A Little Olivia Munn to Warm Up a Cold December Day

Here she is, Olivia Munn:

Jason Witten Takes Down Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

Today's Cowboys - Dolphins game was kind of slow until early in the 4th Quarter Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten picked up a first down and ended up running into a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. In the end, Cowboys won the game 20-19.

Wild Touchdown in Baylor v. Oklahoma

One of the featured college football games tonight is No. 22 Baylor University hosting No. 5 Oklahoma University at Floyd Casey Stadium in weekend. In what has been a very competitive, entertaining game, this Third Quarter 87-yard touchdown "pass" from Robert Griffin III to Kendall Wright to tie the game at 24-24 is the stunning highlight, so far.

Handbags in Detroit

This occurred after the Lions - 49ers game on October 16, 2011, which San Francisco won 25-19.

A Woman We Love: Rachel Weisz

Fuck Everything - Another Jon Lajoie Joint

It's a Jon Lajoie, a/k/a Taco, kind of week. Here's his latest music video, Fuck Everything:



Bonus Lajoie:

Mark Your Calendars - The League Returns on October 6th

FX is giving me a nice birthday present this year, Season 3 of The League returns on October 6th. In honor of this upcoming event, here's a little Mr. McGibblets for your viewing pleasure:

Kenny Powers, CEO [NSFW]

Kenny Powers, K-Swiss CEO, nuff said:

West Beyrouth (À l'abri les enfants) - Full Move

In 1998, this little gem of a movie about the start of civil war in Lebanon in 1975 was released. Almost 10 years ago I managed to rent it on VHS from a Blockbuster, I've never found it in DVD or Blu Ray, not sure why I never searched YouTube before, but here it is:

Christmas in June: Alison Brie Sings Santa Baby

Not sure what part of Alison Brie's pre-Community career this is from, but glad it exists. Feel free to skip ahead to about the 1 minute 45 second mark.



Bonus Brie:

RIP Gil Scott-Heron - Long Live the Godfather of Rap

Poet and songwriter, Gil Scott-Heron, died on Friday at the age of 62. Scott-Heron was passed away in a New York hospital, after he had fallen ill while travelling in Europe.

While Gil Scott-Heron is most known for his song "The Revolution will not be Televised," he was a fairly prolific artist releasing 13 albums between 1970 and 1982. His last album, I'm New Here, was released to critical acclaim in 2010.

Over the years, Scott-Heron struggled with drug abuse and was HIV positive. He was raised by his maternal grandmother in Jackson, Tennessee, but spent the bulk of his adult life living in New York City.

In addition to being a poet, songwriter, and musician, Gil Scott-Heron was an activist on issues such as apartheid, Palestinian rights, nuclear weapons, and black rights. His father, Gilbert "Gil" Heron, was a professional soccer player from Jamaica who was the first black player to play for Celtic in Scotland.

In addition to his 15 studio albums, Gil Scott-Heron released 9 live albums, a murder mystery, and 4 books of poetry. He has a fifth book of poems that has not been published, yet.

Friday Night Videos

If you were a child of the 80s, you probably remember the NBC show Friday Night Videos. Well revived now without any hosts or voice overs.

Fan Runs Across Field at Minute Maid Park - Makes Astros Relevant

The Houston Astros have been having attendance problems lately, mainly because the team is in a rebuilding process and is currently one of the worst teams in MLB. Fans at Friday night's game got their money's worth as one fan ran across the field and then climbed back into the stands in order to evade the police.



Houston lets big lead slip away in loss to Mets

A Woman We Love: Mila Kunis

Enough Said

[VIDEO] Odom & Bynum Get Ejected as Mavericks Sweep Lakers

I usually don't root for any sports team from the Dallas area, but I have to confess I was rooting for the Mavericks to sweep the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Western Conference Semifinals. Actually, I was rooting more against the Lakers, especially after Lamar Odom elbowed Dirk Nowitzki and then Andrew Bynum took a cheap shot on J.J. Barea. Both Odom and Bynum were ejected for the flagrant fouls.

In the end, Mavericks won, 122-86, meaning that Lakers Coach Phil Jackson may be retiring after experiencing one of the most lopsided playoff losses of his career.

Now here's video of the fouls:

I Wonder What Mack Brown Thinks of Augie Garrido

Heather Morris Dancing

[Trailer] The Bang Bang Club: Snapshots from a Hidden War

The above photograph was taken by Kevin Carter in Sudan in March 1993. Carter, a South African, was a member of The Bang Bang Club, a group of photojournalists who focused on covering South Africa during the death rattle years of Apartheid.

On May 23, 1994, Carter was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the above photograph. On July 27, 1994, Carter took his own life.

Other members of The Bang Bang Club were Ken Oosterbroek (killed in Thokoza township by friendly fire on April 18, 1994), Joao Silva (lost both legs to a land mine in Afghanistan in 2010), and Greg Marinovich.

The film adaptation of the book The Bang-Bang Club: Snapshots from a Hidden War was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and will be released in theaters in the United States on April 22, 2011; however, it should be available on Video on Demand in the United States on April 20, 2011.



Click here for a documentary about The Bang Bang Club (embedding was disabled).



The "Jim" the person is referring to in the above video is James Natchwey:

Jim Rome Smackoff on a Mobile - 1560 The Game

The Jim Rome Smackoff was this past Friday and since this was the first Smackoff to take place since the brains behind the idea, Travis Rodgers, started hosting his own show on Sporting News Radio and 1560 The Game in Houston, it was fitting that Sean "Cablinasian" Pendergast, five time winner of the Smackoff, presented listeners with the Jim Rome Smackoff on a Mobile. Pendergast has his own show on 1560 The Game and is a regular guest host on Sporting News Radio.

In case you missed it, click on the links below to hear it in all its glory.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Wondering who the Jim Rome impersonator is?

Click Here to Find Out.

[Trailer] The Hangover II

Daisy Lowe Dancing for Esquire

Daisy Lowe for UK esquire HD from Greg Williams on Vimeo.

SNAFU - Most Interesting Character on TV in 2010

If you've seen HBO's miniseries The Pacific you know one of the most interesting characters on the show was SNAFU - Private Merriell Shelton as played by Rami Malek. The picture above purports to be the real SNAFU, the video below is the best of SNAFU from The Pacific.

I am Epic Win

The miniature giraffe is back!

I Miss Driving in Italy

It seems like at least two to three times a day I deal with some inattentive, slow driver here in Houston that makes me wish I was back behind the wheel of a car in Italy instead.

A WTF Moment from Saturday's Halftime Show - Texas v. Baylor

As a graduate of that little university on the banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the halftime show presented by Baylor University at the Ferrell Center during one of their biggest games of the 2010-2011 Big 12 Men's basketball season, but, there I was, mouth agape in surprise when I saw this:



Baylor went on to lose the game to Texas, 60-54.

Johnny Weir Sings

Say what you will about men's figure skating, but in my opinion Johnny Weir is one of the more fascinating and interesting American athletes/entertainers of his generation. Want more on Weir, check out this article from Martin Rogers. One thing I learned from this article, Johnny Weir's song Dirty Love has reached No. 1 in Japan:

Are You Really Surprised that the Clippers are Celebrating Black History Month in the Wrong Month?

The Los Angeles Clippers have long lived in the shadow of the Las Angeles Lakers, but this year the Clippers have shown signs that they, led by the amazing dunks of Blake Griffin, are finally starting to emerge from the shadow of Kobe & Company.

But this week, the Clippers are making more news not because of Blake Griffin, but for a really bad marketing gaffe. It's kind of hard to grow up in the United States and not know that February is Black History Month. February might be one of the few months were schools here excel by focusing substantial time on something that won't be on the government mandated tests. That being said, I'm not surprised that the Clippers managed to hire someone, or multiple someones, who would make the great marketing decision that the team should honor Black History Month, not in February, but in March. On top of that, they decide to include a picture of team owner Donald Sterling, who has compiled a significant history of not questionable behavior on the matter of race, in the above advertisement.

Stay classy Clippers.

Cause Not All of the Best Hip-Hop Comes from the US

I Need a Doctor

Cause We all Need a Little More Sofia Vergara in Our Lives

An Idiot Abroad - Watch it, it's Funny

While I'm not always pleased with the British footballing press and its xenophobic and hypocritical tendencies, I am a huge fan of British humor. The latest comedic offering of interest from England is actually a reality show by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send their sidekick, Karl Pilkington, on a tour of the seven wonders of the world. Ricky calls the show, which airs on the Science Channel at 9 central on Saturday nights, "The most expensive practical joke I've ever done."

Let Gattuso Be Gattuso

As one person on Twitter put it: "Gattuso is one of those people who not only have survived rabies, but found a way to make it work for them."

In Tuesday's Champions League match between Milan and Tottenham Hostpur at the San Siro, Gattuso got into a couple altercations with Spurs coach Joe Jordan. To read and listen to the British "experts," Gattuso is made out to be enemy number one and an example of all that is wrong in the world of football; however, it seems their own Englishman, Mr. Jordan, is not an innocent having apparently called Gattuso a "fucking Italian bastard." While some might take that as a personal insult, I suspect Gattuso probably took that more as an insult of his mother - Joe, never insult an Italian man's mother.

A-Rod has his Popcorn Ready

Yeah, that happened:

Good Ole Media Day at the Super Bowl

It's become a Super Bowl rite of passage, both surreal and a little fun for the players:

Jordan Shipley Serenades Colt McCoy at Colt McCoy's Wedding

As one person said, it's both horrible and awful.

The Super Bowl Commercial that the NFL doesn't Want You to See

If the NFLPA makes a commercial concerning the impending NFL lockout, will any channel take their money and air it? So far, the answer is no.

Jack in the Box & the Stoner Demographic

I love that Jack in the Box has so openly and clearly accepted the importance of the Stoner demographic to their survival as a fast food franchise.

Yet Another Entertaining Interview from the Australian Open

Not sure what it is about Tennis, but so far the Australian Open has been offering up the most entertaining sports interviews we've seen in ages. Here's Li Na being interviewed after she beat top seed Caroline Wozniacki to advance to the finals where she'll play Kim Clijsters.

Kids Say the Darndest Things - The NFC Championship Edition

This little Chicago Bears fan was not happy with the result in Sunday's game:

American Football in Italy - Yes, it Exists

I'm an American, I'm a sports fan, I'm a soccer fan, I'm a football fan, I'm a Serie A fan. While watching Major League Soccer grow in the United States, I've grown an appreciation and interest in watching the development of American football in Europe, especially Italy, home to my favorite soccer team and league (Roma and Serie A). American football has garnered sustainable followings mainly in Northern Europe and especially in Germanic regions, so it's not surprising that its strongest foothold in Italy is in the northern regions, but it's reach extends down to Sicily. Most of the players are Italians who are not paid, but each team has a couple of American players on salary and coaches tend to be American. For more information on the Italian Football League - CLICK HERE - the season doesn't start till late March.

Yep, Mark Sanchez did pick his nose & wipe it on Mark Brunell's Jacket

While the Pittsburgh Steelers were busy marching the ball down the field during their opening possession in today's AFC Championship Game with the New York Jets, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was picking his nose and wiping the contents of same on teammate Mark Brunell's Jacket.

The Genius that is Jon Lajoie - NSFW

You might know him as Taco from The League on FX, but Jon Lajoie has a whole 'nother line of awesomeness going on:

The Swanson Pyramid of Greatness

Yep, Parks & Recreation is back . . .

1560 The Game's Lance Zierlein Takes Aim at Uncle D

Been a fun week for those of us who listen to 1560 The Game here in Houston, first we had Lance Zierlen giving us a nice Houston Texans rant, and now we have Lance taking aim at Houston's baseball team, the Astros, and their owner, Drayton McLane.

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Lance also discussed Uncle D's new catchphrase: "Tooty Fruity, Sugar Booty:"

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[TV] Network Mid Season Replacements & Cable's New Season

Now that we're a couple weeks into a brand new year, broadcast television networks are starting to roll out their mid season replacements and cable television networks are premiering new shows or new seasons of shows.

Until last night, much of the mid season shows rolled out by network tv, such as The Cape, Bob's Burgers, Harry's Law, and Off the Map, haven't appealed to me. It wasn't until last night, when NBC unveiled their new "All Comedy Thursday" that I've had any interest in checking out new shows. And by new shows, I really just mean one show - Perfect Couples. Parks and Recreation also made its premier last night, but I don't really consider this to be a new season replacement, just that weird marketing ploy adopted by tv networks a couple years ago to compress an entire season of an existing show into half a season. It means less reruns, which is good, but it also means a longer wait for new episodes.

Perfect Couples, an ensemble cast sitcom that focuses on three different couples, was okay, it wasn't great and it wasn't terrible. It had the faults that pretty much all sitcoms tend to have in their premier episodes: it's flow was disjointed, the characters aren't well developed, and the interaction between the actors is awkward and choppy. Given time, these flaws can be resolved and it'll have to survive on good writing and characters, or die. I'll give it a couple episodes. The first episode of Outsourced was like that, and while it's not a great show, it's improved and isn't a complete waste of 30 minutes.

The big show last night was the return of Parks & Recreation, which nailed it. This was a sitcom that started out awkwardly too, but has really hit its stride - thanks to the writing and characters like Tom Haverford, Ann Perkins, and Ron Swanson. In this age of DVRs I'm not going to say too much about last night's show, but Swanson stole it.

I'm not gonna say too much at this point about the shows on cable networks, except I will recommend Shameless on Showtime, as well as suggesting that you check out the episodes from the original UK version that air on The Sundance Channel. I know USA premiered a new season of Royal Pains last night. The show worked good as a light, breezy summer series, we'll see how it does in the winter months.

Fox is rolling out a new show, Mixed Signals, on February 8th. This sitcom is based on the successful Ramzor from Israel. I saw the trailer back during the summer, and my curiosity was piqued. Instead of describing it, here's the trailer for your preview:

Kim Clijsters is not Pregnant, okay Todd?

Todd Woodbridge learns that you should never ever inquire as to whether a woman is pregnant or not, especially when you have to interview said woman.

Bad NFL Teams Make for Great Sports Radio Rants

Having grown up rooting for the Houston Oilers, I've learned what disappointment, but I've also known what it is like to have my NFL team in the playoffs. When the Houston Texans joined the NFL in 2002, I hoped that I would again see my NFL team in the playoffs in a few short years. It's been nine years, and no playoffs.

Lance Zierlein, one of the morning hosts at 1560 The Game here in Houston, is just slightly older than me and has experienced some of the same Houston sporting moments I have experienced. Like me, he's frustrated with the Houston Texans, and this is what happened on Wednesday morning, January 19, 2011:

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Meanwhile, probably at about the same time that Lance was going on his rant, Greg Kozarik a host on Locked and Loaded on the Digital Sports Network in Cleveland went on his own rant about the Cleveland Browns:

Welcome to My New Blog

Welcome to my new blog on the interwebs. I may be new to some readers while other readers will know me from my other website, The Zygo Soccer Report, or from my work with The Orange Slice on 1560 The Game in Houston, Texas.

Yes, I'm based in Houston, Texas, and yes, I'm a soccer journo and commentator. Though the job that pays the bills is in the oil and gas industry.

While I'll still post some non-soccer material at The Zygo Soccer Report, I realized it was time for me to have an outlet for other matters of sports and society. A place to rant or comment on non-soccer matters and place to share non-soccer material that I find interesting or humorous.

I won't be shy, I'll express opinions, some of which you may not agree with. But that's okay. We don't have to agree. I do promise that I will be civil and polite, I'm no mood to get into any arguments with you, cause, let's face it, you aren't changing my mind and I'm not changing your mind. I promise to respect your opinions.

I also wanted to make sure that I was open about my identity here, not hiding behind a pen name, so my name is Brian Zygo and you can follow me on Twitter if you wish.

Hope you enjoy.