Monday links

I don't care whether you have a job or not, the Monday after the Holidays end always suck. At least we have a not-so-interesting National Championship to watch. Sa-weet.

On to the links.

Your American Gladiator experts are not pleased with the new version. [My Brain Says Rage]

Brett Favre has an identical twin. [The Sports Hernia]

And he's hawking Bowflex - the key to his awesome 17th season. Right. [Food Court Lunch]

Jose Lima could be headed to Korea. Awesome. [Ump Bump]

Always one of my favorite posts. Search terms that people use to get to MBSR. [My Brian Says Rage]

Who didn't vote for Brady as MVP? [Larry Brown Sports]

A Packers fan goes a bit nuts with two homes. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Intentional walks are harder to do than you'd think. [Home Run Derby]

A pretty detailed look at who was actually better, the Phillies or Mets. [Crashburn Alley]

A retrospective on the Skins's season. [Scott Van Pelt Style]

Your weekly NHL recap. [Going Five Hole]

-WCK

Back on the Wagon links

All right, we're back. Here's yo links.

An interesting look at which NCAA basketball programs produce the most $$$. [Storming the Floor]

NFL Playoff teams as beers. [Deuce of Davenport]

Is Ryan Mallet going to transfer to UCLA? My guess would be UCLA is certainly hoping so. [Construda]

The Giants continue to get hammered this week, this time thanks to a Barber. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

A look back at the Top-10 most dramatic NFL playoff finishes. [All Balls]

A random, but fascinating, tidbit from the Orange Bowl. [Scott Van Pelt Style]

They actually have NFL wild card T-shirts. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Even weathermen are weighing in on the Knicks' stinkiness. [The Sports Hernia]

-WCK

Friday links

I'm awful glad its Friday, and so is Isiah. Thanks to Deuce for finding this pic.

On to the links.

Wayne Rooney has a tranny cousin who wants to be a bridesmaid at his upcoming wedding. Wow. [Deuce of Davenport]

Darren McFadden has a new Escalade, and potential problems with being eligible for the Cotton Bowl. Shockingly, these two things relate to each other. [The Pig Pen]

They're pulling down Rich Rodriguez signs in West Virginia. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Where the hell is Mel Kiper, Jr.? [Scott Van Pelt Style]

A 70s tennis player who should have been ranked #1, but wasn't. Weird. [All on the Field]

Fukudome doesn't just have a great name, he has a great arm. [Home Run Derby]

The Orange Bowl got a little more interesting, thanks to mock Mac ads. [Lion in Oil]

The Broncos are still mad at Philip Rivers. I'm still mad at Rivers for sucking this entire season. [Rumors and Rants]

-WCK

Slow Thursday links

There isn't a lot going on during this week between Christmas and New Year's, except for best/worst of the year posts. Aside from that, there seems to be almost nothing going on today. But don't worry, we made up for our lack of posts with that insane Olympic music video above. It's worth at least 3 posts, which is probably a huge overstatement, but it's all we got for today.

On to the links.

Deadspin's word of the year is awesome. [Deadspin]

Derek Anderson to the Fins? [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Some atypical 2007 awards. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

What some NFL players did for Christmas. [Throwing Into Traffic]

Not really sports related, but here's a chance to take a test to see how big of a douchebag you are. [Introducing Liston]

-WCK

Wednesday links

It's still Christmas break for most of you, but we here at The Rate never quit. We just kind of post less good stuff at a less frequent rate.

On to the three links.

The NFL network will do 62-hours of lead-up for the Giants/Pats game. That's not a joke. [Construda]

Attention terrorists: There's no security at college bowl games. [All on the Field]

You can own Maria Sharapova's soap. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Larry Fitzgerald to the Vikings in '08? [Fanhouse]

-WCK

Christmas Eve links

For the two of you wondering why I didn't do my Monday NFL write-up, it's because of the holidays. I'll be writing it tonight after I get last minute presents for 12 people. The worst thing about that last sentence I wrote is that there's no sarcasm in it at all.

On to the (few) links.

Margaret Thatcher's grandson loves football, meaning real American football. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The 10 not-so-awesome sports guys of 2007. [I'm Writing Sports]

A college football coach you should know more about. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

Some fun facts about my boy Patrick Willis of the 49ers. [Lord, Beer Me Strength]

-WCK

Friday links

Everybody have a Happy Holidays. I'm not going to pack it in for the next four days, because something's bound to happen in one of these crappy bowl games coming up. But don't expect much.

On to the links.

A very cool look at A-Rod's case for getting the $252 million contract he got years ago. [You Been Blinded]

The Red Sox even stick it to the Yankees in creative, ultra-subtle ways. [Home Run Derby]

Let's destroy Tony Romo. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Cam Cameron is like a bad one-night stand. [Rumors and Rants]

This is a really strange way to get revenge on Rich Rodriguez leaving WV. [Lion in Oil]

I am seriously excited for the New Mexico Bowl. Nevada, which is playing in it, not so much. [The Pig Pen]

-WCK

Thursday links

Make that left indeed.

On to the links.

Jonathan "I.Q. 47" Papelbon had his dog eat the World Series ball. Seriously. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Wrestling is great at promoting stereotypes. [Food Court Lunch]

That was quick. A new American Gladiator did gay porn. [My Brain Says Rage]

A breakdown of the bowls, from best to worst. [Rumors and Rants]

The many hideous faces of Skip Bayless. He's like Medusa. [The Sports Hernia]

The MLB teams the prez candidates root for, courtesy of Home Run Derby. Here are the Democrats, and here are the Republicans. I'm a communist, so you know I'm a Giants fan.

I sure hope this soccer player doesn't get deported back to Africa. [The Beautiful Game]

I should have put this up yesterday, but I sleep from 4am until 8pm. It's a look back at the 1987 Celtics/Pistons. [The World of Isaac]

Who will save the Falcons? Marcus Vick, naturally. [Throwing Into Traffic]

-WCK

Wednesday links

As you can see above, my ride kinda got stuck while I was cruising around SF yesterday.

On to the links.

A look back at some great sports streaks. [The Sports Hernia]

It's going to cost you more than double for an ad spot during the Giants/Pats game, which about 70% of America won't be able to see. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

What is going on with the Blazers? They be on fire, son. [The Pig Pen]

The Wizards assistant coaches lace 'em up. [Scott Van Pelt Style]

The Pro Bowl is lame. [Rumors and Rants]

God lord, Peter Puck is back after a 28-year absence. [Going Five Hole]

Will the Dodgers' new Japanese import be as bad as Kei Igawa was for the Yanks? [All on the Field]

-WCK

Tuesday links

That Peterson kid can really play.

On to the links.

Elijah Dukes is in trouble again, dawg. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

NOIS supports the fine on the Falcons who celebrated with the Free Mike Vick shirt. [NOIS]

The Rockets sing Christmas carols. [Deuce of Davenport]

Watching the Giants is like business travel. It sucks. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

The Florida basketball team is filled with guys you've never heard of, but they're good. [Storming the Floor]

Kind of a bad week for the Cowboys. [The Pig Pen]

There will be much fewer hot girls at Cubs games now. [Rumors and Rants]

Home Run Derby has an interesting plan to win the Blog of the Year Tournament. [Home Run Derby]

-WCK

Monday links

Here are the links.

The Miami game turned into a Heidi game in some areas. I'm surprised the game was even on TV, period. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

We are a #3 seed in someone's blog of the year tournament. But it's done by votes and we're up against the The 700 Level. We're not sure we like our odds. [Busted Coverage]

Yep, more jock-straps of athletes are up on eBay. [Red Sox Monster]

Mike Vick's letter to the judge that didn't work real well. [Construda]

The West Virginia governor is mad. [Money Players]

That's more chest hair than I needed to see. [The Sports Hernia]

How well Japanese pitchers will do in MLB is difficult to gauge. [Ump Bump]

The many faces of Lefty. [Food Court Lunch]

Sports figures who resemble celebrities. [5 on Five]

Your weekly hockey recap. [Going Five Hole]

-WCK

Friday links

The Mitchell investigation is done. Now I have nothing to look forward to until Christmas.

The great photo above is courtesy of Pulled My Groin.

On to the links.

Allen Iverson on OJ Simpson. This should be entertaining. [Scott Van Pelt Style]

Scot Pollard finds an interesting way to hurt himself. [Construda]

See the actual checks - signed by incredibly stupid Major Leaguers - that helped the Mitchell investigation. [Lion in Oil]

You can't FireKennyWilliams.com because MLB owns it. [Home Run Derby]

God apparently didn't approve of former Heisman candidate Casey Weldon coaching a high school football team. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The largest fantasy sports payout ever is in...fantasy fishing? What the hell? [Deuce of Davenport]

A Maryland basketball player has the weirdest facial hair I've ever seen. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Have you ever pulled a "Petrino?" [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

-WCK

Thursday links

Am I excited about the Mitchell Report? Sure, to a degree. It'll be interesting to learn who was in all likelihood using performance-enhancing drugs. But since I'm guessing most of this report hinges on the testimony of that felonious Mets bat boy, I guess I'll always be slightly skeptical of the released names.

On to the links.

'Twas the night before the Mitchell Report, or I guess now it's today, uh whatever. Just read it, it's good. [Deuce of Davenport]

A very interesting look at the Black Sox scandal in comparison to the steroids scandal. [Ump Bump]

The Redskins Chris Cooley, I shit you not, had a deuce-related injury. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Ocho Cinco has some nice things to say about the only guy who's had a good year for my 49ers - Patrick Willis. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The Falcons will win the Super Bowl before Arkansas wins the SEC. I actually think neither of those two scenarios will ever happen, but that's just me. [Five on 5]

NOIS tackles Petrino. [NOIS]

NBA team logos have changed quite a bit over the years, and not always for the better. [The Pig Pen]

This should be tasty, the Fred Smoot sports bar. [DC Sports Bog]

Dat Nguyen did pretty well for himself. [Uwe Blog]

-WCK

Wednesday links

I really wanted to post on that kid who's related to Davy Crockett that bagged the black bear, but it swept across the blogosphere like wildfire yesterday. Although I'd still like to say I particularly enjoyed this classic quote: "His 10th great-grandfather was Davy Crockett, and Davy supposedly killed him a bear when he was three."

I reckon he dun killed that bear good.

By the way, this kid learned how to fire a gun when he was 2. Is that even legal? We have the Tiger Woods of hunting on our hands people.

On to the links.

I am psyched about the soon to be released Mitchell Report. Mr. Underhill is not, but for good reasons. [I'm Writing Sports]

This is a pretty interesting site. You can go and see what the likelyhood of your NFL team making the playoffs is. For my 49ers, it's -893%. [Sports Club Stats]

Joe "Super Hairy Guy" Namath finally graduates from 'Bama. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Which Hoosier hero is in worse shape: Isiah or Cam Cameron? Man, that's tough. [Rumors and Rants]

Nothing can stop Fred Smoot, and he also has his own candy bar. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Petrino joins the Lou Holtz Club. [Deuce of Davenport]

A call to free Vick, but for different reasons than you'd think. [Crashburn Alley]

Vote for who you think should make the MLB Hall of Fame out of guys who aren't in, but maybe should be in. By the way, vote for Shoeless Joe. [Ump Bump]

It's going to be a rough time for the Jets this weekend. [Throwing Into Traffic]

I had no idea there was a video game called Ninja Golf. It looks awesome. [I-Mockery]

-WCK

Tuesday links

So, 23 months it'll be for Vick. Or I guess less than that if he's good. He'll be back in the NFL some day. No question. Here's a detailed article about the sentencing by the main reporter who covered Vick for the AJC.

On to the links.

MBSR has the inside scoop on how the early filming for American Gladiators has gone. Torn ACLs and broken legs galore! I'm so psyched for this show. [My Brain Says Rage]

Roddy White is still backing Mike Vick. [Brahsome]

How to grab your crotch like an MLB pro. [Home Run Derby]

Jason Whitlock: prognosticator. [Food Court Lunch]

Jeff Fischer ordered a code red on Shawne Merriman. [Rumors and Rants]

That dude that gauranteed the Steelers win over the Pats and subsequently got burned multiple times, he's still talking. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Al Sharpton could cost Chicago the Olympics. [All on the Field]

The great Jonathan Ogden is a dancing machine. [Deuce of Davenport]

Michigan's coaching wish list. [The World of Isaac]

-WCK

Monday links

If you ask me, Michael Vick is in for a rude awakening today. The judge that's going to be sentencing him today is the kind of guy who would give Vick the chair if he could. Check out this article about the judge written by ESPN's Lester Munson, who taught a class I once took. Munson knows the legal system cold since he was an attorney for 15 years before he went into sports reporting. And he knows an awful lot about this judge. It's likely going to be a rough day for Vick.

On to the links.

Mayweather had quite the entourage Saturday night. [Larry Brown Sports]

BCS bowl teams as gangs from The Warriors. [The Grand National Championships]

The man most worried about the Mitchell Report: David Eckstein. [Food Court Lunch]

Breaking down the new American Gladiators. [My Brain Says Rage]

Your record is Antoine Walker's fault Minnesota, just like it always is. [The Pig Pen]

Some craptacular NFL Christmas junk. [Deuce of Davenport]

Hochuli actually wore long sleeves this weekend. Never thought I'd see the day. [The Sports Hernia]

College football coaches are the real free agents. [Money Players]

This may be fake (I think), but it provides a valuable lesson nonetheless. [Red Sox Monster]

-WCK

Friday links

The interwebs tell me that the Redskins won last night's game that I couldn't watch. So no repeat Super Bowl trip for the Bears. Aside from those Bills team, this marks about the 473rd time that the Super Bowl loser didn't even make the playoffs the next year. The game also primarily featured two backups, because Campbell and Grossman appear to have suffered bad injuries - at least that's what AP tells me. No more Rex? Might as well just put Devin Hester at QB now.


So who's Michigan looking at now? [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The most hateable guys in the NFL. [Rumors and Rants]

A requiem for Jason Cambell's season. [Mr. Irrelevant]

ESPN leaks an ad involving Richard Simmons. [Awful Announcing]

Apparently it's a tough time for the Cardinals. Speaking as a Giants fan, I think this is a bit of an overreaction. [I'm Writing Sports]

-WCK

Thursday "Wie want pizza" links

I randomly stumbled upon Michelle Wie last night at the California Pizza Kitchen in Palo Alto. She was having dinner with some guy who wasn't Tony Romo so this story really has no merit whatsoever. But whatever, it's a slow day and that's all I got.

On to the links.

This is why sports are fun. I thought the Dodgers signing Andruw Jones was ridiculous, but our bud Larry Brown thinks otherwise. [Larry Brown Sports]

This might stop USC from trying to move from the Coliseum to the Rose Bowl next year: death threats. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Only Steve McNair could rival Evel Knievel in injuries. [Deuce of Davenport]

Caron Butler used to pound the Mountain Dews. [DC Sports Bog]

Sports movies never get any Oscar love. [Rumors and Rants]

Fred Taylor, not a fan of Reggie Bush. [Larry Brown Sports]

MBSR on the Cabrera/Willis deal. [My Brain Says Rage]

It's fat guy throwdown time. Bay Area (Vallejo!) product Sabathia v. Colon. [Home Run Derby]

A look back Julian Tavarez's, uh, unbalanced demeanor. [Red Sox Monstah]

-WCK

Wednesday links

Mmmmm...forbidden baseball.

I'm glad to see that the The New Evil Empire won't just be able to waltz their way to another World Series next year. Getting Cabrera and Willis is definitely going to help Detroit. Of course, we have to wait about 5 years to see who got the better end of this deal, but it seems like a steal on paper. That's because prospects you can never be 100% sure about, because some guys just never make it once they hit the majors for whatever reason. But what was I expecting - Florida to try and get equal value? When have they ever unloaded all their players looking to get equal value? Never. And just for the record, Cabrera is ridiculously fat.

On to the links.

Detroit is kind of happy about this trade. [The World of Isaac]

Apparently that wasn't John Maine who wanted to try on a woman's dress, but an imposter. [NY Daily News]

Somebody has Tebow-like stats, and it ain't Tebow. Give that mystery man the Heisman. [NOIS]

John Lester is the next Casey Fossum. Who's Casey Fossum? Exactly. [Larry Brown Sports]

A look at some of America's current worst sports cities. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

The worst timeouts ever, plus Sinbad as a condom. [Food Court Lunch]

The unseen dialogues of pro football. [Throwing into Traffic]

Kirk Herbstreit, not a fan of reporting. [Construda]

But who knows, maybe Miles will still go to Michigan. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

It's time for Hawaii to secede. [Rumors and Rants]

About that "boy" comment directed at Samari Rolle. [5 on Five]

-WCK

Tuesday links

I was going to write a serious post on the Pats/Ravens game, but whatever, everyone will be doing that today. Besides, the game just proved what we already know. The Pats are beatable and you can do it by controlling the clock with a great running game (Ravens), carving them up with 10-20 yard dig routes or ins (Eagles), or having a great 4-man pass rush (Colts). Problem is that no one has been able to do either of these 3 things for a complete 60 minutes. The Ravens came the closest, and had they not called a timeout on that critical 4th down, or had the Pats not hopped offsides the play after it, the Ravens would have won the game. The Patriots also can't be pleased with their defense. Two mediocre offensive teams - and two not so great QBs - have lit them up the last two weeks. The reason the Pats D looked so much better earlier this year was because their offense was scoring so many points and creating such huge leads. It's not hard to play defense when you're up by 30 and you know the other team has to pass every time.

On to the links.

Stephen A. Smith hates on bloggers. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Mercury Morris continues to be a huge jackass when it comes to New England potentially going 16-0. [Construda]

A look at the best steals ever in the Rule 5 draft, including Johan Santana and Roberto Clemente. [Home Run Derby]

Don Imus is back, and he has some friends. [NOIS]

There are some weird bowl games out there. [The Pig Pen]

Finally, the Grand Slam of curling is hitting the big time. [Lion in Oil]

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo don't look real happy here. [Deuce of Davenport]

What's the better fit for Santana? NYC or Beantown? [I'm Writing Sports]

-WCK