Ocho Vies for Sexiest Man in Social Media

While it's easy to poke fun at a professional football player who has to compete and defend his sexiness against a fictional pitchman and an orange DJ, I almost feel worse for legitimate actors who have to vie against someone who is so attention starved that he voluntarily re-named himself after a fictitious version of the number "85."

Oh and then there's Vin Diesel.

And, of course, it's all fun and games until TO gets wind of this and throws a temper tantrum.

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Too Soon?

Whenever someone fall out of the back of a pickup truck, is it too soon to assume "Chris Henry's Fiance" was driving?

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Audio: Warren Sapp on Mike Brown's One-Man Bidding War

Warren Sapp, best known for his stint on Dancing with the Stars and co-starring with Tracy Morgan in one of the greatest commercials ever, was once a highly talented defensive lineman with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

This morning on Carton and Boomer, Sweet-tooth told about his nearly signing with the Bengals - if not for black people getting arrested for driving in Cincinnati and owner Mike Brown's negotiation technique.

Truth be told, I just love throwing gasoline on Who Dey Revolution's anti-Brown fire.

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Blogs With Balls Radio, Episode 2

This week's Blogs With Balls Show on the JoeSportsFan Radio Network is now available.

We want to thank everyone for the great feedback we got on Episode 1 and hope you continue to listen and offer comments and suggestions.

Download Episode 2 Here.

Today we tease our flubbed conversation with John McEnroe. Don't worry - we will salvage it.

He spoke with us about a number of things including his guitar playing, Wilmbledon dream matches, the future of the sport and more. But mainly he was on to promote prostate cancer awareness as an ambassador for "Stand Up 2 Cancer."

Please visit ProstateCancerWatch.com and check back in soon for audio and transcripts of our conversation.

Admittedly we ramble on for a bit in the begining, but an early point we are trying to make is that crediblity is among the most important qualities to have online. We hope the reason we were able to bring so many top online sports influencers together for both BwB 1 & 2 is due to the fact that we have taken the time to build and cultivate relationships, are genuinely sincere and honest, and have created a track record.

As such, we tried to make this a recurring theme appears throughout the program.

We had a ton of fun talking about this week's Ballsy Blog of the Week - our good friends at WhoDeyRevolution.com.

There latest task in "Project Mayhem" could very well have resulted in the first time in the history of the NFL that an owner of a team ordered the grounding of an airplane.

As WDR notes, the shenanigans were picked up by ESPN (via the AP) and Pro Football Talk:

ESPN.com is running the AP story on their website about last night's scrimmage, and the piece includes this great nugget:

"An estimated 6,500 fans showed up for the annual scrimmage. Soon after it started, a small plane flew overhead towing a banner that read: "101-187-1 ... HIRE A GM!" That's the Bengals' record since 1991, when Mike Brown took control of the team after his father's death.

Brown functions as the team's de facto general manager. He was sitting on a patio next to the press box, watching the scrimmage, when the banner flew overhead. The Bengals have had only one winning season during Brown's 18 years of running the team."

Also, ProFootballTalk gave Project Mayhem Task #9 a mention in their AFC North One-Liners.

Our guest this week is author, entrepreneur and former college standout/Arena League player Lewis Howes.

Howes literally wrote the book on online networking(LinkedWorking) and has used its techniques to establish an unmatched network of sports executives across the country.

Lewis talks about the importance of building relationships, trust and a brand identity online and offline.

Of course, we couldn't let him go without testing his familiarity with "relationship experts" on this week's "Skyped Up" segment.

This week's links of interest.

• BlogsWithBalls.com
• JoeSportsFan.com
• ProstateCancerWatch.com
• WhoDeyRevolution.com
• LewisHowes.com
• SportsNetworker.com
• LinkedWorking.com
• Twitter.com/WDRevolution
• Twitter.com/LewisHowes
• Twitter.com/SportsNetworker
  

You can drop us comments, suggestions and hate mail at podcast[at]blogswithballs[dot]com.

Subscribe to the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network in iTunes.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Blogs With Balls Radio Premiers on the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network

Welcome to the premier of Blogs With Balls Radio on the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network.

From JSF:

Over the past few weeks on our regular installment of the "JoeSportsFan Show", we teased the fact that big news was coming down the podcasting pipeline here on JoeSportsFan.com. Yesterday, you saw the initiation of this news as our own Patrick Imig and Jason Major debuted their first weekly show entitled, "The Steel Cage".

Today, we're happy to announce a partnership of sorts with respected cohorts that will deliver complementary content to our own internal lineup. Without further ado, we're pleased to unveil the "JoeSportsFan Radio Network".

We couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of the team.



Download Episode 1 Here.

Today we kick off with a show intro to let you know where we plan to take the show, and highlight what’s going on with the planning of Blogs With Balls 2.0 at the Blog World & New Media Expo.

We point out our first Ballsy Blog of the Week, IanPoulter.com.

Poulter’s site is no small reflection of the confidence he has in his game and his style.


We also have our first guest of the show, NCAA All-American from West Virginia, former 2nd round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, former Cincinnati Bengals captain, and Founder & Co-CEO of JockBiz.com, John Thornton (@JohnThornton).

In his post-playing career, John blogs at AllProBlogger.com and offers full-service consulting for players in everything from nutrition and dieting to social media development at Jock Biz.

We are also honored to have John join Mike Germano (President, Carrot Creative), Pete Vlastelica (CEO, Yardbarker.com), Ron Wechsler (VP Series Production and Development, ESPN) on the “Connecting Directly” Panel at BwB2, where the group will look at what athletes being able to speak directly to their fanbase via blogs & Twitter means to sports media, bloggers, and fans.

John offers a preview of the discussion on today’s show.

Regarding how the media, namely those covering the Bengals, see their roles changing as guys like Chad Ochocinco circumvent the traditional athletes and take their message directly to fans:

“The media people that we talked to they were all sort of afraid for their jobs because they feel like they’re going to get cut out. Chad was actually on that panel and he said he wants to cut the middle man out because he’s been portrayed in a certain way…

I think the role of the media initially was to cover the game. Whether you’re supposed to tell what happened, but I think over time the media got so much power and they start to give their own opinions, their personal opinions. Now…the media has to reinvent themselves. You got to use social media…

You can’t be afraid of the athletes Tweeting or using their blogs or Facebook, you know whatever. You just gotta use it. You got to find a way to reinvent yourselves because it’s not just the newspapers anymore. Everybody’s online. Everybody’s on their cell phones. You just got to use that and incorporate it into your own story.”

Regarding how players interact, specifically those John consults with or is familiar with:

“We really try to let the guys know hey it’s cool to have fun, it’s cool to put yourself out there, but - you know - it’s public…

But then there’s guys that don’t care. There’s guys that I played with that I follow on Twitter that I’m like, ‘Why are you saying that? Why are you talking like that?’ But its really, its how they are...

This is your public image…”

Finally, we put John on the spot for a game we dubbed “Skyped Up” where we see just how familiar he is with the sports personalities his clients potentially have to interact with.

Look for more great things to come both with our show (which will be available each Wednesday), as well as the other personalities that will be announced on the JSF Radio Network in days and weeks to come.

This week's links of interest.

• BlogsWithBalls.com
• JoeSportsFan.com
• IanPoulter.com
• JockBiz.com
• AllProBlogger.com
• Twitter.com/IanJamesPoulter
• Twitter.com/JohnThornton
• Twitter.com/OgoChoCinco
• Twitter.com/kbull53

You can drop us comments, suggestions and hate mail at podcast[at]blogswithballs[dot]com.

Subscribe to the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network in iTunes.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Wooooooo! Chad Ochocinco Resurects the 4 Horsemen

While it may be the worst version of the famed wrestling faction ever assembled (this side of Romeo Paul Roma and Mongo McMichael), props to #85 for taking the initiative to reform the classic heel stable.

The trio become the first 3 black Horsemen ever. Unconfirmed sources indicate that the members will be initiated in by taking Arn Anderson gordbusters for a 4 minute period.


Carson Palmer was slated to round out the group, but allegedly declined in order to form a tag team with TJ Houshmandzadeh, infuriating Ochocinco.

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Video: Horse Tackles Skirt-Wearing Dhani Jones

On this coming Monday's Dhani Tackles the Globe, the NFL's Wyld Stalyn gets lit up by a horse in jolly old England. Somewhere in Cincinnati, Who Dey Revolution shakes its collective head.

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Wyld Stallyn Dhani Jones to Tackle the Globe Starting Monday

If you pay any attention to the HHR Twitter feed, you might have caught that I am keeping a watchful eye on this new Dhani Jones project on the Travel Channel, for better or worse.

Monday marks the season premier of the NFL Renaissance Man's foray into cable television, with Dhani Tackles the Globe.

The Travel Channel is taking a headlong approach to utilizing social media to promote the show, as they do with most of their programing.

Tackles the Globe has a Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel, which gives us this exclusive sneak preview of the first episode from Thailand...

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Project Mayhem

Our good friends at WhoDeyRevolution have advanced to step 2 of their plot to disrupt Mike Brown's reign over the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.

WDR has purchased four billboards around Cincinnati, asking that the Bengals finally hire a real General Manger.

They are asking for you to donate $18 using Paypal - or $1 for each year of Mike Brown's ownership of the team. "Just think how much of your money Mike Brown has buried in a tin can in his backyard (he doesn't trust those new fancy "banks") and contribute to a cause that is working to take back our team."

Whether you are a Bungals fan or not, you have to appreciate fans take to their own means to advance the success of their team.

HHR will contribute $18 for that very reason.

Rev. Shaw: Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

This is almost too comical to believe, but apparently the Bengals aren’t too committed to shedding their label as the home for the NFL’s troubled youth:

“Agent Says Bengals Close to Signing WR Henry”

Chris Henry is a great talent when he’s actually on the football field. But this is desperate. Chad Johnson’s shoulder injury must be more than what’s being let on at this point.

A quick rundown of Chris Henry’s off-field highlights (compliments of Wikipedia). The second entry is my personal favorite:

• December 15, 2005: Henry was pulled over in Northern Kentucky for speeding. During a search, marijuana was found in his shoes. He was also driving without a valid driver's license or valid insurance.
• January 30, 2006: Henry was arrested in Orlando, Florida for multiple gun charges including concealment and aggravated assault with a firearm. He was reported to have been wearing his #15 Bengals jersey at the time of his arrest. Henry pleaded guilty and avoided jail time in both cases.
• May 4, 2006: Cincinnati media reported that Henry was being investigated by Covington, Kentucky police in connection with a sex crime which allegedly occurred in a Covington hotel room in the early morning of April 30, 2006. No charges have yet been filed, and on May 24, 2006, Covington police reported that there is no proof anything happened and that the alleged victim might have concocted the story and may face charges for filing a false police report.
• June 3, 2006: Chris Henry was pulled over outside on Interstate 275 at 1:18 a.m by Ohio Highway Patrol trooper Michael Shimko. At 2:06 a.m. Henry voluntarily submitted to a breathalyzer test at Milford Police Department and registered a .092 blood-alcohol level, .012 above the level permitted in the state of Ohio.[16]
• September 25, 2006: Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman was pulled over for driving under the influence. The truck Thurman was driving belonged to rookie quarterback/receiver Reggie McNeal. Neither McNeal nor Henry, who were passengers, were charged with any wrongdoing by authorities. However, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis suspended Henry for the Bengals game against the New England Patriots.
• October 6, 2006: Henry was suspended by the NFL for two games for violating the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies. NFL policies forbid Henry from taking part in practices, however, he was allowed to attend any team meetings. Henry missed the Bengals' October 15, 2006 game at Tampa Bay and their October 22, 2006 home game versus Carolina.
• January 25, 2007: Henry plead guilty to charges of providing alcohol to minors, an incident that occurred at a hotel in the spring in 2006. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with all but two of those days being suspended.
• April 10, 2007: Henry was suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 NFL season for violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy. His suspension comes with a stern warning that future misconduct may result in the end of his career with the NFL. Henry was given permission by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to begin practicing fully. His suspension was lifted and he played in the November 11, 2007 game versus the Baltimore Ravens, amassing 4 catches for 99 yards.
• May 18, 2007: It was reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer that Henry allegedly failed a court-mandated drug test. The report showed that he had taken an opiate, but the result was later proven to be false. The failed drug test would have been the third violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. A third violation, per league rules, results in a one-year suspension. In addition to having his suspension increased to 24 games, he would have had to serve an 88 day jail sentence. As of May 23, 2007, the State of Kentucky has reported that Henry in fact did NOT fail a drug test, and that earlier reports to the contrary are erroneous.
• June 12, 2007: Henry allegedly assaulted a 16-year-old boy with teammate Reggie McNeal. The claims were later reported to be unfounded and Henry and McNeal have been exonerated.
• November 6, 2007: Henry allegedly assaulted a valet attendant at Newport on the Levee.
• December 3, 2007: Henry arrested for the second time in Orlando, Florida for violating his probation he was on from a January 30, 2006 arrest. On February 21, 2008 he was found not guilty. On February 26, 2008, a motion to terminate probation in Orange County, Florida was denied.
• March 31, 2008: Henry was alleged to have punched a man named Gregory Meyer, 18, and thrown a beer bottle through the window of his car. Henry claimed it was a case of mistaken identity and also that he thought it was somebody else that owed him money. Henry was waived by the Bengals a day after this arrest and was then forced to serve a house arrest sentence.

Final thoughts: We should just chalk this up to owner Mike Brown having the biggest heart in all of sports. Or to certifying the wide-held belief that he is twenty-times more moronic than Matt Millen.

If Chris does indeed come back, we’ve got to bring back Odell Thurman and Reggie McNeal, right? That’s right, bring back the 2005-2006 Bengals!

And to all teenagers in the greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky region: Let this be a warning. Stay at home or Chris Henry will try to intoxicate/fondle/beat the living hell out of you.

Training Camp Postcards, Part 4 of 8: AFC North

As you may or may not follow, SI.com has dispatched "10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country" and is featuring their reports throughout August in their Training Camp Postcard segment.

Here at HHR, we prefer to look at actual postcards sent by players to their loved ones, as opposed to Peter King drivel.

Today, we take a look at what's going on in , Georgetown, KY (Bengals), Letrobe, PA (Steelers), Berea, OH (Browns) and Westminster, MD (Ravens) from a player's perspective.

To See the Complete Parts 1-8, Click Here.





EDITOR'S NOTE: WE INTENDED TO POST A CARD FROM KYLE BOLLER FROM RAVENS' CAMP, BUT IT WAS INTERCEPTED UPON DELIVERY.

Ocho Cinco hates him some Chris Henry

Bengals cut Henry, say they'll no longer tolerate his conduct

The Bengals could only take so much of Henry and his shenanigans. Getting cut from the Bengals for bad conduct is like being booted out of the parish for being the priest that touched the MOST kids.

To make this even more ironic for the staff of HHR, Ren is away and sent a link to me yesterday about Henry being trouble in Kentucky last week for driving with expired license plates. I read the article and thought to myself 'how could a guy about an inch away from getting banned from the league let something so foolish happen, especially with the bullseye on his head the size of Drew Brees' birthmole.'

Then today....WHAMMY! Punching 18-year-olds and throwing beer bottles like it's his first off campus party.

This is also means Ocho Cinco ain't going No-O Where-O. The Bengals lose two top WR in a season? Isn't going to happen.

Unless Cinco starts punching people. Other than Marvin Lewis.

Let Ocho Cinco Put You in a Car Today

(Photo: SI/CNN)

Reports out of DC and Cincinnati say that disgruntled Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is trying to force a trade to the Redskins.

What talent the Bengals could possibly covet on the Redskins roster remains to be seen. Because in trading with the ‘Skins, the Bengals would have to get something to keep pace with the hated Steelers and the much-improved Browns. Even Baltimore fired Brian Billick, so you know they are going to be better next year.

In other words, this trade will probably never happen in a million years.

Still, how could you blame Johnson for trying to force a trade to DC? It’s not like he would be forced to carry the load for the ‘Skins. They don’t do much offensively anyway, so any production Johnson could provide would be viewed as a net gain by the franchise.

Plus, think about the marketing and media exposure he could get in DC. Instead of hawking website registries to out-of-work northern Kentuckians, he could instantly be thrust out in front in the fast-paced and exciting world of used car sales: