RIP, Sir Bobby: As a longtime supporter of West Germany/Germany, I developed a strong respect for Sir Bobby Robson. Reading more about his background only increases it.

posted by jjzucal to soccer at 09:33 PM - 7 comments

Nice catch, dude: A fan at a recent Phillies/Dbacks game one-hands a foul ball. While holding his toddler. Who is in turn holding a vat of soda.

posted by BitterOldPunk to baseball at 08:03 PM - 8 comments

Cutler, Owens highlight ‘all-New’ team: Which players will make themselves the most comfortable in new surroundings in 2009? Here are 28 PFW picks by position. Please note that, due to the current preponderance of 3-4 defenses – as many as 14 teams are utilizing the 3-4 in some form heading into the 2009 season – the following “All-New” team features four linebackers (two outside, two inside).

posted by jemikeos to football at 04:14 PM - 0 comments

First 'roids, now robots: Japanese researchers are developing robots which can throw and hit. Don't know about their range; likely they'd be DHs. Warning: advertisements begin the file; it takes about a minute to get to the "reel" news.

posted by jjzucal to baseball at 11:07 AM - 6 comments

Intermontane stage results are neutralized after a chaotic day: The unfortunate tale of how Intermontane stage 3 got off course, literally and figuratively.

posted by apoch to other at 06:35 AM - 1 comment

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List: Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the sluggers who propelled the Boston Red Sox to end an 86-year World Series championship drought and to capture another title three years later, were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.

posted by BornIcon to baseball at 01:11 PM - 113 comments

Reindorf future Coyotes' owner?: NHL accepts a bid from Jerry Reinsdorf as a possible owner of the Phoenix Coyotes.

posted by jjzucal to hockey at 11:06 PM - 12 comments

Eagles' coach Johnson dies of cancer: Jim Johnson, who is credited with building an Eagles' defense which became on of the best in the NFL is recent seasons, died at age 68 from cancer.

posted by jjzucal to football at 05:39 PM - 5 comments

Ferrari Go Back To The Future: Ferrari have confirmed that they will replace injured driver Felipe Massa at the upcoming European Grand Prix with Ralph Schumacher's brother.

posted by Mr Bismarck to auto racing at 01:11 PM - 8 comments

Another Swimmer's Suit Splits Open at World Championships: American Olympic swimmer Ricky Berens became less aerodynamic at the World Championships when his swimsuit split open in the back. Warning: Links contains male dorsal nudity. Parental discretion advised.

posted by rcade to olympics at 12:19 PM - 8 comments

Beyond Sport: What can athletes do to make the world a better place? Olympian Ian Thorpe tells it like it is, and exposes Australia's dirty little secret.

posted by owlhouse to culture at 10:40 PM - 10 comments

German Swimmer Stuns Michael Phelps: German swimmer Paul Biedermann handed Michael Phelps a loss in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday — his first defeat in a major individual race since 2005. "The suits make a difference," said Biedermann, who wore a Arena X-Glide. "I hope there will be a time when I can beat Michael Phelps without these suits."

posted by rcade to olympics at 07:20 PM - 3 comments

Brett Favre not coming back to join the Vikings: Favre decided he was not up to a 19th season, so it's Sage Rosenfels or T-Jack at QB for the Vikings

posted by dviking to football at 06:27 PM - 34 comments

Another one bites the dust.: BMW have called a press conference for tomorrow. Described as "important" and about "current developments in motorsport", it's widely believed that BMW will be announcing their departure from Formula One at the end of the season.

posted by Drood to auto racing at 06:08 PM - 5 comments

About 2-to-1 against?: MLB commissioner Bud Selig is reportedly considering at least lifting a part of Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. According to reports, Rose would have to publicly apologize again and could not manage a team. Selig is apparently listening to Hank Aaron, who expressed his support for Rose during this past weekend's Hall of Fame inductions.

posted by wfrazerjr to baseball at 04:39 PM - 34 comments

Henderson and Rice are Hall of Famers: Ricky made first ballot and Jim made it in his final year of eligibility. Didn't Rice replace Yaz?

posted by texpat to baseball at 11:41 AM - 10 comments

New Cowboys Stadium Features World's Largest HDTV: Just got home from the new $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where I saw Chelsea defeat Club America in the deciding game of the World Football Challenge. The stadium is wonder of the world huge, with the world's largest clear-span roof, an interior tall enough to hold the Statue of Liberty, the world's largest retractable roof and the world's largest HDTV, a 160-foot long, 72-foot tall behemoth that has to be seen to be believed. The TV, which showed the match as it happened live, deserves a name of its own. I dubbed it Telemanjaro.

posted by rcade to general at 12:06 AM - 21 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 5: East vs. West: Do the drastically different divisional results represent a fracture in cross-country Canadian unity? Opine freely on the subject while you make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 10:59 PM - 28 comments

T.O.'s a judge of character?: Terrell Owens says the NFL should reinstate Michael Vick immediately.

posted by jjzucal to football at 10:39 PM - 22 comments

Transfer Deal Reached to Send Peter Crouch to Tottenham: Portsmouth has reached a reported 10 million pound offer with Tottenham for Peter Crouch. The 28-year-old striker is expected to sign a five-year deal that reunites him with former boss Harry Redknapp.

posted by rcade to soccer at 11:42 AM - 5 comments

Ferrari's Felipe Massa undergoes emergency surgery: Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa was airlifted to hospital during qualifying for tomorrow's Hungarian Grand Prix after a spring fell from fellow countryman Ruben Barrichello's car and struck Massa in the helmet.

posted by Mr Bismarck to auto racing at 02:45 PM - 7 comments

Bolivian coach quits over fielding 12-year-old son: In heartwarming tale of putting family ahead of career, Julio Cesar Baldivieso, the father of South America’s youngest ever first division soccer player (a few days under 13), has quit as team coach after the management of the Aurora club told him to leave the boy out of the squad. This is not a minor club, Baldivieso led Aurora to the Bolivian top flight championship last season.

posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 01:46 PM - 6 comments

The end of the high-tech swimsuit (and the poolside wardrobe malfunction): After a year of wrangling over the specifications of swimsuits, the world governing body FINA has decided to call the whole thing off: from 2010, competitions under its jurisdiction will outlaw full-body suits and limit the materials used for their construction. This week's world championships will be the final hoorah for the bodysuit, after a decade of innovation (and embarrassment) and the records set in Rome are likely to go into the books with an asterisk.

posted by etagloh to other at 12:14 PM - 10 comments

Vick, Goodell met in New Jersey, though the league is not confirming this: Looks like talks aimed at Vick's reinstatement are underway.

posted by dviking to football at 12:24 AM - 11 comments

White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle throws perfect game: Mark Buehrle was not only unhittable Thursday -- he was perfect. Center fielder Dewayne Wise, inserted in the top of the ninth inning for defensive purposes, preserved the perfect game by leaping above the fence to complete a juggling catch of Gabe Kapler's drive for the first out of the ninth.This marked the second no-hitter for Buehrle, who no-hit Texas on April 18, 2007.

posted by tommytrump to baseball at 04:58 PM - 20 comments

Buy Steve McNair's House: The Nashville-area home of slain NFL quarterback Steve McNair, which has nine bedrooms, nine-and-a-half baths, a movie theater and three-car garage, was listed for sale at $3.8 million months before his death and can be viewed in great detail on a real estate site. If you can't use the Java applet, there are photos here.

posted by rcade to football at 01:30 PM - 6 comments

RadioShack Corporation form an American ProTour team: and, beginning next year, Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack "as a cyclist, runner and triathlete," the company announced in a press release.

posted by apoch to other at 12:37 PM - 5 comments

Baseball Begins DNA Testing Prospects: Major League Baseball has begun DNA testing some prospects and their families with their consent, a response to people lying about their age and their identities. This is a possible violation of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. "DNA contains a host of information about risks for future diseases that prospective employers might be interested in discovering and considering," said Kathy Hudson, the director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center. Earlier this year, the league discovered that Washington Nationals prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez, a 19-year-old who received a $1.4 million bonus -- was actually Carlos David Alvarez Lugo, 23.

posted by rcade to baseball at 10:07 AM - 3 comments

Mets Exec Challenges Minor League Players to a Fight: Tony Bernazard, the New York Mets vice president for player development, removed his shirt and challenged the Double-A Binghamton Mets players to a fight during a postgame tirade around 10 days before the All-Star break, multiples sources told the New York Daily News. Matthew Artus of the Star-Ledger asks, "Why is Tony Bernazard on the payroll?," accusing him of trying to subvert team management to get the job for himself.

posted by rcade to baseball at 04:46 PM - 3 comments

Rick Reilly: Tiger Woods Should Calm the Bleep Down: After "two days of Tiger Tantrums" at the British Open last weekend, former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly said that it's time for Tiger Woods to outgrow his temper. "It's disrespectful to the game, disrespectful to those he plays with and disrespectful to the great players who built the game before him. Ever remember Jack Nicklaus doing it? Arnold Palmer? ... Only one great player ever threw clubs as a pro -- Bobby Jones -- and he stopped in his 20s when he realized how spoiled he looked."

posted by rcade to golf at 04:28 PM - 47 comments

Kimo Leopoldo Is Not Dead: Contrary to what you might have read on TMZ.com, the New York Daily News, Orange County Register, Las Vegas Sun and numerous mixed martial arts sites, former Ultimate Fighting Championship contender Kimo Leopoldo is not dead. "Kimo woke up to reports of his death," said publicist Bob Trieger. TMZ.Com pulled its "confirmed" story offline, which was reprinted by Huffington Post and others, but never published a retraction admitting the mistake.

posted by rcade to boxing at 10:35 AM - 3 comments

For the love of the game: Good move or bad move? Doesn't seem J.P. cares, he just wants to get out there and have fun. How many other backups in the NFL out there are willing to take a possible hit in pride and wallet to play the game.

posted by sgtcookzane to football at 11:18 PM - 11 comments

Ed O'Bannon Leads Class Action Suit by Former Athletes Against NCAA: Former UCLA star Ed O'Bannon is the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed for all current and former Division I-A football and men’s basketball athletes against the NCAA. The suit, sparked by O'Bannon's continued use in an EA Sports video game for which he gets no compensation, claims the NCAA "has illegally deprived former student-athletes" from revenue streams including DVDs, video games, memorabilia, photographs, television rebroadcasts and use in advertising. "When you’re in school you’re obligated to live up to your scholarship," said O'Bannon, now 36. "But once you're done, you physically, as well as your likeness, should leave the university and the NCAA."

posted by rcade to general at 10:10 PM - 15 comments

Jesse Holley, the Cowboys can use you: Jesse Holley wins the rookie contract thanks to SPIKE TV's 4th and Long reality series. While Holley makes the 80 man roster before training camp, the road to playing on Sundays in the billion dollar stadium is far from over.

posted by sgtcookzane to football at 09:23 PM - 1 comment

Stalker Tapes Erin Andrews, Releases Video on Web: The attorney for ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews has issued a statement confirming that she was "surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent" while alone in a hotel room and intends to pursue civil and criminal charges against the perpetrator and any entity that publishes the video.

posted by rcade to general at 11:32 AM - 43 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 4: Thanks for your patience, all; I was on a boat staring down a cat. But I survived long enough to bring you the updated standings as usual, so anchor your yacht and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 01:38 AM - 20 comments

Woman Accuses Ben Roethlisberger of Rape: Andrea McNulty, a Harrah's Entertainment employee, filed a civil suit July 17 in Washoe County, Nev., accusing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault in July 2008, the web site Pro Football Talk reported this evening. "Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone," said David Cornwell, an attorney for Roethlisberger, who calls the allegations "viciously false."

posted by rcade to football at 10:14 PM - 69 comments

Barry Sanders Jr. trying to making a name for himself.: Sophomore running back for Heritage High School, Barry Sanders Jr. is turning some heads. No one, including his family is expecting him to pick up where his father left off, but there are people wondering how good could this kid get.

posted by sgtcookzane to football at 09:47 PM - 4 comments

Ashes 2009 Pointscore - Results After the Second Test: Big changes across the board, as the Poms go one up.

posted by owlhouse to fantasy at 08:57 PM - 7 comments

Can Pujols Win the Triple Crown?: As of tonight St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols ranks second in batting average (.333), first in RBIs (90) and first in home runs (34). Can he win the first triple crown in baseball since Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1967? "Pujols has a shot," writes Tim Kurkjian of Espen Gleeben Glouten Globen. "Very few hitters in history have had that."

posted by rcade to baseball at 07:37 PM - 6 comments

Fan Leaves Stands in Ugly Confrontation with David Beckham: In his first game back home with the L.A. Galaxy, a friendly with A.C. Milan, David Beckham was the subject of loud boos, heckling and banners including "23: Repent." At halftime, he motioned for one heckler to come down, prompting the man to jump out of the seats, where he was then subdued by security and taken away. "I said, 'You need to calm down and come shake my hand,' and he jumped over," Beckham said. Video of the confrontation. "He called out a drunk fan," one witness said of Beckham. "How stupid is that?"

posted by rcade to soccer at 01:12 PM - 31 comments

Japanese Marathoner Retires at Age 81: Japanese marathon runner Keizo Yamada, who represented his country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and won the 1953 Boston Marathon, is retiring from the sport. "I'm not getting any younger," he said. Yamada, shown here in 2009, ran the Boston event every year from 1995 to 2009.

posted by rcade to olympics at 01:02 PM - 1 comment

Henry Surtees killed in F2 race.: Henry was the son of former Formula One champion John Surtees. While racing at Brands Hatch he was struck in the head by a wheel from someone else's cars which knocked him unconscious, and his car carried straight on at the next corner. Video.

posted by Drood to auto racing at 05:28 AM - 8 comments

Rasheed Wallace wants to be a team player in Boston next season.: In what will be an interesting test of chemistry, the Celtics will have Rasheed Wallace on the floor for them next season. Does this create a Fantastic Four? A permanent sub for Kevin Garnett? What is undeniable are the stats. The Celts had two of the top 30 3-point shooters last season (House and Allen), a top 20 scoring leader (Pierce) a top 20 rebounder (Garnett when he's healthy) a top 10 assist and steals leader (Rondo). So how will Wallace fit in? His famous temper aside, is his body simply breaking down, and is this why the Celts could get him for roughly $8mil less than his last year in Detroit?

posted by jeremias to basketball at 07:02 PM - 4 comments

Kai Kantola a North Carolina hockey trailblazer: After the Whalers moved south to North Carolina and became the Hurricanes, youth leagues saw explosive growth. Led by Kai Kantola, there now several prospects from the Triangle area that moving up the game's ladder, getting closer to playing in the NHL.

posted by NoMich to hockey at 09:27 AM - 2 comments

Spectator killed during Tour de France: One woman was killed and two others injured after being hit by a Republican Guardsman driving a motorcycle. It was the first fatal accident on the Tour since 2002, when a child died after being hit by a car from the publicity caravan.

posted by BoKnows to other at 01:34 AM - 7 comments

Will his blinker be on, turning left the whole race?: Herschel McGriff is attempting to qualify for a NASCAR Camping World West Series race this Sunday at Portland International Raceway. He's the defending champion at the track, having won the last race held there -- in 1986. Oh, did we mention he's 86?

posted by wfrazerjr to auto racing at 12:21 AM - 4 comments

Harrell to Saskatchewan: Former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell reportedly has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It begs the question: how is it, through all seven rounds, no NFL drafted him? The stats say someone should have picked him, even in the seventh round!

posted by jjzucal to football at 05:21 PM - 3 comments

Tom Watson continues to lead the field at the British Open.: Tom Watson looked around at the amazing scene Saturday, his eyes tearing up a bit as all the Scottish fans surrounding the 18th green toasted one of golf's greatest champions. Man, I wish I was there!

posted by dviking to golf at 03:08 PM - 10 comments

Oh, it's on. Yes, yes it is.: And you love it! New 2009-10 SpoFi H2H Fantasy Football League is open for business. Provide your own cup.

posted by The_Black_Hand to fantasy at 12:58 PM - 9 comments

Spofi EPL Fantasy League 09-10 Week 0 Update: The league is open for business. If you reopen and old team and were part of the pool last year then you should be able to re-enter the pool by selecting it from your "Leagues". New entrants can use the code contained in the thread.

posted by gspm to fantasy at 10:28 AM - 12 comments

Tiger Woods Misses Cut at British Open: Tiger Woods missed the cut today at the British Open, only the second time in 49 majors as a professional he's had the weekend off. His second-round 74 left him five over par at 145, missing the cut by one stroke. Given this result, should we now be asking if Woods spends too much time on his charitable efforts?

posted by rcade to golf at 03:59 PM - 14 comments

Ryan Howard Faster Ever to Reach 200 Home Runs: Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies hit his 200th homer in his 658th game Thursday, becoming the fastest player in baseball history to reach 200 home runs, breaking the record of Ralph Kiner. When asked what he knew about Kiner, Howard said, "Uh, he's the guy whose record I broke." The slowest player to reach 200 home runs appears to be Buddy Bell, who took more than 2,300 games to reach the milestone.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:06 AM - 7 comments

Romo does endorsement spoof: So Tony's full devotion to football lasted how long? Guess he won't be endorsing condoms for a while.

posted by jjzucal to football at 05:44 AM - 20 comments

US Skier Cody Marshall Critically Injured in Escalator Fall: U.S. Alpine skier Cody Marshall has a head injury after falling about 20 feet while sliding from an escalator railing around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in Park City, Utah. Marshall, 26, apparently was sliding down the railing of the out-of-order escalator when he fell backward, police said. Marshall was living there to train for the 2010 Olympics, as are his brother and sister.

posted by rcade to olympics at 09:20 PM - 8 comments

Tennis Player Scores with I-Kissed-a-Cokehead Defense: The International Tennis Federation's tribunal panel ruled that tennis player Richard Gasquet inadvertently took cocaine by kissing a woman in a nightclub, enabling the 23-year-old Frenchman to avoid a long ban for drugs. After he tested positive in a urine sample in March, Gasquet said that he made out with a woman named Pamela at a dance music festival in Miami and must have ingested trace amounts of the drug through her slobber. Gasquet was "on the balance of probability, contaminated with cocaine by Pamela" and, therefore, not significantly at fault for the doping offense, the panel ruled. Whether it was Pam Anderson, Pam Dawber, Pamela Sue Martin, Pam Oliver or some other Pam was unavailable at press time.

posted by rcade to tennis at 04:56 PM - 6 comments

Hockey Night in Israel : The United States defeated Canada Wednesday evening to claim the championship of the World Jewish Ice Hockey Tournament – staged for the second time in this northernmost of Israeli towns. The event was the creation of Canadian Sydney Greenberg, head of Astral Media and, while homespun at times, it displayed tremendous professionalism. Like most of the players, officials were drawn from major junior hockey leagues in Canada and from the American Hockey League.........The 10-day tournament had been a great success with teams from five countries (Canada, the United States, Russia, France and Israel) taking part in both senior and junior divisions. There were several close games with two being decided by shoot-outs.

posted by tommytrump to hockey at 01:56 PM - 0 comments

NASCAR's Mayfield fails second test for methamphetamines: Driver Jeremy Mayfield has failed a second drug test for meth, NASCAR officials announced. Mayfield, who was suspended in May but had his ban lifted by a court order, is also being accused of using drugs before at least one race by his stepmother. His response: "Now they got this lying [expletive] to tell lies about me, someone I am embarrassed even uses the Mayfield name. She's tried everything she can do to get money out of me. I won't help her, so I guess she found a way to get money from NASCAR by giving them an affidavit full of lies."

posted by wfrazerjr to auto racing at 12:22 PM - 12 comments

Champ Mountain Biker Caught with 400 Pounds of Marijuana: The life of Missy Giove, the holder of 14 national titles and one world championship as a mountain biker, is going downhill fast. She was busted last month with 400 pounds of marijuana and $1 million in cash. Longtime friend and fellow biker Craig Glaspell said the arrest is "not surprising" given her problems with authority, but added, "The fact she might be involved in some pretty heavy drug trafficking is the crazy thing." Giove was a unique figure in her sport with her dyed hair, known for wearing a dead piranha around her neck and putting her dead pet's ashes in her sports bra. She made the cover of Girlfriends Magazine in 2003, which named her to its "lesbian athlete hall of fame."

posted by rcade to extreme at 11:54 PM - 15 comments

NHL Schedules Bruins Game at Fenway Park: The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers will play at Fenway Park on Jan. 1, the fourth Winter Classic that brings the sport outdoors for a day.

posted by rcade to hockey at 11:46 PM - 8 comments

Blue Bombers scout caught spying at Ticat practice : Winnipeg pulls a leaf out of the New England Patriots' book after one of their employees is found taking notes at Hamilton's practice. “I think the Bombers and this guy are taking our league marketing campaign of ‘accessible and affordable’ a little too seriously,” Ti-Cats President Scott Mitchell said.

posted by tommytrump to football at 06:40 PM - 3 comments

American League Wins All-Star Game and World Series Home Field Advantage: The last time the National League won the All-Star Game, Bill Clinton was president, "Macarena" was a No. 1 song, Google didn't exist, Roger Maris was the single-season home run king, there was no interleague play and rampant steroid use was still a secret.

posted by rcade to baseball at 03:05 AM - 13 comments

Ashes Pointscore - First Test Results: The scores are in - it's early days yet, with four more to go, but the jostling for position has started.

posted by owlhouse to fantasy at 07:38 PM - 8 comments

Fiery end for Hawks' Dale Tallon; Stan Bowman named GM: The Blackhawks confirmed the firing of general manager Dale Tallon and replaced him with assistant GM Stan Bowman on Tuesday. Tallon will stay on as senior advisor of hockey operations. Apparently the Hawks’ blunder of last week, in which the contractual procedures involving eight restricted free agents wasn’t handled properly, cost Tallon his job. President John McDonough said as much during an afternoon press conference at the United Center to introduce Bowman. Asked if the change in leadership would have been made without last week’s fiasco, McDonough said "probably not."

posted by tommytrump to hockey at 07:36 PM - 1 comment

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 3: Upsets last week and more coin tosses next week means no end to the possible volatility in our standings. Dare to compare and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 12:45 PM - 22 comments

Radio Silence Causes Panic!: Team-to-Rider radios are being banned for two stages of this year's Tour. A welcome change for a dwindling number of traditionalists, a harbinger of disaster and controversy to the new generation. Radios or no radios? That is the question.

posted by Spitztengle to general at 12:04 PM - 4 comments

High School Football Players Save Family After Car Wreck: A group of Hollywood Hills High School [Fla.] football players, returning from an event, found an overturned SUV in a canal and rescued grandparents and a two-year-old girl trapped inside. The players had to take doors off their hinges to get them out. One player performed CPR on a 52-year-old woman who had been pinned underwater. "I had taken CPR in the ninth grade, but never thought I would use it," said player Jared Maldonado.

posted by rcade to football at 11:19 AM - 6 comments

Man Panhandles to Pay Back Tom Brady: A 61-year-old trash picker in Massachusetts has hit the streets to collect $4,000 to repay New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after he took two metal flower pots he thought were thrown out and sold them to a scrap dealer. Dennis Paiva suffered a brain aneurysm after the incident and is panhandling to pay off Brady, who might not know about the situation. "I can't work and I'm supposed to pay $333.33 a month to Brady," Paiva said. Update: A good samaritan paid the debt.

posted by rcade to football at 11:07 AM - 3 comments

The journey of Delino DeShields: "This is how it happens. You play 10, 12, 13 years in the big leagues, cash in a couple of big contracts at the end. "Retire" by the simple act of not answering your phone for an entire offseason, your career numbers a statement for all eternity as to who you were. You lay low, help raise those kids, get the oldest ready to fly the nest. Get divorced -- ouch -- and watch the economy go down the toilet -- double ouch. Start thinking that, well, if you were ever going to get back in the game, this might not be a bad time."

posted by trox to baseball at 09:54 AM - 3 comments

Simpson, Romo split: Sad news: Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo have parted ways.

posted by jjzucal to football at 07:33 PM - 16 comments

Washington Nationals Fire Manager Manny Acta: The Washington Nationals (26-61) fired manager Manny Acta after making the worst start in Major League Baseball this season, the team said on Monday. The Nats trail the Philadelphia Phillies by 22 1/2 games in the National League East standings. Jim Riggleman becomes the sacrificial lamb, er, interim manager. If the Phillies play .500 baseball the rest of the season, the Nats must win 63 out of their last 81 games to catch them.

posted by rcade to baseball at 05:15 PM - 8 comments

Tim Wakefield Becomes Oldest First-Time All-Star Since Satchel Page: At the age of 42, after uncorking thousands of knuckleballs since his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 1992, Tim Wakefield makes his first appearance Tuesday at the All-Star Game. He was a failed Class A first baseman prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989 when a scout told the team the words that saved his career: "If you're going to release him, make sure you look at his knuckleball." There are currently three junkballers in the majors -- Wakefield, R.A. Dickey and Josh Banks -- and two in the minors -- Charlie Zink and Charlie Haeger.

posted by rcade to baseball at 12:47 PM - 12 comments

Women Lose Battle to Ski Jump in Winter Olympics: A Canadian province's Supreme Court ruled Friday it doesn't have the authority to force the International Olympic Committee to offer women's ski jumping at the next Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Fifteen female ski jumpers went to court, contending their exclusion violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "All these little girls coming up, a lot of their dreams are crashing," said Katie Willis, a plaintiff who may now quit the sport. The web site Let Women Jump states that women's ski jumping is "the only activity in the Olympic Winter Games that does not allow women to compete."

posted by rcade to olympics at 12:36 PM - 3 comments

Player hits for "home run cycle": Four home runs - a solo shot, a two-run, a three-run, and a grand slam. Not only that, but he hit them in order.

posted by mr_crash_davis to baseball at 09:01 PM - 4 comments

David Beckham: Landon Donovan's 'Unprofessional': After Landon Donovan called him a "bad teammate" (among other things) in Grant Wahl's new book The Beckham Experiment, Beckham responded yesterday before watching the Galaxy play Chivas USA. "In every football player's eyes throughout the world, it would be unprofessional to speak out about a team-mate, especially in the press and not to your face," Beckham said. "In 17 years, I have played with the biggest teams in the world and the biggest players, and not once have I been criticized for my professionalism."

posted by rcade to soccer at 06:36 PM - 7 comments

Correction: Elvis Grbac Not 'Sexiest Athlete Alive' in 1998: Author Jeff Pearlman explains how Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac became People magazine's "sexiest athlete alive" in 1998 and why Rich Gannon cancelled his subscription.

posted by rcade to football at 06:30 PM - 2 comments

Disco demolition anniversary: Thirty years ago, the Chicage White Sox were forced to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader after all hell broke loose during an anti-disco promotion.

posted by jjzucal to baseball at 11:42 AM - 4 comments

Brock Lesnar batters Frank Mir: Brock Lesnar, the former World Wrestling Entertainment fighter and current UFC heavyweight champion, battered Frank Mir in a second-round knockout to set aside a festering year of bitterness. As Arash Markazi writes in Sports Illustrated, Lesnar's post-fight antics were the greatest heel move outside of professional wrestling.

posted by BornIcon to other at 09:56 AM - 20 comments

Arturo Gatti Found Dead At Age 37: Foul play suspected in Gatti's death: Former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, was found dead in a hotel room in the posh seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas early Saturday.

posted by BornIcon to boxing at 07:32 AM - 1 comment

New Tech Will Create Stats for Fielder Arm Strength, Baserunning Speed: Fascinating piece in the New York Times on new baseball technology developed by Sportvision: A new camera and software system is under development that can record the speed and location of the ball and every player on the field, allowing the most digitized of sports to be overrun anew by new statistics such as outfielder arm strength and base-running efficiency. "It will probably become the largest single advance in baseball science since the development of the box score," predicts the Times. "here come the stat rats,” said 35-year-scout Paul Ricciarini of the Houston Astros.

posted by rcade to baseball at 02:00 PM - 12 comments

Giants' Sanchez Throws No-Hitter vs. Padres: In his first start since a two-week banishment to the bullpen, Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants against the San Diego Padres Friday night and was one error from a perfect game. He struck out 11 and walked none. The Giants won 8-0. It was the first no-hitter by the Giants in 33 years. Sanchez, 26, raises his record to 4-8. He had never pitched a complete game or a shutout before.

posted by rcade to baseball at 12:46 AM - 11 comments

Winning Without a Pitch? Try This!: Alan Embry has been one-upped, as a former Washington Nationals pitcher wins one after having been traded. It's hard enough for a Nats pitcher to get a win; too bad they have to give one to someone several hundred miles away.

posted by Howard_T to baseball at 06:12 PM - 7 comments

MMA Fighter Rampage Jackson Dry Humps Interviewer: Because it's Friday: UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, responding to a suggestion by reporter (and aspiring actress) Heather Nichols that they do a romantic movie together, proceeded to dry hump Nichols for an uncomfortably long amount of time as cameras rolled. "I should have thought of that," Joe Namath said when reached for comment. (Not really.)

posted by rcade to boxing at 03:06 PM - 14 comments

Michael Phelps Torches World Record in 100-Meter Butterfly: Fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist and former recreational marijuana user Michael Phelps broke the world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national swimming championships Thursday. Phelps swam the two-lap final in 50.22, smoking Ian Crocker's mark of 50.40 set at the 2005 world championships. Phelps continues to burn through the record books, holding individual world records in the 100 and 200 flys, 200 and 400 individual medleys, and the 200 free.

posted by rcade to olympics at 10:42 AM - 6 comments

NFL Won't Let Players Use Twitter During Games: The National Football League won't let wide receiver Chad Ochocinco play with his Twitter during games, spokesman Greg Aiello told ProFootballTalk.Com. "We already have a rule that prohibits the use of cell phones or other handheld devices in the bench area during games," he said. Ochocinco vowed to defy the rule (on Twitter, of course), posting: "Damn NFL and these rules, I am going by my own set of rules, I ain't hurting nobody or getting in trouble, I am putting my foot down!!" The second exclamation point shows he means business.

posted by rcade to football at 08:58 AM - 7 comments

Ron Artest's Musical Tribute to Michael Jackson: Artest is one of several athletes who have paid tribute to Jackson this week. Others include Ken Griffey Jr. and Kei Kamara. _{via Metafilter}

posted by Joey Michaels to other at 11:03 PM - 2 comments

MMA the new boxing?: As UFC 100 approaches, the audience for MMA is as large and diverse as it has ever been. Is this something boxing won't be able to overcome? The superstars in UFC are bigger than ever (No pun intented, Lesnar) and coming from all parts of the world. Boxing will never be dead, but do they need to do something to get back into the main stream audience?

posted by sgtcookzane to boxing at 06:10 PM - 9 comments

Joe Sakic Announces his Retirement: After 20 years, 1600+ points, and 2 Cups, one of hockey's good guys hang up the skates.

posted by MeatSaber to hockey at 05:08 PM - 11 comments

Legendary Rock Climber John Bachar Dies in Fall: Rock climber John Bachar, 51, fell to his death Sunday from a rock formation near his home in California, the New York Times reports. Bachar climbed for years without protection, sustaining his only serious injuries in a car wreck. "To critics, Bachar cut a stubborn, self-righteous figure, uncompromising on matters of daring style and minimal gear," writes Michael Brick. "To admirers, he represented the vanishing purity of a simpler age, a time when rocks and mountains were to be ascended only from the ground up, without advance rigging." Here's an interview with Bachar and a photo of him ascending Crack-a-go-go.

posted by rcade to extreme at 04:44 PM - 10 comments

Has a Rising Soccer Star Been Wrongly Convicted of Rape?: ESPN The Pretentiously Named Magazine covers the questionable prosecution of Eric Frimpong, a soccer player from Ghana who won the national championship with UC Santa Barbara, was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Wizards and then convicted of raping a college student, in spite of a lack of DNA evidence, a lack of physical evidence and the accuser's near-toxic blood alcohol level, which makes her personal testimony dubious. "From the start, the sheriff's department felt like they had their guy," said his college coach Tim Vom Steeg. "But when the evidence didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, their position became, 'If she's willing to testify, we'll go forward.'"

posted by rcade to soccer at 10:04 AM - 35 comments

Dallas Mavericks Acquire Shawn Marion in Four-Team Trade: The Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic have agreed on a trade that sends Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries and Greg Buckner to the Mavericks; Devean George, Antoine Wright and Hedo Turkoglu to the Raptors; Jerry Stackhouse, Quincy Douby and cash to the Grizzlies; and a $7 million trade exception to the Magic. Marion arrives with a five-year contract worth $39 million. Turkoglu's inclusion in the trade changes his free agent signing to a sign-and-trade deal. Stackhouse will be bought out with the cash, becoming a free agent. I challenge anyone to summarize this deal in fewer words. My sports blogging moves are unstoppable.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:53 AM - 8 comments

Nike Confiscates Tapes of Jordan Crawford Dunking on LeBron James: Xavier college guard Jordan Crawford dunked on LeBron James during a pick-up game Monday at the LeBron James Skills Academy. There's no video of the event because James directed Nike to immediately confiscate the tapes of the photographers shooting at the event, according to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports. "I'm kind of pissed," freelance photographer Ryan Miller told Parrish. "I lost my tape." Another player, Michael Gilchrist, had this to say of the dunk: "It happened, and it was bad. That was something to see."

posted by rcade to basketball at 07:43 PM - 16 comments

New Football League Adopts Rules NFL Should Consider: The United Football League, an upstart fall pro league begun by some former NFL execs and coaches with teams in six cities, has adopted rules that some NFL fans have wanted for years. Among them: the elimination of the Tuck Rule, the allowance of group end zone and sideline celebrations, and overtimes in which both teams get at least one possession.

posted by rcade to football at 05:38 PM - 7 comments

No Balls, No Strikes, One Win: Rockies left-hander Alan Embree was credited with the win over Washington last night without throwing a pitch.

posted by Mr Bismarck to baseball at 12:18 PM - 8 comments

Fan Wins Legal Battle Over 'God Bless America' Movement Ban at Yankees Stadium: Bradford Campeau-Laurion, a fan who was ejected from Yankees Stadium after breaking an unofficial rule against leaving his seat during the singing of "God Bless America" in the seventh inning last year, has settled the suit. Campeau-Laurion, a Red Sox fan, will receive $10,000 along with $12,000 in legal fees from the city of New York, and the Yankees have stipulated that they do not restrict fan movements during the song. Ronan Tynan could not be reached for comment.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:25 AM - 24 comments

AC Milan Signs Oguchi Onyewu: AC Milan have signed Standard Liege defender Oguchi Onyewu to a three-year contract, making the 27-year-old the first American to appear in Serie A since Alexi Lalas in 1996. "How much will he play?" Graht Wahl wonders. "It will be vitally important for U.S. players to be on the field for their club teams during a World Cup year."

posted by rcade to soccer at 09:13 PM - 15 comments

U.S. Figure Skating Champ Arrested on Meth Charges: Former U.S. figure skating champion Nicole Bobek has been arrested on the charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Bobek, 31, won the U.S. title in 1995, placed third in the World Championships the same year and finished 17th in the 1998 Winter Olympics. Bobek then and now. Abrazos no drogas!

posted by rcade to olympics at 03:47 PM - 7 comments

Michael Phelps' Endorsement Career Has Not Gone to Pot: A new Subway ad with swimmer Michael Phelps and spokesman Jared Fogle shows where Phelps goes when he gets the munchies -- and helps prove that his endorsement career is going swimmingly in spite of the photos last fall of him smoking a bong. "Yes, Kellogg declined to re-up with Phelps, but tellingly, other endorsement deals remained intact: Speedo, Omega, Subway and Mazda China," writes Dan Neil in the LA Times. "Subway didn't hesitate to stand by its man (though it did postpone the current ad campaign six months to let the agita die down). Mazda required Phelps to record a minute-long mea culpa directed at the people of China -- mortifying but harmless. In June, Phelps inked a deal with H2O Audio, maker of high-end waterproof headphones."

posted by rcade to olympics at 10:39 AM - 5 comments

Cricket Umpire Killed by Thrown Ball During Match: A cricket umpire has died after a ball thrown by a fielding player hit him in the back or side of the head during a match in Swansea, Wales, Saturday. Alcwyn Jenkins, 72, was airlifted to a hospital but never regained consciousness. "The fielder threw the ball back to the wicket but the umpire didn’t see it," spectator Paul Llewellyn said. "I don't know if you've ever been hit by a cricket ball -- it hurts," said Swansea Cricket Club chairman Steve Davies. "It's like a launched missile."

posted by rcade to other at 10:35 AM - 5 comments

Sledging: The Best Insults in Cricket: With the Ashes almost upon us, The Independent reviews some of the best efforts at 'mental disintegration' used on the cricket field.

posted by owlhouse to other at 02:47 AM - 5 comments

Deal Reached to Sell Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field: The Tribune Co. has reached a deal to sell the Chicago Cubs to the Ricketts family for about $900 million, sources familiar with the matter said Monday, ending the company's flirtation with another buyer. The Ricketts are a family that made its fortune through the online brokerage TD Ameritrade.

posted by rcade to baseball at 04:42 PM - 0 comments

Brett Favre Rents Condo in Minnesota: Brett Favre and his wife Deanna made a $30,000 deposit last weekend on a condominium in Edina, Minnesota, according to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. They must really like the Mall of America.

posted by rcade to football at 03:52 PM - 23 comments

Should Tiger Woods Be Doing More for Charity?: After Jim Brown publicly called him out for not doing more to achieve social change -- unlike himself, Arthur Ashe, Jackie Robinson and Bill Russell at the height of their fame -- Tiger Woods gave his $1.1 million winnings from this weekend's AT&T National to his charity the Tiger Woods Foundation. "I want to do it right and not just do it, "Woods said last week of his charitable efforts, focused thus far on helping disadvantaged kids with academics and golf. "That takes time. You just don't jump into something."

posted by rcade to golf at 09:35 AM - 68 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 2: The kickoffs have been, well, kicked off, and it feels so good. Rookie luck is on display as newcomers crowd the top spot. Find out how you fared, and then make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 01:18 AM - 19 comments

Monica Seles talks about her hair, her fridge, her body, and being stabbed in the back: The former teenage prodigy won eight grand slam events before being attacked at age 19 by a deranged fan. She came back to win a ninth, but was never the same again. In this interview she reflects on her career, and on being a teenage girl under the spotlight. "My generation was the last when you were marketed really as a tennis player - Graf, Hingis. But when Anna Kournikova came along, there was this whole other thing - suddenly it was all about looks. Tennis is pretty unforgiving if you are carrying weight. You are expected to wear short skirts, and you are compared to all these 16- and 17-year-olds.

posted by rumple to tennis at 03:21 PM - 8 comments

Federer Outlasts Roddick in Longest Wimbledon Final Ever : Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon Sunday over Andy Roddick, in a line that goes down in history: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. The only time Federer broke Roddick's serve was in the deciding game.

posted by rcade to tennis at 02:00 PM - 18 comments

Why the Cal Ripken of Sports Radio Callers Broke His Streak: It isn't every day that a caller to a sports talk radio station rates a feature story in the New York Times. But New York Mets fan Short Al from Brooklyn -- also known as Albert Kaufman, 81 -- called WFAN in the predawn hours regularly from 1987. Last year the calls stopped. The reason? "He can't call anymore," said WFAN host Moose Malusis. "His daughter won't let him."

posted by rcade to general at 08:58 PM - 3 comments

Steve McNair Killed in Nashville: Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville. The incident happened near 2nd South & Lea Ave. Police said it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead.

posted by irunfromclones to football at 04:56 PM - 27 comments

Joey Chestnut Sets New Hot Dog Eating World Record: Joey Chestnut ate 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes, breaking his own world record by nine dogs, to retain the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship today at Coney Island, N.Y. Rival Takeru Kobayashi ate 64 1/2 dogs for second place. On this holiday, the Mustard Belt, the most coveted prize in world gluttony, remains in American hands.

posted by rcade to extreme at 01:09 PM - 8 comments

One pitch: "Have faith in the Yankees, my son," Hemingway's old man says to the boy. "Think of the great DiMaggio." If Ernest Hemingway was alive and writing today, those words would be: "Think of the great Rivera."

posted by justgary to baseball at 01:07 AM - 14 comments

Vick to UFL?: Officials with the new UFL said they would be interested in getting Michael Vick. While he may be damaged goods, would he want to join them?

posted by jjzucal to football at 07:26 PM - 4 comments

Mikael Samuelsson Signs With Canucks: Free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson has signed a three-year deal with Vancouver Canucks after four years with the Detroit Red Wings, where he scored 67 goals and helped the team win a Stanley Cup. Samuelsson becomes the first pro athlete in free agency history to admit that he signed with a team for the money. "Obviously that was the key," he said.

posted by rcade to hockey at 05:51 PM - 6 comments

10 Best and Worse One-Game Careers in NFL History: Of all of the players who have been fortunate enough to fulfill their dreams and reach the National Football League, 1,167 only have appeared in a single game. A contributor to Bleacher Report runs down the best and worst of these one-game wonders. When you throw the ball to Randy Burks of the Chicago Bears, he only catches 55-yard touchdowns.

posted by rcade to football at 12:20 PM - 1 comment

Lakers Get Artest: Shaq can have LeBron. Ron Artest says he'll take Kobe. Artest, whose versatility and toughness have made him one of the most coveted and combustible players in the NBA, told CBSSports.com Thursday that he's signing with the Lakers. "I'm definitely going to L.A. -- to sign, yeah," Artest said in a phone interview. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now." CBSSports.com

posted by Ron_Karate to basketball at 07:53 PM - 10 comments

Texas Rangers Owner Tom Hicks Can't Make Payroll: Major League Baseball has loaned as much as $15 million to the Texas Rangers after Owner Tom Hicks reportedly couldn't meet payroll, according to Yahoo News. "He won't be running the team much longer," a source told the site. "Major League Baseball is helping him through this until someone else can be put in place to run the club." Hicks, whose net worth was reported by Forbes as $1 billion, also owns the Dallas Stars and 50 percent of Liverpool FC.

posted by rcade to baseball at 06:20 PM - 11 comments

Olympic Swimmer Disqualified When Her Swimsuit Bursts Open: Italian Olympic swimmer Flavia Zoccari was disqualified from the finals of a Mediterranean Games event when her Jaked J01 swimsuit split open in the back. Warning: This link contains female dorsal nudity. Parental discretion advised.

posted by rcade to olympics at 02:42 PM - 12 comments

Cuban Lefthander Aroldis Chapman Defects: Aroldis Chapman, perhaps the "best left-handed pitching prospect in the world" has left the Cuban National Team hotel in the Netherlands."I walked out easily, right through the hotel door, and I hopped into a car and left," Chapman told cubaencuentro.com. "It was easy. Now the plan is to sign with a major league team." Chapman is 21 years old and has a fastball that has been clocked at 102 mph.

posted by Ufez Jones to baseball at 01:25 PM - 3 comments

Phil Mickelson hits backwards better than you hit forwards: Phil Mickelson demonstrates how much better at golf he is, compared to the rest of us.

posted by BoKnows to golf at 11:04 PM - 10 comments

Marian Hossa signs 12-year deal with Chicago: One year after taking a less-money shortterm contract in Detroit, Hossa signs a looong term deal with the Blackhawks, for even less average money...

posted by MeatSaber to hockey at 03:31 PM - 11 comments