News World 212

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Five reasons why the Steelers should sign Fred Jackson

Freddie Jackson-You Are My Lady
(Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports)

Fred Jackson"s first carry of the preseason was a 41-yard jaunt through the teeth of the Steelers defense.

Now, after being released by the Bills on Saturday, Jackson could be soon doing the same damage wearing the Black and Gold.

With a stable of young running backs headlined by Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy, the Bills cut Jackson, a Buffalo fan favorite after eight productive seasons with the Bills. Jackson, a former 1,000-yard back, became a free agent on Monday, and it would be a good idea for Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert to consider signing him to backup Le"Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. Here"s why:

1) The Steelers currently don"t have a reliable third running back: Josh Harris has not had a great preseason, rushing for 20 yards on 10 carries and dropping a pass in Saturday"s loss to Buffalo. And while he"s had a solid preseason, Dri Archer has yet to prove that he can consistently run effectively between the tackles. With Bell out for the Steelers" first two games, Pittsburgh has no reliable coverage at running back if Williams succumbs to an injury, something the team needs to address before its first game. If Jackson is willing to accept a backup position, he would be a reliable and proven backup for the Steelers backfield.

2) A proven back: Jackson was a model of consistency in Buffalo. He averaged a healthy 4.4 yards per carry with the Bills, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 2011. He"s a hard-nosed, no nonsense, straightened runner that seldom gets caught behind the line of scrimmage. His style of running would be ideal for third and short situations.

3) Jackson provides Bell-like versatility: Along with his rushing prowess, the Bills utilized Jackson"s ability as a receiver during his time in Buffalo. He caught 66 passes last season, and averaged 41 receptions a season with the Bills. Jackson would be an ideal replacement for Bell in terms of his catching ability during Pittsburgh"s first two games of the season.

4) He has some gas left in the tank: While his chronological age is 34, Jackson does not have an overwhelming amount of career carries for a back his age. Like Williams in Carolina, Jackson averaged less than 160 carries a season during his time in Buffalo. While he did suffer though various injuries in Buffalo, Jackson appears to be healthy now, and as a third string running back, he won"t be asked to carry the load, and should be fresh when his number is called to carry the rock.

5) Jackson is a veteran that wants to win: After being on eight non-playoff teams, Buffalo is buzzing in anticipation in hopes of a playoff run this season. Jackson was in the middle of the excitement until Monday, when Jackson faced the harsh reality that he won"t be there to possibly taste the fruit of his labors after nearly a decade of trying to will Buffalo in to the post season. If the Steelers sign Jackson to join their stable of running backs, they"d get a reliable, professional backup running back that will surely be driven to be apart of a team that can do some damage in the NFL playoffs.

Enter DraftKing"s Week 1 Millionaire Maker Fantasy Football Contest to win $2,000,000! New DraftKing users from 247Sports will also have the chance to win a Yeti cooler and $150 in your team merchandise! Click here to sign up.

Source: http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Five-reasons-why-the-Steelers-should-sign-Fred-Jackson-39071349

Chicharito to Leverkusen? The Bundesliga is better for Mexican striker

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez ● Amazing Skills Show● 2014/15 HD

Updated Aug 31, 2015 at 11:41a ET

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandezlooks to be on the move once more, but this time it could be a more permanent stay.

Rather than going on a short-term loan stint or staying on the bench withManchester United, the Premier League club that bought the Mexican forward from Chivas in 2010 is set send Chicharito from England to Germany

Reports in both countries,from respected sports publicationKickerin Germany andThe Mirroramong thoseon the British side of things, indicate the sight ofHernandez with a Chevrolet logo splashed across his front, a Manchester United crest over his heart, is in the rear-view mirror. The forward will move from United to Bayer Leverkusen, with those same reports indicating he"ll sign a three-year dealwith the Bundesliga club.

Watching the forward struggle against Bruggemade itclear a change of scenery is needed. In the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg in Belgium, hemissed a variety of chances from open play and slipped and missed a penalty in what will make a last match to forget.

Chicharito can score goals. We see it with the national team, we saw it his first season with Manchester United and we even saw it in theChampions League last year with Real Madrid.He can"t, however, wrest spots away from some of the best players in the world. There"s no shame in that.When the competition is Wayne Rooney,Cristiano Ronaldo orKarim Benzema, few players in the world could.

At Leverkusen, he"ll find a club that needs him, and a club where he"s good enough to get regular minutes.Leverkusen finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, relying on goals from Karim Bellarbi andSon Heung-min. But Son recently completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur, while leading assist-provider Gonzalo Castro was snapped up by Borussia Dortmund. Swiss forward prospect Josip Drmic also moved away from the club during the offseason.

Just because there were departures doesn"t mean Bayer"s medicine cabinet is bare, though. Chicharito would benefit from Bellarbi coming down the right side along with fullbacks Wendell and Roberto Hilbert pushing up from the edgesbut also will have set pieces from Turkish international Hakan Calhanoglu. He may also get the support of versatileChilean midfielder CharlesAranguiz, who will make his European debut once he returns from an Achilles tendon tear expected to keep him out several months.

Not only will Chicharito join a team that expects to be in the hunt for the Bundesliga, he joins a club where he can still get UEFA Champions League action. The draw wasn"t kind to Leverkusen, but matchups against Barcelona and Roma are the kind of matches fans dream of seeing their countrymen line up in.

The move stillmight be criticized by some as a step down for the 27-year-old.It"s not a five-star team in the FIFA video games like his previous stops at Manchester United and Real Madrid. But Chicharito"s choices right now are to be stuck on the bench at a five-star team, getting minimal playing time when injuries or cup matches come along, or getting regular minutes at a four-and-a-half star club.

Regular minutes will be enough to boost his rating - within hisclub andwith the Mexican national teamwhere it counts.

FOX Soccer and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Barstool Sports videobombs ESPN to support Tom Brady

ESPN First Take - What Should Tom Brady Do Now?

Remember a few weeks back when the guys at Barstool Sports sat in the lobby of the NFL Headquarters in New York to show their support for Tom Brady? Well the guys were back at it again today, trying to spread the Free Brady message on ESPNs cameras.

ESPN anchors Sal Paolantonio and Andrew Brandtwere doing a live report from outside of the courtroom discussing a settlement not being reached during the hearing. Then out of nowhere Bartsool Sports founder David Portnoy, also known as El Presidente, is seen behind the camera showing off his T-shirt that portrays Roger Goodell as a clown. Hes also holding up a sign that reads Mortensen lies in reference to ESPNs Chris Mortensens reporting on the whole Deflategate scandal.

The security guard wasnt having any of it:

But the message was sent as Barstools Sales Guy poses in front of the camera with a Free Brady shirt. Keep on fighting the good fight, guys.

Source: http://boston.suntimes.com/bos-sports/7/119/242540/barstool-sports-videobombs-espn-support-tom-brady/

Monday, August 31, 2015

That time Wes Craven, Susan Lucci and Punky Brewster teamed up for a 1980s TV ...

Hollywood Reacts To Wes Craven"s Death

The world mourns horror visionary Wes Craven today, and with that naturally comes a look back at some of his masterpieces --ANightmare on Elm Street, Last House on the Left,Screamand more. But no one is talking about another Craven masterpiece (of a different kind). Specifically, thecompletely bonkers 1984 TV movie calledInvitation to h**l.

Invitation to Hellstarred Susan Lucci (ofAll My Childrenfame), Robert Urich (known best forSpenser: For HireorLove Boat: The Next Wave,if you"re either insane or aLove Boatenthusiast), Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster)andJoanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, Six Feet UnderandDon"t Tell Mom The Babysitter"s Dead"s"Right on top of that" Rose). La Lucci plays Jessica Jones (no, not that one), the owner of a VERY EXCLUSIVE health club/spain California that married couple Urich and Cassidy are pressured into joining. As is often the case in Southern California, the spa is actually a portal to h**l (you get there via the steam room) and Lucci is, essentially, Satan.

Highlights include Robert Urich spending 20 minutes in an astronaut suit, Lucci dressing like a mix between one of the Lizard people fromV and an extra from Jem and the HologramsandSoleil Moon Frye getting sucked into h**l only to come out possessed by a demon, doing her best Kathleen Turner impersonationandtrying to kill her stuffed bunny (it"s at 1:12:48 if the video below doesn"t jump to it right away).

In any case, its tons of fun, the 1980s at its finest, and was actually the project Craven shot just beforeA Nightmare on Elm Street. The fact that Susan Lucci and Wes Craven spent even a modicum of time together, let alone an entire movie working together, will never stop blowing my mind. Additionally,Invitation to Hellgave us the below, which is, perhaps, the most important thing to come out of 1984 minusA Nightmare on Elm Streetand Mac computers:

Rest in peace, Wes Craven. You entertained us in so many different ways.

Source: http://www.blastr.com/2015-8-31/time-wes-craven-susan-lucci-and-punky-brewster-teamed-1980s-tv-movie

What Exactly Happened Inside Jared Leto"s Summer Camp?

Photo: Michel Dufour/Getty Imagesr

So, Jared Leto and his band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, hosted a three-day Malibu camping experience called Camp Marsover the weekend. The camp boasted standard activities like "hiking, climbing, yoga, cooking classes, raising the flag, and camp fire sing-alongs," as well as two band and DJ performances. Also maybe some ghost stories and chances to swap hair tips with Leto.

Images have emerged from this strange gathering, and it appears that the weekend was a combination of Coachella, a work retreat, and a Guilty Remnant gathering.

Here are the campers:

Here are a few camp activities the campers took part in:

Beginners Tightrope-Walking

Advanced Bee Combat

Camp Talent Shows

Camp? Or the first seeds of a Child of Leto cult? Either way, there are probably worse ways to spend $900 than watching Jared Leto commune with nature for a weekend like, say, spending the money on a few tickets to Burning Man.

Source: http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/08/what-happened-inside-jared-letos-summer-camp.html

Fan falls from upper deck at Atlanta Braves game

Fan Dies After Fall From Upper Deck at Atlanta Braves Game FULL VIDEO

A man is dead after falling about 40 feet from the upper deck while the Atlanta Braves played the New York Yankees at Turner Field Saturday night.

Atlanta police say they are investigating the cause of the fall.

The medical examiner said that Gregory Murrey, 60, of Alpharetta,died upon arrival at Grady Memorial Hospital. The fan did not hit or injure anyone else during the fall.

"Right now preliminary investigation reveals there is no type of foul play but we need to wait until the medical examiner rules on the cause of death," said Atlanta police lieutenant Charles Hampton, the department"s homicide commander. "Were asking anybody whos in the area to come forward and let us know what they saw. But we dont believe it was anything suspicious."

The fall occurred in the top of the seventh inning, as the Yankees Alex Rodriguez was walking to the plate amid a chorus of boos. The man apparently fell off the upper deck behind the home-plate area and landed between the second and third row of seats on the first level in section 202. Fans seated in that area immediately scattered, and paramedics rushed in and did chest compressions, a form of CPR, in an attempt to revive him.

The man eventually was carried out. But there were at least two pools of blood on the concrete where he was lying. Three rows of seats were emptied and a stadium worker with a mop arrived soon after to mop up the blood.

Earlier, Sgt. Greg Lyon with Atlanta police said, Yes. A fan has fallen and his condition is grave. We are investigating the circumstances of the fall, and I will keep you posted as I learn more.

>> Read more trending stories

The Atlanta Braves released the following statement:

"There was an accident during tonight"s game involving a fan. The fam was immediately treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital."

This is not the first tragedy at Turner Field. In 2013, a Braves fan, Ronald Lee Homer Jr., 30, of Conyers died Aug. 12 after climbing over a railing and leaping to his death in a parking lot 85 feet below. Homers family said the death was accidental but it was ruled a suicide.

Another man fell to his death in 2008. Justin Hayes, 25, of c*****g suffered fell an estimated four levels inside the stadium to field level, striking a concrete and metal railing. He was taken to the hospital but later died of his injuries.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/sports/fan-falls-upper-deck-atlanta-braves-game/nnTLC/

Sunday, August 30, 2015

9 Questions With the History-Making, Youngest and First African-American Jean ...

Kyle Jean-Baptiste & Brady Love--The Confrontation

9 Questions With the History-Making, Youngest and First African-American Jean Valjean "This Was My Dream"

Kyle Jean-Baptiste made history July 23 when he went on as Jean Valjean in the Broadway revival of Les Misrables at just 21 years old. We ask him about making history, what advice he was given and what"s next!

Jean-Baptiste is the youngest actor and first African-American to have performed the role on Broadway, although there have been others who have played it in the national tour and other productions. He was cast in the Broadway revival following his graduation from Baldwin Wallace University.

When he"s not going on for Jean Valjean, the role that he understudies, Jean-Baptiste plays Constable and Courfeyrac.

How did it feel to make your debut as Jean Valjean, knowing that you were making history?Kyle Jean-Baptiste: I did not immediately think of it as making history. This was my dream since I was a little boy. This incredible team of creatives presented an opportunity to play a part I have dreamed of playing since I was introduced to theatre, and I am forever grateful. I felt a huge amount of responsibility to do right by them and to honor this iconic material.

Tell us about singing "Bring Him Home." You were asked to sing this for you audition, yes? What was it like to be singing it on Broadway? Also, you"re friends/around the same age as your Marius, Chris McCarrell, so was that moment surreal?KJ: Yes, I had to sing it a couple times for the audition. This song is so iconic, and everyone knows it well. I went into my first performance as Valjean very nervous to sing it, but the audience received it well.

Chris McCarrell is an awesome guy and amazingly talented. I couldn"t believe I was performing with a guy I went to school with on Broadway!

Same goes for scenes with Javert what was it like to face off with someone who is at least 20 years older than you?KJ: It was exhilarating! To have the opportunity to perform this role opposite [Earl Carpenter] someone with such experience and talent was such a learning experience. He treated me as an equal on that stage. It was so fun to face off with someone for whom I have so much respect.

What did it feel like when you got the call that you booked your first Broadway show so shortly after graduating college?KJ: I got the call from my agent on the phone and yelled like a child. I couldn"t believe it. I felt like my hard work had paid off. I was, and am, so grateful.

Did Ramin Karimloo give you any words of wisdom before your first performance as Jean Valjean?KJ: I was nervous about being too young, but Ramin helped me through and said to be in the moment and not work too hard to play old or to "perform" the role. He said the costumes and makeup will tell the story of me aging. He"s an incredible guy and [an] incredible talent.

You"ve said that Les Miz/Jean Valjean is a "dream." When did you first encounter the show?KJ: I encountered this show during my senior year of high school after I performed in my first musical. I listened to the album repeatedly for a solid week and then said to my mom, "I"m going to be Jean Valjean." Haha!

How has the transition been going from college to Broadway? Is this a whirlwind experience? What has been the response from your peers?KJ: I did not expect the immediate success. Everything happened so fast. I am fortunate to have my alma mater, classmates (BWMT15), teachers and friends and family support me. They are all thrilled for me. So many of my fellow Baldwin Wallace graduates were in the audience cheering me on for my first performance as Valjean. It means the world to have their support.

Since this was a dream role for you and you didn"t think you"d have a stab at it until much later in life what other roles would you like to take on?KJ: Awwww, man, so many roles! I would love to play Billy Bigelow [in Carousel], John in Miss Saigon, Coalhouse Walker [in Ragtime], too many to name. I"m also interested in great roles in plays. I want to continue to break more barriers by challenging myself, while bringing my passion and my style to the table.

What"s up next for you after Les Miz? What other projects do you have your eye on?KJ: I have a lot of exciting things coming up! Keep your eyes on Playbill for updates!

(Playbill.com features manager Michael Gioia"s work appears in the news, feature and video sections of Playbill.com as well as in the pages of Playbill magazine. Follow him on Twitter at@PlaybillMichael.)

Source: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/9-questions-with-the-history-making-youngest-and-first-african-american-jean-valjean-this-was-my-dream-354600?r%3Dn