The Potential For More Men Falling Four Stories And Almost Dying Begins Tonight [Duan!]
Tonight, the X Games begin their 14th season and what better way to promote that event than to look back at one of the most horrifying (if he died) but awesome (that he lived) moments ever witnessed in any sporting event. It was a year ago that skateboarder Jake Brown flailed and fell 46 feet after he lost his board during the big-air competition and thudded to the ground like a giant bag of sand . The LA Times revisits the incident:
"I thought he was dead," recalled Pierre-Luc Gagnon, a competitor and Brown's close friend. "At first I thought he was going to have compound fractures of both legs. I thought he was going to be paralyzed.
"Then I rolled up to him and he wasn't breathing. He was completely out and I didn't know if he was still alive."
The Royal We's dumbfounded reaction to it last year was especially priceless: "We mean ... his shoes popped off. That happens during car wrecks."
Barring a similar incident during these X Games, this will probably be the last it's talked about on Deadspin, unfortunately.
Tonight: Find your own personal John Daly and revel in the Thirsty Thursday goodness.
Tomorrow:we'll wrap up this Manny trade lunacy, run ESPN's "official" statement about the Erin Andrews story, and speak to the author of that piece Mike Nadel.
Thanks, as always, for your continued support of Deadspin.
Jake Brown's 4 1/2 Story Fall Lives On In X Games Lore [LA Times]
Kimbo Slice and Hulk Hogan to star in an …
Kimbo Slice and Hulk Hogan to star in an upcoming kid's movie? I think I'd actually pay to see that. [Lt. Winslow]
John Daly: Corrupting America’s Youth Since 1985 [John Daly]
We all have those stories about the first time we got drunk. Most of the time they're amusing and revelatory, told with a big fish-style exaggeration that gets exponentially larger throughout the years. Or, if you're an alcoholic, probably less. The first time I got smashed it was the night before the PSATs back in 1991. I was 15. I left after school to go over my friend Kevin's house with an SAT study guide, four pencils, and a scientific calculator. I came home at about 9 p.m. that night with a fork, a copy of Good Housekeeping, and throwing up on my mother's shoe. (PSAT score: 740.) That's a good first-time-I-got-drunk-story, but John Cloud, of Time magazine, has an epic one:
I was 14 the first time I got falling-down drunk. I was attending summer golf camp at the University of Arkansas. It was 1985, and a preternaturally talented young golfer named John Daly was my camp counselor. This was six years before Daly won the PGA Championship as a rookie. He would also become famous for his drinking, but in 1985 he was still just a big kid, five years older than I was but not especially more mature.
One night he acquired a bottle of Canadian whiskey, and somehow we persuaded three girls from the tennis camp to join us in his dorm room. Not bothering with glassware, we passed the bottle around until it was empty. I remember eating some watermelon Daly had bought. The evening ended when I regurgitated the whiskey and melon onto one of the girls. Daly and another player on the Razorback golf team deposited me into the well of a shower, where I fell into a dead sleep.
You win, John Cloud. You win.
Should You Drink With Your Kids? [Time]
Justin Timberlake Academy Awards Host 2009
Justin Timberlake hosted the 2008 ESPY Awards earlier this month.
J.T is about to bring “SexyBack” to the Oscars.
Bosses at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences were left so impressed with Justin Timberlake’s laugh out loud hijinks as the Master of Ceremonies for ESPN’s 2008 ESPY Awards, they’re convinced the Grammy-winning former boy bander can save the next Academy Awards from the event’s recent succession of sagging ratings. (more…)
To Watch Tonight [Let It Ride]
What to watch after telling the World's Oldest Joke and still getting a laugh ...
• Basketball: U.S. men's national team vs. Turkey, at Macau (5 p.m., ET, taped). May involve an actual turkey. [ESPN2]
• Extreme sports: X Games, at Los Angeles (9 p.m., ET). I'll be blowin' you up as soon as I buy some new biscuits. [ESPN]
• Golf: PGA Tour, Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, first round, at Reno (6:30 p.m., ET) See you at Circus Circus. [Golf Channel]
In a grainy video from his basketball camp, …
In a grainy video from his basketball camp, Michael Jordan weighs in on the Kobe Bryant v. MJ debate. "In my prime, not even a contest." [You Been Blinded]
Dan Quayle “Dancing With The Stars” Invitation Turned Down
A rep for former Vice-President Dan Quayle says the 61-year-old politician will not be doing the Rumba- or any other ballroom dancing-on the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars this Fall. (more…)
Afternoon Blogdome: Well, That Happened [Afternoon Blogdome]
• A breakdown of all the MLB trading action/inaction/etc.: "In the end, it makes total sense for the Pirates, who are planning for next year and beyond, and the Sox, who make, at worst, a lateral move today, and take a huge leap forward for the future. But the Dodgers are now in the weird position of having three outfielders who deserve to play and two who will feel entitled to play but who suck. We can talk about how Manny can't field at all, but Andruw Jones has had a historically bad year at the plate, and Juan Pierre has never been a good hitter. If L.A. takes the field with any outfield lineup other than Manny, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier, then we know that they're not really interested in putting their best team on the field." [The Sporting Blog]
• That's an amusing couple: The "rumor" tag on these two actually dating again (did anyone know that they were an item before hand?) started with Perez Hilton, but Puck Daddy still ran with it anyway. As will I. If only for the slim chance that this "rumor" was actually started by Eric Lindros who suffered some sort of post-concussion disorder where he's randomly calling gossip columnists to let them know he's banging Kate Hudson. This is all Scott Stevens fault. [Puck Daddy]
• More PSU fallout: "It really doesn't matter what the reason for the dismissal is. It's going to look like it was a knee-jerk response to the Outside the Lines piece. After all Paterno just returned from Chicago and the Big Ten Meetings, so it's not like he could have dismissed the players earlier this week since he doesn't own a computer and can't send text messages." [College OTR]
• Let's talk about that Griffey trade, White Sox fans: "As far as his hitting goes, assuming he is replacing Paulie’s production, the Sox have an upgrade on their hands. On the year, Griff is hitting .245/.355/.432 which is good for a 102 OPS+. He’s actually been above average which is better than Paulie’s .214/.312/.349/OPS+ 74, much better in fact. If you look at recent Griffey (last 28 days) his line looks better: .263/.391/.553/.944 and this was accomplished with a .263 BABIP meaning he could hit even better. So Griffey obviously has some life left in his bat, but once again we’re unsure as to where he fits in the Sox’ plans." [Life In The Cell]
Shia LaBeouf Crash eBay Auction
Debris from Shia LaBeouf’s weekend DUI crash in Los Angeles is being auctioned off on eBay. An online opportunist is asking for $200 for smashed up fenders, slivers of glass and remnants hijacked from the scence of Sunday’s car accident. (more…)
Cracker Barrel Robbery: $158 in UNC, Duke Gear the Ill-Gotten Gains [College Sports]
In a move that leaves every person who has ever been to a Cracker Barrel aghast, two people made off with $158 in merchandise from the old country store yet left behind the wheels of cheese, butter churns, and large checker board pieces that you played on a quilt. Instead they filched North Carolina (mostly) and Duke merchandise. Yep, this combines ESPN's favorite rivalry with Mike Patrick's favorite down home cooking.
They took a UNC Tar Heels water pitcher that sells for $29.99, a Tar Heel cookie jar worth $39.99, a UNC T-shirt ($19.99), a Carolina clock ($29.99) and a UNC platter and soft basketball ($24.98), according to an affidavit. The Tysingers are also accused of stealing a set of Duke beverage coasters valued at $12.99.
I'm confused, did the platter come with the basketball? It was a duo. And it was only $24.98? They should have stolen two. Mad props though on getting the Duke beverage coasters. That was close to throwing the cops off your trail. If only those new-fangled moving image cameras weren't around.
At least a North Carolina jury will react favorably to thieves who won't even take sides in the rivalry. Or not.
Couple charged with stealing UNC, Duke merchandise
Cracker Barrel couple caught stealing UNC stuff [SportsbyBrooks]