The worst thing is - no more Davis Cup on ESPN in '05

[BreakPoint]

Now that the U.S. has lost, I guess we won't be seeing any more Davis Cup ties broadcast on ESPN for the rest of the year. That really s*cks since it's more fun to watch than just about any other tennis tournament. For those of us without The Tennis Channel, it looks like we're SOL.

As much as I wanted the U.S. team to win and was rooting madly for Roddick yesterday (now that's a first), I also wanted them to win so that we get to see the next round of Davis Cup on ESPN. I want to see more Davis Cup!!

BTW, it looks like Johnny Mac's career on ESPN was about as short-lived as his talk show on CNBC. :lol:

 

[HookEmJeff]

ESPN will show the relegation tie in September, wherever that is.

Jeff

 

[Ariel]

ESPN was switching the Davis Cup matches from channel to channel, to finally send it to the very bottom of their grid: ESPN Classic; let's face it, ESPN is glad not to have to show more of the Davis Cup.

And btw, Direct TV doesn't include ESPN classic with the basic package. I have DTV, and we have ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, now the new ESPNU but... no espn classic. You can guess that not many people cares for tennis out there and they just have to show it because of the contracts with sponsors, etc.

ESPN did a terrible job covering Davis Cup, with tape delays, making last-minute programming changes. I think that US tennis suffers for that to an extent e that is not possible to measure today; in the same way that tennis suffers for the lack of coverage overall, making it available for only a few thousand fortunate enough to have TTC.

 

[VamosRafa]

I did think it was surprising they showed the doubles match on tape-delay. It was a great match.

I couldn't believe I was able to go back to the hotel, go out to dinner, and then come back and watch the match on tape delay.

There must have been a poker game or log-rolling competition that took precedence. *rollseyes*

 

[norcal]

And btw, Direct TV doesn't include ESPN classic with the basic package. I have DTV, and we have ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, now the new ESPNU but... no espn classic. You can guess that not many people cares for tennis out there and they just have to show it because of the contracts with sponsors, etc.

My Directv has ESPN classic on the basic programmng. Pretty bad that a dramatic Davis Cup tie gets the bottom channel. But then again the southeasternwesternmountainbigsky conference b-ball game was waay more compelling.

 

[Brettolius]

quote:There must have been a poker game or log-rolling competition that took precedence. *rollseyes*


yeah, i'd like to "roll a log" on the espn execs' face. hell, why are you paying for the rights to stuff you obviously don't wanna show, and then do it half ass?

 

[tennisnj]

Don't forget ESPN2's coverage of the World Juggling Championships or whatever that was last month lol. Makes me cry b/c my cable company doesn't carry the Tennis Channel & has no plans to do so no matter how many times I've signed petitions to include it.

 

[VamosRafa]

Okay, I'm going to say this, and I want to make totally clear that I'm saying it as someone who has been to many Davis Cup events. And I'm only saying it because I see how disappointed many of you are you won't get to see more Davis Cup this year on TV.

And I hope some of the folks who have been to DC events will chime in.

The reason I started going to Davis Cup events is because I was frustrated that I couldn't see them on TV. And as someone who absolutely hates to fly, it wasn't easy for me to get off my butt and go.

And after going to one event, I was hooked, which is why I go to so many. Although I much prefer the ones within driving distance. *lol*

I love tournaments, believe me. But Davis Cup is the most exciting tennis you will see live -- at least in my view.

So if you have an opportunity to go to Davis Cup, please consider it. Then you don't have to worry about crappy TV coverage -- you are there, and can experience it.

As I mentioned I was with an organized group of people in Carson. I was practically the only one who lives in California. Most are from the East Coast or the South, and many are from Canada.

Because Davis Cup only takes up 3 days, it's a great way to plan a vacation and work in a little tennis. Many folks were leaving Carson, and then going to San Diego or San Francisco, or other California destinations. In other words, they planned a great vacation around 3 days of tennis.

It's something I have done many times myself, and it's something I recommend, if you like to travel and are in a position to do so. I know not everyone is, but even if you aren't now, you may be later. It's the best bang for tennis buck, in my view. Anyway, something to consider.