For a cable network that is far and away the leader in sports television -- so much so that they've called themselves "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" for over 30 years now -- ESPN seems to be quite the tight-assed organization.

Despite forging a reputation for opinionated sports coverage via TV, radio, and internet, they have issued an edict to their employees to not say anything critical about fellow ESPNers, under threat of suspension or other finger-wagging punishment. Bill Simmons has chafed the most under these regulations, but Tony Kornheiser isn't far behind.

So when Kornheiser opened his radio show last week by criticizing the semi-revealing outfit 'SportsCenter' anchor Hannah Storm wore that morning, you knew something was coming. Sure enough, ESPN has suspended Kornheiser from 'Pardon the Interruption' for an indeterminate period of time, according to FanHouse.

(S08E11) Ah, the wonders of corporate synergy. ABC has produced Scrubs since day one, but since it aired for seven years on NBC, an episode like tonight's would have probably never gotten made. Actually, it would have gotten made, but SportsCenter would only be referenced, not shown in extended sequences airing on the break room TV. And we wouldn't have gotten an opportunity to see extended shots of Hannah Storm wearing her sexy outfits (she's in her late 40s, a mom, and a respected journalist, but she still rocks those tiny dresses, doesn't she?).

This was an odd episode. Very light in tone, without a lot of guffawable moments. But the dramatic moments were spot on, and the nice easy-going vibe of the episode really reminded me of ones I used to see very early in the show's run. I mean first-season early.

I hope Hannah Storm enjoyed sleeping late since she's been off the CBS Early Show because her new gig will be on the AM shift once again. And she'll be back talking sports. ESPN is going to announce tomorrow that Hannah Storm will anchor a new, revamped SportsCenter morning edition. SportsCenter is already on every morning, so you have to assume that by adding Storm to the mix, the folks at Disney (ESPN's parent company) are looking to pump up the old format and maybe bring in some new viewers -- like maybe those who used to watch Hannah on CBS.

Of course, there's already two other competing morning shows on the ESPN family of channels, Mike & Mike in the Morning which stars Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, and First Take (formerly known as Cold Pizza) with Jay Crawford and Dana Jacobson.