47Kaos’ Tribute to Sean Taylor
November 30, 2007
Good work from a true fan.
Is Fumbleitis a Hangover Symptom?
November 29, 2007
I normally don’t get into the hearsay, but this is pretty reliable so I’ll be the Don Quixote of the rumor mill. We all know that the Washington Redskins had a bad case of the dropsies during last Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But what we didn’t realize is that two of the fumbalaya chefs, RB Clinton Portis and WR Santana Moss were deep up in Love nightclub just a few nights prior to the game, according to a source on the nightclub scene not named Huggy Lowdown.
And not only were they up in the club, but the source says that they were regular Kings of Crunk in the popular nightspot. Stumbling, bumbling, and a couple days later in the chase for the playoffs, fumbling.
But its not just relegated to Chocolate City. I let it go a couple of weeks ago, but I heard a similar rumor about Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee’s libation love just a couple of nights prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. During that game, the announcer alluded to McGahee’s love for the nightlife since joining the Ravens, and hoped that it would not affect his game.
How ironic that three key members of the Miami Hurricane nation are rumored to be Lords of the Yeungling in their spare time. Again, I don’t know how true it is, but when regular folks start spotting you getting blasted in bars and clubs before big games, it’s a sure fire sign that the term ‘big game’ applies only when your team has a winning record.
300th Post - A Trail of Good Times
November 28, 2007
This is my 300th post on the SVPSteezy. Considering that I haven’t been blogging regularly for that long, I don’t know how significant that is, but I know it’s hard to try to be funny, insightful, and readable for one post, let along 300. I know, I know, there’s some videos in there, but I’ve written more than I’ve cheated with videos and links, so save the drama for your mama.
There’s a lot of people to thank and acknowledge for this. Personally, my wife of four months for putting up with late night researching, web surfing and commenting binges. Professionally, Dan Steinberg, the Mottrams, TBL’s 1 and 2, Larry Brown, the We Rite Goode guys, Hugging Harold Reynolds, Deuce of Davenport, DC Pro Sports Report, Construda, FanSided, Cousins of Ron Mexico and of course, the YardBarker network.
Last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank Scott Van Pelt for not suing a brother.
There’s been way more good than bad in these 300 or posts. Yesterday was among the worst, obviously. Still, it’s been a great ride early on. Here are some highlights courtesy of Google Analytics that help tell the story.
Most Viewed Post - Being Tony Durant - SI.com and the Wall Street Journal had a lot to do with this, but the fact that Kevin Durant had an older brother was intriguing in itself.
City with Most Views - Washington D.C. - Home of the Washington Redskins and the Washington Wizards, I’ve learned that if you invoke the names of Gilbert Arenas or Joe Bugel, magic will happen.
Foreign City with Most Views - London - This could mean one of three things: 1) Folks in London really like Baltimore-Washington sports, 2) The military personnel over there have too much time on their hands, 3) Ted Leonsis is an international icon.
Thanks everybody for reading, supporting and hating on me for all of these posts. Here’s to the next 300. And click more ads, people; I’m trying to do this for a living one day.
Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison - Two Amigos Ain’t Bad
November 28, 2007
When news hit that Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas would miss at least three months to rehabilitate his surgically-repaired knee, it looked like the Wizards’ season would be mailed in right along with Eddie Jordan’s ticket out of town. But oh, what a difference 10 games makes, as the Wizards have come out on the winning end of seven out of their last ten, including a Monday night win over the Western Conference powerhouse Dallas Mavericks.
Where Arenas was doing his best to play into his usual swag, forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison have reminded Wiz fans and the rest of the league why they are the forgotten members of the Eastern Conference all-stars. Combining for 62 points and 14 rebounds on Monday against the Mavericks, the duo has averaged 63 and 18 over the last four contests.
Eddie Jordan should get a lot of the credit for this turnaround, as a lot of pressure for scoring has become easier with the emergence of post players Brendan Haywood and Andray Blatche. Haywood, who started off the season in the top five in double-doubles, has maintained a solid presence in the post. Blatche, in more of an active role this season off the bench, has provided a reliable scoring option in the post, which has allowed for more operating room for Jamison and Butler outside of the paint.
And don’t look now, but the Wizards are only 4.5 games out of the conference-leading Boston Celtics, and show no signs of slowing down.
There’s no question that minus a solid scoring threat like Arenas, the scoring must be spread around more members of the starting unit, but Butler, Jamison and the rest of the Washington Wizards are showing that two out of three really isn’t that bad.
What Sean Taylor Means to Black America
November 27, 2007
Originally Published: jarrett-carter.com
To most people, the news of Sean Taylor’s death hits harder than any tackle the 24-year-old safety laid on anyone during his superlative and stormy four years with the Washington Redskins. The death of any well-known athlete speaks to the heart of sports fans, who grow to identify with a number, a passion, and a presence that fills their Sundays.
But the death of Sean Taylor is a story that plays out in black communities all too often, without cameras, analysis, or widespread mourning. A black male with all the potential in the world to succeed, cut short because of past transgressions. His physical gifts and talents on the football field gave him an opportunity to turn his life around, but despite the multitude of resources, we still hear about the links to his violent, and sometimes criminal past.
So what will be the lesson that black folk take from this tragedy? Will black mothers hold the newspaper stories up in front of their sons with teary eyes and shaky voices? Will black fathers learn to talk to their sons as men about consequences and loyalty to circumstances beyond their control?
Will black sons look at Taylor as a martyr, a symbol of quiet toughness falling prey to haters within an altruistic ideology of loyalty to the friends and sins of the past?
What happens when the hope and tragedy of so many black men in this country intersects? What happens when the fame and riches of sports that allures so many children, intertwines with the reality of their everyday lives? What happens to black boys when they see that even sports can’t save you?
They figure out that life isn’t something to be saved, but to be invested in the moment they have right now. That you can only live for this day, and the desires of this moment. Ultimately, that’s the only thing that they have complete ownership of, so why not make the most of it. That’s what Sean Taylor did. When he was angry in the past, he acted. And how he wanted to channel that anger was exactly how it would be channeled.
And with as much passion and ferocity as he tracked down open receivers and leveled hapless punters in exhibition contests, he lived in fierce protection of his manhood, and his pride. Nothing he had attained or would attain, was more important than the respect he was owed, in any situation. And this same fire motivated him to become a better man and player, but not before the elements of his past would claim his life.
Perhaps the tales of Taylor defending his house and family in his last hours will become the stuff of urban lore among black men. The details of his wielding a machete against coming intruders may live on in the streets as a heroic epic that exemplified the passion with which he lived his life. The fact that he was prideful enough to occupy a home that had been breached just eight days earlier may speak to the heart of realness, and may erroneously supply definition to how a black man should conduct himself, even to his death.
But reality is Sean Taylor is dead. There will be others like him that won’t get the goodbyes of a nation. We can only hope that the lesson in this tragedy won’t be how to live and die as a loyal soldier, but to live forever as a leader of men.
Sean Taylor Dies
November 27, 2007
Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died this morning at the age of 24, as a result of a gunshot wound suffered in an apparent robbery attempt yesterday morning at his Miami home. He was 24.
His father notified his attorney Richard Sharpstein this morning around 5:30 a.m., but his exact time of death his not immediately available. The gunshot severed a femoral artery in his leg area, causing him to lose a significant amount of blood.
Doctors were encouraged early yesterday evening after Taylor physically responded to attempts to revive him, although there were concerns about long term brain damage. Miami-Dade police are still investigating the crime, which occurred eight days after a previous robbery attempt in which someone entered his home, and left a kitchen knife on his bed.
The thoughts of my family, and the families of millions of people around the world are with the Taylor family, and the Washington Redskins organization this morning and in the weeks to come.
Washington Redskins’ Sean Taylor Shot in Miami
November 26, 2007
Details are being circulated throughout news outlets about Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor being shot in his Miami home. Pro Football Talk is citing an unidentified source as saying Taylor is “fighting for his life” after a gunshot during a burglary attempt this morning severed his femoral artery.
Taylor was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to regional news sources.
Washington Capitals Make Power Play
November 26, 2007
There’s been a lot of buzz around the blogsphere about the Washington Capitals firing coach Glen Hanlon last week and replacing him with minor league coach and hockey-cinema legend Bruce Boudreau . Most of it has been because of his acting career, but its also resulted in a resurgent Caps team that has won its last two contests since his hiring.
Part of the reason for the winning streak that the Caps haven’t seen the likes of since the beginning of October? A charged up power play that gave the Caps a 5-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, and the team’s biggest offensive output of the season.
Cory Masisak of the Washington Times gives a good look on the Caps bringing new energy to the extra-man shift, and how it should bode well for them in the near future. While it may take a while for the Caps to climb the ladder of the Southeast division, a big win over the leading Hurricanes is sure to get a little power surging through the Slap Shot gang’s locker room.
Jason Campbell Gives Hope to Redskins’ Offense
November 25, 2007
There are many things that went wrong for the Washington Redskins in their 19-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this afternoon. But the Redskins will be a legitimate contender for a wild card spot this year thanks to one man.
And its not Joe Gibbs.
Jason Campbell is willing this offense to play close games against solid competition. In today’s loss to Tampa Bay and last week’s loss to the division-leading Dallas Cowboys, Campbell has thrown for more than 300 yards in both contests. The knock against him has been his decision-making in the late stages of games, but a look at the bigger picture reveals a bigger problem for a Joe Gibbs-run offense: lack of run production.
Washington considerably upgraded from last week’s loss in opportunities given to the rushing tandem of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, but the results were similar. Portis and Betts combined for 115 yards on 28 carries today, but it paled in comparison to the 49 passes attempted by Campbell. Last week, Campbell attempted 54 passes, after 14 carries by Portis and Betts yielded only 44 yards.
Important to note is that the team has no rushing touchdowns in the last two games, which points to a lack of production in the red zone for the Redskins. That means longer throws early in drives, which leads to greater opportunities for turnovers.
Campbell is a second year quarterback, but measured against tenured QB’s like Kyle Boller, Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning, Campbell is doing much more to put his team in a position to win. And in an offense with receivers and running backs that aren’t built for the system, he’s the biggest piece to a half-completed puzzle in Washington.
That Thing About Gilbert Arenas
November 22, 2007
I have nothing to say about this, because it’s devastating news. Not for the Washington Wizards, because they stand to play well within the system without their best and most reliable scorer running the offense.
I feel bad for him, his family and America at large, because a large portion of the hero image that is Gilbert Arenas will be out of action pretty much until March Madness. It’s a situation like Greg Oden; his swag continues to grow in leaps and bounds because of his personality, but watching him on the court is what will make his anointing as ‘great’ complete.
That, and the fact that he can ball.
So, since I’m not saying anything about this, here are some people who are.
This Blog Might Not Come Back - DC Sports Bog
Gilbert Goes Down, Our Hearts Go On - Mister Irrelevant
And I Was Just Starting to Enjoy My Vacation - Bullets Forever
No Name - Just Pure Pain - Wizznutzz.com
Injured Again - The Agent Zero Files
