It’s probably not the biggest shock in the world, but ESPN really wants the NCAA men’s basketball tournament rights. You can’t blame them; it’s one of the most-watched TV spectacles every year, it stretches across three weeks and draws viewers & advertisers like nothing else outside of the Super Bowl. Still, CBS has owned the rights to the annual hoops escapade for so long that it’s hard to imagine a cable network breaking in to steal it away.

(And the 2018 Final Four goes to, drum roll please … Bristol, CT!)

Well, prepare yourself folks. ESPN is going to to get it at some point, at least if ESPN President George Bodenheimer has anything to do with it. When asked by COLLEGE HOOPS JOURNAL whether or not his network would get back to covering the tournament, Bodenheimer’s answer was pretty unequivocal: “We would love to get back into the men’s tournament.”

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Saturday, I’ll be coming to you on SbB live from inside and outside the L.A. Coliseum, reporting on the USC-Ohio State game, with assistance from our Managing Editor Jason Kaifesh.

(The Autumn wind is a butt pirate)

We’ll take you in and around the Coli with a genuine cutty sark-stained boots-on-the-ground perspective, and also have in-game observos from our seats at the game (Thanks Barry!). And I promise: absolutely, positively no mentions of those wacky(!) ESPN Gameday signs.

I’ll be joined by DEADSPIN’s A.J. Daulerio at the entire affair as well. And be sure and check out Matt Sussman’s account of the game over at Dspin. And yes, with tailgate fare in mind (*seasoned* bacon-wrapped hot dogs all around!), I plan to require Daulerio bring a generous supply o’ Depends to the proceedings.

(Timbo’s consolation prize)

The only thing I’ll add to all that’s been said about the game is that after Saturday, Mark Sanchez is your leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Sorry Timbo. And Mizzou, you might ask for your $50,000 back.

Prediction: USC 27, Ohio State 10.

Here’s how Elite XC and CBS is promoting the upcoming Kimbo Slice-Ken Shamrock bout:

A commercial featuring “Bodacious Boobs” and a bikini model showering - which of course is what first comes to mind when I think of CBS. At least after my last forced viewing of Big Bang Theory on an American Airlines flight bound for Topeka.

John Maffei of the NORTH COUNTY (CA) TIMES reports today from San Diego that former longtime SoCal talkshow host Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton “is moving up to Sirius XM Radio starting Monday, when Sirius launches ‘Mad Dog Radio’ on both services.” Hamilton will man the evening shift at Sirius.

Moving up to evening sports talk show shift on Sirius? Table for one, Hacksaw?

No idea how I missed this, but here’s the cover image for the calendar the Redskins are selling on their official website featuring the team’s cheer squad.

(This image has not been photoshopped yes it has)

And to think I thought these (implied) NFL nudie calendars weren’t all about jerkoffs. Read more…

For all those hoping that Billy Packer would soon be sent packing from CBS basketball broadcasts, your prayers have apparently been answered.

Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD reports that the aggravating analyst will not be returning to the network next season, ending 27 years as a b-ball blowhard for the Columbia Broadcasting System. Read more…

We took in the bloated spectacle of MMA last night that took far too long to finish, had a messy and controversial finish, and was tinged with sloppy production throughout.

(This technique was also used when Jennifer Aniston was pregnant during the filming of “Friends”)

And that was just the Kimbo Slice-James Thompson fight.

The EliteXC fights on CBS last night rarely had the chance to be completely entertaining, but we are willing to grant some level of pass for that since part of the thrill of sport should be its unscripted and unpredictable nature. However, there were plenty of opportunities for CBS and EliteXC to avoid predictable pitfalls and simply failed.
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Mixed martial arts takes a big broadcasting step this weekend, as CBS will be showing the first of many EliteXC “Saturday Night Fights” specials. And one of the most coveted competitors among the male 18-35 demographic is American Gladiator Gina Carano.

However, viewers could have been gypped out of a Gina appearance. MMA MANIA kicks up the news that Carano is coming into her bout with a little extra baggage. Read more…

Kyle Hightower of the ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that cable viewers in central Florida may end up missing out on March Madness.

NCAA Tournament fans could become the latest victims in an ongoing dispute between Orlando CBS affiliate WMKG and cable provider Bright House Networks. Read more…

MMA JUNKIE reports that Kimbo Slice will be coming soon to a CBS channel near you, as the network will start showing Elite Xtreme Combat contests.

(”Don’t touch that dial! Or I’ll kick your ass!“)

The CBS-EliteXC deal is expected to be officially announced on Thursday, with four fights penciled into select Saturday night timeslots. It will be the first time mixed martial arts will be broadcast on major network TV.

So, why would CBS agree to show a smaller MMA outfit like EliteXC instead of the more well-known UFC? Read more…

John Ourand of SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY reports that college sports channel CSTV will be changing its name to CBS College Sports.

The re-christening is scheduled for March, just in time for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. As Ourand points out, “CBS execs clearly hope the CBS brand will help convince cable operators to carry the channel, which is in about 25 million cable and satellite homes.”

In addition to the name change, the college channel will also be producing more original programming & using similar graphics from CBS Sports.

Hopefully, they’ll also ship over Billy Packer, just to keep him out of the public eye.

Question: Why did the NFL schedule the NFC championship game as a night game? Why not stage the AFC game on Saturday afternoon and the NFC Game on Sunday afternoon? Or start the AFC game earlier so the Packers-Giants game wouldn’t be played in sub-zero temperatures? (yeah, we know about the TV ratings/money thing)

We’re not worried about the players, we’re worried about the fans (who drink to much and wear too little).

Oh yeah, and the cameramen. USA TODAY has a note today Bob Wishnie, who will be manning the moving cart along the sideline for Sunday night’s game - and his profoundly preventive method of dress.

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The Patriots’ Pursuit of Perfection* will be presented to the public, after all:

BLOOMBERG trumpets the news that New England’s regular-season finale against the New York Giants will be shown on CBS and NBC.

The NFL agreed to simulcast Saturday’s game on the two networks, with both carrying the NFL Network feed. The contest was originally only available on the NFLN, which has about the same effective coverage as the Raiders’ secondary.

The P-Men/G-Men matchup will be the second time an NFL contest has been simulcast on different TV networks. Back in ‘67, CBS & NBC both aired the first-ever Super Bowl. Sadly, neither network has any remaining footage of the telecast.

The historic moment is no so big a concern for Giants fans, as the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS notes that many seats at the Meadowlands have been put up for sale by season ticket holders.

As one Giants fan rationalized, “I’d like to see history, sure. But I don’t want to see history freezing my butt off while (Tom) Coughlin is pulling all his best players in the second quarter.”

Now thanks to the NFL’s decision, such fans can enjoy the spectacle from their warm & comfy homes - while making a nice profit on the side.

(*“The Patriots’ Pursuit of Perfection” is a registered trademark of ESPN Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co. Any rebroadcast or retransmission without the expressed written consent of Sean Salisbury is prohibited.)