I headed out to the local watering hole a couple weeks ago, and on the way in I was listening to the crotchety old Mike Francessa on WFAN 660 New York belittle callers and yell at people who didn’t agree with him, but I digress. The point is that at some point during the show there was a mention of a Slingbox — I can’t remember if it was a caller or one of the promos that were running in which WFAN was giving away some of the devices. Either way, I had heard about the Slingbox a bunch of times before in passing but never knew exactly what it did. BIG mistake on my part.

So I finally reached my destination and met up with a few friends to watch the Phillies game, which I could not get at home because I get a New York cable feed. I asked them if they had ever heard of a Slingbox; the Anonymous Mets Fan said no, but my other friend told me that he knew it had something to do with a cable feed. I was naturally intrigued. Without any solicitation, my buddy picked up his phone and quickly Googled the product (ahh, the beauty of the mobile Internet), and immediately filled us in on all of the capabilities.

The whole purpose of the Slingbox is to allow users with an entry point to their very own cable box remotely by accessing it remotely by computer or even a variety of smartphones. While most of the device’s marketing has been directed at traveler’s who would like to still be able to enjoy their shows on the road, a major market that really needs to be aware of this is YOU, the almighty sports fan.

Displaced sports fans, your salvation has arrived.

Anyone who knows me personally can speak to the endless horrors that I have had to deal with in years past because of a terrible black hole that exists between MLB.tv online and Comcast cable in my central NJ area. Comcast provides me with one Philadelphia channel that feeds me sporadic Phillies games throughout the season, but does not provide me with the channel that 95% of the games are on. MLB.tv believes that I am close enough to Philly to get the feed through my cable provider and therefore blacks out all of the Phillies games that I would like to access with their much cheaper version of the MLB package through my computer, which I can then just hook up to my TV. So, my friends, this leaves with one terrible option (or so I thought). For the past couple of years I have tried to hold out on paying the absurd amount of money for the MLB TV package (usually I can get to about the second week of the season, after the free, week-long preview that MLB provides), but I always fold and end up shelling out the cold hard cash. But now I know about Slingbox, and it is going to really change everything. Not only for me, but for displaced sports fans everywhere.

Most sports fans have some kind of geographical tie to the teams they root for; perhaps they moved away from home and try to follow their teams as best they can. Maybe they have family or friends in that area and jumped on board a team’s bandwagon at a young age. The point is that the die hard sports fan usually has ties to his/her team’s city. So, rather than piss away a couple hundred dollars every year to get a programming package to really just watch one team play, why not get a Slingbox, set it up at a relative or friend’s house, and have them set you up? It’s a one-time fee, and in the very worst case scenario, you could offer to pay for an extra cable box to be set up in a room that’s never used. That’d probably cost you somewhere in the area of $6/month to pay for, making it about $70/year for the full MLB season, which is roughly a third of the cost of the actual package. Better yet, find someone in that city who likes the team of you the city you are in — the Anonymous Mets Fan and I have grand plans to set up this arrangement and reap the full benefits of our glorious plan! Even better — here’s a million dollar idea for someone more tech savvy than me to get off the ground: a social network devoted to finding displaced fans with Slingboxes. Just remember, you read it here first.

Those of you who are interested in a few basic details, I’ve already done the legwork for you. I actually reached out to Slingbox through Twitter, got in touch with a couple very friendly reps over there, and asked a few important questions. You’ll need:

-A cable box
-TV
-Slingbox

Hook all three up and you are good to go. You don’t have to have the TV on where you are taping, but the cable box does need to be on the appropriate channel, which you can control remotely. If you want, you can even stream games to your phone by buying the $30 mobile player (one time cost). Managing everything online through their website is fast and easy, and those of you with up-to-date computers and TVs can stream right through your television.

Slingbox is here to stay. If you have any doubts, just go to their website and check out their Twitter feed, which consists of hundreds of real-time conversations about how people are in love with this device. Those of you who, like me, are unable to watch your favorite teams through your local cable can now afford to do so without having to break the bank every year. If only I had someone like me to share such a worthwhile and money-saving anecdote years ago…

As we all know, one of the main storylines for the Super Bowl is the new commercials that advertisers spend boatloads of money on. Each year there are at least a couple of standouts, and surely this year will be no different. A couple of the 44 ads on tap have already been leaked, so here’s you sneak preview. Enjoy the big day — eat, drink and be merry, but above all, be safe.

Mini Troy Polamalu Steps in for Punxsutawney Phil

Hyundai Taps Favre

As the Superbowl approaches it should launch a constant debate that has puzzled man for eons. No, no not the best commercial, was the half time show worth watching? Hell no. I am talking about something any person over the age 21 must consider. What beer to buy. So here it is folks — my all time top 10 commercially saturated beers of all time. (disclaimer: Commercially saturated beers only, so of course delicious fluids like IPA, Stella etc are not in play. )

10) Coors Light-The silver bullet the staple of most NFL stadiums a safe bet, and who can forget the Coors’ girls.

9) Natural Light- My favorite college beverage comes in at number nine. It’s smooth but most importantly economical.

8) Bud Light- As for taste come on we can do better, but excellent commercials and after all it’s an American icon.

7) Sam Adams-It comes in all different forms and always wins in the long run. Also it is the corner stone to any New Englander’s diet.

6) Dos Equis- Any man who can speak French…in Russian and prefers Dos Equis is guaranteed top 10 considerations; however nothing adds class to the big game like this liquid courage.

5) Corona (with lime)- “Mexican Pee.” A better summer beer but we can all still remember the first time we tried picking up a girl by trying to get the lime at the right level in tipping the beer upside-down to try an impress her… Ok that was more of a high school thing.

4) Miller Light- Not only a great taste but doesn’t leave you feeling like you consumed an entire keg after you have consumed one. Cost efficient and does the job every time.

3) Miller Genuine Draft- Do I really need to say anything more.

2) Guinness- The old reliable. Never lets you down. Has more nutrients than you would think, high in protein and low in fat. Not sure how many you can drink at a Superbowl party as you need to make room for the entire spread but can anyone argue with the Irish nectar.

1) Finally my number one beer….Pabst Blue Ribbon- Whether you are hanging with rednecks at the bar or mingling with Madison Avenue Executives, this beer is perfect fit. It’s full and scrumptious yet cost effective to consume a ton. It comes in an eye satisfying can and who can resist the PBR specials.

So there you have it folks — just some thoughts for your choice of refreshments for the game. Remember no drinking and driving (we are socially responsible at 27Pitches.com) and drink hearty. Just another chapter from the Book of Jacober. Cheerio

Enjoy your Friday and don’t work too hard; before you know it, the weekend will be here and you’ll be able to make some bad decisions. But don’t worry, when you do, you can always come here to feel better about not being Heidi Montag. Have you seen the before and after photos? I’m not sure what all the hullabaloo is about; in fact, have a look for yourself:

BEFORE

AFTER

To be honest, I don’t see much of a difference. Anyway, here’s some of the week’s best online content, followed by the video I promised on Wednesday.

Thunder Treats has you covered for your Championship Sunday preview (Brandon will also be providing his “Second and Inches” column later today).

Deadspin and Sean Salisbury go way back. Check out the latest development in the ongoing legal fiasco between the two over at Deadspin, where they are always good for airing the dirty laundry.

What do the Mets and Circus Clowns Have in Common? Everything, according to this post at I Had To Turn It Off When; look for the Anonymous Mets Fan to sound off in a guest post coming your way soon!

Is it too early to talk March Madness predictions? No, according to Red, White & Blue Sports.

By now, you’ve probably heard about the crazy female tv reporter in Italy who got a little grabby with Bend It Like Beckam. No? Well you can check out the story and video of David getting molested publicly over at Stupid Sideline Reporters.

Like hilarious Photoshopped images? We do too. That’s why this story about how A-Rod is so vein and hangs up paintings of himself as a centaur is not only hilarious, but lends itself to good Photoshopping opportunities. Head over to The Last Angry Fan to have a look.

Finally, youngsters re-enact the Jersey Shore, and remarkably accurately, I might add. Hat tip to Calvin for sending the clip my way.

Now, I’m happy to report that Doritos is getting ready to crown a winner from their “Crash the SuperBowl” contest, which consisted of over 4,000 Doritos lovers submitting their ideal commercial for the big game. The six finalists are all pretty funny, and I’ve included a compilation video below for you to check out. To check out them all out in their entirety and to vote for your choice, head on over to the contest website. If it helps, grab a bag of your favorite flavor for some inspiration. I’m not here to sway anyone, but I’m a fan of the The Smackout and the Snack Attack Samurai.

Game-changers.

14) Twitter. Many people thought that Twitter would be a fad that quickly faded away, like Zubaz pants or half the stuff from this list. Well, guess what people, Twitter is here to stay, and celebs and athletes have embraced it the most. It’s a way for them to conveniently and safely get closer to fans, and both sides seem to be pretty into it. Players like Chad Ochocinco, Shaquille O’Neal, and Nick Swisher have jumped on board, just to name a few. In fact, entire websites are dedicated to what athletes are saying on Twitter. Now, every week on ESPN there are Twitter-related stories about how players are talking trash, reporting news that has yet to break, or even tweeting during games. Whether you like it or not, it’s here to stay.

15) Blown calls. When ESPN compiles a top ten list of blown umpire calls in the MLB’s postseason, you know there’s a real problem. However, Bud Selig is vehemently against using instant replay any more than it already is in baseball, and although I normally do not side with the bow-tied bonehead, he does have some legitimate concerns. However, enough time has gone by and he needs to set something in place so that blown calls that are blatantly obvious can be overturned.

Horrible.

16) A perfectly idiotic move. Time to throw in a recent event. In their quest for the perfect season, the Colts have come up short, thanks to Jim Caldwell’s premature benching of NFL MVP Peyton Manning. But rather than get into depth about it again here, I’m just going to direct you to Brandon’s thoughts on the subject here and here, because it pretty much sums it up perfectly. Bottom line, the Colts had a chance to do something great and threw it away, and fans should be peeved. Not to mention that sitting players rarely has the desired effect. But I digress…

Scandals.

17) Not just Tiger. I already mentioned Tiger yesterday, mostly because his celebrity combined with the shock value garnered it’s own category above and beyond all others. But let’s not forget, there were a handful of other scandals and affairs in the sports world this year. The media had a field day with the Steve Phillips affair, and then there was the less-publicized but equally offensive Eric Kuselias affair, which included another ESPN employee, Stephania Bell. Then of course there was the Rick Pitino shocker, which seemed to get more bizarre and twisted each time the story was updated. But perhaps the most shocking and definitely the saddest affair this year doesn’t even belong in this category…

Apparently ESPN employees have marriage-waiving clauses in their contracts.

Losses.

18) Steve McNair was an iconic mainstay in the NFL for more than a decade. He was considered a warrior by coaches, peers, and fans because of his ability to play through debilitating injuries and still get the job done. Unfortunately, off the field, McNair had problems with infidelity, and this led to his demise in July of this year when his 20-year-old mistress Sahel Kazemi shot McNair twice in the head and then turned the gun on herself. The tragedy sent shockwaves through Tennessee and, at least at first, impacted many NFL players who were also guilty of infidelity.

You will be missed, Steve -- hopefully your story will scare others straight.

19) Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Angels lost a pitcher who had a bright future ahead of him when a drunk driver struck and killed Nick Adenhart. In an ironic twist of fate, Adenhart’s death came just hours after an outstanding 2009 MLB debut in which he threw six scoreless innings. It was a brief flash of the potential the 22-year-old pitcher had and is another reminder of what can happen when people drive drunk. The Angels eventually went on to win their division, and celebrated out in center field where they could be close to Adenhart.

Drinking and driving caused this senseless death. RIP, Nick.

20) Chris Henry always seemed to be his own worst enemy. His talent on the field for years was offset by the fact that he had so many off-the-field problems with the law. It got so bad that he was eventually waived by the Bengals in 2008 because of his conduct, although he would eventually be given the opportunity to re-sign with the team later that year due to injuries to the rest of the Bengals receiving corps. He had people all around him trying to push him in the right direction, and just when it seemed like he might finally be turning a corner, his demons once again arose in the form of a domestic dispute with his fiance, Loleini Tonga. The dispute got to a point where Henry found himself in the back of a moving truck that Tonga was driving, and he eventually fell off and suffered head injuries that would result in his death.

21) Although the three deaths I mentioned so far were definitely surprising and tragic, none of them come close to the mystery that surrounds Arturo Gotti’s death. At first, bloodstains on his wife’s purse led investigators to charge her with murder, although later she was cleared of that charge and some reports suggest that Gotti may have even used the purse strap to strangle himself while under the influence of drugs. No one knows exactly what happened, but one things is for certain — this case has many more questions than answers.

TV

22) There were some major sports-related tv programs that knocked it out of the park in 2009. On January 1, 2009, the MLB Network was launched, and finally provided a place for Harold Reynolds to provide excellent sports insights and look the other way when it came to his on-set sexual harassment. With unique programming like Hot Stove, The ‘Pen, and 30 Clubs, 30 Recaps, the MLB Network got off to a strong start. Although I don’t see it finding the success that the NFL Network has had, the MLB Network is here to stay and provides yet another channel for MLB junkies like myself.

23) Speaking of the NFL Network, the most brilliant and innovative programming of the year, without question, is the NFL Redzone. For all you other 20-somethings out there who are constantly multitasking and in need of ADD-friendly activities, you need to look into this channel for next year’s NFL season. Whenever a team hits the redzone, the NFL will take you there, and make sure you are constantly updated on who is scoring and when. In the event that there isn’t a team in the redzone, you’ll be taken to the best matchup at that particular time. It’s also a must-have resource for avid fantasy football junkies.

24) Finally, and speaking of fantasy football, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my new favorite tv show, The League. The first season is now over, but do yourself a favor and buy it or find it somewhere online, because it is hilarious. Essentially it’s just a bunch early 30s guys who still play fantasy football and talk endless smack to one another in the process. They also blackmail each other in real life so that they can acquire fantasy studs, and the characters in the show are crazy and ridiculous. Do yourself a favor and jump on board now.

Seriously, you need to be watching this show.

Awards.

25) Most exciting game of the year — Minnesota Twins beat Detroit Tigers in one game playoff for AL Central. This game was an unbelievable, back-and-forth dogfight that had it all.

26) Greatest individual achievement — Apologies to Randy Johnson getting his 300th win, but you just can’t top perfect. Mark Buerhle gets the nod on this one.

Sorry Randy. Maybe you should have tried pitching a perfect game for your 300th win.

27) The most captivating sports story of 2009 — Maybe I made this category a bit too broad, but it allows me to touch on a few. Is it the whole “Caster Semanya is a guy and not a girl?” What about the whole Andre Agassi/meth story? Perhaps even the Michael Phelps bong photo? Although all of these stories did captivate to some degree, none will compare to the tragic story about NFL linebacker Marquis Cooper and his friends going fishing in the Gulf Coast. I remember following this story closely for days, hoping that these men would be found, but only one, Nick Schuyler, survived, and his details of the harrowing event were astounding. This tragic story was the one that captivated me most this year. What about you?

Happy New Year, everybody. Have fun and be safe.

-SJ

In the same type of fashion, I felt that I should compile a list chock full of good stuff from the past year. This list is pretty much a jumble of favorite websites, stories, events, and whatever else I deemed worthy of a mention in the past 12 months, complete with interesting links and commentary. As for a number, well, what number is better than 27? These aren’t really in any particular order, but I’ll at least do my best to categorize my selections. Here’s what I’ve got for today, and be sure to check out the rest in tomorrow’s year-end finale.

First and foremost…

1) The Genesis. It’s hard to imagine that 27pitches has yet to turn one-year old. In fact, we still have a couple months to go. My first posting concentrated on my never-ending discontent for MLB Commish Bud Selig on February 10th of this year. I never expected this blog to take off the way it has, and I am pleasantly surprised that people keep coming back for more rants and raves by myself and Brandon.

Storylines

2) Champions crowned. The Pittsburgh Steelers won their record 6th Super Bowl in 2009, thanks to a Ben Rothelisberger’s accurate throw and Santonio Holmes’ insane catch. Kobe proved he could win without Shaq, and youth dominated as the face of the NHL Sidney Crosby hoisted the coveted Stanley Cup. Then, of course, the Yankees were able to prevent a repeat championship by my beloved Phillies when secret weapon Hideki Matsui delivered a MVP-worthy 6 RBIs in a crucial Game 6 showdown. Overall, it was an exciting year in sports, and the championship games and series delivered on the hype.

Godzilla leaves behind a legend in NY.

3) Tiger Woods’ fall from grace. We’ve touched on this a couple times already, but it’s impossible not to mention this as a notable storyline from this year. Take world’s best golfer, a pristine image, numerous big name endorsements, and then mix in a horrible drive (bad pun, I know), a tree, a fire hydrant, and a dozen + mistresses, and you’ve got a recipe for something I’d like to call Media Orgasm.

This may very well have been the most-emailed image of Dec. 09.

4) Steroids/PEDs/Cheaters — the story continues. Alex Rodriguez. David Ortiz. Hell, even Andre Agassi and his meth. The public may be tired of the same story with a different name, but the fact is that there were plenty of cheaters in 2009. Speaking of annoying and repetitive storylines…

5) Viking Quest. No, not Johnny Drama’s claim to fame. I’m talking about Brett Favre’s 23rd comeback from retirement. Honestly, I don’t care if this guy plays another 10 years (he just might), because he obviously has enough ability to garner interest from teams who are struggling to find a halfway decent QB. I can also deal with a guy who wants to take the time each year to weigh his options and decide whether or not to come back or finally hang them up. But goddamn it, if I have to endure another three months of daily coverage on a tired and predictable storyline from ESPN, I’m going to have to start my own network. Seeing as this is a highly probable situation, get ready for 27pitches tv in 2010. I’ll begin working on the programming.

Steroids and PEDs seems to be a storyline that will never go away.

6) Second chances; all bark and no bite. Michael Vick was uncaged earlier this year, and he found an unlikely landing spot in Philadelphia, something Brandon was quick to comment on. While Eagles management went ahead and played this up as a charity case, trying to make themselves out to be a Good Samaritans who are always looking to help out a player in need, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This was a sly and conniving way of selling the public on a situation that they thought they could easily and quickly benefit from. By taking on Vick at a highly discounted rate and  inserting him into the offense little by little in order to show other teams that he can still contribute and adjut to the speed of the game, the Eagles are simply setting the stage for their next move — trading him. With so many teams in dire need of a QB (Buffalo and Tampa Bay, for example), the Eagles can surely unload Vick’s contract and trade him for a 4th or 5th round draft pick. If they can actually take some offenses off guard in the playoffs by using him successfully as a weapon, as they did in Atlanta, it will be a huge bonus.

Favorite blogs, sites, etc.

7) As I mentioned already, Bob’s Blitz is one of our favorites places to go for updated news with a pinch of satire and attitude. Must-add bookmark.

8) Another up-and-coming destination, and one of our favorites, is Thee Sports Blog. This is a definite bookmark for those of you who need to get your college sports fix, namely in the ACC. In fact, Brandon may be collaborating with Thee Sports Blog next year to do a couple podcasts or features focusing on his alma mater, Maryland. So keep an eye out for that.

9) Another one of my favorites is Thunder Treats. These guys are hilarious (for instance, check out their tribute to Tiger’s birthday today, complete with his bday wish list) and know how to interweave sports and humor.

10) I typically call attention to the unique, hilarious, sports-centric websites that I come across that I think all sports fans would be able to appreciate. The first has got to be the Bill Simmons article generator. It’s well known that I can’t stand this guy, mainly because he’s cockier than Jim Rome and more annoying than Skip Bayless. He also goes out of his way to discredit and make fun of blogs, though he has one himself. In any event, someone finally took the time to deconstruct his writings. Basically he writes the same thing every time and fills in his crappy mad libs blanks with more updated and trendy references to make it seem fresh. Check it out and have some fun.

11) I’ve actually posted about this website before, but if you haven’t checked it out yet, now’s the time to do it. It’s called FlipFlopFlyin It’s got baseball infographics and a wide variety of other cool stuff. Once you visit you’ll be hooked.

12) This website was just emailed to me by my friend Alexis a couple weeks ago and is quite hilarious (though they could stand to make it just a bit tougher). A great idea though, and you should see if you can beat my 11 out of 12 score. Who Said It: NFL Coach or Dictator?

13) Finally, rounding out part 1 of this list, is a resource that has helped many in a time of need. For whatever reason, we all find ourselves in situations where we are not able to watch the game we need to watch. Maybe you are out of that market or even stuck at work during a playoff game. Well then, you need to bookmark ATDHE.net. They provide streaming, live coverage of many sporting events. (Disclaimer: I don’t know how they do it or any of the legal ramifications of using this service. They have a terms of service page on their site that you may want to look into beforehand, but many people have told me about this site before and that is the information I am passing on.)
That’s it for part one. Look for the second part of our 2009 recap tomorrow, and hopefully you’ll take away some good bookmarks.

Giants Stadium with the construction crew, training with UFC fighter Forrest Griffin, a day with the Indy Car pit crew, then off to Dodgers Stadium as a Bat boy. And don’t forget a stint with the Washington Capitals and some Professional Bull Riding action.

Ultimately, Junior gets a crash course in a number of unique sports jobs and learns the price these athletes pay first hand. Catch Sports Jobs with Junior Seau every Wed. at 10pm, beginning Dec. 2nd.

ESPN certainly has the revenue and reputation to overtake local markets one at a time; Business Week delves deeper into the possibilities in this article , and some interesting points are made.
Of course, these local markets won’t have the big name contributors like Jayson Stark, Peter Gammons, John Clayton, J.A. Adande, and so on and so forth. So they’ll need to breed a new generation of witty, intelligent, good looking sports writers and personalities. In other words, ESPN, I’ll be fielding offers when it comes time for you to overtake local markets on the East Coast.
Would you welcome ESPN’s takeover in your local market or would it be like Walmart and Starbucks ousting all the mom and pop shops in the area?

Secrets
David Wright apparently isn’t a big fan of Wake Forest, as seen by his secretive treatment towards the University’s Demon Deacon in this fantastic SportsCenter commercial.


Guitar Hero: Metallica
Once again, in the spirit of everyone’s favorite March basketball tourney, I felt compelled to include a basketball-related clip. You probably never envisioned Bob Knight, Rick Pitino, Mike Krzyzewski, and Roy Williams in matching button down shirts and boxer shorts jamming out, but the end result is funny nonetheless.

Lance Armstrong Powers ESPN
My brother’s favorite SportsCenter commercial…

Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial with J-Roll
Jimmy Rollins shows that it takes more than mental toughness to make it in the bigs.

Terry Tate, Office Linebacker
Ok, so not so much a commercial, but this was emailed in to me and I had to include it for those out there who are not familiar. Productivity is guaranteed to rise with everyone’s favorite “motivational” office linebacker lurking around the office.

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