ESPN just couldn’t handle it.

Ever since ESPN became the self-proclaimed “Worldwide Leader in Sports” (complete with an excessive amount of television channels), it couldn’t handle not having its name on every facet of athletics. They simply have to be the best in the sports world.

In similar nature to ESPN, EA Sports has risen in the sports video gaming ranks, something that ESPN has failed miserably at. EA Sports quickly became the “Worldwide Leader in Sports Gaming”. Instead of putting the effort and resources in to making better video games, ESPN just took the easier route: profiting off of EA’s games.

The one area where this is blaringly obvious is on ESPN’s reality television show called Madden Nation. The show, which is heading in to its third season, features a tour of the top Madden NFL players who travel around in a bus competing against each other to see who the top Madden player is.

Hmmm, that sounds strikingly similar to the Madden Challenge which is run by EA (only on a smaller, tackier level).

I’m quicker to be drawn to the Madden Challenge because the creators of the game put on this great event to boost the popularity of their hard labor. This event carries more validity coming from EA rather than the outsiders ESPN. Just because ESPN has the disposable income to throw money in to a show featuring Madden doesn’t change anything. The show is a glorified tournament, comparable to you having your friends over and organizing a tournament down in your basement. ESPN just blows it up to a different level.

Never mind ESPN churning out a quality football title themselves when they can just rake in money on the account of someone else’s hard work. ESPN recently released their football title All-Pro Football 2K8 to moderate appeal. Madden NFL is still head-and-shoulders above it. So why doesn’t ESPN craft some sort of competition or promotional event comparable to the Madden Challenge to boost and promote their own game? Nah, that would be too much work roping in an actual audience and fan base.