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Bruce Tenen's blog

Florida Atlantic Football Stadium Becoming A Prison?

Greg Cote on GEO Group and OwlcatrazThe Florida Atlantic Owls recently sold the naming rights to its football stadium to the GEO Group, a company which happens to operate prisons.

Greg Cote wrote in his column in the Miami Herald:  "Even odds on the place being nicknamed Owlcatraz."

Cote later added: “Outfit cheerleaders in vertical stripes and replace player uniforms with county-issue orange jumpsuits.”

Fifth Grader Dominating FL High School Basketball?

Julian Newman 11-year-old fifth grade high school basketball playerThe Downey Christian School is a small parochial academy in Orlando, Florida. Downey boasts a 20-6 seasonal record presently, led by point guard Julian Newman, who is averaging 12 points, 10.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 steals.

Oh, and more thing…

Newman is 4'5" tall and is an 11-year-old fifth grader.

Newman is more than a foot shorter than all the players he competes against in his games.

The phenom also has performed his ball handling skills at halftime shows of Orlando Magic games.

Enjoy the below video of Julian Newman in action.

 

Rams Rookie Spending His Offseason Making Sandwiches

Terrance Ganaway working at Waco Jimmy John’sRunning back Terrance Ganaway just completed his rookie season with the St. Louis Rams. As a result, Ganaway’s friends thought he was kidding when the Baylor alum tweeted that he was looking for an offseason job. After all, Ganaway was paid $390,000 for his first season of professional football.

Ganaway is now working for minimum wage, making sandwiches at a Jimmy John's in Waco, Texas.

Ganaway said that he wanted to tell his children someday that he worked two jobs to put them through school.

A Thoughtful Gift From Ricky Stenhouse Jr. To Danica Patrick?

Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr datingColumnist Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel on the budding NASCAR romance between Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.:

"In true racin' fashion, I'm thinking Stenhouse got Danica a heart-shaped box of chocolate-covered lug nuts for Valentine's Day or maybe a dozen long- stemmed socket wrenches."

Oscar Pistorius Free On Bail Amid Growing Circus

Oscar Pistorius and O.J. Simpson trial of South AfricaAfter a four-day mini- trial, known as the bail hearing, a judge in Pretoria, South Africa released Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius on bail Friday. Pistorius does not have to return to court until June 4.

Judge Desmond Nair ruled that the double-amputee was not a flight risk or a risk to commit further violence in advance of his trial, where he is accused of one count of premeditated murder.

Bail was set at about $113,000, with the judge ordering Pistorius to turn in his passport and guns to the court.  

The astonishing twists in the case, including the removal of the lead detective (amid his own murder charges), has led the trial to be known as the "O.J. Simpson trial of South Africa."

Louisiana Man’s Lamborghini Is The Latest Example Of SEC Passion

Don Domingue LSU yellow and purple LamborghiniDon Domingue, of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a huge LSU Tigers fan. To this point (per sbnation.com), Domingue recently had his yellow Lamborghini painted with purple stripes, so it would resemble a mobile Bayou Bengals' helmet.

The plan was to drive to a few LSU home games and then have the stripes removed. But, Domingue had no idea how popular his car would become.

Ever eager to show off his prized possession, Domingue also drove his Lamborghini to both Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl, of course to rave reviews.

The Precipitous Fall Of Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius large amounts of weapons and alcohol at condoJust five months ago, double amputee Oscar Pistorius returned home to South Africa as a worldwide hero, after winning two gold medals in the Paralympics, while also competing in the 2012 London Olympics. Pistorius was an international star and a symbol of hope for many around the world. Now, the 26-year-old sits in a Pretoria, South Africa jail cell, accused of the premeditated murder of his model-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.  

West’s All-Star Win Was Actually “Under” Whelming

2013 NBA All-Star Game over/under 294 points, 281 total points scoredYou may have thought that the West’s 143-138 victory over the East (led by MVP Chris Paul), in the NBA All-Star game, was a high-scoring contest. But, to Las Vegas oddsmakers, it was quite the opposite.

The over/under point spread was 294, which means that the 281 points scored in the game was quite underwhelming.

Alicia Keys Hoping To Keep Pace With Beyonce?

Beyonce Super Bowl XLVII halftime showWith Alicia Keys getting set to perform at halftime of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, we are reminded of an opinion recently expressed by Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, regarding the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show:

“Love Beyonce. She's talented and beautiful, but her performance at the Super Bowl wasn't a halftime show; it was an aerobics class.”

Bruce has traveled the world, both working for and covering a wide array of the sports world’s greatest events. Below is a sampling of the level of experience and perspective he brings to ifollosports.com.

OLYMPIC GAMES:  
Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Beijing 2008     
*Editor of the Official Report of the 1984 Olympic Games

PAN AMERICAN GAMES:   
Caracas 1983, Indianapolis 1987, Havana 1991, Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999



WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES:   
Zagreb 1987, Duisberg 1989, Sheffield 1991, Buffalo 1993, Fukuoka 1995, Sicily 1997, Palma de Mallorca 1999 

USA TRACK AND FIELD:     
World Championships (Helsinki 1983), World Junior Championships (Athens 1986), World Cup (Rome 1981), World Cup (Havana 1992), Pan American Junior Championships (Barqisimeto 1982, Orlando 1986)  Editor of USATF annual calendar project (1980-1991) and Cross Country handbook (1979-1991) 

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: 
World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

ASSOCIATED PRESS     
Correspondent covering the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA Bruins basketball, track and field, and swimming 1977-1989
  

A California native, Bruce is a 
graduate of UCLA and resides in Venice Beach.

 

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