Tip-In Points Newsy Notes: Summer League-ing, Had Me A Blast

With Summer League over, I thought it might not be a bad idea to take a look at some of the big winners and losers from the three week series of exhibitions. Then I thought it might be a bad idea of people read this begin ranking their rosters according to player output in July. Then I remembered that I only have two readers and my parents don’t start ranking their players until mid-August. So we’re good.

Hey Kid, Can I Borrow This? Tour de France Rider Nabs Kid’s Bike

Jens Voigt was never a threat to win this 20-stage race. He wasn’t even a threat to win one of its 20 stages. He was so far behind when his front tire exploded, in fact, that no one in charge of helping him was even aware what happened.

And that is why this story involves a child’s bicycle.

Tip-In Points Isolation: Robin Lopez

The 2010-11 season is a ways off and TIPs will do its best to be the bridge to the end of October. (Bridge to the End of October is also the name of Oprah’s next book club recommendation – housewives unite!) For the next few months, we’ll be isolating a handful of sleepers and dissecting their worth to your team. Think of us as your fantasy “Antiques Roadshow,” with 50 percent fewer decorative ceramics.

I Don’t Think Marketing Means What Penn’s Marketing Team Thinks It Means

Penn State instituted a tradition in which 107,000 fans all agreed to show up at Beaver Stadium for one highly anticipated game each season clad top-to-tail in white. All white. Then they called the place the White House because Penn’s marketing people are paid to be clever like that. At least that’s what I assume they’re supposed to do. I don’t think we see eye-to-eye on it.

Favre Does What LeBron Did Only Slower … And For Years At A Time

How do you prefer your Band-Aid removed? With a quick, painful jerk that uproots body hair along with it? The kind that provides an agony that is much worse in the seconds leading up to the removal than the removal itself? Or do you prefer the cautious, calculated removal that distributes pain in measured doses for an elongated period of time? Because I assure you America, you’re gonna have to suffer through one.

Week Sauce: Where Those Olympic Mascots Have Invaded Your Minds And Bodies

Here’s a recap of the weirdest or most overlooked sports stories on the Interweb this week. Plus, as you’ve come to expect, if you think the top of this tattoo is creepy, you should see the bottom half.

Week Sauce: Where There Are 19 Worse Sports Movies Than ‘Air Bud’ (And They’re Not The Other 19 ‘Air Bud’ Movies)

Here’s a recap of the weirdest or most overlooked sports stories on the Interweb this week. Plus, as you’ve come to expect, we can probably preemptively add “The Karate Kid” remake to the list of the 25 Worst Sports Movies in the Last 25 Years.

Week Sauce: Where Tasers Hurt Less Than This Billboard

Here’s a recap of the weirdest or most overlooked sports stories on the Interweb this week. Plus, as you’ve come to expect, bears are finally past giving condescending warnings about forest fires.

Critic Al’s Football Week 12 Pick ‘Em

Game of the week: Patriots vs. Saints (-3)

Critic Al’s Football Week 11 Pick ‘Em

Game of the Week: Chargers vs. Broncos

Critic Al’s Football Week 10 Pick ‘Em

Game of the Week: Patriots at Colts

Game Points: Does It Count As Dunking Over Someone If An Arm Is Used For Leverage?

Last Friday, Pepperdine University student Keion Bell jumped over five of his closest friends and set the Internets ablaze with talk that it was among the greatest dunking feats of all-time. Game Points is here to debate the merit of such statements.

Game Points: Are Ks A Big Deal For Good Players?

On Tuesday, Arizona’s Mark Reynolds broke the single-season strikeout mark, a record he first set last year. This season, he’s also substantially increased his totals in every major offensive category including improving his OPS by over 150 points and more than doubling his steals total from last season. Oakland’s Jack Cust has led the AL in strikeouts for three straight years. He’s also led his team in home runs

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Game Points: Do the Williamses Need To Try More Than Four Times A Year?

Well, neither Williams sister made it to the U.S. Open finals and so now seems as good as any time to bring up the fact that the Williams – especially Serena – lollygag their way through small WTA events and earn their keep during the big four Slams. Except that this time around, they didn’t really earn

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