Who Needs the NFL Network?

I don’t know about you but I think it is absolutely insane that time Warner cable does not carry the NFL Network.  I understand that the dish network and direct TV both carry it so why not the Cable companies.  I found this fact out the hard way yesterday as I waited all day to watch my Pittsburgh Steelers kick off the preseason against the New Orleans Saints in the Annual Hall of Fame Game.  Needless to say my whole day was ruined when I discovered this.  I personally think it is a bad move for the NFL to have its own channel.  It takes the fans away from seeing out of market games that would normally be televised on ESPN or one of the other major channels. I feel I is a greedy ploy to fatten up there pockets. 

Unbreakable

Recently during X-Games 13 in Los Angeles, Jake brown a pro skateboarder from Australia was skating in the big air competition or should I say he was falling. By falling I mean 40+ feet straight down.   He had just landed a 720 and into his next trick is where it happened (Watch Video).  After a few minutes on the ground he gets up looking a bit concussed and stagers of the ramp.  The X-Games showed the spill about 4 times in slow-motion, and it was repeated several more tomes on ESPN throughout the following day.  He fell so hard it knocked him out of his shoes.  He walked away with a bruised liver and lungs along with a fractured wrist.  I was surprised, because when I watched it live I thought, along with others that he was in bad shape.  Jake was released two days later and returned to X-Games in order to thank everyone for there support.

Wonder Boy?

Could this 5-year-old be the future of tennis? is the title of the story that USA Today is reporting about the young California raised boy named Jan Silva; who is doing more on a tennis court than anyone his age before. He lives with both parent an older brother and younger sister just outside of Sacramento.  The family was recently approached by Patrick Mouratoglou at the urging of tennis pro Marcos Baghdatis and product of Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. The family is now packing up and selling both cars and their home in order to move to France, and receive a pay check for about $ 140,000 per year. Patrick Mouratoglou is paying this to the family in hopes that the recognition from having a great young talent and champion will bring to his academy, but there is no telling what the future may hold for this boy. There is no right formula to mold a champion but it will be interesting to see how it pans out for the young prodigy. Hopefully he can stay level headed through all the hype. Growing pains and stays healthy.

300

300 was released in theaters and IMAX on March 9, 2007. The film broke box office records for it refreshing cinematography and unique character depictions, but also had its critics. The movie depicts the ancient Persians in an unflattering light and casts them as monsters and slaves. The film also meets criticism for its lack of historical accuracy. 300 is a film adaptation about the Battle of Thermopylae and based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, the same man who brought us Sin City. 300 was shot mostly with a bluescreen to capture the look and feel of the original comic book version. I don’t want to give anything away, but here is a brief summary: In the movie the Spartan King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight to the death in order to save Sparta. This fictional adaptation of history shows amazing battles, love scenes and a heroic journey.

Boston is Back

Not since the days of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale and Championships number 15 and 16 in the 1980’s have Celtic fans had so much to cheer about.  Earlier today it was reported that the Celtics have agreed in principle to trade two future first round picks along with  forward Al Jefferson, guards Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the ten time All-Star and former MVP Kevin Garnett.  This trade solidifies the Celtics new found position as instant favorite to win the Eastern Conference next year.   A few months ago Boston also acquired All-Star sharpshooter Ray Allen from the Sonics, inturn surrounding Boston’s current All-Star Paul Pierce with more talent than one man could ask for.  Just in case you lost count that is an unheard of three All-Stars that have the experience and talent to single handedly take over a game at any time. I am looking forward to the official announcement and to see how the Boston Celtics comes together next year.

Man’s Best Friend or Dog’s Worst Enemy

 

A short while ago Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick had the allegations surface about his involvement in a dog fighting ring on his Virginia property. The National Football League has enacted a four game suspension on Vick witch will in turn keep him out of the Falcons training camp.  The recently indicted Vick is charged for his involvement in the fighting and killing of dogs. After the dogs were no longer able to fight or had lost there aggression due to several fights the dogs were either beaten to death, hung, electrocuted or shoot.  To see pictures of the dogs after these fights makes me sick to my stomach and to think that man’s best friend may think of us as there worst enemy at times. I don’t believe that the NFL has the right to suspend players before they are found guilty in a court of law. However if Vick is found to be responsible, not only should he be banned from the league for life he should spend the same amount of time behind bars.

How will he be remembered ?

Barry Bonds has more accomplishments in the sport of Baseball than I could possibly list in one blog entry.  He was born into baseballs elite with a Hall of Fame godfather Willie Mays and Cousin Mr. October Reggie Jackson. Bonds holds the single season major league records for home runs with 73, on base % .609, Slugging % .863, and walks 232.  He has appeared in 14 all star games, won 12 silver slugger awards, 8 gold gloves and is at the top of most active player records along with all time records.  In addition he is the only player in major league history to have 500 homeruns and 500 stolen bases.  As Barry now sets his sights on the games all time record for homeruns (755) held by Hank Aaron the media scrutiny is at an all time high.  Here is a player whose skills are overshadowed by the media that has cast him as a villain.  Baseball has linked him to there seemingly never ending steroid investigation even though he has never failed a drug test. So are we to see him as the villain, who may or may not have done steroids, or as the greatest baseball player who ever played the game?  He may be less than accommodating to the media at time and suspicion may always loom but we should not let that cloud our perception of Bonds, we should let his accomplishments speak for themselves.

The State of American Soccer

                                                                                                                                                                  

Soccer star David Beckham is set to make his U.S. debut and with it comes the chance to uplift American soccer.  Soccer in the states has always taken a back seat to the other major sports, but Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy are beating thats all about to change.  I for one never played or followed much soccer, and that may be due to the fact that there has never been a marquee name in America to associate with it. So is this the time soccer makes its mark and can the 32 year old Beckham do it alone?   Beckham’s contract is reportedly a five year deal worth $32.5 million dollars and has the opportunity to exceed $200 million with the addition of his percentage of ticket admission and jersey sales.  So I asked the question is it about improving the level of U.S. soccer or the money.   Beckham recently played for Spain’s Real Madrid and was reported to have lost a step or two; as if that’s not enough he was also taken of the British National team.  This got me thinking isn’t that a lot of money to be paying an ageing soccer player?  The galaxy and MLS must be banking on the media hype and attention that comes along with being one of the worlds most sought after people. After all he is married to Victoria Beckham former Spice Girl and together they are on the new constantly and on the cover of most magazines in Europe and now the United States.

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