Save the Date: The Sports Bank’s 1,000,000 Page Views Party!

ship a mil

Like that legendary American literary figure Shawn Carter (we know him better as Jay-Z) once said, “Ya’ll sh** ain’t for real to y’all ship a mil.”  And it won’t be long until The Sports Bank.net reaches the one million page views milestone.

Not bad for something I started up from scratch as a hobby in late February 2008. But to quote Jay-Z “save all your accolades just the dough, my game is wide all names aside.”

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on September 10th, 2010

Tune into ChicagoSportsRadio.com Tonight

Tune in to the “Triple Threat Show” on Chicagoland Sports Radio.com tonight from 7-10. I’ll be on at 7:30 doing my weekly college sports segment.

I made my debut last week discussing Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Michigan and more. I’ll be appearing every week from now on as the show’s official college sports reporter.

And they’ll be giving away free White Sox tickets tonight!

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 31st, 2010

Need to find a Good Online Casino? This site’s got you covered

NFL and college football season will soon be upon us! And you know what that means, time to start thinking about placing some bets, and most importantly where you’ll be doing your gambling this fall. But which online casino is right for you? Given that the internet provides so many options to choose from, you’ll need a guide to show you the way. Online Casino Reports is here to help.

Online Casino Reports is an online gambling guide and news magazine. It’s a site with many outstanding features and services, including gaming news, videos (always hosted by a very lovely British woman with a sexy accent), gaming guides, gambling forums, articles on gambling topics, games to play online and of course gaming tips.

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 30th, 2010

Shout out to our Readers in Canada, Costa Rica, Phillippines

TRISH-STRATUS

While the “U.S. and A,” as Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiev would say, provides over 2/3 of our readership here at The Sports Bank. This, according to web information company Alexa. There are three additional countries in which TSB ranks at or near the top 100,000. To be in the top 100,000 is a great goal because Alexa ranks EVERY site, up to like 60,000,000 or so. Therefore to be just outside the top 100,000 in the U.S. is pretty good.

But there are three nations where we rank even higher than domestically. We break it down after the jump

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 23rd, 2010

What’s next for the Retiring Jennie Finch? Ownership? ESPN Show?

jennie-finch

If I had to guess where Jennie Finch’s career is heading next, I would say “television;” possibly her own show on one of ESPN’s networks.

“I visited ESPN last week and went through the car wash there of maybe figuring out what role would work. So it’s kind of an open door and I’m looking at my options,” Finch told me during our exclusive conversation Friday night.

The “car wash” is when an individual comes to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol and gets “the works.” They make television, radio appearances, do a chat on ESPN.com, podcasts etc. It’s mass media multitasking at it’s finest. And Finch is as media savvy as anyone.

By Paul M. Banks

For part one of this interview go here

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 22nd, 2010

Jennie Finch’s Final Home stand: and her Legacy in Softball

jennie_finch_retirement

When one speaks with softball superstar and sports media megabrand Jennie Finch, the self-assurance of her retirement decision is evident.

She’s the anti-Brett Favre; and the antithesis of Roger Clemens. There’s almost no chance she would change her mind and comeback, but even if she did, there wouldn’t be a press conference each pre-season. Her Chicago Bandits teammates would not be forced to fly to her Arizona home to beg and plead for her to return.

Jennie Finch is more than an icon of her respective sport, she’s an icon with stability. It’s rare today, as we see athletic icons dropping like flies: Clemens, the steroid era sluggers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Lance Armstrong will be next, once the investigation of his doping allegations concludes.

Other sports role models, such as Favre and LeBron James have committed no crimes, but through their selfish actions, and attention-whoring sideshows, have damaged their public images beyond repair.

Finch, however, leaves her game with a perfect personal reputation.

“I love what I do and thanks to the women before me I had an incredible opportunity,” Finch said during my exclusive with her on Friday night.

“I just hope to continue to provide more opportunity for the future of our sport, because through this game I’ve been able to do things that I haven’t even dreamed of doing,” she continued.

By Paul M. Banks

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2 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 22nd, 2010

Let’s care about Swimming again like we did in ‘08

swimming

A moron left an idiotic comment on my Washington Times.com exclusive with Washington Wizards/Capitals owner Ted Leonsis yesterday. And within that comment is an inaccurate phrase that reminded me of what’s become of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps’ star power these days.

This buffoon brought up “Michael Phelps’ crack-smoking episode.” It was marijuana, not crack, get it right! But it makes me realize how low Phelps’ Q Rating must currently be. People have actually forgotten which illegal narcotic he was busted for using! It can’t be. Michael Phelps and the Beijing water cube was ALL that people talked about this very month, just two years ago.

I remember that popularity spike in lap-swimming, the “Beijing Bump.” It didn’t last, and now it’s a sport no one cares about other than me. Well, here’s one other person who does. To be truthful, Phelps wasn’t the best spokesperson for my favorite sport. I got to attend one of his press conferences for Chicago 2016; and it was BORING.

The Soviet Union, or even worse the Chicago Bears, would be proud of the way Phelps’ handlers and the IOC controlled the message that September 2008 day. And Phelps’ Saturday Night Live hosting gig was to making you laugh what Tara Reid is to being sober.

By Paul M. Banks

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3 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on August 13th, 2010

Hello Cedar Rapids, Iowa! Thank you for your support!

iowa

“Is this Heaven Ray, no it’s Iowa.” You probably know that famous line from the classic Kevin Costner Baseball movie “Field of Dreams.” And if there’s one thing Kevin Costner does well, it’s baseball movies. The line also serves as the perfect marketing slogan for the state of Iowa, a place where Alexa.com tells me, The Sports Bank is HUGE!

Cedar Rapids, Iowa to be exact. And to think we don’t even have a Cedar Rapids Kernels (single A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels) beat writer…yet.

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1 Comment »Filed under: Iowa, The BankPosted on July 25th, 2010

The Sports Bank Fantasy Draft: Movie Athletes

Rocky Balboa ended the Cold War

When telling people about this segment on TSB the one question I always get asked is “who wins?” The short answer: everyone. The long answer: EVVVVVEEERRRRRRYYYONNNNNNNNE.

The TSB Fantasy Draft presents its third installment in a category that is maybe it’s most suitable to date (though a draft of beers was a pretty darn good idea seeing as how another one popped up this past week). A draft of athletes from the film realm was our task, with a few limitations.

Our picks were to be of fictitious athletes only. No representations of real athletes (however we made an exception for athletes based on a true story when the names were different than the actual people) were allowed. Also, at least one female and one coach had to be among the six picks we all made.

Joining the soirée for this round were Mr. Banks (PMB), David Kay (DK), Paul Schmidt (PS), Justin Mertes-Mistretta (JMM) and, of course, myself (PC)

by Peter Christian

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3 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 24th, 2010

Approximately Just 8 weeks of Shirtless Driving Season Remain

SHIRTLESS-DRIVING

On an extremely hot, humid and sunny mid June day, I was sitting in the visiting clubhouse at Wrigley Field. The Oakland Athletics were the Cubs’ opponent that day, and after speaking with A’s Manager Bob Geren, I was patiently waiting to talk with any Athletics with time to kill before the 7:05 first pitch.

And then it happened.

The highlight of the summer.

Former Milwaukee Brewers ace and current A’s hurler Ben Sheets strolled out of the clubhouse and yelled “Sun’s out! GUNS OUT” as he rolled up his shirt-sleeves. I was told by other reporters that behavior such as this is commonplace for Sheets. And “Sun’s out, Guns out,” is nothing more than a gateway drug to shirtless driving season.

Yes, “Shirtless Driving Season” THE #1 activity of white trash. The most favorite season of all for disgusting redneck crackers everywhere. It’s currently in full swing.

By Paul M. Banks

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1 Comment »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 23rd, 2010

Vying Veterans: How two Bandits have survived five years in the NPF

jennie_finch

When Chicago Bandits’ center fielder Emily Friedman suited up to play in the National Pro Fastpitch she thought that after one year she’d had her fun and was done. “Just after my first year I was like, ‘oh that was a great experience,’ but I wasn’t planning on coming back,” said Friedman. Four years down the road and the five year veteran, “wants to play as long as [she] possibly can.”

Only a handful exist in the league. Those who are so dedicated to the sport of softball that they have kept throwing strikes, stealing bases and hitting home runs in the NPF for five years or more. With meager pay and a strenuous season that includes long stints on the road and consecutive five game series, it seems like quite a feat for an NPF athlete to keep coming back year after year. Of the 75 athletes that currently play in the league only 15 of them have been in the NPF for five or more years (that’s only 1/5th of the league). And yet, something is bringing these committed athletes back for more softball action every year.

Written by Grace Weitz

Photo of Emily Friedman by Dina Kwit

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1 Comment »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 15th, 2010

Jennie Finch throws Perfect Game

jennie-finch-softball

Chicago Bandits pitcher and icon of professional softball Jennie Finch threw a perfect game last night. She also drove in the game winning RBI in the fifth inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly. It scored Vicky Galindo for the first run in a game that yielded a final score of 2-0.

Finch notched eleven strikeouts on the night including all three Akron Racers batters in the sixth, but (as in all perfect games) had the backup of her team mates, “Our defense, especially (Ashley) Holcombe came up huge. She caught so many fouled third strikes,” said Finch.

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1 Comment »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 10th, 2010

The Sports Bank Fantasy Draft: Beers

Round two of The Sports Bank Fantasy Draft is upon us and after the Holiday festivities last weekend, we at TSB thought that it would be appropriate to conduct a fantasy draft of the most widely consumed beverage on the 4th of July: Beer. Joining in on the party this week are our Sports Bank contributors Paul Schmidt and Bryan Vickroy.

By Peter Christian

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4 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 9th, 2010

Jennie Finch returns to Chicago

jennie_finch_bikini

Chicago Bandits GM Aaron M. Moore announced today that Olympic softball pitcher Jennie Finch will be in uniform for the Bandits on Thursday, July 8 in Elgin, Ill. and Friday, July 9 in Joliet, Ill.

Fresh from a stint with the Women’s National Team, in which Team USA destroyed the international competition en route to a 2010 ISF Women’s World Championship, Finch will join fellow National Team members Eileen Canney, Ashley Holcombe and Vicky Galindo on the Bandits roster.

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4 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on July 6th, 2010

Coors Light Ad destroying next 100 hundred years of gender relations

coors ad

We all know that beer commercials are sexist. We all know that -in addition to their typical misogyny- they portray men as having an intelligence level on par with the semi-retarded. But then Coors Light came along and told us that we are all so stupid that we require a sensor telling us when beer is adequately cold. “Hey, the mountains are blue!”

Well thank heaven their scientists gave us this groundbreaking technological advance, because simply holding a beer to figure out its temperature was just too much f***ing trouble.

But Coors has outdone itself again, and this time they slam both genders. Watch the spot after the jump.

By Paul M. Banks

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4 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 26th, 2010

5 most ANNOYING Stadium Sounds

useless-enthusiasm

Currently water cooler conversation often covers vuvuzuelas, the annoying sound track to this World Cup. But we have plenty worse here at home; and we’ve had these sound effects all our lives. Remember in high school, when your cheerleaders would keep doing their routines and chants despite your school being down by 40 points with three minutes to go? Well, the professional leagues have their own IRRITATING chants, sayings, and other assorted gibberish.

Except these are a million times more IRRITATING!!!!! Because they’re even more OVERPLAYED than the nonsensical jabbering of cheerleaders. Most of these sounds originate from oldies that are anything but goodie. The PA systems at NBA and Major League venues use of dozens of  these, and pretty much all of them are awful. (The lone exception- the Chicago White Sox using “Let’s do it” from Tone Loc “Wild Thing”) The list ahead contains items that will make you want to stab your ears in with a scissors.

The playing of Black-eyed-peas’ “I got a feeling” is so awful by itself it has it’s own upcoming post.

By Paul M. Banks

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9 Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 22nd, 2010

Write for The Sports Bank

tom-izzo

Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said at last year’s media day, “the hallmark of a great program is when it recruits onto itself.” And that’s what we’re starting to see here at The Sports Bank.net. New writers are finding me, some worthy of giving a letter of intent to, some are not signable talent. But nevertheless, it’s starting. And we’d like to welcome more into the fold.

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 21st, 2010

2010 TSB State of the Summit

With fitting fashion presence, The Sportsbank.net Founder Paul M. Banks stood before his writing colleagues in a Bill Belichek sweatshirt to deliver an annual declaration of spirit, progress and sports genius.

Mr. Banks lead his team in a discussion that brainstormed audience/reader-pleasing ideas for the future.  Would you like to see more coverage of your favorite teams including Notre Dame, Iowa and Nebraska? Are your ears missing TSB’s beloved audio podcasts, The Deposits? Get ready.  TSB is working hard to bring you so much sports coverage that every morning feels like Christmas!

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 19th, 2010

2010 TSBS2 Summit is In Session

According to Merriam-Webster, the word ‘Summit’ can be defined as: 1: TOP or APEX, the highest point; 2: the top-most level attainable; 3: diplomatic level of heads of government; 4: a conference of highest-level officials (as heads of government).

At approximately 7 p.m. CST Friday, June 18, 2010, a conference comprised of the highest-level sports aficionados in the Midwest, who just all happen to write for the same Website, converged upon the Windy City. It is today that history is made.

By Melissa S. Wollering

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No Comments »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 19th, 2010

TSBS2: Second Annual Sportsbank Summit Countdown

Imagine gathering all of your favorite The Sportsbank.net writers into one place for an entire weekend of sports talk, flip cam videos and festive celebration. Sound as dreamy as Erin Andrews in a bikini on your lawn chair?  Well, we can’t bring you that but we CAN cordially invite you to follow us online as we converge for the Second Annual TSB Summit!

TSBS2 is aptly named to bring you The Sports Without the BS. Look for TSB Summit Updates all weekend, with coverage of this monumental event taking place June 18-20. Get an in-depth report from President and TSB Founder Paul M. Banks and what’s sure to be an emotional and heartwarming reunion among contributors from opposite ends of I-94. 

By: Melissa S. Wollering

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1 Comment »Filed under: The BankPosted on June 18th, 2010

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