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Derek Jeter Signs Baseballs For His One-Night Stands

@jordans_life — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:45:37 +0000

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Nothing says “that was really special” like giving the girl you just slept with an autographed baseball. Apparently, that’s Derek Jeter’s way of showing his gratitude for sex.

According to the New York Post, Derek Jeter “is bedding a bevy of beauties in his Trump World Tower bachelor pad — and then coldly sending them home alone with gift baskets of autographed memorabilia.”

Imagine this ladies: after an incredibly charming date with one of the richest athletes still playing, you do the walk of shame holding a gift basket of Derek Jeter swag. The only thing missing is an “I banged Derek Jeter” t-shirt.

To add to the hilarity of this story, Jeter accidentally pulled the trick on the same girl twice. The source from the article says ”he basically gave her the same gift twice because he’d forgotten hooking up with her the first time!”

When you consider the risks of sleeping with a professional athlete, there are worse things they could give you. For example, herpes is never a good parting gift. Furthermore, I don’t think I would mind if a date left me with an adult loot bag containing thousands of dollars worth of collectables.

Not the classiest move in the world; however, the girls sleeping with Jeter probably aren’t expecting a relationship. After all, the last woman to land Jeter was Minka Kelly.

Demi Lovato Hits a Home Run with National Anthem

Natalia Buia — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:13:01 +0000

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Demi Lovato has has a rough year with rehab, break-ups, and unwanted rumours. But the 19-year-old has tons to celebrate right now. Her new album, Unbroken, just came out and the Texan native was invited to sing the national anthem at Game 5 of the World Series.

Seen sporting a Texas Rangers jersey and blazer, Demi stood in front of over 50,000 people, showing off her great vocal range.

Demi told MTV News she was over the moon when approached with the offer.

“Getting to do this in my hometown of Dallas, Texas, is such a dream come true, because I’ve been to these Rangers games many times. I’ve sat in the nosebleed sections where you can barely see anything and now I’m going to be singing on the field. That to me is such a dream come true and it represents my journey and how far I’ve come.”

Check out the video of Demi below. Talk about a comeback!

Charlie Sheen Injured During Baseball Practice

andPOP Staff — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:29:38 +0000

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Charlie Sheen was injured today while taking practice at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

TMZ reports Sheen ruptured the ulnar nerve in his elbow during batting practice. He can barely pick up the bat now.

With all that being said, injuring his ulnar nerve is probably the least of his medical problems.

Britney Spears Goes Little League

Megan MacKay — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:50:50 +0000

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And no, we’re not talking about her new record!

Pop sensation Britney Spears was photographed at her son Sean Preston’s little league game in Calabasas last week with current boyfriend Jason Trawick…and ex-husband K-Fed.

This is the first time Spears has been photographed publicly with her babydaddy since the couple split in 2006…and it looks like K-Fed is still packing on those pounds and rockin’ those cargo shorts!

Sounds awk-tastic! Do you think they swapped Britney stories?

Click HERE to see the pix!

Review: MLB 2K10 – Where Are My Peanuts and Cracker Jacks?

Aaron Cappe — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:42:04 +0000

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I’m going to get something off my chest right out of the gate: I haven’t been a fan of baseball nor baseball videogames for the last decade or so. Watching the game can be downright boring, and playing a virtual representation seems to result in little more than timing mini-games and a few button presses.

Then along comes Visual Concepts’ MLB 2K10. For the first time since I last held aloft a piece of lumber, here’s a video game that actually made me feel like I was playing the game again. Everything feels crisp, clean, and connected – as if you are actually on the mound dueling with the batter, desperately trying to keep the sweat out of your eyes as you look down another full count with the bases loaded.

The presentation of the 2K10 is spot on, from the commercial bumpers during the telecast, to the voiceovers calling the shots during the games themselves. Having spent enough time running bases and trying to make double plays, I have yet to hear a repeat canned soundbite, which was a great surprise and welcome change from previous years’ entries. You get the best of both worlds from Visual Concepts’ setup – all of the stats and random personal facts that hardcore hardball fans crave, but enough of the “seen on TV” presentation that it flows wonderfully into you actually stepping into the batter’s box to see just how far you can crank that sliding fastball.

Your options for gameplay seems to have improved significantly as well. You can play any MLB game currently being played, or set up to be played on a specific day through MLB Today. It’s always fun to see if you can do a better job than the big boys at there own game (or feel as humbled as they do when things don’t exactly work out the way you wanted them to). Home Run Derby is included, and is pretty much exactly what it claims to be: hit homers, anything else is an out, get the most points. My Player is the heart of the game, and you’ll definitely find yourself spending the majority of time grinding away through this mode. You create a rookie phenom, pick your favourite franchise to be drafted into, and then set off to try to become an MLB legend.

Skill points are awarded just about every time you hit the field. Hit a single, and you get points for hitting. Make an assist, and you get points for fielding. Cross home plate with a run, and you get points for baserunning. Strike out the side, and you get points for pitching. You can see where this is going. There are special objectives and clutch situations which provide extra points: you might be called upon to record an out in under five pitches, or work a hit-and-run when standing on first. You take part only in the plays that your player is involved in, which allows you to zip through entire seasons while still playing nearly every game on the schedule.

However, all the action you see depends on the position you choose, of course. If you play a pitcher, you’re right in there with every toss from the mound, and you can even get called up to the majors after making a measly five starts in AA. If you assume the role of a catcher (my personal choice, as that was my position back in the day), you just take your at-bats and step into the field every now and then to try to pick off steals for second, or bunts for easy outs at first. Unless you’re completely committed to your role, you will get tired of seeing the same few animations repeated over and over. Still, the role-playing aspect is superb, and you’ll find yourself feeling a real team vibe.

My Player is not only addictive – you can actually see your player working their way up with each improvement you give to their stats, adding a very nice RPG element to an otherwise good sports game – but very unforgiving at the same time. Especially if you choose anything other than a pitching role. The game becomes very tedious trying to fill out the criteria for being called up the majors. Want a power hitter but not too interested in a Willie Mays Hays? Good luck, because you need to get your baserunning speed up to 65 before a call will come down from any GM for you. This system needs a little tweaking, but overall there’s a lot of potential for something great over the next season. As long as the balancing act is polished up for next years’ release, My Player has the potential for drawing you in and keeping you there for a long, long time.

Visually, the game is beautiful. Player models are spot on, and facial expressions are not only visible this time around, but actually reflect what’s going on during the game. Pitcher has the bases loaded? Not only will you see a reaction on the player model, but you will feel the intensity as your controller vibrates to show how much pressure you’re actually feeling. This definitely makes controlling your pitches more difficult, but adds to the realism of the game – you have to line up where you want your pitch to end up while you’re setting up, then have to lock in your context-sensitive pitch. If you make a messy stick-move, or enter it too fast or too slow, you could throw it in the dirt or into the umpire’s face. This really adds to the dynamic of the pitcher-batter duel, and draws you even further into the game, allowing you to glimpse what it would actually be like to be out there on your own.

A few aspects of gameplay feel off though. At the default slider settings, everything in the field is too frantic when you’re out there, which comes as a bit of a shock when compared to the duel between pitchers and batters. Speed isn’t so extreme that you can’t make plays, but ball and player movements have been accelerated so that catches and throws often look unrealistic. Weird animations make this effect worse. It’s just about impossible to steal a base with anyone but the best runners in the MLB. You have to get off to a perfect jump: go a split-second early, you get picked off. A split-second late, and you’re gunned down by a throw that always seems to be dead. It’s immensely frustrating, particularly when you’re doing baserunning drills early on with a My Player prospect.

But these problems pale in comparison to issues with online multiplayer. The games are lag-filled, and seemingly impossible to get into, and if you do manage it, expect your opponent to quit out on you at the earliest opportunity.

MLB 2K10 is a very good baseball game but still needs to be refined in a number of areas, which keeps it from knocking the ball out of the park. Even still, the franchise has certainly taken a huge leap forward and sets the stage for next year’s game to make a legitimate run for the title.

Graphics: 4/5

Gameplay: 4/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay: 4/5

Interview: Dead Letter Chorus’ Cameron Potts on Everything from Snow to Baseball

Sara Harowitz — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:55:33 +0000

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The average Canadian wears one coat at a time in winter. Granted it’s probably the warmest coat ever known to mankind, but it’s still just one.

But to get Cameron Potts, one-fifth of the Sydney, Australia’s band Dead Letter Chorus, through the season, he needed three.

“It’s been a shock for sure,” Potts told andPOP of the Canadian cold. “I’m a bit of a wimp … I think I brought three jackets and at one stage I was wearing all three.”

Dead Letter Chorus, made up of Potts and four others, is on a cross-Canada tour in support of their debut album, The August Magnificent. It was the band’s first time seeing snow fall from the sky.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “We were just sitting having breakfast, and all of a sudden it started snowing!”

Dead Letter Chorus is made up of unique sound and equally unique dynamic. Mixing country, alternative, folk and pop, their music is often described in Australia as “new folk.”

Another feature that sets this band apart is the fact that they have two lead singers: Potts and Gabrielle Huber (who is also Potts’ girlfriend of over five years). Add Michael Faber on guitar, Lee Carey on percussion, and Tristan “T-Bone” Thorne on bass, and you’ve got a sound both powerful and serene, unique and relatable.

“It’s really good for us because it breaks up the set. It doesn’t ever feel like we’re doing too much of the one thing,” Potts said of sharing the lead singer duties with Huber. “We write songs with each other in mind with what they could be doing in the song.

“We write songs for each other lyrically as well. It’s kind of good in that way. It helps us be a bit versatile.”

The August Magnificent, which was just released in Canada a few weeks ago, has been out in Australia since 2008. Touring Canada gave the band a chance to re-connect with the songs that were going slightly stale.

“They feel good again,” Potts said of the songs. “Probably six months ago we’d been playing them for 18 months and we’d done so many shows in Australia that we were ready to do something new. We weren’t too sure how we were going to go coming back and playing some of the same songs but they’ve been great.”

And fans can look forward to more Dead Letter Chorus music very soon. Currently working with Canadian producer Les Cooper, the band already has about 17 songs to choose from for their sophomore album. And getting new music out, both here and back home, is a major priority for them once this tour wraps up.

“We’re going to go home and record,” said Potts. “We’re definitely going to release a single mid-year.”

Still, the band is enjoying being immersed in Canadian culture for the time being. And while they prefer sinking into the swing of a city instead of doing the tourist aspect of travelling, Potts admits they would have loved to go to a baseball game if time had permitted.

“We wanted to go to the Rogers Centre to see a baseball game indoors because that would have been hilarious,” he said, a look of childish wonder and curiosity in his eyes. “That blows my mind: baseball indoors!”

Free Demo of The BIGS 2 Now Available Xbox LIVE

Josh Salem — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:14:53 +0000

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With the MLB All-Star game coming up, 2K Sports has released a free demo of their upcoming The BIGS 2. This demo, currently available on Xbox Live and soon to be available on the PlayStation Network will support two players (locally only), and allows players to try out the new Batter’s Wheelhouse and new power ups. The demo will alow players to play a three inning game as either the American League All-Stars or the National League All-Stars as well as be able to play the home Run Pinball mode in an all new Las Vegas venue.

Scheduled for release July 7, 2009 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, and the Wii; The BIGS 2 has improved their visual effects as well as adding a variety of new game modes including season mode and Become a Legend mode. The BIGS 2 also brings with it improved player animations, easy to learn controls, and more.

Screenshots: The BIGS 2

andPOP Staff — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:55:45 +0000

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We’ve got more screenshots from the upcoming game The BIGS 2. The BIGS 2 is scheduled for release on all major consoles on July 7, 2009.

[Show as slideshow]

Review: MLB Power Pros

Josh Salem — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:57:21 +0000

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Power Pros may not mean much to us on this side of the pond but for those in the know, this game has its roots. Konami’s Power Pros series has been on more then ten systems, multiple game variations and been around for a loonnnng time. For those North Americans waiting for this series to hit shelves here, the wait is over. MLB Power Pros Baseball, for the Nintendo Wii was released October 2nd, 2007 with everything fans of the series expect and extras out the wahzoo.

Down to the basics, this is a baseball game, same rules, same objective – but this is where Power Pros branches off from other baseballers. The first thing you notice about this game is that although the intro video is stunning, fast paced and gets you excited, all the players are little cartoons with big floppy feet, no nose, mouth, and legs. As a Major League branded game, the only way to tell what player you are using besides the name on their jerseys would be facial hair and eyes… which are actually pretty accurate! The rest of the graphics are pretty standard for that of a PS2 (which makes sense as this game is also available on the PS2) or Gamecube game, a sort of mix between detail, smoothness, and lots of pretty colours. Although realistic, stadiums (when did the Skydome get renamed the Rogers Centre in Toronto?) are filled with paper fans and poorly detailed walls. Sound is as acceptable as any other baseball game. An announcer, bat cracks, cheers and boos fill out the audio aspect simply and effectively.

The menu upon beginning the game is filled with simple, colourful squares offering up all the options and game settings a baseball fan could ever want. In fact, it’s all a bit overwhelming to the average gamer. Not knowing where to begin, it felt like the first day of high school all over again. This game WILL last you a long time. There is just so much to do-from playing exhibition games and home run derbies, to creating your dream team complete with up to 10 personalized Mii characters. As well, you can collect pro points from winning games to buy new stadiums, playing styles, uniforms and even baseball cards of real players, this game has plenty to keep you busy. To top it all off you can play against different difficulties of AI or a friend.

The biggest shock I had coming into testing and reviewing this game was the control setup. Thinking along the lines of the ever fun Wii Sports baseball game, I assumed the majority of this title would be played using the motion sensor and IR of the Wiimote. I was incorrect in this assumption. Not only is there no point-and-click action to decide what menu choices or pitching style to execute, but beyond the Wiimote option that lets you play swinging the controller like a real ball or bat (which includes homerun derby, the ability to import your Mii’s into the game and exhibition mode) there is no motion in this baseball ocean. The upside to this is that you have choices in control. You can either plug in the nunchuck or classic controller accessories, or go one step forward and two steps back and use your dusty Gamecube controller to play. Reminiscent of old school gaming, the controls are very similar to a NES baseball game in its simplistic yet effectively tight setup.

This baseball game has more options and extras in it than I have seen in any other sports game in my reviewing career, and with this many gameplay types, it feels more like three baseball themed games in one. If you enjoy anime, or baseball, or are looking for a game that covers almost all aspects of baseball, look no further then MLB Power Pros Baseball. If you hate the cute cartoony look and old school controls, try something like The Bigs by 2K games, and a baseball manager simulator, and a college life simulator, and…

Graphics: 3.0/ 5.0
Gameplay 3.5 / 5.0
Sound 3.0 / 5.0
Replay value 4.5 / 5.0

Kris Benson, Crazy Wife Anna to Divorce

Max Whiteside — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 13:48:24 +0000

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Baseball’s nuttiest wife will now just be a regular hot crazy lady.

Anna Benson, wife (for now) of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, wants a divorce.

She filed for divorce in Atlanta this week, claiming the marriage is “irretrievably broken.”

Kris thinks the New York Mets traded him away because of his wife.

During their seven-year marriage, she:

-posed nude
-created her own web site
-dressed provocatively at team Christmas parties
-called New York tabloids and told them gossip about herself
-regretted giving $1 million to a 9/11-related charity after her husband was traded out of New York (“They should give it back to us if they trade us”)
-said she would sleep with the entire Mets team, including bat boys, is Kris ever cheated on her.

Anna Benson made Kendra Davis look like Mother Theresa.

And now the marriage that sitcom writers wouldn’t dare to try to emulate will be over.