A month or so ago, I posted an article on Jeanne Zelasko wanting the Dodgers road play-by-play gig. Well today, the LA Daily News is reporting that not only is she not getting the job, she wasn't even a finalist for a tryout....

Former Fox MLB studio host Jeanne Zelasko was inexcusably left out of the group of six broadcasters who the Dodgers invited to a play-by-play tryout during March, their attempt to find someone for a package of 40 TV road games. A forward- thinking organization couldn't figure out that by including her in the mix, they'd elicit some positive reaction? Listening to a couple of games this week showcase 28-year-old Ben Wagner, a poor man's Matt Vasgersian currently with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, any recognizable voice in the So Cal market who missed this cut must really reassess his or her future. What are the Dodgers trying to achieve here, if not a search to replace Vin Scully someday?

Well that's a shame. You'd think that with the good PR that would come from at least a look at Zelasko, would be enough to bring her in right? I'm not saying she would be good or bad, but she definitely deserved a shot.

What Chokes (LA Daily News)

Now I understand the gimmicks of LL Cool J and Lil Wayne coming on the network to talk their favorite teams, and to promote albums. But bringing on 50 Cent to talk shop, for seemingly no reason at all, is beyond infuriating. Now if Curtis Jackson was at ESPN "The Weekend", joking around with Skip Bayless and Jemele on the set of First Take, I'd let it slide. But no....the "Leader" randomly brought on the rapper onto ESPN News to promote his new video game and talk steroids. Here is the clip....

Why in the hell would they put him on ESPN News?! That just makes me angry. Why even call it ESPN "News"? Every time you think that ESPN is taking some steps back to its roots, they take two gigantic leaps back with stunts like this. I fully expect MTV to be bought by Disney within the next ten years, and our regular ESPN programming to be relegated to ESPN2. It's just a matter of time.

At long last, 50 Cent addresses controversies of the sports world (The Sports Hernia)

When networks or leagues have conference calls, they usually have someone transcribe the better/relevant quotes, and send it out to the masses. Now when I first received this one in the inbox, I thought it was from some conference call that Chris Berman did on the Super Bowl, but no....that's not the case. For some reason, ESPN decided to have a staffer seemingly email questions to Berman, and have him share everything he knows about the Super Bowl. Here are some of the better responses....

What is one of the strangest experiences you have had covering the Super Bowl?

Perhaps the most surreal experience of covering the Super Bowl was the first Dallas-Buffalo game at the Rose Bowl. Tom Jackson and I had to leave the stadium just before halftime to get to our set location and ready for our post-game. When we left the field with a few minutes to go in the half, it was a close game. We hustled through the long portal and before we were out of the stadium, the Bills had fumbled and Dallas scored again. We got in a van that had one of those remote TVs and here’s Michael Jackson getting ready for one of the biggest halftime extravaganzas I have ever seen. We ran out and there was a football game that was close. By the time we got to the car, it was in blowout fashion and the field that had the game on it was transformed into this huge concert with Michael Jackson. It was the most surreal 15 minutes, and then it was back to football in the third quarter.

How much do you enjoy Super Bowl week?

It’s fun because you enjoy the people in and around the game. My favorite day is Media Day. If you like football, the players are in their uniforms on the field where they will play the game. To me that’s exciting. I really enjoy that day. A lot of the PR people from around the league and the people we deal with on the phone throughout the year are there, and I feel good for the coaches. I have great respect for the job of head coach in particular, assistants also. They work their life to get to that moment, and I am particularly fond of interviewing the coaches on that day a little off to the side. I’m genuinely happy for them because it’s their lifelong dream and I respect that.

Do you have any annual Super Bowl traditions, things that you do ever year?

I count on seeing certain people during the week, a lot of the people with the teams. Jerry Green, the longtime columnist of the Detroit News, and one of my Brown (University) guys, is another person I always look forward to seeing each year at the Super Bowl.

So Chris Berman likes hanging with friends at the Super Bowl. Who knew?!?! The best part about the whole thing though, is that they don't even ask him about this year's game! Just Berman talking about attending Super Bowls. It is a slow news day, but that's just a weird thing to email out to the media.

You can read all of the "earth shattering" responses over at Off The Wall, but I would strongly advise against it.

This just in: An ESPN ready-made Berman Q-and-A (Farther Off The Wall)

Sparty and Friends came across a little bit of a goof up on Hulu last night, and has what appears to be Lebron's "Big Announcement" that was supposed to come on January 18th. Yes, it does have to do with the photos you saw of him in the Cleveland Browns jersey. No, he is not joining the Browns. Unfortunately the big announcement is just a new commercial for State Farm Insurance. Here are some screenshots of a Browns inspired dream sequence....


Oh that clever Lebron! It actually looks like a great commercial, there are ten more photos at Sparty and Friends for you to view, but the whole "announcement" thing already has me hating it. Keep your eyes peeled on Sunday for the first airing of the whole spot.

The Next Piece of the “LeBron 011809″ Puzzle Revealed (Sparty and Friends)

Kobe has another viral video up on Youtube for his shoes, and this one is actually pretty funny. Kobe is selling ankle insurance for people who go up against the Kobe IVs, and not only is he riding a horse in the beginning, but there's even a website for broken ankles called NotMyBrokenAnkles.com....

Not bad. Not bad at all. I still think the car jumping one is better, but anytime you add a horse, it's going to make things hilarious.

Kobe Bryant Sells Ankle Insurance From a Horse (NESW)

I mentioned awhile back that "cheating" website Ashley Madison was trying to get its hands on a spot in the official Super Bowl program, and that the chances weren't very likely. Well today, Darren Rovell is reporting that the NFL not only blocked the company from advertising, but they didn't even take the time to look at the ad itself....

Officials for the dating Web site said that they were approached and they signed a six-figure contract for the ad with PSP Sports, which creates and sells ads in many official programs for sporting events.

But we've just learned that, even in this economy, not everything is fair game.

Noel Biderman, CEO of AshleyMadison.com, told CNBC that his ad was eventually rejected and was specifically told that the company wouldn't be allowed to advertise in any NFL game program until the end of time.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that no one in the league office actually ever saw the ad. "After realizing what the site was, the sales rep called back and told the company there was a mistake and that his company could not sell an ad to the site."

Biderman is once again calling foul, and stating that allowing alcohol related ads and not his company's is "hypocritical". I would tell the guy to give it up, but he's bringing about more press towards his company every time they get nixed from a program. Last year it was the Final Four and this year it's the hype surrounding the Super Bowl.

Cheating Site Denied Ad In Super Bowl Program (CNBC: Sports Biz)

I guess the wrong word to use is hype, but ESPN is using the "excitement" surrounding Barack Obama's Inauguration, and airing something that they are calling "Breaking Barriers". Not only that, but they also plan on airing Obama's swearing in as President, live on Sports Center. Via ESPN....

ESPN will commemorate and cover Barack Obama’s inauguration Tuesday, January 20, with a 10-hour marathon, Breaking Barriers, starting at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN Classic that will feature ground-breaking African-American athletes such as Arthur Ashe, Jack Johnson and Eddie Robinson. ESPN Classic will also present seven hours of Breaking Barriers on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day, with programs devoted to Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron and other ground-breaking black athletes.

In addition, SportsCenter will present live coverage of President-elect Obama’s swearing-in ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m. with Jeremy Schaap reporting from the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Schaap will also provide reaction from athletes in attendance.

ESPN’s inauguration coverage will include “Realizing The Dream” vignettes on Tuesday, January 20, in which sports figures talk about what Barack Obama and his election means to them. The vignettes will air within ESPN studio programming – including SportsCenter – and across platforms (ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN Mobile Properties, etc.). Sports figures participating in the vignettes include Magic Johnson, Tom Jackson, Paul Pierce and Craig Robinson, the Oregon State head basketball coach and brother-in-law of Obama.

The ESPN Classic stuff seems like a good enough idea, but I really don't see what the point in airing the ceremony is. It's definitely a momentous occasion, but not one that needs to be covered by the "Worldwide Leader in Sports". Here's the schedule of shows in case you want to check them out....

Breaking Barriers Schedule on ESPN Classic, Tuesday, Jan. 20

1975 Wimbledon Finals: Arthur Ashe vs. Jimmy Connors (1-3pm)
Jack Johnson documentary (3-4pm)
SportsCentury: Bill Russell (4-5pm)
National Championship: Texas Western vs. Kentucky (5-6pm)
Third and a Mile: History of the Black Quarterback (6-7pm)
Eddie Robinson's 400th Victory (7-9:30pm)
SportsCentury: Ernie Davis (9:30-10:30pm)
10:30-11 p.m. SportsCentury: Willie Jeffries

I don't know what it is about January 18, 2009, but multiple athletes plan on using the date to launch ad campaigns. The Williams Sisters will battle the Manning Bros in the DSRL on that date, but they might get shown up by Lebron. James was recently photoed wearing a Browns jersey (above), and released this Youtube video a few days ago...

While the possibilities are endless, and Lebron the Football player would be crazy, the real story is that musician Buckethead has decided to create two instrumental songs for King James! You can listen to the awesomeness below....

Lebron James (Buckethead Land)
Lebron's Hammer (Buckethead Land)

ROCK!

LeBron James Going Bo Jackson? (WFNY)
LeBron's Least Probable Fan: That Guy With the KFC Bucket On His Head (The Sporting Blog)

So all day yesterday the World waited as Billy Packer and Bob Knight prepared for a groundbreaking announcement. I honestly though it was going to be something unimportant, but it turns out to actually be something of substance. The two are teaming together for Fox Sports, and are planning on doing an hour show on March Madness right from the Sportsbook at the Wynn in Vegas. Via PR Newswire....

Wynn Las Vegas Race & Sports Book will host Billy Packer and Bob Knight's "Survive and Advance," a series of five one-hour tournament television programs analyzing the 2009 NCAA National Championship. Packer and Knight have teamed up to develop the ultimate men's college basketball tournament platform that includes broadcast television, interactive TV, fantasy leagues, computer games and the Internet.

"Survive and Advance" is scheduled to air on FSN (Fox Sports Net) at 12 a.m. local, directly following the basketball games on March 15, March 22, March 29, April 3 and April 5. The one-hour program will feature live commentary from the hosts and their top-tier guests including coaches, former players and well-known personalities. The shows will re-air throughout the week (check local listings). FSN is the nation's leading provider of local sports and reaches more than 80 million homes across the U.S.

In addition to their arrangement with Wynn Las Vegas to host the television shows, Packer and Knight are also teaming to develop an interactive web platform. The interactive platform will feature custom games and a website, including news, analysis, blogs, video, and other original content. Packer said, "this initiative will enable fans to experience the best college basketball tournament coverage across multiple media vehicles."

Well that's quite an interesting/random pairing, isn't it? I can't imagine the two being able to calmly put on a show with a thousand drunk gamblers hanging all over them, but I wish them luck. Actually, that's a lie....I want it to be a trainwreck. I'll be sure to have video(s) up in March.

Wynn Las Vegas to Host Billy Packer and Bob Knight's 'Survive and Advance,' a Series of Tournament TV Shows

Everybody seems to love this Dickie V to the NBA idea, especially ESPN, so let's take a little look back at a more subdued Dickie V calling a Celtics-Bucks playoff game in 1984....



I still contend that this is a bad idea, but if it gets people to watch the NBA, you can't really fault ESPN for the stunt. I'm personally more interested in the NBA team of Breen, Jackson and JVG calling the NCAA game tonight, but I'll be checking out both and commenting on them tomorrow.

I know this isn't news, and that both of these guys are just looking for attention, but there's something so lame about this video that it intrigues me. TMZ (Via With Leather) caught Michael Phelps and Warren Sapp, horsing around at a pool in South Beach, and decided that a video of said event was necessary to share with the world....

Oh man! You see that?!?! He gave him a half a lap pool lead....AND HE STILL BEAT THAT AZZ! That right there is talent my friends. My irrational hate for Michael Phelps aside though, is there anything lamer than trying to impress people with your talent, and no one there really even gives a crap? I mean even chicks are giving him "pity applause" at this point.

Attention Whores Whore For Attention (With Leather)
Warren Sapp Races Michael Phelps (TMZ)

Out of all the times I've used the "randomness" tag on the site, I think it's most appropriate for this item. Following his "big reveal" on Fox this past weekend, Shiancoe has probably received a ton of offers, but none more interesting than this one. From AVN via Deadspin....

"From what we’ve seen, there is definitely a career for Visanthe in the adult industry, if he’d like one,” said Black Ice general manager Tony Santoro. “We would welcome an opportunity to align ourselves with a world-class athlete of Viante’s stature."

Black Ice publicist Scott Stein said the company is unaware of any morals clause in Shiancoe's contract that would prevent him from accepting a contract with the makers of Bubble Butt Barbecue 2.

"Whether or not Visanthe will be interested in our offer - or if the league will intervene - remains to be seen," said Santoro. "It’s worth a shot, as this would definitely be something that the fans will want to see."

Umm, Bubble Butt Barbecue...2??? Okay then. I'm not one to tell people what to do with their lives, but as a Tight End that no one really knew about up until now, Shiancoe might actually be more famous if he did accept the offer.

Black Ice Courts NFL Player in PR Stunt (AVN)
Zack And Shiancoe Make A Porno (Deadspin)

NBC is going "green" yet again this year and shows like "Lipstick Jungle", "Kath & Kim", "My Own Worst Enemy", "Knight Rider" and "Law & Order" will all feature "green" plot lines during the week of November 16th. The whole event kicks off with the Sunday Night Football broadcast and I wanted to share some of what NBC plans for the pregame and halftime shows, as well as the game itself (DAL-WAS). Via NBC PR....

Green week officially launches on NBC's "Football Night in America during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins game. Commentators, including Bob Costas, Chris Collinsworth, Dan Patrick, Jerome Bettis, and Tiki Barber, will discuss how they each personally green their own routines.

On November 22, NBC will air a carbon neutral Notre Dame and Syracuse game, but the competition won't just be on the field. For the entire month of November, both campuses will participate in the NBC Universal Green Your Routine challenge, hosted on Carbonrally.com. Students, alumni, faculty, and fans will have the opportunity to take eco-challenges and help reduce carbon emissions and save energy. NBC Universal will donate $10,000 to the winning school, which will be designated to their campus sustainability efforts.

In addition, NBC Sports will host an online video contest, in which students from Notre Dame and Syracuse will produce short commercials promoting sustainable practices. The best submissions will be displayed on the NBC Sports website, www.NBCSports.com.

I poked fun at NBC last year when they went "green" because all they essential did was turn off the lights but leave the graphics and screens running.I'm not an expert on energy, but I think about five HD screens and random scrolling signs might actually use MORE electricity than studio lights.....but I could be wrong. While it might just be a publicity stunt, it ultimately doesn't hurt anything, and it's pretty fun to watch Keith Olbermann try to do highlights in the dark.

So Did You Turn Off Any Lights Last Night When Bob Costas Told You To? (Awful Announcing)

Chad Johnson was on my list of people not to mention this site for most of the season, but I have to break my rule to post this story from Pro Football Talk. Johnson said on both Monday Night Football, and Sports Center the following day, that he had some things planned.

I ignored both interviews and figured it was just more costumes and/or props for his cheesy TD celebrations. Boy was I wrong. Chad Johnson has taken the first steps to officially change his name to "Ocho Cinco". Seriously....

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was fined $5,000 for wearing “Ocho Cinco” on the back of his jersey before a game in 2006.

To avoid getting fined, Johnson hasn’t done it since then. But Johnson now has a plan for how he can get away with having “Ocho Cinco” spelled out over the “85″ on his back.

We’ve learned that Johnson has taken the first steps in the state of Florida toward legally changing his last name to Ocho Cinco.

If Johnson follows through on this, his actual, legal name will be Chad Ocho Cinco, and the NFL would then (we assume) allow him to put his new last name on the back of his jersey.

On the surface it seems like yet another cheesy Chad Johnson stunt, but when you think about it, anything to make the "No Fun League" squirm is kind of entertaining. Obviously this is still a rumor, but imagine how many jerseys he would sell. It wouldn't approach Favre territory, but it would be quite a few.

Johnson Wants To Be Ocho Cinco Legally (Pro Football Talk)