Before we get into this post I want to make a few things clear. One, I like Eric Byrnes. I'll admit it. I think he's a fun loving, honest guy and he brings something to a normally boring FOX telecast. Second, with only 90 people in a chat that no one knew about.....some (or a lot) of the questions he got came from me. With that said. Let's get into it....

The chat was alerted to me by none other than The Maj (I have no idea how he's so many places at once) at around 6pm and the "chat" started soon after that. Apparently these live event are something that a site called Live Video puts on often. Steve Nash has been on there before and the stars seem to love it. They can, or in Byrnes case are supposed to be able to, see the people chatting and respond to the webcam questions. Very meta!

After a bunch of technological failures Eric abandoned his video capabilities and just started answering the streaming chat questions. Here are the highlights....

On Cancer:
“It’s hard not to take it hard.”

His Friends on the Yankees:
Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon

On the Diamondbacks:
“Yes I believe we can win the World Series. I think we’re as good as any other team in Baseball.”

Awkward Moment:
“What’s awkward is sitting here with you guys.”

On his mind drifting in the Outfield:
“Of course it does. It’s crazy when you've got a lot of stuff going. If you’re too focused on the game it becomes too intense. I like to have fun with the fans out in the outfield.”

On Mascots:
“The mascot is a lost art.”

On Steroids and HGH:
“Your dome grows to a certain large amount. I was never into my package shrinking. I wanna keep my lettuce here.”

On the Minors shaping his work ethic:
“I was lifting sofa cushions to go to Taco Bell.”

On his upcoming season with FOX Sports:
"I'll be doing a ton of stuff for FOX, once every six...excuse me month. I'll be doing these skits for the National Game of the Week."

And finally.....Blogs ("the haters"...my term as asked in the question)

Not a bad showing from FOX's Special Correspondent (I don't know what else to call him). Good times and extra special thanks to The Maj for pointing me towards this event. It find it funny that Eric Byrnes refers to blogging in a different light than what he is doing here, but like he said.....yay for free speech!

You count this as one "hater" that enjoys you Byrnesie (or Burnsie?).

Hustle! With Eric Byrnes (Live Video)

I mean seriously....a dog almost died last night. Do you want that on your shoulders FOX Baseball? A dead Bulldog??? I didn't think so.

But seriously, networks....less is always more. Forget the Who's Now type gimmicks for a moment (those actually might make some revenue), and let's talk about the Kayaks, The Camermen with ADD, and the Desperate Housewives' Stars in the booth.

When is enough, enough? Do you understand how much you are detracting from the game??? From USA Today....

“Why do directors cut away from stuff viewers want to see? Fox's quick trigger ruined an intriguing moment during the All-Star Game ceremony honoring Willie Mays. As the "Say Hey Kid" walked toward center field, viewers saw Barry Bonds reach from behind to hold his hand. Mays, 76, looked startled. What happened next? Who knows? Fox cut to a woman clapping in the upper deck. The camera returned a few seconds later. But the moment was gone, and the two weren't holding hands.”

Mike McCarthy is dead on with this assessment, and it happens all the time. The most recent trend is for cameramen to get a shot of the coaches shaking hands as a team wins a Championship.

I DON'T F'ING CARE ABOUT THE COACH!!!!!!!!! No one does. I want to see the players dogpiling and celebrating on the field. And without Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore ruinating it!

I understand that you have to do things for sponsors like the "Taco Bell Hit This Ball Off A Tee For A Homerun And Win A Million Dollars" thing. That's fine. But when you blur out your Homerun Derby contest for 10 seconds because someone holds up a sign that reads, "Joe Buck Sucks" (true story....reader RigginsO was watching the game on MLB.com at the time).....then I have a problem.

Just let what happens at the game and in the crowd speak for itself. I don't care about Kenny Mayne or Eric Byrnes in a kayak. I don't care about Erin Andrews sliding down Bernie's slide in Milwaukee (okay maybe a little bit). And I definitely don't care who the hell the producers and grips are when the National League is finally starting to make the game interesting!!!

What I do care about is the little girl picking her nose when going to commercial, the interview of Willie Mays by Jeter and Griffey, the Ichiro inside the park homer that you almost missed as Byrnes' dog swam to Alcatraz, and the Say Hey Kid moment in the outfield that you cut away from.

I think Sarah from Strike Zones and Endzones sums it up best.....

"I understand that there are a lot of sensitivities to this situation. I also know that networks have corporate suits and advertisers to answer to but it’s the media’s job to show real life reactions. It’s what makes live television so appealing. It’s also what makes media outside mainstream media (like blogs) so valuable and why there is a constant MSM/Blogger battle*. When you’re done watching what the MSM wants you to see, head to the internet to see what they wouldn’t show you."

Which is why I now bring you Eric Byrnes almost killing his dog in McCovey Cove while Ichiro makes history!!!!


What They Wouldn't Show You (Strikezones and Endzones)
TV REVIEW: Excitement of game overshadowed Fox's effort (SF Gate)
Networks take bold steps to offer all-access viewing (USA Today)

Blogger lover and all-around awesome dude Eric Byrnes will dropped into a kayak to give live reports during the ASG this Tuesday. Adding to this radical idea....he's bringing his dog....

Not to be outdone, Fox will have the Arizona Diamondbacks' Eric Byrnes in a kayak along with his pet bulldog Bruin during coverage of the All-Star game the next night.

Fox notes that Byrnes, who is from the Bay Area and played for UCLA, is the first active player to work an All-Star game telecast -- and that Bruin is the first pet to do so.

Now if Byrnes and Kenny Mayne could somehow get into a kayak collision and/or war....I would be happy.

Byrnes to work All-Star Game (Arizona Central)
Ripken Gwynn Give Vote of Confidence to Bonds (Awful Announcing)
Familiar Faces in New Places (Awful Announcing)

(Special thanks to reader MB for the tip)

The Sports Blogging Community's Good Friend.....one Eric James Byrnes has a new gig.

FSN has signed D'Backs CF Eric Byrnes to contribute to "BDSSP" in a new segment called "Byrnes, Baby, Byrnes." He will also report from events like the MLB All-Star Game and World Series.

Oooooh......Byrnes Baby Byrnes......f'ing clever. Does anyone even watch The Best Damn Sports Show Period????

Another Quick question.....I really thought that Byrnes was just doing the FOX coverage last year because baseball season was over. Has he retired or something? Maybe he should go into modeling.....