A Little on The Side

Yes, to some theyare the embodiment of the phrase too much information. Yet where would we bewithout sideline reporters, microphone-wielding wanderers like Andrea Kremer,Chris Myers and Bonnie Bernstein? The answer: exactly where we are right now,32 years after Jim Lampley (above) and Don Tollefson invented the job duringABC's telecast of a UCLA-Tennessee game in 1974--but without the Great Momentsin Sideline Reporting that follow.

1986
Susan Warnick, reporting from the course during the Boston Marathon for localstation WCVB, notes that two-time winner Joan Benoit Samuelson isn't among theleaders. She's right: Benoit Samuelson, who didn't enter, is at the finishline--working as a commentator for WCVB.

1996
Before the civil trial stemming from charges he killed his wife, O.J. Simpson(left) dismisses claims that he owns the Bruno Magli loafers that left printsat the crime scene by saying he'd never wear those "ugly-ass shoes."Oh, but he would: Plaintiffs later introduce photos of him working a 1993 gamefor NBC wearing the kicks in question.

1999
Before Game 2 of the World Series, NBC's resident bulldog, Jim Gray, thesideline reporter's sideline reporter, grills Pete Rose about his gambling.What follows is a loud public outcry--against Gray, who is vilified for puttingRose on the spot and is snubbed on camera by Yankee Chad Curtis (right) afterhe hits a walk-off homer in Game 3.

2001
TNT's Charles Barkley, upon seeing Craig Sager's decidedly unconservative suit,says, "I don't have anything against black people, white people or any kindof people, but when you start letting pimps interview people, that's where Idraw the line."

2003
Joe Namath during a December Jets game responds to a question from ESPN's SuzyKolber about the team's struggles, saying: "I want to kiss you." Namathlater apologizes, saying he was "full of some Christmas cheer, certainlytoo much."

2003
Lisa Guerrero (left) gets her Monday Night Football career off to a rocky startby asking the Redskins' Patrick Ramsey about facing "ex-teammate"Laveranues Coles. Ramsey is flummoxed: Coles is his current teammate--and hasjust caught five of his passes.

2003
Actress Nicole Richie (right), asked by Fox Sports Net's Bill MacDonald at aLakers game to name her favorite player, seems oblivious to the fact thatL.A.'s star is fighting a rape charge. "Kobe," she replies. "I wanthim to have sex with me."

2005
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan is doused with Gatorade after a win over Colorado.ABC's Suzy Schuster asks him, "Was that one of the most gratifying dumpsyou've had?"

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RON FREHM/AP

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BRIAN MCCRONE/AP

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