LT's Music Video

Written by Ben Pogany

Wow.

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Buddy Rich vs Animal Drum Battle

Written by Ben Pogany

Here is some random awesomeness, just for the hell of it...

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Peyton Manning and The Godfather III Effect

Written by Ben Pogany

Call me crazy, but the first thing I thought of upon hearing the news of Peyton’s dismissal was that scene at the end of The Godfather, when Abe Vigoda’s character is pleading for his life after selling Michael out to the rival Barzini Family. “Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.” But hey, maybe I’m being too harsh in comparing the NFL to the criminal underground. At least in the Mafia, this breach of loyalty is the exception instead of the rule, a virtue instead of an outdated vestige from a bygone era. (And when a bounty is taken out on someone, I’ll bet the compensation’s better.)

However, what’s to follow in this Manning saga is more likely going to resemble the third Godfather than the first. Peyton wasn’t just a great player, he was an Indianapolis institution. Seeing him in a different uniform, like with Montana, Favre, and Rice before him, seems almost unthinkable. Call it the Godfather III effect. Same guy we've known all along, but it just feels wrong. It’s that final chapter most fans wish they could pretend never happened.

In today's cutthroat NFL, the franchise lifer is becoming more and more of an endangered species. All along, it seemed like Peyton could be that guy, a throwback to the age before athletes were little more than mercenaries. Sadly, even he couldn't overcome business as usual. Here are the few remaining relics for whom it always felt exactly as it should.

The 25 Greatest NFL Players to Spend Entire Career With One Team Since The Dawn of Free Agency (Roughly 1990-Present)

Tom Brady* (New England Patriots)
Barry Sanders (Detroit Tigers)
John Elway** (Denver Broncos)
Dan Marino** (Miami Dolphins)
Bruce Matthews (Oilers/Titans)
Ray Lewis* (Baltimore Ravens)
Troy Aikman (Dallas Cowboys)
Michael Irvin (Dallas Cowboys)
Jonathan Ogden (Baltimore Ravens)
Ed Reed* (Baltimore Ravens)
Jim Kelly** (Buffalo Bills)
Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis Colts)
Michael Strahan (New York Giants)
Troy Polamalu* (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Brian Urlacher* (Chicago Bears)
Derrick Thomas (Kansas City Chiefs)
Steve Atwater (Denver Broncos)
Darrell Green (Washington Redskins)
Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Eli Manning* (New York Giants)
Walter Jones (Seattle Seahawks)
Ben Roethlisberger* (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Reggie Wayne* (Indianapolis Colts)
Terrell Davis (Denver Broncos)
Hines Ward* (Pittsburgh Steelers)

* Active

**Career began pre-1990

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The 10 Greatest NBA Franchises

Written by Ben Pogany

1) Celtics-Founded in 1946. 17 championships, 21 conference championships, and 33 hall of famers.
Defining Voice: Tom Heinsohn
Defining Coach: Red Auerbach
Legends: Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce
2) Lakers-Founded in 1946. Formerly the Detroit Gems and then the Minneapolis Lakers (Hence the name Lakers from the "Land of 10,000 Lakes.") 16 championships, 31 conference titles, and 18 hall-of famers.
Defining Voice: Chick Hearn
Defining Coach: Phil Jackson
Legends: Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant
3) Bulls-Founded in 1966. 6 championships and 6 conference titles.
Defining Voice: Johnny Kerr
Defining Coach: Phil Jackson
Legends: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Bob Love, Jerry Sloan, Derrick Rose
4) Pistons-Founded in 1941 as the Fort Wayne Pistons. 5 championships and 7 conference titles.
Defining Voice: George Blaha
Defining Coach: Chuck Daly
Legends: Isiah Thomas, Bob Lanier, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, Dave Bing
5) Spurs-Founded in 1967 as the Dallas Chaparrals (Chaparral refers to a type of shrubland). Became Texas Chaparrals in 1970 before taking present name in 1973. 4 championships and 4 conference titles.
Defining Voice: Terry Stembridge
Defining Coach: Gregg Popovich
Legends: Tim Duncan, George Gervin, David Robinson, Avery Johnson, Sean Elliott
6) 76ers-Founded in 1939 as the Syracuse Reds before changing their name to the Nationals in 1946. They took their present title in 1963, after the year the Declaration of Independance was signed. 3 championships and 9 conference titles.
Defining Voice: Marc Zumoff
Defining Coach: Billy Cunningham
Legends: Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Maurice Cheeks, Hal Greer
7) Warriors-Founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors before moving to San Francisco in 1962. Took their present name in 1971. 3 championships and 6 conference titles.
Defining Voice: Tim Roye
Defining Coach: Al Attles
Legends: Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Chris Mullin, Nate Thurmond, Tom Meschery
8) Knicks-Founded in 1946. 2 championships and 8 conference titles. One of only two teams present at the NBA's founding to remain in its original city, the other being the Celtics. Knicks is short for knickerbockers, referring to a men's trouser popular in New York City in the early 20th century.
Defining Voice: Marv Albert
Defining Coach: Red Holzman
Legends: Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Patrick Ewing, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere
9) Rockets-Founded in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets before moving to Houston in 1971. 2 championships and 4 conference titles.
Defining Voice: Bill Worrell
Defining Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich
Legends: Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, Calvin Murphy, Rudy Tomjanovich
10) Hawks-Founded in 1946 as the Buffalo Bisons. Became Tri-Cities Blackhawks, then the Hawks of Milwaukee, St. Louis, and finally Atlanta in 1968. 1 championship and 4conference titles.
Defining Voice: Bob Rathburn
Defining Coach: Richie Guerin
Legends: Dominique Wilkins, Bob Petit, Jason Collier, Lou Hudson, Cliff Hagan