by QueRico » Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:40 pm
Just to play conspiracy theorist:
If all of the stories are listing ESPN as the source, isn't it possible that they are deliberately putting out little bits of confusing & ambiguous information?
For the 1st time in years, there is a credible threat to their market dominance. Obviously ESPN winds up w/ the redheaded stepchild when the breakup finally happens. The TV deal w/ the fb schools is financially 2nd rate and will primarily be used as filler across the ESPN platforms aside fr/ the few premium games. For every UConn-Memphis there's a few Tulane-East Carolina type games.
Everything is rumor @ this point (again, kudos to the legal team enforcing the gag order on the C7) so technically they're not doing anything "wrong" by speculating about who or when, etc. Up in Bristol they have a vested interest in Fox Sports 1 & 2 not gaining any traction as national networks.