Sports Reporters has winning formula

Shooting from the Lip
Looking back at a weekend of televised sports ...

Best show
The format is simple. Get a knowledgeable, likeable host. Surround the host with three sports writers with strong opinions. Bring up current sports events. Discuss. That's all ESPN's Sports Reporters is, and that format has worked brilliantly for 20 years. The show celebrated its 20th anniversary Sunday, and it continues to be one of the most watchable 30 minutes of television.

"We've always thought -- 20 years ago and still today -- it's the most intelligent conversation of its kind on television,'' said New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, a regular panelist. "Viewers don't feel we're talking down to them, and they certainly don't feel we're shouting at them. The viewer feels part of the conversation. That's the key.''

Lupica is right. There's no yelling (like on, say, ESPN's Around the Horn). There's no talking down to anyone (like on, say, Around the Horn). And viewers do feel a part of the show (unlike on, say, Around the Horn).  Here's hoping for, and expecting, another 20 years of Sports Reporters.

Worst nightmare
CBS's worst nightmare came true Saturday night when the signature star of its mixed martial arts EliteXC, Kimbo Slice was knocked out 14 seconds into his fight with some guy who couldn't even cut it in the UFC. Unknown Seth Petruzelli  filled in for Slice's scheduled opponent, Ken Shamrock, who was injured before the fight, and he stunned Slice, evidence that the EliteXC is miles behind some of other MMA circuits. The good news for us is maybe the EliteXC will run out of steam without Kimbo and CBS will stop airing it on Saturday night.

However, the result did produce a good line from announcer Gus Johnson, who screamed, "Rocky is here!'' after Petruzelli knocked out the heavily favored Slice.

Best debate
ESPN's Outside the Lines ran a thought-provoking piece on whether Major League Baseball should retire No. 21, worn by former Pirates star and humanitarian Roberto Clemente. As of now, only Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is retired across baseball.

"The combination of the man, the ballplayer and the soul of the man makes a very, very strong case that his number should be retired,'' Fox analyst Tim McCarver said. "If baseball decided to retire Roberto Clemente's No. 21, who would object to it?''

Actually, quite a number of people would. Some believe it would take away from the impact of retiring Robinson's number. Others worry it would open a Pandora's box of requests to retire other players' numbers. Personally, I think Clemente's number should be retired because of Clemente's off-field work and the impact he has had on the Latin community in baseball.

Strongest analysis
It's impossible not to be riveted by HBO's consistently excellent Boxing After Dark broadcasts. The team of Jim Lampley, Lennox Lewis and Max Keller­man is a master at covering a fight card, and in each broadcast, the announcers do something that puts them above and beyond other teams in other sports. What you have to respect is how strong their analysis is even when it makes the sport look bad.
Example: Saturday night they criticized the judge and the corner of light middleweight Andrey Tsurkan,  who was getting pummeled round after round by Alfredo Angulo.
Lewis said, "There's a saying: Live to fight another day.''
Lampley followed: "That's the key word: live.''
Lampley then brought up the possibility that they could be witnessing a boxer being literally killed in the ring. "What does it take to stop this fight!'' Lampley screamed. Finally, Tsurkan's corner waved the white towel midway through the 10th, and final, round.

Funniest line
"Let's go rent The Longest Yard.''
NFL Network's Warren Sapp, talking about the movie with the prison football game, in previewing the Cowboys-Bengals matchup

Best point
Notre Dame football is improved, and its schedule is weak. And yet that might not matter. The Fighting Irish will head to a bowl game, but unlike 10 or so years ago, they won't even sniff the national championship picture, or the BCS picture, for that matter. CBS football host Tim Brando put it best: "It could be true. Notre Dame could win nine and still be irrelevant.''

Best Long point
You have to feel badly about the way the Oakland Raiders treated recently fired coach Lane Kiffin, but come on, is anyone surprised owner Al Davis wigged out again? That was the on-the-money point made by former Raiders lineman and current Fox analyst Howie Long on Sunday.

"It has been 15 years since I've been part of the organization, so I can't speak to the day-to-day operations,'' Long said. "But if you're Lane Kiffin, you should know what you are getting into. He has access to a guy like Jon Gruden, who coached there. Don't be surprised when the owner who coached in the league and built three world championships gives input on a day-in, day-out basis on the goings-on of the football team. Don't be shocked by that.''

Best local shout-out from a local announcer
"(The Lightning's Steven Stamkos) can shoot the puck as well as anyone in the league.''
-- Sun Sports Lightning broadcaster Bobby "Chief'' Taylor, during Saturday's Lightning-Rangers broadcast.

Best local shout-out from a national announcer
"Evan Longoria is the next great thing at third base.''
-- Boston Globe's Bob Ryan, on Sunday's Sports Reporters

Comments

[joe]

the sports reporters is irrelevent. some 20 (even 10) years ago when other avenues of information was not available, it was interesting to hear what others had to say.

of course the show rotated guests.

now, it's always the same four or five reporters and ALWAYS mike lupica who has to spin everything to a new york angle and if the subject doesn't have a new york angle it isn't worth talking about (in his eyes).

(i'll never forget when lupica began ranting about jeter-arod and brian burwell said, "nobody outside of new york cares." the reaction by lupica was akin to learning his house just burned down.)

and, dictated by the disney mice, the same tired subjects are over analyzed.

juat once it was be moderately interesting to have three non-new york writers on the show and not discuss subects dealing with the yankees, red sox, cowboys, patriots, "LUH-bron," "ko-BEE" or the non-basketball association.

don't hold your breath.

the old sportswriters on tv that was syncicated and on for an hour was significantly more interesting and rarely had a new york writer.

[Alex]

Tom: I read your "Big Mess" article this morning and I disagree with you.

If Florida wins out and beats an undefeated #1 Alabama, they do belong in the NC game. Its not that they have a right, its process of elimination. My brief argument is below.

You can't tell me that the PAC 10 is good this year. USC may not win their conference and they can't use Notre Dame to catapault them higher in the rankings, like they have in the past. They only beat a decent Ohio State team.

The Big East and the ACC is down, their are no teams that are near NC contention, so we won't even talk about them.

The Big 10 is also down and its reputation has been hurt by Ohio State getting blown out the last couple of years by SEC teams. One of the best things that happened to college football was Penn State losing. No one wanted to see another Big Ten team getting blown out.

This leaves us with the Big 12. You have the Big 12 South that is stacked with teams this year. Four of them in the top 12. Unfortunately only one will be playing for the Big 12 Championship against a No. 13 Missouri. What if the Tigers win? Would we even see a Big 12 team in the NC game? Now I believe that one of the South's team will win this game and as a result you would see this team play against Florida.

The voters will not put two Big 12 teams in the NC game. No one wants to see it because they have already had the opportunity to play each other.

Even if the SEC is "way down" like you said, it is not like Florida is just squeaking by their opponents... They are blowing them out! Did you have this argument the last two years when Ohio State was placed in the NC game, when we all new the Big 10 had recently lost its luster and did not have any quality teams?

I imagine that your article was not an unbiased piece and that you are disgruntled that your one loss team may not make it to the NC game. :)

Thank you for writing the article, it is articles like these that fire up the passion in all of us and as a result makes College Football great.