William Rhoden on print and verbal bombastics

William C. Rhoden offers a worthwhile column on the intentionally provocative and worse in sports broadcasting.

ESPN, best known for the schticks of its talking heads rather than powerful insight and intelligent commentary, or self-examination when it fails badly, could be so much more. Everyone makes mistakes (moi most definitely) but usually privately and not in print or on the airwaves. But it really doesn't take all that much to think matters through before going to print or on the air, especially when what will be offered is the savaging of another or displaying a lack of comprehension on this or that matter.

But there currently are these mad rushes to judgment, with analysis being offered the very second after something takes place, even when enough knowledge of what actually happened remains severely lacking.

Gotta be first. Exclusives are everything. The ratings require that. Ad rates rule.

It would be great (and a first, but also a last for such an individual) if some expert appeared on television or radio after a tragedy or an incomprehensible event and simply said, 'We don't know enough yet to form any valid opinions.'