Friday, December 31, 2010

CFL Legend Tony Proudfoot Succumbs to ALS at 61

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MONTREAL (AP) -- Tony Proudfoot, a former CFL all-star who once employed a staple gun to give his team an edge in the Grey Cup's storied "Ice Bowl," has died. He was 61.

The former defensive back died Wednesday. Proudfoot had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal, degenerative illness more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease

On the field, Proudfoot was an aggressive, yet cerebral, defender who refused to back down from a challenge -- whether it was the slick, icy turf or a big-time collision.

Away from the gridiron, the former defensive back proved to be even more courageous in the face of adversity.

Proudfoot rushed into a gunman's hail at Dawson College to save a student's life and then stared down a disease he knew would claim his own.

He was diagnosed in May 2007 with ALS.

But Proudfoot, a husband and father of three, refused to sit in the shadows as his health -- including his ability to breathe and speak -- quickly faded.

Instead, the former sportscaster and college professor mounted a public battle through the Tony Proudfoot Fund, which has raised more than $530,000 for ALS research and patients' families.

He penned moving, personal accounts of his struggle by writing occasional columns in the Montreal Gazette.

"That was Tony -- his motto in life was, basically, 'Suck it up and no complaining'," said Jim Simons, a longtime friend who played football alongside Proudfoot at the University of New Brunswick.

"He didn't make that up when he got ALS. He lived his life like that."

Yvonne Strzechowski Rhona Mitra Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick Josie Maran

Small Talk: Luol Deng

The Chicago Bulls and Great Britain forward on Cesc F�bregas's future and why he'd like to live in the film Avatar

Hi Luol how are you? Good. How you doin?

How confident are you feeling about this summer's Eurobasket qualifiers? I'm excited, we've got a young team, a very athletic team. We lack some experience but I'd say it will be fun.

Is there more pressure on you with Great Britain than when you're playing with Chicago ? with you being the man and having to carry the team? Yeah, definitely. The other difference is that in Chicago it's 82 games, here it's eight games and you've got to qualify. These are really like play-off games. Every game if you lose, it really hurts you.

You personally are one of the big reasons to be hopeful about this GB basketball team's prospects at the 2012 Olympics, but we hear you're also pretty good at football. Clearly we need some help there too, so do you think you could be persuaded to switch codes? [Chortling] I think I've got to find out exactly where my skill level is. I haven't played since I was 14. Back then when I played I was really good at it. But it's been a while so I'd really have to test where I'm at.

Small Talk envisages a role for you as a big target man to replace Emile Heskey ... I played midfield and I played striker. I kinda played a little similar to [Patrick] Vieira but a lot of times I ended up playing striker.

You're known to be a big Arsenal fan. Do you think they should sell Cesc F�bregas? I think he's going to stay. I hope he does.

You must move in the same circles ? do you ever hang out with the guys on the team? I used to but I haven't in a while. Back when [Thierry] Henry was there I knew a lot of guys on the team then, I was going to practice and stuff. But the last person I really kept in touch with was Philippe Senderos. But I haven't spoken to him in a while.

What's the worst film you've ever seen? The worst? Nobody ever remembers the worst film they ever saw.

On the contrary, in Small Talk's experience everyone does. Nobody. I remember the best, I don't remember the worst. Damn, what's the worst movie I ever saw? See ? I don't remember the name.

What's the best, then? Recently Avatar was the best I've ever seen. I wanted to go and live there. If I could find Avatar I would leave right away and go live there.

Really? Not put off by the enormous dragons, shiny panthers and hamfisted scripting? I like all that though! If I go to Avatar, I'd have some long hair, I'd connect it to the horse, I'd get on the dragon. I wouldn't need gas. Gas costs a lot of money.

Small Talk likes to hope they're paying you enough in Chicago that you don't have to worry too much about gas money. [Laughs] Yeah, but still. If I'm in Avatar I won't need no money, I won't need no credit cards.

Do you believe in aliens then? I definitely do. I believe it's a big universe, there's something out there somewhere. I think whoever reaches the other one first will probably have the better technology.

Yeah, if they get here first we're probably toast, right? Well if they get here first they'll be able to go away and come back. We won't be able to chase them.

What would you do if you were invisible for a day? Wow. I wouldn't like to be invisible for a day. But if I was ? I'd probably be up to no good. I don't know if I can even say that, but I'd be up to no good.

Spying on people? I wouldn't spy on people but ? uh ? I don't know. You know I wouldn't want to be invisible I don't think. I don't like sneaking up on people.

OK, so you don't want to be invisible, but if you could have one super-power what would it be? I always used to say when I was younger that if I had one super-power I would want to read minds. But the older I got, now I really don't want to read minds because I don't want to know what the other person is thinking.

People think a lot of bad stuff ? Maybe I'd travel through time. I would go back all the way to my ancestors and see how it really was back then. I think I would love it ? it would just show you how they had no worries back then.

What's your favourite vegetable? Man, I hate vegetables.

But you're an athlete Luol, you have to eat a lot of vegetables. No, trust me, I eat a lot of vegetables, but I hate them. It's one of those things, it's like doing sit-ups. I hate to do sit-ups, but you know you're going to look good. So my favourite vegetable ? maybe carrot? Is carrot even a vegetable.

It certainly is. Cheese or chocolate. Chocolate, for sure.

Steak or cake? Cake.

Jam or jelly? Jam or jelly? Jam and jelly are the same thing.

Bah ? Small Talk was attempting to test your British credentials after so long in the States. Nah, I go for jam innit.

Good man. Lastly, can you tell us a joke? Can I tell you a joke? Nah, I can't think of one. I really can't ? you've put me on the spot. Even though I joke a lot, I can't think of one.

How about you tell us about the best locker room prank you've seen in your time as a player? One time a rookie ? I'm not going to tell you his name ? was trying to be smart so what the vets did was they took his clothes from the locker room while he showered after the game. And you know after the game you have nothing there. The equipment guy takes everything away and you have to go out because your family's waiting. But he just stayed there for hours. Eventually the equipment guy, who had gone home, had to come back to the stadium because he just wouldn't leave.

A classic manoeuvre. Thanks for all your time Luol, good luck with the qualifiers. Appreciate it, thanks.

British Basketball and the GB Men's and Women's team are sponsored by Standard Life, the leading long term savings and investments company. Standard Life has over 6 million customers worldwide and provides an extensive range of products and services, aimed at meeting the financial requirements of customers throughout their lives.


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Stan Van Gundy Says Officials Are Unfairly Targeting Dwight Howard

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ORLANDO - The target on the back of Dwight Howard isn't for opponents to shoot at. It's for NBA officials, according to Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.

The officials have singled out Howard, and they go out of their way to call technical fouls against him, according to Van Gundy.

Van Gundy was livid with the way Howard was treated by officials in Thursday night's 112-103 victory over the New York Knicks.

Howard leads the NBA in technical fouls, receiving his 12th of the season Thursday night, leaving him only four away from an automatic suspension.

"They (officials) are looking for him, no question. They make a call on him and they are looking for his reaction. Other guys get away with stuff. He's going to have to accept that, they are looking for him. Every one of them (officials),'' Van Gundy said. "For other guys, they look away. He's not going to be treated like everyone else in the league.''

Howard received the first technical of the game Thursday in the first quarter. Knicks center Amar'e Stoudemire received his in the second period. Stoudemire is second in the league with 10.

 

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Who Should (and Shouldn't) Get an Invite to the US National Team's January Camp

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u.s. national team mls chris wondolowskiNext month, U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley will hold his annual January camp at the Home Depot Center outside Los Angeles. The camp, which culminates with a friendly against Chile on Jan. 22, will be the first chance for Bradley and his staff to begin shaping the talent pool for the 2014 World Cup.

With that in mind, FanHouse takes a look at four fresh faces that deserve an invitation, as well as three veterans who do not. U.S. Soccer will announce the roster on Tuesday afternoon.

 

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'Red State' Trailer: Guns, Christian Fundamentalist Imagery, and 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' Cast Members

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10 Images of Hood Dad, Reddit's Newest Advice Meme

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hood dad reddit advice meme4chan isn't the only site that can start advice memes! A new one called Hood Dad started on Reddit this week, using a photo of one Redditor's father wearing a sideways hat and throwing up a "westside" hand sign. Hood Dad's gimmick is saying something stereotypically "street," and then finishing the sentence with some typical dad stuff. "Word to your mother ... who made a delicious meatloaf last night!"

The best part of Hood Dad is that the dad himself posted on Reddit to thank everyone for turning him into a meme. He then made a meme image of himself -- meta! -- to address the handful of "haters" who didn't support the meme. Coolest dad ever? Word!

Smoked Up


(Reddit user letdogsvote)


Word to Your Mother

(Reddit user charliedayman)


I Got That Chronic


(Reddit user Lesman)


Fight The Power

(Reddit user doswarrior)


Yo Homies, Sup


(Reddit user vagabondz)


Junk in the Trunk


(Reddit user btdubs)


I'ma Do a Drive-By


(Reddit user funkengruven88)


Hide Your Children, Hide Your Wife


(Reddit user denor)


Break Out the Weed


(Reddit user The_Seeker)


WestSyyyyyyyde


(Reddit user operator_isaac)


4chan fans will notice that Hood Dad is a lot like Successful Negro, an advice meme with a black businessman who says things like "I'll pop a cap - off a delicious root beer for my honor roll son." Yes, it's the same joke, and no, we don't mind.

 

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Gator Bowl: If Not Jim Harbaugh, Who Would Replace Rich Rodriguez at Michigan?

With all the talk swirling around the Michigan Wolverines football program, you'd think it was a foregone conclusion that athletic director David Brandon is going to fire head coach Rich Rodriguez and replace him with Stanford miracle worker Jim Harbaugh.

After all, Rich Rod hasn't exactly succeeded at the helm in Ann Arbor, with the 2011 Gator Bowl marking the Wolverines' first trip to a bowl game during his tenure.

Similarly, the Maize and Blue fans and boosters do not seem intent on embracing Rodriguez as their guy, both for his lack of winning and his insistence of a spread offense at a school known for playing smash mouth football.

Oh, and Brandon didn't hire him, so it's not as though the Michigan AD would have any sentimental qualms with cutting Rodriguez loose and starting over again.

Furthermore, Harbaugh would seem to make perfect sense as Rodriguez's replacement.

For one, Harbaugh is a Michigan man, a "Golden Boy" who spent three years as the starting quarterback under legendary coach Bo Schembechler while leading the Wolverines to the Fiesta Bowl in 1986 and the Rose Bowl in 1987.

If that weren't enough, Harbaugh has proven himself to be a rather capable head coach, leading Stanford to the first 11-win season in school history in his fourth year in Palo Alto.

Unfortunately for U-M fans, Harbaugh is a tough nut to crack and has yet to show signs that he would jump at the opportunity to restore his alma mater to its former glory.

With that in mind, let's have a look at the top 10 candidates for the Michigan job should Rodriguez get his walking papers and Harbaugh turn down one of the premiere coaching jobs in college football.

Begin Slideshow

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'Little Fockers' Was Most Popular Christmas Excuse To Get Out of the House

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Install This Craftsman Toolbar, Because Sears Is Getting in on This Video Downloading Thing

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Tuesday Night Football in NFL's Future?

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Funny how time changes perspective and perception.

Forty years ago, there were open questions about whether the American public would want to watch NFL games on Monday night after taking in a full afternoon of games on Sunday.

Well, the numbers are back from Tuesday's ad hoc Minnesota-Philadelphia game and they suggest that the groundwork could be laid for even more football.

Not only was Tuesday's contest - which drew a 13.8 Nielsen national rating and 23 share - the most watched program of that night, but the audience of 23.7 million was the sixth highest, all time, for any game under the "Sunday Night Football" umbrella.

In the overnight ratings, which measure the top urban markets, Tuesday's game scored higher than any program to air on a Tuesday all season, including the season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" in November.

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DJ Earworm's 'United State of Pop 2010' Mashup of the Billboard Top 25 (The One)

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Year-end mashups are a popular thing, and ever since 2007, DJ Earworm has mashed up the Top 25 Billboard hits of the year into one mega song and posted it for free download. To accompany the song, he makes a colossal music video that piles all of your favorite pop stars onto one another at their scantily-clad, gyrating best -- so if you don't listen to Top 40 radio, don't worry. We've brought you the SparkNotes.

This year's song, 'Don't Stop the Pop,' features everyone you hated yourself for knowing about in 2010, from Iyaz to Lady Antebellum, and MetaFilter has put together a list of the full music videos for the songs featured in case you wanna revisit Young Money featuring Lloyd's 'Bedrock' this afternoon.

Don't worry, we won't judge.


We get it -- you're busy. Only have time for one web bit a day? Here's The One thing we think you cannot miss today. Subscribe to "The One" RSS Feed.

 

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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Elton John's Son, Hugh Hefner And iPhone Durability In Today's Twitter-Wood

Elton John has been receiving congratulatory notes from around Twitter-Wood this week, thanks to the birth of his son Zachary. Neil Patrick Harris even wants to pencil in some play dates as soon as possible.
In other tweets, Olivia Wilde graciously accepted some congrats from Chris Kattan, while John Cusack attempted to clear up some confusion [...]

Lisa Marie Keira Knightley Monica Keena

2010 Bowl Matchups: Gamecocks Too Much for Seminoles to Handle

2010 Bowl Matchups: The Chick-fil-A BOWL is only a day away. If you don't already have plans for New Year's Eve, you may do well to lock yourself in doors and watch what could be the game of the season.

These are two tightly packed teams. This one will go down to the wire. But I still have questions about the Seminoles. If they start Christian Ponder, there is no doubt that he will still be hampered by a sore throwing elbow. The small item may be all we need to know about the losers in this game.

There is just too little a margin for error in this one. The Seminoles have to consider they may be chasing the Gamecocks all day. Stephen Garcia and Alshon Jeffrey are one of the more prolific tandems in college football. South Carolina will get on the board a multiple number of times. The question is if the Seminoles can counter with their own offense. Not tomorrow they can't. This will be South Carolina's game to lose.

Prediction: South Carolina 30, Florida State 24

Related Story: College Bowl Predictions for Meineke Car Care Bowl: South Florida vs. Clemson

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Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar Hoover Biopic Has DiCaprio, Dench, Hammer, and Maybe Theron

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Brett Favre, LeBron James, Justine Henin and Thursday's Late Sports News

Brett Favre, LeBron James, and Justine Henin are just three of the names lighting up the headlines on this Thursday afternoon, and there are bound to be more and more as we move into the evening.

One way or another, this Sunday will be all she wrote (or is it all she texted?) for Brett Favre. After a week of bad news, the issue now will be whether or not he will play at all when the Vikings take on the Lions in their 2010 finale. We'll keep you up to date with that.

It's LeBron James' birthday today! Hard to believe he's just 26, and has been the best player in the NBA for several years now. And his Miami Heat team is on quite the historic roll to boot.

Justine Henin is returning to tennis for the first time since rupturing a ligament in her elbow back in June, as she will compete in the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia this Saturday.

There are also three more bowl games to talk about today, one of which has just gone final.

Yes sir, plenty to talk about as far as the world of sports is concerned. Just keep it here and we'll keep you posted with all the latest.

Happy New Year!

Rachel Hunter Heidi Montag Katharine McPhee T.A.T.u. Amber Valletta

Andrew Bynum, Brimming With Potential, Slowly Works Into Shape

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Andrew Bynum

LOS ANGELES -- Other than with Shaquille O'Neal, Phil Jackson hasn't had greatness in the pivot during his coaching career. He did still win three titles with former star Bill Cartwright at center and three with never-was star Luc Longley manning the middle.

So Andrew Bynum could be regarded as the second-best center Jackson has coached ever. The only problem is the Lakers' coach can't get him on the floor much.

So pardon Jackson's frustration regarding Bynum, who has been slow to return to form this season while coming off yet another knee injury. Jackson knows what kind of potential he has in Bynum, who is just 23 but has shown some impressive flashes in his six-year career.

"Just reactions right now,'' Jackson said about Bynum still not being close to 100 percent after he has played in six games after missing the first 24 of the season due to a right knee surgery. "Conditioning is part of that. I think his reactive ability and just reacting to the ball and the game is still an issue.

"Andrew's heavy. He's a muscular kid, but I don't think he's overweight per se. But he could probably stand to lose 10 pounds and be lighter and have less of a load to carry.''

 

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NFL Draft 2011: When Will Cam Newton Be Selected In The Draft?

Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton has had a spectacular season and has made a case for himself to go very early in the first round.

Newton's comeback against Alabama and his huge game in the SEC Championship helped his draft stock rise dramatically.

In the SEC Championship game against South Carolina, Newton threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Newton scored an incredible 49 total touchdowns this season and his play-making ability can impact any NFL team immediately next season.

Of course, beating Oregon in the BCS National Championship game will help Newton's draft stock as well, but if he plays poorly, his stock can fall for April's draft.

We have seen the stock of players fall due to just one performance, so Newton must play well and be on top of his game.

There are many NFL teams that need a franchise quarterback, such as the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Both teams will have a top ten pick in this year's draft.

If Newton plays well in the championship, he can be selected within the top ten picks of the draft especially by the Cardinals or 49ers.

The Cardinals cannot find an answer at quarterback and the 49ers have to finally give up on Alex Smith who is just not the answer for them right now.

Newton brings explosiveness and leadership which are two qualities that coaches love and any team in the NFL can use.

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Video: Wesley Sonck's Amazing Snowbound Bicycle Kick

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wesley sonckThere's been a lot of talk about soccer in the winter lately.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league is studying a possible shift in its season to the European calendar (whether that's still the case following the World Cup bid debacle is unknown), while Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has suggested that the Premier League should abandon its traditional schedule and start its season in the spring.

On Wednesday, Scottish Football Association president George Peat issued a similar call.

Everyone is worked up over the weather, including those who now are pushing for the 2022 World Cup in blazing hot Qatar to be moved to the winter.

 

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Tyreke Evans' Game-Winner From Beyond Halfcourt Snaps Kings' Losing Streak

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The Sacramento Kings may have the worst record in the league, their coach and general manager may be holding onto their jobs by a thread and their best player may be on the verge of sitting for a month or two with injury, but they'll always have this:



Beating the buzzer with a desperate heave from 50 feet away, Tyreke Evans finally gave the tortured fans at Arco Arena reason to celebrate. The 100-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies snapped the Kings' eight-game losing streak, and marked just the second win in the last 18 games.

Had Evans missed the last-second prayer, Wednesday's game, a meaningless affair between two last-place teams, would have been quickly forgotten. But by making the shot, Evans provided perhaps the most incredible ending to a game this year -- no matter what the sport.

 

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Illinois Thumps Baylor Bears in Texas Bowl

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HOUSTON -- The Baylor Bears waited 16 years between bowl appearances and Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure may have made them wish the wait was just a little bit longer Wednesday night.

The Illini star back ran through and around the Bears to lift Illinois to a 38-14 win over Baylor during the Texas Bowl in front of 68,211 at Reliant Stadium. Leshoure scored three rushing touchdowns on the night, his last a 5-yard scamper with 7:14 remaining that slammed the door on a Baylor comeback.

Leshoure also scored on touchdown runs of 5 and 13 yards earlier in the game as Illinois running game seemed to leave Baylor flat-footed most of the night.

But still, after a horrible first-half performance, the Bears offense came to life in the second half behind quarterback Robert Griffin to pull within 10 points early in the fourth quarter after trailing by 24-0 to begin the third quarter. Running back Jay Finley scored on a 4-yard touchdown and then Griffin connected with receiver Kendall Wright for a 39-yard touchdown pass play that pulled Baylor within 24-14.

But after getting a few defensive stops in the second half, the Bears defense finally caved as Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the Illini on an impressive drive that was capped by Leshoure's 5-yard touchdown run that made 31-14. Scheelhaase, who completed his first 13 passes of the game, scored the final touchdown on a 55-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds remaining.

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LeBron James joins the Miami Heat

? James leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers after seven years
? Owner accuses James of 'shameful display of selfishness'

LeBron James has announced that he will sign for the Miami Heat. Bringing an end to weeks of speculation, James made the announcement live in an hour-long TV special, revealing that "this fall I am going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat". The deal is expected to make James, 25, one of the richest sportsmen in the world and could earn him over $100m in salary alone.

James, who plays as a small forward, was a free agent after spending seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown club. As one of the biggest names in basketball, he received offers from several clubs, including the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls. However, he opted to sign for the team he believed will give him "the best opportunity to win and to win now and to win in the future. Winning is a huge thing for me".

He was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003-04 and NBA Most Valuable Player in both 2008-09 and 2009-10. In 2007 he took Cleveland to the NBA Finals, where they were beaten by 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs. However, he never managed to lead the Cavaliers to an NBA title, and he cited his belief that Miami have "a great chance of winning and winning for multiple years" as his primary reason for joining them. He will join up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who committed to the Heat on Wednesday, and together, James predicted, they will make a "real good team".

Speculation concerning the destination of 'King James', as he has been nicknamed, has dominated the media coverage in the US over recent weeks. It reached such a fever pitch that it even impacted on the options market, with interest exploding in Madison Square Garden options earlier in the day as speculation linked James with the New York Knicks, owned by MSG. President Barack Obama, a Chicago Bulls fan, joined the debate by suggesting James "would fit in pretty well" at the Bulls. However, the hype and publicity surrounding his announcement turned the move into a drawn-out saga, and many will be relieved that the 'The Summer of LeBron' is finally over.

A number of other deals have been announced today - deadline day for free agents - including four-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson signing a six-year, $123.7m deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Two-time All-Star forward Carlos Boozer joined Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal with Utah Jazz for a reported $75m over five years. Jazz spokesman Jonathan Rinehart said Utah sent him along with a future protected second-round pick to the Bulls for a trade exception. In a busy day for the Bulls, they received the rights to the Washington Wizards' Belarusian Vladimir Veremeenko in exchange for guard Kirk Hinrich and the draft rights of first-round pick Kevin Seraphin.


guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

ESPNEWS Anchor Will Selva Plucks Column for Lead to Highlights

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In his lead-in to narration of the highlights to Tuesday's San Antonio-Los Angeles game, ESPNEWS anchor Will Selva advised Lakers fans not to worry about the team's loss to Miami in the much ballyhooed Christmas Day meeting with Miami. Instead, they'd be better served, Selva said, being concerned with the Spurs.

It was an interesting thought. Too bad someone else had already expressed it.

Nearly word for word, Selva used the lead of a column written by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register to advance the game. Think not? Here are the first three sentences of Ding's piece:
Christmas isn't over yet, Lakers fans. The big game, it turns out, will be the game after the supposed Game of the Year. In San Antonio on Tuesday night, the Lakers will be out to give themselves and their fans the much-needed gift of hope.
Here's a transcript of Selva's lead to the highlights:
Christmas isn't over yet, Lakers fans. The big game, it turns out, is the game after the supposed Game of the Year. In San Antonio on Tuesday night, the Lakers were out to give themselves and their fans the much needed gift of hope.


Save for a couple of verb tenses, Selva's lead sounds identical to what Ding wrote. And Ding thought so, too. In a blog post, Ding noted the sensation of returning to his hotel room after the game and hearing what he had written coming through the TV, without receiving credit for having written it.

"Honestly, it wasn't my best lead, come to think of it. Sorry about that, Will. Unbelievable," wrote Ding.

We're awaiting comment from ESPN .

Oddly enough, the half-hour ended with a segment called, "No, He Didn't."

We couldn't make that up.

 

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Here Are the New Films To Take Your Family To

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LeBron James announces his move to Miami Heat: in pictures

NBA star LeBron James has announced he will move to Miami Heat in a deal that could earn him over $100m


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'Empire Strikes Back,' 'Saturday Night Fever,' 'Airplane!' And 22 More Added to National Film Registry

The Force is strong with "The Empire Strikes Back"... and the 24 other motion pictures that were named to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry on Tuesday, bringing the list's grand total to 550 movies.
Also making the Registry were Alan J. Pakula's 1976 Woodward-and-Bernstein Watergate thriller "All the President's Men," the wacky 1980 comedy [...]

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Los Angeles Galaxy to visit Seattle Sounders in MLS Season Opener

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beckham donovan seattle sounders mls los angeles galaxyMajor League Soccer will be hoping that David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle aren't all playing in Europe next March 15, when their Los Angeles Galaxy are scheduled to open the new season at the Seattle Sounders on ESPN.

Playing the first game at Qwest Field in front of 40,000 fans is a no-brainer. Scheduling the Galaxy is a bit of a risk. Donovan already has been linked to Fulham and Newcastle United, and has made no secret about how much he enjoyed his sojourn at Everton last winter.

 

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Oprah to Sarah Ferguson: 'I Better Not See You on 'Dancing With the Stars'

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Sarah FergusonHoping to see Sarah Ferguson cut a rug on 'Dancing With the Stars'? Well, don't hold your breath. Why? Oprah Winfrey has spoken.

Money-strapped Ferguson, who will appear in 'Master Class: Finding Sarah' on Winfrey's new network OWN, was warned away from reality TV by the queen of daytime herself. You know, reality TV except on OWN.

In a new interview with Parade, Winfrey shined some light on how Ferguson ended up on OWN, and not some other network.

"Don't let me see you on 'Dancing with the Stars,'" Winfrey told Ferguson after interviewing her. "She started emailing me and at one point asked what did I think of her doing a celebrity chef show. And I said, 'That's not going to help you. How are you going to rehabilitate yourself on a celebrity chef show? You should be working on yourself.'"

 

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Shaquille O'Neal Fined for Ripping Refs

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Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for comments about the officiating in Boston's 86-78 loss Saturday to the Orlando Magic, the league announced Monday.

O'Neal was ineffective in the Christmas Day game, fouling out in fewer than 13 minutes. He finished with just two points, a single rebound and a block. Dwight Howard was also frequently whistled, tallying five fouls in 33 minutes.

"We have two premier big men out there today. He is pushing, I'm pushing. Let us play,'' O'Neal told reporters after the game. "If I was fan, I would be pissed. You pay all that money for good seats and you have two of the best guys in the country sitting on the bench. That's what happens when you have control freaks out there.''

O'Neal also singled out referee Bob Delaney, who wears 26 on his uniform, for criticism. "I guess they (fans) come out to see No. 26 play. He was a great player out there today,'' O'Neal said. "They paid all that money to see No. 26 come play. My thing is, if you're going to call it, call it the same way every time. Don't pick and choose who you are going to call it against.''

 

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Kate is Looking For a New Man and More Celebrity News

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Kate GosselinWant to know what's going on with your favorite TV stars when the cameras aren't rolling? Check out the latest celebrity news from our friends at PopEater.com.
o. 2010 was a pretty rough year for Kate Gosselin. Her New Years Resolution? To find a new man to help raise her 8 kids.

o. Before Bristol Palin can pack her bags, she must get approval from her baby daddy, Levi Johnston according to custody agreements.

o. If you thought Miley Cyrus' salvia video was bad enough, some racy photos of the 18-year-old have recently surfaced.

 

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Michael Vick Makes Most of Second Chance, Thanks to Eagles

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One morning last spring, I sat in a National Press Club audience that was riveted to the testimony of a clean-shaven, light-skinned, middle-aged, college-educated, black man who told us how he was trying to re-establish his life after drugs cost him his livelihood and eventually his freedom. He spoke before a breakfast meeting of Samaritan Ministries of Greater Washington, which he'd turned to for a second chance at mainstream life after so many would-be employers, landlords and others had turned their backs on him because of the most-recent entry on his resume: prison inmate.

The man who transformed us into a rapt audience that morning was living the rule for ex-cons. Michael Vick is, unfortunately, the exception.

The Vick story may be the most transcendent from the sports pages this year, but I'm afraid that it is for the wrong reason.

It really shouldn't be about Vick's redemption off the field as a do-the-right-thing citizen, or on the field as an MVP candidate quarterback for the playoff-bound Eagles. It should be, instead -- as Peter King revealed the other day of the phone call he heard about from President Obama to Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie -- about what the Eagles did: extend a hand to a fallen, remorseful man who continues to pay his debt to society.

"The president wanted to talk about two things, but the first was Michael," King said Lurie told him about a phone call he received Sunday from the President. "He [the President] said, 'So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance. He was ... passionate about it. He said it's never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail. And he was happy that we [the Eagles] did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall."

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Brian O. Blake's Post X-Mas Boxing Notebook (December 29, 2010)

-Boxing's worst kept secret was finally made official. Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions announced that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where he will be putting his WBO Welterweight Championship on the line against the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer Sugar Shane Mosley.  

-Top Rank's Bob Arum also recently made it known that WBA Junior Middleweight Champ Miguel Cotto will be making the initial defense of his title in March as anticipated.  Arum is working closely with Don King to finalize a deal for Cotto to take on the former two-division world champion Ricardo Mayorga at the MGM Grand.  If victorious, sources close to Cotto have stated that he is most interested in a rematch with his one-time conqueror, Antonio Margarito.

-WBO Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez was recently reported by a Latin-based television program to have been involved with a domestic dispute with his wife Barbara de Jesus.  Pete Rivera, who co-promotes Lopez along with Top Rank, quickly dismissed such claims to be false.  Lopez, who returns to the ring in April, likely against undefeated Teon Kennedy, refused comment.

-As has been the case of late, former title holder Jorge Rodrigo Barrios of Argentina has made headlines for his antics outside of the ring.  Not long after learning he wouldn't go to trial for his part in the death of a pregnant woman when he lost control of his car, the ex-wife of Barrios filed a complaint alleging that Barrios had beaten his son on several occasions. [Note to Barrios: Get it together man. Seriously.]

-The often talked about and constant failed negotiations took an interesting turn over the weekend as several German news outlets are reporting that both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are giving David Haye his choice as to which team of heavyweight champion siblings he prefers to face.  If history serves as any sort of indicator as to which he will choose, odds are Haye will once again attempt to face Wladimir as was the plan in 2009 before Haye pulled out with what some say was a suspect back injury.

-Recent word from Team Arthur Abraham indicates that the former middleweight title holder will possibly take a tune-up fight following his recent loss to Carl Froch for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship.  Abraham is set to take on tournament leader and WBA king Andre Ward in the upcoming semifinal bout of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.

-Fresh off their December 4 clash, there are early indications that WBC Lightweight champ Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon will once again tangle on the undercard of Pacquiao-Mosley.  Soto won their first tilt with a close decision.  The winner of this bout is likely to take on the winner of February's Showtime televised fight when WBA Lightweight Champ Miguel Acosta battles Brandon Rios.

-Upon learning that British sensation Ricky Hatton is looking to return to the ring some time in 2011, Dmitriy Salita made it known that he hopes to be the Manchester native's comeback opponent.  Hatton hasn't fought since his devastating loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2009.

Comments and Questions can be sent to: brianoblake@yahoo.com

Original article can be found at: SportsBettingWorld.com

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Fantasy Football Week 17 Rankings: Quarterback Matchups To Exploit

In a bind at who to play at the quarterback position with your fantasy football season on the line?

If so, take a look at our breakdown of four quarterbacks that could lead you to a Week 17 victory during the fantasy playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) vs. Chicago

Apparently Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is OK after all. After missing one week because of a concussion, he came back last week against the New York Giants and threw for 404 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

The thing is, Rodgers faces the Chicago Bears defense this week, and the Bears are giving up about 12 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. When Rodgers played at Chicago in Week 3 he threw for 316 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Expect similar numbers the second time around, but with another touchdown as well.

Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) vs. Jacksonville

It hasn’t exactly been the season the Houston Texans and quarterback Matt Schaub were hoping for, but at least they can try to go out with a win this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Schaub faced the Jaguars in Week 10 he threw for 314 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Jaguars have allowed 17 or more fantasy points in two of their last three games, which means it should be another good week for Schaub. Yet, expect Houston to have running back Arian Foster heavily involved in the mix as well, so expect nothing more than repeat of Week 10 for Schaub.

Shaun Hill (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota

Detroit Lions quarterback Shaun Hill returned from his finger injury last week to help lead the team to a win over the Miami Dolphins. The Lions have now won three games in a row, which is impressive considering they won just two all of last season.

In that game Hill showed no ill effects from his injury, throwing for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

It would be easy to project Hill for a big game considering he’s facing the punchless Minnesota Vikings, however  the last time Hill faced the Vikings he was held to 237 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Expect a solid game from Hill, though there is some potential for more.

Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins) @ New England

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne was once thought to be one of the more promising young quarterbacks in the league. Now, he enters Week 17’s game with the New England Patriots with 15 touchdowns to 18 interceptions, and is not the only Dolphin on the hot seat.

The Patriots forced three interceptions last week from Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Henne had two picks last week in a loss to the Detroit Lions, though his 274 yards and one touchdown did offset that a bit. Don’t expect the Patriots to get three interceptions again this week, but they should force Henne into some mistakes.

That said, if Miami is needing to throw often, Henne could be a sneaky play as a QB2 this week, especially considering he is finally starting to get stud wide receiver Brandon Marshall the football.

Read more content here:

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Week 17 Pick Them Up

Week 17 Quarterback Rankings

Week 17 Running Back Rankings

Week 17 Wide Receiver Rankings

Week 17 Tight End Rankings

Week 17 Kicker Rankings

Week 17 Team Defense Rankings

Week 17 Fantasy Football Start 'Ems

Week 17 Fantasy Football Sit 'Ems

 Week 17 - 10 Matchups to Exploit

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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Adorable Video Montage of People Getting Puppies for Christmas

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You know what's adorable? Puppies.

You know what one of the happiest days of the year is? Christmas.

You know what happens when you combine puppies and Christmas? A joy explosion. That's what.

Gawker.tv put together an awesome montage of people getting puppies for Christmas, and I've gotta tell ya, it can warm even the coldest of Grinch hearts.

 

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Cliff Lee's Return to Phillies Highlights Unpredictable Offseason

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All this week, the FanHouse staff will look back at the most significant baseball storylines of 2010.


Cliff Lee to the Phillies.

Jayson Werth to the Nationals.

Zack Greinke to the Brewers.

Carl Crawford to the Red Sox.

What do these offseason moves by the baseball establishment have in common?

Just that the baseball establishment thought each of those players would wind up somewhere else.

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Tyreke Evans Considering Season-Ending Foot Procedure

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Welcome to Kings Land 2010, where even the slightest bit of good news is -- somehow, someway -- always quickly followed by something bad.

And the way things are going, that trend is about to spill right over into 2011.

Losing an eighth straight game wasn't the focus immediately after they fell, 100-99, to the Clippers on Monday night, as the Kings' spirits were raised from the depths based solely on the outing of second-year guard Tyreke Evans. He scored a season-high 32 points in retro fashion, finally looking like the player who won the Rookie of the Year award last season just one game after a loss to Milwaukee marked a new low for the league's worst team.

But Evans, who has dealt with a mild case of plantar fasciitis for much of the season in which his production has drastically declined, revealed afterward that he is considering having a procedure done on his left foot to alleviate the condition that would sideline him for "three to four months."

 

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No Loan for Landon Donovan This Winter

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landon donovanFatigued following a very busy year that included the World Cup, a long season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and his successful loan to Everton, Landon Donovan announced Tuesday afternoon that he won't be heading over to Europe during the current MLS offseason and that he'll focus on resting and preparing for the 2011 campaign.

Recent reports had linked the U.S. national team star to Newcastle United, Fulham and, of course, the Toffees (plus Manchester City over the summer).

"While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan," Donovan said.

"I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the national team throughout the upcoming year."

Donovan, 28, signed a new four-year contract with L.A. last December that pays him $2.1 million per year.

This year he played 10 games at Everton, eight with the national team and at least 29 with the Galaxy (not counting U.S. Open Cup and exhibitions). He spent January 2009 at Bayern Munich.

He was named U.S. Soccer athlete of the year on Monday.

"We think in the best interest of the club and the player that Landon continues his postseason break and begins preparations for what will be a challenging year in 2011 at both the domestic and international levels," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said.

L.A. qualified for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, scheduled to take place next fall, by virtue of winning the MLS Supporters Shield last season.

The Galaxy are committed to keeping David Beckham around for the entire MLS season as well.

Following the English midfielder's comments over the weekend that he was interested in a stint in Europe that might keep him on Fabio Capello's national team radar, L.A. issued this statement to the Associated Press:

"We are not aware that David is looking to be loaned to any other team and we are fully expecting he reports with the rest of his Galaxy teammates in late January for the upcoming season."

 

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