Archive for November, 2009
The year was 1978. The kids of America were grooving to the sonic stylings of “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb, chasing their troubles away for a couple of hours by taking in the lighthearted comedy, The Deer Hunter, at the drive-in, and eating the coolest, most happening candy bar, Reggie!, named after the biggest baseball player on the planet, Reggie Jackson.
Reggie was fondly recalling the great times of 1978 on his weekly show on Sirius’ Mad Dog Radio when he relayed a story about how in April of that year during the season opener at Yankee Stadium, he found himself getting pelted by the fans in the stands with his eponymously-named confectionery treat after they were given out for free.
Jackson had just hit a home run and as he rounded third base, he noticed that Reggie! chocolate bars were raining down upon him.
“I was concerned that people didn’t like [the candy bar],” Jackson said. “Standard Brands and Curtiss Candy out of Chicago, they thought it was the greatest PR thing they ever could’ve dreamed of because they got like two and a half minutes of airtime on national television. They really thought that it was wonderful. I was nervous that people didn’t like it.”
Of course people liked it. Peanuts, caramel and chocolate? How couldn’t you? Remember, this was back before every other kid on the planet had a goddamn peanut allergy.
In fact, I remember having quite a few of the tasty candy bars when I was a wee lad – yes, I am that old – they were quite good. Far better than the Billy Martin Candy Cigarettes that were going around in those days.
After the jump, the retro Reggie! candy bar commercial.
Well, as long as they buried him in a adequately-sized casket, because the man was quite large, and it would be difficult to roll over. But that’s another story for another time.
Anyhoo…jumpin’ Jesus on a pogo stick! The Jamaicans are back at it again – trying to bobsled their way into the world’s heart with their uncommon obsession with an unconventional sport.
Two decades after the original Jamaican bobsled team, whose story turned into a terrible Walt Disney film, the Jamaicans are making an earnest attempt to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And they don’t want to hear any crap about Cool Runnings, mon.
This is very real for a new generation of Jamaican sledders, a group that cringes at any “Cool Runnings” parallels and insist that not only are they serious about their sport — but that maybe, just maybe, they’re good enough to surprise at the Vancouver Olympics.
“People do not understand: This is my passion. This is our passion,” said Hannukkah Wallace, the team’s driver. “I really want to get an Olympic medal. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I really, really, really need it. And if they ask me about the movie, I tell them, the movie was a comedy, but our crashes our real.”
The AP story is actually a pretty interesting read, so if you have a moment, take a look. It’s chock-full of interesting tidbits (did you know that the entire island of Jamaica doesn’t resemble the fancy resorts that tourists frequent? There’s actual people living in poverty there! Wha?).
I wish the team the best of luck and hope they somehow qualify. Not only because it would be a great story, but because Kevin James needs an acting gig really bad, man.
Jamaicans find ice slippery on way to Vancouver [SI.com/AP]
BAM! Dragging their ass, get it? BOOM BOOM ACKA-LACKA LACKA BOOM BOOM!
I believe my work here is done. Thank you, do come again.
What’s that? Oh yeah, the story. Yeah, so uh, the United States Tennis Association is expected to make a decision within the next two weeks regarding whether any further discipline will be necessary above the $10,000 she was previously fined for her outburst at a lineswoman during a semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in September.
Ruling on Serena’s US Open tirade expected soon [The Associated Press]
• Sweet Jesus, these Andy Reid photoshops are terrifying. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
• Ron Artest and Pau Gasol review Men Who Stare At Goats. Epic. [Style Points]
• BC is doing the Lord’s work and keeping tabs on the comings and goings of ESPN hottie Jenn Brown. [Busted Coverage]
• If you’re in the market for 5,000 leftover condoms from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, here’s the inside info. [Sports Rubbish]
• These last three are Tim Lincecum-busted-for-weed-related. First, the Top 10 questions regarding his pot bust. [Five Tool Tool]
• Tim Lincecum likes to speed ganj in the car. [More Hardball]
• Who will be the first wisenheimer to remix Lincecum’s MLB 2K9 commercial? [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]
Maybe, she’s not hungry, per se, but how else would I have been able to incorporate a Duran Duran reference into the title? Answer me that.
Clearly, Miss Lambert was not happy with how things were going during New Mexico’s Mountain West semifinals match against BYU. Things sure were chippy even before Lambert’s violently sexy deed. It had all the appearances of a soccer game that broke out into a ladies wrestling match. The Fabulous Moolah would approve, if she wasn’t, you know, dead and stuff.
One thing is for sure, Elizabeth Lambert is one bad-ass, soccer-playing chick. Hair-pulling in soccer? I say yes. Definitely yes. More of it, please.
I think we should get Miss Lambert and her hair-pulling victim together to make peace. All we need is some pillows and to somehow convince them to start a tickle fight with each other. That sure would be a hoot.
Another video (in HD!) of only the hair-pulling incident after the jump. Because hey, why not?
Erasmus James, former first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2005 NFL draft, was arrested Thursday morning at a downtown Madison bar for allegedly punching a friend in the face after James tried to order another drink at 2:15 a.m. Good things always happen after two in the morning.
Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said James and a friend were at Wando’s, 602 University Ave., about 2:15 a.m. when James tried to order a drink. Told it was past bar time, DeSpain said, James complained to the bartender when his friend stepped in and told James to relax.
The two began to tussle, DeSpain said. The friend had James pinned to the floor, and when the friend got up, James punched him, leaving a cut below his eye.
Ah yes. Wando’s. Actually, I’ve never been there. But I bet it’s not as cool as Dando’s, the former Lemonheads frontman’s treatment facility in Boston.
If James displayed the sort of passion and intensity he did when trying to get his drink on during his playing days with the Vikings (and later, briefly with the Redskins), maybe the former Wisconsin Badger would have improved on his five sacks over four years.
UW and NFL player Erasmus James arrested after fight at Downtown bar [Wisconsin State Journal]
Like the rest of us, renowned sports columnist for The New York Times (and movie afficianando) William C. Rhoden just watched the Yankees win their 27th World Series title. But unlike us, William C. Rhoden wasn’t satisfied with the theory that the Yankees were simply the better team this year. No siree, Rhoden just knew that there was more to the story. So, like any competent journalist, he tackled the issue head on: what do the Yankees do (or have) that allows them to consistently be competitive year after year after year? Brace yourselves, folks: this one is a goddamn powder keg:
The Yankees have a lot of money.
I understand what they’re getting at: the Florida Gators are beginning to use the “I-formation” much more recently and that we should expect to see it even more often as the season finishes up. But this isn’t the way it’s supposed to go – everybody knows you are supposed to find letters within the word you are referencing. Maybe the guy (or gal) is simply trying to be clever and to them, I say: bully. Bully on you, trying-to-be-clever-headline-writing-guy (or gal).
See, I would have went with “Florida Gators put ‘seen’ in offense.” Alternatively, “Florida Gators put ‘foes’ in offense.” But neither of those make any sense nor are they clever so why would I do that? I’m not a Miami Herald headline writer up against a deadline.
Geez. Lay off, people.
Florida Gators put ‘I’ in offense [The Miami Herald]
• NHL. Ottawa Senators 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (OT). Jason Speeza scored 4:17 in overtime on the power play in the third meeting between these teams already this season. [NHL.com Scoreboard]
• NBA. Chicago Bulls 86, Cleveland Cavaliers 85. LeBron James lost the ball out of bounds with 3.2 seconds left (on a play he claims he was fouled on) as the Bulls stopped the Cavaliers winning streak at three games. Luol Deng led the way with 15 points and LeBron had 25 in the losing effort. [NBA.com Scoreboard]
• College Football. No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies 16, East Carolina Pirates 3. Ryan Williams ran for 179 yards as the Hokies avoided a three-game losing streak. [Yahoo!/AP]
• Jesus is an Isuzu guy? Maintaining he’s not a religious man, Jim Stevens of Tennessee cannot understand why the image of Jesus keep appearing in the driver’s door window every morning. When he first saw it, he figured it would evaporate, which it did, only to reappear. It has been doing so for two weeks now. I think Jesus is just trying to tell him to wash his truck. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. [AOL/AP]
Romo was forceful and super cereal in his statement regarding a possible rift between him and the disgruntled wide receiver. But later, off the record, Romo added, “My lackluster play and boneheaded decisions down the stretch will take care of that on its own.”
BOO-YAH!
Apparently, the latest soap opera out of Dallas is that Roy Williams is bitching about how Romo throws better passes to other receivers and some such nonsense. Williams has tired to allude to, in a veiled manner, that he is not the next T.O. by saying, “I’m not a T.O. or I’m not trying to be a T.O.”
Wait, that’s actually pretty clear, but simply by claiming you’re not T.O. yet seemingly acting like T.O. doesn’t necessarily jibe, get it?
• NBA Doubleheader. Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers followed up by San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz. That’s a doozy of two games right there, right? [TNT, 8:00 ET]
• College Football. Virginia Tech at East Carolina. Hokies against Pirates. ARGH, matey! And then, whatever a Hokie says or does. [ESPN, 7:30 ET]
• It’s Always Sunny New Episode Happy Fun Time! Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens. “When a merchandising convention comes to town, the gang tries to develop marketable products in an attempt to build the Paddy’s brand.” Yes. And yes again. Note: I watched The League’s series premiere over the weekend – not too shabby. I tell you because I know you care. [FX, 9:30 ET]
• Must-See TV Blah Blah Blah. All-new episodes. Huzzah! I don’t have to tell you that some of these shows are prettay good. [NBC, 8:00 ET]
It’s 4:19, You Gotta Minute? (November 5th)
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• Clinton Portishead interviews a guy who is way too heavy into MMA. Brilliant. [Style Points]
• General Tao updates us on how his trip to Indianapolis is going. Sounds like he’s having a great time. [Food Court Lunch]
• LeNoceur brings us NSFWednesday on a Thursday. He’s always keeping us guessing, that rapscallion. [Melt Your Face Off]
• Chris Rose just might be the most hated man in broadcasting at the moment. Don’t worry, Chris – it shouldn’t last too long – there’s plenty of morons behind microphones these days. [Awful Announcing]
• James Brown relays a message from Darth Sidious Steinbrenner. [The Phoenix Pub]
• Why is everybody hating on Boise State? Other than it’s in Idaho, of course. [With Leather]
• What in the hell is going on with Dwight Howard, porn star Mary Carey and a guy from N’Sync? [Last Angry Fan]
Andrés Nocioni was arrested early this morning on suspicion of drunken driving.
A Sacramento police spokesman said that at about 2 a.m. an officer noticed a motorist southbound on 15th Street near L Street whose vehicle was weaving within its lane. The car turned and headed west on L Street and was stopped by the officer near Ninth and L streets.
L street? More like DUI Street, amirite?
Of course, Nocioni issued a formal, heartfelt apology in the form of statement undoubtedly written by his agent and/or Sacramento Kings representative regarding his irresponsible actions and poor decision-making:
“I made a mistake and I’m very sorry for my lapse in judgment…I want to apologize to the Kings’ organization, my teammates, my coaches, the fans, the city of Sacramento and my family,” Nocioni said in his statement. “Drinking and driving is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
Indeed it isn’t Mr. Nocioni. Which I’m sure is exactly what he was thinking right when he saw the police lights in his rear view mirror. Before then? Well, that’s hard to say.
In all seriousness, I hope Nocioni learns a valuable lesson from this experience: there is always some groupie or hanger-on that would happily drive an NBA player home if he’s had too much to drink. Sure, the player would probably have to bang the skank (it’s good to use a condom!) but at least he gets home safely, right? The hanger-on? Don’t sleep with him – maybe a couple of games on PS3 would probably be enough to make him happy.
The more you know…
Kings forward Nocioni says he’s sorry for DUI arrest [The Sacramento Bee]
Michelle Wie will appear and play in the Dubai Lady Masters for the first time when the tournament tees off at the Emirates Golf Club next month.
“Her presence will bring star value to the event,” golf in Dubai chief executive Mohamed Juma Buamaim said in a news release on Wednesday. “Michelle may be just 20 but… she has done wonders to raise the profile of women’s golf.”
Buamaim ain’t just talking smack. Wie is definitely a major draw on the tour and will sure to be a hit at the Lady Masters.
To commemorate the event, I prepared a little gallery for your viewing pleasure displaying all of the assets that Wei employs to be such a fine golfer, and more importantly, a fine young woman.
