Saturday, July 3, 2010
Classic Jerry & Don
If you're a regular Sox-viewer, Jerry & Don probably have the tendency to crack you up from time to time. I've never seen Don crack himself up like this before, though. I mean, this is a solid 5-minute rant about Christmas cards, Jerry bashes people who send cards telling all the great things in their life, and then Don absolutely loses it when he finds out TC sends cards like that. He just cannot speak, sounds like a little school girl trying to pronounce his words, coming out all high-pitched. Then Jerry gets all apologetic and makes a completely BS excuse to justify how he's accidentally offended Tom Caron and his family. The most impressive part, though, might be the way Don pulls it back together when things go wrong. Base hit Baltimore, run scores. That's not a funny thing. So I need to stop laughing now. And he takes on a serious tone again. A true professional.
If I Told You A Two-Headed Calf Was Born In Egypt Recently, Would You Take My Word For It?
AP - A farmer in northern Egypt says his cow has given birth to a two-headed calf that he calls a "divine miracle."
Sobhy el-Ganzoury said Saturday it took two hours and much pulling to deliver the rare calf. He said the difficult birth has weakened the calf's legs.
El-Ganzoury said the veterinarian informed him that the calf, which was born this week, is now in stable condition and is expected to survive. He said he intends to keep the animal as a reminder that "God is able to do anything."
Some news stories truly tell themselves. They don't need much input from the blogger. This is one of those cases. This calf has two heads. It's incredibly freaky looking. And it's real. Not photoshopped. That is all.
Sobhy el-Ganzoury said Saturday it took two hours and much pulling to deliver the rare calf. He said the difficult birth has weakened the calf's legs.
El-Ganzoury said the veterinarian informed him that the calf, which was born this week, is now in stable condition and is expected to survive. He said he intends to keep the animal as a reminder that "God is able to do anything."
Some news stories truly tell themselves. They don't need much input from the blogger. This is one of those cases. This calf has two heads. It's incredibly freaky looking. And it's real. Not photoshopped. That is all.
Police Bust Columbian for Attempting to Transport Replica of World Cup Trophy... Made Out of Cocaine
AP - Fans worldwide have fashioned replicas of the World Cup trophy out of everything from papier-mache to plastic. But a lawbreaker in Colombia gets top prize for most original material: cocaine.
Airports anti-drug chief Col. Jose Piedrahita says that Colombian authorities found the unusual statue during a routine security check by anti-drug agents Friday in a mail warehouse at Bogota's international airport.
The 36-centimeter-high (14-inch-high) statue was inside a box headed for Madrid, Spain. The statue was painted gold with green stripes on the base.
Piedrahita said Saturday that laboratory tests confirmed the cup was made of 11 kilos (24 pounds) of cocaine mixed with acetone or gasoline to make it moldable.
To be honest, I'm surprised they even arrested this guy. If I was the cop in this situation, I would have just been too impressed. Sure, cocaine is illegal and you can't just go ahead transporting TWENTY-FOUR POUNDS of it on airplanes to other countries. In that regard, I guess you have to arrest the guy. But this is just downright impressive. Here's my analogy. What if a 16-year-old constructed a system of immense waterfalls and fountains flowing with beer around a beautifully made replica of the Taj Mahal, constructed with cigarettes and scratch tickets? Would you arrest the kid? I mean, clearly he's breaking the rules. But he's not being abusive or destructive or anything. He's being absolutely creative. Same goes with this dude. It's not like he's dishing out cocaine to little kids or endangering his own life by consuming it. He's just building a replica of the world cup trophy. Isn't that the point of creativity? Picking an idea that nobody else will ever think of in a million years? If it is, my Columbian friend here easily takes the trophy for that (no pun intended).
Airports anti-drug chief Col. Jose Piedrahita says that Colombian authorities found the unusual statue during a routine security check by anti-drug agents Friday in a mail warehouse at Bogota's international airport.
The 36-centimeter-high (14-inch-high) statue was inside a box headed for Madrid, Spain. The statue was painted gold with green stripes on the base.
Piedrahita said Saturday that laboratory tests confirmed the cup was made of 11 kilos (24 pounds) of cocaine mixed with acetone or gasoline to make it moldable.
To be honest, I'm surprised they even arrested this guy. If I was the cop in this situation, I would have just been too impressed. Sure, cocaine is illegal and you can't just go ahead transporting TWENTY-FOUR POUNDS of it on airplanes to other countries. In that regard, I guess you have to arrest the guy. But this is just downright impressive. Here's my analogy. What if a 16-year-old constructed a system of immense waterfalls and fountains flowing with beer around a beautifully made replica of the Taj Mahal, constructed with cigarettes and scratch tickets? Would you arrest the kid? I mean, clearly he's breaking the rules. But he's not being abusive or destructive or anything. He's being absolutely creative. Same goes with this dude. It's not like he's dishing out cocaine to little kids or endangering his own life by consuming it. He's just building a replica of the world cup trophy. Isn't that the point of creativity? Picking an idea that nobody else will ever think of in a million years? If it is, my Columbian friend here easily takes the trophy for that (no pun intended).
UFC 116: Who Will It Be?
In case you missed it yesterday, Rick Burke posted his analysis of tonight's title fight between true Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin. Lesnar has missed nearly a full year with his illness (intestine) and looks to defend his title against Carwin, who destroyed Frank Mir in the battle for the interim belt this spring.
Rick believes that Carwin and his 5XL glove sized hands -- "lunchboxes" with "dynamite" in them -- will be enough to take down Brock Lesnar in four rounds. What do you think? Does Carwin have what it takes to defeat Brock Lesnar? Or will Lesnar come back strong and deliver Carwin his first loss in the UFC? Hell, Carwin hasn't even had an opponent take him out of the first round yet. Catch all the action on Pay-Per-View tonight at 10:00 PM EDT. For those of you who are short on money and don't want to pay to buy the fights, I'll make an effort to get a link up here to a stream of the fight.
All I know is that for UFC fans, this is NOT a battle that you want to miss.
Germans Blast Argentineans, 4-0
I didn't catch any of this game due to prior engagements, but how about Germany, eh? They destroy Argentina, 4-0, en route to advancing to the final four. They will face Spain, who knocked off Paraguay 1-0 on a Villa strike in the 83rd minute.
For Argentina (my pick to win it all... I guess I should avoid too much soccer analysis and stick with the sports I follow closest, huh?) it is a disappointing exit from a World Cup during which stud talent Lionel Messi failed to notch a goal. After thoroughly impressing and dominating teams until this point, Germany proved to be too much for the sky blue and white stripes of Argentina.
We're down to just four teams. Who will take home the World Cup to their country?
The End of An Era?
As the men's final is set at Wimbledon 2010, and a young star, Tomas Berdych, is poised to take on veteran Rafael Nadal, a sad realization is dawning on most tennis fans; the era of Roger Federer is nearing it's end.
Now don’t get me wrong, Federer proved me wrong once before after he lost in the finals at Wimbledon 2008. I thought his career was over, and so did many others. However, in the time that has passed since then, he has won four majors while on his way to breaking Pete Sampras’ record of career grand-slam titles (16.) He also in that time completed a career grand-slam by winning the French Open in 2009.
However, Federer is two years older and the field is getting that much better. Obviously, you have Nadal, but two others, Novak Djokavic and Andy Murray, are on the cusp of greatness, while others, such as Berdych, Robin Soderling, and Juan Martin Del Potro are almost there. One can’t count out veterans such as Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko making runs either.
Federer is also nearing the age of thirty. Though in most sports thirty is still relatively young, in tennis it is about as old as it gets. Sure you have people hanging on to past glory by playing well past thirty, but most don't reach the same level of success they once had. Because of Federer's inevitable aging, he may not be able to keep up with younger, fitter players such as Nadal and Murray. Although Federer has the tools to beat these players, his body and age might hinder him.
So why is this sad to me? Well, here’s the thing; though Djokavic, Murray, Del Potro, and others are very good tennis players, Rafael Nadal is just that much better. He is extremely strong, incredibly fit, a little unorthodox, and can adapt his game to any surface. I have a sneaking suspicion that if Federer is to retire soon, or his form dips drastically, Nadal will take the ATP by storm and sweep almost every major. Though Rafa is exciting to watch and overall likable, it is never fun to see an athlete unmatched and winning everything, much like Federer was from 2003-2007.
Federer is arguably the best player in the history of tennis, male or female. His time as top dog is up, it seems, and the tennis world, especially the fans that enjoy great matches and tough championships, will surely miss him.
Going Out With A Bang
AOL - Tom Moore was a man who loved fireworks. And like all fireworks fans he was a fan of July 4.
When he died in May at the age of 70, his wife Anne and friends at Santore & Sons Fireworks decided on an original way to mark his passing: he would be cremated and his ashes scattered in a Independence Day fireworks display.
"It's definitely a way to go out with a bang," Anthony Santore, who is making the fireworks containing Tom Moore's ashes, told AOL News. "The final party, the final hurrah, is the fireworks show."
They won't be alone. Around 200 people are likely to show up at the event on Sunday at Lake Disston in Florida. There will be a barbecue, corn on the cob and canoes so people can enjoy themselves even as they say their goodbye to Tom.
Doesn't everyone want to go out with a bang? What more exciting a way to end your existence on planet earth than to actually BE the fireworks at a Fourth of July celebration? True American right here. I don't know if Tom requested this before he died, but if he did, he's a phenomenal American at heart. America is defined by the crazy F's -- fast food, football, and fireworks on the fourth. I think every American should have the privilege of deciding whether there ashes will go into a July 4th fireworks production. Just like how we can choose to be organ donors. They should add a check box on the ballot. You can also have your ashes become fireworks to show your true American spirit. Anyone agree? Heck, everyone might just start dying just to be in a fireworks show. I have to admit, it would be a pretty cool story to tell!
When he died in May at the age of 70, his wife Anne and friends at Santore & Sons Fireworks decided on an original way to mark his passing: he would be cremated and his ashes scattered in a Independence Day fireworks display.
"It's definitely a way to go out with a bang," Anthony Santore, who is making the fireworks containing Tom Moore's ashes, told AOL News. "The final party, the final hurrah, is the fireworks show."
They won't be alone. Around 200 people are likely to show up at the event on Sunday at Lake Disston in Florida. There will be a barbecue, corn on the cob and canoes so people can enjoy themselves even as they say their goodbye to Tom.
Doesn't everyone want to go out with a bang? What more exciting a way to end your existence on planet earth than to actually BE the fireworks at a Fourth of July celebration? True American right here. I don't know if Tom requested this before he died, but if he did, he's a phenomenal American at heart. America is defined by the crazy F's -- fast food, football, and fireworks on the fourth. I think every American should have the privilege of deciding whether there ashes will go into a July 4th fireworks production. Just like how we can choose to be organ donors. They should add a check box on the ballot. You can also have your ashes become fireworks to show your true American spirit. Anyone agree? Heck, everyone might just start dying just to be in a fireworks show. I have to admit, it would be a pretty cool story to tell!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Nava's Bloop Lifts Sox To Victory
The Boston Red Sox, after another day off yesterday, came into play tonight against the Baltimore Orioles with a chance to move within a half-game of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Easy win against the Orioles, they're terrible... right? Not so fast.
The Sox found themselves in a 2-2 game in the bottom of the eighth inning, in danger of becoming just the seventh opponent this season to score less than three runs on Baltimore. Tim Wakefield was still the pitcher of record, having hurled 8 innings giving up just 2 runs. After a Marco Scutaro wall-ball double off the monster, Daniel Nava was called upon to pinch hit for left fielder Eric Patterson. It wasn't exactly a laser show, but Nava's bloop to right field got the job done. The perfectly placed, shallow fly fell between a trio of Orioles and plated the eventual winning run. Boston 3, Baltimore 2.
JD Drew was the sole spark of offense prior to Nava's pinch-hit single in the eighth inning. Drew blasted solo home runs in the 2nd and 5th innings off Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen to keep the Sox knotted up on the scoreboard. Bergesen actually pitched a good game, going 7.2 strong innings. Nava's bloop single, though, delivered him his third earned run and the subsequent loss.
Boston is now just 0.5 games behind New York for the division lead. Will the Red Sox overtake the Yankees by the All-Star break? With the Sox facing Baltimore and the Yankees facing Toronto, I wouldn't bet against it.
PS -- Have any of Nava's heroics earned him a date with Erin Andrews yet? For the love of God, just give the kid what he wants!
Two Gorillas in a Cage
X factor: Lesnar’s illness. The holes in his intestine that kept him out of his last matchup November 21st 2009 will certainly have an impact on the fight. Even though Lesnar’s trainers say he is stronger than he has ever been, I feel his illness has had a negative impact on Lesnar because he finally knows what it feels like to be hurt. Another thing that scares me about Lesnar is his last match against Mir. Mir was able to stand with Brock for a while; it was only when Mir was taken to the ground did Lesnar begin to dominate. If Lesnar is going to stand a chance with Carwin he needs to work on his stand up skills or he’s going to find himself sleeping in the middle of the ring.
The Decision: I’m going to choose this fight on who has the biggest hands. Everyone has heard of Lesnar’s “lunchbox” size hands with 4XL gloves. But I bet fewer people have heard that Carwin in fact needs 5XL gloves. Not to mention that Carwin has explosives in his lunchboxes. Therefore, the title is going to switch owners Saturday night and Carwin will be crowned the new UFC heavyweight champion. There is no way this fight lasts all five rounds, but it will last longer than the 1:08 average Carwin is used to fighting. After a few rounds of crazy haymakers thrown from both fighters, Carwin will submit Lesnar in the fourth round with his kryptonite, a leg lock. Don’t agree? Tell me what you think.
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