...For The Ride Home: Rush really likes the new DVD, Megan Fox is engaged and a new show from ESPN?

Watched this last night. Yes, it's foreign, so if you don't like foreign movies, or, well, if you don't like to read, skip the following few sentences. Penelope Cruz is now officially in the "If you are in this movie, I will watch it" category for me, and I can't think of many other actresses like that. She's just wonderful. Didn't know this going in, but from what I understand, this movie is celebrated for the fact that she trounces around naked for a little while at some point. Message to perverts: Don't ruin her! She beholds the type of beauty that even when you see her naked, you feel as though she's too fragile to mess with. Just let her elegance speak for itself. Pretty good movie. Couple that with "Vicky, Christina, Barcelona," and she now officially has my trust when it comes to movies. Yes, I've heard "Nine" is bad, but... So it's Wednesday. How are you doing? That's good, assuming you said you were doing well, of course. Seems to be humid where we are, so we hope you find a way to stay cool if you happen to be suffering through the same sticky weather (weather, which, I'd like to add, I enjoy). We sincerely hope you click on a few links below - though if you'd like to read a thing or two about running, or vacations beforehand, you wouldn't hear any argument from us. Be good, and remember, if you stay in the sun too long, you'll burn.

Search through if you’d like, but it’s there. Dan LeBatard, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon and Bill Simmons are all a part of a new project. Nobody knows what it’s about, or where it will be, or in what form, but this has to pique interest in at least a few of you. (Miami Herald)

Rush is excited about its upcoming DVD. This is just an excuse to link a story about Rush. (Rolling Stone)

NBC News pretty much cleaned house in this year’s Edward R. Murrow awards. If only that counted for late-night television. (RTDNA)

Fight! Dana Milbank rips former college newspaper editor in column. The problem? His editor is running for a seat in the Senate. When rich people spat, it’s fun. (Washington Post)

Eminem recruited the Shamwow dude to help him promote his upcoming album, an album that some people say could be his best lyrically. This particular link comes fully equipped with a video, too. (All Hip-Hop)

And now Tiger Woods is the father of more children. Have fun this weekend, Earl. (New York Daily News)

Megan Fox is engaged. Never bought in to how attractive most men think she is. (Access Hollywood)

Cameron Diaz is not dating A-Rod. Really? And she likes touching. Unlike the jail officers in “Arrested Development.” (People)

...For The Ride Home: Isley brother dies, settle down, Xtina, French actresses and comic books in film

It's been a whirlwind of a last couple days, and after finally coming to a rest last evening, I decided to pop the accompanying movie in. It was the absolute most perfect way to begin World Cup week. And, as an added bonus, it's a well done film to boot. If you claim to be a futbol fan, rent it sometime before Friday. You won't be disappointed. In other news, the comment of the day goes to my father when I called him to share some very exciting news.
Me: "Hey, I have some exciting news. It's reason to celebrate. And no, I'm not getting married."
Dad: "Isn't that reason enough to celebrate?"
It's a Tuesday in early June. Go fall in love, or something. Watch a sun set. Cook out. Exchange kisses. Do the things all the normal people do in June when they find love. I mean, honestly. If you can't fall in love in June, you aren't capable of feeling feelings. Before you partake in such lovely actions, though, be sure to click on a link or two, read about how great baseball is (note - except in my opinion), and celebrate the fact that my sister turned 24 yesterday. Yeah, she doesn't read this, but any shout out is a good shout out, right? Now don't forget to be nice to others.

Marvin Isley, bassist for the Isley Brothers, died last night. By this particular writer’s account, “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” is the second best song ever written. Rest in Peace, Mr. Isley. (Washington Post)

Aaron Rodgers vs. Tony Kornheiser. (The Big Lead)

The Huffington Post is not for sale. Duh. (Business Insider)

Neat: The 50 words that confuse New York Times readers. Note the absence of the words “Daily,” “News,” “Observer” and “Post.” (New York Times)

Only because there seems to be a huge audience for this kind of stuff. What exactly is the proper way to capture a comic book in film? (Popmatters)

Any Spitalfield fans in the house? They are going to reunite. “I Love The Way She Said L.A.” is imperative summer listening. (Alternative Press)

The stars keep biting the dust. Portugal’s Nani is out of the World Cup. Spoiler Alert: Expect a full-on prediction/preview post tomorrow. (Fox Sports)

Interesting: The top 10 most stunning French actresses ever. (Vanity Fair)

She’s right. Chill out, Xtina. (Gracious Kristi)

LeBron to...the Lakers?

Everybody seems to have this undeniable urge to weigh in on the NBA’s free agent class and the ramifications the moves will have on the future of the league. Naturally, at the center of this talking point is Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and the countless preposterous scenarios every sportswriter south of Anchorage has created (and that doesn’t even include the gabillions of bloggers who seem to think their opinions matter).

That said, I didn’t necessarily want to opine on such a topic simply because it has become both cliché and tacky to fall into that trap of run-in-to-the-ground discussion. And I won’t. Instead, I came across an awfully interesting take on the matter yesterday while listening to Tony Kornheiser’s talk radio show out of Washington.

Former Chicago Tribune writer – and author of two fabulous books on Michael Jordan – Sam Smith laid out a possibility that I haven’t heard discussed yet. Because I love you, the well-rounded sports fan reader, I thought I’d add yet another corner of the room that has become the speculation of where Mr. James will land. Interesting:

“I lean toward him staying in Cleveland,” Smith said. “Because they’ve made the first move – they’ve gotten rid of their coach, who he (James) implicitly said he didn’t want anymore.”

After likening Mike Brown’s exit to Doug Collins’ exit from the Chicago Bulls after Jordan’s early years (the front office ran it by Lebron and Lebron didn’t object to the firing of Brown, much like what happened when Collins got pushed out of Chicago), it really gets interesting…

“I have no doubt he’s going to look around, but I still think that (if he leaves) the best option is L.A. I see Lebron as really more of a super-sized or super-charged Scotty Pippen,” the writer continued. “He’s somewhere between Magic Johnson and Scotty Pippen as a player. His first inclination is to be a team player – move the ball around, rebound, do a lot of things. And if he wants to play with Phil (Jackson) in the triangle, and he wants guaranteed winning, to me, that’s where you go. You do a sign and trade with Cleveland. You see, Cleveland is not going to want to do a deal with a rival, like Chicago…If he wants to make the max money and not sign another short deal, Cleveland is going to want him out of the conference – not in Miami, Chicago, New York, not in any of those places that can knock them out in the first round. L.A.’s got players…they could have a decent sort of team in Cleveland if they lost Lebron with the players they have if they get a center. And I know (Andrew) Bynum has had injury issues, and all that sort of stuff, but if you could get Lebron out of your conference and get a center in return, maybe some draft picks…if LeBron wants to win, that’s the place to go. Why wouldn’t it be the favorite choice?”

Come on. You didn’t really think we’d go that long without posting on LeBron, now did you? If nothing else, it gave us the opportunity to show this crazynuts video (sorry, Sheed)…



And finally, if you’d like to see a preliminary list of the players available this summer, go here. Much more on all of this mumbojumbo as it unfolds.

Something's got to give in Roethlisberger case

So, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason condition program began today. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last night that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will indeed not be reporting to the program, deflating the collective ballon of those who were hoping to hear from the over-sized, "gee-I-look-like-a-normal-dude" superstar.

Tony Kornheiser had Washington Post sports reporter Mark Maske on his radio show last Wednesday and discussed an issue that only a select few have decided to tackle: The divide between how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to this particular incident in comparison with, oh, say Pacman Jones, and the racial undercurrent of such an issue that was initially tackled by the often rambunctious Jamele Hill.

"Ben Roethlisberger is not unlike Pacman Jones in the sense that Pacman Jones was never convicted of anything, but kept getting in trouble, kept being talked to by the police, and Goodell said, 'you know what, enough is enough, and I'm suspending this dope for a while.' ... You can't have a double standard of justice for a black defensive back and a white quarterback, and the players are going to say, 'wait a second now.' ...This can very easily become racial politics, don't you think?" the PTI host asked.

"I think it's true," Maske responded. "The personal conduct policy empowers the commissioner to act before the legal process is played out. It empowers the commissioner to impose league discipline even if the player is not charged with a crime. That comparison to the handling of the Pacman Jones case .... I think all of those things will come up. All of those things will be talked about, and those will have to be factors that are taken into consideration when the time comes to make the decision on Roethlisberger."

Then, of course, there's this, and there's this. Interesting, isn't it? OTAs begin April 19. When's he going to show? When's he going to talk? The longer he waits, is Goodell more inclined to dish a punishment out? That said, if he's innocent, why hasn't he rushed to clear his name, much like he did the last time he found himself in this type of mess.

This isn't Marc Bulger, Alex Smith, Tyler Palco or even Tony Romo. This is a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback who can't dodge controversy no matter how hard his team of handlers try, and no matter how polished the Rooney's idea of the Pittsburgh Steelers may be perceived. Something's got to give, but who's going to be the first to give it? Roethlisberger and a hollow apology? Or Goodell and a legacy-damaging suspension?

Remember how low Pacman Jones sunk? No? This may help.



-TU