The next region's matchups will begin most probably late Tuesday/early Wednesday. But first, here's my take on the Stuart Scott Region:
BARRY BONDS vs. DAVID BECKHAM: I guess how you vote in this matchup depends on which voting criterion for "Who's Not" is more annoying to you. In terms of undeserving hype, David Beckham has it by a mile. The thing going against him, in my opinion, is that I think that Beckham will be a fad. ESPN will push him into the trash pile in the next few weeks, and he will never be heard from again. On the other hand, Barry Bonds is the definition of ESPN Overkill. Sure, he's great. And sure, he's going for the home run record. And sure, there are the accusations. But ESPN, in my opinion, has turned it into something you can't avoid, even if you want to. And "Bonds on Bonds" was one ESPN's biggest steps down the road to ruin of hype, celebrity and publicity over journalistic integrity. There needs to be a line between athletes and the people who report on him, and ESPN just blurred the hell out of it on this guy. MY VOTE: Bonds
LeBRON JAMES vs. MICHELLE WIE: LeBron hosting the ESPYs and "The Lebrons" SportsCenter further blurred the line that "Bonds on Bonds" illustrated in my previous comments. But at least he's done something. I don't understand why ESPN thinks I'm this obsessed with how Michelle Wie does in men's tournaments. Call me back when she actually has a chance to win something. Which, according to what I see right now, may be--NEVER. And there's something a little sleazy about the fact that she's often portrayed as sexy. Let's save that discussion for until she's legal. MY VOTE: Wie
MICHAEL VICK vs. DANICA PATRICK: I am probably more conflicted about this one than I am about any other first-round matchup. I think "Ookie" is overrated, and it's about time that somebody at ESPN had the balls to call him out on his passing inconsistency. And now his dog-fighting charges (and I stress the word charges) has taken ESPN news coverage hostage in recent weeks. But at least he has done something in his career worthy of recognition. ESPN has hyped the crap out of Danica for three years now, and she has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in that long time on the racetrack to justify ESPN's obsession with this woman. You'll notice that there's a constant theme for the three women ESPN shoves down our throats: they're all sold on their sex appeal, while "less attractive" women are who are much, much more talented than them (or men, in Danica's case) get no recognition. Nope, no sexism there. MY VOTE: Patrick
PEYTON MANNING vs. MARK CUBAN: Okay, Peyton. Take it easy on the commercials. But I love the fact that he and the Colts defied ESPN's expectations and won a championship. It's funny watching the labels ESPN and all the other Peyton critics placed on him disappear after the Super Bowl. It's pathetic to see ESPN change its Peyton stance to "he'll never win it all" to "how many will he win" almost overnight. But I'm so damn sick and tired of seeing Mark Cuban hogging the spotlight. I don't want to see him in the stands during the game; I want to watch the damn game. Cuban is the personification of a lot of things I hate about ESPN and its new "Entertainment Tonight" style of coverage: just because a celebrity sports figure says something or holds a press conference, there is no obligation on your part to indulge them. If they don't have anything new or interesting to say, then guess what? WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT! Thanks, ESPN, for giving the sports world its very own version of Donald Trump. We were really begging for that one. MY VOTE: Cuban
