Matchups in the first two regions begin now. The other two regions should begin on Friday. Here's the matchups one more time, with a brief summary of what makes them "not." If you want a full rundown of their credentials, check the original matchup.
DALE EARNHARDT JR. vs. TONY ROMO
- Earnhardt--Epitome of ESPN broadcasting strategy: He's newsworthy because he's the most popular. Forget that he may not qualify for the Chase again this year (which means he's not even one of the 12 best drivers out there).
- Romo--Didn't have to pay his dues or go through the regular channels to become famous. It was thrust upon him after a couple of games because he has one of the "best jobs" in sports: America's quarterback.
BOBBY KNIGHT vs. MATT LEINART
- Knight--Former championship coach who hasn't been relevant on the court for years. But he has become one of ESPN's "go to guys" for years because of his arrogance, attitude, and temper tantrums.
- Leinart--Legitimate national championship and Heisman Trophy quarterback. But ESPN's love for all things USC has turned him into a rock star and premature Hall of Famer.
MARK CUBAN vs. DAVID BECKHAM
- Cuban--Narcisistic owner who cannot stand not being the center of attention.
- Beckham--ESPN hype machine declaring him "the savior of American soccer" remains out of control. ESPN would prefer to show shots of him warming up and stretching than show the game actually being played on the field.
MICHAEL VICK vs. MICHELLE WIE
- Vick--Considered an elite quarterback even though his passing skills leave a lot to be desired. His dog-fighting accusations have consumed the network's "news" coverage.
- Wie--Teenage golfing phenom whose desire for publicity and money (or her handlers' desire for publicity and money) by qualifying for men's tournaments have damaged her chances of ever being taken seriously as a professional golfer.
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