HHR Featured in BallHype Profile Series

HHR was recently featured as part of the BallHype Profile Series.

You can check it out here:

BallHype Profile on "Hugging Harold Reynolds"

Hype it up if you like it!

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Topps Gives Us Head(s Up)

Knock. Knock.

Who's there?

Kebon Meeshle.

Kebon Meeshle who?

Kebon Meeshle who's hear to cut the head off of your cat.

Amazing the things I find in my basement.

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Tarkenton Takes A Bite Out Of Favre

Former Giants and Vikings Quarterback Fran Tarkenton has decided to weigh in on the Brett Favre situation, and he is not a happy camper.

In an interview on an Atlanta radio station that was then reported from other outlets such as the New York Daily News, Tarkenton hopes that Favre comes back so he can fail with the Vikings. Tarkenton doesn't like the way Favre has treated the Packers after years of their loyalty to #4, and that the media and fans glorify the Favres of the world.

He says on Favre, "I think he has been a great flamboyant quarterback, but he has made more stupid plays than any great quarterback that I've ever seen." Not exactly uncovering any amazing truths here that Favre has made some dumb plays, I just don't understand why he takes the unnecessary shots. Sounds like Fran still wishes he was in the spotlight and someone still wanted him to play. I always find it hypocritical when an old time athlete who we haven't heard from in a while comes out of nowhere to criticize a current day player for being in the news too often. Enough with that.

In addition, Tarkenton decided to take a shot of Eli Manning, calling him "just a guy," as opposed to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The funny thing about all of this, as was mentioned in the Daily News article, is that Eli and Favre have something Tarkenton doesn't, a Super Bowl ring. I bet deep down Fran wishes someone would ask him to come back and guide a Super Bowl contender.

-posted by Cadillac Mescallade

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Sergio Garcia, Prom Queen

I don't know what's more unbelievable: John Madden getting beat within an inch of his life in Trenton, or Sergio Garcia being named prom queen.

Said Garcia: "I will be wearing a suit, but don't be fooled, deep down inside, I am a queen!"

LAT: Fairfax High's prom queen is a guy

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Rich Eisen Goes On the DL

Dan Levy's daily podcast is the standard-bearer for online sports shows. In addition to an overall quality product, his top-notch guests are second-to-none.

Today, Dan talks with the NFL Network's Rich Eisen about, among other things, NFLN's recent partnership with Comcast, Jon Gurden's hiring at MNF, Brian Baldinger's grossly deformed pinkie, and, um, Bea Arthur.

You can listen to the show here.

On the DL: Rich Eisen Brings His Wit and Intelligence To Talk NFL Network and Bea Arthur On the DL

To listen to Dan talk about the tricks of the podcast trade, get your tickets today to Blogs With Balls.

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.27.09]

Scott Boras Facts‏ (National Lampoon)

Horrific Soccer Injury: Oupa Ngulube Breaks Leg In Half (TPS)

Meet Two-Year Old Pool Prodigy: Keith "I’m a hustler baby" O’dell Jr. (Steady Burn)

Tim Lincecum Is Back! (Josh Q. Public)

What 5 Players Could Outeat Charles Barkley? (NESW)

Reasons to Hate the Nuggets (Rumors & Rants)

Michael Vick Deserves A Second Chance (MoonDog Sports)

Five Coaches Most Likely To Be Sprewell'd (Zoner Sports)

Age limits and the NBA (A Stern Warning)

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@DanicaPatrick's Penthouse Forum

Lord only knows what sort of torrid fan mail she gets.

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Roddy Piper Hates Canadian Hippies

I'll be damned if when he says "Maple Leaf Wrestling" I don't hear "Make Believe Wrestling."

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Separated at Birth: Luchador "El Dandy" Nominated to Supreme Court

Sonia Sotomayor, better known by her ring name "El Dandy," has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court.

Obama, sensing the historical significance of the nomination, called the former Latino World Order member "an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great Justice."

And who are we to doubt El Dandy?

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.26.09]

Royals Skipper Trey Hillman Spits in Umpire Paul Emmel's Eyes (Detroit4Lyfe)

Jose Cansenco Goes Down in MMA Debut - with Video (The Camel Clutch)

Percy Harvin Dishes the Dirt on Tim Tebow (The Viking Age)

Jeremy Shockey KO’ed by Rehab (InGameNow)

Mr. T Sings “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” At The Cubs Game (TPS)

Honoring Andre "The Hawk" Dawson (More Hardball)

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Mr. T Goes Home to Starla at Night

Do you think Mr. T got where he is today because he dressed like Peter Pan?

You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while he’s wearing those bad boys? Forget about it.

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Rusty (& NASCAR) Honor Those Who Gave the Greatest Sacrifice

Yesterday, at exactly 3:00:00 p.m. (EDT) in the middle of the race, NASCAR called the caution, stopped the cars in the middle of the track, made the drivers turn off the engines, and recognized the President's moment of silence for our fallen service members.

It's a rare event that Rusty's speechless, but that's pretty awesome!

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.22.09]

The Price of Entertainment: Remembering Owen Hart (The Good Point)

Peavy Says No! (Jorge Says No!)

Rutgers, McDivitt Elementary School Schedule Home-And-Home Football Series (Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician)

Warriors Director Of PR Posts Anonymous Comment On Fan Messageboard (Sports Rubbish)

Terminator Silvation: Is Anderson Silva The Best Athlete Alive? (FanSided)

What Celebrities are Thinking at the Lakers Game (The World of Isaac)

Drew Barrymore was loaded, limber at the Lakers-Nuggets game (Steady Burn)

Seattle Mariners Can Haz Cheezburger? (FanHouse)

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Rusty Reckons: Gonna Need a Bigger Jet Dryer!

Either NASCAR's going to have to invest in the world's largest sump pump or come July 4th, the boys will have to trade in their cars for boats. Daytona's gotten over 17 inches of rain lately, causing Lake Lloyd (in Datyona's infield) to overfill her banks and spill out onto the raceway.

If they race boats at Daytona, though...will they have to use restrict-oar plates?

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NBC Washington: Steelers, Obama Hate Children

From NBC Washington:

Parents say they were just 10 minutes late for their scheduled tour. School officials say White House staff said they needed to get ready for the president's event with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, so they couldn't come in.

Parent Barbara Stine: "Here we have President Obama and his administration saying, 'Here we are for the common, middle class people,' and here he is not letting 150 5- and 6-year-olds into the White House because he’s throwing a lunch for a bunch of grown millionaires."

Actual NBC Local caption on this photo: "President Obama enjoys his new Steelers jersey after making children cry."

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So. Not. Hip.

It's no EPIC DOUCHE, but damn if this doesn't make the Bostonian in me just as sad. From the geniuses at "Look at This Fucking Hipster"

“So, I’m wearing my 1985 New England Patriots t-shirt. And here is my Ralph Nader tattoo. Basically, my body is a shrine to epic losers. “

If people like this aren't supposed to get punched in the neck, why would God have invented the roll of quarters?

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Presidential Throwbacks

Yesterday, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers followed the tradition of championship sports teams meeting with the President of the United States.

Fat Willard raises an interesting question as he was perusing ceremony pictures, "If you serve 8 years you are looking at 32 jerseys JUST from NFL/MLB not counting basketball NBA/college/womens, etc. What happens to the jerseys the Pres gets from each team?"

Anyone? Bueller?

I would love to get my hands on one of Barry's, Bush's or any other President's for that matter. Ford, being a former UofM star, would be solid. Did they do that way back in the 70's?



This doesn't include jerseys POTUS might pick up along the campaign trail...

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Full White House Video of Obama Honoring Pittsburgh Steelers

The President asks, "Where's Dick?" (LeBeau not Cheney). Be much funnier if he asked "Where's James?" ala Dubya's "Manny Ramirez isn't here, I guess his grandmother died again'?



Well done by the White House and the Steelers with the charitible tie-in:

"After a pivotal speech this morning, the President took a moment this afternoon to welcome the Superbowl Champions to the White House, along with approximately 50 Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center and their families. Afterwards they all joined up to work with USO to assemble 3,000 care packages for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."

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FreeDarko Collaborates with adidas

Blogs With Balls panelist Bethlehem Shoals, known as “Nathaniel Friedman” to stuffier editors, is the founder, chief contributor and editor-in-chief of FreeDarko.com, whose Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac was published last fall by Bloomsbury, USA.

This week, Shoals, with FD artist Jacob Weinstein, teamed up with adidas “on two fully animated videos highlighting the inner-workings of Dwight [Howard] and Derrick [Rose].”

Reads an adidas press release: “FreeDarko’s uncanny analysis of both Dwight and Derrick spotlights their roles as the ultimate Commander and Creator, leading their teams and the performance revolution of the game. ”

The videos, like Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac, are a thing of beauty. But more specifically, the collaboration is a testament to the idea of companies working with online influencers to reach targeted markets in creative new ways and mediums.

Dwight Howard: The Detailed Mechanics of a Commander



Derrick Rose: The Inner Workings of a Creator

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Big Ben Doesn't Have Twitter...or Cancer

"Which of you ladies wants to Tweet me?"

Recently Ben Roethlisberger wrote on his Twitter account:

I am sorry to all my friends cause I have not been on here in a while. As you may soon find out, I have been diagnosed with skin cancer. It is not too serious, but will need further (sic) attention. This has taken up most of my time. I will try to get on here more. I would appreciate your prayers!

Problem is, according to his agent, he has neither cancer nor a Twitter account. "Ben positively does not have Facebook or MySpace pages, nor a Twitter account! Any such postings are imposters and should be disregarded. We are actively working to end this problem with those companies."

So rest assured Big Ben fans. The rumors are false. Ben does NOT have Twitter.
Read more: "No cause for alarm: Roethlisberger denies he has skin cancer"

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Because Will Ferrell as Harry Caray Never Gets Old

Cubs win!

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Blast the Hell Out of Turkeys

I'm enjoying my daily ritual of watching the wacky antics of Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street/Elmo, when my daughter, as she is prone to do, starts playing with the remote and flips on some outdoors channel. Next thing I know, carnage breaks out.

Tom Teasers, shooting the sh*t out of birds, and terrorizing children and parents since God-knows-when.

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.20.09]

You Don't Want Warren Sapp As Your Coach (Zoner Sports)

Planes Give Japanese Little Leaguers A Fly-By! (Steady Burn)

The Post Gazette's Ron Cook Thinks Penguins Fans Are Hypocrites (PSAMP)

Top 10 Fictional Athletes of All-Time (InGameNow)

Eric Wedge is On The Brink of Unemployment (Paneech)

Gimmicks Galore at WWE Extreme Rules (The Camel Clutch)

NBA All-Decade Team (RCS)

Spike Lee to Profile Mike Vick (Sparty & Friends)

Mark Buehrle: Baseball's Most Underrated Ace (Midwest Sports Fans)

10 Things That Would be More Exciting Than the NBA Draft Lottery (Pacman Jonesin)

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Strahan To Star In Fox Sitcom

FOX has announced the lineup of shows for the Fall Schedule, and while some of my favorites like "Lie to Me" and "Fringe" are back for more, a new show has to pique any sports fans interest. The sitcom "Brothers" will star Michael Strahan as an ex pro football player who returns home to find out that while he has changed, his family hasn't. Strahan is just the the latest in a long line of professional football players to make the transition into television. This brings up a great opportunity to talk about three of the men who warmed our hearts on television years ago.

First would be Bob Golic as the toughest and possibly oldest RA in the history of college on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Golic sported a lengthy mullet and painted on acid washed jeans. I didn't watch this show nearly as much as the original Saved by the Bell, but I just remember Golic always popping in to the massive apartment Zach had after some hijinks had ensued, giving Zach the old "Why I oughtta!" face and then cue the laugh track. Surprisingly, this show didn't last terribly long.


Secondly would be Alex Karras on Webster. For anyone who has seen "Blazing Saddles," Karras starred as Mongo and is most known for laying out a parked horse with one punch. After that he grew a sweet mustache and served as George Papadopoulos, the father of the adopted Webster on Webster. In this role, George would laugh at Webster's antics, teach life lessons, and install a secret passageway behind a grandfather clock designed for miniature children to use.


The last was more of a cameo, as Ed "Too Tall" Jones appeared on an episode of Different Strokes (video here) where Arnold pretends to be a magician. Jones displayed a tight sweater vest and an even better command of the English language.

Clearly, Strahan has some huge shoes to fill.

-Posted by Cadillac Mescallade

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Enrico Palazzo Fan Club on Facebook

"For those who curse Frank Drebin's desecration of a true cultural icon."

Genius.

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Blogs With Balls News

HHR and RxSN are pleased to announce that Gary Vaynerchuk will be the featured speaker at Blogs With Balls, the all-day sports and new media summit taking place in New York City on June 13th.



Gary has captured attention with his pioneering, multi-faceted approach to personal branding and business. After primarily utilizing traditional advertising techniques to build his family’s local retail wine business into a national industry leader, Gary rapidly leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, his video blog about wine. Gary has always had an early to market approach launching Wine Library's retail website in 1997 and Wine Library TV in February of 2006. Gary's success has led to a 7-figure book deal, several national TV appearances, and a flurry of speaking engagements around the world, including notable tech and business summits such as South By Southwest, Big Omaha, Web 2.0 Expo, FOWA, Strategic Profits and BlogWorld Expo.

Along with his brother AJ, Gary recently launched VaynerMedia, with a client portfolio that includes Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities and athletes.

Here's a taste of what you can expect from Gary regarding personal branding, business development and leveraging social media:



For more information on Gary Vaynerchuk, please visit:
garyvaynerchuk.com
tv.winelibrary.com
vaynermedia.com
twitter.com/garyvee

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.19.09]

The 5 Scariest Ice Skate Lacerations Of All Time (TPS)

Separated At Birth: NBA Playoffs Vol. 2 (FanSided)

Unfortunate Funk video honoring Big Papi (Red Sox Monster)

NBA Rookies, here’s the money. Don’t talk during the commercial (NESW)

Kwame Brown and his agent are idiots (Rumors & Rants)

PGA Pro Hits Bullseye From 300 Ft. Elevated Tee...And Won You Free Chinese! (Steady Burn)

Movies That Stop Channel Surfing (Zoner Sports)

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Little Mac Grew Up to Become Paul "Magic Man" Malignaggi

I thought Little Mac looked familiar. Don't let the parody fool you. The man took Cotto to the limit.

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Shaq to School: But Will He Master the Triple Lindy?

CBS Sports reports that cunning linguist Shaquille O'Neal is is taking a broadcasting class at Syracuse University known as Sportscaster U, having arrived on Sunday and started school Monday at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

We at HHR say there is no doubt he has the potential to go down as the greatest Tweeting 7'1" cockeyed broadcaster in the history of television.

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Jesse "Ben Franklin" Ventura Slaps Around Liz Hasselbeck

Actually, he's looking less like Franklin now, and more like Stan Zbornak. Must be the Boca blazer.

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@DanicaPatrick's Latest Sponsorship...on Twitter

Athletes on Twitter is all the rage. Danica Patrick is taking it one step forward thanks to the help of our friends at Sports Media Challenge. @DanicaPatrick was launched on May 17 in conjunction with (and backed by) Tissot watches, which views the venture according to SMC sources as "a less-invasive way than traditional advertising...to connect with consumers through social media and their one of their company’s faces."

And if ever there were a face to promote in auto racing it'd be Danica's.


It's a very forward-thinking venture and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

"Both Danica and Tissot are well aware that they are carving new territory in terms of sponsorships on Twitter and are moving ahead cautiously and figuring it out as they go. Both parties want to execute this new venture within the cultural norms of social media."

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"'78": Boston, Busing, Baseball and Bucky Fn Dent; Q&A with Author Bill Reynolds

In the Spring and Fall of 1978, Red Sox fans saw their beloved team lose a 14-game lead over the hated New York Yankees, which included a four-game sweep at Fenway by the Yanks and forced a one-game playoff for the AL East title. Fans were fixated on the October 2 game, which would go on to earn light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent his endearing (and enduring) profane nickname. The city was also burning under the national spotlight over the politically and socially volatile issue of forced busing over which the otherwise liberal-minded city and its residents became viewed as racially hostile as the Deep South.


As violent protests raged, though eventually subsided even as the issue persisted, baseball served as a unifier, an escape.

In Boston, where politics and baseball are inherited religions, author Bill Reynolds takes us back in '78: The Boston Red Sox, a Historic Game, and a Divided City, and examines the dual relationship of the city with its communities and its team during the tumultuous era.


HuggingHaroldReynolds: Was your intention to write a historical/social issue piece or a baseball book? Where did the idea come from to marry the two?

Bill Reynolds: My idea was to write what I hoped would be an interesting book, one that used a great baseball game as the thread to get at larger issues. I’ve long believed that sports are not an island unto themselves, but an integral part of the culture. The idea came from going to a Red Sox game a couple of years ago and speaking to some fans – one at about 40, the other in his early 30’s, and both from New England – who had no idea that the busing crisis had ever existed.

HHR: The busing order came about in '74, and you go on to characterize the '77-78 school year as "relatively tranquil" - why then draw the parallels between these two particular events - busing & the '78 playoff game? Why not, say, the '75 Series?

BR: I liked the fact that even though things are starting to quiet down, the furor over busing and the ramifications of it remain. I also liked the fact that it had already gone on for four years, and felt like in ’75 it had just been a year.

HHR: Save a few Bill Lee quotes and a random PSA or two, the players were both physically disconnected and vocally silent on the busing and race issues and accompanying violence. Given the view of Red Sox baseball as an escape from these harsh realities, were the players better served remaining politically neutral despite local volatility?

BR: Even though with the exception of Bill Lee the players avoided speaking about the issue, busing was like the elephant in the clubhouse, to the point that for several of them it took over a decade to speak about it, specifically for Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, and Fred Lynn. I’m not surprised, though—busing and race was such a volatile issue then that there was no way they could win back then by commenting on it.

HHR: How at fault were politicians and community leaders, many of whom have gone on to successful political careers - others who saw their aspirations extinguished, in stoking the fires?

BR: I feel that that many of the political and community leaders also were caught in a no-win situation, especially Mayor Kevin White, who had national aspirations and saw them blown up by busing. The issue was simply too ugly and too divisive to have any political figure emerge from it unscathed, regardless of where they were on the issue.

HHR: In 2004 Barry Bonds noted his unwillingness to play in Boston because it was "too racist," and an article as recent as last year MLB analyst and scribe Ken Rosenthal highlighted the team's current lack of African-Americans (while reminding us of the Sox's notorious racial history). How much of the recent perceptions are based on the city's past as opposed to present realities? Has the city actually come that far?

BR: I think those perceptions are all based on the past. In the past decade you can make a case that the three most popular players in Fenway were Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz, and that the perception of Boston as being a racist city is also in the past. That doesn’t mean race is not an issue in Boston, but then again race is an issue in America, and I don’t think Boston is unique in this regard.

HHR: After years of his coming up short, what are both your professional and personal thoughts on Jim Rice finally gaining enshrinement to Cooperstown. Which was a bigger factor that held him back - his perceived attitude amongst sports writers or his lack of coming through in any notable big, clutch moment?

BR: There’s no doubt that Rice’s miserable relationship with the media through the years didn’t help him, but he also never had those huge signature moments in his career that arguably would have gotten him inducted earlier.

HHR: Can you elaborate on the notion that fans can cheer on players of different races and nationalities, when they perform for their respective teams, but still hold a NIMBY view of others when it comes to their communities?

BR: I think that’s the nature of fandom and, on a deeper level, the more we get to know people the less we are bothered by race, and we feel we know athletes.

HHR: Can baseball really serve as a healing salve for social issues?

BR: Sports can help be a healing salve for social issues, in that they can bring people of different races and backgrounds together for a while in a common cause, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to eradicate all the problems.

HHR: What have the lessons of '78 taught the city of Boston and the country as a whole that watched the actions transpire?

BR: That’s a great question, and one I really don’t have an answer for. I do think, though, that one of the lessons learned from Boston’s busing tragedy was that nobody won, that all the years and all the hate and all the violence and in then end everyone lost. Maybe that’s the enduring lesson.

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.18.09]

Fox Sports Demotes Lead NFL Director, Splits Legendary Team (Eye on Sports Media)

Circle Rules Football? Whiffle Hurling? Vikingball? WTF? (The Legend of Ceclio Guante)

Woooooo! Ric Flair Returns at WWE Judgment Day (The Camel Clutch)

AAU Hoops: Descent Into The Basketball Netherworld (Rumors & Rants)

Athletes And Their Ridiculous Cars (Yep Yep)

11 Or So Greatest Moments In Ladies College Football Clinic Estrogen Madness (Busted Coverage)

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Cadillac Mescallade: Celtics Role Players Exposed As Magic Take Series

Photo: Getty

I know it is very easy to find faults in players after a loss in a game or a series, but I'm going to do it anyway.

The Celtics were likely doomed once Kevin Garnett went out with his leg injury and further lost once Leon Powe, a valuable asset off the bench, was done for the year. That said, they still maintained much of the same core of role players that helped them to win the NBA Championship in 2008. One of the guys not around was James Posey, who took more money and, in the end, a shorter season with the New Orleans Hornets. However, the Celtics were able to bring in Stephon Marbury, an all-star caliber player at the guard spot despite his other issues, and Mikki Moore, a hustling reserve center who seemed to be on the rise in the NBA.

These additions were still not enough. For the better part of the playoffs, Ray Allen was on point as he further cements his reputation as one of the great shooting guards of all time...and I emphasize the word shooting. I don't think it's possible for Paul Pierce to top the run he had a year ago, en route to being named NBA Finals MVP, but he was his reliable self as well. After that, the team had to rely on all these other players who, at various times during the season, came up huge. I think at this point, this was a case of these players overachieving, rather than performing at a level that could be expected regularly.

As great as Rajon Rondo has been in this postseason and has at times carried the Celtics, the fact is, he is still a starting NBA point guard who has no jumpshot. It's the one thing that keeps him from being an excellent player. It was proven time and time again that this guy can be left open and he won't make teams pay. Does he have to lead the NBA in three pointers made? No, but this guy has to keep teams honest. I imagine it's something he will work on in the offseason. Still, at his age he has such tremendous potential. It will be interesting to see if he can ever become a reliable shooter. As for this series and this playoffs, you can only throw yourself at the hoop so many times before teams figure things out. (Props to his dunk, right in Howard's face, didn't think he had those hops). Of course, I think Rondo is on the verge of being something very great, but to be in the NBA without a jumpshot is like graduating high school and being unable to read - it just doesn't add up. In either situation you should almost gain the skill by osmosis through all the years of involvement.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis. I'm not the first to mention that this nickname has become overused and annoying. It prevents me from taking him seriously. While he is the epitome of hustle and came through with that huge buzzer beating jumper against the Magic in Game 4, he is a power forward who can't finish reliably. Find me another power forward in the NBA who is 6'9" and struggles to dunk the basketball. I can relate to Davis. People often remark to me while playing basketball, "How do your shots go in?" I get that feeling when I watch Davis. Without any lift he goes through a variety of head fakes and wild shots to get his baskets. As Game 7 proved, Dwight Howard is onto this game as he put a host of Davis' shots on the window before they could go anywhere near the hoops. Davis, without question will always take one or two jumpers a game that are out of his range. He knocks down that baseline J and then starts thinking he is Glen Robinson and can pull up anywhere inside the perimeter. You should never be able to count on someone for two misses a night, it's no fun.

Kendrick Perkins starts at center for the Celtics, and outside of being a big body I have yet to figure out what his skills are. I wouldn't say he is a lockdown defender or an incredible rebounder (though he did have double figures in game 7). His offensive possessions are sometimes an adventure and he has been in the league for six seasons now and hasn't really developed any moves. Does he start for the Celtics because he should be or because it doesn't matter who you have at center when the big three are in the lineup? He works well in that system when all three are going well. He can be a garbageman and clean up misses and just work on rebounding and defense. However, when the Big Ticket is out of action, you find out Perkins is still the same guy on the Celtics from three years ago when they were lottery regulars.

The rest of the regulars that saw time are Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Stephon Marbury, and every once in a while Tony Allen. Simmons on ESPN already kills Tony Allen so bad, there is no need to bring him up. House can be a streaky shooter and really does exactly what he's always done so I don't hold him very responsible. His game has always been shooting and that is what he does. Scalabrine, we joked about on HHR a few weeks ago but this guy is getting minutes and not contributing a ton. Just hustling won't cut it at the NBA level. Yes, he did have some clutch shots against the Bulls, but this Celtics team needed consistency and didn't find it here. Finally, was Marbury, he proved valuable in some spots in the Magic series but overall didn't add the boost many had hoped. In one respect, it was nice that he didn't cause any issues and managed just to keep the focus on basketball, but for a guy as talented as he is, he was unable to really supplement the offense. Perhaps that was Doc Rivers fault for not using him as often. Oh and just to follow up, Mikki Moore was pretty much riveted to the bench for most of these playoffs.

I understand indicting these gentleman after the fact might be a contradiction because this collection of players are role players and generally, by definition, "role players" don't all have to be great all the time, but just one of them needs to come through all of the time. I bring it up because when things are going well for the Celtics, these players are hailed as better than perhaps they really are. If you are starting a team are you taking Perkins as your center, Davis as your power forward? Likely not. Are you taking them even as backups? I don't know. I think the Celtics got caught up in the alleged greatness of some of their own players. Looking back now perhaps they would have made a bigger play to keep Posey, or to not let PJ Brown retire. I think I bring all of this up because I somewhat got caught up in the hype myself, in believing these guys were better than they are. It might turn out that they aren't that bad, most are still young and can still develop. It's just amazing how perception of these players can change from 2008 to 2009. Who knows what 2010 will hold. With a healthy KG back, we might see a return to greatness for this whole group.

-Posted by Cadillac Mescallade

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George: Interview with Steinbrenner Biographer Peter Golenbock

A former The New York Times and The Boston Globe writer, Peter Golenbock is perhaps best known in sports circles for co-authoring Sparky Lyle's Yankees diary, The Bronx Zoo in 1979. Through connections with team personnel and players, he also helped pen Craig Nettles' Balls (how dirty), and Number 1 with Billy Martin. Altogether, he is credited with 5 NYT best sellers.

His latest release, George: The Poor Little Rich Boy Who Built the Yankee Empire, takes a deep look inside the life and career of George Steinbrenner. To the average fan, who likely knows the Boss candidly through Larry David's portrayal on Seinfeld, the book is, for a lack of better terms, dark. Steinbrenner's upbringing and personality - that of a domineering manipulator who will stop at nothing to both succeed and save face in the light of criticism - produced among the most abusive, yet successful owners in American professional sports.

We caught up with Golenbock to talk about the book and its subject.


HuggingHaroldReynolds: From the title through most of the 300-some pages of text, "George" is a scathing look at the life of a man whose personality traits and professional shortcomings many fans either chose to ignore, never knew or conveniently forgot. Given your existing relationship in covering the team and working with several of the organization's members, was your intention to write a blistering piece before you began working on it or was it something that came about as your research progressed?

Peter Golenbock: George was never intended as a "scathing" look. Rather I interviewed almost a hundred people, and this book is the result of what they told me. A writer should never go into a project with any preconceived notions. The fun of any project is interviewing someone and learning what he or she has to offer. It is then the writer's obligation to present that information fairly and accurately.

HHR: Tell us how the book's subtitle came about.

PG: What struck me early on was the duality of George Steinbrenner's relationship with his father. On the one hand, his father was a tyrant who ran his life with an iron hand, and on the other he was a father who would come to George's rescue any time he got in trouble. Growing up rich George learned how to take advantage of his station from an early age. It also allowed him to grow up arrogant and feeling that the rules didn't apply to him. I feel the title accurately reflects this.

HHR: In the opening pages you characterize two personality disorders, traits of which become recurring themes throughout the life of Steinbrenner (and subsequently the book). Can you briefly give readers examples of signs of the Boss' possible (if not likely) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

PG: Narcissism: George was a person who felt he was right all the time, that he was the only one capable of making key decisions, and that no one else, including the top people working under him, knew what they were doing. As a result, he felt his employees to be interchangeable and easily replaced, no matter who they were. If he didn't get his way, he would turn vengeful. If he felt embarrassed, he would turn vengeful. Also he was into becoming famous, no matter how he did it. He allowed himself to be lampooned on Seinfeld, even though the show made fun of him week after week. Obsessive-compulsive: He was a workaholic who never took a vacation. He was a micro-manager who felt he needed to be involved in every decision of every department of the Yankees. He was the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. He could never have a period of rest. He had to be doing something, which accounted for his extraordinary stamina and his ability to work on many different projects at once.

HHR: While Billy Martin is the obvious and most well-known example, how would you categorize the numerous employees that Steinbrenner has abused over the years? Why did so many put up with it for so long, despite it being so prevalent over the years? Is the Yankee mystique that alluring or is Steinbrenner that manipulative?

PG: You can't categorize the employees who George abused. You can only categorize the nature of the abuse. You have to understand that no matter who was working for him, whether it was Billy Martin, Lou Piniella, Yogi Berra, or Joe Torre, that person wasn't as good at his job as George would have been in George's mind. As a result, the manager, no matter who he was, was subjected to a constant stream of suggestions, criticisms, and second-guesses. Why did anyone put up with it for more than one day? The salary was excellent, the job was a plum, and often that person was sure that he could handle Steinbrenner when others couldn't. Torre was the best at handling Steinbrenner because his father had been abusive, and Torre had learned how to handle the abuse.


HHR: Many of George's nuances can be seen in Hank and Hal. You attribute this much like you attribute George's personality as a result of his father's rearing. Yet you ensure that the sons' reign will be, in many ways, different from that of George. In your best estimation, what can Yankee fans expect in years to come?

PG: What the Yankee fans can expect in years to come is a much more rational approach to running the team. With George at the helm, he would ignore the advice of his talented baseball scouts and general managers, often making stupid or ill-advised personnel decisions. Buying Steve Trout was just one of many such decisions. Hal and Hank will be more likely to trust their baseball people and sign players who will help them more often than not. The signing of Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira are proof that they will sign talented players, not too-old retreats or pitchers with reputations who are injured, as George did. Since the Yankees will be making a fortune from ticket sales and from the YES nature, their overspending won't break the bank. In my opinion, the Yankees will be a much more dangerous franchise going forward.


HHR: As his health and public appearances rapidly diminish, what will be the legacy of George Steinbrenner be? How big a footnote will the fact that the Yankees saw their biggest turn arounds over the periods when Steinbrenner was suspended from the game and other, more level minded individuals were making personnel decisions?

PG: His legacy will be that he was the most visible and voluble of owners over the last thirty years. He took the Yankees from a team valued at $10 million to one that is now worth $1.5 billion. He made the Yankees the most loved and hated franchise in all of sports. He became the most loved and hated figure in all of sports. No one will remember that the teams won during the two periods after he was suspended. What they will remember is the Steinbrenner character on Seinfeld, demanding his cannolis.

HHR: Has there ever been a more unintentionally humorous boast than Steinbrenner's 1987 claim to Lou Pinella, "I just won the pennant. I got you Steve Trout."?

PG: If he boasted about getting Roy Smalley Jr. to play second base, that would also qualify.


HHR: On that topic, George orchestrated bringing several "big-name" flops to the Big Apple. Which signing will go down as the biggest blunder?

PG: One of the biggest blunders was paying a fortune for John Mayberry, the big first baseman from the Kansas City A's. I think the Yankees are still paying his salary. Raul Mondesi was a bust. Omar Moreno too. There are plenty others, including Steve Trout and more recently Carl Pavano, who was paid twenty million for very little productivity. You have to look back at all the Yankee rookies George gave away, kids with talent who would have helped far more than the vets he traded for.

HHR: Is there any figure in history and/or society to whom you can compare George Steinbrenner? Would you stick with the literary figure (I believe mentioned by Leo Hindery), F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby?

PG: Napoleon perhaps, though in the end Napoleon was seen as a loser. George won't be. I liked the Jay Gatsby reference. Leo should know.

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Donovan McNabb Seminar Speaker: "Known For His Leadership Skills"

I have been inundated by advertisements through the mail and over the radio air waves to attend a Philadelphia Business Seminar from a company called "Get Motivated" which features prominent names in sports, business and politics.

Among the presenters is Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, who, given all his mediocre success, is being touted as a persevering leader.


"Donovan McNabb is the elite multi-dimensional quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. He is one of the NFL’s most recognizable and respected players, known for his leadership skills and for his ability to persevere. Donovan is going to fire you up and get you ready for success as he shares his top strategies for scoring touchdowns on and off the field:

• How to get a Vision, Remain Focused and Accomplish your Goals

• How to Outwit and Score Against your Toughest Competition

• Keys to Setting and Attaining Personal and Professional Goals

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HHR Hugs It Out [5.15.09]

Nightmare Chicken at Angel Stadium (Red Sox Monster)

Don King Stays Greedy (Steady Burn)

Koji Uehara: The Best Free Agent Signing? (Jorge Says No!)

Before the Bears Were Who He Thought They Were (Zoner Sports)

Texas Rangers’ Biggest Fan Ready For The World Series (TPS)

10 Little-Known Facts About The Lakers (FanSided)

Chad Ocho Cinco Still Has Nothing On He Hate Me (FanIQ)

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Championship Rings Muppets, Commercial (NESW)

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BOOM! John Madden Found Beaten, Critical; Black; Could Be Caliendo

From the Times of Trenton:

City police responding to a 911 call at 12:49 a.m. Thursday morning found John Madden unresponsive in the area of Wiley Avenue. The victim was brought to Capital Health Systems at Fuld and treated for a brain bleed and trauma to the left and right sides of his head, police said.

Madden was placed on a ventilator. His injuries appeared to be from an assault rather than from a vehicle accident or fall, police said.

Read the full story here.

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BwB Panelist Dan Levy Interviews TNT's Ernie Johnson On the DL

Ernie Johnson from TNT joins Blogs With Balls panelist Dan Levy on today's On The DL Podcast to talk about his relationship with Turner, his relationship with Charles Barkley and his relationship with God. And so much more.

Dan will be featured on the June 13 event's Leveraging Social Media panel to discuss, among other things, ways that social and creative media tools are being used to connect with audiences like yours.



You can listen to the On The DL Podcast Here.

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Howard, Utley, Rollins, Druggie Take Audience with President

Poor JC. Politico takes a shot at the Phillies' suspended reliever as the WFCs finally get to meet POTUS.

Hey, brother, it's all good in the hood.

"I had learned not to care. I blew a few smoke rings, remembering those years. Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though. ..."

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