January 2010
“People are going to judge you. They threw rocks at Jesus. So what do you think they’re going to do to me?”
—Stephen Jackson (via sportscentr)
Fan, friends connected with Ochocinco
“Ochocinco has more than a half-million followers on the social-networking Web site, which has helped him build a brand beyond being an NFL wide receiver. While scanning his Twitter feed, Ochocinco spotted a message from Stivers that read: @ogochocinco @the_man_CK was buried today with your jersey! A great person was laid to rest today. His memory will always be alive! RIP CK
Less than five minutes after Stivers posted the message, he saw a return message that made his jaw drop and tears start to stream. Ochocinco had a message for Chris Kernich: @the_man_CK bruh I love you man, RIP, you’ll never be forgotten, I’m playing for you tomorrow”
Ex-NBA player rips Haiti, compares country to 'homeless men'
“Paul Shirley has probably become public enemy No. 1 in Haiti and elsewhere.
The former NBA player posted a long column online in response to the earthquake disaster in Haiti in which he criticized Haitian citizens and said he won’t donate to relief efforts.
“I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don’t give money to homeless men on the street,” he wrote. “Based on past experiences, I don’t think the guy with the sign that reads ‘Need You’re Help’ is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don’t think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either.”
And he didn’t stop there, even writing a letter to the people of Haiti.
“Dear Haitians,” he wrote, “First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.
“As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?”
He also asked what’s being done to prevent this tragedy from happening again, using New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina as an example.
“We did the same after Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “We were quick to vilify humans who were too slow to respond to the needs of victims, forgetting that the victims had built and maintained a major city below sea level in a known target zone for hurricanes. Our response: Make the same mistake again. Rebuild a doomed city, putting aside logic as we did.”
Shirley has been dropped as a freelance writer for ESPN for his comments on Haiti.”
Paul, let me give you some advice, one sports blogger to another. It’s the secret to succeeding in sports blogging. TALK ABOUT SPORTS. Of course, you won’t be blogging at all now, at least not for ESPN, since they fired you after this.
If you don’t want to donate, that’s one thing, but don’t attack the people in need. This was so classless. Since you won’t be blogging anymore, you should at least spend your time hanging “missing” signs up around town, looking to find your lost career.
Reasons to watch the Winter Olympics
#2: Finnish figure skater Kiira Korpi
NBA Trade Rumors.
So I read some trade rumors about the Warriors putting a package together, including Monty Ellis, to get Ray Allen. I also read one about the Bulls trying to get Amare for a Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich (or Lou Deng). So I hit the NBA Trade Machine to find some deal that would make sense. Money-wise all these deals work.
Listen
Best moment of the day so far comes from Joe Buck: “Favre still smiling… and he’s picked off!”
ECU hires former Texas Tech assistant Ruffin McNeill →
sports.espn.go.com
Being from eastern NC, and a soon-to-be ECU student, I really love this hire. Holtz leaving was a huge disappointment, but not a surprise at all in my opinion. He did so much with so little here, and I’m grateful that he made a stop in little, old Greenville, NC on his way to what will most definitely be a successful career.
On McNeill, I heard some more attractive names thrown out in the days after Skippy left, but it became apparent pretty quickly we wouldn’t get any of them because of how long the search took. However, I was impressed with the way McNeill was able to rally Tech and beat a good Michigan State team amid all the Mike Leach controversy. It doesn’t hurt that he seems to be an extremely likable guy and “country as an egg” either. I think he’ll fit in here and look forward to seeing where he can take the program.
You just lose Mo Williams on your fantasy team for a month?
Here are some point guards that are owned in under 50% of ESPN leagues that you could pick up to hold you over until he gets back.
All these numbers are based on the last 15 days.
