Latest news with #SethWickersham
USA Today
06-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
ESPN completely sheds disguise of objectivity with NFL deal
Good morning and welcome back to The Morning Win, where I'm still allowed to voice an opinion on just about anything in sports without fear of consequence. Today, the same can't be said about ESPN after it was announced Tuesday that Disney agreed to sell a 10 percent equity stake of the network to the NFL in exchange for the rights to distribute the NFL Network and RedZone Channel. Reaction to the news seemed mostly negative, as fans on social media worried ESPN might ruin a couple properties they enjoy which... yikes. Really tells you how people feel about ESPN these days. There's also the obvious gambling conflict that comes up with ESPN Bet. But that's not the part I'm concerned with right now. What jumped out to me about this deal is the journalism of it all. ESPN is the biggest sports media company in the country. It's supposed to cover the NFL. How on earth can it do that objectively if the NFL is a part-owner? ESPN DTC: Everything to know about the new streaming service The answer, of course, is it probably can't. This deal is ESPN completely taking off any disguise of being a trusted source of hard-hitting, independent journalism. At least when it comes to the big, bad National Football League. Or at least it won't be able to shake it if there's a controversial story handled a certain way. The truth is, this was always the case. Has been for a while. When you earn the broadcast rights for games from a league as powerful as the NFL, you have to be a good little partner to keep those rights. Let me say that ESPN has done good work on the journalism side, from the writers who cover each team to the investigative stories penned by Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham. And Disney CEO Bob Iger recently told the Wall Street Journal "nothing in this deal in any way changes ESPN's approach when it comes to journalism," and he's right, because ESPN always tip-toed in its coverage. Remember when the network suspended Bill Simmons in 2014 for calling Roger Goodell a liar? That happened to one of its most popular sports personalities when the NFL only had a fraction of the power and influence it'll have now. But here's the thing: Even as ESPN likely played nice all along, the network at least cared about its optics before. Even if objectivity was compromised, the Worldwide Leader in sports separated itself enough to give an impression its writers and personalities had the freedom to hold partners accountable if necessary. Now? That veil is completely gone. Ripped off overnight. ESPN has completely leaned into the "E" of it all. The NFL is boss. So, yeah, ESPN might ruin the NFL Network and RedZone, but that's not the part I'm worried about because ESPN's coverage of the NFL will probably ruin ESPN first. PSA: STOP THROWING THINGS AT WNBA GAMES! I really didn't think it'd become necessary to address this, but people can be stupid sometimes and love to give us constant reminders of how stupid they can be. So here it is: Can we please stop throwing sex toys on the court at WNBA games? It's not funny and it never was. Not the first time, and not the latest time during Tuesday's game between the Fever and Sparks, which Sophie Cunningham addressed in a tweet and Sparks coach Lynne Roberts had this to say about: "I think it's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid. It's also dangerous. Player safety is number one. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it's really stupid." At least one of the people caught for throwing something at a game has been arrested and faces multiple charges. I personally hope they catch the others too. This is getting out of hand. Quick Hits: No more smelling salts ... Spider-Man is back ... and more This was For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ESPN completely sheds disguise of objectivity with NFL deal
Good morning and welcome back to The Morning Win, where I'm still allowed to voice an opinion on just about anything in sports without fear of consequence. Today, the same can't be said about ESPN after it was announced Tuesday that Disney agreed to sell a 10 percent equity stake of the network to the NFL in exchange for the rights to distribute the NFL Network and RedZone Channel. Reaction to the news seemed mostly negative, as fans on social media worried ESPN might ruin a couple properties they enjoy which... yikes. Really tells you how people feel about ESPN these days. There's also the obvious gambling conflict that comes up with ESPN Bet. But that's not the part I'm concerned with right now. What jumped out to me about this deal is the journalism of it all. ESPN is the biggest sports media company in the country. It's supposed to cover the NFL. How on earth can it do that objectively if the NFL is a part-owner? ESPN DTC: Everything to know about the new streaming service The answer, of course, is it probably can't. This deal is ESPN completely taking off any disguise of being a trusted source of hard-hitting, independent journalism. At least when it comes to the big, bad National Football League. Or at least it won't be able to shake it if there's a controversial story handled a certain way. The truth is, this was always the case. Has been for a while. When you earn the broadcast rights for games from a league as powerful as the NFL, you have to be a good little partner to keep those rights. Let me say that ESPN has done good work on the journalism side, from the writers who cover each team to the investigative stories penned by Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham. And Disney CEO Bob Iger recently told the Wall Street Journal "nothing in this deal in any way changes ESPN's approach when it comes to journalism," and he's right, because ESPN always tip-toed in its coverage. But remember when the network suspended Bill Simmons in 2014 for calling Roger Goodell a liar? That happened to one of its most popular sports personalities when the NFL only had a fraction of the power and influence it'll have now. But here's the thing: Even as ESPN likely played nice all along, the network at least cared about its optics before. Even if objectivity was compromised, the Worldwide Leader in sports separated itself enough to give an impression its writers and personalities had the freedom to hold partners accountable if necessary. Now? That veil is completely gone. Ripped off overnight. ESPN has completely leaned into the "E" of it all. The NFL is boss. So, yeah, ESPN might ruin the NFL Network and RedZone, but that's not the part I'm worried about because ESPN's coverage of the NFL will probably ruin ESPN first. PSA: STOP THROWING THINGS AT WNBA GAMES! I really didn't think it'd become necessary to address this, but people can be stupid sometimes and love to give us constant reminders of how stupid they can be. So here it is: Can we please stop throwing sex toys on the court at WNBA games? It's not funny and it never was. Not the first time, and not the latest time during Tuesday's game between the Fever and Sparks, which Sophie Cunningham addressed in a tweet and Sparks coach Lynne Roberts had this to say about: "I think it's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid. It's also dangerous. Player safety is number one. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it's really stupid." At least one of the people caught for throwing something at a game has been arrested and faces multiple charges. I personally hope they catch the others too. This is getting out of hand. Quick Hits: No more smelling salts ... Spider-Man is back ... and more The NFL has a new ban on smelling salts and ammonia inhalants and at least one player is taking the news really hard. George Kittle said he considered retirement over the ban. Filming for the new MCU Spider-Man flick, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is underway, and this one photo from the set has me so fired up for the release. The Mystics traded all-star guard Brittany Sykes to the contending Storm. Here's Meg Hall with trade grades for the surprising deal. If the Cowboys stink this year, it won't be because of the bad vibes created by Jerry Jones or an absence of Micah Parsons. It'll be because new coach Brian Schottenheimer wears a backwards visor. Umm, OK. This article originally appeared on For The Win: ESPN and NFL deal brings in objectivity questions
Epoch Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Caleb Williams Addresses Claim He Didn't Want to Play for the Bears
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams recently broke his silence on a claim that he didn't want to join the team before the 2024 draft when he went No. 1. Seth Wickersham wrote that Williams's father, Carl, didn't want his son to get drafted by the Bears at No. 1—a detail that came out in Wickersham's new book, 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.' Caleb Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner at USC and highly touted prospect, put that claim to rest on Wednesday.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New book adds wrinkle to QB drama in NFC North and 2024 NFL Draft class
The NFL Draft is the best thing we have in sports, outside of the Super Bowl. You know why? There is no better reality show because it checks all the boxes you want. It's a game of chance, skills, and critical thinking that all can still need to have more luck than anything when it is all said and done. Case in point, we are over a year removed from the 2024 NFL Draft and we are hearing new details about the draft process for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Advertisement In a new book written by Seth Wickersham titled, "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," details are shared about the mindset of Williams and his father, Carl. Details include everything from questions surrounding Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus to even trying to work there way out of Chicago. Ironically, the Vikings played a major role in making things more difficult, as the book details, according to an ESPN report. "After an up-and-down final season at USC, Caleb Williams was unsure of what he wanted to do as he prepared for the 2024 draft. At the NFL combine that year, he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The two hit it off, and Caleb Williams began to dream of what it would be like to play for Minnesota." It peaked when Caleb Williams said, "I need to go to the Vikings," to which his father said, "Let's do it." Advertisement Obviously, the Bears drafted Caleb Williams, and there are more details as to how rocky that year was for him. Of course, the Vikings went with J.J. McCarthy, and they seem perfectly happy with him on their roster and are ready to roll with him in 2025 and beyond. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: New book adds drama to Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, and NFC North
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Bears QB Caleb Williams addresses controversy from book excerpt
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sought to quiet the controversy about how he hadn't wanted to come to his current team prior to the 2024 draft. Williams admitted an ESPN story about an upcoming book by Seth Wickersham on quarterbacks was true in that he did like the idea of going to the Minnesota Vikings initially, but this was prior to his first visit to Chicago. Then, Williams said, he wanted to be with the Bears.
