Preempt Aussie Open on ESPN to broadcast 4 hours on Joe Pa?

Is ESPN really going to preempt the Aussie Open today and spend 4 hours on Joe Paterno's legacy? WTF? I can understand an hour to JoPa but 4 hours? Really?
 
Couldn't believe this myself. Great night of tennis, including a much-anticipated match involving a young Australian and arguably the most popular tennis player on the planet.

Nope.

ESPN hates tennis; why are they involved in the sport?

They should stick with what they know and love: poker, spelling bees and eating contests.
 
word. i was hoping to catch some of what i missed on hd today before the nfl games. so far, every match i've watched has been on the stream.

i can understand covering it. but they're killin' it. like it won't be a hot topic for weeks.

oh by the way, r.i.p. joe pa.
 
To hell with Joe Pa. Wonder how many days we'll have to sit thru former players saying how great this child molester-enabler was?
 
I also would like to know why, if ESPN has no intention of showing last night's matches, the Tennis Channel couldn't pick up the re-air. They have a cooperative arrangement...
 
OP is referring to the replay of last nights matches that's supposed to air on ESPN2 from 11AM-3PM EST that is being replaced by a 4 hour program for JoePa

i agree, 4 hours is a little excessive, but RIP Joe Paterno
 
I would understand the frustration if last night's match was a five set thriller, but a straight sets beatdown?

RIP, Joe.
 
you know there was more than one match played, right? i slept through some matches so i could see the straight sets beatdown live.
 
It's funny how there's a whole sport that's probably the biggest of the States, is not cared about at all in the rest of the world.

I had never heard of this guy before I wiki'd him. Shame you have to sit through that. But who watches tennis on TV these days anyway. Just find a good stream
 
not to be mean or anything..but i could care less for joe paterno. its sad that he died, but thats about it.
 
Of all the reasons to thrash ESPN for their behavior - this isn't one of them.

Until his very bad decision to do what @ttbrowne perfectly described, he was a freaking legend. I grew up in PA: the guy was the most powerful man - he created a football powerhouse whose revenues turned a farming college into a leading US institution of learning. In an age where college football players were allowed to skate thru taking softball classes, he graduated an incredibly high % with real degrees.
 
OP is referring to the replay of last nights matches that's supposed to air on ESPN2 from 11AM-3PM EST that is being replaced by a 4 hour program for JoePa

i agree, 4 hours is a little excessive, but RIP Joe Paterno

Didn't miss much, need an update?
 
Of all the reasons to thrash ESPN for their behavior - this isn't one of them.

Until his very bad decision to do what @ttbrowne perfectly described, he was a freaking legend. I grew up in PA: the guy was the most powerful man - he created a football powerhouse whose revenues turned a farming college into a leading US institution of learning. In an age where college football players were allowed to skate thru taking softball classes, he graduated an incredibly high % with real degrees.

Still, he died. Bad for him, condolences to his family and there can be a program somewhere someday sometime. Does it have to be during AO? I could care less, cause I no **** about American football. I am pretty sure Federer is a bigger legend than this guy.
 
Hey Ronoldo-it's on the schedule, it's the R16 of a slam, and in some time zones, it was live in the wee hours.

If you say you're going to show it, show it.

And for the guy that says that ESPN should cover it: of course they should cover it.

But they're showing the SAME HOUR OF PROGRAMMING OVER AND OVER!!!
 
I could care less, cause I no **** about American football. I am pretty sure Federer is a bigger legend than this guy.
That's fine. If some Aussie Rules Football coach or cricket legend passed no one in the US would give a rat's *ss either.

What do you think would happen in the UK if Sir Alex Ferguson passed and there was a REPLAY of a football match?

I will say ESPN could have/should have gotten on the phone with someone at Tennis Channel and let them have it if technically possible. But again, get a DVR or watch the streams. 21st century.
 
Years ago, ESPN was ready to start their broadcast of the Aussie Open final between Agassi and Clement, when their coverage of a Duke basketball game went into overtime---ESPN stayed with the basketball game until it ended. When they switched to the tennis, they were already in the 2nd set. As Rodney would say, no respect.....
 
Hey Ronoldo-it's on the schedule, it's the R16 of a slam, and in some time zones, it was live in the wee hours.

If you say you're going to show it, show it.

And for the guy that says that ESPN should cover it: of course they should cover it.

But they're showing the SAME HOUR OF PROGRAMMING OVER AND OVER!!!

The matches are over, forgetaboutit
 
OZ Open coverage replay on at 3 on tennis channel. I agree that they shouldnt be doing all this joepa stuff so repetitively. I get it, people loved the guy. BUt i think a few thousand too many people are confusing "great man" with "great, old fashioned football coach". Some things are unforgivable. Clinton has been the most successful president in my lifetime (23 yo, hw was cool too), but all people remember is him getitng his beej on in the oval office. Yeah he's still well respected, but all of this "don't let recent events tarnish paterno's legacy" talk is BS. If he was 15 years younger and in good health, he would be gettin the business for sure.

Sorry, that may have been too opinionated and out of place. GO TENNIS! (17 minutes til TC replay!)
 
No, that's called 'contractural obligations.'

What I should of said is that ESPN could of started their Aussie Open final coverage from the beginning of the match, simply with tape-delay. But they didn't. They had a contract going, too.
A Grand Slam mens final being pre-empted by a college basketball game? ESPN had no respect for tennis.
 
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That's fine. If some Aussie Rules Football coach or cricket legend passed no one in the US would give a rat's *ss either.

What do you think would happen in the UK if Sir Alex Ferguson passed and there was a REPLAY of a football match?

I will say ESPN could have/should have gotten on the phone with someone at Tennis Channel and let them have it if technically possible. But again, get a DVR or watch the streams. 21st century.

if they did a 4 hour special on sir Alex, I would be pissed off too. Federer (and Nadal) are bigger legends than that guy as well. Anyway, it amazes me how you can trade live sports for a replay, a documentary or something else.
 
I'm pretty sure Roger is a bigger figure on the world stage.

Exactly. In the grand scheme of things, American football is a total nonevent anyway, only basically played in 1 country. The comparison with football is skewed as well therefore. Football is the biggest sport in pretty much every European country, every south american country, every african country, and is popular in China, India, Russia as well. It's funny how it never got popular in the states.

Anyway, nobody here as ever heard of JoePa, not many at least, and I doubt he's even considered the greatest ever in his sport? But if he is, than good for him.. he deserves the attention and respect I assume.. I would hate it though if ANY memorial service interrupted my tennis. They can schedule such a thing around the AO, right?
 
Paterno's story is a Shakespearean tragedy...

No surprise that news of his death would dominate coverage this morning.
 
Much ado about nothing. Like others have said, there's DVRs, I think they still post matches on ESPN3 so you can replay them whenever...not a big deal at all. Certainly not as egregious as NBC tape delaying live matches year after year and stopping people from being able to watch them on TV, in order to host the 4th hour of the Today Show.
 
Of all the reasons to thrash ESPN for their behavior - this isn't one of them.

Until his very bad decision to do what @ttbrowne perfectly described, he was a freaking legend. I grew up in PA: the guy was the most powerful man - he created a football powerhouse whose revenues turned a farming college into a leading US institution of learning. In an age where college football players were allowed to skate thru taking softball classes, he graduated an incredibly high % with real degrees.

In light of everything that happened, this is all you choose to say???
 
OZ Open coverage replay on at 3 on tennis channel. I agree that they shouldnt be doing all this joepa stuff so repetitively. I get it, people loved the guy. BUt i think a few thousand too many people are confusing "great man" with "great, old fashioned football coach". Some things are unforgivable. Clinton has been the most successful president in my lifetime (23 yo, hw was cool too), but all people remember is him getitng his beej on in the oval office. Yeah he's still well respected, but all of this "don't let recent events tarnish paterno's legacy" talk is BS. If he was 15 years younger and in good health, he would be gettin the business for sure.

Sorry, that may have been too opinionated and out of place. GO TENNIS! (17 minutes til TC replay!)

Really no comparison between Clinton misgivings and those of that coach!

Not even close!
 
Really no comparison between Clinton misgivings and those of that coach!

Not even close!

Exactly! But for some reason, people are conveniently neglecting to properly criticize paterno. And i really dont think they will ever get around to it...
 
More people in the states care about college football than tennis. If it was a slam final, yes, they'd play it. Otherwise, no, people care more about Joe Paterno. The things he did for PSU and for thousands of people are much more important than a tennis match. Go cry about your tennis match somewhere else.
 
Exactly! But for some reason, people are conveniently neglecting to properly criticize paterno. And i really dont think they will ever get around to it...

How much criticism can he take? Yeah he failed, and ultimately lost his job because of it, but people are acting like he was the one in the showers with kids. I'm not excusing Paterno, what happened was horrible on all levels, but the man was punished for his inaction. He lost his job, and now is dead (unrelated of course). It's going to be mentioned in practically every obituary about him. But that shouldn't cancel out his entire career.
 
How much criticism can he take? Yeah he failed, and ultimately lost his job because of it, but people are acting like he was the one in the showers with kids. I'm not excusing Paterno, what happened was horrible on all levels, but the man was punished for his inaction. He lost his job, and now is dead (unrelated of course). It's going to be mentioned in practically every obituary about him. But that shouldn't cancel out his entire career.

I can't believe you JBF! you should not underestimate the severity of the allegations!

Losing your job is not sufficient enough punishment for not stopping crimes from happening under your supervision if you're aware of them!
 
I can't believe you JBF! you should not underestimate the severity of the allegations!

Losing your job is not sufficient enough punishment for not stopping crimes from happening under your supervision if you're aware of them!

Paterno didn't witness the crimes personally, he only had secondhand knowledge. He took said secondhand knowledge to his bosses, and they proceeded to do nothing about it. Yeah he should have done more, but he shouldn't have to be the one who took the brunt of the criticism.

The whole situation like is said is disgusting, I'm not saying Paterno doesn't deserve some blame, but one horrible decision doesn't cancel out the career he had. You may disagree, which is fine. I just don't think Paterno should have been made the villain in the whole thing, all while the guy that actually committed the crimes gets relatively little ire.
 
Thank you JBF. But people, even if you don't know who he is or care what happened, at least respect that fact that a LOT of people do care, enough so that they didn't put on the AO earlier. That alone should tell you that it matters to a lot of people. I thought everybody learned this at age 5 or so, but I guess I'll refresh you all: The world does not revolve around you.
 
How much criticism can he take? Yeah he failed, and ultimately lost his job because of it, but people are acting like he was the one in the showers with kids. I'm not excusing Paterno, what happened was horrible on all levels, but the man was punished for his inaction. He lost his job, and now is dead (unrelated of course). It's going to be mentioned in practically every obituary about him. But that shouldn't cancel out his entire career.

James, I know this thread is almost dead but I did want to point out that if you say the same thing about Joe Pa...you would have to say the same thing about Sandusky. "But that shouldn't cancel out his entire career." I just say yes it does. It negates everything because the man we thought we knew and the man he really was are two different things.
 
we don't know what sandusky did because the so-called witness
didn't try to help any child. the 'witness' played at a charity golf game held by sandusky after the so-called 'sandusky molestation'.
sandusky and the staff were wrong but there were obvious lies in the case.

this looks less insidious than the disturbed michael jackson and 13 year old boys on his lap and beds.
 
Paterno didn't witness the crimes personally, he only had secondhand knowledge. He took said secondhand knowledge to his bosses, and they proceeded to do nothing about it. Yeah he should have done more, but he shouldn't have to be the one who took the brunt of the criticism.

The whole situation like is said is disgusting, I'm not saying Paterno doesn't deserve some blame, but one horrible decision doesn't cancel out the career he had. You may disagree, which is fine. I just don't think Paterno should have been made the villain in the whole thing, all while the guy that actually committed the crimes gets relatively little ire.

The highest level of opprobrium should be directed at the guy who committed the abuse, but it strikes me that Paterno and his bosses are on the next rung - both should have gone to the Police, both behaved in the same way as Catholic bishops who moved abusive priests to new parishes - they put their organisation's reputation ahead of protecting the victims of abuse.
 
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