Paul Finebaum Resurfaces at ESPN

((ht: onlinewsj.com))

So, the voice of the common Alabamian in football has a new home.

And no, it's lot on the local airways in Birmingham.

The guy who a few years ago, we didn't know who he was, is now going big time. Yes, that's right, Paul Finebaum will now be an ESPN personality.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Finebaum will take his show to Charlotte, North Carolina where he'll host a show on ESPN radio.

In addition, his deal provides him 100 TV appearances on the network and his radio show appearing as a Video Simulcast on the SEC Network.

Guess that answers one question about the SEC Network's programming.

Read more from the Wall Street Journal RIGHT HERE

Yes, we confess, some 3-years ago, we had no earthly idea who Finebaum was after stumbling upon a story where he claimed Georgia coach Mark Richt would be imminently fired. By the way, it never happened.

For those unfamiliar, Finebaum plays very hard and well to the SEC and in particular Alabama football fans sometimes irrational and aggravating, non-stop obsession with everything football.

And that is who ESPN is trying to target.

We can't say we'll tune into Finebaum's show, we still consider him a bit of a blowhard who randomly floats rumors, but then again, that's what plays these days.paul f

DEVELOPING: Updyke Takes Plea Deal

((HT: WSFA-TV))

A month before the Auburn University spring game and the last time that the community will be able to roll Toomer's Oaks before their removal, Harvey Updyke has taken a plea deal in the poisoning of the trees with Spike 80-DF.

As a result, Updyke will be sentenced to three years in jail- entering a plea of guilty to Criminal Damage to an Agriculture Facility, a class C felony, but he should remain in jail for a period at least six months.

After his release, Updyke will be under supervised probation for five years, he will be required to stick to a 7PM curfew, and he can't attend any college sporting event. He is also banned from going to anything "Auburn"- not that they would let him into anything in the first place...

He is also under a media gag order...
And that will be interesting as to whether or not he'll stick to that one...

Restitution costs have not yet been determined, Lee County (AL) District Attorney Robbie Treese said at a press conference. But he added that whatever the cost is, it will be doubled under the Alabama Farm Animal, Crop and Research Facilities Protection Act.

Kinda like an anti-trust case...

"We have a significant number of violent felonies awaiting trial in Lee County," DA Treese said, "and I could not in good conscience justify financing a three week trial merely to arrive at no better a resolution."

Here's the phone call that started it all...
((HT: PFRN))


Here's the latest from Montgomery...
((HT: WSFA-TV))
WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

More when we know more...

PAWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! Your Contract's Not Renewed...

((HT: Trussville Tribune Newspaper))

Paul Finebaum and his number two of operations, Ryan Haney, let their contracts expire at midnight and people will not be able to hear his show for further notice.

The Paul Finebaum Radio Network is now, supposedly, weighing its options...

Stay with Sirius/XM, go to Birmingham competitor 97.3TheZone, ESPN, or some combination therein. Finebaum had been with WJOX since 2007 and has been courted by The Zone for over a year...

Most folks in the national Paul Finebaum era know his show for this revelation...
((HT: youtube/PFRN))


More when we know more...