Following the success of 30 for 30, ESPN Films is creating a destination for sports documentaries on ESPN Classic.

ESPN Films on Classic will showcase films for 50 hours each weekend starting at 10 p.m. ET every Friday through midnight every Sunday.

“One of the things that makes sports storytelling so captivating is that when a pivotal moment happens, it is almost instantly considered ‘classic’, said Keith Clinkscales, SVP, content development and enterprises. “With 30 for 30, we were able to prove that classic sports stories resonate with a large and diverse audience so our intent with “ESPN Films on Classic” is to create a permanent destination for this genre. We feel this is a natural brand extension for ESPN Classic, which already features documentary and historical programming.” Read more

Oh, Andy Gray. Making off-color remarks about a female linesman was not the best career move.

Sky Sports fired the famous soccer commentator after he was caught on two separate instances saying disparaging things about Sian Massey.

“I can see her from here. What do women know about the offside rule?” the famous voice, who gets paid more than $3 million per year, said.

Andy Burton and Richard Keys were suspended for their roles.

More footage after the jump. Read more

You knew it was coming, right?

It’s not every day that SportsNewser will give a media person a birthday shout out.

But when you’re the greatest announcer of all-time, we are willing to make an exception.

The voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vin Scully, celebrates his 83rd birthday today.

Since 1950, Scully has been the primary play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers, the longest a broadcaster has been with a single club in professional sports history. Read more

Remember when the San Francisco Giants won the hearts and minds of America (oh, and the World Series) as a loveable group of misfits?

We were all like, “Who are these guys?” And it was fun, because we love rooting for the underdog, even if that whole torture thing was a bit creepy, yes? (Plus, beards!)

The underdog Giants played as if there wasn’t any pressure on them. Because there wasn’t, and not just because everyone in the city was stoned. They were a bunch of cast-offs, guys who couldn’t find homes elsewhere. General manager Brian Sabean brought them together and, boom, magic.

The media loved the angle, too. The Giants had personality. They had charisma. They had Tim Lincecum. And they weren’t the New York Yankees.

Where were we? Right, another Bay Area squad is borrowing the underdog tag.

Read more

You almost certainly haven’t heard of Lori Chalupny. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn her story.

The 26 year old is, according to people who know these things, “the most complete and versatile player” on the United States women’s soccer program.

Except she’s not going to play for the Americans anymore, despite the fact that she’s still a dominant force on the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer and easily boasts enough talent to star on the Red, White, and Blue squad.

Why not? Concussions.

Here’s the deal: Chalupny has had five or six concussions during her career and “the U.S. Soccer Federation, in consultation with one of the leading experts on sports head trauma, has not cleared her to play for the national team.” Read more

Shannon Sharpe will return to the NFL Today after Michele Bundy withdrew her petition for a temporary restraining order against the former tight end.

“We are pleased that Shannon will be in his usual position with the NFL Today on Sunday,” CBS Sports spokeswoman LeslieAnne Wade said in a statement.

The woman claimed Sharpe forced her to have sex with him and threatened her life.

Sharpe was scheduled to appear in court on Monday and announced earlier this week that he was taking a hiatus from CBS until his legal matter was resolved.

“I had every expectation that based on truth alone these claims would never reach a court,” Sharpe said in a statement released by CBS. “This issue was dismissed in its totality and no monies and no communications were exchanged. Now I look forward to getting to work.”