I saw the first episode of "24" and while I was waiting for The Apprentice to come on. OK. I admit it. I'm an Apprentice junkie. But I've got some disagreement with the idea of having it in LA. It's nothing against LA. But it's just that The Apprentice is a show with a distinctively New York cut. It doesn't mix with LA. Thus, it comes at no surprise that "24's" Jack Bauer bit the artery out of the bad guy and The Apprentice with one chomp.
Wait? Biting? Yep. Biting.
It was a move distinctively Jack Baeur. Creative. Unexpected. Necessary. Efficient. Brutal. And it's acts like that which keep even Apprentice junkies like me looking at the show, when I'm suppose to turn the channel. It's hard to do.
But eventually I did and watched Trump's show with my Mom. It was the usual Apprentice formula. But this time, this brotha named Carey decided he was going to let his being Gay impact a business decision. This dude insisted on wearing a pair of tight pink shorts no normal man would be caught in. The idea was that clothing buyers were going to buy those shorts! No way. But Carey insisted on the design and on his wearing it on a fashion runway.
As you might have guessed, Carey got fired.
I don't know what happened to the end of the "24" two hour episode, but it was so good it made me think twice about what I did. But in the end I know why. I'm an Apprentice junkie, but if Baeur keeps up his run of unexpected bites, I could become a "24" junkiee, too.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Eric Clapton's Layla - An Enduring Song - Video
This is perhaps one of the most popular songs in the history of modern music. Layla as performed by Eric Clapton has been in commercials, spoofed, and copied many times over.
According to Wikipedia, Layla...
is the title track on the Derek and the Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, released in December 1970. It is considered one of rock music's definitive love songs,[2] featuring an unmistakable guitar figure, played by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, as lead-in. Its famously contrasting movements were composed separately by Clapton and Jim Gordon.
Inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison, "Layla" was unsuccessful on its initial release.[3] The song has since experienced great critical and popular acclaim. Two versions have achieved chart success, first in 1972 and again twenty years later.
Background
In 1966, George Harrison married Pattie Boyd, a model he met during the filming of A Hard Day's Night. During the late 1960s, Clapton and Harrison, as two of the top English guitarists of the day, became firm friends. Clapton contributed guitar work on Harrison's song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on The Beatles' White Album, and Harrison played guitar pseudonymously on Cream's "Badge" from Goodbye. However, trouble was brewing for Clapton. His supergroups Cream and Blind Faith had broken apart, his growing drug use would lead to a life-threatening heroin addiction, and, when Boyd came to Clapton for aid during marital troubles, Clapton fell desperately in love with her.
The title, "Layla", was inspired by a love story, The Story of Layla / Layla and Majnun (ليلى ومجنون), by the Persian classical poet Nezami. When he wrote "Layla", Clapton had recently been given a copy of the story by a friend (reportedly Ian Dallas)[5] who was in the process of converting to Islam. Nezami's tale, about a moon-princess who was married off by her father to someone other than the man who was desperately in love with her, resulting in his madness (in Persian, Majnun, مجنون, means "madman"), struck a deep chord with Clapton.[4]
Boyd divorced Harrison in 1977 and married Clapton in 1979. Harrison was not bitter about the divorce and attended Clapton's wedding with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. During their marriage, Clapton wrote another love ballad for her, "Wonderful Tonight". Their marriage later developed difficulties over Clapton's alcoholism and his extramarital affair with Yvonne Khan Kelly, and in 1985 he left Boyd altogether for Italian model Lori del Santo, with whom he had a child. Clapton and Boyd divorced in 1989 after several years of separation. Boyd currently lives with the property developer Rod Weston.
In an interview with Songfacts, Bobby Whitlock, who was a member of Derek and the Dominos and good friends with both Harrison and Clapton, explains the situation between Clapton and Pattie around the time he wrote Layla:
“ I was there when they were supposedly sneaking around. You don't sneak very well when you're a world figure. He was all hot on Pattie and I was dating her sister. They had this thing going on that supposedly was behind George's back. Well, George didn't really care. He said, 'You can have her.' That kind of defuses it when Eric says, 'I'm taking your wife' and he says, 'Take her.' They got married and evidently, she wasn't what he wanted after all. The hunt was better than the kill. That happens, but apparently Pattie is real happy now with some guy who's not a guitar player. Good for her and good for Eric for moving on with his life. George got on with his life, that's for sure.
Michael Strahan To Pay Ex-Wife $15 Million - That's Not His Wife
That's a woman named Amy and they're not dating but I'm sure she wishes otherwise given her description of the photo. It's a picture taken at the Coors Convention in Hawaii. Now as for Michael Strahan, he's to pay his wife $15 million because of a prenuptual agreement he signed.
Here's the story...
NEWARK, N.J. AP — A judge has ordered NFL star Michael Strahan to pay his ex-wife $15.3 million — more than half-his net worth — holding the defensive end to the prenuptial agreement he signed.
Under the agreement, Jean Strahan was entitled to 50 percent of their joint marital assets and 20 percent of his yearly income from each year they were married.
Strahan had claimed that he wasn't responsible for the 20 percent because his wife failed to ask for it every year.
But state Superior Court Judge James Convery disagreed, saying in his ruling that "the plaintiff is not credible in his claim that the defendant never asked for her separate funds."
In addition to the $15.3 million, Convery awarded Jean Strahan hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support
Jean, who married the football player in 1999, said she was elated with the ruling.
"It pays to tell the truth, and I told the truth," she told the New York Post for Saturday editions. "I never asked for a penny more than the prenup that Michael and his lawyers wrote and made me sign. And all I ever asked for was that to be upheld."
Here's the story...
NEWARK, N.J. AP — A judge has ordered NFL star Michael Strahan to pay his ex-wife $15.3 million — more than half-his net worth — holding the defensive end to the prenuptial agreement he signed.
Under the agreement, Jean Strahan was entitled to 50 percent of their joint marital assets and 20 percent of his yearly income from each year they were married.
Strahan had claimed that he wasn't responsible for the 20 percent because his wife failed to ask for it every year.
But state Superior Court Judge James Convery disagreed, saying in his ruling that "the plaintiff is not credible in his claim that the defendant never asked for her separate funds."
In addition to the $15.3 million, Convery awarded Jean Strahan hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support
Jean, who married the football player in 1999, said she was elated with the ruling.
"It pays to tell the truth, and I told the truth," she told the New York Post for Saturday editions. "I never asked for a penny more than the prenup that Michael and his lawyers wrote and made me sign. And all I ever asked for was that to be upheld."
Carolyn Kepcher From The Apprentice At Another After Party
Here's Carolyn Kepcher at another Apprentice After Party, this one after season 5 of the show. She's with photog Charles Pham.
The Apprentice Carolyn Kepcher with Arleen and PopVulture
Carolyn Kepcher, the star of all of the Apprentice shows until Donald Trump fired her last fall, is seen here with the ever-smling PopVulture at the 2005 Apprentice After Party.
George Ross From The Trump Organization With Arleen and PopVulture
The ever-daring and present PopVulture is in this photo of George taken at the 2005 Apprentice After Party, and who appeared on The Apprentice from the first year to 2006.
Sugar Ray Leonard and PopVulture At The Apprentice 2005 After Party
What's Sugar Ray Leonard doing at the 2005 Apprentce After Party? Well, he's working with Mark Burnett on the then-new "Contender" show, so I guess he got invited! Anyway, PopVulture gets around!
Omarosa From The Apprentice 1 Gets Down At The 2005 After Party
Actiing every bit as one would expect, according to PopVulture, Omaroda, the famously outspoken and energetic face of the first Apprentice, holds court at the 2005 After Party.
Craig From Apprentice 3 with Jen, Arleen, and PopVulture
If you remember, Craig famously tangled with Kendra Todd on Apprentice 3, and came in second to her. He's here with PopVulture and her friends.
Tana At The Apprentice After Party With "PopVulture"
PopVulture gets around. Here's another photo of her with The Apprentice second-place finisher Tana at the same 2005 after-party.
Kendra Todd And "PopVulture" At The 2005 Apprentice After Party
Kendra Todd won Season 3 of "The Apprentice." PopVulture's friend Chris Tragos snapped this photo of her with Kendra at "The Apprentice" Season 3 after-party at Planet Hollywood in New York City. It seems that PopVulture is in the media business, and so was invited to the event.
The Apprentice, Randall In NYC 2005
Back in April, I this person happened upon a group filming a reality TV show and snapped a few shots. Little did I know he was later to become the winner of THE APPRENTICE.
Congratulations Randall!
[Filming of the "The Apprentice", NYC , April 14, 2005]
Saturday, January 13, 2007
NFC Divisional Playoffs - New Orleans Saints Beat The Philadelphia Eagles 27-24
Big-play Saints ride magic carpet into NFC title game
Photo Wire
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl?
Deuce McAllister and rookie sensation Reggie Bush gave this battered city a reason to throw itself a party, carrying the New Orleans Saints where they've never been before -- one game from the Super Bowl.
To constant chants of "DEUCE!" or "REG-GIE! REG-GIE!" the Saints used an assortment of spectacular plays to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24.
"This year, some things have happened for us and it's like, wow, this may be destiny," McAllister said.
Outside the Lines
"Outside the Lines" (Sunday on ESPN, 9:30 a.m. ET), takes a look at Peyton Manning's legacy. Full details
"It means everything," Bush said. "All that stuff we went through as a team, these are the type of games we live for. And this game is even bigger for the city."
The Saints are the first team in NFL history to make a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season.
With victory secured for the Saints (11-6) on McAllister's powerful rushes for a clinching first down to run out the clock, team owner Tom Benson did his "Benson Boogie" on the field. The players hugged and saluted their long-suffering fans while a jazz band belted out tunes.
"I think it means a tremendous amount," quarterback Drew Brees said. "You could see it and feel it after the game, people still standing and yelling and screaming."
It was the veteran McAllister with his two touchdowns and team playoff mark of 143 yards rushing, and the rookie Bush with his collection of magnificent moves, that made the difference in the raucous Superdome.
"It's my first opportunity to be in the playoffs, I didn't want to be one and out," McAllister said. "I didn't want to say, 'If I had done this or prepared differently, we would have been successful.'
"It's just the determination of this team and this city -- to give them everything we have."
Even after Brees' high pitchout got away from Bush with 3:18 remaining and Philadelphia recovering, the Saints would not be denied. Their defense held Brian Westbrook, who was brilliant for the Eagles (11-7), near midfield.
McAllister became the first Saints player to rush for more than 100 yards in the playoffs.
"Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren't going to stop him," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He ran his heart out."
McAllister scored on a 5-yard run and an 11-yard pass in the third quarter.
The Eagles, who won six in a row after losing quarterback Donovan McNabb, got a superb performance from Westbrook, who rushed for 116 yards and scored twice, including a 62-yard run that was a franchise playoff record.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia's run of success ended, but he combined with former Saints receiver Donte' Stallworth on an Eagles-record 75-yard touchdown in the first half.
McAllister, who missed 11 games last season with a knee injury, has been overshadowed by the spectacular Bush and surprising seventh-round draft pick Marques Colston. But he came through when he was needed most against the NFC's hottest team.
So did Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner whose arrival after Houston passed on him in the draft lifted the spirits of the Gulf Region. He scored on an eye-popping 4-yard run in the first half and had an equally scintillating 25-yarder to set up one of John Carney's two field goals.
So let the parties begin -- at least until the conference title game.
"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Payton, the NFL Coach of the Year. "We just hope we can put a little kick in their step Monday and Tuesday, and give them something to look forward to next weekend."
McAllister's 28-yard run set up Carney's 33-yard field goal for an early lead. And Carney's 23-yarder in the second quarter that made it 6-0 also was the result of a long run -- by Bush.
The rookie started to his right, but with a bunch of Eagles in his way, he reversed field. After faking going down the middle, he sped to the left sideline and picked up 25 yards.
Brees then threw his best pass of the half for a 35-yard gain to Devery Henderson behind Rod Hood, who was in for injured Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia's best cover cornerback.
Garcia trumped that with his perfect pass to Stallworth beyond Fred Thomas, the longest pass play and longest touchdown in Philly's playoff history.
The Saints accepted the challenge and marched 78 yards in 14 plays. Bush pulled off another stunner when, from the Eagles 4, he was stopped up the middle, broke right and outraced the defense to the corner of the end zone for a 13-7 lead.
But Philly's resourcefulness on third downs highlighted an 80-yard drive to the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard leap over the pile by Westbrook. Garcia found Reggie Brown for 32 yards and Hank Baskett for 25 on third-down plays, with both receivers wide open.
The half ended in confusion. First, punter Steve Weatherford gained 15 yards and a first down when he saw his kick was about to be blocked and he took off to the right. Then Brees' desperation pass into a group in the end zone momentarily was caught by Colston. William James then ripped it loose, and the Saints stayed on the field hoping for a video review by the replay booth. The Eagles, meanwhile, headed to the locker room, soon followed by the officials.
Game notes
Eagles All-Pro tackle Shawn Andrews injured his neck in the first half and was taken to a hospital with swelling. ... Eagles LB Shawn Barber injured his ankle. ... The Saints also beat the Eagles 27-24 here during the season. ... Stallworth finished with 100 yards on three catches for Philly, while Colston had five for 55 and seldom-used tight end Billy Miller caught four passes for 64 yards for the Saints.
Photo Wire
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl?
Deuce McAllister and rookie sensation Reggie Bush gave this battered city a reason to throw itself a party, carrying the New Orleans Saints where they've never been before -- one game from the Super Bowl.
To constant chants of "DEUCE!" or "REG-GIE! REG-GIE!" the Saints used an assortment of spectacular plays to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24.
"This year, some things have happened for us and it's like, wow, this may be destiny," McAllister said.
Outside the Lines
"Outside the Lines" (Sunday on ESPN, 9:30 a.m. ET), takes a look at Peyton Manning's legacy. Full details
"It means everything," Bush said. "All that stuff we went through as a team, these are the type of games we live for. And this game is even bigger for the city."
The Saints are the first team in NFL history to make a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season.
With victory secured for the Saints (11-6) on McAllister's powerful rushes for a clinching first down to run out the clock, team owner Tom Benson did his "Benson Boogie" on the field. The players hugged and saluted their long-suffering fans while a jazz band belted out tunes.
"I think it means a tremendous amount," quarterback Drew Brees said. "You could see it and feel it after the game, people still standing and yelling and screaming."
It was the veteran McAllister with his two touchdowns and team playoff mark of 143 yards rushing, and the rookie Bush with his collection of magnificent moves, that made the difference in the raucous Superdome.
"It's my first opportunity to be in the playoffs, I didn't want to be one and out," McAllister said. "I didn't want to say, 'If I had done this or prepared differently, we would have been successful.'
"It's just the determination of this team and this city -- to give them everything we have."
Even after Brees' high pitchout got away from Bush with 3:18 remaining and Philadelphia recovering, the Saints would not be denied. Their defense held Brian Westbrook, who was brilliant for the Eagles (11-7), near midfield.
McAllister became the first Saints player to rush for more than 100 yards in the playoffs.
"Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren't going to stop him," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He ran his heart out."
McAllister scored on a 5-yard run and an 11-yard pass in the third quarter.
The Eagles, who won six in a row after losing quarterback Donovan McNabb, got a superb performance from Westbrook, who rushed for 116 yards and scored twice, including a 62-yard run that was a franchise playoff record.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia's run of success ended, but he combined with former Saints receiver Donte' Stallworth on an Eagles-record 75-yard touchdown in the first half.
McAllister, who missed 11 games last season with a knee injury, has been overshadowed by the spectacular Bush and surprising seventh-round draft pick Marques Colston. But he came through when he was needed most against the NFC's hottest team.
So did Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner whose arrival after Houston passed on him in the draft lifted the spirits of the Gulf Region. He scored on an eye-popping 4-yard run in the first half and had an equally scintillating 25-yarder to set up one of John Carney's two field goals.
So let the parties begin -- at least until the conference title game.
"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Payton, the NFL Coach of the Year. "We just hope we can put a little kick in their step Monday and Tuesday, and give them something to look forward to next weekend."
McAllister's 28-yard run set up Carney's 33-yard field goal for an early lead. And Carney's 23-yarder in the second quarter that made it 6-0 also was the result of a long run -- by Bush.
The rookie started to his right, but with a bunch of Eagles in his way, he reversed field. After faking going down the middle, he sped to the left sideline and picked up 25 yards.
Brees then threw his best pass of the half for a 35-yard gain to Devery Henderson behind Rod Hood, who was in for injured Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia's best cover cornerback.
Garcia trumped that with his perfect pass to Stallworth beyond Fred Thomas, the longest pass play and longest touchdown in Philly's playoff history.
The Saints accepted the challenge and marched 78 yards in 14 plays. Bush pulled off another stunner when, from the Eagles 4, he was stopped up the middle, broke right and outraced the defense to the corner of the end zone for a 13-7 lead.
But Philly's resourcefulness on third downs highlighted an 80-yard drive to the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard leap over the pile by Westbrook. Garcia found Reggie Brown for 32 yards and Hank Baskett for 25 on third-down plays, with both receivers wide open.
The half ended in confusion. First, punter Steve Weatherford gained 15 yards and a first down when he saw his kick was about to be blocked and he took off to the right. Then Brees' desperation pass into a group in the end zone momentarily was caught by Colston. William James then ripped it loose, and the Saints stayed on the field hoping for a video review by the replay booth. The Eagles, meanwhile, headed to the locker room, soon followed by the officials.
Game notes
Eagles All-Pro tackle Shawn Andrews injured his neck in the first half and was taken to a hospital with swelling. ... Eagles LB Shawn Barber injured his ankle. ... The Saints also beat the Eagles 27-24 here during the season. ... Stallworth finished with 100 yards on three catches for Philly, while Colston had five for 55 and seldom-used tight end Billy Miller caught four passes for 64 yards for the Saints.
Indianapolis Colts Beat The Baltimore Ravens 15-6 - Full Recap - ESPN
Vinatieri boots five FGs, boosts Colts over Ravens
Photo Wire
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair wipes his face in the closing minutes of the AFC divisional playoff...
(AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Peyton Manning couldn't get Indianapolis into the end zone and, for once, it didn't matter.
That's because Adam Vinatieri provided the Colts with all the offense they needed to advance to the AFC championship game.
Signed during the offseason specifically for his playoff experience, Vinatieri kicked five field goals Saturday to put his name in the NFL record book and carry Indianapolis past the Baltimore Ravens 15-6.
"Adam's been exceptional all year," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "You just feel like you're going to make it every time when he goes out there. In games like this, it's necessary."
Although unspectacular, Manning was efficient enough to make up for some of his previous playoff failures and keep alive his hope of playing in the Super Bowl for the first time. All he needed to do was get the Colts close enough for Vinatieri, who did the rest.
"I'm not sure if we ever won one before in the nine years I've played here without scoring a touchdown. My guess is no," Manning said. "You want to get touchdowns and it was frustrating to have to settle for field goals. But we saw how our defense was playing early, and we thought field goals would be enough -- if we got enough of them."
Vinatieri won two Super Bowls with late field goals and scored 117 points in the postseason for New England. He was signed by Indianapolis as a free agent to replace Mike Vanderjagt, who missed a 46-yard field goal with 17 seconds left last season in the Colts' 21-18 playoff loss to Pittsburgh.
Vinatieri justified the acquisition with a flawless performance against the Ravens, connecting on field goal tries of 23, 42, 51, 48 and 35 yards. The fourth kick gave him an NFL-record 33 career postseason field goals.
"Baltimore is the No. 1 defense in the league. Points are at a premium with them," Vinatieri said. "It's hard to score on those guys. The way our defense played -- they stepped up and kept them out of the end zone the whole time -- sometimes you win like that."
Indianapolis (14-4) never trailed in eliminating the No. 2-seeded Ravens (13-4), who were coming off a first-round bye and poised to extract a measure of revenge against the franchise that broke the hearts of Baltimore fans by sneaking out of the city to Indianapolis in March 1984.
"This football team is as disappointed as our fans are, which is matched tenfold by the players," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "(The fans) were deserving of better than that, but it just wasn't going to happen and we will move forward now."
Not until next year. The third-seeded Colts, however, will next face the winner of Sunday's game between San Diego and New England. If the Patriots win, the game will be in Indianapolis.
Vinatieri, who kicked three field goals last week against Kansas City, broke the mark of 32 held by Gary Anderson. The record-setting kick came with 10:57 left in the third quarter and put the Colts ahead 12-3.
That was enough support for a defense that during the regular season finished last against the run. The Colts didn't allow a touchdown, held Jamal Lewis to 53 yards rushing and also forced four turnovers -- intercepting Steve McNair twice and recovering two fumbles.
"You can't turn the ball over in a championship-style game," Billick said. "That's an awful lot to overcome."
Like Vinatieri, McNair was obtained during the offseason because of his success in the playoffs. With McNair leading the way, the Ravens finished with nine wins in 10 games for the best regular-season record in franchise history.
But he went 18-of-29 for only 173 yards, and Baltimore managed only two field goals by Matt Stover in its first playoff game since 2003.
Manning finished 15-of-30 for 170 yards. The victory improved his career playoff record to 5-6.
Baltimore fans were looking forward to this game since the Colts advanced with a 23-8 win over Kansas City last week. Many in Baltimore have never really gotten over the Colts' move to Indianapolis nearly 23 years ago, and those emotions came to the forefront Saturday.
In a tribute to former Baltimore Colts quarterback John Unitas, who wore No. 19, someone in the lower deck unfurled a sign that read: "19 WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN 18," the number worn by Manning.
The record crowd of 71,162 did all it could to hinder Manning's calls at the line, but he appeared undaunted by the noise from the outset. After the Ravens went three-and-out on their first possession, Manning put together an 11-play drive that produced a field goal.
The volume of the crowd dimmed even further during the ensuing drive, when Ravens tight end Todd Heap lost a fumble at the Baltimore 31 after being hit by Colts cornerback Nick Harper. Referees ruled Heap down, reversed the call after Dungy challenged the call, and Vinatieri followed with a field goal for a 6-0 lead.
Baltimore halved the deficit with a 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Ed Reed then picked off a pass by Manning, and the Ravens moved to the Indianapolis 5 before Antoine Bethea intercepted McNair's third-down throw at the 1.
It was the closest Baltimore would get to scoring a touchdown.
The Colts then held the ball for six minutes before Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced through.
"I don't want to say I missed it. I just didn't hit it as good as I could," Vinatieri said. "Thank goodness it was just long enough."
Photo Wire
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair wipes his face in the closing minutes of the AFC divisional playoff...
(AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Peyton Manning couldn't get Indianapolis into the end zone and, for once, it didn't matter.
That's because Adam Vinatieri provided the Colts with all the offense they needed to advance to the AFC championship game.
Signed during the offseason specifically for his playoff experience, Vinatieri kicked five field goals Saturday to put his name in the NFL record book and carry Indianapolis past the Baltimore Ravens 15-6.
"Adam's been exceptional all year," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "You just feel like you're going to make it every time when he goes out there. In games like this, it's necessary."
Although unspectacular, Manning was efficient enough to make up for some of his previous playoff failures and keep alive his hope of playing in the Super Bowl for the first time. All he needed to do was get the Colts close enough for Vinatieri, who did the rest.
"I'm not sure if we ever won one before in the nine years I've played here without scoring a touchdown. My guess is no," Manning said. "You want to get touchdowns and it was frustrating to have to settle for field goals. But we saw how our defense was playing early, and we thought field goals would be enough -- if we got enough of them."
Vinatieri won two Super Bowls with late field goals and scored 117 points in the postseason for New England. He was signed by Indianapolis as a free agent to replace Mike Vanderjagt, who missed a 46-yard field goal with 17 seconds left last season in the Colts' 21-18 playoff loss to Pittsburgh.
Vinatieri justified the acquisition with a flawless performance against the Ravens, connecting on field goal tries of 23, 42, 51, 48 and 35 yards. The fourth kick gave him an NFL-record 33 career postseason field goals.
"Baltimore is the No. 1 defense in the league. Points are at a premium with them," Vinatieri said. "It's hard to score on those guys. The way our defense played -- they stepped up and kept them out of the end zone the whole time -- sometimes you win like that."
Indianapolis (14-4) never trailed in eliminating the No. 2-seeded Ravens (13-4), who were coming off a first-round bye and poised to extract a measure of revenge against the franchise that broke the hearts of Baltimore fans by sneaking out of the city to Indianapolis in March 1984.
"This football team is as disappointed as our fans are, which is matched tenfold by the players," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "(The fans) were deserving of better than that, but it just wasn't going to happen and we will move forward now."
Not until next year. The third-seeded Colts, however, will next face the winner of Sunday's game between San Diego and New England. If the Patriots win, the game will be in Indianapolis.
Vinatieri, who kicked three field goals last week against Kansas City, broke the mark of 32 held by Gary Anderson. The record-setting kick came with 10:57 left in the third quarter and put the Colts ahead 12-3.
That was enough support for a defense that during the regular season finished last against the run. The Colts didn't allow a touchdown, held Jamal Lewis to 53 yards rushing and also forced four turnovers -- intercepting Steve McNair twice and recovering two fumbles.
"You can't turn the ball over in a championship-style game," Billick said. "That's an awful lot to overcome."
Like Vinatieri, McNair was obtained during the offseason because of his success in the playoffs. With McNair leading the way, the Ravens finished with nine wins in 10 games for the best regular-season record in franchise history.
But he went 18-of-29 for only 173 yards, and Baltimore managed only two field goals by Matt Stover in its first playoff game since 2003.
Manning finished 15-of-30 for 170 yards. The victory improved his career playoff record to 5-6.
Baltimore fans were looking forward to this game since the Colts advanced with a 23-8 win over Kansas City last week. Many in Baltimore have never really gotten over the Colts' move to Indianapolis nearly 23 years ago, and those emotions came to the forefront Saturday.
In a tribute to former Baltimore Colts quarterback John Unitas, who wore No. 19, someone in the lower deck unfurled a sign that read: "19 WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN 18," the number worn by Manning.
The record crowd of 71,162 did all it could to hinder Manning's calls at the line, but he appeared undaunted by the noise from the outset. After the Ravens went three-and-out on their first possession, Manning put together an 11-play drive that produced a field goal.
The volume of the crowd dimmed even further during the ensuing drive, when Ravens tight end Todd Heap lost a fumble at the Baltimore 31 after being hit by Colts cornerback Nick Harper. Referees ruled Heap down, reversed the call after Dungy challenged the call, and Vinatieri followed with a field goal for a 6-0 lead.
Baltimore halved the deficit with a 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Ed Reed then picked off a pass by Manning, and the Ravens moved to the Indianapolis 5 before Antoine Bethea intercepted McNair's third-down throw at the 1.
It was the closest Baltimore would get to scoring a touchdown.
The Colts then held the ball for six minutes before Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced through.
"I don't want to say I missed it. I just didn't hit it as good as I could," Vinatieri said. "Thank goodness it was just long enough."
AFC Divisonal Playoffs - Colts Outphysical Baltimore Ravens, 15 to 6
There's more on this, but it should noted that the Colts basically beat the Ravens at their own game of a strong running attack and stout defense. They now will play in the AFC Championship Game.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue At The World Bowl XIV Press Conference
No. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's not doing a sofft drink taste test, but waiting for a good question to come out of the audience of media types during the World Bowl.
Ray Anderson Eyes A Rum Cake At The NFL Holiday Office Party
Ray (my boss) and Keenan (in blue sweater) - looking over the rum cake, originally uploaded by kriscuz.
Ray Anderson, the NFL's Senior Vice President Of Football Operations and formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, is seen at the right (white shirt) in this photo from the NFL Holiday Open House eyeing a particularly tasty - looking rum cake.
The other person is "Keenan" who I don't know but works with the person who took the photo. On the other hand I met Ray at the Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party in Houston in 2004.
NFL Holiday Open House Party In Full Swing
Here's another photo set from the NFL Holiday Open House Party. This just shows the event in full swing. You can see the throng of office workers meeting and greeting each other.
NFL Headquarters - Commissioner Roger Goodell in Background (in Blue shirt)
Lining the hall - Commissioner Goodell in background (in blue shirt), originally uploaded by kriscuz.
If you've ever wondered what an NFL office party looks like, here you go. This is a holiday party photo I found on Flickr and it features new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell enjoying a little holiday cheer beer with NFL staffers. A bit of a tight fit for all in the cubicle enviroment, but chummy none the less.
The photo shows why Goodell's so well liked. He doesn't place himself above anyone else and treats all with the respect they deserve. He's "one of the guys" without being so much so that his position is compromised.
NBC NFL Rock Stars Glass Wall Overlooking Midtown
If you've ever wondered where that NBC glass wall that features the "Rock Stars" after each NFL Sunday Night Football telecast was located, here it is. It's right at the top of 30 Rock itself in New York City's Midtown Manhattan, and hence the term "Rock Stars."
NY Giants Give A Great Example Of A 4-3 Overset Front
This defensive front was first used by the Pittsburgh Steelers and is now popularized by the Tampa Bay Bucs and Indy Colts, both coached by Tony Dungy. The idea of the front -- where the weakside defensive tackle is at an angle on the center and the strongside tackle playing between center and guard in what's called a "Three Technique" -- is to make the offensive line constrict, closing off running lanes and makikng an more effective pass rush.
Golden State Gamble - At Least Arnold's Adressing The Problem
Some economists are attacking Governor Schwarzenegger's plan for a kind of universal health care coverage.
But I give him credit for trying something that many have talked about but never actually attempted. It's a very democratic proposal. But more to the point, it does work to solve a real problem and that is the lack of health care coverage in the state of California.
Let's do it and see how we can make it better.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Is Sophia Bush The Next "Wonder Woman"?
Joss Whedon, in the seemingly eternal process of writing and casting the Wonder Woman Movie, has reportedly made an offer to Sophia Bush.
Who's she?
This is Sophia Bush's resume:
Actress - filmography
"One Tree Hill" .... Brooke Davis (81 episodes, 2003-2007)
- Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2007) TV Episode .... Brooke Davis
- Pictures of You (2007) TV Episode .... Brooke Davis
- Resolve (2007) TV Episode .... Brooke Davis
- Everything in it's Right Place (2007) TV Episode .... Brooke Davis
- Songs to Love and Die By (2006) TV Episode .... Brooke Davis
(76 more)
The Hitcher (2007) .... Grace Andrews
John Tucker Must Die (2006) .... Beth
Stay Alive (2006) .... October
Supercross (2005) .... Zoe Lang
"Nip/Tuck" .... Ridley (3 episodes, 2003)
- Cliff Mantegna (2003) TV Episode .... Ridley
- Megan O'Hara (2003) TV Episode .... Ridley
- Nanette Babcock (2003) TV Episode .... Ridley
Learning Curves (2003) .... Beth
"Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" .... Fate Mackenzie (1 episode, 2003)
... aka Sabrina (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Sabrina Goes to College (USA: promotional title)
- Romance Looming (2003) TV Episode .... Fate Mackenzie
The Flannerys (2003) (TV)
Point of Origin (2002) (TV) .... Carrie Orr
... aka In the Heat of Fire (Europe: English title: DVD title)
Van Wilder (2002) .... Sally
... aka Van Wilder: Party Liaison (Australia) (Philippines: English title) (UK) (USA: working title)
... aka National Lampoon's Van Wilder (USA: complete title)
... aka Party Animals - ... wilder geht's nicht! (Germany)
Filmography as: Actress, Self
Self - filmography
Grrrl Power (2006) (V) .... Herself
"Punk'd" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode #6.2 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
"Late Show with David Letterman" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
- Episode dated 21 January 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
"Total Request Live" .... Herself (1 episode, 2004)
... aka TRL (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Total Request with Carson Daly (USA)
- Episode dated 1 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Herself
For me, she lacks the Wonder Woman well-muscled body, so I remain skeptical.
Tim Lewis gone from Giants staff
'D' leader Lewis gets axed-See my Comments at the end....
BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer
January 12, 2007
Tom Coughlin began his staff house-cleaning yesterday, firing defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. No replacement was named.
Lewis, 42, presided over the 25th-ranked defense in the NFL, down from 24th in 2005 and 13th in 2004, his first season with the team. Injuries were a major issue throughout Lewis' tenure. The Giants lost Michael Strahan for a total of 16 games, and in 2005 were without a slew of linebackers.
But Lewis' Cover-2 scheme didn't provide enough good pass defense the past two years, even with a pair of Pro Bowl ends in 2005. The Giants were 27th against the pass in 2005 and 28th this season.
"Different things happened," said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon Oct. 23 just as he was starting to grasp the system better. "When you have a successful team, they usually feed off one another. Whatever their strengths are, you play to it. You make sure you lean toward your strengths, knowing what your weaknesses are. We just have to find that balance. And whenever you have a team as talented as the Giants that doesn't accomplish enough, somebody has to take the rap for it. Sometimes it's the players, sometimes it's coaches."
The Giants might have an interest in Dolphins defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who was Coughlin's coordinator with the Jaguars from 1999-2001. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Capers turned down requests to be interviewed for the defensive coordinator jobs with the Falcons and Cowboys after he interviewed for the Dolphins' vacant head-coaching job.
Lewis also interviewed for that job, and he was a popular candidate last January, interviewing for five head-coaching slots. He was the Steelers' defensive coordinator from 2000-2003 after five seasons as their secondary coach.
Of the defensive assistants on the Giants' staff, line coach Mike Waufle has the best chance of being retained, having improved his group greatly during his three seasons. Linebackers coach Bill Sheridan also is popular, though his unit has been ravaged by injuries.
My Slant:
Ok so we knew this would happen, even if it wasn't all Lewis' fault because of the injuries. The cover-2 scheme wasn't working with the personnel here. Dom Capers isn't a bad coach either. Our intel informs us Capers is one of the candidates to replace Lewis. He's had his share of successes as well as failures. the Question is: what makes Coughlin think that Capers would do well here? Is Dom the guy he really wanted three years ago when he got the Job? Capers was still coaching the Houston Texans then, his second expansion franchise.
Many People are apt to say that The NFL just keeps recycling Old Coaches, not giving enough chances to new blood.
But look at what happens when college coaches try to make a jump to the Pros. How many have had even short term sucess?
BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer
January 12, 2007
Tom Coughlin began his staff house-cleaning yesterday, firing defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. No replacement was named.
Lewis, 42, presided over the 25th-ranked defense in the NFL, down from 24th in 2005 and 13th in 2004, his first season with the team. Injuries were a major issue throughout Lewis' tenure. The Giants lost Michael Strahan for a total of 16 games, and in 2005 were without a slew of linebackers.
But Lewis' Cover-2 scheme didn't provide enough good pass defense the past two years, even with a pair of Pro Bowl ends in 2005. The Giants were 27th against the pass in 2005 and 28th this season.
"Different things happened," said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon Oct. 23 just as he was starting to grasp the system better. "When you have a successful team, they usually feed off one another. Whatever their strengths are, you play to it. You make sure you lean toward your strengths, knowing what your weaknesses are. We just have to find that balance. And whenever you have a team as talented as the Giants that doesn't accomplish enough, somebody has to take the rap for it. Sometimes it's the players, sometimes it's coaches."
The Giants might have an interest in Dolphins defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who was Coughlin's coordinator with the Jaguars from 1999-2001. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Capers turned down requests to be interviewed for the defensive coordinator jobs with the Falcons and Cowboys after he interviewed for the Dolphins' vacant head-coaching job.
Lewis also interviewed for that job, and he was a popular candidate last January, interviewing for five head-coaching slots. He was the Steelers' defensive coordinator from 2000-2003 after five seasons as their secondary coach.
Of the defensive assistants on the Giants' staff, line coach Mike Waufle has the best chance of being retained, having improved his group greatly during his three seasons. Linebackers coach Bill Sheridan also is popular, though his unit has been ravaged by injuries.
My Slant:
Ok so we knew this would happen, even if it wasn't all Lewis' fault because of the injuries. The cover-2 scheme wasn't working with the personnel here. Dom Capers isn't a bad coach either. Our intel informs us Capers is one of the candidates to replace Lewis. He's had his share of successes as well as failures. the Question is: what makes Coughlin think that Capers would do well here? Is Dom the guy he really wanted three years ago when he got the Job? Capers was still coaching the Houston Texans then, his second expansion franchise.
Many People are apt to say that The NFL just keeps recycling Old Coaches, not giving enough chances to new blood.
But look at what happens when college coaches try to make a jump to the Pros. How many have had even short term sucess?
Brian Schottenheimer could be headed To Miami
Schottenheimer in demand
Huizenga's plane makes stop at Republic Airport so Dolphins can talk to young offensive coordinator-see my end notes
BY TOM ROCK
Newsday Staff Writer
January 11, 2007
The Dolphins spoke with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer about their vacant head-coaching position yesterday, the first of what could be many nibbles at the son of Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is an up-and-comer in the eyes of many NFL insiders.
Shortly after the private 737 owned by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga spent the morning at Newark Airport, where the Dolphins spoke with Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, the plane flew to Farmingdale's Republic Airport for an on-board, tarmac-bound meeting with Schottenheimer, according to a Dolphins official who requested anonymity.
According to flight reports, Huizenga's plane was at Republic for approximately 2 1/2 hours before flying to Detroit and a meeting with Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Over the weekend, the plane also went to Costa Rica, where USC coach Pete Carroll was vacationing.
The search to replace Nick Saban is far from narrow, with more than a dozen coaches expected to meet with Dolphins ownership and management for pre-interviews in the coming days. After that, the group will be whittled down to three or four for more in-depth interviews in Miami, according to the Dolphins official.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum yesterday confirmed the Dolphins' interest in Schottenheimer and said the Jets have a "short list" of contingency candidates if they need to replace Schottenheimer - or any coach or player, for that matter. Running backs coach Jimmy Raye was offensive coordinator for five NFL teams, and wide receivers coach Noel Mazzone had that job at three colleges, but the Jets are just as likely to look outside the organization.
"If that situation were to present itself, we would consider in-house people and other coaches that would be available," Tannenbaum said. "It is like any other search. You want to get the best person that you can."
If Schottenheimer leaves, it would mean a fourth different offensive coordinator for the Jets in four years.
Schottenheimer is considered by many to have the makings of an NFL head coach, including a gregarious personality and a mind for the game. His limitation is lack of experience, but the Jets have shown that taking a chance on a young, developing coach can produce results.
Like Eric Mangini before he took the top Jets job last winter, Schottenheimer has only one year of experience as a coordinator. But in that year he impressed many around the league with his innovative no-huddle system based on the West Coast offense and loaded with shifts and misdirection.
The Jets' offense was ranked 25th in the NFL in yardage and 18th in scoring. Those are hardly staggering numbers, but Schottenheimer matched the system to his personnel very well, playing to strengths (Chad Pennington's intelligence) and sidestepping weaknesses (no feature running back). They used short passes to receivers as "extended handoffs" and tinkered with combinations of receivers, tight ends and running backs.
Schottenheimer, 33, was his father's quarterbacks coach for the Chargers from 2002-05 and for the Redskins in 2001. Under his guidance, two quarterbacks have won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award: Drew Brees in 2004 and Pennington in 2006. The Dolphins may hope to sprinkle some of that comeback magic on Daunte Culpepper for 2007.
When Saban bolted for Alabama last week, Mangini was asked about the possibility of members of his staff interviewing for the job at a division rival. His own such move is a main source of the tension between him and Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
"It's part of the nature of the NFL," he said. "People change and move on, and through success, opportunities are created. Sometimes those opportunities are at different places. That's just the nature of the business."
The Dolphins might wind up passing on Schottenheimer, but the first branch of the Mangini coaching tree could be springing forth in the very near future.
And my Slant: This Kid is the reason Why Pennington is the comback player of the year. From the moment i saw him operate at Jets camp last summer, I knew he was the real deal, like his Dad. Infact when the Jets Offense had a miscue he made them run a lap while he foamed at the mouth(also just like daddy)! It would be a big loss for the Jets if he left.
Huizenga's plane makes stop at Republic Airport so Dolphins can talk to young offensive coordinator-see my end notes
BY TOM ROCK
Newsday Staff Writer
January 11, 2007
The Dolphins spoke with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer about their vacant head-coaching position yesterday, the first of what could be many nibbles at the son of Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is an up-and-comer in the eyes of many NFL insiders.
Shortly after the private 737 owned by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga spent the morning at Newark Airport, where the Dolphins spoke with Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, the plane flew to Farmingdale's Republic Airport for an on-board, tarmac-bound meeting with Schottenheimer, according to a Dolphins official who requested anonymity.
According to flight reports, Huizenga's plane was at Republic for approximately 2 1/2 hours before flying to Detroit and a meeting with Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Over the weekend, the plane also went to Costa Rica, where USC coach Pete Carroll was vacationing.
The search to replace Nick Saban is far from narrow, with more than a dozen coaches expected to meet with Dolphins ownership and management for pre-interviews in the coming days. After that, the group will be whittled down to three or four for more in-depth interviews in Miami, according to the Dolphins official.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum yesterday confirmed the Dolphins' interest in Schottenheimer and said the Jets have a "short list" of contingency candidates if they need to replace Schottenheimer - or any coach or player, for that matter. Running backs coach Jimmy Raye was offensive coordinator for five NFL teams, and wide receivers coach Noel Mazzone had that job at three colleges, but the Jets are just as likely to look outside the organization.
"If that situation were to present itself, we would consider in-house people and other coaches that would be available," Tannenbaum said. "It is like any other search. You want to get the best person that you can."
If Schottenheimer leaves, it would mean a fourth different offensive coordinator for the Jets in four years.
Schottenheimer is considered by many to have the makings of an NFL head coach, including a gregarious personality and a mind for the game. His limitation is lack of experience, but the Jets have shown that taking a chance on a young, developing coach can produce results.
Like Eric Mangini before he took the top Jets job last winter, Schottenheimer has only one year of experience as a coordinator. But in that year he impressed many around the league with his innovative no-huddle system based on the West Coast offense and loaded with shifts and misdirection.
The Jets' offense was ranked 25th in the NFL in yardage and 18th in scoring. Those are hardly staggering numbers, but Schottenheimer matched the system to his personnel very well, playing to strengths (Chad Pennington's intelligence) and sidestepping weaknesses (no feature running back). They used short passes to receivers as "extended handoffs" and tinkered with combinations of receivers, tight ends and running backs.
Schottenheimer, 33, was his father's quarterbacks coach for the Chargers from 2002-05 and for the Redskins in 2001. Under his guidance, two quarterbacks have won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award: Drew Brees in 2004 and Pennington in 2006. The Dolphins may hope to sprinkle some of that comeback magic on Daunte Culpepper for 2007.
When Saban bolted for Alabama last week, Mangini was asked about the possibility of members of his staff interviewing for the job at a division rival. His own such move is a main source of the tension between him and Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
"It's part of the nature of the NFL," he said. "People change and move on, and through success, opportunities are created. Sometimes those opportunities are at different places. That's just the nature of the business."
The Dolphins might wind up passing on Schottenheimer, but the first branch of the Mangini coaching tree could be springing forth in the very near future.
And my Slant: This Kid is the reason Why Pennington is the comback player of the year. From the moment i saw him operate at Jets camp last summer, I knew he was the real deal, like his Dad. Infact when the Jets Offense had a miscue he made them run a lap while he foamed at the mouth(also just like daddy)! It would be a big loss for the Jets if he left.
Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart Parties With Britney Spears At Jackrabbit Lounge In Scottsdale, Az
Well, at least it's not the Pussycat Lounge, another hot spot. This comes from Perez Hilton.com. This happened before the New Year, so it's old news but still interesting given Matt's track record. Still does make you wonder about that newborn he's got. I'll also bet Paris Hilton had something to do with this hook up because she was partying with Matt last year.
Britney Spears has been noticeably missing in action the past week.
Now, PerezHilton.com has all the details on where she's been and what star she was seen getting her groove on with at a club on Friday night.
This is good!!!
Sources reveal exclusively to PerezHilton.com that Britney has been spending some time in Scottsdale, Arizona, a town known for its many spas and retreats.
Spears has frequented Scottsdale in the past, most recently escaping there in 2005 with FedEx during her first pregnancy.
Britney has been unwinding with her family and on Friday night she really let loose!
The newly single pop star was spotted at Scottsdale hotspot Jackrabbit Lounge.
The awful hair extensions were gone and the chic blonde bob was back!
Plus....Spears was totally macking it with none other than Matt Leinart!
Britney came sans large entourage. Just two girlfriends and a big burly bodyguard.
However, her attention was focused on Matt all night long!
The quarterback, previously linked with Paris Hilton, plays for the Arizona Cardinals.
And Friday night he was playing Britney Spears!
Sources tell us that the pair were flirting hardcore on the patio area all night long, bumping and grinding and whispering in each others' ears.
Could a love match be in the air???
Possibly!
But before Britney gets too comfortable in Scottsdale, she is heading to Las Vegas, where Spears will ring in the new year at Pure in Caesar's Palace.
New year, new man? Big comeback?
We hope so!
Oakland Raiders Offensive Line Blocking Problems
The Oakland Raiders offensive line was terrible. But as I've stated before, it wasn't because they're bad players, it was the way they were asked to block.
This photo -- of the Raiders in white against the SF 49ers -- is a textbook example of the problem. Here, all of the linemen are retreating, and thus giving space for the Niners pass-rushers to force themselves and manuever. This is a pass pocket that will fold quickly.
What they should do is almost run block and fire out early. This way shown is too old.
Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart At The CES Show In Las Vegas
What's Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart doing now during the team's offseason? He's signing autographs at the Poloroid booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Domain Barnyard -- not the person's real name -- snapped this photo.
Donald Driver and Vernand Morency Thanking Brett Favre
Donald Driver and Vernand Morency 12.31.06 thanking Brett Favre, originally uploaded by planetexpress.
Regardless of what he does, it's clear that the Green Bay Packers enjoy Quarterback Brett Farve. I think he's going to come back for one more year. I have no inside information on that, just plain gut feeling. Remember, he's still got the gas in the tank, and the problems were not really his in the making.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Zennie At MacWorld In The Microsoft Bloggers Booth (Booth 702)
Well, here I am at the Microsoft booth 702 and I've just been branded as having "Mac Mojo." What that is I don't know, but if I've got it, I've got it.
The booth itself is pretty cool. It has couches to sit on -- overstuffed -- a bin with colas, computers, and a main table. Plus everything's in black.
I wonder who's idea this was at Microsoft? Well, the real main question is how did I find this? I just walked through the main Microsooft booth and started talking with one of the hosts there. She told me about their booth for bloggers and gave me a button -- the one I referred to above.
So I walked out in search of Booth 702, when a woman walked by with the Microsoft logo that's commonly associated with their office products. So I asked her and she happened to be headed over there. As it turned out, my tour guide was none other than "Jane" of Microsoft and "See Jane Direct" at seejanedirect.com
Later, Jane told me that it was Chris Kim who created the booth idea. He's the marketing manager and I guess head blogger at Microsoft.
Chris explained that what is now booth 702 evolved out of a need to have a kind of "team blog" program at the firm. But then he recognized that there would be a lot of bloggers at MacWorld, so he and his Microsoft team bought booth space, and set up shop where I am now.
Not bad.
The show's pretty cool this year, but I wonder if the producers aren't getting enough vendors. It seems to get smaller and smaller each year. I don't think it's a matter of less product or interest, but something the show's producers aren't doing. I think Apple should basically own the show, since it features their products.
Well, more soon.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Giants 2006 season wrap-up
Ok so the Dust has settled, the pressers are over, and WFAN's Mike(Francessa) and the Mad Dog(Chris Russo) have even gotten in their licks(if you call Russo a "Broadcast Journalist"). Tom Coughlin is staying, at least for 2007, and probably 2008 as well. But I would have told you that if you had asked me, even after Sunday, even as i was leaving "the Linc", even as i was riding Amtrak back to New York's Penn Station. No reason to make a change. Sure, the coach might be considered abrasive at times. What does that have to do with running a football team? Most of the Coaches i have met in this business were nasty so-and so-s because they had to be. Football is a tough business, Wimps go home, period. Did you really believe that Bill Parcells was coming back to NY? Never. He wasn't even called. HE called John Mara early this morning to ask him where the rumors were coming from. No one in the Giants organization, thats for sure.
Point is, no matter how dissapointed you are over the Giants 8-8 finish(2-6 in the second half of the regular season) you can't blame the coaching staff or the Front office for the Injury bug that hit for the second year in a row. Ok, so there will be some Scapegoats among the assistant coaches. John Hufnagel is already gone, and infact, was released December 18th, the day after the Loss to the Eagles. He was asked to finish that week out to help prepare for the transition to Kevin Gilbride as play caller and offfensive coordinator. You could argue that his play selection could be vanilla at times(hey vanillia is my favorite flavor of icecream!), but no one said a word when the Giants were winning games. No one ever said "hey this offense with Tiki Barber running the ball reminds me of...of...Joe Morris and the 1986 Giants offense." That's because it wasn't. The 1986 and 1990 teams were so different then the 2000, 2002, and 2005-06 teams. The offense was better at times and the defense, while loaded with Quality, just wasn't there when they had to be.
And what of young Eli Manning? He surely suffered some setbacks this year, he even tired some with his "aww shucks" look on the sidelines. Guess what? All the Mannings look that way when things are bad. Doesn't mean they don't care. Peyton is probably a bit more emotional, and does better in commercials(That Sprint one is a pisser!). Dad Archie is more stoic, and Eli takes after Dad a bit more. He said it himself in his closing presser " i have to continue to learn and get better" Ok Kid, better said then done in the NFL. Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville once said "NFL" means "Not for Long" if you keep that up. I hear all the Giants fans(and probably my former self as well) groaning now " Phillip Rivers is still in the Playoffs." Quit your moaning folks. Eli is a quality NFL QB. It's just taking him longer to get himself together. It doesn't happen overnight. Greatness that is. "What about Vince Young?" Ok so he picked it up a bit faster. Some do and some don't. I don't see the Giants drafting another QB unless a Scouting report tells them they have to get Eli's replacement for 5 years from now and he's available with the Giants next pick. They have needs far beyond QB out of this draft.
So what about the Giants Defense that was supposed to be improved this year? Hey, they hung together when half of them were getting treatment and buying knitting needles to scratch the inside of their casts. Who knew Mathias Kiwanuka would be that good(I knew, but i'm supposed to know)? Mike Strahan will give it another go, but his statement of last summer at the Giants Kick-off affair for charity "i'm not going anywhere until we get rings" is getting hollow. He's going to be 36, and his replacement is already on the team. Surely this will be his last shot, if he gets it at all.
The few Giants players i truly feel sorry for are Tiki Barber, and the Offensive Line. Tiki because he deserved one last hurrah on his way out, and The OL's because they did all they could to get it for him and it wasn't enough. I also feel for the Giants fans that had to take it every week while they were slipping back down to reality in November and December. So that's it for the 2006 New York Giants. All they need to do now is replace the retiring Ernie Accorsi. He was only the second best GM the Franchise ever had, the first being the Late George Young. The announcement won't be this week.
Point is, no matter how dissapointed you are over the Giants 8-8 finish(2-6 in the second half of the regular season) you can't blame the coaching staff or the Front office for the Injury bug that hit for the second year in a row. Ok, so there will be some Scapegoats among the assistant coaches. John Hufnagel is already gone, and infact, was released December 18th, the day after the Loss to the Eagles. He was asked to finish that week out to help prepare for the transition to Kevin Gilbride as play caller and offfensive coordinator. You could argue that his play selection could be vanilla at times(hey vanillia is my favorite flavor of icecream!), but no one said a word when the Giants were winning games. No one ever said "hey this offense with Tiki Barber running the ball reminds me of...of...Joe Morris and the 1986 Giants offense." That's because it wasn't. The 1986 and 1990 teams were so different then the 2000, 2002, and 2005-06 teams. The offense was better at times and the defense, while loaded with Quality, just wasn't there when they had to be.
And what of young Eli Manning? He surely suffered some setbacks this year, he even tired some with his "aww shucks" look on the sidelines. Guess what? All the Mannings look that way when things are bad. Doesn't mean they don't care. Peyton is probably a bit more emotional, and does better in commercials(That Sprint one is a pisser!). Dad Archie is more stoic, and Eli takes after Dad a bit more. He said it himself in his closing presser " i have to continue to learn and get better" Ok Kid, better said then done in the NFL. Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville once said "NFL" means "Not for Long" if you keep that up. I hear all the Giants fans(and probably my former self as well) groaning now " Phillip Rivers is still in the Playoffs." Quit your moaning folks. Eli is a quality NFL QB. It's just taking him longer to get himself together. It doesn't happen overnight. Greatness that is. "What about Vince Young?" Ok so he picked it up a bit faster. Some do and some don't. I don't see the Giants drafting another QB unless a Scouting report tells them they have to get Eli's replacement for 5 years from now and he's available with the Giants next pick. They have needs far beyond QB out of this draft.
So what about the Giants Defense that was supposed to be improved this year? Hey, they hung together when half of them were getting treatment and buying knitting needles to scratch the inside of their casts. Who knew Mathias Kiwanuka would be that good(I knew, but i'm supposed to know)? Mike Strahan will give it another go, but his statement of last summer at the Giants Kick-off affair for charity "i'm not going anywhere until we get rings" is getting hollow. He's going to be 36, and his replacement is already on the team. Surely this will be his last shot, if he gets it at all.
The few Giants players i truly feel sorry for are Tiki Barber, and the Offensive Line. Tiki because he deserved one last hurrah on his way out, and The OL's because they did all they could to get it for him and it wasn't enough. I also feel for the Giants fans that had to take it every week while they were slipping back down to reality in November and December. So that's it for the 2006 New York Giants. All they need to do now is replace the retiring Ernie Accorsi. He was only the second best GM the Franchise ever had, the first being the Late George Young. The announcement won't be this week.
Terrell Owens Fires Kim Etheredge; Harsh Words
The report reads...
Terrell Owens fired his publicist, Kim Etheredge, last week. The two had some harsh words over the last few weeks.
Etheredge didn't want Owens to do a ESPN interview with Michael Irvin, but he did it anyway. She also didn't want a NFL Network interview with T.O. following the Atlanta game, but he did it.
Owens had tuned Etheredge out over the last few months and it all came to a head last week.
Etheredge accepted the firing with dignity but wouldn't talk about it Sunday. T.O. said it was a business decision and nothing personal.
Etheredge is hopeful to get other clients. She is good friends with Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett (she even baby sat his kids), and she's cool with Akin Ayodele.
But what it doesn't say is how she came to Owens rescue last year when he took more than the required does of either pills or some combination of meds that had him so dizzy some believed he was trying to take his own life. For a reminder, let's turn to Wikipedia:
A police report filed on the night of September 26[7] seemed to confirm the attempt, saying that Owens' publicist, Kim Etheridge, found him unresponsive with an empty bottle of pain killers, pried two pills from his mouth, and called 9-1-1, after which an ambulance transported him four blocks from his Deep Ellum condo to the hospital.
According to the police report, Owens and Etheridge both said he was depressed, and Owens answered "yes" when asked whether he had intended to harm himself. Owens' publicist, however, refuted the report, stating that Owens had suffered an allergic reaction to the medication combined with a dietary supplement. ESPN reported that about half the police report was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose."
Owens left the hospital later on September 27. At a news conference after his release, Owens denied having made a suicide attempt, stating that he expected to join the team for practice the next morning. He stated that he was "not depressed" and was "very happy to be here," and denied that doctors had pumped his stomach, calling speculation to that effect "definitely untrue."[9] The press conference took place after Owens had run routes and caught passes with the Cowboys' at the team's practice facility in Valley Ranch.
Owens' publicist lashed out at the police and said they took advantage of him. Notably, Owens himself made no such statements, and at his press conference praised both the police and medical personnel who treated him.
I would think that's worth something, but it seems that it is not. I don't know what really went down between him so I'm not going to come to a snap judgment. But as I think about it, Terrell now has a chance to get a real good PR person, the only question is, wiill he listen to that person.
Rebecca Manns Should Copy Courtney Simpson And Go Into The Porn Industry
A lot has been written about Rebecca Manns, the University Of Louisville Cheerleader who was kicked off the cheerleading squad for a large set of photos of her naked that were spread around the Intenet. Rebecca and her parents have been lobbying to get her back on the team. But maybe she should just chuck that effort and go into the porn industry.
TIME OUT! Check out the news on the Miami Super Bowl Party! And wonder how Rebecca would look in any one of the Hybrid Cars out there? Check them out!
That's what Courtney Simpson did. She's the Arizona State Cheerleader who was pushed off that colleges Cheerleading squad for using her cheerleader uniform in of all things a porn movie. The info on her is...
"On December 2, 2005, The Arizona Republic[2] reported that Simpson, who was an Arizona State cheerleader on the 2004-2005 squad was kicked off of the team in the spring of 2005 for undisclosed violations, before she began her career in the adult industry. However, Simpson herself says that she was never kicked off the squad, but instead she claimed that she "couldn't go to [cheerleader] camp with the team as my mom had found out I got drunk or something and she was scared for me to go to camp with them".
It was reported that Arizona State University officials are looking into any legal claims they might have in relation to a "trademarks and intellectual property" for the use of the Arizona State uniform. However, Simpson has said that that the film's producer, Gina Lynn, ultimately decided to change the uniform's appearance on the video's box cover so the initials said "USA" and not "ASU", and also to blur out the uniform during the time she wears it on-screen.
Since starting her career she has done many porn films becoming a very busy and popular performer. Some of these titles include Barely Legal 58, Black Dicks In White Chicks 11, Ass Whores From Planet Squirt, Double Play 3, Gag Factor 20, My Girlfriend's Whore Friend, Young And Nasty 2, Max Faktor 14"
Now, I know that Rebecca didn't mean for this kind of PR to become associated with her name, but in a pornified America, that's what happened. She might as well cash in.
She could have a website, or a blog, or video-blogs. The imagination runs. She could make it so she could do movies without really doing anything sexual in them. It could be left to the imagination.
And boy it does run!
NCAA Players Declared For The 2007 NFL Draft Or Returning To College - List By Bill Chackhes The Draftnik
Here is the list of players who have either declared for the draft or will return to school. The deadline is this Monday the 15th.
There is also an undecided list.
Declared for the draft
Jon Abbate, junior LB, Wake Forest
Jamaal Anderson, junior DL, Arkansas
Jon Beason, junior LB, Miami
Alan Branch, junior DT, Michigan
x-Michael Bush, senior RB, Louisville
Keenan Carter, junior DT, Virginia
Stanley Doughty, junior DT, South Carolina
x-Gabe Hall, senior OT, Texas Tech
Chris Henry, junior RB, Arizona
Chris Houston, junior CB, Arkansas
Calvin Johnson, junior WR, Georgia Tech
Charles Johnson, junior DE, Georgia
Rory Johnson, junior LB, Mississippi
Marshawn Lynch, junior RB, California
Robert Meachem, junior WR, Tennessee
Greg Olsen, junior TE, Miami
Darrelle Revis, junior CB, Pittsburgh
xx-Sidney Rice, redshirt soph. WR, S.C.
Gary Russell, junior RB, Minnesota
JaMarcus Russell, junior QB, LSU
x-Luke Smith-Anderson, senior TE, Idaho
Ramonce Taylor, junior RB/WR, Texas
Lawrence Timmons, junior LB, Fla. St.
Danny Ware, junior RB, Georgia
x-Chaz Williams, senior CB, La.-Monroe
Eric Wright, junior CB, UNLV
Returning to school
SirDarean Adams, junior LB/S, Mich. State
Kirk Barton, junior OT, Ohio State
Heath Benedict, junior OT, Newberry (S.C.)
Tommy Blake, junior DE, TCU
x-Zackary Bowman, senior CB, Nebraska
Cory Boyd, junior RB, South Carolina
Jasper Brinkley, junior LB, South Carolina
Gosder Cherilus, junior OT, B.C.
Bruce Davis, junior DE, UCLA
Jerome Felton, junior RB, Furman
C.J. Gaddis, junior CB, Clemson
Quentin Groves, junior DE, Auburn
Mike Jenkins, junior CB, South Florida
Steve Justice, junior C, Wake Forest
Jake Long, junior OT, Michigan
Frank Okam, junior DT, Texas
Paul Oliver, junior CB, Georgia
Undecided
Beau Bell, junior LB, UNLV
Ahmad Bradshaw, junior RB, Marshall
Colt Brennan, junior QB, Hawaii
Keenan Burton, junior WR, Kentucky
Andre Caldwell, junior WR, Florida
x-John Carlson, senior TE, Notre Dame
Antoine Cason, junior CB, Arizona
Dan Connor, junior OLB, Penn State
Fred Davis, junior TE, USC
Glenn Dorsey, junior DE, LSU
De'Cody Fagg, junior WR, Florida State
Andre Fluellen, junior DT, Florida State
xx-Jared Gaither, sophomore OT, Maryland
Ted Ginn Jr., junior WR, Ohio State
Anthony Gonzalez, junior WR, Ohio State
xx-Michael Hamlin, redshirt soph. DB, Clemson
Louis Holmes, junior DE, Arizona
Amarri Jackson, junior WR, South Florida
Dwayne Jarrett, junior WR, USC
Dwight Lowery, junior CB, San Jose State
Zach Miller, junior TE, Arizona State
Marcus Monk, junior WR, Arkansas
Dre Moore, junior DT, Maryland
Jarvis Moss, junior DE, Florida
Reggie Nelson, junior DB, Florida
Adrian Peterson, junior RB, Oklahoma
Antonio Pittman, junior RB, Ohio State
Barry Richardson, junior OT, Clemson
Martin Rucker, junior TE, Missouri
Glenn Sharpe, junior CB, Miami (Fla.)
Brandon Siler, junior ILB, Florida
Shannon Tevaga, junior OG, UCLA
xxx-Walter Thomas, junior DT, NW Miss. C.C.
xx-Mario Urrutia, redshirt soph. WR, Louisville
Philip Wheeler, junior LB, Georgia Tech
Trae Williams, junior CB, South Florida
x-Tom Zbikowski, senior S, Notre Dame
x - Seniors with one year of eligibility available
xx - Sophomore three years removed from high school
xxx - Junior college prospect with remaining eligibility
There is also an undecided list.
Declared for the draft
Jon Abbate, junior LB, Wake Forest
Jamaal Anderson, junior DL, Arkansas
Jon Beason, junior LB, Miami
Alan Branch, junior DT, Michigan
x-Michael Bush, senior RB, Louisville
Keenan Carter, junior DT, Virginia
Stanley Doughty, junior DT, South Carolina
x-Gabe Hall, senior OT, Texas Tech
Chris Henry, junior RB, Arizona
Chris Houston, junior CB, Arkansas
Calvin Johnson, junior WR, Georgia Tech
Charles Johnson, junior DE, Georgia
Rory Johnson, junior LB, Mississippi
Marshawn Lynch, junior RB, California
Robert Meachem, junior WR, Tennessee
Greg Olsen, junior TE, Miami
Darrelle Revis, junior CB, Pittsburgh
xx-Sidney Rice, redshirt soph. WR, S.C.
Gary Russell, junior RB, Minnesota
JaMarcus Russell, junior QB, LSU
x-Luke Smith-Anderson, senior TE, Idaho
Ramonce Taylor, junior RB/WR, Texas
Lawrence Timmons, junior LB, Fla. St.
Danny Ware, junior RB, Georgia
x-Chaz Williams, senior CB, La.-Monroe
Eric Wright, junior CB, UNLV
Returning to school
SirDarean Adams, junior LB/S, Mich. State
Kirk Barton, junior OT, Ohio State
Heath Benedict, junior OT, Newberry (S.C.)
Tommy Blake, junior DE, TCU
x-Zackary Bowman, senior CB, Nebraska
Cory Boyd, junior RB, South Carolina
Jasper Brinkley, junior LB, South Carolina
Gosder Cherilus, junior OT, B.C.
Bruce Davis, junior DE, UCLA
Jerome Felton, junior RB, Furman
C.J. Gaddis, junior CB, Clemson
Quentin Groves, junior DE, Auburn
Mike Jenkins, junior CB, South Florida
Steve Justice, junior C, Wake Forest
Jake Long, junior OT, Michigan
Frank Okam, junior DT, Texas
Paul Oliver, junior CB, Georgia
Undecided
Beau Bell, junior LB, UNLV
Ahmad Bradshaw, junior RB, Marshall
Colt Brennan, junior QB, Hawaii
Keenan Burton, junior WR, Kentucky
Andre Caldwell, junior WR, Florida
x-John Carlson, senior TE, Notre Dame
Antoine Cason, junior CB, Arizona
Dan Connor, junior OLB, Penn State
Fred Davis, junior TE, USC
Glenn Dorsey, junior DE, LSU
De'Cody Fagg, junior WR, Florida State
Andre Fluellen, junior DT, Florida State
xx-Jared Gaither, sophomore OT, Maryland
Ted Ginn Jr., junior WR, Ohio State
Anthony Gonzalez, junior WR, Ohio State
xx-Michael Hamlin, redshirt soph. DB, Clemson
Louis Holmes, junior DE, Arizona
Amarri Jackson, junior WR, South Florida
Dwayne Jarrett, junior WR, USC
Dwight Lowery, junior CB, San Jose State
Zach Miller, junior TE, Arizona State
Marcus Monk, junior WR, Arkansas
Dre Moore, junior DT, Maryland
Jarvis Moss, junior DE, Florida
Reggie Nelson, junior DB, Florida
Adrian Peterson, junior RB, Oklahoma
Antonio Pittman, junior RB, Ohio State
Barry Richardson, junior OT, Clemson
Martin Rucker, junior TE, Missouri
Glenn Sharpe, junior CB, Miami (Fla.)
Brandon Siler, junior ILB, Florida
Shannon Tevaga, junior OG, UCLA
xxx-Walter Thomas, junior DT, NW Miss. C.C.
xx-Mario Urrutia, redshirt soph. WR, Louisville
Philip Wheeler, junior LB, Georgia Tech
Trae Williams, junior CB, South Florida
x-Tom Zbikowski, senior S, Notre Dame
x - Seniors with one year of eligibility available
xx - Sophomore three years removed from high school
xxx - Junior college prospect with remaining eligibility
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
NFL 2006 TV RECAP - MORE THAN 220 MILLION AMERICANS WATCHED NFL GAMES
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573
WWW.NFLMedia.com
Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL 1/9/07
NFL 2006 TV RECAP
VIEWERSHIP INCREASES FOR ALL TV PARTNERS
MORE THAN 220 MILLION AMERICANS WATCHED NFL GAMES
NFL RATES RECORD 66 PERCENT HIGHER THAN OTHER PRIMETIME PROGRAMMING
NFL GAMES ARE 3 OF TOP 7 NETWORK PROGRAMS;
TOP 5 AMONG MEN 18-49; TOP 16 CABLECASTS
Football fans across America continued to tune their televisions to NFL games in large and growing
numbers in 2006. According to Nielsen Media Research, 222 million Americans (up from 195.8
million in 2005) – or approximately three-quarters of the U.S. population – watched NFL games in
2006; and all NFL TV partners experienced increases in viewership for their NFL games.
In 2006 – the first year of new television contracts featuring “flexible scheduling” and earlier start
times for primetime games – viewership increased on all NFL TV partners for the first time since
2002.
INCREASED VIEWERSHIP ON ALL NFL TELEVISION PARTNERS
Network Average Viewers Increase From 2005
CBS 15.2 million +1%
FOX 16.6 million +5%
NBC 17.5 million +7%*
ESPN 12.3 million +41%**
NFL Network 4.1 million --
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research
*compared to ABC MNF in 2005
**compared to ESPN SNF in 2005
In addition, NFL viewership on broadcast television finished ahead of network primetime viewership
by its widest margin ever. NFL games on CBS, FOX and NBC averaged 16.3 million viewers – 66
percent higher than the average primetime viewership among the four major over-the-air
networks (9.8 million average on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC).
NFL VS. PRIMETIME VIEWERSHIP ON BROADCAST TV
NFL on Broadcast NFL
Broadcast Primetime % Advantage
2002 Avg. Viewers 15.8 million 10.3 million 52%
2003 Avg. Viewers 15.5 million 9.9 million 56%
2004 Avg. Viewers 15.4 million 9.8 million 57%
2005 Avg. Viewers 15.6 million 9.7 million 61%
2006 Avg. Viewers 16.3 million 9.8 million 66%
Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research. NFL regular season on Broadcast television
(CBS, FOX & NBC…ABC prior to 2006). Broadcast primetime on BIG 4 networks (ABC, CBS,
NBC & FOX) all programs, NFL regular season dates used.
Consider these additional end-of-season facts:
• 2006 NFL national games on NBC, CBS (Sunday national & Thanksgiving) and FOX (Sunday
national & Thanksgiving) averaged a 12.1 rating which exceeds playoff broadcast averages for
other sports: 2006 NBA Playoffs (3.8 rating) & NBA Finals (8.5 rating) on ABC; 2006 MLB
Playoffs (6.0 rating) & 2006 World Series (10.1 rating) on FOX.
• NFL games account for 3 of the top 7 programs on network television this season (chart
below). In addition, NFL games account for the top seven (and 9 of the top 10) programs
among men 18-49 (chart below).
• ESPN NFL games accounted for the 16 most-watched basic cable programs in 2006 (chart
below).
• NFL Network concluded its inaugural Thursday and Saturday Night Football package with
each of its eight games ranking as the top-rated show of the day among all programs on cable
networks. The games averaged a 5.4 cable rating and (including fans who watched locally
over the air) 4.1 million viewers.
• NFL games were the top-ranked program locally a record 80 percent of the time – up from
69.3 percent in 2005 and surpassing the previous record of 73 percent set in 2003. That
means that eight of 10 times the NFL game drew higher local ratings than Dancing with the
Stars, CSI or any other popular TV show.
Following are the top network television programs nationally in average total viewers each week:
Network Program Viewers
1. FOX Sunday National Game 21.8 million
2. Desperate Housewives 20.7 million
3. Dancing With The Stars 20.5 million
4. CBS Sunday National Game 19.5 million
5. Dancing With The Stars Results 19.0 million
6. CSI 18.8 million
7. NBC Sunday Night Football 17.0 million*
8. Grey’s Anatomy 16.9 million
9. CSI: Miami 16.1 million
10. Deal Or No Deal 16.0 million
*does not include Kickoff or Christmas games
Following are this season’s top 10 programs on network television in a key demographic (avg. rating):
Men 18-49
Program Rating
1. FOX Sunday National Game 11.3
2. CBS Sunday National Game 9.7
3. NBC Sunday Night Football 9.1
4. FOX Sunday Single Game 7.9
5. CBS Sunday Single Game 7.2
6. The OT (FOX NFL Postgame) 6.8
7. FOX Sunday Regional Game 6.4
8. Heroes 6.1
9. NBC Sunday Night Pre-Kick 5.9
10. CBS Sunday Regional Game 5.8
Broadcast Notes:
Regional -- First window of a doubleheader
National -- Second window of a doubleheader
Single -- Only window on network not airing doubleheader that week.
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
Following are the 10 most-watched regular-season games in 2006:
Date Program (Game) Viewers
Dec. 3 FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Giants) 27.6 million
Nov. 26 FOX Sunday National (mostly Bears-Patriots) 24.2 million
Nov. 23 FOX Thanksgiving Day (Bucs-Cowboys) 23.8 million
Nov. 19 CBS Sunday National (mostly Colts-Cowboys) 23.4 million
Dec. 25 NBC Christmas Day (Eagles-Cowboys) 23.2 million
Sept. 10 FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Jaguars) 22.7 million
Sept. 10 NBC Sunday Night (Colts-Giants) 22.6 million
Oct. 8 FOX Sunday National (Cowboys-Eagles) 22.1 million
Oct. 29 CBS Sunday National (mostly Colts-Broncos) 21.97 million
Nov. 5 NBC Sunday Night (Colts-Patriots) 21.95 million
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
Following are the 10 most watched programs on basic cable in 2006:
Program, Date Viewers
1. ESPN Monday Night Football (Giants-Cowboys), 10/23 16.0 million
2. ESPN Monday Night Football (Falcons-Saints), 9/25 15.0 million
3. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bears-Cardinals), 10/16 14.23 million
4. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bengals-Colts), 12/18 14.22 million
5. ESPN Monday Night Football (Steelers-Jaguars), 9/18 13.3 million
6. ESPN Monday Night Football (Packers-Eagles), 10/2 12.9 million
7. ESPN Monday Night Football (Packers-Seahawks), 11/27 12.7 million
8. ESPN Monday Night Football (Vikings-Redskins), 9/11 12.6 million
9. ESPN Monday Night Football (Ravens-Broncos), 10/9 12.5 million
10. ESPN Monday Night Football (Patriots-Vikings), 10/30 11.9 million
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573
WWW.NFLMedia.com
Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL 1/9/07
NFL 2006 TV RECAP
VIEWERSHIP INCREASES FOR ALL TV PARTNERS
MORE THAN 220 MILLION AMERICANS WATCHED NFL GAMES
NFL RATES RECORD 66 PERCENT HIGHER THAN OTHER PRIMETIME PROGRAMMING
NFL GAMES ARE 3 OF TOP 7 NETWORK PROGRAMS;
TOP 5 AMONG MEN 18-49; TOP 16 CABLECASTS
Football fans across America continued to tune their televisions to NFL games in large and growing
numbers in 2006. According to Nielsen Media Research, 222 million Americans (up from 195.8
million in 2005) – or approximately three-quarters of the U.S. population – watched NFL games in
2006; and all NFL TV partners experienced increases in viewership for their NFL games.
In 2006 – the first year of new television contracts featuring “flexible scheduling” and earlier start
times for primetime games – viewership increased on all NFL TV partners for the first time since
2002.
INCREASED VIEWERSHIP ON ALL NFL TELEVISION PARTNERS
Network Average Viewers Increase From 2005
CBS 15.2 million +1%
FOX 16.6 million +5%
NBC 17.5 million +7%*
ESPN 12.3 million +41%**
NFL Network 4.1 million --
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research
*compared to ABC MNF in 2005
**compared to ESPN SNF in 2005
In addition, NFL viewership on broadcast television finished ahead of network primetime viewership
by its widest margin ever. NFL games on CBS, FOX and NBC averaged 16.3 million viewers – 66
percent higher than the average primetime viewership among the four major over-the-air
networks (9.8 million average on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC).
NFL VS. PRIMETIME VIEWERSHIP ON BROADCAST TV
NFL on Broadcast NFL
Broadcast Primetime % Advantage
2002 Avg. Viewers 15.8 million 10.3 million 52%
2003 Avg. Viewers 15.5 million 9.9 million 56%
2004 Avg. Viewers 15.4 million 9.8 million 57%
2005 Avg. Viewers 15.6 million 9.7 million 61%
2006 Avg. Viewers 16.3 million 9.8 million 66%
Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research. NFL regular season on Broadcast television
(CBS, FOX & NBC…ABC prior to 2006). Broadcast primetime on BIG 4 networks (ABC, CBS,
NBC & FOX) all programs, NFL regular season dates used.
Consider these additional end-of-season facts:
• 2006 NFL national games on NBC, CBS (Sunday national & Thanksgiving) and FOX (Sunday
national & Thanksgiving) averaged a 12.1 rating which exceeds playoff broadcast averages for
other sports: 2006 NBA Playoffs (3.8 rating) & NBA Finals (8.5 rating) on ABC; 2006 MLB
Playoffs (6.0 rating) & 2006 World Series (10.1 rating) on FOX.
• NFL games account for 3 of the top 7 programs on network television this season (chart
below). In addition, NFL games account for the top seven (and 9 of the top 10) programs
among men 18-49 (chart below).
• ESPN NFL games accounted for the 16 most-watched basic cable programs in 2006 (chart
below).
• NFL Network concluded its inaugural Thursday and Saturday Night Football package with
each of its eight games ranking as the top-rated show of the day among all programs on cable
networks. The games averaged a 5.4 cable rating and (including fans who watched locally
over the air) 4.1 million viewers.
• NFL games were the top-ranked program locally a record 80 percent of the time – up from
69.3 percent in 2005 and surpassing the previous record of 73 percent set in 2003. That
means that eight of 10 times the NFL game drew higher local ratings than Dancing with the
Stars, CSI or any other popular TV show.
Following are the top network television programs nationally in average total viewers each week:
Network Program Viewers
1. FOX Sunday National Game 21.8 million
2. Desperate Housewives 20.7 million
3. Dancing With The Stars 20.5 million
4. CBS Sunday National Game 19.5 million
5. Dancing With The Stars Results 19.0 million
6. CSI 18.8 million
7. NBC Sunday Night Football 17.0 million*
8. Grey’s Anatomy 16.9 million
9. CSI: Miami 16.1 million
10. Deal Or No Deal 16.0 million
*does not include Kickoff or Christmas games
Following are this season’s top 10 programs on network television in a key demographic (avg. rating):
Men 18-49
Program Rating
1. FOX Sunday National Game 11.3
2. CBS Sunday National Game 9.7
3. NBC Sunday Night Football 9.1
4. FOX Sunday Single Game 7.9
5. CBS Sunday Single Game 7.2
6. The OT (FOX NFL Postgame) 6.8
7. FOX Sunday Regional Game 6.4
8. Heroes 6.1
9. NBC Sunday Night Pre-Kick 5.9
10. CBS Sunday Regional Game 5.8
Broadcast Notes:
Regional -- First window of a doubleheader
National -- Second window of a doubleheader
Single -- Only window on network not airing doubleheader that week.
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
Following are the 10 most-watched regular-season games in 2006:
Date Program (Game) Viewers
Dec. 3 FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Giants) 27.6 million
Nov. 26 FOX Sunday National (mostly Bears-Patriots) 24.2 million
Nov. 23 FOX Thanksgiving Day (Bucs-Cowboys) 23.8 million
Nov. 19 CBS Sunday National (mostly Colts-Cowboys) 23.4 million
Dec. 25 NBC Christmas Day (Eagles-Cowboys) 23.2 million
Sept. 10 FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Jaguars) 22.7 million
Sept. 10 NBC Sunday Night (Colts-Giants) 22.6 million
Oct. 8 FOX Sunday National (Cowboys-Eagles) 22.1 million
Oct. 29 CBS Sunday National (mostly Colts-Broncos) 21.97 million
Nov. 5 NBC Sunday Night (Colts-Patriots) 21.95 million
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
Following are the 10 most watched programs on basic cable in 2006:
Program, Date Viewers
1. ESPN Monday Night Football (Giants-Cowboys), 10/23 16.0 million
2. ESPN Monday Night Football (Falcons-Saints), 9/25 15.0 million
3. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bears-Cardinals), 10/16 14.23 million
4. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bengals-Colts), 12/18 14.22 million
5. ESPN Monday Night Football (Steelers-Jaguars), 9/18 13.3 million
6. ESPN Monday Night Football (Packers-Eagles), 10/2 12.9 million
7. ESPN Monday Night Football (Packers-Seahawks), 11/27 12.7 million
8. ESPN Monday Night Football (Vikings-Redskins), 9/11 12.6 million
9. ESPN Monday Night Football (Ravens-Broncos), 10/9 12.5 million
10. ESPN Monday Night Football (Patriots-Vikings), 10/30 11.9 million
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/7/06-12/31/06
AFC and NFC Conference Playoffs
From NFLmedia.com
Four games played by the top eight.
That is the quick rundown as the NFL takes the next step towards Super Bowl XLI with its Divisional Playoffs this
weekend that feature the top four seeds in the AFC and NFC conferences.
“The intensity rises,” says Baltimore Ravens quarterback STEVE MC NAIR, who has traveled this route before on the
way to a Super Bowl. “In the regular season, you can make up games. In the playoffs, you lose and you go home.”
In addition to the drama of the weekend due to its sudden-elimination import, there are numerous additional storylines:
• Three games are between teams now either tied in wins (Indianapolis-Baltimore) or separated by only one win
(Philadelphia-New Orleans and New England-San Diego).
• There are two 2006 regular-season rematches (Philadelphia-New Orleans and Seattle-Chicago).
• One game features the NFC’s top seeds of the past two seasons (Seattle, 2005; Chicago, 2006).
• Another game – New England-San Diego – pits a three-time Super-Bowl-winning quarterback – TOM BRADY –
against a QB making his first postseason start – PHILIP RIVERS.
The lineup for all this excitement:
NFL DIVISIONAL PL AYOFF WEEKEND
Saturday, January 13
AFC: 4:30 PM ET
Indianapolis (13-4) at Baltimore (13-3) (CBS-TV)
NFC: 8:00 PM ET
Philadelphia (11-6) at New Orleans (10-6) (FOX TV)
Sunday, January 14
NFC: 1:00 PM ET Seattle (10-7) at Chicago (13-3) (FOX-TV)
AFC: 4:30 PM ET New England (13-4) at San Diego (14-2) (CBS-TV)
Four games played by the top eight.
That is the quick rundown as the NFL takes the next step towards Super Bowl XLI with its Divisional Playoffs this
weekend that feature the top four seeds in the AFC and NFC conferences.
“The intensity rises,” says Baltimore Ravens quarterback STEVE MC NAIR, who has traveled this route before on the
way to a Super Bowl. “In the regular season, you can make up games. In the playoffs, you lose and you go home.”
In addition to the drama of the weekend due to its sudden-elimination import, there are numerous additional storylines:
• Three games are between teams now either tied in wins (Indianapolis-Baltimore) or separated by only one win
(Philadelphia-New Orleans and New England-San Diego).
• There are two 2006 regular-season rematches (Philadelphia-New Orleans and Seattle-Chicago).
• One game features the NFC’s top seeds of the past two seasons (Seattle, 2005; Chicago, 2006).
• Another game – New England-San Diego – pits a three-time Super-Bowl-winning quarterback – TOM BRADY –
against a QB making his first postseason start – PHILIP RIVERS.
The lineup for all this excitement:
NFL DIVISIONAL PL AYOFF WEEKEND
Saturday, January 13
AFC: 4:30 PM ET
Indianapolis (13-4) at Baltimore (13-3) (CBS-TV)
NFC: 8:00 PM ET
Philadelphia (11-6) at New Orleans (10-6) (FOX TV)
Sunday, January 14
NFC: 1:00 PM ET Seattle (10-7) at Chicago (13-3) (FOX-TV)
AFC: 4:30 PM ET New England (13-4) at San Diego (14-2) (CBS-TV)
Steve Jobs And Apple Show iPhone At Mac World
Apple Computer's chief executive, Steve Jobs, unveiled on Tuesday a new mobile phone that downloads and plays music as well as a set- top box that allows people to stream video from their computers to their televisions.
Jobs said Apple's iPhone would "reinvent" the telecommunications sector and "leapfrog" past the current generation of hard-to-use smart phones.
Jobs said Apple's iPhone would "reinvent" the telecommunications sector and "leapfrog" past the current generation of hard-to-use smart phones.
Cal-Sac State -01 - Steve From CAA Awards Committee
I recognize this guy on the left from serving on the awards committee of the California Alumni Association. Steve's his name. I always see him but he never says hello to me.
He seems to be one of the kind of African American men that don't want to be seen talking to other blacks in a meeting situation. I'm serious. I hate to say it, but everyone else I've served with talks to me except him. Just Steve.
Earl Robinson was a direct contrast to him by far; had no problem talking to me and let's face it -- there were only a handful of us on the CAA so what's wrong with talking? Nothing! Well, this is sure to change all that!
He seems to be one of the kind of African American men that don't want to be seen talking to other blacks in a meeting situation. I'm serious. I hate to say it, but everyone else I've served with talks to me except him. Just Steve.
Earl Robinson was a direct contrast to him by far; had no problem talking to me and let's face it -- there were only a handful of us on the CAA so what's wrong with talking? Nothing! Well, this is sure to change all that!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Disney World's Tigger Strikes Teen In The Face - Video
Well, you do have to see this. It seems whomever was playing Tigger at Waly Disney World in Florida had enough of this particular teenager and hauled off and hit him. I've seen it again and again. Disney can't have this kind of behavior from its characters.
Check it out:
Check it out:
Atlanta Falcons Hiring Louisville Cardunals Coach Bobby Petrino
Hopefully Falcons Owner Arthur Blank THINKS he has the right man for the job now...
see my comment at the end
From the NY Times.....
Louisville’s Petrino to Leave for the N.F.L. and the Falcons
By PETE THAMEL
Published: January 8, 2007
When Coach Bobby Petrino signed a 10-year contract extension last summer at Louisville, he insisted that it include a million-dollar buyout as a sign of his commitment to the university.
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Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Petrino signed a 10-year contract extension last summer with Louisville, but decided to leave to take the head-coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons.
Division I-A
At the news conference announcing his extension, Petrino said that Louisville was the place where he and his family wanted to be.
“I want everyone to really believe it,” Petrino said in July.
But in what is becoming a familiar trend on the coaching carousel, it did not take long for him to have a change of heart. Louisville announced last night that Petrino was taking the head-coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons. He will replace Jim Mora, who was fired.
The Louisville sports information director, Kenny Klein, said in a telephone interview last night that Petrino informed the athletic director Tom Jurich and the Cardinals team of his decision yesterday.
Klein said that Jurich typically did not put buyouts in contracts, but Jurich did so at Petrino’s request. That was because until Petrino, 45, declared his undying love for the university this past summer, he had been regarded as a flirt in coaching circles.
In the last three years, he talked with Auburn, Louisiana State, Notre Dame and the Oakland Raiders about coaching vacancies. But all of that wanderlust appeared to dissipate with the comments that followed the signing of his 10-year, $25 million contract.
“I know I’ve said it, that this is where my family wants to be,” Petrino said. “This is where I want to be. I want everyone to really believe it."
His words were not unlike those of Nick Saban, who left the Dolphins last week to take the job at the University of Alabama despite multiple denials. Also, earlier this off-season, Dennis Erickson left Idaho for Arizona State despite saying that the Vandals job would be one he would be happy to retire from.
Petrino was 41-9 in his four seasons at Louisville, where he became known as one of the top offensive masterminds in college football. He led the Cardinals to the biggest win in the program’s history last week when they defeated Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. They finished this season 12-1 and would have been considered a top contender for the national title in 2007 if the junior quarterback Brian Brohm and the junior tailback Michael Bush had returned for their senior years.
Instead, Louisville will be looking for a new coach. The top name on the list will most likely be Tulsa Coach Steve Kragthorpe, whom Jurich has long admired from afar.
“I certainly appreciate all the hard work he did in elevating this program to where it stands today,” Jurich said in a statement last night. “I wish him and his family all the best. We’re going to move quickly in hiring our next coach to keep our momentum going.”
It will be interesting to see how Petrino’s low-key personality meshes with N.F.L. life.
He could struggle with the media scrutiny and dealing with the egos of N.F.L. players. He’ll also have the challenge of trying to maximize the talents of quarterback Michael Vick, who despite his talent and promise, has not been able to win consistently in Atlanta.
Petrino’s hiring came as something of a shock in N.F.L. circles; his name had not come up as a possible candidate.
So no one knew this was coming?? I don't buy it! Somewhere someone had to know... I believe that when the other "usual" suspects were not called-or in the case of Bears D-Coordinator Ron Rivera, called back. you had to know something weird was going to happen. Not that Petrino isn't a good coach, Quite the opposite, he is a very good coach. but as stated above, will he "mesh" with the pro style of "getting things done"....
What Did Miss Nevada 2007, Katie Rees Do To Lose Her Crown? Take A Look!
What did 2007 Miss Nevada Katie Rees -- pictured in the red blouse -- do to lose her crown and yet be given no second chance, unlike Miss USA Tara Conner? Well, she was partying a bit too much and was captured on camera. What she did could be described but the photos are not X-rated, but R-rated and some of the tame ones are included here.
Why would she, or any young girl, do this? I'll explore that in a future post because it's a good question.
Who is Katie Rees? According to Wikipedia...
Katie Rees (born 11 August 1984 in St Petersburg, Florida) is a former American beauty queen who has held the Miss Nevada USA title. She was to compete in the Miss USA 2007 pageant but was dethroned in December 2006 following the release of pictures of her semi-naked, kissing, sucking the nipples of other women, and simulating cunnilingus at a Florida nightclub three years prior.
Rees won the Miss Nevada USA 2007 title in a state pageant held in Las Vegas on 8 October 2006; it was her first attempt at this title. Rees was crowned by outgoing titleholder Lauren Scyphers. Her "sister" titleholder, Miss Nevada Teen USA 2007, was Danielle Hashimoto.
Controversy
On 20 December 2006, allegations of Rees exhibiting raunchy behaviour in a Florida nightclub were made, and several photographs of Rees exposing her breasts, kissing and licking other women, and simulating sexual acts were released to the media.[1] This followed a scandal involving Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, in which news reports claimed Conner had been drinking underage; Conner was allowed to retain her title.
On 21 December 2006, Rees was stripped of her crown by the Miss Universe Organization,[2] with the approval of pageant co-owner Donald Trump. She was succeeded by pageant first runner-up Helen Salas, who will represent Nevada in the Miss USA 2007 pageant in March.
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