ESPN's Live Wimbledon Coverage Starts On Monday (And NBC Can Suck It)

I respect NBC's coverage of professional tennis exactly as much as NBC respects tennis fans - which is to say, very little.

Consequently, it was with great joy that I read how ESPN will take over complete Wimbledon coverage this year, and how the network is fully committed to broadcasting live matches.

The most recent trouble between tennis fans and NBC Sports started last summer when the network opted to show a couple of important tennis matches from major tournaments on a several hour tape delay. Avid tennis watchers raised a big stink about the shoddy network coverage (inasmuch as fans of a relatively minor sport can raise a big stink), and moved on, hoping that NBC and tournament executives had learned their lessons.

Sadly, NBC's coverage of last month's French Open served only to prove that the clamor of angry fans mattered little. During the Open, which is one of the four "major" events in tennis, NBC once again dropped the ball repeatedly, disappointing tennis fans by either cutting coverage short or broadcasting critical matches on tape delay.

First, NBC interrupted the very end of a significant ladies match upset-in-the-making (Kanepi vs Wozniacki at 5-2 in the third set) because the broadcast reached the end of its allotted coverage time. Imagine - a network cutting away from a playoff baseball game in the top of the 9th because it was time for Judge Joe Brown (who I'm sure is a competent jurist, but come on, it can wait).

ESPN Offers Quintessential Apology

NY Knicks guard, Jeremy Linn
Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Before I explain what I respect about ESPN's apology for this weekend's "Chink in the Armor" racist fiasco, let's all take note of my restraint in not producing yet another Jeremy Lin pun. As the plethora of abominable and obnoxious "Linsanity" puns demonstrates, resistance isn't easy - but it also isn't futile.

There, I did it. I made it through my intro with no new puns on Lin's last name. 

Now, on with the apology analysis.

Media outlets, businesses, and organizations of all varieties should take note of the approach ESPN has employed in managing the controversy surrounding racist comments made through their online and on-air channels. After circulating an immediate apology on Saturday, along with a promise to complete a full investigation, the network released the following statement on Sunday.

What makes the network's apology so effective? I can sum it up in three words: quick, decisive, action.

Quick: The on-air comment and online headline in question occurred on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning, respectively. Within hours, by the time I climbed out of bed on Saturday, the network had already issued a general apology, and by mid-morning Sunday, they released a more formal statement which re-iterated their remorse and outlined the steps they had already taken to rectify the situation.

Decisive: ESPN appropriately owned this debacle from the start. The network took full responsibility, completed a quick investigation of the facts, and decided within 48 hours of the initial on-air racial slur how they would proceed. No dilly-dallying or mucking about. No excuses or blame game.

Action: The immediate mea culpa on Saturday, the rapid additional follow-up, one employee terminated, one employee suspended, a clear and concise public communication of the network's actions, and an indication of steps they are taking to make sure this doesn't happen again. 

CEOs - there's your template for damage control. You don't need anything else.

Final proof of ESPN's savvy is the network's decision to broadcast the Knicks/Mavericks NBA game on Sunday afternoon. Featuring Lin and the Knicks demonstrates that ESPN is not afraid to climb right back in the ring, and it provides the network with an opportunity to quickly and neatly crate up the Lin controversy, while they appropriately re-direct the the focus of the conversation to Lin's on-court performance. 

The kicker is that network executives are also keenly aware that showing the Knicks game on Sunday will prove....Lin-strumental to their weekend ratings success.

Tebow Steps Up and Speaks Out

Broncos QB Tim Tebow

ESPN's Skip Bayless

If you know who Tim Tebow is then you probably either love him or hate him.

Tebow, the NFL quarterback who wears his commitment to Jesus on his sleeve (and figuratively on his shoes and helmet and pants) continues to be a remarkably divisive figure in the world of professional sports. He was interviewed this week on ESPN's First Take by Skip Bayless, the journalist and sports personality who arguably has a giant man crush on Tebow. 

To Skip's credit, he pulled no punches with Tebow, tackling tough topics head on such as Tebow's anemic passing accuracy rating, critical comments about Tebow from other legendary NFL QBs (John Elway, among them), and of course, Tebow's very public and often controversial passion for praising Jesus. 

To Tebow's credit, he answered each question honestly. At first, I felt the Broncos QB was being overly politically correct in the interview, or perhaps naive, but by the end, I came to realize he was simply being genuine, 100% Tebow. I came away from the interview with more respect for Bayless (who didn't hold back at all) and with more appreciation for Tebow. 

Take a look at the video clip and decide for yourself. 

MNF Drops Their "Rowdy Friend" Hank Jr

Country Musician Hank Williams Jr

In a recent Fox News interview, country music singer Hank Williams Jr. compared President Obama to Hitler. Even a Fox News anchor had to challenge that statement, which prompted Williams to say that he is "just telling it like it is."

Consequently, after using Williams' songs to open the show for the last 20 years, ESPN is dropping the music of their "rowdy friend" from the start of tonight's Monday Night Football broadcast.

Weird, I tell you. Hank always seemed like such an enlightened political thinker. Let's hope so because he also told Fox that he is running for the senate in 2012. 

"I'd love to spit some Beechnut in that dude's eyes, and shoot him with my ol' forty-five, 'cause a country boy can survive." - Hank Williams, Jr.

Cincy Tennis - Day 3

Big things happening in Cincy! Today the "Round of 16" wrapped up and so the Quarterfinals begin tomorrow. In the men's draw, 7 of the top 8 seeds are in the QFs so there will be some terrific match-ups tomorrow of the world's best tennis players. The women's draw, on the other hand, is wide open as many top players have been beaten already. It's anyone's game, though I am pulling for Aussie Sam Stosur.

Today I am going to feature (mostly) pictures of the women players we saw in action this afternoon and evening. There is also a special ESPN behind-the-scenes pic. More pics of top men players are coming soon. I knew I would see them in the quarterfinals and semis this weekend, so I spent time earlier in the week with the other guys and girls. Enjoy the pics.

Na Li of China. She won the French Open this year becoming the first person from an Asian country to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Marion Bartoli of France. She jumps around so much before a point that you feel compelled to sedate her...but it seems to keep her focused.

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. Kinda whiny and bitchy and annoying.

Francesca Schiavone of  Italy - she won the French Open Grand Slam title in 2010. She plays with so much obvious passion that she's a total fan favorite.

Ever wonder what those on-the-scene ESPN broadcasters are wearing under that desk? Chris Fowler (above) and  Patrick McEnroe both had on shorts and sneakers tonight to complete their shirt/tie outfits.

Weather has been great with highs in the low-mid 80s (not too hot Greg Fugate!). This was a nice shot of the night sky at sunset  taken from inside the "Grandstand" arena, the second largest court.