Le Batard Sides With Fox On ESPN Story Boycott

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.)

Dan Le Batard Jay Glazer

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.)

Who do you believe in Brett Favre’s “Lionsgate”?

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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: T.O. Has ‘Diagnosable Personality Disorder’

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

Bob Costas Terrell Owens T.O. Has A Personality Disorder

“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…

NY Mets’, Scott Linehan’s Seasons End Too Soon

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

Scott Linehan Mets fans

• 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…

Phelps’ Radio Disaster Now On His Facebook Page

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

Michael Phelps Radio Goof Now On His Facebook

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

Is Anyone Out There Not Named Paige Green?

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.

Paige Green 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 Dancing With The Stars Tantrum

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…

Blog-Lou-Rama: Holtz Hits Back At ‘Dr. Lou’ Haters

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

Lou Holtz hands

(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…

Please, Don’t Ask Michael Phelps to Tell The Truth

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.

Michael Phelps Playboy Club Crackers

(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…

Radio Host Bitch-Slaps Bloviating Gasbag Fulmer

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.

Philip Fulmer Gasbag Extraordinaire

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…

Brog: N. Ryan Says Clemens’ Denials ‘Unfortunate’

Nolan Ryan appeared today on Dan Patrick’s syndicated radio show and made it clear that he in no way supports the PED-denials of fellow Texan Roger Clemens (audio): “It’s just a shame that Roger has gotten caught up in this situation and he took the stance that he did and that so many things have come out … that have cast a bad light on his career.

(Fallout: Clemens will never get his own “RC” logo’d pillbox lid)

More From The Xpress: “If you look at what happened with some of the other players (who used PEDs), they stepped up and said ‘hey, I did it, I knew it was wrong,’ and they asked for forgiveness and have gone on about their business. I think it’s just unfortunate Roger took the position that he did and that so much has come out about it.”

One thing we’ve learned from cases like Clemens, Mike Vick and Martha Stewart is that their lying denials have exacerbated reax to the discovery of their sordid activities - impeding the original particulars from vanishing into particulate.

Maybe not completely (esp. in Vick’s case), but safe to say we wouldn’t still be reveling discussing Clemens’ now-disgraced status in such detail if he’d just owned up - in the face of all the media needling.

If only all three had consulted Marv Albert.

Is it just me or has Patrick’s radio show gone from a dull-edged rehash of ESPN.com’s home page to appointment listening?

Nobody has been harder on the show than SbB, but between increased on-air energy, some new, competent sidekicks spiced in, and the odd newsmaker interview, Patrick may soon start clearing live major markets lower than 1790am on the dial.

Read more…

Brog: Rarest Of MLB Species - Porn Free Players

In case you don’t know it, SbB is based in Los Angeles and most of our writers also emanate out of the west coast.

Earthquake City Scene

(View from my eighth story apt. building ok maybe not)

In the aftermath of today’s 5.4, everyone, at least from what I can tell, survived to write another day. It was also a relief to know that I had my trusty Los Angeles earthquake survival kit handy, which includes a flashlight, candles, fresh water and a good book to curl up with.

It’s rather ironic that here in the shadow of Hollywood, the L.A. TIMES and DAILY NEWS employ nary a gossip. The closest thing is probably T.J. Simers, and Daulerio at DEADSPIN spots this quote from Jeff Kent in today’s T.J.: “I don’t hang out with the guys — never have. I don’t go out drinking, look at porn, have a girlfriend or get divorced — so I’m selfish.”

He doesn’t hang out with guys? And to think TMZ’s quasi-homeless camera crew has been camped outside Rage in WeHo waiting all this time for the longtime second sacker.

And Kent doesn’t look at porn, either? Perhaps that means he’s got something in common with Marlins closer Kevin Gregg when in comes to an aversion for adult entertainment.

Or at least I think he does, if the following strange sports radio exchange involving Gregg is any indication. Read more…