tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29098362974830930932024-03-12T20:38:35.490-07:00The GripeSporting EditionRNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-29245288924703531572009-10-02T11:33:00.000-07:002009-10-02T11:39:37.400-07:00Viva Brazil!I guess this doesn't qualify as a gripe, but still...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZHkKD-irI/AAAAAAAACFI/X-0nFegfvVY/s1600-h/rio_de+janeiro.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZHkKD-irI/AAAAAAAACFI/X-0nFegfvVY/s400/rio_de+janeiro.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388072690697276082" /></a>How awesome is it that Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympics...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIRSA73vI/AAAAAAAACFo/FmY99TQtRrY/s1600-h/sexy-brazilian-girls-on-the-beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIRSA73vI/AAAAAAAACFo/FmY99TQtRrY/s400/sexy-brazilian-girls-on-the-beach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388073465926115058" /></a>(from CBS3)<br /><i>Rio de Janeiro won the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, announced IOC president Jacques Rogge.</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIRLNj8rI/AAAAAAAACFg/QW-5mjLYJTk/s1600-h/rio-copacabana1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 386px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIRLNj8rI/AAAAAAAACFg/QW-5mjLYJTk/s400/rio-copacabana1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388073464100025010" /></a><i>Nearly 50,000 people cheered in celebration when Rio de Janeiro was announced as host of the 2016 Olympics, jumping and shouting in a Carnival-like party on Copacabana beach.</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIQianayI/AAAAAAAACFY/WI1I86I5ozw/s1600-h/girlssoccer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIQianayI/AAAAAAAACFY/WI1I86I5ozw/s400/girlssoccer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388073453148924706" /></a><i>A huge roar was heard at the famed beach the moment International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said the words "Rio de Janeiro" as he began to announce the winner in Copenhagen on Friday.</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIQXeQ5XI/AAAAAAAACFQ/KN6qL9TrDFM/s1600-h/beach-soccer-girls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SsZIQXeQ5XI/AAAAAAAACFQ/KN6qL9TrDFM/s400/beach-soccer-girls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388073450211435890" /></a><i>As popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and football great Pele celebrated in Denmark, the Cariocas, as Rio citizens are known, raised their arms to celebrate on Copacabana, frantically waving flags and hugging each other.</i> <a href="http://cbs3.com/topstories/chicago.2016.olympics.2.1222974.html">READ MORE</a>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-38468770276391453832009-08-20T12:39:00.000-07:002009-08-20T13:57:14.536-07:00Usain Clap Strikes AgainWhen you see lightning it's in bolt form, when you hear thunder it's a clap...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2mv2XhrEI/AAAAAAAABy4/054QGM0K7_8/s1600-h/bolt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2mv2XhrEI/AAAAAAAABy4/054QGM0K7_8/s400/bolt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372133271501122626" /></a>I venture to say that Usain Bolt is moving so fast that the lightning bolt isn't quick enough and maybe we're only hearing the clap as he breaks sound barriers. With the new World Record's in the 100M and 200M under his (superhero utility) belt, what the hell is next for this guy? Can he move any faster...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2nK3lRQdI/AAAAAAAABzA/miev5JySle8/s1600-h/usain-bolt-jogs_791213c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2nK3lRQdI/AAAAAAAABzA/miev5JySle8/s400/usain-bolt-jogs_791213c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372133735683670482" /></a>I watched a report that calculated he was moving 30 mph when he broke set the new 100 meter dash record of 9.58. Here is a list of other land creatures clocked in the 30 mph range: Greyhound (39.35 mph), Rabbit (35 mph), Mule deer (35 mph), Jackal (35 mph), Reindeer (32 mph), Grizzly bear (30 mph). I hate to be the one to have to say it, but his GRIZZLY speed is a little suspicious, could he be cheating? We always associate our high speed sprinters with stocky muscular types, Usain is tall and lanky. Everyone on the starting gate looks focused and intense, he always looks calm, playful and chummy. Sprinters are traditionally tired after pushing their bodies to the human limits, Mr. Bolt never seems out of breath or even the least bit expended after setting unbelieveable records. What the hell is going on here?<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2pouFpotI/AAAAAAAABzI/MgzRJga58eA/s1600-h/Usain-Bolt+WR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/So2pouFpotI/AAAAAAAABzI/MgzRJga58eA/s400/Usain-Bolt+WR.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372136447554462418" /></a><br />Whatever it is, I hope, like Derek Jeter, that he remains clean and continues to impress. Anything other than that could be devastating.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Feel that face full of celebration)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzSpPaCIG0g&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzSpPaCIG0g&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-16309384529967876222009-07-11T09:30:00.000-07:002009-07-11T10:04:13.468-07:00Brock Lesnar is an animalI wonder why more WWE Wrestlers don't make the move to real physical action, like Brock did. It seems that the competitive nature those guys display in the ring would be much better exhibited in octagon, ground 'n' pound form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sli_Avu59XI/AAAAAAAABmY/SL670VyVBLE/s1600-h/brock_lesnar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sli_Avu59XI/AAAAAAAABmY/SL670VyVBLE/s400/brock_lesnar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357241776291313010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(imagine being locked in a cage with this)</span></div><br />This guy was built for punishing people. He's been a member of UFC for only a couple of years now and is already the Heavyweight Champ, now think about how dominant he would've been if he never wasted his time on that WWE nonsense (or trying out for the Vikings). Why have we turned our modern day gladiators into show pieces when they could be doing battle with eachother. I want to go back to my childhood and watch Stone Cold Steve Austin actually try to break someone's neck...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SljB7CZw9FI/AAAAAAAABmg/GmIy2vrkyOI/s1600-h/Stunner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 231px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SljB7CZw9FI/AAAAAAAABmg/GmIy2vrkyOI/s400/Stunner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357244976758584402" /></a><br />Maybe I will be satisfied watching highlights of UFC100, here's a little background: <div><br /><i>The main event will feature a rematch between UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, and UFC Interim-Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir. This title unification bout occurred as a result of former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture's year-long "resignation" from the company. Couture returned to the company and UFC President Dana White announced that he would defend his title against Lesnar at UFC 91. This meant that the winner of the Couture-Lesnar and Nogueira-Mir matches would face off for the undisputed crown. In his fourth professional fight, Lesnar defeated Couture via technical knockout to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion.</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_100">READ MORE</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh Yeah!<div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CsaGvOwMUEU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CsaGvOwMUEU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-31887286342404387902009-06-07T14:48:00.000-07:002009-06-07T15:06:26.895-07:00Tiger Vs. Roger, Who Ya Got?They are both simple champions, solely focused on winning, winning and more winning. Without creating much controversy amidst heaps of media attention and world-wide pressure, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer define greatness in their respective sports. So who is the better champion?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw2Gn7WWDI/AAAAAAAABbM/Af9WXpZK1Ns/s1600-h/golf_g_tigerts1_576.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw2Gn7WWDI/AAAAAAAABbM/Af9WXpZK1Ns/s400/golf_g_tigerts1_576.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344706345206962226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(unmatched Focus when wearing red)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Woods has won fourteen professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 66 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.<br /><br />Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus' record of leading the money list in eight different seasons. He has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year a record-tying four times, and is the only person to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.<br /><br />Since his record-breaking win at the 1997 Masters Tournament, golf's increased popularity is attributed to Woods' presence. He is credited for dramatically increasing prize money in golf, generating interest in new audiences as the first person of African American descent to win the Masters, and for drawing the largest TV audiences in golf history.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw24Ww444I/AAAAAAAABbU/GFXWYCTamJY/s1600-h/05tennis-600.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw24Ww444I/AAAAAAAABbU/GFXWYCTamJY/s400/05tennis-600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344707199593145218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(pinpoint skills with the racket... even on clay)</span></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Federer holds numerous records in the sport, including 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles (3 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 5 Wimbledon, 5 US Open), equalling the all-time record with Pete Sampras. Federer is only the sixth male player to achieve a career Grand Slam.<br /><br />As of July 2009, he has reached at least the semi-finals of 20 consecutive grand slam tournaments. Federer has also equaled Ivan Lendl's all-time record of 19 grand slam finals. As a result of Federer's success in tennis, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for 4 consecutive years (2005–08).</span><br /><br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw3icDgVTI/AAAAAAAABbc/DOrQFvDkLyg/s1600-h/CONSUMER_Adverts_T_1203733c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Siw3icDgVTI/AAAAAAAABbc/DOrQFvDkLyg/s400/CONSUMER_Adverts_T_1203733c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344707922567910706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(They also enjoy a clean shave)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Clearly Tiger is the more decorated athlete of the two, but Roger Federer is no slouch himself. His rivalry with Rafael Nadal is on par (no pun intended) with that of Tiger and Phil Mickelson. They are the pinnacle of their games and both at the top of their careers talent-wise. That being said, the future looks very scary for the rest of the Tennis and Golf worlds respectively. My vote says Tiger in the long run will go down as the greater champion all around, but if Roger wins one more major championship he will certainly be remembered as the greatest tennis player of all time.<br /></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-63323881727478935572009-05-30T14:11:00.000-07:002009-05-30T14:35:52.544-07:00Why I Hate Hélio CastronevesHélio oh Hélio what a strange life you've lived...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl7f4iSiI/AAAAAAAABWk/FPQl-vKUS4I/s1600-h/castroneves640.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl7f4iSiI/AAAAAAAABWk/FPQl-vKUS4I/s400/castroneves640.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341733074627611170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Drinking milk makes you act more douchey?)</span></div><br />You've won the Indianapolis 500 three times. I don't consider NASCAR to be a reasonable 'Sport' therefore there is no way I would ever consider the ugly step-child of NASCAR to be a sport either. I don't want anything having to do with Indy Car Racing ever seeing the light of day on my ESPN screen. I don't care if you win every race, every day, every year, for 20 years in a row, that nonsense doesn't need to be compared to and analyzed along side competition that actually involves human strength and effort. Please!<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl7h0LiEI/AAAAAAAABWs/B3PIuYOEvS8/s1600-h/helio-castroneves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl7h0LiEI/AAAAAAAABWs/B3PIuYOEvS8/s400/helio-castroneves.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341733075146213442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Smug prick pictured above)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>You won Dancing With The Stars. In my mind winning Dancing With The Stars is about as great an honor as winning the attendance award at your middle school graduation. I don't even think you should've qualified for the show because you were fullfilling the "star" part of your couple, yet no one watching that show on a routine basis had any idea who you were. Most of the middle age moms who tune in could at least ask their husbands who Emmitt Smith or Evander Holyfield were... but even the husbands were dumbfounded on this one, so you should have been disqualified right there. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl77122XI/AAAAAAAABW0/bGIHBFNIY_w/s1600-h/helio_ocean_zoom1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SiGl77122XI/AAAAAAAABW0/bGIHBFNIY_w/s400/helio_ocean_zoom1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341733082132568434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(this picture really makes no sense)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>You even beat a tax-evasion charge that should've forced you into the slammer for a long long time. Since I don't have all the details I'll refer to the records on this...<br />"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">On October 2, 2008, Castroneves was charged with conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion by a grand jury for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. His business manager and sister Kati, and his lawyer Alan Miller are charged with assisting Castroneves in the supposed scheme. All three defendants surrendered to authorities in Florida on Friday, October 3, 2008. Castroneves pled not guilty to these charges on October 3, and was ordered released on $10 million bail. Castroneves was replaced by Will Power during the duration of his tax evasion court case. The IRS claimed that Castroneves owes $2.3 million in taxes. A guilty verdict would have likely ended Castroneves' racing career.</span>" Too BAD!</div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-41264988907392865762009-05-17T17:03:00.000-07:002009-05-17T17:11:08.110-07:00Walk-Off For The WinThe Yankees have arguably the most potent offense in baseball...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCmb_itvvI/AAAAAAAABSM/WCgR1P-lyaA/s1600-h/a-rod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCmb_itvvI/AAAAAAAABSM/WCgR1P-lyaA/s400/a-rod.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336948558277754610" /></a>So why does it take them 31 innings to win 3 games, each in dramatic walk-off fashion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCmoN5sFrI/AAAAAAAABSU/6t2BsNT3oe4/s1600-h/alg_melky.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 296px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCmoN5sFrI/AAAAAAAABSU/6t2BsNT3oe4/s400/alg_melky.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336948768290641586" /></a>Maybe it's because no team is defined by it's players but by how they play.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCm9tnPqfI/AAAAAAAABSc/Y8A1PE10Cvg/s1600-h/damon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ShCm9tnPqfI/AAAAAAAABSc/Y8A1PE10Cvg/s400/damon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336949137580468722" /></a>and lately they've been playing like poop.<br /><br />Let's hope this little 3-game, late home run, stint is the sign of a turnaround for the bombers.RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-3647852220287705332009-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:002009-05-01T10:18:20.751-07:00Dear Doc Brown,<div><br /></div>You were great in those confusing movies about traveling through time and hoverboards. Your hair is worth a laugh and who doesn’t like a manic lab coat wearing town crazy? I need your help Dr. Brown, you see I think we can slightly fix the economy. If we go back in time to early 2009 (that’s not asking for much) we could tell President Obama that Samuel Dalembert was stealing money from hard working American people.<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sfst0xKxIfI/AAAAAAAABNw/Xq63EZW88h4/s1600-h/doc+dalembert.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sfst0xKxIfI/AAAAAAAABNw/Xq63EZW88h4/s400/doc+dalembert.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330904968498061810" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(paging Doc Dalembert)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He even got kicked off the Canadian hoops team for the 2008 (sickest) Olympic Games. Canada didn’t event want him.<br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Samuel seems like a nice guy and is involved in philanthropy, but he is simply ‘out to lunch.’ A couple years back people were willing to trade for this ‘dripping with potential’ shot-blocker. He can get up and down the court with ease for a big man, but has pitchforks attached to his wrists. He has never figured out how to really play the game.<br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sfst9cuHgII/AAAAAAAABN4/GbqodsD4nHE/s1600-h/STOCKS+DALEMBERT.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 293px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sfst9cuHgII/AAAAAAAABN4/GbqodsD4nHE/s400/STOCKS+DALEMBERT.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330905117628006530" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Look into his eyes when he plays Doc. He seems to be thinking about Anime and looks incredibly confused even if a call goes his way. He just isn’t there. A Patrick Bateman from Haiti. Going through the motions as the quarters pass. He just wants the game to end. All he can think about is being at home, eating Ellio’s Pizza and playing Xbox. A man-child who nicknamed HIMSELF ‘Bouncing Sam.’ I don’t need to say anymore Doc. Let’s do this…we might be able to save some jobs!<br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Marty McHate<br /></div><br /></div></div></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-39270010466988275402009-04-25T17:29:00.000-07:002009-04-25T17:34:41.976-07:00More Than a GameDoes this guy really need a movie made about his life...<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SfOr85wSd5I/AAAAAAAABKU/gaHu2ONnMH8/s1600-h/lebron_wallpaper.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SfOr85wSd5I/AAAAAAAABKU/gaHu2ONnMH8/s400/lebron_wallpaper.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328791846893287314" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The life of Lebron James from his early childhood until his being drafted into the NBA...<br /><br /><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/PnJe3mPivx2KgnDurjut2g"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/PnJe3mPivx2KgnDurjut2g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286821/">More Than a Game</a> is a 2009 documentary that follows Lebron James and childhood friends from grade school to playing at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, in Akron, Ohio to being drafted in the NBA. The film is directed by Kristopher Belman, and stars LeBron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, and Willie McGee.</span></div></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-68063560419906662352009-04-12T13:16:00.000-07:002009-04-12T13:39:32.256-07:00Sports Crazy Easter SundayEaster Sunday means a lot of things... family, bunnies, church, food, chocolate, eggs... one thing that usually doesn't come to mind is great sports, but this Easter Sunday was different...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeJQ1mzxktI/AAAAAAAABDE/3QO-KCPHGaU/s1600-h/easterbunny+copyFINAL.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeJQ1mzxktI/AAAAAAAABDE/3QO-KCPHGaU/s400/easterbunny+copyFINAL.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323906591386342098" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Best Easter Basket Ever?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div><div>I was switching back and forth between Tiger & Phil in the hunt on the last day of the Masters, Mavs & Hornets locked in playoff implication basketball, a fresh young arm in Josh Johnson of the Marlins pitch a near complete game shutout of the (projected World Series Champion) New York Mets (He did go 9 but gave up a late run off 2 hits, they won 2-1) and even LeBron's Cavs destroying the defending champion Boston Celtics...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Awesome - Craziness<br /></div></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-63498801423233768532009-04-11T15:29:00.000-07:002009-04-11T15:53:56.466-07:00Is the NBA MVP Race Too Close To Call?In most years the NBA's Most Valuable Player award is a lock, this year is different...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEadIIRzVI/AAAAAAAABB0/WB8WXZDSGeE/s1600-h/Kobe,+Lebron,+James,+Bryant,+MVP.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEadIIRzVI/AAAAAAAABB0/WB8WXZDSGeE/s400/Kobe,+Lebron,+James,+Bryant,+MVP.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323565322229370194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Cain & Abel?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kobe and LeBron each have their teams poised to blow past their respective opponents in the playoffs from the top seed and meet head on in the Finals (The execs at ABC must be praying for that matchup every day). Since they are both the stand-out Superstars among stars in the league and have boosted their lackluster teams to the level of "best" in East/West conferences, we need to look at the numbers...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEboBvbw1I/AAAAAAAABB8/Nc6UrcTFb3w/s1600-h/kobe-vanessa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEboBvbw1I/AAAAAAAABB8/Nc6UrcTFb3w/s400/kobe-vanessa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323566609004741458" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">KOBE</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Points (27.1) Rebounds (5.3) Assists (4.9) Steals (1.4) Field Goal Percentage (.466)</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEc6nXZwXI/AAAAAAAABCE/xKOz9g0RofI/s1600-h/Lebron_Wife.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEc6nXZwXI/AAAAAAAABCE/xKOz9g0RofI/s400/Lebron_Wife.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323568027853767026" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">LeBRON</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> - Points (28.3) Rebounds (7.6) Assists (7.3) Steals (1.7) Field Goal Percentage (.487)</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEdpxGxf7I/AAAAAAAABCM/4WOaferJDGM/s1600-h/kobe-lebron.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SeEdpxGxf7I/AAAAAAAABCM/4WOaferJDGM/s400/kobe-lebron.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323568837922226098" /></a>The numbers are in LeBron's favor (through 80 of 82 games) and in my mind the amount of attention he's been getting this season, as well as pressure to take the Cavs to the championship tilt the edge toward him even more. So, is the race too close to call? I don't think so. LeBron James will be the 2009 National Basketball Association MVP.<br /><br /></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-35997098382883729442009-04-03T08:32:00.000-07:002009-04-03T08:55:06.638-07:00MLB Predictions From A Lowly Blogger<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SclWFoewkjI/AAAAAAAAA2M/u4GswKPCMWI/s1600-h/MVP,+Mark,+Teixeira,+Chase,+Utley,+Yankees,+Phillies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SclWFoewkjI/AAAAAAAAA2M/u4GswKPCMWI/s400/MVP,+Mark,+Teixeira,+Chase,+Utley,+Yankees,+Phillies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316875489853346354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">BEN's PICKS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">AL MVP - Mark Teixeira: NY Yankees</div><div style="text-align: center;">NL MVP - Chase Utley: Philadelphia Phillies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AL CY Young - C.C. Sabathia: NY Yankees</div><div style="text-align: center;">NL Cy Young - Cole Hamels: Philadelphia Phillies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Best Batting Avg)</div><div style="text-align: center;">AL Silver Bat - Ian Kinsler: Texas Rangers</div><div style="text-align: center;">NL Silver Bat - Albert Pujols: St. Louis Cardinals</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AL HR Champ - Vladimir Guerrero: Los Angeles Angels</div><div style="text-align: center;">NL HR Champ - Ryan Braun: Milwaukee Brewers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hypothetical Comeback Player Of The Year - Alex Rodriguez: NY Yankess, for overcoming the most off season scrutiny and "serious" injury to have an extremely productve season.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Should be MVP award winner, but plays on a team in a less than spectacular media market to be worth mentioning during decision time - Dan Uggla: Florida Marlins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most sought after, over-hyped foreign player based on performance during an exhibition tournament against a group of half-effort major league superstars and unknown Cuban orange pickers playing baseball in the Spring - Yu Darvish: Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdYxP1ZSZUI/AAAAAAAAA88/pAG9jWT4eKs/s1600-h/yu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 359px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdYxP1ZSZUI/AAAAAAAAA88/pAG9jWT4eKs/s400/yu.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320494157885760834" /></a>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-20822978913383365882009-04-01T16:29:00.001-07:002009-04-01T16:40:33.507-07:00U - Con HUSKer Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdP4-ZY5QvI/AAAAAAAAA7k/qWe51Gb9XD0/s1600-h/UCONN,+Husky.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdP4-ZY5QvI/AAAAAAAAA7k/qWe51Gb9XD0/s400/UCONN,+Husky.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319869335705567986" /></a><br /><br />Those cheats are headed to the Final Four and after they trounce Michigan State they'll be in line for an *Championship win... or will this scandal even matter.<br /><br />(from <a href="http://www.courant.com/">The Hartford Courant</a>)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">UConn, like all Division I universities, has a compliance system, but the NCAA will determine if monitoring/enforcement was followed, if there is a commitment to compliance and whether there is proper rules education. The university generally has three full-time employees working in the compliance office, but now has two because of an opening. "You're looking at the athletic director, the head coaches, the central administration of the university," said Oklahoma law Professor David Swank, former chairman of the NCAA Infractions Committee. "And the question is, did they provide the appropriate control over the athletic department or over the particular sport when you're talking about a head coach?"<br /><br />Until the NCAA gets through digging into the matters, it's hard to speculate on penalties, which run the gamut from postseason bans to loss of scholarships to recruiting limitations. UConn likely will not lose any victories, since Miles never played a game. </span><a href="http://www.courant.com/sports/college/husky/men/hc-ncaauconn0328.artmar28,0,1171902.story">READ MORE</a><div><br /></div><div>So I guess they don't get punished this year, but shouldn't somebody get thrown under a bus. If they win the championship, I'll know that they cheated... If we attack A-rod and everyone else, taint their careers and achievements forever, then why not the UConn Huskies. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can't we at least burn that stupid mascot?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdP7R9PtuhI/AAAAAAAAA7s/o-jQYkz29uU/s1600-h/husky+fire.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SdP7R9PtuhI/AAAAAAAAA7s/o-jQYkz29uU/s400/husky+fire.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319871870771509778" /></a></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-54751612296162529892009-03-30T06:42:00.000-07:002009-03-30T07:24:33.364-07:00How much did Kei Igawa cost??<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SdDPZSY5pzI/AAAAAAAAACU/7kYV3BBRJYE/s1600-h/eri_yoshida.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SdDPZSY5pzI/AAAAAAAAACU/7kYV3BBRJYE/s320/eri_yoshida.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318979193264514866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">This is how I would hold a fastball... if I threw one... which I don't.<br /></span></div><br />It's big news that Japan's first female professional baseball player <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-knuckleballgirl&prov=ap&type=lgns">made her debut last week for Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent League</a>, but you may have noticed that we rarely cover the "big" stories (How do you spell "NCAA Tournament"?).<br /><br />But we would be complete fools if we didn't report on Eri Yoshida. Eri is a right-handed pitcher who throws a sidearmed knuckleball. A sidearmed knuckleball!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SdDPeEdZuuI/AAAAAAAAACc/mrgdmwnrYrg/s1600-h/eriyoshidahat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SdDPeEdZuuI/AAAAAAAAACc/mrgdmwnrYrg/s320/eriyoshidahat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318979275424643810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Japanese baseball photographers are notorious for making funny faces behind the camera.<br /></span></div><br />I can't decide if it would be cooler if she threw a sick fastball, but this is pretty awesome. We'll keep you up to date on her career as she progresses.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJ_140u_ljw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJ_140u_ljw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bagwelljeff5.mlblogs.com/the_downlow/images/kei_igawa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 235px;" src="http://bagwelljeff5.mlblogs.com/the_downlow/images/kei_igawa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Dude, we should totally get some peanut butter. I'm so hungry.</span><br /></div>Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-12641475443367236992009-03-27T10:49:00.000-07:002009-03-27T13:35:49.816-07:00You Con Man!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sc0R4ERco8I/AAAAAAAAA30/nX62bgSxvyg/s1600-h/calhoun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 329px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sc0R4ERco8I/AAAAAAAAA30/nX62bgSxvyg/s400/calhoun.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317926389911692226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Gotcha bitch!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you're not cheating, you're not trying!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">According to Yahoo! sports:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"University of Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun said Thursday that he may have made errors during the recruitment of former Huskies guard Nate Miles.<br /><br />“Could I have made a mistake? Sure.” Calhoun said. “The [rules] manual is 508 pages. Someone could’ve made a mistake.”<br /><br />Calhoun’s comments came less than an hour after his team advanced to the Elite Eight with a 72-60 victory over Purdue – and nearly 48 hours after a Yahoo! Sports report chronicling NCAA violations that occurred during UConn’s pursuit of Miles. Later, the Tampa Tribune and Tampa’s 1010 CBS Sports Radio reported that former UConn student manager turned sports agent Josh Nochimson paid several thousand dollars for Miles to have surgery in December 2007."</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-calhoun032609&prov=yhoo&type=lgns">READ MORE</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sc0V-5kZS9I/AAAAAAAAA38/1_NhfcpJ9dI/s1600-h/fetus+copy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sc0V-5kZS9I/AAAAAAAAA38/1_NhfcpJ9dI/s400/fetus+copy.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317930905343970258" /></a><br />This is the kind of story that can hang on your program like an unborn conjoined fetus and forever taint the school's record if they go on to win the championship. This should be interesting to monitor as the 2009 Big East.. I mean, NCAA Tournament plays out...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-60047295494493068312009-03-25T06:10:00.000-07:002009-03-25T08:29:36.313-07:00Ron Artest's Favorite Soccer Team<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://vivirlatino.com/i/2008/01/argentina1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://vivirlatino.com/i/2008/01/argentina1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Superman holding a beer bong?? IS NOTHING SACRED!?<br /></span></div><br />Last week we brought you the sad news of an Iraqi soccer player who was shot in the head as he dribbled towards goal in the dying seconds of a game. While we continue to search for more information on this shooting, we have yet another entry in what could soon become a recurring segment on The Gripe.<br /><br />General Lamadrid trailed home team Barracas Bolivar 0-3 60 minutes into a tense matchup of Argentinian Division C squads (read: Not as good as Division A or B, but better than all flavors of G). The 61st minute of the game would not be played, as <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=goal_referee_sends_off&prov=goal&type=lgns"><span style="font-weight: bold;">all 18 Lamadrid players (starters AND substitutes) were issued red cards. 18 simultaneous red cards.</span></a><br /><br />Lamadrid substitutes and coaching staff were seated directly in front of the home fans, who felt that their nearly unimpeachable 3 goal lead allowed them some leeway to taunt their weaker opponents. Did the Lamadrid players and coaches throw a chair a la Bobby Knight? No.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NvRO2GE4x4M&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NvRO2GE4x4M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Did they flip anyone off? No.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ScpNeo2HJRI/AAAAAAAAA2k/9mjh1oX9sLE/s1600-h/vick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 399px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/ScpNeo2HJRI/AAAAAAAAA2k/9mjh1oX9sLE/s400/vick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317147498820085010" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Vick is so fast that a camera can't keep all of him in focus at once.<br /></div></span><br />(sidenote: Flipping off fans is seriously lame. At least have the balls to yell "F--k you!" out loud. At least have the cajones to come up with something creative. I call on all sports owners to provide their teams with Sharpies and poster paper so athletes can start putting some thought and creative energy into their taunting. We, the fans, work our asses off to come up with creative puns. We deserve more than the finger.) (Double sidenote: It is OK to flip off people who makes signs that highlight ESPN or ABC but aren't smart enough to come up with a 4-word or 3-word phrase that starts with the right letters. Every Summer hoPe reNews is a shitty sign, Yankees fans. And no, I'm not saying you made that one. But it fits your current philosophy) (Triple sidenote: So does: Expensive Signings Poop Nachos, or Aj Burnett Chokes, or Arod Buys C... well, you get it.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2892146045_6a73be3a17_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2892146045_6a73be3a17_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">F-----------------k you.<br /></span></div><br />Lamadrid substitutes went straight into the stands to confront the offensive fans. When the players on the field noticed this diplomatic gesture, they immediately left the field to join in the peace negotiations, which immediately descended into a chaos not seen in Argentina since... Monday?<br /><br />Here is the only video I could find:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wIz08qUSKV4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wIz08qUSKV4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />Now, in baseball, a fight is never really a fight (Just kidding, Nolan Ryan. Please don't headlock me). It's more like the pitcher took the last cupcake and everyone on both benches really wanted it. So they all run out to the mound and, since the logical place to hide a cupcake is in the mouth, everyone tries to put their fist as close to the pitcher's mouth as possible. It makes sense, really. Everyone knows baseball players love cupcakes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sco3IJ8WeaI/AAAAAAAAABk/hijyGizBS8c/s1600-h/nolan+ryan+headlock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sco3IJ8WeaI/AAAAAAAAABk/hijyGizBS8c/s320/nolan+ryan+headlock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317122923311823266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The T isn't for Texas, it's for Mr. T. Because he's a fighter, see?<br /></span></div><br />In the NBA, a fight usually involves a lot of posturing and posing. Rudy Tomjanovich may disagree, but it's true.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sco3xyDZgMI/AAAAAAAAABs/qaUq9HEDujI/s1600-h/rudy+punch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sco3xyDZgMI/AAAAAAAAABs/qaUq9HEDujI/s320/rudy+punch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317123638453436610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Why do both teams have the same socks?<br /></span></div><br />The infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl in 2004 is a notable exception. But even then we're talking about just a few suspensions and "Jermaine O'Neal interven[ing] by slide-punching Haddad in the jaw." Slide-punching? I think that's how Michael Jackson fights. I still remember the classic Ninento game Michael Kombat: Up-down-up-down-A-B-A-B was an unstoppable slide-punch/Jesus-juice combo.Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-13621044349575415842009-03-24T07:41:00.000-07:002009-03-24T08:55:11.488-07:00最高殊勲選手<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SckB1VAoDEI/AAAAAAAAABc/cELlb_2EiTY/s1600-h/dicek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/SckB1VAoDEI/AAAAAAAAABc/cELlb_2EiTY/s320/dicek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316782850772044866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our Japanese followers (Gripers?) are in full celebration today after their country successfully defended their World Baseball Classic crown. A 1oth inning single by Ichiro Suzuki (By far the most reliable Suzuki on the road today) won the game for the Japanese after Yu Darvish couldn't hold a 1 run lead in the 9th.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.newsdaily.com/photos/2009-03-07T134502Z_01_BTRE526127B00_RTROPTP_3_SPORTS-US-BASEBALL-WORLD-JAPAN.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 319px;" src="http://www.newsdaily.com/photos/2009-03-07T134502Z_01_BTRE526127B00_RTROPTP_3_SPORTS-US-BASEBALL-WORLD-JAPAN.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Seriously, he's really good.<br /></span></div><br />Daisuke Matsuzaka won his 2nd straight WBC MVP award. They have little choice but to name the thing after him at this point. And probably redesign it to look like dice. Matsuzaka's numbers were not as eye-popping as they were in the 2006 WBC, but it's clear that opposing teams can't figure him out when he attacks the strike zone consistently.<br /><br />The Japanese benefited from excellent defense by their middle infield of Hiroyuki Nakajima (SS) and Akinori Iwamura (2B), something that <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/derek%2Bjeter/KWags1977/DerekJeter.jpg">Team USA distinctly lacked</a>.<br /><br />Speaking about the WBC, Bud Selig announced said it would be back in 2013 and bigger than ever, a promise that Joba Chamberlain claimed he made first.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/05/22/amd_joba2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 307px;" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/05/22/amd_joba2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Bring... me... BACOOOON!!!!!<br /></span></div><br />We'll have a our predictions for the upcoming baseball season up on Monday, so stay tuned. Or just follow us on a RSS. Chances are we'll be pretty accurate since I correctly predicted Japan would defend their WBC title and Bojo correctly predicted that <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/03/22/2009-03-22_madam_kristin_davis_dated_alex_rodriguez.html">steroids wasn't even close to the most disgusting thing A-Rod could do.</a> (More on that story as it develops)Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-32211184011258308692009-03-23T11:53:00.000-07:002009-03-23T13:11:59.986-07:00The Rafalution is now being televised<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Scfo__P_RoI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Yz0djkxKpr8/s1600-h/this+is+anfield.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Scfo__P_RoI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Yz0djkxKpr8/s320/this+is+anfield.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316474071142057602" border="0" /></a><br />Those of you with access to Fox Soccer Channel probably tuned out the annoyingly upset-free NCAA tournament around 12pm yesterday to catch the Liverpool/Aston Villa showdown. Liverpool sat 3rd in the league, but a victory would push them into 2nd thanks to Chelsea's loss on Saturday (to Tottenham).<br /><br />Earlier Saturday, Manchester United lost to Fulham (Fulham!), marking their first set of back to back losses in league in over 4 years. That's before most three year olds were born!<br /><br />Aston Villa is in a slump. Only two months ago, they looked a sure bet to finish 4th and earn a spot in the lucrative Champions League. Now they are in a battle to earn the 5th spot, which ensures automatic qualification to the UEFA Cup (the NIT of European international soccer tournaments).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/ScfqvbPSAOI/AAAAAAAAABM/rWTvMgGA14E/s1600-h/liverpool+villa+final+score.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/ScfqvbPSAOI/AAAAAAAAABM/rWTvMgGA14E/s320/liverpool+villa+final+score.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316475985620762850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Scoreboard provided by the 1980s<br /></span></div><br />I am delighted to report that Liverpool walloped, trounced, and otherwise dismantled Aston Villa. Two weeks ago I looked at this game as Villa's shot to prove they were ready to hang with the big dawgs of the EPL. Well, it is hard to shoot when your pistol is this limp, Villa fans.<br /><br />As good as Liverpool was (and even with Dirk Kuyt on the field they looked sexy), Villa has to point to the poor tactics of manager Martin O'Neill as a big reason why they were more off the pace than Derek Jeter chasing a Matsuzaka fastball.<br /><br />O'Neill was a shoo-in to be the EPL Manager of the Year before Villa's slump, but this latest loss falls heavily on his shoulders. A devotee of the 4-3-3 formation, O'Neill panicked and implemented a 4-4-2, leaving the speedy striker Agbonlahor on the sidelines in favor of twin titans Emile Heskey and John Carew up top. Carew is an impressive player - and a massive human being - but he doesn't often make his own shot. Heskey is like Carew except he pretends to work harder by repeatedly falling down on the edge of the 18-yard box and never wiping the chalk from his face. Neither striker made much of an impression.<br /><br />On the other hand, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, just a few days after signing a 5 year contract extension, handed Steven Gerrard free reign of the midfield. Playing their favored 4-2-2-1-1 (which my friend Nicolas "knowing"ly told me is actually a secret code that predicts Manchester United's impending destruction), Liverpool moved the ball quickly from side to side, creating holes through the middle that Gerrard ran through to great effect.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/ScfqnWeHzLI/AAAAAAAAABE/DmL6-03NQME/s1600-h/gerrard+3+fingers+hat+trick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/ScfqnWeHzLI/AAAAAAAAABE/DmL6-03NQME/s320/gerrard+3+fingers+hat+trick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316475846901877938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Even great players forget how to do the shocker sometimes.<br /></span></div><br />Captain Fantastic finished the game with a hat trick - 2 penalty kicks and a side-footed free kick that left American goalie Brad Friedel shaking his head in disbelief. Moment later, Friedel would be shaking with tears after he was shown a straight red card for taking out Fernando Torres in the box.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Scfq1OMzZ5I/AAAAAAAAABU/Zja6xHueF0o/s1600-h/friedel+red+card+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Scfq1OMzZ5I/AAAAAAAAABU/Zja6xHueF0o/s320/friedel+red+card+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316476085199923090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">But Great Red Rectangle, have I not been your most loyal servant?</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><br /></div><br /><br />EPL Soccer enters a weeklong hiatus as players join their international teams for a round of World Cup 2010 qualifiers. I won't report back on those, but I'm going to start giving a bigger perspective on EPL soccer post-break. I'll preview big matches on Friday, then give a brief summary on Monday. That way all you non-Liverpool supporters who keep writing invisible comments will get off my back.<br /><br />Highlights:<br /><br />Liverpool - Aston Villa<br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54513410">Liverpool v Aston Villa</a><br /><object height="360" width="425"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=54513410,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor="><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=54513410,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor=" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="360" width="425"></embed></object><br />Manchester United Loss to Fulham (Fulham!)<br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54451246">Fulham v Manchester United</a><br /><object height="360" width="425"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=54451246,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor="><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=54451246,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor=" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="360" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Let's take a look at the current standings. Remember, each team plays 38 games total. Bottom 3 get relegated to the 2nd division.<br /><br /><table class="tbl" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th>#</th><th>team</th><th>points</th> <th>g.dif.</th> <th>overall</th><th>streak</th><th>home</th><th>streak</th><th>away</th><th>streak</th></tr> <tr><td width="3%">1</td><td width="18%">Manchester United</td><td width="7%"><b>65</b></td><td width="8%">49:18</td><td width="16%">20-5-4</td><td width="8%">lost 2</td><td width="12%">12-1-1</td><td width="8%">lost 1</td><td width="12%">8-4-3</td><td width="8%">lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td>2</td><td>Liverpool</td><td><b>64</b></td><td>54:21</td><td>18-10-2</td><td>won 3</td><td>9-6-0</td><td>won 2</td><td>9-4-2</td><td>won 1</td></tr> <tr><td>3</td><td>Chelsea</td><td><b>61</b></td><td>49:17</td><td>18-7-5</td><td>lost 1</td><td>8-5-2</td><td>won 2</td><td>10-2-3</td><td>lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td>4</td><td>Arsenal</td><td><b>55</b></td><td>48:27</td><td>15-10-5</td><td>won 3</td><td>8-5-2</td><td>won 1</td><td>7-5-3</td><td>won 2</td></tr> <tr><td class="tsp" colspan="10"><br /></td></tr><tr><td width="3%">5</td><td width="18%">Aston Villa</td><td width="7%"><b>52</b></td><td width="8%">43:36</td><td width="16%">15-7-8</td><td width="8%">lost 3</td><td width="12%">5-7-3</td><td width="8%">lost 1</td><td width="12%">10-0-5</td><td width="8%">lost 2</td></tr> <tr><td>6</td><td>Everton</td><td><b>48</b></td><td>40:31</td><td>13-9-8</td><td>lost 1</td><td>6-5-4</td><td>won 3</td><td>7-4-4</td><td>lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td>7</td><td>Wigan</td><td><b>41</b></td><td>30:28</td><td>11-8-11</td><td>won 2</td><td>7-4-4</td><td>won 1</td><td>4-4-7</td><td>won 1</td></tr> <tr><td>8</td><td>West Ham</td><td><b>41</b></td><td>35:35</td><td>11-8-11</td><td>draw 2</td><td>7-2-6</td><td>draw 1</td><td>4-6-5</td><td>draw 1</td></tr> <tr><td>9</td><td>Fulham</td><td><b>40</b></td><td>30:26</td><td>10-10-10</td><td>won 2</td><td>9-3-3</td><td>won 1</td><td>1-7-7</td><td>won 1</td></tr> <tr><td>10</td><td>Manchester City</td><td><b>38</b></td><td>46:37</td><td>11-5-14</td><td>won 1</td><td>10-0-5</td><td>won 6</td><td>1-5-9</td><td>lost 2</td></tr> <tr><td>11</td><td>Tottenham</td><td><b>38</b></td><td>36:34</td><td>10-8-12</td><td>won 2</td><td>6-5-4</td><td>won 2</td><td>4-3-8</td><td>won 1</td></tr> <tr><td>12</td><td>Bolton</td><td><b>34</b></td><td>32:44</td><td>10-4-16</td><td>draw 1</td><td>6-2-7</td><td>lost 1</td><td>4-2-9</td><td>draw 1</td></tr> <tr><td>13</td><td>Hull City</td><td><b>33</b></td><td>35:52</td><td>8-9-13</td><td>lost 1</td><td>3-4-8</td><td>draw 1</td><td>5-5-5</td><td>lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td>14</td><td>Sunderland</td><td><b>32</b></td><td>29:39</td><td>8-8-14</td><td>lost 2</td><td>5-3-7</td><td>lost 1</td><td>3-5-7</td><td>lost 2</td></tr> <tr><td>15</td><td>Portsmouth</td><td><b>32</b></td><td>32:46</td><td>8-8-13</td><td>won 1</td><td>6-2-7</td><td>won 1</td><td>2-6-6</td><td>draw 2</td></tr> <tr><td>16</td><td>Stoke City</td><td><b>32</b></td><td>29:47</td><td>8-8-14</td><td>won 1</td><td>8-4-3</td><td>won 2</td><td>0-4-11</td><td>lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td>17</td><td>Blackburn</td><td><b>31</b></td><td>33:49</td><td>7-10-13</td><td>draw 1</td><td>3-6-6</td><td>draw 2</td><td>4-4-7</td><td>lost 1</td></tr> <tr><td class="tsp" colspan="10"><br /></td></tr><tr><td width="3%">18</td><td width="18%">Newcastle</td><td width="7%"><b>29</b></td><td width="8%">36:49</td><td width="16%">6-11-13</td><td width="8%">lost 1</td><td width="12%">4-6-5</td><td width="8%">lost 2</td><td width="12%">2-5-8</td><td width="8%">draw 1</td></tr> <tr><td>19</td><td>Middlesbrough</td><td><b>27</b></td><td>21:42</td><td>6-9-15</td><td>lost 1</td><td>4-7-4</td><td>draw 1</td><td>2-2-11</td><td>lost 8</td></tr> <tr><td>20</td><td>West Brom</td><td><b>24</b></td><td>26:55</td><td>6-6-18</td><td>draw 2</td><td>5-3-7</td><td>draw 1</td><td>1-3-11</td><td>draw 1</td></tr></tbody></table>Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-50758455878323450442009-03-16T12:03:00.000-07:002009-03-16T12:31:52.586-07:00Jonesy, BABY, You're Killin Me!<div><div><div><a href="http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A3081/308111/300_308111.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 413px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A3081/308111/300_308111.jpg" border="0" /></a><div align="left"><div style="text-align: center;">Duuuuuuuuuddddeeeeee....<br /></div><br />Dear Matt Jones,<br /><br />First off, sorry about the whole being released thing. All it took was a few cold ones with your golfing buddies, giving the Jaguars a reason to let you go. You got caught with cocaine last year, and we all knew you weren’t innocent. That’s how people who do drugs act. They get the idea in their head, which is usually the most thrilling aspect, and you couldn’t wait to do some lines at home, forcing you to stop along the road and do coke off the dashboard. The Jaguars forgave you, I forgave you. Even though we ALL knew you were lying when you told us you weren’t involved.<br /><br />You came back and had the best season of your career. They suspended you the last 3 games of the season, but you showed us something. Maybe you weren’t such a knucklehead. But alas, you couldn’t resist some beers, and ended up back in the dog house.<br /><br />We don’t even know each other Matt, but you took something from us. You took away the return of the ‘white athlete.’ The only white NFL player to be drafted as an actual ‘flex’ player, you could do it all Matt. You have hops, speed and used to sport a great lion’s mane. Jeremy Bloom was a bust man, WE NEEDED YOU!<br /><br />Now I don’t know who will pick you up. Maybe the Eagles, maybe the Ravens, but please Matt don’t do it again man. You could have been a contender. You could have been the next Easy Ed McAfferty. Now you might be the next Todd Marinovich.<br /><br />Shame on you Matt. You could have persuaded a young white football player to try and play receiver as opposed to kicking field goals.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />The White Man </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"What the hell am I doing right now? OHHH I am stretching for dissapoinment."<br /></div><div align="left"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 420px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 553px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.picapp.com/ftp/Preview/0037/matt_jones_nfl_Picapp_37158.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">Side note:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">Is Jones shrinking? Look how beefy he was when he got drafted... vs. him in 2008. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sb6of7UCzEI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/geSd8J0QIgc/s1600-h/Matt+Jones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sb6of7UCzEI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/geSd8J0QIgc/s400/Matt+Jones.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313869876794936386" /></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">He either slimmed down to fit in his WR role, OR he has been doing so much coke that he is aiming to look like Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface.<br /></p><p> </p></div>KChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705135489659700839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-65048424977378742382009-03-16T11:37:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:38:41.928-07:00This is Anfield<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgsp0041+this-is-anfield-liverpool-football-club-badge-liverpool-football-club-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 452px;" src="http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgsp0041+this-is-anfield-liverpool-football-club-badge-liverpool-football-club-poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Over the weekend, my beloved Liverpool Football Club overcame the crappiest ownership in professional sports since Major League to defeat the Yankees of soccer: Manchester United.<br /><br />Manchester had not lost at home all season and had conceded only one goal in their past fifteen English Premier League games. They were coming off a mid-week thrashing of Italian champions Internazionale Milan and led Liverpool by 7 points in the standings going into the Saturday showdown. A loss for Liverpool would have ended their dreams of winning the league and doomed them to a 20th consecutive year without a league title.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Little Background</span><br /><br />There are no playoffs in English soccer. The goal is to be the best team in the league over the course of the entire season. You receive 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. There are 20 teams in the Premier League and you play each team twice (at home and away), for a total of 38 games played. The three teams with the fewest points at the end of the season are relegated to the second division, which sends up its three best teams. The best four teams in the league win the right to play in the Champions League, which pits the best teams in every major European league against each other.<br /><br />There are eleven starting players and seven substitute players for each game. Each team can use up to three substitutes during the game.<br /><br />Going into Saturday's game, Liverpool sat second in the league and were discounted from the title race by almost every pundit and analyst.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why is Manchester United the Yankees?</span><br /><br />Manchester United spends a lot of money on players. Their biggest off-season acquisition, Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, cost them over 30 million pounds. And he didn't even make the starting lineup against Liverpool.<br /><br />The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is revered across the sport for the many championships and trophies he has won. However, he has always done this with plenty of expensive talent at his disposal. In the 90s, Manchester United was respectable because they won using plenty of homegrown talent. As their teams got older, they started to spend like crazy in order to stay on top. Nowadays the focal point of their team is the A-Rod of soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/cristiano-ronaldo-entertainer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/cristiano-ronaldo-entertainer.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://martins23.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/cristiano_ronaldo_shopping5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 348px;" src="http://martins23.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/cristiano_ronaldo_shopping5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Caption Unnecessary<br /><br /></span></div>Undoubtedly the most skilled offensive player in the sport, Ronaldo is also a petulant prick who thinks that the world revolves around him and that Madonna is attractive (wait, maybe that last one is just A-Rod...)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why I Never Walk Alone</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u317/crazycoz1/Steven_Gerrard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 392px;" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u317/crazycoz1/Steven_Gerrard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Moments after the best Champions League Final ever played<br /><br /></span></div>By contrast, Liverpool is led by hometown hero Steven Gerrard. While Ronaldo may be the best offensive player on Earth, there is little doubt that Gerrard is the best all-around player in the sport, a fact recently confirmed by Zinedine Zidane (formerly the best player in the sport and headbutter extraordinaire).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.footballpictures.net/data/media/24/fernando_torres_8_footballpictures.net.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 340px;" src="http://www.footballpictures.net/data/media/24/fernando_torres_8_footballpictures.net.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/torres2003_468x607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 349px;" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/torres2003_468x607.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Jesus walked on water, Torres doesn't even need the H. He can walk on two Os just fine... but he does need watches. Lots of them.</span><br /></div><br />Liverpool is led by the world's best striker, Fernando Torres. While Ronaldo plies his trade from a wide position and Gerrard stalks the center of the pitch, Torres uses a combination of speed, ridiculous skill, and unfathomably lethal finishing to dominate as few lone strikers can. Not only that, but he does it all while remaining the beautiful and my mancrush (everybody gets one) (Shut up!) (Power tools! Babes! Beer! Literacy! Cars! Caddyshack! Raaaaaaah!)<br /><br />Thus the stage is set for this epic showdown. Manchester wins (at home), and they would have a lot of trouble losing the title race. Liverpool wins and they are right back into the thick of things, just 4 points back of the vaunted Manchester menace and its hooker-loving, car-crashing mohawked leader Ronaldo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To be continued tomorrow with a brilliant match summary...</span><br /><br />Until then, here is another hook to get you interested in the sport:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/jose-mourinho-master-baiter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 406px;" src="http://soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/jose-mourinho-master-baiter.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jose Mourinho, currently the manager of Internazionale Milan, burst onto the soccer scene when he won the 2004 Champions League with Portugese side Porto. He became the manager of English Premier League side Chelsea FC in June 2004 and dubbed himself "The Special One" in his first press conference.<br /><br /><blockquote>"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."</blockquote>Mourinho became famous for his (sorry Jose, but it's true) arrogant antics, including throwing his 2005-06 EPL championship medal into the stands (he was immediately handed a 2nd medal, which he also threw. into. the stands.<br /><br />The point is, he's a prick. But he is also the focal point of the funniest thing going on YouTube. Enjoy:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iJQtjwkeYMQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iJQtjwkeYMQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrVWk3hi8c4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrVWk3hi8c4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-74629405102344166182009-03-16T10:16:00.000-07:002009-03-16T10:29:52.048-07:00What?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sb6Mh0LznxI/AAAAAAAAAyI/SikFOdW6WN8/s1600-h/large_flag_of_iraq.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sb6Mh0LznxI/AAAAAAAAAyI/SikFOdW6WN8/s400/large_flag_of_iraq.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313839122915499794" /></a><br />This story casts my beloved soccer in a negative light, but it should be posted anyways.<br /><br />During an amateur soccer match in Iraq, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=628629&sec=world&&cc=5901">a player for Buhairat was shot in the head as he closed in on goal.</a><br /><br />Down 0-1 to Sinjar, the Buhairat player had broken free and faced only the goalkeeper when a spectator shot him through the head as he raced down the field.<br /><br />What?Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-83993903481885581522009-03-16T08:25:00.000-07:002009-03-16T10:23:40.137-07:00WBC Update: Who Needs Yu?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sb57Pw2VU_I/AAAAAAAAAA0/ZiU-qrTV2Bc/s1600-h/dicek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7ou6L7fxqk/Sb57Pw2VU_I/AAAAAAAAAA0/ZiU-qrTV2Bc/s320/dicek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313820121084810226" border="0" /></a><br />Is there any doubt who the best international pitcher in the world is?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.vanityfair.com/images/politics/2008/07/poar04_cubanbaseball0807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 493px; height: 323px;" src="http://www.vanityfair.com/images/politics/2008/07/poar04_cubanbaseball0807.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Did you touch my ass? I know your tricks, Dewey.</span><br /></div><br />Daisuke Matsuzaka methodically picked apart the Cuban national team last night to move Japan one step closer to <s>the crystal skull</s> a second consecutive World Baseball Classic title. Throwing only 86 pitches, Matsuzaka confounded the Cubans with tailing fastballs, sliders, and representative democracy through six innings. He struck out eight and (prepare to crap your pants, Red Sox fans) walked nobody. Four of the strikeouts were Cubans caught looking (which, ironically, is the name of a popular candid camera-style show on the island). Dice-K gave up 5 hits - all singles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/gallery/images/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/gallery/images/16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">And then Dewey touched my ass, like this.</span><br /></div><br />In 3 first round games, Cuba scored 29 runs and allowed 9. In short, they were dominant. They were the best team in Group C and sported the best offense in the tournament. Matsuzaka, like Leonidas before him, stood at the mountain pass of the mound and said: THIS IS JAPAN'S REPRESENTATION AT THE 2009 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC MINUS INJURIES!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2006/12/13/1166036590_7792.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 375px;" src="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2006/12/13/1166036590_7792.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Proper ass-touching form.<br /></span></div><br />It is frustrating to watch Matsuzaka dominate the international baseball scene. Whether the blame falls on him or on Sox catcher Jason Varitek, Matsuzaka spends the MLB season dancing around the strike zone. This makes his late-breaking slider (his strikeout pitch) much less effective, and it allows hitters to sit on the changeup which, because of the movement on his fastball, ends up fooling fewer people than it should when used effectively. Sure the Cubans are an aggressive offensive team, but with half the strikeouts catching the batter looking, it's clear that Matsuzaka is much more effective as an aggressive pitcher. If you're a catcher, it must be fun to play with his wide array of moving pitches, but when he goes after batters he is capable of hitting a rhythm that makes him virtually untouchable. The kind of rhythm that keeps hitters guessing even on their second and third trip to the plate.<br /><br />In other news, the Dominican Republic is still knocked out, so expect copious A-Roid jokes until Bojo challenges me to another bet.Combohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567070748026686345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-23370652488240100362009-03-14T14:46:00.000-07:002009-03-14T18:32:11.553-07:00Don't put your Dukes up...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw0mkvCWjI/AAAAAAAAAwA/6X-I0wjwWRM/s1600-h/dukeBLOOD.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw0mkvCWjI/AAAAAAAAAwA/6X-I0wjwWRM/s400/dukeBLOOD.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313179497690978866" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not the most convincing College Basketball fan, I'll admit that, but when the F'n Blue Devils have been consistantly seeded in the top 3 for the last couple of years (seems like forever), you'd expect them to get further in the tournament than the second round... They play well all year and seem to blow it during the big games. So who's to blame...<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbwtQzPw2iI/AAAAAAAAAvY/uYPIIGkHn_A/s1600-h/Coach+K.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbwtQzPw2iI/AAAAAAAAAvY/uYPIIGkHn_A/s400/Coach+K.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313171427047823906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">I wouldn't mess with him</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Although many people point the finger at him, I don't think it's Coach K's fault. The man is one of the greatest coaches in basketball history. He's coached DUKE to 3 national championships, 10 final fours, 10 ACC championships and is currently the winningest active coach in Division 1 bball... So, it definitely aint his fault.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw2Cbp-2qI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/pXDkvl9YKYU/s1600-h/kyle-singler-gerald-henderson.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw2Cbp-2qI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/pXDkvl9YKYU/s400/kyle-singler-gerald-henderson.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313181075801823906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">What foul! Thats how you rebound in Philly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler also aint to blame. The Junior guard and Sophomore forward have emerged as the heart and soul of the team. They alway hussle, make big shots and most importantly Henderson punched that punk Tyler Hansbrough in the face which made me very happy. So it can't be them either. But, looking at the team, I think I've found the problem...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw2CRqmWpI/AAAAAAAAAwI/yLxGobt2bsU/s1600-h/Paulus-zoubek-duke-blue-devils.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbw2CRqmWpI/AAAAAAAAAwI/yLxGobt2bsU/s400/Paulus-zoubek-duke-blue-devils.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313181073120058002" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There have never been bigger douchebag players in the history of Duke Basketball than Greg Paulus and Ben Zoubek (maybe not, <a href="http://www.techsideline.com/basketball/mbb0607/pics/deron_posterizes_paulus.jpg">but still</a>). The amount of frustration that builds within my body watching these clowns play can't be contained and I often find myself yelling at the television for about 90 minutes. Ben Zoubek is 7'1" according to ESPN.com and he's currently averaging 3.9 rebounds and 4.3 points per game. Given his minutes dwindling this season due to sucking, it's still unacceptable. If I was over 7 feet tall I would beat myself with the asshole stick for only grabbing 4 rebounds a game. I mean thats just horrible. Now, Greg Paulus must have the lowest amount of pre-shot thought process known to man because he has no fear of putting up an errant 3-pointer from way beyond NBA range. With his missed 3's you'd think Zoubek's Rebound totals would be higher... Duke's system relies on solid 3 point shooting and a strong inside pressence to pick up the pieces when they fall. These two guys just don't fit and definitely lack the heart to bring a championship back to Raleigh during their time at the school... Can't wait for 2011 when they'll both be gone. </div></div></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-28048138768459788702009-03-12T14:28:00.000-07:002009-03-12T14:31:18.147-07:00I hate the Boston Red Sox!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbl8izK4udI/AAAAAAAAAtY/VEdTl3cAwzg/s1600-h/red+sox.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 168px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbl8izK4udI/AAAAAAAAAtY/VEdTl3cAwzg/s400/red+sox.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312414172753476050" /></a><br /></div><br />Just had a fantasy baseball draft and thinking about baseball... really makes me realize how much I hate the <a href="http://www.myspacecomedy.com/images/funny/kid-middle-finger.jpg">RED SOX</a>.<br /><br />They are just dirty!... <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">and gay?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbl9QOhj__I/AAAAAAAAAtg/nY163b1tWmY/s1600-h/david-ortiz-and-manny-ramirez-01.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/Sbl9QOhj__I/AAAAAAAAAtg/nY163b1tWmY/s400/david-ortiz-and-manny-ramirez-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312414953190457330" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 344px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sorry about that. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog...</div></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-87627993338049401362009-03-11T15:07:00.001-07:002009-03-11T18:00:48.249-07:00Who Watches The NBA??Watchmen opened number 1 at the box office this past weekend, which is pretty good for a nearly 3 hour cult epic riddled with cock shots. I saw the movie, it was very uneven, but enjoyable. I’m a fan of the book and felt the movie stayed pretty faithful throughout. (YES Uber-Geeks I know the ending was changed, but it worked. You are left with the same moral conflict that the book inhibits)<br /><div><br />The reviews for Watchmen have been strikingly polarizing. Some critics loved it, and some feel it’s just another testosterone fueled action fest. <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/mass-watchmen-walkouts,24907/">The A.V. Club even posted something about people walking out of the movie before the sweeping finale!</a><br /><br />How does this have any connection to professional sports? What pro sport is hated and loved equally? What sport did people used to love until the shorts got longer and the trash talk got trashier?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">THE NBA FOLKS!<br /></div><br />Like Watchmen, you either love it or hate it. You might tune in for some parts (Dr. Manhattan’s origin story OR D-Wade on a Thursday night ESPN game). You might be disgusted by the way the game has progressed (The awful Watchmen love scene with awkward music OR the way ‘me-first’ players like Tracy McGrady have stripped the team aspect away from the game). And some of us, like Watchmen fans, are simply in love.<br /><br />So I have decided to assign NBA players from all eras of the game to represent Watchmen characters:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBsxcwigI/AAAAAAAAAsA/Z2GkTu3J6B8/s1600-h/nashFINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 187px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBsxcwigI/AAAAAAAAAsA/Z2GkTu3J6B8/s400/nashFINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312067997927508482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Rorsach is Steve Nash<br /></div><br />First off, Jackie Earl Haley looks somewhat like Nash when he is unmasked in the film. He is the underdog. A small white dude who has unnatural skills and a liberal mind. They are both the cornerstones of their teams. The Watchmen and the Suns need them both equally.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBvCiL4NI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hVoScjmayUY/s1600-h/scottie_pippenFINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBvCiL4NI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hVoScjmayUY/s400/scottie_pippenFINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312068036873412818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nite Owl is Scottie Pippen<br /></div><br />The Watchmen needed Nite Owl for his technical skills like Jordan’s Bulls needed Scottie’s cagey defense. He is an integral part of the group, often overshadowed, but never forgotten.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBmDtuWyI/AAAAAAAAArw/e_cEPx0E2XQ/s1600-h/AdrianVeidtKOBEFINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBmDtuWyI/AAAAAAAAArw/e_cEPx0E2XQ/s400/AdrianVeidtKOBEFINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312067882571422498" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ozymandias is Kobe Bryant<br /></div><br />So powerful, bent on world domination, but ultimately…kind of douchey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBxfYMQtI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/2L9pv03-3-8/s1600-h/shaqFINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBxfYMQtI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/2L9pv03-3-8/s400/shaqFINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312068078975861458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Comedian is Shaquille O’Neal<br /></div><br />Both have been around forever, and ultimately one of the lasting faces of the NBA/Watchmen. They are both painfully sensitive, can tell the joke, but can’t take one. Shaq and the Comedian could be great friends, but whatever you do…DO NOT call them floppers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBzjGsMEI/AAAAAAAAAsY/Y097EMFUa2c/s1600-h/silk-spectreFINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBzjGsMEI/AAAAAAAAAsY/Y097EMFUa2c/s400/silk-spectreFINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312068114335936578" border="0" /></a>Silk Spectre is Danny Schayes<br /></div><br />Silk Spectre and Danny are the offspring of former greats. Dolph Shcayes is an NBA legend and trailblazer for the Jewish community. Silk Spectre is the daughter of the first Silk Spectre, who was a trailblazing superhero, giving women a face in a world of muscle bound men. But Silk Spectre (the 2nd) and Danny Schayes are shells of their parents….they just never panned out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBpivxs4I/AAAAAAAAAr4/uvNyQkKus8w/s1600-h/MANHATTAN+FINAL.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbhBpivxs4I/AAAAAAAAAr4/uvNyQkKus8w/s400/MANHATTAN+FINAL.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312067942441137026" border="0" /></a>Dr. Manhattan is Lebron James<br /></div><br />Yes for the simple reasons that they are absolute beasts, and nobody can stop them. But I am going with High School Lebron. He was the most powerful young ballplayer in the world, and yet…he was still manipulated. People made money of his pay-per-view High School games, and he was just a kid. Dr. Manhattan is the strongest human EVER, yet he is still manipulated by the government and asked to fight in the Vietnam War. And if Lebron never wins a championship, he too should retreat to Mars.</div>KChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705135489659700839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2909836297483093093.post-46959033305834468562009-03-10T15:50:00.000-07:002009-03-10T23:09:48.219-07:00Recession proof jobs...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbcXfh9XmxI/AAAAAAAAArA/BZSQMjibPRk/s1600-h/recession,+jobs,+manny,+arod,+lebron,+sports,+rich,+wealth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbcXfh9XmxI/AAAAAAAAArA/BZSQMjibPRk/s400/recession,+jobs,+manny,+arod,+lebron,+sports,+rich,+wealth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311740115965942546" /></a><br />There is no better picture of American economic misfortune as the fortunes to be gained by Free Agency. While the rest of us suffer through an endless money drought that brings job loss, home foreclosures and instability, these team-less pro athletes sign new contracts for massive amounts of money:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">C.C. Sabathia: 2009 - 7 years / $161 Million<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alex Rodriguez: 2008 - 10 years / $262 Million<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Albert Haynesworth: 2009 - 7 years / $100 Million<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Manny Ramirez: 2009 - 2 years / $45 Million<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">LeBron James: 2010 - ???????<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdTJ_YWrrI/AAAAAAAAArg/umasBrZJWa4/s1600-h/scrooge,+mcduck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 295px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdTJ_YWrrI/AAAAAAAAArg/umasBrZJWa4/s400/scrooge,+mcduck.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311805716604300978" /><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">U.S. National Debt (as of March 11, 20009) - $10,957,5478,698,039.49<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdSIYAUotI/AAAAAAAAArY/u4WxuaLVCUo/s1600-h/i_want_your_money_uncle_sam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdSIYAUotI/AAAAAAAAArY/u4WxuaLVCUo/s400/i_want_your_money_uncle_sam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311804589343023826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blues_Brothers">and the girls, how much for the women</a>)</span></div><br />Why is it that Manny Ramirez can basically joke his way through a lengthy part of his contract, then pick up his stats towards the later years in order to attract the eye of some rival club? There is no accountability for the talent that you pay for when Free Agency creates a 2-year motive for trying. I can’t wait for Major League Baseball to feel the economic crunch and maybe just like in the 1920’s and 30’s winning will mean more money for the club and that will actually mean something for the players… not just the one’s getting <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kFH4gV8rGY">DICKS sporting goods contracts</a>, but everyone on the team getting an increase for winning the big one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdSEJQnfFI/AAAAAAAAArQ/sKXA02hidro/s1600-h/eight_men_out_1_760x535.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rl8oQ08hHQQ/SbdSEJQnfFI/AAAAAAAAArQ/sKXA02hidro/s400/eight_men_out_1_760x535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311804516665359442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sox_Scandal">Dirty Black Sox</a>)</span></div><br />What a difference an incentive makes when the guys on the team don’t already make enough money to not try for 6 out of 7 years because their cash is guaranteed. I hate that I pay to see games where I know the players are ‘going through the motions’ just to get to that contract year.<br /><br />I realize that we live in a capitalist society and making the green is the only thing that motivates these days, ESPECIALLY these days. But nothing lasts forever. Just talk to David Stern, whose <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/McHale-Changes-coming-for-apf-14541850.html">NBA is starting to take some financial loses</a>. Hopefully LeBron Roosevelt’s New Deal will stimulate the slumbering NY basketball fans and save the NBA…<br /><br />As for baseball, it pains me to see guys like Manny essentially “hold out” for a bigger deal… when they’re all using PED’s (I know, I know the steroids thing will be another post for sure). Eventually the slap in the face(wallet) of these massive contracts will become just that and people will refuse to waste hard earned money to watch half ass ballers cheat their way to the guap…. I'm not down for paying $75-400 of my cash to see some thug swindle the system so his 'kids can eat' (oh Latrell Spreewell). So much money has America’s great pastimes becoming irrevocably damaged… If they aren't already.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CwxMRPTsYeo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CwxMRPTsYeo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>RNDMBeN13http://www.blogger.com/profile/18283807745280504066noreply@blogger.com0