Friday, August 27, 2010

ESPN's Jay Mariotti Suspended From AOL Fanhouse; ESPN Next?




In the wake of his arrest for domestic violence last Saturday, ESPN Personality and AOL Fanhouse Columnist Jay Mariotti was suspended indefinitely from AOL Fanhouse on Thursday.

Now, the question is what will ESPN - which has featured Jay as a star on its show Around The Horn - do with Mariotti?

As shared before here, ESPN's history suggests Mariotti may be done there. But for now, EPSN's not moved off its stance that its taking a wait-and-see view.

Meanwhile, Ben Maller says Tim Cowlishaw -  another unlucky ESPN Around The Horn Personality  this week, but for something far less terrible, guessing wrong the day New York Jets Cornerback Darrell Revis will sign with the team - could have it worse. Maller says Cowlishaw should be happy he's not Jay Mariotti.

Jersey Shore episode 5 season 2 Recap - by Nikky Raney




Jersey Shore episode 5 of season 2 aired last night, August 26, at 10 p.m. ET. This episode was definitely one of the best of this season with even more craziness than usual.

Personally watching Jersey Shore helps with truly being able to explain how crazy this episode was. Last week's episode was not blogged about, because it was not as interesting - but this post will make up for that greatly.

Courtesy of MTV
This episode revolved mostly around Sammi and Ronnie. JWOWW and Snooki typed up a note anonymously that revealed all the cheating and infidelity Ronnie has been engaging in while dating Sammi. This includes the infamous three-way-kiss from the first episode, as well as getting other girl's numbers.

When Sammi finds the note in her drawer she first asks Vinny about it, and he denies all the allegations on Ronnie's infidelity. She asks Vinny to promise not to tell Ronnie about it - but of course that's the first thing he does. In the commentary Ronnie speaks of hoping he can talk his way out of this one.

Sammi then asks Pauly D, but Pauly D claims he had no idea and is sure that it never happened - especially not the kiss. Then a clip plays of Pauly D pointing out to Vinny at the club while Ronnie partakes in the three-way-kiss.

There's a break between this big fiasco with The Situation's big scandal. He brings home two girls, but then two more girls show up. He decides to put two girls on one side of the house, and then put the other girls on another side - so that the girls will never know about one another. However, one of the girls is a "grenade" and The Situation meets with Pauly D and Vinny to figure out a way to "extract" the grenade.

Courtesy of MTV
The Situation decides that Vinny and Pauly D will go in the one room and pick between the two girls on who to hook up with, and he will go to the other room and try to extract the grenade. Luckily, when he goes into the room the grenade is sleepy, so he tucks her into bed and wishes her sweet dreams. He then goes into another room and the night vision comes on of all three guys enjoying the night with their ladies.

Snooki and JWOWW go to the Gay Pride Weekend and hung out with some of the gay guys.. When Snooki calls up her ex-boyfriend Emilio (who last episode told her he had cheated) he got angry about it, and then spoke about hanging out with lesbians. Snooki and Emilio ended it, which was sad for Snooki.

The Situation plans to cook Sunday dinner, and while he is out he asks Angelina to clean the sink. Angelina spends the entire day on the telephone with all her friends. She does nothing except talk on the phone.

Mike is angry when he gets back and says she is excluded. He says, "Why don't you go on the treadmill...actually use the elliptical it's better for you."

The two soon kiss and make up.

Courtesy of MTV
Sammi confronts Ronnie about the note, and it turns into a big fiasco. The fighting and Ronnie trying to talk his way out of it. Ronnie admits to getting the number, but tries to reason by saying, "I come home and sleep with you every night and wake up with your every morning."

While at work Snooki and JWOWW call the house in hopes Angelina will pick up the phone (since she is always on the phone anyway), and find out if Sammi has received the note. Ironically, Sammi answers the phone and asks JWOWW about the letter. JWOWW denies knowing anything whatsoever about the note and says that she has no idea about any of that.

Snooki makes her break-up official by burning photos of her and Emilio.

Ronnie says that he knows that JWOWW and Snooki had some involvement in that note.

The Situation finds out, but JWOWW and Snooki don't tell him that they wrote it. The Situation finds it hilarious, because it is all true. All the housemates agree that Sammi would be an idiot to go back to Ronnie.

The two fight and Sammi tells Ronnie that she ends it for good, and then Ronnie immediately goes to the phone and calls up a girl who talks about making him dinner. When Sammi comes over and asks who he is on the phone with he says it is his friend T.J.

Courtesy of MTV
Sammi gets sick of all the lies and claims that it is over between her and Ronnie for good. Ronnie tries to flip the situation and make it sound like he is the victim and make him in control of the situation. Sammi cries and realizes that she shouldn't be with him anymore.

This episode was definitely one that will go down in Jersey Shore history. Will Sammi stay away from Ronnie and finally let him go? After all the cheating, lying and deceit she would be a fool to stick around.

The episode ends and the previews for the next episode show a physical altercation between Sammi and JWOWW.

Tune in next Thursday at 10 p.m. to find out what happens.

Erica Blasberg: LPGA's Stars Death And Doctor Thomas Hess Confusing

Erica Blasberg
Erica Blasberg, the LPGA star who's May death was called a suicide this week, is really still the focus of much confusion. How did her friend Doctor Thomas Hess come to enter the house to find her reportedly drugged and dead? What did the suicide note that he claimed to have removed read?

On Tuesday, Hess was charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine and a six-month maximum jail sentence, if he's found guilty. Hess posted bail and was released that day. But what was never explained was just what the note said? Does a note exist?

Golf On The Down Side

It's possible Erica was plainly not happy with her golf life. At the time of her passing, Erica Blasberg was 25 and had logged six years on the LPGA Tour. Blasberg's best season was in 2008 when she gained $113,000 in earnings and had her only top 10 finish in an LPGA event. Blasberg played her last LPGA tournament in April of this year, but her 44th place finish was of some concern.

Why her game was suffering is not entirely known. Also not known is the extent of her relationship with Hess.

Stay tuned.

Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin, Tiger Woods, Apocalypse Now



Sarah Palin
A morning round-up featuring Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin, Tiger Woods, and Apocalypse Now, for which the movie trailer announcing its new re-releasse on Blue Ray is above. You can get it October 19th. Now, on to Levi Johnston.

On CBS' The Early Show, Levi Johnston,  said he wished he'd never apologized to his ex-mother-in-law Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for saying he lied, because he now claims he didn't lie.

Johnston said,



"I don’t really regret anything. But the only thing I wish I wouldn't have done is put out that apology ’cause it kind of makes me sound like a liar. And I’ve never lied about anything. So that’s probably the only thing. The rest of the stuff I can live with."


One thing, Levi Johnston is very much like Palin in that both enjoy using the spotlight to punish their enemies. In a weird way, Sarah Palin created the media monster that Levi Johnston has become. Here's Levi on The Early Show:



If you consider the way Palin was horribly treated by the GOP during and after the 2008 election, that was transferred to Levi Johnston from Palin over that time. Johnston figured he was the one person who was Palin's perfect foil, the one who could tell the truth about Sarah, and he's milked every second of his spotlight in that role.

Sarah Palin can't escape Levi Johnston; as she grows, he grows.

Speaking of growing, how about the way Tiger Woods' golf game has picked up? Our own Suzannah Troy speculates the reason may be that Tiger's able to be a sexual creature again after his divorce, which I think was really traumatic for him.

Tiger Woods first day of the rest of his life was Thursday.

Apocalypse Now A Classic

Finally, Apocalypse Now is a modern classic that's being re-released on Blue Ray October 19th. Made in 1979 by Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather) and John Milus, the film about the darkness that was The Vietnam War is famous for its on-set issues like Martin Sheen's heart attack and for its sayings that have become part of American Culture, like "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

Check it out.

KPIX Channel Five San Francisco Departures Listed By Rich Lieberman




According to an email from Richard Lieberman, KPIX Channel Five in San Francisco has suffered a rash of departures due to the terrible economy.

Richard's become the recorder of change in San Francisco Bay Area Media via his blog Rich Lieberman Report.

In fact, Rich's so good some of the local newspapers and news websites quote his scoops without crediting him. Not here.

Anna Duckworth 
Here's Richard's info:

Jeffrey Schaub sent me a list of the prime talent that have left or were removed from KPIX these past two years--

Manny Ramos
Tony Russomanno
Bill Schechner
John Lobertini
Rick Quan
Barbara Rodgers
Jeffrey Schaub
Hank Plante
Anna Werner
Lisa Chan
Sue Quan
Anna Duckworth
John Kessler
Sydnie Kohara?
Wendy Tokuda as anchor

Wow, I wasn't aware so many people left, especially Anna Duckworth and John Kessler? But that's what I get for being on planes back and forth to Atlanta and New York City so much. Also sad to read of the passing of KPIX' legend Dave McElhatton too.

Just to add some more info, some of the names on the list landed at other Bay Area Media outlets. For example, Anna Duckworth's a reporter at KCBS Radio.

Check out Rich Lieberman's blog at http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com

Tiger Woods, old tiger back sexually too? by Suzannah B. Troy




Golf news outlets and fans are joyfully alerting us "the old Tiger is back?  All of Tiger's supporters must be celebrating I am sure.  

One bit of news I have never heard reported is what of his good friends slash enablers.  Where are they today?  Are they still in place and still considered his best friends but no more dirty work needed because there is no wife in play to deceive.   So will his best buddies be helping him to play hard off the field as much as he does on the field?

Tiger Woods is a brand.  As much as I am sympathetic to Elin Nordegren and even more so the children she was wearing Nike from head to toe as if to say I am considering staying in the marriage and I understand how many mega bucks Nike makes for my husband aka Tiger Woods brand.

Have you noticed Elin has stopped being a walking Nike billboard?  I have.

Elin is no weak victim here.  She has suffered.  I have never been married but I had a series of traumatic events (not a lover) so disturbing I too lost weight, lost hair and could not sleep and believe many other women identify with being victimized and having to find someone way to heal so I will be tuning in for that reason but Elin is unusal.


Elin Nordegren walks away with way more than the top pay-out for a Tiger mistress.  All of Tiger Woods pay-outs came with a provision that the women shut up except for one....his wife.
Tiger Woods gave pay-outs to mistresses not because he cared but only to shut them up.  The mistresses that were not paid to be quiet all made it clear he played with them like barbie dolls and threw them away when done without an apology or a nod.

Elin Nordegren's interview in People will possible break People Magazine records because the global audience wants to hear what she has to say.   As I mentioned in my previous post, it is hard to believe she was clueless but either way Nordegren is a compelling young woman and she comes out landing on her feet and appearing quite strong.

Golf news outlets tout the old Tiger is back.   My question is sexually speaking is the old Tiger back?  If so he many guys will envy him and he should consider becoming a porn mogul in his spare time but if the old Tiger is back it won't be good for Tiger Woods the brand.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Videos Of Candidate Interviews To Date



In an effort to keep you as consistently informed about the Oakland Mayor's Race as possible, this blogger assembled the first playlist of interviews of Oaklanders running for Mayor.

Don MacLeay 
This playlist, however, is not complete and but it will be, and soon. As of this writing, it contains 8 videos of seven of the 10 candidates, totaling approximately 140 minutes, and 6,051 views (and counting).

So far, Terrance Candell, Greg Harland, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Don MacLeay, Councilmember Jean Quan, and Joe Tuman (with an asterisk), have been interviewed. Kaplan represents two videos with one more to be added. Tuman and Harland both have one more video each coming to the set, and in Tuman's case a full 30 minute conversation.

And I have to talk to Marcie Hodge, Arnie Fields, and Larry Lionel Young.

The playlists do not include forum videos or Oaklanders impressions of the candidates, or the race itself. That will be in a separate playlist.

As to how the videos came to be, the vast majority were initiated by me.  One, the Kaplan-in car interview, was totally spontaneous and there will be more like that one.  What can I say?  Video-blogging's a knee-jerk habit.

There are two types of video playlist systems: the smaller 416 pixel wide version is for the Zennie62 / Oakland Focus Blog. The larger 746 wide pixel version is for SFGate.com.

Eventually, this will be a one-stop place for a complete set of videos of all of the candidates that you can click back and forth through to make up your own mind on who will be the best person to run Oakland's government.

Stay tuned.