Ochocinco treats doscientos (200) fans to dinner

New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco invited all of his Twitter fans in New York City to dine with him at the famed Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem last night— for free.  That's nada.

He tweeted, "Dinner in NY tonight—> 1st 200 people at Sylvia's Restaurant by 7 pm in Harlem.  Leave ya money/credit cards at home.  I got you this time."

It's surprising that Ochocinco's 4:13 pm tweet didn't attract more of a crowd.  According to the restaurant, only about 50 people were turned away after the first 200 were seated.

I guess New York Jets fans can sure hold a grudge— even with a free meal at stake.

It might sound surprising that a player from the Jets biggest rival would treat a group of New Yorkers to a good time, but it isn't the first occasion he has picked up the tab on enemy turf.

In 2010, he bought steak dinners for 85 fans at a Cleveland steak house and has been known to take random fans to the movies in various cities where he plays.

This lucky group was treated to dinners of ribs, fried chicken, greens and macaroni and cheese at the Lenox Avenue landmark.

Ochocinco, who personally greeted each and every guest, did not speak at length to the media, saying it was a "family affair" and he gained "200 family members."

He even got closer to his new "relatives" by giving them his phone number.

The generous NFL star was in New York to finalize a deal on a new VH1 reality show that chronicles his upcoming marriage to Evelyn Losado titled, "Eva and Ocho."

Poor Evelyn, she probably doesn't know she just picked up 200 more in-laws.

20,000 soccer fans sing National Anthem in unison

At the Portland Timbers MLS home opener last night, rather than having a single person belt out the National Anthem at the beginning of the match, over 20,000 fans in the stands sang as one.

Sheets of rain and chilly temperatures didn't stop the wildly enthusiastic fans— known as the "Timbers Army"— from singing a fine rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at sold-out JELD-WEN Field.

 They even finished it under 1:30— which has to be a record these days.



It was a stirring moment before the nationally-televised game started and it got even better for the home team who came back from a one goal deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Union, 3-1.

It was nice to see players— a lot of them non-American— being moved by the scene they were surrounded by and not scratching their crotches or unloading a gob of chaw during the song.

Amazing tip-in at buzzer wins high school championship

An amazing overtime tip-in at the buzzer gave Chaparral High School a 69-67 victory over Arapahoe High School in the Colorado Boys Class 5-A High School Championship game over the weekend.

Senior Josh Adams' tip-in as time expired gave the Denver school its first state championship.

With the game tied at 67-67 in OT, Adams somehow managed to get his left hand (he's right-handed) on the errant ball and twist it into the basket after teammate Cory Calvert missed a long 3-point shot for the win.

Adams got the ball through the hoop just as the buzzer sounded and the crowd of over 10,000 at Coors Events Center erupted into cheers.

The 6-foot-1 Adams is headed to BYU, so maybe we'll see some more of his acrobatic baskets in the future.

Gerald Green's windmill alley-oop is insane

There might not be too many New Jersey Nets highlights this year but, if there is one play that takes your mind off the Linsanity (is that still around?) across the Hudson River, it's this powerful dunk by Gerald Green.



Against the Houston Rockets Saturday night in Newark, Green— the journeyman NBA player— took a fast break pass from MarShon Brooks and raced full court to throw down the windmill alley-oop with authority.

Everyone knows Green can get air— he did win the 2007 slam-dunk contest and, in 2008, wowed the crowd by blowing out a candle on a cupcake placed on the rim— but this was really insane.

Green's acrobatics might have given the fans in Prudential Center some high-flying entertainment and the Nets a small rally but you knew there had to be payback for the moment of glory.

Later, Green would inadvertently tip the ball into the Rockets' basket with 1:03 left giving Houston a lead they would not relinquish.

Green finished with 26 points in 23 minutes but the Nets ended up losing to the Rockets 112-106.

Giants cut Brandon Jacobs after seven seasons

The New York Giants released running back Brandon Jacobs today after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a restructured contract which would include a pay reduction.

The 260-pound bruiser wanted to return to the Giants, but knew he was never going to get the $4.4 million he was schedule to earn in 2012.

For seven years the 29-year-old Jacobs plowed through defenses for the Giants and had two Super Bowl rings to show for it.

Only last week, Jacobs said he wanted to stay but warned, "I'm not willing to sell my soul, you know?  It's a great organization and I want to be a part of it , but if not, if they're not feeling the same way, then so be it."

Apparently, the Giants didn't feel the same way.

Still, Jacobs had no hard feelings.

"I might be leaving, but my name will stay," he said.  "But it's time to move on.  We tried, couldn't reach an agreement.  It's been great though, I can't say anything bad about anybody in the organization."

Jacobs had a $500,000 roster bonus to be paid on March 17, a sum that will not see his bank account any more.

The team wanted Jacobs for another season but at a lower price. He had one of his least productive seasons in 2011 (571 yards, 3.8 yds per carry) and went from starter to reserve behind Ahmad Bradshaw.

Last year, Jacobs took a pay cut to retain a spot on the team.

"I feel like I'm 25 years old," he said last week.

Jacobs, a fourth-round pick in 2005, leaves the Giants as the fourth leading rusher in team history with 4,849 yards.  His 56 rushing touchdowns are the most for any Giant.

Jacobs was considered a fullback when he first backed up Tiki  Barber before becoming the starting running back.  The sight of the punishing Giant knocking down opposing players was the source of Giants fan's pride for seven seasons.

His best seasons were in 2007 and 2008 when he had the only two 1,000 yard seasons of his career.

The release of Jacobs leaves the team with Bradshaw, D.J. Ware and Da'Rel Scott as the only running backs on the roster.

Bradshaw is not known as an every down back and hasn't ever played a full season without injuries.

It looks like the Giants will have to add a veteran back through free-agency or draft one out of college.

Still, the sight of Jacobs rallying his Giants teammates and riling opponents will be missed.

Mayor Bloomberg: We already have a Manning in New York

Mayor Mike Bloomberg showed his love for New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez after a caller pleaded with hizzoner to to help recruit free agent Peyton Manning to Gang Green on the mayor's weekly radio show today.

"We have a Manning playing for the Giants," said Bloomberg, referring to Peyton's younger brother, Eli, who plays for the other New York football team.

The mayor— who has dictated how New Yorkers should live by banning trans fats, salt and once set his sights on curbing liquor outlets to keep us healthy— continues his assault on the things that make life more enjoyable.

Now, the second-richest New Yorker's crusade to make NYC thinner has pulled a Snickers bar from his pocket and wants to keep the Jets looking like big, fat losers.

"I think it's be a great story for the press— Manning vs. Manning, both playing in New York," he said.  "But keep in mind the Jets have a young quarterback in Mark Sanchez and he nearly led his team to the Super Bowl twice.  So let's not dismiss.  He's sitting there."

Don't underestimate how much the Massachusetts-raised Bloomberg influence has.  He got the city to allow him to run for a third term.  Look how good of an idea that was and now he goes from being a nutritionist to NFL general manager.

Bloomberg said he met both Manning brothers when they were playing golf with their father Archie on the same course as the mayor.

"I was very impressed that I shook their hands," said Bloomberg.

Kris Humphries appoints himself as lawyer in Kardashian divorce case

Kris Humphries has appointed himself as his own attorney in his upcoming divorce from Kim Kardashian.

Humphries , who was married to the reality star for 72 days before she filed for divorce, filed legal documents in Los Angeles appointing himself as his attorney, according to TMZ.

It's to bad the New Jersey Nets forward is going in as a defense lawyer.  Expect to see a lot of alley-oops by the other team.

Humphries originally wanted his Minnesota attorney to represent  him in the divorce case but California law stipulates that out-of-state lawyers must be accompanied by a local attorney.

Humphries hired a Los Angeles attorney, but the lawyer withdrew from the case, which led him to name himself instead.

What's that old saying?  A fool for a client?

The 6-foot-9 NBA player will have a tall task in front of him.  He will be facing one of Hollywood's top divorce lawyers in this court.

Kardashian's attorney, Laura Wasser has a full roster of A-list stars as clients including Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver, Jennifer Aniston and Britney Spears.

That's a tough line-up on any one's hardwood.

The pretty much then-unknown Humphries, 31,  married the reality show conglomerate Kardashian, 27,  Aug. 20 in a celebrity-studded wedding which was broadcast on cable network E! and attracted over 10 million suckers— I mean viewers.

Kardashian filed for divorce less than three months later citing "irreconcilable differences."

Maybe she just got tired of hearing her sisters calling him names or the big lug was even more boring than her brother.

Kim K offered a settlement to Humphries to keep things quiet, but he didn't want to go down without clearing the air.  Humphries wants to prove the marriage was a sham and is seeking an annulment instead of a divorce.

 There has been no word if cameras will be allowed in the courtroom.  Yeah... right.