Celebrity Sports Analysts

            Since adding Mass Communication as my second major one year ago, I have delved into the world of student media, and to be more exact, sports journalism. Branching out into this field has led me into thinking about a career in sports media. However, one glance at any show on ESPN makes me quickly reconsider. I find myself watching former professional sport stars spreading their opinions to viewers who are often more than accepting of their thoughts because of their celebrity status. As time goes by, I notice this trend of celebrity sports analysts to be growing rapidly. Instead of the charismatic acts of Stephan A. Smith and Michael Wilbon, the youth is steadily being introduced to watered-down, over dramatic characters such as former Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi.

            This trend is a discouragement to any person with aspirations of one day seeing themselves on national television breaking down the weaknesses of Yankee’s pitching staff or making predictions on who will win the NFC West. Unless you’ve played in the professional leagues, your only option to wind up on ESPN may be as an anchor before you know it. Of course ESPN only cares about ratings, as they should, but in such a competitive field, this is just another huge obstacle for anyone wanting to make it in big market sports media. As much as you would like to tell friends that hard work and networking is the key to success, the fact that they likely didn’t play a single down in the NFL might be their disqualification. It just doesn’t seem very fair, but then again, when is life ever fair?

            Though there are some solid celebrity sports analysts who were once coaches or players, there are more bad ones than good. I would rather watch Scott Van Pelt talk about golf than listen to Keyshawn Johnson ramble on about how great of wide receiver he once was. I miss the creativity of out-of-nowhere type guys. Sadly, I honestly believe eventually my favorite television station, ESPN, will be oversaturated with flashy air heads rather than funny and witty analysts who enjoy sports from the same perspective as I do. Sports journalism needs a savior for the average Joes.