'THE EDGE' (COMING SOON!!) |
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KOBE BRYANT BURNS SUNS FOR GAME-WINNER TIPS APPRECIATED!!! |
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TOP STORIES - MAY 4, 2006 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!  2006 NFL DRAFT PROFILESFIRST QUARTER GRADES ARE IN: 41 DRIVERS INCLUDED, DOES YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER PASS OR FAIL??? FIND OUT IN KAC RACING.  TODAY'S MUGSHOT SPECIAL: Anyone remember Derek Bell?? If you don't I'll give you two words - Operation Shutdown, I still remember doing the Drudge-like headline on this site. That was what Bell threatened on the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after they brought in competition during Spring Training four years ago, after Bell hit a cool .173 the year before. Not surprisingly the Pirates called his hand, and Bell was never seen in baseball again. The real shocker is that it has taken this long for him to resurface on the police blotter. Bell was arrested on a felony drug charge after officers found a still warm crackpipe during a routine traffic stop. But talk about someone who has managed to get uglier, I thought the Jason Taylor assailant was bad - wonder if those two will hook up in the Florida pen???CALL NANCY GRACE: This is a very sick story, but since this nut is said to have moonlighted as a professional wrestler I will use it. After a 30-hour ordeal, a St. Louis teenager was found paralyzed with a broken neck, covered in insect bites and near death in a densely wooded park, being left by former teacher Samson Shelton. But it gets even worse, as authorities were looking for the missing girl, Shelton was caught on videotape line-dancing at a local club. Says a local sherriff 'He's even lower than I thought he was.' Shelton also had a MYSPACE page, listing his interests as 'baseball, pro-wrestling, badminton, line dancing, ladies, and teaching.' Investigators say the teen had befriended the teacher a couple months ago, and the pair had been playing basketball often. R.I.P. BUCKS: Richard Hamilton goes off for 40 in Pistons blowout.  BONDS DOTTED DURING BP: Barry hit in his large melon by a foul ball during batting practice before the Giants game in Milwaukee. Bonds was waiting his turn to enter the batting cage as a teammate swung and fouled the ball off the netting of the batting cage, driving the netting back and hitting Bonds in the face. Bonds immediately yelled out an expletive, and was immediately surrounded by trainers. After deciding that the injury was not life-threatening - Bonds got back on his feet four minutes later. Feel free to take the rest of the week off Barry, you don't want to try to catch Babe Ruth in Philadelphia - trust me. More on this in today's KACSPORTS BLOG. PHILLY BRACES FOR BONDS VISIT: Citizens Bank Park Security have been planning on how to deal with fans venting on Bonds for months.THIRD STRIKE FOR CHRIS HENRY??? Rotoworld reporting that Henry is being investigated for a crime of a 'sexual nature', which would be his third crime just since December. You may remember that Henry was arrested on a gun charge earlier this year, and was reportedly seen in an intersection WITH HIS BENGALS JERSEY ON. AND THEN THERE'S KWAME BROWN: No sooner that I spew HTML in my blog about how Kwame has seemed to have matured, and it turns out he is being investigated smack in the middle of the Lakers first-round playoff series. The KACSPORTS Jinx knows no boundries. CHARLES BARKLEY ADMITS TO GAMBLING: Says he has lost $10 million in his illustrious career, which is apparently pocket change for John Daly. Charles says it is not a 'problem' because he can afford it. ROSS VERBA SIGHTING??? Perhaps coming back to his senses, lineman is said to be interested in returning to the Packers - Tampa Bay and Arizona are also reportedly courting his services. You may recall that Verba gave up a $3 million bonus and actually paid $465,000 to win his release out of Cleveland last year, thinking that he could score a $35 million contract somewhere. While out of football in 2005, a Vegas tabloid billed Verba as a 'Lyle Alzado in training' after hosting a wild swimsuit contest where the winner received $10,000. That was after Verba reportedly hit a $500,000 jackpot at the casino (see, people do sometimes win gambling). Verba and a partner also got a $750,000 windfall after he and a former teammate invested in paying a two-some's entry fee into a high-stakes golf tournament, that team won and the four split the $3 million prize money. And there's more - although known as a free spirit even in his Packers days, Verba was also said to be a devout Christian and often held services along with kicker Ryan Longwell. Verba and his wife had two children, but Ross was blindsided by divorce papers in 2003, at that point he became a high-living bachelor. LEINART TAKES PARIS??? I guess I have to report this story - Matt Leinart is said to be dating Paris Hilton, but then again who has Paris not dated??? You may recall that Hilton was courting Brian Urlacher a few years back. Leinart and Hilton went public with their relationship in Vegas, where Leinart was reported to be planning a big post-draft party last week. Perhaps Leinart ran into Ross Verba and tried to talk him into signing with the Cardinals Incidently, the Cardinals and Bears play in Week 6 - perhaps Leinart might want to wait until Week 7 to make his starting debut.  JASON TAYLOR HATE CRIME??? 24-year old allegedly used racial epithets and yelled obscenities at Taylor during an alleged highway confrontation. Taylor told police that the man (5'11" 168) grabbed his shirt, ripped it in several places, and gave Taylor (6'6" 255) a laceration on a forearm from a metal object Burns allegedly used to attack him. I'm not going to say that hate crimes are cool to begin with, but if you want to bi-polar on someone I'd pick a different target than an NFL player. Taylor has played in Miami for ten years now, I would think everyone would know what he looks like. The suspect is being held on $10,000 bail and will reportedly be charged with the hate crime enhancer, let's see how bold he gets with some of the guys in the hole. Dude should just be glad Taylor didn't send his dog after him.MORE USC TROUBLE: Time for Matt Leinart and receiver Dwayne Jarrett to get drugged through the mud. After being constantly mobbed by the woman on campus, Leinart's dad put him up in a $3,866 per month upscale aparmtnet last season. Leinart only payed $650, the father put up the rest - that's not a problem. However Jarrett stayed as a roommate and also reportedly only paid $650 per - that's a problem in the NCAA's eyes, and Jarrett could face a suspension for part of next year. $650 when I imagine he should have paid $1,833 (half of $3,866). That would be $1,200 times 4-5 months, that's going to be quite a reimbursement - and who paid utilities??? NEXT THING TO SINK YOUR FANTASY TEAM: Mariners players tell manager they were going to honor immigration labor boycott, but they were just kidding. I recall a couple of Florida Marlins sitting out a game a few years back when there was a similar one-day labor protest in the aftermath of the Elian Gonzalez case. GOLFER'S WILD WEEK: PGA Tour jobber Chris Couch hits the most dramatic shot of the weekend by anyone not named Kobe, holing out a 55-foot pitch on 18 to win the New Orleans Open. But Couch was lucky just to make it to the tournament in one piece - his week started being abandoned after hitching a ride with some 'shady characters'. A car pulls up and asks him 'What are you doing in this part of town??' Couch runs through town barefoot for 20 minutes before ducking into a tattoo parlor (another place I wouldn't consider safe) to call police. He should feel fortunate he got bailed out - a pro golfer lost in a New Orleans hood??? I'm not sure even Ray Nagin would throw him a lifering. LEGACE MAY BE A TICKET OUT OF DETROIT: Goalie gives up four goals in third period, top seeded Red Wings eliminated in Round 1, possibly setting the stage for an Edmonton/Calgary Round 2 matchup. Or you may see all four top seeds in the East advance while all four West top-seeds end up getting knocked off. DALY - 'GAMBLING COULD RUIN ME': That's kind of like Morton Downey Jr. figuring out that the smokes might not be good for him after he had half his lung removed. We've always had a feeling Big John likes the casinos now we're finding it might even be worse than we thought. For instance Daly won $750,000 finishing second in a season-ending tournament last year - undeterreed, John stopped off in Vegas and lost $1.65 million in about five hours. Daly says he has lost $50-$60 million gambling during the course of his career. Isn't the purpose of gambling to win once in a while - and I thought I heard something the other day that Tiger Woods actually did pretty good at the blackjack table recently. WHEN BUSH COMES TO SHOVE: Ever see college football's longest winning streak turn into the nation's longest losing streak in a blink of an eye??? Not one, but two more shocking Reggie Bush stories reported during the night. One story has the Bush family first meeting up with New Era Sports at a Chargers game in October 2004. If Bush is found to be ineligble for any game BEFORE January 4, 2005 - USC's National Championship could very well be in jeopardy. And there's more, Yahoo's Charles Robinson pulls out his fourth story of the week, with Michael Michael's attorney claiming that over $100,000 in disbursements were given to the family. Also, NFL Security notified the top four teams in today's draft that New Era Sports was trying to extort Bush, threatening the release of 'embarrasing personal information'. About the only good news I can find this morning is that Helix High's 2000 CIF Championship (Bush, Alex Smith, receiver Todd Watkins) still appears safe - for now. CEASE AND DESIST LETTER: If you thought anyone named 'New Era' is not original - you're right. New Era is also a 86-year old cap company that supplies Major League Baseball among other ventures. The only problem I have is how do you tell someone to cease when they have already ceased??? New Era Sports is a venture that is getting much more pub in death than they ever did in life.PACKERS EYING VERN DAVIS??? Suddenly it looks like A.J. Hawk may not end up in Green Bay - as it's said the Pack will take the Maryland tight end who posted incredible workout numbers, if he's availble at #5. Only one problem - I think the Jets get him at #4, if they don't trade up for Busch. If Davis is gone Green Bay may take tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who the organization apparently thinks of even higher than Davis. The good news is I don't think you can lose with any one of the three. If you like that nugget of information look forward to the Edge - coming soon. TIM MONTGOMERY INDICTED: Clocked a 9.78 once upon a time, but a doping violation caused that to be erased quicker than a USC National Championship. But Tim now has more immediate and even more dire concerns after being arrested on charges he was connected to a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and money laundering scheme - that does not sound like a traffic ticket. Montgomery surrendered to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Virginia early Friday and spent the afternoon in custody before posting $10,000 bond. NHL GOON DROPPED FROM TV CONSIDERATION: Controversial L.A. Kings forward Sean Avery was supposed to provide commentary on a Canadian network during the playoffs, but was a late scratch after a high-ranking NHL official supposedly suggested that he not be on. Avery has made controversy all season, the latest being a tirade toward an Anaheim Ducks TV commentator. Avery also caught the ire of French-Canadians with comments towards a player earlier this year and a black player also accused him of using a racial slur during a game. The TV network maintains that they decided to pull Avery themselves, fearing a Rush Limbaugh (w/ESPN) situation where the network should know what they're getting themselves into.  SHOCKER - TEXANS PASS ON REGGIE BUSH!!! Guess that scandal is going to cost Reggie in his pro career - as North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams will apparently now be the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and is already signed to a contract. Wasn't everyone supposed to lose games on purpose late in the year because Reggie was so special??? The real fun now may be how far Bush falls in this draft, will New Orleans take him at #2??? I wouldn't bet the house on it.COPS CALLED TO QUELL 'NEAR RIOT': A public hearing about building a NASCAR track in Staten Island erupts into an all out shouting match and a 'near riot', a claim later disputed on NASCAR's web site. Various reports also had a councilman against the project placed in a headlock by a union worker and a microphone being knocked from a speaker's hands. The commotion was said to have started right off the bat when the opening speech by Interational Speedway Corporation's president was shouted down. Union workers argued the project would bring much needed jobs to the area while opposition argued about race-day traffic, and that the project would bring 'goons and thugs' with workers who list their profession as 'onetime garbage jobs'. At that point an ISC representative suggested they tell that to someone who cleaned up Ground Zero. Incidentally, ground was broken on a new World Trade Center this week. Wonder how the meetings on buing the new Yankee and Shea Stadium are going to go??? STORY WITH 'EYEWITNESS VIDEO BAD END FOR STEVE HOWE: One-time promising relief pitcher dead at 48 after rollover truck crash. Howe is best remembered for being suspened seven times by MLB, becomimg a symbol of the rampant cocaine problem that plagued baseball in the 1980s (can't blame that one on Bud Selig). Howe actually hung around until 1996 but has been pretty quiet since his retirement, except for being removed as volunteer coach for his daughter's softball team a few years back. I thought there was another time Howe nearly died due to illness but I could be wrong. Toxicology tests yet to be performed. STEVE HOWE CHRONOLOGYDEION SANDERS JOINS ARENA FOOTBALL GROUP: Talks about putting on the pads and returning a kick himself. I say why not, I'm surprised John Elway hasn't lined up behind center for the Denver Crush yet. BOWL SEASON SWELLS TO AT LEAST 31: If anything, you would think they would contract a couple of bowls. New for 2006 will be the New Mexico Bowl, the Birmingham Bowl (don't worry they will have corporate sponsors sooner rather than later, as well as what's sure to be the popular International Bowl to be played in Toronto. There will also be a fifth BCS game starting this coming year. That would make 32 bowl games, although the Houston Bowl is in question (would anyone miss it??? Also, the NCAA has approved 6-6 teams going to bowl games (the regular season is now 12 games), provided it is to fulfill a conferences requirement in a bowl or to full all 62 or 64 spots. Anyone up for Florida Atlantic v. Northern Illinois at Skydome??? BUSHWHACKED!!! I told you there were a couple more investigative reports coming on Reggie Bush yet this week. Now they're saying that Bush's family was supposed to pay $4,500 month per month - but never paid, saying they would pay up when Bush signed his pro contract. Now Michael Michaels says the family owes $320,000 and will reportedly file suit Friday for over $3 million. The disagreement between Michaels and Bush's family began when Bush decided to hire a different agent and marketing representative. Michaels, who also goes by the name Michael Pettiford, said he was approached by two others to invest in a sports marketing company where Bush would be the primary client. The backgrounds of Michaels and partner Lloyd Lake have raised red flags among NFL officials. Michaels was arrested in October 1999 on felony charges of making terrorist threats and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner in an incident involving current Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. Lake, a former Helix High basketball player with a history of gang and drug ties, goes back several years, FBI agent Allan Vitkosky wrote in a sworn affidavit in 2002. Lake has had a series of drug and firearm arrests, including felony convictions for false imprisonment in 1993 and possession of marijuana for sale in 1996. Also, San Diego Police records reveal Lake was a documented member of the Emerald Hills Blood/Upside Sic street gang. Reggie is in New York right now and all he wants to talk about is football - fat chance of that happening. The prospect of Bush and the family stepping to the podium after being selected #1 overall has a real chance of being a three-ring circus. LAPD BOOKS USC QUARTERBACK ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES: It is safe to say the Trojan football program has had better weeks. Highly touted recruit Mark Sanchez was expected to battle for the starting job this fall and had been working with the first team in spring drills. YAHOO WRITER RE-RAISES: If Reggie Bush didn't like Charles Robinson's first investigative report this week, he will be pleased to know that was only his pre-flop bet. Now Robinson has uncovered transcripts from a PAROLE VIOLATION HEARING involving Bush, tackle Winston Justice, and New Era Sports & Entertainment associate. Meanwhile the Sycuan tribal management is also trying to distance themselves from the would-be agent. Still a couple more days before the draft, wonder if Chuck has anything else saved up - give him his ESPN or NFL Network job already. |
2003 NFL DRAFT PROFILES
