What Happened To SportsCenter?
By Andrew Stockey

Five months into my "new" gig as news anchor at Channel 4, I now look at sports very differently. No longer does my work life revolve around the sports schedule. I even went to the Steelers home opener and watched the action as a fan - for the first time. Still, I miss hosting "Operation Football" on Friday nights and hosting our Steeler pre-game shows.

But being on the outside looking in has afforded me the chance to watch sports on TV- and ESPN SportsCenter in particular. Now, like the rest of you, I sit home and get my nightly sports fix from ESPN. However, after watching for five months, I'm about to become ill.

My career began at ESPN and that makes it hard for me to publicly rip the "worldwide leader in sports." However, now that I have time to actually sit down and watch the show…I cannot stand the program.

The first segment always beats one subject into the ground - taking overkill to a new level. Worse-when I want to see highlights-I have to wait 15 minutes, 25 minutes or even longer. ESPN prefers to fill its program with gab rather than game. It's gotten so bad that now I watch-dare I say it-ESPN News because they show actual highlights.

I understand some of the reasoning. ESPN has endeavored to become a journalistic enterprise and they face the competitive pressure every media outlet does. Still, do I need to hear about Terrell Owens every day? ESPN covers him like the paparazzi follows Jennifer Anniston. Sure he's controversial but I can't imagine anybody outside of Dallas cares if he plays- unless they have T.O. on their fantasy teams.

And while I have loved the Red Sox for years, do I need to see a 10-minute breakdown before every one of their 19 meetings with the Yankees? They cover the teams every time they meet and act as if the fate of the free world hinges on the outcome.

ESPN also overdoses on the analysts. I don't know if all these former athletes turned analysts went to the same school for broadcasting, but each is the same in presentation: Overly critical, loud and when they do like someone, they are always the greatest or the best in the game. Folks, I could do without the likes of Sean Salisbury: a bottomless pit of opinion but lacking in the championship ring department.

Critics say ESPN is speeding up the demise of local TV sportscasts. That might be true, but at least when I watch 2, 4 and 11 I get actual sports and sports highlights. They might not have much time, but at least they give me what I want. Let that be a local lesson for the "worldwide leader in sports."

Andrew Stockey is the morning news anchor, and former sports director, at WTAE-TV Channel 4..