I recently started getting back into collecting cards again after getting a box for Christmas, and I can't say how bad of an idea it was to do so. Sure you feel some nostalgia when opening the packs, but the insert cards, autographs, jerseys and random subsets, just make it impossible to keep up with. Well thanks to the Big League Stew, we now have a look into the life of a collector nowadays.

Joe Rock runs the Baseball Card Dugout in Brooklyn, and Director Casimir Nozkowski decided to make a mini movie about the business....

The part that got me, was not the over-the-top prices, but rather the simple phrase of "it's not for kids anymore" that was said about five times in a ten second span. If you'll excuse me, I have to go cry while laying on top of my complete set of 1992 Fleer Ultra Rookie Sensations.

Oh pretty little Juan Guzman...your borders are so blue. And look....it's Scott Leius. And there's O's sensation Chito Martinez. Sigh.

The Baseball Card Movie (Big League Stew)

Good lord. Things just keep getting worse in this economy, don't they? On what should be a triumphant day for Americans, radio giant Clear Channel decided to cut 9% of its workforce today, meaning 1,850 people within the company lost their job. What does that mean to me, you ask? Well Clear Channel runs a great number of Sports Talk stations, and some of your favorite shows could be going away. Sports by Brooks has some of the early casualties....

WDFN, which broadcasts Pistons games, whacked all of its local hosts, and will instead run Fox Sports Radio programming 24/7. The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION also reports severe cuts at WFXJ sports radio in Jacksonville. Where local personalities have been slashed.

There will be much more fallout in the next couple days, as job cuts become public market-by-market. Worst-hit will be sales staffs and local market personalities, who can be replaced by syndicated programming from ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio. (But I’ve also confirmed some layoffs at CC-operated Fox Sports Radio.)

Not yet known is the effect the layoffs will have on L.A.-sports station KLAC-AM, which recently lost the Lakers broadcast rights to local competitor KSPN-AM. That said, I’ve been hearing rumors for months about the demise of KLAC’s sports format.

Just depressing. Usually they save this level of carnage for a "Black Friday" of sorts, but I guess every company is stepping up and making changes. Unfortunate yes, but these are the times we live in. Hope all of you CCers that read the site, find work out there real soon.

Clear Channel cutting 1,850 jobs (Biz Journals)
CC’s Cutbacks To Spell End Of LA Sports Station? (Sports by Brooks)

It was a forgone conclusion that this World Series was going to be the low, but exactly how low? Even with the help of a 3 1/2 inning primetime game, that pulled a the 2008 out of the lowest rated spot in World Series history. The overnight total for last night's Game Five continuation was a 13.4 and when you average all of the game out the grand total should be around the low to mid 9.0's once all the numbers are collected. Not only is that .5 less than the previous low of 10.0 in 2006, but it obviously marks the first time a World Series averaged under 10.0.

I think the ultimate sentiment is that the World Series has just lost the overall luster that it once had. In fact even Peter Gammons thinks that it might be time to overhaul the entire October Event....

In the mid-'90s, several owners went to a Miami Super Bowl and discussed the notion of having a 10-day World Series at a neutral site. They'd have to get local fans to buy into destination and vacation packages. There wouldn't be the feel in Anaheim, San Diego or Los Angeles that there is in New York, Chicago, St. Louis or Boston. But then the Cardinals are the only team since the 2002 Angels to win in front of their home fans. It would be a hard sell, but the notion of a World Series week has some advantages.

May I suggest Punta Mita, Mexico? The Four Seasons would be a perfect headquarters hotel. Anguilla would work.

The World Series is, after all, significant television programming, and the good folks at Fox would love predictability. It's better than the official first dud of the fall TV season, "The Perfect Storm Hits the World Series."

There are a lot of questions that will be weighed after this, the worst World Series in memory. The first? With plummeting television ratings and the collapse of the economy, will the free agent market continue to inflate, or will it cool the market? The impact of this World Series may last right through into January.

Wow. That's pretty depressing. I don't know if something as drastic as Gammons is suggesting needs to be done, but something has to change. I personally enjoyed this World Series because of its overall randomness, both the teams involved and the 3.5 inning shootout, but the majority of Baseball fans don't think like I do. The "Winter Meetings" should be extra interesting come December.

Weather turns Series into worst ever (ESPN)
Rays-Phils Likely To Be Lowest Rated World Series Ever (Awful Announcing)

It's no secret that I extremely despised Sean Salisbury as an analyst on ESPN. You never want to see someone lose their job, but with the way he handled himself at times, I certainly wasn't sad when it happened to him. After some trying times, Sean is trying to reinvent himself these days and in doing so actually talked to Deadspin at length about everything that has happened over the last two years. I'm sure you already read it, but it need a spot on this site....

On ESPN Not Renewing His Contract: "They gave me a platform . For a guy that was an average quarterback, to be a broadcaster for 12 years…whenever you do something for 12 years whether it’s marriage, or job, or family you’re drawn to it. So those people treated me great and I have no qualms about leaving it, at the time I needed to do some other things. But these last five months for me have probably been as peaceful as I have had in a long time. And this is the longest I’ve been without work for a while so it was time to go back and get a job. And fortunately with OPENSports, I’ve got the beginning of something special and this is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time."

On The Alleged Cell Phone Pics: "It NEVER happened. And I have written proof at my house on an ESPN document that states that it didn’t happen. And, A.j. …let’s think about this now: What in the world would anybody stupid enough…first of all, I wouldn’t know the difference between an intern and a p.a. I know they’re more talented than I am.....

Hey, I’m not perfect. As far as that one situation? Do I think that the suspension should have happened? Absolutely not. Was I suspended for “other stuff” than what other people speculate about? In my mind, yes. I can guarantee you, I know for a fact, had other situations surrounding that not had happened – I don’t know if I’d still be at ESPN because that was two years ago and I should have been long gone and somebody put legs on it. That had nothing to do with according to them and me with me leaving ESPN."

On The Infamous Super Bowl Party: "I don’t have that much game. Irvin, superstar, great guy. Stu Scott, talented guy, he’s won many Emmys and then….It’s like Sesame Street. "One of These Things is Not Like the Other"? Then there’s Sean. I’d like to say it was my ruggedly handsome good looks and my charming personality. I just think we were at a small place and there were people around, it was after Sports Center, and we go over there and are trying to help a guy out. Put it this way: I had a good time and had a lot of laughs. Nobody hates eye candy and I just wish I was a little more of it."

Again, I'm sure most of you have already taken the time to peruse the interview, which is why I tried to keep those quotes as short as possible, but if you haven't....it's a must read. The whole thing comes off like a conversation with someone who is just beyond manic at this point. He was always a high energy guy, but I can't even imagine what the phone call was like.

I honestly wish him the best of luck with Open Sports (whatever that is), but you really do get back what you put into this world. There are many documented cases of him being combative and unbearable to work with, but I think this clip sums up his time at ESPN the best.



Hopefully he's learned to channel that energy and aggression in a different way and can put it to good use at his new job.

Sean Salisbury Has A Lot On His Mind (Deadspin)
Back in your grill! (Open Sports)
Breaking News: Sean Salisbury Out At ESPN (Awful Announcing)

Pete Gillen is a regular contributor to the NY Post's Tournament Section come March Madness. The former coach and CSTV Analyst (now College Sports Network) was previewing the Sweet Sixteen when he decided to throw this in for the heck of it.....

WELL, even though Georgetown is gone, three of my Final Four teams are alive - which is unusual. I've had a bad decade - I got fired, no friends, no money, no clothes. But since I'm due, I'll take a look at the Sweet 16:

I agree with the Realests when they say, "Self-deprecating humor is great when you're Conan O'Brien, but it's different when you're Pete Gillen." Seriously. Step back from the ledge Mr. Gillen. You can take solace in the fact that Dave Leitao isn't doing that much better at UVA since you left.

Pete Gillen Hates His Life (The Realests)
The View Sure Is Sweet (NY Post)

In the past week I've given you a handful of examples that illustrated how far SportsCenter has Fallen. Hey, I don't want it to be that way, but these are the facts.

Well folks, are you ready to be even more depressed? Do you remember when SportsCenter first spoke to you??? Do you remember a little duo simply know as Patrick-Olbermann???

Are you ready for it....I don't think you are.....sit down please.....

It was 10 years ago today that Dan and Keith did their last show together as SportsCenter anchors.

How sad is that? Seriously....whatever happened to straight-forward Sports reporting with humor when warranted (and funny on top of that)??? We now have to deal with The Sklar Brothers, Sean Salisbury, Who's Now?, The Coors/Bud Light Six Pack, Stuart Scott, Die Hard, etc, etc, etc.....

It's to the point where I rarely even watch the show now. To be honest the only time I ever catch it is on Sunday's during Football season. Maybe they need all the gimmicks.....maybe they don't. But I miss the first "never miss show" I ever watched.

I leave you with this lyric from one of the best bands during the time of Dan and Keith's last show......

"It's Sooooo Harrrrrd tooooo say gooooodbyyyyyye toooo yesterdaaaaaay eeeeeeeeee."

Thanks to Bruce for the comment below....I forgot to add that K and D are on Late Night tomorrow night.....

"Ya know, I haven't watched the Sunday night SC since KO left. In fact, I hardly watch it, period. They're scheduled to be on Letterman on Wednesday night, btw. I say "scheduled", because the last two times Patrick was booked were the Farrah meltdown, and Seinfeld's post-Michael Richards appearance, so it's a good bet something will happen."

A Vince McMahon Death stunt perhaps? Too Soon???