Former SEC WR’s message to recruits: is don’t go with the money
Don't Show Me The Money??
Former Mississippi State wide receiver Chad Bumphis, who just completed his senior season with the Bulldogs, was once a four-star prospect with scholarship offers from most of the blue-blood programs in the SEC: Alabama, Florida, LSU, Auburn and Tennessee, not to mention the Bulldogs, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Having once been a highly touted recruit himself, Bumphis could give high school seniors a meaningful perspective on the recruiting process and now would be a good time to drop some knowledge, what with national signing day less than 24 hours away.
Cue Bumphis, on his Twitter account, with some words of wisdom for the 18-year-old prospect:
“With NSD near, recruits listen. DON’T go with the money! After its gone ur stuck at a place you probably don’t even like for 3-5 years!”
It’s at this time that I stress the words “former Mississippi State wide receiver,” though I’m sure Bumphis is still within enough distance of Starkville to catch an earful from coach Dan Mullen (among other university leaders).
Bumphis wasn’t talking about his recruitment to Mississippi State, however. Asked on Twitter if he was “speaking from experience,” Bumphis said, “no. Believe it or not I turned it down to go” to Mississippi State.
A follower then wrote to Bumphis, “and those girls that recruited you won’t be there either, they did their job.” Bumphis replied, “lol. Right.”
And in closing, Bumphis had a short message for fans of rival Mississippi:
“Funny. I tweet that and the only people offended are my sweet little rebel followers!! Guilty much??? Possibly. Lol”Mississippi has been one of the surprise teams during this recruiting cycle, following up a 7-6 finish in coach Hugh Freeze’s first season with one of the nation’s top classes. As of midday Tuesday, Rivals.com ranked Mississippi’s class as the 11th-best in the country.
On Wednesday, Freeze and his staff are in play for another pair of five-star prospects, including the nation’s No. 1 recruit, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche.
The team’s recruiting success has raised eyebrows, which in turn led Freeze to write on his Twitter account, “If you have facts about a violation, email compliance@olemiss.edu. If not, please don’t slander the young men.” (The tweet has since been deleted.)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler engaged to Cutter Dykstra
TALENT
Cutter Dykstra and girlfriend Jamie-Lynn Sigler are now engaged. Both Dykstra and Sigler tweeted on Monday afternoon to share the good news.
“So this just happened” Sigler wrote, including a few hearts in her tweet.
“She said yes!!” Cutter wrote.
The two have been dating since at least last March and met through mutual friends Nick Swisher, and his wife, actress Joanna Garcia.
Dykstra is a ballplayer in the Washington Nationals organization. The son of former MLB All-Star Lenny Dykstra, Cutter was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. He hit .291 in 110 games as a 23-year-old second baseman in Single-A for the Hagerstown Suns.
Sigler is a 31-year-old actress most well known for playing Tony Soprano’s daughter on the hit HBO show “The Sopranos.”
NCAA denies Akron’s jerseys with Twitter handles
#Denied
Akron Athletics was planning to put the program’s Twitter handle on the back of jerseys in conjunction with the team’s “Social Media Night” this Saturday in a premiere Mid-American Conference matchup with Ohio.
The jerseys were set and ready to go, featuring a big “Z” on the front with a Zorro-esque look while the back of the jerseys featured the Twitter handle, “@ZipsMBB.”
Unfortunately, the NCAA denied the mid-major program’s bold, innovative move.
Dan Satter, Akron’s Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations, broke the bad news via Twitter on Monday evening:
While we appreciate the social media response, we feel it’s important to set the record straight about our@ZipsMBB Social Media Night promotion and the jerseys we will wear for our next home game, as some incorrect information has been reported. Our Men’s Basketball Twitter handle, @ZipsMBB, will not be on the backs of our jerseys when we play on@ESPNU at 5 p.m. Saturday at James A. Rhodes Arena. We had asked the NCAA if this was permissible and were told it is not. @ZipsMBB will appear on our shooting shirts, and we have planned plenty of other social media activities and promotions: http://bit.ly/1124SCvAs part of our promotional efforts, we distributed photographs of a prototype jersey with our handle to select national media members, who also received their own jerseys personalized with their Twitter handle.We’re proud to promote our @ZipsMBB team that has won 11 straight games and is 6-0 in the @MAC-Sports. #ThinkBigger #ZipsGameday #GoZips
PGA Tour will revoke media credentials if they tweet
Shorts Are Offensive
The PGA Tour appears to be spoiling for a fight with some members of the golf press who have been using digital media to report on tournaments in real time. The Tour has long objected to play-by-play coverage by non-broadcast reporters at its tournaments, whether the reporters were sending updates via Twitter or manning live blogs in the press center. However, the Tour generally allowed live blogs and Tweets that were done away from the course, with television or radio as the primary source of information.
But on Thursday the Tour sent an e-mail to members of the media that threatened stiff penalties for journalists who send “real-time, play-by-play transmission in digital outlets,” even if those posts are sent from an offsite location. In addition to revoking the credential for the offending reporter, the Tour said it would revoke credentials for “all journalists affiliated with” that reporter’s organization.
The complete e-mail from Ty Votaw, executive vice president of communications for the Tour:
“As you know, our media regulations prohibit the use of real-time, play-by-play transmission in digital outlets. In order to enforce these regulations, beginning this year, we will revoke the on-site credentials of all journalists affiliated with outlets that post play-by-play coverage, whether those posts are originating from tournament site or otherwise.”
Serena Williams tweets picture of swollen ankle
Ouch
No wonder Serena Williams made an early exit from the Australian Open. One night after her upset loss to 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens, the tennis star tweeted a picture of a severely swollen ankle.
Jim Irsay sent $8,500 to a fan who won Twitter contest
Cool
Jim Irsay is upholding his mantle as the NFL’s most eccentric owner in other ways, like mailing $8,500 in cash to a Twitter follower who guessed the final score of the AFC championship to within one point.
The Indianapolis Colts owner tweeted on Sunday that he’d give $8,500 to whoever could predict the score of the Ravens-Patriots game to within one point. A follower named Jason did just that, calling a 27-14 Baltimore win. When the game ended with a 28-13 count, Irsay sent him direct message asking for his address.
Two days later, Jason says a FedEx envelope arrived with a signed note from Irsay and the winnings in cash. He took a photograph of both.
Dear Jason,
Congratulations again on winning a Twitter Contest! Enclosed you will find your prize which consists of $8,500.00. Please continue to follow me on Twitter and thank you for your continued support.
Go Colts!
Sincerely,
Jim Irsay
Owner/CEO
Dallas Stars make fun of Manti Te’o
Mama Margie's Meltdown
The Dallas Stars, fresh off a Twitter beef with the Dallas Cowboys and back on the ice for the first time in 2013, joined the parade of folks making fun of Manti Te’o on Saturday.
During the team’s season opener, an image flashed on the JumboTron heralding the presence of the non-existant girlfriend of the former Notre Dame linebacker. The team then posted a series of tweets hyping the presence of Te’o's “girlfriend”.
Library takes shot at Lance Armstrong
Lennay Kekua Is Not Impressed
Lance Armstrong may have his sympathizers, but those operating Manly Library in New South Wales, Australia, are not among them. A photo was shared on Twitter of a sign posted in the library that pokes fun at the cyclist.
Matt Kemp gets inspirational tattoo tribute
Nice Ink
Matt Kemp recently had a large portrait of Doris and her late husband, Vernon, inked over his heart. The two-time All-Star tweeted a photo of the tattoo, along with the message, “if it wasn’t for my grandparents I wouldn’t b where I’m at 2day!”
The stunning work was illustrated by 23-year-old tattoo artist Jun Cha.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Manti Te’o
Manti Te'o
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to Manti Te’o whose relationship with a deceased girlfriend was central to the narrative of his Heisman Trophy campaign and Notre Dame’s unbeaten regular season, was the victim of an elaborate hoax, the school said Wednesday after a Deadspin story alleged the woman never existed. Te’o had talked openly during the season about his supposed relationship with a former Stanford student named Lennay Kekua, whom he claimed in a South Bend Tribune article to have met in 2009 after a football game. Kekua was said to have lost her battle with leukemia on Sept. 12, just hours after Te’o learned that his 72-year old grandmother had passed away.
The story of how Te’o dealt with massive personal tragedy became front and center in his rise to national consciousness. In interviews with Sports Illustrated and on the Jim Rome radio show, Te’o described talking to her by phone through the night as she dealt with the pain of chemotherapy treatments. Deadspin’s report, however, showed that there were no records of Kekua’s death, nor any records that she was a student at Stanford. According to Deadspin, the photos on Kekua’s Twitter account belonged to another woman, who was not named.
Te’o's statement contradicted the suggestion by Deadspin that he may have been in on the hoax along with Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a friend of Teo’s who had allegedly provided the picture of the woman.
Katherine Webb lands Super Bowl gig
TALENT
AJ McCarron is once again getting shown up by his model girlfriend. After Miss Alabama Katherine Webb, an Auburn grad, stole the spotlight in the BCS Championship game that saw Alabama convincingly thrash Notre Dame, the Crimson Tide quarterback now has to digest the fact that Webb will have an NFL job before he does.
Webb, who became an Internet star after ESPN’s Brent Musburger made awkward comments about her beauty during the live BCS title game broadcast, sent out a tweet Monday night suggesting she’d have a TV-related role in the Super Bowl.
“So excited to be chosen to cover the Super Bowl XLVII for @InsideEdition in New Orleans!”Webb’s specific job has yet to be revealed, but “Inside Edition” is a thirty-minute syndicated news program that plans to cover the Super Bowl behind-the-scenes.
McCarron’s mother, Dee Dee Bonner had Webb’s back, though.
“proud for you and ignore the jealous folks maybe one day they can host something like the loser convention or something” Bonner tweeted in support.
Katherine Webb to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue
TALENT
Katherine Webb, Miss Alabama USA and girlfriend of Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron, will be appearing in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue this year.
“Every single model wants to be in Sports Illustrated, and I feel extremely blessed to have that opportunity,” Webb said in an interview with SI Friday. The 2013 swimsuit issue is on sale the week of Feb. 11.
Webb skyrocketed to fame after cameras honed in on her as she sat with McCarron’s mother at the BCS Championship Game Jan 7. Sportscaster Brent Musbuger took notice on-air, and Webb’s Twitter devotees took off, soon topping more than 200,000.
While her instant fame created a few awkward moments, Webb told Sports Illustrated that she was “completely dumbfounded” when she got the call to appear in the famous swimsuit issue. She aslo indicated that she wouldn’t let her sudden fame compromise her image.
“I’m from Alabama and I have morals and I have class. That’s my personality. A lot of people have said I’m the anti-Kim Kardashian and I’m all right with that,” Webb told SI. “I want girls to be able to look up to me and to say, ‘I want to be just like her one day.’”
Mike Trout catches 550 pound grouper
Some Guys Have All The Luck
Is there anything Mike Trout can’t catch? The reigning AL Rookie of the Year was in Key West, Fla., over the weekend. Trout’s girlfriend tweeted out the pictures of him catching a 550-pound goliath grouper. Another Trout family member, Tyler, says the grouper was 550 pounds and over five feet long. He shared another picture of their catch:
Mike Stoops thinks Johnny Manziel should keep out of jail & off Twitter if he wants to win another Heisman
Tivy Fight Never Dies
A week after Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M embarrassed Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Sooners defensive coordinator had some backhanded compliments for the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. Mike Stoops said to the Tulsa World that
“If they can keep (Manziel) out of jail or keep him eligible, he’s gonna be pretty good. If they can keep him off the Twitter, he might have 3-4 Heismans. He’ll have that type of ability.”
Stoops might have thought he was being funny, but Manziel just got done lighting up his defense for 516 total yards and four touchdowns.
Brandon Spikes breaks out fumble dance
New England Patriots Brandon Spikes is a solid NFL linebacker, a controversial Twitter user and, apparently, quite the dancer.
Roger Clemens responds to Hall of Fame vote with note in odd font
What The Hell Is Muchie Peachie
Roger Clemens received just 37.6 percent of the necessary 75 percent to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first appearance on the ballot. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner shared a note over Twitter about the matter which was also notably written in some sort of funky font you would expect out of an elementary school kid.
AJ McCarron’s reaction to his girlfriend’s fame
The reaction the Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron had to hearing of his girlfriend’s Katherine Webb newfound fame — Twitter followers at 164,000 and counting — was priceless.
Dwayne Bowe honors Jovan Belcher by wearing misspelled t-shirt
SMH
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe honored his late teammate Jovan Belcher by wearing a t-shirt and showed it off on Twitter. However in attempt to honor Belcher, Bowe was wearing t-shirt that misspelled Jovon’s name. The t-shirt reads, “Rest In Pest, Javon Belcher”. Problem is that Belcher’s name is “Jovan”, not “Javon”.
Damian Lillard says he has fear of statues
We Shall Get Through This
Portland Trail Blazers rookie point guard Damian Lillard spent time driving through Washington, D.C. before the Blazers played the Washington Wizards and the historical monuments in the city freaked him out.
After the Blazers’ shootaround Lillard tweeted, “I like DC. I wana come back and visit the memorials even though I’m scared of statues” and “People I’m only scared of historic statues. Abraham Lincoln , MLK, etc . Had a bad experience at the wax museum lmao.”
“I’ve always been scared of historic stuff like that. If I see statues of Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. all that stuff kind of gives me a funny feeling,” Lillard said.
He explained further that the fear started he believes at a wax museum.
“The last room was Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln all these big-time historic people, and it looked just like them. Same size,” he said. “They had music playing in the room to set the mood, and it just threw me off.”
“Ever since then, I’m done. Even at Lake Oswego (near Portland), I drive past the cemetery, and there’s a statue of Jesus with his hands up. That even scared me. I don’t mess with statues no more.
“It’s the idea that they’re from so far back, and so big in our history. Just to see something that looks so close to them, it’s weird. It freaks me out.”
Driving through D.C. with monuments lit up, “was crazy. All I could think of was Abraham Lincoln getting killed,” Lillard said.
Even the idea of visiting Ford’s Theater where Lincoln was shot and the house across the street where Lincoln died gives Lillard the willies.
“That’s nerve-wracking to me,” Lillard said. “I would want to go. But when I get in there I would be scared the whole time.”
Kris Humphries needs Tetanus shot after fight with Rajon Rondo
Snitches Get Stitches
Brooklyn Nets Kris Humphries was ejected for his part in the brawl against Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, and shortly afterward tweeted the photo at right. Who gave him the scratches? He added,
“Anyone know where I can get a quick Tetanus shot in Boston?
Saints claim their bus was egged at Atlanta airport
Class
Upscale travel is one of the many luxuries that NFL players enjoy. But the New Orleans Saints received a rude welcome to Atlanta ahead of Thursday night’s game with the Falcons when their ride was egged Wednesday by airport workers.
Backup quarterback Chase Daniel was the first Saints player to tweet about it:
“Wow, as we’re boarding buses on the Tarmac @ Atlanta airport, we start getting eggs thrown @ us by airport workers! Guess they do hate us!”
Tight end Jimmy Graham chimed in shortly after.
“Bus just got egged after landing in ATL by the ramp workers,” Graham wrote on Twitter. Classy! ‘RISE Up’ smh.”
Drew Gooden asked fans to send pictures of Bulls jerseys in the toilet
First Person To See Drew Gooden Make A Basket Wins
Milwaukee Bucks forward Drew Gooden held an unusual contest via his Twitter account before Monday night’s game between the Bucks and the Chicago Bulls. Gooden, who played two seasons with the Bulls, tweeted that he would give away two tickets to the game to the first person that sent him a picture of a Bulls jersey in a toilet.
Floyd Mayweather wins $275K bet on Spurs-Lakers
Imagine What He Would Earn If He Fought You Know Who
Danny Green became Floyd Mayweather’s best friend Tuesday night. Green drained a go-ahead, eventual game-winning three-pointer with 9.3 seconds left to help the San Antonio Spurs narrowly defeat the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Green helped most Spurs fans win the small feat of happiness, the 6-6 guard helped Money Mayweather win a lot more.
A lot more…as in $275,000.
Mayweather, who was in attendance at Staples Center, might have been the only non-Spurs fan jumping for joy. It surely wasn’t his biggest bet ever placed, but it was still a huge win. And this was actually a smart bet, too. The Spurs are 7-1 and the Lakers are obviously going through a coaching change after firing Mike Brown. That’s a much safer call than when Mayweather most famously lost $3 million by betting on Michigan against Alabama. The Wolverines lost that game 44-14, but Mayweather lost a lot more.
“Kobe Bryant is a living legend but I bet $275k on Spurs and Danny Green got me that green,” he tweeted.
Colts cheerleader offers to shave head if mascot raises $10,000 for leukemia research
TALENT
After leukemia treatments robbed Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano of his hair, Colts players banded together and shaved their heads in solidarity. That act unleashed a wave of support in the broader Colts community, where, empowered to make a difference and united by social media, fans also began to shed their hair. But it didn’t stop there.
Just when the momentum seemed to fade, “Blue,” the Colts mascot, loosed a daring tweet. If Blue could raise $10,000 for leukemia research, he pondered, would one of the team’s cheerleaders volunteer to shave her head as well?
Thats when Colts team cheerleader Megan step up and said to “count her in” and even would let Blue do the trimming.
If Blue succeeds in raising the $10,000 by November 25, Megan’s hair will meet its end that day, during the Colts vs Bills game. “Everyone knows someone who’s been affected by cancer. I’ve had close friends who’ve passed away because of it, family members… and we’ve even had a couple girls on our squad who lost their father to cancer,” Megan explains in “Operation: Shave Megan’s Head,” a video posted to the Colts website.
