Ohio State Buckeyes: Mark May's Big Time Bias
Posted October 14th, 2007 by George Thomas
If anyone can point out anytime when Mark May of ESPN's college football coverage has ever given the Ohio State Buckeyes their due, will you please post a link in the comments section?
I sit here at almost 8 a.m. this morning watching reruns of yesterday's college football coverage and May, a Pitt (thanks Larry D., maybe I thought it was USC because his nose is always up their … oh… nevermind) alum, give his Top Five. He placed the University of South Florida at No. 1 in front of the Buckeyes. Of course, that's his choice.
I try not to be a homer. In the interest of full disclosure, I went to OSU for a couple of years. But once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye. However, I have been able to see their athletic teams in a realistic light since I was a teen.
May gave USF the benefit of a doubt based on their upset of West Virginia and a victory over Auburn. The Buckeyes only victory against a ranked opponent came last week against Purdue. But I recall May having his doubts during the regular season last year and I also remember him piling on during the Bucks' miraculous championship run in 2002.
Watching May I often get the impression that if he could spew venom in OSU's direction without regard to ESPN directors, he would.
So tell me? Am I imagining this?
October 14th, 2007 at 8:30 am
[...] Original post by George Thomas [...]
October 14th, 2007 at 8:49 am
This sweetie wanted to wish the Ohio State Buckeyes good luck in their game this weekend against Minnesota. We, too, wish OSU good luck, if for no other reason than to keep from pissing Katie off. Go Bucks!!
http://www.maximonline.com/girls_of_maxim/photoblog/?src=pd
October 14th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I am a South Florida alum but lifelong Buckeyes fan, too. May (who actually went to Pitt I think) is right as far as South Florida beating more good teams than the Buckeyes have. South Florida is also in a major BCS conference that is arguably stronger than this year's version of the Big Ten.
Just a week or so ago I was reading on this blog how the Buckeyes hadn't beaten anybody yet and might be overrated. Nothing has changed in that regard, so I don't see why rating USF ahead of OSU would be viewed as off base or biased.
As much as I love to follow the Buckeyes, the Gators sure proved May right last season if he said they were overrated.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I forgot: Who's Katie, George? I like her style.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I like Katie's style too, Larry. The link may still end up being pulled. LOL…
October 14th, 2007 at 9:31 am
As for your argument regarding the Big East being a better conference this year, Larry, you might be right, but I think you're off base on this one.
Nine of 11 Big Ten teams have winning records; it's six of eight in the Big East, but when I look at whether Big Ten schools would fall to the likes of Cincinnati (ummm nope), Connecticut (nope), West Virginny (possibly), Rutgers (newp), Louisville (OVER rated) and USF is the class of that conference.
The Big East will have to show a lot more as a conference before I'm willing to elevate them above the Big Ten or any of the other five major conferences.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
The teams are one and two right now so hopefully we'll find out who's better in a national championship game.
I don't think South Florida has the talent Ohio State has, or is a better team. But its not ludicrous to point out that they've beaten Auburn in a road night game and West Virginia at home, while the Buckeyes have been picking on MAC teams so far.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
[...] George Thomas wrote a fantastic post today on "Ohio State Buckeyes: Mark May’s Big Time Bias"Here's ONLY a quick extractIf anyone can point out anytime when Mark May of ESPN’s college football coverage has ever given the Ohio State Buckeyes their due, will you please post a link in the comments section? I sit here at almost 8 am this morning watching … [...]
October 16th, 2007 at 1:42 am
Mark May is biased against Ohio State? Dude (I hope I'm allowed to refer to you as "dude"), they've got a guy on there that both lives and works in Columbus when he doesn't have to take an occasional flight to do his ESPN gig. So what's Herbstreit, a Boston College whore?
May's no more biased than anybody else on ESPN. Besides, the guy was paid … uh, I mean played for Jackie Sherrill, one of the all-time collegiate scoundrels. Sitting next to that corrupt crinkled raisin Lou Holtz, May is in his comfort zone.
If you're looking for bias against Ohio State from Mark May, then I think you've had one too many Shirley Temples. You asked if you are imagining it. Yes, you are.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
First, it was Mark May's imaginary bias against Ohio State. Now, within the span of less than 12 hours, I just finished reading about Chip Carey's imaginary bias in favor of the Yankees.
Seriously, in light of the above, it might be time to take a writer's vacation. Or, as the Europeans call it, a holiday. Discovering vigorous anti-hometeam bias where it simply doesn't exist is a symptom of an exhausted sportswriter's mind.
George, the Beacon Journal is running you ragged. I know it, you know it, your friends know it, your family knows it. I'm no travel agent, but Vermont is incredibly beautiful at this time of the year. Take a week alone just for yourself, a nagging wife and uncontrollable kids just adds mounds of stress. And don't worry, the innkeeper isn't biased against the Browns.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Awww Alan, snarky again are you?
Go back and listen to Chip Caray's rah-rah cheerleading of the New York Yankees, if you can. I doubt that it's available online.
I don't care of national announcers have interests in specific teams, but at least be balanced about it when you're at work. I sport team gear when I'm not working, primarily because I own so damned much of it, but you will never be able to call in to question my credibility when talking about what I cover.
As for Mark May, he's been on the Buckeyes since 2002 when they won the national championship. That isn't perceived, it's real.
I don't drink Shirely Temples, Alan. I'm an adult, a fact I often question about you. And if you are referring to Kirk Herbstreit, I have zero problem with him. He catches hell from Bucks fans and Bucks detractors. That tells me he's at least balanced in his observations. Who cares if that prediction that Penn State will win the Big Ten was way off.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:39 am
I still don't see the Mark May bias, George. You say it isn't simply "perceived, it's real." That's like saying God isn't simply perceived, he's real. Show me the money. At least Jesus occasionally appears on a tree trunk or on vinyl siding. But show me actual irrefutable instances of May's alleged anti-Buckeye bias.
And I don't question your credibility with respect to the teams you cover. Indeed, as Beacon Journal guys go, including that former Beacon Journal religion guy, you're the most credible of them all. But come on, Carey wasn't biased. Get real. It's just that the Yankees were a more interesting and compelling story. Even I was far more interested in the after-loss postgame press conference with Torre far more than I was in hearing Wedge or anybody else. It's also the same reason that if the Indians get into the World Series against Colorado, there will be more midges from Bug Night than the number of actual people watching the series.
The Yankees are compelling. The Red Sox are compelling. Even to people who aren't Yankees and Red Sox fans. This doesn't equate to "bias." Why would WTBS or Chip Carey care if the Yankees won, they wouldn't be calling the American League championship series, anyway. It was just a far more interesting and compelling storyline.
And George, with respect to Shirley Temples, you really ought to try them. Ginger ale, grenadine syrup and orange juice. You'll be buzzed for days. I know I am.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I don't think a Hooters t-shirt technically qualifies as team gear, George.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:45 am
larry, you Floridians may not consider a Hooters t-shirt to be team gear, but unless I see dialysis machines, wheelchairs and walkers with licensed graphics of boob-shaped buckeye nuts on the sides, then kindly confine your venomous and hateful anti-Hooters team gear commentary to your own state.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:12 am
Plllllease!!!!!
I think Mark May is saying that Penn State has no chance of beating the Buckeye's next week. He talks like he has a mouthful of Pitt.
Look for Penn State to beat Ohio State and Mark May to become even more frustrated by Penn State's success.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Look at the date of the initial entry. It was dated more than a week ago. As for Penn State's success, success by whose standard? Pitt's? The Nittany Lions have already blown any realistic shot at winning the Big Ten.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
What's a "nittany" lion, anyway? Seriously. Is it some sort of weirdo mountain lion? I'm nearly 50, I've never heard of one, and I watch the Discovery Channel. Much like the color of Joe Paterno's hair, I think Penn State is just making it up.
By the way, George, have you changed your oil? Checked the fluids? Checked the hoses, belts and tire pressure? With all those BJ cutbacks, I don't want you to be stranded all alone on a deserted highway. At the very least, ask Windhorst to tag along in the passenger seat to push the car to the side of the road. I'm concerned.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Alan here's the wikipedia link for the nittany lion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nittany_Lion And you're right it is a weirdo mountain lion.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Oh, Alan, your concern is given as much attention as it deserves.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Now George, that's not very nice. How many people outside of your family care if you live or you die? At least one of your readers cares. At the very least, appreciate the fact that I don't want you to hurt your back. Let Windhorst wrench his.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Mark May hates Ohio State and does not have the class to conceal it on his show.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
larry d. what is USF's record now, who have they lost against, and what is their conference record? Mark May hates the Bucks and the Irish but never mentions his terrible alma mater Pitt.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:35 am
Mark May is as biased against Ohio State as Lou Holtz is biased for Notre Dame. Watching the Poinsettia Bowl tonight, May bragged about his pick of Illinois over Ohio State (what a poorly officiated game that was). Illinois played great but a few bad calls cost the Bucks dearly in that game. May is horrible. Hard to say if his act is a show to rile fans up or whether he is really that goofy.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I can't wait to see what Mark May has to say about the Big Ten speed of Michigan, who owned Florida today. I love watching Mark May, he can seem sooo intelligent during the broadcast (vs. Lou Holthtzzzssth - spit flying out:), but his rant about speed is absurd. OSU obviosly brought it on themselves with their play in the title game, but what about our slothenly play in '02 vs. Miami? Sorry we don't need the spread offense to level the playing field.