When other players and coaches, like Randy Moss and Bill Belichick, have made hasty exits after losses it’s been big news. Some of the same publications who chastise other people for doing it were making excuses for Manning; And you have to search the nooks and crannies of the Web to find out that Manning refused to shake the hands of the players who beat him. Pretty classless of the reigning NFL MVP.

Share on Facebook

Everyone has seen the coverage and I’ve seen the (many) reports from colleagues out in the field. Victims are facing such terrible conditions, lacking the most basic needs while I am at home in Portland fussing over who has the best coffee in town.

You can follow Kody on his Mercy Corps blog.

Share on Facebook

If they’re so interested in protecting kids and families, why did they show ads with kids slapping and punching adults? Watch a video chronicling all the Super Bowl ad violence after the jump.

Hat tip to Towleroad for the video.

Share on Facebook

What were they thinking? The Focus on the Family ad that aired during the Super Bowl aimed at fighting abortion instead promoted domestic violence with Tim Tebow tackling his mother. When it aired, everyone at the party looked at each other with a “what in hell did I just see” look. You can see it after the jump.

The first Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad aired on CBS at about 2:10pmET today. It starts with Pam Tebow elluding to the suggested abortion of her son Tim, and then the Heisman Trophy winner joins her.

PAM: I call him my miracle baby. He almost didn’t make it into this world. I can remember so many times when I almost lost him. It was so hard. Well he’s all grown up now, and I still worry about his health. Everybody treats him like he’s different, but to me, he’s just my baby. He’s my Timmy, and I love him.

TIM: Thanks Mom, love you too.

Bi-zarre:

Share on Facebook

Check out the video after the jump.

Hat tip to Alwaysafin.

Share on Facebook

I already made my pick: Colts by 7. Who do you have? And why? Take our poll:

Share on Facebook

The Leafs observed a moment of silence and dedicated their 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators Saturday night to Brendan:

“We really wanted to win for Brendan, Brian and the whole Burke family,” said Leafs coach Ron Wilson, who has been a close friend of Brian Burke since they attended Providence College together in the early 1970s.

Brendan’s Miami (Ohio) team did the same after a 10-4 win over Lake Superior State:

“There’s really no words to describe the emotions,” MU coach Enrico Blasi said. “All the boys just really wanted to do this for Brendan. I think it shows the kind of person he was, what he meant to us.

“It was a difficult 24 hours for everybody,” he continued. “I think we all know in the locker room that he was with us tonight.”

A Facebook page remembering Brendan popped up quickly and already boasts over 1,000 members. One member wrote:

Devastated and heartbroken. Thank you to Brendan for your courage and inspiration, thank you to Brian for showing us how wonderful and supportive a father can be. May the benevolent creator bring comfort to all those left behind.

From The Sporting News:

Sadness is not quantifiable, and there is no amount of homage that can replace any lost son. But that is the wonderful truth of this story: Brendan Burke’s sexuality made him no more or less dear to his father and family. It was just part of who he is. Perhaps that is the greatest lesson of the Burkes’ story.

Brendan’s older brother talked to the Boston Herald, which called Brendan ‘Fearless’:

“He was a blueprint for how to be happy and successful,” older brother Patrick Burke said from the family’s Canton home. “He was genuine, he was loving, he was kind, he was fearless.”

Share on Facebook

Brendan Burke.

What a tragic story — Brendan Burke, 21, was killed in a crash on a snow-covered road in Indiana on Friday. Burke came into national prominence from an ESPN.com piece about him in November. The story detailed the love and acceptance Burke got from his dad, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, after coming out as gay.

Brendan Burke, 21, Canton, Mass., and Mark A. Reedy, 18, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., died at the scene of a two-vehicle accident at U.S. 35 north of Economy. The accident was reported at 2:50 p.m.

Investigators said Burke was driving eastbound on U.S. 35 in a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee when, according to witnesses, the vehicle slid sideways into an oncoming 1997 Ford Truck driven by 24-year-old Michael Moreland of Lynn. Moreland was not hurt.

Burke was an assistant on the University of Miami (Ohio) hockey team and had dreams of being involved in NHL management. He sounded like an awesome and inspiring man. R.I.P., Brendan Burke.

Share on Facebook

Irvin’s lawyer, Larry Friedman, said the woman used the threat of the lawsuit to try to extort $1 million from Irvin.

Irvin, who is scheduled to take part in Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast in Miami, rejected the offer and denies the allegations in the suit, Friedman said.

“The more popular sport is not football; it’s extorting money from sports figures,” Friedman said. “It’s the price you pay for fame today.”

Mind you, he’s only been accused of this; Yet ESPN pulled the plug anyway. Hopefully the NFL Network and other broadcast entities won’t be so quick to be the judge, jury and executioner.

This is a big loss for gay equality. Michael has been an incredible champion of including a gay voice on his show, even when management scratched their heads about having a gay guy on Dallas sports radio. It’s ironic that earlier this week the Dallas Morning News ran a story about how radio was Michael’s No. 1 priority.

I have no idea about the very serious allegations targeting Michael. I do know that he is one of the most dynamic people I’ve ever met. From the first day I was on the show, he was warm and welcoming. I heard from other people he often said having a gay guy on the show was one of the most important things they could do. When I first met him in Dallas about a year ago, he hugged me and my partner with a warm embrace. When I asked him to come talk to my gay flag football team over the summer, he did it without hesitation.

Michael’s radio partner, Kevin Kiley, has become a great friend since we first met in 2002 on the Kiley & Booms Show. To not have his voice on ESPN Radio in Dallas is also a huge loss for the gay community; A straight former football player, he has long gone out of his way to include gay topics and gay voices in all of his radio projects.

I hope these two end up on the radio again soon, and I hope Michael is innocent and is found innocent of the accusations. These two people are too great to be kept away from the airwaves for too long. I know they had bigger and better plans for the future, so keep your fingers crossed….

Share on Facebook

Giguere was active for only one game but the Colts like his potential as a receiver and kick returner. He is called “Guns Giguere” on Colts’ blogs for his huge arms. There aren’t many receivers as well-built as Guns Giguere:

Click on image for large view, then on that image for a larger view:

Share on Facebook