Monday Night Football booth: Kornheiser out, Gruden in

In a bit of a surprise announcement, Tony Kornheiser has stepped down as analyst on Monday Night Football. He'll be replaced by Jon Gruden, recently fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The afraid-of-flying Kornheiser said in a statement he was concerned about the upcoming schedule, which he thought to be too grueling.

Gruden joins Ron Jaworski and Mike Turico in what should be a wildly entertaining broadcast.

Still no announcement yet on PTI's Twitter page, Kornheiser's television show, but Tweets are flying this morning about the news:

1. 
   DerekPonamsky Jon Gruden on MNF is a great fit. I always thought of him as the next Madden with his Raiders lineage, here ya go. Perfect fit for TV booth. 18 May 2009 from web
2. 
   levitynyc Tony Kornheiser is all class for the grace he is leaving the MNF booth with. 18 May 2009 from web
3. 
   benliebman How can we lose TK for Gruden on the MNF booth. It's like going from the muppets to Howard the duck 18 May 2009 from Twitterrific
4. 
   Eblack Hate to say it, because I love PTI, but I'm glad TK is off MNF. He was terrible, quite frankly. (no Stephen A Smith) 18 May 2009 from mobile web

That's the first 'Howard the Duck' reference in BTsports history, in case you were wondering. A few members of ESPN's family of analysts Tweet about the booth switch; all aboard the Chucky TV train:

1. 
   mortreport I know Jon loves to coach but he will be a star in the booth. He will grind in TV prep and bring the personality. 18 May 2009 from web
2. 
   jemelehill Gruden on MNF? Interesting. 18 May 2009 from web

Monday Night Football booth: Kornheiser out, Gruden in

Gators' coach Urban Meyer doesn't like criticism

Florida football coach Urban Meyer's ego stretches from the Florida panhandle to the setting sun of the Florida keys.

It's no wonder then that Meyer took great disdain to the criticism former Florida quarterback Shane Matthews levied against his alma mater after Florida's only loss to Ole Miss last year, per the Orlando Sentinel.

Matthews, according to Meyer, needs to "bleed orange and blue". This said of a quarterback who in 1993 finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and set new marks for career passing yardage.

What was the Twittersphere saying (including a few from ESPN)?

1. 
   SwamiG8R Urban seems to have it out for our boy Shane Matthews? 27 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   sagesteele Gimme a break - Urban Meyer needs to lighten up! Shane Matthews has a job to do.. and he's doing it. Don't be so paranoid, coach! 13 May 2009 from web
3. 
   2nickeldropper why does urban meyer need any more support? he talks his team into the national championship every year anyways 13 May 2009 from web
4. 
   rjw3000 So according to Urban Meyer, you have to always kiss his ass and say nothing bad about the program if you were a Gator. Ok there, jackass 13 May 2009 from web
5. 
   jeffemanuel ESPN: Urban Meyer says fmr players who criticize him will no longer be welcome in the #Gators facility http://tinyurl.com/pu6j2u #NCAAF 13 May 2009 from feedly
6. 
   gillee Urban Meyer is so easy to hate http://bit.ly/tx2H 13 May 2009 from web
7. 
   momo34 I have trouble putting my hatred for Florida into words. Oh and Urban Meyer is becoming as hated as Spurrier to me... http://bit.ly/uHkjE 13 May 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
8. 
   LauraSteelWoods Urban Meyer's mandate has so many flaws, I don't know where to start. http://tiny.cc/d1KAB 13 May 2009 from web
9. 
   happyhourvalley Urban Meyer Does Not Like You Questioning His Authori-tah: http://tinyurl.com/oeoxg2d 13 May 2009 from web

(courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel)

Gators' coach Urban Meyer doesn't like criticism

ESPN launches hyperlocal site in Chicago

ESPN launched a new site today to tap into the hyperlocal market with ESPNChicago.com.

The ESPN affiliate is a SportsCenter-style approach to covering Chicago's sports teams: Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Fire and Sky.

ESPN Chicago also has coverage of college teams in Illinois, plus Notre Dame, and prep sports in the state too.

The format of the site is set up similarly to ESPN.com, with a blue Chicago skyline background.

Chicagoans and others in the Twitterverse seem enthusiastic about an ESPN site with a Second City twist:

1. 
   p462 The TV suggested I check out espnchicago.com, so I am. Its very nice to have a website dedicated to Chicago sports 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   scotts_thoughts gotta admit ESPNChicago.com is pretty cool. hopefully seattle and maybe even vancouver one day. Can't wait for the Cutler coverage, haha. 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   QW_Tommy Lovin espnchicago.com, ESPN has done something I love for 1st time in awhile... 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   cscottmoody ESPNChicago.com - Finally something other than ESPN NY, er ESPN http://twurl.nl/k523vo 14 Apr 2009 from Tweetburner
5. 
   DailyCubsTalk I love watching the daily Chicago Sportscenter on ESPNChicago.com 14 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox
6. 
   chrisjensen33 My day just got way better, espn has a new website dedicated to chi town sports. www.espnchicago.com yes 14 Apr 2009 from txt
7. 
   michaelshorman espnChicago is online! All da bears, all da time! 14 Apr 2009 from web

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ESPN launches hyperlocal site in Chicago