Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka for $175 Million

Just when I was starting to feel bad for the New York Yankees and those awful contracts they handed out to aging stars Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carlos Beltran they go out and totally redeem themselves by signing Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka for seven-years, $155 million (plus $20 million posting fee).  This signing will work out great for the Yankees.  Tanaka has never pitched in the majors but fuck it, what does that matter?  He put up great numbers in Japan so "let's pay him Clayton Kershaw money" is a great way to build a franchise.  Brilliant in fact.  Absolutely no way this signing blows up in their faces.  Tanaka will perform great in the low pressure, laid back style that only New York can provide.  Plus he isn't making quite as much as A-Rod so he won't have a bulls eye on his back.  We all know Yankees fans are caring, loving individuals who no matter how much their stars struggle are only there to support them with admiration.  Good luck in NY Tanaka!

Baltimore Ravens Jacoby Jones Gives Grade A Drunk Interview At Pelicans Game

I have no fucking clue what Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones said here at a clearly sold out New Orleans Pelicans game last night.  After decades of studying, practicing, and perfecting the art of drunk I still can't translate Jacoby's slurs.  Jacoby is so smashed he's wearing a LiveStrong bracelet.  Bro those were in style 10 years ago.  Yes ma'aaaamm!

Auburn Band Reacts to 2013 Iron Bowl Win

Unless you are an inbred Bama fan you have to get the chills watching this video of the Auburn band reacting to Chris Davis' epic missed field goal return for the winning score in the 2013 Iron Bowl.  I honestly don't see how these kids are even performing after watching this live in person.  I would have been going ape shit.  Fuck this fiddle I'm going down to the field to celebrate!

Jameis Winston Has A Country Song Called "He's Jameis"

I can definitely see Jameis and his friends rocking out to this slow country song with his friends while drinking moonshine in Southern Alabama.  Peas in a pod my friends.  Peas in a pod.

RussellMania Seattle Shirts Now Available! 50% sales goes to American Cancer Society

Ok SportsCrack Nation this RussellMania shirt is going to be our big fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.  As you probably know we have donated a portion of all our sales to the ACS since my Mom passed away from Cancer back in 2006.  Well in the past week I've had two close friends also lose parents to the terrible disease.  Simply put Cancer sucks!  I've decided that 50% of all sales from the new RUSSELLMANIA SEATTLE shirts will go directly to the American Cancer Society.  This is our chance to help stop this deadly disease.  If you don't want the t-shirt and simply want to donate directly to the American Cancer Society because you are an awesome human being please go to their site at this link.

Thanks SportsCrack Nation!

New Irish Green Shirt: Fear The Stache

Intensity.

Respect.

Epic.

Funny.

Classic.

Fear.

Stache.

All of these words describe our new FEAR THE STACHE Irish Green Shirt.  This classic tee will bring back memories of a Brawny defense.  A defense that will be unleashed in 2014 thanks to the "Fear the Stache" campaign.  Get the one and only "Fear The Stache" shirt today!

A Night In Louisville Starring Bobby Petrino and Rick Petino

With Bobby Petrino riding his Hog back to Louisville we now have two lost soul mates who can finally connect in the dance club with fellow Casanova Rick Pitino waiting on tender chariot.  It's going to be wet and wild for sure.  Secretaries, interns, colleagues, Hooters waitresses you have been warned.  Double P is coming for ya!

Hipster NFL Logos

The awesome folks over at KissingSuzyKolber produced some top notch Hipster NFL Logos.  These are just a few of my favorites.

We all know Hipsters love their "craft beer."  Hey buddy can I get a Pompous Asshole Pale Ale?

James Franklin Bought an Ad in The Tennessean to Thank Vanderbilt

I gotta admit this was a classy move by new Penn State head coach James Franklin.  Franklin took out a near full page ad in The Tennessean to thank Vanderbilt for everything they gave him.  Now you can get a small glimpse of why people like Franklin are so successful.

I've been arguing with some friends about Franklin.  For some wacko reason they think he will be a massive failure in Happy Valley.  I can't even grasp that bullshit.  The guy won at Vanderbilt!  Before he got to Nashville the Commodores had been to one, yes, one bowl game in the last 28 years.  During his 3 years they went to 3 bowl games.  I would say that is pretty damn good.  Also they beat up on Tennessee, Georgia and Florida who are all SEC East blueblood programs.

If the Big Ten is ever going to get back to dominant conference play (have they ever?) they need to poach coaches from the SEC.  Last year they did it with Urban Meyer going to Ohio State.  This year it is Franklin.  He will kill it for State Penn.  College football needs Franklin to succeed at Penn State.  It's so much more entertaining when at least a few teams from up north are competing for National Titles.  We need to revive the Civil War of College Football.  Yee Haw!

Instagram Heat: Emma Frain

I've had an Instagram account for over 2 years now and I have honestly been on there maybe 4 times.  I never really understood the attraction of the photo sharing website.  Of course I was the same way with Twitter at first but then you realize why so many people are getting on there: porn.  No I'm kidding of course. Most people go on there for all the great information right?

Back to Instagram.  Check out Emma Frain's page.  It's full of goodies at http://instagram.com/thefrainbow

Here are some highlights:

Blaze the Husky Says No to the Kennel

Hey what can you say other than this dog gets it.  No one wants to be in a kennel.  Especially not Blaze.  You can try all you want master but you are not getting me in that fucking box a-hole.

I didn't realize people still put their dogs in cages.  Seems cruel to be honest.  How would you like to sit in a box barely bigger than your body for 8 hours a day?  Sounds awesome right?  Sign me up.

Lane Kiffin To Bama Deserves a New The Beverly Hillbillies Song

What in the fuck was Nick Saban thinking?

Lane Kiffin?

Seriously?

People don't intentionally try to get AIDS or Cancer but here we are in 2014 and Saban has just infected his program with Kiffin.  It's the most deadly disease known to football.

Those poor inbred cousins down in Tuscaloosa have no fucking clue what they are getting into with Kiffin.  And don't even start with the "well he was a great coordinator with USC" bullshit.  The Trojan's roster was full of Heisman winners and All-Americans.  Gene Chizik and Larry Coker could have one done wonders with those players too.

In all honesty I have to thank Saban for hiring Kiffin.  It's going to be pure entertainment down in Tuscaloosa.  Saban is letting his ego get the best of him thinking he can turn anything into gold and shit maybe he does shine the shit off of Kiffin's turd of a coaching career but I seriously doubt it.

Image via @Nick_Pants

CSN Introduces The New Chicago Cubs Mascot Clark Who Apparently Is Packing Heat

You might want to put some pants on that Cub.  100 plus years of losing baseball and still Clark the Cub is packing some serious heat.  Good for him.  Bad for the kids.

Deadspin did a great job with Clark.  You might as well make him anatomically correct if he's not gonna have any pants on.

Great Hockey Fight: Mike Brown vs Aaron Volpatti

Talk about some haymakers!  Holy shit these two goons exchanged some bloody blows.  It looks like Mike Brown of the San Jose Sharks got a little bit of the upper hand in this exchange with Aaron Volpatti of the Washington Capitals.  I'm going to make Gretzky bleed!!!!

Great Prank: Devil Baby Stroller in NYC

These videos always have me cracking up.  Just seeing someone scared shitless is funny.  Imagine if they filmed this animatronic devil baby prank in Texas instead of New York City.  That fake baby would have bullet holes all through it.

Tina Fey Knocks It Out of the Park With This Golden Globes Introduction of Leonardo Dicaprio

"Like a supermodel's vagina, let's please give a warm welcome to Leonardo Dicaprio" - gold Jerry, gold!

Thank you Tina Fey!  You gave the whole audience a laugh out loud moment while causing Martin Scorcese to almost shit himself on national television.  You have to love Leonardo too.  You know he is just going to lay it into Fey and Amy Poehler later after he gets done banging every single model in attendance.

Broncos Fan Wearing a Peyton Manning Jersey Gets His Ass Kicked in San Diego

Hey I get you were very excited to win a playoff game.  But if you are a Denver Broncos fan wearing a bright orange Peyton Manning jersey in San Diego it's probably not smart to go running around amongst Chargers fans shouting "Hey San Diego, Go Fuck Yourselves!"  It's funny in "Anchorman" but it sure as shit isn't funny when you are getting your 300 lb ass kicked and then arrested.

Peyton Manning's #1 Priority is Bud Light

Well you got to love the honesty.  Peyton Manning is one of the all-time greats.  He's also has a losing record in the playoffs and despite having a Super Bowl in his back pocket has a huge monkey on his back.  So yeah if Peyton wants a fucking Bud Light at the end of the huge playoff win he will get it.  Especially now that he knows he has Tom Brady and the Patriots coming to town he's has to feel parched.  You know the folks over in Golden, CO are fucking pissed right now.  Peyton just bitched slap Coors in the face with his St. Louis love.

January 9th 2013 Was Not a Good Day for Notre Dame

The BCS Era is finally dead but it seems like Notre Dame's horrible January luck will continue to reign supreme.  It's been 20 years since the Fighting Irish had a good first month of the New Year and after yesterday it could be another 20 years.

Here is a rough time line of the shit hitting the fan in South Bend.

Image via UHND

LEADING RETURNING RECEIVER DAVARIS DANIELS SUSPENDED FOR SPRING
Davaris Daniels caught 49 passes for 745 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013 but won't be catching shit this spring other than study time after being suspended for a less than stellar GPA.  Ahh the joys of playing at an actual academic institution.  Daniels was expected to be QB Everett Golson's (another player suspended last season for academics) #1 target and really only proven receiving commodity other than TE Troy Niklas (shit we will get to him later) returning.  Now it's up in the air.  Yes he can return if he gets his grades back in order but as a rising senior this shouldn't even be an issue at this point in his collegiate career.  Players like Daniels need to be leaders especially at a position at WR where they are extremely green.  No Spring Game for Daniels means players like Chris Brown and CJ Procise as well as freshman wideouts Corey Robinson, Will Fuller, and James Onwuala will have to build some trust with Golson as he returns.

DT TOP RECRUIT MATT DICKERSON DECOMMITS, GOING TO UCLA
Well at least this news broke before signing day and not 3 months after.  UCLA again poached a valuable ND recruit at a position where they struggle mightily to get quality numbers in defensive tackle.  Last year it was freshman All-American Eddie Vanderdoes and this year it's another Northern Cali prospect in Matt Dickerson.  Dickerson like Vanderdoes is citing family issues for flipping to UCLA and wanting to stay closer to home.  This is understandable but both players are still a 5-6 hour drive from UCLA to their respective homes.  In other words it's more BS.  Oh well move on right?  I mean defensive tackles are just rushing to get into Notre Dame now that Louis Nix is going first round to the NFL right?  Fuck no.

NOTRE DAME SWITCHING TO UNDER ARMOUR
This is just a personal preference and not an indictment on Notre Dame.  I just am not a fan of Under Armour.  And yes I'm from Maryland originally but I think UA gear is overpriced and overrated.  No offense but offense to my Maryland peeps.  Supposedly ND picked UA over Nike after deciding to let their Adidas contract run out.  A lot of recruits and fans were not happy with the decision.  They bitched and moan about it on Twitter and Facebook.  I was also one of those fans.  I don't want to protect this house.  I want Nike and field turf and a fucking video board in the stadium in 2014.  But none of these things look like they will happen.  Awesome.

Image via UHND

TROY NIKLAS DECLARES FOR NFL DRAFT

This was the final dick kick I needed before going to bed late last night.  Presumed to be returning tight end Troy Niklas aka Hercules aka build himself into a 1st round pick in 2014 aka what the fuckity fuck are you doing declaring for the NFL draft?  I've had some time to rethink this and if I was in Niklas size 15 shoes I would have come back for my senior season and strive to make myself the best tight end in the nation but I can also see leaving early.  Football careers are short and concussions are extremely dangerous.  Niklas has the later already.  You gotta get your money "legally" while you can and after talking with Tyler Eifert and others Niklas made his decision.  At least he told Brian Kelly about it unlike Stephon Tuitt who went straight to the media.  No way to sugar coat it but losing Niklas and Tuitt are tremendous losses.  Physically no one can replace those two on the roster.  But hey look on the bright side at least Notre Dame plays a shit schedule like Ohio State...oh wait...nevermind.

And last but not least I've heard some grumblings about Kelly and the NFL.  At this point nothing would surprise me.  With so many players jumping ship and academics taking away elite talent I'm not so sure Kelly returns in 2014.  At this point they are just rumors but until Notre Dame or Brian Kelly come out and announce his new offensive coordinator (?) and defensive coordinator (Brian VanGorder) I'm going to prepare myself for the worst.  Because make no mistake losing Kelly would be devastating.  And no Gruden is not walking through that Golden Dome door nor would I want him.

Texas A&M Makes a Fitting Tribute Video for Johnny Manziel Titled "Thank You Johnny Football"

I'm not even going to lie.  College football is a lot more boring without Johnny Fucking Football.  Whether you love him or hate him you gotta at least respect his "on the field" game.  Manziel can flat out ball.  I think I'm in the minority of people who think he will succeed at the next level.  Johnny just has it.  And by it I mean chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV.  In all seriousness Johnny is a leader and a college football legend.  The Aggies were just a run of the mill Big 12 team before Johnny came along. In two seasons he almost took them to the mountaintop of the SEC by himself.  If the Aggies had any defense we would be talking about Manziel as the best player since Herschel.  That's not hyperbole.  It's the truth.  Plus Manziel is as much a player off the field as he is on it.  He's the new Joe Namath without the porn stache.  I'm sure the notches on his belt in College Station were legendary and one can only imagine what kind of pull he will have in a new NFL city.  He's going to be a top 10 pick and part of me wishes my Atlanta Falcons would trade Matt Ryan for draft picks, draft Johnny, and grab some defensive studs with a late first/early 2nd round.  I want the JFF show to come to Atlanta permanently.  He's got more talent than Ryan and a hell of a lot more personality.

As a college football I want to Thank You Johnny Football.  College football needs polarizing figures like Manziel because lightning only strikes so often.  You gotta enjoy the spark while it lasts because before you know it it will be gone.