Dolphins Take Ginn Over Quinn

Despite being the only NFL team to have ever completed a perfect season, the Miami Dolphins have been a hard-luck franchise over the years. Legendary Dan Marino could be the greatest quarterback to never have won a Super Bowl and the team's recent troubles with running back Ricky Williams and lying former coach Nick Saban only highlight a franchise in crisis. Still, every season the NFL draft brings optimism and Dolphin fans had to be feeling good Saturday when Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn feel into their laps at the No. 9 pick. Surely, Dolphin brass, in desperate need of a quarterback of the future, would take Quinn, who had been projected as high as No. 3. Then this happened:

"Wow!" was about all that could be said at that point. And even Quinn seemed surprised, not to mention his girlfriend, who saw the chance to stroll up and down South Beach gone in an instant. Dolphin fans everywhere reacted, like here:

... and here:

But the worst thing of all was when new Dolphins coach Cam Cameron decided to come out of the team's "War Room" to address fans and media who had gathered at team headquarters. Gotta give the guy credit for standing in there and taking the abuse as well as the chants for Brady Quinn:

But as someone pointed out, perhaps fans in Florida should be familiar with Ted Ginn Jr. after he did this on the opening kickoff of the BCS title game. So what if Ohio State got clobbered:

Latin Grammys

The Billboard Latin Grammys were this weekend. Although I have little to no interest in the music, I will say the red-carpet arrivals and backstage media crush were worth noting. Below are some of the highlights. From top to bottom, we have Adassa, who I assume is a pop singer; then there's Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico; after that we have Ninel Conde who is an actress from Mexico; and finally there is singer Paulina Rubio, who is the only one of the four I had ever heard of before today. Perhaps I should pay closer attention. Anyway, just thought I'd share:
UPDATE: Just found out that Adassa is indeed a singer, although reggaeton, not pop. Also that we share the same birthday and that she's a Colombian-American just like me. She also wears nice dresses, so she's now my favorite.



Would just like to note that the images above were taken by Briana Loyd of Fashion Wire Daily and were found via Yahoo.

'Nice Game Pretty Boy!'

Keith Hernandez was one of the best hitters in the National League during the 1980s and he was a part of those powerful New York Mets teams, including the '86 World Series champions. Stories about those Mets are legendary, including tales of rampant drug use, womanizing and a pronounced arrogance that would compete with the highest levels of tawdriness exhibited by even the most offensive collection of players in any sport. Be that as it may, baseball players, in general, usually aren't at the top of the list when it comes to open-mindedness, civility and good form in social settings. And why is Hernandez relevant today? News comes this afternoon that Kelly Calabrese, a sports massage therapist for the San Diego Padres, is pregnant and will be leaving the team in mid-June. No, Hernandez isn't responsible. Calabrese was belittled on the air by Hernandez, now a Mets' broadcaster, last year when he spotted her in the dugout high-fiving Mike Piazza after a home run during a Mets-Padres game. This was Hernandez's reaction:

“Who is the girl in the dugout, with the long hair?” Hernandez said. “What’s going on here? You have got to be kidding me. Only player personnel in the dugout.”
Hernandez found out later in the broadcast that Calabrese was on the Padres’ training staff.
“I won’t say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don’t belong in the dugout,” Hernandez said.

Later on, Hernandez tried to backpeddle by saying he didn't mean it the way it came out, adding: "You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there -- always have." Well, that's a relief. Thanks Keith.

Still, as far as Hernandez is concerned, his presence on "Seinfeld" did provide the impetus for one of the show's most memorable scenes. Check it out:


One of my other favorite scenes from that episode (which actually was a two-parter) was when Hernandez and Elaine are in a bar flirting and the exchange goes something like this:

Hernandez: Elaine, you don't know the first thing about first base.
Elaine: Well, I know something about gettin' to first base, and I know you'll never be there.
Hernandez: The way I figure it, I've already been there and I plan on rounding second tonight at about 11 o'clock.
Elaine: Well, I'd watch the third-base coach if I were you because I don't think he's waving you in.

Classic!

'Taxi' Was A Good Show

The 5th Annual TV Land awards were broadcast over the weekend and among the shows and personalities honored were "The Brady Bunch," "Hee-Haw," the mini-series "Roots" and Lucille Ball. Also honored was the TV show "Taxi." Now, I wasn't a huge fan of the show when it was on, mostly because I was younger and couldn't appreciate the tremendous cast that it had. They showed the clip below during a montage and although it's one of the most simple forms of comedy, it had me laughing pretty hard watching Christopher Lloyd (Kramer, with a little drug-induced brain trauma, before there was "Seinfeld") interact with Jeff Conaway (who seems nuts now), Marilu Henner (who was underrated during her time) and Judd Hirsch (the voice of reason) while he's trying to cheat on a driver's ed exam. Watch how Tony Danza (back when he was tolerable) can't help but laugh at the antics toward the end. The only thing that disappointed me about the TV Land show is that they didn't mention Andy Kaufman's contributions (it's well-known that he wasn't very liked on that set). If not for Carol Kane (who played Kaufman's wife on the show) mentioning Andy during her part of the speech, it was as if the show existed without him, but that's another story. Anyway, enjoy the clip. By the way, it's the last minute or so of the clip below (when Christopher Lloyd sits down to take the test) that was shown on the TV Land show. Like I said, goofy and silly but funny.

The RGX Girl

Anyone seen these commercials for Right Guard that features one of the hottest girls I've ever seen? I've been dying to find out who she is. Anyway, if you haven't seen the commercials, take a look below at these offerings and tell me I'm nuts. "Are you ready to step up?":



Well, what do you think? Gotta be in my top 10 (maybe even top 5). Anyway, did a little digging and apparently I haven't been the only one wondering who this hotness was. Her name is Rachel Specter and you can read about her here. Someone on another blog said she looks like a classy Denise Richards and I'd have to say I agree with that assessment. There's more photos of her on her IMDB page. She also was in tonight's episode of "How I Met Your Mother." Well, just someone else to distract me.

Messi-Maradona Comparison

Here is a good look at the Maradona goal compared to Messi's on a split screen. Amazing in the similarities, although Maradona's was done on a larger stage.

Great Soccer Goals

If you know me, you know how much I love soccer. But aside from maybe one of my closest friends, my son and daughter and my brother, I don't have too many comrades in my corner when it comes to the Beautiful Game. Nonetheless, I offer you these amazing goals with the hope that they will at least be appreciated. I know at least one of them is recent, but they all are entertaining.


This last one from Lionel Messi was the recent one. What an individual effort. Shades of Maradona in the 1986 World Cup.

'The U.S. Army -- Aww Yeeahh!'

Somehow, this approach to recruiting our fine youth for the military doesn't seem too far-fetched when it comes to the current administration. Especially with numbers down, tours or duty being lengthened and the idea that it's a good thing to add even MORE personnel to the conflict. But this post isn't about politics (heeheeheeheehee). Once again, thanks to Family Guy. Some of my favorite lines/images:

• "I'm Sargent Extreme. And I'm Major Awesome!"
• Sailing on the U.S.S. Partayy
• Also like how the one recruit salutes with his left hand before diving into the pile of money.
• And the closing caveat: "Your experience may differ."

Clijsters Gets Her Due

Several months ago we posted an item about tennis player Lleyton Hewitt having moved on to a new lady in his life after his relationship with Kim Clijsters and some of you thought we were a tad mean toward Kimmie. At the same time we did say that Lleyton had traded up well and we're still not apologizing for that sentiment. But Kim didn't wallow in her sorrow for very long. Although the Belgian tennis player has announced that this will be her final year on the pro circuit, it will be a busy one. She's retiring at age 23. Yes, you read that correctly -- age 23!! But, really, how vested can she be in her 401k plan? Kim actually is preparing for a July wedding to her new beau, American basketball player Brian Lynch, whom she got with a while back. (Don't worry, I'd never heard of him either). Kimmie won't play at the U.S. Open this year because the tournament would conflict with her and Lynch's planned honeymoon. Lynch apparently is a big wig in the Belgian pro hoops league these days and obviously caught the eye of Ms. Clijsters at some point. Come to find out that Lynch is the star player for the team in Bree, Kim's hometown, and they were introduced to each other by Kim's mother and that their dogs apparently got along well. Ahhhhhhh!!! Lynch, who attended Villanova and is 28 years old, also has played for teams in Poland, Israel, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Italy and France, so the dude does get around. Wonder if he's got one in every port as Ricky Nelson once sang about. Now that I get a better look at him, Lynch, with or without his shaggy hair, looks like Luke Walton, who incidentally has been denying reports that he's hooked up with Britney Spears. If this were, say five years ago, I'd say, "You see, that's the difference between a celebrity hook-up in Los Angeles compared to Brussels." But unfortunately, it ain't five years ago, Britney went all commando one night and definitely showed she had lost it in more ways than one. Some reports are even saying the whole notion of Walton and Spears dating was a complete fabrication. But I digress. So anyway, in the final analysis of our original topic, we still say that Lleyton got the better end of the deal. Good luck to Kimmie though as she does look happy in the photo on top.

Cutters Do It Again!

Breaking news! The story below just moved on the Associated Press wire. Art imitating life (albeit for the eighth time in this race). No word on whether there were Jackie Earle Haley, Dennis Quaid or Daniel Stern sightings. This one's for John and for everyone who remembers that magical season in the La Verne Parks and Recreation league (I'm making up that last part although it wouldn't shock me if that's the right name.)

Cutters win Little 500

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — The Cutters won the 57th annual Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University on Saturday.
The team finished the 200-lap race at Armstrong Stadium with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 48 seconds.
Five teams were in contention going into the final 10 laps, but Cutters rider Alex Bishop outsprinted Phi Kappa Psi rider Erik Styacich to the finish line. “I could sense it,” Bishop said. “I was starting to cramp up really badly, but I had the desire to get it.”
The Cutters, a team of off-campus independents, won the event for the eighth time and first since 2004.

Alec Baldwin Is Pissed

I'm a little torn how I feel about Alec Baldwin's recent rant against his 11-year-old daughter. If you haven't heard, here is the first story about it. And here's Baldwin's explanation, which came Friday. As you may or may not know, Baldwin and ex-wife Kim Basinger (Bass-in-ger, Base-in-ger, Bass-in-jur, Base-ing-er; Family Guy fans will get the reference.) have been in a bitter child custody dispute since the couple filed for divorce several years ago. I feel bad for Baldwin in that his family business should stay private, but I also feel bad for the child, although it seems as if she's been playing a major role in causing her father this frustration. A transcript of the voice mail that was leaked to the public follows. Click here to get to a page where you can listen to it:

"Hey, I want to tell you something, OK? And I want to leave a message for you right now. 'Cause again, it's 10:30 here in New York on a Wednesday, and once again I've made an ass of myself trying to get to a phone to call you at a specific time. When the time comes for me to make the phone call, I stop whatever I'm doing and I go and I make that phone call. At 11 o'clock in the morning in New York and if you don't pick up the phone at 10 o'clock at night. And you don't even have the G**damn phone turned on. I want you to know something, OK?
"I'm tired of playing this game with you. I'm leaving this message with you to tell you you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don't have the brains or the decency as a human being. I don't give a damn that you're 12 years old, or 11 years old, or that you're a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the ass who doesn't care about what you do as far as I'm concerned. You have humiliated me for the last time with this phone.
"And when I come out there next week, I'm going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I'm going to let you know just how disappointed in you I am and how angry I am with you that you've done this to me again. You've made me feel like s**t and you've made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this G**damn phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother and you do it to me constantly and over and over again. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to come out there for the day and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you. Do you understand me? I'm going to really make sure you get it. Then I'm going to get on a plane and I'm going to turn around and come home. So you'd better be ready Friday the 20th to meet with me. So I'm going to let you know just how I feel about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude, thoughtless little pig, OK?"

Now, that last part about being a "rude little pig" leaves me conflicted because my first instinct is to say that an 11-year-old never deserves to be referred to that way by her father. But by the same token it does sound on the message as if Baldwin had reached his breaking point and that Basinger seemed to be the cause, possibly having brainwashed her daughter, and that the daughter was doing everything she could to annoy her dad by not answering his scheduled phone call. Misdirected anger from Alec perhaps? Doesn't sound as if this is the first time this has happened either. That's my take. I've never been in that position so it's really difficult to judge, but I will say that I don't have a problem with 99% of that message if in fact the situation is playing out the way it seems. I can't imagine that if Baldwin hadn't been effed with for years, that he would harbor these feelings. What do you think?

SNL Does 'Grease'

UPDATE: Sorry, but NBC is the gestapo when it comes to someone posting its videos on YouTube so I apologize for the broken video link below.

I'm a big fan of guilty pleasures and perhaps I reveal too much on this blog at times. Anyhow, the video below is a takeoff of the movie "Grease" by the cast of Saturday Night Live from a few seasons ago. It was the last show before their summer hiatus and the cast did a parody, capped by a rendition of the song "Summer Nights" by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. In this version, Tina Fey plays Newton-John and Jimmy Fallon plays Travolta. Some good stuff and they pull off a pretty good version of the song, with the usual moments when Fallon can't stop laughing at himself. Regardless, I still enjoy it.

Amazing Ending

Being the sports fanatic that I am, I was shocked to see the video below for the first time the other night and wondering how it had escaped my attention all these years. This was a Texas high school football game that had an ending you wouldn't believe. The team in the black uniforms was losing big late in the game and decided to try an onside kick ... and then another ... and then another ... well, you can imagine what happened next. But watch the video until the end and you won't believe it. Trust me. And the local homer announcers only add to the beauty. Enjoy.

Johnny & June & Joaquin & Reese

Just watched "Walk the Line" on HBO this afternoon. I'd seen it before, but it's really a well-done movie on the life of Johnny Cash and his love story with June Carter, his second wife. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon portray them in the movie and are exceptional. What I really admired about the movie was that Phoenix and Witherspoon performed all the songs themselves. Really shows how talented they are. Phoenix even learned to play the guitar for the role. The videos below show the real Johnny and June performing the 1964 Bob Dylan song, "It Ain't Me Babe" followed by the performance in the movie, which is a tad shorter. This is a great song and it's fun to compare the two. I think Reese gave June a lot more life in her version.
Johnny Cash and June Carter ("It Ain't Me Babe")

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon ("It Ain't Me Babe")

'Where's My Money?'

This is one of my all-time favorite Family Guy clips so I had to post it despite it having been around for a while. It makes me laugh every time although it is rather violent. But if you can get past that, it's worth a good laugh in the proper context. Stewie, who is playing the role of a bookie, is trying to collect on a bet that Brian made with him (Brian bet that actress Carol Channing would lose to Mike Tyson in Fox's Celebrity Boxing. Imagine that. But Channing won). Just the interaction between Stewie and Brian and the little nuances really give it that gangster feel. And that's what makes Family Guy such a great show to me, all the subtleties.
These are some of my favorite lines from Stewie:

• "Don't forget... Nah... you're not gonna forget."
• "That's what happens man!"
• "Clean yourself up."
• "Gettin' real tired of you duckin' me man."
• "Yeah, you got money to pay for fake moustaches, huh?"
• "Don't make a fool outta me man, don't make a fool outta me."

Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts:

• Is it just me, or is rooting for the Lakers just not worth the effort? Talk about a maddening team. I just can't sit and watch guys -- professional guys -- not give effort.
• The Laker situation reminds me of when Steve Lavin used to coach UCLA basketball. Here the Bruins had all this talent and just couldn't put it together consistently. I hated watching those teams. It just wasn't fun being a fan. Even when they'd win games on sheer talent, it wasn't enjoyable because you didn't feel the Bruins deserved it.
• Needless to say, this has changed 180 degrees under Ben Howland, who now gets the most of his talent. I even watch these Bruins lose and feel OK about it because they NEVER beat themselves. When they lose, it's because the other team was better that night and I'm completely OK with that.
• Since that 0-2 start, the Dodgers are actually looking pretty good, and with Furcal at the top of the lineup again they might be ready to hit full throttle.
• I've never felt so disconnected from the NHL as this season, especially because the Kings were so bad. But once the playoffs start, I feel a little light go on and things are exciting again. There's nothing like playoff hockey.
• Wouldn't it be great if the Lakers lost their last two games and the Clippers and Warriors won their last three to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs? That's what this team deserves. Unfortunately, the Lakers own tiebreakers over their two opponents so they only need one more win and a loss by either the Clips or Warriors to clinch a spot. What a shame.
• About the only Lakers player aside from Kobe that's fun to watch is Ronny Turiaf. Now that's a guy I can get behind. Are you listening Smush Parker?
• Does anybody go to the track to bet on the ponys anymore? I used to love it and would go once or twice a year. But I can't remember the last time I went.
• Despite my plug for the NHL earlier, I absolutely could not care less about the Ducks. I try, but I just can't generate any enthusiasm. Same for the Angels. They killed it for me in 1986 when Dave Henderson... ah enough said.


• Anyone else think that O.J. Mayo coming to USC is just an accident waiting to happen? And no, I'm really not saying that because I'm a Bruins fan.

OK, I feel a little better now that I got all that off my chest. I have more to say, but I gotta pick up the wife at work. Later.

Arrogant Anderson Update

After posting the previous article on Garret Anderson, I saw the website LAist.com had followed up with some new, interesting information. A link to the post can be found here. But I just had to post the following list, courtesy of USA Today, of all the players who plan to wear the No. 42. Note the Dodgers, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Hmmm, seems none of them are hung up on the fact that it wasn't their idea. I will say I'm a little disappointed that no one besides manager Willie Randolph decided to wear the number for the New York Mets. Also, on the LAist link, click on the link to the USA Today article where a few players are questioning the fact that TOO MANY players are wearing the number? What? Too many? What are these guys smoking? Amazing. Again, read Ken Griffey's quote at the end to put it all back into perspective. Oh, and get this, Anderson now is saying he won't wear the number because he doesn't feel he's worthy of it. Oh puh-leeze! Gimme a break! The spin control is making me dizzy. Anyway, here's the list:

Arizona: Orlando Hudson, Tony Clark, Eric Byrnes, Chris Young, Scott Hairston, Bob Melvin, Lee Tinsley
Atlanta: Andruw Jones
Baltimore: Corey Patterson
Boston: Coco Crisp
Chicago Cubs: Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Derrek Lee, Daryle Ward
Chicago White Sox: Jermaine Dye, Harold Baines
Cincinnati: Ken Griffey Jr.
Cleveland: Josh Barfield, C.C. Sabathia
Colorado: LaTroy Hawkins
Detroit: Gary Sheffield, Curtis Granderson, Craig Monroe, Marcus Thames, Lloyd McClendon
Florida: Dontrelle Willis
Houston: Entire roster
Kansas City: Reggie Sanders, Emil Brown
L.A. Angels: Gary Matthews Jr.
L.A. Dodgers: Entire roster
Milwaukee: Bill Hall
Minnesota: Torii Hunter, Rondell White, Jerry White
N.Y Mets: Willie Randolph
N.Y. Yankees: Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano
Oakland: Milton Bradley, Shannon Stewart, Tye Waller
Philadelphia: Entire roster
Pittsburgh: Entire roster
St. Louis: Entire roster
San Francisco: Barry Bonds
San Diego: Mike Cameron
Seattle: Arthur Rhodes, Jason Ellison
Tampa Bay: Carl Crawford
Texas: Ron Washington
Toronto: Vernon Wells, Frank Thomas, Royce Clayton, Mickey Brantley
Washington: Dmitri Young

Garret Anderson is Embarrassing

This weekend, Major League Baseball will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line. In his honor, the Dodgers are having all 25 players on their roster wear Robinson's No. 42. The number was retired by MLB on the 50th anniversary but teams and players have received special permission to wear it on this day. You'd think there'd be no way for a commemoration such as this to have a controversial side, but Garrett Anderson of the Angels has managed to find one. Actually, this story hasn't received as much attention in the mainstream media, which surprises me. Blogs have been on it pretty good, but here's the skinny if you didn't hear:

Basically, Anderson, an African American, declined when given the chance to honor Robinson by wearing the No. 42. Anderson's issue: Ken Griffey Jr. of the Reds came up with the idea first. So Anderson didn't want to "jump on the bandwagon."

"It wasn't my idea, and I'm not the type of person to jump on the bandwagon because someone else is doing something," Anderson told the Los Angeles Times in a short story that appeared on the lower part of page 4 of the sports section. "If I did it just because someone else was doing it, it would seem kind of empty to me."

Are you believing this? Can this man actually say these words and NOT realize what a pompous jerk he comes off as? How can he possibly think this mentality would fly with the average fan? It's just another example about how disconnected the majority of professional athletes are with society in general and with the past especially. Among those participating in the tribute with Griffey are Dmitri Young, Derrek Lee, Mike Cameron, Carlos Lee, Josh Barfield, Orlando Hudson and Coco Crisp. Heck, even Gary Sheffield and Barry FREAKIN' Bonds are on board and those are two of the most self-centered guys in all of sports. I've usually given Anderson the benefit of the doubt when fans and media called his hustle and enthusiasm into question over the years. I figured if the guy was producing, then perhaps he deserved some slack. I tried to look past his lack of personality and the fact that it seemed as if he'd rather be anywhere else than on a baseball diamond. I tried to believe Mike Scioscia when he defended Anderson in the face of all these criticisms and that perhaps that I, along with all fans, simply didn't know the REAL Anderson. Well, after this latest slap of the face, I finally do know the real Anderson: A person who has made nearly $50 million because of baseball, but one who hasn't a shred of dignity in my book and one who will never regain my respect. And don't bother trying to explain it away by saying Anderson is standing up for his individuality or some of the other BS I've been reading. This is NOT about Garret Anderson, it's about Jackie Robinson. Once Anderson made it about himself, he lost the chance to explain it away with any sort of credibility.

BOWs Are Back in Town?

So it's been awhile since we've had a BOW, but this could potentially be one. The story below moved on the wire today and it actually takes the side of the offendee since it reduces the penalty and severity of his foul. Here's the story.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Toronto guard Morris Peterson was able to play in the Raptors game on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves after the NBA downgraded a flagrant foul call against him from a Type II to Type I.
Peterson was ejected with 6:06 remaining in the first half of Toronto’s 103-89 victory over Chicago on Sunday after he knocked Kirk Hinrich to the floor while the Bulls guard was trying to complete a fast-break layup.
The call carried with it an automatic one-game suspension. The NBA, though, rescinded it after viewing videotape Monday.
Peterson entered Monday night’s game at the start of the second quarter.
“I didn’t intentionally try to hit him in the head,” Peterson said before the game. “I went for the ball. I’m just glad it got reduced. I think people know I’m not a dirty player.”
Peterson is averaging 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds.

I also have video of this play. So go ahead and watch it and let me know if you think what Peterson did was intentional. I will say that it does appear that Hinrich slows down to try and draw the foul. But did Peterson genuinely go for the ball? I'm not judging, just asking.

Triumph the Weatherman

You all know Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, who was made famous on the Conan O'Brien show. Well, the video below is from a long time ago when Triumph filled in as the weatherman at a television station in Hawaii. Some good stuff. One of our office favorites. "Light winds!"

One Last One Shining Moment

So one last One Shining Moment. This one is a montage of 25 years of highlights. Some of the footage was from previous One Shining Moments, but other (before 1987) highlights are not since One Shining Moment started in 1987. This is a good recap.

One Shining Moment Heaven

OK, roli7472 from YouTube has officially become my new hero. You already know how excited I was to find the 1995 One Shining Moment, but now after a little more digging I found that mister roli has uploaded every One Shining Moment video ever made. So now, we even have access to the others we were missing from the late 80s and early 90s. I already had posted most of the One Shining Moments and those can be found in the March archives if you are interested. But below are the few we were missing. This feels so good for someone as obsessive compulsive as me because I always had a bad feeling when the collection wasn't complete. Now it is.
This is the 1988 version when Kansas won the title.

This is the 1989 version when Michigan won the title.

This is the 1990 version when UNLV won the title.

1995 One Shining Moment!

I can't believe it! Here is the "One Shining Moment" that was missing from YouTube. I found 1987 and every other one from 1991 to 2006 -- except for 1995. It happened to be the one when UCLA won its 11th national title so I was a little bummed the other day when I went searching for it and nothing came up. I searched all over the internet to see if it was somewhere. I even checked eBay to see if anyone was selling a DVD of the 1995 championship game that was broadcast on CBS, because if they were I would buy the DVD and upload One Shining Moment myself. But now all that is moot because here it is. I thank roli7472 from YouTube for making my day along with Bruin fans everywhere. So without further ado I'm proud to say, This is the 1995 version when UCLA won the title.

Dora The Explorer Parody

Many of you have young kids who no doubt are fans of the TV show "Dora The Explorer." Perhaps you've seen the video below. It also was on the SNL when Peyton Manning was host. If you aren't familiar with how the Dora show works, it might not be as funny. I have to credit my son Matt for showing me this one. No, he's not a regular Dora watching anymore. Anyway...

Peyton Manning on SNL

OK, I know I'm late to the game on this (I feel like I say that a lot on this blog), but in case you missed Peyton Manning on SNL recently, the video below is really, really funny. It really starts out like one of those United Way/NFL commercials and then... well, just watch it. Some good laugh out loud moments.

Speed Painting Locke

I thought of Conger when I saw this video because I know as he watches it, the wheels are spinning in his head pondering what it would take for HIM to do something like that. Nonetheless, it's still a pretty cool video showing the use of Photoshop, and if you are a fan of the TV show "Lost" (I am) you will appreciate it even more. I assume this is real, but who knows.

2007 One Shining Moment

Here is this year's One Shining Moment, hot off the presses. Florida is a repeat champion.

March Madness Finale

This is going to have to be relatively short because I'm at work an am actually in charge tonight, so I don't have a lot of time. Anyway, if you didn't already know, Florida defeated Ohio State, 84-75, to win its second consecutive national championship, becoming the first team since Duke in 1992 to repeat as champion. As much as it pains me, I gotta hand it to the Gators for stepping up. They were extremely impressive and after watching how they handled Ohio State, I feel a little better about the UCLA loss the other night. Anyway, on to more important things.

The Florida victory means the John has won the points title as the Gators scored him a nice 64 points with the final-game victory. Here are the final standings.

John -- 180 points

Mike C. -- 139 points

Jim B. -- 96 points

Russ -- 88 points

Mike T. -- 82 points

Pat -- 81 points

Frank -- 51 points

Jim J. -- 33 points

Note: Only John, Mike C. and Pat were alive in the final games so Pat finishing sixth is a bit misleading.

Earlier, it was already determined that Mike C. had clinched the bracket title, but here are the final standings anyway.

Mike C. -- 51

Mike T. -- 50

John -- 49

Russ -- 48

Pat -- 48

Jim B. -- 46

Frank -- 45

Jim J. -- 41

Note: Mike C's total is an all-time record high for our bracket champion. In fact, the previous high was 45, I believe, by Mike T., so as you can see, everyone except Jim J. at least matched that. Sorry Jim. The reason for this is because this tournament was one of the most predictable in recent memory. Not a lot of guess work involved this time. Actually, if on the day the tournament field was announced you would have picked your bracket based strictly on higher seeds beating lower seeds, guess how many points you would have ended up with? You guessed it, 51!!!!!!! Nice work Mike.

Mike Tyson Is Psycho

Not that I'm breaking any news here, but we all know who crazy Mike Tyson is and can be. It's almost as if we've come to expect this from him over the years so we get desensitized thinking about it and how nuts he actually is. The video below compiles many of Tyson's most egregious moments in interviews over the years and once you see them all together, one after the other, you'll be reminded what a whacko he is. Anyway, just a warning that some of the interviews are unedited so the language can be considered not safe for work. Please use caution. On the other hand, enjoy: