NBA Draft Spoiler Ticker

I felt compelled to send ESPN this suggestion/ complaint because I was that annoyed by the NBA Draft ticker on the bottom of the screen that gave away the picks of the draft as I was watching the replay.

--------------- Original Message ---------------

I was watching the replay of the NBA Draft on ESPN at 12 am PST but there was a draft ticker on the bottom of the screen that reported all of the picks by team. I was watching this replay because I did not watch the draft live so I did not yet know what happened. Would someone who has not yet seen an event such as the draft want to watch it with a spoiler ticker at the bottom of the screen that tells the outcome? No, that would be stupid. My suggestion is do not make this mistake again.

I was surprised to receive any kind of response, not to mention one so prompt.

Dear Shane,

Thank you for contacting us.

Fans turn to us, as well as many other news sources, for the latest information in sports news. The results of the NBA Draft fall in that category. As a general rule we will make an exception and not show the results while the event is being televised on our air. We understand that not everyone may agree with our editorial decision. We do thank you for sharing your perspective with us.

Sincerely,

Eric
ESPN Viewer Response

Yes Eric, I know that you usually remove the results from the bottom ticker during replays. That’s the smart thing to do. You dropped the ball this time. How about an apology? I think if any other news sources or fans needed information about the draft after midnight well after the event, they wouldn’t go to the bottom ticker of the draft replay, they could quickly check online. What “other news source” would need to sit through a scrolling ticker after midnight several hours after the event and after their deadline?

Sure Hannah, you’re welcome for my “perspective” and you’re still wrong, Eric.

The Fearhand

I guess this is what Brad Gilbert calls the forehand nowadays. I don’t dislike it. Well, maybe I kinda like it. I looked it up and it only applies to big forehands, which most players on the men’s circuit have.

This is my friend Syrym's fearhand.

firehannahstorm.com

I almost changed the name of my blog to firehannahstorm.com because she is single-handedly ruining my Wimbledon viewing experience. I never really noticed her before but as the Isner-Mahut epic was in the process of changing stations to make space for the World Cup, Storm burst on the scene and polluted the air with an endless supply of useless, clichéd fluff and filler. While displaying hardly any tennis knowledge and shying away from any substantive analysis, her color consisted of overusing “perspective” and gushing about this or that. Hannah, this isn’t the Early Show.
When I was watching the Nadal-Haase match, ESPN cut to an interview with Isner on set. I missed most of the third set because Storm had to ask Isner the same dam questions the presenter asked him on court after his match. Guess what Hannah, Isner’s answers to those questions did not change. Thirty minutes and a shower did not give him a new “perspective.” And yes, he still felt tired.

And what kind of name is Hannah Storm anyway? Was she originally in the adult film industry? Well I looked it up and apparently her real name is Storen.

Unfortunately or fortunately, I am not the first to criticize Hannah Storm.

This is a picture I took of Isner doing what he does best at the 2007 US Open. At that time, serving and getting mini-breaks were the ONLY things he did well.