Is ESPN Killing The Sports Page?

ESPN is killing off the local sports page.  There, I said it.  Someone had to say it.

When ESPN launched its Chicago site in the spring, it was met with mixed emotions.  It starts with good intentions as the site features a bunch of Chicago content that I wouldn't usually be able to catch on SportsCenter.  On the other hand, the launch just up-and-stole the all-important readers and the one thing that is apparently more important than readers: Ad revenue.

So, while newspaper honchos spent all that energy fighting bloggers and trying to figure out how non-newspaper people are running the newspaper industry, ESPN comes through the back door, takes what it wants and makes you like it.

The World Wide Leader in sports will be launching ESPNBoston.com in September, along with hyperlocal sites in Dallas, Los Angeles and New York in the coming future.

Which, of course begs the following question.

Don't we have ESPNBostodallangelyork already in the form of good ol' ESPN?

It won't be long until ESPN is pillaging your village and taking your women swaggerjackin' your favorite writers from your local paper.

Report: Big Papi Was On The Big PED List

Here's a thought: The NYT should sell the 2003 PED list to the highest bidder to save the newspaper industry.

Move over Detox. Move over Blueprint 3. This year's biggest release might not come from either of you -- or anyone in the music industry, for that matter. I think it's time for the New York Times to release the entire 106-player positive test list.

Yes, I'm writing this partially because David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez each had their name dropped on this list by a report in New York Times. But also, because it's getting annoying to have this list leak one-by-one. Every time another name gets leaked, it just proves to be even more evidence that someone is just screwing with us.

Heck, if I'm the NYT and I want to save journalism, I'd sell that list to the highest bidder. Is it ethical? Hell no. As a journalist, I know better. But I also know that the world of journalism needs a savior like the Washington Nationals need -- well -- an entirely new team.

I'm also bothered by the notion that a good chunk of PED users have been Latino baseball players. This 2005 San Francisco Chronicle article details part of the matter, but it makes me wonder what some of these agents are telling these young ball players.

How easy could it be for a slimey agent to sell a lavish lifestyle as a Major Leaguer at the expense of the sanctity of the game? How easy would it be for said agent to suggest that steroids could rescue a youngster and his family from a life of poverty in developing country?

I won't justify cheating -- even though it was technicaglly legal at the time. But I will express my disappointment.