It really pains us to write this... As recent as 2009, Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods....was the best golfer on the planet.
Even in 2013...he was the number 1 money maker on the PGA Tour. A phenom! Tiger made us watch this boring game.
He won tournament after tournament. He was built like an athlete...not a golfer. He did things with a golf ball that had never been seen in our lifetime. He brought millions of viewers. Millions of admirers. Hell....even us black folks got interested in golf!
For at least a 10 year period...he was the number 1 ranked golfer in the world...and it wasn't even close.
Then suddenly...he's gone.
His ranking today:
Current ranking:
258 - 95 points - 8 events - 0 wins - $225,198
$225,198? It is almost August! He used to make that amount on 1 weekend.
But ...the injuries...the extra marriage stuff...the divorce...have left this Tiger...toothless.
Where have you gone....Tiger?
Well....maybe. We are sure betting on it. Sure...we have long been a "non-fan" of women's
Last night, the ..."Association"...known around these parts as the NBA...held their annual draft.
Our beloved Atlanta Hawks had the 15th pick...and...
Selected a 4 year college player out of Michigan State.
His name is Adreian Payne and he is 6feet 10 inches tall.
The mere fact he stayed in college all 4 years should raise a red flag to the obvious.
But these are the Hawks. Mediocrity... win 40 games...make the playoffs...lose in the 1st round.
Nod....if you've heard this before.
We have no quarrel with Mr. Payne. Our quarrel lies with the Hawks management...or lack there of.
How many 7 feet stiffs...are already in this league? Riding the bench....night after night.
The league has changed. It's about who can shoot the three pointer....and who can get physical on defense. (See San Antonio vs. Miami).
The Hawks drafted a big man...They need scorers. Maybe this big man will make liars out of us and not only defend the paint...but shoot 3's too!
Wishful thinking?
Anyway here is Mr. Payne's bio...courtesy of Wikipedia:
Adreian Payne dunking against North Carolina
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|
| Atlanta Hawks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 19, 1991 Dayton, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (208 cm) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Jefferson Township (Dayton, Ohio) |
| College | Michigan State (2010–2014) |
| NBA draft | 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–present | Atlanta Hawks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Lets see....Wikipedia says an NBA basketball court is..94 feet by 50 feet. In every NBA arena. The basket is a steel rim 18 inches diameter with an attached net
affixed to a backboard that measures 6 feet by 3.5 feet and one basket
is at each end of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is
18 inches high and 2 feet wide. At almost all levels of competition, the
top of the rim is exactly 10 feet above the court and 4 feet inside the
baseline.
So...the Atlanta hawks play on virtually the same court in Atlanta...as they do in Indianapolis.
So....what the problem is?
The courts are the same. At home and on the road. The baskets are the same...at home and on the road. The ball is the same. At home or on the road.
Then why can't these fools play well on the road?
You tell me. It must be mental. But I just don't get it. When I played ball...I used to love playing in hostile environments. Made me concentrate...work harder! I loved the look on the other teams cheerleaders and fans when I scored and we won.
But these Atlanta Hawks?
Gutless!
Here's yet another example:
We are not Hockey fans....But we are a sports blog. So let's give the NHL some love. The play-offs are about to begin.
So...a quick briefing of the league...courtesy of Wikipedia:
Current season or competition: 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs |
|
 |
|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 26, 1917, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Commissioner | Gary Bettman |
| Inaugural season | 1917–18 |
| No. of teams | 30 |
| Country(ies) | Canada (7 teams) United States (23 teams) |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) | Los Angeles Kings (1st title) |
| Most titles | Montreal Canadiens (25)[nb 1] |
| TV partner(s) | Canada: CBC, NHL Network, RDS, TSN United States: NBC Sports Group, NHL Network |
| Official website | NHL.com |
FGCU? Florida Gulf Coast University....Who are they....and why are they in the sweet 16?
We don't know. But what we do know...they can play some basketball. And...they can dunk a basketball.
Just ask Georgetown... And San Diego State.
Let us introduce you to the Eagles.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Seal of Florida Gulf Coast University |
|||||||
| Motto | "Truth, Knowledge, Wisdom." | ||||||
| Established | 1991 | ||||||
| Type | Public Space-grant |
||||||
| Endowment | $57.1 million[1] | ||||||
| President | Wilson G. Bradshaw | ||||||
| Provost | Ronald Toll | ||||||
| Academic staff | 500 total: 336 instructional and administrative faculty, 164 adjunct faculty (2006) | ||||||
| Admin. staff | 681 | ||||||
| Students | 12,683[2] | ||||||
| Undergraduates | 11,594[2] | ||||||
| Postgraduates | 1,089[2] | ||||||
| Other students | 435[2] | ||||||
| Location | Fort Myers, Florida, USA | ||||||
| Campus | Suburban Area 760 acres (3.08 km²), of which 400 acres (1.6 km2) is dedicated as a nature preserve |
||||||
| Colors |
Cobalt Blue and Emerald Green [3] |
||||||
| Athletics | NCAA Division I, ASC; 6 men's varsity teams / 9 women's | ||||||
| Nickname | Eagles | ||||||
| Mascot | Azul the Eagle | ||||||
| Affiliations | AACSB, SACS, SUSF | ||||||
| Website | fgcu.edu | ||||||
The Atlanta Braves have themselves and new center fielder. All I can say is that for the price of $75 million and change....you had better be great.
Being just good...won't cut it in the ATL. Last year you struck out 169 times in 146 games.
That is not going to get it done here for that kind of money.
But...we will give you the customary honeymoon for your first month or two.
Welcome!
 |
|
| Atlanta Braves – No. 2 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: August 21, 1984 Norfolk, Virginia |
|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
|---|---|
| August 2, 2004 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |
| Career statistics (through 2012 season) |
|
| Batting average | .255 |
| Home runs | 118 |
| Runs batted in | 447 |
| Stolen bases | 232 |
| Teams | |
Let us pause.....and take a moment to reflect on this day and pay our respect to all those veterans of foreign and domestics wars who gave the ultimate sacrifice....their lives.
Here's what Wikipedia says it means:
Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May.[1] Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.[2] Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War
to commemorate the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the
20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who
have died in all wars. It typically marks the start of the summer
vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.
Born.....LaDonna Adrian Gaines......(we can see why she changed her name)...We knew her only as Donna Summer.
Back in the day....in the '70's.....Donna Summer was the sexiest disco singer...alive.
Remember "Love to Love You Baby"?
How about... Bad Girls..........or "Hot Stuff" ?
Classics.......
Donna......you gave us some great music....You left us...way too soon.
Meet Mike Minor...
From Wikipedia:
| Mike Minor | |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves — No. 36 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 26, 1987 Chapel Hill, Tennessee | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| August 9, 2010 for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Career statistics (through 2010 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 3-2 |
| Earned run average | 5.98 |
| Strikeouts | 43 |
| Teams | |
Mr. Minor was awesome last night.....and Chipper...was just...well...just Chipper...  Braves: Minor, bullpen shut out GiantsATLANTA -- Mike Minor pitched six crisp innings to outduel Tim Lincecum, and Chipper Jones homered for the only run as the Atlanta Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 Thursday night.FULL STORY | |
America.....and your united states and territories all over the world.....
This day is for you...
Go celebrate!
From Wikipedia:
| Independence Day | |
|---|---|
 Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Washington Monument, take place across the United States on Independence Day. | |
| Also called | The Fourth of July The Glorious Fourth The Fourth |
| Observed by | United States |
| Type | National |
| Significance | The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress |
| Date | (2011) Monday, July 4 |
| Celebrations | Fireworks, Family reunions, Concerts, Barbecues, Picnics, Parades, Baseball games |
Ron Artest......is a rare breed. He last made headlines as a member of the Indianapolis Pacers......running into the stands......beating up a fan.
Remember this?
GM Kupchak on Artest's name change | Artest wins Kennedy Citizenship Award
We must give credit....
Where credit is due. This white boy can run! The first white running back to gain 1,000 yards in a season .....since Craig James....25 years ago.
Mr. Hillis......we salute you!
Meet.......Peyton Hillis:
Hillis was born to Doug and Carrie Hillis on January 21, 1986 and raised in Conway, Arkansas. He played football for Conway High School from 1999–2003, where he played primarily as a fullback. As a junior, he rushed for 1,427 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 133 yards and two touchdowns on receptions. As a senior, he rushed for 2,631 yards and 29 touchdowns on 261 carries for an average of 10.1 yards per carry.
For his efforts, Hillis earned numerous Arkansas state football honors, including the 2003 Marvin Delph Award (named after the Conway native and Arkansas Razorback basketball legend), which identifies the Conway sportsman of the year, the 2003 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the 2003 Landers Award, which recognizes the top high school football player in Arkansas.
Nationally, Hillis was named to the Parade All-America football team. Rivals.com listed him as the #1 fullback in the country and the #2 prospect from Arkansas for the 2004 college signing season. He was recruited by several schools nationwide including Alabama, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Tennessee and Michigan, but chose to attend the University of Arkansas.
You know her better as........Tina Turner. From Anna Mae to Ike & Tina....to just....Tina.
Born 11/26/1939.....Tina turns 71 today.
 |
| Ike & Tina |
From 2 years ago:
Rank  | War | Years | Deaths | Deaths per Day | Deaths per Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Civil War | 1861–1865 | 625,000 | 599 | 1.988% (1860) |
| 2 | World War II | 1941–1945 | 405,399 | 416 | 0.307% (1940) |
| 3 | World War I | 1917–1918 | 116,516 | 279 | 0.110% (1920) |
| 4 | Vietnam War | 1964–1973 | 58,151 | 26 | 0.003% (1970) |
| 5 | Korean War | 1950–1953 | 36,516 | 45 | 0.002% (1950) |
| 6 | American Revolutionary War | 1775–1783 | 25,000 | 11 | 0.899% (1780) |
| 7 | War of 1812 | 1812–1815 | 20,000 | 31 | 0.345% (1810) |
| 8 | Mexican-American War | 1846–1848 | 13,283 | 29 | 0.057% (1850) |
| 9 | Philippine War | 1899–1902 | 4,196 | 5 | 0.006% (1900) |
| 10 | Iraq War | 2003–present | 4,079 | 2.34 | 0.001% (2007) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 1985 1986-87 1988-89 1990 1991-94 1995-98 1999-2001 2002 2010- | Florida (Graduate asst.) Texas A&M (Graduate asst.) Southern Illinois (WR) Florida (OLB) Ole Miss (WR) Florida (Asst. HC / DT) Notre Dame (DE / DT) South Carolina (DC) Florida (DC / DE) Florida (interim HC) Florida (Asst. HC/ co-DC / LB) Louisville | |
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Perry Fewell......
The newest black head coach of the NFL's Buffalo Bills...
From Wikipedia:
Perry Fewell (born September 7, 1962 in Gastonia, North Carolina) After serving as Defensive Coordinator he was named interim head coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League after the firing of Dick Jauron on November 17, 2009.
Congratulations.......and good luck......Perry.
He stood.......six feet tall.......weighed about a buck fifty....a welterweight.....then a light-heavyweight.
He was a professional boxer.......fought the likes of "Sugar Shane" Mosey.......twice......and beat him both times.
He won 41 of 45 professional fights. 29 by KO's.....
He simply was.......the best pure boxer.......America.......never knew.
And .....why are we talking about this man.......in ....the past tense?
Vernon Forrest........was killed.......murdered.......
From news reports:
At about 11:00 pm EDT on July 25th 2009, Forrest stopped at a gas station in the Atlanta neighborhood of Mechanicsville. With him was his 11-year-old godson. As the boy went inside the gas station, Forrest went to the back of his car to add air to a low tire. As this occurred, a man robbed him at gunpoint and fled. Forrest, who was armed, went after the man and shots were exchanged. After a short distance, Forrest gave up the chase and began walking back to the gas station. It was then that the man shot Forrest seven to eight times in the back. According to police, the shooter and a second person left the scene in a red Monte Carlo. Forrest was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide. On August 4th 2009 Atlanta Police arrested and charged a 20 year old man for his murder.
Senseless...........brutal.
Vernon, lived the way he boxed. No surrender......In his mind, some young punk.......would not get his hard earned money or car........without a fight.
But these thugs don't play fair..........they shot him in the back. 7 times.
And the biggest "tree"........in the "Forrest" ........was dead.
Vernon Forrest.........May you rest in peace....
Get to know him.......courtesy of our friends at ESPN:
From the Kansas City Star newspaper.......
Former Sooners basketball star Tisdale dies at 44
He stood..........6' 9" and weighed 240 pounds.
A scoring machine..........Tisdale, remains the all-time leading scorer at the University of Oklahoma........and had a stellar career.....with 12 seasons in the NBA.
From Wikipedia..........
Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas[1]. His father, Louis Tisdale, was a well-known pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma serving for 28 years as senior pastor of Friendship Church; after his death in 1997, the former Osage Expressway in Tulsa was named L. L. Tisdale Parkway in his honor.[2] Wayman's older brother Weldon has been pastor of the church since 1997.[3]
Growing up, Tisdale was not interested in basketball; when Weldon and another older brother, William, played pickup games in their yard, he usually quit before they finished, retreating to the family's sandbox. However, Tisdale began taking to the sport in the eighth grade when he first learned to dunk.
He met his future wife Regina in April 1981 at church. At the time, they were juniors at different Tulsa high schools, and she did not know he was one of the most heavily-recruited basketball players in the country.
Tisdale called music his "first love". He was a self-taught musician; he never took any lessons, never knew what key any of the pieces he played is written in, or even the names of the notes. Throughout his youth, continuing through his college basketball career, he played bass guitar at his father's church. Music and church were so important to Tisdale that after recruiting him to the University of Oklahoma, Sooners head coach Billy Tubbs changed the team's practice schedule to accommodate Tisdale, moving the team's Sunday practice from the morning to the evening to allow him to play in the Sooners' band and at morning services in his father's church in Tulsa.
Back in the day........Wayman Tisdale........was a "baller".
May he rest in peace.
