Joe Walsh

My plan was to retire off my baseball card collection by my early 30s. Hundreds of Kevin Maas, Phil Plantier and Brien Taylor rookie cards later, I did the next best thing. I joined the World Wide Leader. Just as my Twitter bio (@JoeWalshESPN) says, I manage the ESPN Fan Central team (@ESPN_FanCentral) most of the time, and am a Red Sox, Raiders and Celtics fan all of the time. When I’m not delivering fan service or debating why Alan Trammell, Jack Morris and Tim Raines should be in the Hall of Fame (trust me, they should), I can be found watching a game, at the ESPN gym or back in Colorado hiking with my dog.

Recent Posts

posted by on May 17, 2013 10:59 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: NCAA softball & baseball slates; Miguel Cabrera on SNB; new 30 for 30 lineup

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Before we get to your questions, here’s a quick programming reminder for college softball and baseball fans: The NCAA Softball Regionals start today at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPNU, with two of what could be 97 games played between now and June 5 (see complete schedule). NCAA Baseball Conference Championship Games start Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 with the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship (see complete schedule). In total, ESPN platforms will show 70 baseball conference tournament games between Sunday and May 26.

And now onto your questions . . .

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers (Allen Kee / ESPN)

Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers face Texas on this week’s Sunday Night Baseball
(Allen Kee/ESPN)

Is ESPN showing Monday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball games at the end of May? Also, it appears there are no Sunday Night Baseball games scheduled for the end of July. — Molly continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central, Fan Central

posted by on May 8, 2013 1:18 PM

Live long and prosper: First Take’s Stephen A. Smith discusses making his Star Trek Into Darkness spot

If you were watching SportsCenter Tuesday morning, then you — and Stephen A. Smith himself — saw the debut of his commercial for the upcoming film, Star Trek Into Darkness.

Front Row caught up with Smith, who grew up watching Star Trek. He discusses the commercial filming experience, his acting future and names the NBA duo that compares favorably to Star Trek’s famous Kirk-Spock pairing. In the videos above and after the jump, see outtakes from Smith’s dramatic interpretations. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on April 26, 2013 11:00 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: A Q&A about SportsCenter’s JaMarcus Russell feature

JeMarcus

JaMarcus Russell is profiled in the recent SportsCenter feature “Waking Up.”

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. Also, be sure to “like” our Fan Central Facebook page. You can also e-mail questions to FanCentral@espn.com.

Something a bit different with this installment of the mailbag, as we answer a viewer’s question with more of an in-depth approach to the inquiry. In two weeks, we’ll be back with a regular mailbag, so keep those questions coming.

Little disappointed to see a whole segment dedicated to JaMarcus Russell. How many chances does a guy need? – Matthew continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central, Fan Central, NFL Draft

posted by on April 12, 2013 12:23 PM

Fan Central Mailbag: Masters schedule update, MLB schedule additions, The Schwab

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. Also, be sure to “like” our Fan Central Facebook page. You can also e-mail questions to FanCentral@espn.com.

Tiger Woods (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Tiger Woods (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Before we get to your questions, here’s our Masters schedule for the remainder of the tournament. Today’s live coverage runs from 3:00-7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN3/WatchESPN. An edited, encore presentation starts tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Also, ESPN 3D will have three hours of live play today starting at 4:30 p.m. and 3D will also have live coverage tomorrow and Sunday beginning at 4 p.m.

Now, on to your questions: continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central, Fan Central

posted by on March 28, 2013 12:00 PM

I Follow: DJ Gallo

ESPN Playbook's DJ Gallo

ESPN Playbook’s DJ Gallo

Editor’s note: I Follow is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

DJ Gallo is a columnist for ESPN Playbook, which takes a unique approach to covering the latest trending topics in sports, humor, entertainment, social media, technology, gaming and sports business. Gallo, the founder of SportsPickle.com, also has written for Comedy Central and The Onion. In his most recent Playbook column, he shared 16 facts about Florida Gulf Coast University to help fans pretend they’ve been a fan of the Eagles, the first 15-seed to reach the Sweet 16 in NCAA tournament history, for life. continue reading…

Filed in: I Follow: Inside Twitter

posted by on March 19, 2013 2:05 PM

Front & Center: X Games Host Ramona Bruland

X Games host Ramona Bruland gives an update from Tignes.

X Games host Ramona Bruland gives an update from Tignes.

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

No matter the sport, winning on the road is always a key to success. After making her debut as X Games host from her adopted hometown of Aspen, Colorado, in January, Ramona Bruland (@RamonaBruland) has a “road game” this week with X Games Tignes taking place tomorrow through Friday from France’s Northern Alps (See complete viewing schedule).

In the Front & Center podcast above, Bruland joins us from Paris to discuss, among other things, how to properly pronounce “Tignes,” what she learned from her X Games hosting debut, what fans should most look forward to this week and the amount of preparation that goes into an international X Games event. She even throws in some French for good measure.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, Front & Center, Podcast

posted by on March 8, 2013 10:00 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: Spanish-language WBC Games on ESPN, ESPN2; ATH voice revealed; ‘Worst of the Worst’ voting

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. Also, be sure to “like” our new Fan Central Facebook page. You can also e-mail questions to FanCentral@espn.com.

Before we get to the latest mailbag questions, let’s first address some programming news. This Sunday night’s 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will be simulcast in Spanish on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. There will be another Spanish-language WBC simulcast on ESPN2 Tuesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The Spanish-language simulcasts are part of the exclusive Spanish-language, live coverage of all 39 WBC games on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+.

We realize some fans are curious about the decision to have Spanish-language simulcasts on ESPN and ESPN2, so we spoke with Executive Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions Norby Williamson about the offering.

“The World Baseball Classic provides a great showcase of how ESPN’s resources can document a global event with strong multi-cultural appeal,” Williamson said. “Having the exclusive Spanish-language rights to all 39 WBC games on Deportes and Deportes+ for both the 2013 and 2017 events provides us with unique opportunities to serve fans across our television, audio and digital properties. The upcoming simulcasts are the latest examples.”

Two other quick baseball-related notes: First, ESPN’s first spring training game of the 2013 season takes place this Monday at 1 p.m. when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the New York Yankees (Full Spring Training schedule). Second, for those on Twitter, you now can get all your ESPN baseball news, updates and insight by following @BBTN.

Now onto your questions:

Note: This first question was directed to Jamie Little, pit reporter for ESPN’s NASCAR and IndyCar coverage and a reporter for the Winter X Games.

ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)

ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)

I always wondered about who makes the replacement car parts that are destroyed during each race and who makes the new interior roll cages for each car? – Bill continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN Fan Central, Fan Central

posted by on February 20, 2013 4:00 PM

NBA trade deadline in a new setting, but it’s old hat for Flip Saunders

Flip Saunders (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Flip Saunders (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN2 will telecast a live NBA Trade Deadline Special on Thursday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN).

Anchor Kevin Connors (@kevconnorsespn) will host with analysts Flip Saunders (@Flip_Saunders), Tom Penn (@1tompenn) and ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard). (See the Twitter feed to the right for updates from ESPN NBA experts as Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline approaches.)

Front Row caught up with Saunders, who joined ESPN in October after 16 seasons as an NBA head coach, to discuss, among other topics, this season’s trade market, his deadline day memories and his transition from coach to analyst.

What has the transition from NBA head coach to ESPN NBA analyst been like?
It’s been nothing but a positive experience. Whether it’s been other analysts, anchors or production colleagues, everyone has been helpful. As a coach, you’re always focused on your team, but you don’t look at the league as a whole. Now I get to study the entire league. It’s fun, but it’s a lot of work. It’s given me such a great appreciation for the work and preparation our on-air talent puts in.

As an NBA head coach, what is the trade deadline day like? Any deadline day memories? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, NBAOnESPN

posted by on February 8, 2013 1:15 PM

Fan Central Mailbag: Bubble Watch returns; ‘A Reason To Win’; tickets to SportsNation shows

Screen-shot-2012-11-28-at-4.20.25-PM1Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. You can also e-mail them to FanCentral@ESPN.com.

Before we dive into your latest batch of questions, here’s a quick schedule update. Baseball Tonight (@ESPN_BBTN) debuts this Monday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. This season’s Baseball Tonight Goodyear Express Tour starts Monday at the World Champion San Francisco Giants’ spring training site in Scottsdale, Ariz. Baseball Tonight will begin at 3 p.m. the rest of next week. Here’s the full spring training tour schedule.

Now, onto your questions . . .

There was a story on SportsCenter about an email [Baltimore] Ravens coach John Harbaugh received from someone named Mike, who is physically challenged. The story talked about how the team was inspired by the email. Is that story available for me to watch again? — Merle
This is a great story that everyone should watch at least once. A quick summary: 21-year-old Ravens fan Matthew Jeffers, who has Skeletal Dysplasia, sent Harbaugh an inspirational email titled A Reason to Win following the eventual Super Bowl Champion Ravens’ third consecutive loss heading into Week 16 of the season.

When will the NCAA men’s basketball Bubble Watch be available? — Justin continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central

posted by on January 25, 2013 8:00 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: Upcoming schedule changes; SVP & Russillo helmet selections; X Games info

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. You can also e-mail them to FanCentral@ESPN.com.

As you know, Fan Central is here to be your go-to source to ask questions about ESPN and get important news, updates and information about anything and everything ESPN. With that, before we get into the latest batch of fan questions, we want to update you about upcoming schedule and programming changes on ESPN and ESPN2, some of which go into effect this coming Monday, Jan. 28 (all times listed as ET).

•SportsNation (@SportsNation) will be seen at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 beginning this Monday, Jan. 28.
•Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable (@DLHQ) will start at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2 beginning next week until Feb. 6. Dan and Papi move to 3:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 7.
•A live, afternoon edition of First Take (@ESPN_FirstTake) will debut on ESPN on Feb. 7 at 3:30 PM. Note: The live, morning edition of First Take at 10 AM on ESPN2 continues as well.
•Baseball Tonight (@ESPN_BBTN) will be on at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN2 beginning Feb. 11.

Don’t forget, you can always stay updated on the schedule for all the ESPN networks by visiting our online schedule. Now, on to your questions.

Does Fan Central have a Facebook page? — Joe
OK, in the interest of full disclosure, I sent this question in myself so I can plug our brand new Facebook page. (EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ll allow it!!) Be sure to like it today at facebook.com/ESPNFanCentral.

Now, YOUR questions for real.

Why do Scott Van Pelt & Ryen Russillo have a Wisconsin football helmet sitting on their desk in front of their mics? I love it! Go Bucky! On, Wisconsin! — Neil continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central