This is not the first time that George W. Bush has been photographed in close proximity to the offensive gesture. Staff Sgt. Earl Granville of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, also made the rounds in this picture with his Commander in Chief. It seemed a tad inappropriate, but Granville also lost his leg in Afghanistan so everyone was willing to let it slide.

But this conspiracy goes far beyond our military or even the Oval Office. Arizona State is actively encouraging people to photograph themselves and others advocating for unannounced entry into the dark heart of America.

Just how far are they willing to go?

Oh no. Not the Sonic cup.

Or perhaps our brave President is doing something even more subversive than anyone imagined? Perhaps this is actually a coded message to his citizens that he is willing to defy these evil solar Devils and stand up to their dastardly pitchfork throwing ways? Yes, that's right ... W. is a Wichita State fan ...

President Bush Welcomes 2008 NCAA Sports Champions to the White House [WhiteHouse.gov]
Show your pride in ASU properly! [ASU]
Sundevilsareeverywhere [Flickr]
ASU for real [Pac 10 Poon]
Ravages of war won’t slow pair of area vets [Scranton Times]

2. Tucson Raiders. Wait, why are we talking about the NCAA Tournament? WE BEAT U OF A TWICE. Let that sink in for a second. Twice. Do you really think we care about the NCAA Tournament? We care about the Wildcats not making the tournament. Since domestic disputes aren't (always) funny, we won't make fun of Lute Olson, but without Lute, the university's got nothing to hang its hat on. And don't yell "Jennie Finch!" There are a dozen Jennie Finches in every class at ASU, and for that matter, three Amanda Beards and one Jake Plummer. The Snake's no fool.

3. Harden fast. Fast 'N Hard. No wait — the first one. From ASU '07 Grant Joiner's lips to your eyes, I present to you the 2007-2008 Arizona Sun Devils offense: "So it'll be the end of the game, and James Harden will have the ball. He'll dribble. Then he'll drive a little bit and get double-teamed. Then he'll get triple-teamed. Then he'll stop and shoot it over three guys and it will go in. That's it. That's all they ever do." Rumors persist that a second ASU player — named "Pendergrass," "Pendergraph," or "Pie Graph" — actually exists, which Deadspin associates were working feverishly to confirm at press time. — Bryan Joiner

Apparently, Carpenter, according to the online witnesses (that's the only place people are speaking up), took a bit of an issue with someone mocking his shirt and lost his mind.

Rudy was sitting outside the stadium after the game and one of the students asked him why he wasn't wearing gold. He then started yelling back at him "oh yeah what sport do you play? what sport do you play?" and ended up running down the ramp and chasing after the kid trying to start a fight with him. Rudy continued to challenge him to a fight and repeatedly called him a homosexual.

Again, just some random Internet people, but there are a lot of them, and the stories are popping up all over the place. We are wondering if he really kept calling the guy a "homosexual;" that's a lot of syllables to pronounce when you're really pissed off like that.

ASU QB Shouts Gay Slurs While Wearing Hot Pink Shirt [Bland Life]

Our favorite part of the incident is that Jessie, with a straight face, seemed to think that reporters should be talking more about the otherwise dull bowl game than his ridiculous play. Not likely.

"It was definitely not real comfortable at the time,' " Jessie acknowledged after the game. "But the guys came out and played a great game. That's all that matters. It (attention) shouldn't be focused on this."

We also enjoy that he, in fact, didn't touch the ball. It's one thing to instinctively reach for a live fumble. It's another thing to try, and miss. Video of the "play" can be found here.

Yes, we do like us some Chris Jessie.

But hey, it's not all about basketball. The men of ASU are busy with important scientific research, and have little time for your "games."

With Every Pac-10 Loss [Yahoo! Sports]
ASU Helps Create Real Face Of George Washington [Arizona Republic]
Arizona State Sees Upset Bid Slip Away [ASU Athletics]
The Face Behind The Mascot [ASU Athletics]

In a classic "Duh" moment, the Arizona State-Texas Tech women's basketball game, played outdoors at Chase Field in late December, was rained out with four minutes left. That picture is a grounds crew putting a tarp on a basketball court, which is just a beautiful image, like watching an April baseball game when it's snowing.

The real question, and we don't have an answer to this yet, is whether or not they initially tried to play through the rain, or if they pulled the tarp out at the first sprinkle. We love the idea of people falling down all over themselves, pulling ankles left and right, before finally someone said, "All right, this probably just isn't a drizzle." Suck it up, people; it's just a little rain.

Arizona State Women Are Getting Wet [The Big Picture]

The one we've chosen up there, comparing repulsive porn star Ron Jeremy to the Arizona State Sun Devils' mascot, is our favorite, but we also enjoyed Sam Elliot-as-Mississippi-Rebel, Mexican-president-Vicente-Fox-as-Oklahoma-State-Cowboy and, memorably, James-Lipton-as-Fighting-Irish.

It's an excellent idea, well executed. Expect to see it on Colin Cowherd's show ... oh ... right about now.

Logo Rorschach Test [The M Zone]
Bustin' Mad Lit Crit Speak: Longhorns Metaphor [EDSBS]