Mostly posting this to remind everyone that Andy Gray is killin’ it with the SI Vault Twitter. If you’re not following, you’re missing out on an epic stream of classic sports content from the Sports Illustrated photo, er…vault.
Interesting read in the Anchorage Daily-News about the new drug testing policies the Iditarod will be instituting in 2010. Read on to hear what three-time champion and medical marijuana user Lance Mackey has to say about the matter (“I’m going to pee in their little cup, and laugh in their face.”)
In May, the Iditarod Trail Committee voted to expand Rule 29 (“Use of Drugs and Alcohol”). And now, racers may find themselves being tested at checkpoints during the 10-day, 1100 mile race. The vote passed with only two board members John Handeland and Jim Palin voting no to drug tests.
It begs the question, is Jim Palin who I think he is?
Father of Todd, a snow mobile champion in his own right. Grandfather of Bristol, Trig, etc. Would-be Grandfather-in-law of Levi. And Father-in-law of you know who?
I looked online for hard evidence – even emailing a blogger who covered the drug testing story – but am yet to confirm. But how many Jim Palin’s hailing from Wasilla, AK could there be?
I need to know if this is the Jim Palin, because if that dude voted against drug testing in dog sled racing and it goes mostly unknown, that would be a tragedy.
She’ll host/ judge/ ruin this new reality show about the Iditarod, and, boom, six months from now – the White Oprah! (Tip of the hat to J Dot Domingo, who’s actually predicting this White Oprah outcome, he’s probably kidding)
It indeed flew under my radar that the Discovery Channel was airing a new show this Fall about the 1,000+ mile Alaskan sled dog race, called “Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod“, which premiered on 10/14 and airs every Friday, at 8 p.m. Check out the trailer:
Since this series is apparently baked, I’m thinking as a follow-up: “America’s Next Top Musher”, hosted by Palin, featuring a cast of characters resembling the usual cast of reality show characters. (what’s Bonaduce been up to, anyway?)
And, boom, a year from now you can rest assured that Sarah Palin is preoccupied folksin’ around in Alaska with a bunch of VH1 producers, and has all but abandoned blind political ambitions.
Not the creme brulee (Tina, of course) of Sarah Palin mockeries, but Thandie Newton is nice to look at, and she’s trying.
The subtext to these Brits reading a scene from a porno about Sarah Palin – somebody (an American, that you’ve heard of) hates Sarah Palin that much that he made a porno to spite her!
After the rip-roaring success of the politically charged Great “Bailouts” in Sports History, I decided to go back to the well and poll the sports blogging intelligentsia on issues quasi-related to Decision ’08. This week’s topic:
BEST SPORTS PLATFORMS FOR THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
It may seem a little (or entirely) taboo right now, given the economic ground and pound, however, I’ll point to a story in this week’s New Yorker by Peter Boyer (The Appalachian Problem) on Obama’s campaigning in Appalachia, in an attempt to siphon votes away from McCain and take the state of West Virginia . Boyer brings up former Democratic Governor Mark Warner, who fought an uphill battle to get into office, and repaid the voters of the region by getting Virginia Tech into the ACC. Since VT joined the conference, their men’s basketball team earned its first NCAA Tournament berth, and the football team was able to expand Lane Stadium. All the while, creating heightened interest in V-Tech sports in and around the region – translating into additional revenue, not to mention jobs, in the state.
In the same light, I’m suggesting Obama vow to get Memphis out of Conference U.S.A, to appeal to the economically liberal, socially conservative voters of Tennessee. (And Alabama’s UAB faithful.)
If he so chose, he could mix in some lackadaisical foreign policy while catering to the Memphis populus – who can see Germantown from their houses (nod to Scott from WaitingForNextYear.com for that one!)
Here are some other campaign promises the sports blogosphere would like to hear coming out of the political arena in the final month of the race. And Since Obama and McCain already downplayed anti-steroids legislation (thanks Phil, from CheatorBeat, for that), they could use something to get sports fans going…
“[The candidates] should focus their campaign on adopting the ‘Francesca Football Plan’ which involves replacing the final two NFL exhibition games with regular season games. This plan, which I first heard mentioned by WFAN Legend (in his own mind) Mike Francesca, would expand the NFL regular season to 18 total games and in doing so would push the SuperBowl back two weeks to the Sunday just prior to Presidents Day. This would create an official, govt. sanctioned three-day SuperBowl Holiday weekend and subsequently do away with the most ‘called-out’ workday of the year.” (Chris “Shorty” Smith, BadChoiceMilk)
The incremental plan to increase the amount of football is as brilliant as Francesca is insufferable.
Have you seen the Mike Francesca Show? Who in their right mind would watch that one gurgle for a half-hour late Sunday night when you’re faded from a full-day of football?
Jimmy Traina from SI.com has a simpler suggestion for how our chief commander could improve the NFL: “Whoever is elected president needs to make the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday”
The Super Bowl is already a well established, polished glutton fest. But this would set off a spending spree that would rival black friday. It would all be contained to beer and protein, but still. (plus I think I’d like to live in country where those things helped drive the economy). The real benefit, however, is the money saved by companies closing on a clear no-work work day.
Bares mentioning that I’m actively looking for a politician to run for office on the four-day work week platform. The Super Bowl holiday could seamlessly be included as buffer.
NBA blogger Trey Kerby (The Blowtorch) would like your candidates to abolish the shooting game at the All-Star Game, and mandate a one-on-one tournament.
The score of last year’s All-Star game was 134-128 – 260 points, yet almost an unwatchable game. It’s a combined point total that’s only rival is that of the Dow Jones Industrial losses over the last week. What do they have in common? Both are pretty boring to follow, yet there is undeniably something wrong happening.
Forget NBA All-Star regulation though, what we need is NBA relegation. I’d like to see the president vow to protect against lame duck teams who mail in the end of the year so they have 25% chance of getting the #1 pick in the lottery. You tank, congratulations, welcome to the D-League. Have fun spending a year throttling post-pubescant 19-year olds (that run, and run, and run) in Sioux Falls for a year.
Here are some additional ideas to get people flocking to the polls:
Here’s a thought – make instant replay mandatory in every sport. Everything is reviewable, especially missed calls. (Moon Dog Sports)
“There needs to be a plus one system playoff for D1 college football. The top 4 play and the winners play in a final game. This will keep the pundits happy that still want to keep the smaller bowls, and it will still allow for a lot of pork barrel spending at the AT&T Cotton Bowl, AutoZone, Liberty Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Brut Sun Bowl, Capital One Bowl,Champs Sports Bowl…” (Ethan Jaynes, NESW Sports)
…etc., etc., etc., etc. (great ref. to pork barrel spending!)
“Being that Ohio is a battleground state, Obama should campaign to get better coaching for the bengals and browns. I’d say the same about michigan…but mccain’s already conceded it and the lions are a lost cause anyway.” (Dan, InGameNow)
Swing states are going to make or break this election, and both candidates have already vowed to examine and take down programs that aren’t working (I think they were mainly talking about government bureaucracy, however.)
Do your civic duty, and vote for the platform that will get our presidential candidates your vote on November 4:
He doesn’t sound all in, but a recent blog post by Doyle Brunson, poker’s most legendary maverick , on Doyle’s Room makes him seem to be leaning towards McCain:
“It’s hard to believe, but McCain has taken the lead in the Presidential race. They rolled the dice when they chose Governor Palin to run for Vice-President and they threw a seven, because she really turned things around for the Republicans.”
Brunson then continued: “It’s hard not to be in McCain’s camp after listening to his life story. He really is an American hero. I’m not sure either Presidential candidate is the right person to lead our country over the next few years.” (via 911gambling.com)
Brunson had initially said he’d be voting Democrat for the first time in his life this election.
In a survey of 1639 American Poker players, Yahoo! Sports UK reports that 64% support Obama over McCain, who both are apparently proficient poker players in their own right. Sarah Palin has also been known to play a few hands. However, the trump card (not to mix bad gambling puns, or nothing) goes to Joe Biden, whose son, according to 911Gambling, was a lobbyist for online gambling site PartyGaming.
If the most recently proposed $700 billion bailout goes through, if and when Obama gets elected it sounds like he might be playing short stacked, concerning his spending programs.
