Bernie Ecclestone loses mind. Ecclestone says Formula One will use a medals system next year to decide the title. "When asked if it was fair that someone who wins six races but doesn't finish any others beats someone who had finished every race in second place, Ecclestone replied: "He'll have to try harder next year."" Eddie Jordan remains unconvinced. read more
November 30
Brian Burke era begins in Toronto. After much speculation, Brian Burke was named president and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's already closed the book on Mats Sundin's return. He's got a lot of work ahead of him.
November 29
Giants' Receiver Burress Shoots Leg in Gun Accident New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg with his own gun at a New York City club Friday night. The injury required hospitalization but is not life-threatening, a source told Newsday. Burress had a concealed weapon permit in Florida that might be active, but New York does not recognize the permit so he could face charges.
November 27
The Hoser's NFL Picks, Week 13 2008 NFL picks that wonder if anyone really ever wants the neck. read more
November 26
Change Citi Field to Citi/Taxpayer Field? Two New York City Council members say that Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout by sharing the naming rights to the new Mets ballpark in Queens. read more
November 25
NFL Will Broadcast Raiders/Chargers in 3D The Thursday night game on Dec. 4 between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders will be broadcast live in 3-D to theaters in three cities: Los Angeles, New York and Boston. "We want to demonstrate this and let people get excited about it and see what the future holds," said NFL veep Howard Katz.
Pirates sign 2 Indian pitchers — and, no, not from Cleveland The two 20-year-old pitchers, neither of whom had picked up a baseball until earlier this year, signed free-agent contracts Monday with the Pirates. They are believed to be the first athletes from India to sign professional baseball contracts outside their country.
November 24
QMJHL suspends another Roy son The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League suspended another of Patrick Roy's sons Monday, handing Quebec Remparts forward Frdrick Roy fifteen games for a high-sticking incident during Friday night's game against the Juniors in Montreal.
November 23
Calgary Stamps Als for Grey Cup win That huge smile on Henry Burris' face may never go away. For Burris, there was a little shake, a little rattle, a little roll, and a whole lot of thanks to his defence, on the way to his first Grey Cup championship as a starting quarterback, his statement in a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes tonight in front of the second largest crowd, 66,308, in the 96-year-history of the game. The Stamps outscored Montreal 12-1 in the second half. When was the last time a CFL team, any CFL team, held an opponent to one point in a half?
November 22
Billionaire's new game plan: Balsillie to make another bid for Predators Billionaire Jim Balsillie, whose fervent desire to bring another NHL team to Canada has made him the scourge of league officials, is expected to make his third attempt in less than 2 years to buy a franchise. Sources say Mr. Balsillie, the 47-year-old co-founder of the BlackBerry (R.I.M.) and lifelong hockey fan, is considering the final terms of an offer to acquire a 27% stake in the Nashville Predators, whose backer filed for bankruptcy last June. "I'm going to get my name on the Cup one way or another," he said when he offered to buy the Penguins in Oct.'06, for $175-million.
November 21
Old Baltimore Stallion fans never die Call it the U.S. branch of Canadian football's fan club.
More than a decade after their Baltimore Stallions left town, a band of pigskin diehards from Maryland have made the trek to Montreal to watch Sunday's Grey Cup. Gregg Dieghorn said their presence at Grey Cup events across Canada has made them celebrities. "When you come to watch Canadian football from the States, people are just amazed.
" He said his wife joined him on a Grey Cup trip a few years ago and she described it as "a combination frat party, college reunion and oh, yeah, there's a football game at the end."
The Knicks Shed Some Cap It looks like the Knicks are trying to dig out of the Isaiah Thomas mess by shedding salary. This is not going to help the Knicks' performance this year. When I watched their game against Boston, Jamal Crawford appeared to be the only player interested in playing.
November 20
The Hoser's NFL Picks, Week Twelve 2008 NFL picks that really miss Sarah Palin. Seriously. It was that whole Tina Fey "hot in glasses" thing.
November 19
MLB vs. NPB To court or not to court? That is the question.
Golfer Plays Illegal Ball in PGA Qualifying Round After two rounds of PGA Tour qualifying last week, golfer J.P. Hayes made an excruciating discovery -- a ball he had used during the first round was a Titleist prototype that wasn't approved for competition. He could say nothing and go on to a likely berth in the final qualifying stage in December or turn himself in and be disqualified. "I called an official in Houston that night and said, 'I think I may have a problem,'" he said.
Official nears final whistle after 30 years Jake Ireland had barely cracked the lid on his coffee.
"I heard a new line from a fan this year," he said, smiling.
It was in Hamilton, and Ireland, a long-time referee, has always loved working
C.F.L. games in Hamilton. The stands at Ivor Wynne Stadium are snug against the field, which fosters the growth of a certain rapport between officials and the paying customers, like the one who yelled at Ireland this season.
"Jake," the man yelled. "I found your cell phone."
There was a pause.
"I know it's yours," he continued, "because there's six missed calls on it."
November 18
Football: Swazi women's team win 33-0 A Swazi women football team's ambitious target of scoring 150 goals this season inched closer at the weekend after walloping a rival team 33-0 - a rate of one goal nearly every three minutes.
MLB MVPs Announced Albert Pujols wins the NL MVP; Dustin Pedroia takes the AL honors. Rob Neyer makes a pretty compelling case that it could have been Lance Berkman in the NL and Joe Mauer in the AL, King Kaufman weighs in on the voting, and Baseball Prospectus takes a look at the AL candidates.
November 17
NFL overtime rules? Don't ask McNabb "No, I didn't know that," Donovan McNabb said at his postgame press conference, saying he was not aware that one overtime is all you get in the NFL in the regular season. Then McNabb compounded his error by not knowing the postseason overtime rule. Those games do play to a conclusion for obvious reasons, but McNabb said, "I hate to see what happens in the Super Bowl or I hate to see what happens in the playoffs. You have to settle with a tie." A real student of the game.
Lesnar proves size does matter Despite it coming just weeks after Bernard Hopkins proved that a 45-year-old combat athlete doesn't have to turn into primordial paste in the ring, returning UFC champion Randy Couture -- as much an MMA institution as the cage itself -- failed in his attempt to write yet another storybook epilogue to a peerless career.
Mark Cuban Accused of Insider Trading Entrepreneur Mark Cuban, owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, was charged Monday by the Securities and Exchange Commission with insider trading.
November 15
"I really haven't seen them play...slidepiece...Dave Concepcion." FJM goes dark. read more
This Page is Illegal in Argentina, Thanks to Diego Maradona Diego Maradona and more than 100 other public figures in Argentina have secured court orders blocking the Argentine versions of Google and Yahoo from all search results for their names except for those on major media sites. "Without the link in Google or Yahoo, nobody would even know these [other] sites exist," said Martin Leguizamon, attorney for Maradona and other celebs.
November 14
Tampa Bay no longer Melrose's place. The Tampa Bay Lightning fire first-year head coach Barry Melrose after just a month and a half. The Lightning take a gamble on Rick Tocchet for the interim.
Kerry Wood and Cubs Parting Ways The Cubs all but said goodbye to their closer Thursday, announcing they wouldn't give him a multiyear contract and wishing him well in his free agency endeavors. He's about to become a much richer man. read more