Linebacker Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers is joining Tom Brady on the sidelines after telling the team he’s going to undergo season ending knee surgery. Merriman played with two torn ligaments in his left knee in the season opener, but said he didn’t feel right and now he’s shutting it down. I wonder if he still had his party?

Damn… I feel bad for Lights Out, but what about all of the party goers? When Merriman throws a party it’s the shit.

Gotta love Hollywood.. If you watched until the end you got to see some chick from Wildin’ Out season four claiming to be a star. Somebody needs to pull ‘er to the side, sit her down, and let her know that playing charades on MTV does not a star one make.

If there’s a bright spot in the middle of the Merriman injury storm it’s that he gets to work on his Madden game now.

Kimbo Slice is living the American dream. He’s gone from street fighter to working out with LaDainian Tomlinson and being a pitchman for EA Sports. Here’s Kimbo’s latest commercial for Freestyle’s Facebreak.

The game looks cool and Kimbo got to hold down the spot instead of a brief cameo like he had in the Madden commercial.

The game has Freestyle in the name so you know Snoop Dogg is down with Facebreakers.

EA Sports combined random fans, NFL stars, Kimbo Slice, and bagpipes playing Amazing Grace in this commercial for the 20th edition of Madden football. The game’s Tuesday release helped shares of EA jump 2.2%, and guaranteed that video game junkies will remain without girlfriends through the winter.

Madden, EA Sports, commercial, Kimbo Slice

Take-Two, the company that produces Grand Theft Auto, has turned down a $2 billion dollar takeover bid from Electronic Arts. This doesn’t mean the deal is dead. In fact, it could take place April 30th, the day after GTA IV is released.. The two companies have differing opinions on the bid; Take-Two thinks it’s too low, and of course EA thinks it’s more than fair.

I don’t care what the two sides have to do, but this deal must get done. The combination of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc. could lead to the greatest video game in the history of video games.. Grand Theft Auto: John Madden.

Imagine a game with the GTA crime theme and an NFL storyline. Sorta like Playmakers for Playstation. There are endless directions to take this idea…

The game always starts easy so the first mission would be something simple.. Like using the Madden Cruiser to run over Joe Buck. After that, it’s on.

• Nashville: Take down the notorious Pacman crew that has been terrorizing local strip clubs. Score extra cash by letting the leader make it rain before you take him out.
• Dallas: Use any means necessary to keep the paparazzi away from Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. You can earn bonus points for rushing Terrell Owens to the hospital before he starts crying.
• Miami: Kidnap Ricky Williams from a yoga studio and get him to Dolphins’ practice before he retires or gets high.
• New England: Escort Matt Walsh from his hotel to the Federal building without Bill Belichick videotaping you or eliminating Walsh.
• Atlanta: Stomp out the Bad Newz dogfighting ring, but watch out for the killer pitbulls. This task is easy if you catch one of the low level guys that is likely to snitch on his boss.
• Cincinnati: One of the hardest levels in the game. You gotta keep every member of the Bengals outta jail for 48 hours.
• Las Vegas: A final showdown in a hotel room with O.J. Simpson. You’ll have to fight Jerry Porter and Levi Jones before you get up to the Juice’s room. Once you’re there, he’s pretty much impossible to put away. I suggest using a white woman to distract him before you make your move.

Who’s not buying this game? Nobody. EA, email me so we can straighten out my royalties.
Take-Two: EA Bid Wrong Price, Wrong Time. Courtesy of The Associated Press

Tags: John Madden, EA Sports, Grand Theft Auto, NFL, video games

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6sffEG94Uo[/youtube]

Hibachi!! Probably the best catchphrase for an athlete ever.. I dare you to name one greater. But is it hibachi or is it Gil? I mean, his swagger is so severe that he could probably yell “lawnchair” or “air freshener” and everybody would think that was the hottest ish ever… And I gotta say, EA Sports putting Gilbert Arenas on the cover of NBA Live 2008 was a genius decision. He’s loved by the video game companies’ target audience, and he’s not afraid to express himself… On the court, in print, in commercials, anywhere somebody will listen, Agent Zero is there. And God bless him for it.

Tags: Gilbert Arenas, NBA, Basketball, Video Games, EA Sports, NBA Live 2008

EA Sports is holding an election for the cover of it’s NFL Tour 2008. It seems like EA is rolling out a new NFL game every week. There’s Madden, NFL Street, NFL Head Coach, NFL Dogfighting, and the hardest game of all, NFL Black Quarterback. Here’s what EA’s latest installment is all about:

NFL Tour is a new NFL licensed video game that offers players a fun and engaging experience with the NFL and its talented players. Gamers will be able to embark on a fictional NFL road show. With real NFL players as teammates, players will travel across the country to play against each of the NFL teams in newly designed stadiums. As players defeat each of the NFL squads, they come one step closer to winning a NFL contract.

Yaaawwn.. Sounds like fun… The candidates for the NFL Tour are Jason Taylor, Shawne Merriman, and Dwight Freeney, and you can cast your vote here. If you haven’t decided on who deserves your vote, check out their ads.

Jason Taylor:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148a70NoaT8[/youtube]

“Follow me to victory.” Yeah not quite JT. Not quite.

Shawne Merriman:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO5qtU1UjBo[/youtube]

According to Mr. Merriman he’s tough, soo pretty, and he hears them cry when they see him coming. That was a step up from Taylor’s vid. Wooo!!

Dwight Freeney:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oqhzq2rt98[/youtube]

If Dwight wins, I hope they wake him up for the cover shoot. I’d have to give my vote to Merriman if it’s based on these commercials, Freeney if it’s based on “team success”, and Taylor if it’s based on bad acting.

Decision ’08. Courtesy of EA Sports

EA Sports Announces Cover Athlete Election. Courtesy of 360 Daily News

Tags: EA Sports, Video Games, NFL Tour, Jason Taylor, Shawne Merriman, Dwight Freeney

We’re all familiar with the Madden jinx whether we believe it or not. I’m a believer. Hell, I tried to have one of my ex-girlfriends put on the cover.. The EA peeps are kinda tight when it comes to the covers so I had to resort to voodoo… I guess my roots worked cause she just got sentenced to 45 days in jail…Anyways… There are some people that don’t believe in the Madden curse.. Namely the employees over at EA Sports:

While much has been made over the years for the “Madden jinx”, landing on the pack of one of EA’s high popular games has actually been a good omen for many of today’s biggest stars. Consider this:

Tony Stewart, a two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion, has appeared twice previously as an EA SPORTS spokesman. After covering EA’s NASCAR franchise in 2001, Stewart won the 2002 title, while the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet again won in 2005 after fronting NASCAR Thunder 2004.

After gracing the cover of MVP Baseball 2004, St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Albert Pujols went on to be named the MVP of the 2004 NLCS in leading the Cardinals to the World Series.

Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA title after Wade covered NBA LIVE 06.

Tracy McGrady (NBA LIVE 07) averaged nearly 25 ppg to lead the Houston Rockets to the NBA Playoffs, where they are knotted 2-2 in the first round with the Utah Jazz.

Need we mention Tiger Woods?

I can easily shoot down EA’s argument by saying yeah but:

• Tony Stewart tends to act like a jackass.
• The Cardinals got swept in the World Series and are playing like crap now.
• Dwayne Wade cried on the basketball court and his team got swept out of the playoffs.
• McGrady and the Rockets lost game 7 at home.
• Tiger Woods got married.

If EA Sports really wants to prove they don’t believe in the curse I think CEO Larry Probst should be on the cover of the next Madden. He would probably end up getting eaten by an alligator, and the Madden franchise would become second fiddle to Tirico Football.

Madden Jinx: EA Sports’ rebuttal. Courtesy of The Sporting News

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