Monday, November 29, 2010

God Bless Steve Johnson

After dropping the game-winning TD in yesterday's OT loss to Pittsburgh, Bills wideout Steve Johnson blamed his Lord and Savior on Twitter according to the Daily News.
It wasn't his own hands or the Pittsburgh secondary Sunday that foiled Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson from hauling in what should have been the game-winning TD catch in the end zone.

It was God.

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!!" the 24-year-old tweeted from his iPad at around 5:15 Sunday after the Steelers' 19-16 overtime victory. "AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..."
Frankly, I think it's refreshing and genuine that Johnson exhibits his faith in both good times and bad. It's easy for athletes to profess their thanks and acknowledgment towards the Lord when things are easy.

There's a special place in Heaven for ballers like him.

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ABC News Credits the "Tiger Woods Effect" on Increasing Those Seeking Sex Addiction Help


Just what every man needs: Clinical proof that he's not alone in his transgressions, and validity for his "affliction."
In the year since golfer Tiger Woods checked into a Mississippi sex rehabilitation clinic, the number of those seeking treatment has jumped by 50 percent, according to Robert Weiss, founding director of the Sexual Recovery Institute in Los Angeles, which opened in 1995.

The month after Woods went into rehab, the Sexual Recovery Institute began offering information sessions that have been drawing 35 to 50 people a week.




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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Cynic’s Guide to College Football, Week 12

We’re nearing the end, my friends. The end of the season. The end of many fans’ dreams. The end of many coaches’ jobs. And the end of many turkeys’ lives.

If you need any proof that football is the greatest sport in the world, I would submit this week as Exhibit A. Drama. Great rivalries. Great games. Football on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, as I write this, I'm suffering through Dick Vitale announcing another Duke basketball game. I rest my case.

On with the football.

Mea Culpa

I have to start off this week with an apology. In my post last week, I commented on the lousy officiating in the Big 12, but disagreed with those Nebraska fans who said that the conference was somehow out to get the Huskers for leaving for the Big Ten. I now owe all of you conspiracy theorists an apology.

You were right. I was wrong. And the fix is in.


After watching the Nebraska/Texas A&M game, I really can’t come to any other conclusion. The officiating was so ridiculously one-sided that you’d have to be wearing some pretty thick maroon-tinted Aggie glasses not to notice.

Consider if you will:
  • Nebraska was flagged 16 times for 145 yards (both school records), including six personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
  • Texas A&M, which was one of the most heavily penalized teams in the country coming into the game, had just 2 penalties for 10 yards.
  • The Aggies, despite starting two freshmen at the tackle spots and facing one of the more aggressive defenses in the country, were never called for holding.
  • Late in the game, 3rd-and-6 at the A&M 12 yard line, the Aggies were flagged for pass interference, which would have kept the Huskers’ potential game-winning drive alive. Except the refs picked up the flag.
  • On A&M’s subsequent drive, the Huskers got an atrocious late-hit penalty (on 3rd-and-11 from the 49; see video #1 below) that moved the Aggies into position for the game-winning field goal.
  • ABC, which is stuck in a big-money contract with a conference with no championship game and really only one national marquee game and just lost a bidding war to Fox for the Big Ten championship game, mysteriously never showed replays of two different personal fouls called on Husker DE Eric Martin.
Certainly none of these things individually point to a conspiracy. Picking up the pass interference flag was probably the right call. Although he was obviously provoked (video #2 below; showing A&M’s Tony Jerod-Eddie auditioning for a “junk-grabbing” job with the TSA), the flag on TE Ben Cotton for retaliating wasn’t improper. And Bo Pelini’s maniacal raving at the officials probably didn’t help the team get any borderline calls. But in my mind, here is the smoking gun: The same officiating crew did Nebraska’s games against Texas, Iowa State and Texas A&M. In those games, the Huskers were flagged 32 times for 293 yards. Their opponents were called for just 9 penalties for 103 yards (a difference of almost 8 flags and over 63 yards per game). Compare this to the Huskers’ 4 other Big 12 games this year in which the penalty discrepancy was less than 1 flag and 8 yards per game.

Those kind of numbers cannot be a coincidence.

So Husker conspiracy theorists, consider me a believer. And, assuming you can get by Colorado this week (wonder which officiating crew is doing the game?), I hope you enjoy your last Big 12 consolation prize in the Insight or Alamo Bowl. Because there is not a chance in hell that Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe and his minions will let you get a sniff of the conference championship trophy.

“OK, the Boss wants us to make sure that Nebraska doesn’t win the conference championship. But it’s gotta look like an accident. So who thinks we can do it?”




Welcome to the Party

It only took 12 weeks, but congrats to the Big East on finally getting enough bowl-eligible teams to fill your six spots (well, if you count Notre Dame’s deal to take one of your spots when they don’t make the BCS). First team to 8 wins gets the Fiesta Bowl and its $17 million payout. Who says mediocrity doesn’t pay?

Does this come in Pitt colors?

Weaksauce (As I'm Told the Kids are Calling it These Days) Scheduling #1

I find it very amusing that the loudest voices calling for a playoff to “prove it on the field” are also the loudest ones railing against Boise State’s schedule and that they shouldn’t be given a chance to “prove it on the field.”

A tasty pre-Thanksgiving snack.

Whodathunkit?

Imagine if, 5 years ago, I would have told you that:
Weaksauce Scheduling #2

Speaking of scheduling, what’s up with the new trend of scheduling weak nonconference games late in the season? Alabama vs. Georgia State. Texas vs. Florida Atlantic. Florida vs. Appalachian State. These are the kind of games that belong on Labor Day weekend, not the week before Thanksgiving. It’s sad and not just a little pathetic when supposedly big-name programs feel the need to schedule a scrimmage the week before their end-of-season rivalry games.

From all of us here at HHR, a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your favorite football teams this year.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Big Papi Tries Out His Comedic Chops on a Llama

Even when Steve Nash and Norman Tugwater aren't involved, vitaminwater vids are golden...



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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Paul Williams KO'd

I'm calling this the Avatar Knockout because whoever was controlling the avatar Paul Williams just decided to wake up and go cut a video diary in the middle of the second round.

-Blue Pulaski



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Brian "The Predicament" Cushing

Repeatedly, CBS informed us in the lead-up and during the early moments of today's game that Houston's Brian Cushing is a Jersey boy.

Judging from this picture, while in the NY metro-area playing the Jets, he is no doubt trying to score roofies from Nick Swisher.


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Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Cynic's Guide to College Football: Week 11

Quick hit edition this week.

The Hits Keep on Coming

This Cam Newton recruitment saga keeps getting stranger by the day. At this point, the only thing missing are cameos by Brett Favre’s penis and Rachel Uchitel.

Anyone know if Rachel has any, um, connections at Auburn?

Turning Tricks
Some of it gets a bit repetitive, but this list of the Top 50 Trick Plays is well worth your time.

When You Get to the Bottom, Stop Digging
The WAC announced last week that it was adding the University of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State and the University of Denver in all sports except football. In related news, the WAC is now rated as the 4th toughest conference in the FCS.

Haven't Cubs Fans Suffered Enough?
Northwestern and Illinois will be playing their game this week at Wrigley Field, a decision which was apparently made without actually bothering to think about how the field would be set up. There’s a lot of talk these days about helmet-to-helmet hits. But no one’s talking about the real threat—helmet-to-brick-walls-covered-with-thin-pads-printed-to-look-like-ivy hits.

“Coach, PLEASE don’t make me run that deep post route again.”

Official Complaints
Living in the middle of the country, I’ve seen a lot of Big 12 games the last couple of years and I have to say that they have, far and away, the worst officiating in the country. And, while it may be fun to think of Dan Beebe sitting there with a Buffalo Wild Wings-esque buzzer alerting the refs when it’s time to screw Nebraska for leaving the conference, it’s equal opportunity crappy. It seems like every big game this year has had several not just questionable, but outright bad calls. And then, even after lengthy reviews, they still get them wrong. I understand missed calls are part of the game. But most conferences address these issues and work to get better. It seems like the Big 12 refs get worse every week with no end in sight. Maybe Texas can use a small fraction of their recent ESPN payday to better train their
officials. But I'm not holding my breath.


On second thought, maybe there is something to the Nebraska conspiracy theories.



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Oakley Introduces the Most Racially Insensitive Sunglasses Ever Marketed.

"Getting the right fit is essential for comfort, protection, and even optical performance. You may have heard industry terms like “European Fit” and “Asian Fit”. If sunglasses tend to sit too low on your face or slide down your nose, touch at your temples or cheeks, or feel narrow at the sides of your head, try our Asian Fit. The tabs below show all the technology we put into making these frames fit with perfection."

Sweet Lord.

I was so expecting the "Chop Suey Specs."


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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Comedian Aaron Karo talks sports, crazy Lakers fans and the art of texting your private parts



In 1997, as a college freshman, Aaron Karo sent a semi-drunk but hysterical email of his observations about a night out to twenty of his friends at different schools. That email turned into a weekly column, called Ruminations, with a fan base of over a hundred thousand subscribers.

Since then, Karo has published three books and gone on to a successful comedy career. Karo’s latest stand-up special The Rest Is History airs on Comedy Central on November 19th at 11pm.

Aaron sat down with us to talk sports, fandom and penis pictures.

Did You Watch The World Series?

No. I'm a huge Yankees fan and I think the two best teams didn't make the World Series. It should have been Yankees and Phillies again but neither team had that "it" that people talk about. I just didn't care about the Rangers or the Giants. On Pardon the Interruption Tony Kornheiser was saying how no one cares and Wilbon argued that real sports fans cared. Eh, I'm a real sports fan and didn't really care.

They tried to make us care with the backstories too. I think we were supposed to cheer for the Rangers because Josh Hamilton used to do drugs.

Yeah. We are also supposed to love a good pitching match-up. Nah, no one really wants to see a one run game. It's boring. I want to see 9-8 with four lead changes. I'd want to see a no hitter but after that I want a slugfest. Although, even though I'm a huge baseball fan, I'll be the first to admit it's painful to watch an entire baseball game now. It's just so long and slow. Something has to be done. Even watching a playoff game takes forever.

You live on the West Coast now but grew up back East. Is there a difference between fans on the coasts?

Well, LA is a Lakers town. Dodgers isn't really as big a deal and I'm not really sure people know what the hell the Kings are around here. I feel like on the East coast all the sports are equally big or at least closer to each other in the attention they get from people. Boston, New York and those towns people pay attention to the other sports too. Fans in the East just seemed much rowdier and always harder to please. The California mindset translates over to sports. Going to a Lakers game is like going to a club to some people. It's not even a sporting event. Lakers fans are the worst though. I went to a sports bar for game 6 of the World Series when the Yankees clinched. About forty TVs are on the World Series and one game is on Lakers and Rockets and these dudes where going bonkers over the Lakers game. They were drowning out Game 6 of the World Series for game 6 of the basketball regular season. It's like "calm down fellas. Nice Lakers jersey, who are you Fletch?" You'll see a car with seven Lakers flags and a busted muffler and headlight. Spend come of that extra cash on fixing your car instead of team gear.

Ever been to a Dodgers game?

Yes, a couple years ago. They were in contention. It wasn't bad. I just remember getting hyped up for this Dodger Dog people were raving about and it was just a regular damn hot dog.

Do they also all leave in the 6th inning to beat traffic?

Yeah, but every stadium does a little of that because who the hell wants to sit in traffic. I've only been to one Dodgers game so I can't judge too much. Also, let's not forget to mention the Clippers. The world's most irrelevant team. No one cares about them, they are never good. I'm not sure why they exist. Last season my buddy called me because he had free floor seats to a Clippers game and wanted me to go and I was like "Um. No." It tells you a great deal about a franchise that a person said no to floor seats for an NBA game.

What's one thing you love about sports right now and one thing that pisses me off?

Predictions piss me off the most. I watch PTI and Around The Horn religiously but sometimes I don't get to watch until after all the games they discussed are over and usually everything they predict about the games are wrong. But they never admit it. They twist it around but never go "yep, I was wrong on this." The best part all depends on whether my teams are doing well or not.

Here is one thing we hate, that you can probably relate to: how long is Fox going to employ Tim McCarver?

Actually, oddly, I don't mind McCarver. I don't think he is that awful.

You're killing us.

He isn't really that bad. I also don't hate Bill Walton but everyone else seems to. I also like Dan Lebatard. He is one of my favorites. He is just more logical about stuff. You know who I didn't like that TBS crew with Ron Darling. He sounds too much like James Woods it was freaking me out. You know who I don't like is Ron Jaworski. How many damn times can the dude say the word football? "This football game. This football team." It's awful.

One last thing I wanted to discuss; the whole Brett Favre/Jenn Sterger thing. It's kind of died down a little but wanted to get your take on the matter because a lot of your act is about dating and dealing with women. Am I crazy in thinking there had to be some type of relationship because a man doesn't just send pictures of his junk without there being something more going on.

Well, you're looking at it from a normal guy perspective. Don't assume the way famous people operate is the same as you and I. If we were going after a girl it would be call, text then Facebook and then a couple more forms of contact. This is Brett Favre. He is famous. For him it might be "phone call, phone call, d*ck pic." The rules of dating don't apply to famous people.

So the picture could have been his move?

It's like his "2 minute drill." He only has a short amount of time to get this all done. He just goes into the shotgun, calls and audible and BOOM penis picture.

Aaron Karo’s stand-up special The Rest Is History premieres on November 19th at 11 pm on Comedy Central. The uncut/uncensored album and video will be released digitally on November 20th through New Wave Dynamics.

NY Daily News Reminds You Vick is a Dog Killer

Subtle.



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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Braylon Edwards Uses Austin Collie Technique

I pointed this out last week when Austin Collie got hurt - he clearly had his head down and was as much to blame for his little wooziness.

Now look at this shot of Edwards and Sheldon Brown.

Edwards is looking directly at the ground, while Brown has his facemask up.

Huge fines keep being levied against defenders but repeatedly, it's the receivers that are instigating illegal contact.

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Welcome Home, Braylon...You Drunkard.

Game on. 8:30 in the AM and the Braylon Edwards Welcome Wagon is in full affect.


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Friday, November 12, 2010

Interview with Gary Andrew Poole: PacMan Biographer on Manny, Mayweather, Margarito and More


On the eve of what was to be supposed to be the date of the fight of the century - a mega-fight between offense vs. defense, humility vs. flashiness, Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr - the sporting world is instead gearing up for Pacquiao/Antonio Margarito.

While the matchup might not be one for the ages, the main attraction is. Pacquiao, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world - perhaps ever - goes for his unprecedented eight title in eight weight classes.

Early last year we were fortunate to be able to interview Red Grange biographer Gary Andrew Poole.

We jumped at the chance to pick up his latest book, PacMan: Behind the Scenes With Manny Pacquiao (Da Capo), and talk with the author about not just tomorrow's match-up, but the experience of documenting one of the most iconic sports figures in the world.


HHR: Who is to blame for a lack of a Pacquiao-Mayweather superfight? Mayweather, De La Hoya/Golden Boy or Pacquiao’s pride and/or hypochondria?

GAP: At this point, I think you have to wonder what's going through Mayweather's mind. The $40 million question is--why won't he fight Pacquiao? But there is plenty of blame to go around: hypochondria or not, Pacquiao decided not to submit to an Olympic style blood test when they were initially trying to make this fight happen. During the second go-around, Pacquiao agreed to the blood testing, but it appears that Mayweather had no desire to fight the PacMan. Negotiations were taking place and then, in another bizarre twist, Mayweather said no negotiations took place, then the racist video emerged on YouTube and his current legal issues....


HHR: Is Mayweather’s gamesmanship a way of escalating the anticipation for an eventual bout or is he truly afraid that he would lose the fight, and not only blemish his record, but also be remembered for being on the losing end of the most anticipated and hyped fight in generations?

GAP: I used to think it was gamesmanship. Perhaps that was his goal. But is he really increasing interest in the fight by delaying it, like, forever? I don't think so. Most of the public doesn't really care about boxing, but they wanted to see this fight. There was really great momentum. But we're approaching a who-cares moment. Has this really increased the drama or is it just a bad, weird and increasingly irrelevant soap opera? As for Mayweather's record, I do think he is worried about losing to Pacquiao. Mayweather really, really cares about being undefeated.

HHR: What can we expect this Saturday in Texas from Pacquiao-Margarito?

GAP: I think it will be an exciting fight. I have seen both fighters train. They both looked good. Pacquiao had difficulty at the beginning of his training camp as he tried to gain weight. It hurt his speed. But that's behind him. He is in great shape. Margarito is much slower and he was almost lethargic when I watched him in camp. But he seems fresher now. He is a pressure fighter and comes forward and he will try and corner the PacMan. Pacquiao comes in quick, attacks, and then escapes at different angles. I think Margarito will have a difficult time catching him. Pacquiao has a tendency to take crazy risks: he will let an opponent hit him just to test his strength. Margarito, who has a five-inch height advantage, has a vicious uppercut and Pacquiao has to worry about goofing around inside too much and getting banged around by his much larger opponent. That could be dangerous. But I think Pacquiao is just too fast and skilled and powerful.

HHR: Given Pacquiao and Freddie Roach’s relationship, besides tasteless, how tactically stupid were the cheap shots by the Margarito camp against Roach’s illness?

GAP: Margarito spent the Wednesday press conference apologizing, and then he came unannounced to the Thursday press conference to apologize again. Freddie was upset. He told me that he didn't want to tell Pacquiao because he was worried that Pacquiao would be upset and it would hurt his focus. I think Pacquiao will try and make Margarito pay by punishing him in the ring--I think he will consider Team Margarito's mockery as violating Roach's honor. Pacquiao takes honor very seriously.

HHR: There are parts of the book that indicated that you’ve followed the sport previous to this project. How did you writing the biography come about?

GAP: I have always been a fan. I have written about boxing for a few publications (TIME, Esquire, The Atlantic). And I like reading about boxing--one of my favorite books is The Sweet Science. One day, several years ago, I was sitting in the Wild Card Boxing Club talking with Freddie Roach, and he kept going on and on about Pacquiao. That's where this book started.

HHR: Did he truly let you inside?

GAP: Manny Pacquiao is an icon in the Philippines and elsewhere. He is considered the greatest boxer alive, and he is also a Congressman. Pacquiao is inundated with requests. It's a circus around him at all times. I was given some pretty good access. I told Freddie I wanted to write a book and he let me hang out in the gym. Then I was given chances to interview Pacquiao. Then I went to the Philippines to cover him. It was a combination of interviews and fly-on-the-wall reporting. I think the book has great detail and scenes, and all those come from spending time reporting it. Not just doing a few Internet searches, or interviewing Pacquiao a couple times, but hanging out at the gym, going into the jungles of the southern Philippines, traveling to Manila, watching his fights ringside, interviewing people around him. I was trying to write an honest take on this guy and I wanted it to have nuance. I went out and did some old school long-form journalism.

HHR: Horse fighting, cock fighting, boxing. What is the infatuation of Filipinos with such seemingly violent sports - how much of that is a reflection of the poverty the societies in the country face? Is it a metaphor for life there?

GAP: I think violent sports are a reflection of poverty, yes.

HHR: Manny’s entourage seems to serve many purposes, not the least of which is entertaining him, but also to fulfill his charitable nature. How is he able to separate the true inner circle from the ridiculously large number of hangers-on? In other words - those he truly needs, from those who truly need him.

GAP: Manny might seem aloof, but I think he knows what's going on around him. A fellow boxing writer, Gareth A. Davies of the Daily Telegraph, compared him to a shark; not in a pejorative way, just that Pacquiao is super-aware of what's going on around him. He might not seem like it, but he knows who to trust and who not to. He keeps a check on people more than anyone knows. He does have a tendency to be overly generous, even with people who have not always had his best interest at heart.

HHR: Pacquiao is in many ways a living, breathing, walking contradiction - simultaneously noted for both his humility as well as his lust for lavish pleasures; both disciplined at times, while also unengaged with things and people around him; deeply religious, while deeply sinful.

GAP: That is one reason he is such a great subject for a biography.


HHR: What is undeniable seems his want to better his country. Recently Roach was on television indicating that Manny is distracted by politics. Throughout the book, its noted that he feels public service is his true calling. Is there any credence to him being ill prepared to fight because of his “other career?”

GAP: I think he is slowly losing his focus on boxing. At the beginning of this camp, he went to visit the president of the Philippines. Roach graded this camp a B instead of the usual A. He has worked his way into his old fighting shape over the last two weeks. I think he is back to his old self for this fight, but you have to wonder if his career is winding down. He told me a month or so ago that he would fight three or four more times, but I wonder if it might be closer to two more times.

HHR: Manny is repeatedly compared, mostly by Bob Arum, but others as well, to Muhammed Ali - being a transitional figure that can transcend beyond a boxer into something larger and legendary. With the state of boxing nowhere near where it once was, is it realistic to claim any boxer can become a global icon much less compare to an Ali?

GAP: He is a global icon. Boxing is a global sport. It's just not a popular American sport anymore. We are seeing a globalization of sports. Looks at all the foreign stars in the NBA. Pacquiao is big news in the UK, Asia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Middle East...Obviously there is only one Ali--and no one can really compare--but Pacquiao's back-story, his humility, and his interest in helping the poor speak to millions upon millions of people. There is a chance Pacquiao could be the president of a country of 94 million people, many of whom live in abject poverty.

HHR: Who can you compare PacMan to?

GAP: We live in a world in which sports figures are neatly packaged and almost robotic. Pacquiao breaks this mold. He wants to stand for something, like an Ali or a Jim Brown. Because he is from a developing country, I think a fair comparison might be Pele.

HHR: Does PacMan have the voice of an angel?

GAP: God bless him--and his voice coach is a really nice person, I just saw her at a Pacquiao workout--but I am not a big fan of his singing. The only miracle? That he has sold so many records.


HHR: Where does Pacquiao go from here? Reality TV? Filipino president?

GAP: He is serious about his congressional duties. He has worked on anti-human trafficking legislation, and he is desperately trying to get a hospital built in his district. All joking aside, he comes from abject poverty. This is developing world poverty. A can of sardines was a luxury. He had to leave school in sixth grade to hawk donuts and cigarettes on the street. I don't want to make him out to be a saint, but people who can't afford to pay their medical bills, who have walked barefoot for several days, line up at his house and he pays their bills. I have seen it. He has a desire to bring a better life to these people. I think that's one thing that's pulling him away from boxing. It will be fascinating to see what happens to Manny Pacquiao in the next decade or two. He is only 31.

HHR: Prediction for Saturday…?

GAP: Pacquiao wins by the eighth. He overwhelms Margarito in a fight that won't be dissimilar to Pacquiao-De La Hoya.


HHR: And finally, will we ever see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight while they are still in their prime?

GAP: Unfortunately, I don't see the fight happening anytime soon, if ever. The non-fight of the century hurts the sport of boxing. And it hurts both of their legacies.

To get a copy of PacMan, click here for Amazon US; here for Amazon UK; and here for the Kindle.

You can follow Poole on Twitter @orangerose.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Cynic’s Guide to College Football: Week 10

In the time it takes you to read this, Les Miles will make another insane decision that will inexplicably work, Oregon will score some more, some new allegations against Cam Newton will come out and Michigan’s defense will give up another touchdown.

OK, now that those are out of the way, let’s move on to this week in bad football.

Texas: It’s Like a Whole Other Planet
In the last month, the Texas Rangers made it to the World Series, Baylor cracked the Top 25, George W. Bush wrote (not read, WROTE) a book and the Longhorns were beaten soundly by the likes of Iowa State, Baylor and Kansas State.

Now entering Bizarro World.

Who Needs StubHub When You’re Heavily Armed?
Seeing extra security or even military personnel at big college football games isn’t really a surprise. So I guess that’s why a guy in fatigues and a machine gun was recently spotted on the sidelines of the Big House during the Michigan-Michigan State game. That is, until, the members of the color guard alerted UM officials that the guy was an impostor. Come to find out, the dude was a member of the Michigan National Guard. But he only used his uniform and two (unloaded) M-16 automatic rifles as his backstage pass when he couldn’t get a ticket. He was ultimately escorted out of the stadium by police.

Now THIS is how a real military man gets into a Michigan game.

Firepower
Speaking of football and the military, Navy’s football team outscored it’s basketball team 76-52 this week.

For the Navy, the best defense is a good offense.

Why the BCS Stinks: Reason #326
While we can all debate whether or not TCU and Boise State deserve a title shot, you’d have to be a pretty big anti-AQ conference homer not to admit that they’re two of the best 10 teams in the country. Yet odds are that, at most, one will end up in the BCS. Meanwhile, we’re 10 weeks into the season . . . and no one from the Big East is even eligible for the conference’s automatic BCS spot.

Halloween, Sooner Style
Speaking of costumes, an Oklahoma man was recently arrested for trying to shoplift what was described as a “sexy referee” costume by shoving it down his pants. This of course raises the age-old question, “How do you make a referee sexy?”

“Hey, baby. Got your tickets to the GUN SHOW?”

Brian Kelly’s New Distinction
Say what you want about Charlie Weis, Tyrone Willingham or Bob Davie—at least they never killed anyone.

Making it Too Easy
In the “only coming two years too late” category, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn announced on Tuesday the firing of Buffs head coach Dan Hawkins. That decision got a whole lot easier on Saturday when the Buffs gave up 35 unanswered points in less than 12 minutes in a 52-47 loss to Kansas. The comeback marked KU’s first Big 12 win this year and Colorado’s biggest collapse in program history. Hawkins then proceeded to walk out on an interview with CU’s flagship radio station after the reporter had the audacity to ask why the Buffs were trying to throw the ball all over the field instead of milking the clock. Admittedly, it wasn’t a tough decision to start with, what with Hawkins’ career 19-39 record at CU. But Hawkins is lucky Bohn even let him make the trip back home to Colorado.

Buffs QB Cody Hawkins now gets to enjoy the world’s most awkward Senior Day.

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Monday, November 8, 2010

Awkward Love

Kevin Love and Wesley Johnson share a tender moment.


(via Tosh.0)

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How Much Will the NFL Fine Austin Collie?

As Austin Collie regained his whereabouts in the Colts lockeroom after being carted off following his illegal hit on Eagles safety, Kurt Coleman, he now has to deal with the realization that his reckless play could hurt not just his head, but his pocketbook, given the league's recent crackdown on big hits.

Below, Collie lowers his head, launches himself and uses his helmet as a battering ram against the defenseless Eagles secondary.

This is unacceptable.


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Andrew Reid: 1971 Punt, Pass and Pituitary Problem


Come on, CBS. This can't possibly be real.




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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Jason Sehorn Part II: On the NFC East, the NFL Judicial System and More

Yesterday, Jason Sehorn was vocal about the systematic and seemingly unsolvable problem of agents with their claws in potential NFL first and second rounders on college campuses.

Today, Sehorn pulls no punches as he talks about the hypocrisy of the NFL's justice system with Goodell's office being judge jury and executioner, the softening of the game that was brought about by the crackdown on big hits, the potential of Jerry Jones to morph into Al Davis and the overall absurdity of the Washington Redskins.

"The best thing going for the Giants and the Eagles right now is Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder."

On Mike Shanahan's handling of Donovan McNabb:
"Disastrous. In my 10 years in the NFL, I never once played in a game where the starting quarterback was removed in the 2 minute offense when you could still win the football game...

Leave Albert Haynesworth in the picture and you see a philosophy here of 'if you're not my guy, this is how I'm gonna treat you.'

...And what they've done to Donovan McNabb, he's clearly not Mike's guy...he's not gonna be there after this year."
On crack down on hard hits: "Ridiculous. You can't arbitrarily decide after week four and 3 big hits that you're going to change the way we analyze this...When you appeal these fines do you know who you appeal them to? Right back to the league office. The people who fined you."

On TOcho: "I don't get it. At what point do you become a personality and not a football player any more? To each his own."




This week, Sehorn joined Keyshawn Johnson is in NYC promoting Captain Morgan's 1 Million Poses. For more information visit Facebook.com/CaptainMorganUSA.

For Part I of the Sehorn interview, click here.

Check out talk with Keyshawn here.

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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Jason Sehorn Part I: On USC, College Football and Unsavory Agents

In addition to Keyshawn Johnson, we caught up yesterday with another former USC Trojan (and NFL cornerback) Jason Sehorn. Sehorn, who is now doing color for Army home football games on CBS College Sports Network, was outspoken about issues affecting players in both the college and pro ranks.

We broke the interview up into two segments. Below is the NCAA-focused portion.

We asked Sehorn specifically about the state of the USC program - which he deems a double standard compared to what other programs have faced for worse offecses. This lead to a conversation about the recent SI cover story, Confessions of an agent, in which Josh Luchs dimes out the entire industry.

Sehorn notes just how rampant agents, or more specifically their bag men, are on campuses, and how their is no apparent way to combat it:
"The NCAA turns a blind eye to it. They only want the ones that are obvious. They don’t understand that every single campus with talented kids who are going to be first or second round picks have...runners. He’s the one handing out the money...

It’s rampant. It’s everywhere. The universities are aware of it. They can’t stop it. There’s nothing you can do to it. Because the people who are associated with it aren’t physically agents. So you can’t suspend them. They’re not committing a crime yet. Because they’re not an agent."
Watch Part I:



Sehorn joined Johnson in promoting 1 Million Poses, a program in which for every Captain Morgan pose people upload to the brand's Facebook page, they will donate a dollar to promoting responsible drinking.



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Friday, November 5, 2010

What Should I Do?

Dont know which I like better. Cleveland's Quitness vid or the South Park Spoof.






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Keyshawn Johnson on USC's Future, NFL Coaches, Moss and Tackling Design


This morning we got a chance to talk briefly with the incomparable Keyshawn Johnson.

Always blunt, Johnson offered some quick opinions on some of the big personalities in the NFL and gave a prognostication on the future of his alma mater, USC:
"There is this huge dark cloud over the university; there's this big myth that we are finished and done, but that's not the case...Knowing the recruiting class that's coming in, two years from now they'll be right back in the national championship hunt."
He offers his thoughts on Rex Ryan, Bill Parcells ("Best coach I played for at the pro level. Demanding, much like Rex Ryan."), Jon Gruden ("Interesting character. He's grown since his last coaching job."), Brad Childress ("How can a guy get along with Brad Childress? It's almost impossible.)"

On the Randy Moss situation and what kind of influence he'll be in Tennessee with young guys like Kenny Britt:

"I've never known Randy Moss to be a negative influence on anyone. Things didn't work at Oakland, but they never do with anyone. I mean, Minnesota traded him to Oakland and Oakland traded him to New England and New England traded him to Minnesota again and now he's in Tennessee so...I have no real negative feelings toward Randy Moss or would say he's bad for a locker room or anything like that."

Check it out...



Keyshawn is in NYC promoting Captain Morgan's 1 Million Poses. For more information visit Facebook.com/CaptainMorganUSA.



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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Jared Talks Subway, Celebrity, NYC Marathon and Training with "Famous Fans"


Today, I got a chance to talk with ING NYC Marathon participant and Subway icon Jared Fogel.

Jared talks about his decade+ role as the face of the restaurant and the celebrity it's brought him. We also discuss his Marathon training and that process, including tips he's received from a handful of other "Famous Fans" including Ryan Howard, Blake Griffin, Michael Phelps and last year's Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi.

On Howard: "So laid back. He deals with the pressure so well...geuninely a nice guy."

Griffin: "He stretches a lot now...He really wants to make sure he avoids injury."

Phelps: "...the number of hours he has to put into his training on an every day basis...8-10 hours in of swimming...He's really had to make huge sacrifices with his personal life."

Meb: "Very, very humble...What a great generous guy."

Jared relays some great advice for runners that Keflezighi gave him on enjoying the sport as well as this particular event.



Subway is a signature sponsor and "The Official Training Restaurant of the ING New York City Marathon."

Jared is running to support the Jared Foundation, the organization he founded in 2005 to eliminate childhood obesity.

Follow Jared at Facebook.com/Subway or on Twitter @thejaredfogle.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Play Him Off, Waylon: Randy Moss, Good Ol' Boy

While people pile on Randy, just remember that his uncouth behavior has always been in his Appalachian blood, and has always been part of his charm.

One of my favorite commercials ever...



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Gonzo Vegan

This WSJ video profiles "Vegan Football Star" Tony Gonzalez. Or more accurately, watches and listens to Tony make a smoothie.



First things first: Strawberries have more Vitamin C than Oranges? No way! (Way.) Secondly, making a fruit smoothie is EASY. What would have been much more relevant/cooler would be to see his pre or post-game meals. "After each game I watch film and eat 1-2 lbs of raw kale and 3 bananas. Bitches."

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Preserving History: The Giants Win the Series! The Giants Win the Series!

After each major sporting event, HHR takes a look at how it is portrayed in news print in some of the nation's leading dailies. Part out of curiosity, and part to preserve the dying medium.

At least Barry Bonds wasn't on the team. Makes them much more palatable.




















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