In July of last year, Ms. Andrews, a well-known sports reporter for the ESPN network, was stalked and videotaped in secret via peepholes in hotel rooms while she changed clothes.  Known as the Erin Andrews Peephole Video Controversy, the stalker was finally revealed to be a 48-year-old man named Michael David Barrett, a father of two, this past October.

The details that followed were disturbing as it was revealed the Chicago-area insurance executive had followed Ms. Andrews to multiple locations, recording multiple instances of her changing clothes in the privacy of her hotel room via peepholes he had made.  During the course of the investigation, it was also revealed that Mr. Barrett may have also victimized as many as 16 other women over the course of his travels.

Mr. Barrett’s plea bargain had been for 27 months in federal prison, but after the hearing yesterday, where Ms. Andrews addressed him by saying, “You violated me and you violated all women. You are a sexual predator, a sexual deviant and they should lock you up,” the judge exercised his option to extend the sentence, and moved it up to 30 months.  Mr. Barrett tearfully said he hoped Ms. Andrews could someday forgive him, but talking to the press outside the courthouse after the session, she said that would never be possible.

Ms. Andrews will be be appearing on the new season of Dancing With The Stars which begins airing next week, she said during a Good Morning America interview this morning that she considers it part of her healing process.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Erin Andrews Stalker Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison

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TMZ is reporting (wow … do those two words belong together?) that some students are failing to find the humor in the Admiral Ackbar for Ole Miss mascot joke.  Apparently some students have proclaimed they will leave the school if the Star Wars character becomes the school mascot, while parents of potential future students are saying they would send their children to the school.

Despite the online support for this, does anyone really think that a university is going to let a copyrighted character they don’t own become the mascot?  There is a very simple reason this will never happen: money.

First, the school would have to pay a licensing fee to Lucasfilm to use the Admiral’s likeness.  Schools don’t typically like giving up money for such things, so it is highly unlikely Ole Miss is going to want to shell out the kind of dough George Lucas would want.

Secondly is the sale of mascot related merchandise.  Ole Miss would have to pay a royalty on every item sold with Ackbar’s likeness on it.  Hoodies, cup holders, shirts, mouse pads, plush toys, all the chotskies that a school normally sells.  Currently schools get all that money, do you think they really will want to split that cash cow with some Hollywood film director?  Nope.

The only positive in all of this is the sales to die-hard fans of the films would suddenly be really interested in the university and everything they sell with the character on it, but would that make up for the royalties and potential lost tuition fees?  Doubtful.

Folks, this is a joke.  No one honestly believes a fish creature from a 1980’s movie is going to become the mascot for Ole Miss.  You are all getting worked up over a student joke.  Back in the 1990’s I worked on an alternative college newspaper, and while the school was taking votes to change its name from Northeast Missouri State University to something else (it eventually became Truman State University), we were pushing for “Missouri State University at Kirksville” … or MSUK.  It amazed me back then how many people took that seriously.  ”Well, we’re trying to get away from sounding regional …” our reply was “How does MSUK sound regional?”, hoping they would finally get the joke … they didn’t.

So, please, everyone just chill out and enjoy the humor for crying out loud.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Ole Miss Students Threaten To Leave If Admiral Ackbar Becomes Mascot

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In the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, we were introduced to a member of the Mon Calamari race named Admiral Ackbar. He was the supreme commander of the Rebel fleet that was tasked with taking out the second Death Star.  While he had a few lines, the most memorable, and unintentionally hilarious, one was when he yelled, “It’s a trap!” in reference to super laser being operational on the battle station.

Over the years the dear Admiral has risen to cult status and been featured in numerous Internet videos and jokes.  For what amounted to a third rate character in a film, he’s had a good life.

Now Ole Miss university (The University of Mississippi) is need of a new mascot.  In 2006 the school had to get rid of Ole Reb due to outcries over the Confederate implications, and since then the school has been without a mascot.  Yesterday the school held an election to see if the school or the students should name the new mascot, and the students won.

This is where dear ole Fish Face enters the picture.

It seems there is a group of students that have proposed that Admiral Ackbar be the new mascot, and wouldn’t you know it, it’s looking like he’s picking up a lot of support.  There’s even a website at NotATrap.org to promote the movement.  You can also find a Facebook fan page and Twitter account promoting the Admiral to school mascot.

While all of this is cute to be sure, one important factor is missing: Has anyone has contacted Lucasfilm about the rights to using one of its characters in such a way?  I’ve reached out to both Lucasfilm and the students behind the movement about this to see if either had comment.  Lucasfilm did not have a clarification for me by post time, and nothing has been heard from the students as of yet.  I will be following up with both as time permits.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Admiral Ackbar Inches Closer To Being New Ole Miss Mascot

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I’m not sure when it happened … or even how it happened.  I think it was the 2002 Winter Olympics, and I just remember being instantly hooked on this odd looking sport known as “curling.”  I mean, you won’t ever hear me say it isn’t odd looking, but man did I fall in love with it … I fell in love with it HARRRRRRRD! (sorry, curling joke)  And now it has become the thing I look forward to every time the Winter Olympics come around.

The problem is that when you tell people you are a fan of this sport, you get reactions such as this one from Jon Rettinger, one of my bosses at TechnoBuffalo, the other night on Twitter when I mentioned I was watching a game:

Yes, curling, seriously.

There is no doubt it is a sport that is easy to make fun of due to how silly it looks, but when you really analyze it, it is a very tense game of strategy.  When you put your rock into the house, when you set up guards, when and when not to clean and so on.  It is also a game of physics, trying to predict haw a granite rock will react when hit by another granite rock while sitting a slick surface such as ice … this is not an easy game folks.

Before you go and mock the sport (or its fans), I challenge you to sit down and watch a game.  Not sit there and cringe, but really watch it.  Listen to the commentators, watch the intent looks on the faces of the curlers, and I think you’ll find yourself sucked in in no time flat.

I’ve embedded two videos below that explain the basics of the game and the outline of the rules. Do yourself a favor, watch these and then catch a game over the next week as the games continue to air from the Olympics.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

The Thankless Job Of Being A Curling Fan

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We’re still seven months out from the kickoff of the 2010 World Cup, but with the announcement of the groups today, and now the schedule, the excitement is already building.  Who will you be rooting for?

All times listed GMT+1, or six hours ahead of EST in the United States.

GROUP A FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Friday, 11 June 2010
South Africa v Mexico, 15:00
Uruguay v France, 19:30

Wednesday, 16 June 2010
South Africa v Uruguay, 19:30

Thursday, 17 June 2010
France v Mexico, 12:30

Tuesday, 22 June 2010
France v South Africa, 15:00
Mexico v Uruguay, 15:00

GROUP B FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Saturday, 12 June 2010
Argentina v Nigeria, 12:30
South Korea v Greece, 15:00

Thursday, 17 June 2010
Argentina v South Korea, 19:30
Greece v Nigeria, 15:00

Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Greece v Argentina, 19:30
Nigeria v South Korea, 19:30

GROUP C FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Saturday, 12 June 2010
England v USA, 19:30

Sunday, 13 June 2010
Algeria v Slovenia, 12:30

Friday, 18 June 2010
England v Algeria, 19:30
Slovenia v USA, 15:00

Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Slovenia v England, 15:00
USA v Algeria, 15:00

GROUP D FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Sunday, 13 June 2010
Germany v Australia, 15:00
Serbia v Ghana, 19:30

Friday, 18 June 2010
Germany v Serbia, 12:30

Saturday, 19 June 2010
Ghana v Australia, 12:30

Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Australia v Serbia, 19:30
Ghana v Germany, 19:30

GROUP E FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Monday, 14 June 2010
Japan v Cameroon, 15:00
Netherlands v Denmark, 12:30

Saturday, 19 June 2010
Cameroon v Denmark, 19:30
Netherlands v Japan, 15:00

Thursday, 24 June 2010
Cameroon v Netherlands, 19:30
Denmark v Japan, 19:30

GROUP F FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Monday, 14 June 2010
Italy v Paraguay, 19:30

Tuesday, 15 June 2010
New Zealand v Slovakia, 12:30

Sunday, 20 June 2010
Italy v New Zealand, 15:00
Paraguay v Slovakia, 12:30

Thursday, 24 June 2010
Paraguay v New Zealand, 15:00
Slovakia v Italy, 15:00

GROUP G FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Brazil v North Korea, 19:30
Ivory Coast v Portugal, 15:00

Sunday, 20 June 2010
Brazil v Ivory Coast, 19:30

Monday, 21 June 2010
Portugal v North Korea, 12:30

Friday, 25 June 2010
North Korea v Ivory Coast, 15:00
Portugal v Brazil, 15:00

GROUP H FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Honduras v Chile, 12:30
Spain v Switzerland, 15:00

Monday, 21 June 2010
Chile v Switzerland, 15:00
Spain v Honduras, 19:30

Friday, 25 June 2010
Chile v Spain, 19:30
Switzerland v Honduras, 19:30

Post from: SeanPAune.com

2010 World Cup First Round Schedule

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In the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final that had France playing against Italy, Zinedine Zidane famously head butted Marco Materazzi, leading to Zidane being ejected from the game.  The Italians went on to win the tournament, but many people questioned what was going on with the French even at that point.

Yesterday France was playing against Ireland with the winner going to the World Cup in South Africa next year.  The match was tied 1-to-1 and went into overtime.  In the 103rd minute of the match, William Gallas of France kicked in a goal to make it 2-to-1, sending France to South Africa, and Ireland would be staying home.

Yay for France … right?

Wrong.

Before the ball went to Gallas, the ball came within range of Thierry Henry, and as the ball was about to pass out of bounds, he put up his left hand and batted the ball back into play.  For those of you unfamiliar with soccer (football to the rest of the world), the only member of either team ever allowed to use their hands are the goal keepers, no other player on the field is ever allowed to use their hands under any circumstances.

Apparently the referees did not see the handball, and the goal was called as good.  Ireland immediately lodged a protest, and there have been calls for FIFA to replay the game, but thus far FIFA has not said one way or the other.  To his credit, Henry has admitted the handball, but has also said since the referees did not call it, what was to be done.

Even French sports teachers are crying foul over the handball, saying that this sets a bad example for young athletes everywhere that all that matters is winning.

It doesn’t matter that Henry has admitted the ball, he says it stands.  FIFA is sitting on their thumbs and in the meantime the world cries in outrage over such a flagrant violation of the rules.  There is no more basic rule of soccer than “no hands”, and when you are playing on the world stage, you should know it.

Of course, the refs also failed here and claim they didn’t see it.  To be honest, as crowded as the area was (video below), I tend to believe them.  This whole issue raises again the big issue as to why FIFA does not currently have video replays, and the subject has now come up again over this play.  Somehow I doubt it will happen, but you never know.

For now, FIFA, do the right thing, replay the match.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

The Handball Heard Round The World

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Last December I ranted about how Sunday football games were constantly throwing CBS’ Sunday night programming into chaos.  At that time I was complaining about a 32 minute delay to the evening’s programs, but that was nothing compared to tonight’s whopping 71 minute delay.  Thank you New York Jets and Buffalo Bills for throwing the game into overtime and then changing possession 500 times!

So,CBS has opted to play 60 Minutes in its entirety, meaning that Amazing Race, the show I’m waiting on, will not start until 8:11 my time.  Well, my TiVo still shows it as airing from 7 – 8, and that is when it will record, leaving me without one second of the show.

Well, I’m lucky in that I also get West coast channels, so I can still catch the show at its specified time, but since I wrote the original rant, I have learned of something that exists that would fix all of this.  Apparently there are signals that channels can send out in some countries and tell the DVRs that a show is running late and it will shift the schedule on your DVR for you automatically.  So say a show is starting 5 minutes late, the network sends out a signal and your DVR will change the settings from 7 – 8 to 7:05 – 8:05.

Why don’t we have this here?  I can’t imagine it is the complicated to do, and the technology already exists, so why isn’t it here?  Instead, people that watch any show on Sunday night on CBS are totally hosed if they set their DVRs and left their houses for the evening.  DVRs are now accounting for approximately 39 percent of all television viewing, so shouldn’t a bit more concern be given to making sure they record at the right time?

Post from: SeanPAune.com

DVRs Need Time Update Features

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Back in July of this year, controversy erupted over the Erin Andrews peephole video that revolved around a popular female ESPN correspondent being filmed naked in her hotel room through a peephole.  At the time there was no indication of who had shot the video, but authorities did begin looking into it.

CNN is reporting that 48-year-old Michael David Barrett was arrested yesterday at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Il on a charge of interstate stalking.  It seems Mr. Barrett followed Ms. Andrews to at least two different hotels, and at a hotel in Nashville, TN he checked in after her and requested a room adjacent to hers.  It appears that this is where the video was shot through an altered peep hole.

It seems Mr. Barrett had originally intended to sell the multi-part video to celebrity gossip site TMZ.com, and in the end it was employees of that very site that assisted in tracking down the man.

If convicted of the charge, Mr. Barrett faces up to five years in a federal prison.

There is no word of any comment from Ms. Andrews.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Man Arrested In Erin Andrews Peephole Video Case

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I have to admit that before the story about her peephole video broke, I had no clue who Erin Andrews was.  I’ve never been big into sports, and couldn’t tell you the last time I turned on ESPN, so my lack of knowledge of who she is was to be expected.  All of that changed as stories of this video cropped up online and her name appeared on every major blog out there.

For those who have somehow missed the story, Ms. Andrews is a well known personality on ESPN both for covering stories and being an attractive woman.  While in an unknown hotel room, getting ready for work, she was curling her hair and going about her business while naked.  Unbeknownst to her, there was a peephole in her room and an unknown person was shooting video of her.

The video hit the Internet, and while her identity wasn’t confirmed at first, ESPN’s legal department got involved and the video became one of the most sought after on the Web.  The first site to have it, NSFWpoa.com, removed it, but it was too late, the cat was out of the bag and the video started showing up all over the Internet now that her identity had been confirmed.

While all of this is bad enough as it is, now some pundits are saying that she brought this on herself.  I shall not name who they are as they don’t need any more attention heaped on them for their words, but there has been more than one person saying that they feel the way she dresses provoked this, and if she didn’t wear such skimpy clothing while on TV this wouldn’t have happened.

There are two issues with this train of thought, the first being the peephole, as far as can be determined, was not drilled specifically for her.  There appears to be other victims of this pervert and she just got caught up in his slimy little racket.

As for the people saying the way she dresses as to blame… you are idiots.  Are you the same people who sit around and say that women who dress a certain way and then get raped deserve it?  Most of these people have now come out and said that they’re sorry this happened to her, but… But nothing!  No one deserves to have their privacy violated in such a way.  I don’t care if she showed up at work in a bikini, this does not give anyone the right to violate a person’s privacy in this manner.

Nothing like criticizing the victim who has not done one thing wrong except to be an attractive woman who happens to work on television.  This woman has been violated, and you choose to lay part of the blame on her.  Classy people… really classy.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Controversy Over The Erin Andrews Peephole Video

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A Cuban Olympian, Angel Valodia Matos, was participating in the Olympic taekwondo men’s +80-kg tournament for the Bronze medal.  He was leading 3 – 2 when a time out was called to tend to an injury on his foot.  According to the rules, participants have one minute to attend to any injuries, if this is exceeded, the match is to be awarded to the opponent. When Matos exceeded the time limit, Swedish judge Chakir Chelbat called the match for Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan.

Matos argued the call with the judge, while his coach raced out to also argue it and ended up punching the judge in the chest.  Then came the coup de grace as Matos decided to kick the judge in the head.  Other judges raced out to seperate the three men, and Matos was dragged off by staff as he continued to scream.  Within 30 minutes of the incident both Matos, who won the Gold medal at the Athens games in 2004, and his coach received lifetime bans from all World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) events.

Fidel Castro, the former President of Cuba, defended Matos in a column he wrote for a newspaper, saying that he couldn’t control himself since there had been attempted bribes of his coach.  He did not offer any further information on this aspect of the story, but it sounds fishy to me.

Remember folks: Usain Bolt was rude to celebrate too much, the Chinese gymnasts appear to have done nothing wrong… and, oh, we had an athlete kick a judge in the head?  Funny how I can’t find any comments on this from Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  Did it somehow slip past him?

Say what you will about Usain Bolt being cocky in his win, at least he didn’t kick anyone in the head.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Unsporting Conduct At The Olympics Hits All Time Low

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