Internet makes fool of ESPN’s Bayless

The Internet is clearly one of the greatest innovations in the history of humanity, enabling instantaneous mass communication around the globe and inspiring once-oppressed people to seek knowledge and freedom.

Oh, yeah, it has also made the practice of aging men exaggerating the athletic exploits of their youth nearly impossible.

That lesson has now been learned by Skip Bayless, though with his ego, don't expect him to admit his indiscretion or cut back on the bragging anytime soon.

The almost universally despised ESPN personality was trying to make a point on Twitter on March 31 about why the Oklahoma City Thunder need to start James Harden at point guard and move Russell Westbrook off the ball if they truly want to be a title contender.

In order to further his credibility on the issue, Bayless pointed out he was just like Westbrook during his high school days at Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma.

"FYI: I started for high school team that lost in state finals. Coach didn't like me b/c I shot too much and he wanted me to be more PG," Bayless tweeted on March 31. "Tall for age in 9th grade. chosen MVP of state-wide basketball camp over several future D1 players. Decided I was Maravich. Coach disagreed."

Oklahoma-based website thelostogle.com decided to check out Bayless's claims. The site dug up the yearbooks from his junior and senior years, 1969 and 1970.

The yearbooks showed Bayless as one of the few juniors on the junior varsity squad in 1969 and playing in 15 varsity games while scoring a total of 21 points in his senior year on a team that went 20-2 and lost in the state finals.

It's theoretically possible the starting point guard could have averaged just 1.4 points and not seen action in seven games, but that would certainly shoot holes in the theory that he shot too much.

Sure enough, the website SportsByBrooks.com obtained a copy of the Daily Oklahoman from the state championship game that showed Bayless did not start, but did appear in the box score without recording a single stat.

■ MORE BAYLESS -- Don't expect this to be over, either. Also on March 31, Bayless tweeted he was an all-region baseball player his senior year of high school and was offered a spot on the team at Vanderbilt, which like now, was a Southeastern Conference powerhouse at the time.

He said he instead chose to focus on his studies and end his athletic career.

Bayless insists his old high school coach, George O'Leary, will corroborate the entire story.

■ SAPPY STORY -- Much of the focus on Warren Sapp's recent bankruptcy filing has been centered on his listed assets.

Sure, he counts 240 pairs of Air Jordan sneakers, a $2,250 watch, and Super Bowl and national championship rings among his nearly $6.5 million in assets.

But Sapp also listed a lion skin rug valued at $1,200. Let's just ignore for a moment that a rug made out of the skin of the king of the jungle is only worth $1,200. Wow, the poor economy has really taken its toll on the exotic animal skin market.

The real question is where would one buy such an item. There's no way that's a floor model at Home Depot.

COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL