Two years ago, we gave ESPN their due for finally realizing that less was indeed more in their coverage of the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Gone was the cast of thousands, gone were Steve Young and others constantly butting in with nothing to say. Instead, ESPN trimmed the fat by reducing the main stage to draft veterans Chris Berman and Mel Kiper Jr. and new centerpiece to the ESPN NFL stable, Jon Gruden. The streamlined 2011 ESPN broadcast was immediately an upgrade over past years. However, last year ESPN failed to further evolve the coverage, stubbing their toe with an inability to keep up with unfolding events. Also, ESPN once again struggled with their insiders tipping picks throughout the round, infuriating some viewers. How would this year's coverage, the emphasis on preserving the entertainment aspect of the draft, and ESPN's stable of draft personnel fare when facing our own draft grades?

On Thursday's edition of MLB Now, Hawk Harrelson joined Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds to discuss his disdain of sabermetrics. Of course, Harrelson's appearance did nothing to prove his point (as you can tell in the video above), and drove fans up the wall. Here are some Real Tweets from Real People discussing Hawk's appearance...

#TWTW is embarrassing. Any white sox fan who believes this crap should be ashamed. I know I am @whitesox

— Justin Lee (@New_Lexicon) April 25, 2013

Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Digger Phelps has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, according to a network announcement late Thursday night.  The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach has been a mainstay on ESPN's college basketball coverage for two decades as one of the network's most identifable studio analysts.  More from ESPN:

"Television analyst and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, ESPN announced Thursday.

Phelps has had surgery and will start follow-up treatment next week near his home in South Bend, Indiana.

In a statement, Phelps said that "he and his family appreciate your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for the 2013-2014 college basketball season."

Phelps, 71, has been a college basketball analyst for ESPN since 1993. He coached the Fighting Irish for 20 years from 1972-1991."

Well wishes have already poured in from around college basketball and Phelps' ESPN broadcast colleague Dick Vitale tweeted an encouraging statement that Phelps' cancer had been caught early and he was optimistic.

Digger Phelps told me that his bladder cancer has not spread & early detection was the key - in really good spirits & very optimistic .

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 26, 2013

Certainly we pass along our thoughts and prayers to Digger and well wishes for a full recovery.

All Times Eastern

College Baseball
Purdue at Michigan State -- Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
Minnesota at Iowa -- Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.

College Lacrosse
ACC Tournament, Chapel Hill, NC
Semifinals
Maryland vs. Virginia -- ESPNU, 5 p.m.
Duke vs. North Carolina -- ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.

Patriot League Tournament, Center Valley, PA
Semifinals
Army vs. Bucknell -- CBS Sports Network, 4:30 p.m.
Colgate vs. Lehigh -- CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

College Softball
Iowa State at Oklahoma -- Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.
Cal at Arizona State -- ESPNU, 10 p.m.

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

Champions Tour
Legends of Golf, Savannah, GA
First Round -- Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

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

LPGA Tour
North Texas Shootout, Irving, TX
Second Round -- Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

19th Hole -- Golf Channel, midnight

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!