The Herpes of Sports Reporting

Recently Green Day frontman Billy Joe Armstrong call Korean singer Psy the "herpes of music" "once you think he's gone he comes back." Armstrong took some heat for the comment but generally people thought it was amusing and agreed with him.

It got me thinking about who I would consider the "herpes of sports reporting". Here's my list:

1. Dan Shaughnessy - nobody makes me turn a radio or TV channel faster than Shagnasty. He faded into the woodwork somewhat after the Red Sox ruined his "Curse of the Bambino" cottage industry but recently he made himself as public as a cold sore on a wedding day with his basically accusing David Ortiz of using steroids. It should be recalled that before Ortiz even had a plate appearance for the Red Sox - Shaughnessy called him a "pile of you know what". I think the Curly Haired Boyfriend just has it out for people of color.

2. Skip Bayless - why is he famous? Why does ESPN stick with this douche? Does anyone like him? All serious questions.

3. Mike Lupica - get over yourself little man. You couldn't hold Dick Schaap's jock.

4. Stephen A Smith - aka Screaming A Smith. As annoying as this guy can be I do have to admit that at least occasionally he makes valid points.

5. Ron Borges - we get it. You hate Bill Belichick, don't find plagiarism to be a sin and are not afraid to fight men in wheelchairs. Probably a Boston thing but this guy is a dickhead.

Missing the list - Jay Marriotti who has proved himself to be more of a chlamydia in the word of sports transmitted diseases.

Derek Jeter and Skip Bayless

Recently Skip Bayless asserted that Derek Jeter may be on performance enhancing drugs. I've long asserted that Skip Bayless is a jackass. Pretty sure there is more evidence of my assertion than of his.

The only reason I bring up Skip Bayless' insinuation is because I think Jeter missed an opportunity to turn the tables. I wish Jeter had said the following, "I heard what Skip Bayless had to say about me and I have an offer for him. If he thinks it is OK to make baseless accusations about me and the people in my clubhouse then the same should be true for me and the people he works with. I will take a urine and blood test for all illegal substances (including alcohol abuse) if I am allowed to pick Skip Bayless or anyone else at ESPN to take the same tests with the results from both tests being made public. The reason I make this offer is because I'm pretty sure someone at ESPN must be high on something to keep forcing Skip Bayless on the US public. What do you say ESPN - are you going to put up or shut up? Or does ESPN have something to hide?"