A few years ago, I thought that Al Michaels was becoming a bitter old man, but this season and last has proved that theory wrong. He seems to be having fun again, throwing in his lines about spreads in the middle of games, and using great quotes like this one! Via Slanch Report

I'm not sure if he meant it....you know that way....but either way it's hilarious. You know what's not hilarious? EJ Henderson's leg snapping....



Al Michaels — Master of the English Language (Slanch Report)

It's not a firing situation, but Bill Walton will not be returning to ESPN to cover the NBA. Walton has been dealing with back issues for years now (the reason for his original departure from ESPN), and has subsequently made the personal decision to retire from broadcast entirely. Via Sports Business Daily....

Citing persistent back problems, Bill Walton has decided not to appear on ESPN’s NBA telecasts this year, ending a relationship that started in '02. The Basketball HOFer missed most of last season because of back pain. His deal with ESPN expires after this season. “As I return after a grueling multi-year, life-threatening, life-changing ordeal with back problems, it is time to dedicate the rest of my life to service,” Walton said in a statement released by ESPN. “It is great to be back in the game. Thanks everybody -- for everything.” ESPN Exec VP/Studio & Remote Production Norby Williamson: “Bill is a Hall of Fame talent, both as a player and broadcaster. NBA fans will miss his distinct personality. We appreciate all of his contributions to ESPN and share best wishes toward continued health and happiness.”

This is obviously a sad day for the NBA community, because even though you may not always enjoy Walton's commentary, you can't deny his passion for the game of Basketball. Things just won't be the same without him.

Ball Boys are always providing great clips, but it's usually because they are getting hit in the face with a ball. This young whippersnapper decided to step it up a level by going all parkour during a match recently....

BAM! Now that's how you take a fall on National TV, right there.

Ever since Erin Andrews jumped on the scene, she's said in interviews that one of her favorite websites is TMZ. Well yesterday, the ESPN sideline reporter got stopped in the airport by one of Harvey Levin's minions, and here is the video....

Pretty mundane interview there, but I figured you'd all want to see it. It appears that everything is okay with the chin though, which is good, and EA won't be taking any time off. Whew!

Oh god no!!! I wish I was joking about the above title, but according to TMZ, Erin Andrews took a foul ball to the chin last night during the Mets-Dodgers game. According to the gossip site, Andrews was in her usually spot when a 4th inning liner by Alex Cora popped her one good....

Super hot sportscaster Erin Andrews shouldn't participate in any activities where balls fly at her face -- "Clueless" anyone? -- because a line drive hit her perfect mug last night during the Mets/Dodgers game.

Andrews -- who serves as a sideline reporter for ESPN -- was struck in the chin by a foul ball hit by New York Mets player Alex Cora during the 4th inning.

Erin was hustled to the hospital a few innings later, but only suffered a bruised chin.

Whew! Crisis avoided. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen to sideline reporters more often, and even though it did, thank goodness it wasn't more serious than it could have been. Get better soon, EA!

Update via ESPN: "She's totally fine. The producers on site suggested she go to the hospital as a precaution. Doctors released her soon thereafter. She flew home as scheduled and is looking forward to working MLB All-Star events and the ESPYs in the coming week."

Erin Andrews Takes One on the Chin (TMZ)

Torry Holt has had some injury problems over the years, and at a recent Jags' press conference, the receiver decided to share with everyone his "trophy". Yes, Holt decided to show everyone his disgusting, yet highly intriguing, dislocated finger. From With Leather via Jacksonville.com....

Well then. I'm not exactly sure how that would help you catch the ball, but as for scaring little kids, I'm all for it!

Torry Holt's Finger Is Doing Great (With Leather)

I don't know if it's something in his brain or what, but Matt Vasgersian must just forget that he's actually being broadcast to thousands of people at certain times. There was the Ozarks incident, the f-bomb on MLB Network, and now this. Via Bugs & Cranks....

Wow. There are times to try and make jokes, and definitely times not to make them. You can't go from serious/somber voice to lighthearted that fast! Plus that dude looked nothing like Donovan McNabb. Just plain awkward.

Update: Vasgersian has responded via KSK....

“I am an idiot .. Save the racial stuff which is just flat out wrong, almost all of what has been posted on my regrettably horrific timing is spot on .. It was a bad decision made on live tv and i can absolutely understand how that make an announcer sound insensitive. Bad on the spot judgment. Nobody feels worse about it than I do guys.”

Video: Another Awkward Moment in Television History Featuring Matt Vasgersian (Bugs and Cranks)
UPDATED: Matt Vasgersian should probably stop talking for a little while. (Kissing Suzy Kolber)

Game 5 between the Flames and 'Hawks was dominated by Chicago, but the highlight of the night was Defenseman Matt Walker entertaining a group of ladies behind the bench. He didn't throw a water bottle at them like Rangers' Coach John Tortorella, but rather showed them his broken finger. Walker blocked a Dion Phaneuf shot in the first period, and the two ladies just happened to get a look. From Puck Daddy via Keith's Sports Journal....

I love how Walker isn't even phased by his finger looking like a staircase. Too funny.

What Women Don't Find Attractive (Keith's Sports Journal)
Video: Blackhawk Walker's mangled finger frightens the ladies (Puck Daddy)

Penn State took out Baylor last night to claim the N.I.T. Championship, and while the game was somewhat boring, there was one moment that was completely awesome. Senior Danny Morrissey, decided to use his face to try and get a loose ball. Unfortunately, he missed and the court was there instead....

Man, that was intense. That could quite possibly be the best slow motion replay ever.

Many of you may have heard that Tom Brady went on The Fan 590 in Toronto yesterday evening to discuss among other things, how exactly his knee is doing. The move seemed odd on the surface, but ever since "Spygate", Brady has seemed less and less thrilled with the Boston Sports Media. Sort of the anti-Schilling if you will. Here's the clip from the show, which really has nothing to do with this post, but I wanted to share if you missed it.

If you listened to the whole thing, you probably found it as tame as I did (and the whole pain product endorsement a bit odd), but I still find it interesting that he decided to go on in Toronto. If he was really trying to piss of the Boston Media, I would think he would go on a show in New York, which is what makes this move even more odd. This summer should be a real fun one in Massachusetts!

Tom Brady Interview (590 The Fan)
Tom Brady Speaks....To Canada??? (BSO)

Having attended the U.S. Open for the first time last year, I'm much more into Tennis than I used to be, but the Australian Open is on pretty darn late so I haven't really been watching. Today, two videos surface of people getting struck in the face and since there's nothing else exciting going on today, I thought I'd share them with you!

Up first is Marat Safin pinging the net judge, and apologizing with a nice smooch on the cheek....

Aww! How thoughtful. Now as sweet as that was, it's not nearly as sweet as this clip of a ball boy getting blasted by Juan Martin Del Potro!!! Via Simon on Sports....



Do me a favor and just hit replay about five more times on that one. I promise it will make your day.

Do You Get An Auto Win For Drilling the Ball Boy? (Simon on Sports)

If you were watching the end of the Ravens-Steelers game, you saw a scary moment as Willis McGahee lay on the turf motionless following a hit from the Steelers' Ryan Clark. The hit itself was questionable, because Clark's hit was helmet on helmet, but certainly not intentional. Both teams came out on the field in a moment that showed mutual respect for each other, and McGahee, as the running back waited for the cart to take him off the field.

Both teams were very classy and humble in the minutes following the hit, and Steelers' fans were even picked up on CBS' mics wishing him well as he left the stadium. Everyone handled the situation respectfully, except the person who was operating the sound system within the stadium. While most stadiums would have ceased all music during a scary injury, the Heinz Field operator decided to keep the music going. Via PFT....

Specifically, the selections were “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and then “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas.

Said the source: “There is a player on the field who may have suffered a life changing injury and the Steelers are playing party music. There are about five teams in the league that would engage in such horrific behavior. All others would cease all entertainment.

“‘Down on the corner’ . . . uh, there’s a man down on the field. About twenty-five to twenty-seven teams would cease all entertainment. Oh, now it’s a Santana song. This is beyond offensive. . . . Most teams would fire them on the spot. It’s disgusting.”

Just disgraceful if you ask me. You can watch the hit on Youtube if you missed it, but I recorded part of the injury where you can clearly hear CCR playing in the background....



I don't think it was mocking the injury in any way, but you really have to have more couth/tact than that. When both teams are on the field looking on, you have to realize the seriousness of the situation and just hit mute. I'm sure the Steelers will address it.

Heinz Field Sound Crew Badly Mishandled McGahee Injury (Pro Football Talk)
Rob Thomas Has The Voice Of An Angel (HG Halftime Report)

(Title reference credit goes to Orson Swindle of EDSBS.)

Gruesome, gruesome injury to Southern Miss star receiver DeAndre Brown at the New Orleans Bowl. Please don't watch if you'd like to not feel physically ill.



The game is currently locked up at 27 with about 40 seconds to go and Troy is driving for a try at a score, but I mean, DAMN....and it looks like we're going to overtime in this game after a Hail Mary try...

...Southern Miss makes an FG that barely gets in after bouncing off the upright from their kicker named Barefoot...

HOLY CRAP, SOUTHERN MISS WINS ON AN FG BLOCK!

If you happened to watch the Bills epic collapse against the Jets, then you probably saw the Shaun Ellis fumble recovery to give the Jets the lead. What you may not have seen is the referee on that play getting absolutely destroyed during Ellis' romp to the endzone. The Sports Hernia provides the photographic evidence, but here's video of said destruction....

Yep, that's a broken nose. But at least he didn't get completely blindsided for no reason like this ref during a High School game in Texas last week.

Ed Hochuli's nose would've broken the field (The Sports Hernia)

Was checking out the USC-Oklahoma game earlier tonight (mainly to scout the Wizards' first round selection next year, Blake Griffin), and I caught this amazing incident between Griffin and USC's Leonard Washington.

At first glance it appeared as if Griffin was putting on a show with a WWE-like dive, but it wasn't until you saw his reaction and the subsequent replays, that I really understood what went down. Make sure you wait until the last angle at the 1:30 mark...

Nut shot! Very Chyna-esque by Washington there. He did get ejected, and after watching the previous play again, I can't really figure out what Griffin did to warrant such an act. Oklahoma went on to win by one at home as well.

I keep forgetting to tune in for Tuesday night Football on ESPN, but I know now that it's a must watch every single week. Last night Rece Davis, Mark May and Lou Holtz were on the call of the Houston-Marshall game and witnessed one of the worst Sports injuries ever.

For some reason, a douchebag employee at Marshall decided to park a random cart right behind the endzone and Houston Receiver Patrick Edwards ran straight into the thing. You don't notice it at first, but you see just how bad the injury is during the replay....

Well how'd that sit with your lunch? I love how Lou is wondering WHAT is in the carts, and not WHY the damn things are there in the first place.

I always thought you were supposed to hit people so hard that snot bubbles came out of their nose (ala Little Giants)....not green, chunky puke. Watch closely as a monster hit by Maryland DB Kevin Barnes causes Cal RB Jahvid Best to lose his breakfast. If you just ate or have a weak stomach....look away....

Good lord. That was seriously like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist". Not to pile on with the nasty, but what the hell did that guy eat this morning? I'm guessing it was a combination of pea soup and Gatorade. Blech.

(Many thanks to David for the clip.)

Now I know what you're saying to yourself, I've seen about a million videos of bulls stomping on cowboys in my life. Well have you seen a rider get knocked out by a bull, before even leaving stall by the stall? I didn't think so...enjoy!

Good lord that looked almost as bad as the Chuck Liddell knockout from the other night. If Versus has anything going for it outside of College Football these days it's Bull Riding. There's nothing better at 3am on a Sunday morning just when you've come home from the bars. I also love how the announcers analyzed it in slow mo for a good minute as well. And you can see his neck break riiiiiiiight......NOW!

It was February 2007 when Gilbert Arenas showed us just how easy it was to dunk off of a trampoline. It seems as if the guy in the video below wasn't watching the NBA All-Star Game that day. From the halftime show during the Australia-Croatia game....

(Wait for it....waaaaaaait for it....)

Good lord that looked painful. I love how the rest of his troupe just runs back into formation with only one guy sort of checking on him. "We can't disappoint the fans at a preliminary match in the Olympics! Dammit Johnny, this was our big break!!!"

Video: The bronze medalists of Olympic halftime entertainment (Ball Don't Lie)

You asked for it, you get it. I warn you ahead of time that by the third replay you'll want to walk away from the computer. The video you're about to see is of Hungarian weightlifter Janos Baranyai. Baranyai's arm doesn't seem to enjoy the massive weight above his head and decides to tell its owner by "going the other way".

Again....not for the faint of heart....

Right Arm....BROKEN! Yep that's what those in the business call a dislocation and what I call both disgusting and somewhat awesome. I'm not sure where Fan IQ got that clip, but there has to be some automatic replay feature built in. There's no way someone is that sadistic to show it snap another three times after it happened.

Joe Theismann Is Unimpressed (Fan IQ)