ESPN First Take has taken internet trolling mainstream. It's a couple hours each day devoted to manufactured arguements and everything Tim Tebow. With Tebow out of the playoffs, Skip decided for whatever reason to set his sights on Ball So Hard University alum, Terrell Suggs. Following the Ravens ousting the Texans from the playoffs the two had this enlightening conversation. If you don't want to sit through seven plus minutes of Skip (I don't blame you one bit), it's basically just him antagonizing one of the best defensive players in the league following a playoff win.

Cut to this morning. Skip had Suggs on following the tough defeat to the Patriots. As you can see from this video from Black Sports Online, this time it didn't go as swimmingly.

It's always nice when Skip Bayless and his stable of awful analysts (Rob Parker might the worst) gets knocked around on live television. It's unfortunate that the video cuts off right there because I always enjoy a flabbergasted Skip. Also, if he really is the master of trolling his response would have definitely been something like this one from Wet Hot American Summer.

I would be very happy if we could bring to you a weekly dose of Gol TV announcer Ray Hudson.  On matchdays, you can follow the MAGISTERIAL Live Ray Hudson Twitter account for the best of this cosmic commentator in 140 characters.  It seems Ray saves his most outrageous comments to describe the brilliance of the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.  Ray Hudson and partner Phil Schoen called Barcelona's 4-1 win over Malaga on Sunday and Messi scored a wondrous hat trick, much to Ray's delight and ours.  Pay special attention to the call on Messi's amazing third goal...

1-0 Messi

"If there's a footballer you would inject into yourself, it would be Lionel Messi, wouldn't it people?  Honestly?  Phenomenal.  Truly.  His radiant talent could light up the national grid.  He does it downstairs and we're all in amazement, he does it upstairs and he's nothing less than the immaculate conception.  Astonishing footballer of our time.  The most complete footballista that I have ever seen.  The wonderful Lionel Messi."

2-0 Sanchez

"Astonishing football again just unravels Pellegrini's team and those lovely big eyes of Manuel just are raised in the eyebrows... there's so much beautiful football going on... Willy Caballero is a one man battleship on the line pulling out all the stops but he cannot deny this one from Alexis.  It's easy pickings."

3-0 Messi

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!  They tell me that all men are equal in God's eyes.  This player makes you seriously think about those words.  Lionel Messi.  Why, man he doth bestride the world like a Colossus.  Starts it, finishes it, and makes it look elementary.  A gazelle running amongst cheetahs.  Astonishing!"

4-0 Messi

"Oh, beautiful... YYYAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!  Nothing less than the equivalent of a footballing bird of paradise is this man that defies the description man!  Genius of geniuses!  He's like Doctor Spock!  He's out of his Vulcan mind!  Absolutely out of this world!  Lionel!  Look at the tuck away, look at the pace, he fills this field up in warp speed Doctor Spock, in warp speed.  MAAAAAAGISTERIAL ARGENTINA!  MAGISTEEERIAL LEOOO!!  Running like he's got a food mixer down his shorts, and it set the beat."

And if that wasn't good enough, here's BONUS Ray Hudson.  Don't you dare call Barcelona a "machine" around Ray or else you'll get slapped upside the head.  The funny thing is, I think he's deadly serious... 

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As the US Senate campaign for former disgraced ESPN analyst Craig James goes nowhere, he may even have worse news to deal with thanks to his old friend Mike Leach.  The new Washington State head coach has retained the services of a new lawyer, Stephen D. Heninger.  And Heninger has come out with all guns blazing at Candidate James.  A press release from Leach's lawyer indicates that James made conflicting statements and lied under oath, thereby committing perjury.  The conflicting statements revolve around whether or not James used his power at ESPN to get Mike Leach fired... 

"On December 12, 2011, Craig James signed a sworn Petition concerned with two books that recount the firing of Texas Tech coach, Mike Leach, in December 2009 regarding events between Leach and James' son (Adam James) who was a football player on that team at the time. This latest sworn Petition states that James was not responsible for Leach's firing. These sworn statements are in stark conflict with the sworn testimony taken earlier by depositions of Craig James, Adam James and Texas Tech officials which state that Craig James was working for ESPN and had a powerful platform and the Texas Tech President and the Athletic Director wanted to give Leach a private reprimand and a fine but James wanted an apology and Leach fired."

It appears that James has signed a new sworn petition defending his role in "standing up to evil" and "kicking the skunks out of the bushes" in Lubbock.  I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but this smells like perjury does it not?  This new sworn statement is related to Leach's original lawsuit against ESPN and Spaeth Communications.  That case has been stayed until the State Supreme Court rules on whether or not Leach has the right to also sue Texas Tech.  

With the case stalled and James very publicly making a run for United States Senate, what better time for Leach and his lawyer to make a full court press against James?  The conflicting testimony is as follows.  In December of this year, with Craig James in the middle of his hopeless Senate run, he made these statements under oath:

* "Leach ordered the punitive actions, not for medical reasons, but to discipline and punish Adam James for 'his attitude' while he was diagnosed with a concussion."

* "The authors create and foster a false impression in their books, and in public media surrounding the books, that Craig James was responsible for Leach's firing by the University."

* "... the allegation that Craig James interfered with Leach's contract, by threatening TTU and its officials with litigation if Texas Tech did not terminate Leach, is illogical on its face. . .It is ludicrous and factually untrue to state that Craig James was the cause of the firing."

And here's the previous sworn statements Leach's lawyer cites proving James is not being truthful with his most recent sworn testimony in comparison to the original depostition from Texas Tech admins and Adam James himself:

Here's your NBA announcing schedule, featuring a cameo appearane by the one and only Dick Stockton!  His combo with Reggie Miller may be worth the watch on its own.

Monday January 23

Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics (NBA TV 7:30PM) Local Broadcast 

Tuesday January 24

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat (NBA TV 7:30PM) Ernie Johnson, Greg Anthony, Chris Webber

Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers (NBA TV 10:30) Local Broadcast

Wednesday January 25

Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls (NBA TV 8PM) Local Broadcast

Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers (NBA TV 10PM) Local Broadcast

Thursday January 26

Boston Celtics @ Orlando Magic (TNT 8PM) Marv Albert, Mike Fratello

Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers (TNT 10:30PM) Dick Stockton, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller

Friday January 27

New York Knicks @ Miami Heat (ESPN 8PM) Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors (NBA TV 10:30) Local Broadcast 

Saturday January 28

Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz (NBA TV 9PM) Local Broadcast

Sunday January 29

Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat (ABC 3:30PM) Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy

San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks (ESPN 6:30PM) Dan Shulman, Doris Burke

H/T Sammy!

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Sunday morning, former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away at 85 years old, just months after the abuse scandal at the university ended his coaching career.  Discerning Paterno's ultimate legacy and weighing his remarkable career with its unfortunate ending can wait for another day, right now the Paterno family and Penn State campus should be supported with thoughts and prayers.  

In the end, Paterno's passing was another sad chapter in what has been one of the saddest sports stories of all-time at Penn State.  It was hard to not see Paterno's passing coming soon as his life was Penn State football.  Many comparisons have been drawn to Bear Bryant, who died just a month after retiring.  Back in 2008, announcer Brent Musburger, an admitted close friend of Paterno, foreshadowed the events that transpired.  

But in yet another unfortunate series of events, Paterno's death was erroneously reported on Saturday night - first by PSU site Onward State, then by CBS Sports, and by other subsequent entities.  These reports of Paterno's death were then denied less than 15 minutes later by a Paterno family spokesman and the story took several dramatic turns.  Both Jay and Scott Paterno took to Twitter to tell the world that their father was still indeed alive.  CBS tried to retreat from their original post as quickly as possible.  The managing editor of Onward State apologized and resigned.  And people were furious, confused, upset, and amazed at how the death of Joe Paterno could be wrongly reported and spread across the world.  From the media perspective, it was a shocking development...

To the delight of everyone outside of Durham, North Carolina the Blue Devils went down in thrilling fashion to Florida State on a buzzer beating three by Michael Scarn Snaer. The loss was especially brutal for Duke fans because it snapped their 45-game home winning streak after it looked like Austin Rivers' late basket would force overtime at Cameron Indoor.

What I enjoyed most about the call is not Mike Patrick's vanilla "GOT IT" yelp but rather the normally calm Len Elmore being pushed to the brink of passion as he repeatedly yelled "OHHhhhh OHHHhhhhh" over Patrick. That man loves college basketball, literally. The win by the unranked and up-and-down Seminoles was shocking but less so after they demolished North Carolina by over four touchdowns recently. It's wild that this is the same team that struggled to put up 41 points earlier this season in a loss against Harvard. The loss was Duke's first of the ACC season and they now share the top spot at 4-1 with the surging Seminoles.

Showtime Boxing held a card Friday night and invited onto the broadcast team former judge Chuck Giampa as a ringside analyst to add insights from a judge's perspective.  I can imagine the role being something similar to that of Harold Lederman at HBO.  Before one of last night's fights, Showtime Boxing host Al Bernstein introduces Giampa as a man with many years of experience as an esteemed ringside judge, scoring 132 championship fights.  Unfortunately, that ringside experience didn't exactly crossover to the television side.

As Al Bernstein throws it to Chuck Giampa for what exactly he'll do throughout the fight, Giampa freezes like he's about to be hit with a Joe Frazier left hook.  Chuck is able to get out, "Thanks Al, tonight I will be taking you inside the mind of a judge..." before stopping dead in his tracks.  He then tries to begin again by repeating himself and then giving up entirely and uttering the most despondent "shit" ever heard on a sportscast.  The segment comes to a close with an arena shot and Bernstein trying to pick up the pieces after the disaster.  I do hope Chuck Giampa recovers and has a solid career in television, but this is right up there amongst the worst television debuts in the history of sports.  

Somewhere, the Shockmaster feels pity for Chuck Giampa...

Thanks to Tim Starks at The Queensbury Rules at Bloguin for the tip!

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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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