A few days ago, Scott Van Pelt got prank called by a Howard Stern staple Captain Janks, but apparently that was just the start to his week. Late last night, the Sports Center anchor added to his woes by dropping an F-bomb when he thought his mic was off....

Those apologies always seem so awkward to me. I understand they have to be done, but it's f**king one o'clock in the morning! If someone watching at that hour gets offended....f**k em.

ESPN's Scott Van Pelt Drops F-Bomb (Only Gators)

It seems like just yesterday that ESPN was airing only archery, pool, and various lumberjack events. They've also been grabbing up every tv deal available these days, so heck....why not bring some Beach Volleyball into the fray!?

ESPN has signed a two-year deal with the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), and will begin airing events this April. Via ESPN PR....

Today the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour announced a broadcast agreement with ABC and ESPN to televise its events over the next two years. The agreement includes 13 AVP telecasts in 2010, four on ABC and nine on ESPN2. The schedule totals more than 19 hours of live HD coverage for the season, including the Tour Championship in Chicago, giving the AVP its most consistent television footprint ever. Coverage will begin with the Tour’s season-opener in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 18 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

“This new agreement gives us a consistent national reach that will be essential to our growth as a sport, and we couldn’t be more excited that both our passionate fans and a growing new audience will be able to follow us on ESPN,” said Jason Hodell, Chief Executive Officer of the AVP. “The 2010 season will showcase the veterans and new stars of the AVP to a very large audience, and there couldn’t be a better place for that exposure than ABC and ESPN.”

“As one of the most athletic and action packed sports in the world, we look forward to working with the AVP,” added Doug White, ESPN senior director of programming. “The matches will be a great addition to ESPN’s programming and we are excited to present coverage of the league, their athletes and their tournaments across our multimedia platforms.”

ESPN’s multimedia coverage of the AVP will include six hours of action on ABC and 13.5 hours of men’s and women’s weekend action, live streaming of the matches on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s 24/7 broadband sports network soon to be renamed ESPN3.com, and up-to-the-minute scores via the ESPN ScoreCenter mobile app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

There's no doubting Beach Volleyball's popularity during the Olympics, but I'm not sure if that will translate over to cable television. Here's the schedule if you'd like to check it out though....

2010 ESPN and ABC AVP Television Schedule

Sun, April 18th - Women/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (ESPN2,ESPN360, 5:30pm)
Sun, May 2nd - Men/Santa Barbara, Calif. (ESPN2/ESPN360, 5:30pm)
Sun, June 6th - 2 p.m. Women/Huntington Beach, Calif. (ESPN2, ESPN360, 2pm)
Sun, June 6th - Men/Huntington Beach, Calif. (ABC, 4pm)
Sun, June 20th - Women/Virginia Beach, Va. (ESPN2, ESPN360, 2pm)
Sun, June 27th - Women/Belmar, N.J. (ESPN2, ESPN360, 2pm)
Sun, July 18th - Men/Hermosa Beach, Calif. (ESPN2, Midnight)
Sun, July 25th - Women/Malibu, Calif. (ABC, 4pm)
Sun, July 25th - Men/Malibu, Calif. (ESPN2, ESPN360, 11pm)
Sun, Aug. 22nd - Women/Manhattan Beach, Calif. (ABC, 4:30pm)
Sun, Aug. 29th - Men/Chicago, Ill. (ABC, 1:30pm)
Sun, Aug. 29th - Women/Chicago, Ill. (ESPN2, Midnight)
Sun, Sep. 19th - Flex/Hermosa Beach, Calif. (ESPN2, Midnight)

Captain Janks has been making prank calls for the Howard Stern show for years, and late last night he got Sports Center and more specifically Scott Van Pelt....

Wow. Someone is getting fired over that one.

Video: Howard Stern Show Prank Calls ESPN SportsCenter as Brian Westbrook (BSO)

Another day....another ESPN hire. This time it's the bane of Red Sox fans everywhere, Aaron Boone. Boone officially retired today, and immediately following that announcement, signed with ESPN. Via the "Leader"....

Aaron Boone today formally announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after a 12-year career and his new role as an ESPN baseball analyst. Boone will mainly be seen on Baseball Tonight (debuting in March), in addition to select appearances as a game analyst. He worked for ESPN Radio as a guest analyst during the 2009 National League Division Series.

“It is with a sense of pride, sadness, and enthusiasm that I formally announce my retirement after 16 years of professional baseball,” Boone said. “It has been a privilege and honor to have played in the Major Leagues for 12 seasons for six different clubs.

“While it's tough to leave the game as a player, I am eager to start my next career with my new team at ESPN. I am very grateful that I'll be able to stay in the game as an ESPN analyst and work with people who share the same passion for baseball that I do. I really appreciate ESPN giving me the opportunity to evolve in the sport that I love.

“Finally, I'd like to express my thanks to everyone that treated me so well throughout my Major League career.”

Jay Levy, ESPN senior coordinating producer, said, “As a player, Aaron was a tremendous competitor known for one of baseball's most dramatic postseason walk-off home runs. He offers an important perspective, being recently removed from the game and having deep baseball roots, which will make him a great addition to our team.”

I caught a bit of Boone on the radio last year, and I have to say that he wasn't that bad. He obviously needs some time under his belt, but I think he might actually work out for them.

There's still no word on a replacement for Chip Caray, but that's not stopping TBS from releasing their early season MLB schedule. Per usual, you get a lot of AL East and NL Central with a little NL East added here and there. All games are on Sunday and EST....

April 11th - NY Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (1:30pm)
April 18th - Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (1:30pm)
April 25th - Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers (2pm)
May 2nd - Chicago White Sox at NY Yankees (1pm)
May 9th - Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (1:30pm)
May 16th - Minnesota Twins at NY Yankees (1pm)
May 23rd - Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies (1:30pm)
May 30th - St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (2:15pm)

You Been Blinded came across this very odd exchange on First Take yesterday, and I had to share this afternoon. Yesterday, Dana Jacobson and Jay Crawford were joking with Barry Melrose (who was off set) about what he uses to keep his "middle age good looks", and....well....just watch....

He did say "chicken SHIP" (not S**T), but still....a little odd right? I thought the exchange was rather funny, but apparently the powers that be made Jacobson apologize for the comment....



Man, Dana is always doing other people's dirty work. I can think of about three different people she's had to apologize for, and that of course doesn't include herself (see: Mike & Mike Roast). I guess ESPN thinks she's had the practice.

Barry Melrose Uses Chicken Ship as Skin Care Product (You Been Blinded)