Big Lead Sports Bar

12/26/2006

Catching Up

I hope everyone out there had a great Christmas, and for those of you still on Christmas Break, I have an interesting piece coming up that's especially for you. And for the unfortunate folks who have to work, I'll have you back at your time-killing ways before you know it.
There's been no shortage of news since my last update, and we'll try and play an abbreviated catch-up:
--The Steelers once again got blown out by the Ravens, but at least they were able to score this time. If ever there was a definitive sweep of one team over another, it was Steelers/Ravens '06. And to think, a win would still have the Steelers in the playoff chase. So they blew it again.
What a horrible game. Gerry Dulac's "report card" gave the Steelers 4 Fs and 2 Ds, all deserved. This is a team in need of some serious changes. I can't wait for this season to end.
I laugh at the people who say the Steelers have a lot to play for next week, because they can ruin Cincinnati's playoff chances. I guess keeping their own playoff hopes alive wasn't enough of a carrot dangling in front of them.
--As I write this, the Pens are behind 1-0 in a tremendously boring game against the Devils. The Pens have 9 shots in the first 32 minutes. The Devils are being the Devils. So if you weren't already depressed about the Pens/slot license fiasco, you can now be depressed about their poor play.
Note: check that about the boring game. Sidney Crosby just got into it with Cam Janssen.
--Jeff Suppan didn't sign with the Pirates, instead choosing the riches offered by the Milwaukee Brewers. 4 years, $42 million. This was the same cat who played for your Buccos in 2003 for the paltry sum of $500,000. Good player, should help their team, way too much money...but not out of line for the free agent mayhem of 2006.
--James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, passed away on Christmas morning at the age of 73. My favorite Brown moment was his pre-fight appearance at the fateful Creed-Drago bout in Rocky IV. That was one rousing performance of Livin in America.
--The Pitt Panthers downed Dayton, 84-54. Sam Young scored a career-high 18, and Aaron Gray added 15 boards. Nice to get back on the winning side of things with the Big East schedule right around the corner. January 4, at Syracuse, on ESPN...should be a good one.
And now, some suggested reading...
GENERAL:
SI's Steve Rushin gives us the best of 2006's worst sports figures
SPORTS MEDIA:
Everyone's favorite sideline reporter profiled in A Closer Look at Erin Andrews
NFL:
Not only do the Lions suck, but so do their fans.
Tony Romo, when he's not pretending to date Jessica Simpson, turns his attention to Carrie Underwood
Daunte Culpepper hunts down Steve Young...and Joe Theismann saves the day
Max Starks and Ryan Clark out for Sunday's Bengal game...so we can now say, "out for the season"
Here's a good one...Randy Moss back to the Vikings for a 3rd round pick.
Coach Ditka rips the Bears for holding onto Tank Johnson.
NBA:
Shaquille O'Neal calls Phil Jackson Benedict Arnold. Phil Jackson calls Shaq "a horrible actor...just watch Blue Chips and you'll see what I mean".
Ron Artest to the Clippers for Corey Maggette?
MLB:
Who will be the next Freddy Sanchez? Here's 10 players who will break out in 2007
The Yankees have a Big Unit to move if they want to make space for Barry Zito.
RANDOM FUN STUFF:
The 10 Best Celebrity Encounters with the Law in 2006.
Cracked.com interviews the Broken Lizard comedy troupe, of Club Dread, Super Troopers, and Beerfest fame
PRESIDENTS:
If you haven't heard yet, former President Gerald Ford has died at age 93. No cause of death was given. Ford was a Michigan Wolverine, where he starred on the varsity football team as a center before graduation in 1935.

5 comments:

Sean said...

Raul - Glad to have you back. I hope that you are having a nice holiday season.

Anonymous said...

Anyone see the news today?

STAR TRIBUNE Sale a Troubling Signal for Industry; MCCLATCHY paid $1.2 billion for paper in 1998, now selling it for $530 million...

Anonymous said...

It's called the Internet Wes. That is why the value of paper media is dwindling.

Anonymous said...

Outside of an airport, I don't think I've purchased a newspaper in almost 10 yrs.

Mondesi...

The beautiful shot of Erin Andrews' bottom was enough to distract me from the rest of your post. I've been a huge fan ever since she appeared on the scene a few years ago.

However, as hot as she is, Erin Andrews is no Jill Wagner ("The Mercury Girl"). I'd like to have sexual relations, as President Clinton once put it, with that woman.

Anonymous said...

ESPN had an article (deadpsin picked it up, as well as the booty pic) where it talked about Erin being 'smart' and stuff..

But the interesting part was where she said she dated a hockey player. Given that she really broke through covering the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Cup year of 2004, I'd think it'd have to be someone from that team...I wonder who. If Sean Avery can pull Elisha Cuthbert, who knows.