Van Gundy v. Howard – What To Do?

Dwight Howard isn’t making things easy for the Orlando Magic. He has been denying rumors about him wanting Stan Van Gundy fired. The story really started to pick up steam a few weeks ago when a story came out that if he were to re-sign, the team would give him the ability to fire the general manager and head coach. He has been denying everything negative and has kept a pretty squeaky clean image throughout this whole ordeal. Van Gundy just made the Orlando Magic situation a little more awkward.

During an interview this morning, Van Gundy was quite candid about his position with the Orlando Magic. He said that until he is told otherwise, he is the coach of the Orlando Magic. He said that “if I am fired later today, I’ll still have a good day. I’ll go home and find something else to do.”

He kept answering questions and his responses really started to cut with a knife. He made a vague comment about “one of the people here doesn’t like his boss” and that he has been told by management that Howard wants him to be fired. He ended the press conference that he isn’t worried about any of that right now and that he’s just worried about stopping Carmelo Anthony tonight…this is where things got even more awkward. Howard saw an opportunity to do a little “PR photo op” in front of the press, but he didn’t know that Van Gundy just told them that he wants the head coach fired. He started to hug Van Gundy and said that we have to win tonight and we don’t have anything to worry about. As Van Gundy exited, the press corps started to tell Howard what was just said. He looked like he just got his hand caught in the cookie jar. He denied everything said that he has not been told anything. I have never witnessed him look so uncomfortable, he was clearly not telling the truth.

It is odd how Howard managed to keep such a positive image over the last year. He has been stringing the fanbase along and being very passive about what he’s going to do. He has denied that he has every been shown a contract to sign, has been negative when asked if he’s taking a Shaq-like career path, and at times, he has been visually upset on the sideline. He brushes off any negative questions with an aura of ignorance and a smile. He has a very good PR person, they deserve a raise.

What should the Orlando Magic do? I think they have to give Dwight Howard what he wants. Van Gundy is a great coach and if he’s fired, he’ll get a job coaching next season. Otis Smith has been a sub-par General Manager and he should be evaluated…even if Howard signs with another team. Howard brings in millions of dollars in ticket and merchandise sales. You can replace these guys and you will not be able to go out and replace the face of your franchise and one of the best 10 players in the NBA. I don’t agree that it is a morally correct decision, but this is the business of the NBA.

I am guessing that Stan Van Gundy’s height will not be a determining factor in keeping his job, but Howard clearly has the height advantage. There needs to be a height requirement if you’re an NBA head coach. You need to at least come up to your center’s armpits. I love Van Gundy, but can you blame Howard for not respecting this guy?

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

The Lottery Is "The Hillbilly Tax"

The Mega Millions jackpot ballooned to a $640 million jackpot today. I normally don’t pay attention to any lottery jackpots, but this one has interfered with my gas station experience. I know that normal people pay at the pump, but I was in need of a fountain soda, so I rocked the “inside pay.” I had to wait in a line of 10 people to pay for my delicious diet coke and gas. Did I mention that I had the more teeth than the entire group combined?

The odds of winning the lottery is 1 in 176 million. Those odds do not change, no matter if one person is playing or a group of 176 million people. The odds of you winning the lottery is less than dying in a plane crash. As a person who doesn’t enjoy flying, I take great joy in that statistic.

I grew up in Indiana and have lived my life there and in Ohio. My parents are from Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, so I know a thing or two about hillbillies. I was only around my close family for most of my childhood and I used to rock a Southern twang. Powerball was first introduced in Indiana in the late 1980s. I remember that all of my family used to buy lotto tickets and/or scratch-offs every week. After a few years of witnessing this happen, no one in my family was ever made into a millionaires. A cousin of mine won a few hundred dollars on a scratch-off and my family’s investment in the lottery did spike for a short period. It wasn’t until I was in 9th grade and my Algebra II teacher (I used to be smart) explained the odds of winning the lottery. He made it seem like it was idiotic that anyone would ever buy a ticket.

Why is the majority of people who buy lottery tickets in the lower income bracket and/or the lowest education level? I blame “The Beverly Hillbillies” television show. I know that the show hasn’t been on for decades, but the ideology of hitting “Texas Tea” is still prevalent in today’s generation. The Clampetts were redneck hillfolk who lived on land that was rich with oil. The newly-rich family moved to Beverly Hills and the entire television series revolved around their inability to adapt to their surroundings. The show was very entertaining and it seemed to start a trend that anyone could strike it rich and it became the new American dream.

I know that a portion of the lottery earnings goes back into infrastructure and schools, but it still seems wrong. If the 1% paid their fair share of taxes, the lottery wouldn’t have to go to those needs. The lottery wouldn’t have to pander to the low-income population. They would never admit to this since they tag every ad with “Play Responsibly,” yet they show people winning all throughout the commercial. It relays a skewed vision and percentage of winners. If each commercial listed the odds of winning are 1 in 176 million…would anyone ever play?

I will not win the Mega Millions jackpot tonight. Someone will win the lottery tonight, only because nearly everyone I know has a lottery ticket (probably not one of my friends). I don’t feel bad that I’m not “in it to win it,” because” I like my odds of flying in an airplane.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Will Social Media Ruin Wrestlemania 28?

Over the last six months, WWE Entertainment has saturated their television programming with Twitter & Facebook announcements. It has gotten to a point that, as they come to the ring, each wrestler’s Twitter account name is listed under their names. They stop the flow of the match to announce when a WWE wrestler, event, or even catch-phrase start to trend. Will these announcement ruin the Wrestlemania experience and date the event in later years?

Before I go on an “anti-social media” rant, I like to admit that I regularly use my own Twitter and Facebook accounts. I think that they are extremely useful and can give anyone a platform. Saying all of that, there is a limit to one’s announcements and a saturation level has been met at WWE. I have had my Twitter account for nearly four years, but you would think that it is a fresh and new invention.

WWE first started to mention social media when The Rock launched Facebook and Twitter accounts. His accounts exploded and got hundred of thousands of followers with days and now currently stands at a few million. WWE started to become obsessed with social media, especially when a low-card wrestler named Zack Ryder started to get people chanting his name during WWE Raw. He gained an underground following by releasing “Z! True Long Island Story,” an hilarious YouTube series of videos. He went from not being on television to wrestling in a match at Wrestlemania 28. He proof that social media can change and make the writers add him into main storylines.

Wrestlemania 28 is this Sunday and will be up against programs like AMC’s “Mad Men,” but not much else. They will occupy most of the “trending topics” on Twitter and I’m hoping that they will not announce each one. If WWE hopes that this Wrestlemania, which features the highly-publicize match of The Rock vs. John Cena, they will limit the announcements. Twitter will not be the last social media platform to be popular on the internet. If WWE embraced Myspace during their programming back during Wrestlemania 22, it would be unwatchable. You would watch it and start laughing, because no one uses Myspace anymore. It would instantly make that Wrestlemania extremely dated. These matches have the chance to some of the best in recent memory. The Rock vs. John Cena, Triple H vs. The Undertaker, and CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho will all be under an unfortunate cloud of hopping on a current fad.

I hope someone from the WWE understands all of the points that I have made and throws themselves in front of the Twitter bus this weekend. We all know their Twitter handles by now and that WWE has a Twitter account. Let’s just focus on what people paid their money for, not for a “self-promoting, sports entertainment machine,” but the drama and pageantry of Wrestlemania.

#WWWYKI

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Skip Bayless Is "The Glenn Beck Of ESPN"

I was unfortunate this morning and flipped the channel to ESPN’s “First Take.” I was lucky enough to only deal with a few moments of Skip Bayless trolling America. He is one of the reasons why ESPN programming is no longer viewed as being elite. Bayless drains an ounce of what’s left of their journalist integrity every day that he is on the air. Can a write-in campaign stop his madness? Here’s some of what I witnessed today and why ESPN needs to get rid of Skip Bayless.

The few moments that I witnessed of today’s show blew my mind. It wasn’t the kind of mind-blowing television that I enjoy, it blew my mind that someone can make such stupid uninformative opinions on a mainstream outlet. The single thing that he said was that “the best place for Tim Tebow is Cleveland. Bayless added, “he would flourish there because they don’t have any decent quarterbacks on their roster.” Lets analyze this insane comment and dissect it.

First, he believes that Tebow has a shot in Cleveland. If you look at the Browns roster, they lack a running game and have been adding parts in their receiving corps for the last few season. Greg Little has a shot at being an elite wide receiver, but not with Tebow at quarterback. I understand that Colt McCoy isn’t the long-term answer there, but Tebow would be taking a step backward. Also, the Browns have two first-rounds picks this year, their early pick won’t likely be a QB, but there will a few nice options with their later pick. Ryan Tennehill may still be available or they could trade down, gain some other picks, and pick either Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, or Kirk Cousins.

Secondly, he’s assuming that Tim Tebow is more than a system quarterback. John Fox helped design a system that fit Tebow’s strengths. They relied on their defense to generate favorable field position, which the Browns currently lack. The Broncos would be asking for a high draft pick for Tebow, which I don’t see that happening.

I know that Skip Bayless says nothing but contrarian statements in hopes of drawing ratings. From all accounts from people who have met him, they have nothing but positive things to say about his personality. It sounds like the exact same thing that you hear about Glenn Beck. They both go on television & radio and say things to cause a stir. Once the microphone is off, they put their characters away and become sane people.

I don’t agree with ESPN changing their “First Take” format. I don’t enjoy hearing Stephen A. Smith yell over Skip Bayless for a few hours. ESPN needs more programming like “Outside The Lines,” “E:60,” & “The Sports Reporters.” I understand that those shows aren’t exactly ratings monsters, but they need more of those shows to bolster their image. I’m saying that ESPN should feature a guy like Bob Ley over Colin Cowherd (no offense Michelle Beadle, you’re still my girl).

I don’t want “First Take” very often, because it just raises my blood pressure. More sports radio shows are getting their own morning/afternoon television shows, so there are more options to watch. I’m a big fan of “The Dan Patrick Show” and have been a listener since before they took the show to DirecTV. I would rather hear a guy be honest, who tells both sides of the story, and have guests on who are knowledgeable about specific topics (Chris Mannix, Bruce Feldman, Tony Dungy, etc). Don’t even get me started on “Mike & Mike In the Morning,” that is an entirely different post.

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Is your Fantasy Baseball draft coming up soon? Most leagues will be drafting in the next two weeks and I’m here to help you out with late-round sleepers and guys that you should take a flyer on. These are guys that I feel are extremely undervalued and could help your team’s depth. Most of these guys are currently going in the late 200s or completely undrafted. There are certain baseball players that aren’t “sexy” to have on your team, but there’s value in those players. If you are in a league with a lot of bench spots, this post will be even more helpful to you. These are guys that you can stash away and wait until their playing situation is more established. Continue reading →

Sweetbob’s Storytime: My First Drunken St. Patrick’s Day

Before I tell you the tale of my St. Patrick’s Day nightmare of 2000, the picture next to this is not me. There isn’t any photo evidence of this event and I thank God that the invention of the “camera phone” wasn’t around yet. I didn’t change the names of any of my friends in this post, because I am the only one who looks like an ass in this story. I hope young men will read my adventure and note what I learned during my first drunken St. Patrick’s Day.

The first time that I got drunk was in October of 1999, just a few days after my 19th birthday. I was a freshman at Ball State University and was still trying to figure out the world. I came from a very small town in Indiana and I looked like I was 14 years old. I just came off a growth spurt and I started to shave once a week…things were looking up for me. Continue reading →

Best Of The Week: March 17th, 2012

How are your brackets doing so far? Did Norfolk State, Lehigh, or VCU mess it all up? Even though 99% of the country had Duke advancing past the first-round, I can imagine that most the country was happy to see them get knocked off.

Here are some links to some of the work that I have done this week. I also included some links to sites that are gracious enough to have me write for them. After you’re done reading these links, put your laptop down and go to a bar and watch some college basketball games.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…hope you enjoyed my “Cee-Lo Green Troll Doll”!

America’s White Boy: Would Peyton Help Groom Tim Tebow?
America’s White Boy: Dolphins Trade Brandon Marshall
America’s White Boy: 45 Bands You’ll Know After SXSW
Guyspeed: Crush Of The Day – Amanda McCarthy
Guyspeed: 10 Shocking WWE Wrestlemania Records
Guyspeed: Drunk Man Picks Fight With Sign, Then Steals It
Guyspeed: Dudes Skip Out On Bar Tab, Jumps Out 55-Story Building
PopCrush: No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani Strikes A Pose On Band’s 25th Anniversay
Popcrush: Steven Tyler Admits He Suffers From A.D.D.
Popcrush: Rachel Crow Wants To Work With Eminem
Popcrush: ‘Glee’ Plans Whitney Houston Tribute
Popping The Crowd: Underrated – Ricky Morton
Popping The Crowd: Why John Cena Vs. The Rock Has Sucked

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

45 Bands You’ll Know After SXSW: Part 3

This is the final part of my three-part post featuring artists that will breakout of SXSW with a lot of buzz. A lot of musicians play at SXSW in hopes of showcasing their talents in front of the music industry elite. I posted the first 15 bands on Wednesday and the second 15 bands yesterday.. I will introduce (or re-introduce) you to ’45 Bands That You’ll Know After SXSW.’ Here’s the third group of 15 bands that you’ll hear more about in the near future.

Band – Reptar
Song – ‘Blast Off’
Sounds Like: Active Child, ANR, & STRFKR

After touring extensively since they released their “Oblangle Fizz Y’all” EP, they announced that their full-length debut will drop in May. The group received some attention from ‘Rolling Stone.’ Their “dance synth pop anthems” will get you moving.

Band – Seryn
Song – ‘River Song’
Sounds Like: The Sound Of Growing Up, Josh Garrels, & Doug Burr

I decided to link the song to Seryn’s SXSW performance at the PASTE Magazine Show. They have such a smooth sound by melting guitar, ukuleke, kalimba, accordion, and viola in a good portion of their tracks. They hail from Denton, Texas and are bound to make noise in the rest of the country soon.

Band – Wonder Villains
Song – ‘Ferrari’
Sounds Like: The Sounds, Shiny Toy Guns, & Sahara Hotnights

‘The Irish Times’ described them as “Fizzy, high-energy indie pop,” and it is hard to come up with a better description of Wonder Villains. They are a Northern Ireland band that’s starting to go places. They played BBC’s ‘Radio One Big Weekend’ and ended up touring with bands like The Human League and Scouting For Girls. A lot of people will notice them in Austin and will make a splash in the American market.

Band – We Were Evergreen
Song – ‘Baby Blue’
Sounds Like: Michael Kiwanuka, Little Dragon, & Elephanz

This French band was brought together by a shared fondness of all kinds of pop music and nursery rhymes. The Parisian trio’s music ranges from electro-pop to a stripped-down folk sensibility…with a use of a ukulele (seems like a theme at SXSW this year). They have toured in the UK with Michael Kiwanuka, King Charles, and Charlie Simpson.

Band – Stepdad
Song – ‘My Leather, My Fur, My Nails’
Sounds Like: Young Empires, Darwin Deez, & Passion Pit

This band have toured a lot in the Midwest and a lot of my friends love them andf have a following in Columbus, Ohio. In 2010, they released their debut EP, “Ordinaire.” They have recorded their debut album with producer Chris Zane, who is known for his work with Passion Pit, Mumford and Sons, & The Walkmen.

Band – Yellow Ostrich
Song – ‘Marathon Runner’
Sounds Like: CANT, Peter Wolf Crier, & Young Buffalo

Yellow Ostrich started because of a DIY attitude. Alex Schaaf (lead singer) recorded some tracks and released them on Bandcamp. He hooked some people on his work and the band started in a very organic way. Barsuk re-released “The Mistriss” with it remastered and added some new tracks. This band will make a splash after SXSW.

Band – Saint Motel
Song – ‘Puzzle Pieces’
Sounds Like: Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, & Vacationer

The buzz for Saint Motel started with energetic live performances. They built a formidable reputation with fun, inventive indie pop live shows. They have a surprisingly avant-garde lyrical subject matter. They are mostly tongue-in-cheek, but often “perceived as sexy with one listen.” Their rapturous sound will be heard in more places than Austin after SXSW.

Band – Right Away, Great Captain!
Song – ‘Memories From A Shore’
Sounds Like: Manchester Orchestra, Kevin Devine, & Brand New

Right Away, Great Captain! is the side-project of Andy Hull, who is the lead singer of Manchester Orchestra. He has released some stuff in the past, but a lot of his audience are hardcore Manchester Orchestra fans. A strong performance at SXSW will get his side-project’s name out there and he will have something like Dallas Green’s City and Colour, which was his side-project during Alexisonfire.

Band – The Hounds Below
Song – ‘For You And I’
Sounds Like: Snow Patrol, The Script, & OneRepublic,

The Hounds Below is a Detroit band that have a lot of different influences. They admit that they listen to everything from Phoenix to Buddy Holly. The first time I heard them, it sounds like Morrissey was playing with Snow Patrol. Jason Stollsteimer’s voice has an eerie resemblance to the former lead singer of The Smiths. They have a uniqueness that lack in some of the bands that I mentioned in the “sounds like” section.

Band – Oh No Oh My
Song – ‘Walking Into Me’
Sounds Like: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Say Hi, & Tapes ‘N Tapes

The band started in Austin, Texas in 2004, but have only released a total of two full-length albums and an EP. They have toured extensively and only took time off to record those albums. They have went all over Europe and accrued a nice following over there, but yet to really pop in their home country. Their latest album, “People Problems,” came out in January of 2011.

Band – The Chain Gang Of 1974
Song – ‘Hold On’
Sounds Like: The New Divison, Reptar, & MGMT

Kamtin Mohager had an epiphany when it watched the final scene of the movie ‘Real Genius.’ That is the part where “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” kicks in and it changed his life. He made it a goal to be able to sing along to that track. He kind of overshot his goal. His style mixes a lot of genres, since critics have compared him to everything from LCD Soundsystem to The Talking Heads. He’s a very talented guy and you’ll be hearing more about him in the future.

Band – Tiago Iorc
Song – ‘Story Of A Man’
Sounds Like: Nick Drake, Matt White, & John Mayer

Iorc is a Brazilian born musician that spent time in England and the United States. He sounds a lot like 90’s American singer/songwriters and has a stripped-down acoustic sound. His music teeters between somber and sweet, which leads the listener on an emotional journey. His sounds will work in the U.S. market, just he hasn’t had much of a shot yet.

Band – U.S. Royalty
Song – ‘Equestrian’
Sounds Like: Band Of Horses, Local Natives, & Capital Cities

U.S. Royalty formed in 2008 in the Washington D.C. area. They built the band around lifelong musicians collaboration of brothers John and Paul Thornley. They used to practice in an abandoned trailer in rural Maryland. They have made appearances at NXNe, CMJ, and past SXSW music festivals. The buzz is growing for the band and will soon hit an apex, once more new material is released.

Band – You Say France & I Whistle
Song – ‘When Lovers Die’
Sounds Like: Two Door Cinema Club, Black Kids, & Violent Femmes

The band states that they formed the band out of necessity. The cold Swedish winters are brutal and they wanted to share colorfulness that could spread throughout the people. They live show incorporates hugs, energetic frustration, and love. They are a fun band that have a full-length album hitting the U.S. market this Spring.

Band – V For Volume
Song – ‘Cheap Universe’
Sounds Like: The Birthday Massacre, Metro Station, & Paramore

This is the first Colombian band to make the list, but they don’t fit into the normal group that hail from that country. The members of V For Volume all used to be in metal bands. Their current sound is far from that, since it is a mixture of Paramore and The Bravery. The band’s debut album, “Providence,” came out this month, so check it out on Spotify or buy it on iTunes.

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45 Bands You’ll Know After SXSW: Part 2

This is the second part of my three-part post featuring the artists that will breakout of SXSW with a lot of buzz. A lot of musicians play at SXSW in hopes of showcasing their talents in front of the music industry elite. I posted the first 15 bands yesterday. I will introduce (or re-introduce) you to ’45 Bands That You’ll Know After SXSW.’ Here’s the second group of 15 bands that you’ll hear more about in the near future.

Band – Grimes
Song – ‘Oblivion’
Sounds Like: Zola Jesus, Beach House & Sleep Over

Grimes is the stage name of French Canadian artist, Claire Boucher. She incorporates visual art, dance, and video during her live performances. She has released four albums since 2010, she’s has been busy lady. Grimes is a mixture of a lot of artists, with some Enya & Aphex Twin being two of her biggest influences. It is hard to determine her genre, but if you catch her show, you’ll be introduced to a few that you’re not expecting.

Band – Hoodie Allen
Song – ‘#WhiteGirlProblems’
Sounds Like: Chiddy Bang, Asher Roth, & Mac Miller

Hoodie Allen (Steven Markowitz) is a Brooklyn-born frat-rapper. He has garnered some buzz on Twitter by naming a song that contains a hashtag. He has been featured on MTU and has appeared on Billboard’s Uncharted Territory for indie artists. If you like the frat-rap genre, he’s one of the best new guys in the genre.

Band – J.D. McPherson
Song – ‘North Side Gal’
Sounds Like: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, early Elvis, & Ray Charles

McPheron’s retro-rockability style is a breath of fresh air in the indie music genre. You can tell that a lot of his influence comes from rockabilly, early Motown, and Elvis Presley. His album ‘Signs & Signifiers” will be released on April 17th on Rounder Records. If he’s in a town near you, check him out…I’m not just saying that because I feel like this song is about a cute Chicago Cubs fan.

Band – Mariah McManus
Song – ‘Say It Again’
Sounds Like: Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, & Anna Nalick

McManus is only 19 years old, but her sound is a mixture of Imogen Heap and Portishead, with Taylor Swift’s innocence. Her songs are about a teenager navigating the world, but her mature voice doesn’t land her in the “tween pop” genre. Her songs are like candy-coated honesty…which I would eat.

Band – Royal Teeth
Song – ‘Wild’
Sounds Like: Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend & Passion Pit

Royal Teeth is 1980s New Wave meets indie dance pop. It is a cretive style of music and will be accepted by a very wide audience. They have on released one synth-infused EP, ‘Act Naturally,’ with an LP in the works. They pride themselves on being themselves and if the audience responds, it is really easy.

Band – Mmoths
Song – ‘Heart’
Sounds Like: Neon Indian, Air Tycoon & St. Lucia

Mmoths (Jack Colleran) is an 18-year old producer that signed his record deal on the same day that he graduated high school. He released his debut EP on March 5th and features a lot of guest artist, because he doesn’t sing. The track ‘Heart’ features Keep Shelly In Athens, her voice compliments Mmoths’ airy and calming synth tracks.

Band – Little Lo
Song – ‘Wounded Knee’
Sounds Like: The Arcade Fire, Okkervil River, & The Polyphonic Spree

They will be right at home in Austin, Texas, because that is where they call home. The local music scene is quite congested and it takes great talent to shine there. The Arcade Fire is a popular band and this sextet omits large doses of their sound. The SXSW fans will love the energy in the room, especially since they will have local fans there to help fuel the band.

Band – Library Voices
Song – ‘Generation Handclap’
Sounds Like: Rabbit!, Fleet Foxes, & Ra Ra Riot

This is one of a few Canadian bands to make my list. They are well-represented in Austin this year. They are a seven-piece pop collective from Saskatchewan. They use vintage organs, circuit bent electronics, accordion, saxophone, theremin, and even a glockenspiel. They are an eclectic band with a nice mainstream indie sound.

Band – Hands
Song – ‘Warm Night Home’
Sounds Like: The Shins, Band Of Horses, & Beirut

These very technical musicians have a nice and unique tempo. THey use auxiliary drum beats looped with guitar riffs. It is a very fresh sound and if you’re a fan of The Shins, you’ll enjoy Hands. They will be opening for Deehoof, DeVotchKa, and Foster The People in 2012.

Band – Imagine Dragons
Song – ‘It’s Time’
Sounds Like: Neon Trees, The Temper Trap & Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This Vegas quintet’s debut dropped in February on Interscope Records. It was produced by Alex da Kid and will make an impact on the charts. They have already opened for mainstream acts like Weezer, Interpol, and Blue October. They will be touring some festivals to get their name out there and gain even more buzz about their band.

Band – Kat Edmonson
Song – ‘Lucky’
Sounds Like: Kate Nash, Regina Spektor, & Feist

Edmonson is a former contestant on ‘American Idol,’ but only made the Top 48 Hollywood round. She was 19 and still trying to find her sound. She has performed with Willie Nelson and even opened up for Smokey Robinson. Her sound is simple and honest, something that Feist has perfected.

Band – Love Inks
Song – ‘Blackeye’
Sounds Like: Warpaint, Washington, & Seapony

Love Inks is a minimalist pop band with a sexual electronic sound. Their focus is primarily on the voice, which is “direct and honest.” Warpaint has a cult following and once they hear “Blackeye,” they will be lining up to see them.

Band – Outernational
Song – ‘Fighting Song’
Sounds Like: Gogol Bordello, The Clash & post-punk protest music

Outernational is a New York that have collaborated with Tom Morrello, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Calle 13. They have friends in high places and it will pay off very soon. They have had a lot of buzz about them over the last few years. A lot of their music deals with social injustices and political commentary. They have a lot to say and it is very entertaining.

Band – Rockwell Knuckles
Song – ‘Play Catch’
Sounds Like: Vandalyzm, Black Spade, & Freddie Gibbs

You have to respect a guy that likens his rapping style to Kenny Powers. “The whole project has an aggressive, non-apologetic, abrasive (vibe).” I guess he wants to verbally throw a fast ball in your ears and then give you the finger when you walk back to the dugout. He is the best rapper to come out of St. Louis in awhile and he will gain a bigger a national audience after his appearance at SXSW.

Band – Matt Corby
Song – ‘Brother’
Sounds Like: Bon Iver, Boy & Bear & Nick Drake

Corby had an unusual start to his career, he appeared on an Australian reality television show. He spent most of his 20s gaining experience as a songwriter and after selling out shows in London, he was showcased at last year’s SXSW. In November, he released an EP, ‘Into The Flame.’ He scheduled to do a national tour and then back to Australia. I’d advise that you catch him while he’s in the States.

CHECK OUT THE FINAL 15 BANDS IN PART 3

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NCAA Tourney – Elite 8 & Final 4 Picks

Earlier in the week, I broke down the early rounds in the Midwest, East, West and South Region analyses. Before the field was set, I mentioned some possible underdogs and upsets. All that is left is for me to breakdown who I think will still be there in the Elite Eight and the Final Four. Will a Cinderella team advance this far?

South Region Elite Eight: Kentucky & Baylor

I think this will be an epic match-up with many future NBA players in this contest. Baylor’s pre-tournament resumé is impressive, but at times, they have looked very beatable. The play of Perry Jones III will need to be consistent for Baylor to make the Elite Eight. If these teams meet, Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones will dominate and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has a chance of being a standout in this tournament. Baylor won’t be able to match the talent on Kentucky and the Wildcats advance to the Final Four.

South Region Winner: Kentucky Wildcats

West Region Elite Eight: Louisville & Missouri

Rick Pitino has the Cardinals playing very well. They ended the season on a high note and winning the Big East tournament validates your team as being a contender in this tournament. Louisville should be able to beat Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. I just think that they are a better “team,” since the Spartans rely heavily on Draymond Green. As far as Missouri is concerned, they will be tested against Florida, Marquette, and possibly Murray State, but the Tigers have elite talent. I love Marcus Denman and Ricardo Ratcliffe and Missouri will benefit from having a balanced inside/outside offensive attack. Louisville and Missouri play different styles and the Cardinals will play a lot of full-court press and trap. I’s take Louisville’s defense over Missouri’s offense.

West Region Winner: Louisville Cardinals

East Region Elite Eight: Syracuse and Ohio State

I think this region will be very “chalk.” I could see Southern Miss giving some teams some trouble early and possibly a team like West Virginia could get hot. Even without Fab Melo, Syracuse’s route to the Elite Eight is pretty light. I see them beating Southern Miss and Vandy/Wisconsin, those teams don’t match up well with the Orange. The bottom half of the bracket will also be as expected. I like Florida State a lot, but if they face the Buckeyes in the Sweet Sixteen, I don’t like them in that game. I expect a nice tournament from Jared Sullinger and William Buford. Syracuse and Ohio State are pretty similar teams, but without Melo, Sullinger will be able to work inside. This will be the first game that will hurt the Orange without Melo. I see the Buckeyes moving onto the Final Four in the East Region.

East Region Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes

Midwest Region Elite Eight: North Carolina and Kansas

This region will have a few upsets with Temple advancing over Michigan and I like San Diego State against Georgetown. After those upsets, it’ll be North Carolina versus Kansas in the Elite Eight. This is a game that I have been waiting for all season. I love a lot of players in this game. It will be fun to watch Harrison Barnes and Thomas Robinson in the same game. I’m not a huge fan of John Henson, he also comes into the tournament with injury problems. I think Kansas is a better team, even though the Tar Heels come into this contest with the most talent on paper. The Jayhawks should be the team that advances into the Final Four in the Midwest.

Midwest Region Winner: Kansas Jayhawks

Final Four Matchups
Kentucky vs Louisville & Ohio State vs. Kansas

These teams met earlier this season and it wasn’t very close. This is a different Louisville team than when the Wildacts faced them. They have learned to play in big games and they proven it by winning the Big East tournament. I don’t think they will beat Kentucky, but it will be a closer game. The freshmen on Kentucky will have to give their best to pull out the win, I believe they will step up and advance to the Championship Game.

Kansas and Ohio State will be an epic game as well. Tyshawn Taylor will probably cover William Buford, who had trouble scoring against other great talent. Ohio State will have to rely a lot on Sullinger, who has a hard time scoring against Robinson inside. He has a hard time playing “above the rim” and Robinson will take advantage of that. I see Kansas beating the Buckeyes in a close game.

Championship Game: Kentucky vs Kansas

This will be a rematch of the game that happened in November. Kentucky won that game 75-65 with Anthony Davis registering 7 blocks. Taylor lead the Jayhawks in scoring, but got most of his 22 points from the free-throw line. The Wildcats had a very balanced offensive attack with Jones, Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Doron Lamb scoring in double-digits. I see the same kind of game happening the second time around. Kentucky just has too much talent on the team and they gelled as the season progressed. I see the loss against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament final as an aberration. The Wildcats excel in all aspects of the game and even hit their free-throws, which is odd for a John Calipari team. He will prove that a team can win the NCAA Tournament with mostly freshmen.

2012 NCAA Tournament Champion: Kentucky Wildcats

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

45 Bands You’ll Know After SXSW: Part 1

South By Southwest is a yearly festival that introduces the world to new ideas and entertainment. It is held in Austin, Texas and holds panels on technology, music and film. A lot of musicians play at SXSW in hopes of showcasing their talents in front of the music industry elite. The music section of the festival started last night and runs through Friday. Bands can get a lot of buzz after putting on an entertaining show. For the next three days, I will introduce (or re-introduce) you to ’45 Bands That You’ll Know After SXSW.’ Here’s the first 15 bands that you’ll hear more about in the near future.

Band – Typhoon
Song – ‘The Honest Truth’
Sounds Like: The Decemberists, The Rural Alberta Advantage, & Seryn

Typhoon started in 2005 and released three albums on Gorilla Boy Records. The bands went on hiatus in 2008, but reformed in 2010 and have since released two albums. They are currently writing their third album on Tender Loving Empire Records. I think you guys will enjoy the video for ‘The Honest Truth,’ it’s pretty funny.

Band – ANR (Awesome New Republic)
Song – ‘It’s A Big Problem’
Sounds Like: STRFKR, Bloc Party, & M83

ANR originated in Miami, Florida and it’s a two-piece band that started in 2003. Their latest album, ‘Stay Kids’, garnered critical praise from ‘Stereogum’ and other mainstream critics. They made some headlines when their record label openly marketed a release for BitTorrent users.

Band – Motopony
Song – ‘Wait For Me’
Sounds Like: Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, & Fleet Foxes

This four-piece band is lead by singer/songwriter, Daniel Blue. In their self-titled debut, Blue’s songwriting is noticeably deep and their combination of synthesizer and mellow guitar rifts, is very hard to do. This band sounds a lot like the bands that are breaking out in indie music and will get some notice down at SXSW.

Band – Alabama Shakes
Song – ‘Hold On’
Sounds Like: Janis Joplin, The Raconteurs, &Kings Of Leon

At first listen, I thought that the Alabama Shakes had s singer that resembled a mixture of Janis Joplin and early Robert Plant. I listened to more of their material and it only cemented what I thought at first listen. Brittany Howard has amazing vocals and the front-runner of being the breakout star of this year’s festival. They have already received acclaim from their performance at last year’s CMJ Festival and NPR named them one of the bands to watch.

Band – Capital Cities
Song – ‘Safe And Sound’
Sounds Like: MGMT, STRFKR, & Teeth

This electro-pop band hails from Los Angeles, CA. They recordings are high-quality, yet has a vintage sounds. They use a vintage Juno-106 keyboard, which could be why it has such a nice feel of new & old. They have only released an EP so far, but with the success of that in the U.S. and even in places like Peru, an LP will be in their immediate future.

Band – Bad Rabbits
Song – ‘Neverland’
Sounds Like: Chromeo, Morris Day & the Time, & Foxy Shazam

Bad Rabbits members’ are comprised of first-generation Americans from India, Argentina, Ghana, & Isreal. A lot of styles go into their music, but there are a lot of funk that jumps out at you. Their style will receive attention from hipsters, old dance-funk fans, and indie music aficionados.

Band – Folk Uke
Song – ‘Shit Makes The Flowers Grow’
Sounds Like: Garfunkel & Oates, The Barnkickers, & Benny Wiwi

It is hard to think of bands that really sound like Folk Uke. I don’t think they make songs that are meant to be overtly comedic like Garfunkel & Oates. Their songs are edgy and harmonic, wrapped in snark. I enjoy their stuff and think that a lot of you will too.

Band – Blondfire
Song – ‘Where The Kids Are’
Sounds Like: Ganglians, Foster The People, Rabbit!

The brother/sister duo were the first unsigned band to reach #1 on the iTunes Alternative chart. Their upcoming album ‘Win The Game’ was self-produced. I respect the DIY-driven succes and they should have a great festival.

Band – Callaghan
Song – ‘Best Year’
Sounds Like: Regina Spektor, Amanda Palmer, & Joanna Newsom

Independent singer-songwriter Callaghan moved from London to America in summer 2010. Her debut album, Life in Full Colour, produced by Shawn Mullins, is set to released. Her song,’Best Year,’ celebrates her first year in the USA and taking a chance to follow your dreams.

Band – Bloody Beach
Song – ‘Quembo Que’
Sounds Like: Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferndinand, Kaiser Chiefs

The music of Bloody Beach is a conglomerate of musical styles from around the world. Everyone from Turkish DJs to Scandinavian indie kids has been blown away by their live performances. Danceable songs fronted by a great front man, which have the power to turn any audience into a smiling, dancing crowd. This is one of the reasons why the crowd at SXSW will love them.

Band – Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room
Song – ‘Denver and Me’
Sounds Like: Nikola Sarcevic, City & The Color, Greg Graffin

If Dan Andriano sounds familiar, he’s the bassist and co-singer for Alkaline Trio. This side-project is stripped-down and has more of a folk music influence. If you’re a fan of Alkaline Trio, you’ll love it. His debut album, ‘Hurricane Season,’ was released in late 2011 on Asian Man Records.

Band – A Great Big Pile Of Leaves
Song – ‘We Don’t Need Our Heads’
Sounds Like: Look Mexico, Weatherbox, & The Appleseed Cast

This Brooklyn-based band have released a nice set of EP’s and a full-length album ‘Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex.’ They have a nice following and are due to release a new EP on Motion City Soundtrack’s record label, The Boombox Generation. They are expected to release another full-length album in 2012.

Band – Doctor P
Song – ‘Big Boss’
Sounds Like: Slum Dogz, Flux Pavillion, & instrumental Skrillex

Doctor P is the stage name of the English Dubstep record producer, Shaun Brockhurst. He hasn’t broken out in the U.S. yet, but with Dubstep catching on over here, he’s due to make waves. If you like ‘Big Boss’ and are a fan of old-school Nintendo, you’ll love this Dubstep remix of the ‘Tetris theme song.

Band – David Ramirez
Song – ‘Shoeboxes’
Sounds Like: Cory Branan, Lucero, & Ben Nichols

Ramirez describes himself as “a wandering man, got no money in the bank, got no wife at home watching children.” He has been writing and performing for over 10 years and describes his genre as “Folk-brewed Pop.” His songwriting is honest, unfiltered and true, which strikes a chord with crowds that stumbled upon his show.

Band – Hope Atlantic
Song – ‘Lost At Sea’
Sounds Like: Augustana, The Fray, & The Rocket Summer

Hope Atlantic are small town boys taking a grassroots approach to modern pop rock. They have supported bands such as Tokyo Police Club and Coheed & Cambria in their hometown and named ‘Hometown Heroes’ by Alternative Press. They conquered Winnipeg, now it is time that they conquer Austin, Texas.

CHECK OUT THE NEXT 15 BANDS IN PART 2
CHECK OUT THE FINAL 15 BANDS IN PART 3

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Dolphins Trade Brandon Marshall To Bears

The Chicago Bears finally have an elite wide-receiver. Jay Cutler should be happy, because it is a player that he knows very well. The Miami Dolphins traded WR Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears for two 3rd-round draft picks. Even though he is coming off his best season with the Dolphins (81 receptions for 1,215 yards with six touchdowns), the price went down for Marshall’s services. The Dolphins gave the Denver Broncos two 2nd-round picks in 2010.

Cutler and Marshall put up some impressive numbers together in Denver. The last three seasons that they were in Denver, Marshall eclipsed 100 receptions each year. The Bears have lacked a prototypical wide-receiver for many years. The last receiver that put up consistent numbers was Bernard Berrian. I’m not saying that Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are bad receivers, but neither of them are a #1 receiving option on a championship contending team.

The Bears still need help on the offensive line and they look to add a few pieces in the upcoming NFL Draft. They should have a chance to add depth to a line has given up a lot of sacks over the past two seasons. They have other needs, but using the draft to pick up a few young offensive linemen is in their best interest.

Marshall is under contract through the 2014 season and has a contract around $9 million dollars per season. This signing could end all of the Mario Williams rumors that have been floating around. Williams is projected to receive a contract that averages at least $15 million per season. A pass rush combo of Julius Peppers and Williams would rival the Giants for the best pass rush in the NFL. Even if they aren’t able to sign Williams, the Bears took a step in the right direction by trading with Marshall.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.