Why they decide to push back these Series every year, and have the World Series end in frickin' Novemeber is beoyond me, but here is your full MLB LCS announcing schedule. I never thought I'd say this, but after Chip Caray's showing in the LDS, I'm almost glad to have Buck and McCarver back....almost....

Thu, 10/15: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game One (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Fri, 10/16: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game One (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Fri, 10/16: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Two (TBS, 4:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sat, 10/17: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Two (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Sun, 10/18: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Three (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Mon, 10/19: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Three (FOX, 4:13pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Mon, 10/19: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Four (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Tue, 10/20: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Four (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Wed, 10/21: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game Five* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Thu, 10/22: NY Yankees @ LA Angels, Game Five* (FOX, 7:57pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Fri, 10/23: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Six* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sat, 10/24: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Six* (FOX, 4:13pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers
Sat, 10/24: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers, Game Seven* (TBS, 8:07pm)- Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Sun, 10/25: LA Angels @ NY Yankees, Game Seven* (FOX, 8:20pm)- Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers

Mike Polk is a bit of an Internet star, after creating a video he calls the "Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video", and TNT actually tabbed him to make one for the Inside the NBA crew. Here is just about the funniest thing you've seen in quite some time....

Now that is entertainment! I think he could have done better on Chuck, but the Kenny part and the "Closer" ending, were both hilarious. Good stuff, but TNT....was it really necessary to bleep out "douchebag"?

'Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism' Video Creator Takes a Moment to Burn TNT (The Sporting Blog)

I linked to part of this video (in the CAC), where Ron Artest says Brandon Roy is better than Kobe and Lebron, but there's an extra tidbit that Outside the Boxscore just pointed out. Artest, talking with Craig Sager, decided to shoot more venom at Charles Barkley, and even went so far as to call him "overrated" during his playing days....

Now we know that Artest doesn't necessarily like Barkley, saying he'd smack him in the face, but calling Barkley overrated is just insane. I mean the guy averaged 22, 12 and 4, during his career, and did it with little to no help on his team. Sure he had Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Mo Cheeks at one point, but they were only teammates for three years at most. Other than that he was saddled with the likes of Hersey Hawkins, Rick Mahorn, Manute Bol and Charles Shackleford, and still took them into the second round of the playoffs. Overrated my ass, Ron Ron.

I still cannot get into, and/or figure out Twitter, but the NBA on TNT seems to have. According to a press release by the network today, all of their personalities will not only have Twitter pages, but they will also have accounts on Youtube and Facebook. Via TNT PR....

Turner Sports is unveiling a multiplatform marketing campaign that utilizes popular social media platforms YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to promote TNT’s ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. TNT will have a significant presence on YouTube with a homepage takeover on Mon., April 20, featuring player-specific videos to promote the tune-in for the night’s match-ups as well as TNT messaged overlays on sports-related featured videos. Turner Sports will also feature a full court press on Facebook on Sun., April 19 with TNT NBA Playoffs messaging on sponsored ads, along with prominently placed topical promotional spots and a special promotion prompting Facebook users to ‘Become a Fan’ of the NBA on TNT Facebook page. Turner Sports will take over Yahoo! Sports’ main page on Sun., April 19, with all ads featuring TNT NBA Playoffs creative to drive fans to the network’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

Turner Sports will complement its robust social media marketing plan with a strong Twitter presence, featuring updates from popular announcers including TNT’s Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager and NBA TV’s Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Steve Smith, Eric Snow and Rick Kamla. The hosts and analysts will ‘tweet’ on their individual pages beginning Tues., April 14 with regular updates, comments, thoughts and analysis that will feed to a main NBA TV Twitter profile and link to the National Basketball Association’s Twitter page. The ‘tweets’ will also feed into the NBA on TNT Facebook page. The Facebook and Twitter sites will be prominently featured on NBA.com and will receive on-air promotion on TNT and NBA TV.

One of the more impressive things that TNT puts on each season is their "40 Games In 40 Nights" work, starting during the first round of the NBA Playoffs. It's an extremely immense undertaking, but each year they seem to pull it off without that many hiccups. Obviously this is a ton of more work for each personality, but more access is always a good thing. I'll be checking out the pages as we go along in the postseason, and so should you.

No, he's not giving up on Basketball, or joining the Browns full-time, but King James will be an analyst for TNT during their coverage of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge. James will be working along side Kevin Harlan, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager for the game. Via TNT PR....

Perennial NBA All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a participant in the 2004 and 2005 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, will join TNT’s Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) as part of the network’s telecast of the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai will follow the game live from U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 All-Star Game from Phoenix, AZ will air on Sun., February 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Great job by TNT pairing him with Kevin Harlan, and hopefully we can get Lebron's version of Harlan's famous "No Regard For Human Life!" call. As far as the game, it should be a pretty good one. The Rookies actually look like they could end the Sophmores' 6-game winning streak, and as an added bonus, you get Dwight Howard (Sophs) and Dwyane Wade (Rooks) as coaches. Here are the rosters in case you missed their unveiling yesterday....

Rookies: Michael Beasley (Heat), Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers), Marc Gasol (Grizzlies), Eric Gordon (Clippers), Brook Lopez (Nets), O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies), Greg Oden (Trail Blazers), Derrick Rose (Bulls), Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

Sophmores: Aaron Brooks (Rockets), Wilson Chandler (Knicks), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Jeff Green (Thunder), Al Horford (Hawks), Luis Scola (Rockets), Al Thornton (Clippers), Rodney Stuckey (Pistons), Thaddeus Young (Sixers)

TNT broke the mold as far as ASG stunts go, when Barkley raced official Dick Baveta, and got a smooch after the win. So trying anything else might be pushing it. Especially if it's a Craig Sager inspired dance off between Gary Payton and Kenny Smith. Via Ball Don't Lie....

I was trying to find the Sager clip earlier because it's just about the most ridiculous dancing you've ever seen, but this will have to do. Oh and I've got my money on the Glove....the AA line is officially set at Payton -175/Smith +150. Any takers?

Video: Sager busts a move, GP challenges Kenny to a dance-off (Ball Don't Lie)

Joe Maddon seems pretty focused in the dugout, but there's only one force of nature that can distract him. That would a gust mismatched wind created by one Craig Sager when he walks by between innings. From HR Derby via Sox & Dawgs, comes this clip played on Inside MLB following the game. Watch closely on the replay as Joe Maddon seems to blow a kiss in the general direction of the sideline reporter....

How could you not like Maddon? I guess it helps that your team is up ten runs, but the guy just doesn't ever seem to not be enjoying the game.

Even Joe Maddon Doesn’t Like Craig Sager’s Outfits (Sox & Dawgs)
Joe Maddon has the hots for Craig Sager (Homerun Derby)

Thanks to Ian from Sox and Dawgs for sending these videos along, as they show the hard-hitting work that TBS is doing with the ALCS. First, a Craig Sager sideline report on what really matters in the game: how much gum Terry Francona chews.

There may actually be a reason he goes through that much, but it requires a bit more inquiry: did Tito chew tobacco back in the day?

And second, this Bon Jovi theme they're using has gone way too far now.



The Be Flats, everybody!

I actually like the way that TBS is settling into this year's MLB Playoffs. Sure, not every team is perfect, and some are just lacking energy entirely, but as a whole the overall product is much better than last year. Having to put together pairs and trios that have never worked together isn't an easy task, but longer series and a great studio team have made things much smoother. In the end, I think people will really notice how good TBS actually did when the dreaded FOX team comes into play for the NLCS.

Here is your League Championship Series announcing schedule. There are obviously some teams and times missing, but at least you have the days to mark off on your calendar. Outside of tomorrow, there's a game a night for the next two weeks.

Update: Here's your full schedule with dates and times.....

Thursday, October 9th

NLCS Game One: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Friday, October 10th

NLCS Game Two: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX, 4:35pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver
ALCS Game One: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (TBS, 8:37pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager

Saturday, October 11th

ALCS Game Two: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (TBS, 8:07pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager

Sunday, October 12th

NLCS Game Three: Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Monday, October 13th

ALCS Game Three: Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (TBS, 4:37pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
NLCS Game Four: Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Tuesday, October 14th

ALCS Game Four: Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (TBS, 8:07pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager

Wednesday, October 15th

NLCS Game Five*: Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Thursday, October 16th

ALCS Game Five*: Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (TBS, 8:07pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager

Friday, October 17th

NLCS Game Six*: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Saturday, October 18th

ALCS Game Six*: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (TBS, 4:37pm) - Chip Caray, Ron Darling, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
NLCS Game Seven*: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX, 8:22pm) - Joe Buck, Tim McCarver

Sunday, October 19th

ALCS Game Seven*: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (TBS, 8:07pm) - Chip Caray, Buck Martinez, Ron Darling and Craig Sager

(*- If necessary)

The Red Sox know how to win in the clutch, but I personally think they're better at celebrating. Johnathan Papelbon is a bit of a nutcase, but I think I speak for TV viewers everywhere for destroying that orange monstrosity that Craig Sager was wearing last night....

That was a heck of a spray right there (that's what she said!), and you could tell he was waiting that whole interview to get the sideline reporter. Bravo Papelbon....for one day (and one day only), I salute you.

Jonathan Papelbon turns Craig Sager's pumpkin suit into fizzy goodness (Red Sox Monster)
Red Sox win, Sager's jacket will never be the same (Small White Ball)

The newly formed blog on Mouthpiece Sports has been lining up some killer interviews early on and today they have up a great one with TNT's Craig Sager. Sager has been "oversharing" a lot lately, but this story takes the cake. Here he is talking about the Goodwill Games, a plane ride and Ted Turner trying to get with Jane Fonda. Enjoy!

Well then! On top of the story being amazing, his impression of Turner was spot on. Too funny. I'm not sure if Craig is losing it, or if he's always been this crazy and we just haven't had the means to get it out of him. Either way I approve!

Craig Sager Tells Us About Ted Turner and Jane Fonda’s Weekend Tryst (Mouthpiece Sports Blog)
Craig Sager Is A Big Fan Of Thongs And Hooters Restaurants (Awful Announcing)

How about that for a headline? I'm not sure if Craig Sager knew he didn't know he was doing an interview, or he just didn't care, but DC Sports Bog has some hilarious quotes from the TNT and Olympic sideline reporter....

And what about wearing the outfit? Does it, like, offend your sensibilities?

Oh my God! It's terrible! I've got to wear this little vest bib! I'm getting a lot of grief from the NBA players. You know, 'Where's your sport coat, where's your tie?'

Yeah, do you feel naked or something?

I mean, it's comfortable, but I wish I could liven it up a little bit.

There's no way to accent it at all?

The only thing I can do is have this [belt] and have a matching thong. That's about the only thing I can do.

This is the greatest interview, by a longshot, that I've done since I've been in Beijing. Is it hard for you to get as pumped as you would at an NBA game? Because you know, for a lot of [the preceding game] it was pretty quiet out there.

I'm just so used to NBA games where I go anywhere I want. You know, I go in the huddles, I interview the coaches. Here, I'm stuck in that pigpen, so I can't get out, and then I've got to wear this [expletive].

Awesome. So you don't care if I say that you have a blonde fetish?

Oh no. Everybody knows that. EVERYBODY knows that. Bud Light and blondes. So there's a Hooters here, I went to Hooters the other day in Beijing. I've been to probably 250 Hooters across the country and world. It's the only Hooters I've ever been to that didn't have any Bud Light or blondes. I was very disappointed.

The whole interview is just full of tidbits like those above and certainly worth a read. Sager also talks about dance teams, his wife being twenty one years his younger and his Olympic wardrobe. Simply epic and you have to wonder if Craigers had one too many Sakes at lunchtime.

Bud Lights and Blondes: Five Minutes With Craig Sager (DC Sports Bog)

I think it's safe to say that a game has never before been delayed because the court was on fire, but I could be wrong. The Hornets were said to have only done this stunt once this year, and why they did it between the first and second quarters was beyond me.

Anyway, here are a couple of vids of TNT giving Hugo the business. Barkley calls out the mascot in the first video and Craig Sager interviews him in the second.

I don't think a mascot has ever had more airtime during a game. Great job by Craig Sager on the interview. This ranks up there with the Hank Aaron one.

So Craig Sager was trying to pass along the story of Nuggets' Coach George Karl making a video with Game One mistakes spliced with some other highlights. He referred to someone by the name of Kimbo Coles and streetfighting, and it left Marv Albert and Reggie Miller very confused. Craig came back on to clarify, but Marv was still lost.....

I'm so confused right now. Damn you Craig Sager.....now it's not just your loud ass suits but your anecdotes as well!!! Why in the hell would you be thinking about Bimbo Coles in the first damn place? While Vernell was a great player he played for neither the Nuggets or the Lakers in his career.

Also, I'm also pretty sure if I had to choose between Bimbo or Kimbo after me I'd choose Coles. Call me crazy.

So we're almost to the point of the year when I don't seem to get any sleep. That's what happens when you have West Coast NBA Playoff games ending at 3 in the g'damn morning, but what are you going to do? TNT is the main cause of my insomnia as the try to completely overload us with Basketball by providing a slate of 40 games in 40 nights.

They also get the Western Conference Finals this year which should be fun as long as the Spurs aren't involved (we all know they will be though). Here are your pairings for the opening rounds....

Marv Albert and Reggie Miller
Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins
Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello
Matt Devlin and ____________

Studio Team: Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Magic Johnson
Sideline Reporters: Craig Sager, David Aldridge, Cheryl Miller, Pam Oliver, Marty Snider, Dei Lynam, Stacy Paetz and Stephanie Ready
Other Contributors: John Thompson

All of that looks very similar to last year, but there's one very interesting twist. Reggie Miller isn't calling the Western Conference Finals and will be relegated to the Studio Team as Doug "I Coached Michael Jordan" Collins gets the nod. I have no idea why he's getting benched, or why you wouldn't just put Collins and Albert together in the first place, but I guess it's a good thing he's not on the call.

Actually I take that back. I'd rather have Reggie than Doug "I played in the Olympics and interrupt my lead more than Jay Bilas" Collins (he's got many nicknames). Oh and look for actor Terrance Howard on the commercials this year as well. Anyone but David Blaine is good at this point.

Steve Nash loves to mess with sideline reporters for some reason and Craig Sager is his prime target. Watch as Nash makes use of Sager's handkerchief for the second time this season (audio quality is terrible but humorous at the same time)....

Ah Basketball humor....it's the best isn't it?

Steve Nash Has an Obsession With Craig Sager’s Handkerchief (SS Reporters)

I don't know what happened with that All Star Game ratings post (it was from 2004), so we'll just move on to a little video of Steve Nash using Craig Sager's pocket square as a kleenex...

Good times!

Fan IQ

Man is there anything Boston isn't good at this year? Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Fashion advice??? Wait a tic....

"Well you're trying to bring back the glory of the Celtics, I was bringing back..."- CS
"As you see it's working, and that is not."- KG

Oh snap! No you didn't Big Ticket!!!

Kevin Garnett Wants to Talk About This Outfit Choo Got On (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

I haven't decided whether this is a good idea or not. Either way, it's still pretty entertaining. Via SBD....

SNY prior to tonight’s (last night's) Braves-Mets game at Shea Stadium will distribute 35,000 baseball cards created by Upper Deck featuring SNY’s Mets broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt, Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, Julie Donaldson, Keith Hernandez, Lee Mazzilli and Matt Yalloff. Each pack distributed will also include an entry card for a chance to win ’08 season tickets.

Are the New York broadcasters that popular that you would even want a trading card from them? Seems like a waste of money to me, but I wouldn't turn them down. I also can't wait until the market gets flooded, and like real baseball cards, they start coming out with the crazy inserts. Here's a few ideas off the top of my head....add yours to the comments if you'd like....

• A Chris Berman Jersey card, but with a portion of a Leather Coat attached.
• A curl of John Kruk's crusty hair in place of a crusty stick of gum.
• A Set of different Craig Sager Suit cards with a piece of one of his more famous ones on each card.

P.S.- On the back of the Keith Hernandez card in block lettering it says, "I'm Keith Hernandez."

But not this cat. Look the guy had a great 4th quarter...he actually hit free throws...and they won at home. These are all things he should be doing routinely...not for just one game.

Here's the thing....you'll look at ESPN tomorrow and someone will be championing Mr. James. But don't belive the hype folks....don't fall for that nonsense. When Lebron does the same thing next game....in Detroit....then I'll "reposition". Also, LJ....if you showed this intensity 24/7....this wouldn't be an issue.

P.S.- Larry who? Someone needs to start a BenchHughes.com. I'm sick of crap-ass coaches like Mike Brown lucking into great lineups like this, and people praising their genius.

P.P.S- What's with the no technical call on the FT trash talk? I thought that the NBA made it a point after last playoffs. I don't really think it's a problem, but don't say you're going to do one thing and then do another (Yes, I'm still bitter Gil missed those FTs).