Rock Out With Your Box Out

ESPN once again begins its summer programming guaranteed to annoy and alienate most of its viewers, though this time instead of "Who's Now-ing" people into a self-mutilating rage, they'll induce copious amounts of ear blood. Awful Announcing points us to the latest in silly synergistic promotional attempts: "Baseball Tonight's Battle Of The Bands"

Yes, fans, on Monday Baseball Tonight will begin airing music videos from nine different bands playing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" in an American Idol-like competition in which viewers will be able to vote for their favorite each week, finally crowning a champion on July 13.

ESPN has a monster line-up vying for this title including REO Speedwagon, some people named "The Cab", Gretchen Wilson (not from Wilson Phillips), Ozomatil, and — hold onto your Dad's tattered flannel — Candlebox.

Congratulations, ESPN. You've just made one of your most entertaining shows unwatchable for three weeks. I'd rather watch Fernando Vina and Chris Singleton play "Aqualung" on Karl Ravetch's bare ass every day for a year, than watch any of this competition for 30 seconds.

">Introducing Baseball Tonight's" Battle Of The Bands" [Awful Announcing]