I can't stand "Sports Coverage" of Political Events and our Democracy..

[KoKo]

I'm sick of the Roone Arlidge reporting REVOLUTION. I want DRY/DUSTY FACTS!

Am I alone?

Background on SportsEnfotainment!

---------

Roone Arlidge Dies
Friday, December 6, 2002 Roone Arlidge, the man who is credited with revolutionizing TV sports and news in the US, died on Thursday of complications from prostate cancer. He was 71.

In a career that began as floor manager of the Shari Lewis puppet show on an ABC affiliate and took him to the presidency of ABC news, Arlidge ate, slept and drank TV. A notorious nitpicker, those who worked with him said he had the ability to zero in on the details that made a show work, or made it a ratings loser. He brought that ability to play in TV sports, long a ghetto of weekend daytime viewing. Under Arldige's watch, it was brought into primetime and made a major force.

While working on the sports side, Arlidge created "Monday Night Football", and "The Wide World of Sports". He also began the "up close and personal" approach to athletes in which we are told tales of their personal lives. This supposedly humanized them, though in this writer's opinion those kind of pieces are maudlin at best and Pythonesque at worst.

After moving to the news division, Arlidge brought the same attention to increasing the profile of ABC news, creating such staples as "20/20" and "Nightline". He also made stars of the newscasters themselves and drove salaries into the stratosphere.

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:gJaWEj3yJWkJ:www.themediadrome.com/cgi-bin/newspro/fullnews.cgi%3Fnewsid1039190452,98042,+Roone+Arlidge+and+News&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5

[bumblebee1]

1. Unfortunately,

we're a nation of sports junkies.(USA) Our problem is that we can't make politics and world events interesting like sports. I eat lunch with a bunch of guys at work. The information they talk about regarding the NFL is mind boggling. Yes, they have fantasy football teams and listen to ESPN radio on their way to and from work. Our "culture" is very sports oriented from what we wear to using the sports cliches in our every day language.

Yes, I enjoy watching sports like: baseball, football, tennis, figure skating and gymnastics, to name a few. There are times when I have to turn it off because my mind goes numb from watching it for a long time.

A gentleman name John Gerdy titled "Sports The All American Addiction." Mr Gerdy is the son of a high school football coach, a high school and collegiate basketball player, professional basketball player in the CBA. He also served as a YMCA youth sports director, an associate commissioner for the Southeastern Conference and a legislative assistant to the NCAA. This book is an eye opening read.

[Berry Cool]

2. First of all, how credible can that article be if it misspelled "Arledge"?

Second of all, let's not knock sports coverage. Right now, in my opinion, the best newscaster we have out there is an ex-sportscaster!

[bumblebee1]

3. How true.

I don't get to watch much Keith Olberman since I work second shift. You've got to admit, Roone Arledge was quite a genius when it cam to the running of ABC.