Beau Bock of 790 The Zone in Atlanta goes absolutely apesh*t on a Falcons caller who accused him of being a homer.

Gee, I wonder why he thinks Bock is a homer. Sure can’t tell after listening to this tirade.

[H/T Jimmy Traina]

CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz was named the 2011 recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

The youngest recipient of the award at the age of 52, Nantz will be honored on Aug. 5 during the Enshrinees Dinner. The annual ward recognizes “long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.

“It’s one of the greatest honors you could ever receive in our industry,” Nantz said. “I’m grateful to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for this recognition and thrilled to be in the company of the past recipients of the Pete Rozelle Award.”

Nantz joins Dick Enberg and Curt Gowdy as the only broadcasters to be recognized by both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Another WWE star is in hot water for using a homophobic slur.

CM Punk was caught on camera saying “You homo!” at a fan during a live event in Australia.

“WWE does not condone this type of language or bias and we reinforce that with our talent who are independent contractors,” a WWE rep told TMZ.com.

“…I’m embarrassed. I own up to being a total douche in this situation and I offer a sincere apology to anybody I hurt with careless words,” CM Punk tweeted following the incident.

CM Punk’s contract with the WWE reportedly ends on July 17. He’s booked in the main event at the Money In The Bank pay-per-view against WWE champion John Cena.

In the recent issue of ESPN the Magazine, an anonymous NBA player wrote a column that characterized Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett as a “punk” and a “coward,” and this didn’t sit too well with former NBA player and current ESPN commentator Mark Jackson, who said during yesterday’s Celtics/Knicks game on ABC, “I think it’s a cop-out, as a magazine, to give a source and not give the name. If you’re going to attack Kevin Garnett in that way, then put a name to it or don’t write it. It’s not fair to Kevin Garnett.”

ABC and ESPN are both owned by Disney.

This isn’t the first time the Mag has used anonymous players or coaches to provide insight on behind-the-scenes issues. Instead of using an anonymous player, maybe they should have simply let Anthony Peeler write the column about Garnett. Heaven knows he wouldn’t have pulled any punches on KG.

(H/T to The Sportsgrid)

The already extended Master’s telecast is getting even bigger. ESPN will air 10 hours of the tournament in 3D. The Worldwide Leader will air two hours during each of the four rounds as well as two during Wednesday’s Par 3 competition.

It’s an extension of the precedent set in 2010 when “the Masters became the first major sporting event produced and broadcast in 3D live internationally on television and the Internet.”

ESPN, which is pulling out all the stops for the broadcast, will also produce “a special 43-hour Masters tribute on ESPN Classic.” Man, that’s a lot of Tiger Woods.

The Don Ohlmeyer era as ESPN ombudsman is coming to an end.

According to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated, Ohlmeyer will write his final column in the next couple of weeks and the network is in the process of hiring his replacement.

The television producer legend was hired by ESPN in July 2009 for an 18-month term. He’s penned 13 columns during his tenure but only three since July 21.

All eyes will be on ESPN to see who they replace Ohlmeyer with. Read more

We might be a few years away from a playoff system in college football, but tomorrow’s issue of Sports Illustrated looks at what a 16-team playoff system would look like if the season ended today.

Way to get our hopes up, SI.

Come celebrate the launch of SportsNewser next Tuesday, October 26 at Arctica in New York City!

Your SportsNewser, WebNewser and TVNewser editor, Alex Weprin, will be hosting the event, along with Molly Stark Dean, the co-editor of TVNewser.

Want to come? RSVP to get on the list here.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, October 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Arctica

384 Third Avenue (Between 27th and 28th)

New York, NY 10016

Legendary sportscaster Al Michaels will be honored at this year’s Paley Center gala, the museum says. Michaels will be joined by outgoing “Entertainment Tonight” host Mary Hart. The annual gala is slated for November 30 at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Los Angeles.

Michaels is currently the play-by-play voice of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”

“With a voice that most of America recognizes, Al has covered more major sports events than any other sportscaster,” said Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of the Paley Center in a statement. “With his journalism background and his experience of being in the booth for over thirty years, he has been involved in some of the most memorable moments in sports history.”