AL DAVIS CHANNELS STEVE PEDERSON

From this story comes word that the rumors flying around today about the Oakland Raiders–namely, that they had hired Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton to be their head coach–were not true:

It was widely reported Tuesday that Payton would get the job after he had a second set of interviews with [Raiders owner Al ]Davis. But the Cowboys said on their Web site Wednesday that Payton has decided to stay with Dallas.

Davis said he never offered the job to Payton.

Interesting. Nebraska AD Steve Pederson said he never offered the NU job to Houston Nutt as well. And Pederson wound up hiring Raiders coach Bill Callahan.

Does anybody besides me think that Al Davis and Jim Fassel is a match made in heaven?

Well, for us non-Raider fans, that is.

IF ONLY JIMMY ‘SUPERFLY’ SNUKA WERE RUNNING

If you thought Howard Dean’s Iowa speech sounded a little like something from the WWE, you’re not alone: Even the pro wrestlers agree with you.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . . .

. . . Rachel Lucas has left the building. More’s the pity.

TOAST OF THE TOWN?

Steven Taylor says Dean is done:

I would rate my initial positive reactions to his speech the other night to be perhaps the worst political observation of my career–I gave way too much credit to him for being positive, and wholly discounted the over-the-top tenor of the presentation. I knew it was more than just the Blogosphere or conservatives when I saw cable news anchors making fun of him. Once the news guys think it is ok to make fun of you, you’re toast.

Indeed, it may be that Dean was so stunned at winning only 18% of the vote on Monday that he came out and tried something new, and when that backfired he is now trying yet other new things. That is a sign of desperation, and on pending disaster. He runs the risk of alienating his base, by ceasing to be himself, and potential voters for either being too angry in is fomer persona, and too manic in the current one.

If he can’t right the ship, then this may end up going down in history as one of the most spectacular meltdowns in presidential politics of all time.

The whole thing is quite stunning.

Yea, verily. That little yelp may very well send Dean back to his medical practice. Who can take him seriously now? I mean, what are you going to do about this? This is almost as embarassing as the infamous Joe Biden tape . . .

MORE ON WOMEN’S SPORTS AND SEX APPEAL

This time, from ESPN’s Page 2 Writer’s Bloc. Dan Shanoff seems to grasp the principle:

Look at the LPGA, making a concerted — if controversial — effort to up its “hottie” quotient, understanding Shanoff’s Mother of All Male Marketing Equations: “Hotties (H) X Eyeballs (I) = Money ($),” also known as “HI$.”

Meanwhile, Alan Grant seeks balance:

While it’s OK to notice how someone’s butt looks in their uniform, it’s altogether different to base one’s athletic value solely on the shape of that butt.

But he also senses a bit of jealousy at work:

That same average male sports fan doesn’t want to turn on his TV to see some chick perform a vicious crossover dribble, go to the hoop, score, and give another chick a pound. This is something he could never do himself and I think it makes him very, very uncomfortable.

But if those same women are close to naked, he feels better about himself. He may not become a fan of women’s sports, but if he sees physically desirable women running around with little clothing, he’s less threatened by their athletic skills because bare female flesh helps to maintain that “vulnerable” quality which (for him and his buddies) is the very definition of femininity.

Chuck Hirshberg, though, hits the nail on the head:

And yet, I wonder if this whole sad controversy isn’t less about Blatter’s nincompoopery, and less about sex, than it is about the corrupting influence of advertising. Seriously, I doubt Blatter really believes any male goon will skip an episode of “The Man Show” to see women play soccer, no matter how they dress.

However, the last word goes to David Schoenfeld, who points out that this particular door swings both ways:

Looks like we’ve been debating the wrong topic, ‘Cats. This just crossed the wire (I kid you not):

“Instead of the traditional separate shirt and shorts, Cameroon’s (men’s) players will wear a new skin-tight one-piece uniform in the country’s distinctive green, white and red colors.”

Well, that’s certainly a horse of a different feather.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR

Jump on this meme right now and beat the rush. I did! And then all your base are belong to us now! YEEARRRGGHHH!