It's comedy tonight. (Remote Patrol).

Did you hear the one about a 9-year-old who wrote ESPN saying he wanted to anchor SportsCenter someday? The reply, postmarked Bristol, Conn., read: "The Worldwide Leader In Sports recommends you get your education, with an emphasis on communication and cosmetics. Then start your career by performing on a smaller stage where you can sharpen skills essential to today's sportscasting. You might try Sol's Funny Farm in the Catskills." (Rimshot.)

Sports has gone to the comedians. If Monday Night Football didn't start the fire hiring Dennis Miller, ABC poured 92 octane on it. SportsCenter's Rich Eisen lists stand-up comedy on his resume. Ditto ESPN contributor Nick Bakay and Vera Jones, analyst for the women's NCAAs. There's also Wanda Sykes of HBO's Inside the NFL; Jimmy Kimmel, Fox NFL Sunday soothsayer; and Tom Arnold, starring on FSN's Best Damn Sports Show Period. Milton Berle can't replace John Madden at Fox, but Krusty the Clown can.

Now Jay Mohr, ex-Saturday Night Live cast member who sparkled on NFL This Morning, has his own ESPN "comedy-variety show," Mohr Sports. Send in the clowns. Fire the sportscasters.

"That's not a fair characterization," says Mohr, 31. "I'm a sniper, a ringer. ...