I wonder what ESPN thinks about this...

After seeing ESPN's response to the NY Post putting EA's peephole video on the front page, I wonder what they thought about the above picture? By the way Jason Whitlock manages to blame Deadspin for the whole thing and cry racism at the same time. I believe that is called the "Jason Whitlock Exacta", for those of you scoring at home.

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.

The Jesse Palmer Experience

When I discovered that Doug Flutie was not returning for Thursday night broadcasts this year, I was quite amused by the fact that Jesse Palmer was going to be joining Craig James and Chris Fowler in the booth. Palmer, who is best known for being on “The Bachelor” and being Eli Manning's neighbor, somehow managed to parlay his 15 minutes of fame into a job with the worldwide leader. After many awkward exchanges last season as an in-studio analyst, I was amazed they moved him to the booth, however, I am assuming they moved him so he would only have to research one game a week, which of course would lighten his mind. The best part is when he tries to sound smart, as he seems to suffer from an Emmitt Smith-style issue of mispronouncing phrases and the like (must be a Florida Gator thing). With the back story complete, I give you “The Jesse Palmer Experience”

I am beginning to wonder if Fowler and James do everything they can to talk enough to keep Palmer from talking, as Palmer did not talk until 6 minutes into the game broadcast. They seem to give him these little homework assignments, like talking about certain players such as Cullen Harper and James Davis. I have a hunch he is just regurgitating things from the media guide when he does that.

First “Potent Quotable”- (talking about the weight of Boo Robinson)

“He used to be 345 pounds and was a really big Boo Robinson, he trimmed down, more svelte able to run to that sideline and make a play”

Instant Analysis-Jesse Palmer knows all the phrases for weight loss. When he gains weight and ends up with Berman, Marino,and Golic in the Nutri-System commercials he can put that knowledge to good use.

PQ-Talking about the Wake defensive line-“Different lotations”. Yes, lotations, I rewound it and listened to it 5 times. I believe he meant locations.

PQ-On Riley Skinner-“He threw a couple of turnovers early”. I am assume he means interceptions. Unless of course you can throw a fumble now.

PQ-”Last year he completed 72% of his passes, he is completing 69% for his career. UNBELIEVABLE!”

PQ-”Wake Forests play-calls have been very conservative so far, quick runs and passes trying to move the chains”-Um, conservative isn't lining your QB up on the flank and running the wildcat, it's running your fullback up the middle for 3 yards. I know Steve Spurrier was your coach, but come on...

Note-Palmer so far has said Wake Forest's offensive coordinator's full name 3 times in the first quarter, a la Joe Theisman, I am going to keep a total on that for the game.

PQ- (2 minutes after saying the Deacons are being too conservative) “They are really doing this in unconventional ways”. So can you be conservative and unconventional? Can I get a ruling on this?

PQ-”I have the mindset that when you get inside the 5 yard line, you take your offensive line, get into those tight splits and let's get physical.” Yeah, well, that was too easy....

Note-Palmer has now said “unbelievable” 5 times and the first quarter isn't over yet. Now that is unbelievable...

Note-Palmer's favorite words are “huge”, “unbelievable”, and “absolutely”. Either that or he doesn't know any others....

Palmer starts in with the “big splits again”, and gets Craig James to join him.

Talking about Riley Skinner running the ball “He doesn't FREAK OUT or panic”

Palmer is great at yelling the words he wants you to hear, and mumbling ones he doesn't...

PQ-Talking about a Clemson linebacker “He is very accountable on every play.” Did Florida have a “Bad Media Communication 101” class?

7 mentions of Wake's O-Coordinator (Title and full name every time)

PQ- “Blitzing is like playing hot potato with a hand grenade, any of these guys can go off at any time.” I am sure soldiers who have dealt with grenades absolutely LOVE that visual, Jesse.

Final Tally for Palmer's favorite words....

Huge-4 times

Unbelievable-8 times

Absolutely-5 times

He is also the crew's token “read fun facts from the media guide representative”.

I wonder if Erin Andrews and Palmer have a thing? They both went to Florida and all (can someone start this rumor please?)

The Prognosis:

At this point in his career, Palmer is a cross between Paul Maguire and Joe Theismann, only with inaudible mumbling and slurring added for fun. He may improve, but the odds on that are about 10-1.