Since joining the Miami Heat during the summer of 2011, Chris Bosh has endured a barrage of criticism.  Some have decided to call the power forward “soft”, while others, including Shaq, have chosen to refer to the Heat as “The Big Two”, rather than “The Big Three”.

During last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, “the Big Two” were both out with injuries, but Bosh was able to prove his worth as he filled in admirably in their absence, scoring 33 points while adding 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.  He did that in  just over 47 minutes of playing time, as the Heat needed overtime but eventually escaped with the 116-109 victory, bumping their record to a league-best 7-1.

The 33-point outburst was Bosh’s highest scoring output of the 2011-12 season, and it earned him “The Stat Line of the Night” for Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Former US President Bill Clinton was present at Madison Square Gardens last night to get a first-hand look at the first-place New York Rangers during their match-up with the Southeast Division leading Florida Panthers.

While I’m not so sure which NHL team Clinton usually roots for, I’m going to assume that he left the game a happy man, as the Rangers treated him to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory, as well as a souvenir puck.  However, someone should probably inform the former president that the “Jagr salute” doesn’t quite fly as a celebration in New York, unless it’s being performed by the Rangers’ enforcer-turned-goalscorer, Michael Rupp.

Here is a look at Clinton catching a puck and giving the “Jagr salute.”

It was on this day in 1995 that Atlanta Hawks head coach Lenny Wilkens recorded his 939th career victory.  Wilkens broke the record that was previously held by legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.

At the time of his retirement, Wilkens was the all-time leader in both wins and losses as a head coach in the NBA with 1,332 wins and 1,155 losses.  He has since been surpassed by Don Nelson, who currently sits at 1,335 wins.  Despite all of his regular season success, Wilkens only led one team to a championship, the 1978-79 Seattle Supersonics.  In 1998 Lenny joined John Wooden and Bill Sharman as the only men to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

Along with being a coach in the NBA, Wilkens also coached the United States Men’s basketball team in the Olympics.  He was an assistant coach on the 1992 U.S. Men’s Dream Team and the head coach of the 1996 team, earning a gold medal on both occasions.

Here is a tribute to Lenny Wilkens.

Notable Birthdays

James Farrior, NFL – Born January 6th 1975 (age 37) in Petersburg, Virginia

Gilbert Arenas, NBA – Born January 6th 1982 (age 30) in Tampa, Florida

A.J. Hawk, NFL – Born January 6th 1984 (age 28) in Kettering, Ohio

During Canada’s semi-final game against Russia at the IIHF World Junior Championships on Tuesday, goaltender Mark Visentin entered the game in the second period in relief of starting goaltender Scott Wedgewood.  He would allow two goals against on eleven shots, and those two goals would prove to be costly, as Canada mounted an incredible comeback from 6-1 down, but fell just short, eventually losing the game by a score of 6-5.

They sure could have used one more great save from Visentin, like the one he pulled out of his bag of tricks during yesterday’s bronze medal game against Finland.

With Canada leading 3-0 early in the third period, the 2010 first round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes helped his team maintain their three-goal cushion with a backhand, no-look glove save.

The save may not have earned him a gold medal, but it has earned Visentin a spot on the highlight reel.  Check it out.

Here are some of the best sports plays for all you gamblers out there.

The Game: New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pick: Rangers +110

The Reason: The Rangers continue to roll, as they have won eight of their last nine games, and four of their last five on the road.  Tonight they take on a Penguins team that has not played since 2011.  While some may say they are well rested, I’d argue that they could be a little rusty against a team that is playing their best hockey all season at the moment.  The Rangers have won each of their last three games against the Pens, and each of their last four visits to Pittsburgh.  Look for New York to stay hot as they get the win tonight.

The Game: Colorado Avalanche @ Chicago Blackhawks

The Pick: Over 5.5

The Reason: The Colorado Avalanche have averaged 2.7 goals per game this season, but their offense has been especially productive on the road, where they have averaged 3.1 goals scored per game.  Their road power-play is also best in the lead at 28.1% and it will be up against the Blackhawks league-worst home penalty-kill (76.1%).  As for Chicago’s offense, they have averaged 3.3 goals for (3rd in the NHL) and 3.6 goals per game at home (4th in the NHL).  Look for both teams to find the back of the net early and often as this game goes over the total.

2012 Record: (4-2), This Week: (4-2)

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Does being paid to lose weight sound like a scam to you?  It sure as hell sounds like a big scam to Charles Barkley.  And according to Barkley, it just so happens to be an even bigger scam than being paid to watch sports (wait…Did Barkley just call me a scammer?).

During TNT’s broadcast of last night’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat, someone forgot to tell Barkley that NBA.tv’s stream of the game does not include commercials.  Therefore, everything that Barkley was saying into his microphone during the commercial breaks could be heard by the thousands of fans watching the game on the internet.  And among the comments he never expected us all to hear was the following:

“I’ve been on Weight Watchers for three months.  I have to lose two pounds a week.  I’m at 38 pounds now.  They come and weigh me every two weeks.  I never missed a weigh-in.  Never going to.  I feel much better, but I ain’t givin’ away no money Kev.  I’m not givin’ away no free money.  I thought this was the greatest scam going; getting paid to watch sports.  This Weight Watchers things is a bigger scam.”

In case you were wondering, Barkley wasn’t calling Weight Watchers a scam.  Instead, he was calling the fact that they are paying him to lose weight a scam.  And I couldn’t agree more!

Just one question Charles: Where can a full-time sports blogger who sits on his butt in front of a laptop all day sign up for a gig like that?

Hat Tip – [Awful Announcing via Hot Clicks]

Not much of an intro is required here, except the Germans have a word for what you feel when these high-maintenance NFL prima donnas don’t get the glory they so desperately seek. It’s called schadenfraude, and it means “pleasure derived from the misfortune of others.” Yup. That’s what this list makes me feel. “Schadenfraude.” I could see myself using this word a lot.

I’m not sure how I missed this one, but it took place during Sunday’s week 17 match-up between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.

With the Packers’ defense getting set to take the field, one brave fan in the stands was looking to get in on the action, so he made his way onto the field and proceeded to race across Lambeau’s frozen tundra.  While most of the fans in the stands appeared to be enjoying his antics, Packers linebacker Brad Jones didn’t feel like waiting for the cops to capture the field intruder, so he decided to lend them a helping hand, as he demonstrated how to properly wrap and tackle a ball carrier(or in this case, a drunk fan).

I understand the fact that networks broadcasting sporting events do not like to show field intruders because they believe it will only influence more individuals to take part in the act, but I’d argue that witnessing Brad Jones bear-hug this field intruder and throw him to the floor would likely deter most aspiring field intruders.

“First we win Canada.  Second we win Canada. Third we win in 80,000 peoples.  Red jerseys.  Everybody put red and white jerseys.  But we win.  We score more goals.”

That was the post-game analysis that reporters got from Russian forward Nail Yakupov following Russia’s semi-final victory over Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday.  Yakupov would go on to provide a few more interesting sound bytes, like “Russia win, Russia better than Canada, so see you next time.”

Unfortunately for him and the rest of his Russian teammates, they wouldn’t be singing the same tune following their gold medal loss to Sweden last night.

Here is another look at Yakupov’s classic post-game interview with the Canadian media.

You have to give Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Bob Marlin credit.  With his team tied and only 21 seconds remaining in overtime, he knew he needed to come up with the perfect play to get his team the victory, and he did just that.  However, we should mention that it involved the Ragin’ Cajuns playing with six men on the floor during the final moments of the game.

Following a timeout during last night’s game between the Cajuns and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Louisiana-Lafayette sent six players onto the court to take on the Hilltoppers’ five players.  The referees didn’t seem to notice it, and neither did the Western Kentucky coaching staff.  And by the time anyone did notice what had just happened, Louisiana-Lafayette’s Elfrid Payton had already scored the game-winning basket and the Ragin’ Cajuns were already celebrating their victory.

It was a strange sequence of events, and things only got stranger this morning when Hilltoppers head coach Ken McDonald was fired for his inability to come up with an effective 5-on-6 defense…

…or maybe it had something to do with Western Kentucky’s 5-11 record.  Whatever the case may be, you can check out all of the action from Louisiana-Lafayette’s last-minute power-play in the video below.

Hat Tip – [The Dagger]

Here are some of the best sports plays for all you gamblers out there.

The Game: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers

The Pick: LSU +2.5

The Reason: The Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers will clash for the second time this season, but this time it is for all the marbles.  Tonight’s National Championship game should be an interesting one, as it is a rematch of the November 5th game between these two teams, which saw the Tigers escape with a 9-6 overtime victory.  That game was played in Tuscaloosa.  Their second meeting will take place in the Louisiana Superdome.  Both teams are very evenly matched, however, the Tigers special teams was the difference in the first game, and it should be once again tonight.  With home-field advantage on their side, look for the Tigers to finish the season undefeated and earn a victory in the BCS National Championship game.

The Game: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers

The Pick: Under 40

The Reason: Both teams have solid offenses, as they both rank in the top 20 in the nation in points scored, however, both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers live by their defenses.  LSU ranks second in the nation, allowing only 10.5 points against per game.  The only team they trail in that category is Alabama, as they are allowing a nation’s-best 8.8 points against per game.  Look for a defensive battle to ensue as this game goes under the total.

2012 Record: (5-3), Last Week: (5-3)

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The Shake Weight is clearly the greatest fitness gadget since the Thigh Master. And not only is it an effective training tool (UFC fighter Rashad Evans uses it); it’s also a pretty damn sexy fitness fad. I mean, as soon as you see the infomercial, you think “no way, this can’t be real.” But, oh, it is very real. They really are trying to sell a fitness product that makes it look like you are masturbating when you use it.

Only in America, right? (Well, maybe in Canada, too.)

Today, to celebrate the world’s #1 piece of erotic workout equipment, Total Pro Sports brings you a list of 15 hilarious Shake Weight GIFs. They are guaranteed to brighten your day.

NFL fans across America and around the world were treated to an exciting opening round of the 2012 NFL playoffs, which saw all four home teams come away with victories.  The weekend’s action was capped off with a thrilling overtime victory by the Denver Broncos on the first play of the extra frame, setting an NFL record for the quickest ending to an overtime.

There were plenty of great plays throughout the four games.  We have our top five listed below.  You can probably already guess which one makes it in at number one, but I’m sure you’ll want to watch that, and the other four, at least one more time before we begin to focus on next weekend’s Divisional Round.

5.  Drew Brees 41-Yard Touchdown Pass to Devery Henderson – This game had plenty of big plays by both offenses, but we could only pick one, and it had to be this touchdown connection between Brees and Henderson in the third quarter.  It gave the Saints their first lead of the game, and they wouldn’t surrender it, en route to the 45-28 victory.

4.  Arian Foster 42-Yard Touchdown Run – Foster has provided us with plenty of highlight reel runs throughout the year, and here is another one.  But as much as I love Arian (he’s the top running back in the NFL in my books), I have to admit that even I could have probably pushed him out of bounds at some point during this play.  Unfortunately for the Bengals, Nate Clements (No. 22), Chris Crocker (No. 42) and Kelly Jennings (No. 23) couldn’t.  This clip will probably find its way onto instructional videos regarding “How not to tackle” everywhere.

3.  Eli Manning 72-Yard Touchdown Pass to Hakeem Nicks – Here is another clip that will probably make it onto instructional videos regarding “How not to tackle.”  It comes via a third quarter touchdown pass from Manning to Nicks, which put the Giants up by a score of 17-2, and had several Falcons defenders searching the Metlife Stadium bleachers for their missing jockstraps.

2.  J.J. Watt 29-Yard Interception Return for a Touchdown – The Houston Texans used their first-round 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Entry Draft on defensive end J.J. Watt.  He made it worth their while with this incredible display of athleticism, as he snagged an Andy Dalton pass out of the air and returned it for the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the first half.  Houston would roll to the 31-10 victory from there.

1.  Tim Tebow 80-Yard Touchdown Pass to Demaryius Thomas – In the first ever NFL playoff game that required the new overtime format that was instituted at the beginning of last season, the Denver Broncos scored on their first play from scrimmage, ensuring that the Steelers offense wouldn’t get a shot at the victory.  Now their magical season will continue, and a trip to New England for next weekend’s Divisional Round is next on their schedule.  Here is the play that made it all happen.

In an effort to spice up life, I have recently considered giving bungee jumping a shot.

After watching the video below, I think I’ll stick with roller coasters as my source of extreme adventure.

The clip comes from the Zambesi River, which divides the African countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.  During a recent trip to the area on December 31st, Erin Langworthy of Perth, Australia signed up to take the 111-foot plunge off the Victoria Falls Bridge.  But when her bungee cord snapped following her initial decline, she was sent crashing hard into the crocodile-infested water below.  With a broken collar bone and her legs tied together, Erin was pulled into the rapids, but she somehow managed to make it safely to the Zimbabwe bank, where she was eventually rescued.

Erin was treated for injuries at a clinic in Zimbabwe, before being taken to South Africa.  Her recovery has gone well and she has since returned home to Australia.

The frightening jump that nearly took her life was captured on video.  You can check it out below.

Hat Tip – [The Star via reader Cooner]

Most would probably assume that any highlight from an FA Cup Third Round Proper match between the Bolton Wanderers and Macclesfield Town would likely come from the Premier League side, rather than the side playing in English football’s fourth tier.  However, much to our surprise it was Arnaud Mendy of fourth tier Macclesfield who provided us with this early candidate for football’s goal of the year.  This goal, which came during the 67th minute of Saturday’s game, now has Macclesfield in a decent position to pull off the incredible upset following a 2-2 draw in their first leg.

You can check out the brilliant display of skill by Mendy in the video below.

Any chance I get to post something on Gina Carano, you can bet I’ll take it.

Recently, the sexy MMA fighter-turned-actress gave me a few more reasons to show her some love.  The first came during the Pay-Per-View broadcast for UFC 141, as Carano stole the spotlight with this sexy seven-second dance for the camera.

She also took the time to shed some of her clothing during a recent photo shoot for GQ Magazine.  The results were one incredibly hot image of Carano, and the following video.

Take a look.

Hat Tip – [The Cage Doctors]

With kickoffs now taking place from the 35-yard line, the typical sequence of events following a kickoff are as follows:  The kicker kicks the ball through the end zone, and the referee grabs it and places it at the receiving team’s 20-yard line.

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater decided to cut the officials out of the equation during the opening kickoff of yesterday’s Wild Card Game at the new Mile High Stadium, as he banked the opening kickoff off the field-goal post and watched it land right on the Steelers’ 20-yard line.  For some time it appeared as though this would be the most amazing play of the game.  And then Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas connected on an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass on the opening play of overtime.

So yes, this perfect touchback by Matt Prater was only the second most amazing play from yesterday’s game between the Broncos and the Steelers, but it is still worth taking a look at.

Bowling doesn’t seem like a very dangerous sport, but sometimes all it takes is the slightest step over the foul line for disaster to strike.  Professional Bowling Association rookie Josh Blanchard learned that the hard way during a recent World Championship qualifier in Las Vegas.

Things were already looking bad for Blanchard, as he was bowling an embarrassing 129 heading into the ninth frame.  And then his bad round suddenly got a lot worse, as his thumb got stuck in the ball, causing him to step over the foul line and onto the greasy floor, resulting in a rather embarrassing spill into the right-hand gutter.

It is times like this that most people would prefer to find a gutter to hide in.  Blanchard just so happened to fall right into one, but unfortunately for him, it wasn’t deep enough to shield him from the ridicule of onlookers.

Check out Bomani Jones’ reaction to the incident during a commercial break from today’s episode of “Around the Horn.”

Hat Tip – [Huffington Post]

After surrendering a goal early in the third period, the Columbus Blue Jackets found themselves trailing the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 6-2 last night.  At that point, it seemed almost certain that the Jackets wouldn’t win the game, but they wanted to make sure that they didn’t lose the war as well.

Enter Jared Boll.

The Blue Jackets enforcer made sure his team sent a statement to the Ducks, as he beat up on Sheldon Brookbank one minute into the third period, and earned himself a spot on the “Frozen Fisticuffs Fight of the Night” for Sunday, January 8, 2012.

Check it out.

Getting beat up by a girl doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, unless, of course, it is one of these sexy women administering the beating.  After all, I’d gladly allow any of these beauties to get on top and ground-and-pound me any day of the week.