I still like how it looks \u2014 the graphics are crisp, with a slight retro look, which always works for this incurable nostalgist. But, given the size of the scorebug \u2014 with an ad attached, it takes up approximately a quarter of my screen horizontally, and one-sixth of it vertically \u2014 the pitcher and batter names should be larger. I\u2019d also like to see the identification and velocity of each pitch to stay on the screen for longer than three-ish seconds.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Some suspension of common sense is required to believe that the photos published by the New York Post of Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini enjoying each other\u2019s company at an Arizona resort captured an innocent interaction. That\u2019s fair to say, yes? Both are married to other people, and both offered \u201cit\u2019s not what it looks like\u201d denials<\/a>. But after initially supporting Russini publicly, The Athletic \u2014 which his owned by The New York Times \u2014 has paused her NFL podcast and said she will not be doing any reporting for the site while \u201cher coverage is being reviewed.\u201d<\/p>\n The backlash has hit Russini harder than Vrabel. That\u2019s unfair in one way \u2014 a portion of the criticism aimed at her is guaranteed to be the usual misogyny from pathetic male social-media cesspool dwellers. But criticism of Russini for cavorting with a potential source is valid. The image of Russini holding hands and interlocking fingers with Vrabel is hurtful to the female reporters that do their jobs with the utmost journalistic integrity and still have to deal with baseless accusations regarding how they get their information.<\/p>\n One last thought about this, at least until there\u2019s more legitimate reporting: There have been multiple reports that the photos were shopped around, including to TMZ, before they ended up in the Post\u2019s \u201cPage 6\u201d gossip column. It\u2019s fitting that they ended up there. The Post features a spectacular sports section, which is used by its ownership and management to varying degrees of effectiveness to mask the absolute trash that populates the rest of the newspaper.<\/p>\n \u25aa Sunday\u2019s night\u2019s Celtics-Magic game on ESPN<\/a> will be Mark Jones\u2019s final broadcast for the network. Jones confirmed Friday that he is leaving ESPN on his own volition after 36 years at the network. Jones, 64, had been a prominent play-by-play voice on ESPN\u2019s NBA and college football coverage for years. During the 2022 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Warriors, Jones called the first two games after No. 1 play-by-play voice Mike Breen tested positive for COVID-19. He also called the Celtics\u2019 Game 7 victory over the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.<\/p>\n \u25aa I know some men\u2019s college basketball fans get frustrated when CBS, TBS, TNT, and the other channels affiliated with the NCAA Tournament use NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith on the studio program. I don\u2019t mind though, even though they are quasi-informed at best about the teams and players when March Madness begins. As a casual college basketball viewer, I don\u2019t mind learning along with them, and Clark Kellogg is there to set them straight. Bruce Pearl is the one that needs to go from their coverage.<\/p>\n \u25aa After watching Netflix open the baseball season \u2014 and its portion of the new MLB rights deal \u2014 with all the nuance of a fastball to the ribcage<\/a>, I appreciated that Amazon Prime video barely did any self-promotion at all Thursday when kicking off its coverage of The Masters. I\u2019d suggest that was because The Masters has strict protocols on its broadcasts that do not permit bluster, but ESPN\u2019s coverage \u2014 with wrestler Mike \u201cThe Miz\u201d Mizanin joining the set the same day \u2014 actually did go over the top.<\/p>\n \u25aa Best wishes to Patrick \u201cSeton\u201d O\u2019Connor, a senior producer for \u201cThe Dan Patrick Show\u201d who wrapped up his on-air role Friday. Patrick\u2019s show has always been my palate cleanser after listening to too much Boston sports radio, and the good-natured O\u2019Connor was an important part of that. He might be the most reasonable Patriots fan I\u2019ve ever heard anywhere.<\/p>\n \u25aa A series of three texts from my college-aged daughter Thursday night, when the Celtics-Knicks game was on Prime: \u201cWhy can\u2019t I watch the Celtics?\u201d \u2026 NVM [nevermind], I have to watch on Prime\u201d \u2026 \u201cStupid.\u201d I think that pretty much encapsulates the entire experience of trying to find your team\u2019s game<\/a> when its on a streamer rather than where you usually find it.<\/p>\n![\"Veteran](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SD7HLENVLJGRVODI3SASWNP6BQ.jpg\")
Veteran ESPN announcer Mark Jones (right, with Doris Burke) is signing off from the network after Sunday’s Celtics vs. Magic contest.Michael Ainsworth\/Associated Press<\/p>\n