The ratings results are in for Super Bowl XLIV and not only did it garner HUGE viewership, but it actually dethroned the final episode of M*A*S*H as the most watched program in television history. Via Sports Media Watch....

The Saints' 31-17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV drew a 45.0/68 fast-national rating and 106.5 million viewers on CBS Sunday night, up 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Steelers/Cardinals on NBC last year (42.0/64, 98.7 mil), and up 4% and 9%, respectively, from Giants/Patriots on FOX in '08 (43.1/65, 97.4 mil).

Saints/Colts ranks as the most-viewed program in U.S. television history, topping the previous record of 106.0 million for the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983.

Additionally, the 45.0 rating is the highest for any television program since Cowboys/Steelers drew a 46.0 in 1996.

To put the numbers in perspective, the Super Bowl drew over 70 million more viewers than the top non-NFL sporting event of the past 12 months -- the Texas/Alabama BCS National Championship Game (30.8 mil).

Here is your 2010 Winter Olympics announcer schedule by Sport. I'll be sure to give you more information on actual schedules and pairings once they become available.

ALPINE SKIING

Tim Ryan
Todd Brooker
Christin Cooper
Steve Porino

BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON

Bob Papa
Duncan Kennedy (Luge)
John Morgan (Bobsled)
Lea Ann Parsley (Skeleton)
Lewis Johnson

CROSS COUNTRY & BIATHLON

Al Trautwig
Chad Salmela

CURLING

Andrew Catalon
Don Duguid
Colleen Jones
Elfi Schlegel

FIGURE SKATING

Tom Hammond
Sandra Bezic
Scott Hamilton
Tracy Wilson
Andrea Joyce

FREESTYLE SKIING

Todd Harris
Jonny Moseley
Tina Dixon

HOCKEY

Mike Emrick
Kenny Albert
Eddie Olczyk
AJ Mleczko
Pierre McGuire
Joe Micheletti
Mike Milbury
Cammi Granato
Jeremy Roenick

SHORT TRACK

Ted Robinson
Andy Gabel
Andrea Joyce

SNOWBOARDING

Pat Parnell
Todd Richards
Tina Dixon

SPEED SKATING

Dan Hicks
Dan Jansen
Andrea Kremer

SKI JUMPING

Matt Vasgersian
Jeff Hastings

The Saints won a rather thrilling Super Bowl last night, and the majority of the East Coast got to drink themselves to sleep after learning of most business calling an audible day-off for workers because of snow. Now that the haze has worn off, there are three rather interesting stories that happened over the Super Bowl weekend that I'm looking at today. In order they are Michael Irvin's rape allegation and firing from ESPN Radio, Warren Sapp getting arrested and being dropped from NFL Network's coverage and Steve Phillips sitting down with Matt Lauer this morning. First up....Michael Irvin....
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On the same day that his former teammate Emmitt Smith was getting into the Hall of Fame, Michael Irvin was getting fired from his ESPN Radio job after another alleged rape charge was levied against him Dallas. Not only that but ESPN decided to fire the former Cowboy WR from his gig at 103.3 FM even though Irvin's contract was set to expire at the end of the week. There were reportedly no plans to renew it, but ESPN opted to fire him anyway. Irvin (unlike Sapp) made his appearances on NFL Network over the weekend, spoke briefly about the allegation to reporters, and then filed a $100 Million counter suit against his alleged victim. Via ESPN....

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin made his first public appearance since he was accused in a civil suit of rape. He filed a $100 million countersuit against his accuser.

Irvin worked the Hall of Fame ceremonies for the NFL Network on Saturday. He was subdued at times but also emotional, especially when former teammate, running back Emmitt Smith, was selected for induction.

"It's not about me, but that's it," Irvin told a small group of reporters before they had a chance to ask questions. Irvin said he would only talk about the Hall of Fame.

Irvin's suit, filed in Dallas County, Texas, asks for $100 million in damages for allegations filed in a lawsuit that claim Irvin raped a woman identified as "Jane Doe" at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., in 2007.

The countersuit claims that the civil suit filed by the woman caused him to be fired from his radio job.

It's interesting that ESPN decided to follow up with the story after taking no time in firing Irvin. Like the story said, no charges were filed against him and his contract was set to run out, so it really makes no sense as to why ESPN Radio decided to fire him right away.
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The day after Michael Irvin got his walking papers, another analyst in Miami spent the night in jail. A crazy story came out of South Beach that NFL Network Analyst Warren Sapp had been dropped from the network's coverage of the Super Bowl, and after NFL-N confirmed the claims, Sapp spent the night in jail on a domestic abuse charge. Via the Sun Sentinel....

Police arrested Sapp on Saturday on one charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. An arrest affidavit says the incident happened around 5 a.m. Saturday in the former defensive tackle's hotel room at the Shore Club on Miami Beach.

Sapp's attorney said the former player is taking the matter seriously and will cooperate with authorities.

"He sincerely apologizes to the NFL family and fans for taking away any distraction from today's big game," Christopher Lyons said. "We ask that everyone reserve judgment on the matter until all the facts come out in a court of law."

The woman said she had been dating Sapp about two years. She told officers the two were partying with a large group of friends when she got tired and went to lay down.

Sapp entered hours later, pulled her out of bed and tried to get her out of the room, according to the complaint. The complaint says he yelled at the woman about men she had been hanging out with and men listed in her cell phone. The woman told police Sapp choked her, threw her down on a couch, then picked her up by her shirt and neck and threw her down again — injuring her leg. The victim had a swollen knee and bruises on her neck, the affidavit says. She was taken to the hospital.

Just a messy situation all around. According to Sports by Brooks, Sapp had been seen around Miami with a certain lady friend, but as of now the accuser wants to remain anonymous.
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As far as Steve Phillips, the former ESPN Baseball analyst made an appearance on the Today Show this morning to talk about his sexual addiction. Phillips, who is giving his first public interview since leaving the same rehab clinic Tiger Woods reportedly has been staying at, told Matt Lauer that he, "I couldn't stop myself from doing the things I was doing, even knowing the consequences." Here's the clip....


Man, what a weekend!

Well the time is upon us. Super Bowl XLIV is here, and I wanted to pass along your full broadcasting schedule. I've broken it down by network (CBS, ESPN and NFL Network), so you can flip around during the day depending on where your interests lie.

CBS

The Road To The Super Bowl (Noon-1pm)
Phil Simms All-Iron Team (1pm-2pm)
Studio Show: Super Bowl Today (2-6pm) - James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, Charley Casserly; Reporters: Lesley Visser, Sam Ryan, Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots, Dick Enberg and contributor Katie Couric

SEGMENTS:

- THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS: James Brown takes a look at New Orleans four-and-a-half years after one of the nation's worst natural catastrophes, Hurricane Katrina
- PLAXICO BURRESS: Plaxico Burress sits down with Bill Cowher for his first interview since being sent to jail in September of 2009.
- DREW BREES: Katie Couric sits down with the Saints quarterback.
- REGGIE BUSH: Bush is interviewed by NFL Today analyst Shannon Sharpe.
- NEW ORLEANS DEFENSE: Lesley Visser sits down with Darren Sharper, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith as they prepare to face the Colts high octane offense.
- PEYTON MANNING: Dan Marino visits with him and talks about Manning’s first Super Bowl win three years ago in Miami, the Colts’ decision not to go for a perfect season, and facing the team that his father Archie played for, the New Orleans Saints.
- DWIGHT FREENEY AND ROBERT MATHIS: Boomer Esiason sits down with Freeney and Mathis as they get ready to take on Drew Brees and the Saints.
- INDIANAPOLIS RECEIVING CORPS: Sam Ryan visits with the Colts’ receiving corps and discusses the role Peyton Manning has played in the quartet’s success.
- WYNTON MARSALIS: Jazz impresario Wynton Marsalis pays a special tribute with music and words to his beloved city of New Orleans.
- BARACK OBAMA: Katie Couric interviews the President before the game.
- GUY FIERI: Will prepare the “perfect tailgate food.”
- MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Steve Winwood & Daughtry

SUPER BOWL XLIV (6:28pm Kickoff)- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots

ESPN

Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN2, 6am)- Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
SportsCenter (ESPN, 7am)
Outside the Lines (ESPN, 8am)- Bob Ley Guest: Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley
The Sports Reporters (ESPN, 8:30am)- John Saunders and a panel of sports journalists
SportsCenter live from Sun Life Stadium (ESPN, 9am)- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski
Sunday NFL Countdown (ESPN, 10am-2pm)- Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter, Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, Tedi Bruschi, Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden, Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter, Suzy Kolber and Ed Werder

Special Guests:

– Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider, stars of the upcoming movie Grown Ups (11:30am)
- Celebrity chef and television personality Emeril Lagasse, who lives in New Orleans, will discuss Cajun Super Bowl cuisine (12:30pm)
– Grammy Award-winning musician Kenny Chesney, a close friend to Saints head coach Sean Payton, will appear on the show (1pm)

NFL Network

NFL GAMEDAY MORNING SUPER BOWL SUNDAY PREGAME FROM SOUTH FLORIDA (9am-5:30pm)- Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Rich Eisen
From the Sun Life Stadium booth: Fran Charles, Rod Woodson
From NFC and AFC hotels- Scott Hanson, Kara Henderson
From South Beach set- Alex Flanagan, Jamie Dukes, Tom Waddle

SEGMENTS:

- A look inside the Indianapolis Colts defense with Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Gary Brackett.
- How Colts WR Pierre Garcon and Saints LB Jonathan Vilma are bound together by the disaster relief effort in Haiti.
- A closer look at what the Saints organization and players mean to the city of New Orleans, straight from the fans.
- Steve Sabol gives his take on how the legacy of Colts icon Peyton Manning now includes taking on his father’s team in Super Bowl XLIV.
- Super Bowl Journey – Saints DT Anthony Hargrove visits the Miami rehabilitation facility that he was in a year ago.
- In Memoriam – A reflection on the NFL icons that were lost in 2009
- Sabol chronicles the best decade of Super Bowl matchups
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Also, if you're planning on betting on the Super Bowl, be sure to check out the ridiculous props at Bodog.

There are so many broadcasting awards out there, that it's hard to figure out which ones are the most respected in the business. Obviously winning an Emmy is at the top of the list, but the individual sports broadcasting awards go as follows: Curt Gowdy- Basketball, Ford C. Frick- Baseball and Pat Summerall- Football.

Doug Collins won the Gowdy last year, Jon Miller was given the Frick last week and now Cris Collinsworth has been awarded the Summerall for contributions to the NFL....

Former Florida Gator Great and current NFL sportscaster Cris Collinsworth will be honored with the prestigious Pat Summerall Award on Thursday, Feb. 4, at the annual Legends for Charity Dinner. Each year, the award honors an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sports field. Past recipients include James Brown, Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz and Chris Berman. The event will take place at the NFL Headquarters Hotel at the Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

During his time at UF from 1977-80, Collinsworth was a three-time All-SEC and two-time All-American performer at wide receiver. As a Gator, he caught 120 passes for 1,937 yards and 14 touchdowns, ran for two other touchdowns and returned a kickoff for another score. He was inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2001.

Collinsworth played eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and the 1981 Rookie of the Year was also selected to play in three Pro Bowls. Following his NFL career, he became a sportscaster and has since won nine Emmy’s for his work as a sports personality and football analyst. In 2008, Collinsworth covered the Olympic Games for NBC and currently joins Al Michaels as the host of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

A well-deserved honor to be sure. Usually when you try to replace a legend like John Madden, you either fail completely or it takes a few years to get the chemistry down. Collinsworth made the transition seamlessly and kept NBC rolling throughout the season. Bravo Sir!

Former Gator Cris Collinsworth To Be Recognized (WCTV)

Unlike ESPN, FOX just goes ahead and plans the whole Baseball season out waaaay ahead of time, and just before pitchers and catchers report they release it for the world to enjoy. Or to see how many times the Red Sox and Yankees play on the network. Surprisingly though there are a total of four teams that appear on the network more than New York and Boston. Here's this year's team breakdown.....

Phillies - 9
Mariners - 9
Braves - 9
Twins - 9
Yankees - 8
Red Sox - 8
Cubs - 8
Mets - 8
Cardinals - 8
Angels - 7
Rangers - 7
Giants - 7
Rays - 5
White Sox - 5

FOX will also throw in a few 7pm games into the mix (May 22nd & June 26). All games start at 4pm EST unless otherwise noted....
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Saturday, April 10th (3pm)

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers
Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers

Saturday, April 17th

New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers

Saturday, April 24th

New York Yankees at Anaheim Angels
Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox

Saturday, May 1st (3pm)

New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves

Saturday, May 8th (3pm)

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies

Saturday, May 15th

Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers
Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays
Houston Astros at San Francisco Giants

Saturday, May 22nd (7pm)

New York Yankees at New York Mets
Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers

Saturday, May 29th

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins
Seattle Mariners at Anaheim Angels

Saturday, June 5th

Florida Marlins at New York Mets
Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals
Anaheim Angels at Seattle Mariners

Saturday, June 12th

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

Saturday, June 19th

Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox
Minnesota Twins at Philadelphia Phillies

Saturday, June 26th (7pm)

New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers
Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants
Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox

Saturday, July 3rd

Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals
Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins
Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves

Saturday, July 10th

Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

Saturday, July 17th

Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals

Saturday, July 24th

New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles

Saturday, July 31st

Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
Seattle Mariners at Minnesota Twins

Saturday, August 7th

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves

Saturday, August 14th

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays

Saturday, August 21st

Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs
Anaheim Angels at Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles

Saturday, August 28th

Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres
Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners
Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves

Saturday, September 4th

New York Mets at Chicago Cubs
Anaheim Angels at Oakland A’s
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins

Saturday, September 11th

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves
Seattle Mariners at Anaheim Angels

Saturday, September 18th

Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox
Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers

Saturday, September 25th

TBD

Saturday, October 2nd

TBD