They've preempted horse racing for girls' softball ... Hungarian tiddleywinks ... and retired dentists' shuffleboard ...

... but today ... they've sunk to a new low ...

... preempting racing for a freaking speech !!!

No game ... no contest ... no competition ... just a freaking speech by Troy Aikman !!!

Remeber this one, folks .. the next time ESPN talks about their "commitment" and "coverage" of thoroughbred racing.