Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Fitness guy Bremen Menelli (above) took a walk in the park. A very, very wet park… 🙂 • Instinct: Openly gay sports radio host Seth Dunlap has filed a discrimination lawsuit against his station WWL after the Twitter account for the station called him a “fag.” In the 15 days since the posting of the tweet, the station has reportedly not apologized to Dunlap nor has the employee who wrote the tweet been identified. WWL Radio is alleging that Dunlap sent the homophobic tweet himself in an attempt to extort $1.8 million from the station. • NY Daily News: A gay couple eating at a Queen restaurant say they were viciously attacked by a group of homophobic guests, and neither the restaurant employees nor the security guard moved to intervene. “We asked one of the security guys to do something about it but he said that the best we could do is to finish eating and leave.” • NFL.com: Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation has announced artists Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will perform for the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV halftime show on February 2, 2020 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Past headliners have included Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and Madonna.
• The Atlantic: “It is impossible that the whistle-blower is a hero and I’m not. And I will be the hero! These morons—when this is over, I will be the hero.” – Rudy Giuliani • The Advocate: Dallas police Tuesday have arrested Domingo Ramirez-Cavente, 29, in connection with the shooting of a transgender woman, Rony Calderon, over the weekend. An arrest affidavit says that when police brought in Ramirez-Cavente, he admitted in an interview to shooting the victim. He has been charged with aggravated assault. • Variety: Newly-minted Emmy Award winner Billy Porter will add another accomplishment to his resume as it has been announced he will direct an episode of POSE for the upcoming Season 3 of the groundbreaking series. • Out Music: Synth-rock duo Dream Machines recently released this live performance of their latest single, “Sarajevo.” “Sarajevo” juxtaposes a catchy, upbeat synth groove with a political message about history’s tangential blindness to nationalism. The bass pounds like a juggernaut while lead singer Harry May-Kline’s vocals ask the listener, “are we over the line” in our fear of American zealotry.
Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman (and his awesome beard)
Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots dropped by The Ellen Show to chat about winning this year’s big game, but Ellen clearly had one thing on her mind.
After walking out with the Vince Lombardi Trophy in hand (and that glorious beard on his face), Ellen asks if each player gets a trophy. The answer is ‘no,’ but Edelman does share you can buy one – from Tiffany’s!
After presenting him with the MVP award, Ellen does explain since it’s his first time on the show that there’s a tradition that a shirtless pic has to be shown (!!!).
And she does. Squee!!! I ain’t mad.
But wait, there’s more!
Another pic – and jostling Julian is naked in it! This one from his photo shoot for the 2017 ESPN Magazine Body Issue.
When did TV talk shows get to be so much fun?
Ellen notes the technical merits of the photo asking, “How’d you do that? What’s happening there? I mean, you just jumped in the air and they took that picture?”
“You know… it was a crazy day,” offers Edelman. “The temperature was just right, though, that was a good thing,” he adds with a smile.
After pointing out his obviously muscular legs, Ellen shifts her attention to Edelman’s arms and how you can’t miss them, even asking, “Do you wear shorter sleeves than the other guys?”
And he does!
Edelman explains something about ‘being tight,’ and less surface area, and ‘putting hands on him,’ but it was lost on me as I was still looking at his biceps, so, oops.
He adds it takes two guys to put the jersey on him before a game. “And afterwards, it’s like the worst thing ever… getting it off.”
“Getting it off?” inquires Ellen.
“Yeah, getting it off….” affirms the wide receiver.
“Cause it’s so tight and sweaty?”
“Without a doubt,” confirms Edelman.
I might have lost consciousness there for a second, anyway…
Ellen finally gets to what’s really been on her mind as she addresses Edelman’s big, bushy beard. #swoon
Asked if he’s shaved at all since the football season began months ago, Edelman explains, “(Patriots) Coach Belichick says ‘Put everything in the drawer, and worry about it ’til the season’s done.’ So I put my razor in the drawer.”
Noting that the 32-year-old wide receiver is a fan of The Boys & Girls Club of America, our intrepid host finally gets down to business offering him $10,000 for the charity if he’ll allow her to shave his beard.
Wait, whaaaat? The beard is going away…??? But, but… #stunnedblankface
Edelman grabs his whiskers (as if to protect them) as he ponders the offer. “It’s like a child that grows on you…,” he says.
But he’s up for it, and even offers to kick in his own $10K for the Boys & Girls Club. So, off to the barber’s chair they go.
Before they get started Edelman does inquire as to whether Ellen knows how to trim a beard, and she helpfully offers that she’s used clippers on her dog.
So, great.
Ellen gets going with the clippers and you can see some apprehension in Edelman’s face. But he’s a tough guy, he’ll get through.
Halfway through Ellen checks to see if “there’s anything else” he’d like trimmed?
“Are we talking a Brazilian?,” says Edelman laughing.
Ellen does stop to consider whether the considerable porn stache should stay for a moment…
Gladys Knight sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl 53
Music legend, 8-time Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Atlanta native Gladys Knight came to slay at Super Bowl LIII as she delivered an elegant and stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
Just hours before Super Bowl LII, Donald Trump issued a statement recognizing the national event but made it clear he didn’t want to see players kneel during the National Anthem.
“As many Americans come together to watch the Super Bowl, Melania and I extend our greetings and appreciation for those who make occasions like this possible, particularly the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.
Though many of our Nation’s service members are unable to be home with family and friends to enjoy this evening’s American tradition, they are always in our thoughts and prayers. We owe these heroes the greatest respect for defending our liberty and our American way of life. Their sacrifice is stitched into each star and every stripe of our Star-Spangled Banner. We hold them in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the National Anthem.
We send our best wishes for an enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday. May God bless and protect our troops, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”
Bolding is mine.
As everyone knows, NFL players kneeling during our National Anthem had not ever been about disrespecting our flag or anthem; it was to call attention to injustices against African-Americans.
During a speech in September last fall, Trump called players who kneel during the anthem “sons of bitches.”
This is truly the Super Bowl commercial FOX TV didn’t want you to see.
While the first half of this spot by 84 Lumber, debuted during the Super Bowl last night, viewers were urged to see the second half online. Titled, “The Entire Journey,” the commercial chronicles a mother and daughter’s symbolic migrant journey towards becoming legal American citizens.
FOX TV apparently told 84 Lumber the image of an actual wall was too controversial for their viewers.
I really encourage you to watch the full 5 minute video. The tag line at the end hits it.
If this doesn’t affect you, it probably says something about your perspective on the world.
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one tracking Super Bowl referee Clete Blakeman throughout the game last night.
According to NewNowNext, 51-year-old Blakeman is a former University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers quarterback, and a happily married personal injury attorney living in Omaha.
Apparently, much of the Twitterverse was as obsessed with him as well.
As a hard-core Coldplay fan, I was thrilled seeing my favorite band head up the half-time show at the Super Bowl.
I know the gays love how fierce Beyoncé may be, and how funky Bruno Mars can kill it, but for me it was all about Coldplay.
I thought the groovy LED stage, which gave the over-head cameras much to shoot, was way cool, and the utilization of the crowd in the stands for the final “Believe In Love” message was fab and fun.
Apparently, though, some anti-gay idiots took all the colors to represent a pro-gay message (and what’s wrong with that?) saying there were a disarming amount of rainbows in the show.
For the record, the color scheme was clearly dictated by the cover of Coldplay’s new album, “A Head Full Of Dreams.” Check the cover art:
You see where this all came from, right?
Here’s just a sample of the kinds of vitriol sprayed all over Twitter about the abundance of rainbows. Keep in mind, however, that those complaining here are the same folks who enjoy men in tight costumes jumping on top of each other and then slapping each other on the butt. THAT is ok; but, a rainbow? “Damn homos!”
Forgot the halftime show was changed to a gay rights movement
Lady Gaga is not someone who demands to be seen in HD.— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 7, 2016
Professional asshole Ben Shapiro sent out the above tweet last night, taking a dig at Lady Gaga after her national anthem performance at the Super Bowl.
The comment was too crunchy for even his own followers as the response was not what he was probably expecting. See below just a few choice retorts.
@benshapiro have you seen yourself in the mirror? The last time I check, you are not attractive at all.— SOCIOLOGICAL (@sociologiks79) February 8, 2016
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Fitness guy Bremen Menelli (above) took a walk in the park. A very, very wet park… 🙂 • Instinct: Openly gay sports radio host Seth Dunlap has filed a discrimination lawsuit against his station WWL after the Twitter account for the station called him a “fag.” In the 15 days since the posting of the tweet, the station has reportedly not apologized to Dunlap nor has the employee who wrote the tweet been identified. WWL Radio is alleging that Dunlap sent the homophobic tweet himself in an attempt to extort $1.8 million from the station. • NY Daily News: A gay couple eating at a Queen restaurant say they were viciously attacked by a group of homophobic guests, and neither the restaurant employees nor the security guard moved to intervene. “We asked one of the security guys to do something about it but he said that the best we could do is to finish eating and leave.” • NFL.com: Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation has announced artists Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will perform for the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV halftime show on February 2, 2020 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Past headliners have included Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and Madonna. 
