from Deadspin:

ESPN Still Desperately Wants To Be Cool Again

A couple of years ago, some of ESPN's on-air talent was being lured away by another competing cable network that promised them a Daily Show-style vehicle, centered around sports instead of politics. Some were very interested — and some were very disappointed when the deal never went through, especially given that one of the people being courted as a lead writer on that particular show was a "prominent sports blogger" whom many of those men respected. It didn't happen, dreams were dashed, and everybody went back to their day jobs after having plumes of smoke blown up their TV-friendly assholes for a few months.

But maybe the dream has not died, as Broadcasting and Cable reports that the WWL is considering having its own "Daily Show" -style program on ESPN2 to follow a show called "Timeline, described by ESPN execs "as a panel of personalities, ranging from ESPN anchors to possibly a comedian well-versed in the sports world—along the lines of Frank Caliendo of Fox Sports and TBS."

But, for this post, I'm more interested in this Daily Show-idea. I couldn't get anyone from ESPN to speak about it, but lucky for us,I did get the "Prominent sports blogger" to spill a little about what the idea.

The question I posed was: Why do you think ESPN is interested in doing this type of show now?

Prominentsportsblogger:
"Because it's the easiest freaking pitch in the world. Everyone uses the "the Daily Show for XXXXX" pitch in every dumb television meeting. It seems logical for it to transfer to a sports show. But no one can ever get it together, because they're just taking the Daily Show format and applying it to sports.

The difference is, though: Fans of The Daily Show aren't INHERENTLY into politics. At least not obsessively. But sports fans are, by nature, obsessives. Most people will watch that show and be, "uh, you're gonna tell us some scores, right?" And that problem is why the show never gets made despite people trying for about five years now. Plus, ESPN will hire Nick Bakay."

It's amazing. While blogs like this one will apparently become safer and more palatable, ESPN is trying to go edgier. Well, fuck me.

ESPN To Go Deeper Into Late Night [Broadcasting And Cable]

Rick Sutcliffe Is A Mere Mortal And Cannot Control Himself Around Erin Andrews' Beauty

from DEADSPIN:

Possibly one of the hardest things for any ESPN announcer working right now is being on the same broadcast team with sideline princess Erin Andrews. It's impossible to just cut over to Andrews, without getting tongue-tied and flush, as this is when it's time to impress her with professionalism — "No, no, no I don't think you're pretty, Erin? You're just a colleague and you are my peer!"— and not use the A-game, hot chick charm.

Rick Sutcliffe, in the booth last night for the Braves/Cubs game on ESPN, apparently didn't get the memo, and he just couldn't ease up on the good ol' boy flirtin'.

It's relatively harmless and probably something that Andrews herself isn't completely used to at this point (plus, you know, Sutcliffe is recovering from colon cancer right now), so she's a tough girl and probably not offended. Yet, blogger USS Mariner took offense to the whole thing, and decided it was time to act chivalrous for once, without the requisite half-erection.

I don’t care what your opinion of her is: Erin takes an enormous amount of entirely unjustified personal crap. She’s been treated badly by players, awkwardly clutched by coaches. If you put her name into a search engine you need to get decontaminated within minutes of just looking at the results or your eyes will melt. Erin is objectified and degraded in a way that no male sports media figure has ever had to face, and Rick Sutcliffe, working with her, should know that and, if he can’t support her, at least shut up.

It is amazing and embarrassing that no one on the broadcast crew stopped Sutcliffe. No one cut his mike, nothing, and his partner didn’t stop him but instead ended up playing along. The broadcast team and the network let someone use game time to slobber all over another broadcaster for absolutely no reason.

That’s it, that’s all I have. Fuck you, Rick Sutcliffe. Fuck you, other guy in the booth. You’re embarrassments to my gender.

See what she brings out in people? He's willing to fight a man with cancer to defend her honor.

Ced Ben Getting Closer to 'Canned'

Cedric Benson Runs Past More Red Lights Than Defenders

Cedric Benson, a month removed from a Sun Chips-fueled boozy boating excursion with mom gone awry, was charged with drunk driving this morning in Texas. This will surely help to build sympathy for him against what he says were trumped up charges issued during the May 3 incident.

Austin police said Benson was driving a BMW through downtown Austin between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday. They allege he ran a red light and he was pulled over near the intersection of 5th and Colorado streets, located in the heart of Austin's night life district, said police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga.

Authorities said an officer smelled alcohol on Benson's breath and then conducted a field sobriety test, which included having the driver perform a walk and turn test and to stand on one leg, she said.

Pfft. Like Benson doesn't fall down prematurely when he's sober, too.

If I were one of the many attorneys Ced had consulted with following last month's fiasco, staying away from the sauce would have been one of my first nuggets of counsel. The hell with it now. Once dude gets suspended and subsequently released, he can go on the bender to end all benders. I believe they call those Downeys. Hey, he's got some money to burn after Iron Man. You know it's coming.

Hat tip to Deadspin.com

Maria Menounos Will Bring Her Swarthy Greek Thunder Side Out

from Deadspin

And here's some media-related news that will only be fun for those of us who enjoy TV journalist Maria Menounos' exemplary, hard-hitting work on the Today show and Access Hollywood. From an email:

Model/Actress and entertainment correspondent Maria Menounos will attempt to qualify for the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open on Thursday, May 1st in Los Angeles. Menounos hopes her athleticism coupled with her 5' 9" stature will enable her to experience the same success on the beach volleyball court that she's had in front of the camera...

Is it sweeps week already?

[Origin of the Species]

The Nuggets have officially become the French army

Welcome To Quitsville, Population: 12

The NBA Closer is written by Matt McHale, who is becoming increasingly grumpy as the playoffs continue. When he's ruing losses by his favorite teams and wins by the teams he hates, he can be found sulking at Basketbawful. Enjoy!

The Nuggets have officially become the French army. They meekly surrendered to the Lakers during their 108-84 defeat. At least, that's what Carmelo Anthony thinks. "In a game like tonight, on our home court, us giving up as a whole is uncalled for. Yeah. We quit. Everybody. From the coaches to the players, we quit. And I said it."

Check out the rest at Deadspin.com