Uh, this program pretty much dumps all over Borg. Sure, his post-1981 life has been spotty at times, but does the Tennis Channel need to be the network that chooses to highlight this? You don't see ESPN showing documentaries about, say, the soft money and easy grading that goes to college athletes for sports that ESPN televises, do you? Borg did plenty of great things on the court - let's show that instead, TTC.
'Bjorn Borg Saga' on TTC: Odd Programming Choice?
- Thread starter Colpo
- Start date
oberyn
Professional
ESPN will occasionally have an 8-10 minute segment on "Outside the Lines" which might address those issues. Then it's back to hours upon hours of programming featuring those very same college athletes.
Fair enough. My point was more along the lines of, 'TTC is so starved for non-match, tennis-oriented programming that they'll broadcast a documentary that's largely about the faults and failures of one of the game's greatest players,' and that's not something that ESPN is about at all.
oberyn
Professional
Ah, I see. I was just saying that ESPN does those brief "exposes" from time to time, but, at the end of the day they never forget on which side their bread gets buttered and by whom.
This is the network that pulled the show "Playmakers" because it portrayed the NFL in a negative light. This "negative light" was by taking stories straight from the headlines which involved NFL players, e.g., drug addiction, steroid use, gun violence at a nightclub, prescription drug abuse. The NFL hinted that it might have to reevaluate its broadcast agreement with ESPN, and ESPN folded like a cheap suit.
If we're talking about the same Borg documentary, I think the main problem is that TTC broke it up into chunks without really making it clear that they'd done so. I think if the documentary is viewed in its entirety, it comes off as a much more balanced portrayal.
stormholloway
Legend
How hard is it to get good tennis material? How about "Greatest Hits: McEnroe" or any other great player. Or just play classic matches all the time. Instead I'm hearing about James Blake's favorite breakfast meat or Maria Sharapova's most favorite ****** rag.
The Borg documentary is actually pretty good. My point was that it's too critical of Borg to be shown on TTC of all channels. Borg did too many great things on court during his career, that he deserves better, at least from a tennis channel.
Agreed with regard to TTC's other programming. Amazing that after signing up for this at least 3+ years ago, you have the same, filler-like programming. Well, at least now they'll kick it into high gear with the South American clay-court circuit, doing what they do best (show matches minus Dick Enberg).
Agreed with regard to TTC's other programming. Amazing that after signing up for this at least 3+ years ago, you have the same, filler-like programming. Well, at least now they'll kick it into high gear with the South American clay-court circuit, doing what they do best (show matches minus Dick Enberg).
stormholloway
Legend
I miss Bud Collins' commentary work.
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
You're right, Colpo. It was not a puff piece on how wonderful Borg was. There was some grit to it.
I'm glad for that. Well done. So what if not every minute of it was positive? So what if it portrayed Borg as a fragile person and a shaky businessperson with questionable taste in business partners?
I felt it covered him pretty realistically. Looking forward to a Johnny Mac doc like it. Not holding the breath, though.
I'm glad for that. Well done. So what if not every minute of it was positive? So what if it portrayed Borg as a fragile person and a shaky businessperson with questionable taste in business partners?
I felt it covered him pretty realistically. Looking forward to a Johnny Mac doc like it. Not holding the breath, though.