Tabloid Edition

Jasmine Villegas

This is pretty amusing about Jasmine Villegas. She was one of the singers of the national anthems at a world title boxing match. And looking at the news, looking at the comments and the volume of news about that fight, Jasmine Villegas seems to have got more of the coverage than the fight itself did.

Martin Nievera, wearing a T-shirt designed by the late rapper Francis Magalona, broke tradition by being the first male to sing the Philippine National Anthem in a Pacquiao bout.

He was followed by pop icon Sir Tom Jones, who sang "God Save the Queen," the British National Anthem, and Fil-Am Jasmine Villegas, who sang the "Star-Spangled Banner," the US National Anthem.

And there's another report about Jaamine Villegas here:

Jasmine Villegas sang the national anthem of the USA in the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. She's Filipino-American. She has been a part of many principal roles in television commercials as well as television shows, and music videos. She has recently finished shooting a pilot for a Disney sitcom “House Broken”, a spin-of Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, starring Brian Stepanek.

Jason Peters

Jason Peters has been looking for a move for  some time and it looks like he's finally got it:

As rumors about a possible trade for Anquan Boldin continue to swirl around Philadelphia, the Eagles appear to be closing in on a deal that would shape up their offensive line. According to several sources, the Eagles appear close to acquiring Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters from the Buffalo Bills, likely for one of their first round picks. Peters has been looking for a bigger contract from the Bills but has been unable to get the deal he wants so Buffalo has been shopping him around the league. While he is under contract through 2010, the Eagles would still likely want to sign Peters to an extension if they acquire him.

The ins and outs of pro football contract negotiations are beyond the ken of mere mortal man but it does look like this is an acceptable deal:

The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly agreed to send two draft picks to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for offensive tackle Jason Peters on Friday.

According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Bills will get the 28th overall pick and a fourth-round selection in this year's draft in exchange for the 340-pound tackle. Though he has passed a physical, the trade will not be completed until the Eagles negotiate a new contract with Peters' agent.

Peters, who has two years remaining on his existing deal worth $3.8 million in 2009 and $3.4 million in 2010, has appeared in 65 games -- including 55 starts -- for the Bills over parts of the past five seasons with Buffalo.

Those draft picks and that salary don't seem too high for such a game changing player.

Good luck to Jason Peters in his new berth, eh?

Stephen A Smith

Stephen A Smith is the famously loud basketball commentator:

Stephen Abe Smith (born October 14, 1968) is a sportswriter and media personality from Hollis, Queens in New York City. Also known as "Screaming A. Smith"

The Screaming in the Stephen A Smith seems to come from the way that he has rapidly understood how to make a name for oneself on cable TV.

Smith started his television career on now-defunct cable network CNN/SI in 1999, he quickly adapted to a basic rule of television panel discussions: that the loudest, the most argumentative, even the rudest voice will get the most attention.

Well, it appears that our Stephen A Smith has now lost his job as a commentator.

Stephen A.'s been slowly phased-out of WWL mega-stardom for quite some time now, but it is impossible to not feel a little sadness from this news. The days of his ubiquitous talking headness at the NBA Draft and, of course, his talk show are long gone, but during contract negotiations with ESPN, Stephen A. reportedly would not take any thing less than the very large salary he made when he was IMPORTANT.

Reactions to his problems aren't completely and totally in his favour, it has to be said.

Sports blog The Big Lead has given us all an early Christmas present by reporting on the imminent departure of ESPN basketball analyst Stephen A. Smith, a man who has come to be nearly as despised as hemorrhoids thanks to his bombastic, catch-phrase ridden on-air style and bootlicking tendencies.  “Screamin’ A.,” The Big Lead points out, was once one of the hottest commodities on the World-Wide Leader, even landing his own talk-show, but in recent months has been eclipsed as a hoops reporter by such comparatively muted personalities as J.A. Adande and Tim Legler.

An early Christmas present? Seems that not everyone is that disappointed about Smith's loss of his job then.

Andrew Test Martin

Andrew Test Martin has been found dead at his home in Florida. Quite what it is that lead to Andrew Test Martin's death is not known at present but there is rumour about it, informed or not.

Former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his Tampa, Fla. apartment on Friday night, according to a report by PWInsider.com. Martin was 33 years old and nearing his birthday on March 17.

After being released by WWE in 2006 when he was on the ECW brand, Martin re-surfaced in TNA where he had a brief run until being released from the company.

Martin semi-retired from pro wrestling, then he was arrested on a drunk driving charge in Florida one year ago.

Martin was formerly in a relationship with WWE diva Kelly Kelly, who said in a February interview on the Bubba Love Sponge radio show that they remained close friends after their relationship ended.

That speculation about Andrew Test Martin's death surrounds, as we might expect with the sport of wrestling, steroids and their use and abuse.

Former WWE Superstar Andrew "Test" Martin passed away last night at his home in Tampa, Florida at the age of 33, just four days away form his 34th birthday. We don't have many more details right now, but reports say he was found in his apartment. Tampa area authorities have declined to confirm it is Martin but word within the wrestling industry has been widespread.

Despite his earlier writings about the drug scene in the wrestling business, Martin ended up suspended under the WWE Wellness Policy and was released shortly afterwards.  At the time, Martin claimed it was a mutual release that he asked the company for. Martin made a few appearances for TNA that year but there was a feeling that his huge physique was neon sign for the impending US Congress investigation into the business and also a feeling that his attitude didn't go over well with the TNA locker room, so he wasn't brought back.

For more information try the Wikipedia page on Andrew Test Martin.

Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin (born on March 17, 1975 in Whitby, Ontario) is a currently inactive Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Entertainment) under the ring name Test. He most recently worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as "The Punisher" Andrew Martin.^[3]

While in the WWF/E Martin was a former European, Hardcore, and Intercontinental champion. In addition to singles success, Martin has won both the WCW Tag Team Championship and WWF Tag Team Championship with Booker T.

Building a swimming pool

As regular readers will know we're working on sorting out this new (to us at least) house down here and given that we're in a nice warm climate out thoughts have obviously been turning to swimming pools.

Now the thing is,. I'm so dim about building and the like that I thought you just dug a hole and then put water in it. Et voila! A swimming pool. But I'm told that this is in fact known as a way of making mud, not of getting that delightful and refreshing pool experience. The way you get that rather better, you know, Californian, idea is to go to those who build North San Diego swimming pools....after all they are the experts.

Instead of my own strange idea of a ditch plus water equalling the piscine experience, they can help you out with custom pools and indeed they are known for their building of many Orange County swimming pools. Again, if they're building in hte one part of the world where everyone has a pool, or at least, everyone would like one, you know they've got the experience to build one for you, no?

Now excuse me, I need to go through their various different designs to try and work out which one I'd like them to build for me.

Bill Guerin

Bill Guerin has been traded. No one was quite sure this was going to happen within the trading window but it has in fact happened. Bill Guerin is going to Pittsburgh.

The Islanders finally ended Bill Guerin's five days in limbo, agreeing to ship their captain to Pittsburgh about an hour before Wednesday's trade deadline for a conditional draft pick that will depend on the Penguins' playoff success this spring.

Guerin, a pending unrestricted free agent in the final year of a two-year $9 million contract, sat out games Saturday and Monday to await a trade after agreeing to waive his no-movement clause for a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup with an Eastern Conference contender.

"It was a pretty painful process," Guerin said in an interview with TSN. "We thought we had a deal done with another team a couple of days ago and then it made things a little awkward for four days or so just waiting for something to happen.

"I'm extremely excited about going to Pittsburgh. It's a great opportunity to go to a young talented team like that, with great experience of going to the finals last year. They're in a dogfight right now…and I'm looking forward to it."

Well, it's certainly true that you don't play hockey if you don't relish a fight, a challenge.

The wait has finally ended for forward Bill Guerin as he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The former New York Islander has been benched waiting on a trade since Friday and will be relieved to learn that he is finally heading somewhere.

Guerin was one of the big remaining names on what is turning out to be a slow Trade Deadline Day.

Guerin adds leadership and will make a considerable impact with the Penguins, offsetting Sidney Crosby and providing some locker room punch. He can also contribute offensively on the ice and will make a nice addition to the team. The Pens are hoping Guerin can help them make the playoffs.

Taking a team into the playoffs is certainly one of those fights to be relished. And, of course, there's some good money to be made.

General manager Ray Shero made a second bold deadline move in as many seasons, picking up forward Bill Guerin from the New York Islanders today for a conditional draft pick. Guerin, 38, once was one of the NHL’s top power forwards and was the Islanders’ second-leading scorer with 16 goals and 20 assists in 61 games.

Shero can only hope this deal has an impact close to that of his last-second deal for forward Marian Hossa last year. That trade gave the Penguins the piece they needed to make a Stanley Cup run, and Hossa was a major contributor as they took the Red Wings to six games before losing in the finals.

Guerin, like Hossa last season, is in the final year of his contract — he is making $4.5 million — and is likely to remain with Pittsburgh only until the season ends. The draft pick the Islanders receive is contingent upon how far the Penguins advance in the playoffs, if they reach them.

By acquiring Guerin, the Penguins picked up a second top six forward in less than a week. Chris Kunitz (Ferris State), acquired from Anaheim in a deal involving puck-moving defenseman Ryan Whitney, has three goals in three games with Pittsburgh — two in a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

Two things stand out. $4.5 million a year to play ball? Jeepers....there but for a lack of talent go I.

The second is, who in hell called a sports team "The Penguins"?

Lingerie Bowl canceled

The Lingerie Bowl has been canceled due to a dispute with the hosts.

The Lingerie Bowl was due to be aired as pay-per-view during Super Bowl halftime but has been shelved due to disputes with the Caliente nudist resort where it was due to be played.

According to league spokesman, Stephon McMillen, "The league will not place our fans, players, staff nor partners in a less then comfortable environment that would ultimately jeopardize the mainstream perception and reputation of the brand that so many have worked diligently over these past five years to build."

Angye Fox, a spokeswoman for Caliente Resorts, issued this statement: "Caliente is a luxury clothing-optional resort. We ran into conflicts with the Lingerie Football League wanting more areas of our resort restricted to clothing required then we could accommodate."

If the Lingerie Football League has such a mainstream reputation, why was the only place they could find to hold the Bowl a clothing-optional resort?

Well I think you know the answer to that!

Sorry Lingerie Bowl fans, no game this year
ABC Action News, FL
Officials with Lingerie Bowl VI announced today that the Pay-Per-View event, which was set to feature models in their lingerie playing football during ...

Caliente Too Nude For Lingerie Bowl; Event Canceled
Tampa Tribune, FL
Teams of scantily clad women in helmets and pads compete in a previous Lingerie Bowl.

Lingerie Bowl canceled over dispute with nudist resort
Tampabay.com, FL
It was supposed to be the Lingerie Bowl, not the naked bowl. Citing conflicts with the hosting Caliente ...

The Drama Never Ends for The Lingerie Bowl
SportingNews.com
The masterminds behind The Lingerie Bowl thought their problems were at an end when they found a new home for this year's edition of the game, but NOOOO, ...

Lingerie Bowl players oppose venue: a nudist resort
Tampabay.com, FL
More problems have hit the Lingerie Bowl, but organizers say the game will go on. Some players have quit the team ...

Players' Pay Squabble Won't Sack Lingerie Bowl
Tampa Tribune, FL
Lingerie Bowl VI features scantily clad women playing tackle football and is scheduled to be played Jan. 31 at the Caliente Spa and Resort. ...

Pasco Nudist Resort Tries to Improve its Image
First Coast News, FL
Angye Fox wasn't sure she would be comfortable at a nudist resort. Now, she is public relations director for the ...

Naked Now Just Fine To Resort PR Director
KWTX, TX
Angye Fox is the public relations director for the opulent, clothing-optional Caliente Resorts near Tampa, Fla. ..

Nives Celzijus - sex on pitch

Nives Celzijus is the WAG of Dino Drpic who plays for Dinamo Zagreb.

Actually he will not being playing for them for much longer as he has been put on the transfer list.

Why you ask?

Well, while promoting her book, Gola Istina (The Naked Truth) Nives told the world that her and Dino had sex in the middle of the Dinamo Zegrab center circle.  She went to say, "Dino had arranged that people should turn on the stadium lights for us and he finally fulfilled his dream of having sex in the middle of a football pitch. It was very naughty."

It was very naughty.  It was very stupid.  It was even more stupid to tell everyone while trying to promote her book.  Well not stupid in terms of book sales, but stupid in terms of her husband's job.

So Dino Drpic is now on the transfer list with the club refusing to comment why, but let's face it, they really don't need too.

Croatian footballer who had sex on pitch with glamour model wife ... Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom A footballer has been transfer listed by his club after his glamour model wife revealed that they had sex on the pitch where his team beat England. ...

Croatia star's sex on the pitch
Yahoo! Eurosport, UK
Croatia star Dino Drpic has been transfer listed by his club after his Playboy model wife revealed the pair had sex on the pitch. ...

Serb star's sex on the pitch
The Sun, UK
THIS beauty’s Croatia soccer star hubby has been transfer-listed – after she revealed they bonked on the pitch where his team later thrashed England. ...

Wag embarrasses footballer with sex-on-the-pitch secret
Metro, UK
Football's a funny old game. But maybe less so if you're slapped on the transfer list just as your Playboy model wife revealed you had sex with her in the ...

Croatian footballer Dino Drpic in centre circle sex romp
Mirror.co.uk, UK
Croatian footballer Dino Drpic has been put on the transfer list by Dinamo Zagreb after his glamour model wife revealed how ...

Mike 'Mad Dog' Bell

Mike 'Mad Dog' Bell Dies

Mike 'Mad Dog' Bell has died at the age of 37.

Bell was a former professional wrestler who battled substance abuse.  He also starred in the 2008 documentary, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" directed by his brother Chris Bell.

An autopsy has been performed but cause of death could not be confirmed, the coroner is waiting on toxicology results.

Brother Chris said, "You can't really blame wrestling, but it's kind of the lifestyle. You have a couple of painkillers to get to the next match, have a couple drinks night to night and it gets out of hand."

News stories

Better, Stronger, Faster filmmaker comments on the death of his ...
ProWrestling.net, MN
The OC Register covered the death of Mike Bell and featured quotes from his brother Chris Bell, ...News-story

‘Mad Dog’ Mike passed away
International Business Times, NY - 3 hours ago
Former pro wrestler Mike “Mad Dog” Bell died at age 37. He was found Sunday at Costa Mesa rehab home. The cause of death is still to be determined as the ...

Mike “Mad Dog” Bell, Former Professional Wrestler, Found
TransWorldNews (press release), GA - 1 hour ago
Mike “Mad Dog” Bell, a former professional wrestler who appeared in bouts in the WWE, was found dead last Sunday at a Costa Mesa, California rehabilitation ...

Pro wrestler 'Mad Dog' Bell found dead
International Herald Tribune, France - 7 hours ago
AP NEWPORT BEACH, California: Mike "Mad Dog" Bell, a former professional wrestler whose struggle with substance abuse was featured in the documentary ...

David Beckham private jet

David Beckham has been spending too much time with Tom Cruise.  How so, I hear you say.  Well why else would he wants to spend $11 million on his own plane.  To keep up with the Cruises' of course!

David is hoping to spend eight weeks on loan to AC Milan in Italy when his LA Galaxy season is over to remain match fit for the England World Cup qualifying games.  He has already picked out a multi million dollar penthouse to live in.

David justifies the expense to Victoria by telling her he can get back to the USA quickly to see her and the boys.  Word is Victoria would rather he went back to the UK and played with Tottenham Hotspur and spent time with their families there.

So David has hatched this elaborate plan of needing to play football just to get his own Bombardier Learjet and spend eight weeks in Italy at the beginning of next year. 

The man is a genius! 

Poll Results: Beckham Signed For Commercial Reasons
Goal.com, Switzerland
The readers have spoken, and a convincing majority believe that David Beckham was signed by AC Milan first and foremost for commercial reasons. ...

Becks To Live In Red Light District Appartment -Reports
Goal.com, Switzerland
England and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has rented a luxury apartment close to Milan's red light district, according to The Sun. ...

MLS Says Star Can Go, on One Condition
New York Times, United States
If David Beckham goes on a short-term loan to AC Milan (and that is still a big if), he will return next year in time to begin training with ...

Maldini backs Beckham's motives for joining Milan
ESPN
AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has defended David Beckham's motivations for wanting to join the Rossoneri in the winter transfer window. ...

Galliani still hopeful over Becks
The Press Association
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani remains hopeful David Beckham will arrive at the San Siro in January despite no agreement having been reached so ...

Milan - Beckham made first move
SkySports
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claims David Beckham made the first moves regarding a loan deal with the Italian club. ...

Beckham: Milan move more to avoid layoff than for Fabio
AFP
David Beckham says his planned three-month loan to AC Milan in January is less about impressing England manager Fabio Capello than it is ...