STUFF WE LIKE: PETER MEHLMAN's NARROW WORLD OF SPORTS (FEATURED ONLINE SHOW OF THE WEEK)

by Don Rose

This YouTube show impressed me with its humor, down to earthness, and the fact that Peter Mehlman (who I always considered a very funny writer but not really an on-air kinda guy) may have a bright future as a talkshow host if this web program catches on (and let's hope it does).

Everyone complains about ads these days and uses all manner of gizmos and gadgets to avoid them (TiVo, anyone?), but twas an ad that revealed this comedic gem to me. Two words in that ad attracted me enough to click over and watch: "narrow" and "Mehlman". "Narrow" made me laugh inside due to the inside joke (narrow as opposed to ABC's famed Wide World of Sports). And Mehlman will be a familiar name to those who fanatically love "Seinfeld" (and who doesn't); he became well known as one of that sitcom's top writers.

Now, with "Peter Mehlman's Narrow World of Sports", it appears that Peter may be set to follow in the TV footsteps of that other aging, bald(ing), Jewish (I assume) comic genius from "Seinfeld" -- Larry David.

Mehlman's show is sponsored by the Palm Pre. They do work it into the show, but it is mostly subtle and brief in the episodes I've seen. I have only used Palm's ubercool smartphone a few times, but I love its look and feel (yes, it fits well in your Palm - and it's easy to operate with one hand), plus the Pre features a super sharp screen, a mini QWERTY keyboard (big plus over the keyboard-less iPhone) and crystal clear call quality. Palm threw a fabulous party a few weeks ago at Raleigh Studios to launch the Pre, featuring Seinfeld's Jason Alexander as MC, with a standup headliner named... Jerry Seinfeld! So, it appears Palm enjoys utilizing the talents of the folks behind the most successful sitcom of all time. Time will tell if the Pre does as well in the cell world. It faces stiff competition, but so did "Seinfeld" when that show debuted. It started its NBC run well behind its competitors and took several years to find its audience - and high ratings. I hope Palm has similar success, because we need strong competition in the technoverse in order to spur innovation. An Apple-only phone/pod world would be like, well, 1984... right? Or did I mis-doublespeak?

Okay, enough tangents. Check out Mehlman's marvelous mirthmaking interviews for yourself... here is his YouTube channel with archived episodes (new ones arrive each week):

http://www.youtube.com/narrowworld#play/uploads/0/0qKSi4pqD9o

I especially enjoyed Peter's fun dialogue with Danika Patrick... often hilarious:



Peter also induced oodles of humor while talking with Olympic champion Shawn Johnson:

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Nike+ Human Race Hosts Kickoff Event in Hollywood; OK Go Plays Atop Montalban Theatre Marquee To Hundreds of Runners Eager for Aug 31 Human Race in LA

(July 23, 2008: Hollywood, CA) Nike hosted a free and open-to-the-public kickoff event tonight for its upcoming Nike+ Human Race that will go to over two dozen cities worldwide, with the finale on August 31, 2008 in Los Angeles. Angelenos in attendance at tonight's event were able to register onsite for the Human Race (photo 1) and entered to win cool Nike prizes (2 gym bags full of swag and 2 sets of Nike+ gear went to some lucky guests).

Then, just before the musical climax of the night came the Grand Prize Raffle: two tickets to Australia aboard The Nike+ Human Race 10K Plane, fueled by Air New Zealand (winning ticketholder in photo 2).

After the Big Raffle concluded, rock/pop quartet OK Go performed a live set atop the marquee of The Montalbán Theatre, including their hit song titled "Here It Goes Again," which won a Grammy® for Best Short Form Music Video last year. A performance inspired by the music video with 20 dancers and 20 treadmills was also staged outside, designed by celebrity choreographer Kevan Allen (who has developed work for Kylie Minogue, Duran Duran and Sir Elton John). The whole affair was like an outdoor block party, as Vine Street was shut down between Hollywood Blvd and Selma in order to accommodate all the people attending the mini-concert and treadmill performance.

MORE ABOUT THE NIKE+ HUMAN RACE

Billed as "The World’s Largest One Day Running Event," the Nike+ Human Race will bring together the power of sport and music to inspire and connect runners from every corner of the planet on August 31st. The 10k event will span multiple continents and cover 25 cities around the globe. As the last city to host its race, Los Angeles will serve as the global Nike+ Human Race grand finale starting its race at 8:31:08 PM (how apropos, and easy to remember!) and hosting a concert by Kanye West, who spoke to attendees at tonight's launch via video, urging everyone to sign up for the race in LA. Whether you run in the race or just walk, all are encouraged to be part of the Human Race on 8/31/08, especially since that is the only way to get into the "dopest" afterparty that Kanye is headlining.

If you didn't sign up at the kickoff, you can still do so (and get useful information) by going to www.nikeplus.com/humanrace. You'll literally be one in a million if you do, as a million runners are expected to participate. Not the entire human race, perhaps, but a sizeable chunk indeed.

JUN 15: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS SPORTS CENTRAL TODAY (NBA FINALS IN LA, US OPEN FINAL ROUND GOLF IN LA JOLLA)

Tiger Woods takes his third round lead into the final day today, Sunday, one shot ahead as of Saturday's end. Odds are Woods will win, but tune into TV to see.

Also today is the do-or-die last-home-game-of-2008 for the Lakers in their playoff faceoff against the Celtics. Down three games to one, the Lakers better get it together. When the going gets tough, the tough pass the ball to Kobe, and the Celtics know it, so it may be time for some surprises from Phil Jackson and company.

Sunday, Jun 15, 2008, PGA U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Location: 11480 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA. Also, National Basketball Association NBA Finals. 6pm. Game 5. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. Location: Staples Center. Downtown Los Angeles, CA.

MAY 2: GOLF, GUITARS, GOOD DEEDS AND GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS AT THE 12TH ANNUAL SKYLAR NEIL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Vince Neil is perhaps best known as the front man for the legendary rock group Mötley Crüe. But thanks to his Skylar Neil Foundation he is also widely recognized as a man who generously gives back. After losing his five-year-old daughter Skylar to cancer in 1995, Vince dedicated himself to raising awareness and much needed funding for children’s illnesses. The Skylar Neil Memorial Golf Tournament is a product of those efforts, and the 12th annual event is right around the corner. With generous support from both he mainstream and adult entertainment world, the tournament has raised millions for various charitable organizations dedicated to Cancer, Leukemia and AIDS research.

This year’s tournament will take place on Friday May 2nd at the scenic Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, CA. It is a great day of golf and fun on the course followed by a one-of-a-kind charity auction, hosted by Tiffany Granath of Playboy Radio’s “Afternoon Advice” on Sirius radio. Celebrity memorabilia, Great food, drinks, golf and beautiful girls, all for a good cause. What could be better? The event has grown so much that last year, it was expanded to two full courses. This year’s event will also span two courses and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

As in past years, the adult community will be heavily involved with the tournament. Previous adult sponsors have included Playboy, Vivid, Wicked Pictures, Elegant Angel, Pure Play Media, Red Light District, Hustler, Zero Tolerance and many, many others. Adult stars such as Jenna Jameson, Ron Jeremy, Danni Ashe, Randy West, Jessica Drake, Brianna Banks, Savannah Sampson, Tori Lane, Mari Possa, Cousin Stevie and Britney Skye have all been involved as well.

The time is now to get involved. As always, the tournament is looking for sponsors. Tee, pin-flag and golf-cart sponsorships are all available. With options starting as low as $500, sponsorships are a great way to get your company logo, products and name out the participants. In addition, you or your company can be part of this fantastic event by playing, providing product for golfer gift bags, or by sending talent to sign autographs and pose for pictures with participants on the course.

Additionally, girls are needed. Girls, girls, girls in fact. The more the merrier. We need some lovely ladies to man all 36 holes of the two courses. It is a great way to meet fans, sign autographs, pose for pictures and keep the players smiling as they play.

For further information on playing in tournament or becoming a sponsor, or for info on other ways to get involved, please contact tournament coordinator Alan Koenig at (615) 255-9000, or email him at alankoenig@bellsouth.net. You can also visit the tournament's website at www.skylarneil.org/golf.