ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo announced today that Shaun Nua has joined the staff as an assistant coach and will assist Dale Pehrson in coaching the defensive line.  Niumatalolo also announced that Justin Davis will move from the defensive line to assist Tony Grantham at outside linebackers. Nua replaces Napoleon Sykes, who left Navy in January to coach at UNC-Charlotte.

Nua comes to the Naval Academy from Brigham Young, where he assisted for the past three seasons.  He is a 2005 graduate of BYU where he received his bachelor’s degree and is currently pursuing his graduate degree.

Over the past two seasons, Nua helped the Cougars achieve the nation’s 24th-best total defense in 2010 and the 13th-ranked defense in 2011. BYU won its bowl games both years while finishing the 2011 season ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches Poll with a 10-3 record.

“Shaun is a bright and enthusiastic coach and I’m very excited to have him join our staff,” said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.   “He is a man of character and coaches with a great deal of passion.  I went to BYU last spring to watch a couple of spring practices and he immediately caught my attention with the way he coached. He will be a great asset.”

“I am very excited to be at Navy,” said Nua. “I have so much respect for these young men and what they do here at the Naval Academy and what they are going to do after graduation.  I am fired up about having a role in helping these young men progress on the football field and I am very grateful that Coach Niumatalolo has given me this opportunity.”

“Shaun is an exceptional coach and an exceptional person,” said Brigham Young head coach Bronco Mendenhall.  “He has an outstanding defensive mind blended with great optimism, and he is an excellent teacher who cares for the players in his charge.  Our players and coaches are sorry to see him leave, but excited for him and his opportunity at Navy. Shaun has a very bright future in the coaching profession.”

As a player, Nua was a 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive end at BYU from 2002-04 before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nua played four years in the NFL, three seasons with Pittsburgh and one in Buffalo, including a winning trip to the Super Bowl with the Steelers his rookie year in 2006.

Nua earned All-Mountain West Conference Second-Team honors as a senior.  He played in all 23 games of his BYU career, appearing in 12 games his junior season in 2002 and 11 games as a senior in 2004 (redshirted in 2003 due to an injury).  He totaled 54 tackles in his two seasons, including 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. His four sacks were second on the team behind longtime NFL veteran Brady Poppinga his junior season, while his six sacks led the Cougars his senior year.

Born on May 22, 1981, Nua is a native of Pago Pago, American Samoa.  He transferred to BYU from Eastern Arizona Junior College, where he earned junior college All-America honors. He prepped at Tafuna High School in Tafuna, American Samoa where he was an all-league performer as a defensive end.

SARASOTA HIGHLIGHTED TO MILLIONS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION

THROUGH ORIOLES SPRING TRAINING TV BROADCASTS

The Orioles recently announced their radio and television broadcasts for the 2012 spring training season, providing the Sarasota area exposure to millions of households in the Mid-Atlantic region.

MASN, the Orioles’ television rightsholder, will air six spring training games from Ed Smith Stadium in 2012, the most MASN has ever broadcast. Those games include March 5 vs. Pittsburgh, March 11 vs. Boston, March 18 vs. New York, March 23 vs. Boston, March 24 vs. Washington and April 1 vs. Tampa Bay. MASN’s exclusive television territory covers over seven million households in all or parts of six states and the District of Columbia from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The broadcast of Orioles spring training games back to the Mid-Atlantic market is a huge promotional bonus for Sarasota,” said VIRGINIA HALEY, President of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The three-hour broadcasts are often filled with images of beaches, shopping districts, marinas and other recreational activities, helping to promote the Greater Sarasota area as a true tourist destination.”

“Millions of households can learn about the beauty and attractions of the Sarasota area by watching or listening to Orioles spring training broadcasts, creating an awareness that can lead to increased interest and tourism in the region,” said GREG BADER, Orioles Director of Communications. “In addition to our local broadcasts, the Sarasota area also benefits from radio and television broadcasts of spring training games by the Orioles’ opponents to their regional audiences across the United States.”

The Orioles’ 2012 spring training season will begin on Monday, March 5 at 7:05 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the new Ed Smith Stadium. Both MASN and WBAL Radio will broadcast the game live.

Honorable Mention: NBA-Charlotte Bobcats @ Washington Wizards (Wednesday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Comcast SportsNet), Washington Wizards @ Houston Rockets (Friday 8pm from Houston live on Comcast SportsNet), Washington Wizards @ Charlotte Bobcats (Saturday 7pm from Charlotte live on Comcast SportsNet), Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards (Monday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Comcast SportsNet/NBA TV); Women’s College Basketball: Virginia Tech @ Maryland (Thursday 7pm Comcast Center); Golf: PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel, Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on CBS. All golf from La Jolla, CA); Monster Jam (Friday-Sunday Verizon Center); Boxing: Friday Night Fights-Ruslan Provodnikov vs. David Torres (Friday 9pm from Airway Heights, WA live on ESPN2); High School Basketball: Parkville @ Perry Hall (Wednesday 6:30pm), Perry Hall @ Kenwood (Friday 7pm)

10. Miranda Lambert (Thursday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Matt Nathanson (Sunday 6:30pm Rams Head Live); Marc Broussard (Monday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Big Head Todd and the Monsters (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club); Ryan Adams/Jason Isbell (Tuesday 7:30pm Strathmore); Widespread Panic (Tuesday/Wednesday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); FUEL (Saturday 1:30pm Sandy Point State Park)

I feel as though I really shouldn’t admit how much I enjoy this song “Faster” by Matt Nathanson. It’s just that I can’t help it…

Ditto for “Rocksteady” by Marc Broussard…

Ryan Adams has made about a million songs in his life. None top this…

I saw FUEL like five times between 2000-2001. Make fun all you want, but you know you’ll be singing along to this…

9. Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge (Friday-Saturday Sandy Point State Park); Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week (Tuesday-Sunday); “Luck” premieres on HBO (Sunday 9pm); “50/50” and “Real Steel” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday)

You know who’s part of Restaurant Week? A spot I can’t name (because they’re not a sponsor) but who makes the best salad in Charm City…

You know who it is. And you know it’s fantastic.

Also, did everyone see 50/50? I thought it was one of the best movies of 2011 (Clip NSFW)…

ESPN announces its extensive 2012 college lacrosse coverage across ESPN, ESPNU and ESPN3 with a schedule featuring nationally-ranked programs, top-caliber games and the addition of the ACC Men’s and Women’s and BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championships. The schedule includes 49 total games – featuring 39 regular-season matchups, 37 men’s and two women’s games – plus the crowing of six conference champions on ESPNU and ESPN3. Coverage begins with No. 4 Johns Hopkins hosting Towson on Friday, Feb. 17, at noon on ESPNU.

Schedule highlights:

• At least one appearance from each team in the top 10 of Inside Lacrosse Division Preseason Rankings and 14 of the 16 teams that qualified for the 2011 NCAA Championship, including seven appearances from the defending champion Virginia
• ESPN will air two top-10 games – No. 7 Syracuse at No. 1 Virginia on Sunday, March 4, at 4:30 p.m. and the Cavaliers at No. 6 North Carolina on Sunday, April 7, at noon
• A rematch of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship game between No. 8 Maryland and top-ranked Virginia on Saturday, March 31, at noon on ESPNU
• ESPN3 will offer eight exclusive games including three appearances by second-ranked Duke – at No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday, Feb. 18, at No. 8 Maryland on Saturday, March 3 and at Georgetown on Saturday, March 24
• Games from four in-season tournaments – Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic (Baltimore) on Saturday, March 10, Konica Minolta Big City Classic (East Rutherford, N.J.) on Sunday, April 1, ESPNU Warrior Classic (Charlotte, N.C.) on Saturday, April 14 and Mile High Classic (Denver) on Friday, April 27
• ESPNU will carry two regular-season women’s games plus the ACC Women’s Lacrosse Championship title match as part of ACC Monday on Monday, April 23, at 3 p.m.
• Five men’s conference champions will be crowned on ESPNU or ESPN3
  • The entire ACC Championship will air live on ESPNU beginning with the semifinals on Friday, April 20 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and the title game on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m.
  • ESPNU will carry the final game of the BIG EAST Championship on Saturday, May 5, at noon along with the first semifinal on Thursday, May 3, at 4:30 p.m.; in addition, the second semifinal tilt will be at 7 p.m. on ESPN3
  • ESPN3 will be the home to the Ivy League Championship semifinals on Friday, May 4, at 5 and 8 p.m., while ESPNU will offer the title game that Sunday at noon
  • The America East and ECAC champions will be crowned on ESPN3

This season, the network’s telecasts will include a deep roster of experienced and knowledgeable lacrosse analysts: Ryan Boyle (Four-time All-American at Princeton), Paul Carcaterra (All-American at Syracuse and a member of 1995 National Championship team), Mark Dixon (former Johns Hopkins midfielder), Ryan Flanagan (All-American defenseman at UNC), Quint Kessenich (Four-time All-American at Johns Hopkins), Jamie Munro (All-American at Brown and former Denver head coach) and Matt Ward (former Virginia attackman and 2006 Tewaaraton winner). Play-by-play announcers include: ESPNU’s Anish Shroff, Joe Beninati (Bowdoin College goalie), Mike Corey, Ben Holden and Eamon McAnaney (Notre Dame defenseman). Newcomer Courtney Martinez Connor (Four-time NCAA Championship at Maryland) will handle analysis of the women’s games.

ESPN Network’s 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Regular-Season Schedule (Schedule subject to change; all times are Eastern) 

* – tape delay; rankings from Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll

For the sixth straight year, ESPN networks will provide exclusive coverage of all 15 games from the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Coverage will be in high definition across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU beginning Saturday, May 12 and concluding with the national title game on Monday, May 28. ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile will also feature select games. In addition, the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship semifinals and national title game will be aired on ESPN networks on Friday, May 25 and Sunday, May 27.

Honorable Mention: Women’s College Basketball-Terrapin Classic Lafayette @ Maryland (Wednesday 12pm Comcast Center), Delaware/ECU @ Maryland (Thursday 7pm Comcast Center); Boxing: Jermain Taylor vs. Jessie Nicklow (Friday 11pm from Cabazon, CA live on Showtime); High School Basketball: Gilman Bristow Tournament feat. Gilman, Mt. Carmel, Coppin Academy (Tuesday & Wednesday Gilman School)

10. Dark Star Orchestra (Wednesday 7pm Rams Head Live), Halestorm (Thursday 6:30pm Rams Head Live), Child’s Play (Friday 7pm Rams Head Live); Rusted Root (Friday 8pm Recher Theatre); SOJA (Saturday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Matisyahu (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Drive-By Truckers (Thursday-Saturday 9:30 Club); Charlie Wilson/Melanie Fiona (Thursday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center-Lyric Opera House); The Roots (Thursday & Friday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Little Feat (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Wale (Sunday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); The Wailers (Thursday 7pm State Theatre); Downtown Countdown feat. Carbon Leaf (Saturday 9pm Hyatt Regency); Downtown Countdown DC feat. Third Eye Blind/Dirty Heads (Saturday 9pm Washington Hilton)

I saw SOJA open for O.A.R. at Merriweather Post Pavilion this summer. Not only did I sense I would enjoy their music, I also sensed there was no possible way these guys ever used any marijuana…

You might have missed it at the end of the year, but The Roots’ “Undun” was one of the best records of the last 12 months…

This is the part of T10BD where we listen to Little Feat play “Fat Man in the Bathtub”…

Look, if I WASN’T an obsessed 3eb fan, I’d tell you that.

9. Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular (Saturday 9pm Inner Harbor); Jeff Dunham (Wednesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Archer Season 2 available on DVD (Tuesday); Tournament of Roses Parade (Monday 11am from Pasadena, CA live on ABC)

Just for the record, my services are available for NYE at the moment. I have no current commitments.

What services can I offer on NYE? I guess you could say I’m a bit like the moose from Family Guy…

(Continued on Page 2)

Charlotte (6-2) vs. Coppin State (4-5)

Mon., Dec. 19 at Halton Arena (9,105); Charlotte, N.C.; 7:30 p.m.

The Game:

Charlotte (6-2) vs. Coppin State (4-5)

All-Time Series Record:  Charlotte leads 1-0

Lone meeting:  CHA W, 82-65 (1st rd 2005 BCA Invitational; Laramie, Wyoming; Nov. 13)

About Coppin State:

Coppin State has won 3 of its last 4

Coppin state is 4-0 at home; 0-5 on the road

Last game: Coppin State scored a 71-57 home win over Towson

The Eagles have lost to: Illinois, Purdue, Connecticut; Oklahoma and Loyola Maryland

Tony Gallo (27 pts vs. Towson) leads Coppin State with a 19.1 scoring average

he is shooting .366 from long range (30-82)

Coppin State hits 35% of its three-pointers and scores 42% of its points from distance

Coppin State averages just 11.3 turnovers

Opponents shoot 45% against Coppin State

Charlotte vs. COPPIN STATE  (1-0)        N:  1-0

Nov. 13, 2005          W      82-65           Laramie, Wyo.                                    HC: Lutz

MAJOR vs. MEAC  (2-0)        H2-0

Nov. 11, 2011          W      73-57           NC Central

Nov. 13, 2010 W                     90-81               SC State

THE HEADLINES

The Charlotte 49ers (6-2), winners of four straight, host Coppin State (4-5), Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the second of three straight home games.  Charlotte toppled Davidson, 84-61, to open the homestand and will host Miami (5-4, vs. Fla. Atlantic, Saturday), Thursday night.

The 49ers continue to be led by junior Chris Braswell (17.0 ppg; 8.6 rpg; .631 FG%).  Braswell, who was named to CollegeHoops.net A-10 all-November team, is among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding and field goal pct. and owns three double-doubles.  DeMario Mayfield (10.5 pts; 5.8 rpg) has a pair of double-doubles.

Four-Game Win Streak: The 49ers have won four straight, matching last year’s longest win streak.  Charlotte is shooting .476 during the four-game win streak, while holding opponents to .332 shooting.  The 49ers are led by Braswell (17.0 ppg; 8.5 rpg) and Mayfield (10.5 ppg; 5.8 rpg) during the streak.  Deuce Briscoe has pumped in 10.5 points during the last four games. Briscoe and Javarris Barnett have combined to hit 12-of-27 threes (.444) over the last 4 games.  Starting point guard Pierria Henry owns a 2.6 A-TO ratio over the last 4 games (13 a; 5 TO).  Each of the four opponents were held to 66 points or less and under 37% shooting from the field.

Execution: Charlotte has 117 assists and 192 made field goals, a .609 assist rate.   The 49ers had a season-high .741 rate  (20 assists; 27 FGM) at ECU.  Charlotte has shot over 50% in two of the four wins, including a .692 FG% in the 2nd half v. Davidson.

INSIDE BRASWELL’S NUMBERS: Look close inside Chris Braswell’s numbers:  He’s leading the team in scoring and rebounding — and shooting .631 in doing so.  He also tops the team with a .745 FT pct., while averaging 6.7 FTA/gm.  On the defensive end he has blocked a team-high 15 shots (His season-high is 21, last year).  In addition, he has played a key role in fouling out 8 of the 9 opponents that have been sent off against the 49ers this year (Davidson’s Jake Cohen, De’Mon Brooks; Radford’s Tolga Cerrah; Wright State’s AJ Pacher; Central Michigan’s Andre Coimbra, Zack Saylor, Olivier Mbaigoto; NCCU’s David Best).  Braswell has not fouled out.

LAST TIME OUT:

W, 84-61 vs. Davidson

49ers had .510 FG% (2nd time over .500 this year; .558 at Wright State)

Decisive second half:

49ers shot .692 from the field

49ers scored 54 points (most pt in a half under Major)

Chris Braswell 19 pts; 10 reb double-double (3rd year; 18th career)

Javarris Barnett 15 pts (5-6 3FG; hit 4 threes over 4:49 span that

pushed a 5-pt game to a 15-pt game)

Niners 7-0 vs. Davidson all-time at Halton Arena

2nd time that Charlotte had more assists (16) than turnovers (12)

12 turnovers are a season-low for the 49ers

Niners improved to 5-0 when scoring 70 or more points

A LOOK INSIDE THE STATS:

Charlotte has a +29 rebounding margin in its 6 wins; a -30 margin in its 2 losses (one of which (Lamar) came with Braswell sidelined with illness).

The 49ers have assists on 61% of its field goals (117 of 192)

Charlotte has held its last four opponents to 66 points or less and the last two (Radford, 49; Davidson 61) to the lowest point totals allowed this year.

Charlotte shot a season-high 69% in the second half vs. Davidson, scoring 54 second half points (most ever by the 49ers under Major)

You know how it works. 15 positive football observations, 7 “not so” positive football observations and one “oh no” moment from outside the world of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

15 Positive Observations…

1. I’d use new terms to describe Tim Tebow’s most recent comeback win but I don’t own a thesaurus.

Drew Forrester, Nestor Aparicio had a late celebratory dinner with our fantastic attorney Sunday night at Fogo De Chao. As I walked in, I said to Drew “is Tebow going to do it again?” He responded “nah…it’s like 10-0 at the end of the game.”

I responded “um…actually it’s 10-7.”

Within moments we were all doing this…

So that I’ve covered myself here, a LOT of credit for the Denver Broncos’ win over the Chicago Bears has to be given to the fact that Marion Barber absolutely fell apart late and Matt Prater’s UNREAL game-tying boot. In fact, Prater’s boot was so incredible it deserves another look…

Just stop already. Just stop. Frank Reich might want to go ahead and make the congratulatory call to Tebow, because you KNOW “The Mile High Messiah” is going to eventually break his record for the greatest comeback in National Football League history.

As far as the Bears go, it’s over for them. You have to have a quarterback. It would be over in Charm City if Tyrod Taylor had to play.

That is…of course…ENOUGH about the Bears. Tim Tebow played Sunday. We’ll be talking about it until next Sunday.

2. My gut tells me it can’t last, but it’s hard to not feel good for the Houston Texans right now.

Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you DON’T have to have a quarterback. Maybe T.J. Yates is enough…

With Andre Johnson sidelined, Kevin Walter was the hero. I’m so confused by everything happening here. I know the other teams barely tried, but aren’t the Texans supposed to screw this up so that these t-shirts are never printed???

A large crowd welcomed the AFC South champs back to Reliant Stadium Saturday night. No word on whether or not they had all sent Peyton Manning Thank You cards or not.

3. While Navy’s win Saturday over Army was the closest margin in years, it makes their dominance no less impressive.

Even if I had to make a trip to Landover and that AWFUL dump known as FedEx Field, it was worth it for Army/Navy.

My highlight this year? The press box (which Dan Snyder and company placed in the WORST possible location otherwise) was directly behind the brigade of Midshipmen, allowing me to hear every word of “The Goat is Old and Gnarly.”

If you’re not an Annapolis regular, you might not be familiar. Here’s a 4 year old singing it…

The Mids were 27-21 winners thanks to 4th quarter heroics from kicker Jon Teague. The game (as always) was “more than football”. Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama attended, watching one half of the game on each side. At halftime, he was walked from side to side through a tunnel formed by members of each branch. The word “goosebumps” fits.

4. With their season perhaps on the line, Matt Ryan & the Atlanta Falcons really manned up Sunday.

Down 23-7 at the half and watching their Wild Card hopes crumble, the Falcons became energized and clinched a win with this 75 yard TD to Julio Jones…

After finishing the win over the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons had quite the scare when coach Mike Smith felt chest pains and was taken off the team flight and instead to a Charlotte hospital. When reached for comment, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger described Smith as a “pansy.”

5. I warned you a week ago. The San Diego Chargers are still dangerous.

Crap. Crap crap crap.

The Bolts are pretty healthy and playing really well just in time for a date with the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Phillip Rivers is playing well. Vincent Jackson is playing well. Ryan Matthews is playing well. Antonio Gates is playing well. They kept their slim playoff hopes alive while ruining any hopes the Buffalo Bills had Sunday.

Crap.

WNST will be in San Diego next weekend, partnering with Los Angeles Ravens fan club The West Wing. That means Perry Hall High School alum Daniela Pane will be in the house…

It’s a shame she has to compete with me every year for the “most popular alum” award. Otherwise she’d probably have it nailed down.

(Also-I know flights aren’t cheap…but…you know…)

6. Robert Griffin III’s run to the Heisman Trophy was one of the more improbable in the history of the award.

Before the season began-what, maybe 10% of college football fans could name the Baylor Bears quarterback? Just before Christmas, RG3 has not only won the sports’ highest honor, he’s also started a craze in footwear…

Superman socks. Actually quite awesome. Everyone else is so much cooler than me.

7. For as much as everyone thinks the Greg Jennings injury will hurt the Green Bay Packers, I just don’t get that feeling.

There were a handful of goofs who thought the Oakland Raiders could give the Packers a run for their money. Here are some highlights-or at least the best I could find on YouTube…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbtul3e5l60

If Greg Jennings really does have a torn ACL, the Packers are hurting. But this is a team that has Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, ah you get the point. They’re going undefeated and they’re probably going to win the Super Bowl.

Have a Happy Monday!

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Franklin Templeton Shootout (Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday 2:30 Sunday 3pm live on NBC. All golf from Naples, FL); Bowling: PBA World Championship (Sunday 1pm from Las Vegas live on ESPN); Women’s College Basketball: Delaware State @ Maryland (Thursday 7pm Comcast Center), Maryland @ George Mason (Sunday 2pm Patriot Center); High School Basketball: Mt. St. Joseph @ Archbishop Spalding (Sunday 3:30pm); St. Frances @ Mount Carmel (Tuesday 7pm), St. Frances @ McDonogh (Friday 7pm)

10. Corey Taylor (Saturday 7pm Baltimore Soundstage); WMZQ Winter Fest feat. Rodney Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Thompson Square (Saturday 5:30pm Patriot Center); Robert Cray Band (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Emerson Hart (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Duncan Sheik (Sunday 12:30pm Rams Head on Stage); Wiz Khalifa/Snoop Dogg (Wednesday 11pm 9:30 Club), City and Colour (Saturday 8pm 9:30 Club); America (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere), Jars of Clay (Thursday 7:30pm Birchmere); Anthony Hamilton/Chrisette Michelle (Thursday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); The Black Keys “El Camino”, Amy Winehouse “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”, The Roots “Undun”, Chevelle “Hats Off To The Bull” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Corey Taylor is from the band Slipknot. Since I don’t know even a single song by the band Slipknot, I suggest you might know him this way…

Emerson Hart is from the band Tonic. I’m such a fan.

If you’re not listening to Anthony Hamilton, you should be listening to Anthony Hamilton…

Chevelle is one of the few bands on the face of the planet that I will spend money on EVERY time they drop a record. Just…solid.

9. “Diner” 30th Anniversary Celebration (Saturday 8pm Shriver Hall Johns Hopkins); Gilbert Gottfried (Thursday 8pm Magooby’s Joke House); Alonzo Bodden (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “The Sitter” out in theaters (Friday); “The Hangover Part II” available on DVD/Blu-Ray (Tuesday)

In honor of the Diner anniversary, I think I’m headed to Blue Moon Cafe.

I mean, is there ANY possible better way to celebrate than a trip Fells Point for some Captain Crunch French Toast???

On and since we’re here, The Hangover Part II wasn’t great. But it did spur Mike Tyson’s singing career, and I think the whole world can say thank you for that…

Honorable Mention: Auto Racing-NASCAR Awards Show (Friday 9pm from Las Vegas live on SPEED); Golf: PGA Tour Qualifying School (Saturday & Sunday 4pm, Monday 3:30pm from La Quinta, CA live on Golf Channel), PGA Tour Chevron World Challenge (Thursday & Friday 1pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 12pm live on NBC. All golf from Thousand Oaks, CA); Women’s College Basketball: Big Ten/ACC Challenge-Michigan @ Maryland (Wednesday 7pm Comcast Center), Maryland @ American (Sunday 1pm Bender Arena); Tennis: ATP Tour Davis Cup Final (Friday 8am Saturday 10am Sunday 7am from Seville, Spain live on Tennis Channel)

10. Andrea Bocelli (Friday 8pm Verizon Center); Erykah Badu (Friday 7pm Rams Head Live); Dashboard Confessional (Saturday 7pm Recher Theatre); All Mighty Senators (Saturday 7pm 8×10 Club); Aaron Neville (Monday 8pm Rams Head On Stage); Robin Thicke (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club); String Cheese Incident (Wednesday 8pm Lyric Opera House), Ryan Adams (Sunday 7:30pm Lyric Opera House); J. Roddy Walston & The Business (Friday 9pm Ottobar); Mac Miller (Thursday 7pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Ra Ra Riot (Friday 7pm Ritchie Coliseum College Park); Tori Amos (Monday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Adele Live at Royal Albert Hall available on CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/iTunes (Tuesday)

I really shouldn’t like Robin Thicke all that much. I just can’t help myself…

Dude, Ryan Adams has made so many great tunes but are any of them greater than this?

I feel like I should be a bigger J Roddy Walston fan than I am…http://wnst.net/wordpress/wp-admin/post.php?post=185164&action=edit

I don’t know if Adele sounds BETTER at Royal Albert Hall…but I know this much…no CHANCE she doesn’t sound amazing…

9. Washington Monument Lighting (Thursday 7pm from Mt. Vernon Place live on WBAL11), Mayor’s Christmas Parade (Sunday 2pm Hampden/Medfield); Gary Valentine (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Steve-O (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Jim Norton (Thursday-Saturday Magooby’s Joke House)

Is there any chance that when Stephanie Rawlings-Blake flips on the lights at the monument the scene looks anything like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ar-__ub0rc

And since I’ve already invoked Christmas Vacation, I think it’s only appropriate that we do this…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk74WprmZxY

UNDER ARMOUR’S NBA PLAYERS BRANDON JENNINGS, DERRICK WILLIAMS, KEMBA WALKER, AND GREIVIS VASQUEZ KICK-OFF

“ARE YOU FROM HERE?” EXHIBITION TOUR IN BALTIMORE ON NOVEMBER 7

WHAT:To bring basketball back to the fans, Under Armour’s up-and-coming roster of NBA athletes, Brandon Jennings, Derrick Williams, Kemba Walker and Greivis Vasquez will take on three of the Northeast’s top high school programs in exhibition games that are free and open to the public.  The “Are You From Here?” Tour starts in Baltimore, on November 7, where the UA athletes will play an exhibition game against St. Frances Academy.

After the game, Jennings, Williams, Walker, and Vasquez will visit Foot Locker in the Mondawmin Mall to interact with fans, sign autographs, and participate in a Q&A session.

For more information, please visit facebook.com/uabasketball

WHO:                   Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks

Derrick Williams, #2 overall 2011 NBA Draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Kemba Walker, #9 overall 2011 NBA Draft pick of the Charlotte Bobcats

Greivis Vasquez of the Memphis Grizzlies

WHEN: Exhibition Game: Monday, November 7, 2011

3:30PM – 5:30PM

Foot Locker Appearance: Monday, November 7, 2011

6:45PM – 8:45PM

WHERE: Exhibition Game: St. Frances Academy

501 East Chase Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Foot Locker Appearance: Mondawmin Mall

2401 Liberty Heights Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21215