Queen of Sports

Sports Date Of The Week: Super Bowl Sunday

The big day for football is almost here! Get ready to watch some great commercials, catch some exciting on-field action, and eat some delicious food, after all isn’t that what Super Bowl Sunday is all about?

If you’re hosting a party, why not go with some themed dishes to represent each of the competing teams’ regional culinary specialties? Here are a couple recipes you can whip up for your guests or bring to a party:

New England Clam Chowder (via BrownEyedBaker.com)

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes

4 slices center-cut, thick-cut bacon (about 4 ounces), cut into ¼-inch pieces
1 large Spanish onion, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cans (6½ ounces each) minced clams, drained and juice reserved
2 bottles (8 ounces each) clam juice
1 cup water
1½ pounds red potatoes (about 4 medium), scrubbed and cut into ½-inch dice
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

1. Fry the bacon in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat until the fat renders and the bacon crisps, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the flour and stir until lightly colored, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the reserved clam juice (from the cans), the bottled clam juice and the water.

4. Add the potatoes, bay leaf, and thyme and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Add the clams, cream, parsley, salt and pepper to taste; bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaf, and serve immediately.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (via TasteOfHome.com)

• Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min.
• Yield: 4 Servings

1 tube (13.8 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust
1 cup buffalo wing sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 teaspoon each garlic salt, pepper and chili powder
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Celery sticks and blue cheese salad dressing

1. Unroll pizza crust into a lightly greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan; flatten dough and build up edges slightly. Bake at 400° for 7 minutes. Brush dough with 3 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce. Combine cheddar and mozzarella cheeses; sprinkle a third over the crust. Set aside.

2. In a large skillet, cook the chicken, garlic salt, pepper and chili powder in butter until chicken is no longer pink. Add the remaining wing sauce; cook and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Spoon over cheese. Sprinkle with oregano and remaining cheese.

3. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Serve with celery and blue cheese dressing. Yield: 8 slices, 4 servings.

Enjoy!

The New York Giants take on the New England Patriots at 3:30 pm PST on NBC.

Athlete Sighting: David Beckham

LA Galaxy star David Beckham arrived to a swarm of fans at an H&M store in central London where he was promoting the launch of his new bodywear line for the worldwide retailer.

Beckham will show off the line in a Super Bowl commercial which you can preview here.

Photo: WENN.com

Sneak Peek: David Beckham’s H&M Super Bowl Commercial

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The folks behind the Super Bowl commercial we’re anticipating most over here at Queen of Sports have just released a sneak peek of what we can expect to see on February 5.

The 30-second spot features David Beckham modeling underwear from his David Beckham Bodywear for H&M line. We’re loving the black and white aesthetic with a classic Animals tune providing the soundtrack.

Watch: Blake Griffin Posterizes Kendrick Perkins

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The Internet and basketball fans were abuzz last night over Blake Griffins‘ dunk on Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins. The dunk was reminiscent of his other best in-game dunk which he slammed down last year on then-Knicks center Timofey Mizgov.

Even LeBron James tipped his hat to Griffin. He tweeted, “Dunk of the Year!! @blakegriffin just dunked on Kendrick Perkins so hard!! Wow!! I guess I’m #2 now. Move over #6″

Athlete Sighting: LeBron James Biking It To Work

Miami Heat star LeBron James did his part to go green, at least for one day.

James rode his bike to American Airlines arena ahead of the Heat vs Bulls game last night. Traffic in the area was worsened by the Miami marathon, so James had two of his associates accompany him to the arena on two wheels instead of four.

The Heat beat their Eastern conference rivals 97-93, and James scored a game-high 35 points. Could it have been the power of the pedal?

Photo: Peter Lee/Doris Lee/Splash News

LA Lakers Top Forbes’ List Of Most Valuable NBA Franchises For 2012

Despite the NBA lockout this season, the value of the average team has increased to a record $393 million, a 6.5% increase from last year according to Forbes magazine.

At the top of the highest earning franchise list is the Los Angeles Lakers, who stole the top spot from the New York Knicks. The Lakers’ 20-year TV deal with Time Warner Cable worth $200 million a year upped their value to an NBA high of $900 million.

The Knicks come in at No. 2 with a current value of $780 million.

At the bottom of the list? The Milwaukee Bucks, who are valued at $268 million but operate on a negative income.

Overall, the NBA’s TV ratings increased last year by over 50%.

Athlete Sighting: Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez was spotted in normal fashion last night, walking several steps ahead of his new girlfriend, Torrie Wilson, after leaving a private party at a Miami hotel.

The pair were seen hanging out at a table with Sammy Sosa and other friends. Rodriguez has been spotted all over town with Wilson, an ex-WWE wrestler. They were even caught kissing in his pool earlier this month. So, why does he still insist on leaving her in the dust if the secret’s out?

Photo: Momo/JCFL/Splash News

Audi Touches On Vampire Craze In Super Bowl Commercial

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Audi didn’t just release a teaser for their Super Bowl commercial this year, they had fans get involved via social media to “unlock” the full 60 second spot by piecing together a 60-piece puzzle. Now, the full spot has been posted on their YouTube channel.

The commercial, which is centered on the new 2013 Audi S7 and the brand’s signature LED headlight technology, jumps on the vampire bandwagon but adds a twist. Check out the commercial above.

Rashad Evans: Hot Or Not?

“Suga” Rashad Evans will be stepping into the Octagon this weekend, facing Phil Davis in a light heavyweight bout that will be aired on Fox.

Evans is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with six years experience in the UFC. Many know him not only from his fights, but as a frequent host on ESPN’s “MMA Live.”

Evans was born in Niagra Falls, New York where his athletic prowess found him as a two-way player on his high school football team, and as a two-time All-State wrestler. Evans went on to wrestle at Michigan State University where he earned a degree in psychology and later became assistant coach of the school’s wrestling team. His amateur career in MMA started out with five wins and no losses, which he led him to be selected to complete the UFC’s competition reality show, The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans defeated his opponent on the show’s finale, earning a three-year, six-figure contract with the UFC.

Evans currently holds a record in the UFC of 16 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw.

Evans is married, with three children. He calls Lansing, Michigan home but fights out of Boca Raton, Florida.

So, what do you think? Rashad Evans…hot or not?

Photo: TitoMedia.com.au / Splash News

Kris Humphries Shows Off His New Bachelor Pad

After girls go through a break-up that involved cohabitation, they are prone to sprucing up their spaces with all the girly things they weren’t allowed to keep with their man around. Flowery blankets and pink everything are once again allowed. For guys? They seek the ultimate bachelor pad.

After Kris Humphries’ break-up with Kim Kardashian, he decided to boost his spirits by transforming the basement of his Minnesota home into the ultimate bachelor pad. And, to show off how happy he is with his new digs he let Life & Style magazine in for some exclusive photos of his space.

The place was designed with help from Jason Cameron and former NFL player Tony Siragusa of the DIY Network’s show “Man Cave.” You can watch the revamping of Kris’ space on the DIY Network this Friday at 6 pm PST, and check out more photos of the space in Life & Style.