Advent Calender of Hotness Day 9: Andy Dalton

I’m sorry, y’all. I can not resist a true redhead.

Cute wool hats, floating heads and stupid Tebow: Your NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview

I'm just relieved this isn't an animated gif in which the outer floating heads rotate around Boomer. (Image source: ESPN)

It’s NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND! And I know this because ESPN sent me the most frightening email yesterday to remind me. I’m normally all for floating heads, but I live in fear of falling asleep and having the floating head of Keyshawn Johnson bellow “C’MON MANNNN!” in my dreams. Also, what the hell is with the green glow? The Countdown Crew are aliens, I tell you.

Meet me after the jump for a quick look at Wild Card Weekend. I have to go find my tinfoil hat first…

What I Think About While Trying Not To Think About the 6 Run 9th Inning Lead The Cardinals Just Blew That Will Likely Cost Them The Wild Card

(Subtitle: Probably I’m Overreacting, Since They’ve Certainly Blown Plenty of Other Games This Season, And Anyway If They Make The Playoffs We’ll Never Get Rid of La Russa and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.)

• That the AL Wildcard has suddenly gotten triply interesting.
• That Jeffrey Loria used to own a team with an iconic “M” logo and still thought this was a good idea.
• That somehow, all you have to do is become a Bengal to act like a Bengal. (Yes, that’s two different stories.)
• That safeties are awesome.  And even more awesome when it’s a rookie’s first NFL sack (h/t TheJetsBlog)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go stare at Rafa in his underwear. I find it clears the mind.

Laura Vikmanis: One Hot Mama!

It’s not often that we here at Ladies… will recognize the efforts of a pro cheerleader.  But after seeing all of the recent buzz around Laura Vikmanis and learning that she is the cousin of a friend in the OH circle, it was pretty hard not to admire her moxie and help share her story with the sports world.  Who is Laura Vikmanis?  More after the jump.

Hit and Run: September’s coming soon

Hands up: who cannot wait for September?

No, no, NO, Malcolm Sheppard of the Texans! That's not what I meant by "Hands up!" (AP Photo)

Oh, September. What’s not to love? The return of NFL football, baseball hurling towards the Fall Classic, hockey and basketball waiting in the wings. We’re almost there, but in the meantime, here’s a quick rundown of what happened the last weekend of August.

Oh, dear. GAWD!

Lady Bee here for the vacationing Raven. So, um, what fresh hell is this? T.O. and Ochocinco on the same team?!! Ochocinco telling ESPN this will be a great year? Oh, you said it, Chad! With apologies to loyal Ladies… reader thistlewarrior, we cannot wait for this circus to get underway. How much ego and douchebaggery can one locker room take? How long until T.O. hangs his good buddy Chad out to dry? Or complains about Palmer not throwing enough passes to him?

Of course, all that said, could we expect Terrell to take the high road while Chad pulls a hissy fit over face time? Please, dear readers. We want your take on this. Better yet, start making wagers on when the shit hits the fan. I’m already predicting a minor spat over who is Batman and who is Robin (guess which role T.O. has assumed?) Somehow, I can’t see that partnership going as smoothly as this one did.

I rest my case.

All the best, Bengals fans. You’re in for a heckuva season.

Hump Day Hottie: NFL Wild Card Playoffs

Well, it’s finally here: Playoff Time!  This is when you separate the men from the boys.  Well us Ladies are separating the hotties from the not-so hotties.  Take a trip with me after the jump to see some hotties playing in the Wild Card match-ups this weekend.

Rest in peace, Chris

I’m not going to pretend I know much about Chris Henry. I know enough that he spent his career in Cincinnati, that he played for West Virginia, that his 2009 season was cut short by a thigh injury, and that he was working hard to turn his life around. You already know that.

But when I look beyond the drama, the career stats and the lost potential as a player and a person, I know enough to say that this is simply heartbreaking. Children have lost a father. A family has lost a son. A team has lost a valued colleague.

Our thoughts are with Chris’s family and teammates.

Write your own caption, you want one so damn much.

We’re watching football, so this is what you get.

We Dey, so STAY DOWN.

Write your own caption, or we’re sending Troy Polamalu after you. And he’s cranky.

Ochocinco To The Rescue!

I know it’s just preseason, but come on. Last night, stand-in kicker Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson delivered on an extra point in the 2nd quarter which gave the Bengals that one point edge over the Patriots and eventually led them to a one point victory.

In light of last night’s ridiculousness, I just HAD to post this photo (thanks KJ) and open it up for Write Your Own Caption.

Have at him!

Hump Day Hotties: AFC & NFC North

Some of us Ladies have been looking forward to football season, so I thought what better way to get everyone hyped than to feature a hottie from every NFL team.  Each week for the next four weeks, we’ll be featuring lesser-known hotties from an AFC and NFC division.

Follow me after the jump to get a peek at the AFC and NFC North.

Misery Loves Company

With the exception of very few major league teams, more likely than not your season consistently ends in tears.  Sitting in a bar this past Saturday, looking at the faces of those around me wearing Cavs jerseys, I was reminded once again of the ultimate reality of Ohio teams in the post season, and the heart break that lies therein.

The more I thought about it, we are not alone. You know who you are, kings and queens of “there’s always next year,” or preseason shouters of, “this is our year!”  And you can be found across this great nation.

So here begins my little journey across country, to highlight our defeats, but most importantly, the beauty that comes from being a fan, and the hope that maybe, just maybe, this really is our year!