ESPN's corporate layoffs that were reported to be in the hundreds were given a disheartening public face on Wednesday when it was reported by John Koblin that longtime stats guru Howie Schwab was one of the longtime ESPN employees cut loose by the company.  Schwab had been with ESPN since 1987 when he started as a freelance researcher.  He famously moved in front of the cameras with the trivia show Stump the Schwab and had appeared on air as recently as last month as part of UNITE's Schwab Tournament.  Ironically enough, UNITE and its staffers are also reportedly on the ESPN chopping block.

I had a chance to talk to Howie Schwab a couple weeks ago for this profile piece in the lead up to the UNITE final.  Schwab was everything you wouldn't expect from his TV persona - soft spoken, genuine, and very complimentary of all the college students that participated and got the chance to visit Bristol.  In fact, he noted that his favorite part of the entire experience was the time off the air showing the finalists around the ESPN campus and spending time taking to them about a future career in the business.  Most of all, Schwab spoke of his joy of working at ESPN - from stats research, to Stump the Schwab, to his work with Dick Vitale, and even MCing the ESPYs red carpet.  

After the news broke, Schwab posted this message to his Facebook page, which received numerous positive comments from in and out of Bristol.  If you visit the link, you'll see several recognizable names leaving their condolences and well wishes.

The Stanley Cup Final

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins

NBC/NBCSN - Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk; Pierre McGuire (Behind the Glass)

Game 1: Wednesday, June 12 @ United Center, Chicago (NBC 8PM)

Game 2: Saturday, June 15 @ United Center, Chicago (NBCSN 8PM)

Game 3: Monday, June 17 @ TD Bank Garden, Boston (NBCSN 8PM)

Game 4: Wednesday, June 19 @ TD Bank Garden, Boston (NBC 8PM)

Game 5*: Saturday, June 22 @ United Center, Chicago (NBC 8PM)

Game 6*: Monday, June 24 @ TD Bank Garden, Boston (NBC 8PM)

Game 7*: Wednesday, June 26 @ United Center, Chicago (NBC 8PM)

*If necessary

H/T Sammy!

If you weren't aware of ESPN's 3D channel, don't worry, you're not alone.  The channel launched in 2010 has been marred by two things that ruin any capitalistic venture - high cost and low demand.  3D television hasn't quite taken off as was expected a couple years ago and instead has to be put in the class of flying cars and teleportation devices as futuristic trends that are sadly relegated to the future.

The Big Lead had a scoop earlier this week on ESPN reportedly looking to hire a full armada of beat writers covering every NFL team. 

"ESPN.com is bolstering its NFL coverage significantly this summer – I’ve learned that the website is hiring beat writers for all 32 NFL teams.

According to a source who interviewed for one of the openings, the goal is to have beat writers for every team in place by August. Previously, ESPN.com had just one writer in charge of every NFL division."

The article would go on to say that with ESPN local writers already in house (New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas) as well as the NFL Division blogger coverage already in place, ESPN only has to find beat coverage for 15 teams.

A thread on SportsJournalists.com, an online message board consisting of those in sports media, provided some more insight although you'll have to it with a grain of salt given it is a message board. Some details there include:

I'm always amazed at the new ways discovered in which sports interviews can go horribly, horribly wrong.  Today we turn to the world of mixed martial arts and MMA Mayhem's George Kennebrew interview with fighter Cliff Thompson.  Thompson had just won a 3 round fight against Doug Usher at Wild Bill's Fight Night 57 (yes, that's the real title).

After the first question, Thompson staggers off stage and hurls.  Kennebrew's grossed out reaction is utterly priceless.

Better for Thompson that he threw up during the victorious post-fight interview instead of during the fight, lest he become the MMA version of Donovan McNabb.  Good thing Thompson wasn't competitve eating either, or else the victory would be overturned due to the infamous reversal of fortune.

And we thought Gregg Popovich was short on words, yeesh!  

Video via Guyism

I'm starting to notice a correlation with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and his in-game interviews.  It seems like the better the Spurs are doing, the less Pop wants to say.  With the Spurs trouncing the Heat in their Game 3 blowout, ESPN's Doris Burke asked her mandated two questions of Pop at the end of the 3rd quarter.  After a downright talkative performance earlier in the series, Pop's answers were less than forthcoming including an "I can't tell you that" when asked about the team's defense on LeBron James.

This isn't a derisive no comment from Pop because he'd rather be standing in the middle of a geyser, but rather a no comment out of respect for Burke's detailed question.  That wasn't one Pop could give a yes or no or standard cliche and walk away.  That required some actual thinking!

With Games 2 and 3 morphing into blowouts, it's becoming clear the most compettive battle in this series is Doris Burke vs Gregg Popovich.  The sideline reporter is at the top of her game in this clip and took her own 2-1 lead in the series last night.

Video via Point Forward

And you thought it was scary when there was a potential sitcom based on Colin Cowherd's life in the works!

The Cowherd sitcom never made it to air (thank you Lord), but now comes news via SBJ that another infamous sports media member might get their life turned into a television show.  Believe it or not, Los Angeles Times columnist TJ Simers is the next sports media personality to have a potential network show developed around his life.  Seeing as how it's not April 1st, let's assume this is factual:

During Tuesday night's Brewers-Marlins game, Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Marlins a 5-4 lead, and eventually, a victory. After the game, Fox Sports Florida reporter Allison Williams was interviewing Stanton when Logan Morrison attempted to dump Gatorade on the pair...but Stanton saw him coming, and him and Williams were able to jump out of the way in time, as dry as they were when the interview began. Upon replay, it looked like Morrison wasn't even going for Stanton, and was shooting for Williams with his orange jug of ice cold elixir.

It's a growing trend in the sport after the Royals botched a celebratory postgame shower on Friday night.

That poor, poor wasted Gatorade...

Before there was LeBron, before there was Kobe, before there was Michael, before there was Magic, and before there was Larry. there was Julius Erving, a.k.a "Doctor J." A new NBA TV documentary aired this week introduces "Dr. J" to a whole new generation. Younger NBA fans may have seen footage of Erving through NBA TV or on YouTube, but for old school fans, Erving was the man who brought a new type play to what was perceived as a boring prim and proper NBA.

The documentary narrated by Chuck D, shows how Erving became from being known as Julius to Jewel to finally, "The Doctor." We learn Erving's upbringing in Long Island to how his legend grew from the playgrounds of New York to the only school that offered him a scholarship, the University of Massachusetts.

All TImes Eastern

College Football
College Football Live -- ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Cycling
Tour De Suisse
Day 5: Buochs to Leuggern -- beIN Sport, 11:30 a.m.

Golf
Live From the U.S. Open -- Golf Channel, 9 a.m.
SportsCenter at the U.S. Open -- ESPN2, 2 p.m.
19th Hole -- Golf Channel, 6 p.m.
Live From the U.S. Open -- Golf Channel, 7 p.m.