(AFP/Getty Images/File/Jod Jacobsohn)
I have mixed feelings about this. I’m a native New Yorker who grew up rooting for the Mets. I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 30 years and the Mets are the reason I never really warmed up to the Giants. Plus, this means he won’t go to the Yankees. GREAT!!!
But as a Diamondbacks fan, I’m a little concerned. The Mets have had the Diamondbacks number for the past several years. They don’t need any extra ammo. Let’s hope that each time time the D’Backs meet the Mets this season, it won’t be Santana’s turn to pitch. Oh, well, at least he didn’t end up with one of our division rivals. (more)
Super Bowl Tickets Part Deux
Well, it’s less than 24 hours before I get on the plane for Arizona. I have come to the realization that I will not be going to the show! Unless by some miracle I get tickets while I am there (and they are not fake) it appears I will be watching the game at the Yard House. I was hoping to get on the plane tomorrow with tickets in hand.
A funny story…On the way to Jacksonville, I was on the plane alone. I sat between two guy who happened to have Super Bowl tickets in a holder around their necks. On the flight, one of the guys literately started having convulsions. His eyes started rolling back, it was pretty scary for a while. When he was fully recovered, I said to him, “Man, I didn’t know if I should save you or take the ticket!” He said, “I would have taken the ticket…LOL” So beware if you are on a flight from Manchester, NH to Phoenix tomorrow if it comes down to the decision again, I may just take the ticket.
Check in for the Adventures of Super Bowl Mike, as he shares his long, long, LONG road to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona February 3, 2008!
I drove by the University of Phoenix Stadium today, both going to and from the gym. I was thinking how fun it would have been to get my credentials and to be there for the Media Day today.
Once I got home, I turned on NFL Network to watch the action live as it took place. I have to say, I’m not sure I missed much, and really feel for the players, having to field so many stupid questions from some ridiculous people. How did some of those people get credentialed anyway, like the woman in the wedding dress asking Tom Brady to marry her, and can somebody please tell me what Miss Nevada was doing there?

“Ines Gomez Mont, a reporter from TV Azteca in Mexico City, interviews New England Patriots center Lonie Paxton. She was in a wedding dress to ask QB Tom Brady to marry her, but he turned her down. ” -AZ Republic
Super Bowl Mike’s Take On Media Tuesday
OK, what’s the deal with the NFL???? Super Bowl Mike doesn’t get a media pass! Did you see some of the whacko’s that were at press day? Good thing I wasn’t there asking real questions, the world really needs to see a woman show up in a wedding gown and ask all the players to marry her. What about the guy with the puppet? There was a kid there with a “magic turban”..what the hell is that? I would LOVE to see those applications to the NFL to see how they were approved.
Check in for the Adventures of Super Bowl Mike, as he shares his long, long, LONG road to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona February 3, 2008!
(AP Photo/Paul Connors) The Suns came out ready to play last night and the Hawks never had a chance. 125-92 was the final in a game with ZERO lead changes.
“Right from the beginning our defense was good and kind of took their heart away and we didn’t let up” those were the words of Coach D’Antoni after the game.
Phoenix, led by Stoudemire’s 24 points (10-of-11 from the field), shot 64.2% in the game. Twelve players scored for the Suns.
Marion scored 19 points, Diaw and Hill added 16 each, Barbosa 13, while Nash registered the usual double-double (10 points, 10 assists).
Atlanta shot a mere 34% from the field and the Hawks couldn’t take advantage of the usual array of second chances (i.e. 26 offensive rebounds). Suns defense, doing the usual poor job at rebounding, still was able to contest shots (a franchise record 19 blocked shots) and put some pressure on the Hawks players.
The Suns were able to remain focused on basketball despite the Superbowl circus coming to town, as a very focused Amaré declared: “It’s a big week for us, for the state of Arizona and the cities of Phoenix and Glendale. There’s a lot of festivities going on but we came out focused“…what can I say.
Phoenix (33-13) improved to 19-2 against Eastern Conference teams, which is great news unless you consider that they’re only 3 games above .500 (14-11) against Western teams.
The Suns have the long awaited match with the Spurs on Thursday night (8:30 PM) and are enetering a very favourable month of February. Other than a date with the Warriors in the Bay the Suns will play at home untile the end of the month (10 home games in the next 11 including last night).
The Spurs - who lost last night in Seattle - come into Thursday night’s game at 28-16, 5-5 over the last 10 games, but will put on a fight as usual.
Yours truly, Steve Fan
Whew! a chance to catch our breath and contemplate how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to travel. Sitting snugly in a tied up bundle of teams vying for that coveted rung on the play off ladder, cozied up with teams whom we have games in hand on, as well as teams who have even tougher schedules than we face in this back end stretch. What a wonderful feeling. On to the beautiful south… not your usually hockey hot bed you say? Oh contraire, for one magical weekend Atlanta is indeed home to some of the hottest players to hit the ice as the Allstars roll into town and prepare to partay!
Its all fun and games. A chance for the top dawgs (and fan favorites) to have a bit of fun with the game they love. The regular season is a bit like multiple skirmishes in which each team tries to get positioning for a THE big battle. Its war out there on many levels, for months. The Allstar weekend is like a truce or cease fire. Everyone gets to take that deep breath and party like a rockstar. Hang out with the family and friends and get rejuvenated. Even those who don’t actually get to go participate get the benefit of a healing week of rest and relaxation before hitting the trenches again.
Let me start by saying I love the whole thing. Start to finish I enjoy it. Now let me go awol. They did it backasswards.
The Young Stars shoulda been 4 on 4. The 3 on 3 format was just a run and gun tripod exhibition. It was fun but nowhere near as fun as 4 on 4 hockey with some of the brightest talent would’ve been. The Young stars shoulda been the ones with the breakaway competition. Right after the game, to end the day with a BANG! They are the ones who hang out at the rink after ‘official’ practice goofin on each other for fun and braggin rights. They are the ones hoppin pucks on their sticks, spinnin or sliding on their backs and knees while tryin to put the puck on net. That woulda been seriously sick! I can’t even begin to imagine what King Kopi, Kaner, Gagner or Mules woulda pulled outta their respective bags of tricks for the West.
Now I’m not sayin the Allstar vets couldn’t have done it too. But they have been around, they have reps and dignity to maintain. They chose the wrong ones to participate in the breakaway contest. Kopitar, Horcoff and Nash woulda been the best choices for the west. Sure Datsyuk is creative in a game situation, but c’mon the guy is so shy and self effacing he could’nt put himself out if he was on fire.

Those guys have been assimilted into the collective team (there is no I in there!) and they have forgotten how to be an I. The other mistake they made was in not lettin Ovie go first. Ovie is a team almost by himself. He is the face and personality of the Caps and he knows how to go about it. Him goin first might’ve given the others the balls to get buck wild. At least Kovy got hip on his last try and made the home town crowd a bit happier. Who says the transfer agreement is hurting our Russian influx?

All that said… how sick! is Rick Nash? I mean c’mon the guy made everyone on the ice look like bush league rookies, a hat trick, only the 15th ever scored in the ASG, not the MVP? (Kinda takes the sting out of the-goal-I’d-rather-not-mention) And Nabakov? with a badass shutout? not the MVP?

Guess dad likes you best Eric, cuz I think he voted twice for MVP. Ok Staal did have 2 plus a GWG assist but c’mon! A hattie tops that anyday.
Legace is a trip, mic him up all the time!
Dipi is sure pretty

(still a bastage for that stupid game in December…hockey fans hold bigtime grudges) and Ovie got to shine w/ out Cindy Criesbaby takin all the face time.

Our big PM scored a point in his first trip to the party and Jovo kinda had the 1st hit of the game. (more of a brush n tap but hey, we’ll take it).

Good food (mmmm sweet n salty party mix) good friends (Teal and Jenni) and the All Stars…. we had a blast…and why wouldn’t we?
All photos are borrowed from JAMD.COM go check them out! Awesome pics from the entire weekend
Well, well the return of Radim was quite the occasion. The crafty lil Czech was on fire nearly all night long. (you can call him streaky ifn ya want to but I’ll take his streaks any day and twice on game days). Vbrat hoisted the hattie in pretty rapid succession, carried the team on his back (dude! didn’t you just pull a groin doin that?) and with Breezy’s help, kept us in this game.

The first looked bad. We were slightly flat. But thankfully, so were the Preds. Both teams fired off a decent amount of shots (14-12) but the netminders were on their toes. After nearly 15 minutes of back n forth action (only 1 penalty stoppage) Vbrat lit the lamp on Mason with a little help from the local wildlife (Rhino & Fast Freddie). Vrbata scorzes! 1 - 0 Yotes

A referee went down badly with 2 minutes left. Collisions w/ bigger bodies never go well and he was bady shaken but left the ice w/ a bit of help. A breif return in the second proves more than he can handle though and we are down to 3 zebras to finish the game.

The second started horribly as Rads gave Breezy a nasty slapper and scored in the first 7 seconds. 1 -1 game. So we got back to work. Our ice of course turned into slush (when doesn’t it? I should start a pool on how long it will take - odds decided by attendance bodies heatin up the Job). The guys looked like they were snow shoeing instead of skating and of course the puck began to dance crazily. Luckily for us those crazy bounces paid off for Vbrat. His slap shot took some dizzy hops and deflections off sticks and bad ice to alley oop right over the top of Mason and give us back our lead. Vrrbata scorzes! (assists from TQ and Z) 2 - 1 Yotes.
The Preds feel this game slipping away and turn up the heat. Pevererly and then Erat nail our intrepid net minder to make it 3 - 2 in their favor. (why do we keep givin people their first NHL goal or their first NHL shut out… or the dreaded goal of the year?) Peverly is real fond of us right now for giving him his first goal. 3 -2 Preds.

Poor Vbrat, no one on the team seems to be able to find the back of the net (no matter how determined they are) so he calmly picks the team up once again and scored his third of the night on another good pass from Rhino. Vrrrbata scorzes! 3 - 3 game.


The third period both teams appear to be running on fumes but the Preds are takin it to us more than we are them. We barely manage 4 sogs and they double that with 8. Seriously, I would not want to be the guy who has to tell WG what our puck possession time is in that period. Talk about bearer of bad news. But since neither team can quite get past the other we head into OT.

Out of gas and being outplayed is not a good thing for this team (especially not with such big points on the line.) We find the last bit of fumes and manage 2 shots… one of them is the game winner… ZZZZ!!!! My baby boy scorzes w/ a lil help from his Czechmate Vbrat and our point streakin Captain. 4 - 3 in OT. We out hunt the Predators (unfortunately they still get a freakin point).
Awesomeness, thy name is Coyotes hockey.

We now stand outside the windows to the dance, which is hella better than sittin at home w/ a big zit, waiting for the phone to ring like we usually are this time of year. Ringing in the AllStar break with 54 phat points and drawing a bead on 4 teams. I say 4 teams because I really don’t want to stop at the 8th seat (eeewww get stuck playin the Ded Things … no thanks)
~photos from BTinAZ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/9302501@N02/sets/72157603816517435/
Free agent shortstop, Royce Clayton, most recently a part of the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, spoke about his time in the big leagues, his hopes for the future, and most importantly, the impact that the Royce Clayton Family Foundation has had on surrounding communities over the last 11 years. (Click on the player below to listen to the interview)
1. Of all the fund raisers that your foundation has sponsored, which one is the most memorable?
2. Your foundation has done a great job teaming up with different charity events of Major League Baseball. What are some of the ways you have partnered with the MLB in the past and what can we expect in the future?
3. You are hosting a poker tournament this Friday at Harrah’s Ak-Chin where dozens of celebrities and many average Joes will be competing for a spot in the WSOP. Who is your biggest threat? How will you fair?
4. After winning a World Series in Boston, is there anything else on your to-do list that you have to complete before you retire?
5. Who would you rather go up against: Randy Johnson prime or Curt Schilling prime?
The Royce Clayton Family Foundation is sponsoring the upcoming Poker Celebrity Bowl Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament that is being held at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino this Friday afternoon at 3 PM. For more information, or if you are interested in throwing the chips down with the best of them, see the contact information below.
All poker and sports fans are invited to play in the exclusive Poker Celebrity Bowl. The Poker Celebrity Bowl is a Texas No-Limit Hold’em charity poker tournament kicking-off the 2008 Super Bowl weekend at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino hosted by Major League Baseball’s Royce Clayton.
The buy-in is $1,000 with $200 re-buys presented by Goldwater Bank. The first place finisher will win a $10,000 seat into the 2008 World Series of Poker®, the second place winner will earn a seat into the Heartland Poker Tour’s Main Event at Majestic Star Casino and the third place winner will earn a Porsche Cars 2-Day Driving School Experience. The prize pool will be distributed among the top 10 players.
Confirmed celebrities playing in the Poker Celebrity Bowl include:
* Royce Clayton (Host & Played with MLB Red Sox- World Champions 2007)
* Luis Gonzales (MLB Dodgers 2007 and Long Time Phoenix Favorite)
* Connie Hawkins (NBA Hall of Famer & Former Phoenix Suns Forward)
* Roland Williams (8-Year NFL Veteran, Super Bowl Champion)
* Ryan Howard (MLB 2006 National League MVP and the fastest player to reach 100 home runs in MLB history)
* Kyle Lohse (MBL Phillies Pitcher)
* Brian Roberts (MLB Second Baseman)
* Kenny Lofton (MLB Outfielder-played for 11 teams, 10 years with the Cleveland Indians and has the most career stolen bases of any active player, and 15th all-time)
* Jimmy Rollins (MLB Phillies –National League MVP 2007)
* Bob Lanier (NBA Hall of Famer)
* Geoff Jenkins (MLB Brewers 2007)
* Willie Garson (Actor-Sex in the City’s Standford, HBO’s John from Cincinnati)
* Tony Denison (Actor-The Closer & Prison Break most recently)
* Dondré Whitfield (Actor- 3 Daytime Emmy nominations and his credits include Ghost Whisperer, CSI:Miami, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Girlfriends, All My Children and The Cosby Show.)
* Robert Williamson III (WSOP Bracelet Champion—$1.8 million earnings)
* Jaime Gold (WSOP Main Event Winner earning $12 million, the largest prize in history)
* Chris “Jesus” Ferguson (5 WSOP Bracelets & over $5.7 million in tournament winnings)
* Annie Duke (Best Female Poker Player & WSOP Champion)
* Chris Hanson (Heartland Poker Tour Co-Host)
* Fred Bevil (Heartland Poker Tour Co-Host)
* Montel Williams *all subject to availability
Friday, February 1, 2008 at 3 p.m.
Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino Ballroom, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, AZ 85239
WHY: To raise funds for the Royce Clayton Family Foundation which is committed to improving lives and giving back to the community. (Fact Sheet available)
HOW TO REGISTER: Players can register at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Poker Room with cash or by calling (480) 802-5183. Money Orders and cashier’s checks are also accepted. Please note that seating is limited & this casino cannot accept wire transfers.
EVENT SPONSORS:
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Press Contacts:
Susan Baker Karen Williamson
SBaker@Harrahs.com Karen@Williamson-Williamson.com
Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino & Resort W-W Public Relations
(480) 802-5004 (312) 602-5352
This commercial break is brought to you by ArizonaSpaGirls.com.
Super Bowl Spa Specials
We love football just as much as the next guy but why not mix a spoonful of spa into that sports shake? Unless otherwise stated, the following Super Bowl spa deals are available by appointment on game day only.
Power Lift Peel at Sibonne Day Spa, Glendale. Get a super-charged, 30-minute facial peel based on your skin type. Choose from the Acne Lift (to combat clogged pores), Lightening Lift (to diminish sun spots and uneven skin tone) or the Wrinkle Lift (to stimulate collagen and boost the complexion). Just $49 (reg. $80). Also ask about their Super Bowl Sunday massage special.
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Ultimate Scalp Treatment Add-on at The Massage & Esthetics Studio, Scottsdale. Add on an Ultimate Scalp Treatment to any massage or facial for $20 (reg. $30). Warm oil infused with vitamins and essential oils is expertly massaged into your noggin to moisturize your scalp, condition your hair and relieve tension.
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Photo: Inside Zethina Cosmetics & Skin Care at the Citadelle Shopping Plaza in Arrowhead.