The sports world has been active, from Super Bowl XLV to National Signing Day, and much, much more. This sounds like a job for Throwing Tomatoes!
As the sports world turns, the stories pile up and more sports frustration emerges. Don’t sweat it, The Wife Hates Sports has them all covered – in lycopene, that is.
Throwing Tomatoes: February 7, 2011
Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera may look good here, but she made herself look bad at Super Bowl XLV
There’s one song you don’t mess up, and that’s the National Anthem. It symbolizes the United States of America, and while countless Americans likely don’t know this famous hymn word-for-word, when you’re placed on the biggest stage in sports (a.k.a. the Super Bowl), you simply must get it right.
Christina Aguilera didn’t, and while she arguably has the best pipes of musicians today, she’ll instead be forever remembered as the one that botched the anthem at Super Bowl XLV. If I were the NFL, I wouldn’t invite her back to do it again, either.
Then again, it could have been worse – at least she wasn’t Enrico Pallazzo…
Video: YouTube – clip from “The Naked Gun”, featuring the late Leslie Nielsen
The Cowboys Stadium Ticket Debacle
…for hosing 400 fans, and robbing them of an entertaining Super Bowl experience.
For those that haven’t heard, 400 fans lost their spots at Super Bowl XLV due to “incomplete installation of temporary seats” at Cowboys Stadium.
How does this happen? How long did they know that these seats would be required? It’s embarrassing. I’ve never been a fan of selling seats that don’t exist. I don’t care what arrogance is involved in trying to get an attendance record (cough cough, Jerry Jones).
However, in the end, the NFL (and Dallas Cowboys) should be applauded for the eventual compensation, which included triple the tickets’ value in return, plus tickets to next year’s Super Bowl in Indy. But talk about ruining a trip for a group of fans, some of which could have been die-hard Packers or Steelers fans.
Cyrus Kouandjio
… for “pulling a Brett Favre”
Cyrus Kouandjio – one of the more talented linemen in this year’s college football recruiting class – has made a mockery of National Signing Day. The young man went on national TV, donned an Auburn hat and said he was going to play for the Tigers. Three days later – after not signing his letter of intent – it was announced (on Facebook of all places) that he instead would play for Alabama.
The Brett Favre School of Sports Decision-Making is in full effect, yet again. I don’t care how young he is – you don’t waste people’s time by going on TV. Own up to it and make a decision later, or instead be one of the thousands of kids that signed outside the national spotlight.
Seriously, I’d hate to be behind this kid in a buffet line.
Cleveland Cavaliers
…for creating more karma for Dan Gilbert.
Mo Williams and the Cavaliers – losers of 25 straight – have nothing to smile about these days (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Cleveland Cavaliers recently set the NBA’s single-season record with its 24th consecutive loss. The 25th straight loss occurred Monday night against Dallas. It’s not the kind of record that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wanted to set this year. Perhaps LeBron James would refer to it as “additional karma.”
Either way, it’s just ugly. But it actually could get worse – specifically on Sunday, February 13th, which could be the biggest regular season train wreck in NBA history: The Cleveland Cavaliers – who could be riding a 27-game losing streak by Sunday – would be hosting the Washington Wizards, a team that is – and will still be – 0-25 on the road.
A matchup of Wizards (0-25 on road) at Cavs (with 27-game losing streak) would be a game worthy of all the tomatoes in the Northern Hemisphere.
But damn, would I want to watch!
And finally…
…a quick-strike of red to the following teams…
Orlando Magic – 5-5 over its last 10, and now third place in Southeast division
Utah Jazz – The Jazz have lost 7 of 10, and falling behind in division race
Washington Wizards – The Wizards are 0-25 on the road this season.
Edmonton Oilers – Just one win in its last ten games
Colorado Avalanche – Four straight losses and falling behind in the playoff chase
Ottawa Senators – The Sens’ losing streak has hit nine straight games
This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where the red fruit never waffles.
REV–
So that was it? It was a spam thing as I said?
Maybe they are clearing up space for a guy like Chris Paul or ‘Melo or whoever? I don’t know, I didn’t expect them to be a title contender on day one, just a team that was going to be a painful out midway through the playoffs.
Kev, really.
Fuck the contracts, man. I mean, what team on the verge of competing for a title is worried about cap space the following year. Every team in major league sports would mortgage their future for a title today.
This Orlando team struggles against good, disciplined teams. They’re exposed.
In June, you’ll see.
Hey, sorry for the spam situation. I hereby declare you despammed. No idea how you got in there.
REV–
I see all your points with them, but moving those large contracts had to help. Plus, Lewis and Carter weren’t doing much for that team either. Whether this was a lateral move or not, I don’t think the team got any worse. They were just hoping maybe a chemistry change would do something.
Funny you should mention that.
I blast the Magic in my latest post too, including one pretty telling statistic that’s hard to argue with.
That Magic haven’t beaten a team that’s over. 500 in over a month and that was the Dirk Nowitzki-less Mavericks.
I’m assuming you’re watching a different Magic team than I am because the numbers don’t bear out your position.
REV–
Well, let’s not get too crazy. It didn’t hurt the time… let’s be fair and say with the Heat and Celtics around, they were going to have a hard time anyway. This has just been an average 10-game stretch, but I wouldn’t say worse than the previous group.
I hate to say I told you so about that Orlando Magic deal, but I did, didn’t I?
JW–
Hey buddy… nice line with the Ketchup Bowl. I honestly think the ticket situation was by far the most ridiculous… though there were moments during the week, too… with the weather.
Man, I hope there won’t be a lockout. If it happens, it happens…. would be a damn shame, for the fans of the game, and for the Rough Riders, too.
There were so many tomatoes to be thrown on Sunday, we could’ve renamed it the Ketchup Bowl.
And thanks to the impending lockout, just wait until next season when you’ll be throwing tomatoes at the CFL…damn Saskatchewan Rough Riders!