Comments on: Too little, too late from ESPN on Roethlisberger

By: blackmajik61

blackmajik61 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:58:01 +0000

Hey all you numb nuts that keep talking crap about how Florio will never compete with ESPN, what do you have between your ears? Its not about competing with ESPN, its about a blatant double standard that ESPN demonstrates over and over. Some think this is about a superstar getting superstar treatment but it isn’t even about that. This is about black and white and normally don’t even go there but there have just been too many examples in sports in particular to ignore.
Don’t even tell me if this was TO or Chad Johnson ESPN wouldn’t on top of this every second of every day after every commercial break on every ESPN channel. If it was Donovan McNabb it would be the same thing b/c they’ve already OD’d on reporting on them in the past. They were all over the Vinkings boat party fiasco a few years ago b4 anybody was charged. If this was any black NFL player say Marvin Harrison who until last yr had a squeaky clean image or absolutely any black player ESPN would be reporting about it. I have countless other examples of a double standard when it comes to their coverage of “off the field issues” but as Florio already pointed out ESPN’s pathetic lame excuse for not covering this is straight BS. I know most of you could care less but its this type of blatant double standard that insults one’s intelligence, as if it would go unnoticed.

By: atlantafalCANS

atlantafalCANS — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:14:29 +0000

We all appreciate your ability to break news before plenty of other medias but you will NEVER compete with ESPN on anything else. EVER.

By: EskinSux

EskinSux — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:38:19 +0000

“I suppose it’s natural for people to be biased, but I am somewhat disappointed that you’ve chosen to align yourself with the mouth-breathing coal miners and rust belt lowbrows that you’re surrounded by.
______________________________
Yeah, Florio, how the hell do you sleep at night knowing that one of thousands of commenters are disappointed….Shame on you….

By: Silver&Black666

Silver&Black666 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:59:27 +0000

Now its on CNN’s web site
LMAO at ESPN

By: FuriousGeorge

FuriousGeorge — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:34:55 +0000

ESPN is gun shy since their atrocious coverage of spygate and the “walk through tape” fiasco. they looked like absolute fools in both incidents and paid heavily in the respect and credibility dept. not to mention advertising revenue.

By: VoxVeritas

VoxVeritas — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:29:43 +0000

I’m no fan of ESPN but maybe they should question why you’re so biased for and against certain teams, Florio. Though to your credit, you don’t try to hide it. I suppose it’s natural for people to be biased, but I am somewhat disappointed that you’ve chosen to align yourself with the mouth-breathing coal miners and rust belt lowbrows that you’re surrounded by.

By: Stlrzfan

Stlrzfan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:28:55 +0000

Just what the doctor ordered! This story is pageview manna from heaven! Milk it, baby, milk it!! Who cares if it’s true or not, pageviews rule!
Accusations from psycho women= massive, massive, news cycle material. Just ask any Lacrosse player.
This is where PFT finally completes the shark jump.

By: Bob Nelson

Bob Nelson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:15:31 +0000

ESPN is completly right.
Florio the boob lawyer ought to know this.
The Complaint and Summons have not been legally responded to yet.
Let’s wait until the Responsive Pleading has been filed.
One can hardly wait until the Discovery Conference that outlines which areas of discovery are in play for this suit.
McNulty is going to have her whole phoney life investigated to shreds.

By: Shamrock

Shamrock — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:55:22 +0000

Schefter is twittering about the story.
If he has balls, he’ll report it anyway.

By: realityonetwo

realityonetwo — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:35:00 +0000

“At this point, we are not reporting the allegations against Ben Roethlisberger because no criminal complaint has been filed,” Nwulu said. “As far as we know, this is a civil lawsuit that Roethlisberger has yet to address publicly.”
Translation: “Our sister company has a lot of jack tied up in taping a reality show this week with this dirtbag and that clown from the NBA. We will selectively ignore this story, and we believe our viewers should, too. And our advertisers.”

By: The Grimus

The Grimus — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:21:17 +0000

Who cares if ESPN reports this or not? They eventually will and if Florio’s “grand conspiracy” to stay in the good graces of Roethlisberger are true it only makes logical sense for ESPN as a business.
ESPN got burned by the Duke Lacross fiasco (I don’t really remember the Kobe coverage but it probably wasn’t glamorous) so it stands to reason when some psychotic whore from a Nevada casino files a civil suit a year after an alledge rape with a major NFL star that would be impossible to prove in a criminal trial ESPN might want to tread lightly. Just in case she probably might be lying you never know.
She stands for what a few months of the public airing of her dirt when it’s shown she’s a psychotic whore, but Roethlisberger has to have this attached to his name for the rest of his life which is spent mostly in the public eye.
Bad situation all around Florio but get down off your cross and use the wood to build a bridge and get over it. ESPN like most other cable news outlets is for entertainment now a days and you have to take all of their “reporting” with a grain of salt.

By: Stan Mort

Stan Mort — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:17:54 +0000

TSN (ESPN Canada) is reporting the story

By: pacmanisathug

pacmanisathug — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:12:08 +0000

they had plenty to say about steve mcnair being drunk while sitting on a couch. not driving, but on a couch, but no time for this?
where is chris mortenson or john clayton on this one?

By: tacious

tacious — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:03:46 +0000

“Dude… get off of ESPN’s gonads. You (Florio) always act like you’re in competition with ESPN. Newsflash: They don’t really give a hoot about you. They are owned by Disney. They aren’t going anywhere. You’re a small fish in a small pond, just like Rotoworld. Keep pimping Sprint phones. LOL.”
Relax there Justin G… what, are you ESPN’s “slam pig” or something? ESPN used to good… now they just suck; like your Mom!

By: wvugrad00

wvugrad00 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:56:08 +0000

When did ESPN become the Microsoft of the sports reporting world?
People just love to bitch about the big boys (Microsoft, ESPN), and spoon their little security blanket (Apple, blogs)

By: blackglass

blackglass — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:50:22 +0000

Good job, Florio. What these dunces don’t get is ESPN is supposed to report SPORTS NEWS. Guess what guys, this IS SPORTS NEWS. ESPN is picking and choosing what they feel the need to make a big deal out of, and that is the problem. Remember Summer 2007? They were the first ones to get in on the Micahel Vick Dogfighting thing, BEFORE there were any “substantiated” reports. But now the white, All American QB is accused of something about 100 times worse than what Vick did, and ESPN wants to wait and see what happens.
It’s just sickening. It’s racist, it’s pandering to Ben and Steeler fans, and it completely lacks journalistic integrity.
Thank you for making this site, Florio. I stopped going to ESPN for my sports news long ago, because at least you’re truthful and don’t operate under the guise of “Just the facts, ma’am”.

By: PhillyChef123

PhillyChef123 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:45:23 +0000

So the suits @ ABC called Bristol and told them their little realty(barf!) show might get dinged a bit if Big Ben got knocked down a few pegs…..nawh, that would never happen! What a useless excuse for a sports network!

By: ihateskelator

ihateskelator — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:45:20 +0000

Here’s what I know about the boys at ESPN: Chrissy Berman is as old and tired as Walter Cronkite; he’s just not had the decency to die;
Stuart Scott, also known as “Carlton” grew up and away from Fresh Prince and he’s nauseating. Absoultely nauseating. Memo to SS: stop trying to pick up women on national tv. It’s emabarassing and nauseating;
John Anderson, quite bright and capable, flushed all that down the crapper with his insistence to participate on “Wipeout!”. Oh, yeah, I see Edward R. Murrow doing that. Ask Mike Adamle how that worked out for him on American Gladiators;
Mike Golic once said that the Beatles were overrated. In the history of stupid statements, that will forever reign as the stupidiest of stupid statements. Career stats: 11.5 sacks and 3 interceptions IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER!!!!!!!! I gotta listen to his fatso with a bad opinon, huge gut and 11 1/2 sacks IN HIS CAREER??AND he’s an admitted steroids guy, too!
Even Danny Patrick is getting old and tired. Smarmy, sarcastic, bunch of hair jokes…enough already
I HATE THIS CHANNEL. HATE ‘EM.

By: girlsloveD

girlsloveD — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:44:35 +0000

Two clearly distinct discussions related to this topic from a D.C. Native life long (but clear minded) Steeler Fan.
Firstly, ESPN has a responsibility to report all significant sports related stories. They may truly be guilty of burying the lead on this story.
On what is clearly the more important issue, it is tragic that so many people will rush to judgement clouded by disdain of BR and or the Steelers Organization. As both a former police officer (6 years), and a life long sports fan in general, I have seen more than my share of false allegations of rape among other crimes.
IF he did it, he will DESERVE and face the consequences. Until then, it is truly shameful that in the country we live in that people would lose perspective about the presumption of innocence.

By: INVAIDUH

INVAIDUH — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:41:49 +0000

ESPN SUX.

By: rebecca30

rebecca30 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:39:47 +0000

Just looked online and the Pittsburgh paper the Post just released two stories about it. And a local CBS station in my city (Indianapolis) just ran a storie about it. SI.COM and FOX Sports has stories, looks like ESPN is the only one ignoring it.

By: The same Steeler Chad

The same Steeler Chad — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:38:06 +0000

she got a promotion! http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrea-mcnulty/a/1a8/78a

By: Rasputin

Rasputin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:28:38 +0000

Now if you really wanna go all Woodward and Bernstein, see if you can find email/text-message/phone communications between Bristol and Berchtesgarden … er … Goodell’s office telling them that it would be in ESPN’s best interest to not run the story. You want to make PFT famous overnight, that’s how you do it. Topple the commissioner and the “leader” in sports TV in one shot.
Although, in reality, Americans are so used to corruption in the media and at the executive level, I doubt most people would say more than: “Yeah, so what? Is Favre coming back or not?”

By: AlanSaysYo

AlanSaysYo — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:26:30 +0000

Don’t pretend this is the first time ESPN has lacked journalistic integrity, commenters. They’ve been doing this for years. They think they’re big enough to dictate the news cycle. And they may be right. But we really shouldn’t expect anything better from them. They’ve been dumbing down their programming steadily for the past decade, and it’s quite clear they have an agenda other than pure reporting.

By: Paul Hanna

Paul Hanna — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:24:46 +0000

Apparently Florio's biatch (Not Rosenthal and Curran, the one not employed by NBC), aka Adam Schefter, didn't get that "DNR" alert... http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/status/2751385858

By: gldnboot13

gldnboot13 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:23:48 +0000

I agree it’s a little odd that ESPN would be hesitant to report this story. But, maybe they are trying to get their facts straight given rape scandals against big names (Kobe, Duke) last for months in the news and often make more journalists look bad than good.
But Florio, you just sound like a blogger sitting in your mom’s basement when you go on these rants. Your site just got bought by NBC, you provide great insight into the NFL, but leave these topics out please. It destroys your respectability in my eyes and probably others. Don’t try to toe the line between comedic blog and real news site, it doesn’t work. Keep providing your unique insight and leave the grilling of ESPN to the blogs that provide little more than comedic opinion and a cheap laugh. (Don’t get me wrong, I like the blogs, but for a different reason than why I come to this site.)

By: This is not news

This is not news — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:23:37 +0000

There is still time left for a few more articles about Roethlisberger.

By: Stone

Stone — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:21:37 +0000

Has anyone ever done any research on ESPN’s treatment of white vs. black athletes? I’d be curious to know if this is merely a marketing/business decision on their part or if they are intent on playing into the country’s racial biases. (e.g. report on every black athlete’s civil or criminal charges but ignore or marginalize white athlete’s same) I’m sure this is a reach but I’m still curious.

By: bbq

bbq — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:18:48 +0000

ESPN probably hasn’t mentioned it because this story is complete and utter bullshit. It’s pretty clear that McNulty is a sue-happy bitch looking to cash in, and I suppose ESPN sees no reason to defame a Super Bowl hero with this kind of garbage. These kinds of claims against someone’s character can really ruin lives.
But no, I suppose ESPN is just evil. I like most of the stuff you do, Florio, but the ESPN vendetta is just ignorant.

By: igglesfan74

igglesfan74 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:18:08 +0000

Florio,
Not only do you get 3 or 4 posts out of the Not-so-gentle Ben story, but you get 3 or 4 more from the non-espn reporting headlines.
You should be happy-plenty to type today.