Shame on you, ESPN. Bobby Jenks was more than just “on the roster”

The megasports corporation carelessly announced the death of the former World Series champion, to further lose the respect of White Sox and baseball fans

The tagline listed on ESPN’s website is: “Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.”

But what we are apparently missing from the fine print is that “sports” actually refers to: (American) football, basketball, and sometimes hockey because they are contractually obligated to do so. And unless you’re the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball might as well not exist in ESPN’s eyes.

This has been apparent for years for baseball fans, and especially White Sox fans, considering ESPN seems to have blacked out the wire-to-wire first place season and epic, 11-1 World Series run that ended a longer title drought that the 2004 Red Sox just one year prior.

This stems from the careless and frankly, disrespectful tweet that ESPN posted shortly after it was announced Saturday that former White Sox pitcher and World Series champion Bobby Jenks passed away Friday due to stomach cancer at the age of 44.

To say that Bobby Jenks was just “on the 2005 World Series roster” is like saying that Stuart Scott was, at some point, just an employee at ESPN. If you know ESPN, you probably know Scott. And not because he worked at ESPN, but because he was an excellent and beloved sports anchor that was a pillar of the sports community and ESPN as an organization.

When you think about the 2005 playoffs and World Series win, it’s hard NOT to think of Bobby Jenks. Jenks was slinging 100 mph in the mid-2000s, before all the cool kids started to do it, and he was one of the main reasons the White Sox were able to dominate the 2005 playoffs, including a World Series sweep. He accounted for the series-clinching saves in the ALDS against the 2004 reigning champs, the Red Sox, and sealed the World Series victory to win the championship against the Houston Astros.

There’s a reason why this is one of the most iconic photos from that playoff run, and it’s not just because Bobby was “on the roster.” He delivered the final pitch that made the last out to clinch the title!

John Grieshop/MLB via Getty Images

In the same sentence, ESPN referred to Jenks as an All-Star (correct), but then proceeded to reduce him to merely “on the roster” of the World Series team (very incorrect). He also has the second-most saves in White Sox relief history, was a two-time All-Star, and tied an MLB record with 41 consecutive batters retired in a row — so it’s not like he was a nobody during the six seasons he was with the club. You’d expect what should be a “top sports news” organization to have a little more journalistic integrity, but apparently respect is too much to ask for these days.

Several White Sox fans shared this sentiment Saturday evening after ESPN carelessly posted their tweet, and as it’s been nearly 24 hours at this point, Sox fans can likely stop waiting for some sort of correction or apology. Let’s be real, they don’t care.

They caught a lot of (warranted) flack in the comments as well.

It’s understandable that so many were frustrated by this idiotic copy, because Bobby Jenks was also unbelievably strong at his core, on and off the field. He worked through many struggles including addiction, several injuries, surgery complications and mental health. It’s a shame that he wasn’t able to live a peaceful life in his last days, but rather had to deal with the living hell that is cancer. Bobby was 44 years old, what should have been about halfway through his life — so yes, a little bit of respect to his legacy while passing way too early isn’t something that should be a lot to ask.

Jenks also continued to be involved in the game he loved, until he could no longer. He was a a pitching coach for the Grand Junction Rockies in 2021 until he was given the opportunity to manage the team and win Manager of the Year in 2022. He was also the coach of the Windy City Thunderbolts up until he passed away.

Do I expect ESPN to make an “apology?” No. And they do deserve to be ridiculed for the way they flippantly announced the death of Bobby Jenks as “just some player,” when he was much more than that. Sure he was a baseball player and a world champion — but he was also a husband, father, teammate, friend, coach, and role model.

Rest in peace, Bobby Jenks. Your White Sox family and the larger baseball community miss you already. Thank you for the great memories.

ESPN — do better.