Blogs
Good Will Hunter
Some love for the networks
Zac Hunter chips in his two cents while bloggin' from Boston.
Bravo CBS. Bravo And ESPN? Kudos to you too.
I was so fired up for Kansas' showdown with Texas. I despise the Longhorns and burnt orange as a color. I had my "Beef, It's What's For Dinner" shirt on. I showed up at the Kansas watch site in Boston expecting to see a titanic battle for the Big 12 Championship. I got Georgetown versus Connecticut instead.
Apparently CBS, in its infinite wisdom, chose to blackout the game to markets trying to pick up the feed on satellite. This happened earlier in the season, but the game was nowhere near as important. Living in Boston, I don't expect the Jayhawks to be on local television. However, I do expect to be able to go to a sports bar and watch a game that will decide the championship in one the major conferences.
So there I sit, nestled up at the bar with a Miller Lite and my cell phone. Not an ideal way to keep track of a game, but I'm pretty good at adapting. I thought there might be something wrong with the scorekeeper, because Texas' score would only increase in increments of three. After seeing the highlights, I realized this was no malfunction. Kevin Durant and company were just white hot. Another group of 'Hawks were huddled around a laptop keeping track of the 'Horns' long range assault. We're a clever bunch.
Meanwhile, Georgetown and the always exciting Princeton offense is lurching up and down the court, keeping Connecticut firmly in the NIT. I could have turned my attention to the Wisconsin vs. Michigan State game, but those two teams combined to score fewer points than Texas in the first half. It was a lose/lose situation.
At around the 15-minute mark of the second half, CBS figured something out. It was either that Big East basketball sucks or the battle for the Big 12 Championship was turning into something special. It doesn't really matter which one. The game was on and the 'Hawk faithful who remained at the bar put away the cell phones and laptops and pulled out the cheers and fist pumps.
That should have been the only bump in the road on Saturday. And an outright Big 12 title stemming from a fantastic comeback was truly a newsworthy event. But it was not as newsworthy as Durant's sprained ankle.
ESPN's coverage of the comeback was non-existent. The first highlight of the second half was the ankle sprain followed closely by shots of Durant limping around on defense. According to Linda Cohn, the game changed when Durant left the game, although the ankle didn’t seem to bother him when he buried the deep three-pointer from the wing with under a minute to go. I'll use a conversation with a co-worker today as an example.
Co-worker: Hey, Kansas got lucky Durant was knocked out of that game.
Good Will Hunter: Did you watch the game or just the highlights on ESPN?
Co-worker: I watched the game.
Good Will Hunter: Really? Did you notice KU outscored Texas by 18 in the second half before Durant went out?
Co-worker: I actually only saw the highlights.
Good Will Hunter: That's what I thought. Shut up. And Boston College is garbage.
Why do I even care about this? I probably shouldn't. I should be happy with Kansas' effort and the fact that they didn't quit when most teams would have been buried. I should be happy with another banner hanging in the rafters of my favorite building. I should be happy that I got to see 15 minutes of the second half instead of just highlights. And I should be happy that beef actually was for dinner.
- When: Sept. 6, 6:00 p.m. CT
- Where: Memorial Stadium
- Football
- TV: FSN (Sunflower channels 36, 236 HD)
- Schedules: KU | Louisiana Tech
- Rosters: KU | Louisiana Tech
- 2008 Stats: KU | Louisiana Tech
- Anthony Collins : OL, Cincinnati Bengals
- Derek Fine : TE, Buffalo Bills
- Charles Gordon : CB, Minnesota Vikings
- Justin Hartwig : OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Marcus Henry : WR, New York Jets
- Adrian Jones : OL, Kansas City Chiefs
- David McMillan : LB, Cleveland Browns
- Moran Norris : FB, San Francisco 49ers
- Brandon Rideau : WR, Chicago Bears
- Mark Simmons : WR, Houston Texans
- Aqib Talib : CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- All-time list of 'Hawks in the NFL
- Darrell Arthur : F, Memphis Grizzlies
- Mario Chalmers : G, Miami Heat
- Nick Collison : C-F, Seattle Sonics
- Drew Gooden : F-C, Chicago Bulls
- Kirk Hinrich : G, Chicago Bulls
- Darnell Jackson : F, Cleveland Caveliers
- Raef LaFrentz : F, Portland Trailblazers
- Paul Pierce : G-F, Boston Celtics
- Scot Pollard : C-F, Boston Celtics
- Brandon Rush : G, Indiana Pacers
- Billy Thomas : G, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jacque Vaughn : G, San Antonio Spurs Julian Wright : F, New Orleans Hornets
- All-time list of 'Hawks in the NBA
- Watch this space as we track recruits for the 2008-09 Jayhawks.
- » LB Tharp commits
- » C.J. Henry commits to Memphis, says brother still undecided
- » Henry to visit for Late Night
- » 2008 football signees
- » All football recruiting
- » All basketball recruiting
2003, 2004, and 2007 EPpy Award Winner. 
2003 and 2005 Digital Edge Winner
Comments
You'll need a free KUsports.com user account (your LJWorld.com or lawrence.com account will also work).
Posted by bg97 (anonymous) on March 6, 2007 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen bro. It never fails. ESPN actually stated that KU was losing when Durant went down. Facts. All you need to do is report the facts. And they couldn't pull it off.
My loathing of ESPN basketball coverage has reached new hights. The 5pm Sportscenter led off with some bs Winthrop/VMI game or something followed up by another lamo conf. champ. from a High School gym. Then straight to Disney World for a peak at the ESPN Weekend and on to womens basketball and a commercial. If it wasn't for Fran F., ESPN might bump the Big12 spot to the late game on Big Monday next year.
Remarkable. I shouldn't care, as we've come to expect it. But we're KU fans, and we're cursed with an unquenchable thirst for all things KU basketball whenever we can get it. Nice work this year writing. Hope your back again in 07-08.
Posted by cwrist (Chris Wristen) on March 6, 2007 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Apparently the ESPN staff must've only caught the last 15 minutes too, because I also noticed when they claimed that the game changed when Durant went out. Unless, perhaps, they meant that Texas started playing better a few minutes afterwards.
Either that, or Linda Cohn doesn't know how to read and her teleprompter actually said "The game changed when KU returned to the court in the second half and Julian Wright and Brandon Rush D'd up on Durant."
Posted by 86finalfour (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love this article. As a Kansas native who now lives in NYC, I can utterly relate to last Saturday and not being able to watch most of an historic game. I have doubts that Kansas State needs more work to make the NCAAs and the Big 12 is projected to only have four teams in the Dance. Then why does the Big 12 represent more all-americans than any other conference. Durant and Acie law both are on the ESPN all-american team. Take note: none of them are from East coast conferences. East coast bias with the media really shows this year, and I believe that this year will prove many of the sports writers wrong. I believe one of the big 12 teams will be in the final four. I'm hoping Kansas, of course, but wouldn't be surprised with both teams from the lone star state.
Posted by jklein38 (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First off Linda Cohn is still on ESPN? I remember not watching Sportscenter, when I was around 9 years old, if she was a host. Probably because of things like the above. It always seemed like she was a step behind what really happened in any game in any sport.
I know this is a minor complaint, but does anyone remember seeing the highlights of the Wisconsin/Michigan State game during the KU game on Saturday? They talked up Wisconsin the entire highlight...only to show you the score and Michigan State is winning?
Also my friend and I were talking on IM:
Friend: wow, 5 point game already, that was fast
Me: Julian Wright is an unbelievable passer, I am surprised Kaun even caught the damn thing. Bill Self must have given a hell of a halftime speech.
Friend: apparently. 22 points in 4 minutes? that's crazy
-This happened long before Durant was hurt...ESPN needs to get their head out of their butt, or they need to start commentating on what their colon looks like.-
Lastly, glad to see I am not the only one who throws a "shut up" in the middle of a sports arguement, when the other person is obviously wrong.
Posted by DCSven (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AMEN is right, but having lived in Washington, DC for 19 years, I had another plan .... GO TO LAWRENCE, and my OH my was I glad I did. I took a friend, a Wisconsin fan and New Englander by birth who for more than a decade has listened to me extole the virtues of KU Basketball tradition, and bemoan the east coast bias among the elite bball punditry. He laughed at me, until after the game. He walked out of Allen Field House marvelling at the "basketball IQ and intensity of the crowd" and we both sang Durant's praises, and that of the Jayhawks players and coaches for making some important corrections at half time. But I'm not sure it was until after a few more beers in Lawrence, as we watched the ESPN highlights replay over and over in silence, that it hit my Badger friend .... "its like all they are showing is Durant," he said. Yup. Later, back at my brother's house, we who had seen the game in person proved our fanatacism and watched it again on Tivo. Durant's performance was worthy of a highlight reel, as was the Jayhawks ... but most importantly, we'd escaped the coverage of the Big East, the Arrogant Coast Conference, and the clutches of the east coast media. Now back in DC, my laptop is fired up for this week's Big 12 Conference, and I know my family will call at half-time and after every game to debrief, or simply to say Rock Chalk. That's how it goes for the far-flung Jayhawk Nation!
Posted by Jaminrawk (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It almost seems that even if Durant had come to KU this year instead of say, Brady Morningstar, KU would still get no coverage.
It didn't matter when KU had TWO ALL-AMERICANS in Raef Lafrentz and Paul Pierce. ESPN gave Duke, UNC and Syracuse more coverage.
KU needs to shove it down the throats of the entire nation in the upcoming NCAA Tourney. That's the only way anyone will pay attention.
Posted by sho_tyme21 (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with cwrist comment about the game changing when KU took the court for the second half, if not while they were walking off after the first half. I work at AFH and was standing in the tunnel that the players come on to the court and the look in the players eyes said to me "this game is going to change in the second" when they came out for the 2nd half the look was even meaner. I told a co worker that we were going to win this game, cause I saw it in the players eyes.
Posted by actorman (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As irritating as all of the bias is, I could live with it if they would at least make the game available on satellite!!!
I was lucky that CBS deigned to show the KU-UT game here in the Bay Area, but I wasn't so lucky earlier in the year when I couldn't watch the BC game, even at a sports bar. Why do they do that??? Does anyone understand how it's in CBS' best interest to not even make the game available on satellite? I don't even understand, from THEIR perspective, why they would make that choice.
Posted by actorman (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just fired off some feedback to CBS, through CBS.com. (Ironically, sports wasn't even offered as one of the categories for feedback, so I chose "movies and specials.") Even though this particular slight didn't affect me, I still felt it was important to ask them why they would deny a portion of the public a chance to watch a game on satellite. I encourage other KU people to do the same thing. Maybe if we can inundate them with complaints, they won't do this kind of thing in the future. (Hey, we can always hope for a miracle.)
Posted by NavyHawk (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CBS has a separate website for sports.
http://cbs.sportslin...
As for ESPN bias, you have to listen to the pregame shows. Digger Phelps picked KU to win the KU-UT game and one of the other guys, Jay Bilas maybe(?), picked KU preseason as a final four team and is still confident they'll be there.
I don't care if KU doesn't get the headlines (although a few writeups on occasion would be nice), it's good to stay under the radar. I think the KU players tend to play more with a chip on their shoulder when they think they're being dissed. Remember the game they played after the SI cover? It's not a superstition thing, I think people start to believe the hype and lose their focus. These kids definitely need to stay focused and just keep winning! Let the accolades come after the nets come down...
Posted by actorman (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, NavyHawk. I just sent a letter to the CBS sports website. It would be great if a lot of KU fans would write to them. For those who are interested, this is what I said:
I am a Kansas basketball fan. Earlier this year, I wanted to watch the KU game against Boston College, but the game was not shown locally in the S.F. Bay Area game because the UCLA game was on. I have no problem with that decision, but was frustrated to find out that the KU-BC game was not even available on SATELLITE.
Last weekend, KU had a huge game against Texas. I was fortunate that the game was shown in my area, but a friend of mine, who lives in the Boston area, was not so fortunate. Once again CBS, in its infinite wisdom, chose to not make this very important game available to people in that area even on SATELLITE.
While I can understand that CBS can't show every regional game in all areas, I have an extremely difficult time understanding why CBS would choose to alienate a significant portion of its viewing public by not allowing them to watch a game on their satellite dish or at a sports bar.
I would love to hear CBS' reasons for making this type of decision.
Posted by anbrsh9 (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Zac - I appreciate the post and sympathize with your situation. 86finalfour - I am in NYC as well and when the KU alumni sports bar doesn't even get it, you know you have a problem. I finally found Ship of Fools who was broadcasting it on broadband from CSTV pay-per-view. It was a slow picture and time delayed but a heaven sent none the less. I was so pumped for this game; I don't know what I would have done without seeing it! And on more than one occasion did I hear people cursing CBS...unbelievable!
Posted by jayhawker_97 (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ESPN has too many UNC or Duke almies.. don't expect to have flourishing KU news posted in their front page (if they do, it's alwas a KU's loss or some bad news)..
nothing we can control about it, until we have some Jayhawks working there and recruit more hawkers, will then we hear more good things about KU there.. so, i challenge you guys in journalism or sports at KU to beat those UNC or Dukies to have a spot in ESPN..!! how about that??
go Hawks!!
Posted by bg97 (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The were sure to quick to lead off the KU highlights when Julian missed that breakaway dunk and fell. They must have reeled that one back 2 or 3 time in slo-mo. now that was wrong.
Ham it up on the pros; at least they get paid. But don't humiliate the 19 year old college kid. That was low, and when I absolutely went nuts on espn.
Posted by TatorGuy (anonymous) on March 7, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was an unsuccessful journey to try and get the KU-UT game here in India. CSTV sucks on line compared to ESPN full court. Every time I would lose the feed (which was too often) I would have to watch a 30 second commercial before being able to watch more BB. A few seconds of BB and 30 sec. commercial. Strange how the video commercials always show fine. I went to bed -the game was late at night in India- with UT on fire and fully expected to read about KUs defeat online in the J-W the next morn. Very pleasant surprise! I'm going to give ESPN online a try Friday. If that doesn't work, I'll see if I can find a radio station and if that still doesn't work, I'll read the online updates in the J-W. At least back home on Maui I was able to watch most of the regular season games on ESPN Full Court. Let's get together again and watch the tourney at the sports bar in Kihei. Rock Chalk
Posted by jayhawkstacey (anonymous) on March 8, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey there guys, just for the record...... i work at espn and even the employees here know how bad the east coast bias is..... we're working on it, i swear!!
Posted by jayhawkstacey (anonymous) on March 8, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey there guys, just for the record...... i work at espn and even the employees here know how bad the east coast bias is..... we're working on it, i swear!!
let's just all pray we take this tourney by storm, then everyone will have to acknowlege us!!
Posted by Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) on March 8, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate ESPN. They can make even Keegan look good. =)
Posted by cwrist (Chris Wristen) on March 8, 2007 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Stacey, keep fighting the good fight! And just keep reminding the folks up there that UNC would be nothing if not for Kansas first giving them Dean and then grooming Roy for his return.
Posted by jayhawker_97 (anonymous) on March 8, 2007 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dear jayhawkstacey:
good to hear there's Hawks in the espn zone. keep it up and refer more KU alumni and slowly, change the company's view towards KU/big-12.
go Hawks!!
Posted by actorman (anonymous) on March 10, 2007 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Stacey, glad to hear there's one of us in the monolith.