A view form the my chair

Two in a row, I must be on a roll.

On Wednesday December 16th I got a call from ESPN about the next step for employment in the stats and information group. I passed a phone test by a hair and then I was sent an e-mail assessment. I had 45 minutes to complete the test and send it back. I did not complete it and was disqualified for not sending it back in time. I was nervous; as this was the first time I took a test like this. It was a hard test and I realized that I’m not a numbers guy as it had a lot of difficult math in it. My roller coaster week continued the next day (Thursday December 17th). I e-mailed my contact at ESPN about what happen and asked him if he could provide me with the contact person from the on-air talent department that was at my presentation on December 7th. This person took my information to her bosses. In a return e-mail she said that she showed my DVD resume at a meeting and “although they don’t have a particular opportunity for me at this time, both of her bosses agreed there might be a role for me in the future”. Ladies and Gentlemen the dream lives on! This story is to be continued!

On to the sports, December is a time to reflect on the year that was. It is also the time between the end of the college football regular season and the 34 bowl games. I have talked about the BCS system and the need for a playoff in the top division of college football (Football Bowl subdivision) before. I do believe the BCS got it some what correct this year as the SEC (Southeastern Conference) title game between Florida and Alabama was kind of like a semifinal, where the winner (Alabama) gets a shot at the National Championship. The problem is when you have more than two teams that go undefeated in the regular season. This year 4 teams went undefeated Alabama, Texas, TCU and Boise State. The BCS was formed by the major conferences like the SEC and the Big 12 (Texas). TCU comes from the Mountain West Conference and Boise State is from the Western Athletic Conference. This needs to change; all teams should have a chance at the National Championship not just the ones that come from the power conferences. There two schools will be playing in the Fiesta Bowl January 4 and Texas and Alabama are playing for the National Championship January 7th. The winners of these two games should play each other to find out who the National Champion really is. I think the BCS needs to be flexible when there are more then two undefeated teams. I know it cost money for an extra game but the NCAA basketball tournament does it.

We are in the home stretch of the regular season in the NFL. With three games left before the playoffs, we have two teams undefeated the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. This week’s debate is should these teams rest their players for the playoffs or play them in hopes of an undefeated season. I have been surprised that some former players including Michael Irvin of the NFL Network said he would give up his Super Bowl rings for an undefeated season.
This Weekend
Saturday is a big day and night for sports. The Ironman Triathlon World Championship from Hawaii is on NBC at 4:30P.M. The production is always an award winner. The last 15 minutes always makes me cry. Watch and find out why. Saturday night is a good night to fight as both Versus and Showtime present Mixed Martial Arts action. Versus has the World Extreme Cagefighting at 10 P.M. There are no championship fights on this card but the WEC features the lower weight classes that always have exciting fights. Should be fun the best part is that it’s on free TV.

The next event is a Strikeforce event on Showtime. It does include a championship fight; it’s a unification bout for their Lightweight Championship between Josh Thormson and Gilbert Melendez. I don’t have Showtime, so I won’t see this one.

I’M very much looking forward to the next Strikeforce event in Miami on January 30th. This show will feature the MMA debut of 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. Also on this card will be two sports star Bobby Lashley. Ok, pro wrestling is not a sport but, Bobby is attempting to do both pro wrestling and MMA at the same time. This is his first fight for a major MMA promotion. The last person I’m looking to fight on this card is one of the most exciting fighters right now, Nick Diaz. I hope to get Showtime by January 30th .

I hope each and ever one of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Will talk to you after the holidays.

Jamie Lazaroff

The view from here

What a great weekend of sports this past weekend. We had the Kentucky Derby, with the horse “Mind That Bird” who was the horse with the second longest odds to win in the 135-year history of the race. Also, this past weekend was Game 7 of the Celtics versus the Chicago Bulls. It was a great series just not for Celtics fans, the young Bulls would not die. The Celtics are really hurting without Kevin Garnett. They are in the middle of a big test in the next round with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Howard is a young kid that can do it all on the basketball court. Should be a great series. I would like to have been in South Korea for the inaugural round of the new Triathlon World Championship Series. The men’s race was a photo finish with Bevan Docherty of New Zealand beating Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia. What a race, after a 1500 meter swim, a 40km bike and a 10km run these two were separated by mire inches.

This Weekend

This weekend’s big event is the unofficial fifth major of the golf year the Players Championship. Can Sergio Garcia defend his title, or will Tiger and Phil contend for their second Players title? The two young guns I will have my eyes on this weekend will be Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy. Watch for the 17th hole, it is one of the most difficult holes in golf. TV coverage is Thursday and Friday on the Golf Channel at 1 P.M. both days, weekend coverage is NBC Sports from 2 to 7 P.M. both days.

The NHL and NBA playoffs continue this weekend with the Bruins (NHL) taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference semifinals. Game 4 is Friday night at 7:30 P.M. on NESN and game 5 is Sunday May 10 at 7:30 on Versus. The NBA playoffs are also in the conference semifinal stage with the Celtics playing the Orlando Magic. The NBA games are the same day as the NHL, Friday at 7 P.M. on ESPN and Sunday at 8 P.M. on TNT. Enjoy!! I know I will.

Personal

Next week I’M in Florida with my family, when I come back I will have the audio podcast up and ready to go. I have an account on Twitter so come follow me there (@jman20008). When I come back from Florida I will be doing a daily what to watch on TV and will be updating my blog on it.

See you in a few weeks, if not before. I will be bringing my laptop to Florida with me so I won’t be out of touch.

Jamie

The week that was and the week to come

Well, I told you I would cry at NBC’s presentation of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and I did. The Ironman is the toughest event in all of sports, not only do you have to swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, then bike 112 miles, and finish with a marathon, but you have to do this with the heat of Kona and the trade winds that blow across the island. The other thing that makes the Ironman great is that anything can happen to ruin a good day. The defending champion Chris McCormack was in the lead on the bike but the brake cord broke and his day was done. As the announcer, Al Trautwig said, “ You can train for anything, than something like that ruins your day.” The last great thing about the Ironman is that people from every walk of life come to the Kona Coast to cross that line and become an Ironman. One day I hope to go to Hawaii and cover this great event. When the sun goes down the finish line becomes a magical place, because you have to finish the race before midnight when the course is closed and the race is official over.
I don’t know who writes what Al Trautwig says on the coverage of this event, but it is the most well written edited sports event of the year, and Al delivers his lines that definitely befit the drama of the event. No wonder it wins the sports Emmy for edited sports special each year. Great job and for you that did not catch it this weekend, I think NBC replays it in the springtime, I will let you know when it’s on again.


I have not forgot about the Boston Celtics, this past week they set the record for the best start in franchise history at 21 wins and only 2 losses. To think a franchise with the history of the Boston Celtics: 17 World Championships and 31 Hall of Famers, some of the greatest players and teams in the history of the NBA, is off to the best start ever. It’s not how you start but how you finish! Hopeful they can keep this hot start going and win title number 18.

What to watch

This is another slow week, but there are a few good events to follow this weekend. Number 2 in the polls UCONN has its first real test in Number 7 Gonzaga in Seattle. This is also only their second road game of the season. Should be a good indication as they begin Big East play at the end of the month. The game is 4 P.M. on CBS.

This week is the inaugural season of the Winter Dew Tour, with a shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Events will be snowboarding and free-skiing in splopestyle and superpipe, should be fun. The tour is on NBC, Saturday 2:30 to 4 P.M. and Sunday 4 to 6 P.M.

This is week 16 in the NFL. The Patriots are at home versus the Arizona Cardinals. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hope alive. Arizona has already clinched the NFC West title. Game is at 1 P.M. on FOX.

I have decided to do a blog on the events and games I’m looking forward to in 2009, and not a awards column. This will be my last week of the year post. Look for it than.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Jamie Lazaroff

The week in sports and what's to come

Hello everyone

I’M writing this with a head cold and I don’t know how I got it.

This past weekend was the end of the regular season in college football. Florida beat Alabama in the SEC title game to get in the championship game. As one sports writer said “ Tim Tebow willed Florida over Alabama”. Alabama was the better team but when Florida needs him most Tim Tebow stepped up and won the game. The defense also stepped up big. Oklahoma just beat up on Missouri 62 to 21 to set up the meeting with Florida in the national championship game, January 8th in Miami. Texas should be in the championship game because it beat Oklahoma earlier this season; I guess if you score 62 plus points in your last five games of the season, your in. It is not whom you loose to but how much you score that matters. I’M also looking forward to the Fiesta Bowl that has Ohio St. versus Texas on January 5. As I said Texas should be in the title game but I think they are in for a test in Ohio St. I think Ohio St. is underrated. Should be very interesting.

Saturday was the re-airing of the Paralympic Games Special that premiered a few weeks ago. The special sowed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat but in the end the athlete’s spotlighted are just that athletes. I hope TV networks and cable stations get the point because athletes are athletes and should be covered just like any other sport.

What to watch this week

Saturday is a little light this weekend but I would suggest the Ironman Triathlon World Championships from Hawaii at 2:30 P.M. on NBC. It is a perennial Emmy award winner. Al Trautwig is underrated. He is another announcer who paints pictures with words. This show makes me cry each year, watch the last 15 minutes, your see what I mean!

Saturday night at 9 P.M. on Spike is the live season finale of the UFC Ultimate Fighter realty show for Las Vegas. The winner of the lightweight and light heavyweight final will get a six-figure contract to fight in the UFC. Should be fun, some of the fights in the past have been classics.

Saturday night 10 P.M. on ESPN 2 is the final round of the 2008 National Finals Rodeo from Las Vegas. This is when the World Champions for the year will be crowned.

Sunday is week 15 in the NFL. The Patriots are at the 3-10 Oakland Raiders; kickoff is 4:15 P.M. on CBS. The Pats need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should be fun.

Like I said a little light, Saturday you may go Christmas shopping, but please record the Ironman and watch it Saturday night.
I’II be back next week for a full report. Look for my end of year awards in a few weeks.

Jamie Lazaroff

This week in sports

The end of July is typically one of the slowest parts of the year. Except for last Sunday. My cousin Carley Ceppetelli and her best friend Nicole McAleer competed the
New England Danskin Women’s Triathlon at
Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
in Webster MA, and I went to watch. I was very impressed with the whole event; it was very well run and was a professional quality race. I thought it was a town-wide event but found out when I got there that 2,471 women were competing. I did not know the Danskin Women’s Triathlon series was in its 19th consecutive year. This was a sprint distance triathlon of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 2.8 mile run. Carley finished under 2 hours at 1 hour 43 minutes and 11 second coming in at 1471st place. Nicole just beat her at 1 hour 40 minutes and 33 second coming in at 1321st. This was Carley’s first triathlon and Nicole’s second. We are extremely proud of both women. It was very inspirational to see women as many women do there very best to get to the finish line. Carley, her husband David, and Nicole and Lenny McAleer are competing in an Adventure Race in September. The race is held in Douglas, MA. I will certainly be there at the finish line for that race as. Congratulations on this great achievement. YOU GO GIRLS!!!

This Weekend in sports

This is another slow weekend on the sports front. The big event this weekend is ESPN’s “Summer X Games”. This is the 14TH annual action sports showcase that usually turns out to be absolutely crazy. Last year Jake Brown almost died when he fell 45 feet in the skateboard Big Air event. Brown miraculously walked away after this fall. What will happen this year?

Next week is the main event: The Olympics in China. The Opening Ceremony is on 8-8-08 and goes for 16 days of glory. Lot of news will be coming out of theses games, and not just the sports competition but with the games in China and all the issues that might come about, it will be very interesting to follow all of this.

I will be on the beach next week on Cape Cod with my family on vacation, but I will be taking my laptop to give you all a preview of the Olympics. Check out Newsweek this week, they have a very good preview of all the major storylines.

Have a good week, I know I will down on Old Cape Cod

Jamie Lazaroff