I'm borderline furious this morning and not just because I have to mention Colin Cowherd. Joe Buck was on ESPN Radio this morning, and you can't make this stuff up, said he doesn't enjoy Baseball anymore and chooses to watch the Bachlorette over nightly Sports telecasts during the week.

The talk began with Cowherd complaining about Sports during the week and how the average Sports fan doesn't pay attention. He then brought Joe Buck on for the following conversation....

I'm just at a loss for words. FOX's national voice for Baseball openly admitted to not enjoying the game he covers, cramming for weekend matchups, thinking that the games are too long and that the game just isn't the same. Unbelievable. You're getting paid millions of dollars for watching a game three hours. Cry me a river! What's even worse than that was the fact that he was on for another 4 or 5 minutes talking about a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. Are you kidding me?!

Without going off my rocker I just want to point out that this is the reason why everyone is upset with a lot of broadcasters in Sports. You have the coolest damn job in the World in Sports Fans eyes, and while you're supposed to be serving as the voice of the fans, you act like you're above the game. This is the main reason why Joe Buck and his kind are probably the worst thing for Sports. Buck wants to be a Hollywood star and doesn't have time for the Sport that brought him to the dance. Well his father brought him to the dance in the family station wagon, but Baseball is ultimately who he's partying with. You get my point.

I completely understand the average American not watching Baseball during the week. You have kids, your job is demanding and you're just tired as hell. I get it and that's what the internet is for. But for a daily Sports talk show host and the voice of the World Series to bash Sports this way is just wrong and shows how much the game suffers when you continue to put them on air. It's your g'damn job to know what you're talking about. It's people like this that give the whole profession a bad name and make those who do their homework and bust their ass look bad by association.

There's always a disparity in the way I cover announcers on the site. One of the main things I say during radio and online interviews is that there's a HUGE difference between an announcer who makes a ton mistakes and one who makes mistakes while putting himself above the game. I'll take John Madden's insane ramblings any day because you know in the end he loves the Sport of Football and he's just crazed at the moment and can't put his thoughts together.

Joe Buck is the worst of the worst in my book and if he doesn't want to call Baseball anymore there are a million of people that would jump at the chance. Hurry up and give him a talk show FOX so I can completely tune him out.

There's nothing more that I like than crazy auction items. I wish I was a multi-millionaire so I could just bid on nonsense all day long to keep me entertained. With that said, I would most certainly bid on this....

The opening bid for Mike & Mike to broadcast from a listener’s home will be $0.99 while most of the other online auction items will begin at a $1.99. Items available online will include autographed jerseys, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, collectible cars, helmets, boxing gloves, books, collector’s player cards and photos.

ESPN Radio’s “experiences” will range from special access ticket packages to sporting events and trips to ESPN’s headquarters.

“I've never arrived at anyone's house empty-handed,” said Greenberg. “This time I'm bringing a few million friends. Not sure the etiquette on that, perhaps a fruit basket, which makes a lovely gift.”

Sound like a blast! I could even live-blog the whole thing!!! Actually in all seriousness the proceeds go to the V Foundation and ESPN Radio does something similar to this every year. Last year ESPN raised over $800K for Cancer research, so if you are a millionaire, or even a hundred-thousandaire, bid on something from July 6 through July 16. And if you DO win this specific prize....I want on the guest list!

It's also the Summer which means more awesome and tear-jerking segments of My Wish on Sports Center. This is by far and away some of the best work that ESPN does all year long and this installment should be no different. The pieces run June 29th through July 3rd and feature the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, the Cleveland Indians, Shaquille O’Neal, Mexican soccer star Cuauhtémoc Blanco and amazingly former Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

(Via ESPN PR)

Michael Irvin has actually done a pretty good job finding work following his firing by ESPN a year ago. He has a pretty successful radio show in Dallas and now he's back working with the Cowboys. No not as a player or in the front office, but as a pitchman for season tickets!

The retired wide receiver is now a pitchman on the team’s new season ticket sales Web site, now available only to current season ticket holders. The Cowboys are using the site to sell reserved season tickets in the new $1.1 billion stadium in Arlington to fans who own season tickets in Texas Stadium.

The introduction by Mr. Irvin, who refers to himself by his “Playmaker” nickname, says in the video: “This stadium is so remarkable, it makes me think about a comeback.”

A tour of the site is also narrated by Cowboys radio play-by-play announcer Brad Sham.

Good for you Mikey! I wish I could see the video to check out the giant mink coat he's wearing during the promo, but alas I am no Cowboys season ticket holder. It's good to see that Irvin is still getting work.

Michael Irvin Wants You To Visit His New House (Sports by Brooks)
Michael Irvin hits the Web to pitch Dallas Cowboys season tickets (Dallas News)

I saw this item last week and chalked it up to some dumb Sports Shock Jock just trying to start controversy, but it seems it was just insensitive to get him suspended indefinitely. Pittsburgh's ESPN Radio host Mark Madden made a joke about Ted Kennedy's brain tumor in which he said he was upset because he hope that the Senator "would live long enough to be assassinated." ESPN is having none of it....

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted Madden as saying that he had hoped Sen. Edward Kennedy "would live long enough to be assassinated." The Massachusetts Democrat has a malignant brain tumor.

Madden made the remark during his show Wednesday. The show has aired weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on 1250 ESPN. Madden was last heard on the air Thursday, the day before his comments appeared in the newspaper.

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said the network removed Madden from the air "pursuant to our contractual rights." He said the comment was inappropriate and that ESPN and Madden had apologized to listeners.

Of course that's a horrible thing to say, but ESPN's supsensions and firings always amaze me. Haven't Sports Radio hosts around the Country said much more hurtful and controversial things than this? I'm not condoning the comment in the least, but it seems that ESPN bases their suspensions solely on the backlash and press the comments receive rather than creating a standard of behavior and sticking to it.

Pittsburgh-area radio host removed after Kennedy remark (AZ Central)

Gary Carter was on Mike & Mike this morning to address the whole campaigning for Willie Randolph's job and addressed among other things the words that former teammate and SNY analyst Keith Hernandez had to say about him......

It was a pretty standard apology, and he did a good job of deflecting the Hernandez thing, but the whole "media blew it out of proportion" thing doesn't sit well with me. I now completely understand what Keith Hernandez was saying about him being unconscious because the guy just doesn't realize what he's saying out loud.

I don't blame the guy for wanting to get back in the Majors, but the whole campaigning thing (let's be honest....he did) came off as pretty classless.

Obviously the Announcing Teams won't be changing for the Conference Finals, but I figured I'd give you the schedule anyway and throw in the ESPN Radio schedule as well. Here it is....

Monday, May 19:

8:35 p.m.- San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Hornets- Game #7 (TNT)
Announcers: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, Craig Sager

Tuesday, May 20:

8 p.m.- NBA Draft Lottery (ESPN)
Announcers: Mark Jones, Jay Bilas, Doris Burke
8:35 p.m.- Eastern Conference Final, Game 1: Detroit at Boston (ESPN)
TV Anouncers: Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Michele Tafoya
Radio Announcers: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown (ESPN Radio)

Wednesday, May 21:

8:35 p.m.- Western Conference Final, Game 1: San Antonio/New Orleans at L.A. Lakers (TNT)
Announcers: Marv Albert, Doug Collins, Craig Sager
Radio Announcers: Jim Durham, Dr. Jack Ramsay (ESPN Radio)

Thursday, May 22:

8:35 p.m.- Eastern Conference Final, Game 2: Detroit at Boston (ESPN)
Announcers: Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Tafoya
Radio Announcers: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown (ESPN Radio)

Friday, May 23:

8:35 p.m.- Western Conference Final, Game 2: San Antonio/New Orleans at L.A. Lakers (TNT)
Announcers: Marv Albert, Doug Collins, Craig Sager
Radio Announcers: Jim Durham, Dr. Jack Ramsay (ESPN Radio)

Saturday, May 24:

8:35 p.m.- Eastern Conference Final, Game 3: Boston at Detroit (ABC)
Announcers: Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Michele Tafoya
Radio Announcers: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown (ESPN Radio)

Sunday, May 25:

8:35 p.m.- Western Conference Final, Game 3: L.A. Lakers at San Antonio/New Orleans (TNT)
Announcers: Marv Albert, Doug Collins, Craig Sager
Radio Announcers: Jim Durham, Dr. Jack Ramsay (ESPN Radio)

When one radio host says something about someone you usually don't pay attention, but when five different employees say something about someone you're going to take notice. Let me introduce to you John Tomase of the Boston Herald and Mike & Mike, Chris Mortensen, Jason Smith (All Night), and of course Shrutebag.

The reason behind the ambush is simple. Tomase is the source of the Rams' "Walk Through Tape" that didn't surface when Walsh finally talked to the NFL. Mortensen even went so far as to say the following. Via Fanhouse...

"Other media outlets including ESPN, had this allegation and pursued this allegation for months, and it just didn't meet the standard in terms of what you needed to report it, and the Boston Herald evidently felt they had met the standard to report it," Mortensen said. "They need to come out and say, 'We stand by our story' or they need to have a retraction and apology and deal with the consequences of it, but certainly it's damaging to the Boston Herald at this point, especially if they stay silent on the subject."
You know it's bad when

Chris Mortensen is questioning your reporting standards. Jason Smith commented on a retraction, Mike & Mike followed suit, and Cowherd even compared the story to the Patterson-Gimlin "Bigfoot" video from 1967. I find it extremely odd that ESPN is going through these lengths to call out the Boston Herald considering some of their own anonymous source stories that didn't pan out, but the Herald does owe an explanation. More on this later today.

Chris Mortensen: ESPN Had Rams Walk- Through Story, It Didn't Meet Our Standards (Fanhouse)

(Thanks to DG for the tip.)

So Mike Golic was involved in an on-air eating contest this morning on Mike & Mike because of a Bracket bet that he lost to Greenberg and here is the disgusting yet entertaining result.....

A pretty impressive showing if you ask me, and the "Tina Fey" line was pretty damn funny. Here were your finally results after all the counting was done.

Eater X: 31 wings
Crazy Legs: 23 wings
Pretty Boy: 22 wings
Golic: 15 wings

Lost in all of the Bissinger talk yesterday was this story via MDS at Fanhouse. Apparently Mike Tirico and Michele Tafoya were talking about Deadspin and the like yesterday when Tafoya decided to go to the site for presumably the first time on-air. Here was her initial reaction....

"While you were talking I went to Deadspin, just to take a glance, because I don't frequent that site by any stretch of the imagination. I see very quickly why it is popular with a certain audience, and it disgusts me. And that's all I'm going to say."

I'm guessing that she saw the post about SexySoxGirls.com or Ronadldo's Tranny Prostitutes, but I could be wrong. I wouldn't call either of those stories disgusting, but I could see why a woman might not like those posts. Well, almost immediately following that segment Tafoya had a discussion with a producer about of all things....guys at urinals....

Phil: It's the same thing with urinals in the men's room.
Tafoya: It is?
Phil: The same thing.
Tafoya: So it should be every other one. But has that happened to you, Phil?
Phil: Absolutely. There's a row of urinals, about 10 of them, you go to one on the end, you go to number two, the guy goes right next to you, to number three, while four through 10 are open.
Tafoya: Is he trying to pick up on you maybe?
Phil: No.
Tafoya: What's the stance of his feet?

So pictures of a few attractive chicks or a story about Ronaldo hiring legal prostitutes is disgusting, but urinal talk and guy's stances aren't? Glad we could clear that up. I understand that there is a lot of misogyny in the Blogosphere, but that's just a tad bit hypocritical. Especially when the Red Sox girls submit the pictures themselves to that website.

Michelle Tafoya on Deadspin: 'It Disgusts Me' (But Talking About Men at Urinals Doesn't) (Fanhouse)

I had heard a rumor about this last week but it was confirmed late last night and made official today, but Scott Van Pelt is getting the open hour voided by Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Radio. Van Pelt will also be the full-time co-host fro the Mike Tirico Show and starting May 1st the show will be called the "Tirico and Van Pelt Show".

"Clearly some execs made a decision that will ultimately cost them their jobs," Van Pelt said of his more prominent role with ESPN Radio. "Before that inevitable end, I look forward to all the opportunities this presents to work with people I respect and enjoy. The solo hour will likely advance the level of discourse to a place never before heard in human history."

Tirico said, "I am thrilled to have a friend like Scott as a regular partner, and I look forward to the trouble he will cause on his own in the third hour."

With those changes also comes more departures as Herbie and Michele Tafoya will no longer be a part of The MTS and will more than likely be back on Football coverage for the Summer. In all honesty this is a great decision and I think an hour with all that Scott Van Pelt has going is probably perfect for him and the listening audience.

When I figure out more details I'll be sure to pass them along, but for now look for it in the 3-4pm slot following The Mike Tirico Show.

Tirico & Van Pelt debuts May 1 (ESPN.com)

I have no idea why Will Perdue was on Mike and Mike this morning, but the guy started talking blogs and why they have no merit when out of nowhere Mike Greenberg came to defense of the emerging medium. Via Fanhouse....

"How much merit do these things have? They're just somebody's opinion," Perdue said. "These guys just write these blogs which is their opinion, next thing you know it becomes fact, and then we're talking about it because it's on some blog that's started by some guy that lives with his mother in an apartment in Hackensack, New Jersey."

"Yes, you should not take as gospel the things they say, but on some level everything is just someone's opinion," Greenberg said. "Everything I say on this show is just my opinion."

"When someone writes something nasty about us in the New York Post, that's really just one person's opinion, and when someone writes something nasty on a blog, that's also just one person's opinion," Greenberg said. "That opinion is no more or less valid than my own."

Wow. Finally someone in mainstream media gets it, and says it on air. I can't believe it came from Mike Greenberg though. I'm looking for the video now, but this is just shocking. Good for you Greenie.

Oh and now people are adding cities to the parent's basement joke? Good lord some people are so unoriginal.

ESPN's Mike Greenberg Defends Blogs (Fanhouse)

I don't know what it is about this clip that bothers me. Is it the fact that Greenberg doesn't talk for 90% of the time and when he does he completely messes up? Or is it the fact that Mike Golic wouldn't talk about his steroid use on-air 5 months ago but he can talk about it freely now? I guess it's a toss up.

Either way Mike & Mike was on The Late Show with David Letterman last night and here is the clip....

Okay Greenie....first of all it's Maholm not (Terry) Mulholland. Second, if there is ANYONE that does not need to accuse someone of "taking themselves too seriously" it's you my friend. Hello pot...meet kettle.

Also Memphis and Texas int the Final Four?! Ha...these are ESPN's bread winners folks!

Mike Golic Coyly Admits To Using Steroids (Awful Announcing)

Stupid network television and their strikes. As the entertainment world predicted we're entering the realm of non-stop reality and game show programming, and this could be more evident with ABC's decision to bring back Mike Greenberg and his pointless game show "Duel".....

ABC is bringing back its winter game show "Duel" next month. The network has ordered 10 one-hour episodes to air Friday nights starting April 4. "Duel" is a trivia show where contestants play head-to-head for a chance of winning up to $500,000. ESPN's Mike Greenberg will return as host.

Though the show performed modestly during its original six-episode airing, the series ran during the December holidays when audience levels are lower. Also, ABC says there have been some format changes made this time to improve the show.

Friday nights are shaping up to be a broadcast game show battleground, with NBC's "Amnesia" and CBS's "Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular" vying for viewers in recent weeks.

Greaaaaaaat. Does that mean more exciting moments like this?



Just kill me now.

ABC game for more 'Duel' (Reuters)

Came across this little tidbit over at Watchdog and considering I'm going with all New York related posts today I figured it appropriate. Stephen A. Smith's contract is up with the "Leader" and according to Neil Best they're "reassessing" his role with the network.....

With his contract up, ESPN and Smith are reassessing his role, and according to a person in the industry with knowledge of his situation, that might well include no longer doing his local and national radio shows.

Smith has had a show on ESPN 1050 for three years. In September, the second hour of the show went national.

It appears unlikely Smith will leave ESPN entirely. Under a new deal, he presumably would focus on his TV work as an NBA analyst.

Rats. Stephen A. Smith has been everywhere in the past year including Weekend SportsCenter, radio, NBA coverage, and at multiple appearances on FOX News. Less is more ESPN...just remember that during you "redefining period".

Stephen A. Smith might be on his way off the radio dial (Watchdog)

"John Madden" was on Mike and Mike today to share his feelings on the great one's retirement, and the Mikes gladly let him have the floor....

The "he played like a kid line" was downright hilarious. Good times.

Man ESPN makes this too easy at times. Not sure why they would post these pictures, but here are some of the highlights from ESPN Radio's "personalities" during "The Weekend".....

Too funny.

ESPN The Weekend Photos (ESPN Radio)

So USA Today did an piece on ESPN's Doug Gottlieb that kind of blew my mind. He and Bob Wischusen let the paper follow him around for a week or so and here are some of the highlights....

- There are days when he's on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN.com and ESPN Radio. In between are appearances — via cellphone — on other radio shows, calls he makes while checking into a hotel, eating lunch, waiting in line for coffee or driving home.

-"Anybody ever had a bulldog?" he asks while a mascot performs during a timeout in another game. "Most gaseous dog ever, right?"

-His recall so acute that ESPN College GameDay host Scott Reiss and ESPN "bracketologist" Joe Lunardi refer to him as "Rain Man."

-"I am the way I am because I would watch guys (while growing up) and think, 'Why don't they just say what they are really thinking?'"

- "Sometimes I badly strive not to come across as the know-it-all," he says. "And yet I'm in a job in which you are supposed to be a know-it-all. How do you relate what is happening without coming off as the pain-in-the-(rear) know-it-all."

I don't know how and when the USA Today became ESPN The Newspaper, but these pieces illustrate how perfectly the ESPN PR machine operates. How do they get the largest paper in the Country to do a 1,600 word feature story on an analyst!? And not even a top-tier analyst (even though he should be). It's just amazing what that paper does for ESPN.

Other than that it's a pretty good read if you're an announcing nerd like me.

ESPN personality Doug Gottlieb: Wired for candor (USA Today)

Reader TE emailed me this morning and told me I had to find this hilarious clip of Mike and Mike with Steve Phillips talking about the autograph he just signed. He was right....it is hilarious.

It's nice of Phillips to oblige a fan, but seriously...it's okay to tell a guy to shove off. I wouldn't go as far as Golic said though. Could that have been some leftover roid rage?

I first heard about this from Simon on Sports last week, but I couldn't find the audio. That was until Deadspin just posted it.

Who would have thunk it right? Not only does S.A.S. say that his stress reliever is none other then eating Cheeze Doodles, but he even says that the Knicks should trade Eddy Curry for a bag of them!

I'm actually starting to enjoy Stephen a bit these days. At least he can make fun of himself a bit right? Okay maybe I'm taking that a little too far.

Trade Eddy Curry for Cheese Doodles (Simon on Sports)
It's Real! It's Real! (Rock Steady via Deadspin )

Awhile back I told you that Mike and Mike were going to appear on Guiding Light sometime in the future and the future is now! Or tomorrow rather, but I have your first look at their epic performance (you might have to turn the speakers up for this one).

"So wait guys...their wives left them for each other and this mean lady hits them with a drink tray? Brilliant."- Producer

The episode airs on CBS tomorrow at 3pm, so set your TIVOs!

(Thanks to reader BM for the vid)