MLB and ESPN Going At It
Uncategorized July 5th. 2007, 8:23pm
Is Major League Baseball pissed at ESPN? In a blog item that Newsday’s Neil Best just posted, the word on the San Francisco streets is that MLB is upset at the four-letter for scooping MLB’s All-Star selection show on TBS, and is reacting with a ‘ban’ of sorts from AT&T Park Tuesday night.
It is my understanding that Major League Baseball has told ESPN it will not be allowed to do its customary special set at the All-Star Game for its SportsCenter crew beyond having a reporter on the scene as any other TV outlet can. (ESPN still will televise the Home Run Derby Monday night with its full team as well as do an episode of Baseball Tonight from San Francisco on Tuesday.)
How is this significant? It probably isn’t that big of a deal. Violating the TBS embargo, however, could have future ramifications. And you know what we’re thinking about: the NFL draft. We’ve tossed out this option several times, and folks, it’s coming, probably within the next year or two: what happens when the NFL network spreads its wings and decides to snatch up the NFL draft? As you’ve seen with the video restrictions, the NFL is very protective of its possessions. And because the draft is one of ESPN’s crown jewels, and you can be sure ESPN won’t just let this happen without a fight. Though it’s totally a future scenario, can you imagine ESPN running its own draft show, and trying to scoop the picks? Fun times!
Ticked-Off MLB Limits ESPN Presence at All-Star Game (Watch Dog)
20 Responses to “MLB and ESPN Going At It”
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July 5th, 2007 at 8:27 PM
Wow, great stuff as always. I’m all for leagues standing up to the four-letter bully.
Here’s to more diverse coverage!
July 5th, 2007 at 8:41 PM
Damn you Norby. Damn you to Hell!
July 5th, 2007 at 8:45 PM
great job as always. but in regard to espn getting the nlf draft and “can you imagine ESPN running its own draft show, and trying to scoop the picks?”
i’m sure goodall and company will make sure that if espn doesn’t have the rights and did do their own show, that if they scooped even one pick before the commish announced it, there would be HUGE ramifications for said team.
July 5th, 2007 at 8:58 PM
Though it’s totally a future scenario, can you imagine ESPN running its own draft show, and trying to scoop the picks? Fun times!
Imagine that, they might have to do some actual reporting, then.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Not a bad job by Newsday either.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:04 PM
Good stuff to hear. There is a light!
July 5th, 2007 at 9:26 PM
it’s bad enough at the draft that the Four Letter gets the pick early, allowing the Water Buffalo to “predict” what the pick will be.
Patrick does the same thing on his radio, “predicting” things that will happen when the stories are embargoed for a certain time.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Buffalos everywhere are offended by that nickname.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Hey ,does anyone know what’s happened to the Woody Paige story? Could this be yet another case of sportswriters protecting sportswriters? Are they circling their hypocritical wagons again? And when will the phony Mushface of the N.Y. ComPost weigh in? Just asking…….
July 5th, 2007 at 11:52 PM
ESPN has a lot of weight to throw around on its own. Celebrity Death Match: ESPN vs. the world of organized sports!
July 6th, 2007 at 12:07 AM
I’m ticked off that there weren’t games on at 1,4,7,10 last night on the four letter.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:13 AM
You’re right about the draft being scooped up by the NFL Network. It’s just a matter of time. Tagliabue was one hell of a marketing genius.
ncaabasketballscores.blogspot.com
July 6th, 2007 at 1:50 AM
This is getting too confusing…who am I supposed to despise more: ESPN for being the four letter or MLB for being morons (i.e., steroids and this scoop issue), the NFL (i.e., NFL Network), etc. etc. This really leaves me between a rock and a hard place. And in regards to the NFL Network, take a look at what the Big Ten is doing with their soon to launch new channel. No one with cable is going to be able to get it.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:56 AM
congrats, you are now officially deadspin. deadspin, will leitch, convicted puljos with 80% confirmation of doing steroids and his trainer. then you put this up and forget to metion the disclaimer that the facts have not been throughly confirmed or checked out.
so when are you gonna get emo bangs, like your blood brother leitch?
July 6th, 2007 at 2:41 AM
I’m pretty sure that Deadspin indicated that it was unconfirmed. It was certainly closer to an implication than a conviction.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:00 AM
Good for the MLB! For those of you who saw the draft on both the NFL Network and ESPN, the NFL Network scores an A and ESPN gets a C-. The coverage was hardly comparable.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:21 AM
he gave his source his full backing. why did he apologize, profusley?
July 6th, 2007 at 4:24 AM
albert puljos told his trainer if you want to sue who started this rumor he would pay for it. keith olbermann went on air with this, yet no apology from him. i will give leitch credit for saying sorry when it was proven he was wrong.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:35 AM
Any more info on Woody Paige? Anbody?…….
July 6th, 2007 at 2:35 PM
I suspect the draft moving off ESPN won’t be happening for a while. The four-letter just completed the first year of an eight-year contract with MNF, and I suspect the draft rights were included in that as well.