11/21/24
Archives for August 2009
August 31, 2009
Andy Pettitte's Bid for Perfect Game Ends with Error: New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte had retired the first 20 batters he faced when third baseman Jerry Hairston let a routine ground ball go through his legs in the seventh inning Monday night. "That's OK," Pettitte didn't say afterward. "I retire the first 20 batters I face all the time, and I'm a young pitcher with my best years ahead of me. No, wait. I'm 37 years old. I hate you, Jerry Hairston!"
posted by rcade to baseball at 11:56 PM - 15 comments
Patriots' Linebacker Tedy Bruschi Retires: After 13 seasons and three Super Bowl championships, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi announced his retirement today. "All the goals I ever had, I accomplished," said Bruschi, who spent his entire career with the Pats. Bruschi, who came back after suffering a stroke in 2005, was a third-round draft pick in 1996.
posted by rcade to football at 05:04 PM - 13 comments
NHL players fire union chief: Once again, the National Hockey League Players' Association is looking for an executive director. The NHLPA said in a release Monday that its executive board "voted overwhelmingly to relieve Paul Kelly of his duties as executive director, effective immediately." No reason was given, but it's believed the union executive felt that Kelly did not take enough of an adversarial stance with league management. Kelly succeeded Ted Saskin, who was let go in May 2007 amid allegations of monitoring players' email. Saskin had taken over when Bob Goodenow stepped down under pressure from the players on July 28, 2005, only two weeks after a collective bargaining agreement was signed to end the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 02:07 PM - 6 comments
Is Tejada tipping the scales in favor of his friends?: The Oakland A's held a closed-door meeting in 2001 to discuss the possibility shortstop Miguel Tejada was tipping pitches to and letting up on grounders by his friends on opposing teams. Tejada denied (and denies) it, but several major leaguers insist it happens -- and is happening.
posted by wfrazerjr to baseball at 11:04 AM - 13 comments
August 30, 2009
Als legend Sam Etcheverry dies at 79: Sam Etcheverry, the legendary quarterback who led the Montreal Alouettes to three Grey Cup appearances in the 1950s then later coached them to CFL title, has died at the age of 79. One of the most remarkable players in team and Canadian Football League history, Etcheverry quarterbacked the Alouettes from 1952 to 1960, setting virtually every team passing record. He totalled 30,303 yards and 186 touchdowns on 1,969 completions. He threw for 508 yards in the 1955 Grey Cup, setting a record that still stands.
posted by tommytrump to football at 05:59 PM - 4 comments
August 29, 2009
NFL Changes Rules for Cowboys' Giant HDTV: Perhaps out of fear of angering Telemanjaro, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made the following rule change: "If a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam, the greatest television ever made or any other object, the ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot. If there is not an on-field ruling that the ball struck an object, the replay assistant is empowered to initiate a booth review, including if the event occurs prior to the two-minute warning. If, prior to the two-minute warning, no booth review is initiated by the replay assistant, a coach's challenge is permitted under the customary procedures for such a challenge. All hail Telemanjaro!" (Quote slightly edited.)
posted by rcade to football at 11:12 AM - 14 comments
American Shot-Putter Killed by Prowler: David Laut, an American shot-putter who earned a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, was shot and killed after confronting prowlers in his yard late Thursday night in Oxnard, Calif.
Leaving the Logos behind: Ryan Moore gives up $300,000 a year to play the golf clubs he likes and wear the clothes he buys himself. Crafty or crazy?
posted by firecop to golf at 11:03 AM - 14 comments
Faith, family, football: Great story, great families, great town
posted by gfinsf to football at 07:32 AM - 4 comments
August 28, 2009
Italian Soccer Player Benched for Fasting During Ramadan: Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has caused controversy by telling the media why he benched player Sulley Muntari. "He was clearly struggling," Mourinho said of the 25-year-old midfielder from Ghana. "It's the month of Ramadan, and that's what affected his performance, which is why I took him out." Muntari observes the daytime fast that is a part of the holy month and refused water before Sunday's match.
posted by rcade to football at 09:13 AM - 16 comments
Whatever Happened to Nomar Garciaparra?: The Wall Street Journal catches up with Nomar Garciaparra -- the shortstop "once considered the best right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio" -- who at age 36 now has trouble getting at-bats as a utility infielder with the last-place Oakland A's. "The guy can still hit like he always could," said Oakland GM Billy Beane, "it's just a matter of how much we can keep him on the field."
posted by rcade to baseball at 09:03 AM - 11 comments
August 27, 2009
Renee Richards Questions Caster Semenya's Eligibility to Compete: If South African sprinter Caster Semenya's body produces an abnormal amount of male characteristics, she should not be allowed to compete against women, pioneer transsexual athlete Renee Richards told CBS Sports. "If she has this body that's fueled or developed under the influence of testosterone, she has a different body than the runner she's running against," Richards said. "They're going to have to put together some kind of a guideline. Some kind of a numbering system to say, 'This is a person who should be allowed to compete as a woman ... and this is a person who should unfortunately not be allowed to compete as a woman.'"
posted by rcade to olympics at 11:23 AM - 48 comments
August 26, 2009
'An obvious case of deliberate overreaching by the government': Appeals court rules that feds had no right to seize results of MLB player steroid drug tests.
posted by graymatters to baseball at 03:53 PM - 2 comments
CFL Pick 'Em, Week 9: The spreadsheet returns north (er, east?) of the border as your host returns from the wild. Apparently they didn't hold up the season for me, so you'd better get in here and make your picks inside.
posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 03:08 PM - 23 comments
Sports Illustrated Declares Itself '100 Percent Favre-Free': The current cover of Sports Illustrated has the label "100% Favre-Free." The issue has an article about the Vikings' search for a backup quarterback that doesn't mention him at all. "This is what it's all about," writes Bill Syken of the battle between Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson to be No. 2.
posted by rcade to football at 01:51 PM - 9 comments
Seattle Seahawks Sign Edgerrin James: Edgerrin James has signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The running back, now 31, is the 11th all-time rusher but is coming off his worst year as a pro -- 514 yards and three touchdowns for the Arizona Cardinals -- and only started seven games.
posted by rcade to football at 01:32 PM - 7 comments
NHL places bid to buy Coyotes out of Bankruptcy: "In the event the League's bid proceeds forward and ultimately is the one approved by the Court, we intend to conduct an orderly sale process to a third party buyer outside of bankruptcy."
posted by apoch to hockey at 05:58 AM - 7 comments
August 25, 2009
Soccer Player Gives Opponent a Flying Kick to the Face: During a soccer match in Bolivia this weekend, Club Blooming player Sergio Jauregui gave Oriente Petrolero player Leonardo Medina a flying kick to the face that left Medina unconscious, authorities pursing criminal charges and sports fans scrambling to find the video. Medina had been sent off moments earlier for elbowing Jauregui in the head. A few weeks earlier, a Blooming fan stormed the pitch and attacked a River Plate player with a knife during a match.
posted by rcade to soccer at 11:53 PM - 15 comments
Down on the ground and spread 'em!: You have the right to play a pro football pickem. You have the right to join the SpoFi Gamblers. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?
posted by MrFrisby to fantasy at 03:20 PM - 18 comments
New Jersey Devils Cut Down the Nets: After the New Jersey Nets decided to take Jersey off their road jerseys, the New Jersey Devils have responded with a new billboard: "We Proudly Wear Our State On Our Chest."
posted by rcade to hockey at 10:57 AM - 22 comments
Steven Cohen quits punditry, citing death threats, after long-running spat with Scousers: A familiar face and voice for US-based EPL fans, he's also a Chelsea supporter with an unfortunate habit of blaming Liverpool fans for Hillsborough, apologising, and then doing it again. After repeating his charges on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, a group of US-based Liverpool fans began an advertiser boycott; fearing a global backlash, a number of Sirius and FSC sponsors pulled their support; another apology wasn't enough to stop FSC from kicking Cohen into touch. On Friday, he walked away from his radio show, invoking the American tradition of free speech, citing antisemitism and death threats to his stepchildren, and blaming... pretty much everybody.
posted by etagloh to soccer at 02:19 AM - 18 comments
August 24, 2009
Chris Brown: How Blogs Killed (and Saved) Sports Writing: Online sportswriting is killing newspaper sports columns, argues Chris Brown of Smart Football, and he couldn't be happier about it. Brown compares today's sports blogging to what legendary reporter Grantland Rice was doing decades before convention smothered the creativity out of sports journalism. "'The Four Horsemen' would not have been published by a reputable institution anytime in the last fifty-years. By modern standards, it is not a very good sports story," Brown writes. "It is merely the greatest sports story of all time."
posted by rcade to football at 12:02 PM - 10 comments
Ashes 2009 Pointscore Final: Find out who wins inside!
posted by owlhouse to fantasy at 02:10 AM - 6 comments
August 23, 2009
Unassisted triple play by Phillies' second baseman Eric Bruntlett: The prior 15 times this happened. via Metafilter.
posted by Joey Michaels to baseball at 11:03 PM - 14 comments
England regain the Ashes: After a momentous day that began with the Australians looking like they could make history and challenge a huge total, England made breakthroughs when they least expected them to turn the momentum their way. Australian commentators complained criticised the pitch, but Ponting must rue leaving out his spinner -- or being unable to take an early lead back in Cardiff. Now, how well did you do?
posted by etagloh to other at 02:17 PM - 14 comments
Did Vick Break Reinstatement Deal by Drinking Vodka?: If an item in the Aug. 16 New York Post is true, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has violated the terms of his NFL reinstatement by drinking alcohol, Mike Florio writes for ProFootballTalk.Com. The story states that he drank "Grey Goose [vodka] and pineapple juice," and one of the rules for his return is no alcohol.
posted by rcade to football at 12:48 PM - 49 comments
Small Ohio Factory Makes All NFL Footballs: At a small factory in Ada, Ohio, only a few hours from Canton, the 150 workers at the Wilson football factory have been making official footballs for the NFL since 1941. This five-minute YouTube documentary describes the care and craftsmanship that goes into each one. The NFL is the only major sports league in America that gets its game balls from an American company, according to a February 2008 New York Times feature. The factory makes 700,000 footballs a year. "The factory here in Ada is the only football factory in the world that makes footballs every day," said plant manager Dan Riegle, "and that's the only product we manufacture."
posted by rcade to football at 12:42 PM - 6 comments
August 22, 2009
Raiders Coach Accused of Breaking Assistant Coach's Jaw: Police are investigating the allegation that Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable attacked assistant coach Randy Hanson during a meeting Aug. 5 and broke his jaw. Hanson did not reveal the identity of the person who struck him when he received medical treatment, but after the story broke on NationalFootballPost.Com Cable was identified as the alleged attacker.
posted by rcade to football at 10:01 PM - 7 comments
Sky Blue FC Win Inaugural Women's Professional Soccer Championship: New Jersey's Sky Blue FC defeated the Los Angeles Sol 1-0 to take the first Women's Professional Soccer crown Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Sky Blue won three straight road games for the title under the leadership of player-coach Christie Rampone. Heather O'Reilly scored the goal. The fledgling league has survived its first season with expected financial and attendance results and will add expansion teams in Atlanta and Philadelphia.
posted by rcade to soccer at 07:48 PM - 8 comments
Punter Hits Telemanjaro at First Cowboys Game in New Stadium: Tennessee Titans rookie punter A.J. Trapasso hit a football into Telemanjaro, the gigantic HDTV scoreboard 100 feet above the field at Cowboys Stadium, during the first preseason game at the facility. "I don't know what the people were thinking," said Titans punter Craig Hentrich, who hit it several times during warmups. "It'll have to be raised."
posted by rcade to football at 11:24 AM - 30 comments
August 21, 2009
It's official: Chicago Cubs to sell to Ricketts family: Tribune Co. said Friday that it signed an agreement to sell the iconic franchise to the Ricketts family. The family is paying about $800 million to acquire a 95 percent interest in a package of assets: the team, Wrigley Field and Tribune Co.'s 25 percent stake in Comcast SportsNet Chicago, which broadcasts many Cubs games on cable television.
posted by jemikeos to baseball at 06:21 PM - 0 comments
Hope Solo's Cocky Personality Helps Women's Soccer: Although she won't be in Saturday's Women's Professional Soccer championship, Hope Solo's reputation as "that loudmouth goalkeeper" is helping draw attention to the fledgling league, reports The Atlantic magazine. "No one’s neutral about Hope Solo," says Angela Tavares, a writer for Goal.com. "They either love her or hate her."
posted by rcade to soccer at 05:51 PM - 17 comments
New Insurance Offered for Fantasy Football Owners: An insurance agency in Long Island, N.Y., has begun to offer insurance for owners of fantasy football teams who lose a significant player to injury. Owners can recoup their league entry fee, transaction fees, and money spent on additional expenses such as magazines and online subscriptions. "I wish I would have thought of that," said Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
posted by rcade to football at 05:47 PM - 0 comments
Chad Ochocinco Kicks Extra Point for Bengals: Chad Ochocinco made the deciding score in the Cincinnati Bengals preseason game versus the New England Patriots last night -- a point after touchdown. He also sent the next kickoff to the 10 yard line. Ocho Cinco, a soccer fan who has traveled to Europe to pal around with Thierry Henry, said afterward, "I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now." See the video.
posted by rcade to football at 05:39 PM - 5 comments
Premier League - City reach Lescott stalemate: Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has admitted his bid to bring Joleon Lescott to Eastlands has reached an impasse, but is yet to give up entirely on the Everton defender
posted by jemikeos to soccer at 03:25 PM - 2 comments
Jays' pitcher makes "brain freeze" error: Jays' pitcher Cecil tosses a loose ball into dugout without asking an umpire for time. There is video; let me know if it doesn't come up.
posted by jjzucal to baseball at 01:11 PM - 8 comments
August 20, 2009
Judge: NCAA records on Fla. St. cheating public: A top official at the NCAA said a court ruling Thursday that documents dealing with cheating at Florida State are public records sets a precedent that will "rip the heart out of the NCAA" and its efforts to ensure competition is fair and equal.
posted by jemikeos to general at 11:25 PM - 5 comments
Bolt Wins 200 in World Record Time: Usain Bolt ran 19.19 to win the 200 meters at the IAAF Championships. Holy speedster, Batman!
posted by jjzucal to general at 03:12 PM - 12 comments
Memphis to vacate Final Four season: Memphis comes up smelling like a Rose, Derrick Rose. Memphis will be forced to vacate the record 38 victories from its Final Four season of 2007-08 under former coach John Calipari because of NCAA violations, The Commercial Appeal reported.
posted by irunfromclones to basketball at 02:59 PM - 15 comments
Burress Pleads Guilty in Weapons Case: Plaxico Burress, the former New York Giants receiver, pleaded guilty on Thursday morning to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, in a deal with Manhattan prosecutors that will send him to prison for two years. Justice Michael H. Melkonian of State Supreme Court accepted the guilty plea. Under the plea agreement, along with the two-year prison sentence, Mr. Burress, 32, is to be sentenced on Sept. 22 to two years of post-release supervision. With good behavior, he will be eligible for release after slightly more than 20 months.
posted by tommytrump to football at 01:33 PM - 29 comments
Williams Sisters Join Dolphins' Ownership: In an apparent attempt to have more owners than players, the Dolphins add two more owners, joining Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Buffett and Marc Anthony.
posted by TheQatarian to football at 10:43 AM - 9 comments
Baseball Will Rein In Draft Pick Salaries in 2011: Faced with increasing contractual costs (Stephen Strasburg) and unsigned first-rounders (Matthew Purke, LeVon Washington), Major League Baseball is likely to seek an NBA-style system for draft contracts when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2011. "The purpose of the draft is to make sure the weakest team gets the best player," said Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations. "If you have a system like the N.B.A. or the N.F.L. has, where you know what a draft choice is going to be paid, it takes away any temptation on the part of the club to take signability into account." (As a side note, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway claims the Rangers didn't sign Burke because they're being financed by the league and Bud Selig cut off bidding.)
posted by rcade to baseball at 10:23 AM - 4 comments
Wrestling Champ Free On Bail In Pittsburgh But Can't Go Home: In an exclusive interview Wednesday, Olympic gold medalist and professional wrestling champion Kurt Angle said his live-in girlfriend got him arrested on an alleged violation of a protection-from-abuse order after the two had broken up.
posted by BornIcon to olympics at 07:56 AM - 26 comments
August 19, 2009
Strap it on! Get some! Take a trip to the Hurt Locker! H2H Fantasy Football Awaits!: The 2009 SpoFi Head-to-Head Fantasy Football League beckons to you. Allow it to caress you with the silky cruelty that only fantasy football can generate. Wallow in it, love it, sign the hell up!
posted by The_Black_Hand to fantasy at 07:09 PM - 14 comments
Burnley Shocks Manchester United 1-0: Hosting its first top-flight soccer match in 33 years, Burnley shocked Manchester United 1-0 today behind a goal by Robbie Blake and a Michael Carrick penalty kick save by goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
posted by rcade to soccer at 05:27 PM - 7 comments
Pioneering NFL Official Burl Toler Dies: Sunday's death of Burl Toler, the NFL's first black official, has brought attention back to a great moment in the history of race relations in American sports. Toler was a member of the 1951 University of San Francisco Dons, an incredible team that went 12-0. The team didn't go to a bowl that year because they refused demands from southern bowl officials to leave their two black players -- Ollie Matson and Toler -- behind. "When we found out Burl and Ollie weren't going to go, we said, 'Stick it in your butt - we ain't going,'" said teammate Gino Marchetti.
posted by rcade to football at 12:27 PM - 5 comments
South African Runner Faces Accusation She's a Man, Baby: After running the fastest time in the world in the 800 meters at the African Athletic Championships earlier this year, South African runner Caster Semenya is facing persistent speculation that she's a man. "We understand that people will ask questions because she looks like a man," said her coach Michael Seme. "But I can give you the telephone numbers of her room-mates in Berlin. They have already seen her naked in the showers and she has nothing to hide." The Age in Australia is reporting that physical and genetic tests have been conducted and her eligibility to race is in doubt.
posted by rcade to olympics at 12:06 PM - 41 comments
Camp Sundown shines in the Bronx: Hate the Yankees? Got to like them for this.
posted by gfinsf to baseball at 08:10 AM - 14 comments
August 18, 2009
Nemanja Vidic move to Barca looks possible. : Vidic's agent, Paolo Fabbri, has spoken openly to Catalan radio station RAC1 about the defender's apparent desire to move to Camp Nou.
posted by The_Special_Juan to football at 09:52 PM - 4 comments
Texas Rangers Trade for Pudge Rodriguez: The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Houston Astros for two minor leaguers. Pudge -- profiled in today's Miami Herald before the trade -- played for the Rangers from 1991 to 2002, winning 10 Gold Gloves and the American League MVP title in 1999. He'll provide more catching help with the injury to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
posted by rcade to baseball at 05:40 PM - 7 comments
EPL Fantasy 09-10: Week 1 Update. Curious. There were no draws in week 1.
posted by gspm to fantasy at 04:35 PM - 13 comments
CFL Pick 'em Week 8: A lot of points were scored and not just by the winning teams.
posted by apoch to fantasy at 03:08 PM - 26 comments
ESPN: Favre Reaches Deal to Join Vikings: Three weeks after announcing that he wasn't joining the Vikings, Brett Favre is joining the Vikings in a one-year deal for $10 million to $12 million, ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting. Last month, Favre told BFF Peter King, "I thought I could make it through the season, though I wouldn't be 100 percent. But is that the way you want to enter a season?" Favre is flying from Mississippi to Minneapolis today and could potentially retire and unretire several times during the flight.
posted by rcade to football at 12:16 PM - 132 comments
Colleges recruit trumpeter?: College football coaches thought they were recruiting a player but he was a trumpeter with the same name.
posted by jjzucal to football at 11:10 AM - 8 comments
SEC Thinks It Can Ban Fans from Posting to Twitter, YouTube: Fresh off its $3 billion, 15-year television deal that is the richest in college football, the Southeastern Conference has issued a new media policy that forbids fans during games from posting to Twitter or posting photos or video on Facebook, YouTube or Flickr. "I would guess that they're realizing that anyone can be a reporter or a broadcaster these days," said Mike Masnick of Techdirt.
posted by rcade to general at 10:50 AM - 14 comments
Harlequins rugby coach given three year ban: after "bloodgate" inquiry. The episode centres around last year's Heinekin Cup quarter-final where Harlequins winger Tom Williams faked a blood-injury (video) in order to leave the field and be replaced by a specialist kicker. [more inside]
posted by afx237vi to other at 09:35 AM - 8 comments
August 17, 2009
Theo Fleury is coming back?: At 41 years young, Theo Fleury says he is fit enough to play in the NHL and has hired a personal trainer. He last played in 2003. Six years ago, Fleury was suspended by the NHL for violating the substance abuse program. So now, after playing in Europe, pitching Reality TV shows, playing baseball and a clothing line, Theo plans on returning to the NHL. Right now, his life has never been better.
posted by BoKnows to hockey at 07:03 PM - 5 comments
For Winter Games in Vancouver, Ice Isn’t So Easy : Ice appears such a simple concoction — water turned really cold. This time of year, its favored role is usually the one it plays at the bottom of a glass. But ice is a year-round, lifelong science for the people hired by the Vancouver Organizing Committee to produce complex forms of it for the Winter Olympics, coming in February. Beyond the usual challenges in constructing ice surfaces to meet the needs of different sports in different arenas, Vancouver’s location presents a twist, with its combination of sea-level elevation and high humidity, unique among Winter Olympic host cities. Consider the challenge facing Tracy Seitz, who will make ice for competitors in bobsled, luge and skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre. The serpentine track, nearly a mile long, starts at an elevation of 3,080 feet and drops to 2,582 feet. In February, it sometimes snows at the top and rains at the bottom. Occasionally, the opposite occurs.
posted by tommytrump to olympics at 01:29 PM - 9 comments
Oldest Golf Course in U.S. Up for Sale: Oakhurst Links in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., the first golf course in the United States, has been put up for sale at a price of $4.5 million. Owner Lewis Keller, 86, bought it in 1959 and restored it to play in 1994. Players on the nine-hole course must use replica hickory clubs, gutta-percha balls, and tees formed from mounds of wet sand. One caution: If your ball hits a sheep you are assessed a one-stroke penalty.
posted by rcade to golf at 01:09 PM - 4 comments
Famous Spanish Matador Knocked Out by Bull: One of Spain's top matadors was knocked unconscious by a bull Saturday. Jose Pedro Prados, known as "El Fundi," was rushed to the hospital and is being treated for a skull fracture. The Spanish-language news site Cope.es has the video and a photo, which are disturbing.
posted by rcade to other at 01:01 PM - 17 comments
August 16, 2009
Y. E. Yang Shocks Woods to Win at P.G.A.: Y. E. Yang has won the P.G.A. Championship, finishing at eight under, three strokes ahead of Tiger Woods.
posted by tommytrump to golf at 07:19 PM - 10 comments
Usain Bold faster than Usain Bolt: Earlier today in Germany, Usain Bolt ran the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, shattering his previous record by .13 seconds. Tyson Gay sets a new American record of 9.71 seconds while coming in second place. Bolt's fellow countryman, Asafa Powell, came in third place at 9.84 seconds.
I think I could go 9.4 but I think the world stops at 9.4
posted by NoMich to other at 04:36 PM - 13 comments
Draft Pick Stephen Strasburg May Turn Down Record-Setting Contract: The Washington Nationals have until midnight Monday to sign No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg, a San Diego State pitcher with a fastball clocked at 102 mph. They've offered the highest draft pick contract ever, beating out the $10.5 million deal Mark Prior got in 2002, but agent Scott Boras doesn't sound like it will be enough to get Strasburg's signature. Obligatory obnoxious Boras quote: "Wouldn't we all like to buy bread at a price they charged 100 years ago, a nickel a loaf, with the income we enjoy today?"
posted by rcade to baseball at 03:23 PM - 41 comments
Skydiver Survives 10,000-Foot Fall with Failed Parachute: Paul Lewis, a 40-year-old freelance cameraman from Britain, survived a 10,000-foot skydive Friday after his main chute didn't open and his reserve failed to work properly during a jump in Whitchurch, England. "The roof of the hangar broke his fall and flexed sufficiently to reduce the impact," said Colin Fitzmorris of the Parachute Centre. "He has no fractures but some neck injury, and we are sure that he will make a full recovery. He is very lucky."
posted by rcade to extreme at 03:14 PM - 11 comments
August 15, 2009
Ashes 2009 Pointscore: Update after Edgbaston and Headingley. Only one Test to go - with the series tied at 1-1, it's getting nervous out there, and in here, too.
posted by owlhouse to fantasy at 06:37 PM - 5 comments
Photos from the American Section at Azteca Stadium: Freelance photojournalist Douglas Zimmerman accompanied U.S. soccer fans to Azteca Stadium and lived to tell about it. "The Mexican fans at that point began throwing items at the American fans," he writes after the U.S. scored the first goal. "For the most part it was beer in cups that was hurled over. But different items also made their way into the section. "They included water bottles, batteries, pieces of rock and anything that a Mexican fan could possibly throw. ... After Mexico scored their second goal with several minutes left in the match, the thrown items actually increased."
posted by rcade to soccer at 04:39 PM - 27 comments
August 14, 2009
ESPN2 Will Air Premiership Opener, Saturday Matches: ESPN2 is going to air tomorrow's English Premier League opener between Chelsea and Hull City, ESPN Spanish-language announcer Roberto Abramowitz posted this afternoon on the North American Soccer List, according to the web site EPL Talk. "Look for the EPL every or most Saturdays in that time slot," Abramowitz wrote.
posted by rcade to soccer at 08:18 PM - 19 comments
Landon Donovan Has H1N1 Swine Flu: Upon his return from Mexico, U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan discovered that he had the H1N1 swine flu, he told Sports Illustrated. "I felt something when I got into Miami on Sunday. "I haven't felt that way in a game in a long time. ... I just felt lethargic, slow. I didn't feel normal."
posted by rcade to soccer at 05:50 PM - 7 comments
Ted 'Teeder' Kennedy, 83: Captain of Maple Leafs: Come on, Teeder! Next to Foster Hewitt's "Hello Canada'' to open his radio broadcasts of Maple Leafs games, those were the most famous words heard at Maple Leaf Gardens in the glory years after World War II. The man who shouted the encouragement from the green seats in quiet times during Leafs games was John Arnott, and the man for whom he was cheering was perhaps the quintessential Maple Leaf, Ted (Teeder) Kennedy. Kennedy was a Leaf centre for 12 seasons with five Stanley Cup wins, team captain from 1948 to '57, and the last Leaf to win the Hart Trophy in 1955 as the National Hockey League's most valuable player.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 02:55 PM - 2 comments
Adrian Beltre Takes One-Hopper to the Testicle: Seattle Mariners infielder Adrian Beltre has been put on the 15-day disabled list after taking a "hard one-hopper" to the groin. Beltre, who does not wear an athletic cup because he finds them uncomfortable, suffered a severely bruised testicle and could need season-ending surgery because of testicular bleeding. "There is some stupidity to it," Beltre said in spring training 2008 of his decision to let it all hang out since his days in Class A ball.
posted by rcade to baseball at 11:58 AM - 9 comments
August 13, 2009
Eagles Sign Michael Vick to Two-Year Deal: Quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former No. 1 draft pick, once the highest paid player in the NFL, can begin practicing with the team immediately and play its final two preseason games.
posted by rcade to football at 08:59 PM - 86 comments
The Changing Face of English Football: An interesting interactive map of current Premiere League football teams comparing place of birth (not nationality) of each teams' players this season to that of 1989/90. The bar graph below the map shows the distance a player was born from their current team's home grounds. Click on the teams names above the map to reduce the clutter and see how the newly promoted compare to the firmly entrenched. At the end of the article there is detailed information—and complete squad listings from both compared seasons—for each team competing this season.
posted by scully to soccer at 07:24 PM - 11 comments
52 - 26 = £10,000: Hoping for "good luck" Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner has decided to change his squad number from 26 to 52 "because it's a special number to me personally, and I hope that it brings me good luck for the new season." But it's gonna cost him....
posted by scully to soccer at 07:08 PM - 5 comments
NFL Suspends Donte Stallworth for One Year: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was suspended without pay for the entire season today for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami this March. "Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth. "The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations."
posted by rcade to football at 06:32 PM - 17 comments
Women's boxing set for 2012 Olympics, golf and rugby sevens for 2016: The big losers of the IOC's executive board meeting: squash, once again stiffed because of its limited US presence and supposed unbroadcastability, and baseball and softball, having been axed for 2008. Golf is included, presumably, to get Tiger to the Olympics, though as Brian Cazeneuve suggests, it's hard to see the top players treating it with the same respect as the Majors... or bunking down in the athletes' village.
posted by etagloh to olympics at 10:55 AM - 18 comments
Mexico Fans Hurl Vomit, Urine at Landon Donovan: In the 2-1 loss to Mexico at Azteca Stadium yesterday, U.S. striker Landon Donovan was the target of a cup of vomit, a cardboard container of urine, bottles and trash during a corner kick. "Mexico once again made the most of what is perhaps the most unfair home advantage in international soccer," writes Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports.
posted by rcade to soccer at 09:32 AM - 9 comments
You Stay Classy, Cubs Fans: Perhaps upset by his jack earlier in the game, an enterprising bleacher bum tosses a beer on Shane Victorino as he snags a pop fly on the warning track. More importantly, future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez gets the win in his first major league start since September of last year.
posted by SpiffyRob to baseball at 08:15 AM - 32 comments
August 12, 2009
What if Matt Taibbi Ran the NFL?: One of his changes would be to let the players smoke marijuana. "The league suspended Patriot running back Kevin Faulk a game for getting baked at a Lil Wayne concert and sent peaceful treehead Ricky Williams into a full-year exile. If the NFL really wants to see fewer off-field violence arrests, it should be a little more liberal in its pot policy: Players who drink alcohol tend to punch police horses and drive Escalades into retirement homes; players who smoke stay home, watch old Star Trek episodes, and drool on their shag carpets. The math isn't too tough here."
posted by rcade to football at 04:48 PM - 12 comments
Bill Simmons on Ramirez, Ortiz and the List That Shouldn't Exist: ESPN.Com columnist and Red Sox fan Bill Simmons wrestles with the reports about Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. "On Saturday, when ESPN Classic showed Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series (the Bloody Sock game), I watched it a little differently," he writes. "We expect the worst. We are prepared to be disappointed by any baseball player. It's a sad place to be."
posted by rcade to baseball at 11:51 AM - 29 comments
Louisville Basketball Coach Had Sex with Extortionist: University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino told police he had sex in 2003 with Karen Sypher, a woman who was arrested earlier this year on charges of trying to extort money from him. He later paid her $3,000 to have an abortion. After her indictment, Sypher accused Pitino of raping her, but no charges are being pursued against him because her claims were not credible, according to prosecutors.
posted by texpat to basketball at 08:37 AM - 21 comments
August 11, 2009
Eunice Shriver, Founder of Special Olympics, Dies : A sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy and the mother-in-law of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Mrs. Shriver never held elective office. Yet she was no stranger to Capitol Hill, and some view her work on behalf of the developmentally challenged, including the founding of the Special Olympics, as the most lasting of the Kennedy family’s contributions. “When the full judgment of the Kennedy legacy is made — including J.F.K.’s Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress, Robert Kennedy’s passion for civil rights and Ted Kennedy’s efforts on health care, workplace reform and refugees — the changes wrought by Eunice Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential,” U.S. News & World Report said in its cover story of Nov. 15, 1993. Edward Kennedy said in an interview in October 2007: “You talk about an agent of change — she is it. If the test is what you’re doing that’s been helpful for humanity, you’d be hard pressed to find another member of the family who’s done more.” As an example, Mr. Kennedy cited the opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, where a crowd of 80,000 cheered as President Hu Jintao welcomed more than 7,000 athletes to China, a country with a history of severe discrimination against anyone born with disabilities. The first Special Olympics brought together 1,000 athletes from 26 states and Canada for competition. In December 1968, Special Olympics Inc. was established as a nonprofit charitable organization. Since then, the program has grown to almost three million athletes in more than 180 countries.
posted by tommytrump to culture at 11:11 PM - 7 comments
EPL Fantasy League Starting Up Soon: The Premiership begins play Saturday when Chelsea plays Hull City at Stamford Bridge. Here's the discussion for members interested in playing this season.
posted by rcade to fantasy at 02:39 PM - 10 comments
CFL Pick 'Em, Week 7: Standings shift as spreads are nailed. Was it you? Find out while you make your picks inside.
posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 02:32 PM - 26 comments
Coworker: Roethlisberger's Accuser is Lying About Rape: Andrea McNulty, the woman who has accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of rape in a civil lawsuit, boasted to a coworker at the time of the alleged incident of having consensual sex with him, according to a sworn affidavit filed by that coworker Friday in court. Angela Antonetti said that McNulty told her she hoped she was pregnant with a "little Roethlisberger." "Because I knew that [her] lawsuit and false allegations would unfairly and unjustly hurt Mr. Roethlisberger, I wanted to set the story straight," Antonetti declares in the affadavit.
posted by rcade to football at 02:13 PM - 15 comments
Incredible Fake Punt Wasted on Hall of Fame Game: At the NFL Hall of Fame game Sunday, Houston Oilers punter AJ Trapasso executed a fake punt to perfection against the Buffalo Bills, including a fake reverse handoff and a statue of liberty trick worthy of Boise State. See the video. The game also had a last-second intentional safety that messed with the gambling line.
posted by rcade to football at 02:06 PM - 11 comments
Schumacher cancels comeback.: Due to neck injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident earlier this year, Michael Schumacher will be unable to be Massa's replacement at Ferrari while the Brazilian recovers. Luca Badoer, Ferrari's current test driver, will race in Valencia. Badoer hasn't competed in race conditions since 1999 when he drove for Minardi.
posted by Drood to auto racing at 04:32 AM - 4 comments
August 10, 2009
Want to Get Away from Baseball?: The sports infographic web site Flip Flop Fly Ball has determined that the town of Turner, Montana, is the most distant from any Major League Baseball team, 646 miles from Seattle and 649 miles from Colorado.
posted by rcade to baseball at 02:08 PM - 13 comments
'Reggie Miller Stop Pursuing Married Women': Former NBA star Reggie Miller was reportedly the subject of a banner flown over Southern California beaches this weekend. There's no word yet on who bought the banner, but a neighbor of Miller's in Malibu requested a restraining order against him in June for allegedly stalking his fiancee and harassing her with text messages, according to Deadspin.
posted by rcade to basketball at 01:54 PM - 14 comments
The Devil Is Still In Josh Hamilton: Josh Hamilton claims he's been sober since October 2005. Since then he's rejuvenated his career, saved his marriage, devoted himself to Jesus, and become America's flawed, homer-derby hero. Last winter, while he was alone in Tempe, Arizona, Hambone kinda slipped.
posted by BornIcon to baseball at 09:17 AM - 33 comments
August 09, 2009
Tiger wins for the second week in a row: Tiger Woods wins the Bridgestone Invitational. Thats two consecutive tournament wins and 5 wins out of 12 events in 2009. Can he put it all together to win the last major in 2009 to avoid being shut out of majors in '09?
posted by sgtcookzane to golf at 08:00 PM - 7 comments
Blackhawks' Patrick Kane arrested: Blackhawk star winger and U.S. Olympian Patrick Kane gave the team a black eye and even caught his mother off guard early Sunday when he and cousin, James M. Kane were arrested in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., at 4 a.m. for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and grabbing back the $13.80 fare when the driver said he was 20 cents short of giving them change for $15.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 06:13 PM - 6 comments
UFC 101: Anderson Silva makes quick work of former lightweight champ Forrest Griffin while B.J. Penn returns to old form and dominates Kenny Florian.
posted by sgtcookzane to boxing at 02:52 PM - 2 comments
Justin Langer's Ashes dossier: The Aussie ex-opener's leaked intelligence on the present England team ahead of the 2009 Ashes.
posted by nthdegx to other at 06:13 AM - 2 comments
August 08, 2009
Big Papi press conference: David Ortiz said supplements and vitamins may have caused his placement on the 2003 list of MLB players who failed drug tests.
posted by jjzucal to baseball at 02:53 PM - 30 comments
August 07, 2009
Tebow, McCoy, Bradford have Florida, Texas, Oklahoma 1-2-3: Who do you like?
posted by Clevelander32 to football at 04:51 PM - 6 comments
August 06, 2009
Whatever Godell says ...: Donte Stallworth discussed his possible reinstatement into the NFL with Commissioner Roger Godell. While the tone of his statement sounded as though it came from a statement, Stallworth says he will accept whatever decision Godell decides.
posted by jjzucal to football at 03:19 PM - 6 comments
August 05, 2009
Aquilani Leaves Roma to Replace Alonso at Liverpool....: Drogba has signed a new three-year deal with Chelsea.... Pirlo will end his career in Milan, says Berlusconi.
posted by The_Special_Juan to football at 09:36 PM - 7 comments
Coyotes judge permits Baisallie bid: Hope I didn't spell his name wrong. The judge in the Coyotes' case said he will allow the co-CEO of Research in Motion to stay in the bidding process.
posted by jjzucal to hockey at 08:26 PM - 5 comments
Jozy Altidore heading to Hull City: And he releases the news via Twitter of course (it's been that kind of day).
posted by trox to soccer at 03:24 PM - 8 comments
Chargers fine Cromartie $2,500.00 for tweeting: That's $17.86 per character.
posted by tron7 to football at 10:54 AM - 16 comments
CFL Pick 'Em, Week 6: Barns are burnt and nails are bitten, and yet our standings are as crowded as ever. Bring your best party jokes and make your picks inside.
posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 12:52 AM - 27 comments
August 04, 2009
The best player from EA Sports' NHLPA '93 calls it quits: I couldn't be happier. In fact, I'm going to hook up my Genesis, and hit him till he bleeds all over the ice, for old times sake...
posted by MeatSaber to hockey at 09:23 PM - 6 comments
25 Things We Miss In Football: Also, stay off my lawn, you lousy kids.
posted by Joey Michaels to football at 04:11 PM - 14 comments
Tiger's Roar: The world number one was back to winning ways at the weekend. He let it rip [video] on the back nine (allegedly, although CBS denies it), but it wasn't the first time. How do his farts rate compared to Jack's?
posted by JJ to golf at 09:34 AM - 14 comments
August 03, 2009
Fans urged to drink whisky to ward off swine flu: Russian soccer fans have been told to drink whisky on their trip to Wales for next month's World Cup qualifier to ward off the H1N1 swine flu virus, the head of the country's supporter association (VOB) said Monday.
posted by bobfoot to soccer at 11:23 PM - 9 comments
Basketball's Bertuzzi? : In an international friendly tune-up match between Canada and Italy, Stefano Mancinelli responds to a little loose-ball contact with a vicious elbow to the back of Aaron Doornekamp's head. Two Toronto Raptors, Andrea Bargnani and Marco Belinelli were forced to play peacekeeper.
posted by Spitztengle to basketball at 12:08 AM - 4 comments
August 02, 2009
Weekend Buzz: Strong acquisitions put BoSox, Phils ahead: Winners and losers after the MLB trading deadline last Friday.
posted by jemikeos to baseball at 10:08 PM - 20 comments
August 01, 2009
Visualizing MLB hit locations on a Google Map: Started off with looking at data from Mark Buehrle's perfect game that morphs into something else.
posted by netbros to baseball at 02:37 PM - 8 comments