15
Sep
2009
In memorium: Dalton’s Week 1 NFL Highlights
In honor of the passing of Patrick Swayze, we wanted to pay tribute to one of our favorite film character’s of all time – Roadhouse‘s bad ass “cooler” with a sensitive soul, Dalton.
So in that spirit, we bring you Dalton’s Week 1 NFL Plays of the Week:
"Pain Don't Hurt"
All you have to do is follow three simple rules.
One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected.
Brandon Stokeley’s miracle 87-yd tipped-ball TD reception:
Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Adrian Peterson’s 64-yd TD run against the Browns:
And three, be nice.
Tom Brady gives Suzy Kolber the ol’ brush off after Monday Night’s Patriots/Bills game:
Looks like Mr. Brady doesn’t know about the third rule. Fare the well, Dalton. Fare thee well.
1
Sep
2009
That old man playing QB for the Vikings sure is dirty
Here’s the highlight that everyone’s talking about from last night’s Vikings/Texans pre-season tilt. Minnesota’s new/old QB (who we still shall not name … at least until he plays in a regular season game), throwing a low crackback block on Eugene Wilson. The hit knocked Wilson out of the game, and drew the ire of the MNF crew. But more importantly, it showed that the wily veteran still thinks he’s above the rules, and is now doing everything possible to tarnish his once pristine image:
17
Aug
2009
Pre-Season MNF – Giants/Panthers game blog
Osi Umenyiora returns to the Giants after missing 2008 with an injury (Photo: NY Daily News)
Since this is the first pre-season game that I’m actually going to watch in earnest, I figured I’d keep track of my thoughts during the game … or at least the first half of it.
Warning: I’m an unabashed Giants fan, but I’ll try to play this relatively straight. It’s only pre-season, so let’s not get too carried away by anything we see tonight … mainly, you’re praying for no injuries, and to see that your vets look sharp, and which newcomers have a chance to make an impact.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the Giants’ receiving corps – especially rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden – who are going to need to step up big this year. The Giants defense is banged up, with all 3 of their FA acquisitions (DE Chris Canty, DT Rocky Bernard and LB Michael Boley) sitting this one out. Also of note on the injured list, WR Steve Smith – both of them, actually.
Alright, it’s football time. Let’s do this.
8:06pmET: Suzy Kolber interviews Eli Manning on the sidelines. Eli is still a bit of a mushmouth, but he says all the right things. He kinda reminds me of Nuke Laloush in Bull Durham. “We’re just gonna take it one game at a time, and the good lord willin’ …”
1st Quarter
8:08pm: Panthers start with the ball. DeAngelo Williams gets the first carry for Carolina. Jon Gruden is already better than Kornheiser ever was.
8:09pm: Giants D get a 3-and-out on the first series. Strong start for what should be one of the best units in the league. Mario Manningham gets a big punt return.
8:11pm: Brandon Jacobs gets the first 2 carries. I bought a #27 Jacobs jersey in the off-season. First offensive jersey I’ve ever owned. Jacobs is just a beast.
8:12pm: Eli Manning fires a bullet to Manningham on 3rd down, called back for Illegal Formation, but still nice to see. Incompletion on the next play leads to a Feagles punt.
8:16pm: Nice to see Justin Tuck and Osi Uymeniora back together. Giants will be using 5-man DL fronts this season. Osi gets a sack/strip as I type this. Nasty.
8:24pm: Brandon Jacobs gets out in the open field and runs over his first DB of the season. Poor #31 Richard Marshall is the victim for Carolina.
The Giants running game appears to be fully operational (Photo: NY Daily News)
8:25pm: Domenick Hixon gets a big gain on the bubble screen. And then Ahmad Bradshaw finishes off the drive with a 20-yd TD run. The Panthers just cant tackle. 7-0 Giants
18
May
2009
Gruden to replace Kornheiser on MNF
Your new Monday Night Football team! (Photo: KissingSuzyKolber)
ESPN announced today that former Bucs and Raiders head coach Jon Gruden will replace Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football. Gruden will join Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski in the booth, and hope to have a longer tenure than previous failed color commentators Dennis Miller, Joe Theisman, and most recently, Kornheiser. And even though Gruden has relatively little experience on camera, it would be hard to do worse than his predecessor.
From the beginning, the Kornheiser experiment seemed doomed to fail. on Pardon the Interruption, he brings incisive, cutting analysis to a wide variety of sports. On MNF, he was just another braying talking head, blathering on about almost anything except what was actually happening on the field in front of him.
So Kornheiser decided to step down from MNF, although he will still continue on PTI. But the reason TK won’t be calling games anymore might come as a surprise to you: it was because of his fear of flying!
I am totally grateful for the MNF opportunity that I truly enjoyed the last three seasons,” he said. “I feel we got better each year. My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true. When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would’ve frequently moved me from the bus to the air. I kept looking at the schedule the past month and wanted to find a way to quietly extricate myself.
So yeah, it had nothing to do with the fact that Kornheiser sucked ass. Even though John Madden made a career out of calling games and criss-crossing the country on the Madden Cruiser bus, Kornheiser simply couldn’t sack up and make it happen (or better yet, pop a Xanax and get on the friggin plane!). Yup, that makes perfect sense.
