The new incarnation of ESPN's The Sports Reporters is awful.
John Saunders is a decent host, but isn't a newspaperman, he's a talking head. This show should be moderated by a journalist of Schapp's stature like Frank Deford.
Dan Lebatard is a smug jerk who writes for an awful paper in a horrible sports town.
Mitch Albom's wig has driven me crazy for years, but his opinions on sports are usually well thought out. Strikes against him: his emabarrassing feel good books and one of the weakest radio shows I've ever had the misfortune to hear (because it's not really a sports show and they talk about the most mundane garbage).
Lupica used to be tolerable when he was held in check by the old line-up of Schapp, Bob Ryan, William Rhoden and Bill Conlin. But his non-stop yapping on the current show leaves me a little flat.
I really enjoy PTI and Around The Horn which are more rambunctious, shout fests. The Sports Reporters is supposed to be home to thoughtful and insightful commentary on sports and the people who play them, not a forum for "witty retorts" and shameless plugging of mediocre book efforts.
I haven't seen Rhoden, Conlin or Ryan on there in some time, so I haven't been watching anymore. I hope this changes in the future, because there is a place for thoughtful, quality programming on ESPN (Bob Ley's Outside The Lines is also excellent), even if it's only a half hour a week.
"Well, you can't involve friendship with business. It has to be one or the other. It's either business or friendship, or hit the bricks!" --Life Lessons from "The Tao of Bobby the Brain Heenan" Uncensored 2000 preview
"As long as the check don't bounce, I guess he's okay with it!" --Former All Pro Giants LB Harry Carson on Bill Parcells joining the hated rival Dallas Cowboys
DISCLAIMER: I'm sure I'm either asleep or at work when this show is on so I don't watch it
Originally posted by NickBockwinkelFanDan Lebatard is a smug jerk who writes for an awful paper in a horrible sports town.
I got no problems with this, but the fact that it immediately followed THIS sentence...
This show should be moderated by a journalist of Schapp's stature like Frank Deford.
...makes me seriously question your sanity. There isn't a more pretentious, smarmy, unctuous, lugubrious "reporter" in existence! (My Own Pretentious, Smarmy, Unctuous, Lugubrious Opinion.)
Eh, in my opnion the sports reporters has always been horrible. Though I do agree that if I could reach through my TV and smack Lupica around I would.
(edited by Doc_whiskey on 24.11.03 0731) Mr. Burns: You are of course familiar with our state usury laws? Homer:U-sur-y? Mr. Burns: Oh silly me, I must have just used a word that doesn't exist.
I always thought Dick Schapp was the weak link of the old Sports Reporters. I always thought they kept him around so he could mention how he used to wear horrible jackets and co-host the Joe Namath Show. So, in that regard, Saunders is a tremendous upgrade. Ryan is usually around. Of course, as they said on WFAN the other day before Ryan came on the air "Bob Ryan is a great guest. However, he's not the toughest guest to get. Ryan will give 20 minutes to the refrigerator light in the morning." Lebetard is below useless. When Lupica has strong personalities around him, he's tolerable. When he's allowed to take over the show, he's annoying. However, as bad as Lebetard always is, and as untolerable Lupica can be, there is one who is by far worse: Schapp's offspring has no sports knowledge, is annoying, and is only around because of who his father was.
(edited by redsoxnation on 24.11.03 1033) Why Pro Wrestling proves the INS cannot keep terrorists out of the United States: If a felon like Nathan Jones is allowed into the United States with no special skills (unless being totally inept in the ring counts, but I think there are enough totally inept people in the US to keep that skill from being unique or special), then how the hell can they justify keeping anyone else out?
Frank DeFord is awful. I can't even stand to read his stuff in SI, much less listen to him talk about how much better things were back in the day.....yikes.
The history of taxation shows that taxes which are inherently excessive are not paid. The high rates inevitably put pressure upon the taxpayer to withdraw his capital from productive business. - Andrew Mellon
I haven't seen the Sports Reporters in some time (I'm usually still sleeping at 10:00 AM), so I can't really say. I did like it back in the day with Schaap, Conlin, Albom, Lupica, Kornheiser, Wilbon, et. al. Saunders is all right, I guess.