Rick Barry will always be known first and foremost for his volcanic temper, and that’s saying something, considering how great he was as a player. Sure he led the Warriors to their latest and only NBA championship, in 1975. But he’s also known as the guy who famously took a swing at former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, then a New York Knick. I hear he also tried to fight that kid from “The Sixth Sense,” but can’t verify that.

Some still insist that Barry was the greatest NBA small forward they’ve ever seen: the complete package, technically, in every sense. But the man who said he hated mediocrity more than anything never landed in the real big time in his second career, broadcasting. Of course, he was an NBA analyst on CBS before the infamous “watermelon smile” comment about Bill Russell. That’s the most notable example of what happens when a man shoots first and asks questions later, as Barry has done his entire life. And here’s just the latest example.

Read more…

When a celebrity’s 15 minutes of fame are finally up, for some reason they always turn their attention towards the boxing ring, where they stand in front of hundreds and pummel another “celebrity” all for some “charity”, which in most cases is their own bank account. Danny Bonaduce and Jose Canseco do so on a regular basis. John Wayne Bobbitt is heading into the ring this Saturday. So it makes sense that MMA star Kimbo Slice has apparently decided to revitalize his dying career by giving “the sweet science” a try.

(Bet he could beat Bonaduce)

In an interview with Dan Le Batard, Slice admitted that he’s thinking about strapping on some larger gloves, agreeing to keep his feet on the ground, and stepping into the boxing ring. After all, he needs something to do while that weird legal stuff with his MMA contract gets sorted out.

But as MMARATED.COM points this, this move into the boxing world isn’t necessary something Slice should be looking forward to. Read more…

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of Jay Glazer’s report on Fox-TV about Brett Favre providing tips on the Packers to the Lions early this season. Since the report came out, there’s been lotsa discussion about it’s veracity. (Favre has denied it.)

And now Mike Florio at PRO FOOTBALL TALK is reporting that ESPN is not allowing on-air staffers to report the story - claiming that the tip by Glazer isn’t true. (Bristol also recently released a statement on why the net isn’t covering it.)

Well that, as you might expect, didn’t sit well with Glazer. So he went on ESPNer Dan Le Batard’s radio show in Miami (on 790 The Ticket) to address the situation. Read more…

Bob Costas appeared this week on Dan Le Batard’s “790 The Ticket” radio show and had this to say about Terrell Owens:

“I really think that Terrell has some sort of diagnosable personality disorder. I don’t know what it is, but it goes beyond garden variety narcissism.

“I’m not a psychologist but when you see someone who is often so completely insensitive to the feelings of others and can gratuitously take shots at others and yet when the slightest thing that touches his sensitivities comes up, he breaks down in tears and (says) ‘you don’t understand him.’

“That’s infantile. Read more…

• The New York Mets are out of the playoff picture, thanks to a late-season swoon. This is not a repeat.

• Not Ram tough: Scott Linehan is given the St. Louis toodle-oo.

• Don’t call it a comeback: Shawn Kemp goes AWOL from his Italian b-ball club, blames it on Hurricane Ike.

• Hard to tell which was more painful to watch - Anquan Boldin taking a hit to the helmet, or the Jets’ Titan-ically terrible throwback duds.

• The Brewers’ season-ending run was exciting enough to make you tinkle in your trousers. But make sure you don’t sing “Go Cubs Go!” at Miller Park.

Read more…

Michael Phelps debacle on Miami’s 790 The Ticket last week has been linked on his Facebook page - at least at the moment:

I’m sure Phelps’ handlers will have it down just as soon as they figure how to hang up the phone. Read more…

We now know there are at least three different Paige Greens floating around on the internet. One is the former Raiders cheerleader who will soon marry John Elway.

Another Paige Green had a very public engagement pronouncement in the SEATTLE P-I two years ago, and now is married to a gentleman named Reagan Dunn.

And a third Paige Green is a B-Movie actress listed on IMDB.

We’re not the first to confuse the multiple Ms. Greens, but Friday we reported that the woman who was noted in the Seattle engagement announcement was the same person who is now engaged to John Elway. That isn’t the case, and all apologies to all parties.

Today’s water’s wet, sky’s blue story is brought to you by TMZ.com.

Warren Sapp’s an a$$hole: “Our spies at “DWTS” tell TMZ Sapp’s big head and man-diva attitude are causing problems. We’re told he talks down to everybody (especially the guy dancers and production assistants), yells at people and consistently walks out of rehearsals with partner Kym Johnson.”

Well at least he has his chronic halitosis to fall back on.

Remember those two goons from COI (that’s City of Industry to non-Angelenos) who are trying to lure the NFL to The Basin?

Not. Looking. Good. *shock* Read more…

• AWFUL ANNOUNCING intercepts Lou Holtz offering a prescription for those who loathe his weekly “Dr. Lou” segment on ESPN:

(Just call him “Witch Doctor Lou”, ’cause he’s puttin’ a spell on you!)

“If you enjoy Doctor Lou, I hope you will show your support by driving during the day with your lights on. And if you’re unhappy with Doctor Lou, please show your displeasure by driving with your lights off at night. Have a great week.”

• Darren Rovell of CNBC wonders which Olympic star is more marketable: Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt? We can’t decide until Usain shows up on Dan Le Batard’s show.

• USA TODAY’s GAME ON horses around with a fun video featuring Big Brown’s homage to those NBA Playoffs split-screen ads.

• Via SBD, Chris Rock was on “Larry King Live” last night, and shared his thoughts on Sarah Palin receiving the GOP’s VP bid: “I thought Al Davis made the choice, that’s how bad it was.”

Read more…

Michael Phelps‘ handlers might need to brush up on their avoid-entertaining-interviews technique after allowing their client to go on Dan Le Batard’s radio show on 790 The Ticket in Miami today.

(Mike Phelps likes his Club™ Crackers @ The Playboy Club)

Yes, it really was too easy for Le Batard, when he asked Phelps the question, “What is the single coolest thing to happen to you since the Olympic Games?”

Phelps replied that the his biggest thrill since Beijing was setting up a charity through one of his sponsors, Kellogg’s. And in a stunning coincidence, Phelps was only doing the interview to promote his appearance on the boxes of various Kellogg’s food products.

So knowing Le Batard as you now know him, things next got interesting. Read more…

Dan Le Batard spent the first hour of his radio show today on Miami’s 790 The Ticket complaining on-air to his staff about their booking Tennessee football coach Phil Fulmer as a guest. The Vols are playing Florida this Saturday, and apparently Le Batard’s guest booker, Mike Ryan, thought it a good idea to bring Fulmer onto the show.

Having done sports radio myself for 16 years, I’ve endure my share of interviews with insufferable, bloviating gasbags. And Fulmer is certainly one of those - which is what Le Batard bemoaned before Fulmer came on the air.

Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard a radio host cry on-air about having to interview a lame guest, but usually once the visit commences, the same host goes into fullblown ass-kiss mode. But to his credit, Le Batard didn’t. In fact, he essentially bitch-slapped Fulmer once the well-fed coach came on the air. Read more…