04/19/24
Archives for February 2011
February 28, 2011
Legendary KC Broadcaster Bill Grigsby Dies : Whether you liked him or not, Bill Grigsby was the unmistakeable voice of the Chiefs for 46 years. He may have also been the inspiration for Bob Uecker's character in the original 'Major League' drink in hand and all.
posted by Tinman to football at 03:57 PM - 3 comments
Boston: The 'Silicon Valley of Sports Analytics': The city of Boston is getting a reputation as the "Silicon Valley of sports analytics," the Boston Globe reports. The MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference takes place this week and is a "must-attend," said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Moneyball author Michael Lewis, who helped spark the analytics craze, says of Boston, "The area was perennially sort of a loser's town. You're now triumphant in everything because of it. It's amazing how dominant the Boston area teams are right now -- the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Patriots. And it really has a lot to do with embracing a new way of thinking about sports."
posted by rcade to general at 03:11 PM - 2 comments
Cheerleader Nearly Costs Louisville Game: Louisville cheerleader Jordan Alcazar threw the basketball in the air during the final second of the Cardinals' 62-59 win over the No. 4 Pitt Panthers, drawing a technical foul that could have cost them the game. Free throws cut the lead to 3 but a half-court heave by Ashton Gibbs failed to go in. "All good things come to an end and the male cheerleader has come to an end," Rick Pitino joked after the game.
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:22 AM - 6 comments
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments
February 27, 2011
Jeff Gordon Ends 66-Race Winless Streak: Avoiding early-race carnage that included a 13-car wreck, Jeff Gordon won for the first time in 67 Sprint Cup starts, holding off Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson in Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix.
posted by rcade to auto racing at 08:37 PM - 4 comments
Duke Snider, Brooklyn Dodger Great, Is Dead at 84: Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder renowned for his home run drives and superb defensive play in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ glory years, died Sunday in Escondido, California. "They used to run a box in the New York papers comparing me to Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays,” Snider recalled on the eve of his 1980 induction into the Hall of Fame. “It was a great time for baseball.”
posted by tommytrump to baseball at 08:19 PM - 8 comments
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 10 comments
February 26, 2011
Stupid Contract Perks: Rafael Furcal re-upped with the Dodgers because they gave him a totally impractical vehicle.
posted by yerfatma to baseball at 10:45 PM - 10 comments
Infamous Baseball Wife Swap May Become Film: In 1973, New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson showed up at spring training and announced that they had swapped wives. Peterson acquired the rights to Susanne Kekich and Kekich landed Marilyn Peterson. They also exchanged family dogs. Fritz Peterson got the better end of the deal -- he and Susanne are still married but the other couple hit waivers after four months. Ben and Casey Affleck and Matt Damon are working on a movie about the deal. How much is Red Sox fan Ben Affleck enjoying the prospect of making the movie, which would star him and Damon as the pitchers and potentially Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz or Rebecca Hall as the catchers? "Guys [bleep]ing each others' wives," he said, "that's those Yankees."
posted by rcade to baseball at 02:08 PM - 6 comments
Team protest?: The Detroit Pistons are in disarray. An owner trying to dump the team, players that don't show up, and a coach in the middle.
posted by roberts to basketball at 07:35 AM - 0 comments
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments
February 25, 2011
Rex Ryan Guarantees Super Bowl Victory: "I believe this is the year we're going to do it. I believe this is the year we're going to win the Super Bowl. The fact is, I thought we'd win it the first two years. I guarantee we'll win it this year." -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan at the NFL Scouting Combine
posted by rcade to football at 04:37 PM - 19 comments
What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark?: An entertaining article about Rickey Henderson's quirks by Tom Verducci.
posted by reenum to baseball at 04:07 PM - 2 comments
Celtics Trade Perkins to Thunder, Get Green: The Boston Celtics traded center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green, center Nenad Krstic a 2012 first-round draft pick and cash. "No one saw a deal of this magnitude coming," writes Bob Ryan.
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:06 AM - 15 comments
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 2 comments
February 24, 2011
Hank Aaron's One Regret: "I have to look back over my career and say the only thing I have some regret about is that I did not win a triple crown," Hall of Famer Hank Aaron said in an interview Wednesday. The closest he game was in 1957, when he led the National League with 44 homers and 132 RBI and was fourth with a .322 average (Stan Musial led with .351).
posted by rcade to baseball at 12:42 PM - 6 comments
NCAA President: No Pay for Athletes: The NCAA's new president said that there will be no payments for athletes on his watch. "They are student-athletes. They are not our employees, they don't work for us," said Mark Emmert. "They get to have experiences that very few students get a chance to enjoy." College football generated $2.2 billion in revenue in 2010. College basketball generated $4.55 billion in ad revenue from 2000 to 2009.
posted by rcade to general at 11:39 AM - 58 comments
Clippers Trade Baron Davis to Cavaliers for Mo Williams, Jamario Moon: The good times appear to be over for Baron Davis in Los Angeles. As we approach Thursday's trade deadline, the hits just keep on coming. The latest deal has the Clippers sending Davis to the Cavaliers, along with an unprotected 2011 first round draft pick in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 08:04 AM - 6 comments
Saints Cut Jeremy Shockey: The New Orleans Saints have cut tight end Jeremy Shockey, a member of their 2010 Super Bowl winning team. Shockey, who turns 31 in August, caught 41 passes for 408 yards last season, the lowest numbers of his nine-year NFL career.
posted by rcade to football at 07:57 AM - 6 comments
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments
February 23, 2011
Caltech Ends 26-Year Conference Losing Streak: For the first time since Jan. 23, 1985, the Caltech Beavers have won a conference basketball game -- a 76-75 defeat of the Occidental Tigers that ends a 301-game losing streak. Their record in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference climbs to 1-13. "I was marinating in the moment," said head coach Oliver Eslinger. "Now we can concentrate on winning the SCIAC."
posted by rcade to basketball at 02:11 PM - 8 comments
Deron Williams Traded To Nets In Massive Coup For Mikhail Prokhorov: After missing out on Carmelo Anthony, the Nets have shocked the NBA world, trading instead for Utah Jazz superstar point guard Deron Williams.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 11:52 AM - 12 comments
Morneau Still Recovering from Concussion: Seven months after he took a knee to the head in a base-running collision, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is still out from the effects of his concussion and unsure of his status for opening day. "It's got its own timeline. It hasn't ever been up to me," he said.
posted by rcade to baseball at 09:18 AM - 4 comments
Fantasy NFL Draft?: An idea for a fantasy sports game involving the NFL Draft.
posted by apoch to fantasy at 09:09 AM - 4 comments
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments
February 22, 2011
Bangladesh madly in love with cricket: ESPN sends Wright Thompson to Dhaka, Bangladesh to witness the fervency of the fans at the Cricket World Cup.
posted by reenum to other at 10:47 PM - 4 comments
Two-handed-bowler-wows-way-to-state-title: Is this a lefty or a righty? You gotta see his form, but it's a winner.
posted by Shotput to other at 08:47 PM - 2 comments
Roddick Takes a Dive, Wins Tournament: Finishing with the "best shot I've ever hit in my life," Andy Roddick defeated rising Canadian star Milos Raonic 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (11-13) 7-5 in the finals of the ATP Tour tournament in Memphis. Roddick is third among active players with 30 career titles, trailing only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
posted by rcade to tennis at 12:08 PM - 10 comments
Study: Stretching Does Not Prevent Running Injuries: Runners who stretched before running were no less likely to get injured, according to a new study of 2,000 runners by a George Washington University professor of sports medicine. "Over a period of three months, it did not make any difference if you stretched or didn't stretch before a run," Dr. Daniel Pereles said. The runners most likely to be injured were the ones who changed their routine, either from stretching to non-stretching or vice versa.
posted by rcade to other at 09:21 AM - 19 comments
Sacramento Kings Considering LA Move: The Sacramento Kings are considering the possibility of applying to the NBA at the league's March 1 deadline to relocate to Anaheim and play in the Honda Center. The Kings have played in Sacramento since 1985 after prior stops in Rochester, Cincinnati and Kansas City. "We have to look at all of our options at this point," said owner Joe Maloof.
posted by rcade to basketball at 08:08 AM - 4 comments
Knicks finally land Anthony: The Denver Nuggets have finally completed their long-awaited trade to send Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. The three-team, 12-player trade sends Anthony, Chauncey Billups and three teammates to the Knicks and Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and two others to the Nuggets along with a first-round pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Corey Brewer to New York and get money and some favorable cap space.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 07:14 AM - 7 comments
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 19 comments
February 21, 2011
Hank Steinbrenner Hammers Revenue Sharing: After contributing about $130 million to baseball's revenue sharing and the luxury tax this year, New York Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said something has to be done. "At some point if you don't want to worry about teams in minor markets, don't put teams in minor markets or don't leave teams in minor markets," he said. "Socialism, communism is never the answer."
posted by rcade to baseball at 07:05 PM - 22 comments
Mark Cuban Working on His Own College Football Playoff: Mark Cuban wants to create a playoff for Division I-A college football, and he's willing to offer schools millions of dollars to make it happen. He’s formed a limited liability company called Radical Football.
posted by bender to football at 08:48 AM - 5 comments
Rookie Driver Wins Daytona 500: In just his second Sprint Cup start, 20-year-old rookie driver Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500. In a race that featured a record 16 cautions and 74 lead changes, Bayne won the second green-white-checker finish on extended laps, holding off Carl Edwards. It's the first win for the Wood Brothers team since David Pearson in 1976 and its first Cup win since 2001.
posted by rcade to auto racing at 08:15 AM - 8 comments
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments
February 20, 2011
Michael Young Wants Out of Texas: Texas Rangers infielder Michael Young reported to spring training on time but is angry at team general manager Jon Daniels and expecting a trade. The Rangers signed Adrian Beltre during the off season, which cost Young his spot at third base, but something took place behind the scenes after he agreed to move to designated hitter. "A lot of things led up to this point," Young said. "I thought I would have been traded by now." Danny Knobler of CBS Sports doesn't believe a trade will happen this spring: "The Rangers won't make a deal that weakens their 2011 team, and no other kind of deal exists for them."
posted by rcade to baseball at 03:33 PM - 9 comments
Bears' Dave Duerson Commits Suicide: Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson was found dead in his south Florida condo Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 50. Duerson was a starter on the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl team and was the NFL's man of the year in 1987. He told family before his death he wanted his brain to be studied for signs of the disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
posted by rcade to football at 02:14 PM - 6 comments
Teen Bull Rider Dies in Florida: Brooke Ann Coats, a 16-year-old bull rider from Florida, collapsed at a Brandon rodeo Friday night after she was thrown from a bull and kicked in the chest. She died during surgery at Tampa General Hospital. Coats was wearing a helmet and vest during the amateur competition.
posted by rcade to other at 11:34 AM - 38 comments
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 11 comments
February 19, 2011
Kobe Bryant is The Black Mamba (directed by Robert Rodriguez): Woah.
posted by grum@work to basketball at 07:49 PM - 20 comments
St Louis & Colorado exchange 4 in blockbuster deal: Erik Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft and the projected face of the franchise for years to come, has been sent to the Colorado Avalanche. The Blues dealt Johnson and Jay McClement to the Avalanche for forward Chris Stewart and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who are both former first-round picks. In the deal, the Blues will also receive a conditional second-round pick in 2011 or 2012 and the Avs will get a conditional first-round pick in '11 or '12.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 05:27 PM - 5 comments
Wittels' Hitting Streak Ends at 56 Games: Florida International shortstop Garrett Wittels saw his hitting streak end at 56 games Friday night. Wittels went 0-for-4 against Southeastern Louisiana, ending the streak two games short of Robin Ventura's 58-game Division I record. "I know I'm second place in this, but I plan on playing baseball for a lot more years. And I'll break history another time," said Wittels, who has bigger troubles. He's currently out on bond, accused with two friends of raping two 17-year-olds in the Bahamas last December. His father Michael told the Miami Herald that his son is innocent of the charge.
posted by rcade to baseball at 08:19 AM - 13 comments
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 2 comments
February 18, 2011
Jim Gray 'removed' from Golf Channel coverage after confrontation: Three things that you can always bank on; death, taxes, and Jim Gray getting into it with some athlete or coach.
posted by BornIcon to golf at 03:22 PM - 12 comments
Colts cut Bob Sanders: The Indianapolis Colts have cut former NFL Defensive Player of the Year safety Bob Sanders, owner Jim Irsay announced today.
posted by BornIcon to football at 12:07 PM - 7 comments
Iowa High School Attempts 103 3-Pointers: The good news: West Burlington High School in Iowa set a new national record by attempting 103 3-point shots against Danville High School. The bad news: They only made eight, losing to undefeated Danville 109-25. "We were hoping that coming in averaging 24 or so percent (on 3-pointers), we could make 24 or 25," said coach Vern Reed. "Unfortunately that didn't happen."
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:22 AM - 7 comments
High School Wrestler Refuses to Face Female: A high school wrestler in Iowa forfeited a state tournament match Thursday because he refuses to compete against a female opponent. Joel Northrup would not wrestle Cassy Herkelman and released a statement: "As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner," he said in a written statement.
posted by cjets to other at 07:26 AM - 52 comments
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 13 comments
February 17, 2011
Four Celtics Make All-Star Team: The Boston Celtics have become the seventh team to put four players on an NBA All-Star team. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo will be reserves for the East. "They're going to play about four minutes," said Eastern Conference (and Celtics) coach Doc Rivers. "Then I'm going to play LeBron, Wade and those guys probably a good 46, 47 minutes."
posted by rcade to basketball at 02:59 PM - 10 comments
Tide Fan Poisons Auburn's Famous Trees: The 130-year-old oak trees at Auburn University's Toomer's Corner, a gathering place for fans after historic wins, have been poisoned with 65 times the lethal amount of the herbicide Spike 80DF. A caller to Paul Finebaum's radio show Jan. 27 claimed he did it and tests confirmed the poisoning. "The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," said a caller identifying himself as Al from Dadeville. "Roll Damn Tide" (more on moron).
posted by rcade to football at 02:40 PM - 19 comments
Grant Wahl for President!: I haven't been this excited since Cap ran for the office!
posted by yerfatma to soccer at 11:36 AM - 3 comments
Miguel Cabrera swigs from a bottle of scotch in front of a cop; gets arrested for DUI: After the sordid end to his 2009 season in which he drank himself into a jail cell the night before a critical season-ending series, Miguel Cabrera went on the wagon. He dedicated himself to sobriety during the winter of 2009-10, showed up to camp sharp and trim last year and went on to post an MVP-worthy season.
posted by BornIcon to baseball at 09:40 AM - 14 comments
High School Coach Bounced for Racial Slur: The head coach of the 15-0 Richmond Heights High School basketball team in Ohio has been relieved of his duties the rest of the season. Jason Popp told his players in a halftime rant, "Y'all are playing nigger ball. Y'all are not using your heads."
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:32 AM - 14 comments
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments
February 16, 2011
If EPL Clubs Were U.S. Sports Teams: ThePostGame offers a guide for fans of U.S. pro sports who'd like to adopt the Premier League but don't know who to follow, comparing each soccer club to the U.S. franchise it most closely matches. "We've sorted out the closest American comparisons for each of the 20 English clubs," it states. Detroit Lions fans will be at home supporting Wigan Athletic. "Both franchises are excellent at hanging around while achieving very little."
posted by rcade to soccer at 02:44 PM - 16 comments
NFL Makes Third Offer to Super Bowl 400: The NFL has made its third offer to the 400 Super Bowl ticketholders who missed seeing the game because of unsafe seats. The fans can be paid $5,000 or reimbursement for "actual documented" Super Bowl expenses, whichever is higher, said league spokesman Brian McCarthy. Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who is pursuing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of affected fans, called the offer insufficient. "The NFL and its lawyers need to come clean with the fans as to their right to full compensation and sit down with us to fairly resolve this matter," he said.
posted by rcade to football at 01:00 PM - 3 comments
Bob Arum: Only Whites Like MMA: Although boxing promoter Bob Arum credits mixed martial arts with a "marvelous job of marketing," he said the rival sport doesn't have broad appeal. "It's white males, and they have never been able to expand their demographic," he said. "The Hispanics don't care anything for it. Most African-Americans don't watch it. ... So the future success of UFC is limited. ... The only demographic that boxing has lost is the white, young males, period."
posted by rcade to boxing at 11:20 AM - 4 comments
Jake the Snake: You have to wonder why a red-blooded American male in his prime would walk away from fame and fortune as an NFL quarterback to play handball and hang with his family and his dogs. Don't you A profile of Jake "The Snake" Plummer (via MetaFilter).
posted by rcade to football at 10:48 AM - 8 comments
Gattuso Head Butts Spurs Assistant: AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso head-butted Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan after his club's 1-0 loss in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match Tuesday. The two clashed during the match as well and Gattuso pushed him. "Jordan was breaking my balls throughout the second half but that doesn't justify my reaction," Gattuso said. "We were both speaking Scottish given that I played in his country in Glasgow but I'm not going to say what was said."
posted by rcade to soccer at 08:45 AM - 7 comments
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 2 comments
February 15, 2011
Fiesta Bowl CEO Suspected of Illegal Political Donations: Longtime Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker has been put on leave while allegations are investigated that he encouraged employees to write checks to specific political candidates and reimbursed them through bonuses, which is a federal crime. A grand jury is looking into the matter.
posted by rcade to football at 11:21 AM - 2 comments
Forsberg's Foot Ends Comeback Bid: Two games into his comeback bid with the Colorado Avalanche, Peter Forsberg has retired over continued issues with his right foot. Since injuring it in 2003, Forsberg's foot "feels as if it's constantly slipping and sliding inside the skate," TSN reports.
posted by rcade to hockey at 09:47 AM - 15 comments
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 2 comments
February 14, 2011
What's This On My Golfball?: Tiger Woods is to be fined for spitting during Sunday's Dubai Desert Classic.
posted by texpat to golf at 03:47 PM - 10 comments
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
Illegal Swimmer Breaks Backstroke World Record: University of Texas swimmer Hill "Dolphin Man" Taylor completed a 50-meter backstroke at a competition in an astonishing 23.1 seconds, almost a second faster than the world record, but he was disqualified for swimming the entire race underwater.
posted by rcade to olympics at 10:18 AM - 11 comments
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments
February 13, 2011
Just a Game?: Donnie Moore was the California Angels' relief ace in 1986. After he gave up a home run that began the Angels' collapse in the ALCS, Moore's life and psyche steadily deteriorated, until he committed suicide in 1989. Steve Hofstetter wrote about Moore and the divergent paths taken by other athletes in similar situations (via MetaFilter).
posted by rcade to baseball at 01:49 PM - 3 comments
Fantasy Baseball 2011: Yahoo's 2011 Fantasy Baseball is live now. Rather than wait around hoping that there will be a SpoFi league, I'm posting now and volunteering to take over the reins as commissioner, although I'm also happy to defer to previous any previous commish as well.
posted by ursus_comiter to fantasy at 01:17 PM - 10 comments
Ohio State Player: Fan Spit on Me: Buckeyes freshman Jared Sullinger said he was spit on by a Badgers fan after Wisconsin's 71-67 home upset of No. 1 Ohio State Saturday. "To be spit on is just nasty," Sullinger posted on Twitter. "On top of that in my Face. ... I just kept walking. More fuel to the fire."
posted by rcade to basketball at 12:22 PM - 6 comments
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments
February 12, 2011
Cal Kills Baseball to Save Women's Sports: The University of California-Berkeley has backed off its plan to kill women's lacrosse and gymnastics, deciding instead to cut men's baseball and gymnastics. The school received $12 to $13 million in pledges to save the women's programs. "It took us a long time to build up the program to be a playoff contender on a yearly basis," said baseball coach David Esquier. "To see that all come crashing down and all at once, is difficult to watch."
posted by rcade to general at 02:07 PM - 10 comments
Cowboys Waited Months to Seek Permits: The Dallas Cowboys didn't obtain a permit to install temporary seating at Cowboys Stadium until about three weeks before the Super Bowl, despite being informed of Arlington's requirements five months ahead of the game, according to city records released Friday. City and stadium officials then scrambled to prepare the temporary seating, but about 1,250 of the seats were deemed unsafe and about 400 fans with $800 tickets had nowhere to sit.
posted by rcade to football at 11:10 AM - 6 comments
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 14 comments
February 11, 2011
Charges Trimmed Against Barry Bonds: Federal prosecutors have reduced the felony charges against Barry Bonds from 11 to 5. He faces a March 21 trial for allegedly lying under oath in testimony to a 2003 grand jury, saying he was injected only by his doctor and misleading investigators. Craig Calcaterra of MSNBC's Hardball Talk calls the case "monumentally weak and wasteful."
posted by rcade to baseball at 03:23 PM - 21 comments
Tiger Shoots 66 at Dubai Classic: Tiger Woods shot a 6-under 66 in the second round at the Dubai Desert Classic, pulling him back into contention at a tournament he won in 2006 and 2008. He trails leader Rory McIlroy by four strokes. "I felt like I drove it pretty good and more than anything I controlled my traj which was nice," he said.
posted by rcade to golf at 01:21 PM - 18 comments
Allen felt the connection: Ray Allen converted his first NBA 3-pointer as a 21-year-old member of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996. Fifteen years and 2,560 3-pointers later, he has become the league record-holder.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 07:23 AM - 4 comments
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments
February 10, 2011
Cricket Team Straight Outta Compton: A cricket team from Compton, Calif., -- former gangsters, homeless men and street kids -- are currently touring Australia. "We started training the homeless guys in alleyways, with rubbish bins as stumps, in the art of cricket," said Hollywood producer Katy Haber. "We were so successful at teaching the homeless guys civility through the game that we lost a lot players."
6 Bruins Sent to Penalty Box at Same Time: The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens combined for 192 penalty minutes in an 8-6 Bruins victory Wednesday. At one point six Bruins occupied the penalty box. "It was just old-time hockey, really, going end end-to-end and scrapping it out," said Canadiens goalie Carey Price.
posted by rcade to hockey at 12:41 PM - 2 comments
New Sport: Extreme Sitting: Two brothers in Germany have invented the street sport of Hockern, also known as "extreme sitting," in which you perform tricks with a special stool called a sporthocker priced at $135. Wired explains, "Each and every maneuver seems like it's not actually considered a legit move unless it ends with a sit-down. ... It's the German street equivalent of sticking the landing in Olympic gymnastics or figure skating."
posted by rcade to other at 10:01 AM - 8 comments
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 6 comments
February 09, 2011
Why Can't This Guy Crack the Lineup?: Johnny Mac - Trick Shot Quarterback — University of Connecticut quarterback Johnny McEntee and his "trick shot" passing abilities. McEntee is a redshirt junior at UConn. Despite his accuracy, for some reason he has yet to play a down in a college game. No doubt there is a lot more that goes into being a successful quarterback than tossing a football into a garbage can from a catwalk (via MetaFilter).
posted by rcade to football at 07:06 PM - 9 comments
NFL Offers 400 Displaced Fans New Deal: To compensate the 400 fans who were screwed over during the Super Bowl because of unsafe seats, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is now offering them free tickets to a future Super Bowl of their choice along with round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. "We had more time to think about how to create a broader range of options that would better recognize the deep emotional bond that fans have for their team," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. Some fans have already sued over the fiasco.
posted by rcade to football at 12:55 PM - 18 comments
Herm Edwards Makes Bid to Coach Cavaliers: Former NFL coach Herm Edwards gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a pep talk yesterday, though they had to watch SportsCenter to see it. "The perception out there is that we don't have enough talent," he said. "Don't buy into that. ... It's about us. It's about how we play the game we play. ... Don't look at the scoreboard! Just play basketball! And let's win us a game!"
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:49 AM - 3 comments
Carmelo to the Lakers for Bynum?: The L.A. Times on why they should. And why they shouldn't.
posted by cjets to basketball at 10:39 AM - 5 comments
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 4 comments
February 08, 2011
Anthony Scores 50 in Nuggets Loss: Despite a career-high-tying 50-point effort from forward Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets lost 108-103 to the Houston Rockets Monday night. Anthony scored nine of his points in the final minute in a loss that left him feeling existential. "When you score 50 points and lose you start thinking why?" he said. "Why the 50?"
posted by rcade to basketball at 02:35 PM - 4 comments
NFL Pick 'Em, SUPERBOWL and final results: The final standings are in after all four founds of the Sportsfilter 2010-2011 NFL Playoffs Pick 'Em... and we have a winner!
posted by hincandenza to fantasy at 02:33 PM - 6 comments
Cavs Set Record for Most Consecutive Losses: The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Dallas Mavericks 99-96 Monday night, setting an NBA record with 25 straight defeats. Cavs forward Jamario Moon passed the ball as time expired instead of trying a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. "We're in the record books, we all know that, something we don't want to be a part of," player Antawn Jamison said.
posted by rcade to basketball at 12:14 PM - 7 comments
Dallas Gives Michael Vick Key to City: The city of Dallas awarded Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick with a key to the city on Saturday, a decision that prompted Mayor Tom Leppert to announce that Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway bestowed the honor without his permission or the official sanction of the city. Vick, who admitted brutalizing and killing dogs for entertainment and served 19 months in prison, was given the honor because he's turned his life around and is helping kids avoid his mistakes, Caraway said. "In the eyes of many people, he's a hero," he said.
posted by rcade to football at 11:01 AM - 11 comments
Drivers Remember Earnhardt's Death: The upcoming 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death has prompted the Nascar drivers involved to discuss the fatal accident on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Ken Schrader, the first to reach Earnhardt's car, recently revealed for the first time that he knew right away there was no chance of recovery. "I knew he was dead," he said. "I didn't want to be the one who said, 'Dale is dead.' ... I couldn't say it." Last lap and post-race coverage.
posted by rcade to auto racing at 10:17 AM - 9 comments
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 20 comments
February 07, 2011
Vancouver Olympic Committee discussed luge track safety issues well before tragedy.:
Eleven months before Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed on a practice run at the 2010 Games, officials with the Vancouver Olympics organizing committee discussed the possibility of an athlete getting "badly injured or worse."
posted by grum@work to olympics at 04:54 PM - 5 comments
Hard Times for William 'Refrigerator' Perry: William "Refrigerator" Perry has fallen on hard times, barely moving his 400-pound body except for trips to the liquor store and struggling with diabetes, high blood pressure, Guillain-Barre Syndrome and mental struggles, according to an ESPN profile. The story and a YouTube video show the phenomenon he became as an NFL rookie in 1985. The first time Perry blocked for Walter Payton, he knocked Green Bay Packers linebacker George Cumby so hard "I thought he killed him," said Bears tackle Jimbo Covert.
posted by rcade to football at 01:23 PM - 37 comments
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 21 comments
February 06, 2011
Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl champions : The Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV to claim football’s ultimate prize. It was the 13th NFL title for the storied franchise, and its first championship in 14 years.
posted by tommytrump to football at 10:36 PM - 75 comments
Brady Unanimous Winner of AP MVP: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has become the first unanimous choice for the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. All 50 members of the AP media panel chose Brady.
posted by rcade to football at 03:03 PM - 7 comments
Packers Favored to Win Super Bowl: With 18 titles between them, the storied Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers franchises meet at 6:30 p.m. Eastern tonight for Super Bowl XLV. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could win his third championship in his seventh season, while Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hopes for his first. The Packers are 2 1/2 point favorites.
posted by rcade to football at 10:34 AM - 9 comments
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments
February 05, 2011
Never Miss a Super Bowl Club Down 1 Member: Bob Cook, the 79-year-old Green Bay Packers fan featured in a commercial as one of the fans who has never missed a Super Bowl, won't be able to make Sunday's game. "My father was sick over the holidays and it caught up with him again," said his daughter Patti Winter. "So he found himself in the hospital instead of on a plane to Dallas."
posted by rcade to football at 06:14 PM - 3 comments
What If NFL Teams Wore Soccer Uniforms?: Graphic design student Jimmy Nutini answers the question, providing soccer-style uniforms for 13 NFL teams -- complete with sponsors, logos, manufacturer logos and shoulder patches. One fan laments, "Why are the Vikings the only team who got stuck with Umbro?"
posted by rcade to football at 08:09 AM - 10 comments
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments
February 04, 2011
Will Ed Sabol Make Hall of Fame?: Ed Sabol, the 94-year-old founder of NFL Films, is a finalist the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Since it began in 1964, The company has produced 100 million feet of footage on 9,000-plus games and won nearly 100 Emmys -- reporting on the game with narration described as the "Voice of God." "Take all of the other candidates, stack their accomplishments, and they haven't had the impact on the game that Ed Sabol has," said Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News.
posted by rcade to football at 04:06 PM - 2 comments
Albert Haynesworth Suspected of Road Rage: Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is expected to surrender to police next week after officials obtained a warrant against him for alleged road rage. Haynesworth allegedly got out of his car at a stoplight Wednesday and assaulted another driver. He faces misdemeanor charge for simple assault.
posted by rcade to football at 03:54 PM - 3 comments
Somewhat unbelievably, : that really is Colts' owner Jim Irsay on Twitter.
posted by yerfatma to football at 01:24 PM - 3 comments
The Guardian Project: The NHL teamed up with Stan Lee to create superheroes for each team. Chris Sims from The ISB reviews the ten . . . best.
posted by yerfatma to hockey at 10:15 AM - 5 comments
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 15 comments
February 03, 2011
Andy Pettitte to retire: Next up, the Hall of Fame question.
posted by justgary to baseball at 07:39 PM - 13 comments
Aikman Wouldn't Let Son Play Football: Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox broadcaster Troy Aikman told HBO's Real Sports that he's not sure he'd let his own 10-year-old son play football because the sport's become so dangerous. "As the equipment has gotten better, and it's gotten better in an attempt to try to protect the player more, then the equipment becomes used more as a weapon," he says. "I'm concerned right now overall with -- the long-term viability of our sport."
posted by rcade to football at 03:22 PM - 2 comments
Poll: Most Oppose 18-Game NFL Season: Only 27 percent of the public and 45 percent of NFL fans are in favor of an 18-game NFL season, according to a new AP-Knowledge Networks poll. "There's plenty enough football as it is," said Steven Keller, an NFL fan among the 9 percent strongly opposed to the change. "Eighteen games is too many for the players. ... Those guys get beat up."
posted by rcade to football at 02:41 PM - 27 comments
Cross Country Skiers, Don't Try This at Home.: 75 years ago a 2-man cross country ski race covered the 100 miles from Portland, ME, to Berlin, NH. That neither skier was seriously injured, and how the race was run is chronicled here.
posted by Howard_T to other at 02:00 PM - 0 comments
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 14 comments
NFL Pick 'em, SUPERBOWL Round: : It's finally here: the last Sportsfilter Pick 'Em of the 2010-2011 NFL Season. A veritable smorgasbord of picks are to be found inside!
posted by hincandenza to fantasy at 12:17 AM - 16 comments
February 02, 2011
I consider the following my outstanding experience at Yankee Stadium:
"I got a blow-job under the right field Bleachers, by the Yankee Bull pen." -- Mickey Mantle
posted by kirkaracha to baseball at 06:46 PM - 13 comments
NBA to allow skin-tight uniforms for All-Star game: The jerseys that NBA players wear every night are pretty tame by the standards of contemporary uniforms. They're fairly loose, feature few colors like teal or the neon yellow adored by the University of Oregon, and generally are engineered to appeal to as many fans as possible.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 02:54 PM - 7 comments
Rookie says Tiger Woods mailed it in on Sunday at Torrey Pines: Tiger Woods has been known for a lot of things over his career, but giving up at a golf event has never been one of them ... until now.
posted by BornIcon to golf at 02:52 PM - 11 comments
What the Hell's Goin' on Out Here: Green Bay Packers Yearbooks from the (Vince) Lombardi Era (1960-1967). The yearbooks here are from the team's return to glory under Lombardi. Arriving in 1959, Lombardi led the Packers to their first winning season in eleven years in his first year as coach. From that auspicious start, Lombardi's Packers had nine winning seasons and claimed five NFL championships in the 1960s. Each yearbook contains roughly 80 pages of text and photos (via MetaFilter).
posted by rcade to football at 02:17 PM - 2 comments
Shuffling in to Buffalo: Billionaire hockey Terry Pegula has agreed to purchase the NHL's Buffalo Sabres for around $175M. The team was teetering on bankruptcy in 2003 when current owner Tom Golisano bought it. Pegula recently donated $88M to Penn States's hockey program. At the same time, head coach Lindy Ruff has rejected a contract extension.
Dan Snyder, Innovator: Snyder didn't like a piece in the Washington City Paper. So he's threatening to sue if the reporter isn't fired.
posted by yerfatma to football at 09:37 AM - 21 comments
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments
Keisel’s Beard Is the ‘Scruff of Legend’: Weeks ago, the Steelers’ owner, Dan Rooney, a steward of tradition, asked Keisel what he was doing. Keisel offered to shave. “He said, ‘No, you let it eat,’ ” Keisel said. “ ‘But I’m going to call you Santa.’ He’s called me Santa ever since.” The 78-year-old Rooney really said, “Let it eat?” “Yeah, Mr. Rooney’s got the lingo down,” Keisel said. "People are saying that I’m taking beard-enhancing drugs, but I’m not,” Keisel said.
posted by tommytrump to football at 04:48 AM - 5 comments
February 01, 2011
Chelsea Spends $72 Million on Torres Transfer: Chelsea has paid a $72 million transfer fee to Liverpool to acquire striker Fernando Torres and now must reach a deal with him. Torres, who joined Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007, has scored 65 goals in 102 Premier League games.
posted by rcade to soccer at 02:30 PM - 11 comments
Roethlisberger: 'I Want to Be a Role Model': At his first Super Bowl press conference Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, "I want to be a role model. I want people to look up to me. I like when kids wear my jersey." Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a recent interview that when the NFL was investigating the rape allegations against Roethlisberger, he talked to two dozen players and "not a single player went to his defense."
posted by rcade to football at 01:17 PM - 25 comments
Polamalu Tops Matthews for Defensive Player of Year: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has won the Associated Press 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, edging Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.
posted by rcade to football at 11:50 AM - 2 comments
Sharks prospect battled schizophrenia to the end: At Tom Cavanagh's funeral, on a clear New England winter day, the eyes of mourners gathered at the cemetery were drawn upward by a remarkable sight. Two rainbows had appeared in the sky -- one inverted in the shape of a smile.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 10:32 AM - 5 comments