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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Gotye Parody Video: Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow Featured in Newest Remix - Bleacher Report

Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow and the most popular song in the world combine to create a spot-on parody music video. 

I will go ahead and ask the world to stop with the Gotye parody songs now, because the good ones have been created and you will only fall flat from an epic fail if you attempt the same. 

We have all seen the same song parody with Kobe Bryant as the theme. 

Now we get the two biggest names in the NFL offseason colliding with two fans sounding off in the complex feelings of loss. 

First comes a Colts fan who pines for Peyton Manning, a quarterback that was once received with disappointment and then spoiled fans with win after win. 

Best line from the open, via YouTube:  

But secretly I wanted Ryan Leaf
But I was wrong and you're the best I can remember

This wouldn't do the original justice if it weren't filled with body paint and also a duet with an attractive young lady. 

It really wouldn't be an NFL parody, actually, without some mention of Tim Tebow. She delves into the deep and complex feelings of Denver Broncos fans who were forced to see Tebow leave.

Despite being a below average quarterback, fans were forced to care. 

Now and then I think of all the games you screwed us over
Part of me not caring 'cause of all the games you had won
But Elway didn't wanna play that way
Scoring six points every single game

Sweet and to the point. I laughed, I cried and was taken back to the great 2011 season. Now please cease and desist with the thought that you can out do these. 

That is how a perfectly fine song gets murdered. 

Follow me on Twitter and we can be BFFs. 

Greene Is Expecting His Workload to Grow - New York Times

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. â€" Contrary to popular belief, the list of players affected by the Jets’ acquisition of Tim Tebow does not begin and end with Mark Sanchez. Ranking second â€" if a distant second, perhaps â€" is Shonn Greene, who remembers wondering two months ago whether adding another running option would cut into his workload.

“I did, I did,” Greene said Thursday, after a slight pause. “But then again, you can’t dwell on stuff like that. There’s going to be plenty of carries to go around.”

The Jets are in the throes of organized team activities, that breathless stage of the N.F.L. off-season when all quarterbacks look sharp, all draft picks have impressed and everyone is stronger, leaner and in the best shape of his life.

Even so, with two months before training camp and more than three months before the Sept. 9 season opener against Buffalo, Greene seems to have grasped the Jets’ new reality, one defined by a versatile backup quarterback and a new coordinator intent on establishing a run-first philosophy.

However secretive the Jets have remained about their intended use of Tebow, it is unlikely that the offense will thrive if Greene sputters. He set a career-high with 253 rushing attempts last season, and he said he had been led to believe by the offensive coordinator Tony Sparano that he will surpass that figure in 2012 â€" even if Tebow does end up taking away carries that would have otherwise gone to him or the backup, Joe McKnight.

“We’re not going to disappoint you,” Coach Rex Ryan said. “We’re going to give the ball to Shonn Greene a bunch.”

To be clear, Sparano has not explicitly told that to Greene. The way Sparano figured it, he had no reason to. Greene has heard enough about Sparano’s plans and studied enough of the new playbook to form an impression. Greene loved what he saw â€" a coach determined to employ an approach that leaves no room for interpretation. In constant motion during practice, Sparano points and yells and teaches. He implores his players to play physical. He demands a high tempo.

“Smoke and mirrors aren’t going to win a lot of games,” Sparano said.

The Jets realized as much during their not-so-recent past, when their so-called ground-and-pound philosophy helped them reach two consecutive A.F.C. championship games. Then, a lapsed offensive identity, exacerbated by an uneven defense and a fractured locker room, prevented them from reaching the playoffs last year. Greene topped 1,000 yards for the first time, but he, like many of his teammates, had bouts of inconsistency.

Greene said he was heartened that Sparano favored the power play, a between-the-tackles run in which a lineman, usually a guard, pulls into another inside hole as an extra blocker. It would usually feature Greene, but if called in a Wildcat formation â€" near the goal line, presumably â€" either he or Tebow would emerge as the likely beneficiary. In Miami, that play was often called for Ronnie Brown, whom Greene mentioned as someone who flourished in Sparano’s offense.

“We’re going to run that to death until someone stops us,” Greene said, “and I think that’s the type of back I am.”

In Greene, Sparano saw a running back who possessed the optimal body type for his new offense â€" big, bruising, physical.

“He gets his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage, he breaks tackles and he runs at the right pad level,” Sparano said. “To me, he has all the qualities I look for.”

Sparano estimated that he had installed about 60 percent of the Jets’ new offense, though nothing yet that could be characterized as quirky or unorthodox. Nothing that incorporates Tebow as anything more than a conventional quarterback. Until then, Sanchez â€" or Tebow â€" will keep handing the ball off to Greene, over and over and over again.

EXTRA POINTS

Darrelle Revis declined to guarantee his presence when players report to training camp July 26, which might point to another contract holdout, his second in three years. “I don’t know if I am or if I’m not,” said Revis, who would not say whether he was satisfied with his current deal, a front-loaded four-year, $32 million contract signed after a 36-day holdout in 2010. “I’m just telling you I’ll be ready for the season.” ... Nick Mangold declined the Jets’ offer to miss part of training camp to watch his sister Holley compete in weight lifting at the London Olympics, and Rex Ryan revealed his surprise by saying that he would have left for his twin brother, Rob.

Faith and Sports—Can Tim Tebow and Other Players Have Both? - Patch.com

I have the opportunity to teach two sport history courses for National University and one of the topics in sport history is the rise of religious sport heroes. In the early 20th century, there was a lot of misunderstanding and fear of religious groups that immigrated to America. For example, one of the early famous Jewish baseball players was Hank Greenberg. He was a standout player in the 1930s and 1940s. He was awarded several prestigious baseball honors including league MVP, five time All-Star nominee, and he entered the baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.

Greenberg also received national attention when, in 1934, he chose to refrain from playing baseball on Yom Kippur, which is a religious day for the Jewish faith. This was a particularly tough decision because Greenberg’s team, the Detroit Tigers, was in a close pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite his absence, Greenberg still had loyal fans who respected him for his decision.

Later, another Jewish baseball standout, Sandy Koufax, refrained from playing on Yom Kippur, but because of the trail blazed by Hank Greenberg, Koufax and other religious players were not as criticized for their decision.

Sport has come a long way since the early religious sport heroes (NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has become known for his prayerful kneelingâ€"Tebowingâ€"during games) but in modern times, it seems that religious sport heroes are few and far between. We don’t often hear about NBA or NFL players not playing on the religious holidays or requesting the opportunity to observe the Sabbath. So the question is, do you have to give up one to have the other?

This is a question that Jabari Parker, arguably the best high school basketball player since LeBron James, is asking himself. According to an interview and article by Sports Illustrated, Jabari Parker is one of the best basketball players in the country and one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. For instance, after winning his varsity basketball game, Parker was observed serving water to the junior varsity team, instead of taking interviews or hanging out in the hall. Here is a kid being recruited by the best colleges in the country and he is serving water to the JV.

Besides being an outstanding player and nice boy, Parker is also a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When Mormon young men turn 19 years old, they are asked to serve a two-year mission for the church. Parker, being a devout Mormon, certainly will give this a lot of thought. His challenge will be that if he leaves for two years, could that negatively impact his basketball career?

Whether Jabari Parker serves a mission or not, it sounds like this is a young man who has been able to blend his religion with a successful career in sports. His high school coach has worked with him over the past four years to make sure he can attend church each Sunday whether they are on the road or at home. This is an example of how coaches and players can work together to make religious beliefs work in the crazy competitive world of sports.

Do you have to give up your religious integrity in order to compete in competitive sports? Should religious players be required to compete on religious days in order to play on teams? Tells us in comments.

Can Tebow Fix the First Quarter? - Wall Street Journal

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.â€"Even before they landed Tim Tebow, the Jets were widely considered one of the NFL's most entertaining clubs.

They've been to two AFC title games in the past three seasons. There's no such thing as a dull news conference with Rex Ryan, their human megaphone of a coach. And the team drew sky-high ratings for HBO's "Hard Knocks" documentary series in 2010.

But for all of the must-see TV the Jets provide, any anxiety-riddled fan of the team could tell you there's one thing you want to be sure to do: Cover your eyes until the first quarter is over.

The Jets have been downright ugly to watch in the early stages of games in recent years. And though they managed to dig themselves out of a bunch of those first-quarter holes, there could be bigger risks involved with falling behind in 2012. Doing so would thwart the run-based game plan the Jets want to employ and almost certainly set up a dilemma concerning how and when the team uses Tebow, the backup quarterback.

Statistically, the Jets were one of the slower-starting teams in the league last season, scoring just under four points per first quarter. That rate, better than only 11 other teams, was actually a vast improvement from the year before, when the Jets were second-worst in the NFL.

Opponents outscored the Jets to start games by 33 and 21 points in 2011 and 2010, respectively, according to Stats LLC. When the Jets scored an offensive first-quarter touchdown in Week 2 against Jacksonville last year, it marked the first time in 16 gamesâ€"or an entire regular season's worthâ€"that they had done so.

Of course, the Jets have been largely successful despite the slow starts. But there is no denying they've been a major problem. A closer look at the Jets' 13 regular-season losses over the past two years shows their opponents scored first in 11 of them.

"You'd love to [get ahead]," Ryan said. "I think that we're a team that if we get ahead, it obviously bodes well for us."

Quarterback Mark Sanchez has led 10 fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives over the past two years, and receiver Santonio Holmes refers to his clutch performances late in games as "Tone Time," but there are a handful of issues with that script, and those problems could soon be amplified if the Jets' early scoring woes persist.

For one, they'd have to abandon their blueprint "ground and pound" power-running game, a game plan they've said they'd like to rededicate themselves to under new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Having to throw the ball to catch up, in an effort to save time on the clock, would make them more one-dimensional than they want to be.

And if the team develops a pattern of falling behind this season, it might create a different type of quarterback controversy. For instance: Who would oversee the comeback efforts in the fourth quarterâ€"Sanchez, who's shown himself to be clutch, or Tebow, who is seen as enigmatic for virtually only playing well in clutch moments?

For all the hype that Tebow and his late-game heroics generate, there is still one potential pitfall to playing him over Sanchez if and when the Jets fall behind: He may not be the ideal quarterback to have when you're down late in a game.

The Jets traded for Tebow partly because of how dangerous he is as a rushing threat. But running the ball drains the clock, and Tebow's passing leaves something to be desired.

He was the least accurate starting quarterback in the league last year when facing defensive-line pressure, according to analysis site Pro Football Focus. He completed just over a third of his passes in such scenarios, which might be similar to what he would face if he were playing and the Jets were losing late in a game.

"Depending on the score and where you're at in the game, whether you're ahead, whether you're behind, that all probably plays into it," Tebow said of when he'd get opportunities to play.

OTA observations: Coples, Hill shine - ESPN (blog)

Thoughts on the Jets' second OTA session open to the media:

1. For those who need their quarterback fix, here you go: Mark Sanchez was 7-for-14 in team drills, including an unsuccessful two-minute drill at the end of practice. Tim Tebow was 1-for-4, including a 50-yard bomb to WR Stephen Hill. Neither quarterback had an interception. In 7-on-7 drills (in the red zone), Sanchez was 5-for-6, with two TDs; Tebow was 4-for-5, with one TD. The bottom line is, neither quarterback shined. Tebow, in particular, seemed tentative with his reads, especially in the red zone. In fairness to the quarterbacks, it should be mentioned they had to work with a skeleton receiving corps on a semi-windy day.

2. Hill continues to impress. We know he's big and we know he's fast, but he also demonstrated the ability the beat jams at the line of scrimmage. A lot of rookies struggle with that aspect of the job. Actually, Rex Ryan candidly admitted he expected Hill to have trouble with press coverage, but the second-round pick has surprised him. Obviously, these aren't full-contact practices, so he isn't getting the full brunt of life as an NFL receiver, but Hill has met the early challenges. He beat CB Kyle Wilson on a 50-yard bomb and he caught a quick-out on CB Darrelle Revis during the two-minute drill.

3. No. 1 pick Quinton Coples, working with the starting unit, had a productive day. He "sacked" Sanchez and also batted down a pass at the line. Said Ryan: "Coples looks like he's killing it pretty good." This was a boom-or-bust pick for the Jets. So far, it's a lot closer to boom than bust.

4. Rookie LB Demario Davis (third-round pick), whom the Jets envision as a "coverage" linebacker, worked in the first-team nickel package. He has the athleticism to drop into coverage, but his inexperience shows up. He got burned on a wheel route by RB Joe McKnight, who was all alone in the end zone on the final play of a two-minute drive -- and dropped the ball. Davis got lucky -- this time.

5. OC Tony Sparano is constantly preaching tempo, tempo, tempo in practice. He wants the offense in and out of the huddle ASAP. He wants the offense to get accustomed to a quick pace because, in theory, it should make it easier in games. He also believes it helps the learning process -- less time to digest the play call. That means they have to know it immediately, no excuses.

6. Maybe it's just me, but the defense looks faster than last year. Maybe the "dinosaur" days have gone the way of ... well, the dinosaur.

Tim Tebow mania stretches to trading cards - ESPN (blog)

Tim Tebow’s Twitter-breaking migration from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets this offseason has simply reaffirmed the undeniable truth that Tebow remains one of the most polarizing players in the history of American sports. As such, he remains one of the most collected players in the country, too.

His adoring legion of fans and collectors spans the country -- from Florida to the Rocky Mountains to the Big Apple and seemingly everywhere in between and beyond -- and his every move in New York, on the field and off, commands tabloid headlines. Just wait until the season starts.

Now Jets’ new Wildcat wildcard will take a starring role in the upcoming release of Panini America’s 2012 Prestige Football as the star of a 15-card insert devoted exclusively to him.

• Click here to read the full post from Panini America.

Peers rank Broncos' Peyton Manning NFL's 50th-best player - USA TODAY

Peyton Manning the NFL's 50th-best player?

Whether you consider that a compliment to a guy who hasn't played in nearly 18 months or a slap in the face to the league's only four-time MVP, it was the lead story of Wednesday night's installment of NFL Network's The Top 100 Players of 2012, a 10-part series determined by the votes of active players.

MORE TOP 100:  100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

Thirteen quarterbacks made the cut overall with five ranked behind Manning -- Tim Tebow (No. 95), Tony Romo (No. 91), Joe Flacco (No. 74), Michael Vick (No. 70) and Philip Rivers (No. 61) -- and seven in front of him, though only Matthew Stafford (No. 41), who's coming off a 5,000-yard passing season, has been revealed to this point. (Presumably, the final six are Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers.)

Some of Manning's peers didn't think he should be ranked at all after spending last season on injured reserve. Others were far more effusive in their praise:

  • Packers C Jeff Saturday, Manning's longtime teammate in Indianapolis: "I'm pretty impressed. To go through a whole year and not touch the field and still be ranked 50, you must be doing something right. Obviously there's still a lot of guys who have a ton of respect for him."
  • Steelers FS Ryan Clark: "If we're talking about the impact that a certain player had on the success or failure of his team, Peyton Manning may need to be No. 1."
  • Titans S Jordan Babineaux: "I've never seen one player in particular have this kind of a impact on a franchise when he don't play."
  • 49ers QB Alex Smith: "That team's (the Indianapolis Colts) a playoff-caliber team -- Peyton's not there anymore, and look what happens."
  • Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson: "Any time you're a four-time NFL MVP, you should always be on the list."
  • RB Thomas Jones: "Even though he didn't play, I think there's a lot of guys that will still say he's the best player in this league. Period. Hands down."

It is interesting to note that a fullback -- Ravens all-pro Vonta Leach, No. 45 -- finished ahead of Manning, though Leach is clearly highly regarded after being voted No. 65 in 2011.

Here's the list of players ranked 41-50:

  • 41. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions
  • 42. Jason Peters, LT, Eagles
  • 43. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
  • 44. Jason Babin, DE, Eagles
  • 45. Vonta Leach, FB, Ravens
  • 46. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
  • 47. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
  • 48. Devin Hester, KR/WR, Bears
  • 49. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Steelers
  • 50. Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos

Legends return for Heisman Challenge - ESPN (blog)

Barry Sanders and Barry Sanders Jr. in the same Stanford backfield?

Might as well hand the Cardinal the BCS Championship right now, but that’s the concept behind the cool new Heisman Challenge mode in "NCAA Football 13."

Pick a former Heisman winner -- from Tim Tebow to Herschel Walker -- recruit them to your favorite school, then insert them into the current day starting lineup to see if you can match, or even surpass, their historic stats, awards, and championship trophies.

Desmond HowardEA SportsThe new Heisman Challenge mode in "NCAA 13" allows you to play as a number of Heisman-winning legends.

As you play through the single-season experience, the viewpoint is the same as the game’s Road to Glory mode, with the camera focusing on your individual player as opposed to your team. Each player will be given specific goals to match or surpass throughout his second stint in college, as gamers will have the ability to try and put up Andre Ware’s video-game like stats or score more than Barry Sanders’ 37 rushing touchdowns while in control of the first ever father-son running tandem.

But that’s not all, as EA Sports added a unique gameplay element into the feature, giving gamers the ability to switch into “reaction time” slow motion, enabling runners like Sanders to juke, spin, hurdle, and stiff-arm as defenders fly at them from all directions, helping you see the field around you more clearly as you show off the slick moves that helped transform your superstar into a legend.

Ten athletes are featured in the new mode (Marcus Allen, Doug Flutie, Eddie George, Robert Griffin III, Desmond Howard, Carson Palmer, Barry Sanders, Charlie Ward, Andre Ware, and Herschel Walker), while Tim Brown, Archie Griffin, Jim Plunkett, Mark Ingram, Matt Leinart, and Tim Tebow will be made available through DLC.

Playing through a few Heisman Challenge games, I loved the new reaction time, especially when returning punts with Desmond Howard. And being able to pitch a the ball to Sanders on the outside, switch to slow motion as I spin between defenders, then switch back to regular speed, is also a blast. It almost seems unfair to have that much skill. Then again, that’s what it was like for Sanders in real life.

I also loved trying out players like Doug Flutie in the Oregon offense just to see if I could recapture some of that Flutie magic in a new system, not to mention putting players in the uniforms of their biggest rivals, like Desmond Howard on Ohio State and Marcus Allen on UCLA.

To top things off, if you’re able to meet your goals and win the Heisman, you can also unlock each player in Road to Glory mode in order to continue their playing careers.

That means four seasons of Sanders and Sanders in the same backfield.

I might never need to pass the ball again.

The Top 10 Non-Sports, Sports Stories: Hard Knocks, NBA Conspiracies, Terrell ... - AllMediaNY

The Top 10 Non-Sports, Sports Stories: Hard Knocks, NBA Conspiracies, Terrell Owens & Tim Tebow

31 May 2012 04:47 PM EST

by Daniel Mogollon, Staff Writer; Image: DeShawn Stevenson stands in his kitchen, in between his counter and his ATM. (Image Source: Twitter)

Here are the top-10 outside the lines [the check is in the mail ESPN] sports stories of the week:

10) Alcorn State Hires Jay Hopson as Head Football Coach: Why is this a “non-sports” story you ask? Because the only reason this is a story is the color of Hopson’s skin…he’s white. You see, Alcorn State is a historically black college and they are making Hopson the first non-black head coach in the history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

9. Kordell Stewart Retires: If your response is, “wait, what”, you’re not alone. It only took seven years of waiting by the phone [and checking several thousand times to make sure it was plugged in] before Stewart decided to hang it up. [Literally, put the phone down Kordell!] The NFLer formerly known is “Slash” is officially no longer part of league that he hasn’t been a part of since 2005 [unofficially?]. Apparently, Stewart needed closure, what ever that means. Come back to us Kordell…

8) Tim Tebow is Selling a lot of NFL Jerseys: I know, not really breaking news, but it’s a way to get Tim Tebow into the headline [Google likes Tebow], which equals hits. [We got you to click didn’t we?] According to NFLShop.com, the Jets backup quarterback/[first string?] personal punt protector, has sold the second-most jerseys from April 1 to May 28. His replacement in Denver, Peyton Manning, is the only one who has sold more.

7) The Pro Bowl is Back For 2013 in Hawaii: According to a release by the NFL, the Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 27 in the week before the Super Bowl. Some say it’s where it belongs [Hawaii] and Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton says it was an, “awesome experience.” To which I say, who cares? You can’t make me watch. Last year’s contest resembled nothing close to a real football game. Last night’s “friendly” [how lame] between Brazil and USA was more meaningful.

6) Terrell Owens Cut From & Loses Interest in the Allen Wranglers: If I’ve never heard of the team or the league they play in [Indoor Football League], it’s a non-sports, sports story. Let’s be real. So Owens lost interest in going to road games and making public appearances, which led to his getting cut, as well as Owens losing his interest in the team, as in his 50 percent stake in the team was bought out for $50. Things apparently can’t get any worse for the future Hall of Famer, yet some are wondering if the New York Jets should sign TO. Go figure.

5) Steve Spurrier Says the Kids Should Play for Pay: For the second straight year South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has proposed paying players a stipend during the SEC spring meetings. Spurries believes that athletes that participate in revenue-generating sports should receive "approximately $3,500 to $4,000". Why not? Sure there will be some complications along the way but the NCAA should find a way to make it happen.

4) Miami Dolphins Chosen For HBO’s Hard Knocks: Is this the beginning of the end for the best reality show on TV? The Phins? Really? HBO producers can claim all they want that no other team was offered a chance to appear in the 2012 edition of Hard Knocks, but we’re not buying it. Not in a New York second [the amount of time it takes to buy a Tebow jersey]. While some wonder if appearing on Hard Knocks is a good idea and others call it harmless fun, we can agree the show has been must watch TV for NFL fans. Hard Knocks will debut on August 7. Do you think the Dolphins can sign TO before then?

3) The NBA Lottery Was Fixed!: Even though I’m not a believer, who doesn’t love a good conspiracy theory…especially if it involves David Stern? The team formerly owned by the NBA, the New Orleans Hornets, won the NBA lottery last night. One narrative says that new owner Tom Benson must have been assured he would get the top pick when he gave the NBA millions of his dollars. “And the new owner just happens to be here,” someone stated after the Hornets were awarded with the top pick. I’m just curious why the New York Knicks never have any ping pong balls? There is a conspiracy!

2) DeShawn Stevenson Installs ATM in His…Kitchen: Put that on my list of must-have appliances! After we finally add a [gluten-free] bread maker and a rice cooker [something other than a pot?] to the Mogollon kitchen, we may have to go to P.C. Richards & Son [I know a guy] and pick up an ATM. Is it just me or is the pic of Stevenson standing in his kitchen with an ATM destined to be on Tosh.O? Can the stripper pole be far behind? Somebody had to ask…

1) Michigan Commit Logan Tuley-Tillman Burns OSU Recruiting Letter: How do you not love this story? Tuley-Tillman, who decided to attend Michigan to play football, while spurning Ohio State tweeted a picture of himself burning a letter from “THE Ohio State University” or just plain “Ohio” [depends on whom you’re asking] on twitter, along with the hash tags #goblue and #beatohio. What makes this story go to the top of the list is some of the insane responses it’s getting, including death threats. Seriously people? This is a prank by a kid. Get over yourself and grow up.

Daniel Mogollon is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of American. He is also a voter for the Thorpe and the Rotary Lombardi Award, as well as the Latino Sports MVP Awards.

Faith and Sports: Can Tim Tebow and Other Players Have Both? - Patch.com

I have the opportunity to teach two sport history courses for National University and one of the topics is the rise of religious sport heroes.

In the early 20th century, there was a lot of misunderstanding and fear of religious groups that immigrated to America. For example, one of the early famous Jewish baseball players was Hank Greenberg. He was a standout player in the 1930s and 1940s. He was awarded several prestigious baseball honors including league MVP, five time All-Star nominee, and he entered the baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.

Greenberg also received national attention when, in 1934, he chose to refrain from playing baseball on Yom Kippur, which is a religious day for the Jewish faith. This was a particularly tough decision because Greenberg’s team, the Detroit Tigers, was in a close pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite his absence, Greenberg still had loyal fans who respected him for his decision.

Later, another Jewish baseball standout, Sandy Koufax, refrained from playing on Yom Kippur, but because of the trail blazed by Hank Greenberg, Koufax and other religious players were not as criticized for their decision.

Sport has come a long way since the early religious sport heroes (NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has become known for his prayerful kneelingâ€"Tebowingâ€"during games) but in modern times, it seems that religious sport heroes are few and far between. We don’t often hear about NBA or NFL players not playing on the religious holidays or requesting the opportunity to observe the Sabbath. So the question is, do you have to give up one to have the other?

This is a question that Jabari Parker, arguably the best high school basketball player since LeBron James, is asking himself. According to an interview and article by Sports Illustrated, Jabari Parker is one of the best basketball players in the country and one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. For instance, after winning his varsity basketball game, Parker was observed serving water to the junior varsity team, instead of taking interviews or hanging out in the hall. Here is a kid being recruited by the best colleges in the country and he is serving water to the JV.

Besides being an outstanding player and nice boy, Parker is also a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When Mormon young men turn 19 years old, they are asked to serve a two-year mission for the church. Parker, being a devout Mormon, certainly will give this a lot of thought. His challenge will be that if he leaves for two years, could that negatively impact his basketball career?

Whether Jabari Parker serves a mission or not, it sounds like this is a young man who has been able to blend his religion with a successful career in sports. His high school coach has worked with him over the past four years to make sure he can attend church each Sunday whether they are on the road or at home. This is an example of how coaches and players can work together to make religious beliefs work in the crazy competitive world of sports.

Rex Ryan, Tony Sparano praise Mark Sanchez's offseason work - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

The New York Jets hold OTA on 5-31-2012
Tim Tebow, left, and Mark Sanchez during the New York Jets offseason practice. Florham Park, NJ 5/31/12 (John Munson/The Star-Ledger) New York Jets OTA, 5-31-2012 gallery (23 photos)

Both coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano have been impressed with the work starting quarterback Mark Sanchez has put in this offseason to learn a new offensive system.

"I would say he's probably put in the most amount of work, which he should," Sparano said today. "It’s a credit to Mark that he has been able to put that kind of time in. It’s really important to him, and he's done a tremendous job."

Sanchez played his first three pro seasons under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, so it's his first time learning a new system since his rookie year. When the Jets traded for Tim Tebow, the move raised speculation about how Tebow's presence would affect Sanchez's authority in the locker room, but Ryan said Sanchez's mastery of the new offense has been the biggest way he's been able to lead.

"You talk about the leadership of Sanchez, I think the best thing about Sanchez’s leading is in the classroom," Ryan said. "When Tony will fire off questions and Sanchez has all the answers, I think that speaks volumes to his teammates, and I see that over and over and over again."

Sparano also praised Sanchez's physical abilities, saying that he's in "outstanding physical shape" and "throwing (the ball) well."

One theme this offseason, for both Sanchez and Tebow, is improving accuracy. Ryan said Tebow has always had a "nice touch" on the deep ball, but he needs to become more accurate overall. Sanchez, meanwhile, needs to be more consistent, Ryan said.

"There's times when I think Sanchez can throw it with anybody in this league," Ryan said. "And then there’s other times when it's like, 'Ooh, gosh, Mark missed it.' "

He added: "Those are things we've got to get better at for sure."

* * *

Ryan said he was "shocked" when he learned center Nick Mangold declined Ryan's offer to take a few days off in training camp to watch his younger sister, Holley Mangold, represent the U.S. as part of the women's Olympic weightlifting team. Ryan said he would try to convince Mangold otherwise, but knew that he is locked in to his decision to be there for his Jets teammates.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see your sister do something that is absolutely incredible," Ryan said. "I know how important this season is, and this game is, and our football team is, but there's other things that are equally important, maybe more important in the big picture."

* * *

Ryan said safety LaRon Landry, a free agent signing who has not been at OTAs, has a copy of the playbook and they have also exchanged text messages. Ryan is not concerned about Landry's ability to pick up the defense this summer.

OTAs are voluntary, so the Jets have not given a reason for Landry's absence. He is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury.

* * *

Ryan praised the performance today of the Jets' top three draft picks: Quinton Coples, Stephen Hill and Demario Davis. He said he has been pleasantly surprised with how well Hill gets off press coverage, an area in which Ryan thought he might struggle.

* * *

Sparano, who spent three-and-a-half seasons as the Dolphins head coach, didn't have much to say about their decision to participate in HBO's "Hard Knocks."

"I'm a New York Jet," Sparano said.

Finding the Fits: Could Hillman challenge McGahee to be Broncos' top back in 2012? - CBSSports.com (blog)

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Tim Tebow has secret girlfriend, says Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones - Newstrack India

New York, Thu, 31 May 2012 ANI

New York, May 31 (ANI): Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones has claimed that New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow is dating someone but he doesn't want anybody to know about it.

Jones, 29, has been linked to Tebow, 24, since announcing recently that, like the popular and deeply religious NFL star, she was a virgin saving herself for marriage.

Jets center Nick Mangold has made it his goal to set up the two world-class athletes, but Jones shut him down via Twitter on Tuesday, saying Tebow wasn't available.

"I'm trying to get @TimTebow to accept that he and @lolojones are a match made in heaven. #Lobow," the New York Post quoted Mangold as tweeting.

Jones claimed that Tebow has a secret girlfriend by responding to the tweet, "thanks Nick but i actually heard tebow has a girlfriend he just isn't saying it publicly. the search continues..."

Mangold led chants of "Lo-lo! Lo-lo!" around Tebow's locker last week and, in an interview with NFL Total Access that aired Tuesday, said, "This is how I'm going to spend my spring. Usually I try and do a little golfing, but that isn't going so well. So now it's matchmaking."

Speaking on HBO's 'Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel' show earlier this month, glamour girl Jones, who has posed nude for the ESPN Body Issue, said staying a virgin has been harder than training to become an Olympian.

She also said it's made it difficult for her to keep a steady boyfriend. (ANI)


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Gustavo Arellano on Tim Tebow, Tom Tancredo and the glories of Chubby's ... - Westword (blog)

Thumbnail image for gustavopic.jpg
Gustavo Arellano.
"Denver has the most gabacho gabachos in the United States," Gustavo Arellano, author of Ask a Mexican, proclaimed yesterday, name-checking Tim Tebow (briefly), John Elway and Tom Tancredo, with whom he'd debated immigration eighteen months ago on the same Su Teatro stage.

Before that debate, Tancredo and Arellano had met across the street for dinner at El Noa Noa. And no matter how he feels about Mexicans, "Tancredo likes those tamales," Arellano told the crowd.

But then, who doesn't? For his third book -- the first was a compilation of his columns, the second a personal history of Orange County, where he grew up and is now the editor of the OC Weekly -- Arellano researched Mexican food across the country, chronicling how it spread throughout all fifty states. The result? Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, which was released last month to rave reviews.

gustavobook.jpg
And now Arellano was back in Denver to talk not immigration, but Mexican food -- and the contributions that Coloradans made to that cuisine's conquest. In 1886, for example, Buffalo Bill Cody introduced the first Mexican restaurant outside of the Southwest: a pop-up place at Madison Square Gardens, where his Wild West Show was performing. A century later, Steve Ells started another very big show when he opened his first Chipotle in a former Dolly Madison store on East Evans.

But Denver's biggest contribution may be its homegrown version of Mexican food, which Arellano dubbed "Den-Mex:" fiery green chile as orange as a Bronco jersey (remember those gabacho gabachos) that smothers everything, including chile rellenos and that creation unique to Colorado, the Mexican hamburger.

Taco USA lists the five greatest Mexican dishes in the United States -- and the very best, Arellano says, is the Mexican hamburger at the original Chubby's, which Stella Cordova took over in the late '60s, turning what had been a burger joint into what Arellano now deems the top Mexican restaurant in the country. (Accept no substitutes: References to Cordova's grandson, Leonard Cordova, who started Bubba Chino's, earned boos from the crowd, as did mentions of Rick Bayless and Casa Bonita.) The Mexican hamburger at Chubby's is "the dish that best personifies the Mexican-American experience, a monument to mestizaje," Arellano proclaims.

Cordova is gone, but Chubby's lives on. And the next time Arellano comes to town, he promises to hold a signing there at 1 a.m.

Even Tancredo is invited.

To learn more about the evolution of Den-Mex, read Gustavo Arellano's April 5 cover story, "Mexican Hamburger Helper."

Location Info

Chubby's

1231 W. 38th Ave., Denver, CO

Category: Restaurant

Fantasy Football 2012: 5 Players You'd Be Insane to Draft - Bleacher Report

The fantasy football 2012 season will be very interesting as players will be on new teams, coming off surgeries or returning from retirement.

As always before the 2012 fantasy football drafts begin, it is vital to separate the players you would be insane to draft with any pick.

Over the years, I stayed away from some fantasy football busts because I had a gut feeling the guy was not going to pan out like Knowshon Moreno in Denver or just plain stink up the joint like Donovan McNabb in Minnesota.

Moreover, here are the five players that will be among the 2012 fantasy football busts that you would be insane to draft in the upcoming 2012 fantasy football season.

Tim Tebow


Will Tim Tebow be Tebowing as a New York Jet

Tim Tebow racked up 2,000 total yards and 18 total touchdowns with the Denver Broncos in only 12 games in 2011: gold for fantasy points and happy fantasy football owners.

Moreover, Tebow was a fantasy football stud and good for 15-20 fantasy points a game because he was a red-zone vulture and a hybrid running back/quarterback.

Now with the New York Jets in 2012, Tebow will be the backup quarterback again this time behind starter Mark Sanchez.

According to Rich Cimini at ESPNNewYork.com, Tebow will be in punt coverage and has worked exclusively at quarterback. The Jets have big plans for Tebow in a Wildcat package as well.

Furthermore, something tells me there are many fantasy football fans out there that will pick Tebow in their 2012 fantasy football draft because of Tebow's history going from backup to starter.

Don't do it!

Tebow will be among the 2012 fantasy football busts as Sanchez is clearly the starter in New York and Tebow can play in a variety of schemes, but won't produce enough in fantasy. 

Kenny Britt

AP Photo/The Tennessean, George Walker IV
AP Photo/The Tennessean, George Walker IV

Kenny Britt has been an explosive wide receiver in fantasy football and will be going in most 2012 fantasy football drafts as a No. 2 wide receiver.

Britt has been extremely productive in the games he has played in his injury-prone career which is high-risk, high-reward for fantasy football fans.

In 2010, Britt was a fantasy football stud and had over 700 yards and nine touchdowns but missed four games with a torn hamstring, then in 2011 had 289 yards and three touchdowns before an ACL and MCL tear in Week 3 against Denver ended his season.

Moreover, Britt is coming off a second knee surgery this offseason for a minor procedure, and I am staying far away from drafting Britt as I think he will be among the 2012 fantasy football busts in the upcoming 2012 fantasy season.   

Beanie Wells

My knees are killing me
My knees are killing me
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Fantasy football owners need to put a red flag right next to the name Beanie Wells. Write knee injury in bold letters as he will be among the the 2012 fantasy football busts.

When his name comes up in your 2012 fantasy football draft, he is an even higher injury risk than Kenny Britt.

In 2011, Wells was among the fantasy football studs racking of 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns even missing two games because of his knee injuries.

However, in the previous season in 2010 Wells was a fantasy football bust and suffered the same knee injuries that caused him to miss three games while posting the worst numbers in his three-year career.

I have also been burned by Wells in fantasy football, and the most important thing about knee injuries with Wells is they are chronic.

Moreover, Wells will be drafted as a No. 2 running back in most 2012 fantasy football drafts, but since his knee injuries strike at any time, he should be avoided completely. 

Randy Moss


"One Clap" by DJ Steve Porter

Randy Moss has treated fantasy football owners very well over the years with his record-breaking 2007 fantasy football stud season with New England Patriots: over 1,400 yards and 23 touchdowns.

In addition, over his 13-year-career, Moss has had multiple 1,000-yard seasons with double-digit touchdowns: good news for fantasy football owners.

The not so good news for Moss is he did not play the entire 2011 season (retired), is 35 years old (85 in NFL years) and plays when he wants to play (played for three teams in the 2010 season).

Moreover, all the experts say Moss has changed for the better and will make a comeback in 2012 with San Francisco 49ers.

The 2012 Randy Moss does not have the separation he once had in previous years.

Randy will draw attention in coverage for the 49ers but not fantasy points, as Randy will be among the 2012 fantasy football busts to stay away from. 

I repeat: Do not take Randy Moss in your 2012 fantasy football draft. 

Kevin Kolb

I feel woozy coach
I feel woozy coach
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

I remember the hype surrounding Kevin Kolb with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 fantasy football drafts as he was projected as a top-10 fantasy quarterback.

I guess that is why they call them projections as Kolb suffered multiple concussions in 2010 with the Eagles and 2011 with the Arizona Cardinals, and overall has been a complete fantasy football bust.

In 2012, Kolb has new a helmet designed to help prevent concussions and still has one of the best receivers in fantasy football with Larry Fitzgerald and now a promising rookie in Michael Floyd.

The concussions aside, Kolb has been a fantasy football bust in the last two seasons playing in 17 games had 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns with 21 total turnovers (15 interceptions, six fumbles lost).

Moreover, If you pick Kolb in your 2012 fantasy football draft you might as well check yourself into a mental clinic right away, because you my friend, are insane. 

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