Why I think Dan Patrick left ESPN.

It’s been about a year now that DP has left the world wide leader to go off on his own. The move was dubbed by Rick Reily (one of DP’s friends) one of the worst moves in broadcasting history up there with Katie Couric leaving NBC Today show for CBS Evening News. And in that time he was replaced in the 12-3 time slot by Mike Tirico and Scot Van Pelt. Now they aren’t DP, but they’ve brought something fresh to that slot that DP was lacking his last few years.
Thinking bout it and looking at it where he was when he left, and now where he is. I think he made a mistake, but I think he was losing ground at ESPN, and now losing where he is at anyway. So there are a few reasons I think he left.

1-The time slot
2-The rise of Mike & Mike and Colin Cowherd
3-The loss of Rob Dibble
4-The failure of the Big Show Hour

The Time Slot.
Look where he is now. 9-11 cst. Where was he at ESPN, 12-3. He’s 3 hours earlier. He’s not in the afternoon when more work in the offices is usually being done. He’s not on the #3 tier on ESPN where what he says is being repeated for the 3rd time now. He was becoming old stale news we already heard about. This is combined with #2, but we hear a lot from Mike & Mike, Colin or local people, hearing a 4th take on something gets old. Do we need to hear another persons take on Manny, Brett Favre or Tom Brady? No. Where’s he’s now, he is usually after someone local. He’s the 1st national guy now and is more relevant but not since he’s not on ESPN.

The rise of Mike & Mike and the Herd.
Mike and Mike were big but they are bigger now. They are becoming Giants of sports radio. But they are usually over when some people get into the office. The big hurt came when Colin Cowherd came to ESPN radio replacing Tony Kornheiser. The Herd brought a new approach to the 9-12 slot and something completely opposite of Tony. Tony wasn’t all about sports, he was about life. So going Tony to DP was something fresh and not recycled. Now the Herd is there, he’s the new kid, the lil brother rising up and taking the head of the pack. When you got to DP, you heard Colin’s more definitive take and usually a take that is what the normal sports fan is thinking. I think when DP left and still now, Colin was on top of Dan.

The loss of Rob Dibble
Batman can survive with out Robin, but DP took a bit hit when he lost his sidekick. Dibble was that awkward, dumb funny guy who still knew his stuff. Dibble was one of the reasons to listen. When he was gone, the show was missing something. Phil the Showkiller couldn’t fill it himself. Dibble was as much of the show as DP was. With him gone, it was almost boring to listen to just Dan. And that brings us to….

The failure of the Big Show Hour
DP and ESPN Radio tried to recreate the sidekick part with ole buddy Keith Olberman, but Keith was no DP. Granted it was still good and for nostalgia fun to get the 2 back together. But Keith wasn’t the Keith from his ESPN Days. He’s moved on. Kinda like how Craig Kilborn has moved on. It was “cute” but it’s nothing that could have built the show back to what it was.

I think that SVP and Tirico are good replacements and SVP is just hilarious. It’s something new, and fresh, and fun. They are giving us something that the other 2 shows aren’t which makes listening to ESPN Radio fun now. You never know what is going to go on. Like SVP, Tofoya and Timmy Kurtjen talking about the Bear on the golf course at the senior open or talking about video games.

2008 NFL Predictions

NFL Predictions

AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Houston Texans
4. Tennessee Titans

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. New York Giants
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Washington Redskins

NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Atlanta Falcons

NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. St. Louis Rams

AFC Playoffs
1. New England Patriots
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. San Diego Chargers
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Buffalo Bills

NFC Playoffs
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Seattle Seahawks

AFC Championship
Indianapolis Colts over Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC Championship
New Orleans Saints over Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl XLIII
Indianapolis Colts over New Orleans Saints

What's going on?

Ok, so its been a few days, and a lot has happened. In my life and in what I like and follow.

First off, me. Had the month end, it sucked, had a few things that caused problems, but then again, we weren’t here till 10 pm, only 8pm. Not bad, it was longer than it really seemed. Also got an interview for a job I think that I would do good at and would advance me.

Then this week is the start of the Iowa State Fair. If you haven’t been there, put it on your list of things to do. Along with the Texas State Fair, it’s the top 2 fairs in the nation. Last night was the State Fair Parade, and Addy, Brady & Shawnna went to it with Patrick & Melissa. The all had fun and were pooped out when I got there and when we got home. It’s cool as Addy is getting older to see how she reacts to everything and as her budding personality builds more. Had Ryan & Tisha’s wedding, congrats you too. It was humid as hell but it was a lot of fun. Addy is calling Tisha and Ryan the Prince and Princess and just wants to see the Princess. That pretty much covers most of what’s going on. I’ve missed working out with Jason because of our schedules and then he only having 1 car. Hopefully we can get back on our schedule of T-Th-Sat again soon. I see it prob being at 5am rather than later though.

Ok, other stuff. Brett Favre isn’t a Packer any more. He’s a J-E-T-S, JETS JETS JETS. I heard Chris Mortensen and he thinks because of this move that he thinks the Jets are a playoff team now, I don’t see it. In the AFC you have the Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Bengals, Bills, Texas, and Titans who are all going to be fighting for the spots, and I think all of those teams are better than the Jets. I love the OL they have and Thomas Jones, but Favre is a year older, new team and new system.

Mediacom still has no Big Ten Network. Iowa plays in 23 days; I hope and pray that a deal will be struck soon! Please!!!

2 fantasy drafts coming up in the next month, can’t wait, can you smell the tailgating!