Changes Coming...

Happy New Year!

After almost three years of blogging on www.EhrlThePearl.com, it is time to make a change.

Work constraints, travel schedules and interest in pursuing another online opportunity have led me to the decision to take a break from blogging on ETP.

I'll continue to be active on Twitter, so give me a follow.

Thank you so much for checking out the blog and for the continued support over the last few years!

Beef Bowl Heimlich

As part of the Rose Bowl festivities, the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers will compete in the annual "Beef Bowl" at Lawry’s the Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. The Ducks feasted last night and offensive lineman Mark Asper earned MVP of the night.

While the team was eating, a man at a nearby table was chocking. After one man unsuccessfully tried the Heimlich maneuver, Asper, an Eagle Scout, stepped up and helped him cough up the meat.

Ironically, the man he saved is the father of an Oregon student. The victim strangely had this to say after the incident:

“Mr. Asper came and did a proper Heimlich bearhug and I coughed the meat up. The posts that say he saved my life are exaggerating. But he did a nice thing and did it well, and I’m quite grateful. Not a big deal.”

One would think he'd be a little more appreciative of the gesture.

"They'd take away my merit badges and my Eagle Scout card, you know," Asper said. "My brother's a doctor so I joke I should be in the medical field anyway."

CP3 Sheets All Over LA

Sheets Brand Energy Strips has put up 13 billboards in Los Angeles featuring Clippers G Chris Paul, who is one of the founding partners in the company along with Heat F LeBron James, Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire and Ravens RB Ray Rice.

The creepy billboard features an image of CP3 with Sheets Energy Strip on his tongue and the copy, "The New Way To Do Energy."

Pierre's X-Mas TD

In one of the best touchdown celebrations of the season, Saints running back Pierre Thomas extended his Christmas giving by putting a bow on the football after scoring in the first quarter last night against the Falcons. After presenting the ball to his mom, Thomas received a 15-yard penalty.

USC to gain control of Coliseum

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission is expected to agree on terms today to hand over day-to-day control of the publicly owned stadium to USC.

According to ESPNLA, commission president David Israel will hold a special meeting today to discuss and vote on the matter. USC will likely obtain the master lease to the stadium in late March or early April.

This comes after commission members earlier this year said that they would be unable to keep their promise to USC to make $50M in improvements.

After gaining control of the Coliseum, USC officials say they will begin plans to return the Coliseum to the condition that made it the home of two Olympic Games and two Super Bowls. It is also being discussed as a temporary facility for an NFL team if the NFL decides to return to Los Angeles.

Ward Makes Cameo in "The Dark Knight Rises" Trailer

Back in August, we reported that Steelers players and fans filmed a scene for one of the most anticipated movie of 2012, Christopher Nolan's final Batman installment, "The Dark Knight Rises."

The movie's latest trailer has been making the rounds on the Internet and Hines Ward has a pretty extensive cameo. The receiver appears near the end of the two-minute preview as a player on the fictitious Gotham Rogues. In the clip, Ward catches a pass and runs for a long touchdown, with the field behind him imploding. What's most surprising isn't that villain Bane blows up Heinz Field, but that the 35-year-old Ward outruns the destruction.

Check out the awesome trailer below. "The Dark Knight Rises" hits theaters July 20, 2012.

SNL Jinx for Tebow?

It seems as if Broncos QB Tim Tebow was double jinxed this week as he not only appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated (for the second time in a month), but he was the subject of a hilarious "Saturday Night Live" skit the night before the Broncos fell to the Patriots 41-23.

In the SNL kit, Jason Sudeikis played Jesus and stopped by the Broncos locker room following their victory over the Bears last week. Taran Killam played Tim Tebow.

"Moneyball" is Golden

Nominations for the Golden Globe Awards were announced this morning, and "Moneyball" earned four major categories nods including best motion picture drama.

Brad Pitt was nominated for best actor in a motion picture drama for his portrayal of A's GM Billy Beane and Jonah Hill was nominated for best supporting actor in a motion picture for his Paul DePodesta-inspired character, Peter Brand.

Aaron Sorkin was also nominated for his screenplay adapted from Michael Lewis' bestseller that chronicled Billy Beane and the Athletics' small ball approach to building a winning team.

The Golden Globes will be broadcast live on NBC Jan. 15.

Sony has re-released "Moneyball" into theaters and click here to find showtimes near you.

Brees Hits Up Sesame

Drew Brees recently took time out of his record-pace NFL season to film an episode of Sesame Street in which the Saints QB teaches Elmo the word "measure."

Football stat gurus are measuring Brees' passing yards this season as he is on pace to break Dan Marino record of 5,084 yards set in 1984.

Brees might not be the only QB to break Marino's record though. He leads the hunt at 4,368 yards, but Tom Brady (4,273) and Aaron Rodgers (4,125) are close behind.

But will these teams continue to toss the pigskin around as the season winds down and they've secured playoff positions?

Kids will be able to measure Brees' teaching skills on his "Sesame Street" episode which airs Thursday on PBS Kids. Here is a sneak peek.

RGIII's Top Ten List

As part of his post-Heisman trophy media tour, Robert Griffin III read the top 10 list on the "Late Show with David Letterman" earlier this week.

Check out the top 10 thoughts that went through the tux'd QB's mind when he won the Heisman Trophy.