Author: Vin

Vin is a Philly boy who shouldn't be invited into your house because he'll judge you on your book and music collection. He owns Dawkins, Utley, Iverson, and Lindros jerseys, which is all you really need to know about him. He can be reached at [email protected].

Categories
NHL General

Odds and Ends: Go ahead, drink and drive (the Zamboni)

A New Jersey Superior Court judge ruled yesterday that John Peragallo was not guilty of DWI and should have his license reinstated. Peragallo lost his license last year after arena officials saw him swerving while cleaning the ice. The judge ruled that Zambonis are not, in fact, motor vehicles. No word on whether the man was fined for wearing square pants.

In other news…

[ESPN]: Oddsmaker had previously filed a report of suspicious activity on Toledo

[Indy Star]: Colts play arrested on marijuana charge — this wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t lent his water bottle to Michael Vick

[Page Six]: Let’s hope Greg Norman doesn’t fold under courtroom pressure

[Sport People]: A fairly amusing collection of sports photos. (Yet somehow misses this photo.)

[basketbawful]: What nobody was asking for: the Ben Wallace throw pillow

Categories
Cincinnati Bengals

Levi Jones calls Joey Porter a coward


A couple of weeks ago, Joey Porter was arrested for punching Levi Jones in the face. It was widely reported that Levi was knocked down and had to be treated for a gash above his eye. Well, Levi Jones would like you to know that he’s tougher than that.


It was problematic for me and my family, especially when the true story wasn’t out there. The particulars about how everything went down, I mean, ESPN, all they wanted to report was Joey Porter hit me in the face.

Six guys attacked me from behind before he did it. When the true story came out, ESPN still didn’t want to report it.

He (Porter) got my attention from the front and wouldn’t get near me until the six guys jumped me from behind, (then) he took part.

First of all, ESPN not reporting all the facts in the story? Shocking. Second, if true, Levi Jones’s account of the fight fits right in line with how we feel about Joey Porter. It wouldn’t suprise us in the least if Porter was the type to let his buddies do the work.

Links:
[Cincinnati Enquirer]: Jones: Vegas fracas an ambush

Categories
Boxing

Thai woman wins WBC light-flyweight title fight in jail


Samson Sor Siriporn is in prison for selling methamphetamines but that didn’t stop her from becoming the WBC light-flyweight champion. Not only that, by winning the fight, the Thai corrections department will begin early parole procedures.


Fighting in a makeshift ring in the grounds of the infamous Klong Prem prison with the Thai crowd chanting “fight, fight,” Siriporn was on the attack from the start and repeatedly forced Miyano on to the ropes with a barrage of punches.

Siriporn’s sparring partners also watched the fight, while transvestites in high heels and skimpy outfits were allowed out of their cells to parade around the ring with placards at the beginning of each round.

This sounds like something straight out of a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. The only thing missing is some broken glass.

We wonder what would have become of Mike Tyson’s career if he’d been allowed to fight while in prison. Would he have made enough money not to be broke now, or would Don King have stolen those funds too?

Links:
[Reuters]: Thai prisoner wins women’s world title at Bangkok Hilton

Categories
New Orleans Saints

Did Reggie Bush set the monkeys free at the Playboy Mansion?


According to Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News, Reggie Bush has been banned from the Playboy Mansion for… something.

While we’d like to imagine that it was because Reggie took more than his alloted share of Hef’s girls, it didn’t have anything to do with a Playmate. (In any case, that’s probably more up Matt Leinart’s alley.)

We really need to know what Reggie Bush did to get banned from the mansion. We know it wasn’t setting the monkeys free — that was actually Pauly Shore.

Links:

[The Wizard of Odds]: Bush Banned From Playboy Mansion?

Categories
College Basketball

Thank God, now we can concentrate on Tenneesee vs Rutgers



Hopefully this is the last pic
of Noah we ever publish

Now that the most predictable and boring NCAA Tournament in modern history is over, we can look forward to the title game between the Lady Volunteers and the Scarlet Damsels or something. Hell, we’re going to do something never done before in the history of blogging — we’re gonna pre-live-blog the thing:

10:54 Player dribbles up the court and awkwardly jacks up a three. Rebound by another player. Kicks it back out. Another awkward three. Rebound and putback.

10:20 It’s a steal. Full sprint the other way. Layup.

9:45 Rinse. Repeat.

We don’t mean to bash womens basketball but it’s really just a terrible game to watch. There are some people out there who love the game, and good for them, but we are so sick of the marketing of the college game (and the WNBA) ad nauseum during all mens basketball contests. There is no chance that anyone who isn’t already predisposed to watching womens college bball sees one of these ESPN commercials (“men out, ladies in”) and thinks, yeah, I’m totally tuning in for that. So stop shoving it down our throats.

Sorry, just a little bitter today because what arguably is the best event in sports turned out to be such a dud. Was there a single true buzzer beater in the entire tournament? Was there a big upset at all? (VCU beating overrated Duke doesn’t count.) Was there a defining moment? What a colossal waste of time.

Categories
College Football

Odds and Ends: Point shaving at Toledo

Since Friday, the arrest of Harvey “Scooter” McDougle Jr. has sent shockwaves through the sports gambling community.  Actually, no it hasn’t.  We realize that Toledo is DIV I and all but you gotta be pretty desperate to bet on Toledo vs Akron. Still, the question is always whether it could happen at a big time program that garners big time bets.  

According to the Detroit News, a man named Garry Manni gave McDougle cash, a car,  valuables and trips in exchange for affecting outcomes of games.   Although he was only a 4th string running back, McDougle was able to influence other players on both the football and basketball teams.  

Toledo officials held a press conference today to announce that they were unsure whether others would be charged.   Uh yeah… thanks for the staggering info guys.

In other news…

[Still Listen to Gangsta Music]: Another Tony Parker rap video you can’t understand

[NY Times]: Cheerleading responsible for more than half of the catastrophic injuries to female high school and college athletes

[Hockey Rants]: St. Louis blews play strip shootout

[Sydney Morning Herald]: Ian Thorpe to use the I was hammered that night defense

[Our Book of Scrap]: Something about women’s golf… we’re too distracted by Carmen Electra and Joan Jett rumors

And finally, here’s a video of a trick bowling shot.  Yep, that’s right.  Trick Bowling.

Categories
New Jersey Devils

You should see what they planned to do if he was in second place

Lou Lamoriello, one of the best GMs in sports according to Forbes, fired Claude Julien today.  The Devils are first place in the division, won four of the last five and are headed into the playoffs as potentially the number 2 seed in the conference.  Does Lou Lamoriello think he’s Pat Riley or something.

This is the oddest firing we’ve ever heard of.  We’ll let James Mirtle do the commentary:


Obviously there are some tensions behind the scenes to which we haven’t been privy to — but my guess is that’s something that will come out over the next few days. Duhatschek notes that many players looked at the team’s coaching situation as one where Lamoriello was pulling the strings from on high anyway.

Of course, hockey’s wiliest GM has pulled this stunt more than once before, which makes me wonder just who will be willing to take on the Devils’ coaching role in the future given their volatile boss and a lack of job security.

Behind the scenes?  Hmmmm… did someone sleep with someone’s wife?

Links:
[James Mirtle]: Lamoriello cans his coach

Categories
Boston Celtics

Hard to decide which sucks more: the Celtics or the Post Office


It used to be a privilege to be on the postage stamp. Now you can basically put anything on a stamp no matter how lowly or mundane. Which of course explains why the Boston Celtics are selling custom Celtics stamps on their website.

The stamps will feature Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West and Gerald Green. That’s the worst stamp collection in the history of philately. (That’s our big word of the day… it means… stamp collection.) Larry Bird is not coming through that mail slot, fans. Kevin McHale is not coming through that slot, and Robert Parish is not coming through that mail slot.

No word on whether Danny Ainge will pay 53 cents for a 39 cent stamp based on upside.

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Celts, Pierce putting stamp on U.S. mail

Categories
College Football

Hey bro, I just said it’d be nice if you could come to the game



We talkin bout practice!

It’s nice when a man cares so much about his brother that he will go out of his way to attend a spring scrimmage for the Carolina Gamecocks. Not only did Demetrius Pepper shoot a coworker at his grocery store in the face and steal her car to get to the game, when that car broke down, he shot and killed a retired schoolteacher and stole her car. That’s perseverance folks. He didn’t just give up because the first car broke down. Nope, he had a meaningless scrimmage game to go to.

Demetrius was arrested just 15 minutes after the game started when someone noticed a suspicious car outside the stadium and police found him at the vehicle that belonged to the slain schoolteacher. He is being held without bail.

Nathan Pepper, who is a sophomore defensive tackle at USC, had no comment. You have to feel sorry for the two shooting victims who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time when Demetrius went batshit crazy and decided it was perfectly ok to shoot people and steal cars because he needed to get somewhere. Guess what Demetrius, it’s gonna be even harder to see the games from prison.

Links:
[The State]: Man charged with murder

Categories
MLB General

Hope Springs Eternal aka Opening Day

Ahhhh opening day, when even Cubs and Royals fans have hope for the upcoming season.  Well, in the case of the Royals, it might be delusion.  Then again, nobody thought the Tigers had much of a shot last year either.  

The Mets officially kicked it out yesterday by beating the Cards but today is the real opening day for the rest of baseball.  Here is a rundown of the 2007 MLB Predictions and Previews from major sports sites and around the blogosphere:

ESPN: 2007 Predicted Standings / Expert Picks

Fox Sports: MLB Predictions for 2007 / Team Previews

CBS Sportsline:  Expert Picks

TSN: 2007 MLB Preview

WBRS Sports:
And Finally the Long Awaited, Unsanctioned WBRS Baseball Preview

Vigilante Sports: Major League Baseball 2007 Preview and Predictions

phsports: 2007 MLB Preview: Part III of III [Predictions]

Thunder Matt’s Saloon: Baseball Preview

The House That Dewey Built: We Predictiate the 2007 Season! And Opening Day thoughts

And if that’s still not enough for you, here are more previews than you can shake a stick at.