Well at least the last few minutes were exciting. In fact, I decided to avoid the first three quarters altogether (mainly because the bands were already driving me crazy before the game even started), and just take in these final few moments.

Ohio State scored to take the lead, with two minutes to go, on a nice run by Daniel Herron, but with OSU's recent history in Bowl Games....you just knew they left too much time on the clock....

That was Senior Quan Cosby, and that my friends is a fifth straight Bowl victory for the Longhorns, and a fourth straight BCS loss for the Buckeyes. I almost feel bad for Ohio tonight....I said almost.

A Columbus radio station, that has on ESPN analysts as regular guests, has been talking all week about the upcoming UM-OSU game. They've had both Chris Spielman (OSU alum) and Desmond Howard (UM alum) on in the past few days, and both have pulled no punches in laying into the team and the coaching staff....

Desmond Howard- "That would be the popular thinking after watching them lose eight games this season, and the way they've lost some of those games. I made a comment (Sunday) on our show that it's not like they were trying to learn a spread offense (as much as) like they were trying to learn how to play football in some of those games, they looked so bad. This isn't Michigan, this is like Michigan Tech.

"I said, 'If they win six games, Rich Rod is one of the best coaches in college football.' Then I said, 'If they win seven, he has to be finalist for the best coach in college football, if they win eight, he is the best coach in college football.' I expected them to struggle.

"Now, there's a way to lose, and there's a way to look embarrassing. Earlier in the season, when guys couldn't field kickoffs, that to me that goes beyond coaching.

"There's a lot of blame to go around, so Rich Rodriguez, and (defensive coordinator) Scott Shafer and the rest of the coaching staff -- those guys definitely have to shoulder some of the blame, there's no doubt about that. But as a player, you have to have some pride to go out on the field and do certain things that show you're a football player."

Chris Spielman- "[The Wolverines] stink, they're not very good. They don't play offense ... they can't run it consistently, they can't throw it consistently, they can't stop the run, they're not very good defending the pass, they're not very good covering kicks, they're not very good returning kicks."

"I love seeing them beaten down, man. It's great."

Well how's that for journalistic integrity? I understand the rivalry and the hatred, but saying you love seeing them "beaten down", is just a little over-the-top if you ask me. I think Herbstreit has always taken the right approach when he discusses the two teams, and there's always going to be some level of love for your school, but let's tone it down some there, Chris.

ESPN should probably keep Chris Spielman away from Michigan games from now on (Dr. Saturday)
Howard: 'This isn't Michigan' (Detroit Free Press)
Desmond Howard Interview (1460 The Fan)

I'm seriously not going to give you these every week (okay, maybe I am), but they just keep getting better and better. Here's Doctor Lou talking about his new statue and how to prepare your team, but the highlight is the good Doctor laying into Ohio State....

Man, he got really fired up there didn't he? I love how he flips out for a good minute or so and then slides calmly into his thought of the week. That guy is seamless in his transitions.

So everyone knows that USC games are the Fall destination for actors and actresses to be seen in L.A. Well ESPNU has come across the list of USC-approved sideline credential holders and it couldn't be more fun to peruse. I'll see you after the list....

Hollywood:

Jamie Foxx
Denzel Washington
Nick Lachey
Christian Slater
Henry Winkler
John Krasinski
Ed Helms
Robert Patrick
Kaitlin Olson
David James Elliot
Zach Galifianakis
George Eads
Jerry Bruckheimer
Alexis Jones

Sports:

Dick Butkus
Isiah Thomas
Michael Strahan
Eddie George
Greg Oden
Amare Stoudemire
Anna Rawson
John David Washington

USC Football Alumni:

Anthony Munoz
Ronnie Lott
Marcus Allen
Charles White
Sam Cunningham
Rodney Peete
Dennis Thurman
Johnnie Morton
Todd Marinovich
Sean Salisbury
Jeff Bregel
Chris Hale
Mazio Royster
Malaefou MacKenzie
David Kirtman

USC 2008 Olympians:

Ous Mellouli
Larsen Jensen
Klete Keller
Erik Vendt

Okay, if you take away the two big Hollywood names (Denzel, Jamie Foxx), ex-USC players and grads, we are left with the most random collection of "stars" (and a really attractive LPGA player) ever. Look I love Jim from "The Office", George Eads from CSI and comedian Zack Galifianakis as much as the next person, but seriously....how did they sneak their way onto the list? I want to know their secrets!

Sideline VIPs for USC-Ohio State (ESPNU)

I'm not sure why we're getting a string of state of media addresses as of late, but I'm all for them. The latest ESPN Ombudsman article tackled ESPN cross promotion and synergy and yesterday we had the future of Sports Television. Well today the topic is the State of Broadcasting and the quotes come from recently re-retired ABC College Football announcer, Keith Jackson.

The LA Times posed the question of perhaps the legendary broadcaster calling the OSU-USC game for the weekend and this was his response....

"I don't belong," he said. "My time is gone. I knew it and walked away."

While Vin Scully, who is the same age, has re-signed for another year with the Dodgers and Chick Hearn went on with the Lakers until his death at 85, Jackson is content with his decision, happy to hunker down at home for Saturday's game.

"I'm going to have a glass of good wine and watch a good ballgame," he said.

After being a football announcer with ABC from 1966 to 2006, he doesn't miss it?

"I've brainwashed myself into believing that," he said. "I'm on to another life."

The first time Jackson retired, he was enticed into returning when a network executive removed the burden of his heavy travel schedule. And when Jackson retired again, there was a new enticement.

"ESPN talked to me," he said, "but it's a whole different profession now."

Jackson is talking about the radical changes produced by technology, from the dizzying array of channel options, to online videos, blogging by sideline reporters, fantasy football stats and the increasing demand for an interactive experience.

"It's oversaturation to me," he said. "I wonder if it won't dull the appetite for football. I have trouble just with all these replays. I can't tell the old stuff from the new stuff. Also, it seems like there is constant conversation by the announcers. Yak, yak, yak. I just don't think we need that much conversation and I have a hunch there are a whole lot of folks who feel that way. Vinny [Scully] once said that what we do is capture pictures and I agree with that. But maybe I'm just a grouchy old guy."

My thing is that there's room for all types of approaches in the booth from the classic, to the humorous, to the boisterous, but you have to know when to hit the pause button when thing get serious or the game is close. The biggest problem that I see, is a combination of what Jackson said and people trying way too hard to be funny, or off the wall. Subtle humor within the context of the game is always welcome, but when you start turning into the broadcast into a Sports Talk Radio show, that's when people hit mute.

It's sad to think that people like Jackson believe that the game and technology has passed them by, and that they "don't belong", but I guess it's just the natural progression of things. Hopefully he'll reconsider and can call a game next season for one network or another. I for one could use a "Whoa Nellie!" or two on Saturdays.

Whoa, Nellie: Keith Jackson enjoying retirement (LA Times)

Obviously they should be promoting what's arguably the best matchup of the College Football season, but I haven't seen them go to this degree before. Even with playoff games in professional Sports. First off they've dubbed it "The Collision In The Coliseum" and they've made a crawl for info on the game for the bottom of the screen. They're also hyping the game on both Sports Center and First Take multiple times a day, showing clips of former players Keyshawn Johnson and Cris Carter talking bets and now ESPNU plans on starting coverage on Friday with something called “Walk ThrU” at 1pm....

As a prelude to No. 5 Ohio State at No. 1 USC live Saturday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. on ABC and ESPN Radio, ESPNU’s Walk ThrU special will highlight several college football moments from the Buckeyes and Trojans’ past and present, including the 1985 and 1990 Rose Bowl matchups between both schools. Coverage begins Friday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m.

In addition, ESPNU will continue to utilize Campus Connection students during the college football season. All weeklong, a student from Ohio State and USC will provide student perspectives from the campuses leading up to Saturday’s matchup. USC vs. Ohio State Walk ThrU Schedule...

Fri., Sept. 12

Ohio vs. Ohio State (2008)- 1pm
USC at Virginia (2008)- 3:30pm

Sat., Sept. 13

USC vs. Arizona State (2005)- Midnight
Michigan vs. Ohio State (2006)- 3am
2006 Heisman Presentation (Troy Smith)- 6am
2005 Heisman Presentation (Reggie Bush)- 7am
1985 Rose Bowl: USC (20) vs. Ohio State (17)- 8am
1990 Rose Bowl: USC (35) vs. Ohio State (26)- 10am

Again, not a bad idea at all, but I can't remember them hyping a game to this degree in quite awhile. Well maybe the Michigan-Ohio State game back in 2006, when it was #1 vs. #2, but other than that I can't think of one.

The whole State of Ohio was in an uproar recently (and rightfully so I might add) about the whole Big Ten Network-Time Warner battle that would cause some fans to miss games, but today the BTN announced they two sides had reached a deal. Just in time for fans to see the team lose to Youngstown State! (Sorry, it must happen to balance out the World after the UM loss to App State last year)....

Time Warner Cable and the Big Ten Network announced today that they have reached an agreement-in-principle on terms of carriage for the Big Ten Network and its high-definition and video-on-demand programming on Time Warner Cable's line-ups throughout the Big Ten territory, including Ohio and Wisconsin. The pending agreement will ensure that Time Warner Cable's customers across these Big Ten states will have access to this Saturday's Big Ten college football season openers and all future Big Ten Network programming on an expanded basic level of service.

It seems like the Big Ten Network has fought with every cable outlet from Comcast to Al Jazeera, but hopefully this is the last of them. And given that there are over 2.2 million Time Warner customers in the State, it's great that the two came to terms before the season got underway. They even got it done on the expanded basic cable package....bravo.

Joint Statement from Time Warner Cable and the Big Ten Network (BTN)

It was definitely an odd move at the time, and seemed out of Griffey's character, but in the wake of his trade he has issued a statement on the matter. Sports Illustrated has the quote....

"I really do understand that the overwhelming majority of fans wanted so badly for me to succeed," Griffey said. "Additionally, I would like to sincerely apologize to those fans offended by my wrongful actions last Saturday night. It was an overreaction on my part to what I felt was a series of public, inaccurate and unfair remarks about me."

"While my nine seasons there were filled with personal highlights -- like hitting my 400th, 500th and 600th home runs in a Reds uniform -- and the negatives of having to fight through too many injuries, my biggest regret is that we were not able to win a world championship while I was there," Griffey said.

That's more like the Griffy we know. I personally think it was time that someone said something to Brantley, but this was obviously not the way. The Reds should be proud to have had the HOFer on their team for so long, and while it's a shame that he went out that way, it shouldn't change how fans ultimately feel about him. Hopefully we get to see him in at least one more playoff run before the end of his career now.

Griffey thanks Reds fans for support, issues apology for gesture (SI)

The headline of Tuesday's issue of The Lantern (OSU's school paper) read "It Could Be Worse". That probably would have been fine on it's own, but the Editors decided to run a photo of two Firefighters trying to fight a blaze. That's pretty taste in it's own right, but it gets worse when your fellow students think you're comparing the National Championship to 9-11.....

The photo, which ran on the Sports page of The Lantern the day after the Buckeyes were defeated in the national championship game, showed two firefighters battling billowing smoke.

Above the firemen were the words, "It could be worse," 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

Based on comments left by readers on the The Lantern's Web site, several people thought the photograph was taken during the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I think this is in very poor taste," one person wrote. Another student wrote that "the people who put this cover together are fanatics, not fans," Kocot reported.

The Lantern's editor came out and said that in no way was this a depiction of 9-11 and that it's actually a fire fight in South Korea (?)., and now today the paper has printed a non-apology apology....

On the front of Tuesday's Sports section, The Lantern ran a photo of two firefighters battling a business fire in South Korea with the headline, "It could be worse." No one on the staff, myself included, thought of Sept. 11, nor is this a picture of Sept. 11. This has raised a good question for debate: When we see smoke and firefighters, do our minds automatically assume it is Sept. 11? Isn't the end goal of terrorism for us to continue to live in fear and associate every image with that day? The Lantern would never make light of such a catastrophe. We simply wanted Buckeye fans to know, it could be worse. A football loss isn't the end of the world. Neither is this image.

I guess that's a valid point if you think about it, and a great one to make, but not in this way. We're talking about a Sports story and I think it's going to be a long time (if ever) before a 9-11 joke/reference is going to be funny.

Newspaper Photo Rubbed Some The Wrong Way (10TV.com)

Man, someone really needs to sign all the awkward YouTube rappers to one label and just watch the money roll in. From the 'Lil' Ronnie school of rhyme comes "Keep On Fighting"....

The beat is actually pretty catchy if you ask me and with lines like, "Jim Tressel, The Truth, The Answer, The Man!" you've got a hit on your hands. And Ohioans wonder why we make fun of them....


(Photo via EDSBS)

Like it or not folks the National Championship is upon us. I hope you're on-board for a great night of Football, and I welcome any and all to the comment section. I'm going to make this a little bit of both an open thread and live-blog because I think it's more fun that way. You already know who has the ball and where.

Ohio State fans....good luck. Contrary to popular belief I don't hate you....I think you are some of the best and passionate fans in the Country. I hope we can all get along tonight, laugh at FOX, and drink to some band shots.....Cheers! See you at around 7:30pm or so.





#2 LSU vs. #1 OSU
The BCS National Championship
8:00 PM ET, January 7, 2008
Superdome , New Orleans , LA

Weather: Dome
Spread: LSU -4, O/U 47
AA's Pick: A tough one to end the Season here. I'm praying this thing drops to -3.5 so you can buy the half, but if not I'd tease it. If you don't know what a tease is then just take LSU -4 (Record 17-10-2).
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis (FOX)

Team Leaders

LSU Passing: Flynn- 55.1%, 2233 Yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs
Ohio State Passing: Boeckman- 64.5%, 2171 Yards, 23 TDs, 12 INTs

LSU Rushing: Hester- 204 Carries, 1017 Yards, 5.0 avg, 11 TDs
Ohio State Rushing: Wells- 254 Carries, 1463 Yards, 5.8 avg, 14 TDs

LSU Receiving: LaFell- 48 Catches, 641 Yards, 13.4 avg, 3 TDs
Ohio State Receiving: Robiskie- 50 Catches, 885 Yards, 17.7 avg, 10 TDs
_____________________________________

ESPN seems to be pretty high on Todd Blackledge (and rightfully so) after this Season. He's been on all the preview shows leading up to the big game and he's now on set with Chris, Lee, and Kirk for Gameday.

I'm liking the little swoop that Corso has his going on with his hair. Cute.

Corso just said he wouldnt be shocked to see dorsey "pull a hamstring" (dramatic air quotes are hard to express here) early in the game so that he doesnt get hurt and impact his draft status. (Via Mike)

Yeah I heard that. Makes zero sense. Eddie George is on the coverage again. Didn't know that.

Oh and BTW, I completely hope to lose another YouTube account tonight so prepare thyself for many videos.

Desmond says he looks at 3 phases when he looks at special teams: "The guys who kick the ball, the guys who return the kick, and then the coverage unit." Isn't that ALL the phases? (Via joepadon)

Ha...I listened to that and didn't even catch that, and those aren't really even "phases". Wouldn't phases be kicking, blocking, and running? Hey the LSU Band! Drink!!!

Picks:

ESPN
Desmond Howard- LSU
Todd Blackledge- Ohio State
Chris Fowler- LSU
Kirk Herbstreit- LSU.........psych, OSU
Lee Corso- OSU

Where did all this love for OSU come from all of a sudden? When the game was announced didn't everyone love LSU? (Via Smitty Lite)

I have no idea. I got $5 that says everyone on FOX is on LSU. How I've heard of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band before, but they are no Bonerama. Annnnnd the FOX team makes no picks whatsoever.

When did John Waters start singing national anthems? (Via Anon)

Winner! That's too funny.

"Trindon Holliday, a smurf and he can fly!"- Jimmy Johnson

VIDEO #1- Chris Rose is a dick and Jimmy Johnson probably just earned Urban Meyer an NCAA violation....

"If need be, we may have to extend ourselves" - Les Miles (Via Mal)

Les Miles: "Between these white lines it is about 11 players. They have 11 and we have 11." Uh, Les, that's 22 but the good news is with observations like that you have a possible career in broadcasting. (Via Tar Heel Fan)

Wow....that was quick. Beanie Wells right guard for 65 yards! Amazing. Reminds me of Ted Ginn (I kid!).....

7-0 OSU

"Don't let Jim Tressel's sweater vest fool you. He'll show a lot of sets."- Charles Davis

Huh?

10-0 OSU

Hmmm...Bo Pellini doesn't work for LSU anymore AND he is an OSU alum. (Via tndefender)

That was the first thing I thought of when they brought him up earlier today. I didn't even realize he was coaching tonight.

"It's amazing....It's....the mirrors."- Thom Brennaman doing sponsor spots with no inflection since 1992!

10-3 OSU.....and no band shot after the score. Not only does FOX love bands, but they show "band bias".

YES!!! LSU girls in skank-gear!!! (Via Anon)

Give the fans what they want FOX....for christsakes!

OSU band - break out the 12-sided dice. (Via Mal)

No comment. End of the 1st.

10-10 LSU.....Penalties helped them out big time on that drive. We've got a game.

Was that girl playing or eating her clarinet? (Via Anon)

Again.....no comment.

New Drinking Game.....Every time Charles Davis says Aggressiveness take a shot....

Current count Via Anon.....8

"When it comes to blood, blood is going to win over school.....when blood's involved in the contest."- Charles Davis

Drink for that nonsense too.

I sure do like pumpkins, Cotton. (Via Anon)

Another winner. Dodgeball quotes will get you everywhere. And a Blocked Kick....if you can block a kick you can dodge a ball.

Q: What are you drinking?
A: Captain and Coke with a Percocet (Via Anon)

That's a recipe for disaster AWESOME!

Beautiful pass from Flynn to LaFell......

17-10 Le Tigres

First, no OSU TD, now no penalty flag. Thom, you suck. (Via Ed)

Yeah, I was looking for that Penalty as well. Nowhere to be found.

Anyone know where I can find a Sven? (Via Anon)

Sven will be guest posting tomorrow in his pretty sweater.

24-10 LSU after Hester dives in.

"You're hading Bo Pelini a blank slate to dial up those blitzes."- Charles Davis

Okay?

24-10 at the half and almost 300 comments. Now we're having fun! See you right here for the Second Half....I'm going to replenish the fluids.

Bands shown at halftime... Waterfall!! (Via Chase)

Hilarious.

After an Alumni kicking contest and Thom Brennaman turing Trinity's "Game Changing Performance" into the most boring play ever.....we're ready for the 2nd Half!

Sorry for the delay folks....I'm working on getting some videos up. The awkward kicking challenge and Jamarcus' sweater are upcoming.

31-10 LSU.

Finally.....Straight Pimpin'.....



Whatever happened to The Butthole Surfers anyway? (Via Anon)

Shit....what did I miss?

Snow White ate too many apples (Via Anon)

Okay....now I'm caught up.

After a Jenkins pick OSU cuts it to 14....We've got a whole new ballgame.....

31-17.

VIDEO #2.....The Most Awkward Kicking Contest Ever......



Okay I'm back on board after that video nonsense. That was so worth it!

"We talked about how important it was for Ohio State to establish a routine on offense well it's equally important for LSU to do so on defense."- Charles Davis

This was with 13 minutes left in the 4th.

The forecast says cold today, so bundle up. (Via Sven)

Thanks Sven!

"Whoever the Baseball Coach is at Ohio State needs to spend some time on Boeckman.........on sliding."- Charles Davis

"He had a stick in his pocket" - Thom Brennaman, Huh? (Via Mal)

Hahahahah....I thought he said "put it in his pocket", but you're right Mal.

VIDEO #3.....Jamarcus' Sweater......



Ah yes, the aerial coverage of a dome game...a classic (Via Matthew)

I also agree with the lights outside....entirely necessary.

"See in College as soon as the player breaks the plane of the endzone that's it."- Charles Davis

Umm right? Because that's different in the Pros how???

"I'm surprised Ohio State isn't going with a more huddle up offense here."- Thom Brennaman

About 3 minutes after everyone mentioned it in the comments.

"That's the the theme music from the old TV show Terry and The Pirates. Paul Ditzel pulled his defense....the defense name he had were the Chinese bandits."- Charles Davis

What the f**k is he talking about?!?!?!?!

"It's going to be close it depends where the foot went down on the spot."- Charles Davis
"It's going to depend on the spot."- Thom Brennaman

Thanks for that guys. Great job tonight.

Final 38-24 and Thom Brennaman tries to bring up Katrina at the end. Good shit Thom....good shit. Wait the whole game.

Thanks to everyone for breaking the commenting record set the other night for the Orange Bowl. Amazing! More videos and nonsense to come.....Congrats to the first "2 Loss" BCS Champions LSU! (I had to be the first to say it...come on)

We've got Bob Ryan saying they're overrated, Robert Smith saying they don't belong in the title game, JA Adande saying Hawaii should be in there, and of course Shrutebag. Good times.

I guess coaches will use anything as motivational material, but it's not like what the pundits are saying isn't true. I hear mostly strength of schedule talk and not being able to stop running QBs....all of which are valid points. I guess all that's left to play the game. I mean that's why they played the game last year right?

(Thanks to RJBO for finding the clip)

Just kidding! Of course they are!!!

I am shocked. Shocked that my predicition of OSU-USC didn't come true, but hey at least we have the "hottest" teams in College Football playing in the fake Final. I'm setting the spread at USC -4....who wants some action?

We all know now about Kirk's Miles source. He stands by it, and I have no reason to doubt him. It was still an odd Saturday for him and ESPN, and it appears Sunday wasn't that much better.

On ESPN's Bowl Selection Show Kirk made a point during the program that sounded familiar. He was talking about the merits of winning and not winning your Conference Championship and how that relates to a National Title shot. He said Georgia and Kansas didn't deserve to be in based on that factor. Funny, that's not what you said last year...

I know the Big Ten doesn't have a Championship game, but it still has a Champion. I also know it's tough to remember things when you spew out Sports information 24-7. Hell, I probably said I liked Gary Danielson at one point (I did? Damn.), but that's a pretty egregious error there. Hmm, egregious...that word was used a lot this weekend wasn't it?

Not Herbie’s best day (Dawgs Online)
Kirk Herbstreit Stands Behind His Miles Source (Awful Announcing)

(Thanks to GH for sending the tip along)

I was looking through the release of ESPN's coverage of the "Big Game" this weekend, and the further and further you got down on the thing the more and more ridiculous the coverage seemed. Given it's a huge game every year (the biggest in my fandom) and viewership should be through the roof, but check out some of this nonsense.

1) Obviously Gameday will be there and Desmond Howard won't be booed for the first time in years.

2) ESPN Classic and ESPN U will air 9 different former clashes between the two Big Ten teams...

Wednesday, Nov. 14 - 2 p.m.: 1981 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Thursday, Nov. 15 - 2 p.m.: 1995 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Friday, Nov. 17 - 1 p.m.: 1997 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
3 p.m.: 2006 Michigan at Ohio State (ESPNU)
5 p.m.: 2005 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Saturday, Nov. 18 - 3 a.m.: 1973 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
5 a.m.: 1997 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
7 a.m.: 2005 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
9 a.m.: 2006 Michigan at Ohio State (ESPN Classic)

3) An interactive Blog going from Noon to 7pm on ESPN.com

4) Fans can purchase and download full versions of the classic 1973, 1997, 2002 and 2006 Ohio State–Michigan games from The iTunes Store for $1.99 each.

5) ESPN.com Podcasts throughout the day.

......and lastly and most importantly..........

6) Reporter Greg Garber Gets Mohawk Haircut!

This week’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot (Saturdays at 10 a.m. on ESPN) will include ESPN.com reporter Greg Garber receiving a Mohawk haircut as part of a story about the seemingly growing trend for the hairstyle among college football players. Players from South Florida, Kentucky, Oregon and Boston College are featured in the piece.

Sweet! I don't even care about the game anymore. I just want to see a middle-aged white dude get a haircut.

Looking ahead perhaps? I guess so. The #1 Buckeyes got basically worked by Juice Williams and Ron Zook's offense, and more than likely cost themselves a spot in the National Title Game....

Hey, at least they were good sports about it!

You stay classy Columbus.

Good evening, folks.

First, a big thanks to AA for allowing a football blogger to drop his two cents on tonight's ALCS contest. We should be in line for a solid game, but if by chance it is a blowout one way or another, we can at least bank on Fox inundating us with their coverage of the "bugs" that plagued Jacobs Field during the ALDS.

We're expecting a little outage at 7p ET tonight, so if I'm not back for a few minutes, sit tight as Blogger says it will only last 10 minutes. Feel free to start commenting. If that's not your thing, you can send emails to firstandteninches[at]gmail[dot]com.

Hang on tight. Our buddies Joe and Tim should be right around the corner.

------------

Pregame

Apparently James Taylor wasn't available to read a lineup card tonight as Fox opted to have Jonathan Papelbon read the Red Sox batting order for those watching at home. 69 degrees is your temperature, and while we may have some rain tomorrow those in attendance can leave the ponchos in the fanny pack. Yep, we still have those in Cleveland.

------------

Top 1st

Jake Westbrook was the only Tribe pitcher in the ALDS to get beat up by the Yankees, but makes quick work of Dustin Pedroia as he goes down on strikes. The Greek God of Walks Kevin Youkilis, get this, walks. Runner on first for "Instant Momentum" David Ortiz. He promptly grounds into a double play - albeit on a sick stop from Asdrubal Cabrera - to end the half inning. And you'll never believe it, but "Asdrubal" doesn't pass the Firefox spell check. Add. To. Dictionary.

Bottom 1st

Unfortunately, Tribe first baseman Ryan Garko wasn't as great as Pappelbon in terms of reading the lineup card, but it's nothing that practice can't make perfect. He mentions that Grady Sizemore is the best looking guy in Cleveland. Sizemore grounds out to short. Brady Quinn laughs at both instances. Eric Wedge doesn't know what to expect from Dice-K. Neither does Asdrubal Cabrera, who strikes out swinging.

Joe Buck lets us know that The Jake is one of the stadiums this year that gets to help the MLB judge the umpires' strike zones. Brian Gorman has an ERA of 5.11. Joe Borowski is jealous. Matsuzaka gets Hafner looking, and we're scoreless through one.

CLEVELAND 0 | BOSTON 0
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Top 2nd

Did you know that Manny Ramirez used to play for Cleveland? He works the count full, allowing for a few fun facts regarding the veteran, and gets the walk. Mike Lowell goes right back up the middle and gives J.D. Drew a chance to let down Red Sox fans yet again. Well, looks like Garko had other ideas and boots the ball. Bases loaded, no outs.

Varitek pops up to shallow left, Kenny Lofton with the catch and the Dikembe Mutombo finger at Manny Ramirez who can't tag up. Coco Crisp also used to play for Cleveland, but was traded for two players who anyone outside of either Cleveland or Boston would even know. He proceeds to capitalize on the loaded bags by grounding into yet another double play. Westbrook and Garko are promptly thrilled. On to some Dane Cook...

Bottom 2nd

Victor Martinez is up and down faster than I can even attempt to conjure up something witty, allowing time for a brief Dice-K still picture montage. Apparently, he's such a legend back home that no pitchers have thrown from the mound he used to practice on. You'd think that mound was in Pittsburgh based on that assessment. Garko lines into center giving the "quiet" Jhonny Peralta a chance to make some noise. He strikes out looking. The Fox Trak says so.

Joe and Tim nearly go to blows over the number of pitches that Matsuzaka throws. Oh nevermind, they're ok. But now so is every person in Jacobs Field as the 40-year old Kenny Lofton just went yard for the seventh time in his post season career. He's also #7 and batting seventh. Just sayin'. Ryan Garko called Lofton the mayor, so that provokes several political jokes from our crew. Trot Nixon, who used to play for Boston if you did not know, grounds out to short to end the inning.

CLEVELAND 2 | BOSTON 0

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Top 3rd

Two up, two down as Lugo and Pedroia both ground out to the right side of the infield. Youkilis flies to right and that's all she wrote for that half an inning. It took Kenny Lofton longer to get out to left than the amount of time that he was standing out there.

At least I'll get to ponder the "Japanese-born" trivia over the commercial. Oh boy. Look at that. It's a Kenny Lofton commercial!

Bottom 3rd

If I take anything away from this series, it will be that Casey Blake has the best beard in the big leagues. Which is good because he definitely hasn't had the best bat. He pops out to right. It looks like someone gave Royce Clayton a microphone for the game and is in on jokes with Chris Myers. While the crew chats back and forth, Sizemore lines out to center.

Our first fun fact of the night: Asdrubal Cabrera has a relative named Hannibal. While I attempt to figure out why that was relevant to the game, he lines into center for a base hit. I do think that the story behind the pearl necklace would have made more sense, but what do I know? Hafner gets a bit angry on a called strike early in the at-bat, but draws a walk.

Do they really need two sideline reporters in Myers and Rosenthal? And would they be called foul line reporters instead?

Very valid point. From now on, they're foul line reporters. At least Myers isn't wearing a pastel suit jacket with a paisly tie.

(Answer to previous Trivia Question: Masato Yoshi and Hideo Nomo were the other two Japanese-born pitchers to pitch in the post season. You know you were wondering)

Victor Martinez works Dice-K to a full count but swings at a ball that's about to hit him in the ankles, ending the inning. Ortiz and Ramirez after the commercial break. Web MD, ladies and gentlemen.

CLEVELAND 2 | BOSTON 0

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Top 4

David Ortiz is an excellent low-ball hitter. So, Jake Westbrook pitches him a nice low one for him to drive off of the left field wall. Lofton plays it like the ball came off of a Plinko board, but Ortiz only beats out infield singles so is stuck at second with a lead-off double. Fox Trak says that Manny lucked out with a third strike, but fear not as the ever-nimble Ortiz can't dodge the ground ball and is out on contact. How's the groin there, David?

Now it's Man Ram on base instead. Lowell hits one about 500 feet, but foul down the left side of the field. He then grounds out to Casey Blake for the second out.

All of the immature youth out there will take kindly to the fact that Westbrook was 6-9 on the season. Present company excluded, of course.

Grounder to Garko who looks like Ozzie Smith...a heavy, white Ozzie Smith...making the play for the third out. And Jay-Z takes us to the commercial break. Hit me!

Bottom 4th

Trust me, if I wasn't blogging tonight, I would definitely be typing different "issues" into the WebMD browser. And no, I haven't driven a Ford lately.

Ryan Garko appropriately leads off the half inning, but pops to short for the first out in the fourth. Tim McCarver tells us some fireside stories regarding the mythical Gyroball. Something about doorknobs and screws. Inverted. Good stuff.

A filthy bender gets Peralta on strikes, so the crew takes a chance to talk to Sox pitching coach John Farrell about Dice-K's fastball. Two down.

Kenny Lofton can't repeat the power displayed during his last at-bat and grounds to Pedroia to end the inning.

CLEVELAND 2 | BOSTON 0

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Top 5th

Captain Varitek leads off the fifth for Boston. See, I know he's the Captain because he has a big red "C" on his jersey. He's obviously not leading by example through four as he grounds out to start the inning.

Uh oh. Grady Sizemore is coming out. Brady Quinn has gone from laughing to a look of intrigue.

Crisp and Lugo also ground out and Westbrook gets through another quick inning. Promo time, folks.

Bottom 5th

A quick commemorative camera shot of the retired number 455 (for the fans!), and we're starting the bottom half of the inning. Trot Nixon gets things going...nope, no he doesn't. He strikes out swinging for Dice-K's sixth Dice-K of the night. See what I did there?

Matsuzaka rubs his neck, but there's no signs of bugs yet in Cleveland. Casey Blake gets the invite to the ALCS and drives a single to left. Annnnnd a Grady Sizemore information blitz. Australia. That 70s Show. Grady's Ladies. That's pretty much all you need to know.

Ball in the dirt and the Best Beard in the Bigs heads to second. Whoa, did anyone else see that guy in the white suit and red shirt? He looked like a really thin Kenny Loggins. If not, we have John Adams on the drums, ladies and gentlemen. Clarence Clemons on the sax. Sizemore draws a walk. Two on, one out and Mike Timlin's up in the bullpen.

The Pearl Necklace comes to bat. Joe Buck lets us know that foul balls increase the pitch count, and Hannibal's cousin gets an RBI single up the middle. White towels a waivin'.

Travis Hafner looks displeased that a pitch thrown 16 inches off of the plate was called a strike. He responds by beating out a fielder's choice. Cabrera's out at second, but Sizemore comes in to score. A pretty sick play by Pedroia nonetheless.

Two strikes to Martinez, but it doesn't matter as he takes one the opposite way for a base hit. Good night, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Two on, two....


A little pitching change, and image change to break up the action.

Full count to Ryan Garko and Joe Buck makes fun of the speed of both Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. Like they got nailed by ground balls. Timlin strikes out Garko, inning over. Damage done...for now.

CLEVELAND 4 | BOSTON 0

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Top 6th

Dustin Pedroia leads off the inning for the Sox. Westbrook has more strikes than balls thrown thus far, which typically results in good things. Eric Gagne is perplexed and Pedroia grounds out, making for the 13th groundout thus far for Jake. Youkilis is obviously above groundouts and singles.

One on for Ortiz and Trot Nixon is more intrigued by his glove than the game. Raw-lings? I sense Franklin Gutierrez getting ready in the near future. Ortiz draws a walk, making two on for Manny.

The third base coach signals to not hit it directly at Ortiz's junk. Ramirez obliges by grounding to short for the third double-play of the night. More towels. More Miller High Life.

Bottom 6th

Now up for the Iiiiindians, Jhonny Peralta. Joe Buck recognizes the floating strike zone that has suddenly appeared in tonight's contest. Tim McCarver concurs with his buddy Fox Trak. No word from the TBS lead-off graphic. Peralta grounds out to third.

Lofton goes down on strikes and we get to see a quick glance of a very odd crease in Mike Timlin's face. Please tell me I'm not the only one that noticed.

Trot Nixon steps in using a bat that looks like it could be a TPX -5 judging by how red it is. No ping in the swing though as he grounds to first to end the inning. (Damn blogger maintenance strikes again!)

CLEVELAND 4 | BOSTON 0

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Top 7th

Well, look at that. Trot Nixon's night is done. Gutierrez is in.

Jake Westbrook, however, is still in the game. Mike Lowell pops out to start the inning. A moral victory in that it was not another ground out.

J.D. Drew follows up, singling to center. One on for Captain Varitek.

I'm excited that the Indians are winning. My fiance is excited that the game is going a lot faster than Saturday's. I somewhat agree until Varitek goes yard to deep center field, bringing in Drew with said swing. That's why he's the Captain. We're now both unhappy.

Still one down for Crisp. Coco works a full count and we may be seeing our last inning of Westbrook, assuming he even makes it through. Glad I mentioned his continued presence only a few lines ago. Crisp strikes out swinging. Karma continues to play with my mind.

Two outs, two strikes to Julio Lugo, but the speedy shortstop beats out the throw by Peralta and Westbrook's night is finished. And now a word from our sponsors...


Annnd, we're back. Likely Rookie of the Year Pedroia is up against fellow rookie Jensen "Don't call me Justin, Tim McCarver" Lewis. Lewis gets Pedroia swinging and promptly tells him where to stick his trophy. OK, I may have just made that last part up.

Bottom 7th

You knew it was coming eventually: The "Midge" montage featuring Joba, Jeter and Joe. Chris Myers shows us the cut-out bug that was in the Cleveland Plain Dealer this morning, and I'm officially embarrassed. There was also some killer coupons, if it's any consolation.

Hideki Okajima takes the mound, and Tim McCarver does not mistake him for Dice-K this time around. You live, you learn. Okajima gets Casey Blake to ground out to short. One down.

Steve chimes in with, "Did you ever wonder why those Indians fans who paint their faces like Chief Wahoo are single? It’s because they paint their faces like Chief Wahoo."

It could also be due to the fact that a lot of it isn't face paint.

Sizemore drives a 1-2 pitch about as far as you can without it leaving the park one way or another, but fellow center fielder Coco Crisp is there to make the catch.

Asdrubal Cabrera comes to bat, but is retired quickly on a pop to center. Joe Buck lets us know that there are some big bats on the way. And I slowly start to realize that it's actually a save situation right now. I think I might be sick.

CLEVELAND 4 | BOSTON 2

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Top 8th

It's Rafael Betancourt taking the mound and Joe Buck tells us that Kevin Youkilis sees more pitches than any other player. I could've sworn that Chip Carey said the exact same thing about Bobby Abreu in the last series. Anyone care to verify?

Tim McCarver says that Youk has the "uncanny ability" to foul pitches off to stay alive - which he does - until he strikes out swinging. One down.

David Ortiz wastes no time to lace a ball, just directly in the area of Franklin Gutierrez. Talk about a great time to get Nixon out of there.

A quick shot of the Wall of Fame in center field. Rick Vaughn, Roger Dorn and Rube Baker plaques aligned. Manny Ramirez steps in and is quickly down 0-2. We'll be reminded that it doesn't matter when Man Ram has two strikes. Betancourt misses his target, but Ramirez pops up to second to end the half inning. It's stretch time in Cleveland.

Bottom 8th

For those that were wondering, we do not have a guy to sing America the Beautiful during the stretch. We typically have an area choir student that just sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." We get witty and say "Indians" instead of home team. That's how we roll here.

Okajima's back for another tour of duty. Sir Hafner (pictured above, twice) leads off the frame. We get reminded that Joe Borowski is warming up and I immediately get queasy. Hafner grounds out to first, but four pitches later finds Vic Martinez on first with a walk. And that's all we'll see of Okajima and the neck-to-third base talk for tonight.

Manny Delcarmen takes the hill and quickly brings upon discussion about how awful Eric Gagne has been. Ryan Garko takes the plate for likely the last time in a few days. This is because Paul Byrd is pitching tomorrow and Kelly Shoppach will be behind the plate. Garko makes the most of his plate appearance by striking out swinging.

Peralta steps in with an oh-fer-three tag on the night, including two of Matsuzaka's six strikeouts. He's quickly 0-2. Make that 0-3 as Peralta completes the hat trick. It's Joe Borowski time. I don't think I can handle it.

CLEVELAND 4 | BOSTON 2

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Top 9th

After a quick stat about how bad Borowski has been against first batters, he gets Lowell to pop up to Garko at first. Garko catches the ball like it's a water balloon dropped from 50 stories up, but a successful catch nonetheless.

"Lets. Go. Joe."

J.D. Drew steps in and is absolutely crushing balls foul. Seriously, each one has been a bee-bee down the first base line. He barely misses Josh Beckett with one of them (which would have been oh so unfortunate). He takes the next pitch and drives it right to Sizemore in center. Two down.

"Lets. Go. Joe."

Captain Varitek will look to repeat his two-run home run from the seventh. Someone should let him know that repeating that feat would be impossible with no one on base. Yet.

I just realized that I hear Joe Buck discuss Borowski pitching in a Mexican league a few years ago. Way to boost the confidence of fans, Joe. Both of you.

Full count to the Captain. Crowd on the feet. Pop up to Blake at third. Caught. Tribe wins, takes the series 2-1. A perfect inning for Borowski. I can now exhale. Shapiro smiles from ear to ear, amazingly arching under his nose.

FINAL: CLEVELAND 4 | BOSTON 2


Thanks for hanging out tonight. I urge you to head over to The Thermocaster's coverage of the NLCS. When that's over, please head to First and 10 Inches for your football fix. The more you guys come over, the less I have to email Brian for cheap plugs of whoredom.

It's been fun. Goodnight, all.

Not that I wouldn't enjoy your company, but come on folks it IS Ohio. Yes the place where they spray paint "Who Dey" on overpasses and local Columbians (people from Columbus) have something called Red, White, and Boom.

Who knew that you could play Ozzy to fireworks??? Anywho, hugs and kisses and I'll talk to you soon.

XOXO,
AA

This is perhaps the oddest and most entertaining story I've come across in quite some time. I have a history of "uncovering" this sort of thing, so it doesn't surprise me that I was drawn to this piece. An unknown person is sending poison laced letters to schools and sports networks for....get this.....

Not showing enough scantily clad cheerleaders on TV.

I wish I was kidding. The dude/dudette has been sending these things since 2004, and now the FBI is involved.

In excerpts of the letters released Tuesday by the FBI, the unknown author seems to accuse sports broadcasters of focusing cameras on lightly dressed cheerleaders for their own amusement.

"Pigs park their cameras on us close up, front view, dozens of times each game, yet rarely ever show on TV in this manner, unless squads are wearing sweaters, jackets, under shirts, etc," the author said in a 2004 letter.

The way that exerpt is written leads me to believe that this is a pissed off cheerleader who hasn't gotten his/her 15-minutes of fame, but either way the story is awesome. Want another letter? You got it.

"For the last 6 years, Ohio State cheerleaders have received more TV time ... because they wear long sleeved red/white outfits," the author said in a December 2006 letter. "If they wore sleeveless outfits, they would not get ANY TV time. So, we are fed up with this constant exploitation."

I'm so confused yet so giddy about this at the same time. I haven't felt these emotions since I first learned about sex. So let me get this straight.....you think you are being exploited by NOT being on TV? Oh you smart, smart cheerleader person you. You are even confusing yourself now aren't you? Just put the pesticide down, and rest your pretty little head on that pillow there. That's nice isn't it. Now rest my love. Just rest.


FBI Exploring Strange Letters (Seattle PI)
Re-live How You Probably First Came To AA (Awful Announcing)
You Know You Could Just Call The Complaint Line (Signal To Noise)
FBI Investigating Anti-Cheer Terrorists (With Leather)

If you're from the Midwest you've probably noticed a prevalent East Coast bias on this site. Well that's all gonna change right now. We're heading back back to Ohio Ohio!

Question: What happens when you're an announcer who's been jailed for tax evasion and have a myriad of alleged gambling charges?

Well you get your job back of course!

Ohio's Bruce Drennan completed a five-month sentence at a federal penitentiary in West Virginia for filing false tax statements Friday and returned to his Strongsville home. He may be given the opportunity to use his gravelly, boisterous voice to bellow the familiar, "I love ya, Cleveland," once again.

Drennan, who has bounced around Northeast Ohio's radio dial and served as a play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Indians in the late 1970s, will meet with executives from the Tribe's regional sports network, SportsTime Ohio, today.

I guess things in Cleveland are in such dire straits that they're turning to ex-cons now. Wikipedia actually says that Bruce is responsible for coining the phrases "the ducks are on the pond" and "the bases are juiced".

Let's take a look at the rap sheet:

• In 2001 Bruce moved to WKNR to host morning drive sports talk.
• May 1, 2003 was a special day for Bruce as then Cleveland Mayor Jane L. Campbell offered her proclamation in recognition of Bruce's accomplishments celebrating his 25 years as a broadcaster in the City of Cleveland. (Aww. That's cute. Let's get to the good stuff)
• In September 2004 Drennan's home in Strongsville, Ohio was raided by FBI and IRS agents as part of an illegal gambling sting. He subsequently lost his job at WKNR because of the investigation. (Now we're talking!)
  
• Since 2005, Bruce is now the mid-morning talk show host and Program Director for sportstalkCLEVELAND as his show now reaches the world via the Internet. (Boooring)
• In April of 2006 Drennan was charged with two counts of filing false tax returns. He served 5 months of a three-year sentence. (Ah...the crime life always sucks you back in)

America is a country known for giving second chances (and third, fourth, and fifth), so I wish Bruce all the luck in the world.

P.S.- Bruce.....call me. I've got a good angle on the Butler-Wright State game. The line is Butler by one, but a huge contingency from New Jersey (The Mafia) should swing the spread to WSU -2. Go against the public my friend.

Broadcaster Eager to Get Back on the Air (Akron Beacon Journal)
Bruce Drennan (Wikipedia)