Archives for August 2011

August 31, 2011

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 10: It's back to a full slate as we charge full-steam into the Labour Day weekend. Gather up your extra U's and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 11:49 PM - 17 comments

Dan Pastorini: 'F--- Drew Brees': Retired NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini is angry about how ex-players fared in the NFL labor settlement and angry about comments Drew Brees made in 2009. "Fuck Drew Brees," said the 62-year-old. "I'm going to get an extra $1,000 a month. Big fucking deal. I think it's a travesty the way they treat the older players. ... By the time they get to a new CBA after 10 years, they won't have to worry about us pre-93er's. It's sad, but it's their M.O. They want to wait for us to die." A 2009 comment by Brees evidently hit close to home for the twice-bankrupt, once-divorced Pastorini: "There's some guys out there that have made bad business decisions," Brees said. "They took their pensions early because they never went out and got a job. They've had a couple divorces and they're making payments to this place and that place. And that's why they don't have money. And they're coming to us to basically say, 'Please make up for my bad judgment.'"

posted by rcade to football at 07:06 PM - 26 comments

NHL enforcer Wade Belak found dead: National Hockey League veteran Wade Belak, who played 15 NHL seasons and recently retired, was found dead today in a Toronto hotel. Belak's death, 35, follows closely the deaths of NHL players Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaard. All three were considered enforcers.

posted by wfrazerjr to hockey at 06:48 PM - 13 comments

August 30, 2011

Novak Djokovic is a Pod Person: Current men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic improves his fitness by climbing into a $75,000 egg-shaped, bobsled-sized pressure chamber. The CVAC Pod, one of only 20 in the world, uses a computer-controlled valve and a vacuum pump to simulate high altitude and compress the muscles at rhythmic intervals. "The company claims that spending up to 20 minutes in the pod three times a week can boost athletic performance by improving circulation, boosting oxygen-rich red-blood cells, removing lactic acid and possibly even stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and stem-cell production," reports the Wall Street Journal.

posted by rcade to tennis at 12:39 PM - 11 comments

Mike Vick: Redemption almost complete: Mike Vick, the star Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, has signed a multi-year extension worth about $100 million, I've confirmed through a league source. The amount of the guaranteed money .. is about $40 million.

posted by BornIcon to football at 07:47 AM - 4 comments

August 29, 2011

Tennis Hall of Famer Accused of Molesting Girls: Tennis Hall of Fame doubles player Bob Hewitt, who won all four Grand Slam doubles titles during his career, sexually abused or harassed underage girls he trained as young as 10, according to a six-month Boston Globe investigation. "When I was 9, he started asking me if the other girls were virgins, when I didn't even know what a virgin was," said Suellen Sheehan, one of four women to come forward with allegations of sex abuse. "When I was 10, it escalated to him taking it into his own hands that he needed to teach me about what he called the birds and the bees. And that's what he did."

posted by rcade to tennis at 06:44 PM - 4 comments

Homicide charge is latest trouble for former Wizard: Javaris Crittenton never had a chance to establish a reputation in the NBA before he became notorious. He was the other, seemingly insignificant half in one of the most embarassing incidents the Wizards franchise has had to face.

posted by BornIcon to basketball at 08:52 AM - 12 comments

August 28, 2011

Soccer Saves Man's Life: Being a Cardiff City fan for 40 years helped save the life of Leslie Hayes. The 58-year-old had spent six days on the floor of his home after falling ill and becoming too weak to get up. Friends became alarmed when he didn't show up for the road match against Oxford United on Aug. 10 and notified police. "The days were going on and on and on," Hayes said. Cardiff City won 3-1.

posted by rcade to soccer at 03:35 PM - 1 comment

Usain Bolt Disqualified from 100-Meter Final: A false start eliminated Usain Bolt from the 100 meters in the world championships Sunday. Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds wasn't jeopardized by race winner Yohan Blake at 9.92. "I didn't really think they were going to kick him out," said second-place finisher Walter Dix said. "How can you kick Usain out of the race?"

posted by rcade to olympics at 12:44 PM - 11 comments

August 27, 2011

Jim Thome Returns to Cleveland Indians: Nine years after he left, slugger Jim Thome returned to the Cleveland Indians after accepting a trade from the Minnesota Twins. "It was really a no-brainer," Thome said of his decision to return. Thome has 12 homers and 40 RBI in 71 games this season.

posted by rcade to baseball at 05:26 PM - 1 comment

Didier Drogba Knocked Out Cold: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was knocked unconscious by the fist of Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy as Drogba was going for a header during Saturday's match. Drogba landed like a sack of bricks, received treatment that contributed to 11 minutes of injury time, and "barely moved during and was taken to hospital," according to an AFP/Sydney Morning Herald report.

posted by rcade to soccer at 01:13 PM - 1 comment

August 26, 2011

Carlton Fisk: Nobody Disrespected Game Like Deion: On Joe Morgan's new syndicated radio show on Sports USA Radio, Carlton Fisk shared a story about playing against Deion Sanders when "Neon Deion" didn't run after popping the ball up. "I started yelling at him, 'Run the ball out,'" Fisk said. "I don't know if anybody I have played against has disrespected the game like he appears to be doing. So he comes up again and draws a dollar sign in the dirt. And you know what he says? He says, 'Hey, man, the days of slavery are over.' I stood up and walked up to him face to face and I said, 'I don't care whether you are black or blue or pink or red. ... If you don't start playing this game right, I'm going to kick your butt right here'."

posted by rcade to baseball at 04:03 PM - 40 comments

ESPN: What if Mike Vick Was White?: In an article from ESPN the Magazine today, the great folks at the sports entertainment giant addressed the question that has been plaguing us all since Michael Vick was first indicted on multiple charges of animal cruelty in 2007.

posted by BornIcon to football at 10:26 AM - 13 comments

College Golf Team Suspended for Nude Photo: The Bethany College men's golf team in Kansas has been suspended from three tournaments because of a team picture in which all 15 members posed nude, wearing nothing but the head of their golf clubs over their private parts. Team captain Jack Hiscock said that the team was trying to copy a similar picture taken by the UCLA team.

posted by rcade to golf at 10:16 AM - 15 comments

Yankees belt three grand slams in a single game: The first time this has ever happened. They blew out the hapless A's 22 to 9.

posted by Joey Michaels to baseball at 01:05 AM - 7 comments

August 25, 2011

Mike Flanagan: Baltimore Orioles lefthander, general manager, broadcaster, 1979 Cy Young award winner, 1983 World Series winner, found dead at his home. He was 59.

posted by Hugh Janus to baseball at 09:19 AM - 9 comments

August 24, 2011

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 9: The bye week madness continues, with bonus statistical anomalies! Deviate from your standard, and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 02:53 PM - 15 comments

Jered Weaver Ignores Agent, Gives Angels Discount: After signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension rather than taking his agent Scott Boras' advice to test the market, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver isn't questioning his decision. "How much more could you possibly need?" he said. "I never played this game for money purposes, I played it for love and for championships. Loyalty is very important to me. The Angels drafted me and I wanted to stay here and win a championship or two or three." Weaver leads the league in ERA this season and led in strikeouts last year. Lee Jenkins writes, "If he let his contract expire after next season, he might have commanded the kind of bounty awarded to recent free-agent pitchers Cliff Lee ($120 million over five years in Philadelphia) or even CC Sabathia ($161 million over seven years in New York)."

posted by rcade to baseball at 10:47 AM - 25 comments

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt diagnosed with dementia: Pat Summitt struggled for several months with how to tell the women's basketball players at Tennessee, recruits and fans that she was having memory loss problems. Finally, her son Tyler helped convince her to open up.

posted by BornIcon to basketball at 08:31 AM - 8 comments

August 23, 2011

Raiders Pick Terrelle Pryor in Supplemental Draft: The Oakland Raiders spent a third-round pick on former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the NFL Supplemental Draft, forfeiting a pick in that round in the 2012 NFL Draft. Pryor was given a five-game NFL suspension to match the suspension he would've received if he stayed in college for a final season. No other players were picked. Jason Cole writes that this is a terrible outcome for a player who needs discipline and development "Name the last quarterback the Raiders really nurtured?" he writes.

posted by rcade to football at 12:29 PM - 7 comments

Matt Holliday: : I'm sorry, you'll have to speak a little louder, Barry! I can't hear you! I have a moth in my ear!

posted by grum@work to baseball at 02:09 AM - 5 comments

August 22, 2011

Gladwell on Grantland: Everyone's favorite-to-hate New Yorker pundit writes his first column for everyone's favorite-to-hate sports-column site. It's about the "psychic benefit" of owning an NBA team, and why exactly the owners need to shut the hell up about the revenue numbers. Fire away, folks.

posted by Etrigan to basketball at 11:25 PM - 8 comments

Triple Play After Ball Bounces Off Centerfielder's Head: Nashville Sounds center fielder Logan Schafer turned a triple play after a fly ball caromed off his head as he was running to catch it. Schafer caught the ball before it landed and threw to the infield, catching two Omaha Storm Chasers runners far off base. "Everyone was kind of in disbelief," said Schafer, 24, a recent callup to the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple A affiliate.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:23 AM - 4 comments

Mayors Of San Fran, Oakland Decry Violence: The mayors of San Francisco and Oakland issued a joint statement saying they will not tolerate violent incidents that left two men hospitalized with gunshot wounds at Saturday's preseason game between the host San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.

posted by BornIcon to football at 10:03 AM - 4 comments

August 21, 2011

Gunshots Cause Panic at Mexican Soccer Match: The sound of gunfire sent the players and officials scurrying off the field during a Santos-Morelia soccer match Saturday in Mexico's first division, then sent fans fleeing as well across the pitch. Gunmen opened fire on a police patrol outside the Mexico City Stadium stadium and drug gangs are suspected. Video shows the panic. "In the Santos club, we feel bad for the time in which we are living," Santos team president Alejandro Irarragorri told the crowd. "It is evident that the game will be suspended."

posted by rcade to soccer at 05:07 PM - 5 comments

August 20, 2011

Zimmerman Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam Off Madson: On a full count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman hit a grand slam Friday night off closer Ryan Madson, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. "Just trying to get it out of the infield," Zimmerman said

posted by rcade to baseball at 01:52 PM - 1 comment

August 19, 2011

Former Met Is First Player to Test Positive for H.G.H.: Mike Jacobs, a first baseman in the Colorado Rockies’ organization who has played more than 500 games in the major leagues, including dozens with the Mets, is the first professional baseball player to test positive for human growth hormone, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

posted by BornIcon to baseball at 03:27 PM - 1 comment

Vick: Goodell Helped Me Choose Philly: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell played a role in getting Michael Vick to choose the Philadelphia Eagles over two other teams, Will Leitch writes in his story about Vick for GQ magazine. Vick told Leitch, "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Leitch writes, "Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced -- and granted league approval -- to sign with Philly." Vick said, "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

posted by rcade to football at 12:03 PM - 1 comment

August 18, 2011

Pryor included in NFL draft, must sit out 5 games: Terrelle Pryor will have an opportunity to pursue his NFL dreams, with one significant caveat: The former Ohio State star must still pay for breaking NCAA rules while he was in college.

posted by Folkways to football at 05:45 PM - 12 comments

August 17, 2011

Miami booster and Ponzi schemer alleges illicit benefits for pretty much everyone who ever played for the Canes: Convicted fraudster Nevin Shapiro says he partied with and paid more than 70 current and former Miami Hurricanes football players. The NCAA has been investigating the allegations for the last five months, and if even a fraction of it is true, this could well lead to the death penalty for the football program.

posted by Etrigan to football at 01:52 PM - 18 comments

Spanish players ready to strike: and their Italian colleagues are ready to join them in a work stoppage. Spanish players just want the money owed from clubs in administration while the issue in Italy is, wait for it, who pays the extra austerity tax.

posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 11:49 AM - 2 comments

August 16, 2011

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 8: Pinch hitting for the good Doctor. Spock has a hernia, so he's been called away.

posted by apoch to fantasy at 11:06 PM - 15 comments

Delonte West Can Help You Install A Ceiling Fan...: The lockout is hurting NBA players in different ways. Delonte ain't scared to wear an orange apron. Brotha's gotta work, right?

posted by The_Black_Hand to basketball at 05:03 PM - 1 comment

Jim Thome Hits 600th Home Run: Minnesota Twins slugger Jim Thome hit his 600th home run Monday, becoming the eighth player to reach the milestone after Sammy Sosa (609), Alex Rodriguez (626), Ken Griffey (630), Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and SF Outfielder (762). The homer was hit off Detroit Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth in the seventh inning and followed Thome's 599th homer in the same game. "Thome has not been linked to steroid use and is by all accounts one of the nicest guys ever to lace spikes," writes Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today. "Only 16 players have compiled career OPS marks higher than Thome's .960, and among the ones eligible for enshrinement into Cooperstown, only Larry Walker and Mark McGwire have failed to get voted into the Hall."

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:49 AM - 16 comments

Boris Said on Greg Biffle: 'He Won't Hide from Me Long': After a crash during Monday's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen, Greg Biffle took a swing at Boris Said while he was still strapped into his car. Said's response: "He is the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I've ever seen in my life. He wouldn't even fight me like a man after. So if someone texts me his address, I'll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a whooping and I'm going to give it to him." More details.

posted by rcade to auto+racing at 08:09 AM - 3 comments

August 15, 2011

The Worst At-Bat in MLB History?: Or just too much respect?

posted by yerfatma to baseball at 03:45 PM - 11 comments

An explanation of NFL defensive line techniques: Shows gap responsibilities and the number for each technique along with a prototype player.

posted by yerfatma to football at 12:57 PM - 1 comment

Bears refuse to bend to new kickoff rule, told by league to stop mid-game: How far will the NFL go to ruin tradition, with this rule teams like Oakland will never have to cover a kick off.

posted by bo_fan to football at 10:26 AM - 5 comments

Cesc Fabregas finalizes move to Barcelona: ending the protracted transfer saga and returning to his former club in a deal worth up to £34m.

posted by lawn_wrangler to soccer at 09:57 AM - 11 comments

August 14, 2011

American Wins Golf Major: Down by five strokes after a triple bogey on 15, Keegan Bradley beat Jason Dufner in a three-hole playoff to win the PGA Championship. Bradley, the 25-year-old nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, becomes the first American to win a major since Phil Mickelson at the 2010 Masters.

posted by rcade to golf at 08:24 PM - 5 comments

North Dakota Ready to Drop Fighting Sioux: Because of looming NCAA sanctions, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple will introduce legislation Nov. 7 that will give University of North Dakota officials the authority to change the school's Fighting Sioux nickname. Dalrymple said he expects that bill to pass and the school to change the name. A 2007 court settlement required the school to change its mascot unless both of the state's Sioux tribes could be persuaded to support it. The only holdouts keeping their names with a tribe's approval are the Florida State Seminoles, Utah Utes, Central Michigan Chippewas and the Catawba Indians.

posted by rcade to general at 11:35 AM - 7 comments

August 13, 2011

Dennis Rodman Joins Basketball Hall of Fame: Dennis Rodman entered the Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday, delivering an emotional speech in which he praised his coaches and teammates and pulled no punches about his own personal failings. "If anyone asks if I have any regrets in your career being a basketball player, I say I have one regret: I wish I was a better father," said Rodman, his three children in the audience. Rodman bitterly mentioned his own father Philander Rodman Jr., who has 27 children by four different wives and wrote a book about his son. "He made a lot of money, but he never came and said hello to me," Dennis Rodman said. "But that didn't stop me from persevering."

posted by rcade to basketball at 04:53 PM - 8 comments

Get Out There And Hit Somebody!: The NFL lockout had to end, because I contacted all players and owners and told them it was time for SpoFi to get it on! The SpoFi Head to Head Fantasy Football League has been reconstituted...all managers from last year should have received invitations already. All are welcome to join! High scoring, drama, action, romance, passion, violence, ennui, lethargy, it's all there...and that's before the draft even happens! Come play with us! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL! SpoFi Head Games 2011-12 League ID# 514611 Password spofi2011

posted by The_Black_Hand to fantasy at 02:29 PM - 27 comments

August 12, 2011

Sports Teams Ranked by Social Media Popularity: The most popular sports team is the Spanish soccer club Real Madrid, according to a metric of social media followers and views tabulated by Famecount. The team has 17.9 million Facebook fans, 2.1 million Twitter followers and 39.9 million YouTube views. The least is the Italian soccer club A.C. Siena, with just 1,516 Facebook fans.

posted by rcade to general at 07:24 PM - 2 comments

U.S. Skier Pees on Child's Leg During Flight: Robert "Sandy" Vietze, an 18-year-old skier in the U.S. Olympic development program, urinated on the leg of an 11-year-old girl during a red-eye flight from Portland to New York City Wednesday. "I was drunk, and I did not realize I was pissing on her leg," Vietze allegedly told police. The girl's father, returning from the restroom with another of his children, had to be physically separated from Vietze.

posted by rcade to Olympics at 11:56 AM - 29 comments

Football's Back!: The Premier League kicks off tomorrow with pundits picking ManU to repeat, followed by Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Journalists may not be there to see the games, though, as media groups and news agencies have not agreed to the League's terms for accreditation. And Everton isn't travelling to Tottenham as the match was cancelled due to riots.

posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 11:45 AM - 11 comments

August 11, 2011

High School Player with Down Syndrome Disallowed: Brett Bowden, a student with Down syndrome, has been suiting up for the Hobbton (N.C.) High football team. He leads the team onto the field, roots them on from the sidelines and runs a touchdown play after every game. He even scored an actual touchdown once. This year, he's been disallowed because he recently turned 19. "A student must be eligible to be dressed for a contest," said North Carolina High School Athletic Association Commissioner Davis Whitfield. "This State Board of Education policy is one we are not allowed to set aside." More than 50,000 people have joined Let Brett Bowden Play on Facebook.

posted by rcade to football at 11:55 AM - 17 comments

Bryce Harper Ejected from Class AA Game: Washington Nationals 18-year-old prospect Bryce Harper was ejected from a Class AA game Wednesday after throwing his helmet and raging at umpire Max Guyll when he was called out on strikes. Harper thought a 3-2 pitch was ball four and was headed to first when he got the bad news. Video shows the tantrum. "Replays showed the [Eric] Surkamp full-count pitch was clearly outside, but Guyll was stretching the zone all night," reported Geoff Morrow of Penn Live.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:33 AM - 17 comments

August 10, 2011

Ralph Nader Forms Sports Fan Advocacy Group: Consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader has founded the League of Fans, a sports reform group pushing to end public money for building stadiums, break up college football's Bowl Championship Series and end collegiate sports scholarships. The group opposes the "win-at-all-costs and a profit-at-all-costs mentality" of American sports, said its sports policy director Ken Reed.

posted by rcade to general at 03:42 PM - 21 comments

August 09, 2011

Swimmer Fails in Havana-Florida Bid: Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, 61, has abandoned her bid to become the first person to swim the 103 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Twenty nine hours into the effort, she was beset by ocean swells, shoulder pain and asthma. "I would be lying to say I'm not deeply, deeply disappointed," she told CNN. "This was a big dream, not just of the last two years but some 30 years ago when I tried it."

posted by rcade to olympics at 01:57 PM - 2 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 7: No more goose eggs as both Edmonton's winning streak and B.C.'s losing streak are broken. You'd think that would make this week's games harder to pick, but you'd probably be wrong. Make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 11:10 AM - 15 comments

August 08, 2011

Minor Journey, Major Dream: Dirk Hayhurst's priorities change, not goal: For Dirk Hayhurst, the pitcher who writes books — or is it the writer who pitches? — major league dreams have transformed into adult realities. But his outlook is different now. Major League Baseball is not the fantasy it once was. He has experienced it, meaning it is real for Hayhurst. And “real” brings the good and the bad. As he enjoyed success with his book, he struggled with baseball. Hayhurst dealt with depression in 2010, a season spent injured, not competing against opposing hitters, but competing with self-doubt and loneliness.

posted by tommytrump to culture at 01:53 PM - 4 comments

Real Madrid Signs 7-Year-Old: Real Madrid has signed Leonel Angel Coira, a football prospect from Argentina who goes by the name Leo. He's seven years old. Coira's Facebook page includes a video of him scoring two goals.

posted by rcade to soccer at 01:06 PM - 3 comments

August 07, 2011

Woman, 98, Earns Judo's Top Belt: At age 98, Sensei Keiko Fukuda of San Francisco has become the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level of 10th degree black belt -- a mark reached only by three people in the world. "All my life," this has been my dream," said Fukuda, who was kept at lower belts for decades longer than less-skilled men, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

posted by rcade to other at 01:18 PM - 24 comments

Tony Bruno Calls Pitcher 'Illegal Alien': Sports radio host Tony Bruno called Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez an "illegal alien" on Twitter after his errant pitch Friday night started a brawl in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. "Gutless #!@%*# Giants," he posted. "Bochy is a coward for having his illegal alien pitcher hit a guy." The response of Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition: "This guy is a pig."

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:00 AM - 6 comments

Nascar Driver Pushed Across Finish Line to Win: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun out on the final turn of the Nationwide series U.S. Cellular 250 Friday night, but won the race when Carl Edwards accidentally pushed him across the finish line. "That's the most amazing finish I've been involved with in a long time," Edwards said.

posted by rcade to auto racing at 10:58 AM - 6 comments

August 06, 2011

Fake Alabama-Auburn Tickets Lure Deadbeat Parents: The Opelika, Ala., police department created an elaborate ruse to arrest parents suspected of criminally delinquent child support payments, telling them in a letter they'd won free tickets to this year's Alabama/Auburn football game if they showed up in person with a photo ID to claim them. Local media even participated in the sting, interviewing unsuspecting suspects about their prize. "I am now a winner!" one declared to cameras moments before the cuffs come out. Every one of the parents arrested owes at least $30,000 in payments, police said.

posted by rcade to football at 12:31 PM - 9 comments

Rockies' Juan Nicasio hit by line drive: Colorado lost 5-3 to Washington , but it didn't seem to matter after rookie right-hander Juan Nicasio was wheeled off on a cart in the 2nd inning after being struck on the right side of his head by a line drive off the bat of Washington's Ian Desmond. The ballpark fell virtually silent for several minutes as Nicasio lay on the Coors Field mound amid a crowd of teammates and medical personnel. He never got back to his feet before being placed on a stretcher and into the cart. Nicasio was moving his hands as he was tended to by Rockies trainer Keith Dugger and paramedics. According to the Rockies, Nicasio was undergoing a battery of tests but resting comfortably at a hospital after suffering a neck injury. Rockies players were visibly shaken by the incident.

posted by tommytrump to baseball at 07:32 AM - 4 comments

August 05, 2011

21 Short Stories about Glenn Gould Deion Sanders: Prime Time goes to Canton for a reason.

posted by yerfatma to football at 04:44 PM - 7 comments

Yankees, Sox Meet Atop AL East: The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox begin a three-game series tonight at Fenway Park with both teams 68-42 and tied for first in the AL East. All three games are broadcast nationally, with Friday's game airing on the MLB Network, Saturday's on Fox and Sunday's on ESPN. Pitching match-ups: Bartolo Colon vs. Jon Lester Friday, C.C. Sabathia vs John Lackey Saturday and Freddy Garcia vs. Josh Beckett.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:58 AM - 6 comments

August 04, 2011

The Hall of Fame isn't real: The process is a lose-lose: It's either good (and then bad) or bad (and then good).

posted by tselson to general at 11:50 PM - 0 comments

EPL Fantasy: Starts next weekend!

posted by tselson to fantasy at 03:38 PM - 15 comments

Plenty of Good Seats Still Available: The collapse of the sports ticket bubble: A few months ago, it seemed like M.L.B. was in the throes of a ticket apocalypse. Through the first 2 weeks of the season, 6 teams had set all-time single-game lows at their current homes. The surprising Cleveland Indians led the A.L. Central in the standings, but remained in the cellar at the turnstiles. The New York Yankees, whose ultrapricey new stadium has been beset by empty seats since it opened in 2009, hosted record-low crowds for 4 games in a row. It was as if fans, having quietly absorbed more than a decade of price hikes and the advent of $9 beers, had spontaneously decided to go on strike. Last fall, the New York Giants demanded that fans pony up as much as $20,000 for "P.S.Ls" before being allowed to buy season tickets at the New Meadowlands Stadium. That may have been a workable price point when ground was 1st broken for the stadium 3 years prior, but fans balked at the hefty fees in 2010. What was once a lengthy ticket wait list quickly evaporated, leaving the team with thousands of empty seats on its new building's opening day.

posted by tommytrump to culture at 12:57 PM - 12 comments

CJ Nitkowski and his stem cells: Bartolo Colon's comeback after a stem-cell treatment spurred 38-year-old CJ Nitkowski to seek the same treatment. Read his thoughts on the process and his future on his blog.

posted by wfrazerjr to baseball at 12:29 PM - 1 comment

Bubba Smith dies at 66: Charles Aaron “Bubba” Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 NFL draft who later found fame as an actor, has died at the age of 66.

posted by BornIcon to football at 07:35 AM - 7 comments

August 03, 2011

You gotta know when to fold 'em, ARod: Major League Baseball is taking "very seriously" the allegations that Alex Rodriguez took part in some illegal, underground poker games, one of which reportedly turned violent, and he could face suspension if his participation in the games is confirmed.

posted by wfrazerjr to baseball at 03:05 PM - 26 comments

Heat Kills High School Football Coach in Texas: An assistant high school coach in Plano, Texas, died after collapsing during practice Monday. Wade McClain, 55, was stricken on the football field at Prestonwood Christian Academy during the first day of practice. The cause of death was heart issues related to heat exposure. Temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area hit 107 degrees that day and have been above 100 for weeks.

posted by rcade to football at 11:45 AM - 14 comments

NBA's Lucas, Durant duel in front of standing-room only crowd at Pro City: While New York City couldn’t get enough of Kevin Durant’s Rucker Park highlights on Tuesday, John Lucas III seethed. He was in too many of them, one of the players the NBA superstar effortlessly hung 66 on in the memorable scoring display.

posted by BornIcon to basketball at 10:00 AM - 2 comments

August 02, 2011

Brandon Marshall: I Have Borderline Personality Disorder: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall has revealed that he's been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a mental illness characterized by anger, impulsve behavior and volatile personal relationships. "My purpose moving forward is to raise awareness of this disorder -- how it not only affects the patient but the families and the people in the community," he said. Marshall has had some off-field incidents since turning pro, including several domestic disputes.

posted by rcade to football at 04:36 PM - 13 comments

Fan's Knee Proves Asdrubal Cabrera Hit Homer: After further review, Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's single was ruled a home run against the Boston Red Sox during Monday night's game. The ball appeared to ricochet off a corner fence in right, but a camera crew showed that the hit made an impression on one fan.

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:12 AM - 4 comments

August 01, 2011

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 6: You may be rolling so far, but this week, it's tough pickin' as talent plays talent and skill plays skill. Also, Toronto plays Montreal. Make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 08:53 PM - 17 comments

How Perception Shrouds Reality: reviewing JD Drew's time in Boston.

"[T]he contrast of Drew and Lowell ties together why their incongruous treatment by the media matters. Lowell can come back to Boston any time, sign some autographs, make some money, do some television and never purchase a meal of his own. Really, he is something of a local hero. On the other hand, despite both his team and personal successes, the media climate has made for a difficult five years in Drew's case. "

posted by yerfatma to baseball at 03:59 PM - 7 comments

Randy Moss announces his retirement: The mercurial receiver announces that, despite interest throughout the league, he's calling it quits. Let the Hall of Fame discussion begin!

posted by tahoemoj to football at 03:06 PM - 37 comments

Bad Blood in Epic Verlander/Weaver Pitching Duel: The Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels put on a show Sunday, with Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander taking a no-hitter into the eighth against the Angels' Jered Weaver. Slow home run trots by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen led to Weaver throwing at Alex Avila's head and getting ejected. Erick Aybar led off the next inning against Verlander by bunting to get a hit -- a violation of one of baseball's unwritten rules.

posted by rcade to baseball at 12:45 PM - 26 comments

A's Owner Urges McCourt to Sell Dodgers: Oakland A's owner Lew Wolff has become the first owner to urge Frank McCourt to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers. "My hope is that the Dodgers will be sold to a party that will restart this great franchise, and that Frank and his family will benefit from a positive sale," Wolff said. "I can't think of one owner that is not supportive of the actions taken by MLB." The Dodgers are currently in bankruptcy and battling the league over the claim that McCourt took $100 million from the team for personal use.

posted by rcade to baseball at 10:16 AM - 2 comments