The REAL. BIG. Blog

To honor the Philadelphia Phillies as the 2008 World Series winner, Fathead is releasing a limited edition commemorative logo wall graphic. The special edition logo pays tribute to a truly remarkable Championship run for the team, players, fans and city that wanted it more and played hardest to get it.

“The 2008 Major League Baseball postseason was incredible. To witness quite a few of our newly added MLB players making an impact throughout the MLB Playoffs made it very easy for us to pay tribute to the World Series Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the fans that showed their passion the entire season,” says Brock Weatherup, CEO, Fathead. “The Phillies are quickly becoming one of our top-selling MLB teams and creating this exclusive image and having it ready immediately after the last out is pretty awesome!”

Phillies fans can put their bragging rights on display with the ultimate tribute powered by Fathead. The 4ft x 4ft Championship Logo is available exclusively at Fathead.com ($89.95) immediately following the Phillies Game 5 victory over the AL Champions Tampa Bay Rays. The 2008 Commemorative World Series Logo features team colors and 5 additional ancillary items.

By Ignacio Salazar

Tennessee Titans Helmet - Fathead Wall Graphic

New York Jets Helmet - Fathead Wall Graphic

I’m giving you a fair warning Houston. At least a year in advance. Don’t pinch yourself next year when you’re tuning into some NFL football and you notice the Houston Oilers playing the New York Titans in Nashville. Why you ask? It’s the 50th anniversary of the AFL and the NFL will honor the original AFL teams next year.

Tennessee Titans owner, K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr., said he will honor the Oilers teams when they play the New York Jets, originally the Titans, by breaking out the old Columbia blue uniforms.

The Oilers uniforms will make a second appearance when Adams’ team squares off against the team formerly known as the Dallas Texans, now the Kansas City Chiefs. Talk about weird: the two original Texas teams playing a game in Missouri.

What do you think Houston? Will you be happy to see that oil derrick on the side of the helmet again?

Notes:: The original AFL teams are the Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans), Dallas Texans (K.C. Chiefs), L.A./San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Boston Patriots, New York Titans (Jets), Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos.

New York Yankees XZipit Rocker Recliner

Boston Celtics XZipit Home Theater Recliner

Dallas Cowboys DreamSeat Recliner

When it comes to seating options, sports fans in search of team-themed furniture have customarily been limited to basic outdoor models – camping chairs, legless fold-up stadium seats, and the perennial tailgating favorite - the collapsible armchair with tall boy-sized cup holders (all proudly proclaiming your particular team allegiance).  Since fans spend countless hours indoors glued to their televisions watching game after game, it’s peculiar that indoor team-themed options are so rare.  But before you chalk this up to some insidious form of discrimination, let me tell you – there’s not only a light at the end of the tunnel for sports fans, but three extraordinary recliners waiting for them when they get there.  Fathead, the number one brand of sports and entertainment wall graphics in America, is launching a collection of plush, team-themed recliners dubbed simply, “Furniture For Fans.”

Debuting today on Fathead.com, fans can choose from three luxurious leather recliner models themed with their choice of over 150 logos from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and college teams.  These recliners are easily at home in a ritzy living room built for entertaining as in a smoky basement man cave sanctuary.  Fathead’s Furniture For Fans collection represents a giant leap forward in the evolution of seating for sports fans.

The DreamSeat Recliner subscribes to the “you can never have enough team spirit” school of thought.  Fully team-themed, 100% of the top-grain leather covering this model’s surface area bears the colors of your favorite team.  The back proudly heralds your team loyalty with a detailed embroidered logo over 70,000 stitches rich.  The DreamSeat Recliner features a fully reclining – yet space saving – frame that allows complete range of motion only three inches from the wall.  Fanatically faithful to your team? This is the recliner for you.

The XZipit Home Theater Recliner and the Rocker Recliner top off Fathead’s Furniture For Fans collection.  While the XZipit Recliners are slightly more subdued in appearance compared to the DreamSeat model, they provide the sort of versatility you expect from a talented quarterback – not a piece of furniture.  Both recliners are classic black top-grain leather and sport a removable full color team logo panel.  Fans can purchase multiple team logo panels and swap them out as often as they please!  Ideal for fans who want to change sports with the season – or even fair weather fans who can’t settle on a bandwagon – these panels provide a practically infinite number of recliners in one.  True to form, the XZipit Home Theater Recliner and Rocker Recliner both recline fully a mere three inches from the wall for easy placement and complement any décor.

Each of the recliners in Fathead’s collection offers fans the chance to enjoy VIP suite luxury in the comfort of their own home – complete with the logo of that special team that keeps their heart rates high.  Quality craftsmanship comes standard on each model and to back it up, Fathead provides a limited-lifetime warranty.  These recliners are easy to assemble, care for and - let’s face it, spirited sports fans – love.  The Furniture For Fans recliners are more than the ultimate expression of fan passion – they’re the final word on the subjects of luxury and comfort.  Game day just got plush.  Check out Furniture For Fans at Fathead.com now!

By Ignacio Salazar

San Francisco 49ers Helmet Fathead Wall Graphic

Mike Singletary was named interim head coach of the San Francisco 49ers after the the team fired former head coach Mike Nolan.

Singletary brings a big name and a long resume to the top job.  The Hall of Famer launched his career as a two-time All-American linebacker at Baylor before playing with the Chicago Bears from 1981-1992. He was voted to the Pro Bowl 10 times, won the AP Defensive Player of the Year  twice (1985 and 1988) and was also a member of the 1980’s All-Decade team.

Singletary got his coaching start as linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, where Mike Nolan was defensive coordinator. When Nolan took over the head coaching job for the 49ers in 2005, he brought Singletary over and then promoted him to assistant head coach.

Singletary will have some tall hurdles to clear as he attempts to launch the 49ers out of their current 2-6 rut. San Francisco general manager, Scot McCloughan, told 49ers.com, “I am confident that Mike Singletary’s leadership ability along with his experience as both a Hall of Fame player and coach gives him the ability to turn our season around.”

By Ignacio Salazar

The Houston Texans will be looking to do what no other team in franchise history has ever done before: win for the third consecutive time.  And this week, the Houston team welcomes the Cincinnati Bengals to Reliant Stadium as head coach Gary Kubiak looks to turn the 2008 season into a positive one.

After a horrendous 0-4 start, the Texans finally seem to be getting back to the basics and gelling as a team. Of course, they still have plenty of work to do.  After having the Detroit Lions on the ropes last Sunday, the Texans allowed their winless opponent to come back and get within distance of tying the game.  There is no reason the game should have been close - especially since the Texans were up 21-0 in the first quarter!  A little bit of discipline will go a long way in scenarios like this one.

This coming Sunday, the Texans will take on Cincinnati, another winless team.  However, the Bengals have some talent on the field and far fewer front office distractions drawing their attention away from the game than the Lions.  If the Texans are going to win on Sunday, then the defense needs to put pressure on Bengals backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick while keeping tight coverage on wide receiver Chad Johnson.

Matt Schaub and the offense will do their thing. Against the Lions, Schaub connected with seven different receivers as he went 26-for-31 with 267 passing yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target, Andre Johnson, enjoyed his third consecutive game of 100 or more receiving yards with 11 catches with 141 yards.

Here’s to three in a row!  Go Houston!

By John Fontana

Boston Red Sox Logo Fathead Wall Graphic

I am in Boston today. The city of winners. That’s a fact and you can check the record – even with grief from last night’s Red Sox loss to the Rays pervading every establishment public and private in New England. In the past six years, this city has celebrated six championships in three pro sports (football, baseball and basketball).  Would you take that for your city AND last night’s loss?

The Patriots, woe they are to perform this season (and set to face the Broncos on Monday Night Football), were Super Bowl champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Red Sox, who just missed the Series for the third time in five years with Sunday’s loss, were champions in 2004 and 2007.

And the Celtics are the current defending NBA champions having beaten the Lakers for the title in June. Let’s not even mention the 16 other NBA crowns they’ve pocketed in the modern era.

That’s a lot of champagne, ticker tape and trips to Disneyland anyway you cut it.  So an ALCS loss to the Rays merits perspective.

Sure, the magic didn’t work for the Red Sox this time. But the Red Sox fate is but a mere chunk of silver in the city’s pot of gold.

It’s been worse here. Much worse. Flash back to 1986. If you’re not a Red Sox fan that date is meaningless to you. Mention that year and any true Sox fan can fill in the rest. October 25. World Series. Game 6. 3-2 series lead. Sox pitcher Bob Stanley. New York Mets hitter Mookie Wilson. Boston first baseman Bill Buckner. Vin Scully’s now haunting words “a little roller up along first…behind the bag…It gets through Buckner.”

In the 2003 HBO documentary, “Curse of the Bambino,” one Boston fan described the loss as the “darkest day in Boston since Jack Kennedy was shot.”  Clearly, it’s been painful before.

But now look at them. In their worn blue caps with the famous red “B.” Their Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen jerseys. Their Big Papi chants and Papelbon dance.

Even after a heartbreaking loss, it must feel fine to be a sports fan in Boston.

By Apryl DeLancey

I knew it!  I knew it!  I knew it!  I knew that the Los Angeles Dodgers actually making it to the World Series was too good to be true.  On the 20th anniversary of the very day the famous Kirk Gibson home run was hit the season is over.  Argh!  I’m really not surprised.  The Dodgers will always be like that – you know, like that relative that promises to show up to your birthday every year and never does.

Okay Mr. Frank McCourt, you listen here.  First of all, BRING BACK MANNY RAMIREZ.  Let me just be clear about that – BRING BACK MANNY.  You know the guy with the hair that can hit the daylights out of the ball?  Don’t be a total chump and let him go.  He belongs here.  While you’re at it – make sure Rafael Furcal, James Loney, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and Jeff Kemp stay too.  Don’t be tempted to trade away Andre Ethier or Blake DeWitt either.  Keep Brad Penny, Jonathan Broxton, and the whole bullpen while you’re at it.  In fact, don’t get rid of anyone that has made a name here in Los Angeles.  Don’t trade away all of the good players just to fund that mall you’re building at Chavez Ravine.

A colleague tried to tell me that I should be grateful that they came this far.  Whippee.  So what?  They made it to the NLCS.  Sure, it is admirable.  It is nothing to be unappreciative of.  But for crying out loud, let’s keep the momentum.  Build a team.  We deserve it.  You get record-breaking attendance all the time.  We show up to the stadium and buy the merchandise.  L.A. DESERVES A WINNING TEAM.  By winning, I mean the entire thing - not just a good record and an appearance in the playoffs.  Why can’t the Dodgers be the elite franchise?  Fans have no interest in waiting 100 years or suffering through anything  remotely similar to what Chicago Cubs endure year after year.

That said - congratulations to all of you Philly fanatics.  Shane Victorino is actually a class act - as much as that sentence makes me want to hurl as I write it.  The Philadelphia Phillies are in the World Series.   I’ll only be watching if the Tampa Bay Rays make it in.  Seriously, I’ve already mentioned how absolutely boring I think a Phillies – Red Sox World Series would be.  Yawn.

Go Rays!

By John Fontana
A few nights ago, I took my daughter to the Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center in Denver.  More accurately, she took me; having earned the tickets by raising money to fund scholarships for other children to attend summer basketball camps run by former Nugget, first-round draft pick (Seattle, ‘80) and all-around community good guy Bill Hanzlik.

We sat about five rows from the floor, just off the bench where the Timberwolves were sitting. I didn’t think she had collected that much money, but we had no complaints. And we were close enough to shout out to my fellow University of Colorado alum, David Harrison, who attended the game in street clothes and sat on the bench after recently joining Minnesota.

Taking my young daughter to a sporting event is always a major bonding event. We discussed everything from the new Wolves uniforms to the pick-and-roll and the psycho-like playing style of Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen. We ate popcorn and crummy pizza from the concession stand. And we, again, stood in line for the lab experiment called Dipping Dots, where I always look at her and proclaim loudly, “It’s not ice cream, it’s science!” (Dipping Dots bills itself as the “ice cream of the future” and was invented by a microbiologist who pioneered the process of cryogenic encapsulation. Yeah, that cryogenics, as in Ted Williams’s head cryogenics.

But the main topic of conversation was Chris Andersen, who returned to the Nuggets and the NBA for the first time since his two-year suspension.  Andersen, nicknamed, “The Birdman” for his high-flying assault style play, had the same smile on his face I would have had if I was wearing an NBA uniform and playing in my first game.

Being back in the thick of the action was clearly sheer joy for him.  Accompanying his bliss were an array of dinks, dunks, blocks and hustle.  To us, it felt like the righting of his ship, proof that you can come home again - if you’re focused, dedicated and, of course, a little contrite.

Ours was the exact opposite conversation parents had with their kids about Andersen two years ago when he was suspended.  Although Andersen doesn’t look like a role model from central casting or an afterschool special, his 12 points and 11 rebounds reiterated a point coaches in every sport at every level (and in every afterschool special) emphasize to their team: when you fall, get right back up.  Re-dedicate yourself and you will succeed.

Cheers for Chris Andersen, and here’s hoping he stays the path and has a fantastic season.