In recent years, ESPN appears to be prioritizing "hot take" artists on its broadcasts — journalists and former players who often supply wild opinions to stoke engagement.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with this. Sports are, ultimately, entertainment, and if this tactic is netting the most eyeballs, then so be it. Still, more in-depth analysis is now shifting towards the Worldwide Leader's website and podcasts, as well as other outlets.
ESPN/ABC's NBA game coverage lately has highlighted two of the network's biggest personality, former champion NBA center Kendrick Perkins and talking head extraordinaire Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. Smith attends a game between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Stephen A. Smith attends a game between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Smith, who recently signed a five-year, $100 million deal to stay at ESPN/ABC long-term, had a rough go of it Friday night, during an eventual 111-104 Game 4 Oklahoma City Thunder road victory that knotted their NBA Finals series against the Indiana Pacers at 2-2.
Smith was also called out by eagle-eyed fans for playing Solitaire on his phone during active game play, in video footage that quickly went viral.
But that might not have been the most egregious fan moment. ABC (which broadcasts the Finals and, like ESPN, is owned by Disney) did what it could to navigate around two attendees, seated courtside, who were wearing some very silly movie costumes in a clear effort to clown Smith and Perkins.
The fans, who at one point were seen clutching Pacers towels, were outfitted in the goofy orange and blue suits worn near the end of the original 1994 Jim Carrey-Jeff Daniels blockbuster comedy classic "Dumb And Dumber," emblazoned with cutout photos of Perkins' and Smith's heads.
Although the pointed trolling may seem a bit mean-spirited, one has to marvel at the time and care that must have gone into this move.