Remember This?

That reporter passed away after a heart attack suffered over the weekend. He was 42.

The Chaser is Back!

The best comedy troupe in the world is back with a new project!

US Open 2011: A Preview!

The last grand slam of the year at the USTA complex in Queens begins Monday! So here's some items to look for this year's US Open:

On the men's side, Novak Djokovic is the #1 seed in the singles side. Shreveport native Ryan Harrison will take on Marin Cilic in the first round. Gonna be tough. Cilic was a contender in some events at some time. Roger Federer will be the third seed, while Andy Murray will be the fourth seed. Defending singles champ Rafa Nadal is the 2nd seed.

On the women's side, two time defending singles champ Kim Clijsters has withdrawn from her third straight major due to injury. The Aussie Open women's singles champ has a pulled stomach muscle that according to her, that it would take a few weeks to recooperate, so resting is the most logical choice rather than risking it for even worse injuries. Where does this leave the singles side at the US Open this year? Let's see.

Sweet Caroline! Caro Wozniacki will get the #1 seed. Not surprising. French Open champ Li Na gets the 6th seed. Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova will have the 5th seed, while Vera Zvonareva will get the 2nd seed.

Live here in the states on TV via Tennis Channel, ESPN and CBS. Live timing and video here.

The ONLY grand slam with nighttime tennis. Nuff said! The only thing that could push the opening day back is Irene. Everything in NYC and the east coast is pushed back for now. Not sure of the US Open schedule for Monday, so check the US Open website.

Friday Jukebox 8.26.11: A Tribute to Two Songwriters.

This is also my 200th post.

On Monday, two talented songwriters passed away.

Jerry Leiber, writer of Elvis' "Hound Dog" from 1956. Aged 78. Along with partner Mike Stoller, not only worked with Elvis, but a who's who of artists, from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to B.B. King, Buddy Holly and James Brown just to name a few.

Also, Nick Ashford passed away, age 70. Along with partner (and later wife) Valerie Simpson, Ashford was a writer as well as musician. Both Ashford and Simpson teamed up on "Found a Cure" (1979), "It Seems to Hang On" (1978), and "Solid" (1984).

I discovered, that now that I'm following Nile Rodgers (Chic) on twitter, he tweeted that it was Ashford that "gave Chic their first break." And the rest of history.

IAAF World Championships in Athletics: 13th Edition, starts Saturday!

Berlin 2009. Usain Bolt with two world records. Even a pose with Berlino afterwards. The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was all about Berlino. Some celebrated with him, some didn't.

Now it's the 13th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at Daegu, South Korea, which begins Saturday morning (Friday night here in the states), and who knows how many world records will fall this year?

In the US, Universal Sports and NBC will have coverage. Universal Sports will most likely have live coverage, whilst NBC has four days of coverage beginning Saturday at 12:30pm Central, on tape delay basis, similar to the swimming portion of the FINA World Championships at Shanghai last month.

Pat Summitt, Now a Dementia Sufferer.

One of the greatest coaches in basketball, has dementia. Will this affect her coaching? Who knows where she'll go from here as she's almost at a time where she is approaching her 40th season as Tennessee women's basketball coach.

A Little Thought on the East Coast Earthquakes.

The geographic view of the east coast earthquake. 5.9 on Richter, located northwest of Richmond, Virginia and a little east of the UVA campus. So many things were shaking especially in NYC and Washington.

It is at a time where two weeks from Sunday, is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 attacks in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

This earthquake is just a natural occurrence. Move along.

Awesome Knockout!

From the featherweight (145 lb/65.25 kg) tournament final at BELLATOR 48. Check out this round 2 knockout by Pat Curran using a great kick on Marlon Sandro.

One of the best KO's of the year in mixed martial-arts!

Friday Jukebox 8.19.11

In 1997, Syntone produced "Heal My World," which was released in 2006, featuring mixes by Jesselyn among people. The next year, "Feeling" came out, and it's just as good.

Bellator 48 This Saturday Night!

Could Marlon Sandro (pictured) overcome adversity or will it be Pat Curran to the finish? Find out as Curran and Sandro battle it out in BELLATOR's $100K featherweight (145 lb/65.25kg) final, which takes place this Saturday night at Mohegan Sun.

In addition to the featherweight final for the number 1 contender for the Bellator featherweight title (held by Joe Warren), check out heavyweight champ Cole Konrad in action as well.

Another big night for BFC as part of their "Summer Series." Live on MTV2 Saturday night, 8pm USCDT!

Basket Brawl!

Georgetown men's team in exhibition play in China, and it gets ugly...wait until the fallout comes out of this...

FTG!!!

Self explanatory.

Ultimate FC Making the Move.

ZUFFA's Ultimate FC brand announces a new deal with FX cable and Fox free-to-air network that could get their matches to network TV. It was made on Tuesday.

UFC's addition to the Fox networks adds to a growing list of properties in their portfolio that includes NFL, Major League Baseball, Sprint Cup, UEFA Champions League, Cotton Bowl, FBS football on Saturday nights and now this.

MMA on network TV isn't nothing new. Since the new Fox deal is only for up for four events on the Fox FTA network. ZUFFA's strikeforce brand had events on CBS over the past couple of years. The defunct Elite XC also had live events on CBS, just like strikeforce. Also, the defunct International Fight League had events on live (and taped in some areas) on MyNetworkTV.

BELLATOR, who had events on tape delay on both NBC and Fox, could be the winner. The number 2 promotion could score an upgrade from MTV2, such as going to sister network Spike, who with UFC leaving could only leave IMPACT Wrestling Thursday Night as their lone highest rated program (gets about a 1.5 Nielsen rating).

I could only hope if Mr. Rebney could make the move to either Spike or even Turner/HBO. Bigger audiences than what you get from MTV2.



Centenary Ladies Basketball 2011-12 Schedule is Out!

The 2011-12 Ladies Basketball schedule is out. Still are traces of Division I in this 25 game campaign this season.

The 2011-12 Ladies begin their season with an exhibition with the SLU Lady Lions in Hammond. On November 15, they will officially open the season traveling down to Natchitoches to take on NSU Lady Demons. Four days later, their first ASC opponent will be on the road at UT Dallas. The first home game in the newly repaved and refinished Gold Dome will be on December 1 against Texas Lutheran.

McNeese State Cowgirls come into town less than a week before Christmas. Their final D-I opponent of the year will be when they travel to Beaumont to take on Lamar on December 30. All four D-I matches are against schools out of the Southland Conference. Interesting.

February 11 will be their last home game of the season as they host UT Tyler. Their campaign comes to a close on February 18 when they travel to Pineville to take on Louisiana College.

Oh and for the record, Kristen Davis returns as head coach.

Congrats Keegan!

FRESHNESS!

Also good run toward the end for David Toms. And Toms, like Bradley, like Dufner and the rest in the top 6, they qualify directly for Augusta National in April.

Well done. 

Friday Jukebox 8.12.11: A Short Tribute to Jani Lane.

As you all know, Warrant frontman Jani Lane passed away on Friday afternoon, aged 47. Also, as you all know that "Cherry Pie," the title track from their 1990 album, is their biggest hit. Also used a couple years ago in an Arby's Roastburger ad.

75 Years Ago...

Last Wednesday (3 August 1936)...

Jesse Owens' four medals at Berlin 1936. One in the 100m sprint, long jump, 200m sprint, and 4x100 relay. Four medals, the even Carl Lewis equaled that mark at Los Angeles 1984.

He even got a salute from Adolf Hitler himself and reportedly shook hands with the National Socialist leader. Owens even mentioned it himself. The ironic thing was he was welcomed in Germany, whereas back here in the states...segregation. Yeah, we know.

Some good footage and proof that Hitler was there for the ride.

PC Patrol Strikes Again!

First Hawaii had to change their name from the Rainbows to the "Rainbow Warriors." University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly Northeastern Louisiana) had to change from Indians to "Warhawks." Now, it's North Dakota's turn. The school is being pressured by a lawsuit filed by six Native American students, along with a proposed ban by NCAA themselves, which could pave the possibility for UND to change the name to something else other than the Fighting Sioux (read here).

My take: It's the continuous water down of society. Just because one set of people don't like it, doesn't mean the majority doesn't like it either. These set of students who filed a lawsuit are gonna have a rude awakening. Majority rules and they'll most likely lose a lot of money that they might not finish college or have enough to pay bills afterward. It's a damn shame. This issue should be left alone.

UND athletics' biggest sport is men's ice hockey. Contenders for the NCAA D-I title and some players even going to the NHL. I'm pretty sure these students are probably closeted UM fans? Maybe? Who knows.

It's Official! **RANT**

George Lopez's late night show CANCELLED. Good riddance. The worst of the bunch, his tbs show had about 2 years of bullshit that I think tbs executives gave in and pulled the plug for good.

The man was a over-political (more political than the competition and just as political as Bill Maher), race-card playing idiot that deserved this treatment. Also look at the Nielsens. All of the other late night hosts had HIGHER Nielsen ratings than his show, especially those on cable (Conan included).

Sadly, every late night show these days, from Leno and Letterman to Kimmel, Conan, Handler and Fallon, are lacking some brilliant comedic material that are turning some people off. But again none worst than Lopez, who had what he had coming when his sitcom got the axe by ABC years back. Now this.

Where does he go from here? Who knows? I don't give a fuck. He could go flip burgers for all I care.

The end.

PGA Championship 2011 This Weekend!

Last year, Martin Kaymer scored his first major win at Whistling Pines. This year, it's headed south to the ATL. Hot temperatures will most likely play a role all weekend at Atlanta Athletic Club, in the last major of the year.

Notable tee times (times local to the course):
THURSDAY:
Front 9
8am E Molinari
8:50am Daly
9am Mediate
1:05pm Els
1:15pm Kaymer, Yang YE
1:25pm D Johnson, Fowler, Garcia
1:35pm Oosthuizen
1:45pm McIlroy, Clarke, Schwartzel (excellent group)
1:55pm Westwood
2:05pm McDowell, Z Johnson
2:15pm Glover, F Molinari
2:15pm Barnes, Slocum

Back 9
7:55am Scott
8:05am Cink, Cabrera
8:15am Mickelson, Toms, Singh (excellent group)
8:35am Harrington, Love III, Woods
8:45am Watson, Poulter
8:55am Furyk
9:05am Stricker, Jimenez
9:25am Verplank, Kelly
9:35am Andersson Hed
1pm Sabbatini
1:20pm Snedeker, Olazabal
1:50pm Goosen
2:10pm Jacobson

FRIDAY:
Front 9
7:50am Sabbatini
8:10am Snedeker, Olazabal
8:40am Goosen
9am Jacobson
1:05pm Scott
1:15pm Cink, Cabrera
1:25pm Singh, Toms, Mickelson
1:45pm Love III, Harrington, Woods
1:55pm Poulter, Watson
2:05pm Furyk, Choi KJ
2:15pm Stricker, Jimenez
2:35pm Kelly, Verplank
2:45pm Andersson Hed

Back 9
7:55am Els
8:05am Kaymer, Yang YE
8:15am Fowler, Garcia, D Johnson
8:25am Oosthuizen
8:35am Schwartzel, Clarke, McIlroy
8:45am Westwood
8:55am McDowell, Z Johnson
9:05am Glover, F Molinari
9:15am Barnes, Slocum
1:10pm E Molinari
2pm Daly
2:10pm Mediate

Live scoring here. Coverage Thursday and Friday on TNT, Saturday and Sunday on CBS.

London Riots (WARNING: RANT!)

We can learn a lot about a riot. Vancouver three times experienced a riot, including in June after the Canucks lost game 7. LA in 1965, 1992 and after the Lakers win a world championship. Toledo 2005. Just to name a few.  Now it's London this time.

It all started when there was reported to be a confrontation between an armed male (biracial) and police officer. One outlet reported that the man didn't shoot at cops. The man was shot and killed by cops. And some people in the neighborhood decided to tear down buildings, homes and cars for nothing. I don't get it. This city is hosting the Summer Olympics next year at this time. They don't need nothing that would hurt their image such as this. Burning cars. Looting. Burning businesses to their ashes. As a result, Scotland Yard will probably order more and more police officers on the street because they're running short. So short, even the friendly between England and the Dutch at Wembley (the primary football venue for the Summer Olympics next year) was scrapped.

People shouldn't do any shit like this whatsoever. It just hurts a city's image. Again look at LA and Vancouver and you'll see why. It makes me sick when people do this. It's all about class and morality. They need to be taught a few or just get the fuck out of here. Plain and simple.

51st 410 Knoxville Nationals this weekend!

First of all, congrats to Shane Stewart who once again is 360 Nationals champion. Rain plagued the entire weekend bunching up the heat races at the Knoxville Raceway.

Now there's another Knoxville Nationals, and this time it's the 51st installment of the 410 Nationals, starting Wednesday and featuring all your favorite heavy hitters of the winged sprint car world, including some former winners of this event.

Speaking of those heavy hitters, the Wednesday and Thursday qualifiers are here. It should be live on Speed and on kniakrls.com, where there's great live streaming too!

Shanghai 2011: A Review.

It has been over a week since the closing of the worlds, but the two weeks have been interesting. No US medals in the first week that is made up of diving and synchronised swimming. However that changed in the final week. More in a moment.

But first, the water polo. Congrats to this year's champions. Italy defeated multi-time world champs Serbia in the gold medal match. Croatia won third place. Greece defeated China in front of their home crowd to win gold on the women's side. We'll see how they'll do in London in a year.

Now back to the final week of action. The swimming. First USA medal was an open water 10k gold. And then it was on from there. USA swimming piled them up, resulting in the USA's move to 2nd in the medals race behind China (the host country).

And it also shocks me that only a couple world records fell in the swimming-in the hands of Ryan Lochte and Sun Yang, who broke the old record in the 1500m set by Grant Hackett.

What we learned from this? A whole lot. Remember swimming is usually in the second week of the Summer Olympics (if you include the midweek soccer kickoff, which is three weeks altogether), and who knows what's gonna happen in that week of swimming next year at this time in London.

Friday Jukebox 8.5.11

Re: "30 Years Ago: August 1, 1981"

Love the Buggles? I do. This is the song whose video was the first to receive airplay on MTV on Friday, August 1, 1981.

From the 1980 The Age of Plastic album, that also contains the awesome singles "I Love You (Miss Robot)" and "Clean Clean."

360 Knoxville (IA) Nationals This Weekend!

The best time of year to be a sprint car fan, no matter if it's wings or non-wings. The first of two back to back Knoxville Nationals begins Thursday night, with the 360 ci Nationals. Mostly American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) touring series drivers, this will be just the right treat before the 410s begin on Wednesday night, the 10th.

Some of the best 360 racers will be there including the "Cajun Sensation" Jason Johnson, multi-time ASCS national tour champ Gary Wright, as well as a bunch of others. Even the "Dude" Danny Lasoski, a former Nationals winner (410s), will be there too.

Here are the entries and all the lowdown, including the qualifiers on Thursday and Friday!