There are still 11 months left in 2010, and already we have a leader in the clubhouse for douche-bag of the year.
In case you’ve been too busy paying attention to real-life concerns such as Haiti or the economy _ or maybe you’ve been out trying to find a job, you know, to feed your family _ you really need to shift all your sympathies to Vince Wilfork, a star defensive tackle with the New England Patriots. (more…)
Calling New York Rangers forward Sean Avery a pest is an understatement. Avery is without a doubt the most hated player in the league. He is the ultimate grinder, finding a way under the opponent’s skin is his specialty, and he makes other team’s superstars crumble. Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Brodeur both turned in lousy playoff performances when confronted by Avery. Brodeur’s issues are now widely known as the “Avery Rules”. Avery of course, was suspended for some “obscene” remarks about Dion Phaneuf’s girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert (Avery’s ex). In memory of this remark, let’s count down the Top-10 greatest Sean Avery remarks: (more…)
Posted in Yes, These Sports Still Matter 
Tags: New York Rangers, Sean Avery, These Sports Still MatterFor the last few weeks, I’ve been keeping my eye on the sports TV world, and there has been a notable trend that has come to my attention: our airwaves are being invaded by members of the Dream Team (the 1992 USA Basketball team for those who don’t remember or are just too young to know what I’m talking about). From talk shows to animated series, these former basketball greats have been all over the place. Let’s start with Charles Barkley, who has never met a spotlight he didn’t want to hog. While he’s regularly in the studio for TNT, he seems to be on the tube everywhere I look these days. He recently hosted Saturday Night Live and while the show suffers from an inability to be funny anymore, one skit did make me chuckle a little. Take a look at Barkley making fun of his infamous golf swing in the following clip.
Posted in Double Dribble, Hot Videos Tags: Charles Barkley, Double Dribble, Hot Videos, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen
How awesome is Brooklyn Bowl? Think back to your youth and that ultimate birthday party/bar mitzvah/sweet 16 spot. That rare place that provided anything and everything your heart could desire. 10-year-old Steinthal could hang out at Sportime USA and never, ever get enough; batting cages, skee-ball, video games, laser tag, that ridiculous push the quarter over the ledge game, and on and on. I currently feel the same way about Brooklyn Bowl; a music venue, bowling alley, bar, and restaurant all rolled into one. This place is unbelievable and pays attention to all of the important details. Huge screens everywhere play classic movies and TV shows from Planet Earth to Wall-E to Seinfeld to VH1 Classic. Their music selection is top notch, and on our last visit, Rolling Stone editor/Sirius XMU radio host Jenny Eliscu played an appropriate mix of current favorites including My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, and Radiohead mixed in with some classics from Todd Rundgren and Bob Seger. Pitchers of Brooklyn beer flow for under $21, which is cheap by NYC standards. Speaking of reasonable prices, bowling lanes are only $40 an hour for up to 8 people. Oh, and did I mention that they’re going to be hosting football on Sundays? Oh yes, full NFL ticket. But the best part about the whole situation? Blue Ribbon provides all the food. You can get dirty on apps while you bowl and they offer a full menu of classics at the restaurant.
For the full review, check out our friends at Immaculate Infatuation.
With many of the sports bars in Manhattan fitting into the categories of “glorified dive,” “blatant dive,” or “overly lavish for a sports bar,” it can be difficult to find an inviting watering hole with sports at its core. Cozy East Village establishment Standings is one bar that stays true to the very nature of a sports bar.
Upon entering the door, the décor of Standings is a dead giveaway to what is in store for patrons. Standings is littered with every conceivable piece of sports memorabilia you can imagine. Aside from the standard Yankees/Giants/Red Sox/Patriots items found adorning the walls of every Northeastern US sports bar in some capacity, Standings has clothing, banners and trinkets from countless major and obscure teams. A large Montana Grizzlies towel hangs from the ceiling to the left of presumably one of the only remaining Carolina Hurricanes rally towels from the 2006 Stanley Cup finals. To the left of the Grizzlies towel sits a Quite Frankly seat cushion signed by none other than Stephen A Smith. The only thing better would be if he’d time stamped his signature with “14:59.” Even the bathrooms are covered in sports articles and some quality tile defacing, with phrases such as “Idaho will never win the WAC” and “The only way Syracuse sees the NCAA is through Ticketmaster” written sloppily, yet proudly.
Where Standings really shines is its beer selection. Although Guinness and Bud Light are always available, the remaining 10 taps feature a constantly rotating list of American micro-brews. It is not uncommon to find delicious IPAs, stouts, ales, porters, and seasonal brews from small breweries across the United States. Additionally, no empty keg is followed by the same beer. Dogfish Head, Left Hand, Rogue, Captain Lawrence, Victory, and Sixpoint are just some of the breweries you may see listed on the chalk board behind the bar.
The only downside is that it’s a little on the small side. But as a spot to catch some games, drink great beers, and share friendly conversation with other sport enthusiasts, it earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, pull up a stool or relive the glory days of Shea by sitting in one of the old Stadium seats bolted to the floor.
Posted in New York