The Full-Length Ole Miss-Admiral Ackbar What-Could-Have-Been ESPN Ad

I understand that George Lucas and his various, immensely success companies want to protect their assets, but pulling the plug on the internet phenomenon that had Admiral Ackbar in the running for the Ole Miss Runnin’ Rebels mascot is an egregious use of power.

Shouldn’t some things be in the public domain? I mean, come on! Give them the ability to use the likeness but work out a deal where you become the sole licenser of merchandise for anything that features the mascot. It’s a cash cow, not that LucasFilm needs any more money.

Besides, it’s not like the boosters and alumni would EVER have let their mascot look like a slimy red fish anyway. They’ll obviously pick something lame like a Bull named Ray. I mean, seriously, isn’t that where this has always been headed: Ray the Bull? Ray Bull? Gag.

Regardless, the chance for Ackbar to get his rightful spot in history — I mean, could Skywalker take ANYMORE CREDIT for things, really? — was stripped from the Runnin’ Rebels student body (at least the Star WarsREAD MORE

Roger Federer’s Microphone Cut Out Ironically Blamed On “RF Interference”

By now you’ve seen the video of Roger Federer’s interview after securing a spot in the US Open semifinals (if not, see below) where he talks about how great it is to be a dad but that the kids have ruined his chances of getting…NOTHING TO SEE HERE MOVE ALONG…

Gwen Stefani thinks you are a randy man, Roger. A randy man.

Per the incomparable nose-to-the-grindstone media reporting of Richard Deitsch at SI, ESPN did not tape delay the interview and drop the sound on Federer’s obvious joke about getting some action with the wife. It was hilariously blamed on “RF interference.”

Deitsch Tweets:

Says an ESPN spokesperson: “The sound went dead for a few seconds, causing instant panic in the truck until the sound came back. The interruption was due to RF (radio frequency) interference. It makes more for good internet fodder but Roger was live.”

So ESPN did not cut the sound to sanitize their broadcast. Dang. Hey, at least the PR people have a good sense of humor about it.

Jay Mariotti Out of Hot Water in L.A. Or Into Hotter Water?

A report in the Beverly Hills Courier made its way across the internet today with news that the Los Angeles County DA office has “declined to pursue a criminal case” against Jay Mariotti. Out of trouble? Hardly.

As Sports by Brooks noted, the matter is now being handed off to the Los Angeles CITY District Attorney’s office. Brooks drops the local knowledge:

This news explains why Mariotti’s mugshot and police report has not previously been made available to the public. Though he was arrested in Venice, which is L.A.P.D.’s jurisdiction, the L.A. Sheriff’s Dept. actually reached him first on the night in question and turned the case over to the L.A. County District Attorney. (I live a half-mile away from where Mariotti was arrested.)

L.A. County elected to not make information about the case, which has been pending since August 21, available to the public. That policy regarding public information may change once L.A. City takes over the case.

Mariotti is scheduled to appear in L.A. Superior Court on September 17th but methinks if they let a certainREAD MORE

Call of the Day: “Cinderella Lives, Ladies and Gentlemen.”

We’ll have a lot more on the start of college football season throughout the week, but we’d be remiss if the call of the day wasn’t Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit calling the game-winning drive for Boise State as they defeated Virginia Tech in what sure as heck felt like a playoff game in the National Championship tournament…on Labor Day.

The best part of Musburger’s call is that he lets back-to-back plays breathe before the snap. When Kellen Moore hit Austin Pettis for the eventual game winner, Brent went from elation to baritone perspective without missing a beat.

“Play action…end zone…GOT HIM! Pettis, touchdown! … Cinderella lives, ladies and gentlemen. This is stunning.”

With all due respect to the situation and the fantastic comeback, which was actually rather stunning, it’s far past time to cease with the “Cinderella” talk for a team that was ranked higher in both polls coming into the game. It was probably an upset — both in Vegas and with regard to obvious home field advantage for VTech — but Boise State shouldn’t be aREAD MORE

DL427: Bob Bradley, Mike Wise Reactions, Mariotti, Mad Men, Vacation

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Long shows always beget short recaps. Nick and I discuss more of the Mike Wise situation from a social media construct and try to parse some of the reactions to his original comments and his apology. If you haven’t listened to him on our show yet, please do that first.

We also talk about Around the Horn discussing Jay Mariotti’s situation. Good job by ESPN and the producers of ATH.

Jon Tannenwald of The Goalkeeper then joins the show for a lengthy discussion about Bob Bradley. Is this a situation where he couldn’t get a better job and the U.S. federation couldn’t find a better coach so it’s a marriage of convenience? Or is Bradley actually the best man for the job?

Also, Tannenwald explains how the coach of the USMNT is responsible for far more than just coaching the top team and we spin that into a conversation about how, in theory, the development of kids as young as three years old falls under his oversight. Hey, that’s how other countries doREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Around the Horn Talks About Jay Mariotti

Admittedly, I have not watched Around the Horn for quite some time and while I respect the work of some of the panelists, others (ahem Mariotti) being on the show has routinely precluded me from tuning in. It’s just not good TV. Yesterday, it got a little better, as the panelists discussed Jay Mariotti’s situation during their second segment.

First and foremost, credit goes to the show runners for broaching the topic as they certainly didn’t have to talk about Mariotti at all. People have been waiting for ESPN’s comment on the situation other than “he’s not on the schedule next week” and I think, yesterday, we got it.

The panelists talked more about the media/fan reaction to Mariotti’s situation and steered clear of the legal matters altogether. Kevin Blackistone, who works with Mariotti at Fanhouse as well, talked mostly about how there is envy in the industry and that’s why he wasn’t surprised about the reaction to Mariotti’s (for lack of a better word) downfall. Woody Paige took it a step further to talk aboutREAD MORE

Jay Mariotti Suspended by Fanhouse. Has He Met His Last Mute Button at ESPN?

Ah, the misleading headline gimmick of using a question and implicitly suggesting you know the answer. Here’s what we do know: Richard Deitsch tweeted earlier that Fanhouse has suspended Mariotti:

Statement from an AOL spokesperson: “We are continuing to gather all the facts. In the meantime, we have suspended Jay Mariotti and are not featuring any new work from him.”

In response, we all got in line with ESPN to see what their plans are. Josh Krulewitz, ESPN spokesman, replied to my query thusly: “He is not scheduled to be on next week.”

Around the Horn, if you didn’t know, books their panelists on a per-week basis. With ATH being off this week, ESPN has some time to get all the particulars and gather facts before making any formal decision on Mariotti’s future with the network.

But let’s be honest…Mariotti – while polarizing and surely attention garnering – is not a very well-liked fellow. It’s not like people are suddenly going to START watching Around the Horn because of Mariotti’s recent arrest, but the likelihood of viewers boycotting the showREAD MORE

DL423: John Ourand on Jenn Brown and ESPN’s Ombudsman. And More.

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John Ourand of SBJ/SBD and Richard Deitsch of SI were chatting on Twitter the other day about the potential conflict of interest Jenn Brown may have as spokeswoman for IceHouse beer and ESPN college sports sideline reporter. I thought it was ridiculous at the time and still think it’s ridiculous.

ESPN, however, does not find it ridiculous, as they reportedly told Brown she could not sign the deal (even after they approved it, according to MillerCoors). So, did Deitsch and Ourand kill this deal for her? I wanted to ask Deitsch, who tweeted a response to this allegation and denied my repeated cajoling to come on and the show and talk about it. Ourand was more forthcoming and generously gave up his time to discuss the situation.

He feels I’m giving too much credit to two media writers on Twitter and that the deal may have been quashed with more important folks in mind…namely the NCAA and the heads of major conferences who take the association with alcohol very seriously. I try to pointREAD MORE

Pour One Out for Jenn Brown’s IceHouse Spokeswoman Deal

Richard Deitsch of SI just sent around this link to a story from The Business Journal (serving Milwaukee and it’s surrounding areas) that ESPN sideline reporter Jenn Brown will NOT be the new spokeswoman for IceHouse beer:

“We have learned from sources at ESPN that the agreement is not moving forward as planned,” said Julian Green, spokesman for Chicago-based MillerCoors, which operates a major brewery and has administrative offices on Milwaukee’s west side.

MillerCoors hasn’t received official word from Brown or her agent pertaining to the status of the deal, which ESPN initially approved, Green said.

“Until we hear from Brown or her agent, we believe we still have an approved deal,” he said.

The report actually credits Deitsch with breaking the news that Brown would not be getting this gig, but ALSO indicates that the decision may have something to do with backlash — backlash that we mentioned on yesterday’s show Deitsch and John Ourand of SporstBusiness Journal had a huge hand in creating — that Brown would ostensibly be peddling beer with one hand while holding a microphoneREAD MORE

DL420: Vin Scully, Lou Piniella, Mariotti, Whitlock, Jenn Brown, More

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We haven’t done a show in a while. I was in New York for the Blogger Fantasy League draft at the NFL offices (more on that tomorrow). Today, we tackle a lot of media stories in the news.

We talk about Vin Scully’s announcement that he’ll be back in the booth in 2011. We juxtapose that, in a way, with Lou Piniella’s effective-immediately retirement. His decision must be hard, but obviously the circumstances would be different if the Cubs were in contention. Should the reaction be?

PRINT’S NOT DEAD

Jay Mariotti was arrested this weekend for reportedly beating up his girlfriend. Alleged alleged alleged. The internet has never been so happy, if you follow the tweets of countless writers, bloggers and other insiders. Have we ever seen so many reporters revel in someone else’s plight?

Of course, it’s Mariotti, so it’s rather understandable why people would have glee (though the circumstances of him potentially hitting and injuring a woman are terrible and nobody should be laughing at that part) at his arrest and (potential)READ MORE