PLEASE COME TO ALTOONA, WILL FERRELL

That's the plea being made by the Altoona Curve, as they try to entice the SNL alum for a July 21 double-dip with the hated Akron Aeros:

Hollywood mega-star Will Ferrell will toss out a ceremonial first pitch, broadcast an inning on radio and sign autographs for Curve fans. Actually, the odds of any of that happening are extraordinarily slim, but the Curve are hereby begging Mr. Ferrell to accept their invitation. Either way, the Curve will play video clips from his hilarious performances in “Anchorman”, “Old School” and many other films.

Notice that they didn't mention Semi-Pro or Bewitched in that list of hilarious movies. But for those who follow the Curve on a regular basis, this is nothing new. The team is famous for their share of oddball promotions, which this year include:

--“You Got Caught Night” (Wednesday, June 18, honoring the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and Olympic sprinter Marion Jones). What, no Clemens or Donaghy?

--“Train Wreck Series – Ode to Fallen Stars” (Wednesday, August 6, honoring Britney Spears, Leif Garrett, McKenzie Phillips, Danny Bonaduce and Jeff Conaway).

--and the team's favorite, “Awful Night VI – Worseest Ever” (Monday, July 7 vs. Harrisburg): "The most recognizable fun Curve promotion returns! Fans attending the game will be greeted by an awful giveaway item as they enter the ballpark, awful food specials and music throughout the game, and Curve and visiting player stats will change from batting averages to fail percentages."

Being that the Curve develop future players for the Pirates, is there any chance that they also develop future promotions for the Pirates? Wouldn't fans love to see "LAROCHE - FAIL PCT .781" the next time he stepped to the plate?

FUN THEME NIGHTS DOT 2008 CURVE PROMOS [Altoona Curve]

Cheers Casting Call, Joey Porter vs The Solider, RIP Colts Defense, 2007 NFL Mock Draft Update, Hot Stove Index, Whipple to BC, Rap Impressions

NFL:

SI.com does a sports casting call of TV's Cheers. Highlights include Joe Namath as Sam Malone and Terry Bradshaw as Woody.

Joe Starkey is critical of the Steelers' lack of comment on Joey Porter's "derogatory term often used to describe someone's sexual orientation" about Kellen Winslow. Joey was just trying to be like Ozzie Guillen, that's all.

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli gives us his eulogy of the 2006 Indianapolis Colts defense after their Sunday performance vs. Jacksonville.

NFL Draft Countdown gives us a new 2007 NFL Mock Draft, and they're sticking to Texas' Justin Blalock, a guard, becoming a Steeler next year. Also of note: Brady Quinn, #1, to Detroit; Adrian Peterson to Cleveland at #9; and Darrelle Revis to San Fran at #11.

This just in: NFL players are fantasy football nerds, too.

MLB:

ESPN has crafted a 2006/2007 Hot Stove Index, which gives us a team-by-team breakdown of projected starters, who they've gained, who they've lost, and their current free agents.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Boston College is considering playing Whipple Ball in 2007, as they try and woo the Steelers' QB coach to replace the departed Tom O'Brien as head coach.

COLLEGE HOOPS:

SI.com's Luke Winn gives us his revised Power Rankings. Pitt has moved up to #5, yet still rank behind Wichita State and Butler. After watching the Panthers barely squeak by Buffalo on Saturday, I'd have a hard time arguing the Panthers to be much higher, though.

NHL:

In a story that sounds like it came from a Discovery Channel lost at sea special, Canadiens GM Bob Gainey's 25-year-old daughter was washed off the covered deck of a Caribbean-bound vessel by a large wave Friday night.

RANDOM FUN STUFF:

I've become a very tough judge of comedic talent. There seems to be a lack of quality material these days. But after witnessing Mad TV's Aries Spears' rap impersonations on Conan O'Brien last week, I laughed out loud. I couldn't find the Conan appearance, but I did manage to dig up Spears doing his thing on BET. He does dead-on impressions of LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, DMX and Jay-Z in the span of a few minutes. This is my five-star recommendation. You must watch this video.

Giant Magazine gives us 50 great 1980s commercials, with Youtube evidence, of course.

Deadspin tells us that Will Ferrell is making a movie about the ABA. Too bad the Pittsburgh Xplosion just moved to the CBA.

Brangelina made a Pitt Stop in Fayette County this weekend. They did not hang out with Sienna Miller.
On the count of three, Say "Blitzburgh"

Comedic genius and star of Mondesi favorite Freddy Got Fingered, actor Rip Torn did like Deltha O'Neal and got himself a DWI.
With a name like Rip, what did you expect?

Little League Beanball Coach, Top NFL Rookies, Free TV, Old School 2

The Fayette County T-Ball coach who ordered the beaning of an autistic opponent is going to prison. I'm sure he'll get a nice reception from the inmates. (Tribune Review)

SI.com ranks the NFL's top 10 rookies so far this season. To the surprise of no one, Santonio Holmes didn't make this list. To the surprise of no one, a Saint is at the top of the list. To the surprise of everyone, that Saint is Marques Colston. (SI.com)

Greg Garber looks at what went wrong with Daunte Culpepper in Miami. Gee, I wonder if a shredded knee might have something to do with it? (ESPN.com)

Looking to kill some time at work today? Of course you are. So check out AOL's In2TV, which offers free streaming episodes of dozens of popular TV shows. (AOL In2TV)

Old School 2: Chamber of Secrets? Is this officially "Awesome Will Ferrell Sequels week"? (IGN.com)

Who is Hollywood's Biggest Hack? Most Wanted Actor? Most Deranged Director? More than 50 of the industry's top power brokers dish out the honors in an Exclusive Radar Poll. (Radar Online)