This is why politicians shouldn't pretend to know sports unless they're positive they know what they're talking about.

Image by Mark Duncan / AP

Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan was visiting Cleveland Browns practice today (nothing like associating with winners!) when, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he decided to praise quarterback Brandon Weeden, "whom he recalled watching play for Oklahoma State." Of course while saying this Paul Ryan was pointing at Colt McCoy.

Image by Associated Press / AP

Image by Associated Press / AP

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The Lakers are supposed to be one of the best basketball teams ever assembled, but they can't even win a preseason game! Ha. What losers.

Image by Jae Hong / AP

GUESS WHAT.

What?

The Lakers are 0-4! Celebrate! *

* A few small disclaimers:

1. They're 0-4 in the preseason, which, just like in football, doesn't mean a damn thing. These are basically glorified scrimmages that the NBA puts on TV so we can pretend that our teams have unlocked that last, secret door that stood between them and an NBA championship: "OH HELL YEAH, I MEAN, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN X-FACTOR JOSH CHILDRESS IS GOING TO BE FOR US THIS YEAR." (Josh Childress currently plays for the Hoboken Nets. I mean, the Staten Island Nets. I mean, the Bronx Nets. Dammit.)

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The rare WNBA coach freakout!

In the third quarter of last night's Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was less than happy about a no-foul call. She got a technical for coming out onto the court and yelling at the ref. Then she freaked out.

Watch the video here.

The Lynx would go on to win and even the series at one game a piece.

Source: youtube.com

H/T Stephen Douglas at The Big Lead.

And the partnership gets the players some “special” benefits.

Amateur soccer players for Voukefalas, a small club in central Greece, wear advertisements for local brothels to help keep the team afloat financially.

Image by Nikolas Giakoumidis / AP

An amateur Greek soccer team, in the midst of an economic crisis that nearly folded the club, now sports jerseys emblazoned with the logos of local brothels "Villa Erotica,'' and "Soula's House of History," according to the Associated Press.

The owner of the brothels, elderly Ms. Soula Alevridou, promises the players -- all of whom have regular day jobs in addition to playing soccer -- a "special time" at her brothels if they win.

The partnership has understandably ruffled a few feathers, despite the fact that prostitution is completely legal in Greece. League administrators are trying to ban the uniforms, stating that they are inappropriate for younger fans (because, apparently, a foot-long patch of text that reads "Villa Erotica" is just way over the line.)

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And he put together one of the most impressive ten second periods the NBA has seen in a while. Now if only he could do this ever again.

In a preseason game between the Jazz and the Clippers, Ronny Turiaf took a jump shot and Jeremy Evans not only blocked that shot, but took it coast to coast and dunked on Ronny Turiaf.

And then Evans went back on defense and immediately knocked a pass out of bounds.

Watch it in video form:

Source: youtube.com

The embattled cyclist didn't have much to do with the day-to-day operations of the foundation anyways — though it is still legally named for him.

Image by Peter Morrison, File / AP

As soon as Lance Armstrong announced he was stepping down from his mostly-ceremonial chairman position at the Livestrong charity, a litany of companies announced they were ending their relationship with him. Nike, ever setting the trend, cut off their sponsorshop immediately. Anheuser-Busch said it would be over when their contract ran out. Radio Shack took its batteries and went home. And Oakley, the only sponsor that didn't definitively drop Armstrong, said it was "evaluating" their relationship.

But in many of these companies' stern press releases was an important caveat: the decisions won't affect their support of Livestrong.

None of Livestrong's corporate partners have wavered in their support of the cancer-battling group since the release of USADA's comprehensive report on the alleged performance-enhancing drug use of its founder. Nike and Anheuser-Busch statements noted specifically that they will still work with the organization.

Armstrong's reduced role, a spokeswoman for watchdog group Charity Navigator told BuzzFeed, is just a small hiccup for a well-run foundation.

"Unlike some of the other celebrity scandals, this has been going on for many years," said Sandra Miniutti. "The charity has a plan in place to deal with it, and we're seeing that plan in action with Lance stepping down."

The charity, she pointed out, has been moving away from Armstrong's image for years. It was founded as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 and still uses that name for legal purposes, but has increasingly adopted the Livestrong brand, which was introduced in 2003 as the name of the group's website, Livestrong.org. (Though it's associated with the charity, the Livestrong.com health site run by Demand Media is a separate for-profit endeavor.)

"I think they're doing the best they can to separate from him until they can rehabilitate his image," she said.

Last week Katherine McLane, Livestrong's spokeswoman expressed confidence in Armstrong's ability to continue his advocacy in Washington D.C., where the foundation has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby for cancer research.

But a source close to the cyclist said that Armstrong eventually decided to step down to try and keep his scandal from interfering with fundraising and day-to-day operations for Livestrong. "They were getting a million questions," the source said.

The truth is, sources close to the cyclist say, Armstrong never had much to do with the day-to-day operations of Livestrong anyways. The charity has run by President and CEO Doug Ulman since 2007.

However: Armstrong will still be on the board of what remains, officially, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. And a source close to him said he didn't believe Armstrong would be out of the motivational speaking and fundraising game forever: "I think it's too soon to make those kinds of judgments. I think people are enjoy making snap judgements but I think you have to look at American life, where things change pretty quickly."

People (and pets) get plastered in color at the happiest 5k on earth, which takes places in cities across the US.

When people run the Color Run, they get splattered with different colored powder at distance markers.

Source: media.komonews.com

Source: images.onset.freedom.com

When everyone finishes the race, there's a huge dance party and people throw even more color into the air!

Source: concreteplayground.com.au

Source: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2a8qkFb871r6bjs0o1_500.jpg

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I don't understand what's happening here!

This is Drew Gooden. He plays basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Image by Tom Lynn / AP

He's had some weird styles over the years. This one was called "The Ducktail."

This one didn't have a name, but I call it "The Terminally Ill Octopus."

But today, Gooden's Bucks teammate Marquis Daniels tweeted what may be the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO DREW GOODEN'S HAIR? Is that mold growing on his head? Is he getting hair plugs based on a recommendation from Tobias Fünke? Are nano-bots crawling over his scalp?

My best guess? I think Drew has an alien growing inside his head that is fighting to get out. This would explain his schizophrenic Basketball IQ, and total lack of understanding when it comes to normal hair styles. It would also explain his draft night suit, which is among the worst assemblages of fabric the earth has ever known.

But that's just my theory. I want— nay demand real answers.

Source: pics.lockerz.com

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We're waiting for Kobe's reply.

Shaq went on "Live with Kelly and Michael" to sing Prince's 1984 hit single "When Doves Cry."

Here's Prince's version. Advantage: Shaq.

(h/t Guyism)

In an email, the CEO urges Livestrong's community to “pull together.”

The email — subject line "Time to Show Our Strength" — was sent to mailing list subscribers Thursday morning. Armstong stepped down as Livestrong chairman on Wednesday.

The email doesn't mention Armstrong, and a spokeswoman for Livestrong would not say whether the donation drive was meant to combat any fallout from the charity founder's doping scandal.

Rather, she told BuzzFeed, the drive was a response to the increase in donations Livestrong has received in recent months — and the "show of support we have experienced over the last 24 hours," as Ulman wrote.

"It told us that people throughout the U.S. wanted to express their support for our mission – serving people and families affected by cancer," said Katherine McLain, vice president of communications for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. "We decided to make it easy for them to do just that with an organized drive."

Livestrong sends out a few emails to subscribers each month. The last one came on Oct. 2.

LINK: Livestrong Is Steering Away Clean From Lance's Crash

BuzzFeed's Nina Mandell on Livestrong's efforts move on from the scandal.

Could high jumpers revolutionize short-yardage situations in the NFL?

Image by Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

In the Falcons’ Week Two victory over the Broncos, running back Michael Turner — who weighs 247 pounds and runs the 40-yard-dash in 4.49 seconds and can build up quite a bit of momentum — failed on consecutive plays to advance the single yard his team needed for a touchdown. On first-and-goal from the one, Denver stopped Turner for no gain on a dive play over left guard. On second down, Turner was again stuffed on the left side. On third down, Atlanta seemed to have called the same play — but this time Turner tried jumping over the defensive line instead of barreling through it. It worked: six points.

Might things not have been easier for Atlanta if they’d tried jumping on first down — and given the ball not to the stout Turner, but a spring-legged high jumper, a "vertical back" who’s trained to get his body as high in the air as possible?

Offenses definitely have room for improvement on short-yardage plays. Data provided by Advanced NFL Stats show running backs last season successfully converted on third- and fourth-and-one only 61.8 percent of the time. Turner was actually pretty good at it, succeeding on 11 of 16 attempts in those situations last season. But even notoriously bruising runners often fail: Brandon Jacobs was 5 of 12. A better system, one that achieved, say, an 85% conversion rate, would be worth an extra point per game for a team’s offense, estimates Chase Stuart of Pro-Football-Reference.com and FootballPerspective.com — a not-insignificant two touchdowns per season.

It's clearly possible to jump over a pile of players who are set up to defend a plunge into the line; that's why backs like Turner use the leap as a change of pace. The question is whether a high jumper could get up far enough that a defender who knew what was coming couldn't stop him. It seems plausible. NFL defensive linemen top out in the six-and-a-half foot range and need to crouch slightly to stand their ground against blockers. The crowns of their helmets are likely no more than six feet off the ground. World-class high jumpers regularly clear seven-and-a-half foot bars; the record is a little over eight feet.

So it seems plausible. Moreover, it's been done before. The Godfather of vertical backs is Robb Riddick, a running back and former college high jumper who the Buffalo Bills drafted in the ninth round in 1981. Riddick didn’t make much impact until his final season in 1988. That year, he split carries with a rookie Thurman Thomas. Thomas took the bulk of the carries. But the Bills harnessed Riddick’s jumping talent and frequently gave him the ball at the goal line. He scored a career-high 12 touchdowns that season, 10 of them from the opposition’s one-yard line (and two from the 2-yard line). Riddick simply jumped over the pile. Watch him in action 24 seasons ago (skip to the 7:40 mark).

Source: youtube.com

Riddick jumped headfirst, but greater height could be achieved with different technique. Of course, athletes using the optimal Fosbury Flop method take a 10-step approach on a curving path that brings them from running directly at the high jump bar to running parallel to it before leaping — impractical for a football game. But Joe Klim, a University of Pennsylvania assistant track and field coach who specializes in jumping events, guessed a good high jumper could still achieve roughly 95 percent of his normal capability using a shorter four-step Fosbury approach, taking only the four strides that make up the curved portion of the J. “A pretty good athlete who can jump about seven feet could probably go six-foot-eight on a four-step approach,” Klim said.

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To see what a Jeter-less future might look like for the Yankees, the answer may be in the Jeter-less past.

Image by Paul Sancya / AP

It's hard to remember a time before Derek Jeter manned his spot on the left side of the Yankees' defense. But now that his ankle decided to self-combust (when reached for comment, Derek Jeter's ankle said, "DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD I AM?!" and hung up), and Number Two is watching the playoffs with A-Rod in the dugout, it seemed like a good time to remember the days without Jeter. Sure, maybe this ankle injury isn't career-threatening, but he's been in the league for 18 years. Unless he plans frequent trips to Germany for those weird Kobe Bryant surgeries, it's all going to end sooner or later. So to get a glimpse at that future, let's look at the past. Warning: It's scary. Before Jeter (and after the Bucky Dent-era), shortstop in the Bronx was a scary place.

Roy Smalley

Even when Smalley won the vacant shortstop position, he was still considered a temporary stand-in for a longterm replacement. The team had identified Smalley as 'the Yankees' third baseman of the future." But it turns out they must have bought their crystal ball on the cheap in Chinatown. Smalley battled injuries, couldn't hit for power, and in 1984 was traded to the White Sox. So much for the future.

Tim Foli

It turned out that the Yankees hadn't prepared much of a backup plan, and they turned to the once-highly touted prospect, now-mediocre veteran Tim Foli to continue to buy them time as they sought real answers. Foli had found his way into the Angels doghouse the previous year for not suiting up during a rain delay (in his defense, sitting in your underwear while it rains is one of life's great pleasures), but by the time he got to New York, he gave the Yankees nothing more than flexibility. Sure he could man every infield position, but he wasn't turning heads at any of them. Ultimately the Yankees found the most value in Foli in the form of currency -- he was traded for minor leaguer, and goatee-enthusiast Jay Buhner.

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Welcome home, guys!

After a 95-win regular season and second consecutive divisional crown, the Yankees' bats cooled off in the playoffs and New York was obliterated by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series. It was an acceptable yet forgettable season by Yankee standards, and now the team heads into what is sure to be a tumultuous offseason. Naturally, the New York Post threw some salt in the wounds today.

This is the front page of today's New York Post.

This is in reference to Alex Rodriguez trying to score some numbers in game 1 by writing on a baseball and throwing it to a couple of women seated over the dugout. He was unsuccessful.

Via: nypost.com

So, the strongest field-goal kicker in the world is, like, 17. What have you done with your life?

Austin Rehkow, a senior at Central Valley High School in Washington, kicked a 67-yard(!!!!) game-tying field goal last night

Source: youtube.com

To put that in perspective: no kicker in the NFL has ever kicked a field goal longer than 63 yards, and that's only happened three times. Rehkow outdid that by a full four yards. That is insane. Apparently, there have been three other kicks longer than 67 yards by high-school kickers, but none in over a decade. And although Rehkow doesn't currently have any full scholarship offers, that could change after this.

Check it out: here's where Central Valley lined up for the kick. They haven't even crossed midfield yet.

And here's the razor-thin margin by which he cleared the crossbar.

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Jonathan Vilma's lawyer may have a smoking gun.

Jonathan Vilma’s lawyer argued in court papers filed this week that the NFL has allowed so-called “bounty-programs” in the past, citing a 1996 report where multiple players spoke about a “Smash-For-Cash” program. The program, which is eerily similar to what the Saints are accused of doing (though Vilma and other players accused of taking part in it deny that there was even such a thing) was deemed kosher by the NFL.

In the ESPN report, Reggie White says the only person upset by the Smash For Cash program was his wife, whom he had to ask to write a multi-thousand dollar check to cover his share of it.

Teams, in fact, according to the report used to pay "big money" for hits, but that was deemed illegal under salary cap rules.

However, many things (like helmet-to-helmet hits) that were legal in 1996 are illegal in the NFL today.

In other Bountygate news, former Saints' DT Jimmy Kennedy denied ever telling anyone that there had been a price on knocking out Brett Favre. "I had no knowledge about any alleged bounty to reveal to anyone, and I never informed anyone that I did. Contrary to the false information disseminated by the NFL, Coach Childress approached me and asked me if I knew anything about such an allegation, and I told him the truth: I did not. I had no knowledge of any such alleged bounty," he wrote in a statement distributed by the NFLPA.

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Because the face paint industry will never die.

The "I couldn't afford a helmet" Face

Image by Getty Images / Getty Images

The "What else are we going to spend our time doing? We live in Green Bay" Face

Image by Patric Schneider / AP

The "Yeah, I did used to host Man Vs. Food. Turns out food always wins in the end" Face

Image by Rick Scuteri / AP

The "I'd be happy to hear your confession. No, I swear I'm definitely a real bishop" Face

Image by Bill Feig / AP

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Or a smart ass Magic fan decided to vent about his team, but either way it's hilarious.

LINK: Read how various teams responded to the ad over at Ballerball.

Ladies and gentlemen, the return of Aaron Rodgers.

DO Bow Down Before Aaron Rodgers Once Again

Image by Patric Schneider / AP

Remember when people were talking about how disappointing Aaron Rodgers has been in 2012? HA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I mean, look no further than the fact that the fantasy-football-playing public was turning on a dude after he had two 10-point-or-lower outings as proof that people have no patience or sense of proportion. Three weeks later, Rodgers is on a string of 24-plus games and that 38-point monster last week, and his stats for the year are preposterous: 16 TDs, 4 INTs, 273 yards per game. This knowledge probably doesn't have a ton of impact on your fantasy life — if you have Rodgers, start him; if you're playing against Rodgers, most priests are happy to apply last rites — but it is a lesson: don't freak out if a stud player has a couple of down games. These guys are human.

DON'T Give Up On Cam Newton And Matt Stafford... Yet

Image by Michael Perez / AP

In ESPN fantasy leagues, Matt Stafford and Cam Newton were the fourth and fifth quarterbacks picked overall, on average, which put them as teams' second-round selections. There's a certain amount of pressure that comes with that high of a draft spot: the big contracts, the media attention, the cars, the drugs, the girls. (We're talking about fantasy football, right?) And so far in 2012, Stafford and Newton have not built on their fantastic 2011s. Stafford's the 16th-scoring QB, and Newton's the 13th — they both trail guys like Christian Ponder (in most leagues, he wasn't even drafted!) and Andy Dalton (19th QB off the boards.)

However, there's reason to keep hope. Stafford hasn't played well, and it would be foolish to suggest otherwise — he hasn't thrown more than one score in any game yet this year — but his DYAR, a Football Outsiders metric that tracks how many yards better a quarterback is than a replacement-level player, and also adjusts for the strengths of various defenses, is actually 9th-best in the league. That's because he's faced a brutal slate of defenses. And he has been putting up the yards, so the touchdowns will hopefully follow soon. Err on the side of caution with Stafford this week against Chicago and next week against Seattle, but expect to regret it if you drop him.

Cam's case is a little less clear-cut. Newton's problem is consistency, not potency: in his last four games, he's put up 25, 9, 30, and 7. And while he predictably lit up New Orleans and struggled against Seattle and New York, it makes less sense that he went for 30 against the Falcons. Any week, Newton's capable of dropping 25-plus; you just have to be wary of those off-weeks, and he isn't matchup-immune.

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At Friday's Leeds-Sheffield Wednesday game a Leeds fan decided to express his displeasure with the opposing goalie.

According to noted soccer photographer Craig Norwood, the man who assaulted the goalkeeper is 20-year-old Aaron Cawley. He's a huge fan of the Leeds football club, but has been banned from every single football stadium in England since he was 16 and was found to be involved in a giant riot that took place outside a match. Cawley broke that ban to go to this week's game, only to illustrate the very type of behavior that got him in trouble in the first place. This would be the fourth time Cawley has violated his ban, proving they should probably develop some kind of super ban to keep this guy out of the stands.

H/T This Is Gloucestershire and The Mirror.

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The Saints' Joe Morgan impossibly avoids three tacklers to score, flipping one of them over his back. Football at its best.

Late in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Drew Brees heaved a deep throw to undrafted receiver Joe Morgan. Morgan went to school at a college called Walsh. So, not exactly a blue-chipper, though he did have an 80-yard touchdown earlier this year against the Packers.

After catching the ball, Morgan did this.

Let's break it down. First, after the catch, Morgan stops short and spins out of an arm tackle, letting the Bucs player fly by.

He miraculously keeps his knees from touching the ground as his body spins around so that he's facing the other way.

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