SoxEd
05-09-2005, 01:50 PM
Ok, so I know I shouldn't be surprised by this fact, but ESPN are doing all in their power to downplay our Sox' success so far.
I can understand them saying nothing about the Pale Hose for the first couple of weeks, because it may just be a flash in the pan, but last week Gammons had a piece about how great the Orioles are doing (Leading the Pack, Orioles on a Roll (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2051224)).
This has plenty of fluff about ShamMe's new team, and a bunch about the Royals (!), but, curiously, no mention of the Sox - other than the pesky Stat that shows them in unique possession of the best record in baseball. This, for reasons best known to Mr. Gammons, merits absolutely no discussion in the article's text.
This week, I still see nothing positive about us on their site.
The only mentions the Sox get in the articles are derisory digs - in Buster Olney's Chat article (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=8100), there are two risible digs at the Sox:
Shawn (Amarillo,TX): Buster, how can everyone just look at the White Sox in the AL Central and over look the Twins? They have put together a pretty good run the last few years with a very limited payroll. Joe Mauer seems to be coming around on the track to achieve his potential, Johan is the best pitcher in the game...period, and Torri Hunter is probably the most underrated defensive player in the game. Do you think they have a chance to make it out of the first round after winning they AL Central(finishing 3 games up on the ChiSox)
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buster Olney: Shawn: I'm with you. I still think the Twins are going to win the AL this year; Morneau and Mauer are getting better and better, and with Santana leading that staff, they will be a dangerous post-season team (assuming they get in, either through the division title or the wildcard).
Yeah - the whole of the media is falling over itself to say how great the Sox are, and has been from the start of ST... No one has ever mentioned this about the Twins, ever, have they?
Second piece:
Dan (Washington): So, what about the White Sox do you think will cause them to lose out to the Twins? Do you think Kenny Williams will look to add a bat before the trading deadline, or just look at Frank Thomas as that addition?
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buster Olney: Dan: Kenny is aggressive and he'll find a way to get a bat, if necessary (and it looks like they'll have to do a little tweaking, if Konerko doesn't become more consistent)...
Now, the question reads to me like Dan in Washington is asking 'the Sox are doing great, what about them makes you think they suck', yet the first part has been edited out* and Olney turns his answer in to a sly dig at Konerko (who is joint third in the AL in HR - clearly a useless player).
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised by this guy's answers, given the usual Cub Love in the top half of the article, but I mean, come on, where are the articles saying 'wow, this team is doing really great, and has surprised us all'?
They could even satisfy any anti-Sox mindset they might have by putting in 'they've done OK against the Useless AL Central, but they'll falter from June onwards'.
What is it about this team that makes the Sports Media not just ignore it, but makes them want to tear it down at every opportunity?
* Is this evidence that I am becoming increasingly paranoid - turning into an English Hangar?
I can understand them saying nothing about the Pale Hose for the first couple of weeks, because it may just be a flash in the pan, but last week Gammons had a piece about how great the Orioles are doing (Leading the Pack, Orioles on a Roll (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=2051224)).
This has plenty of fluff about ShamMe's new team, and a bunch about the Royals (!), but, curiously, no mention of the Sox - other than the pesky Stat that shows them in unique possession of the best record in baseball. This, for reasons best known to Mr. Gammons, merits absolutely no discussion in the article's text.
This week, I still see nothing positive about us on their site.
The only mentions the Sox get in the articles are derisory digs - in Buster Olney's Chat article (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=8100), there are two risible digs at the Sox:
Shawn (Amarillo,TX): Buster, how can everyone just look at the White Sox in the AL Central and over look the Twins? They have put together a pretty good run the last few years with a very limited payroll. Joe Mauer seems to be coming around on the track to achieve his potential, Johan is the best pitcher in the game...period, and Torri Hunter is probably the most underrated defensive player in the game. Do you think they have a chance to make it out of the first round after winning they AL Central(finishing 3 games up on the ChiSox)
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buster Olney: Shawn: I'm with you. I still think the Twins are going to win the AL this year; Morneau and Mauer are getting better and better, and with Santana leading that staff, they will be a dangerous post-season team (assuming they get in, either through the division title or the wildcard).
Yeah - the whole of the media is falling over itself to say how great the Sox are, and has been from the start of ST... No one has ever mentioned this about the Twins, ever, have they?
Second piece:
Dan (Washington): So, what about the White Sox do you think will cause them to lose out to the Twins? Do you think Kenny Williams will look to add a bat before the trading deadline, or just look at Frank Thomas as that addition?
http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/sn2.gif Buster Olney: Dan: Kenny is aggressive and he'll find a way to get a bat, if necessary (and it looks like they'll have to do a little tweaking, if Konerko doesn't become more consistent)...
Now, the question reads to me like Dan in Washington is asking 'the Sox are doing great, what about them makes you think they suck', yet the first part has been edited out* and Olney turns his answer in to a sly dig at Konerko (who is joint third in the AL in HR - clearly a useless player).
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised by this guy's answers, given the usual Cub Love in the top half of the article, but I mean, come on, where are the articles saying 'wow, this team is doing really great, and has surprised us all'?
They could even satisfy any anti-Sox mindset they might have by putting in 'they've done OK against the Useless AL Central, but they'll falter from June onwards'.
What is it about this team that makes the Sports Media not just ignore it, but makes them want to tear it down at every opportunity?
* Is this evidence that I am becoming increasingly paranoid - turning into an English Hangar?