BARACK OBAMA - ESPN YANKS PLANNED INTERVIEW WITH OBAMA

ESPN YANKS PLANNED INTERVIEW WITH OBAMA

Saying that ESPN "fans don't expect political coverage on our outlets," a spokesman for the Disney-owned cable sports network has acknowledged that it has canceled a planned podcast interview with Barack Obama and columnist Bill Simmons. (The network had once hired political commentator Rush Limbaugh to provide color commentary on its football telecasts but fired him after one appearance for alleged racist remarks.) The New York Daily News reported that the interview had been yanked at the last minute and was the second time an interview with the Democratic front-runner, an inveterate basketball fan who sometimes plays pick-up basketball in his neighborhood (and on the morning TV talk shows), had been spiked. However, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said later that the network would reevaluate its position "when they're down to the final candidates." The network's decision inspired hundreds of blog posts on various sports-related Internet sites. One wag suggested that if Obama becomes the Democratic candidate, ESPN could interview him about basketball and John McCain about shuffleboard.

17/04/2008