According to ESPN, We Can Move on The Super Bowl Like It's Already Been Played

So ESPN decided to rank the one-ring quarterbacks, and were gracious enough to put Drew Brees on that list for the ring he will apparently win Sunday? Not good karma, folks. (Click on the picture for the full size).

Oliver Wahlstrom's ESPN Interview

Oliver Wahlstrom of the Portland Junior Pirates was on ESPN's Sportscenter last night with his father explaining the trick shot heard round the world.

Keyshawn doesn't think Ditka is a bum

Keyshawn Johnson attempts to calm Mike Ditka down by holding his hand. I am willing to bet that may have had the opposite effect (not that there's anything wrong with that). No word yet on if they sang "Kumbaya" during commercial breaks.

ESPN, NFL extend European NFL Rights for 4 years

ESPN America and the National Football League have reached a four-year agreement for English-language television rights of NFL games in Europe, it was announced today by Lynne Frank, Senior Vice president and Managing Director, ESPN EMEA.

The four-year agreement, which begins this season, enables ESPN America to broadcast approximately 100 NFL games per season – including preseason, regular-season and postseason games, culminating with the Super Bowl – in 41 European territories.

ESPN America will televise four to six live games per week during the regular season including a live game during each of the following NFL broadcast windows: Sunday (1 p.m. EST), Sunday (4 p.m. EST), Sunday Night Football (8:15 p.m. EST.), and Monday Night Football (8:30 p.m. EST). ESPN America will also air the season-opening kickoff game, Thursday/Saturday games, the Thanksgiving Day tripleheader, all Wild Card and Divisional playoff games, the AFC and NFC Championship Games, the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl.

Additional highlights of the agreement include the NFL Draft, ESPN-branded studio programming and NFL Films programming.

“Securing and expanding our rights to the National Football League, one of the most compelling leagues anywhere in the world, will strengthen our core US sports assets,” said Frank. “This agreement reaffirms our desire to continue to serve fans across Europe with the most comprehensive and diverse lineup of events from the world’s top sports.”

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with ESPN America in serving English-speaking NFL fans across Europe,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL vice president, media strategy and development. “We believe ESPN will continue to do an outstanding job of bringing our fans closer to our sport.”

European territories covered under this agreement:

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus , Czech Republic , Estonia , France , Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy (including San Marino and Vatican City), Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia , Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta (beginning with the 2010 season), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey (beginning with the 2010 season), and Ukraine.

-- ends --

About ESPN

Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

ESPN International has grown to include ownership — in whole or in part — of over 45 television networks outside of the United States, as well as a variety of brand extension businesses, which allow ESPN to reach fans in 200 countries and territories.

In Europe, ESPN America has rights to show NFL, NHL, MLB and NCAA Football and Basketball across Europe, available in 43 countries and ESPN Classic now has five networks (UK, French, Italian, pan-European and Middle Eastern feeds) available in over 40 countries. Online, Soccernet is the destination of choice for football fans worldwide. ESPN acquired cricinfo.com - the world’s leading cricket website - and scrum.com – a leading rugby news, features and information portal – in summer 2007. ESPN360.com - the company’s signature broadband service - launched in Europe in January 2008. In August 2008, ESPN acquired the world’s leading independent motor racing website, Racing-Live.com

The Editor's Desk-Sports Blogs aren't to blame for the Erin Andrews Peep-Hole Video

Apple might be blamed next for creating the MacBook and Quicktime

I can say what I want to say ain't nothin' to it, gangsta rap made me do it.
I can act like an animal ain't nothin' to it, gangsta rap made me do it.
If I eat you like a cannibal ain't nothin' to it, gangsta rap made me do it.
If I take you for granted ain't nothin' to it, gangsta rap made me do it.
If I f**k up the planet ain't nothin' to it, gangsta rap made me do it.
Ice Cube-"Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"

First off, I am going to start off with this. What happened to Erin Andrews is a crime (if you haven't heard take a look at the backstory), and whoever did it should be and is going to be spending some quality time with Bogs and the Sisters pretty quickly. I would also hope it is not a hotel employee, because if it is, the hotel that the footage was taken at might be getting served soon, too. I hope EA bounces back from this and continues her career, but at the same time would not blame her if she just retired to a quiet island somewhere and said to hell with it. Now, onto what rips me about this situation, the fall-out.

Reading this column from Newsday's Neil Best is the reason why I get so fed up with society and much of mainstream media, this quote in particular-"I meant to implicate the entire sports blogosphere (this one included). Our playful obsession with Ms. Andrews - about which she consistently has been a good sport - surely helped set the stage for this."

Ok, let's also blame her parents for creating her, CMMC in Lewiston for letting her be born there, the University of Florida for letting her be a cheerleader, blame Dan Patrick for taking a picture with her and her sister during the Super Bowl and posting it on his website, and while we're at it blame ESPN for hiring her over a less attractive option that may have been out there. I searched the internet, and no blogger or writer has a post up offering a bounty for naked Erin Andrews footage. This is the act of some sicko pervert who apparently watched "The Susan Wilson Story" on Lifetime and thought this would be a great idea. If this had happened to Sharon Stone, for instance, would we blame Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas for directing and writing "Basic Instinct"? Do we blame anyone who has ever cast Jessica Alba in a movie if this had happened to her? There are celebrities that get stalked every day, and I don't see places like the New York Post's Page 6, Perez Hilton, TMZ, Us Weekly or the National Enquirer being blamed for stalkers, either. In my eyes, taking a swipe at the blogosphere is convenient, lazy journalism, and is used perfectly with a horrible act so that many won't argue. The act was abhorrent, but the swipe was uncalled for.

To call out the sports blogosphere and finger-wag is total horsecrap, and comes off as being very "Holier Than Thou." Is ESPN being taken to task for letting her host "Who's Now" a few years ago in a short skirt? No, and they shouldn't be. Let's face it, people are going to be fascinated by attractive people for the rest of time, regardless of who they are, what they do, or where they work. I highly doubt a blog post about EA getting hit on the chin by a baseball spurred this sicko to drill a hole in the wall, but to go online and you would think that everyone who has ever written about sports on the internet is to blame for this. So if you ever clicked on and read an article about Erin Andrews, in a way it's your fault too, because bloggers saw people were clicking those stories and generating traffic, so bloggers kept putting up more EA posts and stories. See how easy it is to pass blame?

I hope they find the person who did this, and I will be very interested to see if it was a sports fan who did it or just some sicko who saw an attractive woman in a hotel and wanted some footage. Keep in mind this video was sent to a porn site first, not to a sports blog. I have yet to read anyone write that porn sites are to blame, but those damn sports bloggers, you better watch out for them.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick

Jerry Crasnick from ESPN.com joined us to talk about the upcoming trade deadline this morning. Some highlights-

On Roy Halladay-"I know it's a cop-out but I think it's 50-50 he gets traded. There is alot of momentum on this, but noone wants to pay what Toronto wants."

Red Sox interest in Halladay- "They are a stalking horse at this point."

On Potential Sellers-"I know Mike Rizzo (Washington Nationals Interim GM) would trade a lot of his guys.I also think Josh Byrnes from the Arizona Diamondbacks would listen to offers for guys like Jon Garland and Doug Davis. Chad Qualls Would require a pretty good package."

On theCleveland Indians-"The prevailing thought with Cleveland is that if they get everyone healthy and get some of their prospects up they can make a run at it next year."

You can listen to the whole interview below.

Ding Dong the Witch is dead!

Chris Mortensen just dropped the greatest, most uplifting tweet on a Monday morning ever.

"Jon Gruden joins Monday Night Football booth with Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski. Tony Kornheiser steps aside."

First John Madden. Now Tony Kornhesier. Will someone give Joe Buck a talk show so that the "Axis of Football Announcing Evil" will be officially demolished?

Update: here is Ron Jaworski on Gruden, from the ESPN Official Statement...

“I first got to know Jon when he was a coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was young, bright and energetic. He has a tremendous football mind and his career speaks for itself. He will bring a unique perspective to Monday Night Football and I am excited to work with him.”

Stay Classy ESPN

I have had a love/hate relationship with ESPN from the time I started this blog, mainly due to announcers and analysts I could not bear to listen to (Mark Schlereth, Joe Morgan, etc.). They have still been good to me, I have had good ESPN guests on the podcast and they are pretty good about access to their personalities. However, I am slightly appalled by today's "Poll Question" on the front of ESPN.com. The link is below...

ESPN Poll Question for April 10th, 2009

Are they lumping in Nick Adenhart's death with the "Angels Pitching Injuries"? Is it possible that the crack staff in Bristol might be able to come up with a new poll question? I understand this may have been pre-planned, but in light of yesterday's tragic death of young man gone way too soon, I think the fact ESPN has decided to post a poll question about that team's pitching injuries, regardless of whether it is directly talking about Nick Adenhart or not, is a bit much. Nick Adenhart is not on the DL and he won't be back for the stretch run.

Update:The poll has been changed.

Jovan Belcher Highlights from Mel Kiper Media Call

Here are the spots of today's Mel Kiper, Jr media call where Jovan Belcher was talked about. His play in the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game has improved his stock.



Mel Kiper discusses Jovan Belcher on National Conference Call

ESPN's Mel Kiper Talks NFL Draft

ESPN's Mel Kiper talked to Matty about UMaine's Jovan Belcher and his chances of making it to the next level, the FCS division as a whole in terms of draft prospects, and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

Yankees Sign Burnett, May Be Out on Lowe

In an e-mail from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, I asked him if he thought the Yankees would still be in on Derek Lowe now that they have signed AJ Burnett. His response...

I don't think the Yankees want to make another long-term commitment for a pitcher. They'd like to bring in Andy Pettitte or (if that doesn't work out) Ben Sheets on a short contract. But after investing $243 million in two guys, I don't think they want to spend $60 million more on Lowe.

I'm not sure how Lowe's market is going to shake out. The Red Sox would only be interested if he comes cheap, the Phillies just spent $30 million on Raul Ibanez today, and the Dodgers don't expect to bring him back.

Everybody thought the Braves were the likeliest fit, but they're not interested.

To me, that leaves the Mets as the best fit for Lowe. But I don't think he's going to sign for anything close to what Burnett received.

ESPN Should be Blown Up

It’s amazing that no one is talking about it, but I will spill the beans. ESPN’s staff is clairvoyant. It’s true. Why just today Wendi Nix broke the story that the New England Patriots, the same organization that responds with "we have to look into that" to the question "is grass green", are upset about Tom Brady’s choice of doctor to perform surgery on his knee.

But let’s not give Nix all the credit. Remember 5 years ago when Lawyer Malloy, the Pats Pro-Bowl safety and team captain, was cut 5 days prior to the start of the 2003 season, and Tom Jackson said that the players in the Pats’ locker room "hated" Bill Belichick. Well he sure was right. The players were so pissed that they decided to go out and win consecutive Super Bowls. Oooo, that showed the Hoodie whose boss didn't it Mr. Jackson? Where did this "knowledge" come from? Did you use a magic 8 ball? Did it come to you in a dream? Did the divots in John Clayton’s face spell out a message for you?

So while ESPN would not at first cover the Brett Favre story, despite it being broken and substantiated by Fox Sports and other media outlets, they had no problem covering the alleged Rams walk-through tape based on "an unnamed source". Huh, so while you could ride the back of the Herald on the Walsh story and the additional surgeries needed by Brady, Fox Sports is not good enough?

So what’s the lesson in all this? If you have never worked in the media, are uneducated and unemployed, then all you need to do is head down to ESPN with a brick-red crayon to fill out an application and you too can make up stories. (editors note:Milwaukee's is currently attending anger management with Larry Johnson)

Lyman Bostock 30 years later

Most of you in New England and those of you under 40 probably have zero idea who Lyman Bostock is. Hell, I might not have even known who Lyman Bostock was unless I had seen highlights of a Sox/Twins series in 1976 when he just smashed the ball all over the Sox and promptly dug out my baseball cards to see if I had him. I did...what followed was my 1st man crush on an opposing player. I followed him in the newspaper, followed him on Strat-O-Matic (lets go all you geeks and see who remembers Strat-O-Matic) and followed him on This Week In Baseball.

Lyman Bostock was a player every team wanted, a versitle outfielder with a sweet swing that could hit for average. He was granted free agency from the Twins in 1977 and signed with the California Angels promptly there after. It was too bad he left the Twins, because Bostock and Rod Carew together for a few more years, could have been very formidable. Anyway my man crush reached its zenith, when, as a 10 year old boys dream came true, I was to attend my 1st Red Sox game. As fate would have it, the Red Sox were playing the California Angels...August 27, 1978, a glorious sunny Sunday. I will never forget the 1st time my own eyes laid sight to the Fenway green. Walking up that ramp, to the right field grandstand seats, will give me goose bumps the rest of my life. There, warming up was Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice...OH MY GOD....I WAS IN FENWAY PARK!!!! As we all know, the 1978 Red Sox were loaded! Rice, Evans and Lynn in the outfield, Yaz was the DH, Pudge catching. The infield was some combo of Rick Burleson, The Rem Dog Jerry Remy, Butch Hobson, Jack Brohamer, George Scott and the immortal Frak Duffy. WOW! Luis Tiant was warming in the Sox bullpen and wowsy wowsy it was on...then..out of the corner of my eye I saw my opposing man crush, Lyman Bostock. Man did I wish the Red Sox would trade for him...although who knew where the hell they would play him, I still wanted him. Anyway, it was a game for the ages, went 12 innings, Fred Lynn hit a HR 15 rows in front of us, my hero Pudge Fisk drove in what we thought would be the winning run in the bottom of the 8th. El Tiante tired in the 9th and allowed the tying run, then the Angels went ahead with Don Baylor singling home Rick Miller in the top of the 12 off of..you see it coming...don't you..Bob Stanley. The Sox then had a great bottom of the 12th,when Fisk, Evans, George Scott, Jerry Remy all had hands in getting on base and ending in Butch Hobson's single to center ending the game. What a 1st game experience. The Sox won in extra innings, and I got to watch Lyman Bostock play right field for 12 innings...unreal!

Fast forward 1 month later, September 22 1978, sitting down to watch Frankie Fix on the WGAN Evening News and hear him tell me Lyman Bostock had been shot and killed the night before in Gary, Indiana. Stunned! A little boy had lost his 1st sports star to a murder of all things. I struggled to understand the story, but I knew someone, in a sport I loved, and a player from another team I followed, had seen 1 month prior, was gone, dead. For a few days I forgot about the Red Sox totally losing their minds and the Yankees gaining ground, I was consumed by Bostock's death. It was most definitely one of those watershed moments in sports for me as a child. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember Frankie Fix doing a commentary on Bostock, maybe i just want to remember it that way so that someone else in this area knew the kind of ballplayer the game had lost. All these years later, ask anyone I run with, Bostock's name comes up often as I want people to understand the player he was. I will always remember Lyman Bostock.

The reason I write this piece now is that ESPN.com's Outside the Lines has posted an in depth story on Bostock and will run the story Sunday's television program. I felt some pub needed to be given to this story. Please take a few minutes, it is long, you won't be sorry you read it.