When you think of poor use of the media, what comes to mind? For me, the fact that ESPN broadcasts Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls as a sporting event just about tops it.

Two “sportscasters” generally present live from Pamplona’s “excitement-charged streets” and get ready to interview “adrenaline seekers” who have travelled far and wide to enjoy public goring and mutilation.

(That’s pay-per-view goring you understand)

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Photo source: wikimedia

The fact that a bunch of gung-ho meatheads work out where Spain is on the map and turn up for this event from overseas is about as sad as it gets for me. The fact that ESPN broadcasts it only makes it worse.

What’s the point of my rant? I just started to feel the hairs of the back of my neck rise when I saw the first of the season’s… “Oh, our software works with the Euro 2008 football championship don’t ya know press releases…”

Not quite poor use of the media in the same sense, but annoying none the less.

As a long time expatriate and ardent supporting of England through our many failures, given our absence this year I am trying to swallow my hostility towards the company that just issued a story about a Software-as-a-Service team that will launch an online web site tournament during the championships.

Clue: two letters in the company name, sounds like a well know brand of brown sauce.

Incoming press release management-speak alert, “Businesses need to ensure their web-based applications deliver the desired end-user experience through implementing a comprehensive applications management strategy…

No no – make it go away, we didn’t qualify; I don’t want to hear it. I’d like to support Italy as I used to live there but that Marco Materazzi is a nasty man, help help!

Software application development is great, software as a service for soccer is great – but not this week please ok?

Anyway, the bulls will run in July next month during Spain’s Festival of San Fermin, so get your ESPN subscription updated – or pack your Band-Aids if you plan to go for real.