No hyberbole. This was the funniest movie I’ve seen in a theatre since Old School (not to be all up in Todd Phillips’ – director of both – jock).

In terms of Power Ranking the cast, Ed Helm’s (The Office, SNL) is definitely overshadowed by Bradley Cooper. And both are left to bow in the wake of Zach Galifianakis – who owes us an explanation for a certain something that happened in the credits. But I got to hand it to Helms. He held his own as the wimpy guy in the crew, who is not all gutless and annoying (anyone disagree?) Check out Helms’ here flexing the golden pipes during the we need a montage moment of the movie (apologies for the promotional nature of this particular video)…

That’s but one iota of the knock down, drag out hilarity. Don’t take my word for it, check out this post from Deadline Hollywod on how The Hangover was Made (H/T to Pop Candy for that link). Or better yet, don’t ask questions and just go see the movie.

If you had Australian Rugby in the “First Sport to get Swine Flu” pool…well, shame on you and your epidemic wagering ways.

Degenerate gambling humor aside, two players were forced to sit out an Australian rugby league match today and at least nine others were quarantined after a player tested positive for swine flu.

Gold Coast forward Ashley Harrison and St George Illawarra winger Darius Boyd were pulled from Monday’s NRL match on the Gold Coast as swine flu concerns gripped the league.

They were the only two players from the Gold Coast and St George Illawarra teams who were in camp with Queensland for last Wednesday’s State of Origin match. Bulldogs forward Ben Hannant, who was part of that Queensland team, remains the only confirmed swine flu case in the NRL.

All members of the Queensland Origin team have been placed in quarantine and will remain so for a further 72 hours unless otherwise directed by health officials (Swine flu fears lead to 11 players pulling out of Australian rugby match).

In vastly less important news, the Sydney Bulldogs won the match 28-18.

The Guardian reports that over the weekend the number of confirmed swine flu cases in Australia rose to over 1000 – tripling in the past week! Other teams- specifically, those with players who took part in the State of Origin game as teammate of Hannant – are taking similar precautions.

Hannant told the Melbourne Herald Sun that he is feeling better and expect to join the team tomorrow at the latest, and be ready to play on Friday.

Getting outta here a little early today. But before I go, a little unfinished business to attend to. Specifically, honoring the poll winner of our Top-5 Conan O’brien Sports Figure Look-alikes.

With 30% of the popular vote (235), Lil’ Red, the Nebraska Cornhusker mascot, takes the title! A would-be dark horse, polo enthusiast Prince Harry Windsor (182 votes) narrowly edged Vancouver Canuck farm-club goalie Corey Schneider (178 votes). Thanks to all 773 of you for voting!

Now check out some photos of Conan and his new likeness…

His next courtside seat might be in-between Nicholson and that weird Adler guy, because Lil Wayne love, love, loves Kobe. His new song, aptly titled “Kobe Bryant” opens…

Kobe doing work.
2-4 on my shirt
he the greatest on the court
and I’m the greatest on the verse.
Going for the fourth ring
like it was his first.
Gotta get the gleam, do it for Kareem!

Check out the full song…

H/T to Nah Right for the first post – go here to download.

vitaminwater’s commercial for the NBA Finals…

That Dwight Howard is one hell of a drug.


@dwighthoward posted it on his blog too asking if you could name the impersonations. Other than when he imitates the Lebron explosion of talcum, I for one can not name any of the other impersonations. (More dunks than a donut shop – Stan Van Gundy?)

Danica “Go to GoDaddy.com to see more (wink, wink)” Patrick’s moral compass is being questioned after her comments revealed her seemingly blase attitude towards performance enhancing drug use in sports.

In an interview published in this week’s SI, Dan Patrick asked Danica Patrick: Would she take performance-enhancing drugs if she would not get caught and it would lead to her winning the Indianapolis 500? To which she responded,

“Well, then it’s not cheating, is it? If nobody finds out?”

Danica also yapped about how Motorsports in general, dare I say, embodies deceit?

“It would be like finding a gray area. In motorsports, we work in gray areas a lot. You’re trying to find where the holes are in the rule book.”

Here’s hoping Danica stays off the drive-200-mph-more-angry juice and sticks to tweaking her catylitic converter to get that edge.

Danica Patrick says what every pro athlete is thinking: It’s not cheating if no one finds out (FAN IQ)
Danica Patrick ~ Would Cheat if She Wouldn’t Get Caught (BobsBlitz)