ESPN: Manufacturing the News

Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass whether Brett Favre ever throws another pass or not. I literally could not care less. But, judging from ESPN's wall-to-wall coverage of Favre's pending retirement/non-retirement, it would appear that's the ONLY thing sports fans are interested in.

With video screens everywhere you look, it's impossible not to follow the Favre news at my gym. ESPN's coverage yesterday morning and today, however, is baffling.

Yesterday: ESPN reported "sources" confirmed that Favre had told Minnesota Viking team personnel that he is retiring.

Today: On ESPN Sportscenter, the "breaking news" is that Favre hasn't made a decision yet about retirement.

My question: HOW IN HELL IS FAVRE'S NON-RETIREMENT BREAKING NEWS????

It's only breaking news because ESPN got it wrong yesterday. Favre's non-decision has been going on all summer long - hardly breaking news.

As if that's not enough, while Sportscenter on ESPN was breaking the news of Favre's non-decision this morning, ESPNEWS was simultaneously reporting that Favre had informed his team of his retirement, and doing a non-stop postmortem of his career. Kind of makes you wonder what about ESPNNEWS is "news," doesn't it?

Here's my prediction for news later this week: ESPN will report on Thursday that Lady Gaga has purchased the New York Yankees, having been bowled over by A-Rod's 600th home run.

On Friday, ESPN will "break the news" that, in fact, it's not Lady Gaga buying the Yanks, but Utah Senator Orin Hatch. 

On Saturday, ESPNEWS will report that, actually, sources confirm that the Yankees aren't being sold at all. This will be called by ESPN "an exclusive."