A few things that happened in the last week or so have made me re-think this whole ESPN being a sports leader thing.

ESPN is obviously the biggest sports network, and the kind of reach they have, it is just mind-boggling how much impact they can have on ‘normal’ minds. They have ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNNews, ESPN Classic, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio, ESPNZone, and of course ESPN.com.

SportsCenter is an iconic sports news show - players are looking to get into the highlights and Top 10 plays, etc.

Considering how much influence they have, some comments made by some coaches raise a question - should ESPN be scrutinized for what they are doing as almost a monopoly in the Sports News industry?

1. Kansas coach, after the close loss to Texas game referred to a late offensive pass interference as a ploy to get Texas into the BCS running. A loss there would have certainly ended Texas' run for the at-large BCS spot.
2. Ohio State athletic director is saying the ESPN has an agenda which they are trying to pursue with Maurice Clarrett’s allegations about the wrongdoings of the powers-that-be at Ohio State.
3. Bob Stoops, head coach of Oklahoma stopped short of saying that ESPN is trying to pitch Auburn as the #2 because ESPN has a contract with the SEC conference.

All this is kind of unnerving to me. I am not that easily influenced by mass media, but continuous pounding of the same thought across various media outlets can get to anyone. Brainwashing and propaganda is beginning to take the fun out of watching sports today :-(