Archive for July 24th, 2006
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
As you know, we’re big fans of minor league baseball, particularly the odd promotions they put together from time-to-time. (We still think our favorite is the time a team gave away free vasectomies on Father’s Day.) And a couple of weeks ago, we pointed you to the Dunedin Blue Jays’ professional wrestling promotion. Well, now it appears the Blue Jays have decided to put together a promotion around something that’s even less credible than professional wrestling: Blogs. Specifically, ours.
It appears the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Class A affiliate for the Toronto Blue Jays, are hosting two Deadspin-related promotions. First, on August 7, it’s Carl “Mustache” Monday, in which all fans named Carl — or “any form of “Carl” (including “Karl, Carla, Carlo, Carlos, etc)” — or have any part of their name as a day of the week will get in for $3. Also, fans with a mustache will get in for three bucks as well.
But that’s not all, friends: Three days later, August 10, against St. Lucie, it’s the “You’re With Me Leather Giveaway,” in which each player’s name will be announced with a Berman-esque nickname over the public address system. We’re not sure that gimmick is adding to the public good, but we are nevertheless amused.
For the record, we don’t have anything to do with this promotion, though we did agree to provide some T-shirts to give away on YWML night. (We’re not getting any cut of the gate receipts or anything like that.)
We’re just happy that someone’s finally giving Carl Monday the evening of honor he deserves. Hell, we’re of half a mind to grow a mustache ourselves for the event.
Dunedin Blue Jays Promotions [DunedinBlueJays.com]
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
It is just us, or is everyone pumping fantasy football a couple of weeks too early this year? Both Sports Illustrated and ESPN: The Magazine have already come out with their fantasy season previews — SI’s included a cover photo of a guy who might not actually play for his team next year — even though we’re still a week away from August. The season starts September 7; we don’t know about you, but our drafts aren’t for another month, at least.
Anyway, here’s something to further convince you that Corporate America will suck the life out of anything: It’s a book called Fantasy Kick, which attempts to persuade the reader that there is a direct correlation between office advancement and fantasy football. It tells you which officemates to invite in your league, how to interact them, which strings to pull, how to network, how you can … ugh, this is killing us just to type this. Fantasy football not as way to escape the drudgery of the workday … but as a way to get that promotion! Just don’t forget to put the cover on the TPS reports.
Fantasy Kick [Official Site]
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
Dream Stage Entertainment has announced the additions of multiple Japanese standouts to their August 26th Bushido 12 card.
At PRIDE’s Dreamers Dojo in Tokyo, PRIDE revealed the additions of Japanese fighters Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida and Hayato Sakurai, as well as new comers Hatsu Hioki, Nobuhiro Obiya, and Shinya Aoki. Sakurai and Ishida have been added to the participation roster and do not yet have opponents, but Kawajiri will step into the ring against UFC and PRIDE Bushido veteran Chris Brennan.
ALIVE Academy jiu-jitsu ace Hatsu Hioki, typically a 65 kilogram performer in the Shooto ring, recently travelled to Quebec, Canada, where he defeated UFC veteran and TKO champion Mark Hominick for the 65.9 kilogram title. Hioki, who is slated to rematch Hominick in late September, will step into the ring with another usual 65 or 66 kilogram performer in Jeff “The Big Frog” Curran, a frequent training partner of Hominick, who has seen action in Japan before in the ring of ZST.
2003 Shooto Welterweight Rookie Champion and DEEP Lightweight Champion Nobuhiro Obiya will make his Bushido debut against former Shooto 65 kilogram terror Gilbert Melendez. Obiya headed from the Shooto ring where he established himself as a top up-and-comer, and continued his path to success by defeating Ryan Bow this past April for the vacant 70 kilogram title. Now, he makes his debut on the big stage against a top American prospect in Melendez, who terrorized the Shooto 65 kilogram ranks before moving back to 70 kilograms, where he recently took the ISKA MMA Lightweight Championship from Clayton Guida.
And perhaps most surprisingly of all, PRIDE Bushido matchmaker Shigeru Saeki has finally gotten his wish, as Shooto World Middleweight Champion Shinya Aoki will step into the Bushido ring. Aoki stated before that he did not have a particular desire to fight in either PRIDE or K-1, as he felt both prized entertainment above combat sports. However, Aoki, who started his career in Saeki’s promotion DEEP, will make his debut against gritty American Jason Black, a product of Pat Miletich. In his Bushido debut in June, Black pulverized Korean wrestler Eoh Won Jin to a merciful corner stoppage, but will be in much tougher against Aoki, who may be Japan’s most talented mat technician.
Dream Stage Entertainment Presents PRIDE: Bushido 12
August 26th, 2006
Nagoya Rainbow Hall
Nagoya, Japan
Doors Open: 15:30
Fights Start: 17:00
Tentative Fight Card (Card Subject To Change):
73 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Jeff Curran (Team Curran) vs. Hatsu Hioki (ALIVE)
73 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Shinya Aoki (Paraestra Tokyo) vs. Jason Black (Team Extreme)
73 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Nobuhiro Obiya (Team RASCAL) vs. Gilbert Melendez (Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu)
73 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Tatsuya Kawajiri (T-BLOOD) vs. Chris Brennan (Next Generation Fight Academy)
2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
83 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Akihiro Gono (Team GRABAKA) vs Gegard Mousasi (Jurojin Gym)
2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
83 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Paulo Filho (Brazilian Top Team) vs Ryo Chonan (Team M.A.D.)
2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
83 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Denis Kang (American Top Team) vs Amar Suloev (Red Devil Sport Club)
2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
83 KG, 2R 10M/5M
Dan Henderson (Team Quest) vs Kazuo Misaki (Team GRABAKA)
Also Scheduled To Participate:
Takanori Gomi (Team RASCAL)
Hayato Sakurai (Mach Dojo)
Mitsuhiro Ishida (T-BLOOD)
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
We didn’t actually watch it, and we don’t have video or anything, but apparently the Miss Universe contest was on NBC last night. The only real interesting thing about beauty contests — other than, “Will one of them fall down? Please?” — is the celebrity judges, and last night’s battle had some doozies. You had Sean Yazbeck from “The Apprentice,” Claudia Jordan from “Deal Or No Deal,” Maria Celeste from “Al Rojo Vivo” and … oh, OK, we don’t know who any of those people are.
But who joined this illustrious crew of A-list stars and starlets? Why, no other than all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith! You might have thought that ending his career with The Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals was a humiliating way to shuffle off the stage of public view, but we have to think that trading witticisms with Santino Rice from “Project Runway” is about 1,000 times worse. And that’s saying something.
There really is nothing sadder than a world-class athlete shortly after he retires. Jerry Rice on “Dancing With The Stars” (while still sitting by the phone waiting for SOME NFL team to call), Emmitt Smith judging Miss Universe, Michael Jordan doing anything … honestly, Roberto Clemente had the right idea.
MIss Universe 2006 [NBC.com]
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
The headline on SI.com this morning reads, Weaver-Mania hits LA. As well it should: Jered Weaver won his seventh straight start on Sunday for the Angels … that’s seven career starts, and seven wins. Not since Fernando Valenzuela started 8-0 as a rookie for the Dodgers in 1981 has something like this happened. The problem is however, that Weaver-Mania has not hit LA as advertised. No one over there is talking about Weaver at all. We couldn’t find a word about him on any Angels blog this morning, nor much about him in blog archives. Over at Angels Mania, in fact, they’re discussing the Tour de France. Southern California should be going nuts over this guy; he was born in freakin’ Northridge, and pitched for Long Beach State, where he simply dominated in 2004.
So, we’re taking up the cause. Weaver, the No. 12 pick in the 2004 draft, went 6 2/3 innings against Kansas City on Sunday, giving up three hits and one run. His ERA is at 1.15 after 47 innings. Some more background (which you won’t find even on the Angels’ official site): His brother, Jeff Weaver, pitches for our Cardinals. Jered has a routine in which, before each inning, he steps behind the mound, touches his toes, stretches out his right leg, then his left, shakes out his right arm, then bends over behind the rubber and carves the initials “EHH” into the dirt, in honor of his deceased grandparents. How is this guy not a story? Johnny Drama had an easier time getting a meeting with Ari Gold. Come on, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fans! Let’s get Weaved!
Just Win, Baby [SI.com]
Slip Slidin’ Away [Angels Mania]
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
Notes from a day in baseball:
• 1. Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Fire Away. We were going to say that Ozzie Guillen is on his last nerve, but isn’t he always? Let’s just say that once again he ordered one of his pitchers to plunk a guy, and once again, well, the opposition remains unplunked. The White Sox beat the Rangers 5-0 on Sunday, but not before Texas pitcher Vicente Padilla hit Alex Cintron in the third inning. Jon Garland, presumably with marching orders from Guillen, responded in the fourth by throwing the first two pitches behind Kinsler. He never ended up hitting him. This sent Guillen into a fit. “This guy (Padilla) is the nastiest pitcher in the league and all of a sudden, he hits someone,” Guillen said. “I was upset also because Garland … missed it. I expect him to do a better job.”
• 2. Big Al Welcomes You To The New RFK. Gawd, Washington Nationals fans now have “rally towels.” OK, not too original, but they seem to work. During “Grand Re-Opening Weekend” at the newly refurbished RFK Stadium, Alfonso Soriano hit his 31st home run to lead the Nats over the Cubs 7-1, as Washington claimed its first home sweep in more than a year.
• 3. The M-Files. Because the game ended in dramatic fashion, and because we enjoy mentioning J.J. Putz whenever possible, we must report that Richie Sexson’s walkoff homer game the Mariners a 9-8 win over the Red Sox at Safeco Field. Thus vindicating Putz, who had given up a tying homer to Jason Varitek in the top of the ninth.
• 4. We’ve Been Waiting 115 Years For This. Jason Marquis became the NL’s first 12-game winner, and Juan Encarnacion popped two homers as St. Louis beat Los Angeles 6-1 on Sunday. It completed the Cardinals’ first season sweep over the Dodgers, since, um, ever.
• 5. This Episode Brought To You By The Letter K. Struggling through the current heat wave? Why not visit Jacobs Field, and let the cool breeze of the Indians’ bats relieve you? Cleveland hitters truck out 17 times — with Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano fanning 10 over five innings — as Minnesota won 3-1 on Sunday.
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
If you’ve recovered from the shock and awe of Fred Jones signing with Toronto, allow us to send an open invite to those of you in the city of Los Angeles, and/or those of you inclined to travel to said city in the near future.
Saturday August 5th (that’s a week from this Saturday for the calendar impaired), we need extras for a scene in Who Shot Mamba? - lots of extras.
All we can tell you on here is that it’ll take roughly five hours of your time, and you’ll be 150,000%, definitely, without failure, entertained by what you see. You’ll also get the opportunity to meet The Inflatable Defender (aka Inflatable Ben Wallace) live and in person! (Yes, you can get pictures with him.)
Email your name and contact info to whoshotmamba@gmail.com, and we’ll get back to you with all the pertinent info soon. Feel free to bring as many friends as you like - just let us know ahead of time how many and exactly who they are. This can’t be stressed enough. This is a small production, which means we need to be prepared beforehand.
Everyone will need to sign a release to be seen on camera, which will also include a nondisclosure agreement. Oh, and one of you will get to say a line, allowing you to forever cement your place in cinema history.
(Allow us to give the first of what will be many special thanks to the people at PlayAir Systems, makers of The Inflatable Defender, for their generosity and general awesomeness.)
Continue Reading July 24th, 2006
A lot of you have sat back and done nothing as we suffer through the day-to-day news void of the NBA offseason. If this describes you, it’s time to spend more time thinking about us, and less on your own life.
The freshly shaven Steve Nash, on the other hand, held a charity game in Canada over the weekend, apparently with the sole purpose of providing us material to work with.
In conclusion, be less like yourself, and more like Steve Nash. Here’s his official site, where Steve is growing a small army of children or something. Does any of this sound familiar?
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