Certainly not as cool as Nicklas Lindberg’s shootout goal, here is Mike Ribeiro from the Dallas Stars making Coloardo Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj look silly as he skates in backwards and then flicks the puck into the net. You know, when the NHL made the move to shootouts I wasn’t sure I was into it, but damn if it don’t allow some pretty sweet moves for the players to show off.
Archive for April, 2009
10
Apr
09
OK, That’s Pretty Awesome
As awful as the product on the field is, all 6 Washington Nationals fans can take solace in at least that they play in a gorgeous new ball-park. Unfortunately, the District’s government is intent on ruining the beauty of the stadium. On Wednesday, 4 new public works of art were revealed at the stadium just inside the center field gates featuring former stars of Washington baseball past, Walter Johnson, Frank Howard and Josh Gibson. In addition, a giant mobile was hung by the food concessions on the first base line. Soon, fans may actually prefer to see the awful play on the field, if only to erase the awful memory of these works of “art.”
The statues were designed by Israeli-born sculptor Omri Amrany, who is now based in Highwood, Illinois and who specializes in sports art. He may want a new specialty. Intending to use the bronze and capture the speed of the game, Amrany instead made the players look like they have multiple limbs and tumorous growths on their backs. Amrany says that the bronze growths that push out from the players’ backs and legs are meant somehow to indicate the momentum of their actions; that their multiple limbs are meant to convey the players’ moving parts. Instead, they make the players nearly unrecognizable and ruin the overall pieces.
The mobile, actually comprised of 4 different mobiles was designed by Washington-based artist Walter Kravitz and while less awful than the bronze statues are boring and uninspired. Featuring wacky cut-outs of players in Scooby-Doo-type colors they left one child who saw them saying, “I really don’t like how they did the bodies.” And if you can’t impress kids with your art, then just get out of the game.
Fortunately, these works only cost $600,000 out of the public coffers. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE public funding of art, I think it is an extremely important thing for our government to do, I just wish they had picked better artists…However, considering how middling the Nationals are likely to be for the near future, maybe these statues make perfect sense…
The no-longer happy couple in better times
Playing for Inter in the Italian Serie A soccer league would be a dream come true for millions of people; making millions of dollars and having thousands of fans adore you are also the dreams of many people. For Adriano, a Brazilian striker on Inter, those things are apparently not enough. Supposed to return to Italy after the international break, Adriano decided to stay in Brazil with his family. During a press conference explaining his decision, he had this to say: “Right now I am only thinking about my health. This is my reasoning behind why I want to stop playing football, at least temporarily anyway. I have lost the passion to play. I am prepared to give up the money of my salary if need be.”
The source of his angst? Adriano and his girlfriend recently broke up. Now, a bad break up is one thing, but c’mon man, you can’t give up your entire life because you’re jonesed out right now. You’re an international celebrity, you’re young, you’re rich, I guarantee there will be lots of other hot chicks out there willing to get down with you and at least ONE of them will be totally cool and someone you like
Joanna Machado, Adriano’s ex told the newspaper O Dia, “Adriano is completely lost and he needs help…I no longer have the strength to take care of him. I have always looked [after] him, but he has never shown me any respect. He has never done anything for me.”
See, you’re better off without her dude! Unfortunately, Adriano, who has a reputation for petulance and hard-partying doesn’t see it that way and has reportedly been hanging out with unsavory characters since his return to Brazil. Meanwhile, Inter, and his big contract are awaiting him in Italy…
[Goal.com]
It’s got to be nice to be a big-time NBA player like Jason Kidd, you can divorce your wife and then, a year later be dating super hot models. That is NEVER how it goes down for me.
Anyways, here is Hope Dworaczyk, Kidd’s current girlfriend who also was Miss April in Playboy this year. She must really like him because as part of the shoot she wore a body-painted version of his uniform, there’s no word if Mark Cuban is changing the uniforms of the cheerleaders, but I for one think this would be a great idea.
After the jump are lots more from the shoot, and her totally NSFW full pictorial, you know, if you’re into that kind of thing. Enjoy!
Continue reading ‘Kidd’s Lady Friend Makes Me Want to Drive to the Hole’
They must spend plenty of extra time working on penalty shots in Sweden; we already saw Linus Omark take it to the house with a super pretty goal but this video tops it. Here is Nicklas Lindberg from the Port Huron Icehawks just flat out baffling Kalamazoo goalie Joel Martin during a shootout. This is one of the nicest hockey goals I have ever seen, and I doubt you’ll see anything else this good, probably ever.
[Fan IQ]
09
Apr
09
Nothing But Net
There are few things more enjoyable in life than youth sports. You put a mustache on, bring a six-pack and a notepad so you can make a sports-book and BAM you got a fun Saturday. I’d have lost big bucks on this game, but, when you can see a shot like this, it’s almost all worth it.
Pretty awesome for 7th and 8th graders, although, someone should tell those kids that it all gets worse from here.
I like Teddy Kennedy, I think he’s an awesome Senator and I’m glad he represents me in Congress. He’s a dedicated public servant and has done much for the people of the United States. It’s a good thing, because he doesn’t have a future pitching in the bigs..
Vodpod videos no longer available.
08
Apr
09
Major League Turns 20
I was remiss in not paying attention to this yesterday, and for that, I truly apologize.
20 years ago yesterday, my favorite baseball movie, and where I learned most of my swears, Major League was released. Since then Ricky Vaughn, Willie Mays Hays and Pedro Cerrano have battled gamely every day, and it is impossible to flip past it on TV and not stop. I can recite every line in this movie, it makes me the happiest. I for one think Bull Durham is overrated and that Major League is by far the best baseball movie out there.
My only question, does Lou know that Jake is going to call his shot, is that part of the signs that Jake signals to him before his at-bat? Because if teams have a sign for calling ones shot, I’d find that ridiculous.
[MLB]
08
Apr
09
I Like Something Mets-Related!
I get accused sometimes of being anti-Mets, I’m not, I just think they have an awful GM, don’t care about their fans and have choked, viciously, the last two years. That’s not unfair right? However, I don’t give them enough props on the one thing they do better than anyone else in baseball; unique handshakes. Usually Jose Reyes has several and that’s the majority of the fun, but here is Mets ace Johan Santana making his way through the dugout, doing a special handshake with everyone. I’m impressed he remembers them all. The one with Alex Cora and taking off the hat is the best by the way.
If I had to pick an awesome martial arts form to be a master of, I would choose Capoeira because A) it’s bad-ass and B) I really liked the movie “Only the Strong.” Here is Marcus “Lelo” Aurelio of AXE Capoeira Vancouver taking on Keegan ” The Marshall” Marshall in Vancouver on April 4th and knocking him the fuck out. Awesome
07
Apr
09
FINALLY!
The news gathering agents in society have put together the most important clip of the day, the comparison of Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bush throwing out first pitches from yesterday. Now I can sleep.
07
Apr
09
Some Opening Day Doppelgangers
Opening Day means that the MLB Extra Innings preview is on, meaning I can watch games all day long. Ah happiness!
Watching the many games means I find many more doppelgangers, which means you win!
Also, not to get sidetracked but, I want to get the MLB package, except my goddamn Optimum cable service doesn’t have even ONE HD channel available. Optimum is the absolute WORST. I FUCKING HATE IT. I thought I disliked Time Warner, but compared to Optimum it isn’t even close. How can you not add ONE HD channel, Time Warner does it, DirecTV does it, Comcast does it. Why does Cablevision insist on being the WORST FUCKING CABLE COMPANY!
Anyways. Here’s the doppelgangers, as ever, please vote in both polls below and then visit the (RECENTLY REDESIGNED!) permanent doppelgangers page.
Once a part of one of the worst trades in baseball history, Jeff Bagwell went on to become a Hall of Fame caliber player, winning one MVP, and nearly winning two more. According to Bill James’ calculations, Bagwell is the 4th best first baseman of all time. He is also one of the few players in the modern era to play his entire MLB career with one team. Recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, James Hetfield fronts rock legends Metallica. Once considered one of the most bad-ass groups of all time, Hetfield and Metallica as a whole lost much of their luster after filming the documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, where it was clear that the band was made up of a bunch of whiny complaining brats. Still, Metallica knows how to thrash, even if their image has been forever marred.
I acknowledge this one is somewhat laced with spite, but is also something I’ve believed for a while; Mark Teixeira has a horse face. Out to earn the most dollars, and proving multiple times in subsequent interviews that he is a duplicitous person, Mark Teixiera also possesses prodigious power in his bat, Gold Glove caliber defense and is yet to contribute in any meaningful way for a contender. He’s also now on his 4th team. Captain is the Texas Rangers’ mascot, a giant horse who wears number “72” honoring the year the team moved to the Dallas area. I guess the horse represents the gloriousness of Texas and its lawmen. I’m more surprised it isn’t a gun that shoots fireworks and pees liquor. Which would be a GREAT mascot by the way. Anyways, I find it hard to tell which one is the horse and which the man.
The Slanch Report 
Recent Comments