Archives for February 2022

February 28, 2022

Russia and Belarus Suspended From International Hockey Play: Suspension of all Russian and Belarusian National Teams and Clubs from participation in every age category and in all IIHF competitions or events until further notice. And that's just the beginning of the statement.

posted by NoMich to hockey at 03:40 PM - 4 comments

February 27, 2022

February 26, 2022

How's Your Month Going, Phil Mickelson?: Phil Mickelson's been talking about defecting to a new Saudi-backed "Super League of Golf" lately -- and not since Fuzzy Zoeller has a golfer gone so far out of bounds with his mouth. Mickelson told golf writer Alan Shipnuck, "We know they killed Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

posted by rcade to golf at 12:03 PM - 3 comments

February 25, 2022

February 24, 2022

Troy Aikman Has One Foot Out the Door at Fox: Troy Aikman is likely to leave Fox to become the main analyst for Monday Night Football on ESPN, the New York Post reports. Al Michaels is close to joining Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football and hoped Aikman would join him. There's a lot of talk about other moves these would cause and so far none of them involve Chris Collinsworth.

posted by rcade to football at 03:37 PM - 4 comments

Grambling State set to hire Art Briles as offensive coordinator: Briles was fired as head coach of Baylor University in 2016 after an external investigation found that he and other University officials had suppressed information and failed to take action regarding a years-long string of alleged sexual assaults committed by football players. In the time since he was fired from Baylor, Briles has coached at the High School level and served stints in the CFL and an Italian Football league, but up to this point he had been considered untouchable by NCAA programs.

posted by Ufez Jones to football at 01:29 PM - 6 comments

How Sports Are Dealing with Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: The first suspensions of sports following Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the move of the Champions League final away from St. Petersburg, Russia, and the halt for at least one month of play for Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk and the rest of Ukraine's domestic football league.

posted by rcade to general at 11:53 AM - 6 comments

February 23, 2022

NBA Pickem Week 19: Pattern of Behavior Edition: There are nine national NBA games packed into the schedule starting Thursday with a doubleheader on TNT and ending with a Sunday quadrupleheader on ESPN and NBC. I continue to maintain my iron grip on first place in the pickem with Geekyguy second. Make your picks and never become detached.

posted by rcade to basketball at 08:44 PM - 10 comments

February 22, 2022

16-Year-Old Indian Phenom Beats World No. 1 in Chess: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa beat world chess champion Magnus Carlsen Sunday. The 16-year-old from India is the youngest person to beat Carlsen since he became the champ in 2013. Praggnanandhaa, who became the youngest international master in history at age 10, won playing black in a Tarrasch variation game in 39 moves.

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

February 21, 2022

February 20, 2022

Juwan Howard Takes Swing at Wisconsin Coach After Game: After a 77-63 win by No. 15 Wisconsin over Michigan, head coaches Greg Gard and Juwan Howard got into an argument during the handshake line that turned physical when Howard made an open-handed shove at a Wisconsin coach's face. Howard was mad that Gard called two timeouts in the final minute after the outcome was no longer in doubt. The coaches still owe each other a handshake.

posted by rcade to basketball at 08:13 PM - 3 comments

February 19, 2022

Steelers Hire Brian Flores as Assistant Coach: The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Brian Flores as senior defensive assistant in charge of linebackers, a move that comes as a surprise because he's currently suing three NFL teams and the league for discrimination. Flores alleges discrimination in league hiring practices. Some legal experts say his case has an uphill battle in court but could be devastating to the league even if he loses.

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

February 18, 2022

Tell Us How You Really Feel, Alexandra Trusova: "Everyone has a gold medal, everyone, but not me. I hate skating. I hate it. I hate this sport. I will never go out on the ice again! Never! I hate! It’s impossible, it’s impossible! You can not do it this way." -- Russian figure skating silver medalist Alexandra Trusova

posted by rcade to olympics at 04:01 PM - 0 comments

SportsFilter Playoff Pickem Champion: Ic23b: The NFL Playoff Pickem was won in a rout by ic23b, who took the lead from tahoemoj after the conference championships and never gave it back. Congratulations! The coveted costanza is claimed by bender. Thus ends our football prognostication until the CFL kicks off on June 9.

posted by rcade to football at 03:42 PM - 12 comments

February 17, 2022

Meet the New No. 1 American in Women's Tennis: Danielle Collins was the runner up at this year's Australian Open, which made her the top-ranked American female tennis player for the first time. Collins is a former college champion who didn't have much backing to rise in her sport. She had surgery for endometriosis last year and also has rheumatoid arthritis. She lacks an apparel sponsor or an agent. But she's pugnacious, aggressive and determined. "She goes out there and she’s super competitive and fierce and doesn’t apologize for it, and I think it’s awesome," said fellow American Jessica Pegula.

posted by rcade to tennis at 11:28 AM - 1 comment

February 16, 2022

February 15, 2022

Most NHL Teams Have a Dog: The Seattle Kraken have adopted a team dog, a four-month-old husky mix named Davy Jones. He joins the pack of 25-28 team dogs across the NHL. The Dallas Stars have a team calf named Mike Moodano.

posted by rcade to hockey at 05:26 PM - 3 comments

NBA Pickem Week 18: Unofficial Points Edition: There are just five games to pick this NBA week, beginning tonight with a TNT doubleheader followed by a New York City derby Wednesday on ESPN. In the pickem I extended my first-place lead to 43 over Geekyguy, whose lock-em-all derring-do derring-didn't on four games. The_Black_Hand won the week again by 68. Make your picks in honor of the NBA's new points monarch.

posted by rcade to basketball at 02:18 PM - 7 comments

February 14, 2022

Rocket Mortgage Wins Super Bowl USA Today Ad Meter: The Rocket Mortgage commercial where Anna Kendrick helps Barbie beat out other doll buyers to land her Dream House won the USA Today Ad Meter for Super Bowl 0x38, edging out the Amazon ad where the Echo not only spies on Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson but can read their minds.

posted by rcade to football at 09:20 AM - 9 comments

February 13, 2022

Rams Win Super Bowl 0x38: A last-minute touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp led the Los Angeles Rams to a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 0x38. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had reached midfield when a game-clinching drive was ended by Aaron Donald grabbing Burrow while he tried a futile desperation heave that fell incomplete on fourth and one. Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP.

posted by rcade to football at 10:57 PM - 10 comments

Never Won a Super Bowl Club Meeting: Twelve NFL teams have never won a Super Bowl. Four teams have never even reached one. CBS Sports was there when the 12 teams held their most recent meeting.

posted by rcade to football at 11:15 AM - 4 comments

February 12, 2022

February 11, 2022

College Wrestling is Kind of a Big Deal: The sport of college wrestling has grown to the point that it can fill arenas with over 40,000 fans for special events. The latest occurs Saturday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington when the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes grapple the No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Bout at the Ballpark.

posted by rcade to other at 01:28 PM - 3 comments

NFL Playoff Pickem: Super Bowl 0x38 Edition: The Cincinnati Bengals host the visiting Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 0x38 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night. After three rounds of our pickem, Ic23b takes the lead at 108 over Tahoemoj at 101 and your correspondent at 85. Pick the game winner, the score, seven props and a tiebreaker. And tell us what you'll be eating and drinking during the game.

posted by rcade to football at 12:00 AM - 29 comments

February 10, 2022

Harden-Simmons Swap Leads Day of NBA Trades: The Nets sent James Harden and Paul Millsap to the Sixers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks. A four-team trade sent Serge Ibaka and two second-round picks to the Bucks; Marvin Bagley to the Pistons; Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Jackson and Trey Lyles to the Kings; and Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood to the Clippers. There are also reports that the Mavericks are sending Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertrans.

posted by rcade to basketball at 07:05 PM - 8 comments

February 09, 2022

A Bettor Will Win at 3,000-to-1 if Evan McPherson Scores First TD in Super Bowl 0x38: Circa Sports in Vegas is offering odds on nearly every player scoring the first touchdown in Super Bowl 0x38 on Sunday. Somebody took the bet on kicker Evan McPherson at 3,000 to 1. "If he scores the first touchdown, we're going to get clobbered," sportsbook manager Chris Bennett said. The favorites are Cooper Kupp and Joe Mixon.

posted by rcade to football at 10:51 AM - 1 comment

February 08, 2022

76ers and Nets May Swap Ben Simmons and James Harden: With the NBA trade deadline looming on Thursday, the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are reportedly discussing what it would take in other compensation to swap Ben Simmons for James Harden. "One of these teams is going to have to cave. It could legitimately be either one," writes Sam Quinn of CBS Sports.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:54 PM - 1 comment

February 07, 2022

NBA Pickem Week 17: Crooked Rim Edition: There are eight NBA games on this week's slate, beginning Tuesday night with a TNT doubleheader and ending with games on ABC Saturday and Sunday. I reclaimed the contest lead through the power of homerism when Mavericks beat the Heat last night. The_Black_Hand wins the week with 68. Make your picks and keep a close watch on your backboard and stanchion.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:27 AM - 12 comments

Saints Have 5 Candidates to Succeed Sean Payton: The New Orleans Saints are one of the last two teams with a head coaching vacancy along with the Minnesota Vikings. Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says these are the five candidates, ranked from most to least likely: Saints defense coordinator Dennis Allen, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, Saints special teams coordinator Dennis Rizzi and former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.

posted by rcade to football at 10:27 AM - 2 comments

February 06, 2022

Lakers Fans Beg Russell Westbrook Not to Shoot: If you're curious how the move to Los Angeles is going, Russell Westbrook got the ball late in a close game against the New York Knicks and the home fans for the Lakers could be heard pleading with him not to shoot. He did and missed. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports called it "one of the most surreal moments of my time covering the Lakers."

posted by rcade to basketball at 03:25 PM - 1 comment

February 05, 2022

February 04, 2022

What the USMNT Need to Qualify: The U.S. men have three more qualifying matches in late March: at Mexico, Panama (in Orlando) and at Costa Rica. They're in second place with 21 points and either three or four teams will get in. Here's a rundown on what they need to avoid another colossal national heartbreak.

posted by rcade to soccer at 02:34 PM - 4 comments

February 03, 2022

Ducks Hire Pat Verbeek as General Manager: The Little Ball of Hate is now running an NHL franchise. Pat Verbeek, an assistant GM for the Detroit Red Wings the past three seasons, now has the top job with the Anaheim Ducks. As a player he had 2,905 penalty minutes and won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

posted by rcade to hockey at 07:43 PM - 3 comments

February 02, 2022

Hail to the Washington Commanders: Washington's football team has announced the adoption of the new name Commanders and new uniforms that include a black alternate jersey and second helmet. The logo is a W, which gave the team a burgundy and golden opportunity to wax poetic about fonts: "[T]he W's angled cuts, bolded lines and serifs signify forward movement and progress. The slanted elements of the stripes bordering the 'W' are inspired by military rank insignia, helping to infuse the familiar mark with elements of the team's new identity."

posted by rcade to football at 09:15 AM - 14 comments

February 01, 2022

Accidental Bill Belichick Text Messages At Center Of Brian Flores Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against NFL, Giants: Bill Belichick texted the wrong Brian to congratulate him for getting the Giants’ head coaching a job, according to a lawsuit filed by former Dolphins head coach and former Patriots assistant coach Brian Flores. As a result, Brian Flores has filed suit against the NFL and its franchises and it's a helluva read (PDF).

posted by NoMich to football at 05:19 PM - 11 comments

Tom Brady Retires: After 22 seasons, Tom Brady is taking his seven Lombardi trophies, five Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs, six All-Pros, 15 Pro Bowls, most touchdown passes and most passing yards and going home.

posted by rcade to football at 11:27 AM - 9 comments

NBA Pickem Week 16: Steph's Gonna Steph Edition: There are nine NBA games to pick this week, starting with tonight's TNT doubleheader of Wizards/Bucks and Nets/Suns. In our pickem, Geekyguy retakes the lead after hitting all five locks. Scooby10672 also hit all five to win the week with 62. Make your picks and think twice before taunting.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:01 AM - 11 comments