Reggie Bush Forfeits Heisman Trophy
Reports surfaced last week that the Heisman Trust was going to strip Reggie Bush of his 2005 Heisman Trophy. Despite denials by the Heisman Trust that any decision has been made, Bush decided to forfeit his Heisman Trophy today.
In a statement released by the Saints, Bush described winning the Heisman in 2005 as “one of the greatest honors of my life” and “a dream come true.” Here are some additional excerpts from the statement:
“But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name. It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting. In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future.”
I like it. I like the whole approach. Bush is basically taking the high road while still being a bit defiant. I don’t want to sully this amazing award with drama, but I’m still the best, I was the best and I will continue to be the best.
Here’s more from the statement:
“For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust. I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.”
So Bush vaguely admits that he made mistakes, but he goes a step further to call out a broken system where unpaid student athletes are semi-invited to make mistakes. I like the fact that he took action and gave it back. I like the defiance too. For whatever mistakes Bush semi-owned up to, there’s no changing the fact that he was one of the greatest college football players of all time.
“I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.”
His legacy may be sullied, but memories of his dominant college football career cannot ever be erased.
Sep 14th
Interview with Andrew Jenks, Creator of MTV’s World of Jenks
Andrew Jenks’ new documentary show “World of Jenks” premiered on MTV last night, and the series promises to be an interesting addition to the network’s lineup. Jenks, a 24-year-old, award-winning filmmaker, has gotten free reign from the network to create a unique series that shadows different individuals in order to showcase young, unique perspectives from all walks of life.
This idea of showcasing the individual reference frames of different types of people is something that Jenks is quite familiar with. When he was 18, Jenks checked into a nursing home and filmed his experiences. The resulting documentary, “Andrew Jenks, Room 335” aired on HBO in 2008 and was well received by critics and audiences alike.
After earning some acclaim cred for his directing skills, Jenks convinced ESPN to finance his second film “The Zen of Bobby V.” Jenks followed former Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine for eight months as he coached the 2007 Chiba Lotte Marines team in Japan. The film was an official selection at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and earned the young director more positive reviews.
In his new series, World of Jenks, Andrew Jenks spends one week experiencing life through someone else’s eyes. For each episode, Jenks moves in with a new stranger and captures their individual perspective on the world. The show will include the viewpoints of a hit rapper, an NFL cheerleader, a homeless girl, a young man with autism, an MMA cage fighter, an animal rescuer and other interesting subjects.
We had the chance to talk to Jenks about his previous films and the challenges the new series presents, including getting choked and slapped by rapper Maino on camera.
CS: So how did you first get in to filmmaking?
AJ: Probably when I was back in fourth or fifth grade. Because of my Dad’s work we travelled quite a bit, and there were really some places where people weren’t speaking English. And so we had this big bulky VHS camera that no one really used, and I would just walk around and film stuff and narrate while I was filming. You know there were silly little things happening I can’t remember what they were but the camera – not to sound cheesy – but the camera kind of became my best friend and I think that’s the root where this all started I would imagine.
CS: So how did you originally come up with the idea for “Room 335”?
AJ: I was in college, freshmen year dormitory with 300 strangers essentially. Everyone is looking towards the future and what’s next and what they’re majoring in and blah blah blah. All that was going on and my grandfather was living in nursing home facing dementia, also living with 300 strangers. And so I just kept thinking, you know I was close with him and that was kind of a tough time and I just kept thinking “what would it be like if a 19 year old moved into a nursing home?” These are the people that have lived life the longest so why not seek their advice and see what it’s like to be on the other side of the spectrum. So that’s kind of what inspired that documentary.
CS: Were you surprised at all by the whole experience? Was it what you thought it would be or were there any big surprises there?
AJ: Yeah, I was shocked. I went in thinking we were going to make a movie about old people and I left with some incredible friends, Tammy and Bill and Livy, just unbelievable people that have a lot to provide for society. I thought it was sad that they were put away in a corner in these little nursing homes and I was just really happy that we were able to document and capture their lives and then somehow showcase it all over the world which was definitely awesome. And then there were also the moments where I witnessed a friend pass away and we were in the hospital room with her, there were some dark dark moments as well.
CS: So how did you go from that to “The Zen of Bobby V” where you spent eight months in Japan?
Sep 14th
NFL Week 1 Picks
The meaningless games are behind us and the new NFL season is here. I love making Week 1 bets ‘cause the spreads or so gentle to start the season. Weeks from now you’ll have to decide whether quality teams can win by two scores or more. Not so this week. All the spreads are friendly and there are some easy picks in the lot.
At New Orleans (-5) Minnesota
The Vikings were a couple plays away from taking out the Saints in last year’s NFC Championship game, but the emotional Saints will feed off the frenzied Superdome crowd, play physical D and ruin the start of Favre’s 20th season. Fun fact: Super Bowl champs have gone on to win the next season’s opener 10 years in a row. Choose Nawlins.
PICK: Saints -5
At NY Giants (-6.5) Carolina
I’m 100 percent 50/50 on this game. Matt Moore is better than people think and Carolina’s running game is rock solid. In Week 16 last season, the Panthers traveled to New York and destroyed the Giants (the final score was 41-9). Matt Moore threw three TDs and Jonathan Stewart ran for over 200 yards. Still, the Giants have more depth in more places. Tough call. I’d steer clear of this contest, but if you must place a wager, take the Panthers and the points.
PICK: Panthers +6.5
Miami (-3) At Buffalo
You won’t see a spread this low when these two teams meet again this season. CJ Spiller is great and all, but don’t fool yourself, the Bills suck. Take the Fins to cover.
PICK: Dolphins -3
Atlanta (-2.5) At Pittsburgh
Yea, yea, yea, Big Ben’s out and the Falcons are everyone’s chic pick this season. I’ll take Dennis Dixon, Rashard Mendenhall and a Troy Polamalu-led defense at home. Fun fact: The Steelers have won seven straight season openers. The Steelers will make it eight in a row.
PICK: Steelers +2.5
At Chicago (-6.5) Detroit
I’m going to go out on a limb and pick the Lions in an upset. Sure Mike Martz is an evil genius, but you have to love the weapons that Detroit has on offense. Stafford looked accurate in the preseason, Jahvid Best looks like the real deal, Nate Burleson is a solid possession receiver and Megatron is an unstoppable force. I like the over (44) in this game as well.
PICK: Detroit +6.5
At New England (-4.5) Cincinnati
Everyone’s trying to write off the Pats this year. Sure they don’t have a pass rush and yea the Bengals have two quality wideouts and a strong running game, but I’m not willing to pick against Belichick and Brady at home to start the season.
PICK: Patriots -4.5
At Tampa Bay (-3) Cleveland
Tampa’s QB is hurt and the team only managed three wins last season. The Browns aren’t going to surprise anyone this year, but Jake Delhomme is going to be better than people think. He knows a thing or two about beating the Bucs too. Cleveland wins on the road and Jerome Harrison runs wild.
PICK: Browns +3
At Jacksonville (-2.5) Denver
Kyle Orton gets no respect, but the guy’s a winner. He’s 29-19 as a starter and his passer rating has increased steadily over time. Still, Orton’s gonna miss the hell out of Bandon Marshall and Knowshon’s hammy is still not healed. David Garrard doesn’t instill confidence, but Sims-Walker is a true threat and MoJo is a beast that demands to be fed. Take the Jags to cover at home.
PICK: Jaguars -2.5
Indianapolis (-2) At Houston
Is this the year that Houston finally gets past Indy? Tough to say. Peyton Manning can’t be happy that an undrafted rookie will be starting at left tackle. Mario Williams will have all kinds of opportunities to make plays in this game. Houston’s high octane offense will put up points, but I’m not ready to bet against the Colts just yet. Take Indy to win this shootout.
PICK: Colts -2
At Tennessee (-6) Oakland
The Raiders will be much improved this year, but the Titans are just a better team. Fisher will have his squad ready to roll and the Titans will win at home.
PICK: Titans -6
Green Bay (-3) At Philadelphia
Expect lots of scoring in this contest. The Packers enter the season as favorites to take their division. The Eagles are a young team with promise and a new identity. Both these squads will go on to have great seasons, but someone has to lose this first fight. The Packers are banged up in the secondary and Kevin Kolb will do his best to prove that he’s the next Aaron Rodgers. I like the over (47.5), but if you need to pick a side, take Philly.
PICK: Eagles +3
San Francisco (-3) At Seattle
Pete Carroll got rid of half the team when he got to Seattle. The rebuilding effort is going to take time. The Niners just have more cohesion as a team at this point. I like them to take the division this year, and that all starts with a road win in Week 1.
PICK: 49ers -3
Arizona (-4) At St. Louis
If you play Fantasy Football, pick up Tim Hightower for this week’s game. Everyone is nuts for Beanie Wells, but the guy’s not 100% and Hightower is still the starter. With Derek Anderson under center, Hightower is going to get a lot of chances against a porous Rams defense. Bradford looked amazing in the preseason, but he needs more weapons.
PICK: Cardinals -4
Dallas (-3.5) At Washington
The Cowboys start strong, they just don’t finish. I think it’ll take some time before the Skins really gel as a team. Take the Cowboys to win on the road.
PICK: Cowboys -3.5
At NY Jets (-2) Baltimore
I love Hard Knocks as much as the next guy, but the Ravens are no joke. Everyone loves the Jets, but look for Sanchez to turn the ball over as Baltimore ruins the opening of the Jets’ new stadium in a low scoring affair.
PICK: Ravens +2
San Diego (-4.5) At Kansas City
The Chiefs are bound to turn it around soon, but Rivers, Ryan Matthews and the Vincent Jackson-less Chargers will maintain control of the division and cruise to victory in Week 1.
PICK: Chargers -4.5
Image via: Fantasy Football Brothers
The meaningless games are behind us and the new NFL season is here. I love making Week 1 bets ‘cause the spreads or so gentle to start the season. Weeks from now you’ll have to decide whether quality teams can win by two scores or more. Not so this week. All the spreads are friendly and there are some easy picks in the lot.
At New Orleans
-5
Minnesota
The Vikings were a couple plays away from taking out the Saints in last year’s NFC Championship game, but the emotional Saints will feed off the frenzied Superdome crowd, play physical D and ruin the start of Favre’s 20th season. Fun fact: Super Bowl champs have gone on to win the next season’s opener 10 years in a row. Choose Nawlins.
PICK: Saints -5
At NY Giants
-6.5
Carolina
I’m 100 percent 50/50 on this game. Matt Moore is better than people think and Carolina’s running game is rock solid. In Week 16 last season, the Panthers traveled to New York and destroyed the Giants (the final score was 41-9). Matt Moore threw three TDs and Jonathan Stewart ran for over 200 yards. Still, the Giants have more depth in more places. Tough call. I’d steer clear of this contest, but if you must place a wager, take the Panthers and the points.
PICK: Panthers +6.5
Miami
-3
At Buffalo
You won’t see a spread this low when these two teams meet again this season. CJ Spiller is great and all, but don’t fool yourself, the Bills suck. Take the Fins to cover.
PICK: Dolphins -3
Atlanta
-2.5
At Pittsburgh
Yea, yea, yea, Big Ben’s out and the Falcons are everyone’s chic pick this season. I’ll take Dennis Dixon, Rashard Mendenhall and a Troy Polamalu-led defense at home. Pick the Steelers to win.
PICK: Steelers +2.5
At Chicago
-6.5
Detroit
I’m going to go out on a limb and pick the Lions in an upset. Sure Mike Martz is an evil genius, but you have to love the weapons that Detroit has on offense. Stafford looked accurate in the preseason, Jahvid Best looks like the real deal, Nate Burleson is a solid possession receiver and Megatron is an unstoppable force. I like the over (44) in this game as well.
PICK: Detroit +6.5
At New England
-4.5
Cincinnati
Everyone’s trying to write off the Pats this year. Sure they don’t have a pass rush and yea the Bengals have two quality wideouts and a strong running game, but I’m not willing to pick against Belichick and Brady at home to start the season.
PICK: Patriots -4.5
At Tampa Bay
-3
Cleveland
Tampa’s QB is hurt and the team only managed three wins last season. The Browns aren’t going to surprise anyone this year, but Jake Delhomme is going to be better than people think. Cleveland wins on the road as Jerome Harrison runs wild.
PICK: Browns +3
At Jacksonville
-2.5
Denver
Kyle Orton gets no respect, but the guy’s a winner. He’s 29-19 as a starter and his passer rating has increased steadily over time. Still, Orton’s gonna miss the hell out of Bandon Marshall and Knowshon’s hammy is still not healed. David Garrard doesn’t instill confidence, but Sims-Walker is a true threat and MoJo is a beast that demands to be fed. Take the Jags to cover at home.
PICK: Jaguars -2.5
Indianapolis
-2
At Houston
Is this the year that Houston finally gets past Indy? Tough to say. Peyton Manning can’t be happy that an undrafted rookie will be starting at left tackle. Mario Williams will have all kinds of opportunities to make plays in this game. Houston’s high octane offense will put up points, but I’m not ready to bet against the Colts just yet. Take Indy to win this shootout.
PICK: Colts -2
At Tennessee
-6
Oakland
The Raiders are a much improved this year, but the Titans are just a better team. Fisher will have his squad ready to roll and the Titans will win at home.
PICK: Titans -6
Green Bay
-3
At Philadelphia
Expect lots of scoring in this contest. The Packers enter the season as favorites to take their division. The Eagles are a young team with promise and a new identity. Both these squads will go on to have great seasons, but someone has to lose this first fight. The Packers are banged up in the secondary and Kevin Kolb will do his best to prove that he’s the next Aaron Rodgers. I like the over (47.5), but if you need to pick a side, take Philly.
PICK: Eagles +3
San Francisco
-3
At Seattle
Pete Carroll got rid of half the team when he got to Seattle. The rebuilding effort is going to take time. The Niners just have more cohesion as a team at this point. I like them to take the division this year, and that all starts with a road win in Week 1.
PICK: 49ers -3
Arizona
-4
At St. Louis
If you play Fantasy Football, pick up Tim Hightower for this week’s game. Everyone is nuts for Beanie Wells, but the guy’s not 100% and Hightower is still the starter. With Derek Anderson under center, Hightower is going to get a lot of chances against a porous Rams defense. Bradford looked amazing in the preseason, but he needs more weapons.
PICK: Cardinals -4
Dallas
-3.5
At Washington
The Cowboys start strong, they just don’t finish. I think it’ll take some time before the Skins really gel as a team. Take the Cowboys to win on the road.
PICK: Cowboys -3.5
At NY Jets
-2
Baltimore
I love Hard Knocks as much as the next guy, but the Ravens are no joke. Everyone loves the Jets, but look for Sanchez to turn the ball over as Baltimore ruins the opening of the Jets’ new stadium in a low scoring affair.
PICK: Ravens +2
San Diego
-4.5
At Kansas City
The Chiefs are bound to turn it around soon, but Rivers, Ryan Matthews and the Vincent Jackson-less Chargers will maintain control of the division and cruise to victory in Week 1.
PICK: Chargers -4.5
Sep 9th
Watermelon Chick Can’t Feel Her Face
After you watch this, you’ll laugh so hard you won’t feel your face either…
Sep 8th
Hella Pissed My Cat Got Stolen During the Gangbang
C’mon people. If you go to the gangbang, please don’t steal the cat. It’s poor form, really.
Via: Imgur
Sep 7th
The MANjr Team Reviews Rick’s Cabaret in Las Vegas
When the guys at Rick’s Cabaret invited the MANjr team out to Vegas for a review of their club, we were all for it. Who doesn’t like Vegas and strip clubs? They go together like pinstripes and Yankees, like socks and shoes, like hummus on a pita. But the strip clubs in Vegas aren’t like the seedy shacks off the train tracks you find back home. The strip clubs in Vegas are epic pleasure palaces reserved for VIP types like Kiefer Sutherland and Rick Fox.
Well the MANjr team got the full VIP treatment at Rick’s Cabaret, and we’ll never look at a strip club the same way again. Once you go VIP at a place like Rick’s, there’s no going back.
It all started with curbside pickup at the casino. After chowing down some amazing steak and lobster at the ARIA, we got picked up by Miles in a Rick’s Mobile SUV. Miles was cool as hell. He’s in a band called Lik that opened for Molotov and he scored bonus points for knowing that Portos Bakery is awesome. When Miles pulled up to Rick’s, he hollered at some schmuck to move his limo so that he could drop off his VIP cargo in style.
Super-cool manager Bill greeted us at the back entrance and escorted us into the club like we were Henry Hill’s crew from Goodfellas. Bill promised to show us a good time, and after our initial glances at the gorgeous women in and outside the club, we knew Bill would live up to his pledge.
Once inside, Bill led us to our own VIP section with three couches and a clear view of the main stage. He introduced us to Jennifer, an attractive, energetic hostess who served as our bodyguard and guide for the rest of the night. Jennifer introduced us to Sandy, an equally perky bartender who ensured that our glasses were full the entire night. As the first round of Macallans and beers came out, Sandy suggested we all try her signature shot, Sandy Peaches. The shot was as sweet as the company we kept that night.
As we tossed back the first round, we began to realize just how massive this place was. Rick’s Cabaret is a multi-level complex of poles, intimate corners and private rooms. Sportscenter was on at the bar and two amazing brunettes were vying for attention on stage. There’s a central staircase that leads up to a level that’s reserved for private dances only. It’s the kind of daunting staircase that a drunk dude would only brave with the help of a friendly, scantily-clad guide.
Luckily those guides were all around us. As we conversed with Jennifer and learned about her family, her Sonora roots and her love of interior design, the MANjr team started to disperse. One guy met up with a Thai Goddess and got lost for the next three hours. Another dude found chemistry with a Russian blondie and made his way upstairs. One dude enjoyed a moment with a stunning Playmate from 1989. $20 lap dances were had by all, but the private dances cost a bit more. It’s quite easy to spend a lot of money at a place like Rick’s.
The MANjr team highly recommends the Rick’s VIP experience to anyone who wants to live it up in Vegas. Bachelor party? Don’t go anywhere else. Birthday party? Do it up in style. Whatever the occasion is, you can’t go wrong with Ricks. The place offers a level of personal attention and quality service that’s genuinely welcoming and refreshing. You’ll find public amusements and private encounters that’ll suit budgets and titty agendas of all sizes. And with the sheer volume and variety of beautiful women on hand, there’s really is something for everyone.
So the next time you mob out to Sin City with your boys, schedule some time to visit Rick’s Cabaret. The playful ambiance, first-rate management, upbeat service and impressive selection will change the way you look at gentlemen’s clubs in Vegas.
Sep 7th
Review: Sonos S5 Wireless Multi-Room Music System
I’m not the techiest of guys when it comes to speaker systems. All I every really need is a system that’s easy to use, can play my music loud, and can bump basslines. I’ve collected folders upon folders and drives upon drives of mp3s, and now my music system requirements are a bit more sophisticated. I want something that can play mp3s from my computer, that I can control with a remote, and that can be played in multiple rooms, even my back patio.
I’ve pretty much found the music system that meets all these requirements: The Sonos S5 Wireless Music System. ($399) This thing is pretty effin’ sick. Like I said, I’m not that techy, so I won’t go into the specs. What I can say is that YOU CAN PLAY MUSIC IN EVERY ROOM OF YOUR HOUSE! That’s a pretty big deal for me since my girlfriend wants to hear music while she’s cooking in the kitchen and I want to hear tunes while I’m waiting for my girlfriend to cook in the kitchen. The Sonos S5 lets you do this pretty easily.
Setup
The setup wasn’t time consuming, but you do have to read the instructions. It pretty much consists of installing software on your computer, attaching the Zone Bridge to your router and then placing your Sonos speaker anywhere you want in your house. The thing is wireless so you can pretty much unplug it and move it to whatever spot you want.
Playing Music
If you’ve got a lot of music on your computer and you want to have access to those files from anywhere in your house, this system does it easily. During setup, the installer will take you through associating your music folders or iTunes to your Sonos S5 system. If you want to listen to internet radio stations, Sonos lets you have your cake and eat it too. You can access thousands of free internet radio stations and broadcast programs. Just press Radio. Sonos S5 will also let you access your Pandora account and paid music services like Napster, Rhapsody, and Sirius. Check the Sonos site for updated music service listings.
Controlling your Sonos S5
The cool thing about the Sonos S5 is that you can control your tunes with your iPhone or iPod Touch. Sonos provides a free app that turns your iPhone into a controller. If you don’t have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you’re going to have to cough up $349 for one the controllers that Sonos provides. It’s definitely a music system that’s best served with Apple devices if you want to keep the costs down.
Other Cool Features
If you want to use headphones with the S5, no problem, there’s a jack in the back. There’s also a line-in jack if you want to connect a portable music player, CD player, or TV.
So all in all, it’s a damn good music system. The sound is great, it’s small enough to move around to different rooms (if you don’t have the funds to buy one for every room in your place), and it’s easy to control. Did I mention that you can have different tunes playing in different rooms? With all the music you’ve stored up over the years, accessing your library from anywhere in your home is a pretty sweet deal.
Sep 7th
Everybody’s Linkin for the Weekend
Star Trek off-camera photos (Dave & Thomas)
Tehmeena Afzal is unquestionably fit and sexy (MankindUnplugged)
The 20 hottest celebrity bikini car wash photos (Sub5Zero)
The evolution of Mad Men’s Peggy Olson (Nerve)
15 players who’ve had their fantasy stock drop during the preseason (Rotoworld)
That fat Indonesian baby finally stopped smoking (CNN)
15 badass TV credit sequences from the 70s (Kold Cast TV)
10 Mistakes That Start-Up Entrepreneurs Make (Wall Street Journal)
The first 6 things a girl notices in a guy (Leftos)
10 teams Hard Knocks was made for (Gunaxin Sports)
How Frank McCourt plunged the Dodgers into serious debt (LA Times)
Michael Silver’s NFL owner rankings Part 1 (Yahoo! Sports)
Michael Silver’s NFL owner rankings Part 2 (Yahoo! Sports)
5 fantasy football predictions for 2010 (AskMen)
10 famous dudes with only one ball (Asylum)
Video of some dumb crazy bitch throwing puppies into a river (Buzzfeed)
How to make hot homemade Sriracha! (Food52)
Ultra-disturbing video of Yoko Ono bustin’ out a fake orgasm on the mic at MoMA (YouTube)
6 celebrities who got their fake boobies removed (The Frisky)
Sep 3rd
