SportsCenter Remains in a Class of Its Own

SportsCenter remains the foundation program for the gigantic conglomerate that is ESPN. The network’s inaugural program remains its most weighty. While ESPN continues to expand its programming lineup, SportsCenter is still appointment viewing. Viewers tune in at various hours to various episodes with various anchors to get the day’s news, analysis, headlines, and highlights. To channel Led Zeppelin, the song remains the same.  

I took an hour on March 8 to see just where this venerable program is at and focus on two of its most talented anchors – Hannah Storm and Shae Cornette. These two excellent broadcasters have made their respective marks on the ESPN landscape. They both possess charisma, on-air presence, and the ability to draw viewers in and keep them interested. They are indeed two of the most powerful voices at ESPN.  

Storm is a bona fide broadcasting legend. Through stops at various networks and in various roles, she has found a home at ESPN, not only on SportsCenter, but as a host of various programs. Cornette does not have the longevity of Storm but is well on her way to her own super legacy. Cornette is similarly versatile. Not only has she been terrific on SportsCenter but has also been the best fill-in host for Molly Qerim on ESPN‘s daytime behemoth First Take.  

Cornette is not just another talking head. She can go back-and-forth with the highest level of debaters and is a sports fan. This is displayed with her enthusiasm and passion for the games and the issues inherent in those games. Calling her an up-and-coming talent would be a disservice. She has arrived. I look at Cornette as a shining star at ESPN for years to come.  

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Storm opened this show with her usual élan talking about the amazing, continued greatness of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. After decades in the field, it is nice to see that Storm can still get excited about a truly transcendent player. After the highlights, Storm moved to a stand-up exchange with former NBA player Quentin Richardson. It is a luxury for a relative newcomer like Richardson to work with a pro like Storm.  

She asked terrific questions and follow ups to tap into his skill set and knowledge. Richardson had some nice moments saying that he’s not putting Jokić in the GOAT conversation yet, but that the Denver superstar is putting himself in that upper echelon of all-time great players.  

SportsCenter stayed with the stand-up and transitioned to a look at the Lakers at Celtics matchup with Cornette stepping in to talk with Richardson. Cornette has a terrific voice that is cutting and incisive. She gets right to the point with her questions and steers the conversation. Cornette asked Richardson what the Celtics must do to defeat the hot Lakers. Richardson retorted that Boston needs to make Luka Doncic put him in uncomfortable situations, which is exactly what Boston ended up doing in that game to an extent.  

ADAPTABILITY MATTERS

In recent years, SportsCenter has evolved from merely a couple of anchors sitting at a desk ripping off highlights. Interview segments have become a larger part of the program. This edition continued the trend as Cornette interviewed ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. Cornette’s versatility and knowledge of a wide range of sports is a plus. She is the perfect talent for today’s ESPN – proficient at anchoring, hosting, debating, and interviewing.  

Bilas was doing the interview live from Chapel Hill before the Duke at UNC game. These types of interviews are always fun because viewers can experience the crowd noise and visuals. Cornette tapped right into this bringing the excitement from the arena to the television screen. Storm then stepped in for a Q and A with Bilas looking at the entire college basketball landscape.  

Both Storm and Cornette do a really nice job on highlights. Their voice intonations and vocal variety bring drama and excitement to the presentation. In this episode, Cornette highlighted two of the NBA’s best teams – the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. She then smoothly transitioned to Twins vs. Yankees spring training highlights touching on Yankee ace Gerrit Cole’s injury.  

ENTERTAINMENT MATTERS

SportsCenter remains a colorful, vibrant, and fast-paced look at the past, present, and future of sports. It has also become a showcase for ESPN’s bevy of reporters. Storm talked with NBA reporter Tim Bontemps while Cornette interviewed NFL insider Jeremy Fowler. The ever-connected Fowler said that the Raiders’ first priority will be to sign newly acquired QB Geno Smith to an extended contract so that they don’t have to worry about drafting a signal caller in this year’s quarterback-weak draft. 

When you think of ESPN football reporters, the late Chris Mortensen comes to mind immediately followed of by the best in the business currently, Adam Schefter. Fowler, however, is on the come up for sure. He has an easy style and clearly great sources for NFL rumors, stories, and tidbits. He and Cornette are an effective duo talking about NFL news.  

This program took place on International Women’s Day, and Storm narrated a wonderful video package on groundbreaking female players, administrators, team owners, and trailblazers – an outstanding piece for sure. Storm is the quintessential sports reporter and anchor. Her wealth of experience and knowledge comes through in every sentence. She remains utterly dynamic in her work. 

Many SportsCenter anchors have been about comedic slants, catchphrases, and over-the-top personality, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. I absolutely loved the greats like Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Chris Berman, the late Stuart Scott, Rich Eisen, John Anderson, Linda Cohn, and many others. Storm and Cornette don’t do catchphrases, but they are as electric and fascinating to watch as any of the aforementioned talents.  

QUALITY MATTERS

The SportsCenter production staff is always on point with some quick-hitting video interstitials and graphics as subject matter transitions from one topic to another. This episode moved through a few different sports, all the contending teams, and some recent matchups and players. In the shows final block, Storm and Cornette threw to ESPN’s College GameDay crew as well as the NBA Countdown anchors. The show ended with Storm and Cornette having a fun time with the always anticipated SportsCenter Top 10 plays of the day.  

Through all the years, all the anchors, and all the moments, I see SportsCenter as the most anticipated sports program on television. Storm and Cornette are more than up to the task of presenting this important show that has become part of the sports fan’s daily routine. Moreover, they are fun, exciting, riveting, and fully tapped into the psyches of these sports fans.  

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