The ESPN show Playmakers is great! You want to know something? Sex sells. It does not matter if it is homosexual or not. As a matter of fact, homosexuality sells a lot more then heterosexuality these days. I think we have seen this in recent history, from "Ellen" to "Queer Eye for a Strait Guy." Hey Paul Tagliabue (and the rest of the NFL) this is entertainment! Take a chill.
Say this with me: This show isn't based on reality. This show isn't based on reality. I am a bit surprised that the NFL is reacting like this. Are dramas about the police always drawn in a good light? If ESPN pulls the plug on a second season on Playmakers it will be because of the NFL. And if the NFL pushes for that, I think some people need to grow up and distinguish the drama from the reality.
Here is a quote from Paul Tagliabue, "a gross characterization of our sport."
Excuse me? Do you want to talk about character? How about Rae Carruth being convicted of murder? Now that is character, or, well, lack thereof.
I thought this was a drama, Playmakers is a Soap Opera for men (imagine that). So, a more accurate statement would be "a gross dramatization of our sport." That might be true, truer than one might expect. But this is TV, and like Hollywood, there are exaggerations.
Lets start with the gay player, Thad, who happens to be the best player on the team. Throughout the previous episodes all the other players profess that Thad is the center to the team. But he's gay.
There are some other situations that are addressed in this show. How about Demitrius Harris? He is a drug addict. He lies to the cops about a murder. How about Leon Taylor? He beats his wife! And the quarterback is a womanizer, he has the trainer take care of his girlfriend's abortion.
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Article comments
1 - Alex
Given the close relationship between ESPN and the NFL, I'm surprised this show ever made it close to air. Was the NFL asleep as the hundreds of promos that let us know Playmakers would be a nonstop parade of the worst aspects of professional sports, all compacted into one football season?
Given that sports media (and ESPN in particular) is based primarily on kissing ass and not rocking the boat, I would not be surprised to see ESPN completely buckle here. Hell, they buckled on Limbaugh and Easterbrook (even before any sort of protest with TMQ) and they stood to lose nothing there. With ABC/ESPN currently carrying the (I'm assuming) very lucrative Monday & Sunday night NFL games, Tagliabue potentially has a mighty large stick at his disposal. Does anyone know how long the current contract is between the NFL & ABC?
2 - TDavid
This show has gotten a lot of buzz, I'm going to have to catch it if it comes out on DVD, if not TiVoing it sooner.
Is it just me or has TV content gotten better the last couple years? There was a period of time when I didn't watch TV at all, but I'm starting to come back now for a couple shows (mostly on Fox).
3 - Alex
I think it's you. I can't believe people watch most of the stuff on broadcast TV. I still end up watching too much TV in general, but it's all news, sports and adult themed cartoons (Simpsons, South Park, etc.). The only weekly shows I've been hooked into are a couple of the HBO series (Sopranos, Carnivale).