OT: favorite / least favorite ESPN personality

Submitted by turd ferguson on
Watching ESPN last night, it occurred to me that I'm annoyed by almost every person I ever see on that station, but it occupies 75% of my television viewing anyway. A friend and I were trying to identify the single most annoying ESPN personality – no easy task – and I thought I'd open it up here. In the spirit of not being mean without being nice, I'm calling for a favorite personality in addition to a least favorite personality. I'll take Mike Tirico as my favorite, since he’s knowledgeable, versatile, gimmick-free, and humble. On the other end of the spectrum, Jim Rome does a remarkable job of embodying almost every aspect of sports and humanity that I dislike. Thoughts?

PurpleStuff

July 21st, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^

Cowherd, Rome, Mariotti, Plaschke, Scott, May, Palmer, Christ I could probably keep going forever.

If it wasn't for Holly Rowe being so fine I would never watch ESPN.

PurpleStuff

July 21st, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

The guy was never an athlete but he acts like just casually strolling through the desert in a pair of raggedy sandals qualifies him to talk about the NFL Draft or tell me how to fill out my NCAA bracket.  Can't stand that dirty hippie.

ronmexico

July 21st, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^

Favorite: Barry Melrose (mullet+zuitsuits+hoser accent=just too funny to watch sometimes)

Least: Michael Irvin (i know he isnt on but i couldnt believe that espn actually let him be an on air personality. smoking crack doesnt develop much ground breaking football insight. great athlete, terrible everything else) 

MGoRob

July 21st, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^

Surprised more people haven't said Stephen A. Smith (I think only one person has mentioned him so far) He's absolutely the worst. Not only does he yell too much, but his comments seem far too racist at times for my liking. It pains me to watch him. Colin Cowherd comes in a close second and it appears I'm not that only one that thinks that on this board. While we're on the topic of ESPN and what we don't like. Am I the only one that gets ticked college football takes a second fiddle to the NFL on ESPN? You can have a crazy day of college football but come Monday, all the talk is about the NFL. Shows that I tend to enjoy for my daily sports news (albeit, only if I can TiVo it), Around the Horn and PTI always brush-over the college games and spend 75% of the time on NFL in the fall.

MGoRob

July 21st, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^

Good to know! Found the article:
Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN reporter and once a rising star who had his own show called "Quite Frankly With Stephen A.Smith" on ESPN2, is leaving the station as of May 1.

Timnotep

July 21st, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^

Favorites; Berman, Van Pelt, Howard, and Beadle (she's not that good, but for whatever reason I like her)

Least favorites; Cowherd (God! he's terrible, has he ever been right?), Wilbon's co-host on PTI, Rome, probably more, but I'm drawing a blank right now.

duffman is thr…

July 21st, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^

I agree, there is something about her (other than looks) that just works for Sportsnation, which really isn't a very good show, but she does succeed in making it watchable.  That has to mean something since Cowherd is also on that show. 

 

 

Space Coyote

July 21st, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^

Favorite: Scott VanPelt and Kenny Mayne.  I also like the PTI guys and basically all the ESPN in their prime Sports Center people (Stu Scott used to be better, but as others have said, Rece Davis, Dan Patrick were all good)

Least Favorite: Basically all of around the horn besides Woody and Reali (who I don't mind), anyone on first and 10 (besides the girl host, she went to Michigan so I can't hate), and Mark May

mgopat

July 21st, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^

Favorites: Jay Crawford and Mike Wilbon

Least: Scoop Jackson, for letting Skip stampede him every single time they meet up on First Take, and never doing anything about it.

readyourguard

July 21st, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^

ESPN used to have a more personal connection before they tried to conquor the entire universe.  Ever since they started bringing on the likes of Cowherd, Rome, Stephen A Smith, and the biggest asshole to ever garner air-time, Rob Parker, my time dedicated to watching has diminished considerably.

I love Game Day and think Chris Fowler does a great job.  I like Herbstriet and of course, Hiesmond.  I'm also a huge fan of Todd Blackledge and Mike Patrick's broadcasts and I won't watch Mike and Mike in the morning. 

Scott Van Pelt, John Anderson, Stan Verrett, Steve Levy and John Buccigross are enjoyable

Stewart Scott, Neil Everett, and Sage Steele are NOT enjoyable.

BenGoBlue

July 22nd, 2010 at 12:40 AM ^

I don't know the actual woman's name, but I remember seeing that as well, and I know it wasn't Sage.  Whoever that person was, my guess is she is either not working for ESPN anymore, or else she's been permanently re-assigned to a dark corner surrounded by filing cabinets.  That kind of idiocy is rare, even for ESPN "talent"

Don

July 21st, 2010 at 2:36 PM ^

Faves: Tirico, Fowler, Herbie, Corso (he's a buffoon but I love the guy), and believe it or not, I like Mark May too. Everybody seems to hate him, but I like watching him.

Dan Patrick is the very definition of self-satisfied smuggery.

victors2000

July 21st, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^

who does a NFL football show on ESPN radio, I just like how he runs his show, how he sounds.

Worst - Cowherd. His commentary is only given to arouse passion, but I find his voice just grates me anyways; he could be telling people what a fine guy I am and I would change the station.

dieseljr32

July 21st, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^

Favorites: Rece Davis, Chris Fowler, hell I'll even thrown in Kirk Herbstreit even though he is a buckeye. Uhh...Scott Van Pelt definitely gets in the mix here.  I watch Lou Holtz just to see him spit and sputter his way to a proclamation of Notre Dame taking home the National Championship.  \

 

If you wanna talk about broadcasters, I'm becoming a big fan of Sean McDonough especially after last year's epic game against Notre Dame game.

 

Least: PAM WARD, PAM WARD, PAM WARD.  Colin Cowherd.  Bill Plaschke.  I actually don't like that many people on Around The Horn.

 

Who is the one college football broacast team that did the 2008 Michigan/Miami (OH) game...I can hear their voices in my head but can't remember their names.  But they are boring. 

Callahan

July 21st, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^

I'm shocked Stu Scott isn't running away with "least favorite." No one blows an athlete or coach in an interview like Stu Scott. When the news broke that ESPN would air "The Decision," you didn't even have to tell me that Stu Scott was going to host it. The only shock was that he wasn't going to be the one interviewing Lebron. I guess Lebron like 'em to play a little hard to get.

dr eng1ish

July 21st, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^

Adam Schefter?  That man is money on the NFL reports.  Also like Wilbon (excluding everything he says about Michigan and soccer, he's a giant blowhard on those subjects).

 

Least:  Berman.  You were great in 1995 when I was 9 years old.  Nowadays, please go BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK the **** off my TV.

learmanj

July 21st, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^

Favorites: Cowherd (I understand why everyone hates him but I think he gets the reality of being a sports celebrity), I love Spielman, Tirico, and Hannah "you are never too old to wear a short skirt) Storm.

Least Favorites: Pam Ward, Skip Bayless, and LeBron...wait he is a part of ESPN, right?

Demar Dorsey 4ever

July 21st, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^

Fav: Erin Andrews (of course), Skip Bayless, Tommy Smyth (cool accent)

Least Fav: Colin Cowherd , Scott Van Pelt

 

Oh and have you ever noticed you never see John Clayton's whole body

MidMichWolverine1

July 21st, 2010 at 3:01 PM ^

is of course, Desmond Howard.......least favorite is Jim Rome......I see a lot of people down on Pam Ward...why doesn't anyone like this guy? And who names their son Pam?

 

mmc22

July 21st, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^

Favorites: Mike Tirico, Scott Van Pelt.

Least favorites: Jim Rome. Even on radio I cannot stand him. He's like the clone of the biggest douchebag.

jrt336

July 21st, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^

Van Pelt is the best. I like most of the college football guys-Fowler, Davis, Corso, and usually even Herbstreit. There are alot of bad ones-Bayless, Hill, Ward, and worst of all, Cowherd.

the_big_house 500th

July 21st, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^

Worst: May, Ward, Golic, Kornheiser (the guy just annoys me to death), Berman and Rome.

Favorites: Van Pelt, Corso, Fowler, Reid, Herbstreit's ok, Melrose ,Buccigross, Lee, Howard

bronxblue

July 21st, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^

The personalities I like are Scott Van Pelt, Tirico, Beadle, some of their NBA announcers, plus Spielman for college football (even though he's an OSU guy, I liked him on the Lions and he seems to have the right amount of knowledge for an in-booth guy).  Herbstreit is fine when he is on Gameday and not talking out of his butt, but that Miles-to-Michigan bomb soured me a bit on him.

As for hate, pretty much everyone else.  It used to be a fun network with some personality, but now it is a bunch of good-looking people with limited sports knowledge mugging for the camera and former players/coaches who cannot speak extemporaneously to save their lives.