With the UFC's signing of a TV deal with FOX last fall, there were promises of changes to their production structure as well. Last night was the debut of one of those changes: a second announce team for the lower rung cards on Fuel TV and FX. Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan are still the primary team for the pay per view and Fox events (including all prelims), but the shows taking place on FX and Fuel would have a new annouce team: Jon Anik, formerly of ESPN, and UFC fighter Kenny Florian. The pair made their debut during last night's show on FX, and they were generally very good.

Anik, who was a studio host for ESPN's MMA Live before joining the UFC in the fall, made his live play by play debut during last night's event and was solid. He called all the in-Octagon action very cleanly, rarely slipped up, and was good on post-fight interviews. Florian, who's had experience calling fights for the UFC before, was his usual self, which is knowledgeable and a little loud at times. The two didn't have a lot of chemistry, and there were a couple periods of dead air, but that will take care of itself in time. Anik also seemed a tad bland on his play by play, refusing to show much emotion with his calls, and treating a generic mid-fight takedown the same as he would a fight-ending punch.

The show also featured pre and post fight shows on Fuel, with the pre-fight show going on between prelim fights, and the post-fight show coming on after the main FX card ended. Those shows were hosted by Fox's Jay Glazer, whom I'm sure you all know from his appearances on Fox NFL Sunday, and UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar. Glazer was his usual self, but seemed to have some nerves going with his delivery. Bonnar is a little wooden, but adds a unique perspective to commentary with his bluntness and good sense of humor. Bonnar has experience commentating as well with the WEC (former UFC sister promotion) and also on MMA Live appearances with Anik. During the pre and post-fight shows, there were also backstage interviews and newsy-type segments with MMA reporter Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com. Helwani hosts The MMA Hour radio show/podcast every week and is a natural with the mic. He's also been doing interviews for his site after shows for years and knows exactly what he's doing. It's a welcome addition to the team and Helwani is slowly being phased into more UFC programming.  In fact, Helwani is a member of the UFC Tonight show that recently debuted on Fuel.

Overall, the new announcing team did a good job. Goldberg and Rogan have their quirks, and it was weird to watch a show without either commentating, but it was a nice breath of fresh air for the company. I'd like to see Helwani do his backstage thing during PPV events as well because I thought that was a good break from the nonstop video packages and plugs that usually inhabit these types of shows.

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Tiki Barber will be on your televisions again this weekend.  Well, not all of your televisions.  Actually, only those of you that get the regional sports network SNY and choose to watch a local studio show.  Only a few short years ago, it wouldn't be a surprise for Tiki Barber to be a major force on TV this week of the NFL Conference Championship games.  Heck, at this point a few years ago, Barber was on the track to media stardom as a part of the Today Show.  But, several wrong turns later, Barber has found himself in the TV version of Purgatory.  Here's the news from Fang's Bites:

"Starting this weekend, Tiki Barber joins New York regional sports network SNY for its Giants playoff coverage. Barber who was a running back for the Football Giants and then an analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America as well as a correspondent for the Today Show, has not been seen on TV regularly since 2010 when the Peacock quietly dropped him after reports surfaced that he had an affair with a network intern.

Barber will be part of SNY’s Big Blue Live program that will air after the NFC Championship goes off the air. He’ll join hosts Chris Carlin and Gary Apple as well as fellow analyst Shaun O’Hara."

Yes, it's been a long time since Barber was the toast of the media as one of the rising stars on televsion.  Let's document the fall from grace, shall we?  First, there was that messy divorce from his pregnant wife while he was having an affair with an NBC intern.  Then there was getting kicked off the Today Show.  Oh yeah, and there was also that silly notion of a comeback to the NFL before the start of this season.  There's also the overwhelming reality that Barber just wasn't good on television. It was almost like Tiki was so hyped, so destined for stardom, that he was doomed to fail against the expectations set for him by so many in the sports media.  Sure, you might find it difficult as well to be a part of the 4th hour of the Today Show, currently masquerading as the 7th Circle of Hell featuring Kathie Lee Gifford as one of the gatekeepers.  But, Barber never succeeded in making a connection to any audience, whether they were sports, general interest, or anywhere in between.

So after repeatedly being kicked down the ladder of relevance, Tiki Barber is now clinging to life support by being a studio analyst on a second tier regional sports network in the New York area.  Unless a drastic reversal of fortunes reveals itself very soon, Barber is looking squarely at being one of the biggest athlete-turned-media flops in TV history.

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Earlier this month, it was announced that Jim Rome would be taking his talents to wherever the CBS Sports Network studios may be.  His ESPN2 show Rome Is Burning had been moved from the mothership to the deuce and had subsequently been lost in the shuffle amongst new shows like Numbers Never Lie and Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable and the stalwart that is SportsNation.  With Rome going to CBS Sports Network as their highest profile talent acquisition and doing work with CBS and Showtime, it left a hole in ESPN2's afternoon lineup. 

Instead of trying something new or giving one of their many talented people at the network a chance at a half hour daytime show, ESPN has taken the easy way out by expanding The Best Of Mike & Mike from half an hour to an hour long show.  (You can decide for yourself whether an hour of Mike & Mike's best is practical or not.)  Here's the complete ESPN2 afternoon lineup with timeslot changes for a couple shows...

2-3: Best Of Mike & Mike
3-3:30: NASCAR NOW
3:30-4: Best Of First Take
4-4:30: Numbers Never Lie
4:30-5: Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable

*All times Eastern

ESPN says ratings for Mike & Mike In The Morning increased 17% in 2011, so perhaps that's their motivation for showering more Greeny and Golic on the masses.  That's impressive, and as easy as it is to poke fun at Greeny & Golic for their stereotypical jock/nerd perspectives and overdone schtick, there are a lot less likeable people on television.  Their morning radio show is solid, but an hour long replay in the afternoon just seems uninspiring.  It's not like families are huddled around the television for Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks or yet another MVP song.  Another uninspiring choice is 4.5 hours of Skip Bayless yelling "FIRE!  FIRE!  FIRE!" just to get attention.  

ESPN has literally about 789,000 potential possibilities for interesting shows that could have replaced Rome Is Burning that could seek to improve the quality of programming on the network or at least provide something fresh.  That's why, love or hate Dan Le Batard, at least his show looks and sounds different than what you see on ESPN2 for 9.5 hours of Mike & Mike and Skip Bayless.  It's ESPN trying to do something outside the box.  That's why Numbers Never Lie has been a disappointment, it's the same old formulaic debate/discussion show with different window dressing.  What about a half hour college basketball daily show?  What about a show that looks at subjects that aren't talked about on SportsCenter everyday?  What about bringing back an in-depth interview series like Up Close and giving an anchor a chance to spread his or her wings?  What about expanding the excellent work of Outside The Lines?  ESPN could even bring back Stump The Schwab!!  Whatever the case, the self-proclamied Worldwide Leader in sports should be able to give us something beyond reruns.  

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This Sunday, Fox airs a live English soccer game on national network television before the NFC Championship Game at 10:30 AM ET between Arsenal and Manchester United.  Given the ratings success of taped games on network TV, it was only a matter of time until Fox shifted live games from Fox Soccer onto the main network channel.  Back in November, we urged Fox to add more live games to their already planned Super Bowl day coverage and Sunday's tilt may be the beginning of just that.

Sunday's broadcast also features the debut of studio host Rob Stone, who has moved over from ESPN to be the face of Fox's soccer coverage as they work towards World Cup 2018.  Joining Rob Stone in the studio will be outspoken analyst Eric Wynalda and... CNN's Piers Morgan?!?  Piers?  Morgan?  Sure, it sounds like a cheap, pathetic ploy for ratings that sounds ridiculous, but Morgan has been in the Fox Soccer studio before and was actually good.  Piers is an Arsenal supporter and his biting comments in the Fox Soccer studio after Arsenal's 8-2 defeat against Man Utd earlier this season showed that he definitely knew what he was talking about and could relate that knowledge in a compelling way.  It may seem like a slap in the face to soccer fans and another facepalm from Fox, but Piers Morgan is legit.  And, he has personality, which is what Fox Soccer has sorely lacked in the past.  This is no hollow Rush Limbaugh trainwreck in waiting.

But it was recent comments from Fox's other analyst Eric Wynalda that have made waves in the soccer community.  Wynalda gave a revealing talk at the NSCAA convention in Kansas City that put MLS's struggles into context while EPL games get attractive network TV time.  Taped Premier League games have demolished MLS in ratings.  As MLS moves into a new contract with NBC, it's a pivotal time for the league as international soccer and the EPL continues to gain a larger foothold on American TV.  The reality isn't lost on former American international Wynalda, who ripped the league, its ratings, and its schedule...

This may be the most random and awkward graphical slip up I've ever seen.  Why "slut" is located where the number period should be is, well, just weird... and amazing.  This isn't one of those "gee I guess I held down the r key too long" or maybe I put the wrong picture with the wrong name.  No, this was much more sinister (and hilarious) then that...

The Big Ten's depth and power as a basketball conference has been underrated for too long and they have eight teams projected in the tournament field this year according to resident bracketologist Joe Lunardi.  So what that two of them happen to be Illinois?  (via aREEanneuh)

See if you can catch this snafu from a recent local telecast of a Nashville Predators game sent in by reader Michael Hackney...

What game was it that Syracuse lost this season?  I'm struggling to remember... perhaps because they are still unbeaten... at least according to everyone but ESPN.  *Stays as far away from ESPN-Syracuse-Bernie Fine joke as possible.*

The secret behind Kobe Bryant's recent scoring binge?  Clearly the shuffling by new head coach Mike Brown by putting Pau Gasol at point guard.  He's at least twice as quick as Derek Fisher, it's a smart move.  I wonder why Mike Brown never put Big Z at point in Cleveland, maybe then LeBron would have stayed (h/t cowboycalebman)...

And finally via num1devilsfan, yea... this might not have been the best picture choice for ESPN Mobile to commemorate the 49ers classic victory over the Saints in the Divisional Playoffs.  

That was your week in Screengrab Snafus, next time be careful out there!

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In the first quarter Thursday night's Mavericks-Jazz game, Al Jefferson was fouled by Delonte West.  Of course, if that was all that happened, this clip wouldn't be worth sharing with you.  Instead, what we have may be an all-time AA classic.  There are several random elements of awesomeness in this clip.  First, Jefferson catches Delonte after using a head fake in the paint like he's a feather.  Delonte then randomly throws out the Superman pose while on the shoulder of Al Jefferson.  Maybe he picked that up after moving furniture in the offseason.  But it's the commentary from the notably excited Kevin Harlan that has to be heard to be believed.  

As if Harlan screaming "OH, THAT'S RIGHT!!  LIFT THAT BAG OF POTATOES IF YOU HAVE TO INSIDE!!" wasn't enough, during the replay he shouts "RIDE 'EM COWBOY!!" as if there could be no possible innuendo behind that whatsoever.  Clearly, Kevin Harlan had about eighteen cups of coffee, a Red Bull, and a Five Hour Energy before stepping behind the mic tonight.  But I suppose that's what has always made him one of my favorite announcers.  Time will tell if "LIFT THAT BAG OF POTATOES" takes off like Harlan's other famous calls...   

H/T Crossover Chronicles

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Wednesday, Barcleona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal.  Real took the lead early through Cristiano Ronaldo, but goals from Carlos Puyol and Eric Abidal lifted Barca to yet another win over their rivals for the Spanish throne.  While these two Spanish Cup games may not have the importance in the grand scheme of things that their league fixture will on April 22 or a potential Champions League series, it's always newsworthy when Barcelona plays Real Madrid.  And it's always a sunny day in AA country whenever Ray Hudson and Gol TV is there to commentate on it.  Earlier this week, we found Ray describing Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi as "brilliance on steroids."  Here's even more British brilliance from Ray Hudson with all three goals from Wednesday's game...

0-1 Ronaldo...

"That's got to be down to Pinto, the flyin ponytail here let's his hair down badly.  A wonderful spank on the run.  He knows the goal posts ain't movin, man.  Again lovely set away, he's got space and with that sort of energy and vision he probably wishes this field was twice as long, he'd still get the same result.  Dodgy goalkeeping."

1-1 Puyol...

"Captain Tarzan comes swinging on his vine again... it's a great ball driven in from the corner kick and it looks like it's Pique that's going to get it, but Captain Tarzan Puyol comes alongside and says, "what if he doesn't get there?"...  It's going to be mine, and he gets rewarded for it.  His focus is locked and it's a dynamic header burrowed in with plenty of knuckles and plenty of meat and potatoes behind it from a man that is the iconic face of Barcelona."

2-1 Abidal...

"It's a type of goal for Barcelona fans that causes your soul to bang on your ribcages to get out.  It's absolutely magisterial!!  The ball from Lionel Messi to set up of all people king Eric Abidal and he is absolutely impeccable with his finish!  This is an astonishing go ahead goal from the LEAST LIKELY of Barca players!  There's nothing lucky about it, it's pure genius from Lionel Messi and Eric Abidal is as cool as a killer.  He is onto this like Dracula onto a plate of liver!!"

The second leg of the quarterfinal happens this Sunday.  Let's hope Ray Hudson will be there too.

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In this SportsCenter Not Top 10 clip, anchor John Anderson looks back at the 2008 NFC Championship Game and says that Brett Favre "squeezes one off" as Favre throws a pick in OT of a game that the New York Giants would go on to win over Favre's Green Bay Packers. When thinking of "squeezing one off," I don't think of throwing an interception with minimal pressure towards the quarterback in the pocket. If Favre was getting bum rushed and he barely got the pass off, I could understand the phrase in that situation. But in this case, Favre wasn't even hit on the play. With what would happen with Favre just a couple of years later as a Jet (hello, explicit text messages!), the verbiage seems pretty funny in hindsight. I think Anderson explicitly went down that route, just because of what's happened with Favre in recent years...

[H/T: Ride the Pine]

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Here is your ESPN Sunday Night Baseball schedule for the coming season with games from April through May already announced by the leader.  The season opens on a Wednesday night with defending champion St. Louis opening up the new Miami Marlins stadium.  The first Sunday night game will see the two-time defending AL champion Rangers host the White Sox.

Perhaps no booth improved as much in the offseason as the Sunday Night Baseball booth.  The straight swap of Terry Francona for Bobby Valentine will dramatically improve the ESPN booth.  (We'l see what it does for the Red Sox.)  Bobby V had his moments at ESPN but was never a great fit in the broadcast booth.  Conversely, Francona was a revelation for Fox in working two ALCS games and should complement Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser.  This trio should be the definitive top announcing team in baseball and may develop to one of the best overall regardless of sport or network.

Sunday Night Schedule:

Date Teams (all telecasts Sunday @ 8 p.m. ET)

April 8:  Chicago White Sox @ Texas Rangers

April 15: Los Angeles Angels @ New York Yankees

April 22: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

April 29: Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers

May 6:   Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals

May 13:  Los Angeles Angels @ Texas Rangers

May 20: St. Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers

May 27: Washington Nationals @ Atlanta Braves

June 3-July 1 TBD

July 8:  New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

July 15: St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds

July 22-Sept 23 TBD

H/T Sammy!

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Anytime a sporting event places little kids into adult roles, it’s usually pretty darn cute.  Provided it doesn’t take place anywhere near Penn State of course.

To perhaps draw the attention of a much younger audience, the New York Knicks have employed the talents of the very young Ryan and Jaylah as their Knicks Kid Reporters.

At first glimpse, they certainly look the part but once the interviewing actually takes place, the duo are pretty solid in cracking jokes, coming up with witty comments and have the guts to interview some of the league’s best players.  In other words, they're already light years ahead of Jim Gray.

The special part of this video is when little Jaylah, who claims to hate Justin Bieber, gets a few of the Knicks players to actually sing “Baby” while Ryan wants no part of the Biebs. Smart kid. It would probably ruin his credibility in the locker room during postgame interviews.

Whether or not these kids have a future in broadcasting remains to be seen but at least they get started out on the right track by looking and acting the part very well.

Check out the video below..

H/T TBJ

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