From the Bleachers

The curious story of Harry Potter and the Dublin minor team

No, this is not another installment of the popular JK Rowling book, or movie. This is even odder. You may have noticed pictures of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe celebrating with the Dublin GAA Minor (Junior) team doing the rounds on the net last night and thought to yourself, ‘Nah, that’s not Harry Potter! He’s too small, and besides, what would he be doing drinking with the Dubs?!’

The crazy thing is, it’s all true!

Taking a jab-step back for a second, a little context. On Sunday 23rd ‘The Dubs’ as they are affectionately known captured their first minor title since 1984 beating neighbours Meath by 14 points to 8. Naturally the celebration lasted a while, until the small hours in fact. Let’s turn to Dublin player Niall Walsh who wrote on his Facebook page: "Walkin down Grafton Street round 3ish bump into Harry Potter head gone lookin for the party, get few pics, get our wands out for quick leak then into a taxi to Capt David Byrnes for the after-sesh."

The NFL replacement referees didn't lose the game last night: M.D. Jennings did.

Is there a more vilified role currently in modern society than the NFL replacement referees? Green Bay and New England NFL fans hate the replacement referees. Reggie Bush hates them, Drew Brees hates them. Paul Ryan hates the replacement referees. Your Grandmother probably hates the replacement referees. NFL referee costumes are going to take on a whole new meaning this Halloween. Perhaps it is time to take a short step backwards though and at least ask a few questions about this furor, before we go tar and feathering anyone.

First, that big play last night. In case you missed it, Golden Tate of the Seahawks, challenged Green Bay defensive back M. D. Jennings for the ball on the final, hail Mary type heave into the end-zone. Both players appeared to have a grip on the ball and the referees invoked the NFL rule that basically a ‘tie’ like that goes to the offensive player. You can argue the finer details until the cows come home, however, I would contend that Jennings caused much of this issue by not playing his position properly.

Any good defensive back will tell you that the correct play in that situation is not to try and catch the ball, but to slap, slam, slice the ball to the ground. Knock it down, deflect it, spike it, whatever. Just don’t try to catch it. Try to catch it in traffic like that, and complications arise, such as last night.

Five reasons New England Patriot fans don’t need to jump into the Charles River (yet)

President Tebow? Backup NFL QB has eyes on public office

President Tebow. Has a ring to it, you have to admit. As we approach the November election you can only imagine Republican party workers dreamily wishing Tim Tebow had announced his intentions to some day chase the political game earlier, so they could, you know, have a fighting chance against President Obama (now a restrictive 1/4 with most bookies to win the race).

You have to imagine media savvy Tebow might actually navigate the tricky waters otherwise known as The Campaign trail a little better than current Republican 'hopeful' Mitt Romney. As The Mitt hit the fan over the course of the last ten days of Romney PR disasters, Tebow is grinding away happily as the NY Jets backup, always saying the right things, never looking like a disgruntled employee and handling the media, it has to be said, beautifully. Tebow and the Republican party are a match made in heaven. The lefty in arm and not in political stance could hold office as a Republican whilst remaining a (self confessed) virgin and yet still screwing women all over America (like his potential future colleague Paul Ryan, who has voted against women getting equal pay to men).

Here's the quote from an ESPN interview that has Republican party followers dreaming of better days;

NFL week three picks

Mitt Romney had a brutal week. Stephen Gostowski had a terrible week. Kelvin Davis had a pretty awful week. From The Bleachers NFL tipster Mac had a nightmare week two, and hopes to bounce back in style this coming week three with some solid picks, particularly in his ‘Finest Four’ selections (in which he is still a healthy 5-3 against the spread). Mitt, Stephen, Kelvin and Mac have been walking around all week spouting sporting cliché to all who would listen, remember it is a marathon not a sprint, and so forth! In terms of the NFL, it is early days yet, and Mac is hoping to still hit his target of 60% for the season, starting with a big bounce-back in week three. Hop on for the ride!

Season to date

• Last week against the spread: 4-10-2
• Overall record against the spread: 12-20-2
• Finest Four against the spread last week: 1-3
• Finest Four against the spread overall: 5-3
• Winning percentage: 37.5%
• The finest four percentage: 62.5%

The finest four.
Four picks to boost your bankroll

Gronk's butterfingers analysed in detail by former porn-star

Where would we be without the Internet? Where else could you get expert opinion on the NFL from a former porn-star than said Internet? Former adult entertainment star Bibi Jones (Now Britney Maclin, in the ‘real’ world) might be, for all we know, trying her absolute best to keep quiet about her ‘did they, didn’t they?’ relationship from the off-season with the Patriots Rob Gronkowski. The Gronk has been told in no uncertain terms by his New England Patriots employers to ‘tone it down a notch’, in reference to his myriad of shirtless photo shoots, nightclub exploits and dalliances with adult movie stars. With that in  mind, no doubt all his friends, normal and or pornographic movie star, have been told to stay off the social networks, and otherwise stay incognito as much as possible.

Who are we to know, maybe Ms Maclin is trying her very hardest not to explode forth with gratuitous Gronk updates, thus embarrassing her Tight End buddy. However, none of us are perfect, and neither is she, clearly, and well, this happened over the weekend.

The Gronk dropped a few passes from Brady, and Maclin decided to take to Twitter to explain why. Or, did she? You decide.

ESPN goes out of its way to skewer Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine

So apparently a part of sports journalism is now to get your size elevens on someone's throat and keep it there until they are done, finished, kaput, finito. ESPN, the self anointed World leader, nay, the Universe leader in sports reporting has taken an apparent grim satisfaction in keeping the hammer down on embattled Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine. As Bobby has fought to keep his job, and as his team have fought off journalistic attacks that would make the carpet bombing of Vietnam in the 70s look tame by comparison, ESPN has gleefully taken any shred of drama and exploded it nine fold in a British tabloid like attempt to stretch the most out of any stories.

Last night Valentine made a comment about the state of his team. Here is how ESPN translated it.

Fight Club - vicious brawl during Raiders v Chargers on NFL Monday Night Football - VIDEO

There is nothing quite like a fan base living up to it's stereotype, and last night in Oakland, the natives were restless. With the Chargers playing the Raiders on Monday night football, a pretty scary brawl broke out in the stands. Oddly enough, it would appear it was knuckle-head Oakland fans fighting amongst themselves.

Perhaps they were unhappy at the shallacking they were taking from the Chargers, and decided to punish themselves, or something along those lines.

NFL week two picks

Just like that, NFL week two is upon us. This new ‘game every Thursday’ gimmick means that basically the NFL is never, ever going to be more than a couple of seconds outside of our collective awareness. If that was the NFL’s plan all along, well played, Sirs. Tuesday everyone is talking about the Monday night game(s) and Wednesday, it’s time to preview the Thursday night game. Friday? Time to review the weekend games! Basically the NFL is now with us on a 24 hour basis. Is this good? Is this bad? Who know, and who cares, all I know is I went 8-8 against the spread last week, with my three top picks (Patriots, Dallas and Arizona) all winners. Now, about that week two…

Season to date

• Last week against the spread: 8-8
• Overall record against the spread: 8-8
• Winning percentage: 50%
• The finest four percentage: 100%

The finest four. 
Four picks to boost your bankroll

The Game:  Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins
Current line: Oakland -1
The Science:  The Dolphins created a huge issue for themselves by starting Ryan Tannerhill last week, basically, they have to give him another chance this week. Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden are frothing at the mouth for a chance to get at that pitiful Miami defence, while the Raiders should have their way with poor Tannerhill.
The Score:  Oakland 35 Miami 17
The Pick:  Oakland -1

Ireland U21 beat Italy in Casarano with a wonder goal from Conor Henderson - VIDEOS

A guide for NFL fans through the game's fancy new schedule - juicy encounters kick off

Whisper it quietly: The Yankees might miss the playoffs

To date, this had been an enjoyable summer for New York Yankee fans. Their team cruised through the early portion of the season, while their old rivals, the Red Sox, collapsed out of sight a number of weeks ago. Yankee fans celebrated wildly, like a pack of angry, learning challenged chimpanzees, taking great delight in Boston’s horrific demise.

Then, the party quietened, the storm clouds began to gather on the horizon.

Fenway Sports Group taking it from all sides as the Red Sox and Liverpool continue to fail on the field