Typically, Justin Bieber steals the show both in Google search and in Twitter trends. But over the last month, nothing – not even Justin Bieber – could come close to comparing to the searches for the World Cup.

Here’s a graph from Google Insights for Search:

As you can see, the search phrase “justin bieber” has dominated the search engines over the past 30 days.

This reflects the changing dynamics and popularity of football (or soccer) both here in the US and throughout the world.

Internationally, search volume was highest in African countries like Botswana, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. Closer to home, users on the East Coast were the most interested in searching for World Cup related terms, particularly in Vermont, New York, and DC.

Beyond their general interest, searchers were also looking to buy hats, jerseys, flags, and other goods to show their support of their favorite teams, according to Google Retail.

By now, some people might be wondering if Chad Ochocinco is an NFL football wide receiver or a Hollywood celebrity. After his first reality TV show this season in Dancing With The Stars, Chad Ochocinco has apparently not had enough of the bright lights.

Tonight on VH1, his new reality TV show called “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch” debuted with a 90 minute episode.

This new reality TV show has Chad trying to chose a date. The show started out with 85 women (ocho-cinco), and gets narrowed down from there.

Regardless of his ambitions for reality TV, I would think that someone in the Bengals organization is going to have some issues with all of the extra curricular activities of Chad Ochocinco.

The 2010 World Cup is starting to get more interesting as each day passes. With finals now on the line, the competition is growing more intense with higher level of soccer being played.

Today on ABC and ESPN Radio at 9:30am EST, you can watch Argentina vs. Germany soccer match, then at 2pm EST you can watch Paraguay vs Spain.

According to the NYTimes:

Argentina won in 1986 in Mexico City with Maradona at the height of his powers, but the Germans spoiled the double in 1990 in a deeply negative match in Rome when too much of Maradona’s magic was already gone.

Despite his wizardry with the ball at his feet (and in one famous occasion against England, his hand), Maradona never scored in any match against West Germany. But the team he now coaches is brimming with attacking talent, led by the creative force Lionel Messi and striker Gonzalo Higuain, and neither Maradona nor Löw said they expected anything but more assaults on the goal Saturday.

“We are well aware that we have to keep playing our football,” Maradona said. “We know that our opponent tomorrow from a historical point of view has always played good matches against Argentina. But if we keep possession of the ball, they’ll have to run very hard for a long time without even touching it.”

USA v Ghana 2010 World Cup – Watch Live Online USA vs Ghana

This is a day that few people thought we’d see this year in the 2010 World Cup. The United States soccer team has made it to the final 16, and has literally silenced every critic throughout the world that never thought the US would make it this far.

Watch USA vs Ghana live – 2 prime online locations for live streaming

I’ve been able to find 2 free online sites where I believe you’ll be able to watch the live streaming of the USA vs Ghana World Cup match.

ESPN3.com

BBC.com

Click either of the links above to view the USA vs Ghana live online soccer match.

The match between USA and Ghana will take place today, Saturday at 11:30 AM PDT / 2:30 PM EDT.

The United States won its World Cup group for the first time in 80 years. Ghana jumped out to a quick start South Africa, knocking off Serbia 1-0 in their opener. They followed that up with a 1-1 tie against Australia. Ghana are only the second African team to reach the knockout stages [source: ContinentDaily.com].

With the USA soccer team making it this far, and overcoming the critics who thought the US would already be out of the running for the 2010 World Cup, I believe that as far as the US soccer team is concerned, anything can happen – including the US winning the 2010 World Cup!

We’ll see…

Wow, how about this for some unfortunate and unforeseen events. Lane Kiffin, the previous head coach at Tennessee, left Tennessee to head to the big lights and big money at USC in sunny southern California.

His departure from Tennessee was not very welcomed by the UT community, alumni, boosters, and football players – in fact, he became both a target and a laughing stock of the entire SEC.

Who can forget the Lane Kiffin press conference drama (video)

Well, Lane Kiffin had just recently got his dream job – head coach of one of the biggest and brightest football programs in all of college football, if not the biggest.

No sooner does Lane Kiffin show up to start his dream job, coaching the dream team of college football, right in the middle of dreamy Los Angeles, does the USC athletic department (including the football program) get hit with what I believe is the hardest NCAA penalties in the history of college football.

And the one penalty that hits Lane Kiffin right where it hurts the most?

A 2 year ban from all post season bowl games….  OUCH!

Here’s a complete list of the USC Football Sanctions

Public reprimand and censure.

Four years of probation: from June 10, 2010, through June 9, 2014.

Postseason ban for the 2009-10 men’s basketball season. (self-imposed)

Postseason ban for the 2010 and 2011 football seasons.

One-year show-cause penalty for assistant football coach Todd McNair (June 10, 2010, to June 9, 2011).

Vacation of all football wins, including football bowl games, from the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Vacation of all basketball wins in the 2007-08 season, including the NCAA tournament. (self-imposed)

Vacation of all wins in women’s tennis between November 2006 and May 2009.(self-imposed)

Reduction of football scholarships by 10 for the next three academic years.

Reduction of men’s basketball scholarships from 13 to 12 for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. (self-imposed)

Reduction of the total number of recruiting days in men’s basketball by 20 days (from 130 to 110) for the 2010-11 academic year. (self-imposed)

$5,000 fine. (self-imposed)

Remittance of the $206,200 the university received for its participation in the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament. (self-imposed).

Disassociation of football player Reggie Bush, basketball player O.J. Mayo and “booster” Rodney Guillory.

Release of three men’s basketball recruits from their letters of intent. (self-imposed).

 Prohibition of all non-university personnel, including boosters, from traveling on football and men’s basketball charters; attending football and men’s basketball team practices; attending or participating in any way with university football and men’s basketball camps, including donation of funds; and having access to the sidelines and locker rooms for football and men’s basketball games.

[source: Atlanta Journal Constitution]

Lawrence Taylor Arrested After Rape Allegation

Lawrence Taylor, famous for breaking plays and breaking legs  on the football field, is back in the news again.  This time it’s not because of the game of football, and it’s more serious than leaving the scene of an accident as he did last November.  This time, the famous ex-linebacker of the New York Giants was arrested for allegedly committing the rape of a 15 year-old girl in a Montebello, New York hotel.  Police said that he would be charged with third-degree rape because the victim is a minor.

A news conference has been scheduled for this afternoon to detail the charges.

According to police, the teenager was a run-a-way from the Bronx and she was taken to the hotel by a pimp.  After the incident she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Taylor, a veteran of 13 years with the New York Giants was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.  He is considered to be one of the best defensive players of all time.

His career has been marred by several suspensions by the NFL because of problems with drugs and alcohol.  He has also been arrested for drug possession.  Since leaving the game of football as a player he re-emerged in the public eye by working as a TV sports announcer on NFL broadcasts.

Last November, Mr. Taylor was charged in Dade County, Florida for leaving the scene of an accident.  The case is still pending.  He was released on a $500 dollar bond.

So far there is no comment from the New York Giants or the NFL which has been busy dealing with the Ben Roethlisberger alleged rape case in Georgia.  Roethlisberger was never charged, but he is having to deal with suspension for several games as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback.  The league said that Roethlisberger’s conduct was not becoming of the NFL league values and standards.

Pamela Anderson, Dancing With The Stars Elimination May 4

Last night’s Dancing With The Stars pool of celebrities got shorter by one person, and unfortunately it was Pamela Anderson that was eliminated from the show.

During last night’s Dancing With The Stars episode, the contestants were split into two teams for the cha cha challenge. Team Gaga, which Pamela Anderson was part of, also consisted of Micole Scherzinger and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver star Chad Ochocinco.

The other team was Team Madonna, and that team consisted of Evan Lysacek, Niecy Nash and Erin Andrews. And although Team Madonna scored well in their routine, they (Team Madonna) were not able to overcome the performance of Team Gaga.

So Team Gaga was able to take the championship last night, but apparently it wasn’t enough to prevent Pamela Anderson from being singled out and eliminated from Dancing With The Stars.

Even Lysacek and his partner Anna Trebunskaya were able to bring home the top score this week, with a perfect score of 30. They also received a standing ovation after they had completed their number. Their number was a powerful, briskly paced tango that had taken the judges by surprise.

Chad Ochocinco is scheduled to head to pre-season football camp this summer. But for now, throughout the spring, he is enjoying his time on Dancing With The Stars and trying to leverage this to help keep him shape during the NFL off season.

Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll Hints NFL Draft Picks via Twitter

Pete Carroll sure is having fun at his new job as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. After leaving USC and college scene, you’d think that Pete Carroll would be a little uptight, or perhaps even high strung, as the new skipper with the Seattle Seahawks.

But not, Pete Carroll seems to be as relaxed and confident as ever.

One example of this comes across via Pete Carroll’s Twitter updates.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is supposedly dropping hints on his Twitter account today about just who his team will select in the NFL draft that starts Thursday night, says Seattlepi.com.

Carroll is listing song titles and telling his followers to read the clues. You can follow along here along with the coach’s current 386,000 followers. But here’s a couple clues of my own.

Eeach of Carroll’s tweets comes with a link to that song’s music video on the Bing.com website. And, yes, Bing is a corporate partner of the Seahawks, who wear their logo on their practice jerseys along with other sponsor relations.

Here’s what Pete Carroll has tweeted so far – see if you can uncover the NFL draft hints that are buried in these updates:

Maybe after the NFL draft is over, someone can take the list of tweets to Pete Carroll and ask him to interpret each one for us.

Or maybe, during the NFL draft, we’ll get a clue as to what in the world Pete Carroll was talking (or tweeting) about!

Ben Roethlisberger Suspended 4 – 6 Games for Rape

Doesn’t the title of this article sound ridiculous?

Since when, in our justice system, does somebody get away with rape and most importantly, a professional football who’s only penalty is to sit out 4 – 6 games during the regular season.

Don’t think Ben Roethlisberger raped that girl?

Have you read the victims police report?

The medical exam after the alleged assault did not provide definitive proof of rape. However, the medical exam did reveal a “cut, bruises and vaginal bleeding,” reports ESPN. Some DNA evidence was seen, but the quantity of it was insufficient to determine who it belonged to.

The statements from the victim’s friend, Nicole Biancofiore, are also proof enough that Ben Roethlisberger committed a crime that night in Milledgeville.

Nicole Biancofiore stated that “(the alleged victim) was dragged by a bodyguard to the back room in Capital. She was extremely intoxicated and not aware of what was happening.”

This situation is disgraceful not only to Ben Roethlisberger, but to the entire NFL organization. And worst yet, only suspending Ben Roethlisberger 4 – 6 games for this crime is even more despicable.

Really, 4 – 6 game suspension for raping a woman…. wow!

Manchester Derby – More Than Just Pride for Manchester

MANCHSTER, England (Reuters) – For the first time in Alex Ferguson’s long reign at Manchester United, Saturday’s derby clash means more than just pride and local bragging rights for Manchester City.

City lead the race for the fourth and final Champions League place and that adds fuel to the fire.

“It puts a definite emphasis on the derby game,” Ferguson told a media conference on Friday.

“In my years at Manchester United this is the first time we have played City when they have had a chance to achieve something.

“A lot of neutrals will say that is fantastic for City and makes the game tomorrow more appealing than ever.”

City manager Roberto Mancini said: “It is important because if we finish fourth we can change our path and play Champions League football next season. That is the most important thing, for the club, for the players, for me.”

Ferguson said: “That’s the great thing about derby games. In my 23 years every time we have played City, they have always said they would beat us. That’s what derby games do, they create a fantastic enthusiasm and supporters want to hear that.

“It’s a different derby game tomorrow because both teams can achieve something out of it … and both can lose out of it as well.”

Read more at Reuters

This guy is ridiculous!

Dillon Baxter is certainly on his way to becoming an NFL football star.

But wait… there’s more!  He’s only a freshmen at USC, and the video below is only showing him during the spring scrimmage.

And already, NFL scouts are starting to sit up and take notice of this kid.

Check him out below:

Dillon Baxter Football Highlights (Video)

Ben “Big Ben” Roethlisberger has a big day coming up on Monday, April 12th, and it’s not a Super Bowl appearance. The Georgia DA who has been investigating the sexual assault accusation made by a 20 year old college student.

Ben Roethlisberger Police Report (or Rape Report)

The complaint against Roethlisberger was filed March 5 by a 20-year-old female student at Georgia College & State University, located in Milledgeville. Roethlisberger, 28, who has quarterbacked Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl titles, has a home at a lakeside community in central Georgia and was visiting Milledgeville with a group of acquaintances.

The case has been under investigation by Milledgeville policed and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a state agency. Milledgeville police chief Woodrow Blue announced Wednesday that the investigative file had been turned over the previous evening to Bright, according to USA Today.

The district attorney in Georgia who will make the call on whether to prosecutePittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on a sexual assault complaint has scheduled a press conference for Monday to announce his decision.

“The investigation, interviews, and report in the Roethlisberger matter have been completed and reviewed,” said a statement issued Friday by District Attorney Fred Bright, who said the announcement will be made at 2 p.m. ET Monday in the Baldwin County Courthouse in Milledgeville, Ga.

If the decision is made that there is merit for a sexual assault case, then Ben Roethlisberger’s life is about to get a whole lot more stressful.

However, I have no doubt that Ben Roethlisberger has an entire team of highly paid attorneys standing by watching and waiting for the decision, and ready to move into action if needed.

It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds, especially since the NFL is getting ready to kick things back off for a new season.

How will this all impact Ben Roethlisberger’s upcoming season?

We have yet to hear anyone from the Pittsburgh Steeler’s organization comment on this matter.

Let’s see what happens on Monday at 2pm.

McNabb to the Redskins

The rumors have been flying around over the past few weeks over the Donavan McNabb trade and the issues surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. Most people speculated that Donovan McNabb would head to Oakland where McNabb would head up the Oakland Raiders.

However, according to the Washington Post, last night Donovan McNabb was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to become the quarterback with the Washington Redskins.

Here’s more from the Washington Post about the Donovan McNabb trade:

“In the boldest move since Mike Shanahan took over as head coach, the Redskins acquired quarterback Donovan McNabb Sunday night in a trade with the Eagles.

McNabb, a six-time Pro Bowler, instantly changes the face of the Redskins’ offense, simultaneously casting uncertainty on quarterback Jason Campbell’s future and the team’s plans for this month’s draft. His arrival also means Redskins’ fans can expect a new starting quarterback at the start of the 2010 season.”

Update – 2-12-2019 – Yahoo removed their commercial clips from YouTube, so we found this updated video below.

Start watching the Super Bowl ads below:

Jamere Holland’s Facebook Posts:

Jamere Holland’s Facebook updates have led to his immediate removal from his Oregon Football team for violating team rules.

Here are the series of updates that led to Jamere Holland getting kicked off the Oregon football team:

Jamere Holland: “how the f#ck you kick kinko off the team,,, on some weak sh#t, n#ggas always faded he slipped up but ive been slippn up, and I’m still here, that sh#t weak buff cuh could have done damage for the ducks, that sh#t is weak, weak a$ f#ck, quote me.”

Jamere Holland: “chilln thinking of another status to f#ck with the readers heads, I wish I could block whites as friends and only have blacks LOL, cause apparently I’m misunderstood”

Jamere Holland: for the record I’m not a racist..

This goes to show that people are still clueless about the impact of what you say on Facebook.  As I said above, you can hide under the umbrella of “freedom of speech” to say whatever you want – but you are by no means exempt from the consequences of what you say!

Jamere Holland learned that lesson the hard way.

And oh yeah, the video is 7:35 long because… well… there were a lot of touchdowns scored!

Check out the Cardinals vs. Packers Highlight Video

“Thrilled to be the coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Committed to stirring People with PASSION and PURPOSE.”

Brian Kelly currently has 9,253 fans, he is only following 65 people, and has only 38 tweets.  I’m sure however, that we’ll see more from Coach Kelly as his popularity level has rocketed since the announcement of him being named Notre Dame’s new football head coach.

You can follow Brian Kelly’s Twitter profile here.

And during one of these trips – and I’m not sure why I did it – but I Google’d the word “eagles”.  I guess I had that word on my mind since I was watching the game.

But as soon as I searched the word “eagles”, I saw something I’d never seen before!

Here’s what I saw:

That is what’s called Google Sports Scores!

Now the image above is actually from a search I did this morning, obviously you are seeing the final score, news articles, etc…

But last night, you would have seen the same score box at the top of the search results with an up to the second score summary of the game.

So basically to see scores and schedules for sports teams type the team name or league name into the search box, hit “search” and bam… there ya’ go!

This is cool little search function that I’ve never used before, and so of course I never realized was available until last night.  I think it’s awesome though, and just another small way that Google delivers relevant search results.

Here’s a video for you to watch as well – it’s only 15 seconds long and worth watching just for the music alone: