New York

Playing the Field: Manti Te’o (who cares!) … hockey’s back!

Manti Te'o was talking to a man, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, on the phone during the hoax.
Getty Images

This is why the media sucks. No, really. By now we all know about the weird situation at Notre Dame, as details about Heisman candidate Manti Te’o and his imaginary girlfriend continue to trickle out.

We get it. It’s bizarre and confusing and — like an 11-layer dip — it never seems to end. We first unearthed the story Wednesday night, via Deadspin, and we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.

From what we gathered … this dude made up a girlfriend (what?), faked her death (what?, what?), then won a game for her (what?, what?, what?) and the media never batted an eyelash at any of it. Oh, and he raised a lot of money for cancer along the way (ok, that part we like).

Supposedly it was all a publicity stunt. Which begs the question, why would one of the top college football players in the country need extra publicity? He was right there on national TV every Saturday. Every sports fan — and every red-blooded American male — knew who he was.

But we digress. On Thursday, as we continue to scratch our heads, the internet was flooded with Manti Te’o memes. He also started a Twitter controversy about his sexuality, earned the front page of the New York Post and got the Taiwanese treatment. (Thanks Next Media Animation!)

But enough is enough. He’s still going to get drafted — probably 3-4 spots lower than before this news broke — and make a lot of money playing in the NFL. In other words, he can have multiple imaginary girlfriends and house them in imaginary mansions across the globe.

Cue Ludacris, “I got hoes, I got hoes …”

So here’s to you Manti Te’o as you begin your quest to become a lonely millionaire — or the living, breathing version of Montgomery Burns.

Someone’s getting fired at NBC

Comcast owns NBC. Comcast also owns the Philadelphia Flyers.

The partnership is a multi-billion dollar operation that usually serves the Flyers right. The team will host the Pittsburgh Penguins live on NBC Saturday afternoon to open the NHL season. Naturally, NBC wants to pump this game up as loudly and proudly as possible, which they are doing.

Only problem is, they don’t have the facts straight. In a commercial that’s been airing all week, the network thinks Claude Giroux and the Flyers are seeking revenge on Pitt, who beat them in the playoffs last year.

Umm, nope. Flyers won that series in six games. Somewhere a producer just lost his wings.


News
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
National

PHOTOS: The week in pictures, May 17

A look back at the week in pictures from May 11 through May 17.

Local

Vito Lopez will resign, but not fast enough…

Lopez will step down in June, but many say he should leave immediately.

International

Suspects identified in the mysterious disappearance of British…

On the heels of the Cleveland captivity case, authorities on the other side of the globe may be one step closer to solving another well-known missing person mystery: the disappearance…

Local

Googa Mooga: Great expectations

On many levels, the Great Googa Mooga Festival, taking place this weekend in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, is the source of high expectations.

Music

Au naturale chamber pop

The phrase 'chamber pop' is often thrown around in indie rock circles, but Brooklyn-based six-piece Friend Roulette have the resume to show that they're worthy…

Entertainment

VIDEO: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford gets Taiwanese animation…

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denies allegations that he smoked crack cocaine, despite reporters from the Toronto Star newspaper, and Gawker Media claiming they have seen…

The Word

The Word: Listen to Britney Spears' new song…

Britney Spears' new song, "Ooh La La," is now available to stream. Brit recorded the song for the soundtrack of upcoming film "Smurfs 2," which opens July 31.

The Word

The Word: Are Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez…

Are Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez dating again? The pair were spotted together on May 14 at LA club Supperclub for DJ Tay James' birthday.

MLB

Pettitte leaves with injury in Yankees' loss to…

Pettitte allowed two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings but only lasted 79 pitches during last night’s 3-2 Yankees loss to the Mariners.

NBA

Knicks stave off elimination with Game 5 win…

The Knicks found a way to stave off elimination and push the series back to Indiana, as they held off the Pacers in Game 5 of the conference semifinals.

NHL

Bruins open Eastern Conference semifinals with win over…

Brad Marchand scored his first goal of the playoffs at the 15:40 mark of overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 1.

NFL

Coples learns from being called out by Rex…

Rex Ryan sent a message to linebacker Quinton Coples, calling out the second-year player for what he saw was a lack of effort in the weight room.

Career

Volunteer to start your career

Working as a volunteer can make your LinkedIn profile more desirable to employers.

International

Saudi Arabia religious police takes issue with Twitter

While many people in Saudi Arabia may be using Twitter, it doesn't mean some Saudi officials are happy with that.

Food

Super smoothies by Julie Morris

Julie Morris, talk smoothies and shares her favorite recipe from her new book "Superfood Smoothies."

Wellbeing

Today in Medicine: Can nicotine prevent Parkinson's?

Plus: Will there one be a cocaine vaccine?