Dear God, we've gone nuts.
Evidence? This is post #236 of 2015 -- supposed to be the dry half of the year!
Second full year of the blog, I did 239.
Third full year, I did 256.
If this year is any indication, we're probably heading well past 400.
And if you want any reason why, just click the month links on the side and browse to your heart's content.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
FIFA '15/WWC: USWNT Rigged Into Grand Final
So tonight was the game between the top two women's national sides in the world: United States vs. Germany.
Shame FIFA and the referee had to rig the match for the host's neighbors to get the Women's World Cup Grand Final.
Basically, the only clip you need to see to regard this is this blatant "screwup" on the part of the official. (Not sure how to get that properly saved and embedded, so I'll link to it.)
Alexandra Popp capitalizes on a Julie Johnston screw up and should be one against the goalie...
... until Johnston pulls her down.
The penalty IS called, but missed -- but Johnston only receives a yellow card for one of the most blatant Denials of a Goalscoring Opportunity you could muster!
United States should've been one down for the rest of the match.
Seven minutes later, as you can see on the Screamer video in the article here, Alex Morgan is pulled down where the article-writer believes was just outside the box, but the German who knocked her down WAS in the box.
Penalty awarded and converted, 1-0 USA -- USA wins 2-0.
There have been several stories about this Women's World Cup that have bordered on suspicious -- but that decision not to red-card Johnston had to be one of the worst.
If not "Hand of God" level from Maradona in the men's World Cup, certainly up there, at least for it's magnitude in the match and the level of the match thereof.
So forgive me if I'm not waving the flag tonight. The US Women's National Team may or may not have won with ten against Germany, but there's no way they should've won the way they did.
No chance in Hell. This smells of a problem.
This smells of a rig-job.
Shame FIFA and the referee had to rig the match for the host's neighbors to get the Women's World Cup Grand Final.
Basically, the only clip you need to see to regard this is this blatant "screwup" on the part of the official. (Not sure how to get that properly saved and embedded, so I'll link to it.)
Alexandra Popp capitalizes on a Julie Johnston screw up and should be one against the goalie...
... until Johnston pulls her down.
The penalty IS called, but missed -- but Johnston only receives a yellow card for one of the most blatant Denials of a Goalscoring Opportunity you could muster!
United States should've been one down for the rest of the match.
Seven minutes later, as you can see on the Screamer video in the article here, Alex Morgan is pulled down where the article-writer believes was just outside the box, but the German who knocked her down WAS in the box.
Penalty awarded and converted, 1-0 USA -- USA wins 2-0.
There have been several stories about this Women's World Cup that have bordered on suspicious -- but that decision not to red-card Johnston had to be one of the worst.
If not "Hand of God" level from Maradona in the men's World Cup, certainly up there, at least for it's magnitude in the match and the level of the match thereof.
So forgive me if I'm not waving the flag tonight. The US Women's National Team may or may not have won with ten against Germany, but there's no way they should've won the way they did.
No chance in Hell. This smells of a problem.
This smells of a rig-job.
Italian soccer club fixes matches to avoid the drop. In other news, Water is Wet.
New match-fixing in Italian soccer.
I could probably have posted this once a week for about 20 years, and it would be a different story every week. Italian soccer is some of the dirtiest in the world (both on and off the pitch), and, today, the biggest story regarding how much Italian soccer needs to be shut down completely is not the collapse of former Serie A squad Parma, now with no assets to speak of, and relegated all the way to Serie D -- to which I can't even see a future there.
But, today, a Serie B club is now under the microscope in a BBC report indicating it paid about 100,000 Euros to avoid the drop to Serie C.
Catania is the team, and the city's police department arrested seven people -- including the manager of the squad, the president of the team, and the latter's deputy -- for engaging in sports bribery.
Catania is believed to have paid opposing clubs 100,000 Euros to ensure it got enough points to be spared relegation (or the playoffs) in five late-season matches. At least 19 people are under investigation, including team members and illegal gamblers.
Look, do I have to go into the history of how shit-corrupt Italian football has been for a generation or more?
Is it not far past time to shut the whole mess down, baby and bathwater, for the proven criminality which is required to continue Italian soccer?
I could probably have posted this once a week for about 20 years, and it would be a different story every week. Italian soccer is some of the dirtiest in the world (both on and off the pitch), and, today, the biggest story regarding how much Italian soccer needs to be shut down completely is not the collapse of former Serie A squad Parma, now with no assets to speak of, and relegated all the way to Serie D -- to which I can't even see a future there.
But, today, a Serie B club is now under the microscope in a BBC report indicating it paid about 100,000 Euros to avoid the drop to Serie C.
Catania is the team, and the city's police department arrested seven people -- including the manager of the squad, the president of the team, and the latter's deputy -- for engaging in sports bribery.
Catania is believed to have paid opposing clubs 100,000 Euros to ensure it got enough points to be spared relegation (or the playoffs) in five late-season matches. At least 19 people are under investigation, including team members and illegal gamblers.
Look, do I have to go into the history of how shit-corrupt Italian football has been for a generation or more?
Is it not far past time to shut the whole mess down, baby and bathwater, for the proven criminality which is required to continue Italian soccer?
Monday, June 29, 2015
OTL Does It's Job And Nobody Likes It, Gambling Addiction Edition, Part Two: The End For Pete Rose (???)
I was going to get to this a while back, and just haven't been able to do so because some of my strong opinions on the subject weren't going to meet well with a number of readers (and I know that in advance).
I've been having some of my best conversations with one of them in the last eight days, since Outside the Lines dropped their first of the two bombs: A 30 year-old notebook which (if right) proves Pete Rose bet on the Reds as a player in 1986, and extensively.
John Dowd, whose report aided in having Rose banned a couple years later, claims this is the final straw in him ever getting reinstated.
And yes, if this is proper, Rose would've lied to the media for 25 years about betting as a player (even to Michael Kay in April of 2015 on ESPN New York), on top of his 15 lying to the media about betting on baseball.
The notebook shows that he bet, by June, on at least 22 days on the Reds. There is NO evidence in the notebook saying he bet against the Reds...
But there is one clear thing:
The speculation has to stop and stop now.
Did Pete Rose bet against the Reds or not?
I have my answer, but it's as good as John Dowd's on the subject (he thinks Rose has).
MLB has to get to the bottom of the entire mess, and, frankly, call all relevant parties into the office and get a Final Answer. (And preferably before the All-Star Game in Cincinnati, in which it is presently believed Rose might be allowed to appear as one of the hallmark players of the Reds. This, on top of at least a discussed reinstatement situation which could be talked about after the All-Star break.)
Does anybody have evidence indicating Rose bet against the Reds at any point while he was involved with baseball? Speak now or forever hold your peace.
What did he say to the Commissioner (Bart Giamatti) during the questioning? Did he lie to Giamatti? And why (as Brian Tuohy asserts) did MLB destroy the notes of the hearing?
One thing which speaks very well in Rose's favor regarding never betting against the Reds is that Giamatti did agree to reconsider the life ban after a certain time -- something which never would've happened if Giamatti saw any evidence Rose bet against the Reds at any time.
One of the other things which makes both this and Mickelson's situations sticky is that both would be guilty of Federal crimes if Rose were found to bet against he Reds or Mickelson was part of laundering money. That's what makes these both stories to watch.
And then, as I said in the other post, there is the "Dan Rather" situation: What if ESPN, desperate to save their masters in the NFL from anyone who might have an eye on them (which OTL would qualify), is planting these stories to shit-can OTL and get all investigative reporting out of their network before THEY or the NFL become the next targets, and justifiably so?
But this story has to stop. There's enough smoke. Either clear the air or admit there's a fire -- one or the other.
I've been having some of my best conversations with one of them in the last eight days, since Outside the Lines dropped their first of the two bombs: A 30 year-old notebook which (if right) proves Pete Rose bet on the Reds as a player in 1986, and extensively.
John Dowd, whose report aided in having Rose banned a couple years later, claims this is the final straw in him ever getting reinstated.
And yes, if this is proper, Rose would've lied to the media for 25 years about betting as a player (even to Michael Kay in April of 2015 on ESPN New York), on top of his 15 lying to the media about betting on baseball.
The notebook shows that he bet, by June, on at least 22 days on the Reds. There is NO evidence in the notebook saying he bet against the Reds...
But there is one clear thing:
The speculation has to stop and stop now.
Did Pete Rose bet against the Reds or not?
I have my answer, but it's as good as John Dowd's on the subject (he thinks Rose has).
MLB has to get to the bottom of the entire mess, and, frankly, call all relevant parties into the office and get a Final Answer. (And preferably before the All-Star Game in Cincinnati, in which it is presently believed Rose might be allowed to appear as one of the hallmark players of the Reds. This, on top of at least a discussed reinstatement situation which could be talked about after the All-Star break.)
Does anybody have evidence indicating Rose bet against the Reds at any point while he was involved with baseball? Speak now or forever hold your peace.
What did he say to the Commissioner (Bart Giamatti) during the questioning? Did he lie to Giamatti? And why (as Brian Tuohy asserts) did MLB destroy the notes of the hearing?
One thing which speaks very well in Rose's favor regarding never betting against the Reds is that Giamatti did agree to reconsider the life ban after a certain time -- something which never would've happened if Giamatti saw any evidence Rose bet against the Reds at any time.
One of the other things which makes both this and Mickelson's situations sticky is that both would be guilty of Federal crimes if Rose were found to bet against he Reds or Mickelson was part of laundering money. That's what makes these both stories to watch.
And then, as I said in the other post, there is the "Dan Rather" situation: What if ESPN, desperate to save their masters in the NFL from anyone who might have an eye on them (which OTL would qualify), is planting these stories to shit-can OTL and get all investigative reporting out of their network before THEY or the NFL become the next targets, and justifiably so?
But this story has to stop. There's enough smoke. Either clear the air or admit there's a fire -- one or the other.
OTL Does It's Job And Nobody Likes It, Gambling Addiction Edition, Part One: Phil Mickelson (???)
This has not been a good eight days for two beloved American sports figures, and Outside the Lines has been instrumental in problems for both.
This article, I'll talk about Phil Mickelson and today's bombshell.
And this one comes right out of Riverside, California.
Gregory Silveira of La Quinta, California pled guilty to three counts of money laundering of funds from a "gambling client" to Silveira's illegal gambling operation.
Silveira has been involved in some of the shadier aspects of gambling and sports for quite some time now. He was a phone handicapper (you know, one of those "IF ALL MY 1,000-STAR PICKS DON'T COME THROUGH THIS WEEK, YOU GET THE REST OF THE SEASON FOR FREE!!" jobs -- the ones I will gladly use as evidence that a lot of the sporting events in this country are fixed.) who eventually graduated to an underground gambling situation...
... one which, if two Outside the Lines sources are correct, has had about $2,750,000 wired into it from one Phil Mickelson.
As of this point, Mickelson is not charged with anything nor being investigated, but one would have to believe (should this hold any merit!) that the FBI will change at least the latter in very very short order.
I would have to think the PGA would want words with Mickelson even faster, though.
One has to wonder the PGA's response, but that's only if Mickelson is the person involved (which has NOT been confirmed, but has been stated by two supposed sources to Outside the Lines. There is a common thread between the two stories, and someone reading this blog pointed this out to me already about the other one I'm about to post:
What if ESPN is trying to blow up OTL by "Dan Rather"ing them -- planting false stories and leads that the OTL crew follows up on, reports on, gets blown up on, and gets fired because of?
Between this and the other story, two major beloved sports figures may well have their careers (or their legacies) ended, and given what kinds of things OTL might well uncover (say, in the National Football League???), could ESPN be doing this, at minimum, to turn public sentiment against things like Bob Ley's OTL, or could they be simply trying to blow them up entirely?
Stay tuned!
This article, I'll talk about Phil Mickelson and today's bombshell.
And this one comes right out of Riverside, California.
Gregory Silveira of La Quinta, California pled guilty to three counts of money laundering of funds from a "gambling client" to Silveira's illegal gambling operation.
Silveira has been involved in some of the shadier aspects of gambling and sports for quite some time now. He was a phone handicapper (you know, one of those "IF ALL MY 1,000-STAR PICKS DON'T COME THROUGH THIS WEEK, YOU GET THE REST OF THE SEASON FOR FREE!!" jobs -- the ones I will gladly use as evidence that a lot of the sporting events in this country are fixed.) who eventually graduated to an underground gambling situation...
... one which, if two Outside the Lines sources are correct, has had about $2,750,000 wired into it from one Phil Mickelson.
As of this point, Mickelson is not charged with anything nor being investigated, but one would have to believe (should this hold any merit!) that the FBI will change at least the latter in very very short order.
I would have to think the PGA would want words with Mickelson even faster, though.
One has to wonder the PGA's response, but that's only if Mickelson is the person involved (which has NOT been confirmed, but has been stated by two supposed sources to Outside the Lines. There is a common thread between the two stories, and someone reading this blog pointed this out to me already about the other one I'm about to post:
What if ESPN is trying to blow up OTL by "Dan Rather"ing them -- planting false stories and leads that the OTL crew follows up on, reports on, gets blown up on, and gets fired because of?
Between this and the other story, two major beloved sports figures may well have their careers (or their legacies) ended, and given what kinds of things OTL might well uncover (say, in the National Football League???), could ESPN be doing this, at minimum, to turn public sentiment against things like Bob Ley's OTL, or could they be simply trying to blow them up entirely?
Stay tuned!
Saturday, June 27, 2015
How To Get Me Killed In About Six Hours...
Deadspin, I believe, has the answer on how I can assure my death in about the first six hours of employment of a new job:
Hire me as the newly-created NFL Director of Digital Forensic Investigations.
And yes, from NFL.com, the job is real.
Excuse me a second...
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
This would be like hiring me to be Debbie Gibson's lead bodyguard.
(Or Britney Spears', etc.)
I mean, give me the first day on the job, and Roger Goodell himself is the first person investigated.
Now, I might well have some more qualifications to look into Twitter and the like, but they ain't gonna like what I find.
New York, as people might recall, is a Duty of Loyalty state...
Among other things I would think somebody in this situation would want to address with league sanctions is the spewing off of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson, who likened gay marriage to pedophilia...
My first question is whether he went to Penn State... (No, Central Florida.)
But a good way to see me killed in about six hours is to actually give me the opportunity to really investigate some of the social media, etc., of the league -- and then take it into the league-endorsed match-fixing, etc.
Because they wouldn't like neither what I found or what I did...
Deadspin has it right...
I have already been encouraged to apply by at least one blog-reader. :)
Hire me as the newly-created NFL Director of Digital Forensic Investigations.
And yes, from NFL.com, the job is real.
Excuse me a second...
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
This would be like hiring me to be Debbie Gibson's lead bodyguard.
(Or Britney Spears', etc.)
I mean, give me the first day on the job, and Roger Goodell himself is the first person investigated.
Now, I might well have some more qualifications to look into Twitter and the like, but they ain't gonna like what I find.
New York, as people might recall, is a Duty of Loyalty state...
Among other things I would think somebody in this situation would want to address with league sanctions is the spewing off of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson, who likened gay marriage to pedophilia...
My first question is whether he went to Penn State... (No, Central Florida.)
But a good way to see me killed in about six hours is to actually give me the opportunity to really investigate some of the social media, etc., of the league -- and then take it into the league-endorsed match-fixing, etc.
Because they wouldn't like neither what I found or what I did...
Deadspin has it right...
"From the likely tasks listed in the “Job Functions” section, it appears the NFL plans to regularly confiscate employees’ computers and other electronics and needs someone able to hack into those bad boys and find the good stuff before it get leaked to a news organization and embarrasses them. In the “Special Skills/Abilities” part, things like “expertise in conducting complex and varied criminal investigations,” “Expertise in both civil and criminal judicial processes,” and “Extensive network of law enforcement contacts at the local, state and federal level” really drive home what the league believes itself to be building with its investigations department."
I have already been encouraged to apply by at least one blog-reader. :)
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Women, Manhood, and Sports: One of these things is not like the others...
Three stories to prove why manhood is all fucked up in this country:
1) It seems that raping a woman as a Florida State quarterback is completely acceptable in our MANLY Football...
... but punching her will get you suspended, De'Andre Johnson.
Nice double-standard, motherfuckers. Another Florida State THUG.
Maybe the only thing this tells us is that the era of rigging national titles for Florida State is now over.
2) And then Warren Sapp gotta Warren Sapp.
This is YET ANOTHER assault incident for Warren Sapp, separate from the one which got him fired from NFL Network.
This is for biting and stomping his girlfriend April 28 at the M Resort outside Las Vegas.
3) And we can't let this discussion of the MANHOOD of Sports go completely finished without discussing this shot against women's sports by Sports Illustrated's Andy Benoit.
He has since apologized, but he got reamed, and correctly so, for getting into it with people about how women's soccer was not worth watching -- stating the same should've been said for all of women's sports instead.
Had I not noticed he'd apologized, I would've broken out the Debbie Gibson picture from the Knicks game about two years ago and said that was the only way he'd want to see a woman on the floor.
(Basically for putting her body over her (substantial talent in) singing!)
Instead, I will let Seth Myers and Amy Poehler do it for me:
1) It seems that raping a woman as a Florida State quarterback is completely acceptable in our MANLY Football...
... but punching her will get you suspended, De'Andre Johnson.
Nice double-standard, motherfuckers. Another Florida State THUG.
Maybe the only thing this tells us is that the era of rigging national titles for Florida State is now over.
2) And then Warren Sapp gotta Warren Sapp.
This is YET ANOTHER assault incident for Warren Sapp, separate from the one which got him fired from NFL Network.
This is for biting and stomping his girlfriend April 28 at the M Resort outside Las Vegas.
3) And we can't let this discussion of the MANHOOD of Sports go completely finished without discussing this shot against women's sports by Sports Illustrated's Andy Benoit.
He has since apologized, but he got reamed, and correctly so, for getting into it with people about how women's soccer was not worth watching -- stating the same should've been said for all of women's sports instead.
Had I not noticed he'd apologized, I would've broken out the Debbie Gibson picture from the Knicks game about two years ago and said that was the only way he'd want to see a woman on the floor.
(Basically for putting her body over her (substantial talent in) singing!)
Instead, I will let Seth Myers and Amy Poehler do it for me:
FIFA/USMNT '15: Half-Measure Only By US Soccer
US Soccer chose to allow Clint Dempsey to play on the USMNT.
The only punishment it chose to tack on is a six-match US Open Cup suspension, with a minimum to serve of two full years.
Will someone please explain to me why it is so important for Clint Dempsey to be on the USMNT when they ban him from the tournament for two years?
I know the answer -- I just want these flag-waving idiots who know nothing else of soccer to admit it.
The only punishment it chose to tack on is a six-match US Open Cup suspension, with a minimum to serve of two full years.
Will someone please explain to me why it is so important for Clint Dempsey to be on the USMNT when they ban him from the tournament for two years?
I know the answer -- I just want these flag-waving idiots who know nothing else of soccer to admit it.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
FIFA/USMNT '15: NOW it's time to raise hell!
The 23-man roster for the US Mens' National Team was released today - and Clint Dempsey was on it.
Dempsey -- who, by the US Soccer's own merit, should be banned from US Soccer in any capacity for a minimum of 3-6 months -- has been cleared to play for Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts in Frisco, TX on July 7.
NOW I raise Hell.
Look, this isn't the first time that soccer has allowed a star player to play when they have no right to see the pitch (Luis Suarez, Joey Barton from QPR a number of years back, etc.).
But at what point is it time we just decide that the officials have someone at their backs to ensure their safety and the ability to make the calls which have to be made?
No wonder we get fixed officiating, when it's clear that many of these people (even in the United States!) are officiating under, at the very least, fear for their safety.
Can CONCACAF step in and re-examine this and ban Dempsey themselves?
Dempsey -- who, by the US Soccer's own merit, should be banned from US Soccer in any capacity for a minimum of 3-6 months -- has been cleared to play for Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts in Frisco, TX on July 7.
NOW I raise Hell.
Look, this isn't the first time that soccer has allowed a star player to play when they have no right to see the pitch (Luis Suarez, Joey Barton from QPR a number of years back, etc.).
But at what point is it time we just decide that the officials have someone at their backs to ensure their safety and the ability to make the calls which have to be made?
No wonder we get fixed officiating, when it's clear that many of these people (even in the United States!) are officiating under, at the very least, fear for their safety.
Can CONCACAF step in and re-examine this and ban Dempsey themselves?
Monday, June 22, 2015
Kimbo Slice Will Finish Off What Dana White Started
Oh my...
Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock
Well, I guess, from all accounts, they got the "SHAM" part right!
Bellator, a lesser MMA organization (gee, that sounds familiar!!), put this on as the major eye-catching event of their 138th card.
Never mind that Shamrock is past 50 and Slice, the Internet street-fighter, is 40 now.
This is what resulted:
As you watch the fight, keep in mind what Jack Slack said in the article: There's a lot of "mouth-to-ear" in the early portion of this fight. For anyone who knows of fixed fights, this is the perfect method of communication between two fighters. It proves, otherwise, next to nothing, but when you add some of the other factors in play...
Shamrock should've been able to carve Slice up and spit him out, especially as he grabbed Slice, neutralizing any striking power Slice had, and just paraded him around the ring.
Then he got him down, and it should've been over then and there...
Shamrock, purportedly, has a rear-naked choke on Slice for the better part of 20 seconds.
I want to show you another video, this one from ESPN Sport Science.
Some idiot from ESPN (and that's all I can say about him, after you realize what happened) allowed himself to be put in a rear naked choke for the purpose of study of just what happens to the body after such an event.
The video states that a fighter only needs five pounds of force to choke someone out.
BJ Penn, who was measured to have a force 30 times that necessary, choked out the volunteer to a catatonic state in nine seconds. Within six seconds, he's supposed to be fading out visually.
So how does Ken Shamrock (a supposedly accomplished MMA fighter, but with a long history of fighting in fixed fights (which see his WWE career)) have Kimbo Slice in a rear naked choke for THIRTY-FIVE SECONDS and then Slice is able to get out of it?
There's only one answer: Shamrock never choked Slice. And they had one of the name referees, John McCarthy, overseeing the farce.
Within ten seconds of resuming their feet, Slice KO's Shamrock.
Um... NO.
And it's so obvious that you have to recall that Kimbo Slice, the Internet streetfighting sensation, was the centerpiece of an entire MMA organization, Elite XC. In fact, a Shamrock/Slice main event was scheduled for October 4, 2008.
This was after Slice "defeated" James Thompson on May 31, 2008. If you saw this fight, Thompson, by any measure of any sanctioning body, never should've been anywhere near a ring. His left earlobe was swollen with blood from before the fight, and one shot to it exploded the ear, ending the farce in the third round. The announcers hate the stoppage, Thompson SLAPS the official!
Shamrock had to pull out of the October 4 main event with a purported injury. Seth Petruzelli was brought in as a last-minute replacement. Slice took a pay increase, according to his Wikipedia page, and, it was also stated, Petruzelli was basically being put in there to trade with Slice, and get knocked out.
Petruzelli won the fight, knocking Slice out in fourteen seconds. Elite XC folded nineteen days later.
It's clear to me that Kimbo Slice, though a very bad man, is also a very bad actor. And if organizations like Elite XC and Bellator want to continue to put on fixed fights, they will finish what Dana White and the druggies at UFC have started.
Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock
Well, I guess, from all accounts, they got the "SHAM" part right!
Bellator, a lesser MMA organization (gee, that sounds familiar!!), put this on as the major eye-catching event of their 138th card.
Never mind that Shamrock is past 50 and Slice, the Internet street-fighter, is 40 now.
This is what resulted:
As you watch the fight, keep in mind what Jack Slack said in the article: There's a lot of "mouth-to-ear" in the early portion of this fight. For anyone who knows of fixed fights, this is the perfect method of communication between two fighters. It proves, otherwise, next to nothing, but when you add some of the other factors in play...
Shamrock should've been able to carve Slice up and spit him out, especially as he grabbed Slice, neutralizing any striking power Slice had, and just paraded him around the ring.
Then he got him down, and it should've been over then and there...
Shamrock, purportedly, has a rear-naked choke on Slice for the better part of 20 seconds.
I want to show you another video, this one from ESPN Sport Science.
Some idiot from ESPN (and that's all I can say about him, after you realize what happened) allowed himself to be put in a rear naked choke for the purpose of study of just what happens to the body after such an event.
The video states that a fighter only needs five pounds of force to choke someone out.
BJ Penn, who was measured to have a force 30 times that necessary, choked out the volunteer to a catatonic state in nine seconds. Within six seconds, he's supposed to be fading out visually.
So how does Ken Shamrock (a supposedly accomplished MMA fighter, but with a long history of fighting in fixed fights (which see his WWE career)) have Kimbo Slice in a rear naked choke for THIRTY-FIVE SECONDS and then Slice is able to get out of it?
There's only one answer: Shamrock never choked Slice. And they had one of the name referees, John McCarthy, overseeing the farce.
Within ten seconds of resuming their feet, Slice KO's Shamrock.
Um... NO.
And it's so obvious that you have to recall that Kimbo Slice, the Internet streetfighting sensation, was the centerpiece of an entire MMA organization, Elite XC. In fact, a Shamrock/Slice main event was scheduled for October 4, 2008.
This was after Slice "defeated" James Thompson on May 31, 2008. If you saw this fight, Thompson, by any measure of any sanctioning body, never should've been anywhere near a ring. His left earlobe was swollen with blood from before the fight, and one shot to it exploded the ear, ending the farce in the third round. The announcers hate the stoppage, Thompson SLAPS the official!
Shamrock had to pull out of the October 4 main event with a purported injury. Seth Petruzelli was brought in as a last-minute replacement. Slice took a pay increase, according to his Wikipedia page, and, it was also stated, Petruzelli was basically being put in there to trade with Slice, and get knocked out.
Petruzelli won the fight, knocking Slice out in fourteen seconds. Elite XC folded nineteen days later.
It's clear to me that Kimbo Slice, though a very bad man, is also a very bad actor. And if organizations like Elite XC and Bellator want to continue to put on fixed fights, they will finish what Dana White and the druggies at UFC have started.
Diddy, Football Is More Powerful Than You
I knew it was probably a bad idea for Diddy's son to be so prominently featured as he found a college to attend (eventually, UCLA).
Diddy has been arrested for swinging a kettlebell at somebody and making threats.
One count battery, one count terrorist threat, two counts assault with a deadly weapon. Released after paying a $50,000 bail bond on a $160,000 bail.
I have to wonder if UCLA might actually pull his son's scholarship because of the acts of the father... I think it's clear Mr. Diddy isn't going to be allowed to see his son practice nor play anytime soon.
Not that his son has done much -- in his three years at UCLA, the redshirt junior has played, if at all, sparingly.
--
In the "Oh, THIS is fresh!!!" Department:
The person Diddy is accused of threatening and assaulting is the strength and conditioning coach of UCLA -- one Sal Alosi.
THAT Sal Alosi -- the S&C coach of the Jets who tripped an opposing player in an NFL game!
Diddy has been arrested for swinging a kettlebell at somebody and making threats.
One count battery, one count terrorist threat, two counts assault with a deadly weapon. Released after paying a $50,000 bail bond on a $160,000 bail.
I have to wonder if UCLA might actually pull his son's scholarship because of the acts of the father... I think it's clear Mr. Diddy isn't going to be allowed to see his son practice nor play anytime soon.
Not that his son has done much -- in his three years at UCLA, the redshirt junior has played, if at all, sparingly.
--
In the "Oh, THIS is fresh!!!" Department:
The person Diddy is accused of threatening and assaulting is the strength and conditioning coach of UCLA -- one Sal Alosi.
THAT Sal Alosi -- the S&C coach of the Jets who tripped an opposing player in an NFL game!
Cheated out of a perfect game -- the new American Way...
Before I get to today's ESPN bombshell, I have something to take care of in Major League Baseball from yesterday:
Max Scherzer threw a no-hitter yesterday in a 6-0 win for the Washington Nationals over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
If not for one of the more Bush League moves in recent memory, Scherzer would've thrown a perfect game.
The 27th batter was Jose Tabata, and this was the 2-2 pitch, one strike from absolute baseball immortality:
I would almost bet this video will be taken down by MLB soon, but I figured it was the best one I've seen of the entire situation.
Tabata gets hit by the pitch very lightly on the elbow.
At 34 seconds of the clip, you see the replay. Tabata doesn't "lean into" the pitch, as the announcers state:
HE DROPS HIS FUCKING ELBOW INTO THE PATH OF THE BALL TO BREAK UP A PERFECT GAME.
I mean, are you motherfucking kidding me???
He makes no effort to swing the bat, he makes no effort to do anything other than to get hit by the pitch and take first base and lose a perfect game on an act that, if the Nationals players in the field had seen a replay, we'd have had a full-scale base-brawl.
Oh my God... Have we degenerated to THIS level of cheating, skullduggery, and subterfuge?
Seriously??
Max Scherzer threw a no-hitter yesterday in a 6-0 win for the Washington Nationals over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
If not for one of the more Bush League moves in recent memory, Scherzer would've thrown a perfect game.
The 27th batter was Jose Tabata, and this was the 2-2 pitch, one strike from absolute baseball immortality:
I would almost bet this video will be taken down by MLB soon, but I figured it was the best one I've seen of the entire situation.
Tabata gets hit by the pitch very lightly on the elbow.
At 34 seconds of the clip, you see the replay. Tabata doesn't "lean into" the pitch, as the announcers state:
HE DROPS HIS FUCKING ELBOW INTO THE PATH OF THE BALL TO BREAK UP A PERFECT GAME.
I mean, are you motherfucking kidding me???
He makes no effort to swing the bat, he makes no effort to do anything other than to get hit by the pitch and take first base and lose a perfect game on an act that, if the Nationals players in the field had seen a replay, we'd have had a full-scale base-brawl.
Oh my God... Have we degenerated to THIS level of cheating, skullduggery, and subterfuge?
Seriously??
Friday, June 19, 2015
This is beginning to look like the expected bullshit to save Dempsey for the Gold Cup, BUT...
I need to see if US Soccer closes the gate on this first.
The MLS has suspended Clint Dempsey for three games for referee abuse for his actions in that fiasco in the Hunt US Open Cup earlier this week.
I think that's incredibly light, given assault of the official to seize his book, ripping up the book, and failing to leave the field in a timely manner.
But here's the one thing which makes me wonder about all this: This is the first time, to anyone's knowledge, that the MLS has actually suspended an MLS player for an action during the US Open Cup, a US Soccer competition. Unlike most other league cups, there is no direct tie between the top professional league and the competition.
Now, I fully expect US Soccer will close the gate on this, allowing Dempsey to take the field for the United States in the Gold Cup, even though he should not be allowed to take the field at all for... Oh, I don't know... the rest of 2015, for starters?
But before we completely blow our stacks on this one, let's take a look at a couple of things:
Hence, I have no issue with this either. In fact, I believe MLS has been negligent, in the past, in not so disciplining. If this were a league cup like England's FA Cup, for example, it wouldn't matter: The Football Association handles both the Cup and league-pyramid discipline.
This does open up a large can of worms, because, as previously noted, the referee's "effects" are part of the definition of assault -- and his notebook qualifies as such. (This is why the match should've immediately been abandoned upon Dempsey tearing up the book -- it should've been treated equivalently to a punch to the official.)
So, in closing: I need to see if this is separate punishment from US Soccer. From the history of the US Open Cup, this would appear to be the case. I will say, however, that if US Soccer allows Dempsey on the team for the Gold Cup, CONCACAF needs to step in and remove him forcibly.
The MLS has suspended Clint Dempsey for three games for referee abuse for his actions in that fiasco in the Hunt US Open Cup earlier this week.
I think that's incredibly light, given assault of the official to seize his book, ripping up the book, and failing to leave the field in a timely manner.
But here's the one thing which makes me wonder about all this: This is the first time, to anyone's knowledge, that the MLS has actually suspended an MLS player for an action during the US Open Cup, a US Soccer competition. Unlike most other league cups, there is no direct tie between the top professional league and the competition.
Now, I fully expect US Soccer will close the gate on this, allowing Dempsey to take the field for the United States in the Gold Cup, even though he should not be allowed to take the field at all for... Oh, I don't know... the rest of 2015, for starters?
But before we completely blow our stacks on this one, let's take a look at a couple of things:
- This was a direct decision by the Commissioner of Major League Soccer. This was not a decision made by even the league's disciplinary committee.
- It needs to be stated, at least for the moment, that this appears to be the first time in US Open Cup history that the top professional league has stepped in and suspended a player for an action in the US Open Cup.
Hence, I have no issue with this either. In fact, I believe MLS has been negligent, in the past, in not so disciplining. If this were a league cup like England's FA Cup, for example, it wouldn't matter: The Football Association handles both the Cup and league-pyramid discipline.
- The one major thing which the Telegraph's article may correctly rule opening a large "can of worms" is that Garber ruled that the offense in question was not referee assault, but only referee abuse.
This does open up a large can of worms, because, as previously noted, the referee's "effects" are part of the definition of assault -- and his notebook qualifies as such. (This is why the match should've immediately been abandoned upon Dempsey tearing up the book -- it should've been treated equivalently to a punch to the official.)
So, in closing: I need to see if this is separate punishment from US Soccer. From the history of the US Open Cup, this would appear to be the case. I will say, however, that if US Soccer allows Dempsey on the team for the Gold Cup, CONCACAF needs to step in and remove him forcibly.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Some people can't handle the truth.
Tiger Woods, as of the moment, has played 14 holes in the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay at +10 -- a score that is better than only one player in the entire field...
A statement which had me say this to Bob Harig, a or the senior golf writer at ESPN.com...
Harig didn't take it too well.
To which I finally had to fire off the money shot...
He didn't like that one either.
Of course, anyone who's watched ESPN and their golf coverage over the last 15 or so years knows better, so I had one more for Mr. Harig:
EDIT TO ADD: It continued while I was trying to get home...
He did try to play the logical fallacy card...
Which I didn't buy for a second (current as of about 7:30 Pacific -- Tiger's +9 through 17, 61 golfers +1 or better):
To which Harig fired back:
A statement which had me say this to Bob Harig, a or the senior golf writer at ESPN.com...
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) June 19, 2015
Harig didn't take it too well.
@darkstar7646 oh yes ,this is such a disgrace to the tournament. it's horrible
— Bob Harig(@BobHarig) June 19, 2015
To which I finally had to fire off the money shot...
@BobHarig Yes it is, especially as much as your damned network has made golf in this country about Tiger Woods and NOTHING ELSE! #ESPN
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) June 19, 2015
He didn't like that one either.
@darkstar7646 oh yeah, it's ESPN's fault. good one. #makeitupasyougo
— Bob Harig(@BobHarig) June 19, 2015
Of course, anyone who's watched ESPN and their golf coverage over the last 15 or so years knows better, so I had one more for Mr. Harig:
@BobHarig Don't have to, Bob. ESPN's record on making American golf all about Tiger Woods is legendary. Stop lying to us and cover golf.
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) June 19, 2015
EDIT TO ADD: It continued while I was trying to get home...
@darkstar7646 oh, I'm lying to you. okay.. and Tiger wasn't worth covering over those 15 years. Please
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) June 19, 2015
He did try to play the logical fallacy card...
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) June 19, 2015
Which I didn't buy for a second (current as of about 7:30 Pacific -- Tiger's +9 through 17, 61 golfers +1 or better):
@BobHarig Tiger's on the cover of your homepage, FOURTEEN SHOTS OUT and EIGHT off the cut line. #TRUTH
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) June 19, 2015
To which Harig fired back:
@darkstar7646 @Jrw61Rogers so bitter... why don't you watch.. the Golf Channel!
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) June 19, 2015
He doesn't know what golf fans like me and my friends usually do for the three majors it is provided...
@BobHarig Why do you think golf fans like me openly avoid network golf coverage for things like Masters, US Open, etc.?
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) June 19, 2015
Clint Dempsey needs to be banned -- BIG TIME.
(Seattle Times report.)
When I did two previous soccer match out-of-control articles on this blog within the last few weeks, I never envisioned I'd be doing one about clubs in the United States.
Forget one of them being the Seattle Sounders.
Forget that the main party involved is no less than (before Tuesday) the team captain of the US Men's National Team, within a month of playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Now, Clint Dempsey stands to be banned from the US Soccer scene (and I specifically say that because of circumstances I will state later) for at least three months.
Clint Dempsey, the captain of the Seattle Sounders and the normal captain of the US Men's National Team (he did not accompany the US team in two upset wins against two high-profile European sides on the road), assaulted a referee last night and got sent off.
Dempsey ripped the book out of the referee's hand and ripped it up after this call in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match in which the Sounders were paired with their arch-rivals, the Portland Timbers.
After a red card (Seattle's second of the match) in the second portion of extra time for an elbow, another Sounders player appears to see yellow for dissent, while Dempsey rips the book out of the hands of the ref and rips it to pieces.
After being sent off, he needs to be physically restrained.
When are these referees going to be given the backbone to actually call off matches when players go mental like this? This isn't even a country in which the referee's life is in danger for such a situation in pro soccer? (One of the few which isn't!)
But, to Dempsey: He's going to have a very interesting summer. He has, barring chicanery, been thrown off the US Men's National Team for at least three months. According to the Seattle Times:
"As broken down in detail by the good folks over at American Soccer Now, in ripping up Radford’s notebook, Dempsey might have triggered an automatic three-month suspension. The relevant section of the U.S. Soccer policy manual is as follows: “1) The person committing the referee assault must be suspended as follows: (a) for a minor or slight touching of the referee or the referee’s uniform or personal property, at least 3 months from the time of the assault.”"
And I'm not even sure we're talking "minor" here. The match should've immediately been abandoned for Dempsey's action alone (and the fact that it was Portland's third red card of the match should've been taken into consideration), and Portland won 3-1 after an injury brought Seattle to the minimum of seven players.
If the action is not determined to be "minor", the bidding starts at SIX MONTHS and Dempsey is out for the first several games the USA has to play in the 2018 World Cup CONCACAF qualifiers, which their phases begin in November.
The only reason Dempsey might be allowed to play soccer at all for a minimum of this summer is the fact that Major League Soccer usually does NOT follow punishments given by US Soccer for actions during the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
That said, this is about as flagrant of an action as it gets. When I first read this, I was hearing three months, but this isn't minor.
Here would be where I would start:
When I did two previous soccer match out-of-control articles on this blog within the last few weeks, I never envisioned I'd be doing one about clubs in the United States.
Forget one of them being the Seattle Sounders.
Forget that the main party involved is no less than (before Tuesday) the team captain of the US Men's National Team, within a month of playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Now, Clint Dempsey stands to be banned from the US Soccer scene (and I specifically say that because of circumstances I will state later) for at least three months.
Clint Dempsey, the captain of the Seattle Sounders and the normal captain of the US Men's National Team (he did not accompany the US team in two upset wins against two high-profile European sides on the road), assaulted a referee last night and got sent off.
Dempsey ripped the book out of the referee's hand and ripped it up after this call in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match in which the Sounders were paired with their arch-rivals, the Portland Timbers.
After a red card (Seattle's second of the match) in the second portion of extra time for an elbow, another Sounders player appears to see yellow for dissent, while Dempsey rips the book out of the hands of the ref and rips it to pieces.
After being sent off, he needs to be physically restrained.
When are these referees going to be given the backbone to actually call off matches when players go mental like this? This isn't even a country in which the referee's life is in danger for such a situation in pro soccer? (One of the few which isn't!)
But, to Dempsey: He's going to have a very interesting summer. He has, barring chicanery, been thrown off the US Men's National Team for at least three months. According to the Seattle Times:
"As broken down in detail by the good folks over at American Soccer Now, in ripping up Radford’s notebook, Dempsey might have triggered an automatic three-month suspension. The relevant section of the U.S. Soccer policy manual is as follows: “1) The person committing the referee assault must be suspended as follows: (a) for a minor or slight touching of the referee or the referee’s uniform or personal property, at least 3 months from the time of the assault.”"
And I'm not even sure we're talking "minor" here. The match should've immediately been abandoned for Dempsey's action alone (and the fact that it was Portland's third red card of the match should've been taken into consideration), and Portland won 3-1 after an injury brought Seattle to the minimum of seven players.
If the action is not determined to be "minor", the bidding starts at SIX MONTHS and Dempsey is out for the first several games the USA has to play in the 2018 World Cup CONCACAF qualifiers, which their phases begin in November.
The only reason Dempsey might be allowed to play soccer at all for a minimum of this summer is the fact that Major League Soccer usually does NOT follow punishments given by US Soccer for actions during the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
That said, this is about as flagrant of an action as it gets. When I first read this, I was hearing three months, but this isn't minor.
Here would be where I would start:
- Dempsey is banned from ALL SOCCER worldwide until the end of the calendar year, when US Soccer will re-evaluate whether Dempsey can return. (Effectively, a "life ban", sorta.)
- Dempsey is banned from any captaincy of the Sounders for 12 additional months upon reinstatement.
- Dempsey is banned from the US Men's National Team for a minimum of one year.
- Dempsey is permanently banned from ever being the USMNT's captain again.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Gee, you think THIS is why St. Louis has been one of the best for all these years...
Ladies and gentlemen, we probably have, at the least, another Spygate.
The FBI, today, may just have exposed the St. LouisAssholes Cardinals as American pro sports' next big cheaters.
The FBI reports that the Cardinals are being investigated for hacking into files owned by the Houston Astros.
The Cardinals, in a continuing investigation, are being examined for hacking into player files and e-mail files with confidential communications between members of the Astro organization.
The hacks appear to have been found out in 2013, and some of the files hacked apparently made it onto the Internet at one point -- though anyone who knows their salt about the Cardinals has to question whether this was simply a diversionary tactic.
ARE WE FUCKING READY YET TO THROW TEAMS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS FOR THIS KIND OF SHIT??
Or are we going to let this "Win At All Costs" mentality get to the point of what the New York Times calls, in the article, open corporate espionage?
I mean, if we are going to get to the point that teams basically are allowed to do whatever (cheating) it takes to win championships and then, at maximum, forfeit a draft pick and a six-/seven-figure fine for the cheating, where's the motivation not to do this?
What would you give up for a championship?
Sounds like, if you're the St. Louis Cardinals, "all decency" is part of that answer...
The FBI, today, may just have exposed the St. Louis
The FBI reports that the Cardinals are being investigated for hacking into files owned by the Houston Astros.
The Cardinals, in a continuing investigation, are being examined for hacking into player files and e-mail files with confidential communications between members of the Astro organization.
The hacks appear to have been found out in 2013, and some of the files hacked apparently made it onto the Internet at one point -- though anyone who knows their salt about the Cardinals has to question whether this was simply a diversionary tactic.
ARE WE FUCKING READY YET TO THROW TEAMS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS FOR THIS KIND OF SHIT??
Or are we going to let this "Win At All Costs" mentality get to the point of what the New York Times calls, in the article, open corporate espionage?
I mean, if we are going to get to the point that teams basically are allowed to do whatever (cheating) it takes to win championships and then, at maximum, forfeit a draft pick and a six-/seven-figure fine for the cheating, where's the motivation not to do this?
What would you give up for a championship?
Sounds like, if you're the St. Louis Cardinals, "all decency" is part of that answer...
Outside the Lines states Football is Life in Florida. Translation: Water is Wet.
Didn't get around to this when it hit the headlines last week.
Outside the Lines, which I'm shocked ESPN allows to exist with reports like this, had a report last week about a study made about complaints against the football teams and basketball teams at 10 colleges and universities, including Florida State University and the University of Florida.
(Here's the Deadspin article on it -- it's gotten significant play elsewhere in the media as well.)
None of this should be any real surprise:
The link to the actual report is on the Deadspin article, but nothing appears to be anything anyone does not know:
Outside the Lines, which I'm shocked ESPN allows to exist with reports like this, had a report last week about a study made about complaints against the football teams and basketball teams at 10 colleges and universities, including Florida State University and the University of Florida.
(Here's the Deadspin article on it -- it's gotten significant play elsewhere in the media as well.)
None of this should be any real surprise:
- Fake internal "investigations"...
- Preferential police treatment
- Intimidation
The link to the actual report is on the Deadspin article, but nothing appears to be anything anyone does not know:
- Many of these schools would not functionally exist without their major revenue-producing sports programs...
- So the criminality of players, necessary for the current types of "men" playing these games, is covered up.
- If ever exposed and handled in concert with how the rest of us would be getting, there would be real questions about sports in general and their future at these schools specifically...
- ... and we can't have that... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
Monday, June 15, 2015
I think the only real question left is if we ever find out the truth...
Michael Sam was suspended today by the Montreal Alouettes, and I have a feeling I know why he left.
The only real question now is whether we ever find out the truth, or will he be silenced (one way or the other) before telling it?
The only real question now is whether we ever find out the truth, or will he be silenced (one way or the other) before telling it?
Sunday, June 14, 2015
FIFA '15: Our first live one with the women??
We knew we couldn't go through the Women's World Cup without a real corker, and, even with Sepp Blatter embattled (with a Daily Mail report today saying he is actually reconsidering stepping down), it turns out the officiating finally took center stage in what might've been the biggest upset in the history of the Women's World Cup.
Colombia was leading France by one goal when, in the second half, Colombia commits a blatant handball in the box, gets away with it, and a late goal gets them the 2-0 win.
So who did Colombia vote for in the FIFA election?
US screwjob coming...
Colombia was leading France by one goal when, in the second half, Colombia commits a blatant handball in the box, gets away with it, and a late goal gets them the 2-0 win.
So who did Colombia vote for in the FIFA election?
US screwjob coming...
Friday, June 12, 2015
How many more times is Stephen A. Smith going to open his mouth...
until one of two things happens:
Either that bigot is put out of ESPN
or
ESPN finally admits it's a men's programming network, in the style of the Damon Bruce rant from, what, 18 months ago now?
Stephen A. Smith is at it again. This time, it's women he's railing against...
Women's World Cup came up, and Smith had THIS to say on a pretty good top-shelf free-kick goal by Norway to draw Germany 1-1:
"They might not have wanted to mess their hair up."
Oh, REALLY, Stephen A.... REALLY....
Either that bigot is put out of ESPN
or
ESPN finally admits it's a men's programming network, in the style of the Damon Bruce rant from, what, 18 months ago now?
Stephen A. Smith is at it again. This time, it's women he's railing against...
Women's World Cup came up, and Smith had THIS to say on a pretty good top-shelf free-kick goal by Norway to draw Germany 1-1:
"They might not have wanted to mess their hair up."
Oh, REALLY, Stephen A.... REALLY....
This better not be what I think it is...
Michael Sam has left the Toronto Argonauts camp a day before the first pre-season game -- personal reasons.
Anybody who does not believe that there's a real chance the NFL Homophobia has not been transplanted to Canada may want to watch this story...
Anybody who does not believe that there's a real chance the NFL Homophobia has not been transplanted to Canada may want to watch this story...
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
This Week In Sports: Another NFL God Needs To Start Talking, Another Commentator Needs To Shut Up
Two stories at opposite ends of the spectrum here...
First, now-former New England Patriot Brandon Spikes adds his name to the growing list of "men" whose only place left in society is behind bars.
Details of the story are sketchy, but they surround two accident reports on the same highway. Spikes reported striking a deer somewhere on I-495 in Massachusetts. The car was found abandoned -- with front-end damage -- on the Interstate Sunday morning.
That, of course, has it's own set of questions, but they became much larger after another accident report came in just up the road. This report said that they were rear-ended by an unknown party who drove off.
Well, Spikes, at that point, shut up. And, at that point, the New England Patriots promptly parted ways with him, adding his name to a growing list of players (which I should try, once again, to see if I can form an entire roster -- maybe two??? -- of such players)...
So he should definitely start talking -- if, to no one else, a lawyer...
And someone else needs to be talking about how this guy got home Sunday night if he just left his car on I-495!
---
This is in marked contrast to Bob Costas, who, for reasons he may or may not understand, needs to shut up about the ESPY Award for Caitlyn Jenner.
Costas, on "The Dan Patrick Show", stated that he felt that Caitlyn's Arthyr Ashe Award for Courage could well have gone to someone more connected to sports (hello Mr. Costas... She was the 1976 Decathlon winner at the Olympics!!!) and that it was a Kardashian-level publicity ploy on ESPN's part as well.
Bob, shut up. For two reasons.
The short answer as to the reasons is that you either out yourself as a transphobe (which would not be surprising, especially given that you were allowed into Sochi for the Homophobe-lympics, even with your strong political stands) or you have given the Bible-thumping assclowns in this country who are preparing to (QUITE LITERALLY!!) open fire on Caitlyn and other transsexuals (much less the Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals as well!).
I've heard a lot of jackasses question the courage of Caitlyn Jenner.
You do realize that, especially given her fame and the fact that she was the prototypical World's Greatest ("Male") Athlete in 1976, propelling Jenner to all types of fame, that she now becomes Public Enemy #1 of the Manhood and Homo- and Transphobia of America...
She living in California makes her a public target if this shithead in Huntington Beach has his way and declares open hunting season on LGBT's in the state (whether or not his "Sodomite Suppression Act" bullshit/death threats actually make the ballot or not!!!) if the courts allow said to even gather signatures later this year.
Even if you are completely correct about Kardashian-level publicity stunts and all such, you still give these feral animals (who should basically either be forced to grant equal rights to LGBT's or run for their very lives at literal gunpoint themselves!) fresh meat, and you expose yourself as a possible transphobe.
Bob, shut up.
First, now-former New England Patriot Brandon Spikes adds his name to the growing list of "men" whose only place left in society is behind bars.
Details of the story are sketchy, but they surround two accident reports on the same highway. Spikes reported striking a deer somewhere on I-495 in Massachusetts. The car was found abandoned -- with front-end damage -- on the Interstate Sunday morning.
That, of course, has it's own set of questions, but they became much larger after another accident report came in just up the road. This report said that they were rear-ended by an unknown party who drove off.
Well, Spikes, at that point, shut up. And, at that point, the New England Patriots promptly parted ways with him, adding his name to a growing list of players (which I should try, once again, to see if I can form an entire roster -- maybe two??? -- of such players)...
So he should definitely start talking -- if, to no one else, a lawyer...
And someone else needs to be talking about how this guy got home Sunday night if he just left his car on I-495!
---
This is in marked contrast to Bob Costas, who, for reasons he may or may not understand, needs to shut up about the ESPY Award for Caitlyn Jenner.
Costas, on "The Dan Patrick Show", stated that he felt that Caitlyn's Arthyr Ashe Award for Courage could well have gone to someone more connected to sports (hello Mr. Costas... She was the 1976 Decathlon winner at the Olympics!!!) and that it was a Kardashian-level publicity ploy on ESPN's part as well.
Bob, shut up. For two reasons.
The short answer as to the reasons is that you either out yourself as a transphobe (which would not be surprising, especially given that you were allowed into Sochi for the Homophobe-lympics, even with your strong political stands) or you have given the Bible-thumping assclowns in this country who are preparing to (QUITE LITERALLY!!) open fire on Caitlyn and other transsexuals (much less the Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals as well!).
I've heard a lot of jackasses question the courage of Caitlyn Jenner.
You do realize that, especially given her fame and the fact that she was the prototypical World's Greatest ("Male") Athlete in 1976, propelling Jenner to all types of fame, that she now becomes Public Enemy #1 of the Manhood and Homo- and Transphobia of America...
She living in California makes her a public target if this shithead in Huntington Beach has his way and declares open hunting season on LGBT's in the state (whether or not his "Sodomite Suppression Act" bullshit/death threats actually make the ballot or not!!!) if the courts allow said to even gather signatures later this year.
Even if you are completely correct about Kardashian-level publicity stunts and all such, you still give these feral animals (who should basically either be forced to grant equal rights to LGBT's or run for their very lives at literal gunpoint themselves!) fresh meat, and you expose yourself as a possible transphobe.
Bob, shut up.
Monday, June 8, 2015
FIFA '15: The Truth Coming Out In Waves
I am becoming more and more certain with each passing moment that there will not be a single world soccer governing body by the end of this year.
The corruption is just so deep in all of this that it is clear that what I call the "Chess Solution" -- a breakaway body leading to two sanctioning and governing bodies -- is probably going to be the result.
The latest two rounds of this came over the weekend and this morning about the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
First one comes from Deadspin, and basically finishes off any belief Sepp Blatter wasn't involved directly in it.
From the paywalled South Africa Sunday Times comes basically the "water is wet" moment that e-mails showed Sepp Blatter was one of the central figures in a $10,000,000 bribe payment to ensure that South Africa would win the vote to host the 2010 World Cup, the money going to three accounts tied to disgraced FIFA VP Jack Warner...
... except, now, this morning, we're getting word that at least one source is indicating South Africa didn't win the vote at all!!!
The Sunday Times of London reported to ESPN this morning that, according to people who talked with everybody involved in the vote for the 2010 site, Morocco actually won the vote by two votes over South Africa!!!
The corruption is just so deep in all of this that it is clear that what I call the "Chess Solution" -- a breakaway body leading to two sanctioning and governing bodies -- is probably going to be the result.
The latest two rounds of this came over the weekend and this morning about the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
First one comes from Deadspin, and basically finishes off any belief Sepp Blatter wasn't involved directly in it.
From the paywalled South Africa Sunday Times comes basically the "water is wet" moment that e-mails showed Sepp Blatter was one of the central figures in a $10,000,000 bribe payment to ensure that South Africa would win the vote to host the 2010 World Cup, the money going to three accounts tied to disgraced FIFA VP Jack Warner...
... except, now, this morning, we're getting word that at least one source is indicating South Africa didn't win the vote at all!!!
The Sunday Times of London reported to ESPN this morning that, according to people who talked with everybody involved in the vote for the 2010 site, Morocco actually won the vote by two votes over South Africa!!!
FIFA '15: Propaganda Piece Bombs
FIFA unveiled what, at best, can be called a propaganda piece at the ill-fated Congress a couple weeks back.
A film, called "United Passions", opened this weekend to a limited release, including 10 US theaters...
... in which the movie grossed on Friday and Saturday...
SIX HUNDRED AND SEVEN DOLLARS.
This means approximately 60 people watched the movie.
A film, called "United Passions", opened this weekend to a limited release, including 10 US theaters...
... in which the movie grossed on Friday and Saturday...
SIX HUNDRED AND SEVEN DOLLARS.
This means approximately 60 people watched the movie.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
FIFA '15: The Plot Thickens, And An Important Answer To A Common Question
We're now about a week in to the FIFA scandals, and we've picked up some more information:
But this does bring up a very interesting question I've heard a number of times:
Why did it take the United States to get this all done?
The answer is simple, and most pundits have figured it out (and, as I told Brian the day Blatter got re-elected, is also the reason you will never see true investigation of Selig and the NFL):
Soccer is life in many parts of the world.
Sans about three weeks of delusional flag-waving (and the occasional qualifier or Gold Cup), the United States doesn't give a damn about soccer.
That's why.
For many countries, an intra-city "derby" match (a match between two clubs in the same city) can be the cause for riot and effective war.
Imagine (and, as I've said here a few times) if a match between the New York Giants and Jets were even remotely like this. The fights you see in the stands would be on the streets (and, sometimes, not just on the day of the match!) and probably would get many killed in America's violence-crazed gun-filled culture.
But it just isn't that way here -- soccer is seen as a sport for girls (and not even in support of the US Women's National Team, who begins their World Cup in Canada this weekend) who aren't MAN ENOUGH to play a real sport, like maiming your brain in "real" football...
- We now have confirmation that both the United States and Switzerland have launched investigations into the bidding processes of both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
- Chuck Blazer, admitted felon in these scandals, has now admitted taking a bribe to aid France in it's (successful) bid for the 1998 World Cup.
But this does bring up a very interesting question I've heard a number of times:
Why did it take the United States to get this all done?
The answer is simple, and most pundits have figured it out (and, as I told Brian the day Blatter got re-elected, is also the reason you will never see true investigation of Selig and the NFL):
Soccer is life in many parts of the world.
Sans about three weeks of delusional flag-waving (and the occasional qualifier or Gold Cup), the United States doesn't give a damn about soccer.
That's why.
For many countries, an intra-city "derby" match (a match between two clubs in the same city) can be the cause for riot and effective war.
Imagine (and, as I've said here a few times) if a match between the New York Giants and Jets were even remotely like this. The fights you see in the stands would be on the streets (and, sometimes, not just on the day of the match!) and probably would get many killed in America's violence-crazed gun-filled culture.
But it just isn't that way here -- soccer is seen as a sport for girls (and not even in support of the US Women's National Team, who begins their World Cup in Canada this weekend) who aren't MAN ENOUGH to play a real sport, like maiming your brain in "real" football...
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
FIFA '15: And Now, The Bad News....
Sepp Blatter will remain as FIFA President until a replacement is named...
... between December 2015 and March 2016.
This gives Blatter between six and nine months to try to craft a successor more friendly to the match-fixing nations and make his overtures about massive FIFA reform into the farces his three decades as FIFA President were.
The real question, now, is whether Blatter will be able to serve out his term, or will he be arrested before the next FIFA Congress.
A snap election (one right now) might have been the better alternative. The story continues...
... between December 2015 and March 2016.
This gives Blatter between six and nine months to try to craft a successor more friendly to the match-fixing nations and make his overtures about massive FIFA reform into the farces his three decades as FIFA President were.
The real question, now, is whether Blatter will be able to serve out his term, or will he be arrested before the next FIFA Congress.
A snap election (one right now) might have been the better alternative. The story continues...
FIFA '15: BLATTER FALLS!!
Just came across the wire in the last 2 hours.
Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA President today and stated a massive overhaul of FIFA was needed.
And I think I know exactly how the decision was made, based on other reports on the situation:
Reports are coming out that the FBI, in fact, IS investigating Blatter and that something appeared to be imminent.
Early word is that the favorite to succeed him is not the challenger in last Friday's farce election, but the head of UEFA, Michel Platini, who was about to organize a European World Cup boycott (which was probably the other probable outcome which could've felled Blatter, but honestly I do wonder if a "Blatter World Cup", as some soccer fans called it, would've gone forward in Russia anyway in 2018).
Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA President today and stated a massive overhaul of FIFA was needed.
And I think I know exactly how the decision was made, based on other reports on the situation:
Reports are coming out that the FBI, in fact, IS investigating Blatter and that something appeared to be imminent.
Early word is that the favorite to succeed him is not the challenger in last Friday's farce election, but the head of UEFA, Michel Platini, who was about to organize a European World Cup boycott (which was probably the other probable outcome which could've felled Blatter, but honestly I do wonder if a "Blatter World Cup", as some soccer fans called it, would've gone forward in Russia anyway in 2018).
Monday, June 1, 2015
I Guess I Can No Longer Claim To Be Right On This One
On this blog, when the NCAA began the process to allow the Big 5 Conferences autonomy, I said that, within one calendar year, a non-Big 5 school would be forced to drop football.
And, for about the last six months, I was right, the University of Alabama at Birmingham was going to drop football.
Note the tense.
To what probably is no one's surprise (and probably at the great expense of actual education at the low-level football factory), UAB has reversed course and will resume it's football program.
This is not only Football Over Life again, but also a reality of Conference USA, who does allow any team within the conference not to have football.
I'll let the jokes write themselves. *vomit*
And, for about the last six months, I was right, the University of Alabama at Birmingham was going to drop football.
Note the tense.
To what probably is no one's surprise (and probably at the great expense of actual education at the low-level football factory), UAB has reversed course and will resume it's football program.
This is not only Football Over Life again, but also a reality of Conference USA, who does allow any team within the conference not to have football.
I'll let the jokes write themselves. *vomit*
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