I remember, back in the day when ESPN was a new network.  I mean almost brand, spanking new.  When they had no real sports, when your anchors were people named Sharon Smith, Lee Leonard, Tom Mees, Bob Lea, Chris Berman, George Grande and Gayle Gardner.  No hot dogging (except from Berman) and sports news delivered without agenda.  Today's ESPN of course is much different.  Stories are stacked to "protect and promote the product"; athletes are subjected to lines of questioning that resemble Linda Love Lace in "Deep Throat" and anchors can regularly been seen and heard to out cute each other or to editorialize (as Linda Cohn did in December 1998, but that's a different story for a different day.)  They have even added mindless talk shows with no point at all  except to hear people yell at each other. The point is, ESPN has evolved over the years from the exciting ESPN of its or our youth to a monolithic corporate shill.

The same is becoming true of the Food Network.  Originally, the network was about cooking and featured primarily chefs and well know cooks..  Now, it has become a mufti-purpose cooking, travel, lifestyle oriented network which is divided into two spheres: "Food Network in the Kitchen" which is daytime programming featuring Food Network personalities doing the "how to" stuff in the kitchen.  At night, it's "Food Network Nighttime" featuring travelogues, competitions and reality shows.  Not great if you want to learn how to cook (the exception being my two favorite Food Network shows: "Emeril Live" and my favorite "Good Eats.")

Many foodies have complained about this, feeling that the network should be more instructional during the evening.  They also reject non-chef personalities like Sandra Lee (I agree, her show, "Semi-Home Made" is a joke) and Rachel Ray (who is okay in small doses.)

Last night, may be the top of the mountain as far as the Food Network trying to stretch itself: "The Food Network Awards."  In 90 minutes which probably could only be rivaled only by root canal, Food Network trotted out the hosts for a variety of inconsequential and insignificant awards.  Does anyone really care who has the best "tasty technology" or "icy innovation".  Many of the places and products that won awards were please and products that I have never heard of our our unavailable in our market.  I doubt I am going to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the best hamburger or to Boston to the best grocery store.

The show would have been far more interesting if it would have nominated restaurants, chefs, or recognized individuals in the food industry.  Instead, it came off like the Food Network show "Unwrapped" colliding with an infomercial.  It made the ESPY's look like the Oscars. And I'm being kind compared to others.

Please, Food Network.  Don't try to become the ESPN of food.  I stopped watching that network eight years ago.

Lightning Round:

• You'd think giving up only one hit would be a sure win for the Chicago White Sox.  It would have been if you know who wasn't on the mound for the Indians.
  
• Time Magazine has done an excellent article on what Jackie Robinson meant to some baseball greats who would not have been itf it weren't for him.
  
• Lord Stanley's Cup: How anyone thought the Wings were going to have any trouble with the Flames is beyond me.  Same with the Ducks and Wild.  Meanwhile, Ottawa gets up off the mat and more free hockey between Vancouver and Dallas.  Among the games tonight, the don't miss one is Nashville-San Jose as this has turned into a nasty series.  Just the way I like them.
• Here's a college coach who is actually staying at home.  Bobby Lutz waves off Southern Alabama to remain at UNC-Charlotte.  I guess that would be a sideways move, Southern Alabama being in Alabama and all.
  
• Just wondering, if the Dolphins acquire Trent Greene and cut Dante Culpepper and he winds up in Oakland, does Jamarcus Russell drop to another team?
• Jeff Burton is back.
• A new presidential poll shows John McCain dropping like a split fingered fastball with both Fred Thompson and Newt Gingrich gaining strength.  Many wonder if Thompson is popular because voters are casing their ballots for DA Arthur Branch.
• Since Imus was taken out, the focus is now on a bigger target.
• "Hi, this is Scooter.  I'm not in right now. Please leave your name and number at the tone." "Hey Scooter, this is Dick.  We used to work together.  I just want to get around to thanking you for taking one for the team.  The Decider thanks you too and he'll sign that pardon right before the '08 inauguration.  I hate to ask you for one more small favor, but if you have a couple of minutes, could you call Henry and give him a few pointers for tomorrow.  He'll really appreciate it.  Thanks, dude.  Later."
• Drag racing in Ontario, Canada could cost you $10,000 (Canadian). Can't they come up with a more severe penalty like being tied to a chair and having to watch a continuous loop of the 2006-07 Toronto Maple Leafs highlights film? 
  
• Great see to see that since the fall of the Berlin wall, our friends in Russia are getting accurate news reports.
• A dog locked in a mobile home while his master was away, turned the stereo on and turned it up full blast, causing complaints from neighbors.  Obviously, none of those neighbors have teenagers living in their homes.