HBO confirmed rumors about “Joe Buck Live” remaining on its schedule. It’s not. The show has been canceled.

The network’s President of Sports Programming, Ross Greenburg said this: “Joe Buck is one of the premier broadcasters in our industry. We have made the decision not to continue his talk show and wish him all the best and continued success with his wide array of responsibilities at Fox Sports.”

The program only aired three times but it will forever be remembered for the inaugural show on which comic Artie Lange appeared. Lange took the temperature in the room, thought the show was lagging, which it was and opened up his unique four-letter take on everything and anything.

It stunned Buck who never recovered from being surprised by the turn of events on his stage. He had no way of controlling Lange who is best known for his riffs and profanity dominated comedic material on the Howard Stern radio program.

While Lange and Buck later spoke and cleared the air between them, Buck’s show never was viewed in the same way. When a revised format was rolled out for the second show, some three months later, it never became more than another sports talk show featuring the usual suspects.

The truth is that the original show’s attempt at opening up the dialogue with unique guests and letting things fly was the only reason to watch the show. “Joe Buck Live” peaked with the Lange appearance. His performance became a youtube.com sensation and dominated radio talk shows for days whether they were sports oriented or not.

Joe Buck on the cancellation:

“HBO told me early this week that the network was steering away from talk shows going forward. That’s bad news when you have a talk show. It was a great opportunity and I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, even those minutes in the first show.”

Whether another network wants to try a new version of a Joe Buck talk show remains to be seen

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax™

If Ben Roethlisberger and his lawyer thought they could keep his name out of the news until they are notified about whether charges will be brought against the Steelers quarterback, they had another thing coming.

Each day that speeds by brings more quotes from those close to the situation and opinions are starting to swing towards the conclusion that Roethlisberger will be punished by the league or his team whether or not he is charged with a crime.

Roethlisberger’s attorney has not made Ben available as of this date for his period of questioning. One can assume that he was hoping that facts would have pointed to a non-event after all witnesses met with authorities and police would conclude that Ben wasn’t necessary to the investigation.

The Steelers QB is under investigation for an incident that occurred some weeks ago in a small town in Georgia. It is alleged by a college co-ed that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a bar.

It is the second time he has been accused of a sexual assault only this time it was reported at the time of the alledged incident and the police and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are involved. Ben is currently in the midst of a civil litigation with a woman who claims he raped her in 2008 at a Nevada hotel.

As sports radio hosts continue to chew on the subject more of them are coming down on the side of Roger Goodell. There is concern that Roethlisberger keeps putting himself in situations that breed trouble whether or not he has done anything truly wrong.

In those situations reports of his words and deeds indicate he might not be conducting himself in the manner hoped for by his NFL franchise or the league. The league’s personal conduct policy allows for punishment to be handed out in cases where individuals put the league in a bad light.

Goodell has announced at the owners’ meetings currently ongoing in Orlando that he will meet with Big Ben.

Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin is asked about his QB’s status each day he faces media. On Tuesday he said there is daily contact between the two. Reports have been filed that Ben is laying low in Pittsburgh until this matter comes to a conclusion one way or another.

Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com reported today that the Steelers are sending up smoke signals which indicate their unwillingness to circle the wagons for Ben this time out. Despite how they handled other misbehavior on the part of their stars, their franchise quarterback might have eaten up his hall passes.

Florio says some teammates are sick of his troubles and then he goes so far as to say that he thinks Ben is expendable as a team leader. I think that might be stretching it at this point if he is not charged with criminal misbehavior but only time will tell if his welcome has been worn out in Pittsburgh.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax™

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Not even a month has transpired since Mike Dunleavy relieved himself of one of his Clippers positions. He stepped down as coach but stayed on as the team’s GM, hoping it would make matters better. It didn’t.The team didn’t pick up its play for interim coach Kim Hughes. They went from seven to 14 games under .500 after the switch and are no where near being respectable, never mind a playoff contender.

On Tuesday, via written statement the team announced it had severed ties with Dunleavy: “The Clippers want to win now,” read the team’s statement. “This transition, in full conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.

Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday that the team was informed after its 113-87 road loss in Orlando and Chris Kaman, the team’s center barely shrugged his shoulders.

Leaving aside the rampant speculation that with both coach and GM positions open the team is ripe for the picking, exactly who would want to pick it?

As Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote this morning, it won’t be above some to suggest that LeBron James could sweep into town, choose men to fill the jobs and make LA his personal playground.

The one position that isn’t open and still might be the stumbling block to making any changes to the team is that of owner. But at this point, without someone to blame, Donald Sterling might have left himself exposed to be named as the root of all that is problematic.

No one is left as a buffer. Gone since last year is Elgin Baylor, GM for decades who exited with sad stories to tell about what he characterized as racial discrimination and disrespect for his position. Dunleavy whose tenure with the team extends some seven seasons has been shown the door.

Will anything make a difference in what has been called the Clippers Curse? They have a basis for a good team n place despite Dunleavy’s trade deadline move to dump the league’s best rebounder, Marcus Camby.

To quote Hillel the Elder, if not now, when?

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

© 2010 Sports Climax^TM

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley press tour arrived in Los Angeles today and one thing is clear, everyone is selling this fight and selling it hard. All in an effort to reach the three million pay-per-view plateau.Other than the fighters themselves, everyone who spoke on the stage set up outside the Nokia Theater at LA Live started with the fight slogan: “who r u picking?”

The assembled public’s choice was close to even with a bit of a tilt towards Sugar Shane Mosley.

First, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer told the crowd that this fight ranks up there with Ali vs. Foreman.

He went on to speak about how the three million PPVs will be sold, essentially like a bonus with purchase of the fight’s sponsors’ products.

Twenty-five thousand supermarkets in the U.S. will carry a display of Tecate beer products that will offer rebates of up to $30.00 off the PPV price with purchase. Another sponsor, De Walt Tools will offer a rebate for the full price of the PPV with the purchase of a power tool at Home Depot.

Oscar De La Hoya, speaking as a former contestant against both fighters and of course the President of Golden Boy Promotions, also tried to liken this fight to some of the classics, like Ray Leonard vs. Marvelous Marvin Hagler. But he went further.

“You have the best two fighters on the planet today fighting each other on May 1”, said De La Hoya. The crowd didn’t react to this and no one screamed the name of Manny Pacquiao but you knew what everyone was thinking.

In all the radio and television interviews given on the tour by Floyd Mayweather he bristles at the slightest mention of Pacquiao and gets petulant with the interviewer.

That is the elephant in this room. By all measures Shane Mosley is not one of the two best fighters on the planet and each attendee today in Los Angeles had his or her own thoughts on why the fight most fans wanted to see wasn’t happening this month in Dallas.

When it was time for Mayweather to speak he made himself sound like a crusader for truth, justice and clean boxing. “I’m trying to clean up my sport”, Floyd said. “That is why we are both (he and Mosley) taking random urine and blood tests.” OK then.

In closing, Floyd knew he was in a city that has a huge Mexican population and he reached out specifically to those avid fight fans. “We want all Mexican fans partying, the weekend of the fight. It’s Cinco de Mayo”.

Well, actually it’s May 1 and May 2 that weekend but hey, in the hyping of a fight, four days off is close enough. After all as Richard Schaefer said, this is “a historic showdown.”

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

It was reported that Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James filed the necessary paperwork to wear a uniform sporting the No. 6, foregoing the No. 23 that he has worn throughout his NBA career.

Here’s the wrinkle: he only has to ask permission if he stays with the same team. Should he move teams he picks whatever he wants when he reaches his destination.

The report noted that he wants to leave the No. 23 for Michael Jordan’s legacy but of course it fails to explain the timing of it all. So there’s that guessing game going on among Cavalier fans which I’m sure is fascinating.

But, as morning dawns in Los Angeles today, Lakers star Kobe Bryant has now heard the news, the man who switched his number from No. 8 to his old high school No. 24. And he did it after winning three NBA championships, long into his career.

Is he smiling, using that knowing grin he sports when something confirms what he thought would happen? Or is he shaking his head wondering what the heck he’s got to do to keep that distance himself from his fellow super star.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

VANCOUVER , B.C. – The surprise victory by the United States men’s hockey team over heavily favored Canada (5-3) has sent shock waves through the host country.

In the U.S. there was euphoria where patriotism drove the ratings up past viewership for regular season as well as playoff games in the NHL (8.2 million viewers). It even beat game seven of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

What we saw, in essence was an NHL All-Star game. So why the resistance to watching Americans play in the course of their employment rather than their volunteer gig during the Olympics?

Easy one: hockey neophytes knew who to root for. Without a rooting interest in a pro sports game it’s hard to care. That’s why many fans like to bet on games that don’t feature their favorite team.

If the NHL is smart it will market these guys in a way to maximize the Olympic buzz and get their faces in front of a vast audience the league has yet to satisfy.

NBC should help since they hold the broadcast rights to the Stanley Cup Finals. And it should start this week.

If the USA team goes on a roll and plays for a medal in the games there should be TV spots ready to point out what teams the stars play for and highlight some good upcoming games that feature them.

 Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Tiger Woods is on the right path to recovery says Craig Gross, a minister with a special focus. He helps many in the porn industry and athletes who suffer from addictions to porn and other forms of sex addiction.Gross made it plain in a interview this afternoon that he wouldn’t have thought Woods was serious if he announced a time table for a return to golf.

Speaking from his base in Las Vegas, Gross said that phase one of Woods’ treatment consisted of breaking down the barriers to admitting he had a problem and taking full responsibility for the collateral damage. That had to be done all by himself.

Phase two will take Woods and his wife Elin through the grueling work of discovering if their marriage will survive and must be done with the couple spending time together but not necessarily living in one place.

“If he is really serious he’ll ignore golf for as long as it takes”, Gross told me. “If we hear about a quick return to the Tour it will coincide with the announcement that his marriage is over.”

This seems to parallel what the world heard from Tiger during his first public appearance. It also flies in the face of all the public relations pros and crisis managers who have droned on about why Woods was taking the wrong approach.

Even if the golfer is as diligent as he can be, he and his wife may be unable to stay together. “There is no more than a 50-50 chance of success for couples despite their good intentions”, Gross said.

The odds aren’t helped by the fact that Woods’ decision to seek treatment only came after he was publicly humiliated. “Forced recovery after being caught”, said Gross, “is not the best way to begin the process.”

Perhaps those who are judging Tiger Woods by standards best left for Toyota’s attempts to publicly rehabilitate itself or ball players who used performance enhancers should learn about how someone reconstructs a shattered life when he wants to fix himself, not just his image.

Gross explained that part of Woods’ recovery is to focus on the most important task at hand and live with the consequences of being judged on facts that might not be accurate. For a controlling personality that can be the most difficult part.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Mark Steinberg, agent of one Eldrick Tiger Woods, announced that his client will meet this Friday with a small group of people in Florida at the home of the PGA Tour.The Associated Press reported that Woods will take no questions and expects to explain his past and apologize for his actions.

Although three wire services are invited, Steinberg has asked that a pool be set up by the golf writers. Only one camera will record the session and be available for distribution by satellite.

Fellow golfers had hoped Woods would meet off-site of any tournament that he decided to attend prior to his return to the PGA Tour.

They are getting that wish granted EXCEPT that the meeting on Friday is smack dab in the middle of the Accenture Match Play Championships in Arizona.

And similarly to Woods’ pronouncements posted on his web site, this explanation and apology session will not be interactive.

Hot topics for questions that won’t be asked: did he receive treatment for an addiction, what is his post-treatment recovery consist of, what is happening in his marriage and what his golf schedule will look like this year.

The question Sports Climax has is this; ‘Why even bother meeting the media if you are just reading or making a statement? You can do the same on a video feed without the pads and pens in the room.”

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The video of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili’s death is widely available on the Internet but a bit of a squall blew up over the weekend about the efficacy of showing it on television broadcasts of the Olympics.

The Los Angeles Times published a poll on its site and the results are a dead heat. 48% say it was inappropriate to televise out of respect for the family of the deceased.

The other 48% say it was a news event and in that context on the Olympics broadcasts it had its place. The rest didn’t care one way or the other.

NBC chose to stop broadcasting the footage at the end of its daytime coverage of the games on Saturday. On-air host Bob Costas announced the network would no longer use it after more than 24 hours had passed from the time of the tragedy.

After that time period, continued use of the tragic scenes would have crossed a line. It is still up on NBCsports.com as one of the many videos of events at the Winter Games.

The delicate balance struck by NBC was between the news value of Kumartashivili’s death and excessive use of the video as the first full day of competition wrapped up.

Unfortunately, concern for the feelings of the luger’s parents and family isn’t going to weigh that heavily in these matters.

I’ve seen worse footage from war zones and athletic events in which competitors end up paralyzed from titanic hits to their heads. But then again, I understand the news function.

Despite its decision and perhaps to emphasize the news value of the video, NBC gave permission liberally to other news outlets to use the scenes in their reports.

And the truth is that people were clamoring to see what happened to this young man.

Editor’s Note: Yeah, Sports Climax is known for it’s in-your-face style of edgy reporting. We’ll show a naked NFL Player in a locker room or a heavyweight hockey brawl on the ice any time but we decided to refrain from showing the video of this luge accident out of respect for the young man’s family and his Georgian people across the Atlantic.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

Chris Berman’s contract with ESPN expires in a few months and he may be allowed to depart the network for the NFL Network or Directv, according to various NFL insiders.

Berman, whose tenure with the behemoth sports broadcast system began in 1979 has other potential employers throwing opportunities his way and no firm extension with ESPN says Sportsbybrooks.com and thebiglead.com.

Leaving the Worldwide Leader,(“WWL”) so to speak, limits his scope to one sport, and it looks like it might just be football – and we all know Berman is about size and scope.

His voice, his delivery, his schtick and his 6’5″ body, Slim Fast diet or no Slim Fast diet render him the biggest presence on any set he shares with other sports personalities.

Leaving aside the critiques of his style, my interest is piqued by the potential for him to rejoin and over shadow the current stars of their respective sports networks: Rich Eisen at the NFL Network and Dan Patrick at Directv’s 101 Channel.

Both of these men are former colleagues of Berman at ESPN and from their references to him when they banter with each other during the course of Patrick’s daily radio program, it is apparent they aren’t Boomer’s biggest fans. Then again he was the top dog there and perhaps wasn’t as gracious about it all as he might have been.

But if the rumors about Berman’s pursuit by either of the other networks is true, the potential to overshadow Patrick and Eisen exists unless he is restricted to particular duties that never intersect with theirs. I find that hard to imagine.

Also on notice is Andrew Siciliano who has competently handled the chores every NFL Sunday for Directv’s Red Zone Channel which surfs from game to game to pick up the action inside the 20 yard line and more.

Adding Berman to any of those networks sports packages could be dicey for the men who have carved out their niche independent of the WWL. But Berman’s fan appeal and “Q” rating would be hard to turn down for networks that only hope to make a dent in ESPN’s sports broadcasting domination.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.