Addition By Subtraction

For me, ESPN is ruined by the self-important, egotistical Sports Center characters like Stuart Scott, Kenny Mayne (a whole 'nother level of douchebaggery), Scott Van Pelt and this guy, who started it all. Enjoy your retirement.

It was one of those special nights, a reward for a job well done, a life well lived. Best known as “Boomer” to sports fans of America, Chris Berman had Citi Field box seats by the dugout for himself, his 30-year-old son Doug, and Doug’s fiancee Clare. It was the eve of Berman’s 62nd birthday and they were going to watch the Mets play the San Francisco Giants, his favorite team since his days as a boy in New York’s Westchester County.

It was Tuesday, May 9, and Berman, ESPN’s original franchise player, was enjoying the early months of a victory lap, accepting daily congrats after stepping down from his 31-year position as host of the network’s NFL game-day studio programming.