Happy 25th Anniversary!

There was a time when mankind was befuddled, confused, and lost. There was a time when human nature was stricken with grief, anguish, and misery. But 25 years ago, that all changed. 25 years ago, ESPN saved the day.

Suddenly man discovered the cures for AIDS, cancer, and all other diseases which had harmed individuals on the planet for years. Suddenly, thanks to ESPN, the world was rid of poverty, strife, and hunger. When ESPN came along, oppressive regimes fell, all warfare was permanently hautled, and people of all races, sexes, colors, and creeds joined hand-in-hand and sang tunes of joy and happiness. Thank goodness for ESPN.

Yeah, we're tired of the self-promotion too.

This week, ESPN turned 25. And while the network has became an influential force in our society, changing the way we know and understand sports, LAist cannot think of any non-religious entity that's given itself so much credit.

25 years after its inception, ESPN is the gold standard for sports. But it's also a network that has become stagnant. This is espcially evident with its signature show, SportsCenter, where sportscasters are desperately trying to recreate the magic that Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick brought to "The Big Show" in the mid-1990s. Highlight packages have gone stale, and current talent is often trying to be clever for the sake of being clever, while failing to bring in any originality in the process.

It's time for ESPN to utilize its innovative gene that it brags so much about. Don't get us wrong, we love ESPN. But as the network celebrates 25 years, LAist would like ESPN to stop praising the job it did, and instead, shut up and do it.