Makes Me Wanna Say . . .

[Editor's Note: we're sorry for the late arriving Link Dump.  Apparently a "holiday" Friday can't stop emergencies from popping up at our actual "work".  As such, we've been running behind schedule all morning getting the various links and videos finalized.  But we never want to let you down, so here it is in all its glory.]

. . . oh, oh, oh oh . . . oh oh, oh, oh oh . . . oh oh, oh, oh oh . . . oh oh, oh my god.  It is the one day of the year that the Link Dump introduction pretty much writes itself.  Why?  Because it is the Friday before that special weekend where society has found the decency to allow women to express their inner-sluttiness with out facing judgment.  And since we love scantily-clad women around these parts, we love what Halloween has become.

But that does not mean there is not an alarming trend that must addressed.  Any of you who know me know then that I am one of the clearest cases out there of someone who has out kicked his coverage.  Seriously, if you were to poll my friends, family, and random strangers walking down the street, the results would be unanimous.  My Better Half is smarter and hotter than me and, when all is said and done, is probably going to end up more successful.  Why do you think I had to lock that [censored] down her freshman year of college?  So, I am not ashamed to admit that, come Halloween, I want to show her off a little.  But she is a little reserved about just how hot she is, so every year we have a back-and-forth about what she will dress up as.  I mean, I am not about to try and convince her to dress up like Daisy Duke or a naughty nurse (speaking of Daisy Duke, I wanted to congratulate the producers of Project Runway for that life-like fat suit they convinced Jessica Simpson to wear during the finale that ran last night; I mean, it was so real looking that she even had trouble opening her mouth to speak except anytime someone mentioned food . . . wait, what's that? It wasn't a costume? Good god, man.  What happened to the old Jessica? . . . but I digress), but is a sexy Batman or pirate too much to ask?  Well, as luck would have it, I actually convinced her to wear something that is a little more "risque" than normal for her and so off I went to look for ideas to show her.  But as I was searching through the various Halloween costume websites, I noticed a surprisingly high number of women's costumes (which pretty much only fall into the categories of sexy, slutty, or "companion for Charlie Sheen's next episode") were available in regular and . . . wait for it . . .  plus sizes.  Look, I am not about to say that the larger girls should not be allowed to express their skankier side (fat chicks need lovin' too), but I do not think we should be encouraging them to try and squeeze into costumes that, perhaps, only twenty percent of the female population should be squeezing into in the first place (a portion of the population that, thankfully, includes my Better Half . . . and football cheerleaders).  For some reason our country has turned into a country where people are not allowed to have hurt feelings.  If skinny chicks can dress slutty, then the fat chicks should be allowed to look just as slutty.  Well, I say, suck it up.  Hurt feelings help you build character.  So, if you are "big boned", either drop a few "el-bee-esses" before next Halloween or pick something other than that sexy referee costume you have been eying.

If you were finishing your lunch or afternoon snack and happened to click on that first Jessica Simpson link or the referee costume link, we apologize.  We probably should have given you some sort of warning.  "E" us.  So, to help make it up to you, here are some entertaining stories you might have missed from the past week:

• Nothing says football like leather pants and super-high heels. As such, nothing says football like Marisa Miller.
• For those recently engaged and/or those planning on popping the question sometime soon [Editor's Note: congrats to you!], here is a must read article.
• Ever wonder what it takes to close a wound caused by an inadvertent skate to the neck?  [Editor's Note: remember that warning we should have given before the Jessica Simpson picture?]
• The Wallstreet Journal has provided us with some great analysis of all the NFL pre-game shows that you should not miss.
• "She could make millions if she ever cashed in on all the naked photos she gets from friends."  Shocking.
• While the bathroom might be ridiculous, those ladies can certainly join me in it anytime they want.
•  Believe it or not, the Lingerie Football League might actually be helping the economy more ways than one.
• The tragedy at Notre Dame truly is a sad event, and Deadspin wants you to know just how avoidable it was.
• And will the tragedy have any affect on this?
•  This week in failed analogies: the Phillies loss and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.  Go.
• Did the Feds have something to do with Jose Guillen being left off the Giants' playoff roster?
• The World Series always brings out the best in people, like those who are willing to go that extra mile for a ticket to the World Series, or those who are willing to do anything just to watch their team play.
• Sad news out of Germany this week (just this week?): Paul the octopus has died.
•  We do not normally link to NASCAR stories around these parts unless the story involves something more than NASCAR . . . you know, like hot twin sisters.

Since we know what type of readers this site attracts, we are fairly confident you all have great plans for tonight and tomorrow night.  We sincerely hope that what ever you have planned results in many treats for your eyes to enjoy.  And since we think there will be plenty of treats for your eyes to enjoy this weekend, we thought we would give you some tricks (and some other stuff) for your eyes to enjoy today:

• Part Three of the epic Nash-Donovan showdown.
• As the title of this video suggests, people are awesome.
• Question: at what point in life does someone decide "I'm going to learn cool tricks on a unicycle"?
• "They're smoking weed!"
• Sounds like the Obamas are ready to party. 
• The Brett Favre sexting scandal had SNL commercial written all over it.
• Speaking of commercials, here is LeBron's new Nike commercial in which he proves he still does not get it.
• "Nuts and bolts, we got screwed."  Yup, it is the greatest meltdown in high school football history.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Worst. Relationship. Ever.

You know what a city with already ridiculous traffic congestion could really use this morning?  A visit from the President.  As such, things are running a little behind schedule this morning at the GameTime, TBD© offices and that always gets the Chief a little antsy.  But rest assured that we are operating at full capacity and are to send you off into the weekend on the right foot.

I was talking with long-time friend of the program Q early this week, and she was a little (read: a lot) distraught over her Phillies' lack luster performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.  And as a tried to talk her off the ledge (trust me, as a Kings, Lions, and UCLA fan, I have plenty of experience in this area), she said something that really got me thinking: "Being a fan . . . it's like being in a relationship.  Like a complicated one.  When it's great, it's GREAT . . . when it's bad . . . oh man."  My initial response was that that was the perfect analogy.  But the more I thought about, the less I was convinced.

Let us be honest, we all have been stuck in a bad relationship at some point in our life.  [Editor's Note: if you ever want to feel better about your bad relationship, talk the Chief and you'll feel better . . . trust us.]  It is that relationship that is well past its expiration date but for some reason you keep going back for more.  It is that relationship that your friends keep begging you to end, but for some reason you do not listen to them.  You have to put in all the effort; you have to pay for everything; then, at the end of the day, you are not even sure if you are going to get any.  Did I describe your bad relationship?  Probably.  Did I also describe what it is like to be a fan?  You betcha.  Perhaps our good friend Ballgame summarized it best when he said "It's like the girlfriend who is so incredibly awesome at making out, you stick around for all the torture, just waiting for the big payday that never happens."  Does that sound like a complicated relationship?  No, that sounds like the worst. relationship. ever.  Yet here we are, still waiting for that payday that might never come.

The more we talk about this, the more we risk the Chief having some sort of 'Nam-like flashback.  Believe you me, they are never pretty.  So, I think it best we switch gears and get to the good stuff.  Here are some things you might have missed from the past week:

• I can not decide what I like more, the old guy stealing second in public or the reaction of the guys trying to document it all?
• Tiger says he is finally "at peace" with his life because . . . you know . . .  now he does not have to be worried about a wife finding out.
• Here's to you, (former-King) Matt Moulson.  A true class act.
• When I win the lottery tonight, I am buying this.
• Sasha Vujacic has certainly out-kicked his coverage.  Good for him.
• Please, Commissioner Stern, think about the agents, the entourages, and the baby mamas . . .
• MSG's loss is our gain.
• Headed to the Big House for a Michigan game?  Do not forget to pack your M16s.  
• Colts punter seeks to become the Peyton Manning of public intoxication.
• Did you win your fantasy football match-up this week because of Chris Johnson's late touchdown?  Well, apparently you have ESPN's greed to thank for that.
• Speaking of ESPN, this is the kind of publicity they always seem to love.
• Oh, wait, you strenuously deny the charges? Oh, well you must be innocent then.
• Peruvian soccer team takes the phrase "win at all costs" to the next level.

Before we get the videos, a funny story.  As we mentioned at the start of the Link Dump, the President is in Los Angeles today.  His first stop is a rally at the University of Spoiled Children here in downtown and then he has a radio interview in Glendale.  Since many of you are probably not up to date on the layout of the Los Angeles freeway system, you should know that there is only one freeway that gets you from downtown to Glendale and the surrounding area.  Well, that fact has made it quite convenient for not one, not two, not three, but six attorneys in my office to feel as though they should beat traffic and "work" from home this afternoon.  But do not fear, we know that many of you will not be bailing out early.  So here are some videos to help get you through your Friday afternoon:

• No one disputes that Rick Rypien was wrong in grabbing at a taunting fan. No one except the homer Vancouver announcers, that is.
• This seemingly innocent compilation of footage captured by sports fanatics will probably give you the sudden urge to buy rugged cameras, skateboards, snowboards, surfboards, race cars, and motocross bikes. I would warn you more, but I have stunts to practice.
• "Lincecum, [censored] yeah!"  You know, if we are not careful, people might start to think we like the Giants as well.  [Editor's Note: We DON'T! Also, video's language is NSFW.]
• Sadly, this will be the highlight of Pepperdine's basketball season. 
• Wait, this is an ad for a motorcycle insurance company? Weird, I thought it was for a new women's body wash.
• When the robots finally rise up against us, at least we will still be able to out bowl them.
• Mad Lib time: "It's been another wild season of fist-______ and hard _______ . . ."

Have a great weekend everyone!

Public Service Announcement

Before we get to the good stuff, I just wanted to take a moment and point out the Chief got his annual Kings' Season Preview up earlier this week.  He puts an interesting spin on a classic movie moment and has some quality analysis of his boys in purple and black.  Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Here at GameTime, TBD©, we generally try to avoid talking about the most obvious news stories of the week because, let us be honest, after five full news cycles, mentioning it in our Link Dump would just be beating a dead horse.  But every now and then, a story comes a long that takes a life of its own, and we can not ignore.  As we were putting the final touches on last week's Link Dump, our (second) favorite sports blog, Deadspin, was busying posting a video of Brett Favre's non-infamous voicemails and dirty texts (or "sexts" as the young folks call 'em) to Jenn Sterger, who is about as much of a report as Ines Sainz (after all, her claim to fame was dressing like this at Florida State football games).  Like any hot topic, everyone is coming out the woodwork to comment on the "barrel of worms" Deadspin opened last week.  Some we agree with, some we do not, and some are just plain funny.  But to us, the Favre dong scandal (which happens to make the nut shot Favre took in practice this week even more funny) is just another example of an alarming trend that must be stopped.

That is why we here at GameTime, TBD© have decided to start the "A.S.S." movement.  Do not adjust your screen, you read that correctly, the "A.S.S." movement, or "Athlete's Shouldn't Sext" (we're also in favor of starting another type of ass movement, but that's a topic for another time).  The fact of the matter is, Favre is just another in a long string of dong incidents involving athletes.  I can neither confirm nor deny that I have ever sent or received a suggestive text message.  But were I to have sent or received said messages, the likelihood that these messages would have been sent or received by my Better Half is very, very high (read: someone I love dearly and have been in a long-term committed relationship with).  Athletes, on the other hand, tend to sext any number of individuals ranging from current girlfriends to road beef (read: girls who are likely to want to publish them when said athlete stops calling).  There have been enough scandals in recent memory to safely say that athletes believe they are entitled to live a lifestyle different than the rest of us are expected to live and, sadly, many wives of athletes are more than willing to turn the other cheek to keep the lavish lifestyle being married to an athlete affords them.  And while it saddens me that women are willing to make such a compromise (though, it appears Deanna Favre might not be one of them), it saddens me more that every time I check out Deadspin, I run the risk the of seeing man junk.  And while I have safely navigated my way around the Favre pictures, it will probably cost me thousands of dollars in therapy sessions to erase the likes of Grady Sizemore and Leg Greg Odom from my memory.  Seriously, if I wanted to see that, I would go watch some porn (though, that might not be an option soon).

So, we here at GameTime, TBD© kindly request that you take up our cause and join the "A.S.S." movement.  Together, we can stop the image of man junk from being seared into our eyes every time an athlete crosses a fame whore.  So, while we go put together some sort of sign-up sheet for you all to sign, here are some things you might have missed from this past week:

• The NFL apologizes to London for choosing two crappy teams for this year's International Series game by hiring Marisa Miller as spokesperson.  Congrats, London.  [Editor's Note: While it is true that we often reference suggestive pictures of attractive models and celebrities on this site, we are keenly aware that many young women struggle with body image issues as a result of society and the media's current definition of "beauty".  That is why we fully support this effort, and vow to refrain from making such references all next week.]
• Things go from bad to downright embarrassing for Tom Brady's hair.
• Well, this certainly is a first for the Lions.
• "And countless others will be home watching NBC with their porch lights off so they won't be bothered while the game is on."  If only someone would invent some sort of device that would . . . oh, I don't know . . . allow people to pause live television or something.  That just might save Halloween for the children of New Orleans.  [Editor's Note: Also, "The Treat Dats"? Really?]
• It turns out the Baltimore Ravens organization is not a fan of chicks being awesome.
• Remember that Delaware gambler from last week?  Apparently he missed the Sports Betting 101 class where they discussed how to properly hedge your bet.
• The second biggest story of the week (behind you-know-what) was the former-agent tell all in this week's Sports Illustrated. If you are not a subscriber to the magazine, here is the story.
•  If you are eating or have eaten recently, you might want to skip this story.
• Two things about Ole Miss's new mascot:  (1) ironically, the only bear native to Mississippi is the Louisiana Black Bear; and (ii) I suppose Rebel Black Bear fought for slavery and states' rights.  It is somewhat uninspiring to take your inspiration from the losing side in a war, is it not?
• You stay classy Internet commentors.
• What? LeBron James merchandise is not selling well in Cleveland? SHOCKING!
• Dear A.J. Burnett, The word "simulated" in "Simulated Game" is not meant to be taken literally.  Xoxo, Your Teammates.
• Sara Saco-Vertiz, who first stole your heart in the classic love story "I Got Hit By A Foul Ball in Houston When My Then-Boyfriend Dove for Cover", is back in the news.
• Roy Oswalt; good pitcher, better interview bomber.
• A table tennis story that does not suck.  Go figure.

Wow, I did not realize how much good stuff went down [Editor's Note: that's what she said!] this week because of all the coverage Brett Favre's dong was getting.  That is why we really hope our "A.S.S." movement gains some momentum sooner rather than later.  Speaking of movement, here are some moving picture, commonly referred to as "video", clips we thought might make your Friday a little better:

• Ever wonder what it would be like to parachute in with the game ball in front of huge crowd?  Turns out it would be pretty freakin' awesome.
• Some scientists did a study on my life and The Onion is here with the results.
• Your "Fail of the Week" is brought to you by [*spins wheel* . . . . click click click click . . . click click click . . . click click . . . click]: Guy Mounting Elephant!
• I flunked out of sign language class. Can someone please translate for me?
• We have long been a fan of Steve Nash's ability to make great videos.  His recent commercials for FIFA Soccer 11 with Landycakes are no exception.  So here are parts one and two.
• This one goes out to all my readers who are also San Francisco Giants fans . . . all two of you.
• I always knew Dora was a slut.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Now I Know My "ABC"s

There are some people out there who consider it to be the greatest seven minutes in cinematic history.  Others, who are not willing to go that far, are at least willing to concede it is, perhaps, the greatest seven-minute cameo appearance in a movie.  After all, it is one of the most quoted monologues ever performed.  We quote it around the GameTime, TBD© offices at least once per week (the Chief more frequently), and the chances are you do the same.  It is entirely possible you quote it without even knowing it; you heard someone else quoting it once, liked what you heard, and quickly incorporated it into your repertoire.  We would not blame you.  Yet, sadly, there are those of you who have absolutely no clue what I am even talking about.  Shame.  On.  You.  Well, by now, you should know that we are not going to leave you hanging.  [Editor's Note: Who loves you? We do.  But a word to the wise: the language in that clip is definitely NSFW!  So, we advise you too watch it only if you (1) have headphones, (b) have an office door you can close, or (iii) have been looking for a good way to get fired and plan to go down swinging.]  It is important you watch that clip before proceeding.  We will wait . . .

. . .

"A, always; B, be; C, closing.  Always be closing.  Always . . . be closings."  I challenge any and all of you to come up with a movie quote more applicable to everyday life (seriously though, please do . . . if the Chief responds to one more of my questions with "Always be closing", I just might snap).  At work?  Obviously.  Right before you sink the game-winning shot in beer pong? Naturally.  Getting your buddy pumped up before heading out for the night?  You know it.  Any wingman worth his weight in gold knows a pregame speech that includes the phrases "brass balls" (wait, what?) and "always be closing" is guaranteed to get your buddy cocked, locked, and ready to rock.  Then all you have to do is make sure he does not trip over himself the rest of the night, which, assuming you do not ride the short bus to school, should not be too difficult. [Editor's Note: oh, if only that were true . . .]  And while I would love to regale you with tales of nights gone fantastically awesome and horribly wrong, (1) I am not one to kiss and tell, (b) you would not believe me even if I did tell you, and (iii) what I really want to talk about is Los Angeles Kings hockey.  That is right, my dear readers, it is your 2010-2011 Los Angeles Kings season preview.

Like with other sports, a hockey team's ultimate success or failure is usually directly correlated to its ability to close.  As proof, you need look no further than the last two seasons for the Kings.  [Editor's Note: Weird how that worked out, right?]  The 2008-2009 Kings finished twenty-sixth out of thirty teams in the NHL, and fourteenth out of fifteen teams in the Western Conference, posting a 34-37-11 record.  If we break that record down a little more, we find the Kings were 24-4-2 when leading after two periods (80% win percentage), 6-5-5 when tied after two (37.5%), and 4-28-4 when trailing after two periods (11.1%).  Much like their finishing position, the eighty percent win percentage was ranked twenty-fifth in the NHL.  While we generally try not to make any excuses around here, it is true that the 2008-2009 Kings were the second youngest team in the league with an average age of 25.658 years old (only Chicago was younger, at 25.470 years old).  More than a few games slipped away from this young team late in the game.  They were not closers.

So, what made the 2009-2010 Kings one of the biggest surprises of the season?  Even though they were still the second youngest team in the NHL at 26.290 years old (again behind Chicago at 26.243 years old . . . and, yes, Chicago did win the Stanley Cup), the Kings learned to always be closing.  The Kings finished sixth in the highly-competitive Western Conference, ninth overall, with a 46-27-9, and found the themselves in the playoffs for the first time in eight years.  Looking at the same stats as we did above, the Kings were 29-0-2 when leading after two periods (93.5% win percentage), 9-4-4 when tied after two (23.5%), and 8-23-3 when trailing after two (23.5%).  That is a double-digit percentage increase in each category.  Their ninety-three percent win percentage when leading after two was fifth best in the league, and they were one of only five teams to earn at least one point in every game they led after two (fun fact: Buffalo was the only team to be perfect when leading after two, going 30-0-0).  The Kings were better both offensively and defensively, ranking ninth in the league in both categories, and, with their new found ability to close, the Kings were winning the close games late, as opposed to losing. [Editor's Note: Do we thank the 2008-2009 Kings for that or all the girls in the South Bay bars?]

While the 2009-2010 Kings were closers during the regular season, they learned a hard lesson come playoff time: it is harder to close when the stakes are higher.  Closing during the regular season is like picking up the USC girl at the bar; two drinks and you are good to go.  Closing during the playoffs, however, it like picking up the UCLA girl; it is going to take all you have and then some, but, in the end, the victory is that much sweeter.  [Editor's Note: also, disease free . . .]  In the six games the Kings played against the Vancouver Canucks in their opening-round match up of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, they were 1-2 when leading after two periods (33% win percentage), 1-1 when tied after two (50%), and 0-1 when trailing at two (0%).  That is correct; the Kings were leading or tied after two periods in five of the six games they played, and could not even force a game seven.

As the Kings begin their 2010-2011 campaign, I hope they continue to build on the lessons they learned way back in 2008-2009.  [Update: 1-1-0 when trailing after two periods early in the 2010-2011 season.]  If they do that, a return to the playoffs is definitely in the cards and they can then begin applying the lessons they learned last year.  But they will also face a new challenge this season: expectations.  With their success last season, big things are expected from the Kings.  They are returning the main nucleus of last years team, with the only notable departure being Alexander Frolov, who was known mostly for his consistently inconsistent play.  And while the Kings ultimately missed out on signing prized free agent Ilya Kolvachuk, I am part of the minority who thinks they are actually better off without him.  Do not get me wrong, having a legitimate fifty-goal scorer makes any team instantly better, and I would have loved to see Kolvachuk in the purple and black.  But had the organization signed him, they would have been handcuffed in their ability to re-sign their core players in the coming years.  The Kings, instead, were able to sign a solid defensive-defenseman in Willie Mitchell and partially replace Frolov's (lack of) scoring with Alexei Ponikarovsky, a four-time twenty-goal scorer.  Plus, Dean Lombardi still has the cap space to add a top-six forward as the season progresses, while also re-signing future-Norris trophy winner Drew Doughty, future-Hart trophy winner Anze Kopitar, and the rest of their young guns to the long-term contracts they deserve.  And it is this core group of players that will need to continue their improvement if the Kings are going to take that next step: a deep run in the playoffs and, at long last, a Stanley Cup championship.

There is no denying that, in order to improve on last season, the Kings will have to improve their five-on-five scoring.  While the Kings finished tied for ninth overall in scoring, they were nineteenth overall in five-on-five scoring.  And while they are now technically only the tenth youngest team in the NHL, some of that scoring burden will fall on a crop of prospects the Kings have been grooming in their farm system.  Do not be misled by the Kings average age of 27.337 years old; they feature nine rookies on their opening day roster.  Not all of the rookies will be around for the long-term, but rather are keeping roster spots warm for the likes of Scott Parse and Matt Greene, who will start the season on injured reserve.  But the Kings will be expecting some of these prospects to stick around for most of the season and for them to make a non-prospect-like contribution to the stat sheet.  Yes, Andrei Loktionov, Brayden Schenn, Kyle Clifford, and/or Jake Muzzin, I am talking to you.

And, of course, no Kings' season preview would be complete with my breakout player of the year prediction.  And I was obviously spot on with my last two picks of Wayne Simmonds and Jonathan Quick . . . Okay, okay, I did not pick Simmonds and Quick, and yes, my last two picks (Brian Boyle and Teddy Purcell) did not even finish the season as part of the Kings organization.  So, in order to salvage any sort of credibility I might have, I am going with, perhaps, the most obviously pick there is: goaltender Jonathan Bernier.  I know what you are thinking: "The back-up goalie?"  Please, hear me out.  Jonathan Quick was, by far, the biggest surprise of the 2009-2010 season for the Kings.  For the first in who knows how long, the Kings had a goaltender who was solid in net, night-in and night-out.  Quick posted a phenomenal 39-24-7 record for the Kings with 2.57 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage.  But Quick played in seventy-two games last season, was part of the U.S. Olympic team, a looked a little tired down the stretch.  Jonathan Bernier was long been considered the Kings "goalie of the future" and, but for Quick's breakout season, probably would have gotten his chance to prove it last year.  In a short, late-season call-up, Bernier went 3-0-0 with a 1.30 goals-against-average and .957 save percentage.  While Quick enters the season as the undisputed number one goaltender on the depth chart, having Bernier backing him up should reduce his workload.  And I expect Bernier to seize the opportunity and be the most productive back-up goaltender in the league.  Also, it helps that he just signed a contract extension, so at least I know the organization is planning on keeping him around.

And that, of course, brings us to the final question of every Kings' season preview: where will the Kings finish the season?  If you believe the experts, expectations are substantially higher for the Kings entering the season.  And, to be honest, this might be the first time I agree.  The Kings proved last season that they can play with anybody and team chemistry should not be an issue.  With all the experience they gained last year, and two legitimate goaltenders backstopping an improved defense, I am expecting great things out of the 2010-2011 Los Angeles Kings.  They will return to the playoffs, this time with home-ice advantage as the Pacific Division.   A run to the Western Conference finals, at a minimum, would not be unexpected and, if Dean Lombardi is able to finally add that top-six forward he has long been craving (without sacrificing his long-term plan), the Kings just might finally get the chance to raise the Cup.  You heard it here first.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go get myself a cup of coffee.  And when I get back, maybe I will tell you about that one time on the tram from . . .

A New Experiment

We here at GameTime, TBD© are not the first, nor will we be the last, people in this world who find ourselves asking "Where does the time go?"  I am sure it will come as no surprise to our avid readers, but we clearly have not had as much time over the past few months as we would have liked to dedicate to our little corner of the world wide web.  As frustrating for us as that may be [Editor's Note: believe that would fall under the category "very".], it has not stopped us from trying to find new and improved ways to make our site more accessible to our fans and also attract new readers.  After all, the more profitable this site becomes, more greater the possibility we could actually do this for a living.

To that end, we have taken the plunge and joined Twitter.  For those of you who are already members on Twitter, you can click on the "Twitter" button up there to your right, or, if you are reading this on some sort of mobile device, you can search for "GameTimeTBD" via your Twitter for iPhone, Twitter for Blackberry, or Twitter for Android application.  If, for whatever valid reason, you are not a member but have been thinking about joining, you should.  We had been pretty hesitant to join for a long time and had bounced back and forth on the idea over the past couple of weeks.  As it turns out, it is actually pretty cool.  Do not worry, we made the Chief promise he would not "tweet" from the bathroom or do anything weird like that, but we figure it allows us to at least give our two cents about breaking sports and pop culture news (assuming our two cents can be summarized in 140 characters or less).  Plus, it turns out some people are pretty fun to follow.  Our favorites thus far have been Stephen Colbert (funny/random comments), Barney Stinson/Neil Patrick Harris (great bro advice), and SI Swimsuit (sneak peeks of the 2011 Swimsuit Issue on location).

We are still trying to figure out all the ins and outs of the site [Editor's Note: that's what she said!], so it may be a while until we are fully up and running.  In fact, we are expecting a link to this post to be our first official tweet.  Look at that, you are all a part of history.  So, while we go make sure we understand exactly how to shrink a link [Editor's Note: I've heard cold water works well . . . ba-ZING!], here is an extended Link Dump featuring girls, humor, more girls, and some sports:

• Though you have probably already seen it, we could not pass up the greatest sports photograph of the year.
• I can not say I have ever heard of 944 magazine, but any magazine willing to feature Marisa Miller is fine by me.
• As part of the Pac-10, Arizona State plays UCLA.  Ergo, this story is relevant . . . somehow.
• Apparently Playboy did not have the guts to pick the Lions to make the playoffs.  Since they are 0-4, I guess that seems like a smart decision.  So, if I have to pick one, I say "Go Ravens"!
• If you ask me, there is a simple solution to this problem: select hotter cheerleaders next time.
• An obvious prank? Yes.  Still funny?  You betcha.
• Along those same lines . . .
• And, it might be a while until New Mexico State University officials have to deal with a similar problem.
• Early in the baseball season, Deadspin ran this story. His results?  A $324.34 profit.
• To hedge or not to hedge, that is the question.  Though, the answer should be fairly obvious.  [Editor's Note: I once had a $2 ten-team parlay come down to the over/under of Game 5 of the 2004 NBA Finals. Foolishly, I did not hedge my bet.]
• Just another reason for Cleveland fans to hate Cleveland.  [Editor's Note: don't they have enough already?]
• Dear Ben Roethlisberger, Commissioner Goodell already reduced your suspension to four games.  Your fake remorse is no longer necessary.  Xoxo, The Chief.
• Dedicated fan or one crazy dude?  [Editor's Note: Anyone else think this article was about Mark Dantonio, Michigan St.'s head coach, at first?]
• Pole reveals female reporters should stay out of NFL locker rooms . . . strangely, male reporters okay in Niners locker room.
• Say hello to your 2010 Tour De France champion, Andy Schleck.
• I need Verizon to get the iPhone . . . STAT!  
• You love sports. You love Saved by the Bell. Ergo, you will love this Saved by the Bell sports quiz.

 Surprising exactly none of you, the Chief when ten-for-ten on that sports quiz.  Also surprising exactly none of you, we are following up our extended set of "news" stories with an extended set of videos to really make those last few hours of your work week fly by.  And, yes, I promise we are not including the Brett Favre dong video.  You.  Are.  Welcome.

• Supwitchugirl follows up their break-out 2009 classic, "I Love My Ducks", with a sure-to-be 2010 hit, "Return of the Quack".
• This video did not go viral until after we went to print last week.  That means, you get to enjoy it all over again this week.
• Wait, what is going to happen on 10.10.10? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON 10.10.10?!?!?!?!?
• Ever wonder what touchdown celebrations are like in the Lingerie Football League?  Pretty much exactly like you would expect.
• "The Jersey Shore RPG" . . . enough said.
• We have shown a lot of impressive soccer goals on this site.  This one may take the cake.
• Some of the writers from 30 Rock decided to make this "tribute" to John Lennon for what would have been his 70th birthday.
• Well, what would you expect with a question like that?
• Approaching lift off in three . . . two . . . ouch.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I Went Green . . .

. . . and I liked it. As a result of some Friday night plans with the Better Half (which help to kick off my third "Weekend of Awesomeness" in the last five weekends . . . man I need to slow down), it was advantageous for me not to have a car in Downtown Los Angeles today. So, I devised a plan whereby my Better Half would drop me off at a Metro station (which, as it turns out, is not place where a lot of metrosexuals hang out . . . who knew?), and I would take the train into work and then also after work to meet up with her at our destination. So I rode the train (just like the Quad City DJs told me to), read a book along the way, and got to work surprisingly refreshed. Now, I can not say I plan to make a habit out this little adventure (and, if you know the route I had to take, it certainly can be an adventure), but I might have to start doing it every now and then for a nice relaxing morning.

So, we were conspicuously absent last week, and we apologize. For those of you who have been following this site since its early days, you know just how big of UCLA fan the Chief is. So the Chief closed down the office, packed his bags, and flew off to Austin, Texas for the UCLA-Texas game. He swore up and down that he would "finalize the Link Dump from his hotel room Friday morning." Well, that was about as likely as us winning the Mega Millions, retiring, and doing this full time. And who suffered? You, our avid readers. Rest assured, the Chief punished himself severely the rest of the weekend, and was still paying for it through about Tuesday night. And we had absolutely no intention of leaving you hanging for a second week in a row, especially when I am feeling so good.

What has got me feeling so good, you ask? Well, for those of you who have been following this site since its early days (is there an echo in here?), you know how important music is to the Chief. I have an extensive CD collection, spent more money on iTunes than I care to admit, performed for a former-President of the United States and the last General Secretary of the Soviet Union, performed in a nationally-ranked show choir, and, perhaps most importantly, met my Better Half while singing in the Glee Club at Occidental College (this one time, at choir retreat . . .). And tonight, for the first time in many years, I get to revisit where it all began . . . The Phantom of the Opera!!!!! Okay, stop laughing . . . Seriously . . . You are just being rude now . . . Finished? . . . Go ahead, get it all out . . . Okay? Good. Nearly twenty-two years (22?!?!?! Yikes!), my parents took me to see The Phantom of the Opera for the first time; tonight, I see it for the fifth time. Having all-but minored in music in college, I will be the first to admit that Andrew Lloyd Weber does not exactly write the most complex musicals. However, as a young eight-year-old boy, seeing Phantom at the Ahmanson Theatre, was my first exposure to music outside of Mom "rocking out" to oldies around the house and in the car. The lights, the performers, the costumes, the pyrotechnics, and, most of all, the music, left an indelible mark on my soul and introduced me and art form in which I could excel. And tonight, I get to sit back, relax, and enjoy that feeling once again. Only, this time, I get to share it with the person I might not have met but for that performance twenty-two years ago.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa . . . cup check (*clearing throat . . . adjusting pants*). We got a little carried away there with the personal stuff. Sorry about that. You come here for funny anecdotes, a fresh perspective, and stories about sports, not musicals and love. So let us get to the goods:

• First, we ask that you join us in a moment of silence for teenage boners around the world. . . . Thank you.
• Since he is officially divorced, it is no longer cheating. Also, can you blame him?
• YES! We are officially one step closer to ESPN8, "The Ocho".
• Speaking of Ocho, why am I not surprised something like this would happen with Ochocinco's cereal?
  
• Payback is a . . .
  
• Is it mere coincidence the number one recruit in basketball commits to Duke . . .
• . . . the same day this hits the internet?
• A case of "he-said, she-said" where he said the same thing as she said, but the prosecutor has decided to do nothing. In this case, "numerous prosecutors of both genders" ranks right up there with "don't be offended, but . . .".
  
• The hippies win again.
• "Sports don't build character, they reveal it." Well said.
• Our Little Snowflake got hurt playing football. What should we do? Sue the league and coaches of course.
• [*Dialing American Airlines reservations line*] Yes, when is your next flight to Australia? I would like to see what the Gold Coast has to offer.

Since we dropped the ball last week with the Link Dump, and since The Chief is all fired up for Phantom tonight, we decided to give you a double dose of videos this week. First up, we have the usual collection of entertaining clips you have grown to love her at GameTime, TBD©:

• This is one fall release you definitely should not miss.
• I have a feeling it will be a little while before Doug Gottlieb gets a chance to interview Jim Mora (the younger version, not the "Playoffs?" version) again.
• Jamie Pressly can clean my golf balls anytime she wants.
• So, since we dropped the ball last week [Editor's Note: must have been dirty], we have not one, but two "This Week in Unnecessary Censorship" for you.
• I waited a long time for this moment: "The Greatest Reality Television Screw Up Ever".
• Three words: Mike. Tyson. Dancing.

Second, we thought we would drop some musical numbers we recently came across:

• Okay, we did not really come across this one "recently". In fact, it has been here before. But we still love it. [Editor's Note: if you're a Star Wars nerd, raise your hand (*raises hand*).]
• This one too.
• Prep school girls rocking a Dr. Dre classic.
• Yes, I was in a college a cappella group; no, we did not rock out like this. [Editor's Note: language NSFW, so close your door.]
• You want to know why I love music? People like this.

Have a great weekend everyone!