good morning
ESPN’s happy-hour lineup appears to be in line for a major shakeup.
The New York Post first reported last week that one of the network’s bellweather programmes – Around the Horn – will be cancelled next year, putting to an end the show’s 20-plus-year run.
It’s a startling decision. I have no memory of what ESPN was like before ATH. That and Pardon the Interruption fuelled by interest in sports and were huge influences on me wanting to be a sports journalist. I once wanted to be “the next Woody Page” (lol).
There wasn’t much detail on why the show is being cancelled, according to the article. And I guess since ESPN hasn’t confirmed it, there’s still a chance it might survive. But who knows. There’s tonnes of smoke.
Truth is, I wonder if I’ll even miss it.
I used to devour this show, coming home every day from school to watch the voices from journalists around the country. For those unfamiliar, ATH features four sports journalists (mostly from regional newspapers) to discuss topics and be awarded points seemingly at the whim of host Tony Reali.
But I’ve seen a notable shift in recent years that left the show for me palatable during the best of times and unbearable during the worst. Most times, it fell towards the latter.
The programme binned its ultra fun “lightning round”. condensing the content far too much. And then it had that weird augmented reality where there might be fire and money pop up behind a panelist. What purpose does this serve?
But the biggest change has been the panelists. I think ATH thrived because it represented reporters from America’s sports hubs – Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Washington DC, Chicago.
What separated this from other sports shows is that it featured beat writers with in-depth knowledge of their market and the teams within it. I can’t think of another major sports news programme that does that. These days it’s just random hot takes and dudes in tank tops.
Now? It’s a stomping ground for ESPN’s trained personalities, each hoping and trying out for larger spots on the network. Few (Mina Kimes, Pablo Torre, Sarah Spain) actually add anything interesting.
Which is weird because ESPN has diluted the format that made the show so interesting. It’s a shame, and I was upset long ago by this shift. Now, I don’t care so much.
ATH had a good run, especially in its peak. But that was long ago.
Now, to put it in the words of the late TJ Simers (one of the show’s original panelists) from 2003: “The show is unwatchable.”
Fitzie’s track of the day: Joy, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
And now for your links:
Alasdair Gold with your latest loanee roundup
Dan KP: Ange Postecoglou handed a familiar problem after City win
The Atlhletic ($$): How Spurs created space for James Maddison on Saturday
Crewe Alexandria draw vs Port Vale in League Two action
