“I know writers who use subtext, and they’re all cowards, every one of them,” is an infamously memed quote from fictional horror author Garth Marenghi.
Perhaps Marenghi is moonlighting as the guy who hits the button at ESPN to transition from one show feed to the next, because you couldn’t possibly have created a more apt metaphor if you tried during the shift from First Take to The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.
Bill Rasmussen, the entrepreneur who conceived the 24-hour cable sports network ESPN, died on Tuesday at age 93. It’s not hyperbole to say that he had an enormous role in changing the way America consumes sports, and the network he and his son concocted while stuck in traffic traveling to the Jersey Shore is now not only a global brand but is on the precipice of airing its first Super Bowl, something wholly unthinkable when it started in 1979.
Naturally, ESPN paid tribute to its founder on Tuesday, with statements from executives such as chairman Jimmy Pitaro and mentions of his influence throughout its programming. That includes First Take, which dedicated its closing moments to a discussion of Rasmussen and his impact on the people at the table and those watching at home. After Evan Cohen, Jason McCourty, and Chris Canty offered their reflections on what he meant, and the show entered its final moments, a graphic featuring Bill Rasmussen appeared. Then, host Courtney Cronin began offering some final words about his legacy, but they were abruptly cut off by Pat McAfee yelling the intro to his show.
Given the perception by many that McAfee has become not only the face of ESPN but that the company has reshaped itselfaround his image and antics (all while laying off reporters and longtime staffers), the metaphor couldn’t have been more in your face.
Now, obviously, this wasn’t purposeful. Someone probably jumped the gun, either because they didn’t expect Cronin to start talking or the McAfee feed just kicked in a little sooner than expected. In fact, we’ve seen something like this happen before, such as when Gary Danielson’s CBS goodbye cut to commercials before he was done. It’s not a good look, but it’s not intentional.
No one should go yelling at ESPN that they purposefully besmirched the good name of their founder by booting him so Pat McAfee could start promoting his new album or defending his friendship with Donald Trump or whatever he’s yelling about today.
But, you know, all the same, it was pretty on the nose.
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