When Sports Commentary Goes Too Far...

Sports commentary has become one of the most popular concepts in today's world. Whether it be on television, radio or online everybody has there opinion and wants to share it to a huge audience. The question is when does sports commentary go too far? When does is become obscene and at what point is it just for ratings?

ESPN is the worldwide leader in sports commentary. Shows such as Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption (PTI) have gained a phenomenal following. These shows are described by ESPN to "featur[e] passionate opinions on the day's hot-button issues." They battle everyday about wins and loss as well as off the field incidents. But when it comes to personal issues that many may consider unrelated to the sport sometimes these journalists go too far. One such example is the sudden passing of Washington Redskin and former University of Miami Hurricane Sean Taylor.

This was obviously the story of the day, both on the front and back pages of the paper. But the way that the personalities of ESPN's PTI handled this tragic story was horrendous. Before word of his passing came the two both stated that the worst part of it all was that they were "not surprised." Although athletes may have their dark pasts when an athlete is in a time of need and their family deserves support what right to journalists have to judge and individual in their final days. If Taylor was not an athlete and simply an "average Joe" would it be acceptable for a news commentary organization to say something of that sort.

There is a thin line that journalist walk. In this case it simply went too far.