In my opinion, the Stone Temple Pilots are one of the most unheralded musical acts in American music history.  Everyone knows that frontman Scott Weiland has had problems keeping his nose clean since 1992.  However, the gifted singer has not touched heroin in seven years and admitted on Howard Stern’s Sirius Radio show that he hasn’t done any drugs in over three years.  STP has a brand new studio disc coming out May 25th.  The first single is called Between The Lines and the magical sound and harmonies are back.  The self-titled new release will be followed up with an extensive tour.  Be on the lookout for the Stone Temple Pilots to make big noise this Summer.

Here are some great stories from other sites:

Zoner Sports has a brawl in the stands at the old ball game from Chicago at a recent White Sox game.

7th Inning Stache asks the question Should Hanley Ramirez be traded? to baseball fans everywhere.

Guyism thinks at least ten athletes deserve their own star on the walk of fame.

PSAMP examines a Steelers 5th Super Bowl t-shirt in this weeks installment of Great Moments in Unlicensed Pittsburgh Sports Merchandise.

Babes Love Baseball has an entertaining look at what people who aren’t good enough to play real baseball do to feel like they can.

The Cage Doctors find Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson still doing a lot of trash talking leading up to UFC 114.

Lets Go Guins has the story of why Viginia Tech 3-star linebacker Jake Johnson is transferring to Youngstown State University.

The Youngstown Phantoms have posted their draft picks on the official website and a local named JT Miller from East Palestine is now aboard.

In a contest to see who could go broke first, Roger Waters has apparently won.  Tickets went on sale pretty much everywhere in the past five days for Waters tour of the US and they were a bit pricy.  Waters is touring without David Gilmour, who in my opinion was the voice of Pink Floyd.  To catch a “fleeting glimpse” of the Pink Floyd-like concert, expect to shell out a pretty penny.  The average seat is about $210.00 after Ticketmaster fees.  Waters who turns 67 this September is excited about the tour.  Unfortunately, I would rather see Ringo Starr do songs from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band for more than half the admission fee.

Here are some stories from other great sites…

*Babes Love Baseball takes a look at 40 year-old Ken Griffey Jr. and his fading abilities with Not now kids, grandpa is taking a nap.

*NESW Sports uncovers a big scam as they bust the morning show Yo-Yo Master who has been cheating with his Duncan for years.

*PSAMP has some visuals of “The Bus”, Jerome Bettis playing golf in the story titled Jerome Bettis is a fat golfer.

*Gunaxin does a neat piece on 13 hockey goalie masks that have played a role in pop culture.

*Real Fake Sports has the story of a pitcher who got into trouble for NOT throwing a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.

*Pippenainteasy has a link to a website welcoming Lebron James to Chicago to play for the Bulls.

*Outside The Boxscore provides the story of how the Phillie Phanatic dressed up as Lady GaGa and got beat by an umpire.

Shovel snow, watch Olympics…   Shovel more snow, watch more Olympics…   Salt driveway, watch Olympics…   Eat dinner while watching Olympics…  Watch Olympics.

The best part about the upcoming Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver is that they are constantly going to be on television.  I am not a curling fan, but I watch it during the Olympics.  It is a great event to promote a little national spirit.  Root for the home team, and watch the Olympics.

Here are some stories from other great sites…

Sports Untapped has the dirt on Tim Lincecum’s new contract.

 Josh Q Public has a nice piece on Nate Robinson, the little green dunk machine.

7th Inning Stache has a Frank Thomas tribute video that was too hot for Canada as the Big Hurt has announced formally he is retired.

 No Guts, No Glory has eight burning questions for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Global Sports Fraternity presents Tony Dorsett hosting Masterpiece Theatre.

Poor Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  “Coach Of The Year” Mike Brown, aka LeBron’s ventriloquist puppet, showed poor common sense when he failed to put Big Z on the court against Dallas on Saturday.  Ilgauskas is set to break the franchise record for games played by a Cavalier.  LeBron spouted off about it saying that Brown should have gotten him into the game.  Brown, of course, is defending not playing Ilgauskas saying that Dallas was shorter and quicker and he needed to match ‘em up that way.  When did Shaq start running a 4.5 40-yard dash?  Boo Mike Brown.  Boo.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Intentional Foul asks a good question…  What did we accomplish by exposing Tiger Woods?
• Not Qualified To Comment reports that Ron Artest was getting loaded at halftime when he played for the Chicago Bulls.
• PSAMP has the apology of Hines Ward to Ben Roethlisberger straight from Ward’s Facebook page.
• Fansided unveils their Everything Power Rankings segment which is set up like this post, a bunch of links to other great stories.  Think of it as SportsCenter without commercials.
• Globalsports Fraternity has been posting videos of chimps that they say run the BCS.  A new video was posted today, very entertaining stuff!
• A new blog, 7th Inning Stache, has a hilarious piece about what to expect when seeking Pete Rose for an autograph while in Las Vegas.
• Josh Q. Public notates the hot shooting of the Boston Celtics in the article, Celtics: Shooting The Lights Out.
• NESW Sports has a phenomenal video of Florida State’s Zebrie Sanders. There has to be drugs involved with this one…
• Detroit4Lyfe has the audio of the voicemail Tiger Woods left for his mistress. 
• MoonDog Sports dives into the recently made Notre Dame vacancy asking if Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly is the right fit?
• Guyism takes a look at the eight most dysfunctional athletic relationships.
• Just Blog Baby, a Raiders blog, says that Raider Nation has had enough Al Davis and is now begging for Davis to hire a GM.

Money must be really tight in Hulk Hogan’s world these days.  I know his ex-wife took him for a ride.  I also know that the civil suit against Nick Hogan was costly.  I also comprehend that Florida is not a cheap state to live in.  Add all of those negatives, and you get another Hulk Hogan comeback.  This time Hogan is on TNA, where most of the stars are his own age, in the 50-60 year old range.

Here are some stories from elsewhere:

• Zoner Sports takes a look at eight NFL guys who are probably killing your fantasy football team.  (Lee Evans is not on the list).
• NESW Sports analyzes how awful it must be to play for the Kansas City Royals in lieu of Zack Greinke being awarded some lofty hardware.
• Style Points finds John Daly driving golf balls from the top of his tour bus.
• Outside The Boxscore pokes fun at Elizabeth Lambert, the New Mexico State Soccer girl who punched, pulled hair and kicked every chance she got.
• Hugging Harold Reynolds has audio of Magic Johnson addressing his strained relationship with Isiah Thomas and gives reasons why he opposed Thomas’ inclusion to the famed 1992 Dream Team.
• Sports Untapped takes a look at the ten crappiest sports movies of all-time.
• Major League Jerk supplies the college football hit of the week.
• Global Sports Fraternity warns that Manny Pacquiao will kick your ass then sing you a Filipino love song.
• Detroit4Lyfe has Bill Belichick cranky after the loss and unveils his bodyguard who promptly tossed a cameraman out of the way after the genius went for it on fourth and two from his own 28.
• Gunaxin lists the Top 10 jobs in football.
• Josh Q. Public has the video of Ric Flair suckering Hulk Hogan when the two traded barbs about their failed love lives.

Wow, time for college hoops again!  Who will make it to this years March Madness?  Can Youngstown State pop through and use all of that experience?  Will the five teams YSU plays that were in last years tourney get back in?  Will Xavier run the table this year?  Will Coppin State get blown out in the first round like they do every other year?  Will Pitt have enough in the paint?  Stay tuned, it all starts this week.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Zoner Sports compiled a list of 8 other athletes who should retire in light of Allen Iverson’s latest threats to step away.
• Fansided lists some flowcharts for the cast of the new hit TV show Flash Forward.
• Major League Jerk rolls out a preview of Wintergreen Copenhagen.  Having chewed for about 26 years myself, I found the article to be enjoyable despite the author ripping on Cope Straight.
• Josh Q. Public takes a look at Milwaukee Bucks Rookie superstar Brandon Jennings and his 30+ point effort making him the second youngest Buck ever to do it (behind Kareem).
• Sports Rubbish rolls out a new golf product, a women’s putting green bra.
• Detroit4Lyfe has a 5’11″ player named Will Bynum with the most spectacular dunk of the night.
• Bootlegger Sports finds Shaq and his wife divorcing.  Is this another way for Shaq to keep himself in the spotlight or is it all legit?
• Outside The Boxscore has the story on Brent Musburger punching Colin Cowherd.  The incident took place on ESPN’s Sports Nation show.
• Babes Love Baseball recognizes this years NL Gold Glove award winners.
• Global Sports Fraternity has Earl Smith III changing his name from J. R. Smith, which is what this headcase was called before the switch.
• Style Points takes a look back at a time when former Kansas City RB Larry Johnson used to be a blood-sniffing animal on the field.
• NESW Sports features a snippet of the new Manny Pacquiao’s Punchout video.
• Hugging Harold Reynolds reported that former Philadelphia Eagles tackle Joe Runyan is thinking about running for Congress in New Jerseys 3rd District.

And the Penguin band played on.  The above photo was taken at last week’s Youngstown State Homecoming Game.  The band really sounds good and they do a nice job playing and moving around.  The amount of time that these folks spend practicing is very underappreciated by football fans sometimes.  Go buy a hot dog at the two minute warning and show some respect to these students who are literally playing their hearts out every week.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• PSAMP shares another moment from the wide world of unlicensed Pittsburgh Steelers sports memorabilia.  Take a look at Ben Robosberger.
• The Cage Doctors inform us that Youngstown’s own Ed O’Neill, of Al Bundy fame,  is a trained black belt.
• Sports Untapped takes a look at the betting power rankings in the NFL for Week #10.
• NESW Sports launches a new feature called 8 random videos with my buddy David Chalk moderating.  This week videos focus on the Cavs spanking practices, the Bucs orange throwbacks, and the night Jaromir Jagr almost killed Sean Avery.
• Josh Q. Public notes the quick impact of a returning Troy Polamalu to a Steelers defense that always has a big play or two up their sleeve.
• Not Qualified To Comment finds Chicago sportswriter Rick Morrissey literally eating a column he wrote in 2007 (with salsa) that said Joakim Noah would never amount to a useful NBA player.
• No Guts, No Glory warns that you better learn who Bill Martin is or you will be roughed up.  (Martin is the Michigan Athletic Director).

Youngstowners, mark Sunday, November 29 in your datebooks.  Extreme International Ice Racing is coming to The Covelli Centre.  The average ticket price is about $18.00 and from what I heard (and I am in no way into this sort of thing) it is a must-see event.  I plan on giving it a shot.  Usually when Eric Ryan and Ken Bigley hype something for Youngstown and I never heard of it, I try the unknown and usually leave satisfied.  The racing starts at 5:30, so be sure to grab a ticket and head downtown to see it.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• In Game Now has information that Chad Ochocinco has sent the Ravens gift baskets which include deodorant so that they won’t sweat too much.
• Stacheketball says LeBron James really could have used some extra padding.
• Not Qualified To Comment is a Chicago blog.  Their story after the Cavs lost to the Bulls was that the Bulls began to discover their identity.  It is obvious that Cleveland is still searching for an identity of their own.
• Sports Rubbish informs you the reader that you can buy 5,000 leftover 2008 Beijing Olympic condoms.
• That NBA Lottery Pick says the ESPN trade machine has approved a trade involving Carlos Boozer for a can of tuna. 
• Babes Love Baseball points out Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young award, and he was probably stoned on weed all year.
• Sports Untapped tips their cap to the 2009 World Series Champion New York Yankees with their article titled right through the very heart of it.
• Fansided has a Wendy’s training video that ups your street creds up a couple of notches.
• Predominantly Orange lists 10 reasons why it is better to be a Broncos fan instead of a Steelers fan.
• Club Seat Sports say that dirty-tactic New Mexico State Soccer star Elizabeth Lambert is their kind of girl.

Two great players on one team.  Two accomplished athletes who love to compete, but love to win more.  Two guys with one goal, to bring an NBA Championship to Cleveland.  If last night was any indicator, two guys have their work cut out.  The Cavs started the game on a positive note.  They were finishing, Anthony Parker looked like the right peg for the vacant hole, and for a moment, I believed that the two men pictured would be able to carry the rest of the load.  Unfortunately, the Cavs fell into ‘predictable’ mode in the second half and played like they did against Orlando in last years postseason.  It’s one game, I won’t kick and scream yet, but changes must be made to the offense.  Boston 95, Cleveland 89. 

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Not Qualified To Comment says there is a racism problem in the Chicago Cubs organization that has existed for years.
• Major League Jerk points out the inconsistencies that are plaguing the Chicago Bears.
• Josh Q. Public takes a further look at last nights Cavs vs Celtics matchup in the article titled Paul Pierce and the Celtics.
• Guyism says that Andre Agassi has fessed up on his use of controlled substances and has some pretty funny-looking pics of the tennis great.
• PSAMP thinks that Mike Tomlin, Head Coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is such a boss. The Mike Tomlin rap song by Freak Show.
• Chicago’s MMA is giving away a Joachim Hansen signed jersey.  Click on the link to find out how you can win.
• MoonDog Sports takes a look at Halloween costumes that just aren’t going to work.
• Style Points has the information of more Favre’s coming through the pipeline, as Brett has a nephew who is excelling as a high school quarterback.
• Outside The Boxscore has video of Terry Bradshaw’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel.
• Sports Untapped calls the Kansas City Chiefs disgruntled running back, Larry Johnson, the king of apologies.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The campaign was originally created to advise women to be alert for early detection of breast cancer so that it may be more easily treated.  When you see a woman driving a car with a pink ribbon, it may not mean she has had to battle the cancer, but rather is well aware of the risks of not getting checked.  This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the campaign.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Josh Q. Public takes a look at Sidney Crosby’s performance from Friday night in which he did some things in a game that he had not done yet.
• Sharapova’s Thigh presents the weekly fantasy football updates that you need to know.  So far, the Thigh has won me two games I would have lost this season with on-point advice.
• Fansided posts some videos of the Top-10 college football mascots that can’t be trusted.
• My Sports Rumors lays out the picks for NFL games in Week 7. 
• The Cage Doctors take a look at some MMA fighters who are too pretty to be MMA fighters.  Gina Carano is on the list.
• Sports Rubbish finds the unruly Phillies fans at it again as they try to set a guy in a tree on fire with roman candles.
• Detroit4Lyfe has Jim Carrey giving the Detroit Pistons some tips for their defensive woes.  The Pistons have been giving up 113 points per game.
• Style Points has the story on Michael Vick recently being spotted in a South Philadelphia CVS store buying dog food.
• Fanhouse weighs in on the feud between ESPN and Deadspin where rocks are seemingly being tossed in both directions.
• Gunaxin reveals the 7 rules that every sports movie lives by.
• Predominantly Orange lists the ten best things to do when your team is on a bye week.
• Major League Jerk posted LeBron James saying the one person he would most like to dunk over is George W. Bush.
• No Guts, No Glory lists Lane Kiffin’s foolproof steps for wowing recruits.
• Guyism unveils the newest weird name in college sports – Just-in’love Smith of the Siena Saints Basketball Program.
• NESW Sports has video of LeBron James swatting Rajon Rondo in a recent preseason basketball game.
• Not Qualified To Comment lists reasons why the Bengals’ Cedric Benson is making excuses before the Cincinnati vs Chicago game this weekend where Benson will face his old mates.
• Babes Love Baseball says that Nick Swisher better get it going soon as he is currently muired in an 0-11 slump.