All the same things, but ESPN uses more exciting verbiage.

MITCH BLATT

While browsing ESPN and SI.com this morning, I noticed ESPN and SI had the same topics for almost all their headlines but ESPN’s headlines were framed in a much more exciting manner.

For example, how do the two sites headline a story about Dwight Freeney tearing a ligament in his ankle.

ESPN headlines his torn ligament:

Source: Freeney has torn ligament in ankle

While SI takes the Colts sources and headlines their denial:

Colts deny Freeney has ligament tear in ankle

When it comes to Rex Ryan flipping the bird, ESPN headlines:

Jets’ Ryan sorry for flipping fans the bird

While SI refers to “flipping the bird” simply as an “obscene gesture.”

At ESPN, Julius Peppers’ agent is “convinced” that Peppers will “leave the Panthers.” At SI, it’s simply a question: “Peppers done with Panthers?”

The final analysis shows that 70% of their headlines are about the same topics. Here are the screenshots:

ESPN

Sports Illustrated

Popularity: 6% [?]