Author: clay

Categories
NFL General

Carr and Casserly are gone but the stigma of stupidity remains



That’s a lot closer than
David Carr or Matt Schaub will
ever get to a championship.

The Houston Texans have official proven that they are the dumbest team in the NFL. Just one year after saying they were convinced David Carr was the quarterback who could take them to a Super Bowl, the Texans are trading Carr to Atlanta for Matt Schaub. The Falcons will also receive a second round-pick in the deal as well.

So, Houston passed on hometown hero Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler for Matt Schaub? And we’re not even mentioning that they could have also selected the multidimensional Reggie Bush. Schaub has been solid when given the opportunity to play in Atlanta, but the guy has only thrown 161 career passes with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Is that really worth skipping out on filling the stadium every home game with thousands of screaming Young fans?

It was as obvious before the draft as it was after the season that Carr was not the guy to lead a sewer dwelling franchise out of the scum and into Super Bowl supremacy. But former GM Charlie Casserly stuck around a bit too long and refused to lose face by giving up on the franchise’s first ever pick. And now the few fans that Houston has left will be forced to endure the torture of watching Mario Williams while knowing that Bush or Young could be bringing down the house with some sick footwork.

Williams will always be the Sam Bowie of the NFL and the Texans are now firmly entrenched as the Trailblazers of the league; minus the rapes, assaults and arrests of course.

Links:

[Chron.com]: Texans near deal for Matt Schaub
[NFL.com]: Falcons to trade QB Schaub to Texans

Categories
Jacksonville Jaguars

Khalif Barnes doesn’t hate white cops — just the one who arrested him

After being picked up for driving drunk in Jacksonville back in November, Jaguars offensive tackle Khalif Barnes decided to let the Jacksonville law enforcement know exactly how he felt about them. And apparently, he feels like Jacksonville is not too far away from burning crosses and wearing white sheets and calls the arresting officer a “KKK devil that hates all colored people.”

This is unbelievable, man, unbelievable being a pro athlete in Jacksonville. I can’t wait to get out of here. Can’t wait,” Barnes said while handcuffed in the back of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office patrol car. “Especially if you’re black.”

About 20 minutes later, still in the patrol car, he said, “Of all the places in the — world that I came to this — hick town. They — hate us here. Why you even want to have a pro team here? What’s the use? They don’t even — respect you.

Luckily for us all of us Barnes tirade was caught on tape by a camera positioned in the back seat of the officers car. Barnes’ alcohol level was at .12 which is over the Florida limit of .08, but his lawyers are arguing, as Barnes did in the video, that the officer did not have enough probable cause to arrest him.

But even if he gets off the hook for the drunken driving charge, there’s no court that can recant what he had to say in the back of that patrol car. And cops tend to hold grudges against people who call them racist, so Barnes might want to consider calling a limo the next time he gets a bit tipsy. And fans have been know to hold grudges as well, so be prepared for the boos to rain down the next time he takes the field in that “hick town.”

Links:

[Jacksonville.com]: Arrest video shows Jaguars lineman blasting city, cops

Categories
Boston Red Sox

What, you couldn’t afford an infomercial?



Yours for the low, low
price of just $4,000.

Manny Ramirez is a strange character to say the least, so nothing should be too surprising at this point. Still, we never expected to see Man Ram’s mug on eBay next to an “AMAZING” grill, but we did and here’s what Ramirez has to say about his item up for bid.

Hi, I’m Manny Ramirez,” the listing said. “I bought this AMAZING grill for about $4,000 and I used it once. … But I never have the time to use it because I am always on the road. I would love to sell it and you will get an autographed ball signed by me. Enjoy it, Manny Ramirez.

Apparently word has gotten out about Manny’s sales pitch because the offer has gone from an opening bid of $3,000 to the $99,999,999 that it currently sits at after 210 bids. That’s a pretty sweet profit, even for a guy who has over $100 million in the bank. Obviously this has become a joke but nobody got a bigger laugh than Bidder 13 who offered $5,111.11 for the grill as a reminder of the $51.11 million the Sox offered to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka.

I’m a businessman,” Ramirez said with a laugh. “I need the money.

Links:

[eBay]: Manny Ramirez: JENN-AIR Grill
[SeattlePI.com]: For sale: Grill, used, by Manny Ramirez

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Third time’s a charm


1. Two down, 14 to go
With a 108-90 victory over the Timberwolves last night, Phoenix won the Pacific Division and has now joined Dallas as the only other team to have secured a playoff spot. Kevin Garnett put up another monster effort for Minnesota but, as usual, he couldn’t get it done by himself and the Suns rolled despite getting only four points and two rebounds out of Amare Stoudemire as he sat on the bench for most of the game with foul trouble. This is the third consecutive division crown for Phoenix but despite their success they can’t seem to get past the Western Conference finals. But perhaps this is the year; the Suns are deeper than they have ever been and unlike last year they should have a healthy Stoudemire to provide the team with an inside presence when it comes time to slow the game down. Unfortunately, the West is as strong as it has ever been with Utah, San Antonio and Dallas all in contention for a Finals appearance.

2. Rocky Mountain roll

It might have taken a while for the dynamic scoring duo of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony but the Nuggets are now the hottest team in the league after ripping off five wins in a row. Melo put up 30 in Denver’s first win in New Jersey since 2000 and the Nuggets got another 20 from the Answer as the team has finally established some breathing room between themselves and the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference. A lot will be determined about this team in the upcoming couple of weeks because the Nuggets have four games left on their current road trip against Chicago, Toronto, Detroit and Cleveland before they return home against a struggling Seattle club. Then they have to end the season with difficult games against Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, Utah and the Lakers.

3. Big Baby wants to play with the big boys
One year after former teammate Tyrus Thomas made the jump to the NBA, LSU big man Glen “Big Baby” Davis has made his decision to finally make the leap. The 6-9, 290 pounder will forgo his senior year after averaging 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds and becoming the only player not named Shaq to amass 1,500 points, 900 rebounds and 100 blocks for the Tigers. Currently there’s no guarantee that Davis will be selected in the first round of the draft but if he wants to get paid some legitimate NBA money then he needs to solidify his first round position by performing well at the league’s predraft camp which is held in Orlando at the end of May. Any player selected in the first-round pick will receive a guaranteed three-year contract while second-round players are not so fortunate. Well, we know at least two players he won’t be picked ahead of.

Tuesday’s Player of the Day: Carlos Boozer vs. Golden State 38 min, 25 pts (FG: 11-18, FT: 3-4), 21 reb, 5 ast

Wednesday’s Game to Watch: Dallas (55-11) @ Cleveland (41-26) Both teams have the disadvantage of playing in games last night, however the Cavs will have the benefit of their home crowd cheering them on as opposed to Dallas who will be coming off short night’s rest at the local Radisson. LeBron James has his boys surging in the East and the Cavaliers now sit just 2 ½ games behind Detroit for the best record in the conference after winning nine of their last 11 games. Dallas is beginning to recover from a two game skid that was capped off with a heart breaker to the Suns in double OT last Wednesday. But the Mavs have bounced back and now have a three game win streak.

Buzzer Beater: How is that every single year Yao Ming is by far the most voted on player when the All-Star game rolls around but he can’t even top the jersey selling charts in his own country? In fact, Yao ranks sixth in jersey sells in China. Even his teammate Tracy McGrady is getting more love than Yao from the Chinese as his jersey was the third most purchased for the 2006-07 season but it is a drop from being the most popular jersey in China last year. So, who is the most popular NBA baller in China right now? Why Kobe Bryant of course, the Chinese just love his in-game Bruce Lee impersonations.

Categories
General Sports

Beat it Skycam, you’re old news



The latest million dollar dinosaur

As if men don’t sit on the couch and stare at the idiot box for enough hours in a week already, 360 Replays has created some new technology that could permanently change the way the male population across the planet wastes their free time.

The good folks at 360 Replays have just announced the completion of 3D sports replay system that consists of 40 different cameras and can be used to capture and instantly replay video from almost any angle. The system is know as VantEDGE technology that works in the same fashion that your favorite NFL video game will allow you to rotate the camera around the ball carrier while zooming in and out at the same time. The only thing missing from your sports watching experience now is the recliner with a built in fridge.

If that’s not cool enough for you then maybe its practical applications will win you over. How does the sound of eliminating every stupid referee’s decision during an NFL challenge hit you? Or no longer having to scream at the television because the refs couldn’t see that the ball was clearly out of his hands before the buzzer sounded. Well, those days are over because officials will now have the technology to view any play from any angle and eliminate any forced personal judgments.

We see this as a major milestone in bringing together the current need for more accurate video playbacks in many sports, as well as a new way for spectators to view the sport,” said Dean Esler, chief technology officer at 360 Replays. “By combining the ability to record enormous amounts of video with 3D data processing, we are able to provide views from almost any angle which is both entertaining to the viewer, and important to game officials.

On behalf of sports fans across the globe; thank you 360 Replays. Thank you.

Links:

[PRWeb.com]: 360 Replays releases improved 3D sports-replay prototype

Categories
General Sports

We felt like doing the same thing to Joakim Noah

A soccer match is a cheap shot waiting to happen but it usually involves two players, not a player and a drunken spectator. Well, last night was the exception as an angry fan ran onto the pitch and took a swing at Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard while he celebrated with teammates. After a bit of a skirmish, the man was carried out of the stadium and straight to the local pokey on charges of encroachment and suspicion of assault. During the mêlée, another man made it on to the field and was immediately detained and arrested.

… maybe the security people slept a little bit. They could never believe the guy could come on to the pitch and chase my players. But it was no problem,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told reporters. “They (security staff) have to be alert in future. Frank Lampard is ok. He’s happy with the victory. Everything else is secondary.

The security “slept a little bit”??? And the security was just a tad late when Monica Seles took a shank in the back. You’re lucky that he didn’t have a knife or your boy would probably have a hole or two in him, coach.

Links:

[ITV Football]: Ugly scenes blight Blues win
[Stuff]: Spectator attacks Chelsea player after FA Cup tie

Categories
General Sports

Do pro wrestler also take fake steroids?



You mean this might
not be natural?

You knew that it wouldn’t be long until the steroid scandal would leave the arena of conventional sport and into the world of sports entertainment. And now it has as WWE superstars Randy Orton, Edge, Gregory Helms and eight others have joined the likes of Jose Conseco, John Rocker and Evander Holyfield as “cheaters of the game.”

Orton allegedly received eight prescriptions for six different drugs including testosterone back in 2004. Oddly enough the doctors that wrote the prescriptions for “The Legend Killer” are two of the doctors who names appear in the file of Gary Matthews Jr. That’s weird. And an Arizona doctor has come up repeatedly in the files of other wrasslers like Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio and the late Eddie Guerrero.

So far the WWE has been quiet about the situation but it shouldn’t be a big surprise that a bunch of guys who perform in their underwear are concerned about having chiseled bodies. Sure, it’s illegal but isn’t the concern about steroids in sports centered on the premise that they provide an unfair athletic advantage to one person over another? Because if that’s the case, then what does it matter if these guys shoot up until their head quadruples in size? After all, pro wrestling is constantly criticized as nothing more than a bunch of meatheads starring in a man’s soap opera.

Health concerns are a big factor in the necessary ban of the illegal drugs, but it’s not like America is suddenly a deeply compassionate country when it comes to the health of an individual performer. The last time America actually gave a flip about the injury of a sporting figure was when Barbaro broke his leg.

Links:

[SI.com]: Wrestlers allegedly tied to drug ring
[Steroid Nation]: Operation Netroids

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Shaq was right, they should be called the Queens



Can’t I just get suspended again?

1. Hotlanta finally deserves their moniker
Usually teams can’t wait to play against the Atlanta Hawks because it typically yields a victory and some huge numbers for the opposing team’s best players, or worst for that matter. It’s not too often that the Hawks get to be the bullies, but then again, they only get to play the Kings twice a year. Luckily last night was one of those games and Atlanta pulled out a 23 point victory, 99-76, over Sacramento that was never in doubt after the Hawks held Sac-town to only eight points in the third quarter. Potential future superstar Josh Childress scored a season-high 25 points for Atlanta in their fifth consecutive victory and Josh Smith came up just a point shy of a triple double with nine points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. But what’s unacceptable for the Kings is allowing some guy named Zaza to go off for 23 points on 11 of 12 shooting.

2. No date set yet

The story surrounding Dwyane Wade of late has basically been more of a lack of a story. It’s has been about a month since Wade made a tearful departure from the court in a wheelchair of all things and after passing on surgery so that he could make an attempt at returning to the team later this season, Wade told a group of reporters, “I’ve been working out every day and doing what they’re telling me to do.” Thanks Flash, that’s what you’re suppose to do when undergoing rehabilitation. But no rush, Miami is rolling without Wade and have pulled to within one game of the Southeast Division crown by going 10-3 with no Wade. Looks like the Heat are doing just fine without Dwyane in their Fave 5.

3. Shhhhh! No talking
Danny Ainge always has been a guy who likes to bend the rules, so it should be no surprise that he was fined $30,000 by the league by the NBA after the Celtics GM was seen with Texas superstar freshman Kevin Durant’s mother during the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. But in all reality, what does it even matter? How can Ainge talking to Durant’s momma have any influence over his decision to enter the draft? After all, it’s not like Durant gets to choose where he goes. Boston holds all the power so there is really no reason why good ol’ Danny boy can’t shoot the breeze his mom, dad or Kevin himself. But just like in his playing days, Ainge is so damn annoying that nobody is even going to complain on his behalf.

Monday’s Player of the Day: Paul Pierce @ New Orleans 29 min, 28 pts (FG: 11-18, 3FG: 4-7, FT: 2-3), 1 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl

Tuesday’s Game to Watch: Minnesota (28-37) @ Phoenix (50-16) Every win is becoming critical for the Timberwolves as the season begins to rapidly come to a close. Currently the T-Wolves are just 2 ½ games behind Golden State for the final playoff spot in the West, which is an amazing feat by itself considering that they have lost 10 of their last 13 games. But this still might be the most advantageous opportunity for Minnesota to knock off the Suns because Phoenix has lost consecutive games for only the third time all season. And if you overlook the three game slide they suffered through when playing without the league’s current MVP, it’s only the second pair of back to back loses since the team opened the year with a four game losing streak.

Buzzer Beater: While the talk is still only in its infancy, the NBA is beginning discussions to take the All-Star game overseas. It sounds like a good idea but things like travel time and jetlag could become sticky points between players and owners. But hey, they are all big boys and why should we let rowdy NBA fans destroy our cities when we can unleash them on those poor, naïve chaps across the pond. And if the players don’t like traveling overseas for an All-Star weekend just wait until David Stern decides to expand the league beyond the Canadian and American borders. After all, it is just a matter of time until Stern & Co. welcomes Tegucigalpa and Milan into the association.

Categories
MLB General

To protect and serve, ourselves


What are the perks of being a major metropolitan police officer in America today? Well, the pay is decent, they offer a good retirement plan, medical and dental are included, and as an officer you are free to pick and choose what you want to use as your own personal property from the evidence collected throughout your shift. What? That last one isn’t an actual benefit? Somebody might want to conduct a procedural seminar in St. Louis because the boys in blue are under a completely different impression.

Nine or ten different officers are being investigated by the St. Louis Police Department for allegedly using about 30 confiscated tickets to last year’s World Series after the tickets were taken out of the hands of scalpers on the streets. The tickets were dispersed amongst the officer’s family and friends before being returned to the evidence room for storage. The crafty coppers were able to pull off the ploy because Busch Stadium no longer tears patron’s tickets, but instead use a scanner to electronically read the tickets. The value of the tickets varied from $50 to $250 and the incident could get the crooked cops canned.

Exactly who is St. Louis employing to keep the streets safe? Our guess is that Lt. Jim Dangle played a role in all of this.

Links:

[SI.com]: Report: police used seized Series tix

Categories
General Sports

For relaxing times, make it Hulk Hogan time

So, what do you do when you’re a washed up wrestler who is currently bringing home the bacon by starring in a dumb reality show? Well, if you’re the Hulkster you take off to the other side of the globe, attach your image to a crappy commercial and sing an off key lullaby in your underwear for Bigflow. Geez, guess he never expected this to make it back to America. The only question left is, “Whatcha gonna do when the whole world is pointing and laughing at you, brother!”

Links:

[Adfreak.com]: Hogan knows best in Japanese commercial