Archive for October, 2009
Posted by Alex on October 28, 2009
The NBA season is underway and you know what that means. Time to determine the ugliest players in the league.
I know what you’re thinking: That’s not very nice of you to pick on the uglies. Well frankly, you’re right. But the way we see it, a lot of these homely fellows do this to themselves. They over-tat their canvas of a body, they fail to get their hair cut adequately, they refuse to shave, things like that. And if that doesn’t sway you, these guys are making millions of dollars to play a game, so there.
We’ve divided this list into three segments. Nos. 11-7 are the All-Ugly Second Team. Nos. 6-2 are the All-Ugly First Team. And of course No. 1 is the All-Ugly MVP.
For the record, we considered calling this the All-Brooke Hundley Team, but we figured some of you might not get the reference. Oh well.
On to the list!
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Posted in NBA, Top 11 | Tagged: All-Ugly Team, NBA, Top 11 | 16 Comments »
Posted by Alex on October 27, 2009
The WSU basketball team is promoting their annual Hardwood Classic with this festive background image on local websites.
This rivals the Errol Knight Gonzaga Basketball commercial from back in the day for “Worst In-State Athletic Media Publication of All-Time.”
For the record, the Hardwood Classic takes place on December 22nd at that decaying facility in Lower Queen Anne that a pro basketball team used to play at. Get your tickets before this event gets rescheduled for a Miley Cyrus concert or something.
Posted in NCAA Basketball | Tagged: Hardwood Classic, NCAA Basketball, Washington State University Basketball | 3 Comments »
Posted by Alex on October 27, 2009
About two months ago, I wrote up a review of Safeco Field for an upstart website called StadiumJourney.com. StadiumJourney is on its way to becoming the premier destination for ballpark travelers in every major sport across America. Using accredited freelancers to visit and review pro stadiums and arenas across the country, StadiumJourney provides unique insight to the venues that sports fans frequent.
To read my review of Safeco Field and the surrounding neighborhood, click here.
Just an FYU, StadiumJourney is currently in blog format while their website undergoes construction.
Posted in Mariners | Tagged: Mariners, Safeco Field, StadiumJourney.com | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 26, 2009
I was reading this article when I came across an interesting fact that turns the tables on “mainstream media.” Here’s the quote:
“One of the favored criticisms of blogs in general by “mainstream” media is that blogs lack accountability. Backing into this, the definition of “mainstream” is entirely out of whack by those who toss it around. In August, [online sports blog] Deadspin had 22 million page views. On Wednesday alone, the site had over one million. If Deadspin is not “mainstream,” then virtually every newspaper site in the country is outside the mainstream as well. So are most television shows on cable, virtually every print newspaper in the country, and just about every radio show on Earth. So Deadspin rests squarely in the middle of the stream, occasionally urinating in the water as it goes past perhaps, but squarely in that stream.”
The author of this quip is a former Deadspin.com editor who attempts to provide some insight into the debate between “mainstream” media and the blogosphere, generally thought of as the un-mainstream, if you can call it that.
It’s funny, but mainstream media is actually taking a back seat to the un-mainstream these days and it makes you wonder what we really consider to be mainstream. Do we consider the newspaper that we occasionally read mainstream? Or do we think of our favorite blogs, which we check every hour, as mainstream?
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Posted in Featured Articles | Tagged: Deadspin.com, Features, Sports Media | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 26, 2009
I’ve already tried like five different times to write this article and it’s next to impossible. Sometimes you just have to stop trying and speak from the heart, and that’s what I intend to do.
I miss the Sonics. The NBA season starts tomorrow and it means nothing to me. Nothing.
I could care less who wins a championship, could care less whether LeBron has an MVP-type season, could care less what happens as the season transpires.
I’ve been reading this week’s Sports Illustrated, the NBA preview edition, and everything rings hollow. The articles are empty, the words are meaningless, the pictures are gray, the entire thing barely occupies my consciousness. I read it out of habit more than anything else.
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Posted in Featured Articles, Sonics | Tagged: Features, NBA, Other Sports, Sonics | 2 Comments »
Posted by Alex on October 23, 2009
In case you haven’t heard, Husky fans, today is the official Purple and Gold Day in Washington State. Here’s a short memo from governor Chris(tine) Gregoire detailing the special day:
UW alumna and Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire has officially proclaimed Friday, October 23, 2009 to be “Purple and Gold Day” in our state. That’s the day before the UW’s Homecoming football game against Oregon, so wear your school colors and support the University of Washington. Gregoire, a 1971 UW graduate, has issued similar proclamations the past two years in recognition of the UW’s annual Homecoming celebration. No matter where you are, help make this the biggest “Purple and Gold Day” yet by sporting your Husky colors on Friday, October 23, 2009.
So make sure you wear your Husky colors today, and be prepared to carry that enthusiasm to Montlake tomorrow when we face Oregon at 12:30 PM. Go Dawgs!
*Oh, and if you haven’t heard about the Portland purple-and-gold bridge lights yet, you can read about it here. In your face, Ducks.
Posted in Husky Football | Tagged: Husky Football, Purple and Gold Day | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 21, 2009
Steve Phillips was never renowned for being a great evaluator of talent during his days as general manager of the New York Mets. Apparently, he hasn’t lost his knack for bad scouting in his new career as an ESPN baseball analyst.
Phillips has been suspended by ESPN after the details of an (alleged….yeah, right) affair leaked out in recent days. Phillips, 46, engaged in less-than-becoming behavior with a 22-year-old production assistant who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
Basically, Phillips and the woman in question, Brooke Hundley, fornicated a few times before Phillips attempted to opt out of the deal (that’s baseball lingo). Hundley, in turn, went crazy and began stalking Phillips and his family. So much for a clean break.
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Posted in Other Sports | Tagged: Brooke Hundley, ESPN, Steve Phillips | 1 Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 20, 2009
I like soccer, but it hasn’t always been that way.
As a kid, I used to hate it. Played it when I was in second grade, thought it was boring, quit, and never looked back. It was a lot of running for nothing, a lot of standing in the pouring rain, and a lot of unnecessary shots to the head. It just wasn’t my thing.
As a teenager, I got back into soccer by watching the World Cup. At first it was a nice segue to my afternoon nap, but after a while I actually began to watch the games.
Played at its highest level, soccer was compelling. As is the case with most spectator sports, I found myself rooting for one team over the other in spite of my initial inhibitions about the game. Before long, I could sit through a full 90 minutes without falling asleep.
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Posted in Featured Articles, Other Sports | Tagged: Features, Other Sports, Soccer, World Cup | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 19, 2009
Just a quick note about commenting on articles: You don’t have to enter your email address in the email field. I know some people are wary about providing that info, even when it says it won’t be published, but no need to worry because you don’t have to.
Really, you don’t have to fill anything out to comment, you can leave all the info fields blank if you like. So go ahead and fire away. Let your opinion be heard.
Also, one more quick thing. If you’re watching Monday Night Football, you may have heard Jon Gruden just say this about San Diego receiver Malcolm Floyd: “They call him M-80, ’cause he can explode in your face if you’re not careful.”
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Alex on October 19, 2009
Like some divine gift sent down from the heavens on an otherwise grey and cloudy Seattle morning, Kenji Johjima has decided to opt out of the final two years remaining on his ungodly, ill-advised three-year contract and return home to Japan where he will likely finish his playing career. Release the doves!
By opting out of the deal, the Mariners will be spared on dual accounts.
One, they won’t be forced to release Johjima and sacrifice millions of dollars owed to him.
Two, they won’t have to waste a roster spot on Johjima while he festers on the team’s bench. Between Rob Johnson and Adam Moore, the team was committed to two young catchers and one unproductive veteran. With the vet out of the equation, Johnson and Moore can now compete for the starting backstop role.
This is arguably the biggest move of the offseason, no matter who the M’s sign, no matter who they trade for, no matter what young players they develop. By clearing Johjima’s contract off the books, the team retains $16 million that they were to scheduled to pay the 33-year-old over the next two seasons.
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Posted in Mariners | Tagged: Adam Moore, Kenji Johjima, Mariners, Rob Johnson | 2 Comments »
Look, I’m not gonna lie to you guys. I missed the game on Saturday. Didn’t go. First game I’ve missed all year.
Because everyone could use another reason to despise Whoregon.
The Washington Huskies football team takes on their archrival to the south this weekend when they face the Oregon Ducks at Husky Stadium.