It is that time of the week where you, Joe Six-Pack Fan, can call out those idiots, malcontents, ingrates, and general all around bad guys for their behavior that so pisses you off. Looking around the world of sports, there are PLENTY of sports figures that have earned the dubious distinction of being thrown Under The Bus this week. I have some sports personalities.
NASCAR
Juan Pablo Montoya: his tete-a-tete with Kyle Busch earned him a trip to NASCAR's equivalent of the principal's office, aka The Big Red Hauler. (Not to be confused with Big Red, one of JPM's sponsors) I will come correct on putting Kyle Busch in the Ugly category of an earlier blog, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I will make up for it by throwing JPM Under The Bus.
Tony Stewart's Pit Crew: why on earth did they change two tires when they knew that rain was coming on the horizon? Especially when gas only was working. The crew cost Smoke a possible win. And as a result, Zippy and Company get thrown Under The Bus.
Jamie McMurray: I hate to do this to such a good guy, but I must. It appeared he had plenty of room to go around Dale Earnhardt, Jr. as Junior was entering the pits for his final pit stop. J-Mac plowed into him, tearing up his own vehicle and as he slid to the bottom of the track, he clipped his teammate David Ragan. Ragan lost control and hit the wall, ending HIS day. For being inattentive at an inopportune time, J-Mac goes Under The Bus.
NBA
Shaq: he dissed Kobe Bryant in a freestyle rap at a recent outing at a nightclub in New York City. The Big Chicken#### did this after last week's Who Would You Throw Under The Bus? was posted. Shaq's not escaping. Shaq, where were you when the Finals were being played? WATCHING IT ON TV, like millions of other Americans. Where was Kobe? PLAYING in the Finals. Shaq, grow the hell up. You won a ring without Kobe; give it a rest already. As if Kobe doesn't need any more motivation, this will fuel his fire even more to win a title without you. Shaq, and in the meantime, you get thrown Under The Bus.
Memphis Grizzlies: yes, you got O.J. Mayo. But you paid a pretty steep price to get him. You gave up Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and another player. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves improved themselves by getting a fundamentally sound player in Love, a sharpshooter in Miller, and a couple of other serviceable bigs that will add depth to the Wolves' bench. When you allow Kevin McHale to fleece you, it will get you thrown Under The Bus every single time.
NFL
New York Giants: they got rid of the Hefty Lefty, Jared Lorenzen. They got rid of the WRONG QB. They should have got rid of Anthony Wright. For getting rid of the wrong QB, the G-men get thrown Under The Bus.
Houston Texans: it's going to take me a VERY long time to be able to root for this team again. They so screwed up David Carr while he was there he's shot mentally. They NEVER gave him a decent running game and a decent O-line while he was there. They allowed him to be a human pinata. Then AFTER they unceremoniously dump him in favor of Matt Schaub, they FINALLY work on building up a running game and an O-line. If the football gods are listening, the Texans won't win a Super Bowl while Robert McNair owns the team. In the meantime, the Texans get thrown Under The Bus.
MLB
Houston Astros: for allowing the Shawn Chacon/Ed Wade drama to reach new heights. This is one of the most dysfunctional teams in MLB. Drayton McLane needs to sell this team to a local group that WANTS to win. Chacon gets thrown Under The Bus for attacking Wade physically for refusing his orders/requests. Wade gets thrown Under The Bus for escalating the incident. Who's next?
TENNIS
Justin Gimelstob: he called Anna Kournikova a b***h and a #### and said some sexually charged remarks towards her involving his brother. Kournikova, to her credit, is taking the high road. Gimelstob, to his credit, took full responsibility for his remarks and apologized. However, you can't unring that bell. For his egregious lapse in judgment and for putting both feet in his mouth, Gimelstob gets thrown Under The Bus.
Ana Ivanovic: she lost early at Wimbledon. There goes LOTS of guys' reasons to watch Wimbledon in the first place. She's HOT. It wouldn't be so bad if she weren't the #1 seed. But she's the top seed and to lose in the second round IS reason to be thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominees for this week. Feel free to come on in with yours!
Looking around the world of sports, there are many sports personalities and teams that have p****d you, the typical Joe Six-Pack Fan, off. I have some teams and personalities that have so ticked me off I could just scream. Here is the forum for you to sound off and call out those dumb@$$E$, idiots, and general all-around malcontents by throwing them Under The Bus. I have some nominees this week. Who do you want to throw under said Bus?
NFL
Marshawn ####, RB, Buffalo Bills: this genius stayed silent rather than cooperate with Buffalo police on a misdemeanor hit and run charge against him. Who the hell does he think he is? If he had come correct right away, all this would be behind him now. Instead, he subjected several Bills players, employees, and management to be subpoenaed. Now he's subject to being thrown Under The Bus.
Jevon Kearse, DE, Tennessee Titans: you're a 10 year veteran, with your second stint with the Titans. You're supposedly looked up to as one of the team's veteran leaders. And you get popped for DUI? What were you THINKING? Apparently you WEREN'T thinking. Mix in a cab or a limo to take you home. For knowing better and still being a dumb@SS, The Freak gets thrown Under The Bus.
NASCAR
Kevin Harvick: Happy, what on God's green earth were you THINKING late in the race? Why did you drive it into the corner WAY TOO HARD? You had a Top 5 LOCKED and LOADED into the standings, and you were poised to move up a couple of spots. You took out THREE good cars (Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, and Ron Fellows) with that boneheaded move. Because of that idiotic move, you ended up finishing 30th. THIRTIETH!!! Now you're out of the Chase by two measly points. You finished 30th on a course where you finish in the top 5 IN YOUR SLEEP. For Happy, this continues a season-long slump. Now because of his bonehead move, Happy gets thrown Under The Bus this week.
MLB
New York Mets: they couldn't have handled Willie Randolph's firing any worse than that. You should have clipped him off during one of your long losing streaks. Instead, you allowed him to travel with the team to Anaheim to face the Angels. THEN you clipped him IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. After the first game of the series. I've got no problem with Randolph being clipped; what should have happened is that he should have got fired BEFORE the Mets went on the road. For their egregious mishandling of the Randolph firing, the Mets get thrown Under The Bus.
NBA
Los Angeles Lakers: losing by 40 to the Boston Celtics was inexcusable. It's okay to lose to the Celtics; they are the better team. But losing by 40 means you QUIT. I am very disappointed and disgusted by the Lakers' lack of effort. I hope the Lakers use this as motivation to win an NBA title next season. But until then, the Lakers get thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in with yours!
Just because today is Father's Day, it doesn't mean that this blog will take the week off! NO SIRREE!! I have some sports figures that I'd like to throw Under The Bus
NFL
Chad Johnson: the Bengals' WR is becoming a regular fixture here. He whined and complained about being unhappy in Cincinnati. BOO FREAKING HOO. You're a professional, you're SUPPOSED to be in minicamp. If I were Marvin Lewis, I'd tell Chad you have ONE more chance. You #### a #### in training camp, I WILL deactivate you for the first four games of the season. Problem is, Lewis won't do it. Chad Johnson gets thrown Under The Bus for being a whiny ####.
Jeremy Shockey: the Giants' TE engaged in a shouting match with GM Jerry Reese early in the final day of the Giants' mandatory minicamp. Since Shockey's injury, the G-men are a much better team; a Super Bowl championship proves it. Get him out of there if you want to have a chance at repeating. And in the meantime, Shockey gets thrown Under The Bus.
Plaxico Burress: the Giants' WR refused to practice until he gets his contract renegotiated. He even hinted he may hold out during training camp. WTF? NOBODY put a gun to his head and forced him to sign his current deal. Shaun O'Hara was right in calling him out. And in the meantime, Burress gets thrown with Shockey Under The Bus.
NBA
David Stern: the NBA Commissioner dressed down Sean Farnham when Farnham asked the Commish a question that was on the minds of millions of NBA fans: why the discrepency of scores in the Spurs-Hornets series? (in one game, the Hornets won by 20 at NO; the very next game in San Antonio, the Spurs won by 20) Rather than answering the question honestly, Stern chose to ridicule Farnham. A very bad message considering the integrity of the NBA is very much in question. Stern has his head buried so far in the sand he can see China. We'd better get the Bus to run over him from that position he's in.
MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers: they proceeded to get shut out in consecutive games this week. They rolled over against Jake Peavy and the Padres 9-0 and on Friday they rolled over against the struggling Tigers. They proceeded to get swept by the Tigers. The Dodgers get thrown Under The Bus.
Ken Rosenthal: for suggesting that the Dodgers trade Matt Kemp. WHAT? Kemp is a five-tool player; something the Dodgers haven't had since Raul Mondesi. Kemp is vital to the Dodgers' present and future success. For his foolish and reckless suggestion, Rosenthal gets thrown Under The Bus.
HORSE RACING
Rick Dutrow, Jr.: he keeps stepping into it. He called out Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, for pulling back Big Brown. The truth of the matter is, Big Brown was falling further behind as the race went on. Desormeaux should be THANKED for protecting a very valuable horse. For throwing his jockey under the bus, Dutrow himself gets thrown Under The Bus.
These are the sports figures that I throw under the Bus this week. Feel free to come in and vent!
It's that time of week again. I've got some sports figures to throw Under The Bus.
NBA
The Game 2 crew: a 19 to 2 FT advantage by the Celtics in the first half? WTF? And two Lakers with THREE fouls?? Talk about home cooking at its best!!! IF YOU'RE GOING TO CALL TICKY TACK FOULS, CALL THEM CONSISTENTLY, AND NOT IN FAVOR OF ONE TEAM!!! Even the ABC announcers commented on the gross inconsistency of the calls. The Game 2 crew get thrown Under The Bus after the game.
NFL
Odell Thurman: he failed another drug test. Roger Goodell suspended him for ANOTHER season. That means this druggie has missed THE LAST THREE NFL SEASONS because of drugs. Way to #### away your NFL career, Odell. And don't expect ANY sympathy from me. Sympathy is reserved for those that have lost loved ones suddenly and sometimes unexpectedly. You made your choices, now you have to live with the consequences of those choices. For pissing away your NFL career, you get thrown Under The Bus.
Cedric Benson: TWO arrests in a month period? This guy can't seem to stay out of trouble. How long will it be before the Bears pull the plug on him? (More on the Bears later.) For getting arrested for the second time in a month, Benson gets thrown Under The Bus.
Chicago Bears: or more specifically, their front office. They got rid of the wrong RB in Thomas Jones, they kept Rex Grossman two YEARS too long, and haven't drafted a QB since Kyle Orton. And they drafted a RB of questionable character in Benson. For being incompetent, the Bears' front office gets thrown Under The Bus.
FORMULA ONE
Lewis Hamilton: in case you forgot or don't know, red means STOP. He barreled into Kimi Raikonnen's car as Raikonnen stopped for a red light at the end of the pits. Understandably, Raikonnen was pissed. Question: did Hamilton drink the same water as Denny Hamlin did last week? Hamilton's brain #### ended up knocking himself and Raikonnen out of the Montreal race. For his brain ####, Lewis Hamilton gets thrown Under The Bus.
HORSE RACING
Rick Dutrow, Jr.: after boasting for two months that Big Brown cannot be beat, he was NOWHERE to be found after the Belmont Stakes. WHAT A WUSS!! If Dutrow were a REAL MAN, he'd have owned it, faced the music regarding Big Brown, and credited Da'Tara on his win. For being an arrogant #### and hiding like the wuss that he is, Dutrow gets thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominations. Feel free to come in with yours!
It's that time of week when you, the Joe Six-Pack Sports Fan, have every right to call out those idiots, ingrates, and general all around #####$ for their stupidity and arrogance. Time again for you to throw the object of your ire in the sports world Under The Bus. I have a few figures I'd like to throw Under The Bus.
NFL
Dallas Cowboys: this is a neverending soap opera with this team. T.O., Jessica Simpson vis a vis Tony Romo, now Pacman Jones. I suspect Jerry Jones is itching for a lockout in 2011. Yes they'll have a state of the art stadium in Arlington soon. Us non-Cowboys fans are frankly sick and tired of the whole thing. The Cowboys' soap opera gets thrown Under The Bus.
New England Patriots: Spygate won't go away. This is another team that thrives on high drama, particularly with Bill Belichick vs. the world. You used to be a team that people could get behind. Now you're perceived as cheaters. Please, save the drama for your mama. Until then, the Patriots get thrown Under The Bus.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): he wants Congress to punish the Patriots further. Senator, do us all a favor and INVESTIGATE WHY THE DAMN GAS PRICES ARE SO FREAKING HIGH!! Then do us all a favor and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! AND GET OUT OF OUR SPORTS!! Sen. Specter and ALL OF CONGRESS get thrown Under The Bus for being a bunch of do-nothing BLOWHARDS!!!!! Is it any wonder Congress' approval ratings are in single digits?
NBA
Joakim Noah, C/F, Chicago Bulls: he was in Gainesville kicking it when an officer spotted him holding an amber-#### drink, a violation of city law. At the police station, tree was found on him and he was promptly arrested. What the hell are you doing back in Gainesville? You shouldn't be back there unless there is a reunion of the Gators' national championship teams. You're an NBA professional now. At the very least, you're guilty of egregiously bad judgment. For your bad judgment, you get thrown Under The Bus. UPDATE: he accepted a deferred prosecution agreement, resulting in a fine and probation.
Rasheed Wallace, C/F, Detroit Pistons: his act has gotten old and tired. He had a HORRIBLE night when the Pistons needed him most. He single-handedly cost the Pistons a chance to win and force a Game 7 in Boston. My prediction: he won't be back with the Pistons next season. He is supremely talented (a definite top 3 talent when he's on) but disappears at the most inopportune times. Now the Pistons are going fishing for the summer. But before he goes fishing, Rasheed Wallace gets thrown Under The Bus.
NASCAR
Denny Hamlin: WTF was he thinking when he was going full speed on Lap 17 after the wreck was about to stop? He escalated the wreck and knocked himself and Elliott Sadler out and severely damaged SEVERAL other cars that were in the top 12 in points coming in. IF NASCAR had any BALLS, they would park Hamlin AND HIS TEAM at Pocono. He was driving with his head so far up his #### he could see out of his mouth. For being a blithering #### and driving dangerously, Hamlin gets thrown UNDER A FLEET OF BUSES.
Those are my nominations. Feel free to come in with yours.
It's that time of the week again! It's time to call out those sports figures that have so totally p****d you off you want to SCREAM! (Ashlee Simpson notwithstanding) Well, here is the forum in which you can call out those sports figures by throwing them under the Bus. I have a few nominations, so here goes!
NFL
Detroit Lions: for further pissing off some of their season ticket holders. Apparently someone in the Lions' front office responded this way to a complaint from one of their season ticket holders: "#### 'em." I'm always looking for a reason to throw the L.A. Clippers of the NFL under the Bus. Now I've found one. (NOTE: may have to write a written apology to the Clippers for lumping them in with the Detroit Lions. Clips, I apologize for lumping you in with the #### 'Em Lions aka the Detroit #### 'EM'S.)
Wal-Mart: the reason Wal-Mart is in this category is because they stiffed the Andre Johnson Foundation in two ways. First, they messed up the Texans' WR's order of 750 bikes that HE purchased to give to underprivileged kids. (There were around 675 bikes that ended up being donated as a result at the May 3 event.) And because of that order snafu, they stiffed the kids out of ice and water THEY HAD PROMISED. ICE AND WATER!! Sam Walton must be turning over in his grave. For stiffing the kids and messing up the order, Wal-Mart goes under the Bus.
NBA
Utah Jazz fans: this is for the moronic Jazz fans that chanted "Cancer!" every time Derek Fisher attempted a free throw and allegedly threw debris and trash at the Lakers' bench during Game 6 of their series. And they shouted "Refs SUCK!" when the Jazz were getting whipped. Don't blame the refs for your team's shortcomings. Congratulations, Utah. You surpassed Philly fan as the WORST fans in sports. Great job. Because of the morons that did this, you spoiled it for the rest of the Jazz fans. And because of the morons, Jazz fans get thrown under the Bus. I have ONE WORD for Jazz Fan: SCOREBOARD!
NASCAR
A.J. Allmendinger: for not even apologizing to Elliott Sadler after wrecking Sadler out of the All-Star Challenge, then he had the gall to win it! You'll get your comeuppance. Until then, you get thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in with yours.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! They really do the Lord's work. That being said, here's this week's version of "Who Would You Throw Under The Bus?". Time to call out those sports figures that so p****d you off over the past week. And here we go!
NASCAR
Darrell Waltrip: you have to keep in mind he's a shill for Toyota. Yet his constant lovefest with Kyle Busch was downright disgusting and takes away from the broadcast. I like DW; he's entertaining and brings a former driver's perspective to the broadcast. But I have to call them as I see them. Hate to do this, but DW goes under the Bus.
NBA
The Officials: or more specifically, the officials that allowed a Pistons 3-pointer that should have NEVER counted. The clock froze at 4.8 seconds left in the third quarter of Game 2. Any official in the history of the world (except these officials) would have stopped play and awarded the Pistons the ball with 4.8 seconds left. Because the clock froze, the Pistons were given extra time to hit the three. And because of that, the officials get thrown under the Bus.
Los Angeles Lakers: or more specifically, their bench. They were totally outclassed by the Utah Jazz bench today. Going into the series, I'd have rated the two benches even. Did the Clippers hijack the Lakers' bench and play in this game? The Lakers bench gets thrown under the Bus.
MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers: they got swept by the weak-#### Houston Astros. At home, no less. It's one thing to lose to the Mets; they're a good team. No shame in losing to the Mets. Houston is only slightly better than Pittsburgh. And I have to throw Jonathan Broxton under as well. He's the reliever that the Astros took batting practice off of. (Word had it the Astros had a team brawl at the bat rack) He let a stellar outing by Hiroki Kuroda go to total waste. Kuroda no-hit the Astros for 6 2/3 innings. And he has NOTHING to show for it. The Dodgers and Broxton get thrown under the Bus.
NFL
Marvin Harrison: the Colts' WR has carefully cultivated an image of being a quiet, unassuming player that goes out and does his job. That image is being called into question. He was involved in a shooting in a seedy part of Philadelphia at a bar he owns. The gun involved was found in a bucket at a nearby car wash he also owns. Details are sketchy, because no one's talking. Sorry Marvin, gotta throw you under the Bus for being involved with seedy ####.
Cincinnati Bengals: because they have become the league's halfway house for bad seeds, ingrates, and general all around bad guys. And it's a shame for classy players like Carson Palmer and T.J. Houshmanzadeh that they have to be lumped in with their malcontent teammates. The Bengals (except Carson and T.J.) get thrown under the bus.
NCAA
Ryan Perriloux: this guy had the opportunity of his young lifetime to be THE MAN at LSU. Starting QB for a national championship contender. So what does he do? He gets kicked off the team for allegedly failing a drug test. He was allegedly found with chronic in his system. He apparently didn't attend Common Sense 101 in the school of life. Is getting your bong on so important to you that you #### away the opportunity that just about every young man your age would rip his arm off for? For sheer stupidity, you get thrown under a FLEET of buses!
Those are my nominations! Feel free to come in with yours!
It's that time of week again, sports fans! Time to call out the object of your ire in the sports world by throwing them Under The Bus. Remember, it can be a player, team, owner, coach, official, or fans of the team of your ire. There are plenty of dumba$$e$ out there in the world of sports! I have a few!
NFL
Cincinnati Bengals: do I have to do this AGAIN? Actually, I do. For a team that wants to draft players that are good character guys, they go out and draft a player (Jason Shirley of Fresno State) that was arrested THREE TIMES IN THE SAME SEASON! Sure, Shirley can play; he's a 338-lb run stuffer, something the Bengals sorely need. If not for his off-field issues, he'd have been drafted much higher. You guys are becoming regulars Under The Bus. I'm going to need a bigger bus for you guys and the Enver Nuggets (more on them later). For drafting a player of questionable character at best, the Bengals (again!) go Under The Bus.
Chad Johnson: like the rest of your team, you are becoming a regular Under The Bus. I'm glad Marvin Lewis ####-slapped you in the media, stating he won't be traded. Good! Now go to the corner of the room and pout and sulk, after you get thrown Under The Bus.
NBA
Enver Nuggets: remember, there is no D in this team. Actually, they DID play some defense yesterday, but when the Lakers started pulling away, they QUIT. WAAAAAAY to go for that NIIIIIIICE effort, Enver. The Nuggs up and quit on their coach, their team owner, and their fans. Granted, you ARE playing a better team in the Lakers, but at LEAST you can give an effort the fans will be pleased with, rather than half-assing it. For quitting, the Enver Nuggets get thrown Under The Bus.
NASCAR
Kevin Harvick: or more specifically, his crew. I have no explanation of how he faded down the stretch at Talladega, especially since he had a strong car that was in the Top 10 much of the race. And his fade cost me in the Trifecta! This is the time of year he fades, usually until Sonoma, then he gets strong again between Sonoma and the Chase. Happy, don't fade to the point where you have to play catch up; you won't get in if you're 13th going into Richmond in September. I hate throwing Happy under the Bus, but I have to. Happy goes Under The Bus for fading at Talladega.
Those are my nominees! Feel free to chime in with yours!
I am stoked about the Panthers' draft this year! Top to bottom, they did among the best job drafting players that fit into their scheme. Plus, they have a sense of urgency to win, and win this year.
PANTHERS DRAFT PICKS
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon (1st round, 13th overall): the Panthers found their big bruiser they haven't had since Stephen Davis. He'll be a perfect compliment to DeAngelo Williams. Too many games have been lost by the Panthers because they have failed to run the ball effectively. Stewart chews up the clock like a cow chews up cud.
Jeff Otah, T, Pittsburgh (1st, 19th): the road grater that the Panthers desperately need. He'll be a superb RT, allowing Jordan Gross to move to LT.
Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa (3rd, 67): a huge corner that gives them depth at the position. Versatile enough to move to free safety, which in my opinion the Panthers will put him. The Panthers may have found their FS in Godfrey.
Dan Connor, LB, Penn State (3rd, 74): this guy is a FOOTBALL PLAYER. He was a tackling machine while with the Nittany Lions. He'll be playing inside, allowing the Panthers to move Jon Beason to the outside. With Beason, the Panthers will have one of the best young LB duos in the league.
Gary Barnidge, TE, Louisville (5th, 141): he is a skyscraper that can go up and get 'em. Should be particularly dangerous in the Red Zone, as his height will present matchup advantages with smaller DBs and LBs.
Nick Hayden, DT, Wisconsin (6th, 181): he is a run-stuffing DT that was one of Wisconsin's strongest players, and that's saying something. A very solid pick at this position.
Hilee Taylor, LB, North Carolina (7th, 221): the Panthers take the local kid. While he was a three-year starter at North Carolina, he should see lots of time on special teams.
Geoff Schwartz, OT, Oregon (7th, 241): he was a beast at Oregon blocking for Jonathan Stewart. A road grater. Projects to one of the Panthers' guards of the future.
Mackenzy Bernadeau, OG, Bentley (7th, 250): there were other O-linemen to be taken. Will give the Panthers much-needed depth on the O-line.
All in all, I think every one of these picks will be on the Panthers' roster on Kickoff Weekend. My sleeper among the bunch is Hayden. I won't be surprised to see him starting at some point in the season.
The 2008 NFL Draft is finally over. Let the analyzing begin. What began yesterday with the official selection of Jake Long by the Miami Dolphins ended a few minutes ago with the selection of Mr. Irrelevant, #252 overall to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams selected David Vobora, LB, Idaho.
Now you may ask, who the hell is David Vobora? Simply put, this guy can play football. He was a first-team all-WAC LB. While he may be a bit undersized, he has a relentless motor that pro teams look for. He gives the Rams depth at LB. He can play special teams in the pros. The Rams didn't hurt themselves by drafting this guy.
I look for Vodora to not only make the Rams, but to be a key contributor on defense and special teams.
I'm hearing JT the Brick and Jay Glazer broke the news that Jared Allen has been traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings give up the #17 overall pick, two third-rounders this year, and switch positions in the sixth round this year with the Chiefs. Allen has agreed to a contract with the Vikings worth just under $74 million for six years, with $31,000,069 in guaranteed money. This is the richest contract signed by a defensive player in NFL history.
This is a pretty steep price to pay, but Allen is one of the best DEs in the NFL. While Allen does come with baggage, he has been on the straight and narrow and continues to strive to do what is right. An already strong Minnesota defensive line got even stronger. Will this be enough to put the Vikings over the top in the NFC North? That remains to be seen, but they have greatly improved their defense with the acquisition of Allen.
What say you? I welcome any comments, especially from Chiefs and Vikings fans.
NOTE: The story will be up on the Fox Sports site shortly.
Sports fans, it's that time again to call out those idiots, miscreants, and all around dumbasses that so #### you off. I KNOW you have several that you want to throw under the Bus! Call them out for their idiocy. This is your forum to throw these idiots under the Bus. Remember, you can call out a player, coach, team, owner, a team's fans, or any sports personality and throw them under the Bus. I know I have my share!
NFL
Brett Favre: ENOUGH about coming back already! You made your decision to retire, stick with it!! Brett, I loved watching you play, you were one of my all-time favorite players, but when you made the decision to retire, it was time to move on. Aaron Rodgers is ready to helm the Packers' ship. Just by HINTING at a comeback, you threw Rodgers under the bus. Now it's Rodgers' turn to throw YOU under the Bus.
Reagan Mauia: this will most likely be the only time in the history of the world that Mauia and Favre will show up on the same blog. For those who don't know who Mauia is, he is the Miami Dolphins' starting FB. This bozo punched a man in the face without provocation and fled the scene. A witness took a picture of Mauia's license plate with his phone. Mauia was tracked down and arrested. I don't have to wait for more information to throw Mauia under the Bus.
NBA
Detroit Pistons: losing to the New York Knicks is bad enough, but at HOME? You lost to the Knicks when you ABSOLUTELY had to WIN in order to stay alive for home court advantage? AND on a night where the all-time greats of the Pistons franchise was honored? For all that, you get thrown under the Bus not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times! Hopefully we won't hear the worst chant in the history of the world, "Detroit Basketball!" in the Finals when the Celtics work you.
New York Knicks: they have begun the annual Save Isiah campaign. Donations are accepted. They are playing their BEST basketball of the season in order to Save Isiah. I imagine there are buildings all over New York that say, "Save Isiah." (Much like in the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, there were signs painted all over Chicago that said, "Save Ferris.") The Knicks get thrown under the Bus.
Miami Heat: just quit already. D-Wade has. Oh wait, he's out for the year with injuries. Pat Riley has. He spent the NCAA Tournament scouting Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. He hearts D-Rose. He hearts him MUCH more than coaching the band of misfits known as the Heat. Mercifully, the season will end this week for the Heat. Until then, the Heat get thrown under the Bus yet again.
MLB
Tampa Bay Rays: for all the hype that went into the Rays this year, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Rays are looking up at the FREAKING Orioles this year. For that matter, they're looking up at everyone else in the division. This was supposed to be their breakout year. It also doesn't help when a veteran pitcher like Al Reyes gets into a fight in a bar. On his birthday, no less. Some veteran leadership there, Al. He not only got into a fight, he got his #### kicked. Then he got Tasered TWICE. Reyes gets his #### kicked, gets Tasered, AND gets thrown Under The Bus all in the same week. The Rays get thrown under for letting us down.
Fox Sports: for treating the NASCAR fans of this nation to a slap in the face. Yes, it wasn't your fault that the Yankees-Red Sox was delayed by rain. But you could have switched the game to FX and kept the NASCAR fans and the baseball fans somewhat happy. But NOOOOOOOOO, you had to milk the Yankees-Red Sox for every moment AND you had the game SIMULCAST on FX!! AND you pre-empted the NASCAR pre-race show! Because it was Yankees-Red Sox, you cut into the ACTUAL RACE. Ryan Newman was going into Turn 3 of the first lap of the race when Fox switched from the game to the race. For poor planning and for pissing a LOT of race fans off, Fox Sports goes under the Bus.
Yankees-Red Sox rivalry: yes, I get that it's a historically bitter rivalry. Yes I get that both teams are good. But they're not the only two teams in baseball!! It's an endless and breathless hype machine! For my money, the NL West rivalry is just as good, if not better, than Yankees-Red Sox. Yankees-Sox rivalry goes under the Bus.
NCAA
#### Vitale haters: been drinking the anti-Dickie V grape-flavored Haterade again? There was one guy (Fox Sports' own Mark Kriegel) that got drunk on it. Love or hate #### Vitale, his contributions to college basketball as a commentator and ambassador to the game cannot be denied. I admire Vitale's enthusiasm and passion for the game of college basketball (even though he's too much of a Duke homer). All the Dickie V haters (Kriegel included) are to be thrown under the Bus of Dickie V's choice.
Jeff Ehrhardt, QB, Murray State: this genius was charged with second-degree robbery for "a prank gone bad." So now that's what we call pushing and assaulting a campus police officer and taking his book away, a "prank gone bad"? If it were up to me, dude would be in the clink for a MINIMUM of five years. He won a $20 bet for the "prank gone bad". Sure hope that $20 was worth it, E. My bet is that he skates like Dorothy Hamill. He'll probably be suspended for the first play of the season. For such a #### prank, Ehrhardt gets thrown under the Bus.
Here we go again! Here is the forum for you, the Joe Six-Pack Fan, to call out those sports personalities that so #### you off. I'm sure you have personalities that you so badly want to throw Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp) you can smell the burnt rubber and brake dust! I know I have a few!
NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals: for being WAY too permissive in drafting players with shady pasts (A.J. Nickerson, Chris Henry (more on him later), Odell Thurman, etc.). They have become the NFL's halfway house for shady characters. At one point last year, they were averaging one arrest a month. Now it's come back to bite them in the ####. Marvin Lewis had the reputation for being a disciplinarian, but where's the discipline? The Bengals and their bad seeds get thrown Under The Bus (as if they haven't got run over by Jerome Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers many a time over the years!).
Chris Henry: this thug just doesn't get it. He's had chance after chance after chance; now he's pissed it all away. His latest crime he's accused of? Punching an 18-year-old boy in the face and breaking his window with a beer bottle. Nice move there, ####. The judge in the case called Henry, "a one-man crime wave." Harsh, but true. After he gets out of prison, Henry gets thrown Under The Bus by his accuser.
Chad Johnson: in the SAME WEEK, he chirps again about not wanting to be in Cincy. The Bengals have said time and again that Ocho Cinco won't be traded. Do I detect a pattern here? It was a BAD week for the Bengals. Chad, let your game do the talking. You're one of the best WRs on the planet. When you score TDs and the Bengals are winning again, then you can do the River Dance. Until then, you go under the Bus.
NBA
Enver Nuggets: there is a good reason for this. There is no "D" in Denver. They blew a 22-point lead to Phoenix and lost. Hence, the "Enver". If they miss the playoffs, they can look to that game. For no "D" in the game at Phoenix, the Enver Nuggets go under the Bus.
New York Knicks: they brought in Donnie Walsh, supposedly to clean the mess that Isiah Thomas left. Now Walsh wants to EVALUATE Thomas before making a decision? Doesn't he know that the Knicks always catch fire at the end of the season and save Isiah's job? For not whacking Thomas, the Knicks and Donnie Walsh are to be thrown under the Bus.
Miami Heat: they're playing for the Derrick Rose Sweepstakes. (Rose is an UBER-stud who will be a great NBA player for the next decade and a half.) They've mailed it in. Just forfeit your regular games and let Pat Riley take his extended vacation. Until then, you go Under The Bus.
FORMULA ONE
Max Mosley: it's rare that F1 is mentioned on my blog. But I must mention it. Mosley has been accused of an orgy with five skanks, errrrrr, hookers in which #### role playing was part of the orgy. If Mosley wants to roll with hookers, that's his choice. The #### role playing went WAAAAAAAAY TOO FAR. Let him roll with hookers on his own time and NOT while he's running F1. Mosley gets thrown under the Bus for his indiscretion.
MLB
ESPN: they get thrown under the Bus for two reasons.
They glorified that patently absurd position known as the Designated Hitter. I call it the Disabled Hitter. Today marked the 35th anniversary of this "momentous" occasion. (Ron Blomberg was the first DH in MLB history on April 6, 1973) I've long been an advocate of eliminating the DH and replacing that slot with an extra player. For glorifying the absurd, ESPN goes under the Bus, along with the man who thought of the DH.
For endlessly hyping the first Yankees-Red Sox series of the season. It's only been in recent years both teams have been good at the same time. When the Yankees have sucked, the Sox have been good, and vice versa. Yes, it's a bitter rivalry, I get that. But don't act like they're the only two teams in MLB that matter. For that, and for perpetuating the hype machine that is the Yankees-Red Sox, ESPN goes under the Bus.
NCAA Football
Florida State Seminoles: for firing its college football color analyst Peter Tom Willis for no apparent reason. Why? Because he stepped on some toes with his brutal honesty regarding the Seminoles' program? Was it because Emperor, errrrrrrrr, Coach Bobby Bowden wanted him run because he DARED to criticize Jeff Bowden's handling of the offense? For more reasons, go to Lisa H's blog on this. She did a tremendous job on this! Florida State goes under the Bus.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come on in with yours! If you have someone in sports you want to throw under the Bus, feel free to do so here!
This particular blog took last week off due to Easter. It returns this week with a vengeance. I'm sure you, Joe Six Pack sports fan, have two weeks' of wrath stored up to throw that player, coach, team, owner/executive, league, fans, and even fellow bloggers that has so pissed you off Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp). I know I have a few. Let's get started!
NASCAR
Matt Kenseth: today was when I yearned for Carl Edwards to teach Kenseth a lesson. Doing the punt and run on David Gilliland was reprehensible and bush league. If NASCAR really wanted to teach Kenseth a lesson, they would have parked him for the remainder of the race for rough driving. David Gilliland will drive the bus that Kenseth is to be thrown under (by Carl Edwards).
Michele Rahal: last week I was sick and couldn't sleep, so I happened to go online to hear Race Day On Fox. His anti-Kevin Harvick rant made me even more sick. Harvick WASN'T EVEN THE SUBJECT OF THE CONVERSATION. Yet Rahal went out of his way to bash Harvick. Rob D'Amico (his co-host) did his best to steer Rahal away, but Rahal would have none of it. For Rahal's anti-Harvick negative rant, I'LL throw Rahal under the Bus that Harvick will drive.
NBA
Shaquille O'Neal: the Big Mediocre lashed out at his former Heat teammates and Heat head coach Pat Riley. What Shaq did was reprehensible. Under The Bus YOU go, Shaq. Your ex-teammates will throw you under that Bus driven by Riley. Shaq, enjoy your one and done in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers: I am as big a Lakers honk as you'll find. This is why it pains me to do this. Losing to Memphis and Charlotte, two of the NBA's bottom feeders, will get you thrown Under The Bus every single time.
MLB
MLB: they get thrown under the bus for three reasons.
For selling out their souls for mo money mo money mo money. They now are offering apparel in GANG colors and styles. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, here comes Mr. Milquetoast aka Bud Selig gives a wink and a nod to gang activity. MAY YOU ROT IN HELL BUD SELIG!!!!!!
For opening the season in Japan. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY MLB?? WAS IT TAKEN OVER BY ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE??? Why doesn't the season open the first Monday in April in Cincinnati at 12 noon EDT?
The schedule makers. Why are there not doubleheaders scheduled? Why do the schedule makers in their infinite wisdom ALWAYS schedule home games for Cleveland in the first week of the season, when they KNOW it snows in Cleveland until late April? Remember the Seattle Mariners-Cleveland Indians series last April? The ENTIRE series was SNOWED OUT, forcing both teams to scramble for the remainder of the season. The Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills was played in better weather than the Indians-Mariners series. For these reasons, MLB gets thrown under the Bus.
NFL
The League: they want to ban players from wearing long hair. Why? Put your emphasis on cracking down on the bad seeds of the league, e.g. Michael Vick, Pacman Jones. This proposed rule serves NO purpose. To put it bluntly, IT SUCKS. This rule and the guy behind it gets thrown under the bus.
