Joe Flacco drops F-bomb after Super Bowl
Joe Flacco dropped several long passes into the arms of his receivers during Super Bowl XLVII, and then capped off his MVP performance with one final bomb that CBS would rather he not complete. An f-bomb.
Alicia Keys to sing Super Bowl national anthem
TALENT
Alicia Keys will be singing at the Super Bowl, CBS and the NFL announced. The Grammy winner will belt the national anthem in New Orleans on Feb. 3, which sets the stage for a dual-divas duel: Keys at kickoff and Beyonce at halftime.
It will be Keys’ third time on the Super Bowl stage, the most by any performer in the game’s history. In 2005, she sang America the Beautiful with 150 students from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and returned three years later to perform as part of the pregame show.
Bill Belichick snubbed CBS after loss then got ripped by Shannon Sharpe
Grouch
Bill Belichick may not be a poor sport, but he plays one on TV. The New England Patriots coach continued his long history of petulant behavior when he declined an interview with CBS following his team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship.
During the network’s postgame show, host James Brown told viewers that sideline reporter Steve Tasker had requested an interview with Belichick, but that the coach declined. The Patriots sent out third-year safety Devin McCourty instead, which is like asking for an interview with the president and getting Joe Biden’s secretary.
When CBS cut back to its studio set after the brief chat with McCourty, analyst Shannon Sharpe was seething.
There’s something to be said about being gracious in defeat. We’ve seen the New England Patriots five times in the last 12 years be victorious. And we’ve seen the opposing coaches that lost come out and speak to our Steve Tasker. Coach [Bill] Cowher [who was sitting next to Sharpe] did it when they lost. We saw this last week. Bill Belichick makes it very easy for you to root against the Patriots. You can’t be a poor sport all the time. You’re not going to win every time. And he does this every time he loses. It is unacceptable.
Bill Cowher says he’ll be an NFL coach again
The Chin
Ever since Bill Cowher rode off into the sunset, we’ve been wondering when he’ll return to coaching in the NFL.
Nearly six full seasons later, Cowher is still retired. So will he ever return to the sidelines?
“Yes,” Cowher told Newsday
Given his plethora of NFL experience, winning pedigree and a Super Bowl title to his credit, it stands to reason that any team that eventually lands Cowher would put itself in a great situation. However, it’s been so long since he’s coached, and the NFL landscape has changed so much in that time, you have to wonder if he’ll be able to acclimate upon his eventual return.
Cowher, though, sees this as a “non-issue,” citing that he’s still on top of his game just by serving a CBS studio analyst.
“I did it for 27 years. You don’t just forget things overnight,” Cowher said. “One thing about this job is it’s been really good, because it allows me to study the game and do features on the game. I want to know what I’m talking about, so I’m watching tape. It’s not like I’m out of it. I know how the game is changing.”
60 Minutes takes jab at Aaron Rodgers
Thought You'd Be Taller
Even though the news cycle had long passed, Aaron Rodgers is still complaining about his 60 Minutes profile. Now, the venerable news program is fighting back.
Rodgers took issue with the editing of the Nov. 4 piece last week, claiming it didn’t show enough of his charity work. The biggest takeaway from the piece was that Rodgers can be too sensitive, as evidenced by a clip in which he scolded a man for talking about his height. Interviews with teammates Greg Jennings and Clay Matthews continued that narrative, albeit in a teasing way.
Then, in a talk with Detroit reporters on Wednesday, the Green Bay Packers quarterback suggested that the show was “cut for their purposes [and] agenda” and insinuated that his quotes had been taken out of context.
60 Minutesresponded on Thursday.
“Aaron Rodgers was never taken out of context and most anybody portrayed as he was on 60 Minutes would have been flattered by the story,” said Jeff Fager, executive producer of 60 Minutes said in a statement. “It was fair and accurate and it was obvious we got it right when we reported that he tends to be overly sensitive.”
Jeff Kent Joins Survivor
KentSports
Back on June 25, we posted the report that former 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent was rumored to be a member of his favorite TV show as one of 15 contestants on the latest installment of Survivor, set in the Philippines.
Kent, 44, will match wits with the likes of 1980s sitcom star Lisa Whelchel, of Facts of Life fame, and two beauty pageant winners for the $1 million prize.
Kent, who left the game in 2008 after seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, says he’s long been a fan of the show where contestants are pitted against each other in tribes on remote locations and must work together on team challenges while all the while conspiring against each other to avoid the dreaded flame dousing that will get you on a boat home.
“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. I hate to lose. You know, there are not many tall white guys with mustaches walking around still these days. I’m hoping my reputation’s not big enough that these people know who I am.”
Wally Szczerbiak Rips Kevin Garnett
Stop Yelling
CBS Sports analyst Wally Szczerbiak words do not carry much weight in the eyes of a lot of people. However, his sentiments on Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett and former teammate do hold a certain amount of significance simply because the two were together in Minnesota for the better part of seven seasons.
During the Celtic loss, Szczerbiak tweeted the following…
“KG is another one who lacks the #clutchgene always has!”
“KG never takes big shot for #Celtics now he’s fourth in line behind Pierce Allen and Rondo to take clutch shot. Warrior all game though!!”
For the record, Garnett misfired on five of his last six field goal attempts and also recorded a turnover with just over a minute left in overtime. The 36-year-old forward went 6-18 for 18 points and let Miami Heat Dwyane Wade score a layup in front of him to essentially seal the game in overtime.
Gar Forman Says Carlos Boozer Part Of Chicago Bulls Core & Won’t Be Waived
Hardwood Ain't The Club
Chicago Bulls fans are down on Carlos Boozer. He just hasn’t played up to the $80 million contract he signed two years ago, and the fans want him waived by using the amnesty provision.
But, apparently, they’re stuck with him. Bulls GM Gar Forman told CBS Sports Radio in Chicago that Boozer remains part of the team’s plans.
“I think Carlos had a very productive year,” Forman said. “You look back, he’s the only guy on our team that played every game and practiced every day on a team that won more games than anybody in the NBA. He was our second leading scorer and our second leading rebounder.
“We’re looking forward to Carlos continuing to make progress. I know the last game clouds it a little bit, but he was very productive in the games before that. Even in that last game, in 27 minutes, he had 13 boards. I anticipate Carlos being with us and having another productive year next season.”
The last game to which Forman is referring is Boozer’s 1-for-11, three-point performance when the Bulls were eliminated in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Boozer averaged 13.5 points, on 42.2 percent shooting, and 9.8 rebounds over the six-game series; and 15.0 points, on 53.2 percent shooting, and 8.5 rebounds during the regular season.
Amnestying Boozer though does not mean that the Bulls can sign another player to fit into his $15-16 million annual salary slot. They’d be over the salary cap and would only be able to use provisions such the midlevel exception or minimum salary exception to sign free agents.
“We’re happy Carlos Boozer is here and we like the core of the team that we have under contract,” Forman said.
Chessboxing
For centuries chess and the strategy involved has been associated with war, now you can add boxing. See in the United Kingdom the sport of Chessboxing is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country.
Chessboxing combines boxing with the game of chess alternating over 11 rounds of competition, three minutes of boxing, then three minutes of competitors sitting over a chess board while wearing headphones so they cannot hear spectators hollering out suggested moves, the participants can win either by knockout or checkmate.
A CBS News report profiles two fighters, Andy “The Rock” Costello and Nikolai “The Siberian Express” Sazhin, who are on the forefront of Europe’s latest craze.
Move over MMA.
Jim Nantz & Phil Simms Will Be New Madden Announcers
Come A Long Way
The latest edition of the popular Madden football game, Madden NFL 13, will have new announcers this year, according to a report. The CBS broadcasting duo of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will provide voice-over commentary for the interactive video game, replacing Gus Johnson and Cris Collinsworth.
The makers of the game are also expected to improve the commentary to make it more relevant to ongoing play.
Dana Jacobson Leaving ESPN
TALENT
Dana Jacobson, who’s been at ESPN for 10 years as an anchor and studio host, will leave ESPN next month. ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, it’s “the intention that she will remain on-air” until her ESPN contract expires at the end of April. ESPN had offered her a contract extension.
Jacobson, who had hosted ESPN2′s First Take daytime talk show until January, is among several prominent ESPN on-air staffers — such as Erin Andrews, ScottVan Pelt and Michelle Beadle — whose ESPN contracts are expiring soon.
That’s happening as various cable TV sports channels with microscopic ratings, such as the NBC and CBS sports channels, are looking to their non-event programming.
Jacobson’s most highly-publicized moment while at ESPN came in 2008 when she was suspended after being inebriated and making an onstage anti-Jesus rant at a roast for ESPN’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg in Atlantic City.
Richest Man In LA Joins Steven Cohen’s Bid For Los Angeles Dodgers
Moneybags
Despite his close friendship with bidder Magic Johnson, Patrick Soon-Shiong has joined hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen’s bid for the team, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Because Soon-Shiong is the richest man in Los Angeles, he’s believed to be the golden ticket that will determine the team’s next owner. Now that Cohen has Soon-Shiong behind him, they may be an insurmountable team.
Because Soon-Shiong bought a minority share in the Los Angeles Lakers from Johnson two years ago, it was believed by some that Soon-Shiong would team up with Magic. Although Johnson had the highest bid at $1.6 billion, Cohen’s $1.4 billion bid impressed many because $900 million of it is cash, Biz of Baseball reports. Now, with Soon-Shiong on his team, Cohen’s bid, which may end up at $2 billion, has the most green by far.
Soon-Shiong, who is a doctor, biotech investor and philanthropist, has a net worth of $7.2 billion, and Cohen’s net worth is $8.3 billion, according to Forbes’ 2012 billionaires list.
Soon-Shiong also gives Cohen’s bid some much-needed LA cred. Cohen needs it because he lives in Connecticut, grew up a New York Mets fan and there are unconfirmed rumors that he hasn’t even stepped foot in Dodgers Stadium, Lasondra’s Lair points out. If Cohen wins the team, LA agent Arn Tellem is expected to become company president, and former baseball manager and infielder Tony La Russa will likely to be in charge of baseball operations.
Johnson’s last hope may be to appeal to Frank McCourt, who makes the final ownership decision. As CBS speculates, “Johnson might have the best chance to help [McCourt] there if Johnson is willing to try to boost him publicly by somehow claiming McCourt isn’t the person everyone already knows him to be.”
Others, however, think that McCourt will simply go with the highest bidder in the end, and the end is drawing near. McCourt has to pick the winner by April 1 and close the deal by April 30.
Announcer’s Chair Breaks During Opening Segment
Xavier hosted Dayton this past weekend and CBS Sports Network was there to cover the game with announcers James Bates and Steve Wolf. An excited Bates welcomes the CBS audience to the arena as his stool breaks and he goes crashing to the hardwood.
Kate Upton Is SI Swimsuit Issue Cover Model
TALENT
Kate Upton’s popularity has exploded since she made an appearance in last year’s swimsuit edition and was named Rookie of the Year by SI’s Jimmy Traina. Upton was revealed as cover model of the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue during a taping of CBS The Late Show with David Letterman.
Bill Cowher Has Turned Down At Least 3 NFL Teams
The Chin
At least three NFL teams have called CBS analysts and Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher with coaching offers this season only to be turned down. Cower was on the Dan Patrick Show today and, with Bonnie Bernstein subbing as host, was asked whether his coaching offers were over or under two.
Cowher laughed, then said, “Oh, it’s over,” while not specifying which teams were interested.
As for coming back after a five-season hiatus from the coaching ranks as an analyst for CBS, Cowher added:
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been that ready, honestly . . . Let me tell you, if there’s any doubt, then there’s no doubt you’re not ready to come back. You have to be all in to take that job.”
Cowher acknowledged miss some aspects of his 15-year tenure as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but said:
“That’s all I did my whole life. Right now I have a chance to have an offseason, a chance to do some traveling and do some things I’ve never had a chance to do before, and to be honest with you I’m enjoying that . But with CBS I’m still able to be part of the game, watching the game, watch it evolve, still be somewhat on the inside, but it’s not the all-encompassing part of it.”
Alabama-LSU Draws Lowest Ever Rating For BCS Title
Snoozer
The game had number one versus number two plus one 50-50 kicker but all that couldn’t help ESPN’s BCS title game Monday drew a 13.8 overnight rating the lowest rating in the BCS system’s 14-year history.
That 13.8 translates to 13.8% of households in the 56 urban markets measured for overnights. The previous record low was a 14.3 for Miami-Nebraska at the 2002 Rose Bowl. Last night’s game was down 14% from last year’s Auburn-Oregon title game on ESPN and down 24% from Alabama-Texas on Fox in 2010.
The new low isn’t surprising. Alabama’s 21-0 win was less-than-suspenseful, both schools are from relatively sparsely-populated states and from the same conference. The schools had already played earlier this season in an overtime game where neither team scored a touchdown. CBS coverage of that game drew an 11.9 overnight
Entire CBS Crew Tebows After Denver Broncos Win
Jesus I'm Rolling With You
Just a week ago, it seemed the Tim Tebow craze was perhaps dying down, but after this overtime playoff win over Pittsburgh Steelers you can rest assured it’s going to be bigger than ever.
Following the Denver Broncos improbable victory over the Steelers, the members of the CBS studio crew didn’t go into specifics in describing the team’s chances against the New England Patriots next weekend. Instead, they chose just Tebow’d.
That’s right Emmy winning James Brown, Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher and former Pro Bowl quarterback Boomer Esiason all Tebow’d.
Jim Rome Leaving ESPN For CBS Sports Network
We've All Listened, Watched Is Another Story
Jim Rome is taking his Jim Rome Is Burning show from ESPN to CBS Sports Network. Rome will also have an expanded but yet defined role at the network. Rome had an eight-year run at ESPN, with one break in 2004.
Said the network: “Jim has been a valuable part of the ESPN family for most of the last two decades. We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.”
Rome’s yearly income from his radio show alone is $30 million.
Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault
Much More To Learn Than Art Of Fielding
Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro reportedly is wanted for questioning by Chicago police after a woman accused him of sexual assault, CBSChicago.com reports. No criminal charges have been filed.
According to WBBM Radio in Chicago, a woman in her 20s told police she and a friend left a bar on the night of Sept. 29 and went to Castro’s apartment at 3 a.m. The woman said she blacked out and awoke to find Castro sexually assaulting her. She screamed and yelled and eventually got a ride home from a friend at about 5:30 a.m.
CBSChicago.com reports the woman went to a hospital about 12 hours later, at which time police became involved. Castro is believed to have been en route back to the Dominican Republic for the offseason by that time. Because of that, Castro likely hasn’t been questioned by police.
The Cubs released this statement: “We are aware that a police report was filed regarding an incident involving Starlin, but we have received limited information. While this is something we take very seriously, there is not enough information to make any further comment or take action at this time. We are hopeful when the facts are brought to light, Starlin will be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Castro’s attorneys, Jay K. Reisinger and Michael P. Gillespie, also issued a statement Friday morning: “We are aware of certain allegations that have been made against our client, Starlin Castro. We have thoroughly investigated this matter, and we are confident that these allegations are baseless. Given the sensitive nature of this matter, we cannot comment any further.”
Castro, 21, hit .307 with 10 homers, 66 RBIs, 91 runs and 22 stolen bases this past season. His 207 hits led the National League.
Terry Bradshaw & Boomer Esiason Take Turns Ripping New York Jets
Never Allow A Grown Man To Put Their Apple Sack On Your Shoulders
The New York Jets season has ended, but the criticism won’t stop. Ripping them has come from two former NFL quarterbacks turned analysts Terry Bradshaw of FOX and Boomer Esiason of CBS. Bradshaw said he would cut Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes. And Esiason said Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez played timidly down the stretch, like a “Chihuahua.”
Bradshaw said he believes the Jets should part with Holmes, after he was blasted by teammates for his lack of effort and attitude.
“I’d cut his butt, send him down the highway, move him on,” Bradshaw told ESPN New York 1050’s the Michael Kay Show. “Why would you put up with it? Because he can run a 4.3 40 and make one-handed catches whenever he feels like it?”
Esiason who has defended Sanchez in the past, but not anymore.
“If you watched Mark Sanchez the last month of the season, he was like a Chihuahua standing on Madison Avenue and 36th Street entering the Midtown Tunnel, eyes bigger than you-know-what, and just so shaky,” Esiason told Boston’s 850-AM.
Esiason later told ESPN that the Chihuahua reference had nothing to do with Sanchez’s Mexican-American heritage.
“I chose a small dog that always looks shaken and has big eyes, and doesn’t like big things a Chihuahua,” Esiason said. “It’s a skittish dog, and he’s been a skittish player.”
Esiason also blamed coach Rex Ryan and general manger Mike Tannenbaum for team chemistry that turned toxic.
“I think that Rex Ryan’s ways have come back to haunt him,” Esiason said. “And Mike Tannenbaum has a lot of responsibility in this regard, because they have put a lot of bad guys together in this locker room. There’s a good core of players with the New York Jets. But, unfortunately, all it takes is one guy. And Rex Ryan giving Santonio Holmes the captain’s ‘C’ on the chest was an absolute embarrassment. It’s a slap in the face of all the good guys in that locker room.”
And now, with their disappointing 8-8 season over, the Jets are still getting slapped around.
Nick Novak Pees On The Sideline
When Nature Calls
With the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos tied with 1:34 remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, Chargers kicker Nick Novak made certain that he was on the sideline despite appearing to have a very strong urge to find a bathroom. CBS cameras caught Novak appearing to pee in a cup by a Gatorade jug.
To add insult to embarrassment, Novak eventually missed a 53-yarder with 2:36 left in overtime, leaving the door open Tim Tebow and the Broncos to win on a game-winning field goal.
NBA contacts players on Twitter
Making Up Rules As They Go
The NBA has set up a Twitter account, @NBA_Labor, with the apparent intention of clarification misperceptions about the lockout and the under-negotiation collective-bargaining agreement, CBSSports.com first reported. The account’s profile reads, “Collective Bargaining news and facts directly from the NBA office.”
So far the tweets have been sent out to correct an ESPN report that stated amnesty contracts would not count toward players share of basketball-related income. However another tweet was sent to Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva and Oklahoma City Thunder center Nazr Mohammed, to which Mohammed replied,
“Don’t tweet me during this lockout! Isn’t that a fine or something lol?!?! #NBALockout That’s hilarious! I can’t workout at our team’s facilities or have contact with coaches but @NBA_Labor & @NBA can harass me on twitter lol SMH.”
Mohammed, of course, is referring to the gag order imposed, which prevents teams from discussing the lockout and being in contact with players.
The NBA responded, “The no-contact rule doesn’t prevent NBA from responding to misinfo about collective bargaining, no matter the source.”
TV Gig Maybe Permanent For Bill Cowher
The Chin
CBS football anaylst Bill Cowher squashed speculation on CBS pregame show yesterday that he is entertaining leaving the studio desk for NFL sidelines.
“I do not plan on coaching next year.…I plan on being back in the same seat next year.” The ex-Pittsburgh Steelers coach suggested he might stay in TV permanently: “That’s a distinct possibility. I like the fact that what we do is about the game. There’s no froufrou about it.…We give insight, and compared to other (TV) stations, we talk about the game.”
CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus says he wasn’t surprised by Cowher’s announcement. “I talk to him all the time. I knew right now that for his lifestyle, he wants to be a broadcaster.…He’s become an integral part of the (on-air) team in every way.”
Like ESPN recently signing Jon Gruden to a new five-year deal, McManus says Cowher knows CBS wants him for the long run. “Coach knows we want him here for a long time. We won’t have any issues for completing a contract for as long as he wants to be here.”
He said he made his announcement Sunday because such speculation “affects the lives of many people that are in the (coaching) profession.” As well in today’s media world it has a chance of taking a life of its own if he didn’t address it.
Drew Rosenhaus Clarifies 60 Minutes Comments
On Sunday NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus did a sit down interview with CBS show 60 Minutes in which he said “I really believe that the NFL would fall apart without me. That may sound cocky, that may sound arrogant, but I am telling you the truth.”
He then took to Twitter to clarify his comments and the interview which made it seem as the league revolved around him.
“I want to clarify a comment from 60 Minutes. I believe the NFL would fall apart without the contributions of the sports agent profession.”
That was followed by:
“Agents as a whole play an important role in the infrastructure of the NFL. Agents help to keep the business of the NFL running smoothly.”
Having watched the entire interview and having nothing wrong with Rosenhaus ego I will say he did come off like a jackass that actually believed he was bigger than the league because of his contributions.
