K]

Recruiting ticker at bottom of screen, "UK's recruiting class up to number 2, trailing only Duke." WTH, they could have completely left off the "trailing on Duke" part. It's like they are going out of their way to say that UK will never be what Duke is.

 

[lacocat]

On the ESPN homepage right now upper right top is an article saying Coach K is out-coaching and out recruiting the "Ultimate Hustler" Calipari.

O'CONNOR: HOW DUKE BECAME KENTUCKY
Before he retires, Mike Krzyzewski has one last titan of the game to conquer, writes Ian O'Connor. Coach K isn't content just out-coaching John Calipari; he's trying to out-recruit him, too, trying to outhustle the ultimate hustler.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

On the ESPN homepage right now upper right top is an article saying Coach K is out-coaching and out recruiting the "Ultimate Hustler" Calipari.

O'CONNOR: HOW DUKE BECAME KENTUCKY
Before he retires, Mike Krzyzewski has one last titan of the game to conquer, writes Ian O'Connor. Coach K isn't content just out-coaching John Calipari; he's trying to out-recruit him, too, trying to outhustle the ultimate hustler.

I guarantee you that K did not say those things to O'Connor, so that is 100% commentary/opinion.

 

[IL Wildcat]

On the ESPN homepage right now upper right top is an article saying Coach K is out-coaching and out recruiting the "Ultimate Hustler" Calipari.

O'CONNOR: HOW DUKE BECAME KENTUCKY
Before he retires, Mike Krzyzewski has one last titan of the game to conquer, writes Ian O'Connor. Coach K isn't content just out-coaching John Calipari; he's trying to out-recruit him, too, trying to outhustle the ultimate hustler.

Yeah, I saw that garbage on ESPN's front page and I refused to click. In a way, it's almost flattering, to have our coach named as the only remaining "titan" for Coach K to conquer before he retires. I wonder if this writer is aware of that? Unlikely. Regardless, he won't be getting a click from me.

 

[ymmot31]

ah yes, the age old alumni argument at espn! i love it!

I'm going to assume you got ran for a reason, you guys never learn to change your MO when you try to slide back in. No one jumps on the regulars so quickly with so much gusto unless they've been here before or they are a rival fan. I see you. Watch your ass.

 

[SosaUK]

Moron. I could only dream of the idiots you support.

ESPN has a clear bias and they employ 50 UNC and Duke alumn to our one. You don't understand it, IDGAF.

Are those numbers accurate? Wouldn't surprise me.

 

[.S&C.]

Are those numbers accurate? Wouldn't surprise me.

Does ESPN actually employ "a" UK alum? It could be 100 - 1. Some of our fans would still say there's no bias.

 

[kybassfan]

Think about it this way. If you said anything about Kentucky basketball in the press and the words, "perfect", GOAT, best, wonderful, holy, etc don't appear in the same sentence, the blue fog will click on your web site. Works every single time.

Given that we react that way, what do you expect them to do? We've trained the press in much the same way you might train a dog.

 

[SosaUK]

Does ESPN actually employ "a" UK alum? It could be 100 - 1. Some of our fans would still say there's no bias.

Tony Delk? Isn't he employed with SEC network. Honestly don't know but you're point remains. It's sad.

 

[MuEvans]

I'm going to assume you got ran for a reason, you guys never learn to change your MO when you try to slide back in. No one jumps on the regulars so quickly with so much gusto unless they've been here before or they are a rival fan. I see you. Watch your ass.

I am not sure how to respond to this. It's funny. Sir, I can guarantee you I am as big of a Kentucky fan as you are. Just because I am not falling in line with all of the ESPN bias conspiracy theories, doesn't make me less of a fan

 

[MuEvans]

Tony Delk? Isn't he employed with SEC network. Honestly don't know but you're point remains. It's sad.

 

[MuEvans]

They don't want to hear facts, stop it.....its kryptonite!

 

[ymmot31]

I am not sure how to respond to this. It's funny. Sir, I can guarantee you I am as big of a Kentucky fan as you are. Just because I am not falling in line with all of the ESPN bias conspiracy theories, doesn't make me less of a fan

So you've been here under a different name? I gave two options.

 

[SosaUK]

They don't want to hear facts, stop it.....its kryptonite!

Don't bring me into you're argument. I don't know you. Not gonna vouch, bro.