On a night the Sox get rained out… it’s almost like being stood up, isn’t it? You get all gussied up in your cap and foam finger and Luis Tiant Signature Lederhosen. You arrange the snacks, alcohol and firearms neatly on the table before you. You tape up the windows, fire up the self-inflatable 12-foot Jerry Remy Lawn Mascot, disconnect the phones, prepare the steaks, tape up the windows again for good measure, and light the candles… only to find out… they’re not coming. No Don and Jerry. No Papel-Bot. No Schilling. Instead, you’re left with reverberating emptiness, some fizzless beer, and the thought of Tina Cervasio laughing at you and pointing as she drives off into her inestimably better existence.
Thankfully, the good folks at NESN have found a way to help us deal, by replaying recent Sox games whenever a scheduled game is postponed. But I often take such opportunities to sample some other sports programming on ESPN, ESPN 2, and Fox Sports. Here’s where I typically find myself:
Baseball Tonight: This show used to be my religion. I couldn’t go to sleep until THE GAMMONS and John Kruk gave me the Yanks score, patted me on the head, and sent me on my way. These days, as my job has essentially zombified me, I don’t get to watch it as much. But BT is still pretty much the only thing I watch religiously on ESPN. Well, that and candlepins.
The Sports List: I watch this show for two reasons: Summer. Sanders. Other than that, I have no idea what it’s about. I assume it concerns “sports” and “lists,” an intriguing combination to be certain, but I’m not 100% on that. Not even sure if it’s in English. But I know who the host is. I can also tell you what she wore over the past 46 episodes.
Pardon the Interruption: This is that show I always tell myself to TiVo for later viewing but never actually get around to watching. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon are endlessly entertaining, and the PTI format, which sets time limits for every topic, is something sports radio could learn from. It is also, to the best of my knowledge, the only sports talk show to inspire a Jason Alexander/Malcolm Jamal-Warner sitcom. Thank god. Anyway, here’s a PTI clip that aired the night before Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS.
I should also point out that I used to watch The Best Damn Sports Show Period back when Tom Arnold and Leeann Tweeden were regularly featured. Oh, and I keep wanting to fall in love with Cold Pizza the way I’ve fallen for former host Kit Hoover… but it doesn’t seem to be happening.
So what are you watching when you’re not watching the Sox?
