Chris Berman responds today in the MIAMI HERALD to now-notorious internet videos of him acting like a jackass on the set of Monday Night Football.

And the only thing more absurd than the unpleasant behavior seen by Berman in the videos is his subsequent reaction to them getting out.

Berman: ‘It’s almost as if what we would fight against as a country — the Soviets spying — it’s almost like that’s what everyone is doing. What’s said in the huddle, which is what I did, should be in the huddle.”

Holy cow, who knew Yuri Andropov was behind this whole thing? And to think we thought Dan Patrick was the one leaking the tapes.

More: “I’m disappointed people would think I’m not really good with the people I work with, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Do I wish I didn’t say a few things nine years ago? Yes. But if that’s the worst thing I ever did, I can live with it.’‘

That’s about the thousandth time we’ve heard ESPNers (and now Berman) excuse the behavior because it was nine years ago.

WHO GIVES A DAMN WHEN HE SAID IT? HE SAID IT!

Does Berman’s excuse mean he’s now grown out of the childish behavior exposed on the tapes? Last we checked, the booger man was full grown when he talked like that. So what has changed in the ensuing nine years that would indicate he isn’t the buffoon everyone now knows him to be?

Almost forgot: Here’s a link to all the videos ESPN forced Youtube to remove.