6
Dec
2010
As the Jets-Pats rivalry goes, there’s never been a bigger one than this
Long simmering, the feud between the Jets and Patriots is set to explode Monday night. (Source: New York Daily News)
(Ed. note: This article was originally posted last week, but with the impending Monday night match-up on everyone’s mind today, we thought it deserved another look)
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The word “rivalry” is tossed around a lot in the NFL. You hear announcers, desperate for market share, describe a pedestrian Seahawks-Chiefs tilt as a rivalry. Who’s buying that? Most “rivalries” unfold without so much as a breadcrumb on the line.
The history between the New York Jets and New England Patriots is a messy, entangled war by contrast. With both franchises notched at 9-2 atop the AFC East, you have to go back to the 1990 Monday-night meeting between the 10-1 49ers vs. the 10-1 New York Giants to find a late-season prime-time bout with equal appeal.
The lifetime record between these two teams stands at 51-50-1 in New York’s favor. Records aside, the Patriots are the Goliath, having dominated the last decade with three Super Bowl wins under the leadership of a once-per-generation quarterback talent in Tom Brady.
The Jets, after years of struggle, are at the threshold — but the long-time Jets fanatic is still haunted by ghosts: “When will the other shoe drop? When will the S.O.J.s appear from behind the Wizard’s curtain?”
A season sweep over the Patriots would send a statement league-wide: These Jets are for real.
10
Aug
2010
VIDEO: Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston in Brokeback Mountain
In case you missed the NFL’s Hall of Fame ceremonies from Canton over the weekend, one of the highlights was Emmitt Smith‘s emotional acceptance speech, where he tearfully thanked his former Cowboy teammates Daryl Johnston, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. It was genuine heartfelt moment in a sport where emotions are usually downplayed in favor of bravado; one that gave chills to even the most cynical football fan.
Well, it was only a matter of time before the internet took that moment and turned it into a trailer for Brokeback Mountain, right?
I don’t know, it’s still pretty touching to me.
[Via HotClicks]
16
Jun
2009
Artie Lange takes over “Joe Buck Live” premiere on HBO. Rest of show mediocre.
This HS photo of Joe Buck (yellow shirt) with actor Paul Rudd (on the left) might have been the most interesting part of the show
I tuned into the premiere of “Joe Buck Live” on HBO last night for a few reasons:
- I’m a fan of Bob Costas and enjoyed his show. So I’m hoping Buck provides at least one third of the quality sports journalism that Costas did (it’s not looking good)
- Brett Favre was Buck’s first guest, and I wanted to see what lies the waffling prick was going to spout to the nation this time
- I was desperately trying to avoid watching the Bachelorette with my girlfriend
Overall, I thought the show was just okay. Buck was clearly trying WAY too hard to be funny, and was taking himself too seriously all night. Despite the fact that Favre said he’s “maybe, considering” playing in the NFL this season, (ed. note: who cares) the rest of the interview pretty much went nowhere, and the Michael Irvin/Chad Ochocinco conversation about athletes as celebrities in the media was about as self-serving for those two a-holes as expected.
The most interesting moments came toward the end of the show with the non-sports panel of Paul Rudd, Artie Lang, and Jason Sudeikis. Lange – who was more than likely drunk or high or both – pretty much took over the segment, and had Buck squirming in his chair the whole time. It was fantastic! Lange wasted no time in going right for the jugular with a coc#sucker joke at Buck’s expense. He never stood a chance.
My favorite part of the entire episode was when Lange – who is a Giants fan – used the stage to curse out the Cowboys in front of Irvin, and make fun of Tony Romo for a good minute. He then uses full 2 minutes (of an 8 minute segment) to tell a joke about Joe’s dad Jack Buck, and lights a cigarette before Buck manages to awkwardly steer the conversation over to his childhood pal Paul Rudd. And despite his best efforts, you could tell Buck was getting pissed off, and he came off as an uptight wuss in the face of Lange’s curse-filled diatribes.
Update – HBO pulled the videos down from YouTube, but here is the entire Lange/Rudd/Sudeikis segment. If you haven’t seen it, enjoy:
[by bobsblitz]
2nd Update – Here is the full post-show segment that was filmed for HBO.com only.
Lange continues to be relentless, but Buck comes off much better in this clip. I guess he loosened up once the cameras were off and he accepted what was happening. And thank GOD Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis was there:
After the Jump,SI.com has an article on the segment, including Buck and HBO’s response to Lange’s behavior:
19
May
2009
Michael Irvin’s Reality Show Doesn’t Suck
Michael Irvin plans to show these guys what it means to be in the NFL. Including all the drug-fueled sex parties. (Photo: SpikeTV)
In keeping with our theme of NFL-related television, Spike TV premiered their new reality series “4th & Long” last night, and it wasn’t nearly as obnoxious as I expected. In fact, I found myself watching the whole thing, and genuinely interested in the participants and outcome. And shockingly, Michael Irvin wasn’t a total douche bag!
From the New York Times show preview:
The gimmick: 12 never-quite-made-it football players compete for a chance to go to the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp, where presumably the lucky winner will have a shot to make the team. The usual reality-TV elimination format is in place, with one hopeful being cut each episode. Everyone involved seems under contract to use the phrase “Dallas Cowboys” at least once per sentence.
That last part is definitely true, and I often found myself distracted & annoyed by the constant shilling of the Cowboys brand. But I suppose that’s to be expected … I was just pleased that Jerry Jones didn’t play too much of a role in the actual program. Irvin comes off as a solid mentor for these players, but it’s former ST coach Joe Avezzano – a great NFL personality during his career – who really helps to carry the program. Former S Bill Bates also lends a hand, and a 500-lb Nate Newton adds a bit of comic relief as “the Turk”, delivering messages to the players from the coaching staff.
Ultimately, the winner of this is likely to be nothing more than camp fodder, but it makes for interesting TV. You can check out the preview video below, or watch the full episode at Spike.com.
7
May
2009
Hakeem Nicks is just like Michael Irvin
Hey, Nicks and Irvin BOTH wore #88 too! Cosmic, man. Cosmic. (Photo: Newsday.com)
Or, at least so says his former coach at North Carolina, Butch Davis. And Davis just might know something about the subject, since he was also on the Dallas Cowboys staff from 1989-1994, when Irvin was doing tons of blow in his prime:
Davis had this to say of the New York Giants 1st round pick [New York Daily News ]:
“You don’t want to put this burden on a kid coming into his rookie year, but a lot of his physical attributes are very similar to Michael Irvin,” Davis said. “Hakeem is big, he’s physical, he catches the ball over the middle, and he’s got that ability to play physical when people are draped all over him as they’re going to be in the National Football League.”
He even said the 6-1, 210-pound Nicks has “as good a set of hands catching the ball as anybody I’ve ever been around.” And he’s been around receivers such as Irvin, Andre Johnson, Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne.
Irvin says the comparison should be good for Hicks, and gives him something to live up to in his career.
Let’s just hope that Nicks doesn’t also stab a teammate over a haircut and get arrested for felony cocaine posession, too. Because that would suck.
