Archive for the 'Random' Category



10
Apr
09

Cricket is Becoming Exciting, Supposedly

page9_02_385x185_520129aChange is a-comin’ to Lord’s Cricket Grounds, in downtown London, the staid dress code is being modified in an attempt to bring in a younger audience and appeal to a larger demographic. Lord’s, originally established in 1787 has long had a dress code where fans would be found wearing an egg-and-bacon colored tie, with a striped yellow and red jacket, I know what you’re thinking, what teenager WOULDN’T want to wear that? Well, it turns out, all of them.

So, to attract the younger sects, at the upcoming World Twenty20 tournament in June, the restrictions will be loosened. “The Aussie guys can come with yellow wigs, the South Africans can come dressed all in green. We want to encourage that and we want people to have fun. If they come in a costume, that will be allowed,” said Steve Elworthy, the tournament director.

Coming soon to a cricket stadium near you!

Coming soon to a cricket stadium near you!

Cricket has seen an up tick in popularity with the younger generations, and tournament organizers are looking to capitalize on that; the tournament’s Twitter page is one of the fastest growing sports accounts and a viral video promoting the event will be released on YouTube in the coming weeks.

Of course, some of the old guard are less than pleased.

Len Osborn, 83 and a member of the Marleybone Cricket Club for more than 30 years, said: “It’s bloody ridiculous. They will lower the tone of the place.”

Brian Sedgwick, a fellow member aged 66, was a little more sanguine. “We’ve got to do these things to encourage young people to the ground. If people feel the need to dress up, I don’t understand it but, fair enough.”

…“It’s not even cricket, it’s whack-it,” another older member, Ken Lewis, said.

[Times Online]

08
Apr
09

I Think the Fight Was Supposed to Go Longer

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

06
Apr
09

BBC Insults Jockey’s Bad Teeth On Live TV

The BBC has been forced to apologize to Liam Treadwell, the winning jockey of the Grand National Steeplechase race, after the BBC’s reporter Clare Balding “humiliated” him for making fun of his teeth. I didn’t know British people could BE humiliated when it comes to references about their bad teeth, I thought that was just an understood thing…

article-1167902-044ef7c5000005dc-711_468x286Fresh off winning the England’s famous steeplechase race, on a 100-1 long shot no less, Treadwell was interviewed by Balding who told him, “Liam, just give us a big grin to the camera. No, no, let’s see your teeth. He hasn’t got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like.”

Viewers complained in droves to the Beeb, even Treadwell’s mother Lorraine, was upset, saying “‘[Balding] was very mean.” Ooh, SCATHING!

Ms. Balding reached out and apologized directly to Treadwell, sending him a text message, which is pretty much the most classless way to apologize.

“Of course it was the wrong thing for her to say,” Treadwell said after the fact, “and under normal circumstances I might have said something back, but yesterday wasn’t a normal day. I was on top of the world and nothing could ruin that.”

article-1167902-044ef789000005dc-755_468x2521The BBC released their own statement saying, “Clare Balding had no intention of upsetting or embarrassing Liam Treadwell, but fully accepts she should not have raised the subject. The BBC and Clare apologise for any offence caused.”

To be fair, Treadwell’s teeth are truly TERRIFYING; seriously, England, have you guys heard of the many modern advances in dentistry made since, oh I don’t know, the 1400s? I mean, Treadwell looks like Bat Boy for chrissakes.

[Daily Mail]

06
Apr
09

The Newspaper Industry Knows the News

When I see hard-hitting news exposés like this, I find it hard to believe the newspaper industry is struggling; The Daily Mail, the British tabloid paper had this breaking news story today, “Serena Williams looks buoyant in Miami… but still can’t find a pair of bikini bottoms to fit.” I don’t know how I would have gotten through my day without this kind of information. Of course, since so many people today learn visually, they made sure to add plenty of photographs so we simple-folk could understand. Thanks Daily Mail, keep doing the important stories like these, I’m sure your corporate bottom line will have no problems if you do.

Also, I think Serena’s thighs could crush my head like a grape…

06
Apr
09

That’s Just Super Unlucky

After three men in Spain decided to rob a grocery store, they ran out of the building and ran right into a heap of bad luck. That’s because Jose Luis Blanco, the 2006 European Steeplechase silver medalist was outside, on a training run. Seeing the men leave the supermarket with a purse and a rucksack, Blano thought it all looked very suspicious, after hearing screams from the people inside the store, he and his training partner made the instantaneous choice to chase the gang. The criminals were already about 5o yards ahead, but when you’re a champion runner, that isn’t too much of a burden to overcome.

When we were about 10 metres from them we shouted, ‘Police, drop the bags,’ but they carried on running. That’s when things started to get a bit hairy, they tried to cross a big main road with lots of traffic. We were weaving in and out of the cars, I think there were two lanes of traffic going in both directions. Us or them could have easily been hit, one of them almost was. We shouted that we were the police a second time but they carried on running so we got up right on their shoulder and told them again to drop the bags. At that point, the thieves finally flung the bags down and behind themselves.

We took the bags back to the supermarket and then waited for the police to arrive. It was unbelievable, everyone was cheering. I’ve never heard applause like it, not even when I’ve won a race. I felt like Superman for a short time.”

Thanks to his descriptions of the criminals, police were able to ultimately track them down and arrest the men responsible for the attempted theft. Last week Blanco was honored by the town for his bravery, although it didn’t seem to be much help for his next race, he finished 62nd.

[Spikes Mag]

05
Apr
09

This Video is Only About Mowing Your Lawn

Ask any kid about their first memory of a major league stadium and invariably the brilliant green lawn sticks in their mind. Since, Opening Day has come around, I thought this really helpful advertisement regarding mowing your lawn was very helpful and appropriate.

I don’t get what a razor has to do with a lawn but hey, I’m not in advertising…

02
Apr
09

I Think I Like Cricket Now

I consider myself someone very smart when it comes to understanding sports, but I’ll be damnded if I can figure out what the hell goes on during a cricket game. However, this NSFW video shows me that sometimes you can just enjoy the game’s broadcast; even if you have no idea what is otherwise happening on the screen. Thanks anonymous lady cricket fans!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

[With Leather]

02
Apr
09

Obama Holds Off on Dismantling NASCAR, For Now

Aprils Fool’s Day used to be so much fun before the Internet. Now everyone feels the need to show how incredibly clever they are by coming up with fake news stories or gadgets or what have you. I just find myself hating to use the Internet that day because instead of finding real information you just get crap and a day without Internet?!!!?

That said, as I reported yesterday, and suspected, the news that President Obama was telling Chrysler and GM that acceptance of government funds would require them to pull out of NASCAR was in fact, fake.

Tony Stewart, one of the top racers and a team owner himself had this to say regarding the prank:

“I know that talking to the people at Chevrolet they’re very committed to the racing program. They realize the value of it with not only the rest of corporate America but what it does to our nation.  It still goes back to ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday.’  This is a sport that’s been good for the auto industry and vice versa.

Which of course, is no longer the case, but then I wouldn’t expect NASCAR to be current with facts and data. And while this was a prank, it wouldn’t be surprising if this is something the government seriously looks into. If they are going to tell Citibank and automaker executives that they need to cut down on their silly expenditures like private planes and the like, why wouldn’t wasting hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship dollars be better spent elsewhere, instead of essentially the government sponsoring auto sports. Fortunately, that would never happen.

[Orlando Sentinel]

02
Apr
09

10 Jews Get On a Snowboard *(UPDATED)*

Yesterday was the magic hour for Eric Sweet’s 10-Jew snowboard and the ride featured mixed results. They got up, did some turns but as was to be expected, struggled initially getting down an entire run. Regardless, I think Judaism can consider yesterday a victory for all of its people even if the participants themselves were unsure.

“This has the potential for disaster. Obviously, we’ve never done this before,” said Joshua Beck, prior to the first run. Beck, of course, is also an orthopedic surgeon and his mother is very proud of him and she brags to her friends all the time around the pool in Florida about her son, the doctah.

“We are 10 Jews celebrating not necessarily inside a synagogue but celebrating God and celebrating the beauty of this area as Jews together on the minyan board,” said Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn, who was worshipping in the snow.

Eventually, after several spills, they put it all together, and as a group are able to carve their way down the mountain. This is more inspirational than Masada and Channukah put together! Also, I love that the 2 girls, 1 cup, phenomena has spread to the extent that newscasters can refer to it, even obliquely, during their broadcasts, now that’s progress!

Check it out and make sure you watch the video below too, if only to fully enjoy Eric Sweet’s crazy wooly-mammoth jacket, (he’s the guy in the back in the picture below.)

big

edited to add: After receiving an email from “Louise” who is the person who also commented below, who says she is a member of the “Minyan Snowboard Management Team” the silly jacket that Eric Sweet is wearing is a $5,000 buffalo coat, from one of the sponsors of the board. So, that’s neat I suppose, besides the fact that it looks ridiculous, and this is coming from someone who prides himself on his ridiculous wardrobe.

01
Apr
09

It Is April Fool’s After All

In honor of everyone trying to play practical jokes today, the folks over at BettorFan have compiled a list of the, in their opinion, 7 best sports pranks of all time. Check it out here and for a teaser, here is number 7.

7) Who throws a Potato?

Dave Bresnahan Potato

The year is 1987 and Dave Bresnahan, the second string catcher with the Williamsport (Pennsylvania) Bills of the Class-AA Eastern League, has been waiting all season to pull a prank during a game. Bresnahan sculpted a potato to replicate a baseball before the game in anticipation of his prank. In the fifth inning he chucked the potato to the third baseman where a runner was waiting for his teammate to hit. The runner thinking that Bresnahan caused an error, ran home. As the runner was approaching the plate, Bresnahan tagged the runner with the baseball. Not understanding how this happened, the ump found the potato and awarded the runner with a run. The following day, Bresnehan was fined $50 and released by his team. The potato is now sitting in a jar at the Baseball Reliquary in Southern California.

[BettorFan]

01
Apr
09

Obama Tells Auto Companies to Ditch NASCAR

I can’t confirm for certain that this isn’t an April Fool’s Joke, which is super annoying, and despite it being on Drudge, I can’t seem to find the actual statement from the White House anywhere, but fuck it, I like this story regardless…

President Obama’s White House has reportedly told GM and Chrysler that if they are to receive government funds, among the expenses they must cut back on includes their participation in NASCAR. If GM and Chrysler were both to pull completely out of NASCAR, they would save a combined $250 million dollars, which is no small sum. Particularly for the employees of either company who have seen their jobs evaporate, their benefits dry up and their retirement plans disappear into the ether of mismanagement.

From President Obama’s statement:

Automakers used to operate on the principle of ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday,’ but the Auto Task Force’s research just doesn’t validate that as true. NASCAR is a racing series that regulates down to the smallest detail of the cars, where a car badged a Chevrolet or Dodge differs only marginally from a Ford or a Toyota. There’s no technological development to speak of.

In order to receive this money, corporations must demonstrate they will spend it wisely. Racing has been said to improve on-road technology, but frankly, NASCAR almost flaunts its standing among the lowest-tech forms of motorsport. NASCAR is not proven to drive advancements that transfer from the racetrack to the road, and this nation’s way forward does not hinge on decades-old technology. We need new, and we need innovation.

He also stated that if Ford were to accept money from the government they would be expected to pull out from NASCAR as well. I’m sure this move will be going over extremely well in the South where they were already such big fans of the President…However, I like this move, I’d rather some workers who have been getting shit on for the last 20 years get some of their money back than seeing some rednecks get entertained by cars driving around in a circle.\

The statement continues:

This is an obvious cut to make, but it is not an easy one. This administration is not ignoring the tremendous sentimental value and emotional appeal NASCAR holds for so many Americans. But now is not the time for sentiment and nostalgia; now is a time for decisive financial action. If our automotive industry is to emerge from this recession intact, then these difficult decisions must be made.

[Car and Driver]

01
Apr
09

Name Your Own Arena, Preferably For Me

871c_11

It’s not surprising that an advertising agency comes up with a clever idea to represent a product, although rarely is the product the agency itself. BooneOakley, a full-service agency based in Charlotte, is auctioning off the naming rights for a basketball arena, their own in-office half-court stadium. Previously known as H-O-R-S-E Arena, BooneOakley is offering, for one-year, scoreboard and sideline signage, in addition to roof signage, visible from space. You can’t BUY that kind of publicity. Well, actually, you can, by bidding on their eBay auction, currently at $250.

Pitching their case, BooneOakley points out that Bank of America paid $140 million for the naming rights of the Panthers stadium, a place open 10 days a year as compared to the BO offices, open 363 — closed Christmas and for partner Phil Smith’s birthday. Even better, BooneOakley says you can count on attendance at their stadium in the vicinity of 32 people, often every day!

87c2_1John Boone says, “Imagine the signal a marketer could send in this economy by securing their own naming rights deal for about one-tenth of that!”

Partner David Oakley insists that “the minimum bid for our arena must exceed what Time-Warner negotiated with the Charlotte Bobcats for their stadium’s naming rights, a figure that some reports have pegged at 20 year’s free cable service.”
Obviously, the Preparation H signs that are up right now are mere placeholders for what could be YOUR name. Or rather, more importantly, MY NAME, or at least my nickname. So COME ON READERS, LET’S MAKE THE SLANCH REPORT ARENA COME TRUE!



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