The Kansas Jayhawks were upset in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday by #9 seed Northern Iowa.  Many believed Kansas, the overall #1 seed in the tournament, would win the entire thing.

So what happened to Kansas?  Well I think we can look directly at what happened at their last regular season home game against Kansas State when assistant coach Kurtis Townsend provided tickets to mediocre porn star Samantha Ryan to sit courtside.

Supposedly the two had randomly sat next to each other on the plane and discussed Kansas basketball.  Townsend then gave his business card to Ryan to contact him for tickets in the future.  This became a national story when Ryan tweeted about her great seats during the game.

So the Jayhawks simply fell victim to the Samantha Ryan Curse!! We will now see how long and damaging that plane ride was, not only for Kurtis but for Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk nation as well.

RELATED:  Porn Star Samantha Ryan Flies High for Kansas Jayhawks Tickets

A very well done animated & visual map of the 25th Los Angeles Marathon (2010) that starts at Dodger Stadium on March 21, 2010 and finishes at the Santa Monica Pier.

The course has a ‘landmark a mile’ as runners will pass all of the following, in order:

• Dodger Stadium
• Chinatown Dragon Gate
• Olvera Street
• Los Angeles City Hall
• Cathedral of our Lady of Angels
• Dorothy Chandler Music Center
• Echo Park Lake
• Barnsdall Park
• Pantages Theater
• Capitol Records Tower
• Hollywood & Vine
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Musso & Frank Grill
• Grauman’s Chinese Theater
• Chateau Marmont
• House of Blues
• Whiskey A Go Go
• The Troubadour
• Beverly Hills City Hall
• Rodeo Drive
• Historic Route 66
• Veteran’s Administration
• Palisades Park
• Santa Monica Pier

View Results of the 2010 L.A. Marathon

Printable Course Map

Official Los Angeles Marathon Website

Follow the L.A. Marathon on Twitter @lamarathon

LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis has responded to USC football coach Lane Kiffin beating her in the first round of Esquire’s ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’ bracket contest.

A dumbfounded Glubis tweeted yesterday on her Twitter account @natalie_gulbis

Kiffin, a egocentric male and #16 seed in the bracket, is beating the beautiful Gulbis, #1 seed in the sports bracket, by a wide margin. (See Voting Here)

Lane responded to Gulbis on his Twitter account @lane_kiffin

May the best girl win!!!

Super Bowl champion Reggie Bush took time off from his victory tour to make an appearance on Sesame Street on Tuesday.  The former USC star continues to be in high demand in the wake of the Saints heroic Super Bowl season.

Bush is a great ambassador and perfect fit for the city of New Orleans.

More Bush/Sesame Street Photos @ Sportscasm

I had the chance earlier today to talk with Playmate Kendra Wilkinson, star of The Girls Next Door and her own reality television show Kendra, and former NBA star and current TNT Inside the NBA studio analyst Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith on a wide range of topics including their participation in the ‘Sobe Lifewater Zero Inhibitions Bracket Challenge.’

In the interview (watch video above), I asked Kendra about being a new mom. Her son Hank IV was born on December 11, 2009. I asked her about how she dealt with postpartum depression, how she went about losing her pregnancy weight, and how far she has her hometown San Diego State University Aztecs advancing in the NCAA tourney.

(The SDSU Aztecs (#11) play the Tennessee Vols (#6) in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday in Rhode Island.)

With Kenny, I asked him about his alma mater, North Carolina, and how far he had them advancing in the NIT Tournament. The Tar Heels, loaded with talent and resources, missed the NCAA Tournament after going 16-16 after winning the National Championship last year.

I also asked him about columnist Jason Whitlock’s theory that the NCAA Selection Committee intentionally handed Duke an easy bracket to the Final Four. Whitlock’s theory is that Duke brings huge ratings and that in a TV contract year for the NCAA they want TV ratings to be as high as possible when it is time to renegotiate with CBS.

Kenny had a surprise answer when I asked him, as of today, who his NBA Rookie of the Year would be. I gave him the options of Tyreke Evans and Stephon Curry.  His answer was neither of the two and might surprise you on 55 different levels.

Both Kendra and Kenny spoke fondly of Sobe Lifewater and dared anyone to sign up and attempt to pick more correct NCAA basketball tournament winners than they do in their brackets.

Enter the Sobe Bracket Challenge to try to beat Kendra and Kenny with your NCAA basketball bracket picks.  Sobe is putting up over $10 million dollars in prize money.  You could even earn a chance to meet them if you can beat them with your b-ball selections.

Once you have signed up (It’s Free), be sure to join Kenny and Kendra’s groups to compete against them. You can also join the Bumpshack Group to compete against other readers of Bumpshack.com

Play Sobe’s NCAA Bracket Challenge Against Kendra, Kenny, and Bumpshack

Sobe Bracket Challenge Promo Photos of Kendra and Kenny

Follow Kendra on Twitter @KendraWilkinson
Follow Kenny on Twitter @TheJetonTNT

Erin Andrews video tape-peep hole stalker Michael David Barrett was sentenced to 27 months in jail on Monday by a Los Angeles judge.  Barrett secretly shot nude videos of Andrews, a sideline reporter for ESPN, in her hotel room over the course of several months.

The 48-year old Barrett, an insurance salesmen issued a tearful apology to Andrews after the sentencing, but Erin, visibly shaken, continued to unleash on the sexual predator after the sentencing.

“You violated me and you violated all women,” Andrews told Barrett. “You are a sexual predator, a sexual deviant and they should lock you up.”

“It’s my body on the Internet,” she said. “I’m being traumatized every single day for what he did. … This will never be over for me.”

After the sentencing, she said, “Thirty months isn’t enough.”

I truly feel for Andrews having gone through an experience like this several years ago.  Mine was way more threatening, blatant, and out of control evil.  Barrett should be punished severely, but I believe 27 months is a long time for this.  He did post the videos online, but Andrews never knew about him until he posted the videos.  He never threatened to kill her or harm her friends and family.

But it’s hard to say what is a fair sentencing in this case.  If I was the judge I’d probably have set the jail time in between 12-15 months, gave him a heavy fine, and put him on a probation from staying in hotel rooms without permission from his probation officer. I probably would have also tried to have a tracker bracelet put on him for a couple of years after his release.

Erin is one of the celebrity contestants on the 10th season of Dancing With the Stars.

USC Trojans head football coach Lane Kiffin has been included as a #16 seed in Esquire magazine’s ‘Sexiest WOMAN Alive’ contest.

The Trojans were trying to hire the second coming of legendary coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant but instead landed Lane ‘Bare’ Bryant. Bare as in bare resume.  Yes, I think Lane now has a nickname!

Kiffin, who many believe has been handed much in life without winning anything, faces #1 seed Natalie Gulbis in the Sports & TV portion of the bracket.

You can VOTE HERE for LANE KIFFIN as he tries to pull off the upset of Gulbis.

Lane is currently running away with what could be a Chaminade-esque upset of the beautiful Gulbis:

It’s always good to see my friends, that are Tennessee Vols fans, the team Kiffin abruptly left over night in his Mayflower truck, put their hatred and vitriol to good use in helping Lane out here.

For the record, I have no clue how Natalie received a #1 seed in this contest.

Don’t forget to Vote for Lane!!

Lane’s wife Layla Kiffin (photos) is truly sexy and could have won this contest legitimately.

In this charity tennis match to raise money for Haiti, retired legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi played doubles with current tennis studs Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Saturday night. Agassi was teamed with Nadal and Sampras with Federer.

All four players wore wearing microphones and interacted with each other and the crowd.

After a good shot by Sampras, Andre chided Sampras, “You always have to go get all serious, huh Pete?”

Sampras then, innocently and to a good laugh from the crowd, decided to imitate some of Agassi’s old mannerisms from back in the day, including his pigeon toed walk to serve.

It all seemed to be in good fun and humor to all in attendance except the grumpy ole’ meth-head. Agassi, very obviously pissed off, decides to start taking shots at Sampras for being a poor tipper. A fact that Agassi unloaded, along with his own drug use and fake mullet, in his autobiography, Open, that was released last year.

Sampras replied, “Awww that’s how you want to play huh?” Sampras then takes aim directly at Agassi’s head with a serve, when he was suppose to be hitting to Nadal.

Agassi, unaware that he is looking like a fool, goes on to say to Pete, “It’s better than being a valet driver and seeing you pulling up.”

Sampras then added, “So lets talk about our baggage! There we go, I’m a bad tipper. I’m sorry Barack Obama.”

Nadal and Federer stood silent and a bit awkward as the exchange took place.

Agassi seems dead certain on ruining whatever legacy he had in tennis. He seems like a bitter old jock that perhaps always envied Sampras, yet denied Pete’s seriousness and dedication to consistently beat him.

Andre seemed to think that the four were going to just lob some balls back and forth as he was the only one wearing long pants and looking like his feet were stuck in concrete.

Andre seems to have forgotten that ‘Image is everything!’ If Andre’s post tennis life were to be compared to that of an ex-president then he would be Jimmy Carter.

Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is seen in this video, obtained by Orangebloods.com under the Freedom of Information Act, going off on his Red Raiders football team.

In the first clip, Leach threatens to take housing away telling two offensive players.

“All you do is pull mediocrity out of one another. Well you’re going to live somewhere else. Last time I checked we are paying the f***ing bills”

In the second clip, he attacks the ‘God Squad,’ a group of players that led the team in prayers before and after the game.

“As long as we are going to have all these prayers out there on the field. As long as we are going to do all this other stuff. I want to make sure that is directed towards football you know.”

Leach was fired by Texas Tech on December 30, 2009, after locking wide receiver Adam James up for several hours in a utility shed while the team practiced. James was recovering from a concussion and was ordered by doctors not to play. Leach claimed the dark ‘closet’ (shed) was to help his condition out.

NFL star Ben Roethlisberger was reportedly photographed with the young woman, a college student, who accused him of sexually assaulting her inside the women’s restroom of the Capital City nightclub in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Ben and the unidentified woman were caught in a smiley, cozy moment (allegedly photo above) and of course Ben’s legal team is already gearing up a plan to use it as evidence to prove the woman is a liar. This woman is not the first to accuse big Ben of sexual assault (read full details here) but he will find a way out of his own mess once again.

Although the woman posed with the Steelers player in a photo and they looked happy and friendly, it doesn’t mean the assault didn’t happen. Even if the photo was a bit naughty and x-rated (which is not!), it still doesn’t mean the girl gave her permission for other sexual advances.

More On Ben Roethlisberger Sexual Assault Case
Andrea McNulty Claims Rape By Ben Roethlisberger (PHOTOS)
Andrea McNulty Might Actually Be Nutty
Big Ben Roethlisberger Accused of Sexual Assault #2

[image: tmz]

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia woman, the second woman to accuse ‘Big Ben’ of an unwanted sexual advance in the past year.

Police said the alleged assault occurred early Friday morning in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home about 30 miles to the north on Lake Oconee.

The two-time Super Bowl champion, who turned 28 on Tuesday, and some of his friends were seen visiting local restaurants and bars Thursday night.

Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman, a 20-year-old college student, and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault.

Las Vegas casino worker Andrea McNulty, in a civil suit last July, accused Ben of raping her in his hotel room, after asking her to come in and fix his TV.

One incident, especially with a pro athlete, can be attributed to a crazed woman or fan, but when a second incident pops up you have to assume where there is smoke there very likely could be fire.  Ben has had something bad happen each of the past three NFL offseasons that now we have to start wondering about his judgement and character or just admit openly that we hold white athletes to a lessor standard.

Three years ago Roethlisberger had a bad motorcycle crash and nearly killed himself because he wasn’t wearing a helmet.  Even escaping death Roethlisberger stayed defiant claiming he would continue to ride motos without a helmet.

And of course the two women that have come forward during the past year accusing him him of rape and sexual assault show that there is a Snoop Dogg-esque pile of smoke accumulating in the Roethlisberger character room.

If Roethlisberger were black we would have already painted him with the Pacman Jones evil incarnate brush, but Ben is white, successful, and plays football in a tough and admirable way so we like to pretend he is a hero regardless of the mounting allegations of impropriety.

Steelers fans won’t care as long as he is on the field in September and the Steelers continue making deep playoff runs.  The justice system will ultimately decide if Roethlisberger did anything wrong with these women, but we have seen all too often, especially with NFL stars, that preferential treatment is more often the norm than flaw in the system.

RELATED: Casino Worker Accuses Ben Roethlisberger of Rape

[image: wenn.com]

Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed on the bench and into strength coach Arnie Kander’s arms Friday during the Pistons game in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.

Stuckey had appeared normally walking off the court for the timeout at the 2:30 mark in the 3rd quarter.

Game play was delayed for over 10 minutes as medics tended to Stuckey, who was taken from the arena, by ambulance, to the Cleveland Clinic.  Stuckey’s vitals at the hospital were normal, but he was going to stay over night at the hospital to be monitored.

Contrary to some reports it is not believed that Stuckey suffered a seizure.

Stuckey is in his second year with the Pistons after playing his college ball at Eastern Michigan.

Troubled NBA star Allen Iverson’s wife Tawanna Iverson has filed for divorce from Allen after eight years of marriage.  The two have been friends and started dating back in junior high school.  She filed the divorce Tuesday in Fulton County (GA) Superior Court.

Tawanna is claiming irreconcilable differences but several NBA insiders have dropped hints.

According to several NBA sources with knowledge of the situation, Iverson has been troubled by excessive drinking.

Iverson, just this past week, quit on his second NBA team, the 76ers, after retiring/quitting from the Memphis Grizzlies back in November after just three games.

Iverson’s business manager, Gary Moore, issued the following statement:

“We’ll eventually issue a statement, probably around Monday or Tuesday, maybe before,” Moore said. “I don’t know. For now, though, just pray for us. Please pray for us. We need all the prayers we can get.”

Iverson is currently in Georgia attending to his sick daughter Messiah who has a serious and undisclosed illness. Allen and Tawanna have several children including a 15-year old and 17-month old.

Iverson has now had messy splits from the Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies, 76ers (first time), and Tawanna.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Allen, Tawanna, and especially Messiah.

Tennessee Titans free agent DE Kyle Vanden Bosch has agreed to a 4-year $26 million contract to join the Detroit Lions.

Vanden Bosch will make $10 million in the first year of the new deal.

Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

Kansas Jayhawks assistant basketball coach Kurtis Townsend found himself in an awkward situation today having to explain to America why he gave adult film (porn) star Samantha Ryan two courtside tickets to last nights Jayhawks game against rival Kansas State.

It would have flown under the radar except that Ryan tweeted several tweets during the game including one in particular thanking Coach Townsend for the great seats.

Townsend told columnist Jason Whitlock his version of the events that led to Ryan tweeting about her seat score:

“I met her on a flight from Los Angeles to Kansas City, back in December,” Townsend said. “I had no idea she was a porn star. She was Jamie (Doe), a former KU student who said she was a big fan of the Jayhawks. We talked on the flight. I was just being nice and gave her my card and told her to call me if she ever wanted to go to a game. I’ve never seen her since. I wouldn’t know what she looked like. I didn’t see her at the game.”

Townsend, who is married with a son and three daughters, says he is extremely embarrassed by the situation and apologized to his wife and daughters for the incident.  He claims he was just doing a random act of kindness.  He went on to say his porn name is Kurtis Blow and that his son gave him a high five and a “that’s my dad!”….just kidding!

Samantha told Whitlock (via cell) basically the same story Townsend had told him:

“I don’t tell people what I do,” she said. “My job never came up. We were on the same flight and talking. I was Jamie, not Samantha Ryan. I bleed Jayhawk spirit. When I was a student there, Jacque Vaughn and those guys went 34-2. I used to sleep outside for tickets like all the other students. I didn’t know any of the players, but my mom always wanted me to marry Raef LaFrentz. I’m a normal fan.”

“When the flight was over, I asked (Townsend) if I could ever get tickets. He gave me his card. That was it.”

Do I buy Townsend’s story? Not really.  Assistant coaches get limited numbers of tickets and this was perhaps the Jayhawks biggest game of the year.  For him to give them away to a stranger on a plane from weeks earlier takes a small leap of faith.  I doubt the two hooked up, but I am sure Townsend remembered the hot porn starlet sitting next to him on that flight and like ALL men had no problem granting her meager ticket request.

I have to think if Ryan had known this would have blown up to become a national story she wouldn’t have worn her mommy jeans to pose with Big Jay.

Ryan, 32-years old, has appeared in over 167 adult films since 2004 and has been nominated for a mouthful of AVN (Adult Video News) Awards including (2008) Best Solo Sex Scene for All By Myself and (2005) Best All Girl Sex Scene for War of the Girls.  She directed herself in the 2007 video Sorority Sluts: Iota Eta Pi.

She is 5′7″ with 34B-25-35 measurements.

[Have you ever noticed that anyone that does porn is labeled a 'porn star' regardless of their success in the industry?  Why are none of the girls ever called 'Best 6th (Wo)Man,' 'Scrub,' 'Bench Warmer,' 'Porn Veteran,' or the 'Human Victory Cigar?']

And now? Kansas Jayhawks Fall Victim to Samantha Ryan Curse in NCAA Tourney

Kurtis Townsend Basketball Bio

The story was first reported on The Big Lead.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Al Jefferson was arrested and charged with a fourth degree driving while impaired (DWI) at 1:08 am on Sunday (February 28). Al, who was initially pulled over for speeding, was booked into Hennepin County Jail and released at 3:19am.

The Wolves have suspended Al for two games following his arrest. Al quickly released the following statement: “I want to apologize to the entire Timberwolves organization, owner Glen Taylor, my teammates, coaches and Wolves fans everywhere for my actions last night. I made a very poor decision and I am truly sorry for that. As a leader on this team, I know that more is expected of me, and I am disappointed in myself.”

[image: tmz]

Former MLB star Barry Bonds’ wife Liz Bonds changed her heart once again and filed new papers to divorce her husband of eleven years at the LA County Superior Court on Thursday (February 25) [Barry & Liz Bonds Photos].

Liz filed for legal separation in last June but withdrew her petition one month later. This time Liz cites irreconcilable differences and asks for joint physical and legal custody of their daughter. The couple reportedly reached a mutual settlement agreement over assets.

[image: wenn.com]

Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder Scotty Lago, who was caught in a compromising position involving a girl and his precious medal (racy pictures here) at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, reveled he is pissed for being kicked off before the closing ceremony by the US Olympic Committee.

When questioned about the Olympic incident, Scotty said the girl who went down kissing and biting his medal is the same who tried to drag Olympic Champion Michael Phelps into a make out session a week ago (watch video below). Scotty claims he was set up!

This conspiracy theory would have been perfect if the girl in these two separate incidents was the same. It isn’t! The one who allegedly tried to hit on Michael is actually an Asian journalist, Laney Liu, who runs a gossip site, and the other one is another anonymous fan. The only thing the two girls have in common is the fact they are two very hot, naughty Asian females!

Scotty Lago Conspiracy Theory Video Below go on reading »

The Big Lead is reporting that ESPN, the World-Wide Leader in (Selective) Political Correctness, has suspended Pardon The Interruption’s Tony Kornheiser for his comments last week about ESPN SportCenter anchor Hannah Storm.

Tony simply stated his opinion about an outfit Storm had worn while anchoring the morning edition of SportsCenter last week:

“Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.  She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing? … She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.”

Does ESPN really want to turn into my Church of Christ high school that held us all to a strict dress code: girl skirts had to be below the knee, long pants, guys hair had to be above the collar (they would pull the wave and curl in our hair down to see if we were in violation, which lets this curly headed fro-boy in a world of trouble. A battle I won though)?  I doubt it.

Tony should be able to say what he wants about ESPN talent without fearing the corporate reaper.

Hannah does come across as an aging cougar attempting to squeeze into Britney Spears’ costume from her vintage rookie music video for ‘Oops I Did It Again,’ but she is visually refreshing between all of the repetitive sports highlights on SportsCenter AM.

ESPN should just steer clear of what its anchors are wearing in much the same way that Fox News does with their buffet of lip-glossed blonde bombshell hosts.

The ‘Worldwide Leader’ should avoid becoming ‘Big Brother’ and give its talking heads freedom to talk.  Just months ago ESPN banned Bill Simmons from Tweeting after his Tweet about an ESPN affiliate.

The length of Tony’s suspension will likely only be a few days.  Kornheiser apologized to Storm via his radio show the next day.

Figure skating Olympic champion Evan Lysacek is rumored to be dating Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin, who is in Vancouver to support him at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Evan won the gold medal on men’s figure skating on Thursday (February 18).

People Magazine confirmed the two Olympic champions, who met on NBC’s special Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular back in October 2008, have been dating since last summer. The story has been retracted. An article of their close friendship now replaces the love story.

Nastia said, “We met a couple of years ago at a gymnastics and skating show. We’ve gotten to know each other really well and [are] able to connect because there’s nothing like the Olympics. We both know what it takes to try for the ultimate dream of being an Olympic champion.”

“We just became really good friends and become really close since then,” adds Nastia. They attended the ESPYs together last July, and in August, Evan went to Dallas to cheer on Nastia during her gymnastics comeback at the U.S. Nationals. “It was cool but nerve-racking watching her compete – to be on the balance beam like that? For me, it’s easier to do it then watch it,” says Evan.

Nastia tells that finally watching her dear “friend” win the medal was amazing but that she was nervous. Evan also recognized he could not have done it without Nastia’s help.

“She been so helpful to me,” adds Evan. “She has been through it herself. If I’m having a bad day, she tells me to have faith and to keep going. Sometimes your support system has more faith in you than yourself. And when she tells me things are going to be fine, I really believe it.”

That sounds pretty much like love to me! Evan is probably not in love with Nastia yet but a close relationship like the two seem to share is bound to develop into something more serious. In a recent interview for ET, Evan said, “I’m single. I haven’t had any time for dating while I’m training. I’m lonely.”