Archive for the ‘Other Sports’ Category
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25
Jun
2010
VIDEO: America suddenly cares about soccer!
Once again, if you haven’t been paying attention to the 2010 FIFA World Cup … what are you waiting for??? Wednesday’s 1-0 USA victory over Algeria, sealed by Landon Donovan’s 91st minute score, was without a doubt the biggest moment in US soccer history. And as the video above illustrates, Donovan’s goal brought together US fans from all over the world unlike any sporting event in recent history. Tomorrow’s round of 16 match vs Ghana (2:30pm ET) will be the biggest game the US have ever played on the world stage (except for maybe their quarter final appearance in 2002). So, uh, now would be a good time to tune in.
Let’s face it – if you don’t get goosebumps watching this video, you a) don’t have a pulse b) hate sports or c) are Algerian. I personally love the guy at 3:22, and the clip gets extra points for using the inspirational montage music from the film Rudy.
But as you watch these fans going mental for a sport that barely makes a blip on the national radar at the professional level, it’s remarkable to think that just moments prior, the sport of soccer was teetering perilously close to losing American fans for good. Read the rest of this entry »
13
Jun
2010
It’s time for the “other” football
England goalkeeper Robert Green makes the biggest mistake of his life in allowing Clint Dempsey's shot to get by him in yesterday's World Cup match (Photo: Elise Amendola/AP, via Boston.com)
In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past few days, the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Friday, and there’s been no shortage of exciting action in the host country of South Africa this weekend. Yesterday in group play, the US played England to a 1-1 draw, helped greatly by goalkeeper error (see banner photo). And earlier today, Ghana scored a 1-0 victory over Serbia, marking the first win for an African team in the first World Cup hosted on African soil. Needless to say, the energy around Johannesburg is unreal right now.
While “soccer” (as it’s known here) has never really caught on at the pro level in the states, pretty much everyone has played the sport as a kid, and you simply can’t deny that the World Cup brings together fans from around the globe like no other event, save possibly the Olympics. So, apologies if this offends any American football purists out there, but for the next month, much of our attention will be focused on the “other” football being played in South Africa.
Don’t worry, we’ll be keeping an eye on NFL mini-camps for any exciting news … just be sure to let us know when Favre decides whether he’s playing or not.
4
Sep
2009
Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount punches Boise State DE Byron Hout
The story of the day seems to be the outburst of Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount‘s sucker-punch of Boise State DE Byron Hout, who was openly taunting him. Oregon fell to Boise State 19-8 last night, in a nationally televised game.
Oregon has just suspended Blount for the season. Hout was not disciplined by Boise State.
Blount made this apology: “It was just something that I shouldn’t have done. I lost my head.”
Oregon University president Richard Lariviere made this statement: “We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player. Oregon’s loyal fans expect and deserve better. The University of Oregon Athletics Department is reviewing the situation and will take appropriate action, reflecting the seriousness of the player’s behavior.”
Here’s what happened:
26
Jun
2009
Happy Friday: Press conference meltdown sing-a-long!
We all love meltdown press conferences. Below is a classic piece of editing work featuring Allen Iverson, Dennis Green, Jim Mora, Terrell Owens, and more:
11
Jun
2009
Brandon Jacobs gets into boxing … as a manager
Brandon Jacobs would not be pleasant to face in the ring
Tim Smith of the New York Daily News tells us that Giants RB Brandon Jacobs has been pursuing one of his other passions in his free time: boxing.
Jacobs, who is known for pummeling defenders on Sundays in the NFL, spent time as an amateur boxer in his home state of Louisiana, and has never lost his love for the sport. But rather than enter the ring himself and risk his primary source of income, Jacobs will be getting into the business side of the sport as a manager:
“I’ve been wanting to get into the business after I was done playing,” Jacobs said. “If I didn’t fight, I wanted to get into the promotion business, but I hear from people that’s a lot of headaches. So I wanted to do something that was more personable with the fighters.”
Jacobs’ first management client is his long-time friend, and former WBO junior welterweight champion, Kendall Holt. Showtime recently did a feature of Jacobs & Holt, as a preview to one of Holt’s championship fights. Pretty good stuff:
Jacobs and Holt
Interestingly enough, not only did Holt lose his title to Timothy Bradley in that match (bringing his record to 25-3), but since then he plead guilty to a money laundering charge in New Jersey. The laundering charge stemmed from drug deals made by his previous manager, Henry Cortes, so if nothing else, Jacobs should at least be a better influence on Holt’s career than Cortes was. As you can tell from the clip, the man loves his money!
Despite Holt’s issues, Jacobs has developed ties with Top Rank Promotions, who – as the vulture boxing promoters they are – see the potential income from an NFL tie-in.
From the Daily News piece:
Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions said if Jacobs helps the Giants get to another Super Bowl this upcoming season he will do a boxing promotion the day before the game.
“I’d love to play in the Super Bowl and then I’d love to fight for a (boxing) title the next day,” Jacobs said.
Allow me to just say that I wouldn’t want to face Jacobs in the boxing ring.
9
Jun
2009
Mixed Martial Arts is the new Jazzercise
FoxSports.com has a nice feature on Matt Leinart‘s off-season training regimen – and specifically, his recent Mixed Martial Arts training. Apparently Leinart is not interested in joining the UFC (like every other washed-up NFLer is doing these days), but rather he’s doing it to strengthen his mind and body, to give himself an edge in the NFL. Looks like he’s working hard … who knows, maybe he’ll even be able to beat out 38-year-old Kurt Warner someday.
The biggest revelation for me from this piece is that Jay Glazer is an MMA trainer, who also works with Jared Allen and other NFL players! That just blew me away. I thought he was just another out-of-shape shmuck reporter, but it turns out that not only does he train, but he regularly announces MMA matches, and has even fought himself! Wow. I’m genuinely impressed.
You think NFL Athletes are going to John Clayton and asking him for tips to increase their flexibility and quickness? Not likely, huh?
Your Tuesday Morning Links:
- Ex Giant Tiki Barber is a forgotten man at NBC [NY Daily News]. As a Giants fan, I can’t tell you how warm and fuzzy this story makes me feel
- Rodney Harrison just retired, and is already trying to make his mark as a broadcaster. Apparently Rodney thinks the game is turning into a “pansy sport” [Peter King's MMQB]:
“This is football in the National Football League. I hit a guy with my forearm in his throat or his chest area, and they’re trying to fine me. It’s football! [...] Football now is turning into a soft, pansy sport. This is not volleyball! This is not tennis! This is some of the biggest, fastest, strongest men in the world. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
26
May
2009
How would Lebron James do in the NFL? Randy Moss says better than Antonio Gates
State Farm has been running a commercial for a little while now that features Lebron James in a dream sequence where he signs with the Cleveland Browns and becomes a star in the NFL.
According to Randy Moss, that dream might not be far off from reality. Moss said in an interview with ESPN that he believes Lebron is one of those rare athletes who could succeed as a 2-sport athlete, and could even do better than Antonio Gates – who played basketball in college – in the NFL:
“I see his power and his explosion,” Moss said. “It really translates to the football field. Basketball was my first love. I just chose football because I was able to excel at that a little bit quicker than basketball.
“But looking at him and evaluating his skills and things like that, I don’t think it’d be a problem for him to make the transition from basketball to football.
“I believe that he could be a star in this game.”
Moss might not be too far off. James was an all-state receiver as a sophomore and junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, OH. He quit football as a senior to focus on basketball, and clearly, that has turned out pretty well for James. But he has said that he still misses the game of football “every day”. And at 6’8″, and with his freakish combination of size, speed and athleticism, it’s not hard to imagine James beating smaller DBs off the line, and out-reaching them for jump balls in the endzone.
So while everyone is focused on the NBA Playoffs, and hoping for a Lebron vs. Kobe showdown in the finals, it isn’t too much of a pipe dream to envision a future with James lining up against Troy Palomalu, and wondering who would get the better of that match-up.
After the jump, the director’s cut of the “Lebron-as-a-Brown’ State Farm commercial.
2
May
2009
Derby Daze, Celtics/Bulls & Swine Flu
Dan Mullin goes to the Kentucky Derby
Since today seems to be one of the better days in recent sporting memory – Kentucky Derby (Favorite I Want Revenge SCRATCHED this morning), Pacquiao vs Hatton, Celtics/Bulls Game 7, NHL Playoffs, and there isn’t all that much going on in the NFL this weekend, we’re going to try to be productive with our Saturday. Buy a lawnmower, play with the puppy, go get a swine flu vaccination and watch some of the other amazing sports on TV today.
Here are a few morning links to get you going:
- Kentucky Derby Photo Essay from Busted Coverage
- For the degenerate gamblers in the house, How To Bet The Kentucky Derby from FindingDulcinea
- The Sports Guy recall the amazing 3OT Game 6 of Celtics/Bulls
- CelticsBlog says this is the best NBA Playoff Series Ever
- Clinton Portis Weighs in on the Swine Flu. Thank GOD his voice can finally be heard on this issue.
After the jump, we’ve got video of the top plays from the Celtics/Bulls series so far, and an incredible Swine Flu PSA:
6
Apr
2009
Hey, It’s Opening Day … Oh look, a squirrel!
Well, it’s technically not opening day since games started last night, but that’s what they’re calling it. Yeah, I know. I don’t really care either.
But all across the nation, baseball fans are taking the day off from work and heading out to the ball park. Mainly as an excuse to sit around in comfy new corporate stadiums and get drunk on $9 beers in the sunshine for 3+ hours. They’ll take in the majesty of “America’s Game”, keep score, and dig in to the 162 game marathon session that is the MLB season.
Usually the most interesting part of a day at the ball game
This is an NFL Blog, so don’t expect to see much (if any) baseball news around these parts. But Asylum.com has a poll going to see if people are actually paying attention to the start of baseball season:
For die-hard baseball fans, it meant the start of spring and the return of the sacred American pastime. But for many baseball haters, it marked the start of seven months of three- to four-hour exhibitions of tediousness, choking nightly SportsCenter broadcasts and intensifying football withdrawal.
Put me down in the “wake me in August” category. But right now it’s neck-and-neck in the poll. Apparently there are still a lot of baseball fans out there. Who knew?
Anyway, there’s still one more night of college hoops, then the NFL draft in 3 weeks, followed by the NFL spring meetings in Ft. Lauderdale just 3 short weeks later! Now we’re talking!
