No this is far from a porn site (sorry creeps). It just so happens that the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks at home, just so happened to beat the No. 1 team in the country the Kentucky Wildcats 68-62 and ended the Wildcats 19 game win streak.

Led by diminutive point guard Devan Downey (30 pts) South Carolina (12-9) handed the nations latest No. 1 team their first defeat of the year a day after being named No. 1 for the first time this season. The 5-9 flash with the press breaker handle was too much to handle all game. He sliced and diced all through the Wildcats attempts to apply any type of pressure on the Gamecocks. Kentucky (19-1) a team with a ballyhooed freshmen class which includes blue chip big man DeMarcus Cousins (27pts, 12rebs) and potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft John Wall (19pts) could not gain control of the game as the South Carolina crowd was whipped into a frenzy which lasted all game and created a huge energy boost for Carolina’s players. Even with the low score the game was played at a fast pace. Kentucky went into halftime leading 29-26, but they just couldn’t combat all the factors going against them especially with the underdog Gamecocks gaining momentum with each passing minute in the second half.

With under a minute remaining in the second half the teams (specifically their two stars) went back and forth as Downey and Wall played can you top this. Ultimately Downey and his incredible ball handling skills (pause) helped his team get the lead and keep it. This game was just another example of how unpredictable and exciting a college basketball game can be.

Its late January and that means we’re getting closer to the greatest 3 weeks in sports, the NCAA Tournament and MARCH MADNESS. With final rankings undecided and teams fighting for a spot in the tournament, then conference play kicking into gear. I for one, can’t wait.

Zoom Kobe 5

So after the potentially risky decision last year to bring low top sneakers back to basketball, Kobe Bryant returns with the 5th edition to his signature shoe and the 2nd in a row that stops below the ankles.

I’m a big Kobe fan, but besides the obvious puppet hyperbole are these sneakers really hot?? What do you think

This time around it was Venus not Serena with the umm, racy choice of attire. First of all who wears yellow and brown together? Thats just a weird combination but at the Australian Open this weekend Venus Williams brought her fashion to the forefront as opposed to her imposing game. Not known for her on the court style and the attention grabbing garments which usually adorn her kid sister. Venus Williams stepped out of her element and onto the tennis court in Melbourne Australia with what was initially thought of as a risque version of show and tell. Thankfully or not it was soon discovered that Venus was not trying to revolutionize the game of tennis and how its played by going “commando” in a match. She was simply wearing flesh colored panties. It was surely a distraction for spectators and possibly opponents based on the ease in which she’s advanced in this year’s tournament. At any rate she’s brought some attention to a major tennis tournament being played halfway across the world and being televised late at night (3am on most nights) which hasn’t otherwise caught the attention of american sports fans for the most part. So unless Serena suddenly gets inspired to outdo her big sis and come to a match in a fishnet top or something to that affect. Tennis and its respectability, credibility and sponsorship is safe for now.

What’s going on in the world. Apparently Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson in a “kids don’t try this at home” moment, dozed off while shaving his head and accidentally or not shaved off his eyebrows. In any case this is clearly clearly CLEARLY NOT A GOOD LOOK!! Someone keep Mr. Woodson away from Atlanta’s reputed “dopeboys“.

the only noticeable difference between Mike Woodson and his separated at birth twin Mr. Potato Head is a hat.

I randomly came across this photo of former Chicago Cubs great, home run king and “suspected” steroid user Sammy Sosa a while ago but it still bothers the heck outta me….

The Marvin Gaye song “Whats Goin On” and a line from one of his songs “ohhh makes me wanna holler” suddenly come to mind.

It was rumored that this was the result of Sosa trying to bleach his skin. I honestly have not and will not research the details of this (sorry). What i will do is express what i think might’ve happened. Sosa was possibly auditioning or training for the part as Superman in an upcoming film or was it the role of Ricky Ricardo in a reprisal of I Love Lucy on broadyway. Who knows really, either way that’s not a good look.

Sosa with former rival and confessed steroid user Mark Mcgwire back in their hitting heyday of the late 90′s. Obviously things have changed since then.

In the last 7 days Lebron James has played Kobe, KDurant and DWade . All big wins. All big performances. All against his greatest contemporaries past, present and future. Along with winning yet another NBA Eastern Conference Player Of The Week and his Cavs having the best record in the NBA…. Bottom line Lebron has a lot to smile about.

WHOOP DI DAMN DO in my book (big Kobe fan here) but as Jay-Z once said.. “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t”.

So for now, Lebron fans rejoice in your guy’s good fortune and here’s all the numbers that matter from Lebron’s big week.

Cavs vs Heat
Lebron’s line: 32pts 9rebs 4asst
DWade’s line: 32pts 10rebs 5asst
Final Score: Cavs 92 Heat 91

Cavs vs Thunder
Lebron’s line: 37pts 9rebs 12asst
KDurant’s line: 34pts 10rebs 3asst
Final Score: Cavs 100 Thunder 99

Cavs vs Lakers
Lebron’s line: 37pts 5rebs 9asst
Kobe’s line: 32pts 2rebs 4asst
Final Score: Cavs 93 Lakers 87

HATER ALERT: At the end of the day Kobe has 4 rings and DWade has 1 so until further notice, you got some work to do Mr. James.

First of all i want to say i’m neither a fan of the Vikings or the Saints, but as most american males in their mid 20′s can attest to i am a football fan. In being a football fan my initial alliance is with my home team (specifically the New York Giants or in certain settings the Jets). When that doesn’t come into play i go with either the better story (for obvious reasons) or the best/most popular player and that becomes the point of interest for me. In both cases for the NFC Championship game that would’ve been Brett Favre. One of the most exciting, well known, and talented players ever to play the game, Favre’s career is truly legendary and this game one way or another would certainly add to his legacy. What with how it all came together.

Favre established himself as an all time great quarterback during his years of top level play including 3 MVP’s and a Superbowl championship with the Green Bay Packers. Then towards the end of that long stint, the grooming of his eventual replacement Aaron Rogers and his subsequent retirement from football afterwards. That was supposed to be the end. Eventhough that particular ending had to leave a bad taste in Favre’s mouth because of the interception he threw in overtime of that NFC Championship Game 2 years ago which ultimately helped the Giants win that game and get to the Superbowl (which they won btw in one of the greatest upsets/wins in the history of sports but thats besides the point). Then shocking everyone and coming out of retirement to play for the New York Jets?? That threw everybody off. His one year with the Jets was met with much fanfare. Brett Favre on a big city team (the biggest city at that) a team with playoff potential yada yada yada, but It didn’t work out too well in NY for Favre. He and the team started out good but faded towards the end. The team ultimately didn’t make the playoffs, his head coach Eric Mangini got the boot, then Favre retired again. Anti-climactic for sure but that was supposed to be the end….

future hall of famer Brett Favre who came back to lead a young Vikings team to within a game of the Superbowl looks like his career is officially on its last leg.

Then the rumblings started that Favre would/could come back with gasp… the Minnesota Vikings! The same Vikings team well known as hated rivals to Brett’s former team the Packers. The vikings obviously had great potential with their superstar running back Adrian Peterson, they had deep threats and talented players on defense. But the Vikings!! Packers faithful were up in arms at the thought, which was at one time inconceivable. Well Brett did come back and he did play for the Vikings. Saying, that this was “the most talented group of guys i’ve ever played with” and that his new team had a chance to win a Superbowl. He not only came back but he came back with a vengeance throwing 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions (a huge deal being that he’s the NFL career leader in both categories). He led the Vikings to a 12-4 record in the regular season and the no. 2 seed in the playoffs. Last week in their playoff matchup with the wildcard Cowboys who were actually favored to win he had one of his greatest games ever throwing 4 touchdowns no interceptions and leading the Vikings to a 34-3 blowout victory. Brett was a game away from the glory that was to be his destiny in coming back and taking his Vikings to the superbowl in his final year which would absolutely cement his greatness.

In a battle of the top two seeds in the NFC the Vikings would have their hands full with the no.1 seeded Saints and their own star quarterback Drew Brees. The Vikings scored 1st, then the Saints responded, then the Vikings scored, but the Saints responded again. It was a close game throughout. All the while it seemed as though the Vikings had a semblence of control and they would pull it out. Even with Brett throwing an early interception and the Vikings fumbling the ball 5 times it seemed as though the game was theirs for the taking. So with under a minute left in the game Brett and the Vikings with the ball the story book was playing out in my head like….

Brett really did it. He really took this team to the Superbowl. Then i started to think about the dream Superbowl matchup… Brett and his 3 MVP’s and 1 ring vs Peyton Manning and his 4 MVP’s and 1 ring. Who’s the greater quarterback? Wow this is gonna be the best Superbowl EVER!

then reality struck… After the Vikings had marched down the field and were in field goal position they ran. GOES NOWHERE ran again GOES NOWHERE. They had one more play but they’re called for a 5 yard penalty 12 guys on the field, uh oh. So instead of a manageable field goal they had a tough one. So on the next play with the Vikings a field goal away from going to the Superbowl Brett dropped back ran right (gulp) and with nowhere to go he saw receiver Sidney Rice and tried to gun a pass into him…. INTERCEPTION! and with that it was pretty much over. The Saints got the ball back eventually won the coin toss in overtime and eventually secured the win with a field goal in overtime. GAME OVER

People will talk about how the Saints were the better team and how the Saints franchise after all these years as also-rans and with the devastation of hurricane Katrina really deserved this win more than the Vikings. I don’t want to discredit that at all because it would be a valid argument. I might be the only one to admit it but when Brett Favre threw that interception the air went out of the Superbowl, just a lil bit. The Saints are a feel good story but Favre at 40 years old in the Superbowl with the Vikings no less, after this season and that game would have been an EPIC story. Everyone loves a good story a fairytale even, who doesn’t love the thought of the hero coming back for one last hurrah and going out on top. For Brett Favre unfortunately that’s not how this story would end but his is still the most compelling tale you could tell and that alone is saying alot.

With their top players not available due to suspension No. 16 Tennessee was supposed to get blown out by the No. 1 Jayhawks. But with their 76-68 victory this weekend, I don’t think the Vols got that memo.

Even in front of a raucous home crowd, you’d be hard pressed to find someone that gave the Vols a real chance to win their game this weekend against Kansas. Head coach Bruce Pearl’s team has been suffering from among other things a lack of personnel with last season’s leading scorer Tyler Smith along with 3 other key players being kicked off the team. Those 4 players are apparently under a police investigation for a series of criminal acts including weapons possession, speeding, drunk driving and possession of marijuana during a New Year’s incident. So with the Vols having to resort to the use of walk-ons it wouldn’t be a stretch to dismiss this game as a lose. Coach Pearl (known for his charismatic personality) however, would not use any excuses and had his team fired up and ready to upset a Kansas team stacked at every position with All-Americans.

Kansas, coming off a surprisingly close game against Cornell probably entered the game overconfident and licking their chops knowing Tennessee would be shorthanded. Tennessee using a full court press all game, got the jump on the Jayhawks and for the most part was in control throughout the game. The Jayhawks did make a valiant yet late comeback in the second half but put themselves in a hole too deep to get out of. Coach Pearl credited his team for coming together in a difficult time and putting forth a great effort against a tough opponent.

Sophomore Scotty Hopson led Tennessee with 17 points. The win however inspiring, doesn’t hide the fact that Tennessee will be without key players most likely for the remainder of the year. Hopefully the chemistry they used in the win will carry over, most likely their lack of depth will catch up to them at some point. If nothing else walk-ons everywhere will have a shining example of what could happen if you prepare to play and stay ready.

In a ‘don’t quit your day job moment’ for the ages NBA Hall Of Famer Charles Barkley shot a proverbial airball on Saturday when he tried his hand at acting as the host of Saturday Night Live.

Its been no secret that the former basketball great would be the host of the long running NBC show this past Saturday. What was unknown, (although everyone including myself figured Sir Charles would have a tough time at best) was if and how the show would use the charming tv personality. In his work on TNT’s popular Thursday basketball show with Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, Barkley comes off as witty, opinionated, and engaging. Barkley is often times the comic relief on that show with his well timed but mostly off center comments. On SNL though ‘da Chuckster’ was clearly out of his element. Starting with a monologue that was hard to watch let alone laugh at (unless you find a blind man trying to cross a busy street alone, funny) then continuing with Charles in a number of skits where he couldn’t “nail” the lines and we were left to laugh at sight gags like Sir Charles with a toupee on. It makes you wonder how much input the big fella had as far as creating skits with him clearly struggling to get his lines out and resorting to obviously reading the cue cards. Maybe the secret joke was to have Sir Charles embarrass himself in front of a national audience. Athletes as actors or better yet comedic actors is hardly a recipe for success, but in the annals of athletes past or present trying to not only act but be funny, Mr. Barkley might be the face of what not to do.

With this failed experiment over, i’m curious to watch Charles on his TNT show this Thursday. Atleast then we know for sure he’ll be in his element and he’ll most likely actually be funny. But hey, don’t worry Charles we can’t be good at everything. Hopefully moving forward you now know to stick to your script.

Whoa whoa whoa… i know what you’re probably thinking (how sexist, how irrelevant, how rude) but for all you tennis fans out there wondering about the secrets to Serena Williams’ (one of the top players on the WTA circuit) success she likes to train her body in not so typical ways. She likes to Jet Ski, the benefits are, adding strength to the core and…. ok ok this video has nothing to do with current sports news or a special Serena Williams workout but on a frigid winter day, as Will Smith once said its “just a bit of a break from the norm” lighten up people.