SPORTSHYPE: Longhorns fan nearly castrated

As Paulie Walnuts might say, "Oooohhhh!!!"

From SI.com:

To some Oklahoma football fans, there are things that just aren't done in the heart of Sooner Nation, and one of them is to walk into a bar wearing a Texas Longhorns T-shirt.

That's exactly what touched off a bloody skirmish that left a Texas-shirt-wearing fan nearly castrated and an Oklahoma fan facing aggravated assault charges that could put him in prison for up to five years.

The shocking case has set off a raging debate in this football-crazed region about the extreme passions behind a bitter rivalry. Some legal observers have even questioned whether this case could ever truly have an impartial jury.

"I've actually heard callers on talk radio say that this guy deserved what he got for wearing a Texas T-shirt into a bar in the middle of Sooner country," said Irven Box, an attorney in this city 20 miles from Oklahoma's campus in Norman.

According to police, 32-year-old Texas fan Brian Christopher Thomas walked into Henry Hudson's Pub on June 17 wearing a Longhorns T-shirt and quickly became the focus of football "trash talk" from another regular, 53-year-old Oklahoma fan Allen Michael Beckett.

Thomas told police that when he decided to leave and went to the bar to pay his tab, Beckett grabbed him in the crotch, pulled him to the ground and wouldn't let go, even as bar patrons tried to break it up. When the two men were separated, Thomas looked down and realized the extent of his injuries.

"He could see both of his testicles hanging on the outside of his body," said Thomas' attorney, Carl Hughes. "He was wearing a pair of white shorts, which made it that much worse."

It took more than 60 stitches to close the wound, and police interviewed Thomas at a nearby hospital emergency room.

Read more at SI.com

SPORTSHYPE: The Running Back

He led the NFC in rushing last season and, after sitting out the preseason with a broken hand, 49ers running back Frank Gore is rested, refreshed, and ready to wreak havoc on opposing defenses this year.
NFL football has a number of exciting features, from the "vertical game" of the long pass to the unleashed savagery of the dominant defense, but there is nothing more exciting, more elementally fascinating, than the great running back who, long after his blockers have fallen to the wayside, continues his rampage with nothing more than speed, strength, and instinct. If he can avoid injury, Gore could join the ranks of the great runners. If you doubt, check this out:


Frank Gore tribute at Youtube

The true greats:

Walter Payton


Barry Sanders


Jim Brown (c'mon, post some video of this absolute monster to YouTube)

Hmmm.... after watching those guys, this kid's got a ways to go... but I'm rooting for him. Go Frank! Go Niners!

SPORTSHYPE: The Linebackers

(Above: Willis, Lawson, and Banta-Cain)
It's late and the rum is flowing, so this is the time to predict good things for the Niners. Starting with a serious linebacking corps, the heart of a serious defense, which as we all know, wins championships. Y'all remember the last great Niners defense -- led by some guy named Lott... When they absolutely had to have a stop, you could count on it. Everybody talked about Golden Joe and Jerry Rice and them pretty boys on offense, but when it came down to it, it was the D that made the Niners the team of the 1980s. We can only hope that these new lads can understand the simple poetry in the words: "It's our ball! Take it back!"


Patrick Willis: All-American

ANIMALHYPE: Loose in Atlanta

Today Michael Vick plead guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. Michael Vick was the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons football team. He was accused of horrific cruelty to the dogs who did not "make the cut". In my opinion, he is one of the many young, rich, Americans that feel "entitled" and seem to not be held accountable for their abhorrent behavior. Michael Vick described himself as "immature"...how about vile, cruel and evil? How about feeling so insignificant as a human being that you felt that you needed to prove your strength and prowess by using dogs ripping each other to shreds to demonstrate your power? How about really examining the real reason behind becoming involved in the barbaric "sport" of dogfighting? Instead, we hear that Michael Vick has found Jesus. Convenient. Instead of taking the opportunity to discuss how the young, black men of America have been made to feel so powerless and insignificant that the only way they can develop any self esteem, so vital for survival, is by violence and overpowering others?

Nah, finding Jesus means that all is forgiven and one should not be held accountable. After all, the devil made me do it....

And then this: Orangutan on the loose!....seems that there are wild animals loose in Atlanta.