ESPN president orders producers to cut back on Tebow coverage: report

New York Post ^ | December 10, 2012 | JUSTIN TERRANOVA

[ConservativeStatement]

Cortland may be a little less crowded next summer.

ESPN president John Skipper has told producers that the cable giant needs to spend less time talking about Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow.

"I said, 'Guys, we didn't handle this very well.' Going to training camp wasn't a problem. We just stayed on it relentlessly and too long," Skipper told Sports Business Journal.

[ConservativeStatement]

Now, how about cutting back on the fascination to call certain athletes by a first name: LeBron, Danica, Carmelo, Kobe, Eli, Manny, Pedro, Tiger. ESPN must conduct staff meetings to isolate certain players into a first-name-only category.

[twister881]

How ‘bout ESPN start covering NFL teams other than the Giants, Jets, and Cowboys? Hell, even the Packers and Patriots are treated like red-headed stepchildren.

[drewh]

You Can’t Talk Enough Tebow”: ESPN’s Instructions To On-Air Talent Is it ridiculous how much you have to talk about Tebow? Yeah! But for whatever reason people can’t get enough of that story, and they kind of stoke the fire—that’s kind of what ESPN does.

“Tebow Magic” by dj steve porter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lW76w92KHo

[Amagi]

I for one won't miss the cut back of Tebow coverage
because a few years ago I cut back on my
ESPN watching. I enjoy sports but I despise ESPN.
And Boomer, will you just bag the Valsalva maneuver when talking just once please.

[peggybac]

[C. Edmund Wright]

Actually, ESPN has always been way too focused on individuals. They obsess over many individuals way too much. The worst case was probably Terrell Owens. That coverage was way over the top.

They frankly have too much air time. If you stop and analyze what they do during the day, you’ll find out they have a lot of stupid people making up faux controversys to fill their day.

[Mygirlsmom]

Or nicknames.....if I have to hear “RG-3” one more time.....ugh.

[deadrock]

All of those athletes are worthy of coverage/fascination because they have talent. Tebow doesn't.

[GSWarrior]

Now if only they would cut back coverage of the Miami Heat.

[Longbow1969]

They should cut back on Tebow coverage because he is not particularly good. Tim Tebow is a marginal NFL caliber quarterback who very well may not be in the league in another year or two.

[driftdiver]

I’ve cut back my ESPN time.

[elpadre]

the only reason I check the story on the Jets each Sunday is to see if Tebow was given a chance. Otherwise I would have zero interest.

[sten]

reducing his brand

all part of the plan... let there be no role models for the right

[The Duke]

I remember “ESPN” .. I used to watch them back before the economy tanked and I had more time. Are they still in business? What a nostalgia trip!!! :O

[dainbramaged]

Or nicknames.....if I have to hear “RG-3” one more time
That moniker is played out, but I have noticed young Robert Griffin III professes his love of God in every interview yet somehow he is not mocked like Tim Tebow.

[j_tull]

Tim Tebow is a marginal NFL caliber quarterback who very well may not be in the league in another year or two.

With any luck, he'll be a Tea Party candidate for Senate, somewhere.

[Ax]

Last year, the spineless suits at ESPN banned Hank Williams, Jr., from doing his Monday Night Football opening because he dissed the rESident, and now they’re going after Tim Tebow. The poor kid never had a chance.

[ConservativeStatement]

Tom Brady, to name one, and other athletes are in the high level of performers, too but aren't indicated by first names. Plenty of NASCAR drivers are more talented than Danica Patrick but the first-name attention is generally limited to her. And when ESPN posts the scroll, typically, the info will include the top five finishers of a particular race and Patrick's finish which can be 15th, 20th, 35th or 30th yet it gets mentioned when higher finishers are excluded. The other night, the scroll read “Carmelo and Chandler lead the Knicks to victory.” Is Chandler a first name, a last name? C. Anthony and T. Chandler is more professional, consistent and informative.