Inside the Press Box:

We talk about the Kornheiser suspension. Yes, it’s a story I said a few times was not a story, but now that word came out that ESPN suspended him for two weeks, it’s a story. ESPN made this a story by completely overreacting to something that was posted on the blogosphere. Well played, World Wide Leader.

We also talk about this back and forth between AJ Daulerio of Deadspin and Jason Whitlock. Whitlock seems pissed that Deadspin isn’t giving credit to The Big Lead for this story, instead pushing the angle that the real story is Gary Braun’s dig on Chris Berman — that Tony facilitated — and THAT’S why Tony was suspended. Daulerio trusts his sources, but Whitlock thinks it’s bunk, and AJ is only going with that angle to rumor monger in an effort to steal the thunder from TBL to Deadspin.

Whether you believe the Berman rumor or not, what TBL did is NOT REPORTING. Someone listened to the radio. That’s it. Someone listened to the radio and wrote down what Tony said and posted it on a blog. What is a good thing to post on a blog? Certainly. It got a ton of traffic and spread throughout the internet. But it’s not news and it’s not reporting. The fact that ESPN suspended Kornheiser wasn’t broken by them — he wasn’t on PTI, said on Friday “I’ll go to my room now” and explained it on his radio show on Tuesday morning. Again, LISTENING TO THE RADIO IS NOT REPORTING. It’s smart blogging, but let’s back off on who “owned” this story.

Housekeeping:

We talk a bit about the #blogswithstones curling prelims last night and talk about the best set up for Thursday’s bracket. It was a great event, really. We mention the emotions at the figure skating event and Nick applauds Herb Magee for becoming the winningest coach in college basketball.

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.