Football analysts make appearance on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
Desmond Howard
ESPN college football analysts Herm Edwards, Desmond Howard, Mark May and Mark Schlereth will make a special guest appearance on the season finale of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” at 7 p.m. Sunday. They will help with the makeover of the Williams’ family home in Pine Mountain Valley, Ga. Husband, Jeremy, diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and wife, Jennifer, have a young son Jacob, who has spina bifida.
Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher and the Tuohy Family, who were the inspiration behind the Oscar-nominated film The Blind Side, also appear in the episode, along with Disney Channel stars Demi Lovato (“Sonny with a Chance”) and Wilmer Valderrama (voice of the animated series Handy Mandy).
Jimmy Johnson rates Sam Bradford, other top quarterbacks
Jimmy Johnson
Fox Sports analyst Jimmy Johnson, a former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins coach, evaluated some of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. Here are some excerpts:
On Sam Bradford: “He is a big, physical, good looking player that can move. He is the prototype quarterback. You have to be a little concerned about the shoulder injury and if it is going to happen again but he has the intelligence that I like. You want him to lead your franchise. That’s why if the Rams look at him and think ‘he’s our guy and we believe in him,’ then you don’t even listen to another offer, you just get him signed. He’s a guy who will be able to fit into your offense style right off the bat.”
On Jimmy Clausen: “He is an accurate passer and has a good touch on the deep ball. I like him. I just don’t know that he has the physical ability of Sam Bradford but if you need a quarterback he is probably one of the two guys who can come in and play for you now.”
On Tim Tebow: “He’s still a work in progress. It is going to be difficult for him to jump in and perform without sitting, watching and practicing. He is a talent but has to go to the right team that uses him the right way. Tebow’s development is going to be a two or three-year project. A team could use him in other areas before he becomes a starting quarterback but you first have to consider your current quarterback. Is he going to be comfortable going to the sideline while you develop Tebow? There are a lot of teams where that is not going to happen. I would take a chance on him in the second round. His intangibles are off the charts and if I am in the middle of the second round and he fits our style of play, I think he is worth the pick.”
Sam Bradford makes rounds of national talk shows
Mike Golic interviews former OU quarterback Sam Bradford on Monday on "Mike and Mike in the Morning."
Former OU quarterback Sam Bradford made the rounds of the national sports talk shows Monday, appearing on “Mike and Mike in the Morning” on ESPN Radio and ESPN2 and the nationally syndicated “The Dan Patrick Show,” which also airs on DirecTV’s 101 network:
Here are excerpts of Bradford’s interview with Patrick:
On whether or not he wants the Rams to pick him: “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to play in the NFL, whether it’s the Rams or another team. “No one’s ever called me or my agent and said, ‘Hey, let’s talk contract.’”
On having to be extra careful in public these days: “You’ve got to be careful with cell phones in this day and age with cameras. You have to surround yourself with good people to limit the bad things that can happen to you.”
On the prospect of sitting for a while at start of NFL career: “I’ve been sitting a lot lately. I understand if I have to sit, but I’ll do everything I can to get on the field.”
Former Oklahoman reporter tells of infant son’s heart transplant
Christopher Schroeder
As a sports writer for The Oklahoman from January 2000 to July 2007, George Schroeder did an excellent job of keeping readers of The Oklahoman up to date on fortunes of the OU football team. Schroeder moved to Eugene, Ore., in 2007 to work as a columnist for Register-Guard, writing columns on the Oregon Ducks.
His best reporting may be the last few months as he keeps readers informed about his infant son Christopher, who had a heart transplant Jan. 16 at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. It’s been an emotional roller coaster for the Schroeder family.
Here is his latest installment on Valentine’s Day.
ESPN’s Erin Andrews confronts stalker in court
Erin Andrews talks with reporters outside of courtroom.
ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews got her day in court Tuesday as she faced her stalker, Michael Barrett, in a Los Angeles courtroom for the first time and broke down in tears. She asked a federal judge to show no mercy on Barrett and sentence him to the maximum of five years in prison.
Barrett avoided eye contact with Andrews and pleaded guilty to one felony count of stalking. He admitted to rigging peepholes at hotels in Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin in 2008 and secretly shooting videos of her. Under a plea agreement, Barrett is expected to serve two years in prison, but Judge Manuel Real will make the final determination when Barrett returns for sentencing on Feb. 22.
“I am a victim of this sexual predator. I would like to see him immediately put in prison for as long as possible,” Andrews told the judge. “I have nightmares. I walk in crowds, and I see him in my peripheral vision. When I’m alone in my house, I have fears that he’s going to walk inside and hurt me.
“I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. I don’t know why he chose me. But I hope he never sees the light of day again.”
“My career has been ripped apart, which I’ve worked very hard for. I am subjected to crude comments and suggestions that I have partnered in a crime. I walk into stadiums, and fans say obscene things to me.”
Outside the courthouse, she told TV crews she fell apart in court. “I wanted to go right in and get it over with. The first couple minutes were very difficult. I lost it. My dad was trying to help me keep it together.”
Andrews wants Barrett classified as a sexual predator.
“He’s a threat to all women,” she said. “I don’t want someone else’s career to be ruined like this. It won’t come off the internet. Still to this day every time I check into a hotel room, I’m constantly looking around to see if he’s there.”
Andrews’ attorney, Marshall Grossman, said his client plans to seek civil remedies against “hotels and related parties involved,” push for stronger laws against stalking, and advocate for changes in hotel security.
Top 10 college telecasts: Ohio State-Michigan tops weekend
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
The traditional Ohio State-Michigan rivalry game tops the week, even though the Wolverines are struggling this season at 5-6 overall and 1-6 in the conference under coach Rich Rodriquez. Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) needs a victory to wrap up an outright Big Ten championship.
All games Saturday unless noted with Wednesday’s Latest Line.
1. No. 9 Ohio State at Michigan, 11 a.m., ABC (OSU by 12)
2. No. 10 LSU at Mississippi, 2:30 p.m., CBS (Miss by 3)
3. No. 13 Penn State at Michigan State, 2:30 p.m., ABC (PSU by 3)
4. Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 11:30 a.m., FSN (OU by 4)
5. No. 11 Oregon at Arizona, 7 p.m., ABC (not in Big 12 region) (Ore. by 5)
6. Colorado at No. 12 Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN (OSU by 15)
7. Kansas State at Nebraska, 6:45 p.m., ESPN (Neb. By 15)
8. No. 6 Boise State at Utah State, 8:30 p.m. Friday, ESPN2 (BS by 23)
9. No. 2 Mississippi State at Arkansas, 11:20 a.m., SEC (Ark by 10)
10. Kansas at No. 3 Texas, 7 p.m., ABC (Texas by 27)
Also worth a look:
Minnesota at No. 15 Iowa, Noon, ESPN (Iowa by 9)
Kentucky at Georgia, 6:45 p.m., ESPN2 (Georgia by 7)
N.C. State at No. 16 Virginia Tech, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (VT by 20)
Virginia at No. 18 Clemson, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (Clemson by 19)
Duke at No. 21 Miami, Noon, ESPNU (Miami by 17)
San Diego State at No. 23 Utah, 3 p.m., Versus (Utah by 17)
Vanderbilt at Tennessee, 6 p.m., ESPNU (Tenn. By 17)
Top 10 college football telecasts: Utah-TCU tops a slow week
TCU coach Gary Patterson pumps up his defense
It’s a bad week for college football as evidenced by the lopsided lines for my top 10 games. For Big 12 fans, two North Division games should be interesting: Missouri at Kansas State at 11:30 a.m. on Versus and Nebraska at Kansas at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
Games are Saturday unless noted with Thursday’s Latest Line
1. No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU, 6:30 p.m., Versus (TCU by 20)
2. No. 25 Stanford at No. 11 USC, 2:30 p.m., FSN (USC by 10)
3. West Virginia at No. 5 Cincinnati, 7 p.m. Friday, ESPN (Cincy by 9).
4. No. 1 Florida at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., KWTV-9 (Fla. by 16)
5. Texas Tech at No. 17 Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ABC (Southwest region) (OSU by 4)
6. Missouri at Kansas State, 11:30 a.m., Versus (Mizzou by 1)
7. Nebraska at Kansas, 2:30 p.m., ABC (Neb. by 3)
8. No. 15 Iowa at No. 10 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (Ohio St by 16)
9. Texas A&M at Oklahoma, 6 p.m., FSN (OU by 20)
10. No. 3 Alabama at Mississippi State, 6 p.m., ESPN (Ala. by 12)
Also worth a look:
No. 2 Texas at Baylor, 11 a.m., FSN (Texas by 24)
Notre Dame at No. 8 Pittsburgh, 7 p.m., ABC (not carried in Southwest) (Pitt by 7).
10. No. 7 Georgia Tech at Duke, ESPN2 (Ga. Tech by 13)
Idaho at No. 6 Boise State, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (BSU by 31)
Louisiana Tech at No. 9 LSU, 7 p.m., ESPNU (LSU by 24)
Arizona State at No. 14 Oregon, 9:20 p.m., ESPN (Ore. by 17)
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 11 a.m, SEC (Ky by 3)
Northwestern at Illinois, 11 a.m., ESPN Classic (Ill. by 5)
Tennessee at Mississippi, 11:30 a.m., CBS (Ole Miss by 5)
Florida State at Wake Forest, 11 a.m, ESPNU (Wake by 5)
Top 10 college telecasts: LSU-Alabama tops week
LSU coach Les Miles
The Southeastern Conference showdown between LSU and Alabama tops the weekend of college football telecasts. LSU needs a victory to keep its SEC final’s hopes alive.
Games are Saturday unless noted with AP ranking and Thursday’s Latest Line.
1. No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS (Ala. by 9)
2. No. 15 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 (PSU by 3)
3. No. 20 Oklahoma at Nebraska, 7 p.m., ABC (OU by 6).
4. No. 18 Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 2:30 p.m., ABC (OSU by 7)
5. Kansas at Kansas State, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Versus (KU by 3).
6. Navy at No. 19 Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m., NBC (ND by 11)
7. Vanderbilt at No. 1 Florida, 6:15 p.m., ESPN2 (Fla. by 33)
8. UCF at No. 2 Texas, 11 a.m., FSOK (Texas by 36)
9. Florida State at Clemson, 6:45 p.m., ESPN (Clemson by 8)
10. Fresno State at Idaho, 9 p.m., ESPNU (FS by 7).
Also worth a look:
No. 5 Boise State at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m. Friday, ESPN2 (BS by 21)
No. 6 TCU at San Diego State, 3 p.m., Versus (TCU by 25)
Northwestern at No. 8 Iowa, 11 a.m., ESPN (Iowa by 18)
Syracuse at No. 14 Pittsburgh, Noon, ESPNU (Pitt by 21)
South Carolina at Arkansas, 11 a.m., SEC (KSBI-52) (Ark. by 5)
Memphis at Tennessee, 6 p.m., ESPNU (Tenn. by 26).
Divorce proves costly for CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz
CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz
CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz must pay $916,000 yearly in alimony and child support to his ex-wife and give up their Connecticut home under terms of a newly issued divorce decree.
Court documents from the divorce trial cited Nantz’s $3.2 million salary from CBS and other assets, including millions in other income, shared investment accounts, real estate and other property.
The ruling, made Monday in Bridgeport, Conn., Superior Court, dissolves the 26-year marriage of Nantz and Ann-Lorraine “Lorrie” Carlsen Nantz. It comes after both testified about the breakdown of their marriage; Judge Howard Owens concluded neither was at fault.
Nantz, CBS’ silky smooth lead play-by-play announcer, wasn’t so successful with his personal life. He filed for divorce last year from his wife after years of marriage counseling.
Although Nantz, 50, acknowledged he started dating a 29-year-old woman before the divorce was final, the judge concluded the marriage deteriorated years earlier and “this remote event in no way contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.”
In his ruling, Owens noted that the couple didn’t share the same interests in Nantz’s television career, which required frequent travel as the network’s primary commentator for college football, golf and basketball, as well as appearances at charity events.
Under the ruling, Nantz must pay $72,000 in alimony monthly until he dies or his ex-wife remarries, and another $1,000 weekly in child support for the next two years.
Lorrie Nantz will get their home and a separate condominium in Westport, while Jim Nantz will get their home in Houston and a luxury condominium in the Deer Valley ski resort in Park City, Utah. They were awarded joint custody of Caroline, 15.
He also must pay Caroline’s college expenses until she reaches 23 years old and has to split various joint accounts with Lorrie Nantz, including the current value of his pension through the Screen Actors Guild.
He also must keep his ex-wife listed as beneficiary of a $3 million life insurance policy while he’s still paying alimony and/or child support, and pay $70,000 so she can join any country club of her choice.
She had been seeking more than $1.5 million in yearly alimony and child support.
Top 10 college football telecasts: TCU-BYU tops week
It’s a slow week for college football. The best game is in Provo, Utah, where BYU hosts TCU in a Mountain West showdown and ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be there.
With Thursday’s Latest Line.
1. No. 10 TCU at No. 16 BYU, 6:30 p.m., Versus (TCU by 2).
2. No. 25 Oklahoma at No. 24 Kansas, 2:30 p.m., KOCO-5 (OU by 7).
3. Auburn at No. 9 LSU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 (LSU by 8)
4. Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama, 2:30 p.m., KWTV-9 (Tenn. by 15)
5. No. 14 Oklahoma State at Baylor, 11:30 p.m., Versus (OSU by 9).
6. No. 3 Texas at Missouri, 7 p.m., KOCO-5 (Texas by 13).
7. No. 2 Florida at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN (Fla. by 23).
8. No. 13 Penn State at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (Penn St. by 4).
9. Arkansas at Mississippi, 11 a.m., SEC (KSBI-52) (Miss. By 6).
10. Connecticut at No. 22 West Virginia, 11 a.m., ESPNU. (W.Va. by 7)
Also worth a look:
Minnesota at No. 18 Ohio State, 11 a.m., ESPN (Ohio St. by 18)
Air Force at No. 19 Utah, 3 p.m., Versus (Utah by 9).
Vanderbilt at No. 23 South Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPNU (SC by 12).
Iowa State at Nebraska, 11:30 a.m., FSN. (Neb. By 18)
