Fan Favorites

Every Friday I’ll post links to things I found interesting. It’s a new idea I call a “Link Dump.” Guaranteed you’ll find thousands of blogs start to do the same thing in the coming weeks and months. Just remember where you saw this idea first.

Brian Billick: Former Ravens Coach Tackles NFL Economics By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Wall Stree Journal - Current Fox football analyst, Brian Billick, does an interview with the WSJ about the blah, blah, blah… But seriously, how pumped are you for football season? Thank God the media circus called, “The Trade Deadline” is over. Training Camp is in session and it’s time for some touchdowns, fumbles and “Jacked Up!” segments!

What Are Practice Jerseys Really Worth? By Darren Rovell, CNBC – I love the idea of teams selling their practice jerseys for advertising revenue. I think it’s a great idea. But teams of the four majors, I implore you, please don’t sell game jerseys. Please?

Baseball’s magic number: 100 By Tim Kurkjian – From the guy that has brought you some of my least favorite segments on ESPN comes an article about something Red Sox fans knew back in 2002. Way to write a timely piece.

The Revolutionary By Howard Bryant, ESPN - To many, the jury is still out on Billy Beane. Is he a good or bad baseball general manager? Whatever your opinion of him it is impossible to deny the lasting impact he (Michael Lewis?) has had on baseball.

Dear Offense: Do Better! Love, Ron By Ron Bower, Bleacher Creature Roto Talk – SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT! So last week I started writing a diary of my fantasy sport adventures. The Creature Feature is a weekly series and published about Tuesday of every week. READ IT!

Fan Favorites

Every Friday I’ll post links to things I found interesting. It’s a new idea I call a “Link Dump.” Guaranteed you’ll find thousands of blogs start to do the same thing in the coming weeks and months. Just remember where you saw this idea first.

LeBron’s attempt to hide college kid’s dunk disturbingly revealing By Phil Taylor, SI.com – Listen, we’ve all seen the videos by now and we’re all disappointed in them. They were nothing. However, it is alarming that the athlete whom best transcends the four major American sports would act like this. I like LeBron and it would be unfortunate if he became the next fallen star. On a side link: the Associated Press has reported that Nike will return the tapes to their original owners. Nike said “It was never about the play or the player, it was about our media policy.” It’s interesting to note that those who filmed the dunk never intended to get that on tape either and clearly have more footage than just those few seconds of inglorious dunkage. So if it wasn’t about the play or player, why return the tapes and go against your media policy?

Why the Premier League can’t keep up By Chris Lesley, Sports Agent Blog – Really interesting piece. It was interesting to see that Russia had the lowest tax rate of the mentioned countries second only to the UAE. Russia used to be communist right?

The 10 best sporting events to see live By Rick Reilly, ESPN – OK let’s make one thing clear: If I ever see the Iditarod live I’ve had a nervous breakdown and moved to Alaska where I also hope to watch Russell Crowe captain a team of pond hockey players that improbably face-off against the NHL’s New York Rangers.

‘Is Tim Tebow a Virgin?’ and Other Burning Questions for SEC Media Days By Clay Travis, FanHouse – I have wondered multiple times if the Gators quarterback remains abstinent. He is renowned to be one of the most God-Fearing male athletes of our time so it wouldn’t be a stretch if he is a virgin. Could he really have the discipline to turn down the many girls that approach him? And if so, who’s to say he doesn’t have the discipline to be a good NFL quarterback? Oh, this article also talks about SEC football by the way.

Fan Favorites

Every Friday I’ll post links to things I found interesting. It’s a new idea I call a “Link Dump.” Guaranteed you’ll find thousands of blogs start to do the same thing in the coming weeks and months. Just remember where you saw this idea first.

Baseball Research Veers Into Left Field By Austin Kelley, Wall Street Journal – By now most die hard sports fans know that there a strong statistical undercurrent in the world of sports scouting and that, for the most part, it started with baseball. This article talks about other kinds of sabermetric studies that I’m sure Malcolm Gladwell love.

Everyone Is Now The Sports Media By Howard K. Brodwin, MediaPost – What’s the opposite of stupid? Smart? Brodwin writes a very intelligent piece on the new sports media.

Twitter’s Internal Strategy Laid Bare: To Be “The Pulse of the Planet” By Erick Schonfeld, TechCrunch – So a hacker broke into a Twitter executive’s emails and data and sent this information to TechCrunch. The information was Twitter’s long-term plans and goals. TC claims that they selectively published these so to not hurt Twitter.

Fan Favorites

Every Friday I’ll post links to things I found interesting. It’s a new idea I call a “Link Dump.” Guaranteed you’ll find thousands of blogs start to do the same thing in the coming weeks and months. Just remember where you saw this idea first.

Gary: Landlord of the Flies By Stranger Than Eviction – This has nothing to do with sports but it’s just too hilarious to ignore. If you really want to get the whole feel for it make sure to start with the overview and work your way forward.

Keeping you posted By Shira Springer, Boston Globe – A well-written, informative feature on social media in sports.

Let’s celebrate ‘The Summer of Mailbag’ By Bill Simmons, ESPN.com – If you’re reading my blog chances are you’re already familiar with some Simmons stuff. It’s still a must read for me every time he puts one out, probably because it’s the only thing he writes anymore.

How I’d fix the economy By Rick Reilly, ESPN.com – I like it. I’d add that employees could be traded like when George Costanza from Seinfeld gets traded by the Yankees to Tyler Chicken for concessions items. Imagine having a no-trade clause in an employee contract? More importantly, though, would be entrance music for each employee every time they entered the conference room for an office meeting. I’d go with Hells Bells by AC/DC.

Top 10: Worst Sports Logos By Malcolm MacMillan, AskMen.com – My vote by league:

• NHL: Vancouver Canucks – I picture a discussion about the logo with a Canuck executive going something like this: “What is that in the logo anyway?” “It’s a killer whale.” “Ooohh, so it has nothing to do with what a Canuck is suppose to look like?” “No.” “A Canuck is slang for Canadian, right?” “Yes.” “So aren’t you guys just copying the Montreal Canadiens?” “….” In all honesty the Canucks have never had a good logo.
• MLB: Washington Nationals – This team name is one step above calling your team the “Americans or the Fourth of Julyers.” If you have a dumb team name you might as well have a dumb logo too, right? Their earlier logo also left something to desire.
• NFL: Cleveland Browns – Yes Drew Carey, I’m sure Cleveland rocks, but your logo is an orange helmet and your team name is the Browns. Even a kindergartener knows something is wrong here. And what was with all those other logos? I think you guys would just be better off moving to Baltimore and calling yourselves the Ravens. PS – There’s no way I’m posting something about Cleveland without posting one of my career favorite videos. Maybe this helps explain why they can’t even get color association right.
• NBA: Washington Wizards – I like to call this one “Merlin on Acid.” Let’s look at the evidence: The crescent moon has basketball seems. Have you ever looked at the moon and been like “I wonder if I could palm that?” Second, the guy couldn’t decide what to wear so he put on blue pajamas and threw on a tuxedo jacket over it, then he cut off the jacket sleeves for some sort of vest affect. Closer examination reveals his beard and jacket combo make a “W”. Next, he flexes his body into the reverse Shawn Michaels. Finally, while spinning a basketball on his left hand he points at it with his right hand and clicks his fingers, that’s the only way to explain the spark. Know what else? There were no Bullets in their logo when they were the Washington Bullets. What’s up wit dat?

Fan Favorites

Every Friday I’ll post links to things I found interesting. It’s a new idea I call a “Link Dump.” Guaranteed you’ll find thousands of blogs start to do the same thing in the coming weeks and months. Just remember where you saw this idea first.

Brock Lesnar: “I Like to Punish People” By Nate Penn, Maxim – A grand piece on the life and times of a former wrestler, former WWE champ, former Minnesota Viking, and current UFC-Meathead extraordinaire, Brock Lesnar.

Talkin’ about the age-33 falloff phenomenon, with Bill James By Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated – Why no one should be surprised with some big name, early struggles, this baseball season.

How to Persuade a Fantasy Jury By Nando Di Fino, Wall Street Journal – Good, now if only I could get the idiots in my league to make a trade with me.

Free vs Freely Distributed By Mark Cuban, Blog Maverick – Insightful? Yes. Would he wager his fortune on what he preaches? Probably not.