A.J. Daulerio of DEADSPIN had the recent fortune of sitting down for a chummy chat with ESPN personality Kenny Mayne.

The stoic, deadpan, “Yahtzee!”-screaming, kayak-riding Dancer with the Stars was the first subject for the website’s newest venture, “Interviews of a Lifetime” - a feature that will do for sports blogging what “Who’s Now” did for sports television.

But we kid the Deadspinning staff.

So, why did Kenny agree to do the interview? Money? Prestige? The fact he has a book coming out entitled “An Incomplete & Inaccurate History of Sport” which hits bookstores on April 22? The world may never know.

Anyway, some fun facts Daulerio dragged out of Mayne’s mind:

Read more…

The top story in the sports world so far this week is the leak of Jose Canseco’s new book “Vindicated.” The book wasn’t due out until next Monday, but a gent named Joe Lavin stumbled upon a copy and blogged about it. Will Leitch of DEADSPIN linked Mr. Lavin’s review of the book, and all hell broke loose. Every major media outlet is now reporting the news (or will be).

An interesting question to ponder: Would Mr. Lavin’s revelations ever have made the main media without Deadspin’s help? We think we both know the answer to that. Read more…

Today you’ll notice that Christmas Ape of KISSING SUZY KOLBER and DEADSPIN is now on board to post to his heart’s delight.

If you’ve read his fine work, you know why we’re ecstatic to have him. Plus, we can now finally sneak away for that worry-free colonoscopy we’ve always dreamed of.

Later today (5p ET) we’ll be appearing on Fox Business Channel’s “Happy Hour.” As if we needed an excuse to be early afternoon-deep in the Cutty.

See you there.

Buy his book.

Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY confirms our suspicions about the now-missing Chris Berman videos: ESPN told YouTube to take them down.

“How do you get that kind of toothpaste back in the tube? ESPN’s Josh Krulewitz says ESPN, arguing the Berman videos are owned by ESPN, asked YouTube.com to remove the videos — which happened. What about other websites? Says Krulewitz: “We’re in frequent contact with YouTube because they’re the table-setters and the others feed off them.”

Those “others” include the ever-industrious gang led by DEADSPIN’s Will “Banned by ESPN!” Leitch. The Gawker media site is currently hosting the videos, and it’s safe to assume that they will now live a long and productive life thanks to the miracle of .flv files . Read more…

Booksmith Will Leitch of DEADSPIN has your first (and only?) opportunity to glad-hand with Sean Salisbury tonight in Phoenix: “Competing with our (Deadspin) party tonight: A “Cancer Blows” charity event in Glendale hosted by Sean Salisbury and George Foreman. A noble cause, but we wonder how they will grill all that food.”

(Vote! Vote! … oh, it’s too late, sorry)

It’s an outright tragedy that the gang from Deadspin will miss an opportunity to meet up with an esteemed member of the SHOTY’s pantheon of greats, especially considering last year’s hijinks in South Florida.

One thing if you go, don’t ask him about the Nutrisystem thing. From his alarmingly expanding wasteline (has anyone else noticed?), that’s probably a touch subject right now (we’ve also heard Salisbury recently had a bout with skin cancer).

But if you see this guy, feel free to hammer him about his similar backslide (how many times you think he’s been asked about Jacobson since he’s landed?).

Sports blogger Will Leitch’s new book, “God Save The Fan”, finally hits the shelves today.

And in an effort to help pump up probable sales, the DEADSPIN grand poobah put in a recent appearance on Fox Business Channel. THE 700 LEVEL has the video of Leitch giving the foam figure to his hosts.

At least it’s better than watching Bill O’Reilly. So, has this clip convinced you to pony up for this literary treasure, yet you have no desire to trudge out to the local Barnes & Noble? Read more…

Liz Clarke of the WASHINGTON POST has a piece Sunday on the influence of sports blogs on fans, noting that “in the arena of sports, the arbiter of what matters is increasingly shifting from the mainstream media to the freewheeling realm of the blogosphere, where impassioned fans opine about the playing field’s heroes, villains and controversies of the day.”

Kathleen Hessert of Sports Media Challenge, a Charlotte-based marketing company, tells the WP that, “More and more, the fans are setting the agenda now. They’re rattling the cages and saying, ‘Hey, I have as much to say about this — and have as much invested in my sport — as any media person. And my opinion is just as valid as the mainstream media’s.’”

Clarke adds that Hessert’s company “keys on the 10 or 15 most influential sports blogs, whose membership shifts but typically includes such powerhouses as Deadspin and SportsbyBrooks, and produces a list of the five biggest topics each week.”

We’re thrilled to be mentioned by the Washington Post and in the company of Deadspin, but we know we don’t deserve such profound accolades.

If we had any influence, Joe Theismann would be hosting SportsCenter every night, Brady Quinn would have Myspace, the Pittsburgh Steelers would get the credit they so richly deserve for the marketing masterstroke that is Steely McBeam, and Colin “Shrutebag” Cowherd would finally embrace his inner woman:

• DEADSPIN is in the Final Four for their Sports Human of the Year(tm) contest. This week’s matchup - Kige Ramsey vs. Pacman Jones:

• DALLAS MAVERICKS BLOG finds Mark Cuban going straight to the press to complain about NBA officiating.

• DUMP DORRELL knows of a Pac-10 program that really wants DeWayne Walker - but it ain’t UCLA.

• If AWFUL ANNOUNCING were Mack Brown’s stepson, they wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get back to Texas right now:

• 100% INJURY RATE learns that even having the worst Super Bowl ad is still worth it.

• THROUGH THE MIND OF A HALF-WITTED MAN presents yet another admonishment of ESPN - this time aimed at the Worldwide Leader’s so-called experts.

PARTY IN TOMMY BOWDEN’S PANTS - AND YOU’RE INVITED! A certain sports blog has been celebrating a Pants Party for some time, and now someone else is getting in on the act:

An Ebayer is auctioning off 300 pairs of Clemson Tiger football and baseball pants, which will spark the closest thing the Palmetto State has ever gotten to Mardi Gras.

I should know, as I’m a proud former resident of South Carolina and president of the Sparky Woods appreciation society: