Championship Swag

While many of you ladies are celebrating Memorial Day with drinks, vacations and red white and blue, some sports junkies have been glued to their TVs on a weekend full of games.

From soccer, to lacrosse, baseball, basketball and finally hockey, I think I've broken a record for the amount of sporting events watched in a week. (Thanks in big part to my brother who is staying with me for the weekend and is too young to branch out to the bars.)

NHL and NBA playoffs have come to the peak of professional sports...the FINALS.

photo via Bleacher Report

The Boston Bruins (third seed) will take on the Vancouver Canucks (first seed) in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, only one team taking the Cup with them. Game 1 is on Wednesday at 8 pm ET. First to take four games wins it all. 

photo via Bleacher Report

When it comes to basketball, the Miami Heat will be battling the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Whichever team can pull off four wins first will be the 2011 NBA Champs. Game 1 is on Tuesday at 9 pm ET.

By now you should all know that the NHL champs get the Stanley Cup per winning, and the NBA champs get a championship ring. Trophies and jewels...what's the big deal, right? But that's not it. Let's take a look at what else comes with the championship honor:

• Most likely more $ in their near future, as many winners will get endorsement deals, sign larger contracts and their individual salaries may increase.
• Smack-talking reign. When you are the champs, you can run your mouth until the next season starts (and even longer if you remain on top).
• More $ again. (Bandwagon) fans would rather wear the jersey of a championship team and championship players, putting more in the bank with merchandise sold.
• Ladies. Obviously girls want to date champions. Like these athletes weren't getting enough before...
• More love from your city. The moment a team enters the playoffs, let alone the finals, people in the competing city go nuts. Sports fan or not, when your team is fighting for 1st, you'll become a fan (at least until they get knocked out). 
• Pride. Winning a championship isn't something that happens everyday, and most athletes go without ever sitting on top. Winning is literally the dream come true for these guys.
• A chance at MVP awards. On top of being a champ, a player from each team gets to be the best of the best. Doesn't get much better than that.

So beyond the legendary bling these winners get to call their own, they also take home the honor of being champions and making a whole city happy. 

Make sure to check out some games during the Finals, ladies. Good luck to all the teams and the fans rooting along!

Cosmo Clue:

NBA and NHL Finals are starting this week.

Want some predictions and more on the finals? Click here for NHL and here for NBA.

Class of 2011

For some, high school was an awkward blur of the past better to be forgotten. For others, it was the highlight of their lives. Whether you were the most talked about person in school, or the least, everyone identified with some sort of group. From the geeks, to the burnouts, to the jocks, the hierarchy of social rankings ranged big time.

Professional sports can be compared to high school stereotypes, with the steroid-abusing meatheads, to the All-American boys next door. You've got the guys who need a little more attention, and the guys who are a dream to coach. Let's take a look at which famous athletes would top their class.

Most Popular

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Not only is he one of the top NBA players of all time and gorgeous, he's also had a scandalous past.

photo via SMSEO

Runner Up: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

Most Likely to Succeed

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

This baby won Rookie of the Year in 2010 and picked up a World Series ring on the way.

photo via Business Insider

Runner Up: Trevor Cahill, Oakland A's

Most Athletic

Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

This star tight end didn't even play football in college—he played basketball.

photo via NFLnewsworld

Runner Up: Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals

Best Personality

LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets

A man of charities and a sincere grin, no one ever has anything bad to say about LT.

photo via NYDailyNews

Runner Up: Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers

Best Looking

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

I'm a sucker for a jock. I'm an even bigger sucker for a dark-tall-and-handsome jock.

Runner Up: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy

Biggest Flirt

Tiger Woods (golf)

No explanation necessary. Bastard.

photo via ShowBizspy

Runner Up: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

Class Clown

Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants

From overgrown beards to attention-grabbing stints, B Wilson always takes it to the next level.

photo via Huffington Post

Runner Up: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 

Teacher's Pet

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Amazing father, Super Bowl champ, legendary QB, NFL anti-lockout leader...need I say more?

photo via WeAllScheme

Runner Up: Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox

Biggest Mouth

Terrell Owens, Cincinnati Bengals

From his tweets to his rips on Jessica Simpson, T.O. has a comment for everything.

photo via Bleacher Report

Runner Up: Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Best Couple

Tom Brady (New Englad Patriots) and Gisele Bundchen

Super Bowl quarterback and a stunning supermodel. Can't compete with that.

photo via Posh24

Runner Up: Andy Roddick (tennis) and Brooklyn Decker

Biggest Trouble Maker 

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bad dude in so many ways. 

photo via EdKopesky

Runner Up: Sean Avery, New York Rangers

Cosmo Clue:

Professional athletes come in all shapes, sizes and standards.

Who would you vote for?

Boy Hunting

Single and ready to mingle?

No matter if you're looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now, knowing what's going on in the sports world can never hurt your chances at scoring a major babe.

It's Thursday and you know what that means - It's time to let loose, enjoy happy hour and count down the final day until the glorious weekend. With a lineup of jam-packed sporting events this weekend, clear your schedule and head to the sports bars. You're guarenteed to catch a game and maybe even a guy.

Let's see what's on tap for the weekend...

Hockey

There are four teams left in the NHL playoffs. Reppin' CA are the San Jose Sharks, who are down two games to the Vancouver Canucks. Out of Florida, the Tampa Bay Lighting are tied with the Boston Bruins at one game a piece. Whoever takes four games first in each series will head to the championship and play for the Stanley Cup.

photo via Fox News

Thursday
Game 3

Tampa Bay vs. Boston, 8 pm ET

Friday 
Game 3
San Jose vs. Vancouver, 9 pm ET

 Saturday

Game 4
Tampa Bay vs. Boston, 1:30 pm ET

Sunday
Game 4
San Jose vs. Vancouver, 3 pm ET

Basketball

The Miami Heat are tied with the Chicago Bulls, as both have won one game. The Dallas Mavericks are up a game over the Oklahoma City Thunder. First team in each series to win four games heads to the Finals to see who gets crowned NBA champs.

photo via CBC

Thursday 
Game 2

Dallas vs. Oklahoma City, 9 pm ET

(no games Friday)

Saturday
Game 3

Dallas vs. Oklahoma, 9 pm ET

Sunday
Game 3

Chicago vs. Miami, 8:30 pm ET


Grab the girls, grab some drinks and catch the games tonight and throughout the weekend.
Happy man hunting!


Cosmo Clue: 
NHL and NBA playoffs are happening all weekend.

Double Dipping

It's no secret that some people are just flat-out better than others. For females, it's the girls who get the good hair, the fast metabolism and all the brains who attract the most envy. And for males, it's the guys who can run the fastest, hit the hardest and make the most three-pointers. 

I'm pretty sure most guys would give up anything (money, steaks, girlfriends) to play a professional sport, even for a day. Making it to the college level is hard enough, let alone going all the way pro.

Some professional athletes have to take it to the next level and try to outshine the competition in more than one sport. Take a look at a few show-offs who have tried to take their game to a new level.

Michael Jordan

Though basketball's legendary star played for a Chicago White Sox farm league, he never actually made a debut in a MLB game. At least he'll always have Space Jam.

photo via Sneaker Files

Deion Sanders

The NFL hotshot played in the MLB part-time for nine years. He is the only person to play in a World Series and a Super Bowl. Now those are some good genes!

 photo via Madtreehouse

Chad Ochocinco

With the NFL lockout looming over his ever-growing head, Ochocinco looked to his "childhood dream" and tried out for Sporting Kansas City, a Major League Soccer team. He didn't make the final cut.

photo via Zimbio

Tony Romo

An avid babe/golfer,  NFL quarterback Tony Romo has been playing in US Open qualifying rounds, hoping to make it to the big competition. I'll pull for this cutie, no matter what he's trying for.

photo via NFLtouchdown

Cosmo Clue:

Some athletes go pro in more than one sport. 

More double dippers here.

That's What She Said

When it comes to sports, guys usually know a hell-of-a-lot more than girls. Not because they are smarter (we all know who would win that competition) or cooler, but because they are pretty much bred to care. While little girls are usually busy playing dress up and watching Cinderella, boys are already playing tackle football and channeling their inner Peyton Manning.

But, there are indeed tons of sport-obsessed ladies out there who could put any guy to shame. To see where my girlfriends fell on the sports knowledge scale, I enticed them with a fun little quiz. 

I simply asked the girls to write what came to mind when they thought of the following things, and I chose a few of my favorite answers (not saying they were in fact the best answers). Thumbs up for trying and even bigger thumbs up for some of these ridiculous answers. (But please tell me you girls were joking with a few?)

1. Derek Jeter

-that stupid Yankee who wears his pants too tight

-sexy, plays for the Yankees, but better known for being sexy

-# of celebrities he's banged > # of RBIs

2. NHL

-love it for the Super Bowl 

-no one cared until Carrie Underwood and Hilary Duff married two hotties from the league

-National Hotties League 

3. Tiger Woods

-cheater, hot in red, winning

-Liar. Cheater. Gross. Disturbing. But damn good athlete.

-“Elin thought she was marrying a tiger but ended up with a cheetah”

4. A line drive

-baseball going into the nards of someone by a wild pitch

 -golf?

5. A face-off

-a what-off?

-starring John Travolta & Nicholas Cage.

 photo via Amherst College

6. A pickle

-deeeelish on the side of a deli sandwich

-the Sandlot, also Snookie

7. Reggie Bush

-sex tape with Kim K made me want to have sex with him

-stupid at tweeting. not stupid at playing.

-Kim K's biggest mistake (the break up)

8. Pro Bowl

- professional bowling league event

-NOPE.

9. Quarterback

-wish the 49ers had one

-Tom Brady (yum)

-cute butts

10. Dugout

-sunflower seeds, guy talk, and cup adjusting

-a bunch of butt slapping! 

-seems like a good time if you know what I mean 

11. 2010 World Series Champions

-don't want to admit it to myself. their colors are orange and black.

12. Penalty box

-time-out for athletes

-hella aggressive men who are usually bloody and extremely sweaty

13. Hottest athlete

-just one?

-David Beckham, duh

-Tom Brady (short hair), Brain Wilson (no beard)

-trick question, every professional athlete is automatically hotttt

 photo via EuropaPlus

14. Favorite thing about sports

-attractive, sweaty men

-memories you create around them

-that you can make an instant connection with a complete stranger if you both love the same team (also stadium food and beer rank in a close second)

15. Least favorite thing about sports
-that it's always on at my house
-when your team starts losing, your buzz starts losing
-the Dodgers, Lakers, Raiders, Yankees and Tiger Woods.

Props to all my girls who played along, even if you thought the NHL had to do with football. If you were clueless about more than a few items...it's time to catch a game. (It's totally fine if you are more interested in the cute-butted QB, but just learn a few things).

Cosmo Clue:
Girls are funny 

*And for the record, there were some legit, right answers from the girls. But, these were just sooo much more entertaining.

Beat LA

In every professional sport there are the teams that everyone loves to love or loves to hate. If you are a die-hard (or bandwagon) fan, you rep these teams 'til your death. And if you're the opposite, the haters, you despise these teams more than anything. In the MLB, we have the Yankees, in the NFL, the Raiders, and in the NBA, we have the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Whether you're a purple and yellow loving follower, or you'd rather break every bone in your body before you watch the Lakers win a championship, you were watching the Lakers fail in the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant mourns the loss 

 photo via Lakers Blog

I'm neither a fan or foe, but even I got a glimpse of this desperate attempt and playoff end. The Lakers choked. Big time. (Sorry to all of my Laker-loving So Calers).

Kobe & co. lost in four straight games to the Dallas Mavericks, with last night's game sealing the deal of a semifinal sweep. And on top of that, long-time and influential Lakers coach, Phil Jackson, is retiring. Somebody get the Lakers some tissues - they are going to need them. 

Lakers head coach, Phil Jackson

photo via Sports World

After a farewell to the Lakers season and coach, there are still teams fighting to make it to the conference finals and beyond.

The Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls are tied at 2-2, and they will play Game 5 tomorrow at 8 ET. 

The Miami Heat is currently up a game over the Boston Celtics at 3-1. The next game is Wednesday at 7 ET. 

Oklahoma City Thunder is (as I type) down a game to the Memphis Grizzles at 2-1. The game is on right now, so we'll see who picks up Game 4. No matter who wins tonight, they'll play again later this week. 

Cosmo Clue:

The Los Angeles Lakers get swept in the semifinals, as other teams continue to battle. 

Everything playoffs here.

Derby Days

Some of you may know of the Kentucky Derby more for the outrageous hats and fancy attire, but it is actually a legendary sports event. It's the horse racing event of the year, and if you're into betting, horses, or anything in between, you're pumped. Even if you aren't into short jockeys or betting, you can't deny that getting on your prettiest dress isn't a tad bit fun.

Kim Kardashian and mom at the Derby, 2009

photo via Daily Fill

 People empty their wallets to bet on the ponies and if luck strikes it can bring in a lot of cash. There are brackets and actual technique behind betting, but who gets that stuff? I'm a simple girl and I choose my horse in a simple manner; by best name. The horses always have interesting names, ranging from "Pants on Fire" to "Mucho Macho Man" this year.

Here are some fun facts about the race:

• The race lasts only two minutes and is nicknamed "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports." 
• It always takes place on the first Saturday of May and this year it falls on May 7th.
• The 1st place horse wins over a million bucks.
• The horses competing are all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
• It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky (hence, the Kentucky Derby).
• The Mint Julep - bourbon, mint & a sugar syrup - is the traditional drink of choice for the day. Yum!
• Another nickname for the race: "The Run for the Roses", because the winner gets 554 roses.
• "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats where the big boys (and girls!) sit. 
• The Kentucky Derby is the oldest, continuous sporting event in the United States. 

 photo via Belmont Stakes

Even if you don't have the loaded bank account to head to Louisville and bet on the ponies, you can set up bets with your fellow poor friends.

Grab your most elaborate hat, a pretty sundress and get the mint juleps ready. It's racing season! 

 photo via Gambling 911

Cosmo Clue:

The Kentucky Derby is on May 7th and is the biggest horse racing event of the year.

 More on the Derby.