ESPN's "College GameDay" episode Saturday originated from Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium in advance of Kentucky-Vanderbilt, and with a large contingent of UK fans at the show, ESPN's Digger Phelps “took it upon himself ... to address the gathered fans, mainly those clad in blue and white,” according to Eric Crawford of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Phelps began by saying, “Listen to me. Listen to me. …This is important. We've been with you at Kentucky. This is Vandy's home game (cheers). This is Vandy's (pause) listen to me. Listen to me. It's their home game.” Phelps continued, “You (UK fans) are a part of it. But you show respect for Vandy. I don't want any nonsense. I don't want any incidents. Don't ruin this for 'College GameDay.'” UK fans, in a "Twitter, Facebook and fan blog-fed movement dubbed ‘Occupy Memorial,’ decided to make their presence felt" during the show. Crawford writes it is “altogether appropriate for ESPN to advise people that they're on live TV and not to do inappropriate things.” It is “ESPN's show and Vanderbilt's building.” But these comments “went beyond that.” Crawford: “They weren't scandalous. But they were heavy-handed and seemed to be scolding, and needn't have been.” On Saturday, the only thing “hurting 'GameDay's' image was [Phelps’] pre-show lecture” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 2/13).
TELEVISED HYSTERIA: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote "College GameDay" is often “a colossal waste of time and money, because it can be impossible to hear what the analysts are saying.” As a source of “information and opinion, the ‘College GameDay’ panels mostly offer little, and none of it, over the noise, is useable.” But “GameDay” does serve “the valuable end of presenting, promoting and sustaining ESPN Attitude.” Plus, it “reinforces the theory that TV cameras, like lead dinnerware in long-vanished civilizations, cause insanity.” Mushnick: "What if ESPN, once ‘GameDay’ began, tried something different? What if it had the audience file in one at a time?” (N.Y. POST, 2/12).
