Honorable Mention: Auto Racing-NASCAR Federated Auto Parts 400 (Saturday 7pm from Richmond live on ABC); Boxing: Andre Ward vs. Chad Dawson (Saturday 9:45pm from Oakland live on HBO); High School Football: Catonsville @ Perry Hall(Friday 7pm), Patriot Football Classic: DeMatha vs. Calvert Hall (Friday 7:30pm Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium), St. Peter’s Prep vs. McDonogh (Saturday 10:30am Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium), Landon vs. Annapolis Area Christian School (Saturday 1:30pm Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium), Don Bosco vs. Gilman (Saturday 7:30pm Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
I’m an unabashed Third Eye Blind fan. This tune rules. See you Saturday.
I couldn’t tell you if I enjoyed Joe Nichols. I can tell you that I enjoy sleepy little smiles…
Were you listening to “Web Junk” the other day when I played the clip of Boyz II Men singing “End of the Road” with Charles Barkley? Did you hear me singing along? You can assume I am again as you listen this time…
Sister Hazel is playing Arundel Mills on my birthday. Don’t ask. Just invite.
I once stumbled into the Ukrainian Festival after a Ravens game once a few years back. I couldn’t have had more fun. There was dancing, sausage and potato pancakes. It was a lot like my 13th birthday party…except we did all of those things at the old Funjungle in Perry Hall.
And since there’s at least half a chance I’ll forget to say something about these guys during the course of RennFest, I should probably do it now. These guys are Hack and Slash. They’re humorous fellas…
AshleyMadison.com asked women across America which athlete they would most likely cheat on their husband with. Over 13,500 women responded by picking their top three athletes which yielded the following results :
International Soccer Star and Sex Symbol David Beckham was the overwhelming winner with 43.1% of ALL women surveyed saying they would cheat on their husbands with him.
·Ultra-conservative New York Jet QB Tim Tebow was second with 19.6% of all women surveyed.
·New England Patriot and the most prolific QB in the NFL, Tom Brady was a close third with 17.9%. Brady is currently married to Supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
·Mark Sanchez may be the #1 QB on the Jets but only 8.1% of women said they would have an affair with him, well behind his back-up, Tim Tebow.
·MLB Future Hall-of-Famer and New York Yankee Derek Jeter led the way with 16.5% of women looking to hit a Home Run with him, edging out Yankee Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez, who garnered 13.2% of women respondents.
·In the battle of the Manning’s, Peyton edged out his younger brother Eli : 9.6% to 8.5%.
·NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP LeBron James is the top NBA player amongst women looking to go to the hoop, with 5.8% of all women surveyed looking to cheat with the King. (Kobe Bryant came in second with 4.4%)
·Andy Roddick (5.6%) out volleyed both Rafael Nadal (4.6%) and Roger Federer (4.2%) to become the top tennis player chosen amongst women
·Michael Phelps was the leading Olympian with 10.5% of women ready to jump in the pool with him.
·Top 5 NFL players (are all QB’s): Tim Tebow (19.6%), Tom Brady (17.9%), Peyton Manning (9.6%), Aaron Rodgers (9.5%), and Eli Manning (8.5%). The top non-quarterback was Reggie Bush (6.9%).
·Top 5 NBA players: LeBron James (5.8%), Kobe Bryant (4.4%), Lamar Odom (3.7%), Dwyane Wade (3.6%), and Kris Humphries (3.3%)
·Top 3 MLB players: Derek Jeter (16.5%), Alex Rodriguez (13.2%), and Matt Kemp (1.6%)
·Top 5 non- NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes: David Beckham (43.1%), Christiano Ronaldo (11.0%), Michael Phelps (10.5%), Kelly Slater (9.2%), Lance Armstrong (7.4%)
·Top 10 athletes overall: David Beckham (43.1%), Tim Tebow (19.6%), Tom Brady (17.9%), Derek Jeter (16.5%), Alex Rodriguez (13.2%), Christiano Ronaldo (11%), Michael Phelps (10.5%), Peyton Manning (9.6%), Aaron Rodgers (9.5%), Kelly Slater (9.2%). Tiger Woods came in 15th (6.1%).
**Note: The percentages are based on 300% since each women picked three athletes. You could also divide every number by three to get an accurate percentage based on 100%.
Over the past decade, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and more recently, Novak Djokovic have dominated professional tennis. Andy Murray is in that conversation as well but has consistently showcased a lack of mental fortitude that is needed to win a major.
Andy Roddick and the Williams sisters have been the lone representatives for the Unites States and have had success. Serena and Venus have been dominant and credit is due for all of their accomplishments. That said, the Williams sisters and Andy Roddick are coming to the end of their careers. Venus was recently ousted in the first round of Wimbledon and was visibly distraught throughout the match.
Since the days of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and John McEnroe have passed, elite American tennis have been hard to come by. John Isner and Mardy Fish seem to be the only American tennis players that are relevant as of now. The Williams sisters are fantastic but are coming to the end of their careers.
So who will be left to carry the torch? John Isner is a fan favorite in many cities. This is mostly because of his marathon match against Nicolas Mahut in 2010 at Wimbledon. Isner is known for his serve and is very difficult to break. While his size is an advantage for serves and net play, his size is a detriment when it comes to footwork and movement. Sure, Isner moves very well for a man his size but he gets into a lot of trouble against players like Federer and Djokovic who can neutralize his serve and make him work for every point.
One of the larger problems for American tennis is the lack of court variety in the Unites States. Across the country, there are only five grass courts and a limited number of red clay courts. Younger players need to be exposed to these kinds of courts in the United States.
Even today on their natural surface, Americans are struggling to win on hard courts. This is because tennis clubs and facilites have failed to adapt to the new technologies in shoes and racquets that put more emphasis on footwork and topspin rather then power alone.
Americans have always been taught that in order to win, you must have a big serve and forehand. That philosophy has changed over the past decade and is why Europeans have dominated the sport for so long and is exactly why Andy Roddick could never beat Roger Federer.
That’s right. For the first time in my (still?) young life, I will be roasting a pig Saturday. It’s all thanks in part to ABC Rental Store in Rosedale. A talented young man I listen to on the radio is always talking to me about them. I think his show is called “The Reality Check.” I PRAY my results make me as happy as George W. Bush…
Also, I will be hosting a qualifier for the Olympic KanJam team Saturday (more on Twitter @OlympicKanJam). I expect the day to look much like this…
Since Sonny Weems doesn’t play for the Raptors anymore, he won’t be there when the ‘Zards visit Canada. It’s a shame because if he was he could bring his creepy foot…
I get the feeling there won’t be many folks willing to click on Page 2 or Page 3 after that, but we’re going to keep going here anyway.
And this is the Chocolate Wonderfall my girlfriend and I will enjoy when I take her to Golden Corral Tuesday night like they said I should do in those commercials…
George Lopez is only sorta funny sometimes and while Contraband might be okay I can’t tell you I’m really looking forward to it.
So let’s talk about Restaurant Week. As you know, Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium is one of my personal favorite spots in Baltimore County. What you might not know is that the breakout star of “Monday Night Live” for the 2011 season was the Santa Fe Fries…
I would have taken a picture of a full plate, but there was never a full plate. Never.
I can’t go to Bob Seger Friday night. It’s an incredibly long story (my family celebrates holidays a day late) that I don’t want to talk about. But in honor of the festive weekend, I’ll just go ahead and assume he’ll break out “Little Drummer Boy”…
I can’t believe this is the last time Cris Jacobs and the boys from The Bridge will be playing together. It’s almost impossible. The show is sold out. I might tear up a bit.
I don’t know if I’m an Airborne Toxic Event “fan”, but I know I’m a fan of this tune…
Kirk Franklin is a legendary gospel performer. In one of the most inexplicable moments in music history, he had a smash hit on MTV/Pop radio in 1997. You know you know the words…
I spent much of my adolescence wanting to be Fozzie Bear. If you don’t sing along to this you’re just a bad person…
Also, I’m looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with the Clark family, but I’ll admit I’m a bit confused by why it is that my mother has requested my girlfriend bring buffalo chicken dip to dinner this year. It’s just kinda weird. Whatever we consume, I know one thing. This Saturday I’ll be enjoying a “Thanksgiving Sandwich.” Wheat bread, turkey, potatoes and barbeque sauce. It sounds weird to you, but trust me on this one.
I start with Brett Dennen, whose tune “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)” I play regularly on “The Reality Check”-a fine radio program that airs Monday-Friday 2-6pm on AM1570 WNST.net. You should really be listening…
Then there’s Robert Randolph. Holy hell I have no idea how many times I could possibly post this video. It’s just…it’s just…it’s just amazing.
Bob Schneider’s “Honeypot” is one of the most underrated songs of 2011…
Does the Chris Robinson Brotherhood play Black Crowes songs? I’ll bring my lighter…
I missed seeing the Pearl Jam documentary Friday night on PBS because I went to see 50/50 in Hunt Valley. It was really good, and even included a hell of a Pearl Jam tune…
