Earlier this week, Bill Simmons (aka “The Sports Guy”) penned an online column, which argued the following thesis:

The eventual comeback by Tiger Woods on the golf course will be more difficult than the in-ring return of Muhammad Ali, following his hiatus from boxing that stemmed from avoiding the Vietnam War draft.

It’s a controversial stance, one meant to elicit opinions and one defended by nine well-reasoned points.

So, how did MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann react? By immaturely taking to his blog and writing:

If the writer can let me know when Woods is punitively drafted by the military even though he is about eight years older than almost all the other draftees, I’ll begin to take him seriously. In the interim I am again left to marvel how somebody can rise to a fairly prominent media position with no discernible insight or talent, save for an apparent ability to mix up a vast bowl of word salad very quickly.

Simmons then Tweeted in response: KO, please know the feeling is mutual. You’re my worst case scenario for my career in 12 yrs: a pious, unlikable blowhard who lives alone.

We love any war of words between two outspoken individuals, but must side with Simmons in this case.

First, Mr. Olbermann, as long-time readers of The Sports Guy, we can tell you how he rose to his position as the top columnist at ESPN.com:

By earning a Master’s in Journalism from Boston University; slogging away for years as a bartender while creating/building his own website; and being discovered by ESPN after he earned a loyal online following.

Some journalists may look down on Simmons because he represents the age of new media, in which a writer can thrive on the Internet without ever speaking to an athlete or going inside a locker room for his columns. But such a niche still requires wit, knowledge and hard work.

The guy recently wrote a 700-page book on the history of basketball that was number-one on The New York Times Bestsellers List.

Moreover, Olbermann has risen to his level of notoriety due to a similar recent phenomenon: the opinionated, 24/7 news cycle.

Finally, go ahead and disagree with Simmons’ take on Woods vs. Ali. But do it in a respectful manner. A few days ago, Simmons took part in a Podcast with fellow ESPN columnist Rick Reilly because the pair has contrasting opinions on the Tiger Woods press conference.

Simmons isn’t afraid to mix it up - professionally, respectfully - with those that don’t share his points of view. But Olbermann was clearly using this Woods’ column as an excuse to bitterly rail against The Sports Guy’s overall success. That’s just petty.

Choose a side in this feud:

Kate Gosselin will be one of the contestants on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, according to reports. This poses an interesting dilemma:

How do they even introduce her on the show? Mother of eight? Bitchy single former reality star? Shameless, self-promoting author with awful hair?

In any case, the official Dancing With the Stars cast announcement will be made this evening as a cross-promotion with The Bachelor season finale.

“I want to laugh at myself. I so cannot dance. It would be a terribly sad sight,” said the grating mother of eight on the Jay Leno Show recently.

Which begs the question: what would Gosselin do with her kids during the hours of grueling daily rehearsals for the reality competition show?

FEAR THE PORCUPINE: Whatever that is on her head, it is a force to be reckoned with as Kate Gosselin is ready to kick ass and take names on Dancing with the Stars.

She will actually prepare her routines in Pennsylvania, near where she lives, instead of in the show’s rehearsal studios on the West Coast, according to sources:

“Kate’s the kind of woman who will do whatever is necessary for her children. It’s great for her to be on the show, but only in a way that benefits her family.”

The show was willing to make such a concession since producers believe she will be a ratings bonanza for Dancing with the Stars, and they’re probably right.

Kate is now the primary breadwinner for her brood, as the legal battle waged by Jon Gosselin against TLC ate up a big chunk of his money - and notoriety.

He can’t do any more TV appearances now until they cut him loose. Which pretty much takes away his only source of revenue - being a douche, but on TV.

Reuters - NBC’s coverage of the Vancouver Games concluded much as it began: easily outpacing the network’s performance during the Turin Games in 2006 but ranking lower than other modern Winter Olympics.