The Daily Hat Trick

Retweet of the Day - May 22, 2013

2013-05-22T12:26:00.003-05:00

PGA golfer Sergio Garcia of Spain "went there" in his rivalry with fellow tour member Tiger Woods. Woods and Garcia traded jabs in the media recently involving an incident during a recent tournament. Yesterday, during the European Tour awards dinner in London, England, Garcia, when asked if he would have dinner with Woods during the U.S. Open, was quoted as saying, "We'll have him 'round every night. We will serve fried chicken."

Ignorance begets ignorance. The Twittersphere blew up with equally offensive possible responses Woods could have offered to Garcia. This one, by John Beck (‏@jotting1), stood out because it was a doubly offensive example of a return-fire. 1) Garica is a native Spanish speaker from Spain, not Mexico. Yet American sterotypes of anything and everything associated with the Spanish language often revert to references of Mexico and its descendants. 2) The example in the tweet is equally stereotypical and tired.

"@TheSergioGarcia how bout you come over and YOU can serve me some chinchilla and burritos with that one mexican soda that tastes good"

Even the Dos Equis guy wants nothing to do with him.

Image from www.gamedayr.com

Retweet of the Day - May 21, 2013

2013-05-21T11:37:00.003-05:00

The latest buzz in the NBA rumor mill is that Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard is seriously considering testing the free agency market. While no other NBA team can offer Howard as much money for as many years as the Lakers, Howard did not exactly mesh with the Lakers' system, starting with Head Coach Mike D'Antoni. The Houston Rockets (and the income tax free state of Texas) are reported to have Howard's interest.

The Lakers were a model of dysfunction this season. They fired their Head Coach, Mike Brown, just as the season was getting underway and their current coach, D'Antoni, has been on the hot seat all season long. Reportedly, the Lakers, under the leadership of Jim Buss (son of the late Dr. Jerry Buss), flushed slam dunk opportunity to rehire eleven time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson (who led the Lakers to five championships) due to personal differences. Dysfunction junction...!

Today's retweet, from Erica B. (‏@SCbchbum), focuses on the comic-tragic Lakers season, which ended in a sweep from the playoffs in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.

"Thought I was watching the Lakers game, but it was just a commercial for erectile dysfunction."

I don't think so.

Image spliced from images from www.freakingnews.com and www.5throwjoe.com.

Back It Up!

2013-05-20T17:02:00.002-05:00

During the Billboard music awards, rap star Nicki Minaj gave Lil' Wayne and up close and personal taste of her "milkshake". If you have not heard about it or seen it, go to YouTube and search for "Nicki Minaj Lil Wayne Billboard". Nicki Minaj has cited former Brooklyn Nets minority owner and sports agent Jay-Z as an influence in her music. No doubt, you can hear the Jigga Man's influence in Minaj's flow. Nicki Minaj is the subject of today's Chick Pic.

The media didn't take her performance lying down. 1

That's an extra-large "milkshake"! 3

A whole lotta shake with that milk....4

Art.... 6

Life.... Looks like life, again, is imitating art. 7

1) Image from www.urbanislandz.com
2) Image from www.justjared.com
3) Image from www.allhiphop.com
4) Image from www.tvshark.com
5) Image from http://generations.fr
6) Image from www.jayblessed.com
7) Image from www.usmagazine.com

Retweet of the Day - May 20, 2013

2013-05-20T16:16:00.001-05:00

The Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday night. I've tweeted often this season that the Knicks were fool's gold - they look much better in the regular season than one should expect in the playoffs. That notion came to fruition over the weekend and the Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round.

Of course, the finger pointing has begun in Gotham. The Knicks lack a second healthy A-list star who plays solid defense and poses an offensive threat. That's my personal opinion. Today's retweet, from Not Jeff Van Gundy ‏(@CrazyVanGundy), goes for the low hanging fruit in the Knicks' blame game:

"Carmelo Anthony may have his picture on a Wheaties box but Raymond Felton has his picture on the wall at every Cici's pizza in New York."

I think Raymond Felton has other options.

Image from www.nbadraft.net

Retweet of the Day - May 17, 2013

2013-05-17T16:42:00.001-05:00

Colorful former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle passed away yesterday at the age of 71 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Trickle reportedly called 911, said that there was a body in the cemetery that needed to be picked up and that it would be his. A character through and through....

Today's retweet remembers Trickle, by AllenBestwickESPN (‏@AllenBestwick):

"Favorite Dick Trickle quote, when interviewed after being in a Cup crash: "It was at least 50% my fault, I went out there with them idiots"!"

1941-2013

Image from www.foxsports.com

Former Saints Running Back Chuck Muncie Dies At Age 60

2013-05-16T16:33:00.000-05:00

Today's article is a guest piece from Dan Delaney at Saints Stuff. We touched on the passing of Chuck Muncie earlier this week at the Hat Trick.

I know most of you reading this are too young to remember Saints running back Chuck Muncie, but at the time he played for the Saints he was the leading rusher in Franchise history. Not only could he run the ball, but he could catch the ball, and pass the ball too.

“Sadly, we have learned of the untimely passing of Chuck Muncie,” Saints owner Tom Benson said in a statement on the team’s website. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and other loved ones at this difficult time.”

Williamson: Memorable Charger

The high-flying Chargers of the early 1980s were known as Air Coryell but one of the most memorable and recognizable figures on those teams was a hard-charging running back named Chuck Muncie, Bill Williamson writes.

Muncie, who also played for the San Diego Chargers, was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 6,702 yards and 71 rushing touchdowns in 110 career games.

“Everyone at the Chargers is deeply saddened by the passing of Chuck Muncie, one of the greatest running backs in Chargers history,” the team said in a statement. “We will remember him as a tremendous athlete with a larger-than-life personality. It’s a sad day for all of us and all Chargers fans.”

Here are some of the things that made Muncie special.

Muncie had Deuce’s size, Reggie Bush’s speed and Dalton Hilliard’s hands. He could go over you or through you, depending on his mood.

“Chuck was one of those backs who come along every eight or 10 years,” Archie Manning told me for my book, “Tales from the Saints Sideline.” “He could have been one of the all-time greats. He was that big and that fast.”

He was a part of the 1st Saints team to not have a losing season. Some of his team mates included Archie Manning (Peyton, and Eli’s father), Wes Chandler, Tony Galbreath, and Henry Childs. The offense was high powered, but the defense of that team was poor against the run. Muncie played for the Saints from 1976 through the first 4 games of 1980 before he was traded to the San Diego Chargers. With the Chargers Muncie’s career took off. NFL.com says;

"Muncie went on to earn two more Pro Bowl nods with the Chargers. His best season with the Chargers came in 1981 when he rushed for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns, which tied the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns. Muncie etched his name in Chargers lore when he rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown, guiding the Chargers over the Miami Dolphins 41-38, a game simply known as The Epic in Miami. The Chargers went on to lose to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, or the Freezer Bowl."

All in all Muncie was a great player whose play on the field will be missed. It is a sad day in football news.

Retweet of the Day - May 16, 2013

2013-05-16T16:20:00.001-05:00

I rarely use the same theme for the Retweet of the Day twice in a row, but the O.J. Simpson headlines continue to get more sensational. Simpson is attempting to have his convictions for armed robbery and kidnapping thrown out in an effort to receive a new trial on the charges.

The 2007 incident that landed Simpson in the slammer involved him attempting to retrieve personal property that he claimed was stolen. Simpson burst into the hotel room of the alleged thief while members of his party allegedly pointed guns at the victim, allegedly to keep him in the room and to get him to talk. Simpson, while in court this week, said that his attorney, Yale Galanter, advised him that he could "use force" to retrieve his personal property. While explaining this in court, Simpson referred to the force he tried to use as "the force".

And cue the Twittersphere. Yesterday, the Hat Trick discussed Simpson's increased girth since being incarcerated. Today's retweet is from Ryan Goldner (@Ryan_Goldner)

"@jimrome Did I just hear you say OJ had to use the force to retrieve a lamb chop from a car?".

Keep 'em comin'....

Image from www.terezowens.com

I Don't Mind All the Crazy Girls Who Have a Crush on Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

2013-05-15T12:33:00.000-05:00

The following is from Rob at the Dueling Couches sports blog. Dueling Couches is written by several sports enthusiasts, focusing on events in the Boston area. You can find them at http://duelingcouches.blogspot.com.

Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has developed a cult following of teenage girls infatuated with the alleged terrorist. They're like Beleibers, only instead of loving a musician they're in love with a murderer. Although they claim he's "too pretty" to be guilty.

This pissed me off until I realized something. And now I am somewhat happy that these misguided young girls have a thing for this creep and are broadcasting their puppy love over the internet. Why?

Because he'll spend the rest of his life unable to touch any of them. He'll be like a hungry dog forced to smell a steak it will never be able to eat. It will be exquisite torture.

He'll have to sit in a cold grey supermax cell, longingly gazing at pictures of these crazy young girls making duckfaces at him, maybe licking their lips, perhaps bending over in a micro mini shirt and a thong. And he won't be able to get his little hands on any of them. Instead, he'll be bunking with inmates nicknamed Jackhammer and Black Python. And taking showers with a prisoner named Big Slick. And being required to sit when he pees. He'll be rented by the hour for a carton of Winston 100s.

So I hope these stupid young girls continue their #FreeJahar movement. Because it will only tease this douchebag with what he can never ever have.

What he will have, for the rest of his life (which could drag on for 70 or 80 years), is a chance to "enjoy" the wrestling techniques and holds he learned in high school. And not in a wholesome way.

-The Captain

Maybe if he gets a smaller, effeminate cellmate and closes his eyes and imagines....

Image from Dueling Couches.

Retweet of the Day - May 15, 2013

2013-05-15T10:21:00.001-05:00

Orenthal James Simpson is the gift that keeps on giving to the Internet. Simpson was in court recently to petition for a new trial on his kidnapping and armed robbery convictions, for which Simpson was convicted in 2008 is serving a minimum of nine years and a maximum of 33 years in a Nevada state prison. The case was reopened in court last year. Simpson is alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.

That isn't the real news. The real fodder is that Simpson has gotten...fatter...MUCH fatter. He appeared in court in a size 5X jumpsuit. That prompts us to today's retweet from Blaise Miller ‏(@BlaiseInKC):

"OJ Simpson showed up in court looking fat. Apparently he's been looking for the real killers in the prison cafeteria."

I think he found the guy in the mirror over the sink before washing up.

Image from www.ap.org

What a Pair

2013-05-14T15:47:00.002-05:00

Billy Bob Thornton has played a few roles in sports movies. the high school football coach in Friday Night Lights and Morris Butterworth in Bad News Bears come to mind. Thornton is the former boyfriend of actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie. Ms. Jolie is the subject of today's Chick Pic.

The biggest cause for me to present a collection of pictures of Jolie from the Internet is her recent announcement in the media. Jolie recently had a double mastectomy because she was at a very elevated risk for being stricken with breast cancer breast. Jolie's mother died of the disease at a young age and Ms. Jolie said, among other things, that she did not want her children to suffer the same type of loss.

I think it takes tremendous courage to take the steps she took to protect her long term health and even more courage to go public and raise more awareness of the disease and possible help someone else take steps to avoid and/or beat cancer. In short, it took a metaphorical pair for Angelina Jolie to remove her pair and tell the world.

More than just another girl with a dragon tattoo. 1

This chick has a pair of eyes that look like they can see into your soul. 2

Ink isn't my thing, but it works for her! 3

One benefit of being rich is being able to afford the best plastic surgeons. I'm sure she'll look as good or better in future shoots. 4

Nice look, even without color. 5

A Chick Pic with Angelina Jolie is incomplete without one of her as Laura Croft from "Tomb Raider". 6

Big props for speaking up, Ms. Jolie! Best of luck. 7

1) Image from http://tattooremovalpictures.blogspot.com
2) Image from www.filmmakeriq.com
3) Image from http://portal-tatuaze.pl
4) Image from www.anvari.org
5) Image from http://photogalleryha.blogspot.com
6) Image from http://manganodestiny.forumfree.it
7) Image from www.dallasnews.com

Retweet of the Day - May 13, 2013

2013-05-14T10:17:00.001-05:00

Today's retweet is some sad news in the world of sports. Minutes ago I just learned of the death of a former NFL player who was very good and could have been among the greatest were it not for his own demons. For former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker and possible future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks (@DBrooks55):

"@AdamSchefter: Former Chargers RB Chuck Muncie passed away of a heart attactk. RIP."

1953-2013

Image from www.helmethut.com

Love Never Dies

2013-05-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

Freeskier Rory Bushfield won the first ever championship on the diving reality show, "Splash"; The premier season finale aired on Tuesday. Bushfield is the widower of the late Canadian freeskiier Sarah Burke. Burke died in a training accident in early 2012.

Bushfield continues to refer to his late wife as a source of inspiration. Burke was not only talented, but beautiful. She was named one of FHM magazine's 100 sexiest women in 2006. She is the subject of today's chick pic.

What a hypnotic gaze.... 1

I won't fill this posting up with a lot of skin, but she was a sex symbol and was too sexy to have a picture collection posting and show zero skin. 2

She turned a few heads on the red carpet as well as the white peaks. 3

Burke and Bushfield 6

Gone way too soon.... 7

1) Image from www.123people.com
2) Image from FHM via www.trainbodyandmind.com
3, 4) Images from www.contactmusic.com
5) Image from www.exposay.com
6) Image from www.tumblr.com
7) Image from http://espn.go.com

Retweet of the Day - May 9, 2013

2013-05-09T16:26:00.000-05:00

San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o is the gift that keeps on giving to bloggers. I'm not sure if this is authentic or parodied and I'm indifferent. Today's retweet, from Athlete Swag (‏@athleteswag) just piles on to poor Mr. Te'o's catfishing experience.

Maxim names Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend one of its 100 Hottest Women of 2013. (PIC): http://bit.ly/10dqaQA

Number 69 on the Maxim Hott 100...supposedly.

Image from http://athleteswag.lockerdome.com

Road to the Who Dat Nation

2013-05-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Dan Delaney is a personal friend of mine and the operator of the New Orleans Saints theme websaite, Saints Stuff (at www.saintsstuff.com). Dan has graciously allowed me to use some of his material here at the Hat Trick. As regular readers know, I am Louisiana based, but I do not necessarily focus on Louisiana sports topics. Hopefully, Dan will sahre a few more pieces with us to add a little more local flavor to the Hat Trick. Enjoy the following:

Back in the late 1950s a New Orleans business man named Dave Dixon was working hard on getting the City of New Orleans an NFL franchise. Little did he know that 6 years down the road the NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle would need a favor from officials from the state of Louisiana to push through his NFL-AFL merger.

A Little Quid Pro Quo

At the time there were two competing football leagues. With that system in place if a player was drafted by both leagues he had bargaining power to play one against the other to get the best pay possible. Combining both leagues into one would swing the power back over to the owners by having only one team making an offer and if the player wanted to be a pro without having to move to Canada he would have to take that offer.

The problem that was posed with this is even though both leagues saw the advantages to this, combining them into one big league would create a monopoly which at the time was only legal for utility companies. Well that is if you do not have the law modified to fit your needs.

Pete Rozelle approach Dave Dixon on the matter and said "Dave what can you do to help". Dave sent the public relations manager David Kleck, who represented him to Hale Boggs of Louisiana who at the time was the house majority whip, to meet with Mr. Boggs on the matter.

U.S. Rep Hale Boggs (D-LA) 2

The deal that was made was that the NFL grant the City of New Orleans a franchise in exchange for Congress voting to grant an exemption to the NFL for running a monopoly. The exemption got past the people who would vote against it by being attached to a budget bill. The bill was backed by Russell Long of Louisiana who at the time was the Senate finance committee chairman.

It was approved in October of 1966 and on November 1st 1966 Pete Rozelle traveled to New Orleans to announce the City of New Orleans was granted an NFL franchise. If you're not Catholic, November 1st happens to be All Saints Day and thus the team was named the New Orleans Saints. The first owner of the Saints was a wealthy Texas oil man named John Meacom Jr. he chose the colors Black and Gold because oil is nicknamed black gold. As you can see we in New Orleans are very fortunate to have an NFL franchise. It was only because the NFL commissioner needed a favor that we were granted one. It is even better that 43 years later our team became world champions.

Now that you got a little history on the New Orleans Saints you can read more at Saints Stuff.

Dan Delaney is a lifelong resident of the New Orleans metropolitan area and long time Saints fan. He was a fan before being a Saints fan was cool. You can learn more about the New Orleans Saints by going to his website now!

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1, 2) Images from www.nola.com

Goal Oriented

2013-05-08T13:30:00.000-05:00

Naturally, I expect that the dozens of regulars reading the Hat Trick have missed the daily Chick Pic. Why not reboot with a female athlete. American soccer player and Olympic medalist Alex Morgan has been trending heavily on search engines this week and is the subject of today's chick pic.

Anyone for "Beach Soccer"? 1

Alex Morgan "kicking in" in an appearance.... 3

And kicking butt on the soccer field.... 4

1) Image from www.ibtimes.com
2) Image from www.picstopin.com
3) Image from www.listal.com
4) Image from www.entertainmentwallpaper.com

Retweet of the Day - May 8, 2013

2013-05-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

The Daily Hat Trick is back! Don't everyone erupt in applause at once....

Where have I been? I had a medical issue that made it physically challenging to type up the high quality, Pulitzer worthy writing you have become accustomed to reading over the past few years, so I shut the blog down for a couple of weeks. Today, it's time to climb back on the horse!

Today's retweet, from The Fake ESPN (‏@TheFakeESPN) has a loose connection to the world of sports. Unless you've completely avoided all forms of electronic media during the last two days, you've undoubtedly heard of the heroic efforts of Cleveland resident Charles Ramsey. Ramsey helped free Amanda Berry, her child, and two other women who had been held captive for the past 10 years. His colorful disposition in concert with his selfless heroics have made him the talk of the Twittersphere over the last 48 hours.

"Thousands of Cleveland sports fans asking Charles Ramsey to kick the door down and free them from Cleveland."

It's been 24 years, almost to the day.

Retweet of the Day - April 18, 2013

2013-04-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

In what appears to be a never ending pattern among athletes, get another stand out player was picked up for driving under the influence of alcohol. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo was arrested for DUI earlier this week, with a blood alcohol content of about three times the legal limit.

It never ceases to amaze me with professional athletes. Twenty dollars or $50 or even $100 for a cab ride is nothing...NOTHING for these guys, whose minimum salary is nearly a half million dollars per year (Gallardo will earn close to $8 million this season). I would think that ballplayers would be especially careful following the well publicized death of Jerry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys this past December. Brown was killed in a car accident while his (suspected) intoxicated teammate was driving.

Nonetheless, nobody was hurt in this incident. So Gallardo should be happy he's alive to be made fun of. Today's retweet is from MLB Memes ‏(@MLBMeme):

"Yovani Gallardo arrested for DUI. Blew a 0.22. #mlbmemes pic.twitter.com/BB0iwJraYe"

Image from www.twitter.com

The World of Sports Continues

2013-04-18T07:38:00.000-05:00

Following the tragic events at the 2013 Boston Marathon, I simply did not find it fitting to discuss routine sports topics. Still, life goes on and the world of sports is no exception. My thoughts and prayers, like most everyone else's, are with the victims of the explosions and the people of the Boston area. I hope for swift justice in this tragic case.

Since there has not been a feature article in the Hat Trick since last week, I thought I would throw in my two cents on some of the recent happenings of the sports world.

NCAA Basketball

Largely due to time constraints, I never had a chance to comment on the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament championship. It could not have happened to a more deserving team or a more deserving coach in Louisville Cardinals Head Coach Rick Pitino.

Pitino formally learned of his induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on the morning of the National Championship Game. The Cardinals win over the Michigan Wolverines was a microcosm of their close performances in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals played hard, disciplined basketball, but the difference between winning and losing was Pitino himself.

Like in the Regional Finals and National Semifinals, Pitino's management of the elements of the game was the difference between Louisville winning and losing. Louisville was the top overall seed in the tournament, but Duke had the talent to beat Louisville in the Elite Eight. Pitino outcoached Mike Krzyzewski. The Wichita State Shockers had Lousiville on the ropes for most of the National Semifinal matchup. Pitino outcoached Gregg Marshall and effectively pulled the rug from under the Shockers. Michigan jumped to an early advantage against Louisville and went back and forth in the second half. Pitino outcoached Steve Beilein, particularly in utilizing the bench. Louisville's Luke Hancock became the first reserve player ever to win Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Pitino deserved some mention for the feat.

Last week's win was Pitno's second National Championship (Kentucky, 1996) in his seventh trip to the Final Four. Pitino is the only coach to win an NCAA championship with two different schools and the only coach to officially reach the Final Four with three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville).

Note: Current University of Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari reached the Final Four with the University of Massachusetts in 1996, the University of Memphis in 2008, and Kentucky in 2012, but the 1996 and 2008 appearances were vacated due to NCAA violations.

Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino cuts down the net for the second time in his career. 1

Boston Marathon

The tragedy at the Boston Marathon is beyond words. Who would be so depraved and sick enough to murder innocent people, including children, and potentially ruin dozens of lives with potentially crippling injuries? Even worse, this happened at a major international sporting event, where people generally do not expect planned acts of terror to occur.

I am still wrapping my mind around the scope of the devastation and terror inflicted that day. I do feel confident in our government and law enforcement agencies bringing the parties responsible to justice quickly. But arrests, convictions, and any measure of accountability cannot undo the damage done to innocent people. These people did nothing more than try to enjoy a celebratory day in Boston.

Our country has dealt with a number of large scale tragedies in this still new century. I have had the misfortune of being directly touched by one of them - Hurricane Katrina. So when I say that I have an idea of what the people of Boston are going through, it is not hot air. It is a different kind of tragedy and loss, but it is profound and soul-shaking nonetheless.

Speaking from experience, I expect the city of Boston to pull together, strengthen its already strong civic pride, and be more united and fortified as a community in response to this tragic event. I expect the full compassion for the victims by the New England community and the American people as a whole. And, finally, I expect us, the people of the United States of America, to reel in the monster(s) responsible for this, make them pay, and be wiser to help prevent something like this from happening again.

#prayforboston 2

Pat Summerall

The sports world lost one of its icons on Tuesday when long time NFL broadcaster and former NFL kicker Pat Summerall passed away of cardiac arrest following hip surgery at a Dallas hospital. He was 82.

As a sports fan, I always feel some sense of loss when an iconic person dies. However, Summerall's passing hits me on a deeper level. I, myself am an aspiring broadcaster, commenting play-by-play and producing Internet broadcasts of high school athletic events. Summerall is one of a handful of broadcasters off of whom I try to model my own performances.

When Pat Summerall spoke, those listening knew they were listening to football. Much like John Facenda and his "voice of God" is synonymous with NFL Films, nearly 30 years after his death, Pat Summerall is synonymous with the premier NFL game on Sunday afternoons. In concert with his longtime broadcast partner, Hall of Fame NFL coach John Madden, Summerall narrated football in a manner that made the commentary an inseparable part of the NFL television viewing experience.

Summerall's broadcasting career spanned more than 40 years. He called 16 Super Bowls. He called countless playoff games and nationally televised NFC regular season games on CBS and Fox. He will be missed.

The first three minutes say more than I could say about the man in one day.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

Retweet of the Day - April 17, 2013

2013-04-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

This morning, I heard that former NFL kicker and legendary, longtime NFL play-by-announcer Pat Summerall died yesterday of cardiac arrest while recovering from hip surgery in a Dallas area hospital. Today's retweet is from columnist Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons), whose tweet, back on January 8, 2012 captures the essence of Summerall's legacy.

"Really enjoying this game. Smashmouth/cold weather/field position football with an old-school noisy crowd. Where are Madden & Summerall?"

They were a one of a kind team.

Image from www.courrierpostonline.com

Retweet of the Day - April 16, 2013

2013-04-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

Today's retweet is from a professional athlete. Generally, the Retweet of the Day is reserved for a John Q. Tweeter that has a clever, catchy, thought in 140 characters or less. In the wake of the tragedy at yesterday's 117th running of the Boston Marathon, I thought it fitting for a higher profile member of the Twittersphere to have the recognition by this blog.

From Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks):

"Fear no evil"

Brief, yet profound.

Image from www.projectshanks.com

Retweet of the Day - April 15, 2013

2013-04-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

Today's retweet is for informative rather than entertainment purposes. This is a link to the most revealing footage of the Boston Marathon explosion. Viewer discretion is advised.

From Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch ‏@richarddeitsch "WARNING. This is difficult to view. RT @jemelehill Video of the explosion at Boston marathon. This is terrifying. http://bit.ly/ZWFi01"

Bombing at the Boston Marathon

2013-04-15T14:49:00.000-05:00

There are reports of multiple bomb explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon. There are reports of at least three dead and six injured, possibly dozens of injuries. On behalf of the Daily Hat Trick, I offer my condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the victims involved in this tragedy and the citizens of the Boston area.

Image from www.blacksportsonline.com

A Masterful View

2013-04-12T16:40:00.001-05:00

Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of retired Hall of Fame NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, is dating golfer Dustin Johnson. She was spotted at The Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia. That's all the cause I need to include her in today's Chick Pic.

This picture is a lot more dad-friendly than the last ones we ran of Paulina Gretzky. 1

At least Wayne passed on the value of teamwork to Paulina. 2

Note how closely those old men are looking and following. 3

Life's a beach for Dustin Johnson right now. 4

Dustin is living the dream, baby! 6

1-5) Images from www.bigleadsports.com
6) Images from www.sportressofblogitude.com

Retweet of the Day - April 11, 2013

2013-04-11T12:49:00.000-05:00

Tiger Woods is off to a solid start in the first round of the 2013 Masters today. Woods has birdied two holes on the front nine and is currently two under par. Woods has three tournament wins this year, regained his #1 ranking in the world, and has looked as good as he has looked since his personal and health issues completely derailed his golf game in late 2009. Many sports analysts are speculating that this Masters could be the major tournament that Woods wins to break his streak of 18 consecutive major tournaments without a win (last major win - 2008 U.S. Open).

Of course, it is hard to forget the events that triggered Woods hiatus from elite performances on the course. Today's retweet is from NOTSportsCenter (‏@NOTSportsCenter):

"Lindsey Vonn isn't the only one at the #Masters to watch Tiger Woods. A few of his mistresses showed up too: pic.twitter.com/WMfdQpBsPd"

Are those all of them? That number seems a little low.

Image from www.twitter.com

Badonk-a-Dunk

2013-04-10T15:37:00.001-05:00

The Miami Heat have coasted to the top seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference and the Heat reportedly plan to rest some of their stars, like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, during the final week of the regular season. Last year, Bosh's wife, Venezuelan-American model Adrienne Williams Bosh, gave birth to their son just as the playoffs got ready to heat up.

You guys love some of Mrs. Bosh. The Daily Hat Trick has received multiple views from readers searching for her ethnicity/nationality or wanting to see why rapper Lil' Wayne set his sights on her, etc. She's a beautiful woman; it makes perfect sense to me.

Recently, some paparazzi pictures of Adrienne Bosh on the beach surfaced on the Internet. Considering her small stature (she cannot possibly be more than five feet tall), I'd say she looks pretty good considering she gave birth last year.

She isn't hiding her bikini body, wearing red and all. Go girl! 1

Anyone else think of phrases like "junk in the trunk" or "badonk-a-donk"? 2

This was a picture from before she married Chris Bosh. You can tell which is before" and which is "after", but barely. 4

Baby got front, back, and side-to-side! 5

1, 2, 3) Images from www.zimbio.com
4) Image from www.mstrendy.com
5) Image from www.gossipcop.com