There was a time when the St Louis Rams were one of the most exciting teams in the NFL, otherwise known as the Greatest Show on Turf. Unfortunately for Rams fans, these days have come and gone; only to be replaced by high draft picks, a MASH unit of injuries, the death of the owner who was on board when the Rams beat the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, and other various setbacks.
Of course, the most glaring hurdle has been the injuries. Last season alone, the Rams had a number of key players on IR, including Orlando Pace, Leonard Little and Dante Hall. Making matters worse, Pace wasn't the only Rams offensive lineman on the IR list. Because Marc Bulger was working with such a patchwork o-line he spent a lot of time on his back as he was sacked 37 times in only 12 appearances; over three times a game.
Because of these beatings, Bulger also spent some time on the injury pile. When he did get to play, he wasn't as effective as seasons past, throwing more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (11). Obviously, the injury-riddled offensive line played a large role.
Unfortunately for Rams fans, the injuries didn't stop there. In fact, the bright spot for the moribund Rams last season was Torry Holt, who performed quite admirably (93 receptions, 1,189 yards, seven touchdowns) considering the circumstances.
Fast forward to 2008.
The Rams had a good draft, selecting Chris Long from Virginia with their first pick. Long, son of NFL on Fox's Howie Long, is expected to solidify a defense that lost its identity last season. Ram fans are hoping Long and a healthy (there's that word again) Leonard Little can apply copious amounts of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, rushing the quarterback is not enough. Last season, the Rams gave up 27.4 points a game. If they expect to show any improvement, this number has to come down exponentially.
Granted, the injuries had a lot to do with the scoring differential, but the fact remains -- you can't give up almost 30 points a game and expect to win in the NFL.
On offense, if the Rams -- say it with me -- stay healthy, they have some weapons and could certainly cause trouble for opposing defenses and coaches. This, of course, starts with Marc Bulger and the offensive line. If he's protected, he can throw the ball as well and as accurately as guys named Brady and Manning.
The same health caveat comes with Steven Jackson. After a brilliant 2006 season, Jackson regressed some last year. One of the culprits in Jackson's regression was injuries, believe it or not. Like his quarterback, Jackson missed five games last season, which probably explains why he held out at the start of training camp.
No point in getting a permanent injury if the team isn't taking care of you financially.
On the receiving side of things, Torry Holt is the biggest name on the Rams roster, and with good reason. Even though last year was a debacle for St. Louis, Holt still had a Pro Bowl-worthy season. However, he cannot be the only passing threat if the Rams want to improve and that's why they drafted receivers Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton. Both are expected to contribute and with Torry Holt drawing the bulk of the opposing secondary's attention, they will have a good chance to do so.
St Louis also addressed offensive line depth by drafting two 300-pounders, John Greco and Roy Schuening. I'm guessing the sight of Bulger on his back because of injuries got really old.
Chris Long and other new faces aside, the Rams season essentially comes down to this simple fact -- if they want to be successful and knock Seattle off the top of NFC West, they need to see less of this:
and more of this:
With that in mind, I'll leave with two predictions -- if the Rams can stay, well, you know -- while avoiding season-long injuries, they could very well go 10-6 and challenge the Seahawks for the division title. However, if the injury bug shows its head again, last year's 3-13 record could easily repeat itself.
It was supposed to be a coming out party for Tyson Gay. It was an opportunity to compete for the "World's Fastest Man" title. Gay arrived on the Olympic scene with so much promise after smoking Asafa Powell in Japan. The hype was briefly lowered after he was surprisingly beaten by an unknown Insane Bolt in May, which, incidentally, was the same race Bolt broke the world record for the first time.
In June, however, Gay ran a wind-aided 9.68, which signified to many he was ready to challenge Bolt on the world stage and help lead the American sprinters back to glory.
About a month before Beijing, Gay hurt his hamstring -- one of the most important muscles to sprinters -- while trying to qualify for the 200. Right then, the omen of a potentially disastrous Olympics for Gay should have been recognized. However, Gay addressed these fears by saying his hammy was 100% -- obviously not the case after watching Gay fail to even qualify for the 100-meter final.
From that point on, it's been all Usain Bolt. All the adulation and recognition went to the Jamaican sprinter with the mega-watt personality and rightfully so. When you do things on the track that hasn't been done since names like Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens, you deserve all the attention you get.
Sadly, this could've been Tyson Gay. In fact, to some, it was supposed to be.
Gay had one more shot at some Olympic redemption with the 4x100 meter relay, but after dropping the baton in the qualifying round, he, once again, was denied an opportunity to even medal. What was supposed to be a coming out party turned into a funeral wake.
Now, I'm not saying a healthy Gay would or could beat Bolt at these Olympics. I just wish he had the opportunity to try. The sprinter who is capable of running like this (wind or no):
Is capable of at least giving Bolt a race and if Gay didn't win gold, silver ain't too bad -- especially when that makes you the second fastest person in the world.
Could the American 4x1 relay team beat the Jamaican World Record-breaking team from this morning? Who knows, but it would've been nice to see Gay and company get the opportunity to see for themselves.
As for Gay, he turned 26 at the beginning of August, meaning he probably won't get another chance at individual Olympic gold after Beijing. He might get another shot at the 4x100 in 2012, but it's doubtful he'll be running the anchor. Also, it's important to remember Usain Bolt will be 26 in 2012, which puts him directly in his prime, so who knows what kind of times he'll be posting by then.
No, for Lexington, Kentucky native, the Olympic Games are a failure and that, my friends, is one of the sadder stories to come out of Beijing. Yes, he'll get some redemption shots at various future meets, but they certainly won't have the same kind of luster as the Olympics, even if it's a Bolt-versus-a-healthy-Gay situation.
Sometimes, even all the natural talent in the world isn't enough. Luck and health play as big of a part and if you don't believe me, just ask Tyson Gay.
Like most men, a large portion of my Olympic viewing is dedicated to watching the attractive members of the opposite sex prepare and perform in the Games; not to mention everything else that goes along with it. Since the modern era of the Games began (let's say the 1990s), female athletes are more and more comfortable using their sexuality to promote their participation.
Take Amanda Beard for example. She's parlayed her Olympic fame into an appearance in Playboy and earlier this week, Beard unveiled a new PETA poster, denouncing the fur trade. Of course, she's completely naked, but it's the message that's important, right?
Anyway, the highlight, hottie-wise, of these Olympics has/had to be the Feres twins from Brazil. These two sisters of synchronized swimming are so ridiculously hot, it's probably a crime in some states. The sad news is, the twins will not be competing in the Olympics (via With Leather), much to the dismay of synchronized swimming/hot twins fans everywhere.
Oh well. At least the guys have Olympic Volleyball ass to look at. Stephanie Rice ain't too bad either. To help commiserate their absence, here's another picture of the beautiful ladies in all their glory.
More Feres twins for your Friday viewing pleasure here and here.
Picking up where Sooze, Andrew and Scott left off, we have some more Brett Favre goodness to discuss.
Apparently, EC is becoming your one-stop shop for all things Favre; however, when I was tipped about this upcoming topic by Andrew Graham, I just had to post. As the Favre story progresses, there are two distinct trains of thought from Packers fans:
1. Fully support the idea of the Packers front office bringing him back, so much so, it's turned into a burning desire waiting for the Return of the Favre.
2. This party is more like, "Hey Brett, quit the prima donna/needy bullshit and stop holding Packers fans hostage!" This point of view was expressed very well a couple of days ago right here at EC.
However, in spite of all the trade talks and the "please release me" cries from Favre, the Packers fans who want Ted Thompson to bite the bullet and bring Brett back have decided to remain silent no longer, thanks to the Bring Back Brett Favre campaign.
Here's the idea:
As long as Favre gives Green Bay the better chance to win this year he should be the QB…and I’ll take the all-time leader in touchdowns over an unproven rookie any day. Last year we were one win away from the Super Bowl….we won’t make it there with a rookie but we could in 08 with Favre.
Ted Thompson will hear from us if Brett isn’t the starting quarterback. If 5,000 people join in support of Favre, we will send 2 pieces of American Cheese to Ted Thompson. 2 American singles should fit conveniently into a normal envelop.
That has to be one of the most interesting protests I've witnessed. The mentality is this -- "Damn the petitions, let's send this bastard some cheese just so he knows who he's messing with."
Obviously, hell hath no fury like a Packers fan scorned.
If you feel like Ted Thompson let you down and you want to blast him with slices of stale cheese (I hope it has cheddar in it) that's been through the US Postal Service ringer, you now have such an outlet. Conversely, I wonder what recourse those who are tried of Farve's act have besides burning him in effigy...
You have to hand it to the Kansas City Chiefs front office. They certainly know how to make a stadium seem inviting to the fans. If it's not putting a substandard product on the field, it's offering hats to fans who have the intestinal fortitude to withstand the Chiefs over an eight-game schedule -- instead of making a commitment to improving the team.
However, their latest move takes the cake and eats it, too. Apparently, the brilliant minds that traded Jared Allen for a bag of peanuts believe the NFL is game best enjoyed from the seat of your pants.
In other words, NO STANDING in Arrowhead Stadium.
Wait, did I hear that right?
The Kansas City Chiefs are asking NFL fans in attendance -- people who have been known to actlikethis -- to stay in their seats during the game. Is this some kind of joke?
First, they entice with the Lamar Hunt hats to get you in the stadium (if you are season ticket holder), then, once you are in Arrowhead, they tell you to sit the f**k down and don't enjoy yourself. So wait, in order to get the hat, I have to have perfect attendance but in order to attend, I have to stay glued to my seat watching an inferior product trying to improve?
I guess that's the silver lining: it's doubtful Chiefs fans will have a great deal to cheer about this upcoming season -- unless, of course, they like Larry Johnson's use of decorative time pieces -- meaning there won't be many reasons to stand up.
On second thought, this new "no standing" rule fits the overall mood and outlook of the franchise. While the Glenn Dorsey pick generated some goodwill, does it really compensate for the loss of Jared Allen to the Vikings? Admittedly, Dorsey has the potential to be great; but Allen was already one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
No offense to Dorsey, but I'll take production over potential every time.
So Chiefs fans, here's what you have to look forward to in the fall -- Lamar Hunt hats (if you are season ticket person), inconsistent football, and an overbearing front office that's bound and determined to suck the life out of one of the best NFL environments available.
Bonus: if you are at a Chiefs game and actually support this rule and there are some anarchists who have the audacity to stand up and try to root their team on around you, you can always text message Arrowhead security and they will probably have those cads removed.
While most blogs are talking about Magic and Bird, Russell and Wilt, I thought I'd take a look at what's really important about the NBA Finals, which, of course, starts tonight. Instead of worrying about silly things like NBA history and who is going to win, I thought I'd ask this question about the second most recognizable face playing:
WTF is that on Kevin Garnett's finger?
I mean really. Is that some kind of overkill or did he hurt his knuckle so bad, he needs almost two inches of cushioning to protect it when he grabs rebounds and dunks?
Maybe he hurt his right ring finger when he was pounding his chest...
The first thing I thought is, "did he go to the Barry Bonds school of extremity protection?" It's not like he's been wearing that thing on his finger all season either.
So WTF, folks? I know what finger splints are as I am aware of finger sleeves, but I've never seen anything like this used for basketball player. In all honesty, it looks like it would hinder his shooting touch, although, all that excess padding does seem to stay over the top of his finger.
I'd hate to see what Garnett's shot would look like if the protective body kit for his finger rotated around to the palm-side of his hand. Maybe it would look something like this:
Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels the need to ask this question, although, I disagree with Yahoo Answers when it says the issue is resolved because the "finger sleeve" answer is not good enough.
If that is merely a finger sleeve on Garnett's hand, it's the freaking Super-Sized version. I'm wondering if someone grabbed it and pulled it off during a game, would his entire ring finger come off with it? If anyone has an explanation that goes beyond, "oh, it's only a finger sleeve," please let me know.
by Chris Richardson, Intentional Foul Because of the evil of sports blogging, we're now seeing a large amount of athletes and related backers appearing on the Internet doing stuff their superiors don't necessarily approve of.
From the revelations of the Arizona State cheerleaders getting kicked out to Matt Leinart's sexy party, one thing is sure, if you are going to have a sexy time, DON'T LET ANYONE TAKE PICTURES OF IT.
Do these people not understand where these pictures will end up and the potential grief they will cause them? Apparently not. Take the aforementioned Matt Leinart. During the NFL's off-season, he decides to have a party at his pad and a lot of sexy people were included (like the girl in the author's pic), including some that were supposedly underage.
Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm an NFL quarterback with a reputation to improve or uphold and I'm having a party of this type, I'd make DAMN SURE there was 300-pound bouncer at the door making DAMN SURE every one who came into my house left their picture-taking gadgets in their car.
Hell, I'd just go down to the local strip club and hire a couple of bouncers for the night to do just that. The question is why don't these multi-millionaire athletes think like this? Are they looking for trouble or are they just attention whores?
Who knows, maybe Leinart likes seeing pictures of himself with some underage women doing shit like this:
Whatever the case, we all know his boss, Ken Whisenhunt, sure didn't. Now, I'm not saying Leinart shouldn't be having sexy parties (well, maybe without the alleged underage attendants) but he damn sure shouldn't be giving every attendee an opportunity to take pictures either; pictures that will undoubtedly end up on the Intertubes.
In this age of MySpace, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube, being discrete never hurt anyone. In fact, it usually helps. Just ask the Arizona State cheerleading team. Because of pics like this:
There no longer IS an ASU cheerleading team (There is some confusion about this, but the point remains).
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for hot cheerleaders taking pictures of themselves in their underwear (or nothing at all, like little Miss IU cheerleader) but damn folks, use some discretion when you take and/or post these gems. While the male sports bloggers LOVE these pictures, they did nothing for you except get you into some trouble.
Was it worth it?
All I can say is Mark Chmura is DAMN LUCKY camera phones and digital cameras weren't the norm back during all of his troubles. Who knows, maybe he'd be in jail right now if the girls he was screwing around with were MySpace fans...
The bottom line is this, if you are going to get all sexy and/or hold a sexy party, make DAMN SURE no one has a camera. If they do, make sure they don't post those pictures in a public forum. It's really, really simple when you think about it.
Of course, these are pro athletes we are talking about and one thing we know for sure is, not all of them think.
We're all sports fans. If not, why would we be doing this? I mean, it's not like many of us are breaking the bank. So obviously, a love of sports has to prevail. Granted, we have a lot of good times talking about the absurdities in sports, but sometimes, the fans themselves deserve a good looking at.
Take for instance a group of fans residing in the Southeastern Conference. You know the one. They like to wear a lot of blue and identify heavily with Ashley Judd. Well, it seems a noticeable portion of this group doesn't like it when you talk badly (or incorrectly) about the school they support.
Just ask Davidson Head Coach, Bob McKillop.
Coach McKillop was asked about what separates teams like Davidson from the big boys and he responded with something along the lines of: "the Dukes, Carolinas and Kentuckys of the world, well, at least the Kentucky of old. They haven't had the same generation-to-generation success teams like Duke and Carolina have had." Now, his mistaken basketball knowledge aside (Davidson is a North Carolina school), I'm guessing he didn't think the Big Blue Nation would get a hold of his comments.
Well, they did. And boy, they were not happy about them either. And boy, did they respond. Not only did they eviscerate McKillop in the discussion thread, they also posted his email address. Needless to say, some enterprising Kentucky fans decided they'd drop the Davidson coach a line, telling him about error of his ways.
Yep, Kentucky fans emailed the coach of a mid-major to tell him just how great the Cats have been throughout history. And judging by McKillop's canned response, he got a lot of emails:
Kentucky is one of the legendary programs in basketball... NBA or NCAA. To do what they have done while going thru several coaching changes is extraordinary. It was my mistake not to clarify my thought that they have not done it with the same coach year after year after year since Adolph Rupp.
To win 3 titles in the past 30 years with 3 different coaches is incredible. It shows that Kentucky has great coaching, great players... and... an even greater program. Good luck in the NCAA's... you guys will be there... and advance.
Excessive ellipses aside, you can almost feel the "are you f***ing kidding me" oozing out of McKillop's pores. However, his response wasn't the best one. That little designation was reserved for poster GC-mafia who offered this gem:
This walking colostomy bag should go swallow a shot gun blast,while riding on the Hindienburg over a gasoline refinery next to a nuclear reactor surrounded by toxic shark infested waters protected by gangbangers with flee infested pit bulls that have rocky mtn feaver.
Did anyone tell him Davidson is a nothing nobody cast away school for loser propsects that got a weak schedule and plays it year in and year out. He couldnt snill Rupps underwear or lace Clydes shoes. He would cream his jeans for our rejects like Cory Sears and Caruth. Id rather play for Union College than to play for a 2nd tier program like davidson.
Tell them how you really feel, brother. Just in time for March Madness too.
Of course, these actions are no worse than the brilliance that follows NASCAR around. The fact a Toyota won an actual race seems to have made the good ole boy network quite unhappy.
And all the girlies say I'm pretty fly. For a white guy. - The Offspring
Ah, white people. The only race you can make fun of without having to go through ass-kissing apology episodes in order to regain acceptance in society. This applies to sports as well.
Could you imagine a movie called Black Men Can't Coach even getting a green light? Well, if you focus on Caucasians, you can make movies like White Men Can't Jump, which is fine.
While our brothers with the deeper melanin deposits perform at the NFL Combine with grace, strength, agility and speed, white guys, well, look pretty damn goofy:
Silly facial expressions aside, at least the non-McFadden participant didn't do what this upcoming genius did:
Of course, if would've had the rim at the regulation height, he wouldn't have hit his head... but then again, he wouldn't be able to dunk it. It's a paradox they call reality.
However, there are exceptions to the "white guys are funny when they do sports" rule. Just ask this pale-skinned fellow and his incredible display of jumping ability and hang time:
If you haven't noticed, I changed the title of this week's post a little in an effort to celebrate the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend, of which, you can consider me a fan. I love the dunk contest, the 3-point contest and the rookie/sophomore challenge because it does a great job of showcasing what it is that makes the NBA great: talented players showing off their abilities.
While the NBA may take a beating in popularity, I defy anyone to show me a skill level that trumps the Michael Jordans, Dominique Wilkinses, Vince Carters and Larry Birds of the world, but it's not only that. You must also find these competing skill-sets being displayed with the same flair the NBA provides.
Simple. You can't.
So with that, let's take a trip down memory lane and see some of the activities that made All-Star weekend so enjoyable.
'Nique versus Jordan Yes, the dunk-off that solidified the dunk contest's place on the map. These two aerial warriors displayed some of the best dunks ever in a contest not provided by Spud Webb or Vince Carter. Enjoy:
Speaking of Vinsanity, this little collection is just incredible. I only wish he'd play like that now.
Sorry for the bad James Bond theme thing going on in the background. I'll never understand why people feel the need to show their software manipulation abilities by putting horrible music over the top of great videos. It really cheapens the whole thing... but I digress.
Larry Legend's Finger Larry Bird announced his arrival at the 1987 Long Distance Shootout by asking the other participants who was coming in second place. And then he proceeded to back up his words with a sterling final round, capped by him holding his index finger in the air, announcing his dominance. Brilliant stuff:
Spud Webb Stands Tall In 1986, the 5-7 Spud Webb took the world by storm with his incredible display of jumping ability in the slam dunk contest. As the video tells you, no one expected Spud to do much at all, let alone compete (or win). Well, Spud answered the call. And then some.
Jordan's reaction at the 1:16 mark says it all.
Folks, it's videos like these that remind me of why I started loving the NBA to begin with. As long as we don't have any more Chris Andersen missing eight dunks in a row, we'll be alright. Of course, had the NBA never changed the rule to allow that many misses, this never would've been a problem.
Finally, in case you are wondering if the lack of star power will hurt in this year's dunk contest, I ask you to look no further than the Desmond Mason/Jason Richardson between the legs dunks of the 2003 contest... and I don't think either is in the same lineage as Jordan or Wilkins.
Enjoy the NBA All-Star festivities, which kick-off Friday on TNT.
"We're not here to cause no trouble, we're just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle." Such were the words of genius uttered by the 1985 Chicago Bears, who was probably the best modern team before this year's Patriots took the field.
In honor of this week's Giants/Pats match-up, I'm going to take a look at some things like the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and some other videos in the vein of what Jim "Superbad" McMahon provided. Wouldn't you love to see the Patriots and the Giants do something similar? I know I would... can't you just see Tom Brady with mirrored sunglasses saying something like, "I'm the funky QB that goes by Brady, when I hit the field all the ladies go crazy..."
Of course you would. Anyway, on with the stupid shit:
The Super Bowl Shuffle Yes, this is probably the most famous of all the team-related music videos and rightfully so. The planning and execution displayed here is borderline genius and should be acknowledged as such. The style, sophistication and class on display here has NEVER been matched by any other musical performance... except for maybe the 84 49ers, but I'll get to that in a moment.
On a serious note, it is nice to see Sweetness do his thing here. Too bad Ditka let Refrigerator Perry take Payton's rushing touchdown... You know, because Super Bowls are such commonplace occurrences. Again, I'm not sure if the genius on display here has ever been matched, except, by this maybe:
The 1984 San Francisco 49ers Can Bring It Too This little ditty actually preceded the Bears' brilliance and helped pave the way for an era of music videos that died entirely too soon, as you will see. Words cannot describe what you are about to see, so just sit back and enjoy it:
At the 1:32 mark on the above video, Jerry Rice comes in and demonstrates he had other talents to fall back on if that receiver thing ever died out on him. Unfortunately for us, that never happened so we won't know just how great a rapper he would've been.
Bonus: Ronnie Lott. Rapping. That's all that needs to be said.
Rule No. 1: Before Making A Super Bowl vid, Get to the Super Bowl Just ask the 86 Raiders, who delivered this upcoming gem. The thing that stands out to me is Howie Long's portion. Just what the hell is going on here? Who knew? Anyway, you have to admire the production value here, but before you make such a song, perhaps you should wait until you are a little closer to your goal...
If I was Fox, I would use Howie's portion to lead into their NFL Pregame show. Every time. You just don't get quality like this anymore and that's why I'm putting out a call for the winner of SB 42 to bring this trend back. It is a moral imperative that these types of songs do not flicker out like a candle's flame. These must live on.
Again, how many of you wouldn't jump at the opportunity to see Eli rapping about being the Giants QB and perhaps even being funky about it? I know all you would, so don't try to lie. Anyway, this is good stopping point for me, but before I go, I'll leave you with one of the best Super Bowl commercials ever. And by best, I mean "hottest."
YEAAAAAAAAAH!!! And on that note, I'll see you next week.
Apparently, the freaks come out when playoff football is afoot. Be it overzealous fans (is there such a thing when a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line?) or players that don't know when to shut-up, there's always something that catches the eye... in a stupid shit sort of way.
And wouldn't you know it, we have a lot of fodder for today's post. From silly Boston-based New England fans to beating someone to death because of an argument that took place during the Packers/Seahawks game, we've got something for everyone.
But first, since I mentioned something about freaks coming out, I figured I'd let Whodini get you in the mood:
Are we ready?
Will You Please Shut The F**k Up First up on today's list is San Diego Charger Igor Olshansky and his loud mouth. As you all know, the Bolts play the Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game and to celebrate the significance, Olshansky, a defensive end for the Chargers, decided to get the party started early by mouthing off about the undefeated Pats:
Quoting the Guinness guys again here when I say, "Brilliant!!!!" Did we not learn from the Anthony Smith and his Pittsburgh Steelers? Is it so wrong to let sleeping dogs lie and let your play on the field do all the talking for you? Apparently so. Way to go, Igor. I wonder if San Diego fans will throw you under the bus like they did Norv Turner when the season didn't start the way they expected.
Patriots Fans Have Lots of Jerseys The guys at Awful Announcing pointed this out after watching the Pats/Jags in the city of Boston. It's goes without saying that Bostonians are quite passionate for their sports teams and considering just how much this region has dominated the sports world as of late, it's easy to see why.
Here are some of the things the AA guys learned:
2. Every single Pats player has a jersey: It's beyond description how many different player names I saw out in the city. Here's the list as I can remember......Brady, Maroney, Moss, Welker, Matt Light, Vince Wilfork, Rodney Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel, Kevin Faulk, Adalius Thomas, Colvin, Randall Gay, Ben Watson, and Ellis Hobbs
3. The Pats have a ton of Women Fans: I think this is more than likely due to Tom Brady, but every single girl in the city had some sort of Pats' garb on. My personal favorite was a blonde 20-something in a throwback Ted Johnson jersey.
4. Pats Fans cheer for everything: And when I say everything....I mean EVERYTHING. A negative four yard screen to Wes Welker.....WHOOOO! A four yard run on first down by Fred Taylor.....OH YEAH!
I find myself wanting a Kevin Faulk jersey and I'm not even a Patriots fan... Meaning somebody's gotta put a stop to this. Igor, are you down?
T.O. Gets Emotional Over Coors Light As soon as the Cowboys/Giants game ended on Sunday, you just knew Philly fans everywhere were going to have fun with it and needless to say, The700Level did not disappoint. What we have here is a nifty little ditty of T.O.'s tearful post-game press conference, edited to look like a Coors Light commercial:
Do you think Donovan McNabb feels badly for Owens?
OK, I'm running low on time so I'll leave you one more link related to today's topic. Apparently, it's hazardous to your health to argue about match-ups between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. Apparently, some top-shelf youths (youts?) decided they didn't like it when an older bartender starts telling them what's what... especially about NFL Football.
After reading the article and looking at the accompanying images, I started to weep for our future.
OK folks, that's it for me today. I hope this post is a good primer for this weekend's games. I also hope the games provide some more fodder for this section... just not in the homicide category. Take care folks and I'll see you next week.
OK folks, normally I'm finding silly stuff from the sports world to post about but for this post, I'm going to do something that's a little more topical and closer to my heart: University of Kentucky basketball. And while I'm thinking about it, seeing them struggle like they are is pretty f**king silly... at least to me.
Besides, Doug said I could deviate from the subject every once and while...
I'm sure many of you are enjoying UK's recent struggles. Some have gone as far to suggest UK's run is coming to an end (finally). I find these types of reactions funny, especially coming from a hopeful Louisville fan (nice win, btw). While I'm not convinced UK is anywhere near their death knell, I, like some other UK fans, am unsure about what's to come.
At the center of all this hubbub is one Billy Clyde Gillispie, Kentucky's new coach and already a subject of some discussion here. As his roster becomes healthier every day (I've spoken ad-nauseum about Kentucky's injury issues), it's pretty apparent he doesn't like the way the majority of his inherited roster approaches the game:
"Confidence is playing hard and taking something that isn't given to you," Gillispie said. "We want things given to us, and that's not going to happen.
"When something isn't given to us, we have to take it. We haven't done that yet. Until we do, we're going to continue down this path."
"I haven’t worried about that (talent) at all. We have plenty of players here to play better than we have. That is my responsibility whether we have had injuries or not. We do not have a complete roster and are trying to shore it up, but the roster is OK and we should have played better than we have."
The word around the campfire is that many of the players haven't responded well to Gillispie's hard-nosed, my-way-or-the-highway, no zone at all, ever, approach after being around the more fatherly figure demeanor of Coach Smith. However, as you can see in the first quote, this doesn't concern Coach Gillispie.
All he seems to care about in terms of this UK basketball team is toughening them up and get them playing basketball the way he wants them to, something Truzenzuzex pointed out at A Sea of Blue.
So this is what it comes down to: if UK fans are going to stick with Coach Gillispie, they have to understand that while he's committed to winning, it will be done so his way. He will not alter his approach to the players or to the game in order to perhaps avoid embarrassing losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego. From Gillispie's perspective, if the players were playing the way he asked them to, they wouldn't be losing in the first place, so why should he change his approach?
Is such a gamble going to pay-off or is the coach some call Clyde jeopardizing his future by sticking to his guns so severely? As it stands, one thing that always helps a team dealing w
Fast forward to 2008.
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