Florida Panthers TV Ratings Lower Than Infomercials

In Miami, where I don't blame anyone for having no interest in hockey, the Florida Panthers are struggling to find a TV audience.  The Panthers have averaged a .19 local TV rating, placing them last of the 22 teams studied by the Sports Business Daily. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald took things a step further and learned that the Panthers, who average around 3,000 viewers per game, are watched less than infomercials for the AbCoaster, and Ninja Professional Blender, Chopper and Ice Crusher....That's just pathetic.


Of course the Miami market is a difficult one for teams, but the Panthers haven’t made the playoffs since 2000, and haven’t finished higher than third in the division since then. With a playoff push or a winning team, I’m sure they’d have more people attending games and watching them on TV...Maybe even 4,000?

Flop Update: Chilean Soccer Player Vies For the Title

Yesterday's post about the flopping prowess, or lack thereof, of Chris Bosh may already be outdated.  Chilean under-20 player Bryan Carrasco may have just taken the art of the flop to another (absolutely ridiculous) level.


During an under-20 international match against Ecuador, Carrasco got tied up with Ecuadorian Edson Montaño, and, well, this happened…Carrasco didn't just dive due to some phantom contact, but instead, he decided to create some using his opponents hand.

Top Ten Arena Songs

Music licensing company BMI has compiled a list of the most played songs in sports arenas and stadiums during the 2009-2010 season.

Some highlights of the list include Nickelback's "Burn it to the Ground" (which I can never remember hearing at any sporting event ever), and "Car Wash," which was supposedly the most played song at MLB stadiums during this time frame.  Here is the list in its entirety:

A Flop to End All Flops

During Thursday nights Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls game, Chris Bosh offered one of the greatest flops of all time.  It even rivals that of world class soccer flops...Here is the clip:

What's worse?  The Bosh flop, or this classic Robert Horry flop?

Bolivian Soccer Team Held Hostage

At 13,000 feet, Estadio Los Andes in Bolivia is one of the highest soccer stadiums in the world. It is also the only one to my knowledge that has been the scene of a mass kidnapping this season. All 43 players, coaches and personnel of the La Paz FC pro soccer team were locked into their stadium for more than four hours on Wednesday; prevented from leaving by fans who were protesting the league’s decision to hold a scheduled home game across town at a larger stadium. Yes, correct: the team’s own fans actually held them “hostage.”


Can we hold the Cavs hostage so we don't have to see them play any longer this year?

2011 Heisman Watch List

The 2011 Heisman Trophy Watch List has been announced by Heismanpundit.com.  Featured on the list are previous Heisman stand out contenders Kellen Moore, Andrew Luck, and LaMichael James.  The real story however is some of the other names mentioned on the list.  For instance, does Taylor Martinez of Nebraska even have a remote shot of winning the coveted award?  The correct answer is no...Taylor depends on his legs far too much, and will struggle to run against Big-Ten defenses like Ohio State or Wisconsin; not to mention the fact that he was benched during the second half of a game last season by Bo Pelini.  Last time I checked Moore and Luck only see the bench after they throw a touchdown pass.  Here is the entire list published by Heismanpundit.com

Montee Ball, Jr., RB, Wisconsin

Matt Barkley, Jr., QB, USC

Justin Blackmon, Jr., WR, Oklahoma State

Dayne Crist, Sr., QB, Notre Dame

Knile Davis, Jr., RB, Arkansas

Michael Dyer, So., RB, Auburn

Robert Griffin, Jr., QB, Baylor

Ronnie Hillman, So., RB, San Diego State

LaMichael James, Jr., RB, Oregon

Landry Jones, Jr., QB, Oklahoma

Marcus Lattimore, So., RB, South Carolina

Andrew Luck, Jr., QB, Stanford

Taylor Martinez, So., QB, Nebraska

Bryant Moniz, Sr., QB, Hawaii

Kellen Moore, Sr., QB, Boise State

Aaron Murray, So., QB, Georgia

Trent Richardson, Jr., RB, Alabama

Denard Robinson, Jr., QB, Michigan

Geno Smith, Jr., QB, West Virginia

Darron Thomas, Jr., QB, Oregon

Brandon Weeden, Sr., QB, Oklahoma State

James White, So., RB, Wisconsin

Richmond's New Mascot?

It’s not as much of a mine field as the University of Mississippi mascot controversy, but the University of Richmond is giving a makeover to its Spider mascot, and the fellow you see in the photo here is one of the choices. That would be “Angry Spider,” which is vying against two other concepts; let’s call them “Aloof Spider” and “Deranged Bug”, as the new mascot face of the university. The particular contention here is that the old mascot, while technically a spider, had only four legs. The new, will be anatomically correct, as it will have eight. Hurray...


The "spider" as it is known, really just looks more like Dirk Nowitzki wearing a speedo...

Ronaldo Wore Diapers During 1999 Tournament

Apparently Ronaldo had a little help when he scored 5 goals and won the Golden Boot during the 1999 Copa America Tournament...Although it might not be the kind you were thinking.  According to former Brazilian National Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Ronaldo wore diapers during the tournament due to  incontinence. Luxemburgo stated that Ronaldo was having a hard time controlling his weight, and diet pills were the only answer.

“The [team] doctor gave him the medicine, Xenical, which was effective, but it also accelerated his bowel movements. So, in order to avoid any “incidents,” the player had to wear diapers, which embarrassed him.”

Vanderbilt Mascot Auditions for the UFC

Apparently it’s a bit frustrating being a commodore in a landlocked state. Such is the lot of Mr. C, the mascot for Vanderbilt University. On Tuesday during a game with Tennessee, Mr. C hauled off and punched a student from his own rooting section (video below), the blow landing hard enough to give the kid a bloody nose. Mr. C had just been crowd surfing in the student section, and when he landed, he hit the student with a hard right cross.

Ouch! That has got to hurt...


http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/02/23/at-vanderbilt-mr-c-stands-for-clobberin-time/