ESPN apologizes for Tee Higgins draft profile

[Sherlock Holmes]

1 hour ago, stevewin said:

They should apologize to the fans too for the relentless tragedy porn throughout their coverage

 

59 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

I cried more during the draft than I ever have watching "Beaches."

 

43 minutes ago, BUFFALOTONE said:

Agreed, holy cow was it an incredibly depressing broadcast. Aside from the Broadcasted tragedies some of these kids had to go through to the non-stop ads about Covid-19. I hope it’s safe to say as Americans and humans we all appreciate what the front lines folks are doing. But to have the non stop doom and gloom sandwiched between every pick was ridiculous. 

After my 4th beer and no 1st round pick I was all like

 

[TroutDog]

From my understanding, they’re trying to concentrate on the athletic portion of the individual but also personify them. Seems reasonable to me. In addition, he has talked about it multiple times to sports media. 

[TheFunPolice]

To me, they wanted to really emphasize the overcoming tough circumstances" angle in light of what the world is currently going through. 

 

I get it, but it did get a bit much at times

[BurpleBull]

Yeah, that's strange.

[thronethinker]

Way to go ESPN, one of the most important days in a persons life and your network tries to sensationalize it by posting medical information of a players mother. Drug addiction is a medical condition and by posting that information you have violated a persons personal medical history. 

[TroutDog]

1 minute ago, thronethinker said:

Way to go ESPN, one of the most important days in a persons life and your network tries to sensationalize it by posting medical information of a players mother. Drug addiction is a medical condition and by posting that information you have violated a persons personal medical history. 

He said he was fine with it and has talked about it many times. 

[thronethinker]

Just now, TroutDog said:

He said he was fine with it and has talked about it many times. 

Indeed he did, and that speaks to his character. Did anyone ask his mother what she thought? It was her information they violated, not his. 

[TroutDog]

1 minute ago, thronethinker said:

Indeed he did, and that speaks to his character. Did anyone ask his mother what she thought? It was her information they violated, not his. 

I’d venture to say that he knows what she’s comfortable with: she is his Mom. He has talked about it at every turn. 

[thronethinker]

2 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

I’d venture to say that he knows what she’s comfortable with: she is his Mom. He has talked about it at every turn. 

I understand you view on it and don't necessarily disagree, but my thought is focus on the players overcoming of medical conditions. As it stands, by saying a person has drug addiction history presents a opportunity for social stigma. He overcame the obstacles, yes and that probably made  him a better person, but saying his mother struggled paints her in a negative light while trying to promote him in a positive light. She may be the best person ever, did many great things, and had a crutch that many others suffer from too. Struggling with addiction doesn’t mean you are a bad person till you get over it, it just means you have a problem and in many cases you adapt to get through life with it. Hopefully one day you get through it as a better person, but that doesn't make you a bad person in between. It is still up to the individual to make that story. Either way it is personal medical information and shouldn’t be shared 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

4 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

I’d venture to say that he knows what she’s comfortable with: she is his Mom. He has talked about it at every turn. 

How the media covers news in 2020 also factors into the equation. In the old days, they might have alluded to Higgins' mother overcoming personal challenges.  In the TMZ era, we're lucky we didn't get Dr. Drew announcing the lady will be on next season's revival of 'Celebrity Rehab'.

[Mark Vader]

2 hours ago, Tenhigh said:

They were following the American Idol blueprint.  

A friend of mine lamented how after watching Day 1, as to why was the Draft so depressing? It was like watching the Grammys all over again.

[Manther]

3 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

I cried more during the draft than I ever have watching "Beaches."

Not possible, Beaches is an epic tear jerker,.  Just an fyi for a friend.

[The Frankish Reich]

Don't you guys know the NFL Draft is part of a larger reality show called "Overcoming Adversity?"  How about that kid who had to walk over dead bodies on his way to school?

[KD in CA]

9 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Don't you guys know the NFL Draft is part of a larger reality show called "Overcoming Adversity?"  How about that kid who had to walk over dead bodies on his way to school?

 

Next year I hope they can appropriately label the draftees as "coronavirus survivors".

[Figster]

3 hours ago, Tenhigh said:

They were following the American Idol blueprint.  

Speaking of American Idol,  impressive top 20 and the sing at home for votes Sunday night was spectacular IMO. One of the singers reminds me of John Fogerty. Puts a smile on my face every time he sings.

 

Big fan of American Idol. The NFL may want to a close look at how well a performance that normally includes a live audience in attendance can be pulled off IMO.

 

Well done American Idol... 

 

My apologies for straying off topic OP.

 

Folks have probably heard enough about Higgins from Figgy...

Edited April 27, 2020 by Figster

[Real McClappy]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

I have honestly never seen that movie.

5 bucks you cry?

[Gugny]

7 minutes ago, Real McNasty said:

5 bucks you cry?

 

That would be an easy $5 for you.  I've cried at more than one TV commercial.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by Gugny

[NickelCity]

The coverage of the entire draft was grotesque. I'm fed up with this approach to entertainment. 

[RiotAct]

that dude who had to step over dead bodies on a daily basis to get to school is going to KILL IT in the pros.

[Rochesterfan]

2 hours ago, thronethinker said:

I understand you view on it and don't necessarily disagree, but my thought is focus on the players overcoming of medical conditions. As it stands, by saying a person has drug addiction history presents a opportunity for social stigma. He overcame the obstacles, yes and that probably made  him a better person, but saying his mother struggled paints her in a negative light while trying to promote him in a positive light. She may be the best person ever, did many great things, and had a crutch that many others suffer from too. Struggling with addiction doesn’t mean you are a bad person till you get over it, it just means you have a problem and in many cases you adapt to get through life with it. Hopefully one day you get through it as a better person, but that doesn't make you a bad person in between. It is still up to the individual to make that story. Either way it is personal medical information and shouldn’t be shared 

 

It stopped being private medical information when he Tee Higgins talked about it openly.  He has on multiple occasions talked about living with his aunt because of the drug abuse, about her being shot 2x by a boyfriend, and about how proud and strong she is to overcome it.

 

ESPN did not say anything that was already not talked about and reported on multiple times from the combine, to the college interviews, to pro day interviews.  
 

It is a part of what makes him - who he is and he accepts that and promotes it as part of his character.

 

ESPN did not need to make it part of the graphic, but the discussion is important and should be discussed.