Fansided

5 dumbest sports controversies of 2015

By Stu White

Oct 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts fans hold up signs referring to Deflategate during a game against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts fans hold up signs referring to Deflategate during a game against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Nov 22, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovacs battling during the ESL Intel Extreme Masters Counter-Strike Global Offensive Tournament at SAP Center. Natus Vincere beat Team Liquid to advance to the finals. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovacs battling during the ESL Intel Extreme Masters Counter-Strike Global Offensive Tournament at SAP Center. Natus Vincere beat Team Liquid to advance to the finals. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

4. “Get those eSports off my TV!”

If there’s one thing sports fans love more than anything in the world — more than a game-winning shot, more than a championship season, more than their own children — it’s delineating what does and does not qualify as a sport. Everyone uses a different calculus, and everyone get really testy when someone dares to use a different, perhaps more-inclusive calculus. ’Tis one of the stupidest parts of sports fandom.

So it wasn’t surprising that people freaked the hell out when, back in April, ESPN2 aired a live video game tournament. The ESPN family of networks can air endless Coors-sponsored segments in which barely literate meatheads jabber about how today’s athletes are coddled, but how dare they tarnish their reputation by airing something such as eSports. Changing the channel until more traditional sports come back on? SO NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE I AM TOO ANGRY AND CONFUSED TO WORK A REMOTE.

Considering how eSports are booming in popularity, and considering how most of ESPN and ESPN2’s daily content is barely watchable, airing some competitive video gaming seems like both a) a sound financial experiment and b) a breath of fresh air. But as long as aggressively myopic sports fans exist — so, uh, as long as sports fans exist — people will push back against anything resembling change.

Oh, and acting as if that by airing eSports ESPN somehow betrayed the sanctity of the word “sports” is ahistorical when you take into account some of the network’s past (and even current) programming : X-Games, Scripps National Spelling Bee, World’s Strongest Man competitions, etc. But hey, never let facts get in the way of good ol’ righteous indignation!

Next: 3. Connor Cook is rude