I don't know if you remember the last time that Denis Leary and Lenny Clark took a spin in the NESN booth, but it was epic. They went on a rant about Youklis being a jewish first baseman, and after a great play by Youk, Leary yelled, "Where's Mel Gibson now?!" It was truly amazing. Well the two were back in the booth last night, and while the two weren't nearly as wild, they were certainly entertaining. They even took on Jerry Remy's replacement, Dennis Eckersley, at one point. Via Sox & Dawgs....

Denis Leary & Lenny Clarke Return To NESN Booth Together For First Time Since Mel Gibson Rant (Sox & Dawgs)

Obviously this isn't serious, and it's rare that Joe Buck makes me chuckle, but here is his latest tweet about the guests on his September 22nd show. Via the JBL Twitter feed....



Pretty darn funny, but there's no way that Buck would subject players of that magnitude to that kind of comedy. Michael Irvin and Chad Johnson, yes....but not Elway and Montana.

(FYI- Buck is also hinting at an appearance from Vin Sculley as well)

It's been well over two weeks since Artie Lange's tirade on "Joe Buck Live", and the story just will not die. Lange went on Michael Irvin's radio show today in what was supposed to be a discussion about the program, but quickly turned into another awkward appearance for the Stern sidekick. Not only did Artie Lange defend himself , but he also challenged Irvin's co-host to a fight at one point, and bragged about book sales following the show. Oh and there was this moment, in which Irvin brough up the news that Lange might be going back on the show. Here is some of the audio via SRI....

I think we all know that Lange is going to be on the second show, black-listed from HBO or not, and that Buck will be making the right move by doing so. In its first airing, JBL almost tripled the ratings of the final "Costas Now" show, and a return visit from Lange would certainly improve on that. Who cares if Joe Buck is uncomfortable? HBO is in the business of making money, and that's how they're going to get people to tune in.

Artie Lange Talks To Michael Irvin About His Appearance on Joe Buck Live (Sports Radio Interviews)

Yesterday, there was more fallout from the whole Joe Buck/Artie Lange exchange on Monday night, and while HBO was issuing apologies, Lange was trying to defend himself. Lange went on Chris Russo's Sirius Show yesterday, and the two station mates battled about his "set" on Joe Buck Live....

I could have done without all of the yelling, but both parties had good points. Russo was just trying to state that it wasn't funny, and while I tend to agree with him for the most part, some people are obviously going to disagree. The more I think about this, the more I think it's HBO's fault. They knew what they were getting when they asked Lange to come on, and even moreso, when they directed him to "spice it up". Plus, you can't expect to get what you want, when you don't set any guidelines. Lesson learned, I guess.

Tell me something I don't know, HBO. That's what HBO is staying today after one of the most awkward exchanges in television history, SI's Richard Deitsch was on hand to witness the whole thing. Deitsch got to talk with both Joe Buck and HBO President Ross Greenburg, and here were their thoughts....

Buck said after the show that he was aware of Lange's comedy "but I didn't think it would go to that degree. But I don't want it to ruin what I think was a really good show. For whatever happened [with Lange], live is live. There were things said at the end that I am not fan of but people can judge what Artie said however they want."

Before Lange left the stage, Buck said he asked him, 'Was I good? Was that great?' "That's his M.O.," Buck said. "That's what he believed he was brought here to do. And, you know, he can. He's a guest and it's live TV. At some point short of hitting a trap door, what are you going to do?...He came out and did his thing. I can't blame him for that but I wish it was a notch lower. I was thinking, 'How much longer do we have in the segment?' I thought that spending time on a treadmill felt long, but that [segment] was eight or nine minutes turned into an eternity."

Lange walked off the stage to mostly applause. As he departed the stage, he said, "Waaagggh. I'll never be on here again." Prior to show in talking with a reporter who asked him about throwing out a first pitch at a minor league game in Trenton soon, Lange cracked, "I'm going to be thrown out the first minute here."

HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said Lange "bordered on bad taste" and had a "mean-spirited" tone. Greenburg said the segment made him uncomfortable at times, but he hoped that the Favre interview (which Buck handled very well) would be the story that carried the day. "This feels like they are not going to be too complementary to his [Lange's] appearance, just judging from the reaction of the crowd. But it really is the public's judgment. Live television is all about risk-reward and we knew who Artie Lange was when he was booked. There was a certain degree of a risk factor where he would go and where he would take us."

For all that Buck went through last night, he certainly has a calm viewpoint following the venom. Obviously you don't know what you're getting with Lange, but I'm sure that was above and beyond what anyone was imagining beforehand. Lange, on the other hand, is saying that Greenburg told him to go there if Rudd and Sudeikis "were boring", and had some choice words for him on the Stern Show this morning.

While the event was certainly shocking, the best take I've heard on the situation comes from The Big Lead, who posed the question, "If Artie Lange Hadn’t Appeared on Joe Buck’s Show, Would There Be Any Buzz About the Debut?" The answer.....probably not.

Joe Buck, HBO respond to wild Artie Lange appearance (SI)

Well if you thought that the on-air segment with Artie Lange was uncomfortable, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The comedic panel stuck around for "Joe Buck Show Overtime", and the insults just kept on a flyin'. The video is a bit choppy, but you'll be able to make it out....

Ummm....yeah. I don't even have words really. I'm hearing word that none of that was planned, or was it appreciated by Buck himself. So very uncomfortable. During the live segment it was kind of funny, but that was just downright uncalled for. By the end, it just seemed forced and venomous. Thank god for Paul Rudd's comedic timing. Good lord.

HBO has nabbed Brett Lorenzo Favre as the first guest on Joe Buck Live, and the interview will serve as his first interview since the Vikings rumors began. Not only will Favre be appearing on the debut show, but the network has also lined up David Wright, Michael Irvin and comedian Artie Lange. Wait really?

Primed to be entertaining, informative and lively, the premiere of Joe Buck Live will offer a diverse collection of interviews, opinions and humor as the topic of Sports & Celebrity is addressed. The show will originate from midtown Manhattan and a live studio audience will get to participate.

Segment One: One- on-One live interview with former Green Bay and New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre.

Segment Two: The Glare of Celebrity with former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver and radio personality Michael Irvin and Cincinnati Bengals newsmaker and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. David Wright of the New York Mets will appear in a taped piece on living in the hot New York media spotlight.

Segment Three: A comedy panel featuring Paul Rudd, Artie Lange and Jason Sudeikis, offering their unrehearsed take on sports and celebrity.C

I honestly thought that the first episode was going to just be a lame panel discussion about athletes and celebrities, but this lineup is pretty impressive. The show will also be airing a few taped segments, including one from the Will Ferrell comedy site, "Funny or Die". I'll try to have clips up later tonight, or tomorrow morning.

I don't know if it's ESPN's terrible Day One coverage, the length of the thing or the lack of suspense during picks, but I think the NFL Draft is now officially unwatchable. Hour after hour, it's picks being ruined by ESPN or the NFL Network showing kids getting calls on their cell phone, and analysts making up ridiculous phrases to describe said draft picks. I mean, Steve Young described Mark Sanchez as "Presidential". What the hell does that even mean?

This year was also marred by the Erin Andrews "green room" experiment. While I understand the need for interviews, you really didn't need to send her to New Jersey on Day Two, to talk to the Cosbys....

That was fun right? Especially considering Quan Cosby didn't even get drafted! I know see the difference between having someone like Suzy Kolber asking picks about their workout regiment, and Erin Andrews asking Michael Crabtree about how many texts he's received.

I know I'm going to continue to watch the Draft, but I might just stick to Day Two from here on out.

Quan Cosby is a potential draftee out of the University of Texas. You may remember him from his Fiesta Bowl performance, where he had 14 catches, 171 yards and 2tds (one coming with :16 left). Well, while Mark Sanchez is being followed around Southern California, Quan Cosby will be hanging with legendary comedian (and certifiably insane now), Bill Cosby! The wide receiver will be in Englewood, NJ, hanging with Mr. Huxtable, before he performs that night. Of course ESPN will be there to capture all the Cosby (no relation) goodness....

Cosby will watch the draft with actor/comedian Bill Cosby at a theater in Englewood, N.J., where the elder Cosby (no relation) will perform that night. Bill Cosby was impressed with the Texas receiver’s play in the Fiesta Bowl, so he had his representatives contact Quan and they struck up a friendship. Quan even introduced Cosby when the comedian performed in Austin, Texas. They will watch the draft together this weekend and if Quan – projected as a late-round pick – is selected when Cosby is performing Sunday night, Cosby has pledged to stop his show and introduce Quan on stage. ESPN will be there to capture the moment.

That sounds ten times better than having to sit inside Radio City Music Hall on day one, or have your family bugging you when you drop to the third round. Plus, Bill is likely to do something completely batty when Quan finally gets picked.

Here are the slew of other players ESPN will show remotely....Sanchez; Connor Barwin (Cincinnati); Donald Brown (UConn); Everette Brown (Florida State); Vontae Davis (Illinois); Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland); Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State); Jeremy Maclin (Missouri); Clay Matthews (USC); Aaron Maybin (Penn State); Knowshon Moreno (Georgia); BJ Raji (Boston College); Andre Smith (Alabama); Chris “Beanie” Wells (Ohio State); Darius Butler (UConn); Louis Delmas (Western Michigan), Cornelius Ingram (Florida); LeShon McCoy (Pittsburgh); Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest); Ian Johnson (Boise State)

You always see random Sports Stars sitting around the stage during Comedy Central Roasts, but I don't think one has ever gotten up and tried to make jokes. That will change this weekend as Warren Sapp will be one of the roasters of Larry The Cable Guy. Comedy Central has even been kind enough to send us a clip! Look for Warren around the 1:20 mark and ummm just a warning....it's very, very NSFW....

Wow....ummm. That was a little too much information there, Warren. Oh and there's no way he came up with that one on his own. Still though, it'll be interesting to see and hear the delivery of his ghost written jokes. Good times.

Hallelujah! Look, I don't doubt that Frank Caliendo is a great guy and I never want anyone to lose work, but for the simple fact that TBS annoyed us with Frank TV ads for the last two MLB Playoffs, this is great news. According to Broadcasting & Cable, while TBS is axing the sketch show, there is good news for Frank. He's getting re-upped by FOX! You didn't think you'd get rid of him that easy did you?

TBS will not be bringing back his sketch comedy series Frank TV for another season, but he has a signed a new deal to continue his role with Fox NFL Sunday for another two years.

The TBS comedy series, which debuted in November 2007, gained notoriety early on mostly because it was heavily promoted by the network during its baseball playoff broadcasts that year, enough so that even Caliendo would joke about it in subsequent interviews.

That success led the network to order an additional 8 episodes in February of 2008. The network never got around to airing all eight when the show returned last October, however. TBS ended up airing only four new installments, with the last airing November 11.

But Fox Sports is confirming Caliendo’s Madden will return along with his other characters – ranging from Charles Barkley to Fox’s own Terry Bradshaw -- on Fox’s NFL coverage. Caliendo will continue to provide his taped pieces, at the end of which he offers predictions of that week’s games.

I guess I can handle that. As long as I don't see another Frank TV ad, I can take two minutes of him on NFL coverage. Even if the Madden thing is old, and his picks are dreadful. Okay that was wrong, but a great day all around for Sports fans if you ask me.

One Cancellation, One New Deal For Caliendo (Broadcasting & Cable)

I don't know if this was a bet, but following a great win the other night by Texas A&M, Doug Gottlieb had a wonderful call to end the game. You may remember one of the better skits on "The Chappelle Show", being that of the Prince story as told by Charlie Murphy. Well here is Gottlieb using one of the more famous lines from that story to close out the A&M-Nebraska game....

"Game blouses!"- Doug Gottlieb

Hilarious. As Panthers' announcer, Randy Moller taught us a week or so ago, there's nothing better than throwing in a pop culture reference during an excitement moment. Good one, Douglas.

Doug Gottlieb Misses Chappelle Show (Bootlegger Sports)

I've had the opportunity to meet Bill Cosby at a track event in Philly (The Penn Relays) two times in my life and he couldn't have been a nicer guy. Which is why I'm not going to make fun of him in this spot, but ummm....yeah. Here he is intro'ing last night's ESPN College Football game between Temple and Ohio U....

The Ohio Chitlin Legs? Really??? Okay then. Oh and I have to say this again...."Interactive Tuesday" is off the charts on the train-wreckability scale. I'll have more on that later, but set yourself a reminder right now to watch it next week.

Paul Pierce was on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and after Kimmel fulfilled a promise to eat Pierce's headband during the intro the Finals MVP showed up in style....by wheelchair....

That was hilarious and the whole interview is pretty good as well (8 minutes!). Check it out over at Boston Sportz.

Paul Pierce On Kimmel

Obviously a network can't sit still in this ever-changing Sports environment but in the collection of ESPN ideas, this is definitely a stretch. The "Leader" is apparently toying with the idea of turning ESPN2 into a late night talk show Sports haven which will include a "Daily Show" of Sports. From Deadspin via Broadcasting and Cable....

ESPN wants to build out a new late-night presence on ESPN2, but probably won't return to scripted programming anytime soon, according to senior network executives.

ESPN2 is hoping to launch its hour-long late-night entry, ESPN Timeline, next April, but the ideal plan is to eventually expand to a 90-120-minute late-night block. ESPN has been soliciting and taking pitches for months for a more comedic-oriented potential companion show.

"It is something we would like to do," says John Skipper, ESPN executive VP of content.

But the first step would be to get Timeline up and running. The network has no format as of yet, but foresees a multi-person chatfest about the latest in sports. ESPN execs envision a panel of personalities, ranging from ESPN anchors to possibly a comedian well-versed in the sports world—along the lines of Frank Caliendo of Fox Sports and TBS.

Once Timeline is up and running, ESPN would like to add a more comedic-slanted show to follow it. A sports version of The Daily Show has been discussed.

"That's the holy grail," says ESPN senior vice president of content development and enterprises Keith Clinkscales. "But I don't know what it will be; it depends on talent. We remain open to different opportunities."

The only thing that ESPN currently has going for itself is that the majority of its humor and talent already resides late night. The eleven o'clock Sports Center is the best thing on the network these days and I would definitely be interested in checking out what some of those personalities could come up with. The only problem is that ESPN already shot itself in the foot with the name "Frank Caliendo". I don't hate the guy but there is not a more stale act that you could tab these days.

Oh wait....yes there is....Nick Bakay and/or the Sklar Brothers. And guess who routinely employs them? You got it.....ESPN. I also know they'd get Mike and Mike involved somehow.

ESPN to Go Deeper Into Late Night (Broadcasting Cable)
ESPN Still Desperately Wants To Be Cool Again (Deadspin)

Rick Sutcliffe is back in full swing as an announcer and every paper out there is trying to get an interview with him following his bout with Cancer. I'm pretty sure the ones that follow the one in the KC Star won't be able to top this tidbit that the paper got when asking Sut about his friendship with Bill Murray....

Sitting in the booth, [Steve] Stone and [Bill] Murray had to stall while a new pitcher warmed up. Murray looked at Stone and said, “I betcha a case of beer Sutcliffe steals second.”

Stone laughed and pointed out Sutcliffe had never even attempted to steal a base. He pointed out Sutcliffe had a bad hamstring. He pointed out Sutcliffe was not exactly the world’s fastest human being.

“But,” Sutcliffe remembered Stone saying, “I’ll take the bet because I’d like to win a case of beer from you.”

The pitcher was still warming up when word spreads and a fan yelled, “Hey Sut, Murray just bet Steve Stone a case of beer you’ll steal second!”

Standing on first base, Sutcliffe decided: Screw it. I’m going.

“All of a sudden the pitcher comes down and I tell my mind to go but my body won’t move and I literally almost fell down,” he said.

Then Expos manager Buck Rodgers yelled to first baseman Andres Galarraga, ‘Play behind him, he ain’t frickin’ going anywhere!’ ”

Sutcliffe took off running. All 6-7 of the Red Baron hauling ass for second base just to mess with Cubs announcer Steve Stone.

“I am gone,” Sutcliffe said. “He comes down and looks over. Well I’m halfway to second. I’m going, ‘Ah, he got me.’ Well the dummy goes to home so now I’ve got to get going again. But there’s still a play. That’s how slow I am.”

The throw. The slide. He’s safe.

“I look up into the booth and Murray’s going crazy and I kind of gave him a little whatever,” Sutcliffe said, reenacting a manly head bob. “I throw a shutout, I steal a base, and we were locked for life.”

How awesome is that? What happened to the days in Baseball when there was drinking and betting in the booth??? I would certainly poke fun at it, but I'd rather have those type of play-by-players over people who don't care about their job as an announcer. Good times.

As Rick Sutcliffe fights cancer, he treasures the connection with his hometown the most (KC Star)

I don't know if the Czar is feeling like the rest of us, or if he's actually calling out his partner in this instance, but he really wants to know if the Bill Engvall Show is actually "very funny".....

Awkward. Do you know why everyone says it's "very funny" on-air Czar? Because they're reading a PRO-MO.

Actually I take that back. While I'm pretty sure that Fratello has no idea that "Very Funny" is TBS' slogan for it's comedies, I'm with him....enough of Bill Engvall. I'd also be going crazy if I had to deal with Dick Stockton calling Al Horford, Tito all night long as well. So I'm sorry Czar....I take it all.

I don't think there's another show or group of writers that could combine the teaching movie "Stand and Deliver" with Bill Belichick's Patriots, but thanks to YBB we have proof that it has been done.

So rather than argue about Tony Kornheiser's arguments with no one or put up a throw away post about The Sporting Blog's badass new look.....I'm going to leave you laughing. See everyone on Monday!

“Just before the last Super Bowl, Bill Belichick gathered his football players and said let’s win this one for real… Just this one time.. Let’s not cheat. You know what happened? They lost.”

South Park Crushes Bill Belichick (You Been Blinded)

I'm never one to harp on people "selling out", but I might have to after this item. It's one thing for Nick Bakay, Frank Caliendo, or the Sklar Brothers to do so, but Mr. Show's Bob Odenkirk? Say it ain't so!

ESPN joined forces with Emmy award-winning director Bob Odenkirk (“Mr. Show with Bob and David”, “Saturday Night Live”) to bring the quirky world of “Bracketology” to life in a campaign, running on ESPN networks and online. It showcases the behavior of eight different bracketologist stereotypes – from the Alumnist, to the Fisherman, to the Mascotitian and more. The campaign’s website features each of these characters explaining his/her strategy. ESPN’s expert Bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, then provides his professional assessment. From the site, fans can fill out their own brackets, send mobile ‘smacks’ to their friends and study the habits of various bracketologists. For more information visit www.ESPNBracketologists.com.

I don't even understand what this website is about (it isn't working), but that paragraph just makes me sad. First David Cross was in Alvin and the Chipmunks and now this? What happened to comedy???

(Via ESPN)