Diddy's Son Receives a UCLA Scholarship

Much buzz the last day or so has been over whether Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs son Justin Dior Combs should accept a full athletic scholarship to play football at UCLA.  ‘Diddy’ whose estimated net worth is at $500 million dollars according to Forbes.  However does Diddy’s great wealth automatically disqualify his son from receiving and accepting an athletic scholarship?  Those that are crying over the fact that Justin Combs received a scholarship are not looking at the achievement and gratification that goes into accepting a scholarship for the athlete and parent.  A high school athlete who aspires to be a college athlete has to put in hours of extra practice to hone in on their sport.  Many times a parent is very influential in guiding a child to not only play but to excel in a sport.  From hitting ground balls on the weekend, to seeking the best private instructors, to giving small tips on the phone after a bad game.  Parents do much of the grit work for many young athletes.  So, to ask Diddy and his son to not accept a scholarship that was earned by athletic achievement, is not only hurtful to Justin; but hurtful to a parent who may be even more excited than his son. 

On another note if Diddy wants to still pay for his son's schooling after the fact or give a nice check covering his sons athletic scholarship expenses to UCLA.  I think everyone would be grateful, and it would be a very noble deed. 

Hottest Female Athlete CHAMPIONSHIP

Guys, VOTE now to get a winner.  Instead of using the survey tool we have the poll posted on the right side of the screen!  Results are real time.  Help us out and VOTE NOW!!

Best Looking Male Athlete WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS to David Beckham edging out the number one seed Cristiano Ronaldo by just ONE VOTE.  Thanks to all the females who participated in the voting over the last month!!!!!

Best Looking Male Athlete

Is he really the best looking male athlete?  Ladies let us know if we might have missed someone.  Comment below please!

Hottest Female Athlete (FINAL FOUR)

Guys! The Final Four is upon us.  Vote for your favorite female!!

TO VOTE Click here

TO VOTE Click here

Best Looking Male Athlete CHAMPIONSHIP

The FINAL 2 athletes have been chosen! Vote for your favorite!

TO VOTE Click here

TO VOTE Click here

Best Looking Male Athlete FINAL FOUR!

Ladies it is now the FINAL FOUR of the Best Looking Male Athlete Bracket! VOTE NOW to get a say in who will move on the the CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND!

TO VOTE NOW   Click here

Hottest Female Athlete (ELITE 8)

Guys, it is time to vote on the Elite 8.  Let's get more votes than we did last time!!! Down to 8 HOTT WOMEN let's see who is going to go to the FINAL FOUR!

TO VOTE NOW  Click here

THE ATHLETES

Alana Blanchard - surfing

Bia and Branca Feres - synchronized swimming

Allison Stokke - pole vaulting

Alex Morgan - soccer

Maria Kirilenko - tennis

Anastasia Ashley - surfing

Kiira Korpi - ice skating

Jessica Bratich - karate

Hottest Female Athlete

After attempting to gain female followers by having the Best Looking Male Athlete Bracket, we have decided that it is the guys turn to vote.  So we have compiled a list of the 16 hottest female athletes, and our asking guys to vote every week until a champion is crowned.  The bracket and voting link are below, and if you need to see pictures of the women pictures have been posted at the bottom of this article to help you make your decisions.  Enjoy!

Best Looking Male Athlete (ELITE 8)

The original 16 athletes has now dwindled down to 8.  Keep voting and see who wins the title of the Best Looking Male Athlete.

Click here to take survey

Top Ten Dunks of All Time

After Blake Griffin's Dunk, I have decided to put up my top ten dunks of all time.  If you have any concerns or questions leave a comment.

Bonus:

                                                                       

10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

Best Looking Male Athlete

My colleague and I have decided to engage female viewers a little more by presenting them with an opportunity to respond.  We have come up with a bracket (through the surveying of many women) that presents the top 16 best looking male athletes.  What we are going to do is have our female viewers vote every week on the match-ups until we have a winner. This is an NCAA basketball style tournament.  You will have one week to vote for your favorites.  During the week, we will compile the statistics and leave you with another week to vote on the next match-ups.  A link for voting is provided at the bottom of the bracket.  Enjoy!

TO VOTE Click here 

TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE ATHLETES REFER TO

 https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0

Looking into the Heisman Crystal Ball... Without the Ball

The Heisman trophy ceremony is on the way; however, one of the top running backs in the nation may not be in attendance in New York that special night.  Wisconsin running back Montee Ball has been snubbed all year of consideration for the Heisman despite his impressive statistics. 

Until the latest Heisman watch poll, in which Ball jumped to the 6^th spot receiving 13 votes, he has virtually been unheard of when the prestigious trophy is mentioned.  Being a Big Ten fan, I have watched Montee Ball over the last couple of years.  I think any NFL team would be lucky to have him, even in place of Richardson.  This guy has a nose for the end zone.  Ball has scored 29 touchdowns this year, 9 more than his counterpart Richardson; and is ahead of Richardson in yards with 15 less carries. 

RK	PLAYER	TEAM	ATT	YDS	YDS/A	LONG	TD
1	Bobby Rainey, RB	WKU	369	1695	4.6	56	13
2	Montee Ball, RB	WIS	248	1622	6.5	54	29
3	David Wilson, RB	VT	255	1595	6.3	57	9
4	Trent Richardson, RB	ALA	263	1583	6	76	20
*http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/rushing/sort/rushingYards
*through 11/26/11

The most basic rushing statistics suggest that Ball is a better RB than Richardson.  Why is Richardson five spots ahead of him on the Heisman list?  One could argue because he plays for Alabama, the 2^nd best team in the nation, that he is obligated to be the front runner.  Keep in mind where would Wisconsin be if they hadn’t lost in the closing seconds of the 4^th quarter on two fluke hailmary passes in the endzone.  Even when Wisconsin was tearing it up and moving up the polls, Russell Wilson was considered the main proponent that was propelling Wisconsin to the top.  What is it about this guy that keeps him being held under the foot of Heisman voters?  Beats me! This guy has every right to be in New York delivering an acceptance speech.  If you’d ask me, I’d take Ball over Luck in the coming 2012 NFL draft.  Are you listening Colts?

In Coach We Trust?

There used to be a day when coaches were the cornerstone of communities.  They were the ones that helped rear children in the right path.  Not rear children in the ass.  It is scary to think that the eighteen plus years I played recreational travel, and varsity sports, that I could have encountered one of these coaches.  A coach that uses his power and dominion over the kids that looks up to them and in some ways as their sole patriarchal figure.  To take advantage of this, and to use their power as coaches and teachers in the area of life that allows so many joys and triumphs is mind boggling.  With all of these stories do we really have complete trust in each one of our kids’ coaches?  It is sad to think that we are coming to a point in our society where parents will have to be at every practice, and game just to ensure their children are allowed to play sports in a safe environment.  As more and more information on the Bernie Fine and Jerry Sandusky case unfold.  It will be interesting to see just how the attitude towards the neighborhood and recreational coaches turns.  Just from these two disturbing stories, maybe that’s exactly what some coach’s need.

Derrick Rose

With the NBA not playing anytime soon, still.  Here are some Derrick Rose highlights.  Give the kid a bigman.

My Response to Jane Levy's Open Letter from Grantland.com

My Response to Jane Levy’s open letter

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7243526/an-open-letter-mike-mcqueary

Read the Grantland Article before you read mine

First I want to open by saying in no way do my comments reflect the type of writer and thinker Jane Levy is.  Because I enjoy reading her articles and think she articulates her point very well.  With that said your open letter to Mike McQueary is completely asinine.  I will start at your ending where you invite the notion to put the Penn State Football Program on a one year death penalty.  A death penalty, for what?  Has the Penn State Program been found to violate any NCAA laws?  Have they been found to pay potential prospects in an attempt to persuade them to come to their school?  Have any current or former players been involved in this horrific and disgusting scandal?  The only question that can be answered with a yes is the last one and that is because of the then grad assistant Mike McQueary (But I will get to him later).  So, why then would we punish a football team, a program, and its student-athletes for something they had nothing to do.  The problem with this whole scandal is too much attention has been paid to the football program and people like Joe Paterno.  When really all of the questions should be directed at the one person who with his own two eyes witnessed a vile, and horrific sexual act being performed against a 10 year old boy; and instead of him doing what a normal 28 year old, which has any sense at all would do.  He walked away, silently.  He being the only person who could have stopped the sodomy chose to neglect a ten year old boy as he was in the midst of a monster.  And instead of talking about this in your open letter you talk about how tough it is to be a snitch.  How difficult it must have been for him to witness the sexual encounter and not know what to do.  Are you kidding me?  If I am 15 years old and I saw what he saw I would have first stopped it, and second told everyone I could.  But, no he decided to call his dad for guidance at the ripe old age of 28; and the next day tell Joe Paterno what he believed to have seen in the shower that day.  What is even worst now, is he had the audacity to give this statement to the Associated Press, “I did stop it, not physically … but made sure it was stopped when I left that locker room … I did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police … no one can imagine my thoughts or wants to be in my shoes for those 30-45 seconds … trust me."  How do you as a 28 year old say you did stop it not physically but when you left the locker room?  I remember you called your father.  And today we learned that neither the Penn State Police nor the State College, PA police have any knowledge of a sexual abuse report coming from you (McQueary) or about Sandusky.  So, instead of facing the criticism he not only hides but he lies.  He lies after all of these years he has kept his silence, and Sandusky has had the opportunity to rape and ruin the lives of more and more kids.  To Mike McQueary I will leave you with this.

 No, Mike McQueary I cannot imagine your thoughts or wanted to be in your shoes for those 30-45 seconds.  But think about the 10 year old boy who glances up to see your shocked face as he is helplessly wandering, wishing someone could come save him.  His eyes make contact with yours and he cries out for help as water fills his eyes for you to save him.  Meanwhile in that same breath, he is being thrust over, and over,  and over again by a sick sadistic former coach of yours.  And you look back at him and don’t utter word.  You don’t offer to help.  You instead turn your back on a child who so desperately in need of you.  For that Mike McQueary you are a coward and unlike Jane Levy I have no sympathy for you.  I hope one day you have to look back into those eyes of the ten year old boy, now a man, you abandoned  and tell him sorry.  Sorry for not protecting his childhood, sorry for not being his friend in need, and sorry for not being a bigger man and standing up for what you knew to be right.

This is Sports Center: Where's the Bathroom?

Sports Center has had the best commercials on television for over a decade, and here is one of their newest ones.  May top 5 favorites will be coming soon.

A.J. or Julio

A.J Green and Julio Jones will forever be linked as the prize receivers of the 2011 NFL draft.  As we pass the halfway point the question arises as to who has had  the better start to their NFL careers?  A.J. the UGA standout came into the season as the number one receiver on a bad team with a rookie quarterback (Andy Dalton).  Many experts felt that his numbers would be down especially to start the season.  Julio on the hand came into the season as the deep threat that Matt Ryan needed to compliment Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Michael Turner.  Lets compare:

Player	Games Played	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns	100 YD Gmes
*A.J. Green	7	33	516	5	2
Julio Jones	6	25	358	2	3

Looking at the numbers A.J. Green has more receptions, more yards, and more touchdowns.  Julio who has had a little bit of a slow start has come on strong with three 100 yard receiving games, and has become that compliment to Roddy White.  The difference between these two players at the onset of their careers is the situation that they have been drafted into.  A.J. who will most likely compile better numbers this year is targeted more because he is their big play receiver.  Not to minimize the play of Brandon Tate or Andre Caldwell this year.  On the other hand Julio is the complimentary receiver to an all pro in Roddy White, to a first ballot hall of famer in Tony Gonzalez, and to a strong running attack led by Michael Turner.  The roles of these two young talented receivers are in every way much different.  A.J. will have better numbers this year because his team needs him to have that type of impact.  Julio is merely trying to fit in on a team that a year ago was 13-3 in the regular season. 

To answer my original question as to who has had a better start to their NFL career, the nod has to go to A.J. Green.  To be the main receiver on a team that to start the season was not picked to do much; and to have the impact he has had is quite remarkable.  But, do not count Julio out.  As the Colts saw today he can be more than just a compliment on certain days.

*Denotes A.J. Green statistics prior to November 6, 2011 game against the Tennessee Titans

Statistics provided by ESPN.com

The Conference Merry-Go-Round

West Virginia joining the Big 12? What a joke!  Another move has been made that contains substantial gains for a University with no regard to practicality and reason. Where has practicality gone?  All the conference moves over the past few months can be attributed to simply the want of monetary gains.  If you are going to move conferences you should fit for more than just money.  Few moves have actually made sense from a geographical prospective (the way conferences were first formed).    The first move that has actually made sense has been the move from Nebraska from the Big 12 into the Big 10.  It makes sense geographically and athletically.  Nebraska is in the heart of the Midwest, and their move to the Big 10 fits with the profiles of the other mostly Midwestern schools around the conference.  In addition to this, their athletic profile allows them to immediately compete in football and baseball, with some growing pains indoors this winter on the court.  Recently TCU withdrew their commitment to the Big East (which was stupid in the first place), to opt for a spot in the Big 12, which, like Nebraska’s move, makes sense geographically and athletically.  TCU will compete on the gridiron and on the ball diamond right away, with basketball taking a hit the first couple of years.  West Virginia to the Big 12? Pitt and Syracuse to the ACC?  These moves are strictly for monetary gains!   Although ACC basketball will fine tune its line-up of national powers, the Big East (which was the hands down best basketball conference) gets snubbed of three of its better basketball teams in the name of football.  The Big East Basketball Tournament, one of the most exciting and animated events to watch in the middle of winter, will be stripped of its luster in the name of a Syracuse Duke football game on the ACC network. The greed of these schools has become more important than practical fittings for match ups of teams within a region.

Notre Dame I hope you are watching.  With the current progression of conference shifting Notre Dame sadly will become a Boise State.  Although their historical scheduling is still intact many of their games against the service academies have become non-competitive.  Notre Dame will win a lot of football games in the coming years, but will be snubbed out of the BCS because of the schedule strength of these new “Super Conferences.”  I know Notre Dame love its NBC contract, but since you can’t beat em you have to join them, or you will become the one of the best football programs of all time to NEVER play for a National Championship again.  In saying this, the Big Ten would be a nice play for you to reside; along with Louisville.  Notre Dame as a Legend, Louisville as a Leader.  What a great geographical and athletic fit for both teams.  Throw in the Big Ten Network, and what do you have? The best of all three worlds, region, athletics, and last and least, money.  So let us stop the madness, and go back to a time when it was fun to watch our favorite sports teams from the state next door go at it, without regards to the money being received via “the network.”  Be practical, and do away with meaningless shifting for monetary compensation.  

Did You See That? Show Some Love!

Just wanted to show some love to Broncos kicker Matt Prater who kicked an ABSOLUTE BOMB to secure Tim Tebow's miraculous comeback win on Sunday afternoon.  52 yard kick... would've been good from 80.

Baserunning Kills Seventh Inning Rally for Cards

Why Base Running Hurt the Cardinals

Base running is a part of baseball that gets dooly overlooked. It is an integral aspect that to the naked eye looks as simple playing tic-tac-toe. But, to the baseball enthusiast base running is the difference between winning and losing. In Game 5 as the Cardinals and Rangers reached the late innings two plays stood in which very well may have shaped the outcome of this series. And oddly enough they both came in the seventh inning. Alex Ogando the hard throwing right hander for the Rangers again was called upon to shut down the meat of the Cardinals line up. He quickly got ahead of Allen Craig the number two-hole hitter and began to throw a heavy dose of sliders. Coming from someone who used to struggle on good hard sliders down away, these would have gotten me easy. But, Allen Craig a professional hitter laid off and worked a one out walk. Up comes the king of the thunder thighs club in Albert Pujols. On an 0-1 pitch Craig inexplicitly, behooved to anyone watching the game tries to steal second base. Yes, getting into scoring position is always well and good. But, when ‘the machine’ is up? Now the Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair duo in the FOX booth kept trying to explain how Pujols signaled to Craig to run a ‘hit and run’ on a 0-1 count. Anyone who knows baseball knows that in that situation stealing the base does absolutely nothing for the Cardinals. It actually hurts the Cardinals because it takes the bat out of Pujols’ hands. Instead, of the count being 1-1 with a runner still on first base; and a pitcher on the mound who does not trust his fastball command. The Cardinals found themselves with two outs and watching their best hitter be intentionally walked. The next base running blunder came from the afore mentioned Mr. Pujols. The cleanup hitter Matt Holliday, a great hitter in his own right, had a 3-2 count. Thus, Pujols was running on the play. Ogando for some reason beyond my understanding throws another slider and Holliday hits a hard liner towards the gap in left center. Josh Hamilton did a good job of getting to it and cutting it off, but Pujols who was again running on the play. Watched the ball the whole way; instead of putting his head down, picking up his third base coach and running until he told him to stop. Because Pujols turned back twice to watch Hamilton field and throw the ball back in as he was running the third base coach was forced to hold him up at third base. If Pujols runs until he his is stopped like everyone works on in Spring Training, he might have scored. Because as the replay showed Elvis Andrus caught a short hop from Hamilton and Pujols was about 4-5 steps down the line as Andrus caught the ball. If Pujols just runs and does not look back he gains an extra 2-3 steps allowing the third base coach to be aggressive and force the defense to make a great play at the plate. The next time a third base coach holds up a runner or a guy is thrown out by a step, don’t solely put the blame on the third base coach many times the great players we adore at fault just as much.