I guess the possibilities are endless when you're a personality like Shaquille O'Neal. Shaqtus is now apparently expanding on his life outside of basketball, by enrolling in broadcasting classes at Syracuse University. Oh and get this, his first interview is with the new 'Cuse QB....Greg Paulus. From Yahoo Sports via Fanster....

Shaquille O’Neal(notes) is in training for his next career.

The 7-foot-1 center for the Phoenix Suns is taking a broadcasting class at Syracuse University known as Sportscaster U, a crash course designed to teach athletes about the broadcasting industry. He arrived in Syracuse on Sunday and started school Monday at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Instructor Dave Ryan, an ESPN play-by-play announcer who started the program, says O’Neal is spending the time taping mock stand-ups, scripting material, and conducting interviews.

O’Neal even scored the first on-camera interview with former Duke point guard Greg Paulus since he announced his decision to play football at Syracuse in the fall.

As we've seen in his Police work, when Shaq puts his mind to something, he usually gets it done. I think the guy is hilarious, and obviously there's a place for him on television, but the only question left is where? Pretty sure if ESPN signed the guy tomorrow, and put him on the ABC pregame show with Wilbon, Magic and Stu Scott, we'd all tune in.

Step Aside Erin Andrews, Shaq is gunning for your job (Fanster)
Shaq takes crash course in broadcast at Syracuse (Yahoo)

I honestly hate when days turn into an all ESPN free-for-all, but the "Leader" is breaking some really big news today. In addition to the Comcast item, ESPN also released the details surrounding their long rumored Sports Nation show, and lucky for all of us, Colin Cowherd is going to be the host! Joining Shrutebag will be ESPN 1050 anchor, Michelle Beadle, and the show will premier on Monday, July 6, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Via ESPN PR....

The show will include discussion of the smaller stories that generate buzz on the Internet but often aren’t seen on television.

“SportsNation will focus on topics that dominate fans’ email exchanges and blogs,” added Horowitz. “The show will be a conversation between people who love sports but don’t take every story so seriously. The funny Web stories everyone forwards to their friends will find a home on SportsNation.”

Feeding off the producers’ theory that if two heads are better than one, 100,000 heads are better than two, SportsNation will engage hundreds of thousands of sports fans across the country via ESPN.com’s SportsNation. Fans will be able to interact with the hosts before, during and after the show by e-mail, text, Twitter or just making a phone call.

“SportsNation will really have three hosts – Colin, Michelle and the fans,” Horowitz said. “We are counting on the fans’ commentary and feedback to make the show unique. I’d like to rely on Colin, but he doesn’t listen to anything we tell him.”

Said Cowherd, “I’m stunned management let me do a TV show. I know what the producers and I find interesting and funny – and it leads me to conclude that we probably won’t be on the air very long.”

I feel like ESPN has tried this before, but for some reason, I can't remember the show's name. In any case, it's a risky idea and Colin Cowherd is either going to be hit or miss on television. Just like on the radio, people are going to love him or hate his guts. I also find it interesting that ESPN is breaking this news right after Versus announced their plans for a similar show.

In addition to this news, there is also a small shakeup at ESPN Radio. The SN show will actually premier after the new ESPN2 simulcast of the Scott Van Pelt show. Mike Tirico is going to work strictly on TV, and SVP will be joined by Ryen Russillo for a two hour show starting at 2pm (only the last hour will be simulcast).

The MLB Network is still on course to bring you live games from every team in the majors on Thursday nights, and they just released their next set of games. I thought I'd share it with you....

May 28th: Dodgers @ Cubs – Bob Costas & Harold Reynolds (8pm)

May 30th: Cardinals @ Giants - TBD (9pm)

June 4th: Cubs @ Braves – Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane (7pm)

June 6th: Orioles @ Athletics - TBD (9pm)

June 11th: Yankees @ Red Sox – Bob Costas & Jim Kaat (7pm)

June 13th: Padres @ Angels - TBD (9pm)

June 18th: Tigers @ Cardinals – Victor Rojas & Joe Magrane (8pm)

June 20th: Gillette Civil Rights Game: White Sox @ Reds - TBD (7pm)

June 25th: Phillies @ Rays – Matt Vasgersian, Joe Magrane & Mitch Williams (7pm)

June 27th: Yankees @ Mets - TBD (7pm)

I honestly don't know what a network like FOX sees in Michael Strahan as a comedian, but the former NFLer is all set to star in his own sitcom next fall. "Brothers" will start out on Fridays at 8pm, and will feature Strahan as a former NFL player (surprise!) called back home to help out his family. Wanna learn more? Of course you do. Via Newsday....

"Starring Michael Strahan (“FOX NFL Sunday”) and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (“Ed,” “Veronica’s Closet”), BROTHERS is a new half-hour comedy about a former NFL hot shot who learns that even though you can always go home again, the trip back might be tougher than you think. MIKE TRAINOR (Strahan) seemingly has it all – he’s a good-looking, wealthy and recently retired NFL player living the high-life in New York City, but he’s about to get sidelined. When Mike gets a phone call from his MOM (CCH Pounder, “The Shield”) who orders him home to Houston, he quickly realizes the more his life has changed, the more his family has stayed the same. His brother CHILL (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell), whose life was altered drastically after a car accident left him in a wheelchair, is struggling to keep his restaurant afloat with the help of his loudmouth associate, ROSCOE (Colton Dunn, “MADtv”). The dynamics between Mike and Chill are the same as when they were kids, and their sibling rivalry hasn’t lessened with age. If they can stop their bickering, put aside their differences and learn to be teammates, the brothers might just turn out to be each other’s biggest asset. Wedged between Mike and Chill are their parents. Their father, whom everyone refers to as COACH (Carl Weathers, “Rocky”), is the local high school football coach and the conservative, opinionated alpha male of his clan. Coach thinks he runs the show, but really it’s Mom who calls the shots. Saucy, stern and a schemer, she is the mastermind of the family. And when she learns that Mike’s business manager took off with all his money, she orchestrates a plan to keep Mike in Houston, save Chill’s restaurant and bring the family back together under one roof again – all without anyone realizing what she’s up to. Mom’s plan helps Mike realize that his family – however dysfunctional they may be – is the only family he’s got. And although he may not have a penny to his name, as long as he’s surrounded by people who love him, he’ll always be a rich man."

Wow. That sounds like a.....umm....winner. Not only is the plot ridiculous, but the show is already pretty much damned by being slated for a Friday. Good luck with that one though, FOX.

Strahan....as Fox Sitcom Star (Newsday)

I'm sure Terrell Owens thinks he can do whatever he wants these day, you know, with his own reality show and all. But I'm not sure if analyst work is in his future. Owens decided to make an appearance on WKBW news, and actually call his own highlights and interview....

There are a lot of things you can say about Terrell Owens, but making a bad first impression, isn't one of them. It's amazing how crazy people go for him when he joins a new team, and how quickly they forget his previous transgressions. I mean, Buffalo already gave him a key to the f'ing city! They better be have a clause that says they can get it back when he disappears in week four.

Ask and you shall receive. Just as I was posting the Comcast/ESPNU news, I learned that the NFL and Comcast have also reached an agreement. And get this....it was announced via Twitter....

The details have yet to be released, but as I mentioned in previous posts, the deal is expected to include both on demand content as well as the "Red Zone Channel". This is obviously a great day for all the parties involved, and certainly for NFL fans.

NFL V.P. of corporate communications, Brian McCarthy (Twitter)