I had an article due for the Register today so I didn't get to my regular entries, and before I knew it, all the other bloggers got to the stories that I wanted to cover. And all the posts that I thought would be unique are on the interweb.
Oh well, here is your lazy entry of the week:
Don't trash talk at the Olympics if you can't back it up. Great job keeping a American stereotype alive. [Yahoo!Sports]
Argentinean Women's soccer team joined Spanish athletes with the slant eye mockery of the Chinese athletes. China got the last laugh by beating them 2-0, racists. [Sky News]
The International Table Tennis Federation wants the women competitors to show a little more skin to attract a bigger audience. Sure, we all want to see women that look like men in more revealing clothing ... yummy. [Yahoo!Sports]
Mike Tyson has a brother in Tajikistan ... a boxer in the Olympics got disqualified for biting his opponent. Bonus points: Evander Holyfield was watching the fight. [SF Gate]
"This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen!" - Daniel Ruettiger in the movie Rudy.
Rudy's father said that upon entering Notre Dame Stadium in the movie.
The following is a list of what I would do in a year to make me say that (keep in mind I am leaving off events such as the World Cup, Olympics, other events that come around every few years, and events in other countries because the list would be too deep):
The Super Bowl: Easy pick. The mecca of all sporting events in the United States of America. Tickets are at absurd prices for the event and offers you a big party to partake in. And not just one party, but a week full of parties. Celebrities and former athletes would be all over town for the best sporting event of the year in America. What better way than to celebrate the biggest event for the most popular sport in America with celebrities, beers, and the best tailgating foods ever?
NCAA Basketball Final Four: March Madness. The biggest, and most exciting tournament of the year. America's basketball amateurs playing for the pride of their school, instead of a contract like the professional basketball players, in a 65-team tournament. Buzzer-beaters, upsets, cinderella stories, side-stories... the tournament has it all. Hell, even businesses suffer in work efficiency during that time of year because of the time spent on office brackets for the tournament.
Baseball stadiums: The World Series is an easy choice, but who knows if I would pick the championship-deciding game. So instead I am going to pick the stadiums I would want to attend.
Yankee Stadium: Of course I would have to do it by the end of this upcoming baseball season because their stadium is being torn down for a new facility. But I would love nothing better than to walk into the old and legendary Yankee Stadium. Monument park would be a must see on the day, and I would prefer to sit in the bleacher seats with the "bleacher creatures" with an opposing teams' jersey on.
So much history is in the stadium, and my life would not be complete without visiting the "house that Ruth built." I am saving up to go this year.
Wrigley Field: Ah Chicago. Anytime you think of Chicago you automatically think of Wrigley Field if you are a sports fan. Crazy wind patterns, the ivy laced outfield walls, Chicago dogs, bleacher babes, etc. One of the world's most recognizable stadiums is a definite must see for me. It was built in 1914 and the Cubs started playing there in 1916. Not only that, but it is surrounded by bars and restaurants to fatten me up before and after the game.
Fenway Park: Oldest stadium in Major League Baseball. The Green Monster. Chowda Heads and the possibility of punching them in their own house. I have a strong displeasure for the Boston Red Sox, but the stadium is legendary and would love to attend a game. Then leave immediately to have myself disinfected.
I could name a lot more MLB stadiums that I would like to attend, but those are the top three. Really though, the ultimate would be for a road trip with a stop at every MLB stadium.
The Masters: I have never attended a PGA Tour event, but know about the Green Jacket, and Tiger Woods. Plus I heard people get hammered all day long following the players. Oh, and I guess Augusta National is a great golf course.
The Kentucky Derby: Big hats, lots of celebrities, horse betting, and mint juleps.
Who cares about those things when you have the infield to party at? People getting drunk, women lowering themselves, mud fights, and of course port-a-potty racing.
Outdoor NHL Game: The first outdoor NHL game in the United States was played on New Years Day this year between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, and it looked like a damn good time. The game was a success ratings-wise and we will most definitely see it again in the near future.
Basketball Arenas: I would love to attend a Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals game, but here is a short list of the arenas I would want to see a game at...
Madison Square Garden: New York. Spike Lee. "Fire Thomas" chants. MSG is the arena that every player gets pumped up to play at. It brings out the best in all the players, well, except for the Knicks. But New York is considered to be one of the top basketball cities in the world. This is the first arena I would visit.
Boston Garden: Another choice for historical reasons. And I would prefer to see a game there when the Lakers were in town to face their old rival.
And that is about it. NBA arenas do not really carry the mystique of say, a football stadium carries.
Football stadiums (college and pro): Texas A&M - Kyle Field: Many rank this stadium as having the best atmosphere in all of college football. Not based on the stadium alone, but for the whole atmosphere leading up to game day.
Notre Dame Stadium: Again an easy choice based on tradition, but would love to see an USC game there.
I also would have put the home of USC, the L.A. Coliseum, but have already been there and done that. Tailgating was great, the stadium legendary, and the after-parties bountiful. Plus, you can never go wrong by downing ghetto-dogs on the SC campus while carrying your drunk friend proclaiming, "this is what happens when SC fans drink!" all with UCLA apparel on.
Green Bay Packers - Lambeau Field: With Favre starting the game... and with snow coming down. The legendary field was voted number one in game day atmosphere and fan experience by a Sports Illustrated online poll.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Heinz Field: $4 16-oz beers. Enough said. What the hell. I thought the Angels Stadium beer prices were cheap. Mustard-colored seats and Terrible Towels waving all game long.
Indianapolis Colts - RCA Dome: Rest in peace. I would have loved to attend a game at the loud RCA Dome, but the last game was played in it after the early exit from the playoffs this year by the Colts. That just means I have to attend a game at their new home, the Lucas Oil Stadium.
While out to dinner the other night ago, my lady's roommate was talking about the "yellow line" on the football field during the games that marked the first down line. She said that when she was younger she did not know where it came from, or how it worked, because it just came out of nowhere.
The next day I ran into an article regarding the yellow line and realized she was completely right. It did come out of nowhere.
The system was first introduced in an ESPN Sunday night football game in the fall of '98. It wasn't announced ahead of time. When we did the hockey puck, it had been announced by Fox as 'the greatest innovation in the history of mankind.' And of course people thought, 'What about the wheel?' The first-down line just went on the air. There was no pre-announcement at all. It really did look like it was just yellow chalk on the glass. The journalists were absolutely stunned, saying, 'How the heck did they do that?' They were wondering 'Do they vacuum it up when they're done?' In the beginning it would take a 50-foot truck full of computers to do it. Now it's down to a box of equipment the size of an apartment refrigerator.
Stan Honey, the person who developed the "yellow strip," describes how it works:
The way it works is that we have accurate sensors on all the cameras so we're able to measure the pan, tilt, zoom, focus of each of the broadcast cameras. If you go to a sporting event and look below every camera you'll see a gold box that has the Sportvision logo on it. That's the sensor. We also characterize the distortion of the lens and we have to measure the crown of the field. We know where the first-down line is because that is entered by an operator. Given all that information, we compute where that line should appear. The electronic yard line has to lie perfectly parallel to all the regular yard lines to preserve the illusion that it's on the grass.
The dude should get lifetime tickets to every football game in America and free Pabst Blue Ribbon.
I salute you Stan Honey, and so does the rest of the football world.
I am a big fan of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and especially of Carl on the show. And if he says the BCS sucks, then you better listen. Oh wait, according to him it stands for "Boston Can Suck It," only a genius like Carl would think of that. I am stealing that.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been challenged to a fight by Herschel Walker, and he wants no part of it.
"How much guts do you have?" Walker said. "Step in a ring with me, and then we'll see."
As he was read Herschel Walker's physical challenge to him, a smile crept across Steve Spurrier's face.
"And you expect me to respond to that?" the South Carolina coach asked a couple of reporters Wednesday night. "And y'all actually listen to that?"
The challenge from Walker comes after Spurrier said that he would've sent a "third-team guy in there to wrestle with" Georgia players to induce suspensions. He made that comment in response to Georgia players' celebration after a touchdown against Florida last month.
Spurrier later said he was joking, but Walker, a former Georgia Bulldog, did not find it funny.
Come on Walker, you know you do not pick fights with the little guys if you are your size. Look at me, why do you think I never get into fights? No one wants to brag about beating up a little guy.
Spurrier getting into the ring with Walker would be like me getting into the ring with Kimbo:
Okay I may have jumped the gun by posting this on Thursday, but you need ample time to plan your weekend accordingly. You can thank me later.
Friday, which is technically not the weekend, but you can kick off your shoes without work on your mind. So here you go:
Detroit Pistons @ Orlando Magic, 7:00 PM ET Although this may not be on TV in your area (find a nice bar that has access to it), this is a great matchup because it has the veteran-savvy Pistons facing the upstart Magic. Yes, it is early in the NBA season but the "W" in the column has the same effect in April. The Pistons are going to have their hands full with Magic center Dwight Howard, the man-child. The guy is the next coming of Shaq, he is a BEAST. His game is getting better and better as he is practiced on his jump shot over the summer.
This will be a nice early test for the Magic to compare themselves to a top-tier team in the East. I like the Magic's chances with Jameer Nelson and newly-acquired Rashard Lewis there to help Howard.
MLS: FC Dallas @ Houston Dynamo, 8:30 PM ET, Western Conference Semifinal series Hey, there are soccer fans out there that watch the American version.... oh nevermind, watch Euro soccer.
Saturday, all College Football: Arizona State @ Oregon Ducks, 6:40 PM ET, ESPN #4 and #5 teams in the nation battling it out for their Pac-10 championship lives. Arizona St. is 8-0 under first-year coach Dennis Erickson, and Oregon is 7-1 after defeating USC last week. In my personal opinion, the Pac-10 is the best conference in the nation right now. We can argue about the Pac-10/SEC conferences over a couple of brews.
LSU @ Alabama, 5:00 PM ET, CBS Nick Saban will be facing his former team and is looking to spoil LSU's aspirations for a national title. This will be a good one.
Rutgers @ UConn, 7:15 PM ET, ESPNU Upset special of the week. UConn is ranked 13th and is 3-0 in Big East play. Rutgers are crashing the party this week.
Sunday: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 PM ET, NBC Blah blah blah. NFC East. Owens back in Philly. Romo got a new contract. Cool.
New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts, 4:15 PM ET, CBS No doubt this game has been jammed down your throat this week. As it should be. This is the best rivalry in the NFL right now, and this will be the game that decides who gets to play at home in the AFC Championship game when the two face each again in the playoffs. Each team is kissing each other's ass right now, and looking for the edge to pump each other up. Anakin Skywalker v. Obi Won Kenobi (Brady-Manning). Emperor Palpatine v. Samuel L. Jackson bitch! Mace Windu (Belichick-Dungy).
This is the first of three Super Bowls we are getting to watch this season. The second will be when the two battle it out in the AFC Championship game. And the third and final will be when one of these teams beats up on whoever comes out of the NFC. More on this game in my NFL Week 9 picks.
Monday, to cure those "Monday blues": Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN A nice hangover remedy from the big Sunday game going on at 4:15 PM ET on CBS. Did you hear about that game? This Monday night game will provide a good background distraction while you are talking about Sunday's game between, I think it is, the Colts and Pats? But seriously, this is an important game between these AFC North teams.
University of South Florida and their pretty fans are heartbroken today after being upset by Rutgers last night, 30-27. (Mental note to self: get to more college football games! I need a seat next to her.)
It is not fun to be at the top of the college football rankings this year, as the Bulls continued the trend of top-10 teams losing to unranked teams this year. Look for the Bulls to drop out of the top-10 in the BCS rankings.
There are still five undefeated teams in college football (BCS rankings in parentheses): Ohio State (1), Boston College (3), Arizona State (8), Kansas (13) , and Hawaii (18).
The parody in college football has made for an exciting season so far this year. I say Ohio State loses to Penn State, or dare I say, Michigan? Hold me to that.
Games to watch:
Auburn @ LSU. #17 Auburn v. #4 LSU in an SEC matchup. Both teams are 3-1 in conference play this season. ESPN, 9:00 PM ET.
Florida @ Kentucky. Another SEC matchup #15 v. #7. Kentucky has a 20-game losing streak to Florida. CBS, 12:30 PM ET.
USC @ Notre Dame. Oh wait, there is no hype going into this game? What is that I hear? The bandwagon SC fans looking for their next wagon to hop on? Yes, yes. Run, run. SC is losing at least two more games this season. Bore yourself at 12:30 PM ET on NBC.
Cal @ UCLA. Ah, I kid, I kid. This is going to be a laugher. McLeod Bethel-Thompson will probably get the start at QB for the Bruins; close your eyes during this one kids. He threw four interceptions when they played Notre Dame two weeks ago. UCLA, say goodbye to that undefeated conference record. ABC, 12:30 PM ET.
So have your remote in hand because there are plenty of games to watch at the same time. That or get the cute bartender girl to reach up and change the channel (note: attire of the girl must include a skirt).
That is exactly what this Arkansas Razorbacks fan is doing in protest of the current coaching staff. This video is the third installment of his protest in which he destroys four tickets for each home game of the Razorbacks.
A bit too fanatical if you ask me. I sometimes catch myself getting too caught up in sports, but then again it is a nice escape and is always nice to love something so much.
The problem with trying to "protest" a team is that there will always be fans willing to attend, or pay for a game, in the place of the protesting fans.
Pac-10 football, specifically Los Angeles Pac-10 football teams, played wonderfully today.
UCLA felt bad for Charlie Weis and Notre Dame, so they decided to lose to the Fighting Irish 20-6. The Bruins were favored by 22 1/2 points going into the game.
It was Notre Dame's first win on the year. The outcome may have been different had starting QB Ben Olson not been knocked out of the game late in the first quarter. Walk-on redshirt freshman QB, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, replaced Olson. He had not thrown a pass in a college game.
The good news for the Bruins is that the game was a non-conference matchup, keeping their Pac-10 record at 3-0.
The lovable USC Trojans lost at home, snapping a 35-game home winning streak, to the juggernaut that is the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal were 41-point underdogs.
Well, John David Booty can kiss any hope of winning a Heisman trophy goodbye. Booty threw four interceptions on the day, including one at the 2:53 mark in the fourth quarter that led to Stanford's winning drive.
It may be early, but this loss could cost USC the opportunity to win the Pac-10 conference. And hopefully this loss will make the bandwagon fans of USC disappear. They know who they are; snooty and obnoxious, acting like their bum does not stink.
Unfortunately this will be said all over the media now: Pac-10 football is no where close to the SEC football.
You might say that. I think a better way to say it is: uncalled for, or maybe just plain stupid. But the best way to put it is: no place in this world for that type of action.
What I am talking about is the incident that took place at Henry Hudson's Pub on June 17 between a Oklahoma Sooners fan and Texas Longhorns fan.
So a Sooners fan grabbed a Longhorns fan in the crotch causing a wound that required 60 stitches, why? Because, "you do not wear a Longhorns shirt in OU country"?
Wow. Do the Sooners really mean that much to you? I know a lot of us live and die by sports, but do we really need to destroy mankind because of a football team? The players and coaches appreciate the support of the team, but I know they would not condone those types of actions.
I like to heckle. I normally shout something funny at the opposing players to make the other fans laugh. But I watch myself. I admit, in the past I was kind of reckless. A cuss word would slip out of my mouth here and there, and that is not welcome in the stands.
I even mess with the opposing fans. I will boo them and tell them to go back to where their team is from. Or, if they are sitting several rows in front of me, I will make fun of them, but when they walk to the bathroom/food stands I will smile and pat them on the back. It is all in good fun.
It is sad to see stories like this because it takes the fun out of competition. When I get a little crazy for my teams I remind myself of A Bronx Tale with Robert DeNiro and Chazz Palminteri. In the movie Palminteri's character tells the young boy that the Yankees do not care about his problems, so why care about them?
Later in the movie, the boy's father (DeNiro) has this line:
Lorenzo: The other night he threw away his baseball cards because he said Mickey Mantle wouldn't pay our rent.
Sooner fan, are the Sooners going to pay your lawyer fees and bail you out of jail?
