Like College Football, A Disappointing End?

Stars React to 'Sopranos' Finale

On ESPN Radio and ESPN2's Mike and Mike in the Morning Monday, Mike Greenberg noted that Sunday's final episode of HBO's "The Sopranos" was similar to the end of a college football season in the way it leaves fans questioning what could have been.

Mike Golic quickly refuted his partner's comments, saying it was much different from the Bowl Championship season because with college football, there is always another season beginning about nine month later.

In Sunday's 'Sopranos,' Tony didn't get whacked as many expected. Rather, the show's writers left the conclusion of the series open for its viewers.

Can LeBron Save the Cavs?

Spurs Dig In, Win Again

The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday, taking a 2-0 in the NBA Finals.

As the series heads back to Cleveland, can LeBron James figure out a way to beat the Spurs? If the Cavs want to avoid a sweep, they'll need to somehow find a way to stop Tim Duncan, Tony Park and Manu Ginobli - who each had 20 points in game 2.

Wake Up with Sage

NPSE Zone ESPN Personality of the Day

Sage Steele joined the ESPN family in 2007 and since then has worked as ESPN2's First Take news anchor.

Steele also hosts Sportscenter once in a while and, on the TV side of Mike and Mike in the Morning, anchors sports highlights.

Before joining ESPN, Steele worked for a sports station in Baltimore. She graduated from Indiana University.

*Image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Sweet Sixty-Two

Who Will Have the Better Sunday? Tony Parker or Tony Soprano

So, with the NBA Finals and the series finale of "The Sopranos" both set to begin in just a few hours, who will have the better Sunday night?

Tony Parker or Tony Soprano?

Parker has been one of the key elements of the success of the San Antonio Spurs this season. The 25-year old phenom has become one of the elite players in the NBA, and only seems to get better as his relationship with Eva Longoria grows.

The last episode of one of the greatest TV series ever will air tonight on HBO. Many ESPN personalities have weighed in on their thought of what may happen, with the latest being Stephen A. Smith on Sunday morning's edition of SportsCenter.

Smith told Bob Ley he doesn't think Tony Soprano will be killed, but thinks someone in the Sopranos immediate family will get whacked.

Parker hopes to whack the Cavs with a two-game lead in the finals.

*Finals preview image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Wave the Jolly Roger! Yanks Look for Sweep Over Pirates

Clemens Leads Yankees to Victory in First Start

Roger Clemens made his long awaited return Saturday to the New York Yankees rotation in a 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 44-year old pitcher officially began his 24th major league season with seven strikeouts on 108 pitches, allowing only three runs.

"Each start I go through now, I expect to get stronger," Clemens said.

*Sportscenter images courtesy of ESPN.com

Horse Wins Race!!!!!!!!

Curlin Ends Up Short

Rags To Riches overtook the horse Curlin in the final stretch of Saturday's Belmont Stakes to become the first female horse since 1905 to win the race.

Curlin had been the early favorite Saturday, especially after a win at the Preakness Stakes several weeks back. ESPN was on hand early in the day with a prelude to the race, featuring Kenny Mayne, Rece Davis and Randy Moss.

*Sportscenter images courtesy of ESPN.com

Will the Real Randy Moss Please Stand Up?

Those who watched ESPN's coverage of the prelude to the Belmont Stakes Saturday may have noticed that the Randy Moss analyzing the race was not the Randy Moss they have come to love catching NFL touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.

The NFL's Moss is the latest acquisition by the New England Patriots, and hopes to turn around his recent struggles in Oakland with Tom Brady and the boys.

His alter ego, horse racing analyst Randy Moss, covers Triple Crown events alongside Kenny Mayne.

Mash and Burn

Jamal Mashburn, an ESPN NBA analyst, began working for the network during the 2006-2007 season, following a long career in basketball.

Mashburn was drafted 4th overall from the University of Kentucky in 1993 by the Dallas Mavericks. He went on to spend time with the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets.

During the 2003-2004 season, Mashburn became one of only six players since 1970 to average more than 20 points per game in his final season. Since joining ESPN, Mashbrun has worked on NBA Fastbreak, covering and analyzing all facets of the league.

*Image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Sometimes You Need to Bring in a Closer

John Daly's Wife Attacks Him With Steak Knife

John Daly Allegedly Attacked by Wife

After a fight at dinner, the wife professional golfer John Daly reportedly scratched his face and attacked him with a steak knife.

Daly showed up Friday at the TPC Southwind tournament with very noticeable scratches all over his face.

Adam Scott finished the day as the event's early leader, but 26 golfers didn't complete Friday's holes because of heavy rains.

Culpepper Wants Out, Trent Green Looks Like Miami's New Golden Boy

Culpepper Takes a Hike at Minicamp

ESPN's John Anderson reported on Friday's 11 p.m. Sportscenter that Miami Dolphins' quarterback Daunte Culpepper walked out of a minicamp practice Friday, hoping the team will release him so that he can find a new place to play this season.

After months of hesitating, the Dolphins finally traded this week for quarterback Trent Green from the Kansas City Chiefs. Culpepper, upset with the team's decision to replace him after a season where he struggled with more injuries after returning from injuries, has refused to let the team trade him.

Ultimate NASCAR Countown Racing Towards Finish!! Finally Halway Over!!

Finally, after what seems like years, ESPN's Ultimate NASCAR's countdown of the sport's 100 greatest moment has reached #52.

By my estimate, the countdown should finally come to an end and relieve America of its misery sometime around the beginning of August or maybe the year 2019.

Say Hello To My Little Friend

NPSE Zone ESPN Personality of the Day

ESPN's Steve Berthiaume hosted Friday night's 11 p.m. edition of Sportscenter alongside Linda Cohn.

Bethiaume graduated from Emerson College and began working for ESPN in 1999. In 2006, he left ESPN to cover the New York Mets for the SNY network. Berthiaume returned to ESPN in March, where he continues to work on Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight.

He's married to ESPN's Cindy Brunson.

*Image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Old Timers Day

Baseball Tonight Loves Nick Markakis

Markakis Carries Orioles Past Rockies

Nick Markakis, a Baltimore Orioles outfielder, has turned up his game all season and has been consistently praised by host Karl Ravech and the crew of Baseball Tonight.

Markakis hit a two-run homer Friday to lift the Orioles over the Colorado Rockies. He made his professional debut last season and is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Baltimore.

ESPN Radio Hosts Make Sopranos Predictions

The Sopranos Reaches the End

As one of the most awaited series finales in years debuts Sunday on HBO, a few ESPN Radio hosts have weighed in with their predictions on how "The Sopranos" will end.

Dan Patrick said on his afternoon radio show Friday he's never even once watched the show, but believes Tony Soprano will spend the rest of his days in prison when the show comes to an end.

Colin Cowherd said he believes the ratings of the final episode will be more than double that of Sunday night's NBA Finals game. Cowherd said earlier this week he expects to see Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri whack Tony and become the new boss of the show's DiMeo crime family. Cowherd also said Friday that he expects the show's creators to leave possibilities open for a movie.

The final episode of the show is set to debut at 10 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

Hey Dan, What's Wrong?

If LeBron James is Justin Timberlake, Is Tim Duncan Rivers Cuomo?

The NBA Finals begin tonight in San Antonio, with LeBron James trying to live up to the hype of what is potential could be.

While Trey Wingo and Mike Golic got off the topic of football once again on Thursday's NFL Live, they invited Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly on the show. Reilly said he believes King James is equivalent of Justin Timberlake during his time with NSYNC.

Earlier Thursday on the Dan Patrick Show, Reilly made the same comment and added that LeBron taking the Cavs on his shoulders to the championship would be the equal to Timberlake helping NSYNC win a Grammy. Right on Reills.

*NBA Finals image courtesy of ESPN.com

MLB Draft Televised on ESPN2

MLB Draft: Histroy in the Makin on TV

For the first time in its history, the MLB first year players draft is being televise, making its debut Thursday afternoon on ESPN2.

Rivaling the coverage of ESPN's coverage of the NFL and NBA Drafts, the network sent Karl Ravech, Peter Gammons and Steve Phillps to Orlando to comment on the players selected.

With the first pick, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays took Vanderbilt pitcher David Price.

The Freanch Open Gives First Take the Day Off

ESPN2's First Take hosts Jay Crawford and Dana Jacobson got the day off Thursday as the program didn't air due to the network's coverage of the French Open.

How will anyone manage to make it through the day without another compelling edition of 1st and 10?

Ducks Win Cup; ESPN Barely Cares

Ducks Finally Bring Cup to West CoastThe Anaheim Ducks became the first West Coast team in the history of the NHL of bring home the Stanley Cup trophy, as the defeated the Ottawa Senators Wednesday night 6-2.

Team captain Scott Niedermayer was awarded the MVP trophy. Now that the Stanley Cup Playoffs have come to an end, ESPN can concentrate on its drowning coverage of the NBA Finals.

ESPN's NBA Coverage Exceeds its Stanley Cup Duo

As the NBA Finals, between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers, begin Thursday night on ABC, ESPN has stationed Stuart Scott, Greg Anthony and Tim Legler behind a desk in San Antonio to work as commentators on Sportscenter.

Why didn't the NHL get the same treatment from ESPN?

For the Stanley Cup, ESPN only sent Steve Levy and Barry Melrose to cover the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators. Levy and Melrose didn't even get a desk in the arenas. The only got a few minutes to discuss the series on Sportscenter from a random spot in the seats, while the NBA coverage on the network on Sportscenter alone Wednesday night totaled about 10 minutes.

What gives?

*NBA Finals image courtesy of ESPN.com

Cowherd Says NHL is Talk Radio Death

Colin Cowherd said on his ESPN Radio show. "The Herd," Wednesday that talking about the NHL on sportstalk radio is pure broadcasting death.

Cowherd noted that NHL Stanley Cup ratings for the Anaheim Ducks against the Ottawa Senators last weekend on NBC averaged just under 1.5 million households and may go down as one of the lowest rated programs in the history of the timeslot on NBC.

Talk radio personalities are being forced to avoid talking about the NHL because of its irrelevancy in the United States, Cowherd said.

A Cat Fight in Tight White Pants

College Softball World Series (compiled by azcentral.com)

Taryne Mowatt finished what she started and Arizona won its eighth NCAA softball title, breaking loose against Tennessee ace Monica Abbott for a 5-0 victory Wednesday night in the Women's College World Series.

The top-seeded Wildcats (50-14-1) lost the opener in the best-of-three championship series, then bounced back to win the final two games.

Mowatt (42-12) pitched all 60 innings in the tournament for Arizona and became the first pitcher to win seven games in the event.

It was scoreless in the fifth inning when Arizona scored all five runs. Jenae Leles hit a two-run single and Chelsie Mesa added a three-run homer for the Wildcats (50-14-1). Arizona, which needed help from an error to break Abbott's 43-inning scoreless streak in Game 2, got several key hits against her this time.

Caitlin Lowe, Arizona's speedy leadoff hitter, started the fifth inning by reaching on a slapped grounder back to Abbott (50-5). K'Lee Arredondo followed with a single, and an error by right fielder Nicole Kajitani put runners at second and third.

Abbott then intentionally walked Kristie Fox, who tied the tournament record with 11 hits, to load the bases for Mesa. Mesa's grounder made it through to center field to score the first two runs, and Mesa hit a 3-2 pitch over Kajitani's outstretched arms and the wall.

Mowatt broke the school record for wins in a season set by Alicia Hollowell in 2004.

Surprise, Surprise - Skip Bayless Picks the Spurs to Win Finals

History Indicates Spurs Won't Be Too Rusty

Who would have ever though First Take's Skip Bayless would take the San Antonio Spurs to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals?

Sure enough, Bayless told Dana Jacobson on Wednesday's 1st and 10 he's picked the Spurs to win the series, which begins Thursday on ABC. Bayless predicted the Spurs won't sweep the Cavs, but will send them home for the summer in six games.

Hockey Players are Like Elephants - They Remember

NPSE Zone ESPN Personality of the Day

The Stanley Cup Finals came to an end Wednesday night, as the Anaheim Ducks quacked their way past the Ottawa Senators.

Although the NHL playoffs may be over, ESPN's Barry Melrose won't be taking his mind off hockey anytime soon. Melrose has been an NHL commentator for the network since 1996 and most recently covered ESPN's scarce coverage of the Stanley Cup alongside Steve Levy.

Melrose coached the Los Angeles Kings in the 1990s and took the franchise to the Stanley Cup in his first season in 1993.

*Image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Come Back Wally

It's Ladies Night

Arizona Softball Team Wins
Tuesday was officially ladies night on ESPN2, as a doubleheader of women's sports were showcased on the network.

The women of Arizona's softball team squared up the best-of-three College Softball World Series Tuesday night at one-game a piece behind a 10-inning shutout by pitcher Taryne Mowatt in a 1-0 victory over the lovely ladies of Tennessee.

Elsewhere in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx knocked off the Phoenix Mercury by just 5 points to improve their record to 1-7 on the season.

*College Softball World Series image courtesy of ESPNtv.com

Cowherd Makes Bold Sopranos Finale Prediction

Sopranos Final Season

Colin Cowherd, host of ESPN Radio's "The Herd," made a bold prediction Tuesday of his thoughts of what will go down on the upcoming series finale of HBO's "The Sopranos."

Cowherd said he expects to see Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri whack Tony Soprano to become the new boss of the show's DiMeo crime family.

The final episode of the show is set to debut at 10 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

Sunday's Yanks/BoSox Matchup Sets Sunday Night Baseball Record

ESPN Draws Record Audience for Sunday Night Game

The New York Yankees defeat of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball this past weekend set a record for the program, averaging more than 3.98 million households watching.

The Sunday broadcast was the fifth largest regular season MLB telecast in ESPN history.

Sunday Night Baseball first aired on the network in 1990 and has been a mainstay of its MLB coverage since.

That's a Horse of a Different Color: Lawsuit Targets ESPN

Jockey, Trainer File Suit Against ESPN

The jockey and trainer of the 1975 champion horse featured in a made for TV movie scheduled to premiere on ABC Saturday are suing ESPN Original Entertainment, claiming that the network infringed on trademarks to produce the film.

"The claims of the lawsuit are without merit," ESPN said in a statement on the situation.

The movie depicts the tragic fall of the horse Ruffian in a 1975 race where it shattered its leg, sending it to the glue factory prematurely. Its scheduled to run in conjunction with this weekend's Belmont Stakes.

The Hottest NBA Finals Sideline Coverage

The pre- and postgame coverage of LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA Finals doesn't get much hotter than it does with that red hair over the left shoulder and the sweet smile of ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

Nichols has covered the epic story of the King's first journey to the NBA Finals and I can always count on a great Sportscenter story about the Cavs I won't remember anything about three minutes later.

She is a graduate of Northwestern University and also worked with the Washington Post and Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

*Image courtesy of ESPNtv.com