SPORTS TV INSIDE OUT

WON'T YOU BE MY CELLMATE?

2008-03-23T01:08:00.004-04:00

K-Mac: Less of a danger to this community

NBA, NHL, Spring Training, March Madness.

All of the above have combined to make your regular contributors too damn busy to, uh, contribute.

But because madness isn't just confined to March, we must lose a little sleep posting this so you can lose a little sleep thinking about it.

What the hell is with these guys anyway?

From KUTV.com

Former ESPN Producer Arrested In Salt Lake City... Again

SALT LAKE CITY - A veteran freelance sports producer who worked for ESPN was again arrested in Utah this week for violating the terms of his release -- prior to a trial on child pornography charges.
Kevin Stewart McMahan, 50, was arrested last June at the Salt Lake City International Airport after authorities reportedly found several images of child pornography inside of his luggage. Officials searched his bag after a screener spotted a lighter inside.
Authorities then had his checked bags pulled off the airplane and allegedly found nearly 50 DVDs and videos on his laptop computer of juvenile boys performing sexual acts. Also reportedly found were hundreds of explicit photographs of young boys being molested.
At that time, he was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on numerous counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and drug possession.
In the days after, a judge agreed to release McMahan as long as he complied with a series of demands. One stipulated that he could not use a computer until at least his trial was completed.
On Monday, McMahan was re-arrested after admitting to some computer use. He was taken into custody and was later determined by a judge to be a danger to the community.
McMahan will next appear in court on May 1 to face the original charges from last summer.
McMahan has not worked for ESPN since his intitial arrest, according to ESPN managers.

Just plain sad.

BARRON BEHIND BARS BULLETIN

2008-03-05T18:04:00.010-05:00

Don't look so down, Dan. That guy in Cell Block B says he'll be gentle with you.

From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Freelance CBS technician gets 10 years in Lauderdale child sex sting
By Joel Marino Sun-Sentinel.com

SOUTH FLORIDA - A former CBS technician accused last year of attempting to make arrangements to film himself having sex with a child was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Miami federal court today, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Daniel Barron, 56, was also sentenced to 15 years of supervised release, the department said.Barron, a freelance technical manager from New Jersey, was in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 29 covering a Miami Dolphins game for CBS-TV.
He was arrested that weekend in an online predator sting operation handled by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, the department said. For the sting, a Sheriff's Office detective entered an Internet chat room titled "Open minded parents" and posed as a father with a young daughter. Barron approached the undercover investigator in the chat room and arranged for the "father" to deliver him his 11-year-old daughter, authorities said. Barron used his CBS-owned laptop to conduct the dialogue,according to an arrest report.
Barron drove to a parking lot in the 1300 block of Southeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale, where he thought he would meet the girl and her father, police said. He was arrested. St. Lucie investigators coordinated with Fort Lauderdale police, the Broward Sheriff's Office and U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make the arrest.
A Fort Pierce grand jury indicted Barron on charges of coercing and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a person under 18 years of age on Oct. 25.
He had been held in a St. Lucie county jail until his trial.

15 years of supervised probation sounds like he's going to be a tech manager again one day.

If he makes it through those first 10 years, that is.

Production Dilemma #12 & 35

2008-03-02T16:23:00.008-05:00

Let's return to a subject touched on a few months ago: what to do when some idiot runs on the field/court or does something from the stands that interferes with the game.

One argument calls for the talent to vaguely state what is or has happened but not to show it for fear that giving camera time to the culprit(s) glorifies that act and gives the idiots the attention they want.

The other side would prefer showing the person, with emphasis on what happens to them once they're caught (& beaten up by security), in the hopes of causing embarrassment and deterring future incidents.

On Thursday (2/28), ESPN went out of their way to expose a disgruntled fan who threw a water bottle on the court near the end of USC's victory at Arizona.

By the way, great job by the tape op (or producer) for instantly spotting the bottle being thrown in the background of the reverse free throw shot.

Using the telestrator, analyst Jay Bilas almost circled the correct person.

Thanks to Breitbart.tv via SbB

Soccer Coverage Has Balls, Lacks Kick

2008-03-01T02:31:00.006-05:00

Here's a portion of an email we received regarding coverage of the East Asian Cup soccer tournament:

Don't know about where you live, but around here all the Asian kids are really smart. My kid does real well in school because he cheats off of them on all the tests.

I think a whole lot of the smart Asians moved away from their country [sic] and now only the dumb ones are left to work in sports TV.

Check out this soccer game. There must of been one hell of a collision, but every camera damn guy went with the damn ball. Meanwhile the director keeps cutting to the back of a coach's head for a reaction. What, we're supposed to see his hair stand up on end or something?

Damn morons have no replay worth a damn. I get madder and madder every time they show another replay. I think maybe they got one right, but no. They don't. Another moron follows the ball.

Thanks to Fan IQ

Tough to argue with his point.

That was China vs. Japan, by the way. The goal keeper for China kicked the Japanese player in the chest.

These guys hold grudges for centuries, don't they?

Best Ever? Worst Ever? We're Torn.

2008-03-01T01:56:00.003-05:00

Normally in the male dominated worlds of sports and television, seeing a group of college girls wrestling with each other would be considered a good thing.

If this happens at a hockey game, so much the better. A lot of babes attend college hockey games.

But when the women rolling all over each other aren't in the stands but on the ice, things begin to change just a bit.

And when all the players on the ice go at it simultaneously, it becomes more "Slap Shot" than "Stripes".

Finally, when it's a one camera webcast and the poor cam op doesn't know which altercation to shoot, it kind of comes out looking like this:

Thanks to Fan IQ

We'll give the camera guy a break because it's hard to focus on your job when your testicles have jumped up into your stomach.

Those are the women of North Dakota State and Minnesota State, everybody.

Feel free to contact the lady of your choice via her MySpace page.

Hey, Knight, What's Up?

2008-02-29T01:17:00.006-05:00

To the list of sports figures who have been less than friendly with TV crew members before becoming their colleagues, add Bobby Knight.

Knight's decision to join ESPN beginning March 12 is actually less surprising than any of those pictured with him above. Paul O'Neill and Kirk Gibson were downright surly toward camera operators, A-2s and stage managers during their playing days. Dave Winfield merely acted as if anyone associated with TV was completely beneath him.

But when their playing days were over and they became what they had once resented, things changed.

Well, Gibson didn't change much actually when he worked on Tigers games for FSN.

But suddenly O'Neill stopped sneering at the cameras and started smiling for them. Who knew he could smile? A YES Network paycheck did the trick.

Winfield changed his tune while stumbling through his taped on-cameras during his stint with FOX on the 1996 World Series. Each night as his takes numbered anywhere from the teens to the thirties, FOX crew members who had experienced his dugout behavior when he played, kidded Winfield that he was no All-Star in this field.

On the night of the thirty takes, the kidding stopped and the crew got downright pissed. Winfield repeatedly apologized, swore this take would be the one, before tripping over his tongue yet again. His career at FOX was short lived.

And what of Reggie? Nobody forgot about Reggie during his time working games for KTLA (Angels) and ESPN.

Nobody ever forgets Reggie. Even if you can't hear him.

The clip has no audio but if you couldn't read his lips, dear Reggie said "Get that camera off me or I'll f**king rip it off..."

Strange comment from somebody who always wanted the camera on him, huh?

Great guy, that Reggie.

And now here's Bobby Knight in a position to work with some of the very people he treated with disrespect over the years. He will encounter far fewer of them than he could have, because he will work from ESPN's Bristol studios rather than at game sites. Chances are though, someone involved with his inexcusable blow up at Jeremy Schaap still roams the ESPN campus and hasn't forgotten.

Need another reminder? How about walking out unprovoked during a taping and leaving the producers with no content:

Thanks to felixnightowl

Welcome to our little world, Bobby.

You'll feel at home soon. Sometimes we're not too nice either.

Oh, My Nose!

2008-02-28T20:35:00.006-05:00

Everyone and their Uncle Blogger has posted this photo because it's one of the all time greats.

But what is flying up from the impact point? Sweat? Air from the ball? The whites of his eye? What?

What does any of this have to do with sports TV?

Well, every time we see the photo, we can't help but think of this:

And a football on TV fits in here!

Maybe someday we'll post the "Mom always said, "'Don't play ball in the house'" scene.

Mystifying MLB On TBS Schedule

2008-02-28T00:55:00.005-05:00

The Sunday afternoon MLB on TBS package is mystifying because we can't figure out how they're going to be successful with this thing.
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TBS games are not exclusive. Both teams can and will televise the game to their regular markets.
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ESPN Sunday Night and FOX Saturday games are exclusive broadcasts.
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TBS can not change the start time of a game to a window with potentially higher ratings.
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ESPN dictates Sunday Night start times (usually 8:00 PM EST). FOX dictates Saturday start times (usually 3:55 PM EST).
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TBS does not have camera position priorities over the local rightsholders.
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ESPN, on weeknight games, gets camera priority over local rightsholders in select positions including those adjacent to each dugout.
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So what's the hook that will get people to tune in?
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Like we said, mystifying.
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Chip Caray will handle the play by play with analysts to be named later. Joe Simpson, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Bob Brenly and Steve Stone worked for TBS during last year's playoffs. If Stone returns, hopefully he will do a little more homework than he appeared to have done last fall.
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TBS has made their game selections through Memorial Day Weekend. All times Eastern.
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April 6
Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays
1:00 PM
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April 13
Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies
1:30 p.m.
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April 20
LA Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves
1:30 p.m.
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April 27
NY Yankees @ Cleveland Indians
1:00 p.m.
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May 4
NY Mets @ Arizona Diamondbacks
4:00 p.m.
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May 11
NY Yankees @ Detroit Tigers
1:00 p.m.
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May 18
Milwaukee Brewers @ Boston Red Sox
1:30 p.m.
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May 25
Seattle Mariners @ NY Yankees
1:00 p.m.
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Hopefully TBS' coverage in 2008 will be better received than it was in 2007.
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Even if it is though, we'll always miss the SuperStation WTBS era and gems like this:
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Thanks to TVARK

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Pac Man Fever. Catch It.

Name Change Can't Stop Wheels Spinning

2008-02-27T21:43:00.006-05:00

Because there's nothing more consistent in New York sports TV than change, this probably won't raise an eyebrow.

FSN New York, which was once SportsChannel New York, and is the sister station of MSG Network, will change identity again March 10 when it is renamed "MSG Plus".

According to Newsday's Neil Best,

The channel will continue to carry programming from Fox Sports, including college football and hoops and the likes of "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
But one plan is to make the often haphazard schedule more coherent. For years, FSNY has been an odd mish-mosh, from boating to boxing to a lot of poker and a lot of old Fran Healy interviews.Another goal is to bulk up the local content itself.
That includes younger-skewing events such as high school games and more interactivity via MSG.com, as well as (next season) more programming directly tied to the Islanders and Devils.
Michael Bair, president of MSG Media, said the station wants to "frankly capitalize more than we have on the Islanders and Devils," properties he conceded "we have undernourished on some level for a number of years."If all goes well, MSG Plus will be treated as an "equal to the core channel, whereas in the past it might not have been treated that way," as Bair said.
The first difference viewers will notice is a new graphics package, including a 24-hour ticker.

That's all well and good for roughly half the year. You can call the channels anything you like but if there's nothing worth watching, nobody will watch. Owning an all-sports network in the NY tri-state area is great except when you own two of them but don't own the rights to televise baseball.

With the Yankees-owned YES Network and the Mets co-owned SNY around for the long haul, the math is very simple:

MSG+ MSG = 0 reasons to tune in from May to October.

Trade San Diego For Bristol? Not Exactly.

2008-02-26T20:32:00.007-05:00

ESPN has a new coordinating producer for baseball and boxing.

Nick Davis was hired away from Cox Communications, where he produced San Diego Padres broadcasts for Cox's Channel 4.

Davis' job switch resulted in this terrific write up from John Maffei of the (SD) North County Times:

He's the most-valuable person regular viewers of Channel 4 have never heard of
Working behind the scenes in the production truck, he's one of those men responsible for the station's network-quality Padres broadcasts.
But after 17 years in San Diego ---- 13 of those with Cox Communications, Channel 4's parent company ----- Nick Davis, coordinating producer for Padres baseball, is leaving to join ESPN.
"I love San Diego and I love Channel 4," Davis said. "And I'll stack our telecasts ----whether it's Padres, San Diego State, USD or the high school championships ---- up against anyone."I didn't want to leave, but ESPN pursued me. And it was an offer I just couldn't refuse."
Davis, who lives with his family in Rancho Penasquitos, will be the coordinating producer for Major League Baseball and boxing --- two sports he loves ---- for ESPN.
That requires a move to ESPN's Bristol, Conn., headquarters. But he's not going away completely.
"Are you kidding, who would leave San Diego?" Davis said. "I'll rent an apartment in Bristol, but we'll keep the home in San Diego."Part of the deal with ESPN is that I get home as often as possible. Whenever ESPN has a baseball game on the West Coast, I'll be home for two or three days before or after the game. So it's not like I'm leaving for good."
Davis was a receiver at Purdue in his college days, earning a B.A. in communications, graduating in 1983.
He moved to San Diego in 1991. In 1993, he landed a job as producer and director for programming at Dimension Cable Services in Vista.
He joined Cox Communications in 1995 when it merged with Dimension.
"There is no finer person than Nick Davis," said Dennis Morgigno, station manager at Channel 4 and the man who oversees the day-to-day operation. "This is a great deal for Nick, but we hate to lose him."He takes an awful lot of pride in his work, and it shows on the air. In a way, though, this says a lot about what we're doing. I've been saying for years that our production is on par with anyone in the country. So for ESPN to recognize Nick and what we're doing, is pretty good."
Davis said the people at ESPN are very familiar at what's going on at Channel 4."And they love it," Davis said. "I think that validates the quality of our local production, and the fact we put the same effort into everything we do."
At ESPN, Davis will have a hand in scheduling as well as working with the network's talent."My goal is to increase the presence of the West Coast baseball teams on ESPN, especially on Sunday nights," Davis said. "I want to make sure there is a West Coast presence. That's an exciting prospect."
"Still, I hate leaving Channel 4 because it has been a big part of my life. And there are so many talented people there."
"But the opportunity to work at ESPN, ABC and Disney and the long-term ramifications was just too good to pass up."

In working with ESPN's baseball announcers Davis will be reunited with Rick Sutcliffe who in addition to his ESPN gig, worked with Davis on Padres telecasts from 1997 - 2004.

You will no doubt recall a moment those two shared on May 10, 2006. Following a day of golf in San Diego with actor Bill Murray, a less than sober Sutcliffe paid a visit to announcers Matt Vasgersian and Mark Grant the Padres TV booth at Petco Field. Davis was producing in the truck as brodacasting infamy fell all around him.

The original YouTube clip from the telecast was removed at MLB's request. Thanks to thecuddmancometh for reposting the audio portion.

Rick Sutcliffe served a one game suspension from ESPN for his conduct.

Nick Davis probably doesn't have to serve notice so something like this won't happen on his watch at ESPN.

Then again, considering the cast of characters already in Bristol, maybe he does.

CBS' Black Eye Turns Kentucky's Balls Blue

2008-02-25T21:06:00.003-05:00

When CBS mistakenly cut away from Saturrday's (2/23) Kentucky - Arkansas game in the final minute, you would think that they would have at least tried to make it up to their viewers, especially those in Lexington who complained first to local affiliate WKYT and then to the network itself.

Not so much.

CBS regularly posts previews, reviews and highlights of games they air on both CBS.com and YouTube but Wildcat fans got no satisfaction again, as the game's highlight clip ended as UK took a 57 - 55 lead with 1:15 remaining.

We would have posted the highlights, but CBS doesn't allow clips they post to be embedded on other web sites.

Even if the so-called "switching error" somehow prevented the game's final minute from being recorded at CBS master control in New York, the truck at Rupp Arena certainly had multple angles of everything that transpired in Kentucky's 63 - 58 win. Even if the melt wasn't fed down the line, it would have taken minimal effort to include at least some of the unaired footage.

WKYT Executive Sports Producer and Senior Sports Videographer (chooses stories then shoots them?) Steve Moss blogged:

CBS Sports made a monumental gaffe on Saturday. With the Kentucky-Arkansas game winding down, and nearing 4:00 p.m., the network switched viewers throughout the South from the UK game to St. John’s vs. Duke.
It sent the Big Blue Nation into a frenzy. Some of the phone calls and emails to our sports office were inappropriate.
WKYT’s General Manager, Wayne Martin, said the unfortunate error was made in New York, by the network. WKYT was supposed to be provided a “constant” feed of the UK game.
We provided callers with the phone number to CBS and apparently many voiced their opinions. The CBS mailbox was full in a matter of minutes.

Big Blue Nation had their feelings soothed by the victory, but will no doubt be a little wary of CBS' feelings towards them for a while.

Blue Jays Fly Outside The Box To Sell Tix

2008-02-24T21:33:00.014-05:00

"Hottest pre-season action" and "Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds" in the same sentence? Doesn't sound like covering the game is a priority anyway.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 on Citytv
Broadcast Begins at 12:30pm ET Live From Dunedin, Florida


 TORONTO, Feb. 19 /CNW/ - Citytv takes you out to the ball
game as it brings you the hottest pre-season action live
from Dunedin, Florida as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the
Cincinnati Reds Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 on Citytv. Live
coverage begins at 12:30pm ET.

Join some of your favourite Citytv personalities in
supporting the Toronto Blue Jays. "CityNews" anchor Gord
Martineau, resident Sports Specialists Kathryn Humphreys
and Hugh Burrill, and "Breakfast Television's" Jennifer 
Valentyne are joined by The Fan 590's Barb DiGiulio to
bring you three hours of pre-season action, atmosphere and
excitement as it happens.This unconventional sports
broadcast team will give you a perspective on baseball
you've never seen before on television! The last half hour
of the telecast will take you behind the scenes at the
season ticket holder barbeque where fans get to rub elbows
with their favourite players.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Toronto
Blue Jays in this Citytv baseball broadcast first" said
Jamie Haggarty, Executive Vice President, Television
Operations, GM/VP Citytv Toronto, Rogers Media Television.
"We look forward to offering our viewers a taste of
pre-season action from sunny Florida, giving them a chance
to witness all the action Citytv-style."

"We are excited about our partnership with Citytv and
love the fact that they will broadcast our March 2 game
against the Cincinnati Reds using such a diverse crew,"
commented Patrick Elster, VP Ticket Sales &Services.
"Live during the broadcast they will also announce the
Grand Prize winner from our Spot the Bobblehead contest
which kicks off February 22nd."

Those crazy Canadians may not be so crazy. The telecast is basically set up to sell 2008 Blue Jays tickets. Tickets to individual games go on sale the same day. Heavy local promotion combined with the use of popular Toronto non-sports TV personalities could attract an audience with wider demographics than a typical Spring Training game.

There's no coincidence that Citytv, the Blue Jays, and ~~SkyDome~~ Rogers Centre are all owned by Rogers Communications.

Ah, synergy.

This isn't exactly Citytv's first foray into, uh, creative coverage of the Jays during Spring Training as evidenced by this clip from 1984.

Thanks to Peter Gross

Can't say they didn't try.

Everyone's A Comedian

2008-02-24T20:42:00.003-05:00

Live from Philadelphia with the number one reason...

Epic Carnival presents the

TOP 10 REASONS THE NFL NETWORK GOT DROPPED

10. NFL Network ads provoke unquenchable urge to murder

9. After the Week 17 Giants-Patriots wussout, no actual point to the network seen by, well, anyone

8. When the choice is the sixth channel of Starz or combine highlights, the sixth channel of Starz will not be denied

7. It's not just you with the all-consuming hatred of Bryant Gumbel

6. Cable and satellite providers laughing last, longest

5. Ratings have taken a sudden and inexplicable drop ever year after Week 17

4. In a recession, advertisers tend to cut down on brand campaigns to shut-ins

3. After the Patriots lost the Perfect Season, a 24-hour-a-day network on a seasonal sports just seems, you know, kind of silly

2. Environmentally questionable to continue pumping that much pure bull into the ozone

1. If they keep televising it, the cable and satellite networks risk attracting the attention of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Wants A Ring)

What constitutes piling on?

Kentucky Affiliate Casts Evil Eye At CBS

2008-02-23T22:06:00.006-05:00

Someone or something at CBS master control in New York really screwed up near the end of today's (2/23) Kentucky - Arkansas game.

WKYT, the CBS affiliate in Lexington was having none of it. They were quick to finger the network itself for the error and encouraged people who phoned and emailed WKYT with complaints to take it to the next level. And they even provided the phone number.

LEXINGTON, KY - With 47 seconds left in the game between U. K. and Arkansas the Network switched away from the game and then switched back after 17 seconds.
The final score was 63-58. U.K. WON! WKYT-TV called CBS immediately after the mistake was made and had it switched back.
CBS is trying to find out where the error was made.
CBS New York's phone number is 1-212-975-3247. Hundreds of outraged fans have called and scores have e-mailed WKYT-TV and have been referred to the network number to register their complaints.

Kentuckians sure love their basketball and heaven help anyone who gets in the way.

(Thanks to Awful Announcing for the story)

Watch TV Monkeys Watch Left Turns

2008-02-23T15:50:00.007-05:00

If you had any inclination to watch something called a Nationwide Series Race tonight at 7 PM (EST) on ESPN2, you can enhance your enjoyment by watching the TV crew as they televise the event. You can even chat with like-minded people at the same time.

TV Monkeys

You can see the goings-on in the control room, audio & sub mix, etc. It's actually pretty cool.

Of course it would be really cool if the crew was covering something other than auto racing.

Public Demand For NFL Net Game Nets Net Loss Of 4 Million Homes

2008-02-22T20:12:00.012-05:00

You read that right.
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Because of the enormous ratings NFL Network's coverage of the 2007 regular season finale earned, the league-owned carrier will lose viewers.
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Go figure.
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Sports Business Daily via The Sporting News reports that EchoStar's Dish Network will remove the NFL Network service from it's most popular "America's Top 100" programming package. Only subscribers paying higher monthly fees for the "America's Top 200" tier will be able to receive the channel, a difference of four million households.
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Broadcasting And Cable quotes a NFL Network statement:

“We are aware of Dish's unfortunate decision, which is not in the best interest of its many subscribers who are football fans, especially this week, with NFL Network's exclusive coverage of the scouting combine featuring incoming college players from all over the country.”

EchoStar's actions would seem to be in retaliation for the NFL's decision to allow both CBS and NBC to carry the December 29, 2007 game between the Patriots and Giants which was originally scheduled as an NFL Network exclusive. Because of an ongoing dispute with the USA's largest cable TV companies, Dish Network was one of the few national service providers football fans could turn to for NFL Network programming last season. Allowing the most in-demand regular season game in decades to be aired on free terrestrial TV potentially cost Dish Network new subscribers.
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NFL Network is now available in thirty one million homes nationally.

Player Puked (Hokie Hurled) - Crew Choked?

2008-02-22T19:02:00.010-05:00

Sports By Brooks posted a clip yesterday from Wednesday's Raycom ACC basketball game between Virginia Tech and Maryland.

Virginia Tech's Dorenzo Hudson, (far side, top of key) could be seen struggling to keep himself together from the game camera. However, Hudson's pregame meal of steak, mac 'n cheese, and mashed potatoes (mixed with Gatorade) was hurled onto the court during the second of two free throw attempts.

A lengthy and rather humorous delay ensued as the affected area was given the hazmat treatment.

Brooks though was unhappy with the camera coverage of the incident. It sounds as if he wanted something a little more graphic than what was seen from the game cam angle.

We got a chuckle as several cam & tape ops agreed that they have seen more than enough of each other throwing up so there was little incentive to put forth great effort to document anyone else doing it.

We do know of a clip that may be more to Brooks' liking. It may take a while to dig up, but we'll post it when we do.

Berman speaks, Miami Herald Listens & Agrees - Everyone Misses The Point

2008-02-22T18:24:00.006-05:00

Chris Berman spoke with the Miami Herald and addressed the six now infamous clips which were posted, and since removed, on YouTube.

Anything we could add was already posted here three days ago. There's no need to write it again.

The interview, which also features quotes from Andrea Kremer, is posted here in its entirety.

ON SPORTS MEDIA

On Sports Media: 'Big Brother' watches, listens
Posted on Fri, Feb. 22, 2008
By BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
For all of the benefits of the Internet, the World Wide Web also has become a growing source of aggravation and embarrassment for sportscasters, serving up video and audio never intended for public consumption. ''It's scary,'' NBC's Andrea Kremer said via e-mail, 'because everything seems to be fair game with so many sites looking to embarrass those in the spotlight. It's like George Orwell's "Big Brother,' always watching, but in our case, it could be career-damaging.''
And the message could not be clearer: ''The bottom line today,'' Kremer said,``is that a sportscaster must assume he or she is on air always, and even the most casual or carefree behavior -- and certainly the animated or emotional one -- can end up on some website with embarrassing consequences.''
That lesson was reinforced recently for ESPN's Chris Berman, though nothing he did was career-threatening. YouTube and other Internet sites have offered old Berman clips that reportedly were distributed by a former co-worker who wanted to embarrass him. They feature Berman speaking to colleagues off the air.
In one, he complained and cursed about ESPN production employees distracting him while he was taping a segment. In another, he talked about sneaking codeine-laced Canadian aspirin into the United States. Last week, ESPN had YouTube remove the videos, citing copyright law.
''It's almost as if what we would fight against as a country -- the Soviets spying -- it's almost like that's what everyone is doing,'' Berman said by phone Wednesday. ``What's said in the huddle, which is what I did, should be in the huddle.``I'm disappointed people would think I'm not really good with the people I work with, which couldn't be further from the truth. Do I wish I didn't say a few things nine years ago? Yes. But if that's the worst thing I ever did, I can live with it.''
ESPN supported Berman, noting ``the off-air videos are now nearly a decade old and don't reflect his typical workplace demeanor.'' But the Berman videos were hardly unique. During the past year-and-a-half, including this week, Deadspin.com has offered an audio clip of a message that ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt left for a woman he reportedly met at a bar. The message doesn't make Van Pelt look bad, but it's clearly something he wouldn't want paraded through cyberspace.
ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson's controversial remarks at a January roast in Atlantic City, N.J., became a national story only after a tipster told Deadspin that she made a comment, while under the influence of alcohol, that would have been highly offensive to Catholics. Jacobson eventually was suspended for a week, though ESPN never confirmed whether she made the alleged remark about Jesus.
Internet sites also are using on-air clips to ridicule sportscasters, especially Emmitt Smith's grammatical gaffes on NFL reports. If the remarks were made on-air, linking to them on websites -- while embarrassing to the person being ridiculed -- is certainly fair game, as long as it doesn't violate copyright laws.
But other websites have gone over the line. One mocked ESPN sideline reporter Heather Cox, questioning her qualifications for the job and noting she attended a community college and was an American Idol contestant. (Only one problem: None of that background information was accurate.) Another ran a doctored photo of a student inappropriately touching ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. At least that was intended in jest -- and Andrews never complained about it.
Though sportscasters ultimately must take responsibility for how they present themselves, any contempt in the Berman/Van Pelt incidents should be reserved for the weasels who placed the clips on the Internet. ''Perhaps our producers also need to remind everyone that works for them of potential repercussions for video that doesn't make air as well as outtakes,'' NBC's Kremer said.
Berman now understands that ``you're being watched whether you're on TV or not. Everyone is very brave when they're anonymous, and that's very disturbing to me, whether it's about me or anyone else. I'd like to think people would be more productive with their time.'

IBEW prepares to negotiate new FOX contract

2008-02-21T15:20:00.005-05:00

Just in case you have an interest and didn't already know...

FOX Contract Negotiations

Hello Everyone,

FOX Sports contract negotiations are tentatively scheduled to begin in the middle of March.

Please contact your Business Manager for details and to inform them of your ideas/proposals.

We need to hear from you about what needs to be changed and added to the contract!

Include examples of situations as to why your proposals are needed.

We have also set up a FOX Sports contract web site to send us your ideas;

www.ibew.org/fox

Should you have any questions or need additional information, do not hesitate to contact me at anytime.

Thanks!
Ro Wratschko

International Representative
Broadcasting & Recording Dept.
IBEW
Washington D.C.
202.728.6147

Speak now or forever hold it!

Will Ferrell Throws Collinsworth Some Work

2008-02-20T00:55:00.004-05:00

Whew!

Cris Collinsworth didn't have to go without a third gig for long. The NBC and NFL Network personality was collateral damage when HBO canceled "Inside The NFL".

Fortunately, Will Ferrell came to the rescue and cast Cris in the upcoming movie, "Step Brothers".

Yardbarker caught Cris in a red carpet moment.

What the heck was that? We thought Cris used Vin Scully's personal lighting director? (C'mon Mensch, laugh a little.)

WHAT REALLY GRINDS OUR GEARS

2008-02-19T19:16:00.010-05:00

Bob Raissman (pictured, inset) is a columnist for the NY Daily News who more often than not writes about sports on TV. Normally we wouldn't take the time to critique main stream media critics because we'd never get anything else done. However, Raissman's February 15 column pretty much demanded a rebuttal.

Raissman covered several topics that day and included a harsh judgment about Ampex2000, who posted five of the six Chris Berman clips on YouTube.

BERMAN TAPE-GATE
There are a few video clips — nearly nine years old — circulating on various Web sites, and being e-mailed around the industry, of ESPN's Chris Berman inside the studio. The stuff on tape isn't flattering, to say the least.
One shows Berman flirting with a female colleague. Another shows him throwing a tantrum on the set. There's also a montage of Berman dropping multiple F-bombs. Bad behavior? You bet. But not as abhorrent as that of one who would actually sneak around, tape a colleague and either give the video to someone (or hold on to it himself all these years) before releasing it in order to embarrass Berman.
No, what Berman did on those videos pales — big-time — in comparison to the covert actions of the lowlife who taped him and made sure the video was widely distributed. If Berman is such a bad guy, and someone had a beef with him, they should have gotten in his face. Or taken the problem directly to ESPN management. That would have required guts. Anyone who would basically spy on a colleague is lacking in that department.
Before this creep — or creeps — decided to release the tape, then get their kicks at Berman's expense, they should have asked one question: Would they like the same thing done to them?

This from a guy who writes potentially unflattering things about people FOR A LIVING! Care to bet if those criticized by Raissman in the past wondered how he would feel if the tables were turned?

So let's turn them. And to be sporting, we'll only reference the February 15 column.

What are the chances that the person who taped Berman was sneaking around covertly through dark hallways, hoping to avoid being spotted? Raissman accuses the person of "spying" on Berman. When studio cameras are on, the images from them pass countless monitors, tape machines and eyeballs, so how the hell is that spying? Material like this has been recorded for years not only from where it was shot, but on satellite back hauls, Vyvyx taps, etc. This was something new back in 2000? Please.

And how about getting in Berman's face to settle a problem? Damn right it would have required guts. It would have required stupidity too. Talent having other people removed or reassigned is a regular occurrence in show business. Vice versa? Not so much. There are only so many David and Goliath stories out there.

Raissman also suggested to take problems directly to ESPN management. To management, Berman equals revenue and a technician is little more than a replaceable piece of equipment. It takes sexual harassment-type lawsuits such as those filed against Berman’s on-camera colleagues to get so much as a slapped wrist. Going to management about these issues is a quick way to becoming unemployed.

Chances are that these tapes were only played privately a few times for amusement then sat around gathering dust for years. Tapes like these exist everywhere in the industry and weren't necessarily made to deliberately embarrass the people in them. Ampex2000 said it took the original "Chris Berman Goes Crazy" posting on YouTube to even remember that he had the Berman clips in his collection in the first place.

But what of Raissman’s own professional conflict of interest potentially coloring his "reporting" for the Daily News? Read on from the same day’s column.

EMMYS SAY NO TO YES

Is there a mistake in the list of nominees for the New York Emmy Awards?

Looking at the play-by-play category, you see Gary Cohen (SNY/Mets) but no Yankees voices from YES. And looking at the analyst category, there's Ron Darling (SNY/Mets), but no Yankees voices from YES.
There must be a mistake, right?
After all, nearly the entire YES Nets broadcast crew, Marv Albert, Ian (The Bird) Eagle and Mark Jackson, was nominated for Emmys. So how the heck could YES' Yanks yackers possibly come up empty? Especially when the gang at Al Yankzeera has a cast of thousands working the Bombers' booth.
No mistake. We checked the list over and over again, shook it 100 times, and no YES Yankees voices fell out.
What a shame. Guess Al Yank really misses Jim Kaat.
No need for the YES men to whine or hang their heads. Maybe David Cone can turn things around after he stops answering questions about his name surfacing during the House Oversight Committee hearing on the Mitchell Report.

Think Raissman harbors some bitterness towards the Yankees and their owned-and-operated YES Network?

Many local and national columnists have negative feelings towards the Yankees that get published regularly, so that's hardly an issue. That is, until you learn that Raissman also appears regularly on-camera for SNY, the New York outlet that happens to be co-owned by the rival Mets.

In Raissman's mind it's okay to gloat over someone's failures (YES) from his high profile authority position (Daily News) while not immediately making clear that doing so also favors his other interests (SNY). How does that compute?

Perhaps Raissman was so offended by Ampex2000 because he ultimately fears for himself. Maybe there's a concern that something he said or did near a camera will someday find its way to YouTube.

Rather than stress accountability, Raissman chose to blame the messenger and label him a "creep" for bringing the public something factual about a well known person.

A long look in the mirror may be in order, sir.

Broken Beak Amuses Aussie Announcers

2008-02-18T01:19:00.005-05:00

Who has more fun, rugby players or rugby announcers?

Hint: They're FOX announcers...

Green and Gold Rugby adds:

"Here's a clip of the hilarious unintentional charge down that Cory Jane made with his nose on Kurtley Beale's clearance kick in the Waratah's vs Hurricanes S14 game yesterday. Points to him for shaking it off, but if you've got the name of a female porn star, pencil beard and a mullet then I guess you learn to toughen up."

Couldn't have said it better ourselves.

(Thanks to Green and Gold Rugby via Deadspin)

Good on ya, mate!

City Of Brotherly Shove Can Laugh Too

2008-02-17T19:43:00.005-05:00

They may be known for booing Santa but those Philadelphians can play a joke too.

How else would you explain Marty Miller and Bruce Levine? (Oh c'mon! We kid because we care.)

From their Spring Training camp in Clearwater, the Phillies are in a joking mood. CSN-Philadelphia was in on - and then aired - an elaborate practical joke played on pitcher Kyle Kendrick.

Elaborate may be an understatement.

Bugs & Cranks explains:

"Evil genius Brett Myers concocted a plan where assistant GM Ruben Amaro and manager Charlie Manuel would inform 2nd year pitcher Kyle Kendrick that he was traded to a Japenese team in exchange for another pitcher. Practically the entire clubhouse was in on it, from the newspaper reporters to Kyle’s agent. Kendrick was even slapped with a fake itinerary to Japan, fake press release and fake trade papers to his new squad."

Trade paper and itinerary courtesy Phila. Inquirer / The Zo Zone

Here is how CSN-Philadelphia told the story:

(Thanks again to Bugs & Cranks)

Instant classic!

Taxed By Kings, Flyers Hand Ducks Bill

2008-02-17T16:54:00.015-05:00

When a team from Philadelphia makes "VENGEANCE" their slogan, believe it. The NHL, Anaheim Ducks and FSN West all do.

As is the custom when a West Coast or small market Canadian team plays in the east, the visiting broadcaster relies heavily on the home show for cameras, often employing only two of their own. Weekday games that begin at 4:00 PM don't usually generate much in terms of ratings. Broadcasters will likewise increase budgets for games within their local time zones when the audience is naturally larger.

Normally, a two-camera visiting NHL show will set up a tight (or iso) camera and a hand held. If the home show only uses one HH, the visiting show will put theirs at the near side corner opposite the home show's camera. The home show then adds the visiting HH feed to their compliment for replays and live cuts during action.

Back on January 29, the LA Kings took on the Flyers at Philly's Wachovia Center. CSN-Philadelphia was televising the game locally, with FSN West sending it back to Los Angeles. The Kings' show controlled two cameras and had individual feeds of CSN-Philly's.

However, the FSN West show opted to use two hard cameras instead of one hard and one HH. CSN-Philadelphia didn't appreciate giving all their camera feeds away without getting anything they felt was useful in return.

The game on the ice needed overtime to be decided and so did this new game being played in the offices.

And four days later on February 2, CSN-Philadelphia got their vengeance when the Anaheim Ducks came to town.

Although the Ducks were nothing more than innocent bystanders, their games are broadcast by FSN-Prime Ticket. In Southern California, FSN-Prime Ticket is to FSN West the equivalent of what ESPN2 is to ESPN nationally. Same company, different channel number.

CSN-Philly balanced the scales by only giving FSN-PT feeds of their game camera and the NHL-installed overheads above each goal. Caught in the crossfire, the Ducks' production team was left to make the best of what they had: the home show's game camera, their own tight, their own HH and two goal overheads.

Additionally CSN-Philly's actions were backed up by the NHL, which essentially means that two-camera visiting shows around the league will be sure to give a little back to their hosts.

BOMBED BACK TO THE STONE AGE

2008-02-16T17:35:00.012-05:00

The US threatened to bomb Pakistan back to the stone age following 9/11.

KJZZ-TV in Salt Lake City threatens to do the same with our industry.

This was discovered on Craigslist:

Part-time Summer Video Work

Reply to: see below Date: 2008-02-15, 2:59PM MST

The Utah Jazz and the Salt Lake Bees are looking for individuals to fill the following positions: Camera Operator Instant Replay Operator Editor Techinical (sic) Director Utility/Grip

We are looking for creative individuals with experience and knowledge in shooting sporting/other events, video editing and interviewing. If interested mail your resume and demo reel to: Human Resources 301 W South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Location: Utah Jazz/Salt Lake Bees
Compensation: $50/event
This is a part-time job.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 575282979

Oh my lord, where to start?

Despite what your common sense is telling you, this ISN'T for a scoreboard feed in a minor league ballpark.

THIS IS THE REAL THING! Or as real as Salt Lake City gets, anyway (we kid, we kid).

We can look beyond someone's Utopian ideal that camera ops, tape ops, editors, TDs, and utes all deserve the same pay, as long as the rate is whatever the highest position normally gets.

Paying a utility TD money is fine and generous, but it wouldn't work in reverse. Can you name a TD that would work games for accepted utility wages?

But KJZZ takes that issue and goes about one hundred steps further. The pay is FIFTY DOLLARS per game for ALL positions! These games will be broadcast over-the-air in SLC with approximately 60 translator stations relaying the signal to viewers in Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho. And that's not counting cable and satellite viewers in the region.

This ain't no public access channel. A quick look at the KJZZ line-up reveals that they have syndication deals for "Friends", "Scrubs", "Entertainment Tonight" and everybody's favorite self-promoting fraud, "Dr. Phil".

But they're going to pay FIFTY BUCKS to freelancers working on their baseball games?

We can't wait to see how that looks.

But if you can imagine, the future may look even worse.

Kim Jong Mil, leader of rogue regime threatening sports TV workers

KJZZ is owned by the Larry H Miller Group Of Companies which controls a vast array of retail, food and entertainment businesses, financial service institutions and automotive dealerships in seven western states. The Utah Jazz and the EnergySolutions Arena, plus the aforementioned Salt Lake Bees baseball team (AAA - LA Angels) all fall under the Larry H Miller umbrella.

Conveniently, KJZZ also broadcasts 40 Utah Jazz games, which includes 22 home games this season. SLC's freelance pool continues to work these games, but what about next season? What if KJZZ offers their FIFTY DOLLAR A GAME crew the home package for 2008 - 2009? Who's to say that FSN Utah wouldn't eventually follow suit for their games?

There's nothing to stop them. Utah is a right-to-work state, and while KJZZ's actions will no doubt result in a grass roots IATSE movement, there's no legal remedy against anyone not wishing to join.

According to the their web site:

The vision at KJZZ remains, "To enhance the quality of life in Utah."

Except perhaps, for the quality of life of Utah's TV freelancers.

(By the way, companies that can't spell "technical" correctly in their help wanted ads shouldn't expect to find many Mensa applicants knocking on their doors.)

Pitchers & Catchers Report TODAY

2008-02-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

You can tell Old Man Winter to stick it.

No matter how cold, or gray, or windy or wet it is where you are, you know it's only temporary.

Days and nights in frigid stadia or dank arenas are officially numbered -

- for pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training camps this morning.

And to celebrate this day of days, we bring you the sounds of the game. Baseball's best clip ever.

We thought it might be nice to hear a little now, in a way we have heard it before and perhaps will again. Just a little. Enough to stoke the inner fire of anticipation. Enough to keep the spirits warm even where the temperatures aren't.

Hopefully this clip will lift you to a place where lazy days and leisurely evenings are spent at ballparks with friends. Let the sounds wash all over, as you float gently towards that personal space in the truck, in the booth or behind a camera.

Close your eyes and let your mind return to the days when some directors called High Home camera 1.

(If you're not in the business, the audio may be NSFW. There is no relevant video.)

Padres @ Braves, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, early 1990s

Ahhhhh yes.

Welcome back, baseball.

Football announcer arrested, tasered, injured, jailed, embarrassed

2008-02-13T20:48:00.007-05:00

Here's a first: getting news from TMZ.com.

Josh Booty, a 2-sport professional athelete and football TV-radio announcer was arrested for DUI Wednesday morning in Southern California. Police had to use a taser to control Booty, who wasn't very cooperative with police.

According to TMZ:

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Booty was taken to the Orange County Jail, where he was booked -- and that's when he went ballistic.
O.C. Sheriff's spokesperson Jim Amormino tells TMZ, "Booty was belligerent and uncooperative." Amormino says his deputies used a taser -- "less than lethal force" - to contain him.
After being tazed, Josh fell to the ground, hitting his head on the floor and cracking it open. He was taken to a hospital where he was stitched up.
Josh is the brother of USC quarterback John David Booty. Fight on!

Don't forget the obligatory mugshot!

(TMZ.com)

Josh Booty has had quite the athletic career. He was a 1st round pick by the Florida Marlins in 1994, spent 5 years in the organization and hit .269 in the Majors. He was a member of the 1997 World Champions and has the ring to prove it.

Turning to football, Booty was drafted by Seattle in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL draft. The QB was traded to Cleveland where he served as a back up for 3 seasons. He signed a 2-year contract last March with Oakland, but was released during training camp in July. Booty failed to catch on with another team.

He has worked for Fox Sports and NFL Network plus Sirius and ESPN radio.

Ironically, Josh Booty is a spokesman for TruMRI in Beverly Hills.

When they examine his head, maybe he'll get an employee discount.

BEST. CLIP. EVER.

2008-02-13T06:13:00.003-05:00

Final reminder...

It's coming tomorrow.

Exclusively at Sports TV Inside Out.

(reposting by other bloggers is welcome)

AMPEX2000 SAYS GOODBYE

2008-02-13T03:46:00.009-05:00

"THAT WAS MY 15 MINUTES. THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION."

ESPN ADDRESSES BERMAN VIDEOS

Just as the Chris Berman video clip story looked to be complete, a surprise twist was added to the plot in the form of an official statement from ESPN.

Several bloggers (including ProFootballTalk and AOL FanHouse) received a message from ESPN VP of Public Relations Josh Krulewitz downplaying the significance of the Berman clips.

We'll get to that in a moment.

Following correspondences with Busted Coverage and Deadspin, Ampex2000 granted an exclusive email exchange to Sports TV Inside Out. The now-legendary whistle blower who posted five of the six Berman clips on YouTube effectively bade farewell to the public during the exchange, excerpts of which are reprinted below.

Sports TV Inside Out: Your screen name - we wondered if the name came from the Ampex 2000 model VTR from 1967 or perhaps you were a tape operator in 2000 when the material was recorded?

Ampex2000: Ampex 2000 was the work horse of the broadcast industry but now it's a relic. Chris Berman was the work horse for ESPN but now is also a relic. Both don't work too well anymore.

Sports TV Inside Out: The location. You list SF. Is that a reference to Berman's love for the Giants & 49ers or do you live there?

Ampex2000: Both. The screen name and the city worked out perfect for these videos.

Sports TV Inside Out: Sexual harassment has been a well documented complaint against ESPN talent over the years. Do you have any insight into why numerous ESPN talent treat female coworkers that way?

Ampex2000: It's a male macho I-work-for-ESPN-world.

Sports TV Inside Out: You must be enjoying the attention the clips have received. Is there any particular comment (on line or otherwise) that stands out?

Ampex2000: Yes. There were many very, very funny comments. Some folks were totally off base. The best one that made me really laugh was (I'm paraphrasing) "Keep the videos coming you are doing the Lord's work.) There are some amazing people out there with a great sense of humor who get it. The ones who take it so serious just don't get it.

Sports TV Inside Out: The Christian Defense Coalition, the same group that protested in Bristol and tried to get Dana Jacobson fired, have used your clips as further evidence that ESPN is in moral decay. They called for another protest for today in Bristol. What is your reaction to having motivated this group to call even more attention to Berman and mobilize themselves against ESPN?

Ampex2000: Well, being that none of this made air the Coalition should back off. This is just an example of rude talent and how this TV business just goes to some people's heads. Most (not all) talent out there are really nice folks. Guys like Chris however are allowed to keep going because nobody stands up to them.

Sports TV Inside Out: By this point you have to figure that Berman has seen the clips and faced some questioning from his wife, kids & coworkers. Any thought as to how he may have reacted when told of the clips & how he may have explained himself to his family?

Ampex2000: Oh, I'm sure the excuse will be that it was taken out of context. You could make the assertion for maybe the edited pieces. However, it really does not change the overall tone of who he is.

Sports TV Inside Out: Were you hoping for any specific reaction (even in private) from Berman or anyone else at ESPN?

Ampex2000: No. It was more for the public. A guy like that will justify it anyway he wants.....and will.

Sports TV Inside Out: Do you know of others who have incriminating tapes
of Berman or any ESPN talent in their personal collections?

Ampex2000: I know of one. But I think this person would not release it as the finger would be pointed too quickly.

By the way, that was my 15 minutes. Thanks for the attention. And actually I hope it gets some of these bloated egos deflated a little.
My bet is audio guys will be told to close their mikes. Stage managers will keep the area clear of people with camcorders. Tapes and hard drives will be confiscated. In some cases, feeds will be hard patched and no one will really address the problem of rude highly paid talent learning to treat people properly.
As our parents use to say.....If you have nothing nice to say........Then say nothing at all.

But just after sending the above responses, Ampex2000 wrote back with the news of ESPN's official statement from VP of Public Relations Josh Krulewitz.

ESPN ADDRESSES BERMAN VIDEOS
"The off air videos are now nearly a decade old and do not reflect his typical workplace demeanor, his relationships with co-workers, nor the contributions he has made to ESPN over many years," Krulewitz said.
"Chris has a tremendous connection with sports fans and his body of work should not be judged by a few minutes of unguarded language uttered years ago. We aren't excusing the language used and will be emphasizing to our workforce the importance of using appropriate language in the workplace."

Ampex2000: This is so typical of PR departments.
"Chris has a tremendous connection with sports fans and his body of work should not be judged by a few minutes of unguarded language uttered years ago."
You mean a few minutes of RECORDED and SAVED unguarded language uttered years ago. Even though it went on many many times! Geeze these folks just don't get it. You mean if all the crap he has spewed over many years was recorded at every venue and saved and released as his BODY of work they would find an excuse as that only represents his "recorded off the record body of work" and should no be judged as his "on the air work."
Sad.....................

And with that, Ampex2000 was history.

The Other Gray's Anatomy

2008-02-12T17:45:00.000-05:00

DEADSPIN has a poll about Jim Gray's approval rating.

Results as of this posting:

Disapprove 69.5%
Approve 30.5%

We don't know if he voted, but we know which button NBC producer Sam Flood would click.

Head on over to cast your vote before the poll closes.

Announcer Acrimony At ABC

2008-02-12T15:54:00.000-05:00

Ampex2000 has posted his/her 5th and possibly last Chris Berman clip.

In "Chris Berman has always hated Al Michaels", we'll see our hero rehearsing his throws from the ESPNZONE in New York back to the MNF game site.

About the clip, Ampex2000 wrote:

"Chris is envious of Al Michaels. He always complains about him. He complains about all his air time and anything he has to say. This time you can see how he really feels as his dislike for Al finally slips out."

Unless more clips are discovered in Ampex2000's library, this is the end of the barrage.

Maybe Boomer can finally get off the Budweiser Hot Seat.

At Least Bloggers Know Their A-B-C s

2008-02-12T08:13:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago, a misspelled name on the starting lineup element slipped by an entire ESPN on ABC college basketball production team.

(Thanks to Ballsiest.com)

Last weekend, it was an NBA crew's turn to air mistakes made during preproduction.

(Thanks to Ballsiest.com)

We don't want to see what they come up with this weekend.

But Ballsiest.com does, and if they find something we'll pass it on.

UPDATE
Not long after this entry was posted, we received an email claiming that the freelance ESPN graphics operators referred to above recently worked for a sign company as well.

See you in hell.

An ESPN clip without Chris Berman!

2008-02-12T02:21:00.000-05:00

In this behind-the-scenes look at an ESPN college basketball broadcast from Murray State, producer Major Howe explains how it's done.

Major says he would pay to see many events that he gets to work on.

Good luck getting that raise.

222 Reasons Why We Miss The Montreal Expos

2008-02-11T00:40:00.000-05:00

Olympic Stadium: First the fans, then the team. Now even the turf has left.

Talk to anyone who travels regularly working National League baseball games. Chances are they miss the Montreal Expos more than they had expected.

Washington DC has it's advantages, but it doesn't have Youppi or over-the-counter codeine available in every pharmacy. Americans working Expos games were always doing favors for friends, bringing back as many bottles of "222" as they could squeeze into their bags.

For the uninitiated, a "222" is a pain relief pill made by Johnson & Johnson - Merck. It contains 375 mg aspirin, 15 mg caffeine and 8 mg codeine. While perfectly legal in Canada, any product using codeine in the US requires a prescription.

When the Expos left Montreal for Washington, TV folks and sportswriters alike were faced with a shortage of "222s".

Accordingly, Toronto has become more popular than ever among us TV types.

So why are we bringing all this up?

Ampex2000 has posted "Chris Berman and how to smuggle Canadian 222s", on YouTube. Of his fourth posting, Ampex2000 writes:

"Chris Berman explains how to sneek 222's in the US and the pop he gets from it." (sic)

Although they've gone up in price as the US dollar tumbled, "222s" continue to be a big reason many are quietly saddened by the loss of baseball in Montreal.

BEST. CLIP. EVER.

2008-02-11T00:15:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder, it's coming February 14.

Exclusively at Sports TV Inside Out.

(until other bloggers grab & post it too, like we do with their clips)

Courtship Of Eddie's Father Kid Caught On Camera! Former Child Star Has Aged Well

2008-02-10T18:12:00.000-05:00

(Thanks to Fan IQ)

A FSN Detroit camera caught this lovable lad in Toronto expressing his distaste for the Red Wings yesterday.

He probably reserves such gestures for Original Six games, so it's not so bad.

The host Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 3 - 2 in OT. The happy tyke went home and beheaded his hamster.

CHRISTIAN COALITION BACK TO BLAST BRISTOL

2008-02-10T17:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Chris Berman clips, the same group of people who protested at ESPN's Bristol, CT HQ over Dana Jacobson's remarks are at it again.

We just don't have the energy to deal with this.

Deadspin has all the details.

BERMAN BASHER BREAKS SILENCE (we think), POSTS NEW CLIP, CLAIMS 2 MORE IN HAND

2008-02-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

Ampex2000 has sent another Chris Berman clip to the court of public opinion in an effort to show the world the type of person Berman really is.

The latest entry is titled "Chris Berman Schmoozes a table for friends?" and is described as,

"Chris trying to be sincere?"

Did this one seem that bad to you?

Maybe it's us, then.

It's the end of Chris Berman's reputation as we know it, and Ampex2000 feels fine.

The poster of all but one of the Berman clips on YouTube was interviewed by Busted Coverage. Ampex2000 claims not to be the poster of the original "Chris Berman Goes Crazy" clip that started this whole thing back on December 30.

We have no way of knowing if this is legit, but other than several cases of awful spelling and grammar, there isn't anything obvious to make us scream fraud.

It's worth the read. Decide for yourself. We'll wait right here.

Chris Berman YouTube Video Poster Talks To Busted Coverage

If the two not-yet-posted clips make it onto YouTube soon, it stands to reason that the interview was on the level. But that wouldn't be definitive proof either, would it?

We'll just have to wait and see.

What are your thoughts?

By the way, did you notice the Tom Emanski ("Back to back to back A.A.U. National Champions") baseball video ad on the big screen in the background?

There's truly no escape.

TAPE OP'S TAPES TELL TALENT'S TALES

2008-02-09T23:51:00.000-05:00

Ampex 2000: 1300 lbs. worth of shit stirring!

It looks like Chris Berman sure pissed someone off!

Using the name Ampex2000, a colleague of ours has posted three more clips on You Tube that shows a side of ESPN's Chris Berman that the public rarely sees.

The first Berman video to hit the net, "Chris Berman Goes Crazy", was posted on January 30 by new You Tube member winnarwinnar. Self described as a 23 year-old from Denmark, winnarwinnar has not posted anything since, but is no doubt proud to know that in only ten days on the web, his effort has been viewed more than 1.3 million times.

Whether winnarwinnar and Ampex2000 are one in the same isn't known (yet?), but they most definitely share the same negative opinion about Boomer.

We are wondering about the name. Could Ampex2000 be a reference to the industry's first color-capable VTR model (shown above), which debuted in 1967? If so, it could mean that this person is either quite the TV veteran or at least knows something about TV history.

However, these clips (and "Chris Berman Goes Crazy") were recorded during the 2000 NFL season, so perhaps the name was simply derived from the year combined with this person's craft.

Anyway, we'll see Chris Berman from the ESPNZONE restaurant in New York, where he hosted ABC's Monday Night Football.

"Chris Berman the WINE maven makes a pass" is the title of this first clip. Ampex2000's description:

"Chris Berman again shows why he is so obnoxious and is disliked by so many."

There is a well-known co-star in this piece that should not go uncredited. The object of Boomer's flirtation is none other than Philadelphia's own Becky Solomon. This highly regarded stage manager has spent much of her career shuttling between gigs in NYC and Philly. Becky no doubt has been the intended receiver of many passes over the years from numerous announcers covering every local and network-televised sport.

Ampex2000's description of clip #2, "Chris Berman the Linguist......nice mouth!" (sic), is clear and concise:

"Chris Berman again showing why he is the master."

The third entry from Ampex2000 is "Chris Berman Complains Again... about the prompter" in which,

"Chris Berman shows again how spoiled and rude he is".

Will there be more entries to follow?

Will any other notable announcers feel the wrath of Ampex2000?

The answer is on tape.

Carolina 'Caines All Locked Up By FSN South, Sonics' Escape From Seattle Takes Shape

2008-02-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

Good news for Ya-Man & friends: Carolina Hurricanes games will be seen on FSN South for at least the next five years. The new contract calls for an increase from 55 telecasts to a minimum of 65 per season. A minimum of 35 road games will be televised each season, as well as all playoff games exclusively available to local rightsholders.

The contract includes multiple options that could extend the agreement beyond five years.

Time Warner Cable and Baltimore-based MASN were said to be interested in acquiring the TV package as well, but couldn't even make a proposal to the NHL team because FSN's exclusive negotiating window hadn't expired.

Meanwhile the news isn't as good for Seattle's freelancers. Far from it in fact. Supersonics Chairman Clay Bennett gave a ringing endorsement to Oklahoma City's $120 million Ford Center improvement plan yesterday, another big step towards moving the NBA franchise.

On March 4, Oklahoma City residents will vote on a one-cent sales tax to pay for the improvements. A trial will begin on June 16 to decide whether the Sonics can buy out the remainder of their contract with the city of Seattle or if they have to play there until the deal expires prior to the 2009 - 2010 season.

The NBA would also have to approve of the relocation, which Bennett applied for last November after no new arena plan was offered in Seattle. "The goal is to come to Oklahoma", Bennett said yesterday according to the Daily Oklahoman.

For those keeping score, Seattle is the 15th largest market in the US while Oklahoma City ranks 45th.

That says plenty about Seattle's desire to keep the team and/or Bennett's judgment on where he can make more money.

Spell Czech Would Be A Good Idea

2008-02-08T04:15:00.000-05:00

Call it what you want. Chyron, Dubner, Infinit, Duet, whatever.

The operators of these graphics machines don't set.

They (usually) don't strike.

And now some of them can't spell.

Here's evidence from last Saturday's Duke - Miami game on ABC:

(Thanks to Ballsiest.com)

Who knows, maybe "Gerg" will be the next "Jacob".

This was a potentially dangerous mistake from Tuesday's PTI on ESPN:

(Thanks to With Leather via SbB)

Talk about pressure! Hit one wrong key and Al Sharpton may try to get you fired.

Let's be careful out there.

BEST. CLIP. EVER.

2008-02-07T00:49:00.000-05:00

Coming February 14.

Exclusively at Sports TV Inside Out.

(until other bloggers grab it & post it too, but that's okay)

Mark your calendar now!

CUT TO BLACK: "INSIDE THE NFL" WHACKED BY HBO BOSSES

2008-02-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

Last Supper: Now Tony, Carmella and Cris all eat with the fishes.

"Inside The NFL", the weekly highlight and analysis show that has been an HBO staple for 31 years, was canceled today. The Super Bowl wrap-up airing this week will be the season and series finale on the pay-cable network.

Despite the myriad football highlight shows currently on TV, "Inside" stood apart by resisting today's catch phrase mentality and concentrating on the sport. Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti hosted the series for two decades until 2002. Current Host Bob Costas was joined by former NFL players Dan Marino, Cris Collinsworth, Cris Carter, and football writer Peter King.

Since the show's inception, Harry Kalas provided voice over narration of highlights shot by NFL Films. The steady and reassuring sound of his voice reinforced "Inside The NFL's" reputation as a high end, high class production.

The biggest concern at the moment is what will become of Collinsworth, who has appeared on "Inside" since 1990. A studio analyst on NBC's Sunday night package and a game analyst on NFL Network's games, HBO's decision leaves Cris only two vehicles with which to opine.

There was no word regarding Collinsworth's future possibilities in the official HBO release announcing the show's cancellation. However the "Ask A Host" feature on the "Inside The NFL" web site gave us a chance to inquire on our own.
.

If we get a response, we will post an update immediately.

An AP story raised the possibility that "Inside The NFL" could resurface elsewhere next season. NFL Films, which owns the series, may search for another outlet or perhaps air the show on the league owned NFL Network.

.
After 31 years at HBO, we hope "Inside The NFL" finds another good home for years to come.

If just for Collinsworth's sake.

Golf Channel Announcer Takes Mulligan

2008-02-06T00:30:00.000-05:00

Did we miss the firestorm over this one or did it just not happen... yet?

(thanks to FAN IQ)

Golf Channel execs must be hiding under their desks wondering what's going to happen next.

Marshall Plan Creates Chaos At Key Arena

2008-02-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

We've seen this clip posted elsewhere recently, but didn't watch it until a few minutes ago.

It seems Cleveland's Donyell Marshall didn't have his jersey on when he was sent into a game against Seattle.

"Coverage" and we say that loosely, is from FSN Northwest.

Yeah, it's funny on it's own, but there's a serious whip that's also pretty funny too.

Redefining Lights Out Coverage

2008-02-05T02:03:00.000-05:00

UPDATE FROM PREVIOUS POST

Under a glare of skepticism regarding arena lighting, ESPN2's coverage of Monday night's St. Mary's - Gonzaga game began as scheduled at 11:00 PM EST.

Play By Play announcer Terry Gannon immediately called McKeon Pavilion dark, resulting in a "really unique setting."

The tip was delayed because of lights, but not the arena's. One of the shot clocks was so dark, it looked like it wasn't working at all.

But that made sense because it wasn't.

The delay wouldn't have been very lengthy, but arena personnel aren't very well versed in over and under. Uncoiling an AC cable took longer than it should have.

Now back to those arena lights.

It was obvious earlier in the day that the sheets of opal gel didn't quite do the job on their own. So when ESPN met with campus officials to discuss the problem, the only solution available to reduce the intensity and glare was to physically remove some bulbs from fixtures.

In order for a cherry picker to reach all the lights that needed removal, the wooden stands had to be pushed back and folded against each wall. That meant that the cameras had to be taken apart and brought down. And if that wasn't enough, the announce table had to go too.

We don't know where the blame lies, but forget about the glare on the court for a minute. This place had no chance from the start.

Removing the same number of bulbs from each side of the court decreased the light level, but didn't improve how players looked. Why? The near side of the arena didn't have the same number of fixtures as the far side. Something like a 25% difference.

You go figure that out. We've given up.

The net result was that the court was hit with much more light from the near side than the far.

The ESPN2 production team felt compelled to at least mention the unusual conditions. With this view shooting back toward the near side, Gannon all but said, "Don't adjust your sets at home."

But the pictures spoke in terms far stronger than what Gannon chose.

We were actually rather taken with the images of shooters from the line, and felt we had somehow seen this look before.

It took a while, but it finally came to us:

So the lighting wasn't unacceptably awful then. It was an homage to a classic work of photography.

Pity anyone who saw it differently.

Monday's final tally:

- St. Mary's officials and Musco probably have some things to work out.

- McKeon Pavilion did not burn to the ground. Campus personnel were assigned to look at the lights all night just in case.

- The St. Mary's theater department did not get the assist. But at least they now have to beg for funds to replenish their stock of opal gel.

- And Keith Buttelman, the V-1, left Moraga, CA no more insane than when he arrived.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS

2008-02-04T19:55:00.000-05:00

Those of you who hadn't planned on checking out tonight's Gonzaga - St. Mary's hoops game on ESPN2 (11:00 PM EST / 8:00 PST) may want to reconsider.

At least for a minute.

St. Mary's College has recently installed new lights inside McKeon Pavilion, home of the WCC's Gaels. None other than industry leader Musco Lighting did the job, per St. Mary's College's specifications.

Here's the result:

Uh, not exactly TV friendly to put it mildly.

We're told that when St. Mary's complained to Musco about the glare, Musco washed their hands of the project, saying the work was done as ordered.

So, with a national audience tuning in to see the 23rd ranked Gaels host the rival Zags tonight, the St. Mary's staff turned to the college theater department for help.

The hope was that gelling the lights with sheets of full opal would cut the glare while maintaining an acceptable light level.

We haven't heard if the Moraga, CA Fire Marshall has been clued in.

Will McKeon Pavilion burn to the ground?

Will the theater department be credited with an assist?

Will the V-1 go insane?

Tune in tonight and find out!

4th And Final Quarter

2008-02-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

Following the NY touchdown at 11:04, the Coke billboard cut out as it was dissolving out. However, those billboards are usually inserted from master control in L.A. so we won't count it.

#4 - (And we list this half heartedly) Just after the game officially ended and all hell broke loose on the field, Pam Oliver's interview with Plaxico Burress was cut away from to a cablecam shot of, well, nothing but players milling around.

The over / under was set at 5, so if you took the under like we did, you won!

The Fox crew did too.

After 3 Quarters

2008-02-03T20:52:00.000-05:00

#2 - NY ball, 3rd & 6 at the NE 41, Artie Kempner missed the snap. He was on a tight shot of a Patriot player.

#3 - Following the ensuing punt, the roll-out froze well before the commercial ran.

Only the 4th quarter remains....

Spoke Too Soon

2008-02-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

As Tom Petty's halftime concert concluded, the NFL animation element with voice-over credit was up-cut by a Fox promo.

THAT, is a mistake.

But it almost certainly didn't come from the game truck, so we won't count it against the over / under of 5.

Heading to the 3rd quarter, the total stands at 1.

At The Half

2008-02-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

Good game so far, good show so far.

Not much to criticize was there?

X-MO or whaterver it was looked very grainy and didn't match the other cameras.

Two times they were a little slow coming out from replays, but there were no freezes, no whips and nothing live was missed, so that's being really picky.

The only mistake we saw in the 1st half was this shot framed on the wrong side for the graphic.

If this is the biggest mistake, we'd say they had a pretty good half.

We also like the up cameras on the both goal lines.

Super Critique #1

2008-02-03T18:06:00.000-05:00

Not an error but still...

During the anthem, the shot from Iraq wasn't in HD. No big deal.

Why no wings?

The Walter Payton clip had wings on the first shot only, then nothing.

Weak.

Boomer's Bad Week Continues

2008-02-03T17:07:00.000-05:00

Seems people want to see all the mistakes from today's pre-games / game / post-games posted here.

We don't have the time or resources for that, but Awful Announcing pounced on this one from ESPN's NFL Countdown.

This is the very top of the show. Audio either opened Berman's mic too soon or Boomer didn't bother hitting his cough button.

Either way, it wasn't a good start.

We'll monitor the blogs and if they post other amusing moments, we'll help ourselves & put them up here too.

Judging by your expectations, we're placing the over / under on errors during Fox's Super Bowl telecast at 5. Announcer mistakes don't count unless they are traffic related or something more significant than just incorrect info or slips of the tongue.

The count begins when the game truck airs the tease. A clean post-game show during big events is almost impossible, so we'll stop the count when the post-game show begins.

For the record, we're taking the under.

Meanwhile, it's back to Puppy Bowl IV.

Right To Fight State

2008-02-02T00:58:00.000-05:00

Is it true that in quest of a pay raise, members of one town's work force found friction not only from the regional sports channel that hires them, but from their fellow colleagues who are willing to undercut?

C'mon people. It's 2008.

Wake up.

SNOWY WEATHER & SLIDING SUV SINK SNF TRUCK

2008-02-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

click image to enlarge

NEP's "ND-3 A", used by NBC for Sunday Night Football, was involved in an accident in Kansas on Wednesday.

Details aren't available yet, but judging by these photos featuring scattered equipment and missing bay doors, we'd hate to see how the other vehicle looks.

Stay tuned for updates...

UPDATE 2/2: "ND-3 A" was broad sided by a SUV that lost control in the snowy conditions. The belly bays were ripped from the mobile unit. Somehow though, nobody was hurt.

The truck is currently being repaired at Mobilized Systems in Cincinnati.

"ND-3A" is expected to miss only one show, and NEP will replace it with "ND-4A".

Boomer Goes BOOM! or Boomer Goes The Dynamite!

2008-01-31T21:19:00.000-05:00

This Chris Berman clip is from 2000 but just made its way to the public today. A bunch of our favorite bloggers have all put it up on their sites as well, but we want to make sure anyone who visits us has a chance to see it. If it gets removed from You Tube, fear not. Deadspin grabbed it and said it's permanently embedded.

That being said, here it is. Pull up a chair and enjoy.

Unlike that clip of the bird pooping on the reporter, we know this is real!

Baaaaaaad Frog! You're A Baaaaaaad Frog!

2008-01-30T21:21:00.000-05:00

......................The Frog ......................Courageous Cat, Minute Mouse

Do you remember "Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse"? It was a dark cartoon that aired in the early 1960s featuring an odd pairing of cat and mouse superheroes.

Anyway, one of the big villians was "The Frog", who wore a derby, smoked a fat cigar and talked like Edward G. Robinson. No matter how devilish The Frog's schemes were, somehow, against all odds, by episodes end, Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse would save the day. And The Frog would be in jail.

What's this got to do with sports, you ask?

FSN Houston has evidence from last night's Warriors - Rockets game that The Frog is on the loose.

And he's up to no good!

(Thanks to Awful Announcing for the post.)

Sun-Soaked Super Sod Slides Inside

2008-01-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick video of the Super Bowl field returning inside the University Of Phoenix Stadium after catching some rays.

It's tough setting up low end zone cameras when there's no low end zone.

Reporter Gets Hit With Bird Poop Scoop

2008-01-30T17:53:00.003-05:00

We're posting this because:
1) Bird watching was considered a sport at least through the 1960s
2) It's just too damn funny not to share.

Yes, we too have questioned the presence of the boom operator when the reporter is using a stick and why there's no footage of the anchor(s) from the news set.

Sometimes you have to have faith in something.

Space Squeezed As Super Sod Seeks Sunshine

2008-01-29T18:10:00.000-05:00

The field at Glendale's University Of Phoenix Stadium is elevated from the actual arena floor and can roll completely out of the building. Despite having a retractable roof, the stadium itself blocks direct sunlight from hitting all parts of the field, especially at this time of year.

During the NFL's regular season, the TV compound is adjacent to the area the field occupies when outdoors. However a Super Bowl compound is several times larger, and in Arizona additional mobile units and production trailers are forced to line up single file along the perimeter.
Space is so tight that several trucks have to remove their stairs when the field is outdoors. Hopefully nobody takes a step outside without looking first. We've seen that before and it's usually followed by a trip to the nearest emergency room.

But imagine life if the trucks were always this close to the field!

Not The First Time A Snowboarder Tipped A Model Over

2008-01-29T00:54:00.000-05:00

How do you say "X Games" in German?

We don't know either, but we just learned that "Are you ok?" translates to "Are you ok?"

You know the poor stage manager is being sent to the Russian front for this.

Don't Trust Joe Buck?

2008-01-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

The poor guy in this video is boycotting a St. Louis car dealer. Joe Buck appears in the dealer's local TV commercials, so of course he becomes a target too.

The same guy has a bunch of videos on You Tube about this place and a lot of supporting material to back his claims up. Four employees were even arrested for assaulting him!

Joe appears at the end of this commercial:
Suntrup Ford Westport Acquisition Sale

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Joe may want to rethink this endorsement and stick to national campaigns. Then again, working "Jub-Jub" into a 30 second spot is probably easier on the local level.

SABADO GIGANTE ICES NBC'S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SKATERS

2008-01-28T21:03:00.000-05:00

Don Fernando or Dick Button? America's adults have spoken.

On Saturday, the US Figure Skating Championships were on NBC, in prime time, during the writer's strike. Not only did the Ladies Free Skate and Short Program not win the night, it didn't place or show, finishing dead last among the 4 major networks with a 3.5 rating.

To make matters worse, even Univision's infamous "Sabado Gigante" spanked the Peacock in the all important adults 18-49 demographic. NBC averaged a pathetic 0.9 rating and a 3 share.

No wonder that Don Fernando is always smiling.

In the overall ratings on Sunday night, the Men's competition garnered a 3.5 and placed 5th in both of its 2 hours, lagging behind ABC, CBS, Fox and Univision, but ahead of the CW.

At no point during the weekend did skating reach a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo.

Even the old East German judges would have given it a 1.2.

Saturdays In The Park

2008-01-27T21:22:00.000-05:00

For your convenience, and a chance to preview what your schedule may look like in a few months, here is what Fox has planned for the 2008 regular season. Fox will also televise the All-Star Game from Yankee Stadium, the NLCS and the World Series.

Once again ALL GAMES, regardless of time zone, will start at 3:55 PM Eastern, except for May 3 and May 10 which will start at 3:45 PM Eastern.

April 5
NYM @ ATL
CWS @ DET
LA @ SD

April 12
NYY @ BOS
COL @ ARI

April 19
NYM @ PHI
CLE @ MIN
LA @ ATL

April 26
NYY @ CLE
LAA @ DET
ARI @ SD

May 3
CHI @ STL
NYM @ ARI
BAL @ LAA

May 10
NYY @ DET
STL @ MIL

May 17
MIL @ BOS
CLE @ CIN
LA @ LAA

May 24
NYM @ COL
ARI @ ATL
LAA @ CWS

May 31
LA @ NYM
DET @ SEA
ATL @ CIN

June 7
CHI @ LA
SEA @ BOS
CLE @ DET

June 14
BOS @ CIN
LA @ DET
PHI @ STL

June 21
STL @ BOS
CLE @ LA

June 28
NYY @ NYM
CHI @ CWS

July 5
BOS @ NYY
CHI @ STL

July 12
COL @ NYM
SF @ CHI
MIN @ DET

July 19
BOS @ LAA
CLE @ SEA
SD @ STL

July 26
NYY @ BOS
ATL @ PHI

August 2
LAA @ NYY
MIL @ ATL

August 9
NYY @ LAA
STL @ CHI
ATL @ ARI

August 16
LAA @ CLE
PHI @ SD
SEA @ MIN

August 23
LA @ PHI
ATL @ STL
SD @ SF

August 30
PHI @ CHI
SEA @ CLE
COL @ SD

September 6
PHI @ NYM
DET @ MIN
ARI @ LA

September 13
ATL @ NYM
MIL @ PHI
SEA @ LAA
.

September 20
TBD - 3 GAMES
.

September 27
TBD - 3 GAMES

ESPN 101

2008-01-26T00:07:00.000-05:00

We should probably just let this speak for itself.

ENOUGH ALREADY

2008-01-25T18:13:00.000-05:00

Some people with nothing better to do on a work day drove to the Bristol, CT headquarters of ESPN to protest something they haven't heard.

The same people are demanding that Dana Jacobson, the host of ESPN2's First Take, be fired for something she didn't say on the air, and may not have said at all.

The leader of this bunch acknowledges he hasn't heard Jacobson's supposedly anti-Christian comment, but that he will forgive her - once she's lost her job.

And this alleged offense - Jacobson supposedly said "Fuck Jesus" - occurred at a roast celebrating "Mike & Mike's" 8th anniversary on the air. By definition a roast is, "a facetious tribute, as at a banquet, in which the honoree is alternately praised and insulted."

Ah yes, insulted.

Yet an insult of Notre Dame (Mike Golic's alma mater) at a social function where off-color humor is invited and expected is of no concern to these protesters. The protesters also flatly state that Jacobson would have been fired if she offended Jews, African-Americans or homosexuals. But of course there's no proof of that either.

The only substance that the "Christian Defense Coalition" has is a report, from the The Press of Atlantic City, saying Jacobson,

"made an absolute fool of herself, swilling vodka from a Belvedere bottle, mumbling along and cursing like a sailor as Mike & Mike rested their heads in their hands in embarrassment."

But Scott Cronick, an editor for The Press who wrote that story has also said,

"I did not hear her say 'F--- Jesus,' and neither did some other people I spoke to who were at the roast".

So let's get this straight.

A TV personality is suspended and her employer is still pressured to fire her for something she may not have said, and certainly didn't say on the air or even in her place of work. The same person who wrote about her behavior also denied ever hearing the supposed inflammatory remark. Yet that doesn't hold the same weight as a self appointed moral minority group's belief that the TV personality may have said something offensive to Christians?

Pass the bottle.

Please.

TILGHMAN'S ON AIR APOLOGY RENDERED MUTE

2008-01-25T13:46:00.000-05:00

You have to wonder just how these things happen.

At almost any other point during yesterday's Golf Channel broadcast of the Buick Invitational, such a glitch would go almost unnoticed, and certainly wouldn't warrant comment.

It's live TV (even if it's golf). Things aren't always perfect.

But for the lone minute of yesterday's show that was under the microscope and subject to scrutiny by anyone with an opinion and access to a computer, Golf Channel blew it.

All they had to do was come on the air cleanly, and maybe this mess would begin to go away. Let everyone hear embattled anchor Kelly Tilghman apologize and the world can focus on other crimes against humanity.

But that was too much to ask.

As Tilghman spoke, the world heard nothing. Not because people weren't listening, but because there was nothing to hear.

Somehow, some way, something went wrong and wasn't corrected until Tilghman was halfway through her second sentence. It's tough to tell who was at fault by viewing the clip. It could have come from master control. It could have come from the site. Maybe the A-1 didn't track the right channels. Maybe the EVS playback screwed up.

If her on-camera was live, the glitch could have come from the booth, but surely that couldn't have been live. Nobody would have been that risky. We hope.

Take a look for yourself.

If the Cialis billboard ran from master control, the error could have come from any of the above mentioned places. If the billboard ran from the truck, it almost certainly came from the truck. We'll see if anyone comes forward with an explanation.

Regardless, it's as close to inexcusable as you can get.

Embarrassed yet again, Golf Channel responded by putting the full text of Tilghman's apology on their web site.

Meanwhile the critics had a field day, with some pointing out other Golf Channel audio mistakes such as these from last weekend's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Tough times lately for audio, especially when everyone associated with golf was hoping no noose would be good noose.

(No, we're not apologizing for that!)

Happy Birthday Ernie Harwell

2008-01-25T01:14:00.000-05:00

Happy 90th birthday wishes go out to Ernie Harwell, the Hall Of Fame voice of the Detroit Tigers and a hall of fame person to anyone and everyone he ever worked with.

Lovely piece.

Raise a glass to many, many more happy and healthy birthdays for Ernie.

NFL NET TO CABLE OPS - GOD'S ON OUR SIDE!

2008-01-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

Comcast's and Time Warner's holy war continues against NFL Network, but the football channel now has an ally with even higher power.

In fact, some would say Almighty.

NFL Net signed a distribution deal with Sky Angel, a self proclaimed "Christian-Centered" subscription service based in Naples, Fl. Founded in 1980, Sky Angel was originally delivered to homes via satellite, but is now changing to internet delivery to televisions via set top boxes. Sky Angel's IPTV service is currently taking pre-orders for an expected launch next month. The company will not say how many satellite subscribers it has or how many IPTV subscribers it expects.

One thing Sky Angel does not have is a wealth of sports programming. NFL Network joins a sports line up that consists of networks such as Tennis Channel and The Sportsman Channel.

Make that only consists of Tennis Channel and The Sportsman Channel.

Golf Channel? Nope. Versus? Sorry. None of the 5 ESPN networks are offered either. Then again, Dana Jacobson is clearly not Sky Angel material.

The World Wide Leader has plenty of company. Sky Angel's line-up does not include many "traditional" channels across the board.

How will NFL Network mesh with Sky Angel's other programming? CEO Rob Johnson says, “NFL Network fits in with our desire to provide America with more programming that the entire family can enjoy together.”

We're betting Johnson's entire family hasn't seen "NFL Cheerleading Playoffs" or the cheerleading documentary series "Making Of The Squad".

It has been widely reported that NFL Network charges secular cable companies and satellite providers 70 cents per customer, per month. Details of how much Sky Angel will pay per customer were not released.

Regardless, while their deal with Sky Angel may only amount to a few pennies from heaven, it's now clear that NFL Network is "On A Mission from God".

New Outlet Gets Set To Scratch A Niche

2008-01-24T20:35:00.000-05:00

Because there's never enough work out there, we're very excited to bring you the news about Women's Sports TV. If you've had your fill of testosterone-fuelled tests of machismo or if your life wouldn't be complete without working a NWFA game (that's National Women's Football Association), maybe this, uh, network (?) is for you.

Conveniently headquartered on Madison Av- Hang on... Where? Oh. Based in Madison, Tennessee, WSTV plans to show all women's sports, all the time.

The lady footballers from the NWFA will have plenty of company too. The following shows are coming soon, according to the official WSTV web site:

HER SPORT AND FITNESS MAGAZINE WITH DAWNA STONE
THE BIG "W" SHOW WITH ELISSA WALKER CAMPBELL
THE FINISH LINE WITH CHRISTINE MADDELLA
WOMEN'S GRIDIRON MAGAZINE SHOW
WOMEN'S PRO RACQUETBALL TOUR
THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
TENNIS TIPS WITH TRISH FAULKNER
CANADIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY
WOMEN'S FLAT TRACK DERBY (ROLLER DERBY)
WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
WOMEN'S PRO RODEO ASSOCIATION

WSTV takes requests too! Not only can you submit show ideas, but if you have great game footage on DVD and want to show the world, they'll air it! Presumably the footage must be of women playing something.

Who's to say this won't work? Who's to say WSTV can't fill a few holes in your schedule?

Who knows?

One thing though. We'd give them a better chance of success if they correct the typos on their web site and add an apostrophe to the "womens" in their logo.

Good luck girls!

The Agony Of Defeat - But Not In Europe

2008-01-23T01:13:00.000-05:00

Do you remember Vinko Bogataj, the Yugoslavian ski jumper whose 1970 crash adorned the Wide World Of Sports open as "the agony of defeat"? Of course you do, and nearly everyone you know does too. ABC took that unfortunate and unsightly moment and made it into something so much bigger than it actually was.

We Americans tend to do that: glorify the grotesque, the painful, the "agony of defeat" almost as much as we celebrate beauty, expressions of pure joy and victory.

Joe Theismann's broken leg? Barbaro's broken leg? Darryl Stingley? Mike Utley?

You get the point.

Everyday injuries during our games are first met with close-ups of an anguished face followed by numerous slow motion replays from every angle available. Maybe play an angle or two back at real speed. Back to slow-mo again. Out to another tight face shot.

That's the way we do it. And that's what our audience expects.

And who wouldn't want to give those guys everything they want?

Seriously though, coverage any other way would seem inadequate or incomplete, wouldn't it?

That's what makes Scott Macartney's crash in Kitzbuehel, Austria stand out. Macartney went down heavily last Saturday, on the last jump of the World Cup race. Unconscious upon impact, he slid down the remaining portion of the course followed by his helmet, while the crowd held its collective breath.

We know how we would have covered it.

Via Austria's ORF, here's how the world feed looked:

(Reuters reported that Macartney suffered no fractures, regained consciousness and began making jokes. He is expected to make a quick and full recovery.)

The Europeans showed no close-ups at all. In fact, the director often cut to wide shots. Replays were used sparingly and it seemed only for context not content.

We're not saying they're right and we're wrong. We're not saying we're right and they're wrong.

We're just saying our approaches to similar situations are very different.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

THIS Soccer May Actually Be The Next Big Thing

2008-01-23T00:07:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's the result of a football hangover. Our football.

But we've just become aware of a show that could, repeat - COULD, help make that other football more popular here than a team of David Beckhams could ever hope to.

A freelancer emailed to to say:

It seems that something called Fox Soccer Channel, or FSC, carries nothing but soccer. Okay, I'm down with that. Don't know who watches the thing, but that's not the point.

According to their listings they show damn near every league in the world. There are always a bunch of Mexicans playing on this patch of dirt underneath the power lines near where I-610 crosses Route 59. The next time I drive by, I fully expect to see a FSC crew shooting the action.

Those guys better be union.

Anyway, each Monday this Fox Soccer Channel runs a game from the English Premier League. You know, the one with the Manchester Uniteds and such. But this game doesn't have any regular announcers. They get 2 guys to call the game, but they are fans - one for each team! And they say what they want and do what they want and scream and yell and tell each other to shut up and it's great! It actually makes me want to watch and see what will happen next. This could be what soccer needs to pick up fans all over the country.

Of course if soccer gets popular here we'd have to shoot more games and who wants to do that? Maybe Starbucks could be a sponsor and give the crew enough free coffee to stay awake during the games. But you gotta check this thing out!

I'm fixing to TiVo the show each Monday.

So with thanks to Awful Announcing, The Beautiful Game, and Footy Mania, here's an example:

Our thoughts: We've got a lot of these all-whatever channels. NFL, NBA, NHL, golf, 2 for college sports, etc. All of them rerun games. Over and over.

Maybe this could be an interesting idea for some of those re-airs. Or maybe this could put the SAP button to good use.

Of course, maybe the fannouncers would be too damn obnoxious to listen to. (I just copyrighted "fannouncer", so don't even think of using it without paying a licensing fee!)

Internet radio had channels with fans calling games off their TVs, but the leagues got all huffy about violations of the rules from those disclaimers we run every day. It would be entirely different if the leagues were doing it themselves, and reaping the publicity and profits as well.

Who knows? Soccer may catch on after all!

Survive The Lambeau Fields In Your Life

2008-01-22T16:54:00.000-05:00

This may be the last post about the weather at the NFC Championship game.

It also may be the most important, especially if you have ever been under prepared when working shows in inclimate conditions.

(These are not paid endorsements. We're just passing on some products that our colleagues have found to be of great help in doing their jobs.)

SealSkinz is a family-owned California company that makes breathable waterproof gloves, sock and hats. Their Ultra Grip gloves allow for very fine finger movements on focus controls or cable connectors.

From their website:

In late 1993 after successful field trials, Danalco commenced the
manufacture of SealSkinz®, the first fully waterproof sock designed for the
recreational industry.

In 1997, after almost seven years in development, Danalco commenced the
manufacture of waterproof gloves -- a highly durable, flexible, watertight
yet comfortable glove to be used by anyone needing waterproof protection.

In January 2000, Danalco once again set the standard for waterproof
protection with the launch of its WaterBlocker socks -- which have a patented
in-cuff seal that helps keep feet dry even when they are submerged in water!

The latest SealSkinz® ChillBlocker® Socks and gloves in addition to being
completely waterproof are fleece-lined to provide comfort in climates reaching
30 degrees below zero.

NEOS Overshoe is based in Vermont and makes a wide variety of weatherproof footware that fits OVER your regular shoes.

According to their website:

In addition to providing 100% waterproof protection and unmatched slip
resistance options, the NEOS® Industrial line offers supreme comfort by allowing
your workers to wear their favorite footwear underneath their NEOS® overshoes.

Workers can now wear their own steel-toed work boots, sneakers, or even
custom prosthetics and still enjoy superior protection.

Many veteran freelancers swear by their products. And if they may cost more, try to remember the last time your hands or feet were under protected from cold temperatures or water. How much would you have paid for comfort then?

Snowless Show Still Secures Seriously Sensational Sum

2008-01-21T13:17:00.000-05:00

Fox Sports Co-Chief Ed Goren's snow dance brought only negative temperatures to Green Bay. Regardless, the NFC Championship Game was a huge positive for Fox. Next up for Goren's tribe: yet another Boston - New York showdown.

Imagine what the ratings would have been if there had been snow last night in Green Bay.

Despite the lack of the white stuff, Fox's broadcast of the NFC Championship Game pulled a 26.3 rating and a 39 share last night. The average of 48.6 million viewers was the highest total for a non-Super Bowl broadcast since the 2004 series finale of "Friends."

During the 9:30 - 10:00 PM (EST) ratings period, Fox averaged a staggering 51.6 million viewers.

Both the game and the telecast were worthy of such numbers. The temperature at kick off was -1 degree and fell to -4 by the game's end, with windchill numbers another 20 degrees lower. You wouldn't know it judging by the camera work, though. Seasonal cold weather often makes a tactile task like running a camera difficult. Performing in Sunday's extreme conditions challenged not only each operator's skill, but their absolute will too: The will to remain standing motionless for four plus hours. Hell, just the will just to remain standing at all.

Try making fine adjustments with a focus knob when you can't feel your fingers. Try keeping a shot steady while shivering. It isn't easy and it isn't fun. Yet every aspect of the game was covered as if it were played in a dome, a testament to the crew -a crew who now have a few days to thaw before beginning their Super Bowl set up in Arizona, some 1,900 miles and almost as many degrees away.

Belichick Double Dips At AFC Championship

2008-01-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

New England's genius head coach Brian Belichick, not satisfied with showing up the rest of the NFL, helps out the CBS crew as a utility moments after the Patriots defeated the San Diego Chargers 21- 12 in the AFC Championship Game.

Either that, or he was trying to avoid being strangled by a triax cable.

QUITE THE SNOW JOB IN ASPEN

2008-01-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

With all the media coverage on the Fox & CBS crews' battle with the elements at today's conference championship games, the gang setting up for next week's X-Games in Aspen are feeling left out in the cold.

Literally and figuratively.

The 0 degrees in Green Bay would seem downright balmy to the X-Games crew.

This is no joke. People are running cables in these conditions!

Some other visuals:

Somebody's going to have fun with this triax. If they can chisel it out.

During strike, maybe they'll just cut the ends off and keep the connectors.

Power cables and snow. We wouldn't normally put these two things together, but somehow it works here.

Following their purchase of NCP this week, hopfully NEP has enough money left to replace the cables that won't be removed until spring thaw.

Misery loves company

2008-01-19T19:27:00.000-05:00

The conditions in Green Bay are living up to the hype, but the Fox crew is hardly alone. Those hardy souls currently in Aspen setting up for next week's X-Games aren't exactly basking in warmth either (more on that later).

Camera Operator Keith DeSantis doing his best Flavor Flav. (See? One of those great CBS Nagano parkas makes an appearance on a Fox show!)

Blowing heat under the tarp in an effort to keep the frozen tundra not so frozen.

Anything that will help keep the tarp from blowing away will spend the night on the Lambeau Field.

Some of the cameramen said today was the coldest day they've ever experienced at work.

What are they in store for tomorrow night?

COWBOYS' COLLAPSE CONDEMNS CREW TO C-C-C-COLD CONDITIONS

2008-01-18T18:33:00.000-05:00

Don't be surprised to see Fox crew members wearing CBS apparel at Sunday's NFC Championship Game in Green Bay.

All of this could have been avoided if only Dallas had done what it was favored to do: beat the New York Football Giants.

Instead of working in the relatively mild conditions of Texas Stadium (dump that it is), you or your colleagues are stuck in Green Bay's Lambeau Field (shrine that it is), where the only thing colder than the temperature is the joint decision between NFL and Fox to make the NFC Championship a night game.

I guarantee not a single cameraman, A-2, parab holder or utility was consulted.

It's not a fair trade, but at least the crew is getting a little recognition for what they're going to endure.

In today's edition, Michael Hiestand of USA Today wrote:

Picture this: Filming in the bitter cold

You have to wonder: Do really tough TV camera operators at freezing NFL games make a statement, like some players do, by wearing just short sleeves?

"That's pretty funny," says Tony West, a Fox cameraman who last week jumped into the stands in Green Bay so he could be there when the Packers' Greg Jennings scored and made a Lambeau Leap. "Very funny. But we all wear serious arctic gear."

Bob Wishnie, the CBS camera operator who zoomed in on Tiger Woods' miraculous 16th-hole chip shot at The Masters in 2005 to create footage that became an instant Nike TV ad, will try not to freeze during Sunday's Chargers at Patriots game. A CBS cameraman since 1982, Wishnie still bundles up in his CBS-issued 1998 Winter Olympics snowsuit and uses chemical hand and foot warmers. But because he rides along the sideline, shooting from a moving cart (with his back to the crowd, he's been hit by plenty of snowballs), he can't use all the tricks of the trade. "Some guys strap heating blankets around themselves," he says.

Fox's West — who notes Packers fans were very helpful in lifting, then lowering, him for his in-the-stands adventure last week — says you can't be too careful about the cold. "At Green Bay," he says, "I had on so much stuff, I was sweating."

Wishnie is right on the money about the Nagano Olympics winter gear issued by CBS. The clothing created a controversy in Japan at the time because it was made by Nike who was not an official Olympics sponsor. Because of the CBS decision to go with Nike, none of the clothing could be adorned with Olympic Rings. In fact, use of the word "Olympic" was prohibited! And because the gear was almost entirely black, it was easy to spot amidst a sea of authorized brightly colored apparel worn by crew members from all over the world.

The black-clad CBS crews were marked as renegades by the international media. However, there was no more sought after item for sale or trade in Japan than one of those all black CBS parkas.

And regardless of what network someone may work for now, when the conditions are this extreme, many people who still have their 1998 Nagano Olympics gear makes damn sure it's what they wear.

If anyone can come up with better network issued winter apparel, please let us know.

SVG also published a story about how Game Creek's staffers prepare for the weather conditions forecast this weekend:

That’s one reason Kevin Callahan, an engineer for Game Creek Video made stops at five different Target stores to pick up electric blankets. “We flew into Milwaukee and stopped at every Target on the way,” he says. “We’ll put one of the electric blankets on every one of the hard cameras to keep the cameras, lenses, and fluid heads warm.”

The cold will also be testing the limits of the equipment. The Sony HD cameras are rated to -4F and the Vinten Vector 70 heads that will be used are rated to -40F.

That -4F rating for the cameras might come into play Sunday night. For those watching the game in more comfortable settings, trying to determine what (if any) cameras go down will be an added element of interest on Fox's broadcast.

When is Opening Day Not Quite Opening Day?

2008-01-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

When it's the Monday following a Sunday Night "Opening Day" which is almost a week after two teams played their "Opening Day" on another continent.

That's when.

But for those who just love working side-by-side-by-sides, dealing with newly hired security personnel who think they're in the Secret Service, and ending your day striking a potentially unfamiliar truck with an EIC who counts BNC barrels, here's what ESPN has planned.

Why wait? Call your favorite scheduler now!

2008 ESPN / ESPN2 "TRADITIONAL" OPENING DAY SCHEDULE

(Monday, March 31 - All Times Eastern)

1:05 PM TOR @ NYY ESPN

2:20 PM MIL @ CHI ESPN2

4:10 PM SF @ LA ESPN

7:00 PM LAA @ MIN ESPN2

10:05 PM HOU @ SD ESPN2

Washington Ballpark Inaugural Elected For National Audience

2008-01-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball crew will have the honor of breaking in Washington's new ballpark, as the game between the Braves and Nationals has been chosen as the North American Opener, on Sunday Night, March 30.

The Red Sox and A's will have played two regular season games in Tokyo earlier in the week.

2008 ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL SCHEDULE

(all 8:00 Eastern telecasts unless otherwise noted)

3/30 ATL @ WSH

4/06 CWS @ DET (ESPN2)

4/13 NYY @ BOS

4/20 NYM @ PHI

4/27 LAA @ DET

5/04 CHI @ STL

5/11 BOS @ MIN

5/18 NYM @ NYY

5/25 LAA @ CWS

ESPN has until 23 days before each of the following dates to choose 1 of 3 preselected games. The 2 games not chosen return to afternoon starts on local television.

The games of 7/13 and 7/20 are confirmed selections.

6/01 LA @ NYM, ATL @ CIN, DET @ SEA

6/08 CHI @ LA, CLE @ DET, PHI @ ATL

6/15 ATL @ LAA, LA @ DET, SD @ CLE

6/22 CWS @ CHI, SEA @ ATL, DET @ SD

6/29 LAA @ LA, CHI @ CWS, NYY @ NYM

7/06 BOS @ NYY, CLE @ MIN, HOU @ ATL

7/13 COL @ NYM

7/20 BOS @ LAA (6:00 PM Eastern)

7/27 NYY @ BOS, ATL @ PHI, CWS @ DET

8/03 PHI @ STL, CLE @ MIN, MIL @ ATL

8/10 STL @ CHI, ATL @ ARI, OAK @ DET

8/17 LAA @ CLE, PHI @ SD, SF @ ATL

8/24 ATL @ STL, LA @ PHI, SD @ SF

8/31 SEA @ CLE, LA @ ARI, PHI @ CHI (ESPN2)

9/07 PHI @ NYM, LAA @ CWS, DET @ MIN

9/14 DET @ CWS, MIL @ PHI, SEA @ LAA

9/21 BAL @ NYY, STL @ CHI, DET @ CLE

It Only Seems Like Every Game Is Boston & New York

2008-01-17T19:31:00.000-05:00

2008 ESPN / ESPN2 MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Monday games unless noted. All games 7:00 PM Eastern unless noted.

4/07 TB @ NYY (ESPN2)
4/14 BOS @ CLE
4/21 NYM @CHI
4/28 NYY @ CLE
5/05 BOS @ DET
5/12 BOS @ MIN
5/19 CHI @ HOU
5/27 LA @ CHI (TUES)
6/02 NYY @ MIN
6/09 CLE @ DET
6/16 BOS @ PHI
6/23 SEA @ NYM
6/30 NYM @ SEA
7/07 MIN @ BOS
7/21 MIN @ NYY
7/28 LAA @ BOS
8/04 BOS @ KC
8/11 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
8/18 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
8/25 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
9/05 NYY @ SEA (FRI, 10 PM Eastern)
9/12 ATL @ NYM (FRI)
9/19 DET @ CLE (FRI)
9/26 NYY @ BOS (FRI)

JUST WONDERING...

2008-01-16T03:35:00.000-05:00

Click on the stadium to open a larger picture and see how long it takes you to find the little one chip wonder shooting the football game.

Can't find it?

Well, don't feel bad.

Just like every BCS bowl and NFL playoff game on Fox, you couldn't find X-MO because it wasn't there.

What gives?

Ripped Straight From Today's NY Times

2008-01-15T20:23:00.000-05:00

Not a bad piece: Good pub for Dan Gibbons and a semi-believable quote from Jerry Steinberg!

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

TV Sports
So It Looks Cold on Camera? Try Operating One

By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Published: January 15, 2008

On Jan. 10, 1982, Cris Collinsworth, then a rookie wide receiver, awakened to a report on his hotel clock radio that the temperature outside was 13 degrees below zero and that the howling 35-mile-an-hour wind made it feel like 59 below.

Not a great day for the Cincinnati Bengals’ American Football Conference championship game against San Diego.

In the Bengals’ locker room at Riverfront Stadium, players gathered around a large box. “Whatever it was,” Collinsworth said Monday, “I was going to get mine.” Inside was a supply of Hanes queen-sized panty hose; it wasn’t exactly a Joe Namath moment.

“You’ve never seen anything, until you’ve seen Anthony Muñoz and our offensive line trying to get into Hanes queen-sized panty hose,” said Collinsworth, the NBC/HBO/NFL Network analyst.

Twenty-six years later, Collinsworth insisted that he didn’t slip on a pair and didn’t know if Coach Forrest Gregg donned one either. “Nobody would ask him,” he said. “We were too scared of him.” As an offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers, Gregg survived the Ice Bowl of Dec. 31, 1967, when the wind chill measured 48 below for the game at Lambeau Field, which became forever immortalized as America’s frozen tundra.

•

On Sunday, the conference championship games will be played in frigid, if not such severe conditions. Fred Gadomski, a meteorologist at Penn State University, said that for the 3 p.m. start of the San Diego-New England game in Foxborough, Mass., the temperature will be in the mid-20s, with 15- to 25-m.p.h. winds.

But with an Arctic front settling over Green Bay, the Packers and the Giants will probably start their 6:30 p.m. National Football Conference title game with the mercury in the low teens, then falling to single digits.

Jeff Last, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Green Bay, said he saw little likelihood that he would issue any warnings about extreme or dangerous cold.

Very cold weather is expected at certain times in N.F.L. cities, and the possibility of playing those games at night is a burden borne by sedentary fans who don’t run back kicks or make sacks. The league moved some wild-card and divisional playoff games to prime time in 2002 and pushed its conference title games to later starts in 2003 so that one would kick off around 6:30 p.m.

Greg Aiello, a league spokesman, said temperatures didn’t fluctuate by more than a few degrees from afternoon to evening. “And people in cold-weather climates are used to it,” he said.

While there will be fans who will reject Aiello’s meteorological analysis, it’s worth noting that the Ice Bowl, the Freezer Bowl (the San Diego-Cincinnati title game) and the Carolina-Green Bay N.F.C. conference championship in 1997 (game-time temperature: 8 degrees) were all played in the afternoon.

The late starts give NBC, CBS and Fox one prime-time exposure each, an invitation to charge advertisers more because of larger audiences. The league isn’t likely to flip a night and a day game if a long-range forecast calls for extraordinary winter weather, unless rogue icebergs were surging down Lake Michigan.

Severe weather is a boon for football-watching, and the broadcasts are produced by people standing in it. Dan Gibbons, a Fox cameraman, stood on a mobile platform about 10 feet off the Lambeau turf Saturday, shooting the wintry scene that only seemed to improve Brett Favre’s game. At one point, Fox showed Gibbons standing against the snow. “I loved it,” he said Monday. “You can’t move around much, but you’re right above the benches.”

Watching from the network’s truck in Foxborough, Ken Aagaard, senior vice president for operations for CBS Sports, caught glimpses of Green Bay. “I was jealous,” he said, adding that those “big chunks of snow look great in HD.”

Fox and CBS take extra measures to protect their people and equipment in unusual cold. Cameras are wrapped. Lenses get heaters. Cables are kept off the ground to prevent them from freezing and cracking. “My main concern is with our people,” said Jerry Steinberg, the vice president for field operations for Fox Sports. “They’re the warriors; they don’t complain. If we lose a camera, we have 17 more.”

Aagaard added, “Operating a camera is very tactile; it’s hard to pan, tilt and zoom in the cold.”

It isn’t easy playing, either. Collinsworth said that within five seconds of leaving the locker room on that frigid day in 1982, “My face cracked and started to bleed.” His first catch “felt like a sledgehammer crashing into a giant mirror and watching all the pieces fall to the ground.”

“I dropped it and recovered it,” he said. “Luckily, I only caught two that day.”

Notes

The Giants’s 21-17 victory over Dallas late Sunday afternoon on Fox produced a 25.8 overnight rating, the highest for a divisional playoff game since 1997.

E-mail: sportsbiz@nytimes.com

LAKERS BYNUM DROPS LIVE F-BOMB ON CHINA

2008-01-14T03:05:00.000-05:00

The assault on our virgin ears continues!

LA Lakers center Andrew Bynum spoke a little too freely with FSN West's Patrick O'Neil during a live post game interview on Friday Night.

The broadcast was also fed live to China among other unsuspecting countries via NBA TV.

Bynum's goof was unintentional, and he was even kinda cute when he realized what he did.

This wasn't the first time a Lakers telecast has featured adult content. A promotional effort for Fox's reality show "The Simple Life" led to this infamous mid-game interview FSN West's Bill MacDonald conducted with Nicole Ritchie during the height of Kobe Bryant's 2003 sexual assault controversy.

We don't know whether Ritchie ever had her way Bryant or vice versa, but she sure as heck-fire had sex with somebody. Nicole gave birth to a daughter on Friday. Husband Joel Madden claims to be the father.

Motivation On Trial, Juror Put To Sleep

2008-01-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

A freelancer checked in with a story that many people in the Sports TV industry can relate to.

A well deserved break in his schedule coincided with a summons for jury duty. While cursing himself for not throwing the notice away in the first place, our hero reported to his local courthouse prepared to fulfill his civic obligation.

However a 9:00 AM report time following a game and strike the night before left little time for sleep and by now you've probably guessed the result.

At one point during the day in court, our man was awakened by the sound of his own snoring.
.

When asked about his less than inspired public performance, he said "You know what happens to me with morning call times. If I can't get to work on time to make $600, you think I'm going to be motivated when they pay us $40?"

At least the prosecution will be pleased. Regardless of the evidence, we were told, "This guy swings. And when it's over, everybody in here will swing."

We hear ya, brother.

CBS' SIMMS SLEEPS EASIER ON EVE OF SNOWLESS SATURDAY

2008-01-11T23:58:00.000-05:00

Phil Simms should sleep well tonight in his hotel room with the knowledge that clear skies are predicted for Saturday Night's AFC Divisional Playoff game between Jacksonville and New England.

No snow = no snow balls!

SHARPTON OUT OF BOUNDS ON TILGHMAN BOGEY - GOLF CHANNEL LOSES BALLS

2008-01-11T18:15:00.000-05:00

In one way this could be good.

But in many ways this is bad. Really bad.

Those who champion equal rights must be somewhat satisfied that Kelly Tilghman is actually being treated the same way a man would be. Because for the first few days after the story broke, she really wasn't.

Golf Channel broadcaster Tilghman's unfortunate and potentially offensive remark about Tiger Woods one week ago was widely reported. She and the channel apologized publicly, and Tilghman apologized to Woods over the phone. Woods accepted the apology. Golf Channel said there would be no disciplinary action towards Tilghman.

Case closed? End of story?

If so, great. But we wondered how this would have been handled had a male sportscaster made such a mistake. If past examples are any clue, it wouldn't have been pretty.

An inebriated Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder lost his job at CBS over a racial statement that had no malicious intent. And despite a career filled with efforts on behalf of African-American athletes, Howard Cosell was shrouded in controversy following his "little monkey" remark about Washington Redskins wide receiver Alvin Garrett. Cosell meant the term to describe someone of diminutive size, and had used the phrase on the air a decade earlier about Mike Adamle, who is white. Frustrated and angered over the furor that spanned the entire 1983 season, Cosell did not return to Monday Night Football in 1984.

Yet for several days following her gaffe, Kelly Tilghman faced no such furor.

That is until Al Sharpton jumped up and threatened to have his National Action Network supporters picket Golf Channel's Orlando HQ if Tilghman wasn't fired. According to CNN, Sharpton "compared Tilghman's statement to calling for a woman to be raped or for a Jewish-American to be sent to a gas chamber. "

Does anyone find THAT remark offensive?

Tiger Woods issued a statement through his agent saying he was friends with Tilghman and, "We know unequivocally that there was no ill intent in her comments." But that's not nearly good enough for Sharpton.

In what looks like an appeasement effort, Golf Channel reversed course and suspended Tilghman on Wednesday for two weeks. The channel did so in an anonymous statement, with no executive or spokesperson standing publicly behind the action.

"The GOLF CHANNEL regrets the poorly chosen remarks made by Kelly Tilghman on a recent broadcast and, again, extends our apologies to anyone who was offended. There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this. While we believe that Kelly's choice of words were inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate. Consequently, we have decided to suspend Kelly for two weeks, effective immediately."

Whether Golf Channel's cowardly act is good enough for Sharpton to recall his troops remains to be seen.

Welcome to the boys' club Kelly Tilghman.

What can happen to baseball producers in the off season

2008-01-10T15:19:00.001-05:00

Three baseball producers got together recently to rehash last season's glories and talk up their plans for 2008.

And to play a little Wii.

Thanks to FAN IQ

Gotta love the one guy's mom, even if she needs a lesson in camera work (shoot the TV next time). She may ask her son to get his own place soon.

WHAT THE #&#@ DID THEY SAY?

2008-01-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

Do you remember when analysts were always called color commentators?

Well a few off-color comments have been uttered on air lately. Disconnects between brain and mouth, Freudian slips, and good old fashioned racism popped up on no less than three recent broadcasts.

Example #1

December 28, 2007 - Atlanta Hawks @ Dallas Mavericks - FSN SOUTHWEST

Brad Davis, former NBA player and current Mavs analyst, describing a play:

“..When he has to full court press and grab and hold and everything else. And it gets to a point sometimes where the referees just get tired of f—ing calling fouls on them.”

Thanks to Sports By Brooks

For $20 you can buy a personalized CD that will give your youngster the thrill of a lifetime, and maybe a lesson in English slang.

The Dallas Mavericks Play-By-Play Personalized CD features professional announcers calling out your full name as you become the hero of your favorite team. This 10 minute CD has great sound effects and music. Listen to your name called out as you lead your team to an amazing come from behind victory in game seven of the NBA Finals. Personalize the CD cover by inserting your own photo beneath the cut-out star. Makes a great gift for young fans!

Call now! Operators are standing by.

Example #2

Kelly Tilghman, Golf Channel's main play-by-play announcer pulled a Fuzzy Zoeller last Friday at a PGA event in Hawaii.

Thanks to FAN IQ

Tilghman, according to the Chicago Tribune, "has apologized after saying during Friday's telecast of the PGA Tour's opening event that today's young players should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley."

In a statement issued Monday, Tilghman said: "On Friday during our golf broadcast, Nick Faldo and I were discussing Tiger's dominance in the golf world and I used some poorly chosen words. I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him. I also apologize to our viewers who may have been offended by my comments."

Tilghman will face no disciplinary action.

There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that she meant to say Woods should be chained to the back of a pickup truck and dragged through Texas.

Example #3

Cris Collinsworth had an unfortunate slip of the tongue on NBC's NFL playoff game between Washington and Seattle last Saturday.

As posted by Awful Announcing, Cris is talking about the Skins pressure on Matt Hasselbeck when it sounds like he says, "When that guys' 'coming' right in her face."

Sounds like Cris may be spending a little too much time watching adult movies in his hotel room.

SURFING (the net) WITHOUT SPENDING (your per diem)

2008-01-08T20:32:00.000-05:00

I've been confronted with a common problem amongst free-lancers: how to get onto the Internet without getting gouged by the hotel or having to rely on a weak, intermittent, or password protected press signal at the venue.

Well, for those of us with a Sprint Treo freedom is nigh. We can use them as modems for our laptops. There a couple of different approaches to this end ranging from the entirely legal and very expensive to what we could euphemistically call "creative" and free.

To stay within the law Sprint requires a "Phone as Modem" contract costing $39.99 per month. That's a lot of money if you ask me. In addition Sprint requires basic data services starting at $15.00 per month to get the ball rolling. That's $660.00 for an Internet connection? C'mon!

A second method requires basic data services and a visit to PDAnet to pay for and download their software. It's $34.99 for the software and it loads easily. You can be surfin' the net within minutes using the USB sync cable that came with your phone. PDAnet will not take any responsibility for any additional fees should Sprint notice your additional data usage but from my experience it's only those folks downloading music or movies that cause any concern.

A further, more creative method requires just basic data services, a little ingenuity, and the desire to stick it the "man". It may be the most challenging technically but for tech geeks like us it's a piece of cake. I suggest a Google of the phrase "Internet on Air" which will lead you to Trevor Harmon's web page detailing directions for your 650, 680, 700 or 755p. It took me about 30 minutes to download the hack, get a trial version of Resco Explorer (which is a really cool software program - think Windows trees for your phone) and then move the hack via Resco to my phone's RAM. Again, common sense use of data services is suggested. Simply checking your mail and surfin' the net shouldn't be a problem.

One additional note: I used the USB cable that came with my 755p because I have a pre Bluetooth laptop but if you have Bluetooth on your laptop you can surf via Bluetooth.

Now that's cool.

ANGELS ANNOUNCERS' ASSIGNMENTS SUBJECT TO SPIN CYCLE?

2008-01-07T02:21:00.000-05:00

Back in November when the LA Angels announced their 2008 broadcasters, it was widely reported that Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler would split the season between TV and radio, calling around 75 games on KSPN and the rest on FSN West or KCOP.

Angels radio broadcaster Rory Markas, who has called games with Terry Smith since 2002, would now pair with Mark Gubicza 75 times on TV. Smith's role in the booth when Physioc and Hudler are on the radio wasn't defined. Jose Mota, whose 50 TV games in 2007 weren't embraced by the fans or the critics, would be given pre and post game TV work in addition to his play-by-play duties on the team's Spanish radio network.

However, if and when the game by game assignments for TV and radio are finally released, the 2008 schedule may not resemble what people thought it would be like back in November 2007.

Physioc and Hudler, who were cut from 150 TV games down to 100 last year, may only work 50 games on FSN West and KCOP, while calling upwards of 100 games on KSPN radio.

Meanwhile Rory Markas would go from 3 TV games in '07 to 100 in '08. Gubicza's profile would also rise considerably with 50 additional telecasts.

And Terry Smith?

He still seems to be the odd man out in this merry-go-round. If he isn't just relegated to pre and post game shows when Phys and Hud are on the radio, he'll be in the uncomfortable position of trying to be something more than an afterthought in his own booth.

These moves kind of make you wonder what the Angels long term plans are, don't they?

GOLDEN GLOBES: GONE BABY GONE

2008-01-07T00:40:00.000-05:00

We're posting this item because of the affect on numerous SoCal sports freelancers who also work these events:

Despite what has been and is being reported by mainstream media, we have learned that NBC has indeed canceled the Golden Globe Awards scheduled for January 13.

An announcement confirming the decision will take place on Monday.

That makes the score something like WGA 3, AMPTP 0.

Funeral For A Friend

2008-01-05T04:24:00.000-05:00

One way to define popularity is when a theater is needed to hold all the people attending a memorial service.

With that in mind, the memorial service for Stu Nahan will be held on Wednesday, January 9 at 10:00 AM at the ArcLight Theater in Sherman Oaks, CA. Fittingly, the theater is located in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, which was a primary location used in the classic film "Fast Times At Ridgemont High".

Stu's appearance as himself in the film was arguably the role for which he was best known (outside of Los Angeles).

BOWLED OVER... AND BACK

2008-01-05T00:45:00.000-05:00

Forgive the unexpected lack of updates. Turns out damn near everyone who contributes here was working one or more bowl games and those that didn't were still hung over from various wrap parties or just plain lazy (you know who you are).

Anyway, with the NFL regular season over and those meaningless BCS games behind us, things should get back to normal. No, make that things could get back to normal. No promises.

Getting almost as much attention as Britney's latest breakdown is the amount of airtime Fox gave to school bands in each of their first three BCS games. While it seems that many, many people didn't like it, WITH LEATHER may have captured the mass opinion best.

According to those counting, the band shots have increased with each game, including a jump from 58 in Wednesday's Fiesta Bowl to 110 in Thursday's Orange Bowl. Robotic and hand held cameras were dedicated not to cover the games, but to cover the bands! Although it didn't make air, a split screen showing opposing school bands was actually readied during at least one BCS telecast. Thankfully, plans to create a drinking game out of this were halted when even college students realized that they couldn't keep up.

A greater concern isn't how many band shots appear during the BCS Championship Game on Fox, but how many will appear after it.

The emphasis on showing school bands comes straight from Fox Sports chief David Hill, so the ripple effect could reach all the way down to the local level in Anytown, USA.

It has happened that way before.

In the past, Hill's personal ideas on coverage were implemented without fail by the various Fox Sports production teams. After all, a large part of their jobs is getting Hill's visions on the air. Ultimately, Hill is the boss at Fox Sports and what he says goes. Fair enough.

However, he's not the boss at Fox Sports Net and basically has no reason to care what the cable outlets do on the regional level. But somehow what he says ends often goes over at FSN too.

Go back a decade to when Fox acquired Major League Baseball. Hill was widely quoted as saying that baseball coverage was boring and the Fox would take steps to change that. Fox announcers were not to talk about anyone who was dead. Directors were instructed to cut from shot to shot, not dissolve. And the split screen, all but extinct for a decade, was revived with a vengeance.

The mighty Fox PR machine trumpeted these innovations to the press and when columnists like USA Today's Rudy Martzke bought in, every FSN employee with bigger aspirations took Hill's credos as gospel and altered their coverage of local sports.

It didn't matter that Fox Sports and FSN are about as connected as The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal. It didn't matter that many Fox Sports executives wouldn't hire FSN personnel solely because they were FSN personnel. It didn't matter that David Hill couldn't name all the FSN regions, much less take time to watch their coverage. It didn't matter that while his baseball ideas may (or may not) have worked on a weekly, national level, they were disasters on a daily, local level.

Announcers everywhere were suddenly stripped of half their material. In baseball, where the past is at least as important as the present, fans watching the Pirates for example, only heard about the current crop of cellar dwellers, and nothing of the Clementes and Stargells of their history.

Executive Producers called their TV trucks from home to reprimand production teams on the spot for a violation of the cuts-only rule or to demand more split screens no matter how they actually worked in the telecast. Split screens featuring opposing players, teammates, battery mates, owners, GMs, fans, etc. cluttered the shows. Aggressive directors would cut from split screen to split screen, until more than once, the same player was on both sides of the split.

Some directors would literally come into a show determined to get a preset number of split screens on air as quickly as possible and be done with them for the duration of the game.

Fox Sports eventually moved away from such baseball edicts but it took more than two years after they abandoned the no-dead-guy, no-dissolve, ultra-split-screen mandate, for some of the regions to follow suit.

But now that school bands are priorities at the network, don't be surprised if they suddenly and similarly dominate college and high school sports on cable, beginning with basketball.

And don't be surprised if David Hill doesn't notice.

More Stu Nahan Coverage

2007-12-27T01:05:00.000-05:00

June 11, 2004 - Taking notes for the Dodgers' post game show from the press box in Boston's Fenway Park.

(Photo: Mike Noto)

Tom Hoffarth of the LA Daily News' "Inside SoCal" blog provides a more thorough piece on Stu Nahan than did the LA Times.

Included in Hoffarth's post is this clip of Nahan appearing on a Sunday edition of KTLA's News At 10 shortly after he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 25, 2007.

Stu Nahan (1926 - 2007)

2007-12-26T19:34:00.000-05:00

First Class All The Way: Stu Nahan on the LA Dodgers team plane in May, 2004. (Photo: Mike Noto)

Stu Nahan, TV and radio sportscaster, feature film actor, professional hockey goalie, and friend to all in the sports world, died today at his Studio City, CA home following a two year battle with lymphoma. He was 81.

The Los Angeles Times was the first publication to post an article on Nahan's passing. However, Larry Stewart's piece was long on facts but fell very short on describing the character and personality of the man.

In addition to what was posted by the Times, Stu received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame just this past May 25.

It may not possible to count the number of people who considered themselves friends of Stu's, and the remembrances to be printed and aired soon from people in and out of the sports world will no doubt mirror the man's enormous reach.

More to follow...

BLIMP GIMMICK CRASHES & BURNS - NFL TURNS TO OLD NETWORKS TO SIMULCAST NEW ENGLAND'S PERFECT SEASON BID

2007-12-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

The public demand to see New England's bid for a perfect season was too high for DirecTV's NFL Network blimp to reach.

It looks like a little political pressure went a long way.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this afternoon that NFL Network's coverage of Saturday night's Partiots - Giants game will be made available to everyone, via a groundbreaking simulcast on both CBS and NBC.

Why Fox, ESPN and E! were left out of the mix wasn't addressed.

Each network will be allowed to sell 18 30-second spots during the telecast and neither network will pay the NFL any additional rights fees for the game.

Politicians, especially from the Northeast states, applied pressure on the NFL, including a congressional threat to re-examine the league's anti-trust exemption.

It appears to be a win-win situation even for NFL Network as they will have the rare opportunity to promote their channel and show off their production on other companies air waves. Because of the historic nature of the game, NFL Net had planned on adding additional equipment and manpower to what was already one of the sport's biggest shows, even before the simulcast was announced. Now, the 60% of the country who don't have NFL Network can get to see the Patriots try for a perfect regular season.

Saturday night's game marks the first time a NFL game will be televised by three networks and the first time since Super Bowl I in 1967 that two networks carried the same game. CBS (NFL) and NBC (AFL) carried that game using their own production crews and on-air talent. The rival networks set up on opposite sides of the Los Angeles Coliseum, with CBS taking the traditional press box side while NBC created makeshift camera positions and a broadcast booth on the other side.

While CBS' footage of the game survives to this day, NBC's was erased before anyone realized the value it would someday have.

Those homes with NFL Network will have the chance to see 65 hours of Patriots-related programming, including a live 6 hour pre-game "NFL Total Access" show leading up to kick off.

Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth will call the action from Giants Stadium.

WE INTERRUPT THIS NBA GAME...

2007-12-24T01:22:00.000-05:00

What to do when some idiot runs on the field (or court, in this case) has been the subject of debate for years. Decades ago, such disturbances were shown, including close ups of the moron wasting everybody's time.

More recently, steps have been taken to avoid showing anything to do with the incident, so directors often just go with tight shots of players, etc.

The other night in Indiana it seems nobody knew what to do, so for a while the good folks at FSN Indiana didn't do anything.

(Thanks to Sports By Brooks)

And that may be the best way to go. The glory seeker doesn't get his close up, but viewers get to watch security beat the crap out of the guy.

THEY YELL BIGGER IN TEXAS TOO

2007-12-23T21:48:00.000-05:00

Better late than never!

The winner for most bizarre sideline interview of 2007 happened only yesterday at the Texas Class 5A Division 1 Championship Game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

FSN Southwest aired the game between (Euless) Trinity and (Converse) Judson High Schools that featured a halftime interview that bordered on the insane.

(Thanks to Skattershooting via Awful Announcing)

The poor sideline reporter said she had been doing this a long time, but we found no bio for her at FSN Southwest's web site. For the mental damage that interview must have caused, FSN should give her hazard pay and recognize her with their other on-air talent.

Don't mess with Texas or their high school football coaches!

BAD YEAR AT BLACK ROCK

2007-12-22T20:40:00.000-05:00

(Image courtesy of Pittsburgh Independent Media Center)

Because everyone else does it, we'll take a look back 2007, beginning with some of the happenings over at CBS.

The continued (to date) failure of the Katie Couric experiment probably garnered the most headlines.

Bob Barker made news as well when he waved farewell to The Price Is Right. Drew Carey emerged as Barker's successor following a highly public search. Although ratings were initially up 10%, reviews have been mixed.

However, it's been LeslieAnne Wade, CBS Sports' Senior VP of Communications, who has had to publicly spin, deny and deflect a bizarre array of episodes that not only made news, but made 2007 largely a year to forget.

It was Wade who was called upon to represent CBS in aftermath of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during halftime of Super Bowl 38. Her quote, "CBS deeply regrets the incident", was included in more stories about the game than New England quarterback Tom Brady's stats.

Most recently, Wade had to come to the rescue of NFL analyst Steve Beuerlein. In the November 25 game between Cincinnati and Tennessee, Beuerlein's mic was open as the network returned from a commercial break. Beuerlein continued a conversation he was having with play by play announcer Bill Macatee, not realizing they were back on the air. "USC thugs, man", Beuerlein clearly said to Macatee in reference to Titans' RB LenDale White, a former Trojan.

Wade calmed the masses claiming Beuerlein (a Notre Dame grad) was kidding Macatee (a Southern California resident and Trojan follower), as "any friends who have those allegiances do. They kid each other about Notre Dame and USC all the time. Certainly Steve wishes it wasn't on the air and so does CBS, but that is the explanation."

Somehow it didn't get blown out of proportion like most politically incorrect comments do these days. Maybe Beuerlein owes Wade a nice lunch for her efforts.

No amount of effort on Wade's part could have lessened the severity of two other incidents involving CBS' freelancers.

The first came back in May at the Masters when a tape op had some really bad ideas.

Michael Crane, 31, decided to spend his weekend in Augusta on drugs. He hooked up with a pair of locals at a bar who knew some people. The three amigos apparently bought whatever they wanted on a layaway plan, and spent the weekend indulging.

Come Monday, the bill was due but Crane didn't have the dough.

But he did have another brilliant idea.

He entered a Wachovia Bank branch in South Augusta and handed a teller a note demanding money. She complied and he left the bank. So far so good, right?

Too bad Crane doesn't watch CSI: Miami or he would have known what was coming next.

A red dye bag hidden in the money bag exploded, covering Crane with permanent ink. If only we had some footage of it!

Although Crane drove off (in his CBS rental car, naturally) police were eventually tipped to his location by an annonymous colleag- uh, caller. Crane was arrested in his room at the Holiday Inn, where police also found clothes stained with red dye.

LeslieAnne Wade told the Augusta Chronicle, "He was hired as a freelance technician for this event."

And because nobody can ever really get fired in this business, no doubt he's been hired as a freelance technician again.

This next guy may get hired again as well. That is if he survives both his jail sentence and the beating his wife will give him when he gets out.

For the sordid details of what transpired, the folks at People You'll See In Hell posted a pretty good description back on October 5.

56-year-old Daniel Barron, a CBS sports television [sic] producer, had a problem. (EDITOR'S NOTE: BARRON WAS A TECH PRODUCER)

Several problems, actually.

One, Daniel Barron is a pedophile.

Two, he didn’t have kid around to molest.

Three, he had an extra pair of Dolphins tickets sitting around, unused.

Pretty tough problems to solve, really. I’d imagine the first one could be solved by dragging him out back behind the barn and shooting him, but we don’t do that anymore. The third problem could be solved by burning the tickets, because, really, who wants to go to a Dolphins game? They were 6 and 10 in 2006, and they’re 0 and 4 so far in the 2007 season. NOBODY CARES!

Daniel Barron attempted to solve his second problem by using a CBS-issued computer while sitting in his CBS television producer truck, going online into a chat room titled “Open minded parents,” and asking the “parents” he found there if he could borrow their young daughters for a night.

Daniel Barron talked to one “parent” in particular who happened to be an undercover detective posing as a father with an imaginary 11-year-old girl. This “father” mentioned that he was a Dolphins fan.

“Ding,” went the bell in Daniel Barron’s head, as he offered two tickets to the upcoming game on Sunday in exchange for the “father” allowing Daniel to have sex with the 11-year-old.

After some negotiation, Daniel Barron even got the “father” to agree with letting Daniel sleep naked with the girl for a night, after Daniel mentioned that he was really, really looking forward to meeting the girl and promised that he would be “very gentle with her.”

Daniel Barron followed the “father’s” directions, hopped into his car and drove to a Fort Lauderdale hotel parking lot on the 30th of September, 2007. Instead of finding an 11-year-old and her Dolphin-fan father, however, he found several large police officers waiting for him with handcuffs.

After the arrest, Daniel folded in the interrogation room, admitted to using his work computer to download and trade child pornography and told police that the computer could be found in his TV production truck at the Miami Dolphin Stadium.

Daniel Barron was charged with solicitation to commit sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

The web site also features a poll asking whether people in their stories deserve Hell. As of this writing, 85 voters have decided that Dan Barron does indeed deserve Hell, by a 78 - 7 count, or a whopping 92% percent.

So, if you can't get fired in this business, but Barron deserves Hell, that could mean he's destined to work for MSG.

Anyway, LeslieAnne Wade said at the time, "CBS is cooperating fully with the investigation."

So while 2007 wasn't the best of years for CBS Sports, it seems to be ending on an up note for LeslieAnne Wade. She was promoted to Senior VP of Communications on December 6 and will oversee corporate and media relations for CBS Sports and CSTV, and will work closely with Showtime Sports.

If those companies don't keep a close eye on their respective hiring practices, look for more crisis management quotes from Wade in 2008.