Chris Berman is a clown? If the big floppy shoes fit ...

Thanks to the good folks at Deadspin.com for leading me to this:

New York sports media columnists know what some of us have suspected.

ESPN's Chris Berman is a clown.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News said so in his Friday column.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post concurred Sunday.

Raissman on security at Yankee Stadium:

"... it seems security does not take the same rigid stance with everyone - like ESPN's mouthy Chris Berman. Monday, he was seen walking around the Yankees clubhouse like he owned the place. Berman was big-timing to the max, strolling into areas clearly marked "no media allowed beyond this point." Perhaps Berman thought the sign did not apply to him because it did not read "no clowns allowed beyond this point."

Mushnick on ESPN in general, wrote this about the caricatures portraying themselves as broadcasters:

That's why Kenny Mayne is stuck playing that Kenny Mayne character on ESPN, Lee Corso is stuck playing Lee Corso, and Chris Berman, who long ago should have been encouraged -- even ordered -- to move beyond and above his clown act, remains ESPN's head clown. They've all been painted into corners.

For something completely different, may I recommend a visit to bernielincicome.com?

The former Chicago Tribune columnist has his own Web site now. His latest paper, the Rocky Mountain News, folded not long ago.

Today, Lincicome wrote about the Indianapolis 500. Here are a couple of his many choice paragraphs:

Anyone who hates auto racing, let me say, is no friend of mine, for I try to keep an open mind about voluntary lunacy.

Auto racing is the most sensual of sports. It assaults all the senses. It is louder than war, smells worse than fresh landfill, tastes like the wet end of a dipstick, feels like falling down stairs and looks like smeared paint. And with (Danica) Patrick's recent exposure in Playboy, a whole new way of looking at the sport.