Daily Erin Andrews: Hot Chicks at Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII kicks off tomorrow evening in Tampa Florida. And while the whole world will be watching, one thing you won't see are these cuties, who are ready to kick their Super Bowl celebration off in a whole new way. Now that's what I call supporting your team.

Spurs vs. Suns My Favorite Rivalry in the NBA

There are a lot of great rivalries in the NBA. Everyone talks about the Lakers and the Celtics and the Celtics and the Cavaliers, and while those are great rivalries there is one rivalry that has grown over the past few years and sadly the rivalry does not get the notoriety that it deserves. The San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns are two Western Conference teams who have met plenty of times in the regular and in the post season and over the past few years things have gotten heated. Last night NBA fans were treated to another edition of this great rivalry.



The Suns and the Spurs have met in the playoffs on four occasions in the last eight seasons. Each one of those series have given us plenty of drama to watch. Who could forget Steve Nash being hip checked into the wall by Robert Horry with a hit that would have made Alexander Ovchkin proud.



That hit along with the craziness that followed led to plenty of suspensions and what many Phoenix Suns fans considered a tainted series.

However, the drama between these two teams has not been limited to just the post season play. Finally the NBA got it right when they had these two teams square off on Christmas Day and the whole world was introduced to Roger Mason Jr.



While many don't see this rivalry as all that important, but it is growing into one of the best in the NBA. in addition as it stands, these two teams are once again on a crash course to meet in this years playoffs. Buckle up, because this years series could go down as one for the ages.

An Opportunity Lost For USA Rugby

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the newest addition to the Walker-Sports family, HeavensGame.com. That's right we love rugby here at Walker-Sports and so does Heavens Game. They will be providing us with some great rugby coverage so please continue to check back in and see what they have to say.

News of Scott Johnson's move to The Osprey's and subsequent resignation from the USA Eagles coaching role will be met with varying emotions dependant on where your loyalties lie.

The Osprey's will go from strength to strength, Johnson knows many of the players through his days with the Welsh squad. That really isn't the issue here.

What of The Eagles?

This is a real blow for them. Not because they have lost Johnson, more because they have now shown that they are not capable of attracting the best coaches and retaining them for the good of U.S. Rugby.

The RWC is two and a half years away. Assuming that U.S. Rugby will seek out a coach with similar standing in the world arena they will now need to wait for the end of the Super 14/European CUp and domestic British seasons to end before they will realistically get an answer. Thus eating into valuable preperation time for The RWC.

Who would want the role?

The Eagles job has limitations, professional players are not as plentiful as they once were, lack of a high quality club competition etc..

The union has spent a lot of money on the junior structure in the country so how much money there is left in the pot is anyone's guess.

There are some candidates who would do an excellent job. Lofreda, the former Argentine coach, is one.

He is used to working within the constraints of having his players unavailable to him for long periods and getting the best out of an amateur club feeder system.

This decision is a vital one for U.S.Rugby if they want to have credibility in the rugby world.

Iguodala Dunks on Yao Ming

Okay, I know plenty of you out there have complained that we don't do enough basketball coverage on this blog. First let me apologize for that. Much of our time is occupied by the goings on in the NFL and in NCAA football. However while surfing the net today, I did come across this jewel of a highlight, and I thought I'd pass it along. Andre Iguodala makes a poster out of Yao Ming right here.

Random Super Bowl Facts

Okay, so it's been a while since we have done this, but I figured now is as good a time as any. I would like to welcome back my good friends from The Bad News Bloggers. This time my friend SSReporters did some research and he came up with some of these facts about this years upcoming Super Bowl.

Posted by SSReporters

Our first Super Bowl preview post of 2009! It’s the Steelers and Cardinals duking it out in Tampa for the right to claim the Lombardi Trophy. While Pittsburgh making it to the Super Bowl after Tennessee lost was not surprising, the Arizona Cardinals dispatching opponents that were supposed to knock them out really is. Let’s explore some of the possibilities for the winner of this game.

If the Steelers win…….

• It would be their 6th Super Bowl title, an NFL record, and they are the only team among the 3 who currently have 5 to have played in the Super Bowl in this decade.
• Mike Tomlin would be the 2nd black head coach to win a Super Bowl in the year that Tony Dungy, the first one to win it, retires.
• Charlie Batch would get a 2nd Super Bowl ring.
• Byron Leftwich, former top 10 pick now journeyman backup, would get a Super Bowl ring.
• Their last 3 Super Bowl titles would have all come against teams from the NFC West (Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis - then LA Rams, Arizona Cardinals).
• The AFC North would snag both Super Bowl titles held in Tampa in the 2000s (the Ravens being the other).
• It would be their 2nd Super Bowl won when Al Michaels and John Madden are the announcers.

If the Cardinals win….

• Only the Seahawks will be in the ringless category of the NFC West.
• Matt Leinart would get a Super Bowl ring doing nothing but get benched.
• Kurt Warner would be the first QB to start on two Super Bowl winning teams.
• The same applies to Warner if he wins MVP.
• They would become the first 9-7 team to ever win the Super Bowl.
• Edgerrin James would get a well-deserved ring.
• Every player on the team except Kurt Warner would get their first Super Bowl ring.
• They would be the first Super Bowl winning team from the NFC West since 1999, led by Kurt Warner of course.
• It would be the 2nd year in a row the NFC takes the title, something that hasn’t happened since the Cowboys and Packers took Super Bowls 31 and 32.
• Did I mention Matt Leinart would get a ring?
• Ken Whisenhunt will have beaten the same team where he was offensive coordinator of the 2005 Super Bowl team.

Stay tuned for more Super Bowl bonanza stuff.

Walker's Pre-Super Bowl Rants

It’s Super Bowl week. That’s right Super Bowl XLII get ready the big week is here. More importantly, Walker’s Rants is here and ready to get this party started early and often.

The Steelers offense will be the most surprising aspect of this year’s Super Bowl…

The NHL All Star game was actually a lot of fun to watch. Alexander Oviechkin is the truth…

The Mountain West is trying to earn an automatic berth into the BCS Championship series, if the BCS does not let them in, it will be official the whole system is rigged…

Can the Washington Wizards just take the rest of the season off? I know I won’t complain this is just brutal to watch…

How happy will MLB be when Ichiro gets close to and is able to break Pete Rose’s hit record?

After seeing an article on Fox Sports.com I realized two things. 1) I hate those “could so and so play in this era and dominate like they used to?” questions. 2) Yes Michael Jordan could play in today’s NBA and still dominate. The defense is less physical now. His biggest concern would be picking up offensive fouls…

Mickey Rourke is headed to WrestleMania 25. This is actually one celebrity match I am not opposed to. Rourke did appear to have some moves from his movie ‘The Wrestler’…

It’s good to see that the NFL is at least trying to work to address the issue of head trauma injuries to their players. As someone who has suffered far too many concussions in my time, this is an issue very dear to me…

Have you seen the commercial that NBC said was too hot for the Super Bowl?

Bobby Bowden signed a 1 year contract to come back and coach Florida State, and I say that college football is better for it…

Who the hell thought it was a good idea to let Monty be the captain for the Ryder cup side? He will spend more time moaning and complaining than we have ever seen before…

Tom Brady wants to play in the season opener next year. He may be able to play but he won’t be ready, don’t be surprised if Cassel is taking some snaps in those early games…

It’s been great watching what the Orlando Magic have accomplished thus far this season. However they are still a consistent scorer short of becoming an elite team in the East…

Of course Fitzgerald is willing to take a pay cut to keep Boldin around. He needs Boldin to help draw coverage away from him, and keep his numbers up…

Is it just me or is that Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl jingle stupid as all hell?

Is anyone watching the Australian Open? Yeah that’s what I thought…

The Redskins and the Cowboys have been far too quiet this offseason for my liking…

PETA's Super Bowl XLIII Commercial Too Sexy For TV

We all know what PETA's agenda is. In addition we also know what the Super Bowl is really about, Viagra and Beer ads. So I'm not too sure why this PETA ad was considered too racy for the Super Bowl. Nonetheless, I've gone out of my way to find the ad that the Super Bowl does not want you to see.

Super Bowl XLIII What's Your Favorite Recipe?

The Super is right around the corner, everyone around here at Walker-Sports is stoked. This is what we wait for all year, and we have a dream matchup this year too. One of the most storied franchises in NFL history and one of the worst franchises in NFL history will meet on the biggest stage of them all. It will be a day to remember. However, I am not here right now to break down X’s and O’s, I will leave that for someone else to do later this week. What I am here to do is talk about the perfect Super Bowl Party, or at least the perfect Super Bowl snacks. So take a look at some our favorite Super Bowl foods here at Walker-Sports and don’t hesitate to share your favorite recipes with us.

Buffalo Chicken Dip:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 cans (9.75 oz each) Chunk Chicken Breast, drained
½ cup hot sauce
½ cup blue cheese salad dressing
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
Assorted fresh vegetables and/or crackers

Directions:

1. Stir cream cheese in 9” deep dish pie plate until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Bake at 350°F. for 20 min. until hot and bubbling. Stir. Serve with vegetables and crackers.

Spicy Nachos

1 1lb Ground Turkey

2 ½ pound Turkey Sausage

3 2 packets of your favorite taco seasoning

4 1 Container Salsa

5 1 lite sour cream

6 1 bag cheddar cheese 1 bag Monterey jack cheese

7 1 back favorite tortilla chips

8 2 limes

Directions:

1) Brown ground turkey and sausage in skillet follow cooking instructions on taco seasoning pack. Too add extra flavor throw in 1 chopped clove garlic and 1 diced onion. Also add ground chipotle and ground cayenne pepper.

2) While meat is cooking arrange tortillia chips on a cookie sheet. Cut limes into halves and squeeze juice over chips.

3) Once meat is cooked arrange on a cookie sheet. Chips then meat, layer of cheese, chips meat then more cheese. Then place cookie sheet into 200 degree pre-heated oven. Wait till cheese is melted. Remove from oven let stand then adorn with salsa and sour cream.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer no lite beer
• 8 beef and Cheddar brats
• 8 dark rye sesame rolls
• Stone-ground mustard

Directions

Set up grill for direct cooking over high heat. Oil grill grate when ready to start cooking.

Place a large skillet on a grill or side burner and add butter. When butter has melted, add onions. Cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add beer and cover; cook an additional 10 minutes.

Remove cover from skillet and let simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.

Turn the heat on the grill down to medium. Place brats on oiled grill grates and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side

Serve brats hot on toasted rolls smothered with onions and topped with mustard.

Beverages:

Here at Walker-Sports we love a good party, no good party is complete without ice cold adult beverages.

Dr. Pepper & Soco

1 part Southern Comfort 1 part Dr. Pepper mix over ice and throw it back.

Miller High Life

Yes you read that correctly, no Walker-Sports party is complete without at least a case of the Miller High Life, bottles only.

So those are a couple of our favorite recipes feel free to join in and share. The more the better, and stay tuned for more Super Bowl coverage from Walker-Sports.

Daily Erin Andrews: The Aussie Open is Here

Okay, so I will be the first to admit that tennis is not exactly out thing here at Walker-Sports. To be completely honest I think it's safe to speak for all of us when I say we just don't care about about tennis. However, despite tennis being a fax sport, it does have its entertaining moments. Today we celebrate those moments. Really, we just wanted an excuse to put Serena Williams back on our front page.

Alexander Ovechkin in the 2009 all-star shootout competition

Ovechkin and Malkin have had one of the hottest rivalries on the ice over the past few seasons. However, on Saturday night they managed to put their issues to the side at least for a couple minutes. Check out these guys having a little fun on NHL All Star weekend. Also check out the skills on Alexander Ovechkin

Herm Edwards Fired in Kansas City

Even though it may be late in the post season NFL coaches are still on the chopping blocks. Today the Kansas City Chiefs gave the pink slip to Herm Edwards. Edwards went 2-14 last season and he went through a laundry list of quarterbacks. Oddly enough, Edwards being fired is actually a relief. Everyone around the league knew that Herm Edwards was on the block when the 2008 season came to completion. However, Kansas City was waiting to make a decision about the coach till after they hired a general manager. Last week Scott Pioli got the GM job and this week Edwards got fired.

Edwards goes out with a three-year regular-season record of 15-33 and one year remaining on a four-year, $12 million contract. Perhaps Edwards greatest legacy will come from the days when he was the Jets head coach and went on a great post game tirade.

On another interesting NFL note with Herm Edwards being fired so late in the season, it could potentially open the door for more firings. Mainly what I am thinking is down in Dallas.

Linemen and Tight Ends Leaving Early for the Draft

Welcome back everyone, glad you chose to join us once again while we continue our look at the players who chose to leave college early in order to enter the NFL Draft. Today we are looking at a few of the big guys on the offensive line. And since there are not too many linemen who chose to leave early I decided to throw in the glorified linemen the tight ends as well.

Andre Smith OT Projected Top 5: Okay so I thought Andre Smith may be responsible for one of the most bone headed moves in college football history when he hired an agent over is Christmas break and thus was banned from playing for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. However, after watching Alabama in the Sugar Bowl just being associated with that game only could have hurt Smith’s draft stock. Andre Smith is the best tackle in this year’s draft that goes for underclassmen and seniors. I can see him going to St. Louis with the second pick.

Eben Britton OT Projected 1^st Round: Britton is a great talent, a strong offensive tackle who plays strong in both the rushing and the passing game. Britton’s will likely go in the mid to late first round and that is only because Andre Smith and Eugene Monroe are sitting in front of him. Nonetheless Eben Britton will be a great pickup on any roster.

James Casey TE Projected 3^rd Round: James Casey may not be the most talented tight end in this year’s draft but he has the talent to get himself onto a NFL roster and he has the ability to stick on that roster. Casey is 24 years old so now is as good a time as any for him to throw his hat in the ring and make the best out of things.

Jared Cook TE Projected 3^rd Round: I find Jared Cook to be interesting; he was the one high point I saw on the South Carolina offense in their bowl game. I believe he has a lot of potential to make an impact on a roster especially if they run a two tight end set. Look for Jared Cook to jump up from this third round projection once he begins to go through the workouts and scouts get a look at his athleticism.

Andrew Davie TE Projected 6th Round: It seems like at every position there is a player who entering the draft and they have no real reason to be. Andrew Davie is that person in this group. I honestly don’t think he will be drafted. He did not put up any impressive stats while at Arkansas thanks to teammate D.J. Williams. He was a solid blocker especially down on the goal line, but that is not enough to get yourself a draft pick. If he is lucky someone will take him in the sixth or seventh round and he may be able to make a practice squad.

Daily Erin Andrews: Celebrating the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to the Super Bowl. A win in the big game will make the most successful team in Super Bowl History. But before we get ahead of ourselves and begin celebrating the victory that may or may not be, let's celebrate their AFC Championship victory. And what better way to celebrate that than checking out some of the hot Pittsburgh Steeler fans.