Money quote:
ESPN is largely to blame for the increasing “we are the show” approach. In its early days, ESPN was an upstart institution, so watching its anchors crack jokes and kid around during highlight reels was part of the fun of being an ESPN devotee. It was a way of rebelling against the previous bout of ossification and cockiness within network sports divisions. Here was a channel that didn’t parcel out sporting events stingily and treat them like fine dining, but rather set out a sprawling sports buffet, while taking an appropriately irreverent attitude toward the slop overflowing their trough.
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