Artist: Randy Newman Song: I Love L.A. Year: 1983 Album: Trouble in Paradise Written by: Randy Newman If you are from the 1980s, this is the song for you...it oozes of everything 80s - self-image, glitz, glamour, Showtime, etc....Newman wrote the song about how the American Dream was dying...however, in a 2001 interview, he states that he loves his hometown of Los Angeles but explained, ,"There's some kind of ignorance L.A. has that I'm proud of. The open car and the redhead, the Beach Boys... that sounds really good to me."...
Even to this day, you will hear the song jamming at L.A. sporting events...it was the theme song of the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers Showtime era...
Favorite line: When the music cranks up and the scene shifts to L.A., Newman hits the first few line right on the money...I love how he describes the woman with him - not just a readhead, but a "big nasty" redhead at his side... Rollin’ down the imperial highway With a big nasty redhead at my side Santa Ana wind blowin’ hot from the north And we was born to ride
Video: I love the video and footage of Los Angeles...pay attention around the 3:35 mark when they show a bunch of old rich people dancing in a hot tub...the old lady in the middle is funny as she tries to dance or something...
During their last two playoffs games, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was calling the defense from the press box instead of his usual spot on the field...at the time it was reported that he had a bad back and could not stand for a long period of time...well, for the past two weeks, with all the football news being about the Super Bowl, it was revealed that Johnson is suffering from cancer of the spine...hopefully everything goes well for one of the best defensive coordinators in the game and that he is back on the sidelines next season...
Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times writes how LeBron may be the best player, but this is Kobe's era... "Between 1997 and 1999, Utah's Karl Malone won two MVPs to Michael Jordan's one. Jordan's Bulls won the '97 and '98 titles, giving them six in the decade, which is why no one talks about a Mailman Era. If James, currently the front-runner, becomes the MVP, it won't matter a bit if Bryant's Lakers win the title." ...
Bill Livingston of The Plain Dealer writes how not only do the fans, but also other players will be focusing on the Kobe vs. LeBron match-up... "Sunday at The Q, Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers face LeBron James' Cavaliers in one of the season's most anticipated games. It is not only a meeting of two of the NBA's top teams, but also of the two leading Most Valuable Player contenders. A detailed statistical study before the season on America Online predicted James would be the MVP, based on his higher average percentile rank than Bryant last season in a bewildering number of categories." ...
Earlier this year Ohio State wideout Ray Small said that he chose Ohio State over Southern Cal because at Ohio State, they "teach you to be men"...so is this how a man acts?....
Associated Press
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone was arrested after being subdued with a Taser during an alleged drunken tirade, authorities said Monday.
Boone, 21, was taken into custody late Sunday for investigation of resisting arrest after Orange County sheriff's deputies responded to a disturbance call outside of a home in Aliso Viejo.
When they arrived, the 6-foot-8, 312-pound tackle had been jumping on car hoods, yanking on a tow truck cable and trying to break a window, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
Boone ran away from deputies and was found hiding underneath a patio, authorities said. Boone was combative and uncooperative and had to be taken down with a stun gun, Amormino said.
"He was yelling obscenities at deputies and had a strong smell of alcohol," Amormino said. "His blood-alcohol level was at least three times the legal amount."
Boone was taken to a hospital and then to a jail medical ward, where he remained. He had not been booked yet.
Boone, who was selected All-Big Ten this year, could be selected in the NFL draft in April.
Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Hoffman said Monday that she was unaware of the arrest and could not comment.
Come up with a caption to this photo that I found on Sports Illustrated's website...obviously this kid will relive this moment hundreds of times as he passes through puberty...
Obvious, winning all those gold medals has gotten into the head of Michael Phelps...back in November 2008, he was photographed taking a hit from a bong...what a disappointment!!!...he should get the same treatment as any other athlete who is nailed for pot use...
Sean D. Hamill of The New York Times writes a fascinating feature on Steelers assistant coach John Mitchell, who was the first African-American to play football at the University of Alabama... "John Mitchell, the Steelers’ defensive line coach, will say again and again that he is no hero, no great man and certainly not worthy of mention as a figure of the civil rights era." ...
Twenty years ago Joe Montana made history in Super Bowl XXIII at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami...Montana and teammate Jerry Rice put together one of the greatest Super Bowl final drives in history as San Francisco beat Cincinnati 20-16 in what was Bill Walsh's last game as head coach of 49ers...
During the regular season, it looked like the 49ers were not even going to make the playoffs until a late season hot streak...once in, the Niners made it to the big show once again...
The Bengals were 3:30 away from the Super Bowl aftr Jim Breech's 40-yard field goal put head coach Sam Wyche's team up 16-13...as the Niners huddled at their own 8-yard line, Montana broke the tension by pointing out the late comedian John Candy in the stands to his teammates... Over the next 2:46, Montana hit Rice, Roger Craig, and John Frank as they cut through the Bengals defense...with 39 seconds remaining, his last completion when to John Taylor (photo) for a 10-yard TD and a Super Bowl victory...that would be Taylor's only reception of the game...
On that final drive, Montana went 8 for 9 passing for 102 yards...the game MVP went to Rice who had 11 receptions for 215 yards and 1 TD...
The Pittsburgh Steelers were involved in Super Bowl XIII which took place 30 years ago at the Orange Bowl in Miami...it marked the first ever rematch of a previous Super Bowl as the Steelers took on the Dallas Cowboys...the two teams met three years earlier in Super Bowl X...and just like the first time, the Steelers won again, but it was a game in which the Cowboys probably should have taken if not for three plays...
The first incident took place late in the third quarter with the Steelers leading 21-14...Dallas drove to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line...on 3rd and 3, Staubach hit a wide open Jackie Smith who dropped a sure game tying touchdown (photo)...Dallas had to settle for a Rafael Septien field goal to make it 21-17...
With the score still the same, the second unfortunate incident for Dallas occurred early in the fourth quarter when Terry Bradshaw's pass sailed incomplete to a stumbling Lynn Swann...however, Dallas cornerback Benny Barnes was flagged for pass interference...Barnes argued vehemently that it was incidental contact...replays later confirmed Barnes claim...four plays later, Franco Harris burst straight up the middle for a 22-yard TD to make it 28-17 in favor of Pittsburgh...
The third incident happened on the ensuing kick-off when Steelers kicker Roy Gerela slipped on the kick and shanked the ball straight at Dallas' Randy White...however, White was unable to handle the ball because of a cast on his arm...Pittsburgh's Tony Dungy separated the ball from White and Dennis "Dirt" Winston recovered on the Dallas 18-yard line...on the very next play, Bradshaw hit Swann in the back of the endzone to make it 35-17...
Dallas did make a valiant comeback attempt, but fell short 35-31...
Every play matters...and as the Cowboys found out, three very big plays went against them and basically cost them a chance to win Super Bowl XIII...
This week Stiles Points is going to look back at the anniversaries of some of the past Super Bowls...today's spotlight occurred 40 years ago in Super Bowl III when Joe Namath (photo - right) guaranteed his New York Jets would beat the mighty Baltimore Colts even though they were an 18-point underdog...
Super Bowl III took place on January 13, 1969 in front of 75,389 people at the Orange Bowl in Miami...this was a game in which the AFL needed to win because the NFL may have pulled out of the merger...in the previous two championship games, the Green Bay Packers smashed their AFL competition...a third straight win by the NFL would have been disastrous for the AFL...the Colts entered the game with a 13-1 mark and a thrashing of the Cleveland Browns in the NFL title game by the score of 34-0....
As we all know, the Jets won the game 16-7, but there was always a hint of controversy about the game...while I was in college, I took a class called The History of Sports...my professor seriously believed the game was fixed because of questionable decision-making by the Colts...
Personally, I don't believe the game was fixed, but the Jets were just a very fortunate team as the ball bounced their way that day...the biggest and most controversial play of the game occurred right before half with the Jets leading 7-0...on the last play of the half, the Colts had the ball and quarterback Earl Morrall threw an interception down the middle of the field instead of throwing to a wide-open Jimmy Orr (photo, top of page) ...there was not a defender within 20 yards of Orr...but somehow, Morrall missed the certain touchdown...what builds the case for the conspiracy theory is that in fact, the pass was intended to be thrown to Orr in the first place...
Conspiracy?...Fix?...or just plain knucklehead playing?...in the end, the Jets won and the history of the NFL was forever changed - 40 years ago...
Rush Limbaugh had people turning off his radio program after the comment that he hopes the new President Barack Obama fails along with his policies to help America.
“I want to see him fail,” said Limbaugh, a former drug addict who would rather see hard working Americans lose their jobs, their homes and stand in soup lines than see a biracial Democratic President succeed in helping the country recover.
This is why there should not be any political parties in this country. Too often, Republicans want to see Democrats fail in order to get into power and the Democrats want to see Republicans fail in order to get into power.
Just as when former president George W. Bush started the surge in Iraq, there is no doubt that some Democrats wanted to see it fail this way it was another hit on the Republican president.
Rush Limbaugh is an asshole. And so is anyone else who wants to see any American President fail just because he (or she one day) is not from the party you support.
"From childhood until her final days, Yow engaged in the game she loved, but eventually she transcended it. In a hotly competitive sport, her gentle manner taught mutual respect. And in recent years, her energy drained and her features drawn by cancer, her presence courtside reminded all in the arena that no matter how urgent the contest, it was only a game. What mattered most, Yow said, was winning in life." ...
The Today Show was doing a segment on puppies when one of the young pup unexpectedly scratched Lester Holt on the chin - drawing blood...but the best part was the close-up of Amy Robach's luscious thighs when they showed how the pup shredded her stockings...
Yesterday Stiles Points looked at current running backs and quarterbacks who should make the Hall of Fame...today's focus is wide receivers...
Wide Receivers Marvin Harrison - 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards and 128 TDs...3-time First-Team All-Pro; 8-time Pro Bowl selection; Super Bowl winner - first ballot lock - LOCK
Terrell Owens - yes, we all know he is an asshole...he is a head case...but he is also worthy of the Hall...951 receptions, 14,122 receiving yards and 141 overall TDS...6-time Pro Bowl selection; 5-time First-Team All Pro...Owens will not be a first ballot nor second ballot Hall of Famer because of all the problems that he has caused wherever he has played...but in the end, he is in - LOCK
Isaac Bruce(photo) - he is so overlooked...he has 1,003 receptions for 14.944 yards and 91 TDs...4-time Pro Bowl selection; Super Bowl winner...he will be a third or fourth ballot Hall of Famer - LOCK
Randy Moss - in his prime, he was a difference-maker...he is starting to get up in age, but he can still make the big plays...Moss has 843 reception for 13,201 yards and 135 TDs...he holds the record for most TD receptions in a season...4-time First-Team All-Pro; 6-time Pro Bowl selection; Offensive Rookie of the Year...if not for his moody years in Oakland, Moss could have possibly passed some of Jerry Rice's marks...Moss is a first ballot Hall of Famer - LOCK
Muhsin Muhammad - over a 13-year career, Moosh has 807 receptions for 10,857 yards and 61 TDs...he is a 2-time Pro-Bowl selection and a one-time First-Team All-Pro...M2 is like Fred Taylor...he has put up some solid numbers over a long career, but has never distinguished himself as a difference maker - NO WAY
Hines Ward(photo) - Hines will face a battle to get in...I am stating right now that I would vote him in...he has 800 receptions for 9,780 yards and 72 TDs over his 11 year career...he should finish with over 900 receptions and 11,000 yards...he is a 4-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl MVP...he is a devasting blocker and the consummate team player...he is a difference maker...Ward will probably not make the Hall until his 5th or 6th chance, but if the writers have any smarts, they would vote him in - I VOTE YES
Derrick Mason - over a 12-year career, Mason has put up some solid numbers... 790 catches for 10,061 yards and 52 TDs...2-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time First-Team All-Pro...like Moosh, Mason has had a fine career, but not a Hall of Fame career - NO WAY
Despite the little flub, I like how Chief Justice Roberts begins by calling Obama "Senator" then at the end, is the first to officially call him "Mr. President"...
Last week on "Mike and Mike," Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg talked about which current NFL players are locks for the Hall of Fame...their "crack" staff came up with a list for each position...today we will look at the quarterback and running back positions...
Quarterback Brett Favre - he is a lock despite being an asshole the last 3 years...he is a first ballot lock - LOCK
Tom Brady - a Super Bowl record of 3-1, 2-time Super Bowl MVP, League MVP...even if he doesn't throw another pass, Brady is in on his first ballot - LOCK
Peyton Manning - barring injury, Manning should hold every quarterback record when he retires...he is 1-0 in Super Bowls; Super Bowl MVP; 3-time League MVP...first ballot - LOCK
Kurt Warner(photo) - before this season Warner was going to fall into that just missed catergory...but after a resurgence and leading the Cardinals to the Big Show, Warner is in...he is 1-1 in Super Bowls; Super Bowl MVP; 2-time League MVP...first ballot - LOCK
Donovan McNabb - McNabb is interesting...some will hold it against him that he was 1-4 in NFC Championship Games...he has thrown for 194 TDs and almost 30,000 yards...in his prime he was a dual threat at running and throwning the ball...is a 5-time Pro Bowl Selection...McNabb will not make it on his first, second, nor third ballot...he will have a problem getting in at first, but after about five or six years, I believe he will be in the Hall - WILL MAKE IT AFTER A WAIT
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson - it seems just like yesterday he racked up 30 TDs, now there is talk that his better days are behind him...he has rushed for 11,760 yards and 141 overall TDs...he was the League MVP...last week on The Dan Patrick Show, McLuvin mentioned an interesting point that many of LT's TDs were of the 1-yard variety and that his TD numbers are a little deceiving...no matter how far out he scored, LT will be in Canton...but I could see him not making it on his first try because of his recent injuries during the playoffs...some writers will hold that against him - CANTON BOUND
Edgerrin James - just like Warner, Edge was a borderline Hall of Famer...but after helping the Cards to the Super Bowl, he will eventually make it to Canton...I don't see him being a first ballot lock, but he makes it...through this season he has rushed for 12,121 and 91 overall TDS - second ballot - LOCK
Shaun Alexander - Alexander has had a weird career...he was never really appreciated because he played up in the Northwest...he was the League MVP in 2005 when he had that monster season...he was a 3-time Pro Bowl selection and helped Seattle make the Super Bowl...but I would not vote Alexander in because of the Ottis Anderson Syndrome...if Alexander makes it, then Anderson has to be inducted too...Alexander has rushed for 9,453 and 112 overall TDs...Anderson finished with 10,273 yards rushing and 86 overall TDs...he was a Super Bowl MVP; 2-time Pro Bowl selection; NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; and NFL Comeback Player of the Year...Alexander was a beast for about a 3-year period, but that is not enough in my book to put him in Canton - NO WAY
Fred Taylor - Taylor is one of those running back who have good numbers, but that is all...he has 11,271 yards rushing and 70 overall TDs...the early part of his carer was marred by injuries...his best season came in 2003 when he ran for 1,572 yards...Taylor was always underappreciated...he has had a good career, but he never has done anything to stand out...he was never a true difference maker...sorry - NO WAY
Warrick Dunn(photo) - thru a 12-year career, Dunn has rushed for 10,987 yards...he has compiled 15,306 yards rushing and receiving for an overall total of 64 TDs...he is a 3-time Pro Bowl selection and was the Offensive Rookie of the Year...he is also one of the greatest human beings off the field...but despite those numbers, he has never stood out and was not a differenc maker - NO WAY
Jamal Lewis - Lewis falls into the Roger Maris category...Maris had two monster seasons, but will never make the Baseball Hall...ditto for Lewis...plus, Lewis' off the field problems will hurt him - NO WAY
We all know the horrific hit that Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin took earlier this year when the Cardinals played the Jets...his toughness and love of the game is not questioned...but do not let that devasting play cloud your overall opinion of Boldin...let's face the facts, Anquan Boldin is a turd...he is an asshole...he is a selfish douche bag...
Boldin is ticked off because he was not used during the winning drive that put his team into the Super Bowl...once again, Boldin is just another high priced arrogant professional athlete who only knows the words "me, myself, and I"...
Once the game ended, the two-time Pro Bowl selection left the field quickly without celebrating. According to one postgame account, which he disputed, Boldin was seen leaving the locker room via a back door.
"I didn't leave through a back door. I tried to get in and out as quickly as possible to beat the media," he said. "I didn't want the story line to be me and Todd getting into it." ...
If this was Terrell Owens, the national media would be crucifying him...but because this is Anquan Boldin, the media spotlight is not burning as bright on a player who is just as self-centered as Owens...
Steve Spagnuolo - St. Louis Rams Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Dispatch writes he happy with the choice of Spags as the new Rams coach... "But “Spags” certainly has established credentials that are worthy of this opportunity." ...
Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Dispatch is also pleased with the hiring despite the theatrics... "If you love theatrics, you have to love the Rams, who are the only folks who can turn the simple pursuit of a new head coach into a brilliant Hollywood whodunnit, filled with heroes and villains, mystery men and fall guys, suspense and intrigue, confusion and .... well ... more confusion followed by careening plot twists that somehow led us to — we think, we hope, we pray — a true happy ending." ...
Scott Pioli (GM) - Kansas City Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star writes how the Chiefs want Scott Pioli to turn the team into the same mold of the Steelers... "The “Pittsburgh Model,” they call it; that’s the direction Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt is taking his team, and he’s charging Pioli with the details." ...
Jim Schwartz - Detroit Lions Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press writes about new Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and his work ethic... "As determined as he was on the field, Schwartz also distinguished himself intellectually. He graduated near the top of his class and was named the top student in English and social studies." ...
Raheem Morris - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Joey Johnson of the Tampa Tribune writes that new Bucs head coach Raheem Morris stands out... "Morris might be considered the most famous alumnus of Irvington (N.J.) High School - were it not for a couple of former students named Jerry Lewis and Queen Latifah." ...
Josh McDaniel - Denver Broncos Woody Paige of the Denver Post writes that Denver owner Pat Bowlen put his neck on the line by hiring the 32-year-old McDaniel... "He will be denounced in halves throughout Broncountry and the nation for naming McDaniels as coach — because of his lack of background as a head coach (and even as any kind of coach) and because Belichick's assistants (Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and Eric Mangini) have not succeeded elsewhere and because of McDaniels' youth and because the Broncos need defense, not D-offense." ......
Artist: Randy Newman
