ESPN golf analyst Paul Azinger took a cheap shot at President Barack Obama Thursday via Twitter – the same day ESPN announced their revamped social networking policy:

Facts: Potus has played more golf this month than I have: I have created more jobs this month than he has: #Marthasvineyard

An ESPN spokesperson fired back Friday at Azinger about his tweet. “Paul’s tweet was not consistent with our social media policy, and he has been reminded that political commentary is best left to those in that field,” spokesman Andy Hall told USA Today in a statement.

Maybe Azinger can ask the folks at Deadspin for a recap of what he missed Thursday.

Nationally syndicated sports talk show host Tony Bruno caused quite the stir over the weekend following a racially insensitive tweet Friday night.

“Gutless #!@%*# Giants,” Bruno, a Philadelphia Phillies fan, tweeted. “[Bruce] Bochy is a coward for having his illegal alien pitcher hit a guy since mighty Frisco boys …” He was referencing San Francisco reliever Ramon Ramirez, who drilled Shane Victorino with a pitch.

Bruno deleted the tweet, but the damage had been done. He issued an apology and explanation on his Facebook page: Read more

CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell can cross singing the National Anthem at a baseball game off his bucket list.

Rovell not only sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Tampa Bay Rays game Wednesday, but he tackled O Canada as well since the Toronto Blue Jays were in town.

Chicago sportscaster Mike Adamle was cleared of driving under the influence after Cook County prosecutors dismissed the charges Friday.

The 61-year-old was stopped in January by Evanston police after he committed a traffic violation and exhibited erratic behavior, according to authorities. Adamle’s blood-alcohol level was only 0.04, half the legal limit.

Sports Illustrated writer Andrew Perloff is the official blogger for The Dan Patrick Show, a post that involves interacting with guests and contributing on-air input to Patrick’s radio program. Perloff, who’s known to listeners as McLovin, today suggested that the best way to end the tedious NFL lockout is to have commissioner Roger Goodell dip his penis in honey and then, well, that’s it. That alone will somehow solve the labor situation. Goodell has yet to comment on this groundbreaking proposal.

(H/T to The Sports Grid)

NBA Digital recorded 141 million video streams and 401 million page views during the NBA Finals, an increase of 89 percent and 11 percent, respectively vs. last year’s records.

The NBA Finals wraps up an impressive season for NBA Digital, which set the following marks during the 2010-11 NBA season:

• NBA TV featured more live NBA games (96) during the regular season than any other network, and increased distribution to 55.2 million U.S. homes in April 2011.
• NBA.com set all-time records for video streams and page views during the regular season and post season with 8 billion page views an increase of more than 33% and over 2.7 billion video streams, an increase of more than 133%.
• NBA GameTime mobile app downloads delivered a 90% increase across all platforms from last year.
• NBA GameTime, the league’s digital application, is now available on Apple TV, Google TV, Roku, Vizio, LG, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, iPad, Panasonic and Samsung, making it one of the most far-reaching sports applications.

“The Playoffs showed once again that our vast array of products and distribution channels, coupled with the deepest NBA content anywhere, engage fans like never before,” said Bryan Perez, senior vice president and general manager of NBA Digital. “Like the Dallas Mavericks, our record setting numbers were a true team effort, across all our TV, Web, Mobile and Social platforms.”

Yes, that’s ESPN’s Mike Greenberg dressed as Justin Bieber.

No, I have nothing else witty to add. The photo speaks for itself.

[H/T Deadspin]

In case Joe Buck sounds a little off during Saturday’s St. Louis-Cincinnati broadcast, it’s because the Fox Sports announcer is fighting a viral ailment.

A virus developed in the nerves of Buck’s left vocal cord shortly after the Super Bowl in mid-February. While he isn’t expected to miss any time, Buck is still a month away from full recovery.

“And I don’t plan on missing any until I really have to,” Buck said. “I just have to plow through it. I’m not damaging it or hurting it by talking. I’m just waiting for it to fire like it’s supposed to.”

Buck had a scheduled break last week and gets another next weekend.

“I’m just taking it week to week. I’m improving, it’s trending up. It hasn’t slowed me down from talking, just ask my kids.”

ESPN released their list of relevant and approved endorsements involving ESPN commentators.

Erin Andrews: Reebok
Paul Azinger: Adams Golf
Mike Bellotti: Nike Coaching Clinic at USC
Ato Bolden: Adidas
Bruce Bowen: Nike
Tim Brown: Under Armour
Olin Browne: Callaway, Razor Hawk, Odyssey
Chris Burandt: Monster, Polaris, Slednecks, Klim, HMK, Starting Line Products, Holz Racing Products, Fox Racing, Snox, EGT, VCHK, 509, Boon Docker Performance, RSI, RPM, Sled Solutions, Better Boards, Timbersled, Sledez, Edge Products
Darren Cahill: Adidas, Wilson, Donnay Read more

Dan Patrick landed Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant this morning to discuss his homophobic comment towards referee Bennie Adams.

“It was just stupid and ignorant,” Bryant said. “In this situation, seeing how many people were affected, it helps you understand the weight that comes from that word. That’s why it’s very important for me to communicate how sorry I am to use the word.”

Bryant hasn’t talked to Adams yet about Tuesday’s incident.

“The next game he calls for us I’ll definitely make a point to reach out to him,” Bryant added. Read more