Time to Tune In

Over the next three weeks, three of the "Big Four" sports leagues will play their annual All Star Game.  Yes, I know what your are thinking right now:  "Big Four?  I only count three."  Well, shame on you.  I still consider the NHL to be part of the Big Four of sports and so should you.  Sure, whenever I say I am going to a Kings game I am bound to hear jokes like "Why would you want to go to Sacramento?" or "Wait, it's hockey season?".  [Editor's Note: man, if I wanted to hear jokes that bad, I'd just hang around the GameTime, TBD© offices all day . . . oh, wait . . .]  Yes, hockey's popularity took a brutal hit as a result of the 2004-2005 Lockout and their inability to develop stars to build the league around until Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin arrived.  [Editor's Note:  which reminds me, the folks here at GameTime, TBD© would like to say happy belated-birthday to The Great One, who turned 50 this week.]  But now it is time for you all to start tuning back in.

And there is no better time to start than tonight, when the NHL kicks off its All Star weekend.  Why, you ask?  Well for starters, the league and players decided to go old school and will let the team captains pick their own squads.  We all remember what it was like back in elementary school when teams were picked of that game of basketball or soccer.  And now, tonight, we get to watch grown men twitch, fidget, and pray that they will not be the last one picked.  And then, come Sunday, you can watch what is, hands down, the best All Star Game amongst the Big Four.  NHL players actually look forward to the All Star Game; they actually appreciate the opportunity to give back to the fans.  They are not looking for excuses to get out of it, the league has not had to make the game worth home-ice advantage come Stanley Cup finals time to make it more competitive, and it is not a defenseless score-a-thon.  Sure, there will not be any fights or thunderous checks, and scoring will be a little higher than a normal game, but I would expect that from teams consisting of players like Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, the Ginger Sedin twins, Patrick Kane, Rick Nash, and, of course, my boy Anze Kopitar.  [Editor's Note:  for the record, the Kings deserved to have at least 3 All Stars this year, but thanks to that December/January slump (don't get me started), they were left with one.]

You know you need your weekend quota of sports, and I know you have no intention of watching the Pro Bowl.  So do yourself a favor and tune in to the NHL All Star Game festivities this weekend.  Who knows, you might finally see what you have been missing all along.  But since the fun does not start until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time tonight, we know you are in need of something to help you get through the rest of the work day.  Ask and ye shall receive:

• If the Packers win the Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions will be able to say they beat the eventual champion.  I think that, in and of itself, is deserving of this picture.
• Speaking of the Lions, a woman has accused a Detroit Lions player of trying to be the first to score in the postseason in over a decade.
• Speaking of the Super Bowl, all those strippers that were hit hard by the recession might want to make their way to Dallas.
• As friend of the program Ballgame put it: "It doesn't win you trophies, but it wins me Fantasy Football leagues."
• Because two football teams in Los Angeles worked so well the last time, right?
• And you thought American football was overly strict with its dress code/touchdown celebrations . . .
• Are you confused by the offside rule in Soccer?  Here is a helpful analogy that will clear things right up get you fired.
• Talk about excessive foreplay . . .
• Kevin Love wants to be an all star so badly, he started a website to help his chances. [Editor's Note: make sure you watch the "The Numbers" video.]
• I am not going to lie, when I read the words "scandalous photos" and "girls' locker room", my mind may have gone a different direction.
• What?  People gave up fancy gym memberships for more cost-friendly gym memberships during the greatest recession since the Great Depression?  Get right out of town.
• As an avid blogger and message board nerd, I can definitely relate to some of this story.
• In non-sports related news, I think they would have been better served going with the volleyball scene.

In reviewing the introduction, the Chief raised an excellent point: "You know, the readers might not know what channel Versus is on their cable/satellite provider."  Yes, that truly is a sad commentary on the state of the NHL's television deals.  And while we tried to find a comprehensive listing of the Versus channels, the best we could come up with is TV Guide's listing application.  Yes, that truly is a sad commentary on the state of Versus's website and marketing.  And now that you are all prepared for this weekend's festivities, here are some videos to help kill those last few hours of your work week:

• "I RIDE THE RIDE!  I RIDE THE RIDE!"  Que the viral video.  [Editor's Note:  need YouTube account.  Normally we'd share ours but it is linked to email and this blog, so that's a no-go.]
• So much fail in so little time.
• As impressive as this is, I am pretty sure the tornado-like winds blowing into his face might have played a role.
• Nothing like adding a little insult to injury.
• I think the real highlight of this video is not the stiff jab, but rather the one mother's shock over the ejection.  Ah, youth basketball.
• Must be nice to have teammates like that, right?
• Even in mini golf, the rules require that you play it as it flies.
• Wheel of Fortune is really starting to spice things up.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rule #76

[Editor's Note:  it's Wedding Crashers day here at the GameTime, TBD© offices.  We have these days ever so often, reserved specifically for those days when the Chief is not in the best of moods.  Nothing is worse than a grumpy Chief, and thanks to the NHL and their crappy officials, that's what we're dealing with today.  Very scientific studies have shown that quoting Wedding Crashers ad nuaseum usually gets at least a laugh or two out of the big guy, so that's what we're going with.]

Sometimes there is no better way to start your Friday than with a trip down memory lane.  And this trip happens to involve a little game I am sure you are all familiar with:  Marry-[censored]-Kill.  As avid readers of GameTime, TBD©, I am sure you are all the type of people who have played it before.  If you have not . . . well . . . you should be ashamed of yourself and I will have to strongly reconsider whether you are worthy of reading this site.  But since we are trying to keep things positive for the Chief today, I will just direct you here to get a quick overview of the rules and move on.  Sure, it is a game we used to play in middle school, and usually the subjects were our teachers, school administrators, or the girls who had been deemed "unsightly" by their fellow classmates.  But every now then something happens [read: you get drunk], and you find you and your friends playing a friendly game of M-F-K just like you were twelve years old again.

Well, one of the many sports blogs we frequent during the preparation of your weekly source of entertainment [read: the Link Dump] runs a weekly M-F-K feature, and this week's was a duesy.  So much so that we thought everyone should be forced to ponder it.  So I ask you, dear readers, of the following three choices, who would you marry, [censored], and kill:  (1) Brooklyn Decker; (b) Marisa Miller; and (iii) Bar Refaeli?  For those of you who are frequent visitor to our little corner of the world wide web, the Chief's answer should be obvious.  His affliction for blonds, especially one in particular, means poor Ms. Refaeli has an early appointment with death, poor Ms. Decker only gets to taste the goods once, and Ms. Miller becomes Ms. GameTime, TBD© (shocking, I know).  But we are not all like the Chief, so I challenge you to drop us a line with your picks.  And remember, no matter what you decide, one of the great beauties of this generation must be sacrificed.  Rule #76:  No excuses.  Play like a champion.

Once you have finished pondering one of life's great questions, do not fear, we have more ways for you to pass the time on this beautiful Friday.  Like with these links:

• I am calling B.S. on this study, especially after reading the first summary point.  [Editor's Note: just use some basic mathematics . . .]
• Apparently Sports Illustrated thought it had been too long since they ran a piece about Lance Armstrong probably being a cheater.
• Don't waste your time on girls with [Swedish jerseys]. They tend to be very proper.
  Yeah? Well, the proper girl in the [Swedish jersey] just eye-[censored] the [censored] out of me.
• If you are in possession of a Blake Griffin rookie card, I would hold onto it for a little while longer.  Or you could just go ahead and throw it on eBay.
• Phil Mickelson is back to eating meat . . . wait, what?
• Golfer plays world record 10,800 holes in a single year. No, not that golfer.
• In need of a good laugh?  Vince Young is here to help.
• 2011 is quickly becoming the "Year of the Homeless Man".
• Looking for a little extra pick me up in your training?  Go with the deer antler velvet extract.
• Infographics are fun.
• I wonder what Will Hill's interviews will be like at the NFL combine?  [Editor's Note: language may be considered slightly offensive.]
• Get it? Get it? You see, it is funny because he is fat.
• I am not sure it was the execution that was as much the problem as the original plan.  I am just saying . . .
• Are they built for speed or comfort?
• "Many locals in the crowd showed embarrassment that two grown men should fight over something so stupid, while many teenage males egged it on, the witness said."  Are you sure they were not showing embarrassment for actually being at a lawnmower race?

Rumor has it some of you out there had an extra special Thursday night and are in no mood to be doing any work today.  [*wink*]  Well, if that is the case, you have two choices: you can either (1) make me an exact replica, to scale, of Wrigley Field; or (b) just go ahead and check out these videos:

• EVERYBODY . . .
• If you are not watching The Onion's "Sports Dome", here is what you have been missing.  [Editor's Note: uncensored version.]
• Being from Southern California, I am not too familiar with snow plows.  But I am pretty sure that is not supposed to happen.
• It takes a special kind of outburst for a coach to get a standing ovation.
• Some people find cat videos irresistibly funny.  If you are one of those people, this video is for you.
• Oh, and this one too.
• This is why Los Angeles needs a better subway system.
• Did you know the Australian Open (yes, the tennis tournament) had started?  Well, apparently it has been quite entertaining thus far.
• So, I guess we are in that whole "every major sports announcement requires a spoof of 'The Decision'" phase then?  Good to know.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bank Error In Your Favor

[Editor's Note: for those of you who don't follow hockey too closely, you might not be aware that the Kings have started 2011 with a 1-5 record and have lost seven of eight dating back to late-December.  Needless to say, this has gotten the Chief in a bit of a tizzy.  His first draft of his New Year's Resolution post had to be scraped because we couldn't post something that essentially read: [censored].  We promise it's coming soon.]

There is a saying we have used frequently around these parts: "It's a competition and the Chief is in it."  Yes, those of you who have grown to love the Chief know that he is just a leeeeeeeeee-ttle bit competitive.  But what you may not know is that his competitive side is not restricted strictly to athletic competition; no sir.  If there is an activity which only ends once there is a clear-cut winner and loser, you can bet your life savings on the Chief's competitive spirit rearing its sometimes-ugly head.  Take, for example, one of the Chief's favorite board games, Monopoly.  He does not just want to have the most money when all is said and done, he wants to humiliate his opponents by having them mortgage their kids to pay off rent at his hotels.  This is a man who has researched the mathematical statistics associated with the game and has created what he believes to be the perfect strategy to effectuate a victory the likes of which we have not seen since Sherman marched to the sea.  Believe you me, if you land on New York Avenue before he does, do not buy it, lest you want to be cursed at and threatened with physical harm.  And, of course, you have not truly lived until you have seen his "Bank Error in Your Favor" dance.  Seriously, it can be like salt in the wounds.

So, what does this anecdote have to with today's Link Dump?  Pretty much nothing.  Except that today there was, in fact, a banking error in the Chief's favor.  For roughly eight hours, the Chief was pretty much the highest paid attorney (at least base salary wise) in the state of California.  That is, apparently, what happens when someone throws an extra zero at the end of a salary.  Of course, it did not take to long for the firm's CFO to figure this all out considering the firm was suddenly running low on its cash supply.  And while the Chief has generously given the necessary authority for payroll to reverse the transaction, he is still in possession of the original payroll direct deposit confirmation and intends to frame it.

Additionally, it means that we have decided to give a little "bank" error in your favor and provide you with an extended Link Dump with more stories and videos to help you get through your Friday afternoon:

• We dabble in celebrity gossip every now and then, especially when it involves an attractive female.  Well, would you look at that (headline).
• Apparently we should be attending more basketball games at University of Oregon's new Matthew Knight Arena.
• Man, Reebok totally gets it.  When I see Erin Andrews on the set of College Gameday or Good Morning America [Editor's Note: she's on GMA?], the first thing I think is "I wonder what shoes she trains in?".  Yes, that is exactly what I think. or
• This might come as a shock to many of you, but the folks here at GameTime, TBD© could be considered what some of you might call "comic book nerds".  [Editor's Note: I know, right?]  That being said, is this really happening?
• It is time to play "What famous athlete is this person related to?".  You can find your answer here.
• Freddie Mitchell, fresh off his successful retelling of his one career highlight, continues to put the word [censored] in class.
• We were sad to see that Kris Benson retired from baseball on Monday.  Why, you ask, would be we sad to see an average pitcher retire?  Because now we are less likely to see his wife, Anna Benson, in the news.
• While Ryan Howard may strike out at the plate quite often, he sure knows how to hit those random interview references out of the park.
•  Is there anything Ken Griffey's rookie card can not do?
• In case you were wondering, yes, average basketball players make far too much money in the NBA.
• ESPN has confirmed that excessive Duke ball washing will continue until at least 2015.
• Remember when the National Enquirer turned out to be right about Tiger "the Potent Putter" Woods?  They should have quit while they were ahead.
• Apparently the Philadelphia Union's new sponsor has resulted in many of their female fans feeling alienated.  I know, we were shocked to learn the Union had many female fans too.
• How dare someone destroy such a fine piece of art in what we are sure is a classy joint.

Oh man, nothing like a Saved by the Bell-related news story to raise your spirits as you head into the weekend.  You know what also helps raise our spirits?  Funny videos.  Well, would you look at that:

• What do you get when Will Arnett, Jimmy Fallon, and Horatio Sanz get together?  Pure genius.
• I am sure it is just pure coincidence that Wes Welker made ten foot references at a press conference this week . . . pure coincidence.
• 'Cuz a basketball court to the face is bad for your health.
• Wait, Dora wants to what like animals?
• Count it!
• "Katuse puhastus" is Estonian for FAIL.
• Ever wonder what it would be like to walk around a store on your phone telling someone else what the other shoppers are doing?
• We close with my two favorite commercials that are currently on television: (1) you know we love us some eTrade baby (wait, what?); and (b) "Well that's a problem, cause I like Johnny."

Have a great weekend everyone!

Well, Hello 2011!

Welcome back everyone!  Happy New Year!  We sincerely hope you all had a happy, healthy, safe and fun 2010 holiday season.  It was a banner year at the GameTime, TBD© household, with the whole family in town for some good, old-fashioned (read: drunk) fun.

And just when we thought we had finally worked off the hangover (apparently you don't recover as fast in your 30s as you do in your 20s . . . getting old sucks . . . but I digress), the Los Angeles Kings go out there and string together five straight losses.  Nothing gets the Chief in a salty mood faster than a prolonged slump by the Kings.  Mix that together with the Chief's re-focused attitude as to weight-loss and training and, well, things have been getting a little tense around the office.  In fact, unless you are an incredibly attractive blond (read: my Better Half), you might want to avoid him until the Kings win one.  On the plus side, we are four weeks away from the Chief's next go at a half marathon, and all signs point to him peeking at just the right time.  But we do not want to share too much right now as you will get all the juicy details in our first fully-original content post of the new year, our annual New Year's Resolution post, which should be up sometime early next week.

Aside from the Kings' winless start to 2011, things have been pretty crazy around the office here to start the year.  Between technical difficulties and actual work blowing up, it has not exactly been the calm start to the new year we had become accustom to around these parts.  Yes, of course this is all code for "short introduction to our first Link Dump of the year", but rest assured we are still bringing you the goods on this, the first of fifty-two Fridays of the 2011 calendar year.  So, we are just going to stop talking (typing?) now and get to the real reason you are here:

• There is nothing like getting the year started with some perfectly-timed sports photos.
• Speaking of photos, this photo pretty much captions itself . . .
• Yes, we live in Los Angeles.  But we still appreciate great sportswriters from other cities; writers like Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald.  That is why we recommend you take a look at his most recent piece.
• Thank you Captain Obvious.
• "The habitually upbeat Carroll became agitated, however, when reporters began to question whether he had a complete understanding of how the playoff system worked, and whether, by extension, he misunderstood the entire structure of the NFL."
• Rounding is a [censored].
• He might be out of football, but Freddie Mitchell still loves him some Freddie Mitchell.  
• Every now and then we try to do something for our female readers, like by introducing them to a real winner.
• Nantz goes up for the rebound and puts it back in.
• Those Russians sure know how to celebrate a victory . . . with vodka, lots and lots of vodka.
• This (attractive) female reporter has been banned from talking smack about CR7 . . . or, at least I think that is what we were supposed to take away from this overly-dramatic female-written soccer blog.  [Editor's Note: chicks . . . (sigh).]
• The Hooters' Golf Tour (yup, a real thing) would kindly like to remind you to not pull a Johnson.
• Not going to lie, we are a little disappointed none of you gave us the heads-up.  I mean, come on, we could have taken these two jagbags.
• We could not decide whether to count this as an article or video, so we decided to put it here as the last link in the article section before moving on to videos (sneaky, right?).  So, if you have some time to spare, here are the "50 Biggest NFL Playoff Fails" . . . video style.

 If you actually clicked on that last link, went through each of the fifty fails, and watched all the videos, we are guessing you are reading this sentence on Saturday.  That is the kind of dedication we like to see around these parts.  If you did not click on that link, or did click on the link and realized it was a little overwhelming (like we did), bookmark it and watch them over the next few days when you have some down time.  I mean, there really is nothing like fifty fails to make you feel better about yourself.  Oh, and speaking of fails:

• It is the best fails of 2010.  You.  Are.  Welcome.
• I know the year is only [counting on fingers] seven days old, but is it possible that we already have our soccer fail of the year?
• And our marathon running fail of the year?
• And since we are on this negative kick (I told you the Chief was headed for a dark place), here are one hundred great movie insults to make you feel better about yourself.
• And here is the coolest fail you will ever see, compliments of the NHL.  [Editor's Note: wow, turrrrrrible pun totally intended.]
• Let us take a turn towards Positivetown with some "sick" whiffleball pitches.
• And some "extreme" shepherding.
• And, of course, there is nothing like a "This Week In Unnecessary Censorship" to bring us down the home stretch.

Once again, Happy New Year!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Holidays!

The GameTime, TBD© gift exchange is almost done, and that can mean only one thing: it is time for us to give you, our dear readers, a little something special for the holidays.  [Editor's Note: that's what she said!]

This is officially our 200th post, so we wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your endless support of our little corner of the world wide web.  It is hard to believe that we started this thing over four years ago and that we are still going strong.  And it is because of all of you that we keep striving to make this a better site day-in and day-out.  We might not be able to keep up as much as we would like, but believe you me, we try are darnedest to do so.  We hope you and your families have the happiest and healthiest of holiday seasons.  We have some new surprises in store for everyone next year and we are looking forward to an amazing 2011.  Thank you again for your endless support and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

. . . .

Oh, and one more thing.  Since this is technically the last day of everyone's work week, and since we sincerely doubt any of you have an ounce of motivation to do some work, here is our holiday gift to you:

• Not surprisingly, NFL cheerleaders look good when they rock the holiday-themed outfits.
• Remember, you should be spreading Christmas cheer at all hours of the day.
• It is the week before Christmas, so that means it is time for Lonely Island to bail Saturday Night Live out with a funny new digital short.  [Editor's Note: featuring rising-GameTime, TBD© favorite Blake Lively nonetheless!]
• Speaking of Saturday Night Live, once upon a time they managed to create funny holiday skits on their own.

Have a great holiday season everyone! We will see you in 2011!

Attention Citizens! Attention Citizens!

The National Weather Service has issued the following weather advisory for Friday, December 17, 2010 for San Francisco, California:

"A hurricane warning advisory is now in effect for San Francisco, California until 9:00 a.m PST on Saturday, December 18, 2010.  Hurricane GameTime is expected to make landfall some time this evening around 6:30 p.m. PST with sustained winds out of the south at 0.08% or greater on the BAC meter and increasing over the course of the evening.  Visibility will be blurry, at best, and there is a significant risk of multiple blackouts."

San Francisco, you. have. been.  warned.  That is right, ladies and gentlemen, it is party time: The Chief turns THIRTY today!  And the fine folks here at GameTime, TBD© could think of no better way to celebrate than to close up shop a little early and head off to San Francisco to celebrate with all most of The Chief's best friends.  If all goes according to plan, it will be a weekend The Chief will never forget.  [Editor's Note: well . . . I guess you can't really forget what you were never able to remember in the first place, right?]

But do not think we are going to leave you hanging yet again.  [Editor's Note: the holidays have been a killer on my writing time this year...]  No way!  In fact, The Chief made us promise we would not crack open the booze until we provided you all with just what you needed on this Friday: entertainment!  And believe you me, anything thing that stands between us and some booze is something that must be taken care of.  As such, here is a special birthday edition of the Link Dump, in honor of The Chief reaching the big 3-ugh:

• There is only one way to start off The Chief's birthday Dump (say what?):  a link toone of the greatest Marisa Miller pictures ever.
• This story may be a month old, but we are hoping someone can track down the uncensored versions as a birthday present to The Chief.
• In non-sports related news, is that what they mean when they say "junk mail"?
• Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the premiere of HBO's newest 24/7 series, which leads up to the Penguins/Capitals Winter Classic meeting.  Thankfully, Justin Bourne did.
• Maybe next time the Florida Everglades (yes, that's an actual minor-league hockey team) should consult with the University of Oregon before picking their special holiday jerseys (yes, those are actual jerseys).
• Poor Tiger.  He has to spend Christmas all alone in this.
• Upon learning his season, and possibly career, are over, Yao Ming had this to say:  "Right now I'm drinking a beer and eating fried chicken."  Poor guy is taking it so hard.
• Oh, Donald Sterling.  Just when I thought you could not possibly be any worse as an owner, you go and do something like this . . . and totally redeem yourself!
• I might not be a Boston sports fan, but even I have to admit that this would be pretty crazy.
• Maria Sharapova's new tennis outfit is designed to offer "unrestricted mobility around the top". In other news, tennis's television ratings are expected to hit record highs next season.

It is that time of year when every news outlet and blog starts going bat-[censored] crazy with "Greatest This" and "Top That" lists.  The Chief hates these lists; they drive him nuts.  He thinks it is just lazy reporting.  But every now and then he finds one or two that he enjoys.  We present the two he found this week here:

• As annoyed as we get with all the Brett Favre coverage, no one can deny that his 297 consecutive starts was an amazing streak.  So, Time decided to take a look at "The 25 Greatest Sports Streaks".
• Who does not love a good announcing gaffe?  Well, here is one blog's look at "The Top 10 Announcing Gaffes of 2010".

Obviously, The Chief's special birthday blog has to include an extra-special video collection.  First, we thought it would be great to get a bunch of sports stars to wish him happy birthday in video form.  Well, unfortunately, it turns we do not really know a bunch of sports stars.  Go figure.  Then we thought we would just get Marisa Miller to send him a special birthday wish.  Well, as it turns out, supermodels do not really appreciate it when you just follow them around with a video camera, hiding behind cars and in the bushes outside their home.  So, one restraining order and bail money for our cameraman later, that idea was a no go as well.  But rest assured, the world got together and, as it always does, produced a solid batch of videos just for The Chief:

• I can not decide what I like more in this video, the dunk or the beard?
• It's raining teddies.  Hallelujah, it's raining teddies.  Hey, hey.
• Now this is how you wish someone a Merry Christmas!
• How do you follow up a video of a half-naked woman dancing? (I'll wait 'til you're back from that video you had just skipped . . . [checking watch] . . . are we ready?)  Why, with dogs being cute of course.
• Walk much?
• Marine karate chop, FTW!
• Yup, that just happened.
• If you post a video mocking the music of Mariah Carey, it will most definitely find its way into a Link Dump.  [Editor's Note: which reminds me . . .]
• Also, if you post a video that allows us to bring back the "Bed Intruder Song", we will post your video as well.
• Jimmy Kimmel pulled out all the stops for The Chief's birthday: "This Year in Unnecessary Censorship".

Have a great weekend everyone!

Is This Thing On?

Testing . . . testing . . . one, two, three.  Are we on?  Okay, good.

With the holiday season upon us, things start to get crazy.  Office is closed; people work shorter days; people take longer weekends; in general, work productivity begins to decline.  The GameTime, TBD© office is no exception.  As such, things have been dark around here for the past few weeks. [Editor's Note: as evidenced by our November 19th post (from which, I might add, we learned a large proportion of our male readers find Blake Lively and her . . . um . . . "large proportions" quite satisfying) and the subsequent Thanksgiving weekend break.]  But we are up and running at full steam this week.

However, you will fins this Link Dump is dominated by entertaining videos.  Unfortunately, sports-related news have been dominated this past week by LeBron's return to Cleveland and the Cam Newton pay-for-play scandal.  And you know that we pride ourselves on finding you the non-mainstream articles; the stuff you will not find on the front page of ESPN.  So when not one, but two stories are dominating the news cycle, those obscure stories we love so much become harder to find.  That being said, The Chief would like to take a brief moment to comment on the Cam Newton pay-to-play scandal.

When the Chief was in law school, he was a staff writer for, and then Editor-in-Chief of, the Entertainment Law Review at his school.  The Review focused on legal issues related to . . . shockingly . . . the field of entertainment, which included sports.  As a staff writer, the Chief devoted many hours and even more pages crafting a defense of the NCAA for its rulings on the eligibility of former-USC receiver Mike Williams and former-Colorado kick-returner/Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom (both had been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for various reasons).  As such, the NCAA's recent ruling with regard to Cam Newton left him a little disappointed.  For those of you not completely familiar with the scandal, allegedly Cam Newton's father, with the help of another individual (known in the recruiting world as "a runner"), sought money (allegedly upwards of $180k) from Mississippi St. to secure a commitment from his son.  Mississippi St. was Cam's number one choice because his former quarterback coach was now coaching there.  As the allegations go, Mississippi St. said "No thanks." and Cam's father told him he was not going there and that is how Cam ended up at Auburn.  Yes, we find it very suspect that all of these allegations have arisen as Auburn approaches a national championship and Cam a Heisman trophy, but now that they are out there, would we not expect the NCAA to do the right thing? [Editor's Note: don't answer that . . .]

Without boring you with too many specifics, various NCAA bylaws declare a student-athlete ineligible if he or she, or his or her relatives and friends, accepts money, travel, or other benefits from someone marketing his or her athletic talents (see, e.g., the Reggie Bush scandal).  Auburn found Cam Newton violated these rules, declared him ineligible, and then immediately sought reinstatement from the NCAA.  The NCAA reviewed the facts and found Cam's father (a pastor nonetheless) and this runner had inappropriately sought money for Cam's services in violation of the bylaws.  HOWEVER, it also found that there was no evidence that Cam had knowledge of this, applied a safety-net provision of the bylaws, and declared Cam eligible to play.  And that, my dear readers, is where the NCAA loses all credibility in this ruling.  He had no knowledge?  Common sense would tell you he knew what was up.  Do not believe me?  Imagine you have your heart set on going to one school and one school only (let's call it . . . oh, I don't know . . . Mississippi St.).  You tell your dad it is your dream to go to this school and he says that sounds good.  Then, a few months later, completely out of the blue, your dad says you can not go to the school you dreamed of, but instead you have to go to another specific school (let's call School B . . . um . . . Auburn . . . that sounds like a fun word).  So, Mr. NCAA, am I supposed to believe that, when presented with this exact situation, Cam did not question his father or get the least bit suspicious?  This is a boy who dreamed of being reunited with his quarterback coach.  And I am expected to believe that when his father said that was not going to happen Cam did not want to know why?  Give me a break.  Logic, common sense, basic reasoning skills; these are the only things everyone needed to use to know that Newton should be declared ineligible.  Unfortunately, logic, common sense, and basic reasoning are three things the NCAA lacks . . . especially when it could result in a non-BCS team wining the national championship.

Deep breaths.  Deep breaths.  Sorry, we got a little fired up there.  So, while we go for a short walk, maybe grab some lunch, and take a few deep breaths, here are some none-LeBron and non-Cam Newton stories you might have missed from this past week:

• It is good to see that Marisa Miller is already in the holiday gift-giving mood.  First, she went on Conan in this dress.  Then, she went on The DP Show and said that, if she was in an experimenting mood, she would not mind spending some quality time with Jessica Biel.  Yeah, good luck getting that image out of your head anytime soon.
• Deadspin's Drew Magary hits the nail on the head with his "Hater's Guide to Taylor Swift".  I think he should start writing songs . . .
• In case you were confused with your United States geography, Dallas-Fort Worth is located in the east-to-northeast portion of the country.  So much for those funny southern jokes we like to make.
• Soon, all college girls will be able to justify the "Freshman 15".
• As if we needed another reason to prove the BCS system sucks, Nevada cost itself only about $1 million by beating Boise St. last week.
• Deplorable does not even begin to describe this crime.
• Mediocre hockey players serve as proof to what we already new: hot chicks love money.
• Okay, we lied, one link related to LeBron's return to Cleveland.
• Only with the Los Angeles Clippers does this sort of thing happen.
• Man sues former NBA player for coming onto his court and taking it to the hole.
• If you can get past all the grammatical errors [Editor's Note: did I mention I'm an editor?], here is a look a MJ's new crib.
• Just go ahead and add "pools w/ observation windows" to the list of places I am afraid to swim.
• If you are not too busy on this fine Friday afternoon, here is a look at some of the funnier things associated with the WWE.

I am not going to beat around the bush, we have some pretty fantastic videos lined up for you this week.  It helps that we have been out of commission for a while so that we a couple extra weeks worth of videos for you.  So, with that:

• What is the most adventurous thing you have done lately? Quadruple flip from a ninety-nine foot rope swing?  You win.
• Every once in a while, Saturday Night Live actually pulls something out of the funny bag.  We like to save you the trouble of having to watch the other eighty-eight minutes of the show.
• Only in the South is a beer bong interrupted by this kind of unidentified flying object.
• Around Christmas time, Oprah surprises one lucky audience by being part of her "Favorite Things" episode, during which she gives everyone in attendance a crap load of her . . . well . . . favorite things of the year.  And the audience goes nuts . . . literally.
• I am sure you all have seen this interception a thousand times by now, but it still remains the most impressive interception I have ever seen.
• I am going to go out on a limb and say that is not her first time doing that . . .
• I do not know how Jimmy Kimmel does it week-in and week-out, but his "This Week in Unnecessary Censorship" always gets me.

Have a great weekend everyone!

FAIL

This is a dark, dark day for the folks here at GameTime, TBD©.  For the first time ever, we will be unable to bring you, our avid readers, your Friday escape, lovingly referred to as the Link Dump, for a second week in a row.  Fail.

But rest assured we will NEVER leave you completely empty-handed on a Friday.  Not even a crazy day of "actual work" will stop us from making sure you have at least some entertainment for your Friday afternoon.  For starters, instant visual gratification in the former of Accepted/Gossip Girl/Green Lantern-hottie Blake Lively:

She certainly is easy on the eyes . . . and proof that, yes, The Chief has an obvious "type".  Rest assured My Better Half meets that type.

Also, in light of our fail, we thought we would "celebrate" with a few videos of . . . well . . other people's fails:

• With this week's revelations about Tony Parker and Eva Longoria, I think it is safe to now call this a fail.
• Nothing brings out the fail like wedding introductions.
• Here is a nice "Is that goal regulation size?" fail.
• St. Louis Blues's goalie Jaroslav Halak allowed a total of twelve thirteen goals in back-to-back starts earlier this week thanks to our little friend fail.
• We do not usually post Christmas-related items until after Thanksgiving . . . but some fails require immediate posting.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Down, But Not Out

Hello everyone.  The Chief has half marthon number two this weekend up in Northern California, so unfortunately we will not be able to bring you your weekly salvation, commonly referred to as the Link Dump.  But do you know what that means?  Of course you do, a picture of a ridonkulously attractive woman for your viewing pleasure:

Also, we do have a couple things to share with you briefly. First, most of you have probably heard about the one-letter solve from Wheel of Fortune from this past week, so here is an interesting article on the woman who pulled it off (with the video for those of you who haven't seen it).  Second, though we may be down for the day, we will always get back up . . . just like this girl.


Have a great weekend everyone!

Quick and Dirty

That's what she said! [Editor's Note: HEY-OH!]

While our Friday is shaping up to be one of those Fridays you do not look forward to (read: busy), we figured we still had enough time to slip in a Link Dump so long as we kept the introduction short, sweet, and to the point.

The GameTime, TBD© family would like to take a moment to send our thoughts and prayers to the family of legendary manager George "Sparky" Anderson, who passed away yesterday.  The Chief had the privilege and honor of meeting Sparky Anderson a few years ago.  By a few years ago, I mean way back in first grade.  [Editor's Note: Yes, I am having trouble coping with the fact I turn 30 this year, so I am pretending first grade was only "a few years ago".]  To many of the first graders in his class, meeting Sparky Anderson was not that big of deal.  After all, most of the six and seven-year-old kids had never heard of the guy.  But the Chief's family had just moved to Southern California from Rochester Hills, Michigan, and he was more than familiar with Anderson's success with the Detroit Tigers and their 1984 World Series victory.  When asked what he recalled about meeting Sparky, the Chief simply shrugged.  After all, it was twenty-three years ago and he was seven.  He does remember being the most excited student in class that day, shaking his hand, and catching Sparky off guard with his knowledge of the Tigers.  But mostly the Chief is just honored to be able to say he once met one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history.

It is always awkward when you try to transition from discussing someone's death to a bunch of funny links of random sports stories.  You know what makes it even more awkward? Pointing out that it is awkward.  And with that, I am just going to shut up and get to the stuff you came for:

• We get started with a video/explanation combo deal, compliments of Canada.  Are we really that surprised?
• The NFL Network completed its list of the Top 100 players of all time.  The line for debaters forms to your right.
• Should I be sad that it is news when the Lions sellout a game?
• The Onion may have inadvertently written an accurate news story.  Good news though: it is still funny.
• Your source is one hundred-thousand-million-trillion percent accurate?  Oh, well count me as a believer then.
• This does not bode well for Cam Newton, his Heisman chances, or the rest of Auburn's season.
• Call me nuts, but I think you have the balls to make it here.
• What is the problem with WTF?
• If you are the owners of the Dodgers, and your bitter divorce is sucking up all the organization's money, what are you to do?  Why, sue a random hamburger joint in New York of course.
• Come on.  Is betting on the Mets to lose really considered gambling?

We are not going to lie.  Not a lot of exciting news stories came out of the sports world this week.  Yes, the Vikings waiving Randy Moss caught most everyone completely by surprise.  But you know that it not the type of main-stream story we look to post on GameTime, TBD©.  Nor are we about to link you all to the thousands of "Brett Favre Dong Sexter" Halloween costume pictures we have seen over the past week.  That being said, this past week produced solid crop of videos we thought you would appreciate.  So here you go:

• DJ Steve Porter (remember him?) returns with his newest mix: Randy Moss One Clap.
• You stay classy, San Diego.
• Yup, it is a tribute song to Zenyatta . . . who is a horse, a horse, of course, of course.  [Editor's Note: aw, how cute.]
• Speaking of tribute songs, this video is described as "a tribute song to terrible players on championship teams."  Can not go wrong with Scrubs with Rings.
• Hard to deny, that is a catchy jingle.
• Since my family is from upstate New York, I know all about Buffalo winters.  Luckily, Florida-native C.J. Spiller is getting the training he needs.
• This may be the first and only time the Los Angeles Clippers will make the Link Dump, compliments of Ralph Lawler.  Luckily, you do not have to watch past the eleven-second mark.
• Wow, Manny Pacquiao has some pipes.
• And, of course, it is not the end of the week until Jimmy Kimmel has mocked the FCC.

Have a great weekend everyone!