Without any boxing on the Olympic broadcast when I arrived at home after work, I decided to tune into the train wreck that is MSNBC's lighter look at the Olympics. This program is already an Internets legend. Bad scripting, awful ad libs, bickering between hosts results in a fantastic collision of things that result in perhaps the worst television production ever.

It is hosted by Tiki Barber and someone named Jenna Wolfe. They have as good a chemistry as Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman had in "The Avengers". They are hideous together. I happened to see a segment on Olympic fashion. OK, whoever the producer was who decided this was a good idea should have known how the hosts would handle it. They had a highlight of synchronized swimmers and Jenna asks Tiki if the sequined outfits would influence the judges. He went from a firm "No." to "Maybe." in the course of 40 seconds, which included stammering, dead air and further insipid prodding by his co-host.

Then they bring up what Michael Phelps wears, basically saying he's in the pool half-naked. First of all, he has no judges in his sport, and second, the clip they show is Phelps at an event where he is wearing the full bodysuit! I mean, is anyone in charge or at the very least, paying attention to the crap they are putting on the air. It's only day 13.

I guess they also have a piece of the "Today Show" as well. I saw a clip where the talk surrounds medal count. Jenna reports she doesn't care about medals, because unbeknownst to Tiki, she's been wearing his Super Bowl ring all week. Tiki then dutifully replies he's never won a Super Bowl, rendering that joke immediately lame. Later on, it's Jenna and Tiki joined by Brian Williams to talk about medal count. Jenna gives Tiki some grief for arguing with her, but not the exalted Brian Williams. I believe Tiki then tells Jenna, "See you next Tuesday!".

I'm telling you, this is epic TV.

Meal of Links

Keeping on the Olympic theme. The 50 Hottest Female Olympians. I conducted the Hope Solo Test and was about to render the list incompetent. Then I saw Hope Solo (gold medalist, BTW) at #2. The list is now deemed, "Very nice!".

We were talking about Pop Tarts at work yesterday. I am always confounded by the fact it is difficult to find the non-frosted ones, of which I believe there are three flavors remaining (Strawberry, Blueberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon). Now they've gone to the ones with the tops split into two types of frostings. Sheesh!I am not buying these every quarter or anything like that, but once in a while, they taste OK toasted. But here are some foods that probably tasted better when you were young.

Hey, Snoop got busted for weed.

Exercise Yard

Gene Upshaw died today. Of course, keeping with the Cleveland tradition of getting the lesser relative, the Browns didn't get Gene, we got cousin Willie.

When I was a kid I was a huge Raider fan and Upshaw was a large part of the Raiders success for a long time. Played in Super Bowls in three different decades. Clearly one of the best guards to ever play in the AFL, then NFL. Should be on tons of all-time teams. Think of that left side of the line: Jim Otto at center, Gene Upshaw at guard, Art Shell at tackle. I think even I could gain positive yards behind those guys.

Probably gained more fame as head of the NFLPA, hammering out the current labor deal. But he was one of the all-time greats. Al Davis chimes in:

"The Raider Organization, the National Football League, and the world have lost a great man. Gene Upshaw’s career successes as a professional football player and a union leader are unparalleled. He is as prominent a sportsman as the world has known. He was and will remain a part of the fabric of our lives and of the Raider mystique and legacy. We loved him and he loved us. We will miss him. Our hearts go out to Terri and the boys.”

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62 Across: Manfred ___ Richthofen (The Red Baron) (3 letters) Answer: von