Vijay Singh Skips The Ball Across The Water, Into Hole

A fan at the practice round of the 2009 Masters had his digital camera recording video while Vijay Singh lined up across a long water hazard. The crowd looks on as Singh skips the ball across the entire pond to the green, where the ball slowly rolls back toward the hole- and in! The fans were impressed enough by Singh’s trick-skipping, but erupt when the ball sinks. Watch this amazing video here, and look very closely:

Chris Paul Talks to ESPN After Hornets Clinch Playoff Berth

Earlier today, I highlighted the Hornets’ OT win Tuesday night against Miami, specifically Rasual Butler’s improbable game-tying 3-pointer. But it was Chris Paul who really had a big game for the Hornets in the playoff-clinching win, scoring 26 and adding 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals. He spoke to ESPN shortly after the game about the win, how motivated the Hornets are after going under the NBA radar for much of the season, and how likely he is to approach John Stockton’s all-time NBA records of 15806 assists and 3265 steals. At 2905 assists and 720 steals, Paul has no small task ahead of him in reaching Stockton. But if anyone in the NBA has the skill set to pull it off, it’s CP3.

(Video courtesy of JalenTV)

Joba Chamberlain Denigrates New York Citizens In DUI Video

It’s unlikely Yankees pitcher and Nebraska native Joba Chamberlain won over many friends in New York with his recent behavior. He’ll have to pitch like a God to avoid being booed by even a small fraction of the Yankee Stadium faithful this season. The video of his DUI arrest from last October has now found its way to the New York Post, which didn’t hesitate to post it to YouTube; where it will certainly generate thousands of views.

In the video, Chamberlain doesn’t even seem too intoxicated, but it seems clear that he’s over the legal limit once he takes his sobriety test. He has an open bottle of Crown Royal on the passenger seat, which he tries to claim was not opened. The man can obviously handle his alcohol, but once you’re over the legal limit it’s hard for police not to notice- especially when you have some of the strongest whiskey possible on your breath. Once the police officer asks him to get back in the car, it’s likely he didn’t get back out until they arrived at the station.

The reason Chamberlain may garner some boos the next time he takes the mound is the way he denigrates the courtesy, or lack thereof, of citizens of New York City. The police officer obviously has rarely- or never- pulled over someone famous before, so he doesn’t hesitate to ask Chamberlain about life as a New York Yankee. And Chamberlain doesn’t hesitate to let him know how he feels about New Yorkers, specifically drivers. He compares them to Nebraska drivers as being devoid of any courtesy when being given the right of way.

As a Massachusetts driver, I can understand lack of courtesy in driving. But Chamberlain needs to realize that comparing the tightly-packed, rush-filled road grid of Manhattan to the mostly endless, straight and deserted roads of Nebraska is like comparing apples to oranges. Now that he said it- and that his words are public- maybe that crash he was talking about will actually happen, on purpose!

Chamberlain also speaks poorly of Yankees legend Yogi Berra, who apparently pestered him in the clubhouse before games. He told Chamberlain his locker was next to the training room because that’s where he should be. He apparently took offense to this, but also seems not to realize that Yogi has a point. He may be a cantankerous old man at this point in his life, but he can spot an overweight pitcher when he sees one. Old-school Yankee fans may disown Chamberlain forever for that one.

Without further ado, here’s the video that is likely to be the next Youtube sensation…At least for this week.

Daily Dunk April 8: Nick Young

The Wizards have some young talent- and, if they land the #1 pick in the draft like they should, will have more on the way- and Nick Young is one of the young forwards that has impressed so far. Here he fakes O.J. Mayo out of his shoes with a pull-up crossover before driving straight to the hoop for the dunk. This may be the Daily Dunk because of how he finished, but Young’s crossover is the true highlight of this play.

Rasual Butler Hits Another Buzzer-Beater

This play made my friend choke on his drink and gasp for air. The Hornets trailed the Miami Heat 79-76 in a decidedly un-exciting game for offense, before Rasual Butler gets the ball for one last Hail Mary. As he chucks this ball in the air almost aimlessly, you can almost tell it’s a perfect shot right out of his hands. He drains the prayer at the buzzer, and the Hornets end up winning 93-87 in overtime behind that play and Chris Paul’s 26 points. It’s plays like these that could see us watching the Hornets play in the NBA Finals come June.

Daily Duel April 8: Raitis Ivanans vs. Zack Stortini

Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Stortini quickly burned up the NHL rankings in fighting majors this season; he now leads the league with 25 and has amassed 176 penalty minutes in just 51 games. Here he gets a real adversary: Raitis Ivanans of Los Angeles. He has 12 fighting majors himself, and is usually not afraid to tangle with anybody; remember his cordial invitation of Georges Laraque? Here, though, Ivanans falls victim to Stortini as he takes a solid punch to the chin and soon after falls to the ice. Stortini is quickly making a name for himself in the NHL as a fighter, and doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon.

Baseball Tonight Web Gems for April 7

A mixed bag of plays highlighted BBTN’s Web Gems for Tuesday night. The top play was also the correct selection, as Yuniesky Betancourt makes a full extension up the middle to rob a potential gap double. Corey Hart also makes a very nice sliding catch on a ball that looked destined to drop in for a bloop single.

Other highlights: Orlando Hudson goes over his shoulder to make a foul catch; Raul Ibanez handles a base hit and guns down the runner at home plate; Carlos Pena makes a great diving catch on a line-drive foul.

more about “Baseball Tonight Web Gems for April 7“, posted with vodpod

Blake Griffin Declares for NBA Draft

It was an inevitable announcement, as the nation watched Blake Griffin play like a giant amongst dwarfs in his sophomore year at Oklahoma. Griffin shot .654 from the field in 2008-09, averaging 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for a Sooners team that almost rode him to the Final Four. Now, he projects as the #1 pick in this June’s NBA Draft. Griffin is a prototypical power forward, although he has the size to play center if need be. He will eventually put up similar numbers that he did in Oklahoma for whatever NBA team lands the #1 overall pick in this year’s draft lottery. He’s a monster in the paint, a relentless rebounder, and tireless worker. He is simply head and shoulders above the rest of the 2009 draft class.

Griffin was a unanimous selection for the Associated Press All-American Team, and took home the 2009 Naismith Award for the Nation’s outstanding college basketball player. Stephen A. Smith recently talked to several experts who predict Griffin to be a superstar in the NBA. Most seem to believe this kid is a blue-chipper, and considering his scoring and rebounding ability combined with his size and athleticism, it’s almost impossible to disagree. Obviously any team could use him in their lineup, but out of the teams with the best chances to get the #1 pick- that is, the bottom five teams in the NBA standings- Sacramento and Oklahoma City look like the best places for Griffin, as those teams lack an impact presence at power forward and/or center. The Washington Wizards, however, have the best odds of landing him. A big 4 of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Butler could make them an instant contender.

Here are some highlights from his press conference:

(more about “Blake Griffin Declares for NBA Draft“, posted with vodpod)

Others have declared their eligibility for the NBA Draft, including Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair, Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks, and Arizona’s Chase Budinger. Those three also project as first-round picks. But make no mistake about it: Griffin leads the pack by a country mile.

To see what everyone is talking about, check out the below video for some highlights from Griffin’s time as a Sooner.