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Back Porch Backporch Features

Latest Backporch Features Stories

The Rabbi That Made Peace on the Basketball Court

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

It was right before the NBA season kicked off that Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman gained national attention. During a game between the New York Knicks and Israel's champion Maccabi Tel Aviv, Pini Gershon, Maccabi's coach, got two technical fouls, refused to leave the floor and that's when Rabbi Grossman stepped in. In this exclusive FanHouse video we talk to the Rabbi about that very moment.

Check out the video after the jump.

Rebuilding the Cleveland Browns: Better, Stronger, Faster


The Browns returned to Cleveland in 1999, but they have been a perennial expansion team ever since. For some reason, 2009 seems worse than previous seasons. Maybe it's Eric Mangini's blinding incompetence, or the fact that Brady Quinn is to the quarterback position what JaMarcus Russell is to the quarterback position.

Whatever, the organization that continually strives for mediocrity continues to fall woefully short. Which is why we've decided to distract ourselves from the putridity by creating a roster of non-football-playing professional athletes who would immediately make the Browns better. That's not hyperbole.

The Definitive Guide to Bats**t Crazy NFL Owners, 2009 Edition

(Click to enlarge the image. No, no. Go on -- click it. It won't bite.)


FanHouse Talks With Legendary Poker Player Doyle Brunson

Doyle Brunson is a poker legend -- as the game's popularity soared in the late 1990's, and as college players ditched class to play Texas Hold 'Em online, Brunson remained (and still remains) one of the greatest current players.

While Brunson didn't win the World Series of Poker this year, he did release a new book, The Godfather of Poker, in which he details his life story as a poker player. It's an amazing tale -- you can read about it and purchase it on Amazon here -- and absolutely worth a read. But even more awesome? FanHouse had the privilege of speaking with Doyle earlier this week.

The Cape and Broom Fund Must End


Dear Annual Giving Office,

Recently, I received a letter in the mail asking to contribute to the annual giving office to help alleviate the financial hardships the school has undergone in the current economic recession. This marks my first donation request as a Middlebury Alumnus -- a time that should be a happy and joyous occasion celebrating the long journey from acceptance to graduation to joining a proud group of Alumni who contribute to the school to ensure the College upholds its high standards of learning.

Yet, this is no such time.

Before I decide to donate some of my hard-earned dollars to the College I love, I would like to express a few grievances about the financial allocations process, mainly about the absurdity of providing funding to Harry Potter wannabees who trounce around with brooms that don't fly between their legs and put my beloved Middlebury on the national radar for its Quidditch 'team.'

For Just One Scary Day, Andy Roddick Was a Waffle House Chef

Andy RoddickDon't tell Andy Roddick that Halloween is for kids.

Or golfer Stewart Cink.

Or even 50-year-old John McEnroe.

They were just a few of the sports figures that donned interesting costumes for Halloween. Luckily, cameras are always on handy to capture the oddities. After the jump, look at some of the best (and worst) Halloween costumes worn by athletes, fans ... and a dog.

Now go fetch your griddle, Andy!

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

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.

NFL Coaches Fight Club: Tom Cable (1) vs. Wade Phillips (8)


NFL Coaches Fight Club: the Tournament. Because we have nothing better to do than predict what might happen if head coaches started punching each other in the face.


NFL Coaches Fight Club: Andy Reid (3) vs. John Fox (6)


NFL Coaches Fight Club: the Tournament. Because we have nothing better to do than predict what might happen if head coaches started punching each other in the face.



WW II Bombardier Still Flying a Hang Glider at Age 89


POLK CITY, Fla. -- After flying 50 combat missions over two tours of duty in World War II, Neal Goss returned home a reluctant American hero.

Sixty-four years later, he has done it again.
WHAT IS
BACK PORCH?

The easy answer:
Back Porch exists because FanHouse doesn't have a basement for its bloggers. The bigger picture? BP covers sports news that's funny, off-beat and controversial. In short, it's the other side of sports, covered with an edge. Enjoy.