Enough is enough with sports media and their 'East Coast Bias"

Last night, I was flipping through the channels on my TV, and I came across some college basketball on ESPN - the "so-called" king of sports media. 

After watching some of the Duke/NC State game on Tuesday -- on ESPN -- I shrugged off my urge to watch the North Carolina/Clemson game last night. 

As an avid sports fan living in the heart of the west coast, I am tired of the east coast bias that ESPN -- and most major sports mediums -- surround themselves with and entail.

The examples are there. In every popular sport across this country, franchises and teams located on the eastern side of the US get more media attention than any other region by far, exlcuding maybe USC and the Dallas Cowboys. 

It seems to me that every night during the college basketball season, either UNC or Duke is playing on ESPN. Granted, I know that these are two of the premier teams and traditions in college basketball history.

But let me point something out.

UCLA may be the #1 basketball program of all time, and they are constantly in the top 10 in the rankings, including three straight Final Four bids. They will have three of their remaining games nationally televised.  Arizona State, also in the Pac-10, is a proven good squad now, thanks to the past few years. Currently ranked 17th in the nation -- and fresh off a victory at UCLA -- the Sun Devils are not perceived as a top program. And I don't believe it will ever happen for certain reasons. 

Maybe this will do the explaining. 

Notice something?  That's right. For the remainder of the season, they will have one game nationally broadcasted -- on ESPN. It's against UCLA. Outside the fans in the Pac-10, I am not sure many people even know ASU is ranked! In comparison, here is the rest of the schedule for UNC:

Yes. You are reading that correctly. That is 10 of their final 11 games will be nationally televised on a major network. And Duke's remaining games:

Oh. What a shame. Duke only has 9 of their final games nationally televised. 

College basketball is just one example of how the west coast gets the back seat in natinal attention. I mean, it makes sense when you know ESPN is centered in Bristol, CT. The New York market is less than an hour away, and it is easy to get caught up in what is around you. These TV stats reflect our current situation -- with conferences having TV deals for their games. Hopefully, the Pac-10 can get a better media deal in place in a few years. But, for now, I guess it sucks to be a west coast fan. 

Bear with me now as I flip on ESPN and catch the West Virginia/Georgetown game...nothing else is on.

Another take on Mark Sanchez's early departure...

Although much of the USC fan base is still deeply disappointed and disheartened after Mark Sanchez declared for the NFL Draft just a week ago, I look at another take on the decision. 

While it has quickly become tradition for the USC quarterback to stay on campus through his senior season, Mark Sanchez made the RIGHT decision in leaving. You can argue it all you want; the facts are there and I believe he made the best decision for HIMSELF.

The most interesting facet about Sanchez's case is that he was only "The Man" for a year. For a person who lied in the wings of prior stars (like Leinart and Booty) for three years, it would be easy to stay for a second year. 

Last week, Sanchez made the harder decision. He did what Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow couldn't do: give up an amazing senior year as the top dog  on one of the best college football programs of all time, forgo receiving more individual accolades, withdrawing having the opportunity to play for a national championship,  and letting go one more year of college life to go to the NFL, where he will start all over as a lowly rookie. 

With those three aforementioned stars staying in school, it was probably very smart for Sanchez to declare NOW. Coming off the performance he had at the Rose Bowl has him almost as high as he could possibly go, and with the lack of "great" QB talent in the draft, it will be a two man race (against Matthew Stafford of Georgia) to decide who is the 1st QB taken, and likely the #1 pick overall, to the Detroit Lions. 

A number of mock drafts have Sanchez actually going in that number 1 spot, including Scout.com:

Even if he doesn't become the first player taken, it is very likely he would be in the Top 10. Financially, being the Number 1 pick would mean a $70 million contract, with at least #30 million guaranteed. A 10th pick for Sanchez would likely mean at least a $40 million contract with $20 million in guaranteed money. Although that comes out to being a large difference, when you get $40 million, you are definitely well off. Don't forget...If Stafford goes #1, there is a very large chance of Sanchez going #3 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Aside from the financial decisions, Mark Sanchez will be finishing up school this semester and obtaining his college degree in Communications -- something that heavily weighed on his decision-making. Now he can have his cake and eat it too. 

The decision has been made. Mark Sanchez is going to the NFL. Apologies to Pete Carroll, but Mark Sanchez is ready for the NFL, and the NFL is ready for Mark Sanchez. We will find out April 25 if his decision PAID off... 

In the mean time, we need to embrace our next star quarterback, whether it be Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain, Matt Barkely, or Garrett Green...

Welcome "blog-o-sphere-ans"

Let's take a moment of silence as I have begun another journey into the world of blogging. 

As a student manager for USC Football, I encountered my first opportunity to tap into the blogging hype, with this unique perspective on the team. Take a look: 

http://uscjimokes.blogspot.com/

The Jimokes blog allowed me to share with you my experience with USC Football throughout the 2008-09 season. However, it forced me to stay on the objective side while writing. 

This new blog will reflect my feelings across all areas and levels of the sports world, sometimes leading towards a bias that includes the USC Trojans and Minnesota Vikings.