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!

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!

I We Todd Did

It was a banner night in the GameTime, TBD© house last Friday night. My Better Half flew the coop and head off to San Diego for a "girls weekend", leaving me all alone as the king of my castle. Unfortunately, the plans for my big group orgy fell through, so that left my calendar pretty open. As you know, I was fully prepared to watch Coco host The Tonight Show for the last time, but how I was going to pass the time before it started was a complete mystery. Well, as life often does, the answer became clear the minute I got home.

For starters, my Better Half had ever so nicely sorted the dirty laundry in the bedroom. Now, I am not nearly as smart as she is, so it took me a while to decipher the code, which, as it turns out, was "Do the laundry." But laundry is not something that requires constant attention (unless sitting in your garage and watching a machine shake is entertaining to you . . . but then, I'd assume you're not reading this blog . . . but I digress), so I needed something to pass the time while the washing machine worked its magic. And that is when I saw it, right there on my DirecTV channel guide: the season finale of Jersey Shore. One word: UH-MAZING! I had never watched any of the season, but had heard plenty about it from the likes of BFF and Barnicle, one of my oldest friends. Barnicle had even hosted a Jersey Shore season finale viewing party the night before. As the show progressed, I could literally feel the brain cells in my head dying off. Then, out of nowhere, J-Woww (an actual character nickname) described her ideal man as a "juice-head gorilla", and when she went to the beach to find her some man meat, she inquired "Where are all the juice-head gorillas?" And that was when it happened, my IQ took a fifty point hit; that, and I was hooked. So hooked, in fact, I stuck around for Jersey Shore: The Reunion. I mean, who does not need to learn about the art of fist pumping? This is serious people, the beat wants to fight you so you have to beat the beat up. To think, for the longest time, I thought this was a big spoof; now I know it is real.

What I am trying to say is this: if I seem M.I.A. for the next week or so, do not be afraid. It just means my daily G.T.L. schedule has gotten the best of me. Speaking of which, I am running a little late on the daily schedule. So, while I head out to get my G.T.L. on, here are some things you might have missed to keep you entertained (and smart) for the rest of the afternoon:

• If you had Ray Maualuga in the "Next Cincinnati Bengal to Get Arrested" pool, you may collect your winnings now. Pays double if you also had "DUI in a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire."
• If you see this man in or around the Miami area on February 7, 2010, please contact your local police station. He may be rocking out a great set list.
• "Saintsmania" has permeated the city? EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES (or just take the week off).
• "This is not Detroit, man. THIS IS THE SUPER BOWL." Yes, I am offended (not really).
• I heard his wife had already bought the shears.
• Three words I never thought I would write together: transgender sodomy lawsuit.
• If you are lucky, this man will be playing for your NFL team come next season. Congratulations.
• The SEC is not a fan of fans who love their schools in moments of great triumph.
• Talk about one of your all-time backfires. [Editor's Note: Make sure to watch the video as well, and then check out what happened while the news reporter was filming his intro to the story.]
• This is a story of a cursed high school hockey rink.
• Not too long ago, Charlie Davies was lucky to be alive. Now, it is possible he will be back with the national team in time for the 2010 World Cup.
• Meanwhile, this guy probably will not make it to South Africa this summer.
• It always comes full circle with sex offenders.
• I am sorry, Jim Nantz said what?

Seriously people, one week of G.T.L. and I am feeling swolle' and looking good. All I need is some 'roids so I can complete my transformation to juice-head gorilla; just the man my Better Half has always wanted. Now, I just need to get my hair cut so I can load it up with twenty pounds of gel. I do not want it flopping around while I am out at the clubs beating up the beat. So, while I try to find my local Guido Cuts, you should enjoy this collection of clips for your viewing pleasure:

• I hope, for your sake, your college does not have to play the mighty Nanooks of Alaska, Fairbanks this season.
• With the Olympics right around the corner, I have found myself wondering what it would be like to compete in the Skeleton. Oh look, the answer.
• A decently funny Lonely Island spoof. Never thought it could happen.
• I am sorry, they have tremendous what?
• I am thankful there are people out there with may too much free time on their hands.
• Perhaps all celebration music should be this great. Oh yeah, nice goal too.
• And, yes, we can not have a post about Jersey Shore without one or two shockingly accurate representations of what the show is all about.

Have a great weekend everyone!