DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

RICK MAHORN AT THE CENTER OF THE WNBA STORM

It’s funny how little criticism thug Delisha Milton-Jones is getting for punching a coach. Yet Mahorn is getting blasted for pushing Lisa Leslie.

IGNORANT AMERICANS CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY CHILDRESS BOLTED FOR EUROPE

What is the issue with former Hawk Josh Childress leaving the NBA? Let’s see: pay me $20 million, lead a team in scoring and live in Greece. You’re right, Childress is crazy!! Here’s a shocker, it’s a possibility that some people actually think living outside the country is better than living in Hotlanta.  

SPITZER’S HO HANGING WITH A MILF, HER OWN

Holy crap! We knew this Ashley Dupre was smokin hot. Now we know why. The ho didn’t fall far the tree. Which is the Mom and which is Ashley (pictured from behind) 

ANTI-AMERICAN JOURNALIST POPPED FOR RUNNING OVER A PEDESTRIAN

Bob Novak, the 77-year old former host of CNN’s Crossfire, is in hot water for his driving. Novak hit a 66-year old with his Corvette. You’ll remember Novak was the “journalist” who outed CIA operative Valerie Plame back in 2003.

MLB PROSPECT SIGNS WITH A’S WITH THE HELP OF SPORTS BOOKIE

TheSportsPig.com reports that Oakland GM Billy Beane was taken to the cleaners by a Dominican bookmaker. According to SI.com,

Edgar Mercedes has made a fortune taking bets. He is the owner of Out 27, the biggest sports book and bar in the Dominican Republic. Mercedes also owns 45 other bookmaking operations on the island. Mercedes is a top  ”Buscones”  or street agent who represents several baseball players (including Inoa.) 

MMA CENTRAL

Silva wants UFC “team” to faceoff against other promotions

Toyo Tires may be backing away from Rampage Jackson

‘Not so fast my friends’ on the Affliction live gate dollars

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

Ok, we’re back. Sorry for the hiatus. If you haven’t heard, we’re blogging MMA and some boxing for Yahoo. We will do our best to keep Mr. Sunshine current. Especially with the topics, pictures and videos we discuss on Cofield & Cokin.

 

Denny won’t fight Diaz if he can’t make weight

GSP doesn’t deserve a Silva fight, says manager

Is UFC courting more blog coverage?

Barnett is one trash-talking, sensitive mofo

Taylor one and done for UFC?

White says Affliction MMA will be out of business soon

Johnson ready to rumble after latest MMA ref controversy

Who rules the MMA world? Trigg says there’s no argument

Affliction card beats Ultimate Fight Night 14 by unanimous decision

NOW WE KNOW WHY RADIO/TV STAR WON’T CALL OUT BIG OIL COMPANIES

Sean Hannity signs $100 million dollar radio deal

CAPT. LOU CAN STILL PARTY LIKE IT’S 1984

WWE/ECW wrestler goes on a drunken brawling rampage

NFL HAS A HUGE DRUG PROBLEM

Patriots lineman is either junkie or a dealer

INTERNET GOOFS ARE ACTUALLY CALLING ROSARIO DAWSON FAT

Huh, huge bombs on a body that’s not anorexic. Guys in their Mom’s basement are embarrassing sometimes.

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE HAD ITS SHARE OF STARS…THREE OF COFIELD’S PRE-DRAFT FAVORITES MAKE THIS LIST

Jerryd Bayless, Donte Greene and J.J. Hickson shine during VSL

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE IN LINE FOR ANOTHER FCC FINE?

Singer should learned about shucking and jiving from SacBee boxing writer

POLICE ACADEMY STAR HAS BEDDED 600 WOMEN

Nice job Steve Guttenberg, you beat the human sound machine Michael Winslow by 595 babes. Winslow was a comedian (VIDEO) , who knew? See if you can make through 90 seconds of the video.

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

Boston Celtics FANS riot

JOE MALOOF TALKS DONAGHY NBA FIX CLAIMS

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

 

Sacramento Kings’ owner Joe Maloof spoke for the first time about the Tim Donaghy NBA game fixing claims. He appeared on Las Vegas’ ESPNRadio1100 on Thursday with Steve Cofield & Dave Cokin

 

Regarding Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings series in 2002, “It was so emotional. It was hard to reflect on it right after the game. Just such an important game. It was a very poorly officiated game. Our family has been in the NBA for many years, it was probably the worst officiated game I’ve ever seen. And we never said anything after that. We never whined about it.”

 

Maloof pointed out the most egregious error by the officials,” The refs blew it, it was a

horribly officiated game. They blew it when they called a foul on (Mike) Bibby, when he gets a direct elbow to the face. It was wrong, wasn’t the right call.”

 

He was asked if the recent Donaghy claim got him thinking maybe there was some other force behind the 27 Laker free throws in the fourth quarter, “Not for one second, no. We’ve been around the NBA for a longtime. Our family has a wonderful relationship with the league. You would never think anything like that would happen. I don’t believe in any conspiracy.“

 

Maloof said he trusts in NBA commissioner David Stern 100%, “I’m not suspicious. I know the league, I know how important it is to maintain the integrity of the league. It was a bad day for those guys. As far as anything else, I don’t believe it happened.”

 

He also thinks the NBA investigation was more than thorough, “The commissioner has looked at all those angles. I’m sure the proper people have looked at that. I don’t think there’s anything associated with any kind of conspiracy, I really don’t. I know David Stern, I know the integrity of the league…I just don’t see it happening. I think you have to leave it up to the commissioner, have a belief in the office that there was nothing fishy about that game. I believe them.”

 

Maloof had this to say about the majority of Sacramento fans polled saying they believe Donaghy, “Customers and fans are going to say that, because they love that team. The team is very important to the city.”

 

Has the league told owners and players not to speak on the subject of Donaghy?

 

“I’ve never had the league call me and tell me not to comment on any issue,” said Maloof. “I don’t think there’s a problem in the league with that. It’s America you can say what you believe.”

 

Maloof did eventually soften his stance that he is 100% confident this will all blow over, “Right now the NBA has never been hotter. It’s white hot. Ratings are up in the low 40-percent range. Arenas are full all over the NBA  There’s a lot of positive regarding the NBA. Maybe this has to be looked at more it’s getting too much attention around the world. You’re probably right that there needs to be more attention given to this (by the NBA).”

 

The Kings owners went on to address concerns that this may hurt the effort to get a new arena in Sacramento, “I don’t think there’s any problem with the (new) arena in Sacramento. I think our fans are terrific back there. They support this team. They’ve supported it all along. I think if they really look deep into their hearts, they’re not going to believe that there was any type of conspiracy.”

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

CAT FIGHT BETWEEN KOBE’S WIFE AND ESPN THE MAGAZINE BLOGGER

This is a good one from The Sports Pig. Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa reportedly flipped out on ESPN’s Laura Lane. Lane writes on her blog..

So as I’m walking out of the Lakers locker room after some post-game interviews with the players, I pass Vanessa, who is sitting outside the locker room as usual with her two girls.

“Laura!” she screams (yes, she apparently knows my name). “F- you! You f-ing bitch!”

“Excuse me?” I say, completely baffled as I look around me to see if there is someone else named Laura. No, there’s not.

Her daughters – ages 5 and 2 – are sitting next to her on the bench looking at their mom as she screams.

“F- you! How dare you write about me and my daughters and their schedule! You didn’t say you were writing an article! F- you! You f-ing bitch. You have no journalism ethics! F- you! You bitch – ”

Bryant isn’t happy that Lane critiques her clothing and behavoir during Laker games…

Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, has opted to make her own fashion statement. Vanessa, who is usually prim and proper in all black has decided to have fun tonight with her outfit. She’s wearing a white tube dress, a purple tutu, black leggings, high heeled short boots and a rhinestone incrusted white leather jacket with the number 8 on the back, Kobe’s old number. Bryant’s daughters, Natalia and Gianna both have shirts that say “Got MVP?”

“When he changed his number I didn’t have anything with a 24 on it so I had them make this dress,” Vanessa says. “I don’t know how to sew that well so I just told them what to do.”

After the screaming session, Lane unloaded on Bryant.

She’s insane. Everyone knows it. Perhaps she’s angry at the world because there were rumors today that came out that Kobe Bryant slept with a Lakers cheerleader – a hotter version of his wife who is also named Vanessa – and she got fired.
While I am completely against cheating, can you honestly blame Kobe if he didn’t want to sleep with that???

Considering there are a lot of rumors going around, I’m sure she’s upset. So she took it out on me and now I have an awesome story.

About three different reporters at the game and one of my editors told me I should write about her cussing me out. That’s the beauty of journalism. You don’t fight, you write.

THAT WAS A FOUL

I love arguing whether Brent Barry got fouled. The refs have called these playoffs like pussies the entire way. If they were consistent, that call is made and Barry goes to the line for three free throws.

San Antonio columnist Buck Harvey writes that the Lakers deserved a break on the final play…

That was the last time the Lakers were in San Antonio for the playoffs. Then Tim Duncan threw in a leaning jumper for the lead — and Derek Fisher and 0.4 followed.

This time — with Fisher again involved — one bad call deserved another.

This time the refs didn’t see that a Fisher jumper had grazed the rim, not resetting the shot clock. This time the refs chose to look the other way when Fisher leaped and landed on Brent Barry.

This time the Lakers deserved what they got.

They clearly outplayed the Spurs.

JOEY CRAWFORD WAS THE CREW CHIEF? WHY IS HE STILL WORKING THE PLAYOFFS AFTER THE DEBACLES OF THE LAST FEW YEARS?

The conspiracy theorists are howling in San Antonio. I don’t think they’re right but who the hell knows. Crawford imploded last year. Is it beyond belief that he still holds a grudge and lets emotion get the best of him during some NBA games?

The Philly native certainly has a history…

Crawford was suspended late in the 2006-07 season after he tossed Tim Duncan from a game for laughing at him from the bench on April 15, 2007, in Dallas. He was reinstated for this season and remains one of the league’s highest-rated referees. A veteran of 31 seasons, Crawford has worked 38 NBA Finals games, more than any active referee. His 266 playoff games worked heading into this playoff season makes him the most experienced active playoff referee.  

PITTSBURGH TALKER PAYS HEFTY PRICE FOR OVER THE TOP REMARKS

We pointed out on Tuesday that Mark Madden was a bit out of control last week on his Steel Town radio show. Now he may lose his job. He’s waged public wars with Pittsburgh sports figures for year but it looks like he cross the line in his comment about Ted Kennedy.

Madden said the following about Sen. Kennedy, who days earlier had been diagnosed with brain cancer: “I’m very disappointed to hear Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated.”

Madden works for one of the few owned and operated station in the ESPNRadio family. An independent station may not have jumped as quickly. I’d like to see him given another shot.

JIM NANTZ, ANOTHER MILLIONAIRE SPEWING MISINFORMATION

Another out of touch TV guy is pontificating about the blogosphere. Nantz threw out this gem during a recent interview on MSNBC.

I have to admit, I’m so far out of the loop on the blogosphere, I really don’t partake in that. I know that it’s got a huge following. On the few occasions that I have gone or been introduced to it and checked out what’s been written, maybe about my world, it’s usually so vile and vicious that I shut it down after a minute or two.

There’s no stopping it. The scary thing is how much credibility someone lends to that. How much credibility do we give to people out there who aren’t trained in journalism and then try and masquerade as someone who can pass along information as factual.

Upon reading about it, I was glad there was a firestorm about it. I really appreciated Buzz Bissinger — I read he was a little ashamed of his level of anger — but I completely understood where he was coming from.

Nantz was so interested in the topic he did admit he couldn’t carve out the 90 minutes to actually watch the CostasNow show….

MSNBC: Did you follow the discussions that came out of the recent “Costas Now” show on sports media–

JN: I read about it.

As out of touch as Bob Costas, Nantz may be more so. He is a blue-blood with a golfing background. Sorry bro, don’t really care about your thoughts on what average joe sports fans enjoy and don’t enjoy.

THE U.S. SUCKS AGAIN..WE HAVE MICHELLE AKERS, BRAZIL HAS LAISA ANDRIOLI

 

I would assume the Brazilian team is damn good in women’s soccer.

If not, who cares with great athletes like the 20-year old Andrioli on it’s side. You can click here for the rest of the photos (ABSOLUTELY NSFW).

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

GOOD LEBRON DEBATE .. ANTHONY V. BAYLESS

VECSEY JUMPS ON THE BASH LEBRON BANDWAGON, DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

You may disagree with Peter but it is refreshing to see him simply state his opinion and not make up stories as he did twice in a week, two weeks ago.

After years of being targeted by defensive gameplans you’d think LeBron (i.e. coach Mike Brown) would understand (insist) that by giving up the ball sooner on each possession (and continuing to move), the greater difficulty opponents have surrounding James when he gets it back in better scoring position.

 

WHY DOES HORSE RACING’S DUTROW GET A FREE PASS?

Big Brown’s trainer is the equivalent of Dave Bliss taking Cincinnati to the Final Four in 2011. How is this guy still working in the racing industry?

Dutrow’s ARCI rap sheet contains 72 entries, including fines and suspensions in Maryland, California, New York, Florida, Delaware and New Jersey.

Several of those are for his own personal conduct; many involve marijuana. Others include: an alleged attempt to pass forged checks in Maryland; an attempt to provide a false urine sample “by means of an apparatus concealed on his person”; and a failure to report on a New York license application a 1991 criminal conviction in Nevada.

And he’s been fined or suspended at least once every year since 2000 for doping issues. In 2000, a barn search in New York produced “an injectible vitamin which is forbidden.” In ’01, a horse had excessive Lasix — an anti-bleeding medication — in its system. In ’02, Dutrow “failed to follow Lasix procedures.” In ’03, a horse tested positive for Mepivacaine. From ’04 through an ’08 fine in Florida, there were citations regarding Lasix, Clenbuterol, Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone.

COME ON, YOU KNOW IT’S WRONG…TISK, TISK WEBSTER!!

PREAKNESS INFIELD LOOKS LIKE GOOD WHOLESOME, FAMILY FUN

COUGAR V. BRITNEY…COUGAR WINS AGAIN

The other day, we faced-off 39-year old Jennifer Aniston v. 26 y.o. Britney…no contest.

Here is 38-year old Mariah Carey and more Britney at the beach in Costa Rica.

HOOPS RECRUITING UPDATE

UNLV looked to have it’s pick of the litter a few weeks back with Kentucky’s Derrick Jasper and Pepperdine’s Malcolm Thomas looking at Vegas as a transfer destination. Things have gotten really quiet.

Thomas is apparently an academic mess. Reports are that UNLV is clearly behind UCLA and San Diego State in the race.

Jasper is now being courted by Minnesota (former KY coach Tubby Smith) and Cal along with the Rebels. There is also some buzz in Lexington that he may just stay at Kentucky. Stay tuned.

UNLV is also being mentioned in the race for another transfer. Curtis Kelly, a 6-foot-9 sophomore, is leaving UConn.

Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com is reporting that Kelly is looked at K-State this weekend. He told Goodman that he’s also considering  UNLV, Kentucky, Xavier, Rhode Island, Virginia and Miami.

Kelly, ranked ahead of …Wayne Chism (Tenn), Taj Gibson (USC), Ryan Anderson (Cal)…was the 11th-rated PF in 2006 coming out of Rice (Manhattan). He chose UConn over L’Ville, Pitt and Syracuse. 

KENDRICK PERKINS DROPS AN N-BOMB

video source posted with vodpod

VEGAS SPORTSBOOK COMMUNITY SAYS BARKLEY IS A CHEAT

Around the country, the news that Charles Barkley owes Wynn Casino $400,000 may not be big news. After all, the Round Mound has openly stated that he’s got a gambling problem and is probably $10 million in the hole.

Wynn Las Vegas is frustrated with the former NBA player because he’s owed the 400 large since October. The property has now asked Clark County D.A. David Roger to look into filing felony theft charges against Barkley.

“By taking the $400,000 in credit and refusing to pay the amount despite repeated attempts, Barkley has wrongfully exercised dominion and control over Wynn’s property,” Wynn Las Vegas said in the complaint.

If indicted and convicted on four separate felony theft charges, Barkley could get 10 years in prison.

Thursday Roger appearing on ESPNRadio1100 said…

“The allegation is that he was given four $100,000 markers in October of last year. He’ll be given the opportunity to make restitution. If he doesn’t make restitution then he will face charges. Once an agreement is made, he could have up to six months to make those payments.”

“If we charged him with theft, it would be four counts. That’s 1-10 years in Nevada state prison. Filing bad checks is 1-4 years per count.” 

Sportsbook industry folks are infuriated that Barkley is stiffing the casino.

Afterall, it was Barkley who was treated like gold by Mandalay Bay after being given a little of credit on Super Sunday in 2002. A paperwork error and Barkley’s refusal to agree to his end of the deal nearly destroyed a sportsbook director’s career.

The folks in the Mandalay Bay sports book were alerted a few hours before Super Bowl 36, that Barkley wanted to bet $500,000+ on the Rams-Patriots game. One slight problem, Barkley didn’t have the money. Sportsbook’s don’t extend lines of credit, only the games on the floor can do so.

If the player needs a “marker” to play in the sportsbook, he’ll sign the appropriate paperwork or be given the dollar value in chips by the casino cage, and is then escorted over to the book to place the bet.

Barkley got his marker and walked over to the book where he placed a $500,000 bet on the Patriots at +14 and $50,000 on the Pats money line at over 3-to-1.

Shortly after the bets were placed, the sportsbook noticed that Barkley hadn’t actually signed the paperwork, the fault of the cage, making it a non-binding agreement. When he was tracked down off property, Barkley refused to sign the paperwork. 

He’d gotten away with it!!! A “free roll” worth over $650k if he won.   

The Patriots covered and won the game outright and Barkley still got paid which technically violated Nevada gaming rules. Mandalay Bay honored the bet even though it didn’t have to, but the property needed a fall guy, so the book director Nick Bogdanovich was fired.

Bogdanovich, who now runs the Cal-Neva sportbooks in Reno & Las Vegas, was out of the industry for a long time after the Barkley snafu. As one sportsbook vet told us, “Barkley ruined his f*ckin life!”

We come full circle in 2008, Barkley has been given a line of credit by Wynn Las Vegas and won’t pay off his bets. Former and current book directors that we spoke with said Barkley is a scumbag but because he loses so much money at the roulette tables, you have to placate him on the smaller losses (400k!!!). 

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

WE DEMAND THAT CLEVELANDERS ARE OUT OF THE ELECTION PROCESS!!!!

The state of Ohio has ruined at least one election with it’s buffoonery. Now comes word that its qualified voters are dumb enough to wait in line for three hours to save $12 on a pizza (WATCH NEWS VIDEO HERE).

We’re certainly a bit surprised about how darn popular this is,” said Tim North, vice president of Papa John’s Northeast region.

The company announced its apology deal Sunday in response to six shirts that a Washington, D.C., franchisee made. They referred to James’ complaints about hard fouls and Wizards center Brendan Haywood’s response in labeling him a crybaby.

They also highlighted James’ No. 23.

Hence, the 23-cent deal.

“You can’t beat the price,” said Blanche Price, a Euclid senior who arrived at the University Heights store at 9 a.m., armed with a lawn chair.

By 10 a.m., when unruffled, flour-dusted employees flipped on the “Now Baking” neon light and opened the doors, hundreds of pizza-hungry people — including a woman with a walker — had swarmed the parking lot. Inside, cardboard boxes covered every surface, and thin circles of dough towered on metal racks.

Pizza insanity reigned at each of the chain’s 41 Northeast Ohio franchises.

There were 600 people in line in Euclid, said police, who arrested one customer for public intoxication and another for resisting after he got out of the line and got back in, and they also cited a woman for disorderly conduct – all before the customers got their pies.

PINK AND PIVEN, REALLY?

Another odd pairing may have surfaced in Tinsel Town this week. This from the N.Y. Post’s Page Six…..

Jeremy Piven and Hollywood punk Pink were spotted at Green Door in LA Tuesday night getting hot and heavy on the dance floor. Piven hit the club after leaving a party for Victoria’s Secret fragrance Heavenly Kiss at Beso. Pink split from her husband, Motocross racer Carey Hart, in February. “Pink and Jer emy were all over each other and dancing really close,” said a witness. A rep for Pink con firmed she was at the Green Door, but said, “She was not with Jeremy Piven, dancing or otherwise.” Piven’s rep said, “He was there but didn’t hang out with Pink. Jeremy says she is a friend, a good woman.”

DON’T GET LOADED AT A BREWERS GAME

TWO SIDES STILL EMERGING AROUND BENSON DUI ARREST 

We told you on Monday how the “responsible” writers at the Chicago Tribune already had Benson convicted. Each day this week, another nugget came out about the ordeal down on Lake Travis.

This story has witnesses saying the police treatment of Benson was overkill.

“It was uncalled for, it was ludicrous, no point for it,” said Toby Patch.

Patch said what he saw at the Emerald Point Marina Saturday makes him distrust law enforcement. 

“It seemed to me they were manhandling him a little bit,” Patch said. “As they were taking him up the dock, they stopped, he said, ‘I am fine, I can continue walking,’ and they put their legs behind his knees and knocked him over his knees and started hog-carrying him.”

Then he said when the officers got Benson to the parking area, things really got out of hand.

“They ended up — I don’t know why — but laid him on his back, I heard him say, ‘Please don’t pepper spray me, please don’t pepper spray me,’” Patch said.

It seems like the police are getting nervous. Is the department grasping at straws or just trying to embarass Benson? This useless video of Benson being walked into the station has surfaced.

BARKLEY GETS RON BURGUNDY’D

EVA MENDES NOT AS HOT AS WE THOUGHT?

Sometimes hot chicks are better left with their clothes on. That’s right!!! Call me crazy!!!

Don’t get me wrong Mendes is awesone. But be honest, isn’t the bod a little disappointing?

Here’s an NSFW artsy pictorial done for an Italian mag.

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE OIL WRESTLING?

When I tell you guys to show up for an event, you’d better show up!!!

Ha-Ha.

Adam’s Ribs on Maryland between Flamingo & Tropicana (old Moose McGillicuddy’s) had a fund raising oil wrestling soire on Thursday.

The Vegas Slots, a female rugby team, fought their asses off. CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR 50+ SHOTS OF THE ACTION 

CHICKS AND WIENERS!!!

You know that I love the Hot Dog eating contests!! Until last year Kobayashi was without debate, the greatest athlete in the history of the world. Then out of nowhere emerged Ali’s, Frazier.

Joey Chestnut took down Kobayashi at the 2007 national championship. Ali – Frazier II is right around the corner on the 4th of July at Coney Island.

There was a local qualifier contest at New York New York on Thursday. Cofield & Cokin were out there for 4+ hours. What a great time. Rich LeFevre blew away the field with 32 dogs in 10 minutes.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR ALL THE GREAT SHOTS.

DAILY RAYS OF SUNSHINE

WHY DWYANE? WORLD IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY WADE’S APPEARANCE ON TNT

Dwyane Wade and Star Jones Are What?????

DID INDIANA TRANSFER WANT TO BEAT TOM CREAN’S ASS?

Crean had to call local police when 6-foot-9 Eli Holman got angry after announcing his intent to transfer.

ESPN WRITER CALLS KIMBO SLICE A SLAVE

LZ Granderson can sure get people worked up. Granderson was a loud voice during the John Ameachi, “coming out of the closet” saga. Now he’s disturbed by the image he feels is being put forth by MMA star Slice.

I don’t know if he’s necessarily stupid, because I’ve never met the man, but he certainly seems to be misguided. Why else would Slice disregard all sense of honor, pride and history to project an image that can best be described as a cross between Lil’ Wayne and Kunta Kinte — a runaway slave with a mouth full of gold teeth playing up every single stereotype of an African-American male in exchange for short-lived adoration from a soulless media with ADD.

In a recent photo shoot with ESPN The Magazine, a shirtless Slice makes a variety of menacing/coonish facial expressions that are uncomfortably close to those of a caged animal, which he is routinely referred to online. Fortunately, the Mag opted not to run most of the shots, but there are still various clips on the Internet that refer to Slice being from the wild jungle, including photos of a gorilla instead of his headshot. And the YouTube clip mentioned earlier is pretty close to a lynch mob environment. All of which he seems to be playing up as part of his act.

ARIZONA STATE NOW CHANGING ITS TUNE ON CHEERLEADERS

What a crazy coincidence…pictures pop up on the net with some ASU cheerleaders in underwear, then two days later the squad is being “reassigned.” But ASU officials say its just an odd coincidence…

There are reports the pictured women have caused Arizona State to cut cheerleading from its athletic program.

Absolutely not so, school offcials say.

All that’s happening, school officials say, is that overseeing the squad is being assigned to the director of the marching band, in an effort to better coordinate all sideline activities on game days.

“We just can’t emphasize enough that those two things are unrelated,” ASU sports information director Mark Brand told Game On! today.

Initially, ASU officials said the photos all were of former ASU cheerleaders.  But Steve Hank, the school’s associate athletic director for marketing and revenue generation, said he has since learned two of the six women pictured are current cheerleaders.

No punitive action is being pursued, the school officials said.

The Internet chatter about ASU’s cheerleaders picked up momentum last night when Phoenix’ FOX affiliate reported ASU’s athletic department would eliminate cheerleading because of the photos.

Brand and Hank said the timing of the photos appearing on the Internet and reassigning oversight of the cheerleaders was “a total coincidence.”

JASON WHITLOCK CHIMES IN ON COSTASNOW BLOG/SPORTSRADIO PIECES

This is a funny column by Whitlock on FoxSports.com. Here are some of the best lines….

• I used to be a more regular reader of deadspin until the site published a post suggesting that a prominent sportscaster was spotted at a Super Bowl party texting a woman late at night for a hookup. Allegedly one of Leitch’s correspondents looked over the married sportscaster’s shoulder and read the text message.
• Bloggers might be inspired by their loathing of traditional media, but they are not the cause of our growing irrelevance. We did that with our refusal to adapt to new technology, our clutching of political correctness and the transparency of our agenda-driven “objective journalism.”
• The segment on sports-talk radio was superior. Costas had a perfect storm of panelists for that segment. In Michael Strahan, Mitch Albom and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, the show had a world-class athlete, a world-class writer and a world-class @$$. That trio overshadowed the fact that HBO producers put together a taped setup piece that featured the original sports blogger, afraid-of-the-locker-room coward Jay Mariotti as the voice of reason preaching to talk-radio hosts about ethics. Next week I’ll be hosting a show blasting Oprah for putting on weight.