Former WWF legend Captain Lou Albano died on October 14th...the following was reported by CNN:
Legendary wrestling figure Captain Lou Albano, perhaps best known for his association with pop singer Cyndi Lauper, died Wednesday, according to World Wrestling Entertainment. Albano, 76, was "one of the company's most popular and charismatic legends," the company said in a statement. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
"Albano began his storied career with Vincent J. McMahon in the 1960s as one half of 'The Sicilians' tag team with his partner Tony Altimore," the WWE said. "He will be greatly missed by the WWE and his fans."
Albano, who was with the WWE from 1983 to 1996, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996.
He started as a tag team wrestler in the 1950s but became a successful manager of champion wrestlers in the 1970s, according to a biography on the WWE Web site. Albano was recognizable by his penchant for unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts and a trademark beard, which was usually bound by a rubber band.
His persona earned him the distinction of "one of the most hated men" in wrestling for 15 years, the WWE biography said.
Albano's image evolved in the 1980s, when he teamed with Lauper on several music videos, such as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and wrestling appearances. As his celebrity status grew, Albano landed acting jobs, including a role on several episodes of the "Miami Vice" TV series, the biography said.
Albano became a cartoon in 1989, when he was the voice of Mario "Jumpman" Mario for 17 episodes of "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!" according to the Internet Movie Database.
Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles These two meet again...last season the Phillies beat the Dodgers in five games...however, there biggest difference between the two teams, the Dodgers have the home field advantage this time...
During the regular season, Los Angeles took the season series 4-3 from the Phillies...they last matched up in June, so some things have changed, especially with the Phillies getting Cliff Lee...statistically, the Dodgers have the better numbers as they have a .270 team batting average and 3.41 ERA...the Phillies come in with a .258 team average and 4.16 ERA...
I am not getting into a breakdown of each position...somehow the Dodgers keep winning despite having a scrappy starting rotation...Randy Wolf as your Game 1 starter???...
To me, the Phillies do not have the luxury of a hot Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge...last season both pitchers were "in the zone" and just dominated opponents...I don't see that from either pitcher...Hamels could be beaten and we all know that Lidge is a headcase...
Despite these concerns, I just can't see the Phillies losing with that powerful lineup of Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, and Werth...I look for the Phillies to win this in six games...
Also, don't forget about the brushbacks from last year's series...it all started when Brett Meyers hit Manny Ramirez in Game 2...below is a 1:00 clip of the incident...
- Bills owner Ralph Wilson has every right to fire head coach Dick Jauron right now...how can the Bills lose to the Cleveland Browns 6-3???...Derek Anderson completed only 2 passes the entire game -- ONE, TWO - that's all...the Bills have been underachieving all year...
- I don't know how the Browns or their fans could celebrate a 6-3 win when your quarterback completed only two passes...I could understand if there was inclimate weather but this performance for a so-called "professional" quarterback is disgusting...
- Whatever happened to former Bengals and Bucs head coach Sam Wyche?...
- The officials were sure protecting Peyton Manning on Sunday night on the drive before half...two roughing the quarterbacks calls helped the Colts put the game away...
- Enough picking on Bill Belichick...he made a very concerted effort to shake Josh McDaniel's hand after the game...a few years back Belichick blew off Eric Mangini and got ripped for it...did anyone ever thing that maybe Mangini is a jerk and Belichick could have cared less?...
- I love the Coors Light commercials with Romeo Crennel...
- Tom Brady is lacking something this year...
- The Falcons Roddy White scored on a 90-yard touchdown reception but then received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after he did a backflip in the end zone...when will these knuckleheads learn that they are hurting their team by being assholes...
- I was skeptical of the Bengals - not anymore...they really proved something by winning at Baltimore...
- The Titans need to start the second version of the Vince Young Era...Kerry Collins is no longer able to inspire nor move this club in the right direction...I am not sure Young is the answer either, but the move has to be made...
Since I brought up the name Sam Wyche, here is a 16 second clip of his greatest moment...check out the old dude in the sweater...
We are six weeks into the college season and it's time to unveil the first Stiles Points Top 16 college ranking on the year...
1. Florida (5-0) - a 13-3 win in Death Valley shows the Gators defense can step up when needed... 2. Alabama (6-0) - the Tide has a hammer defense... 3. Texas (5-0) - the Horns were looking ahead a bit...this week is the Red River Shootout... 4. Boise State (5-0) - Boise State deserves the #4 spot... 5. Cincinnati (5-0) - Brian Kelly has an offense that could run with anyone...
6. Virginia Tech (5-1) - after the week 1 loss to Bama, the Hokies are clicking on all cylinders... 7. LSU (5-1) - how can a team that loses 13-3 to Florida be ranked lower?... 8. Southern Cal (4-1) - the Trojans head to South Bend for their annual beatdown of the Irish... 9. Miami (4-1) - the U showed how to bounce back after that loss to the Hokies... 10. TCU (5-0) - the Horned Frogs have one of the best defenses in the nation...
11. Ohio State (5-1) - the Buckeyes offense sputters when they play a good defense... 12. Iowa (6-0) - are the Hawkeyes pretenders?...they answered the bell vs. Penn State and Michigan... 13. Nebraska (4-1) - the Huskers are 30 seconds from being perfect this season...Pelini has turned it around... 14. Penn State (4-1) - the Nittany Lions smacked down another I-AA opponent... 15. Oklahoma (3-2) - the Sooners may have 2 losses, but they are still a darn good team...a win this week against Texas will jump OU over many teams... 16. Oregon (5-1) - the Ducks have recovered well after the Boise State debacle...
The Heisman Hub 1. Jimmy Clausen, qb, Notre Dame - Clausen does not get the respect because he plays for Notre Dame...but he has been damn impressive this year...a big game against USC will do wonders...imagine if he can lead the Irish to an upset win... 2. Tim Tebow, qb, Florida - he has done nothing to hurt his chances... 3. Colt McCoy, qb, Texas - a big game over OU may move him to #1... 4. Ryan Mallett, qb, Arkansas - this guy is a freakin NFL stud QB...
Here is a nice little photo from SECPoon to close with...
A few thoughts about last night's one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins...
- The Tigers Jim Leyland is one of the better managers in the game...but why did he send Fernando Rodney back on the mound in the 12th...Rodney is a closer and was already extended past his limits...even if Leyland believed that Rodney could still pitch, he should have had someone warming up in the bullpen...and that person should have been Justin Verlander...
Verlander just pitched on Sunday, but there is no doubt that he could have pitched an inning or two in this situation...there was no reason to "save" Verlander for the ALDS because there was no guarantee of making it that far...Leyland should have used his ace once the lead runner got on base...
- Mike Scioscia, Joe Torre, Terry Francona, Tony LaRussa, etc. are all very good managers...but the best manager in baseball is Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire...I have stated this before on this blog...imagine coming into September with a starting staff of a bunch of unknowns and losing your former MVP first baseman for the season...every year, Gardenhire manages to bring the best out of the Twins...
- Who in Denver hates Josh McDaniel now?...the rookie head coach from Canton, Ohio is sitting at 4-0...
- Next Sunday though, daddy comes calling as Bill Belichick pays a visit to Denver...
- The biggest weapon for the New Orleans Saints is not any of their receivers, it's running back Pierre Thomas...this guy is the hammer that the team needs...
- Honestly, I hardly watched last night's Vikings-Packers Monday Night Football Game...I am so freakin sick of Brett Favre that I cannot take it anymore...I just want him to go away...
- Why did Buffalo even bother to sign T.O. if he is only going to catch 3 balls over two games combined?...
- Tennessee needs to consider going with Vince Young as the starting quarterback...Kerry Collins tank is on empty...
- This Sunday, Atlanta goes into San Francisco -- all I can say is strap on the chinstrap real right!!...
- 3-1 Bengals vs. 3-1 Ravens - for the AFC North lead...
- Maybe the United States came with too much star power...it was nice to see that Oprah Winfrey cared enough about the Chicago bid to take the time to travel to Copenhagen...but I could see some IOC members being turned off by the glitz and glamour of the U.S. contingent...
- Not that it would have made a difference but I was very disappointed that Michael Jordan did not make the trip to Denmark...he played in Chicago and is the greatest basketball player ever...he also participated in two Olympics...Jordan should have been there to help represent Chicago...if Jordan made the trip and if Chicago would have won the bid, there was a very good chance that Jordan would have been seriously considered to have the honor of lighting the Olympic torch...but that is all a moot point now...
- Some people, mostly Republicans, were blasting Obama for making the trip to Denmark...I saw no problem with Obama trying to get the Olympics for the United States...it is an honor to host the Olympics...and if there is solid planning and budgeting, the host city can use it to its economic advantage...
- In the end, I think some IOC members are anti-American...I think they wanted to "stick it" to the U.S. and embarrass us and our president by not only losing the bid, but to get bounced in the first round...because the vote is private, we will never know who voted against the United States...this was a clear shot at the United States...
- The United States should try again for the 2020 games...Chicago would be the logical representative, but other U.S. cities who should consider a bid are New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles...
Here are my thoughts after three weeks into the NFL season:
- DeAngelo Williams was my first round fantasy football pick...he blows!!!...this guy is literally killing me each week...the first week it was my liver, the second week my spleen, now it is my gall bladder...
- The Detroit Lions have a bright future in Matthew Stafford...I watched that entire game on Sunday and you can see the talent and maturity this kid has...
- The Browns went through the entire training camp with a question at quarterback...three games into the season and they are back to where they were in July...
- Why did Buffalo sign Terrell Owens if they are not going to throw him the ball...they had to know that if he does not get the ball he will be a problem...the Bills should not complain if T.O. starts going off - buyer beware!...
- I love Faith Hill's opening on Sunday Night Football...
- Jim Zorn has to be dying...after losing to Detroit last week, the Redskins host Tampa Bay who is one of the two worst teams in the NFL (the Browns being the other)...if Zorn loses at home to Tampa Bay, he will be fired...
- LaDainian Tomlinson is done...sure he will have a good game every so often, but his best days are definetly behind him...
- I hope Aaron Rodgers tears the Vikings to shreds while Brett Favre throws 4 interceptions and loses...
- Mark "Dirty" Sanchez has been a big surprise...I thought he would do well with the Jets, but not this well...I could understand why Pete Carroll was peeved to see Sanchez leave USC...that cost Carroll a sure fire national title this year...
- Those key lime pie green jerseys that Seattle wore were awful...
- Who would have thunk it - after 3 games, the Bengals would be 2-1 and the Steelers 1-2...
- Is Michael Crabtree that stupid?...why doesn't he fire his agent and just sign already!!!...
- When I look up the word "intense," I see a photo of Mike Singletary...
Before I give my thoughts on college football, I want to vent about people who talk on their cellphone or text while at the gym...yesterday, this one woman, who I call Salami because one time I was standing next to her and she smelled like salami, was on the treadmill talking on her cellphone...after hanging up, she started to quicken her pace into a steady jog...that lasted about 40 seconds then she slowed down to text someone...this kept going on for over five minutes - jog, slowdown, text, then jog again...that was so freakin annoying...the only exception to communicating on the cellphone while at the gym is if you are setting up a "hook up"...however, if there is no sex involved in the communication, cellphones should be banned from all gyms...by the way, this chick still smelled like a salami even though she is kinda hot...
Michigan has improved since last season -- offensively that is...the Wolverines defense has not showed any improvement from last year's abysmal season...Michigan brought in former NFL defensive coordinator Greg Robinson to amp up the defense...just like last year, the Wolverines are giving up the big plays and are unable to shutdown an inferior team and put the game away...
Michigan has been very fortunate to finish the month of September 4-0...unless there is improvement on the defensive side of the ball, they will not finish the month of October with a perfect mark...
Penn State looked ordinary on Saturday...the way to beat the Nittany Lions is to put pressure on Daryll Clark...the Nittany Lions ran a vanilla offense and Clark was unable to make any plays because of the Iowa defense...
Virginia Tech dominated The U...I watched most of that game and was impressed with the Gobblers defense...The U has improved, but Virginia Tech is still the elite team of the ACC...
What was Purdue head coach Danny Hope thinking????...Notre Dame was on the 5-yard-line and got stuffed on a 2nd down running play...the Irish had no timeouts and the clock was on 35 seconds and running...the Irish were completely unorganized as Jimmy Clausen was trying to settle a team that was clearly panicking...the announcers even stated the Irish coaching staff were instructing Clausen to clock the ball which would have left Notre Dame with 4th down...then out of no where, Hope called a timeout...WHAT!?!?!?!?...he wanted to set his defense, but that allowed Notre Dame to calm down and design not 1, but 2 plays...in the end, Notre Dame won on a fourth down touchdown pass by Clausen...
Can someone explain to me how Florida State can go up to Brigham Young and take them behind the woodshed, then the very next week lose at home to South Florida...the worst part is that the Seminoles scored only 7 points!!!!...
The team that has impressed me the most is Boise State...I have seen portions of three of their games...we all know they are dominant at home, but they have also proven themselves on the road...
(Just a note - I will be a conference on Thursday and Friday, so there will be no postings those days)
With all the sports going on this weekend, many may have missed the news that the late-Tim Russert's dad, Big Russ, died on Friday...Big Russ was 85-years-old...
Remember earlier this season when Boston was 8-0 against the Yankees?...there was talk that the Yankees dominance against Boston was over...well, they ended up splitting the season series 9-9 and on Sunday, the Yankees won their 100th game and clinched the A.L. East title over Boston...
Jim Tressel has a line of shit...with Ohio State up 23-0 and about a minute to go, Ohio State faced a 4th and goal...the Buckeyes decided to go for it and scored on a pass play...afterward, Tressel went into his "Gentleman Jim" mode...
This is what Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises wrote... Tressel calls time out. Ahead, 23-0, the Buckeyes face a fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 1:22 to play. Starting this drive with 5:08 to play after a Jermale Hines interception and return to the Illinois 42, Ohio State has marched down the field in seven plays, including two passes. Now Tressel has a decision, and he says he was mostly fearing a blocked field goal and Illinois return with only a three-score lead. So he goes for it and turns down the field goal try.
"We thought there was less risk going for it," Tressel said. "So that was the decision we made. No, I don't think it was to send any message."
Who the hell is Gentleman Jim kidding...if he was fearing that Illinois could block a field goal and return it for a touchdown, then why in the hell did he decide to throw the ball...couldn't Illinois have intercepted the pass and return it for a touchdown????...the safest play would be to run the ball...
The fact is Gentleman Jim wanted to stick it to Illinois because they beat Ohio State two years ago in Columbus...but the ever image conscious Tressel did not want to ruin that pristine "gentleman" image that he fools people with...like I have said many many time, Tressel is a football coach even though he tries to portray an image that he is a "gentleman" and an honest, good guy, flag wearing American who drinks milk and never swears...
Back in 1968, Woody Hayes stuck it to Michigan real good by going for a two point conversion late in the game even though the Buckeyes were way ahead...when the game was over, the media asked Hayes why he went for the two points, Hayes responded, "I couldn't go for three"...Hayes may have hated Michigan, but at least he was honest...what you saw is what you got from Hayes...that cannot be said about Tressel...
Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald writes how Lou Holtz is a believer in The U... "Holtz, an ESPN commentator, was a guest of sports-radio talk show 790 The Ticket on Tuesday and told co-host Krystal Fernandez that Jacory Harris ``would be on one of my five top Heisman candidates right now." ...
Mark Viera of the Washington Post writes about the Hokies lack of offense... "The biggest area of concern remains an offense that has stagnated in the Hokies' two games against ranked opponents. The Hokies' 88-yard scoring drive with 1 minute 44 seconds remaining Saturday only temporarily washed away the images of Virginia Tech's offense idling for much of the afternoon." ...
Iowa @ Penn State Saturday, September 26, 2009 State College, PA - Beaver Stadium Penn State -10.5
The name Daniel Murray will burn in the hearts of Penn State fans forever...Penn State came into last year's game 9-0 and just got done beating Ohio State 13-6 in their previous game...the Nittany Lions were 7.5 point favorites and had numerous chances to put the game out of reach...they led 23-14 at the start of the 4th quarter...but they left the door open for Daniel Murray...
If not for Murray's field goal, Penn State more than likely would have played Florida or Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game...
When looking back, Penn State QB Daryll Clark had an awful game last season when he completed only nine passes on 23 attempts for 86 yards and an interception...Evan Royster rushed for 90 yards...
The stats indicated that Penn State is 1-6 against Iowa since 2000...the dog, which Iowa is this year, is 8-2 against the spread with five upsets...Iowa is 4-1 against the spread at Beaver Stadium...
Power Sweep - Penn State 24-10 Pointwise - Penn State 31-13
Pat Harty of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes how the Hawkeyes are expecting a hostile crowd at Happy Valley... "It'll be a chance for the Penn State players to avenge what occurred last November when Daniel Murray ended their hopes for a national title and an undefeated season by making arguably the most important field goal for Iowa since Rob Houghtlin split the goal posts against Michigan 23 years earlier"" ...
Harty writes how Kirk Ferentz may have JoePa's number... "Paterno might be a living legend, but when facing Ferentz, Paterno usually has to live through yet another loss. Of all of Ferentz's achievements as the Iowa coach, his 6-2 record against Paterno has to rank near the top." ...
Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes how the Nittany Lions are hurting at linebacker... "Outside linebacker Navorro Bowman has resumed practicing after missing the past two games with a sore groin, but Sean Lee, his counterpart on the other side, is out with a sprained left knee." ...
This past Sunday, ESPN's "Outside the Lines" did a feature on former Colorado football player Sal Aunese who died of cancer in 1989...before his death, Aunese was involved with Colorado head coach Bill McCartney's daughter, whom was pregnant with Aunese's child...Aunese's son, T.C. McCartney is now a back-up quarterback at LSU under Les Miles, the same coach who recruited Aunese...
Happy belated birthday to one of the hottest over 40 women out there - Audrey Faith Perry (aka Faith Hill)...she turned 42-years-old on Monday...she makes all us 40 year olds proud...
I just can't understand it...Pete Carroll is the best big game college football coach in the country...but every year he allows his far superior Trojans to play down to an inferior opponent...once again, USC will not be playing for the national title even though, come January, they may be the best team in the nation...the loss to Washington ranks right next to the debacle USC had two years ago to Stanford...
Every great coach usually has a stunning defeat or two during the course of their career...but this is an annual rite for Carroll...it just makes you scratch your head and wondering why this happens... Los Angeles Times
The prime game this week is when The U heads into Virginia Tech...a win this week will catapult The U right into the national title scenario...this would set up a huge match-up the next week when one-loss Oklahoma plays at Miami...even though Oklahoma lost in week 1, the Sooners are still in the hunt for the title if they run the table...the loss of Sam Bradford in that game accounts for something...has
There has been some poor officiating this season...for instance, in the Notre Dame-Michigan State game, on the play in which Irish receiver Michael Floyd broke his collarbone, the replay official ruled that Floyd did not have control of the ball after scoring an apparent touchdown...the replays that I watched clearly showed that Floyd had control...this is just one instance of many that left me wondering what the officials were watching...
Don't underestimate Auburn...I watched the last part of the Tigers 41-30 win over West Virginia...Gene Chizik has Auburn playing inspired ball...
Remember the name Ryan Mallett from Arkansas for the Heisman in 2010...this kid has a Dan Marino-like rifle and is very accurate...
If any team can claim a moral victory it would be the Tennessee Volunteers...a 30 point dog at The Swamp, the Volunteers lost by only 10 points to a great Florida team...it helps when the great Monte Kiffin is running your defense...
Finally, I just got done watching a stupid movie on SyFy called "Monster Man"...however, the chick on there was hot - Aimee Brooks (below)...
Former WWF legend Captain Lou Albano died on October 14th...the following was reported by CNN:
