So, Chicago has its own espn.com now

[Kingdom]

espnchicago.com

Is this going to be the new trend for espn, big cities with multiple pro franchises get their own espn sites? It seems unnecessary but whatever.

[missionhockey21]

Let's hope not. I can't stand the mass-homogenization we are all subjected to. That is one of the big reasons why I am so saddened by the death of newspapers, they provide the personality (or a lot of it) that represents a city and it's fans. I am sure a lot of the content will come from guys who worked at institutes like that, but it's just not the same and there will be a level of sameness that runs through it city by city on ESPN.

[Kingdom]

Eventually the world will be employed by espn

[HollywoodLeo]

I want espnhotsprings.com!

[HollywoodLeo]

Let's hope not. I can't stand the mass-homogenization we are all subjected to. That is one of the big reasons why I am so saddened by the death of newspapers, they provide the personality (or a lot of it) that represents a city and it's fans. I am sure a lot of the content will come from guys who worked at institutes like that, but it's just not the same and there will be a level of sameness that runs through it city by city on ESPN.

I'm a bit perturbed by that as well, but you kind of had to have seen it coming.

I mean, with the internet and all, some guy writing an article in the daily newspaper just doesn't seem quite as exclusive.

At the risk of demeaning the great profession of sports writing, with the onset of modern technology, the only things that separate a beat writer from a run of the mill internet blogger (Or, at least the bloggers that posses basic grammar skills) are access to the clubhouse to interview players and attend press conferences.

Combine that with the ability to read articles by sportswriters on websites such as CBSSportsline.com and suddenly there isn't half the interest in the local guy that there used to be.

Don't get me wrong, I think there'll still be a market, (Fans like to have the guys who are focused solely on their team), but it's never going to be anything like it once was.

[Doppelgänger]

I'm all for it, give them there own local network too. Makes for more diverse coverage for the rest of us.

[BronxBomberz]

I remember hearing something about this.

ESPN says if the Chicago site is successful, they may make more local sites, like New York, LA, Pittsburgh.

[cjkalt]

I remember hearing something about this.

ESPN says if the Chicago site is successful, they may make more local sites, like New York, LA, Pittsburgh.

Something tells me Boston would get one before Pittsburgh lol

[Kingdom]

Of course it tells you.

[missionhockey21]

No I get the effect of bloggers, the net, etc and I am all for all of that. What I am not for is ESPN putting its' corporate tramp stamp over city reporting. Everything will feel the same, like going to the mall and getting what has to be the same damn piece of chicken at 8 food court locations, just seasoned slightly differently.

From a business move viewpoint, I can't blame them at all and I am sure it will be a market they will develop and dominate.

[henks]

I can see both points of the arguement.

I'm kinda surprised NYC wasn't the first one. Chicago has the Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Bears, and Bulls (just the four major pro sports) and NY has the Yankees, Mets, Islanders, Knicks and Giants/Jets (if you want to count them too).

[missionhockey21]

The Cubs newspaper industry is in a bit more doubt than New York's though.

[Porter]

I really don't like the direction its going. Over on this side of the US, we have the Seattle Times and the Tacoma News-Tribune. We just lost the P.I. last month. While the Times and News-Tribune are solid sites and have great tradition (Clayton and Sando from the News-Tribune. Stone is a Times Writer)