PRESIDENTIAL FINAL FOUR PICKS

Since publicly airing his distaste for the lack of a BCS playoff system in college football, we've known Obama and sports go together like peanut butter and honey. Jelly, honey, whatever your preference it's all good much like Obama's picks for NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. The leader of the free world filled out his bracket Tuesday with his picks for who will dance their way to the Final Four and they were anything but "liberal" as the president has been accused of being. In fact they were quite "conservative" with all number 1 seeds except for Memphis, a number 2 seed.

Obama's Final Four Picks

North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Memphis

How's that for presidential?

Tune in to ESPN Wednesday@12 PM EST for an indepth look at Obama's bracket and other tourney analysis.

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OBAMA'S FOOTBALL STIMULUS PLAN

T.O.’s Last Hooray!

Quotable:"If I gave you the answer that you want to hear, you'd already have it. And the fact that you don't should tell you something...I've experienced locker rooms that look dysfunctional on the face of it, OK? And won world championships," Dallas Cowboy owner, Jerry Jones on keeping Terrell Owens on the roster, a week before releasing him.

Yes, you heard it right! The tumultuous love/hate relationship between the Dallas Cowboys and Terell “The Voice” Owens has officially joined the ranks 50% of marriages in this country—in “Splitsville.” Just a week prior, Jerry Jones got his lasso in a bunch just at the mention of T.O. being cut from the roster. Apparently, he used that rope to fashion a noose to hang T.O. out to dry reportedly at the persuading of Cowboys insiders who still lack the ballsiness they so brazenly display behind closed locker room doors to voice their apparent disdain for the Pro-Bowl wide receiver. Sources reveal that Owens is shocked and feels betrayed however, not necessarily by Jerry Jones, despite Jones outright promise that Owens would remain a Dallas Cowboy amidst torrid locker room chemistry.

“It wasn’t just Whitten. He had problems with Tony Romo. He had problems calling out the offensive coordinator during the season, singly him out. He broadened the divide in the locker room so that players like Roy Williams, Patrick Clayton and I was even told Marion Barber , had been effected, negatively from their association with T.O. So I think the Cowboys will have some repairing to do in the locker room as the result of this. There were a lot of players, maybe the majority of players who sided with Terrell Owens against Tony Romo, Jason Whitten and offensive but if the Cowboys were going to solve this problem and address it seriously, I think Terrell Owens had to go and he had to go before they started their off season program at the end of this month.” ESPN analyst, Ed Werder reported.

While we’re speaking on advocates for Terrell Owens, let’s add Cowboys coach Wade Phillips into the mix, who along with Jones rallied behind Owens when he so vehemently shouted to any one that would listen that Romo and Whitten we’re engaged in a conspiracy to keep the ball from him complete with half-time pep sessions and slumber party strategy sessions.

“…You really never know the real reason behind it… cuz it’s a game of football and you just have to move on. Nobody is going to play this game forever…you look at guys like Marvin Harrison, that was released by the Indianapolis Colts, a couple of weeks ago or so. You just look over time. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars. I was released by the Dallas Cowboys. I was released by the Carolina Panthers…It’s going to happen. You look at it and you say, you know what ,the next step for him is to find him for a team to play for, for the next couple of years and from that team, that point forward just continue to keep trying to build that legacy you’re trying to lead/live when he leaves the game. ” ESPN analyst, retired NFL player, Keyshawn Johnson commented.

Is it really that simple? Despite lackluster numbers last season ranging in T.O. still produced. Yes, he is one of the most selfish players in the league next to Chad “Ocho” Cinco, next to Randy Moss, next to Plaxico Burress and any other star wide receiver who values his own self-destructive off field run-ins with the law and tabloids over Super bowl and Pro-Bowl appearances however, say it with me now, he still produced. Jones didn’t offer him a new $34 million contract extension with a $12 million signing bonus for nothing. At the end of the day, it boils down to one thing, Owens is ousted not because of his track record of alienating quarterbacks and offensive players in San Francisco, Philadelphia and now Dallas; not for his world famous outspokenness or for his lackluster last season, resulting in his 69 receiving and 10 receiving touchdowns but because Romo finally fell under the weight of Owens outcries about the shoddiness of Garrett’s and Phelps’ offensive plays. What type of club doesn’t appease to its star quarterback?

So where does this leave T.O. in quest for Super bowl contention? Unfortunately for T.O., his track record and his mounting age (Owens will be 36 years old next year) leave his team prospects about as realistic as the Lions’ sloppy seconds leading the Cowboys to Super bowl glory next season. One thing is for certain, in the team’s “best” long-term interests or not, Dallas in the short-term has a lot of holes to fill that will take a whole lot more cement to fill than a few pothole patchups in the guise of acquiring an over hyped Roy Williams, aging Jon Kitna and a washed up Keith Brooking.

Drunken Driving With Antoine Walker

Quotable:"Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game...He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot threes and rebound the ball. There isn’t anyone in this league better at doing that." Pat Riley, former Miami Heat coach.


My how the “mighty” have fallen. Former NBA player, Antoine Walker was recently charged with suspicion of drunk driving early Monday morning after get this, getting caught driving around with his headlights off at 5:39 in the morning. This is of course special interest to me due to the fact that the whole reason I indirectly started a brawl at the Palace (yes the infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl took a page out of my handbook) was because of this pseudo savior to Bean-town professional basketball pre-Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen era. An obnoxious Celtics’ fan insisting on being heard cheering for his favorite player over hundreds of Pistons fans is not fight inducing in itself but when you insist on cheering for your favorite player on enemy lines and you LIVE IN the opponent’s city THEN proceed to taunt the opponents’ fans about their weakest link (in our case, the Detroit Lions), “thems fighting words, buddy!”

So how did I put the Walker’s long lost lover in his place? I hit him in the head with chicken sandwich wrapper. Like Walker’s career, it went downhill fast. The whole crowd in section 201 including *gasp my mother began chanting asshole; the bleachers rained popcorn, beer and pennies on the guy and his friend and about seven guys young and old manned up ready to fight the “fake thugs.” By the end of the night, the Walkerettes were lead away by Palace security for failure to keep the peace and fights erupted elsewhere in the venue after the Pistons embarrassingly lost in a down to the wire, last ditch effort by the Celtics’.

Of course, in recent years, nobody with half a brain has been that up in arms to get his or her ass kicked by a crowd full of opposing fans over Antoine Walker. After acquiring him in a three player trade that included Jason Williams, and James Posey, former Heat coach Pat Riley commented that, “Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game. I think his numbers have shown throughout his career that he has been consistent year-in and year-out, providing points and rebounds. He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot threes and rebound the ball. There isn’t anyone in this league better at doing that. I believe that he will bring a tremendous, versatile, play-making, scoring, rebounding dimension to our team. He is in his prime and I think he will pair up brilliantly with Shaquille, Dwyane and the rest of the team.” Since winning a championship with Miami in 2006, Walker has been exiled to Minnesota where he struggled in 46 games with the Timberwolves during the 2007-08 season only to have his contract bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies in December, making him a free agent.

The police reported Walker stank of alcohol and looked even more like a sleepy eyed basset hound than usual. Given that this latest charge is added to the fact that Walker hasn't played this season, maybe Walker realizes that his chances to get picked up by a team are about as slim as Lebron singing a rendition of "Hello New York" as an official New York Knick when the Free Agent season rolls around in 2010.

A fat chance in hell!

LUDACRIS' GAMES ON WITH MADDEN CHALLENGE

Quotable:"I call myself the MVP of rap..." Ludacris, rapper/actor


Grammy award winning rapper/actor, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges is sending a cry out across Sportsnation for all Madden fans who think they can put the smackdown on Luda for the Number 1 spot in Ludacris' Madden Challenge. Ludacris is one of many celebs putting their mouth where their um joystick is as part of Xbox's "Game with Fame" promotion giving everyday gamers the chance to duke it out with some of their favorite celebrities and artists. Earlier this year, hip hop hotheads,rappers Bow Wow and Game went toe to toe in a Madden showdown of Youtube proportions.

For those interested Xbox gamers ready to throw some bows, users simply had to send a friend request to Luda's Xbox game tag, GWF Ludacris and be ready to rumble Monday, November 17th 3:00PM EST in order to compete. A master at cross marketing and promotion, Ludacris has set himself apart from other rappers with TV and film appearances in blockbuster hit, "Max Payne", "Law & Order:SVU","Crash","2Fast2Furious",and "Hustle&Flow" to become one of the most consistent, business savvy mainstream rap artists in the game. Ludacris "Game with Fame" Challenge comes just in time for his new album release, "Theater of the Mind", slated to hit stores, November 24th.

"I call myself the MVP of rap...When you put everything together in rap, as far as lyrics, visuals, record sales, personality, conceptual songs, I feel like I'm the summation of all. I feel like there's nothing I can't do."

Related Links:
Xbox Game with Fame

Dream Shattering Deaths Strike Jennifer Hudson’s Family

Quotable:"I've had a similar journey as Effie…Me being a part of 'Idol,' her being part of the group. ... We both go through our journeys, trying to hold on to our dream and achieve our goal. We have hardships, but we prevail at the end.”

In recent events, Oscar winning actress/singer, Jennifer Hudson realized what nightmares are made of when the horrendous news of the violent deaths of her mother, 57 year old Darnell Donerson and older brother, 29 year old Andre Hudson in Hudson’s native Chicago, hit airwaves last Friday. Hudson’s rise to stardom was like the slow but steady ascension of a rollercoaster ride through good old-fashioned hard work and talent. Her critically acclaimed performance in the 2006 smash hit musical, “Dreamgirls” featuring an all-star African-American cast composed of Oscar award-winning Best Actor, Jamie Foxx (“Ray”), Grammy award-winning actress/singer, Beyonce Knowles, and comedic legend, Eddie Murphy among others, garnered her an Oscar and Golden Globe award in the Best Supporting Actress category in a Comedy/Musical in her first nomination shortly after being eliminated midway from Season 3 of “American Idol.” Her tumultuous on screen portrayal of Effie, the overweight lead singer of the fictitious Dreamettes , features the show-stopping song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," a remake of the original Tony award winning song performed by singer, Jennifer Holiday in the hit stage play. Hudson reportedly beat out 800 other actresses/singers for the role including her Idol running mate, Fantasia.

Things seemed to be on track for the rising star who recently announced her engagement to “I Love New York2” contestant, David Otunga. Her healthy body image and beauty have been at the center of many celebrity magazines and message boards as an example of a positive role model for young women everywhere. Senator Barack Obama personally requested the girl with the “big voice” to sing the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention and 2008 has seen her appear in the blockbuster “Sex and City Movie” and most recently, “The Secret Life of Bees” with fellow black Hollywood starlets, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Kwundo as well as the release of her first solo album, “Spotlight.”

Miss Hudson has been no stranger to tragedy. In 1998, she lost one of her inspirations for her music upon the death of her grandma whom she tearfully thanked during her Oscar acceptance speech along with her mother, also her muse. Prior to that her father was also laid to rest. Always humbled and thankful, the close knit Hudson family was struck with tragedy again early Friday morning shortly before Hudson’s mother and brother were found fatally shot in Jennifer’s childhood home on Chicago’s Southside. News of the Hudson family’s horrific murders sent shockwaves of sadness, sympathy and outright disgust at the gall and viciousness of the homicides. Nine am Monday morning, the body of a 7 year old boy found shot multiple times including an execution style bullet to the head in the backseat of an abandoned white 94’ Chevy Suburban, has been identified as being that of Miss Hudson’s missing nephew, Julian—adding another devastating blow to family and its supporters.

"Jennifer always used to beg her mom to get out of that neighborhood, but she owned that house and she would never leave," said a neighbor.

Jennifer and her sister, Julia Balfour, pleaded in a Saturday press conference for the safe return of Julia’s son, Julian affectionately nicknamed “Juicebox” and “Dr.King”, offering a $100,000 reward for information of his whereabouts. The boy was originally believed to be in the custody of Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour at the time. Balfour, 27, has been arrested and place in police custody for questioning in the Hudson family slayings. Although Balfour was rumored to have threatened to take the boy away and his alibi has been ruled contradictory to what was revealed by his pregnant girlfriend, he has not been charged with their deaths and denies involvement in the incidents. Outpours of condolences, well wishes and prayers flooded Jason and Jennifer’s myspace pages from family, friends and fans alike showing support what must be the singer’s growing pain for the loss of family that has kept her “grounded.” Neighbors from the Englewood neighborhood where Hudson herself once lived with her family, crowded outside the Hudson home silently praying, tears glistening and already a memorial of teddy bears and other tokens of support litter the street, marking the area where the tragedy first took place.

Jennifer’s brother was described as a “nice guy” who had few enemies and was nearly lost to a robbery at the family’s home two years prior. Anyone who knew the family admired their closeness and adored the “happy go lucky, spoiled yet easygoing kid” they lovingly referred to as Julian.

“It was such a nice family...I was shocked that somebody could ever do something like that to such a sweet lady. [Donerson] was quiet, but very nice," a neighbor commented. "She kept to herself and stayed in her house a lot."

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BOLT STRIKES TWICE

Quotable:"Michael Johnson is a great athlete, and he revolutionized the sport,I just changed it a little bit." Usain Bolt, Jamaican world class sprinter


They say lightning never strikes twice. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt begs to differ and the Olympic gods have spoken. In a blur of green, gold and black, Bolt flew across the finish line in a daunting 19.30 seconds, shattering a world record of 19.32 seconds set by American, Michael Johnson back in 1996 during the Atlanta Olympics. The 22 year old mega track star is the second prodigy of the Olympics to skyrocket skepticism and virtually impossible dreams of shattering old world records straight into the stratosphere. With an air of concentration and focus he hadn’t shown in his showboat finish in the 100 meter race Saturday, Bolt took the gold in the 200 focused and determined to surpass Johnson’s expectations that he’d breeze past his world record “someday.” Today was that day.

“Everything came together tonight," Bolt said. "I just blew my mind. I blew the world's mind.”

You could say it was Bolt’s gold spikes reminiscent of Johnson’s gold spikes on that fateful night in Atlanta 12 years ago that did it for him or call it the “poetry in motion” he embodies when watching his tall, 6’5 lean yet graceful body effortlessly propelling him down the stretch as former gold medal hurdler, Renaldo Nehemiah describes him. Whatever you do, don’t focus on the diet. Sure Bolt trained hard but I’d hardly call an insatiable craving for McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets the breakfast of champions.

One thing is for sure, the quest to proclaim the Jamaicans as the best sprinters in the world is not a long stretch by a long shot. With 7 total medals, Jamaica surprisingly leads the US with 4 gold medals versus America’s 2 gold medals and 9 total medals. A product of a nation known for mass producing some of the fastest sprinters in events 400 meters or less, Bolt has a country lineage to uphold and a promise to fulfill as he leads his team for one last hooray in the 400 relay.

"We want to prove to the world we're the best," said Jamaican 400-meter hurdles gold medalist Melanie Walker.

If lightning can strike three times, Bolt indeed might be just the man to do it.

For Beijing Olympic action, visit
Olympic Central

LIL WAYNE: MILLION RECORD BABY

Quotable:"The only time I will depend is when I'm seventy years old, that's when I can't hold my ish within so I ish on myself cause I'm so sick and tired of ish on everybody else." Lil Wayne


Lil' Wayne is so sweet, girls want to lick his wrapper. Lil' Wayne spits hot fire! Lil' Wayne is the best rapper in the game! Now all the Lil' Wayne naysayers and haters can lick his "rapper too!" Today marks a monumental day for the Carter, now an inductee into the First Week Million Records Boy Club, Weezy baby surpassed Kanyeezy's 900,000 first week record sales of his junior album release, 'The Graduation' back in September 2007 and has clocked in at a reportedly 1 million sound scans. With 400,000 albums flying off the shelves on the first day, it was clear that a few leaks couldn't kill his pipe dreams.

"I wasn't trippin' about this," Lil' Wayne said. "I didn't have no expectations. That's not only with music, [that's] period. You shouldn't expect anything. You never know what could happen."

Previously not one to out do his self, Weezy's 2005 album release, The Carter II only registered at 238,500 sound scans, premiering at #2 on the Billboard Charts. This time The Carter's ecstacy tongue laced in sizzurp (that's codeine and cough syrup, as if you didn't know) landed him the coveted number #1 slot on the Billboard charts and bragging rights along 50 Cent's 2005 chart topper, 'The Massacre' which also set records at $1 million + in first week album sales.

Looks like third time's the charm for the self-proclaimed "best rapper alive." A fan favorite among mixtape DJs and hip hop heads alike since busting on the scene with his solo album 'The Block Is Hot' in 1999. To the Carter, being placed in the ranks with contenders Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent for best rapper in the game is so passe.

"I ain't lookin down but i see no one above me."

Despite mixed reviews including one proclaiming Wayne's third studio effort as glossed over as lip gloss, full of radio friendly fanfare that is more bubble yum than down right gritty, as Lil' Wayne fans will declare "A Milli, Hip Hop IS ALIVE!"

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