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As he wraps up his tenure as ESPN ombudsman, Don Ohlmeyer urges the network to stop, look and listen to its audience.

Why the Jets-Dolphins game was broadcast 30 years ago without announcers.

Societal standards have evolved or devolved, depending on your perspective, and the ombudsman writes that the nature of that conversation is often reflected and abetted by the media -- ESPN included.

Negative reaction to ESPN.com's spiking of a LeBron James story, writes the ombudsman, was payment for what many viewers see as an unholy alliance between the network and the superstar.

ESPN's decision to air the Lebron James free agency special, writes the ombudsman, was a case of a network blinded by the lure of ratings that thought it could dance around what should be revered journalistic tenets.

Although ultimately respectful of ESPN's decision not to filter the sound of vuvuzelas during broadcasts from South Africa, the ombudsman admits he was thankful for the mute button while watching the network's World Cup coverage.

When it comes to referencing anonymous sources, the ombudsman says ESPN must continuously balance real-life consequences against the public's need to know.

From announcers to politics to scheduling, the ombudsman examines some of the most chronic irritants to the ESPN viewership -- and offers suggestions as to how the network can find a cure.

ESPN faces numerous daily dilemmas, writes the ombudsman, from competitive pressures to collegial criticism to the battle for the very soul of journalism.

ESPN's treatment of the Mike Leach controversy during its Alamo Bowl telecast, writes the ombudsman, was more biased than balanced.

As the Tiger Woods affair demonstrates, tabloid coverage of sports stars' scandals is on the rise. The Ombudsman writes that ESPN must tread lightly on such topics.

For ESPN, a little transparency could go a long way in reinforcing viewers' faith.

ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer took some time to weigh in about Saturday's "College Football GameDay" telecast at the Cotton Bowl. Here's Ohlmeyer's take on what happened before kickoff: ESPN's "College Football GameDay" kicks off festivities on Satur...

ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer took some time to weigh in about Saturday's "College Football GameDay" telecast at the Cotton Bowl. Here's Ohlmeyer's take on what happened before kickoff: ESPN's "College Football GameDay" kicks off festiv...

Serving corporate goals without alienating or annoying viewers, writes Don Ohlmeyer, is a high-wire act for ESPN.

The ombudsman writes that ESPN's new Monday Night Football broadcast trio has proved deft at the difficult dance of a three-man booth.