How Technology has Changed Sports For the Worst

Technology has revolutionized the way sports are covered in today’s media. From game stories being covered in a daily paper and highlights on local television, to what LeBron James had for breakfast, the difference between now and then is black and white. There are so many different media platforms out there. However, believe it or not, ESPN and all other companies have run out of sports stories to talk about.

True sports journalism used to be an art form. Writers used to dissect a game or a player and create a well-written story. They used to have to take their time because they only had a small section of a newspaper they could place in an article. They used to actually put thought into what they were producing. Not anymore.

Imagine this, you’re holding half a bottle of Gatorade in your hand. You think to yourself, “Wow I wish this bottle was filled.” But instead of filling it with more Gatorade, you fill it with water. Now what do you have? Watered down crap. There are so many different television networks and websites out there now that are dedicated solely to sports: ESPN, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, just to name a few. What do all of these networks add up to? The same thing as that watered down crap Gatorade.

Back in the day, there was no such thing as ESPN or any of these stations. The only way you were able to know what was going on in the sporting world is when highlights were on your local station or by reading the newspaper. There was no such thing as a national sports network. That is partially why All-Star games were such huge games. You rarely got to see any of the other players in action unless your team was playing them. But now, with shows dedicated to sports 24/7, that luster is no longer there.

Now you may ask yourself why are there this many sports shows? The answer? Money.  All these sports shows and networks are not actually covering the sports because they care. They are doing it for the money. According to Forbes, the average NFL team was valued at just over $1 billion in 2009. That number has increased to about $1.4 billion since. That is a 40% increase. Would you want to be partners with the NFL and advertise their sport on your station if that meant you get some of that billions of dollars? I would hope so. And if you could make a bunch of money showing the sport on the one station you have, imagine how much money you could make showing it on three channels, social media and on your website! See now you’re thinking like a sports media tycoon.

If you go off the field and away from the actual game, sports are basically soap operas but in a more “manly” form. If it is a Monday following an NFL Sunday, it is clutch that there are multiple stations because there is a lot of games to cover. But when it is Tuesday through Thursday and there are no sports to cover?  You get coverage like this:                         

                       

                       

Now don’t get me wrong I’m not blaming ESPN or any of these stations for their obnoxiously irrelevant coverage. They have time they need to fill and you have got to do what you have got to do. The problem is the technology has just given them an unlimited platform. But just because you can eat an entire batch of cookies doesn’t mean you should.

My proposed solution? Those who cover sports should do those who truly love sports a favor and cut down on the pointless coverage. Honor the sports journalist pioneers who came before you. Stay away from the watered down coverage and give your viewers the purest Gatorade you can give.

Works Cited

"ESPN LeBron James Coverage 2015 - Movie TV Tech Geeks News." Movie TV Tech Geeks News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.

Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.