Why I hate ESPN

I am a rugby fan. A HUGE rugby fan. Yesterday was a World Cup qualifying match between Canada and the USA. Kickoff at 4pm Eastern. I was out for the afternoon so set the TiVo.

Okay, the game started kind of crap. 30 minutes before anyone scored, and then it was drop goals and penalties. 6-6 at the half. For those of you who don't know rugby, this is like watching the first half of a football game and all you get is 2 field goals each. Okay, it's nothing like watching the first half of a football game because it's interesting and there's action rather than a series of set piece battles, but you get the picture.

Funny I should compare to football though...

About 5 minutes before the half I see a horrifying-to-TiVo announcement: that the second half of the game will be on ESPN2. I'm going to miss it. My own damn fault for not staying home. Screw ESPN for booking half the game on one network and the other half on another network.

But wait, that wasn't it.

I notice that the zipper is starting to show that Steve McNair was shot. A tragedy, and we feel for his family, just like we do for every murder victim in America every day, right? As it turns out, no. ESPN has decided to pre-empt the second half of a live sporting event to show highlights of Steve McNair's career, studio commentary, and a talking head at the crime scene. That is, nothing they couldn't have waited an hour to show.

I hate ESPN.