• A sad way to start the baseball week: Phillies announcer Harry Kalas & former Tigers pitcher Mark Fidrych both pass away on the same day.

• But it was nice to see Brian Bosworth help save an Oklahoman’s life.
• Wedding bells have rung for a couple of tennis stars: Andy Roddick ties the knot with [...]

Stephen A. Smith will be gone completely from ESPN at the end of the NBA playoffs.

(S.A.S. enjoying being inside the ropes while he can)
THE BIG LEAD has the scoop:
Within the last month, a source says that ESPN and (Stephen A.) Smith went to the negotiating table and couldn’t reach an agreement. Apparently, ESPN’s offer [...]

• For those of you Tucson TV viewers who had their Super Bowl interrupted by a schlong, Comcast would like to pay you $10 for your troubles.

(The young lady on the right was smiling about seeing something just as long as Larry Fitzgerald’s go-head TD reception)
• Kobe Bryant helps the Lakers knock off the Knicks [...]

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith caused quite an uproar on Monday when he said that Chris Bosh could be traded before the NBA’s deadline on February 19th because not only are the Raptors a putrid 19-30, but because Bosh had already told the Raptors there was no way he was staying in Toronto after his contract [...]

As The Duke was so kind to inform us all of this morning in the Speed Read, Adam “Pacman” Jones was cut by the Dallas Cowboys yesterday after a story on ESPN talked about his supposed involvement in a shooting outside an suburban Atlanta strip club back in June 2007.

According to the story, while no [...]

At least according to Charles Barkley.
I’ve actually personally sworn off posting about Barkley and/or LeBron James in the remaining millenia, but I was so bemused by media reporting of Barkley’s recent comments on Dan Patrick’s radio show that I had to chime in.

(Smith at – where else? – a Cavs game)
Barkley last Wednesday said [...]

• THE 700 LEVEL hears Phillies slugger Chase Utley giving a reasonable response to all the boo birds at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.

• Meanwhile, REAL CLEAR SPORTS catches Rick Reilly complaining about too many white players participating in the Home Run Derby.
• Speaking of racist chatter, DEADSPIN discovers Reggie Jackson having the chutzpah to [...]

• LARRY BROWN SPORTS flips through the channels, and finds FOX cameras catching the Cubs’ Kerry Wood flipping the bird in the bullpen.

Wood really shouldn’t be doing that – such hand gestures might land Kerry right back on the DL.
• Stephanie Stradley of AOL FANHOUSE floats along rumors of Cedric Benson joining up with [...]

Dan Le Batard interviewed ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler on WAXY-AM in Miami this week (audio starts at 5:36), and asked him, “What one thing would you change that bothers you about the (sports) media?”
Legler’s response: “The thing that bothers me the most is what has become a very blurred line between a journalist and [...]

• STEROID NATION has a look at ADHD drugs as they pertain to baseball.
• YOU BEEN BLINDED says Stephen A. Smith wants the draft rigged in favor of the Knicks. Like that would ever happen (cough: Patrick Ewing).

• DEUCE OF DAVENPORT breaks down the Bernard Hopkins beat down.