Some people – especially fans on the west coast – believe that ESPN has helped create rivalries in sports. A notable one in baseball would be the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox. The thought is ESPN with the TV rights has a stock in creating drama that may or may not exist in an attempt to drive ratings that ultimately will bring a strong financial return on their investment. Occasionally I’ll even read or hear people say, “ESPN doesn’t think the MLB season has started yet because the Yankees-Red Sox haven’t played each other.”

Jim Abbott brought an interesting take on this “theory” being that he played in New York for a couple of seasons in the mid-90′s. That is important because that was well before ESPN reached its massive distribution it currently enjoys. Abbott was asked on 110SportsPodcast.com about the intensity of the rivalry. “It’s pretty intense, I have to say. Being a University of Michigan fan I know a lot about the Ohio State rivalry and how intense that can be. It’s visceral, people literally don’t like each other.

“I’ll never forget as a Yankee I heard about that rivalry, and I didn’t know a lot about it other than what I had heard. Going to Fenway Park for the first time as a Yankee – walking in the hotel lobby – it’s packed with Yankee fans, it’s packed with Red Sox fans and everybody going at it on the radio. Every single sports station was talking about those games, and they had songs and things about the Yankees and Boston. There’s a difference, it is a real gut-level rivalry and I think it predates ESPN.”

So, there you go. Did ESPN create it? No. Do they help perpetuate it, so casuals fans may tune in? Probably so. They are in the entertainment industry and if creating some added drama helps ratings – they will surely do it. Regardless, if fans enjoy the game it doesn’t really matter who created it or didn’t or if it exists or not as long as people gain some sort of entertainment from it.

– For the full interview with Jim Abbott listen to Episode 156 on 110SportsPodcast.com.

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Email Matt: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

Listen below to hear ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi talk about how certain fan bases respond to his work. As the college basketball season comes to an end, fans will follow his projections for the NCAA Tournament as a barometer for the future. He discusses which fan base is “smart” and which fans are jaded generally about the process. Please listen-

For the full interview with Joe Lunardi listen to Episode 145 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He talks about the class he teaches on the fundamentals of “Bracketology,” common mistakes people make when projecting the Tournament and he also discusses how he is so accurate. Plus, hear why tradition of a school really does not factor in to making the “Big Dance” and thoughts on this year’s selection committee.

Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

Listen below to hear Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketologist, talk about the selection committee for this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He discusses whether they have found some consistency throughout the years with the selection process and if it is odd at all that fired UConn AD Jeff Hathaway is still the chairman of the group. Please listen below-
Audio Clip (1:10): Joe Lunardi talks about Selection Sunday

For the full interview with Joe Lunardi listen to Episode 145 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He talks about the class he teaches on the fundamentals of “Bracketology,” common mistakes people make when projecting the Tournament, how he is so accurate and which fan base comments or complains about his work the most. Plus, hear why tradition of a school really does not factor in to making the “Big Dance.”

Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

The committee for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is just a few days away from selecting the 68-team field for this year’s event. They are also just a few days and a couple hours away from being dissected and scrutinized. Why did team A get in but not team B? A variety of things will ensue. Many of which are fairly boring. We will compare schedules, conferences, quality of wins and a whole host of other barometers that have been created to measure the differences between two programs.

Someone during these conversations may even utter that one team has more tradition, more heritage, and that is why they are in.

ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi won’t be saying that. He has made a living and a reputation out of predicting the NCAA Tournament. He even invented this space in the sports landscape of folks around the country making mock brackets all throughout the season.

“Little to none.” Lunardi explained to the Victor and Matt show on 110SportsPodcast.com in regards to tradition of a school having an effect on pushing a bubble team into the field. “In fact, it is specifically stated in all of the principals and procedures that past team or tournament performance is not to be factored in.”

The main impact of a rule like this is that a school like Arizona or UConn, with tons of tradition, will most likely have to win their respective conference tournaments to get into the “Big Dance.” But, if you are a fan of one of the schools, would you want it any other way? Earning a spot on current performance will always feel better than getting in on legacy.

“I think they work really hard to evaluate each season as its own entity,” Lunardi added. The selection process may have some imperfections, but this one point at least makes sense in the world of sports where you must always be continually proving yourself.

– For the full interview with Joe Lunardi listen to Episode 145 on 110SportsPodcast.com.

Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Email Matt: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

Today on the “110 Sports Podcast with Victor and Matt” they discuss TV sports ratings and speak to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi. He talks about the class he teaches on the fundamentals of “Bracketology,” common mistakes people make when projecting the Tournament, why Syracuse and Kentucky will be number one seeds, also discusses how he is so accurate and which fan base comments or complains about his work the most. Plus, hear why tradition of a school really does not factor in to making the “Big Dance” and thoughts on this year’s selection committee.

For the full interview with Joe Lunardi listen to Episode 145 on 110SportsPodcast.com. Finally, the guys discuss Victor getting noticed in public.

Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.