Back Porch FanHouse

Erin Drewes ('Tebow's Girl') to Do Playboy With Florida Gator Body Paint

Will Brinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: College Sports, Sports Advertising

Erin Drewes is probably best known as "Tim Tebow's busty girlfriend" or some amalgamation thereabouts. Turns out, that's totally untrue! Not only is Erin Drewes NOT Tebow's girlfriend, but she would prefer you not confuse her with Lucy Pinder.

Oh, right, and she's going to be donning body paint -- in the form of a Florida Gator's uniform, natch -- for an upcoming issue of Playboy. (That link is, quite obviously, NSFW.)

GIRLWATCHER: What is the real extent of your relationship with Tim Tebow? Are you friends with him-or did you just happen to stand next to him at a party?

ERIN: We are acquaintances through mutual friends and we would see each other here and there. We were standing together talking at a party at U of F and that's when the now-infamous picture was taken.

So, there, you gossip hounds! Stop trying to harass the poor girl. All she's ever wanted (as you can read in Girlwatcher's interview) is to get a decent education and do some modeling. And to not be confused with supermodels who like to get naked.

Wait, maybe that last part doesn't work so well anymore.

Photo via Getty Images

Erin Drewes ('Tebow's Girl') to Do Playboy With Florida Gator Body Paint originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mean Joe Greene Makes Glenn Beck Cry

Michael David Smith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: TV and Movies, Sports Advertising

TV Guide once listed the ad in which Mean Joe Greene gave his jersey to a kid who gave him a Coke as one of the Top 10 commercials of all time. And now, more than 30 years after it first aired, that iconic commercial has reached a new level of notoriety: it has made Glenn Beck cry.

On Thursday, Beck showed the Mean Joe commercial -- and another 1970s commercial, for Kodak -- and teared up as he recounted how much better America was in those days. I'm not quite sure what Beck's point was -- I think it was something about teenagers staying out past curfew -- but in any event, that Mean Joe commercial sure does have staying power.

Joe Posnanski wrote a great post about the Mean Joe commercial last week, and you should read the whole thing, but I think this is the most important part:

What is it about this commercial that made ME happy the million times I saw it as a child? I don't know for sure ... but it seems to me that it has something to do with pop culture heroes. There's this real hunger for our sports heroes, our literary heroes, our Hollywood heroes to be great people.

We do have a real hunger for our sports heroes to be great people, and I think we especially hunger for tough guys like Mean Joe to be gentle giants off the field. The commercial is just a contrivance to get us to buy Coke, and yet it's also kind of sweet and touching. I don't quite grasp why it makes Glenn Beck cry, but I do understand why the Mean Joe commercial has touched so many people for so long.

Mean Joe Greene Makes Glenn Beck Cry originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FOX Invites You to Watch a Game They Aren't Broadcasting

Josh Alper — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Sports Advertising, NFL

If you were the type of person who got all of their information from billboards, you'd be a severely uninformed individual. You'd also be sitting down on the couch on Sunday afternoon and dialing up whatever TV a billboard told you was the best to FOX to watch Brett Favre and the Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers. Sadly, that game would never come and you'd wind up punching your hand through the TV before heading off to the nearest billboard-approved medical center to get your hand stitched up.

That's because FOX, despite what this billboard spotted in Washington D.C. tells you, isn't televising the Vikings-Packers game during Week 4 of the NFL season. And also because the game isn't on Sunday, it's on Monday night. So the whole billboard just proves that Terry Bradshaw is both bald and a bald-faced liar, right?

Not really. As tempting as it is to accuse FOX of false advertising, the billboard features Bradshaw and Curt Menefee and, thus, advertises the network's pregame show. That pregame show will be the FOX crew's only chance to indulge themselves in all things Favre before Monday night's game and they're merely letting you know that they plan to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Whether you take that as a warning or a promise is up to you, but just remember that ESPN, which is actually televising the game, will give you plenty of chances to hear about Favre the next day. Nine out of 10 billboards agree that you should take your Favre talk in moderation, so making your viewing choices wisely.

(H/T Kissing Suzy Kolber)

FOX Invites You to Watch a Game They Aren't Broadcasting originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Miller High Life Guy Is Apparently a Bengals Fan

Will Brinson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: TV and Movies, Sports Advertising, NFL

Via everyone's favorite Pittsburgh Steelers blog, PSAMP (and mini-ponies, y'all!), comes video from Sunday's Steelers loss to the Bengals. But it's not your ordinary video. No, sir. It's actually video that explains exactly how the Steelers lost. Well, kind of. Basically, when the Miller High Life guy (the larger gentleman who steals High Life back from undeserving peoples, he also goes by Windell Middlebrooks) is in your corner ... you ALWAYS win.

Video evidence after the jump.

The Miller High Life Guy Is Apparently a Bengals Fan originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Scenes With Matt Ryan's Gillette Fusion Commercial

Will Brinson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

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

Matt Ryan, the Falcons' starting quarterback, played collegiately at Boston College. Sunday, he returned to New England to play in Gillette Stadium against the Patriots in the Atlanta's first outdoor game of the year (including preseason). And while that is technically true, Ryan has had some experience with the elements and fake Patriots when he filmed this spot for Gillette Fusion razors.

The commercial didn't involve paint cans or leather sports jackets, but the after-the-jump YouTube provides a behind-the-scenes look at how to create an indoor Gillette Stadium (it bears a striking resemblance to the stadium in the opening sequence of The Last Boy Scout), which should no doubt come in handy for Pats fans now back on the bandwagon after yesterday's win. It'll make a lovely addition to the miniature Fenway Park many of them have already erected in their back yards.

Behind the Scenes With Matt Ryan's Gillette Fusion Commercial originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ric Flair Is Honored With His Own Commemorative Lottery Tickets (WOO!)

Will Brinson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wrestling, Blogs, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events

Ric Flair is an icon among wrestling fans, not only worldwide but in North Carolina as well. He's always appearing on the Carolina Panthers jumbotron, screaming something or another about not drinking and driving (WOO!) and he's been known to show up at college football games and tailgates across the state.

And now he's been honored with his own commemorative scratch-off lottery tickets, designed specifically to help the children of North Carolina become more smarter. Or something.

Lottery executive director Tom Shaheen said the ticket could help attract new players.

"We are always looking for ways to appeal to new players so we can maximize sales and generate as much money as possible for education."

The tickets feature SIXTEEN different scratchy areas, which represent the 16 separate championship belts that Flair won during his career. So, yeah, that's awesome.

Also awesome: the chance to win $100,000, which is the top payout for the Flair tix (on sale September 22, resident NC degenerates!).

Something else to look out for: me writing a post about "Top 10 Athletes Who Need Their Own Lottery Ticket," because that's just too much comedy gold to pass up. Or, alternately, good luck. Would you really not buy a ticket with Big Shot Robert Horry on it?

Ric Flair Is Honored With His Own Commemorative Lottery Tickets (WOO!) originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Theme for the Patriots' 50th Anniversary? 'Cheers'

Will Brinson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Advertising, NFL

The Boston Red Sox have "Sweet Caroline." The Chicago Cubs have "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." And the Carolina Panthers have "Mr. Bojangles (a.k.a. The Pick-Six Shuffle)." Now, the New England Patriots have "Cheers."

Confused? Excellent. To clarify: Gillette and the Patriots have teamed up to bring all of you wonderful New England Patriots fans a video featuring players, coaches, fans, and Cliff Clavin. And they want you to sing along, starting now and ending never. Witness after the jump.

Do I necessarily approve? Well, no, but that's only because it makes someone other than me and the teams I cheer for enjoy a song that's pretty cool.

Would I sing along if I were a Pats fan? Hell yes. Because "Cheers" is awesome. And also because it's not "Sweet Caroline" which may or may not have been ruined by Jimmy Fallon. Look for the video to air sometime during the Monday Night Football opener between the Bills and Pats.

The Theme for the Patriots' 50th Anniversary? 'Cheers' originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Danica Patrick's Moob Signing Became a New Commercial for Boost Mobile

Will Brinson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: TV and Movies, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events

Boost Mobile -- it's a classy company that allows you to pay per month for cell phone minutes in advance. It's also the company that's now rocking out a new commercial featuring Danica Patrick signing mens' breasts. So, yeah, classy as all get out. (Although still pretty funny, so credit to the marketing people who continue to find hilarious/attractive ways to get Danica involved in advertising, even if they did manage to cheese off the transgender demographic.)

Danica Patrick's Moob Signing Became a New Commercial for Boost Mobile originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HausCast 25: Elie Seckbach on Life as the Embedded Correspondent

Will Brinson — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, TV and Movies, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events, Podcast

The FanHouse Podcast: Because bloggers are much sexier on the phone.

As Elie Seckbach noted when we finished the HausCast, this thing could have gone for three days -- that's how smart and insightful FanHouse's embedded correspondent is when it comes to the changing course of media in today's society. Plus, he has multiple stories that caused Wilson to emit a Brinson-like overlaugh. If you're a Seckbach fan -- and if you're not, God rest your soul -- follow him on Twitter, watch his vids on YouTube, or keep up with him on Facebook. And listen now to learn why video is the future, in addition to the funniest stories you'll hear about anyone spending time in and around NBA players on a regular basis.

Oh: Subscribe to our Itunes Feed. Support the revolution.

HausCast 25: Elie Seckbach on Life as the Embedded Correspondent originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stars Talk About How to Be Like Bo

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:38:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Sports Advertising

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

It was 20 years ago that Bo Jackson became a pop-culture icon when Nike featured him in a series of "Bo Knows ..."commercials for what was then a new kind of shoe, the Nike Cross Trainer. Now Nike has come out with a new Trainer 1 shoe, and to celebrate the release they brought together superstars from all sports for the 2009 Nike Training Summit. Superstars like Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Roy, Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson, Troy Polamalu (right) and more talk about everything from who they think the greatest athletes are (Troy's answer will surprise you) to what other sports they would play if they could cross over like Bo (again, Troy's answer will surprise you).

Check out the video after the jump.

Stars Talk About How to Be Like Bo originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 14:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Brandon Roy

Will Brinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson kicked it at The OC for the Nike Global Training Summit.

Even as his team was booted from the playoffs by the Houston Rockets, Brandon Roy recently received high praise from Ron Artest. Artest decided to give him the highest compliment possible, stating that Roy, not Kobe Bryant, was the toughest player he's ever had to guard.

And you best believe FanHouse (specifically my homie Elie Seckbach) was jumping on that question when Roy made an appearance at the Global Training Summit, sporting his customized B-Roy Trainer 1's. We also discuss his offseason plans, what the Blazers' goals are for next year and what he's doing in the offseason.

FanHouse: We gotta ask you -- Ron Artest said you're better than Kobe, what do you think about that?

Brandon Roy: "Nah, he didn't say I was better than Kobe -- he said I was the hardest guy he's ever guarded."

FH: You're the only guy to ever score 40 on him though, right?

Roy: "Yeah, so, for me that was a tremendous compliment. But that has nothing to do with me and Kobe head-to-head. Kobe does his thing, I'm a fan of what Kobe does. So, you know, great compliment by Ron Artest, but you'll have to ask him what he meant by it."

FH: You guys had a tremendous season, you went to the playoffs -- what can we expect from the Portland Trail Blazers next year?

Roy: "Well, our goal is to try and play for a championship next year. We feel like if we can add the right pieces this summer and continue to develop Greg [Oden] -- he's a big part of what we want to do -- and then with the guys that played well this year, to come back even better next year, we feel like we have the pieces to try and make a push for the championship. So we're going to set our goals that high and we're going to try and do everything we can to reach them."

FH: So what are you doing this summer now that you're not playing and not working out?

Roy: "Right now, just relaxing, spending time with family. Spending time with my two little ones and just trying to get as much time as I can because the season is long and you travel a lot, so, just trying to relax as much as possible and just mentally take my mind out of it for a little bit."

FH: Who's tougher to guard -- Kobe or LeBron?

Roy: "Just different ... they're both tough to guard. I can't say who's tougher, because I've had moments where -- Kobe he went for, I think my rookie year, 60-some points against us and LeBron went for 40. So I've had my work cut out for me against both of them, but they're just different. They're both dominant but in different ways."

FH: Channing Frye, Steve Blake and Joel Pryzbilla all practice martial arts in the offseason -- are you planning on joining them?

Roy: [Laughing] "Nah, I'm not going to join them. Maybe in the future, but not this summer."

FanHouse Talks to Brandon Roy originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 14:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse at the Nike Global Training Summit in Newport Beach

Will Brinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive

Last week, I left the comfort of my ~~mother's basement~~ shoddy little East Coast apartment to rep FanHouse at the 2009 Nike Global Training Summit in Newport Beach, California. The primary reason for convening 50-some media members in sunny SoCal? The introduction of the Nike Trainer 1, the Swoosh's newest crosstraining shoe, which celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the "Bo Knows" campaign, featuring Bo Jackson.

That campaign, of course, was a milestone in athletic advertising as well as shoe design -- not only did Jackson capture the hearts of Americans everywhere, but the wildly popular crosstrainer, "Bo Knows" Trainer I, helped to springboard Nike's shoe sales.

On hand for the celebration were NFL All-Pros Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Troy Polamalu; NBA All-Stars Amare Stoudemire and Brandon Roy; and Olympic Gold Medalist Bryan Clay.

Plus, you know ... me. Oh, and Elie Seckbach, who created a fantastic mashup video that you can view here.

Part 1: Nike Presents ... the Nike Trainer I (coming shortly, reverse order FTW!)
Part 2: FanHouse Talks to Larry Fitzgerald
Part 3: FanHouse Talks to Amare Stoudemire
Part 4: FanHouse Talks to Brandon Roy
Part 5: FanHouse Talks to Adrian Peterson
Part 6: FanHouse Talks to Troy Polamalu
Part 7: Nike Trainer 1 Shoe Review

FanHouse at the Nike Global Training Summit in Newport Beach originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Larry Fitzgerald

Will Brinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 EST

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

Will Brinson kicked it at The OC for the Nike Global Training Summit.

Larry Fitzgerald vaulted himself to the top of everyone's wide receiver rankings with a ridiculous close to 2008, as well as an otherworldly playoff run that ultimately resulted in a trip to the Super Bowl.

Things have been a little different this year, though -- Fitzgerald is dealing with Anquan Boldin's possible holdout and -- as a native Minnesotan and lifelong Vikings fan -- the emotions of possibly having Brett Favre wear Minnesota Vikings colors.

More From FanHouse in Cali: Reviewing Nike's Newest Shoe
Elie Seckbach Talks to the Stars | Amare Stoudemire Interview

At the Nike Global Training Summit, Fitzgerald took time to talk with FanHouse about these items as well as racing bloggers in 40-yard dashes (aside: if I was obnoxious or cared all that much, I'd point out that said race was actually my idea; it unfolded much like the Fish Sticks South Park episode, awkwardly). Obviously, as well, Larry was scared of lining up against my SEC-like speed.

FanHouse: "Are you down with racing bloggers ... or journalists, I guess? I noticed you stayed competitive when talking about it."

Larry Fitzgerald: "As an athlete, man, you compete in everything you do. It's always a competition."

FH: "I'm sure you're sick of talking about it, but ... Anquan Boldin: is he going to be ready for the start of the season?"

Fitzgerald: "Definitely. He's a true professional. He works extremely hard at his craft and that's why he's had the great results he's had over the last six years. We're a lot better football team with Anquan on it, and we want to keep him around as long as possible and we just hope that this disturbance will end happily and we can keep being a happy family."

FH: "A lot of people have you currently ranked as the top wide receiver in the NFL -- round out your top five after you."

Fitzgerald: "I don't know if I'm top five yet, I'm a work in progress and I've got a lot to improve on. But there's a plethora of really talented people in this league and I'd hate to number categorize guys. And this is no particular order, but: Randy Moss is still very talented, Reggie Wayne is unbelievable, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, I think Torry Holt still has a lot left in the tank -- I know I'm missing some guys -- Calvin Johnson, Anquan's right up there. There are a lot of guys who are extremely talented, but it's a lot about the system you're in."

FH: "You're a Vikings guy -- what do you think about Brett Favre (possibly) wearing purple?"

Fitzgerald: "You know, I kinda got mixed emotions. I'm a closet Vikings fan still. When we're not playing them, I like to see them win. Most of my closest friends play on the Vikings. And see, Brett Favre is kind of different -- he tormented me a little bit as a child. He hurt my feelings a lot, sent me to school with bad feelings all the time. But he's an unbelievable player, a Hall of Famer and a consummate professional and if he can go there and help the Vikings win, I hope they go 14-2; we beat them in December and get the number one seed."

FanHouse Talks to Larry Fitzgerald originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gatorade Replay: Phillipsburg Topples Easton 27-12 in 1993 Redux

Will Brinson — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, High School, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive

Will Brinson is Easton-bound (but not down) for the Gatorade Replay of America's most important high school rivalry.

There's something surreal about recapping a game that originally took place in 1993. I mean, even though the game started 15 years ago, it finished on Sunday. I know, because I watched those same football players racing up and down the field. And ultimately the game counted. But for what? Well ... if you asked anyone on either Easton or Phillipsburg, they would tell you "everything."

As offensive MVP Joe Luke -- eight catches, 208(!) yards and two touchdowns -- said when asked what the biggest difference between Saturday and 1993 was: "We're winners."

For Luke, and the rest of the 1993 P-burg football team, it was their first victory in the long-standing high school rivalry, because the senior class "lost" (they count the 1993 tie as a loss, according to Luke) all four games to Easton while in high school.

"I don't care if we're 30 years old or 60 years old -- the opportunity to get a victory against Easton, man," Lucas said afterwards, "That's the tops, that's what it's all about, that's what living in this community is all about."

And yes, it sounds absurd. But it's true -- that's precisely why 13,350 people (the final count, although there seemed like more) turned out to watch the two high schools play Sunday afternoon. The game itself was an interesting, and ironic, contrast of styles: Peyton Manning "coached" the team that ran the ball 32 times for 156 yards on the ground, led by Blaze Clymer's 99 yards on 15 carries.

Meanwhile, Eli Manning, whose NFL teams typically pound the rock more frequently than Peyton's, saw his team air the ball out all day, racking up 329 yards via its passing attack.

Of course, Eli and Peyton, while not technically the stars, they still garnered the most attention. The security team would clear fans off the gate every 15 minutes or so, but in that time, crowds of kids holding football, cameras and pens would fill the spaces, screaming "PEY-TON! HEY, PEY-TON!" so loudly -- and nearly in chorus -- that it would almost seem to drown out half of the play-calling.

And none of that enthusiasm was stunted by the extreme (at least by April in Pennsylvania standards) heat: the official record shows 85 degrees throughout the course of the game, but I would venture a guess that the players -- 30-somethings, mind you -- and the fans (I saw one woman pouring water on herself before being taken away by a medical crew for heat exhaustion) felt it was probably a touch warmer.

Which is where Gatorade really stepped up: they provided the two schools with literally thousands of gallons of Gatorade for the game, their practices, their workouts, etc., helped find adequate fitness centers and trainers in order to make sure the players would be prepared, and distributed countless bottles of the electrolyte-filled goodness to the fans and citizens of the greater Easton area.

And when the game ended, and P-burg players had somehow managed to redeem themselves from a winless high-school career, it did matter who won and how they'd gotten there and who cheered for them and how they celebrated. But at the same time, there was an odd sense of community between the two schools: every player involved understood exactly how lucky they were to get a second chance in this game, every fan knew that this replay provided their respective school with a chance to be recognized, and that -- as strange as seeing these 30-something high-schoolers play football was -- they'd gotten a chance to witness something special.

Gatorade Replay: Phillipsburg Topples Easton 27-12 in 1993 Redux originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gatorade Replay: The Trailer

Will Brinson — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:14:00 EST

Filed under: High School, Sports Advertising, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive

Mission G naturally put together a promo for the Easton - Phillipsburg Gatorade Replay. I'm not saying that it's a Tiger Woods'-dad-talking-about-his-son, but it helped ease my skepticism about (relatively) older men playing high school football. Take a look.

Next: G-Moment at the Bonfire | Previous: The Backstory

Gatorade Replay: The Trailer originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'HouseCast 12: Kathleen Hessert Talks SportsCenter Blog Buzz, Athlete Tweets

Will Brinson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, ESPN, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, FanHouse Exclusive, Podcast

The FanHouse Podcast: Because bloggers are much sexier on the phone.

Kathleen Hessert, the President of Sports Media Challenge, had a vision in 2004 of a technologically superior method of determining the "buzz" surrounding a particular athlete, organization or team. It finally came to full-on fruition this past week when ESPN began running their "Blog Buzz" segments during the morning SportsCenter.

Perhaps even more impressively, Kathleen is also responsible for bringing Shaquille O'Neal into the world of Twitter. And she was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to talk with Ryan Wilson and me about the changing world of sports media, athletes on Twitter (and why Wilson should sign up; I'm already there as is FanHouse), the vision and history behind the "Buzz Manager," and the importance of fan-driven media in today's sports world.

If you care about the emergence of blogs and their co-existence with mainstream media, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to listen.

Download the audio here (Right click to save)

Some contextual navigation that could help:

1:00 - Bloggers initial reaction to "Blog Buzz" & ESPN's response

4:35 - Origins of 'Buzz Manager'

6:30 - Technology can't do by itself/Need for people in the form of Media Analysts

8:20 - Algorithm for determining "buzz score"

10:45 - Partnership with ESPN

14:00 - How has the Internet & social networking landscape changed sport business?

18:30 - Twitter (Athletes, Coaches, etc.)

21:00 - Why should Ryan Wilson join Twitter?

23:40 - Facebook vs. Twitter

25:00 - Twitter vs. NCAA Compliance

28:10 - Characteristics of Sports Blog Index

32:00 - Future of Podcasting

'HouseCast 12: Kathleen Hessert Talks SportsCenter Blog Buzz, Athlete Tweets originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'HouseCast 9: Darren Rovell Talks Infomercials, NFL Draft and Burgers

Will Brinson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, TV and Movies, Sports Media, Sports Advertising, Current Events, FanHouse Exclusive, Podcast

The FanHouse Podcast: Because bloggers are much sexier on the phone.

We promised a big week of podcasts Monday and we weren't lying. None other than Darren Rovell of CNBC Sports Biz fame joined Ryan and myself on the podcast machine to talk about his upcoming CNBC documentary: "As Seen on TV," which debuts Wednesday at 9 PM ET on CNBC. (View the preview right here. Right now. Actually, wait, listen to the podcast first. Then watch.) Rovell's documentary chronicles the amazing rise of infomercials and such products as the Snuggie, the Shamwow and the Chia Pet (although the last one might be on the decline, as you can see here). We also chat about the 5/3 burger and the business of the NFL Draft. Enjoy. It's quite good.

Download the audio here (Right click --> save)

'HouseCast 9: Darren Rovell Talks Infomercials, NFL Draft and Burgers originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sneak Peak of Gatorade's New Commercial With John Wooden

Will Brinson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Media, Sports Advertising

Recently, FanHouse was lucky enough, courtesy of our friends at Gatorade, to speak with Coach John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood about the NCAA Tournament. Coach Wooden will also be appearing in Gatorade's new commercial for "G," which will air tonight in select markets during the NCAA Championship Game. Below is a sneak preview of the commercial, which features highlights set to Coach Wooden reading "The Little Chap That Follows Me." If you have even the most remote sense of college basketball history, you should find this inspiring.

Sneak Peak of Gatorade's New Commercial With John Wooden originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Denny's Free Grand Slam: Super Bowl Ad Positions Them for Hunger Swarm

Tom Herrera — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:12:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Advertising

If you've got a craving for a Denny's Grand Slam, your stomach is about to strike gold. In what may have been the most effective commercial of the 2009 Super Bowl, Denny's had a short and sweet spot that included mobsters having pancakes. While one of the mobsters is trying to speak, a waitress keeps interrupting him with more whipped cream on his Mr. Breakfast. At the end of the ad? Surprise! Free Grand Slams on Tuesday!

Grade: A+

Why? All I've eaten on Super Bowl Sunday to this point is a few slices of Domino's pepperoni pizza, so anything from Denny's looks like a huge upgrade at this point. I just wish there was a Denny's in my area.

Then again, if there were a bunch of Denny's restaurants in New York City, they'd be just asking for serious overcrowding trouble on Tuesday.

More Coverage: Watch every Super Bowl commercial here

Denny's Free Grand Slam: Super Bowl Ad Positions Them for Hunger Swarm originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hang in There Jack: Jack in the Box Goes With Bizarre Super Bowl Commercial

Tom Herrera — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sports Advertising

Jack in the Box better hope its marketing team is up to something genius. Because they just spent about $3 million on a very bizarre (and possibly disturbing) Super Bowl commercial.

In the commercial that aired during the third quarter, "Jack" is struck by a bus while walking along the "Hope Street" crosswalk and trying to sell Jack in the Box food. The fast-food founder's body is crushed and his hat goes flying. We're then prompted to visit the Hang in There Jack Web site to check his condition.

The viral site is pretty bare bones. There are just a couple of videos and a dark banner ad that reads: "In lieu of sending flowers, please ORDER ANYTHING ON THE MENU, ANYTIME OF THE DAY, Jack would want it that way." And there's also a Twitter feed where you can follow Jack's status.

For those who have witnessed someone getting hit by a bus, I imagine this commercial seemed a little out of line. Streetsblog remarks: "... the fast food chain seems to be having way to good a time parodying what is a horrific tragedy that wee see way too often."

Viral marketing campaigns are all the rage, but you have to wonder if taking this kind of approach is really going to help them rack up sales in sirloin burgers and teriyaki bowls.

Grade: C

I really could care less about the status of Jack, and seeing a mascot get nailed by a bus doesn't make me crave fast food.

More Coverage: Watch every Super Bowl commercial here

Hang in There Jack: Jack in the Box Goes With Bizarre Super Bowl Commercial originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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