Teammates

Louisville QB and early Heisman favorite Lamar Jackson, took a break from running around over and threw defenses to sit on the bench next to his teammate Traveon Samuel, creating the visual of "Samuel L. Jackson."
That joins some other great sets of teammates:

Short White Cox

Clark Griswold

Gay Cousins

Dingle Berry

Song of the Week

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - The Teenagers
It's time for our annual look at the songs and the sounds that were popular in years past. We start our trip down Memory Lane 60 years ago in 1956 with this doo-wop classic.
Believe it or not, but I have never seen the movie of the same title, about the life of Frankie Lymon and the three women he married within 4 years under unusual circumstances.
While 1956 was dominated by Elvis, I prefer the doo-wop sound.

I Guess We Weren't The Only Ones

As troublesome high school Spanish students, Reissberg, myself and others used to translate people's names from Spanish to English and vice versa.
We loved the 49ers dynamic passing duo, Esteban Joven a Jerry Arroz (Steve Young to Jerry Rice).
We delighted at soccer player Charles Blackmouth (Carlos Bocanegra).
And our favorite player ever was Seattle Mariners pitcher Joe Breadandwater (Jose Paniagua).
The tradition continues to this day as we lamented the season-ending injury to Vikings quarterback Teddy Puenteagua (Teddy Bridgewater).
Evidently, we are not alone, as another of our translations, this one for Cleveland Indians closer Jose Mesa, is actually listed as his nickname on his baseball reference page, and his Wikipedia entry.

This Does Not Offend Me

Some well-meaning (I think) people set up a Coca-Cola display in a Wal-Mart store that called to mind the World Trade Center, with an American Flag in the background. Some people had a problem with it, saying it was distasteful to use such imagery in a commercial setting, especially since there was a sign indicating the price, right between the towers.

I truly believe the people behind that display meant it as a tribute and commemoration, not a crass attempt to profit off a tragedy.

However:



This doesn't really offend me either, but it's clear the idiots behind this mattress ad, thought they were being funny, especially because at the end they toppled their mattress "towers."

2016 NFL Season Predictions

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
NFC Wild Cards: Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay ExpensiveCornPrices
NFC Title Game: Packers over Panthers

AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Wild Cards: Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders
AFC Title Game: Pittsburgh Steelers over Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl: Packers over Steelers

Offensive Player of the Year: Jameis Winston
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dak Prescott
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Myles Jack
Coach of the Year: Jack Del Rio
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson

Graphic Video of a Panda Giving Birth

I would have liked to see Mrs. Poop try to lift Lincoln in her mouth after he was born.

Song of the Week

"All the Way Up" - Fat Joe, Remy Ma featuring French Montana
I prefer this version to the more popular remix because I like the line "and if you ask anybody where I live, point to the hill and say 'go all the way up'"

I Read An Entire New York Times Article

Normally I don't read the New York Times because it's a liberal rag. And when I do I seldom make it through an entire article.
But today, I actually made it through the entire "tech tip," advice for a person asking "When I'm mistakenly put on an email chain, should I hit 'reply all' asking to be removed?"
Here's the answer:

Kudos to Daniel Victor, for publishing this important information.

Song of the Week

"My Love" - Syleena Johnson
"Truth is sometimes you get on my nerves
when you act like, you act like you know it all
you walk like your God's gift to Earth
and I swear, that my patience you just use it all."

Diver and a Marathoner

The Brazilian synchronized diving pair of Ingrid Oliveira and Giovanna Pedroso finished dead last in their Olympic competition.
A possible reason: the night before the competition, Oliveira is said to have had a "marathon sex session" with canoeist Pedro Goncalves.
And to do so, she kicked Pedroso, who is only 17, out of the room they shared.
Needless to say, the two will no longer be diving together.

It wasn't the first time Oliveira has gotten in trouble. When she posted this picture last year, Brazilian officials said she's more interested in posting pictures of her behind on the internet than she is in diving.

No word on whether Goncalves will continue to dive, and marathon, with Oliveira.

Fool Me Twice

Disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner once again caught in a sexting scandal, as this time he sent pictures of his privates to an internet slut, while lying in bed with his son.

And here's a couple of pics this faceless hottie (probably catfishing him) sent back:

This time his understanding wife Huma Abedin had enough, announcing in a statement that she is separating from her lecherous lover.

I guess she didn't believe that he had been hacked. Yes, he apparently tried that gambit again.

Maybe Damino believed him.

I am actually shocked and impressed Huma had the courage to separate from him. Considering how close she is with Hillary Clinton, I just assumed she would follow Hillary's path to the top and stay with the lying, cheating husband she never loved in the first place.

I guess the difference is, Bill Clinton was President, Anthony Weiner is a disgraced former Congressman.

3000 Words - Olympic Edition

Usain Bolt smiles as he crosses the finish line in the 100m.

Team Great Britain gives all its athletes luggage, which seems nice, until you get to baggage claim.

A wrestler needed a full cloth helmet to bandage a wound that opened several times during the match.

Song of the Week

"Sugar, We're Going Down" - Fall Out Boy

Something's Missing

Diesel in Maine in 2007:



Diesel in Maine in 2008:


Diesel in Maine in 2009:


Diesel in Maine in 2010:


Diesel in Maine in 2011:

Diesel in Maine in 2012

Diesel in Maine in 2013

Diesel in Maine in 2014:

Diesel in Maine in 2015:

Maine in 2016:

Song of the Week

"Easy Love" - Sigala
I don't know why but I am a sucker for these old songs remixed in some cool way and turned into electronica.

One for TON

We couldn't mention hot Olympians, like Ruth Spelmeyer, without finding a volleyball player for big TON.
So here is Kelsey Robinson of Team U.S.
And something for Billy: she wears #23 because she grew up in Chicago and loves Michael Jordan.

Cubs Fire Wrigley Field DJ

The Cubs fired the Wrigley Field DJ who played an inappropriate song after Aroldis Chapman's appearance during Sunday night's game.

The '90s song, "Smack My Bitch Up" by the English band the Prodigy, came on the PA system after Chapman left the mound in the top of the ninth inning.

Chapman served a 30-game suspension after an alleged domestic-violence incident in which Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and firing eight bullets in his garage.

Thing is, Chapman is a member of the home team. It wasn't like they were taunting an opposing player. Although maybe this DJ was taking a principled stance about not rewarding perpetrators of domestic violence no matter how hard they can throw a baseball.

Fast Fraulein

We don't watch women's athletics for the titillation but every once in a while we see an athlete so hot, we can't help but notice. So I present to you German 400 meter runner Ruth Sophia Spelmeyer, the hottest female athlete in Rio.

Quick Hits - Olympic Edition

Cutest Couple
Photogenic decathlete Ashton Eaton and his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton (she won bronze in the heptathlon) star in a very funny commercial for Visa's Checkout.
You hang up, no you hang up.



You Don't Need to Be a Pixie to be America's Sweetheart
Sarah Robles won the bronze medal in the women's weightlifting 75kg+ weight class.
Robles actually tipped the scales at 143 kilos, about 310 pounds. She lifted 286kg straight up over her head in the two lifts combined.
The only thing detracting from this story is a failed drug test and 2-year ban. She claims she failed due to hormones she was taking to treat a medical condition.

Teammates
A good teammate is always there to help.



Fun With Kids
I've been watching a lot of Olympics with the kids, and despite their iPads and youtube videos having killed their attention spans we are enjoying it. They're surprisingly into weightlifting and course Chase is following U.S. basketball closely.
But the best moment came when Chase kept referring to the race with the water jump as the "steeple." Evidently, when I gave him the name of it, he thought I said "steeple, Chase."

Song of the Week

"The Love You Save" - The Jackson 5
Michael Jackson was 11 years old.

French Gymnast Snaps Leg

On the first day of the Rio Olympics we have an entry into the gruesome sports injury Hall of Fame.
French gymnast Samir Ait Said snapped his lower leg in half while landing a vault.

He joins Kevin Ware, Anderson Silva and Corey Hill as those who have suffered a complete snap of their leg during competition.

Olympic Torch Relay Fails

The Olympic Torch made it to the Opening Ceremony where Vanderlei de Lima light the Olympic Cauldron.
In 2004 de Lima was leading the Olympic marathon with 4 miles left, when he was tackled by some loon.

After this torch relay he has plenty of company. All sorts of challenges plagued the torch carriers, including crazed loons, crazed loons, with fire extinguishers, slippery pavement, the trail car, and even an unruly leopard.

Here is a video of some of the greatest fails of Brazil's torch relay.

Song of the Week

"Betcha By Golly Wow" - Prince
I didn't even know Prince had a cover version of this song. Never mind that Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes is in the video.

I Don't Hate It

Maybe I am just tired of getting angry and upset at every trade the Mets make, I just can't take the pain anymore, but I don't hate the deal for Jay Bruce.
Yes, I think it's mostly bad, and shows a lack of understanding in two key areas by the Mets front office, but I think Bruce is actually an excellent player, and a major improvement over what he Mets have right now.
And I don't think the two prospects offered, Dilson Herrera and Max Wotel, are likely to develop into above-average major leaguers.
First, the Mets are way out of the divisional race, and have to catch two teams to get the second wild card. So it doesn't make sense to trade to young players when they have only a 26% chance to make the playoffs according to FanGraphs.
Second, Bruce plays right field. And not very well. He is an absolute butcher out there. And he replaces Curtis Granderson who is also bad. And Yoenis Cespedes has been bad this year (likely attributable to injury and playing out of position). And if Cespedes is not healthy enough to play left, Granderson and Conforto will split time in center, meaning the Mets are supporting a great pitching staff, with the worst outfield defense in the majors. Not smart.
Third, they failed to look to next year, when they will have Bruce and Granderson under contract and Cespedes will likely return, unable to best his contract coming off this injury-plagued season. That means delaying by a year (Bruce and Granderson both have contracts that expire after 2017) the Conforto-Lagares-Nimmo triumvirate that should be the outfield of the future.

But the Mets did get a good hitter, who is not past his prime yet (this is his age 29 season) and he will surely improve the middle of the lineup.
Unfortunately too much stock is placed on his RBI and batting average with runners in scoring position, which is a lot about opportunity and luck.
There is a chance that Cespedes gets healthy, maybe Duda comes back, and some other guys get going (and the RISP bugaboo ends in a flurry) and the Mets get hot and do win the wild card.
And with their pitching, in a one-game scenario, or even a 7-game series, anything can happen.
As long as the other team doesn't hit the ball to our outfielders.

Note: I hate the Antonio Bastardo trade. I know he has been terrible, but his track record and his unusually high home run rate indicate that he should improve either this year, or next. Plus we know what Jon Niese is about and he just isn't any good.

Clubhouse Cutup

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was supposed to start Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers wearing those weird collared throwback jerseys the White Sox briefly wore during the 1970s.

Evidently, Sale doesn't like the collared jerseys and believes he has the right to say which uniforms the team wears on days he pitches. But because the jerseys were part of a promotional giveaway, the team refused to budge.

So while the rest of the team was out taking batting practice, Sale was in the clubhouse cutting the collars off, not only his own jersey, but everyone else's too.

With the jerseys destroyed, the White Sox scratched Chris Sale from the game, sent him home and replaced him with relief pitcher Matt Albers. And they were forced to play the game in different throwback uniforms, the 1980s style.

The whole situation is a bit absurd and it seems to be about a bigger issue involving the control over players exerted by management, dating back to this preseason's clash between the front office and Adam LaRoche. It seems like Chris Sale is just being a huge baby here, and of course, no matter what the issue, this is not the place to take a stand. But, there could certainly be a broader issue here that was lingering before this crazy circumstance, best summed up by this intrepid White Sox fan whose sign reads: "You're Right Chris, These Jerseys Are Uncomfortable."

Song of the Week

"This Girl" - Kungs vs. Cookin' on 3 Burners
Weirdest name for a musical group, even before you added the Kungs vs. part. But I like the song, especially the instrumental portions.