Category: Sports

Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus

April 26, 2009
HumorIllinoisLegalSportsStrange
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View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video.

This time, Blago is really flying. 

When I first saw the video above, I thought I was watching an actor playing Blago. Turns out it was Himself, suspended in front of a green screen, arms and legs out of control.

Rachel Maddow had a blast with the footage of Blago flying:

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The Illinois Legislature must be laughing hysterically. (If you’re accessing this post from one of our affiliates, click here to watch the videos.)

I have to admit, I was starting to feel sorry for Rod Blagojevich.  Then I remembered his intransigence as governor, how he ignored the legislature, governed by press conference, laughed when I told him we need school funding reform.  And then there’s that senate seat and the indictment.

And then I saw this video: Blago, trying to fly, in a suit.

In a suit, Rod? Really?

Look: Rod Blagojevich wants to make a lot of money, fast.

Strike that.

Rod Blagojevich needs to make a lot of money, fast.  Also, Rod Blagojevich lives for the camera.  In a way, he reminds me of Estelle from Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit.  Estelle, recently deceased, shares with her new acquaintences in Hell — or wherever they are — that when she was alive, she made sure to always position herself in front of a mirror.  Why?  Estelle needed to see herself in a mirror… so she knew she existed.

Blago reminds me of Estelle.  All cameras, all the time, or he fades in real life.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

On Friday, Illinois’ ex-governor was filmed suspended in midair, flying before a giant green screen.

Blagojevich was in Los Angeles Friday promoting “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here,” an NBC reality TV show that a judge said he couldn’t join. That’s because the series will be filmed in Costa Rica and the charged ex-governor cannot leave the country due to bond restrictions. But on Friday, Blagojevich’s PR agent released a statement saying that actor Stephen Baldwin was willing to fly to Chicago and ask a judge to “Leggo my Blago.” (Or, ask U.S. District Judge James Zagel’s permission to go to Costa Rica.)

“I would love for Blagojevich to be on the show,” Baldwin said in a statement. “He would add intensity and spice.”

Welcome to the party, Rod.  We all need a lot of money, fast, right now. Let Stephen Baldwin find another Spice Guy.

Penguins Rally, Send Philly Packing

April 26, 2009
Sports
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Sid “The Kid” Crosby and Sergei Gonchar played an incredible game to rally the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia Saturday.

From WTAE in Pittsburgh:

Gonchar scored 2:19 into the third period and the Penguins eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers with a 5-3 victory Saturday in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Penguins, who beat the Flyers in the conference finals last year, have to wait to find out who they’ll play next.

I have to admit I’m superstitious sometimes.  I don’t write about my teams in the middle of the playoffs.  I know that’s silly.

Congrats to the Penguins, and hats off the the Philly Flyers for playing inspired hockey.

Hines Ward and the Pittsburgh Steelers Foreva

April 25, 2009
Sports
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Hines Ward wants to retire a Pittsburgh Steeler, and speaking for Steeler Nation — if I may — we couldn’t be happier.

From WTAE in Pittsburgh:

Ward, about to enter the final season of his contract, agreed Saturday to a contract extension that will pay him a lower salary than the $5.8 million he was to make this season but will make up the money in a signing bonus.

The deal was being finalized Saturday between the Steelers and Ward’s agent, Eugene Parker, but is expected to be worth about $22 million over four seasons, although only a portion of that would be guaranteed.The Steelers were only about $2 million under the salary cap last week, not enough money to sign their draft picks, and they have been working to create cap room since signing All-Pro linebacker James Harrison to a $51.75 million, six-year contract.

Ward is the leading receiver in franchise history with 800 receptions for 9,780 yards and 72 touchdowns.

Besides the stats, however, he’s just an incredibly awesome person.

I’ll make a point of writing more about Hines Ward over the next few days.  Author Jim O’Brien has a number of incredible anecdotes about the man, and I’ll enjoy passing them along to you.

Hines Ward the the Steelers… Foreva!

Pittsburgh Steelers Release 2009 Schedule

April 15, 2009
Sports
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have released their 2009 schedule.  Last year was a difficult schedule.  This year’s is a bit easier.  That doesn’t mean it will be a cakewalk.  I always remember Heraclitus, “You can’t step in the same river twice.”

This year is a different river, and we all remember what happened after the 2005 season.

But 2006 was a different river also.

The Steelers will face five teams that made it to the playoffs last year: the Baltimore Ravens, who they will face at hom and away; the Tensessee Titans, who they will face at home; the Minnesota Vikings, who they will face at home;  San Diego Chargers, again at home;  and Miami Dolphins, who they will meet in Miami.

The Steelers will face some teams that should be cakewalks, but those are the ones that usually take you by surprise.  These include the flacid Detroit Lions, who went 0-16 last year; the Kansas City Chiefs, who had two wins last year; and both whimpy powerhouses from Ohio, Cleveland and Cincinnati, both 4-12 last year.

Would it be great if they made it to the final dance again?

Here’s the schedule:

Steelers Pre-Season
Date Opponent Kickoff
Thursday, Aug. 13 Arizona Cardinals 8 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 22 at Washington Redskins 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29 Buffalo Bills 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 at Carolina Panthers 8 p.m.
Steelers Regular Season
Date Opponent Kickoff
Thursday, Sept. 10 Tennessee Titans 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20 at Chicago Bears 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27 at Cincinnati Bengals 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4 San Diego Chargers 8:20 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 11 at Detroit Lions 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18 Cleveland Browns 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 Minnesota Vikings 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 Bye
Monday, Nov. 9 at Denver Broncos 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15 Cincinnati Bengals 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22 at Kansas City Chiefs 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29 at Baltimore Ravens 8:20 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6 Oakland Raiders 1 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland Browns 8:20 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 Green Bay Packers 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 27 Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m.

Pittsburg Penguins: Take More Shots on Goal During Powerplays

March 22, 2009
RantSports
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I know it’s easy for me to say, especially since I don’t play hockey.  But as a fan watching the Pittsburgh Penguins losing 2-0 after two periods against Philadelphia right now, I see the Penguins only took TWO shots on goal during powerplays to Philly’s 5.

Philly is 2-5 on powerplay shots.

It’s just very frustrating to watch the Penguins play so conservatively, waiting, it seems, at times, for Philly to get their defenses in place before making a move on offense.

Turn it on, boys.  And turn it up.