ESPN phones it in

If you're in possession of one of those cool ESPN Mobile Phones based on your infatuation with Trey Wingo and the idea he could really be in your bed someday, hang onto it.
The phone, that is. Not the Wingo nightmare. The former will be a collector's item. The later, just another footnote in ESPN humiliation. Kinda like Kenny Mayne in "Dancing With the Stars." Or Chris Berman uttering "You're with me, Leather."
ESPN finally gave in Thursday, announcing it will shut down its phone company less than a year after it tried selling you on a $200 piece of junk, then started giving them away for free in the hopes you'd sign up for years to come.
The result is that ESPN will use their technology on other wireless operations. It's about as useless as an E-Ticket at the Magic Kingdom.
ESPN was quick to stress that its change in strategy had no bearing on Disney Mobile, another ambitious gamble into the cell market by its parent company, Walt Disney Co.
Disney invested $150 million in developing the Mobile ESPN and Disney Mobile phones, calling it the MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator.
Whatever. If the battery's dead after two days and you're sick and tired of all the alerts, it's no good for anyone.
Mobile ESPN will now be a provider of scores, video and other needless stuff to other wireless companies that already have a customer base.
The service had signed up only a few thousand subscribers since launching in late 2005.
At least this marks the end of those Wingo commercials. Even better, about two-thirds of the slightly more 100 employees at Mobile ESPN will likely lose their jobs next year as the company transitions.