If you get the chance today, please read my Press Coverage column at The Sporting Blog. It’s about 2,500 words and much of it would be stuff I’d put in the space below. So read it there, please.

Today’s show talks about the return of the American sportswriter after a long fortnight in Canada. We also talk about the hockey finale as well as Gander, Newfoundland…the new symbol for NBC’s complete lack of respect for the American sports fan.

On non-sports topics, we discuss more about the spying on your kids story from last week — I think I dug my hole deeper here — and the news that Anderson Cooper may be in line for Katie Couric’s job, which leads to my point that cable news people have no souls.

Soapbox:

Stephen A. Smith wrote a column about Brian Westbrook getting released, and turned it into yet another shot at the Eagles front office. So, if for no other reason than it’s fun to point out how ridiculous his words can be, we turn it into another shot at him. This could be a recurring show theme, so buckle up.

Housekeeping:

The big Blogs with Stones curling tournament is tonight. Here’s a bracket…vote to see who you think will win. Follow #blogswithstones on Twitter to stay on top of all the action. Even more Olympic conspiracies last night, making the IOC the only sports organization worse than the NCAA at this point. It has to be close, right?

Thanks for listening. Oh, and be careful in the snow.

There’s a lot more we discuss about the game, including all the references by NBC people to the Miracle on Ice this week — including last night — but the lasting image I have is Martin Brodeur failing. And that makes me smile. Nick points out that the combination of the United States beating Crosby and Brodeur in the same game is maybe the best scenario ever.

We also take a look at the Olympic bracket to realize just how tough Canada has it now. By my view of it, they’ll have to beat Germany and then face Russia AND Sweden just to get to the Gold Medal Game. Yeesh.

Hosers.

Inside the Press Box:

On Sunday, I put up this Tweet:

Watching highlights on ESPN and is it just me, or has Cindy Brunson started wearing a wee bit too much makeup on TV? http://is.gd/8QTZP

I was sent a DM on Twitter by a trusted media insider who cautioned me to watch what I write about female sports personalities on TV. Now, was that a reference to Kornheiser’s situation with Hannah Storm and nothing more? Perhaps. But it does bring up an interesting point about media double standards. I rip on Bob Costas for having terribly died hair and it’s fine. I rip on Jason La Canfora’s shirt and tie that makes him look like a poor man’s Regis Philbin and I’m funny. But Cindy Brunson looks like Lady Elaine from Mr. Rogers and I’m an asshole? Is that fair?

Which act is sexist? Me ripping the way a woman looks on TV, or someone pointing out that she’s a woman, not just a media personality?

And back to the Kornheiser situation with Storm, it was really no different than he’s said about her 30 times. I’m sure he felt bad if she was insulted, but that had to be a “sorry if you’re offended” situation. More on that in today’s Press Coverage.

Housekeeping:

Again, Stephen A. Smith’s online brilliance distracts us from doing a solid show. Sorry for that. Plus, a lot about curling, including my plug that curling commentator Andrew Catalon comes out of the Winter Olympics with a national gig.

And speaking of curling, SIGN UP FOR OUR CURLING TOURNAMENT NOW. We’re running out of spots. You have to be able to play tomorrow night and Thursday night to sign up. Tomorrow is pool play and Thursday is the bracket-style tournament. It’ll be awesome, so get in now.

Thanks for listening.