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Sactown's Rookies Show Rox How It's Done

Tom ZillerPosted Oct 7th 2008 8:35PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Kings, NBA Videos

Houston's outgoing rookie class might have a touch of rhythm, but Sacramento's newcomers are surely taking over the throne this season. The dance contest starts at about 2 min 40 sec.



That's Jason Thompson up first, followed by Bobby Brown and Donté Greene. Thompson wins the crowd vote, but Greene's wilin' antics get my trophy.

Elgin Baylor Is No Longer the Clippers' GM, Details Are Nonexistent

Brett EdwardsPosted Oct 7th 2008 7:16PM by Brett Edwards (author feed)
Filed under: Clippers, NBA Rumors

Interesting times in Clipper-land, these days. The team's newest star is on the Jenny Craig diet plan (no, I won't let it go, but thanks for asking). The team's other new star worked out with them for the first time today after fighting "flu-like symptoms." First round draft pick Eric Gordon is sidelined for a couple weeks with an ankle injury. And oh yeah, Elgin Baylor appears to no longer be performing his duties as the team's General Manager. Wait, what?

According to the OC Register (via Baller Blogger), Elgin Baylor is out as GM, and the only details we have is that there is a dispute between Baylor and and the Clippers, which Baylor won't speak about because his attorney advised him not to. What we do know is, this has been going on for at least a few weeks, because Baylor wasn't present at the team's practice facility when training camp began, and he was conveniently left out of the club's pre-season media guide -- entirely. No mention or picture of him anywhere.

Baylor has been the Clippers' GM since 1986, and besides being a fixture at the NBA's Draft Lottery proceedings, has done a mostly thankless job over the last 22 years. He did have a few achievements though, including winning the Executive of the Year award in 2006, drafting Chris Kaman, and pulling the trigger on the trade that brought Elton Brand to town. During the offseason though, it was coach Mike Dunleavy who seemed to be the spokesperson for the team's dealings, and sure sounded an awful lot like the real GM while doing so.

It'll be interesting to see what the dispute is all about; hopefully Donald Sterling isn't trying to go all Al Davis on Baylor after 22 years of service.

[Image credit: AP Photo/Gus Ruelas]

Google 2001: UFC and MMA Meant Something Different, Ken Shamrock Was Huge

Michael David SmithPosted Oct 7th 2008 6:03PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: UFC

Google's new Search 2001 feature, which lets you see what the search engine was like seven years ago, is a fun tool no matter where your interests lie. But I was particularly interested in using it to see how much mixed martial arts has changed.

For one thing, when you searched MMA in 2001 you got something called the MIDI Manufacturers Association. When you searched UFC in 2001 you got something called User Friendly Consulting.

It's also interesting to note that of all the names I searched (and you'll see that I searched a lot; this little toy can be addictive), by far the one that yielded the most result was Ken Shamrock. This week everyone is talking about Shamrock as the man who backed out of the Kimbo Slice fight, turning Seth Petruzelli into an unlikely star, but in 2001 he was (if Google results are any indication) by far the most famous athlete in the sport -- thanks in large part to his foray into pro wrestling.

A full list of MMA names and the number of Google hits they got in 2001 is below.
Continue Reading Google 2001: UFC and MMA Meant Something Different, Ken Shamrock Was Huge

Chris Bosh: Excited to Start the Season and Working on His Next Video

Brett EdwardsPosted Oct 7th 2008 4:40PM by Brett Edwards (author feed)
Filed under: Raptors, Chris Bosh

Back from Beijing and into the Raptors' training camp, Chris Bosh checks in with another post, as relayed by FanHouse's Brett Edwards.

I'm sitting here thinking of how to make my next video as funny as possible. We're in Cleveland now because we have our first pre-season game tomorrow. I can't believe I have another game! It came so fast and it seems like it was yesterday when I had a jersey with USA on the front. I'm ready to start playing again though. I think playing this summer with the National team has really helped my game because I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I had to get used to shooting the ball again, but that wasn't hard for me to pick back up.

Anyway, like I was saying. I'm in the creative process for my next video for me and Baron's competition. I have no idea what he's going to do, but I think it's going to be funny so I have to make sure I bring it. There's a little pressure on me because Baron's videos are good and I'm kind of competing with myself too because of my own videos from the past. I'm confident though. I think I'm going to start filming next week and edit it the week after so it will be in motion very soon. I wish I could tell everyone what it's going to be, but I have to keep my secret safe... Plus Baron might be reading and watching.
Continue Reading Chris Bosh: Excited to Start the Season and Working on His Next Video

Three Jaguars Fans Injured After Falling Glass Panel -- Caused by a Fight -- Lands in Stands

Will BrinsonPosted Oct 7th 2008 4:25PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Jaguars, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Fans

I have a lot of family from Jacksonville, Florida (and consequently lots of Jaguar fans) and therefore am usually pretty defensive when people start dogging on the city and its residents.

But lately, I have to admit that the Jaguars fans are not doing a whole heck of a lot to make me feel good about defending them. First there was the whole "smash the guard in the head with a folding chair" thing. And now, a random fight caused what sounds like a huge thing made of glass fall on three women at the game.
Downey said that, because of privacy laws, he doesn't have the names of the injured or whether they're still hospitalized.

One woman's injuries were apparently more serious than the other two.

Downey said he didn't think the men who got into the fight and caused the incident were apprehended.

Downey said the glass panels will be checked to see if they can be made more secure with brackets.

The panels are glass, so they don't interfere with the sightlines of the fans in that section.
Downey is the head of SMG, a private company that manages the Stadium, and I have to ask, sir, "what is your crew doing?" Because right now, there are a lot of Jaguar fans getting really drunk -- I would assume -- and doing really stupid things.

The Chargers were battling this earlier in the season, and while I thought it was a little ridiculous at the time, I'm gonna be honest and say that Jacksonville and the Jaguars as an organization needs to do something relatively drastic to make people stop getting hammered and injuring other patrons.

Ed Hochuli E-Mails an Angry Saints Fan?

Tom MantzouranisPosted Oct 7th 2008 3:50PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: Chargers, Saints, NFL Real Talk, NFL Referees

It's not easy being Ed Hochuli lately. Everybody screws up at their job from time to time; very, very few receive a city full of scorn for it. And yet the Hochuli hate parade didn't end with the scores of angry e-mails from San Diego regarding Jay Cutler's fumble/non-fumble, as subsequent screwups have effected the Panthers and, as of last night, the Saints.

The effort among San Diego faithful to write Hochuli -- and his willingness to respond -- has inspired other fanbases sleighted by the ref to hate on him as well. It almost makes you want to feel bad for the guy, but, well, he's a public figure with his e-mail available for the world to see (I won't make it easy on you, you can let Googles lead you if you'd like to join in). Also, it probably wasn't smart for him to respond to e-mails from Chargers fans, especially once the NFL advised him against it. Which makes this even more questionable.

FanHouse has obtained what we believe to be a response from Hochuli to a Saints fan writing in regard to his officiating from Monday's Saints/Vikings game. Disclaimer: We were not able to verify the sender of the e-mail completely. A check of the IP, specifically, wasn't possible, meaning this might not be Hochuli writing the e-mail. However, given what we do have to go by and the infamous ref's recent history, we're confident enough to at least pass it along. Remember, however, that this isn't definitively Hochuli. He's a lawyer, and I don't want to get sued. Thanks much.

Check out the e-mail after the jump.
Continue Reading Ed Hochuli E-Mails an Angry Saints Fan?

This Week In Schadenfreude: Little Man Agonistes

Brian CookPosted Oct 7th 2008 3:45PM by Brian Cook (author feed)
Filed under: Auburn, Bowling Green, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington

scha·den·freu·de

–noun
satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
[Origin: 1890–95; < G, equiv. to Schaden harm + Freude joy]

On This Week In Schadenfreude we explore the sputtering rage, gibbering condemnation, and resigned ennui of the college football fan who has recently undergone humiliating defeat. Because even in your darkest hour, someone else is suffering too, and probably worse than you. Unless you are a Michigan fan who has just finished watching the Appalachian State game.

TWIS usually focuses on the violent emotions of the big-money teams in college football, since there are so many of them and to be really truly bats about a football team it helps if you've paid thousands of dollars and been repaid only in pain. But sometimes the agony of the little man cannot be denied, especially when you lose to Eastern Michigan.

Bowling Green did that last weekend, and the Futon Report says "That's the Worst Thing Ever" and responds thusly:


BGSU, you are the Tears of Unfathomable Sadness award recipient.

The rest of the week in spleen after the jump.
Continue Reading This Week In Schadenfreude: Little Man Agonistes

NBA Top 50: Dwyane Wade (No. 6)

Tom ZillerPosted Oct 7th 2008 3:30PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Heat



FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.

It might not seem like it, but Dwyane Wade's had a roller coaster career already, in just five NBA seasons. Thrust into the Miami vice with fellow rookie Stan Van Gundy in 2003-04, Wade finished third in the greatest Rookie of the Year battle of modern history. In the next season, as a sophomore, he finished eighth in MVP voting. The next season brought an NBA championship. Two years later, Miami found itself in the tank with one of the worst records of the decade.

How long until that next upswing? If Wade has anything to do with it -- and returns from Beijing indicate he will -- it's not going to be too long.

Continue Reading NBA Top 50: Dwyane Wade (No. 6)

Notable Moments In FanHouse Commenting: 'Larry' Thinks You Suck

Eamonn BrennanPosted Oct 7th 2008 3:27PM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Cubs, NL Central

At FanHouse, one man's trash is another man's treasure. But only the few raise to the level of Notable Moments in FanHouse Commenting.

Are you an angry man? Are you envious? Do you get envious? Are you a Chicago Cub? A Chicago Cubs fan? A resident of Chicago? A fan of Lake Michigan's beautiful shores and scenic vistas and countless recreational opportunities?

Are you the center of the universe? Are you Chicago? (Is it possible that the two things are the same?) Are you ... president George W. Bush? If you answered yes to any of the above, "Larry," today's Notable FanHouse Commenter, believes you suck:
It doesn't matter who the Cubs have of their roster, they will never win the World Series. They lose because they suck and so do their fans. In fact, the city of Chicago sucks also and so does that polluted lake they have. If you wanted to go to the center of the suckiness in universe, that would be in Chicago. I'm surprised that George Bush isn't from Chicago, cause he sucks as well.
I have heard many things in my life "suck." I am 23, prime age for the doctrine of "suck," where everything either "sucks" or "is lame" or, most egregiously, "gay." Never, ever have I heard someone apply these adjectives to Lake Michigan. How dare you, Larry. Apologize, at once.

Or don't; Lake Michigan has been here for millions of years. What have you ever done?

Zebra Report: Hochuli in Spotlight Again

Matt SnyderPosted Oct 7th 2008 2:40PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Packers, Ravens, Redskins, Saints, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Referees

Once a week FanHouse's resident referee will chime in with thoughts on major topics relating to officiating. We call it The Zebra Report.

Once again, the NFL's only famous official came under significant scrutiny this week ... and the game was on a national stage, being the Monday night contest between the Vikings and the Saints. There were two calls in particular that we'll check out.

Incident 1: Reggie Bush's facemask mangled, and no one saw it.
MDS already covered this here on FanHouse, but I wanted to point a few things out. First of all, please do not blame Hochuli. If you blame him, you don't know anything about officiating. Ed Hochuli is the referee, and the ball was moving away from him. If he was in proper position -- and I'm assuming he was -- he would have been watching the lineman on the backside and protecting the quarterback from unnecessary roughness. Even if he did glance over at the ball, which admittedly we have a tendency to do, he would have seen Bush's head turn from behind.

You still can't assume that's a facemask from his point of view. Allow me to present a scenario:
Continue Reading Zebra Report: Hochuli in Spotlight Again
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Ed Hochuli E-Mails an Angry Saints Fan?
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