Recently, the four-letter sports network came up with yet another ‘Greatest of All-Time’ list in an attempt to fill air time…. err, entertain its viewers.  The flavor of the month this time around is ‘The Greatest Highlight’ of all-time, hosted by Chris Berman.  Months ago, the website listed 100 of the most famous moments in sports history and allowed contributors to vote on what they thought were the most memorable.  They narrowed it down to sixteen and are currently having an elimination bracket to determine the greatest highlight of all time.

Now, I don’t necessarily have a problem with that, and it’s hard to argue against any of the highlights they’ve included, i.e., Willie Mays’ catch, Doug Flutie’s pass, ‘the band is on the field,’ Bill Buckner’s error, Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception, Kirk Gibson’s, Babe Ruth’s, Carlton Fisk’s and Hank Aaron’s landmark home runs.  I think as sports fans, we all could view, and review, these moments over and over again.

What I DO have a problem with is Chris Berman RE-ANNOUNCING THOSE HIGHLIGHTS!!!  Listen, very often, much of what makes a highlight memorable is Marv Albert shouting “A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!!” or Al Michaels screaming “Do you believe in miracles?!?” or Vin Scully’s “I don't believe what I just saw!!!”  Instead, the four-letter opted to have Chris Berman, who by judging from the blogosphere, most of us are well tired of, announce the highlights as we're viewing them.  Do we really need to hear Chris Berman shout “He… could… go… all… the… way!” when Franco Harris catches the deflection and runs it into the end zone?  Harris caught that ball in 1972 before there even WAS an ESPN!!!  Can’t they just pipe in the regular audio and let the fan relive the moment without imposing their influence?  Had Havlicek’s steal made the top 16, would we be forced to listen to Berman’s blathering over Johnny Most’s historical recount?

When ESPN replayed Hank Aaron's 755th home run, I was forced to hear Berman shout a totally contrived “GONE!!!” at the top of his lungs.  Isn’t that defacing and defaming history?  While you’re at it why don’t you just take a can of spray paint and initial the side of the Lincoln monument?  Or better yet, have Berman re-announce the “I Have a Dream” speech.  “Here comes Dr. King… stepping up to the podium… back back back back back.”  Didn’t ESPN think this through?  Didn’t some exec suggest this might be a bad idea?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for celebrating the finer moments in sports history.  It helps take our minds away from what’s wrong with sports today.  But let’s do it properly and with taste, shall we? 

Alright, I'm outraged!

Friday evening, on ESPN.com, the four-letter network posed the following question in one of their daily polls:   "If Florida beats Ohio State and Michigan beats USC, which team should be ranked No. 1?"

(takes a deep breath before continuing....)

How in the world does this even make any sense?  If there's anything we've learned from the Wolverines in their constant griping over not getting invited to the BCS Championship game is that they lost to the number one team in the nation.  So if Florida BEATS Ohio State, how would Michigan then share the title?  Are voters going to reward Michigan because they feel sorry for slighting them?

I thought the entire purpose of the B.C.S. was to have ONE game between the top two teams in the nation to determine a true champion. 

Now I understand Michigan fans are bitter, their strongest argument they should contend being their only loss, but when both USC and then Florida jumped Michigan in the BCS standings the final few weeks of the season, they did so because of their impressive wins over ranked opponents, while Michigan remained idle, their final game of the season serving as a blemish.

Apparently 32% of the nation thinks Michigan should be the number one team in the nation if both Michigan and Florida win their bowl games.  Someone please logically explain to me how the number three team in the nation could jump to number one by beating a number five, two-loss team (to unranked opponents), while the number two team in the nation by beating the only undefeated team in college football would not garner those number one votes.