NFL Gets Promotional Help From Academy Awards Show

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Constantly dominating the ratings, the NFL doesn’t need any outside help promoting their league but last night’s Academy Awards show in Los Angeles provided an adrenaline shot into the league’s arm anyways when Sandra Bullock took home the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Blind Side, the film that featured Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher.

The movie showed Oher’s impoverished upbringing and adoption by a couple in Memphis, Tennessee and his challenging journey that eventually led to being a first-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Being the first female-lead film to ever hit the $200 million mark, the heart-warming story provided an abundance of PR for Oher, the Ravens and the NFL and Bullock’s Oscar win last night reached an audience that may not have the NFL set on their DVR’s so it gives the league yet another boast.

In addition to the Best Actress category, The Blind Side was also nominated for  Best Picture and is scheduled to be released on March 12, 2010 in Great Britain, a country that has been the location for NFL regular season games over the past few years.

Note: Bullock also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance.

© 2010 Sports Climax^TM

NFC North Gap Narrowed After Bears and Lions Free Agency Moves

While NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were forced to sit idle during the free agency bidding wars, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions were the most aggressive teams on day one.

Lovie Smith and Da’ Bears snatched the biggest prize of the day when they signed defensive end Julius Peppers to a six-year contract worth a maximum $91.5 million. The five-time Pro Bowl player will receive a record $42 million guaranteed.

In addition to Peppers, Da’ Bears also snatched running back Chester Taylor from the Vikings signing the rusher to a four-year deal worth $12.5 million with $7 million guaranteed.

Knowing the importance of granting quarterback Jay Cutler more time to throw, they also added blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from the San Diego Chargers.

Not to be outdone, the Detroit Lions made a few quick moves of their own, signing three sure starters when they inked deals with two defensive linemen and a No. 2 wide receiver.

Wanting to shore up a defense that was last in the NFL in points allowed and total yards, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz personally visited Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch at 12:01 AM on day one of free agency and convinced the Pro Bowler to sign with the team.

While Vanden Bosch and his agent were working out the details of a four-year, $26 million deal, the Lions also inked a $25 million contract with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson.

Burleson played in 13 games for the Seahawks last year, catching 63 for 812 yards and three touchdowns and is expected to free up Calvin Johnson from the double and triple coverage he sees on a weekly basis.

Joining Vanden Bosch on the Lions’ defensive line will be Cleveland Browns Corey Williams, another proven starter who was obtained by a trade.

With the Lions adding these proven veteran linemen to their defense and with the team expected to use their No. 2 overall selection in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft to select defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, you can throw last year’s dismal defensive stats out the window.

These aggressive moves by the Bears and Lions are certain to make the NFC North more competitive.

Minnesota lost a huge piece of their offense when Taylor left and while Brett Favre sits on the fence in Minnesota still contemplating a return, The Green Bay Packers lost Pro Bowl defensive lineman Aaron Kampman to free agency as well.

© 2010 - Sports Climax^TM

NFL Returning Pro Bowl Game to Hawaii

The NFL announced that the 2011 Pro Bowl will return to Hawaii and be played the weekend before Super Bowl XLV at Aloha Stadium. Game time is Sunday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. ET.

Honolulu had been the home to the Pro-Bowl from 1980 through 2009 until a change was made and for the first time the game was played prior to the Super Bowl in 2010.

The decision to play the weekend before the Super Bowl again in 2011 was fueled by the increase in ratings and attendance for the 2010 game that was held in South Beach in January.

Although that 2010 Pro Bowl game was missing the players from both Super Bowl teams and the game had a slew of reserves, approximately 12.3 million viewers watched the game on ESPN. That number was a 40% increase from the 2009 game that was played the week after that Super Bowl.

The 12.3 million viewers also set a record for most
viewers to watch an All-Star game in any sport on cable television.

NFL Vice president Frank Supovitz commented on the change.

“Playing the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl generated more excitement and interest in the event and also kicked off Super Bowl week in an innovative new way. We are pleased to return to the state of Hawaii, which has embraced the Pro Bowl for 30 years.”

Eagles Send Brian Westbrook Packing

PHILADELPHIA - The incredible era of Brian Westbrook donning Philly green is over.

Just days after the San Diego Chargers released their former All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the Philadelphia Eagles followed that lead and sent theirs packing as well.

Westbrook, the Eagles franchise-leading running back was cut Tuesday after a record-setting run that also included a laundry list of injuries.

Over his 8 years in Philly, Westbrook compiled a team record 9,785 yards from scrimmage including 5,995 yards on the ground and had 426 receptions for another 3,790 yards. He also scored 68 TDs.

A dependable back for much of his career, Westbrook surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark 20 times in during his career; tying for second-most in Eagle history.

This decision is believed to be influenced by two factors, one he spent eight games on the sidelines with head and ankle injuries and two he was in line to receive $7.25 million next season.

Eagles coach Andy Reid has a solid relationship with his team and individual players and was the one who called Westbrook with the disheartening news on Tuesday.

“Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is an even a better person and leader,” Reid said. “In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen. He had no weaknesses.”

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax™

Is Chris Berman Leaving ESPN?

Chris Berman’s contract with ESPN expires in a few months and he may be allowed to depart the network for the NFL Network or Directv, according to various NFL insiders.

Berman, whose tenure with the behemoth sports broadcast system began in 1979 has other potential employers throwing opportunities his way and no firm extension with ESPN says Sportsbybrooks.com and thebiglead.com.

Leaving the Worldwide Leader,(”WWL”) so to speak, limits his scope to one sport, and it looks like it might just be football - and we all know Berman is about size and scope.

His voice, his delivery, his schtick and his 6′5″ body, Slim Fast diet or no Slim Fast diet render him the biggest presence on any set he shares with other sports personalities.

Leaving aside the critiques of his style, my interest is piqued by the potential for him to rejoin and over shadow the current stars of their respective sports networks: Rich Eisen at the NFL Network and Dan Patrick at Directv’s 101 Channel.

Both of these men are former colleagues of Berman at ESPN and from their references to him when they banter with each other during the course of Patrick’s daily radio program, it is apparent they aren’t Boomer’s biggest fans. Then again he was the top dog there and perhaps wasn’t as gracious about it all as he might have been.

But if the rumors about Berman’s pursuit by either of the other networks is true, the potential to overshadow Patrick and Eisen exists unless he is restricted to particular duties that never intersect with theirs. I find that hard to imagine.

Also on notice is Andrew Siciliano who has competently handled the chores every NFL Sunday for Directv’s Red Zone Channel which surfs from game to game to pick up the action inside the 20 yard line and more.

Adding Berman to any of those networks sports packages could be dicey for the men who have carved out their niche independent of the WWL. But Berman’s fan appeal and “Q” rating would be hard to turn down for networks that only hope to make a dent in ESPN’s sports broadcasting domination.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

New Orleans Saints Celebrate in Mardi Gras-Style

NEW ORLEANS - Who Dat Nation celebrated in with their Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in Mardi Gras-style during a victory parade on Tuesday where an estimated 800,000 jammed the streets cheering as carnival floats carrying players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson cruised through the downtown area.

The party comes two days after ‘America’s team’ upset the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl to earn its first championship in franchise history. Music and confetti filled the air as quarterback Drew Brees and several other players tossed beads into the crowd.

The Mardi Gras-style spectacle included 10 floats and 12 marching bands, including one display that donned a giant replica of the Super Bowl Lombardi trophy.

The parade ended at the foot of Convention Center Boulevard where the players were greeted by Mayor Ray Na , Gov. Bobby Jindal and Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter. The politicians then toasted the organization with champagne.

The come from behind 31-17 victory Sunday brought the Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans after a 43-year wait.

Related Articles:

Who Dat? They aint the Aints!

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

Thrashers’ GM Teflon Don

The Slap-of-the-Week many times is awarded to athletes with guns, swimmers who decide to hit bongs in public or guys who sucker-punch opponents on the sidelines but occasionally we do award it to those managers and GMs who show a high enough level of incompetency.That said, this week’s slap goes to Atlanta Thrashers’ GM Don Waddell GM.

For those of you who do not know the NHL exists, Waddell is the orchestrator of one of the NHL’s most struggling franchises. At the helm for about ten years, Teflon Don has only taken a team to the playoffs on one occasion and that team was sent packing in a four-game sweep. In a league where a majority of the teams are handed a playoff spot, that record speaks volumes.

DW said earlier in the week, the team needs to start winning games and how does a guy like Waddell accomplish that? By trading away Ilya Kovalchuk, the face of his franchise , one of the most talented players in the world for a slew of unproven players and leaving his fans hanging out to dry. After the trade Waddell had the audacity to say “I don’t think it sets us back at all. I think it moves us forward.”

SLAP!

A landslide choice, Waddell joins Matt Millen the Detroit Lions’ CEO who received the Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week a few weeks into the 2009 NFL season.

Since the trade that rocked the hockey world some of the mainstream media continues to hammer Waddell while he ventures off on a face-saving mission. Before last night’s game, Waddell actually met with his season ticket holders explaining the team needs a ‘new identity’.

SLAAAPP! Yes it does Don and it needs to start at the top with a new GM.

Detroit Lions fans spent almost a decade as their guy Millen was somehow able to hang onto a job while his team constantly struggled to stay out of the basement-now it’s the Atlanta fans who are falling victim to the same scenario. Millen spent his time firing everyone around him as Waddell has while both their teams remained one of the jokes of their leagues.

Back to that meeting with the fans. Have you ever seen an NHL GM meet personally with the fans to explain a move like DW did before yesterday’s game? That move may be considered a desperate move to save face and one that reeks ‘amateur’.

As the fans and media are trying to cool down after the move that may destroy this franchise, it’s time to deliver one more for good measure SLAP! to the man who helped make it all possible.

Related Articles:

Once Again, Teflon Don Couldn’t Get the Deal Done

Matt Millen Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax

Sexy Danica Patrick Super Bowl Ad Rejected by CBS (video)

CBS has rejected a sexy Go Daddy ad featuring NASCAR and Indy driver Danica Patrick that was submitted for this year’s Super Bowl.

See the ad below in it’s entirety then check out our recent column, ‘Danica Does Daytona’.

Here’s the Go Daddy ad:

More Danica Patrick:

Sexiest Female Athletes Gallery

Danica Takes NASCAR Test Drive at Daytona

Rex Ryan Fined $50,000 for Flipping Finger

NEW YORK - The New York Jets fined their coach Rex Ryan $50,000 for making the obscene gesture that involves the middle finger while at a martial arts fight in South Florida over the weekend.

Nowadays everyone is walking around with a cell phone with photo and video capabilities. You would think these professional coaches and athletes would learn over time that they are always under the watchful eye of the public.

Ryan voiced what the rest of the world must have been thinking when he apologized the following day saying, his actions were “stupid and inappropriate.” General manager Mike Tannenbaum had said the organization was disappointed and would address the matter internally which he did today by levying the fine.

The coach also could be fined by the NFL under its personal conduct policy.

Ryan’s image drew loud boos from the crowd when a ringside Showtime interview was shown on the Bank Atlantic Center video scoreboard.

Of course in Ryan fashion, the coach also trash-talked even though his season is over saying “I want to just tell everybody in Miami, hey, we’re coming to beat you twice next year.”

Ryan has made headlines all season with his trash-talking and going way out there like when he cried at a team meeting in front of his players. His team went 9-7 during the season and went on to make the playoffs. His prediction about the Jets saying the team should be the favorite to win the Super Bowl was brushed off as just Ryan being Ryan.

Last weekend at the Pro Bowl in Miami, several of the Jets’ players supported their coach.

“He’s one of those guys who if you come at me, I’m coming at you. It was all in fun. They were probably yelling and talking stuff at him and it ticked him off. Fans can be like that,” defensive end Shaun Ellis told the New York Post.

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

Michael Vick says if not Caught He’d Likely Still be Dogfighting

Michael Vick would still be engaged in dog fighting had he not been caught and prosecuted. He admitted that Monday morning on the Dan Patrick radio program in an interview during which he touched on his year as a Philadelphia Eagle as well as his time in prison.Vick was open with Patrick whose questions covered what could have been uncomfortable topics. But then again, Vick was also promoting his BET series, “The Michael Vick Project” that premieres Tuesday at 10 pm ET.

He told Patrick about his early introduction to dog fighting “I was seven years old the first time I saw one,” Vick said. “It wasn’t organized. It was just taking place in an open area in the neighborhoods.” But he knows it’s no excuse, “It really doesn’t override the fact that we should have known better,” Vick said.

And then he admitted the sad truth about what would have happened had he not been caught. He answered Patrick’s direct question about whether he would still be engaged in the business of dog fighting: “That’s the scary thing,” Vick said. “I think about it. I would have continued to put my life in jeopardy. From a distance I would have still been involved.”

About his prison experience, Vick said he was challenged by other inmates while incarcerated but he dismissed it as merely the norm for that environment. On the other side of things, he told Patrick was asked for his autograph by some inmates.

And while he will be eternally grateful to the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie for the chance to reenter the league, he still yearns to play quarterback on a regular basis.

Vick said he would return to the Eagles if a trade isn’t worked out in the off-season. “If I had to, I would, just because I’m thankful,” Vick said. He insisted his body is ready for many more years of NFL work load.

This is just a taste of what we can expect from the show in which Vick and his family appear and which he wants to use, to “restore my family’s good name., as quoted at phily.com in a review of his show.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

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