Monday's A.M. Hot Clicks
Hello, friends. Brett Smiley of Weekend Hot Clicks with you for a couple of days. Follow me on Twitter and send tips or limericks to basmiley@gmail.com.
Yankee Stadium on Ice
Monday's A.M. Hot Clicks
The NHL's Stadium Series continued on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, where the Rangers beat the Devils 7-3 after a one-hour delay caused by sun reflecting off the ice. The game attracted a crowd of over 50,000, most of whom, like me, probably had a difficult time at first processing a hockey game with the Yankee Stadium facade as a backdrop. (Scroll through the gallery.) Most everyone enjoyed the spectacle. Said the dude who's been playing the game a really long time, Martin Brodeur: "... It was the worst ice I ever played hockey on."
The 56th Annual Demon Awards
NFL-bound Alabama QB AJ McCarron opined on Twitter that some of the Grammy performances "seem to be really demonic." Sure, Lorde was a bit twitchy, and Katy Perry summoned a "dark horse" for her so-named song, but otherwise the show felt pretty demon free. (Fansided rounded up the best Grammys GIFs.)
The Pro Bowl Happened Yesterday, Too
Team Rice edged Team Deion 22-21, a score that does not include Antonio Cromartie's Auburn-esque missed-field goal return for a touchdown as time expired. Terrell Suggs jokingly gave chase without a helmet as both sides walked onto the field. Who cares, right? I'll tell you who: The poor souls who bet on the 1.5-point favored Team Rice.
Lovely Lady Of The Day
Monday's A.M. Hot Clicks
Today's lovely lady is Chelsea Goff, a former bikini model who recently got engaged to Braves first basemen Freddie Freeman. Busted Coverage has a gallery from her bikini days and you can find Chelsea (plus a heavy dose of cats) on Twitter.
If You Had to Guess Which NFL QB Would Turn Up at Royal Rumble
Clearly the answer is Ben Roethlisberger. Don't be alarmed by the clown behind him.
Mike's On Somebody's Body Forever
In other words, someone got a Mike Francesa tattoo. Later today, a caller will tell Francesa (he doesn't pay attention to this stuff) and Francesa will derisively state that the person needs his head checked.
The Idiotarodorama NYC
Monday's A.M. Hot Clicks
The spirited, boozy shopping cart race through New York City known “Idiotarodorama NYC," previously known as the Idiotarod, went off with a slight hitch this year after representatives for the dog sled race Iditarod threatened legal action against the "Idiots," allegedly for tarnishing the Alaskan race's good name. Mustard spoke with an IDIOT Labs representative and a race participant about this year's festivities.
Extra Mustard: How did this year's race go?
Dr. Smith (Director of Communications, IDIOT Labs): It was brilliant. Everything we could have wanted it to be. The course was short enough that the bad-to-worse weather wasn’t a fun deterrent. There was ample inside time at our warm and welcoming host venues: Red Star Bar, Berry Park, East River Bar and The Delancey. The checkpoint activities were nearly as elaborate and silly as were the teams and carts. And as far as I know, there were no issues with any sort of unwelcomed authorities, neighbors, organizations, etc.
Costume Jim, racer with Kostume Kult's Team BuKKraken (winners of best costumes): The last leg of the race in particular, crossing the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan, was sublime. All of the teams were pushing simultaneously toward the finish line with the sideways whipping snow and slippery, slushy-ice surface challenging us. Us, all in our ridiculous costumes pushing our idiotic carts. Whereas most people can’t imagine putting this much effort into something so pointless, to us, it generates more energy to keep our creative underground subculture vibrant and ties us together as a community.
Extra Mustard: How did the strife with the Iditarod affect the mood at this year's race?
Dr. Smith: There was talk of giving the law firm an award at the ceremony, but as a general rule, winners must actually be present. But speaking of “present,” we may have been gifted in an odd way. Not only were the racers out to show their cunning, craftiness, skill and alcohol tolerance, there was a new feeling of being the underdog. And our racers are the kinds of people for whom the idea of underdog is a source of strength and inspiration.
Costume Jim: Certainly what started as an unpleasant surprise has turned into a rallying point to defend parody and its role as a vibrant part of our social discourse.
Odds & Ends
Robinson Cano demonstrated the perks of getting repped by Jay-Z: A nice seat at the Grammys ... How exactly did Matthew Stafford get lead singer status in this 5,000-yard club graphic? ... Cameron Wakewill never turn down a Pro Bowl invitation and here's why ... Robot hug (via @cjzero) ... Inspired Pro Bowl bikini streaker ... (via @_Marcus_D) ... The Kendrick Lamar-Imagine Dragons performance that got everyone fired up ... And Taylor Swift's dancing that made everyone facepalm ... Golfer Morgan Hoffmann has Anchorman-themed wedges ... Beast Mode arrives in New Jersey in the form of a Beast Mode shirt.
Carlos Zambrano Went Nuts During a Venezuelan Winter League Brawl
As he is wont to do. [H/T Next Impulse]
Celtics Honor Pierce and Garnett upon Boston Return
Pierce's tribute played between the first and second quarters.
That's Gonna Leave a Mark
It's staged, but this rugby mascot's hit is legit. [H/T Next Impulse Sports]
