December 31, 2009 | Filed Under News | Comments Off
USA Today reports that the Cowboys are still stinging from last years loss to the Eagles, and want to get a measure of revenge this Sunday:
Cowboys TE Jason Witten acknowledges being motivated by last year’s 44-6 loss to the Eagles in the season finale. But he said this team is different and he hopes the outcome will be different Sunday. “We still felt we could win that game,” Witten said. “But the focus this team has had, the preparation, is a totally different feel. I think that has shown over the last few weeks, not just the off-the-field stuff, but on the field, the way we’re playing, the way Tony (Romo) is playing and all that goes into that. I think we’re all just feeding off one another. We’ve earned the right to get to this spot. Yeah, that was good making the playoffs. We’re one of 12 teams. But we’re still playing for a lot more than that. We were talking about that earlier. If we can win this game, it gives us a huge platform to win in the playoffs. We know win or lose, we’ve got to move forward. That’s what good teams do.”
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off
![Men Kissing[2]](http://jeffpearlman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Men-Kissing2.jpg)
At this time every December, I am required to tell my favorite New Year’s Eve story of all time.
So I will.
In the winter of 1995 I was a 23-year-old writer for The (Nashville) Tennessean, back home in New York for the holidays. My friend Dan worked for a major corporation in the city, and he told me one of his co-workers was having the New Year’s Eve party to end New Year’s Eve parties. “It’s gonna be incredible,” Dan said. “Guy is loaded.” So we decided to go—Dan, me, our longtime friend Paul, Mike Lewis (the Daytona sports writer), Dan’s roommate. Dan actually had to secure passes from the host, whose apartment was a stone’s throw from the Times Square ball drop.
On the night of Dec. 31, we all met at Dan’s apartment, then walked to Times Square. We handed a couple of police officers our passes, and they let us through a barricade. The apartment building where the guy lived was gigantic, as well as beautiful. A lobby with plush carpets, expensive paintings, piped-in classical music, etc. We took the elevator to the penthouse, and were greeted warmly by the host. “You guys are the first ones here,” he said. “But make yourselves at home.”
We did. The bar was loaded, the food was spectacular. We ate and chatted, drank and chatted. The goals were pretty clear—have fun, get drunk, hopefully meet some women, hook up, so on and so on.
Then, gradually, guests began to arrive.
Two men.
Three men.
Four men.
Three men.
Two men.
Five men.
Six men.
Two more men.
Paul looked at me, real funny-like. “Jeff,” he said, “this is a gay New Year’s party.”
Indeed, it was.
I’ll never forget it. My friends were well-dressed, which was the norm at the party. I was wearing a University of Tennessee football jersey, which was not the norm (One cannot have a more prominent NOT GAY! neon sign than a Tennessee football jersey). Some guy kissed Paul, and at one point Mike looked around and said, “You know what—I’m gonna mingle!”
It wasn’t awkward, but fun. Joyful. Memorable. As the clock counted down to midnight, I stood on the guy’s balcony, bottle of bubbly in hand, surrounded by, oh, 150 gay men. When 1996 arrived, everyone started yelling and cheering, then making out. One big simultaneous make-out.
It’s my favorite New Year memory.
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Rob V | Comments Off
I was reading some things on DallasNews.com and thought I would share some of them with you as we are now about one hour before entering 2010.
Redskin Fined
I’m sure everyone remembers the hit that Patrick Crayton took on his only reception...
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December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, DeSean Jackson, Mike Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off
Before I get into this, let me get one thing straight. I am not a trash talker and never have been. I don't talk smack about other teams in a bad way, except to friends and people I know. It is done in jest, and I always respect everyone and who they support.
But is being confident of your abilities and expressing them to the media, is that considered smack or trash talk? I don't believe it is. It seems the Philadelphia Eagles media and fans are trying to make it into smack talk and have it to "inspire" the team. I don't really believe the Eagles need anything to "inspire" them except to play hard and win. Their inspiration is the same as the Dallas Cowboys, to win the Super Bowl. They might have more inspiration because with a win, they will have a #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Cowboys will need a win and some help.
Here is the quote from Mike Jenkins
“We’re just playing the deep balls. The main thing is they try to catch you off-guard. It’s yet to happen to us, and we’re not planning on it to happen. I guess he (DeSean Jackson) runs past a lot of guys, and it’s not going to happen this week. It’s not going to happen to us, period.”
Here is what was said on a fan blog:
LINK
Earlier in the week Cowboys second year corner Mike Jenkins felt the need to trash talk the Eagles pro bowl second year WR DeSean Jackson. If you need a refresher on what Jenkins said, check it out here (also the bonus 300+ comment discussion on how great Cowboys fans think he is!) Obviously, all the local reporters ran to Jackson with the quote.
"If that's how he's feeling than that's how he's feeling," Jackson said today. "I don't get caught up in things like that. I'm not going to entertain this. I got a job to go out there and make plays, which I'm going to do. I don't think nobody's going to stop me from doing that. I'm not going to make it a bigger deal than it already is. I have what I need inside of me to get me going for the game. That's all I care about. I don't feel I need to talk or relay messages through the media."
I think Jackson is an outstanding receiver and can make the big plays, Mike Jenkins is an outstanding cornerback. Both are competent in their abilities. I like that if they can talk the talk, they usually back it up with the walk.
Here's the Philadelphia Eagles beat writers article
LINK
Now, I classify trash or smack talk as if Jenkins said the quote then challenged Jackson directly and I didn't see it. He is expressing his confidence in himself and in his teammates.
So, if the Eagles' fans need some inspiration, make it a big deal, but I don't think the Eagles really need the inspiration. If Jackson breaks a long reception, well good for him. If Jenkins doesn't allow it to happen, good for him as well.
Being confident and expressing yourself is not smack talk.
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under 24, 24 football references, 24 series, Northwestern Wildcats, jim phillips 24, jim phillips series 24, northwestern 24, northwestern team watching 24, northwestern watching 24, northwestern wildcats watching 24, pat fitzgerald 24, pat fitzgerlad 24 | Comments Off
By West Lamy
Northwestern is completing their final team preparations including the television series “24” for movie night before the January 1st Outback bowl in Tampa, Florida. “Jack Bauer, that is all that need be said, he is the modern day MacGyver” Coach Pat Fitzgerald said in the early news conference. The Wildcats are making their first trip to a January bowl game since 1997, and the 11 a.m. ET kickoff is less than 24 hours away. And for two straight years, before all games their team activity has been watching the television series.
Northwestern watched “24” an action/drama television series last year before last season’s 30-23 overtime loss to then-No. 25 Missouri in the Alamo Bowl. For those unfamiliar with the show, the story of “24” is presented in the semblance of real time. Each season depicts a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the United States government as it fights fictitious terrorist threats to the United States. “That is part of the Wildcats bonding together as a team throughout the season every Friday night, watching an episode just to be together as a Northwestern football family” Athletic director Jim Philips said.
“24” is the second longest-running espionage series in television history, behind the Mission: Impossible series by number of episodes and The Avengers by longevity of broadcast. Northwestern has not won a bowl game since 1949. 8.5 points favor the SEC representative Auburn Tigers. “Northwestern has a chance to re-write our own history, that is the message that we are sharing as a team in practice with the players and coaching staff, ” Philips said. This will be the first meeting on the gridiron for the Tigers and the Wildcats. Auburn is 6-3 in bowl games against Big Ten opponents, while Northwestern lost its only previous bowl meeting with an SEC team, 48-28 against Tennessee in the 1997 Citrus Bowl.
External notes from 1990-2009 IMDb.com, Inc.
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December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off
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December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Kelly H, holiday | Comments Off
It’s been a heck of a ride this year at Lone Star Struck, and though we’re sad to see 2009 go, we are absolutely pumped for a new year in 2010.
On behalf of everybody at LSS, I want to thank all of our amazing readers for their...
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December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Red Sox, Cliff Lee, Doc Holliday, Jason Bay, New York Mets, baseball | Comments Off
Well, the dream of Jason Bay returning to Fenway has officially died today. He’s accepted an offer from the Mets for 4yr/$66M with a fifth year option. Boston was only short six million dollars that would push the organization into the luxury tax category. Bay was nothing short of stellar in Fenway and should be [...]
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Forum Jabber, Member of the Month, Sportsjabber Radio, sportsjabber | Comments Off
We started last month announcing the monthly nominees for Member of the Month. We’re doing this because we want the nominees and the rest of the members and guests to know & applaud ALL of the members who the staff recognizes as making strong contributions during a given month.
Sure…Only one will win each month, but [...]
December 31, 2009 | Filed Under Floyd Mayweather, General Sports, Juan Manual Marquez, Kelly Pavlik, Shane Mosley, boxing | Comments Off
All boxing publications, magazines and organizations seem to have their own version of who is the best pound-for-pound champion.
A Sports Moment in Time is no exception.
I, Caesar Cliffius do hereby decree that Floyd Mayweather, Jr., is the best fighter in the world.
I have listed my top ten fighters on the planet, without regard to weight. [...]
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