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A House Divided
ESPN presents a multi-platform look at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell anchored by an Outside the Lines report (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET ESPN)

Since becoming NFL commissioner in 2006, Roger Goodell has earned the respect of the league’s owners but also the criticism of many of its players. His handling of the “Bountygate” scandal in New Orleans has been especially scrutinized. OTL examines Goodell’s leadership and considers that, despite all of the NFL’s success, the league may now be more divided than ever before.

“I think that a lot of the guys that criticized him, maybe some of the guys who were getting in trouble, maybe they didn’t like the discipline. I would ask that 61 percent (of players who disapprove of the job Goodell is doing according to a USA Today poll) specifically, ‘What are you dissatisfied about?’ I mean, ‘What’s so bad about being an NFL player?’ Or, ‘How has it gotten worse the last six years?’” — Matt Birk, former Baltimore Ravens center who retired this month

“I think that the NFL was out for blood. I think that Roger Goodell had kind of just said, ‘Hey, this is my story I’m sticking to it, regardless if I’m wrong, regardless of what the truth is. I am the judge. I’m the jury. I’m the executioner.’” — Earl Heyman, former Saints defensive tackle

The Sporting Life with Jeremy Schaap (Friday, 10 p.m., ESPN Radio)
ESPN The Magazine Senior Writer Don Van Natta discusses his investigative profile of Goodell.
ESPN.com (posted Tuesday, March 5)
ESPN The Magazine (on newsstands Friday, March 8)

Van Natta goes in-depth on Goodell, speaking with owners, players and others to paint a full picture of the most high profile commissioner in all of sports.

 

Not Just “Barry’s Son” Anymore
College Gameday(11 a.m. Saturday, ESPN)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYh5QnJ26yU&feature=youtu.be

University of Miami sophomore guard, Shane Larkin has helped the Hurricanes to a 22-4 record and a No. 5 national ranking. The son of Hall of Famer and ESPN baseball analyst, Barry Larkin, bypassed his father’s chosen sport and has Miami on the cusp of its first ACC regular-season title with a win Saturday at Duke.

“A coach told him he couldn’t hit the way he was taught to hit, that whoever taught Shane how to hit taught him the wrong way, and they didn’t know what they were talking about.” – Barry Larkin, on feedback that influenced Shane’s decision to quit baseball

“I was so used to doing it the way Tony Perez and Pete Rose taught me how to hit. After that game, I called my father, and I was like, ‘After this season, I don’t want to play baseball anymore.’ I knew (my father) wanted me to play baseball. Just telling him, ‘I don’t want to play the sport you play,’ I knew it would hurt him.” – Shane Larkin

 

From earlier this week. . . 
Tony Stewart Visited Injured Fans

Marty Smith reported that Tony Stewart visited seven NASCAR fans who were injured Saturday during a horrific wreck on the last lap of the Nationwide Series event at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Tag, You’re It!
(SportsCenter, Sunday 10 a.m. ESPN)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-K8t6YWz8M&feature=youtu.be

Ten high school friends in 1982 at the Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Wash. began a game of tag with the person “It” at the end of school becoming “It” for life. They continue the spirited competition — which has often crossed state lines and flirted with the law – all in the spirit of fun and maintaining lifelong friendships.

“To reach out and touch somebody and physically tag somebody, who maybe you haven’t seen in a long time, that’s something that Facebook or Twitter or any other social media platform isn’t going to be able to give you.” — Mike Konesky, Tag player

 

West Texas A&M 2B-SS: Strength Up the Middle
SportsCenter on ESPN Deportes (Sunday, 11 p.m.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUK9eWVSs6M&feature=youtu.be

West Texas A&M shortstop Alyssa Lemos and second baseman Mercedes Garcia are much more than a double play combination. These teammates share a deep connection that began in 2011 when they found themselves struggling to learn how to live without their mothers.

 

OTL Earns Gracie Award for Second Time in Three YearsThis week, Outside the Lines was honored with a 2013 Gracie National Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) which named the ESPN series its “Outstanding Sports Program.” This marks the second time in the last three years that Outside the Lines has won the Gracie Award for Outstanding Sports Program.