The world we live in has been crazy lately. Bieber may be a father. I haven't kept it a secret on how I feel about that. Michael Jackson's doctor was convicted of killing the guy. I was on the doctor's side for a lot of this story and then I found out he was only Michael's doctor for two months. Then I was like, yeah he's probably guilty although it's not his fault for Michael being all drugged up in the first place. I will say this, there is reasonable doubt in this case, so he should have been acquitted. I don't know how people can send people to prison when there is reasonable doubt. It makes no sense to me. What if you are sending an innocent person to jail?
Anyway, the Penn State news is getting worse and worse. The whole cover up is pathetic and it is the worst story I can remember about anything related to sports, except for maybe the Olympics where hostages were taken, and you can still argue this is worse because of people knowing this went on and innocent children were overlooked to protect a pedifile. Joe Paterno's hands are dirty. Sixty years of work and an amazing career is going to be tarnished. These guys for covering it up are just as wrong as Sandusky. This is the lowest scum of the earth. It's hard to even hear the details. They are so disturbing. Everyone from the president on down is responsible and should be punished accordingly. I have no more respect for that University. They make Ohio State, USC, and Miami look like clean programs. It's so pathetic to prey on kids and then to cover it up and let it go on for over 10 years when it could've been taken care of in 1999? I can't believe it.
Now an awkward transition. We lost three awesome celebrities: Andy Rooney, Joe Frazier, and Heavy D. Deaths come in threes. Someone old (Rooney), someone sick (Joe Frazier, liver cancer), and someone sudden (Heavy D). All three were part of my life. I spoke of Smokin' Joe yesterday. Andy rants about random stuff like I do all the time in these blogs. He's kind of an inspiration. My favorite quote of his is this: "I try to look nice. I comb my hair, I tie my tie, I put on a jacket, but I draw the line when it comes to trimming my eyebrows. You work with what you got." Is this not true? Just play the cards you are dealt. Anyway, about Heavy D. I loved that guy. I loved his flow and his look and listening to his songs brings me back. It's a shame to see him gone.
Heavy D
Joe Frazier
Andy Rooney
Winner of the Day: Apparently there is a possibility that ancient civilizations from 5,000 years ago had fast food windows, which is awesome. They are unsure if that is a fact but if it is, I love it. Read it.
Loser of the Day: The 2000 Spanish paralympic team. Why? Read this from the amazing fact generator. It's like The Ringer in real life, only no Jimmy.
Perhaps one of the lowest moments in sports history was perpetrated by the members of the 2000 Spanish Paralympic basketball team. After the team snagged a gold medal, it was revealed that 10 of the 12 players had never been tested for disabilities and were, in fact, not handicapped.
Quote of the Day:
It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine. Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine. Hangin' pictures on my wall. Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl, I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped.-Notorious B.I.G.
(I'm sure Heavy D and Biggie are talking about this now up in Thugz Mansion)
Song of the Day: Now that we Found Love by Heavy D and the Boyz Ft. Aaron Hill
So there are people standing downtown looking ridiculous as walking billboards, so that must mean only one thing: it is election day. I encourage you all to vote. Ever since I was 18 I have voted in every election I possibly could, presidential or not. If you don't vote that's okay, but I better never hear you complain about politics. You could have made a difference but you didn't go so you have to live with the results. Plus I don't like talking politics anyway so that's something I'm cool with. If you are in Ohio, voting is more important for you terrible drivers. You have to vote on that ridiculous street car thing or whatever and Issue 2 which we all know my stance on that from a previous blog. Look back in the archives if you want to see.
Smokin' Joe Frazier passed away from liver cancer last night. ESPN's story.
He will forever be known as the rival of one Muhammed Ali. Remember the, "Down goes Frazier" call? Yeah that's about this guy. Joe was one bad man. He is a legend in his own right and without Frazier Ali wouldn't be the legend he became. Larry Bird had Magic Johnson. Tom Brady has Peyton Manning (except for right now with that neck issue that may be career threatening). Ali had Frazier. Rivalries are what makes sports worth watching. I'm a Kentucky fan. Imagine if Louisville didn't have a team. Kind of boring huh? And what about the Bengals this week playing the Steelers. Imagine if it was just another week. You can't. That's how Frazier was to Ali. I used to always play this game called Greatest Heavyweights on Sega Genesis. It had all the legends from Foreman to Joe Louis to Ali to Marciano. I would always pick Frazier. He had a mouth on him in that game and he'd always call his opponent a pansy and as a kid I thought it was like a bad word so it was the coolest thing ever. The way the announcer called out "SMMMMOOKIN' JOE FRAZZZIER" was really awesome too. I remember creating people on that game was really cool because you could make green or purple people and the training in that game required lots of discipline. They need a game like this on one of the newer systems. Anyway rest in peace big guy. There is a ring with golden ropes in Heaven and you have a head start on training because you know Ali will be there trash talking before you know it.
In honor of Joe, my top 5 favorite boxing movies of all time (This list excludes all Rocky movies).
5. Ali. Will Smith thought he was the real Ali in this film. Not the best movie ever made but it did have its moments and Joe Frazier is featured a couple of times so I had to add it to the list.
4. Raging Bull. Robert DeNiro was in it back before he was in all of those stupid comedies. It's a real life story which most boxing movies are and is filmed in black and white to give it an artistic feel.
3. The Fighter. This I had high expectations for but it didn't really live up to them. We've just seen this story way too many times: boxer has rough life, hits some hardships, goes from being an underdog to winning the whole thing. Christian Bale is awesome in it, so that alone makes it worth seeing.
2. Cinderella Man. Remember all the stuff that I just talked about in The Fighter, well that all happens to this guy during the great depression. Russell Crowe thinks he's awesome too so just put him in a cocky boxer role. It's hard to watch with the ugliest woman in Hollywood being in the film (Renee Zellweger).
1. Million Dollar Baby. This is one of my top 10 favorite movies. Period. Heads and shoulders above all of the other boxing movies. It's a heart breaker. It's a Clint Eastwood film. Morgan Freeman is in the darn thing. Just watch it and you'll love it. It is a Best Picture winner.
Winner of the Day: Cincinnati Police. In Walnut Hills they threw a block party to encourage people it was okay to come out after the gang busts they had. One of the alleged gang members showed up, however. Read More Here.
Loser of the Day: Jerry Sandusky and the entire Penn State athletic department. I mentioned this yesterday but it's so grotesque it needs to be said again. The dude used to be a coach on the football team. He left in 1999, came back to run a child program or whatever and it was found he was raping boys in the shower and Penn State covered it up. Wow. Can't get any lower than that. Here's an article a former player of his, LaVar Arrington wrote.
Quote of the Day: Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever. -Vince McKewin
Song of the Day: Free Fallin' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
It's hard to write a blog when there's nothing really to complain about. I could complain about 2 top officials at Penn State stepping down after covering up a child sex abuse scandal of a former defensive coordinator which is just sick and goes much deeper than sports. Read it here. I could complain about Ohio drivers and the fact that no one knows the difference between a hammer lane or a slow lane on this side of the river. I could complain about the Bengals sucking and how they need a GM. Wait a minute. I can't. Mike Brown actually had a great draft and made a great trade...Carson as a Raider--6 picks. I could complain about how Justin Bieber is supposed to be a "role model" but he's having sex back stage in a bathroom like he's Tommy Lee or something. Wait, Tommy Lee would even find a bathroom trashy. And did she sleep with Bieber while he had that butch lesbian haircut? If so, this chick is into...well...chicks. He apparently is ready to take the paternity test and then sue the chick who is accusing Bieber to be the father, but I don't think this is a bad thing for Biebs. It kind of gives him a little bit of "cred" to break into the adult R&B market. I guess Usher truly is his idol. I could just see Usher listening through the bathroom door as Bieber, screams, "Baby, baby, baby, OHHHHHH!" and as quickly as it began it was over like his career's about to be. The dude's voice changed so badly he can't even sing songs to promote that Christmas album he made. Today marks the 20th anniversary of Magic Johnson announcing he has H.I.V. I can complain about a lot, but I'm thankful for my health.
I believe that you should live your life the way you want to live it. I believe you should take chances. I believe when you get a chance, go out and see the world. I believe that there is good in every person even when others can't see it. I believe The 1992 Dream Team was the best basketball team ever assembled. I believe the designated hitter needs to stay in the American League though I can't stand it. I believe in baseball players wearing socks to their knees. I believe in second chances and you should try everything twice. I believe Morgan Freeman should voice my biography if I ever become famous. I believe in Heaven. I believe in being nice. I believe making people smile is why I was put on this planet.
Winner of the Day: Some worker at the Dent Drive Thru. Some dude came through his drive through and tried to rob him. He just closed some doors and fled the scene. He called the cops and the guy fled the scene. What a stupid criminal.
Loser of the Day: Apparently 48% of high school students. They are getting sexually harrassed. Read me.
Quote of the Day: I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.-Woody Allen
So if you really know me, you know my obsession with eye black. If there's an excuse to wear it I will. I'm a weekend warrior. I play in recreational volleyball leagues, backyard football, and alumni basketball. Shout out to the Blackout. Why am I bringing this up on relationship advice day? And welcome back to reading on Fridays. I bring it up because sports are games and it's all in good fun, but why must dating be about game playing you know? Well that, and I wanted an excuse to bring up eye black (Girls are very attractive wearing eye black as just an aside). Anyway, so you meet a girl at some place and you are supposed to wait, what, 2 days before you call her so you don't seem desperate? On the other end, the girl's sitting at home waiting for the dude to call but he's at home practicing First Call 101. The game playing begins. You then go on your first date or whatever and you have to act half interested and half not.
There are so many types of game playing. From taking a date your not interested in to a place where you know you'll run into someone you are interested in to make them jealous. And what about the lead on? I'm going to do this and this and this to show you I'm interested and then just not really be interested. What is the point? Why does this stuff exist? Why can't it just be simple? Hey I like you. Let's go on a date. I'll call you tomorrow and we can talk about it. If I like you, I will show you in some way and I promise not to lead you on. Wouldn't that make everything so much easier?
Instead, we have to go through these stupid games. I get that it tests the other person's wit and if they truly are interested and in it for the long haul or whatever, but what ever happened to honesty? I'd rather a person be straight up front with me from the start, you know. I'm sure you ladies feel the same way. I'm more attracted to those who wear their heart on their sleeve and let me know how they feel upfront. Yet we are all guilty of game playing. You almost do it without even knowing. It's just the world we live in. Thanks to Jill for the topic idea.
Top 5 Romantic Comedies
5. 50 First Dates-I'm going to label this is the last good movie Adam Sandler did. It's romantic that he wrote 'Forgetful Lucy' but also funny, and the plot of making her fall in love with him everyday is genius considering how hard it is to make a girl fall in love with you once.
4. Knocked Up-Yeah it's a 1 night stand that turns into a relationship. Makes it funny and appealing to both sexes. Seth Rogen is perfect casting and of course the movie has some rough patches and then ends with butterflies and rainbows like any chick flick.
3. What Women Want-Ummm Mel Gibson pre-crazy, except he dresses in drag in this. He has the power to hear what women are thinking. The guy first uses it to sleep with Marissa Tomei which I don't blame him, then he uses it to steal ideas at his work, which is awesome, then he grows a heart and falls for Helen Hunt. I hope he doesn't get stranded on an island or Helen would go off and marry someone else and lose hope you are alive like Tom Hanks had to deal with in Cast Away.
2. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days-This was my first date in my first super serious relationship so it probably shouldn't be this high but I'm biased. If I have a moment in a movie, it changes how much I like it no matter how bad it is. Just like with songs. Anyway this flick does have Matt McConohay in it. I know I butchered the spelling but he's a chick flick legend.
1. He's Just Not That Into You-Yes, it's almost like a bible for you lady readers. I've read the book (thank you April for convincing me to) and it really helps with how relationships work and whatnot but the movie is hilarious and that lead chick is a cutie. Ben Affleck's teeth are so white though it's hard to concentrate on the scenes he in because it feels like you are seeing the lights to the heavenly gates or something. Lay off the bleach dude, but I've always been a fan of movies like Crash where 5 or 6 stories are followed that link together somehow, except Valentine's Day which sucked beyond end. Highly recommended. Highest rated chick flick in my top 100 favorite movies of all time. Beaches is 2nd.
Winner of the Day: Alexis Clark. She's this 1 year old who apparently won most beautiful eyes. Who knew they vote for such a thing? Read About It.
Loser of the Day: Jennifer Harris. She burned someone's house to the ground because the chick defriended her on facebook. Come on now. That's a little extreme. See people, this is why I don't delete anyone. The Story
Quote of the Day: "Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Song of the Day: Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd
I write today with glazed eyes and glazed doughnuts. I'm tired because I went and enjoyed UK's first exhibition game of the season. Thanks to Mr. Chad Mangan for the free ticket. They looked terrible in the first half and ran away with it in the second. Kidd-Gilchrist was the best player on the court last night on a team that includes Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, and Anthony Davis. This blog isn't about that though although I want to spend some time talking about Tubby Smith haters. But first I must mention that glazed doughnuts are great but I hate getting my hands all messy eating them. I had to take a break from typing to actually eat the doughnuts. I was dipping them in my tea, and some say Heaven doesn't exist, but I think I just tasted a piece of Heaven eating that doughnut dipped in tea.
And I'm not the most religious person in the world but there has to be some higher power out there. I believe in science and I don't believe humans walked with dinosaurs like the Creation Museum apparently tells us. I believe in a higher power because what started everything? Okay, maybe there was a big bang, but how did it start? What created us too? I had a science professor once say that everything is a theory until proven right or wrong. He also said you can't prove there is a God but you can't prove there isn't either. I can't prove it by any means, but some things I just can't explain.
My sister Laura had tumors in her brain when she was 2. Doctors gave her less than a 1% chance to survive. She had to go into the doctor to get a CT scan to see if the tumors had spread. They let my parents take her home for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we attended St. Anthony for their famous Christmas pageant which years later I would go on to star in with my two sisters (foreshadowing that she lives). Anyway, after the mass Laura asked my mother if she could go talk to baby Jesus. It wasn't the real baby Jesus, of course, rather some doll wrapped in swaddling clothes made to look like him, but nonetheless my mom let her go talk to him. Laura went up to the doll and said, "Baby Jesus, can you make me all better?" Of course this brought tears to my mom's eyes. Laura looked up and said, "I'm all better now." My mother I'm sure hoped that was the case but she knew that the tumors would still be there. The CT scan happened the day after Christmas and the doctor came in to give my mom the results. "You're not going to believe this," he said, "The tumors are all gone. We can't find a single one." It turned out everything truly was gone, and Laura was able to live. So there you go. Explain it. You can't.
Anyway, to Tubby Smith. Tubby should be considered one of the good coaches in UK history. He won one of 7 National Championships. You all say it was done with Pitino's team, and maybe Rick recruited that team, but he didn't stick around to coach them. It takes a lot of balls to take over a team where the fans loved their coach and made it to back to back championships. I admire Tubby for it. The 1998 team was the least talented team of the 1996, 1997, and 1998 teams too. Tubby had to do it with less talent, and he beat Duke after being down 15. If that's not coaching I don't know what is. He went on to recruit some of my favorite players: Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Cliff Hawkins, Chuck Hayes, Erik Daniels, Rajon Rondo, Joe Crawford, Jodee Meeks, Randolph Morris, Ramel Bradley, and I could go on and on. He played a slow style which isn't always the most exciting and better fit for Big 10 basketball but he made it work and I am grateful for his tenure with Kentucky basketball.
Now to Ochocinco. There are a lot of people who dislike him too for being out there. He says things he shouldn't say and he did stupid things on the field. I must say without him the Bengals may still be terrible. He made it fun to be a Bengal. They were terrible when they drafted him back in 2002. He brought fun back to the locker room where everyone just planned on losing 14 games a year. He got a little crazy at the end, but he should be considered one of the top 20 Bengals of all time.
Winner of the Day: Watermelon. A study from UK says that Watermelon is good for your heart and weight. I hope this includes watermelon flavored Air Heads because I've been tearing those up lately. The Whole Read.
Loser of the Day: Justin Bieber. This chick, according to star magazine, who is 20 years old claims to have had sex backstage with Justin and wants support for her son. The woman seeks a paternity test. I hope this is true. It would be hilarious. What the hell does Selena Gomez think of this? Read the story which asks if Maury Povich is available.
Quote of the Day: "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."-Oprah Winfrey
Song of the Day: You by Lucy Pearl ft. Q-Tip and Snoop Dogg
Tattoo of the Day: Isn't that the brain from TMNT?
So today is the second day of November and I notice more and more guys each year attempt to participate in No Shave November. I noticed on a popular social network yesterday, that some women were participating. I must say this is not a wise choice. I've been pricked with the stub of women's leg hairs in the past and I was disgusted by that. I'm not shallow or anything but I think women need to keep those legs as smooth as a baby's bottom. Please ladies, do not participate in NO SHAVE NOVEMBER. As I write this, I have been informed by my good friend April that you can help out a good cause while growing out your facial hair. You can help raise awareness and money for Prostate Cancer. The ladies had their breast cancer month last month and a lot respond, but men are different. They don't like talking about that stuff. They need to be made aware of the problem and what better way than to grow wonderful facial hair out! Here's the story.
I have to talk about the Bengals for a minute because people are starting to make me mad. Bare with me ladies. The Bengals are 5-2. They may or may not make the playoffs and their schedule is easy. But it doesn't matter. Need I remind you that they were predicted to win only 3 games all year? They surpassed that already. Half the opponents they played went into the game thinking they were going to beat the Orange and Black. The national media isn't sold on them yet, but they are crowning the Steelers which makes no sense. They play all of the same teams except for two. And last year the Bengals had one of the hardest schedules. The Bengals may not make it to the playoffs, but if they do, Bengal haters please don't blame it on the schedule... it's not fair. You can only play who's on the schedule.
On a side note Carson Palmer got the Raiders to sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It reminds me of last year when he kind of forced the Bengals to sign T.O. I am glad he's gone because he sucks at GM as much as he sucks at QB.
Here's a ridiculous story... a pregnant woman was with her child and husband at a Hawaii Safeway, which is like the Krogers of the West. She ate a sandwich while shopping and forgot to pay for it. She bought the other $50 worth of groceries. It was an honest mistake yet the store chain had she and her husband arrested and her child put in protective services. The lesson is wait to eat. I mean when your hungry and shop for food it's not good anyway. Read Me.
In more local news a steroid ring was busted... No word yet on whether Albert Pujols was there. The Story. Here's the dude who apparently sold steroids to a bunch of high schoolers.
This has nothing to do about any of that stuff but I've always thought it would be cool if for one day, I'd live my life as a musical. I'd hire like someone to play music at random moments of the day and I'd start singing out of the blue about something that's going on. I'd have to hire dancers dressed as common city folk to and they'd just join me in a choreographed dance. That would be cool. I've tried a day once where I tried singing everything instead of talking but that didn't work too well.
Top 5 Musicals that I actually watched (Movies-non cartoon)
There may only be 5 total so give me a second to think.
5. Mary Poppins.
She invented a word and was the coolest nanny ever. I haven't seen it since I was a little whipper snapper but I remember it being good. It stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.
4. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Yes, it didn't stick at all to the book, but it's not about that. It's about the awesomeness of Gene Wilder, and Pure Imagination. It's about the goose that lays the golden egg. It's about the music.
3. West Side Story.
It has the Jets versus the Sharks. And yes gangs always dance and sing while they have beef with each other, but it's also a love story. Ladies you'll love it. You'll feel pretty and witty and gay if you watch it.
2. The Wizard of Oz.
Great songs throughout and a great overall movie. I would put it number one but I was a huge fan of number one as a kid. I love the whole idea of black and white and color. And those flying monkeys creeped me out when I was younger. They are no match for the flying pigs of Cincinnati though.
1. The Sound of Music.
Yep. Julie Andrews makes it a second time. Every song is amazing. It won best picture. The Von Trapps are a weird family but no match to Julie Andrews on staying in their shell. Plus music is in the title.
Winner of the Day: Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips. Congrats to Joey on his first gold glove and Brandon on his 3rd. I think Jay Bruce got jipped and Votto didn't actually deserve it but he's got a big name now so I guess that's why he got it. Phillips earned his.
Loser of the Day: Someone who actually got a needle in their Halloween candy. Yes. It's usually just a myth but some girl got a needle in her Baby Ruth. Police are unsure if it happened during manufacturing or if it was spiked. The girl is a loser of the day because she's the first girl I've actually heard of that had this happen to her. Read it here.
Quote of the Day: The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others. -Don Shula
Song of the Day: This Way by Dilated Peoples Featuring Kanye West
Taunt of the Day: Stephen Tulloch. He made fun of Tebow by doing the Tebow craze pose after sacking the overrated quarterback.
So the 7 Billionth Baby was born yesterday on Halloween. I don't really know if it means anything that it was a Halloween baby but I do know this, people are living much longer nowadays. It's either that or all these chicks like octomom having artificial inseminated sextuplets, septuplets, or octuplets causing this number to get from 6 billion to 7 billion this fast. And how do they know for sure that was the 7 billionth child? Like did the people who keep these stats go down to all these 3rd world countries and make sure kids aren't popping out? It's kind of fishy the kid is from the U.S.A. And if you are the 7 billionth baby, do you get like a free cooler like if you are person number 1 million at a store? The baby's name is Jasmine Marie Timberlake. Is Justin Timberlake the father? The chick doesn't look like his type though. I don't believe the baby's going to grow up to look like the Jasmine from Alladin. If she's anything like the mother, she would have the sweatiest, nastyest looking half cornrows ever. The story.
Kim Kardashian and New Jersey Nets player Kris Humphries are officially over after 72 days. I hope Kris gets some of Kim's money in the split up because he's jobless for right now because the NBA Lockout is still going on.
Tony LaRussa is retiring. He is no doubt one of the greatest managers of all time but I don't believe he's the greatest of sports. He lies about rain and turns a blind eye to steroids while in Oakland. The dude should go into the Hall of Fame, but he should be criticized in some facets of his coaching.
Some dude robbed a bank, confessed and then apologized to the teller... Read It.
Winner of the Day: 2 12-year old pranksters. They pushed a cart off of a 4th floor walkway and hurt some woman. They are charged with a felony assult with a deadly weapon. I don't know why I put this as the winner of the day but I can't put it as loser of the day because I have something in mind.
Loser of the Day: Wally Szczerbiak...you all remember Wally World? Well look how ridiculous he is here. But I guess if I were him I'd dress like that to be with her too.
Quote of the Day: You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there. -Yogi Berra
Song of the Day: Two Princes by the Spin Doctors.
Acronym of the day: B.I.F. Short for Butt in front. It's basically like that weird area in some women in the lower abdomen where the front looks like a butt. Very similar to the F.U.P.A. which is short for Fat Upper P**** (other way to call a cat a kitten as Naughty by Nature would call it) Area.
