Jim Lampley has been in and out of the news over the past few years, and whether or not you respect him as person based on some of his past transgressions, you can't deny that he's good on camera. Lampley has always had a spot in both the Winter and Summer Olympics, but following NBC's placement of Al Michaels as the Winter studio host, Lampley might end up skipping this year's Olympics in a bit of a protest.

It has been rumored that Lampley was offered a Hockey role for the Games, but according to the NY Daily News, the HBO Sports' play-by-play man has reportedly turned the offer down....

His EbNess decided to boot Lampley from the role of daytime Olympic studio host in favor of Al Michaels (he last hosted the earthquake at the '89 World Series), who will don the turtleneck and smoking jacket for NBC's 2010 Winter Games coverage from Vancouver. Lampley had a string of working 14 straight Olympics. Ebersol said he "could not imagine" Lampley not having a role in Vancouver.

Start imagining. Spies say Lampley was offered the hockey-host gig and turned it down.

I don't really think of Lampley as someone who would be offended by this. He only had a small role during the last Winter Olympics, but after being replaced on the Summer Games by Bob Costas, he could certainly be feeling a bit slighted.

Turning off the Lamp(ley) (NY Daily News)

Floyd Mayweather decided to take time out of his busy WWE schedule to lay into HBO's coverage of him over the weekend. The recently retired fighter had some choice words for the cable channel's analysts and more specifically Jim Lampley....

Mayweather criticized the network's announcers for a bias against black fighters, and for not treating their own indiscretions as seriously as those committed by people they cover, during an exclusive interview with The Press.

"Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, Emanuel Steward, they're always talking about the negative things in my life," Mayweather said. "But I've seen Jim Lampley in the same strip club as me before. They always want to talk about me going to strip clubs, but they don't want to talk about that.

Mayweather, the Grand Rapids native who returned home this weekend to host a holiday carnival and entertainment festival, was convicted on four counts of misdemeanor assault, and pleaded no contest to another, earlier in his career.

"He caught a court case himself, too. But when they catch a case, all they do is take them off the air a couple weeks, then it's over."

Lampley is currently on probation for violating a restraining order leveed on him by his former girlfriend and according to Mayweather, routinely brings up his outside the ring issues. It's always a tough spot for announcers who have had trouble with the law themselves to speak on the subject and in most cases they should probably just leave that talk to the analysts.

Mayweather rips HBO announcers for racial bias (M Live)

You may remember Jim Lampley being in a bunch of "hot water" after a roughing up his ex-fiancee. Well now his boss is in that same boat following an argument after the Mayweather- De La Hoya fight...

HBO chairman and chief executive Chris Albrecht was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend outside the MGM Grand after a boxing match aired by his company, authorities said.

Officers assigned to the bout reported seeing Albrecht fighting with a woman identified only as his girlfriend in the MGM Grand's valet parking lot shortly after 3 a.m., said Las Vegas Police spokesman Officer Bill Cassell.

There's nothing like a boring-ass fight to get you riled up to beat a woman. Nevermind the fact that it's just wrong, but why would you ever try something like that in public?

And you wonder why Lampley was never suspended or taken off air....

HBO exec Albrecht arrested in dispute after title bout (Las Vegas Review Journal)

I feel like The Smoking Gun posting this, but I've "come across" Jim Lampley's Press Release Apology to his ex-fiancee Candice Sanders.

I wasn't going to put this up at first, but it's a completely different tune than the one he was singing at the end of February. "The thing that I am most guilty of is choosing (the) wrong woman," Lampley said. Oh really?

SAN DIEGO, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is
being released today from the Law Office of
Patricia A. Gregory:

On behalf of James Lampley his attorney has authorized
the release of the following apology to Candice Sanders:

It is with considerable regret and deep embarrassment
that I acknowledge having overreacted to a household
dispute with Candice Sanders on New Year's Eve. As a
result of my anger, our dispute has become a matter of
public discussion and speculation and I accept
responsibility for that. To bring closure to this
process, I am offering my full and unconditional
apology to Miss Sanders and her family, as well as to
all my friends, family and professional colleagues who
have been unwarrantedly damaged by the events of that
night. Miss Sanders feels very deeply and sincerely,
as do I, about the rights of women and children. She
will be a powerful symbol on their behalf, and I will
thoroughly support and encourage her organized efforts
in this regard. At the same time, I would encourage
all to look favorably on Candice's efforts and
contribute wholeheartedly to the advancement of
this cause.

An interesting change of tone over the past few weeks. I'm sure this is entirely spin since it was submitted to a PR Firm. The apology must be part of this "tough" sentence from Superior Court Judge Laura Parsky.......

Superior Court Judge Laura Parsky also fined Lampley $674 and ordered him to do 40 hours of volunteer work. Lampley will not face charges for the alleged attack. The district attorney's office reviewed Sanders' allegations of domestic violence and found "insufficient evidence to prove it."

Jim Lampley Is Only Guilty Of Following His Heart (Deadspin)
Boxing Announcer Arrested (AA)

So yesterday I told you about boxing announcer Jim Lampley getting locked up for what appeared to be a little bit of wife beating. Well the report (allegation) is out and it doesn't look good for him......at all.

TMZ

Sanders says at that point all hell broke loose. She alleges, "He grabbed me and threw me against a wall. He then threw me against another wall. He then threw me against the door and I collapsed."Sanders goes on to say that 14-year-old Aaron saw her on the floor and she asked him to call the police. She writes in the document," Jim beat Aaron to the phone and kept Aaron from getting [to the phone]. She says Lampley then drove away with Aaron. Sanders claims she suffered head, neck and back injuries.

Well Lampley has now submitted his own press release....LA Times (Registration- Free)

Lampley issued this statement: "I'm innocent of the charge of domestic abuse that has been leveled against me and will vigorously defend myself…. I'm confident I will be found not guilty of this charge. I thank my friends and family for their support … and ask for understanding and patience from the media until my situation allows me to discuss this in more depth."

His status for the Jan 20th fight on HBO and his future Olympic endeavours are up in the air. Fortunately it was not Bree Walker, but this fetching lass below. He was probably just pissed that she wouldn't give back that f'ing sweet NBC Sports jean jacket pictured above.














Thanks to Mister Irrelevant and Signal to Noise for the tip(s). And the photo is from TMZ.

From the L.A. Times.....

Former Los Angeles TV sportscaster and current HBO boxing announcer Jim Lampley was arrested late Wednesday afternoon by San Diego County sheriff's deputies on suspicion of domestic violence and other counts, authorities said.

A brief news release from the Sheriff's Department indicated that Lampley, 57, also was being held on suspicion of violating a restraining order and dissuading a witness.

Whoa...dissuading a witness? I don't even know what it is to dissuade. I assume that he was either paying someone off or threatening....TMZ has more.....

TMZ has learned that veteran sportscaster Jim Lampley was arrested this evening outside of San Diego, CA on felony charges of domestic abuse.

Sources say that because of previous complaints, Lampley was arrested by an investigative team at his girlfriend's home in Encinitas, CA. Lampley was once married to anchorwoman Bree Walker.

Lampley has been a favorite of mine for quite some time now, and I wonder how this will affect his attendence of the January 20th Ricky Hatton fight?

Side Note: I'm not sure if he was stalking Bree Walker or another unlucky lass, but Bree Walker is the anchorwoman you see on all those plastic surgery pieces. Seriously, Jimbo....if it is Bree....come on, look at her.....just leave it alone. It's not worth it.











L.A. Times (LA Times)
Jim Lampley is Arrested (TMZ)
HBO Sports