ESPN, which bills itself as the worldwide leader in sports, "has been leading in another category lately: apologies," according to Callum Borchers of the BOSTON GLOBE. Recent instances involving Curt Schilling and Cris Carter "represent a bigger challenge that is hardly unique to ESPN." In a time when media professionals "are encouraged to show some charisma, to build a personal brand that is funny or snarky or provocative -- particularly on social media -- they are also more likely than their strait-laced predecessors to stumble into offensive territory." ESPN VP/PR Josh Krulewitz in an e-mail wrote, "If mistakes are made within our extremely high volume of content, we respond appropriately and always look to learn and improve" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/30). In Tampa, Tom Jones notes Schilling "probably isn't going to lose his job over his comments." He is a "very good analyst, but he is also politically outspoken." Jones: "I would never tell someone they shouldn't express their political views, but if I was advising Schilling, I'd remind him how difficult it is to get a sweet gig like he has and how many capable analysts there are to easily replace him. Think before you speak and ask if what you're about to say might cost you a really good job." Meanwhile, ESPN "made the best of a bad situation by bringing in Jessica Mendoza to replace Schilling" for last night's Cubs-Dodgers game (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/31).
LOOKING LEFT: In Orlando, David Whitley notes critics "have long contended ESPN is MSNBC in cleats." Extenuating circumstances "make Schilling's suspension a bad barometer of that charge, but there have been enough examples of a leftward tilt to justify the leeriness of critics." ESPN in a statement said Schilling's tweet was "completely unacceptable." But that absolutism "left the network open to charges it doesn't think Muslim extremism is a threat, and anyone who says so needs to enroll in sensitivity classes." Whitley: "That's not the case, but ESPN does have a track record to deal with. ... I believe ESPN believes it is a neutral arbiter when it comes to politics. But it's hard to find many instances when the network apologized to conservatives for anything" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/31). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes what Schilling tweeted "was, a) true, b) a vast understatement, and, c) intolerable to ESPN, so at odds with the company’s position that ESPN had no choice but to publicly censure and punish him." Mushnick: "It rhymes with the media’s selective outrages and selectively quiet pandering" (N.Y. POST, 8/31).
