Archive for July, 2011
First, it was announced last month that the gorgeous Charissa Thompson would be joining Erin Andrews, Michelle Beadle and Kirk Herbstreit (he’s so dreamy) in the ranks of blonde beauties currently employed by ESPN, now we have an announcement regarding another blonde who is leaving a successful, yet lower profile, gig for the glitz and glam that goes along with a job with The Worldwide Leader In Sports: Samantha Steele.
Since I am relatively unfamiliar with Miss Steele or her previous work, here’s the press release in its entirety. Read on (via ESPN Media Zone):
Samantha Steele is joining the Longhorn Network as a reporter; she will work at events and for studio shows. She will also do feature stories. Photo
Steele was previously a host and reporter for Fox Sports, contributing to both Fox Sports Net and Fox College’s coverage of college basketball and football in the Pac 10 and Big 12 conferences.
In her role with Fox, Steele worked as a studio host and a sideline reporter, interviewing some of the biggest names in both college football and basketball. As a host, she led the pregame, halftime, and postgame studio shows for various events, including the Pac 10 Basketball Tournament and “Paradise Jam,” a preseason tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands featuring teams from the ACC, Big East, and other various conferences.
Steele is also a frequent radio guest around the country during the college football and basketball seasons, discussing the latest news in college sports. Additionally, she has served as a weekly columnist for FoxSports.com.
Prior to joining Fox College Sports, Steele interned with ABC Sports Radio and assisted with research on ABC Television’s College Football Studio show in New York. She also served as the sideline reporter and host for all football and men’s and women’s basketball games while in college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Steele is a native of Phoenix, Arizona.
Sounds like Miss Steele has carved a nice little career out for herself and is primed, ready and deserving of becoming a household name, courtesy of the exposure from working at ESPN. Best of luck, Miss Steele. And look out for that Michelle Beadle. Rumor has it she can be quite territorial.
Photo gallery follows.
It may not look like it, but this kid has got that animal exactly where he wants him. In Mutton Bustin’ circles, Fisher Frude is already a pint-sized legend. His bustin’ style, like this move which he refers to as “Backward Facing Sheep,” flies in the face of convention and mocks the status quo and he’s always ready, willing and able to put on a show for the Mutton Bustin’ faithful. And as you can see, his wild antics were on full display during the Laramie Jubilee Days Junior Bull Riding on in Laramie, Wyoming on July 5th.
Take a good look, folks. A Mutton Buster like this kid comes along once, maybe twice a generation. Mesmerizing.
[via]
Not pictured: David Stern as the Warden. But don’t worry, fellas. A Kia is about to bust through the prison walls and break you guys out of there! Actually, a Kia could never plow through concrete. Shoulda selected a better automobile company for a sponsor, Blake.
Moving on, Blake Griffin uploaded this photo to the interwebs with the caption, “I guess they’re taking this lockout stuff pretty seriously @kevinlove,” but technically, and not to nitpick, this image better symbolizes what an NBA Lockdown would look like as opposed to providing a graphic representation of the conditions inherent to the current NBA Lockout. But let’s not quibble here, even though I just did. Stopping quibbling…now.
One question, though: why is Kevin Love in shackles but Blake Griffin is not? What message are they trying to get across here? I don’t know, but it probably has something to do with Love playing for the Timberwolves. Yep.
[via @blakegriffin on Lockerz]
Wake N’ Blog is the Sportress of Blogitude’s morning link dump. Send tips, link submissions, etc. to weedagainstspeed@gmail.com.
• A gorilla mascot for a cellular phone store in Ohio was attacked by a person in a banana suit while standing outside the business. The person in the gorilla suit was standing curbside outside the Wireless Center in Strongsville, near Cleveland, when a kid in a banana suit leaped out of the bushes, knocking the gorilla mascot down. The gorilla mascot was not hurt and the banana suited bozo fled from the scene. So, there you go. [Yahoo!]
• Tragic: man dies after falling out of the stands while trying to catch a ball thrown into the stands by Josh Hamilton. His young son was with him. [Big League Stew]
• LaToya Jackson says her husband offered her up to Mike Tyson for sex for $100,000. Alrighty then. [Off the Bench]
• Video: Red Sox fan gets himself a nice handful of boob. [Bob's Blitz]
• Please God no: Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are trying to get their very own reality show, because, hey, why not? Please go away. [Larry Brown Sports]
• Phil Jackson is doing fine, wearing Grateful Dead shirts. [That NBA Lottery Pick]
• The Top Six unsuccessful sports-themed kickstarters. [Deuce of Davenport]
• The Michael Beasley Loophole. [The Basketball Jones]
• If summer movies were about sports… [Sports Pickle]
• Awesome: another edition of KSK’s Sex/Fantasy Football Mailbag. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
• The Onion Headline of the Day: Members Of Twisted Sister Now Willing To Take It
I’m a little slow on the uptake on this one, but on Tuesday, Chaim Weitz, better known as Gene Simmons a/k/a “The Demon” from KISS, was on hand to throw out the first pitch prior to the Dodgers game at Chavez Ravine, and as you can see from the photos located above and below this text (via here), hoo boy, there was a whole lotta awkward going on. It is my humble opinion that we should from this point forward refer to him as Unfrozen Caveman Rock Star.
But hey, I’ll give credit where credit is due: the guy is 61-years-old and has been with the very luscious Shannon Tweed for a long, long time.
Oh, and one last thing, KISS sucks. That is all.
[H/T Big League Stew]
Come on, man. Seriously? It is so obvious, isn’t it?
Big ups to Puck Daddy for bringing these “far out” new products to our attention (which are available for purchase on Shop NHL, mind you), as they are quite a hoot and holler: the NHL Drinking Tube. Dig it.
The description for the recommended use for the product:
This festive tube features a 100-oz (12.5 cups) capacity and a spout at the bottom for easy pouring. It’s decorated with tons of cool NHL- team graphics while a replica helmet and puck are featured at the base.
Okay, first of all: 100-ounces? What’s the point of filling the bad boy up with booze in the first place? I suppose if one were to fill it with hard liquor or a real stiff cocktail, sure, but beer? Forget about it.
Secondly, there is no way in hell some enterprising burnout isn’t going to look at one of these bad boys without their inner Pothead MacGyver from taking over and altering a few components here and there to create a bong which will be the envy of every weed-smoking NHL fan within smelling distance.
One issue with the product: the price. $329.99 plus shipping and handling. Man, talk about harshing people’s mellow. Dude.
Puck Treasures: The NHL Drinking Tube only looks like a bong [Puck Daddy]
Whoa! What the fungus? How…how did they do that?
The “they” I am referring to are Wasabi 3D, an “experiential marketing company” who created this trippy piece of three-dimensional sidewalk art outside Citizens Bank Park in conjunction with the Philadelphia Phillies and Visit Philly. Consider my mind sufficiently blown.
From uwishunu.com (via The 700Level):
The artwork will be located inside the Left Field Gate right at the beginning of Ashburn Alley, conveniently placed where fans attending the game will have an opportunity to take their photo with the 3-D Art as they enter the stadium or as they’re walking around during the game.
The With Love 3-D Art itself, which was created by Wasabi 3D, will create a scene where the fan being photographed gets to interact with everyone’s favorite mascot — the Phillie Phanatic — in a 3D setting atop of a slightly dramatized version of Citizens Bank Park. There will even be a fun With Love Letter in the artwork’s bottom right from our popular With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® campaign.
The piece will debut this Friday night and is sure to generate quite a buzz, although a buzz not at all similar to the kind of buzz that drunken Philadelphians will be experiencing when the amazing 3D sidewalk art causes extreme disorientation, causing inebriated to create a virtual impromptu vomitorium all around the piece. Even better, fans will be able to document their disorientation courtesy of a photo by a professional photographer. Cool!
No, seriously, I’m not kidding here, while it is as cool as all get out, I’m getting all dizzy and a bit nauseous just looking at it. Although that could be due to this open bottle of rubber cement sitting on my desk. No, I’m not gluing anything, why do you ask?
Introducing The New With Love 3-D Art At Citizens Bank Park, An Awesome New Fan Photo Op Set To Debut At The Ballpark Friday, July 8 [uwishunu.com (via The700Level)]
Well, according to reports, he hasn’t technically received the ring back, but jeez, allow me to explain, would ya?
By now you have unlikely heard about the comically ridiculous story about how Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams had initiated a lawsuit in order to retrieve an engagement ring (valued at $76,000) he sent to former Miss Texas USA, Brooke Daniels, along with a letter containing a marriage proposal which he mailed to his ex-girlfriend. What a romantic fella.
Well, I’m pleased to report that TMZ is, um, reporting that Williams litigious nature has perhaps prompted Miss Daniels to return the ring. Daniels’ mother informed TMZ that the ring was returned to Williams’ attorney yesterday in Houston.
I guess all’s well that ends well. Daniels has moved on with her life and despite the fact that the lawsuit and fanfare surrounding the story cast new light on what an incredible doofus Williams is, he does have his pricey ring back. And hopefully, a newfound perspective on the appropriate manner in which a man should propose to a woman. But to be perfectly honest, I’m doubting Williams learned any lesson, other than maybe the next time he mails a $76K engagement ring, he’ll request Return Receipt Requested. Just to be safe.
Cowboys’ Star Scores! Ex GF Gives Back 76K Ring [TMZ]
And wouldn’t you know it? He was promptly busted during his lame-brained scheme at JFK Airport. Shocking.
Former Tampa Bay Rays prospect Christian Martinez, 21, was apprehended by Customs and Border Patrol officials last week in New York when six pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $138,000 was discovered hidden in the soles of four pairs of shoes Martinez had with him on an incoming flight from the Dominican Republic. Bad Idea Drug Muling.
I wonder if Martinez believed the pungent odor emanating from his dirty sneakers would magically throw the dogs off the scent of his illegal cargo. Shoulda went with the Odor Eaters, kid.
The report in the New York Daily News indicates that Martinez is no longer a prospect for the Rays after the team discovered his visa was invalid. My guess is this isn’t going to help his dream of making it to the big leagues. And scouts said while he didn’t have great “speed” on the bases, he could “sniff” out an opposing pitcher’s pitch selection and “chop” a hit through the infield from time to time. Defensively, he had a “nose” for the ball and everything, too. You know, because those are all cocaine references. Poorly executed cocaine references, sure, but the effort was there. Okay, there wasn’t any effort put into these whatsoever.
MLB prospect busted at JFK Airport trying to smuggle six pounds of cocaine in his sneakers [New York Daily News]
Even though all Bruins fans are likely still celebrating a championship and reveling in their team’s Stanley Cup victory, most are falling way short in adequately displaying their “Gotta Support The Team” mentality. But not this homeowner. Yep, he would like everyone in his neighborhood to know that he is quite proud of this squad’s accomplishments and is not afraid to lower his home’s likely assessed market value in doing so by having a garage emblazoned with a Bruins Stanley Cup Champions logo and a paint job on his house resplendent with the Bruins team colors.
The person who uploaded this photo to the interwebs claims this house is located in lovely Canadian town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which means this homeowner exhibited quite a bit of courage to display his love for a non-Canuckistani hockey team. Of course, the uploaded could be making that part of the story up, but frankly, why shouldn’t we believe her? When’s the last time somebody lied on the internet?
[via @jennafaye1 on yfrog]
Major league baseball players using corny songs for their at-bat music is nothing new – Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies comes instantly to mind – but usually, in those instances the player picks the questionable tunes themselves, so they know going in what songs are about to be played. That was not the case for Texas Rangers catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli for Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, his first back after a stint on the disabled list.
Napoli made a bet with Rangers sideline reporter Emily Jones on the NBA Finals – Napoli, as a Heat fan, opted to go with Miami and Jones took the local team, the Dallas Mavericks. Obviously, we all know how things turned out in the Finals, so for losing the bet, Napoli had to let Jones pick his at-bat music for him. And hoo boy, Jones let him have it with her musical choices.
Wake N’ Blog is the Sportress of Blogitude’s morning link dump. Send tips, link submissions, etc. to weedagainstspeed@gmail.com.
• Some neighborhood kids in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville reported to police that they were robbed of their earnings from a lemonade stand by two teenagers who sped of in a car with the kids’ $13.50 along with three teenage girls. Some nice person at the police station gave the kids $20 to make up for their losses, but what about the trauma, what about the trauma? Damn streetwise teenagers. [Yahoo!]
• Roy Williams’ ex Brooke Daniels is going out with a University of Houston baseball player. [Busted Coverage]
• Speaking of Roy, KSK got their hands on a letter he wrote to Brooke. Good stuff. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
• The Giants would like to know if your baby was conceived the night the team won the World Series. Why? They have their reasons… [Off the Bench]
• Paige Duke has been fired from her job as a Sprint Cup Girl after nude photos of her emerged. I’d say she deserved a promotion. [Larry Brown Sports]
• Check out the mustachioed hero who witnessed Lorenzo O’Neal’s DUI arrest. [Shutdown Corner]
• Why NBC lost the rights to broadcast Wimbledon. [With Leather]
• If you like, you can watch a video of Chris Berman singing with Huey Lewis (again) here. [Awful Announcing]
• If this ginormous piece of crop art is any indication, farmers care a lot more about the Tour de France than most people do. [Sharapova's Thigh]
• Dirk Nowitzki received autographed boxing gloves from Muhammed Ali. [That NBA Lottery Pick]
• The Most Hated Athlete: Voting Results. [Sp0rts Pickle]
• Hilarious: Twitter Action Figures. [TAUNTR]
• The Onion Headline of the Day: Unreleased Jimmy Page Guitar Riff To Be Retrieved From Secret Vault To Save Rock And Roll
According to initial reports, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley has been cited for marijuana possession and speeding by police in Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Via KARE 11:
Beasley was pulled over on June 26 for speeding around 3 a.m. on Interstate 394 and Carlson Parkway. He was clocked at 84 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Police also found 16.2 grams of marijuana in Beasley’s vehicle.
Both offenses are petty misdemeanors which will result in fines.
Sixteen grams, eh? In light of the petty misdemeanor charges, this will likely cause nary a problem for Beasley within the State of Minnesota’s criminal justice system, but Beasley might incur the wrath of David Stern whenever the NBA lockout is lifted, if that ever happens.
But perhaps worst of all? Remember these comments Timberwolves GM David Kahn made last July regarding Beasley and the basketball player’s marijuana use?
“He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore,” Kahn said, “and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case.”
So, in essence, due to his actions, Beasley has caused Kahn to retroactively appear like a complete fool, and that’s something that Kahn can handle well enough on his own without Beasley’s help, thank you very much.
Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley cited for marijuana possession [KARE 11]
Wow. That is some crazy stuff. The mesmerizing, awe-inspiring image, taken last night, is part of a photo gallery which can be found here (via FOX Sports Arizona).
But on to what in the holy hell that thing is that spread doom and gloom all around the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks (via Reuters):
Day turned into night as the billowy plumes of dust rolled over the mountains and clogged the skies over and around Phoenix in the late afternoon and into the evening on Tuesday, according to meteorologists.
“A very large and historic dust storm moved through a large swatch of Arizona,” the National Weather Service office in Phoenix said in a statement posted on its website, calling it an “impressive event.”
Impressive image. Apparently, these haboobs are caused by thunderstorms producing downdrafts that pick up loose sediment on the desert floor. Oh, and that very stadium is where the MLB All-Star Game, along with all the other related festivities, is scheduled to be played next week. Good thing that Chase Field has a retractable roof, am I right? Who thinks that was a silly idea now? Well, I still do, but I also thought the word “haboob” was funny, so there you go.
Historic dust storm sweeps Arizona, turns day into night [Reuters]
In order to remain competitive in the marketplace regarding how people go about choosing how to utilize their spending money, minor league baseball teams the country over have often relied on zany and offbeat promotions to put fans in the seats, and the remainder of this season is no different. What follows are the top 10 promotional events I came across that epitomize how the experience at a minor league ballpark is remarkably different than what one would expect while at a major league baseball game. Obviously, this is by no means an exhaustive listing of the many wonderful events which will occur at minor league ballparks, so be sure to take a look at what’s being offered by your friendly neighborhood minor league baseball team.
