Did Jim Tressel Extort the Buckeye 5?

For Ohio State, January 4th can't get here soon enough. It began with the story that five players were suspended for receiving extra benefits, followed by an NCAA eligibility ruling that raised many an eyebrow. Then yesterday, a report surfaced that Sugar Bowl officials lobbied Ohio State and the NCAA to make players eligible for the bowl game.

Today, came this tweet from Adam Jardy of Buckeye Sports Bulletin:

According to a report from the Columbus Dispatch, Tressel told the quintet that they "have to make any decision based on the future and (leaving early for the) NFL prior to us leaving for our bowl game." He added that it would be unfair for any of the group to play in the game, then head for the NFL.

But it's fair to hold their decision hostage? If you're going to punish the players, then punish them...and recognize that sometimes doing the right thing means hurting your team in the process.

Mind you, there's nothing stopping the players from filing their NFL draft paperwork immediately after the bowl game. Considering how this latest incident has shown how blatantly they're being used as revenue streams for their university and bowl organizers, I wouldn't blame them if they did just that. Then again, we all know how vindictive Ohio sports fans can be when they feel wronged. 

Kings, Grizzlies Create NBA Finish of the Year

If you didn't see it last night, you'll be seeing in plenty in the days and weeks to come. But here's your chance to see it now. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings one-upping each other to build the best ending to an NBA game in recent memory.

College Coaches Go Shoeless for Good Cause

With all of the recent apparel-related issues swirling around college sports, it's great to see one that aims to do more help than harm.

IUPUI (that's Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for all of you wondering...I know who you are) head basketball coach Ron Turner made headlines a couple of seasons ago for coaching a game barefoot. The idea was to help Samaritan's Feet, a North Carolina-based non-profit organization, achieve their goal of providing 10 million pairs of shoes to impoverished people worldwide within 10 years. Below is the AP report from Hunter's inaugural effort in 2008.

A couple of years later the idea has picked up steam. University of San Francisco coach Rex Walters joined Hunter as sole-mates when the Dons played the Jaguars two days before Christmas. In addition, the Samaritan's Feet website lists 25 events involving high school and college coaches taking place between January 4th and February 15th. Hunter, once again, is holding his own event on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and continues to urge all college coaches to get involved.

No Scarlet Letter for BUCS well...not until next year?

The NCAA doesn’t know how to punish people in this case punish kids. I wonder if the NCAA was a real person, how would they punish or discipline there bad ass kids. If the NCAA is parents then college players and Universities are the children and guess what people, they have favorites.
Every parent will tell you that they do not have favorite and that every child equal in their eyes. Come On……you know they tend to give a little more love to the kid who has the good grades, the one who brings you tea and has the house clean when you come home. Yes people, parents have favorites and you know when they show it during punishments and celebrations.
Well, to the sheep of the world it looks like the Ohio State Buckeyes are in the favorite column. As the NCAA has rendered sanction against the Bucs regarding 5 of their players are deemed ineligible for the first five games of the 2011 season. That’s right I said the first FIVE games of the 2011 season. Not the upcoming BCS Bowl game vs. Arkansas where the team will really be hurt and be punished the most, no they made up some rule that of course you and I have never seen or heard of.

The NCAA said in its news release that its policy for players in bowl games or championship events "recognizes the unique opportunity these events provide at the end of a season, and they are evaluated differently from a withholding perspective."
Here is what the Bucs did:
In addition to sitting out the first five games of the 2011 season, five Ohio State football players, including Terrelle Pryor (pictured) must repay the following to charity:
Pryor
• Repay $2,500 for selling 2008 Big Ten championship ring, 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award, 2008 Gold Pants
Daniel Herron
• Repay $1,150 for selling jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150
Devier Posey
• Repay $1,250 for selling 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50.
Mike Adams
• Repay $1,000 for selling 2008 Big Ten championship ring.
Solomon Thomas
• Repay $1,505 for selling 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155

Thanks Reggie Bush, you have set the bar so high that cheating of this kind is not really cheating if pay the money back!

Thats Not Gangsta

Damon Jr. chip off the ol block

Bench Clearing Lingerie Football League Brawl

For all of you out there that didn't get a chance to check out the Miami Caliente taking on the Tampa Breeze in a key Lingerie Football League matchup (and we know that means all of you), the Caliente got the win, boosting their chances for the play...

Nevermind, just watch the video.

In case you were wondering if it was all staged. The league suspended two players without pay and dismissed a coach. How's that for discipline, Roger Goodell?

Merry Christmas from the Denver Nuggets

Every year when discussing the best Christmas songs ever, Run DMC's classic "Christmas In Hollis" is woefully under-represented. And thanks to the Denver Nuggets, it's not going to be remembered much more fondly.

It's a good thing the video is subtitled. Sadly, I'm not referring to Nene's part of the song.



If only they had someone to play the role of the John Leguizamo-ish elf from the original video.

Episode #11

On the latest edition of New Era Radio...we talk Christmas shopping, revive the ghost of QB Eagles and blame Cleveland for sending Gilbert Arenas to Orlando.

Here Lies Brett Favre...

Sometimes being a warrior isn't all it's cracked up to be. Eventually you end up as a punch-drunk glory hound, slammed to an icy college turf while trying for one last, glorious, snowy hurrah for a team with no shot at the playoffs.

RIP, Brett. 

(H/T @eloera1)

Man Gets Fired from His Job for Being a Pimp

UFC star barred from becoming a policeman because of his nickname
Sean Pierson’s lifelong dream of becoming a policeman was shattered when force chiefs barred him because of his on-stage nickname. The 34-year-old was due to start training with Toronto Police Department on Tuesday – three days after winning his first Ultimate Fighting Championship 124 bout in Montreal on Saturday. But when police bosses heard he used to fight under the pseudonym ‘Pimp Daddy’, they told him to turn in his uniform and not come in to work, pending an internal probe. They claim the name is offensive and that his fight training could get in the way of his job. — Daily Mail


.

This is what you get for playing your home games in a bouncy house

If you're a fan of Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force, you are familiar with the genius of Carl Brutananadilewski. If you aren't, then enjoy his breakdown of the Mediocres of the Midway versus the Purple Steeple Teeters...

Chad Ochocinco Angling For A Mercury Sponsorship?

To most people, living the life of a high-profile athlete is akin to starring in a Notorious B.I.G. video - big houses, popping champagne bottles in the back of the club and rolling in fancy cars. Leave it to Chad Ochocinco to inject a little humorous reality.

Ochocinco, who may be the NFL's most masterful Tweeter, informed the Twitterverse about a little fender bender he was involved in on Friday...

WTF!!!! I just ran into a light pole going 9 mph, who's responsible for putting the salt on the road damit!!!

While there were plenty of well-wishers, most people immediately noticed that the car in question was a Mercury.

Wait...what? No Benz, Beemer or Range Rover? What gives? Chad says that's just how it is where he's from.

Why are people asking me why i am driving a mercury marauder, obviously its the ROLLS ROYCE of cars when you from Dade County DONKS=luxury


While it's kinda funny to know a guy like Chad drives a Mercury, it's always pretty cool to see an athlete with down-to-earth sensibilities. It's immediately reminiscent of former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy's Honda Civic mishap.


Seeing how savvy Chad has been when it comes to marketing himself through social media, this could just be another plan to get a sponsorship deal. He might want to try another make, because I don't think he can ever compete with this...

Silent Baskeball Game

I wish my girl was like this at home...well until I finish

To Vick or Not Vick...That is the Question

This week it is a pivotal week for me in fantasy football. The playoffs have started and I'm the #1 seed. There is a little swagger to my game at this moment in time, but as I tell my football team to be humble and respect your opponent. My opponent this week is my cousin who really doesn't know anything about football but he is the commissioner of the league.....so you know that he was going to make the playoffs no matter what.

I guess the biggest dilemma is "To Vick or Not to Vick" . Mike Vick is the starting QB on my fantasy team and he is putting up video game numbers. He is looking like Jesus in cleats at this point in time. Even on his bad nights he really good and helps me pull out victories. It's like watching a bad porno...it sucks but you can't stop looking. I'm pretty sure it's all that coaching that I have invested in him. Anyway back to my dilemma, you think it is a slam dunk to start him, a no brainer to roll him out to the field right? WRONG! Not so fast my friend(Thanks Corso).....There is another variable to this equation. There is a rock in my boot and it's name is the New York Football Giants.

The New York Giants are my childhood football team that have mad at times but all in all they are have been good most of my lifetime. This week the Giants play Mike Vick and the Eagles and this is for 1st place in the NFC East. By no account this is the biggest game of the year, well........ so far. It is hard to put allegiances aside and go for mine.

When it is all said and done I will pick Vick to give me 50 points and help collect my 1st p[lace check. I don't ever remember Joe Morris or Lawrence Taylor coming to my house to tuck me in at night. Well, LT might if I had some cocaine or a 16 year-old prostitute laying in my bed. To put it nicely.....It's a Recession Bitches!

Merry Christmas from Lamar Odom...

Oh Lamar.

First the reality show appearances, then the E! wedding, now this...

In the annals of Christmas cards, has there ever been one as over the top as this one? It's like the lineup of the CW...complete with old people futilely trying to hold on to their youth and a token black person! I can only imagine what the accompanying holiday letter will be like.

(Thanks to The Basketball Jones)

Only in L.A....

It's not surprising to hear about basketball players running into problems because of their entourage. But only in Los Angeles does a college hoops player get upended by Entourage.

UCLA freshman guard Tyler Lamb has been down since eating a batch of chicken chili cheese fries on Sunday. While Lamb says he was asked not to mention the name of the restaurant, teammate Malcolm Lee says it is a restaurant owned in part by Jerry Ferrara, who plays Turtle on the HBO series "Entourage". 

First of all, it's pretty funny to see that Malcolm Lee has no qualms calling out the suspected offending party. Second...chicken chili cheese fries? That doesn't even sound good. I love chili cheese fries, but I wouldn't touch these. 

I would not eat them in a box. I would not eat them with a fox. You should not eat them with the fam. You should not eat them Tyler Lamb.

Episode #10

On this week's show: The Phillies put together the greatest pitching staff ever (?), "The U" looks for a late night booty call and we're reminded that Don King isn't a man you $&*@ with...

Oops

This ESPN graphic will do nothing to satisfy all of the NFL conspiracy theorists...

You'd think it would be the Ravens giving six points early...

That's Why You're The Clippers

I've often said that in the NBA there are three ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way and the Clipper Way. That belief was once again reinforced by Monday's story on Yahoo Sports in which Marc J. Spears reports that Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been routinely heckling point guard Baron Davis from his courtside seats.

Let me say that again. Sterling has been heckling Baron Davis...his own player!


Sterling has been the gold standard when it comes to bad ownership, which in some ways should probably be admired. After all, it takes hard work and dedication to create The Worst Franchise In Sports History. And while it certainly doesn't compare to charges of racism and discrimination, publicly hazing your own players is one of the ultimate sins of an owner...especially one that has historically had problems attracting top free agent talent. Even more so when the player in question is actually the one major free agent acquisition you have been able to reel in.

I guess Blake Griffin really will look good as a Laker in four years.

Is Twitter Hurting the NFL Lockout

Posturing is part of any labor negotiation. Labor says management is being cheap. Management calls labor's demands unfair. One side may accuse the other of lying. Someone says something about someone's mama and it's on.

The NFL labor talks haven't been much different. Last week, I wrote about a recent salvo between the two sides, with the Players Association sending out a memo warning players to prepare for a lockout with the league expressing shock and disappointment that the the union seemed so willing to throw in the towel.

It made me wonder if maybe that didn't signal that talks had hit a stalemate (even though the NFL later in the day said that talks were still ongoing). Nonetheless, I was curious if these talks may be more contentious than others - a question I posed to Gabe Feldman, the director of Tulane University's Sports Law Program.

"Not sure if it's significantly worse than in the past," he responded via Twitter. "Though Twitter has added some immediacy to the sniping, though."

An interesting point, for sure. In the past, any acrimony took time to reach players and fans. In some cases, if they weren't reported the body blows may have never landed at all. It's almost weekly that some athlete or celebrity sends a tweet that causes a stir, but the consequences are generally limited to that person. Likewise, we've seen our share of Twitter feuds that either blow over quickly or just get ignored.

But this is the first high-profile labor negotiation of the digital era and with the open conversation that is Twitter, it's allowed both sides to present their case and interact with players, fans and media - something that most groups have done with enthusiasm. From union spokesman presenting labor's side to the public to Cardinals' defensive end Darnell Dockett soliciting lockout job suggestions from fans, everyone has had a chance to weigh in.

It remains to be seen if this can be helpful. The NFL calls itself a game for the fans, so surely fan input must be good, right? Or will it be a case of too many cooks spoil the broth. Superagent Drew Rosenhaus thinks it's a good thing, but we may be months from knowing for sure. Stay tuned...

This post was originally on SportsAlert...

The Real Reason Urban Meyer Left Florida?

(H/T to Jemele Hill)

UCONN Player involved in CHILD PORN!

Connecticut lineman arrested on child porn charges

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- A University of Connecticut football player was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges and was being held on $75,000 bond.

Greg McKee, 18, surrendered to state police a day after the school announced that he had been indefinitely suspended from the team but did not say why.

McKee, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman from Chicago, has not played for the Huskies and was sitting out his freshman year in order to have four years of eligibility left.

UConn spokesman Mike Enright said the school would have no comment on the arrest. An e-mail message left Wednesday for McKee seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.

McKee made an initial court appearance in Rockville Superior Court on charges of obscenity, importing child pornography and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. A judge set his bond at $75,000.

McKee was represented in court by a public defender. She did not immediately return an after-hours phone message seeking comment.

Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman, said the state's computer crime's unit received information that led the seizure of some computer equipment from McKee's dorm room last month.

"We're part of a national network, if you will," Vance said. "The information was credible, so we initiated a criminal investigation, identified a target and executed a search warrant."

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Chidren sent authorities a tip in September about child pornography being posted on the social network platform ning.com.

Police were able to trace the Internet Protocol address to UConn and eventually to McKee.

McKee told police he was supposed to be paid by a man named "Feinmann" for uploading several videos of child pornography to a social network platform, but he could not contact the man after he uploaded the videos, according to the affidavit. The affidavit didn't say who "Feinmann" was or whether authorities believe he exists.

McKee also admitted that he had downloaded child pornography from the Internet using links optained from people he contacted using his MSN messenger account, and that he may have received child pornograhy using another email address, the affidavit said. He told police he had about 20 videos and 20 images of child porn on his laptop.

Police say the children in the pornography appear to be between 8 and 15 years old.

Vance said no other members of the football team are believed to be involved. But he said the investigation was ongoing and more arrests are possible.

The arrest comes four days after the Huskies beat South Florida to secure a share of the Big East championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where they will play Oklahoma on Jan. 1.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Urban Meyer Stepping Down at Florida...Again

In an announcement that spread like wildfire across the internet early Wednesday afternoon, Florida head coach Urban Meyer announced that he was resigning his position in Gainesville after six seasons. 

Meyer famously announced after last season that he was quitting for health reasons only to recant his resignation days later. This time, however, Meyer appears to be for real saying he would like to focus on "family and life away from the field."

Immediate speculation surfaced that Meyer's resignation may signal interest in the Denver Broncos' vacant head coaching job with a chance to re-unite with his surrogate son former player Tim Tebow, however those rumors were quickly shot down.

Now the rumor mill begins to turn about who becomes the next head Gator. The spotlight immediately lands on Dan Mullen, the former Florida offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State head coach. But you can expect other major names to surface for a job that has become one of the most coveted in the country.

Meyer says he will stay on and coach the team in the upcoming Outback Bowl.

18 to go to war........but not the nba!

As a NBA lockout looks more and more like it is going to happen, The Players Association has some demands. Like most negotiations there are some sticking points that can't be compromised. This year since we are in the midst of a recession, the next labor deal is very crucial.

One of the items that is up for debate is are ole' pal "age limit". Chris Broussard from ESPN.com is reporting that the Players Assoc. is asking for how things used to be when there was no age limit. In the 2005-2006 season there was an agreement that no player under the age of 19 was permitted into the NBA or a year removed from high school. You were allowed to sign with the NBDL.."Minor Leagues".

The Players Union would like to do away with the age limit stating that it is racially, economically and just down right unamerican to have this rule in place.
Before 2005-2006 age limit was set in motion you had a flood of stars that have made the grade in the NBA and have pissed on the age limit law....Kobe, Lebron, Dwight Howard(sorry Dwight, not on a first name basis just yet.)and more and more that I will name later. Notice two of the names were #1 Overall Picks..just food for thought.

My feelings are really simple, if you have the game...then you should be able to play. In tennis you are considered a prodigy if you can play professional by age 14(Jenniffer Capratti), if you can swing a bat or throw 90 plus you are drafted right out of high school straight to the MLB(Alex Rodriguez),even in NASCAR you have Joey Logano who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing and was only 19 years young. In the NFL you have to be 3 years removed from high school, which makes sense since you are dealing with such a violent sport.

With the NBA you are dealing with a lot of issues but the biggest one is money, it always comes down to money. The NCAA loses its stars to he NBA and the university's marketing departments takes a crap thinking about the millions that they will not be making so they can go on there expensive business trips or for whatever lie they want to tell us. All I know it is not about education. If you think about how sweet was it when we saw Melo knocking down jumper after jumper to help the Cuse' win a National Championship, I know Gerry McNamara and Hakeem Warrick are. It is rare that people will put off millions to help generate millions for someone else.

Bottom line is, if you could change your whole life by signing your name on the dotted line, would you? But you are not just changing your life, you are changing your Moms life, your Dads life and even your girlfriends life. How many would take financial security for the next 15 years over struggling for the rest of your life, yeah....that's what I thought.



I'm going to leave you with a list of high school greats that did pretty OK when it was said and done.


Reggie Harding, Detroit Eastern High School, Detroit, Michigan (1962, drafted a second time in 1963)

Moses Malone, Petersburg High School, Petersburg, Virginia (1974, made his NBA debut in 1976)

Darryl Dawkins, Maynard Evans High School, Orlando, Florida (1975)

Bill Willoughby, Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, New Jersey (1976)

Shawn Kemp, Concord High School, Elkhart, Indiana (1989, attended University of Kentucky and Trinity Valley Community College but did not play college basketball. Was kicked off the University of Kentucky basketball team after pawning a teammate's necklace.)

Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy, Chicago, Illinois (1995)

Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School, Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania (1996)

Jermaine O'Neal, Eau Claire High School, Columbia, South Carolina (1996)

Tracy McGrady, Mt. Zion Christian Academy, Durham, North Carolina (1997)

Stephen Jackson, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia (2000, attended Butler Community College but did not play college basketball)

Al Harrington, St. Patrick High School, Elizabeth, New Jersey (1998)

Rashard Lewis, Alief Elsik High School, Houston, Texas (1998)

Jonathan Bender, Picayune Memorial High School, Picayune, Mississippi (1999)

Darius Miles, East St. Louis High School, East St. Louis, Illinois (2000)

DeShawn Stevenson, Washington Union High School, Fresno, California (2000)

Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy, Brunswick, Georgia (2001)

Tyson Chandler, Dominguez High School, Compton, California (2001)

Eddy Curry, Thornwood High School, South Holland, Illinois (2001)

DeSagana Diop, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia (2001)

Amare Stoudemire, Cypress Creek High School, Orlando, Florida (2002)

LeBron James, St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, Akron, Ohio (2003)

Travis Outlaw, Starkville High School, Starkville, Mississippi (2003)

Kendrick Perkins, Clifton J. Ozen High School, Beaumont, Texas (2003)

Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Atlanta, Georgia (2004)

Shaun Livingston, Peoria Central High School, Peoria, Illinois (2004)

Sebastian Telfair, Abraham Lincoln High School (New York), Brooklyn, New York (2004)

Al Jefferson, Prentiss High School, Prentiss, Mississippi (2004)

Josh Smith, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia (2004)

J.R. Smith, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, Newark, New Jersey (2004)

Dorell Wright, Leuzinger High School, Lawndale, California (2004)

Martell Webster, Seattle Preparatory School, Seattle, Washington (2005)

Andrew Bynum, St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, New Jersey (2005)

Gerald Green, Gulf Shores Academy, Houston, Texas (2006)

C.J. Miles, Skyline High School, Dallas, Texas (2005)

Monta Ellis, Lanier High School, Jackson, Mississippi (2005)

Louis Williams, South Gwinnett High School, Snellville, Georgia (2005)

Andray Blatche, South Kent Preparatory School, South Kent, Connecticut (2005)

Amir Johnson, Westchester High School, Los Angeles, California (2006)

Andris Biedrins...Greatest High School Player Ever?

As seen on Tuesday night's NBA TV broadcast of Warriors/Mavericks.

If only Biedrins stood up for Don Nelson this way.

Sometimes You Can't Go Home

Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt will announce his resignation on Tuesday night and remain in the athletic department in a non-coaching capacity.

Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. is expected to be named interim coach and lead the Panthers in the BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky.

Wannstedt went 42-31 at Pittsburgh and won 10 games last season. But this year, with the Panthers picked as heavy favorites to win the Big East, Pitt stumbled to a 7-5 record. The team did win a share of the Big East title but blew a two-game lead in the standings and was blown out at home by rival West Virginia with the BCS bid on the line.

Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to

"I'm going to regret this later."



I just put down my box of french fries.

Episode #9

We're baaaaack! This week, Marcas gives a lame excuse, the guys argue about withholding votes for Cam Newton and it's a list of things that aren't "gangsta".

Diddy's New Artist is D'Niro's Son?

Cant lie this is some funny ass sh*t

Why Saturday Was A College Football Bust

All week long we heard about how Saturday was going to be such a big day. Cam and the Newtonettes taking on The Head Ball Coach in the SEC Championship Game. Oregon trying to stay on the rails for one last game against arch-rival Oregon State.

Too bad the day became a dud. Thanks, BCS.

Because the presumption for weeks has been that if Auburn and Oregon finish the regular season undefeated they would meet in the championship game in Glendale on January 10. When both teams removed the drama from their respective games midway through the third quarter, all of the air went out of what was supposed to be a big Saturday.

Under the BCS, there is really only one bowl game that matters every year. Everything else is just in place for coaches to get some extra practice time with their layers. At least when we had the polls deciding a national champion, there could be two or three bowl games with some sort of impact over who would win a championship.

I dream a world where we'd have a college football playoff. Can you imagine how much interest the day would have had if winning your conference meant an automatic bid to the postseason? It's about the only way people outside of Storrs would give any thought to UConn's game against South Florida.

Actually, with the way Geno Auriemma's team is playing, people in Storrs might not even care.

The point is Nebraska vs. Oklahoma would be more than just the final chapter of a long storied rivalry. Florida State vs. Virginia Tech would be more than just an excuse to break out old Mike Vick highlights. And the Big 10 logjam? It would have more intrigue than a John LeCarré spy novel.

Instead, we end up with a day that was essentially over before the sun set on the West Coast.

One of Best Sports Saturday....Maybe?

This weekend can go down in sports weekend history. Well….not that serious, it all starts in the morning with the Chevron Golf Challenge. Tiger Woods is leading his own tournament and doing a dam fine job of it. He looks like the Tiger of old. Making all those “Tiger” shots that we all came to love. Or is it shots off a one of his female’s belly. Don’t know, don’t care.
People don’t forget that North Carolina and Kentucky tip off before the SEC Championship game, its at Carolina so this should be good.
The SEC Championship game between and Auburn and South Carolina which Cam Newton has given this game another boost of excitement thanks to his Daddy the Preacher who likes nice denotations for church and his son. It will be nice to see the Ole Ball Coach take one for the team and let a real college football program go to the BCS Championship game. On the other side of the street you have the “Civil War”, between Oregon and Oregon St. This game has all the trimmings of the food you missed at Thanksgiving. One team is trying to make it to the Championship game and the other just wants to get bowl eligible. Did I mention that they hate each other! I hope this doesn’t end up like UCLA/USC in 2006 as the Trojans were takin down because John David Booty forgot what team he was on.
As the SEC Championship game is going on there is a college basketball gem being played, as Duke and Butler play part 2 of their “One Shinning Moment” in March.
If I didn’t have DirecTV to go through all these channels this post wouldn’t be possible. Use the Previous Channels Feature..it's a life saver.

Fat Chicks steal boots under their TITTIES!

Fat Chicks need love Craig....Oh and also boots!

What Did the Five Fingers Say to the Face?

SLAP!

I Wear My Sports Team on my Sleeve

This past weekend I realize that not one player on any sports team really has a clue on what or who you are.  We as fans tend to see life through athletes eyes , looking at their pockets and get whisked away of what “We” have accomplished.  My ups and downs most of the time translates to what my teams ups and downs.  It’s like having that girlfriend who is having a crappy weekend and you know as a man that this may hamper your “Mr. Happy Time” with your woman.  So in turn you start having a crappy weekend and you get hit by the law…Murphy’s Law.

Well, that weekend was this weekend for me. First it starts with the Lakers on Friday night losing to the Utah Jazz 96-102.  Mind you that Thanksgiving was the day before and I really didn’t care as much as I normally would.  My father on the other hand, had to take extra heart pills and started watching the movie Tap with Gregory Hines to have some joy in his life.

As the night went on I realized I didn’t know if my old high school football team had beat Crenshaw in the second round of the City playoffs. So finally the article is posted around midnight, to my dismay it was a shellacking that most people had predicted. According to the paper Narbonne was losing by 21 before their bus pulled into the parking lot. The romp was on and my depression level went up another level. I did the only thing I could do…..watched the west coast feed of Tap on HBO west.

To my liking Saturday had finally had arisen and yes…a new sports day.  Today is college football and USC  Trojans will take on The Fightin Irish of Notre Dame.(Man, I wish Keith Jackson was still around.) The plan was to take my daughter to the movies around 5pm and catch the 2^nd half when we got home. What did I see at the movies? I’m glad you asked.  Went to the 2 dollar movie (N*ggas is broke these days.) and saw The Other Guys with Wil Ferrell. Have to admit it was a funny ass movie. This was the case when the previews of the movie got me psyched out and was greatly surprised on how funny it was. Ok, back to Notre Dame…I’m fighting with my girlfriend to keep the station on 710 so I get the score of the game.  I just wanted to know how big the blowout was so my sports weekend can be saved.  As the sports gods looked down on me and laughed, USC was losing and to top it off it was raining at the Coliseum. Thanks Tony Tone Toni for your great song, it is safe to say they will never be weathermen.  Finally I make it home to watch Mitch Mustain throw “RoJo” the most wide open pass that you can get. (Stevie Johnson-Buffalo Bills) As Rojo dropped the pass you saw the Trojans winning streak vs. the hated Irish fall on the sloppy tundra of the coliseum.  Depression level is now half full.

On a side note the Lakers lost to the Indiana Pacers at home 92-95. Who cares…its regular season loses……right?

As the sounds of horns blow to wake me up in the morning as they did Akeem in Coming to America, I yelled, “Time for fantasy football Sunday”. Then I asked for a “Royal Bath”.  I was disappointed that no women came to my aide. So now  it’s my time to shine as I’m in 1^st place and I’m playing my cousin who is in 2^nd to last place.  I’m pretty sure Vegas had me favored by 7. Luckily I already had a lead since Benjarvis ”The Law Firm” Green-Ellis  played for me on turkey day.  Did I mention that I have Michael Vick?  Yes, that Michael Vick who has been VICKtimizing the league this year. Everything was going as status quo until it happened.  I check my score and to my disbelief….I was losing. And not losing by a little but a lot.  On this very day my cousin decided to start Jacoby Ford for the Raiders.  Mind you that Ford has done nothing this year to constitute a start. He is a bye week player.  Not…Any….More!  Not only did he go off, he ran a 999 yard kick return to go along with my hopes and dreams.  That was to start the game, for the cherry on top he catches a 44 yard TD.  This guy gets 75 points all by himself to give me a nice big “L”. To add insult to injury, I started Vincent Jackson on Sunday Night Football.  Of course, I had to be the smart one to start him, be the sneaky guy and come up with a gem of a fantasy player.  He gets hurt 2^nd play of the game…period the end!

But there is always next weekend at least that is what my therapist told me on Monday.

LeBron v. Cleveland: Let the Dysfunction Begin

I can't wait until Thursday night when the Miami Heat come into Quicken Loans Arena, bringing with them a former Cleveland Cavalier who took off during the summer for a free agent deal in South Beach.

I wonder how the fans will react to Zydrunas Ilgauskas?

Actually, it's fitting that LeBron comes back to Cleveland during the holidays. After all, what says holiday season more than family dysfunction? And that's the reason this game will draw huge ratings. People have been awaiting this from the moment James decided to "take his talents to South Beach". The prodigal son returning home to a not-so-forgiving family.

It's understandable. It's dramatic. It's compelling. It's also worn me out. It's like being invited to someone else's family gathering only to watch a huge family fight break out. Awkward.

Oddly, it's not like I feel bombarded with promos and stories about what's could happen on Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Yes, they're out there, but I've managed to mostly avoid them - reading mostly headlines. What's really to say? LeBron bailed on Cleveland. They're pissed. It's gonna get ugly.

It went from Cleveland Rocks to Cleveland Might Throw Rocks.

So I guess I'm left with a feeling of "let's get this over with". The LeBron/Heat hype this season has been nearly intolerable. The fact that they're 10-8 is amusing to me less because it's humbled the new Big 3, but more because it makes ESPN's Heat Index look even sillier than when they first proposed it.

But I've grown equally tired of the Cleveland venom coming back at him. It all started with Dan Gilbert's grenade-launching open letter to Cavs fans. Then it spread to angry (yet sometimes hilarious) fan sites. Then we had dueling commercials - LeBron's Rise leading to Cleveland's Response and a whole slew of spoofs. 

Since I'm not from Cleveland, I can't imagine the depth of your sports pain. It's admittedly been pretty ugly. I have no idea what it's like when your best and brightest championship hope decides he wants to break your heart on national television...especially when he was literally one of your own. 

For awhile, you had the nation's sympathy. LeBron was the bad guy. A cross between Judas Iscariot and Kanye West. He couldn't have handled the situation worse. 

Through it all, Cleveland couldn't be the bigger person. The constant sniping has turned me off. We get it, you're pissed. Yet when it comes to the point where the Heat feel like they can't release their travel itinerary and the NBA is adding extra security, it's time to tone it down.

Besides, the cameras may be better served to focus on the fans and the benches. The biggest story in Cleveland has been how the fans will react to LeBron. Meanwhile the biggest story in Miami has been whether LeBron bumping Erik Spoelstra was a sign to management that the head coach should get StanVanGundy'd.

As for the game itself, well...what's really to watch? I'll just cut a big slice of sweet potato pie and settle in for some good ol' family dysfunction.

You can also find this post at Sportsalert.com. 

Seriously?!?

There's a sign in front of Notre Dame cathedral warning people to beware of pickpockets. I always figured stealing someone's wallet in a church is kind of a Go Straight To Hell sort of offense. 

What does that make breaking into a car in front of a church to steal someone's wallet while that person's funeral is going on inside?

Any Given Sunday...

Until the NFL started trumpeting it as one of its hallmarks in the 1990s, I'm sure plenty of people thought parity was some sort of small tropical bird. Now it's become what every league strives for (and few actually achieve). If you need any more proof that the NFL has achieved its goal, look no further than this handy little graphic. Moving clockwise, each team shown has beaten the next until it literally comes full circle.

Somewhere, Paul Tagliabue is smiling.

[H/T Deadspin]

Episode #8

It's NER - The Bring It On Edition! Mike Vick goes wild on the Redskins, the greatness of the DVR and we've got an axe to grind...

Episode #7

On this edition of New Era Radio - two California guys whine about summer being over, try to cast Ice Cube as the new Dolemite and figure out if Billy Hoyle and Sidney Deane could beat Eric Gordon and Baron Davis.

Episode #6

This week on NER: What I Did For Halloween, Fantasy Football horror stories and MC Hammer makes a Jay-Z diss track.

Episode #5

On the latest edition of New Era Radio: The guys talk Halloween, Brett Favre pulling a figurative Ike Turner on Brad Childress and Marcas thinks Avatar was overrated.

Episode #4

This week, we prove why we're America's show, wonder why people are so afraid of Boise State and freak out about nude pictures of Mickey Mantle (yes, really).

Episode #3

On the latest episode of New Era Radio, we discuss the rigors of the NFC East, the MLB Playoffs and Cacique being inspired by Matthew Broderick.

Episode #2

This week on New Era Radio - we're sweating it out in L.A. traffic, wondering how many NCAA football coaches might be on the take and pretending we know how to play Fantasy Football.

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