B/R Daily Radar: Hottest Stories for Tuesday, October 4
Welcome to Bleacher Report's Daily Radar, where you can help control the hottest sports stories of the day! Consider this your one-stop shop for the day's biggest debates.
Our Heat Index will be updated throughout the day based on your feedback, so be sure to sound off in the comments section with your opinion. And maybe you'll see your favorite story climb up the rankings.
Are ya ready for some stupid comments? Is the "evil empire" ready for a quick playoff exit? Will the Peytonless Colts win a game this season? Why are we talking about Hope Solo's lack of clothes?
All this and more in today's B/R's Daily Radar.
1. Hank Williams Jr. Bounced from Monday Night Football Opening
1 of 7Heat Index: 10 out of 10.
What was he thinking? No really I would love to know what musician/Monday Night Football staple Hank Williams was thinking when he made these comments on Fox News Monday when referring to president Obama pairing up with House Speaker John Boehner for a round of golf:
"It would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli leader) Benjamin Netanyahu."
I’m not sure about your work place; put more often than not a Hitler reference is for when you’re trying to get fired. Williams claims he was “misunderstood” and his comments were taken out of context.
Biggest Question Asked: How in the world could that comment be misunderstood?
Biggest Question Answered: It can’t be, that’s why ESPN aired the national anthem at Tampa Bay and already released a statement distancing themselves from the situation.
If you ever want to here that infamous tune again…it’s going to be on YouTube.
Related Links:
ESPN Drop Williams From Monday Night (USA Today)
Williams FOX Comments Tripper PR Nightmare (Bleacher Report)
2. Yankees 1 Loss Away from Throwing 162 Games Down the Drain
2 of 7Heat Index: 9 out of 10
Yankee fans across the globe are in panic mode after watching their beloved pinstripes lose to the Detroit Tigers 5-4 Monday night.
Justin Verlander showed it’s possible to be a successful power pitcher and not weigh 1,000 pounds, going eight strong innings for the win.
His chunky counterpart CC Sabathia struggled with a small strike zone and ended up giving up four runs in only 5.1 innings. The fatal blow was a solo homer by Delmon Young to break a 4-4 tie in the seventh.
The most predictable part of the game? A-Rod went hitless yet again.
Are you surprised by this?
He is very lucky to have the ’09 postseason or A-Rod may very well be the least clutch player in the history of sports—a title currently held by LeBron James.
To make matters worse (or better for the vast majority of this country that despises the pinstripes), AJ Burnett will be on the mound for Game 4.
Biggest Question Asked: Can the Yanks win the next two games against a Tigers team that is brimming with confidence?
Biggest Question Answered: Nope, not with Burnett deciding your fate on the road. Thanks for playing Yanks.
Related Links:
Yanks Pushed to Brink (New York Times)
Can Yankees Ever Win Another Title With A-Rod? (Bleacher Report)
3. Colts Blow Another Lead, Now 0-4 for First Time Since 1998
3 of 7Heat Index: 8 out of 10
1998 was a banner year for the Colts. Not on the field, but because they drafted Peyton Manning. The team itself stunk…kind of like the 2011 edition.
Monday was another example of how much the Colts miss their star as they let a seven point lead in the third quarter vanish into a 24-17 loss to the underwhelming Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The good news: Curtis Painter had 281 yards and two TD passes.
The bad news: He completed 43 percent of his passes, lost a fumble and can thank great down field blocking that turned two short passes to Pierre Garcon into 146 of his passing yards.
In other words, Painter stinks. Is he the worst QB in a league filled with them?
This Colts team is a clear example of how important quarterbacks are in this league and the countdown to 0-16 can officially begin. Is there a worse team in the NFL right now?
Biggest Question Asked: Will the Colts win a game this season?
Biggest Question Answered: Their best chance for a win is next week at home against the 1-3 Kansas City Chiefs. Aside from the Chiefs and home games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers…it’s a tough slate.
0-16 is very real.
Related Links:
Freeman, Buccaneers Rally to Beat Colts (Associated Press)
3 Things We Learned From Colts Loss to Bucs (Bleacher Report)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
4. Detroit Lions Turn Power Rankings Upside Down
4 of 7Heat Index: 4 out of 10
The Lions are one of only two teams that finished the first quarter of the season undefeated and are suddenly a powerhouse in the eyes of fans.
Now the term Super Bowl is being mentioned in the Motor City. Do you buy this? Will the fourth quarter miracles come to a screeching halt?
It’s hard to ignore the Lions inability to get the ground game going. Right now Jahvid Best and Co. are 29th in the league in rushing yards.
That’s a recipe for a second half letdown. They deserve a spot in the top five…for now.
Then there is the team that blew the 20 point second half lead. Does any player save/ruin his team more than Tony Romo?
Combine the ‘Boys with the Philadelphia Eagles “dream nightmare team” and we have two NFC East squads in the bottom 15.
Teams with big Week 4 wins to vault them up the rankings include the Bengals, 49ers, Titans and Redskins.
Biggest Question Asked: Can the Lions win a playoff game?
Biggest Question Answered: Only if 1997 Barry Sanders jumps out of some sort of time machine to save their atrocious run game.
Related Links:
Week 5 Power Rankings (Bleacher Report)
Calvin Johnson Fuels Another Lions Win (Detroit Free Press)
5. Jay Cutler Calls Audible on Dating Life
5 of 7Heat Index: 7 out of 10
Two months after shattering former Laguna Beach star Kristin Cavallari’s heart to pieces, it looks like Cutler is changing up the game plan.
Cutler was seen on Monday’s episode of Dancing With The Stars cheering on his ex-fiancée.
Are they back together?
Supportive chants and “go Bears!” messages are all over Cavallari’s Twitter account.
I’m going to step out on the limb and say yes.
Cutler panicked two months ago when Cavallari began shopping for a wedding dress and threw the equivalent of a pick-six by calling everything off at the first sign of trouble.
We all knew Cutler struggles against the blitz, but this breakdown under pressure was far worse.
Biggest Question Asked: Would you take Cutler back if you’re Cavallari?
Biggest Question Answered: Count me in the “hell ‘naw” category.
Related Links:
Will Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler Ever Get Married? (Cinemablend.com)
Pouty QB Supporting Cavallari on DWTS (Bleacher Report)
6. Super Bowl Pleases Middle-Aged Women by Pegging Madonna to Perform at Half
6 of 7Heat Index: 2 out of 10
Anytime you can get a 53-year ,that hasn’t done anything of note aside from kissing another women for the past decade, as Super Bowl performer you have to jump on it.
The NFL figured as much as reports are scattered around the Internet that she’s accepted an offer to perform at Lucas Oil Stadium in February.
Are you ok with this?
Sure the Black Eyed Peas were awful this past year, but it’s now back to music that hasn’t been relevant for 20 plus years?
I thought the whole Rolling Stones; Prince and Paul McCartney phase of Super Bowl halftime performances was over.
Instead, it looks like I’ll be switching over to the Puppy Bowl during halftime.
It doesn’t matter how sexy Madonna used to be…53 is way too old to be dancing half-naked on stage.
Biggest Question Asked: Are you excited about Madonna performing at halftime?
Biggest Question Answered: Not in the least bit. Here’s hoping the term “wardrobe malfunction” isn’t uttered.
I guess the NFL is trying to hit that elusive women’s 40-to-60 age demographic.
Puppy Bowl it is.
Related Links:
Madonna to Perform at Super Bowl Halftime (USA Today)
Madonna a Better Choice Than You Might Think (Bleacher Report)
Five Better Options Than Madonna (Bleacher Report)
7. Hope Solo Continues to Hog Spotlight by Posing Naked in ESPN the Magazine
7 of 7Heat Index: 3 out of 10
Wanna see Hope Solo naked?
ESPN’s Body Issue is set to appear on newsstands soon and the roster of participants includes the likes of Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, gymnast Alicia Sacramone, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, tennis player Vera Zvonareva, speedskater Apolo Ohno, NHL player Ryan Kesler and of course Solo.
While there will be soccer balls strategically placed on certain areas of her body, it’s still something every red-blooded American male would love to see.
This is just the latest story to get the goalie of the US women’s soccer team in the news. She has starred in video game commercials with teammate Alex Morgan and Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash.
Now she’s trying her luck in Dancing With the Stars. Solo is still alive after a decent performance on Monday, but hasn’t been very impressive.
Her interpretation of the “cha cha cha” can be met with a “stop stop stop”.
Biggest Question Asked: Are you excited to check out the pictures?
Biggest Question Answered: Oh yeah.
Despite the fact she’s using every possible platform to increase her fame, that won’t be stopping me from checking out the pics.
Related Links:
Naked Hope Solo Will Cause Sales to Soar (Bleacher Report)
Solo’s Celebrity Will Peak With Nude Pictures (Bleacher Report)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
