It's hard to know exactly how the Kansas City Chiefs players should have felt after the bizarre murder-suicide by teammate Jovan Belcher. But it might be even harder to put it into words.
Somehow, after the team's emotional 27-21 victory over the Panthers on Sunday, Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn took a few moments to meet the press and put the whole surreal incident into perspective.
His simple message during this difficult situation — be more attentive to the people who are sitting in the room with you more than interacting with the ones that aren't.
"When you ask someone how they are doing, do you really mean it?" he asked. "When you answer someone back how are you doing, are you really telling the truth?
"We live in a society of social networks ... and that's fine, but we have contact with our work associates, our family, our friends, and it seems like half the time we are preoccupied with our phone and other things going on instead of the actual relationships that we have right in front of us."
Words to live for in a time of expanding Twitter and Facebook connections.
Could a sensitive hand have prevented the Belcher tragedy? Who knows.
But Quinn's profound words remind us that real relationships are more important than how many "followers" you have.
Monday, December 3, 2012
'Melo denies three-point celebration is gun related
After Carmelo Anthony's 34 points burned the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoon, New York Daily News writer Mitch Lawrence took a shot at the New York Knicks forward by saying his three-point celebrations looked like he was pointing a gun to his head and was a bad image for the player and the game.
Lawrence wrote:
"Here was Carmelo Anthony draining four 3-pointers against an inferior Phoenix Suns team on Sunday at the Garden and then putting a couple of fingers next to his head every time he hit one, as if he were shooting himself. On his fourth one, he was quite emphatic.
With the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide in Kansas City happening the day before, with guns so prevalent in society and wreaking so much carnage, it hardly looks like the appropriate way to celebrate an NBA three."
Anthony fired back at the suggestion his three-to-the-head salute had anything to do with guns.
"No. Never. Of course not," insisted the Knicks star as he left the locker room with his young son, Kiyan.
"Hell, no!" he emphasized.
No one will deny the existence of gun references in music, movies and the so-called gang lifestyle that is sucked up by the media and imitated in the streets as well as the suburbs, but Anthony says he is not playing that hand.
"I know how people will look at it," he said. "But it's just three points, that's all."
While teammate Steve Novak mimics strapping on a championship belt after one of his many threes, Lawrence insists the Knicks players seem to be "sticking with the sign, created by Rasheed Wallace" which glorifies the gun culture.
Only Anthony used it on Sunday but, in their previous win against the hapless Washington Wizards, Lawrence writes, "it seemed that everyone did the three-to-the-head signal."
"It just means three," Novak said of Wallace's sign. "We just sit around and come up with these kinds of silly things."
If the celebration is a gun reference — as has been suggested by stories on the Internet — Anthony isn't having any of it.
"I'm just representing my man, Rasheed Wallace — three-to-the-dome," said Anthony. "It's just three, nothing major."
Lawrence wrote:
"Here was Carmelo Anthony draining four 3-pointers against an inferior Phoenix Suns team on Sunday at the Garden and then putting a couple of fingers next to his head every time he hit one, as if he were shooting himself. On his fourth one, he was quite emphatic.
With the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide in Kansas City happening the day before, with guns so prevalent in society and wreaking so much carnage, it hardly looks like the appropriate way to celebrate an NBA three."
Anthony fired back at the suggestion his three-to-the-head salute had anything to do with guns.
"No. Never. Of course not," insisted the Knicks star as he left the locker room with his young son, Kiyan.
"Hell, no!" he emphasized.
No one will deny the existence of gun references in music, movies and the so-called gang lifestyle that is sucked up by the media and imitated in the streets as well as the suburbs, but Anthony says he is not playing that hand.
"I know how people will look at it," he said. "But it's just three points, that's all."
While teammate Steve Novak mimics strapping on a championship belt after one of his many threes, Lawrence insists the Knicks players seem to be "sticking with the sign, created by Rasheed Wallace" which glorifies the gun culture.
Only Anthony used it on Sunday but, in their previous win against the hapless Washington Wizards, Lawrence writes, "it seemed that everyone did the three-to-the-head signal."
"It just means three," Novak said of Wallace's sign. "We just sit around and come up with these kinds of silly things."
If the celebration is a gun reference — as has been suggested by stories on the Internet — Anthony isn't having any of it.
"I'm just representing my man, Rasheed Wallace — three-to-the-dome," said Anthony. "It's just three, nothing major."
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Amar'e Stoudemire goes trick or treating in December
It's Halloween in December after Heidi Klum's annual costume bash was cancelled by Hurricane Sandy and rescheduled for Saturday night.
The supermodel's glitzy makeup party was held at Finale nightclub on the lower East Side of Manhattan and drew some of New York's top celebrities including New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire and his fiancee Alexis Welch.
Stoudemire — who hasn't been seen much since injuring his knee — wore a tuxedo and covered his face with a gold mask with horns and fangs. The gorgeous Welch looked like a feathered Geisha.
Klum, who seems to thrive on this yearly event, came as Cleopatra. She made the sensible decision to postpone this year's party after the storm shut down New York City.
Proceeds from the belated party will benefit the Red Cross' Hurricane Sandy relief effort.
As for Stoudemire, he is planning on returning to the Knicks by Christmas Day after coming back from knee debridement.
He might need the mask to sneak in some playing time. The team is 12-4 without Stoudemire and there are concerns that his arrival could complicate the team's winning chemistry.
The supermodel's glitzy makeup party was held at Finale nightclub on the lower East Side of Manhattan and drew some of New York's top celebrities including New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire and his fiancee Alexis Welch.
Stoudemire — who hasn't been seen much since injuring his knee — wore a tuxedo and covered his face with a gold mask with horns and fangs. The gorgeous Welch looked like a feathered Geisha.
Klum, who seems to thrive on this yearly event, came as Cleopatra. She made the sensible decision to postpone this year's party after the storm shut down New York City.
Proceeds from the belated party will benefit the Red Cross' Hurricane Sandy relief effort.
As for Stoudemire, he is planning on returning to the Knicks by Christmas Day after coming back from knee debridement.
He might need the mask to sneak in some playing time. The team is 12-4 without Stoudemire and there are concerns that his arrival could complicate the team's winning chemistry.
McElroy gets cheers after replacing Sanchez for the Jets
Mark it down on the New York Jets' 2012 season highlight reel. At 4:48 of the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals, Rex Ryan finally pulled Mark Sanchez and put in another quarterback. The move was made more notable because the exchange did not include anyone named Tim Tebow.
To the delight of the Gang Green faithful, Greg McElroy entered the game to rousing cheers and capped off his first drive with a short touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland after guiding the team 54 yards on 10 plays.
It was kind of strange to hear the din of applause inside MetLife Stadium; especially when the Jets are on the field.
Starting QB Sanchez — who threw 3 INTs in the first half — could only watch with a clipboard and baseball cap as McElroy gave the Jets something he couldn't — a 7-3 lead and, ultimately, some sort of hope throughout Jetland.
McElroy got the call after Tebow's broken ribs put him on the inactive list. Third-stringer McElroy, a seventh-round draft pick, was next on the depth chart and was making his 2012 debut.
One can only wonder if, had Tebow suited up, would the calls for "Te-bow, Te-bow" finally have been answered.
Only the head coach knows for sure while the plot thickens.
To the delight of the Gang Green faithful, Greg McElroy entered the game to rousing cheers and capped off his first drive with a short touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland after guiding the team 54 yards on 10 plays.
It was kind of strange to hear the din of applause inside MetLife Stadium; especially when the Jets are on the field.
Starting QB Sanchez — who threw 3 INTs in the first half — could only watch with a clipboard and baseball cap as McElroy gave the Jets something he couldn't — a 7-3 lead and, ultimately, some sort of hope throughout Jetland.
McElroy got the call after Tebow's broken ribs put him on the inactive list. Third-stringer McElroy, a seventh-round draft pick, was next on the depth chart and was making his 2012 debut.
One can only wonder if, had Tebow suited up, would the calls for "Te-bow, Te-bow" finally have been answered.
Only the head coach knows for sure while the plot thickens.
NY Post tries to find replacement for Fireman Ed as Jets' new mascot
Not even one game has been played since Fireman Ed hung up his hat as the New York Jets unofficial mascot and The New York Post is presuming that fans are longing to find someone else to lead the home crowd with his famous "J-E-T-S!" cheer.
In this Sunday's edition, the newspaper has nominated four other potential Jetsies to fire up the crowd at games in MetLife Stadium.
Fireman Ed, who stomped out of the stadium before halftime of the Jets pitiful 49-19 loss to the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving Day, announced last Sunday that he will no longer attend games as the beloved — and apparently contentious — character he's been for years — or what seemed like decades.
Jets fans would probably prefer the 4-7 Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez put on some makeup and a hat to lead the cheers from the stands but The Post has narrowed it down to these uberfans as the top contenders and described them as thus:
"A motley crew of superfans who wear their devotion to Gang Green painted on their sleeves, bellies and faces."
For those of you who thought that Tim Tebow already landed the job in the second half of the Thanksgiving Day massacre — shame.
Cast your vote for one of these men before the few remaining fans forget how to spell.
Jetman:
Described as one of the team's biggest fans who lives in the heart of enemy territory — New Hampshire. Famous for his plastic hat shaped like a jet and catchphrase, "Jetman bleeds green ... and that color never runs." Sort of like the Jets offense.
Jetbo:
New Jersey guy known for his camouflage, green face paint and occasional rubber Incredible Hulk hands. Catchphrase: "The few, the proud, the green!" The U.S. Marines might have a lawsuit.
Captain Jet:
Staten Island native famous for his cape and selection of 16 different custom-made helmets — one which was given to team owner Woody Johnson. His well thought out catchphrase, "Green machine!" Goes great with Burt Reynolds at QB.
James Gandolfini:
Best known for making the whole world believe that half of Jersey is Italian with mob connections — we all know they hang out at the Jersey Shore — and doing a Rutgers football commercial. The actor would probably rather be swimming with Big Pussy than be lumped in with these mooks. His catchphrase will make fans head for the snack bar: "G-A-B-A-G-O-O-L!"
Check 'em out at MetLife Stadium for yourself. Tickets are going for as little as $18 in the secondary market.
In this Sunday's edition, the newspaper has nominated four other potential Jetsies to fire up the crowd at games in MetLife Stadium.
Fireman Ed, who stomped out of the stadium before halftime of the Jets pitiful 49-19 loss to the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving Day, announced last Sunday that he will no longer attend games as the beloved — and apparently contentious — character he's been for years — or what seemed like decades.
Jets fans would probably prefer the 4-7 Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez put on some makeup and a hat to lead the cheers from the stands but The Post has narrowed it down to these uberfans as the top contenders and described them as thus:
"A motley crew of superfans who wear their devotion to Gang Green painted on their sleeves, bellies and faces."
For those of you who thought that Tim Tebow already landed the job in the second half of the Thanksgiving Day massacre — shame.
Cast your vote for one of these men before the few remaining fans forget how to spell.
Jetman:
Described as one of the team's biggest fans who lives in the heart of enemy territory — New Hampshire. Famous for his plastic hat shaped like a jet and catchphrase, "Jetman bleeds green ... and that color never runs." Sort of like the Jets offense.
Jetbo:
New Jersey guy known for his camouflage, green face paint and occasional rubber Incredible Hulk hands. Catchphrase: "The few, the proud, the green!" The U.S. Marines might have a lawsuit.
Captain Jet:
Staten Island native famous for his cape and selection of 16 different custom-made helmets — one which was given to team owner Woody Johnson. His well thought out catchphrase, "Green machine!" Goes great with Burt Reynolds at QB.
James Gandolfini:
Best known for making the whole world believe that half of Jersey is Italian with mob connections — we all know they hang out at the Jersey Shore — and doing a Rutgers football commercial. The actor would probably rather be swimming with Big Pussy than be lumped in with these mooks. His catchphrase will make fans head for the snack bar: "G-A-B-A-G-O-O-L!"
Check 'em out at MetLife Stadium for yourself. Tickets are going for as little as $18 in the secondary market.
Miguel Cotto loses MSG fight to Austin Trout
Days before stepping into the ring to defend his World Boxing Association super welterweight title against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden, Austin Trout was looking to get the respect that comes with the belt he won two years ago.
The basically unheralded Trout — who goes by the nickname "No Doubt" — boasted, "I'm the present and future of the sport."
Trout was facing some pretty long odds in defeating his opponent in the boxing arena which might be called Cotto's house.
Cotto's 7-0 record in the Garden and the hostile pro-Cotto crowd of 13,097 could attest to his popularity in his home away from home.
In an entertaining and action-packed fight, that was pretty much even up until the final rounds, Trout (26-0, 14 KOs) backed up his words and beat Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs) in a 12-round unanimous decision.
The 27-year-old Trout managed to dominate the final two rounds and won easily on all three scorecards. Two judges had it 117-111 while the third scored the fight 119-113 — all for Trout.
After the fight, fans waving Puerto Rican flags booed the judges' decision that denied their native son another title.
Trout, whose game plan was not to stand in front of the 32-year-old Cotto, was satisfied with the win.
"I've been preparing for this fight for my entire life,' said Trout after the bout. "Fighting Miguel Cotto is a dream come true, it was the hardest fight of my career."
Cotto, who regained his composure after a hard Trout left hand in the first, still had Trout on the ropes with a wild flurry in the 10th round that had the crowd roaring with approval. But it was Trout's southpaw style that prevailed by not giving Cotto any clear open shots.
"I had to show him I was the bigger guy and push him back a couple of times to show him he had no advantage," said Trout.
Trout landed 238 punches, according to Compubox, while Cotto landed 183. Trout also landed 192 power punches to 154 scored for his opponent.
It was a tough day for Puerto Rican boxing fans in general. Earlier in the morning, the family of Hector "Macho" Camacho buried one of the sports legendary competitors in the Bronx and twelve hours later, they watched one of their favorite sons fight what could be his last bout at Madison Square Garden.
Cotto initially left the ring in disgust after believing he won the 154-pound fight. It was his second straight loss. He said he would evaluate his career after some time off and a little rest.
For Trout, it could be the start of a new love affair with the old arena.
"I hope they bring me back to New York," he said. "I love fighting in the Garden."
For Cotto — who might have heard the final bell in a place that hosted so many of his greatest moments — the cheers were still ringing after the fight.
Asked if he thought he had won, Cotto, while blowing kisses out to the crowd, said, "Who do you think won the fight? Just listen to those fans."
The basically unheralded Trout — who goes by the nickname "No Doubt" — boasted, "I'm the present and future of the sport."
Trout was facing some pretty long odds in defeating his opponent in the boxing arena which might be called Cotto's house.
Cotto's 7-0 record in the Garden and the hostile pro-Cotto crowd of 13,097 could attest to his popularity in his home away from home.
In an entertaining and action-packed fight, that was pretty much even up until the final rounds, Trout (26-0, 14 KOs) backed up his words and beat Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs) in a 12-round unanimous decision.
The 27-year-old Trout managed to dominate the final two rounds and won easily on all three scorecards. Two judges had it 117-111 while the third scored the fight 119-113 — all for Trout.
After the fight, fans waving Puerto Rican flags booed the judges' decision that denied their native son another title.
Trout, whose game plan was not to stand in front of the 32-year-old Cotto, was satisfied with the win.
"I've been preparing for this fight for my entire life,' said Trout after the bout. "Fighting Miguel Cotto is a dream come true, it was the hardest fight of my career."
Cotto, who regained his composure after a hard Trout left hand in the first, still had Trout on the ropes with a wild flurry in the 10th round that had the crowd roaring with approval. But it was Trout's southpaw style that prevailed by not giving Cotto any clear open shots.
"I had to show him I was the bigger guy and push him back a couple of times to show him he had no advantage," said Trout.
Trout landed 238 punches, according to Compubox, while Cotto landed 183. Trout also landed 192 power punches to 154 scored for his opponent.
It was a tough day for Puerto Rican boxing fans in general. Earlier in the morning, the family of Hector "Macho" Camacho buried one of the sports legendary competitors in the Bronx and twelve hours later, they watched one of their favorite sons fight what could be his last bout at Madison Square Garden.
Cotto initially left the ring in disgust after believing he won the 154-pound fight. It was his second straight loss. He said he would evaluate his career after some time off and a little rest.
For Trout, it could be the start of a new love affair with the old arena.
"I hope they bring me back to New York," he said. "I love fighting in the Garden."
For Cotto — who might have heard the final bell in a place that hosted so many of his greatest moments — the cheers were still ringing after the fight.
Asked if he thought he had won, Cotto, while blowing kisses out to the crowd, said, "Who do you think won the fight? Just listen to those fans."
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Gabby Douglas: I almost quit gymnastics to work at Chick-fil-A
Things got so bad for Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas that, for a while, the best gymnast in the world had flirted with leaving the sport to sling chicken sandwiches at a Chick-fil-A right before she was on the brink of stardom.
Douglas, a member off the Fierce Five darlings of the London Games, confessed to friends that she was homesick and tired of the grueling training routine and longed to head home and be anything but a gymnast.
"Gymnastics is not my passion anymore," the then 15-year-old texted her mother — only seven months before claiming Olympic gold in the individual all-around gymnastics in London last summer.
"I can get a job at Chick-fil-A in Virginia Beach and live off the 14-grand I just won at World Championships," she writes in her new autobiography, "Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith. The book will be published Dec. 4.
"I just want to be a normal teenage kid," she wrote.
Dubbed The Flying Squirrel, Douglas became the first black woman to win the all-around gold in the sport.
The young athlete's mom, Natalie Hawkins, who supported the family while Gabby's father served in the Air National Guard, let her daughter move to Iowa and train. She was heartbroken that Gabby wanted to drop out of the sport. It was only after the gymnast's big brother John convinced her to stick it out that she returned to the gym.
Little sis went on to win two medals in London, after beating two Russians and teammate Aly Raisman, including the top medal in her sport.
Douglas has already admitted an affinity for fast food and, shortly after The Games, told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that she celebrated her Olympic medals with a couple of Egg McMuffins.
The only problem was that first lady Michelle Obama was sitting next to her and gave the carb-deprived pixie a little lecture about the dangers of a bad diet.
Douglas, a member off the Fierce Five darlings of the London Games, confessed to friends that she was homesick and tired of the grueling training routine and longed to head home and be anything but a gymnast.
"Gymnastics is not my passion anymore," the then 15-year-old texted her mother — only seven months before claiming Olympic gold in the individual all-around gymnastics in London last summer.
"I can get a job at Chick-fil-A in Virginia Beach and live off the 14-grand I just won at World Championships," she writes in her new autobiography, "Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith. The book will be published Dec. 4.
"I just want to be a normal teenage kid," she wrote.
Dubbed The Flying Squirrel, Douglas became the first black woman to win the all-around gold in the sport.
The young athlete's mom, Natalie Hawkins, who supported the family while Gabby's father served in the Air National Guard, let her daughter move to Iowa and train. She was heartbroken that Gabby wanted to drop out of the sport. It was only after the gymnast's big brother John convinced her to stick it out that she returned to the gym.
Little sis went on to win two medals in London, after beating two Russians and teammate Aly Raisman, including the top medal in her sport.
Douglas has already admitted an affinity for fast food and, shortly after The Games, told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that she celebrated her Olympic medals with a couple of Egg McMuffins.
The only problem was that first lady Michelle Obama was sitting next to her and gave the carb-deprived pixie a little lecture about the dangers of a bad diet.
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