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TOP STORIES - APRIL 2, 2007 Get your NFL football tickets now at TickCo. They have all team Cardinals tickets, Cowboys tickets, Packers tickets, Colts tickets, Patriots tickets, Titans tickets and more. Get your Super Bowl tickets here! 2007 FANTASY BASEBALL RANKINGS ARE HERE: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF (AL) | OF (NL) | SP (AL) | SP (AL) | RP  16 DRIVERS, ONE DREAM:Looking for potential upsets in March Motor Madness??? Get the lowdown on the second-round pairings in KAC RACING. LADY VOLS TO FACE JERSEY GIRLS FOR WOMEN'S TITLE: Outscore North Carolina 20-2 to game to advance to Tuesday's title game. As much as a perennial power UT is, you wouldn't guess that this will be Tennessee's first title game appearance since 1998. In the opening game Rutgers crushed LSU 59-35, if the Knights were to win Tuesday, it would be the school's first title in any sport since they shared a fencing championshp with Army in 1949. Rutgers, fencing - seems to fit. DO FOOTBALL DOMES LEAD TO FINAL BORE??? Rip the Woman's Final Four or even next week's Frozen Four all you want, but at least those are played in arenas and there is an intimate crowd. Then there's the mens tournament, which the NCAA insists be played in a dome every year - that leaves Tampa, Detroit, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Pheonix, St. Louis, San Antonio, Houston, and Indianapolis as potential sites - with Dallas joining that list in a few years. But for an extra 20,000 seats, the crowd sounds (and is) distant and you just don't seem to get the sizzle that a traditional arena provides, not to mention the players seem to have problems adjusting to the different enviormennt and lighting - here's a good blog on the topic. TWIN CITIES BROADCASTING LEGEND DIES: Hall of Fame broadcaster Herb Carneal passes away at age 83, his 45-year tenure as voice of Minnesota Twins broadcasts throughout the Upper Midwest began one year after the franchise moved from Washington D.C.. Carneal becomes the third significant loss in the Twins organization in as many years. Kirby Puckett passed away 13 months ago and legendary public address announcer Bob Casey lost a battle to liver cancer during spring training two years ago, up unto that point he had been the only PA announcer in the teams history. PHELPS DOESN'T GET EIGHT GOLDS, TEAM DQ'D: Well we didn't have to wait until bar time to see if Michael Phelps would get to eight gold medals at the World Championships. In the afternoon preliminary heat, the US team was disqualified from the medley relay when one swimmer jumped in before the previous swimmer touched the wall. Inexcusible in my opinion, if it was the finals I could see the mistake, but couldn't they afford to be cautious with the handoffs - it isn't like they weren't going to finish in the top four and advance to the next round - about as stupid as when the track relay team drops the baton in a prelim heat.   BCS HOOPS CHAMPIONSHIP - BUCKS, GATORS MEET AGAINWell, if there was a BCS in college basketball this would had probably been the matchup, I'll say it again - who needs this stupid tournament. In any event #1 seeds Ohio St. and Florida advance to Monday's championship with reletively uneventful semi-final wins. The Greg Oden/Roy Hibbert matchup turned out to be a dud as both centers ran into early foul trouble. Billy Packer was busy reminding everyone that the two big men shouldn't be confused with Bill Russell, Bill Walton, or other centers in the past - but you still had to like the matchup going in, two man-child's, no flash, no tats, no finesse, no nonsense - just brute power and strength, even their names themselves scream blue collar, Roy and Greg. It was good to see them at least pass through the college game. My prediction for Monday night??? Ted Ginn takes the opening tip and immediately drains a three-pointer, it will be all Gators after that. CROCKER NO FLY IN THE OINTMENT, GOLD #6 FOR PHELPS: This week he's hotter than infomercials and George Noory in the overnight hours, but he's slowing down - actually going a night without a world record, but storms from behind to edge teammate Ian Crocker in the 100-meter butterfly. The Americans won four of the six finals on the evening, including another 1-2 finish men's 50 freestyle. The U.S. haul is now at 31 medals, including 17 gold. You may want to hang around till bar time tonight, as Phelps goes for his seventh and eighth gold medals in the final day of competition.  TOLEDO POINT-SHAVING SCANDAL MAY ROCK COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD: Look to hear more about this potential hurricane looming in the coming days, it’s never good when the guys in the FBI windbreakers start hanging around a collegiate football program. Former Toledo running back Scooter McDougle has been charged in a District Court of conspiring with others in a possible point-shaving scheme. One of the games in question was the 2005 GMAC Bowl v. Texas El-Paso, a game McDougle sat out with an injury. Toledo won that game 45-13, obviously covering that spread (it was UT –3). During the 2005 and 2006 seasons in question, Toledo went 10-12 ATS. The bettor in the center of the ring is also accused of offering $10,000 for a player to sit out. McDougle is charged with conspiring to effect the outcome of a sporting event, punishable by five years in jail and a $250,000. If there’s anything at all to this, look for many more heads to roll, and I mean from the AD to the head coach on down.BLUFFTON RETURNS TO THE DIAMOND: Team loses 10-5, but that's all but irrelevent as team makes courageous return four weeks after tragic bus crash that claimed five teammates. DISASTROUS NBA BONEHEAD ENDING: As it appeared that the Washington Wizards had secured a crucial three-point win at home over Toronto, Michael Ruffin heaves the ball towards the rafters in celebration. Just one problem, when the ball came down it landed in the arms of Raptors guard Morris Peterson – and there was still time on the clock. Just enough time for Morris to throw his own heave from 31 feet out, which landed in the basket. Raptors go on to win in overtime, and when the regular season ends in three weeks there’s a good chance that Morris’ mistake will be costly, as the loss drops the Wizards one-half game behind Miami in the battle for the NBA Southeast division title.  KOBE 53 IN LOSS: Forces overtime with late three-pointer, and had chance to force second OT, but proves mortal and actually misses. PAYBACK A BITCH FOR BUCKS: Three NBA stories in one night. Visiting team winds up in a small cramped locker room in two-year old arena in Charlotte. This comes two weeks after the Bobcats claim they were shoved into similar accommodations in a road game in Milwaukee. Not that the Bucks needed to be pampered, as all five starters were benched for the final 14 minutes of the game – but they’re not tanking to try to get a top draft choice. GENERAL SOUGHT TO WARN BUSH ABOUT TILLMAN DEATH: Just one week after Pat Tillman's death, a top general warned there were strong indications that it was friendly fire and President Bush might embarrass himself if he said that Tillman died in an ambush, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. It was not until a month afterward that the Pentagon disclosed that Tillman died by fire from his own side. SHOOTING LASTED 15 SECONDS - QUESTIONS REMAIN FOREVER: Nearly three years later, the Pentagon has produced its most complete investigation of what really happened not only on Arpil 22, 2004, but also in the weeks that passed before Army officials who initially told the Tillman family he had been shot by enemy forces decided to tell the painful truth. The case remains classified as an accident, and no one has been charged.IAN THORPE IN DOPING ROW: Three swimming stories in one week, this has to be some kind of record. L'Equipe, the same publication that has been all over Lance Armstrong, is now saying five-time Olympic gold-medal winner Ian Thorpe showed abnormal levels of two banned substances in a doping test last year. According to the paper, anti-doping officials in Australia threw out the case on lack of scientific proof, but the sport's governing body wants the investigation reopened. After winning three golds at age 18 at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Thorpe won six golds at the 2001 World Championships. The 2004 Olympics, where Thorpe won twice, was his last international competition - Thorpe officially retired last year. PHELPS RECORD ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES: If you're reading this in the U.S., for the fourth consecutive night while you were sleeping Michael Phelps has racked up a win and a world record at the FINA Championships, and for good measure racked up a fifth gold medal later on in the evening. Propelling furiously through the water, Phelps is winning everything possible out there to be won. In another highlight, Aaron Piersol saw his seven-year winning streak in the backstroke end at the hands of fellow American Ryan Lochte. UPDATE - UKRANIAN SWIM COACH, DAUGHTER KISS AND MAKE UP: So what did get Mikhaylo Zubkov in a total tizzy with his daughter??? I think we have a clue. Turns out it was a 'family matter', sparked by the daughter's refusal to stop seeing a boyfriend against daddy's wishes. Police tried to have an intervention order extended, banning Zubkov from contacting his daughter, but the matter was dismissed after the swimmer refused to give evidence. Meanwhile the coach told the court he would not repeat his behavior. Zubkov and his daughter ended up leaving the courtroom together.  DID LOW-BROW TACTIC HELP RUTGERS WOMEN TO FINAL FOUR??? ACC player of the year Lindsay Harding was fouled with 0.1 seconds left, and could had won the game for Duke with two free throws, but missed both. That's not the whole story however, as it is reported that Rutgers players were barking and shouting at Harding as she was attempting the free throws. Says Rutgers coach afterwards 'It's not something I would encourage' THE RISE AND FALL OF TOM COUGHLIN??? Talking about the scrutiny he's under from the media and fans, a published report has New York Giants coach making this bizarre statement - 'Hitler and then me, in that order. Unfortunate, but it is.' There's some good company to put yourself in - and just wait until Tiki Barber starts getting on TV and saying what he REALLY thinks of Coughlin. And no, Tom is not second on the grilling scale next to former Third Reich leaders. The pecking order is this, Hitler, Saddam, Pakastan cricket coach, SEC football coaches, University of Kentucky basketball coach, then maybe Tom Coughlin. ANTI-DEF HEAD NOT AMUSED: Check out this story from the Star-Ledger, as the national director of the Anti-Defamation League speaks out on Coughlin - 'Giants coach Tom Coughlin appears to be ignorant of who Hitler was and what he did when he likens criticism he received for a losing football season to that against the man who caused World War II, murdered 6 million in the Holocaust and millions of others. Using the comparison to Hitler in such a cavalier manner is insensitive and denigrates the memory of millions of Nazi victims. Coach Coughlin needs a reality check and some education.' OCTOBER 2004: Sportspickle.com does hilarious Coughlin/Hitler parody!!!REPORTED SLURS GET MICHAEL RAY SUSPENDED FROM COACHING GIG: This may be perhaps the first person to be suspended for life as both a player AND coach in any professional sport. Former NBA player Micheal Ray Richardson has been suspended by the Continental Basketball Association for recent anti-Semitic and anti-gay comments the Albany Patroons coach made. Michael Ray said in a newspaper interview that he had 'big-time Jew lawyers working for him, adding the following - 'They got a lot of power in this world, which I think is great. I don't think there's nothing wrong with it. If you look in most professional sports, they're run by Jewish people. If you look at a lot of the most successful corporations and stuff, they're run by Jewish. Have you ever been to an airport in Tel Aviv? It's not a knock, but they are some crafty people.' And that's not all, it's also said Michael Ray yelled 'Shut the f---, you fa**ot!!!' during Game 1 of the championship series on Tuesday. To brush you up with Michael Ray's resume, he had a long history of cocaine abuse while playing for the Knicks which resulted in Sugar ending his playing career overseas. Enjoy that diet soda M.R., because that's the last drink he will ever have in basketball. ODEN/DURANT SWEEPSTAKES – ARE NBA TEAMS TANKING GAMES???Circumstantial evidence by conspiracy theorists not hard to find in recent days. Last week the Milwaukee Bucks (third worst record) shut down two starting players with merely nagging injuries while the Celtics (second worst record) left their starters on the bench while blowing a 18-point lead in a bizarre loss to Charlotte. Boston coach Doc Rivers denies tanking the game, saying he merely made a decision to let the group on the floor get experience in a competitive game. The Charlotte Bobcats themselves sat a couple starters for a game over the weekend, two other starters were already out with injuries. And fans pay full cost to watch this.  MARADONA LANDS IN HOSPITAL AFTER FOOD AND DRINK BINGE: His story remains incredible, especially considering that as recently as 1990 he was king of his sport and one of the greatest athletes around. Soccer legend Diego Maradona has again landed in a hospital after getting sick from a combination of food + drinking + cigars + stress due to being shaken down by the tax man. That led his doctor to get him to a hospital ‘against his will’. The doctor added that Maradona did not do cocaine, which he’s reportedly done in the past. Maradona is getting quite a health history, in 2000 and 2004 Diego had heart attacks following a cocaine overdose. Maradona barely survived the 2004 episode, and also has been riding an Anna Nicole Smith-like roller-coaster with his weight, leading to gastric bypass surgery in 2005. Maradona is pictured here from a couple weeks back during a Boca Juniors game, and almost looks ready to play. Diego also appeared at last year’s World Cup wearing his old #10 Argentina jersey. If Diego ever comes to the U.S. (and considering what he thinks of Bush he probably wouldn’t) I’m debating if I should send him a Golden Corral gift card.UKRAINE SWIM OFFICIAL BELTS DAUGHTER – BANNED FROM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Ukraine official Mihail Zubkov has been suspended by international swimming’s governing body after assaulting daughter and swimmer Kateryna Zubkova at the world championships in Australia. The temporary ban bars Mihail from working as a coach or official under it’s jurisdiction until a final decision is made. In TV footage captured earlier this week, the 38-year-old Zubkov was filmed swinging and aggressively trying to grab the 20-year old daughter outside an arena. Zubkov, who is Kateryna’s coach, has already been stripped of accreditation and banned from making any contact with his daughter. MCDONALD’S PREP SHOWCASE ENDS 114-112: That’s a 40-minute game mind you, even the NBA All-Stars thought that was out of order. And only since I know some of you out there keep score, seven of the 24 players in the game were white – and only two of them have committed to Duke. SOCCER TEAM TO DEMAND PHOTO ID W/SEASON TICKETS: Imagine you’re a season-ticket holder for your favorite NFL/MLB etc. team, but split or give away your tickets for games that you are unable to make – but are suddenly forbidden to do so??? England’s Sheffield Wednesday football club has announced a new policy beginning next season that will require season ticket holders to provide photo ID to get into the games. The club says the new measure is for safety and security issues, but fans are screaming that the plan is nothing more than a money-making scheme. In the past, fans would pass off tickets for games they could not attend to friends/family members, the photo ID would put an end to that practice. The club notes that they have been observing overcrowding fans in various areas of the stadium, or fans in areas where they do not have tickets. A little background on this: SWFC’s stadium was the scene of a 1989 disaster when a crush of fans trying to enter resulted in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans during a semi-final FA Cup game. That incident led to drastic changes in seating arrangements at English soccer games. CRICKET PLAYERS GET RUDE HOMECOMING: Jeering fans chanted 'go to hell' and referred to their players as 'deserters' as the Pakistan cricket team returned 'home' after their early exit form the World Cup. Four players, including mercurial batsman Shahid Afridi, were pilloried for the team’s upset loss to Ireland which was followed by the unsolved murder of coach Bob Woolmer. Seven other players arrived later and ended up ducking through a cargo exit. The more I think about it the more I think they really should have won that game – I don’t think losing to Ireland was really a viable option. GREEN BAY NATIVE MAKES FIRST CAP: Jay Demerit makes international debut for U.S. Soccer team in 0-0 draw to Guatemala. After playing in pub leagues for $100 a week, DeMerit made a huge splash in England last year landing with Watford and starring in a playoff game that got the team promoted to the Premiere League for this season, although DeMerit and his team in general have taken their lumps against the elite of English soccer, going 3-16-11 thus far on the season, and are likely headed back to relegation. GOODELL ADDS HENRY TO DOCKET: NFL commish will now meet with Chris Henry along with Pacman Jones next week, and plans to announce punishments (one-year suspensions) to both in the next couple of weeks. |
