Let It Be...

I'm not piling on the New York Jets, it just seems that way.  New England Patriot Danny Woodhead, released by the New York Jets earlier this year, had this to say to his former team after Monday's massacre in New England: "do you like apples?"  Funny stuff.  But not as funny as the work of some airport employees in Boston who decorated the Jets team plane to remind them how Monday night went, at right.

UFC President Dana White made a trip to Toronto yesterday to announce - finally - that UFC will indeed be coming to Toronto on April 30th, 2011 in what is anticipated to be the organization's largest attended event (a lock) and largest gate (a lock).  No word on the card yet.

LeBron James weighed in on his old team and town and compared it to how Green Bay reacted when Brett Favre left town a few years back.  As poorly as that was handled in Green Bay, nobody went on TV with a "The Decision" moment.  That's about as close as you'll get to me defending everybody's favorite Sunday Afternoon Tackling Dummy Interception Machine.

The Dallas Cowboys are loving the fire and attention to detail that Jason Garrett has brought to the fold and are talking of how they're playing with a sense of urgency.  That's all well and good, but shame they didn't have a sense of urgency when there was something to be urgent about.  At any rate, pretty safe to say Garrett is the man for 2011 (or 2012, whenever the next season comes) and hard to argue against that so far.

At this point, 28 major league teams and 6 independents are said to have made offers to Cliff Lee, including a pair of matching 22-year offers.  Methinks that there's an agent at work building a competition that isn't as deep as it is being made out to be.  I love Lee at 5 or 6 years, I walk at 7.

The Toronto Blue Jays are said to be chasing Carlos Pena big time to fill their hole at first base.  They do know he had all of 95 hits last year right in 582 at-bats?  Granted, 28 left the park, but he's not exactly going to help the Jays fix their lack of runners on the bags anytime soon. EDIT: Pena signed with the Chicago Cubs for one year and $10 million.

Former Michigan running back Kevin Grady is building himself quite the resume when it comes to DUI.  Two years after getting clipped and blowing a .281, he blew a .30 late last month.  Call me crazy, but I'm going to suggest he's got a bit of a problem.  Bad Jocks ranks the best - meaning "worst" - blood alcohol content readings among athletes.  Grady now has two top ten slots.

The Texas Longhorns 2010 season summarized, using MS Paint.

100 vintage foreign objects - or as they're now called in this politically correct world: international objects - in the wrestling world.

Lance Bass is going to be one of New York Yankee Nick Swisher's groomsmen at his wedding this weekend.  I have no idea how this works.

Memo to Seattle Seahawk Leon Washington: if you're going to celebrate a punt return for a touchdown, make sure the punter doesn't take you down.




It was 30 years ago today that John Lennon left this earth, and in honour of that, we've got a version of Let It Be from a Norwegian TV show, featuring Ray Pruitt, Bud Bundy, John Bender, Ivan Drago and loads more.  Has to be seen to be believed.

World Cup, LeBron in C-Town, and the Leafs suck

So much for all the talk of England and especially the U.S. being slam dunks to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022.  Instead, it'll be mob-run Russia taking the ball in 2018, and a whole-lot-more-head-scratchingly Qatar in 2022.  Yeah, a  World Cup in the desert in mid-summer, in a country that doesn't widely allow people to drink, what a great idea!  For their part, Qatar is saying that they plan on air conditioning outdoor stadiums.  At least that isn't ridiculous.

Not sure what my fav moment was in the Miami Heat blowout of the Cleveland Cavaliers last night: the "like father like son" chant in warm-ups (LeBron's dad, of course, left the family when he was a child), the  "We should have drafted Darko" sign, or one of the Cavs assistant coaches telling 'bron to, well, pretty sure you can read his lips here (oh, and LOADS more below the vid...just mixing things up):

And speaking of the Heat, my GOD is Chris Bosh ever invisible there.  He looks as lost as Rafael Araujo did in his Toronto Raptors days, and that is some tough task.

Did I hear Deion Sanders say about Michael Vick:  "From Levinsworth to the limelike"?  I think you mean "limelight", Prime.  Vick was fantastic in last night's entertaining 34-24 win (and Prime Time Pick win) over the Houston Texans.

What could Rogers buying Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment mean for Hockey Night in Canada?  The end, speculates the Toronto Star.  

In case you didn't know, Dan Shulman is the new lead guy on Sunday Night Baseball.  This is a very, very good thing.

A breath of fresh air is new Toronto Raptor Jerryd Bayless, who writes in this piece of how excited he was to come to Toronto, and how excited he is to be a Raptor.  He keeps up with that attitude and he'll be a far greater fan fav than a defensively bankrupt never-was who holds up six fingers to indicate a three pointer.  Thanks to Boris D for that linkage.

A good week is about to kick off for the New York Yankees. Mariano Rivera is about to sign a two-year, $30 million deal today, after turning down three-years and $45 million (or more) from the Boston Red Sox, who clearly don't trust Jonathan Papelbon, and the LA Angels of Anaheim.  Hope you're paying attention, Captain Jeter.  The Cliff Lee chase is going to get heated up, with some predicting it'll be done before the end of next week, and Jeter should re-sign too with talk the Yankees may slightly - and wrongly - up their 3-year $45 million offer.

One thing this sports fan could do without: the big story of Tuesday-Friday of each NFL week being what guys are being fined.  Heard one laughable stat that Richard Seymour's fine for punching Ben Roethlesberger amounted to one quarter of a percent of his annual salary.  Yeah, that'll hurt.  So for the average guy making $50,000 a year, that's $125.  Back breaking stuff it is not.

None of Phil Jackson's 11 championship teams has ever lost four straight games in a season, something this year's LA Lakers have already accomplished.

Christmas gift idea for a New York Yankee fan: PlayStation 3/XBox MLB 10 The Show, because Derek Jeter will still be half decent in it.  Next year's edition won't be so kind.  If anybody has that game or another sitting in their desk drawer, send it my way.

So sour that the powder LeBron James throws up before the game wasn't swapped out for anthrax.

So the alleged Public Enemy #1 in Ottawa Dany Heatley made his first return to Ottawa with the San Jose Sharks last night and was met with plenty of empty seats.  Speculation is a rumor was floated that Heatley would be driving one of the buses moving fans out to Kanata.

Somehow, this guy dated Kate Moss.  What a freaking world.

Explain to me how Ron Wilson still is employed as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs?  When they're not blowing late leads like they did again to Tampa Bay a couple nights ago, they're getting shut out by last year's league doormat, the Edmonton Oilers, 5-0...at home.  Predictably, fans booed.  But they'll be back next game, they always are.  And if you're wondering, that makes you more sucker than fan.

Best hockey goal celebration ever?  Easy button?  Awesome.

Lyin' King comes home

If you are like most basketball fans, odds are you're pulling - heavy - for the Cleveland Cavaliers to dish out a little bit of revenge to LeBron James tonight when he brings his talents back to C-Town for the first time with his Miami Heat.  Cavs fans have a little something ready for LeBron too, as this official chant sheet - split out by 6 minute intervals each quarter - shows.  And if Cavs fans have been bringing signs already this season, am guessing they're going to paper the place like Monday Night Raw tonight.

Houston visit Philadelphia tonight in NFL action.  Considering what Michael Vick did the last time he was on Prime Time TV against Washington, he may break records tonight against a team as horrible against the pass as the Texans are.  I'm playing the Eagles at -8.5 for the Prime Time Pick.  I don't normally like going over a total at 51, but this one could be threatened early.

And your World Cup hosts for 2018 and 2022 are (drum roll)...being announced at 9:30am (Eastern).  You can watch here. If the stories are to be believed, Qatar has moved ahead of the U.S. as the likely winner for 2022.  Can't imagine what the rea$on$ behind that might be. 

This NFL season represents the first time in 51 years that every team has at least two losses at this point in the season.

A WWE themed wedding?  Sure, why not?  Not sure what I liked better, the Bret "Hitman" Hart routine, complete with sunglasses, the "Orient Express" entrance music for the Asian couple (Bill Parcells "Jap plays" think that was over the top), the Best Man rocking the theme from Karate Kid, or the groom going Mr. Perfect with his hankerchief...or Howard Finkel in house to announce it all.  Awesome.

Barcelona bitch-slap Real Madrid

Barcelona left no doubt who the best side in Spain, if not the world, are after an absolute dominant performance against visiting Real Madrid. Barca shredded the Real defence wide, in the middle, over the top...whatever way they wanted to attack they did, and rendered guys like Mehmet Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo invisible. Damn impressive. 5-0 final, and could've pushed double that with the odd break.  Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says Real weren't humiliated says , as the loss is easy to deal with given how emphatic it was. Deadspin has the highlites here if you missed it.

Jon Heyman at SI.com takes a look at MLB's hot stove league, which should heat up considerably in the coming days, and where certain players may end up.

How important is Tom Brady in the New England area?  Important enough that stories about whether he's having hair transplant treatments makes the news.

ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd says Derek Jeter is the "family values politician who has an affair...selling one thing and doing another".  Presumably he means selling he's all about team?  Cowherd also argues that Jeter has been overpaid his entire career because power hitters and aces make the kind of money he's made, not guys whose numbers compare to Alan Trammell, Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar historically.  He finished comparing Johnny Damon's 2009 against Jeter's 2010.  Damon hit .283 with 82 RBI and a .365 OBP, Jeter .270, 67 RBI and .340.  The Yankees wouldn't pay Damon, who Cowherd says was still better defensively and more useful at the top of the order, $7 million.  So offering Jeter $15 million is extremely generous.  Interesting take.  Oh, and someone in the Yankees camp says that Jeter needs to take a "reality potion". Remember how sour Jeter was for years after A-Rod's comments about Jeter never having to lead and it being different hitting in the #2 hole?  Have to figure this has him carrying a lifelong grudge by comparison.

NFL jersey's...camouflage style.  No, for real. If you rock one of these, you're a certifiable piece of trash.

The Miami Heat are said to be questioning whether Erik Spoelstra is the right coach for them.  I'm going to guess he's got a few issues with the make-up of his team in response.  So if they move to Pat Riley and they remain a poor team, albeit a better than .500 team, what then?  Here's a damning stat: LeBron James has 11 offensive boards on the entire season.  11.  0.6 per game.  If that isn't the sign of a guy content to put it up from the outside, or watch someone else do the dirty work, I don't know what is.  That average represents a career low.  

I couldn't even count how many versions of the same we've had, but here's the latest look at the top WAG's - wives and girlfriends - in the soccer world.  A top 50, if you will.

If you like your toast in the morning, maybe you'll like it even more with the logo of your favorite team burnt onto it?  Warning: word is the Toronto Blue Jays version sees the toast pop out extra early.

Best interception ever?
 

In a month that has been polluted by creepy 'stache's, it is only fitting that the close of the month sees the ante raised with "Hedo Rick" and his dance below.


The final submission for FIFA Goal of the Year comes from Barcelona's Lionel Messi with this gem against Valencia.

"What should I do?"

Troy Polamalu got all up in Roger Goodell's hair over the crackdown on hits in the NFL, saying that part of the problem may be that Goodell wields too much power and influence with no checks and balances like a proper government.  Silly Troy, thinking this is a democratic business he's in.

A quick peak at the NHL Albatross players.  Not surprisingly, other than he's just a dozen or so games into his contract, Ilya Kovalchuk leads the way.

Here's a peak at the ten issues facing the New York Yankees this off-season.  #2 is already taken care of.  Speaking of #2, Derek Jeter's people say his value to the team can't be overestimated.  Oh, but it can...and has.  One ring as the vaunted Captain, last I checked.  The always hilarious SportsPickle has a great article saying Jeter is demanding to be paid $1 million per intangible.

Fox Sports Soccer looks at the ultra convoluted playoff system employed by the MLS.  Memo to Don Garber: simple is good.  People get simple, especially if they're just new to your league.

Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams has had himself a nice year.  He's been one of the better Cowboys, for what that is worth.  But saying he thinks the Cowboys can win nine straight is comical.

Rogers announced yesterday that the Buffalo Bills hosting Chicago Bears game this Sunday in Toronto is sold out, even though you can easily get four tickets in the lower and upper bowls.  Word is the fine print of the announcement read "well, compared to a Toronto Blue Jays game the place sure will be packed."

For a few of you I know all too well, top 10 things you didn't know about Jägermeister.

A whole lot of Arianny Celeste pics, not including her Playboy pics from this month, which Hugh Hefner's legal team seems to be working overtime to keep off the 'net and pull off when they do hit.

Didn't take South Park long to lampoon LeBron James "What should I do?" Nike ads, mixing BP into the mix.

Here are the 25 least manly things in sports.  Pretty freaking comprehensive, it must be said.

Weird video from a soccer league in Brazil.  A player - and I can't imagine he's in the top flight given his physique - is getting ready to take a corner kick when a fan jumps out of the stands and, well, see for yourself.

88 in for $55,000

After complaints of small crowds from Evan Longoria and David Price, the Tampa Bay Rays are giving away 20,000 tickets to tonights game. Get the feeling it won't matter, and they'll still have under 20,000 in attendance?  I suppose the fact they clinched a playoff spot last night won't help the cause, although the AL East remains up for grabs.

Had some suggest the crack about "Thank you Cito" night seeing the giveaways extended into next season was a bit out of line, and you're right. There's a good shot they get 35,000 tonight. After all, the Yankees are in town, although they'll be likely playing a heavily loaded with back-ups squad after clinching a playoff spot last night and no doubt tearing it up.  In news relating to the playoff spot, Losers are mobilizing to simultaneously cheer on seven teams.

If ML$E thinks those empty seats at Toronto FC's Champions League game are about a cool, rainy day, they're begging.  John Molinaro at the CBC says they've reached the crisis stage.

Finally Delonte West asked about sex with LeBron James' mom and he said he absolutely didn't sleep with her because they were up all night.  Something like that..And for all the times LeBron has talked, how is it that not once has he referenced his former teammates in any way?  Doesn't that strike you as odd?


In retrospect, guessing Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is going to wish he carried Roy Williams pads when asked at camp a couple months back.  Why?  Seems RW goes his revenge, as instead of just having DB pay for a dinner for the team's offensive players, RW invited the defense as well to a swank steakhouse.   The bill?  $55,000.  Ouch.

What a turnaround for Michael Vick. After an off-season shooting at his birthday party that almost saw him off the Philadelphia Eagles and out of the game, he's not only starting for the Eagles and playing as good as ever, but he's also selling a pile of jerseys.  Vick will face Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins this weekend. No storylines there.

The Jacksonville Jaguars appear to have picked up Buffalo Bills castoff Trent Edwards. Yeah, that'll fix it.


Check out this shizophrenic split for AJ Burnett that happened in early May:  "through May 6 — six starts — Burnett was 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA. His strike out totals — just 28 in 40.2 innings — were down, but he was keeping both runners off base and the ball in the park. Just one of the first 164 batters to face him homered. Since then, Burnett has, with the exception of a few good starts in July, been utterly abysmal. He’s 6-15 over his last 26 starts, and he’s averaging just over 5.1 innings per start. After [Monday's] 2.1-inning, seven-run fiasco, his ERA over those 140 innings is 6.30, and he’s allowed 23 home runs and 64 walks while striking out just 111 guys. Opponents have an OPS against him of approximately .860. In other words, A.J. Burnett’s opponents are putting up better offensive numbers than Mark Teixeira."  Ouch.

Have a great Wednesday.

Derek Cheater?

Had a couple discussions yesterday on the "Derek Cheater" bit from a couple nights ago where he sold that he got hit by a pitch when it clearly hit his bat, so I'll summarize here.  (1) if you think that Jeter is above doing what it takes to win, you're kidding yourself.  He's got as much ego as the next guy, or he would have moved to third when Alex Rodriguez came to the Yankees a few years back because A-Rod was a far better shortstop than Jeter.  (2) To pretend he's some pure and great guy that would never do such a thing is to ignore that when he hurt himself in Toronto years back colliding with Ken Huckaby, he treated Huckaby like he did something wrong when he was just playing the game the right way - something some act like only Jeter does - he wouldn't even answer Huckaby's calls to apologize, vilifying him for no reason.  A saint he is not.  (3) If A-Rod did this, he'd be absolutely annihilated by the media, but with Jeter, it is merely a discussion (3) Baseball isn't golf and guys don't call penalties on themselves or correct umpires for errant calls, so there's no big deal here.  In short, pretending he's somehow above the pack when it comes to morality is to ignore reality, and logic.  He's a competitive guy, and good for him for that, especially when he needs to get on base any way he can of late.  Oh, and Jeter admits he wasn't hit.  Am sure the umpire is thrilled.

It might be the most ridiculous stat I've heard all year in baseball: Canadian boy, and Cincinnati Red, Joey Votto has yet to pop out to the infield this season.  MVP?  In a league with Albert Pujols, just maybe.

Darrelle Revis kept Randy Moss to 58-yards over two games last year and called Moss a "slouch" in the aftermath, marking the first time in memory that word was used as smack talk. They'll be facing each other this weekend in Jersey. How much would a Jets loss ratchet up the pressure on Rex Ryan and the Jets?  Is there a neutral fan that isn't hoping the Patriots pound them?  And who would think that just a few years out of SpyGate, the Pats look like the class operation of the two?

Now that Entourage Season 7 has wrapped, Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban has more time to talk sports and he wasted no time in calling out LeBron James for how he "humiliated" Cleveland and Ohio in jumping to Miami. Oh, and there was a study conducted that says LeBron James isn't as popular as he used to be. Well, knock me over with a feather. 


Former Toronto FC coach - and the "former" sounds so good - Preki says that he has no regrets over his time in Toronto, while speaking of the comments made against his regime by Dwayne DeRosario and Julian De Guzman as merely that of "a couple Canadian guys".   All class, that Pricki.  Here's a bit of trivia on his replacement Nick Dasovic, who is nothing if not a breath of fresh air after that stale rain cloud departed: when he studied for his UEFA B coaching license, in his class was one Jose Mourinho.

The San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars game is going to be blacked out this weekend in the San Diego area.  7,000 tickets left over tends to do that.


Floyd Mayweather must really want no part of Manny Pacquiao, what with his ridiculous act of late that now sees him facing 8 charges, including 4 felonies, that could see him do 34 years if he were convicted on all charges and got the maximum sentence.


Derek Jeter's act...check out the look at the umpire.  Pretty sure the source of this video is an extra on Jersey Shore.



I've seen some bad fumbles in my time, but check this one out in last weekend's Toronto Argos game when Ronald Flemons drops the ball while touched by exactly nobody.

LeDouche

Hear about the ESPN reporter that managed to follow LeBron James in Vegas for a night last week?  If you managed to see it on ESPN, consider yourself lucky as the article was pulled almost as quick as it went up yesterday, though the only reason I can surmise is it makes 'Bron look like a loser and his people objected and like the pandering poodle they've become to him, they yanked it.  But thanks to the fine folks at Deadspin, you can read it here below.  Get the feeling 'Bron is, for lack of a better word, a bit of a tool?  If you haven't with "The Decision", you will when you get a load of this act.

With the New York Yankees in Cleveland this week, there's a great piece here on how former Cleveland Indian isn't treated with near the disdain that 'Bron is and will continue to be.  Must be something to do with being respectful.

Stephen Strasburg was yanked from a start on Tuesday night and has some shoulder inflammation. If he's shut down for the year, that hurts him even more going forward as he was already looking at an innings cap next year, made only bigger if he doesn't get a tonne of work in this year.

Manchester United faced the MLS All-Stars last night at a packed Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas - yes, home of the NFL Texans - and had a pair from Frederico Macheda in the first 12 minutes, including the first 22 seconds in to lead Man U to a 5-2 beating of the All-Stars.  Good news for Toronto FC's Dwayne DeRosario: he scored a beauty after megging Wes Brown.

Great piece on the 25 Most Hated Teams of all (the) Time(s).

Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo confirmed the rumblings that came post-All Star Game that Chris Bosh had mentally checked out are something he subscribes to.  He added a little fact to it as well in announcing that Bosh was medically cleared to play six games before agreeing to do so.  Way to show up in the crunch, Bosh.  Am sure that that kind of intestinal fortitude will show for the Miami Heat.  He's not exactly smashing that "RuPaul of big men" tag that Shaquille O'Neal dropped on him a couple years back.

The word "boycott" comes from Charles C. Boycott, an Irish landlord whose high rents led the entire region to stop selling him basic goods.  Love Mental Floss.

Some impressive work in the comments section in taking apart basketball and football the last two days.  Going to keep this going for a while I suspect as there is some great stuff here.  Today: baseball.  Go nuts!

Olé, Olé, Oh Leighton!

Who knew that the soccer-ripping-off "Olé! Olé! Olé!" chant that many Habs fans think they invented was really a lead in to the much more original "Olé, Olé, Oh Leighton!"   Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michale Leighton is perfect through two games after last night's 3-0 shutout to give him two in a row on the series as the Flyers took care of business at home again for a 2-0 series lead.  As for his counterpart in the Montreal goal, Jaroslav Halak, he's now looking a lot more beatable and as though midnight has struck for his Cinderella run.  Needless to say, the Habs are in trouble.

In worse trouble, however, are the San Jose Sharks after losing 4-2 last night as the Chicago Black Hawks will be heading home with a 2-0 series lead after taking a pair in California.

Why the Phoenix Suns are in a lot of trouble after losing Game 1 to the LA Lakers: Lakers coach Phil Jackson is 46-0 in playoff series after winning Game 1, including 22-0 with the Lakers.

Safe to say that much like last year at this time, the New York Yankees bullpen is their soft spot, at least if the last 10 days are any indication.  Leading 5-1 against the lifeless Boston Red Sox, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera combined to blow their second lead in three days, and they're the reliable ones in that pen this year.  Also a problem for the Yanks: going into last night, Derek Jeter had swung at just 19.8 percent of pitches out of the strike zone since 2002. This year, however, Jeter has swung at 33.3 percent of all pitches out of the strike zone.  Might explain the plummeting average the last couple weeks.  All three are going to need to be much better with the awesome Tampa Bay Rays visiting for a couple of games starting today.

Word is Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas - a top five to ten player in the world - wants to bolt London and head to Barcelona.  That'd be a terrible loss for Arsenal, but Fabregas might not want to follow in the same path of Arsenal-captain-to-Barcelona footsteps of Thierry Henry, didn't exactly work out fantastic for the player.

Deadspin is running some of the best soccer chants of the year - the Liverpool Europa League bit is my fav - and you can check out the rest here.

Drunk Soccer League?  Hell freaking yes.  Somewhere, Paul Gascoigne is limbering up.

After years of intensive research, I can officially confirm that if you wear sunglasses indoors, you're a douchebag.  Rock stars exempted.

The Toronto Raptors may not have won the NBA Draft Lottery last night - that was the Washington Wizards - but their remaining fans were treated to a draft lottery day playoff treat when one Wince Carturd stepped up to the free throw line with roughly thirty ticks on the clock and his Orlando Magic trailing by three.  Carturd, who shoots free throws at a mid-80's clip, missed both.  Oh sweet, delicious karma.  The Magic are down 2-0 to the Boston Celtics with the series moving to Boston.

Very classy of Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, a first rate talent, to blast his manager for benching him when H-Ram took six seconds to get to a ball he missed because he was loafing it to the ball.  Problem is he's such a talent that unless he wants Fredi Gonzalez to keep his job, he likely won't.  Shame he's such a dickhead that refuses to apologize to his manager or teammates, who came out in support of the benching.

Toronto FC are at Vancouver tonight to face the Whitecaps in the latest round of the Canadian Championship.  A win will wrap up the title for TFC for the second year running.

Adios, Doc?

Toronto FC travel to Columbus for a key Eastern Conference battle tonight (7:30pm, SportsNet). They'll be minus their usual fan support in the thousands in Columbus this time around as TFC fans are boycotting after some shoddy treatment earlier this year which included one fan being tasered...Matt Holliday is the first big name player to be moved as baseball's trade deadline approaches, off to the St. Louis Cardinals for a trio of prospects heading the way of the Oakland A's. Are you like me and thought you heard "Halladay" at first and were on edge to hear where he went?...David Beckham says he's got nothing to apologize for when it comes to his baiting of fans in L.A. last Sunday? Whatever works for you, Beck's. I'm sure MLS fined you for no reason too, right?..after a couple days off and one message in particular from Bukkake, it would only be fitting that I return with an ode to Bukkake in this SpriteGermany commercial from ...Dana White tweeted "welcome back Tito" for one time great Tito Ortiz, and Affliction is back as a UFC sponsor after canceling its MMA event, and presumably, involvement in others? What year is this? Wonder if this all but hands Fedor Emelianenko to UFC which would set up maybe the biggest PPV event ever in him facing Brock Lesnar?...Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov says that he can improve on last year's performance. No word if he also stated that water is wet...Roy Halladay went 9 innings in what could be his last start as a Toronto Blue Jay, fanning 10 and getting a no decision as the Jays lost 4-2 in 10 innings to Tampa Bay, let down again by the Jays wet noodle sticks they've been swinging since May. There were only 24,000 in attendance which is an absolute embarrassment. Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun tweeted there were only scouts from two teams in attendance: Philadelphia and the Yankees. The Yankees are also looking at Scott Downs...it had to happen, a leak of the LeBron James video of him being dunked on at his camp a couple weeks back that Nike lamely had confiscated at his request. Blurry, but here it is. Here's collection of videos of what a variety of athletes think of LBJ having the video confiscated. Does he have some compromising video of these people? Finally, Phil Taylor at SI says the confiscation attempt says a lot about LeBron, and the reaction to a dunk hurts his reputation more than the dunk itself. True...that's all for today, back tomorrow.

Erek Jeter!

LeBron James is talking openly of how he may not get to face Dwayne Wade in an NBA Final but how he'd be fine facing him even if only in practice. In response, the New York Knicks started clearing cap room...Steven Gerrard scored three for Liverpool in yesterday's 5-0 fisting of Aston Villa, who have dropped two straight now and have Manchester United lined up in a couple weeks after the international break this weekend...for my money, Villanova vs Duke is the intriguing Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA hoops parenthesis. As always, I'll be pulling for whoever faces Duke. UConn looks the most dominant at this point...if you're wondering, Barrack Obama went 14-2 in his second round picks. Much better than a weak 19-13 opening round...bottom of the 8th, down 6-4, who makes an error for the United States that allows three more runs to make it 9-4 for Japan? Derek Jeter. But it is okay, it is Jeter after all. His defence gets any worse and we'll be calling him the Jose Calderon of MLB, dubbing him "Erek" Jeter...the latest in The Life of A-Rod: he dated a former madam, in addition to him tapping some of her escorts. David Duchovny is recognizing some symptoms in Alex...hard as it may be to believe, but Detroit Tigers starters Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson - both one-time studs - could be done at early ages. Fire up the performance enhancing drug speculation...Jeremy Roenick calls an interview with Sidney Crosby "as boring to watch as possible." JR hasn't scored many this year, but he's lighting the red light on that one...here's some word on the NHL changing the draft lottery to factor in years out of the playoffs and factor in previous first overall picks, good ideas both. Also mentioned: Vinny Lecavalier will be a Montreal Canadien on draft day. Guaranteed...think those NCAA lines are sharp at all? So far, we've seen wins and losses as narrow as a point either way. Yesterday, a push on Missouri at -4. Tough sledding. Have a great Monday, back with your PTP later.

Watch Erek go high and wide...

LeBron ups the ante

After a visit to the eye doctor's yesterday, I was able to confirm my Lasik sugery of 11 years ago remains perfect. It just seemed like I was seeing a disgusting blur ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday in the form of the Montreal Canadiens throw ups, err, throw back jerseys...speaking of the Super Bowl, Sunday's game pulled the second highest rating in the game's history, topped only by last year's game...what remains unsaid in the David Beckham discussions that could and likely will see him leave the LA Galaxy: what about all the season ticket holders of the Galaxy that bought tickets assuming they'd be seeing DB23?...good to see the Toronto Raptors show some heart last night, even if they ended up dropping a 115-107 decision to the LA Lakers. Missing was Jose Calderon for the duration, and Chris Bosh went out in the fourth with a sprained knee. Talk amongst yourselves if the effort was a coincidence. What is certain: if you sit out a game for anything only referred to as "sore", you're a bitch...an idea that makes too much sense: ditch the World Baseball Classic, and send the pros to the Winter Olympics. Largely the same timing, less frequent, and you can bet the U.S. players would take a greater interest than they do now...the NHL trade deadline is a month away, but that didn't stop TSN from airing "Countdown to Tradecentre '09"...after Kobe Bryant dropped 61 at Madison Square Garden, LeBron James dropped in and scored 52 as part of the first 50+ point triple double since 1975...separated at birth: Philadelphia Flyer Jeff Carter and tennis star Andy Roddick...Derek Jeter says he and the New York Yankees support Alex Rodriguez. Yawn...did you think the NFL dropped the tradition of the Super Bowl MVP getting a Cadillac? Nope, just the fine folks at GM wanting to keep it low-key when they're receiving billions in bailout money which just goes to prove the cover up is always worse than the crime...

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon go off on Sally Jenkins over her excusing Michael Phelps actions, and hit on Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens and more.

Check out the tattoo some Detroit Lions fan had done this week. Somewhere, Andy Warhol just ticked off another on the "everybody gets 15 minutes of fame" list...Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wrecked his $450,000 Ferrari on the way to practice yesterday. No word if the car was touched before crashing. Ronaldo was unhurt in the accident, but hopefully this knocked his 2008/9 rust out. Manchester United will need it ahead of Sunday's huge game against Chelsea. Tune in to The Score at 11am Eastern - Hi Def if you've got it - for what should be a great one...basking in the glory of last night's Florida cover to move to 5-3 (+187) on the year. Tonight, gonna make a play on the Toronto Raptors (-5 -113) as they hose the Memphis Grizzlies...the Seattle Sounders FC are running a reality type show on a local news station that culminates on Super Bowl Sunday with the winner getting a roster spot on the team. Lame...the Toronto Maple Leafs Mikhael Grabovski picked up a three game suspension for his shove of the referee last night. So if you're keeping score at home: two for biting, three for shoving a ref, six for "sloppy seconds" blasts...Brett Favre says he's going to take his time making a decision whether to play or retire. Memo to Favre: the only fan picketing you'll see this time will be to keep you at home, not to return...I've figured out the real reason that the Boston Celtics are reeling: the mere mention of Stephon Marbury heading there...Max Kellerman mentioned on his radio show out of New York that he's been told by a very credible source in the New York Knicks organization that the Knicks are making their moves with an eye towards signing Lebron James and Chris Bosh...have a great Friday, back in the morning.

Thursday, December 4th, 2008 - You could see it in Bosh's eyes...

How smalltime is hockey in the U.S.? It takes something like Sean "Uns"Avery - my creation, don't steal it - spouting off to make the top story at ESPN...when your team does everything but wave a white flag in a 39-point loss, and your team is a bit of a disappointment and 3-9 in the last dozen, somebody has to pay the price, and that somebody was Sam Mitchell, axed as Toronto Raptors head coach and keeping with the tradition of a Coach of the Year getting axed shortly thereafter. Don't feel bad for SMitch though, he's got $10 million coming his way as a parting gift, and has accumulated a fine collection of suits..it seems incredibly odd that for all the talk, there have still been no free agent signings. Not sure what CC Sabathia is waiting on, but if somebody - anybody - offered me $140 million, I'd be signing immediately rather than living in fear of some freak injury in the meantime while playing Guitar Hero, or more likely in Sabathia's case, cutting off a finger while eating...in telling Charles Barkley to shut up, Lebron James is the first Nike athlete of any significance to ever say anything remotely colourful. Think about it: Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, (snore) - vanilla thinks these guys are boring...former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice didn't set the world on fire in Toronto, and other than a finals appearance with the Carolina Hurricanes, didn't distinguish himself there, but somehow, he's back in Carolina after Peter Laviolette was turfed...under the "Department of Bargain", you'll find Boston Red Sox and 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, signed for 6 years and $40.5 million...in a move that can only be about saving money, Notre Dame is keeping Charlie Weis on as its head coach. Didn't Ty Willingham get axed after fewer years and even better performance?...if you've ever been to a sporting event, you've likely navigated the short steps while holding a beer or two, wondering if you might slip and fall. One Ottawa man did just that, and not only did he fall, he fell 25 feet to the deck below...another Prime Time Pick for you tonight, and the ledger stands at 15-11. Oakland visits San Diego in a matchup that means little, unless you're talking about the piss-poor AFC West, where .500 might get you in. To do that, both teams would have to go on quite the roll. The Bolts are 10 point favs and based on their current level of play - and commitment - tough to see them covering that number. Hell, it wouldn't shock me if the Raiders won outright. Take the Raiders and the points, happy Thursday night...have a great day.

The WORST dive of all time, and the ref got hooked...

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Stephon Marbury was fined by the New York Knicks for refusing to enter a game in which the Knicks only had eight players dressed. Is anybody surprised it went like that?... the ratings are in, and the Grey Cup was a ratings disaster, if you figure dropping 25% of your audience from the year prior is a bad thing. Of course, the move to TSN - not as readily available as the CBC - is a big factor. I'd wager that the number dwindled as the game went on considering how very boring it was...a couple real interesting English Premier League matchups this weekend, though both go tomorrow. The Manchester derby is always of interest, and if City play the way they did in Thursdays UEFA Cup game, United is in for a serious battle. London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal renew acquaintances. Which Gunners side shows? The one that can beat a top side, or the one that drops points to a lesser team? My money is on United and Chelsea...Forbes magazine has the average MLS team valued at $37 million. Toronto FC is already valued at $44 million...are you looking forward to USC pounding Notre Dame? I am...Lebron James best response to Charles Barkley's criticism of his flirtation with New York was to call Sir Chuck "stupid". One, he's not. Two, he's right...Toronto FC coach John Carver looks like he'll be staying, rather than taking a job with Newcastle United. Amen to that...have a great Saturday.



Not that I'm one for parades, but this clip from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is well worth a watch...

Friday, November 28th, 2008

It took longer than anyone expected once he came free, but Brian Burke has finally landed in the Toronto Maple Leafs GM chair. Burke has a six year deal to do what nobody has been able to in forty plus years. Not sure who will be happier about the move, Leafs fans, or the media? Burke is nothing if not a good quote...it was romp central in yesterday's NFL action, though the Philadelphia Eagles sure surprised in showing signs of life in hammering the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The Dallas Cowboys are starting to look like they've turned their season around as the offence is moving the ball with ease, though it was Seattle they played. Up next: Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, Baltimore. That'll tell the tale. Oh, and the Detroit Lions are looking every bit like a team that has "0-16" in its sites..Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh is eyeing the MVP award for this year and openly talking about it. The way he's playing, it shows...Toronto FC goalkeeper Greg Sutton thinks the squad can make a run for the playoffs and championship next year. He must know something about pending player moves because the team still lacks scoring punch...Allen Iverson skipped practice. Go ahead, say it to yourself, you know you want to...a pair of Buffalo Bills fans have a petition going to have the Rogers Centre roof open for the Bills game against Miami in a couple weeks. People who start petitions are losers, as are those that sign them...three straight losses for Prime Time Picks after six straight wins. Streaky...the three leading scorers in the NBA: Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh. All free agents in 2010..have a great Friday.

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Last year, Lebron James wore a pair of pinstriped shoes in New York for his beloved Yankees when the Cleveland Cavs visited. Last night, he wore another pair of shoes paying tribute to New York. There hasn't been such an overt display of desire since Michael Jackson last went for a ride on the merry-go-round...sounds like turmoil isn't merely restricted to one team in Dallas. Said Boston Bruins Marc Savard to Mike Modano during the chippy game a few weeks back on the subject of Steve Ott and Sean Avery: "too bad you'll be retiring after having to play with these clowns." Said Modano: "I know."...I love coaches - regardless of what level - going beyond the cliche when it comes to media dealings. And here's the latest: South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt. This is a beauty. Warning: you may detect sarcasm from Mr. Leavitt...the Donovan McNabb to the Chicago Bears rumors have started already. If you're the Bears, why do you want McNabb? He's been on a downward spiral for years, incapable of staying healthy, and, well, doesn't know the rules as we saw last week...the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed a pair of pitchers that haven't thrown baseballs before the last year and were discovered after winning a javelin throwing contest. In India. Yeah, that'll reverse years of futility...lost in the shuffle yesterday was another day of Champions League action that saw Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others, advance to the round of 16 when things start to get a lot more serious. Up today is another round of matches. Check out TSN, TSN2 and Setanta at 2:45 for a bevy of games...add the Globe & Mail to the list of Toronto media outlets that is questioning whether Sam Mitchell is long for the Toronto Raptors coaching job. I'll say this much: a loss tonight to the Charlotte Bobcats and it'll be a surprise if Mitchell makes it through the week...double digit underdogs in the NFL this year are 20-5 against the spread...as predicted last week, fading the Carolina Panthers was a good play because those that played the Detroit Lions the week prior were 0-10 against the spread heading into last week. Make that 0-11. Tampa Bay? You're on the clock for 0-12 this week...Bill Romanowski either has some insight, or has been hitting the pharmaceuticals a little too hard: he told Hardcore Sports Radio's "Drive This" that the New England Patriots will trade Tom Brady this off-season and keep Matt Cassell...interesting to learn that the Anaheim Ducks have all of five players signed for next year. While that may mean loads of cap room, it also means that a certain former General Manager of theirs may have some easy pickings for his future team...have a great Wednesday.

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Another NBA team - the New York Knicks - is making deals to clear cap room for the prized 2010 free agents of Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade...funny that the Toronto Star mentions that Toronto Raptor Anthony Parker was beat by Wince Carter to send Friday's game to overtime, but when it came time to describe the dunk that finished the game, no mention was made of Jose Calderon going pylon...the Grey Cup goes today and as much as Calgary has been the class of the CFL all year, tough to go against Montreal when they're playing at home and it is a pick 'em. Love the under at 57. That game goes at 6pm on TSN...the MLS Cup goes on ABC today at 3:30 and represents the easiest wager of the day for yours truly. I'm tipping the Columbus Crew to down the New York Red Bull...the Prime Time Picks are a rocking 14-7 heading into tonight, and we're riding the San Diego Chargers at -3 to down the Indianapolis Colts...how can CBC not run a ticker of other scores during Hockey Night in Canada? Hell, they don't even do it between periods...incredibly, the top four in the English Premier League yesterday were all scoreless...I would never dare to call myself the biggest follower of NCAA football, but I do follow it enough to take great pleasure in any loss by Notre Dame. At home. To Syracuse. Yeah, good thing they've got Charlie Weis inked to coach well into the next decade...Guns N Roses Chinese Democracy hits stores today, I'm off to Best Buy to get me mine. Have a great Sunday.

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

The New York Yankees are about to offer AJ Burnett a five year deal worth $80 million. Seems a lot of money to offer a guy whose best year would be in 2014 but then again, when he's sliding into Andy Pettitte's salary slot, tough to argue against it too much. Mix in that possible deal, talk of $140 million to CC Sabathia for six years and $30 million to Derek Lowe for two years and you've got $250 million for three arms. Mix in Chien Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain and that there is a playoff lock, and leaves plenty of time to develop Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, or move them as necessary... Didier Drogba picked up a three game suspension for firing a coin into the stands. Seems more than a little light, no?...it was a fairly weak field overall in the American League's MVP voting, but I think Boston Red Sock Dustin Pedroia was the right choice for 2008. That said, I'd also bet - a lot - he never wins again...a mere 40 point night for Toronto Raptors all-world star Chris Bosh, albeit in a losing effort. More and more, I think the odds of him staying beyond his current contract are decreasing, and how does that franchise survive losing that guy if it ends up that way?...the Toronto Maple Leafs are now going where everyone assumed they would be in chasing Brian Burke. One question, how do the Leafs spin it if they don't get Burke? It'll take one hell of a name to not sour people on whomever ends up getting the gig...tie-breakers 7 through 11 in the NFL all are impacted negatively for the Pittsburgh Steelers by Sunday's non-touchdown call. One Vegas sportsbook operator even says the NFL should get it right and call the score 17-10...now that Mark Cuban has had charges pressed against him, he ought to be front of the line for NHL franchise ownership...Lebron James was booed at home a couple nights ago because rather than jacking up a shot to break 100 points - which would give everyone a free Taco Bell Chalupa - he ran the clock out in a Cleveland Cavalier win. For his part, James was none too impressed and said he'd have no problem signing with the New York Knicks when his contract runs out. Okay, I'm making up the part about the Knicks, but he did say ""I can't believe people who buy season tickets get worked up over a goddamn $1 (expletive) taco"....Ryan Dempster nailed down the first big contract of the baseball free agent season, $52 million over four years to stay with the Chicago Cubs...have a great Wednesday.

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 - Beantown Bandwagon Empties

Teams from Florida - the Marlins and Rays - have never lost a playoff series to date...for the seventh time in eight years, baseball will have a different World Series winner...when Gary Bettman talks of how NHL season tickets are up 4%, he might want to mention that the Chicago Black Hawks are carrying most of that. Their figure went up from 3,500 to 14,000...Sargeant Kellen Winslow says that his latest illness is another bout of staph infection, the sixth time a Cleveland Browns player has had to deal with that. Does wonders for the image of Cleveland, I'm sure...good of the Green Bay Packers to hammer that fake named Brett Favre for allegedly calling the Detroit Lions to tip them off on some of what the Packers would run when they played a couple weeks back. It didn't work for the Lions, and only serves to show what a prick Favre really is. Losing to Oakland looked good on him. It won't be the last this year in a season going nowhere for 'ol Brett...hard to believe, but Ben Wallace is actually making more - about $100k more - than some teammate named Lebron James this year...so who thought New England had that kind of performance in them? And what happened to the smoking hot Denver Broncos of September?...as far as Champions League matchups go, hard to get too many that are more appealing than Real Madrid travelling to Turin to face Juventus. That, and seven other Champions League games go off today at 2:45 Eastern...good to see Kansas City Chief Larry Johnson has that anger under wraps. I mean, why else would a guy spit in a woman's face?...have a great Tuesday.

This might be the best thing I've seen in some time...

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