It's All About Product Placement

When we first introduced GameTime, TBD© to the world a little under four years ago, our goal was to provide you with an interesting spin on all things sports, pop culture, and hot chicks. And to say the Chief's mind has an "interesting" spin on things is . . . well . . . an understatement. But with our limited resources, over time we have refined the direction of the site and made the focus sports and hot chicks (I mean, the two practically go hand-in-hand, right?) and pop culture was moved to the back burner. We did not want to eliminate it completely, but it certainly has not been a focal point of our little corner of the World Wide Web for quite some time. But today, we have decided to go back to our roots, and use our Link Dump introduction to bring you a little piece of pop culture gold.

By now you all know that one of the Chief's biggest weaknesses is reality television that highlights the worst of American society. And there is no denying that MTv cast out a large hook with its release of Jersey Shore in 2009. The Chief valiantly tried to resist but, ultimately, the bait was too tempting and he got hooked. And the Chief was not the only one; in fact, we have first hand knowledge that several of you, our dear readers, could not resist the temptation either (there goes your aspiring political career). In fact, the American public's new-found infatuation with the "guido culture" has been quite astonishing. So infatuated has the American public become [Editor's Note: thanks, Yoda], a publishing company approached the founder of GuidoFistPump.com, Guido DiErio, and asked if he would be willing to write a book that helped provide the American public world with a better understanding of the guido culture.

Willing he was . . . minus that whole writing thing. So Mr. DiErio enlisted the help of his college buddy, and a good friend of the GameTime, TBD© family, Rick "The Happenstance" Marinara, and together they created what is sure to be the breakout book of 2010: Fist Pump: An In-Your-Face Guide to Going Guido. Though its official release date is Tuesday, August 24th (like, next Tuesday), if you follow that link to Amazon, or if you swing on by Urban Outfitters' website, you can order yourself a copy today and have it before then. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to piggyback on someone else's success, we caught up with Mssr. Marinara yesterday during his whirlwind publicity tour for the book (read: on gchat during his day job) to get his thoughts on the book. Though he had much to say about his excitement for the book's release ("It finally made it to [Urban Outfitters] . . . its natural home."), Mssr. Marinara is most proud of the prominent position he expects his masterpiece to hold in your book collection: "Fist Pump is sure to provide an interesting wrinkle to your coffee table . . . ok, let's face it, this is destined for your bathroom."

Believe you me, we here at GameTime, TBD© love quality bathroom reading material. We have ordered our copy and anxiously await its arrival (also, the arrival of Kick-Ass . . . afterall, how can you pass up free super saver shipping?) early next week. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy for your home and [Editor's Note: spoiler alert to GameTime, TBD© staff members with upcoming birthdays] a couple for your friends with birthdays right around the corner. Once you have done that, come on back and check some things you might have missed from this past week in the world of sports:

• The third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was published on Thursday. Highlights of the 2,000 newest words and phrases to make the big book are "bromance" [Editor's Note: got one], "buzzkill" [Editor's Note: yes, you are], and "vuvuzela".
• We really dropped the ball by not providing you all with weekly updates of the McCourt divorce for the past few months. We start now with this weeks fireworks: (1) how Frank milks even more money out of the organization; and (B) how Frank falsified the ownership documents.
• With confidence at an all-time high after their successful perjury prosecution of Barry Bonds, the Feds look to keep the gravy train rolling along.
• If you are compiling a list of people we should be feeling bad for during this recession, do not forget to include ticket scalpers.
  
• The Tampa Bay Rays truly travel in style.
• Seems like the right thing to do.
  
• ESPN is sick of all the "drama king" athletes and their constant need for media attention . . .
  
• . . . which is why they spend so much time covering Brett Favre and LeBron James and not stories like this.
• Looking for the perfect gift for that someone special (well, besides Fist Pump of course)? Here is an idea for you.
• Maybe I should pick up a copy of Madden 11 after all.
• "Time was when they wouldn’t allow you to bring a soda into the stands at the high school gym for fear that you might spill it." Times, they are a changing.
• They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Apparently Eva Longoria's butt is worth twelve eyes.

Did you order your copy of the book yet? If you did, you may proceed to the next section of the Link Dump. If you have not, kindly click here, follow the instructions, return to GameTime, TBD©, and proceed to the fine clips we have collected for your viewing pleasure:

• Jimmy Kimmel is taking over late-night television. His weekly "This Week in Unnecessary Censorship" segment certainly does not hurt.
• Here is your weekly dose of uh-mazing local commercials.
• And for Antonio Cromartie's next trick, he will list the names of his baby mamas. [Editor's Note: how did that phrase not make the OED?]
• Cause a seven-pound rubber sex toy to the face is bad for your health.
• This week's edition of "Real or Fake?" is brought to you by [*spins wheel* . . . click click click click click, click click click, click . . . click . . . . . click] Roger Federer.
• You might think this video deserves the "Real or Fake?" tag as well, but, if you watch golf, you know these guys can do a lot with a club and ball.
• Stephen Colbert pulls a Brett Favre, only after making fun of Brett Favre. How many more times can I say Brett Favre? Brett Favre.

Have a great weekend everyone!