Who's Now

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"Who's Now" was a daily series aired during SportsCenter throughout July 2007, in which viewers helped ESPN determine the ultimate sports star by considering both on-field success and off-field buzz. Based on fan nominations, ESPN Research selected 32 finalists to square off in a single-elimination bracket. The show received more than 5 million votes on ESPN.com,[1] and on August 5, 2007 ESPN announced that Tiger Woods was the winner. The show received heavy criticism from fans and sportswriters, citing it as nonsensical and irrelevant.[2]

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Broadcast schedule

One matchup from each bracket per day.

[edit] Format

The athletes compete in a single-elimination, bracketed tournament (like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or a typical tennis tournament).

Participants were placed in one of four eight-way "regions" named for historic athletes that, in the judgment of ESPN, best exemplify the qualities of "now": Michael Jordan, Muhammed Ali, Babe Ruth, and Billie Jean King.

Oddly enough, fan voting was not the sole factor in deciding who moved one. The panel consisting of ESPN figureheads and pop culture icons (Jessica Biel, for example) counted for 30% of the vote. This was enough to overturn the fan decisions of Barry Bonds over Jeff Gordon.

[edit] The complete bracket

[edit] Michael Jordan region

  First Round Second Round Quarterfinals
                           
  1  Tiger Woods 90%  
8  Matt Leinart 10%  
  1  Tiger Woods 73.1%  
  4  Dwyane Wade 26.9%  
4  Dwyane Wade 73%
  5  Shaun White 27%  
    1  Tiger Woods 60.8%
  2  LaDainian Tomlinson 39.2%
  2  LaDainian Tomlinson 50.8%  
7  David Beckham 49.2%  
  2  LaDainian Tomlinson 68.6%
  3  Steve Nash 31.4%  
3  Steve Nash 57%
  6  Serena Williams 43%  

[edit] Muhammed Ali region

  First Round Second Round Quarterfinals
                           
  1  Peyton Manning 80.5%  
8  Amanda Beard 19.5%  
  1  Peyton Manning 70.6%  
  4  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 29.4%  
4  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 61.7%
  5  Chuck Liddell 38.3%  
    1  Peyton Manning 52.2%
  2  Alex Rodriguez 47.8%
  2  Alex Rodriguez 67.5%  
7  Terrell Owens 32.5%  
  2  Alex Rodriguez 52.4%
  3  Kobe Bryant 47.6%  
3  Kobe Bryant 60.8%
  6  Ronaldinho 39.2%  

[edit] Billie Jean King region

  First Round Second Round Quarterfinals
                           
  1  LeBron James 84.4%  
8  Kelly Slater 15.6%  
  1  LeBron James 66.5%  
  4  Jeff Gordon 33.5%  
4  Jeff Gordon 62.2%
  5  Barry Bonds 37.8%  
    1  LeBron James 58.3%
  2  Derek Jeter 41.7%
  2  Derek Jeter 63.8%  
7  Sidney Crosby 36.2%  
  2  Derek Jeter 55.5%
  3  Reggie Bush 44.5%  
3  Reggie Bush 72.5%
  6  Danica Patrick 27.5%  

[edit] Babe Ruth region

  First Round Second Round Quarterfinals
                           
  1  Tom Brady 66.1%  
8  David Ortiz 33.9%  
  1  Tom Brady 67.1%  
  4  Maria Sharapova 32.9%  
4  Maria Sharapova 60%
  5  Vince Young 40%  
    1  Tom Brady 47.6%
  3  Shaquille O'Neal 52.4%
  2  Roger Federer 43.9%  
7  Tony Parker 56.1%  
  7  Tony Parker 32.3%
  3  Shaquille O'Neal 67.7%  
3  Shaquille O'Neal 52.2%
  6  Michael Phelps 47.8%  

[edit] Final Four

  Semifinals Finals
                 
 Tiger Woods 63.8%  
 Peyton Manning 36.2%  
     Tiger Woods 65.1%
   LeBron James 34.9%
 LeBron James 60.4%
 Shaquille O'Neal 39.6%  

[edit] Theme song

The theme song was a special remix of the song "Big Things Poppin'" by rapper T.I..

[edit] Notes

ESPN aired the month-long series, The Greatest Highlight with Chris Berman during SportsCenter throughout February 2008, using a similar single-elimination, bracket-style format. Unlike Who's Now, which selected 32 finalists as mentioned above, The Greatest Highlight selected 16 finalists. Segment host Chris Berman announced on the March 2, 2008 editions of SportsCenter that the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team's Miracle on Ice was the greatest sports highlight of all time, receiving 59% of the fans' votes. The Boise State Broncos' Statue of Liberty play in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl was the runner-up with 41%.

[edit] References

[edit] External links