TBDS Presents: The Week In Review

Kellie Pickler + "Making It Rain" = Above Photo

It's been a good week here at The Big Dead Sidebar and it culminates with this picture of the beautiful (and ditsy) Kellie Pickler.

Pickler? I hardly know the girl.

Seriously, that joke never gets old.

It will be an action-filled weekend here at TBDS as I will be reporting from the SIU women's basketball game tonight against Saint Louis and the Saluki football game against South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon.

Yeah, there will be blogs. Yes, there will be Twitter updates. Yes, there will likely be sweaters and collard shirts.

That's just how I roll.

In the mean time, check out this week's best of - as chosen by yours truly.

• Kirk Hinrich's injury could benefit Da Bulls [Backcourt Bungled? Thank heavens for Hinrich's injury]
• In defense of Bears QB Rex Grossman [Leave Rex Alone!]
• Hoops expert Jeff is in search of Spurs coach Greg Popovich [Pursuing Popovich]
• The end of the Nick Swisher era [The Final Installment of the Nick Swisher Chronicles]
  
• Saying goodbye to Kerry Wood [Cubs cut ties with Wood, prepare to usher in a new era of suck]
  

Photo Credit: My Chill Pill

TBDS Presents: The Best Week Ever ... In Review

Happy Halloween ladies and gentlemen. Have as much fun as you can this weekend. And of course I suggest that you do it responsibly!

This was another good week in TBDS history as the NBA season got under way. I also was able to go to MVC Media Day in St. Louis. We shot a video from there, but it didn't make the cut. I hope to shoot a video from the SIU/North Dakota game on Saturday with the help of my trusty assistants.

I'm sure you want to see more of these costumes. I don't blame you, so here is where I got this one from.


I'll be blogging from the SIU/New Orleans swim meet tonight at the SIU Rec Center pool. I'll also be Tweeting from there, so you should definitely check out the sidebar because yours truly will be poolside.

And of course I'll be Tweeting from the pressbox of the SIU-UND game as well. And like I said, hopefully we'll have a video, too.

Well, I'm out of weekend updates for ya. Stay safe, America and enjoy the week in review!

• It's. Phinally. Over.
• Jeff predicts the Pacific. [NBA Predictions: Pacific Power]
• The failure known as the Rich Rodriguez Experiment. [What's Up With The Blue & Maize?]
• The Greek God Of Walk-Offs keeps Albert Pujols from sweeping all of the NL hitting awards. [Aramis Ramirez reels in postseason award]
• David Stern is a bad, bad man. [David The Douche]
• And even though it didn't make the site, this column was Tuesday's top read on siuDE.com. One day, I'll have to tell you the story about how I was inspired to write it. [Coaching factory keeps SIU churning - Daily Egyptian]
  

TBDS Presents: The Week In Review

Two good reasons why Scarlett Johansson is going to take you into the weekend: she's beautiful and she's classy. Oh and she's natural. That makes three reasons.

Well I had a good week after recovering from being on my death bed. Anyway, I promised a good week here at The Big Dead Sidebar and I delivered, didn't I?

It was a good week for us at TBDS and it will be capped by a trip to Springfield, Mo., for the SIU football team's matchup against Missouri State.

The Bears are the Salukis' second straight road opponent and after beating Youngstown State 33-0 in Jerry Angelo's back yard, SIU fans are expecting another road-trip winner.

I'd go deeper into this, but you'll get more once I do the next version of the TBDS video blog.

'Til then, here's this week's best of.

• The Tampa Bay Rays saved us from another Boston media suck-off. [The Price Is Right: The Rays are the AL Champs!]
• Part one of what happens to me when the internet pisses me off. [Breaking up a 97-win team, Pt. 1]
• Part two of what happens when the internet pisses me off. [Breaking up a 97-win team, Pt. 2]
• The first video blog in the history of TBDS. [The Big Dead Half Minute]
• Jeff breaks down the NBA Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. [NBA Predictions: Atlantic Panic]
  

TBDS Takes To The Road

Two members of The Big Dead Sidebar are hitting the road to Youngstown, Ohio to cover the SIU-Youngstown State football game.

Too bad we can't take Stacy Keibler with us because if we could we would.

Maybe we'll find our own Ms. Hancock on our 9+ hour journey.

On with the recap of the best week ever.

Matt Stairs hit an important homer to help put the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. I couldn't help that he was once a Chicago Cub. He wasn't a good one, but he replaced one of Chi-town's best - Amazing Grace.

[Just Wondering]

Some love for the Tampa Bay Rays. I was willing to hand them the "D" word. Then last night happened. It's OK though, at least they got farther than the Chicago Cubs.

[Rays of Power]

FEMA has visited Las Vegas in preparation of the return of Hurricane PacMan.

[PacMan Jones is going on vacation]

You can add the Boston Red Sox to the list.

[The Boston Red Sox don't care about black people]

Jeff, the TBDS hoops expert, provides his first NBA Preview.

[Midwest Money]

TBDS Presents: The Week In Review

The end is near (for the week and my favorite baseball team).

But it's OK, I'll survive with the help of the beautiful Yvonne Strahovski of the NBC series 'Chuck.'

Who's Chuck? Who gives a f*ck?

Let's see what was hot this week?

• A White Sox playoff preview in which a Ken Griffey Jr. picture from when he was with the Seattle Mariners was used.
• A first-hand account of the Cubs' Game 1 loss.
• What's Twitter? I learned about it Tuesday afternoon, started contributing Tuesday night.
• Jim Thome follows in the footsteps of first baseman Prince Fielder of the Brewers and Red Sox stars Jonathan Papelbon and David Ortiz.
• Our St. Louis Cardinals expert Stile Smith called the Dodgers upset.
• The Chicago Cubs Playoff Playlist that is coming soon to an iPod near you.
  
• Is Starbury certifiably nuts? Yes.

Stay tuned to TBDS for more updates this weekend including how the Cubs can make history. How the Chicago Bears defense should be nice to Detroit Lions wide out Roy Williams and how the Chicago Bulls need to think outside the box if they want to succeed this season.

Have a good weekend.

And thank you for your continued support of The Big Dead Sidebar.

Daily Dosage: Trojans Busted!

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't make a Trojan joke after last night's upset.

A bad one, that's what kind.

Today's eye candy (by request) is Kelly Clarkson. I'm a fan.

You readers out there are lucky because you're going to get greeted with an extended session of "Dosage."

I hope you're prepared. I know Big Papi is.

Chi-Town Choke Fest Pt. I. A part of me is bothered that manager Lou Piniella continues to send out the Iowa Cubs to play Major League Baseball teams, but it almost worked two nights in a row.

Unfortunately for the Chicago/Iowa Cubs, the real Bobby Howry showed up, Koyie Hill did his best Michael Barrett impression by blowing the tag on Ryan Church and Micah Hoffpauir (despite two home runs) proved not to be Derrek Lee in the bottom of the ninth.

In the end, both Carlos Beltran helped my fantasy team by delivering a game winning single off Kevin Hart (not the comedian) to complete a 7-6 come-from-behind win for the New York Metrosexuals.

Jose Reyes, who scored the winning run, also swiped a bag that inning.

Thanks.

Chi-Town Choke Fest Pt. II. Karma strikes again for a certain Chicago White Sox fan who will go nameless.

A Chicago White Sox fan who texted me after the Iowa Cubs loss must not have been happy with the way his team bit the bullet against the Minnesota Twins, who now sit in first place in the AL Central with three games remaining.

Gavin Floyd (another one of my fantasy studs) was stellar Thursday, but Bobby Jenks (who pitched in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings) gave up the lead and then the game.

The Sox have three games against the Cleveland Indians, including the potential season-finale against Cy Young hopefuly (and another fantasy stud...no wonder I'm winning in championship week) Cliff Lee.

As for the Twinkies, they get three against the Kansas City Royals.

'25 Years Later' comes to a close. This has been a fun week of stories, covering the 25th anniversary of the 1983 National Champion SIU Salukis football team.

The players seem to be genuinely excited about returning to Carbondale.

Apparently, one of my stories has gone missing online. I'll find it, 'til then, check these stories out.

25 Years Later: 1983 team recalls championship season [Daily Egyptian]
25 Years Later: Dempsey, Johnson recall fond memories of SIU [Daily Egyptian]

What 2 Watch 4

• Red Sox vs. Yankees (Fri., Sat. & Sun.) It'll be the last time these two acquaintances meet, unless Bud Selig creates a stipulation that allows the Yanks to participate in postseason play.
• Alabama vs. Georgia (Sat.) If the Bulldogs win, they should regain the No.1 ranking in both polls. If Alabama wins, there will be a celebration at a mother f*cking funeral. If the game isn't played, it's because of a gas shortage. I blame all those rappers with their SUVs!
• Mets vs. Marlins (Fri. Sat. & Sun.) Nobody cares that Shea Stadium is closing its doors, too. Evidence? Where's the ESPN nut hugging of Shea? Don't worry, I'll wait.
  
• Ravens vs. Steelers (Mon.) Bart Scott is apparently going to kill Hines Ward. Even though Ward is one of my fantasy team's best receiving options, Scott is an SIU alum. I side with No. 52. He's a bad ass!

Quality Linkage:

• Absolutely classless stuff at this Seattle Seahawks message board. [Deadspin]
• Engineer: head-first slide is faster. [Eurkalert] Baseball afficianados like me: no it isnt'!
• "Latent racism in baseball" [The Big Lead]
• Welcome to the blogosphere, Lil' Wayne [ESPN] Reeemix baaaaby!!!!!
• Cedric Benson's boating charges are dropped. [Statesman] White women in Texas are happy. I'm not (because they're not with me).
• The best team in the NL is also the funniest. [Funny or Die]
• Big Papi's bed isn't popular. [Red Sox Monster] Jonathan Papelbon would like to disagree.

The Week In Review:

• Cedric Benson over Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs. Sounds like a fireable offense to me. [Chicago Bears 2005: Worst. Draft. Ever]
  
• Adios, Shareef. Hello Western Conference summer recap. [Farewell to King Rahim and Grading the West]
• F*ck those mother f*cking New York Metro-f*cking-sexuals. [Bleep The Mets]

Thank you for supporting The Big Dead Sidebar. We promise to be better next week.

Maybe.

TBDS: Week In Review

Here's a segment I'd like to really put some work into. Something that puts a nice little cap on the week that was. Aided by the photo of a pretty girl, of course, this week in review thing could take the world by storm. This week it's Lacey Chabert of Mean Girls fame.

Here's what we blogged about:

• Torres Roundtree is Captain Obvious.
• Bulls GM John Paxson seems to be getting a free pass.
• Hartwig is "on assignment."
• Jeff Samardzija: More important as a reliever or receiver?

Well, it's tough seeing the lack of stories this week. That's mostly my fault because I blew the Micah Owings, Carlos Quentin and Mark Cuban feature pieces. But don't worry, they're in the can and will be making the rounds next week.

After that, I'm taking a break as I move back to Carbondale. And after that, who knows? I'd like to add more team members. I wanna get big, people.

OK, I'm done for now. Someone's gotta be at 6060 North Western Avenue at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow to deal with your car's problems.

Peace out.