Bright Spots: Ian & Larissa - The Power of Marriage


As Palmer and my second wedding anniversary approaches, friends often ask the question of what I've learned in marriage. I've written about the power of marriage before. Some of our contemporary society's most divisive and polarizing debates concern the fundamental nature of what marriage is or what marriage is Read more

The Bachelorette 2013: Week 4 Recap


Last night on The Bachelorette, there were high heels, tears, helicopters (obvi), and, of course, a private Darius Rucker show. No one's quite sure when this show became the relaunch pad for comeback 90's artists, but, then again, nobody really cares. To be honest, most of this episode was Read more

SkyMall Surprises: Gifts for Him


[Editor's Note: I received this e-mail from my wife last week. With our anniversary coming up this week, she had decided she would shop for my present solely on SkyMall's website. This is going to start a mini-series of Palmer's gift ideas for various occasions. Check out the e-mail Read more

Movie Review: Man of Steel


Is this the Superman we’ve been eagerly awaiting? When word first broke “300” director Zack Snyder had been put in charge of the fabled DC Comics franchise, viewers knew instantly they were going to enjoy a film with more action than previous outings. True to form, Snyder gives us our Read more

He Said, She Said: True Blood


Four years ago, my then girlfriend, now wife, Katelyn and I were looking for ways to occupy the so called dog days of summer that were dragging along in Oxford, MS. She was a student; I was a chef/mover/waiter/blogger/beer drinker. (Man. Life was easy then.) Aside from the usual Read more

Bright Spot: Zakki Blatt


In honor of the U.S. Open this weekend, I found it appropriate to share this amazing story I saw on TV a couple days ago. This young man is a true testament to the underrated healing powers that sports can have on our souls. Zakki is a true inspiration Read more

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Tuesday’s With Tony

Tuesday’s With Tony: Tony Steals The Show

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | 1 Comment

tony allen Tuesdays With Tony: Tony Steals The Show

Here’s a fun and easy transition for my night. I spent hours studying for and insurance test, then wrote a blog post about Tony Allen. That transition went about as well as this clever pun not inserted here, which was intended to be, but my brain hasn’t allowed the funny part to be turned on just yet. Yes, I know several of my readers have already clicked away by now. But for those of you still here, I thank you. We will get there, have faith in me and my abilities to draw you in more and more. See, it’s working isn’t it. Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Quest for the Retweet

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | 1 Comment

tony allen memphis1 Tuesdays With Tony: Quest for the Retweet

And so it began. Yesterday I made several attempts to get my buddy Tony Allen to retweet something I sent him. He is always RT’ing, so I figured I would make a conscious effort to get TA to approve a 140 character or less configuration.

I would like to apologize to those whose Twitter feeds I overwhelmed. Don’t judge my desperation as the night came to a close. Now to share with you my feeble attempts to get @aa000g9 to give me my 12 seconds of fame, since @Scootereater didn’t seem too impressed with our blog or website or blog or is it a website? Am I getting paid for this? Bazinga. Full circle. Read more

Tuesday’s with Tony: Tony’s Future Career

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | Leave a comment

bdtonyallen7 t607 199x300 Tuesdays with Tony: Tonys Future Career

I’ve got Tony’s future planned out post-NBA career. Motivational speaker/children’s book writer. He can thank me later, and I will take a smaller percentage than his current agent. What a deal.

I figured if Lebron James can have cartoon children’s series starring Lebron, Lebron, annnndddd Lebron, Tony’s knowledge and sageness could generate beaucoup de moolah (French minor in me coming out). His Twitter feed is peppered with inspirational tweets and motivating messages. I think he loves brightening his followers’ day. As you can tell, I’m positively affected by Tony’s tweets.

I also considered Life Coach as an occupation for Tony once he’s won a few championships with the Grizz, but we all know there is no such thing as a Life Coach. That’s a title created by college students who choose to pursue “independent studies” as their major. I laughed out loud at a girl one time in a study group when she said her goal was to become a Life Coach. I cynically asked if her compensation was in chewing gum and butt taps? She wasn’t too happy. Sadly, I know some day my psyche will hinge on the encouraging words of a Life Coach on day when I’m a professional golfer. Still don’t know why I keep capitalizing both words, guess it’s my futile attempt to substantiate that profession. Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Tony’s Quest For Verification

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | Leave a comment

Screen shot 2012 03 19 at 10.47.56 PM1 Tuesdays With Tony: Tonys Quest For Verification

Today we celebrate. Break out your Cristal, Don Perionne, and Franzia because our boy Tony Allen has been verified!!!! Far too long has this Twitter account laid in the shadows of Unverificationland. But alas, the light has revealed the truth. To date, this easily makes Tony’s top ten life accomplishments. I may be slightly hyperbolic in my assumption about this achievement, but aren’t all bloggers masters of the hyperbole?

Who knew a blue circle with a check mark could generate such authority. In life we seek verification as often as possible. We say and do things to help distinguish our legitimacy and knowledge compared to others. Even Twitter allows validation amongst your peers. Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Stairway To Heaven

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | 1 Comment

I’m not the only one who sees the value of Tony Allen. My dear friend Bill Simmons, whom I’ve shared many a podcast with, recently wrote his annual trade deadline top 50 most valuable players article. Well guess who’s contract was deemed most desirable for teams to acquire. Tick tick tick.

What is Tony Allen for $300?

You would be correct! So if Bill Simmons believes in Tony Allen, why don’t you? I’m not trying to twist your arm to follow my Grizzled baller. I am, however, indian burning your arm to follow him.

Last week we broke down the numbers with Tony and saw the deeper side to ole “Trick or Treat” Tony (Boston C’s reference). Having spent such an inordinate amount of time with Tony’s tweets, I have noticed a few tendencies or “tells” in @aa000g9′s Twitter game. He likes to tweet about God and music. A lot.

Tony loves giving thanks to the man upstairs. I’m just not sure sometimes if the message is being delivered clearly because of some spelling issues. You see, Tony loves shoutin’ out (S/0) to “Farther God“. Read more

Tuesdays With Tony: The Numbers

Posted on March 5, 2012 by The Wise Guise in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | Leave a comment

TonyAllen Tuesdays With Tony: The Numbers

Top of the morning to you all, I’m on my MTV jams flow. Tony’s vernacular is surreptitiously becoming intertwined into my daily conversations and I love it. People just look at me funny. Apparently verbalizing tweets doesn’t result in instant popularity. Oh well, it was worth a shot. But enough about me, this is Tony’s time.

251. Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Tony Learns Magic

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | Leave a comment

kevin hart Tuesdays With Tony: Tony Learns Magic

And we’re back with another Tuesday)s With Tony. This past weekend the NBA had its annual dog and pony show, so here’s a quick wrap up for those who chose to watch Billy Crystal in black-face instead of a black face raise a crystal. Hey, Billy got laughs, figured I would try it too.

The weekend included a celebrity basketball game (Kevin Hart, MVP), Rookie/Sophomore game (layup drill), 3 point contest (K.Love), dunk contest (YAWN), and the main event Sunday had its moments of greatness. Blah blah blah. The weekend allowed players to rest and relax for a few days in preparation for the second half of the season. Well, Tony might have been resting his legs, but his thumbs have been very busy lately.

He started off this past week with an instant classic! While discussing his Epsom salt bath and his admission of not knowing what Epsom salt was, he still acknowledges his mother’s wisdom. Bless her, bless her. This was my favorite tweet of the week and early on I thought this would take up the majority of the post, but I was premature in my posting prophecy.

Screen shot 2012 02 27 at 10.17.35 PM Tuesdays With Tony: Tony Learns Magic

You see, it turns out that Tony has been learning magic. Yes, you heard me correctly, he tried to become Tony Blaine during his days off from basketball. Don’t believe me? Watch me put the pieces back together right before your very own eyes! (waves wand and the lights dim) Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Tony Goes To The Movies

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | Leave a comment

Screen shot 2012 02 21 at 2.49.19 AM Tuesdays With Tony: Tony Goes To The Movies

Time for the Tuesday with Tony’s top tweets for the twenty first of February in two thousand twelve. Time to check in with our buddy Tony, and see what he’s been up to this week.

First of all, Tony amassed over 100 “!’s” in a two day period. He also tipped in a game winning shot against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, so he has been extra abusive with the “!’s”. If someone were smart (you can thank me later), they could start a charity organization that donates said amount every time @aa000g9 uses a “!” to a worthy cause. I’m such a philanthropist. But enough about giving, let’s talk about Tony!!!! Read more

Tuesday’s With Tony: Meet Tony!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Colin Stovall in Basketball, Featured, Sports, Tuesday's With Tony, Weekly Posts | 1 Comment

Tony Allen 300x218 Tuesdays With Tony: Meet Tony!

I remember my first time like it was yesterday. Filled with excitement and unaware of the wonders this new adventure would bring, I dove right in throwing caution to the wind.

Early on I learned to avoid athletes on Twitter because of their incessant self promotion. But then, Tony happened. Yes, Tony Allen joined the Twitter world and his viral stream of consciousness was birthed. Unprepared for what Tony was capable of, I began to follow his tweets. I excused his first tweets and attributed them to amateurism with a smart phone and the concept of Twitter. But things did not change, and I began to search for the meanings in Tony’s tweets.

Unfamiliar to the use of the single “)” and multiple “!”, I mulled over Tony’s tweets like Benjamin Franklin Gates and the Declaration of Independence.

Your honor, I would like to present Exhibit A: Read more