Sean B. Fitzgerald It doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.

18May/090

Night Cap

ESPN hires Jon Gruden to replace Kornheiser for MNF telecasts
Scratches head. I don't get it. I do not understand the necessity for three-man booths. And not just in football, in any sport. ESPN seems to have an fascination with sticking three guys in a booth to announce a game. There should be two. One to do the play-by-play and one to analyze. With Kornheiser deciding to not come back to MNF, ESPN was left with two of the best in the business. Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski are arguably the standard by which all current announcing crews are measured. I just don't think Jon Gruden is the type of "football mind" who is worthy enough to sacrifice quality for. But who am I kidding, the attractiveness of Monday Night Football has long since disappeared. It's no longer an institution as it once was. With games on Sunday nights, Saturday nights, and Thursday nights, Monday Night Football isn't exactly an event. Side Note: Gruden won't last the year. With his borderline obsession with coaching, as soon as a team comes calling, he'll slowly back away from the booth.

12May/093

Night Cap

Boston rallies from 14 points down, take series lead 3-2
I have started a petition to change the international symbol of choking from two hands clasped over the neck to the last eight and a half minutes of game five. So now, if you see ANYONE doing what Orlando did last night, prepare to perform the Heimlich maneuver or least shove them into the back of a chair. With 8:49 left in the fourth, the Magic held a 77-63 lead. Then before you can say "JJ Redick", Boston had climbed to within eight. You know the rest of the story. The Magic are forced into taking ill-advised three pointers and rush passes. While, the Celtics triumph due to quality shooting, deft passing, and shutdown defense. It's the same story, different chapter. David Stern really needs better writers.

NFL considering second London regular season game for 2010
After the success of the previous two regular season games at Wembley Stadium in London, the NFL is musing on the possibility of two games in England for the 2010 season. I understand that it makes business sense to expand your brand as much as possible. To build on previous achievement and work to improve every aspect of your business. But is it necessary? The NFL is already the king of all sports in America. Is their intention to slowly but surely own the sports scene in England and eventually Europe itself? Or are they simply attempting to grab a slice of a demographic they never had before? Who knows? With the amount of cash flow the "League" has to operate with, they could team up with the Cambodian Midget Fighting League and still turn a profit.

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I am already jealous that Lebron James signed a $90 million contract with Nike straight out of high school. But now, he is getting paid for things he doesn't even have to work on. The marketing department for Nike must foam at the mouth knowing they have the ability to use his likeness in any fashion.

Marketing Executive 1: How about we use him as a puppet?

Marketing Executive 2: You're like an idea machine! Get me a cigar, will ya?

They high five. Light cigars with $500 bills.