Does ESPN Hate Democracy?

First we don’t get voting rights. Now DC residents are dissed by ESPN, which refuses to visit the nation’s capital during "SportsCenter’s" 50-states-in-50-days tour. ESPN reminds us the ‘SportsCenter on the road’ concept was birthed here in DC, when the show was broadcast from the Hill (Mar 11-13, ’02). Rubbing salt in the wound, ESPN says "our plan this summer was to visit 50 states in 50 days," (Bristol’s emphasis). Moreover, this tour will let SportsCenter stop at villages and townships "we have never had a chance to visit." Our mayor Anthony Williams (D) has asked Bristol to reconsider (it worked once before, when Sports Illustrated initially snubbed us in its 50-state sports roundup). And local political gadfly Mark Plotkin swears he’ll downgrade to basic and boycott ESPN until there’s some action. Our idea? Bring in heavyweights to apply pressure (do the names Kornheiser and Wilbon mean anything to you?). No offense to the all-sports net, but CableFAX pledges to stand side-by-side with Plotkin …at least until the next time our 1st- place Nats show up on the net.