ESPN stopped reporting news and started generating it years ago. It's nothing new for them to dictate to the masses what they should think is important instead of reporting news and letting the masses decide. The more people they can funnel where they want them the less work they have to do.
It breaks down like this...
MLB: Yankees-Sox, Dodgers and Angels
NBA: Miami, Boston, New York and L.A. (Chicago will be added when healthy)
NFL: New England, New York, Tebow and Manning
Soccer: ESPN will cram anything down our throats because they want to be global so we have to start loving soccer
NHL: They don't really care anymore, lost cause to them
College Basketball: Carolina-Duke, Big East and Kentucky
College Football: SEC and USC...everyone else is secondary
Women's CBB: UConn
There's a pattern there and if you're going to watch ESPN you have to put up with it or you'll be beating your head against the wall for nothing if you want it to change.