Chris Paul Thinks Clips Boycott Is Still An Idea (Reax)

((HT: ESPN.com/Goodman))

It's still on the table if the Los Angeles Clippers have Donald Sterling as owner when the new season rolls around...

When asked in Las Vegas during an AAU competition if Chris Paul and his teammates would still think about not playing, the answer seemed pretty solid to Goodman:

"That's something me and Doc are both talking about," Paul said Thursday after coaching his AAU program, CP3. "Something has to happen, and something needs to happen soon -- sooner rather than later."

"We're all going to talk about it," Paul said. "We're all definitely going to talk about it. Doc, Blake [Griffin], DJ [DeAndre Jordan]. It's unacceptable."

Frankly, the HQ thinks they should but the notion probably won't fly long term.

Reaction was understandable:

Dana, Tiki, and Brandon
((HT: CBS Sports Radio/CBSSN))


First Take Skip
((HT: ESPN))


First Take SAS
((HT: ESPN))


Closing arguments in the first Sterling v. Sterling lawsuit start Monday.

The End of an Era: Tim Tebow Cut by The Patriots

We aren't sure if the world can survive this. Or at least the Sports Media world....

It appears the ESPN/Skip Bayless dream of seeing Tim Tebow on an NFL Playing field this season has come to an end.

Tebow, the 3rd of 3 QB's on the New England Patriots roster, was released Saturday morning as the team, like other NFL teams, pair the roster down to 53 to start the season this upcoming week.

The legend did get some playing time in the preseason including an extensive amount of action in the final game against the New York Giants. He went 6 for 11 with 91 yds, 2 TD's an interception and was sacked 4 times.

Not embarrassing numbers, but numbers put up against the Giants reserves.

As you all know by know, Tebow has been an incredibly polarizing figure in his brief NFL career. A Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion at the University of Florida, he's been unable for the most part to extend that success to the pros.

Yes, his fans will say he led the Denver Broncos to a strong finish and playoff win during his rookie year in 2011, and they would be right. But that success had more to do with a strong defense, great running game and Tebow able to occasionally complete a pass.

Whereas detractors point out his lack of accuracy, inability to read defenses and struggles with play-calling as his ultimate demise. Those detractors also point to the circus-like atmosphere his presence creates and that circus is difficult to deal with. That circus isn't entirely his own fault, he hasn't asked ESPN to revere him like they do, but it becomes the price of admission.


There have been suggestions he should try changing positions, but to this point, he's not been willing to do that.

Assuming he clears waivers, Tebow is eligible to sign with any NFL team willing to have him. The challenge with that is knowing that along with the player, comes a huge circus.

We wish him the best of luck....

Reports: ESPN Mass Layoffs: "To Meet Profit Margins"

ESPN Should Fire This Guy Instead

((ht: deadspin.com))

God bless corporate america. The only place in the world where it's not enough to make money, you have to increase your profit margin each year...or you are considered a failure.

And we wonder why the rich get richer...

Anyway.....

Deadspin and other outlets report ESPN, your Entertainment and Sports Programming leader is taking a  deep ax to personnel today. And while not confirming numbers, it's believed to be in the 100's for a company of 7,000.

This on the heels of signing Paul Finebaum, beginning and laying out cash for the SEC Network and securing the rights to the U.S Tennis Open for 50% more than previous rights holder CBS was paying for it.

Oh, and did we add they aer about to debut a new $125 million new set?

ESPN did confirm layoffs to Deadspin, the report RIGHT HERE

And no, right wing friends, it's not about the number of layoffs being minimal. Companies aren't obligated to keep what they consider a bloated staff, no, we get that and yeah, it is their right.

The issue we have with this is good people being sent to the unemployment line while the CEO's and Executive's line their pockets with BONUS money for meeting a "Profit Margin".

We are often critical of the 4-Letter and we believe its with good reason. They've managed to swallow up the rights to almost every major sport and have convinced a uniformed majority of the public that they are IT when it comes to Sports Journalism.

They aren't. This is a Network that sold their souls to people like Skip Bayless and endless alienated many viewers with non-stop coverage of Tim Tebow. This is a network that values what they call debate and what the rest of us in the TV business calls trolling.

And they still roll on. And the executives will still get their bonuses for meeting budget.

It's Official: FOX Sports Takes On ESPN

((ht: bloomberg.com))

We aren't really sure how we feel about this, but eh...it's probably a good thing.

FOX Sports or more specifically, News Corp, made it official Tuesday afternoon and announced they are starting their own National Cable Sports Network.

They join a somewhat crowded field that includes the 4-Letter (ESPN), NBC and CBS Sports.

The new network will debut to over 90-million pay-tv homes and will run multiple FOX Sports properties and undoubtedly will feature it's own signature nightly newscasts and talk shows.

One of those hosts: Former morning Talker Regis Philbin.

Read the entire story from Bloomberg News RIGHT HERE

We've made no secret that we are among the growing chorus of sports fans who despise what ESPN has done to sports on most levels. Though we aren't sure how we feel about FOX, who's TV-News Network isn't exactly known for staying neutral or factually correct...about anything, we are hopeful about having an alternative.

But remember anything that will push ESPN to act like grown-ups instead of the babbling children who don't believe anyone will watch unless they fawn over Tim Tebow or create complaints where there weren't any for the sake of being the bad guy (Skip Bayless), has got to be a good thing.

If FOX accomplishes nothing else other than making everyone up their game, we'll be happy. If they are able to provide a viable option, that's fantastic. It's very painful and at times virtually impossible to watch ESPN these days without getting angry. They (ESPN) have been dictating the conversation too long and they seem to think other than a few players and teams, most of the country doesn't matter or exist.

That would be the best case, they make ESPN adjust to them. But FOX has a big hurdle to overcome. ESPN has many years and billions of dollars of a head start. FOX doesn't have to topple them. All we ask is they help change the game. Don't force feed non-NFL caliber players (Tebow) down our throat. Don't force feed us ex-writers who say stuff just to see if anyone will react to it (Bayless). Just tell us what happened, explain why it happened, tell us why it's interesting and do it in a creative way.

Good luck FOX Sports and NBC and CBS, we wish you luck and hope you can slay the monster.

More reasons to hate ESPN: Skip Bayless (aka Ass Clown)

Ass-Clown!

((ht: biglead.com))

This is a little bit of a rant and goes somewhat counter to what we want to say here because we know that any acknowledgement of the existence of Pond Scum like Skip Bayless just makes ESPN more eager to keep him on TV.

The latest reason that the man has no business on TV or arguably reporting period is this: He makes a random comment about New York Yankees Shortstop Derrick Jeter on his show that nobody watches saying;  “How could I not wonder is he using something? If you’re Derek Jeter, would you think about using HGH right now because I would. How would you not? Would you not think about it?”

Really?

Was that necessary?

Yeah, sure, we fully understand that Bayless's role is to play "The Heel" sports guy. He tries incredibly hard to take the negative or unpopular viewpoint on EVERYTHING. It's what he's being paid to do.

But when you make comments like that in a place like oh, say New York, then you get a swarm of reporters who feel they have to report on it.

Which is exactly what the AP did. They did a full length story on it and asked Jeter point blank. And all of a sudden, Jeter has to defend himself as to why he's having a good season at age 38 after struggling last year. Mind you nobody has EVER insinuated that he might be associated with anything illegal...at any time.

You can read the AP story RIGHT HERE

There are quite a few in the Sports Community who are pissed off at the AP for reporting this. And they should be. We shouldn't be giving low-life's like Skip Bayless the time of day. But yet we do. And inevitably someone thinks they should ask the same question.

And what is worse: ESPN feeds off of it. The more the Internet community and Sports community in general acknowledge this guy's existence, the more they try shoving him down our collective throats. Because that is what ESPN is slowly becoming. Not an organization that takes pride in high-quality journalism, which they do on occasion, but rather one that takes ANY publicity as good publicity and then repeats the cycle over...and over again. (See Tim Tebow's birthday)