Ever since ESPN decided to make a non-issue of this, I've been intrigued by the Roethlisberger civil lawsuit. Well today, Roethlisberger made a short, yet very confident statement, denying the allegations of Andrea McNulty. For as much as ESPN ignored the story, they predictably aired the press conference, and discussed the issue with one of their many law consultants. Here's a clip....

I don't know what new information could come out of an A-Rod press conference, but the admitted steroid user will speak to a horde of media members in Tampa today at 1:30pm. The Yankee will speak to anywhere from 150-300 media members, will be joined by his fellow teammates, and the presser will be aired on YES as well as being simulcast on ESPN and the MLB Network. Here's what the two national networks have planned.

ESPN: ESPN’s daily SportsCenter will present live coverage of the Alex Rodriguez press conference tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1:30 p.m. ET from Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

ESPNEWS will present the entire press conference, beginning its coverage at 1 p.m. with highlights of last Monday’s Peter Gammons-Rodriguez interview. It will re-air the press conference during the 4 p.m. and 7 p .m. hours. Hannah Storm and Bob Holtzman will report live from Tampa. ESPN Radio will also cover the press conference within its Tirico & Van Pelt show (1-3 p.m. M-F) with co-hosts Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt.

MLB Network: MLB Network today will air live coverage of the Alex Rodriguez press conference at the Yankees’ Spring Training facility in Tampa, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. MLB Network’s coverage will be anchored by Greg Amsinger along with Harold Reynolds, Barry Larkin and Billy Ripken, and will include reports and reaction from Jon Heyman and Joe Magrane, who are both in Tampa.

This went down yesterday, but it was so weird that I had to share it with all of you. Santa (Bill DiFabio, a sports announcer from Washington, Pa.) showed up at a Steelers press conference, and after some bad schtick, the Steelers booted Mr. Claus from their facility.

Here's a taste, but it's what happened after this which is the funny part....

But when DiFabio commandeered the news conference for more than five minutes, passing out gifts and cracking jokes about fellow sportscasters, the Browns and Cowboys, nose tackle Casey Hampton's weight and the woebegone Pirates, Tomlin became impatient.

To end the unrehearsed skit, Tomlin — who could be heard sighing several times throughout the comedy bit — grudgingly agreed to toss a football to the fake Santa.

"If that will get you out of here," Tomlin said.

Tomlin repeatedly emphasized the Steelers (11-4) would not treat Sunday's meaningless game against the Browns (4-11) like an exhibition, and he apparently did not appreciate a comedy skit interfering with his message.

Later, the Steelers said there would be no future appearances from Santa at any of their news conferences.