ESPN just loves to talk about itself. If the worldwide leader isn’t doing it, it isn’t news. What could possibly be more entertaining than one of it’s own analysts in the news, this time in a positive way:

Former Los Angeles Kings coach Barry Melrose brushed aside a rumor he is in line to become the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, saying he is enjoying his life as an ESPN analyst.

“This is no different than any of the last 10 years,” Melrose said in response to a report in the Toronto Star. “I’ve been contacted by a handful of clubs every year since joining ESPN. My desire to coach again has never been a secret, but I love what I do at ESPN.”

I bet he sure does love what he does at ESPN. As the only face of hockey, he has to actually work somewhere around two hours a day (I would speculate). Why would you leave all the glory as one of the most recognizable faces of hockey in the US, and have so little to do?

Try this on your sports loving friends who don’t track hockey. Hold up a picture of Melrose, and let them guess who he is. Then hold up a picture of John Tortorella, and see how they do. Dollar to “Have another donut,” you know what is going to happen.

Classic ESPN narcissism. If the World Wide Leader doesn’t report on it, it doesn’t exist. And if they are talking about themselves, they are the happiest sports network on earth.