E. Andrews still the most pathetic SL babe ever, I don't care what y'all think

Re: Nevermind.

The biggest problem I have with ESPN's sideline reporters is that they are used too often. The best producers, and I've been fortunate enough to work with some good ones, say to me, "You're not getting on air unless you've got something useful," which is the way it should be. I get the impression that at many of ESPN's games, the thought is: "We've got this person here, we're going to put them on, regardless of the quality of information."

It leads to some mind-numbing sideline reports. Generally, I'm a huge fan of ESPN's live-event production, but this aspect may be the weakest thing about their broadcasts.

I worked with Erin through the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs -- her with ABC, myself with CBC. She badly wanted to learn, and I got the sense that she really didn't get a lot of feedback from her producers. She came to me with a lot of questions, "How should I ask this?" "What's the best way to ask about this scenario?" "What do you think of this idea?" and always listened to any suggestions from myself or the other CBC people.

(The number one piece of advice I gave her, which is the best advice anyone gave to me, was, "Listen to your game analysts. The comments they make will give you the right questions to ask.")

Andrews formerly worked for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and they told her that before Game 6 of the Final -- the Calgary Flames could win the Cup at home that night -- Ray Bourque had phoned one-time teammate Tim Taylor. Bourque told Taylor that in 2001, his Colorado Avalanche had "pissed on the New Jersey Devils parade" in a similar scenario, and now Taylor's Lightning could do the same thing. Erin, as a thanks for our help, told us about the message, and Taylor allowed us to play it on the air prior to Game 7. (ABC & CBC were not competitors, so that was not an issue.)

There are times I think people in the TV business see a good-looking woman like Erin Andrews and say, "Okay, she's here for her looks and we don't have to worry about her." Maybe they don't respect her, I don't know. But I do know that she wanted to get better and really took her job seriously. If she isn't getting that instruction, it's a shame, because that hurts the broadcast.

Oh, and nice mental image, Luggie.