I'm OK with didactic commentators if the person talking to me is an expert and giving me new information.
Broadcast media outlets fail at that. I don't know much about sports but even I can tell that people on TV are speaking in vague generalities so they can never be proven wrong. I get told that the team that lost "didn't want to win" as if people getting paid millions a year to win at sports aren't motivated.
When people are afraid of being proven wrong above all else, they avoid making any substantive claims. If someone isn't afraid of that, they'll make more interesting predictions I can't get elsewhere, and eventually it'll be a more enjoyable product because I can make fun of that person for being wrong.
I can't help but wonder if gambling isn't part of the reason for all the opinions these commentators are having. You're right, expert info is important.
If I was into online sports betting, I would want all the info I could get. Since I'm not, what I want is video replay of what I missed, that's where ESPN lost me.
Broadcast media outlets fail at that. I don't know much about sports but even I can tell that people on TV are speaking in vague generalities so they can never be proven wrong. I get told that the team that lost "didn't want to win" as if people getting paid millions a year to win at sports aren't motivated.
When people are afraid of being proven wrong above all else, they avoid making any substantive claims. If someone isn't afraid of that, they'll make more interesting predictions I can't get elsewhere, and eventually it'll be a more enjoyable product because I can make fun of that person for being wrong.