Finally, someone did the necessary sleuthing to get the proper blacklist filter that will stop that godforsaken video from playing automatically when you go to ESPN.com. This man is a true hero to Blogospheristania.

• First, you need to be using Firefox. Please, if you’re using a PC… just use Firefox. I’m willing to entertain arguments for Safari, but to be using Microsoft Internet Explorer at this point is just… wrong. Objectively wrong. Don’t do it.
• Next, install the Adblock extension (which you should really be using anyway). Adblock, well, blocks ads online. It comes with a huge list of automatically-blocked ads, which is neat, but the great thing about it is that you can manually add other ads to the list. Like, I don’t know… the ESPN Motion video that starts whenever you visit ESPN.com.
• Next (after you restart Firefox to activate the Adblock extension), click on “Tools” in the menu bar. Then click on “Add-ons.”
• Highlight Adblock and click on the “Options” button.
• In the “New Filter” box, enter this: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/fpp/*
• Click “Done.”

And that’s it. No more stupid videos advertising “Who’s Now” or WNBA broadcasts or Steven A. Smith’s newest show, “Spittin’ Mad With Steven A. (Brought to You by Cheetos)”. Enjoy.

Major major kudos to Jake for putting this out there. I can finally visit ESPN.com and only be slightly sickened by its horrendous design and cluttery crap. h/t to Deadspin.