Baby Benny

It's a QBs and babies kinda day!  If this doesn't make you smile, you have no heart.

The only thing that could make this photo better would be Tom Brady's former long locks peeking through his skull cap.

Off the Field

The family Manning.  Shame he's not on the field this year, but at least he's been having a lot of quality time with his cutie twins.

Off the Field

Here's a little shout out to the Calvert Hall fan base and all my super cool relatives in Baltimore.  

Movember or Sex Offender?

It's the most wonderful time of the year...if you think a mustache is sexy. (For the record, I don't)

Lots of NHL stars are sporting their staches to raise money and awareness for men's health.  It's a great idea and pretty funny, so I thought I would share some unique and sex offender status staches of 2011 thus far:

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Sidney Crosby and his "molestache".  This photo was actually taken last year when he was on a scoring streak...but I just had to include him. Sid, if you don't got it, don't grow it!  His boyfriend probably told him it was cutes.

Source: thescore.com

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John Erskine.  He looks a little mental in this photo, but because he is a Washington Capital and an intense, hard-nosed player, the stache actually suits him. This fan favorite raised a ton of money last year for the cause.  But let's be serious, if you saw him walking towards you with this silly grin, and didn't know who he was, would you not sprint in the opposite direction?

Source: Washington Post

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Tim Thomas and his good ole country boy stache.  He looks like he's about to tend to his fields and tractor during this post game interview.  But since Tim lead his Bruins to a Stanley Cup last June, he has the right to grow whatever he wants.

Source: nesn.com

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Brent Burns and his trans-stache.  Here we have his current stache which is made less ugly with his cute smile.  The second photo is Movember 2010.  Seriously looks like a mugshot of a cracked out serial rapist.  Glad you went with a more innocent look this year buddy!

Source: Twitter @Burnzie88

Source: Powerstache.blogspot.com

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Cal Clutterbuck's stache whispers in your ear, "I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."  What a gentleman. He should have his own Dos Equis ad.

Source: theboxusa.blogspot.com

Eagles = FAIL

Us Dudettes love our Skins even though we have one of the 

most pathetic teams in football.  That being said, our Skins share the same record with the Philadelphia Eagles Dream Team!  I love to see Philly fans get all excited and obnoxious about pre-season signings and then fail miserably on the field.  They have a pretty light schedule the next two games playing the Seahawks and Dolphins away.  However, I think it's safe to say they can kiss their expected Super Bowl appearance good bye!!  Super Bowl caliber team?! Now that's funny!

Source: Bleacherreport.com

Gabby's Gone

Source: Getty Images

It's official!  Bruce Boudreau is out and Dale Hunter is in!  It's been real Brucey....but it is definitely time for a change as the Caps have been getting blown out and slipping in the rankings.  This team is far too talented to not win the Stanley Cup this year!  It seems as though the players don't even respect Gabby anymore, especially Ovi.  I think a new coach will definitely be a good change, but these guys need to step it up and lock up their huge egos.  

Bruce, you will forever be remembered for your tirades on HBO's 24/7.  Ah Fack 'Em!

National Champs

photo by:  Jeff Camarati

Congratulations to the University of Maryland Field Hockey Team for taking their 2nd straight NCAA Tournament Championship.  They beat #1 ranked UNC 3-2 in overtime for the victory.  The 4th ranked Terps faced a 2 goal deficit with less than 4 minutes left in the game and still managed to pull out a win.  They scored one of the goals at the buzzer to send the game in to overtime.  They were able to put the winner in the net in the 81st minute of the game.  This marks the ladies' 5th championship in 7 years.

Kongrats

 LenLen and I are Terps fans.  Mags is a UNC fan.  I don’t know who dckixx pulls for, so I’m just going to say she’s a MD fan too.   All of us would like to congratulate Duke Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski on his record setting win (we know we’re a little late with this, but we all have day jobs…..sorry).  Coach K picked up win number 903 against Michigan State on 11/15/2011.  He surpassed his coach, mentor, peer and friend Bobby Knight with the most wins in NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball history.  

mursports.blogspot.com

Since starting at Duke in 1980, Coach K has won 4 NCAA titles, has made 11 Final 4 appearances, has won 12 ACC regular season titles and has won 13 ACC Tourney Championships.  As if that wasn’t enough, he also coached the gold medal team in the 2008 Olympics.  He’s already been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.  I am not sure how much more he can do, but whatever is left, I’m sure he’ll find a way to do it.

The Blue Devils are 5-0 this season and Coach K is up to 905 wins.  Who knows how many wins the Devils and Coach K will rack up this year.  I’m just hoping the 2 against MD won’t be amongst them.

Redskins Recap - Graham GaNO GOOD

The Redskins returned home on Sunday to face their arch rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.  Although were on a pretty bad streak, there is always something about a Skins/Cowboys match up that brings out the best in players.  Well, most of them any way. 

The Cowboys got the ball to start the game and drove 45 yards only to be stopped by the Skins’ D, led by London Fletcher.  But the Skins didn't do much better.  On their 3^rd offensive play of the game, Fred Davis fumbled and the Boys recovered.  2 plays and 24 yards later, Tony Romo had connected with Dez Bryant for a TD.  The teams traded punts for the rest of the quarter.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

After another Redskin drive that ended with a punt, the Cowboys drove 38 yards and put up a field goal, giving them a 10 – 0 lead.  After a couple of more punts, the Skins finally got on the scoreboard with a Rex Grossman QB sneak for a touchdown.  The next Skins’ drive ended with a 16 yard pass from Grossman to Jabar Gaffney for a second touchdown.  The Redskins took the lead for the first time in ages, 14-10.  This was the score going into the 2^nd half.

The Redskins received to start the 3^rd and they drove for a 3^rd straight score.  This time it was a 40 yard field goal from Graham Gano.  The Cowboys didn’t do much and on the Redskins were able to get an opportunity for a 49 yard field goal from Gano.  But, he missed it wide right.  The Cowboys didn’t score in this period and it ended with the Skins up 17 – 10. 

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

But early in the 4^th quarter, the Boys put up another TD, evening up the score at 17.  The Redskins did nothing with their drive and the Cowboys scored a second straight touchdown on a 59 yard touchdown pass from Romo to Jason Whitten.  Rex immediately threw the interception the fans had been dreading, but expecting, all game.  But, the D played well and forced a punt.  The Redskins took advantage and put together another drive.  This one ended with a 4 yard TD pass to Stallworth.  At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 24.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

The Skins won the coin toss and got the ball first in OT.  They didn’t do much, but did put Graham Gano in position to hit a game winning 52 yard field goal.  He choked and missed wide right again.  The Cowboys kicker took advantage of his chance and hit a 39 yarder minutes later.  Cowboys win.  Crap.

Here are the numbers.  Grossman was 25/38 for 289 yards, 1 rushing TD, 2 passing TDs and 1 interception.  The Skins had a total of 60 yards rushing – ugh.  Gaffney was the leading receiver catching 7 passes for 115 yards and a TD.  London Fletcher was out of his mind with 16 tackles and a sack.  Gomes was right behind him with 14 tackles.  D Hall had 11 tackles, but honestly, got burned about 5 zillion times (slightly over-estimated).  The Skins did not force any turnovers – that can’t happen with this team.  Punter Sav Rocca averaged 48.6 yards per punt and also had a pretty good tackle.

Silver lining - it was an exciting game, we were competitive and we put points on the boards.  This Sunday the Skins head to Seattle for a 4:00 match up with the Seahawks. 

MLS Wrap Up, Donovan, & Becks

AP Photo

Once again Landon Donovan is a hero!  He scored the winning and only goal of the MLS Championship vs Houston Dynamos.  The goal was set up by a flick on header from David Beckham and the perfect through ball from Robbie Keane.

Daily Mirror

Having Becks and Keane playing for the Galaxy has been HUGE for American soccer.  Unfortunately, Beckham's contract is up and there are rumors Becks and his brood might be heading to France next.  This would le suck.  Not only has Becks been a boost to American soccer, but style goddess wife, Victoria Beckham has made a huge statement here in the states.  I very much look forward to peeping pics of Posh donning 7 inch heels out with baby Harper in NYC.  Plus the Beckham boys love boogie boarding in the California surf....they are going to be highly disappointed in France.  Really the only benefit is for Posh since she has been taking the fashion world by storm; living in Paris is probably ideal for her.  I think it's only right if Becks finishes his career in a Man United jersey, but since that's out of the question I hope Galaxy keeps Becks around!  I have no respect for many French born players, especially after their 2010 World Cup antics and child rape allegations.

Back to Lando - yes, having top paid players in the MLS such as Becks and Thierry Henry has been exciting, but Landon Donovan will forever be the face of American soccer.  Hopefully he has one last run in him for World Cup 2014!

Washington Post

Redskins Recap - Yup, We Lost To The Dolphins

football.rawsignal.com

Well  I didn’t see the game this week.  Happened to be driving back from Nashville all day on Sunday.  But from what I have heard and read, I didn’t really miss anything.  I guess the big news of the week was that the Skins went back to Rex Grossman as the starter.  Different QB, same results.  Little to no offense, decent defense,  a check in the loss column and injuries to key players. 

The Redskins punted away their first possession.  The Dolphins took it right back down the field on them and Reggie Bush ran in his first touchdown of the day.  The Redskins put a little bit of a drive together and gave Graham Gano a shot at a 50 yard field goal, which he missed.  During the Dolphins next drive, the Skins’ Kevin Barnes picked off Matt Moore and returned it for 30 yards.  They drove down the field a little and this time Gano hit a 26 yard field goal.  This first quarter ended with the score of 7 to 3 in favor of the Dolphins.

That didn’t last long as the Dolphins put up a 21 yard field goal early in the 2^nd.  Then, in the next drive, Rex got back to his old self and threw an I-N-T.  Dolphins did nothing and the Skins got another field goal, 47 yards, from Gano.

To start the 2^nd half, Ryan Kerrigan sacked Matt Moore, causing a fumble which was recovered by the good guys.  Once again, Grossman couldn’t get the offense into the endzone.  We settled for another Gano field goal – this time for 23 yards.  At this point the Skins are only down 1, at 10 to 9.  The Dolphins got a field goal of their own in their next possession.

The Skins had the ball to start the 4^th, but Grossman threw another interception.  The Dolphins drove down the field and Reggie Bush got his 2^nd TD of the night.  Gano missed a 49 yarder for the Redskins.  That was pretty much the end of the scoring, leading to another loss with the final score of 20-9.

DCSBNation

The numbers:  Grossman – 21/32 for 215 yards, 2 interceptions and no touchdowns.  The Skins ran for a total of 61 yards.  Pitiful.  Hankerson was the leading receiver with 8 catches for 106 yards.  The bad news, he also got hurt and is out for the remainder of the year.  Reed Doughty led the defensemen with 9 tackles.  Riley, Fletcher and Landry all had 7 tackles each.  Ryan Kerrigan put up 5 tackles and 2 sacks.

We get the Cowboys this week.  The Redskins will undoubtedly be huge underdogs.  But, it’s a great rivalry, so maybe they will play with a little fire and emotion.  We shall see.

The Jerry Sandusky Sex Crimes Case - This Is Not About Football

By now I am sure that all of you have heard the stories of what allegedly happened in the locker room of Penn State University’s football team.  Maybe you have read the Grand Jury testimony that goes into explicit detail of what Jerry Sandusky is said to have done to what is believed to have been a 10 year old boy.   I am not going to go into detail about the alleged abuse.  Nobody needs to read or hear this detail again.

What I would like to point out is that this story is truly not about football.  I do realize that Penn State football has a cult-like following.  I actually feel very sorry for Joe Paterno, as it is sad to see his storied career ended by, and maybe ultimately overshadowed by, these crimes.  In all reality, whether you believe he should’ve done more or not, he did what he was required to do.  But that is not what this story is about.

What seems to be continuously forgotten in the media is that this is a story of an alleged sexual predator and about 9 children who were abused.  This is about a man who is said to have used his power and prestige to exploit boys who looked at him as a mentor.  This is about a “coach” who is charged with 40 counts of perverse crimes against his students.  Why has Jerry Sandusky been allowed to virtually hide from the wrath of the public and the media when he is the true villain (alleged – just to cover my bases) in this case?

I know that Tim Curley and Gary Schultz have been charged with Perjury and with Failure to Report the allegations, but I honestly wish they were charged with more.  I find it absolutely reprehensible that instead of taking the steps to stop this predator from hurting other children, these men seem to have essentially told him to just do it somewhere else.  In their case, unlike in Paterno’s case, they were required to do more.  But they appear to have been blinded by the majesty of Penn State football and were more concerned about protecting that team than about the children.

Obviously the football team has been impacted, but is that the part of the story that should captivate the country?  This “scandal” reaches FAR beyond football and sports.  But yet because of football, the school seems to have knowingly failed to protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of the community.  Penn State football will continue, but these children will never regain their innocence.    

It is a tragedy when a child falls victim to a sexual crime.  When this tragedy could have been prevented it is absolutely incomprehensible.   If found guilty Curley, Schultz, and especially Jerry Sandusky, should receive punishment to the full extent of the law.  And I think everyone knows what other prisoners tend to think of child molesters in their midst.  It really sucks to be at the bottom of the food chain in prison – I’m just saying.