Sports in Stilettos

If you hate T.Swift or cheerleaders in bikinis, don’t...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:13:38 -0400

If you hate T.Swift or cheerleaders in bikinis, don’t watch.

Would’ve been nice if they’d been actually riding around in the back of the pickup truck instead of just hanging out the window while it was parked, though. AND I personally think it was a major fail not to have more of the muddy cheerleader on the four-wheeler — would’ve been a much better way to end it than the chick kissing the alligator. I mean, really.

I think I need a new career in cheerleader cinematography.

via Model claims she ‘spent the night’ at Katherine...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:19:35 -0400

via Model claims she ‘spent the night’ at Katherine Webb’s boyfriend A.J. McCarron’s home | Mail Online

Okay, look. Spending the night at someone’s house to avoid driving while intoxicated is what you’re supposed to do, even if the person you’re crashing with has a significant other, even if you used to date that person. Seriously, if that’s what has to happen to avoid driving under the influence and putting your life and the lives of others at risk, do it.

But don’t talk about it. Don’t tell the Daily Mail of all places, and don’t say things like “I’m trying to be careful about what I say because I feel really bad” because no you do not, sister.

If Miss Margaret Wood was really trying to be careful about it, she wouldn’t have taken it to the press in the first place. (How else did a UK tabloid found out?) Sleep on the couch, catch your flight the next day, move on.

Being safe and staying off the roads is admirable, but if that was her reason for staying, why is this a story? Because she chose to tell the world she stayed the night with a guy who is very publicly in a relationship. That’s not doing the right thing; that’s being an attention whore.

But her Twitter followers probably already knew that.

If Nathan Tilford goes from being a highly-rated incoming high...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:45:21 -0400

If Nathan Tilford goes from being a highly-rated incoming high school prospect to a top college prospect, and if he honors his verbal commitment to the Trojans in 2017 when it actually counts, and if Lane Kiffin is still at USC to see it and benefit from it, then his grin in this photo will be totally justified.

That’s a lot of IFs to sort out but, you know, we have four years, because the kid’s not even in high school yet.

Read my take: College Football Recruiting: Eighth-Grader Verbally Commits to USC

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 91 Maryland...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:00:12 -0400

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 91 Maryland Terrapins

The 100 teams in 100 days series were some of my very first posts for Rant Sports last summer, and they were some of my favorites. Teams are so much more interesting to follow throughout the season when you’re so familiar with them and their individual issues.

I already follow Maryland (duh), so I was excited to snag the Terps for my first preview for this year’s countdown. Check it out!

Marqise Lee and the Top Pac-12 Wide Receivers in 2013 This...

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:00:12 -0400

Marqise Lee and the Top Pac-12 Wide Receivers in 2013

This list:

Is not comprehensive
Does not include tight ends even though there were two among the conference’s top 20 receivers last season
Does not include incoming freshmen (that will be another list)
Does not even include at least one player from each team
Took a solid 8-9 hours of my day/night that, frankly, I didn’t have, so please, please, please click here and check it out. There are pretty pictures. PLEASE

Will Pac-12 Football Championship Game Live Up to Prime Time TV...

Wed, 29 May 2013 23:30:53 -0400

Will Pac-12 Football Championship Game Live Up to Prime Time TV Spot?

The first two were better left in that Friday night spot on Fox. Saturday night on ESPN is the big-time (well, sort of. It’s opposite the SEC title game, so it’s only sort of big-time. You know how that goes.)

ANYWAY. Will this year’s game be ready for the spotlight? [Read the rest on Rant Sports]

College football programs in Oklahoma selling T-shirt for...

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:26:00 -0400

College football programs in Oklahoma selling T-shirt for tornado disaster relief | Campus Union - SI.com

There’s a lot to be said for just making a donation, giving just to give because you can and because it’s the right thing to do.

Still, there are ways to help support tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma and get a little something for yourself, too.

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa are all selling the OK TOGETHER shirts shown above on their team websites. It’s a great message (I have family ties to Oklahoma, and to both OU and OSU, so it definitely rings true for me) and all proceeds from the shirts go to United Way disaster relief efforts.

[Get one here. Or here. Or here.]

If you’re more the bling type than the t-shirt type, Dogeared is donating $5 from each State of Mind purchase between now and June 6 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The State of Mind collection features silver and gold necklaces of each state, and whether you pick up Oklahoma or a different state close to your heart, $5 still goes to a good cause.

(Yes, you could totally just make a donation, but if you’d been coveting a state-shaped necklace for awhile like I was, might as well put it in the shopping cart now, right? Especially with free shipping all weekend.)

UPDATED TO ADD: Kevin Durant and Nike are partnering up to send the profits from Oklahoma City KD V Elites purchased between now and 6/15 to Oklahoma relief efforts. They’re not stilettos, but if you get them before the cutoff, they’re 100% Sports in Stilettos approved.

If you’re looking for other ways to help the affected areas, NBC News has the rundown on the relief organizations working in the area and what they need, as well as their contact info. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for some tips to keep your personal and financial information and make sure your donation gets to a legitimate organization.

I want to hang out with Layla! Totally worth a trip to LA!...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:18 -0400

I want to hang out with Layla!

Totally worth a trip to LA! (Then again, a trip to Los Angeles is worth the trip on its own. But the chance to become BFFs with Layla Kiffin makes it even better.)

USC Trojans Football: Marqise Lee Moving to Defense? My latest...

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:57:40 -0400

USC Trojans Football: Marqise Lee Moving to Defense?

My latest for Rant Sports.

There’s been casual chatter about this since last season, but think about it. He started out in high school as a defender. Lane Kiffin said he could be a first-round pick playing defensive back.

What if he’s EVEN BETTER on defense than at WR? Whoa.

I’d be sad about David Beckham retiring except A) I rarely...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:51:04 -0400

I’d be sad about David Beckham retiring except A) I rarely watch soccer (or football, if you’re outside the U.S.) except during the World Cup and B) I’m 100% sure we’ll still get to see him in ads and photo shoots like this one. And let’s face it, in my world, that’s what matters.

Division III, where that whole student-athlete bit is for...

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:50:27 -0400

Division III, where that whole student-athlete bit is for real.

Washington College’s athletes are doing awesome things on and off the field this year. Go WAC! (My alma mater)

And congratulations to Tim Marcin for winning the largest undergraduate literary prize in the country. Details here

Washington State Cougars: Can QB Connor Halliday Keep His...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:23:17 -0400

Washington State Cougars: Can QB Connor Halliday Keep His Job?

My latest for Rant Sports. I was completely impressed by Halliday as a redshirt freshman emergency sub back in 2011. (A Pac-12 freshman record 4 TDs and 494 yards has that effect, I suppose.)

Now a redshirt junior, he still hasn’t reached his considerable potential. If he does, WSU football might jump right over “bearable” to actually fun to watch.

nhlbruins: Patrice Bergeron in the Player of the Game jacket,...

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:25:10 -0400

nhlbruins:

Patrice Bergeron in the Player of the Game jacket, after his series-clinching goal in OT #nhlbruins

I was working and missed the B’s big win :(

I am a total stan for McQuaid and his mullet BUT this is too pretty not to post. Have I mentioned recently that I love playoff beards? Because I do. Somewhat related: From this angle, he looks like an ex-boyfriend of mine.

Very interesting chart. I already thought coaches made too much...

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:24:53 -0400

Very interesting chart.

I already thought coaches made too much money, but my goodness, football and basketball coaches really make too much money.

I was almost really annoyed because this chart suggests that Maryland football coach Randy Edsall makes more $$ than Maryland basketball coach Mark Turgeon, and that ain’t right, but I looked it up and Maryland should actually be stripey.

According to The Baltimore Sun’s Maryland public employee salary database, Edsall and Turgeon make the same base salary ($400,000) per year. (Whew.)

(The Washington Post broke down the salaries, incentives, and other potential payments of all the ACC football and basketball coaches back in 2011 when Turgeon was hired. Slightly outdated now but still interesting for context.)

(via Infographic: Is Your State’s Highest-Paid Employee A Coach? (Probably))

kickoffcoverage: DREAMS DO COME TRUE -Big time shout out...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:45:33 -0400

kickoffcoverage:

DREAMS DO COME TRUE -

Big time shout out to Baltimore Ravens 3rd-round pick, Defensive Tackle Brandon Williams for making his dream come true.

Williams took a job while still in college at Missouri Southern cleaning portable toilets to help earn money for his single-mother so that she could make ends meet.

“Sometimes, you got a little poop on you,” Williams told Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun during the Ravens’ recent rookie minicamp. “Every time I was doing that, I said to myself, ‘I gotta work harder, I’m not doing this the rest of my life.’ It motivated me to get better.”

Williams also says that he pretended the outhouses were actually opposing Offensive Lineman when he would lift them up onto the truck to get hauled off.

“I acted like I was playing football. I just made it fun.”

Proof that you can go from the very bottom, all the way to the top if you’re willing to work hard and get dirty. (Photo via Yahoo!)

I have nothing to add to this, except good for him.

NBA Fines: Ballers Behaving Badly - Crunchology

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:59:30 -0400

NBA Fines: Ballers Behaving Badly - Crunchology: “I smile, $25,000 lighter, but I’m...

"We’d be like, ‘OK.’"

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:16:13 -0400

“We’d be like, ‘OK.’” - University of Washington athletic director Scott Woodward, on...

Don’t Stay in School: NFL Prospects Should Follow the...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:36:23 -0400

Don’t Stay in School: NFL Prospects Should Follow the Money

I am a school nerd. I always loved school. I’m excited about some upcoming certifications I’m working on because I get textbooks and I get to take notes. I miss college. But after this year’s NFL draft, I think any juniors who are potential first or high-second round picks should absolutely forego their senior year and jump to the pros ASAP. College is overrated. The chance of potential greatness in one more year of college isn’t good enough to pass on millions in the NFL. Don’t wait. Don’t risk injury and crappy coaching ruining your draft stock. Follow the money.

2013 NFL Draft: “Pac-12-adelphia” Eagles? Tumblr was...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:48:54 -0400

2013 NFL Draft: “Pac-12-adelphia” Eagles?

Tumblr was being a fart this weekend and wouldn’t let me upload the gif of Denard Robinson’s reaction to his draft call, so instead, you can check out my reaction to Chip Kelly bringing the Pac-12 with him to Philadelphia.

Not to put you on blast, Jerry, but I think we get it.

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:42:03 -0400

Not to put you on blast, Jerry, but I think we get it.