The diminutive blonde’s stature offers no hint to this sports blogger’s knowledge, passion and voice on the matter of all things sports. From cheerleaders to charities, football games and stadium stats, to intimate interviews with players, if it’s sports, Jayme knows it well and writes about it equally well.
The outgoing Lamm was herself an athlete stating at age five “popping wheelies to catch a boy’s eye,” she remembers. Her early career included a stint in professional sports in the areas of public relations and marketing. However, Lamm’s strong “views,” and brand of “enthusiasm” were not met with much joy by the industry, so she launched her blog, TheBlondeSide.com, in January 2010 and readers can’t seem to get enough of it. Now, she says, she works only for The Blonde Side, laughing with apparent satisfaction at the thought.
“I have a lot to say; I am very opinionated,” Lamm stated proudly, “but I wasn’t sure who was going to read The Blonde Side when I started it. You might think that my readers are all women, but only about 40 percent are women. About 60 percent are men. I think the reason anyone reads it stems from the fact that I am genuine and authentic. I am also goofy and laugh at myself. And I am not a know-it-all when it comes to sports. I am not afraid to make a mistake,” she stated, “and I do make mistakes.”
A quick review of the The Blonde Side blog reveals a reader-friendly style chocked full of entertainment, and content that would seduce the least sports-minded among us to return – again and again. Football, baseball, soccer — every sport that includes competition, it’s all there. In short, the blog is full of insight and fun, just like Lamm.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/HZ1-AA1.jpg18001800Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2013-01-31 22:14:062013-04-28 22:24:46The Blonde Side Makes Front Cover of HERE Houston Magazine
The NFL’s Most Beautiful Cheerleader – Lauren (photo via The Fast Show Life)
Record setters: 10 Houston Texans cheerleaders make list of 100 Most Beautiful NFL Cheerleaders
Just a few weeks ago the Houston Texans scored another franchise first by having eight players named to the 2013 Pro Bowl set to take place in Hawaii on January 27th. But it’s not just the guys who are setting records this season. What about those beautiful Houston Texans Cheerleaders who strut around Reliant pumping up 70,000-plus fans each home game?
In a recent web feature, the Fast Life Show named the 100 most beautiful NFL cheerleaders — and topping the list? The Texans cheerleaders, of course, with a record setting number of 10 girls in the top 36!
The #babesonparade didn’t just have eight girls hit the list, they had 10 thanks to their two sets of gorgeous twins, and they claimed the #1 spot in all the NFL.
Impressed yet?
“With our program we try to be the best and to see someone else recognize us without solicitation from us, that’s huge – that’s approval and acceptance of our program. It makes me happy to see that others see our hard work,” says Alto Gary, who has remained the only cheerleader coach in the 10-year history of the team.
“Yes, we want the best dancers, but you need to look a certain part too. Being from Texas, you have to represent. Texas has this stereotype of having hot women, so we wanted to show that with our team.”
Hard work and dedication
But it isn’t just fans and websites like The Fast Life that have taken notice of the HTC.
Pro Bowler and fifth-year Texan veteran Duane Brown also sees the important role these women play and appreciates their hard work and dedication.
“I think hands down we have the best cheerleaders in the NFL and possibly in sports. They are absolutely gorgeous and great people as well. During events where I’ve had the chance to interact with them, they were very kind and all had great personalities,” Brown says.
“They work very well with kids and fans of all ages. On Sundays, they are filled with great energy and help get the crowd at Reliant rocking which helps us players perform well. I’m very proud of them, this recognition is well deserved.”
The HTC’s who topped this list (and their response to being selected):
“Seeing myself in the top 100 was definitely unexpected. It’s exciting to see the amount of exposure HTC has received recently, and I’m just very fortunate to have been one of the eight to represent our organization.”
HTC Cheerleader, Kelli (photo via The Fast Show Life)
“I was astonished and honored to be included in the elite, professional Top 100 most beautiful! I felt blessed beyond belief as I know how hard each NFL Cheerleader works on physique & beauty. We strive for perfection with our God given beauty & to be recognized for such is truly an honor!”
“When I first got word that I made Fastlife Top 100 from my fellow teammate #36 Liliana, I could NOT believe it. I said are you sure its me?! It’s such a blessing to be apart of a great organization and to be in the top 100 most beautiful girls in the NFL along with my other teammates. There are no words for it. I’m so proud of my teammates who made the list as well. And all of us being in the TOP 40, that is unbelievable! #GO TEXANS #babesonparade”
“We were very flattered when we learned that we are a part of this list. The list is posted in descending order, so we were kind of caught in a moment of suspense as we were scrolling through the list wondering ‘what number are we!!’.”
“It was an honor to be selected in the top 100! I was shocked to be number 13 out of so many beautiful girls! We have a beautiful team this year and it was neat to see a lot of our team on the list!”
Dresdynn and Schuyler (photo via The Fast Life Show)
“We were so flattered and thrilled to be #7. When we found out we were so happy!”
And drumroll please...
The #1 spot goes to the rookie Lauren L.
“When finding out I made the #1 Most Beautiful Cheerleader in the NFL I was just astonished. I feel absolutely blessed and thankful!” says Lauren of her top spot.
“Having a rookie voted at #1 – that was exciting. I call her my beach bunny girl. She’s a sweet person, and definitely has the inner personality that is representative of the Texans,” Alto says.
Credit to the coach
While much of the credit goes to these beautiful women who made the NFL’s Most Beautiful list, a large part should go to Gary as well. She had her job cut out for her starting back in April of last year while selecting the squad of 32 out of nearly 1,000 girls.
“It starts at tryouts, when a rookie comes on, seeing if she has good bone structure, etc. I have to keep the Texans organization in consideration when choosing the girls as they’re a classy classic look,” Gary explains.
As for keeping up appearances, the girls are given a little help in that department. “We do give an allotment of $150 per month/per girl that they can use at salons for hair and product. We do require them to have their nails done because they are so close to the fans. People always ask if I have a weight requirement, but I always ask ‘do you look good in your uniform?’ and that’s all I care about,” says Gary.
“People always ask if I have a weight requirement, but I always ask ‘do you look good in your uniform?’ and that’s all I care about,” says head cheerleaders coach Alto Gary.
One thing she is a stickler about? Having the girls don a bright red lipstick for game day. “Red is our team color and the girls always fight me on that,” she laughs.
HTC Twins Michelle and Rachel (photo via The Fast Show Life)
The success of this team goes far beyond impressive dance moves and the ability to rock such a small and revealing uniform. The ladies know how to interact with their fans, especially when it comes to social media.
Engaging social media
According to @NFLCheerRT on Twitter, a hub for for everything cheerleaders, @TexansCheer is full of “genius marketing” and now has more Twitter followers (currently at 74,232) than two NFL teams (Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaquars), five MLB teams (Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies), and five NHL teams (Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders).
Knowing how to engage their fans on the field and on social media is something the HTC are doing better than any of the other NFL Cheerleaders out there as well, including the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, @dccheerleaders, by tens of thousands. (DC Cheerleaders currently have 47,851 followers).
To put their popularity in perspective, the Texans Cheer account has two times as many followers as Redskins phenom rookie RB Alfred Morris. Even a national sports show took the time to mention the Tweeting Texans Cheerleaders, while semi-bashing the guys on the field.
Congratulations to these beautiful women on their superior recognition and to the entire Houston Texans organization for an already record setting season. Here’s to a big-time W against Andy Dalton and those Bengals on Saturday, and hopefully advancing further into the playoffs on their road to New Orleans on February 3.
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The Man in the Band, Greg Scruggs (photo via Greg Scruggs)
The famous line from American Pie will live on forever in our minds. But instead of picturing that squeaky little redhead (played by Alyson Hannigan), picture for a moment a 6-foot-3, 284lb guy padded up in a Seahawks uniform. Doesn’t conjure up quite the same image now, does it?
Meet Greg Scruggs, Defensive End for the Seattle Seahawks and former band nerd. Or band geek. Or breakout star athlete who just so happened to be in the band? Yeah, that’s it.
Together we decided to debunk the myth of band geeks once and for all. Sure, there are geeks who play instruments for fun, even on the weekends when there’s a raging house party next door. But there are also nerdy athletes, even Olympians.
“My ‘band thing’ is really my only hidden talent. The big myth that everybody in the band is a geek – that’s kind of a socially created myth,” says Scruggs. “People fail to realize that someone might play the flute, clarinet or the drums, but that doesn’t change who they are. I knew early on if I was going to be in the band, I was going to bring ‘cool’ to the band,” Scruggs laughs.
“I was unique and different because being in the band was something I did to have fun, to release stress and create emotion. I still played basketball, got recruited in college [for football] and was still considered ‘cool’ by others. My band director and I singlehandedly changed the direction of our program – we were strictly a competition band when I started, but then we decided we wanted to hype and entertain the crowd. My high school band to this day is a show band – people don’t look at them as nerds or geeks. I wasn’t the brightest – to this day I can’t read music. I went out there and made it fun. I was the only black kid in my band – there were only 37 minorities out of 1500 in my school, and that made me stick out even more. It gave me a determination to dispel that rumor about band geeks. I think it’s ridiculous. If people stepped away from this socially perceived myth, they’d realize people in the band are actually pretty cool,” Scruggs says.
But surely you can understand why some folks draw the parallel between bands and geeks, I asked?
Seattle Seahawks DE, Greg Scruggs (photo via Greg Scruggs)
“Take Dan Lewis, class president of my high school for example,” Scruggs explains. “He was the biggest comedian in school and he was in the marching band. You don’t become class president if you’re not cool or popular, do you?” Scruggs counters. “He made everybody crack up and they always wanted to be around him, and he was in the band.”
Point taken. What about a nerdy athlete, surely you know a few?
“People see him on the field and he’s this dominant football player, but in school he walked around with his pants a little too high. He was always studying, all he cared about was school – he was a dork – he didn’t go out, didn’t party, but people see him on the football field and assume he’s got this cool factor,” Scruggs says.
Did you just call Kuechly, the ninth overall pick and linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, a dork? “He’s younger than me so I can talk about him like that,” Scruggs laughs. “He’s cool but sports don’t make you cool just like an instrument doesn’t make you a nerd, you know?”
Speaking of cool dudes that play instruments, it seems the drummer from John Mayer’s band, Steve Jordan, is at the top of Scruggs’ list.
“I listen to all kinds of music. To say I have a favorite drummer is tough. I listen to everything from Marilyn Manson, which is like the south pole of music, to Waka Flocka [Flame], the north pole. I guess if you go east, I really like Zac Brown Band and Jason Aldean, and west I’d go with Darius Rucker or pop like John Mayer,” Scruggs says of his musical compass. Scruggs admits he’s also big into classical music like Stevie Wonder and just downloaded James Brown #1 hits on his iPod a few days ago.
Scruggs, born in 1990 and barely of drinking age, admits he likes musical talent that’s “been around for a while.”
The 6-foot-3 defensive end didn’t play football until his senior year in high school (Xavier High School in Cincinnati), but somehow found his way onto a Division 1 football team (Louisville) after graduating high school. People train their whole lives just for the chance to play football at a big level, how on earth were you even on anyone’s radar, I asked him? “It was a process. My high school coach played a huge role and luckily the scouts came. I blossomed my junior year [college] thanks to my coach. Coach Hurtt molded me into this player and set me out to go train, working on my explosiveness and things like that. I worked hard, let it all go and it was out of my hands. That doesn’t take away from those that have trained their whole lives – it was mostly a blessing, but it was hard work, training, and coaching,” Scruggs admits.
If band members aren’t cool, then why are they wearing sunglasses? Answer THAT, America!
I’ve talked to a lot of players that say their skill is a blessing, I told him. Do you really think it is?
“Well, my oldest brother isn’t nearly as athletic as I am,” he laughs. “I think it’s an ability I was blessed with since it doesn’t necessarily run in the family.”
So you were a late bloomer in high school as far as getting on the football field, and you were the Seahawks final selection in the 2012 draft. Is the motto it’s better late than never part of your everyday mantra, I asked him?
“It’s definitely gratifying considering I didn’t even play football until I was a senior in high school, so I’m grateful to have been picked. There were 10,000 eligible players this year and only around 200 were picked, so I’d say I’m in pretty good company. Not only to get picked, but to play and lead the team in sacks in preseason. Am I a 7th round talent? I don’t think so. To go in the 7th made me a little angry, but I knew it was a blessing. I was just waiting around all day because I didn’t know if or when I’d get called. I could have been playing the drums or Call of Duty instead of being glued to the TV all day,” Scruggs jokes.
As for Scruggs, he’s still playing on the field, but hasn’t forgotten his drummer roots. “You never forget how to play, I still do what I can. The Seahawks have a band and I played with them once. That was pretty cool,” he says.
So next time you want to pick on someone in the band, remember the name Greg Scruggs. And then go buy yourself one of those “I’m in the band” t-shirts and wear it with pride.
Be sure to follow this band stud on Twitter: @G_Scruggs.
This post is part of The Blonde Side’s Momentum Challenge series to interview one active player from all 32 NFL Teams within the short time frame of 34 days. Greg Scruggs and his non-geek factor cross the Seattle Seahawks off the list.
To see this full article in its original format, check out CBS Man Cave Daily.
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Zoltan Mesko playing his part in Movember (photo via Stacey James)
Farewell to Movember with Zoltan Mesko.
Today is a sad day. We bid adieu to an entire month of watching grown men painfully, yet thoughtfully, grow out an abundance of facial hair just above their upper lip, all in support of Movember. [Yes, the same reason Aaron Rodgers decided to join in, not because he became an Uncle over Thanksgiving.]
It’s a month I seriously covet in the most hardcore way. A) My birthday happens to fall in this great month and B) I seriously dig moustaches. Or at least I thought I did.
While said upper lip facial fur may not turn me on quite the same way Magic Mike does, a guy with a heart of gold and a desire to help a good cause certainly does. Meet Zoltan Mesko, punter for the New England Patriots. Joining the ranks of the other ~854,288 hipster-looking Mo Bros, Mesko has joined the Movember campaign, after prodding from his agency.
What I quickly learned about growing a moustache (not to be confused with a mustache) is that even for the average Joe, it’s a tough feat to pull off, whether it’s for charity or not. Now imagine being on primetime television each week and having 40,000+ followers on Twitter to comment on this newfound facial epidemic. Ensue critics. And questions.
But that’s exactly the point. Movember, involves men known as “Mo Bros” who become real-life walking billboards for the nonprofit by growing out a moustache for the month in addition to joining an internet-based team to raise funds in addition to awareness.
Really getting into the spirit of it, Mesko updated his Twitter avatar to help raise awareness and bait his followers. “I took a picture [by Stacey James] before the game and tweeted it. It was posted on the Patriots Facebook and instagram pages, and it got a lot of hits. I even stroked it to play the part,” he adds. According to the Movember website, on average, a man with a ‘stache touches it approximately 760 times a day. I guess that’s better than touching something else that many times…
One of Mesko’s Twitter followers, @ChrisWarCraftsent this Tweet after Mesko posted his new avatar in which he lovingly stroked his new fur: “You look like Liam Neeson playing a role as a French pedophile. How do you even function in public without getting arrested?”
Twitter Image
Mesko just laughed it off. And then retweeted it of course. “I’m kind of into the whole self-deprecation thing,” the 6-foot-4 goofball added.
As Mesko told me, “First off, I just can’t pull off a moustache, I don’t have a face for it nor the facial hair genetics. As long as you call yourself out and admit that it looks terrible, then you can quickly get into the reason behind it.”
And Mesko is not afraid to call himself out, in public, and on multiple occasions. Even his Mo Bro page clearly states his motivation and inept ability to grow out a proper ‘stache:
Zoltan’s Motivation
“To prove that despite a genetic flaw in my facial hair growth, I can still look….well…terrible.”
Of course, his motivation reaches well beyond plain hilarity. “My grandma passed away from breast cancer last year. Cancer affects all of us, whether it’s female or male – prostate is one of the more treatable versions as well as testicular cancer, which Movember raises awareness for,” Mesko explains. “It’s definitely important to me.”
Back to the funny part.
“The best way to approach cancer is to laugh in its face. Let them laugh at how creepy I look, that’s OK. If you like self-deprecating kind of humor or if you’re a jokester, then this campaign [Movember] is for you. But it’s definitely a commitment. Thirty days to do anything is a long time,” Mesko says.
“It’s not something that’s attractive; it’s the cause behind it. That’s really the only reason I’ve committed myself to it. You don’t appreciate the commitment level until you grow this ugly facial hair,” he laughs. “My girlfriend isn’t very fond of it, but she likes the cause. She’s threatened to buzz it off mid-sleep – that’s kind of scary to think about. If I do it next year I’ll probably go more comical– like a Fu Manchu,” says Mesko.
So next time you go judging (or tweeting) a book by its cover, or a man by his facial hair, ask if he’s doing it for Movember or some other notable cause. Concern should only be raised if in fact he’s driving a windowless van or he’s appeared on an episode of To Catch a Predator.
Who knows? Maybe when Mesko closes out his impressive football career, the producers of Law & Order SVU will hire him. It’s clear he can look the part.
In all seriousness, felicitations to Mesko and all the other Mo Bros out there for making this stellar commitment in hopes to change the face of men’s health in the most literal sense. Hope to see your furry facial friends back next year.
Be sure to follow Mesko’s hairy hilarity on Twitter.
Note: This post is part of The Blonde Side’s Momentum Challenge series to interview one active player from all 32 NFL Teams within the short time frame of 34 days. Zoltan Mesko and his creepy ‘stache crosses the New England Patriots off the list.
To see this full article in its original format, check out CBS Man Cave Daily.
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Owen Daniels and fiance Angela Mecca (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)
A hunky tight end’s guide to Houston: Owen Daniels reveals where he hangs and his secret hip-hop cred
he 10-1 Houston Texans are stronger than ever, tied for the best record in the entire NFL, and, for the first time in their 10-year franchise history, part of the overanalyzed talk of being one of the Super Bowl favorites. Houston, the city, is also on a high, having taken the No. 1 spot on the Forbes list of America’s Coolest Cities To Live not so long ago.
According to the Forbes’ article, “cool” was based off Merriam-Webster’s definition of “very good; fashionable.”
Tight end Owen Daniels, the guy many consider to be the most social Texan (with apologizes to Connor Barwin), feels that Houston most definitely fits that description. Daniels, one of the main weapons in the Texans offense with 47 catches for 555 yards and six touchdowns, says that even if his football career eventually takes him elsewhere, Houston is where he plans to continue to call home.
I sat down with the 6-foot-3, 249-pound, newly-engaged tight end, who was dressed in all Jordan, and asked about all this new hype for his team and his city and the stereotypes synonymous with Texas.
“I’ve always been a rap/hip hop guy . . . I’m from the mean streets of Naperville, Illinois.”
The 30-year-old Daniels, who has spent all seven seasons of his NFL career in Houston, admits the pickup stereotype is “so true.” “I swear there’s gotta be one pickup truck for every car that’s out there,” he says. “I don’t know anywhere outside of Texas you’ll see so many pickup trucks.”
The Chicago-area native quickly debunks one popular misconception though. “I don’t think Houston is as country as people think,” Daniels says. “It’s a big city so you get every walk of life here — it’s a great mix of people. It’s not all cowboys and big teased hair.”
When asked to describe Houston in one word, Daniels claims he does not have a “great vocabulary” but chooses “sprawling.” “Even as big as our city is, it’s always growing and so spread out,” he continues.
Tight End, Owen Daniels (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)
This is one professional athlete who actually really knows the city he plays in. Here is Owen Daniels’ Visitors Guide to Houston:
Best Place to Shop: I don’t love shopping, but my girlfriend goes to Tootsies for dresses. I don’t mind the Galleria as long as I have some direction and know what I’m going for. I need to have a plan. I can’t just walk aimlessly through that massive place.
Texas Meal Must: Barbecue, Steak or Mexican? They gotta go barbecue. I like Mexican food, but don’t crave it like I do barbecue.
Best Barbecue:Goode Company next to Armadillo — it’s the most consistent.
Best Mexican:El Tiempo on Richmond — they’re all OK, but that’s the best one.
Best Steakhouse: No doubt, Del Frisco’s is my favorite spot to eat. Arthur (Mooradian), the GM there is amazing. I always get a filet, medium. You gotta go with the mac and cheese too — it’s a jalapeno mac and cheese with bacon in it — it’s so good!
Best Radio Station:The Box (97.9). That’s the best morning show that Houston has to offer. Rod Ryan (from The Buzz) emcees my charity events, so I like him a lot too.
Fave Musician from Houston: I’m kind of embarrassed I don’t know who all is from Houston, but I know a lot of good music comes from here. I guess I’d go with Bun B — I’m on this house kick lately. I’ve always been a rap/hip hop guy . . . I’m from the mean streets of Naperville, Illinois.
Best Music Venue: I think House of Blues is cool because it’s always intimate but my favorite shows I’ve seen have been big concerts at the Toyota Center. I went to (Lady) Gaga there and it was awesome! I went to Watch the Throne tour too — that was probably the sickest show I’ve been too.
Best Local Charity:Owen Daniels’ Catching Dreams Foundation of course! We try to help critically and chronically ill children in Houston and their families. I think what makes us unique is that we not only focus on and support the patient, but their siblings and families as well.
We have “Owen’s Locker” on the 10th floor at Texas Children’s with tons of entertainment like radios, DVD players, PSPs and other stuff to help entertain them while they are there.
Daniels has already secured his spot in franchise history becoming only the second Texan (behind Andre Johnson, who has 10,714 yards and counting) to reach 4,000 receiving yards in his career.
“I think he’s physically the best he’s been,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak has said of Daniels’ season.
Presumably that has something to do with putting forth 110 percent effort on the field and knowing all the best spots in Houston to refuel.
This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.
Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me. (The graphic to your left would lead you to believe I turned 32 today, but that is not the case, read on…).
Another year has passed and what can I say other than I’m L-A-Z-Y. Lazier than even Matt Leinart. This year has plum wore me out, but like last year, I’m going to make the most of these next four weeks and create a challenge for myself, which will likely stress me out and give me carpel tunnel.
Last year I set out to do The Blonde Side’s 30 Before 30 – asking 30 awesome athletes for interviews. I got quite a few, but the point was to get this column going (momentum, if you will) in a good direction. IT WORKED.
So this year I’m back presenting The Blonde Side’s MOMENTUM Challenge.
My goal: Interview a current player from each of the 32 NFL teams and write an article. Oh, and do it all by December 31,
That’s just 34 days. Time is clearly not on my side (just like the Eagles o-line), but it’ll push me to use my resources and secure great interviews. I’m not afraid of such a lofty goal, and it’s giving these 32 guys the platform to talk about whatever they want on or off the field. I promise you it’ll be interesting and I only break promises to ex-boyfriends.
We all need momentum from time to time. I’ve had some great articles published with ESPN this year, but I still need to keep pushing harder. So here goes…
Here are the interviews I’ve secured thus far (prepare to be slightly underwhelmed…for now). Stay tuned for updates and the articles here on The Blonde Side, and pulease leave a comment with suggestions/contacts to help me meet this ridiculous goal.
Other Big News: This entire series/column will run as a feature with Man Cave Daily.
In hindsight it would have been fitting to have done this challenge for The Blonde Side on my 32nd birthday…
Thanks to Melissa Sims for creating yet another amazing graphic for The Blonde Side!
Update – it’s now January 7, 2013 and The Blonde Side didn’t even come close to meeting this lofty goal. Better luck next year, but A for effort? Maybe? Thanks to all the great athletes above and to Man Cave Daily for running this feature. Look for big things from The Blonde Side in 2013. #promise
I do not like running. Let me start there. I am at best, an average runner. As I was debating an afternoon run a few weeks ago, I realized I needed some form of motivation. Something way beyond my usual Google search of hot and athletic chicks, so I turned a little impromptu game, making my run interactive by posting questions and polls on my social media channels. Once people started paying attention and providing feedback, I was pretty much forced to run. Which really was my only goal.
Here’s a look into my interactive running game:
1. I posted a poll on my Facebook page, asking friends/fans where I should run. I gave them two options – 3-mile loop around Memorial Park or running up and down my parking garage and stairs for 30 minutes.
The trick here was I gave everyone only 30 minutes to respond, that way I wouldn’t lose steam and could still manage to push my self out the door. As soon as the responses were in, I’d tie my Brooks Pure Flow shoes and take off. The poll semi-backfired because out of 64 votes, about 30 of those were for new options I didn’t post including suggestions of new running trails, a running club, a local CrossFit gym, etc, so it kind of skewed my results.
The awesome part about this? When the founder of Brian O’Neill’s Running Club suggested I head out to his club later that evening, another avid runner saw the post. She had never heard of BON, so I had the easy chance to introduce her to one of my favorite local running clubs. The power of social media and network sharing.
The other awesome part? One of my friends, a much better runner than I, suggested I run around the Bayou, a place I had never really heard of. Once I checked it out, I quickly added it to my list of local places to run. Not a bad FB survey, right?
2. I played a Pandora gamewith the Justin Bieber channel. My game went like this: every time a female artist came on, I had to
The Blonde Side’s Interactive Running Game with Justin Bieber
pick up the pace and run closer to a 7-minute mile as opposed to my 9-minute regular pace. But the joke was on me – only onemale song came on throughout the course of my 30-minute run. I guess it was a sweaty blessing in disguise. I posted this tidbit of hilarity on Twitter and got a ton of responses from other Pandora miscues. Apparently Biebs sounds more like Carrie Underwood, Ke$ha, and Demi Lovato than any of his male counterparts.
3. Instagrammed a collage of photos with the caption, “where did I run today?” Of course leave it to the blonde to run somewhere other than the 64 votes suggested, but I chose to head to Rice Village (it made more sense traffic-wise at that time of day).
The collage wasn’t entirely recognizable since I went through campus as opposed to staying on the regular runner’s path, but a number of people quickly guessed my spot. The post had over 20 comments and a few were from past Houston residents who had moved away saying how much they missed it here. A few of my followers asked if I was in need of a running buddy, so another plus!
What weird things do you do to help you get through a run?
CHICAGO — Being at Soldier Field on Veteran’s Day. Let that sink in for a minute.
Regardless of the outcome of the game between the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, all 62,410 fans in attendance, whether wearing navy and red or navy and orange, cheered for the country’s servicemen and women. Walking into the stadium, on all sides, fans were met with a simple but powerful message and reminder:
SOLIDER FIELD
Dedicated To The Men And Women Of The Armed Services
Flying out of Houston Hobby Friday morning, the airport was packed with enthusiastic Texans fans. If there’s one thing for sure about this Houston Texans team, fans travel well. And the team is good. Really good.
If there’s one thing for sure about this Houston Texans team, fans travel well. And the team is good. Really good.
Barret and Desiree Ortega were sporting their custom-made Texans T-shirts. The front read: “Howdy. ‘Chicago Blows’” with a Texans logo in place of the “o”.
The back read: “Dang auto correct – ‘Windy City.’”
The duo agreed it was a mutual creative idea; Desiree made the shirts, but Barret came up with the quote.
“We go to an away game every year but this one has to do with Veteran’s Day. He’s [Barret] in the Marine Corp and Solider Field has got to be one of the coolest places to spend this special day. Being from Houston, we wanted to go where it’s cold and we’ve been season tickets holders since Day one,” Desiree said holding her husband’s hand.
“Make sure you tell people we’re here proudly representing the Yellow Lot,” Barret added, referring to a popular tailgating spot near Reliant Stadium.
Barret and Desiree Ortega show off their sweatshirts before heading to Chicago
Mass appeal
Based on my trip to Denver back in September, I knew that Texans fans travel in masses. Eight home games clearly isn’t enough for some fans and while the team takes their show on the road, fans tag along for the fun. And the bragging rights being in the midst of all the gridiron action.
I began to wonder – are all these Texans fans BFFs (and why wasn’t I cordially invited?) or is there some underground fandom even I’m not aware of? And then I ran across a Facebook post from the ever-so-awesome Stephanie Stradley and the pieces started to fit together.
Stradley is a fan blogger (she goes by TexansChick) and at least for this Chicago game, drafted an “unofficial” Texans itinerary for the thousands venturing into the Windy City. To ensure the “travel in packs” mentality was in full effect all weekend, Stradley, with the help of some serious fans, itemized a traveling fans dream checklist.
To ensure the “travel in packs” mentality was in full effect all weekend, Stradley, with the help of some serious fans, itemized a traveling fans dream checklist.
She fully detailed what color to wear to the game (Battle Red), what bars fans would be at on Saturday night (including drink specials a link to the bar and address), where to meet if you want to partake in the group picture, and a simple yet friendly reminder that “the line between enthusiasm and obnoxious can be very thin.”
Her goal was to make sure Texans fans showed up strong and, more importantly, had a great time and respected the Bears fans in their house.
Texans fans at Soldier Field
Thanks to unrivaled tailgating and bloggers like Stradley, Texans fans have been bonding over beers and tough seasons for a full decade. Now, they finally have something to cheer about. The teams have only met two times prior to this season, so it was a no-brainer that Chicago would be a big game. A primetime battle of two talked about defenses, a great city and an even greater team – one finally worth traveling for.
I ran into Mike Stephens at the Pony sports bar Saturday for a huge A&M watch party. Mike flew into town with seven of his friends for Sunday’s big game.
“I am here with friends that I’ve known for 30 years, and because this will be the best game of the year. Two 7-1 teams. Outstanding. Great football, great friends, great city,” he said.
Too cool
Inside Soldier Field, the crowds were loud and bundled up. With pouring rain and temperatures in the 40’s, most Texans fans were covered head-to-toe in warm gear, a poncho (or trash bag) and multiple Texans branded apparel items. But there was one Texan who wasn’t afraid to show a little skin. In the first quarter, a Southern little blonde sporting a Texans midriff and unseasonably tan skin, flexed her muscles for the Jumbotron, getting fans riled up.
Just before heading into the raining tailgating festivities, I ran into Monica Rojas, another Houston fan. “Watt Ya Know About Them H-Town Peeps?” she kept saying to all the opposing fans, including the ESPN radio guys broadcasting live inside Jimmy Greens.
“Can’t wait to get home to Houston and thaw out. My draws are frozen and my fingers and toes are numb, but winning in Chicago’s house and celebrating with my fellow Texans fans was the greatest. 8-1! #bullsonparade.”
“We’re here trying to show Chicago how us Texans fans roll. We have family that lives here but we love and support our Texans – home and away. We are predicting the Texans are 8-1 after tonight baby!” Rojas said.
And she was right. Both teams entered Sunday nights’ game, the one many referred to as a preview for Super Bowl XLVII, at 7-1, but only one team left 8-1. The Texans, still the team to beat across the league, continue to be undefeated against Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears (with an all-time record of 3-0).
Looking at the front row of the lower bowl, I’m a TEXAN, WE ARE TEXANS, and other Texan-logo flags were strategically placed for all the viewers at home to see. Texans are proud.
A Texans fan on a mission, Patrick Reyes marks Chicago as just another stop on the away schedule.
“The game was ugly but I don’t think I could have had a more appropriate Chicago experience. The weather, the fans and a defensive battle. Great win for our Texans. As long as we win, I don’t care how we play. Next stop for me, New England on December 10th,” said Reyes who plans to utilize Stradley’s helpful tips along each stop.
Another avid fan and season ticket holder, Justin Capetillo, managed to type out a Facebook message even with frozen fingers after the big win. “Can’t wait to get home to Houston and thaw out. My draws are frozen and my fingers and toes are numb, but winning in Chicago’s house and celebrating with my fellow Texans fans was the greatest. 8-1! #bullsonparade.”
Ty and Sharon Coburn are celebrating more than just a franchise record-setting team.
“We are here celebrating our anniversary and it’s funny because it’s the Texans 10-year anniversary and it’s also our 10-year anniversary. Last night’s win was priceless. The win just completed our amazing weekend. I was wet from head to toe and Ty kept telling me ‘hang in there darling’ – it’ll all be worth it. It was amazing. We were sitting around some really grouchy Bears fans, but we had a great time,” said Sharon Coburn.
“Last night’s victory validated who we are – we are THE team,” said Ty.
I’m sure every other Texans fan, whether in Chicago, Houston or elsewhere agrees with Ty’s sentiments.
This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/535607_440207476040613_1752771499_n2.jpg960960Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2012-11-12 11:33:162012-11-19 12:20:18Bear Down
CLICK HERE to download and share The Blonde Side’s Movember Infographic.
My love for “moustaches”: On my 16th birthday, all I asked for (because I’m a brat and already had a car) was that my dad shave his moustache. He’d had it since I could remember and it was more of a “dare” rather than a present. Just one of those sixteen-year-old moments where you see how far you can really push your parents or how much pull you truly have in the family lineup. We were in Key West celebrating the milestone birthday with my best friend and my dad walked out of his room in the condo without a single hair on his face.
Ew, grow it back. Now. Daddy.
Those were my immediate words. As if he could take a deep breath and the hair would magically rest upon his face again. Luckily for all of us, my mom especially, his ‘stache grew back in a matter of days and we were back to business as usual. I knew then that moustaches had a special place in my cold little heart.
My love for sports. Aside from being freakishly awesome at basically every single sport, I’ve had a natural love for playing sports since the day I was born. I was born to play with balls. My love for watching sports wasn’t as natural, but it came early on. As a child, anytime I got in trouble my punishment was being sequestered in the family room while my mother flipped through magazines and my father watched sports on TV. It was almost always NFL, baseball, Nascar, golf or tennis. As a troubled child, I spent many-a-days on that microfiber couch and after a while I gave in and started taking an interest.
Why did Jeff Gordon run into another car and why are you screaming bad words at him dad?
Who is that weird looking tennis player with crazy hair dad? (The answer of course was Andre Agassi.)
What’s the difference between a false start and off-sides dad?
Why would Joe Gibbs go for a field goal instead of going for those few inches for a first down? He seems like a wuss, right dad?
Soon, I was a natural. I knew it and loved it. The sixth-grade boys came to me for sport’s trivia. A rare breed for many little girls, but my family embraced it.
My love for being a do-gooder. I don’t really know where this started, but I’m sure glad it did. Somewhere along the line, I realized I needed to payback some bad karma so I co-founded Charity Chicks Houston with a dear friend. Over the course of the four years Charity Chicks has been around, I’ve come to know and support some amazing charities, both locally and those with a national or even international reach.
When my two worlds (moustaches and do-gooding) collided and I learned about Movember, I was ecstatic. What started as 30 Mo Bros in Australia back in 2003 has morphed into a hipster whirlwind of 854,288 ‘staches grown last year for Movember. I wanted to help the cause and be part of the MOvement, but surely I wasn’t (thankfully) going to grow facial hair. I wanted to put all three of my loves of facial hair, sports and do-gooder stuff all into one nicely packaged thing to do my part, so here I am.
A few fun facts: the average man has a 2-inch long moustache and weighs approximately 2lbs. On average, a man with a ‘stache touches it approximately 760 times a day (better than touching something else…).
Jarod Kintz probably said it best when tying the moustaches and sports theme together, “The Nike Swoosh logo would make an interesting mustache…”
Check out the attached infographic, read the facts, join my team and share the hell out of this information. Use it on your own FB page, post it to Twitter, blog it (just be sure to give The Blonde Side credit and a link back) and help one little blonde girl change the face of men’s health. On and off the field.
Wanna partake in the hairy fun? Join The Blonde Side’s Movember team. Girls and guys are both encouraged to join (the Mo Sistas are there for support, the Mo Bros gotta grow). Can’t join, but wanna throw some money to a good cause? Donate to my page here.
The awesome Movember infographic was created by the lovely and talented Melissa Sims [Melrose Designs].
The Ultimate Guide to Paralympics: Where to watch, who to cheer for and far the games have come.
Just two weeks after the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, another set of games takes the same stage. On Wednesday, 4,280 Paralympians, elite athletes with physical and visual disabilities, will begin competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, an international multi-sport event with more than 20 sports over 11 days.
Some of the disabilities of the competitors include mobility difficulties, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy and some events are open to people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
The All-Time medal tally for the Summer Paralympics Games as of Beijing 2008 shows Team USA winning by a landslide with 665 gold, 592 silver and 613 bronze for a total of 1,870 medals. In far second is Great Britain with a total of 1,420 and then Canada with a total of 947 medals. The first International Games for athletes with a disability were held in 1952 (at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in London) with only two participating countries and 130 athletes.
The games have since grown to include 166 countries. An estimated 2.2 million tickets will be sold (in contrast to 8.8 million for the Londomn Summer Olympics). The Olympics and Paralympics started sharing the same venue in 1988 (Seoul, South Korea), which is the same year the term “Paralympics” was adopted.
Although the Games are yet to be televised in the United States (a goal the National Paralympic Committees is working on), you can tune in online and catch more than 580 hours of coverage. Once you set your URL and get comfortable, stay there for a while because there’s a lot to watch. NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will air one-hour highlight shows on Sept. 4, 5, 6 and 11 at 6 p.m. After the games, NBC will broadcast a 90-minute special on Sept. 16.
U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team (formerly known as Murderball): The full-contact rugby in wheelchairs is most known for the
Will Groulx | Photo Courtesy of Joe Kusumoto
toughness and tenacity of the athletes, which was captured in the prize-winning documentary, Murderball, which detailed the rivalry between the Canadian and U.S. teams leading up to the 2004 Paralympic Games.
Because of the difficulty of marketing a sport known as “Murderball,” the name was later changed to “Wheelchair Rugby.”
The sport made its Paralympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games.
The U.S. is a heavy favorite for gold, led by Will Groulx who was also part of the U.S. team when it won gold in Beijing in 2008 and who led the team in scoring in multiple matches. Groulx is a Navy veteran who was medically discharged after suffering a spinal-cord injury from a motorcycle accident in 2001.
You may recognize Groulx’s name as he was nominated for an ESPY back in 2009 for Best Male Athlete with a Disability for his performance as a member of the undefeated USA Quad Rugby team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball: Also heavy favorites for gold, this team won the last two Paralympics in Beijing and Athens. The team has six returning players from the same team that won gold in Beijing so they mesh well and know how to take the ball up and down the court with ease.
They recently won gold at the Parapan American Games in Guadalajara after going undefeated and beating Canada by 38 points.
Becca Murray | Photo Courtesy of Joe Kusumoto
I had a chance to chat with Jeff Downes, Team Leader since 2007, to find out why this group of women who happen to be aiming for a three-peat in London are worth watching.
“Our team has had success since 2004 where we won the gold in Athens and then again in 2008 when we beat Germany in the final minute,” he said. “We’ve always had a strong team — strength, speed and stamina — able to wear our opponents down, but the rest of the world is catching up. We’ve lost to some teams we should have beaten and I can assure you London is going to be a brawl.
“It’s going to be very competitive and we’re looking for some fun, high-scoring games.”
U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball: This is the sport that amazes me the most, after I watched a demo a few months back in Times Square. Having won silver last year in Beijing with a loss to China, the team has high hopes of edging out China this year in London to claim gold. The sport began in 2003 and is now powered by the American duo of Katie Holloway and Kari Miller.
The 6-foot-3 Holloway was named MVP and the Best Spiker at the 2011 Parapan American Games. Born without a fibula in her right leg, Holloway had her right foot and ankle amputated at 20 months, but she still went on to play basketball and volleyball.
She was later recruited by college basketball teams which did not even realize she wore a prosthetic leg.
Kari Miller | Photo Courtesy fo Frank Polich
The 5-foot-6 Miller helped her team win gold at ECVD Continental Cup in Yevpatoria, Ukraine, and was named the tournament’s Best Libero (defensive specialist) with 163 receptions. While serving in the military, Miller and a friend were in a car struck by a drunk driver. Miller lost both legs, one above the knee, the other below.
It should be a treat to watch these two athletes lead their team to a gold medal in London. Check out the rest of the team profiles.
April Holmes: Venturing into her third Paralympics, this will likely be Holmes’ final appearance. Holmes has been dubbed “the world’s fastest amputee” and holds world records in the 100-, 200- and 400-meters. In 2001, Holmes was involved in a train accident that resulted in the loss of her left leg just below the knee.
Holmes took her faith and worked towards a new goal of becoming a Paralympian and has been breaking records ever since.
In an accident at the Beijing Games in 2008, the spike on Holmes’ left prosthetic leg got caught in the track causing her to tumble to the ground. While on the ground, Holmes took a competitor’s spike to the face, but she still managed to force her bruised and bloodied body across the finish line. Just five days later, still in immense pain, Holmes competed in the 100-meter final.
Shocking even herself, she took gold, winning in a time of 13.72 seconds, just three seconds slower than the Olympic record held by Florence Griffith-Joyner.
The heart and soul, not to mention immense speed of Holmes should be at the top of anyone’s list of why to watch the Paralympics.
Holloway | Photo Courtesy of Frank Polich
Tatyana McFadden: This veteran Paralympian is in the games for her third time. McFadden first entered the Paralympic Games in Athens at age 15. Now 23, she says she’s still a bit nervous.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I’ve worked for four years, every day, twice a day for two hours in each session with my main focus being on the Paralympic Games.
“Getting involved in sports saved my life. The Paralympics are athletes at an elite level, people with disabilities competing at their best — it’s honoring, humbling, exciting, thrilling . . .”
As her bio states: “By all accounts Tatyana should not be one of the top female athletes in the world. She probably should not be alive. She was born in 1988 in St. Petersburg, Russia, with an underdeveloped spinal cord resulting in paralyzation below the waist and a hole in her spine, a condition know as spina bifida. When operated on immediately, spina bifida is rarely life threatening.
“Tatyana was left for 21 days before doctors operated. Only her innate strength of will kept her alive.”
She was sent to an orphanage, “an unwanted disabled child.” In 1994, Tatyana was adopted by American Debbie McFadden, who was working as the commissioner of disabilities for the U.S. Health Department.
Her new mother got McFadden her first wheelchair, and signed her up for swimming classes and then a Baltimore wheelchair sports organization to help build up her strength. Now, McFadden’s an eight-time track world champion, three-time marathon winner and full-time student at University of Illinois.
She races with her sister Hannah in the 100-meters.
“Whether I bring home a medal or not, I’m going to put in 110 percent,” McFadden promised. Famed for her strength, McFadden is also aptly nicknamed “Beast.”
This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.
