Chris Canty tells us how we can hang with him at the NFL Draft….Virtually!
Super Bowl Champion Chris Canty was a standout defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants before signing this offseason with the defending Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, so he’s used to being in the media spotlight. But now the 9-year NFL veteran is flipping the script, serving as a special correspondent and NFL draft insider for Sqor, the groundbreaking new digital sports platform.
Sqor, from digital sports innovator Virtual Fan Network (www.virtualfannetwork.com), connects fans to the athletes and sports they love. Sqor combines the latest from social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, sports news sites such as Sporting News and ESPN, and video, photo and original athlete-produced content, all in a highly visual, deeply engaging, personalized experience.
Throughout draft week, Canty previews the first round of the draft on Twitter (@ChrisCanty99), offers one-on-one interviews with top draft picks and takes fans behind the velvet ropes, giving them behind-the-scenes access to exclusive NFL draft parties.
You’re invited to sign up now at www.sqor.com to be a part of the conversation as the NFL veteran evaluates the next generation of NFL stars. Visit sqor.com or follow @sqor on Twitter for Canty’s candid analysis of every pick as it happens.
Even with his busy schedule Chris took the time to speak with me about the NFL draft this week, his career, and his foundation. Make sure you check out how Chris helps out the community by going to his foundation’s website.
Art Eddy: The NFL draft starts tomorrow and goes through the weekend. You are working with Sqor as a draft insider. Can you tell me a bit about what you are doing?
Chris Canty: Well I am excited to be working with Sqor, which is a new digital media platform. Fans have the opportunity to interact with me. They get to follow what is going on with my Twitter, my Instagram, my Facebook, as well as articles and any other cool things that normal fans don’t have access to. It gets fans closer to me and the field.
I am really excited about this. It is going to be cool to hang out in New York City for this draft weekend. We are going to be working with some of the draft prospects and going to be interviewing them. We get to see how they are feeling. We are really excited about this.
AE: So people can follow you on Twitter to at ChrisCanty99 to stay informed about the draft?
CC: Yep. People can follow me at ChrisCanty99 and follow all of the interesting draft things that are going on this weekend. Plus moving forward people will get to follow what I have going on moving forward with the Baltimore Ravens and in the community.
AE: You signed with the Ravens this offseason. How has the transition been so far?
CC: The transition has been pretty good. I am getting a chance to be in there with my teammates. I get to work in the offseason programs these past couple of weeks. It has been great getting a chance to know those guys and have the guys know me. It has been really good.
AE: How much have you spoken with the team and John Harbaugh?
CC: He is a pretty cool customer I have to say. He is a good coach and a lot of the guys respect him. What you see is what you get and that is always a plus when you are talking about a coach in the National Football League.
AE: You won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants when you beat the New England Patriots. The Ravens are coming off this past season winning a Super Bowl. How can you help your new team avoid a Super Bowl hangover?
CC: We have a very young football team. One of the things that I try to reiterate with those guys is that don’t allow the complacency to set in. Make sure you continue to focus on the details and little things. Those things add up to big things and those things adds up to wins and losses.
What you want to do as a football champ is to let those guys know that you just can’t pick up where you left off and that they have to start anew every season. Every team that comes together is a brand new team. Last year’s team was the Super Bowl Champs, but that team is done. We are in the process of putting together the 2013 Baltimore Ravens.
AE: With Ray Lewis and Ed Reed no longer on the team, two big leaders on the team, how do you think the defense will respond this upcoming season?
CC: I think coach Harbaugh and GM Ozzie Newsome have a great plan to bridge some of the gaps of some of the losses they have. Understanding that they can’t replace those guys. They are legends, but understanding that they are trying to put together a new football team. I think that they started with some great additions. They brought in Marcus Spears. They brought in Michael Huff. They brought in Elvis Dumervil. They got some great pieces that they added to the football team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
AE: You have played for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. The two teams have a huge rivalry. How was it to play on both teams and compete in those games?
CC: I tell you what being in those games was like a war. Anytime that you talk about those division matchups it is definitely a tough and hard fought game. I got to tell you that you come out a little more bruised and sore after those games than just another regular season game. Everybody is trying to fight and scrap to give themselves the best chance to get a leg up in their division.
AE: Now as a Raven you will be facing rivals like the Pittsburgh Steelers. Do players get hyped for these games that fans consider to be a rivalry game or is it the media just putting too much into these games?
CC: I am a football junkie so to speak, so I am always watching other teams. I am always watching those AFC North match-ups. I am very familiar with those teams in that division. I will be putting more a microscope on those teams now than I have in the past. I know what those teams like to do and the types of personalities on those teams. It sure will make for some fun and exciting games this fall.
AE: Tell me about the Chris Canty foundation.
CC: It is a foundation that focuses in on the empowerment of the youth. We concentrate on three main areas of working with a child. We concentrate on fitness. We concentrate on education and we concentrate on service. It is not just enough to instill live lessons and core values in a child, but we also want to make sure that each child that we work with understands their responsibility to pay it forward and give back to the community.
We have a lot of cool programs from different service initiatives and service organizations throughout the Tri-State area as well as North and South Carolina. We have a mentorship program. We have a leadership academy program. We are really excited about the things that we are doing with young people.
To listen to the entire interview click here!
Apr 24th
How to Celebrate Star Wars Day
Every year on May 4th fans of the “Star Wars” saga go out and revel in everything about a galaxy that is far, far away. Whether you hear someone say to you, “May the fourth be with you,” or see some posts on Facebook or Twitter you can spot fans of the film.
The day started out as a grassroots campaign that came from the famous Jedi line “May the Force be with you.” Every year there became a bigger following and more and more people were celebrating “Star Wars” on that day.
You can show your support by going on Twitter and Facebook and use the hashtag #MayThe4thBeWithYou to show that you are enjoying “Star Wars” Day. There was even a video made from Lucasfilm of Bonnie Burton asking people on the streets of San Francisco about “Star Wars” Day and how fans can celebrate.
In case you would like to participate in the celebration on May 4th, here are ten fun ways that you can enjoy and partake in the festivities. This list is courtesy of StarWars.com.
1. Have a “Star Wars” movie marathon with friends and family! But do you start with the prequels or the original trilogy? Do you mix in some episodes of “The Clone Wars”? Better decide before your guests arrive, or you may spend the day in a heated debate.
2. Dressing up for special occasions is important, and May the 4th is no different. Wearing anything from your favorite “Star Wars” shirt to full-on Stormtrooper gear is completely acceptable. (It’s okay to dress up your pet, too. Bounty hunter bulldogs are especially encouraged.)
3. Food is an essential part of any holiday. Death Star Popcorn Balls or Wookiee Cookies, anyone? Find a variety of recipes on StarWars.com!
4. Toast the saga with the ultimate “Star Wars”-themed beverage: blue milk, just like Aunt Beru used to make!
5. Feel the Force with “Star Wars” crafts: turn old socks and rocks into awesome “Star Wars” keepsakes! Learn how to make a Chewbacca Sock Puppet, “Star Wars” Snow Globe, and more at StarWars.com!
6. Have you Vadered anyone yet? Now’s the time to give it a try and be sure to Tweet your photo to @starwars!
7. You know that Rebel Alliance symbol tattoo you’ve been thinking about getting? Today’s the day.
8. Sometimes people use holidays to travel to new places. Why not go to Disneyland or Disney World and ride Star Tours? There are over 50 separate mission possibilities.
9. As Yoda said, “Pass on what you have learned.” Introduce a younger sibling, family member, or friend to “Star Wars”!
10. Do you have any “Star Wars” toys that you don’t need any more? Donate them and make May the 4th really memorable for children in need.
Plus this year marks the 30th anniversary of “Return of the Jedi” which makes this year’s celebration even more special. Also fans of the movie franchise are stoked with the new trilogy of movies beginning with “Star Wars: Episode VII” that will be coming to theaters soon. So this May 4th remember to party like you just defeated the Empire and as always, “May the fourth and the Force be with you!”
If you are looking to try out some of the family friendly drink recipes check out a few here to get you started as you watch the “Star Wars” saga.
Blue Milk
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon unsweetened blue fruit punch mix
Sugar
Directions:
Pour the milk into a tall glass and gently stir in the blue fruit punch mix. The drink should be lightly tinted blue. Adjust the amount of mix to get the color that you like. Add sugar to taste.
Greedo Fauxito
For those who might not remember Greedo was the bounty hunter in “Episode IV: A New Hope” that tried to bring Han Solo back to Jabba the Hutt. Here is drink recipe that pays him homage.
Ingredients:
One lime
8-10 fresh mint leaves
Lemon-lime soda
Directions:
Squeeze juice of one lime into a tall glass. Add fresh mint leaves and muddle with a cocktail muddler or spoon. Fill glass with ice. Add lemon-lime soda to fill the glass.
Tatooine Sunset
Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice
¼ cup grenadine syrup (approximately)
Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice, and orange juice. Slowly pour in grenadine syrup and allow to settle on the bottom.
Apr 23rd
The Bolt by Star Motorcycles
A good motorcycle is like a good lover and an okay motorcycle is like an okay lover: either way, you’re riding, which is awesome, but when you’re on a good bike, the world is a different place.
Bearded man says, “that’s one purty bike.” (Photo credit: Brian J. Nelson/Tom Riles)
Last Friday, thanks to Yahama’s cruising and touring bike division, Star Motorcycles, I had the opportunity to test ride the new Bolt in San Diego. Dubbed by its creators as an “urban performance bobber,” the Bolt features a V-twin, 942cc engine and a stylish, compact design. The concept was to create a bike that would appeal to the younger generation of riders, who are looking to get more bike for their buck and would appreciate a simpler look and nimbler feel. With that in mind, it was also designed for both novice riders and experienced vets alike and engineered with the idea that it should be easy to navigate busy city streets and enjoyable to open up on a deserted stretch of highway. If you want to dig into the specs you can do so here: Bolt Home, which includes a very cool Build Your Own feature.
Thanks to San Diego’s unique character, I was able to ride the Bolt in stop and go traffic, along relaxed scenic byways, and on the interstate. The Bolt handled beautifully and was an absolute pleasure to ride. My favorite parts:
- Easy, low-stress handling
- Quick, responsive braking
- Comfortable ride position
- Easy to shift (you won’t think this is amazeballs until you’ve ridden a bike where it’s difficult to shift gears)
- Stylish as all get out
- Fun to ride
The only thing I noticed that might detract from the general awesomeness of the Bolt at all was that towards the end of the ride, the engine got a little warm. Given that we hung out together, all told, for 7 hours, I find that completely understandable. If you hang out with anyone for 7 hours and you aren’t hot and bothered, you should move on.
“John Wayne ain’t got nothin’ on my fringe game, hell no…” (Photo credit: Brian J. Nelson/Tom Riles)
The Bolt starts at $7,990 or there’s a sexy R-Spec model that starts at $8,290. The extra $300 will get you remote reservoir shocks, a suede-type seat with colored stitching, black mirrors, and either green or matte grey paint. I’m on the R-Spec in the pic above. There are definitely cheaper bikes out there, but it’s difficult to find one in this price range that handles as well or looks as good. I would be remiss in saying that this test ride didn’t make me think twice about trading in my older bike for the new hotness (thank you, Will Smith).
To quote an overheard conversation between former flames, “you made it easy to be with you.” The Bolt is a very easy bike to be with and is a fantastic choice for any rider who just wants to enjoy the heck outta their motorcycle.
Apr 23rd
Former NFL Cornerback Reggie Howard Talks Football, His Foundation, & More
Reggie Howard played for six years in the NFL. He played for the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers. He is retired from the game and is now helping out other athletes by empowering then to impact communities through education and social development. Along with Ray Lewis, Julius Erving and others they are looking to make a difference in their communities with the United Athletes Foundation.
They are having a raffle where you have a chance to win a trip to New York City to meet Ray Lewis during NFL Draft weekend at various VIP events! The deadline to enter is April 23! Click here for more details.
The United Athletes Foundation is a 501c3 public non-profit organization created in 2008 by a group of professional athletes who understood their unique role in improving the lives of both the athlete fraternity and society in its entirety. To date, there are more than 90 professional athletes associated with the UAF including members of the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA and professional boxing.
I was able to chat with Reggie about the NFL Draft weekend promotion, the UAF, and football.
Art Eddy: Tell me about the promotion you have for your foundation, the United Athletes Foundation and how it revolves around the NFL Draft weekend.
Reggie Howard: We have a nice promotion for the fans. For the past four years we have been working events at the NFL Draft weekend with players become of aware of financial security. We also have an award ceremony where we give an award to the MVP of the community.
So this year we thought it would be great to have this promotion where we put out a raffle where one lucky fan can have the opportunity to attend the event with an all-expense paid trip to New York City and bring one guest to hang out with the UAF. We have been getting the word out about and people are getting excited. This year we have one of the key members of the United Athletes Foundation, Ray Lewis and he is the key spokesperson for this. The winner gets to spend time with us and see what our foundation does and how we help out the community.
AE: You are working with Ray Lewis for this promotion with the UAF for the NFL Draft weekend. How is it to work with Ray for this promotion?
RH: Ray has been great. He is actually one of the co-founders of the United Athletes Foundation and is also the chairman. He is a guy that really cares about the community and has a big heart. One of the main things that we focus here in our organization is to let guys know how important it is to be community leaders.
The second thing is that the NFL is great, but there are things outside of the game that we really need to have a focus on and that is family, community, and a great understanding as it pertains to financial literacy. That is one of the big things in our organization. We need to put things in place where guys have resources where they can learn more about finances. They can also learn to be protected from fraudulent financial activity from advisors.
It is a great weekend because we have great events planned. We had Jim Brown pass the torch so to speak to Ray and one of the people we are thinking of presenting the MVP award to is Adrian Peterson. He is a great guy that is not only a stellar player on the field, but also has a big, big heart for his community. UAF is all about team concept in the world of philanthropy and showing the importance of what our responsibility is to the community.
AE: In your NFL career you played mostly for the Panthers. Looking back at your career what stands out the most with your time in the NFL?
RH: I really enjoyed my time playing in the NFL. It was a great experience. I would say the biggest thing is the camaraderie of playing with players and competing on the top stage. Playing in the NFL is going up against the best of the best. Every day that you go out you are competing at your highest level.
One thing coach (John) Fox told us is that if you are not getting better you are getting worse. Nobody ever stands still. It is a true statement. Anytime that you are not putting forth your best effort you give an opportunity for your competition to get better. For me it was definitely the camaraderie of it. The highlight was playing in the Super Bowl. There is no feeling like that. To be on stage where all eyes are on you and you are trying to win a championship. Not everybody gets that opportunity and when you get there it is a special, special moment.
AE: Speaking of Super Bowl XXXVIII, you and the Panthers fell short of beating the New England Patriots. You did intercept Tom Brady though not that many people can say they did that. Do you remember that play?
RH: You remember everything you did in that game. It was funny because when we were preparing for the Patriots it was very hard. They had so many packages out there offensively that you never knew what they were going to do. They had so many things that they could do as an offense that it was hard to prepare for them. It is hard for a defense to pick up tendencies on teams like the Patriots. That is why they are so successful offensively.
On that play that I got the interception on is funny because that is one of their key plays and key formations that they run. This was one formation that we prepared for that week. They like to have trips on one side and two receivers on the other side. They like to run double smashes from the outside receivers and have the inside receiver run the seven route to the corner.
I basically recognized the formation. I played it where I led Tom believe that I was going to man to man and then I actually backed up and I got the interception. I got tripped up by one guy and if not for him I could have taken it all the way. Muhsin Muhammad took it to the house after we got the turnover and helped us with gaining some momentum. It was a great game and it came down to the wire. We are not the only team to lose to the leg of Adam Vinatieri. (Laughs) After that the NFC Championship ring went back in the closet and I didn’t want to see anything with a Patriot sign on it. It is no fun being second place at the Super Bowl.
AE: Playing cornerback is tough since you are going up against some great athletes. Who was the hardest wide receiver to cover?
RH: I would have to say Randy Moss. At that time he was playing in Minnesota and that guy was tough to cover. He was well feared by players back at that time.
AE: Who talked the most trash?
RH: Keyshawn Johnson by far. Keyshawn talked a lot. I would say looking back it had to be Keyshawn. That guy was always talking.
Apr 20th
Heisman, Nissan and Habitat for Humanity Partner to Build Home for Family in Need
On most days, Aldon Lightfoot works with fellow longshoremen to load and unload ships at the Port of New Orleans. Earlier this week Lightfoot worked alongside seven members of an elite class of athletes, Heisman Memorial Trophy winners to build a Habitat home for his growing family.
The house of Aldon Lightfoot and Kimberly Jones and their three children will be built with help from a construction crew that includes celebrated Heisman Trophy winners John Lattner (1953, University of Notre Dame), Johnny Rodgers (1972, University of Nebraska), George Rogers (1980, University of South Carolina), Mike Rozier (1983, University of Nebraska), Danny Wuerffel (1996, University of Florida), Eric Crouch (2001, University of Nebraska) and Mark Ingram (2009, University of Alabama).
This unique collaboration grew out of existing relationships among Nissan and its partners Habitat for Humanity and the Heisman Trophy Trust. Together, the three organizations will team up with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to build a home in partnership with the Lightfoot family.
“Nissan is committed to improving the communities where our employees and customers live. Joining with Habitat for Humanity and the Heisman Trust, who share this mission of community service, is an ideal extension of our partnership with both organizations,” said Nissan Marketing Vice President Jon Brancheau. “We are grateful to these athletes for joining in this one-of-a-kind partnership to build this house alongside a New Orleans family.”
The “Heisman House” concept launched by Nissan in 2011 highlights its sponsorship of The Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to an outstanding college football player. The campaign gathers many of the most celebrated college football players of the last 30 years into the fraternal order of the Heisman House.
“We are proud to partner with our premier sponsor, Nissan, these former Heisman winners and Habitat for Humanity on this worthwhile project,” said William J. Dockery, President of the Heisman Trust. “When most people hear the word Heisman, they immediately think of the trophy and college football. Many do not realize the mission of The Heisman Trust is to support the underprivileged and underserved. This is just another example of the work the Heisman Trust is doing all year long.”
Partnering with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, the Lightfoot family will move into their new three-bedroom Habitat home in Central City from a one-bedroom apartment. The family includes a daughter, 8, two sons, ages 5 and 2 months, and a new baby on the way.
“We are grateful for Nissan’s long-time support in helping to make affordable housing possible and for extending an opportunity for the Heisman Trophy Trust and athletes to get involved in our work,” said Kymberly Wolff, senior vice president of Development at Habitat for Humanity International. “We look forward to continuing to partner together to help families fulfill their dreams of home ownership.”
Nissan’s national partnership with Habitat dates to 2005, following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since 2006, Nissan has contributed more than $9 million to Habitat for Humanity. Nissan employees have helped to build more than 62 homes across the United States, and the company has donated 111 vehicles to support Habitat’s mission.
Apr 17th
Interview with Writer and Actor Juddy Talt
“Language of a Broken Heart” is a new romantic comedy that is now out in theaters. It follows a guy named Nick looking to repair his heart after a devastating breakup. Nick is a best-selling author on love, and he finds his fiancé with another man. His heartbreak drives him crazy and he starts reflecting on his many romantic failures.
I was able to talk with the writer and actor Juddy Talt, who plays Nick in the film. The movie also stars Oscar Nunez, Kate French, and Julie White. Juddy and I talk about how he came up with the concept of the film and the process of getting the film from paper to the big screen.
Art Eddy: You wrote and star in the film “Language of a Broken Heart”. Tell me about the film and how you came up with the story?
Juddy Talt: This has been a long process. When I graduated at the University of Southern California I knew I wanted to make my own film. For this film it stems from a breakup. Well I should say a combination of a lot of breakups, but mostly on one that took some time for me to get over. It helps that I am a fan of movies like “Say Anything” and a lot of Woody Allen films. There are a lot of neurotic characters in Woody Allen films so that was something I thought about as I was doing my film.
I had a tough breakup so I decided that I needed to do a film about that. What did Henry Miller once say? It was something like the best way to get over a woman is to turn her into literature. A therapist once told me the best way to get over a woman is to get under another one. To me that sounded as odd and inappropriate advice.
So I went with the film route. I wrote it from my experience and it came out pretty quickly. It is a highly fictionalized version of this breakup. I find that breakup stories are such a universally accepted topic and people can relate to this story. My character has a broken heart, but you see him go through things that are sad and humorous at the same time. When I was dealing with a break up in my real life I looked back and thought there was some funny things I did. My dad even told me that I needed to get laid. It is funny now as I reflect on that and I think people will see the humor in what my character goes through in the film.
My character goes home and repairs his relationship with his mother and viewers start to see that this broken heart keeps on going around to different characters in the film. We have been getting great reviews so far and I am pleased with the viewer’s reaction to the film.
AE: Since you wrote the story for the film, did you feel that acting in that role was easier than other projects that you were in before?
JT: I would say yes and no. I think it is very easy in a sense since you have been with the material for so long. Yet that can be a big downfall because you can hire an actor who brings something to the script that you never thought of before. It is fun when an actor comes and surprises you with a new take on the role. I have similarities to this character obviously. Yet this character is very obsessive and very neurotic and I hope that I am not like that in real life. (Laughs) The jury is still out. 
AE: The film also stars also stars Oscar Nunez, Kate French, and Julie White. Were you part of the casting process to get these actors?
JT: Absolutely. When I was in Los Angeles I got Ronnie Yeskel to be the casting director for the film. She is a well-known casting director and she responded well to the script. I was very much involved with her in casting for the film. We read with Kate (French) and Lara Pulver. Then we read with Ethan Cohn, who plays Cubbie in the film.
For Julie White and Oscar Nunez they were just straight out offers. We really wanted them. We were about to start shooting the film and we didn’t even have them yet. We shot the film in New York and in Dallas. We heard that Julie was in Dallas so we thought that this was our chance to get her for the film.
Two weeks before we started filming in Dallas we started stalking Julie since she was in Dallas. We knew she was at her mother’s house. We wondered if we should just show up at the house and just drop off the script. The funny thing about the whole stalking Julie thing was that it goes right along with a scene in the film. The main character’s ex-girlfriend says to my character to stop stalking her and stop leaving notes and things on her car and house. My character then says something like what is the difference between stalking and being romantic. Luckily Julie liked the script and we got her for the film.
AE: How long did it take to bring the film from concept to screen?
JT: It was pretty long. I also produced it too. I was out there raising a lot of the money for the film. Even once I had the script I would say that it took about a year to a year and a half to start filming. I was also trying to get another project off the ground at that time. I switched my focus to this film because the other one was starting to get really expensive.
Yet overall all after the script for “Language of a Broken Heart” was done we were able to start shooting in a year or so. Now the film is in select theaters and that was not an easy task, so I am happy that it is in theaters.
AE: Do you preference of acting or writing?
JT: Every day I can wake up and write. It is a great way to get out what I need to get out. I really enjoy writing. I grew up on the stage acting. I did a bunch of community theatre growing up in Pasadena. I continued with that passion as I grew older. I love the both so it is nice to be able to do both.
AE: Are there any type of stories you would you like to tell that you feel the film industry has not touched on yet?
JT: Definitely. I think that this is a good starting point for me. This film doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It is a very poignant little film. Viewers really responded well to it so far. If you go on sites like Fandango you see that audiences are really behind this film and are encouraging people to go check this film out. I don’t have a big marketing budget so word of mouth is great.
For me, I love to mix comedy and drama. It is a tough thing to do, but I want to keep on making films like that. I want to show people how life is and that there will be good and bad times in everyone’s life. I love films like “Almost Famous” and “Say Anything” since the blend drama and comedy is done so well. Even in stories that are tragic I want to show some sense of humor in part of that story. People will walk away from those films saying that is true to life. That is what I want to do in the future.
Apr 17th
Coors Light Refreshes A Day At The Pool
So the Coors Light Explorers tripped out some beautiful people trying t o have a nice pool day in South Florida. Check out this clever spot that shows the Explorer crew zip-lining, riding sled dogs and repelling from a helicopter to hook up some pool-goers with some frosty silver bullet action:
Apr 16th
Tony Gonzalez Final Four Interview
When Clear Men’s Scalp Therapy sent us to the Final Four in Atlanta, we got to spend a few minutes with Falcons tight end, future Hall of Famer and all-around gamer Tony Gonzalez. Gonzo just agreed to come back for one more season with Atlanta. Although he signed a two-year deal, he made it clear that the second year was just in there for cap reasons. The upcoming season will be his last.
And what a career he’s had. He’s a 13-time Pro Bowler (with 10 All-Pro seasons). He’s caught more passes (1,242), for more yards (14,268) and more touchdowns (104) than any tight end in history. His spot in Canton must already be reserved. He’s slam dunk first ballot hall of famer. And, you know, he can dunk, too.
Gonzalez played college basketball at Cal. During his junior year, he played in 28 games and averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds as a member of the Cal team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen.
Gonzalez is now a spokesman for Clear Men Scalp Therapy. We caught with him at the Coke Zero Fan Experience in Atlanta the day before the Final Four kicked off. We talked about the thrill of playing in NCAA Tournament, what jersey he was going to wear when he finaly gets to Canton, his excitement for next season and what makes Clear Men Scalp Therapy so awesome. Here’s the interview:
While in Atlanta for the Final Four, Gonzalez shot a series of videos for Clear Men that provided tips for creating The Perfect Fanual. Here’s the whole series:
Apr 15th
Make Your TV Smarter!
If you were looking to upgrade your old flat screen TV with a new smart TV you might want to check out the SmartStick first. If your TV is still in great shape why not just spend $50 instead of $1500. A company called FAVI Entertainment can upgrade your TV for 50 bucks as long as your TV has an HDMI input.
SmartStick has a HDMI connector that is built right on the stick that looks like a flash drive and it plugs directly into your HDTV with no cables or confusing adapters. The DC power is supplied over a mini-USB port, and the included mini-USB to USB connection is just the right length, to reach the USB port on your HDTV.
The Interface application is great. The application lets you access apps, the web, and multimedia content. The SmartStick actually gets you! I am serious. This device adapts itself to present your preferred content first. The homepage will remain constantly updated to display your 6 favorite applications, and any two widgets of your choice.
There is a browser tab to search the web. A video tab that will search through your attached storage devices and present all of your video files. Plus there is a music tab that will look out for audio files no matter which folder they’re located in and present them for easy access.
It also works with Google Play, Android apps, Netflix, Hulu and more. I was able to stream shows from my Netflix and HBO accounts. All of these shows are in HD quality since it hooks up to a HDMI port.
With the included PLEX app, you can now wirelessly deliver saved content directly to your SmartStick enabled TV. Just host your computer’s media collection with Plex Media Server, open the PLEX app on your SmartStick and you are connected.
To even add more ease when using the SmartStick pick up the pocket sized keyboard with touch pad mouse. This keyboard lets you quickly respond to email and enjoy a complete web browsing experience. The keyboard setup is very similar to the Android hot keys that are located beneath the touch pad of the controller. If you like playing games on your Android devices then the touch pad will make gaming a lot easier and your gaming experience will be that much better on your flat screen TV. Whether you go with either the 4 GB or 8 GB of internal storage, the stick also has a microSD card slot that holds up to 32 GB. This is another way to watch movies on your TV.
Apr 15th
A Look Back at a Fantastic Final Four
The Madness of March has subsided, but the memories of a fantastic Final Four remain. It’s hard not to get caught up in the NCAA Tournament in any given year, but there was something about the 75th anniversary of the Final Four that distinguishes it as one of the better Big Dances in recent memory. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many strong finishes, early upsets, busted brackets and broken bones.
It’s hard to pinpoint what made the 2013 tourney so special. Watching Harvard and North Carolina A&T win their first tournament games was pretty cool. Maybe it was Florida Gulf Coast becoming the first #15 seed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, in just their second season of eligibility. I mean, who wasn’t cheering for Dunk City at some point? Or maybe it was the Shockers shocking their way from a #9 seed, past Gonzaga and into the Final Four.
After so many brackets were destroyed, the three Final Four games were definitely ones to remember. Our friends at Clear Men Scalp Therapy sent us to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to watch the two Final Four semifinal matchups, and it was incredible – great seats, two really good games, a trip to the championship on the line.
For the fourth year in a row, only one #1 seed made it to the Final Four (Louisville). They went on to win it all, but not without some serious challenges and some ridiculously clutch play by Final Four MOP Luke Hancock.
Wichita State became the second #9 seed to advance to the Final Four (Penn did it in 1979). They were also the first Missouri Valley Conference team to make it to the Final Four since Indiana State (also in 1979). It was the first time Wichita State appeared in the Final Four since 1965, and that 48 year gap is the fourth longest Final Four drought streak on record. Only Wisconsin, Stanford, Texas and West Virginia had longer waits between Final Four appearances.
The Michigan and Syracuse game marked the first time in tournament history that two #4 seeds have met in the Final Four. The Wolverines reached their first Final Four since the Fab 5 era. And Syracuse was in the Final Four mix for the first time since Carmelo the Orangemen to a title in 2003.
Wichita State put Louisville in a 12-point hole with 13:35 left in the game, but the eventual champs roared back with Luke Hancock scoring 20 points off the bench. No. 11 fired up the crowd and fed his teammates with energy as the Cardinals rode the emotion to victory.
The Michigan-Syracuse semifinal was a game of runs. The Wolverines attacked Syracuse’s zone defense early and often in the first half. With heavy contributions from the bench, Michigan jumped out to an early lead before Syracuse rolled back in the second half. Clutch three point shooting and serious board crashing allowed Michigan to hang on for the win.
The championship game was another gem. Louisville dug themselves a hole again with a 12-point first-half deficit. Hancock contributed 22 points off the bench and picked the team up yet again. The guy hit four huge three pointers in a row to get the Cardinals back into it. Freshman Spike Albrecht answered for Michigan from three point land, but it wasn’t enough. It was a back and forth battle that looked like it could go either way, but Louisville just kept getting after it and eventually they pulled away and cut down the net, with injured guard Kevin Ware getting the final honors with the scissors.
It was a great finish to an amazing tournament and a fun experience all around thanks to tournament sponsor Clear Men’s Scalp Therapy.
Apr 15th
