Since Tuesday, I've been getting multiple emails asking me why Tony and Wilbon keep popping up randomly during commercial breaks. To answer all of your questions....I don't know why. Here's what I'm talking about....

PTI is the flagship program for the network, and they've been using it to keep people interested in shows like the 6pm Sports Center for awhile. This move seems along those same lines, but doing so with advertisers is just a bit annoying. It's obvious that these are on purpose, and I hate commercials as much as the next person, but this comes across as someone trying too hard.

I think PTI is by far the best show on the network (I think everyone knows that), but ESPN needs to be careful they don't ruin the show with all of this nonsense. The show suffers enough when guest hosts fill-in, and when you start breaking the show up and doing these cut-ins, it's only going to make more people change the channel.

There's been a rumor floating around the Sports World for awhile now that ESPN was/is planning a late night talk show to air weekdays on ESPN2. Well according to multiple media outlets, including the NY Post, the rumor is soon to become a reality.

The show, according to officials, would be more of a cross between talk radio and "SportsCenter" than "The Tonight Show."

"It would be tomorrow's sports talk - tonight," a spokesman said, declining to provide further information citing the network's policy of not discussing shows in development.

ESPN sources note that the show is still in its earliest stages - although executives did tease the show to potential advertisers last May during the network's "Upfront" presentation.

The understanding is that the new show would include three recognizable ESPN personalities offering their opinions on the day's sports news.

ESPN 2's late night slate is currently something of a TV wasteland, with shows ranging from coverage of streetball to a NASCAR wrap-up show.

This is beyond a terrible idea, but there seems to be no stopping the "Leader" now. The sure-to-trainwreck show is plowing forward and if you thought First Take's ratings were bad....wait until ESPN "Late Night" gets going. The host names that have been floating around included Erik Kuselias, Dan LeBatard, Jason Whitlock and yes....Colin Cowherd. The good news is that TBL's "sources" say that three of the four have declined. The bad news....the one that hasn't is Kuselias. It very well could be the reason you've been seeing him everywhere on the network as of late.

I have a different thought though. Who's the one person at ESPN who actually has a good bit of experience working on a talk show? That's right folks....Bill Simmons. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but don't be surprised.

ESPN Joins Late Night (NY Post)

I can almost understand when Sports Center promotes a Disney movie like "The Gameplan". It makes synergistic sense for the company and it's even somewhat Sports related. I can also understand when ESPN uses new music for intros and outros, ala 3 Doors Down and the MNF bumper music. They need something there and why not a CD coming out the next day? Sure they're annoying as hell and painfully self-serving but at least they make some semblance of sense.

Which takes us to today. When you have a crappy morning show opposite your flagship program (which you just made live in the past month), why.....WHY?!....would you interview a 40-year old rapper/actor for over five minutes?!?!?!

"40 years old, how do you do it?"- Stan Verrett
"Steroids."- LL Cool J
"One day at a time."- LL Cool J

Aren't interviews like this the EXACT reason ESPN kept First Take on after going live with the morning Sports Centers?! I guarantee you if I turn it to ESPN2 in the next five minutes, he'll be talking to those jokers. Everytime ESPN does a few good things (SC live, Limiting guests in the MNF booth) in a row, they ruin it with one giant leap backwards with crap like this......and right on cue LL is on First Take.

Look, I have nothing against LL Cool J, or that they're having him argue with Skip Bayless right now, but interviewing someone randomly like this on Sports Center just makes no sense. I know you have a lot of time to fill, but could you maybe have some athletes on? The Chris Coste interview was right before 11am was perfect. Can we stick with that format?

Your Latest ESPN Musical Artist To Be Featured Is....... (Awful Announcing)
Monday Night Football, New Music, And You! (Awful Announcing)

(Side note: Anyone know why Hannah Storm and Josh Elliott are absent after doing just two weeks of live shows? John Buccigross and Stan Verrett are on today and actually doing pretty damn well together. Outside of the whole Ladies Love Cool James thing.)

I still haven't really delved into the whole webisode game, so this idea seems a bit hinky to me, but ESPN is coming out with a series of online videos featuring Kenny Mayne doing the goofy things that Kenny Mayne does. According to TV Week, Mayne will even be acting out more scenes with the likes of Soprano's stars Tony “Paulie Walnuts” Sirico, Steven “Bobby Bacala” Schirripa and Dominic “Junior Soprano”....

Fans of ESPN’s Kenny Mayne know he’s got a dry wit and a deadpan delivery that trusts them to get the joke, whether it’s on him, his confreres at the sports network or the audience.

He stoically exercises his familiar funny bone in “Mayne Street,” which is opening new online territory on Oct. 2 as ESPN.com’s first scripted series.

Mr. Mayne plays his lanky, laid-back, authority-baiting self in the 15-Webisode series—produced on a budget that might cover the average prime-time pilot at a broadcast network—that aspires to hit a comedy sweet (and sour) spot somewhere between “Arrested Development” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

In one installment, he’ll fail to get to Beijing to do an Olympics feature and try to fake his report in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Also in the cast: Alison Becker as the producer constantly trying to save Mr. Mayne from himself; Jordan Carlos as a young p.a.; Ben Schwartz as the wunderkind new executive nobody at ESPN would admit to recognizing; and Aubrey Plaza as the executive’s assistant. And carrying the flag for ESPN are personalities ranging from Scott Van Pelt to Neil Everett.

It's witty/snarky Kenny Mayne, acting as witty/snarky Kenny Mayne, but in longer versions of pieces which he's already done before! I don't even know what to say. The stories and videos he does for Sports Center are cute and occasionally funny, but to expand on those in this format has failure written all over it.

ESPN’s ‘Mayne’ Thing (TV Week)

So earlier today, a good number of people all decided to forward an email they had received from ESPN wanting to know what it was all about. The message was in regards to something called FANography and my honest answer is....I have no idea what the heck it is. There was no press release on it and I haven't been able to find anything on the web. It's one giant mystery.

Here's the email message....

Welcome to ESPN FANography, Straight Talk from the Fans!

ESPN FANography is an exclusive online community made up of sports fans who are interested in sharing their opinions with ESPN. This is a forum for you to tell us about how we can better serve you – the fans!

As a member of ESPN FANography, you will get the opportunity to:

* Tell us about yourself and share your ideas on how ESPN can enhance your sports viewing, listening, reading, and accessing experiences
* Learn about the latest plans at ESPN
* Participate in surveys and join online discussion forums where you can share your ideas and input with ESPN and your peers
* Preview new creative concepts, then provide feedback on which ideas are best
* Receive updates that show how your input is making changes and improvements at ESPN

To join ESPN FANography, please click the NEXT button and complete the short survey which follows.

The goal of our first questionnaire is to learn a little more about you. You will be asked a series of basic demographic questions, as well as some more detailed questions about your usage of media (like TV, Internet, and Magazines), and your interest in sports. With this information, we hope to gain some understanding about your likes, dislikes, and opinions, so that we can deliver the best ESPN media products to YOU – the fans! If you’re ready, please click on the NEXT button below to begin.

New creative concepts eh? Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter....

When you click on the link button it takes you to a series of questions about your viewing habits, income and living situation and from there it takes you to a set of queries about ESPN itself. You have to respond to items about TV programs as well as Radio programs and there's even a neato drag and drop section for which ESPN the Magazine issues that you've recently read. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes and after answering all the questions and confirming your email addy you get the following messages....

Congratulations! Thank you for joining ESPN FANography – Straight Talk from the Fans! You have already provided us with some great information and we look forward to hearing from you in the future. On the next page, please include your name and email, then create a user name and password so that you can continue to participate in our panel.

Congratulations, you are now a panelist.

You can't do anything after that yet, but it still lists "me" as a "panelist". So I've got that going for me....which is nice. It's kind of ironic that I wrote earlier today about ESPN actually listening to the fans and making changes. Forget starting a blog or contacting the Ombudsman because apparently now you can actually be a "panel member" and work at ESPN for absolutely free! Good times.

Fanography (ESPN FANography)

ESPN is pulling out all the stops for their promos these days. First they amazingly pulled MC Hammer from his busy schedule for a Monday Night Football ad, and now this. The Little League World Series is underway and The "Leader" has gotten its hands on one of the hottest and most popular bands in the world. No not U2 silly, it's the Jonas Brothers! ROCK!!!

I'm obviously not a teenager, and I'm just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure that they're missing their target demo just a bit with that choice. I mean, back in the day NKOTB was the biggest band on the planet, but there wasn't a male on the face of the earth that would admit to liking them (no matter how cool that leg swinging dance they did in the "Hanging Tough" video was). They would have been ridiculed mercifully in school.

I'm pretty sure there aren't many twelve year old girls watching the LLWS, but I could be wrong. Also, let's take a look at the lyrics of that catchy tune....

I'm slippin' into the lava
And I'm tryin' to keep from going under
Baby, who turned the temperature hotter
'Cause I'm burnin' up
Burnin' up for you baby

Hmmm. For a baseball game? Okay....if you say so.

Last year's ESPN Celebrity Fantasy Football challenge was so competitive that I didn't think they could do it again. I mean how do you replace such marquee names as Sean Salisbury, Mark Schlereth, Steve Young, and The Big Lead's Best Friend, Jerry O'Connell? Well I'll tell you how....

With f'ing Method Man (TICAL!), Merril Hoge, Roy Williams and Summer Sanders....That's How! Well all of those names mean nothing when you have Chris Mortensen returning to the fray. You would think that the number one NFL reporter on ESPN, would know something about the Sport he covers but alas....let's go to the videotape!!!

He seriously picked McFadden in the second and Devin Hester in the seventh....In an eight team league!!! Are you kidding me?!? This is the guy you go to for all your insider Football information? The same guy who in the draft picked Devin Hester because, "he's a receiver now," and, "he's going to touch the ball twenty times a game," and because the Bears have Kyle Orton!!! Good god. I'm pretty sure Mort has never watched the Bears.....ever. The guy just continues to amaze me and not in a good way. Oh and everyone please check out Roy Williams' team if you have a chance. Guess where he drafted? Of course right after ESPN's Football expert, Chris Mortensen.

I'd also be remiss to not comment on Merril Hoge. He's seriously drafted the following starting lineup: Hasselbeck, AP, Brandon Jacobs, Rashard Mendenhall?!, Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and Ben Utecht

How are these people still employed? They deserve to be fired after that showing.

Other highlights:

- Matthew Berry calling Mort's pick of Westbrook a steal....at pick four.
- T.O. lasting until Round Three
- Method Man picking Tight Ends in both Round Five and Six (clearly wasted)
- Ronnie Brown lasting until Round 8

Good times!

2008 ESPN Celebrity League Rosters (ESPN Fantasy)
2007 ESPN "Celebrity" Fantasy Football League Filled With Big Names (Awful Announcing)

I still don't understand what the heck ESPN is trying to do with E:60. The first episode got pretty good reviews and the whole thing seemed like a shrewd move by the "Leader". The Jason Ray piece was moving and the round table discussions were an inside look at the reporting process.

Well almost immediately after that first episode there were rumors of E:60's "Exclusives" not actually being exclusive, a racial controversy, a four month break, a railroading of Miguel Tejada and then another four month break. For a show that only has about eight total episodes, that's a heck of a lot of hiccups.

Well, the show is back tonight after that second hiatus and they're bringing you more ground breaking reporting. Just kidding, they're tackling stories that you first learned about months ago....

Highlights of tomorrow’s show:

-Dara Torres talks to E:60 about her record fifth Olympics as a swimmer at age 41
-Eventing: the most dangerous Olympic competition and also considered the world’s deadliest sport
-The story of an English mixed-martial arts fighter implicated in the biggest cash heist in history
-A behind-the-scenes look at New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and his foray into NASCAR team ownership.

Eventing is just a piece on the dangers of Horse Jumping and the Dana Torres story is how old now ? Don't even get me started on the MMA Fighter that robbed the bank....that guy was arrested back in June of 2006! The only new and interesting piece is the Randy Moss one, but that story is about a month and a half old as well.

The whole show just seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis, and with OTL producing daily shows now at 3pm, it's odd that they can't figure anything out. Maybe the should send Bill Simmons back to EA Sports to get people to watch?

Well then. That headline got your attention didn't it? It was clear on Wednesday, when I labeled Glazer the "Media Winner", that I was impressed with the FOX reporter, but today he took that to another level. In a brief interview with Newsday's Neil Best, Jay gave some insight into the biggest NFL story in years was scooped in an Orlando airport and even threw a potential jab at ESPN....

Fox's Jay Glazer has compiled a string of NFL-related scoops, but he had to go beyond the usual call of duty to win the Brett Favre-to-the-Jets sweepstakes late Wednesday night.

He spent nearly 24 hours in the Orlando airport waiting for the news to come down.

"I never wanted to kick Mickey Mouse's -- -- so much in my life," he said Thursday from the office of Panthers coach John Fox, whom he originally was to visit Wednesday.

"Dude, you get real creative when you spend an entire day waiting for a huge scoop in a damn airport," he said. "I felt like Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal.' I started making friends in the stores."

So the story goes like this (allegedly)....

1) ESPN's reporters are all over Favre. They suck up to him early on basically laying all their eggs in one basket. Text messages fly and the reports start rolling out all in Brett Favre's favor.
2) GM Ted Thompson isn't happy that he is getting dumped on by the biggest Sports Media entity on the planet.
3) Rachel Nichols ends up with Brett Favre on a tarmac in Green Bay (there's really no reason for this here besides the fact it was funny to write).
4) Glazer wisely chooses Thompson for information knowing that a GM would know that his OWN DAMN TEAM would know about a trade before a player would (crazy I know).
5) Glazer is told from "sources unknown" to not board a plane to Charlotte that day, and sat in the airport all day waiting for word.
6) Glazer gets the call from his "sources unknown" and goes live with the biggest NFL trade story in the history of the game at 10:45pm.
7. ESPN is still talking about Tampa Bay's plans up until about 11:25pm.
8) ESPN catches on at around 11:30 or so and scrambles to verify. They credit Glazer for a good 30 minutes before changing, "as reported by FOX Sports" to "as confirmed by Michael Smith".
9) End scene.

Arguably one of the biggest trades in Sports History was found, scooped, and written, all in an Orlando airport over 1,300 miles from the scene. How awesome is that? Healthy competition is something ESPN hasn't had for awhile now and I'm stoked to see new ideas and new people getting to things first these days. It's about damn time and someone needs to start the slow clap for Jay, immediately.

Update: As SOTG pointed out in the comments that "Mickey Mouse" comment could have been in reference to being in Orlando. I'll see if I can't get a confirmation one way or another.

Fox's Glazer spends day in airport, gets Favre scoop (Newsday)

(Oh and having someone [*ahem*MichaelSmith*ahem*] verify a story through a press release doesn't mean shouldn't continue to give credit where credit's due.)

I was trying not to do back to back posts on someone I've covered to death, but alas this story just needs to be examined. Erin Andrews obviously wears different outfits in the clubhouse, or on the sidelines, than traditional reporters and finally someone is calling her out because of it. Mike Nadel of the Peoria Journal Star wrote a piece this morning about how Erin Andrews was the fodder of Cubs' locker room talk and even refers to her as a sexpot....

Erin Andrews, the ESPN “it” babe who clearly isn’t afraid to flaunt it, sauntered around the visiting clubhouse, flitting from one Cubs player to another. Her skimpy outfit — designed to accentuate her, um, positives — had players leering at her. Some made lewd comments under their breath. Others giggled like 12-year-olds. More on that later, as the scene was just one part of Bizarro Wednesday at Miller Park.

Moments later, the blonde reporter was chatting with Alfonso Soriano. At one point, she placed her hand suggestively on Soriano’s left biceps. Was I reading too much into all this? I don’t think so. I’ve been a paid observer for a long time ... and I wasn’t exactly the only one who noticed. As two Cubs stood near their lockers, one asked the other: “Hot? Or just attractive? Does she do anything for you?” The inquisitor then made eye contact with me as if saying — to use a term my uncle might have — “Hubba-hubba!”

This went on for at least an hour. Finally, Piniella emerged from his office, ready for his dugout media session. As he turned the corner, there was Andrews in all of her bare-legged, high-heeled, low-necklined glory. “Hey, hey, hey! Look at this!” Piniella said, loudly and excitedly. “Are you doing a baseball game today or a modeling assignment?”

Did she really feel playing the sexpot was necessary to practice journalism? She is good-looking enough and has enough of a high-profile job that she would get plenty of interviews and attention even if she showed up in a burlap sack.

Guys acting like this in locker rooms is nothing new, but like Nadel said, she's talented enough to leave the short dresses at home. It's a shame if she feels she HAS TO use this method, but hey....it's her career and body. She's already wearing thin on myself and other websites, and with this method it'll just be a matter of time before she's "phased out" in the Sports World. I don't know if someone is tell her to wear these things (last night's above), but they might want to tell her to tone it down a bit....


(See also: Jill Arington)

Update: Another shot via Deadspin....


Nadel: Blonde bombshell can't distract red-hot Cubs (PJ Star)
Erin Andrews - what she was wearing that got the Chicago Cubs and Lou Piniella all bothered (Stiles Points)

Again, I always preface this with the statement that I'm not one to necessarily poke fun at typos and errors, but to have twenty seven found in a national publication is a tad bit too much. ESPN's Fantasy Mag is out in stores now and for the low low price of $7.99 you can see some of the errors found by Walter Football too! Here are some of my favorites....

Who the Heck is Greg Smith? (Page 55)

I have no idea why ESPN even ranked Chauncey Washington, a Jaguars rookie running back, but it says the following in his write-up: "It's possible he could emerge as the inside rushing complement to MJD, but he'd have to bump Greg Smith first." I searched high and low on NFL.com's Web site, but I couldn't find any player named Greg Smith. The man they were referring to, of course, is Greg Jones.

Spelling Error No. 1 (Page 45)

Taking a look at the first sentence of Jamal Lewis' write-up:

"Dust when you thought he was done, Lewis pulled us all back in."

Special News Alert: Steve Smith Has An Is (Page 66)

Sounds like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, doesn't it? At any rate, you can find this grammatical blunder in the Steve Smith analysis:

"He's not a burner but has is savvy enough to make occasional big plays."

Quinn Sypniewski, Miracle Man (Page 81)

Just a slight contradiction here. In the Quinn Sypniewski write-up, ESPN writes, "He tore his ACL during Ravens minicamp this April and will miss the season."

Yet, for projected stats, they have Sypniewski catching 21 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.

Lorenzo Booker - Lost in the Mail (Pages 45 and 53)

In the Ronnie Brown write-up, ESPN writes:

"Ricky Williams is still hanging around in south Florida, and Lorenzo Booker should be a bigger part of the offense."

OK, so maybe this magazine was released prior to the Booker-to-Philadelphia trade? Or maybe not - on Page 53, they list: "Lorenzo Booker, PHI."

It's rare to not get through an entire magazine without finding a mistake, but doesn't ESPN employ people to proofread? It's one thing to have a typo or two but if you read the WF post you'll find that no one took a second look at any of the sections. Things contradict each other and they leave players out entirely (Steve Slaton). If you have the magazine, also keep an eye out for Merril Hoge's sound fantasy advice including taking Braylon Edwards as your first WR because he's, "like [Terrell] Owens without the drama."

I'm sure fantasy owners really care about that, Merril.

2008 ESPN Fantasy Football Magazine: 28 Factual Errors, Omissions and Illogical Statements (Walter Football)

I thought it was a lock that Boston was going to win this nonsense, but I apparently I was wrong....very wrong. Valdosta, Georgia will be your brand new, or first rather, Titletown when ESPN announces the winner during tonight's Sports Center....

For years, it’s been called Winnersville. Now, the south Georgia town of Valdosta has another name: TitleTown USA, thanks to ESPN.

The cable sports network is coming to Valdosta today to declare Valdosta the winner of its summer promotion that earlier this month featured the city as one of its 20 finalists for the national award.

The 20 finalists were visited by film crews and highlighted on ESPN, and the winner was determined by online voting July 23-27.

The trophy ceremony will be filmed at Valdosta High School’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, where fans and citizens are encouraged to arrive by 2 p.m. Valdosta will be announced the winner on Monday’s 6 p.m. “SportsCenter.”

I don't really even know what to say. You spent two months of the summer driving this segment down our throats and then give it to a city that has zero pro teams and zero D-1 schools. Good work ESPN....you should be proud of what you've put together here.

ESPN names Valdosta TitleTown USA (AJC)

Everyone knows that Skip Bayless is a sensationalist and goes way over-the-top to portray his hatred of all things Terrell Owens, but this display just made me laugh. At the end of First Take, Dana Jacobson passed along the T.O.-Sam Alipour story and gave Skipper the chance to admit that Owens actually did something good. Bayless instead tried to take the angle that anyone would have helped a man hit by a car and even suggested that T.O. knew that it was a reporter that was hurt and in turned helped him because of it....

Irrational hate is one thing but this level of bias is just unhealthy. Not to mention that it has absolutely zero place in reporting (not that ESPN cares). He's just one person who's employment continues to amaze me.

I normally wouldn't even draw attention to his idiocy but this one just made me laugh so much that I had to share. I personally loved the comparison to someone who was in the woods. That's just too rich Skip....toooo rich.

The ESPYs Are Extremely Dangerous, ESPN Writer Hit By Car (Awful Announcing)

I was flipping around the internets on this, the slowest news day of the year, and I came across an interesting post at Desipio about ESPN the Mag. Everyone knows that "The Mag" is a cumbersome and awkward piece of literature, but it has never been taken to task like this. The post is an actual email to the editors and I've pulled out a few parts for you....

No, I still want the Insider subscription. I just don’t want your strangely sized, poorly written, overly designed magazine. I mean, really, have you ever taken a good look at it? It sucks.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

1. First off, your magazine is a weird size. It’s not magazine size. I know you think it’s an edgy size, because everything you do is edgy, but really, it’s just annoying.

3. What’s with all of the shirtless athletes? It’s like you can’t decide if you want to be a sports magazine, or a men’s magazine, or a gay men’s magazine.

Honestly, that Carl Edwards cover didn’t even make it to the house. I just tore the address label off of it and set it on fire right at the mailbox then threw it into traffic. Holy crap. What were you thinking? Your audience is not women. What man is going to see that at a bookstore or grocery store and actually carry it up to the checkout? You might as well have given out a free “I LIKE DUDES” t-shirt with this one.

7. Your features are always late, lame or both. For instance in this last issue little Busty spends five days with Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks…starting May 15. For the July 14 issue. Holy crap, how is he filing his articles…by carrier pigeon?

The 0:01 where you fake a photo and it’s supposed to be funny…never is.

And we finish with Rick Reilly. Just about the time he started to phone it in at SI, you brought him over to work for you. That’s just so perfect.

It's still beyond me how ESPN makes even a cent of this magazine. The thing comes out every week and is about 400 pages long. I also am not sure how I get two copies while not having paid for the Insider in over 4 years (I still don't want the thing). I know it's easy to rag on the thing, but if it annoys you as much as it does me, you should check out the rest of that post. Good stuff.

An open letter to ESPN The Magazine (Desipio)

Nothing is more bourgeoisie than giving insanely rich stars and athletes a bag full of really expensive stuff for free, but alas it's still kind of intriguing. Here's the list that ESPN just released for the ESPY's....

Amadeus Spa- Gift Certificate
AlcoMate- Premium Breathalyzer
Amadeo Decada- Custom Hoodie & gift certificate
Ancestry.com- DNA Ancestry Kit & Family Tree Maker 2008 Software
Bedandbreakfast.com- Gift Certificate
Blush Bags- Gift Cards
Bobbi Brown- Sunscreen
Bosch- Gift Cards
Breeders Cup- VIP Experience and transportation plus a 2% stake in a West Point Thoroughbred horse
Campus Quilt- Gift Certificates
Canvasondemand.com- Gift Certificates
Chipotle- Gift Certificates good for a burrito a week FOR A YEAR!
Chumby- A compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web- wake up to your internet life!
Deanna Zaccari- Gift Certificate for an exclusive 2-hour personal stylist
DeBrand Chocolates- Chocolate Tower, Classic and Connoisseur Collection and a gift card
Del Sol- Color changing apparel & accessories including Men's & Women's Flip Flops
Dirt Devil- Dirt Devil Reaction All-Surface Vacuum Cleaner
Disneyland Tickets- Pairs of Disneyland® Resort 1-Day Park Hopper® Tickets
Disney on Broadway- Pair of tickets to The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Mary Poppins
EA Sports- 2009 NCAA Football for PS3 and XBOX 360
Econation- 2 hours of chauffered service in a luxury eco-friendly vehicle
Flowershop.com- Gift Certificate
Hasbro Games- Collection of Board Games
Hasbro Toys- Collection of Toys
Hot Rod Putter- Hot Rod Putter head
iGourmet- Gift card
iHome- Portable Speaker System for iPod
Invicta Watches- Russian Diver watches
Ironkey- the world's most secure flash drive
Johnston & Murphy- J & M leather toiletry sets
Klipsch- Headphones
L.A. Vie L'Orange- Walk on the Beach Pedicure
LÄRABAR- Gift Certificate
Live Scribe- 1 GB Pulse Smartpen that records and links audio
Marchon Eyewear- Designer sunglasses
Margaritaville® Frozen Concoction Maker- Gift Certificate
Mitchell & Ness- Jackets from Mitchell & Ness
Murad- Wrinkle Reducer
Nimble Fitness- Gift Card for a complimentary fitness package
Oregon Scientific- An ATC Action Camera
Pacific Palms Golf Course- 1 night stay at the resort and 1 complimentary round of golf
Parajumpers- Gift certificate for a Parajumpers "Gobi" jacket
Phyto- Gift certificates
Revolution- Gift certificates
Richard Petty Experience- Make laps inside an authentic 600hp NASCAR style stock car
Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp- Admittance into the 2008 Summer Tour of Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp
Rosetta Stone- Gift Certificate
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse- Gift Certificate
Salt Works Jeans- Gift Certificate
Sea Spa Santa Barbara- Gift Certificate
Shari's Berries- Gift Certificate
Skin Care for Athletes- Gift Certificate
Smashbox- Gift Set
Sports Club LA- A complimentary 1 year membership
Stress Eraser- FDA-regulated medical device that relaxes he body and calms the mind
Subway- Gift card
The Shave- Gift card
The Standard- 2 night stay at any of their 4 locations
Three Designing Women- Box Sets and an Acrylic Desk Caddy
Timberland- 18" wheeled duffel suitcase
Trapp Private Garden Candles- Large poured candles and Home fragrance sprays
Under Armour- Large Gym Bag and Sunglasses
Yamaha BodiBeat- Gift Certificate
Yogaworks- Gift Certificate
Zaca Mesa Winerey- 1 bottle of wine and gift certificate
Zirh- Platinum drenched moisturizer

Wow...that was long. Sorry about that but once I started it was too late to stop. I think my personal favorite is the share in a racehorse. That's a pretty cool gift. I also imagine that about 90% of those gift cards are going to be Christmas presents come the Winter. So if you're related to the likes of say a Brendan Fraser....expect a nice trip to a Bed & Breakfast.

The ESPYs VIP Gift Bag (ESPN)

I didn't think it was possible for someone not named Chris Berman to annoy when watching the Home Run Derby but he's been officially replaced. Rick Reilly on-air is about the worst thing you can add to a broadcast, and it's not even close. Here he is waxing exstatic about how there are too many "white" competitors in the Derby....

Let's forget for a second that all defending champions denied a chance to defend, and I'll even look past the fact that he didn't know that non-All Star Game participants aren't invited. He seriously decided to drop nonsense like this throughout the broadcast. I don't know how many times he said the word heroin in regards to Josh Hamilton, and while it's the truth, it just begs of a desperate man searching for an angle on-air. Just a bad decision to have him on the broadcast....send him to England for the British Open now please.

Also, the Karl Ravech "Interesting Concept" line is just about the funniest thing I've heard in awhile.

Nothing really exciting happened in this clip below but I thought you'd still like to see the King and Queen of the prom speaking to their Court. Enjoy!

The two of them together on the screen is just too much. There's so much hotness and cool oozing through your computer right now isn't there? And again, I don't know how a city that doesn't have any professional teams would win something called Titletown, but okay.

I never even knew this feature existed on the Peacock.com, but after today's entry I am in full support of it. Your whiner of the week is Joe Morgan and his whine is about today's MLB All Star Game...

Joe Morgan is our choice as Whiner of the Week for being the latest geezer to belabor the younger generation for not being as swell as his own. Specifically, when he was a ballplayer, the All-Star Game was way better than it is now. The players really wanted to win and the ratings were higher and the hot dogs probably tasted better. At least that’s the way Morgan sees it.

“Part of the reason the game doesn’t bring that energy is it’s a different game now. Now it’s considered an exhibition, whereas before it was considered life and death,” Morgan whimpered to reporters during a conference call in which he was supposed to be plugging the game for ESPN.

I think it's great when entities like NBC just now learn what Joe is all about. It's cute. I figured out that was Joe's M.O. when I was in Middle School (Geesh, kids these days...I remember what it was REALLY like!). Good stuff NBC....I'll be watching.

Whine Of The Week (NBC Sports)

(Thanks to JS for the link)

ESPN has been through the ringer over the past year after the emergence of blogs and even mainstream media not always buying what the "Leader" was selling. There were multiple on-air, print and "roast" instances and there was even a Power Point sent around that tried to deter advertisers from working with the network. It's tough when you're at the top, whether the criticism is justified or not.

Well you can add the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch to the list of critics and they don't seem to be pulling any punches....

It's one thing for a journalist to see a quip fall flat, but it's another when people feel abused. To ESPN's shame, some of its employees have insulted the audience on several occasions with lowbrow or boorish behavior.

(Lists Jacobson, Jemele Hill and Bonnie Bernstein as examples)

John Walsh, executive editor of ESPN, cautioned me to "consider the volume (of content that) our company produces" and said: "I don't think it's a cause for a pattern or trend." ESPN's staff shouldn't try so hard to be controversial. The network would have fewer embarrassments.

"We'd rather the scoreboard says none," Walsh said. "But if the scoreboard says three (examples), we endure." He called them "three separate instances" and added: "Trying to group them together, I think, would not be a wise thing for you."

Then call me unwise, Mr. Walsh. I'm not buying your argument.

In the news business, journalists will chalk up something out of the ordinary as an aberration. But when it happens twice, we wonder if it is a pattern. By the third time, it can reasonably be called a trend.

ESPN rejects the idea that there is a pattern of recklessness in its ranks, but I'm not so sure.

The whole thing is really a fascinating read and even looks back at what ESPN used to do well and how it has changed over the years. The interesting thing to note for the future is, as more and more mainstream publications continue to lambaste the network, how will they respond? It seems like the network will take a couple steps forward (new Sports Center format, V Foundation work, Euro 2008, changing S.A.S' role) and then just leap back (NBA/NFL Draft, Titletown, continuing to employ Joe Morgan), so much so that they seem worse off than they were before.

I do somewhat agree with Mr. Walsh that incidents will undoubtedly take place with all the coverage that the network has. The issue though is the degree to which those incidents have hurt individuals or groups in the past. Up until recently most hadn't been punished and probably weren't even addressed. The question now is whether ESPN listens to its critics or just ignores them and plows ahead for that almighty dollar ultimately turning the network into Sports' version of MTV.

No entity, company, or medium is perfect. Not TV, newspapers, radio, or blogs. But if you're going to claim to be the "Leader" of anything.....you should try and come as close to that level as possible.

ESPN: The sports leader in embarrassment (Market Watch)

ESPN was trying to be tricky and drag out the process by only announcing five cities a every week or so, but I've finally got my hands on the full list. Here are your Titletown finalists and their resumes!

Green Bay
·Has self-proclaimed moniker as ‘Title Town’
·Home of the three-time Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl I, II and XXXI)

Louisville
·Home of the Kentucky Derby
·Birthplace of Muhammad Ali, a three-time World Heavyweight Champion and winner of the Olympic light

Gainesville
·University of Florida has won 21 team sport National Championships (2006 BCS Champions and 2006 and 2007 NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions); 174 SEC Championships in various sports and produced 203 Individual National Champions

Detroit
·Detroit Red Wings recently won their 11th Stanley Cup
·Detroit Pistons are three-time NBA Champions (1989, 1990, 2004)
·Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984

Williamsport
·Home of the Little League World Series for 61 years, where the top youth baseball players – 13 and under – from all over the world have come to chase and live their championship dreams

Boston
·16 NBA titles and 19 conference titles (Celtics)
·Though the Patriots’ chase for a perfect NFL season was derailed by their Super Bowl XLII loss to the Giants, six AFC championships and three Super Bowl victories in four years reflect a dynasty
·Seven World Series titles by the Red Sox, including two in the last four years

Los Angeles
·Professional sports team titles: Lakers – 9; Dodgers – 5; L.A. Raiders – 1; L.A. Rams – 1; L.A. Galaxy – and L.A. Sparks – 2
·College team titles: UCLA – 122; USC – 107, plus seven Heisman Trophy winners

Columbus
·Ohio State football program has won seven national titles and over 30 Big Ten titles and feature more than 100 All-Americans
·Ohio State’s seven Heisman Trophy winners are tied with USC for most by any school

Chapel Hill
·University of North Carolina has won 33 NCAA team National championships in six different sports (ninth all-time) and 51 individual National Championships
·Women’s soccer program has won 18 National Championships since 1982 and the men’s program won in 2001

Ann Arbor
·University of Michigan has won 52 national titles in 12 different sports
·Michigan football program leads the Big Ten with 42 championships
·University of Michigan hockey team has won 10 NCAA titles

San Francisco/Bay Area
·San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowls
·Oakland Raiders have won nine AFC Championships, three AFC Championships and two Super Bowl Championships

Pittsburgh
·Steelers won five Super Bowls (1974, ’75, ’78, ’79, 2005)
·Pirates won five World Series (1909, ’25, ’60, ’71, ’79)
·Two Stanley Cups for the Penguins (1991 and ’92)
·University of Pittsburgh Panthers won five National Football Championships (1910, ’16, ’18, ’37, ’76)

Knoxville
·The Tennessee Volunteer football program has 47 bowl appearances (second among all schools), won six National Championships and has the highest winning percentage of any team in major college football
·Women’s basketball program has won eight National Championships including the last two
·Football program has ranked in top three in attendance for 32 consecutive seasons

Valdosta, Ga.
·The Valdosta Wildcats hold the record for most wins in high school football with 838
·Wildcats record includes 23 Georgia State Championships and six National Championships

Parkersburg, W.Va.
·Parkersburg High School has 21 state wrestling titles, 36 boys’ and girls’ state tennis titles, 11 state football titles, 11 volleyball titles, 11 state golf titles, and 14 basketball titles

Chicago
·Chicago Bulls won six NBA Championships led by one of the greatest players ever – Michael Jordan
·Chicago Bears have won nine NFL Championships and one Super Bowl
·Chicago White Sox have won three World Series and the Chicago Cubs have won two
·Chicago Blackhawks are three-time Stanley Cup winners

Again, I have no idea how this works and how they got to these final cities, but there they are. Prepare for Sports Center trips to all of these towns with Green Bay up first on July 4th. Oh and the best part of that list.

Update: ESPN cleverly hadn't updated the main list. Of course NYC is on there now. Sorry about the scare New Yorkers....

Lawrence
·James A. Naismith, inventor of basketball, coached at Kansas University (KU)
·Legendary men’s college basketball coaches – Dean Smith (University of North Carolina) and Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) – played on KU teams
·KU men’s basketball team has produced 36 20-win seasons, eight 35-win seasons, 15 first-team all-Americans, 142 first-team all-conference selections and 73 first round draft picks

Palo Alto
·Stanford University has won 13 consecutive Director’s Cup Trophies for the best overall athletic program in the nation
·Through 2007 winter sports season, Stanford has won 108 National Championships, 95 of which are team championships (58 men’s titles and 37 women’s titles)
·Stanford’s 37 women title’s are more than any other school
·Stanford has more than 400 individual NCAA titles

Massillon
·Massillon Washington High has 780 victories (3rd all-time in the nation), 22 Ohio State Championships, 20 undefeated seasons and 9 National Championships (more than any high school football program in the country)
·NFL Hall of Famer Paul Brown is from Massillon

New York
·New York Yankees have won 26 World Championships since 1923
·Eight Stanley Cup titles: four by the N.Y. Rangers and four by the N.Y. Islanders
·New York Knicks have won two NBA titles
·Defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants have won four NFL titles and three Super Bowl championships and the New York Jets have won one Super Bowl

Can Someone Explain This ESPN Title Town Business To Me? (Awful Announcing)