The Sports Bank.Net

Charissa Thompson replacing Michelle Beadle on ESPN SportsNation?

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:53:11 +0000

It looks like the boys in Bristol have their new A1 female star in the works, the new Erin Andrews if you will. Charissa Thompson formerly of Big Ten Network, Versus and Fox Sports NFL broadcasts left all that behind to sign a deal with ESPN almost a year ago. Now she’s about to become one of the faces of the network, as Michelle Beadle departs

From Deadspin:

Now that the clock is ticking on Michelle Beadle’s ESPN career—she’s there for just another two weeks, according to Those Guys Have All the Fun author Jim Miller—who’s set to replace her as the tolerable half of SportsNation? ESPN sources tell us that Charissa Thompson, a frequent guest host on the show, will take her spot. Thompson’s ascent at the network has been impressive: 11 months after getting hired, the 30-year-old is poised to co-host a show.

For our Charissa photo gallery here go here

Probably time to end the process of asking the question, “who is the next Erin Andrews?” Pretty soon it’ll be “who is the next Charissa Thompson?”

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, MSN and Fox Sports

A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.

Fox Sports Mexico’s Jimena Sanchez (photos)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:30 +0000

Meet Jimena Sanchez, here’s her Twitter profile with 271,000+ RECORD . Fox Sports Mexico. Business Woman and Mad Mamacita. Facebook profile

Jessica Alba over photoshopped, ridiculously retouched photos (video)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:48:18 +0000

Jessica Alba is the latest victim of over-enthused retouching, on the June 2012 cover of Marie Claire. h/t Huffington Post

Click over to Marie Claire to read more of Jessica’s interview.

Watch the video of her cover shoot after the jump.

NY Giants Eli Manning on Tim Tebow, SNL, Peyton (CNN Video)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:29:00 +0000

New York Giants‘ quarterback and 2012 Super Bowl champion Eli Manning visited CNN’s Starting Point to talk Peyton, Super Bowl ring, Saturday Night Live performance, off-field pranks, taking a month off and his work with nonprofit Build Our Kids Success before-school program.

Manning says, “You know, it’s one of those deals in New York. You win a Super Bowl, but I’m the third most talked about quarterback right now between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and I. That’s the way I like it.”

BALDWIN: And now Tim Tebow here in New York. Have you had coffee with Tim Tebow?

MANNING: No, I haven’t seen Tim since he has been in town. You know, it’s one of those deals in New York. You win a Super Bowl, but I’m the third most talked about quarterback right now between Mark and Tim and I. That’s the way I like it.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Speaking of backup quarterbacks, I didn’t know this but you are supposedly the godfather of pranks. I hear these stories about you reprogramming the phone into Japanese. What’s your best one? What’s your claim to fame?

MANNING: You know, it’s hard to say. You know, I don’t really like — our rookies just got in this week. I don’t want to give it away.

VIDEO LINK*

Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien airs weekday mornings from 7-9am ET on CNN.

WFAN’s Mike Francesa anti-Twitter rant: epitome of ignorance (video)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:19:50 +0000

After his angry old man “hey get off my media industry lawn” type rant against Twitter yesterday, WFAN’s Mike Francesa is deemed out of touch, behind the times by most people today. I’d say he’s 16 days AHEAD of his time. Doesn’t he know June, not May is “old line sports media vs. new sports media steel cage death match month?”

In June ’08 came the infamous Buzz Bissinger curmudgeonis extremis rant against Deadspin founder Will Leitch on HBO. June ’09 brought Raul Ibanez and a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist ganging up on Midwest Sports Fans Jerod Morris on ESPN “Outside the Lines.” June 2010 switched things up a bit as sports blogs became big enough to have civil war at Blogs with Balls 3, held at Wrigley Field’s Capt. Morgan Club. That conflict had With Leather and The Big Lead on one side versus everyone who cares about getting sued on the other. (video not available, you had to be there)

June 2011 was an era of good feeling and peace. So in 2012, what blogger/tweeter takes on Francesa? I have some choice words for him, as does Awful Announcing:

Tweeting by athletes and media types should be against the law? Francesa sounds a lot like Tim McCarver, who called social networking the most disturbing thing in the world earlier this year. My guess is Mike was trying to make a joke along the lines of Timmy and his comedic delivery failed him. At least I hope that’s the explanation for saying any media member or athlete who tweets should be arrested. Francesa also says you’ll never catch him Tweeting (shocked he actually used the correct verbage there).

Yes, Francesa actually believes tweeting should be against the law??!! Watch the video below, and then scroll down to my debate points showing how/why the New York sports talk radio host IS AN IDIOT!

“the mystery in sport, a time and place where athletes share their thoughts”

Well, it certainly doesn’t happen in his medium, sports talk radio. So it’s okay for Francesa to incessantly opine and blather, but other people doing it is wrong? There’s plenty of time for athletes to voice their opinions- it’s called pre and post-game availability, it’s just they choose not to. Instead we get cliched crapola like “I’m just working hard, every day trying to get better,” and “I’m just one guy, it’s a team sport.” Nothing thoughtful or mysterious to 90% of what athletes say I’ll agree on that. I disagree that the opportunity is not there.

“who wants to hear what people are having for dinner, some of this stuff is so mundane…it’s mostly nonsense”

Well genius, that’s what the UNFOLLOW button is for. If you tell me about what you’re grilling out for dinner- unfollowed. What you’re buying at Starbucks for your bus ride- unfollowed. How many miles you ran today- unfollowed. This isn’t difficult, Mr. Mike’d up.

“eventually, this will cut out the middle man, by that I mean reporters and broadcasters.”

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. He’s dead wrong on this one. Club Media Relations and University Sports Information Departments will never allow this. They have too much money and power to let their “brand” deteriorate. They are obsessed with controlling their team’s brand, and the people who work for the team (the broadcasters) are part of propagating/exploiting the message. Also, these departments have limitations on their money and power that they can’t do it all alone, they NEED reporters to show up for their scripted charity appearance photo-ops in order to help spread their message.

This is one of Twitter’s biggest strengths, not weaknesses. Via tweets, athletes sometimes say something of substance, unlike in interviews. (See Bears RB Matt Forte)

“People are treating it like it’s a legitimate news source. who substantiates it before it goes out there.”

That’s because it’s where news often breaks first today, MORON! Where else can you get a brief message out instantly. (See Derrick Rose injury)

Miami Heat dancer becomes sideline reporter: Kristina Akra (photos)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:09:20 +0000

Kristina Akra is currently the sideline reporter for SEC college football on Fox Sports South. While covering SEC football, Kristina is also the social media host for FS South’s college football preview show “SEC Gridiron Live.”

From her bio page on the official site:

Kristina began her career as a reporter for the University of Florida affiliated production company, GatorVision, conducting weekly reports and interviews for “GatorZone,” a show featuring Florida Gator athletics on SunSports. With a BS in news broadcasting from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, Kristina has a background in news as a reporter, anchor, and weather anchor for WUFT News 5, Gainesville’s PBS affiliate.

A trained dancer, with over 20 years of experience in competing, choreographing and teaching, Kristina continued her craft as a student at UF as a 4-year member of the University of Florida “Dazzler” Dance Team and lettered as a student athlete.

Akra’s Twitter account

Let’s get to the bikini and dancer pictures.

Top 25 Toughest Players to Guard in the NBA: 10-6

Jarrod Peterson — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:56:36 +0000

Today, I am doing players 10-6. There might be some surprising names in today’s list, but you shouldn’t be that surprised. These are guys are the best for a reason. Here we go!

10. Dwight Howard – While Howard might be “Super-Man”, he doesn’t top my list. He is the most physically-fit big man in the NBA, but his post game is still a few years behind his body. What makes him so tough to guard is his athleticism and strength. He is one of the strongest players in the league and if he wasn’t fouled on every single play, I think we would see Howard score more. Also, if he could make his free-throws he would score more. Despite all the controversy he created during the season, there is no denying Howard’s talent. His post game is still raw, but his strength allows him to bully opponents. Howard is a stud. Now he needs to put it all together.

9. Andrew Bynum – Bynum is ahead of Howard because Bynum is more advanced offensively than Howard. While Bynum’s post game is still a little raw as well, it’s ahead of Howard’s post game and Bynum continues to get better every year. Yes, he makes bone-head plays during games and remarks during interviews, but you can’t say that Bynum doesn’t have a bright future. This was the first year that he has been fully healthy and his numbers are improving. He is only 23 years old and with the lack of centers in the NBA, Bynum ranks as the best center in the league. Therefore, he enters the list at no. 9.

8. Derrick Rose – Last year, Rose would have been no. 2 on this list, behind Dirk Nowitzki, as the toughest player to guard. But due to his injuries and lack of production against the Miami Heat in last year’s playoffs, Rose was exposed. It’s not a fair argument though because the Heat keyed on Rose because he was the only playmaker on Chicago’s team. Now he tore his ACL, so no one knows how he will bounce back from a significant injury like that. His game relied on his explosiveness, athleticism, contort-ability, and strength. He is one of the quickest, physical specimen’s to ever play basketball at the point guard position. He has the complete package. Or had the complete package. I hope he makes a full recovery.

7. Kevin Love – What Love has done over the past two seasons has been amazing. Some writers say that he is “evolving” the power forward position. He came into this season in great physical shape and endured a 66-game-in-124-days season. He averaged 26 ppg this season after averaging 20 ppg last season. He can stretch the floor all the way out to the three-point line, hits big shots, and can post-up smaller players when he is guarded by them. He continues to add little things to his game every offseason. He is a nightmare to guard and gives opposing players fits. Also, he is a great pick-n-pop player. He is the elite power forward in the game right now.

6. Russell Westbrook – Is there a more aggressive rim-attacking point guard in the NBA? Westbrook is one of the strongest, quickest, and is the most explosive point guards in the league. He is a fear-less competitor and plays with a lot of emotion. The only thing that can stop him is himself. Sometimes he becomes too jump shot happy and stops attacking the basket. He has a nice mid-range game and I would like to see him extend his range out to the three-point line and become a consistent, deadly shooter. He is a great talent and is just entering his prime. I think he can be a top three point/shooting guard in the NBA for the next 6-7 years or until some of that athleticism leaves his body.

2012 NBA Lottery Mock Draft 5/16

Jarrod Peterson — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:21:15 +0000

This is my first mock draft, post-NCAA tournament. Keep in mind that none of this official and the lottery draft order has not been determined yet. All of these opinions are my own, but feel free to leave a comment if you agree or disagree. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Here it is:

1. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Davis

2. Washington Wizards – Thomas Robinson

3. New Orleans Hornets – Harrison Barnes

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Bradley Beal

5. Sacramento Kings – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via New Jersey) – Andre Drummond

7. Golden State Warriors – Terrence Jones

8. Toronto Raptors – Perry Jones III

9. Detroit Pistons – John Henson

10. New Orleans Hornets – Tyler Zeller

11. Portland Trail Blazers – Kendall Marshall

12. Milwaukee Bucks – Meyers Leonard

13. Phoenix Suns – Damian Lillard

14. Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lamb

This is just the first of, hopefully, five mock drafts before the NBA Draft happens at the end of June. Stay tuned for more!

Seattle Seahawks QB race: Badgers Russell Wilson is in the mix!

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:05:15 +0000

The Seattle Seahawks may be located in the Pacific Northwest, but their quarterback derby certainly has an upper midwest feel to it. Tavaris Jackson was a longtime starter for the Minnesota Vikings, and Matt Flynn set Green Bay Packers passing records in his limited time running the offense.

But the starter might be a guy you saw calling the signals for a dairyland state team on Saturdays instead of Sundays last fall. Wisconsin Badgers BMOC Russell Wilson, who set the record for single season college football passer efficiency in 2011 is very much a factor in the race to be the Seahawks starting quarterback in 2012.

He’s showed us enough,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters. “He’s in the competition. And that is going to tax us, as you know. It was already going to be taxing with two. But he’s shown us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys.”

Wilson went in the third round, 75th overall. His impressive rookie camp got him a shot for the gig.

Carroll said deciding on the starting qb will be a long process.

“It’s going to take us a long time to do this,” he told media. “It’s going to be frustrating for [the media]. You’re going to keep asking and want to know. I’m just going to be more patient than you can imagine as we go through this process, and we’ll just figure it out when we do.”

Hope Solo’s new Gatorade commercial (video)

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:02:10 +0000

USA National Team Soccer superstar Hope Solo is back in the limelight with a new ad for G, or Gatorade, well you know what that brand is. She’s pitching the prime, foodish products that you take before your workout to get fired up. Her ad co-stars Cam Newton, the 2011 #1 overall NFL draft pick and star rookie quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.