Back Porch FanHouse

Marv Albert, 50 Cent Beef Was, Unsurprisingly, Overblown

Will Brinson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, Sports Media, Current Events

Marv Albert and 50 Cent had a reported "interaction" backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live that generated a ton of press -- obviously whenever two people like Marv and Fitty interact in a reportedly violent manner, it's gonna be news.

Turns out the the whole thing was entirely overblown. Marv and 50 never had any sort of violent interaction and, from what FanHouse has learned, and which the AP is now reporting, it was all a giant misunderstanding.

The new and more accurate account of what happened goes like this: one of Fitty's boys was using a dressing room, (which as we understand it, was Albert's) to make a phone call. Marv showed up shortly thereafter and because Marv is Marv, Kimmel's security asked the entourage member to leave. What resulted was a "don't put your hands on me" awkward security situation, and apparently nothing involving the NBA announcer.

"I couldn't even tell you what the guy looked like or the security guard looked like," Albert said.

Albert said he even read one account that he was punched by 50 Cent, who was the show's musical guest, but insisted they never crossed paths

"They embellish. It keeps getting embellished more than anything else," Albert said. "What do you say, it's just wrong."

See, this makes a lot more sense; there's really no reason to believe (as I wrote originally) that 50 Cent and his crew would find Marv Albert (Marv!) to be a danger. Unfortunately, it was reported that way.

Now if Albert was worried about his reputation this might be considered a public relations nightmare. Fortunately -- and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here -- I think we're at the point where we don't consider Albert anything other than a superb NBA announcer with one of the greatest catchphrases of all time.

He's also a guy who has no beef with a rapper. But that should have been obvious.

Marv Albert, 50 Cent Beef Was, Unsurprisingly, Overblown originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill Simmons' Twitter Suspended: ESPN Put in Him in Timeout for 2 Weeks

Will Brinson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, ESPN, Sports Media, Current Events, Twitter

Bill Simmons, ESPN's most popular Twitter personality, once shunned the medium but now clocks in at well over 1,000,000 followers. But it looks like he'll be seeing significantly less Twitter action over the next two weeks: he's had his Tweeting privileges yanked by ESPN for some aggressive remarks he made to ESPN-affiliated radio station WEEI in Boston.

Well, kind of -- he's still apparently allowed to tweet about his book tour, which has only one stop remaining in Las Vegas for early December.

You can still see the offending Tweets here and here, but in case Simmons has banned you from following him too, here's what he said:

Hey WEEI: You were wrong, I did a Boston interview today. With your competition. Rather give them ratings over deceitful scumbags like you.

Additionally, Simmons referred to Dennis and Callahan The Big Show with the Big O and Glenn Ordway (update via the comments and this site) as "washed-up athletes" and "fat" while stating that he heard they were bashing him. TBL was asking rhetorical questions (and combing through Tweets) yesterday, and ESPN's Editor-in-Chief Rob King has since confirmed that Simmons has been punished, via this blog post that he linked to on his personal Twitter account.

We have internal guidelines designed to inform how we discuss the topic of sports media. These guidelines are important us, because they help maintain the credibility with which ESPN operates.

No one knows the guidelines better than Bill Simmons, and he customarily works within these standards. He also understands, as does everyone else at ESPN, that we regard these guidelines as being equally important when participating in social media.

While it's unfortunate - and sometimes painful - that not everyone outside of ESPN chooses to play by such rules, we choose to hold ourselves to higher standards. Regardless of the provocation, Bill's communication regarding WEEI fell short of those standards. So we've taken appropriate measures.

Those measures being the two-week suspension, which is kind of like a parent putting their honor roll kid in timeout for 15 minutes because he called a promiscuous female classmate a "strumpet." Or something. The point wasn't that Simmons was being offensive or even rude, it's that ESPN had to take some kind of action, otherwise they were opening the door for other employees to abuse social media and then having to dole out what might be perceived as unfair punishment.

Bill Simmons' Twitter Suspended: ESPN Put in Him in Timeout for 2 Weeks originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama, NFL Players Take on Kids in Tag Football Game at White House

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NFL

Under the guise of the United We Serve initiative, President Barack Obama teamed up with Drew Brees, Troy Polamalu and DeMarcus Ware to school a bunch of kids in tag football on the White House's South Lawn. All in the name of stressing the importance of fitness for America's youth.

Via the press release: "In support of NFL PLAY 60, all Thanksgiving weekend games will raise awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic and showcase the NFL and its clubs' commitment to help reverse this trend."

Hey, sometimes sedentary, preteen gamers need a little tough love when it comes to actually getting outside long enough to break a sweat. Or maybe I'm overselling it a bit. Slow-motion, NFL Films-inspired video of the 90-second public service announcement after the jump:

"Through United We Serve, I have challenged all Americans to roll up their sleeves and engage in sustained service to strengthen our communities," President Obama said. "For some of us that means volunteering at a soup kitchen or cleaning up a local park. For others, it means taking time to build a playground or volunteering your time to improve the life of a child. No matter how we serve, we find common purpose when we dedicate ourselves to helping others. This holiday season, I am asking all Americans to find their own way to give back to their communities."

Just something to remember when you're stuffing your face the next few weeks.

Obama, NFL Players Take on Kids in Tag Football Game at White House originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marv Albert, 50 Cent Rumble Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live

Will Brinson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NBA

Of all the headlines I read today, the one you see above is now second on the "didn't see that coming" list after "Al Roker Loses Mind Previewing Weather for Sunday Night Football". Apparently, 50 Cent and his entourage went after Marv Albert backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live last night.

At least if you believe the Los Angeles Times (or if you prefer to get your news from more reputable sources, here ya go):

As Albert arrived, with an entourage of one, TNT public relations specialist Jeff Pomeroy, there was a sudden scuffle when a multitude of 50 Cent protectors seemed unfamiliar with Albert. There was shouting ("It's Marv Albert," yelled a Kimmel show guard, a pronouncement that seemed to have no effect on the 50 Cent phalanx.) There were obscenities. A fist or two flying. A "Don't you put your hands on me" pronouncement.

And finally Albert made it to his waiting room, relatively unruffled but slightly puzzled. "Did you see that?" Albert said. "I thought they were kidding, but then I realized they weren't."

I have no rational explanation why Fitty and his posse would think that Marv might be a threat (I mean, I can see why some people might think that, but what on earth could he do to a rapper who embraces violence?)

Unless, you know, "EWING, YES!" is some sort of gang-related verbal assault that I don't know about.

Marv Albert, 50 Cent Rumble Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word on the Street: The Who Will Perform at Halftime of the Super Bowl

Will Brinson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NFL

Jimmy Traina (who made SI's Hot Clicks a must-read since taking it over a few years ago) dropped some spicy news today: The Who are going to be this year's performer at halftime of the Super Bowl.

Of course, the Super Bowl performer is always a huge name and the announcement is always a huge deal -- so this causes some problems for the NFL (at least in terms of getting to announce it). The NFL neither confirmed nor denied Traina's post saying, "When we have something to announce, we'll announce it."

Cryptic. But Traina is standing by his story, telling FanHouse that "I'm confident in my sources."

We can deal in rumors and speculation all we want (although I firmly believe Traina is dead-on here), but let's talk about whether this is viable. And there are four factors that go into the selection of a Super Bowl performer: lack of hipness, proclivity for engaging old people, timelessness and a forthcoming album.

And yeah: Prince might be hip and I wouldn't argue with you on that, but 15-22-year-olds aren't snapping up Purple Rain these days, alright? So, I think it's safe to say that Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones all fit the bill.

Do The Who? Yeah, they do -- I love them, my dad loves them, my grandfather hates them and my younger cousin actually asked, "The Who?" (Get it?) Super-awesome bonus: lookie who's got a new record coming out in 2010!

So right, even though reports have surfaced that Bon Jovi is "in negotiations" with the NFL, you can almost guarantee that you'll see Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend on stage in February. Bon Jovi will want too much (he's still quasi-relevant!) and if the new bosses want to get paid a ton of money to pimp out their latest recording effort, well, there's no better opportunity than the world's biggest halftime show.

Word on the Street: The Who Will Perform at Halftime of the Super Bowl originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Tyson Arrested for 'Scuffle' in Airport With Photographer

Will Brinson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events

In not-so-shocking news, Mike Tyson has been arrested for a "scuffle" at a Los Angeles airport involving photographer Tony Echevarria, according to police. Tyson, whose public behavior track record hasn't been great, was arrested and released on $20,000 bond, according to television reports.

Per usual, there are differing accounts as to exactly what happened:

The photographer told police that Tyson struck him once, airport police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb said. The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital.

Tyson's spokeswoman Tammy Brook said the boxer was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old child when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzo. "Mike acted in self defense as a father protecting his child," she said.

TMZ later spoke with the photographer who claimed that blood was gushing "like a water fountain" after Tyson hit him four times, despite the fact that Echevarria claims he wasn't "disrespectful or aggressive."

Maybe Tyson did hit him -- and more than likely, you will see a lawsuit from Echevarria at some point, I'm guessing -- but there are a couple problems with this whole business.

One, it's not difficult to imagine a scenario where, if harassed, Mike Tyson could become angry. Two, who the hell are you supposed to believe here: a boxer-turned-ex-con with a violent history ... or a member of the paparazzi? (Echevarria's actions support this "stereotype," I tend to think.) Third: regardless of who's at fault, there's zero question as to who would win in a "scuffle" between a 50-year-old photographer and an ex-heavyweight champion.

And finally, with both men claiming they want to press charges for misdemeanor battery, is it really worthwhile pursuing anything criminal in this case? I say no -- and also, despite my best judgment, tend to be overly sympathetic towards Tyson in this case. Having seen no video or heard no factual witness report, this seems like a situation where Iron Mike was targeted, with the photographer knowing Tyson's predisposition to violence, and ending up with the exact outcome he wanted.

Mike Tyson Arrested for 'Scuffle' in Airport With Photographer originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philadelphia Spectrum Remembered

Michael David Smith — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events

The Philadelphia Spectrum will soon be demolished, and although its farewell show was a Pearl Jam concert, it will always be remembered primarily through sports. The video above celebrates some of the Spectrum's greatest sports moments.

The Broad Street Bullies played there, and the Flyers became the first American team to beat the Soviet Red Army there. Dr. J and the Philadelphia 76ers played there. The Final Four was there. Christian Laettner hit his famous shot to beat Kentucky there.

And it wasn't just the home to real sports: The WWF regularly played shows there. And Rocky Balboa fought Apollo Creed there, even if the Rocky boxing scenes weren't actually filmed there.

Take a few minutes to watch the video above. It's a celebration of one of America's great sports venues.

Video via Fark.

Philadelphia Spectrum Remembered originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nike N7 Fund to Help Native Americans

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: College Sports, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

There are close to 4.5 million Native Americans living in about 565 federally recognized communities across the Untied States. Many of these communities have been neglected, and unemployment in some areas is as high as 80 percent. The shortage of funds results in little to no organized youth sports activities. Diabetes and obesity are fast-growing problems.

Check out the video after the jump.

Nike has decided to step in, teaming up with members of the Native American community to create the N7 fund, which will help bring sports to these communities. Nike has released a shoe dedicated to the cause, and it's being worn by such NBA stars as Brandon Roy and Tony Parker. In this video, we were on hand as the new N7 show was unveiled, we also hear from Sam McCracken of the N7 Fund and Andy Miguel of Nike Basketball.

Nike N7 Fund to Help Native Americans originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily Show Debates Whether Philly or NY Fans Are 'Bigger Douches'

Will Brinson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: TV and Movies, Current Events, NFL, MLB

Neither the Daily Show nor the Colbert Report delve into the sports realm all that often. However, the current Philadelphia-New York rivalry has apparently stoked enough passion in Jersey-born Jon Stewart (he's right in the middle, yo!) for him to send correspondents Jason Jones and John Oliver out on the street to measure the rivalry.

But, per usual, they're not just looking at the fans -- they're deciding which fans are more awful (or "bigger douches" as the clip actually says like 150 times; should you be afraid that such a phrase will not be popular on your office speakers, consider yourself forewarned). And they have real, live clips, which are hysterical, of course. "Clash of the Cretins" video, courtesy of the CC Insider, after the jump.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Clash of the Cretins

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Now, for my money, I think that New York wins this contest running away all day; that's only because I think they're bigger "bags" (if you will) than the Philly fans, who are just insane and obnoxious. And yes, there's a difference.

Daily Show Debates Whether Philly or NY Fans Are 'Bigger Douches' originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gus Johnson on Chris Johnson: 'He's Got Gettin' Away From the Cops Speed'

Will Brinson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, Sports Media, Current Events, NFL

Is it all the rage to make silly comments in the announcing booth these days? Because, between Bob Griese's taco pop and what Gus Johnson dropped on Sunday, well, it sure seems like announcers are becoming less aware of what they say these days.

Oh, you didn't hear what Gus dropped as Tennessee's Chris Johnson was ripping off a long touchdown run? How about: "First down and 10. Johnson ... gets his shoulders square! Watch out! He's got gettin' away from the cops speed! Touchdown!" Emphasis there was mine (as much as it can be with Mr. Johnson, anyway) and sure, he's got a pretty good reason to think that CJ might be running from the cops -- after all, the Titans running back did attend ECU (I kid, I kid). But my pro-Wolfpack biases aside, if Gus happens to be -- as Brian Powell pointed out -- say, Jim Nantz, this probably doesn't go over quite as well.

Vid after the jump, natch.

Gus Johnson on Chris Johnson: 'He's Got Gettin' Away From the Cops Speed' originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barack Obama Invites Melody Barnes to Join Golf Foursome

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, Golf

Last week the New York Times reported that President Barack Obama was criticized by women's advocates and liberal bloggers for hosting male-only pick-up basketball games.

The Times continues:

"The technical foul over the all-male game has become a nagging concern for a White House that has battled an impression dating to the presidential campaign that Mr. Obama's closest advisers form a boys' club and that he is too frequently in the company of only men - not just when playing sports, but also when making big decisions."

Political firestorm averted, it seems. Or, at the very least, momentarily derailed. Last Sunday, Obama played golf at the Army's Ft. Belvoir course, and his chief domestic policy advisor, Melody Barnes, was included in the foursome. She's the first woman to earn the honor so I suppose congratulations are in order.

No political discussion would be complete without The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck weighing in so enjoy:

"If you have your two daughters looking at who's playing basketball in the backyard from your office, ask some women to join you. Get the women out there involved. ... Many people - many people, both conservative and liberal are seeing it as something of concern."

Some might say it's more of a concern than fighting two wars, the healthcare debate, and the economy.*

* Nobody would say that

Barack Obama Invites Melody Barnes to Join Golf Foursome originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Funeral 4 Favre': One Green Bay Radio Station's Way of Saying, 'Thanks!'

Will Brinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Current Events, NFL

Or perhaps not ...

This Sunday, Brett Favre returns to Lambeau Field for the first time as a member of the Vikings. For many (read: all) Packers fans, this will be a bit of a tough pill to swallow. However, 105.7 WAPL (The Rockin' Apple, y'all!) in Green Bay would just as soon not deal with "emotions" or "reality."

Instead, they're just going to "kill" Favre.

Kind of, anyway -- they've got a "Funeral 4 Favre" planned from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, and frankly, it sounds like quite the party.

Rick and Len will broadcast live, 3-6pm on Friday, October 30th from Tom, Dick, and Harry's in Green Bay for the funeral. Then the coffin will "lie in state" through the weekend and up to WAPL's Rockin' Apple Red Zone party on Sunday, November 1st. We're holding the funeral... it's up to the Green and Gold to bury him on Sunday.

But wait! There's more! Including: an actual funeral procession to Tom, Dick and Harry's (a bar in Greenville) with a custom No. 4 hearse, a dummy body dressed in Wranglers, eulogies from fans and radio hosts while playing Candle in the Wind, "disposal" of old Favre memorabilia and an Aaron Rodgers giveaway (shirts, jerseys and whatnot; not the actual person).

Most importantly though, the radio station wants all Green Bay-area folk to build up enough vitriol through this not-exactly-helpful process (enthusiastically burying a fake body while imbibing gallons of beer is a recipe for angry fans before the game) to boo the living tar out of Favre when he steps on the field. At least that's what I'm assuming, anyway.

Or maybe it's just a publicity stunt; after all, Len Nelson -- one of the hosts -- landed an appearance on First and 10 today (video above). But then again, maybe Packers fans really need this. And after all, it's a semi-amusing anecdote that takes away from all the "actual analysis" about him just "being a kid out there" and "loving the game" for a few minutes, so, stunt or no, I'm willing to play along.

'Funeral 4 Favre': One Green Bay Radio Station's Way of Saying, 'Thanks!' originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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William & Mary Crowns Jessee Vasold First Transgender Homecoming Queen

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: College Sports, Current Events

William and Mary, Virginia's first university (and the second-oldest university in the country), achieved another milestone Saturday: the college crowned its first transgender homecoming queen. Jessee Vasold made history at halftime of the James Madison-W&M game.

According to the student paper the Flat Hat, "Vasold identifies as gender-queer and prefers to be referred to with gender neutral pronouns: 'ze' in place of he or she and 'zir' rather than him or her."

Vasold admitted to being surprised by the news. Via the Daily Press' Melinda Waldrop:

"I knew I was nominated, but I was just surprised, because there were a lot of other really good candidates on the ballot," Vasold said. "I know all of the other girls, and they're wonderful people, really friendly. So I was surprised."

Waldrop adds: "Vasold said family members were in town for homecoming, and while they have been 'generally' supportive, some were unsure about Vasold's decision to accept the homecoming title. 'They're a little hesitant about this, but they realize that it's my choice to accept,' Vasold said."

William and Mary president Taylor Reveley seemed unconcerned by the outcome. "I knew Jessee before ... (It's) a little more publicity than normal for a homecoming queen, but it's just fine."

In case you were wondering, Junior Class President Mike Tsidulko told the Flat Hat that there is no rule against men or women running for opposite roles. Students who made nominations were simply asked to describe how the candidate exemplified Tribe pride.

And perhaps an example of how far we have come regarding gender roles in our society, the response on campus was positive. Again, via the Flat Hat.

"I've only had people congratulating me. I know that one of my friends was in a conversation with someone who didn't think that it was fair that I was able to run, because I'm not female-bodied," Vasold said. "But it generated a really good conversation, so they were able to talk about a lot of different things."

William & Mary Crowns Jessee Vasold First Transgender Homecoming Queen originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: ESPN's Kate Lacey Confirms Relationship With David Berson

Will Brinson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, ESPN, Sports Media, Current Events, Backporch Features

Kate Lacey (or Katie Lacey, according to the post), a Senior VP at ESPN, was one of the names that Deadspin dropped earlier this week when they examined, using reader-submitted rumors, the "sexual depravity" within Bristol. ESPN responded yesterday with a statement calling that examination both "despicable" and "rumor mongering."

Turns out, AJ Daulerio's editorial commentary in this instance was actually spot on: the New York Post confirmed Friday morning in a story titled "2 ESPN Execs Playing Around" that Lacey is indeed in a relationship with co-worker David Berson.

"I'm in an ongoing and known relationship with a peer," Lacey told The Post.

Berson, whom Business Week ranks as the 73rd most powerful man in sports, finalized his divorce from his ex-wife Jane in March, a source said. Lacey and Berson first found romance together two years ago, the source said. A separate ESPN source confirmed Berson and Lacey had been dating for a long time.

Confirmation of the Deadspin rumors serves to do a couple things.

First, while everything that Daulerio published has yet to be confirmed, he was spot-on in his post about Lacey and Berson.

Additionally, and more importantly, Lacey's willingness to admit her inter-office affair removes any possibility that ESPN could file suit for this specific instance (the legal ramifications were, of course, one of the biggest concerns of the entire issue) and also explains why ESPN's comment yesterday contained no denials.

These two issues -- motive and outcome -- are still up in the air. And considering how quickly things are developing in the Phillips Affair turned Media Flame War, this could almost go any direction at this point.

Report: ESPN's Kate Lacey Confirms Relationship With David Berson originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heath Shuler to Play QB in Washington

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NFL

Never thought I'd say this but Heath Shuler might be a better quarterback than politician.

In February, the former Redskins QB-turned-Democratic Congressman told the Associated Press that "In order for us to get the confidence of America, [the stimulus bill] has to be done in a bipartisan way ... I truly feel that's where maybe House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed."

Which prompted Jim Manley, the spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to offer this: "Let me get this straight -- this is coming from a guy who threw more than twice as many interceptions than touchdowns?"

Well, guess who's back under center? That's right, for one day only, those fans who spent good money on Heath Shuler jerseys after the 'Skins selected him with third-overall pick in the 1994 draft will have the opportunity to wear them again.

Of course, based on the official statement coming from Congressman Shuler's office, you'd never know he played in Washington. (Which isn't far from the truth, I suppose.)

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is again playing in the Congress vs. Capitol Police football game, which raises money for families of three officers killed in the line of duty.

Shuler's office notes that he formerly played quarterback for the University of Tennessee, Barb Barrett reports.

In its release, the office declines to mention his short-lived stint with the Washington Redskins (who this year are an abysmal 2-4). It also fails to re-live a past Congress vs. Capitol Police game in which Shuler threw a pair of interceptions. The bi-partisan congressional team lost that one.

Some interceptions and a loss? Just like old times. On the upside: now it's for a good cause.

Heath Shuler to Play QB in Washington originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Vick Declines Opportunity to Visit 'Victim' Dogs

Will Brinson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Current Events, NFL

Michael Vick is headed to the Bay Area this weekend as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to ~~embarrass~~ play the Oakland Raiders in a little game we like to call football. But, contrary to what you might expect (since he's doing a worldwide goodwill tour paying visits to animal shelters), Vick will not be visiting dogs that were rescued from his fighting ring.

Vick was given the opportunity by BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls, the group that took in 10 of his dogs) to stop by and he has declined the offer, which upset BAD RAP co-founder Tim Racer.

"We understand Vick is trying to right his wrongs and is very interested in redemption, but you can't find redemption without acknowledging your victims," Racer said. "Making amends to the dogs themselves would have helped to create some closure for many of us, especially those people who worked so hard to keep them from being destroyed. It seems that Vick is not ready to go there."

Now, I'm not a defender of the freedoms of dogfighters. And I also understand that this isn't PETA we're talking about, either -- it's a group dedicated to saving pit bulls and making sure that pit bull owners don't get a bad rap for the stereotypes that are often associated with this breed.

But here's the thing: what does Vick gain by visiting these dogs? Or better yet, what does anyone gain? BAD RAP would get some publicity through the visit (they're getting it anyway). But so would an angry mob of dog lovers, which probably wouldn't end well.

Additionally, Vick is supposed to keep his distance from dogs as a condition of his probation; why bother flirting with a judge's orders for a visitation with a group of animals that may or may not remember him (and even though the jury's still out on science, I'm fairly confident that it's the latter given the amount of time that's passed)?

This isn't Vick being callous or uncaring. This is Vick doing his best to create the least possible publicity surrounding his situation and his rehabilitation. And while I'm not sure if he's using a high-powered PR firm to make his decisions, it sure does seem that way.

Michael Vick Declines Opportunity to Visit 'Victim' Dogs originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Inside Edition' Investigates Hotel Privacy in Wake of Erin Andrews Video

Ryan Wilson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Current Events

"Inside Edition" hasn't been quite the same since Bill O'Reilly was bringing his homespun folksiness to the show back in the '90s. But even if it's not as tabloid-y as it once was, "Inside Edition" is still doing the hard-hitting, investigative journalism that made Carl Monday an Internet sensation.

In the wake of the Erin Andrews peephole video, and the revelation that the hotel had fulfilled alleged perp Michael David Barrett's request for a room next to Andrews, "Inside Edition" went deep undercover to see if hotels had since taken precautions to avoid such celebrity-stalker situations from happening again.

The short answer: nope.

INSIDE EDITION ... Correspondent Jim Moret tried to book a room next door to a well-known TV personality and sports broadcaster, INSIDE EDITION special correspondent Lisa Guerrero.

Jim Moret called and asked for a room next to Lisa Guerrero's at the Vanderbilt Marriott in Nashville, and if the name sounds familiar, it should...it's the same hotel Erin Andrews was staying in when she was secretly videotaped through a peephole.

When Lisa Guerrero checked in two days later, she was not informed that someone had requested a room near her.

And when Moret checked in 20 minutes later and reminded the desk clerk of his request, the hotel confirmed that Lisa Guerrero was a guest and that she had already checked in. They did not give Moret a room next to her, but they did tell him Guerrero was staying just one floor below.

For some reason, the hotel manager didn't want to talk on-camera with "Inside Edition," but the company issued the following statement: "Marriott takes guest security and privacy very seriously."

Just something to make you feel better should you stumble across naked videos of yourself up on the Internet.

But this could be isolated to the Vanderbilt Marriott; when Moret checked into the Sheraton Music City and tried to request a room near Guerrero, the clerk asked, "Do you know her?"

It's not a fail-proof solution for customer privacy, but it's better than, "Yes, Mr. Creepy Guy with hacksaw and flipcam, your room next to [famous, young, hot sideline reporter] is ready!"

'Inside Edition' Investigates Hotel Privacy in Wake of Erin Andrews Video originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kiwanuka, Scott Would Not Play for Limbaugh-Owned NFL Team

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NFL

Rush Limbaugh, radio personality, has made a handsome living out of spreading his brand of conservatism. Bart Scott is an NFL linebacker, outspoken about most things, including politics.

During the 2006 mid-term elections Scott, then with the Ravens, spoke about his political philosophy with USA Today's Skip Wood.

"We get a break by that, but then our family members are overtaxed. You know, tax cuts for the rich. Well, it's a Catch-22. Do you want to save more of your money, when you can afford to pay the taxes, or do you want your families to save more of their money, when sometimes maybe they're really being burdened? A lot of guys say, 'Now that I've got money, I'm going to have to vote Republican, but I'll go back to being a Democrat when I retire.' To me, that's just selfish."

So it should come as no surprise that Scott has no interest in playing for an NFL team owned by Limbaugh. On Tuesday it was reported that Limbaugh was part of a group who wanted to purchase the Rams. And yesterday Scott weighed in (via the New York Daily News):

"It's an oxymoron that he criticized Donovan McNabb," Scott said. "A lot of us took it as more of a racial-type thing. I can only imagine how his players would feel. I know I wouldn't want to play for him. He's a jerk. He's an ---. What he said (about McNabb) was inappropriate and insensitive, totally off-base. He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... I wouldn't play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can't be bought."

In 2003, Limbaugh, during his brief stint on ESPN's NFL Countdown, "suggested Eagles black quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated by a sports media concerned about looking politically correct," as Kevin Blackistone writes.

Scott isn't the only person who would be uninterested in playing for a team owned by Limbaugh. Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka echoed similar sentiments.

"All I know is from the last comment I heard, he said in (President) Obama's America, white kids are getting beat up on the bus while black kids are chanting 'right on,'" Kiwanuka told the Daily News. "I mean, I don't want anything to do with a team that he has any part of. He can do whatever he wants, it is a free country. But if it goes through, I can tell you where I am not going to play."

And this was after Kiwanuka admitted that he loved playing for former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo who now coaches the Rams.

"I love Spags and would play for him in a heartbeat, but under that situation ... obviously trades you have no control over, but if it was a free-agent thing, I wouldn't care if I only had one offer on the table, I would rather stay a free agent."

There are very few things you could do to make the Rams worse. Letting Limbaugh have an ownership stake is right up there with "building the franchise around Kyle Boller's potential."

Kiwanuka, Scott Would Not Play for Limbaugh-Owned NFL Team originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Elway, Anti-Terrorism Spokesman

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, NFL

John Elway -- two-time Super Bowl winner, Hall of Fame quarterback, restaurateur, car dealer and now: fighter of terrorism.

The former Broncos star narrates this eight-minute spot funded by the Department of Homeland Security that, according to the web site, "[lets] Americans know what kinds of activities might be a sign of terrorist activity in the making."

To summarize: Trust No One.

Josh Alper, writing for NBCNewYork, has a more thoughtful take:

One wonders how well Elway would have done in the NFL if he'd applied the same level of suspicion he advocates in the video. At one point or another, he urges people to be wary of those using cell phones, binoculars, gift cards, taking notes and looking at their watch. We're all for stopping terrorism and vigilance is certainly part of any sound defense strategy, but Elway's 8 signs wind up covering far too many everyday activities to know how the average joe is supposed to separate the wheat from the chaff.

To put it in football terms, worrying about ... everybody on the opposing defense only works so long as it doesn't distract you from blocking the one guy who is really going to harm your offense's chances of scoring a touchdown.

There's a football lesson for Jim Zorn in that last paragraph, I think.

John Elway, Anti-Terrorism Spokesman originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Young Fan Wins Lawsuit for Ryan Howard's 200th Career Home Run Ball

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Current Events, MLB

Back in July, when the Phillies' Ryan Howard hit his 200th career home run, it was noteworthy because he achieved the milestone in fewer games than anyone in major league history.

And now it's noteworthy for another reason: 12-year-old Jennifer Valdivia, who ended up with the historic ball, was ushered to the Phillies clubhouse after the game to exchange it for an autographed one. Her mother sued the organization and now Jennifer has Howard's 200th home run ball back in her possession.

"My ball,'' Jennifer beamed, according to the Miami Herald. "I have it, finally.''

On Wednesday, NPR's Melissa Block spoke with Norm Kent, Valdivia's attorney, and he explained why the family decided to file a lawsuit.

"The Philadelphia Phillies' team representative, knowing not only the historic value of that baseball, but its financial value, sent a team representative to Marlin security to retrieve young Jennifer from the stands," Kent said. "And she was there, 12-year-old Jennifer, with her 15-year-old brother, neither of the age of majority, offered her some cotton candy and a baseball worth 100 bucks in exchange for one that was worth thousands."

The baseball also had value to Howard, who had just made history, Block countered, before noting that the comments on the Miami Herald web site (Howard set the record in Miami against the Marlins) didn't support the lawsuit.

"Mr. Kent, you probably would not be surprised to know that the comments ... are not favorable to your side," Block began. "I wanted to read one of them to you: 'Way to teach a 12-year-old how to extort money at an early age.' And you know that extorting money for baseball, ball hawking, is becoming a big business among fans."

Kent's response? "I think that if there was extortion that occurred here, it was the Phillies holding the baseball hostage from her for two months after they unlawfully deprived her of it."

According to the Associated Press, the Phillies declined to comment.

The lesson: when in doubt, sue somebody.

Young Fan Wins Lawsuit for Ryan Howard's 200th Career Home Run Ball originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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