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The European Poker Tour was in Berlin over the weekend for an event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Potsdammer Platz and American Kevin MacPhee ultimately won the tournament, taking home €1m. It was some other gentlemen who made all the headlines though. On Saturday as play was going on, 4 armed robbers came into the ballroom and walked off with a low 6-figure haul. Amazingly, the cameras were rolling and capture (sort of) the whole thing, LIVE. Pretty amazing. [slanchreport]
Click the Read More link below for another video of the robbers entering the hotel
When I first sat down to write up a list of sports movies, it was coming out much too long. I had EVERYTHING on there. "Hmmm, M*A*S*H is a war movie, but it has that great football sequence in it; those Harry Potter movies have the best quidditch sequences ever filmed".... [guysgirl]
Realizing the column would wind up being 9 pages long, I then thought of doing a “top 10” list, or picking the best movies in each individual sport. Then I scrapped all those artificial constructions and just came up with MY list. These may or may not be the best sports movies ever, but they are my best sports movies ever.
Every film on this list is something which struck me when I first saw it and that I can watch over and over again. In keeping with that sort of “no particular definition” spirit, these movies are not in any order. This is not a ranking system, it’s just a list of sports titles that won’t let you down.
Bull Durham (1988)
Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
This is a charming and very funny film about a minor league baseball team and it’s “bonus baby” rookie (Robbins). Through the course of the season, he learns from a veteran mentor (Costner) and a cougar baseball groupie (Sarandon). The action is as fun and easy going as a baseball game on a warm summer night, but the real strength of Bull Durham is the excellent script and fine performances from the leads. There are TONS of laughs in this movie, and many of the very best and funniest sequences in the movie happen during conferences on the mound or in the dugout. Bull Durham is in part a love story, but the real story is how the film perfectly captures the simple pleasure of baseball and lets you join in loving the game.
Hit the jump to see the rest of essential sports movies you need to see in your life....
The Longest Yard (1974)
Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert
If you’ve only ever seen the hideously stupid 2005 Adam Sandler remake of this classic, do yourself a favor and watch the original. Burt Reynolds plays Paul Crewe, a disgraced former NFL quarterback who is sent to prison and is then coerced by the corrupt warden to stage a practice game between the guards and the inmates. The movie has real laughs in it, but it is mostly serious business. The climactic showdown on the gridiron contains some of the most realistic and meticulously shot sports action ever (which earned the picture an Oscar for film editing). The only thing I’ve ever seen that comes close is the mostly forgettable Any Given Sunday by Oliver Stone. The Longest Yard is vastly superior, and includes outstanding supporting performances including a few by NFL greats of the day, including “Engine” Joe Kapp and Ray Nitschke.
Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright
Lou Gehrig was nicknamed the “iron horse” for setting a record for consecutive games played that stood for over 50 years until finally being broken by Cal Ripken. His career and life were, ironically, shortened by the debilitating disease that bears his name. Gehrig is an iconic character for that reason, but beyond that the reason fans so connected with him was that he was truly one of those “regular guys” who just happened to play baseball. This biopic works so well, in part, because the quintessential Hollywood actor, Gary Cooper, is so very believable as Gehrig. Cooper and Wright make the story even more special by reminding us that the Lou Gehrig story was not just the fall of an everyman American hero, but a tragic love story as well (both were nominated for Oscars). Pride of the Yankees also contains one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed in a sports movie, the unforgettable “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” farewell speech delivered by Gehrig at Yankee stadium, with his voice reverberating through the PA system. Pride of the Yankees is a true classic, as timeless and persistent as the iron horse himself.
Love and Basketball (2000)
Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan
This movie is not considered a classic by any stretch, but there are so many reasons to love it I just couldn’t leave it off the list. Try this out: how about strong performances from Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan just as they were coming into their own as actors? How about a classic boy meets tomboy-next-door love story? How about a classic rich boy meets regular gal love story? How about some of the best women’s basketball sequences you will ever see on film? How about the far too often ignored story of how women athletes are put under the same tremendous pressures as men but receive only one-tenth of the recognition and glory, if that? Have I convinced you to see this picture yet?! Love and Basketball is smartly written, unique and well acted. You really can’t ask more from a sports film than that.
Rollerball (1975)
James Caan, John Houseman
When Rollerball was first released, it was one of a number of sci fi films at the time that depicted a creepy, dehumanized, big-brother style future. In the Rollerball universe, corporations rule the world, buy and sell people like property and offer the public a violent, unwinnable sport as entertainment. Enter Jonathan E (Caan), a Jordan-like superstar who grows bigger than the game itself and (damn him) won’t die, even when the powers that be start changing the rules to make the game ever more dangerous. The future depicted in this film might have seemed dated 10 or 15 years ago - you had those uniforms with the numbers in the very old style computer generated font, people blowing up trees for recreation, lots of buildings with ultra interiors - but something funny happened on the way to the rollerball rink. In an increasingly contentious political culture where the power of money seems to increase exponentially with each passing year, the Rollerball cautionary tale slowly came back into focus, and a viewing of the film today is still goosebump worthy, especially when that eerie organ music begins playing Bach‘s Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor. All of it works because of the strong performances from James Caan and John Houseman as a decidedly nasty detached villain. The action sequences on the rollerball rink are also a good bit of fun. Skip the atrocious remake of this picture and see the original.
Raging Bull (1980)
Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci
Scorcese’s masterpiece biopic on the life of Jake LaMotta was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 2 (including a Best Actor for DeNiro). DeNiro’s transformation was complete, both physically and inhabiting LaMotta as a character. Unbelievable direction and performances make this film an all time classic (Moriarty, in particular, has never been close to as good as she was in this picture). The film includes ample boxing footage that is shot with striking impact and realism. Raging Bull is an unforgettable and brutal film experience that has rarely been equaled.
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Derek Luke
Based on a true story, Friday Night Lights is dead on target as it captures the atmosphere surrounding high school football in Texas. The film smartly divides its energies between advancing it’s story line and character development, the latter endeavor made easy by a strong ensemble cast, lead by a brilliantly understated Billy Bob Thornton as embattled head coach Gary Gaines. There are plenty of football sequences in this film, and they are done exceptionally well, both in technical terms and in terms of advancing the story and building drama.
Million Dollar Baby (2005)
Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman
In retrospect, it seems like a foregone conclusion that this much talent would produce one of the all-time great movies, sports genre or otherwise. Clint Eastwood had already won a directing and best picture Oscar for Unforgiven. He won two more for this film. Morgan Freeman had been nominated three times previously. He won his first here. Hilary Swank had won an Oscar for Boys Don’t Cry. She took home her second. All of them were 100% deserved. Million Dollar Baby is a one-of-a-kind story, nothing like any movie you’ve ever seen, and after spending an hour of screen time building it’s unique and enthralling plot and trio of relationships, the film abruptly kicks into emotional overdrive, barely giving you time to fasten your seatbelt. Beyond that, this picture represents a chance to see the very best at what they do at their very best. If you’ve only watched this movie once, treat yourself to a repeat viewing.
Greased Lightning (1977)
Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, Pam Grier
The comic genius of Richard Pryor is on display in this picture which is less than a bio-pic, more of a “based upon the life of”, it tells the story of Wendell Scott, the first African-American stock racing champion. Pryor is in mid-70’s peak form here, and while this film doesn’t quite hit the hilarious high notes of Silver Streak, Pryor’s classic first on-screen collaboration with Gene Wilder, there are plenty of good laughs here, and a good story to go with it. While I am not a fan of NASCAR, the racing sequences in this movie are exciting and advance the story well. Not an all time classic, but a thoroughly enjoyable movie start to finish.
The Hustler (1961)
Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie
The first thing you’ll realize after watching The Hustler is that the atmosphere has staying power. You’ll practically taste the cheap scotch and smell the cigar smoke of the pool hall in the air. The second thing you’ll realize is that you’ve just seen true greatness. All four of the leads in this picture were nominated for Oscars, as well as its director Robert Rossen and the movie itself (it won in two other categories, for art direction and cinematography). I know this is a movie on the list that a lot of people may not have seen. If you only know the character of “Fast” Eddie Felson (played by Newman) from the good but not great sequel to this movie The Color of Money, you need to see the original. If you thought Jackie Gleason was just that fat guy from The Honeymooners, then you really need to see this movie. Gleason is absolutely masterful, dominating the screen in what would be a cameo role in the hands of a lesser actor. The Hustler is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
Bad News Bears (1976)
Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Vic Morrow
Bad News Bears is a movie that broke all the rules and was ahead of its time. A kids movie with cursing, drinking and racism? A kids movie where the adults are over-competitive jerks? A kids movie where the only adult “role model” is a borderline alcoholic washed up ex ball player? A sports movie where the heroes lose at the end?! If you haven’t given this movie a viewing since you were a kid, now is the time to do so as an adult and appreciate the novelty of the story, which is still relevant today, and the underrated performances of the stars, especially Vic Morrow as “bad guy” Roy Tanner. When I played little league, half the dads on the team were Roy Tanner. This movie was remade in 2005 with Billy Boy Thornton, and while I enjoyed the remake, the original remains a true classic and a superior sports movie to many so-called “grown up” pictures.
Hoosiers (1986)
Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
Most “top 10” sports movie lists I have seen have Hoosiers at #1 or top 3 at least. It is no surprise. Loosely based on the story of a tiny Indiana high school that won the state basketball championship in the ‘50sa, this is probably the best underdog story ever put on film. The performances are strong, especially Hopper’s Oscar nominated turn as the loveable and flawed Shooter, and Hackman is perfectly cast as Coach Norman Dale, whose competitive fire has burned him in the past. The basketball sequences in Hoosiers are truly outstanding and the film uses them to full advantage in delivering drama, tension and hopeful inspiration. It seems that this may be the reason that Hoosiers is so beloved and so lasting: it is the most uplifting of stories and is told with the utmost of skill.
Rocky (1976)
Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith
From one great underdog story to the next. If you pretend for a moment you didn’t know that Rocky would spawn a series of increasingly bad sequels, and that Stallone would go on to appear in a series of films that range from merely tolerable to completely unwatchable, it helps you to appreciate just how good a picture Rocky is. While it is an inspiring underdog tale, the thing that makes Rocky special are the characters, from the ugly duckling love story between Rocky and Adrienne (Stallone & Shire), to the comical working class bum Paulie (Burt Young) to the cantankerous trainer Mickey (a perfect Burgess Meredith), Rocky hit’s the right notes throughout the story, and builds to a satisfying climax of the fight between the Italian Stallion and Apollo Creed (an Ali-like character well played by Carl Weathers). As for the fight sequences themselves, they are very Hollywood - there is more action and hitting in 20 seconds of Rocky-boxing than you are likely to see in an entire heavyweight fight, but, while unrealistic, the fight itself is well in keeping with the tone of the movie and is just as enjoyable as the ride that gets you there. Yo Adrian!
North Dallas Forty (1979)
Nick Nolte, Mac Davis
North Dallas Forty was sometimes billed as “the film the NFL doesn’t want you to see” and with good reason. Based on the novel by former Dallas Cowboys receiver Peter Gent, North Dallas Forty is about the dehumanization of professional football players, and includes storylines of players being followed by investigators hired by their own team, being pressured into taking cortisone injections to play through injuries, and purposely injuring players on the opposing team. Pretty heavy stuff, but when you keep in mind that North Dallas Forty is also hilariously funny, it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase black comedy. The football sequences in this picture are not up to Longest Yard standards, but they’re not supposed to be. Instead, North Dallas Forty sticks to its theme and conveys the pain, exhaustion and despair that NFL players feel late in the fourth quarter of a game they need to win. While Hollywood has seen fit to remake every horror movie franchise from the 80s and a handful of 70s films that did not need to be remade (I’m talking to you, Pelham 123), I find it astounding that no one has attempted to re-work this story in some fashion, especially given the prominence and controversy surrounding drug and steroid use in professional sports today. Since they haven’t, do yourself a favor and see the film the NFL doesn’t want you to see.
Slap Shot (1977)
Paul Newman, Strother Martin, Lindsay Crouse
No lie, I have seen this movie 50 times and I still laugh just as hard. Slap Shot is simply the funniest sports movie ever made, and one of the funniest movies ever made, period. Besides creating some truly iconic movie moments and characters, Slap Shot delivers some fairly good ice hockey sequences (in between the fights, of course) and tells a pretty relevant story of minor league hockey players facing an uncertain future in an economically depressed Northeastern town (the town, team and uniforms were based on the ECHL’s Jonestown Jets) and dealing with a nameless, faceless owner who holds their lives in his (her?) hands. It doesn’t hurt that the movie gets a huge lift from the performances of its leads, especially Paul Newman, who is clearly having a blast in this film (he once told an interviewer that this was one of his all time favorite roles). One other interesting pieces of trivia. . .Slap Shot, which is clearly considered one of the all-time “guys” movies, was written by a woman, Nancy Dowd.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones
Field of Dreams contains one of the most stunning and beautiful visuals I have ever seen in any movie, the picture of the baseball diamond as it is carved out of the cornfield. It certainly didn’t surprise me to learn, a few years after I saw the movie, that the field itself is still there and is, in fact, a tourist attraction. The picture itself, however, has so much more going for it than just the visual. This is a truly unique, charming and engrossing story, told with complete reverence for the game of baseball, and features some great performances (in particular, the criminally overlooked Amy Madigan as Costner’s feisty “stand by your man” wife and Burt Lancaster, who was absolutely brilliant in his final role in an American film). In the end, Field of Dreams ties up its fantasy elements and lets us in on the secret that the story has been about a father and son, and the bond between them forged through baseball, all along. If you didn’t cry in the final sequence of this picture, when Costner’s Ray Kinsella asks his resurrected dad to play catch with him, you are either a robot or you died before the movie ended.
One final note: if you’ve only ever seen the cut up edited for TV version of some of the older movies on this list, do yourself a favor and find the original theatrical versions. Like I said, every movie on this list is one you can watch again and again.
[guysgirl2]
NBC has drawn some heat for its controversial tape delayed Olympic coverage, and this is sure to add some heat to the fire. As a result of a production error, the men's bobsled from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics never aired, and the network has chosen to subtly work it into this year's Vancouver Olympics.[realfakesports]
"We just reviewed some past Olympic broadcasts to see what we could improve on," said one production assistant, "and someone discovered the 2002 men's bobsled never made it to air. A pretty big oversight. We're just hoping that when we finally get around to broadcasting it no one notices it's from eight years ago, or that it says 'Salt Lake City' instead of 'Vancouver' on pretty much everything."
Luckily for NBC, Bob Costas hasn't changed his hairstyle in roughly 29 years, so there is little need to modify the studio reports for the event.
NBC's tape-delayed coverage of Olympics frustrating for sports fans (SI.com)
Sorry, Tom, NBC's Coverage Sucks (Capitals Kremlin)
Many Olympians have family who have or still do participate in the same sport, sometimes they even compete together. Two sports that feature multiple sets of siblings in these games are doubles luge and ice dancing. [slanchreport]
So, the Slanch Report has just one question for you. Which is more awkward to do, doubles luging with your brother or having to do a romantic tango with your sister? And yes, that's John and Sinead Kerr, siblings, and Wolfgang and Andreas Linger, brothers in the photos.
Which is it! Vote in the poll below!
or
In what probably is the most anticipated press conference in history, Tiger Woods finally emerged from hiding to deliver his statement to the world. [guysgirl]
And the world was waiting.
First impressions were that he seemed very sincere, contrite and genuine in his apology. There were also times where he seemed angry-especially at the accusations of him using PED's and even more so when addressing the treatment of his family by the paparazzi.
Since the accident, tabloid sites have hounded his mother and Elin but most disturbingly, following his children to and from school and even reporting the name and location of the school.
Some of his statements made were
-- "I thought I could get away with anything I wanted to ... I thought I was entitled ... I don't get to play by different rules."
-- "As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time."
-- "I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again."
-- "I do plan to return to golf one day, but I don't know when that will be."
-- "Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy."
-- "Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology."
From reading the updates on Twitter and other sites, a lot of people seem to be bashing Tiger in a pathetic way criticizing anything he says and the order in which he says it.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
The most touching quote he made was "its up to me to start living a life of integrity, its not what you achieve in life that matters, its what you overcome".
After his closing, Tiger gave a long embrace to his mother that was in attendance (along with the PGA Commissioner) and walked out of the conference with a hand to his head as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulder.
Well said Tiger and the Golf world will be happy to have you back. [guysgirl2]
Wednesday night was a phenomenal night of Olympics for Americans, one superstar after another took his or her turn on top of the podium and in the process justified all the cash NBC has spent promoting them. For my money, Shaun White's victory was the most impressive, just because it was sheer domination, he was so far beyond the rest of the field that it never was really close. [slanchreport]
NBC managed to capture a special moment between White and US snowboard coach Bud Keene before White took his victory run. First off, is there a cushier position than being the snowboarding coach? I'm guessing he spends 90% of his time drinking and smoking pot. On second though, where do I sign up for that? It turns out that Keene needs to get his mouth washed out with soap after dropping a bunch of swears live on-air. I for one appreciated it. Fuck NBC and their tape-delays, and so when they are live, I fully support messing with them.
sorry about the low volume, something is busted in my camera I think, but I'm working on it.[slanchreport2]
Remember when we brought you the incredibly dope goalie mask that Ryan Miller had made for the Olympics, well it seems that the IOC is less impressed with the hotness and more concerned with things like trademarks and advertising. How else can you explain them telling Jonathan Quick he needed to remove the "Support our Troops" decal on the back of his mask. Or telling Miler his mask can't have the Olympic rings on the front. The IOC also told Miller he needed to remove the part of his mask where it said "Miller Time" and "Matt Man." The first one obviously relates to Miller's last name and the latter to his cousin who died and Miller wanted to honor. [slacnhreport]
Nice ones IOC, you guys are worse than the NCAA. And it's one thing to get all bitchy about the rules, but these are PROFESSIONAL hockey players, it's not like they're amateurs, what's the big deal?
[Reuters] [slacnhreport2]
I completed my mission. If you don't know what I'm talking about then read my column from Friday, but basically I set out to watch my first NASCAR race, from start to finish, to try and find out why millions upon millions of fans watch the sport each week. [favredollarfootlongs]
What I planned on doing is sitting on my couch for four to five hours to watch the Daytona 500 in hopes of finding a reason to love the sport. What I ended up doing is sitting on the couch for seven hours and recording a meticulous journal of all the events that took place from the opening concert, to the commentators, to the commercial, and of course the race. Did I enjoy the race? Did I find that thing that so many other people across the country love so much about NASCAR? You'll find out after you're done reading my Daytona Diary. Come on! I sat through seven hours to find out my answer the least you can do is read through one column to find out yours.
12:25pm - I returned home from the gym at noon; psychologically prepared for five hours of cars going around in circles. I turned on Fox and was pleasantly surprised to see a Tim McGraw concert happening at Daytona. Well not pleasantly surprised since I'm not the biggest T McG fan, but it wasn't too bad. I especially enjoyed the ridiculous Daytona 500 jackets that they gave to the celebrities there. I wasn't using my undivided attention on him so I don't even know any of the songs he played, but I did find it funny that he had to hop in a car window of a race car just to cruise about 50 feet off the stage. That's when I learned that this was definitely the Super Bowl of NASCAR. Whenever you have lots of unnecessary events and props then it's definitely a Super Bowl.
1:00pm - The concert finished and I got to experience some NASCAR pre-game at the "Hollywood Hotel". That's what they called it. I forgot to write down the names of everyone, but according to Wikipedia it was Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond in the studio. The broadcast booth, which I'll get to soon enough, consisted of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, and Larry McReynolds. I already prepared with a little studying myself by watching Jimmie Johnson 24/7 on HBO and also I watched Inside NASCAR on Showtime. The entire analysis basically consisted of them talking about every team move by racers and that basically every team had a chance to win the race.
1:18 - The start of the Daytona 500! Right as the race began we heard the insightful words of Larry McReynolds, say, "Reach up there and pull those belts tight one more time!" Then the catch phrase of the day came. I had no clue it was a catch phrase by Darrell Waltrip until I looked it up, but I guess he starts every race with this gem.
"Boogity, Boogity, Boogity. Let's Go Racing Boys!"
The race got off pretty smooth. Mark Martin started out in front with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. second and Jimmie Johnson third. The placement stayed the same for a few laps. Mark Martin moved up to first as he crossed the fifth lap, which got the broadcast team really excited. That's like getting excited for receiving silverware when you go to dinner. It really doesn't mean anything.
1:26 - We got our first wreck! Finally! It took eight minutes for a wreck. I thought NASCAR was trying to make crashes happen more frequent. This was the start to many cautions throughout the day. The crash involved Regan Smith, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Brad Keselowski. Yeah, I didn't know who they were either. I did learn that basically every time there's a caution that once the race starts back up basically everyone goes to pit row for new tires and gas.
1:38 - Mark Martin got caught in the middle of the two lanes of cars. I thought this was hilarious. Picture yourself at the front of a buffet line and you forget a napkin so you go back in between the two lines and no one will let you back in. That's basically what happened to Mark Martin. He just stood in the middle as everyone passed him and lost a solid twenty spots.
1:57 - This is when I learned that this Super Bowl is nowhere near the football's Super Bowl. The commercials were horrible. I got my first glimpse of a new show coming to Fox called Sons of Tucson that is about three kids who pay a thirty-some year old guy who looks like he still lives at his parent's house to act as their father. I know I've seen a movie with the same premise before. I think Sinbad was in it. I can't remember though.
2:06 - Lap 50 is completed. At this point I'm thinking the race is going pretty well. It's only been 48 minutes to reach 50 laps so I'll be done watching this race in about three hours or less. Everyone decided to pit again. I was a little disappointed with the pit crew displays. I thought they'd focus some more on how quick they were changing tires and everything. They put times up for pit stops, they displayed how many tires they exchanged, but that was about it. I just heard so much emphasis on how crucial the teams were so I thought they'd talk about them a little more. I did think it was cool how quick they filled up gas. I'd definitely like to roll through a gas station where some dude was out there with this huge plastic gas container and just poured it down the gullet really quick to cap me off.
2:11 - A preview for a new show on FX called Justified had a pretty cool commercial. The one guy from The Shield is in it and it showed him searching around a house with a shotgun and as he turns the corner the other guy points a pistol right into his face. Looked like some cool effects and FX has definitely been on point with television shows.
2:13 - We got to see an in-studio display of the front of a race car. They showed how the racers have some tape on the front of the grill of the car to block intake, which makes the car more stable. They said if you have the piece of tape on it's like having two new wheels, but some guys had to take it off due to overheating. I never knew 1/8" of tape could mean so much.
2:19 - We got our second wreck and this one was fatal. I'm kidding, but I wish it was. Okay, I'm kidding again. This one involved just Joe Nemecheck who was knocked out of the race from the damage. Somehow he didn't hit anyone else. Do NASCAR's have air bags?
2:25 - Another pitiful commercial. This one was from Nationwide Insurance where they tried to persuade the "World's Greatest Spokesperson" to come and market for them. The end result was that you had to go to a web site to see the rest of the video. I don't want to watch your commercial. Why would I want to visit a web site to see more of it?
2:40 - We get our second Sons of Tucson commercial. Still looks just as bad. We also got our third caution on the 81st lap.
2:55 - The excitement begins! Jeff Gordon passes Kyle Busch to take the lead and for the first time all day, the inebriated fans find the strength and ability to stand and cheer. I lifted my head off the pillow!
2:56 - Lap 100 of 200. Not too shabby. Still on pace to end before 5pm. I'm going strong at this point and starting to learn all the race cars now and getting into it a little more.
3:08 - I learn that every car out there is loose. This is supposedly because the track hasn't heated up enough yet so you don't get as much grip. Very interesting.
3:10 - A trailer for the movie Cop Out. Quick name me a good movie with Tracy Morgan?
3:12 - We get back from commercial and the racers are on their fourth caution. John Andretti hit a wall or something. Of course we missed it during a commercial. Just my luck.
3:23 - Red Flag is out! It is at this point where everything completely changes in the race. The pace, the broadcasting booth, the teams, and most importantly, my attitude. A decent sized piece of asphalt has been displaced from the track and therefore the race has come to a halt. It's a healthy pothole around the one corner of the track. The broadcast team says that they just have to fill it with concrete and it will be about 10-12 minutes before racing begins. I thought it would take much longer. I was right. Anyone who complains about sitting through baseball instant replays should have to sit through this.
I then learn that the track hasn't been repaved since August 1978. Are you kidding me? I understand you want heritage and tradition, but I can't believe during the past 30 years there haven’t been improvements in pavement to make the track better so stupid stuff like this doesn't happen. Maybe they just want to keep Dale Earnhardt's blood stains there forever.
3:24 - I'm much happier. I flip to the Penguins game and I lucked out because overtime is just about to begin. Ten to twelve minute break is no problem anymore since I get to watch the Pens play the Predators in OT.
3:30 - The Pens get a 4 on 3 power play in OT due to a holding penalty. They have to win now.
3:40 - The shootout ends abruptly after the Pens miss two straight shootout shots and Nashville makes both of theirs. Back to NASCAR.
3:45 - Still no racing.
3:52 - The third and still horrible Sons of Tucson commercial.
3:55 - Racers are finally allowed to leave their car to grab a bite to eat or take a piss break. They had to sit in their car the whole time before that. This pothole could still be awhile.
4:23 - An hour later and still no racing! I'm losing my patience with this sport.
4:41 - The broadcasters don't have much to talk about so they're interviewing any racer they can. We get a nice interview about the Speed Channel.
4:42 - A Larry the Cable Guy sighting.
4:53 - I flipped on the USA Women's Hockey game versus China. The score was 9-0 USA. There really needs to be a mercy rule for any Asian hockey teams.
5:04 - Cars finally begin to move again after a 1 hour and 41 minute delay. At least when there are rain delays in baseball we get to watch Mark Buhrle slip and slide across the tarp. This was just unbearable.
5:07 Lap 122 finally begins.
5:09 - The second "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" is spoken by Darrell Waltrip. Maybe the delay was worth it!
5:17 - The announcers tried to take any positives they could out of the delay. They said that because the track heated up now that this would be an entire different race with cars racing three lanes at a time and speeds would increase. Speeds didn't increase and there never were three lanes of cars.
5:24 - First fire of the day and fifth caution due to #43 A.J. Allmendinger having some car problems. I love going by car numbers, but even the racers call everyone by their number.
5:34 - 50 laps to go! The race really should be over by now.
5:42 - Sixth caution. I was thinking, wouldn't it be a great idea if Google just sponsored every single race car? They could basically purchase the whole sport. Plus if you see any interview with a race car driver the first words out of their mouth is their sponsor’s name. Anytime they would be asked a question they could just respond with Google It.
5:49 - Please God NO! The pothole is back and worse than ever. More and more pieces around it eroded it. This is where I really get pissed. We hear from the broadcasters that this time they're going with a different option that dries much faster and is a very durable epoxy. Why wouldn't you do that in the first place? Completely idiotic. This better not last long.
6:20 - Fourth Sons of Tucson commercial. I think the show has been canceled already.
6:34 - Drivers are in their cars and getting ready to move again.
6:36 - The race is back on with the normal caution to begin with.
6:38 - Every single driver pits, except for one. The badass who didn't is named Scott Speed. If there's going to be the one tough guy during a race I'm glad his name is Scott Speed.
6:44 - The caution is about to end and it immediately goes back up due to debris on the course. This is more of an ordeal then I could have ever dreamed of.
6:47 - Race finally begins again without a caution and there are about 33 laps to go.
6:53 - There are 25 laps to go and Scott Speed is still in the lead!
6:56 - We have to have another commercial break with 20 laps left.
7:00 - Jimmie Johnson, the racer I wanted to win, blows a tire thanks to that sweet epoxy pothole and he's done for the day.
7:03 - Darrell starts getting really excited about Kevin Harvick. He yells out a "That car is crazy fast!" and proclaims him the fastest car on the track. He wasn't even in first place.
7:05 - 10 laps to go! The end is in sight. I think.
7:07 - 7th caution of the day/night. Ryan Newman just destroyed his car with about six laps to go.
7:16 - Due to the wreck the caution has been out and we only have two lefts to go. I learned that NASCAR has installed some new rule that makes it so that with two laps left there is a green flag, then with one a white flag, and then the checkered. If there is an accident before the white flag then it restarts to the same rotation again for up to three times.
7:17- 8th Caution. Did I expect it not to happen? The rule is fully on display as Bill Elliot takes out Joey Logano.
7:22 - Breaking news! A deal has been cut between Jamie McMurray & Kevin Harvick so that McMurray will draft behind Harvick and push him towards the lead. I didn't know there were so many politics between teams. This deal stuff just seems a little shady and unfair. Not sure if I like it.
7:24 - The green flag is back up. 2 laps to go. The best move of the day came here. The deal paid off and Harvick jumps to first.
7:24 - Harvick is in first for about 20 seconds and then caution number 9 is out! Sucks for him. Jeff Gordon decided to bump Kasey Kahne a couple times and he flew off the track into the grass.
7:31 - The final green, white, checkered flag sequence will finally happen!
7:32 - We finally reach a white flag. Last lap!
7:33 - Waltrip really wants Dale Jr. to win. Jr. jumps from 10th to 2nd. I think it was all from the encouragement he got from Waltrip yelling "Look out Jr., Come on Jr. Come on!"
7:33 - Jamie McMurray wins the Daytona 500! I have officially witnessed an entire NASCAR race that lasted 6 hours and 15 minutes
I just witnessed my first NASCAR race and I spent over seven hours doing so. I can't remember the last time I spent seven hours doing anything from start to finish. It was a wild ride for sure. I learned a lot from the day; probably more then I'd like to learn. I learned that I can stick to a commitment even when things change unexpectedly. I found out many new interesting things about NASCAR that I never knew before and I realized that you never know what to expect during a race. I don't know how anyone could gamble on this sport.
Most importantly, I learned that I will never watch a NASCAR race again; from start to finish. I don't know how anyone does it. I know people say they only need to watch the end of the game for baseball and I totally disagree with them, but in racing it seems like you only need to watch towards the end. There are no home runs or web gems that can change the outcome of the game early on. In racing it doesn't matter at all if you have the lead. I guess the wrecks are cool and those people are out of the race so it's good to know who's left, but it's not like any moment in the first 150 laps meant anything significant. If you don't wreck and stay with the pack until the end then you have a shot to win. I can see watching the end of races and paying attention to standings throughout the year, but that's about it.
I gave it a shot though. I really wanted to love NASCAR. I didn't find the thing that other NASCAR fans love. Instead I did enjoy the sport and respect what these drivers and teams do. I'll probably pay attention to the standings and flip to the event each week from now on. I enjoyed it at times, but not enough to become a fan. Maybe loving a new sport is much tougher then I thought. Maybe I just have to take baby steps. I've never tried to love a new sport before; most people have never attempted it either.
I'm happy I did it though and I'm still waiting for that good Tracy Morgan movie answer. [favredollarfootlongs2]
The opening ceremonies were merely OK tonight. China really killed it and the Canadians are no match for them. For the most part everything was fine but at the climax of the ceremony, the torch lighting everything went kablooee. Instead of 4 pillars rising out of the floor to form the Fortress of Solitude torch, only 3 came out. I guess the 4th had stage fright? [slanchreport]
The best part of this is how uncomfortable Gretzky is as he stands there for several minutes. He looks like he's terrified they're going to ask him to fix it himself.
Sure everyone knows that Valentine's day is complete retail sham to get you to feel the need to spend money on your loved on to prove "yes you really do love them" but to some companies, Valentine's day is the only day they have to try and convince you to buy their worthless crap. [guysgirls]
I'm talking about the Vermont Teddy Bear and Pajama Gram who obviously are unaware of what a "real woman" wants because the main products they offer are well....crap.
Let's take a poll.....
How many ladies would open up a gift on Valentine's day, see this...... and actually want to sleep with you?
Forget the flowers and nice meal out, get me a bear with a tattoo in his sexy boxers! But just in case you were worried about the bear's health , don't worry, the box the bear is shipped in actually has an air hole.
Yes, a freaking air hole. If you are under the age of 50 and spent the average cost of $80 on this, do yourself a favor and set it on fire.
If you choose to take the risk of still getting this bear, trust me, you will lose your dignity and self respect and that my friend is worth a lot more than $80. Do you hear her friends making fun of you yet? Give it time....
The next lame Valentine's day company is the Pajama Gram company. All of the items listed on their site looks like way overpriced items they got at the on sale at an old Walmart before it was made into a "high class" Super Walmart.
Some of this stuff is more expensive than Victoria Secrets for God's sake. But the main item the company was marketing is the Hoodie-Footie Snuggle Suit™.
"Its the perfect mix between your fuzzy slippers, hoodie and soft cozy towel".
Perhaps if I was a 80 years old with 17 cats I would maybe entertain the $99 price tag but instead I'd like to keep my dignity, thanks though.
But I could be wrong, this item has apparently SOLD OUT for Valentine's day and will not be ready until September. Dammit, just when I was about to hit "add to cart".....
So please guys, do yourself a favor, save your money from these crappy gifts and take your girl out. All she wants is a little QT and some flowers.
Doing so will keep your balls firmly intact.
[guysgirls2]
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