Earlier today, USA Ultimate had announced
that it would prevent college teams from wearing MLU logos on sponsored
jerseys, as per its uniform guidelines. Now, it appears that USAU and
ESPN are in direct conflict over the controversy.
ESPN spokesperson Robert Gibbs spoke to ultimate reporters
at a press conference this afternoon, to explain the network’s position.
“ESPN appreciates that USAU wants to maintain a degree of
autonomy with regard to jerseys and branding,” said Gibbs. “However, if we are to continue our
relationship with USAU, we must insist that the MLU sponsorship program
continue unimpeded.
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| Gibbs left the White House in 2011 to join ESPN |
“When we signed a multi-year broadcast deal with USA
Ultimate, we didn’t have any desire to make a profit, or to get out ahead of our competition in terms of broadcasting ultimate by signing with the most advanced
and high-profile organization in the world.
We just wanted to promote the spirit of this beautiful and unique game
to the best of our abilities, regardless of cost.”
After an explosion of rapturous applause from the gathered
reporters, Gibbs continued.
“To turn around now, and to support exclusive branding—to privilege
USAU over MLU—just because we happen to have a broadcasting contract with one,
well, that would be hypocritical. It
would be a betrayal of ESPN’s entire involvement with ultimate. If broadcasting the MLU logo for free all over
ESPN3 allows MLU to take off and sign with another network, to compete against the
programming we’ve already locked up and invested in, well…we’d be
ecstatic. Anything for the growth of the
game.”
Gibbs declined to comment on how, or whether, ESPN and USA
Ultimate will resolve their differences, but at the moment, the situation looks
grim.
MLU Commissioner Jeff Snader ( @JeffSnader ) weighed in via Twitter, writing,
MLU maintains its commitment to growing the sport, and like @ESPN, we’re going to do so without regard to cost. #community
Snader followed up with:
If USAU continues to put its own image and profitability before the desires of its players, then the elite players will continue to turn elsewhere. #freemuffin
At press time, USAU was unavailable for Twitter
banter.
