Obviously, this isn't the same is interrupting a Super Bowl TD for Porn, but it's certainly somewhat funny. Last week, the BBC was airing their first edition of "The Football League Show", when all of a sudden the show was switched from Soccer highlights to the movie "Blue Crush". Even more funny, was the fact that the scene they switched to involved actress Kate Bosworth going into a bathroom to pee (:40 mark). Via SS Reporters....

Too funny. I love the fact that they switch back less than a minute later. Also, the Country of England already thinks we are inferior to them intellectually and culturally. Do they really need to be seeing "Blue Crush"? You're not helping us out over here, BBC!

BBC Interrupts Your Soccer Highlights to Show Blue Crush! (SS Reporters)

ESPN is making a huge gamble by starting up a new European Soccer Channel, in just a few short months, so it comes as no surprise that they are putting a lot of money into an early advertising campaign. The "Leader" has taken out ads in print, on radio, on the tele and even billboards, based on the angle of "It's Great To Be Here", and has spent well over a few million pounds/dollars on said strategy. Via The Guardian....

The broadcaster has avoided using sports stars in its ad campaign, instead opting to focus on a "fan-centric" strategy.

The TV ad, which has been shot at locations including Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane and West Ham's Upton Park grounds in London, will use images of the football experience from a fan's point of view. It will run from 12 August, three days before the start of the Premier League season.

ESPN's campaign, developed by the ad agency Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam, is scheduled to run across its channels including ESPN Classic and ESPN America, as well as being made available across its five core web properties, which include CricInfo, Soccernet, Scrum and Racing Live.

The campaign will also run on channels including Sky Sports and Sky Sports News as well as on Sky Movies, Discovery and FX.

ESPN's target market is 18- to 34-year-old men. In addition, W&K is developing dozens of promotional idents that will run around ESPN's football coverage led by the former BBC presenter Ray Stubbs. The idents, created by production company BDA, feature snapshots of the lives of fans of each of the 20 Premier League clubs.

Again, this is a huge risk, and all the advertising in the World won't matter, if people thinking that you're ruining their viewing experience. I think ESPN should have probably spent some of that money on focus groups, so they don't miss what's important to the fans. But maybe they did that too.

ESPN plugs Premier League coverage in ads for UK sports channel (Guardian)

Yesterday, I mentioned that ESPN was going to have a rough go of it with the fans of EPL in England, and today the network announced official plans to launch their new UK channel....

ESPN plan to launch a new channel in the UK on 3rd August called ‘ESPN,’ which will televise 46 Barclays Premier League matches this coming season, it was announced today by Lynne Frank, Managing Director, ESPN for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Frank also announced the channel will be made available in both standard definition (SD) and high-definition (HD), making the UK based premium sports channel the company’s first HD channel in Europe.

The new channel will offer live Barclays Premier League football, international sports and a wide-range of premium U.S. sports previously provided on ESPN America, which will be integrated in the UK into the new channel.

As part of the new arrangement, Sky will retail ESPN to both its residential and commercial customers. Sky will make ESPN available on a premium subscription basis to all Sky homes. This means that all live Barclays Premier League matches will be available in HD to Sky homes. ESPN will appear in the Sky Guide at channel number 417 in SD and channel 443 in HD.

For those of you across the pond, turn to channel 417/443 for all of your ESPN Soccer action. They probably could have come up with a better name for it than "ESPN", but there you have it.

Since I didn't have anything better this afternoon, I decided to grab each of the goals during Barcelona's win over Manchester United this afternoon. Eto'o and Messi were your goal scores during the 2-0 win, with Messi's goal being a complete thing of beauty. Here are those goals and a few other highlights from ESPN's last broadcast of the Champions League Final....

Steven Cohen, a satellite Soccer radio talk show host, made a comment recently about fans of Liverpool, and fans of the team are not happy at all with him. Cohen made a statement that the fans of the team should begin taking a share of the responsibility for the Hillsborough disaster, on the 20th anniversary of the tragic game that killed 96 people, and fans decided to email him death threats. In fact, they've gone so far as to threaten kidnapping "his fiancee’s children and to burn down his house.”....

"It's spread like a virus," he said.

Cohen estimates more than 3,500 e-mails were sent to his show regarding the controversy.

"I've seen the Taliban less defensive," Cohen said. "If this was being done in Afghanistan or Pakistan, we'd call these people terrorists. A lot of them are little cowards hiding behind their computers.

"(But) I feel my life and my livelihood is at stake."

Some e-mails compare Cohen's comments to blaming the victims in the World Trade Center for Sept. 11.

"You almost wonder what they are protesting so much?" Cohen said. "Why do they care so much about what some nebbish in California in a soccer wasteland thinks? This is terror tactics from one club's fans that are hypersensitive."

It's insane what lengths people will go to these days, isn't it? You would think that people could understand that everyone who pushed into an overcrowded stadium, could take responsibility for the dangerous conditions, but I guess not.

Soccer Host Comments Make Liverpool Fans Livid (Sports By Brooks)

I forget the program I was listening to the other day, but an interesting point was raised about the Super Bowl. The radio host was talking Boxing and pay-per-view, and mentioned that he thought that within ten years the Super Bowl would be moved to that format. While that's certainly discerning, it's definitely years away. Unlike the reality that the Super Bowl could be played in London soon.

Roger Goodell has been denying stateside for months that the Super Bowl could be played overseas, but the BBC is saying something completely different....

The NFL has had "substantive talks" with officials in London about holding the Super Bowl in the city, a senior league official has told BBC Sport.

While commissioner Roger Goodell has previously admitted an interest in bringing the game to London, this is the first confirmation of discussions.

"We've spoken on what it would take to host and for us to bring it over," said events vice-president Frank Supovitz.

"The city has all the facilities needed, and in great quantity."

Supovitz was talking in New York City where the NFL Draft will take place this weekend.

"We have had very substantive conversations with the city of London. We've got to the point of exploring the bid document," he added.

Call me an "Ugly American", but I think the majority of the country would be really upset if the Super Bowl went to England. I certainly think it would be a success, and that the event would instantly sell out, but the Super Bowl is an American icon. The only good thing that could come about this, is that the game would be starting at 2 or 3pm here, instead of six something. The wait is the worst part.

NFL in talks on London Super Bowl (BBC)

Sky Sports' Fanzone is one of the best ideas as far as broadcasting goes. You get two fans do to commentary for the network, talk trash, and hilarity ensues. Well for the first time the channel allowed women to games and the results were just as amazing. SS Reporters has your first look at the future Pam Wards of America....

While I love the effort from the two ladies, I can't really understand what the heck is going on in the game. I'm surprised that more fans don't get into brawls during these sessions. Good times.

Women’s Fanzone Makes Debut (SS Reporters)

Another day, another Sports personality in trouble over on-air comments. Alan Pardew was calling the Chelsea and Man City, and while describing a rough tackle by Chelsea’s Michael Essien, he decided to say that he "raped" Manchester City’s Ched Evans. Here is the video, complete with sketchy English fanboy commentary! Via SS Reporters....

Seems like an honest slip of the tongue, but according to the BBC website over thirty people called into complain, and Pardew has issued an apology....

Pardew used the word rape to describe a tackle while discussing a game between Manchester City and Chelsea.

The former Charlton manager said in a statement released by the BBC that he "apologises unconditionally for any offence caused" in Sunday's programme.

The BBC said it had not taken a decision on whether the pundit would be invited back to work on the show.

I truly think that whoever ends up saying the word, is actually trying to say "raked", but for some reason their thought process takes them right to rape. Maybe people should stop saying it all together because the word raked is almost always going to sound like raped to the listener's ear.

BBC Pundit in Trouble For “Rape” Remark (SS Reporters)
BBC pundit sorry for rape comment (BBC)

Had a good talk with the folks at the "Leader" yesterday, and I wanted to write this post so you and I could better understand what the plan and outlook is for ESPN Soccer in the future. The other day, BSkyB snagged up four of the six "international" packages, which each consist of 23 games for a network to air. That left two packages, with a total of forty six games.

Well according to the English Premier League, BSkyB grabbed yet another set of games today and the final one went to Setanta, leaving ESPN empty handed. Via EPL Talk....

The Premier League has announced that out of the six TV packages available for bidding in the UK for the 2010-2013 seasons, Sky Sports won five of those packages with Setanta getting the sixth and final one. That means that ESPN’s attempt to bid on the rights ended in failure — in the UK, at least.

This is a huge win for Sky Sports who have increased their number of packages from four (for the 2007-2010 seasons) to five. Setanta Sports will be showing less games because they’ll be moving from two packages (2007-2010 seasons) to one. But the biggest loser is ESPN who despite a lot of the chatter about the Disney-owned company making an aggressive raid on rights to the UK EPL TV market ended up empty handed.

Now that is certainly a downer for ESPN, who is looking to beef up their European presence, but not all is lost. Like I mentioned above, those packages were just for "international rights", and do not include the United States packages. Fox Sports, Setanta and ESPN, should be the major players for that three-year deal, but there's yet another caveat.

Based on the BCS bidding, everyone knows ESPN has the money to outbid Fox Sports, but the economy and game times could make the "Leader" weary in making a huge bid. Due to the time difference from England to the U.S., the majority of EPL games are played early on the weekends. As you know, that's quite possibly the worst timeslot for Sports, and might not even be worth the purchase of the rights.

It's a tough spot to be in for ESPN, who obviously wants to get in the Soccer game, but does the reward ultimately outweigh the risk? We'll find out soon, as the bidding for U.S. right should get underway shortly.

ESPN Loses Premier League UK TV Rights Battle (EPL Talk)

It's not exactly porn, but a 118th minute goal by Everton was missed by thousands who tuned in to watch the team's matchup in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool. Right before Dan Gosling kicked the winning goal, English broadcaster ITV jumped to a commercial, and while some viewers got back in time to witness the excellent goal....most just saw this....

How maddening must that be? At least in the porn incident, Arizona fans got to see the Fitzgerald TD. In this case, the timing was just awful. ITV has rightfully been getting hammered by viewers, but this isn't even the first incident with the channel this year. During a match between Histon and Leeds, the network accidentally ran dressing room footage of a naked player.

Michael Grade makes TV apology for goal blunder in Everton v Liverpool clash (Times Online)

I really thought that ESPN had a shot at stealing away the English Premier League, but that wasn't the case late Tuesday night. The satellite company, BSkyB, outbid ESPN and Setanta, and in the process picked up four of the six EPL live match packages. Via Reuters....

Britain's dominant pay-TV group BSkyB (BSY.L) won the right to show four of the six packages of English Premier League live soccer matches for the three years starting in 2010, the league said late on Tuesday.

BSkyB, which has lured over 9 million subscribers with its sport and movie offering, currently has the right to show four of the six packages. Privately owned Setanta shows the remainder.

Under that agreement, which ends in August 2010, BSkyB pays 1.3 billion pounds ($1.85 billion) to show the matches over the three years. Setanta paid 392 million pounds for two packages.

In a statement, the league said there would be a second round of bidding for the remaining two packages in "due course." It did not disclose any financial terms.

There's obviously still a chance that the American network could snag the final two packages, but with Setanta still looming, it's probably not likely. You Soccer fans now only have the 2010 World Cup to look forward to on the "Leader".

BSkyB wins 4 of 6 Premier League rights packages (Reuters)

The next league up for auction in ESPN's profolio of possible acquisitions, is the English Premier League. It was once considered a bit of a long shot for ESPN to get the rights to the Soccer league, but with the economy driving down the price of bids, the EPL is almost hoping for a large offer from ESPN to take over the rights. Via the UK Telegraph....

Other sectors of the economy may be creaking in the gale blowing from the financial markets, but ask a club executive what the implications are for football and the answer invariably begins: "It would be naïve for anyone to claim they are immune from the effects of the recession, but…"

On Monday the Premier League distributed the Invitations To Tender for their next round of domestic television rights to run from 2010-2013, formally starting a process that many observers believe is the most important negotiation in the competition's 16-year history.

The dark horse in the field, and the primary reason for Premier League confidence that current revenues will be matched, are ESPN. A major player in US sports rights, the Disney-owned company have been circling European football rights for some time, and in September Disney president Dick Iger indicated they would bid for live Premier League.

It remains to be seen how serious their interest is. They could choose to target Setanta, a move that would test the faith of the Irish-owned firm's City backers. Alternatively they could mount a full tilt at Sky, though given the close relationship between ESPN and NewsCorp, Sky's parent company – they are partners in Asia in ESPN Star Sport – that may be less likely.

It's not likely that two channels, who are largely based around the EPL, are going to go without a fight. But as ESPN proved in the BCS bidding.....if you throw enough cash at something, there might not be a way for your opponents to compete. We'll see how things pan out in 2009.

Premier League welcome ESPN interest in TV rights (UK Telegraph)

As always, it amazes me what the human brain comes up with when someone is at a loss for words and you can now add using an analogy that compared a Soccer team's defense to the plane crash in Madrid, Spain last week. According to England's Mail Online, reporter Chris Price was on-air when he decided to drop this lovely gem on the listening audience....

Reporter Chris Price was speaking live on air when he said Rochdale 'were making more holes in the Bradford defence than in a Spanish aircraft'.

He was speaking on Saturday just three days after a Spanair plane crashed at Barajas International airport in Madrid killing at least 153 people. Outraged listeners complained to BBC Radio Manchester, which has now been forced to issue an apology.
Freelance journalist Price, 25, from Rochdale, said he had been trying to add some colour to his report during the live update on the League Two match.

But he admitted he had made a 'horrible mistake'.

One former BBC commentator described him as 'unprofessional and stupid'. A spokeswoman for the BBC said: 'This was an inappropriate remark and we would like to apologise to our listeners for any offence caused.' Price, who has covered football and rugby for the BBC for a year, claimed he only had a split second to put the report together.

'I honestly thought I was being descriptive,' he said. 'It wasn't meant to be funny; it was just a descriptive phrase. If people are offended by what I said, then of course I apologise but I never intended to offend anyone.'

He added: 'From the reaction there has been, if I could take it back then I would.'

Ah yes, the non-apology-apology. It's one of my favorite moves that people use when they don't really think they said anything wrong. Look, you don't have to go all "Michael Richards" on us, but if you can't apologize or see that comparing a defense to a plane crash in which 153 people died....you just don't really deserve to be on-air.

BBC apologises after football reporter makes jibe about Spanish air crash during match commentary (Mail Online)

The Sporting Blog came across this hilarious video of BBC reporter Steve Parry walking around with a cardboard cutout of Michael Phelps. Watch as people go crazy thinking he's actually Phelps himself....

That whole scene reminded me of the New Era commercial where everyone thinks the dude in the airport is David Ortiz. Parry does say he feels like a "fraud" but tell me you wouldn't try the same thing just to see what it was like. Too funny.

China Is Going Crazy For Tall, White People (The Sporting Blog)

How is this for random? The BBC has employed the services of Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn of the pop/rock/hip-hop group the Gorillaz to put together an ad for their Olympic coverage. From The 700 Level via Sterogum....

Gorillaz guys Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn have put together a pretty sweet little promo clip for BBC Sports's Beijing Summer Olympic coverage. I'm not much of an Olympics fan, so maybe this trippy cartoon narrative -- based in part on Gorrillaz' (and Chen Shi-Zheng's) Monkey: Journey to the West -- will be the only lasting impression I have from the games. It doesn't seem very Olympic at first, but wait for the finale.

Here's a look at the spot. Enjoy!



Kind of cool if you ask me. Hopefully NBC comes up with something similar but I picture Bob Costas and Bela Karyoli having tea while Gymnastics clips play in the background.

BBC Olympics Coverage to Feature Gorillaz Created Monkey (The 700 Level)
Gorillaz Light The Olympic Torch For The BBC (Stereogum)

Yesterday's match was definitely a show and everyone involved is definitely upset, but the BBC is taking it a step further. They're trying to seek damages after thunderstorms knocked out the International feed of Euro 2008 semi-final game between Germany and Turkey....

UEFA today faced compensation claims from broadcasters, including the BBC, following the loss of pictures during last night's thrilling Euro 2008 semi-final.

Millions of football fans around Europe were left shouting at their television sets when a power blackout interrupted TV coverage of the nail-biting match between Germany and Turkey.

The game was midway through the second half with a scoreline of 1-1 when the first of two blackouts, caused by a fierce electrical storm in Vienna, Austria, hit British viewers watching on BBC1.

I don't know how you can sue for damages during an act of God but stranger things have happened. I'm inclined to believe that the World feed went out, but the conspiracy theorist in me is thinking different. When lightning strikes it doesn't tend to just knock out one tower or signal. No power was out in the town and the Swiss feed was still fine. I'm betting some security guard was just sitting on a cord and everytime he moved it went in and out.

In all seriousness, it stunk for everyone involved and it wasn't anyone's fault but God's. So sue God BBC! Actually they're probably doing that too come to think of it.

BBC may seek compensation from UEFA after storms knock out TV coverage during nail-biting Euro 2008 semi-final (Mail Online)

Hopefully this isn't a spoiler for you, but John Terry just headed home a goal on a free kick send from David Beckham to put England up 1-0 in a friendly against the U.S. today (or this evening in England)...

You could see the relief on his face after that one and every teammate came up and gave him a hug. Good stuff and nice goal.

The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake went down on Monday and while I don't understand why people do it....I sure can laugh at their injuries! Enjoy the highlights....

As the rain poured down it became impossible for racers to stay on their feet and contestants became caked in mud as they flipped, somersaulted and tumbled their way down the hill.

Christopher Anderson, 19, who won the first race, was carried away from the hill on a spinal board after hurting his back as he finished head over heels.

His friend, Shane Beard, from Brockworth, who also took part in the race, said: "The conditions were horrific, you just have to get your head down and hope for the best." (Via BBC News)

Umm the "conditions" were "horrific"? I think running down a 200 meter slope with 1:1 gradients is pretty horrific in its own right, but to each his own. Good times.

(Video via Fanhouse)

This video is from Fox Sports 3 in Australia (via SS Reporters) and it appears that channel may have cut into Sky Sports' live feed a tad too early (NSFW language)....

Everyone knows how I feel about live f-bombs, and one that goes out to an entire Country is pretty impressive. This also isn't the first time that presenter Richard Keys has been caught, so someone might want to keep the VCR running on him constantly.

Richard Keys Just Loves Swearing (SS Reporters)

Snooker is apparently huge overseas so huge in fact that the Sport now has streakers interrupting their World Championships. Fanhouse has the video and The Sun has the recap....

Mark Roberts entered the auditorium at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, at the start of the final session and spread-eagled himself under the match table.

Fortunately, the famous Brit streaker, who has run naked during several international events, failed to put the players off their game. And Ronnie O’Sullivan managed to bag the 888.com World Championship crown for the third time beating Ali Carter 18-8.

Roberts, a dad of three, has streaked at events including a Miss World Contest, tennis matches, the bull run in Pamplona and the synchronized swimming world championship in Barcelona.

He has also been banned from every football stadium in England.

In my mind Snooker ranks directly behind Darts and Curling as events you'd want to streak, but in England this is a major news story. I never got the whole streaking thing (especially dudes doing it), but apparently this guy is a national hero.

Streaker Invades Snooker Championship (Fanhouse)
Streaker's On The Ball (The Sun)