Redefining hot topics
Sports commentator sets different news priorities
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One of the few men in today’s sports media who offers his honest opinion without any hint of a hidden agenda or ulterior motive about all things sports is Will Leitch, founding editor of deadspin.com. Through the website, Leitch has been bringing the world “sports news without access, favor, or discretion” since September 2005, until his recent departure from the site in June 2008.
Recently, Leitch wrote a book titled God Save the Fan: How Preening Sportscasters, Athletes Who Speak in the Third Person, and the Occasional Convicted Quarterback Have Taken the Fun out of Sports (and How We Can Get It Back). The title may be a mouthful, but it gives you a clear sense of the kind of book you’re about to experience. Leitch is not hesitant to speak out about some of the most controversial subjects in sports today, including steroids and God’s place in the sporting world. He goes on to bring up his own controversial opinions about each and every subject, and does so with wit and humor.
The book is divided into four sections: Players, Owners, Media, and Fans. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to determine who he discusses in each part, though he does have a distinct method to his madness. For example, Leitch initially focuses on disgraced former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, who was jailed after dog fighting charges surfaced, but doesn’t discuss the charges or Vick’s career. Interestingly enough, he focuses on Vick’s use of an alias, “Ron Mexico,” when he allegedly went in for STD testing. It’s this type of information — news that falls behind the main headlines — that is all over deadspin.com on a daily basis.
Leitch brings up ESPN quite a bit too, though not in the “good” sense. He has been “blackballed by ESPN,” meaning that ESPN employees have been notified never to credit any breaking news stories to deadspin.com or the man behind it. He blasts virtually every single commentator employed by the “worldwide leader in sports” and makes the very well-founded claim that, due to ESPN’s near monopoly over the sporting world, they are able to pick and choose which stories they believe should be “hot topics,” some of the time without regard to actual newsworthiness, like the “Who’s Now?” series.
But before you go thinking that Leitch is just a random, mindless drone preaching his ideals over the Internet, and who lacks any kind of true passion for the game, there’s an entire section of his book devoted to his experiences during the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Series push and eventual victory. He lives and dies with his team. Having grown up in the small town of Mattoon, Ill. before finding sucess in the Big Apple, Leitch has a “rags-to-riches” story that gives him a more relateable appeal.
The main idea of the book is indeed laid out in the title. Leitch’s basic opinion of sports is that they exist as an escape. As human beings, we all deal with stresses, major and minor, but the fact that some of us know exact statistics like the 40 Time of Jerricho Cotchery, the wide receiver for the New York Jets, or the statistics for every season of Pirates’ shortstop Jack Wilson’s career, is actually quite a fine means of relieving that stress. We choose to live and die with every pitch, pass, and shot of our favorite game because it gives us the utmost joy. As Leitch writes in his closing statement: “Because if you can’t let yourself go and enjoy sports, you can’t enjoy much of anything.”
Even the Steelers are not left out of God Save the Fan: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is pictured at a party in the book in a photograph of a scene not usually made into news, a scene in which Roethlisberger is letting loose and having fun.
Nowadays, people can catch Leitch’s rants and raves about everything sport-related in New York magazine, where he is currently employed and holds the title of “Intelligencer.”
This book is definitely a must-read for the sports fan that everyone harbors inside. Leitch’s viewpoint is both humorous and refreshing, and he provides a different kind of insight into the world of sports.
In award-winning tattoo artist and Pit Bull activist Brandon Bond’s new film Vicktory to the Underdog, Brandon takes the unusual and highly controversal stance that Michael Vick deserves a second chance. Vicktory to the Underdog is a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of rescued Pit Bulls, including several of the Vick dogs, and the process of socializing them after a lifetime of torture and abuse.
Rather than focusing on the dog fighting problem, the movie sheds light on solutions leading to "Vicktory" for all the characters in the movie, including heavily tattooed people, parolees, Pit Bulls and anyone who society has turned their back on through ignorance and prejudice. The film explores second chances and expresses the opinion than even Michael Vick deserves one, a highly controversial perspective within the animal rights community.
The documentary, which will debut at the Great Pit Ball in the Brenden Theaters at the Palms Casino, an all-day charity event on March 14 in Las Vegas to save Villalobos Animal Rescue Center, the largest rehabilitation facility for abused Pit Bulls in the world, features several notable names, including Bob Barker (“The Price is Right”), Danny Trejo (From Dusk Til Dawn, Heat) and Senator Chip Rogers, who just passed a bill in Georgia to make dogfighting a felony.
Great Pit Ball To Help Save Villalobos Animal Rescue Center,
Largest Rehabilitation and Placement Facility for
Abused and Abandoned Pit Bulls in the World
All-Day Extravaganza, Featuring Movie Premiere, Chef’s Dinner,
Art Auction, Concert and VIP After Party To Take Place March 14
at the Palms and Mandalay Bay Casinos in Las Vegas
100% of Proceeds to Be Donated to Center
New York, NY (February 24, 2009) – The Great Pit Ball, an all-day charity event to help save the Villalobos Animal Rescue Center, the largest rehabilitation and placement facility for abandoned pit balls in the world, is scheduled to take place March 14 at the Palms and Mandalay Bay Hotels & Casinos in Las Vegas, NV. Spearheaded by Brandon Bond,
world-renowned tattoo artist and owner of All or Nothing Tattoo in Atlanta and Ralph Perazzo, award-winning pastry chef and owner of Rare Concepts Group, the Great Pit Ball will feature a movie premiere, chef’s dinner, art auction, concert, VIP after party and more.
One hundred percent of will go to the Villalobos Animal Rescue Center.
Attendees can purchase the complete VIP package for $150, which includes entry into all of the day’s events, reserved VIP seating at the movie premiere, chef’s dinner and concert, as well as a gift bag containing autographed limited-edition copies of the film, the bands’ CDs, a concert poster and more. In addition to bypassing all lines, VIP ticket holders will also receive free drinks at some of the events. Pricing for individual events is listed below.
“Like many non-profits today, Villalobos has been under financial duress for some time due to the economic climate so we knew we had to do something to help,” said Bond, a major Pit Bull activist. “Ralph and I are thrilled that so many dedicated individuals have agreed to lend their time and resources to the Great Pit Ball, in order to make a real difference in the lives of the animals at Villalobos.”
“People have many misconceptions about Pit Bulls, when in reality, they are the most loyal, loving and amazing animals,” said Perazzo. “As an avid dog lover, I am so excited that we have been able to put this event together to help an amazing charity that is doing great work.”
The event line-up includes:
· World premiere of Vicktory to the Underdog – Premiering at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms Casino.
· Hosted by the film’s director, Brandon Bond, with several of the film’s stars on hand, including actors Danny Trejo (Heat, From Dusk Till Dawn), Donal Logue (TV’s “Life,” Zodiac, Ghost Rider), Bob Barker (TV’s “The Price is Right”), Michael Berryman (The Devil’s Rejects, Weird Science) and Pixie Acia (TV’s “LA Ink”). The film takes an in-depth look at Brandon’s efforts to rescue Pit Bulls, including the infamous Michael Vick dogs. $25 per person.
· Dining for the Dogs Dinner – Ralph Perazzo has gathered some of his favorite Las Vegas chefs, including Rick Moonen of RM Seafood (Mandalay Bay) and Joe Elevado of Social House (Treasure Island), to serve up their favorite dishes at a station-style dinner. Additionally, Nashville sensation Kimber Cleveland will perform a private acoustic concert for guests. $50 per person.
· Art Show – The nation’s top tattoo and alternative artists have donated an incredible collection of art for sale. Some artists will be present to sign autographs and take photographs with guests who purchase their pieces.
· Concert and VIP After Party – A Charity Concert featuring Sick of it All, Madball, The Spyderz and Toetag. The bands will rock at the famed House of Blues. $25 per person.
Animal Planet will film the Great Pit Ball as the season finale for “Outlaw Dogz,” a program currently in production scheduled to air in 2009. The six episode series, based on Villalobos Animal Rescue Center and its work saving Pit Bulls, is being filmed on location at Villalobos with its operator, Tia Maria Torres, and her family. It also features celebrity cameos and many of the more than 200 Pit Bulls who call Villalobos home.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit
www.allornothingtattoo.com/index.php?sub=Tickets or www.wantickets.com.
About the Villalobos Animal Rescue Center
The Villalobos Animal Rescue Center is a rescue, rehabilitation and placement facility for abused and abandoned Pit Bulls. The facility, the largest of its kind in the world, is owned and operated by Tia Maria Torres and her family who tend to and help rehabilitate the 150-250 Pit Bulls who are in her care at any time. They have a daily average of 200 dogs in their care with an average placement rate of about one dog per month. For more information, visit www.vcrpitbull.com.
About Rare Concepts Group
Rare Concepts Group is a company that is dedicated to creating unique, edgy and “rare concept” restaurants through technique and design. Owners Ralph Perazzo and Hugo Moreno are passionate about food & beverage and each restaurant is born out of that passion. Rare Concepts Group locations are places that are comfortable and familiar, yet designed to embody new, exciting and energetic ways to enjoy the company of others, along with fantastic service and magnificent food and beverage options. Menus are designed to be small and focused, offering the best flavors and textures in simple and affordable ways. Each location strives to take customers’ palates to familiar yet undiscovered places, keeping them guessing as to what comes next. For more information, visit www.rareconceptsgroup.com.
About All or Nothing Tattoo
All or Nothing tattoo studio in Atlanta is home to the largest collection of well known and award winning tattoo artists in America. Owned by renowned tattoo artist Brandon Bond (two time international "Tattoo Artist of the Year"), this elite studio services clients from around the world on a daily basis, including celebrities. All or Nothing has had artwork featured in such media outlets as MTV, VH1, TIME Magazine, People Magazine, Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel and the TLC show LA Ink. For more information, visit www.allornothingtattoo.com.
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