Showing posts with label ESPN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ESPN. Show all posts
July 16, 2014
Hercules at the plate at Muzzy Field
July 12, 2014
Want to own a piece of ESPN history?
May 30, 2014
Let's build a Fan Hall of Fame in Bristol
For years,
the city has searched for something – anything, really – that ESPN could do for
the community aside from growing and growing and growing.
Now nobody’s
complaining about all that growth. It’s helped keep the city coffers full and
done all sorts of wonderful things to bring fame and glory to this little New
England gem.
But
officials have long hoped the sports colossus would offer some spillover that
would attract tourists to town – from a little exhibit of sports stuff
downtown, which is plausible, to an ESPN Zone, which never was.
It turns
out, though, that ESPN itself has created the opportunity the city has longed
for: A Fan Hall of Fame.
 |
| Today's Bristol Press front page. |
Don’t
snicker.
There’s real
promise in this.
Listen to
what Aaron Taylor, ESPN’s top marketing guy had to say during the second
induction ceremony of particularly outrageous fans at the company’s Bristol
campus.
After
correctly pointing out that ESPN is “the world’s biggest sports fan,” he said
that it figured out there was “a glaring deficiency in the sports landscape”
that included halls of fame for every from baseball to boxing. Almost every
sport has a hall of fame somewhere attracting people to come gawk at the
memories enshrined within.
But there
was no hall of fame for fans themselves.
As “The
Georgia Joker,” Pierce Wallace, said in his acceptance speech, fans are “kind
of half the game” and without them, there’s not much to sports. ESPN, of
course, caters very much to those fans. They are its lifeblood.
Taylor said
the hall of fame ESPN created in 2012 – which has inducted two small groups of
fans so far – is an initiative the company will sustain over time.
Public
approval for it, including hundreds of thousands of online votes, “has
reinforced our belief in its long-term potential.”
“We want
this to be an institution,” said Ben Shields, the ESPN marketing guy who led
the team that created and pushed for the new hall of fame.
“It’s
something we intend to do every single year,” Shields said.
That sounds
pretty promising, doesn’t it?
But what is
the hall of fame itself? Just a few vintage stadium chairs bolted down beside a
sidewalk on the ESPN green in the middle of its increasingly college-like
campus. Tiny signs indicate the names of those inducted in 2012 and 2014.
Forgive me,
ESPN, but that ain’t a hall of fame.
Nobody can
even see it unless they’re lucky enough to find some excuse to get escorted
onto the campus, something that even most people in Bristol have never had the
chance to do.
A hall of
fame doesn’t have to be as awe-inspiring as Cooperstown or Canton. It doesn’t
have to include a giant basketball like the storied museum in Springfield.
But it has
to include a building, a place where people can come and see who’s been
inducted and why.
And a real Fan
Hall of Fame offers so much to both Bristol and ESPN that it’s seems like a can’t-miss
opportunity.
Imagine
people driving past ESPN on Route 229, gawking at its satellite dishes and
wishing they could catch a glimpse of Stuart Scott or Hannah Storm, and then
continuing on to a new Fan Hall of Fame.
Inside they
could see videos of the inductees in all their glory as well as walls of
pictures of other fans, maybe divided up by teams or sports or colors,
whatever.
Have a
computer where people could look up a previously filed fan profile of himself and
then call up their pictures on a giant monitor lined with ESPN logos or
something so they can picture themselves in the hall of fame.
Have some
monitors showing highlights of fans over the years, from the idiotic to the
tragic moments, and some showcases with their pig noses or green hair or bald
heads or whatever. The country’s chock full of the appropriate flotsam. And
ESPN itself has plenty.
Carol
Wallace, the mother of the Georgia Joker, told Taylor ESPN ought to consider
putting up a real hall of fame.
And you know
what? She’s right.
Right here
on the border of Red Sox Nation, where the New York Giants and the New England
Patriots fans begin to meld together, at the very place where every game in
every land seems to pour in to ESPN’s vast headquarters to be sliced, diced,
analyzed and highlighted.
This is the
place where fans should be honored.
Let’s build this
Fan Hall of Fame. It would spur tourism and bring more glory to Bristol’s
biggest employer and taxpayer.
July 23, 2013
Plagiarism at the Central Connecticut Post
The Central Connecticut Post today has a "Staff" story that bears an uncanny resemblance -- well, more accurately, it appears to be an exact copy -- of a piece about ESPN that was published Monday by Mediabistro's TVNewser. I may be old-fashioned, but in my day that was considered plagiarism and anybody who did it was drummed out of the profession.
The new online paper claims it has a mission "to report news differently than you are used to seeing.
We've replaced the boredom of the old newspaper websites with one that
is simple, to the point, and user friendly."
I guess it is reporting news differently than we're used to seeing. Copy and paste isn't really reporting, though. It's theft.
WANT TO HELP ENSURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF JOURNALISTS KNOWS BETTER? Lend a hand to Youth Journalism International's worldwide efforts! www.HelpYJI.com
WANT TO HELP ENSURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF JOURNALISTS KNOWS BETTER? Lend a hand to Youth Journalism International's worldwide efforts! www.HelpYJI.com
June 12, 2013
ESPN 3D bites the dust
ESPN has decided to discontinue its ESPN 3D service by the end of the year. We arrived at this decision, after careful consideration, due to the low adoption of 3D services to the home. The company will redirect its 3D resources to other areas in the business with a stronger outlook to better serve fans and affiliates.
Nobody knows more about sports in 3D than ESPN. The production quality was great and the viewer feedback was very positive. If and when the market is ready, the company will provide an outstanding product to fans through our knowledge and experience gained over the past three years.
We thank everyone who worked on ESPN 3D.
Nobody knows more about sports in 3D than ESPN. The production quality was great and the viewer feedback was very positive. If and when the market is ready, the company will provide an outstanding product to fans through our knowledge and experience gained over the past three years.
We thank everyone who worked on ESPN 3D.
More bad news at ESPN today. Stay tuned for details.
On May 21st we initiated a restructuring plan across the company reflecting a changing marketplace and anticipated areas of future growth. This week will see a continuation of that effort with meetings among employees, managers and our HR staff.
While I am very confident in the strength of our overall position, our industry is changing and it is critically important that we use our resources to best support our continued growth. As we have in the past, we will also discontinue certain activities that are not performing at the levels we had anticipated. These decisions are difficult, but in making these changes we will continue to ensure that affected employees are treated with respect and appreciation. Each will be provided notice, severance and ongoing support from our HR team.
We ask anyone with questions or concerns to please speak to your HR business partner or manager.
Thank you.
John
Update at 8:35 a.m.: I'm told that despite the ominous sound of Skipper's email, this is actually just the conclusion of the layoffs announced last month, which will total between 300 and 400 positions, not necessarily that many people.
Update at 8:40 a.m.: Among the cuts are the closure of an office in Denver, the slicing of some outdated tech-related jobs and company-wide reductions that include overseas posts. While Bristol is feeling the ax, and the tension, many of the layoffs are elsewhere. Bristol has 4,000 of the company's 7,000 employees.
Update at 10:50 a.m.: One of the cuts is to drop ESPN 3D this year, which only has a couple of employees dedicated entirely to it.
Update at 8:35 a.m.: I'm told that despite the ominous sound of Skipper's email, this is actually just the conclusion of the layoffs announced last month, which will total between 300 and 400 positions, not necessarily that many people.
Update at 8:40 a.m.: Among the cuts are the closure of an office in Denver, the slicing of some outdated tech-related jobs and company-wide reductions that include overseas posts. While Bristol is feeling the ax, and the tension, many of the layoffs are elsewhere. Bristol has 4,000 of the company's 7,000 employees.
Update at 10:50 a.m.: One of the cuts is to drop ESPN 3D this year, which only has a couple of employees dedicated entirely to it.
May 29, 2013
ESPN may be worried about new competition
May 24, 2013
Layoffs not easy or taken lightly, ESPN president says
Dear Colleagues,
As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, I hope that you will take time to remember those who have given so much in service to our country. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our nation's veterans and to our ESPN colleagues who are currently serving on active or reserve duty and to their families who support them.
As we all know our business doesn't take a holiday, which means many of our colleagues will be working over the long weekend. To those of you who will be here serving sports fans, I express my deepest thanks and appreciation.
I also want to acknowledge our restructuring and the impact of that on some of our colleagues. Any decision to reduce staff is not an easy one nor is it something that we take lightly. We have taken steps to ensure affected employees are treated with respect and appreciation for the contributions they have made to this company. Through notice, severance, advice on other job opportunities in the company and continuing contact with HR, we are working to support their transition forward. We, of course, remain focused on future growth for ESPN and will continue our work with all of you to achieve that. We ask anyone with questions or concerns to please talk with your HR business partner or manager.
Thank you.
John
May 22, 2013
Welch calls for state to help laid-off ESPN workers
State Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican, sent out this letter today regarding the ESPN layoffs:
May 22, 2013
Commissioner Sharon Palmer
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Blvd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Dear Commissioner Palmer,
As you know, ESPN announced today that they will be laying-off employees in areas and job descriptions "across the board," according to spokesman Mike Soltys. I understand that the reduction will also include positions eliminated by attrition.
As one of the State Senators representing the city of Bristol, I am requesting that you immediately dispatch your Rapid Response Team to address the needs of the displaced workers as a result of the layoffs.
In addition, I would like my office to be notified of any meetings taking place between ESPN and the Department of Labor so that I can participate in helping those who will be losing their employment.
I am hopeful that we can work together to help re-locate these workers in new jobs as soon as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance for you or your office.
Sincerely,
Jason Welch
State Senator, Bristol
May 21, 2013
Mass layoffs in the works at ESPN
Some ESPN
workers are calling it Black Tuesday.
Despite
record profits, the Bristol-based company handing out layoff notices Tuesday to
an unknown number of employees in what appears to be a cost-cutting move
dictated by Walt Disney Co. executives.
It appears
that about 6 percent of ESPN’s workforce got a pink slip.
In a
companywide message sent out this morning on ESPN’s internal system, its
president, John Skipper said, “We are implementing changes across the company
to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult,
we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and
productive. “
Mike Soltys,
an ESPN vice president, said the layoffs are worldwide. The company has 7,000
employees, with more than 4,000 of them based in Bristol.
Even after
any layoffs, however, “we remain on track to reach the increase in jobs that
are called for” under the First Five agreement reached between ESPN and Gov.
Dannel Malloy, Soltys said.
That 2011 deal
included a $17.5 million loan from the state Department of Economic and
Community Development for the construction of a new 193,000-square-foot
production facility.
The company
vowed to create 200 jobs within five years in Bristol. The development package
has incentives for the company to add up to 600 more jobs over 10 years.
The company
is also on track to open its new production center next spring and to finish
work on two other projects, a new welcome center and a generator facility,
Soltys said.
Soltys said
he couldn’t discuss the number of layoffs.
The author
of a book about ESPN, Jim Miller, said on his Twitter account this afternoon
that the cutbacks will number “between 300 and 400” people, but that “includes
open jobs that won't now be filled.”
“Any
layoff/firing/buyout is rare for Bristol culture. It is not being taken
lightly. By anyone. No gain, just pain,” Miller wrote in another tweet.
ESPN is
owned by Disney, which this month reported that its second quarter profits were
up 32 percent.
Disney said
at the time that much of the profit increases was due to ESPN, which was
bringing in more revenue from affiliates and advertising that more than made up
for “increased programming and production costs.”
The company laid
off some workers at the height of the recession in 2009, but generally has
increased its workforce over the years.
May 16, 2011
Is boinking all you can do in Bristol?
Fogarty, writing for sports grid, is disappointed the book is apparently not going to have a bunch of salacious stuff.
Still, there was plenty of boinking, right?
Miller won’t comment. I say that, given the fact that ESPN is out in the middle of Bristol, Connecticut, and there isn’t much to do out there besides boink, one would think that boinking plays a prominent role in ESPN’s history (as it did when the Steve Phillips – Brooke Hundley affair came to light). Nope. That topic will not be discussed.
Now there is obviously more to do in Bristol than boink. But, you know, my old commonweath, the great state of Virginia, got a lot of tourism mileage out of its "Virginia Is For Lovers" campaign.
October 17, 2010
ESPN takes on the Bristol police... for charity
Photos taken by ESPN's John Atashian at the charity flag football game Saturday night at Muzzy Field in Bristol between ESPN's talent and the Bristol police:
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 2, 2010
Bristol 'the most boring place in the world,' actor says
His reasoning was a little shaky, but here's the Hollywood star's rationale: "That's why all those people at ESPN are having sex with each other. ... They're doing wife swaps and all sorts of craziness."
The 39-year-old Oscar-nominated star doesn't appear to have visited Bristol, apparently relying purely on its reputation. He did say, though, that he was joking.
Find out more about Wahlberg here.
Update: ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said that Wahlberg has, in fact, been in Bristol.
He headed over to ESPN's studios in the fall of 2008 to plug Max Payne.
"He did seem to really enjoy it when he visited us in 2008," Soltys said.w
Another update: In a video provided by ESPN, taken while Wahlberg walked through ESPN's campus in 2008, the actor said the place was "bigger and cooler" than he expected and that "everyone was very hospitable."
"It was awesome," Wahlberg said on the video. "It's always amazing. It's surreal just to see everything behind the scenes once you've bunch of television to actually see the studio."
He didn't look bored.
Yet another update: "I guess it depends on your definition of boring. If that's the only positive comments he can make about the community, I would venture to say he hasn't spent much time here," Mayor Art Ward said.
"Coming from someone with experience in Hollywood and tabloids," Wahlberg may not appreciate Bristol, Ward said.
The mayor said he suspects Wahlberg spent only a short time here -- but not short enough.
"I hope his exit was quicker than his entrance. And hopefully there were no impediments on Route 229 to hinder his exit," Ward said. "And let him know I'm in my office whenever he'd like to talk."
The mayor said Bristol warrants its recent designation as one of the top 100 places to live among small American cities and will someday climb to the Top 10 on its way to the top spot.
And still another update -- Keith Olbermann wants to know this: "Swapping them for WHAT?" That's on his Twitter feed.
Sport Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch adds this on his Twitter feed: "Well, this is unexpected: Actor Mark Wahlberg says people at ESPN swap wives."
*****
Update: ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said that Wahlberg has, in fact, been in Bristol.
He headed over to ESPN's studios in the fall of 2008 to plug Max Payne.
"He did seem to really enjoy it when he visited us in 2008," Soltys said.w
Another update: In a video provided by ESPN, taken while Wahlberg walked through ESPN's campus in 2008, the actor said the place was "bigger and cooler" than he expected and that "everyone was very hospitable."
"It was awesome," Wahlberg said on the video. "It's always amazing. It's surreal just to see everything behind the scenes once you've bunch of television to actually see the studio."
He didn't look bored.
Yet another update: "I guess it depends on your definition of boring. If that's the only positive comments he can make about the community, I would venture to say he hasn't spent much time here," Mayor Art Ward said.
"Coming from someone with experience in Hollywood and tabloids," Wahlberg may not appreciate Bristol, Ward said.
The mayor said he suspects Wahlberg spent only a short time here -- but not short enough.
"I hope his exit was quicker than his entrance. And hopefully there were no impediments on Route 229 to hinder his exit," Ward said. "And let him know I'm in my office whenever he'd like to talk."
The mayor said Bristol warrants its recent designation as one of the top 100 places to live among small American cities and will someday climb to the Top 10 on its way to the top spot.
And still another update -- Keith Olbermann wants to know this: "Swapping them for WHAT?" That's on his Twitter feed.
Sport Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch adds this on his Twitter feed: "Well, this is unexpected: Actor Mark Wahlberg says people at ESPN swap wives."
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 30, 2010
Jonas Brothers vs. ESPN
The Jonas Brothers, some sort of teeny bopper band, are going to play ESPN commentators soon, which is something different. Check it out on reporter Jackie Majerus' blog.
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 21, 2010
Tme to push for a sports museum in Bristol?
I know ESPN will hate the idea of creating a sports museum in Bristol, but this may be just the right time to push for it.
The powerful sports giant recently declared that it was shutting down ESPN Zone restaurants in New York City, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington and maybe some other places. All of them are stuffed full of sports junk that fans would gladly come to Bristol to ogle.
While there's no doubt that Bristol has gotten a great deal by having ESPN make it home - thousands of jobs, tons of taxes and very little danger or expense for the community.
But as a tourist destination, let's face it, ESPN is a dud. It's got some cool satellite dishes outside, but there's no way to go in and not much chance of running into Chris Berman let alone Tiger Woods.
A sports museum in Bristol would fill an obvious gap.
The best option, of course, would be to have the ESPN Sports Palace with an overflowing volume of sports stuff and some nifty 3-D cameras and screens for visitors to pretend they're on SportsCenter.
But even if ESPN doesn't want any formal connection to the place, a Bristol sports museum could still thrive just because it's in Bristol and so is ESPN. And it's possible the network might loan or give a new community museum some interesting tidbits to put on display. If not, well, maybe Mayor Art Ward can lift some cool stuff next time he's wandering around inside ESPN.
I don't know if it's possible, of course, but at the moment, ESPN has more sports-related displays than even it can do something with. Maybe there's a chance for Bristol to put it on display and pull some of the millions of ESPN fans to visit the Mum City.
ESPN has made sports and Bristol inseparable. The city should find a way to make some money out of that.
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The powerful sports giant recently declared that it was shutting down ESPN Zone restaurants in New York City, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington and maybe some other places. All of them are stuffed full of sports junk that fans would gladly come to Bristol to ogle.
While there's no doubt that Bristol has gotten a great deal by having ESPN make it home - thousands of jobs, tons of taxes and very little danger or expense for the community.
But as a tourist destination, let's face it, ESPN is a dud. It's got some cool satellite dishes outside, but there's no way to go in and not much chance of running into Chris Berman let alone Tiger Woods.
A sports museum in Bristol would fill an obvious gap.
The best option, of course, would be to have the ESPN Sports Palace with an overflowing volume of sports stuff and some nifty 3-D cameras and screens for visitors to pretend they're on SportsCenter.
But even if ESPN doesn't want any formal connection to the place, a Bristol sports museum could still thrive just because it's in Bristol and so is ESPN. And it's possible the network might loan or give a new community museum some interesting tidbits to put on display. If not, well, maybe Mayor Art Ward can lift some cool stuff next time he's wandering around inside ESPN.
I don't know if it's possible, of course, but at the moment, ESPN has more sports-related displays than even it can do something with. Maybe there's a chance for Bristol to put it on display and pull some of the millions of ESPN fans to visit the Mum City.
ESPN has made sports and Bristol inseparable. The city should find a way to make some money out of that.
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
New Yorker takes note of ESPN's new network
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 23, 2009
Bristol in "the middle of nowhere"
Be sure to catch the comment at the end of this New York Post story.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 21, 2009
ESPN analyst caught in affair with Bristol woman
This makes for some sordid reading, courtesy of the New York Post.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 1, 2009
Proceed with caution, Lawton warns
Press release from independent mayoral contender Gary Lawton:
Kudos to ESPN, Proceed With Caution on Downtown, The Budget
It is great how ESPN has stepped up to help build the new Boys & Girls club. It shows the role ESPN has to the community. This city has such a powerful sports history that it only seems a natural fit for ESPN to be part of the build for the new center, a center that will not only benefit the city's youth through sports but so many other ways also, so kudos go out to ESPN.
I would also need to say that while it is a wondrous event to see some progress on the center mall site.. From first glance the renaissance group seems to see what we want, but I must also urge caution from just jumping in feet first. I realize we all need to see downtown move forward, but if we rush headlong into it and not hold a level head about us we could end up with something that will not help us and then were would we be. Slow patient steps lets do it right the first, time cause there may not be a second.
The last point I would need to address is the budget and expected shortfall. Only, through sound economic policies and concessions from all sides and difficult decisions, will we continue to were we need to be. I have already stated my intentions to return 35% of my salary if elected while perhaps a minor matter in the nature of a possible 8-10 million dollar deficit it is a start, and we have to start some were plus, I think it shows my desire to help try and be part of the result. One other issue is I will not assume any raises unless the citizens of Bristol vote on it. They are the employer, and they should be the ones to give me a raise if they think I am doing an good job. I also of course would not want to be reelected if they felt I was not doing the same good job. I would want to see unpaid furlough days set in a position to help the city, possibly shutting down city hall one day a month if possible. I would also want to see if we could combine some departments to try and get rid of some of the duplication that is amongst departments. I also feel pay scales should be looked at to see if the are in line with what other cities pay. In short everything would be up for review to make sure the citizens of Bristol are getting the best deal for their tax dollars. I think if every year we have to give them a bill to pay, the budget, and they pay that bill with their taxes, then they should be entitled to the best - possible deal we can give them. I hope we can all work together for the whole of Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Kudos to ESPN, Proceed With Caution on Downtown, The Budget
It is great how ESPN has stepped up to help build the new Boys & Girls club. It shows the role ESPN has to the community. This city has such a powerful sports history that it only seems a natural fit for ESPN to be part of the build for the new center, a center that will not only benefit the city's youth through sports but so many other ways also, so kudos go out to ESPN.
I would also need to say that while it is a wondrous event to see some progress on the center mall site.. From first glance the renaissance group seems to see what we want, but I must also urge caution from just jumping in feet first. I realize we all need to see downtown move forward, but if we rush headlong into it and not hold a level head about us we could end up with something that will not help us and then were would we be. Slow patient steps lets do it right the first, time cause there may not be a second.
The last point I would need to address is the budget and expected shortfall. Only, through sound economic policies and concessions from all sides and difficult decisions, will we continue to were we need to be. I have already stated my intentions to return 35% of my salary if elected while perhaps a minor matter in the nature of a possible 8-10 million dollar deficit it is a start, and we have to start some were plus, I think it shows my desire to help try and be part of the result. One other issue is I will not assume any raises unless the citizens of Bristol vote on it. They are the employer, and they should be the ones to give me a raise if they think I am doing an good job. I also of course would not want to be reelected if they felt I was not doing the same good job. I would want to see unpaid furlough days set in a position to help the city, possibly shutting down city hall one day a month if possible. I would also want to see if we could combine some departments to try and get rid of some of the duplication that is amongst departments. I also feel pay scales should be looked at to see if the are in line with what other cities pay. In short everything would be up for review to make sure the citizens of Bristol are getting the best deal for their tax dollars. I think if every year we have to give them a bill to pay, the budget, and they pay that bill with their taxes, then they should be entitled to the best - possible deal we can give them. I hope we can all work together for the whole of Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 28, 2009
World's fastest man races in Bristol
Usain Bolt is at ESPN. Follow the news on Twitter here.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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