The WorldBeaters

Since I started this blog I've been toying with the idea of keeping a list of all the kooks in sports, you know all the people that make sports funny and more than just about jumping and running.  After a little thought I decided that I was going to do it.  So here you are, the first inductee to the "Our Favorite People" list:  Dan Gilbert or as I like to call him "The Joker".  By now you have either heard or read his letter to the city of Cleveland following LBJ deciding to head to Miami. If you haven't here it is.... The Joker Letter .   In addition to the letter he reduced to the price of LBJ's Cleveland Cavaliers poster to $17.41, to coincide with the birth of Benedict Arnold.  ME LOVES IT!  This guys is off his. Congratulations Mr. Gilbert you made the list.   Interesting Note:  This list starts as of July 1st 2010.  Which is why T.O. isn't on it....yet. 

Interesting enough, I still have a hankering for some soccer.  But honestly the MLS doesn't really cut it for me, I wanna see the best players in the world play.  You know, the Forlans and Villas of the game.  Luckily this year's MLS All-Star game pits the MLS's best against Manchester United, a storied soccer franchise with some of the best players in the world.  The MLS roster has just recently been set and includes Landon Donovan, coming off a superb World Cup performance it will be exciting to see what he can do against Man U.  Here is the rest of the MLS squad  http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/all-star-roster-set-clash-manchester-utd .

According to a Harris International Poll release last night, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods are tied in first place for America's Favorite athlete.  This comes as no surprise as Kobe is a back to back NBA champion and finals MVP and Tiger Wood's body of work is outstanding and will presumably continue to astound fans.  It also shows that all we care about in this country is winning.  Which to me is a good thing, the personal life's of athletes is really none of our business unless they choose to share it with us.  So while the media outlets slam athletes for whatever faults they may have, at the end of the day the American people realize that they athletes are paid to win, and if you win we love you.   The rest of the list is as follows: Derek Jeter (3), Brett Farve (4) Peyton Manning (5), Lebron James (6), Micheal Jordan (7), Tom Brady (8), Drew Brees (9), Dale Ernhardt Jr. (10).

I know its hot as blazes outside, but please be safe and drink lots of water and stay cool.  If you are working out try and do so in the morning and evening.  Its the hottest year on record and it certainly feels that way, but not to worry, soon it will be Fall and those dry tumbleweeds rolling past will be replaced by flurries of falling leaves AND FOOTBALL!!  I know many of you haven't had a chance to keep up with the happenings of your favorite squad, so let NFL.com catch you up.   Each team gets about a 7 minute recap of the moves they've made and the moves they need to make.  Thank you NFL.com.   http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-32-teams-in-32-days

This is a sports blog, but occasionally we'll give a movie review.  Today we'll review "Inception". I saw "Inception" Friday night and thought it was awesome.  Leonardo Dicaprio was good in it, but as with most of the films he's in I feel like his character isn't the most interesting.  For example in "Gangs of New York", Bill the Butcher blows Leo off the screen.  Same thing happens to Leo in the "Departed" with the Mark Walberg and Alec Baldwin characters.  But I can't say he did a bad job in "Inception", I give him a B+.  The movie had a very "Matrix" feel to it and I mean that as a compliment.  The movie is ripe for a sequel (or two), a comic book, a tv show, etc, etc.  It is easily the best movie I've seen this year and should get some Oscar nominations.  WorldBeaters gives Inception an "A".  Strong lead actor, super strong supporting cast, super slick visuals and best of all an inventiv...

 According to knoxnews.com, you guys are currently searching for a new mascot.  I hear you still want to be  called the Rebels, but you feel like "Colonel Reb" is too old south and you've narrowed the mascot choices down to either a horse, a lion, a bear, a land shark or a hotty and toddy.   Lets eliminate the land shark and the lion right off the bat.  Lion is way over used in the mascot world and what does a land shark have to do with Ole Miss?  Bear and horse are out.  Both are overused as well.  A hotty and toddy?  Really?  Your mascot is going to be an alcoholic beverage? Nope not really smart for a college to use alcohol as a mascot.  To be perfectly honest I think the school needs a name and mascot change.   An old southern school that calls itself the "Rebels" just screams old south.  Not to worry Ole Miss, Hugo Brie is on it.  Naming teams is something I do, I'm pretty good at it. So here go with this: ...

Every time I see a promo for one of ESPN's 30 for 30 films I get very emotional.  I have no idea why?  Sports is just one of those things that touches my emotions.  Of all the movies that I watched only 2 have made me tear up.  The first was "The Godfather 3" and the other was sports-related, "Million Dollar Baby."  So if you are like me and have a strong emotional connection to sports you will love the "30 for 30" series on ESPN. The films are  a collection of sports-docs by different directors that touch a wide variety of sports topics, from Reggie Miller and the Knicks to Ali vs. Larry Holmes.  One of my faves has been "Silly Little Game" which chronicled the rise of fantasy sports and "Run Ricky Run"  which covers the career of the one and only Ricky Williams.  If you haven't been watching they replay them all the time and look out for the new films that are gonna be aired in the next few months.   Trailer below.