In an effort to make some community lemonade out of this large lemon of a situation, Matt Ufford took some time and wrote up a post that pretty much says it all:
How to Give Blogs Credit: A Handy Guide for the Mainstream Media
If you read this memo, there's an awfully good chance you care about this sort of thing. So please check it out. And then enjoy today's absurdly overstuffed turducken of a memo.
Video Joy:
Estonians Haul in Wife Carrying Championship: The competitors race around an obstacle course with their wife draped across their backs one way or another, with the most popular method being the neck-wrap method, where the wives lock their legs around their husbands' necks like some sort of odd flesh bolo tie and double the grip by then holding their husbands' waist.
Unfortunate Pole Vaulter Is a YouTube Star: How does that old saying go? Me getting hit in the groin is tragedy; some random pole vaulter getting hit in the groin is comedy?
Wayne Rooney Puts It Where He Wants It: This is Rooney abusing a digital camera for his shoe company. He looked proud of his little accomplishment.
San Diego Sockers Sing, and it's "unbelieeeeevabul." The reigning champ is the ad for the Glasgow Diamonds ...but the boys at the blog Classic Ground may have topped it with their excavation of an indoor soccer team's opus, the San Diego Sockers' mid-80s promo video.
Video of the Day: EA's NHL 2008 Trailer: Hopefully, NHL2008 fixes some of the problems with the 07 version, such as some dependable and actual defensive AI for your own team, and not having every player under 5'10" skate faster than Peter Bondra on Red Bull.
MLB:Felix Hernandez Listens to Bloggers: In case you missed it on Saturday afternoon, King Felix ruined the return of Rich Harden for the Athletics. The key is where Hernandez got his strategy. Unlike Sports Illustrated, when Felix Hernandex takes something from a blog, he gives them credit.
Barry Zito Dropped to Fifth in Giants Rotation: A few days ago I told you that Captain Cranium suspected Barry Zito's struggles this year had to do with the lucrative contract he signed in the off-season. Considering Zito pitches today and would have his usual four days rest before the Giants play their first game of the second half of the season, there's no other way to view this other than as a demotion. I'm not buying Cranium's excuse that he's trying to give all his starters equal rest.
Jeremy Guthrie Digs Chess, Mormon Missions, and Striking Your Ass Out: The rookie phenom claims he became a better pitcher after a two-year Mormon mission through the northern part of Spain.
Frank Thomas Has The Speed of Gazelles: Thomas is the sort of guy whose body was built for home run trots, not legging out close plays at first. But during last night's game against Cleveland, The Lumbering One scored not one but two infield hits.
NFL:
Mother of Brian Urlacher's Son Accuses Him of Sending Abusive Text Messages:
Urlacher's ex-girlfriend, Tyna Robertson, says text messages he sent said things including:
"Go to hell you f------ ----."Robertson claims Urlacher has sent her more than 30 text messages this year, calling her a "hooker" and "jealous b----.""Grow the f--- up and quit praying and get a job."
"You're a f------ fruit cake."
"Your raising a little p---y."
Without an Extension, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher Becomes a Free Agent in 2008: Coaches rarely shop themselves as free agents, but January of 2008 could be an intriguing time in the coaching market: Not only might Fisher be available, but Bill Cowher and Bill Parcells might want to get back into the game. The top free-agent coaches might find themselves getting paid almost as much as the top free-agent players.
17 Dogs Buried on Michael Vick's Property: The worst news for Vick may be that court documents put forth by the federal government say dogfights on Vick's property involved bets in the thousands of dollars. Even if the ESPN report yesterday that Vick is unlikely to be indicted turns out to be correct, any association with gambling -- even just owning a property on which gambling took place -- could land Vick in hot water with the league office.
NBA:Danny Ainge Is Certifiably Insane: Danny Ainge, the Executive Director of Basketball Operations for the Celtics, seems to believe that Boston should be added to the list of title contenders.
Greg Oden's Opener Was Just as Bad as Tim Duncan's: All the Trailblazer fans unimpressed with rookie Greg Oden's first summer-league showing (10 fouls, six points) can get down from the ledges of buildings in downtown Portland. All is not lost. Former Portland coach Maurice Cheeks would like you to know that a current NBA Hall of Fame lock struggled in his first summer league game, too.
Kevin Durant's First Shot as a Pro Was Swatted: Durant scored 18 points in his debut, but he only shot 5/17 from the field, and had his first shot rudely sent back by DeSagana Diop. I wouldn't be a tad surprised if KD dunked all over his head every chance he gets for the next 10 years or so.
How Amare's Family is Spending the Summer: Earlier, El Lead Grande told you an uplifting tale out of Amare Stoudemire's camp -- the young star is taking classes at Arizona State this summer. Unfortunately, his family isn't being as productive. His kid brother Marwan Williams was arrested Friday on murder charges. The 18-year-old is one of five suspects in the murder of an Arizona man last week.
Tennis:
Federer Beats Back Nadal and History for 5th Wimbledon Trophy: Federer beat a more potent competitor that Rafael Nadal today to win his fifth straight Wimbledon title. He defeated the crushing weight of history.
NHL:
The Rangers Play It Dangerously Close to the Cap: So that leaves the Rangers with two good scoring lines, the potential for a third, and a decent defense that's made to look better thanks to the goalie in front of whom it plays, but no way to acquire help if they need it without shedding some salary.
Fighting:
Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans Will Fight Again in Rematch of UFC 73 Draw: After Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans fought to a draw at UFC 73, I suggested that a rematch would be coming soon. Today UFC President Dana White has confirmed it. On ESPNews this afternoon, White said as soon as both fighters are ready to go again, they'll square off against each other in the Octagon.
Sports Media Navel Gazery:
Will Spike Outbid ESPN For Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest? Spike perhaps having the edge because it's more committed to the sport of competitive eating.
Long Past Time for HBO to Replace Larry Merchant With Max Kellerman: The 76-year-old Merchant had a long, distinguished career as a sports writer for the Philadelphia Daily News and New York Post. I think that's why HBO keeps him around, even though Phillips' description is 100 percent accurate.
TNT's Wide-Open Coverage Strong in Debut: As a result of side-by-side commercials and racing at certain points, we got to see a lot of interesting moves on track that we would have otherwise missed. The additional advertising space that was located to the bottom of the screen was a different feel, but it didn't feel like a drastic change once the race started. And the extended in-race commercials had some good flair to them.
Hey, TBS: Want Revenge on ESPN? Broadcast an NFL Draft Show: Sure, that rival channel would miss out on the ability to show the commissioner's announcement from the podium, but it could make its own announcement just seconds after ESPN and NFL Network does so, and it could attract fans by offering superior analysis. (Many fans think both ESPN and NFL Network focus too much on drama and not enough on the impact the drafted players will have on their new teams.)
NASCAR:Fike and Fiancée Arrested on Drug Charges: Yet another NASCAR driver flushing his career down the drain instead of the drugs.And heroin? That's a new one to me for NASCAR. Cocaine, yes. Heroin? That's a whole different ballgame.
Daytona to November? Just Say No: I have to respectfully disagree with my fellow Fanhouser Geoffrey Miller in a switch being an intelligent business move. The Daytona 500 and last race at Miami-Homestead are the bookends of the season. Each event stands on its own merits and ability to bring in the cash. Why combine them to diminish that?
NCAA Basketball Videos:
Nolan Smith: The Next Dookie to Love: Even as a Carolina fan, this Nolan Smith kid is sick! At Duke, he'll be compared to Jason Williams or even a smaller Grant Hill.
Taylor King: The Next Dookie to Hate: So what is the composition of a hated Duke player? Usually he's white. He usually is a big man who can shoot ... though J.J. Redick wasn't big. He also usually likes to celebrate his play. Meet Taylor King.
Elliott Williams Highlight Video Shows the Power of YouTube in Recruiting: Just a couple of years ago, a high school player who wanted to make sure college coaches saw his highlights had to spend big money and go through a laborious process. Now it's as simple as splicing together some footage and uploading it to YouTube, something that's second nature to many of the teenagers who are hoping to earn college scholarships.
NCAA Football:
Texas Hasn't Retired Vince Young's Number: Nine times out of ten, a Heisman Trophy is a sound standard for uniform retirement at a major program like Texas. However, accommodations should be made for that other time when guys like Vince Young come along. He's a hero with a cult-like following and is responsible for the program shrugging off near-ownership by Oklahoma and winning its first football title in 35 years.
A Southern Truth - Football Before Marriage: There's a short video below (2:13 in length) about the lengths two friends went to catch the entirety of an Alabama football game, thereby delaying by an hour their arrival at one of their weddings. Predictable fallout: relatives who won't speak to them, a divorce years later.
SEC Referee is Also Gator Club President: I thought the officiating crews were supposed to be impartial. I would never have dreamed that the SEC would allow one of its referees/umpires to work games in that conference if they had an affiliation with one of the member institutions.
