I've spent much of this morning talking to fans headed to Seattle for the Redskins playoff game against the Seahawks. It looks like there are a good number of fans who have been undeterred by the price of last-minute flights, tickets and hotel reservations.

Kevin Miller, who owns a transportation technology firm in Northern Virginia, will be heading to rainy Seattle with his 16-year-old daughter, Ashleigh, for the second time in three years. (The 'Skins lost 20-10 to the Seahwaks in the playoffs' second round in 2006.)

"I fell like they have a better shot this year than last time," said Miller, who will pay about $1,200 all included for the trip. "They're just hitting on all cylinders. They're peaking at the right time."

Tickets are going for upwards of $130 on places like Ticketsnow.com and Stubhub.com, with decent seats selling for more than $300. Airfare is at least $600 and finding a hotel near downtown for less than $150 will be tough.

But some fans have found bargains. Mark Ennes, a landscaper from Brookeville, MD, found a package deal on Priceline.com that includes round-trip airfare and hotel for $450.

- Tim Lemke

Here's Comcast SportsNet's plan for coverage of the Redskins-Seahawks game.

Tonight: "Sportsnite" at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. will feature live reports from reporter Michael Jenkins, who is already in Seattle.

Tomorrow: More of the same with Jenkins and reporter Kelli Johnson, along with some feature reports.

Friday: Live reports from Seattle on "Sportsnite" and a special "Redskins Playoff Edition" from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The special playoff show features a story by reporter David Lee, who headed to Todd Collins' hometown Walpole, Mass. to interview the quarterback's high school coach and friends. The report will feature a new Redskins version of the song "Nike Boots" performed by Wale, a hip hop artist from D.C.

Saturday: Coverage begins 90 minutes before the game with "Redskins Kickoff" featuring reports from Johnson and Jenkins in Seattle. Chick Hernandez, Ray Brown and Brian Mitchell will be in Comcast's studios in Bethesda and will host "Redskins Post-Game Live" immediately after the game.

Throughout the week, the Redskins will be a topic of discussion on Washington Post Live. The Post's Mike Wise will be a guest along with Bram Weinstein of Redskins Radio and former Redskins GM and current CBS football analyst Charley Casserly.

- Tim Lemke

Earlier this week I surmised that CBS was the likely winner in the NFL ratings battle, largely because it aired so many games featuring the undefeated New England Patriots. I also said Fox likely took a ratings hit, because several key NFC matchups were taken by other networks including the NFL Network and NBC. (The big draw Cowboys, usually a staple of Fox's slate of games, appeared on CBS twice, the NFL Network twice, NBC three times and once on ESPN.)

As it turns out, Fox ended up as the surprise NFL ratings winner, drawing an average of 17.1 million viewers this season, the most in 12 years. The average household rating of 10.7 and household share of 23 was the highest for the NFL on Fox since 1999, when it drew an 11.0/25.

Fox beat CBS head-to-head by about 4 percent, even though CBS aired nine games featuring the undefeated New England Patriots, including their games against the Cowboys and Colts. Fox, which is permitted to air games only at 1 p.m. ET and 4:15 p.m. ET on Sundays, even beat out NBC's Sunday Night Football, which had the advantage of a flex-schedule and prime-time slot. Fox's victory over NBC is the first time that daytime broadcasts beat out prime-time games.

From Fox's press release: "Despite losing its No. 1 audience draw, the 13-3 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys, eight times and losing an unprecedented 11 marquee match-ups to NBC, remarkably, the NFL on FOX this season became the first Sunday afternoon broadcast network ever to out-rate all other NFL television carriers, including the over-the-air prime time network, in the same season."

This begs the question: how did Fox come out on top?

Well, the network did have its share of high-rated games, including the Nov. 18 Redskins-Cowboys game, the Packers-Lions game on Thanksgiving Day and key Week 17 games involving the Redskins, Vikings and Saints. Fox also had its share of games involving the Eagles, Giants and Bears, which all attracted big viewers.

Also, while CBS televised a number of Patriots games, remember that many of those games were blowouts that aren't necessarily conducive to getting big ratings.

- Tim Lemke

Wow, Roger Clemens sure looked ticked off in his interview on "60 Minutes" last night, didn't he? Certainly a lot different than the "I'm not here to talk about the past" type of non-responses we've seen from some players when confronted with allegations of steroid use.

Of course, whether his appearance across from Mike Wallace will change anyone's mind is unclear. For many, the information appearing in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid in baseball is all they need to see.

But I also doubt many people will come away more convinced that the former Yankees pitcher used steroids. Clemens was direct, his denials were firm and clear. And he was able to cast his accuser, former trainer Brian McNamee, as someone who'd be willing to lie in order to save his own skin.

That said, there's no doubt that Clemens has an incentive to lie as well. His reputation as one of the best pitchers in baseball history and his candidacy for the Hall of Fame are clearly at risk.

Aside from Clemens' anger, there were a few things in the interview that really stuck out in my mind. One, Clemens appeared to have a good knowledge of the negative effects of steroids and other drugs, pointing out how they can make a person more susceptible to injury.
"Why didn’t my tendons turn to dust?' he asked. "That’s what that stuff’s for. It’s a quick fix. I don’t believe in it.”

There was also an interesting moment when Clemens talked about his fear of the potential side effects of taking loads of Vioxx throughout his career to fight pain. (Vioxx was taken off the market after studies showed it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.)

Wallace missed an opportunity, however, when he asked Clemens what the punishment should be for a player taking steroids.

"I think the penalty is self-inflicted," Clemens said. And that was the end of that line of questioning. In essence, Wallace never actually got Clemens on the record acknowledging that steroids was a form of cheating. He never got him to say players should be suspended or banned for using them. And at no point did Wallace ever ask Clemens whether he believed steroid use was widespread in baseball.

Wallace may have dropped the ball, but perhaps members of Congress will pick it up. Clemens is one of several players scheduled to testify on Jan. 16 before the House Oversight Committee looking into the allegations presented in the Mitchell Report. He's been asked to appear along with McNamee, former teammates Andy Pettitte (who has admitted to using human growth hormone) and Chuck Knoblauch, and Kirk Radomski, a former Mets clubhouse attendant who claimed to have supplied steroids and HGH to several players.

I'm wagering that the hearing will be more theater than substance, but it will be fascinating to see McNamee sitting alongside Clemens, who announced today that he's suing his former trainer for defamation. That is, of course, if Clemens actually testifies. A press conference scheduled with Clemens today at 5 p.m. should shed some light on that matter.

Just got done watching one of the strangest press conferences in a long time. Roger Clemens once again angrily denied the allegations of steroid use appearing in the Mitchell Report. But first, we heard a taped phone conversation between Clemens and his accuser, former trainer Brian McNamee. According to Clemens attorney Rusty Hardin, McNamee apparently reached out to Clemens and offered something of an apology via text message last week. Hardin agreed to allow Clemens to speak with McNamee by phone, but insisted the conversation be recorded. (McNamee, however, was evidently not aware he was being recorded.)

What intrigued me most about the conversation is that the two men seemed to dance around the issue of who was telling the truth. Neither man directly accused the other of lying.

During the conversation, McNamee did most of the talking, offering apologies for any pain he might have caused Clemens and his family. He repeatedly complimented Clemens and hinted that he was pressured by federal prosecutors into testifying before investigators working with former senator George Mitchell. But he never told Clemens that he lied to investigators, nor did he call Clemens a liar.

Time and time again, McNamee asked Clemens, "What do you want me to do?"
Each time, Clemens responded by saying "I just want the truth out there," or a similar phrase. At no point did Clemens respond by specifically asking McNamee to retract his allegation. The closest he came was when he said, "For the life of me, I'm trying to find out why you tell guys why I would use steroids. I need someone to tell the truth, Mac. It's ridiculous."

It's clear that Clemens was told by Hardin to say as little as possible to McNamee. Hardin hinted to reporters that McNamee's constant question, "what do you want me to do" could have been an attempt to trap Clemens into saying something that later would be seen as witness tampering.

Clemens today said he would definitely testify on Jan. 16 before the House Oversight Committee, which is looking into the allegations appearing in baseball's Mitchell Report. However, Hardin said he has advised Clemens against taking a lie detector test, citing his belief that they are often unreliable.

After George Mitchell, Bud Selig and Donald Fehr were done being questioned by a House panel yesterday, they got up, gave each other bear hugs and made plans with several Congressmen to get together at Fehr's beach house in the Hamptons this summer.

OK, maybe we won't be seeing Selig in swim trunks after all (whoops, sorry for planting that mental image) but it's worth pointing out that yesterday's hearing was so UNconfrontational that I think most people were just bored with it. Granted, there's no way House members were going to lay into Mitchell, the former Senate Majority Leader and peacebroker who can do no wrong.

Selig and Fehr, meanwhile, managed to diffuse a lot of criticism by accepting their share of responsibility for the steroids scandal. No, they didn't break down in tears and beg for forgiveness, but they said enough of the right things to avoid getting grilled.

I'm still struggling to grasp the point of the hearing, but lawmakers dropped a few pieces of interesting news. I was most intrigued to hear of the dramatic rise in the number of medical exemptions granted for use of banned stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall, which are used to treat hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. According to figures provided by Rep. John Tierney, Massachusetts Democrat, the number outpaces the rate of these conditions in the general population by a ratio of 8 to 1. That many players with ADD? Sure ...

Lawmakers yesterday also asked the Department of Justice to look into whether former Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada lied during an interview with investigators about teammate Rafael Palmeiro's steroid use in 2005. Palmeiro, if you recall, was under investigation for perjury relating to his earlier testimony that he had never taken steroids. (Palmeiro later tested positive.) Tejada insisted he knew nothing about steroids, but the Mitchell Report claims he bought human growth hormone in 2003.

So, stay with me: Lawmakers want to know whether Tejada lied when he spoke to investigators who were looking into whether Palmeiro had lied.

Anyway, did anyone else read who Tejada's lawyer was during his testimony? None other than Mark Tuohey, the former chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission. So while Tuohey was burning the midnight oil to nail down a lease for the Nationals new ballpark, he was also representing Miguel Tejada in testimony before Congress. Tejada had better hope that he ends up with a better fate than another former Tuohey client, former Republican congressman Bob Ney, who is serving a 30 month jail sentence stemming from his role in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

-- Tim Lemke

The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is boasting a recent arbitrator's decision that may lead to greater distribution of the network in North Carolina.

Arbitrator Jerome Sussman ruled earlier this month that Time Warner was wrong to place MASN on a basic tier while carrying its own RSN's on basic analog service in the state. He acknowledged that Time Warner has the right to decide what channels it will and will not carry, but said Time Warner did not use the discretion in good faith in MASN's case.

"Since MASN alone was singled out for broadcast on a digital tier, that discretion was abused, and I conclude that Time Warner exercised its discretion here with an intent to discriminate," Sussman wrote.

Now, MASN and Time Warner will head to "baseball-style" arbitration, in which another arbitrator will decide the terms under which Time Warner will carry MASN.

"MASN is obviously pleased with this result, and we look forward to reaching a swift resolution that allows all Time Warner customers throughout North Carolina the same opportunity to watch their local sports on television that millions of other North Carolinians who receive their television service from other providers already enjoy," MASN spokesman Todd Webster said. "Both in North Carolina and beyond, consumers should have access to all relevant regional sports programming and not simply the programming that cable providers want viewers to see."

North Carolina is technically part of the Orioles' and Nationals viewing area, and MASN has bolstered its coverage of Carolina sports in the past two years, televising several games involving UNC-Wilmington and other schools in the region.

It will interesting to see how this may affect negotiations between cable companies and the NFL Network. The NFL has long been asking for the right to have "baseball-style" arbitration in an effort to get wider distribution of its network, but cable companies have refused. This arbitrator's decision could be the precedent the NFL desires.

As if Super Bowl Sunday isn't already a massive display of American excess, Fox announced that it has added ubiquitous celebrity interviewer/host Ryan Seacrest to the pre-game festivities.

Seacrest, who hosts Fox's "American Idol" and about 95 percent of all other programs on television, will be part of the pre-game show along with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmie Johnson and Curt Menefee. His job, according to Fox executives, will be to treat the Super Bowl like it's a red carpet event by interviewing all of the celebrities attending the game.

"I'm not going to pretend to be as interesting as Terry or Howie in the sports conversation," Seacrest said during a conference call with an unlikely horde of reporters from publications like US Weekly, Zap2it.com and The Washington Times. "I will go into this as if it's America's biggest unofficial holiday. This is the only event where the event is the focus, not the stars."

For those that question Seacrest's sports credentials, it should be known that he was a former standout of the Pop Warner leagues, starting out as an offensive guard – yes, offensive guard – then moving to strong safety.

"I have some very incriminating photos of Ryan in his football uniform," Fox Sports chairman David Hill said.
Seacrest said he got to "a couple of games" this season but declined to give a Super Bowl pick.

It should also be known that Fox will also promote the living heck out of "American Idol" by allowing show co-host Paula Abdul to debut a new single live during the pre-game show. Last season's "Idol" winner, Jordin Sparks, will sing the national anthem.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today said it will begin interviewing players and trainers next week to ask them about steroid allegations laid out in baseball's Mitchell Report.

Pitchers Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, who appeared in the report, have voluntarily agreed to be interviewed, along with trainers Brian McNamee and Kirk Radomski, who were key sources for former Senator Mitchell. The committee has obtained a subpoena to interview former Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, but it has not yet been served. The committee has also asked the players and trainers to testify at a hearing on Feb. 13.

Here's the schedule of interviews:

Tuesday, January 29: Knoblauch

Wednesday, January 3: Pettitte

Tuesday, February 5: Clemens

Thursday, February 7: McNamee

TBD: Radomski

- Tim Lemke

Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans' championing of stadium projects throughout the city has apparently now become a campaign issue in his race to retain his seat.

Cary Silverman, an attorney and community leader from the Shaw neighborhood, said Evans should spend less time pushing for new stadiums (like the Nats new ballpark and a new stadium for the Redskins at the RFK site) and more time focusing on problems within his ward.

“While our own neighborhoods deal with run down parks, crumbling schools, and inadequate libraries, our Council Member jumps on board yet another big stadium project outside our Ward,” Silverman said in a press release. “If we put the same level of energy and enthusiasm into fixing our schools, parks, and libraries, maybe we’d be in better shape."

Silverman conveniently makes no mention of Evans' role in the development of Verizon Center, the successful downtown arena that is located in Ward 2. But, he is going after Evans where he is weakest. While everyone's excited about opening day at the Nationals' new ballpark, few forget that the city is paying more than $600 million for the project, the most generous stadium deal in the history of professional sports.

I'm not a political reporter and won't pretend to be here. I do know that Evans is by far the longest-serving council member and is rarely at risk of losing re-election. But I think it's safe to say that Evans will have to spend good amount of time in his campaign trying to re-explain the motivations behind his pro-stadium stances.

Former Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch is apparently no longer hiding from lawmakers interested in talking to him about the issue of steroids in baseball.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today said it will interview Knoblauch this Friday, Feb. 1, in advance of a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 13. The committee had issued a subpoena for Knoblauch but had trouble serving it because he could not be located. Knoblauch has now agreed to speak with the committee voluntarily.

“We are pleased that Mr. Knoblauch has agreed to voluntarily participate in a transcribed interview or deposition with the Committee," Chairman Henry A. Waxman and ranking minority member Tom Davis said in a joint statement. "As a result, the Committee is withdrawing the subpoena.”

House members are seeking to interview several players and trainers about allegations of the sale and use of performance enhancing drugs outlined in a report by former Senator George Mitchell.

Knoblauch has been asked to speak to the committee presumably because he was named in the report. He told the New York Times earlier this month that he has "nothing to hide."

Former teammates Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens were also named in the report. Pettitte has admitted to taking human growth hormone. Clemens has angrily denied using any performance enhancing drugs.

The committee plans to interview Pettitte on Wednesday and is scheduled to speak with Clemens on Feb. 5. Former trainer Brian McNamee, who claims he provided steroids to Clemens, will speak to committee members on Feb. 7. An interview with Kirk Radomski, another trainer who claims to have sold steroids to players, has not yet been scheduled.

I've received approximately 4,245,098 e-mail messages in the last week relating to the Super Bowl. Very few of them were useful, but some were unintentionally hilarious.

At 4:22 p.m. yesterday I received an e-mail from something called the Weatherproof Garment Company, claiming that it spent $200,000 to air a two-second commercial during halftime of the Super Bowl. The ad, the company claimed, would be the shortest in Super Bowl history.

“We are under the impression that the entire world is borderline A.D.D. and keeping the publics attention is nearly impossible, less is more and we think our two seconds will be more effective than 30 seconds,” Weatherproof President Freddie Stollmack said in the e-mail, which clearly was not proofread.

The company said it was keeping the content of the advertisement a secret but cited "unconfirmed reports from industry leaders" that the commercial would be "so impactful it's bound to redefine advertising."

At 5:44 p.m. yesterday, I received another poorly crafted e-mail seeking to retract the previous message.

"Unfortunately, due to timing restraints Weatherproof Garment Company will be unable to run the 2 second ad during Superbowl 2008. The company had every intention in running the ad but learned that the timeslots for airing the ad which was intended for a national audience where [sic] unavailable."

Yeah, something tells me a two-second commercial wouldn't have been allowed. If ads of that length were permitted, you'd have hordes of companies putting together ultra-short ads, figuring that a couple hundred thousand dollars would be worth it just to get the company name on the broadcast.

Or course, such a commercial would not be unprecedented in the world of advertising. Check out this video of what claims to set a world record for the shortest TV commercial, at 1/60 of a second.

One of the country's largest labor unions has issued a report lauding the effects of the Nationals stadium project on the D.C. economy and workers.

The Laborers' International Union of North America and LIUNA Local 657 said the ballpark should be seen as a model for how large-scale construction can create jobs and boost worker qualifications, and said more than $12 million has been injected into D.C. neighborhoods through the steady paychecks of workers.

LIUNA has been a major supporter of the stadium's Project Labor Agreement, which required all workers to be union members. The PLA, the union said, has been instrumental in allowing the city complete the ballpark on time while keeping the hard and soft costs of the stadium on budget.

"Finishing the project on time was critical and the need for timely project completion led to the decision to use the PLA," the report said. "Using the PLA to lock up a reliable, skilled labor supply in numerous trades and crafts represents sound project planning and helps offset considerable risks."

According to LIUNA, 72 percent of all apprenticeship hours have been performed by District residents, while 87 percent of all new apprentices are from the District. However, the union acknowledged that only about one-third of all journeyman-level workers at the stadium are from the District -- falling short of the 50 percent goal set by District officials when the project began. It is this shortage of D.C.-based journeymen that has drawn the ire of industry groups like the DC Economic Empowerment Coalition (DCEEC), which opposed the PLA. Union officials have countered by pointing to a shortage of journeymen living in the District; they contend that the experience gained by apprentices on the stadium will help boost the number of journeymen for future projects in the city.

The union's report comes less than a week after two workers were fired on the job site for their connection to a noose found on the job site. DCEEC said the incident showed a pattern of racial discrimination at the ballpark, and D.C. Council member Kwame Brown hosted a roundtable to discuss the issue this afternoon.

-- Tim Lemke