Archives for September 2012

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 39 comments

September 29, 2012

No-hitter thrown by worst-named pitcher to do so.:
Homer Bailey throws the 7th no-hitter of 2012.

posted by grum@work to baseball at 10:30 AM - 7 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 10 comments

Pop Warner Team Used Bounties: An inquiry is underway into whether a California youth football team of 10- and 11-year-olds was offering cash bounties for knocking opponents out of games. The Orange County Register reported Sept. 21 that two coaches of the Tustin Junior Pee Wee Red Cobras offered players cash, usually between $20 and $50, for big hits and knocking opponents out of games. One of the players targeted with a bounty, an 11-year-old running back from the Santa Margarita Stallions, suffered a concussion while playing against the Red Cobras last November. "This kid speared him. Hit him right in the head," the father of the injured player said.

posted by rcade to football at 12:15 AM - 5 comments

September 28, 2012

Lewis Hamilton signs for Mercedes: - the 27 year old 2008 World Champion signed a three year deal with the German team, ending his 14 year association with McLaren F1. Hamilton will replace seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, while up-and-comig Mexican driver Sergo Perez will take Hamilton's seat at McLaren.

posted by Mr Bismarck to auto racing at 12:38 PM - 1 comment

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments

September 27, 2012

Adam Greenberg Will Get His At-Bat: The campaign to get Adam Greenberg another chance at bat has succeeded. On Oct. 2, the Miami Marlins will sign him to a one-day contract and he'll face the New York Mets in Miami. Seven years ago, Greenberg was beaned by the first pitch he saw as a Chicago Cubs player, suffered post-concussion syndrome and never reached the Majors again. The team pitching to him that day was the Marlins.

posted by rcade to baseball at 10:21 AM - 9 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments

NFL, referees reach agreement: Staff referees will be on the field this weekend as negotiators for the NFL and referees' union have reached a tentative agreement on an eight-year contract.

posted by jjzucal to football at 12:55 AM - 9 comments

September 26, 2012

Opinion: Golden Tate Caught the Touchdown: Some guy on the Internet lays out the most thorough case for why Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate deserves the touchdown he was awarded in Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers. With video and photographic evidence, he lays out the Seinfeldian case, suggesting that Tate had one hand on the ball the whole time and his feet touched before M.D. Jennings. He's even uncovered new endzone video from another angle.

posted by rcade to football at 08:59 PM - 8 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 14: We're still in the thick of divisional races, and we still have a race in the pool. Check your horse's teeth and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 02:43 PM - 10 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 11 comments

September 25, 2012

Seattle Wins on What-the-Hell Mary: Snatching victory from the solid grip of defeat, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Green Bay Packers 14-12 with a last-play Hail Mary touchdown pass that looked to most of the world like an interception. As safety M.D. Jennings brought a Russell Wilson pass down to his chest, wide receiver Golden Tate got one arm and then both on the ball. One replacement ref called it a touchdown and another an interception. It was ruled a touchdown on the field and was not overturned in the replay booth.

posted by rcade to football at 09:15 AM - 109 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

September 24, 2012

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 12 comments

September 23, 2012

One-Legged Soccer Player Scores Epic Goal: One-legged student soccer player Nico Calabria, who uses crutches to compete for Concord-Carlisle Regional High School in Massachusetts, scored recently off a corner kick. "I played four years of Division 1 college soccer -- two of which actually on the field -- and never saw a single person hit a ball so clean off the volley from a corner," writes Mike Foss of USA Today.

posted by rcade to soccer at 06:17 PM - 2 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 28 comments

September 22, 2012

Yankees Stay Atop East with Extra Inning Comeback: Down by four runs in the bottom half of the 13th inning, the New York Yankees rallied to tie the Oakland A's, then won the game 10-9 an inning later when A's first baseman Brandon Moss booted an Eduardo Nunez ground ball with the bases loaded. The Yankees remain one game up on the Baltimore Orioles. The A's are three games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for the last wild card spot.

posted by rcade to baseball at 08:53 PM - 3 comments

Melky Cabrera asks to be excluded from batting title consideration.:

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 18 comments

September 21, 2012

One-on-One With Jim Devellano, Detroit Red Wings Senior VP : "It's very complicated and way too much for the average Joe to understand, but having said that, I will tell you this: The owners can basically be viewed as the Ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle. The owners own the Ranch and allow the players to eat there. That's the way its always been and that the way it will be forever. And the owners simply aren't going to let a union push them around. It's not going to happen."

posted by tommytrump to hockey at 04:49 PM - 2 comments

posted by grum@work to baseball at 03:29 PM - 11 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 1 comment

September 20, 2012

Forbes: The NFL's Most Overpaid Players: Forbes has compiled a list of the most overpaid athletes in the NFL, topping it with these five: New York Jets linebacker David Harris ($12 million), Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby ($10.7 million), Houston Texans defensive back Johnathan Joseph ($9.75 million), Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis ($9.6 million) and Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes ($9.25 million). "[T]he thing that catches your eye about NFL salaries is the relative paucity of players who are blatantly overpaid," writes Tom Van Riper. "The NBA is sprinkled with big-money bench warmers averaging five points a game. Baseball has its unproductive, aging stars collecting mega millions on the back ends of long-term contracts."

posted by rcade to football at 03:54 PM - 9 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

September 19, 2012

NASCAR Driver Motors Away from Date: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart began a radio interview on Sirius/XM Wednesday speaking in a whisper, prompting the hosts to ask him why. "I'm trying to not wake up my date," Stewart responded. "She's not that hot, so I don't really want to wake her up. I'm trying to get out."

posted by rcade to auto racing at 01:46 PM - 1 comment

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 2 comments

September 18, 2012

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 13: And just when you thought things were settling down the season. We have yet another tie for first, and a solid seven weeks still to go. Chug those six Red Bulls and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 08:29 PM - 12 comments

Steve Sabol, sports film maker, passes away at 69.:
If you've ever watched slow-motion replay of an NFL play, laughed at a ridiculous NFL blooper, listened to a coach miked up on a sideline, sat enthralled as a player does his thing on the field and gives voice to his exploits, enjoyed the game or season review of your favorite NFL team, or watched an NFL broadcast at all, you have Steve Sabol to thank for that. And if you've ever cashed a seven-figure check from the NFL, you really have Steve Sabol and NFL Films to thank for that.

posted by grum@work to football at 03:53 PM - 5 comments

Peyton Manning Throws 3 Picks in Loss to Falcons: Peyton Manning threw three interceptions in the first quarter, digging a hole the Denver Broncos couldn't climb out of in a 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. "Each turnover has its own story that no one really wants to hear," Manning said. After the game, Falcons running back Michael Turner was arrested for DUI and speeding when he was clocked driving 97 mph in a 65-mph zone on Interstate 85 outside Atlanta.

posted by rcade to football at 10:26 AM - 11 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 4 comments

September 17, 2012

Tom Sims, skate- and snowboard pioneer, died Sept. 12 of cardiac arrest. He was 61: As a young star in the 1970's SoCal skateboarding circuit, Sims was a tireless promoter of the sport, building the first longboards for skating and founding Sims Skateboards, who made the first lightweight laminated skateboards and managed the Sims skateboard team, sponsoring rising stars like Stacy Peralta, Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Kevin Staab, and the late Jeff Philips (it's all a little complicated, hard feelings all around, as the above links hint). Sims' attention moved to the slopes and his company morphed into Sims Snowboards, making the first metal edged snowboard, the first snowboarding half pipe, the first freestyle snowboard, the first snowboards designed specifically for women riders, and the first pro-model snowboard. Here he is in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill riding down the mountain on a snowmobile ski. Peers, friends, and former riders reflect.

posted by Hugh Janus to other at 11:09 AM - 2 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments

September 16, 2012

Stanford Knocks Off No. 2 USC: The 21st-ranked Stanford Cardinal handed the second-ranked USC Trojans a 21-14 road defeat Saturday, its fourth consecutive victory over the PAC-12 rivals. USC quarterback Matt Barkley, a Heisman trophy hopeful, has never beaten Stanford. He threw two interceptions and no touchdowns and was 4-of-9 passing for 43 yards in the fourth quarter. "This isn't the end of the world," said USC coach Lane Kiffin.

posted by rcade to football at 10:39 AM - 4 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 12 comments

September 15, 2012

Ozzie Guillen Returns to Twitter: "buster olney u so full a [excrement] whit u stupid comments about the miami team we still play hard we yes no win games i think u no watch."

posted by rcade to baseball at 12:11 PM - 0 comments

The story of the '72 Summit Series, as it's never been told before: An oral history of what really transpired in September of 1972, with material from nearly 100 interviews.

posted by tommytrump to hockey at 09:15 AM - 0 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

September 14, 2012

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 8 comments

September 13, 2012

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

September 12, 2012

Cover Up At Hillsborough: A British inquiry finds that an official cover up took place after 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death before their team's FA Cup semi-final in 1989. Prosecutions may now follow.

posted by owlhouse to soccer at 09:18 PM - 4 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 22 comments

September 11, 2012

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 12: Labour Day just may have sealed the deal for a few teams, one way or the other. Are you on the upswing or the downdrain? Help me make up more imaginary words and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 10:43 PM - 10 comments

There's No I in Clemens: "I can tell you right now -- and they would know, too -- that if I was going to go do it, I am going to pitch against a contender, that's who I want to knock out. Why would I want to waste my time running around and getting in shape. I get over to Minute Maid, I'll crank it up and get it over 90 for a contender. We'll knock them right out of the playoffs. That would be the fun. Pitching against somebody that's not in contention wouldn't be any fun for me."

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:27 PM - 12 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 12 comments

September 10, 2012

Female Line Judge Makes NFL History: On Sunday, Shannon Eastin became the first woman to officiate an NFL game in league history. The AP story says she helped break up a post-game fight, but a photo tells a funnier story. St. Louis Rams defensive back Cortland Finnegan and Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch were joking around.

posted by rcade to football at 11:32 AM - 9 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 23 comments

September 09, 2012

Wide Receiver Roy Williams Retires from Football: Former Texas Longhorns standout Roy Williams has retired from football at age 30, he announced on Facebook. His career 393 receptions for 5,715 yards and 44 touchdowns did not live up to the hype of being the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft or a player the Dallas Cowboys gave up first-, third- and sixth-rounders to acquire in 2009. "Put up good numbers my first few years, went to a Pro Bowl then I got to Dallas and it stopped," Williams told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It is what it is. God had a plan for me. The grass ain't always greener on the other side." Regarding that trade with the Detroit Lions, the picks became starting tight end Brandon Pettigrew, backup wide receiver Derrick Williams (waived in 2011) and backup running back Aaron Brown (waived in 2011). Dallas got a seventh-round pick with Williams, which it traded to the Atlanta Falcons to move up in the fifth round and select safety DeAngelo Smith (waived during his first training camp). The Falcons used that seventh rounder on backup defensive tackle Vance Walker.

posted by rcade to football at 11:38 AM - 3 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 8 comments

September 08, 2012

Tulane Safety Devon Walker Breaks Neck: Tulane safety Devon Walker suffered a broken neck and collapsed lung Saturday from a helmet-to-helmet collision with a teammate right before halftime against Tulsa. Walker stopped breathing when emergency medical workers removed his jersey and shoulder pads, Fox reported. He was revived and a tracheotomy was performed before he was taken to a hospital.

posted by tommytrump to football at 04:29 PM - 7 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 23 comments

September 07, 2012

The Best Deal Ever Is Not Good Enough: We discussed the Silna brothers six years ago, but there's a new wrinkle in the saga of the biggest money giveaway in sports history. Ozzie and Daniel Silna, owners of the ABA's St. Louis Spirits, negotiated a deal when the NBA absorbed four other ABA teams in 1976 -- one-seventh of TV revenues from those four ABA teams, forever. This has made them somewhere between $240 and $300 million, but they're suing for a chunk of international broadcasts and the NBA TV network, ideas no one had thought of 36 years ago.

posted by Etrigan to basketball at 09:57 PM - 2 comments

Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy hit in head with line drive, has surgery: The A's flew to Seattle on Thursday for their biggest series of the season, but their minds were on something bigger still. Their teammate, pitcher Brandon McCarthy, lay in a hospital bed recovering from surgery for an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and skull fracture caused by a line drive that struck him in the head while he was pitching a day earlier.

posted by tommytrump to baseball at 09:56 PM - 6 comments

Court vacates Saints' suspensions: A federal court Friday vacated the suspensions of four New Orleans Saints players; the NFL reinstated them several minutes later.

posted by jjzucal to football at 04:49 PM - 3 comments

Roethlisberger Would Skip Game for Child's Birth: Ben Roethlisberger and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child this fall. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that if it happens on game day, he'll take a pass on the Steelers game. "I'm not missing the birth of my child," he said. "There's no chance. I know some fans probably don't want to hear that, but there's no chance."

posted by rcade to football at 12:37 PM - 15 comments

In Stadium Building Spree, U.S. Taxpayers Lose $4 Billion: Quantifying what has long been a sore point on SpoFi. Includes a nice contrast between Jerry Jones' public palazzo and the even more expensive but privately financed new stadium in the Meadowlands.

posted by billsaysthis to culture at 12:26 PM - 6 comments

One Year Ago, Yaroslavl Lokomotiv Died: One year ago at this hour, 36 players, team officials and eight crew members of the Kontinental Hockey League hockey team Yaroslavl Lokomotiv died in a plane crash leaving for a game in Minsk. The new team returned to KHL play with a victory Thursday night in Siberia. The director of the now-defunct airline that flew the plane has been criminally charged because the flight's captain was using forged qualification documents and the co-pilot had not completed a requalification exam. New Lokomotiv players include the former NHLers Viktor Kozlov, Niklas Hagman, Sami Lepisto, Vitaly Visnevsky and Curtis Sanford.

posted by rcade to hockey at 08:59 AM - 3 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments

September 06, 2012

One At Bat: "Of the almost 17,500 people to play in Major League baseball, Adam Greenberg is the only player to have his career end on the very first pitch. In fact, according to Major League rules, Adam�s debut only counts as a plate appearance, not an official at bat. Our goal�to get Adam Greenberg the official at bat he deserves."

posted by Etrigan to baseball at 08:21 PM - 6 comments

NFLPA investigating Drew Rosenhaus' sketchy ethics: and his connection to a financial advisor who encouraged NFL players to invest in a failed venture.

posted by yerfatma to football at 02:28 PM - 6 comments

"The At-Home Experience,": A Samsung 51-inch, plasma HD television and three top-grain leather theater seats delivered from Best Buy. Add in the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket Max package for $299.95, + $120.00 for food and beverages or 10 home games. You decide.

posted by BoKnows to football at 01:00 PM - 22 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 11 comments

September 05, 2012

We Have a Race in the American League East: Recalling the Red Sox of 2011 the Yankees' 10 game divisional lead is now history. Tied with Baltimore and only a game and a half ahead of Tampa Bay, the Yankees start a critical 4 game series with the Orioles Thursday. Hal Steinbrenner is frustrated, some blame injuries, and hitting coach Kevin Long believes bunting more might help.

posted by justgary to baseball at 05:01 PM - 15 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 11: Kids across Canada rejoiced as they woke up with extra U's in their stockings on Labour Day Monday, but there was no joy in Winnipeg. Find out why and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 04:08 PM - 12 comments

Shot, sir!: SLYT: David Wetherill's table tennis shot at the London 2012 Paralympics.

posted by nthdegx to tennis at 02:02 PM - 2 comments

Belgians are the New Slovenians: at least in the EPL, where their obvious gifts are becoming harder to ignore.

posted by yerfatma to soccer at 09:14 AM - 1 comment

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 11 comments

September 04, 2012

Boom goes the dynamite! Explosive book about Armstrong doping comes out.:
After reading the book, no doubt is left in the reviewer's mind as to Armstrong's guilt.

posted by grum@work to culture at 02:48 PM - 13 comments

Spofi Gamblers Pro Football Pick'em.: Is it that time again? Yes it is. Details inside.

posted by MrFrisby to fantasy at 01:05 PM - 9 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments

MLB Testing Advanced Replay Systems During Games: Despite Commissioner Bud Selig's constant denial for the need of replay two systems (one radar, the other camera) have been recently tested in live games.

posted by justgary to baseball at 12:50 AM - 10 comments

September 03, 2012

Houston Offensive Coordinator Resigns: Two days after Houston lost at home to 36-point underdog Texas State, a school playing its first game in the FBS, offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt has resigned. Houston, which went 13-1 last season and led the nation in total offense, had the ball for only 16:51. Texas State, coached by Dennis Franchione, joined the WAC this season after playing in the FCS Southland Conference for 25 years.

posted by rcade to football at 12:32 PM - 3 comments

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

September 02, 2012

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments

September 01, 2012

Penn State Loses at Home to Ohio: Penn State lost its opening game to Ohio 24-14 Saturday at home in Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions, playing under new head coach Bill O'Brien, took a 14-3 lead shortly before the half. The Bobcats, who went 10-4 last season playing in the MAC, scored 21 unanswered points for arguably the biggest win in school history. Penn State had blue ribbons on their helmets to show support for victims of child sexual abuse.

posted by rcade to football at 04:18 PM - 6 comments

Fan Dies in Upper Deck Fall at Georgia Dome: A 20-year-old man from Tennessee fell around 35 feet from the upper level of the Georgia Dome during the Tennessee-North Carolina State Friday and died at the hospital. A fan he struck below was treated and released. Isaac Grubb was celebrating the Vols' second touchdown, said eyewitness Ryan Coleman. "We were all celebrating. He started pumping fists and was leaning over the rail. He just slipped off."

posted by rcade to football at 02:42 PM - 1 comment