i used to be all high-falutin' and snobby and things like that but, when it comes right down to it, i really enjoy telecasts involving john madden. he says silly non-sensical things like (when joe jurevicius is throwing water on his face) "they say when it's cold you need to keep your head covered because that's where the heat gets out. well when you're hot the best thing to do is throw water on your head to get the cold in." it's silly and funny and it comes from our nation's premier authority on football and video games.

i also need to say that the debut of michael irvin on espn was outstanding. he's really quite informative, and arguably better-dressed than deion. he maintains a flashy appearance and delivery, but gave a lot of good information and a lot of well-conceived opinions. talking-head dumbasses like trev alberts or steve young could learn a lot from him.

raghib ismail (ex-irish great who officially goes by "rocket," not unlike the year that tim raines' baseball card said "rock raines"), meanwhile, left a lot to be desired. he was only on camera three times or so on the college football preview. a correspondent, not a host. all sizzle, no steak, baby. maybe he just needs more reps.