Justin Bieber, Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony and B/R's Tuesday Swagger Buzz
Justin Bieber, Derek Jeter, and Carmelo Anthony were literally burning up the B/R Swagger headline on Tuesday.
Well, maybe not literally, but I'm sure you get the point.
I don't want to spoil anything too soon, but Tuesday was a definitely a good day for those who like to have some fun at the expense at Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees.
Jeter may be a class act, but Yankee part-owner Hank Steinbrenner buffoonishly made his star shortstop look like a villain today, and that gave us plenty to talk about.
Meanwhile, did you know that Justin Bieber showed up at NBA All-Star Weekend?
I know, I was surprised to hear about it too. And he ended up having himself a wild time, which is good for us.
Lastly, I'm sure you heard that Carmelo Anthony got traded to the New York Knicks on Monday night. That was kind of a big deal, and there was some fun to be had with him too.
It was a busy day, and there were plenty of juicy stories to wade through. I mean, shoot, as it these three weren't enough, we also had some Carrie Underwood news.
All this and more ahead. Prepare to have your mind blown!
Justin Bieber: The Biebs Reportedly Tried To Woo Rihanna at NBA All-Star Game
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Justin Bieber Gave It His Best Shot, But He's Apparently Too Young For Rihanna
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would spend so much of my precious time writing about Justin Bieber.
Shoot, this time last week I didn't even know who he was or what he did.
Nevertheless, The Biebs is very much a person that concerns the sports world these days, as he was a prominent fixture throughout the NBA's All-Star Weekend down in Los Angeles.
It started with an MVP performance in the Celebrity All-Star Game, and was capped by a courtside appearance at the actual All-Star Game.
Sitting next to the 16-year-old pop superstar at the All-Star Game was R&B superstar Rihanna, who also performed at halftime.
Sunday also happened to be Rihanna's 23rd birthday, and the word around the campfire is that Bieber tried to give her a proper present: himself.
Yes, according to MTV and just about every other major media outlet, The Biebs asked Rihanna out. Unfortunately for him, it was a swing and a miss.
"It didn’t go so well since I’m not with her," said Bieber. "I asked her out and she was basically like, 'You’re too young."'
Besides, reports also indicate that Rihanna may have a little something going with Irish actor Colin Farrell, who is slightly more of a badass than Bieber.
So that's that, as they say.
If you're curious about my thoughts on Justin Bieber's new haircut, I'm afraid you can't have them. I'm still too heartbroken to deal with the subject in print.
Derek Jeter Mansion: Hank Steinbrenner Not a Fan Of St. Jetersburg?
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Hank Steinbrenner sure is a chip off the old block, isn't he? Indeed, the part-owner of the New York Yankees and son of the late George Steinbrenner definitely knows how to grab a few headlines, just like his pop.
You probably happened to hear about Hank's most recent public statement. You know, the one in which he said his players were "too busy building mansions and doing other things, not concentrating on winning" last season.
Of course you did. And it stands to reason that maybe you were a little curious as to what he meant about his players being "too busy building mansions."
Well, maybe, just maybe, he was referring to the 30,000 square-foot, seven-bedroom mansion that Derek Jeter is currently constructing in Tampa, Florida. It's a veritable palace, and it even has its own nickname: "St. Jeterbsurg."
When asked about what he thought of Steinbrenner's comments, the New York Daily News reported that Jeter merely laughed off any and all insinuations.
"My name wasn't brought up," he said. "He didn't say my name. I know there's an assumption, but I look at the positive side of it. My name didn't come out of his mouth."
Jeter also went on to say that "not upset" about his boss' comments.
And why should he be? Shoot, he's done great things for the Steinbrenner family, and they have rewarded him quite handsomely for his efforts. What else is he supposed to do with that money?
I mean, let's not kid ourselves here, folks. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a player as rich as Jeter building himself a proper abode.
He is one of the great players in baseball history, and his career earnings equal that of the GDP of some of the smaller countries around the world. So he may as well build himself a mansion.
As for Hank, maybe he should look in the mirror. After all, what is he doing to help this team win? Shoot, he may as well waltz in to his GM's office and command him to sign a reliever the team doesn't need.
Oh... wait... never mind.
Carmelo Anthony Knicks Jersey: Reports Say Melo Will Wear No. 7 For The Knicks
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So did ya'll hear that Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks?
Yes, it's true. It took a couple months and all sorts of bad noise, but Melo is finally taking his talents to the Big Apple, where he and Amar'e Stoudemire will now be one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA.
At this point, there seem to be very few loose ends as far as the trade is concerned. However, quite a few folks out there still want to know one thing, and one thing only:
What number is Melo going to where with the Knicks?
It's a good question. Melo wore No. 15 as a member of both the Denver Nuggets and the Syracuse Orangemen, but that number has been retired by the Knicks, as it was worn by both Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire.
Melo wore the No. 22 in high school, but that number has also been retired in honor of Dave DeBusschere.
Instead, it looks like Melo will have to pick a new digit. And according to a Tweet from CNBC's Darren Rovell, Melo is reportedly going to wear number 7.
It's an interesting basketball number. Other notable No. 7's include Pete Maravich and the great Bingo Smith. But of course, the most famous No. 7 as far as New Yorkers are concerned belonged to one Mickey Mantle.
As of right now, Rovell also tweeted that a "limited supply" of Melo jerseys and T-shirts will be sold at three Modell's stores in New York City tomorrow.
You heard it here (or from Rovell, I guess) first, New York! Better start lining up.
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Albert Pujols: White Sox GM Ken Williams Says Paying Pujols $30M Is "Asinine"
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There is only one man in Major League Baseball that makes an annual salary of over $30 million. That would be New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, and it would be pretty difficult to argue that he deserves every penny.
On balance, the only player in baseball that might actually be worth $30 million a year is Albert Pujols, the slugging first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.
And depending on who you ask, that's precisely what he's looking for as he embarks on the final year of his contract with the Cards.
When Pujols becomes a free agent (there is no "if"), it would be all that surprising if some team out there gave him what he wants.
However, just don't count on that team being the Chicago White Sox. General manager Ken Williams told Comcast SportsNet that he's not too crazy about the idea of paying a single player as much as $30 million a year. And to him, the very idea represents what's wrong with baseball today.
"For the game's health as a whole, when we're talking about $30 million players, I think it's asinine," Williams said.
"We have gotten to the point of no return. Something has to happen. And if it means the game being shut down for the sake of bringing sanity to it, to franchises that aren't going to stop the insanity, I'm all for it."
One can certainly see where Williams is coming from here.
The payroll of his entire team was barely more than $100 million in 2010. There are certainly some pretty high-priced players on the White Sox (i.e. Jake Peavy and Adam Dunn), but they are by no means the Yankees or the Red Sox.
In fact, Williams also said that he wouldn't look into signing Pujols even if he had the means to do so.
"If [owner Jerry Reinsdorf] gave me $30 million right now, I'm not going to spend it on one guy. Sorry, White Sox fans," he stated.
"But I tell you what, I'm going to take that $30 million and I'm going to distribute it around. My team is going to be better as a whole than it is with one player who might get hurt."
As annoyed as Williams sounds, he is certainly making very good points.
Pujols is indeed the game's best player, but it's not like he's going to singlehandedly make a team a World Series contender. That may work in a sport like basketball (see LeBron James and the Cavs), but not in baseball.
Not convinced? Go ahead and take a look at the Giants, who of course won the 2010 World Series without any real stars on offense.
As a matter of fact, few sports are as kind to the underdog as baseball is. The 2009 Yankees showed us that spending loads of money on big-name free agents can win you a World Series, but this is obviously the exception to the rule.
Thus, instead of ranting about the "insanity" of the Pujols scenario, maybe Williams should just be of the opinion that any team that ventures to sign Pujols will basically be digging their own grave.
That means you, Chicago Cubs.
Carrie Underwood: Disgruntled Ottawa Radio Station Bans Underwood's Music
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It's been almost two weeks to the day since Mike Fisher was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Nashville Predators, and it's apparent that the Ottawa community still hasn't gotten over the shock.
After all, Fisher, a native Canadian, was a fan favorite, and watching him go was pretty tough. As such, they had to find somebody to blame for the transaction, and they settled on Fisher's wife, country superstar Carrie Underwood.
Fisher and Underwood have been married since July, and Nashville just so happens to be where she makes her humble abode. Clearly, this is not a coincidence. She must have done something to lure her hubby closer to home...
Well, there's not much that fans can do in the way of revenge, but one Ottawa radio station, Kiss 105.3 FM, reportedly took matters into its own hands by banning all of Carrie Underwood's music from its airwaves.
The station called the Fisher trade a "betrayal to our community," and they claim that Fisher "was lured away from Ottawa by a country-music superstar."
Obviously, one hopes that this is all meant in good fun. But Fisher was not amused.
When Fisher was asked about the news, he responded, "I think they meant it as a joke that really wasn't funny."
He may have a point. They tend to take hockey pretty seriously north of the border, and what we seem to have here is a LeBron-to-Miami situation, except with an X-factor.
Like LeBron, Fisher is not making any apologies. When asked about the move to Nashville, Fisher said, "To be honest, I was praying a few days before about it."
There, he wanted to leave. So come on, Ottawa. Let the man be.
That being said, I've never been a fan of Carrie Underwood's music myself, so I guess I'm in support of the ban. Not that anybody cares what I think, of course.
Carmelo Anthony: New York's Carnegie Deli Welcomes Anthony With 'Melo Sandwich'
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Anybody ever see Kelly's Heroes? There's a great line in that movie where Donald Sutherland turns to Don Rickles and says, "To a New Yorker like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich."
Ah yes, it's funny because it's true. And if the latest news is also true, this means that Carmelo Anthony is officially getting a hero's welcome in New York.
Indeed, the good folks at TMZ reported that New York's famous Carnegie Deli has concocted a sandwich in honor of newest member of the New York Knicks.
They call it... [drum roll]... the "Melo Sandwich."
The sandwich was devised by deli owner Sandy Levine, and it features pastrami, corned beef, salami, bacon, tomato, and Russian dressing all on a couple pieces of rye bread.
From the looks of the picture posted on TMZ, the blasted thing looks like it's about a foot tall. And if I may say so myself, it looks delicious.
Meanwhile, there is still no word on whether or not Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman or Corey Brewer are also going to get the sandwich treatment.
Alex Tanney: Small College QB Shows Up Johnny McEntee's Trick Shot Video
7 of 11Not too long ago, a so-called "trick shot" video from UConn backup quarterback Johnny McEntee went viral, and the internet had its latest overnight star.
In the video McEntee, or "Johnny Mac" if you prefer, showed off his incredible accuracy by hitting some pretty tough targets with a football.
It was damned impressive, and McEntee was immediately deemed the first (and only) king of the football trick shot.
But not so fast. A challenger has appeared in the form of Alex Tanney, an All-American quarterback for Division III Monmouth College. His own trick shot video is embedded above, and as you will see, it's legit.
As a matter of fact, in watching it over a second time as we speak, I dare say that Johnny Mac has been bested. Tanney takes everything that Johnny Mac did in his video and turns the dial up to 11.
The question now is obviously how McEntee will respond to being upstaged.
If you'll pardon the pun, what we could have here is a proverbial arms race.
Derek Jeter: Jeter's Controversial Mansion Is Finished, and It's Legit
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As you well know, there's been something of a stir over Derek Jeter's mansion in the last couple days.
This is largely thanks to New York Yankees part-owner Hank Steinbrenner, who went on record with his opinion that too many Yankee players were "too busy building mansions and doing other things, not concentrating on winning" last season.
It seemed like an odd choice of words at the time, but then somebody bothered to point out that Derek Jeter just so happened to be building himself a 30,000 square-foot, seven-bedroom new home in Tampa, Florida.
Ah yes, that's what Hank must have been talking about. And Jeter's mansion clearly had everything to do with the fact that the Yanks only made it as far as the ALCS, not to mention the fact that the star shortstop set career lows in several major offensive categories.
But hey, the good news is that TMZ reported that Jeter's new abode, or "St. Jetersburg" if you prefer, just so happens to be finished. And if that picture is any indication, it's a beauty. He and Minka Kelly should be quite happy there.
Regardless, this should come as a relief to Hank.
Now that Jeter's mansion is finished, perhaps the Yankees can get back on the fast track to the World Series once again.
Then again, if he doesn't want his players getting distracted by various construction projects, maybe he shouldn't pay them so much money.
I'm just saying...
Jeremy Shockey: New Orleans Saints Cut Ties With Veteran Tight End
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It seems like just yesterday that the New York Giants selected Jeremy Shockey 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Shortly after, the hype surrounding the stud tight end out of Miami started to grow at an exponential rate, and it seemed like a sure thing that the Giants had the next great tight end on their hands.
Well, that didn't quite turn out to be the case.
Shockey spent six pretty good seasons with the Giants before moving on to the New Orleans Saints for the last three years.
And on Tuesday, that relationship also came to an end, as Shockey revealed to ESPN's Rachel Nichols that the Saints had released him.
"It's a business, I understand," said the nine-year veteran. "I'll just go play hard for someone else. Whoever gets me it's going to be a steal."
Shockey is coming off a season in which he caught 41 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns.
He was a key contributor in the Saints' Super Bowl victory last season, catching three balls for 13 yards and a touchdown.
Shockey posted a farewell to New Orleans on his Facebook page, saying: "Always will remember my time in New Orleans. What a city, you all welcomed me like one of your own, and we had a great run. Onto the next chapter, the Deep Unknown."
Will Shockey find another team? Well, provided a new CBA can be reached, he most definitely will.
Nevertheless, the "Deep Unknown" is a good way to put it.
Shockey is still very much a serviceable NFL tight end, but it's getting to be the point in his career where his best days are probably behind him. He was forced to miss three games in 2010, and that last time he played in as many as 15 games was back in 2006.
Thus, I wouldn't be too quick to buy into the idea that he would be a "steal" for your favorite team.
Derek Jeter: The Most Maligned Superstar Who's Never Done Anything Wrong
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And you thought we were done with Jeter, but you were wrong...
If there is one incontrovertible truth in the world of sports, it's that the star player for the New York Yankees is going to be one of the most heavily scrutinized players in the world.
It comes with the territory, and players like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson have all had to deal with it.
As far as this era is concerned, the man who has to put up with this unfortunate reality is Derek Jeter.
He's been the man in the middle ever since he broke in with the Yanks back in 1995, and he has definitely done some great things for the organization, such as upping the team's championship total from 22 to 27.
Through it all, Jeter has epitomized humility, and he has done absolutely nothing during his career that can legitimately be called "controversial."
If you think about that, and then you take a step back for a better look at the nature of Jeter's public image, you'll probably realize that it really is amazing how much crap he's had to put up with over the years.
Indeed, this is a guy who has never really done anything wrong, yet it seems that the press, the general public, and even his own team are perpetually out to get him.
To do this, pretty much any and all controversies involving Jeter have to be either fabricated from scratch, or blown way out of proportion.
For example, you could talk about Jeter's various high-profile relationships with women like Mariah Carey, Jordana Brewster, Alyssa Milano, and now, Minka Kelly.
But aside from collecting big names, Jeter has never really done anything with his personal life that is worth getting up in arms about.
As far as his play on the field is concerned, every slump that Jeter goes through inevitably becomes a national travesty.
Moreover, with Jeter's numbers bottoming out in 2010, there has been no shortage of fans and pundits out there who have been quick to make it known that they think Jeter is finished. And God help him if he fakes getting hit by a pitch to get on base!
Not helping matters is the fact that Jeter has also had to take guff from his own team. Just a couple weeks ago, Yankees GM Brian Cashman went on record saying that he doesn't think Jeter can play shortstop for much longer, and that he'll probably end up in the outfield before his career is over.
Of course, late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner used to put all kinds of pressure on Jeter, and now his son, Hank, is called Jeter out for being too distracted by his mansion to focus on winning in 2010.
Because, you know, Jeter is not supposed to spend the money that the Yankees are paying him.
All things considered, it really is amazing that Jeter is still standing on two legs at this point in his career. Things have never been easy for him, and a lesser man would have crumbled long ago.
To be fair, Jeter definitely is very close to the end of his career. But instead of obsessing over his demise, maybe it's high time we remember that we're lucky to have him.
By the way, all of this is coming from a diehard Red Sox fan. No joke.
Rima Fakih: Miss USA 2010 To Give WWE a Try
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For as much as guys dig hot babes, it's a wonder that we don't pay more attention to beauty pageants.
Then again, methinks that there are reasons why we don't, chief among them being the lack of excitement, not to mention the general stuffiness of the whole damn things.
Thus, I suspect that not many guys out there can tell you who won Miss USA 2010. Here's a hint: It was Rima Fakih.
Here's another hint: You're about to know her quite well.
Indeed, news came out on Tuesday that Rima is ready to take her career to the next level. Translation: She's going to give WWE a shot.
No, I kid you not.
Rima is going to be a contestant on USA Network's "WWE Tough Enough," and she has aims on becoming a WWE diva.
Not surprisingly, Rima thinks she has the goods.
In her words, “Miss USA is an incredible honor that’s provided invaluable experience which will undoubtedly help me as I push my performance and athletic skills to the limit. I look forward to learning if I have the mettle to make it in WWE.”
Athletic skills? Well, if she says so. And quite frankly, I don't care if that is a bunch of BS—after all, it's not every day that a bonafide beauty queen decides to get into pro wrestling.
Then again, I don't watch a whole lot of pro wrestling (I prefer real sports), so I could be wrong. Regardless, I'm thinking I might just have to tune in to watch Rima's progress on the show.
I mean, for strictly professional reasons of course.
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