Sports
Brett Favre News – The Third Tri-Annual Retirement Announcement
Oh my god, Favre retired again. And this time, it’s for reals, yo. Well, maybe it’s for reals. No one can really be sure. He says his ankle is all messed up. I can believe that. Look at how nasty his shit was after the NFC Championship game:
Gross, dude. The guy got offseason surgery to try to fix that mess, and according to Favre, his ankle isn’t responding as well as he’d hoped. So now he’s going to hang ‘em up and let the Tavaris Jackson era begin anew in Minnesota.
How can we believe this guy? He could say anything – my wife left me, I hate Wrangler jeans, I’m definitely playing, I’m definitely not playing – it doesn’t matter. We don’t believe him. We don’t believe a single word that comes out of his scruffy, graybeard pie-hole.
And why should we? He’s lost all credibility. Back in 2006, this guy was getting standing ovations in Solider Field as a sign of retirement respect from Bears fans. He ended up coming back for the 2007 season. In March 2008, Favre announced his first annual retirement and cried like a little girl for the people of Green Bay. Remember all those tears?
By July, Favre was itchin’ to come back to the team, but the Packers had moved on. Green Bay was committed to new starter Aaron Rodgers, but the team wanted to keep Favre from going to Minnesota. The Packers ended up filing tampering charges against the Vikings and Favre wound up being traded the Jets. After a promising season ended with string of losses and a bum shoulder, Favre’s time with the Jets was over. He retired for the second time in Februrary 2009.
In June 2009, Favre threatened to unretire again. By July of 2009, he told the Vikings he was staying retired. He signed with the team the next month. Favre went on to have the best season of his career. Now it’s August and he says he’s retiring again.
There’s an old saying in Tennessee…
So we’ll believe this retirement mumbo jumbo when Favre is put down for good. If the guy still has legs and at least one arm, he’s a threat to show up and play. The Vikings are prepared to give Favre more time, money, women, tractors, sizzurp – whatever it takes – if he’ll just unretire for a third time.
Favre’s old teammate, LeRoy Butler, broke it down nicely on a recent radio appearance with former NFL player Tom Waddle:
“I actually feel sorry for the guy because he can’t do like we do,” Butler said. “I’ve always said, from the day when he cried in front of the media in Wisconsin and retired, the guy is a football player. He’s not good at anything else.”
It’s true. Favre is really, really good at playing quarterback in the National Football League. I give him 3-4 weeks before he realizes that and shows up in Minneapolis wanting back in.
Aug 3rd
New York Jets DT Kris Jenkins Uses Cookies to Win Weight Loss Competition
The Jets have a lot of big dudes on their team. They also have a pretty big guy serving as head coach. Rex Ryan, that loveable loudmouth who brought in an element of swagger that the Jets sorely needed last season, underwent gastric-band surgery back in March. The slimming procedure was just the first step toward a larger weight loss program for Ryan.
Back in May, Ryan challenged two other members of the team – defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and offensive tackle Damien Woody – to a weight loss competition. They called it “The Biggest Winner.”
“I would say something like ‘Get your popcorn ready,’ but we don’t need to be eating popcorn for this,” Woody told the Jets team website back in May. “I don’t have any trash-talking right now. This is an idea that Coach Ryan thought about and it’s a great idea. We’re going to see who the best man is.”
Well the results are in, and Kris Jenkins, who Ryan recently convinced not to retire, is The Biggest Winner. Jenkins lost 33 pounds, Woody lost 26 pounds and Ryan dropped 20 pounds. How did Jenkins do-it? He enlisted the help of Miami-based weight-loss expert Dr. Sanford Siegal and followed the Dr. Siegal Cookie Diet. That’s right. Jenkins did all that damage with cookies.
“I’m a very competitive person so I’m not surprised that I won, but I can’t believe I won with the help of cookies!” Jenkins said after the final weigh-in.
The two losers of the competition, Woody and Ryan, will now have to make donations to Jenkins’ favorite charity.
Aug 2nd
Interview with Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall
This is a big year for Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall. The 23-year-old former first round pick is entering the season as the undisputed starter in Pittsburgh, and he’ll be called upon to run the rock early and often. After Fast Willie Parker lost a step (or two or three), he got the ax and now he’s off to join Mike Shanahan’s 2006 all-star fantasy backfield in Washington. Super Bowl XLIII hero Santonio Holmes knuckleheaded his way off the team, earned a four-game suspension for smoking bowls and got traded to the Jets for a measly fifth round pick. After his dirtbag antics in Georgia, Ben Roethlisberger earned a suspension that’ll keep him on the sidelines for at least the first quarter of the season (maybe more if the Commish doesn’t reduce his suspension from six games to four). That’s a big chunk of the offense that won’t be available to start the season. So yea Rashard, no pressure, man.
The Steelers were a pass-happy offense last season, but with so many weapons missing in the passing game, the ground attack will have to be heavily featured. Mendenhall needs to be up for the challenge. He has no choice, really.
I had a chance to speak with Rashard while he was at the ESPN Rise Games. A brand ambassador for Champion, Mendenhall discussed the Champion Athlete’s Creed, a set of principles designed to promote fair play and sportsmanship for young athletes, his new role has the top option in the offense, what it’s like preparing two quarterbacks for the season and Mendenhall’s assessment of his fantasy value this year. Here’s the video:
Jul 30th
MMA Highlights From Recent Years Past
If you’re a dude (and I am guessing you most likely are or will easily be able to tell that you are not), then it is safe to assume that you know MMA. Mixed Martial Arts has seen explosive and exponential growth, sustaining this unprecedented run in terms of both eyeballs in the stadiums and on tv, as well as financially, given the monetary prowess of the now-institutional UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship.
As with all trends in sports, there are standout moments. The defining heroics and antics that stand out in short-term history, whether for water cooler gossip or long-term holy shit moments. If the sport ends up making it for the long term, and this will only happen if UFC single-handedly corrects the ills that led to boxing’s tragic downfall, then we just might be talking about some of this stuff for the long haul. But only time will tell. These appear numbered below, but not necessarily “ranked” in priority or meaning.
5. Ginger Fighters
Ed Herman, Ginger Fighter
Not gonna’ lie. My sister and I have a lifelong fascination with Gingers. This did not start with the onset of South Park, either. This is a much weirder deal. Now if little red headed freckled people are singled out and considered sissies as children, then MMA would surely end up being a likely safe-haven for them once they reach early adulthood. And the UFC, being the pinnacle of organized MMA at this point (and into the foreseeable future, thankfully), did its part to salute Gingers everywhere, just about chopping the head permanently off the rumor that redheads can’t fight. Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter featured grudge-match coaches Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock going toe to toe, but what really stood out about that season (spring/summer ‘06) were the fighters, which included among others: Michael Bisping, Kendall Grove, Matt Hamill, and of course, ginger Ed Herman. This Team Quest member, Pacific Northwest native, redhead fights in the 185-lb. weight class and excepting the injury that has sidelined him recently, Ed “Short Fuse” Herman is a complete and total badass. Although Kendall Grove ended up taking the TUF season finale, all three judges scored the fight 29-28, very close, and Dana White granted Herman, the loser in this case, a 6-figure deal as well.
4. Vegans in MMA? WTF?
Mac Danzig, Vegan in the House
You’ll have to excuse yourself for thinking about eating beef in terms of a training regimen, and MMA practitioners. It’s just not the case every single time. Far be it from you and I to understand how a Vegan of all personalities and persuasions, could make the leap up to UFC caliber fighting. But again, the Ultimate Marketing juggernaut that is The Ultimate Fighter Reality Show produced just such a spectacle for its ongoing PR campaign in TUF Season 6, in the form of lightweight fighter Mac Danzig. Now I am sure I’m not the only one who has been a bit disappointed with Danzig’s performance since joining the pro ranks of the UFC, but he is a confident, capable fighter who might just be temporarily missing that “x” factor that makes a champion. Still worth the watch, for sure.
3. TUF as a Franchise: The Only Reality TV (Barely) Worth Watching
The Ultimate Franchise: a reality television show that extends and controls the brand, introduces brand new personalities to its audience, and shows the true struggle in terms of training and living that these fighters go through in order to be the real athletes that they are before they step in the cage — that is The Ultimate Fighter. I don’t think that cage fighting could have become what it is today without this television show. Sure, rules and regulations have made the sport something beyond just blood and gore to talk about the next day at work. Creating a shift in perception that is monumental? Leave that up to tv — and Dana White nailed it with this one. Just enough of the at-times locker room toddler bullshit, and right before you get sick of some of these occasional idiots’ bravado, you get to see them fight. I don’t care for watching people argue, or trash talk, or puff themselves up with lofty ideas of becoming champions. What I care about is picking a winner, developing an appreciation for a fighter’s craft, and watching them grow into true professionals. And there is all that and more on TUF.
2. Throwdown Cage Bed for Kids? Kidding?
Eight Sided Cage Beds Might Make a Champion
When you are looking to build a paradigm-shifting enterprise, then any smart marketer knows you start somewhere in childhood, and you go no-holds-barred. Which is why one look at the Throwdown cage bed for kids will have the most savvy understanding just where this new bed-cum-training accessory is coming from. It’s pretty much like a fun-style bed, think “racing car bed form for toddlers,” and then throw it up on steroids and have its father beat the holy hell out of it when it’s just a little toddler bed. Which we have before now, always referred to simply as “a crib.” That’s right. We’re forced now to retrofit our language as we evolve as humans, thanks to MMA. Your infant’s crib is a four-sided cage, and when the little hooligan grows up just a little bit, you’re gonna’ do nothing more than double the amount of walls he will be surrounded by. Octagon, baby. Don’t ever look back.
1 Old School Vs New School Shit Talking: Gracie vs Hughes
I’m guessing I’m not alone when I tell you that as a television personality and a fighter, I don’t like Matt Hughes. I don’t know what it is, but his arrogance, regardless of his wealth of talent, just rubs me the wrong way. Now were I to meet him in real life, maybe he’s a great guy. I could see a ton of integrity and grit. I have nothing against him personally, I don’t even know him. But in terms of the entertainer aspect that I do know of him, I don’t like him. So when the grudge match went backwards through history, and no one other than the father of the sport was called out, Royce Gracie, there seemed to be a lot on the line there. I only wish, as I am sure many other do too, that these two fighters had met in their prime. To watch old bouts of cage fighting, with round robin tournaments and fewer rules and no weight classes, Gracie practically put the first iteration of the sport on the map, without any help from anyone else. Playing up the historical aspect of the brand was one of the greatest things that Dana White and UFC could have done. Genius marketing, to be sure — but marketing that works well typically has a great product behind it. And in this case, heck yes.
The bottom line here is that the UFC has made a good product a great one, through marketing. And in a very basic light, the lynchpin of their marketing strategy has been to link up MMA and its constituent parts with other areas of popular, contemporary culture: vegan eating habits and politics, reality television, raising children to succeed as athletes beyond known levels and at any cost. Continued growth will require a consistent parallel development where new viewers are given reasons to watch these pure athletes go up against each other in a cage that shows off how one combination of fighting styles might just be superior to another similar combination that is not exactly the same.
(Images Via: Sherdog, Sherdog, Bloody Elbow)
Jul 28th
Top 5 Clutch New York Yankees of the Modern Era
For die-hard New York Yankees fans the world over, trying to put a list like this together is a ridiculous task. What the heck are you supposed to do? It’s the stuff of nightmares, to be honest. What about this guy, what about that guy, better change up the list version, add another modifier, etc. Nightmares, I tell you. So — here was my list of solutions: narrow it down to the modern era. Like that’s gonna’ help much at all. Oh well. Second, don’t make it about hitting or pitching or Gold Gloves or All Star nominations, etc. Make it about clutch players, the whole diamond over. Still, this is by no means a small feat.
Here’s my list of a few top Yankees, all playing in the modern era, all doing what they do to contribute in the clutch moments of the game, the season, the Series. That means biggest saves of all time. That means multiple home runs in the post season. That means home run records and super high RBI production. That means bottom of the ninth walk off hits like we Yankees fans have come to depend on. So here goes; Top 5 Clutch Yankees.
5) Reggie Jackson
The ego and brazen nature of the icon who is known as Reggie Jackson was not always a Yankee, no. We know this. And yet, you’d be hard pressed to try not including him in a list of this nature. Flash back: 1977 is the year. It’s October, a month for which this man was ultimately nicknamed. And why? Well, figure it out. If it’s hard enough to hit a tiny little ball coming at you from close range at nearly 100mph, then try to up the ante and do it when the entire title is on the line. That’s what he’s known for. Three home runs in a single game of the World Series? Notches in the belt also include 5 World Series titles, inclusive career-wise (two Yankees in that list), fourteen All Star game appearances and a spot at lucky number 13 on the all-time home run leader list, with 563 homers.
4) Mariano Rivera
Don’t argue. Like a dog, I will tell you to go and lay down in your bed if you choose to argue. This is the single greatest closer in all of baseball, perhaps in all of the history of the game of baseball. Sure, they rack up stats that count to some people, saves, strikeouts, memories. Whatever. You want offense. You want twenty-plus wins a season. That’s what you want to see to make a Top 5 Yankees list? Well this is clutch play, and there is perhaps no one of greater value to a team than their closer. And this is the Yankees closer for more than a decade. And astronaut alien grizzly bears using the state of Rhode Island as a baseball bat can’t hit the guy, so go lay down. Four World Series and the lowest ERA in the post season, ever.
3) Whitey Ford
This is weird, but running down the statistics I don’t see how to not include the guy. Here’s his rap sheet, and you can argue this one amongst yourselves or in the comments of the post: Hall of Fame Inductee 1974, full career with Yanks, six World Series under the belt, Cy Young in ‘61, World Series MVP in ‘61, Babe Ruth Award in ‘61, retired jersey, ten All Star game appearances.
2) Mickey Mantle
Some of the longest home runs ever hit in the history of the game. Seriously. All Star game appearances in nearly every one of his eighteen total seasons. Seven World Series titles and eighteen total homers in those appearances. Three MVP awards in the American League, and a Triple Crown distinction as well. Retired jersey. Major League Baseball All Century Team, people. Check it.
1) Joe DiMaggio
Entire career played as a Yankee, which gets big points. Any contribution made during his career, was laced up with pinstripes. Multiple MVP awards for the American League. But that doesn’t do any justice to the history making efforts of DiMaggio. Maybe you’re reading this and you won’t know what The Streak is. Hell, I’m too young too, but I know. You try doing anything 56 times in a row, in any organized sport. And try doing it with the thing being thrown at you. Unbroken record, people. There are few sports feats in existence that have that as a caveat. 56 games in a row with a hit. Yikes.
(Image Via: On the Buzzer)
Jul 23rd
Roy Oswalt Trade Begins to Sputter Before Deadline
Oswalt is trying to be the nice guy. You can see it. You can hear it. He hasn’t been overly demanding, but he wants the heck out of Houston. Who can blame him? It’s so freakin’ humid there. The franchise is well aware that freeing up Oswalt might also offer them a bat or two to build with, as well as a prospect or two, but where would Roy end up?
All signs have been pointing to Philadelphia. In fact, if you watched ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball, it was all the commentators were talking about after the Cardinals went on a home run barrage, tagging 4 in two innings. At present, Oswalt’s contract demands seem to be the issue in moving the deal forward between Philly and Houston, namely the 16 million dollar option he has for 2012. He wants it before he would agree to a trade. It’s one thing to ask this Roy to go play second fiddle to the other Roy (Halladay) they picked up in Philadelphia in the off-season, but I just can’t see Philly agreeing to the tie up an additional 16 mil. for the 2012 option.
I think this deal is dead in the water. Had they started negotiations earlier, or perhaps if Philly looked like they were going to compete with Atlanta in the NL East this year, it might be a different story. I think Roy will pitch out the season in Houston, and once the off-season rolls around, you might see some movement from one of the AL east coast squads with a little more money to toss around.
Other trade rumors a-flyin’? Well, not so much. A little bit of something surrounding Arizona Diamondback’s Dan Haren, but other than my own personal bias for the St. Louis Cardinals and wanting to see the kid come back to where he began his career, not a lot has been said–some potential interest from Philly. I don’t think Haren has much of a desire to pitch east of the Mississippi. I’m hopeful the Cardinals are doing things quietly, similar to their acquiring Matt Holliday around this time last year. (Yeah, I want Haren back in the STL. I’m still bitter about the Haren/Calero for Mulder trade back in ‘04. Worst deal ever.)
Someone is going to make a move before the July 31st deadline, and it will probably be a significant move–the only question: Who’s it going to be? I certainly don’t think it’ll be Roy Oswalt
(Image via: Around the Horn Baseball)
Jul 21st
Watch the First 5 Seasons of Hard Knocks
If you love football, you gotta love Hard Knocks on HBO. Produced with all the grandeur and glory you’d expect from NFL Films, Hard Knocks follows the unheralded moments that shape an NFL team’s roster during training camp and into the preseason. The show started in 2001 and there have been six seasons so far. The Ravens, Cowboys, Jags, Chiefs and Bengals have all participated (the Cowboys were spotlighted on two separate occasions), and the New York Jets will be featured in the latest installment that airs in September.
From contract disputes to players on the bubble, super star egos and smoking hot wives (October Gonzalez and Kelli Croyle FTW!), Hard Knocks gives fans an inside, albeit semi-staged looked at the inner workings of an NFL organization in the final weeks leading up to the regular season. If you want to see how Marvin Lewis motivates his players (spoiler alert: Fight Back T-Shirts!) or how a third-string fullback battles for a roster spot (who doesn’t love Boomer Grigsby!) or how Jerry Jones runs a meeting (classic!), Hard Knocks delivers.
MANjr wants you to get all caught up on the Hard Knocks action. Unfortunately, last season isn’t on Hulu yet so you can’t hear Marvin Lewis scream “Eleven together! Fiiight baaack!” But at least you can pound through the first five seasons in one place. Enjoy!
Jul 20th
The Boss: The Passing of a Bittersweet Baseball Era
When news of George Steinbrenner’s death broke, I wanted to jump on the story like a media whore outside a red carpet event. I thought about it for awhile, became fairly indignant in my thought, then moved on to sadness, confusion and ultimately this funky feeling of joy mixed with sorrow.
I love baseball. I never much cared for George Steinbrenner. I don’t think he cared one iota about baseball. I think he cared about business. No, I didn’t know the man, I knew his reputation, as did so many others. Had I ever met him, I’m sure I would have adored him. I’m weird like that.
With his passing at the age of 80 due to complications from a heart attack as well as other ailing bodily functions, I could only feel sad for his family, for the fine athletes who played for him, for the managers who fought with and still somehow loved him and the Yankees fan base who saw a “win at all costs” empire constructed under his tenure.
For the rest of the baseball world, there’s a part of me that thinks, “It’s probably best that he went before the cap came–that would have really killed the guy.” And make no mistake Yankee fans. It’s a’comin’. If the next commish doesn’t push for it off the bat, I’ll lead the charge for his removal.
Sadly, all I can think of when I think of The Boss: A monopolizer who didn’t really look beyond his own interests to consider what would be best for the game of baseball. We all know people like that in “our own lives,” and we don’t like them. Then they die, and we feel bad for not liking them. It begs the question: What is the most lasting memory of George Steinbrenner’s legacy?
I’m sure Steinbrenner will eventually be remembered as the legendary Yankees owner who took the franchise from worst to first, but you just have to think that within that conversation, there will always be at least one voice which will sound off with a completely opposing opinion.
His legacy is bittersweet–and there’s no need to sugarcoat it.
Jul 13th
Coach Hitler Learns About LeBron James Signing with the Miami Heat
Jul 9th
ESPN NFL Analyst Jeremy Green Arrested for Drugs and Child Pornography
ESPN NFL analyst Jeremy Green was arrested in a Bristol hotel. Why? Cause the dude had more than 50 images or depictions of child pornography and admitted that he is a cocaine user. The cops found drugs, drug paraphernalia and a bunch of child pornography when they arrested him in his hotel room. Green is the son of former Vikings and Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. He also kinda looks like a pedophile (no offense Green family, but he does):
Would you leave your kids alone with that guy? I didn’t think so.
ESPN posted a brief story on his arrest. Green, who’s been a contributor since 2006, is “no longer employed by the company.”
Jul 9th
