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

Dolphins Dump Chad Johnson After Arrest: The Miami Dolphins have terminated wide receiver Chad Johnson's contract 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife. Johnson's wife Evelyn Lozada accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. He's been charged with misdemeanor simple domestic battery.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 11:45 PM - 24 comments

Rams Trade #2 Overall Pick to Washington: Washington is expected to use the pick to select Quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Rams receive three first-round picks, (2012, 2013, 2014), as well as this year’s second-round selection.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 11:30 PM - 10 comments

Glasgow Rangers Football Club Enter Administration: Winners of 54 Scottish Championships, 60 Scottish cup competitions and a European Cup Winners Cup, Rangers choose to enter administration on their own terms before HMRC could force the club to accept an Administrator of Her Majesty's choosing over tax debts.

They will almost certainly suffer a ten point penalty as a result, effectively handing the Scottish title to main rivals Celtic.

Glasgow clubs Rangers and Celtic dominate Scottish football to the extent that no one else has been crowned the country's champion since Aberdeen in 1984/85. Celtic claim they don't need Rangers despite the threat of the SPL becoming a one horse race.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 10:35 AM - 9 comments

Fabio Capello Resigns As England Manager: After publicly criticising The Football Association's decision to strip John Terry of England Captaincy, Capello quit at a meeting with the FA chairman and General Secretary.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 03:54 PM - 11 comments

One Team 25 Years On: Examining the physical impact of playing football, Sports Illustrated speak to members of the 1986 Cincinnati Bengals. "Of the 39 players surveyed ... 36 players said they are bothered by an NFL-related ailment from their years in the game."

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 12:53 PM - 1 comment

Wales Manager Gary Speed Found Dead: Cheshire police confirm that Speed, who was the first player to make 500 appearances in England's Premier League and added 85 appearances for his country, was found dead in his home. The Football Association of Wales have stated that Speed took his own life.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 09:06 AM - 4 comments

Tony Sparano Is Overmatched: Mike Tanier looks at what it takes to be "the CEO of a multi-billion dollar operation" and how just hiring the hot coordinator may be missing the point.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 10:45 AM - 2 comments

Al Davis' Strategic Legacy: Chris Brown of smartfootball looks at the vertical stretch concepts of the Al Davis offence.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 09:23 AM - 4 comments

The Best Passing Quarterback Ever: Today Anthony Calvillo of the Montreal Alouettes became professional football's passing yardage leader with 72,429 yards.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 05:14 PM - 3 comments

The Best Offence In the NFL: Spend an hour installing the West Coast Offence with the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals. The 88 Bengals ranked number one in scoring offence and won the AFC Championship.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 09:40 AM - 3 comments

1961 Larry Merchant Would Kick Floyd Mayweather's Ass: After Floyd Mayweather's controversial sucker-punch knockout of Victor Ortiz in their welterweight title fight Saturday night, Mayweather went off on ring announcer Larry Merchant during a live interview (video). Merchant responded to Mayweather's insults by telling the enraged boxer, "I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass."

posted by Mr Bismarck to boxing at 01:31 PM - 58 comments

Dave Duerson And The Brain Bank: Before the former American football player Dave Duerson killed himself, he asked that his brain be left to researchers studying head injuries among athletes. What it revealed shocked the scientists.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 08:26 AM - 8 comments

American Buys Gunners: Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams, Nuggets, Avalanche and Rapids is set to raise his stake in Arsenal Football Club to 62% - a move that would require him to make an offer for all remaining shares.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 04:48 PM - 4 comments

Save Me From Myself: Daniel Geey of European law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse with a long-form essay about the impact of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules on Liverpool Football Club.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 11:36 AM - 4 comments

Parity vs. Greatness: "Winning a title in European soccer, like having fox-hunting experience or standing near Charlotte Casiraghi, is largely a matter of pedigree." - Brian Phillips of Run of Play looks at "the most important debate in sports."

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 11:13 AM - 4 comments

A New Home for Football Writing: the Blizzard is a new quarterly publication for journalists and authors to write the football stories that matter to them. Issue Zero is available for free pay-what-you-like.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 09:12 AM - 5 comments

Lucky Black Cats: Swiss Ramble looks at the money required to be a middling Premiership team.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 09:43 AM - 1 comment

World's Second Best Ronaldo Retires : After a disappointing career featuring only two World Cups and three World Player of the Year awards, Ronaldo Luís Nazario de Lima has announced his retirement.

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 03:08 PM - 9 comments

England Win Freaking Cricket Match: Victory in Melbourne saw England retain the Ashes for the first time in 24 years and hand Australia their first ever home series with two innings defeats. Despite no clear successor, there are calls for Australian Captain Ricky Ponting to step aside.

posted by Mr Bismarck to other at 08:36 AM - 5 comments

Jets Coach Trips Dolphins Player: New York Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi intentionally tripped Miami Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll during a punt in the team's 10-6 loss Sunday. "My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for," Alosi said.

posted by Mr Bismarck to football at 09:22 AM - 47 comments

Andrew Flintoff Announces Retirement: A talisman to English cricket, the bowler of that over (Minute by Minute - look for the 12th over), "Freddy" Flintoff has hung up his bat after failing to fully recover from injuries suffered in the 2009 ashes series.

posted by Mr Bismarck to other at 11:05 AM - 6 comments

The King of Spin: On the last day of his Test career, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Murilitharan becomes the first bowler to take 800 Test wickets. Having announced his retirement earlier in the year, Murali captured his 800th test wicket with the last ball of the match; his last ball in test cricket. A test career plagued with controversy over an alleged throwing action (discussed in this show: part 1, part 2) came to a spectacular end as he had India's Ojah caught by Mahela at first slip. Some people maintain that he was a "chucker" (despite plenty of evidence to the contrary); others just think he was the best off-spinner the game has ever seen. A montage and some great pictures from his career.

posted by Mr Bismarck to other at 07:44 AM - 9 comments

The Two Escobars: On June 22 1994 Colombian Defender Andres Escobar scored an own goal in a World Cup Group Match against the USA which the South Americans would eventually lose 2-1. Ten days later Escobar was shot and killed. Now ESPN's 30-for-30 series looks at the connection between Andres Escobar and Pablo Escobar and between drug money and football in Colombia. [More Inside]

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 12:17 AM - 1 comment

Classic Clasico! : This weekend el Clasico may decide whether the Spanish title goes to Madrid or Barcelona. Today, the Guardian looks at six of the best from past years, (with Youtube links where possible).

posted by Mr Bismarck to soccer at 10:25 AM - 2 comments