The Photogenic Aaron Rodgers

I recently ran across this picture and thought it was hilarious. Apparently Aaron Rodgers  had a running joke where he always made sure he appeared in the background of the pictures of the team captains. This tradition was started by former Favre backups Doug Pederson and Craig Nall. Rodgers took the joke one more level, adding odd facial expressions and using props.

You can see the picture here as well, you can zoom in to see it better.

Wimbledon Update

So today was a pretty eventful Wednesday with the USA winning in dramatic fashion and at Wimbledon the longest match in tennis history was suspended due to darkness.

First off the World Cup, so today I was at work and unable to watch the World Cup game. However, I went to ask my boss a question in his office and the game was on. It was at the 90 minute mark and I asked him does this mean we are done. He responded that unless there was a miracle, yes the underachieving US was done. Crazy the minute I watched of the World Cup might have been the most exciting of the entire tournament. Cool goal, go USA prove to the world you can do well in sports you barely even care about.

History was at Wimbledon today with the longest match ever between USA born John Isner and Frenchie Nicolas Mahut. But the real history made was the guy in the crowd who had one of the most obvious picking of the nose and eating it. Watch for yourself folks this guy has no shame!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!

Sick of World Cup

Sorry but I am not a huge World Cup, I know complain how I have no appreciation for the best WORLD sporting event. But frankly if I don't like watching soccer why would I like it when it means a lot! All I am saying I watched this YouTube video and it made me remember why America doesn't care about soccer! While a bad penalty can screw up a REAL football game, a silly offsides calls in a "football" game can wreck a country's chance in the World Cup.

Watch this video and explain to me why the World Cup is more fun to watch then the NFL!

Bad Luck Chuck?

It happens to everyone. No matter how hard you try, you grow old. Things ache that never used to. Gray hairs are no longer attributed to stress. And, as Toby Keith best said it, ya ain't as good as you once was. No one should be realizing this more today than Chuck Liddell. Previous to the conclusion of UFC 115, doubts had been raised about the UFC hall of famer's health and ability in the octagon. People said he was getting old. Up-and-coming younger fighters were going to be too much for him to handle. They questioned the toll fighting had taken on his body and mind. And after getting leveled by a right hook from Rich Franklin Saturday night, I would have to say that the critics were right.

But Chuck is a fighter. Always has been, always will be. I'm sure he didn't care he hadn't fought in over a year. I'm sure he didn't care he had lost two fights in a row, both by KO. He was driven. Driven to prove people wrong. And for the most part, driven to kick the crap out of his arch rival, Tito Ortiz. Chuck appeared on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter as one of the coaches, alongside Ortiz. Tensions were always high between the two, until they reached a boiling point when Tito withdrew from their end of the season PPV fight. Chuck was furious. He had been training to fight Tito and now, just when he was about to start his comeback run against the man he hated most, the rug gets pulled from underneath him. But he wouldn't make excuses, that's not the style of a true fighter. So he accepted Dana White's decision. Insert Rich Franklin, and a couple months later, Chuck comes to staring up at the ceiling of the General Motors Place in Vancouver, B.C..

Chuck came out in the first round guns blazing. He looked impressive, considering his age and ring-rust. He even broke Franklin's arm on a heavy duty leg kick. I scored the first round to The Iceman. But he got anxious, and exposed himself with only 7 seconds left. That was all Franklin needed. It took one punch and Chuck was on his back. Unlucky indeed. He looked terrible after he came to. Worn out, exhausted and a little like a man who knew it was over.

So this raises the question. When should fighters no longer be allowed to fight? Do guys like Dana White have a say in the matter? When are the signs of too much fighting enough to call it quits? After watching the Ultimate Fighter season, I could tell that Chuck wasn't as quick thinking as he used to be. He took a lot longer to answer questions asked of him. He seemd slow, almost dim-witted at times. Could that be the result of getting punched one too many times? It's hard to say but this type of scenario happens to everyone. An elderly father is confronted by his son about his driving. It's no longer safe, the son says. But is it really that easy to admit to yourself that you no longer can do something? I certainly don't think so. There is too much pride involved. But while it is not easy, it takes a real man to know when to fold the hand you're dealt. Chuck could have walked away from the UFC a hall of famer, and a legend in his own right without having to deal with the criticism that he is too old. But he didn't. And he is entitled to that. I believe that fighters have every right to declare that they themselves are still able to fight. But I also believe that promoters, like Dana White, can deny them the fights, for their own good. If Chuck wants to go fight at another promotion like Belator, that is his prerogative. But something should be said when everyone is saying it's time for a fighter to call it quits.

So is it bad luck that makes it seem a fighter isn't what he used to be, or is it simply due to old age? Maybe a little bit of both, but it is clear that the Iceman isn't as impervious as he once was.

Suppan Released by Brewers

Veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan was released by the Milwaukee Brewers today in the most costly cut in Brewer history. Suppan, in the final year of his contract, still had more than $10 million left on his contract.

Suppan, in 2 starts and 13 relief appearances, had an 0-2 record and an ERA of 7.84.

His spot on the roster is being filled by right-hander Chris Smith, who will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville. Smith played 35 games for the Brewers last year, and has been dominant so far this year in Nashville, compiling a 2-1 record with 16 saves and an ERA of 1.71.

This is the statement released by Suppan earlier today:

"I want to thank Mark Attanasio and Doug Melvin for all they have done for my family and me, especially how they handled this situation.  I've played with a number of organizations, and the Brewers are one of the classiest.

"When I signed in 2007, I was committed to winning, and to this day I still am.  Nobody is more disappointed than I am with how things have turned out.  I enjoyed my time here in Milwaukee as both a player and a member of the community.  As such, I will continue my involvement with Brewers Charities for the remainder of the 2010 season.  My commitment to this cause and the people it serves is unwavering.

"I wish the Brewers organization, its fans and especially my teammates all the best."

Duke Lacrosse Redemption

It took three years, but the Duke lacrosse team has finally overcome the 2006 scandal that brought a promising season crashing to the ground. On Monday the Duke Blue Devils became the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Champions, the first championship in school history.


In 2006 the now-discredited rape case eventually caused Duke to end their season after only eight games. After investigations cleared all members of these charges, the NCAA awarded 33 Duke players an extra year of eligibility. Those 33 built the foundation of the "post-incident" Duke lacrosse team.


A few of those players took the field Monday, and were able to end their careers with a National Championship.

"It was hard," said Ned Crotty, who is now a fifth-year senior. "We knew no one liked us and we definitely leaned on each other. We realized the only thing that mattered was us. We knew everyone else hated us, so we knew we only had each other. That's why this team is so tight-knit."


The Blue Devils, whose high-powered offense came into the National Championship averaging 17.5 goals per game, were up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, whose goalie just happened to be the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, 6-foot-4, 254 pound Scott Rodgers.


The match-up would lead to the lowest scoring game in tournament history, as regulation ended with a 5-5 tie.


It took just 5 seconds in overtime for sophomore long-pole C.J. Costabile to win the opening face-off, sprint down the field, and score the game winning goal.



“It's sick,” Costabile said about scoring the game-winning goal. “The best feeling about it is we set this goal from the beginning of the year. Guys who have been here before me, [those guys] who have been here three times before and finally seeing them walk-off that field with a big smile on their faces are the best moment about that.”




The seniors who remained on the team after the 2006 scandal walked away from the stadium hoping this victory would change the stigma the Duke lacrosse team had been branded with.


"I hope this takes over the story of Duke lacrosse," Crotty said. "Hopefully we can put everything else to rest, so when people think of Duke lacrosse, they think 2010 national champions."

Roy Halladay, Ubaldo Jimenez, and the Brewers

,On Saturday, Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in Major League history, and the second this season (Oakland's Dallas Braden was the first). Halladay was absolutely nasty, making the right pitches at the perfect time and striking out 11 Marlins. This is just another great accomplishment for Halladay, who already has a Cy Young award and 7 All Star Appearances. With a 1.99 ERA, you'd think he'd be the frontrunner for this year's NL Cy Young, but a certain Colorado pitcher is blowing away the competition...

Rockies righty Ubaldo Jimenez has been absolutely lights out this season. He is the first pitcher to 10 wins and only two months have passed in the season. His ERA is filthy; 0.78 in 80 innings pitched. That means that he has only given up 7 runs all season. He even beat 2-time reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum yesterday. It is probably inevitable that his numbers will go up a little bit, but right now a Jimenez start essentially means a Rockies win. If he keeps up this pace, he is undoubtedly headed for an All-Star Game start, Cy Young award, and even in the running for NL MVP. We could be in for a historic season watching him.

Finally the Brewers. How disappointing this season has been. Already 9 games under .500, no one is fearing the beer right now. A couple thoughts:

• John Axford looks like a keeper in the Milwaukee bullpen. He throws super hard and has the potential, with fellow prospect Zach Braddock, to be in the back end of the Brewers pen for years to come. Plus he's trying to grow a handlebar mustache.
  
• I'm excited to see what Chris Capuano has to offer, as he is getting the start Thursday in Florida. I hope he does well, as he's come so far, but I don't think he could be as bad as Chris Narveson and Manny Parra have been.
• Corey Hart is on fire. Trade him while he still has value!
• How bad is the Brewers pitching? Besides having the third worst ERA in the majors (5.36), it is so bad that Brewers hitters lead the league in many of the major statistical categories and they still can't keep up. Ryan Braun is third in the NL with a .318 batting average, Casey McGehee is first in the NL with 41 RBIs and Corey Hart leads with 13 home runs. Alcides Escobar even leads the league with 5 triples. The old addage is that pitching wins championships and that is soooo true!
• Yes, everyone is saying this, but Jeff Suppan is horrible. Plain and simple. If the Brewers have better options than him, he shouldn't be on the team. I'm obviously not the person to determine that, but at this point money should not be a factor in deciding whether he stays or not.
• Bill Hall, still making roughly $8 million from the Brewers this season, threw a 1-2-3 inning for the Red Sox on Friday night.