By Brad Eastland I got a very interesting email the other day about the Winter Olympics from one James R. Owen, currently of Arlington, Virginia and—as am I—formerly of Washington County, Iowa.   Jimmy is both a lifelong friend and a loyal LaVerne OnLine devotee.   He works in media relations these days, but many years ago he [...]

      Sometimes movies are personal.       And that’s a good thing.   After all, isn’t that the whole point of motion picture entertainment?—to allow us to escape into another world, a world less bland, predictable, and humdrum than our own?       You bet’cha.   And it’s great when something personal like a good old movie can take you totally [...]

      This is going to be my last football column for awhile.       Frankly, I had assumed that last week’s column was going to be my last football column for awhile.   But after all, February is such a dry month for sports.   Let’s all be honest about that.   Football is done, baseball hasn’t started yet, pro [...]

 So the 2010 Super Bowl has passed into the bowels of history.   Rest in peace, Colts.       Time for a fresh, offbeat perspective.    I assume by now you all count on me for that.   An offbeat perspective.   Well, fear not, sports fans, because I have one.   It has nothing to do with the usual reportage; any [...]

    The Super Bowl.   The golden calf of American sports.      The big game is next week, and for our 2010 Super Bowl buffet the NFL offers up the Saints and the Colts.   Drew Brees versus Peyton Manning.   Football fans from Maine to California are all a-dither.       I say big deal.         Oh, don’t get me wrong.   I [...]

      Sometimes the most important football game in a football fan’s sporting life isn’t the one that hasn’t been played yet.   Or the one that was played last week.   Or last year.   Sometimes it’s that one great and memorable game you saw with your significant other when you were a little younger.       Say, oh, 72 [...]

by Brad Eastland THE SPORTS PHILOSOPHER                 I’ll get right to it.   I have nothing but contempt for fallen home-run king Mark David McGwire.       And it’s not because he took steroids.   (Well, partly.)       And it’s not because last week he finally admitted it.   (Well, a little bit.)       It’s because he regards us, he still regards us (you, [...]

      Well it’s a new year and that means it’s time for the Sports Philosopher to hand out some well-deserved sports awards.   But we do things a little differently here at LaVerne OnLine.   Anyone can muster the intellect and creativity to identify Peyton Manning or Albert Pujols as his sport’s Most Valuable Player, we won’t [...]

T.S.P.:       Merry Christmas, my furry black friend….Peace on Earth, good will toward dogs and men. MONTE:   Woof. T.S.P.:       So how ‘bout it, Monte, are you ready to talk some NFL football? MONTE:   You bet, dude!   Bring it on! T.S.P.:       Y’know I’ve been thinking about it, and I really think you should call me ‘sir’. MONTE:   Sir??? T.S.P.:       Yeah, sir.   If [...]