Some local high dam kayakers hit the Llyn Brianne Reservoir in Carmarthenshire, UK recently, so they could load themselves into their canoes and plunge 300 ft. down a dam, landing softly in a tranquil pool below (of what looks like level-3 rapids, maybe?)

The BBC cut out all the talky-talk, and just gave us the report on this foolishness in pictures.

Stick the landing! Stick it….ooohh

Caption on that one reads, One of the kayakers has a rough landing at the valley floor.

Welsh Water, the owner of the reservoir site, of course neither recommends nor condones this.

“Reservoirs can be dangerous for various reasons and those involved in water sports in inappropriate locations, such as at Llyn Brianne, put themselves and others at unnecessary risk,” said a spokesman for Welsh.

Damn extremists. (Ho! See what I did there?)

The BBC has the video for you here.

The Gotham Girls of NYC are your 2008 WFTDA Women’s National Roller Derby Champions. Gotham went into the tournament (held in Portland, OR) the #1 overall seed and overwhelming favorite, and lived up to expectation as they took home the trophy – known as The Hydra.

Gotham absolutely tattooed the second seeded Windy City Roller Girls, from Chicago, in the Championship Match, with a final score of 134-56. You can check out a live-chat blog that took place during the Finals Sunday on DerbyNewsNetwork.com.

The finals was a rematch of the Eastern Regional Championship, where Gotham narrowly edged Windy City by 40 points. In Sunday’s confrontation, GGRD went down 0-4 in the first period – their first deficit of the tournament – before they steamrolled their adversaries from Chicago.

Windy City’s lead jammer Kola Loka was the fan favorite for tourney MVP, getting 38% of the vote online.

The Philly Roller Girls took third place at Nationals, defeating Western Region Champion Texas in the third place grudge match.

If anyone has photo or video content from the Championship, please send my way. Meanwhile, check out some stuff below from your 2008 supreme derby champs from NYC….

(more…)

The people have spoken, and an overwhelming majority (45%) believe that Johnny Depp would be best served portraying Al Davis if he chose to delve into the sports biopic genre of cinema. (good call by Isaac on the submission)

Goodman as Madden. The dude whose playing Biggie Smalls in Notorious as Art Shell. Let’s get this thing greenlit!

Feel free to make other casting suggestions in the comments. Thanks to everyone who submitted and voted in the poll, be on the lookout for another on Friday!

Hollywood’s Top Up and Coming Actresses (Gunaxin)
If Sports Blogs were Chicks… (The Sports Dollar)
Holtz Quits ESPN, Replaces Col. Klink at Stalag 13 (Moondog Sports)
The Roots To Be Jimmy Fallon’s Band; We Are Old And Sad (via Pop Candy)
Obama Declares War on the BCS (Intentional Foul)

The New York Times posted a video report on the high school rugby team that has been called the Real All Blacks.

The team from the Hyde School, in D.C., was the first all-African American high school rugby team in the country, and remains one of the only inner city programs that exists.

The team went 0-12 their first year, and in the last four, Hyde has gone undefeated in 7-man play. They have even had one of their original members go on to represent the U.S. on the National team. And each player who completed the rugby program has gone on to college.

Check out two more news reports here from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Co.) and TV NZ….

NRA Protesting Treatment of Brett Favre (NE Patriots Draft)
Obama Could Have Basketball Court Built at White House (Associated Press)
NFL iPhone App Not Happening, Says The NFL (Alley Insider)
16-0, 0-16 Both Still Alive and Well (The Big Lead)
Will Matt Cassel Fetch $10 Million A Year? (Deadspin)

I’ve long been campaigning (lamenting to people with no authority or pull, whatsoever) in favor of the four-day work week. It obviously hasn’t happened…yet.

In the interest of idealists nationwide, each Friday I’m going to draft a list of how I could be better spending my time if I wasn’t confined to the office.

Because I am nothing, if not overly productive, during freedom time.

Inquire about this young lady’s Stairmaster routine

Look into becoming a Minister of Sport

Let Giada teach me (I’m referring to teaching me the art of Tuscan cuisine, of course)

Sell Lebron my dad’s Barry Manilow collection

Find girls who like Guitar Hero. And look like these.

Claim a portion of a sports franchise’s windfall profits (sweet payout)

Show up at the Philly tailgate, and compete in (dominate) the beer joust (just be on the lookout for the bafooniest group of mongoloids in the parking lot)

Somehow, acquire a free subscription to Wizard Magazine

Price Rorschach trenches

Put drift tires on the old…ok, you found me out, I don’t own a car

Walk around France (Lower East Side) beating on stuff with drum sticks (Man Man is a stupendous band!)

Pick up some Vicktory Dogs vino for my next suaree (of warehouse, back alley cocktail affair)

Tweet @ShaquilleOneal quotes from Kazaam

Tune-in (online) to the Roller Derby Nationals!

Stage a protest (a hostile one, if possible) against the S.C.A. (Society for Creative Anachronism – how much douchier can you get?!)

Get the Phil Spector doo

And finally, test my luck in the Urban Rodeo (sadly, these guys are a walking argument for why it’s a good thing we’re all stuck at work today)

So there you have it, some activities to consider. You’ll probably just end up creating a spoof profile on J-Date. (That you’ll actually check regularly).

I’d put Johnny Depp in the top-10 actors of his generation. The guy has come a long way from playing Officer Tom Hanson on 21 Jump Street (that dangling earring. regrettable for Depp, I’m sure), and has shown versatility and longevity on the silver screen. However, when it comes to playing crazy people, Depp is in a class unto himself. Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Ichabod Crane, Ed Wood, Ed Scissorhands – all certifiable. You give him a character with any sort of twitch, and Depp will give a smashing performance. Looking back, he’s been a rum swigging swashbuckler, a opium induced inspector (don’t see From Hell if you can help it), a slasher barber – it makes me wonder, why should sports star be the exception?

Hence, that is why I posed the question to sports blog intelligentsia: Which Athlete Should Johnny Depp Play in a Movie?

The creme appears below, with a poll daddy guy at the bottom for you to cast a vote. Anyone interested in participating in one of my weekly polling exercise, email me here.

My personal submission for this: McEnroe. The film will span Johnny Mac’s entire career, and then some – ending with that awkward hug he gave Federer after he lost Wimbledon last year. Federer will be played by the kid from that Twilight thing or somebody, BUT, more importantly Rafa will be played by Benicio, and the deleted scenes will include Depp and him driving through the desert in a ballbuster on the way to Vegas, hyped on mescaline.

…And just because they already made that movie, doesn’t mean we can’t do it again, because McEnroe actually did stuff like this. Now he just makes totally ridiculous commercials…

Here’s the best of the rest…

(more…)

Shared with everyone earlier in the week that The Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association National Championships are happening this weekend in Portland. (Also known as the Northwest Knockdown!)

If you are at all intrigued, I suggest you log-on to Derby News Network, who will be streaming live tournament action. The bouts kick-off tomorrow, at 6:30 p.m. EST.

Now, here’s a photo preview of what to look out for during Hell on Wheels culminating event of the year….

(more…)

I don’t like it anymore than you do, but let’s be honest, cold, blustery, wintery weather is imminent. Taking the bad with the good, Metro printed a round-up this morning of exotic ski locations for winter sport enthusiasts to check out this winter. Making the list, Lecht Ski Resort in the Eastern Cairngorms of Scotland – where people apparently snowboard in kilts…

If this is what you’re looking for (you crazy kook), I suggest you check out sportkilt.com – your one stop shop for the kilt to fit whatever athletic pursuit you desire to perform while skirting it up. Here are a few of the styles available…

The classic Sport Kilt (or the MacVersatile)

The Commando (it’s Khaki!)

The hiking kilt (might get you goosed)

The Women’s Sport Kilt (popular amongst fem-ruggers across the Isle of Haggis!)

The Ballad Of Kerry Collins (Tirico Suave)
THE TOP 10 REASONS WHY BALL STATE DESERVES TO BE IN THE BCS (The World of Isaac)
The NBA Hierarchy (The Sports Lounge)
T-Roc’s Week 12 College Football picks (Cuzoogle)
Spin.com Exclusive Stream: 16-Song Cure Tribute Album (via Pop Candy)

Unlike this guy, Natalie Gulbis doesn’t have five career hole-in-ones (she has two), but, to borrow a line from the incomparable Mitch Hedberg, she did “hit a guy.”

(via Fandome)

Gulbis showing her vindictive side with that whole, “five bucks if I hit him?” line. Hot.

Champions Tour wins Three-Tour Challenge (Times of the Internet)
TV On The Radio Visit Jay Leno (Stereogum)
BCS Doesn’t Suck For SEC, Big 12 (Moondog Sports)
Falcons thriving after extreme makeover (Fox Sports)
Anthony Kiedis’ rock memoir heading to HBO (via Pop Candy)
You’re With Me, Double-Breasted Suit (Mister Irrelevant)

Johnny Depp has made a decent living (a killing, in fact) playing crazy folk. From Edward Scissorhands to Ichabod Crane. Hunter S. Thompson to Jack Sparrow . Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, Ed Wood. He’s even currently shooting to be The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. You reveal the slightest inkling of idiosyncracy, and Depp hits it out of the park.

When we’re talking about nutty characters, sports personalities are far from the exemption. With that said,

WHICH ATHLETE’S BIOPIC WOULD YOU LIKE JOHNNY DEPP TO STAR IN?

Email me your suggestions, and feel free to elaborate in length. All content will be posted with links on Friday morning.