I'm So Over ESPN

ESPN is excited about its precious little "E:60," which debuted last week.

It's just the latest perfect example of how the sports leader has a huge man-crush on itself.

The show's intro doesn't have music playing underneath video of controversial sports figures or memorable highlights. Instead, it shows black-and-white video of ESPN's reporters who will be leading the program. The average-looking Rachel Nichols hails a cab in Manhattan. Jeremy Schaap comes out of a New York subway stop. Does Jeremy Schaap really take the train?

And then, sure enough, before the first story in this week's edition, part of the show is the actual pitch meeting where Nichols and a team of brainwashed "E:60" producers talk about the hard-hitting story they plan to deliver on ... the daughter of the Los Angeles Lakers owner. Nice lead.

It begins with some pictures-- no narration -- of Kobe Bryant slashing to the hoop and then some other Lakers highlights. Then, on Nichols' second word of the script, she violates a fairly basic preference of journalism: "For over two decades . . . . "

C.C. Sabathia throws the ball over the head of the Red Sox batter, for example. Use the preposition to describe a location. But don't use it as a time reference. Instead, say ESPN has annoyed me for more than 10 years.