T-M-I from T-I-M

I think Vick's trouble will lead to a Home Depot boycott

I'm sure you've heard and read enough about Michael Vick's indictment and potential involvement with a dog fighting ring.  Of all the stuff I read I think the most interesting is to wonder why a guy making 10's of millions of dollars would be in any way involved with a gambling bit that nets 10's of thousands at best.

Regardless, I won't be surprised if in the very near future some groups come out demanding a boycott against Home Depot and Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons.  (In fact they probably already are talking about it.)

Whether he's guilty or not, to me, is beside the point.  There's no way he didn't know ANYTHING about it.  Other NFL players have been involved, but none at his level.

Then again, Home Depot is such an integral part of people's lives, how could they give it up?

Maybe Target or some store like that could run an ad saying:  "At least our CEO doesn't employ dogfigthers".

Ha!

Challenge: Find a black person in these NASCAR photos

SI.com just ran a 30+ picture photo gallery on NASCAR fans.  I'm curious about these folks as I've yet to get into to the racing craze. 

I understand that black folks have been a part of NASCAR for a while (a small part).  But really, when you look at these pictures, it is amazing to see that there are NO black people.  (Actually, there might be one but in reality he looks like a really tan white guy and there are a group of darker skinned Colobmians but they don't count in this search either).

I suppose part of the reason is the scattering of confederate flags (always an awful good sign that black folks aren't allowed).  I doubt affordability is the issue.  I also doubt that the sport itself is the issue (all that HYPHY stuff I've seen on videos demonstrates to me that black folks like fast cars just as much as white folks).

I can't put my finger on it, but it sure is interesting.

Tickets? Check! Sunscreen? Check! Grenades? Check!

You gotta love the Brazilians.  2 guys, busted for having hand grenades that they intended to throw at a bus full of the opposing team's fans!!!!

Oy.

Curt Schilling's $1M Dare

God bless the internet and the willingness for some guys in sports to speak their mind.  Curt Schilling often has something to say and it almost always comes straight from the heart.  This time he did it via a blog post.

I happen to like Gary Thorne too, as a hockey announcer (that's where Mr. Schilling says he knows him from).  But when he claimed that Doug Mirabelli told him that Mr. Schilling's bloody sock from the series against the Yankees was fake I thought it smacked of grandstanding and it surprised me.

What's most disappointing is that Mr. Thorne apparently won't back down from it.  What a surprise, someone in sports entertainment...has an EGO!!!!

Regardless, Mr. Schililng plunked down a bet of $1 Million to donate to anyone's charity to anyone who will disprove him that the bloody sock was faked.  You lose?  You pay $1 Million to ALS, one of his favorite charities.

This part of his blog post is the best:

So for one of the first times this blog serves one of the purposes I’d hoped it would if the need arose. The media hacked and spewed their way to a day or two of stories that had zero basis in truth. A story fabricated by the media, for the media. The best part was that instead of having to sit through a litany of interviews to ‘defend’ myself, or my teammates, I got to do that here.

I think it's a testament to the power of the blogosphere.  I think Mr. Schilling is being honest and honesty in the blogosphere is one of its most powerful attributes.

Speaking of storytelling...one on Marvin Gaye's National Anthem

A reader commented on my blog post about Marvin Gaye's national anthem and shared his story about watching it and it nearly brought me to tears it is so beautiful.

Thank you Todd for sharing it!

Historic drunk Zamboni driving legal precedent set

This beauty from the world of sports where a man has been cleared of wrong doing after he blew a .12 after driving a Zamboni (the machine that cleans the ice in ice rinks).  This, from the article, is a keeper:

Peragallo, 64, testified at his trial that he did drink beer and vodka, but not until after he had groomed the ice. However, he told police he had a shot of Sambuca with his breakfast coffee and two Valium-pills before work.

Fan killed....at a WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL match

I read this morning that a man was killed in Greece before a sporting event, no big deal, probably soccer or cricket or whatever.  Turns out it was WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL and as a result, Greece has suspended ALL team sports until April 13.

I love this quote about a recent Greece/Turkey soccer match:

Greek fans clashed among themselves and also pelted Turkish players with sticks, coins and plastic water bottles.  (my emphasis)

Call me crazy but who fights and KILLS someone over a volleyball game (men or women)??  I guess I'm just missing something. 

Cricket Coach Strangled to Death

I read this morning that Pakistan's cricket coach was strangled to death after his team lost to Ireland.  Check out this article that talks about how dirty the sport is.  The article includes:

Modern-day professional cricket is plagued by doping scandals, misbehavior by players, match fixing, ball tampering, cheating and riots.

My goodness that seems familiar.  It seems the main difference is that big time gambling drives the cheating (match-fixing, etc.).  My bet is that the players are paid huge bribes.

I would be very surprised if their salaries are astronomical.   But the universal fact is the same:  ego brings cheating.  Ego craves money but it also craves being worshipped (a driving force in addition to money in America's athletes).  Ego also brings low self-esteem, which I think is why people cheat to win at meaningless games, even kids.

I've always assumed that multi-day cricket matches played by folks dressed up in a strange combo of the klan and goalies from the NHL were the elite.  Turns out they are exactly like all the rest of us, flawed human beings who let our self-will run riot on a regular basis.

I'm sure the cricket purists (whoever they are) of the golden days (whenever they were) are rolling over in their graves (wherever they are).

Marvin Gaye's National Anthem

As we approach President's Day Weekend and the All Star Game I thought I would post my favorite rendetion of our National Anthem of all time, sung by the late, GREAT Marvin Gaye.  God bless his soul.

Looking for a jolt?

I won't ruin it by telling you the end, but this article proves why Rick Reilly is just about the best in the business.

Check it out.