Like a goddess rising from the waves. : Playing like the old days and then some, Venus Williams drops Maria Sharapova like a bad habit in the Wimbledon semifinals, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

That'll shut 'em up.

posted by lil_brown_bat to tennis at 10:49 PM - 14 comments

Smith and Carlos' 1968 protest will be immortalized in statue: "The real legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in this statue is that they provided a point of focus to pose their enduring questions to a free society. What is the role of protest and patriotism in challenging times? To have this statue on a college campus, it's so appropriate. These questions will be debated as long as America is a free society."

posted by justgary to culture at 03:58 PM - 21 comments

What the Foulke?: "(The fans) aren't going to make it any harder for me to look in the mirror,'' Foulke said, "or more embarrassing for me to walk into this clubhouse and look into the faces of my teammates, then I am to walk out and see Johnny from Burger King booing me."

posted by justgary to baseball at 03:55 PM - 3 comments

The Gambler goes all in.: Kenny Rogers loses his shit and attacks two TV cameramen, shoving one camera to the ground and kicking it, while cursing at and threatening other cameramen. This comes a day after Kenny refused to start claiming he had a broken bone in one hand after punching a water cooler, causing a lot of ciriticism from the local media due to the fact that this was a major game against the AL West leading Anaheim Angels. (there's the option to watch a video of the aftermath in the first link after sitting through a Crest commercial!?).

posted by Ufez Jones to baseball at 06:19 PM - 63 comments

Clueless Lakers: First the Lakers trade Shaquille O'Neal, the best player in the NBA, and get rid of the 2nd best coach of all-time, Phil Jackson. Now they bring Phil back, and say they're going the right way. Then comes the NBA Draft, and with the 10th pick, they draft a high schooler with Sean May, Rashad McCants, Hakim Warrick etc. available.

posted by The_Intern to basketball at 05:29 PM - 18 comments

College Hockey goalie Jordan Sigalet has been nominated for an ESPY as "Best Comeback Athlete" for 2004-05.: Why? He's been diagnosed with Multiple Schlerosis, and still went on to become Bowling Green's all-time leader in SV%, as well posting the second-best ever GAA. New England Hockey Journal has a nice little article on him here.

I wish the best for the guy, and it would make a great story if he ever made it to the NHL. How many athletes have managed to make it to the pros while battling a degenerative disease like this?

posted by Samsonov14 to hockey at 05:27 PM - 3 comments

The Confederations Cup is over: for a rather meaningless cup, there was some fantastic football in both the final (Brazil v. Argentina) and the third place game (Germany v. Mexico). If you haven't seen either game yet, the third place game is on Fox Soccer Channel at 8pm et, and the final is on at 11pm et. (More inside - I don't want to spoil it for anyone.)

posted by blarp to soccer at 05:13 PM - 16 comments

There they go again!: House panel approves steroids testing bill for professional sports leagues and creation of national boxing commission.

posted by graymatters to general at 02:57 PM - 4 comments

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ... Robert Kraft's on the phone: During a recent meeting between American business leaders and Russian president Vladmir Putin, Putin pocketed Kraft's 2005 Super Bowl ring. Did Kraft mean for Putin to have it? Did Putin think it was a gift? And how does ask a president for a ring back? Bling bling inside.

posted by wfrazerjr to general at 10:19 AM - 14 comments

"He's lightened up. : He was able to say, after the Hewitt match, 'he's a better player than I am,' which is progress for the man but fatal for the competitor; in life, in everything but sports, it's best to know your limits." Nice piece by S.L. Price on the winding down of a career.

posted by lil_brown_bat to tennis at 09:14 AM - 8 comments

"You must let the young elephants into the tent." : George Steinbrenner names son-in-law Steve Swindal as his successor, but refrains from naming a date when he'll pack it in.

posted by lil_brown_bat to baseball at 09:08 AM - 9 comments

The Ballad of Wendell Scott:: On December 1, 1963, Wendell Scott, a taxi driver and part-time bootleg liquor runner from the backwoods of Virginia, won his only NASCAR race. Unfortunately, it took two months of back-and-forth before NASCAR actually recognized his achievement, because Wendell Scott was an African-American, the first to ever compete in a Grand National race, let alone win one.

He raced on the Grand National circuit for years, starting 495 races, finishing in the top ten 147 times, often working at significant financial disadvantage to the rest of the field. He was elected to the International Motorsports Hall Of Fame in 1999. (Admittedly, I first heard his name from a Mojo Nixon song.)

Since then, Randy Bethea, Willy T. Ribbs and Bill Lester have built NASCAR careers, and many others have found in Mr. Scott a real hero who succeded despite an often huge disadvantage in funding and support, and perhaps a bigger gap in ignorance, which is only now beginning to fade.

posted by chicobangs to auto racing at 09:00 PM - 16 comments

2005 NBA DRAFT.: Follow along as your favorite NBA team makes rash decisions, and pins its hopes to someone you've never heard of before.

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 06:52 PM - 36 comments

Remember Kyle Denney, the Cleveland pitcher who was saved from a career-ending bullet wound to the leg when a cheerleading go-go boot saved him? Last night while pitching for the AAA Buffalo Bisons, he was struck just above his right ear by a line-drive, suffering "a ruptured ear drum and a cerebral contusion, which is more severe than a concussion. The contusion was caused by the brain jarring against the skull" (emphasis mine). I can't figure out if he's super lucky or extremely cursed.

posted by Ufez Jones to baseball at 05:28 PM - 8 comments

The Problem of Manu's Skin.: David Stern is doing his best to "globalize" the game. But some players aren't too happy about it.
via kottke

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 11:33 AM - 29 comments

A preview of Beer League, : a half-hour comedy about a men's rec hockey team. The creator would like you to sign a petition so they can get this thing on the air. Check it out. From what I know, online petitions always work.

posted by 86 to hockey at 09:38 AM - 8 comments

Minor League Baseball: Home of the No-Look Pass: "Today we had our drug test, but was it supervised? No . . . " said Lowell manager Luis Alicea, whose club underwent the same test on two occasions last season. "It was no different than last year except last year we had a guy there looking. This year there was nobody looking."

posted by yerfatma to baseball at 04:58 PM - 2 comments

Paid sports propagandist.: Tony Blair's former spin-meister Alistair Campbell -- the man who "sexes up" dodgy dossiers, is now on the payroll of the British Lions rugby team, where it appears he's getting rewarded handsomely for his expertise. On Saturday, in the biggest rugby game since the last World Cup, the New Zealand All Blacks humiliated the Lions in the First Test 21-3, so Alistair goes into full swing deflecting criticism of coach Clive Woodward and re-directing it with multiple midnight press conferences accusing the All Blacks of being thugs. British fans are becoming unglued, but ex-Lions aren't buying it.

posted by the red terror to other at 03:09 PM - 15 comments

Arturo Gatti drops his gloves.: Appealing to the referee, Arturo Gatti makes an amateur mistake, gifts Floyd Mayweather a free shot and pays for it. "I guess you have to protect yourself at all times. I learned that lesson the hard way."

posted by the red terror to other at 02:53 PM - 9 comments

Message to Major League Baseball owners:: Don't sell the Nationals to George Soros. If you do, the Republican Congress cannot be held responsible for any revenge legislation which may occur. Free enterprise, my ass.

posted by danostuporstar to baseball at 12:59 PM - 6 comments

Message to high school football players:: Don't tackle anybody too hard this fall. If you do, make sure your team doesn't win. Otherwise, you might be deemed a criminal.

posted by mr_crash_davis to soccer at 12:34 PM - 8 comments

Texas Takes it All: The Texas Longhorns came to Omaha unranked and Took it home to Austin

posted by HOE.O.K. to baseball at 11:04 AM - 4 comments

Even More Empty Seats in Tampa: The Devil Rays have added a furniture showroom in Tropicana Field. Ottomans cost $599, area rugs $199, and Owner Vince Naimoli will throw in the last shred of dignity belonging to Manager Lou Piniella and everyone else associated with the franchise at no extra cost.

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:51 AM - 17 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week Two: Also results from Week One. Rouges inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 09:18 AM - 0 comments

Sleeping through the 2005 NBA Draft: Sportsfilter member lilnemo guesses the 2005 NBA Draft's Lottery Picks.

posted by justgary to basketball at 02:57 AM - 21 comments

Three and done. : Serena Williams took another big step in her campagn to establish herself as Queen of the Unforced Error, exiting Wimbledon in the third round by losing to 85th-ranked Jill Craybas, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

posted by lil_brown_bat to tennis at 06:50 PM - 10 comments

15-year-old has chance to win U.S. Women's Open.: Going into the final round today, Michelle Wie is in second place, two strokes behind the leader. And four strokes ahead of undisputed women's champ Anika Sorenstam. Actually makes me consider watching golf. Maybe. Think she can pull it off?

posted by worldcup2002 to golf at 02:24 AM - 32 comments

You always hurt the one you love: Check out a quickie list of strange sports injuries (it's from FOX Sports, so don't expect much), and then chime in with your weirdest injury of all-time, sports-related or not.

posted by wfrazerjr to general at 09:22 AM - 18 comments

Sleeping through the 2005 NBA Draft: lilnemo guesses the 2005 NBA Draft's Lottery Picks

posted by lilnemo to commentary at 07:14 PM - 0 comments

NCAA closes door on Baylor men's basketball fiasco: With this finally behind them (to the extent you can say it is behind them), maybe they will be able to focus on the good things with Baylor athletics (women's basketball as national champions, men's baseball making CWS final four).

posted by graymatters to other at 06:00 PM - 0 comments

EPL 2005-06 fixtures posted.: Not like August 13 is going to get here any sooner, but hey ... Newly promoted teams all start with home matches: play-off winners Wigan kick off against defending champions Chelsea; West Ham host Blackburn; and Championship winners Sunderland play Charlton.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 05:05 PM - 17 comments

Life as a Big League Mascot: Interesting interview with the MN Twins' TC Bear. Is he an off spring of the Hamm's Beer Bear?

posted by daddisamm to baseball at 07:39 AM - 7 comments

Hello, Larry: The San Antonio Spurs win their third basket in seven years, defeating the Detroit Pistons, 81-74, in a classic game 7.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:09 PM - 36 comments

Murderball: is a new documentary about Quad Rugby, a brutal sport played in wheelchairs on a regulation basketball court. It's gotten rave reviews from many different critics, and today on Fresh Air, Terry Gross interviewed director Dana Adam Shapiro and Murderball bigshot Mark Zupan. The NPR link also has the trailer to the movie and a video clip of Zupan in action.

posted by Ufez Jones to extreme at 06:10 PM - 3 comments

Shot Put Tragedy: An elderly track official was fatally wounded by a shot during practice for national track and field championships this weekend in Southern California Wednesday night.

posted by rcade to other at 05:30 PM - 7 comments

How to Throw a No-Hitter on Acid: And other lessons from the career of baseball legend Dock Ellis. [Brazenly pilfered from MetaFilter.]

posted by kirkaracha to baseball at 02:26 PM - 9 comments

Allan Houston. CBA casualty?: Apparently there is a clause in the new NBA CBA which allows a team to cut one player from its roster without paying the luxury tax for that players salary, ever. Unless Houston retires, in which case he doesn't count against the cap and the Knicks are free to cut someone else without incurring the luxury tax. Funny this turns up amongst rumors of a Q. Richardson/ Kurt Thomas trade.
forgive me, 2nd link is a Lupica column.

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 12:35 PM - 4 comments

A petition I just can't sign.:
As a Blue Jay fan, I'm tempted to start a petition to ignore this petition.

posted by grum@work to baseball at 10:37 AM - 5 comments

Dallas Maverick's center Shawn Bradley to retire after 12 years in the game.:
7' 6" Dallas Mavericks center Shawn Bradley will call it quits after 12 years. Many in the game may question this long-fabled warrior's decision to bow out of the game, on the precipice of immortality. Bradley retires just 31,635 points shy of Jabbar's scoring record, and a mere 18,656 rebounds shy of Chamberlain's long-standing record.

posted by hincandenza to basketball at 10:26 AM - 37 comments

Scientific Football 2005.: Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z introduces the world to The Football Scientist, KC Joyner. How long before this guy is an assitant GM with the Raiders?

posted by 86 to football at 08:15 AM - 1 comment

Dodgers on road to nowhere: See, I told you guys. The Los Angeles Angels are the best Los Angeles team to play in Los Angeles.

posted by tommysands to baseball at 07:37 AM - 7 comments

Is That Your Intangibles, Or Are You Just Happy to See Me?: The home plate embrace has never looked more intimate than this shot of Gary Sheffield and Derek Jeter.

posted by rcade to baseball at 01:03 AM - 38 comments

s/Fantasy/Reality/: Two innings of minor league game to be played by fans on Xbox. "Everybody in the world is going to want to do this after us" [via via]

posted by danostuporstar to baseball at 07:58 PM - 8 comments

Vegetables as foreign substances.: The South Korean baseball league has banned Park Myung-Hwan from wearing frozen cabbage leaves under his hat, a tactic once used by Babe Ruth, among other olde-tyme players, to beat the heat.

posted by Ufez Jones to baseball at 06:51 PM - 4 comments

Porter gets his walking papers.: Despite overachieving with a mediocre squad, and having the #1 pick in the draft in hand, the Bucks have fired Terry Porter with 1 year left on his contract.

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 06:21 PM - 9 comments

4 teams left in the CWS.: Is Texas going to take another?

posted by HOE.O.K. to baseball at 04:28 PM - 9 comments

No chance for Armstrong:: Richard Williams argues that the game is probably up for Lance Armstrong and that he is about to embark upon a tour too many. He may or may not have a point, but his query as to whether Armsrong will battle on behalf of his team if he struggles, or hot foot it to Texas is interesting; he reckons a true patron would always help a better placed team mate out and I agree. Viva Basso! No British riders! Would we notice if there had been any? I doubt it.

posted by Fat Buddha to extreme at 04:18 PM - 18 comments

Erstad Gets Dirty...: Darin Erstad, the Angel’s first baseman and only MLB player to ever win a gold glove in both the outfield and at first base, plays the game like it should be played, with passion. If Johnny Estrada wants to play in the "bigs", he should expect to get knocked on his ass whenever he blocks the plate. Unlike most other first basemen who usually chit chat with the opposing team’s players who land on their base, Erstad rarely if ever talks to other team players. I know about the boys needing to have their fun and all of that, but with today’s inflated ticket prices needed to support the player’s high salaries, I’d like to see more intensity and passion for the game like Erstad shows.

posted by tommysands to baseball at 02:01 PM - 31 comments

Martina Navratilova is hating on Maria Sharapova: Of course, Martina also picked Justine Henin-Hardenne (One and Done) as the favorite to win.

posted by graymatters to tennis at 12:30 PM - 15 comments

Desperation 1, Expiration 0.: The Pistons beat the Spurs to force Game 7.

posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 09:16 AM - 20 comments

Who's up for some football (picks)?: It's been a long spring without hockey playoff picks, and for some reason we forgot to do anything semi-organized with the NBA playoff picks (Suns over Heat in 4!). So I figured that despite my ability to name only four players on the Argos' roster, I'd start the summer off right by offering up a chance to make your picks for the CFL's opening week.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 08:25 AM - 0 comments

One and done. : Less than three weeks after winning the French Open, Henin-Hardenne exits Wimbledon in the first round.

posted by lil_brown_bat to tennis at 06:25 AM - 4 comments

Gagne Done For Season: What was hoping wouldn't happen just became a reality as Eric Gagne will undergo Tommy John surgery; which will take him out for th rest of he season. Gagne didn't play much this season, and it's a shame. Expect him to come back next season and be better than last season.

posted by Pickles84 to baseball at 05:23 AM - 30 comments

When the going gets rough, the parents just teach their kids to quit.: In Columbus, Ohio, competition is dead and a bunch of pansies has hijacked the National Pasttime. Remember, when faced by superior talent, just quit. Better yet, get them disqualified for being better than you!

posted by The_Black_Hand to baseball at 04:29 PM - 57 comments

Pistons know how to climb out of holes.: A quick review of the Piston's chances in game 6 and in the series over-all. They could still Win.

posted by daddisamm to basketball at 02:04 PM - 16 comments

Espn is reporting that NBA labor agreement is close.: The agreement would include an age limit of 19 among other items.

posted by daddisamm to basketball at 10:16 AM - 20 comments

Manny Ramirez does not care this season.

posted by justgary to baseball at 09:40 AM - 11 comments

Bangladesh beat world champions: and the Australian cricket team are more than a little embarrassed. Described as the greatest upset in the sport's history. Sheer joy for a nation of 140 million that have been waiting a while for this.

posted by owlhouse to other at 07:27 PM - 8 comments

Hatin' on Tiger: I don't know that another one of Cold Pizza's finest could have lamented the fact that Michael Campbell won yesterday's US Open (and Tiger Woods did not) any better than Skip Bayless does here.

posted by YukonGold to golf at 03:56 PM - 23 comments

"You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances." : How to win fans for F1?

posted by graymatters to auto racing at 12:09 PM - 28 comments

Horry's big shot wins Game 5: "Robert Horry hit a 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds left in overtime to give the Spurs a 96-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the NBA Finals."

posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 01:13 AM - 49 comments

USGP SNAFU: Michael Schumacher earned his fourth United States Grand Prix victory, leading 51 of 73 laps in his Ferrari on June 19 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The victory came in a six-car starting field after seven of the 10 Formula One teams – representing 14 cars – elected not to race after Michelin, the tire supplier for the seven teams, advised against using its tire due to safety concerns.

Wow, I bet that was exciting.

/sarcasm

posted by mr_crash_davis to auto racing at 06:35 PM - 47 comments

Takanohana vs. Wakanohana: This Time It's Personal: Legendary sumo yokozuna Takanohana and Wakanohana are feuding publicly over who got to be "chief mourner" at the recent funeral of their father, yokozuna Futagoyama. "They have quarrelled over his corpse, at his funeral and in interviews," according to another report. For those unfamiliar with the strange, timeless. fascinating sport of sumo, this is like Peyton Manning cold-cocking Eli at a memorial to pry Archie Manning's Pro Bowl rings from his cold dead fingers. The brothers fought each other only once, a 1995 playoff in which Wakanohana beat the shitatenage out of him.

posted by rcade to other at 09:32 AM - 7 comments

Robert Horry... Fraud?: Slate's Felix Gillette asks whether Robert Horry is the NBA's best clutch shooter or its best con man?

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 01:23 PM - 46 comments

Too urban?: "........ everyone is agreed that US soccer is - to use Greg Dyke's phrase - hideously white". Just thought I'd mention it!

posted by Fat Buddha to soccer at 06:06 AM - 18 comments

You're Out!: Gaybaseballdays.com tracks gay & lesbian community days at MLB ballparks. [via MonkeyFilter]

posted by kirkaracha to baseball at 12:16 AM - 33 comments

Pistons Slam Spurs, 102-71: squaring the series at 2-2.

posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 12:13 AM - 23 comments

Playing While White: Steve Nash's MVP selection reaffirms that race has everything to do with sports at every juncture, not just when a white guy wins an award.

posted by Marla Singer to basketball at 08:56 PM - 41 comments

Carl Everett opens his pie hole for Maxim: About homosexuals, Everett said "Gays being gay is wrong. Two women can't produce a baby, two men can't produce a baby, so it's not how it's supposed to be. ... I don't believe in gay marriages. I don't believe in being gay." For the record, he doesn't believe in dinosaurs either.

posted by Marla Singer to baseball at 07:08 PM - 22 comments

this guy's teammates suck: I'm referring the attackmen who gets ZERO love from the other 9 players in his color on the field. The other team displays the...proper love for their goalie. [via]

posted by garfield to other at 04:41 PM - 4 comments

Guillen Talks Trash: Jose Guillen called Mike Scioscia a "piece of garbage"! How arrogant can he be? If any of us out here would have treated our bosses like Guillen treated Scioscia, we would have been summarily fired not just suspended.

posted by tommysands to baseball at 09:48 AM - 15 comments

Find This Tosser: British bobbies are looking for an arsehole who tossed a lit flare onto the pitch at a Man U football match on 12 March. (American translation: Police seek asshat who threw flare onto field of soccer game March 12.)

posted by rcade to soccer at 09:33 AM - 11 comments

Sentence handed down in Cavagnoud death. : After three and a half years and a fair amount of finger-pointing, a French team coach and a course official were fined and given three-month suspended sentences by a French court for their roles in the the death of Regine Cavagnoud, a member of the French ski team. Cavagnoud died in 2001 following an accident during a preseason downhill training run in which she collided with German coach Markus Anwander. At the time of her death, Cavagnoud was the most successful and most promising racer on the French women's team.

posted by lil_brown_bat to other at 09:36 PM - 10 comments

Who's qualified for World Cup 2006?: Asia has got 4 in (they're allocated 4.5 - intercontinental playoffs are involved) already: Japan (the first one in), Iran, Korea and Saudi Arabia. Europe has 1 (they're allocated 14 spots): Germany, hosts, auto-qualified. South America also has 1 (allocation 4.5): Argentina. Brazil, current champions, have to play their way in, auto-qualification for champions having been removed after 2002. Africa (5), CONCACAF (3.5 - Go USA!) and Oceania (0.5) have no qualifiers yet.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 04:00 PM - 11 comments

Elvis Costello is a Liverpool fan.: Costello describes how he delayed a recent concert so he could watch Liverpool's Champions League final triumph. I tried my best to keep my eyes from the TV screen over the bar at the back of the room but the words "Oh s***, he’s missed" might have accidentally crept into the lyrics of Good Year for the Roses. I've never been a Costello fan, but I might be now.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:24 PM - 9 comments

Boom -- Madden Joins NBC: John Madden is reported to be announcing that he is Joining NBC in 2006 to do Sunday Night Football. News Conference scheduled foR this afternoon.

posted by daddisamm to football at 10:41 AM - 35 comments

Bonnarooed - : hallucinogen- induced "I am God" syndrome strikes again.

posted by garfield to football at 09:38 AM - 25 comments

Two fiery managers,: a pitcher with pine tar, and a volatile player returning to his old team's stadium to deliver the shot that leads his new team to victory.

posted by 86 to baseball at 08:01 AM - 7 comments

Detroit Rebounds: The key factor in the newly competitive NBA Finals may not be Manu y La Mancha but the hair of Ben Wallace, who unleashed the best 'fro in sports and a 15-point, 11-board performance in a 96-79 victory for the Detroit Pistons over the San Antonio Spurs. "Makes me feel lighter on my feet," explained el jugador de pelo gigante.

posted by rcade to basketball at 06:24 AM - 21 comments

Episode II: Return of the Zen Master: Phil Jackson returns to the Lakers. An official announcement is expected at 2 pm PST.

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 01:15 PM - 71 comments

Yankee Players Are Rent-Seeking Whores

posted by yerfatma to baseball at 09:57 AM - 13 comments

England women receiving manly kudos: "Women's football is as red-blooded and passionate as the men's game. It's physical, it's aggressive. The players are very skilful at the top levels and their commitment to the cause is 100% just as it is in the men's game. They don't worry about getting muddy, chipping nail varnish or sweating buckets for the cause." It's beyond comprehension to me that there are still men in this world who can't enjoy women playing a "man" game. John Nic is the best; I'm hoping the editor on this article was just stoned, explaining the typos.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY to soccer at 09:25 AM - 5 comments

Ashes to Ashes: - "To be precise, it was a Twenty20 international, the first played in this country [England], and England beat Australia . . . hang on, let’s have that again, only slowly. England . . . beat . . . Australia . . . by . . . 100 . . . runs."

posted by JJ to other at 07:45 AM - 8 comments

It's in the Game: Two days before he won the Pocono 500, NASCAR rookie Carl Edwards had never seen one of the Nextel Cup's most difficult tracks -- driving it only in a videogame. "It's a NASCAR game that you can buy on the shelf,'' he said.

posted by rcade to auto racing at 01:26 PM - 15 comments

Sean Casey, Conan O'Brien and a priest walk into a bar . . . : how a meeting during his Cape League days led to Sean Casey working with LabelsAreForJars in the fight against hunger.

posted by yerfatma to baseball at 11:42 AM - 1 comment

Ginobili Metio 27 Puntos y Los Spurs Aplastaron a Los Pistons: In Game 2 of the Needs-a-Better-Name Finals, the San Antonio Spurs edged the Detroit Pistons 97-76 on a dramatic last-second 22-point shot by Manu Ginobli, un candidato firme a ser el jugador mas valioso. "It's the good old boys versus the bad boys," Rasheed Wallace told AP, and the badness of the Pistons was evident all night long.

posted by rcade to basketball at 07:40 AM - 34 comments

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: On his last game, Ryan Belflower, an 18-year-old developmentally disabled student who eats, sleeps, and breathes school basketball, gets his shot. "Suddenly, he had it unguarded out beyond the 3-point line. As he launched the shot, everyone in the gym froze. On the sideline, his teammates rose as one."

posted by rcade to basketball at 08:31 AM - 17 comments

More Than He Could Chew: Declaring that he doesn't want to "embarrass the sport," Mike Tyson retired after his seventh-round TKO against Irish boxer Kevin McBride. Tyson's parting gift: $5 million dollars, all but $250,000 going to bankruptcy creditors.

posted by rcade to boxing at 08:17 AM - 24 comments

Mitch Albom is a terrible writer.: Documenting the ways Mr. Albom stinks, by Morrie Schwarzenegger.

posted by rocketman to general at 10:45 PM - 3 comments

U.S. under-20's beat four time Youth World Champion Argentina 1-0: This was a great game for the U.S. Freddy Adu, Chad Barrett, Jonathon Spector, Quenti Westberg and Marvell Wynne...a player I've never seen...had terrific games. Wynne is a brilliant player and if you haven't seen this kid, have a look soon. He's 19 and in school at UCLA. Next up for the Americans: Germany.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY to soccer at 02:37 PM - 15 comments

SF Canaries host Pat O'Brien Bobblehead givaway 6/11/05.: This Independant Northern league team is hosting special promotion to honor native son, O'brien. Obviously this was scheduled prior to his troubles of late. O'Brien is scheduled to be on hand at the event and will honor all requests for autographs. Another famous Talking head from South Dakota, Mary Hart, had a simalar promotion one week ago. Reports have it that O'Brien is looking forward to showing people that he is recovered from his little set-back. Hopefully this goes better then the Dr. Phil interview.

posted by daddisamm to baseball at 11:45 AM - 4 comments

Pistons Step in Pile of Manu: The Spurs beat the Pistons 84-69 in the opening game of the needs-a-better-name NBA Finals. The real winner of the graceless defensive struggle may have been the CSI repeat on CBS. The Spurs need three more wins to get their hands on Larry's Basket.

posted by rcade to basketball at 12:04 PM - 41 comments

They're in : After much talk and UEFA apparently disagreeing with itself, Liverpool have been granted a special exemption to play in next year's Champions League.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 05:42 AM - 10 comments

Rockies rookie shortstop clarifies how he was injured: Clint Barnes, at first, said he tripped with a bag of groceries while going up a flight of stairs. Now he says that he was carrying a gift package of deer meat he recieved after an afternoon of riding 4-wheelers.

posted by daddisamm to baseball at 11:46 PM - 15 comments

Facing The Blonde Unit: ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski tries what Albert Pujols, Mike Piazza and Mike Cameron have sworn to never attempt again: stepping up to the plate to face Jennie Finch.

posted by dusted to baseball at 07:04 PM - 16 comments

IOC Gives NYC Chance to Modify Games Plan : But this deadline, they really really mean! Looks like another opportunity to shove the stadium plan down the city's collective throat. Maybe the USOC should have picked one of the other seven candidates, instead of the sentimental choice back in 2002.

posted by graymatters to other at 06:39 PM - 3 comments

Almost Danish: "You go to your local gym to play basketball. Some enormous foreigners arrive. They play very well. So do you. They tell you they are professional basketball players from Denmark, and that you should fly to Copenhagen for a tryout."

posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 01:31 PM - 2 comments

Hope Springs eternal.: A major hurdle was overcome as the NHL owners and NHLPA agree to a per-team salary cap...something I was calling, crying, nay SCREAMING for a year or better ago...

posted by MeatSaber to hockey at 11:41 AM - 8 comments

Ice Cold in Wimbledon: - "They called him the ice man, but there was so much more to Björn Borg than cool detachment and a wispy beard. Twenty-five years after the Swede's last and greatest Wimbledon triumph, award-winning novelist Tim Pears offers a remarkable portrait of the rebellious teenager who became an accidental Nordic mystic - and an all-time great."

posted by JJ to tennis at 09:51 AM - 9 comments

Shaq reportedly wants Jordan monay.: Is he worth $30M a year?

posted by Bag Man to basketball at 04:30 PM - 27 comments

Earlier 49er training tape found: Channel 4 gets an exclusive copy oof earlier niners training field. Once again Mr. Reynelds is in the spot light.

posted by daddisamm to football at 04:26 PM - 6 comments

Panama could be key for U.S. entry: plus the U-20 start the W.Y.C. on saturday.

posted by HOE.O.K. to soccer at 02:23 PM - 8 comments

Japan first in to 2006 World Cup.: Japan beat N. Korea 2-0 today to grab the first place in next year's World Cup (along with hosts Germany who get an automatic spot). Kim Jong-Il was not amused and cut off rations to another village. Meanwhile, the US can pretty much lock up a World Cup berth with a victory against Panama tonight (830p EST/530p PST). Who else will qualify today?

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:05 PM - 12 comments

And you thought Oakland's line-up sucked this year: FOX Sports puts together the all-time worst offensive nine in baseball history, using one year from each player's career. Hello, Brooks Robinson and Wee Willie Keeler!

posted by wfrazerjr to baseball at 09:14 AM - 4 comments

Soccer legend Pele admits: that his 35 year old son Edihno was one of roughly 50 people recently arrested in Sao Paulo under suspicion of ties with a cocaine trafficking gang. The Hindustan Times also reports that this particular gang is suspected of involvement with the kidnapping of the mother of Brazilian superstar Robhino. As a followup to the thread, Robhino's mother was freed late in December after a ransom of some $200,000 was paid.

posted by Ufez Jones to soccer at 05:53 PM - 27 comments

Where'd all the home runs go?: If anyone out there has seen a hundred home runs wandering around looking kind of lost, call the FBI. They're missing.

posted by justgary to baseball at 02:45 PM - 16 comments

Australians find inspiration in France : The Ashes is arguably the biggest sporting event of the summer for England and Australia. There is so much history between the two countries and the biannual competition means so much to cricket fans in both countries. There's a lot riding on it for both teams, the Australians are aging but still awesome whilst the English have beaten all comers recently but haven't yet been tested by the best. This article shows an interesting way for the Australian cricket team to prepare for the contest and very different to anything you might see in the shallow world of football. If you've never watched cricket before, the Ashes is an excellent starting point.

posted by Pete to other at 12:58 PM - 7 comments

Whos it gunna be?: A repeat for Mo-town?A third time for S.A.?

posted by HOE.O.K. to basketball at 10:59 AM - 24 comments

Paris appears to have taken the lead: in the bid for the 2012 Olympics. The IOC recently took tours of the five finalist cities and released their evaluation report, a nice summary of which can be found in today's Telegraph. With the proposed stadium in Manhattan failing to clear it's final poliitical hurdle for the fourth time, many now contend that this is just a two horse race.

posted by Ufez Jones to other at 10:56 AM - 14 comments

Wife: A-Rod wasn't mentally ready for NYC: Alex Rodriguez's wife says her husband was so uncomfortable when he first joined the New York Yankees last year that at times she barely recognized him.

posted by Marla Singer to baseball at 10:44 AM - 17 comments

The Big Dilema.: Heat fans. Would you do it? Two years at $30 million? Lakers fans. Which superstar would you rather have now?

posted by Mike McD to basketball at 07:43 AM - 12 comments

"I'm an athlete, I can walk up the stairs": or so thought rookie sensation Clint Barmes. He's out for 3 months, with a broken clavicle. No word about the state of his groceries.

posted by qbert72 to baseball at 08:33 PM - 6 comments

Craig Biggio - Beanball king.: As he closes in on the all time record for HBP he offers some insight - "I think the best place to get hit is with a curveball at about sixty-two miles an hour, probably right in the butt".

posted by gspm to baseball at 12:15 PM - 10 comments

Proof that pitch counts don't matter.: Or maybe just proof that there is at least one cyborg playing baseball.

posted by panoptican to baseball at 01:14 AM - 3 comments

Rafael Nadal the new tennis king?: Nineteen-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal won the French Open today, on his first try. He beat No. 1 Federer in the semis. He's on a 24-win streak, which includes four championships. He also plays left-handed even though he's a natural right-hander. And, btw, nice green sleeveless shirt and knee-length pipe shorts (from Nike). I might actually start paying attention to tennis again (just to see what he wears at Wimbledon).

posted by worldcup2002 to tennis at 09:23 PM - 16 comments

Who is the real Shaquille?

posted by justgary to basketball at 05:32 PM - 8 comments

Lets get it going.USA back to the qualies.: Will the'Ticos stay floating in Salt Lake?

posted by HOE.O.K. to soccer at 03:17 PM - 16 comments

Sports Legends in the Wrong Uniforms: Willy Mays on the Mets, Joe Namath on the Rams, and more.

posted by kirkaracha to general at 01:51 PM - 18 comments

One more and he's done: Lance Armstrong is competing in only one more race after tomorrow's start of the Dauphiné Libéré: the 2005 Tour de France. The Dauphiné is a one week race through the French Alps that includes several difficult climbing stages, including the infamous Mont Ventoux.

posted by dusted to other at 01:31 PM - 9 comments

Confederations Cup starts June 18.: Given the summer break in the pro leagues, thought I'd point to something to tide us over, at least for the last two weeks in June. The champions of the various FIFA continental tournaments will head to Germany this month for a mini-tournament, a championship of champions if you will, and a warm-up for the 2006 World Cup. Fans in the US will be able to watch the matches live (mostly) and free (if you have cable), thanks to Univision.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 11:11 AM - 8 comments

Larry Brown is no Dean Smith: After winning that NBA title a season ago, Brown had a chance to reshape his legacy for the history books. He had a chance to end his career with far more dignity and grace than he had conducted it. But Brown showed once again that he's the most selfish and disingenuous coach the profession has ever spawned.

posted by justgary to basketball at 12:15 AM - 10 comments

NCAA restores Georgia scholarships: As part of rules violation sanctions, NCAA had stripped Georgia basketball of three scholarships. It now has restored those scholarships. However, the question I have is why is stripping scholarships even considered as part of a sanction. These are supposed to be student-athletes, some of whom may need scholarships just to attend. Why not make the university award additional non-athletic scholarships instead?

posted by graymatters to basketball at 02:54 PM - 2 comments

When women's soccer was better than men's.: Read how women workers in a 1920s English guns'n'ammo factory (and from elsewhere) played soccer, drew large crowds, beat men's teams, raised money for charities, then got "shut down" by the (men's) FA.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:31 PM - 3 comments

Tyson: 'My Whole Life Has Been a Waste': You think?

posted by graymatters to boxing at 12:04 PM - 15 comments

England 2, The Colonies 1: Decked in his 1950 commemorative U.S.A. jersey, SportsFilter member Texan_lost_in_NY attended the friendly between the U.S. and England held in Chicago. Things got a bit unfriendly with the favorite chants of the official U.S. supporters group, which included the cringe-inducing "it's called saw-ker!"

posted by rcade to soccer at 11:13 PM - 7 comments

Shane Hmiel has been suspended: from NASCAR's Busch series, again, for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. No word on whether Dale Jarrett was the one that turned him in.

posted by mr_crash_davis to auto racing at 07:11 PM - 7 comments

U.S.A. vs. England in Chicago: A True American Experience

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY to commentary at 03:30 PM - 0 comments

George Mikan dies at age 80: The first dominant big man in the history of the NBA has died. As the leader of the first dynasty in league history, he forced the rules to be modified, so teams would stand a chance against him and his Minneapolis Lakers, and it still just barely worked. R.I.P.

posted by bcb2k2 to basketball at 01:39 PM - 10 comments

Baseball Books That Will Never Be Written:
A very funny list of fake book titles, although some of them are references to obscure jokes. Example: "I Gave Larry Bowa Whiplash" by Eric Milton.

posted by grum@work to baseball at 01:38 PM - 6 comments

The Rocket to the Rangers?: It might put the Rangers over the top, but that sure is a high price to pay for half a season with the likelihood that he would not come back next year. Live for today and ignore the future?

posted by graymatters to baseball at 12:24 PM - 4 comments

Jessica Simpson's husband gives his 2 cents?: Do celebrities always submit articles on how they feel about their beloved teams? Dont get me wrong, we love seeing Nick wear UC, Bengals, and Reds jerseys on TV all the time, but getting an editorial printed in the sports page may be a bit much.

posted by triplebogey to general at 09:53 PM - 11 comments

The closer is not always automatic: the Twins are thankful to have Joe Nathan!

posted by daddisamm to baseball at 10:52 AM - 6 comments

We all knew the 2004 49ers were a joke,: but I bet you didn't know they were a truly tasteless joke.™ Public relations director Kirk Reynolds reminds players "what you do is not only a reflection of yourself. It's a reflection of the San Francisco 49ers."

posted by danostuporstar to football at 10:43 AM - 12 comments

Behind the scenes with one of baseball's official scorers.: A nice article about the trials and tribulations of being and official scorer during a baseball game... Especially for a team that has never had a no-hitter thrown by one of their own pitchers.

posted by 86 to baseball at 10:38 AM - 4 comments

Hit the Road Jack?: Jack Nicklaus shows his softer side. Is now the right time to bow out? Or should he play on? Champions Tour anyone?

posted by mayerkyl to golf at 10:01 AM - 6 comments

Rudy a hero, again?: He sanitized NYC, and some people didn't like him too much for that. Then he was the face of bravery and poise for a city, and maybe even a nation, that needed it. Now he might save N.A. pro hockey. I know nothing beyond what the article provides, but count me as optimistically curious based on one fact: the man knows how to come out on top at a time of crisis.

posted by garfield to hockey at 09:55 AM - 13 comments