Bobby Boswell on BSPN
The backlash against what Soccer Insider Steven Goff has termed "BSPN" is not going anywhere. The New York Times's soccer blog teed off on ESPN just this afternoon, noting how Wilbon et all couldn't stop talking about Becks last night:
Meanwhile, on the pitch, where soccer is actually played, a hard rain visible on TV began to fall on a tightly contested if inconsistent match (that's M.L.S. for you). Two of the league's most exciting attacking imports were on the field. United's Fred and Luciano Emilio, two Brazilians, were the best players on the field. But the ESPN cameras were trained on Beckham. Close-up of his facial expressions. Shot of him talking to Cobi Jones. Cut to a sock adjustment. For all that was going on on the field, it was the superstar on the bench that held ESPN's interest.
I have no standing to criticize--all I've written about today is the specter of Becks--but I did find it bizarre when the TV's in the press box showed several minutes of the great man's warm-ups while the game was still going on. I mean, I'm all for hype, but don't you at least have to keep the game in a box or something while you drool over the wondrous one's stretching routine? I'm pretty sure BSPN even missed a corner kick to cover the stretching.
Bobby and Gomito, running around like idiots. (John McDonnell - TWP)
Anyhow, I went to United training today (to try to get more Becks react, naturally), and suddenly there was another BSPN critic, in the person of one Bobby Boswell.
"It was a good crowd," he said. "[The atmosphere] was good. You want to play in packed houses." He paused. Then he began.
"I'll tell you what [makes me mad]," he said. "If you watch SportsCenter today they were showing [highlights]. It was an ESPN-covered game. You would think they would show the highlights of the game, but the highlights were when Beckham warmed up, when he went in, a free kick...and then they just show him kind of after the game.
"And my whole point is, the goal was an exciting shot, there's a red card, there's a dirty foul: that's cool. There's a lot of chances. How do you just show him and they say, 'Oh, they lost 1-0.' What did anyone get out of that, you know what I mean? I don't know if the league has anything to do with it, but it's just going to turn into if Beckham does well, they're going to get some kind of coverage, and if not, it's just going to be a nightmare. It would have been better if he didn't come in and ESPN covered the game, so they had to show highlights. As it is now, what did anyone learn from watching that SportsCenter today? That Beckham played. That's it. They didn't learn anything else....
"They've got to figure that out, because it's not any fun, man. It's not fun for the guys playing, it's not fun for the people watching. I watched Chelsea when they played L.A.; I don't care about him taking his shoe off. I am absolutely baffled how Eric Wynalda--guys that have played the game--are just riding this thing like they don't give a damn. It just baffles me. It's a shame, man. That's not going to do soccer any good in this country, to have stuff like that.
They say, 'People are coming to the games,' but how hard would it have been on SportsCenter to show Luciano scoring, to show him running around like an idiot, so happy, celebrating? Two guys; Beckham and Luciano, you know what I mean? Show the red card, show that tackle; people would be like 'Damn, that's crazy, that's for real.'
"Just one man's opinion. Getting people to come to the game, the fact that we had a sold-out 40,000-plus [crowd]-- awesome. But to me, I think if you come, especially here in D.C., if you come to a game and you've never been to a soccer game and you see the fans jumping and singing the whole time? That's cool. Yeah, it might not be for you, but you respect that. You have a good time, and that's the important part. That's great. The other aspect of it, the media aspect of it? That's crap. They've got to do better than that. Don't even show it if that's what you're going to show."
IMPORTANT UPDATE: From a Sports Business Journal story by Bog friend John Ourand:
When Beckham finally entered the game in the 72nd minute, ESPN kept a camera on the Englishman at all times, cutting to him frequently, even when he didn't have the ball. ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Tim Scanlan says viewers should not expect as much Beckham coverage in the Galaxy's next game on the network, next Thursday against Chivas USA. "Tonight, we were much more aggressive with the Beckham-cam," Scanlan said. "He was making his MLS debut. He was the story tonight." Scanlan said ESPN will adhere to MLS requests that its telecasts do not remain all-Beckham-all-the-time. "We don't want to create the Tiger Woods effect when it comes to Beckham, when fans think it's not worth watching if he's not in the game," he said.
So that's good.
By Dan Steinberg |
August 10, 2007; 3:24 PM ET
| Category:
D.C. United
Previous: The WaPo Finds Beckham |
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Posted by: kasdc | August 10, 2007 03:41 PM
So I hear there's a funny stolen laundry story from last night???
K
Posted by: SEKim | August 10, 2007 03:45 PM
Right on Boswell.
nice writeup Dan :)
Posted by: Srdan La Barra | August 10, 2007 04:04 PM
Bobby Boswell tells it like it is, man. He rules.
Posted by: Reed | August 10, 2007 04:11 PM
Right on. I went home hoping to see some actual highlights since my seats were in the nosebleeds. Nothing. Just Beckham's face. It's pretty and all... but I wanted to see the plays -- there's no depth perception when you're that high up!
Posted by: darth kittius | August 10, 2007 04:20 PM
100% agree. So glad I was at RFK so I could actually see the game. If I had to sit through the BSPN nonsense I don't think I would have watched the whole game.
Posted by: 204 | August 10, 2007 04:26 PM
ESPN and Garber have no doubt dispatched the goon squad by now to silence insolent Bobby Boswell. No one goes against the ESPN/MLS "family" and gets away with it.
Posted by: DY | August 10, 2007 04:35 PM
I came away with the same impression.
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | August 10, 2007 04:44 PM
Preach on Bobby Boswell.
Posted by: Kinney | August 10, 2007 04:53 PM
Bobby Boswell tiene cojones! Vamos Bozilla! Club America fans are cockroaches, too! Yeagh!
Posted by: La Norte | August 10, 2007 04:54 PM
Why's everyone mad at ESPN? They've slowly been turning sportscenter into some mutated, weird Entertainment Tonight/Infomercial/6 Headed Monster for the last 3 or 4 years. ESPN has made me start hating Michael Wilbon (unthinkable!), Stephen A. Smith (well... in large doses he's the most unbearable person ever), and Dan Patrick (I feel dirty when I watch him).
So when they start pointing cameras at Beckham while he's itching his crotch, instead of a corner kick or goal, you shouldn't be surprised. You should just go to the game if you care, or not watch ESPN.
It is depressing, but it's just the way it is. And kudos to Bobby Boswell for really saying something smart. He's completely right.
Posted by: Ian | August 10, 2007 05:00 PM
Oh Dan / Bobby, I could not agree more with this whole (BS)pn. We had tickets but my husband was sick so we had to sit through the whole BSness on TV! It was so awful. I've never watched a soccer game completely cut off onto someone warming up or stretching for like 10 seconds (which is a long time when watching a live match). Totally is disgusting me what the media is doing. Completely disgusted. I still love soccer and DC United though, and that damn media won't take my love.
Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth | August 10, 2007 05:16 PM
In defense of BSPN (ironic that Goff chose to take the Entertainment out of their acronym, since that seems to be what they're focusing on with all the Who's Now and whatnot), it was his MLS debut and that's what the world wanted to see. The vast majority of those people had never heard of DC United and now they have. It was the same way for Freddy. Of course they're going to hype his first game, they real test is whether BSPN can integrate the casual fans over the course of the 5 seasons (ok maybe I'm being optimistic) he's in the MLS. They should get a pass for the first few games.
Posted by: danj | August 10, 2007 05:41 PM
I'm glad I have Fox Sports en Español, Gol TV and ESPN en Español (at least they show more soccer than their english side) because ESPN2's coverage is just sorry aside from Thursdays games. I did'nt see the game but have read commentary and seen pictures...man I would have liked to be there to see some good soccer. Anyway I did see ESPN SC afterward...well Bobby said it all.
Posted by: Albert | August 10, 2007 06:34 PM
when did espn start turning into the e! channel? i don't remember it being that bad in my childhood, but it seems like 5 or 6 years ago it got unbearable. the beckham production has been rediculously bad. unwatchable even to a casual fan who is more than likely confused as to what all the fuss is about. ummm, he's tying his shoe you idiots! does that really deserve four camera angles?
Posted by: jerad | August 10, 2007 06:57 PM
Preach it, Bosworth. Word.
Posted by: Maggie | August 10, 2007 10:59 PM
ESPN covers soccer like a four-year-old eats Brussels sprouts: grudgingly, if at all, and only after being threatened with punishment.
I have this dream: one day, I'll turn on a mainstream English-language sports network in America that actually gives a damn about soccer. I'm still dreaming; in the meantime, I'm grateful I'm bilingual.
Posted by: ouij | August 11, 2007 02:02 AM
Attaboy Bobby!
Thanks to **** like this and the unwritten hockey bias, I am trying to break the ESPN habit. It's unhealthy for your brain.
ESPN = the Worldwide Leader in Yankees, Bonds, Becks, and the NFL and NBA.
Posted by: Eric | August 11, 2007 05:03 PM
"ESPN = the Worldwide Leader in Yankees, Bonds, Becks, and the NFL and NBA."
DON'T forget NASCAR, Arena Football or any other sport with which they are broadcast partners.
Posted by: odessa steps magazine | August 11, 2007 11:59 PM
With online sports news along with NBA TV and fox soccer channel there is no reason for me to watch ESPN anymore. It is only a matter of time. Just wait till there is a NFL network. Then absolutely nobody will watch ESPN.
Posted by: matt | August 12, 2007 02:54 PM
With online sports news along with NBA TV and fox soccer channel there is no reason for me to watch ESPN anymore. It is only a matter of time. Just wait till there is a NFL network. Then absolutely nobody will watch ESPN.
Posted by: matt | August 12, 2007 02:54 PM
Since when was sports in America about anything but entertainment and ratings?
When is the last time you watched an NFL game with under 2 hours of commercials? When is the last time you watched NASCAR without seeing a sponsor?
The problem with soccer in America has nothing to do with the actual sport and everything to do with the lack of play breaks and advertising time.
For soccer to compete with the NFL, NBA, MLB and NASCAR in this market they have to "sell-out" to ESPN, and MLS knows that.
Sorry but MLS was better without Beckham and BSPN. The last Galaxy game before Becks, when it was just Donovan as the "celeb", was about 1,000x better than the Becks match and with 22,000 fans who just cared about the game and DCU winning.
How come nobody but Goff covered that one?
Posted by: E! | August 13, 2007 08:56 AM
I have been a DC United Season ticket holder from its first season and am devoted to the team. I did not attend the Galaxy game because of sickness, but watched it on ESPN. I'm sorry to say that I totally enjoyed the game and did not mind them showing all those shots of Beckham. He was the main attraction that night and he did take a chance by playing at all. And to be brutally honest, the Galaxy were a much improved team after he came in. Before that they were disorganized and could not mount a creditable attack. I am not a fan of ESPN. I hardly ever watch it. I rather look at Fox, Gol or direct kick MLS games on Direct TV. But the fact of the matter is that RFK was packed because of Beckham. For the long-term benefit and growth of MLS, I just hope that he lives up to all the hype and not bomb like Freddie Adu did. He has been an outstanding player and there is every indication that he will be in MLS.
Posted by: Joe | August 14, 2007 07:02 PM
I've never liked DC United but have to give it up for Bobby B telling it like it is.
Posted by: Joey | August 14, 2007 09:55 PM
Nicerez Hilton loves to smash becks and glorify Boswell on his blog nicerezhilton.com
Posted by: James | August 14, 2007 11:43 PM
Two comments; first, ESPN and everybody else is more concerned with Tiger Woods than the leader board. If you can fix that, then you may actually get to see some goals and saves in soccer highlight film. Until then, skip Sportscenter and tell them why. I did.
Second, Beckham isn't injured on purpose or faking, so people need to deal with it. When he can help the team instead of helping ratings, he'll play. I think Beckham will be an asset, but he won't live up to the hype. Ken Griffey, Jr. missed a game or two in his career where he probably could have contributed to his team. Whine about that!
Posted by: Jim Riley | August 15, 2007 02:55 PM
Put a sock in it Boswell. So what if you have to endure a couple of weeks of Beckmania. Is there really someone out there who thinks this guy is not good for the league or for the game in America? It's just that ESPN, still in it's soccer infancy, overcooked the coverage. Beckham is a class act and, from wht you're saying Boswell you're already getting pumped for the next game aginst him. That's the kind of motivation the league needs.
Posted by: derwil | August 17, 2007 10:09 AM
Put a sock in it Boswell. So what if you have to endure a couple of weeks of Beckmania. Is there really someone out there who thinks this guy is not good for the league or for the game in America? It's just that ESPN, still in it's soccer infancy, overcooked the coverage. Beckham is a class act and, from wht you're saying Boswell you're already getting pumped for the next game aginst him. That's the kind of motivation the league needs.
Posted by: derwil | August 17, 2007 10:09 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Thankfully I attended the game and was able to see all the action from the front row. It's been nearly impossible to get an actual report on the game (local DC stations included) not just how many times Becks took off his shirt or tied his shoes.