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Not News of the Week

If it’s not worth talking about, then it must be the Not News of the Week.

Soccer is a pretty intense undertaking in most parts of the world. It’s so intense that a match for promotion into Peru’s top tier involved one team drugging the other. Hijos de Acosvinchos received energy drinks from coaches of opponent Sport Ancash during a break in play. When action resumed, four players on Acosvinchos started collapsing. It is alleged that the Ancash coaches gave the opposition drinks containing tranquilizers. Not surprisingly, Sport Ancash won the match and promotion pending an investigation into the incident. Ancash’s president has his own theory as to what happened. He thinks indigestion and overexertion caused the players to pass out. That’s a new one. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Happy Halloween

In the Halloween spirit, here’s Kim Kardashian in her Princess Jasmine costume.

Who doesn’t love a good conspiracy theory? (Well, the Huffington Post unless it has to deal with autism and vaccinations.) Michael Rosenberg looks at some of the most famous conspiracy theories in sports. (Sports Illustrated)

On to a scary link. The most popular costumes for tonight’s big festivities (and parties over the last couple of days) are the cast members of Jersey Shore. (Wall Street Journal)

ESPN’s proper journalism show E:60 takes a look at a legal performance enhancer that is very common place: High-caffeine energy drink. (ESPN)

After the jump, Rent is Too Damn High: The Album, scary entertainment links, and a video. Continue reading →

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Entertainment Link-Off: The Night Before Halloween

It’s near the end of October, so that means Halloween is here! While the usual horror fare hits the theatres this weekend, perhaps it’s a better alternative to just go party it up Halloween style or just simply go trick or treating. Kicking off this entry is Taylor Cole. You might remember her from the now defunct WB series Summerland. Anyway she’s currently in NBC’s The Event. The serialized drama is on a ratings freefall, but this is a good enough reason to keep the show on the air no?

After the jump more pumpkin ideas, behind the scenes on Scott Pilgrim, Disney thinks the old Tron movie is an embarrassment, the Fine Brothers spoil horror movies for you and see the Light Runner in action! Continue reading →

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OUA Morning Warmup: Quarter-Finals

It’s been a weird season in the OUA. Waterloo withdrew from OUA football for the season because of a steroid scandal. Toronto stepped up and lost out on a playoff spot on a tiebreaker. The defending Vanier Cup champion Queen’s Gaels got in the playoffs by winning that tiebreaker over Toronto. But all the drama of the regular season gives way to the drama of the OUA playoffs. Today, four teams do battle and only two will survive to see another week’s action. Continue reading →

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Amazing Jack-o-Lanterns

Halloween is just two days away. There’s just one problem for me, though. I haven’t carved a pumpkin yet. Now everyone knows how to carve a standard Jack-o-Lantern but I really don’t want to do standard. That’s why I looked up some amazing looking Jack-o-Lantern for inspiration. Maybe you should take note when carving yours. Continue reading →

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Lowdown BlogCast: October 26, 2010

It’s the third anniversary episode of The Lowdown. On October 30, 2007, The Lowdown went on air in London, Ontario from the campus of the University of Western Ontario. Today’s BlogCast may no longer be on air at the U of WO but both episodes are about roughly the same thing. The show starts with a look at the suspension of Rick Rypien and the inconsistent “supplementary discipline” handed out by the NHL. From there, it’s on to entertainment which contains two of Jackie’s singles of the week, It Came from YouTube and a familiar Worst of Music. Then the show gets sidetracked when Steve takes over talking about celebrities outkicking their coverage and the hypothetical trade of a heart attack for sex. Our series premiere and this episode are both NBA season previews. The boys talk about LeBron and Bosh taking their talents to South Beach. They also look at the Vegas over/under lines for all 30 NBA teams. This special third anniversary episode of The Lowdown is over two hours long. It’s the longest episode ever and is more that worth a listen.

Click here to download The Lowdown BlogCast.
Click here to download the podcast quality version.

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NHL Power Rankings: Week 4

It’s time for our second dose of the weekly Lowdown power rankings of NHL teams. We’ve got a new team atop the rankings because the Caps forgot how to score and save. The Central Division isn’t on top but they control the Top Ten. And the Leafs are who we thought they were. It really is a good week to be objectively rating hockey teams against each other. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: From Russia With Love

Here’s Russian not-so-super spy Anna Chapman. She’s looks like she’s straight from a Bond film.

Brock Lesnar lost the heavyweight title at UFC 3047 or something like that. But that wasn’t the big news. It looks like we’re coming close to Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker in a ring or octagon soon. (The Big Lead)

Now time for Dongslinger-ness. Favre has admitted to leaving the voicemails for Sterger but not sending the pics. There’s one problem with his stories… (Deadspin)

And in other athlete love stories (kinda), here’s GQ’s profile of Alex Ovechkin which includes Ovi and the intrepid writer hitting a club. (GQ)

After the jump, the NHL’s new slogan, a soon to be new NCAA sport, and Wrangler’s new open fly jeans. Continue reading →

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Not News of the Week

It’s time for the weirdest and wackiest stories from around the world. It’s time for the Not News of the Week.

One of my pet peeves while driving are old men on mobility scooters who assume that the road is theirs to use. Fortunately, a British plumber has fixed all our problems by building a mobility scooter that can go upwards of 69 mph. The man swapped out the scooter’s standard electric motor for a 125cc motorcycle engine. He’s also eligible to set a new world record for fastest mobility scooter but the Guinness folks say he can’t alter the appearance of the scooter. The plumber-turned-mad scientist says that the biggest problem with that is the scooter tends to get twitchy and hard to control as it gets up in speed. Well, at least when he retires, he’ll be the coolest pensioner in the old folks’ home. Continue reading →

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Top Gear on 60 Minutes

As frequent readers know, our favourite TV at The Lowdown Blog is BBC’s Top Gear. Taken at face value, it’s a show about cars and the people who drive them. Really, it’s about three middle-aged men (and a formerly anonymous racing driver) who act like school kids, drive really fast, say whatever they feel like and have a good time doing it. For whatever reason, the iconic news show 60 Minutes went over to England to profile the show and its hosts. After the jump, we have the full 60 Minutes story on Top Gear. Continue reading →