If you thought you had already received the last gift you’d be receiving this holiday season – you’re wrong! This week on the festive edition of 15 Minutes of Fame we’re looking at the latest NHL lockout news, the World Juniors, a big trade by the Blue Jays & a couple of notes from the NFL!
In the GABBYs: Santa Claus, Arian Foster, Lance Armstrong, Russian soccer fans, the Spengler Cup & Aston Villa. The Punchline this week is Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins!
MEANWHILE: Since we are feeling generous (and didn’t end up getting last week’s video up in time), here is a second dose of 15MOF!
In order to get you back on track after what was hopefully a lovely long weekend, the boys from 15 Minutes of Fame cut theirs short to get another action-packed episode ready to go for you!
This week on the big show: Another NHL enforcer turns up dead, the Bruins say Marc Savard’s career may be over, the results of our 15MOF Facebook poll on concussions and a couple of other strange stories from around the rinks.
In the GABBYs: Odds On Promotions, Arsenal refunds, the Tulsa Shock, Sogelau Tuvalu, Dustin Byfuglien and Gross Cycling Injuries!
Just how bad did English Premier League club Arsenal play this past weekend on the road in Manchester?
They played so bad that the manager is apologizing, former players are expressing their disgust…oh, and the team is offering to put some money back in the pockets of the fans who made the 650 kilometre round-trip to support them!
If you missed it on Sunday, Manchester United completely embarrassed Arsenal at Old Trafford by a score of 8-2! To make matters worse, Arsene Wenger’s men have now dropped eight of nine points to start the 2011-12 season.
Wenger told fans he was sorry on Monday, saying, “We can only apologize and come back in our strength and desire next game.”
We all know that, more than ever before, the business side of pro sports is just as important to teams as the sport itself, but how far is too far?
Whether it’s an athlete losing endorsements because of slip-ups in his or her personal life (Tiger Woods, for example) or a sponsor threatening to pull its money over a league’s decision (Air Canada’s empty threats to the NHL), it’s all about the almighty dollar in pro sports these days. Here’s one I’ve never seen before though – I honestly thought this story from Britain’s The Guardian was an April Fools’ joke when I first read it:
“Standard Chartered wants Liverpool to sign more players from Asia.”
Imagine my surprise when I read the article and realized that it wasn’t a joke at all – the bank says it wants the team to sign some Asian players so that it can “exploit one of [its] largest markets.” Is this really happening? Are they really telling the team that they want them to buy players based on nationality first and skill second? Do they not understand how soccer works? (more…)
Sometimes I wonder just how detached the higher-ups in pro sports actually are from the game itself, don’t you?
Perhaps the worst sport for that is soccer, and this weekend gave us another glimpse into that side of things. Quite often you’ll hear about a manager being suspended for something silly like swearing on the sidelines while arguing a call, for example. Of course you want your players and coaches to be respectful, but it’s a bit harsh to ban someone for colorful language, given how often it is used in pro sports, or sports in general!
The latest victim of this scenario is Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. (more…)
Now that the NFL has officially locked out its players, one guy is putting football aside to try his hand at…football!
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is taking this opportunity to give a childhood passion of his another go, suiting up for a four-day trial with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City. Yes, the man who once raced (and beat) a horse is now trying to make it in soccer!
Here’s the crazy part: Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star says he’s actually a pretty good player!
According to reports, his first day on the pitch didn’t blow anyone away, but as he works off the rust and gets more comfortable, Ochocinco is starting to look like he belongs out there. Coach Peter Vermes commented afterwards that he’s “alright” at some things and “far behind” at others, but either way they’ll probably decide this weekend what to do with him. (more…)
Things are heating up in England as the race for the Premier League title takes a few sudden turns and gets much more interesting…
If you haven’t been paying attention, here’s the Coles Notes version of what’s been going on: The current leaders, to a Man, are coming Untied at the wrong time, the second place Gunners have a shot but no ammo and the defending champions, once singing the Blues, are now playing their way back into the conversation as the season winds down!
On Monday, Chelsea beat Blackpool 3-1 thanks to a double from Frank Lampard and while it wasn’t their best outing of the season, it certainly wasn’t their worst and it earned them a huge three points. With the win, the Blues move to within nine points of league leaders Manchester United as they try to mount a late charge and repeat as EPL champs.
Nine points is a long way to come back, but it’s worth noting that Chelsea have a game in hand and also have a say in United dropping at least three more points when the two sides meet again on May 7th at Old Trafford… (more…)
It’s been four days since Fernando Torres made headlines in the soccer world by moving from Liverpool to Chelsea on a record breaking transfer, and while he gets ready to face his old club on Sunday, one Liverpool fan is mourning his team’s loss more than any other…
His name? Fernando Torres McCormark.
This Is Scunthorpe says the man, formerly known as Shaun McCormark, changed his name in December to honor his favorite team’s best player. Now he is left with a tough decision: does he stick with his club and get his name changed to something else, or does he follow Torres and become a Chelsea supporter? (more…)
What a start to the week in the English Premier League!
It was soccer’s version of the “trade deadline” that we all love so much in the hockey world, as the January transfer window came to a close with a flurry of player movement – none bigger than the transaction between Chelsea and Liverpool.
It cost them dearly but The Blues managed to secure the services of Spanish striker Fernando Torres from Anfield, where he spent the last three and a half seasons. Chelsea paid £50-million to bring the player over, smashing the British record by almost £20-million and making it the fourth most expensive transfer in the history of world football!
Who saw that one coming? By all accounts, Torres was happy at Liverpool and wasn’t really interested in a move. Or was he? James Sharman, who hosts The Score’s “The Footy Show,” says it’s coming out now that, in fact, the 26-year-old may have wanted out as early as last year! (more…)
We’re going to start off this week talking about birthdays – with all the media attention given to Wayne Gretzky turning 50, you’ve probably had enough of “birthday” storylines, but I’ve got an important question to ask all of you:
What did you get your Mom for her last birthday?
The reason I ask is that there is literally no way it was as awesome as what two-time FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi got for his Mom! When she turned x years old last weekend, her superstar son got her a La Liga goal!
Moments after beating Racing Santander goalie Toño on a 33rd minute penalty kick attempt, the Barcelona striker lifted up his jersey to show off the message he had written on his undershirt before the game: “Feliz Cumple Mami!” (Video after the jump!)(more…)
When you pick up the latest edition of the EA Sports Tiger Woods video game at the end of March, there are two things you’ll notice:
One, Electronic Arts has teamed up with Augusta National to include the home of the Masters in the game for the first time ever. Secondly, you’ll notice that Tiger Woods isn’t on the cover of the game anymore!
Let’s start with Augusta: ESPN reports the Masters will receive some proceeds from the game, which will go towards investing in development programs around the world. Apparently Augusta has given over $42-million to charity in the past 13 years and they’re using this as another stream of revenue to help that cause.
Just how bad did English Premier League club Arsenal play this past weekend on the road in Manchester?
We all know that, more than ever before, the business side of pro sports is just as important to teams as the sport itself, but how far is too far?
Sometimes I wonder just how detached the higher-ups in pro sports actually are from the game itself, don’t you?
Football to Football for Ochocinco?
Things are heating up in England as the race for the Premier League title takes a few sudden turns and gets much more interesting…
What a start to the week in the English Premier League!
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