Robert Lipsyte goes on the clock as ESPN’s new ombudsman on Saturday. In an interview with Richard Deitsch at SI.com, he said he intends to post his first column in mid-June.
As always, the former New York Times sports columnist was candid. It sounds as if prior to getting this assignment, he didn’t exactly park himself in front of his TV watching ESPN.
SI.com: How would you characterize your consumption of ESPN platforms?
Lipsyte: I go to more opera.
SI.com: So does that mean you have to get more up to speed on their various platforms?
Lipsyte: Well, some things more than others. Ever since I wrote a blog for what does not seem to exist at ESPN anymore — Page 2 — I’ve had a regular history at that place. I’ll check SportsCenter and if I remember what time it is on, I might even look at First Take. I get the magazine. Certainly, I am a big fan of 30 of 30. I like the show OTL [Outside The Lines] and E:60. I think I am a casual consumer of ESPN. What has been interesting to me is since the announcement, all kind of friends and acquaintances have said to me they watch ESPN all the time and have interesting ideas.
There is little doubt that Lipsyte will be provocative in his new role. However, the big question is that at age 75, will he be tuned in to programming that is skewed to a much younger demographic? At the very least, he says he won’t be going in with “an agenda.”
I thought this was an important exchange.
SI.com: You have been a critic of jock culture throughout your professional career. Do you consider ESPN to be emblematic of a jock culture on air?
Lipsyte: You bet.
SI.com: How so?
Lipsyte: I think that very often — and particularly in SportsCenter — there is that kind of sense of being of the sport and of the sports world. I am also aware what the E in ESPN stands for. I am really more concerned, if I am being critical, of what would be seen as journalistic lapses than entertainment bad taste. I think one of the things here is to tease out the difference between what would be seen as entertainment and what would be seen as journalism. I suspect that’s not so easy and not so easy for ESPN. I think that is something they are very much aware of and why they put ombudsman in place.
Indeed, it is. Looking forward to Lipsyte’s first report.
I used to be a regular watcher of ESPN, but now I hardly ever watch it because there is very little NHL coverage, especially on their talk shows. Yeah, you might hear a story on “Around the Horn” or “Pardon the Interruption”, but that’s about it. The lack of NHL coverage is simply criminal. Sorry, but ESPN has gone from a great network to one who is in decline and has seen better days.