What's that you say? It's almost Christmas and you haven't bawled your eyes out over some sort of Christmas-related commercial? Well, it's time we put an end to that. Here's Apple's Christmas ad to really get the waterworks going for you. Merry Christmas! (NOTE: Haven't had much time to write the last couple of weeks but I've got a couple of doozies headed your way soon. Stay tuned.)
It's Apple. No one uploaded original one so I posted.
This week, as they do every year, ESPN is hosting Jimmy V Week across all of its networks in an effort to raise money for cancer research. This is a particularly big year, however, as it marks the 20 year anniversary of Jimmy Valvano's iconic speech that serves as the theme for this event. I assume most of you have seen parts of the speech and know the general story but given that it is such a big anniversary and that the speech itself has lost none of its power (and given that I'm very busy this week and haven't had much time to write anything else), I thought it fitting that it find a place here this week. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this thing and it still wrecks me every time. Give it a watch and consider donating to the V Foundation if you can.
A little background for anyone who doesn't know: Valvano was a very popular, very successful college basketball coach in the 70s and 80s and won the title in 1983 at NC State. He was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1992 and dedicated the remainder of his life to cancer research. The speech below was delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards where he received the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award. Despite how great and dynamic he looks on camera, those in attendance that night didn't believe he would ever make it to the stage and he died only a couple of months later. He was a great coach and an even greater man.
You can donate at 1-800-4JimmyV or www.jimmyv.org. Jimmy Valvano's 1993 ESPY Speech. "Don't give up . . . Don't ever give up!"® The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator.
First off, let me just say that Sick Baby is by far my least favorite baby. I had some great stuff to share with you guys this week but Sick Baby popped up and wrecked pretty much everything. Sick Baby is no joke, guys. Fortunately, Sick Baby has reverted back to his normally cheery King Baby self so with a little rest, next week is going to be awesome around here.
In the meantime, I present to you a great video short featured on ESPN's E:60 a few weeks ago. If you've never seen E:60before, it's basically a news magazine (think The CBS Sunday Morning Newswhich is also great) that chronicles important/inspirational stories related to the world of sports. It's an excellent program and you should watch it. I've been catching up on my E:60s today, which basically amounted to an entire day of weeping uncontrollably which is probably healthy, right? Anyway, I came across this video featuring Steve Gleason and the members of Pearl Jam. Gleason was a special teams standout for the New Orleans Saints in the last decade who has since been diagnosed with ALS. Pearl Jam is...well, Pearl Jam. Maybe the biggest rock band in the world and probably my personal favorite. Gleason and the band have become intertwined through Gleason's fundraising for ALS research and the band asked him to interview them in advance of their new album that came out last week (which is magnificent, by the way). Check out the video and be prepared for much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is a touching story of New Orleans Saints Special Teams legend, Steve Gleason. Now battling ALS, Gleason interviews his favorite band, Pearl Jam, and discusses his connection to the music as it pertains to his life and his relationship with his son, River. Sunday NFL Countdown 10/6/13
NOTE: My vacation journal is taking longer to complete than I expected so I'll have that out early next week for those of you who care.
It is truly against my nature to heap praise on the New York Yankees. While I love the history of the game's greatest franchise, George Steinbrenner turned them into a monstrosity and it will be many years before they are able to recover from that in my eyes. But if there's one good thing about the Yankees, it's Mariano Rivera. The greatest closer in the history of the game, Rivera is also one of the classiest guys around and a man who has done great things with his celebrity. He's a dominating force on the mound the likes of which has been unparalleled in my lifetime (and he'll also be the last player to ever wear number 42, Jackie Robinson's number, which was retired in 1997). After 19 seasons in the Big Leagues, this is Rivera's final season and with the Yankees stinking it up this year, there will be no playoffs in New York.
As such, last night was his final appearance in Yankee stadium. Down 4-0, manager Joe Girardi brought Rivera into the game in the top of the 9th (for the uninitiated, Rivera would normally only pitch in a win-able game) and after he recorded the first two outs, Girardi took him out in order to give the Yankee fans an opportunity to cheer Rivera one last time. But instead of going to get him himself (as is customary), Girardi sent Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter (two long-time Yankee teammates who came up with Rivera and have been alongside him for much of his career) to take him off the field for the last time in Yankee Stadium. If you can sit through this without choking up, you may need therapy.
Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter come out of the dugout to take Mariano Rivera out of the game in his last game at Yankee Stadium. Mariano Rivera hugs Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter on the pitcher's mound before walking off the field one last time to a standing ovation as the New York Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays.
There's really not much to say here except: 1.) I love this man. 2.) It is very likely that there is not a more gloriously self-aware athlete in any American sport. 3.) Should we ever have another boy, I am going to do everything in my power to name him Dirk. This must happen.
Anybody? Here is Dirk Nowitzki's version of the well-known Geico Hump Day commercial.
Tomorrow the final episode of The Office will air and it will bring with it a shameful amount of tears from at least one blogger who shall remain nameless. I have a big post coming tomorrow to commemorate the event as best I can but in the meantime, any fan of the show needs to check out this video featuring John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, and others reflecting on their time on the show. Warning: Tissues may be required.
after i upload this it will be 9 hours away till the Series Finale May 16 2013 Thursdays 9/8c on NBC The Office:http://www.youtube.com/user/theofficeonnbctv?feature=watch