Episode 23: Nobody Beats The Biz

This week...The Guy On The Couch pinch hits for Cacique; David Stern gives Sacramento the middle finger; Marcas sings the hits of Biz Markie in honor of MLB Opening Day; the guys drink a big glass of Boston haterade and why Twitter > iTunes.

The Winerack: Great Invention or Greatest Invention?

Fellas, do you wish your woman had larger breasts? Do you wonder why she can't help you smuggle booze into the game, freeing your pockets from carrying a rigid flask?

Your prayers have been answered. Introducing the Winerack, from the makers of the BeerBelly! The Winerack combines two things guys love - booze and boobs - into one easy to stare at carry package.

Take a bottle of wine, a mixed drink or even a fifth of your favorite hard stuff to the movies, concerts, ball games, even PTA meetings. Sporting a rack that will turn heads and serving a beverage that will have guys standing in line for a sip of your secret stash!

(Um...PTA meetings? Really?)

Just imagine, no more shelling out $10 for a beer when you can step up to the concession stand and ask for "one Coke please".

And ladies, who wouldn't want that eye-popping figure when you're out for an afternoon at the ballpark with your man? Even when the liquor is gone, just a puff of air into the straw will make sure your cup always runneth over.

According to the manufacturers, The Winerack works best for women who, um...aren't quite as blessed. For you ladies who are a little more endoweDD, this probably won't fly. But then again, you're probably getting enough attention already.

Report: BCS Watchdog Was Previously A BCS Lapdog

Southern Miss AD Richard Giannini
reportedly took a cruise from Orange
Bowl organizers

It appears that Bowl Championship Series officials are trying to do what legions of fans and legislators couldn't...take down the Bowl Championship Series.

On the heels of an eye-opening report about graft and largesse surrounding the organizers of the Fiesta Bowl, comes a report from Yahoo's Dan Wetzel that the BCS has created a task force to investigate potential illegalities surrounding the other BCS bowls.

So who better to put on that task force than someone who took advantage of some of that glad-handing?

Giannini, the task-force member, was one of more than 40 administrators (plus spouses, of course) who accepted the Orange Bowl’s “complimentary getaway” to the Caribbean in June. He was pretty much just following the crowd. (He has not responded to attempts seeking comment). 

According to records obtained by PlayoffPAC, there wasn’t a single business meeting scheduled for the entire trip. The brochure did note that attendees would have time for things like a day on the private island of CocoCay, which “offers activities for everyone, from parasailing to sipping delicious ‘Coco Locos’ on a hammock.”

Of course now we're left to wonder not if the rest of the bowls are shady, but how shady they actually are. Something has to be going on to keep wretched games like the Hawaii Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl afloat. It certainly ain't ticket sales.

Wait, let me rephrase. Schools have ticket guarantees they have to hit, so the bowl organizers are pretty much taken care of whether fans show up or not. Isn't it just a little curious that the attendance for all of these bowl games is exactly or close to the capacity of the stadium?

So while most of the college fooball-watching public has been clamoring for a way to slice up the golden egg so everyone can get a piece, The Powers That Be have had their hands firmly around the neck of the goose.

College Basketball Players Planned A Sit-In To Disrupt NCAA Tournament

Chances are if you remember the 1995 NCAA Tournament, you may flash back to Tyus Edney's buzzer-beating, length of the court run against Missouri. Or maybe the surprising upsets pulled by Old Dominion, Weber State and Manhattan. Or perhaps a freshman Toby Bailey helping to lead UCLA to another championship.

There's a very good chance you were unaware of how close we came to seeing none of that.

As part of a protest against the major revenues earned by universities and coaches and the lack of it flowing to athletes, former UMass basketball player Rigo Nunez told HBO's "Real Sports" that there were a number of top players around the country prepared to sit out the tournament.

"At one point it was pretty organized among players that maybe the biggest impact that we can have, and the biggest opportunities for us to have a stand, will be prior to the NCAA tournament," Nunez told correspondent Bernard Goldberg. 

"Well, how was that gonna happen?" Goldberg asked. 

"We were not gonna play," Nunez said. 

"What?" 

"We were just gonna go to the middle of the court and sit down. Every game, in the whole country." 

"Because you weren't getting paid?" Goldberg said. 

"Because it was not fair to us," Nunez replied.

One of the top players from that year's tournament - former UCLA star Ed O'Bannon - has been outspoken in his efforts to see college athletes compensated. O'Bannon, who recently spoke on a panel at Harvard Law School's Sports Law Symposium, has taken the lead in a class action suit against the NCAA. The suit alleges that the NCAA illegally uses the images of former student athletes for video content and memorabilia. A number of former athletes, including a pair from Texas Western's historic 1966 championship team have added their names to the lawsuit.

As schools and conferences look to earn even bigger dollars through strategic conference alignments and the formation of television networks, you wonder if an idea like this could ever gain traction again. Either way, I have a feeling the people at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis would just as soon this story not see the light of day and possibly provoke any ideas.

VCU Is Proud Of Wrecking Your Bracket

Chances are you are among the millions who ripped up their brackets in frustration after Virginia Commonwealth took down Kansas on their way to the Final Four.

(Not me. I flamed out long before that. Huzzah!)

Well, VCU understands. And they're doing everything they can to capitalize on your pain.

Check out what could be the best underdog T-shirt of all-time.

Props to the VCU marketing department who have been a step ahead throughout the tournament - from their very well designed athletic department website to the fantastic "Chalk Rocked" headline.

If the Rams can take down Butler to make it to the championship game or even - GASP! - win the whole thing, I look forward to whatever they'll come up with next.

Wanna Hear Jose Canseco's "Celebrity Boxing" Explanation? Got $10 (Per Minute)?

Oh Jose Canseco, you are nothing if not entertaining.

Last Saturday, Canseco was scheduled to take part in a Celebrity Boxing event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. The only problem is that Jose was a no-show and instead sent his brother Ozzie in his place.

“We discovered the Canseco who showed up was Ozzie when he took off his shirt and didn’t have José’s tattoos on the biceps that appear in our advertising,” a Celebrity Boxing representative told El Nuevo Herald. The man said he did not want to be identified.

If that wasn't bad enough, Jose took to Twitter the next day to trash Damon Feldman, the fight's promoter, saying Feldman "did not comply with his part of the agreement".

Um...Jose? The agreement was to have you fight. Not pull some sort of high school switcheroo with your coat-tail riding twin brother. (By the way, it rarely worked in high school.)

Nonetheless, the Tomax and Xamot of baseball stand by their assertion that they did nothing wrong. At least Tomax is. Or would Jose be Xamot? Forget it, it's making my head hurt. Either way, Jose was back on Twitter again Monday telling people that he wuz robbed.

Turns out that the number Canseco lists connects you to MyFanline, a service that allows you to talk to your favorite celebrity. For the low, low price of $10 per minute (the website says the money goes to charity) you can talk to such "luminaries" as Jose or Ozzie Canseco, Antoine "Bed Intruder" Dodson, Danielle Staub from the Real Housewives of New Jersey and Ray Parker, Jr. of "Ghostbusters" fame.

(Who ya gonna call? For ten dollars a minute? Not Ray.)

Give Jose credit, though. There aren't too many guys out there who would take a situation in which they were decidedly in the wrong and turn it into a marketing opportunity. So...kudos to you, I guess.

Kimberly Bell Gets Graphic About Barry Bonds

When talking about the Barry Bonds trial so far, the word "unsavory" probably best fits what's gone on in the courtroom. It began last week when Bonds' late father, Bobby, as an unwitting fixture in how so many shady characters were attached to Barry.

It continued on Monday when we got the *ahem* inside details on what was going on with Barry's anatomy.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp has been live tweeting from the courtroom since the trial began and today gave us the testimony of Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former mistress, who shared her (very) intimate knowledge about the changes in Barry's...um...life.

Ick indeed. Bell also testified that Bonds said his elbow injury in 1999 was due to steroid use and that he did it because other players - namely Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa - were also using. She went on to discuss how Bonds grew acne on his back and shoulders and how his hair fell out. Later, Bell testified that Bonds "told me to disappear" in 2003 when ending the relationship.

Bonds' defense lawyers followed up by grilling Bell about her promotional appearances on different television and radio shows in an attempt to show that she is less than altruistic with her motives. But whether Bell is in this for justice or a payday should have no bearing as long as she is telling the truth. Lest we forget, Jose Canseco wasn't exactly getting lauded for his nobility when he released the book that started this whole thing in the first place.

Aqib Talib Named "Person of Interest" In Investigation

A report in the Dallas Observer on Monday says that Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner back Aqib Talib is being sought by the Garland, TX police department as a "person of interest" in an alleged altercation involving the player's mother, sister and sister's boyfriend.

From the Observer:

According to a GPD initial report about the incident and two sources familiar with the case Talib allegedly attempted to pistol-whip his sister Saran's boyfriend, Shannon Billings, and then, after a struggle, used his mother Okolo's pistol and fired several shots at Billings as he fled the scene on foot.

It's not the first time Talib has been entangled with police since being drafted in 2008. In 2009, he was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest after allegedly punching a cab driver. Talib entered a plea of not guilty and reached a financial settlement with the driver in order to avoid a civil suit.

In the meantime, when football resumes, Talib will likely have to pay a price since the NFL has said that it will continue to enforce its Personal Conduct Policy. More importantly, Talib should be worried about any penalties local law enforcement will have for him if his involvement is anything like what is being reported.

Episode 22: Down In Flames

On another exciting episode of New Era Radio...the guys celebrate the black man surviving a sci-fi disaster flick! Marcas doesn't believe in the greatness of New York basketball and the guys give the award for BFF of the Millennium (here's a hint: Barry Bonds is accepting on his behalf).

The NFL Lockout...Simplified (And Animated)

Does the NFL/NFLPA/CBA/NLRB alphabet soup gotcha down? Too many names, dates and locations to remember? Just hoping that someone could put it all together in a crudely animated CGI news report designed to give you a basic outline of what's going on? 

Well the good folks of Taiwan-based NMA have you covered. The same people who broke down the Tiger Woods scandal, reported on the Chinese serial foot licker and investigated whether it was Suge Knight who had Tupac Shakur killed have now set their sights on the National Football League's labor strife.

From what we can tell, some random white guys wearing Peyton Manning and Tom Brady jerseys are representing the players interests while other white guys in suits toss the pigskin around inside of empty stadiums. All the while, President Barack Obama is tasked with pardoning a flock of chickens that were apparently bound for sports bars all across the country.

Oh and Hines Ward is a white guy.

L.A. NFL Stadium Could Look Like Futuristic Lightbulb

Forget that we're still waiting to see if the NFL will even play next year. Or the longer-term issue of if an NFL team is available and willing to move to Los Angeles. Nonetheless, AEG and the people who brought you the L.A. Live entertainment center in downtown are moving full steam ahead on development of a $1 billion football stadium.

Los Angeles based architecture and design firm Gensler has been tapped to lead the way on the construction of the project despite never having designed a football stadium. And they already have an inspiration - the 66,000 seat Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, which was the main venue for the 2006 World Cup and currently is home to the Bayern Munich soccer team.

Even though they've never built a football stadium, Gensler is not totally unqualified for the job. They were heavily involved in the development of the very flashy L.A. Live area adjacent to the Staples Center, having built the 54-story hotel and residence tower that's part of the district. That gave them a leg up in the selection process.

Tim Romani, president and chief executive of ICON Venue Group, which is overseeing the proposed project, said the important aspect of Gensler "is the people, not the practice." 

Romani said Gensler's extensive experience in helping design the L.A. Live campus will help expedite the environmental impact report, a necessary step toward getting clearance for a stadium.

"They understand how this site works," he said. "They understand all of the infrastructure, and that saves two to three months if not more of the EIR process."

And it's not as though Gensler is unfamiliar with building sporting venues. According to their website, the firm is currently at work on the renovations on Roland Garros tennis stadium, the Moscow Sports and Entertainment Complex and the Detroit Lions training facility.

Yet there are several issues remaining...

1. The city must be convinced to tear down and relocate the West Hall of its convention center which will cost a pretty penny. It's hard to imagine local taxpayers will want to foot the bill for that considering the local uproar that ensued when L.A. officials thought about using taxpayer dollars for other sports and entertainment events like the Lakers' recent championship parade or Michael Jackson's memorial at the Staples Center.
   
2. There is competing site in the City of Industry led by developer Ed Roski, which is already completely set for construction of a venue - unlike the downtown site which still has to conduct an environmental impact report.
   
3. Whether or not people want another major sports and entertainment venue in downtown Los Angeles isn't certain. In my extremely unscientific polling, I have yet to talk to someone who thinks it's a good idea to put another major traffic suck to an area that is already over-saturated. Rare is the night when there isn't an event at the Staples Center - especially in the fall and winter when the Lakers, Clippers and Kings are in season. Less than five miles to the north is Dodger Stadium and just about the same distance south is the L.A. Coliseum where USC plays football six Saturdays a year. In a different city with better public transportation, it likely wouldn't be an issue. But in car-crazed Los Angeles it's one more thing to tie up freeway traffic.

Oh...and then there's that little issue of NFL owners crying poverty. The money that a new stadium and a team in the country's second largest market would bring make it hard for the league to complain about how hard it is to turn a profit. Of course Roger Goodell and company can't really stop AEG or anyone else from making an announcement like this. But I'm sure they would have preferred to keep the lid on it for a little while.

Serena Williams Ad Too Hot for TV

Always fashion forward, Serena Williams has never been shy about flaunting her game, her style and her body on the tennis court. But it seems that a little Serena goes a little too far in a recent ad for the upcoming Top Spin 4 video game.

Dressed in a black leotard and stockings, Williams (labeled in the commercial as "The World's Sexiest Tennis Player) squares off against an equally seductively dressed Rileah Vanderbilt ("The World's Sexiest Tennis Gamer") over a backdrop of pulsating techno music and grunts that are more reminiscent of bedroom sports than outdoor ones.

The ad was actually rejected by 2K Sports - who produced the game for the Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 - but was uploaded to the internet by Vanderbilt who later tweeted the link. Since then neither Vanderbilt nor Williams has commented on the commercial.

I don't know if it makes me want to buy a tennis-themed video game. But it would make me less likely to zoom past this commercial on the DVR.

Matt Hasselbeck's Kid's Bracket Is Better Than Yours

If the NFL lockout starts to drag on maybe Matt Hasselbeck can make money by getting tips from his son and heading to Vegas. Five-year old Henry Hasselbeck ranks in the top one percent of the 5.9 million NCAA Tournament brackets submitted on ESPN.com.

What's his secret?

He went through game-by-game with Dad, usually deciding the winners based on mascots. 

Spiders or Commodores? Henry went with the Spiders, explaining how he forecast Richmond's first-round upset. He liked Washington's Husky dogs over Georgia's Bulldogs in the first round.

Aah, the good ol' Animal Planet Strategy. So who does Master Henry have winning it all? The University of Florida...because he likes alligators. Considering the shape of my own brackets, who am I to argue with his logic?

Apparently the power of prognostication is strong among the Hasselbeck children. Henry's sister, Mallory is in the top three percent of all brackets. As for Dad...well, not so much. Matt's own entry ranks in the bottom half of all submitted.

Sean Miller Wows Johnny Carson

University of Arizona head basketball coach Sean Miller was a basketball wizard long before he took either the Wildcats or the Xavier Musketeers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Flash back to 1983 when Johnny Carson was the undisputed king of late night television and a fresh-faced, 14-year old Miller appeared on The Tonight Show and yukked it up on the couch with Johnny and Ed McMahon before dazzling the audience with a pretty sick handle.

Kyle Fogg and Lamont Jones may want to make sure Miller's out of eligibility. Just sayin'.

Alex Trebek Calls College Football Games!

Who knew that Alex Trebek, the venerable 70-year old host of Jeopardy!, might have a second career waiting for him if the game show thing ever went south?

The guys at The Solid Verbal, that's who:

Take that, Rolf Benirschke! 

David Stern Knows Where "The Bodies Are Buried"

Last week, Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski wrote a scathing critique of NBA commissioner David Stern, painting him as a bully who is beginning to lose support amongst a new crop of league owners.

On Monday, Wojnarowski gave readers an even more chilling vision of Stern by reporting on a pair of speeches given to players during All-Star Weekend by union chief Billy Hunter and the commish himself. After Hunter reportedly used his address to the players as a chance to prepare his most high-profile constituents for the expected lockout to come, the normally unflappable Stern responded a little like Lee J. Cobb at the end of "On The Waterfront".

Via Yahoo! Sports:

Stern told the room he knows where “the bodies are buried” in the NBA, witnesses recounted, because he had buried some of them himself.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Say what you want about how Roger Goodell has handled his league's labor struggle, he's at least publicly shown respect to the men he's dealing with. If Stern is already turning to threats and intimidation, it doesn't bode well for the negotiations, the league or his tenure as the commissioner.

By contrast, Hunter's words resonated with the players and combined with the obviously rattled Stern's retort it could be the first real shot across the bow in a labor battle that is likely to be even uglier than what we've seen so far from the NFL.

"Charlie Sheen Rap Song"

Chamillionaire is trying to cash on the Carlos Estevez, dont blame him either.

Another Madden Curse For Vick?

It’s that time of year again people, even though we might not have a 2012 NFL season there still will be a Madden '12 game from EA sports.

This year is a little different in that you can vote on who should be on the cover of this year’s game. This coincides with March Madness but only has 32 players to choose from. EA has chosen one player to represent from each team and even though they don’t tell you who was in the War Room choosing these seedings, there are some interesting players in the “Big Dance”.

The video game giant decided to include Hakeem Nicks from the Giants and Jordan Gross from the Panthers, last time I checked these were not the super stars that you think of when it comes to these teams. This makes sense if you are Steve Smith who has enough injuries for a lifetime. I understand that this all for fun people but really, you have Patrick Willis from the 49ers going against “The 12th Man” from Seattle….can’t wrap my brain on that match-up even though my money is on the very violent Patrick Willis.

There is one scenario that can seem farfetched but could be plausible in that people could vote for certain players just so that person would have to succumb to the Madden Curse! And there is one player that stands out more than any other player in the tourney and that is one Michael Vick of your Philadelphia Eagles. I know...I know that would be damned mean of people to pick the 2011 Comeback Player of the Year. This is the same Vick that was on the cover in 2004 and broke his ankle in a pre-season game that had Arthur Blank rolling him up and down the sideline like some underprivileged kid.

If you think about it, there are enough haters in the world to wish this upon this Godly individual. He is only a couple of years removed from being in prison and convicted of dog fighting. There are tons of people that still believe that there are no second chances and that Vick should suffer just as much as those dogs did. In my opinion (which is the only one that counts), let this man live and don’t put him on the cover. He is better being unknown and out of sight to continue his path to righteousness. I didn’t mention that I’m a Giants fan so you know that I really mean it!

UFL Capitalizing On NFL Turnover?

Paging, Elvis....Jerry Glanville is back in the building. The always entertaining man in black who led the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons is back as a pro head coach after being hired by the Hartford Colonials of the UFL.

Add his name to Dennis Green and Jim Fassel as former NFL head coaches to get gigs in the fledgling league. But he may not be the last recognizable NFL personality to land in the UFL. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, there may be a gleam in Virginia.

Via Twitter:

Mortensen later reported that the league could be working on a sixth franchise in Chattanooga, TN which might feature a father and son reunion with Jim and Jeremy Bates.

Ever since the league launched in 2009, there has been talk that it could position itself to be the pro football organization of choice if the NFL went through with its threats of a lockout. Obviously we are a long way from missing any NFL games, but the UFL has already done a good job of establishing credibility. Hiring big name coaches, signing players with significant NFL experience and picking up a cable television deal through Versus shows that the league is serious about creating a respectable product that's about more than just sizzle (read: the XFL). The league's cautious growth model will help it avoid spending beyond its means.

More importantly, it could become an attractive opportunity for many players whose bank accounts may not be able to survive a protracted work stoppage. We've already seen a couple of low-profile guys take their talents to the Arena League and one high-profile guy who's changing from football to futbol.

For all of the things the NFL owners have to worry about in the upcoming weeks and months, the most damaging issue is the possibility that people will eventually learn to live without them. We could be seeing the start of that.

Episode 21: Parts Unknown

This week...Marcas makes a cameo from an undisclosed location. Friends of the N.E.R.D.s - Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports & Robert DoBucki of HoopsJournal - stop by & The Guy On The Couch checks in!

Roger Goodell Is A Liar!

Kevin Burnett used to be a Dallas Cowboy but he is letting everyone know that he still has bullets in his six-shooter. Burnett fired shot after shot against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a radio interview with XX 1090am, calling a Goodell, “blatant liar”. This is on the heels of a letter or email that Goodell has sent to all players asking for them to come back to the bargaining table, so they can come up with solution to the labor crisis that the league is in.
Goodell said, "it was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players". 

Burnett’s response: "Goodell's full of it. He's a liar. You're a blatant liar. 'It's our league, it's we, we love the players, we want the league,' but what have you done for the players? What have you done, in all honesty, to improve the game, besides fine guys, besides take money away from guys, besides change a game that you've never played? ... He's done nothing to improve the game," Burnett said.
Even though there is a lockout is in affect at this moment, Burnett should realize that commissioners do not take kind to being called “liars”. He might be telling the truth in everything that he has said about the Commish but you do have to recognize who you are dealing with here. This is the man who is in charge of the most watched and money making sport in the United States, a man who you are trying to negotiate 9 billion dollars to split with. Goodell may not be as much of a bully as the NBA’s David Stern but, he will throw his weight around like any commissioner will. There are worst things than just being fined in the league, which Goodell is very capable of doing.
I think the problem that I have with Burnett’s comments is that Burnett is the one saying this. He is not a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis or Revis Island. Goodell would not dare to try and punish these dudes for comments that they would say in the media.
That is like telling Kobe Bryant to shut his mouth and apologize for calling Stern a dictator. You know that will never happen. But if it was Raja Bell, his ass would be in a sling playing for the Cucamonga Cracka Killers. That would be the closes he would ever sniff the NBA.
He doesn’t have wallet or the clout in the league to mouth at Mr. Goodell, so these statements look like he is just mouthing off and singling himself out in these turbulent times that we are in. Even though the union is decertified and the owners are locking out players, we will have football someday and Goodell will still be Commish, Burnett will have to answer for his comments in some way shape or form. I don’t know if that means he could be blackballed or just be cut or whatever makes the Spanos Family happy.
Kevin, you are smarter than this, please keep your mouth closed until we have labor peace and you have some union protection.

Episode 20: The Player President

This week...we remember No-to-ri-o-us (you know the rest) and flash back on the '90s; wonder if the NCAA will have the stones to drop the hammer on Jim Tressel and Ohio State and Cacique gives the Gas Face to Tiki Barber.

In honor of Biggie, this week's show comes with a parental advisory sticker.

Kevin O'Neill Reinstated as USC Head Coach

USC head basketball coach Kevin O'Neill lives to yell another day. Trojans athletic director Pat Haden issued a statement on Sunday morning announcing that O'Neill has been reinstated and will be allowed to coach the team in whatever postseason tournament they may be invited to.

"Coach O'Neill and I have talked numerous times these past few days. He has continued to express his regret and embarrassment over the incident that led to his suspension from any remaining games of the Pac-10 Conference Tournament. He understands that his inappropriate actions and resulting suspension from the tournament's semifinal game and potential championship game put his team in an extremely difficult position. Further, he understands that he let them down as their role model and leader. He has apologized to his team, as well as to me, our administration, our fans and the Pac-10.

The trouble started after USC's win over California on Thursday. According to PointGuardU.com O'Neill and his wife, Roberta, were at a downtown Los Angeles hotel bar when they encountered longtime Arizona booster Paul Weitman. Exactly what happened next is still unclear, but what is known is that the O'Neills and Weitman had some manner of confrontation before security asked the coach and his wife to leave.

Haden immediately suspended O'Neill for the remainder of the Pac-10 tournament. The Trojans challenged Arizona in the semifinals before eventually losing, 67-62. Whether their 19-14 record is good enough to get them an at-large bid remains to be seen. Some bracketologists have them among the "last 4 in" while others have them playing in the NIT.

The reinstatement squashes the rumors that surfaced Saturday that O'Neill may be fired. However Haden did say that further punishment - including a fine - are still forthcoming. Meanwhile, O'Neill will be on-hand with his team when they learn their postseason fate this afternoon.

Wife of USC Basketball Coach Slaps Arizona Fan

Just in case USC or Arizona fans needed another reason to be fired up about Friday night's Pac-10 tournament semifinal matchup, Trojans head coach Kevin O'Neill may have just given it to them.

According to PointGuardU.com, an apparently drunken O'Neill and his wife got into it with an Arizona fan at a LA hotel.

O'Neill reportedly threatened the fan that USC was going to “beat the hell out of Arizona.” Words were exchanged and our sources say that O'Neill's wife struck one of the Arizona fans. O'Neill and his wife were escorted out of the hotel, and Arizona fans were left wondering what just happened.

Since the alleged altercation, USC athletic director Pat Haden released a statement saying the school is looking into the incident.

It's unknown what might have started the fracas, but O'Neill and Wildcat fans don't have the greatest relationship. O'Neill was Arizona's head coach in 2007-08 in place of Lute Olson, who took a leave of absence. At the time, the university had announced that O'Neill would become the head coach when Olson retired and it appeared as though that moment had arrived. However Olson said he would return for the '08-09 season and reports began to surface of acrimony between the two coaches.

Eventually, O'Neill was let go, Olson abruptly retired and Russ Pennell was left to run the team on an interim basis. What exactly happened between Olson and O'Neill isn't fully known, but usually when you run up against a legend, you're going to lose in the court of public opinion. O'Neill is known to be a pretty fiery guy and if you add in a little liquor and some trash talking, it's easy to see how things can escalate.

Are Black Duke Players "Uncle Toms"?

This week on ESPN they are going to feature a documentary on the Fab 5 of Michigan. This is part of their 30 for 30 series that has been quite excellent. Especially the one on Allen Iverson when he went to jail in Virginia for getting into that bowling alley fight with white students was one of my favorites.

This time they are going to feature the "The Fab 5" who were 5 true freshmen that had started for the Michigan Wolverines in 1991. Coach Steve Fisher at the time had assembled the top recruiting class in the nation and decided they were better then any players they had coming back. Even though only 3 made it in the NBA they together were a powerful unit, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Chris Webber, JuWan Howard and Jalen Rose. This was unheard of at the time, to start 5 freshmen at a division 1 school was insane. Don't get me wrong, freshman can start in college basketball and be stars but there is always some upperclassman to keep them in check and show them them the robes. This recruiting class was symbolic for the fact that it had never been done before and they really changed the way college basketball was played, dressed and "swagger" that was being displayed. As Hip-Hop looked to be the soundtrack to the "Fab 5"'s every move on the court.

I can remember that you were a fool if you didn't have black high socks and shorts that went passed your knees on the court to go along with and over sized jersey. You were gump of the year and showed it that you didn't have game or street cred. The Fab 5 was loud, flashy, skilled and everyone wanted to be like them, shit I think I shaved my head and wanted #5 just like Rose. It was like having an NBA team playing in college basketball, with the dunks, around the back passes and they could shit talk with the best of them. The coverage they received was incredible, it was like following a rock group around and you quickly forgot that they were kids. They were only 18 years-old and you wanted to know there every move and copy their style.

Recently, Jalen Rose who was the point guard at the time was asked about Duke and this was he said how he felt at the time:

“For me, Duke was personal. I hated Duke. And I hated everything I felt Duke stood for. Schools like Duke didn’t recruit players like me. I felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms.”

What Jalen was feeling at this time was nothing new in the black community or better yet my community. Til this day I have hate for Duke which goes all the way back to when Christian Laettner made that game winning shot vs., Jamal Mashburn and Kentucky in the Semi-Finals of the 1992 NCAA Tournament. It started then and has never left me. It's crazy, you mention the word Duke and I feel a little anger inside me.

When you think of Duke, you automatically think of it as a snob school, a place where black people could not thrive. But if you know Durham, NC it is very black, you just don't see a lot of black people attending the school. From Chris Collins to Bobby Hurley, you wonder if they were really any good and if the Refs really would help the Dukies get pushed to next round. They always seemed to get the benefit of all the calls and the media. The media was always looking for a way for Duke to pull it out because of how smart they were. What a loaded of shit that it.

You could definitely consider them the Yankees for that you love to hate them, it just makes life a little easier. I guess the real question that comes to mind is, do I respect Duke? And the answer is yes I do. You have to respect them but the hate is is there as I need air to breathe. It's a part of life these days.

Bynum's Defense Leading The Lakers

The Lakers are streakers in a good way, no they didn't take off any part of their clothes even though that is something that Artest probably has done. Los Lakers are on undefeated since the All-Star break(that is 8 in arrow for those who are counting on their fingers) and now have found something that has lacked all season, DEFENSE.

The Lake Show has found a formula that has stifled their last 8 opponents and now look like the Back To Back Champs who we thought they were. This is a indication that Kobe must be sharing the ball and showing why he has been on the All_NBA Defensive team..... right?

Nope, not even close, it has been the monster play of Andrew Bynum. The young 23 year-old has taken on a different role or maybe the role that every Laker Fan has wanting him to embrace.
Let me throw out some numbers for you during the 8 game streak:

Hawks : 15 & 3

Blazers : 4 & 1

Clippers : 11 & 1

Thunder : 10 & 5

Timberwolves: 7 & 2

Bobcats : 17 & 6

Spurs : 17 & 3

Hawks : 16 & 3

These numbers are decent if you just look at them but the crazy thing is that these are Bynum's Rebounds and Blocks. I'm not trying to say that he has not tried to score because he is averaging 10 points 14 Rebs 3.5 Blocks during this streak.

When Andrew Bynum sacrifices his offense for defense they Lakers are by far the best team in the World.

Webber Tells Heat To Grow Some Nutts!

courtesy of NBA TV

C-Webb had put it down for years in the NBA. He is no Hall Of Famer but he has the respect of many players in the league. The way he calls out Coach "Spo" is classic.
You can tell this is a direct Pep Talk to the Heat.

Jimmer Fredette Meets Hip-Hop

There's nothing like a heaping helping of Jimmer Fredette to help BYU fans get over the Honor Code blues. Less than a week after Brandon Davies was suspended from the then-third ranked basketball team, several members of Cougar nation (and one member of the Ute Crew) released this hip-hop ode to the Beehive State's current favorite son.

Taking shots at LeBron James (they refer to The Jimmer as "the real King J") and Deron Williams (ditching his jersey for a blue & white #32), the song actually makes you forget how weary you were of The Dougie back in the fall. It also has a few entertaining cameos from several Utah basketball broadcasters including Ron Boone, David Locke and Craig Bolerjacks.

After watching how the females react to "Jimmer" in this video, it makes you wonder how he's avoided any Honor Code violations.

Tiki Barber Returning To the NFL?

Holy Brett Favre, Batman!

While we're not totally sure if there's going to be NFL football next year, it looks like Tiki Barber is getting his ducks in a row just in case.

A tweet from Maxx Sports Entertainment, Barber's agency, says the former Giants' running back has filed the paperwork necessary to get back into the league.

Barber played his entire 10-year career with the New York Giants and retired after the 2006 season despite having put together his three best seasons. Post-NFL life hasn't been quite as good for Tiki. Immediately after hanging them up, Barber landed a broadcasting job with NBC. He bounced from sports to hard news, including a stint on Today and MSNBC's Morning Joe. Audiences in just about every genre never cottoned to Barber and the network quietly declined to renew his contract when it expired.

Things in his personal life haven't been much better. He announced that he was leaving his then-pregnant wife for a 23-year old NBC intern with which he'd been having an affair. Although, according to a recently fired CBS sitcom star, that could classify as "winning". Unlike that possessor of Adonis DNA, Tiki's had financial issues and a check of past headlines reminds us that Barber's money problems are nothing new.

It doesn't help that he's running out of media options after flaming out at NBC. Our friend, Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser reports that he saw Barber in Dallas covering the Super Bowl for Yahoo! Sports.

The days of the feature back in the NFL seem to dwindling with many teams going toward platoons and specialized packages. Even so, it's hard to believe that a running back well on the wrong side of 30 (Barber turns 36 in April) who hasn't played in five years can be an impact player. Then again, a 34-year old Plaxico Burress will be released from prison soon and since the Giants still own the rights to both of those players, Big Blue has some decisions to make. It would be a surprise to seem them keep either of those two, but it's pretty certain that this story is far from over.

Tom Brady's Dance Party

New England Patriots' quarterback and resident trendsetter Tom Brady has a weakness! It seems that dancing is TB's kryptonite, as evidenced by a recently circulated YouTube video of the two-time NFL MVP living it up at Carnival.

Despite Brady looking like a ten-year old testing the bounce-ability of his new sneakers, I enjoy watching athletes and celebrities letting their hair down and enjoying the moment. So in the spirit of the groove, we invite you to turn up the speakers and get down with Tom Brady's Dance Party!

Tuesday's Birthday Shout-Out: Kenny "The Jet" Smith Gets Grounded

When we learned that today was the birthday of former NBA star Kenny Smith, we didn't bother trying to find any clips from his championship runs with the Houston Rockets (even though he once held the record for most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals game). Nor did we try to look up his time in college at North Carolina.

The only place to consider was Inside the NBA. But which one?

Honestly, we could have sat here all day laughing at some of the hilarious clips from the show - although a majority of them center around Charles Barkley. But in the name of getting some other work done today, we decided that when it comes to The Jet, why not show how high he can fly?

Or not.

Stan Van Gundy Thinks David Stern Is A Dictator

The Orlando Magic will take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night without Dwight Howard. The All-Star center is, by rule, forced to sit out one game after receiving his 16th technical foul of the season on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls. If that doesn't sit well with Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, he's not saying...or is he?

From the Orlando Sentinel:

"I can't answer that," Van Gundy responded. "And I certainly can't have an opinion because David Stern, like a lot of leaders we've seen in this world lately, don't really tolerate other people's opinions or free speech or anything. So I'm not really allowed to have an opinion, so it's up to him. He decides. And he likes the system that he has."

Coaches like SVG and Phil Jackson have learned how to skirt the issue of criticizing the league without expressly criticizing the league - in this case, Van Gundy perhaps implying that David Stern shared some common traits with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Whether that's enough for Stern to hit Van Gundy in the wallet remains to be seen.

It's not the first time that SVG has stood up for his big man. Earlier in the season, Van Gundy said he believed the officials were picking on Superman. Even Kevin McHale admitted that the refs can sometimes be quick with the whistle when it comes to Howard. The fact remains that eventually Howard has to learn how handle being targeted by opposing team's defenses. Van Gundy argues that what happens to Howard on a nightly basis is akin to the average person running on a treadmill for 45 minutes while someone else comes by and hits them in the head three times at random.

The problem with that argument is that Dwight Howard is not the first big man in league history to take a beating from other teams. Going back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain all the way to Shaquille O'Neal, any dominant big man with free throw line issues found himself getting karate chopped by opponents late in close game situations. The solution has always been the same - either get the player off the floor or get him to up the free throw percentage. Otherwise, teams will continue to scheme the same way.

That being said, any day we can get a good Stan Van Gundy rant is a pretty good one.

Get the latest on New Era Radio via Twitter...

Monday's Birthday Shout-Out: Lynn Swann Goes Head Over Heels

Hall of Famer and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann was known for his feats of athleticism on the football field. So it stands to reason that he would have been a standout in that bastion of 1970s television - The Superstars.

Sporting a lopsided afro and a 'stache that would make the hippest hipster proud, Swann smoked a British track athlete named David Hemery - who looks a bit like former Monty Python cast member Eric Idle with a mustache.

Swann didn't win the competition that year (it went to a soccer player named Kyle Rote, Jr.) but NFL players had a pretty good run during the 28 years the show ran on American television, winning 13 times. Of course, Swann has gone on to television broadcasting and politics - including an unsuccessful run for Pennsylvania governor in 2008. 

Apparently not wanting to stray too far from football, he also has an ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Power of the revamped Arena Football League, who play their inaugural game on Friday against Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul. Word is, the Power's championship hopes are living on a prayer.

Okay, I'll stop now.

Get more of New Era Radio on Twitter!

Lakers, Clippers To Block Kings Move To Anaheim?

Last week, we mentioned the Sacramento Kings proposed move to Anaheim and wondered whether or not the two teams currently playing in Southern California would have anything to say about it.

According to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, they do:

The move to Anaheim will be opposed by the Lakers and Clippers, who see it as an encroachment on their territory. But sources close to the Maloofs say they're willing to pay the two L.A. teams whatever it takes to relocate. That would be in addition to the league's relocation fee of $30 million.

Neither the Lakers nor the Clippers have given any indication on how much it will take for them to allow the Kings to settle into Orange County. Whatever the initial number is, you can expect the always avaricious Donald Sterling to bump that number up. Even so, the Maloofs already have an offer to help with paying the added costs thanks to billionaire Henry Samueli, who owns both the Anaheim Ducks and the Honda Center where the Kings propose to play.

If Samueli believes this show of generosity will help him get a piece of the club, he'll have to rethink that. The Maloofs have said that they have no intention of selling the club, even a portion of it.

Fans in Sacramento have done their best to show support for the club in hopes of keeping them in the Capital City, but most news outlets (and even the mayor) are resigned to the idea that they are losing the team. Ownership still has until April 18th to make a final decision and it must still be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. Plus, there's still that pesky little detail of a lockout and how it would affect any franchise moves.

(H/T ProBasketballTalk)

Episode 19: Digging In

On this week's winning episode...we drop some gnarlyisms over Spring Training and the Combine; deploy our ordinances on the BYU Honor Code; sail across the winds of the NFL and NBA universes and read behind the hieroglyphics of Kim Kardashian's new single.

Oh and we talk about Charlie Sheen.

Sunday Reading: Will the NCAA Make An Example of Oregon?

Sandwiched in between the minute-by-minute updates of the NFL's labor negotiations, breakdown of the BYU Honor Code and the start of college basketball's conference tournaments have been reports that the NCAA is showing an interest in the recruiting practices for the University of Oregon's football program.

Just in case you hadn't heard - and considering most of America's media has been swimming in Charlie Sheen's Tiger Blood all week, it's understandable - the short version of the story is that Oregon paid $28,000 to two men with close ties to a pair players who committed to the school. The university says the money was paid for recruiting services, including video tapes of the players. You can read about it in-depth here.

Oregon has been forthcoming about its payment of the middle men involved in the story. Since the expenditures can be found on the state's website, it's pretty hard to deny it. On the surface it all looks pretty shady, but whether any NCAA rules were broken isn't clear.

But as George Schroeder of the Register-Guard points out, this could be the beginning of some uncertain times in Eugene.

When it comes to the NCAA, this isn’t so much about hammering Oregon. The Ducks have simply provided the opening the NCAA has been waiting for: the chance to send a message about the expanding influence of street agents in football recruiting.

At best, Oregon is guilty of nothing more than being bad comparison shoppers. Anyone involved in any aspect of college recruiting (or just anyone with good sense) will tell you that paying $25,000 for tapes is ludicrous. But financial irresponsibility isn't necessarily against NCAA rules.

What is against the rules is paying someone considered to be a street agent to funnel athletes to your institution. In the worst case scenario, that's what Oregon could be found guilty of. It's a possibility that gains legitimacy when the mother of one of the players in question expresses concern that the man her son considered a friend and mentor was paid by the school he eventually chose.

In between the two extremes is a large, murky Purgatory of NCAA investigation. As Schroeder points out (and as any USC fan can tell you), it's hard for any athletic department to hold up under deep NCAA scrutiny. Even if Oregon is cleared of any of these latest recruiting issues, what else might come up in a deep investigation.

But there is another issue at work. The scourge of street agents and AAU coaches has left a stain on college basketball recruiting and appears to be spreading to football. As such, the NCAA believes it has a chance to nip the problem in the bud. That could mean bad news to the people in Eugene (and College Station, Clemson and elsewhere). If there is a touch of impropriety, does the infraction committee drop the hammer on the schools involved?

This time, Lyles delivers NCAA's full attention

With the ongoing investigation into Cam Newton's recruitment to Auburn (and other places), the potential of having the BCS runner-up under scrutiny is the last thing college football needs.

Virginia Tech Loses $1.6 Million On The Orange Bowl

Earlier this week, the University of Connecticut released figures showing it lost in the neighborhood of $1.7 million on its trip to the Fiesta Bowl in January after having to eat the cost of more than two-thirds of their allotment of game tickets.

Turns out they weren't alone.

Dan Wetzel on the Death to the BCS blog reported on Friday that Virginia Tech took an even bigger bath with its trip to the Orange Bowl.

Total expenditures ran $3,343,689. The ACC, like most conferences, pools all its teams bowl revenue and then pays out the money in an effort to allow teams attending smaller bowls to potentially break even. The listed bowl share for Va Tech was just $1,725,000.

So it wasn't bad enough that the Hokies lost badly to Stanford. They lost badly at the bank as well, to the tune of more than $1.6 million. At least it turned out better than VaTech's 2009 Orange Bowl bid in which the school fielded at $2.2 million shortfall.

In addition to ticket guarantees, schools are forced to pay for tickets even for their marching bands, regardless of whether the game is sold out or not. They are also mandated by bowl organizers to purchase blocks of expensive hotel rooms for expressed periods of time. Yet while the schools must pay face value for the tickets ($255 a pop), the secondary market offered huge blocks of tickets for around $50 each - some for even less.

When UConn's numbers were released, people pointed to the team's lackluster season, winning a weak Big East Conference then asking their fans to fly all the way across the country from Connecticut to Phoenix for a bowl game. But Virginia Tech had a successful season, winning 11 straight games and earning the conference title in the competitive ACC before taking a relatively short flight to Miami for the bowl game. Yet the school and the conference had to buy back more than half of the 17,500 tickets it was allotted to sell to fans.

It's easy (and actually kinda fun) to point at the big, bad bowl organizers who perpetuate the on- and off-field madness of the BCS. But it takes more than old guys in loud colored blazers to keep this traveshamockery going. The universities involved are complicit as well because they keep backing up to the pay window every year - even if they're making more deposits than withdrawals.

Which really makes it amazing that college presidents - allegedly intelligent men and women - continue to allow this to happen. If a Virginia Tech business student were to propose that a company align itself with an industry that continually bleeds even its most successful organizations, that person would be advised to find a new major. But somehow, the "grownups" in this conversation won't object to losing massive sums of money on a yearly basis.

In the meantime, the investigation into the alleged improper dealings of Fiesta Bowl organizers continues. So far, the Orange Bowl remains untouched by the rumors of corruption. But it's easy to imagine that someone is already digging to see if similar indiscretions exist. Until then, you can expect your favorite school to continue hemorrhaging money at the hands of college football's backward postseason.

Kevin Johnson: Anaheim is where the Kings want to be

This wasn't how Kevin Johnson wanted to spend his 45th birthday. The former Cal and NBA star who became Sacramento's first African-American mayor addressed reporters on Wednesday about the likelihood of the Kings moving to the Honda Center in Anaheim. Early on in his remarks, Johnson acknowledged that team owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were very interested in moving the team to Orange County, but Johnson stressed that no deal had been completed yet and the city was doing everything it could to keep the team in the state capital.

The full press conference is below. H/T to News10.net...

The Kings' potential move is just the latest in a slew of issues Johnson's deal with since being elected in 2008. Johnson's campaign platform included attempts to improve the city's school system and reduce crime while dealing with budget issues (like so many other cities). Unfortunately it appears that in this instance, Johnson and the city of Sacramento are fighting a losing battle since Anaheim has one thing that Sacramento doesn't - an updated arena.

It also doesn't bode well for the city that the Maloofs are unwilling to provide a local arena exploratory committee with financial documents that could help determine the viability of a new arena in Sacramento. Kings ownership has also been unwilling to meet with the group.

Surprisingly, Lakers' owner Jerry Buss and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling have remained quiet on the subject of another team moving into their backyard. The Lakers wouldn't have nearly as much to worry about since their popularity in the market is well established, although they'd likely lose a small portion non-Laker NBA fans who would likely have a better chance to see the league's marquee teams in Orange County than they would at Staples Center.

But Sterling who has learned how to make several hundred million without even trying to field a competitive team should be very concerned that a team in Anaheim could seriously erode his fanbase. It might even force him to *gasp* treat players like Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon well in an effort to keep them around long-term. However, it wouldn't be surprising if Sterling turns into the ultimate NBA NIMBY very soon. Considering he's already reportedly punked David Stern at least once, there's no reason to believe Sterling won't try to flex on the Commish again.

Charlie Sheen Cologne Commercial

Charlie Sheen knows how to markek.

this day is sports history..Larry Doby is HOF

People often forget that Larry Doby who on this day was inducted to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1998, was the 1st black person to play in the American League. He gets looked over because Jackie Robinson broke the the color barrier before he did.

Doby was signed by the Cleveland Indians by their owner Bill Veeck in 1947, eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National League. In his rookie season, Doby hit 5-for-32 in 29 games.

During the 1997 season, when the long-departed Jackie Robinson's number 42 was being retired throughout baseball, and the still-living Larry Doby was being virtually ignored by the media, an editorial in Sports Illustrated pointed out that Doby had to suffer the same indignities that Robinson did, and with nowhere near the media attention and implicit support

In 1948, Doby became an important piece of Cleveland's World Series victory against the Boston Braves. In Game Four of the 1948 Fall Classic, Doby became the first black player to hit a home run in World Series history. He also helped the Indians to win 111 games and the American League pennant in 1954.

Thursday's Birthday Shout-Out: Herschel Walker, The Endzone Stalker

Herschel Walker is a freak of nature. 6-foot-1, 225 pounds with an uncommon (and almost unfair) combination of speed and strength, to watch him succeed as a mixed martial arts fighter would lead you to believe that he was born for the sport. It stands as testament to Walker's athleticism, desire and steadfastness.

Not bad for a guy who says he eats one meal a day.

Walker dominated the college game from the moment he first stepped on the field at the University of Georgia. By the time he left Athens, he was one of the most decorated college football players ever, having been a three-time All-American, a Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy winner and being a major contributor to a national championship team as a freshman. Walker remains the only college football player ever to finish in the top three in Heisman voting every year of his career.

Sadly, his NFL career could never match his collegiate work. Part of the reason is he played for coaches who weren't quite sure how to use him. Part of it was that after his college career, the expectations placed on him were gargantuan. Those expectations only got bigger after the Minnesota Vikings gave away the store to acquire him in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings gave up five players and six draft picks (three of which turned into Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland and Darren Woodson) which led to the Cowboys' resurgence in the 1990s.

But Walker's pro career wasn't a total letdown. Herschel's time in the USFL was nearly as spectacular as his time at Georgia. Playing for Donald Trump's New Jersey Generals in 1985, Walker ran for 2,411 yards - a single season pro football rushing record that still stands. Enjoy the record breaking run...and the cheesy ESPN graphics.

Charlie Sheen keeps winning, homers at Dodger Stadium

For everyone sick of Charlie Sheen...here's more Charlie Sheen!

While I'm becoming increasingly convinced that he's playing most everyone for fools - I do believe he has cocaine addiction issues, just not that he's as insane as he wants everyone to believe - I have to admit there are some things about the guy that are pretty badass.

Take this 2007 promo for DirecTV that Sheen filmed at Dodger Stadium. Reliving his days as a high school shortstop and pitcher, ol' Carlos Estevez tested the limits of Chavez Ravine...all while dressed as Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn.

That's definitely what I call winning!

(H/T USA Today)

Wednesday's Birthday Shout-Out: Big Ben Plans a Career Move?

With the clock ticking down toward the expiration of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, some NFL players are trying to figure out what they'll do if there's no football in the fall.

Considering the recent offseason allegations that seem to chase Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger like a sack-hungry defensive end, you wonder how he'll cope with not having his days occupied from August to January. Although I have it on good authority that after his last go 'round with the legal system, Ben stocked up on DVDs and BluRay discs for perpetual Blockbuster Nights.

But beyond that, it appears Roethlisberger has spent some time trying on a brand new bag.

He's got a better looking jumpshot than Shawn Mario. But should we tell him the NBA is probably headed for a lockout, too?

Tuesday's Birthday Shout-Out: Chris Webber Gets Gangsta

I am not rational when it comes to Chris Webber. I owned his Golden State Warriors #4 jersey during his rookie season and constantly mimicked his dunk over Charles Barkley.

I don't believe in role models...but you're mine!

There was no denying that Webber was the natural heir to the Run TMC throne that was going to take the W's to the next level. Then when he feuded with Don Nelson and forced the team to trade him to the Washington Bullets. From that moment, everything bad that happened to the Warriors I laid at his feet.

• Don Nelson's deepening into madness.
• Latrell Sprewell's pouting and eventual choke-out of P.J. Carlesimo.
• The bad draft picks (Todd Fuller with the 11th pick?!?)

When he made his return to Oakland midway through the 2007-08 season, my friends tried to convince me that it was time to let bygones be bygones and admit that Webber could probably helped the squad. I scoffed. That was the same argument that fooled me into rooting for Jim Druckenmiller. I felt vindicated when Webber retired after nine games. 

Over the years, continued Warriors front-office ineptitude have forced me to give up on my grudge against C-Webb. Losing Webber hurt the franchise, but the Warriors' suckitude is reaching Ruthian proportions. I've even let go of my jealousy over Webber dating my one-time celeb crush Tyra Banks now that we know Tyra's carrying more than a touch of krayzee. 

So instead of harboring bitterness and reliving The Timeout or something equally non-flattering, I instead bring you Chris Webber at the height of his powers - enjoying a gangsta's lifestyle with the help of Kurupt and several other recognizable rappers.

As far as athlete rap songs go, it's not bad. Do we need to revisit this?