Saw this Saturday afternoon during the U.S. Open coverage on NBC, and couldn't help but laugh. Not only did Bob Costas look like he was a dummy sitting on Al Roker's lap, but he even decided to throw in a "BGTD" for comedic relief....

Such a goofy looking setup there. Not sure why Costas decided to throw in the "Dynamite" comment, but I don't think that will ever get old.

A few weeks back, Chris Bosh was invited fill in for the weatherman on CTV in Toronto, and today the network decided to post the "pregame" video. Not only is Bosh just about the chillest dude you will ever come across, but there is even some "Anchorman" discussion. Via My Hogtown....

"Let's chill AND go over it," is officially my new phrase of the week. I love how the dude talking to him is holding a Basketball to look cool. Weathermen are so hip! Oh and CB4 still needs his own TV show. Someone start an online petition.

Chris Bosh's "Preparation" In The Green Room Before His Guest Weatherman Apperance (My Hogtown)

This is just about the most random way to end a completely random week. Here is Chris Bosh subbing for meteorologist Dave Devall of CTV Toronto evening news. I will be attempting to step away from the site for a few days, but I'll likely see you Sunday night for some selection show highlights....

I don't think I've ever seen a stoppage of play so that workers can straighten the goal posts on the field, but that's exactly what just happened in Buffalo. This is what 40 mph winds can do to your kicking game....

New England leads 3-0 after a very odd end to the first half, and the wind isn't slowing down anytime soon. Should be a fun thirty minutes in the second half.

NFL Live always puts on a great show, and I've said it's one of the best shows ESPN has, but yesterday they took it to a whole new level. Trey Wingo and company took a field trip outdoors to talk how weather affects play on the Football field. Watch closely in the background for an extra special guest who is keeping watch over the proceedings....

Whoever that was, played the role of Belichick perfectly. I thought it was John Clayton at first, but he had a little bit of a breakdown earlier in the show.

I have no idea what that was, but hopefully it wasn't anything serious like a seizure. I'm thinking it was an earpiece issue or perhaps a wicked migraine.

Alrighty, we're trying this thing again folks. The game gets underway after the Barack Obama commercial and we're going strong for 3 and a half innings. Phils win, that's all she wrote.....Rays win, we're going back to Tampa for Game Six (presumably tomorrow). It's Game Five 2.0 on Fox.....NEXT!

The cheesy Oscar-like music is playing so that means just one thing, we're live from Philly! Joe Buck cues the intro with your highlights from the other night and we get to hear the word "hydroplaning" once again.

The fact that a POS infomercial delayed the start of a World Series game is a travesty. I could careless if it was Obama or McCain, but it's a shame a fricking political campaign commercial takes over America's pasttime. (Via Brett)

As someone mentioned in the pregame post, it didn't technically delay it. It really just got rid of the Fox Pregame show with Jeanne Zelasko. Ultimately that's not a bad thing. Chris Meyers is all decked out tonight with gloves and a gigantic coat. Nice look.

Let's get this thing (re)started. 25 years since Philly won a championship. Let's hope that drought ends now. (Via JFein)

Rain Delay: Forty Two Hours, Forty Six minutes. (Via James Craven)

Bottom of the Sixth:

Geoff Jenkins will be your pinch hitter and Ryan Madson will be coming into the game in the seventh for the Phils. David Price looks to be getting ready to warmup for the Rays. Annnnnnnd we're underway with ball one to Jenkins. Full count....JENKINS CRUSHES ONE OFF THE WALL! He's into second with a leadoff double. Rollins up....bunt....and a perfect one. Jenkins to third. Werth is your batter now and he gets up in the count 2 and 0.

"On a double, it will be louder." - Tim McCarver after Jenkins hit a double after McCarver said the place would be loud if Jenkins got walked. (Via J)

Pop up.......Iwamura can't get it! Phillies go up 1-0 3-2!!!!

As a prior poster in a prior live thread said best, "If we win, we riot. If we lose, we riot." (Via Jim)

That's all for Balfour as the Rays bring in Howell with Werth on first and Utley coming to the plate. Balfour is fuming in the dugout, as he should be. Chase takes two quick strikes and ends up striking out on a sweeping curve. Howard up and a pickoff attempt has Werth.....NO! He beats out the throw from Pena!!! Good hustle there. Doesn't matter though as Howard pops up to third.

One Hit, One Walk, One Run....3-2 Phillies.

For Fox dugout shots are the baseball equivalent of student bands. (Via Bazooka)

You think Ryan Howard loses "street cred" in Philly for endorsing the Subway cheesesteak instead of a local establishment? (Via Anon)

Yes....yes I do.

Top of the Seventh:

Navarro, Baldelli and Barlett coming up for the Rays. Nav goes down on an inside fastball and that's one out.

Baldelli up.....GONE! Rocco crushes and inside fastball and we're tied again just like that.

Can of spray paint: $5
Designer Sunglasses: $100
World Series directly behind home plate: $1000
Looking like an androgynous oompa-loompa on national television for over 2 hours: priceless
(Via Mr. Earth)

You can watch the game without announcers at MLB.com.
REPEAT: You can watch WITHOUT announcers at MLB.com.
(Via Matt)

That's amazing. Bartlett now lines a single off of Madson and here come those pesky Rays! A bunt moves him over to second and Madson is pulled from the game for JC Romero.

If Price comes in next inning, Joe Maddon should be fired for not knowing how to manage in a NL ballpark. (Via Brett)

Utley can't make the play at first....Bartlett heads for home! He's gunned out by the second baseman. Great play again from Utley and his fake throw might have caused Bartlett to go there.

Bottom of the Seventh:

It's high drama in Game 5 Version 2.0. Ratings be damned, this is the best thing on TV tonight. (Via Jim W.)

I'd argue that "Sons of Anarchy" is, but I'd be lying. It's close though. Burrell, Victorino and Ruiz are your batters. Howell is still on the mound.....Burrell kills one! Way back......off the wall!!! The wind kept in by an inch and slow ass Pat only ends up with a double. Bruntlett pinch runs for the Left Fielder.

I hope McCarver draws another gigantic arrow for us in the stands to show why Burrell's ball stayed in the park. (Mr. Earth)

OH MY GOD!!! BURRELL GOT A HIT!!! I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!!! (Via JFein)

That's his first of the Series and Victorino will be batting against Bradford. Victorino misses on the bunt and he'll be swinging away now. He does and grounds out to the right side, moving the runner over. Great hitting there. Feliz up with a runner on third and one out....

SINGLE! Feliz delivers and it's 4-3 Phils!!!

Ruiz up....Sing....OH! Iwamura with a great dive and flip to Bartlett for the force out. Romero stays in the game to hit and grounds out to second. The Phils get the lead back though....4-3....6 outs to go!

McCarver: "The park is called Citizen's Bank Ballpark."
(CUT TO SHOT OF WHOLE PARK)
"If you hit the ball under the Citizen's Bank sign in left field..."(pause)
(NOTICE CITIZEN'S BANK SIGN CLEARLY IN RIGHT CENTER FIELD)
"...you'll hit it....away from the wind..."
(Via Adam)

He is just clueless.

Top of the Eighth:

Crawford up....single up the middle. Doesn't matter though....the King of Double Plays, BJ Upton, erases the hit.

This Game 5, with its roller coaster ride feel is eerily reminiscent of Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS. Ebbs and flows, ups and downs, highs and lows. (Via Jim)

Rocky is a great movie, but don't you think in general the theme is a little played out? C'mon fox, pick another song to play! (Via Anon)

Very much so. Pena up as both Price and Lidge warm up in the pen. Romero can't find the zone and the count is quickly 3 and 0. He follows up with a strike and then gets Pena to line out to left.....3 outs away!

Bottom of the Eight:

It could be just me, but the commercial breaks seem extra long tonight. I wouldn't put it past Fox to try and work some extra advertising in during the shortened night. Price in and the top of the order up for the Phillies. J-Roll tests the wind in left field and loses. One out.

Joe Buck gives us the official "Last Time Philly Won A Championship" jinx and Werth comes to the plate. He's down on strikes and Utley will be your batter. Chase gets on with a walk and Ryan Howard will hit with two outs.

Chris Myers with the William Penn swami angle. Comcast may have put Penn on top of their building, but they still can burn in hell in my eyes (and those of millions of others). (Via Jim)

Can a statue be 3 inches tall? (Via Mr. Earth)

I don't think it can, but whatever works right? Utley takes second after a nice jump it's 3-1 to Howard. Fouled off and it's a full count. Philly fans get loud, but Howard strikes out. Here we go Philly....Brad Lidge in....three outs away....

Top of the Ninth:

Enter Sandman....I'm just gonna leave now. News choppers are over Frankford and Cottman Avenues as I speak. (Via James Craven)

Godspeed James....Godspeed. Here it is. Longoria, Navarro and Baldelli to face Lidge.

Any guesses on how Joe Buck is going to ruin the moment if the Phillies finish it off here? (Via Jesse)

Longoria....pops out to Utley. One out. Navarro....singles to right field on a broken bat looper. One out and Perez pinch runs for Dioner. Zobrist is up and Perez steals second! Uh oh....

Zobrist smacks one! Right to Werth!!! Two outs and up strides Eric Hinske representing the go ahead run and he has a runner on second in Perez to drive in. One to go....

1st pitch....fouled down the first baseline. 0 and 1.
2nd pitch....check swing by Hinske....strike! O and 2.
3rd pitch....STRIKE THREE....

THE PHILLIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

28 years after their last one they take it in one of the oddest ways possible, but it still counts. Joe Buck wisely lets them and the fans celebrate without his commentary, and it's going to be a long night in the City of Brotherly Love.

I'll have video and some more commentary in a few, but congrats Philadelphia....you certainly deserve it.

Final: Phillies 4 - Rays 3, Philadelphia wins the Series 4-1

Just a quick post, but for those of you hoping for a closeout of Game Five tonight are out of luck. MLB has officially suspended play until at least Wednesday at the earliest and that the hopes for getting a game in tonight are out of the question. Via NBC in Philly....

Phils phans will have to wait at least another night to complete Game 5 of the World Series.

A wet, muddy field logo tells the story of Game 5’s rain delay.

Major League Baseball has announced that Game 5 has been delayed until Wednesday.

The announcement was made as the Philadelphia area continued to be pounded by rain, wind and even snow in some areas.

Rain and wind suspended Game 5 between the Phillies and Rays in the middle of the sixth inning on Monday night.

Whenever the game continues the Phils will be coming to bat with the game tied 2-2.

Well that's a bummer. I can't imagine the agony that Phillies fans are going through right now, and I have to think it's just the opposite for Rays fans at the moment. The longer this gets drawn out, the better it is for Tampa. This is also good for the NBA who's season tips off tonight. Without a World Series game on, Sports fans are sure to head over to TNT tonight for their doubleheader.

MLB: No Game 5 Tuesday (NBC)

FYI- There's also no word on ratings from last night's water-logged game, but I'm sure it's not going to be a good total. I'll try to get that number to you as soon as I come across it.

Well that throws a wrench into things doesn't it? Game Five has been officially labeled as suspended and it won't be finished tonight. The game will be picked up in the same spot tomorrow (weather permitting and it doesn't look good) thanks to a Carlos Pena single in the Top of the Sixth, and here is the explanation of why the league suspended the game from COO Bob DuPuy....

I'm sure all Philly fans just want to try and end this thing tonight, but with the way that field was starting to look, the decision was ultimately the fairest for all parties involved. I'll pick the live-blog up whenever the weather lets us get this thing in. Geesh.

I just added this video over at Deadspin, but there needs to be a spot for it here as well. A.J. came across a video clip of Stuart Scott working as a Weatherman in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it couldn't be more entertaining for a Friday afternoon. Please to be enjoying "1989 Stu" hanging out with locals like Angela, Ennis, T.L. Sherman and one random no-named, mullet sporting townie....

Awww. Did you see that playful snow fight? The young Stuart was such a prankster! Good times.

Lemme Snow: Introducing Stu Scott, The Bland North Carolina Weatherman (Deadspin)

This is the perfect video for a rainy Tuesday (East Coast Bias.....sorry), and I cannot stop laughing at it. This appears to be put together by an ESPN Radio affiliate 710 AM in L.A., but it was found at Extra Mustard. Enjoy!

Who wants to sex Mutumobo?!?! Oh and buy a truck while you're at it.

This was news to me but it's pretty darn cool. Apparently snow can boost your ratings by 20%, which is why the Giants-Packers game will be the late game instead of the early one.

Last Saturday, when he saw snow falling in Green Bay before Seahawks-Packers, Fox Sports prez Ed Goren had one question for Roger Goodell. "Can we get the special effects to continue during the game?" Goren asked the commissioner.

Goren believes snow has a "positive" effect on the ratings. "I've always gone into these things rooting for snow," he said without a trace of compunction.

What's good for a television network is not always in the best interests of a sport. What's good for TV ratings can also severely compromise the quality of play. Only the NFL, in concert with its TV partners, can turn a crucial championship game into an ice sculpture. This shows exactly where the NFL's priority is. And it's certainly not on the on-field product. Moving both championship games - especially Giants-Packers - into later Sunday time slots is all about maximizing the universe of eyeballs at the NFL's disposal.

Well how about that. You learn something new everyday right? I would think that bad weather games would make people tune out, but then again the best MNF Football game of the year was the 3-0 Steelers-Dolphins slop fest. I'd root for snow, but I'm going to feel bad for those Packers fans if they are stuck out in those conditions.

Cold truth is NFL loves ratings, not ideal playing conditions (NY Daily News)

Here are the rating trends over the past nine years to take into consideration (Via SBD).....

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RATINGS TREND ON FOX

'07- 25.1/45, 43,247,000, Saints-Bears
'06- 20.8/31, 35,233,000, Panthers-Seahawks
'05- 25.8/46, 42,937,000, Falcons-Eagles
'04- 23.2/35, 40,444,000, Panthers-Eagles
'03- 23.8/45, 38,741,000, Buccaneers-Eagles
'02- 22.7/40, 37,429,000, Eagles-Rams
'01- 20.6/44, 30,513,000, Vikings-Giants
'00- 26.9/47, 42,635,250, Buccaneers-Rams
'99- 25.7/54, 38,220,000, Falcons-Vikings

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP RATINGS TREND ON CBS

'07- 26.4/39, 46,695,000, Patriots-Colts
'06- 23.6/44, 39,001,000, Steelers-Broncos
'05- 25.8/38, 44,334,000, Patriots-Steelers
'04- 24.7/46, 40,115,000, Colts-Patriots
'03- 24.6/38, 41,456,000, Titans-Raiders
'02- 21.2/46, 33,313,000, Patriots-Steelers
'01- 22.6/42, 35,140,000, Ravens-Raiders
'00- 23.2/48. 35,973,120, Titans-Jaguars
'99- 26.6/48, 42,000,000, Jets-Broncos

Since the entire Midwest is stopping by the site today for the Vasgersian bashing of your town, I thought I'd cheer you up with this random STL News Video from last week.

Why this clip is relevant...

1. I have a weird obsession with Weatherman. You may remember our friend from Charlotte.
2. Kat McPhee....enough said.
3. This quote from Kat McPhee, "I guess STL stands for Saint Louis???"

Enjoy....