The biggest scandal being pounded in the blogs is THE story about the reporter from Louisville who was live blogging an NCAA Super Sectional game and was asked to leave the stadium.

The NCAA made it clear it wasn't going to allow live blogging at the games.  The lawyer for the Louisville newspaper says that the NCAA doesn't control information once history is made.  If a player hits a home run, that's history and it should be reported.  All very good arguments, but here's why the NCAA isn't allowing live blogging this year: They aren't making money off it.

Think about it.  ESPN and the local radio stations or sports radio networks covering the games pay a rights fee.  Every tournament game you broadcast requires one.  Live bloggers pay nothing, they get in on a standard print media credential.  So, ESPN, which also owns websites, doesn't like the fact that someone is reporting a game that they are broadcasting on the net.  The contention is, they paid for the exclusive rights and this guy form the newspaper is violating them.

What you will see in the future is the NCAA charging newspapers and web sites a "blogging rights fee."  This will be in addition to whatever they are charged for a broadband line (which, by the way is outrageous.)  Soon, everyone will catch on and you'll have the same thing at all levels.

Before you scoff, I have some experience with this.  Rights fees are why you can't say "Super Bowl" if you are not the rights holder.  They are why you can't say "Chicago White Sox post game report" if you are not the flagship station or a network affiliate.  And rights fees is what got the blogger tossed out of the ballpark.

You may not think it's fair, but in sports, that's how business is done.  No league or governing body is going to jeopardize their revenue stream with outsiders who didn't pay the freight.  For the NCAA, it's best practices, not freedom of information.  In fact, it has nothing to do with freedom of the press and everything to do with making money.

The situation will end quietly when a fee is agreed upon and the papers and/or web sites pay the NCAA troll under the bridge.  Until then, blogging at a game doesn't make sense because it doesn't make money.

Lightning Round

• The White Sox make Adam Eaton look like Jake Peavy and get shut out by the Phillies.  So much for growth after Sunday's win.  And it gets worse: Joe Crede has decided to have back surgery which more than likely will end his season.  He probably made the decision when he realized that this team has no chance for anything other to finish ahead of Kansas City.  Ozzie says that watching this team is like watching ESPN news after 11pm "It just keeps repeating for 24 hours."  I think the official theme song of the 2007 Chicago White Sox should be Aerosmith's "Same old story"  Somebody put together a power point and get back to me.
  
• Don't look now, but here come the Cubs.  BTW, if there is a blog site better at making me laugh than Hire Jim Essian, I haven't found it yet.  Here's another portal to brilliance. 
  
• Juan Uribe settles with the extortionist who claims the White Sox shortstop shot him.  At least that's what the internet says.  Uribe denies it.  Just like he denies he can't hit a breaking pitch.
  
• It was a tough day Monday for Alabama football fans.  First, their backup QB quit.  Then, fans got a new dress code for football games (you've got to be kidding).  Then, the super secret details of Nick Saban's daily schedule were released on the internet..
• After a year of waiting after his questionable dismissal, Harold Reynolds finally lands a gig.  Good, my year is almost up.
  
• It's June 12th, time for those trade rumors to start.
• Da Coach better watch out the next time he fills up Da Coachmobile because the way he's ticking Gene Upshaw off, he could wind up like Phil Leotardo.
  
• Pistons GM Joe Dumars flips out again.
• 6 time WNBA all-star Chamique Holdsclaw suddenly retires for no apparent obvious reason.  Maybe she's hanging with Pokey Chatman.
• Our friends at Bugs & Cranks have come up with the all "Lead Glove Team."  What, no Ivan Calderon?
  
• A suspect in a plot to kidnap David Letterman's son has escaped from a Montana work farm.  How about you just kidnap Craig Ferguson and we'll call it a day.
• Paris Hilton says she will no longer "act" dumb.  Honey, if that was acting, you deserve an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy and a Nobel prize.
• Fred Thompson's expected entry into the Republican race has shaken the race up quiet a bit.  For one thing, Mitt Romney moves down to fourth and Fred is breathing down John McCain's neck (which is not good if the Senator has a Nam flashback and thinks Fred is Charlie.) Thanks to AP for the liberal bias.
• John Cougar Hoosiercrap will be performing July 4th with the Boston Pops.  That loud whirring sound you hear is Arthur Fiedler spinning in his grave.
• A new study says anger is a good thing  Except of course for Dr. Bruce Banner. You won't like him when he's angry.
  
• Here's an article by a woman who is outraged that a Chicago suburb wants to fine businesses for hiring illegal aliens.  She says it's because the locals don't want to face a growing, powerful Latino population.  What she fails to understand is that in order to curb illegal immigration, we need to cut off the snake at the head and fining employers is a great way to do that.  Are they not the enablers of illegal workers?  Again, every time someone comes up with a practical solution to slow down the flow, somebody jumps up and screams racism.   Sit down, Susie.  You are rocking the boat.
  
• TV Weatherman Al Roker, who was one of the loudest voices calling for the ouster of Don Imus, made some off the cuff comments about epileptic seizures, then apologized for them this morning.  Gee Al, not so easy to hurl rocks when you are the one inside the glass house, is it?  Why does Roker still have a job?  Because the folks that fight Epilepsy don't have Al and Jesse making appearances on MSNBC and Fox News on their behalf.   So, to review.  If you want to offend someone, DO NOT offend gays, Latinos or black women's basketball teams and expect to keep your job.  But epileptics, not a big deal. 
  
• There's a new stamp coming out to honor the late President Ford.  When you lick it, it tastes like milk toast.
• Dan Rather made some nasty comments Monday morning about Katie Couric and the job she's doing on the CBS evening news.  Just think Dan.  If you had done your job, CBS might have been able to hire a real anchor and not a gimmick to boost the sagging ratings you left them with.
• I'm not sure who the author of this is, but it is hysterical. "Ten things I hate about Star Trek."
• Some good advice the next time you visit Circuit City.  Better yet, do what I do and avoid the store altogether by shopping by Internet.
  
• The Mayor of LA announces he is splitting with Mrs. Mayor.  No word yet if she is entitled to half the city.
• Dennis Miller, you da man.