Archives for January 2009

January 31, 2009

U.S Olympian gives silver to race opponent: A member of the U.S. Olympic track team, who was awarded the silver medal in the 200 meters, gave his medal to the man who finished second but was disqualified.

posted by jjzucal to olympics at 08:33 PM - 5 comments

NFL Hall of Fame Admits Bob Hayes, Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson: Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and owner Ralph Wilson also were inducted. "He scored a TD every 5.2 times he caught the ball," sportswriter Jean-Jacques Taylor writes of Hayes. "[His] call is long overdue." Last year, Hayes and Derrick Thomas were two of NFL.Com's top 10 players not in the hall.

posted by rcade to football at 03:00 PM - 12 comments

January 30, 2009

Baseball Words: The words we use in baseball are so much more well, let's say gentlemanly and childlike and comfortable. Just about every word or phrase can of corn, bang-bang play, dinger, tater, gopher ball, round-tripper, sinker, slider, sounds like something a small child came up with long ago. A fight is a rhubarb. A rundown is a pickle. A knuckleball dances. And when there are men standing on base, you can still say that there a ducks on the pond.

posted by justgary to baseball at 06:31 PM - 8 comments

Gearing Up for the Big Day - 43 reasons to watch the SB : Also, if you have not prepared yourself to blow away all your friends with a mind-numbing array of Super Bowl knowledge, now you can. Which SB team was the best? Worst? Did the MVP really deserve it? Was the game the most exciting thing that happened that day? Now, you can leave that party knowing that you have a least one less friend you left humiliated during your drunken display of useless SB intelligence.

posted by BoKnows to football at 05:22 PM - 6 comments

January 29, 2009

Troy Polamalu could have been a baseball player: Story about how Pittsburgh Steelers star safety, Troy Polamalu, could have been an Atlanta Braves center fielder.

posted by jjdm to football at 11:15 PM - 8 comments

Tming is Everything: Rather than bore you with a measly "Top 10" list, or a "Best of", I'll visually overload you with some of the most perfectly timed photographs in sports. And for your viewing pleasure, a few extra links to the funny, sexy, slutty, and most action packed photos taken in the recent past. Enjoy! (NSFW)

posted by BoKnows to general at 06:13 PM - 4 comments

January 28, 2009

Best Fan Day Ever: When Philly fan Lionel Rodia suffered some bad fortune, he decided to push what luck he had left.

posted by Mr Bismarck to baseball at 11:41 PM - 19 comments

A New Trifecta: Three goals is considered a hat trick, and three strikes is a K, right? I wonder what moniker can be placed on this feat? A goal dis-allowed, a red card, and an ejection, in about 30 seconds. Oh, and if that isn't enough, the official had to be escorted from the game by police escort. Man, I wish I could understand Italian. Youtube video of event here.

posted by BoKnows to soccer at 08:16 PM - 14 comments

Kevin Pietersen is still the main man: A nice antidote to the whirlwind of crazy nonsense that has engulfed the England cricket team.

posted by nthdegx to other at 07:57 AM - 2 comments

January 27, 2009

Dead athletes' brains show stunning damage: Researchers using new technology to study brain tissue from dead NFL athletes say they're surprised at how extensive the damage is from concussions. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage now has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Some of the symptoms include "...depression, sleep disorders and mental fatigue."

posted by dusted to football at 01:00 PM - 17 comments

January 26, 2009

Joe Torre's final days with the Yankees: Ex Yankee Manager Joe Torre gives a revealing account of his last days with the Yankees in his new book. The Daily News, the New York Post and the New York Times weigh in as well. Co-Author Tom Verducci responds to criticism of Torre.

posted by cjets to baseball at 03:02 PM - 15 comments

Coach Indicted in Teen Athlete's Heat Exhaustion Death: Kentucky high school football coach Jason Stinson has been indicted for reckless homicide by a grand jury after one of his players died following practice. Max Gilpin, 15, collapsed during an Aug. 20 summer practice and died three days later. Coach Stinson allegedly denied players water as they ran "gasser" sprints repeatedly until one player volunteered to quit the team. "The coach [said] numerous times that all he needed was one person to say that they quit the team and all of the suffering and running and heat would be over," said a parent who observed the practice.

posted by rcade to football at 01:48 PM - 17 comments

Iran Fines Soccer Officials for Mixed Mens/Womens Game: Several team officials were suspended in Iran for violating Islamic law by allowing a women's team to face its youth men's team.

posted by jjzucal to soccer at 12:58 PM - 5 comments

January 25, 2009

Kay was a treasure: Kay Yow, long time NC State women's basketball coach, finally succumbs to breast cancer at the age of 66. "I need to make a difference in the lives of other people," she said in 2002 when she was named The News & Observer's Tar Heel of the Year. "If I'm not doing that, I've missed the whole point of my gift of life."

posted by NoMich to basketball at 10:11 AM - 8 comments

January 24, 2009

Defending Cup champs go unrepresented in All-Star game, and lose 2 stars for a game because of it.: Lidstrom and Datsyuk opt out of Sunday's farce to nurse nagging injuries, but because of a rule instated last season, they'll have to also sit out Detroit's game against Columbus on Tuesday. Sidney Crosby, Bettman's golden boy, will not be punished for sitting out the All-Star game, however...

posted by MeatSaber to hockey at 01:27 AM - 15 comments

January 23, 2009

Doesn't Congress have anything better to do?: Some House members protested Florida's BCS championship by voting "no" or "present" on a resolution commending the Gators. Which leads to a good question: with all the insanity going on in the world, why are members spending time on this?

posted by jjzucal to football at 10:10 PM - 11 comments

Chuck Noll, the only coach with 4 Super Bowls rings: Did you know who he was or remember him? Maybe his players didn't either. Very interesting read.

posted by gfinsf to football at 06:26 AM - 5 comments

Covenant School seeks forfeit of 100-0 win over Dallas Academy: Christian school's 100-0 win over a small school of the learning disabled realizes, eventually, that it was a bad idea.

posted by bobfoot to basketball at 12:09 AM - 44 comments

January 22, 2009

McGwire's Brother: He Used Steroids (and I Injected Him Myself): The estranged brother of Mark McGwire is circulating a book proposal that claims he gave McGwire high-end steroids beginning in 1994, Deadspin reported last night. "Deca-Durabolin helped with his joint problems and recovery, while growth hormone helped his strength, making him leaner in the process," Jay McGwire writes. "I became the first person to inject him, like most first-timers he couldn’t plunge in the needle himself. ... My bringing the truth to surface about Mark is out of love." ESPN offers more details.

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:21 PM - 9 comments

America's Team Idol: Hopefully, background checks will be required.

posted by BoKnows to football at 06:50 PM - 9 comments

The not-so-Super Team: 53 NFL greats that have never been to the championship game. (USA Today)

posted by BoKnows to football at 01:12 AM - 13 comments

January 21, 2009

Fifteen: the new 30 in figure skating. : One wonders what we are doing to these young women in the name of sport. The little jumping beans are rising and falling faster than ever.

posted by BoKnows to other at 10:50 PM - 3 comments

PETA withdraws offer to Vick: PETA withdrew an offer to Michael Vick for an anti-animal abuse commercial after he leaves prison. Vick's people reportedly wanted PETA to offer its support for Vick to return to the NFL.

posted by jjzucal to football at 09:46 PM - 20 comments

Best lines in hockey: Gordie, The Golden Jet, the Kraut Line, the Grind Line, Rocket and Toe. What was the best all time line in hockey? (SI-in photos)

posted by BoKnows to hockey at 03:35 PM - 19 comments

The Pop Rocks love them Steelers: A band made up of kids between the ages of 11 and 13 from Harmony, PA remake Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker" with new lyrics to honor the Steelers, and specifically the team's defense. Link is to a YouTube video. [via Blog 'n' Gold]

posted by scully to football at 09:49 AM - 2 comments

Manchester United No Longer America's Team: AIG, the giant insurer acquired by the U.S. government late last year, is ending its sponsorship of Manchester United when the $78 million current deal expires in 2010. Sponsorships provide the team with one-third of its revenues, and as Forbes observes, "If it can't get a new sponsor to pay out a similar or higher amount ... club owner Malcolm Glazer will find it even harder to repay the debts he saddled the team with when he bought it in 2005."

posted by rcade to soccer at 09:48 AM - 5 comments

January 20, 2009

Inside the Cardinals and Steelers Playbooks: The New York Times uses Michael Tanier of FootballOutsiders.Com -- and a cool computer simulation -- to teach two plays by the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Times' preview of the game will spook some Cards fans. "The Steelers are capable of completely shutting the Cardinals down," writes Judy Battista.

posted by rcade to football at 08:35 PM - 4 comments

January 18, 2009

Steelers Will Face Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII: The Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals will meet Feb. 1 in the Super Bowl, bringing together owners whose families have been in the NFL since the 1930s. This is the Cardinals first trip to the Super Bowl and the Steelers' seventh. "Arizona, on the other hand, has won more playoff games this month (three) than in it had in the franchise's first 87 years (two)," observes Rich Gosselin.

posted by rcade to football at 10:49 PM - 44 comments

January 16, 2009

Gruden is Gone.: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired head coach Jon Gruden after 7 years of service. GM Bruce Allen was also let go.

posted by lilnemo to football at 07:36 PM - 11 comments

The Hoser's NFL Postseason Picks, Week 3 2008: NFL postseason picks that just can't wait for this year's thrilling Pro Bowl.

posted by wfrazerjr to football at 12:16 PM - 13 comments

Laver Says He's Not The Greatest: As the first Grand Slam of the year begins in Melbourne, a look back with the only player to have won all four Grand Slams in a single year. Twice. As an amateur and again as a professional. And he thinks Roger could do it...

posted by owlhouse to tennis at 05:06 AM - 5 comments

January 15, 2009

Soviet Hockey Cards: from the 1970s glory era.

posted by rumple to hockey at 10:58 PM - 3 comments

Bonds in the clear?: Evidence suggests that the "Clear" was not a steroid and was legal.

posted by Landis to baseball at 10:43 AM - 38 comments

January 14, 2009

Mayor Steelerstahl: Pittsburgh mayor begins process to change his name from Luke Ravenstahll to Luke Steelerstahl.

posted by scully to football at 01:32 PM - 18 comments

January 13, 2009

Miracle of Nice: It was a young hockey fan's dream come true: After the Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day, a Detroit player motioned to Kalan Plew, then handed him the stick he had used in the game. Moments later, the Gurnee teenager and Red Wings fan was in tears. Just outside the stadium, a man in an official-looking jacket told Kalan he could not keep the stick, took it and disappeared.

posted by BoKnows to hockey at 10:06 PM - 4 comments

The 180 Shooter.: ClipperBlog shares a reader's e-mail about "pure shooters".

posted by lilnemo to basketball at 05:53 PM - 1 comment

Male Limo Driver Accuses Knicks' Curry of Sex Harassment: The former limo driver for New York Knicks' center Eddy Curry has filed a sexual harassment suit accusing him of repeatedly approaching him for sex, pointing a loaded gun at him and deriding him as a "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK." Curry denies the allegations, which made today's New York Post, and his lawyer pointed out that driver David Kuchinsky is an ex-con.

posted by rcade to basketball at 04:53 PM - 7 comments

January 12, 2009

Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice make this year's MLB Hall of Fame: Henderson is a first-time ballot inductee while Rice was on his final year of eligibility.

posted by NoMich to baseball at 09:29 PM - 13 comments

Quiet Strength ... : The only NFL player since the AFL-NFL merger to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game—as well as the first NFL coach to defeat all 32 teams—has retired.

posted by scully to football at 03:49 PM - 32 comments

Broncos Hire Josh McDaniels as Head Coach: Josh McDaniels, the 32-year-old offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, has been hired by the Denver Broncos as head coach, replacing Mike Shanahan. He becomes the third-youngest coach in NFL history. "He looks like a college student," writes Woody Paige.

posted by rcade to football at 01:54 PM - 6 comments

January 11, 2009

Ravens, Cardinals, Eagles and Steelers Advance in NFL Playoffs: For the first time since 1971 (and the second time ever), three road teams won NFL playoff games in the same weekend. The visiting Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles join the surviving home team Pittsburgh Steelers and advance to the conference championships. The biggest surprise has to be the Cardinals, who seek their first NFL championship since 1947, a game that longtime owner Bill Bidwill worked as a ballboy.

posted by rcade to football at 08:22 PM - 7 comments

January 10, 2009

The Hoser's NFL Postseason Picks, Week 2 2008: NFL postseason picks that are very, very concerned about Oprah's weight problems.

posted by wfrazerjr to football at 12:24 PM - 17 comments

January 09, 2009

I know the Ruskies are tough, but this is ridiculous!: Coach is fired during the second intermission of a game .. team rebounds to win.

posted by jjzucal to hockey at 11:35 PM - 3 comments

Rafa does a Keegan?: Sir Alex gets under the skin of yet another title contender, as Benitez lashes out against perceived favourable treatment of Fergie and Man Utd in terms of the fixture list, disciplinary action and criticism of referees. No comment on whether Rafa would love it if they beat 'em.

posted by etagloh to soccer at 04:47 PM - 7 comments

Tim Tebow Leads Florida to BCS Title Over Oklahoma: In an MVP performance in which he accounted for 340 of Florida's 480 total yards, including a game-clinching jump pass touchdown in the fourth quarter and 109 yards rushing, quarterback Tim Tebow led the Florida Gators to a 24-14 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Championship game. "He's one of those guys that you give him your best shot, he's going to get back up," said Sooners safety Nic Harris.

posted by rcade to football at 08:56 AM - 31 comments

January 08, 2009

Stats Guru Bill James dissects the BCS: A precise encapsulation of all that is wrong with College Football rankings.

posted by rumple to football at 01:13 PM - 2 comments

Kevin Pietersen: big gamble that failed when going got tough: Insight from ex-England cricket captain Michael Atherton on Kevin Pietersen's "resignation" and the implosion of the England cricket team 6 months before a home Ashes series.

posted by nthdegx to other at 08:00 AM - 8 comments

January 07, 2009

I fight because it's my job, not because I like it.: Georges Laraque writes his final blog of TSN.ca on hickey fighting. It's a fantastic read with some interesting insight on the world of hockey fights.

posted by Punkrockrat to hockey at 10:21 PM - 21 comments

Cowboys Find A Cure For "Pac Man Fever...": The Dallas Cowboys cut troubled cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones. The second-year player's contract will be officially terminated on February 9, the first day NFL teams are allowed to process such transactions.

posted by The_Black_Hand to football at 06:38 PM - 6 comments

BC coach fired for Jets' interview: The coach of Boston College reportedly has been fired because he interviewed for the New York Jets' head coaching position.

posted by jjzucal to football at 03:40 PM - 15 comments

Does the BCS violate antitrust laws?: Utah's AG is investigating the possibility of a suit against the BCS

posted by tahoemoj to football at 10:34 AM - 18 comments

January 06, 2009

Photos from the Wimbledon men's final, 2008: Marc Aspland is the multi-award winning Chief Sports Photographer for the Times. This is his collection of photographs, and some of his comments on them, from what he considers to be "possibly the best men's final I shall ever see in my lifetime". If you need a quick reminder, there are highlights of the match here, and some terrible poetry reading from the main protagonists here.

posted by JJ to tennis at 10:19 AM - 5 comments

January 05, 2009

Playing Golf May Damage Your Hearing: The sound made by striking thin-faced titanium clubs from manufacturers such as King Cobra, Callaway, Mizuno and Nike can damage your hearing, according to a new study by ear, nose and throat doctors. "Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals," said Dr Malcom Buchanan, the lead researcher. The loudest club was the Ping G10, which you can hear in a YouTube video.

posted by rcade to golf at 09:59 AM - 13 comments

January 03, 2009

Raymond van Barneveld comes up with a 9-darter: in the PDC world championship. The crowd and commentators go wild. (Him, not so much.)

posted by etagloh to other at 12:03 AM - 13 comments

January 02, 2009

NASCAR Tests Possible Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow.: HAMPTON, Ga. -- NASCAR officials confirmed Sunday plans to have a Car of Tomorrow chassis tentatively in place for the 2009 Nationwide Series season.

posted by BMoskowitz to auto racing at 01:14 PM - 1 comment

Don Sanderson is dead.: Will it mean anything? Unlikely.

posted by DrJohnEvans to hockey at 12:13 PM - 17 comments

January 01, 2009

Aloha, Hawaii:: Barring a schedule change, next season's Pro Bowl will take place Jan. 31, 2010, with the Super Bowl that year on Feb. 7. The league's plan is for players on the AFC and NFC championship squads not to take part in the Pro Bowl.

posted by BoKnows to football at 01:35 PM - 13 comments

Power Play: The Blazer score what turns out to be a crucial basket on the Celtics with an extra player on the floor. Surprisingly the Blazers employed no subterfuge and left all six players on the court to be spotted by the refs. After discovering the mistake officials still let the basket stand.

posted by HATER 187 to basketball at 03:26 AM - 8 comments