This Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals will play host to the Baltimore Ravens in a “win and you're in the playoffs” game. With such high stakes on the line, a casual fan in any other market would expect a sure sell-out. But this week the Bengals organization held a “Buy One-Get One” sale for season ticket holders to avoid another blackout of the game locally. This begs the question - are league wide ticket sales issues to blame on the fans or an archaic blackout policy?

The ticket drive worked and the Bengals announced yesterday they avoided what could have been their seventh blackout of their eight home games this year. Even though the Ravens game will be shown locally, Bengals fans have had to suffer through six home blackouts for a team on the verge of making the playoffs. They rank last in leaguewide attendance at just over 42,000 fans a game and fill Paul Brown Stadium to only 72% capacity, also last in the NFL. The Bengals' issues have brought about an interesting debate on whether or not the NFL blackout policy that has been in place since 1973 should be changed.

Sherrod Brown, a Senator from Ohio, has stepped into the ring to take the blame away from the Cincy fans and put it squarely on the NFL as related in USA Today:

“The NFL's blackout policy is unnecessary. The NFL is poised to earn record profits while the Cincinnati taxpayers who built the stadium will be watching reruns rather than touchdown runs. The rule is an outdated relic that doesn't serve the NFL or the fan."

But the NFL stuck back hard in their reply stating “The blackout policy is very important in supporting NFL stadiums and the ability of NFL clubs to sell tickets; keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds; and ensuring that we can continue to keep our games on free TV. Playing in full stadiums with thousands of fans is an important part of what makes NFL football an exciting and special entertainment event, both live and on television. We have a limited number of games and do not want to erode the incentive to buy tickets. Every market receives more than 100 NFL games on free TV every year, regardless of the blackout policy.”

Before the Blackout Rule of 1973 was in place, ALL local games were blacked out to encourage fans to attend the games live. And since the league has only had 16 games blacked out this year (through Week 16) compared to last year’s 26 total games blacked out, it makes sense that the league would stick to their guns on this policy.

So if Cincy has seen most of the blackouts this season, are the fans to blame? Or the ownership? Or a combination of numerous issues?

NBA fans for the most part have embraced TNT's more casual and, for the lack of a better word, goofy coverage of the NBA. Rather than shaping Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley into more polished and vanilla analysts, TNT has developed their studio coverage to center around their personalities and chemistry. It has worked very well in the past but many were skeptical about how Shaq's addition to the fold would alter the breezy chemistry the group has developed.

As evidenced below, early indications are that Shaq and the rest of the TNT studio team mesh quite nicely, as Shaq forays into some hijinks aimed at Barkley in the "Who He Play For?" segment: 

If anything, the only real question mark is if Ernie Johnson can continue to referee/navigate Smith, Shaq, and Barkley. Those guys are all great television personalities who entertain and have unique commentary, but Johnson is the studio floor general of the group and has to ensure some semblance of timing, seriousness, and analysis. That said, is it a stretch to say that outside of College Gameday, the TNT studio group is the most entertaining group in all of sports?

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In today's year end awards, we shift our focus from the broadcast booth to the studio for voting on the best and worst studio personality of 2011.  Today's polls include both studio hosts and analysts... and whatever Skip Bayless proclaims himself to be.  In case you missed any of the previous polls, you can still vote for best and worst play by play and best and worst game analyst at those links.  We'll have two more polls on Thursday and then present our Pyrotechnics Awards on Friday to end 2011.  Here are your nominees...

Vote For Best Studio Personality

Vote For Worst Studio Personality

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Remember when the Segway was supposed to be the invention that changed lives?  No?  Good, neither do I.  Anyways, it seems those crazy blokes in Australia have finally found a good use for Segways to capture some on-field shots of cricket players warming up for matches.

The following video comes courtesy of Joe the Cameraman, who is apparently a celebrity of sorts in Australia for letting slip on air that a bowler (think baseball pitcher) couldn't throw.  Look, the guy even has his own Wikipedia page!

Looks like you can add "guy who crashed his Segway in comical fashion" to the end of his bio.

(h/t Sportress of Blogitude)

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In any form of public speaking, one must always be aware of what one is doing with his or her hands.  Hand gestures are important to either accentuate the message you may be trying to get across to the audience, or they can become distracting to the point that it ruins any form of effective verbal communication.  Usually, we never take any sort of time to think of the hand motions of televised sports personalities, but that may change after this hilarious video of Don Cherry and his piano desk. In trying to make his always salient and brilliant(?) points, Don Cherry spreads his fingers out and pounds his desk like he's Mozart... or perhaps Jerry Lee Lewis.   

(via Puck Daddy)

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Since "that guy" Jon Gruden stepped into the MNF booth, many have wondered when he would jump ship from ESPN and return back to coaching. Well after several denials, the "Gruden could be our next coach" rumors are surfacing again. And Gruden is denying, again.

The local Chargers news outlet, Sign On San Diego, is insinuating that with Head Coach Norv Turner on the way out, the team's President Dean Spanos would also have to decide whether or not to keep the team's currrent GM A.J. Smith. The report indicates Smith may also be in line for the Rams GM job if he exits San Diego. Where Smith goes could be major news because of the close relationship Smith has with Jon Gruden, "Chuckie" may be back in coaching sooner rather than later.

"It is well-known in league circles that the relationship between Smith and Gruden is a solid one. The friendship began in the late 1990s when Gruden was head coach of the Oakland Raiders and was introduced to Smith by Smith’s closest friend, Bruce Allen, then the Raiders’ senior executive." and the same news outlet also says "Sources said Gruden has decided to return to coaching in 2012 and that his current employer, ESPN, is already preparing for his departure."

ESPN and Gruden have since denied any truth to the report, but we all know if you are looking for another job, you certainly don't tell your current employer about it until you have a contract or handshake agreement. But besides Gruden pulling an Urban Meyer and leaving ESPN with egg on their face, this could also be the work of a savvy GM who wants to flash his relationships around in hopes he can keep his own job.

“Jon signed a multi-year extension with ESPN this fall,” ESPN said in a statement provided to PFT.  “He remains committed to being a part of Monday Night Football for many years.”

If Gruden does leave after this season, it would make a mockery of that "exclusive contract" he signed with ESPN earlier this year. Regardless of whichever team Gruden ends up coaching for, I think it's safe to say most of the MNF veiwership will be smarter upon his eventual departure. Time will tell if he takes his love for everybody in the NFL back to the sideline.

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The Lakers avoided an 0-3 start by blowing out the Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday night.  However, the major story of the night in the NBA (besides Norris Cole) was this Lakers fan courtside.  Although the long straw actually invokes images of The Penguin, I'm more inclined to say this fella looks like a slightly more evil version of Adam West.  Thankfully, one of our favs Kevin Harlan was able to give a full play by play of Devin Harris going into the stands to try and save the ball on this play.  Who doesn't love a good Penguin impersonation...

The total sequence included popcorn flying through the air, an expensive courtside seat as a casualty, and Harlan's Penguin for a few seconds.  From the sound of it, Harlan seems to be going with the classic Burgess Meredith interpretation rather than the darker Danny Devito version.  Good call.  Thankfully, other gifted photoshoppers were on the same page...

On Thursday night, I'm hoping Reggie Miller shows up in a Riddler costume for the TNT game because that would just be so fitting.

H/T NShowtime21!

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Only two weeks to go in the first ever Dickies Awards.  Can anyone catch Dick Stockton or is he destined to claim this historic prize?  There are a lot of great quotes to choose from this week.  Here are your Week 16 nominees...

1) "This Jets crowd is really in favor of the Jets today" - Tony Siragusa (via sctvman)

2) "They need a 2 point conversion" - Thom Brennaman with the Cardinals trailing by seven. (via kamuifan)

3) "On the 11th day of Christmas, Dalton throws a touchdown to Jerome Gresham." - Shannon Sharpe (via bjo109)

4) "Shaun Sneezam with his second field goal of the day..." - Dick Stockton (via acsteelersfan)

5) "When his elbow hits, he's down, right?" - Tony Siragusa

6) "A penalty flag is thrown. No flag is down on the field." - Joe Buck (via bloggerjustinf)

7) "He's very accomplished at handing it off." - Dan Dierdorf on Matt Stafford (via dascenzo)

8) "The tie is broken!" - Ron Pitts on an Akers FG. Seattle was winning 17-16 at the time. (via SSReporters)

9) "Look at Tony Tebow right here." - Joe Theismann (via sctvman)

10) "He got injured pulling out" - Phil Simms (via ving323)

11) "Tony Romo needs to be able to grip the ball with 5 hands" - Michael Irvin (via 4CourtJesters)

12) "C'mon eh!" - Chris Berman (via sctvman)

13) "Dan Marino was pretty good too, you know" - Jon Gruden (via tcbuono).  Thanks, John.

14) "Good start for Ponder and the Vikings offense." - Chris Myers. The start - 2 possesions, 1 first down, 20 yards. (via ccfMRF)

15) "I can't blame Fitzpatrick there." - Phil Simms after Fitzy bounces one a few yards ahead of the WR (via akotok)

Vote For Your Week 16 Dickies Nominees! (vote for up to five)

The winners will come Thursday so make sure you vote early and often and check back for the full NFL Week 17 announcing sked later this week.

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Yesterday we kicked off our year end Pyrotechniiiiiics Awards with polls for the best and worst play by play person of the year.  Today, we shift over a chair for voting on the best and worst game analyst of 2011.  As with yesterday, there are a few peope that inspire enough praise and criticism to earn a spot on both lists.  Voting will remain open throughout the week and there will be more polls on the way tomorrow!  As always, these totally prestigious and influential awards are decided by you!  Here are your nominees...

Vote For The Best Game Analyst Of 2011

Vote For The Worst Game Analyst Of 2011

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