Today's Links--Super Bowl Edition

• The Super Bowl was great. There have been some good games in the last 10 years, and Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger have both been a part of half of them. Steelers win by the way, if you missed it.
  
• Northwestern wins a wild one over Wisconsin, and Penn State beats Michigan State in East Lansing. I love the Big Ten in conference play. (Thanks to Gavin for emailing me this link with the message "Wildcat fever...Catch it!!!")
  
• I am being completely serious when I say the Bulls just had their first 3-game winning streak this year and it came on the road. I wouldn't believe me either the way they've played recently. Do you think it had to do with Reinsdorf's bitching?
  
• How is Richard Dent not in the Hall of Fame. He was the best defensive lineman on the best defense in NFL history. This may be as big a rip off as Santo not being in the Hall.
• A sweet picture of MJ escaping Chicago in his Ferrari Testarosa sometime in the 1990s.
  
• The funeral for Eddy Curry's baby mamma and their kids was held this weekend. Apparently at some point Eddy asked the Knicks for an $8 million dollar advance on his paycheck. This guy has some problems.
  
• A Chicago Olympic update.
• Apparently Pujols wants Manny to come to the Cardinals. Seems pretty unlikely.

Today's Links--Rammy's Granny Edition

Finally! An analysis of the Dream Team vs. the Redeem Team that is based on empirical evidence. Dream Team wins by the way.

CUBBIES!!! Sorry, I was at the game last night. Recap: Hamels was untouchable, but the second he came out it was HR, double, single, walk, granny. Rammy is the man. Apparently it was Lou's birthday as well.

An explanation of how and why Deng cannot play in FIBA games because of his back, and what GB can do to make this go away. I'll give you a clue: It costs 2.5 million dollars.

Cubs v. White Sox World Series? It's possible, but Phil Rogers claims it would be a bad thing for the Cubs.

Hilarious exchange between a Sun-Times reader and the editor of the Times, along with other reader reactions (via deadspin). Oh and Ozzie seems pretty excited about Mariotti, but that's no surprise.

Roger Ebert weighs in on Mariotti leaving. He isn't happy with the "rat" either.

Apparently there was some kind of Bears game last night. Whatever. Wake me up when the regular season starts so our offense can put me right back to sleep.

Lovie is pissed about reports that Daniel Manning is out at nickelback. Ok Lovie, we get it. Daniel is your nickelback.

Todays Links--Manning-Free Edition

• Another Manning gets the shaft. Daniel is no longer the primary nickelback for the Bears.
• Pirates make Marquis look like Cy Young. They suck. Cubs win 2-0.
• WBBM radio is going to cut away from the Bears preseason game with the Browns to broadcast Obama's nomination. Where are the priorities in this country?
• White Sox get murdered. They are going to need better than that from Danks.
• Discussion about Zambrano's ups and downs.
• Canada is happy to be mediocre when it comes to the Olympics.
  

Today's Links--Back To School Edition

• Whether you like him or not, A.J. Pierzynski sure knows how to win (cheat). Sox win to jump back into first by a half game.
• Angelo is on the defensive about Chris Williams' injury.
• Rich Harden had double digit strikeouts. Again. Wow. DeRosa homered in his 4th straight game. Wow. Cubs win again. Cubs are the first team in baseball to 80 wins.
• The Redeem Team was a shitty nickname, can we put it to bed now that they won the gold medal?
• Blogabull compares J.R. Smith to Ben Gordon in terms of market value now that Smith got a 3 year deal.
  

Phelps Putting Fame to Good Use

It didn't take Olympic superstar Michael Phelps long to take advantage of his record breaking performance. Everyone knew the jersey (speedo?) chasers would be flocking, and Phelps opted for Aussie Swimmer Stephanie Rice.

And who better to bring us the story than the NY Post? According to the Post, the two were spotted "sucking face" at a celebrity party in Beijing. Mark Spitz and his porn-stasche are undoubtedly pleased with the move by Phelps. This also means I should post this picture of Phelps:

Team USA Thinks Gay People Are Un-American

Our old friend John Amaechi, the only openly gay player in the NBA, is in Beijing covering the Olympics. Apparently, Team USA players and Coaches are not thrilled to see him. Imagine that (after his boook bashed many NBA players generally and specifically):

There's a former NBA player who had a 6.2 career scoring average
broadcasting from the Olympics.Ordinarily, that wouldn't mean much. But that
player's name is John Amaechi, who released the book "Man in the Middle,'' last
year, becoming the first player who was at one time was associated with the NBA
to come out as being gay.Amaechi is at the Olympics, serving as a basketball
analyst for his homeland Great Britain's BBC. His appearance has caught some in
the NBA establishment by surprise."It's been tense to say the least,'' Amaechi
said when I ran into him in a lunch line about what it's been like being seeing
some Team USA players and coaches.Amaechi said players have turned away from
him, and there remains a "lot of tension.'' He mentioned seeing Lakers star Kobe
Bryant."I ran into Kobe, and he was surprised to see me,'' Amaechi said. "It
didn't go well.''Ameachi, who played for Cleveland, Orlando and Utah in 1995-96
and from 1999-2003, has been writing about his experiences at the Olympics in
his blog www.beijinglegacyblog.com."I had passed some of the coaches in the MPC
(Main Press Center) the day before, catching only the trailing end a statement
of the coach who saw me, "... isn't that Amaechi? What the hell is he doing
(here),''' Amaechi writes in his blog. "I was a little irritated. I couldn't
help but wonder if that was the way they would have reacted to another former
NBA player they recognized passing shoulder to shoulder a world away. Even an
average one.''

Score one for Jerry Sloan I guess. (Amaechi bashed Sloan as a gay-hater in his book)

Today's Links

• Surprise heroes in the AL? Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez are making a strong case. Sox win series in Oak-Town.
• Cubs win series in Florida, finally. Umm, have you ever heard of a rain delay when its not raining?
• Grossman and Orton both looked shitty, but Grossman looked shittier I guess? So Orton might start the season as the Bears QB.
• Looks like the NFL season might go from 16 games to 17 or 18. Interesting. I love the idea, but the will the Players Union go with it?
• Who names their kid "Wrigley Fields"? Some moron from Lockport I guess.
• I know this is old news for most people by now, but Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever. 8 golds in one olympics. Greatest athlete of all time? Maybe.
• Kane County Cougars promotion: If they hit a grand slam in the 6th, someone wins $10,000. Lo and behold! GS in the 6th. Sweet.

Today's Links

• Sox win in a crazy game. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers? Maybe the magic is on the south side...Oh and Broadway goes back to Charlotte after win.
  
• The defense looked shaky against KC, but Urlacher isn't worried, and he'll show you why against Indy.
• Cubbies crush ball, win again. Brewers win streak halted FINALLY.
  
• Redeem Team avenges loss to Greece in 2006. Whatever, I'll be impressed when I see gold. Otherwise, he'll always just be "LeBronze" to me.
• Funny video about Chicago. Give it a few seconds, it gets better and better. (Thanks Ethan)
• Michael Phelps vs. Ditka who wins? I'm not so sure these days....
• USC has jock itch outbreak, everybody wins.

Sports Things to do Before You Die, part 1

Today I was reading a blog that linked to Esquire Magazine's list of 75 things you should do before you die. Overall it was a pretty big waste of time but it got me thinking.( which never really does me any good but I did it any way) There are so many sports things that I want to do before I die. So I am going to write a recurring article detailing one different sports thing (either that I have done or plan to do) that I believe should be done before you die.

Here we go, #1: GO TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY TO WATCH AN EVENT WHERE COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED(such as the Olympics or the World cup)

Everyone is a fan of their hometown team, whether it is a pro-team or a college team. Most of the time we are fans of these teams because we grew up with cheering for them to bring the National Championship of their various sport to ourt town. However with all the free-agency, deadline trades, and rent-a-players these days it can sometimes be difficult to think that these players represent your city. A wise man, Jerry Seinfeld, once said, "Sometimes it feels like all we are doing is rooting for laundry."

Well, events like the Olympics and World Cup break that mold. Once every four years, you can cheer for athletes who, for the entirety of their playing career, will always represent the same team, the same country, our country.

And while it is fun to watch a those heart-warming pieces about athletes and listen that smug Bob Costas give you latest updates for Tiananmen Square, there is no way that you are truly getting the full experience.

I want to dress up like this guy, go to some foreign country and show them how we play ball where we come from. I want to go to the Olympic village and see all the different nations that are represented, and then see them get smashed by our athletes in red, white and blue.

I mean, when else do you actually care about swimming or soccer? Only during these events. What is great about these events is that it not just about being the best at what you do, it is about pride and the chance that when the competition is over they will be playing your national anthem.

This is something that every sports fan should see in person.


This is the #1 thing on my list of Sport things to do before I die.

Today's Links

• Danks is going to no hit the BoSox!!! White Sox lose?
  
• I guess this Fukudome thing is a story.
• Jayson Stark of ESPN thinks Carlos Quentin should win the MVP. The way he's hitting, I agree. The guy is a great story.
• Some Bears fans think we should go out and get Chris Simms. A third below average quarterback? How many third-string qbs can we legally carry on the roster?
• I have to mention the Olympics. Michael Phelps is sick. That world record was @#$%ed before the race even started. (It was HIS old record, by the way. Sick.)

LeBron Loves Hookers?

Yes, Yes, Yes! This is what I wanted to hear via Deadspin:

"Hong Kong paparazzi after a special interview for the provision of services NBA superstar female technicians, three female technicians at the beginning of work before, have learned about the identity of the person, such as James, has more than once because of previous service for celebrities, so they do not show Special surprise, it is said that the three VIPs only to the 200 Australian dollars as a tip, it is hardly generous."


This was translated from a Chinese paparazzi magazine. So many questions:

1. What's a female technician?
2. Where does one get licensed as a "superstar" female technician.
3. Why is Lebron tipping only $200 Australian dollars?
4. Why is Lebron tipping in Australian dollars? Is the American dollar so bad?

By the way, that's his girlfriend in the picture. I'm sure she'll be cool with this.

Even The Ceremony Is F%#$ing Classified in Beijing

World War III? Do we need to create any more freaking drama than there already is with this China Olympics? (Thanks to GD) http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/31/bc.oly.beijing.openingc.ap/index.html