ESPN’s ombudsman Solomon George (yes, ESPN has an ombudsman) made this grotesque statement after commenting on some brouhaha involving a play-by-play man and a female sideline reporter:

My take: Play-by-play commentators need to take sideline reporters — many of whom are women — more seriously. So does ESPN, which needs to give these reporters more airtime and more serious issues to address.

Take sideline reporters more seriously? Is he on crack? Or dating a sideline reporter? Or hoping to date a sideline reporter? Or overly committed to the company diversity policy? Sideline reporters are almost invariably the absolute worst aspect of any game coverage. Unless they are really hot babes they bring nothing to the table except for pointless drivel and useless questions (”Coach, what are you going to tell your team at halftime?”). They take up time that could be used for replays, or crowd shots of hot babes.

At no point and under no circumstances should sideline reporters be taken more seriously, be given more airtime or more serious issues to address.

Besides that buffo of an error, George’s column is good, to the point, fair, and informative.