Take a good look at the new uniforms the Brooklyn Nets Dancers will be wearing on the court this season.
Jason Johnson of fashion blog StylePoints said the look is “roller derby team from a prison film.”
The very different uniforms should come to no surprise as one of the owners of the Nets, Jay-Z has been instrumental in bringing RocaWear style to all aspects of the logo, court, and now the hype girls.
What do y’all think of the new look?
The Shield Sides with the Refs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
NFL supports decision to not overturn Seahawks’ touchdown – NFL.com.
Well the NFL is siding with the replacement refs on this one.
According to this statement the NFL is sticking with the simulations catch which in a tie breaker goes to the offense.
But when I watch the video of the play all I see is M.D. Jennings catching the ball. Golden Tate‘s hands were under the ball but only touched the ball after Jennings had full possession of the ball until the end of the play.
Here is the lesson- one Jennings should have batted the ball away- that is defense 101. The replacement refs really messed this up by missing the block in the back from Tate and then reviewing the play and not overturning the ruling on the field.
Roger Godell what are you doing to my favorite sport? In your time as commish you have dealt with a player lock out, the Bounty-Gate scandal, and now this Ref lockout. None of these issue have made the league stronger.
I would love to know you feelings Gals and Pals.
Reaction around the league through Tweeter
Well Mr. Godell it finally happened. After the worries from the preseason, the extra time outs given, and officials looking terrified to throw flags your replacement refs have finally done it. They cost a team a game.
And not just any team but the Green Bay Packers just a season away from holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy in triumph- a trophy named after one of their legendary coaches. A fan base so into their team that the Packers are community owned. A group of people so nuts about their team some are naked in December while watching players do the Lambo Leap in 10 degree temperatures.
Godell you’ve got a huge mess on your hands. And soon maybe even blood.
For all you Gals and Pals not understanding what I’m talking about a brief history lesson.
In June, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association did not agree on terms for a new collective bargaining agreement resulting in the current lock out of regular NFL game officials. Thus the replacement ref debacle is born.
These “officials” are from low-level college and high school ranks- none have officiated in the Division I college football ranks because many of the Division I conferences have barred their officials from working NFL games during the lockout because often former and current NFL refs are officiating supervisors.
The big issue keeping the two sides from meeting, money of course as the officials want NFL changes to full-time refs that everyone is fairly compensated. Currently there are 17 officiating crews- one for each team and an alternate. The NFL wants 20. The NFL also wants to convert the refs pensions into 401ks and offer annual compensation increases between 5 and 11 percent. The refs want their pension plans, to remain part-time, and roughly and additional four million dollars a year more in pay.
Four millions dollars to a league that produces billions in revenue is like finding $20 bucks in your pocket on laundry day.
According to the NFL Players Association which had its own labor dispute with the league last year they side with the replacement officials.
Last night proved that the players are on the right side.
In a statement the Players Association said:
“It is lost on us as to how you allow a Commissioner to cavalierly issue suspensions and fines in the name of player health and safety yet permit the wholesale removal of the officials that you trained and entrusted to maintain that very health and safety. If has been reported that the two sides are apart by approximately $60,000 per team. We note that your Commissioner has fined an individual player as much in the name of “safety.” Your actions are looking more and more like simple greed… You cannot simply switch to a group of cheaper officials and fulfill your legal, moral, and duty obligations to us and our fans.”
Last night’s Monday Night Football game between the Packers and the Seattle Seahawks proves this. Here is what happened:
The play that launched a zillion tweets
The players line up for the ball. Safety M.D. Jennings of the Packers grabbed it first. He came down with it and pinned it against his body. Thus an interception for the Packers- but not so fast, Golden Tate, Seattle Wide-out, had a hand on it too.
Here is where the replacement refs messed up. While the entire stadium, viewing audience, sidelines, and the official closest to the pile (who put his arm up to signal the interception or touchback) saw the interception, another official ran in and put up his hands for a touchdown. The official closest to the pile suddenly agrees throwing his hands up too.
Really- touchdown decisions by committee?
That four million dollars that is keeping the real refs off the field seems like pennies now. Especially for the Packers who are 1-2 for the season.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o taken in 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Talk about a crazy weekend of college football. Not only did the Sports Gal Pal get all her picks wrong (and she isn’t that upset about it- explain in a sec) but the ACC coastal division just stunk.
Maybe it was the announcement of the Irish joining the ACC, but UNC, UVa, and Virginia Tech all loss. Okay I’ll admit that UVa wasn’t suppose to win- but they got shellacked against the Option Offense at Georgia Tech. Perhaps like Streaking the Lawn said “If Al Groh is on the field, Virginia just can’t win.”
Inside joke for all the Wahoos. Just out played- there is no reason to go into the stats- it was a bad bad day for the Hoos.
No the biggest upset for that bunch was Virginia Tech losing to 0-2 Pittsburgh! And we’re not talking about a close, last minute bad luck play. This too was a shellacking! At one point Pitt was 21-0 in the second quarter. They outgained the Hokies 537-324 and this stretches their winning streak against the Hokies to four. The bitter pill for Hokie fans is that Pitt joins the ACC next season. I guess Turkeys are afraid of Panthers. (Come on, I had to get one in there.) Final score 17-35 in favor of Pitt.
Now for the three games I told y’all to be on the look out for.
Okay I shouldn’t say that but Stanford beating the number 2 country for the fourth time! And this is without their ace quarterback. This means that Matt Barkley, the front runner for the Heisman, is winless in his college career against Stanford. Stanford outgained USC by 137 yard. And much like the Penn St vs UVa game last week the kicker matter. Jordan Williamson of USC missed two field goals and had a third blocked. That could have been the difference in the game because it was close. Final score 21-14
In the Gal Pal household at least one person’s team won. And won big on the road against number 10 Michigan State. And this one wasn’t
close as Notre Dame took an early lead and held the Spartans to only a field goal. Manti Te’o had an amazing performance for Notre Dame. The senior linebacker had 12 tackles, one for a loss, and broke up two passes. The Irish broke a 15 game winning home winning streak at home for the Spartans. But hold up Irish fans- you still have the hardest schedule of any school in the nation. Next week you face Michigan.
Two weeks in a row the Gators come back to win… and win big. This is a rivalry game that many thought, including myself, that Tenn would finally win. Nope, Jeff Driskel threw two touchdown passes and Trey Burton ran for two touchdowns. Tenn QB Tyler Bray was 22 for 44 and threw touchdown passes to Coradarrell Patterson and Mychal Rivera- but the he threw to the Gators twice. Final 37-20.
The USC Trojans on offense during a road game against the California Golden Bears. The Trojans won 30-3. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Week three of college football season Gals and Pals. Will we see another upset like UL Monroe? Or will the favorite win? Here are some games to be on the lookout for.
The Pac 12’s biggest match up this week is heavily favored USC coming to Palo Alto to take on Stanford. The biggest question is without their superstar Andrew Luck, can the Cardinals put serious points on the board against a strong USC defense. And of course there is USC offense led by likely NFL first round pick Matt Barkley. If Stanford can pressure Barkley and stop the run from Silas Redd then the Cardinals have a chance from preventing a Trojan slaughter.
My pick USC by 10.
Notre Dame (20) at Michigan State (10)
Wow week three and Brian Kelly’s team is still nationally ranked! But don’t get too excited Irish fans, after all the Irish are facing what many believe is the best team in the Big 10 right now, Michigan St. Going on the road is never easy and facing the likely winner of the Big 10, yeah. Cierre Wood will be in the backfield for the Irish and that should help against the talented Le’Veon Bell of Spartans.
My pick Michigan State by 14.
Florida (18) at Tennessee (23)
Florida is already a proven road warrior going into College Station TX and running the Welcome to the SEC party for the Aggies. Look for Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray to use Justin Hunter as his go to weapon against the Gators. If Tennessee can maintain composure I think the Vols just might have a shot.
My pick Tennessee by 3.
Left: Jim Calhoun, head basketball coach, University of Connecticut. Right: Rudy Gay, former UConn basketball player, now with the Memphis Grizzlies Location: Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun to retire after legendary college career: source – NY Daily News.
This is huge news in the world of Men’s College Basketball. Calhoun has a 866-369 record at UConn, including three national NCAA titles. I am sure this is related to health concerns that have been plaguing Calhoun for awhile.
I’m not sure how much the Big East can take with the announcement of Notre Dame bolting from the conference to ACC and now one of its best programs losing its coach.
English: Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears warming up before a game. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
No matter if you say Da Bears or Go Pack Go this game is always a good match up due to the history of these programs. This will be the 185th meeting between these two teams. It is the longest running NFL rivalry.
Both teams played Sunday with very different results.
The Bears played against the very youth filled Colts and won 41-21. Highlights from that game include what seems to be an improved offense– of course the ball was taken away five times, but QB Jay Cutler passed for 333 yards and Brandon Marshall has become his favorite target. Marshall had 119 yards, and scored a touchdown. For years this was a defense first team but it appears that the offense is ready to come out and show what it can do. I am not holding my breath however as this offense last year was converted only 33% of third downs last season. Plus the o-line allowed the QB to be sacked 49 times.
Green Bay on the other had is typically a monster when it come to offense. Last season Packers had a 48% third down conversion percentage. They only threw eight interceptions compared to the Bears 20. But Green Bay is coming of a lost at home to the 49ers. And Green Bay’s defense is suspect- they had problems with it last season and I think it is going to be worse.
According to the AP Pro32 power rankings, after the 49er loss the Packers fell two games behind the Bears. And these divisional rivals do not get another chance at each other until December.
So who is going to win?
Right now Green Bay is a 6 point favorite. I tend to agree. You can’t look at last week’s win over a very young Colts team as a sign of a championship run. And Packers you should look at the fact that the 49ers came to your house and well we know the outcome. Still the Packers have the edge here, look for the Packers to win.
ACC (Photo credit: @jbtaylor)
Here are some more details about Notre Dame‘s move to the ACC.
Again some big questions- and I still have a problem with the football independence. But the deal is done. Some good things out of this deal is that it completely strengthens the ACC in terms of basketball and other sports. It also sores up the cracks, because I doubt there will be any ACC schoolswilling to pay $50 million to leave the conference. Other good news is that with the non-BCS bowls the ACC can negotiate better terms because the Irish fan base travels and travels well.
Team raising their helmets to the student section after a win (or loss) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One more point- television. With this new deal, the ACC can ask for more money for its games on ESPN and fellow networks.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In the Sports Gal Pal household the rumors of Notre Dame being interested in joining the ACC have been at the fore front.
Biggest reason is that the Sport Gal Pal’s husband is a BIG FAN of the Fighting Irish. The Gal Pal is of course an alumna of the University of Virginia and of course we had the imaginary match up of the Irish visiting Scott Stadium… but never in a million years did we think it would happen.
Well as of two hours ago it has happened, well kind of sort of. It has been announced that Notre Dame, which is a member of the Big East for all sports with the exceptions of football and hockey will be leaving to join the ACC in a similar set up. In turn the ACC has negotiated that Notre Dame will play at least five football games insuring an ACC presence during football season. This isn’t a stretch for the Fighting Irish as they regularly include ACC teams in their schedule and have a somewhat rivalry with Boston College and Miami.
The addition of Notre Dame in the conference for other sports is great. The institution is academically in line with the majority of ACC schools including Duke, UVa, Wake Forrest, and Boston College. They should offer great competition in men’s and women’s basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. Yet, I am concerned that the ACC didn’t hold out for the cash cow- football.
Let me give you some back ground about the Fighting Irish and their independent football ways. As an independent the Fighting Irish has what is known as the Bowl Championship Series “Notre Dame rule” that gives the school unique privileges in post season among independent schools. Basically if the Irish football program finishes in the top eight of the BCS standing at the end of the regular season it gets to play in at BCS bowl game. The other advantage of being independent is that the payout for those bowl games gets to be kept by Notre Dame without having to share with a conference. Now the Irish have only been to three BCS bowl games since the BCS’s inception but still the potential is for all that money to be kept by Notre Dame is there. Then there are the smaller bowl games. Will Notre Dame be part of that discussion for bowls that contractually hosts ACC teams post season like the Chick-fil-a Bowl?
Another revenue stream for Notre Dame is the exclusive television deal it has with NBC. The Fighting Irish are the only Division 1-A school football team to have a contract for exclusive showing of home games. This contract is valued at around $9 million per year with some experts claiming that the TV contract is actually worth $15 million per year. This is just home games and does not include revenue from away game coverage which is sure to be shown on ESPN, ABC, and various other media outlets.
Here is my biggest concern about this deal. The current contract between NBC and Notre Dame expires in 2015- and with the way ratings have been going and the cost savings NBC has been putting in I don’t know if NBC is going to be an exclusive host for Notre Dame. If this 25 year partnership ends will Notre Dame be more incline to become a full ACC member? I doubt it seriously. Plus looking beyond football, with now a 15 member ACC basketball class, and let’s face it ACC is basketball country, will the conference look for a 16th member. UConn or Rutgers anyone?
With change comes growth and pain- and that is what this deal is. The growth of the ACC comes pain- hopefully we will not be looking at a Big East 2.0 because the ACC is a great conference.
Report: Notre Dame will join ACC as full member, except for football.
This is a breaking story- and ACC fans I believe should be concern. After all the cash cow is football and Notre Dame remaining independent doesn’t serve the conference at all.
It does state that the Fighting Irish will play five ACC teams per year but still- I don’t like it.
The Sports Gal Pal 