Bryant Gumbel was filling in for Regis on Regis and Kelly today, and he dropped a bomb on the viewing audience. Gumbel announced that he has been receiving treatment for Lung Cancer. Via People....

The sportscaster and TV host, 61, said that he had surgery last month to remove a malignant tumor in his chest, a revelation prompted when Kelly Ripa asked Gumbel, subbing for Regis Philbin, to dance – and he begged off. According to Gumbel, part of his lung was removed, and he will be seeing his surgeon next week.

“We had told a few people, we told my family, obviously. I even kept it from my staff at Real Sports. So I’m okay for the time being. I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again.”- Bryant Gumbel

While I find it a bit odd that he decided to announce it on an ABC show that his filling in on, he does seem to be in good spirits about the whole thing. I obviously can't imagine what it would be like to hear that type of news, but I can guarantee I wouldn't be as cool with it as Gumbel. Good luck in beating it, Bryant.

Bryant Gumbel Has Lung Cancer (People)

If this was yesterday, I would almost certainly think that this was an April Fool's joke, but alas....it is not. Greg Gumbel is suing a company called Encore because they used his likeness in informercials, instead of what was agreed upon. Apparently his voice was supposed to support a line of educational products, but instead was used for time shares, and get this....magnet therapy. Via the Huff Po....

CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel claims in a lawsuit a television producer tricked him into hosting a series of Internet infomercials.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale. The suit claims Paul Douglas Scott, owner of Deerfield Beach-based Encore Television Group Inc., told Gumbel he would be announcing introductions for educational programming. Instead, Gumbel says his introductions were used in infomercials for time-shares, magnet therapy and other products.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and to have the videos taken down.

Gumbel's attorney would not comment on the suit. A telephone number listed on Encore's Web site had been disconnected.

That's just crazy, but seriously though....what's wrong with magnet therapy? I mean, I don't exactly know what it is, but money is money. In fact, if Greg doesn't want his voice on the infomercials, I know someone who needs the work. His brother, Bryant.

Greg Gumbel says he was tricked into infomercials (Huffington Post)

Huzzah! That was fast wasn't it? You would have thought that HBO would have taken a little bit of time considering Bob Costas left just two days ago, but when there's a marquee guy like Buck out there I guess you don't wait. The network made it official just a few minutes ago and here's their press release....

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2009 – HBO Sports, widely recognized for its pioneering, award-winning and distinctive storytelling productions, will add another accomplished broadcast talent to its programming roster when Joe Buck hosts a sports talk show launching this May, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports, and Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports. The new series will be presented on a quarterly basis and likely utilize a live town hall format.

“I am flattered and beyond excited that HBO has given me this opportunity,” said Buck, who will continue as FOX Sports’ lead play-by-play commentator on its NFL and MLB packages. “With HBO’s track record, production quality and rate of success, there is no more desirable home in sports. I hope to create something fresh and unique for the network that truly showcases all I can do. And I hope to get Larry David’s cell phone number someday.”

“At HBO we strive to produce programs viewers cannot watch anywhere else on the dial,” said Greenburg. “Whether it’s ‘Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel’ or ‘Hard Knocks’ or our ‘Sports of the 20th Century’ documentary franchise, we try to capture our audience’s attention with something unique and innovative. With someone as talented and engaging as Joe Buck, this new show should become another signature program for HBO Sports.”

“We will craft the series to showcase Joe’s character and personality,” said Bernstein. “Joe is a tremendous broadcaster and we are thrilled to develop this new platform with him.”

So yeah, I said everything I wanted to say in regards to this yesterday, so umm....good luck or something. Oh and Larry David's cell phone number? You never cease to amaze me with your wit and humor, Buckster.

With Costas Gone, The HBO Door Opens For Joe Buck (Awful Announcing)

Came across this story in the NY Post and thought it was interesting enough to pass along. The Soccer company Mitre is claiming that an HBO piece on the company was actually a "hoax and a hatchet job". The show painted the company as one that uses childhood labor in India, but Mitre has fired back with a lawsuit claiming above all else that HBO fabricated the whole thing. They even claim to have videos where workers say that Real Sports producers asked them to lie on camera....

Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Bernard Goldberg interviewed Manjit Kaur, 12, a purported orphan who claimed to earn 5 cents an hour making balls until "her back aches and her eyes hurt," according to the complaint.

But in a video that's been entered into the court record as evidence, the little girl's father says his daughter was offered 100 rupees - the equivalent of $2 - in exchange for her cooperation.

"The show that was presented to tens of millions of people was a hoax and a hatchet job," Lloyd Constantine, Mitre's lawyer, charges in the complaint.

The company also obtained videos from the parents of two other children, Deepak and Aman Singh, 10 and 13, who they say also lied about squatting on dirt floors and missing school to make soccer balls, for the honor of being on television, the complaint claims.

Mitre believes it was targeted by HBO because it is a high-profile foreign manufacturer with exclusive contracts with Major League Soccer and the English Premier League.

Wow, that's a hell of a claim, but stranger things have happened between businesses in the same industry. The article also states that Wal-Mart and Modell's Sporting Goods pulled the company's products off the shelf, so if this lawsuit turns out to be valid, Mitre could sue for tens of millions of dollars. It'll be interesting to see where this one goes, but much like any case, it will probably be dragged out for a year or so.

Firm Kicks HBO (NY Post)

I really spoke too soon when I said Spygate was over, and you probably don't care about this, but I thought I'd pass the info along anyway. Matt Walsh is going to sit down with Bryant Gumbel for an interview that will air tomorrow night.

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL presents the first TV interview with one of the central figures in the New England Patriots videotaping scandal – former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh – when the show is seen FRIDAY, MAY 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Correspondent Andrea Kremer interviews Walsh, who worked in the Patriots organization from 1997 to 2003. The videotaping came to light in September after the Patriots-Jets season opener in New Jersey, triggering a media firestorm. The Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick were subsequently disciplined by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

I guess it's a big deal that HBO got the first interview with the former Patriots' videotapper, but I don't know what new things they can bring to light. This isn't something I'm gone to postpone my Friday Night for.

(Via HBO PR)

Following the heels of the widely successful (sarcasm folks) look into Sports Media, Bob Costas is going to host another panel, but this time on the state of Horse Racing. This time the panel is going to take place before NBC kicks of it's coverage of the Preakness this Saturday.

Fresh off his sports media roundtable on blogs for HBO, Bob Costas will kick off the network's coverage of the Preakness Stakes (Saturday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET) with a panel discussion on the filly's catastrophic breakdown and other controversies surrounding Thoroughbred horse racing, says producer Sam Flood.

Among the guests: Churchill Downs veterinarian Larry Bramlage; Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones; NBC analyst Gary Stevens; and New York Times columnist William Rhoden, who blasted the sport of kings as "only a couple of steps removed from animal fighting."

I guess NBC feels it should take the time to address Eight Belles after all of the controversy surrounding the coverage of Eight Belles collapse, and that's probably a good decision. The panel seems qualified and even on both sides to address the issue of airing the animal's death and it should be a good discussion.

Costas panel to dissect horse racing's dark side (USA Today)

In other Horse Racing news, HBO's Real Sports debuted this past Monday with an extremely detailed and informative look into the Sport. I pulled the clip for everyone to view, but I have to warn you ahead of time that it's extremely depressing and graphic. It was a trainwreck type situation for me in that I never wanted to see these images, but I couldn't look away. There are parts that detail how the horses are destroyed and the process that some individuals go through to save them.

In true Real Sports fashion it's a great story, but again very very very graphic and depressing. Choose whether you want to watch it wisely.....

Everyone is calling for the NFL Network to make a huge splash. Whether it's a smart choice like hiring Marv Albert, or an idiotic one like hiring Pam Ward, the choices are out there. I'm not even going to touch the Pam Ward thing again, but Marv Albert is an interesting choice. There's just one small problem, when the NFL Network gets their schedule underway in Week 10.....Albert is calling Thursday Night NBA games for TNT. Sure Albert does the Monday Night Football game on radio and he would be great, but there's no way TNT is sharing him on Thursdays.

So who does that leave? Well how about the guy that filled in for Gumbel during the Week 14 matchup between the Broncos and Texans?

Tom Hammond worked that game with Cris Collinsworth and I was shocked at how well they did as a team. They poked fun at each other at times and had fun with a game that had the Texans blowing away the Broncos in the 2nd Half. Most would have found a 31-13 game boring, but Hammond kept me watching somehow. He was so good that night that I wrote this following the live-blog....

As far as the booth goes. I don't know what to say. Tom Hammond is everything that Gumbel isn't. He was clear and concise, spoke with conviction, and didn't make mistakes (or cough up phlegm in the booth). Did someone say Wally Pipp? I hope the NFL Network is reading.

I hope they're reading again as I'm begging them to hire Tom Hammond to work with Collinsworth. Marv Albert would be great, but Hammond would be better.

A few people in Kansas City emailed me a story from TV Critic Aaron Barnhart and it appears he has either decided to come up with a cruelest of all jokes or he has never watched Sports before. See Mr. Barnhart has a way that NFL Network could make history AND get a great new hire as a replacement for Bryant Gumbel. Hire Pam Ward. Seriously......

After that debacle, the NFL should be looking for an upgrade. Problem is, the league presumably can't go cherry-pick talent from its broadcast partners at NBC, CBS and ESPN. But what if it could have a talented non-NFL announcer from one of those networks, make it broadcasts network-quality ... and score a PR coup in the process?

Gentlemen of the jury, I give you ... Pam Ward.

Not just because she used to toil at a station where I now contribute (WBAL), but because Pam Ward is the best play-by-play talent not calling games for either MLB or the NFL. And because if you're going to make history, you'd better make it with somebody who won't embarrass you, will work hard and keep her head down and make her critics seem like very small-minded (and membered) people.

Wow....just wow. Normally I stay away from opinion based pieces like these but this is the dumbest idea I've heard in....well ever. This is dumber than Duel, Who's Now, and Chris Berman at the Masters combined. Since I'm responsible for the Deadspin link that he added above let me explain something to you Mr. Barnhart. It's very simple in fact....

People who don't know the rules of Football shouldn't be calling games (which is clearly evident in that clip and throughout her calls last season).

See it's not that Pam Ward isn't good at calling certain games (WNBA), it's that she's always terrible calling Football games. She gets names wrong, plays wrong, and comes across as never having seen a Football game. Sort of like Mr. Barnhart.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and likes who they like, but Pam Ward can't call College games right and you want her on Pro ones? Okaaaaay. Joe Buck and Joe Morgan always come up on this site as individuals people can't stand, but there's always one or two that comes to their defense. Out of the tens of thousands of comments and emails I've received not one person has ever defended Pam Ward as a College Football announcer. Oh and you can add to that the million plus people who voted her into the Semifinals of the AOL Worst Announcer Tournament.

Also, making an uninformed statements like....

Scanning the blogs brought me no relief, either, as I uncovered only cheerfully sexist sites, like the one that claimed to chronicle the foibles of announcer regardless of gender, so what if all the names in big type were women's?

...Just makes you look uninformed and dumb. This site's editor is so sexist that he said on the radio in Houston last week that Erin Andrews and Stacey Dales should get a chance as analysts in the booth. Not just because they are attractive but because they care about the Sports they cover and are extremely intelligent. Which is more than I could say for some of the current ESPN announcers.

I'm not going to start a "Blogging War" with a random TV reporter, but if you want to tell him why he's wrong in the comments....I'm sure he's reading.

Update: Thanks to App Fan for reminding me of this video as well.....



How the NFL Network could make history (TV Barn)
Do You Understand The Words That Are Coming Out Of My Mouth? (App Fan)

The most infamous tailgaters, The Dead Tree Crew, were featured on Real Sports last night and did not disappoint. Via the Sporting Blog.....

Real Sports always does a great job with these type of stories and this one is no different. I personally hated my last trip to Fed Ex field for the Giants game this past season, but that's just me. I saw two full on brawls, people yelling at kids in Giants jerseys, and there was a rumor of a female fan getting accosted in a bathroom as well. There's also the fact that beers are $8 and the stadium's parking situation is just impossible.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I actually agree that it's pretty out of control. At least in Raljon er, Landover, Maryland it is. That's just one man's opinion though.

People Get Drunk at NFL Games? Shocking! (The Sporting Blog)

I know everyone does these things and creates Best of and Worst of lists, Top 10s, and etc.....but I think we can do it better. It's going to be along the lines of the SI piece done by Richard Deitsch, but with a lot more categories I'm sure he couldn't include (and no Verne Lundquist will not be the Best Announcer).

That's where I need your help. I'm obviously going to have the Best/Worst Lead, Best/Worst Newcomer, etc. and need your suggestions for those categories. But we need more than that don't we? How about Best Sexual Innuendo Quote of the Year? Or maybe Worst Technical Glitch of the Year??? If you have nominees for anything....categories, worst announcers, or even people you thought were great.....leave them in the comments, or email me at AwfulAnnouncing@Gmail.com. Be sure to include your website as everyone who contributes will get a nice quote and a shiny maroon link.

Thanks for your help and hopefully we'll have this up by the New Year.

Cheers,
BP- Awful Announcing

P.S.- The title and logo probably needs a little help too.

Good news for you folks wanting to see the "Path to Perfection" this Saturday night. The NFL has decided to make your dreams come true by letting NBC and CBS simulcast the Patriots-Giants game.....

The NFL has arranged with broadcast television partners CBS and NBC for an unprecedented three-way national simulcast of the NFL Network telecast of Saturday night’s New England Patriots at New York Giants game when the Patriots will try to become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in a regular season, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today.

“We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans,” Commissioner Goodell said. “What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever.”

CBS and NBC will carry the NFL Network feed of the game with BRYANT GUMBEL and CRIS COLLINSWORTH in the broadcast booth. The game also will be televised by WCVB-ABC (Channel 5) in Boston, WMUR-ABC in Manchester, New Hampshire (Channel 9) and WWOR (Channel 9) in New York. The telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET with kickoff set at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Woo hoo! Everyone gets to see a blowout, but a historic blowout. Everyone better show up for the live-blog now.

NFL arranges simulcast of Patriots-Giants on NFL Network, CBS and NBC (NFL.com)

If I told you a network was devoting 65 hours of coverage to the Patriots you would swear that it was ESPN right? Well I'm sure they'll come up with something after the NFL Network announced that they'll be dedicating over 2 entire days to the Patriots-Giants game this Saturday....

Are you ready for this?

Following are highlights of NFL Network's Patriots-Giants coverage:

» A record six-hour Total Access pregame show, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
» Pregame talent includes Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Adam Schefter and Scott Hanson on location, with Fran Charles, Jamie Dukes, Rod Woodson, Jim Mora and Terrell Davis from NFL Network studios. Sterling Sharpe and Brian Baldinger host Playbook segments, and Mike Mayock has a sit-down interview with Bill Belichick.
» NFL Classics encore showings of six of the Patriots' victories -- complete games featuring the original network telecast.
» NFL Replay shows seven of the team's victories -- including late-season close calls against Baltimore and Philadelphia and the three most-watched games of the NFL season against Dallas, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
» A special one-hour Who Is ..., discussing Who Is Perfect?
» A special one-hour edition of Playbook featuring Patriots-Giants matchups.
» Live coverage of Patriots press conferences all week.
» A special countdown clock popping up in all NFL Network programming, counting down to the game kickoff. It will appear approximately 1,200 times prior to kickoff.

The 65.5 hours of coverage is in addition to game previews, analysis and interviews on NFL Total Access, Point After, and Put Up Your Dukes.

Six ENTIRE games? Umm....wow. I don't know what you say to that. I guess the fact that no one gets your channel doesn't stop you from throwing money down the drain. Hell they even named this event "The Path to Perfection" (I'm feeling queasy already).

There's a video up that asks the question..."Who is the Pats biggest threat?" I think it's obvious that it's Heath Evans.

NFL Network to spend inordinate amount of time on a game that means nothing, so much (Construda)
All Roads Lead To Patriots-Giants (NFL Network)

P.S.- Sorry for using the same photo again but it seemed necessary.

I mentioned this last night, and lined up to some of the things Bryant Gumbel has said it isn't that crazy, but what in the hell is he talking about here?

The restroom? I'm confused. Did he mean locker room??? Oh forget it....I'm done trying to figure out Gumbel. Just get him the hell out of there please. Oh and congrats to Marshall Faulk for getting his jersey retired.....you need to go too. Oh and Deion....

You get the idea.

Update: Thanks to the commenters good ears it's clear that Gumbel said Dressing Room. Great work everyone.

Don't know how many people out there have NFL Network (or better yet...care about this game), but I'll be live-blogging the thing tonight starting around 7ish/8ish. I need a break from the Mitchell Report so hopefully you can join in.

See you then.

"Coach Shanhan came over and asked me if I could give him 30 snaps and I said I am under contract with the NFL. I am not Bobby Petrino I will not leave my post."- Deion Sanders

Pretty funny actually, but immediately after Rich Eisen asked him a question about the tallest receivers he had to cover and he could only up with Michael Irvin and "That Guy From Detroit". The only person I could think of was Herman Moore.

Yep, good follow up Eisen. Moore's a winner.

The NFL Network has been airing this same College Football Now commercial for about a month now and they play it about 40 times each game. Can we change it up guys?

"I thought you were getting ready to give us a Lee Corso there. Wear the head gear of the team you were picking."- Rich Eisen to Deion after the Texans' Trainer gave him a Texans' beanie.

"John's been the "Lynch" pin of this Broncos' Defense."- Denver Poetry Slam Guy

Clever.

Ooh....George Bush is in the house and it's "Battle Red Day". Seriously....what is with all of the Led Zepplin lately? God Bless them, but did anyone see the highlights from the concert??? Ugh. Kickoff coming up....

"Anyone see the blimp outside their window?" (Via Anon)

Good question. Someone find that thing and give me a review.

Tom Hammond is looking daper tonight and Cris is sporting a Bengals-like tie.

"I've played against you in Baseketball, the way you cheat and hold out there."- Cris Collinsworth to Tom Hammond

Wow....the NFL Network just actually played the National Anthem on TV. Kimberly Caldwell on the anthem....another American Idoler. Bravo NFL-N.

"Big fan of Tom Hammond already. Maybe he'll bring up some horse racing references for me too. Or maybe even better he will officially replace Bryant Gumbel" (Via Brett)

Seriously....I'm actually calm and ready to watch Football. Not typing furiously about his "Kermit" like voice.
______________________________

Kickoff time. Texans get the ball first. Davis returns it to the 30 for Houston....here comes Sage!

Great, first play of the game and the Wendy' Sky Cam is blocking the QB. I think it was a pass for a yard. 2nd and 8...Rosenfels to Owen Daniels and a first down. Play action pass complete to Andre Johnson and add another 5 yards for a face mask on Dre Bly.

1st down at Denver's 40, and Johnson gets the pass over the middle and fights his way out of a tackle and falls down at the 20. Darius Walker with the run for two on first down. Walker on 2nd and 8 follows his blockers for a nice run and another first down at the five. First and Goal Texans.

TOUCHDOWN TEXANS!!! Sage Rosenfels on the naked bootleg. Great play and run.

7-0 Houston.

"I've always been a closet Texans fan...who wouldn't love to see these guys pull this off?" (Via Shane)

I'm with you there. I have a man crush on Andre Johnson. One drive in and I also have a man crush on Tom Hammond. I never knew how much Pat Haden dragged him down on ND coverage.

Denver ball at the 20. Cutler throws to Graham on first down for about 3. Cutler follows that with a quick toss to Marshall who pushes his way for a first down. He comes up a little woozy after his head was driven into the turf. Huge run by Selvin Young on first down that goes for 20.

Another throw from Jay hits Martinez for 17 and it's 1st and 10 from the Texans' 30. A run on first down is followed by a Cutler lob out to Young and that one should have been picked. 3rd and 9 for the Broncos.....add a false start to that as well. 3rd and 14.

"There's no Football out there!"- Tom Hammond

Ha...that was kinda funny. Everyone was ready to go. Incomplete to Marshall....good defense. Elam on for the FG.....

Wait, no.....pooch punt. Downed at the five. Houston Ball.

"I'm pretty sure Shanoff said it before, and I'll say it again: Sage Rosenfels. The hope of Jewish athletes everywhere." (Via RandomRanting)

He's like Football's Sandy Koufax.

First and 10 for the Texans. Drive starts with a Walker run for nothing and that's followed by a screen to Leach for about 3 yards. 3rd and 6. Rosenfels hits Daniels short of the marker, but Abdullah misses on the tackle and O.D. rips off a first down out past the 20.

Walter with the reverse on first down. Hammond points out that Sage is 6 for 6 and he immediately follows with an almost interception from Champ Bailey. Incomplete and Bailey is shaken up.

Bailey looks okay...just a stinger. 3rd and two and a toss to Walter picks up a nice gain for a first down....13 yards there. Rosenfels throws incomplete on 1st.

"Rosenfels finally misses one."- Tom Hammond

That actually makes two Tom, but who's counting?

Walker for 4 on 2nd and 10, and it'll be third and long from the 46. Rosenfels hits Walker over the middle and DJ Williams just blasts him as he grabs it. Incomplete....Texans punt....

Martinez fakes a fair catch, but Davis is on his toes and grabs it out of the air at the five. Great play. First down Broncos.

Just flipped on the NFL.com/Live broadcast and they're talking about the Vikings. That's good for the fans of these two teams.

Travis Henry gets a carry and picks up two new kids yards. Texans blitz on 2nd down and Cutler and he hits his TE out to the 35.

"And a deflection. Actually from this angle it looked like a deflection, but it wasn't."- Tom Hammond

Wow and announcer correcting himself. That's a welcome change. Back to back Henry runs and it's another Denver first out at the 47. A screen to Marshall on first down and he's tackled by about 11 Red Jerseys. No gain. That's the end of the first.

Great quarter. I'm actually enjoying the game thanks to these two.

"Hammond is the Anti-Bryant Gumbel, or is Gumbel the Anti-Hammond?" (Via Chris)

I think it's the former. 2nd and 11...Young for a nice run. He's averaging about 14 yards a carry this year. 3rd and 4....Complete! Marshall from Cutler for about 6 over the middle.

1st down. Mario Williams sack! Reggie Bush who? Just an athletic play to avoid the low block. 2nd and 13 is a screen to Young for a few and it's third and long for the Broncos again. Great pass! Cutler hits Marshall again over the middle and that's a gain of 14 or so.

Young for zero on 1st.

"If you want to talk to John you may have to caddy for him."- Cris Collinsworth referring to Jay Cutler trying to talk to Elway.

Javon Walker gets an 8 yarder and it'll be third and short. Run up the middle....first down. Quick hitter to Marshall but he drops it...almost a lateral there. 2nd and 10....at the Texans 13. Cutler on the sneak, but there's a flag. Delay of game....it'll be 2nd and 15.

"Take that microphone away from him! He's talking more than I am now. Oh forget it, I don't even remember what it was."- Cris Collinsworth referring to the Ref discussing the penalty.
"I'm sure it was important."- Tom Hammond

Selvin Young goes backwards and it's 3rd and long again.....Over the middle....Oh! Almost picked by Demps. FG attempt from Elam.

GOOD! The Broncos are on the board.....

7-3.

Davis returns it across midfield! One guy to beat, but he's tackled.....great return by Andre. Texans ball at the Denver 44. Davis follows that up with a catch inside the 25. It's the Andre Davis show folks!!!

The play action is killing the Broncos but Rosenfels can't hit Johnson near the endzone. 2nd and 10....another play action pass over the middle. Just missed. 3rd and 10....incomplete. FG attempt....

Kris Brown nails it!

10-3 Texans.

"I'm so happy that I don't have to listen to Bryant Gumbel for 3 hours. I can't figure out if Hammond is that good or if it's just because I'm comparing him to Gumbel's usual brutal attempt at the play-by-play and overall smugness" (Via Noce)

That's a good question. I've never really had a problem with Hammond before. He seems like a perfect compliment to Collinsworth though.

Martinez brings it out just past the 20. First down Denver. Cutler fades away on a pass to the sideline, but Marshall is there and picks up a first. Henry for not much, but a defensive holding adds five. Cutler to Marshall again on the sideline, and Marshall has a problem with his arm. Looks to be a stinger. 1st down.

Jay to Brandon again, this time over the middle for 17 yards and Denver has the ball at the Houston 27. Dayne goes backwards on first and Cutler follows that with a bounce to Walker. Collinsworth points out that could have been interference....I agree. 3rd and 12.....

Cutler deep to Marshall! Fletcher breaks it up.....great play!!! Another FG attempt for Denver....

GOOD! 10-6 Texans. 4:31 left in the half.

Denver cannot score TDs to save their lives. Davis out to the 35 and he's been stellar on the returns tonight. 1st down Texans...

Play action pass by Rosenfels over the middle to Johnson, and Cris Collinsworth points out that they've ran this same route most of the game. Good info.

"Do you still hold the record for longest touchdown at Florida?- Tom Hammond
"Enh, I don't like to brag, but yes."- Cris Collinsworht
"And you threw it. Good trivia question."- Tom Hammond

Wow didn't know that. Rosenfels almost throws two picks and the Texans are punting from their 50. Martinez let's it bounce, but for some reason Dre Bly picks it up and runs it nowhere. Denver ball at their own 23. 2:39 left....

Screen to Marshall nets about 8, but there's a flag on the play. Face mask will add five yards. Young is swallowed up by Mario Williams on first down and that's the 2 minute warning.

"No complaints on Hammond at all I am just not sure if I have ever heard him announce anything other than the Olympics." (Via GMan)

Good point. I think Football is similar to the Olympics in that there are a ton of stops and you have to fill in those spots with pertinent info. Tom might be perfect for the NFL.

2nd and 9 and Cutler has it picked! No....Demps drops it. Another fadeaway throw by Cutler, and threw it right to Demps. 3rd and 9....Blitz! And another horrible throw by Cutler. They should really send pressure every single down. JC is throwing a pick or two tonight.

Texans ball at their own 25. Rosenfels hit on first down and throws it incomplete. Draw to Darius Walker and that doesn't gain much. 3rd and long....

Rosenfels hits Walter over the middle and Lynch just crushes the Receiver. Can't believe he hung onto that one. Timeout Broncos and the Texans are punting.

Broncos ball at their own 33....47 seconds left. Cutler to Marshall for about 3 and that's 9 catches for the receiver. Cutler is tripped on second down, and it's 3rd and long....

Denver just let's the half run out. 10-6 Texans. Great half for Tom and Cris and I'll see you for the 2nd Half in a new thread.

Got a late start today so I'm going through the night to make it up to you. I'll be live-blogging the Broncos-Texans game this evening starting around 8pm, and whether you get the NFL Network or not I hope you can stop by. I think we all need a cleansing after all of this Mitchell Report stuff with a nice Football contest between a team Quarterbacked by Sage Rosenfels and a team led by my Fantasy Football nemisis.

See you then, and remember....no Bryant Gumbel tonight!!!

Denver-Houston (8pm, NFL Network)
Spread: Denver -2, O/U 47
Weather: Dome
Injuries: Houston: M. Schaub/ QB- Out - L Shoulder, R. Dayne/ RB- Questionable - Ankle, K. Studdard/ G- Questionable - Neck, D. Ryans/ LB- Questionable - Knee

Denver: N. Ferguson/ S- Out - Knee, B. Stokley/ WR- Questionable - Knee, J. Walker/ WR- Questionable - Knee, H. Abdullah/ S- Probable - Eye

(P.S.- The Interview I was hinting at yesterday will come tomorrow. Some of you have already guessed correctly though, and no it's not Tony Boselli)

I don't know if you can really be happy at someone else's expense when they're sick, but just the same Bryant Gumbel will be out for this Thursday's game between the Broncos and Texans. Via the Houston Chronicle...

NFL Network play-by-play announcer Bryant Gumbel is suffering from a sore throat and will be replaced by Tom Hammond for Thursday's Broncos-Texans broadcast at Reliant Stadium, a network spokesman said Tuesday.

Hammond will join Cris Collinsworth, with whom he called a playoff game last year for NBC, for the NFL Network broadcast, said network spokesman Seth Palansky.

Tom Hammond should fit in nicely because he's been covering one crappy Football team all year in Notre Dame. Two should be no problem. I kid I kid. Gumbel is resting his voice for this Saturday Night's contest between the Bengals and 9ers. While I don't like when other people suffer....the possibility of a game in which a congested Gumbel is working with Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk could be gold.

Gumbel to miss Thursday's Broncos-Texans broadcast (Houston Chronicle)

(Thanks to IANJ for the link)

When you have a huge game on your network, and you're battling cable companies in the news daily, it's probably a good idea to make sure your own commercials are good to go. I don't even know why I was paying attention when this ad came on, and I may be wrong here, but wasn't Thanksgiving last week?

Byant Gumbel aside you're probably better off just skipping the Thursday game alltogether. I can't stress how boring an awesome game seemed last night due to the coverage.

27-17 to start the 2nd half, and if Bryant Gumbel keeps this up we'll all be asleep part of the way through the third.

Is it just me or does Adam Schefter look like Bill Simmons' doppelganger?

Miles Austin has a nice return and almost took the 2nd half kick all the way. Crosby tackled him at the 44. Favre isn't out of the locker room yet.

A pass interference penalty and a J Jones run gets the Cowboys into Packers' territory. Favre appears with a sleeve and he might be coming back into this thing. That would be really dumb considering this game doesn't really mean much in the Playoff picture.

Romo hits Witten for an 8 yard game and the Cowboys are short of a first and they're going for it on 4th down. No good.

"Stuffed in the hole."- Bryant Gumbel

Rodgers is sacked on first down, and Gumbel is driving me insane. Rodgers is looking damn good as he hits Driver on third down and follows that with a big run and a scrambling pass to Lee. Packers ball at the 25.

The Cowboys bail out Rodgers with a facemask penalty on a sack, and a Rodgers pass to Driver has it inside the five. A pass to Kuhn gets it close to the goal line, and a nice tackle saves the TD. But it's a first down.

"John Perry says that's close enough for government work."- Bryant Gumbel describing the ref measuring for the first down.

TOUCHDOWN PACK! Ryan Grant!!!

27-24 'Boys.

Cowboys ball at the 20. Romo throws a screen to Witten for negative yards, and they follow with another screen for even more negative yards. 3rd and long....Delay of Game and the Packers Fans are getting into it! 3rd and 19...

Damn....Romo somehow finds Crayton after rolling out. First down. And Jerry Jones has made his way down to the sidelines. Barber gets a nice run around outside and a facemask penalty will bump that another 15.

"And the Packers are starting to get frisky here!" - Dick Enberg, on the radio (Via S2N

What I wouldn't give for you tonight Dick.....Umm wait....what did I just say?

Owens bobbles a pass out of bounds that the refs call a catch, and GB challenges and it's overturned. Owens catches another for 9 yards and it's 3rd and 1 at the 20...

Barber runs it inside the 5. God he is a beast. A delay of game sends it back 5 though and it's 1st and goal for the Cowboys. End of the third.....

Barber for a short gain on first, and a pass to Owens....Touch......WAIT!!!!!!!! Owens drops it, flips it up in the air and Al Harris picks it off!!!!!!!!

"Maybe it was all that butter from the Popcorn from earlier."- Bryant Gumbel

Good one Gumby. First down pass to Jennings on the slant. A few plays later the Cowboys pick up a sack and the Packers punt with 12 minutes left.

Holy shit....the Celtics beat the Knicks 104-50!!!

Romo hits Witten on two passes by the second is coming back on a hold. Another pass to Witten gets it closer to a first....3rd and 8 and the Packers finally hit Romo. Witten gets it yet again and another first. He's open every play and AJ Hawk is saying he pushed off.

Deep ball to Austin....he's tripped up. No call....wait....the refs discuss the play and throw a flag after all. That was a pretty bad call. There was a bit of contact but Austin just got tripped up.

Incomplete pass on first and Barber gets nothing on 2nd. 3rd and Goal.....

TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS.....Patrick Crayton from Romo.

34-24

Wait....did the NFL Network just run a commercial for the Colts-Falcons game??? Yes, yes they did. Hilarious.

Rodgers to Driver on first, and Aaron runs for a first down. A pass to Driver gets another first into Cowboys territory. Deep pass to Jennings is incomplete, and it's 2nd and 10. Koren Robinson gets a screen and a nice run and it'll be 3rd and 1. Grant picks up the first with about 5 minutes left.

Wait no....the spot is short. He really looked like he had it and the refs are completely hosing the Packers tonight. They elect to kick a looooong field goal....

Mason Crosby nails the 50+ yarder and it's a one TD game....

34-27

Austin gets it out to about the 40 and he's turning into a pretty good return guy. Barber picks up a few, and follows that with a big pass to Witten for a first down into Packer territory.

Barber with a short gain, but face mask penalty adds another 15.

"You can't rip someone's helmet off at this point in the game."- Cris Collinsworth

Is it ever okay?

Barber picks up 6 or 7 on first down and the Packers call Timeout....their 2nd. 3 minutes to go. MBIII for the first down and that might rap it up unless the Packers let the 'Boys score. Barber for a short gain and we're at the two minute warning.

Barber is short of the first on third down and Nick Folk for the FG at the one minute mark.....Good.

37-27.

"And Williams gets baptized at the twenty yard line."- Bryant Gumbel

Um what?

Rodgers hits Driver and Jennings to get the ball to the 45. 4th down....incomplete. Valiant effort by Aaron Rodgers but the Refs, er Cowboys prove to be too much.

Special thanks goes to Bryant Gumbel for making me want to pass out the entire game and it was good to have you tonight. I'd like to say I'll be live-blogging next week's game, but I don't know if I can take this boredom again.

37-27 Cowboys.