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TOP STORIES - APRIL 25, 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 LARRY JOHNSON A PACKER??? Chiefs are said to be holding 'general' discussions with teams on dealing franchise running back to help address other needs - Green Bay, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Tennessee are said to be among the interested parties. In perhaps another hint, Marshawn Lynch was among the higher-profile draft candidates who made visits to Arrowhead Stadium this week. FBI SEEKS AUTHOR OF THREATENING LETTERS REGARDING CHEERLEADERS: The FBI has offered a $5,000 reward for help tracking down the author of dozens of threatening letters, including some containing a potentially harmful insecticide. In the letter, the writer complains about television coverage of college cheerleaders, as well as WNBA players and female tennis players. The letters were sent to national television networks and their local affiliates, as well as to various people on the West Coast and throughout the Midwest, according to the FBI. The letters started late in 2004 and had postmarks in Seattle, Chicago, and Portland, OR. The letters claim that camera crews spent too much time on closeups of cheerleaders. One letter also complained about coverage of WNBA players. Some of the letters contained various powder substances, which a FBI laboratory determined was a potentially harmful insecticide - in one letter the writer wrote 'We have asked nicely for them to respect us and all women, yet they refuse. They exploit innocent people, so we will too.' Another bizarre letter accuses networks of exploiting cheerleading squads that dress too modestly, saying 'For the last 6 years, Ohio State cheerleaders have received more TV time than any other Division 1A cheer squad on ESPN, because they wear long sleeved red/white outfits. If they wore sleeveless outfits, they would not get ANY TV time.' OK, what exactly is the complaint then??? DUKE HIRES MICHIGAN ST. COACH: Joanne McCallie was hired as Duke's women's basketball coach, leaving Michigan State and following Gail Goestenkors at one of the country's premier programs. The 41-year-old McCallie leaves East Lansing just one month after signing a new contract with MSU that had boosted her base salary by about $100,000. Earlier this year McCallie's husband, a MSU professor, made news for getting arrested after flipping at a Florida airport. WHERE THE SURF MEETS A NEW KIND OF TURF: Polytrack installed at Del Mar. In the track's annual summer session last year, no less than 18 horses had to be put down in just 49 days, it is hoped the new surface will drastically reduce that unacceptable number. The new surface is a mixture of sand, rubber, and wax and is also being installed at Arlington Park as well as two other tracks. 40-SOMTHINGS DUEL IN THE DESERT: Sadly, this will probably be the last time I'll ever be able to report this, two pitchers started in a MLB game older than me, as David Wells bests Randy Johnson in a 10-5 Padres win over the Diamondbacks. Wells turns 44 next month, four months ahead of Randy. The two forever-young lefties beat the record just set a couple weeks back for the oldest combined age of starting pitchers. Two weeks ago 44-year old Jamie Moyer opposed 41-year old Tom Glavine in a Phillies-Mets game.  KANSAS CITY ROYALS, AND CHAMPAGNE??? About the only time we will mention those two items in the same sentence. Apparently Twins center fielder Torii Hunter told the Royals that he would send them four bottles of bubbly if they swept the Tigers in the final four games of the 2006 season. KC did so, allowing the Twins to win the AL Central title, and Torii obliged and actually shipped the goods to the Royals. But now the commissioner has gotten wind, and has informed Hunter and the Twins organization that in fact that is a violation. Rule 21-b says 'any player or person connected with a club who shall offer or give any gift or reward to a player or person connected with another club for services rendered, in defeating or attempting to defeat a competing club shall be declared ineligible for not less than three years.' The Twins said they were unaware of the rule, and the Royals saying they are returning the Dom Perignon to the Twins. Don't look for any suspensions (let alone three years), I'd say a fine and a little warning at the very worst.POLICE BOOK TOP EPL PLAYER: And you thought FIFA referees are ruthless. Top Ghanian international Michael Essien has been arrested for drunk driving at five in the morning after spending a night clubbing. The destraction cannot come at a worst time as Chelsea begins it's crucial semi-final Champions League two-game series with rival Liverpool this week, and is also chasing it's domestic regular season title and is also still alive in two other domestic tournaments. Essien, who helped lead Ghana past the United States and into the second round of the World Cup last year, was recently voted the African Footballer of the year. Meanwhile, if you have Kaka or Wayne Rooney in your fantasy soccer leauges you are pretty happy today, as they both scored twice in Manchester United's come from behind 3-2 win over AC Milan in the first leg of their semi-final tie. United had recently been anointed as Champions League betting favorites after dropping seven goals on Roma in the second-leg of the previous round. That's right - one team scoring seven times in one soccer game. In other shocking developments it rained at Old Trafford during the game, which is about as stunning as rain during a Seattle Seahawks home game. Also a Milan player was stretchered off and his condition is so serious that they actually had to SUBSTITUTE the player. I think he'll pull through, but it has to really be debilitating, perhaps a pulled quadricep or even a Charley Horse. MAJERUS TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE GAME??? Rick Majerus said to have interviewed for the head job at St. Louis University. Hope not, he's one TV analyst I actually enjoy listening to. Majerus has been out of the game ever since leaving the University of Utah a few years back. Majerus has waffled on other possibilities since, including stepping away days after being named USC's head coach in 2004.  DUCKS AND CANUCKS TO DROP THE PUCK IN ROUND 2: Vancouver skaters finally get reacquainted with the back of the net, while the Stars Trevor Daley gets acquainted with some broken glass. The second round pairings are #1 Sabres v. #6 Rangers, #2 Devils v. #4 Senators, #1 Red Wings v. #5 Sharks, and the #2 v. #3 Canucks/Ducks matchup.PRIOR GOING UNDER THE KNIFE: Flash back to when Mark Prior took the mound for the eighth inning in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series with he and the Cubs seemingly cruising. Take a snapshot of that moment and you thought the sky was the limit for Prior. Talk about a career Steve Bartman single-handedly cursed. Now Prior has a Tuesday appointment with Dr. James Andrews for 'exploratory arthroscopic' shoulder surgery - the team has given Andrews permission to do a more extensive job if necessary, sounds like your friendly auto mechanic. All told, Prior has seen the disabled list eight times since that fateful October night more than three and a half years ago and his velocity was only topping out in the mid-80's this spring. Andrews is going to have a pretty nice vacation once he gets through with Prior and Felix Hernandez, not to mention Francisco Liriano last year. BREWER PROSPECT 'RUINS' HIS CHANCE: Jose Capellan was the last cut in spring training, and proceeded to have a fit and demanded a trade. The pitcher who made the squad however stunk it up this past week. So Capellan gets the call to the big club, right??? Wrong - you see, Capellan was AWOL for two games for the AAA affiliate this past week, and manager Ned Yost said it would simply send the wrong message to promote Jose after that stunt. Article also talks about the Brewers matchup with the Cubs Carlos Zambrano Monday night. As awful as the Brewers lineup is I expect Z to breeze to a three-hit shutout.  RON SANTO IN HOSPITAL: Cubs broadcaster and ought to be Hall of Famer Ron Santo hospitalized while underdoing tests for an irregular heartbeat, his return to WGN's radio booth is undetermined. Now 67, Santo was originally diagnosed with diabetes at age 18 (when much less was known about the disease) and was given a life expectency of 25 years - Santo reportedly concealed the condition for most of his playing career. In recent years Santo has lost both legs due to the condition, had a heart bypass in 2000, and missed the 2003 playoff broadcasts due to bladder tumors.BIG TEN CHANNEL PROVING TO BE TOUGH SELL: The optimistic talk is that the new Big Ten Network will be widely available on the basic tier in the eight states the conference is represented when the channel is launched come August. Recent history suggests that will not be the case, the only sure options thus far is Dish Network and a new wireless cable company being launched by AT&T. The only other conference to start it's own TV channel thus far is the Mountain West, their package with the 'Mountain', CSTV, and Versus has proven to be a disaster, giving that conference far less exposure than mid-majors such as Utah, BYU, and TCU enjoyed with frequent appearances on ESPN in the past. The concern with the Big Ten is that games that appeared in the past on a regional basis (ESPN+ etc.) will now get less exposure on the Big Ten Network, which will eventually trickle down to recruiting. In addition to live games, the Network is touting an archive of past games dating back to 1960. Meanwhile, this article out of Madison also discusses how a Packers game was not shown to much of Wisconsin for the first time ever last season, and how the NFL Network dispute may not be resolved in time for another Green Bay game which airs on NFLN this November.  CANUCKS GOING DOWN IN SEVEN AGAIN??? Did I say they really needed to finish off that series in Game five??? Vancouver gets shut out by Marty Turco for second night in a row, forcing game seven where as they say 'anything can happen', and that inclues a potential third straight Turco shutout. FLAMES GOALIE SUSPENDED FIVE GAMES: Behind hopelessly late in Game 5 in Detroit, Calgary coach calls a Code Red, benching starting goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and inserting backup Jamie McLennan, who takes all of 18 seconds to slash the Red Wings Johan Franzen with a low blow. Detroit GM goes Jim Schoenfeld at an NHL executive after the game, screaming 'GIVE THEM SOME F----- SUSPENSIONS!!!'. The league agreed, and McLennan has been banned for five games which don't mean much as the Flames would be dead anyways if they lost Kiprusoff. Five game suspension??? I would had voted him the #1 star myself. There were other fireworks in the third period involving Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and the Wings Todd Bertuzzi - maybe Todd can deliver some payback and piledrive someone else's head into the ice in Game 6. CARLOS LEE HEARS IT FROM FANS IN MILWAUKEE RETURN: Astros left fielder gets the Jeff Gordon treatment during weekend series in Milwaukee - including the all too familiar 'Carlos, Carlos - YOU SUCK!!!' from the bleacher bums. El Caballo turned down a potential 4 year/$52 million deal last year and eventually got 6 years/$100 million from the Astros. He's a Houston guy and wanted to be near his ranch, I get it. And it wasn't like the Brewers were left holding the bag, Carlos was up front with everything and Milwaukee was able to deal him for closer Francisco Cordero along with platoon left-fielder Kevin Mench. The Brewers then took the money that would had been earmarked for Carlos and solidified their starting pitching by signing Jeff Suppan in the off-season. Now ask the Rangers (who traded for Carlos and wound up with nothing) their opinion and they might have a beef with the cattle-man.KEEP THOSE LASER POINTERS IN YOUR POCKETS!!! Well, we all know what John Rocker used to say about New Yorkers. A 40-year-old man is in jail after being accused of trying to distract two Atlanta Braves players with a small, streamlined, high-powered flashlight. The man is charged with interference with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment. Authorities say the man flashed the powerful light at the players from his seat behind home plate, and was quickly ejected from the ballpark. The crazy thing was he got busted in the eighth inning with the Mets losing 7-0. The man remained jailed awaiting arraignment through Saturday as he was unable to retain a lawyer. New York has cracked down on fans interfering with sporting events after an incident at Madison Square Garden in 2003 when fashion designer Calvin Klein actually stepped onto the court to talk to then Knicks player Latrell Sprewell - that had to have been a fun discussion. The maxium punishment is one year in jail/$5,000 fine - I'm guessing this gets plea-bargained to having to stay away from sports venues for a while.  GORDON TIES EARNHARDT - FANS PISSED: Another reason NASCAR continues to lose me as a fan, Jeff Gordon ties Dale Earnhardt with his 76th career win at Phoenix. In a class gesture, Gordon does his burnout/victory lap holding a #3 flag, then is congratulated in victory lane by Dale Jr. - sounds all well and good, right. Well not to Junior nation who all booed and threw their Budweiser's at the #24. I'm beginning to wonder what is it these 'fans' want. Jeff Gordon could be abducted by Al Qaeda, a terrorist regime, and beheaded on the internet and all these losers would cheer. Dale Jr's fans make Cub fans classy by comparison, what dilemna would they be in if Junior drove Gordon's car instead of Kyle Busch's at the end of the Texas race.NHL PLAYER HIT WITH 20-GAME BAN: In that league's first performance enhancing related suspension ever, Islanders defenseman Sean Hill was hit with a 20-game ban, which began with Friday's playoff game v. Buffalo. Hill could had conceivably returned yet this year had the team made the Stanley Cup Finals, but since the Islanders were eliminated Friday Hill's suspension is carried over to the first 19 games of next year.  THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FISH FRY: You've seen the dog and pony show on NFL draft day, projected top draft picks wear their Sunday best and fly in all 65 of their relatives to stay at some of New York's most expensive hotels. Throw in the cut the agent gets and you'd think these guys will be forced into Chapter 11 even after signing their rookie contracts. Wisconsin offensive lineman and projected top-five pick Joe Thomas has chosen to pass on all of that. In fact good luck to ESPN and the NFL Network trying to find his wearabouts to get his reaction after being sentenced to play in either Detroit, Cleveland, or Arizona. You see, he and his dad are planning to be out on Lake Michigan fishing when the draft goes down, he says he will find out his fate soon enough after he gets back to shore with the catch of the day. BIELEMA SMACKS NOTRE DAME!!! Guess Wisconsin coach is still bent about being left out of the BCS last year - here's what he has to say - 'I understand why certain teams get exemptions. I don't understand why Notre Dame does. If they want to play by conference rules, join a conference. Notre Dame hasn't won in the las nine bowl appearances, or whatever it is.' I love it - and I know Wisky went 12-1 last year, but you have to finish second in your own conference before you can even consider a BCS call - although I know UW could beat Boise St. seven out of ten times. But everyone should know the rules by now - Navy wins six games and they automatically qualify for the Poinsettia Bowl, Notre Dame wins six and they're in the BCS, everyone should know the code by now, even if 88 different D-1 teams (or whatever that is) have won bowl games since Notre Dame last won.REPORT - TOMLINSON TURNS DOWN MADDEN COVER: You may recall a blog earlier this year where I wonder if (a) LT would be considered for the cover and (b) would he dare accept the cover. Well, now word comes out that Tomlinson has indeed turned down the cover and it will be Vince Young gracing Madden 2008, which EA Sports says was their choice all along. Besides this little curse thing, another possible consideration is that Tomlinson was once on the cover of the old 989 Sports Gameday title, even though 989 is now out of the game it may still had been a little too messed up for LT to deal with. The Madden cover athlete usually gets $100,000-$200,000 for the title and is required to make 'numerous promotional appearances' - no wonder there is a curse... 32 BOWL GAMES AGAIN IN 2007: Heck, I was expecting them to add even more - but it will be the same 32 games as last year. If you're scoring at home they are the Alamo, Sugar,Cotton, Liberty, Armed Forces, Sun, Capital One, Champs Sports, Chick-fil-A, Emerald, Orange, Gator, Music City, GMAC, Humanitarian, Insight, International, Meineke, Motor City, New Mexico, Outback, Holiday, Papa John's, Independence, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Rose, Poinsettia, Hawaii, Texas, Fiesta, and finally the BCS Championship game which would be the third bowl game of the season in New Orleans. NFL BUST OUT - URLACHER FINED $100K: And Jim McMahon thought things were bad in his day - in case you are wondering the offending sponsor whose hat was worn at Super Bowl media day is called VitaminWater. Per NFL rules Gatorade and only Gatorade can be plugged by the players as the official sports drink of the league. Look at the bright side, VitaminWater gets much more 'free' advertising than they did when Urlacher wore the hat originally.  WILL MASSACRE AFFECT VA TECH RECRUITING??? The question must be asked. As Cho Seung-Hui’s manifesto and creative writing 'work' makes it's may onto television and the internet, many wonder if the atrocities of April 16th will become the university's lone legacy - much like how Kent State still struggles to get past 1970 (Four dead in Ohio). But what about the recruits who have already committed to Va Tech's football and basketball programs, as well as those already at the university??? Early speculation is that the NCAA may allow players to transfer out of Va Tech without having to sit out a year. Any athlete who requests a transfer would be handled on a case-by-case basis. The NCAA did allow transfers for students at Tulane and other schools that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. The NCAA is also considering special considerations for those currently in the tragedy-stricken Bluffton baseball program. According to reports out of the university so far, none of the school's basketball or football recruits plan on backing out, although coaches realize that they have a more challenging job now in regards to dealing with future recruits. Meanwhile head football coach Frank Beamer talk about the long-term effects, and surmises that the tragedy will in time bond the team as well as the entire university. You can imagine the first time the team storms out of the tunnel at Lane Stadium next fall will be one emotional moment. OPINION - VT WILL RISE AGAIN: Time will help heal anguish VT STICKERS TO APPEAR IN NASCAR: You would expect NASCAR to do this even if the Virginia market did not host six Cup races per year. VT stickers will appear on all vehicles in the Cup, Busch, and Truck Series for the next three weeks. MICHAEL VICK MAKES DONATION: Virginia Tech's most famous product cuts $10,000 check to help families of those affected. Not saying $10,000 is significant, but that's only a tithe of Brian Urlacher's fine.BOXER WHO KILLED MAN SIX YEARS AGO TO MAKE PRO DEBUT: A former Golden Gloves champion who killed a man in a bar fight six years ago is now set to make his professional boxing debut. Jason Cook, 28, was charged with manslaughter and wound up doing five years in a work-release program and is currently on probation. In 2001 Cook got into a fight with a 26-year old man outside a bar and 'one good punch' snapped the victims neck according to the prosecuting attorney. Cook was 42-8 as an amateur and won the Chicago Golden Gloves heavyweight championship in 2003 and was runner-up as a light heavyweight last year. |
