From Peter King‘s first Monday Morning Quarterback column of the NFL season. (Emphasis added)

I didn’t just like this. I loved it. It was great to see Len Pasquarelli back in action for The SportsXchange and CBSSportsline.com Thursday night at the Saints-Vikes opener. Pasquarelli is one of the hardest workers in any business, and I’m glad he’s back to his edgy Internet self after being marginalized by ESPN following his heart problems of the last couple of years.

Earlier this week we noted that Boston Celtic Shaquille O’Neal is interested in doing a Dave Chappelle-type comedy program when he finally retires from the game.

Well, it turns out, he already has a comedy show. Saturday, Showtime will air the third (!!) installment of “Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam- Live From Dallas.”

The program, which featurs “some of Shaq’s favorite comedians,” was taped during the NBA All Star weekend and is hosted by Mo’Nique. Performers include Paul Mooney (a “Chapelle’s Show” regular), Corey Holcomb, George Willborn and Michael Blackson.

So there you have it. It looks like Shaq is closer to that comedy show than we all thought.

No word on if the big man will do stand-up himself, but for all of our sake, the answer had better be “yes.”

Tom Brady, Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New England Patriots, has a lot on his plate: a team to lead, a kid to parent, a supermodel to appease, magazines in which to pose. He’s a busy dude. It would be understandable if he didn’t have time to watch HBO’s Hard Knocks. In fact, he refuses to check out the show for another reason entirely: It’s about the rival New York Jets.

“I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show,” the quarterback told the AP.

Brady, ever the diplomat, added, “”I’d love to say a lot of mean things, but I’d rather not do that, either.”

Considering the show’s ratings jumped 37 percent from last year, HBO might not need Brady’s eyeballs after all.

Tennis Channel has unveiled its coverage plans for the 2010 U.S. Open Championship, set to begin August 30. Among the changes: the network is adding two-time US Open singles winner Tracy Austin to its lineup of commentators. Austin had been making regular appearances on the channel through its “Tennic Channel Academy” series. She will be appearing as an afternoon and late-match analyst. Austin joins the channel’s current commentator lineup, which includes Bill Macatee, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova (pictured) and Lindsay Davenport.

The network is also building “Tennis Channel Plaza” which will serve as the network’s programming hub, and will be located just outside of Arther Ashe stadium. Tennis Channel talent will conduct interviews and host segments from the plaza, withy ticket holders able to watch in person.

The network’s full TV schedule, as well as broadband and digital coverage, is after the jump.

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Selected soundbytes from today’s radio spot. Let’s see how this goes:

Thanks Kansas City
“Whatever level of national success was a byproduct of rabid support I had here.”
Apologizes for arrogance, bombast.
“What you’re about to hear it not bitterness or bombast or arrogance. It’s disappointment. It’s devastation. It’s regret.”
“I love America. I love democracy.”
Other than being in the military, the best way you can serve this country is by being a journalist. Would never be in the military because he’s against killing. Read more