owns Page 228 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Stephen A. Smith Is Back, And He Requires A Police Escort
Stephen A. is columnizing anew, but only on the condition that he pretend not to have any political opinions. Also, if his Twitter is to be believed, he is now a rock star. [Maynard Institute, Twitter]...

Marisa Miller Was Also Wearing A Jockstrap During The Beach Football Game
That is all. (Thanks to Gamboa Constrictor for his citizen journalism.)...

Merril Hoge: "Just A Jockstrap," Not Terrifying S&M South Beach Party Hammock
One of the more haunting images from Super Bowl XLIV's celebrity-fueled weekend was ESPN's Merril Hoge's unfortunate de-pantsing. He's claimed "not through a spokesman because that would make it sound too serious" that it was just a jockstrap....

Steve Phillips "Moves On" By Spilling His Guts To Matt Lauer
Steve Phillips made it out of sex rehab alive and has definitely seen the error of having sex with people who aren't your wife. So he went on "Today," because this is information that America needs to hear....

And On Cue, Rick Reilly® Says Something Stupid About New Orleans
ESPN let Reilly talk on the television again, and he spoke grandly of "St. Bernard's [sic] Parish" (over B-roll of the Garden District) and the "bars all over the Latin Quarter," which is in Paris. [ESPN]...

Worst Piece Of Journalism From Super Bowl XLIV — Indianapolis Edition
With all due respect to Tommy, I think this idiotic screed painting Sean Payton as a modern Benedict Arnold is as bad as anything that's been produced this week. Bob Kravitz from the Indianapolis Star, come on down!...

The First Super Bowl XLIV Wardrobe Malfunction Belongs To...ESPN's Merril Hoge?
Yes. There he is in all this thong-wearing glory at one of those ubiquitous pseudo-celebrity beach football games you'll find throughout SB week. This one just happened to be televised and showed us that, disturbingly, Hoge digs kinky Under Armour®....

Presenting The Single Worst Piece Of Sports Journalism From Super Bowl XLIV
The headline on ESPN.com is "Papa John's founder John Schnatter feeds me pizza." Then things get really stupid....

Colts Practicing Reverse Discrimination, Says Column That Makes Sense For About Two Seconds
Here's an argument that when the Colts hired Jim Caldwell, they violated the spirit of Rooney Rule by not interviewing any majority candidates. Also, the Saints should give Aaron Brooks some snaps on Sunday before Brees takes over. [NYDN]...

SportsNation Unaware That "Weird Web Story" Had Tragic Ending
ESPN's SportsNation crew had a lot of giggles yesterday over this rather insane failed bike jump. Unfortunately, no one on set knew that the man in the crash eventually killed himself because of his injuries....

Mike Golic's Appearance On Dan Patrick's Radio Show Will Not Get Him Sent To Bristol Stockade
Yesterday morning, while on set in Miami, Dan Patrick half-jokingly invited ESPN's Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg to come on to his show. Greenberg declined, but Golic gleefully obliged. Technically, ESPN personalities are forbidden from appearing on competing shows. CHAOS....

Most Important Question About Kyle Eckel Is Not "Who Is Kyle Eckel?"
Gregg Doyel isn't saying that Saints fullback—and former Navy Midshipman—Kyle Eckel is a traitor to his country, just that Kyle Eckel should explain to Gregg Doyel why he's in the Super Bowl and not Afghanistan. [CBS]...

Look Out ESPN: The Ocho Cinco News Network Is On The Air
I don't know about you, but I'd rather watch Chad Ochocinco prowl media day as a reporter than any number of Mexican models. (Why are you looking at me that way?)...

Paul Shirley Has Been Down This Road Before
Here's the thing about saying something controversial: people are then going to look back through everything you've ever said to find more. Paul Shirley's got a few nuggets in his past....

Dear Bill Simmons, Please Stop Feeling My Pain For Me
I know many of you find Simmons bashing a tiresome pursuit, so I will keep this as civil as I possibly can....

FSN's Charissa Thompson Gave Some Interesting Twitter Commentary About Last Night's SOTU
Thompson, a sideline princess for Fox Sports and former "Best Damn" co-host, took to Twitter last night to share her thoughts on President Obama's SOTU address. She was reluctant, at first, but eventually just HAD to say something....

And ESPN Runs, Runs So Far Away From Paul Shirley
Here's their entire statement: "He was a part-time freelance contributor. The views he expressed on another site of course do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."...

Tim Layden Bids Farewell To Brett Favre With Some Sexy Slash Fiction
There are two noble conventions of football journalism that will fall by the wayside should Brett Favre elect to sit his old ass down for good. The first is of the Werder-Mortensen "Sources: Favre eats soup" variety. And the second?...

Favre's Success Tears NFC North Apart
The Sun-Times says: "Go New Orleans, save us from Brett Favre!" The Tribune says: "Leave Brett Favre alone!" The Green Bay Press-Gazette could not be reached for comment, presumably having drank itself to death in the woods. [Sun-Times, Trib]...

ESPN Ombudsman Ohlmeyer Blasts Alamo Bowl Coverage After Adam James Saga
"Was the telecast balanced? ESPN thinks it was — and for me, that is the most troubling aspect of this whole affair." [ESPN]...