Weighing in on Whitlock/ESPN
Yeah, this is relatively late, but it's still relevant.
Jason Whitlock has annoyed and frustrated me at times, but if he was let go at ESPN specifically because of comments he made about Scoop Jackson and Mike Lupica and the network in general, then that's a problem.
I have banged out quite a few columns about ESPN in recent years, dating back to three years ago in college. At that time, I wrote that I didn't like the direction ESPN was heading in, producing its own movies and own television shows and then having them intersect at times with actual sports programming.
Since then, I've complained about ESPN's self-importance, it's ridiculous "see-me" Sports Center anchors, and its loud presentation.
My prediction: I will never work for ESPN.
That's a shame, because it used to be a goal of mine to work for "The world wide leader in sports." It was while watching a football game on the network in 1992 that I told my dad I wanted to go into sports journalism.
Which brings me to Whitlock.
The Ball State graduate took some shots earlier this week, and (he says) as a result he will no longer be appearing on the network.
As Whitlock said in a recent column:
I wasn’t surprised. ESPN, a terrific network, has always been hypersensitive to criticism, especially when it comes from its independent-contract employees. Over the six years I’ve worked for ESPN, I’ve received complaining phone calls from its executives almost every time I’ve written a critical word about the network.
I would argue criticism, and criticism from within, are powerful tools that make a network stronger. ESPN only gained points with me when it brought in George Solomon, and his columns are a highlight of each month.
ESPN has a right to only keep on loyal and pro-company reporters and columnists. But when things go bad (as they have more and more), a network needs someone to keep it in check.
Doing so would be important for a world wide leader.