I'm just going to go and throw it out there and you take it in, just absorb what I'm about to say and then tell me what you think: Bengals RB Kenny Irons is the next Steven Spielberg!
I know you all agree with me. His special effects with the beer pitcher camera angle are going to be revolutionary in the film industry. It's impressive to see an Auburn grad...oh wait, I was just informed they don't actually graduate football players. Ummm, yeah, well it is impressive to see somebody who actually attended Auburn and yet has the brain functionality to know how to turn on an actual camera and act like a complete moron. You can't teach that!
The Georgia Bulldogs are the top ranked preseason team according to the USA Today coaches poll. If you asked my opinion I would tell you that preseason ranking should be thrown out in the garbage and we shouldn't have a vote till after the third week of the season but the system is what it is. With that being said if I had to do a preseason ranking I would agree with Georgia as the top ranked team. They are loaded at every position with the exceptions of WR (expect big things from freshman AJ Green) and kicker (still looking for a replacement for Brandon Coutu). We all know they have exceptional coaching with Mark Richt and his staff doing great things in Athens and they have recruited top 5 talent in the nation since Richt has arrived from Tallahassee.
More on the polls to come later.
The AP releases their preseason top 25 on August 16th.
The Red Sox traded embattled slugger Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers late Thursday afternoon, SI.com has learned.
Jason Bay is headed to Boston as part of the deal, SI.com has learned. The Pirates will get four minor leaguers in the three-way trade.
The Red Sox went back-and-forth with the Marlins and Dodgers as the 4 p.m. ET deadline approached. Ramirez said earlier today, as first reported by SI.com, that he would accept a trade to any team.
The announcement will be made in conjunction with a World Baseball Classic announcement at Dodger Stadium shortly.
The Dodgers just got much, much better with Manny Ramirez in the line up. Manny is a pain in the ass but there is no doubt he is one of the best right handed hitters all-time. The Red Sox get a really good player in Jason Bay and they can now move on and stop talking about Manny. Both the Dodgers and the Red Sox win in this transaction and the Pirates get a bunch of unproven prospects from the Dodgers and Red Sox. Sounds familiar. The prospects according to ESPN are...
Third baseman Andy LaRoche and right-handed pitcher Bryan Morris will go to the Pirates from the Dodgers. Outfielder Brandon Moss and right-handed pitcher Craig Hansen will leave the Red Sox orgianization for Pittsburgh, ESPN.com has learned.
LaRoche could be a hell of a player but the Pirates just drafted Pedro Alvarez who also plays third so one of them will have to switch positions. Morris is a 21 year old lefty who has posted impressive numbers at A ball for the Dodger organization. Moss has some upside as a corner outfielder who could be a lot like a Luke Scott for the Orioles. Hansen is a middle reliever who is cheap and locked up for years and could become the Pirates closer in the near future.
Go to MLBTRADERUMORS for more up to date analysis from Tim Dierkes.
Red Sox fans don't know this yet but I think they will miss Manny being Manny when he isn't in the lineup tearing up the Yankees. Got that? Hola....
46 Penn State players have been charged with crimes with 163 counts against them in the last 6 years and yet JoePa is claiming ESPN is on a "witch hunt."
Hey JoePa, 27 of those players have pleaded guilty to their crimes! ESPN's Outside the Lines has shown your football team has become an embarrassment to the University. It is time for you to step down and at least take some responsibility for what is happening at State Penn. I think it has become clear the only reason why JoePa is still coaching is because he has a personal battle against FSU coach Bobby Bowden for the all-time NCAA football victories by a head coach. Throw your ego out the door JoePa. You don't even know how to use a fucking computer or how to send a text message! The game has passed you by and all you can claim is people are going after you for a "witch hunt" in which your program keeps getting players arrested.
Hell, yesterday you had to dismiss defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor. Things aren't getting better. These are not isolated incidents when 46 football players are getting arrested with 17 in the past year alone.
So their badass middle linebacker Rey Maualuga likes to wear thongs in practice when he isn't pile driving tightends into the ground. That doesn't make one person gay now does it?
I have nothing bad to say about Maualuga because a person with his reputation for punching people in the face at parties is not something I aspire to experience in my lifetime. The first picture he must be leaning on some kind of butt dart they use in Trojan practices.
Go on girl..I mean Rey...be out and proud and make the Trojan community proud!
The above picture from the ESPY's is from the Big Lead and it shows how much love and admiration NBA rookies Greg Oden and Kevin Durant have for Danica Patrick's booty. Oden has that stare like a fat kid eyeing up a Twinkie at Fat Camp. He just wants to tear it up right there. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if has already. Or maybe they are just fantasizing about Danica and Maria Sharapova playing hide the floppies.
And people wonder why soccer hasn't caught the US by storm! I got to admit, not to sound gay or anything, but the one guy with the mustache has a really nice rack. His breasts are like pointy pillows sent down from Marilyn Monroe heaven. I'm going to go now...
Just reported by Buster Olney of ESPN, the New York Yankees have found a replacement for Jorge Posada by acquiring Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez for one of my old Milton high school teammates in Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge is a shell of his former self but the future Hall of Famer is an upgrade over Chad Moeller and Jose Molina and will be a free agent after this season. The Yankees can risk offering Pudge arbitration and he will become a Type A free agent so if another team signs him it gives the Yankees a supplemental first round draft pick. Farnsworth is another overpaid reliever who should be familiar with Detroit since he has played there before and should help their bullpen.
I've been slacking on the college football recruiting front lately so I figured I would give you a little update on the #1 rated prep linebacker in the nation. His name is Jelani Jenkins and he was the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year last year as a junior out of Wheaton(MD)Our Lady of Good Counsel. He is currently ranked the #1 linebacker by Rivals and the #2 rated WLB by Scout and he is highly coveted by every major football program around the country. He also reportedly carries a 4.0 GPA and is looking for a program with both a high standard for academics as well as on the gridiron.
Jelani and his family have already taken a road trip earlier this summer out West to visit the campuses of Stanford, USC and UCLA and this past week they made another road trip to the Midwest to visit the campuses of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Illinois. Mike Farrell of Rivals.com got a scoop on how the visits went in the Midwest from Jelani's father Maurice...
"Michigan was impressive, we liked the facilties and the academics. They just built a new facility for academic support and Michigan has a good reputation for academics. And on the football side, they showed us Michigan's defense from last year and how Jelani would fit into it. We were really impressed with the strength program and the trainers, that was one of the most impressive things we saw."
And how was Michigan State?
"They are doing a lot of growing," Maurice said. "They are putting a lot of money into the program and making some major renovations so the dedication is there. We met with coach Gill and the defensive coordinator, coach Pat Narduzzi and were very grateful for the time they spent with us."
And after MSU, it was on to Notre Dame.
"The Notre Dame visit went great, it's a beautiful campus, the staff was very hospitable and coach Weis has a great knowledge of the game from his NFL days. We met with Corwin Brown who went through the X's and O's with us and showed us how Jelani would fit in. He'd be a weakside linebacker for them and do a lot of blitzing.
"But we got to see the depth chart, the facilities were nice and of course the academics are excellent there. And they have a great legacy of football."
Jenkins plans to visit Florida, Boston College, and Miami in the near future and reportedly has close ties with Maryland and Penn State in terms of friends and closeness to home so his choices are still wide open with nobody definitively eliminated at this point. A lot of times these kids get a lot of hype coming out of high school and it's not exactly warranted because of either they can't qualify in terms of grades or they have already peaked in terms of performance at the high school level. Neither of these can be said about Jelani and if you have doubts about how good he is then take a look at this film of him running through and over opponents with ease...
Jenkins is the type of player who can step on campus immediately and compete for playing time as a starter so expect his decision to be well calculated in regards to what program offers the best in terms of atmosphere, academics, social life, and of course football. Who ever he chooses will be getting a hell of a football player and an even better student.
In the bottom of the sixth inning last night in Yankees Stadium the Orioles had a massive shift on Jason Giambi, aka Dirk Diggler, in which Orioles 2b Brian Roberts was basically playing shallow right field. The 70's Porn Stache smoked a ball just out of the reach of Roberts and promptly gave him the finger when rounding first base. It was Giambi's way of telling him I don't need your effing shift fellow roid boy!
The Orioles beat the Yankees again 7-6 and the Giambi/Roberts feud was more play than hate as both players laughed it off as they realized they make millions to play a child's game while I sit behind a computer eating Ramen Noodles in my boxers for the umpteenth time. Later in the game some douchebag umpire named Chad Fairchild (more than likely related) ejected Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera for hitting Alex Rodriguez which Fairchild must have taken as payback for the Giambi bird.
Come on Fairchild, don't be as drunk and senile as I am. The O's will go for the sweep today right after Fairchild gets done refeering a Turkish wresting match with A-Rod and Madonna. It's true, I read it in the New York Post so it can't be made up! Right guys and gals?
Here is the video footage in case you think the photo is doctored...
DEFENSIVE END Greg Middleton, Indiana-Middleton, just a sophomore last season, led the nation in sacks with 16 after recording 6 tackles during his freshman season. The 6'3, 275 pounder was part of a Hoosier's defense that set a school record with 42 sacks in 2007 and he should again be a defensive stopper in 2008. A first team Big Ten selection last season, Middleton should contend for first team All-American while helping the Hoosiers reach a bowl game.
Greg Hardy, Ole Miss-A first team All-SEC selection last year, Hardy harassed SEC QBs all season while recording 10 sacks. Hardy has future NFL first round draft pick written all over himself with his talent and should again have an excellent season rushing the QB for Ole Miss.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma-This prep phenom is living up to his billing coming out of high school as the #1 defensive tackle by earning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year last year. He should team up with fellow tackle DeMarcus Granger to form the best defensive tackle tandem in the college game. McCoy could become the best defensive linemen to ever play for the Sooners with his tremendous power and speed from the interior.
Terrance Taylor, Michigan-The Wolverines know how to produce quality defensive tackles and Taylor is just the latest in a long line. A second team Big Ten selection last year, Taylor started all 13 games and recorded 55 tackles with 8.5 for loss. Honestly he could be the one bright spot on a horrible Michigan team this year.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER Rico McCoy, Tennessee-Teamed up with 1st round draft pick Jerod Mayo last year, McCoy demolished the opposition with 106 total tackles while be selected for second team All-SEC. With Mayo gone expect McCoy, a junior, to be a beast and the leading tackler for an underrated Vols squad...
Marcus Freeman, Ohio State-Everybody talks about the Little Animal with good reason but not many people know that Freeman led the Buckeye's linebackers in tackles for loss with 8 and passes broken up with 5 while making 109 tackles, good for second on the team. Freeman earned 2nd Team Big-Ten last year but the senior has a good chance of earning All-American status with another solid season on the National Championship contending Buckeyes.
INSIDE LINEBACKER Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina-Jasper, the more talented of the Brinkley twins, is back after missing the second half of the season with a knee injury. Before he was injured Jasper was straight up murdering the offense after earning first team SEC honors in 2006. I'm banking on him returning healthy this season and proving why he is one of the best middle linebackers in the game. If you are a QB you might want to run out of bounds or take a slide...
Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh-McKillop led the college game last year in tackles per game (12.6) and total tackles (151) while breaking up 7 passes. Despite these incredible stats he only received third team All-American honors. Pitt is being picked as one of the surprise teams out of the Big East this year and if they expect to compete for a bowl game they will need McKillop to again be a terror between the white lines.
CORNERBACK Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest-Only 5'9, Smith was a second team All-American selection while breaking up 17 passes and grabbing 8 interceptions. He comes back with a defense that returns 9 of 11 starters and again should be a leading candidate for 1st team selection. The only thing he needs to work on is his dance moves...
Asher Allen, Georgia-One of the most underrated players in the SEC, Asher can fly with his 4.33 speed and cover with the best of them. He had 3 INTs last year while breaking up 5 passes and should turn into a lockdown corner for the Dawgs this season.
STRONG SAFETY Eric Berry, Tennessee-Just a true freshman last season, Berry started all 14 games for the Vols and could easily be the most talented defensive player in the SEC. Berry was all over the field last year playing ball hawk with 5 INTs and 86 tackles. Expect those numbers to increase this season and don't be surprised if Coach Fulmer uses him on offense.
FREE SAFETY William Moore, Missouri-Moore set a school record last season with 8 INTs. A second team All-American last year, expect Moore to again be a leader for a defense that returns 8 starters and should be good enough to get Mizzou to a BCS game which they should have earned last season.
Coming Wednesday: 2nd Team Preseason Defensive All-American Team
"The Hebrew Hammer" is one of the leading candidates for the National League MVP and a main reason why the Milwaukee Brewers are a serious contender for a World Series title for the first time since 1982. The Hebrew Hammer has brought back memories of those 1982 days when Paul Moliter and Robin Yount led the Brew Crew to their one and only World Series appearance in those sweet light blue uniforms. Now you can show your support for The Hebrew Hammer by buying your very own shirt which has a distressed design on the front and back to give it a vintage feel and look.
As always a portion of our sales goes to the American Cancer Society.
When you go 3-9 it has a tendency to do strange things to your psyche. Don't get me wrong, I actually kind of like the Masked Avenger. Sure he is sort of embarrassing but at least he doesn't wear jorts like Florida fans or doesn't have a clue who their coach is like USC fans. And as far as I know he doesn't smell like vomit and whiskey like the Volunteers faithful and he can read and write unlike Michigan football players who major in General Studies. But the question remains as to who exactly is the Masked Avenger?
Nobody took the 3-9 season harder than Charlie Weis did last year. His whole image and reputation has dramatically changed of one of whom was an offensive genius who helped lead ND to back-to-back BCS games to a proclaimed idiot by myself after he decided not to kick the winning field goal against Navy. And yes Charlie, I'm still bitter you didn't kick the damn field goal. So I think we have to come to the conclusion that the Masked Avenger is none other than Weis himself. Both are rather boisterous large men. Both have hairy pancakes for nipples. Both are die hard Irish fans that won't put up with excuses.
No wonder Charlie can recruit so well. All he has to do is put on the mask and Johnny Football is instantly in a trance with the Irish and the wonderful climate of Northern Indiana. It makes sense and yet none of it does after losing 9 games. I got your back Masked Avenger, you crazy diamond.
At least the fans didn't seem to egg it on! Now that is a full out brawl. The Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs obviously don't enjoy each other after this massive fight broke out last night in the 1st inning of a minor league game which resulted in 17 ejections, one fan hospitalized and one player being arrested...
After a Peoria player was hit in the top of the first, Castillo hit two batters in the bottom half -- one in the head. The second hit batsmen by Castillo, Angel Cabrerra, made an aggressive slide into second to break up a double play. Castillo followed that by throwing his next pitch up-and-in to the next Dayton batter, prompting Dayton manager Donnie Scott to complain to the home plate umpire. Interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez -- filling in for Ryne Sanberg -- came onto the field to join the discussion.
The two managers began arguing, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied.
Dayton shortstop Zack Cozart had to leave the game after being hit in the head with a pitch and Peoria second baseman Gian Guzman went out with a broken left leg, the Dayton Daily News reported.
The player arrested was Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo who threw an errant throw towards the Dayton dugout and instead struck a fan who had to be sent to the hospital. Castillo was charged with felony assault and will more than likely serve some time in jail since the whole nation has now witnessed the incident. I would love to see how his lawyer tries to get him off on a technicality of being a douchebag. There is a douchebag technicality right? I believe O.J. used that as his defense.
Football season is just around the corner and what better way to prepare for the Notre Dame football season then by ordering one of these authentic Wilson Game Model footballs that the team actually uses on Game Day.
These authentic footballs retail for as much as $199.99 on Steiner Sports but we are offering them for the super low price of $110. I only have a few in stock so get them fast before they are gone.
Sorry about the total lack of posts lately. I've been trying to write stuff while on the road constantly the last 2 to 3 weeks but my mind has been wandering. I have made east coast to west coast to east coast to west coast and now back to Atlanta with a trip to Philadelphia in between. I still have no idea what time zone I am in and my daily dump schedule has been thrown way out of whack. Last night I finally managed to see "The Dark Knight" and was more than pleased to say it is the best film I have seen in a while and by far the best Batman movie. A lot of the credit goes to Heath Ledger's Joker in the press clippings which is deservedly so but Aaron Eckhart was also brilliant as Harvey Dent, aka Two Face. Both deserve a shot at an Oscar in my opinion. Most films don't live up to huge expectations especially summer blockbusters but "The Dark Knight" delivered from start to finish and you really owe it to yourself to see it on the big screen. Trust me, I have a nice size television with HD and all that crap and it will never match up to the movie theater experience.
Oh yeah, the above clip is from WithLeather of some Colombian bullfight. Looks like fun doesn't it? And in case you were wondering which I'm sure you were not I was out in California working a tennis tournament at Stanford University. Talk about a beautiful campus and weather there is little wonder why it costs so damn much to get in there. I managed to run into Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps (taller than I envisioned) and Stanford football coach Jim Harbaugh (gave him a friendly thank you for beating USC and losing to Notre Dame) on campus and also got to see Serena Williams play tennis on a bum leg. So that was my brush with famous people in the matter of a couple of weeks. All of them seem like really good people so I don't have any bad stories to tell. I know, I'm sorry. Rob from WallofFameSports.com and I saw some Stanford football players get free tickets to the WTA tennis event which is probably some sort of NCAA infraction but honestly I could care less because they don't play for the Trojans. If you are ever in the Palo Alto area I highly recommend going to Old Pro Sports Bar in the downtown district. They have a mechanical bull which is endless hours of entertainment upon itself with all the Stanford co-eds enjoying themselves and tons of flat screens with vintage sports team banners and Sports Illustrated covers all around. Good atmosphere, decent food and a friendly staff make it worthwhile.
Chase Utley is the man. I managed to catch my first Phillies game at Citizen Bank Park on Sunday due to the huge clusterfuck of delays at Philly International that gave me and the old lady some extra time to explore the athletic side of Brotherly Love. Somehow we managed to get into the game despite it being sold out thanks to a really cool ticket usher. The place was packed and filled with cheesesteak eating loud mouths everywhere. It was great. Great to see the passion of a fanbase who actually care about the game unlike a lot of the fair weather Atlanta fans I see in Turner Field everyday. Anyways, I bought a Phillies baby blue jersey shirt with the "Utley 26" on the back because I love the way Utley plays the game. I can respect him.
After hearing him say "Boo, Fuck You" to the fans at Yankee Stadium I am now completely and Utterly in love with Chase. He had me at "Boo."
By the way, Philly was a blast. I was up there for my buddy Tobin's wedding and got to catch up with a lot of old college buddies. Nothing has changed with a lot of those guys and I love it. We killed cases of Bud Light and Yuengling, reminisced, and busted each other's balls all night. I didn't realize how much I missed all those guys and now I hope to hang out with them some more in the near future. I may not be a Philly guy but I do love all my Philly boys.
