The Bengals seem to be a team that plays to their competitionThe NFL is littered with former UCF players What could be coaxed would be a compromiseMI now owns more than twothirds of Anima SGR ANMGratuitous points equal pointed gratitudeC started 13 games in 1986 then 12 in 1987The MulletA very curious statement MulletFor South Africa in 2010 see Chelsea in 1986That's nine catches for 117 yards 13 average and two scoresO has agreed buy thinkorswim Group Inc SWIMWith the threat of a running game, Jay Cutler is far more effective regardless of receivers.However, it's going to be difficult to sign free agent offensive linemen since they can also be protected.A labor agreement is the only way talent is going to be in the unrestricted free agent market this year.Bears followers have to hope there is some sort of contract agreement reached. I'm not saying I don't make the occasional spelling error here and there but GOD DAMN, if you're going to be hosting the Governor who also happens to be a hall of famer for your company, maybe run a spell check on the intro graphic.I've actually been pretty down on WWE lately as it seems everything they do is fail. They're not getting the audience reaction they want, the product seems stale and the momentum they seemed to have gained between February and June has all but dissipated into cliches, redundancies and audience confusion.No more is this obviously apparent than in the Diva's division. I've actually gotten into the habit of fast forwarding through any Diva's match on my DVR (which it sometimes seems the live audience at these events wishes they could do) and have felt much better because of it. Much like a child that refuses to get a flu shot and then doesn't get sick, I've learned to avoid pain in search of greater pleasure.It is with great remorse that I now admit I did watch the Diva's traditional Survivor Series match last Sunday as well as the Pilgrims versus Indians match this past Monday. No bathroom breaks, no beer runs, no surfing the internet for dear God anything to take my mind off what is happening on the television - I went at these matches like a cleaver to a turkey neck.I am in a great amount of pain this Tuesday night. I guess I don't understand the point of the Diva's division. I mean, are they just there to give thirteen year olds boners Because if they are then they really have to do away with that "smart, sexy, powerful" bullshit. Just call it what it is: "Implants, emaciated lingerie models and the prayer of a nipple slip."As a fan of the Knockouts division in TNA this is just embarrassing. In fact, I'm convinced the Diva's division has set back the women's movement by generations. I just see little girls at home, faces pressed eagerly against the TV, hoping and praying that one day they too can compete in front of thousands of fans and fuck up a sunset flip or dress like a slutty Christmas elf.It's almost impossible to watch a Knockouts match and then immediately watch a Diva's match and call them both the same thing - wrestling. They are so fundamentally different that one has to go. Here is what I propose.1) Draft Beth Phoenix and Mickie James over to TNA where they will get some fucking respect.2) If the WWE is so adamant about keeping the Divas, use them as the models they really are. Instead of having DX hawk their book and calling it a "promo" stick it between some Divas, film them kissing and then get back to the show.This simple solution will allow me to avoid sitting through the needlessly shameful plugging of merchandise I will never buy as well as the egregiously awful Diva's matches.Actually now that I think about it if they actually did do that I might be the proud owner of whatever piece of merch was nestled between the two snuggling pairs of surgically superior specimens.In closing, Pilgrims versus Indians Quotith the Miz: REALLY The only redeeming thing about that entire segment was hearing Tatanka's music. It reminded me of a time when wrestling could be silly and ridiculous and I actually enjoyed it. When Layla and Michelle McStyles left their partner in the ring and just walked out hands raised above in disgust I felt like doing the same thing.. The No 16 ranked Minnesota Gophers play the No. 10 ranked Butler Bulldogs in their first round game of the 76 Classic Tournament in Anaheim, California on Thanksgiving. The clash with Butler represents the first real test for Minnesota this season and will provide insight into whether the Gophers have the talent to contend for the Big Ten title.Minnesota has won its first three games of the season over Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin, and Utah Valley without much fanfare. Minnesota was able to win each game by more than 25 points.While the margin of victory has been substantial, the most impressive aspect of the Gopher victories has been the willingness of the team to eagerly embrace the tenets of Tubby ball - suffocating defense and balanced scoring. Every eligible player on the team is averaging at least 10 minutes of playing time a game. Eight Gophers are averaging at least five points a game and several different players have shared the honor of being the teams leading scorer on the night.Freshman Rodney Williams has played well demonstrating his athletic versatility by making rim-rattling dunks as well as hitting long jumpers. Junior Al Nolen has done a good job running the team at the point guard position and the team has a respectable 1.9 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.Minnesota will need its suffocating defense and balanced scoring if the team is to beat Butler on its way to the 76 Classic Championship.The Bulldogs are not as deep as the Gophers but they appear to be worthy of their early season ranking.Butler has a very credible inside-outside combination in Sophomores Shelvin Mack (13.0, 3, 5) and Gordon Hayward (15.3, 8, 2).Mack and Hayward were members of the United States U-19 National Team that went 9-0 at the FIBA U-19 World Championship in New Zealand in July of this year. Hayward was named to the All-Star Tournament Team and Mack was instrumental in running the team as the point guard.In the rugged and point guard rich Big Ten, the matchup with Butler will be a very good test for Minnesota.The winner of the Minnesota/Butler game advances to play the winner of the UCLA/Portland game in the championship bracket. The loser plays the loser of the UCLA/Portland game in the consolation bracket.Minnesota should be the favorite in the second round game regardless of its opponent. The second game however will not be the proverbial walk in the park.UCLA rebounded nicely with two wins and a 20 point victory over Pepperdine after losing to Cal State Fullerton in double overtime in their season opener. The Portland Pilots have a 3-0 record and an 88-81 upset over Oregon. If Minnesota wins its second round game, the Gophers will likely play their second Top No. 19 Clemson. Similar to Butler, either opponent will provide an excellent test for Minnesota as both teams are comparable to the upper echelon teams in the Big Ten.Minnesota is a good team that has won its first three games in convincing fashion. Everyone on the team has had a chance to gain experience. However, none of the teams Minnesota has faced this season has talent comparable to the teams that the Gophers will face in the Big Ten.The Big Ten is loaded this year with six teams in the top 25 and possibly eight teams worthy of an NCAA bid. Minnesota will not have any weekends off once the Big Ten season starts.As November comes to a close it is time for the Gophers to find out how good they really are by playing against some of the best teams in the country. After the 76 Classic, we will know if the Gophers are prepared to challenge for the Big Ten title. Minnesota can make a statement that they are prepared to contend for the Big Ten title by winning the 76 Classic. . 
Pre-Show Events Including Ballmer Keynote and Major Product Launches BuildExcitement on Eve of 2009 CESLAS VEGAS(Business Wire)A first time keynote address from Microsofts Steve Ballmer and cutting-edgeproduct launches fueled momentum on the eve of the 2009 International CES.Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2009 InternationalCES, the worlds largest tradeshow for consumer technology, opened today in LasVegas and runs through Sunday, January 11. "The pre-CES events created an incredible buzz throughout Las Vegas and aroundthe globe as the world waits in anticipation for the innovative products thatwill launch this week from the International CES," said Gary Shapiro, presidentand CEO, CEA. "With 2,700 exhibitors, including 300 new technology companies,spanning 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space, the products introducedat this years CES will change the shape of our industry and energize the globaleconomy." During a market research presentation on Tuesday afternoon, CEA released theGlobal CE Sales and Forecast. According to new data from CEA and the Gfk Group,CEA projected worldwide revenue for consumer electronics will grow more thanfour percent to reach $724 billion in 2009. The event hosted a record number of more than900 media, which was a 10 percent increase over the 2008 event.
With 56exhibitors, including AMD, Boxee, Lenovo and Phoenix Technologies, CES Unveiledshowcased the latest products and technologies in home networking, text to signlanguage technologies, innovative gaming keyboards, embedded technologies,digital imaging and more. CES exhibitors making product announcementsincluded LG, which announced a wireless wristwatch phone with video chat andtext messaging capabilities; NETGEAR, which introduced an Internet TV player anda 3G Mobile Broadband router and Panasonic, which unveiled the worlds thinnestPlasma TV, measuring one third of an inch thick, with NeoPDP technology makingthe product very energy efficient. Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation, delivered his first CES keynoteaddress on Wednesday evening. Ballmer discussed the economy and noted that thechallenges we face today should be viewed with optimism. "No matter what happenswith the economy, our digital lives will only get richer," he said.
