Tag: Sports

Tampa Bay Rays Giving Away 20,000 Tickets

Although the Tampa Bay Rays have been playing excellent baseball for years, they still can’t get fans to go to their games. In a curious PR stunt, the team is giving away 20,000 tickets to its Wednesday night game against the Baltimore Orioles. Will they be able to get fans to stick around for the playoffs? I’m not too sure.

On one hand, it’s pathetic that the city hasn’t supported this fine team. There are lots of young and exciting players that are bringing it at a high level. In that respect, the players have a point when complaining about the lack of attendance. On the other hand, the economy blows and the last thing people want to hear is some millionaire athlete whining about how nobody watches him play.

What do you think of the Rays’ situation? Should the denizens of Tampa Bay be paying closer attention?

Source

Who Dat? The ESRB Teams Up with the New Orleans Saints

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has teamed up with New Orleans Saints players Marques Colston and Devery Henderson on an ad campaign that educates parents about videogame ratings. Here are some quotes by Colston and Henderson from the press release. Colston said:

I play a ton of video games, and while most of them are OK for kids, some of them are clearly intended for older players. They say the best defense is a good offense, and I know about good offense. A parent’s best defense against bringing home the wrong game for their child is to go on offense and use the ratings every time they buy or rent a game. You’re always better off when you know the play.

Henderson added:

Being a father, I know how important it is for parents to have all the help they can get. The ESRB ratings give us the guidance and information that we need to make sure our kids are playing age-appropriate games. Marques and I are proud to be a part of this effort to educate parents throughout Louisiana and across the country.

You can watch the video on the ESRB’s media library. It’s listed under “statewide and local TV”. (Now imagine how many people could see these spots if the ESRB allowed embedding.)

I know at least one RPadholic will be proud of his players for teaming up with the ESRB. Yeah, I pretty much posted this article for him.

Source (PDF link)

The Fighter Trailer, Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale

I can’t wait to see The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg (“Feel the vibrations!”) and Christian Bale (“You and me, we’re done professionally!”). The movie is a dramatized biography of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward. He’s best known for his scintillating trilogy against the late Arturo “Thunder” Gatti and his brutal fight against Emmanuel Augustus. While Ward was hardly a skilled ring technician, fans adored him for his heart, guts, and cast iron chin. Before he made decent money in the Gatti fights, boxings fans — especially in Massachusetts — loved that he worked as a road paver between fights.

Check out the trailer above and let me know what you think (please)! Also, Amy Adams is really hot (but not in this movie).

Coffee Talk #215: Who Are Your Favorite Internet Writers?

Let’s be real — this can’t possibly be the only web site you visit on a daily basis. Don’t worry, I don’t get (too) jealous when you spend time reading other sites. Having said that, I’d love to hear about some of your favorite Internet writers. Whether it’s games, sports, tech, or whatever, let me know who some of your favorite scribes are. Here are some of mine:

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, J.Lo as an American Idol judge, WWE banning Soma (even with a prescription), or Britney Spears’ engagement rumors, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Let’s be real — this can’t possibly be the only web site you visit on a daily basis. Don’t worry, I don’t get (too) jealous when you spend time reading other sites. Having said that, I’d love to hear about some of your favorite Internet writers. Whether it’s games, sports, tech, or whatever, let me know who some of your favorite ‘net scribblers are. Here are some of mine:

  • Games: Christian Nutt (Gamasutra), Chris Kohler (Wired), Brian Leahy (Shacknews), and Dean Takahashi (VentureBeat) [Full disclosure: Kohler and I do a stunning karaoke duet of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, Christian and I used to be roommates, and Leahy…well, most of you know.]
  • Tech: Om Malik (GigaOm), James Kendrick (JKonTheRun), MG Siegler (TechCrunch), and Fake Steve Jobs (FakeSteveJobs)
  • Sports: Bill Simmons (ESPN) and Doug Fischer (The Ring)

Now it’s your turn! Who are some of your favorite Internet writers?

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Faces Five Years in Jail Over iPhone

Supremely talented boxer and amazing racist Floyd Mayweather, Jr. faces up to five years in prison over a domestic disturbance, according to The Associated Press. Mayweather’s ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris, has accused him of beating her and stealing her iPhone. Here’s a clip from the AP story:

Mayweather, 33, said nothing as he was released from the Clark County jail on $3,000 bail after being booked on a grand larceny charge. He could face up to five years in state prison if he is convicted of taking items valued at less than $2,500.

According to Mayweather’s attorney, the iPhone is simply lost:

Mayweather’s lawyer, Richard Wright, denied Mayweather was guilty of the criminal charges based on allegations by Josie Harris.

“He did not commit any grand larceny,” Wright told The Associated Press. “Josie can’t find her iPhone. We’re attempting to find it or replace it. We’ll cooperate in the investigation. We expect to get the matter resolved.” An iPhone typically costs less than $500.

Isn’t there an app that can help Harris locate her iPhone? Or does she have to be a Mobile Me subscriber to access that feature? Also, this story has me happier than I ought to be about a domestic disturbance. I’m reminded of the Thai phrase “som nom na”. *snicker*

Source

Help Me Understand Why Floyd Mayweather Gets to be Racist

In the past couple of Coffee Talk columns, I referred to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s racist (and homophobic) rant against Manny Pacquiao. In addition to accusing Pacquiao of taking performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather railed on the Filipino boxer for eating dogs, eating cats, being yellow, being a midget, and being a “faggot”. Mayweather eloquently claimed that Pacquiao, “Can’t speak no English!” He also called for Pacquiao to make him rice and assorted Japanese foods (don’t ask me why).

For reasons that upset and perplex me, Mayweather isn’t getting heat for his comments. Is it because he’s African American and the American press is wary of accusing an African American of racism? Is it because Pacquiao is Filipino and (for ridiculous reasons) Asians/Pacific Islanders aren’t considered as much of a minority as African Americans and Latino Americans? I’m not really sure. Thankfully, ESPN’s LZ Granderson wrote a fantastic article on the matter. Here’s a lengthy excerpt:

Not long after [Dr. Laura] Schlessinger made her remarks, Rev. Al Sharpton could be seen ripping her to shreds on CNN and suggesting sponsors pull ads from her show. I’ve yet to hear a Sharpton comment regarding Mayweather. I’ve yet to hear him call for a boycott of any of his future fights or the sponsors tied to him.

The same goes for the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who didn’t have a problem inserting himself in the conversation this summer when Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert went off on LeBron James after the King moved his throne to Miami. Jackson implied Gilbert’s comments were laced with racist undertones. He even demanded a sit-down with the owner. I’ve yet to see Jackson insert himself into the Mayweather conversation or publicly request a similar meeting.

We know what Mayweather’s comments said about him, but what does the muted response say about Sharpton, Jackson and the rest us? That it’s different because it’s boxing?

Maybe.

But the day Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997, Fuzzy Zoeller took a lot of heat and lost sponsors for calling a then-21-year-old Woods “little boy” and urging him not to serve fried chicken and collard greens the following year. Zoeller’s words are akin to Mayweather’s about Pacquiao, who is Filipino. Now do you still think it’s about boxing?

Mayweather’s comments are as troublesome as Schlessingers’, but he is being treated differently because he’s black.

Period.

Anyway, the whole thing has been bothering me for the last week or so and I wanted to get your thoughts on the matter. Why do you think Mayweather is getting a pass on this issue?