Who's Now? Not ESPN.

I know it's a slow sports month and all, and really a slow sports season, but for the love of all that is holy... Are you kidding me with this 'Who's Now' crap? Are you serious? Is the World Wide Leader really pretending this is something important? This is a joke. A JOKE. I can't capitalize that last statement enough. IT IS A JOKE!!!!!!!

And the tragedy of it all is that it is ruining the credibility of two of my favorite personalities on ESPN: Kirk Herbstreit and Michael Wilbon. I have always enjoyed Herbie's take on College Football, unbiased and very informed. (And it doesn't hurt that he always shows respect to my Hawkeye's). And Wilbon has always been the voice of reason to Tony Kornheiser's sensationalism on PTI.

The sad thing is that you know they were roped into it. Nobody in their right mind would jump at the chance to marginalize themselves on something so completely contrived, overdone, and reeking of self-importance. ESPN has taken a lot of flack in some outlets for being too self-indulgent and pompous. I have always enjoyed their take on sports, and have been a defender in the past.

No more. I can't for one second defend the tragedy that is 'Who's Now'. It is a TRAINWRECK. It is everything that is wrong with sports and ESPN, all wrapped up in one conveniently digested 5 minute blurb on Sportscenter every night. And therein lies the problem ESPN, and sports highlighting/reporting in general, have come to represent. They are insulting our intelligence as sports fans.

I love sports. I watch almost nothing but sports on tv. I listen to sports talk radio, and sports websites are the first places i visit each day. But i am not a moron. I want the highlights. I want the stats. I want the story of the game. What i don't want is pop culture infused with my sports. What i don't want is someone being trumpeted because they are sexy, or popular off the field (Leinart and Beckham, i'm looking in your direction...). What i don't want is the cheapening of sports.

Sports is about the competition, the athleticism, and the fun. The almost political-type importance placed on sports these days is ridiculous. It is A GAME. It is entertainment. It is fun. It is not meant to be a barometer of the world in general, nor of democracy or world peace.

It is not important. It is not seminal to the world, or capitalism, or democracy, or anything else you can think of that doesn't involve your fantasy team. And that is where ESPN, and honestly most other sports reporting agencies, have gone wrong. They are placing far too much importance on sports. And it has culminated with the travesty that is 'Who's Now'.

Memo to ESPN: We as sports fans are not retarded. The sooner you figure this out, the better. Until then, don't expect me to be watching any time soon...