Yardbarker: The Backyard (Humor, etc.)

Charles Barkley Needs To Put Down The Cheesypoofs And Pick Up His Checkbook

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:49:55 -0500

Reports are rampant that Charles Barkley owes The Wynn Resort in Las Vegas $400,000 for his bust bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl this past February. Over the course of a year, Chuck had apparently developed enough clout with the pit bosses (thru other bad bets, no doubt) to get... not one, not two, but FOUR MARKERS for $100k EACH that he still has not made good on. Apparently, the story goes, that through the powers of persuasion (and possibly some pretty charts and graphs), the analysts on ESPN managed to sway Chuck to move his 400 large (originally intended to be on the Giants getting the win) over to the dark side and bet the Pats to win the Super Bowl. Tsk tsk tsk. Bad move, Charles. Haven't you learned ANYTHING after that bet you made Kenny Smith in which you had to kiss his ass on national television when Yao Ming scored 19 pts that one night? (VIDEO SEEN HERE: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2YTzSvDQ26c ) All I can say is that speculation definitely has its downside. LOL Now I have hung out with Charles during the All-Star game every year and I can say the only thing Chuck likes more than gambling is GIRLS. I specifically remember an incident last year during all-star wknd in Vegas. He was playing blackjack at Mandalay and Reggie Miller was standing by with a large group of women who were surely infatuated with his great big …. ears. Reg finally got bored of the fawning and whispered something to Chuck in an apparent attempt to get him away from the thousands he was throwing away by the minute. The discussion went on for TEN MINUTES. As I took my martini (and my mob) to the awaiting elevators going up to the Foundation Room, they were still left there arguing about "One more hand". About 20 minutes later, who should show up but the aforementioned duo and their accompaniment of women. My guess is that there was a discussion of hookers and Hennessey being for the taking upstairs at the party and thus, Chuck finally cashed it in…. My only hope for him is that he puts down the poker chips, stop packing on the extra pounds and looks into some Pilates …. or somethin'. Is it just me or is he getting fatter by the week on Inside The NBA? I love ya man but I'm beginning to think the Krispy Kreme's might be affecting your capabilities.

I'm Going To Stop Paying Taxes If This Continues ...

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:19:26 -0500

This is your fault Arlen Specter and Elijah Cummings. Back off our beloved sports.

Bear Playing Hockey

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:31:41 -0500

I don't know much about hockey, but I imagine there's gotta be a spot for him on the Los Angeles Kings.

simply Hazlo - Part 3 (ronaldo)

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:16:30 -0500

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm da-lhe Ronaldo!!!

UPS Supports Horse Racing

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:32:56 -0500

UPS announced that it has signed a deal with Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown to become the exclusive sponsor of the horse and its team for this weekend's Preakness and the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

ESPN Rise Will Probably Be the Network's Downfall

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:47:20 -0500

ESPN touts it as a move to bolster its 12-17 audience and were it a marketing decision to cross-promote Wall-E, I could understand. But trying to engage more teenagers comes off as a bit desperate for the World Wide Leader, and I guess you can't control the world without those all-important teenagers.

Top 10 unexpected retirements

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:30:17 -0500

Barry Sanders should be higher on this list. Justine Henin doesn't even crack the top 10. 10. Ricky Williams 9. Rocky Marciano 8. Barry Sanders 7. Gene Tunney 6. Bjorn Borg 5. Sugar Ray Leonard 4. Sandy Koufax 3. Jim Brown 2. Michael Jordan 1. Magic Johnson

Preview of Madden '09

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:24:42 -0500

I'm not coordinated enough to handle anything more than the "B/A/select/start" made famous by the original Nintendo, but if you're one of the millions able to manage today's newfangled controllers, you're in for a treat. Madden '09 looks sick.

Bill Simmons unhappy with ESPN

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:33:48 -0500

The blog world is represented on ESPN by Bill Simmons, who writes a poignant blog under the surname "The Sports Guy". However, Simmons is unhappy with his creative freedom and blames ESPN for not following through with certain agreements made during his contract negotiation last year. Simmons has decided to write less frequently on the site because he feels as though his talent has been suppressed. Here's a tip, leave ESPN for The Yard!

Sports Talk Shibboleths

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:18:58 -0500

Shibboleths? And Sports Talk Radio? Yes, there is a connection.

William Lopez Out at Home

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:43:57 -0500

New York University held their graduation at Yankee Stadium for the first and last time yesterday and one graduate, William Lopez, made things a little more exciting when he decided to drop his pants (boxers remained) and round the bases.

Sports celebrity sightings of the week

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:01:47 -0500

A new feature on the Sports Hernia. This week's spotted celebrities? - Hubie Brown - Piston Honda - John Clayton - Soda Popinski - Chris Kaman Check out the pics...

Wally Backman's vocabulary is not safe for children

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:36:42 -0500

Wally Backman, former manager of the D-Backs has surfaced working the third base box for the South Georgia Peanuts, as always Backman is colorful and direct with his comments on the game.

Maybe they thought she was Isiah Thomas

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:33:15 -0500

Lesbian wins $35,000 settlement from restaurant for being kicked out ladies room. Settlement also states that restaurant must allow people to choose their bathroom of choice (ladies or men) depending on which one fits their "expression" of their sexual identity. wtf?

Did Wilt sleep with my Mom?

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:43:52 -0500

Take the quiz to find out if your mom was one of the sacred 20,000.....

Of Tony, Bill and Tomase: a strange day for sports journalism

Wed, 14 May 2008 23:08:35 -0500

First, Tony Kornheiser decides to announce his buyout from the Washington Post. Then, Deadspin prints an email thread with ESPN's Bill Simmons that is raising some eyebrows at the WWL. Finally, embattled Boston Herald scribe John Tomase checks in after people are calling for his head after the Spygate source controversy. What a strange day.

Who's More Impressive? Tiger Woods...or this kid?

Wed, 14 May 2008 21:25:20 -0500

Who has the more impressive juggling skills - Tiger Woods, or this kid with a soccer ball? (You can see both videos by following the link below)

Ten fun minutes with Terrell Owens

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:31:23 -0500

and you can even see some clips of his TV debut...... The real question, though, is … who cares? It's T.O. and Flav, baby! Besides, when a clock-minding network publicist is monitoring your chat with the NFL's most colorful employee in what you're surprised to learn is a three-way call, three rules must be strictly followed: Keep on your toes, keep it to 10 minutes and skip the small stuff to focus on really important matters -- like potential gifts for the rumored Jessica Simpson-Tony Romo wedding. LOL i'm tossin this in the backyard, enjoy-click it to read the 10 minutes of fun & see some clips!!

Bill Simmons and ESPN not getting along

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:28:32 -0500

The relationship between the Sports Guy and ESPN has seen better days: "Yes, I still work for ESPN. No, I'm not writing for ESPN.com as much. My choice, not theirs... certain promises were not kept."

What Is Sportsmanship to you?

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:58:01 -0500

Currently hanging out in a thread, I feel it is necessary to air out some emotions. When playing sports, my coaches emphasized staple-holds that are responsible for the foundations of sports. 1."Sacrifice is the foundation of greatness." 2."Teamwork and co-operation elevate the fallen to higher planes." 3."Excuses are tools of incompetence;They lead to monuments of nothingness, and those who use them will mount to nothing more" 4."If you attempt to cheat the game, you're trying to cheat what the game defines; and you will lose far more worth than that single game. For you find you have cheated yourself." This is an attempt to write not on the various forms of cheating that occur in sports, nor is it a post to talk about which team is better then the other, so much as it is being made to bring recognition, to the notion, that winning a game is of no worth to a true athlete if they can't look at themselves as being the the benefactor of the game's ethics and policies. It is almost as though people are comfortable with the idea of cheating whether chemical or physical disruption. It seems as though they are un-phased by these actions, and as though they should be accepted. The aspect of sport competition that entices me, is that you live another day, to avenge your defeats. After defeat, you are equipped with the knowledge and the methods to win on an equal playing field. A loss is only a defeat if you allow it to keep you down. I never looked at losing as the end, but rather the beginning of a rehabilitation. Where I could take the last game and turn the outcome. Thats how champions are made, by learning from mistakes. Also by standing up, and working to create history to your liking. To underscore the work needed to get to that level is foolish, if anyone could do it at a professional level many of us would not be here on YardBarker. However to hold the highest standards for our professional franchises in the NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, and even FIFA and UEFA in keeping the regulations of their respected games in tact is not foolish. It ought to be expected. They set the template for the next generation of athletes, and I would not want them for a second to contemplate unfair play as a method of winning. The cost is their self standing, and their credibility as a respected athlete. Call me naive, but I don't care who the franchise is, even in my own respective city. A cheater is not a champion, and any action done to alter the outcome of a game that is against the regulations sells the game, and the individual short. My choice to acknowledge sportsmanship as a foundation gives me a vast outlook of controversial opinions, including that Hank Aaron is my home-run leader; I know my opinion can not be de-valued, as I know that he was successful in conducting himself as an ambassador of the game. By setting the standards of hard work as high as any man could reach, without taking the attractive, and ultimately far easier alternative route. So truthfully, am I mad/crazy? Is it that hard to believe that I have problems putting people on the accomplishment pedestal when I feel that they aren't standing on the foundation of sports ethics? Where does Sportsmanship fit in your daily play? I live it and breathe it, and I have no problem justifying my stance, as I will pledge to keep an equal playing field, in honor of learning how to create success in myself, and learn from my mistakes in a respectable manner. I challenge not only the individuals/barkers in the yard to set these standards, but the athletes as well.

The Girls of Beverly Hills 90210

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:37:49 -0500

With news that 90210 is making a bit of a comeback, I thought it was time to look back and reminisce about the hotness or lack of hotness from some of the actresses on the show.

Terell Owens Makes Acting Debut On "Under One Roof"

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:40:38 -0500

The link has a clip. Maybe he should stick to football.

Pinewood Derby New Olympic Sport

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:28:09 -0500

Pinewood Derby edges out Lacrosse as newest Olympic sport.

Is Samantha Harris hot?

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:50:08 -0500

i think she's gorgeous....the dudes don't think so. (they say she's bleaching a mustache) you decide.

Tony Kornheiser and the Washington Post Make Like a Banana

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:26 -0500

Nobody captured the malaise of the fan base, the essence of under achievement, and the irony of it all like he did.

Rodriguez: If the contract does not fit, you must acquit!

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:31:58 -0500

Poor Rich Rodriguez....duped into signing a contract he didn't believe in... didn't understand.... Free Rodriguez! Not!

Best Philly Hoagie Shop?

Wed, 14 May 2008 07:34:05 -0500

Now that there is a thread about cheesesteaks and competitive eating is recognized on the Yard, what is everybody's favorite hoagie shop/sandwich? Primo's/Slacks/Lees? I've tried them all and have the gut to prove it and to me nothing beats the Primo's. Their seeded bread is unreal and they have the Diablo line which makes their sandwiches spicy enough for my liking. Their Bada Boom sandwich features a hot chicken cutlet, cheddar cheese, sprinkled cayenne pepper and a foot long spicy pepper that gets buried in the bread.

NY Anchorwoman Drops F-Bomb on Newscast

Wed, 14 May 2008 06:55:52 -0500

WNBC anchorwoman Sue Simmons goes all "lebron" on her co-anchor.

Eight Sins

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:36:51 -0500

Clip of the song "Smack My Bitch Up" (The Prodigy) produced on November 17, 1997: Commercial Campaign "Rala que Rola" from Nike, April 29, 2008: noted that the brand of tennis the character in the clip? any similarity is only...

Snoop Dogg Records "L.A. Lakers Theme" For 2008 Playoffs

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:57:47 -0500

Snoop includes names of just about all of the Lakers in the song, complete with shout outs to the late Chick Hearn. There's even a little jab at the end about Shaquille O'Neal sitting at home on his couch while the lakers are still in contention... Come on over and listen....