Marcus McGee, 34, said he disliked the footballer's attitude when requesting a card that controlled the stereo. "I would describe it as bad and rude. He was bad-mannered straight away. I acted in proportion to what his attitude was.Gerrard later came back and asked McGee, "What the fuck is your problem?" and it was on like Donkey Kong. After getting up from the stool, McGee was beat down by several people including Gerrard. Bar staff testified that Gerrard walked off in "a huff" after having his music requests turned down before returning to throw some 'bows. There are only so many times that people want to hear "You'll Never Walk Alone".
"When you see a famous person like that you do not think you are going to have a fight or trouble with them."
He told Liverpool crown court that Gerrard, 29, said "something to the effect of, 'Here you are, lad, give me that.' "
He refused: "It was my job, so I didn't hand it over." McGee said the manager of the Lounge Inn in Southport had asked him to be in charge of the music as he wanted to get everyone dancing.
He told the court that Gerrard made a move to try to grab the card off him to take it away and recalls it slipping on to the floor. The footballer walked away.
"I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me. Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that's when I reacted."No apology for the guido fist pumps? Gerrard and his friends were getting drunk on Budweiser and Jammy Donut shots. That alone should be a crime. No respectable man should drink anything called a Jammy Donut unless he's on his knees and/or in jail. He later cried when a letter of support from Kenny Dalglish was read before the court. Pull yourself together and have some dignity. Any real Scouser would have taken pride in beating down someone in a bar. He also would have run the victim's pockets. The jury should begin deliberating tomorrow. Don't worry, Liverpool fans. He'll be on the pitch for the first game of the season. He's no Joey Barton.
Cooperstown Confidential: Heroes, Rogues, and the Inside Story of the Baseball Hall of Fame...Castillo said he had been having pitching control problems earlier in the game, became frightened as the brawl began, and did not throw at an opposing player or with the intention of hitting anyone.Castillo is now on the Boise Hawks, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. That's about right. He's ineligible to play pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
"I saw that the players with the Dragons were coming," the Spanish-speaking Castillo said, testifying through a translator. "I was nervous and frightened. I threw the ball in front of the dugout to see if they would go back. I didn't throw it to hit anyone."
“I wasn’t working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star. I wasn’t working on a black man. I was working on another human being.”Lewis' widow, Donna Lewis, admitted she was shocked when she heard that Crowley was involved in Skipgate.**
“That’s incredible,” Lewis, 44, exclaimed. “It’s an unfortunate situation. Hopefully, it can resolve itself. The most important thing is peace.”It's honorable that Crowley did what he could to save Lewis' life. However his actions that day don't absolve him from future actions that can be seen as racist. Arresting Gates after establishing his identity is pretty suspect at the least. Would the same thing have happened to Larry Summers? N ... Oh good point, Howard Fineman.
Noel Gallagher of Oasis has some interesting things to say about his favorite soccer team. Man City's number one fan** sat down with Football365 and discussed the state of the team. Topics included their newly found riches and the prospects for the upcoming Premier League season. Here are some highlights:No. I'm absolutely loving it, and if you ask 99.9% of City fans they would say the same. I'm sick of supporting loveable, affable City - fuck that, we want the best players in the world, playing the best football in the world in the best stadium in the world, owned by the richest people in the world.On being worried about high player wages:
If the club was a PLC and it was my money being spent on wages then yes, I'd be mighty pissed off. But it's not my money, it's not your money, and what right has anyone to tell anyone what to spend their money on? As City fans we're absolutely fucking loving it.On Citeh's prospects for the upcoming season:
I think with no European commitments we can go all out in the Premier League. I don't think we can challenge for the title but I expect us to finish between fourth and sixth. I think if Mark Hughes can't pull this off, then he's only got himself to blame.Many of Gallagher's views echo the sentiments of Chelsea supporters (myself included) when Roman Abramovich bought the club and saved it from likely bankruptcy. He makes a point that Chelsea fans have made when challenged on becoming a "big club".
There's a funny English attitude where almost overnight, attitudes change. I've lived in London for 15 years and every time I got in a black cab they've said, "Oh you're a City fan, we love City," and now they all think we're arrogant with ideas above our station. It's a funny English attitude towards success and money.People hate it when anyone new comes in and threatens to upset the old order namely being Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Man City are no different than Chelsea in that sense. Gallagher should also note the drawbacks to wealthy owners who often see their teams as fantasy teams and stop listening to sensible advice. Maybe he'll come back to earth when he sees that money doesn't solve everything in football. Money is to football as alcohol is to life. It's the cause of and solution to all problems.
Ronaldo is set to play himself in an Iranian movie about a Palestine girl who was killed before realizing her dream of meeting him.It's unclear how they'll make a whole movie out of this but what Ahmadinejad wants, Ahmadinejad gets. Ronaldo will only appear in a few scenes which will take place in Alneyrab's dreams. Let's hope the dreams involve his participation in humanitarian missions as opposed to his nights rolling tranny heavy. The latter might not go over so well in Iran these days.
Still without a title, the movie is based on the true story of Alneyrab, a 13-year-old girl who dreamed of meeting the soccer star when he visited the Middle East on a humanitarian mission in 2005. She was only able to watch her idol pass through along with his entourage, and later was killed in a conflict in the region.
Mattingly acknowledged confronting his mother, Kim Mattingly, on Tuesday afternoon in her Evansville home after she had sent him a text message insulting him, his girlfriend and his father, Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Deputy Nathan Espenlaub said Wednesday.Insulting three people in one text message is rather impressive. Kim claims that Taylor became angry with her after she couldn't get a car dealer to trade his car in for another one. He blew his lid when cut off his satellite TV service. He came over to her house within 15 minutes and and that's when things popped off. You can't cut off Home Improvement in Indiana and not expect to reap the whirlwind.
The deputy wrote in an affidavit that Mattingly acknowledged pushing his mother down and spitting on her. Mattingly, who surrendered to police Tuesday evening, also acknowledged smashing a patio table, flipping over a second table and damaging a patio door and a window.
The affidavit states that Taylor Mattingly, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 42nd round in 2003 but no longer plays professionally, said his mother had been drinking and that when she gets drunk she calls him and makes rude comments.
By now, everyone should know the whole Ben Roethlisberger civil suit story, and if you dont go ahead and read this then come on back. Ok, now, everyone should also know that ESPN is purposefully not reporting on this news story, even releasing statements why they wont cover it, despite those statements being contradictory to what has been done by TWWL in the past. If you haven't seen this discussion, read here and even here then come on back. After reading all that, I am sickened but not surprised by ESPN's course of action here.
The utter arrogance on the network's part to decide what is and what is not news is inexcusable. It begs the question about what kind of racial bias the network has, it brings to mind what kinds of corporate biases the network has with all of its partnership deals with the very sports they cover and the advertisers they have, and it brings to mind whether or not the network should even be as huge and powerful as they are.
They have no problem reporting about a dead for over 2 weeks Steve McNair's blood alcohol content, for no reason whatsoever since he was the one who was murdered, but when the Super Bowl winning quarterback get sued for sexual assault, this is not considered news. When a former super bowl winning wide-receiver gets sued in a civil suit for injuries sustained during a shootout, ESPN was all over it...but not for Roethlisberger's sexual assault civil suit.
What gives? ESPN owes everyone a real explanation here. They dropped the ball. Big time. Especially considering that every other news establishment felt that this story was actual news.
I've long since given up going to ESPN for news for various reasons, including those listed above, but obviously most of America has not and ESPN owes it to its viewers to report the news not through ESPN colored glasses.Or hey, maybe ESPN is right and everyone is wrong. I mean, no one could possibly believe that Ben Roethlisberger would ever be out of control...right?
This is just further proof that former Buffalo Bill J.P. Losman can't cut it in the NFL right here. The rumors were true, instead of holding out for a backup QB position in the big leagues, Losman has decided to sign with the Las Vegas UFL team coached by Jim Fassel. Here's his quote from the Seattle P.I.:"I have followed J.P.'s career since his early days with Buffalo, where he impressed me with his raw talent, passing accuracy and on-field competitiveness," Fassel said. "J.P. has all the attributes of a great professional quarterback, and I am truly looking forward to working with him."
See how Fassel didnt say that he actually was a great quarterback, just that he had talent and attributes of a great quarterback? Pretty good with the words he is, also, pretty easy to be accurate when you havent thrown more than 200 balls in each of the last 2 years. Although I dunno what other attributes of a great QB he has other than actually being a quarterback. Fassel must have some keen eye that I don't have...which is why he's coaching in the UFL and not me I guess. Finally, you laugh like a damn girl JP! A GIRL! Ahem...well its true.
Next washed up QB to sign with the USFL? Everyone's money is on Sexy Rexy. He never disappoints...except when he always does.
From Seattle P.I.
Williams and the club were both found guilty of fabricating a cut to the mouth in order to allow substituted fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field with five minutes remaining.Two members of the team's medical team had misconduct charges dismissed which seems a bit suspect. Did Williams have fake blood on him before the medics came out to "assist" him? He couldn't have hatched the plan himself. The director of rugby was also cleared although the club was fined £215,000 half of which is suspended for two years. Someone else had a hand in this subterfuge fail but we may never know the full details until Williams has an author ghostwrite his inevitably uninteresting autobiography. See Cashley Cole.
Television cameras spotted Williams winking towards the bench with 'blood' smeared around his mouth.
"One of the guys was saying things that wasn't very nice. It was stepping over the line," Beckham said. "I said, `You need to calm down and come shake my hand,' and he jumped over."Suckering fans into getting arrested isn't going to help Beckham's cause despite setting up both Galaxy goals. It's probably a matter of time before Goldenballs and Posh pack up and head back to Milan or London for good. Chelsea and Spurs have both expressed interest in acquiring the England international.
Minor league baseball teams will do anything to get people to games, even appealing to demographics that most sports teams ignore, such as pregnant women. The Brooklyn Cyclones had a salute to pregnancy on Sunday where they offered a centerfield Lamaze class before the game, pregnancy food favorites such as pickles, ice cream, anchovy pizzas etc., a run/walk around the bases, a ceremonial first pitch by women in their 3rd trimester and if any woman gives birth at the stadium before the end of the game, the entire family gets tickets for life.
Antoine Walker and Charles Barkley might have more in common than we think. Once thing we do know, besides their propensity to drive while under the influence, is that they both like to borrow insane amounts of money from casinos...and don't give a damn about paying that debt back on time. Walker was arrested yesterday at a Harrah's casino in Lake Tahoe yesterday for failing to pay back his markers by writing a string of bad checks to casinos...$1 million worth to be exact. Yea, that would make it a felony.
See, the thing about Chuck is, he had the money, he just took his sweet time to pay it back. Antoine apparently doesn't. This is a particularly stunning assumption since he has made about $100 million just in his NBA salaries alone. His spending might have set a new record in blowing through one's cash. I mean, unless you are Montgomery Brewster you have zero reason to burn your money that fast. None. One thing is certain however, Antoine Walker is the single worst gambler on the planet. Bar none. What on earth was he playing in there? Some bullshit Pai Gow Poker, War or some other crazy carnival game? Seriously, where were those 1-800-GAMBLER commercials when he needed them.
ts Friday ladies and gentlemen, not as prolific a week for us, but you really cant blame us, it was the slowest sports week of the year. THE WHOLE YEAR. Which means we should see what other creative types are posting today, to help spread the blogging love. Enjoy these links today...and welcome to the Constitutional. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @chimpanzeerage and @mredonkulous. Also, be a fan of our brand spanking new Facebook Page for the Deuce. We're gettin hip to the times here."Michael was bulimic. ... It hit me when Magic [Johnson] was talking about Michael sitting on the floor with him eating Kentucky Fried Chicken. ... Everyone thought that was a great thing at the memorial service, and it was. Only thing, what Magic -- and everyone else -- didn't realize: Michael then would have gone and thrown up all of that.Bulimia ain't cool. Even when Magic try to do right, he do wrong just like the Magic Hour.
"He would down unbelievable amounts of things like KFC extra-crispy chicken -- like a whole family-size bucket by himself -- or a couple of large Domino's pizzas or two or three whole Marie Callender's pies ... and then go throw them up,'' a clear sign of bulimic behavior.
Somehow, this is apparently not photoshopped. That is a freaking 9 foot long, 193lbs catfish that was caught by a 4'10", 84lb, 14 year old girl. It only took her 20 minutes to real the monster in. Insanity. Its like a real life General Sherman
Look at these awesome outfits that John Daly was rocking during the practice sessions for the British Open. What other person could get away with golfing, with a cigarette in mouth, wearing those awesome pants? No one! As a matter of fact, I am not 100% sure that John Daly can actually get away with it, but ya know what, he doesn't give a rats ass what I or anyone else thinks. You know why? Because he's John "grip it and rip it" Daly thats why.
Fan-freakin-tastic. The British Open should be quite a show, if not just for the clothing alone.
Travis Henry gets 3 years in prison for financing a multi-state drug ring. He also got 5 years probation and 500 hours of rehab. Apparently with the rehab completed adn with good behavior he might be able to get out of jail in as little as 16 months.
Again, the most complete team in the ACC is VaTech led by Tyrod Taylor. The Matador is giving no love to Miami (Randy Shannon, it's just not working out). The last time Miami won a league title was when they played in the Big East in 2003. Virginia's Al Groh needs to figure out a way to put pressure on the ball, and I'm not sold on their version of the spread offense. As for Duke.......well, basketball is really their sport.
Matador, I saw your blog on the Big 10 on Deuce of Davenport, would be interested to get your read on Iowa. They played very well last season with several very close losses. Could they surprise this season? Decent QB, nice receiving corps and solid O-line. Great experience at LB and secondary. Tough schedule getting OSU, PSU and Wisconsin on the road but I am thinking they may be a nice ATS team this season. Any thoughts appreciated... A Fan The Iowa Hawkeyes had a successful and promising 2008 campaign and ended the season thumping South Carolina in the Outback Bowl 31-10. Fans should expect more of the same in 2009 as Kirk Ferentz is returning 14 starters (6 on offense and 8 on defense) led by seasoned QB Ricky Stanzi. The defense will be solid with a few exceptions at the line. There will be some concern about plugging up the middle. However, the linebackers are arguably the best in the conference next to Penn State's and will wreak havoc for opposing offenses. Their secondary has 3 returning starters lead by Amari Spievey. The defensive line will have trouble against solid running teams, but will be able to prevent the deep ball. Karl Klug and Michael Daniels will have to step it up. The offense will miss Shonn Greene, but Jewel Hampton proved as a true freshman that he can run with the best of them. The senior line will provide huge holes for this 5'9 running back to get to the second level. I love Tony Moeaki and he has the potential to be one of the top TEs, but he is injury prone--so let's hope he stays healthy. What worries me about Iowa is their QB situation. There is absolutely no depth at this position. If Stanzi goes down, this team will be toast. Also, there is still no true kick returner on special teams. Iowa must find one quick. The irony of this team is they will be better than they were last year; however, this year's schedule is much more difficult. Thus, The Matador is foreseeing a 9-3 regular season. They should win their first two games easily against Northern Iowa and Iowa State. Arizona will be a bit of a challenge, but the Pac 10 doesn't fare well when they leave the comfort of their region (i.e., Oregon State getting torched by PSU in Happy Valley; Cal getting burned by Maryland in College Park; and, Stanford losing at Notre Dame). Iowa will have a tough time against PSU on the road as this is a revenge match for the Nittany Lions. The Lions will want to run this score up and Royster and Green will certainly expose Iowa's weak line. Iowa will then get back to its winning streak against Arkansas State and Michigan. Iowa should beat Wisconsin; the Hawkeyes play terrible on the road, but should beat this weaker team. Unfortunately, Iowa's next hurdle will be Michigan State -- another road game. The Hawkeyes have had trouble at Spartan stadium this past decade. They cannot seem to win there. Iowa will quickly bounce back and beat Indiana and should squeak by Northwestern. Iowa will then visit the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. Iowa has not played OSU in the past two seasons, but in the games played in '05 and '06, Iowa was crushed -- outscored by a combined score of 69-23. Iowa will not fare well on this road test. Iowa will then conclude the season with a victory over Minnesota. Now from a gambling perspective, Iowa will win at least 9 games this season (look for over/under at 8.0 and take the over). As for individual games, check back throughout the season. This is especially important because the entire offense rests on whether or not Stanzi stays healthy. I can tell you this much though, recently Iowa has not fared well ATS (2006; 2-10, 2007; 6-6, and 2008; 7-5). Additionally, Iowa has tremendous trouble winning on the road. They only beat one team in conference play last year on the road at Indiana. Recap: Iowa wins 9 games. |
This here is one interesting video to watch. I guess if you've been as persecuted as Allen Iverson has been throughout his high school, college and professional athletic career, you would become a pretty sensitive guy too. If you take as many shots as the Answer has, eventually you have to show a little pain as A.I. did in front of a group of students while discussing his scholarship program.
Because we're not above posting this stuff, here is Steve McNair murderer Sahel Kazemi's DUI arrest that occurred a week before the slaying of the former NFL star. Nothing more to say really, watch it if you're interested in this wack-job.
That is about the first thing I thought of when I read that the U.S.O.C. is going to try to start up an Olympics Channel with Comcast. How on earth can you base a channel off of an event that occurs every 4 years (well 2 years if you count the Winter Games) and you can't even broadcast the actual Olympic events because all the rights for it were bought by NBC.Peter Ueberroth, the former U.S.O.C. chairman, said on the call, “This network is dedicated to taking our 40 to 45 sports to the American public, to show what the youngsters are doing, what Olympians are doing as they qualify, and showing there are options besides the most popular sports.”
Bellingham added, “We have we have to speak to the values and ideals of the movement as the athletes follow their dreams.”
See, right there...what Ueberroth said...they aren't going to be broadcasting the most popular sports. How does one make money not doing what is popular? Riddle me this Ueberroth!?! My simple simian mind must not be able to understand this. Brilliant idea guys. Brilliant.
From New York Times
Thursday, a day for reflection of on the week that has been and a day of anticipation for the upcoming weekend fun to be had. Let us aide you in this moment of reflection and anticipation. We give you links...because we care. So enjoy these links today...and welcome to the Constitutional. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @chimpanzeerage and @mredonkulous. Also, be a fan of our brand spanking new Facebook Page for the Deuce. We're gettin hip to the times here.
