ESPN, like so many institutions, started off with the right idea.

Unions wanted to protect workers...now they protect their bureacracy.

The PGA of America wanted to promote golf professionals at the club level...now they promote the PGA of America.

ESPN used to be the place we went to watch any and all things sports related...now they try to define what sports should be to us.

Watching sports used to be the core of everything primal about man's nature.

The battle. The strategy. The lucky bounces. The bad officiating. The memorable play calls from broadcasters.

That was the entertainment.

Now it's like MTV for sports.

Endless commentary...sports news that focuses on the delivery vs the video. "Experts" who say outlandish and ridiculous crap to promote their own image vs lending real insight into the action. ESPN is trying to be THE entertainment, rather than letting the sport/action be THE entertainment.

As will all things that grow fat with their success...a lack of vision can quickly send them packing.

Please, ESPN, find your way back to your roots, if that is at all possible.

Oh, and thanks to tanavin and Sam Bryant for helping me define ESPN's current state!