Philanthropy (The Picks)

Cincy -15 over Syracuse
G Tech -11.5 over Vandy
Cardinals -9.5 over Panthers
Cowboys -9.5 over Seattle
Ravens/Broncos Over 41.5

Three 6 Mafia in studio (the audio)

Three 6 Mafia (DJ Paul and Juicy J) came in studio during the show today. They were part of the entertainment for Grizzlies home opener. I don't really know how to describe this, so just listen to it if you missed it.

Three 6 Mafia on The Chris Vernon Show (10-28-09)

Me vs. Zach Randolph (the Fox13 story)

Me vs. Zach Randolph in the XBox Showdown (a photo history)

      I came into the matchup feeling fantastic about my chances. While Zach Randolph is an NBA player, and NBA players are great at XBOX, I figured that with an 8 week old baby girl that is keeping him up at night that he probably had not had much time to play the game this year. I was having to play with the Pistons, while Zach was playing with the Grizzlies.

     Before we even start the game he is going into all of these screens I have never even seen and switching all of these settings so quickly that I don't even know what is happening. I am rattled.

What is he changing? Why have I never seen these screens? I have played the game many times, so what have I not been doing that I should have been?

We start the game and I am holding my own. In fact, I am starting to think that I have vastly overrated how good an NBA player is at games like this. I get to halftime with the score 22-22, and Ben Gordon has not even gone off yet. I am in good shape. Grizzlies backup point guard Marcus Williams has come in to watch and starts talking. "I am too nice at this game." "Nobody has ever beat me at this game." These are the types of quotes coming from Marcus. He watches the game almost in disgust and I wonder to myself how awesome he must be.

We start the third quarter and I am keeping the game close, the biggest lead is 2 or 3 pts at any given time.

In the middle of the quarter Ben Gordon shoots a 3 and the ball comes flying off the rim - Chris Wilcox climbs up the back of Hasheem Thabeet and slams it down on his head.  I go ballastic, Randolph is stunned..

The third quarter ended with me down by 6 after a I took a few bad shots and did not get back on defense.  I start blaming the players.  How could Joe Dumars put together this roster?  Why is the frontcourt of the Pistons total bologna?  How am I going to be able to comeback in the 4th qtr?  Why don't I know about the screens and settings Zach was messing with earlier?  I am dejected heading into the final frame...

The first pass I make, simply trying get the ball in, is stolen.  Layup.  I am down 8.  We are only playing 3 minute quarters so I need to hurry up and get back in this game.  Ben Gordon 3 after Ben Gordon 3 after Ben Gordon 3.  I need it.  Brick, brick, brick.  Ben Gordon misses every friggin shot he takes and I score a grand total of 4 pts in the fourth quarter.  I am crushed.  I lose 50-36.  I curse the names of Joe Dumars, and Ben Gordon, and secret screens of which I am unaware.  I am a loser.  The picture says it all...

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Alabama -14.5 over Tenn (now down to 14)
Arkansas +6.5 over Ole Miss
Idaho +15.5 over Nevada
Kansas +7.5 over Oklahoma
Colts -13 over Rams

make it happen. check the twitter feed for my updates as i sit next to a humilated Clay Travis at the Bama/UT game.

Birmingham, here we come

The show is heading to Alabama in advance of the the Alabama/Tennessee game this weekend. We are doing the show on Thursday and Friday from Baumhowers Wings in Bham. If you are in Alabama, or coming to the game and will be in Bham early, come by and say hello.

Call the EMT's, Vinnie Verno is in a coma

Keep in mind that there is no way on earth that Arizona St. should have even had the ball. Horrifying clock management by Steve Sarkisian led to ASU getting the ball back in the first place, and then Vinnie sits with his +6.5 and watches this...

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Vinnie Verno is winning, and when he starts.... he. don't. stop. It's over. Somebody call Vegas and tell them to get ready to shut down the business. Here are the picks for this week....

Arkansas +25 over Florida
Alabama -17 over S. Carolina
Washington +6.5 over Arizona St (upset pick)
Redskins/Chiefs Under 37
Jags -9.5 over Rams

Sonny Vaccaro tells another story (The Audio)

The weekly segment with Sonny Vaccaro has recently featured quite a few fascinating stories. This week he told the story of how shoe companies (he) got into the business of paying college coaches, how that all started, and how schools became sponsored by Nike, or Adidas, etc. At one point I do not speak for 11 minutes. He is instant offense. Watch out for a few language slips as the audio here does not have a delay. Check it.

Sonny Vaccaro on The Chris Vernon Show (10-15-09)

UFC star Thiago Alves in studio (The Audio)

Thiago Alves joined us in studio on Wednesday to talk about his life, his fights, the event coming to Memphis, etc. UFC 107 is going to be at FedEx Forum on Dec. 12th. I hope the place is slammed. Alves was great on the show, he is an interesting guy with good story. The interview was long and is broken into two parts. Check it.

Thiago Alves on The Chris Vernon Show Part 1
Thiago Alves on The Chris Vernon Show Part 2

Thiago Alves in studio Wednesday

The Pitbull himself will be in studio on Wednesday at the top of the show to talk about UFC 107 coming to FedEx Forum on Dec. 12th. Dig it.

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Vinnie Verno saw the light, corrected the problem, and is about to catch fire. We have been burned all season with road teams. This week, we are rollin with the home teams. Let's get it.

Arkansas +2.5 over Auburn (upset pick)
South Carolina -7.5 over Kentucky
49ers -2.5 over Falcons
Giants -14.5 over Raiders
Redskins/Panthers under 37.5

Matt Holliday

Lucero in studio today

Memphis rock band Lucero (in the form of lead singer Ben Nichols) will be in studio today for the Sound of Memphis segment. Lucero released their new album on Tuesday (1372 Overton Park). It is on Itunes now for $7.99, and it is fantastic. Here is the new video of a song off the album called "Goodbye Again." Watch it. Great video that features Memphis.

Lucero "Goodbye Again" from Lucero on Vimeo.

Feelings through Art

Vinnie Verno has seen the light

Vinnie Verno has never faced the kind of adversity that he has faced this year. He has been defeated in literally every single way possible. So tonight he took the time to evaluate every single pick that has been made the entire season, and what he found was a very powerful reason that the season has been so rough on him. There is a reason for the season. The bad news is that the season has been an abomination. The good news is the problem is extremely easy to correct, winning is on the way, and we have a billion games left to make us trillions. Vinnie has seen the light, and a bad day has turned into a beautiful day. Explanation will come in the next Vinnie segment. Fortunes are on the horizon. Fortunes!

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Central Michigan -7.5 over Buffalo

Tulsa -17 over Rice

Cincy -29 over Miami (OH)

Redskins/ Bucs under 37

Giants -8.5 over Chiefs

Vinnie Verno shreds Vegas this week. Bank on it.