I can only describe the ESPN coverage of last night’s Monday Night Football game as uncomfortable. Everyone involved was out of their element, and you could tell. These are sportcasters, used to over-analyzing the inane facets o####ame built in large part around inane facets. They’re not social commentators, or tightrope walkers, or the 15 other skills that might have come in handy in wading into last night’s environment.

By merely broadcasting the game, grabbing the ratings, ESPN could do know wrong, but do no right either. They didn’t schedule the game, and didn’t plan every aspect of the pre-game celebrations, so they can’t be blamed for sounding uncomfortable. In many ways, uncomfortable may have been the most appropriate feeling.

Think of all the limits ESPN faced. The broadcast couldn’t put their brand on this, make it their own, something they do with great expertise. Everyone who touched a microphone tripped over themselves, trying to emphasize and deemphasize all at the same time. “The amazing rebuilding of the superdome… but while the 9th ward still sits largely destroyed of course” and similar statements came tumbling out of their mouths all night.

ESPN certainly couldn’t make too much of a connection between the joy of the fans in the seats and the disaster recovery outside, not when everyone watching knew full well that the hardest hit couldn’t have afford tickets before the storm, let alone now. The people who could afford season tickets more than likely faced a long drive out of town before the storm hit, and a horrible but recoverable situation when they returned. To them, this tragedy was the same faced by people who lose their homes to forest fires, mudslides, tornados and who knows what other natural phenomena wipe out homes in North America these days. And since those people aren’t expecting to receive a U2/Green Day tribute duet any time soon, ESPN couldn’t and didn’t go too far down that path.

Thankfully, ESPN stuck with what I had hoped they would. They admitted their limitations and mostly talked football. They talked replays and 3rd and long and cover 2 defenses. And even though it seemed almost embarrassing to jump between talking about evacuees and talking about yards-after-catch, they accepted the embarrassment with dignity, and they moved ahead.

This wasn’t baseball returning after the terrorist attacks, it was something completely different. It was as if ESPN took a stand and said loud and clear “this isn’t politics, this isn’t part of an agenda. We’re not congratulating anyone, but we’re not condemning anyone either. Don't look to us for a message. This is sports, pure and simple”

I see that there’s a lot of talk on US TV lately about the legacy of the two most recent presidencies, and how history will view their accomplishments and shortcomings. But politics is a reflection of the here and now, and holds only a portion of the historical significance of an event or age. Watching last night’s football game, I couldn’t help but wonder if it’s in fact a complete and utter moot argument. Not when $81 Billion dollars was lost, and 1.2 Million people were evacuated, because I can’t be the only one that thinks there’s a good chance that history texts will resign both presidents to a sidebar in a chapter entitled “The Katrina Response – A Study in Classes”. Odds are they’ll probably mention last night’s football game for longer.

Nowhere though, will they mention ESPN, and that’s exactly how it should be.

- The new Buffalo uniforms aren’t nearly as bad as they could have been. Kudos to Rebok for doing their best with that hilarious looking golden-slug of an emblem. I love the numbers on the front, and the solid colours are a nice change from the noisy red, black and silver.

- Sabres blanked the Leafs 4-0 in their first pre-season tilt, with all four goals on the powerplay. I figured that the young guys would really shine in this game, I just didn’t think it would be on the Sabres’ side. Its only one pre-season game, but that said it doesn’t bode well for Paul Maurice when his young guys, the only players for whom the pre-season means anything, wind up laying an egg like that. What Pohl and Ondres did last year made me take notice, but even with the potential those two are another game like last night away from peddling their wears in Ricoh come October.

- Sabres swing into the hammer to play a neutral site game against the Pens on Saturday night, and needless to say I’m there. You know, If I’m Lindy Ruff that night, in some ways I’d be hoping my team takes its fair share of penalties. Without McKee this team needs to be in top shape penalty-killing wise, and Pittsburgh’s guns are a great way to test it out. Wonder what the odds are both Crosby and Malkin see icetime that night.

- Speaking of the Pens, I checked it out this weekend and can report with certainty that the Mellon Arena is still a dump. PNC Park is still pretty boss though, especially when the game ends with 30,000 Mets fans going home disappointed.

- Tie Domi officially retired to become an analyst with TSN. I guess they needed someone to make Glenn Healy sound smart. What insights could a career goon and notorious cheap shot artist provide viewers, especially in the new breed NHL? Maybe he can regail us with tales of suspensions and suckerpunches. How about that time his gutless elbow on Niedermayer rallied the devils and cost his team any chance of winning in the ’01 playoffs. Good times, good times.

- More often than not, my girlfriend is the official voice of reason. Last night she thankfully spared me from watching Monday Night Football by insisting that I catch “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” with her. Now admittedly I’m not a TV buff by any stretch, but was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, absolutely brilliant start to finish. Like a bigger, better West Wing, without the preachy politics. As for the football game, the only question I was left with was whether Big Ben is more grossly over-rated, or woefully unentertaining. NFL, the new soccer.

- You may have noticed I ditched the picture of me completely plastered and skateboarding down a road in the outer banks, replacing it with a shot of my dog on the bow of our boat. The salty spaniel lords over his cottage kingdom. My dog is all about the style.