So Dave's Football Blog has come through with one of the most random, yet equally as awesome, videos I've ever seen. Many of you might remember the photos that were posted of Stu, Principal Belding and Charles Barkley from last year's annual Jimmy V Classic Golf Tourney afterparty. Well, Stu was back at the party this past Sunday, and he really just wanted to sing some of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be". Enjoy!

Wow...just wow. I mean it wasn't bad at all, but Edwin McCain? Alright. In all seriousness, Stu was at a great event for Cancer research, a disease which he's been battling himself as of late. If the man wants to blow off some steam, and sing some emotional 90's slow rock, then I say let the man rock (holds up lighter)!

Stuart Scott Sings the Hits (Dave's Football Blog)

(P.S.- I'm not sure what Jay Harris is grabbing on in the above picture, so let's all give thanks to the invention of the mic stand.)

I know a ton of you have rather eclectic music tastes which is why you should be happy with the music selections that the newest edition of Madden has come up with. The news doesn't stop there though. The artists are going to get the star treatment with a feature in Billboard Magazine and appearances on Kimmel Live starting August 4th. Via Kotaku....

EA seems to want to make it clear that the announcement of Madden 09's official soundtrack is an event, and music boss Steve Schnur told Kotaku about a few more promotions to drive the point home: First, Target's pre-order bonus for the game will be an iTunes card that lets you download ten of the soundtrack songs free. Second, an artist from the soundtrack will be playing nightly on the Jimmy Kimmel Show beginning August 4th, and third, both past and current Madden artists will play at the first-ever "Maddenpalooza," an all-day music and gaming event in conjunction with the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on August 11th.

Seems like an ingenious idea if you ask me. Many of the artists aren't as widely known and it will serve them as well as the game to be on a talk show nightly. Here's the list....

Airbourne- Stand Up For Rock ‘N Roll
Busta Rhymes feat. Linkin- Park We Made It
Disturbed- Inside The Fire
Franz Ferdinand- Lucid Dreams
From First To Last- Worlds Away
Gym Class Heroes- I’m Home
Hollywood Undead- Undead
In Flames- The Mirror’s Truth
Innerpartysystem- Don’t Stop
Izza Kizza- Millionaire
K’NAAN- ABC’s
Kardinal Offishall feat. Lindo P- Burnt
Kidz In The Hall- Blackout
KOVAS- Wax On, Wax Off
Mindless Self Indulgence- Never Wanted To Dance
Rev Theory- Hey Yeah
Senses Fail- Wolves At The Door
Shinedown- Devour
The All-American Rejects- The Real World (Demo)
The Fashion- Like Knives
The Offspring- Hammerhead
Trivium- Into The Mouth Of…We March
Tyga- Diamond Life
Underoath- Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Wale feat. Southeast Slim- Breakdown
Young Dre The Truth feat. Good Charlotte- Workin’

EA's Steve Schnur Explains The Hype Behind The Madden Soundtrack (Kotaku)

Ryan Wilson at Fanhouse has by far found the video of the year. What do you get when you mix John Daly, a tall Budweiser full of beer, Kid Rock in overalls, and a group of rowdy fans? You get Daly teeing up a ball on the beer can and the drive of a lifetime....

How awesome was that? And the fan yelling, "SHOTGUN IT! WHOOOO!!!", is my hero. What's even better than the video are Daly's comments to the AP after the round...

Daly and his friend, Kid Rock, tried to make up for the lack of star power during the pro-am.

A crowd followed the common-man pro and rock star—sporting big overalls and a white T-shirt—during their round, which included Daly hitting a ball off Rock’s beer can.

“I love it rowdy, so it’s a perfect place for me,” Daly said.

It's times like these when I turn to one of the best movies ever made for a quote. Via the "Stoned Age".

"Hey man, these aint talls!!"- Mike
"No f**kin s**t damn hankey, get us some talls!!"- Tack

John Daly Hits Golf Ball Off Kid Rock's Beer Can During Pro-Am, Somehow Misses Cut (Fanhouse)

I swear I've been watching Baseball Tonight a lot as of late but I didn't see any of these performances when they were aired for the first time. Anywho, here are the first set of musical acts including John Pizzarelli, Lloyd, The Cab and Gretchen Wilson. For some reason the Punch Brothers (who were third on the list) won't load, so we'll have to do without them for the time being.

My favorite part about those is how Gretchen Wilson strung out a :20 song into about a 2-minute version. This is what happens when you throw in a violin solo though. Pretty boring if you ask me, but I did enjoy the Pizzarelli version. And yes...it's still the most boring Sports time of the year.

Here's the rest of the schedule....

Monday, June 23
(after Arizona at Boston)
Ozomatli

Wednesday, June 25
(after Arizona at Boston)
Branford Marsalis

Saturday, June 28
(after Indycar Richmond)
Candlebox

Sunday, June 29
7 p.m. ET
REO Speedwagon

I mentioned that Baseball Tonight is holding a Battle of the Bands competition to see who can do the best rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame last week, and we have our first video today. I missed John Pizzarelli last night, and I'll have his submission up when I can find it, but Peter Gammons rocked out a tribute to Bo Diddley on Sunday night.

Unfortunately Peter isn't in the competition, but I have to say that was pretty badass. Everyone knows the guy can jam with a band, but I've never seen him go solo like that. Great start to the competition and I'll try to get each up as we go along.

Introducing Baseball Tonight's Battle Of The Bands (Awful Anouncing)

It's Summer programming time folks! Are you ready?! Oh, I'm not so sure. Of course Titletown is going to be annoying but how about a "Battle of the Bands" playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on Baseball Tonight? What if I told you Journey and Peter Gammons are involved???

But you won't see it from ESPN analyst Peter Gammons, who will play Ball Game on-air Sunday (7 p.m. ET) in a sort of homage to the late guitar legend Bo Diddley: "It's how Bo Diddley would have played it."

And ESPN's Baseball Tonight on Monday will begin airing music videos from nine musical acts — including REO Speedwagon — playing the 100 year-old anthem. (FYI: Lyricists Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer never went to a baseball game — and weren't even interested in the sport. Art needn't imitate life.)

The idea, says ESPN producer Jay Levy, is to create a battle of the bands decided by online voting, starting June 29, with a winner announced July 13: "Personally, I'm a huge American Idol fan, so I figured why not have our own little American Idol."

Other contestants: Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli, bluegrass band Punch Brothers, rhythm-and-blues singer Lloyd, rockers The Cab, country singer Gretchen Wilson, Latin and salsa hip-hop group Ozomatli — "they're fabulous," Gammons says — as well as saxophonist Branford Marsalis and rockers Candlebox.

Wait, Candlebox?!?! I love Gammons, Journey, and Ozomatli, but f'ing Candlebox??? Actually, come to think of it....I might actually get into this. At least they tried to get a nice variety of different musical acts and this could be fun. If they hadn't tried to compare it to "American Idol" then I would definitely be on board.

(Yeaaaaaah. You left me faaaaaar behinnnd yind. Now may-a-a-be I dint mean to treat youuuuu oh sooooo ba-a-d, but eye diddddd it anyway yay!!)

Try to get that out of your head the rest of the day.

Old 'Ball Game' will get new treatments on ESPN (USA Today)

That's right folks! It's none other than the rock supergroup 3 Doors Down!!! You know the band that brought you Kryptonite and ummm....that other song! The played a couple of diddies from the group during last night's Baseball game, but don't look for the fun to stop there. How about we feature their music for the entire month of June!

Beginning this week and continuing throughout the month of June, ESPN will be complementing its productions with new music from the multi-platinum selling rock band, 3 Doors Down. As part of a unique agreement with their label, Universal Republic Records, ESPN will be able to feature five songs from the band’s new self-titled album "3 Doors Down", and two songs from their ground-breaking debut album, "The Better Life", in a variety of live event and studio productions such as NASCAR, MLB, College World Series and SportsCenter. Music selections will include the first single from their new release, "It's Not My Time," and other tracks such as “Train” and “It’s The Only One You’ve Got.”

“ESPN approaches their craft with the same kind of enthusiasm and respect for their fans as we do,” stated 3 Doors Down frontman, singer/songwriter Brad Arnold.

I don't really have a problem with 3DD, but a month of the same songs over and over might be a little much. Especially when you try to get people like Jon Miller to try to use the phrase "dropping" as in their album is dropping on such and such a date....


(Vis ESPN PR)

If you're like me, and I'm sure you are, you've been wondering what happened to that dude that used to host MTV Sports? You know the guy that played for the UNC Football team, the one that was always on with Daisy Fuentes, and the one that played Elaine's cool boyfriend in Seinfeld.

Yes folks I have found Dan Cortese and he's hosting a gameshow sure to be on the airwaves for years to come. "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad"!

Now that's a gameshow! I guess it's not all that bad...it's really just a glorified Double Dare (and it's not Duel). If the guy who once scored 67 points (I have no evidence to back this up) in a Rock and Jock B-Ball Jam is involved....I'm watching.

Let's take it back to 1991 ya'll! Come on swing it!!!



Wait...did Marky Mark just do half of that song naked? Umm okay. "We audi like last year!"

Hopefully this is the last of what the Writer's strike left us, but NBC is actually planning a reality show based around the Sport of Curling. I wish I was making this up....

Move over American Idol and make room for Rockstar Curling, a reality television show that may indeed have a rock-star connection.

NBC confirmed yesterday it has an exclusive option to air a 10-episode sports reality show that will give the winners a shot at competing in the U.S. championships and even going to the 2010 Olympics.

And one aspect that would make this a draw to the button for NBC is a plan to land closet curlers Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi as part of the show, assuming the rockers aren't worried what being connected to a sport with brooms might do to their images.

"This show is all about the opportunity to expose American viewers to curling," said Colin Campbell, Canadian president of mktpartners and one of the creators of the show. "We feel there might be some great athletes out there who might develop into good curlers given the chance."

Umm okay? I never thought that Curling and Rock music were of the same vein, but I guess I could be wrong. And Jon Bon Jovi on a reality show??? That would be a hell of a pull.

Rock stars courted for curling reality show (TheStar.com)

I thought we were only getting Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but apparently the ever-crazy Paula Abdul might actually be an addition to the show.

A tipster in close proximity to Abdul's inner circle tells me that the American Idol judge, who hasn't released an album of new material since 1995's Head Over Heels, is in talks to perform — no, not on Idol's next '90s theme night — during the network's Super Bowl XLII telecast!

Just shoot me now. If that damn cat shows up I'm going to lose it. If she does actually get to go through with this let's pray that it ends up like this.....



Exclusive: Paula Abdul to Sing Live! For Real! (TV Guide)

I just knew something crazy was going to happen at the Insight Bowl after I made fun of it by saying no one cares about it. Well we're all going to care about it after I tell you which band is going to be rocking the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party on New Years Eve following the game. First some background....

The Insight Bowl is played at 6:00pm on December 31st. You can buy tickets to the game itself which vary from $20 to $80, but you can also buy a $25 ticket to the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party. What's the IFBBP? Only one the rockingest New Years party on the planet.....

Named one of the top ten places in the nation to ring in the New Year by USA Today, and "The Place to Party" by The Sporting News, the Insight Bowl Block Party is the Valley's premier New Year's Eve celebration with Arizona's only midnight countdown drop, national headlining acts, beer gardens, dueling pianos, and freestyle motocross jumpers, the Block Party offers an exhilarating evening of jam packed entertainment.

Dueling pianos?! Hell yeah!!! Beer Gardens?!!?! I'm there. Your Headlining act???


Uh......Barenaked Ladies? I'll pass.

Bands and Entertainment (InsightBowl.org)

That's right folks, it's Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers! The 57 year old Petty will rock your face off this February in a timely halftime concert during the Super Bowl this year. I guess Prince's performance last year made the selection committee revert back to the practice of hiring the oldest performers possible following the Janet Jackson incident.

Petty joins The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney in that regard, and there is no truth to the rumor that Cirque du Soleil will be showing up with those weird bouncy people again this year.

Tom Petty to play Super Bowl halftime show (Yahoo!)

From AZ Central via Shakedown Sports comes the news that the Super Bowl Kickoff thingy the NFL had planned now has a band! The band is one of the staples of American music. U2, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Coldplay do not hold a candle to this force of melodic perfection!

If you remember these hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, you'll want to rock out at the free party at Glendale's Westgate City Center marking 100 days until next year's Super Bowl.

Sugar Ray, the Southern California rock band led by singer and Extra co-host Mark McGrath, will be the headlining act at the "Countdown to Kickoff . . . 100 Days and Counting" celebration Oct. 27.

"We feel this will appeal to a broad audience, including families, everyone in the community who wants to come out to a fun football festival, and our sponsors," said Erin Brin, vice president of events for the host committee.

("Is Right Said Fred not available? Maybe the Proclaimers??? No? Damn. Fine, tell Sugar Ray we'll take them."- Erin Brin)

True story....I saw Sugar Ray play at the Fairfax Virginia County Fair last year. Mark McGrath is as dreamy as ever in case you were wondering.

Arizona Is Going to Party Like It’s 1998 (Shakedown Sports)
Sugar Ray on for Super countdown (AZ Central)

I know this is getting a little nit-picky, but it still made me laugh (click photo for larger image)....


Dance Dance! Blah Blah blah blah blah blah!!! Rock! For really though...Fall Out Boy is everywhere. I don't blame ESPN because it's an ad, but it's still a little much.

Being the ever clever (see, that rhymed) individual that I am, I thought of a couple others examples where an emo group/artist could help out a headline. Feel free to add you own in the comments if you see fit.

- Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen Out After Testing Postive....brought to you by Dashboard Confessional
- Schilling Calls Out Steroid Users....brought to you by the Cure
- Michael Vick Kills Dogs, Should Kill Himself.....brought to you by Elliot Smith

Okay....that last one was a little over the top, but you get the idea.

In the past week I've given you a handful of examples that illustrated how far SportsCenter has Fallen. Hey, I don't want it to be that way, but these are the facts.

Well folks, are you ready to be even more depressed? Do you remember when SportsCenter first spoke to you??? Do you remember a little duo simply know as Patrick-Olbermann???

Are you ready for it....I don't think you are.....sit down please.....

It was 10 years ago today that Dan and Keith did their last show together as SportsCenter anchors.

How sad is that? Seriously....whatever happened to straight-forward Sports reporting with humor when warranted (and funny on top of that)??? We now have to deal with The Sklar Brothers, Sean Salisbury, Who's Now?, The Coors/Bud Light Six Pack, Stuart Scott, Die Hard, etc, etc, etc.....

It's to the point where I rarely even watch the show now. To be honest the only time I ever catch it is on Sunday's during Football season. Maybe they need all the gimmicks.....maybe they don't. But I miss the first "never miss show" I ever watched.

I leave you with this lyric from one of the best bands during the time of Dan and Keith's last show......

"It's Sooooo Harrrrrd tooooo say gooooodbyyyyyye toooo yesterdaaaaaay eeeeeeeeee."

Thanks to Bruce for the comment below....I forgot to add that K and D are on Late Night tomorrow night.....

"Ya know, I haven't watched the Sunday night SC since KO left. In fact, I hardly watch it, period. They're scheduled to be on Letterman on Wednesday night, btw. I say "scheduled", because the last two times Patrick was booked were the Farrah meltdown, and Seinfeld's post-Michael Richards appearance, so it's a good bet something will happen."

A Vince McMahon Death stunt perhaps? Too Soon???

Well not exactly, but they do have an odd marketing campaign on who to select with the first pick. The Trailblazers have a website with videos of current players and local celebrities thoughts on the pick. Well, if you can call the lead singer of Everclear, "The Hippie", and Storm Large from Rockstar Supernova (also in a band called Storm Large and the Balls).

The site is actually well put together and I think the best part is the video of current players. I mean where else can you get the quote, "Travis (Outlaw) is establishing his own style- a combination of low-post finesse and aerial holy-cowery"? (click on photo for larger version)


If that's not a word, it should be. (Father of mine...do do do do do....where have you been? Try to get that out of your head for the rest of the day)

Durant or Oden (Blazers.com)

Like I mentioned last week, I plan on actually sitting through most of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight. I feel awful that I was just checking in for Don Cherry, but hey...at least I'm honest.

Well, now I've got two reasons to check-in and so do you! If you tune into to NBC right at 8pm sharp....you get some of this.....

It was announced Friday that recording star Alanis Morissette, a native of Ottawa, will sing both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before Game 4 Monday night. After hearing Canadian recording artist Holly Cole and her brutal rendition of O Canada prior to Game 2, there’s no way Morissette could do a worse job than Cole, or Stephen Stills, who butchered The Star Spangled Banner prior to Game 1.

Apparently, the Senators are undefeated when Morissette sings the national anthem, which guarantees the series will go at least five games…

I'm all for superstitions, but ones that involve Alanis! Hell Yeah!!! LET'S GO SENS!!!!!!!

P.S.- Can someone tell me if missing a defensman like Pronger will make a difference in this game?

'Oh baby' says Sens Neil (The Hockey News)

Silly you.....you thought Cypress Hill's career was over. Tsk Tsk. Where are they now? Well they're writing intros for the Big East Tournament of course!

It's so Incredible.....Unforgettable
If you battle us, you find out it's just not winnable.
Step up...cause we're ready to step on anybody in our way
And our game is teflon.

F'ing Lyrical Geniuses if you ask me.



I think hands down the scariest of that whole debacle is the skanking Providence Friar. Seriously Friar.....we're out of the 4th wave. Reel Big Fish hasn't been relative since 1996. It's time to do Tha Heizmann On Dat Ho! (Take him out Sin Dog)

Sorry, after quoting the song it played in my head all night. Anywhere you go!....I'll follow.....okay I'll stop. Good game last night. It seemed extra long though. So what did we learn?

A) Rex Grossman is not a bad Quarterback. Or is he?
2) Marshall Faulk still wants to play for the Rams.
C) Joe and Tony haven't heard of either Vince Young or Maurice Jones-Drew.
4) I wasn't very original in calling Grossman...."Sexy" Rexy. (Oh well)
E) The Leader LOVES the Red Hot Chilli Peppaz!
6) There are a ton of Bears fans in the Lou.
G) Joe Theeeeesman thinks that Bulger is the most accurate QB in the league. (F-off Peyton)
8) Black Christmas is not a remake of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation starring Cedric the Entertainer.
I) Belushi thinks his an Iconic actor and likes the sauce.
10) Devin Hester is very very very fast.















So that was fun right? RIGHT?!?!?! Thanks to all who read, and a special thanks to those who commented.

For more on Rexy and the other starters in the league check out OMDQ's case study in Rookie QBs. The Quarterback Question