College Gameday ditches AJ/Dobbs cancer story for FSU piece

#76
#76
The classless ESPN Facebook minions keep deleting my comment on their page about this. I've reposted it literally 30 times and I plan to keep doing it. Screw them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#77
#77
Celina's suggestion that Vols fans flood the background with A. J. Cucksey signs is a good one. Has anyone reached out to the VT community about getting behind A. J. as well? Could be effective...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#78
#78
UT-Rex said:
Yes, unfortunately, it's the way things are (i.e. what's best for the business). In comparing what ESPN is doing, to this other story, I really don't see a whole lot of difference (sorry to have to compare, in this situation, but for sake of discussion):

"Tennessee coach Butch Jones considers his ride key when it comes to the rough-and-tumble world of college football recruiting.

Jones spoke at Mercedes-Benz of Knoxville on Friday morning and made clear his car matters when trying to woo a recruit.

“Kids judge you by your car,” Jones said via the Knoxville News Sentinel. “It’s crazy.”

On this surface, this seems a little strange. Really, judging a coach by his car? But it makes sense that Jones would do everything in his power to leave a positive impression.

“It’s crazy, but that’s the world we live in, selling (and) trying to create those impressions,” Jones said. “So that’s very important.”

Hey, if fancy wheels lead to big wins later, why not go all out?" Saturday Down South, ANDREW ASTLEFORD | JUN 3, 2016

Coach Jones and ESPN, in these two instances, seemingly are both trying to make a "positive impression" the best way they see fit with the broadest reach of those who give them their attention (ESPN is going with another story; Coach Jones is going with at $200k+ vehicle). In both cases, I really do not agree with their business decisions, but that seems to be the way they need to role.
Click to expand...

It is crazy how perception distorts reality. There is a reason Real Estate agents drive luxury cars too. They want to exude success when taking on a new client. Think about it. You want to sell your house and sell it quick and this guy/gal rolls up in a fancy car which makes it appear on the surface that they are really good at their job. You are probably more inclined to trust his/her opinion than the agent who rolls up in a 2004 Kia Sorrento. May not be reality but it appears as such. The latter may work equally as hard but just frugal with their money but you don't know that.

Personally, even of I won the lottery I would most likely still drive a Toyota. But I'm not trying to impress anyone so I view my car as a practical possession that gets me from A to B.


As for the Dobbs story, I'm sure they will air it later on. If we are undefeated in Oct there is a good chance we will be on Gameday again. I wouldn't really sweat it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#79
#79
I'm assuming the FSU story taking its place is the one about Rudolph eating lunch with the kid with autism, I think, in the cafeteria. Still a great story, BUT this decision makes no sense.

You are taking College Gameday to a Tennessee game. Usually Gameday is meant to be themed based majorly on the two teams playing that week. Why they would drop this story is beyond me. Classless. Why not just run two heart warming stories in the same week and lose one of the inevitable puff pieces on why OSU/Michigan/Alabama are so great and will be a playoff team this year? Less football, more inspiration.

OR, seeing as I guarantee FSU will be a Gameday destination sooner rather than later, just run your story then!! Just an all-around horrible decision.
 
#80
#80
VersaceButch said:
I'm assuming the FSU story taking its place is the one about Rudolph eating lunch with the kid with autism, I think, in the cafeteria. Still a great story, BUT this decision makes no sense.

You are taking College Gameday to a Tennessee game. Usually Gameday is meant to be themed based majorly on the two teams playing that week. Why they would drop this story is beyond me. Classless. Why not just run two heart warming stories in the same week and lose one of the inevitable puff pieces on why OSU/Michigan/Alabama are so great and will be a playoff team this year? Less football, more inspiration.

OR, seeing as I guarantee FSU will be a Gameday destination sooner rather than later, just run your story then!! Just an all-around horrible decision.
Click to expand...

fsu vs Clemson would be a great time to run that story. I wonder if they'll play the AJ story for that week now?
 
#81
#81
Tin Man said:
Celina's suggestion that Vols fans flood the background with A. J. Cucksey signs is a good one. Has anyone reached out to the VT community about getting behind A. J. as well? Could be effective...
Click to expand...

Actually, Hokie Nation started to jump onboard yesterday, as well as members of the Bama, Georgia, Florida (yes I was shocked too) and FSU along with other SEC teams.
 
#82
#82
mscelinaVol said:
Not really. GameDay is going to be in Tennessee at a Tennessee landmark for a Tennessee game and dropped a story about the Tennessee Champion for the Children's Miracle Network. It's the biggest game in football history, they've been hyping it for months, and with the Cuckseys' upcoming appearances and charity fundraisers this fall relying upon the national coverage I hardly think I'll be eating any crow. To drop a story about a child with inoperable brain tumors during Childhood Cancer Awareness month is ridiculous and heartless. Even FSU fans are RT the story. Besides, crow is tasty with enough salt and pepper.



The thing for me is that this kid has been looking forward to this feature since July, when ESPN filmed it. To take it away this week is like telling AJ Santa doesn't exist three days before Christmas Eve.

At this point, all anyone can do is hope to make him feel a little better. If we can get signs with the #CuckseyStrong hashtag, or the logo from the t-shirt (and their crowdsourcing campaign went live last night with 100% of the proceeds going to ETCH) or AJ's face, it might make him feel better.

I was the one who called Finebaum yesterday, and he very graciously gave me the platform to get the word out. With former players and other media platforms starting to get the story out this morning, it's a great chance to hopefully make AJ a little happier come Saturday. And that's all I or anyone associated with this want--AJ Cucksey's happiness. So if Vol Nation responds as we hope they will, maybe AJ will spend Saturday morning with a smile on his face.

He's a great kid and deserves it.
Click to expand...

How about the "largest" attended game in football history, not "biggest." When the ratings are released on Monday, it will not be viewed by more people than the USCw vs Bama game last Saturday on ABC.
The "crow" I am referring to is the chance that ESPN will continue to bring Autism to the nation by continuing with the story of Bo. He attended last Monday's game and garnered much deserved attention. Both stories are emotionally charged. Sounds like ESPN will air AJ's story later in the year. Might be nice if they pulled a double-header and discussed both of these brave kids.
 
Last edited:
#84
#84
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#85
#85
jkleno said:
How about the "largest" attended game in football history, not "biggest." When the ratings are released on Monday, it will not be viewed by more people than the USCw vs Bama game last Saturday on ABC.
The "crow" I am referring to is the chance that ESPN will continue to bring Autism to the nation by continuing with the story of Bo. He attended last Monday's game and garnered much deserved attention. Both stories are emotionally charged. Sounds like ESPN will air AJ's story later in the year. Might be nice if they pulled a double-header and discussed both of these brave kids.
Click to expand...

AJ's Story should be in the spotlight for OUR game. Yes, the other story deserves attention as well. But air it during FSU's game day. Not during OUR game on the biggest stage possible where funds can be raised for CMN and ETCH in his honor. He deserves his moment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#86
#86
mscelinaVol said:
Actually, Hokie Nation started to jump onboard yesterday, as well as members of the Bama, Georgia, Florida (yes I was shocked too) and FSU along with other SEC teams.
Click to expand...

I wish a news station would pick this up and get it some more attention. ESPN deserves utter humiliation for this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#87
#87
wesleydmartin said:
heard about this while watching, and forgive me, Finbuam yesterday after work.....i think they will still do the piece just later in the year, or am i incorrect?


not saying they should have moved it, but it wont be tossed away....or at least thats my understanding
Click to expand...

Our fans just love to get upset at "the man" and feel disrespected. Dobbs had a bad game so ESPN knows that his piece won't get as many people tuning in. When Dobbs goes off on a team for 400+ yards or leads a game winning drive over a big team then we'll see his piece at the next Gameday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#88
#88
jkleno said:
How about the "largest" attended game in football history, not "biggest." When the ratings are released on Monday, it will not be viewed by more people than the USCw vs Bama game last Saturday on ABC.
The "crow" I am referring to is the chance that ESPN will continue to bring Autism to the nation by continuing with the story of Bo. He attended last Monday's game and garnered much deserved attention. Both stories are emotionally charged. Sounds like ESPN will air AJ's story later in the year. Might be nice if they pulled a double-header and discussed both of these brave kids.
Click to expand...

As a writer I choose my words carefully, but there is absolutely no difference between 'biggest' and 'largest' whatsoever.

And if ESPN were to run both stories, no one--especially me--would have minded. You seem to think there's some blame to attribute to me for writing a story about ESPN dropping the AJ Cucksey story in favor of an ESPN story. *shrug* You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but believe me when I tell you I feel NO kind of bizarre guilt for pointing out that dropping a story about a Tennessee child battling cancer at a Tennessee game during Childhood Cancer Awareness month is a poorly considered decision.

Honestly, Gameday has a long enough show to drop some of the ridiculous stuff and do 2-3 stories a week on this kind of thing. So forgive me if I don't really care about 'eating crow' for pointing that out. Thanks so much for the insight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#89
#89
08Vol said:
Our fans just love to get upset at "the man" and feel disrespected. Dobbs had a bad game so ESPN knows that his piece won't get as many people tuning in. When Dobbs goes off on a team for 400+ yards or leads a game winning drive over a big team then we'll see his piece at the next Gameday.
Click to expand...

Um, no. It has nothing to do with being upset with "the man". It has everything to do with the fact that they are dissing a 6 year old cancer survivor that has waited months to see his story aired and was planning on using it to launch fundraising efforts, merely because the QB featured in the story didn't play up to standard last week. It's despicable and wrong and EVERYONE should be pissed about it. Not just Vol fans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#91
#91
mscelinaVol said:
Battle At Bristol is literally the biggest college football game in history. The whole Cucksey Strong deal is to promote fundraising for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital. And yes, the FSU story is absolutely wonderful too.

Doesn't change the importance of THIS story to East Tennessee and its children.
Click to expand...

If you read what I wrote, you and I are saying the same thing.
 
#92
#92
Several (and I mean several) years ago ESPN was one of my main stations I watched. Sadly, I have to agree with everyone regarding the fall of the ESPN empire and it becoming more of a political propaganda station than anything else. Sad reflection on the network(s) and the society we live in.

That being said, I watch live sports on the ESPN family of networks and that is it. If I want commentary, news, etc. I will turn to SEC Network or get score updates online. SportsCenter has become less about highlights and sports news and more about pushing their political agendas to the masses.

Sad, sad, sad....I've always felt that sports were the one thing that transcended politics....you will celebrate a score or big win with the person sitting beside you without regard to political leanings, race, sex, etc. Sports can bring people with different views, national origins, etc. together to celebrate victory....politicizing it will only work to bring us further apart instead of keeping one thing that can bring us together....
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#94
#94
What really impressed me yesterday was the Finebaum show giving this story a platform. Obviously tried my darnedest to NOT insult ESPN (was difficult) and keep the focus on the important part of the message. But Finebaum was gracious about it, gave me the opportunity to speak, and no one asked me to do/say anything or cut me off while I was speaking--which with their time delay they had absolute ability to do. The SEC Network, to me, seems separate from ESPN in the ways that matter. And while ESPN holds the purse strings, they seem to provide coverage that is geared more toward the conference and less toward the ESPN propaganda machine. just my opinion, of course, but it's an important distinction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#95
#95
This is why Fox and CBS will always be better. ESPN is in for a rude awakening in the coming years. Almost all of their superstars have moved on to the other networks and they will continue their downward spiral. Good riddance to that piece of crap network when they eventually shut down. It was a great network and now it's hogwash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#96
#96
VolPack22 said:
This is why Fox and CBS will always be better. ESPN is in for a rude awakening in the coming years. Almost all of their superstars have moved on to the other networks and they will continue their downward spiral. Good riddance to that piece of crap network when they eventually shut down. It was a great network and now it's hogwash.
Click to expand...

My husband says the same thing. He's an Ohio State fan, and I try not to hold that against him. (He loves the Vols and Neyland--makes the Buckeye thing bearable) ESPN started to tank when Disney took over. And while there are some personalities at ESPN that I absolutely respect (and know) for the most part it's like clickbait sports anymore. Two top five teams lost last week, but ESPN dogged the Vols regardless--and then were so amazed when UT dropped in the AP poll to 17. But this decision was cold-bloodedly made between the end of the App State game and Friday afternoon. The reason seems fairly obvious to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#98
#98
I'll probably get dragged for asking, but I don't watch much ESPN outside of live sports and Gameday, so take these as honest questions:

1. How is ESPN "political?" I assume they aren't covering Presidential or Senatorial campaigns, so what exactly does this mean? Is it b/c of the Kaepernick thing?

2. Am I the only person that thinks there is a little too much human interest stuff on Gameday these days? I would honestly be ok if they did a lot less of this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#99
#99
I'm sure part of the thinking is that the FSU story carries some recency, and they don't want to let it go too long before showing the piece. So, I can appreciate why ESPN wants to get it on the air as soon as possible.

But surely there are other segments that can be cut; surely both stories can fit somewhere in the three hour behemoth that is Gameday. It's not even a very good slate of games this weekend, so surely they don't have a lot to talk about.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top