charity: water, an organization worth helping!

From charity: water:

One billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. That’s one in six of us. charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects.

Maybe it's time to help. The video gives you a sense of what charity: water does and how it all started.

The story of charity: water - The 2009 September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

Washington Nationals ballgirl says "Whoops. FUGETTABOUDIT."

The Washington Nationals ballgirl who made SportsCenter for her blooper -- fielding a fair ball -- jokes about her mistake. Her mistake was against the Florida Marlins. She says: "Whoops! FUGETTABOUDIT." Hey, we all make mistakes. Good to see she could joke about it. On the SportsCenter clip, we get to read her lips: "That was foul?" She gives us the quote in her own voice, too.

Girl dives out of stands to make play on baseball

Not sure where the heck this video comes from, but she definitely makes the best play of the game.

The trailer for the Michael Oher story -- starring Sandra Bullock

Here's the trailer for the Michael Oher story -- The Blind Side. Quinton Aaron plays Oher, who was the focus of a book by Michael Lewis called “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.” Oher, who had a difficult childhood, eventually overcame his problems and played football at Ole Miss before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Oher is a left tackle, which is the position that guards the quarterback's blind side. If you watch the trailer, it appears Sandra Bullock is the star of the movie and not Oher's character. The movie is due out in November of 2009.

This video might have some football fans barking

Not exactly sure how Michael Vick would feel about this video nowadays, but this commercial sure comes close to combining dogs and football. Of course, I think it's a different kind of football -- a.k.a. soccer.

Jay Glazer on the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers

Fox's Jay Glazer likes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Even likes him more the Brett Favre. Glazer says:

You look at the way Aaron played last year, and you look at the way Brett played last year, it boggles my mind that anyone would ever say that, "Well, if Brett were here last year, they would have been a lot better." You look at Aaron's numbers, and the stuff that he had to go through last year, I think 90 percent of the quarterbacks in this league would not have been able to deal with it. the way Aaron did.

Media finally admits they NEED Brett Favre

Here's the video the media has been keeping from the public for years.

Cutting the cheese: Tiger Woods farts, laughs, then wins Buick Open

Here's Tiger Woods passing the gas, folks.

Rex Ryan's diet stinks

Here's New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on Day Two of his diet:

"Why’d you bring that up [laughing]? Let me tell you this. The vegetable part of it? Way worse than I even thought. We should have a bonus cup for anybody who would like to give it a shot. I’m not kidding. We can put one here. You guys can see it. It’s hard to describe ... it looks like rust. I plugged my nose to drink it. It’s absolutely brutal. But hey, I’m hanging in there. It’s day two, so we’ll see."

Ryan also likes a little razzle-dazzle on defense when the team gets a turnover.

On laterals on defense and if they are risky…. "Now you sound like Ozzie [Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome]. I used to get reprimanded by Newsome all the time, but we want to score. We don’t want to be reckless with it. Statistically, we do score quite a bit in this system. We have a 4-by-4 rule. If you can get a 4-by-4 relation, then you’re safe to pitch the ball. I’m sure [Mike] Tannenbaum and Woody [Johnson] will talk to me if they need to, but realistically, we want to score when we get them. It’ not just getting the interception. We want to put them in the end zone."

Jerry Jones gives a tour of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium

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Forget the Madden Cruiser. Here is Chris Mortensen's Bus

Video clip titled: "Chris Mortensen Takes Us Inside His Bus." Mort takes us from the front of the bus to the back where the beds and toilets are.

With Brett Favre gone, Peter King continues love affair with Redskins QB Jason Campbell

Here is Sports Illustrated's Peter King on Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell July 28, 2008:

I think I am smitten with Jason Campbell. The guy's going to be good. Maybe really good. He's sure of himself, throws a nice, soft spiral downfield -- harder when he has to -- and is more confident and self-assured than anyone learning an eighth offensive system in his last nine years of football has the right to be.

Here is King July 31, 2009:

It's only one day, one snapshot, but Jason Campbell looks more relaxed and at ease under Jim Zorn's tutelage to me. Here's why: This is the first time in Campbell's nine years of college and pro football that he's been the starter for a second straight year in the same offensive system with the same coach.

In his recent assessment of Campbell, King writes:

I'm writing about Campbell for the magazine next week, and he had some interesting things to say about an off-season that had the Redskins looking to deal for Jay Cutler, draft Mark Sanchez, and, I think, resurrect Sonny Jurgensen. But he's in a good place with his emotions now, and he'll have every chance to succeed or fail on his own this year after a roller-coaster of a season last year. I liked how he threw the ball in the morning practice -- crisp, with a tight spiral, and with accuracy.

Obama pities Cleveland, was rooting for Cavaliers over Magic

President Barack Obama, a Chicago Bulls fan, was rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Eastern Conference finals series. It had nothing to do with being a LeBron James fan. It had nothing to do with those Kobe-LeBron puppet commercials. Obama just felt bad for the city of Cleveland, according to Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

Las Vegas Review-Journal gossip columnist Norm Clarke writes that when Obama visited Nevada in May, he and Reid were watching the end of game four of the series. They had to stop watching with about 40 seconds left to hit the stage, where Reid was to introduce Obama. Clarke writes:

"They were like a couple buddies watching a great game," said Jon Summers, Reid's communications director.

Reid disclosed that Obama, a passionate basketball fan, was pulling for the Cavs "because Cleveland has had such bad luck, with the auto industry and all. He wanted them to win something for a change," Reid said.

Reid returned to the stage after the president's address and delivered the news: Orlando won 116-114 in overtime for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Obama is now predicting the Lakers in six. The Los Angeles Times reports:

If you're scoring at home, Obama has a perfect 2-0 record in presidentially prognosticating major sporting events. He picked the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl and North Carolina to win the NCAA basketball tournament. Then again, the Celtics were a perfect 32-0 when leading a playoff series 3-2 -- until the Magic took care of their unblemished record.

NY Giants' Dave Deihl yuks it up at Brett Favre's expense

New York Giants starting left tackle Dave Diehl tried his hand at comedy in May. Brett Favre and Bill Belichick were among his targets.

According to the Star-Ledger, Diehl ripped on Belichick's cut-off sweatshirts: "Either he's going to Venice Beach or he's going to Suzanne Summers' '80s (workouts). We need to get him in some leggings." That part is not on video, but the shots at Favre are. In the comedy scene, Diehl -- who admits "I might be the largest Brett Favre you have ever seem" -- plays a person who cannot make up his mind -- aka Favre.

Here's his imitation of Brett Favre.


Part one of an interview with Diehl on 12 Angry Mascots.


Part two of an interview with Diehl on 12 Angry Mascots.

Mark Sanchez remembers as "little kid" getting Carson Palmer's autograph

In his interview with Upper Deck at the annual NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez said: "I remember being that little kid asking Carson Palmer for his autograph."

Ouch. Palmer isn't even 30 years old yet. Sanchez can share those memories with Palmer on Jan. 3, 2010, when the Jets play host to the Bengals. At that point, Palmer will have been 30 years old for just a week.


Other Upper Deck interviews from the photo shoot include: Vikings' wide receiver Percy Harvin, Miami Dolphins receiver Pat White, 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno and Lions quarterback Matt Stafford.

College football coaches stay at Saddam Hussein's place

Seven college football coaches continue their trek through the Middle East. And according to a ULCA website, the coaches were staying in one of Saddam Hussein's old places. In bunk beds.

Coach Neuheisel called the office for a minute on Monday. He reported to one of the assistant coaches that the head coaches on the tour were currently staying in a place that had belonged to Saddam Hussein. All of the coaches were staying in the same room... in bunk beds.

The seven coaches on the trip are:

Texas' Mack Brown

Ohio State's Jim Tressel

Mississippi's Houston Nutt

UCLA's Rick Neuheisel

Wake Forest's Jim Grobe

Air Force's Troy Calhoun

Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville

Here's a clip of Brown speaking while on the tour. He responds to why the coaches have decided why they will not release how each coach voted during the college football season. By the way, Brown's father (an Air Force veteran) fought in World War II, which is partly why he felt the need to go to the Middle East to support the troops. In an Austin Statesman story he said:

"He never got in a plane again (after returning from the war)," Brown said. "He would not talk much about it."

ESPN's Lee Corso chases down ref in USFL thriller

Lee Corso suffered a minor stroke last week. ESPN announced that he is expected to make a full recovery and is expected back this fall for the college football season.

"This is just a small bump in the road," Corso said in a statement issued by ESPN. "A 'not so fast, my friend' in my game of life. I look forward to making a full recovery and returning to ESPN for my 23rd season analyzing the greatest sport in the world -- college football."

Every story, it seemed, that was written about Corso's stroke mentioned his work in Indiana, which I remember most about his coaching career. I didn't know that he also had stops at Louisville and Northern Illinois. He also played at Florida State. I assume, it wasn't under Bobby Bowden. (By the way, at FSU, he roomed with one Burt Reynolds.) What I didn't know, or maybe forgot, was that Corso spent one season, his final year of coaching, in the United States Football League with the Orlando Renegades in 1985. It was also the final year of the league. The Renegades were 5-13. (That's right, they played 18 games a season. Hmmm, isn't that what Roger Goodall is considering for the NFL?)

Anyway, here is the fleet-footed Corso, when the Renegades faced the Jacksonville Bulls. And I mean fleet-footed. Watch Corso (at about the 55 second mark of this clip) chase down the referee after a loss, his fifth in a row to start his USFL coaching career. The Renegades lost six to open the season before finally winning. In fact, today (June 1, 2009) marks the 24th anniversary of his penultimate win of his coaching career.

Enjoy the clip, and to Corso: Get well, my friend.

Mark Schlereth-Daniel Schlereth making NFL-MLB history

ESPN football analyst Mark Schlereth, the winner of three Super Bowl rings, might be making Major League Baseball history within the next few days. That's if his son Daniel Schlereth pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, if the younger Schlereth, a lefty, pitches for the D'backs, he and his father will become the sixth father-son combination to either played in the NFL or the MLB. If he pitches, it is expected to be in relief. Schlereth was the 26th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks last June. In the Double-A ball this season, Schlereth has three saves with a 1.42 ERA. He also has 21 strikeouts in 19 innings.

The elder Schlereth, a lineman, won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and one with the Washington Redskins. The other tandems include the likes of Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Brock and Yogi Berra. Here are the other father-son tandems:

Father - Son
Yogi Berra (MLB) - Tim Berra (NFL)
Lou Brock (MLB) - Lou Brock (NFL)
Jack Snow (NFL) - J.T. Snow (MLB)
Lee Gross (NFL) - Gabe Gross (MLB)
Don Patterson (NFL) - Corey Patterson (MLB)
Mark Schlereth (NFL) - Daniel Schlereth (MLB)

Schlereth's first game in an Arizona uniform was Friday. He did not play in the team's loss. The D'backs play the Atlanta Braves this weekend. Sports Arizona reports that Mark Schlereth was Twittering at the game Friday. Among the Tweets, "Daniel is getting warm in the pen and i’m about sick! nervous daddy!"

Where amazing happens in Cuckoo's Nest, Teen Wolf, Hoosiers and more

This is getting out of hand. Every person in the continental United States apparently has posted at least one athletic feat on YouTube with the NBA's theme music for "Where Amazing Happens." Now even Hollywood movies are getting the same treatment on YouTube.

Here are a few. Our favorites are the first five.

1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest



2. Hoosiers



3. Teen Wolf



4. The Karate Kid



5. Rocky IV



6. Semi-Pro



7. Space Jam



8. White Men Can't Jump



9. He Got Game



10. The Simpsons (Not sure if this is from the movie, but it was a struggle finding that tenth one.)

QB stuff: Michael Vick, Tom Brady and Tony Romo (via T.O.)

TMZ.com has photos of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick's home confinement. TMZ also has a photo of New England quarterback Tom Brady riding a bike with his son on board.

And then here is video of Buffalo Bills wide out Terrell Owens acknowledging that Dallas QB Tony Romo failed to mention his name.

Knowshon Moreno wins Upper Deck's dance celebration contest

Upper Deck had its 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on May 16. And it appears its touchdown dance contest was the hit of the event.

According to Upperdeckblog.com, new New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was one of the show stealers.

When I informed USC QB Mark Sanchez the night before about Upper Deck’s TD Dance competition, he just looked at me and said, “I don’t dance. What am I gonna do?” I told him he’d dance on Saturday and that a Michael Jordan signed jersey was at stake. “Hmmm, maybe,” he said.

When Sanchez’s two-man group came around on Saturday, which included New York Jets teammate Shonn Greene (RB, Iowa), he remembered our conversation and seemed genuinely excited. When he finished his interview, where he mentioned former Jets QB Brett Favre has always been one of his idols, he hurried over to the end zone and went right to work. He even incorporated Greene to help him perform an end zone “football birth” for the competition. With Greene lying flat on his back with a towel strewn over his legs, Sanchez served as delivery doctor and - calling out QB-like signals - pulled a football from between Greene’s legs. The crowd went wild, right up until Sachez spiked the newly born baby football!

If it wasn't for helping out his teammate, Sanchez would have received an F for his dunk celebration, which was so very 1980. Of course, maybe he was going for the retro look. The winner? Denver Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, from Georgia. Moreno's winning prize? A Michael Jordan-signed red Chicago Bulls jersey (with a rumored retail price of $1,699.99). Moreno is wearing his winnings (backwards) at the end of the four-minute video.

Competing were Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Mohamed Massaquoi, Michael Crabtree, Nate Davis, Glen Coffee, Ramses Barden, Knowshon Moreno, Andre Brown, Donald Brown, Aaron Curry, Josh Freeman, Shonn Greene, Percy Harvin, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Tyson Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Stephen McGee, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Pettigrew, Javon Ringer, Jason Smith and Chris Wells (with help from Brian Robiskie).



In order to compare these rookies with other NFL players, here's a link to ESPN's top 10 celebrations. Looks like a few of the rookies borrowed their dances from the pros.

Also occurring at the same event were interviews (sponsored by Panini Bread):

Patrick Turner's interview with Mark Sanchez.

Interview with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Stephen McGee.

Interview with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Robiskie.

Seattle Seahawks' Aaron Curry interview of St. Louis Rams' Jason Smith.

Interview with Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

Larry Fitzgerald runs into teammate on Super Bowl sideline

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald nearly brought down Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison in time at the end of the first half during Super Bowl XLIII. Running into a teammate may have slowed Fitzgerald, who, along with teammate Steve Breaston, tackled Harrison at the goal line.

Watch at the 17 second mark of this video of the return, you see Fitzgerald (No. 11) enter the frame at the bottom left. He continues running, apparently out of bounds. At the 19 second mark, Fitzgerald runs into a helmetless teammate (No. 21, who we assume is cornerback Antrel Rolle).

There are so many little things in this game that can tilt victory one way or another, but no one has mentioned Fitzgerald's remarkable chase and collision with a teammate on the sideline.

If Fitzgerald tackles Harrison short of the end zone, who knows what happens in this game.

Pearl Jam's Last Kiss

You gotta love Maria Bartiromo's CNBC commercial

The CNBC commercials featuring its anchors and reporters are great. The best is Maria Bartiromo's commercial. Check it out. The commercials are called "I am CNBC." Bartiromo, the ever-popular "Money Honey," in the commercial says, among other things, "I am a reporter, a magazine columnist, a journalist, a best-selling author, the first person to report live from the New York Stock Exchange. I am an accordion player." There's more. But Bartiromo playing the accordion? Interesting. Love to see that video on You Tube. Can't find that or her CNBC commercial. For now, you have to go to the CNBC site.

The site also includes video clips (not included in the commercial) of Bartiromo talking about her days as a "coat check girl." The site also provides links to other CNBC commercials, including Mark Haines, Charlie Gasparino, David Faber, Joe Kernan and Rebecca Jarvis. The site also includes Bartiromo's CNBC nemesis, Erin Burnett.

I'd take Bartiromo's commercial over Burnett. I think Haines' commercial is funny, just like he is. I must say, I like Charlie Gasparino's commercial the best. You can tell he loves the job. He says: "I am a writer, son of an ironworker, son of New York. ... in love with my wife. ... My mother called me Chucky, but no one else better try it. ... And if I were to die on the job, I would be very honored."

There are also "I am CNBC" endorsements by others in the business and entertainment world. These commercials with non-CNBC people have been running for more than a year. The commercials with the CNBC personalities appear to have been running since September.

Joe the Plumber gets book deal, skips Vegas event

The Las Vegas Review-Journal Norm Clarke reports that Joe the Plumber (aka Joe Wurzelbacher) backed out of being among the celebrities to headline the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The event is the world's largest gaming trade show. Clarke said Joe the Plumber is busy working on his second 15 minutes of fame. Wurzelbacher missed the Las Vegas event to attend another event in Los Angeles. Clark also reported that Wurzelbacher was working on a book. Clarke wrote: "He settled on Austin, Texas, writer and publisher Tom Tabback to help him write 'Joe the Plumber -- Fighting for the American Dream.' It is to be released Dec. 1."