Watching the first 45 minutes of the semifinals in Atlanta, you couldn’t help but notice the dramatic theatrics overshadowing the actual gameplay. ESPN and NBC are spinning tales of “intensity” while conveniently ignoring rampant fouls and questionable refs. It’s as if they have a script to sell—don’t let the truth get in the way of a thrilling narrative!

The heated exchanges between players are hyped up: “Oh, look, emotion!” Really? In sports, that’s par for the course. But what about the blatant fouls that went uncalled? Both networks gloss over these glaring missteps as if they don’t matter in the grand scheme of entertainment. When did player safety take a backseat to a good storyline? Harris at ESPN will tell you it’s all in the spirit of competition, but that’s just a smokescreen to distract from subpar officiating.

And let’s talk stats. Sure, they bandy about possession percentages and scoring averages, but how about a real analysis of strategies and plays? Corporate media is more interested in clickbait and viral moments than enlightening their audience. It’s all about the drama, not the sport. Fox Sports is just as guilty, emphasizing the narrative over the nuances of the game.

In the end, it’s time we demand better. We deserve journalists who dissect the issues instead of feeding us a glorified soap opera.