You Been Blinded came across this very odd exchange on First Take yesterday, and I had to share this afternoon. Yesterday, Dana Jacobson and Jay Crawford were joking with Barry Melrose (who was off set) about what he uses to keep his "middle age good looks", and....well....just watch....

He did say "chicken SHIP" (not S**T), but still....a little odd right? I thought the exchange was rather funny, but apparently the powers that be made Jacobson apologize for the comment....



Man, Dana is always doing other people's dirty work. I can think of about three different people she's had to apologize for, and that of course doesn't include herself (see: Mike & Mike Roast). I guess ESPN thinks she's had the practice.

Barry Melrose Uses Chicken Ship as Skin Care Product (You Been Blinded)

There's a long list of commentators that end up in front office jobs, but it seems to happen in Hockey more often than any other Sport. Most recently, Barry Melrose took a turn in the coach's seat for the Lightning, and now NBC analyst Pierre McGuire is on the short list of candidates for the vacant GM spot with the Minnesota Wild. Via the Star Tribune....

With the help of a committee that includes former Wild CEO Jac Sperling, owner Craig Leipold has weeded down a list of nearly 30 applicants to a handful of men who bring vastly different perspectives to the job, multiple league and team sources say.

The short list includes Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Chuck Fletcher, TSN and NBC color analyst Pierre McGuire, longtime NHL GM and coach Pat Quinn, Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton and Wild acting GM Tom Lynn.

While other unidentified candidates possibly could emerge, sources say the two considered frontrunners have interviews lined up.

Fletcher, 41, is expected to be in town later this week, while it's believed McGuire, 47, will interview today.

Well that's certainly an interesting list of potential employees. I've always enjoyed McGuire's "Between The Glass" segments and insight, but it's rare that a move like this works out. No matter what the Sport is.

Interviews on tap for short list of Wild GM candidates (Star Tribune)

Esquire magazine put together a collection of sixty-three different males, that the average male should emulate. Among the Sports figures were Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Phelps, Dustin Pedroia, Derek Jeter, Shaquille O'Neal and Peyton Manning, but it was the inclusion of six announcers that caught my attention. Charles Barkley, Phil Simms, Troy Aikman, Lee Corso, Barry Melrose and Dick Vitale, all were on the list, and here's the mag's reasoning on each....

Charles Barkley: "For what he said to the cops."

Phil Simms: "...and Phil Simms both seemed like towheaded dicks when they won Super Bowls, but each has come into his own as a hardworking, insightful color man."

Troy Aikman: "The manhood of some men emerges over time. They don't seem to be men, and then suddenly — or slowly — they are."

Lee Corso, Barry Melrose, Dick Vitale: "They love their jobs, and as each of them will tell you: It's hard out there for a pimp."

You know what, that's not really that bad of an assessment. As annoying as you might find some of them, they all seem to love what they do, and that's really half the battle. I personally wouldn't call them "role models", but you can certainly learn from their work ethic.

The List of Men: Sixty-Six Guys to Emulate (Esquire)

Well sort of. They didn't use their names, but two characters at the beginning of yesterday's Simpsons bore a striking resemblance to Don Cherry and Barry Melrose. At the start of the latest episode Homer is watching a Hockey game, when a fight breaks out. Homer gets mad at the announcer for saying that fighting is bad and after that, they go to a studio show which features the two Hockey talking heads....

I couldn't make out the names they used, but I'm pretty sure that's the two of them. Good stuff.

I didn't really pay much attention to this whole exchange when it went down, but it's reached a level now that I can't ignore. Both Barry Melrose and the Tampa Bay Lightning took shots at each other recently, but since Melrose fired the first one, the Ligntning's Ownership is looking to take him to court for a breach of contract. Seriously....

The Tampa Bay Lightning ownership group is contemplating filing a charge with the league claiming Barry Melrose breached his contract when he spoke out Tuesday against his former team.

If the Lightning go ahead and the league supports the claim, they can than refuse to pay Melrose the remaining $2.25M owed on his 3-year deal.

"Finally the guys in charge decided they wanted to coach and they got rid of me. That's what it comes down to. It obviously wasn't a hockey decision, because it's not like they've set the world on fire since they got rid of me...Now they've got guys in charge that let them do what they want and obviously that isn't working out very well either."

When pressed about who he was referring to with his comments, Melrose said he had a lot of respect for co-owner Oren Koules, but didn't want to talk about other co-owner Len Barrie when asked directly about him.

While I don't think Melrose should have been dropped so soon, there's something to be said for "not burning any bridges". If the team is still going to be paying you money, it might not be wise to bash them in the media. Just saying.

Bolts look to strike down Melrose (Sportsnet)

Could it be possible that ESPN has two....count them....two employees who only work on-air for Hockey segments? Well according to the Dallas Morning News, via Going Five Hole, that's exactly what the "Leader" will do when they decide to give Barry Melrose his job back following his recent firing from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Looks like Barry Melrose, fired after 16 games in his return to coaching this season, is moving back to Bristol. I think this is breaking news. I don't know because I seldom recognize it.

Melrose worked 12 years as an ESPN hockey analyst after coaching the Los Angeles Kings. The Tampa Bay Lightning thought so much of his work, it hired him to coach the team this season. That gig lasted about one-fifth of a season. Melrose's new ESPN deal is for three years.

Well that's nice that in this economy, Melrose has a spot reserved for him at his former employer. In all seriousness, if anyone is going to work with new hire Matthew Barnaby on the network, it has to be Melrose. He's an ESPN staple at this point, so welcome back, Barry.

In other hockey news, Sean Avery has issued an apology for his remarks, but will unlikely be staying with the Stars. Here is his statement on the matter....

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary. I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past. I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the Commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars Management and Ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."

Sean Avery Apologizes (Dallas Observer)
Barry Melrose headed back to ESPN (Dallas Morning News)
Barry Melrose Headed Back to ESPN (Going Five Hole)

Sean Leahy at GFH came across this video of Barry Melrose's going away party at the Greatest Bar in Boston which was filmed by some Internet video network called Dirty Water. There's nothing like some sappy music set to a YouTube video to get you all emotional on a Tuesday afternoon....

Nice cameos and words from John Buccigross, Steve Levy and EJ Hradek in there. The host seemed a little lost, but I guess that's what you'd expect from a Boston-based, night club TV show reporter. According to her bio on DirtyWater.com, Christina White, "has an Exercise Science degree from UMASS-Amherst but she minored in FUN!!" So look out Boston!

Video: The Barry Melrose ESPN Goodbye Party (Going Five Hole)

I passed the story along to you back at the end of May, but it's now official (and you doubted me...tsk tsk). Barry Melrose is leaving ESPN to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning and ESPN is giving him a heroes departure. Every Sports Center anchor is praising his work as they talk about the story and here is a little clip they put together that they've dubbed "The Best of Barry"....

I know that Hockey has taken a backseat over at ESPN as of late but the best thing they ever did was keep Melrose around. He loves the game and did so even when the network he worked for didn't. Good for you Barry and good luck.

Barry Melrose Could Be Leaving ESPN For Tampa Bay (Awful Announcing)

Yet another analyst is going back to his coaching roots, but this time at ESPN. Hockey analyst Barry Melrose and his fabulous mullet are reportedly heading to Tampa Bay and will the new Coach of the Lightning....

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Barry Melrose will reportedly take over for John Tortorella behind the Tampa Bay Lightning bench within the next few days.

The Toronto Star reported Friday that the former Los Angeles Kings coach will be named as a replacement for Tortorella, who has yet to be fired by the Lightning.

Melrose, who is currently a featured NHL analyst for ESPN, has not coached a team since he left the Kings in the 1994-95 season. In the 1992-93 season, he helped guide the team to its first and only Stanley Cup Finals appearance, which the team lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens. However, Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs in the next two seasons.

I'm sure Melrose has always wanted to Coach, but it's kind of bad timing as ESPN has decided to devote more coverage to the Sport as of late. I guess that leaves John Buccigross as the only Hockey guy left at the "Leader".

Melrose in, Tortorella out in Tampa Bay (Seattle P-I)

This is yet another quote that deserves to fall into the "What in the Hell were you thinking?!?!?!" category, and might actually head to the top of the list. ESPN Hockey Analyst (I was unaware ESPN talked about Hockey anymore) Barry Melrose was talking about the New Jersey Devils' new Arena (Prudential Center) when he dropped this bomb on the State of New Jersey (1:30 mark)....

"Don't go outside if you have a wallet or anything else, because the area around the arena is just horrible."

New Jersey is rightfully up in arms, and Melrose has already issued a "heart-felt" apology....

"I was trying to be funny and I'm sorry it didn't come through that way," he said by phone from St. Louis. "No excuse. When I talk I don't want to offend anybody. I love hockey and I want Newark to be a success. I certainly never wanted to hurt the feelings of the people of Newark or the people of New Jersey. There was no malice on my part."

The key words in that apology "trying to be funny". Sportcasters are not comedians, and this practice of trying to be is ruining the profession. There's a reason why people like myself and others hold people like Al Michaels, Keith Jackson, and Marv Albert up on a pedestal. It's because they are classy (Marv's personal problems aside) when calling a Sporting Event. Sure they can be funny at times, but it never distracts from the sport and puts them above the players and the game.

This is the main reason people like Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser have failed or are failing in the booth. There's no need for humor or entertainment....the game is the entertainment. On the flip side though, no one really even knew the Hockey season had started. Good work by Barry to bring some attention to the Sport. Any news is good news right ESPN?

ESPN's Melrose sorry for remarks about Newark (USA Today)
Barry Melrose Thinks Newark Might Be A Tad Unsafe (The Lefty Call)