A Heroes Thank You: An Interview with Warrick Dunn

Jaime from over at The Sports Hernia puts on his serious face and talks with former NFL star Warrick Dunn about The Crown Royal Heroes Project.

Read the full interview here.

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Sweetness: Author Interview with Walter Payton Biographer Jeff Pearlman

I was but a pre-teen in the 80’s. As the 90’s came and high school began and nostalgia kicked in, outside of my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, there wasn’t much cooler from the Reagan era than the’85 Bears, widely regarded as the greatest team to ever step on the gridiron.

The names are legendary – from Ditka to Dent to Singletary – but none more so than the great Walter Payton, who dominated his way to the all-time NFL rushing title with both power and grace.

While the exact dates escape me, I also remember his tragic illness, and the outpouring of emotion for such a wonderful human whose life was cut short.

The thing is, like all people, famous people particularly, there is always a deeper complexity.

I am a big fan of author Jeff Perlman ever since I read The Bad Guys Won. I interviewed him for both Boys Will Be Boys and The Rocket That Fell to Earth. When I saw the backlash he was getting for his latest biography, Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton, I had to reach out and grab a copy.

What I took from the book is hard to describe. For the most part, I want to dismiss Payton as an egotistical prima donna who thinks the world owes him for being God’s gift to sport. But I can’t fully do that. The reason is you just need to put things in perspective. Were this guy not the one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, we wouldn’t even have the chance to reflect on his enigmatic life.

To his credit, and contrary to what his critics might say, Pearlman is fair. He doesn’t gloss over unsavory topics, nor does he minimize Payton’s greatness both on and off the field. He paints a full picture, and (as he always does) does so in a very entertaining way.

You can read my interview here at 30Nothings.com.

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Arlen, TX Prop Comic Bobby Hill Working as Cowboy Ball Boy

Rich Camerillo is Fresh to Death

Early last week I picked up a box of 1990 Pro Set NFL cards for dirt cheap at the dirt flea market for the joy of randomly tearing open packs and amazing my friends.

Yesterday, that gift kept giving when I learned that DJ Pauly D is the bastard child of then-Cards punter Rich Camarillo.

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Fantasy "Expert" Brandon Funston Must Know He's Full of Poop

The term fantasy expert is a plain old farce. Yet, some people can honestly believe they have an inkling more knowledge than the casual fan because they can read stats better or quicker or more in depth or something.

And those people can keep a straight face when others refer to them with such an elaborate title and hand them a check. That's really what sets fantasy experts apart - the ability to not laugh at the naïveté of the public and their bosses.

Take Brandon Funston for example. Just this week he advised Yahoo players to not just sit Plax Burress, but to drop him altogether after his paltry start. If that's not mailing in a segment, I don't know what is.


The former inmate (Plax not Fun) responded with a breakout game that included 3 TDs.

I can't wait to hear Fun lament next week about grabbing Plax off the waiver wires after he and Sanchize have turned a corner and become more familiar with one another. Likely he'll have to hold in his amusement of knowing how full of poop it all is.

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Honeymoon in Cleveland

There are few things I love receiving more on this site than photos of Browns fans tailgating, be it making fun of Braylon Edwards, idolizing Brady Quinn, or celebrating one's nuptials.

These two got married yesterday...no lie.

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CBS Propagates a Punter's Message of Hate

Giants punter Steve Weatherford told the world today what he thought about the City of Brotherly Love and has somehow managed to stay alive (so far).

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Jesse Holley is Coming, Elizabeth

In case you missed it...at the end of overtime in the Dallas-SF game, Jesse Holley reminded us no less thana half-dozen times that this is, in fact, the big one.

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Rex Ryan Wants to Get Busy or Die Tryin'

I think Rex Ryan is a total blowhard. Not gonna lie. I didn't like him very much. But then I stopped putting on airs and learned to laugh at him, if not with him.

Nice job by the Pepsi Max team asking about his much-mocked calf tat. Equally nice job by Ryan channeling his inner 50 Cent.

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NFLPA Thanks Fans

While the US is on the brink of financial cripple, at least there is a beacon of hope as the NFL billionaires and NFL millionaires have come to terms so that we ten-thousandaires can get ready to enjoy some football.

At least, throughout the process, the millionaires have maintained consideration and acknowledgement of the fans.



Now if only the billionaires would do their part and make it so that fans could afford to go to games...

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NYG Steve Smith on Lockout, USC, Steve Smiths & Tofu

It's not everyday you have the opportunity to share tofu culinary creations with a Super Bowl-winning Pro-Bowl wide receiver in the backyard of the greatest city on earth. Actually, we'd venture to say this sort of thing only comes about once in a lifetime.

So when we saw that New York Giant Steve Smith was serving as brand ambassador for House Foods Super Firm Tofu, we sent our North Jersey correspondents Eddie and Mike to mingle with Smith and sample various dishes featuring the stuff at (of all places) an esteemed steakhouse, River Palm Terrace Restaurant in Edgewater, NJ.

Who knows. These two manly 30 nothings may have just found themselves a new healthy summer barbecue alternative.

Thanks to our friends at Garden State on a Plate for the hookup.

--------------

House Foods put together a dinner to introduce their new line of "super firm tofu" endorsed by Steve Smith of the New York football Giants. Having never eaten anything with tofu before, I was a little hesitant at first but was assured by those around me that there was nothing to be afraid of. I mean, who even knew that tofu came in different levels of firmness? Maybe I'm just not all that worldly. In any event, we gathered in a private room at the River Palm Terrace in Edgewater, NJ. Smith said a few words and the meal was served. Everything except the main course included tofu in some form.

• Appetizers: Tomato and tofu skewers, Maryland crab and tofu cakes, chopped salad featuring tofu cubes
• Main Course: Choice between Jumbo Shrimp, King salmon, Grilled rib-eye, Filet mignon
• Desert: Tofu Cheesecake
  

As I said, I am NOT a tofu eater, but there wasn't anything on the menu that I would not order again. Everything was excellent, which I think is as much a testament to the people at the River Palm as to House Foods' great product.

Expanding my food options aside, the biggest things I learned tonight were: A. Smith is a very laid back guy, very approachable. He even seem a little nervous in talking to me (I think I intimidated him); B. He absolutely loves tofu. It sounds a little odd, but this is not a product he blindly endorses. In fact, as he notes in the video below, he approached them for the endorsement.

Thanks to Eddie Z. for the write up and video and to Mike McLaughlin for the images.

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5 Minutes with NFL Star-Turned-Expedition Impossible Contestant AGB

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila epitomizes the new age athlete-turned-entrepreneur and social crusader. The 32 year old Southern California native, known as AGB by friends, parlayed a five year stint in the National Football League (his brother is former NFL player Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila) into a career where he can use his broadcasting and athletic skills to draw attention to cause-related platforms that will make a difference in the lives of others.

AGB is currently a competitor on the ABC show Expedition Impossible. He sat down with us to talk long names, big families and his recent reality show experience.

Click here for the full interview.

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Becky from Rosanne Stars in Cleat Fetish Vid

Oh I love when Rex Ryan gets his chops busted, but even more so when it comes from a former child sitcom star.



More great acting from the artist formerly known as Becky Conner here.

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From The DC Bureau: SOLD! Ron Mexico For $687.96

With the end of the NFL lockout nowhere in sight, players are out there looking for ways to earn some extra cash this Summer.

One way it appears, is through Sponsored Tweets. For those unfamiliar, Sponsored Tweets is an auction-type service that allows solicitors to send tweets under the handles of some more notorious famous tweeters, for a price.

On the athlete page, the first on the list is my favorite humanitarian, @MikeVick, who rolls for a surprisingly affordable $687.96 per sponsored tweet. Others on the list like @Tony_Mandarich ($58.83) go for considerably less and some like @champbailey ($1,176.50) and @merillhoge ($1,764.75) go for considerably more--wait--Merril Hoge--Merril F&^!n& Hoge gets $1,700 per tweet!?!?!?

Exit question: Do you suppose Valtrex or Alpo would be able to negotiate a much better deal for a tweet from Mr. Mexico?

FYI- Ol' @Blue_Pulaski will tweet whatever the hell you want for a local Groupon or Living Social deal...DM him for details.

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Plax's Prison Baby

Apparently, Plaxico Burress was knockin dem boots from behind bars, as ESPN point out he's the father of a one-year-old.

He got into a black Range Rover and headed to the nearby Lodge at Turning Stone Resort where he was reunited with his wife, Tiffany, and his son Elijah, 4, and daughter Giovanna, 1. Burress hugged his children before heading into the resort.

Hopefully, Plax's prison allowed for conjugal visits, or else, Tiffany, choo got some 'splainin to do!

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Pittsburgh: Where Ward Trumps War

Hines Ward's Cha Cha seems to be the top news story in Western, PA. Not like there's anything else going on in the world.

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Down Goes Mongo

Steve McMichael hasn't been this awkward since he was making his living in a squared circle.

And you can bet Double A would kick him out the Horseman for much lesser offenses.

Former Chicago Bear Steve McMichael takes a tumble from a mechanical bull, as part of a special challenge held Friday at Union Station in Chicago. McMichael, a two-time Pro Bowler and key member of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX champions, was defeated by current Bear defensive Corey Wootton in the event, which helped kick off the Professional Bull Riders inaugural Chicago Invitational, which takes place Saturday and Sunday at the United Center. Wootton registered the longest time on three rides to down McMichael.

Photo Courtsey Jeff Haynes/ PBR

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Bitter Steeler Fans Want to Sue Super Bowl

Actually, I can't blame fans for being pissed about the ticketing fiasco. It's pretty bush league what happened to them, especially those who were fans of the teams playing.

That said, the NFL, to its credit is going out of its way to minimize the fallout.

Don't try and sell that BS to Matthew Rush.

From CNN.com:

Matthew Rush, 40, a Steelers fan originally from Pittsburgh, was one of the 400 or so fans left without a seat Sunday night. After spending the whole day being moved around to different parts of the stadium while officials tried to accommodate them, Rush and the others were eventually moved to a glassed-in bar just below field level where they could watch the game on television monitors, he said.

What view they had of the field was obscured by those standing on the sidelines, he said.

"It was happening 300 feet in front of us, but (it was as though) we weren't there," Rush told CNN on his way back from Dallas on Tuesday.

After halftime, Rush said, he and others were so frustrated that they left the stadium, and he watched the remainder from his hotel room.

Rush said he spent a total of about $5,000 to attend the Super Bowl with his wife. He spent $800 per ticket, which he purchased through the Steelers' season-ticket-holder lottery.

The NFL promised to give free tickets to next year's Super Bowl and a refund of triple the cost of the $800 face value of the ticket to the 400 fans denied seats on Sunday, but Rush said that doesn't make up for the anger, frustration, and disappointment he still feels at missing his beloved Steelers at the big game.

Based on the bare bones SueSuperBowl.com website that is championing the cause, Mr. Rush can use all the cash money he can get his hands on.

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FredEx is Still Hollywood

Former Eagles wideout and 1st round draft pick Freddie Mitchell, most well known for thanking his hands and talking his way out of the league, is now a "venture capitalist" with a penchant for attracting "gold diggers."

What better way to address his love void than enlisting the talents of Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger.

Unfortunately, the country bumpkin Patty set the Slot Machine up with knows how to Google. The date took an awkward turn when said bumpkin asked Freddie about Internet reports of his failure to pay child support.

One thing remains a fact: Freddie still hasn't met a camera he doesn't love.

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Rachael Ray: Huge Sav Rocca Fan

Rockin' the #6 with pride in across from the Linc.

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