The quality of documentaries has never been higher across the sports world and one of the best original series makes its season debut Sunday night on Big Ten Network.  The Journey chronicles the Big Ten basketball season from the beginning of conference play through the Big Ten conference tournament.  If you haven't seen The Journey, check out this clip from Wisconsin's upset last year of Ohio State that goes behind the scenes with both programs.  The Emmy nominated series matches the storytelling of other great documenatry series like 24/7, 30 for 30, and Hard Knocks while gaining incredible access inside Big Ten programs in a relatively real time way.

With more and more conferences (and even teams) planning to launch their own networks, The Journey may be a trendsetter in college sports.  It makes a lot of sense for networks and conferences to follow the lead of BTN and work together to give fans access inside the schools while providing high quality original programming.  This look inside each conference program can be a great recruiting and publicity tool for the universities while providing insights for fans and ratings for the respective network.  That's definitely a win-win-win scenario.  Even for college basketball fans outside the Big Ten, this series is definitely worth looking into.  The Journey is the highest rated series on BTN and it's easy to see why after just watching the intro video for the new season below...  

With the premiere of The Journey this weekend, we had a chance to catch up with Bill Friedman from Big Ten Network, who has overseen The Journey since its inception in 2007 and serves as Senior Producer of Original Programming at BTN.  Our AA Q&A appears after the jump including how the network gains access to the programs, the challenges in making a real time documentary series, and what to look for in the season premeire...

It's Friday and Screengrab Snafus are back!  There are a ton of graphical gaffes to get to, so let's get started, shall we?

Let's begin with something called the American Copy Editors Society (or ACES as the clever acronym may be).  I love it!  These people live for snafus of every kind!!!  Just check their database at the bottom of the page!  Nice to see that the fine folks there have turned some of their attention to ESPN for not one, but two screengrabs from the mothership that don't show the classiest examples of copy editing ever seen...

Reader TlkSuperStation caught this snafu from NFL Network on the 15-1 Packers and a possible name change that happened for the 2003 Playoffs...

Some of the early bowls may not have had the biggest ratings or the best attendance, but at least there were giant gobs of cotton candy available!

One of the writers at Buckeye blog Eleven Warriors caught this snafu from The Scott Van Pelt Show after the Orange Bowl.  Michigan is going to really be a challenge moving forward if they're winning multiple bowls in the same season.  And setting offensive records for games they didn't even play in!  Now that's an impressive feat...

Can you spot what's wrong with this screengrab from The Herd when they were talking to College Gameday host Chris Fowler about the BCS National Championship Game?  (h/t @Lemonade_Vodka & @jeffmatthews)

And finally, you didn't think we'd miss this legendary snafu, did you?

That was your week in Screengrab Snafus, next time be careful out there!  Especially if you happen to herniate your... well... nevermind...

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In an interview with GQ, ESPN's sideline reporter goddess Erin Andrews reveals that coworkers Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale would be interested in competing on Dancing With the Stars.  When asked which co-worker would be interested in joining the show, EA had this to say:

"I think Desmond Howard would be really cute on the show. He's got the style and the poise to do it. I know Digger Phelps wants to do it, I know Dick Vitale wants to do it, and I love both of those guys so very much, but I don't think they realize how much training is involved. I think Chris Fowler would be adorable on it, but I think Des would be great."

Sports stars are no stranger to the show, with Emmitt Smith, Apolo Anton Ohno, Helio Castroneves, Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, and Hines Ward all being winners of the show. Many others have also competed, with varying results. But when it comes to announcers? ESPN coworker Kenny Mayne was on season two of the show, and was actually the first competitor eliminated after a pitiful score of 13. In fact, on the 200th episode of the show, the hosts did an awards ceremony, and Mayne was given the honor of "best, worst dancer"...

Personally, I think it's pretty obvious that Vitale and Phelps would fall into Mayne's school of doing it for the laughs as opposed to Andrews' of taking it seriously and practicing really hard in an attempt to win. Then again, if you've got a pair of men in their 70s competing on a dancing reality show... they might actually get seriously hurt. But I'm sure they'd make me laugh in the process!

(h/t Hot Clicks)

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Sweden won the World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal on Thursday night by defeating the junior Russians 1-0 in overtime. The game-winner was netted by Mika Zibanejad at the 10:09 mark of overtime and it resulted in pure announcer exultation.

You have to watch/listen for yourself:

I don't understand a word, but it sounds like they're having a good time. Yahoo! took a stab, but it doesn't include anything about Jonas Jerebko or tro pa mirakel. When you consider that this was the first gold medal for Sweden at the WJHC in over 30 years, you have to understand and appreciate the junior Swedish Al Michaels reaction (on crazy ecstasy, or extas). It's a love-mix of sweet Swede emotion featuring Abba, Eagle Eye Cherry, The Cardigans, and Europe; the Swedish junior hockey players are all the rock and the announcers are screaming Swedish teenage groupies.

Yahoo! -- Video: Swedish announcers get somewhat excited about their World Junior OT championship win

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This is a hilarious sequence from tonight's Miami Heat vs Atlanta Hawks game where the announcing crew of Kevin Harlan, Charles Barkley, and Reggie Miller believe they are off mic in the first quarter.  However, some wires were crossed and this footage ended up making it on the air.  These hot mic moments have led to more embarrassing episodes in announcing history, but this footage is more amusing than anything else.  Charles Barkley begins by talking about his work with Weight Watchers and the weight he's lost as a spokesman for the company.  Sir Charles also had this to say about getting paid for losing two pounds a week:

"I thought this was the greatest scam going, getting paid to watch sports... this Weight Watchers thing is a bigger scam."

Possibly even better was this no holds barred interaction between Barkley and Harlan about the game as it was unfolding in the first quarter.  Ironically enough, the game went into triple overtime where Miami finally emerged victorious:

Barkley: "Man I can't stand to watch this Atlanta Hawks team play."

Harlan: "This game is terrible."

Barkley: "It is."

Harlan: "Look at this game, 31 percent, God Almighty."

Barkley: "The Atlanta Hawks, they got nothin but a bunch of nice guys."

Here's the full clip...

For Barkley, it's really nothing he woudn't say in knowing he was actually on the air.  For Harlan, that's probably a different story.  It's fun for us though to see this kind of accident happen and find out what the announcers are really thinking.  Why couldn't announcers tell us a game sucks when we're all watching the same game and know it does anyways?  Maybe Charles Barkley's appearance in the booth will inspire other announcers to take this sort of uncensored approach.  Why shouldn't Brent Musburger be able to open a six pack and openly root for his gambling picks during the BCS title game?  I for one think that would be a refreshing change!

H/T David Schwab via Richard Deitsch

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Here's a look at a clip from the laugher of an Orange Bowl last night between West Virginia and Clemson, with ESPN NFL commentator Jon Gruden confusing First Lady Michelle Obama with ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters. I know they look a little bit alike, but does Gruden really think that Clemson would use Lisa Salters on one of their play cards? Just a little obscure there, even if Salters has been with ESPN since 2000 and Michelle Obama has only been First Lady since January 2009.  Gruden's broadcast partners Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski immediately erupt in laughter.  This exchange from the ESPN booth is almost as funny as Clemson's defense last night...

West Virginia went on to win the Orange Bowl by the ridiculous score of 70-33 in what may turn out to be the lowest rated BCS Bowl game in history according to John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal.  Which BCS Bowl gaffe is better, thinking Lisa Salters is Michelle Obama... or thinking West Virginia is still part of Virginia?

[h/t Larry Brown Sports]

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The self-proclaimed king of New York sports talk radio, Mike Francesa, may be leaving WFAN at the end of his contract.  For all you fans of the Diet Coke sipping, Al Alburquerque forgetting, Bill Parcells loving kingpin of New York sports radio, have no fear.  Francesa's contract with WFAN goes beyond Super Bowl XLVIII in New York City till March 2014.  For all you haters of Mike Francesa, sorry, his contract with WFAN goes until March 2014.

As Neil Best reports in Newsday, Francesa is contemplating a departure from his longtime afternoon slot at WFAN where he's ruled New York afternoon airwaves for more than 20 years, but may not be thinking of retiring from the industry:

Mike Francesa is leaning toward leaving WFAN when his contract expires in March 2014, the station's longtime afternoon drive time host said Tuesday.

Speaking after a show on which he hinted on the air he was mulling his future, Francesa initially said it was "50-50, at best" that he would return, then added, "I'm even saying I'm leaning toward leaving."

Francesa has been at the station since shortly after its launch in 1987 and in the afternoon slot since 1989, the first 19 years with his longtime partner, Chris Russo.

He has been a ratings pillar for the station and has a contract believed to pay around $5 million per year. But he said it might soon be time for a change, although he has no plans to retire.

Francesa is in his fourth decade at WFAN.  No matter what you think of him personally, Francesa is one of the titans of sports talk radio.  Mike & The Mad Dog beginning in 1989 and lasting till 2008 is certainly one of the most notable and influential sports radio shows ever.  Even as a non New Yorker, I tried to tune into Francesa and Russo when possible because they were one of the more entertaining pairs in sports.  While Francesa can certainly come off as arrogant or flippant towards callers, I always found him to be entertaining.  That said, like other great combos in history, Francesa isn't nearly as effective without a partner to buffer some of his more offputting qualities.  

If Francesa does leave WFAN in 2014, it's difficult to see him pursuing another high profile gig considering he'll be almost 60 years old.  He certainly has the clout to do something nationally based and could make television appearances with a network that needs a buzzworthy personality or possibly something based with the NFL.  Maybe ESPN will make him a huge offer to debate Skip Bayless every morning.  My God, that would make the internet explode.  

Whatever Francesa's future holds, we'll have to cherish (or curse) the remainder of his time at WFAN... which I think this clip sums up nicely...

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With the books closed on the 2011 NFL regular season, we can also close the books on the first ever edition of the Dickies.  Thanks to all our readers in helping with the launch of this initiative to give us a Sunday counterpart to the AA staple of the Pammies.  I think we'll all be satisfied with who takes home the first ever Straight Outta Stockton title.  But first, here are the winning quotes from Week 17.  The envelope, please...

T9) "Eric Decker is the best." - Phil Simms (via bjo109).  Umm... ok?

T9) "He was inside the circle of love." - Dan Dierdorf on a punt fair catch (via ConnorKiesel)

8) "When you give [Michael Turner] gaping holes, he's going to hurt some people." -Dick Stockton... Ok then. (via sctvman)

7) "No one wants to come to New England to play Greg Williams and his defense" -Joe Buck not knowing where New Orleans is. (via jleimer)

6) "Oakland lost to the Heat, *pause* and maybe the Dolphins too"- Marv Albert(via JayAyyyy) moving on to NBA season.

5) "That last play they had five offensive linemen in for extra protection" - Randy Cross (via wyattgywon)

4) "Cincy's the wild card, the Jets are out of the playoffs, and Cincy has their playoff hopes dashed as well." - Curt Menefee (via A_Goch)

3) "That was a penalty and that doesn't count, but that was also one of the most brilliant plays I've seen in a long time." - Cris Collinsworth (via CMehring)

2) "No one works harder, but no one knows less about this game than I do." - Brian Billick (via ClarkbarTweets).  C'mon, Billick actually said this?

1)"Let's take a look at Jared Allen's sack." - Tony Siragusa (via chaz_mcbro)

Black Sports Online discovered this clip of former Ohio State & Titans running back Eddie George entering an avenue a little different from playing on the gridiron: playing Julius Caesar in the Nashville Shakepeare Festival's production of Julius Caesar from January 12-29. You can buy tickets online at NashvilleShakes.org if you want to see one of the great running backs of our generation try his hand at being a thespian. 

It's a different line of work for the College Football Hall of Famer and former Fox analyst, who retired from the NFL in 2005. He also is the former host of the shortlived "The Quad" on BTN.  At least it's more of a sophisticated trend than Dancing With the Stars.

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When you were nine years old, you were most likely playing outside with your friends with no worries at all about a daily job or having responsibilities. It’s a time most of us look back on and treasure with a collective “those were the days” yearning.

But that is not the daily life of nine-year-old PJ Whitaker, who spends his days hosting an hour-long sports talk show on WTAN Radio 1340 AM in Clearwater, Fla.

The self professed pizza and sports lover spends his days preparing for his shows, doing most of the research, booking guests, and even securing sponsors for the show. Yes, securing sponsors in a market where adult radio hosts have trouble even holding down a job.

PJ’s mom Angye Fox said she noticed his talents as early as two years old and told the local ABC station:

"I noticed that he started imitating John Madden," said Fox. "Then he seemed entranced every time he saw Bob Costas on TV." 

Station owner Dave Wagenvoord stated he had no clue if the show would work but after three months, he remains convinced he made the right decision.

Even PJ's classmates didn’t believe him when he said he had his own sports show. That is until his weekly show was uploaded to YouTube and since then, none of the kids doubt him any longer.

While PJ’s early choices for broadcasting idols could use some work, there is no doubt this 9 year old’s work ethic puts us all to shame. Especially considering his show already has intro music, sound cut-aways and his regular guests have nicknames!

Watch one of his shows below:

For more about this sports talk radio wunderkind, check out PJSportsTalk.com.  I know there's a 10-1 ET timeslot on ESPN Radio where PJ would be a big improvement over the current host.

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