ESPN has been doling out the radio shows and webisodes as of late (Brian Kenny, Kenny Mayne), and the latest to get a show is Trey Wingo. Not only is it a pretty entertaining, and somewhat funny, it's shot in the ESPN Cafeteria! Not because it has the best lighting but rather because "Fresh Take" is sponsored by Subway!!!

The Subway props are a little annoying, but overall....not bad at all. Good Sports talk, and we even got to learn about Tim Legler's moving going habits. That "Fresh Take" is a double threat, I tell ya!

I originally wrote this for posting over at Sporting News, but I wanted to share it in this spot as well. I don't know if you watched the Sports Center Special last night on ESPN, but if you missed it I tried to capture it's greatness as much I could.

ESPN Actually Does Something Cool With Its Celtics-Lakers Coverage (The Sporting Blog)

When I wrote about the NBA Finals late in the day on Monday the obvious angle to note was the Jimmy Kimmel appearance. Well that was certainly not the case after Tuesday night. ESPN's re-airing of Game Six of the 1987 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics was some of the best programming I've seen the channel ever air. But before we get into the clips and the show itself I want to share with you the reason that I didn't even mention it in the Finals preview the other night. I think this section of the press release speaks for itself....

SportsCenter NBA Finals Special Tuesday on ESPN
ESPN will televise a three-hour primetime SportsCenter NBA Finals Special devoted to Game 6 of the 1987 NBA Finals – the last time the Celtics and Lakers met in The Finals – Tuesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. The Lakers defeated the Celtics, with Magic Johnson earning MVP honors. The telecast will include game footage, interviews with participants, and a look ahead at the 2008 NBA Finals.

I know that sound far from boring but it was nothing compared with what they actually did on Tuesday night. Matt Winer and Tim Legler hosted an over 3-hour replay of on of the Lakers-Celtics most intense games and not only did they not interrupt the game itself but they even brought in some of the old players between breaks in the action. Dick Stockton and Tommy Heisohn were on the call that night and not only did they interview the play-by-play man Stockton, but they also sat down with the face of CBS at the time Brent Musburger. Here are some of the highlights....

I can't stress enough how much this idea worked on multiple levels. First the obvious is that it was a vehicle to promote the 2008 Finals. There's never anything wrong with advertising your product, but this show did that and more. The simplicity of the original broadcast, along with the unobtrusive and fan-like demeanor of Winer and Legler let the rivalry speak for itself. The addition of all of the media folks and the announcers was just the icing on the cake.

The game itself took us back to a time where Dick Stockton was at the top of his game and Tommy Heisohn added an unbelievable amount of unbiased commentary. There were no explosions, there were no intrusive and useless sideline reporters, and there was no crappy music or obtrusive graphics. It was just ridiculously talented Basketball players who hated each other waging war, and it was awesome.

Now that's not to say that today's game is bad (it most certainly isn't most of the time). Sure the game back then was different and you're not likely to see Kobe go and shake the Celtics' Coaches hands (ala Kareem Abdul Jabar in 1987 as he leaves the game), but the allure of this year's Finals to NBA fans is just as great as it was back then. Of course there's not seven (seven!) future Hall of Famers playing in Game One this Thursday, but it's still going to be fun. I don't know who came up with this idea over at Bristol HQ, but it's one of the best things the network has done in the past 10 years. Hopefully they re-air it for those that missed it.

ESPN Actually Does Something Cool With Its Celtics-Lakers Coverage (The Sporting Blog)

It's extremely extremely rare that someone in Sports Media bashes their own, but it's happened to ESPN again. Tim Legler was on Dan Le Batard's radio show yesterday and when asked about the state of Sports Media he had this to say about his network's dealings with the Sport he covers. Via Sports by Brooks...

Tim Legler Audio (790 The Ticket, 5:30in)

“I look at our network (ESPN) as much as any and think it’s become a situation where it’s a great time to be a journalist, because there are so many opportunities on television and I know that it pays more and you get greater exposure … now there’s a lot of guys (sportswriters) that are household names. That’s how they started out, and that’s fine when you’re giving information, and you’re giving your opinion and reporting things.

“But then sometimes we blur the line and (sportswriters) cross over into providing analysis and I think sometimes people aren’t qualified to do it. If you really dive into it (what sportswriters are saying), I think most of the time it’s inaccurate.“

It's a harsh criticism, but it's true. If you watch ESPN in a 24-hour period there are probably anywhere from 15-20 writers from around the Country on various programs (see: First Take). With their Basketball coverage alone they have two main players that are former or current columnists during the day (Wilbon, S.A.S.). Some are good for the Network, but the bad ones are either just trying to be controversial or just don't belong on television.

The funny part of the whole conversation is that Le Batard is one of the people Legs is complaining about and he obviously didn't delve further into the question after that statement.

Gee, We Wonder Who Tim Legler Is Referring To? (Sports By Brooks)

Lost in all of the Donovan McNabb hoopla the past few days was a neat little story forwarded along to us by the awesome Philly site The 700 Level via The Daily News....

Apparently Tim Legler and his fiance (a former Eagles' Cheerleader) were in attendance during the Monday Night game and were sitting with former Eagles' DE Brandon Whiting. One of Legler's other guests (only labeled as a friend) just happened to be wearing a Skins jersey to the affair and set the follow chain of events in motion.

An Eagles fan was detained by security at Monday's game at the Linc after shoving a security guard who had come over to break up an argument involving the fan, former Eagles defensive end Brandon Whiting and ESPN's Tim Legler.

According to Whiting and Legler, a man behind their row in the club level was making lewd comments and gestures to Whiting's wife, Amanda, and Legler's fiancee, Christina Fuller, a former Eagles Cheerleader.

Whiting says he approached the man and asked him to cool it, leading fans to chant "asshole, asshole" at him. An eyewitness says he did not see Whiting or Legler lay a hand on anybody, but did see the security guard take a tumble, and then a man being led away in cuffs. The heckling began because a friend of Legler's wore a Redskins jersey.

Let's just institute two new rules right now. 1) It isn't necessary to wear your team's jersey to an away game.....especially in Philly. You won't be thought any less of a fan if you don't sport the colors. 2) Can we not call women derogatory names and the like at sporting events (or ever really).....especially to a former NFL Defensive End. It's just going to end badly for you. One way or another.

Also kudos to Whiting for handling that situation as best and as calmly as he could.

McNabb wasn't the only one harassed at the Linc Monday Night (The 700 Level)
Linc fan gets an escort (Philly Daily News)