Breaking: News we only just witnessed

WHILE ESPN considers itself breathlessly innovative, it only succeeds in reinventing the flat tire.

Saturday on ESPN2, Buffalo running back Anthone Taylor, against Penn State, broke free for 29 yards, that total dutifully noted by playbyplayer Beth Mowins. At that, up pops ESPN’s “Big Play Tracker” graphic: “Anthone Taylor 29yard run.”

Does ESPN not recognize such as redundant, excessive and just plain stupid?

During ABC/ESPN’s Oregon StateMichigan game, Michigan was about to punt when a graphic appeared identifying the punter, the probable returner and all sorts of other stuff. That’s an ESPN option play: Watch the punt or read about it.

Then there were ESPN’s all day/night breaking news! “Alerts.”

A thisjustin “Final Alert” brought, “Georgia Tech 65, Tulane 10.”

And even somewhat legit breaking news is exploited to promote ESPN.

Saturday’s repetitive crawl: Miss. DB Tee Shepard ejected for targeting in 3rd Q on FRES [Fresno St.] WR Keyan Williams. Shepard will miss f irst half of next week’s game vs. Alabama — 9:1 5 ET, ESPN.”

Ch. 11, Saturday and Sunday, aired a halfhour, NFLspecific Draft-Kings infomercial, shamelessly hosted by brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber. The message: Bet on NFL players, get rich!

The 49ers, the latest to dismiss decades of tradition and instant recognition, will wear black uniforms for Monday night’s game against the Vikings on, fittingly, ESPN.