In general I'm a fan of Jackie MacMullan's BUT she looked clueless at times on today's show. Example? When Max said to her something like - You are crediting Saban with too many "I"s (She had pronouced it SaBIAN) she had Admiral James Stockdale look on her face.

A new year and Woody still gets eliminated first. Dagnabbit! Monday's show had a bad kung fu movie vibe to it. The video and audio feeds for Jackie McMullen and Jay Marriotti were slightly off.

ITA about Jackie. I always feel sorry for her, maybe because it's such a guy thing with JoLo and Brittany references, that even though it's nice to see a woman discussing sports and knows what she's talking about, she doesn't fit in.

BWAH!

Jackie made some good points yesterday, her Stockdale moment notwithstanding.

Not sure how I feel about the new "frozen black-and-white image of the eliminated panelist" gimmick. Woody will probably figure out a way to subvert it by sneaking in some kind of obscene gesture or facial expression.

Oh my god! An Around the Horn board - can I say that this has recently become my favorite show? I actually use it's format in some of the classes I teach.

I loved how Jay Mariotti got the boot first today. That always pleases me - he is the only person on the show I can't stand. Although JA Adande's constant whining about USC and the BCS got old real quick, everything that comes out of Mariotti's mouth makes me roll my eyes. He's too smug for me.

Mariotti's annoying but the way Max constantly gives Bob Ryan points just for breathing drives me nuts.

True, cheesesteak, and sometimes I think Max is a Point Fairy for Mariotti too. Mariotti does get points for me for going against the others and providing argument, but sometimes I think he's arguing just to be arguing and doesn't really believe what he's saying.

Okay, quoting myself is a bit lame but I just wanted to note that this hasn't been necessary since Woody is on a two-day winning streak! Let's hope he doesn't gloat about it like Jay did (and, in doing so, incur the Wrath of Max's Mute Button).

Like I told you all before, try reading Mariotti's columns every day.

As a loyal Chicagoan, I read the Sun Times every day and its hard to read his columns everyday with him wanting a Chicago sports figure out of town one day and then wanting to give them a key to the city the next.

But because I'm a Chicagoan, I always want to see him reach the finals, but it's Woody that I always want to see win!

ARRRROOOOOOOUUNNNNND THE HORRRRRRNNNNIZZLE!!!

Ain't nothing but a G-thang, baby. Woody Paige.

I am happy because I got an email reply from Woody today. I emailed him in June and forgot about it when he never wrote back. I am now part of Paige posse trying to overturn evil Kellerman empire (as he said). awesome.

I enjoy seeing stat boy on. he was on one day last week. I wish he was on more.
he has good points

Woody won! For shizzle.

Out of all the sports writers on the show, I think Michael Holley consistently makes the best points.

Holley does make good points but tends to be a little too homerish for my tastes.

How old is Woody supposed to be exactly, anyway?

Well if you believe all of the sportings events he says he saw in person I would say he's about 153?

I also tend to agree with Michael Holley the most.

How about Bob Ryan first one out today? I think Max was so busy panting at Mariotti's remarks that he lost focus.

When Woody said that Peyton Manning would play well this weekend in New England because he grew up in the south where its cold I nearly fell on my ass laughing...Classic

Yeah, I love Woody and I grew up in the south and would argue that it does get colder than most people think, but not even I could back him on that. *Little* bit of difference.

I do agree with whomever said that the cold won't affect Peyton as much as Vanderjagt, though. Or maybe that's wishful thinking on my part :-)

Heh. Might be. Didn't he kick two 50+ yarders against Denver in swirling snow last year?

4 points for Bob Ryan before they even started. Nice.

Loved JA Adande's pose for the freeze frame when he was eliminated.

I hate how at the end of a topic when Max tries to get his little two cents in he mutes everybody with the exception of Bob Ryan.

Note to Bob Ryan: I may be wrong, but I really don't think Dr. Martin Luther King was thinking about future millionaire NBA players and coaches when he was fighting for equality.

Max didn't waste any time. He gave Ryan what must be his contractually mandated victory right away.

I was scratching my head on this one too. I can see the point he was trying to make, but 15 seconds is too short to make it. I liked the reactions from everyone else as the credits rolled. They all had a "huh?" expression on their face.

Woody was hilarious with the Dean stuff today.

EDIT: "Hmmm, there's a tie between...Jay and Bob. *presses mute button* Jay, you're gone."


Edit again: Damn you Woody for making me edit again. "I think you and Bob should get promise rings." HAHAHAHAHA

I'm curious about the press rooms where the reporters sit when this show is taped. Does every newspaper have a conference room with glass walls so you can see all the other newspaper minions working in the background while these guys appear on Around The Horn? Or are they just sitting in front of a blue screen and the ESPN production people merge the reporter's image with that of the newsroom and that's what we see?

I'm pretty sure those are actual glass walls (or probably more like Plexiglas) that ESPN had put up in the various newspapers' newsrooms. Add a couple of TV lights hanging from the ceiling, or even portable ones that they set up before the broadcast every day, and there you go.

Actually, I know at least a few newspapers already had TV facilities in their newsrooms before "Around the Horn," so it's possible ESPN only contributed the wall in some cases.

So does Max predetermine the winner before the show based on who has the best 15 second spiel? I knew as soon as Mrs. farinacus pointed out Woody's Captain Kangaroo-esque sweater that he was going to win and pay homage to his childhood hero.

I don't know the answer to this, but it's funny watching the people in the background. The other day, there was this one guy really enjoying his sandwich, and I couldn't stop watching.

I also really enjoyed it when Woody decided to sell on his own newspaper article - such a great moment with everyone cracking up.

No, because Woody would probably win every day, given that he always has a great 15-second spiel.

I'm beginning to think that Max actually likes Woody (who wins once or twice a week now) and that Jay is the one getting muted with regularity. It's still unfair, however, that Bob Ryan usually starts out with a four or five-point lead.

Last week I started keeping a log of who wins and who gets eliminated when. I'll try to post the results on a monthly basis or so if I'm dilligent enough (a big "if").

I think it's safe to say that the guys from Dallas wins the least often, which I have no problem with.

Marrioti's constant arm motions are really starting to annoy me.

They win the least often because they never show up. Cowlishaw and Blackistone are thisclose to being the new Bigfoot and Loch Ness.

Oh shit. First, my favorite four people were on today. Then, no Jay Mariotti. Lastly, JAY AND WOODY united. That was a holy shit moment. Surreal. Sur-fucking-real.

Holley: I'm so glad to be on BET today.

Max: Yeah, four black guys and Woody Paige.

Me: What the #$@#"%! He wishes!

Holley got hosed.

Just as I was about to get mad that they "let" Woody win, here comes Jay outta nowhere, it rocked. Too bad Max was in on it, but it was great to see the other three go nuts at the surprise! It was worth seeing Woody win this time.

Did you guys see them give each other a comrade/buddy hug? Too funny. I thought they hated each other.

Yeah, I don't know if the animosity between Woody and Jay still exists but that ending totally rocked.

At the risk of sounding sacreligious, the Disembodied Voice is really starting to get on my nerves. His comments during the show are usually funny but the J-Lo, Beyonce, and Jessica Alba clips before the last commercial break HAVE GOT TO GO. We get it already, you think they're the hottest women around ... the horrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn!!!!!

Bleah.

Starting? Bob, you're waaaaaaay behind me. I thought the whole "the HOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRNNN!" thing got old after, say, a WEEK. And as for the pre-Showdown teasers, those I despised on sight. Don't they have 2 or three topics to go? Advertise them for once!

The thing is, I don't necessarily object to the idea of showing clips of attactive women in the pre-Showdown teaser -- clips of the topics themselves are fine. A little variety and/or creativity would be nice, is all. And for some reason, the way the Disembodied Voice screams "ANNNND NOWWWWWW, IT'S OUT OF BOUNNNNNNNNNNDS!!!" seems to amuse me. I chuckle every time he does it.

What I still don't get, however, is Max's love for the Plaschke Salute.

That $"%%$ salute was the first gesture that didn't insult Max. Now everybody kisses Max's ass to get a couple of points now.

I like Michael Smith enough, but something I've noticed is that the guy doesn't really possess a very strong wit. It seems like everytime the guy tries to be funny, it really falls flat, moreso than with anyone else on the show - even Mariotti.

[smallvoice]
I think Max Kellerman is hot.
[/smallvoice]

And no, that is not the only reason I watch. This show's really grown on me.

My TiVo picked up men's tennis (bleccch!) instead of Thursday's ATH. Can someone post who won and the order of eliminations?

Was that Kevin Blackistone who was saying all that crap about Brian Urlacher & wrestling? Is wrestling predetermined & choreographed? Of course. Do wrestlers get hurt? Absolutely. Next time Blackinstone-head wants to talk about how wrestling is "fake" ("breakable chairs", "blood pellets in their mouths"), he should talk to Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Darren Drozdov and others who've had broken necks, or just read Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day", where he documents his injuries in a "fake" sport.

My point is, if you don't know anything about what you're talking about, shut your mouth! Then again, if they did that, this trainwreck of a show would mercifully disappear off the air.

Trainwreck? This show may not be Emmy quality but isn't that somewhat strong language? And at the risk of being spanked with a wet noodle. . . I still don't get why people who hate a show feel obligated to watch and comment on said show. It's a free country (or at least last I checked it was) but why waste 30 minutes of your life hating something.

double post

I think people who watch ESPN constantly watch this show over billiards or whatever. The show isn't a trainwreck, but I really feel the concept isn't great.

Blackistone went out first. Then Woody. Then Mariotti swept The Kid Michael Smith.

ETA: BillyShears, fair enough. Many people do have a love hate relationship with the shows they post on and truly things wouldn't be nearly as interesting if no one had constructive negative comments. No standard athlete non apology apology here. . . I apologize for my original post. It was poorly thought out and is contrary the nature of this website.

Da23rdBuchan, just to address some of your points:

Re: "strong language": Obviously you haven't seen what other people have posted regarding other shows. My choice of language is quite tame compared to others. Also, the site it called "Television Without Pity". If there's anyone less deserving of pity than someone expressing such ignorant opinions as Mr. Blackistone did yesterday, I'd be hard-pressed to find them. If he had known about the kinds of injuries pro wrestlers often suffer, he would have drastically changed his opinion on Brian Urlacher's participation in the 1/28 NWA-TNA show. (IMO, given the recent basketball-related injury to NYY 3rd baseman Aaron Boone, Mr. Urlacher's participation in a pro wrestling show was a huge mistake, not only for its potential for injury, but also, as Bears GM Jerry Angelo pointed out, a potential contract violation.)

Re: "trainwreck": I've stated that opinion on this show from the very beginning. Every participant in this show is so busy trying to get their "schtick" over with the audience (including Mr. Kellerman), that any attempt at meaningful discussion is drowned out by loud yelling (and often even louder clothes). This show looks like some Disney suit's idea of "improving" on [I]PTI: If two journalists yell and scream and do silly schtick, then double the number of talking heads, turn it into a game show, and add a boxing analyst as a host/referee. I say put all these clowns back in their little car and send them off to follow the rest of the circus out of town. While they're packing, can the "Disembodied Voice" please catch a case of career-ending laryngitis? He can take up a new career and follow the rest of these clowns as a mime.

StatBoy is hosting again today. (He hosted yesterday too.) Is Max on vacation?

As soon as I start keeping stats to try and document ATH's bias against Woody, he starts winning just about every other day.

Max is in the midst of contract negotiations with ESPN, according to USA Today and fightnews.com. Personally, I wouldn't miss him if he left.