4
Feb
2013
Ray Lewis shares seat with Lombardi Trophy on flight home (PHOTO)
Assuming you’ve been pinned under something heavy for the past month, you probably hadn’t heard that Ravens LB Ray Lewis is retiring after 17 years in the NFL. And after yesterday’s victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Lewis is going out in the best way imaginable, with a second Super Bowl championship under his belt.
Today, Lewis tweeted this photo of himself admiring the newly acquired Lombardi Trophy on the team flight home from New Orleans, along with the following message:
“My last ride.. Up in the clouds… This feeling is so real. We coming home with the crown Baltimore.”
(via @raylewis)
Regardless of the off-field controversy that seems to endlessly surround Lewis, you can’t deny his greatness as a linebacker, and his impact on the game during his career.
Am I nuts, or does it look like Lewis is flying coach here? Seems a little odd for the world champs to be slumming it in coach, no?
UPDATE: It appears that Lewis wasn’t the only one who got to cradle the trophy on the flight home … according to the Ravens’ Twitter, the Lombardi was passed around the entire plane:
The Lombardi Trophy was passed around the entire #Ravens team plane. Coaches, players, staff. Really cool!
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2013
4
Feb
2013
The night the lights went out in Louisiana (GIF & VIDEO)
Last night, Super Bowl XLVII brought us one of the more surreal moments in sports history, as the power in the SuperDome went out during the 3rd quarter last night, leading to a 34-minute delay in play.
(via deadspin.com)
The outage came shortly after the Ravens took a commanding 28-6 lead, and the lengthy delay seemed to allow the 49ers to regroup and regain some momentum once the lights came back on. And even though Baltimore was able to hang on for the victory, the conspiracy theorists are already out in force suggesting some sort of foul play.
CBS’s 60 minutes crew was on hand and had their cameras rolling in the NFL’s control room as the lights went out, and captured this remarkable footage of the outage and its immediate aftermath:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
31
Jan
2013
This picture of John and Jim Harbaugh as Little Leaguers is classic (PHOTO)
In advance of the much-hyped Harbowl (or “Super Browl”, if you will), Reddit brings us this absolute gem from the Harbaugh brothers’ childhood.
Check out young John and Jim decked out in their Baskin Robbins little league unis, with the elder John towering over the befuddled looking Jim:
(via reddit)
And after some incredible interweb sleuthing, we uncovered a few more classic shots from the Harbaugh family archives, which reveal that Jim has been making that same exact face since he exited the birth canal.
PS - how bout that local little league BR sponsorship still paying dividends 30+ years later, eh?!?
MORE HARBAUGH CHILDHOOD PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP
27
Sep
2012
Joe Mays’ suspension for removing part of Matt Schaub’s ear upheld (PHOTO & GIFs)
Broncos LB Joe Mays had his one-game suspension upheld yesterday for his brutal helmet-to-helmet hit on Texans’ QB Matt Schaub last Sunday.
(Photo: Joe Amon/denverpost.com)
The impact of the hit was so great that it sent Schaub’s helmet flying, along with a small piece of his ear lobe. And if you look closely enough in the banner pic above, you just might be able to make out that little ear chunk flying through the air. It was a gruesome sight to be sure, but Schaub toughed it out, missing only one play before returning to the field.
“I felt fine,” Schaub said. “I just lost a piece of my ear. I was bleeding and my helmet came off. So I had to come out for a play, but I was fine.”
(via houstonpress.com)
Yikes.
As a repeat offender, Mays was also fined $50k for the hit, but he only appealed the suspension in hopes that he might be able to play in Sunday’s game against Oakland. Instead, the league has re-determined that Mays hit a defenseless Schaub in the head area with his own helmet after he had thrown the pass. Pretty obvious, really.
Mays has apologized to Schaub for the play, insisting he didn’t intend to hurt anyone, but will still have to sit this week out and think about what he’s done wrong.
GIFS AFTER THE JUMP
12
Sep
2012
So there’s a Peyton Manning corn maze now (PHOTO & VIDEO)
Think Broncos fans are excited about Peyton Manning’s debut?
Check out this photo of Fritzler Farm Corn Maze in LaSalle, Colorado, whose owners decided to model their annual maze to look like Manning:
(via sportsillustrated.com)
The maze opens to the public on September 15th. I would just hate to get lost in the Manning Face.
And of course, now Peyton can team up with the Marshawn Lynch corn maze to dominate vegetation labyrinths worldwide.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
28
Aug
2012
Worst. Steelers Tattoo. Ever. (PIC)
Via Reddit/r/nfl comes this photo of one Steelers fan’s remarkable new tattoo, and … well … let’s just let the picture speak for itself:
(Photo via reddit)
No words … They should’ve sent a poet.
Apparently, this work of art was created by this tattoo artist named Brian (of “Brian’s Tattoos” in central PA), who actually has a history of inking people with his child-like drawings, without one hint of intended irony. He even posted this image to Facebook as an example of his “work”, and Brian adamantly defends his portfolio (his other tattoos are equally inspiring) against anyone who dares to hate. One glance at his Facebook page, and you immediately realize that Brian is either the most delusional, meth-addled tattoo artist in history, or is playing a huge joke on everyone.
Let’s hope it’s the latter, but either way, I feel badly for Brian’s poor subjects, who have to live with this “art” on their bodies for the rest of their lives.
BONUS TATTOO AFTER THE JUMP
3
Aug
2012
Mark Ingram really, really enjoys sno-balls (PIC)
This tremendous photo of Saints RB Mark Ingram overjoyed with excitement over a frosty treat – locally known as a sno-ball - after a hot day at training camp comes to us via Reddit/r/NFL user chadrochill:
(Image via Reddit/r/nfl)
For those of you who are curious (like we were), the uploader was also kind enough to explain the distinction between a “sno-ball” and other regional versions of this icy summer classic:
For people wondering the difference between sno-balls and snow cones, I will do my best to accurately describe it:
The basic difference is that snow cones were traditionally made with chips of ice, where it would be fairly crunchy and look like this.
20
Apr
2012
Look how cute Bill Belichick was as a 6-year-old (PHOTO)
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick celebrated his 60th birthday this week, but this photo from Belichick family archives shows the dark overlord of NFL coaches during gentler times, as a six-year-old child:
(Photo via Reddit.com/r/nfl)
Basic math tells us the picture was taken in approximately 1958, and in it we find young William, pre-hoodie, sitting and smiling in the front of the stands at what was likely the U.S. Naval Acadamy, where his father was an assistant football coach.
If you look closely in his eyes, behind that innocent grin, you can tell little Bill is already putting together defensive schemes in his head.
[H/T Reddit.com/r/nfl]
17
Apr
2012
The Steelers throwback uniforms are fairly ridiculous (PICS)
The Pittsburgh Steelers unveiled their 80th-season throwback uniform by posting pics on their Twitter page today, and let’s just say … yikes.
(Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers via SI.com)
This bumblebee-esque monstrosity was apparently inspired by the original 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates, and was chosen “to show a unique part of Steelers’ history”:
“We wanted to use a jersey that we wore early in our history as we celebrate our 80th season,” Steelers’ President Art Rooney II said. “We have never used those jerseys since the 1934 season and I think our fans will be excited to see our players wear them in action this year.”
More uniform pics here, and after the jump. And while our initial reaction was horror, the more we look at it … yeah, they’re still pretty bad. There’s a reason these unis were left on the shelves for 80 years. And the socks aren’t helping.
Unfortunately for fashion aficionados everywhere, the Steelers will don the throwbacks for not one, but two home games this year.
10
Feb
2012
New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI Graphic Novel (PICS)
As a tribute to his beloved New York Giants, user Chris in Philly of BigBlueInteractive.com has taken to creating graphic novels representing each of the team’s recent playoff wins. A few weeks ago, we posted parts 1 & 2 of the novel which presented the Giants victories over the Packers and 49ers in the form of Eli Manning‘s comic book-stylized journal.
So ever since their impressive victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, we’ve been patiently waiting for CiP’s next masterpiece … and he didn’t disappoint, delivering not one but TWO new pages representing both the championship game and the parade that greeted the Giants upon their return home (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
(Artwork: Chris in Philly via BigBlueInteractive)
FINAL CHAPTER AFTER THE JUMP
