Broadcast Assingment

Good Afternoon Columbus! Today is Monday, May 3rd, 2010, and I’m Jimmy Oldham, coming to you live with your 2-minute news update.

Top Story (Crime) - Bomb Scare in NYC.

Our top story this evening takes us to New York City, where a potential bomb was found Saturday Evening in a Nissan Pathfinder in Times Square. A local T-shirt vendor first noticed the vehicle, and shortly after notified the police. The SUV was found parked on 45th street. It contained threatening materials, including a propane tank, fireworks, a clock, and more.

CNN is now reporting that the contents found inside the SUV may have been the result of a failed terrorist attack. Police say the bomb could have caused a number of fatalities, and damage to surrounding buildings.

Weather Story – Storm in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Switching gears now over to weather. Catastrophic thunderstorms blasted Tennessee and Northern Mississippi over the weekend, resulting in at least 15 deaths. The city closed several highways as floodwaters spilled into neighborhoods from rivers and creeks, engulfing residential streets. Thousands were evacuated and hundreds of residents were rescued from their homes.

Entertainment – Conan O’Brien

On the entertainment front, 60 Minutes aired Conan O’Brien’s first post-Tonight show interview on Sunday night. O’Brien stressed that he left NBC because the atmosphere was becoming (quote) “toxic,” and he questioned whether NBC (quote) “really wanted him there.” He also made it apparent that he couldn’t do what Jay Leno did to him, and if he were in Leno’s shoes, he’d have chosen a different path.

Sports – LeBron James wins MVP

Moving on now over to sports, Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the 2nd year in a row. The Cavs franchise forward received 116 of 123 possible 1st place votes. The Akron Hammer led the Cavaliers to a 61-win season, and will receive the award in his hometown of Akron, OH.

While we’re on the subject of sports, it troubles me that the BCS has added 2 more bowl games to an already overcrowded post-season. It’s now a growing possibility that teams with a losing record will become bowl eligible, which raises the question, how could the bowl games become any less prestigious?

I understand that college football, like college basketball, is a business. But in ‘96 there were 18 bowl games. Now there are 35. Calling this excessive is a gross understatement. When two teams will be playing in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, you know the NCAA has gone too far.

I’m Jimmy Oldham, and this has been your 2-mintue news update.