We've already seen one powerful magazine cover related to the Boston Marathon from Sports Illustrated, now it's the turn of Boston Magazine.  The local cover doesn't use a picture from the events of Patriots Day but rather forms a concentric heart with different color running shoes around the words "We Will Finish The Race."  A powerful, yet simple way to summarize the heartfelt way in which the city and the country came together under the banner of Boston Strong.

H/T The Guardian

For the second consecutive year the folks over at Electronic Arts are letting fans decide which NHL player is used on the cover of their annual NHL game. Last year, the fans voted Philadelphia's Claude Giroux on to the cover of NHL 13. Who will grace the cover of NHL 14? If it's up to the folks over at the online community 4chan, it'll be Nashville's Brandon Yip.

Who? 

Hope Solo is no stranger to generating controversy on her Twitter page and elsewhere.  She's ripped Brandi Chastain for her analysis during the Olympics, made a number of wild accusations in her book, and that's not to mention the headlines her relationship with the troubled Jerramy Stevens has drawn.  Solo went from the mainstream of athletes and celebrity as a crossover star for the US Women's National Team to seemingly trying out for her own disjointed reality show.

Wednesday, Solo exhibited more strange behavior as she seemed to accidentally tweet her phone number.  It happens.  Peter King has done it.  Dozens and dozens of other athletes and celebs have done it.  No biggie, right?  Instead of merely saying she was mistakenly trying to send a DM or even claiming she was hacked, Solo tweeted that she was playing a joke on her Twitter followers... errr... fools...

You can have your Gangnam Styles, Call Me Maybes, and Harlem Shakes.  If I'm going into battle with one viral opus, it's The Rent Is Too Damn High.  Jimmy McMillan is back and he's running for New York City mayor once again with his powerful message that breaks down all barriers.  McMillan launched his 2013 campaign thanks to an anthem with Animal New York that somehow turns his valiant call into a catchy tune.  My favorite part of the video is Jimmy Mac somehow working in the lyric "my mustache and haircut is too damn fine."  This has nothing to do with sports or announcing, but it's too damn phenomenal not to share.

The choice is yours, New York.  Do you want someone taking your big gulps away or someone who puts together an awesome rap and takes his viral fame to new heights?  I know who would have my vote.

Thursday, April 25

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees (MLBN 7PM) Matt Vasgersian, John Smoltz [Alt: Reds @ Nationals]

Friday, April 26

Atlanta Braves @ Detroit Tigers (MLBN 7PM) Local Broadcast [Alt: Blue Jays @ Yankees]
Chicago Cubs @ Miami Marlins (WGNA 7PM) Len Kasper, Jim Deshaies

Saturday, April 27

Atlanta Braves @ Detroit Tigers (FOX 1PM) Kenny Albert, Tim McCarver
Cincinnati Reds @ Washington Nationals (FOX 1PM) Thom Brennaman, Eric Karros
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets (FOX 1PM) Kevin Burkhardt Tom Verducci
Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers (MLBN 9PM) Local Broadcast [Alt: Giants @ Padres 8:30PM]

Sunday, April 28

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees (TBS 1PM) Steve Physioc, Ron Darling
Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox (WGNA 2PM) Ken Harrelson, Steve Stone
Atlanta Braves @ Detroit Tigers (ESPN 8PM) Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser, John Kruk

I feel like it should be our sworn duty to post this amazing yet frightening clip from last year on the morning of every NFL Draft.  Honestly, the question should be whether or not we're ready for another year of Chris Berman.  I can't wait to see what he does with Star Lotulelei's name.  We'll be back tomorrow with a report card for ESPN, NFL Network, and a dozen NFL Mock Drafts from around the land.  Happy Draft Day!

I understand that it goes against the instincts of a journalist to withhold information for the purpose of increasing the entertainment factor, which is why I sympathize with ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen and the rest of the insiders at both the Worldwide Leader and NFL Network who have been asked to refrain from tipping picks during tonight's broadcast of the NFL draft, both on the air and on their Twitter accounts. 

All Times Eastern

College Baseball
Kentucky at Mississippi -- ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live -- ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.

College Softball
Alabama at LSU -- ESPN2, 8 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
Ballentine's Championship, Seoul, South Korea
First Round -- Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day coverage)

LPGA Tour
North Texas Shootout, Irving, TX
First Round -- Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

PGA Tour
New Orleans Classic, Avondale, LA
First Round -- Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

19th Hole -- Golf Channel, midnight

MLB
American League
Toronto at New York Yankees -- MLB Network, 7 p.m.

National League
Cincinnati at Washington -- MLB Network, 7 p.m.

The Rundown -- MLB Network, 1 p.m.
MLB Now -- MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight: On-Deck Circle -- MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight -- ESPN2, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight -- MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight -- ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch -- MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Friday)

The massive belly flop that is What Would Ryan Lochte Do is just another in a long line of failed reality shows centered around athletes.  While television is saturated with a plethora of reality shows that continue to obliterate the nation's IQ level and send us spiraling down into the black hole of couponing, wife swaps, strange addictions and more, famous athletes have played their part in this unfolding Greek tragedy.  From diva wide receivers to the most hated man in the NBA to an Alabama beauty queen still enjoying her 15 minutes of fame going on 1500, sports and awful reality television sure make for comfortable bedfellows.

Here's our countdown of the 10 Worst Athlete Reality Shows...

10) Bonds on Bonds (ESPN)

You could say Bonds on Bonds was well ahead of its time in 2006.  You could also say the failure of Bonds on Bonds is why ESPN hasn't gone running back to the genre.  Bonds was neither engaging nor likable, so a reality series starring him as the centerpiece was never going to succeed.  ESPN signed up for 10 hours of Bonds on Bonds, but pulled the plug after only 5 and a half made it to air.

Your host of the 2013 ESPYS has been announced: Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame. Hamm is a huge St Louis sports fan, and has played in the MLB Celebrity All-Star Game in both 2009 and 2012.

So many award shows tend to be behind the eight-ball when picking a host, but ESPN has largely made solid choices to host the ESPYS (Rob Riggle from last year not withstanding). Hamm is an avid sports fan, and has been nominated for buckets of awards for his work on Mad Men. But in addition to those Mad Men nominations, Hamm has also been nominated for primetime Emmy awards for his guest work on 30 Rock, a vastly different show from Mad Men. He's also hosted Saturday Night Live a few times, and done a really good job too.

Sure, no one really cares about the ESPYS, but I don't think ESPN could have done better in choosing a host. This year's show will take place on July 17th at 9 PM from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, which means that Hamm won't be in this year's MLB Celebrity All-Star Game. Darn. And by the way, you can check out weekly live blogs of Hamm's show Mad Men over on our sister site Awful Advertisements.

[ESPN]