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In the deadly serious business of sports, a cartoon character from 1927 played a role in Al Michaels' hop from Monday Night Football to NBC. The network traded rights to Ryder Cup matches, Olympics highlights, historic cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and more to ESPN to acquire the services of Emmy-winner Michaels for its Sunday night games it was announced Thursday. “ Oswald is definitely worth more than a fourth-round draft choice. I'm going to be a trivia answer someday. † Al Michaels, referring to what the Kansas City Chiefs gave the New York Jets as compensation for releasing coach Herm Edwards from his contract. Walt Disney produced 26 Oswald cartoons in 1927, but Universal distributed the series and owned the rights to the character, prompting Disney to develop Mickey Mouse. "As the forerunner to Mickey Mouse and an important part of Walt Disney's creative legacy, the fun and mischievous Oswald is back where he belongs, at the home of his creator and among the stable of beloved characters created by Walt himself," Disney president Robert Iger said after Thursday's announcement. NBC Sports chairman **** Ebersol said ABC Sports and ESPN president George Bodenheimer called last month to initiate talks, which culminated in an agreement Tuesday. "He told me this incredible story that Walt's first really big production as a cartoonist for the cinema had been a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, which was before Mickey," Ebersol said. "And for reasons that aren't still totally clear to me, Walt lost those rights. He didn't have the money to hold onto them." NBC takes over Sunday night next season from ESPN, which will broadcast Monday Night Football. John Madden, Michaels' partner for the last four seasons, agreed in June to a six-year contract with NBC. Besides Madden and Michaels, NBC will have Bob Costas and Cris Collinsworth as co-hosts of the network's studio show. "When we made the deal with the NFL this spring, there were four key stars I knew I wanted to build our football team around, but I wondered from the beginning, if I would be lucky enough to get them all," Ebersol said in a statement Thursday. To get the final piece of Ebersol's team, NBC gave ESPN broader access to the Olympics, Ryder Cup golf, Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. And, of course, Oswald. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Think he looks like Mickey? Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is returning to the Disney warren. "Oswald is definitely worth more than a fourth-round draft choice," Michaels said, referring to what the Kansas City Chiefs gave the New York Jets as compensation for releasing coach Herm Edwards from his contract. "I'm going to be a trivia answer someday." The Walt Disney Co. had been trying to reacquire the rabbit for some time. "When Bob was named CEO, he told me he wanted to bring Oswald back to Disney, and I appreciate that he is a man of his word," Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller said in a statement. "Having Oswald around again is going to be a lot of fun." Specifically, ESPN gets: • Rights to broadcast live Friday coverage of the Ryder Cup golf championship between the United States and Europe in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, as well as the right to re-air NBC coverage and extended highlights. • Expanded Olympics highlights from this year through 2012. • Monday Night Football promotions during the NBC Sunday night through 2011. • Expanded highlights from Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness through 2011. When the Monday games move to ESPN next season, retired quarterback Joe Theismann, Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico will be in the ESPN booth. Michaels had been with ABC since 1976 and had been the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football since 1986, when he replaced Frank Gifford. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2324417&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines ND football no longer exclusive???

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3. South Florida The class is heavy on ... The defensive line. Eight prospects were brought in with the strength in the tackles with Leslie Stirrups and JUCO transfer Frank Harry needing to make an impact right away. The ends might not be sure things outside of Craig Marshall, but there are some great athletes who should get into the backfield once they figure out what they're doing. The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Alwan Lee The player you might care about this year ... DT Frank Harry What it all means to the real world of college football ... If you're looking for someone to step in to replace RB Andre Hall, he's not coming from this class. However, the pressure should be on QB Pat Julmiste with Alwan Lee and Nate Allen talented enough to get a few looks for backup spots this off-season. The strength of the class is the defense with enough prospects and possibilities to hope for big things in a few years. This class should solidify South Florida as a player in the Big East race for years to come.

Have a safe flight!!!

Dammit...Easter Weekend...I will be in Tampa the two weeks before that but over vegas that weekend....

Which RBs will end up becoming successful NFL starters? (Check all that apply) 76.7% DeAngelo Williams, Memphis 25.2% Joseph Addai, LSU 15.9% Jerome Harrison, Washington State 13.6% Cedric Humes, Virginia Tech 9.6% Terrence Whitehead, Oregon 8.7% Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State 8.1% Andre Hall, South Florida 7.1% Mike Bell, Arizona Slowly Moving North

Register...then post under your name....saves the confusion

Who's Watching it?? Any sign of Andre?? (no TV coverage in England!)

As of 20.13 GMT Which RBs will end up becoming successful NFL starters? (Check all that apply) 77.1%DeAngelo Williams, Memphis 25.5%Joseph Addai, LSU 16.1%Jerome Harrison, Washington State 13.7%Cedric Humes, Virginia Tech 9.6%Terrence Whitehead, Oregon 8.9%Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State 7.6%Andre Hall, South Florida 7.1%Mike Bell, Arizona

Which RBs will end up becoming successful NFL starters? (Check all that apply) Joseph Addai, LSU Mike Bell, Arizona Andre Hall, South Florida Jerome Harrison, Washington State Cedric Humes, Virginia Tech Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State Terrence Whitehead, Oregon DeAngelo Williams, Memphis http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/ballot?event_id=1992

But you are all willing to give a 'saviour' like huggins 4-5 years to turn it around....sounds like double standards to me....a geezer that you will pay a kings ransom to will get longer than a guy who is within budget and more than able to perform what is necessary but who has had some bad luck with injuries and gets knocked for enforcing his standards on the team... Now I know that I am an out of towner (to the most extreme and I know I dont know basketball) but I know how to be realistic....I know this season aint gonna be pretty but I think I can see what is possibly being built...plus I trust DW...he comes from a basketball school...he knows what is needed in a basketball coach, he must still see something in CRM....I believe in CRM.

already bought it!

Just thought of another one, for the WVU game Your sister is your mother Your father is your brother You all F**k on another The West Virgina Family (to the tune of the Addams Family)

I became a Bull when I participated in the International exchange program for the fall semester '02, kinda got hooked on the american football (kinda easy when you never see them lose!) and it took off from there. Went to as many of the sports games that I could whilst over (Volleyball, Football (still makes me crack up laughing that you announce everything, have a clock that counts down the final minute and an announcer that counts down the final 10, there should only be 1 guy who know when the final whistle is gonna be blown), American Football, Basketball (did the half time shooting challenge at the providence game) I have a record of never having seen the bulls football team lose in person! The last game I got to was the Tennessee Tech game in 04 (down the front of the student section with the guys who get painted up, doing my best to get the football songs started (Ones of note, The Referees a W@nker, Whos the B@stard in the black?, *insert name here* give us a wave (we tried CJL but he refused, and so got booed! the sundolls waved though!) to the tune of Que sera sera, When I was younger I asked my mother what should I be? should I be knights? should I bulls? heres what she said to me, Wash your mouth out son and go fetch your fathers gun, and shoot the knight scum, shoot the knight scum (point of note, should be sung at EVERY game), Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put the knights on the top, put the gators in the middle and burn F***ing lot!) (ET - you will get to learn some variations of these ith you get to some Brazilian football games) , the plan was to be at the Pitt game the week before but that **** hurricane!! and then I was in town for the WVU homecoming game this year and.......bloody hurricanes! So thats how I English, complete with full accent!, became a Bull! Any Questions?

Very correct Collin, FC United is the new club that was setup by the disgruntaled United fans that opposed the take over by Glaser, the reason I have York is cause they are my first love and my main team, as I am from just down the road! United are my team for the premiership (cause York aint ever going to reach that level!, we are currently just getting by in the conference 4 divisions below the premiership, if York played United (and we did 10 years ago, (and York Won!) then you would find me on the York terrace)) Plus conference football is far more exciting, the premiership is turning into a one team show. plus its fun to be stood in the crowd and know you have can have a direct influence on the players (one time the ball was rolling out of play being sheparded by the defender with the york striker not challenging, I shouted at him fight for it!!! and he procedded to turn round run at the defender start wrestling for the ball and got a free kick!) Gonna be interesting to see the finances at United this year but I suspect they will get by dispite losing the £25mm jackpot for getting to the latter stages of Europe, heck they just spent £13mm on two new players. What will be interesting is to see how much Sky is willing to shell out for the next tv contract, (prob no where near the £1bn that was done 3 years ago) if thats low then a lot of spending forecast for many clubs will be questioned, except Chelsea!

Yeah that ended the half unfortunatley, still hope for the team....we have the best D in the Big East in Point Per Game!

That lil run kinda killed us....but we are hanging tough!!!! As much as I like the hustle by capko I can see why he aint encouraged to shoot!!!

Very True, but we gotta get what we can get atm...and we cannot pretend the season is gonna be pretty but these guys deserve support

According to the Announcers on ESPN gameplan, with the new screens and courtside seats. Said the Sundome is a GOOD on campus venue

USF 9 Holmes 20 Jones 16 83%

1. Where were you were born in? Northallerton, North Yorkshire, ENGLAND 2. What city & state you went to elementry school in? City??? more like tiny village, Carlton Miniott, North Yorkshire, ENGLAND 3. What state you went to middle school/Jr. High in? North Yorkshire, ENGLAND, Thirsk to be exact 4. What state you went to high school school in? Thirsk, North Yorkshire, ENGLAND 5. What state do you work in or plan to work in when you finish your degree? London is good for the time being....Maybe New York or something similar given the chance

$8 ~ £4.50....thats a bargin.....get out there and watch some football!!

1. Probably....after eating the Chicken 2. Will do my best but it depends when it falls...this atlantic takes time to cross! 3. A definate maybe....figuring on a possible long roadtrip to Orlando then up to the NC game 4. A definate NO....it would turn into football (like the REAL football played over here) the rich would get richer and pay the best palyers...the rest get along just not in the big game 5. 5 definatley a 5 only place I can easily get Bulls info!

I liked how they also called out the students to come and support the team, no matter how bad the results are they are still slogging there guts out for the university and they deserve support

WVU 18 Holmes 13 Jones 9 68%