944

Written by: Sullivan Charles

Here's another natural sports drink option. Yes, Gatorade did finally come out with a natural version, but this new drink goes further and steps up to the plate -Title Sports Drink. Kind of like Gatorade without all the chemicals, using organic cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, natural coloring and delivering five times the potassium and magnesium. Seems like an easy switch. Terrell Owens and Ronnie Brown are among many professional athletes who already have! Look for it in orange, lemon and berry. Written by: Hadley Henriette

I didn't grow up in Gator country but I did grow up with Gatorade. I used to drink it for sports (field hockey, if you must know), and when I was sick in bed. But at some point, it was banished from my house. Not just for the sugar content, but for the artificial flavorings, the red dye #40 and other irritating colorants too. But then - a mere few years after I stopped buying Gatorade, a natural version appeared - seemingly in the nick of time. G Natural and G2 low calorie have come out in different assorted flavors. G Natural can be found in Blackberry Raspberry, Lemon berry, Orange Citrus. G2 can be found in Berry, Citrus Mango and Orange Pomegranate. Tastes pretty good too! Written by: Hadley Henriette

The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in four days, and viewers can look forward to some Super Bowl-esque commercial spots during the games. One in particular is generating a lot of buzz. During the US vs. UK match on June 12, adidas will air a star-studded recreation of the "Cantina scene" from Star Wars.

Daft Punk as droids (brilliant) talking to Han Solo, Snoop Dogg with a light saber, Greedo trying to recruit David Beckham, and cameos from Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Ciara, Jay Baruchel, and DJ Neil Armstrong have been integrated into the original film's footage for a funny, nostalgic reimagining of one of the classic sci-fi flick's most famous scenes.

An edited Cantina spot will air during the US vs. UK match, but the full two minute extended version can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zd_khk6zXo

www.adidas.com Written by: Rebecca Voigt

Ready for this year's World Cup? 944 gets the inside scoop from Bebeto (UEFA world cup champion and Ambassador for UEFA) and Jürgen Klinsmann, (World Cup Champion and Ambassador)...

944: Who do you think will win the World Cup for 2010?
Bebeto: I hope that it's Brazil.

Jürgen Klinsmann: I think as of today the big favorite is Spain but then the usual big soccer nations like England, Germany, Italy, France, Brazil and Argentina are all among the favorites so a competition like the World Cup is decided by the momentum by a specific team or another country therefore the team that is the strongest. You might say is Spain, but then in a World Cup knockout game anything can happen.

944: Aside from winning the world cup in the UEFA, what has been a memorable highlight for you in your career?
B: The highlight for me is my son being born during the World Cup in 1994 during the match against Holland.

JK: I was lucky, I played three World Cups and I won one of them, so that remains obviously the highlight when you win one. But when you look back at your career it's more about the people you actually met throughout your career its not about the trophies anymore. It's nice that you won them but it's past. Now you know people from around the world - it's much nicer.

944: What do you love most about summer?
B: Summer is going to the beach enjoying my family. I really love the beach and whenever I can I like to go.

JK: You know, I am so fortunate because I live in California so I can enjoy summer the whole year through. I feel so privileged to have that weather right now while in Auschwitz, Germany it is below 30 degrees. So, the best part is going out with the kids and enjoying the beach.

944: Any favorite routines or ways to workout?
B: I like to go to the gym everyday and also, I like to jog at the beach.

944: What inspires you?
JK: With any sport, you are inspired by just playing - whether it is basketball, football, soccer or baseball. As a child growing up you are fascinated by the sport and once you really get into it then all you want to do is play it every day. The best players get to the highest levels by playing it everyday like Steve Nash or Kobe Bryant, so it is the same with Soccer.

Reporting by: Jasmine Jackson Written by: Kira Coplin

We Angelenos are quite lucky to have so many great outside resources at our fingertips when it comes to health and fitness. Better yet? They are completely free. Not ready to splurge on a fancy gym membership? Get outside and take advantage of all our city has to offer. Here are some of my favorite ideas...

*Stair Climbs:

-Beachwood Canyon Stairs (between 2795 Woodshire Drive and 2872 Belden Drive) 


-The Famous Silverlake Stairs (the 900 block of Vendome Street) 


-The Elysian Heights Stairs (Baxter Place and Avon Street) 


-The Santa Monica Canyon Stairs (300 block of Adelaide Drive) 




*Trails/Beaches:

-Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook Trail

-Castro Crest

-Runyon Canyon

-Charmlee Natural Area

-Coldwater Canyon Park

-Corral Canyon Park

-Dan Blocker State Beach

-El Pescador State Beach

-Elyria Canyon Park

-Getty View Trailhead

-La Piedra State Beach

-Malibu Canyon Piuma Ridge

-Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor

-Red Rock Canyon Park


*Other Free Stuff:

-Yoga Runyon (Free Outdoor Yoga at Runyon everyday from 10:30 to 11:45 AM)

-Sycamore Grove Park Free Outdoor Fitness Center (4702 N. Figueroa Street)

-UCLA Track (Drake Stadium, 405 N. Hilgard Avenue)

-Pasadena's Lower Arroyo Seco Park/Roving Archers club offers free archery lessons every Saturday morning at nine o'clock sharp. (626-447-7600, www.rovingarchers.com) Written by: Kira Coplin

Yup, getting excited about the World Cup.


via www.highsnobiety.com Written by: D.B. Mitchell

The Sunshine Kids truly have a reason to smile. Audrina Patridge from MTV’s “The Hills” is stretching her muscles and her charitable heart for the non-profit organization’s second annual Marathon Torch Relay. In conjunction with the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 21, the Relay will benefit the Sunshine Kids - ages 4 to 18 - who battle cancer on a daily basis. The torch will be handed off at each mile marker, and Patridge will join cancer survivor Morgan Heflin to complete the final leg.

944: Is this the first time you're involved with The Sunshine Kids?
Audrina Patridge: This is the first time that I am doing something with the organization outside of Children's Hospital, and I'm excited!

944: What specifically about this non-profit makes you most passionate?
AP: I have a family history of cancer, and I have been looking for an organization that specifically works to brighten the lives of children suffering from the disease. It was important to me that the organization I chose to work with had volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles too, so that I could donate my time on a consistent basis. I love playing with kids, and just being silly with them!

944: How often do you volunteer/work with/visit with The Sunshine Kids?
AP: It depends on my work schedule, but I am trying to volunteer 2 times per month at Children's Hospital in LA.

944: Have you ever participated in a marathon (or part of one) before?
AP: No....I'm a little nervous! I am not much of a distance runner. I can sprint! In high-school I was on the swim team and I danced, so I was athletic in that way.

944: Do you intend on training for this event with Morgan?
AP: I think Morgan & I are going to meet up to do some running! She'll probably kick my butt!

944: When training, where do you prefer to exercise? What is your favorite exercise routine?
AP: I work out with my trainer Jarett Del Bene at a private gym. What I love is that he mixes it up - we never do the same thing twice, which keeps me from getting bored. I also really like to exercise outdoors. It makes a huge difference for me to be outside, getting fresh air!

944: What is your favorite athletic wear brand? For clothing? For shoes?
AP: I sort of mix & match my workout clothing - but I like Under Armour, Reebok, Hard-Tail. I love my Nike Free 5.0 shoes - they're so lightweight.

For more information, check out www.sunshinekids.org.

Reporting by Gerilyn Manago Written by: Kira Coplin

Why? Because a lot of people can make you look terrible -- and then put you on YouTube some day.

Written by: D.B. Mitchell

The Washington Post's Tracee Hamilton has a piece up today about the joke that is ice dancing. The joke, in this case, is the Olympics' theme of "country/folk" dance. Hamilton's column hits on the controversies sparked by several, um, let's call them ignorant, costumes -- specifically those worn by Russian pair Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin (pictured above).


While the column is worth a slight scanning, the best thing to do is look at the picture gallery that accompanies the article. Pure comedy.


Read the column here, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022104563.html?hpid=artslot


See the gallery here, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/02/19/GA2010021904492.html?sid=ST2010022200139
Written by: D.B. Mitchell

Valentine's Day is this weekend, and you have a choice, Singletons. You can wallow in loneliness, drunk text your ex and have a threesome with Ben & Jerry, or you can grab some friends, put on that party dress and road trip to Dallas for NBA All-Star Weekend. Umm, can we say no-brainer?

This weekend has a plethora of killer parties in DFW, including 944's shindigs at The Boardroom and Ghostbar, featuring Snoop Dogg, Common, Russell Simmons and more. In honor of our weekend-long bashes, here are some Snoop Dogg jokes to have on hand:

WHY DOES SNOOP DOGG CARRY AN UMBRELLA?
Fo' Drizzle.

WHAT DOES SNOOP DOGG USE FOR LAUNDRY?
Blee-otch!

WHAT DID SNOOP TELL 50 CENT WHEN HE SAW HIM PUTTING ON A SWEATER?
Hey G, you knit?

WHAT DOES SNOOP USE TO WASH HIS CAR?
His hoes.

(Oh, snap!) Written by: Madeline Hollern

Cbssports.com football writer Gregg Doyel put up a pretty interesting article today about New Orleans Saints fullback Kyle Eckel, who played college ball at the U.S. Naval Academy.

You're probably thinking, "Wow, that's great. A proud veteran makes it to the big game in the NFL. Dreams do come true." Well, not exactly. The problem is that Eckel graduated in 2005. Since the academy requires all graduates to serve on active duty for at least 5 years, what's he doing playing professional football this season?

Some pretty interesting tidbits here, most notably the fact that no one involved (neither Eckel nor the Naval Academy) would go on record for the piece.

Take a read, and be ready for what will surely be much more coverage down the line.

www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12874836 Written by: D.B. Mitchell

Suns guard and All-Star starter Steve Nash graces the cover of business magazine Fast Company this month. The feature story provides an in-depth look at the basketball star's off-the-court business interests, including a film production company, endorsements and various non-profits.

Here's a link to a slideshow with the highlights:
http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/steve-nash-nbas-top-entrepreneur

We here at GAME are a fan of Nash's social media videos, including the classic video featuring the Suns on their bus singing "All Night Long."

http://www.944.com/blog/game/the-phoenix-suns-do-it-all-night-long/

Written by: D.B. Mitchell

Jake Rosen of Sherdog.com is reporting that action star Jean-Claude Van Damme (well, he's kind of still a star, right? Maybe? Um ...) has told media that he has signed on to fight a Thai boxer. The catalyst for a man nearly 50 to take to the ring for the first time? A reality show, of course. According to Van Damme, a 36-episode show will be filmed while he trains leading up to the fight.

Read more about the rumor here: http://www.sherdog.com/search.php?SearchTxt=van+damme&SearchCat=all


Or, you can watch this and hope that Van Damme's show would as amazing as Steven Seagal's (you know, in that "Wow, that guy is a cheeseball but he can still kick the living snot out of me.").

Written by: D.B. Mitchell

Nancy Kerrigan, the figure skater who was thrust into the spotlight in the early 1990s as a victim of an assault that involved fellow skater Tonya Harding, now has to deal with the death of her father -- which was allegedly caused by a physical confrontation with his son and Kerrigan's brother, Mark.

Read more here, http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/nancy-kerrigans-father-found-dead-brother-arrested-012510

Expect to hear this story to begin to gain momentum given the tabloid history of Kerrigan and the upcoming Winter Olympics. Written by: D.B. Mitchell