Is business-as-usual a defense for ESPN’s “Decision”?

Globe columnist Bob Ryan (second from left) on ESPN

In today’s Boston Globe, columnist and basketball cognoscenti Bob Ryan defends ESPN’s airing of “The Decision,” a one-hour special last Thursday night, during which superstar player Lebron James announced that he was leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for the tanned tushies–and title hopes–of Miami.

Ryan writes that James was the widely-criticized show’s big loser–calling him a “narcissist’s narcissist.” The network’s choice to provide a prime time pool for Lebron’s reflections, however, was just business as usual:

“ESPN is in the business of 24/7/365 sports programming, so its interest comes in the no-brainer category…  Next question.”

Contrast Ryan’s piece with that of fellow Globe scribe Dan Shaugnessy, who calls the show “dispicable” and “hideous.” I’m sure the fact that  Ryan is a regular on ESPN–he appeared on “Around the Horn” with “Decision” panel member Mike Wilbon just last week–had nothing to do with his lame defense of the network.

So, can I just ask: Where was Globe Sports editor Joe Sullivan when Ryan turned in this piece? Does the column not scream “conflict of interest?”

As an aside, Ryan also writes that 30-year old free-agent G/F Mike Miller is actually a helluva player… a few days after the Celts gave 35-year old Ray Allen twice as much money as Miller was paid last year. Well, better late than never, right?

Seriously, the Celtics entered the greatest free agent season in NBA history with only five guys under contract–including the retiring Sheed–and spent tens of millions on old players past their prime. Ryan saw this happen with the original Big Three in the 1980s. Where the hell was he–or anyone else at the Globe–when history was repeating itself?

“Hung” is man-sized

I stepped off the train at North Station this morning with the the Black Keys’ “I’ll be your man” growling in my head and an urge to walk across town, removing my clothes. (It helped that the heat index in Boston today is a Saigon-like 105.) That’s what I get for watching the season 2 premiere of HBO’s “Hung,” before work.

Guys who tune in to the story of a well-endowed, middle-aged phys-ed teacher who gets paid to have sex will be disappointed if they’re looking for a soft-core male fantasy. (Well, at least most of the time.) The show’s executive producer and writer, Colette Burson, chooses to tell a story of female longing in the voice of reluctant gigolo Ray Drecker. This is a nifty trick that simultaneously validates the frustrations of women and invites men into the conversation in a non-threatening way.

What were they thinking?

Did the Boston Celtics pick the worst player in yesterday’s NBA draft?

Avery Bradley

Should the Celtics trade the 19th pick?

Celtics GM Danny Ainge reportedly wants out of tonight's NBA draft

ESPN Boston reports that Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge is shopping the 19th pick in tonight’s NBA draft. The team wants to use the money they’d have to give a rookie to sign a veteran free agent and take another shot at a title before possible labor troubles in 2011. Is this really a good idea for an aging team that ran out of gas in game 7 against the Lakers?

The axe falls

McChrystal’s out, according to the New York Times. Petraeus is in.