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Dropping Links: Sunday, May 12, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:11:00 +0000

A few links for your Sunday night perusal as you wait for Game of Thrones and Veep, if you're one of the cool kids.

- Wyoming will have a new football field design when the season starts this September. |Pastapadre|

- Miami's Super Bowl bid includes the proposal of playing the Big Game on an aircraft carrier. |With Leather|

- Titus Young (Sr.) keeps getting arrested. |Deadspin|

- The new ECW documentary, Barbed Wire City, provides a new look on the history of the revolutionary and beloved wrestling company. |Ringside Rants|

- NBC makes Seth Meyers' move from "SNL" to "Late Night" official, will happen in 2014. |USA Today|

Video: Sergio Garcia gives away The Players with quadruple bogey on 17 Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:02:00 +0000

Sergio Garcia has had his share of painful final round moments throughout his long career. The Players Championship, and more specifically the 17th hole at Sawgrass, was host to one of his finer moments, though.

Sunday, however, was not one of those finer moments. Garcia quadruple bogeyed 17, falling out of a share of the lead, and effectively giving away the tournament. Tiger Woods ended up winning while Sergio finished at -7.

Video: Iman Shumpert's ferocious putback dunk

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:47:00 +0000

Iman Shumpert went all "Go Go Gadget Arms" on this putback dunk during the second quarter of the Knicks - Pacers Eastern Conference semifinals game two Tuesday.

Nets quickly remove PJ Carlesimo as interim head coach

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 05 May 2013 19:21:00 +0000

The Brooklyn Nets announced interim head coach PJ Carlesimo will not return to the bench next year for the team. The news follows Brooklyn's elimination from the playoffs Saturday night.

The Nets reportedly are interested in offering Jeff Van Gundy the head coaching job, although there isn't a lot of mutual interest, according to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. I'm sure we'll hear a ton of Phil Jackson speculation, warranted or not.

Jerry Sloan is available and interested in a return to coaching but, with Deron Williams the centerpiece of Brooklyn's franchise, Sloan can be automatically ruled out.

Stan Van Gundy is probably a more realistic candidate for the Nets, or any of the slew of up-and-coming assistants out there, but the Nets - being in New York and always seeking to steal the back pages from the Knicks - will probably want to make a splashier hire.

Check out these pop culture inspired hockey jerseys

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:46:00 +0000

Dave Delisle of Geeky Jerseys has made a bunch of custom made hockey jerseys, based on movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. Several of the jerseys are available to purchase at the Geeky Jerseys online store.

The “Link 2.0” Legend of Zelda sweater looks pretty damn sharp, especially with the leather lacing look on the sleeves. Go check out the full breakdown at Geeky Jerseys.

If these were unlockable in NHL 14, the game would instantly become a must buy.

(Hat tip to Laughing Squid for the heads up.)

Video: Highlights of Nate Robinson's 23-point 4th quarter and crazy runner in the first OT

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0000

The Bulls came from behind to defeat the Nets in triple overtime Saturday, fueled by a Nate Robinson surge in the 4th quarter. Robinson scored 23 of his 34 points in the final period of regulation and said during the postgame media session that he felt like he was in a game of NBA Jam where the ball and rim were on fire.

While the 23-point 4th was pretty impressive, Robinson wasn't done there. He nailed a wild, off-glass runner at the end of the first overtime period to extend the game.

Video: Jon Jones realizes his toe is disturbingly broken during post-fight interview

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Jon Jones defeated Chael Sonnen - as pretty much everyone expected - in the first round of the main event at UFC 159, retaining his Light Heavyweight Championship. After the official announcement from Bruce Buffer, Jones realized his toe was broken as Joe Rogan tried to grab the usual post-fight interview. By broken, I mean disturbingly disfigured and bloody.

This video cuts out the part where the camera pans down to show the nasty injury and the crowd's subsequent reaction, but if you really want to see that nastiness, searching for "Jon Jones toe" should take care of it.

Pretty much everyone thinks Jon Jones is beating Chael Sonnen at UFC 159

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:29:00 +0000

Jon Jones defends his UFC Light Heavyweight championship tomorrow night against Chael Sonnen, the man who “WWE’d” his way into a title match when there were plenty of more worthy challengers. The fight is so lopsided on paper that it’s been a tough gig just finding people willing to pick Sonnen to capture the belt.

All eight writers in this Bloody Elbow prediction piece are picking Jones to retain, with Dallas Winston’s entire explanation reading, “Hi. Jon Jones by TKO Round 1-2.” SI.com analysts Loretta Hunt, Jeff Wagenheim and Jon Wertheim are also all picking Jones.

Jesse Holland of MMAmania, James Lynch and Jordan Cieciwa of TSN, and pretty much everyone else not named Chael Sonnen are also predicting a Jones victory.

But this is what we’ve all expected since it was announced that Sonnen had talked his way into a fight with one of UFC’s biggest stars. There were few who thought Chael deserved the fight and title shot then, and there are seemingly even fewer who believe he deserves it now, especially after a lackluster buildup.

Obviously, the fighters fight and the contests aren’t decided on paper for a reason. Upsets do happen. It just seems really unlikely that we get an upset in Newark on Saturday.

Video: Taj Gibson dunked all over Kris Humphries

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:17:00 +0000

Taj Gibson laid down this thunderous dunk on Kris Humphries during Thursday's Nets-Bulls playoff game.

That was probably still less embarrassing for Humphries than the whole Kim Kardashian staged marriage.

(Video via The Brooklyn Game)

Video: A three-legged alligator crossed the fairway at the Zurich Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:36:00 +0000

During the first round of the PGA Tour Zurich Classic, a three-legged alligator made an appearance on the course.

Two good humorous quotes from the broadcasters in the video:

• "That's a real hazard right there."
• "This is all about the slow play rule now. This is to get the guys to play a little bit faster. Just put an alligator behind them."

Lest we forget the new Jaguars uniforms

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:26:00 +0000

While we're on the topic of new uniforms, it wouldn't be right to leave out the Jacksonville Jaguars, who made their new look official yesterday. These have Nike's fingerprints on them a little more than the Vikings or Dolphins new uniforms do, especially with the two-tone helmet.

While the redesign is different than the NFL typically sees, it's not too overboard. I personally like it.

For more photos of the new design, visit Nike.com.

Vikings make new uniforms official

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:22:00 +0000

Speaking of new uniforms, Nike also made the Minnesota Vikings' new uniforms official tonight, with Adrian Peterson modeling the new gear on Nike's website.

The new version is sort of a throwback, with less side piping and a new number design, along with horizontal stripes on the sleeves. It's more of a refresh than a new look, but it has a classic feel and looks great.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Nike officially unveils new Dolphins uniforms

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:16:00 +0000

After online leaks this week, Nike has officially revealed the new Miami Dolphins uniforms. The above photo features new Dolphin Mike Wallace modeling the all-white version of Miami's new duds.

The redesigned logo is meant to be a little more intimidating than the old cartoonish dolphin and the colors seemed to be toned down a bit. All in all, it's a nice refresh for an organization in need of it.

Check out Nike.com for more photos.

Madden 25 trailer highlights open field running game

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:08:00 +0000

EA Sports has released the first trailer for Madden 25 following the game's cover reveal. It shows the open field running improvements the game has boasted.

Barry Sanders wins Madden 25 cover vote

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:46:00 +0000

After a March Madness-style tournament in which fans voted to decide the winners, Barry Sanders defeated Adrian Peterson in the Madden 25 cover vote finale. The choice was revealed last night during a drawn out special by - who else? - ESPN. The cover itself (via the SportsNation Twitter feed) looks a bit grainy but I'm thinking EA Sports wanted it that way to emphasize the nostalgia of a 25th Anniversary game.

Jermichael Finley will donate to One Fund Boston for each TD and dropped pass this season

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:42:00 +0000

In a kind hearted gesture, Packers TE Jermichael Finley tweeted today that he will donate $500 to One Fund Boston this season for each pass he drops and each touchdown he records.

I'll b donating $500 4 every dropped pass this season 2 One Fund Boston. Now fans can cheer & boo me @ the same time! Also giving $500/TD!
— Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) April 18, 2013

Donating for dropped passes is an interesting twist but one that, as Finley mentions, will allow the people that root against him to be even happier when he drops a pass.

No matter how they go about it, it's always nice to see athletes donating to worthy causes, especially athletes who have no tie to the situation other than being fellow Americans.

Tiger Woods 14 adds new features, improvements to already great series

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:37:00 +0000

It's always a challenge for yearly sports titles to create new interest and sell a new game that's basically the same thing as last year with some slight tweaks. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14's newest feature allows you to "step into the past" and replay some of golf's greatest moments, complete with equipment from that specific era. The presentation reflects those periods too. It's definitely a welcomed addition for those looking for something other than career and tournament modes.

Other new features include the ability to play all four majors, online advancements that allow Country Clubs of up to 100 members, and the ability to play night golf.

EA Sports certainly added a fair share of improvements but the question still remains whether these are enough to make people who bought Tiger 13 make a new purchase a year later. With last year's game including the Masters, we could already play Augusta, the most desired of the previously unavailable courses.

The gameplay itself picks up where Tiger Woods 13 left off, enhancing what was already great. There are times, though, where it feels like the computer AI has its way with you, making your shot land where it wants instead of where it should.

No matter how frustrating instances like that can be, Tiger Woods 14 is still an addicting game that makes you look forward to that next potential birdie or great shot.

Sort of like real golf.

Lookalikes: NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano and Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:21:00 +0000

NFL Network's excellent anchor Andrew Siciliano and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner bear a striking resemblance to one another, especially when they're both photographed in black and white.

Book Review: Nailed! The Improbable Rise and Spectacular Fall of Lenny Dykstra

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:15:00 +0000

Nailed: The Improbable Rise and Spectacular Fall of Lenny Dykstra tells the story of the former Mets and Phillies outfielder, who transitioned from a successful baseball career into a car wash kingpin and stock market "idiot savant." Then, after mostly his own doing, it all came crashing down, eventually landing Dykstra in jail.

The book is written by Christopher Frankie, a former employee of Dykstra's, who certainly is able to provide an inside look into the goings on behind the scenes. Frankie shares tales of Dykstra trying to steal his son's signing bonus, his poor handling of money and not paying employees, and Dykstra being accused of sexual assault and charged with felonies for grand theft auto, and cocaine and ecstacy possession.

While it could easily seem like Frankie simply has an axe to grind with Dykstra, the book gives us a well-balanced glimpse into what Dykstra was really like, leaving it up to us to decide that Dykstra was a very strange individual.

Nailed! is an interesting read, though it's a bit dark and disturbing at times, through no fault of Frankie's. It provides an interesting peek into excess and the lengths some former stars will go to maintain that level of living. The story is relatable whether you're a baseball fan or not, and at 288 pages it is a fairly quick read considering all the stories told.

The NFL, if it were British

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:38:00 +0000

Artist David Rappoccio has re-imagined the National Football League as if every team were British. I've included a few of my favorites below, and be sure to check out Rappoccio's full post about it at his blog, Dave's Art Locker.

(Hat tip to DesignTAXI)

Book Review: Trading Bases: A Story About Wall Street, Gambling, and Baseball

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Trading Bases: A Story About Wall Street, Gambling, and Baseball (Not necessarily in that order) is an upcoming book by Joe Peta, a former Wall Street trader and lifelong baseball fan. After getting hit by an ambulance (!) Peta had to take some time away from his trading career and decided to focus apply his Wall Street tactics to gambling on baseball.

It was Peta’s theory that he could concoct a model similar to what he used while employed with Lehman Brothers to produce better outcomes than the Vegas “experts,” and the book details the results during the 2011 season.

While Trading Bases can get a little numbers heavy at times, Peta keeps it interesting with anecdotes from his youth as a Phillies fan from just outside Philadelphia, his career on Wall Street and his time as a writer while attending Stanford. Peta certainly has the chops to make a sabermetrically-based book interesting and he does just that.

If you’re a fan of Moneyball or happen to visit Baseball Reference daily, this is definitely the book for you. And even if you’re not a “stats geek” or a gambler, you’ll find Peta’s Trading Bases an appealing read.

Trading Bases: A Story About Wall Street, Gambling, and Baseball (Not necessarily in that order) hits shelves March 7, 2013.

(Image courtesy Barnes & Noble)

Dropping Links: Sunday, January 20, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:31:00 +0000

A few links for your perusal while you get ready for the NFL's Championship Sunday:

- Manti Te'o's first televised interview might be with Katie Couric. |Awful Announcing|

- Here are some Ravens fans doing a "Call Me Maybe" parody because that hasn't been done to death or anything. |With Leather|

- The original girl that Brent Musberger turned into a star, Jenn Sterger, has some advice for Katherine Webb. |Bob's Blitz|

- "SNL" came back from winter break with Jennifer Lawrence hosting and, apparently, it was pretty awful. |Warming Glow|

- MLB: The Show 13 will have an improved Diamond Dynasty mode. |Pastapadre|

NFL Championship Sunday Picks: SF @ ATL, BAL @ NE

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:08:00 +0000

San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons, 3:00pm ET, FOX

The Falcons just can't seem to get any respect. Despite finishing the regular season 13-3, most people think the Falcons aren't as good as their record indicates. Count me in as one of those people.

Teams will eventually figure out Colin Kaepernick and the dynamic weapon that he is for the 49ers offense, but it might be too soon in this case. San Francisco's defense has always been their strength, and when you mix in a high powered offensive attack, that could spell disaster for Atlanta.

Pick: 49ers defeat the Falcons, 24-20

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots, 6:30pm ET, CBS

The miracle run of the Baltimore Ravens might end today, as well as the career of Ray Lewis. The Patriots are just an offensive machine, and their defense is even better than when these two teams matched up in last year's AFC Championship game.

Pick: Patriots over Ravens, 31-14

(Image via TicketFly.com)

NFL Divisional Weekend Picks: SEA @ ATL, HOU @ NE

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:22:00 +0000

It was another sad Saturday of NFL picks for me, as I incorrectly predicted that the Broncos and Packers would win their playoff matchups. Let's see if today my prognostications are any better.

Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons, 1pm ET, FOX

Many don't trust the Falcons and they seem to be the least intimidating No. 1 seed in the past few seasons. Offensively, they have so many weapons that it may be a challenge for the Seahawks to shut them all down. But Seattle has offensive weapons of their own and things - from as early as the "Fail Mary" game to their late season surge - seem to be going their way.

Pick: Seahawks take down the Falcons, 24-17

Houston Texans @ New England Patriots, 4:30pm ET, CBS

The Patriots dominated the Texans in their regular season matchup and, while the Texans have had plenty of time to adjust, it may not mean much. They barely got past the Bengals last week in a purely ugly game of football and playing that way against the Patriots won't get you very far.

Pick: Patriots over Texans, 35-24

NFL Divisional Weekend Picks: BAL @ DEN, GB @ SF

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Arnoldine) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:13:00 +0000

I went 2-for-4 picking last week's Wild Card playoff games, which puts me right in line with all the real "experts" out there, so let's take a stab at it again.

Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos, 4:30pm ET, CBS

Much has been made of Peyton Manning NEVER WINNING A PLAYOFF GAME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 40 DEGREES OR COLDER~! in a whopping three attempts, two of which were losses to the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005, both years the Pats won the Super Bowl. So perhaps it has more to do with playing really good teams in the cold than just playing in the cold itself. All three of those losses were road games, also.

Either way, it wouldn't be modern day sports coverage without NARRATIVES so we get that and also Ray Lewis v. Peyton Manning, even though Lewis probably isn't the one Manning is most worried about.

As for the game itself, the Broncos are just an all around better team than the Ravens. Denver's defense is top caliber, offensively they are more dynamic than Baltimore, and the Broncos actually have a running game to lean on, something Peyton hasn't truly had before.

Pick: Broncos defeat Ravens, 31-16

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers, 8:00pm ET, FOX

It seems like a long time ago that the 49ers walloped the Packers to open the season. Since then the team switched quarterbacks and the Green Bay Packers, after struggling to open the season, turned right back into the offensive powerhouse that we all expected. Aaron Rodgers should be hyped up for this one, his first meaningful game in San Francisco, against the team that he grew up rooting for and wished his vengeance upon in 2005 when they passed up drafting him.

Pick: Packers over 49ers, 35-21