WWE’s SummerSlam grossed more than $1 million this past Sunday, thanks to a sold out crowd of 17,404 fans at Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to the sports entertainment company.

That amount marks the highest grossing SummerSlam pay-per-view held at Staples Center, which has been the home of the WWE event since 2009.

Celebrities in attendance included actor Kellan Lutz, Michael Clark Duncan, Morris Chestnut, Jenny McCarthy, Los Angeles Lakers’ Ron Artest, Dancing With The Stars‘ Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff and Lacey Schwimmer.

Apparently ESPN is not hiring or retaining every NFL player or coach who made a name for themselves in the last two decades, as former First Take contributors Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks will not be working for the World Wide Leader, spokesman Josh Krulewitz tells Michael McCarthy of USA Today.

It’s not clear if the two NFL TV analysts are leaving on their own, or were asked to hand in their playbooks, as ESPN conducts its annual preseason training camp for analysts.

Dunn and Brooks were teammates on the Buccaneers and are considered two of the most upstanding football people for their off-the-field contributions. ESPN recently hired Jerry Rice, Bill Parcells, Eric Mangini, Damien Woody and Hugh Douglas as NFL analysts.

We’ve all heard the saying “yellow and green make blue,” which isn’t actually true, as the combination creates something more akin to lime green. Nevertheless, the faux formula persists in some people’s minds, including a former member of the All England Club, who worried that yellow balls being smashed on green grass would create “bloody blue balls at Wimbledon.” Let’s hear venerable announcer Dick Enberg share the tale yesterday with fellow announcer Chris Evert, who responds, “OK, I’ll leave that one alone.”

The University of Detroit Mercy will name their home court after former coach and current ESPN personality Dick Vitale during an ESPN2-televised game against St. John’s on Dec. 5, the school announced Wednesday.

“What Dick has done for the game of college basketball is nothing short of remarkable, and it is only fitting that we honor him in such a special way — given his career started right here at U. of D. as a head coach,” UDM athletic director Keri Gaither said. “Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall will serve as a perpetual and lasting tribute to not only Dick’s time at Detroit but also his significant contributions to the sport over several decades.”

Vitale recorded a thank-you video presentation that was played during the conference.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” he said. “This is an incredible honor.”

Vitale coached the Titans to four winning seasons from 1973-77, including a 25-4 record and NCAA Tournament bid in 1977.

(Source: Fox Sports Detroit)

Following his defeat of Matt Hamill at UFC 130 on Saturday night, Rampage Jackson did an interview with MMA Heat reporter Karyn Bryant, a discussion that ended with him mimicking the act of “motorboating” and joking about humping her.

Yeah, if LeBron James or Tom Brady did this, it’d be a big deal. But it’s B.A. Baracus, who spends his life punching other men in the face, so people basically shrug it off. Don’t believe me? Check out the additional videos that The Big Lead has compiled of Jackson’s past antics with female reporters. BTW, great question from Bryant, asking Jackson how “homeboys” feel about him.

Warning: Video may be NSFW

ESPN Radio and ESPN.com personality Stephen A. Smith stopped into our offices recently for our Media Beat video series.

In part one of our discussion, we talked about his philosophy for being a successful journalist in the multi-platform media environment we live in.

“There is nothing worse than being mediocre at a whole bunch of different things,” he said. “You want to be the best at something.”

We also discussed his love for radio, (“radio affords you the opportunity to pontificate and elaborate extensively,” he told us) as well as whether he wants to move back over to the TV side of ESPN.

You can watch this video on YouTube by clicking here.

In Part II tomorrow: Smith talks about some current controversies in the world of sports.

In Part III Wednesday: Is a Stephen A. Smith talk show coming soon?

Jim Gray, still trying to wash off The Decision stink, was supposed to spend the weekend working the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, Calif. for the Golf Channel. Yeah, not going to happen anymore.

The broadcaster got into an argument with Dustin Johnson‘s caddie and has been removed from covering the event.

“Our aim is to provide the best possible golf coverage for our viewers. Anything else is a disservice. In order not to provide further distraction, we’ve decided to remove Jim from this particular assignment,” Golf Channel spokesman Dan Higgins told the USA Today.

In August, Gray had it out with United States Ryder captain Corey Pavin.

The Golf Channel refused to comment about whether they would hire Gray again. Decisions, decisions.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished their slate of regular season home games on Sunday without a sellout, meaning they went the entire season blacked out locally when they were playing at Raymond James Stadium.

The Buccaneers are the only team in the NFL that achieved such a dubious fate.

Raymond James Stadium has a capacity of 65,890. The closest the Buccaneers came to a sell out was in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when 57,616 tickets were used, according to the Tampa Sports Authority. Read more