So yeah--I was a junkie. I probably don't have to add that I was a bachelor at the time.

My consumption has fallen off considerably since those bygone days, and no, it's not just because the missus occasionally asks that we turn on something that has more storylines, characters, and dialogue than highlights from the Marlins-Braves game from Turner Field. In the opinion of this erstwhile viewer, the show moved away from its scores-and-highlights roots and seemed to focus more on promoting the greater glory of ESPN. became loaded down with forced catchphrases, relentless hype (usually of events that--surprise!--ESPN just happened to own the broadcast rights to), and unending shouting matches between talking heads who apparently equated making a loud argument with making a convincing one. became a bit of a drag.

In a sense, then, , the free iPhone app from the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader in Sports, marks something of a return to glory days. You won't find any video highlights here--this is a free download, after all. But you will find scores--lots of them--and a few headlines that can give you a pretty good picture of what's going on with your favorite teams right now. There's no Budweiser Hot Seat interview where someone's fawning over a star athlete, no Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser staging argument's for the camera's sake, and no disembodied head of Stuart Scott popping up on your iPhone screen and screaming "Boo-yah!" whenever the Phillies plate a run. ScoreCenter gives you scores and not much else.

It's pretty sweet.

But just how sweet? Last year, I took a more-extensive-than-I-originally-intended look at some of the . From that scrum, two consensus favorites emerged-- and eponymous application. To properly assess where fits into the scheme of things, I decided to take a second look at these established scoreboard apps for a better idea of just how the new kid on the block measures up.