Jan 20
Gentleman’s Quarterly came out with its list of the 25 most stylish men in the world, and a handful of athletes made the cut: LeBron James, Tom Brady, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham. [GQ]
Archive for the 'Trendspotting' Category
Jun 02
Tony Romo Descends Upon Lake Lewisville in Texas, Tries to Top Tom Brady in the Hat Department
NFL, Trendspotting 52 Comments »
Here’s Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo (winless in the playoffs; that ends this year, for sure) in a boat on Lake Lewisville, in Texas, with his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson and presumably some teammates. Note the curious plaid hat selection by Mr. Romo. Read the rest of this entry »
Feb 13
Trendspotting: Insane Athlete Witch Hunts
Drugs, Michael Phelps, Olympics, Trendspotting 30 Comments »
Richland County, S.C. is tough on crime. They are so intense that police raided a house-with guns raised- in February, based on a photograph of Michael Phelps taking a bong hit at a party in November.
They arrested and interrogated eight kids, not to uncover drug distribution networks but to find witnesses from the Phelps party.
Phelps, should he be convicted of the misdemeanor, faces a possible $200 fine and 30 days in jail. There is, however, no guarantee South Carolina could even extradite Phelps for such a minor crime. Read the rest of this entry »
Oct 09
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Lance Williams temporary left his perch inside Barry Bonds’ dark regions to pen this gem about the antics of the UC Davis Marching Band.
The band’s actions included the following.
* Band members enacted their “naked van†tradition on a road trip to Portland St., where all band members strip to their underwear after a jovial prankster yells “naked van.€Â The band ignored Slabaugh’s order to put their clothes back on. Read the rest of this entry »
Sep 23
This may be an earth-shattering statement for the sanctimonious media. Kids drink in college. They drink underage in college. I drank underage in college. You drank underage in college. If you didn’t drink underage in college, you were probably wasting your time. As long as you don’t get behind the wheel, it’s, most often, not a big deal.
Here is a little insight for those who function solely in the press box. Notre Dame has a culture of drinking. Â Beer flows freely in the common rooms of Notre Dame dorms. As long as you are not drinking in a game format, drinking hard liquor or inspired by the drinking to bring a girl back for the night (god forbid) no one causes a stink. Read the rest of this entry »
Sep 05
Intern Bill on The Shake, which might (ha!) be the “It” pitch in MLB next year.
When Daisuke Matsuzaka came to the United States in 2006, it was thought that he threw the Gyroball – a breaking pitch with such velocity and spin that it was mathematically impossible to hit, yet still thrown for a strike. The pitch itself was apocryphal, with Matsuzaka himself eventually admitting that it was more myth than reality. Still, the fact that fans were scouring the internet and looking at grainy footage of the so-called miracle ball signaled that there might be more hidden pitching gems to emerge from Japan.
Enter Satoru Komiyama, inventor and wielder of “The Shake.€ Outside of having one of the coolest pitch names since the “Bream Dream†in the outstandingly-bad 1991 baseball move Pastime, “The Shake†is best described as a 55-mph split-fingered knuckleball. Read the rest of this entry »
Aug 19
Trendspotting: Dustin Pedroia Has His Own Salsa
Athletes as Shills, Salsa, Trendspotting 54 Comments »
In the “Authentic Mexican†aisle of my local food-gathering establishment, I found Dustin Pedroia’s Premium Black Bean and Corn salsa. It tastes surprisingly decent, although I had to settle for the “medium†as the “muy caliente†was unavailable. It makes good guacamole with avocado and a little bit of lemon. The cursive “Boston†superimposed on the “B†of his official Red Sox picture for licensing purposes was also a fabulous detail.
But, why does Dustin have premium salsa judgment? Why not extend his enterprise to booze? What true Red Sox nation enthusiast wouldn’t want a pint of Pedroia’s Premium Pale Ale? What soused Boston lass wouldn’t want a shot of Pedroia? Read the rest of this entry »
Aug 11
So what’s the deal with athletes going hairless? Tyler Duffy of the Odds and Sods is curious.
The 80’s was a great time to be a man, and for more than just the cocaine and the acceptable ethnic stereotyping. Sexy for a man was Tom Selleck, and Tom Selleck was hairy. Corporal fur was a sign of virility, best accentuated by open shirts and short shorts. Guarding Kevin McHale on the block guaranteed a face full of follicle. Robin Williams could wear short sleeves in public.
Now, male body hair is something to be lanced, lasered, plucked and waxed into oblivion. Read the rest of this entry »