It’s common practice in sports television to not show multiple replays when a player suffers a graphic injury. CBS, in particular, has been respectful in that with Kevin Ware and Alex Smith both suffering gruesome injuries on CBS airwaves.
The network, though, could have done better on Sunday.
Michigan State and Michigan faced off in the Big Ten Championship, but the rivalry was understandably overshadowed by a first-half injury to the Spartans’ Kyle Ahrens.
Ahrens injured his left leg after landing awkwardly on a rebound attempt. Upon hitting the ground, Ahrens was screaming and in agonizing pain. The broadcast speculated that Ahrens had rolled an ankle or suffered a sprain, but with each replay angle, the injury looked increasingly like a fractured leg. However, x-rays came back negative, according to the broadcast.
Yet, many college basketball fans felt the broadcast went overboard with the replays and even telestrated the injury. There was no need to show a 23-year-old possibly breaking his leg from every camera angle at the broadcast’s disposal — the live microphone made it worse as viewers heard Ahrens audibly crying.
Fans were quick to call CBS out for crossing that line.
