Jocks blog. We report. (You decide.)
Rod Benson: The Amazing Dollar Trick
At the Palms in Vegas, the Dark Knight of the jock-osphere was working on the ladies:
"When we got in, this guy at the bar asked me if I had three quarters with me," he writes. "I told him that I did. He then took his Corona bottle, laid a dollar bill on the top, and placed the quarters on top of the dollar bill, securing it in place. JGant and I had no idea what this was all about. He then asked a girl nearby to try to remove the dollar from its spot, without moving the bottle or the quarters, all while using only one finger. Clearly we all looked at him like he was crazy. After she failed many times, and I failed many times, he whisked his finger past the bill knocking it out and leaving the quarters in their place. It became evident that this was a master pick-up line and that he was good at what he did. All the women in the vicinity were now trying to knock the dollar off of his bottle.
"The next day, JGant and I practiced this over and over until we got it exactly right. Then we spent my day off by the pool, asking girls if they could do it. I found a way to entertain the ladies that day without ever having to score a bucket. All it cost me was $1.75."
You can see the video of Rod trying to pull it off right here.
Donte Whitner: I'm a Bill-iever!
The Bills' Safety talks up the journey from Bill-iever to achiever in his latest post:
"Realizing that we all have different backgrounds and different beliefs is the best part about camp," he writes. "Not only do I get to prove to my coaches and teammates that I belong in this league and deserve the opportunity to lead this football team, but I get to prove to myself that I do have the tools and the talents to become the best safety in the league. And we get to develop the bonds and chemistry that we're going to need deep into November and December. Coach always says, 'you win with hard work and a little luck.'
"We are not just on a journey to the playoffs or to a championship but on the journey of brotherhood. Now this definition of brotherhood is different in my opinion from the Webster's definition. We as Bill-ievers define it as when times get hard out there on the field can I look into your eyes and see that on the next snap you're gonna give me your all? Or do I see a weak and selfish individual? Let me say Bill-ievers: you guys wont see any of that this year. Saddle up and get ready to take this ride!"
Wow, 'Bill-ievers,' I love that. That makes you wonder what other teams call themselves in order to get their motivational ire up. Are Bill Parcell's Dolphins the 'Tuna Toughs'?
Tommy Lasorda: L.A.'s Case For TitleTown USA
"A couple of weeks ago I was on ESPN making our case as to why Los Angeles should be named TitleTown," he writes. "Not only is Los Angeles Titletown, it is the sports capitol of the WORLD!
"Combine all the championships the Dodgers have won with that of USC, UCLA, and, of course, the Lakers.
"Look at the coaches that have coached in LA: Rod Dedeaux (11 College World Sereis titles for USC), John Wooden (10 NCAA titles), Sue Enquist (11 Women's Softball titles), Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, John McKay, John Robinson, Ben Howland, and don't forget about Pete Carroll."
Ah yes, Pete Carroll. Pete knows success and wants to WIN FOREVER.
Annika Sorenstam: Bonjour Means Hello
Annika shares from across the pond:
"Bonjour everyone," she writes. "We are here in beautiful Evian, France for the Evian Masters. This is easily one of our best tournaments on the LPGA…limited field, huge purse, and the prettiest views you can imagine. Yesterday in the Pro-Am, Ron Sirak of Golf Digest, Golf World, and ESPN caddied for me. Ron covers women's golf better than anyone in the business and is someone I consider a friend. We had a nice time and I think he has a newfound respect for Terry's job! As for today, things went just 'OK.' I started well and felt like it was going to be a great day. I was two under after three and made a couple nice putts inside eight feet. However, things never really progressed. I birdied 15 to get to three under, but then I made a couple bogies coming in and failed to take advantage of some scoring opportunities. It was pretty frustrating because I'm happy with my game. Hopefully, things will turn out better tomorrow."
For your sake, I hope so: I hear the Evian Masters is the french equivalent of I Survived a Japanese Game Show.
Errol Kerr: Soccer Mom Van Problems
"I was driving around Truckee in my 1996 Chevy Astro van, and I also have a little scooter that gets good gas mileage," he writes. "I had the scooter in the back of the van. Then today the van dies on me while I was on my way to the dentist's office. I was in Truckee, which is near Tahoe (CA). The alternator died. I unloaded the scooter, rolled it out the back, and scooted over to the dentist office. After my dentist appointment, I scooted back to the van and called my buddy, who charged up my ride and then we drove it to the repair shop. The van is fixed and currently stretching its legs."
With the Astro van and the scooter, there's a Dumb and Dumber reference just dying to come out here.
Pat Neshek: Card Reviewer Extraordinaire
The Twins bullpen guy gives his thoughts on the 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter collection:
"To start I better give a quick summary of the cards," he writes. " Back in the day Allen & Ginter was a real brand of cards…I'm talking early 1900's. Not only did the cards feature pictures of famous baseball players but they went further and picked out champions in other walks of life and plastered their faces on cards.
"Flip ahead 100 years and the brand is put back out by Topps with pictures of baseball players as well as tons of other famous people. For example I just noticed that one of the cards inside the packs is of Hotdog eating champion Joey Chestnut, there's another one of fisherman Kevin Van Dam, one of Harriet Tubman and even the Gateway Arch in St. Louis has a card this year. The coolest part is that Topps put out a card of me in the set…#307 to be exact. I'm very thrilled because this set is my favorite set and I would honestly be content for the rest of my life if I do not get another card…to put it another way this is the set I have wanted to be in for the last 2 years!"