LSU head coach Les Miles got a stud at quarterback when dual-threat Russell Shepard of Houston, Texas committed to the Tigers...
Russell Shepard, QB, 6'1"/179 lbs Houston, Texas - Cypress Ridge High - Runs the 40 in 4.4... - Is rated the fifth best high school player in the country by Rivals...is rated the number one QB by Rivals... - Rivals stated, "Called the most dynamic offensive playmaker in Houston since Vince Young and his numbers speak for themselves. In 12 games as a senior, Shepard has rushed for 1,947 yards and 29 touchdowns. His passing numbers are just as impressive with 1,849 through the air and 18 touchdowns. He’s also only thrown four interceptions." ... - Is rated the number one high school player in the country by ESPN...
As of January 7, 2009, ESPN had this assessment of Shepard... Shepard is a rare athlete who resembles University of Florida receiver Percy Harvin when lined up at quarterback--a scary thought. Shepard is lean, flexible and plays with a lot of wiggle. He might seem like just a great athlete playing quarterback at first, but he's the real deal as a complete player. Still, he makes most of his plays with his legs, either on called runs or on scrambles after the initial play unravels. Causes headaches for defenses because he can break down a defender in the open field as well as anyone. Stays low to the ground and doesn't take a lot of big hits. Has excellent vision and the lateral mobility to bounce runs outside after starting inside.
Excels at locating cutback lanes. Takes little time to reach his top speed. Has the burst to get through holes quickly and to turn the corner. Accelerates out of cuts, changes directions quickly and shows fluid suddenness in space. Wins most footraces. Has a smooth, fluid release and a quick, compact delivery on his throws. Flashes the ability to place the ball anywhere on the field when on time. Shows some zip on underneath throws and can fit balls into some tight spots in the short range. Has good touch and timing on the deep ball. Throws on the run very well and has the arm strength to throw off balance and across his body.
He's explosive in all areas: change-of-direction skills, elusiveness, speed and arm. Shepard is much further along as a passer than Terrelle Pryor was at this stage, and Shepard is more explosive. He's the type of player any college program would want to get his hands on the ball as often as possible because he is a gamebreaker. He will be given every opportunity to remain at quarterback, but also has the elite skills to play a number of spots which gives him possibly the biggest value of any prospect in this class.
Where is he headed? Shepard verbally committed to LSU on December 5, 2008...it is a solid verbal commitment...he also had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Florida...
According to Rivals.com, Jelani Jenkins is the top rated high school defensive player...
Jelani Jenkins, olb, 6'2"/220, Olney, Maryland/Our Lady of Good Counsel High - Runs the 40 in 4.45...has 4.0 GPA... - Is ranked 9th overall by ESPN...
As of January 5, 2008, Rivals.com had this assessment of Jenkins after his performance at the Under Armour game... Assets: A smart and athletic linebacker prospect with good speed. He plays downhill and is very physical. Areas for improvement: Jenkins needs to play with more discipline. What was most impressive in the game: Jenkins had a huge collision with White running back Trent Richardson when trying to tackle him. He made some nice plays running sideline to sideline. Jenkins finished with five tackle. Conclusion: At only 16 years of age Jenkins future is so bright. He's just an explosive linebacker prospect that can make plays all over the field.
Has proved it all season long that he’s one of the nation’s best players, but recent performance on national television sealed the deal to make him now the nation’s top defensive prospect.
As of January 5, 2008, ESPN had this assessment of Jenkins: Jenkins is a tough, rangy outside linebacker prospect who plays fast and physical on every snap and has tremendous upside. He has a tall, leaner frame and lacks ideal bulk at this point, but he should fill out very well while retaining his natural explosiveness in space. Possesses great fast-twitch athleticism and packs the punch of a much bigger linebacker. Generates striking speed over a short-area. He's a very strong tackler who wraps up low and drives through with great power from his hips and lower body. Gets great jumps on the ball and is a very reactive athlete. Steps down quickly when filling vertically and delivers great power at the point of attack. Also excels when pursuing laterally and sifting through the wash. Gets over trash fluidly while maintaining sharp pursuit angles. Hits the run seams inside-out to make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. Has good change-of-direction quickness to make up for false steps. Flashes great range and a high motor when chasing sideline to sideline. Shows great blitz ability off the edge with his first-step quickness and good acceleration. Demonstrates good run instincts, coverage instincts and a nose for the ball. Could get more consistent depth on his coverage drops to effectively utilize his good closing speed. Sometimes struggles to disengage the blocks of uncovered linemen. Needs to add bulk and increase his upper-body strength to improve his shedding ability. Most of Jenkins' weak spots can be addressed with proper coaching or weight-room work. His ability to both make plays in space and stack the run between the tackles is highly-coveted in an outside linebacker prospect. Excellent prospect.
Where is he headed? Jenkins has visited and/or will visit Florida and Penn State...he also lists Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford, and Virginia Tech as favorites...
Earlier this week Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith was voted the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year...the AP has been presenting this award since 1957...when looking over the list of other coaches who have won this award, there were some interesting facts that I wanted to share with my readers...
- Despite winning four Super Bowls, Chuck Noll (photo, left) of the Pittsburgh Steelers was never named Coach of the Year...
- Other notable non-winners include: Paul Brown (Browns, Bengals), John Madden (Oakland), Tom Flores (Oakland), George Seifert (San Francisco, Carolina), Hank Stram (Kansas City, New Orleans) and Tony Dungy (Buccaneers, Colts)...
- Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, and Bill Walsh only won the award one time each...together, they combined to win seven Super Bowls...
- Lombardi won the award in 1959, his first year with the Green Bay Packers...he never won the award again despite dominating the entire decade of the 1960s...
- There was only one tie...that happened in 1967 when George Allen of the Rams shared it with Don Shula of the Colts...
- Only three coaches ever won the award in back-to-back seasons: Allie Sherman of the Giants (1961-62); Don Shula of the Colts (1967-68); and Joe Gibbs of the Redskins (1982-83)...
- In 1957, George Wilson of the Detroit Lions was the first recipient of the award... (Wilson is in the bowtie in the picture on the right)
- Don Shula received this honor the most - four times...(Colts 1964, 67, 68 and Dolphins 72)...
- Chuck Knox is the only coach to win the award with three different teams - (Rams 1973, Bills 1980, Seahawks 1984)...
- Despite taking the Buffalo Bills to the Super Bowl four straight years, Marv Levy never received the Coach of the Year award...
- Ray Rhodes was the first African-American coach to win the award...he received this honor in 1995 as coach of the Eagles...Lovie Smith of the Bears is the only other African-American to take this honor...
- Despite their "Commitment to Excellence," no Raiders head coach was ever named Coach of the Year...
- Some of the forgotten names to win the award include: Buck Shaw, Eagles, 1960; Red Miller, Broncos, 1977; Jack Patera, Seahawks, 1978; Lindy Infante, Packers, 1989; Wayne Fontes, Lions, 1991...
Today's feature is high school running back Bryce Brown...
Bryce Brown, rb, 6'0"/215, Wichita, Kansas/Wichita East High - Brown is listed as the 2nd best high school player in the country by Rivals.com... - Brown is listed as the top running back in the country by Rivals... - In 2008, Brown rushed for 1,873 yards and 29 touchdowns in just nine games... - Good receiving skills... - He was co-MVP of the U.S. Army All-American game where he ran 6 times for 45 yards...he also caught 2 TD passes (60 and 45 yards)... - "Bryce is the best player in the country," U.S. Army East coach Terry Smith said. "This kid is dynamic, he's explosive, he's strong, he's quick, he has every asset you need in a big player."... - Is listed as the 11th best player overall and 2nd best RB by ESPN... - Is rated the 2nd best high school player by Scouts.com - His older brother Arthur signed with Miami (Fla) in the 2008 recruiting class...
Here is what Rivals wrote about Brown after the U.S. Army game: Assets: Has very good speed, quickness and is a multi-purpose, every-down back that can do it all. Areas for Improvement: Brown is a leader through his ability and I would like to see him become a more outspoken leader. What was most impressive in the game: Just like all week in practice he demonstrated his ability to slip out of the backfield and become a vertical threat in the passing game. Conclusion: He proved to the whole country on a national stage that he is the top running back in the nation. The only question now is will he end up a Hurricane?
As of January 3, 2009, here is what ESPN has about Brown: Brown is a highly productive back with a rare combination of speed and power. He runs with the kind of explosiveness his brother Arthur displayed as a top linebacker prospect in 2008. He has a solid, thickly built frame and the compact body structure necessary to be a workhorse type at the next level. Presses the hole, but also has a great blend of vision, balance and decisiveness to hit the cutback lane sharply and burst through the line of scrimmage. Squares his shoulder pads quickly out of his cuts and instantly generates excellent north-south speed. He's a bit straight-lined, but he has the smooth hips, body control and suddenness to avoid defenders through initial traffic. Makes subtle cuts to sidestep trash without losing much in transition. His low center of gravity and ability to reach top speed in an instant gives him the power to break initial arm tackles consistently. Needs to watch body tilt as he can run high but demonstrates a strong lower body, good determination and relentless leg drive on contact. Picks up extra yards and finishes runs. Flashes the speed to bounce outside, turn the corner and go the distance. Has the explosive extra gear in space to separate. Shows adequate hands and receiving skills, and the strength to chip and pick up the blitz. Brown's somewhat questionable open-field elusiveness and level of competition are the only real concerns at this point, but he definitely has the physical gifts to make an early impact at the next level.
Where he is headed? Committed to Miami (Fla) in February 2008, however, there is talk that he may change his mind...Oregon may be his other choice...
Here is a 3:41 clip of highlights from Brown's performance as a RB:
With signing day fast approaching, Stiles Points will be featuring various players who may be the next stud in college...today's feature is Rueben Randle who is listed as the top high school player in the country by Rivals.com...
Rueben Randle, wr, 6'3"/195 - Bastrop, Louisians/Bastrop High - In 2008, Randle played QB for his team...he threw for 2,207 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 607 yards and 12 scores... - Randle had 7 receptions for 75 yards in Saturday's U.S. Army All-American game... - Randle is ranked 6th overall on the ESPN Top 150...he is the top rated wide receiver... - Randle is listed as the 2nd best wide receiver by Scouts.com...
This is what Rivals wrote about Randle after the U.S. Army game... Assets: Excellent height, soft hands and superior body control. Areas for Improvement: Needs to get back into the swing of running routes on a regular basis since he played quarterback this year. What was most impressive in the game: Leading receiver in the game with seven catches for 75 yards, and he was not at full strength all week because of a pulled hamstring which happened during the first practice. Conclusion: Will have a similar impact as a freshman as Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Michael Floyd and DeAndre Brown wherever he ends up.
As of January 4, 2009, ESPN has this breakdown on Randle: Explosive and fluid for a size receiver, Randle resembles a taller Josh Jarboe (class of 2008). He is big and strong, but athletic for his size. Plays fast and has explosive playmaking skills. His size and speed make him a legitimate deep threat. He's versatile and able to play multiple spots in a formation to create mismatches. Struggles to get off press coverage against talented, savvy cornerbacks--like most young receivers. He's tough and fearless over the middle. Makes tough catches in traffic and secures the ball even when absorbing a big hit. He's a bit high-cut, but shows little stiffness in his hips. Has more explosiveness running vertical routes than he has after the catch, but his initial burst and second gear still make him a threat to go the distance. Shows surprisingly fluid athleticism with the ball in his hands and isn't strictly straight-lined in his movements. He isn't exactly shifty in space, but he has natural cutting ability. Catches the ball in stride and has enough elusiveness to make multiple defenders miss. Can turn a short catch into a big play. Has very long arms and can high-point the ball in traffic. His size gives him natural red-zone tools, and he can make the acrobatic catch. Has a wide catch radius and very impressive focus. Has very good return skills and vision in the open field. Needs to polish his route-running skills, but that should come with time and experience. Randle has the blend of size, speed and playmaking ability to create mismatch problems on the perimeter or in the slot at the college level.
Where is he headed? Randle has visited or will visit the following schools: Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
Also has a shot: Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, USC
John Branch of The New York Times wrote a fascinating article about the inexact science about how football officials determine a first down... "Since 1906, football teams have needed to gain 10 yards for a first down. From the sideline, far from the action, two sticks connected by a chain have measured the required distance, their placement estimated by eyesight." ...
John Branch also did a side-bar article of how the men on the chain gang operate and thier duties.. "The N.F.L.’s chain gang is actually a seven-person crew, hired for game-day duty by the home teams." ...
Michigan locked up a huge recruit at Saturday's U.S. Army High School game...Detroit Cass five-star nose tackle William Campbell announced he will be a Wolverine..."One analyst on the telecast said, “It’s the first sign of good news in Ann Arbor for awhile now.” ...
Thayer Evans of The New York Times writes how high school running back Cierre Woods gets ribbed because he is going to Notre Dame... "Wood, a 6-foot, 192-pound tailback, has had people laugh in his face, crack jokes and mock him about his college choice. Some have even referred to the Fighting Irish as the “Lirish” for their recent losing ways." ...
Woody Wommack of the Orlando Sentinel writes how high school recruits are getting weary as signing day looms... "While a lot of teams are showing late interest, Debose said he wanted to make a decision tonight, partially to relieve some pressure he has received from coaches and recruiting services eager to learn of his decision." ...
Pete Thamel of The New York Times writes how Dan Mullen is juggling two jobs as Florida prepares for the national title... "He realized that he was missing one of his two cellphones, the tangible signs of the dual life he had been leading. Mullen’s phone with the 352 area code represents the job he will finish this week as Florida’s offensive coordinator. His 662 phone number signifies his new position as the coach at Mississippi State." ...
David Wharton of The Los Angeles Times writes about the falling career of Vince Young... "The 25-year-old former college superstar and NFL rookie of the year has lost his starting job with the Tennessee Titans amid questions about his ability to handle pressure. There was a bizarre, and much-publicized, incident earlier this season that by various accounts had him sulking, depressed, even suicidal, all of which he has denied." ...
Michael Wilbon of The Washington Post writes how these are not your great grandfather's Cardinals... "The Cardinals, left for dead weeks ago during a string of amateurish and lopsided defeats, did the stuff they're known to do, like throwing the ball beautifully, and some things they rarely resort to, like running the ball and playing resourceful, turnover-forcing defense." ...
This was from Jayson Stark of ESPN.com...a few strange but true incidents in Major League Baseball in 2008...
Strangest but truest Hall of Fame feat of the year We've always thought that nobody was a bigger threat to stretch a home run into a single than that fabled sprint champ, Bengie Molina. But this year, the Giants' always-innovative catcher did something even more impossible:
He hit a home run -- but DIDN'T SCORE A RUN.
So how'd he become the first man in major-league history to pull that off? It took a rare, Molina-esque combination of muscle, lead-foot-itude and modern technology. But it happened, all right. Here's how:
On Sept. 26, Molina lofted a fly ball that looked as if it hit the top of the right-field wall at AT&T Park. So Molina stopped at first. Emmanuel Burriss trotted out to pinch-run for him. And nothing seemed amiss -- until Omar Vizquel told Giants manager Bruce Bochy he thought he'd heard the ball clank off the metal roof just above the wall.
So Bochy asked the umpires to use replay. And whaddayaknow, the call was reversed and Molina had himself a two-run homer. But the umps WOULDN'T let Molina come back to finish his trot because they ruled Burriss was already in the game and couldn't exit. So Burriss finished circling the bases. And Molina wound up with a box-score line that went 3-0-1-2 -- on a night he hit a home run.
Want to know how impossible that is? Our buddy, Andy Baggarly, of the San Jose Mercury News, checked in to tell us that when official scorer Michael Duca tried to enter this sequence into his computer, the computer program wouldn't let him do it -- because even computers know a guy can't hit a home run without scoring a run. Right?
So check the box score over at baseball-reference.com. It still doesn't believe this happened. But it did. In actual life. And all us Strange But True Feats of the Year fans will be eternally grateful that it did.
Five all-time strange but true-isms of 2008
• BEWARE OF MAD DOG DEPT.: The only Padre to steal a base in the entire month of July was that world-famous base bandit, Greg Maddux.
• EQUAL TIME DEPT.: CC Sabathia tied for the lead in shutouts in BOTH leagues in the same season.
• CRIME DOESN'T PAY DEPT.: Willy Taveras stole five bases in one game on June 14 -- but still didn't score a run.
• SIX OF ONE, HALF-DOZEN OF THE OTHER DEPT.: Matt Holliday reached base six times in one game April 17 -- but didn't score OR drive in a run.
• DÉJÀ VU DEPT.: And the Padres somehow won four games in a row in June by exactly the same score -- namely, 2-1. So how insane was that? (A) They had only one other stretch all year in which they won four games in a row by ANY score. And (B) they were the first team in history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, to win four straight games with exactly the same score of any size, shape or numerical denomination.
Today I am 40-years-old...I was trying to decide what to do for my blog on this landmark birthday when The Zone Blitz ran a blog entry of CNBC's new commercial in which their anchors describe who they are...I liked it...so, at 40-years-old, here is who I am:
I am a passionate person...
I bleed Maize and Blue...and despise scarlet and gray...
I love dogs...
I battled depression and won...
I completed 2 marathons...
I am 40-years-old and still feel young...
Give me a gloomy fall day anytime...
I hate bullshitters...
When I go to work, I feel I can make a difference in people's lives...
It is our duty to help the less fortunate...
I have a caring heart that often gets me hurt...
I enjoy writing...
My dad is my hero...
I love sports...and I love watching sports on my HD television...
Ice cream is the best comfort food...
I took 60 stitches in my forehead when I was 6-years-old after being in a car accident...
I fear flying...
Humiliation is wetting your pants in kindergarten...
I like to make people laugh...life should not be taken too seriously, we are only here for a short time...
I'm warning you now, don't ever cross me...
My mother died when I was 23, but her values still live with me...
Here are various reports from the recent firings on Monday of three NFL coaches...
New York Jets - Eric Mangini My thoughts - it seemed like yesterday that Mangenius was having dinner with Tony Soprano...now he is out of work...that is the way it is in the big city...take a hike Mangenius...
Rich Cimini of The Daily News writes how Mangini's downfall began when Brett Favre joined the club... "On the surface, Eric Mangini's downfall began five weeks ago, when the Jets started a late-season meltdown with an ugly loss to the Broncos. In reality, it started much earlier, with the blockbuster trade for Brett Favre in August." ...
Steve Serby of The New York Post writes how Jets management is still in love with Brett Favre... "If Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum are really serious about staying with Favre and a right arm that needed an MRI yesterday, a scattershot right arm that will be 40 years old in October, then they aren't moving forward." ...
Cleveland Browns - Romeo Crennel My thoughts - RAC, as he was known to his players, had to go...personally, Crennel seems like a nice guy who knows his football, but he lacks that certain something to be a successful head coach in the NFL...this was a good move...
Tony Grossi of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer breaks downs the firing of Romeo Crennel... "With Cowher no longer a viable candidate for head coach, Lerner prefers to have the executive position filled first, but will proceed, he said, to line up interviews with prospective head coach candidates." ...
Detroit Lions - Rod Marinelli My thoughts - just like RAC, Marinelli seems like a good guy who was caught in a bad situation...the Lions had no choice but to fire him after going 0-16...
Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press writes that Lions ownership should have fired more than just Rod Marinelli... "This team, the Detroit Lions, needs a total overhaul, and that means everyone, everywhere, most especially the front office. Instead, on Monday, William Clay Ford Sr., the most inept owner in the NFL, did the easiest thing. He fired the coach. Wow. How tough is that? Your team went 0-16. What else were you going to do, give him a raise?" ...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Those eager to put 2008 behind them will have to hold their good-byes for just a moment this New Year's Eve.
The world's official timekeepers have added a "leap second" to the last day of the year on Wednesday, to help match clocks to the Earth's slowing spin on its axis, which takes place at ever-changing rates affected by tides and other factors.
The U.S. Naval Observatory, keeper of the Pentagon's master clock, said it would add the extra second on Wednesday in coordination with the world's atomic clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC.
That corresponds to 6:59:59 p.m. EST (23:59:59 GMT), when an extra second will tick by -- the 24th to be added to UTC since 1972, when the practice began.
UTC is the time scale kept by highly precise atomic clocks around the world, accurate to about a billionth of a second per day, the Naval Observatory says. For those with a need for precision timing, it has replaced Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT.
The decision to add or remove a second is the responsibility of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, based on its monitoring of the Earth's rotation.
The goal is to make sure clocks vary from the Earth's rotational time by no more than 0.9 seconds before an adjustment. That keeps UTC in sync with the position of the sun above the Earth.
Mechanisms such as the Internet-based Network Time Protocol and the satellite-based Global Positioning System depend on precision timing.
The first leap second was introduced into UTC on June 30, 1972. The last was added on December 31, 2005.
They have been added at intervals ranging from six months to seven years, Daniel Gambis, head of the IERS Earth Orientation Center at the Observatoire de Paris, wrote in an explanatory piece this month (http://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/).
Among the reasons for Earth's slowing whirl on its axis are the braking action of tides, snow or the lack of it at the polar ice caps, solar wind, space dust and magnetic storms, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, another timekeeper.
By contrast, a leap day, February 29, occurs once every four years because a complete turn around the sun -- our year with all its seasons -- takes about 365 days and six hours.
In 1970, an international agreement established two time scales: one based on the Earth's rotation and another on highly accurate atomic clocks.
The U.S. Naval Observatory's master clock is based on a system that now includes 50 atomic clocks, 36 based on the element cesium and 14 known as hydrogen masers.
With the Earth's rotation gradually slowing, the periodic insertion of a leap second into the atomic time scale is needed to keep the two systems within a second of each other.
This article was taken from The New York Times - Monday, December 29, 2008...
The coaches and players with this season’s 0-16 Detroit Lions will always be associated with the worst season in N.F.L. history, but at least they can share in the blame. Terry Felton, a pitcher with the Minnesota Twins from 1979 to 1982, holds a dubious record all by himself.
Felton was 0-16 in his career. That is the most losses by a pitcher without a victory since 1900. In 1982, at age 24, he broke a record that had stood since 1914 when he lost his 14th straight decision, the most from the start of a career. Guy Morton was the previous record-holder with the Cleveland Indians.
Felton did retire all six batters he faced in his major league debut in 1979, and he saved three games in his career, but he finished with an earned run average of 5.53 in 55 games and was plagued by control issues.
In an interview with The New York Times after a loss in 1982 in which he made a throwing error, Felton said: “I messed up again. It’s not funny anymore. When I first heard about the record, it was funny and I didn’t really think I’d ever do it.
“I thought I’d get a win before now. It doesn’t happen to everybody. It only happened to two people.”
Steve Serby of the New York Post writes how Chad Pennington is ready for his showdown in Gotham... "How ironic that with two seasons and perhaps one head coach's job on the line, Pennington comes to Giants Stadium on Sunday sturdier and healthier than the NFL's indestructible Cal Ripken. How ironic that Favre will suddenly need more help from his new teammates than Pennington does from his new teammates." ...
Gary Myers of The Daily News writes that Brett Favre should not retire after the season... "Favre owes the Jets. He owes them one more season after all they went through to get him." ...
Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald writes how the Dolphins must finish off their storybook season with a win on Sunday... "If the Dolphins don't complete this tale with a playoff invitation, then all the buildup was just that. It would be like one of those infuriating independent films with a sudden and incomplete ending." ...
Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald writes that lost in the Pennington-Favre brouhaha, former Miami kicker Jay Feely now kicks for the Jets... "Veteran kicker Jay Feely, who was cut by the Dolphins during training camp in favor of undrafted rookie Dan Carpenter, would be the player lining up for the Jets in that situation. Carpenter would be the one kicking for the Dolphins." ...
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes about the parallels between the 1970 Dolphins and today's team... "And more importantly, the 1970 team, which laid the foundation for three Super Bowl appearances, suggests greater things might be in the offing for today's Dolphins." ...
Brian Costello of the New York Post encourages fans to cheer for Pennington if they want to see Mangenius fired... "That's right. Go to your closet Sunday morning, dig through the sweaters and dress shirts and find that old green jersey with the No. 10 peeling off, throw it on over your sweatshirt and when you get to the Meadowlands root like hell for Chad Pennington." ...
When Dwyane Wade heard the plight of a South Florida woman whose nephew accidentally burned down her home - and ruined all the family's possessions - the Miami Heat star knew he had to do something.
So he helped the family move into a new home, just in time for Christmas.
Wade presented Dawn Smith with the ultimate Christmas gift on Wednesday - the keys to a her new house, along with some furnishings, clothing and gifts to make sure her family has a joyous holiday, something that didn't seem likely just a few weeks ago.
His Wade's World foundation will make some payments on the home, while Smith and her family get back on their feet.
"That's what I try to teach my kids," said Wade, whose foundation has hosted several charity events this holiday season, mostly for needy children. "It's not about what you're going to receive - it's what you can give to others from what you've received."
Smith couldn't hold back happy sobs when she saw the home for the first time.
"A big-time relief," Smith said, clearly overcome by emotion. "Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Oh, God, thank you so much."
The NBA's leading scorer this season had a simple message: "Hopefully, you'll like it."
Wade's other holiday events this year included a party for 350 children on Monday, and hosting 100 kids at Tuesday night's Heat game against the Golden State Warriors. He also donated $10,000 to each of three children's organizations, but said he was particularly touched by being able to assist the Smith family.
"We can help this family have a new beginning," Wade said.
While the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is a long-standing and Christmas tradition, the mistletoe plant itself is anything but romantic.
A parasitic plant that grows on trees along the eastern coast of North America, mistletoe was believed to have been spread through bird droppings. In fact, the word "mistel" is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "dung" and "toe" means "twin". So mistletoe quite literally means "dung on a twig."
If that image doesn't make you want to pucker up, consider this: Mistletoe has also long been believed to carry magical powers. The Druids believed that mistletoe, which also grows on oak trees throughout Europe, represented the tree's soul and sexual prowess. The mistletoe would be gathered mid-summer and mid-winter and used to decorate one's home. During the Middle Ages, mistletoe branches were hung to protect homes from evil spirits. Northern Europeans believed that mistletoe could help ward off witches.
The very first people to believe in the magic of mistletoe were the ancient Greeks. The ancient Greeks thought that mistletoe was imbued with the powered fertility, an antidote to poison, and also a powerful aphrodisiac.
In fact, during the festival of Saturnalia, the ancient Greeks would kiss under the mistletoe, which later became customary during marriage rites as well.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe on Christmas emerged in Europe during the Middle Ages. The original custom held that each time a man kissed a woman under a twig of mistletoe, he should remove one of the berries. Once all the berries were gone, no more kissing could take place under that twig.
LSU head coach Les Miles got a stud at quarterback when dual-threat Russell Shepard of Houston, Texas committed to the Tigers...
k--a scary thought. Shepard is lean, flexible and plays with a lot of wiggle. He might seem like just a great athlete playing quarterback at first, but he's the real deal as a complete player. Still, he makes most of his plays with his legs, either on called runs or on scrambles after the initial play unravels. Causes headaches for defenses because he can break down a defender in the open field as well as anyone. Stays low to the ground and doesn't take a lot of big hits. Has excellent vision and the lateral mobility to bounce runs outside after starting inside.
