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FORT WORTH, Texas -- Mackenzie McCollum was about four months pregnant as she darted around the volleyball court, angling to get under the ball in her team's first game of the district playoffs. Although her team lost that Nov. 3 contest, simply getting to play was a victory for the 17-year-old senior, who battled several obstacles to get back on the team at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Among the many issues raised was concern about whether being that active was good for her and her baby. "I've had times where I've been short of breath on...

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP)—An ESPN spokesman says the production assistant whose affair with Steve Phillips led to the baseball analyst’s firing is no longer with the sports network. Spokesman Mike Soltys said Monday that Brooke Hundley doesn’t work at ESPN anymore. He declined to say whether she quit or was fired. Hundley did not immediately return a phone message Monday. Connecticut-based ESPN fired Phillips on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted to an affair with the 22-year-old assistant. A representative for Phillips has also said he was entering a treatment facility. ESPN says Phillips’ ability to be an...

ESPN fired Steve Phillips on Sunday, less than a week after a newspaper revealed that he had had an affair with a 22-year-old production assistant with the network. “Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN,” the network said in a statement. “His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways.”

Espn's commentators tell politicians to govern and worry about our troops, the economy, etc and stay the heck out of football...

ESPN analyst Steve Phillips had a fling with a 22-year-old production assistant, who, after being dumped, taunted his wife with "Fatal Attraction"-like phone calls and a letter that bragged about her sexcapades with Phillips while taking pot shots at their "loveless marriage," The Post has learned.

<p>WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers who have been trying to prod college football to replace the Bowl Championship Series with a playoff system now have the Washington equivalent of a booster club: a political action committee.</p> <p>A group of college football fans launched the Playoff PAC Monday with the goal of electing similarly minded members of Congress. The hope is that if there's enough pressure from Congress, the BCS -- a complex system of computer rankings and polls that often draws criticism -- will voluntarily change to a playoff system. The BCS released its first standings of the season on Sunday.</p>

The "race card" game is still alive and active, with the recent treatment of Rush has proven. It really is outrageous. Right from the first charge we posted Monday. The formula is familiar … spread lies … here … and here … and my favorite, here. Then put pressure on the NFL management to act, responsibly, or face the same fate ….. raaaaaaaacist. The end result … Rush is being forced out. Rush Limbaugh is expected to be dropped from a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams, according to three NFL sources. Dave Checketts, chairman of the NHL’s...

We’re truly in an age of intolerance–by leftists, Muslims, former hippies, minority groups, etc. You can’t hold mainstream conservative American values in America and be a prominent voice for them without coming repeatedly under attack. Apparently, a Nazi far-leftist, Soros, is more acceptable.

MELBOURNE: World number one tennis champ Serena Williams could be stripped of her right to play in the Australian Open in 2010 for baring all for the sports magazine ESPN and for her extraordinary outburst in the US Open semi-finals. Williams is under an International Tennis Federation investigation and faces a ban of up to two grand slams under the sport's code of conduct, the Daily Telegraph reports. Enraged by a foot fault call, Williams threatened the baseline judge with: "You don't know me. You better be right. I swear to God I'm going to take this ball and shove...

We've already seen CNN's Paul Begala, affectionately referred to as "The Forehead" by Rush Limbaugh, and one ESPN personality, Fred Roggin, taking shots at Limbaugh on the heels of news of his interest in the National Football League's St. Louis Rams. But it was just a matter of time before the usual culprits on the left would attempt to make an issue of it, in what seems to be an effort to gin up some reason for the talk show host not to have an ownership stake in an NFL team. And, MSNBC's Ed Schultz isn't waiting for pointers from...

On Saturday, October 3rd, a fantastic new show premieres on ESPN2. “Grateful Nation is a unique and compelling outdoor adventure series that goes behind the scenes and into the field with American Veterans. Hosted by Airborne Ranger Tim Abell, this original unscripted program takes viewers inside the minds of wounded combat veterans and returns them to their traditional American hunting heritage. Tim’s innovative interviewing strategy together with stunning HD videography launches Grateful Nation into a unique category that captures a whole new audience of sportsmen and patriots.” The first episode of “Grateful Nation” follows actor and Army Veteran Tim Abell...

TMZ has learned an arrest has been made in the Erin Andrews Peeping Tom case -- the one in which the ESPN reporter was secretly videotaped walking around naked in various hotel rooms. We're told 48-year-old Michael David Barrett was arrested at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago for interstate stalking. The videotapes surfaced in July. The six clips showed Erin walking around two different hotel rooms in the nude, and were shot with a peephole camera. It was virtually impossible to tell when or where the videos were shot. Someone tried to sell the clips to TMZ, but we...

PARKERSBURG, Iowa — The body of the football coach lies under a rectangular patch of dirt, slowly being covered by creeping clover and crab grass. [snip]The body of the former football player is in a county jail. But there is no doubt among people here that his is a soul lost. An insanity defense for 24-year-old Mark Becker is expected when his murder trial starts next month.For more than 30 years, the Thomas and Becker families were bonded by school, church and the communal raising of boys in this small town about 100 miles northeast of Des Moines. Then their...

ESPN just reports that Michael Vick signed 2 year contract with PHiladelphia Eagles.

Just heard on ESPN that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Michael Vick to a 2 year contract!

Erin Andrews is an ESPN reporter. Some sick person planted hidden cameras in her hotel room and splashed video of her while she was dressing all over the Internet.

Lots of chatter on Twitter tonight about the accusations of sexual assault against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and the tepid reaction of the sports media, starting with ESPN. Again, there's no official criminal complaint yet, and that differentiates it from many other recent controversies. Several prominent athletes don't seem to care much about that distinction, however. They see racism. This was Amare Stoudemire's feed (@Amareisreal): I don't care if they showed it a few times,Plaxico was all over the news and he shot his own self, and I here about big ben on twitter, Wow man ben rosinlberlger or how...

ESPN banned staffers from the New York Post from appearing on any of its programming on Wednesday after the newspaper published photos this week taken from a video showing sideline reporter Erin Andrews... - - clip - - "Kelly McBride, a journalism ethics expert with the Florida-based Poynter Institute, said..." "There is some illegally obtained material, leaked documents or video of a CIA person torturing a soldier, or stuff taken out of Gitmo, that I think has great public importance," McBride said. "But this doesn't do that at all."

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- ESPN banned staffers from the New York Post from appearing on any of its programming on Wednesday after the newspaper published photos this week taken from a video showing sideline reporter Erin Andrews nude in a hotel room. The Post published three images from the blurry video Tuesday.

Back in its glory years, Army regularly played college football games at Yankee Stadium. The Black Knights are about to become a Bronx staple again. On Wednesday, Army officials said they have agreed to three more games at the new Yankee Stadium, starting with Rutgers on Nov. 12, 2011. The Black Knights will play Air Force at Yankee Stadium in November 2012 and Boston College in November 2014. This is in addition to the Army-Notre Dame 2010 game that was announced on Monday. That will be the first-ever college football game played at the new ballpark, which opened in April....

So the ESPN everywoman and patron saint of blog traffic got her bell rung by an errant foul ball at last night's Mets-Dodgers game. She's fine, just bruised up, and ESPN says she'll resume her duties right away. Our (and by "our," I feel totally comfortable saying I'm speaking for college football fans everywhere of all persuasions) very best wishes for an SEC-speed recovery and better timing on live television.

USA is winning the final of the Confederation CUP, shortly before half time 2-0!!

This is an extraordinary video feature from ESPN, aired in September, about Aplington-Parkersburg football's role in Parkersburg's recovery from the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck the town last May. The football team, and particularly coach Ed Thomas, was one of the keys to the town maintaining its identity through the tragedy. Over 200 homes, dozens of businesses, and the high school were all destroyed by the tornado on May 25, 2008. The tornado killed 8 people and destroyed nearly half the town. Coach Ed Thomas, a living legend, was instrumental in the rebuilding process. The high school coach of four...

ABC is refusing paid ads for its health care program at the White House. Thus they're refusing even a paid-for alternative viewpoint. Conservatives for Patients Rights requested the rates to buy a 60 second network spot immediately preceding the broadcast of the Town Hall meeting. Here is statement from Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients Rights. "It is unfortunate - and unusual - that ABC is refusing to accept paid advertising that would present an alternative viewpoint for the White House health care event. Health care is an issue that touches every American and all potential pieces of legislation...

"The Power Game" Step aside, golf. President Obama has turned D.C. into a playground. Washington's most influential are taking up hoops, all in the hopes of getting a run with the "Baller-in-Chief."

NEW YORK - In a move that could give Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue a run for its money, ESPN The Magazine will publish its first "Body Issue," which may showcase pro, amateur and Olympic athletes posing in the nude. USA Today reports that the issue, slated to hit newsstands on Oct. 19, is hoping to feature athletes posing in the buff in artistic, tasteful ways. Editor in chief Gary Belsky said the magazine has to figure out how to "use equipment and pads and bats and goalposts and soccer nets and pucks and helmets to obscure body parts that...

ESPN "College GameDay" analyst Lee Corso recently suffered a minor stroke, but plans on being back for the kickoff of the 2009 college football season. Corso suffered no permanent damage in the minor stroke, which was caused by the blockage to a small artery, according to a statement from Corso. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Bob Hunter commentary: NHL hidden in plain sight on Versus Tuesday, May 12, 2009 3:09 AM By Bob Hunter THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Unless you know exactly where to look on your cable-TV lineup, it probably has been easy to miss much of the NHL's postseason. Unless you know exactly where to look on your cable-TV lineup, it probably has been easy to miss much of the NHL's postseason. Tuesday, May 12, 2009 In the spring, I usually make a point of asking people if they are watching the NHL playoffs. For some reason, the negative responses always surprise me. Last...

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- CBS Sports golf analyst David Feherty came under sharp criticism Saturday for a joke he wrote in a Dallas magazine article that suggested American soldiers would be just as likely to knock off House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid as they would Osama bin Laden.

<p>Why no women's bracket? asks Christine Brennan of USA Today.</p>

Would you call getting a 53 on a test "close to brilliant?" If you're Chris Matthews, and you're reporting about Barack Obama you would, for on Monday's "Hardball," the MSNBC host bragged about his president being "close to brilliant," "amazing," "incredibly on target," and "unbelievable" with his NCAA college basketball tournament picks. Yet, when you dig into the numbers, out of all the entrants into ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge 2009, Obama currently ranks 2,167,290, which makes his relative score compared to others 53.20 percent.

ESPN2’s coverage of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for 2009 will feature final eliminations action in prime time, continuing a pattern of consistent scheduling that includes finals telecasts from 18 of 24 events in Sunday night viewing times. With exclusive coverage of the NHRA for the ninth consecutive season, ESPN2’s season begins Feb. 7-8 with the 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals from Pomona, Calif. ESPN2 will have coverage of qualifying and finals rounds from all 24 events in the series, with expanded coverage from drag racing’s biggest event, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. All coverage...

NEW YORK - ESPN is joining the lineup of networks that will offer extensive coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration next Tuesday. The network will televise the noon ceremony, and possibly carry live interviews with sports figures at the event. It's likely the first time that the sports channel has ever covered a presidential inauguration, even with presidents like a former sportscaster (Ronald Reagan) or a former baseball-team owner (George W. Bush).

On Saturday, S2N posted a video of a Cowboys fan who was extremely pissed at Ed Werder and letting him know it in person. Well apparently that guy wasn't the only person upset with Werder. You can add T.O. to that list as well. NBC got Romo, Witten and Owens together after their win over the Giants tonight, and while they all seemed to be enjoying each other's company, Terrell had this to say to the ESPN reporter....

The Greatest Game Played December 28th, 1958 - NFL Championship NY Giants V Baltimore Colts

Walt Disney will again air the college football Bowl Championship Series starting in 2011, outbidding current owner Fox Sports in a deal valued at $500 million for four years. But unlike the last time Disney owned the BCS, the one major exception is that virtually all games will air on ESPN--not ABC--making it the first major sports championship to be aired on a cable network. Fox Sports had bid $400 million for four years, upping its rights fee over $70 million for its current four-year deal, which will be completed in 2010. Fox Sports has the rights to air the...

Commenter "scottinoc" wrote on Free Republic: On the discussion of why there aren't "enough" African American coaches in college football, Chris Fowler discussed the lure of big money NFL contracts for black assistant coaches, etc, then the discussion naturally gravitated to the racism angle, "behind the scenes". "Among those behind-the-scenes financial backers of big universities, there may not be...you know...that many people who voted for Obama..." Sheesh, now I can't even watch ESPN college football gameday without being told that I'm racist for not voting for Obama. Thanks, Chris. Look in the mirror. And look at your own network and...

But apparently, the bigotry of his own employer was lost on ESPN prettyboy Chris Fowler. The "College Game Day" broadcaster announced to viewers that if you didn't vote for Barack Obama, you won't hire a Black coach. In other words, if you didn't vote for Obama, you're a racist.

Mike, what happened? You pulled a "Walter Payton won't get the ball in the red zone during the Super Bowl" moment on us! My wife is an Illinois native. She made it clear to me that had he ran for Senate in 2002, Obama wouldn't be our problem today. Oh, the grief, Mike, the grief!

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) -- Are Barack Obama and John McCain ready for some football? ESPN says the presidential candidates are planning to participate in one-on-one interviews via satellite that would air at halftime of "Monday Night Football," the day before the election. ESPN's Chris Berman will do the segments earlier Monday, if the candidates' schedules permit, and they'll air at about 10:15 p.m. EDT.

Two months ago, John McCain pulled Alaska Governor Sarah Palin from relative political obscurity and placed her into the world spotlight. Now, less then one week before the presidential election, Palin reflects on one of the biggest moments of her youth; winning her high school basketball state championship. Outside the Lines' Sal Paolantonio discusses the biggest game of her life with Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. 3:27 runtime

Republican presidential nominee John McCain tells us he's pumped about the Cardinals' 2-0 start. Senator McCain shares a heroing story about Hall of Famer Ted Williams. McCain also gives us his take on the government's role in sports, Donald Fehr and how sports helped America heal after 9/11. Direct MP3 audio link here.

Thank you. Deacon Jones said I would cry. You bet your life I'm going to cry. You bet your life I'm going to cry. You bet your life, I will. That's my boy. That's my boy right there. It ain't this in that. It's that [son]. Thank God. What a great day. What a great day. I want to thank the committee, the selection committee, the ones who put me up here, some men and women that watched my career over those 20 seasons and said he should be here and he should be here now. Thank you, guys, and...

I don't know what happened, but I'm watching Mike & Mike on ESPN this morning, and when they came back from a break, Mike Golic was no longer ther. The duo was at the white House last night and are currently broadcasting from DC. Greeny has only stated that Golic had to step away and "we'll have to go on without him."

I know where to begin. I just don't know how to explain. The beginning is easy: I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being thoughtless and insensitive. I'm sorry for making a casual reference to something that should never be construed as casual. Real apologies don't mix with rationalizations, so I won't insult your intelligence by offering you any. This is about my living up to a standard I expect of everyone else -- respect, awareness, honesty and accountability.

What's in the water in Bristol, Connecticut? Previously, we had Dana Jacobson who couldn't keep her hatred of Touchdown Jesus to herself. Granted, ESPN's Olbermann-free, but they seem to have a serious problem with their out-of-control, big mouth sports babes... Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It's like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan. — Jemele Hill, ESPN Page 2, 6/14/08 ESPN has apologized, sanitized the offending lines from her column, the web, and I'm sure she probably now considers herself the victim of a rape and lynching by The...

ESPN.com columnist Jemele Hill was suspended yesterday after sparking outrage by comparing rooting for the Boston Celtics [team stats] to Adolf Hitler and nuclear war. “Jemele has been relieved of her writing and on-air responsibilities for a period of time to reflect on the impact of her words,” ESPN spokesman Paul Melvin said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. Yesterday, Hill amplified on her earlier apology for writing, “Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It’s like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan.”

Cindy Brunson's report on Lorena Ochoa's winning streak wasn't a mere double-bogey. Think of it as a shank into the lake, or better yet, that most inept stroke of all: a total whiff. Apparently desperate for a feminist angle on Ochoa's success, the ESPN News anchor decided to drag Title IX and the ERA into her account. Ochoa's victory at the Ginn Open was her fourth LPGA win in a row. Here's how Brunson reported it during the 5 AM ET edition of ESPN News: CINDY BRUNSON: It's been 45 years since we've seen someone on the LPGA Tour win...

WASHINGTON - President Bush had enough to worry about — like not flubbing the first pitch in front of a crowd that might not exactly be his biggest fans anyway. So before the game, when a couple of Atlanta Braves gave him a team jersey and suggested he wear it to throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park, Bush laughed. Uh, no thanks, guys. Might as well put on a sign that says "Boo me." "I'm not going to give them any excuses," Bush said of the 40,000-plus people gathered for the opening of Washington's gleaming baseball stadium. Over...

Has anyone taken a look at the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournement Telecasts? I'm not really interested in the games themselves but I am interested in the politics. Yesterday I was watching the UVa lacrosse game on ESPN2 and switched over to ESPN during a commercial. There was one of of the women's basketball games on. It looked to me like there were about 450 people in the stands, including mothers and bestfriends. The game that's on now (ODU-UCONN) has a little bit bigger "crowd"; maybe 1000. Obviously there is little interest in these games but ESPN is producing them and...