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TOP STORIES - JUNE 24, 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! COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL: This is an ongoing countdown of the Top-50 Division I teams heading into the 2007 season: #50 Central Michigan | #49 Kansas St. | #48 Arizona | #47 Cincinnati | #46 Michigan St. | #45 BYU | #44 Texas Tech | #43 Iowa | #42 Georgia Tech | #41 Wake Forest | #40 Purdue | #39 Maryland  FORMER CLOSER ROD BECK FOUND DEAD: Rod Beck, the former All-Star relief pitcher with the mullet, bushy mustache, and right arm that swung like a pendulum before delivering a pitch, has died in suburban Phoenix home at age 38. Foul play is not suspected, but police are investigating. Beck saved 286 games in his career, including 51 while leading the Chicago Cubs to a playoff berth in 1998. Beck began his career with the Giants, and also had stints with the Red Sox and Padres. Popular with teammates and fans alike, Beck battled personal demons in recent years, abruptly leaving the Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation facility during his final season in 2004.BIG TEN SHOWING 'ARROGANCE' WITH NEW NETWORK??? If the NFL network cannot get Comcast or Time Warner to budge - then what chance does the Big Ten possibly have??? It doesn't matter, the conference still believes it's new TV network should be shown on basic cable systems - even though they plan to charge $1.10 per month in the big ten region (less for cable systems not in the midwest). As of now, the only basic cable deal in place is in Toledo, OH - although the conference claims that they are on the verge of several other deals. Most markets I know have one of the big two (Comcast or TW whatever). The new network is slated to air most of the football and men's basketball games that had traditionally aired on ESPN+, which in the case in football was normally the #3 or #4 game on the schedule - although the Big Ten will get second choice (after ABC) on three Saturday's this fall. Meanwhile one watchdog group claims that not being able to watch the Wisconsin Badgers on some weekends will be like 'the 4th of July without fireworks'. The first Wisconsin game to be affected will be a September home game v. 1-AA The Citadel. I think the state will survive if the game is not on basic cable. There are options, there is upgrading to digital, getting the dish, going to the sportsbar, turning on the radio, going to the game in person, or waiting for the Channel 21 rebroadcast at 10:30 PM. BOBBY COX - EJECTED!!! Wonder how the radio call went... 'HE'S GOING TO BE....OUTTA THERE!!! HE'S GONE - IT'S ONE-THIRTY-ONE, JOHN MCGRAW NOW HAS COMPANY ON TOP OF THE RECORD BOOKS, AND HIS NAME IS BOBBY COX!!!' I wonder how many camera shutters went off as Cox stormed out of the dugout, knowing that this could very well be the moment, as Cox was defending Brian McCann - who had just been run. Bobby gets his first shot at breaking the record Sunday night in a nationally televised ESPN game - don't be surprised if Bobby wastes no time, one of the men in blue might even run him while exchanging lineups just so his name can go down in the history books. NASCAR 'WINNER' BOLTS OUT SIDE DOOR: A bizarre week in NASCAR gets even more so as the official race winner was nowhere to be seen in victory lane - but that's what happens when a half-dozen 'Busch-whackers' spend the weekend criss-crossing the country between the Cup and Busch Series events. Aric Almirola was only supposed to merely qualify Denny Hamlin's #20 car, but Almirola ended up starting the race when Hamlin couldn't make it to the track on time. Almirola more than held his own, and was among the contenders when ordered to get out of the #20. Hamlin would go on to win the race and accept the winner's trophy, but Almirola (per NASCAR rules) goes down as the race winner and gets the prize money for starting the race. Though he need not be, Almirola was clearly upset and left the track without speaking to reporters. It's believed the factors leading to Almirola giving up his seat were (a) Hamlin was now at the track and (b) Rockwell Automation is the #20's sponsor, and they likely wanted the name driver behind the wheel since the race was being held near Rockwell's headquarters in Milwaukee. The night before, more jovial Almirola talked about being bummed about not being able to purchase a bobblehead at George Webb's (which he compares to Waffle House) during a satellite radio interview. Like there's a shortage in this town - there were giveaways at Brewers games on both Friday and Sunday. I'll trade a bobblehead for a diecast... VIRGINIA TECH GOLFER WINS BRITISH AMATEUR: Dedicating his win to the victims of April's campus massacre, Virginia Tech student Drew Weaver became the first American since 1979 to win the most prestigeous tournament in amateur golf. With the win, Weaver earns invites to both the British open and next year's Masters. NASCAR CRACKDOWN - JOHNSON, GORDON BUSTED: Showing they will have no tolerance regarding any funky modifications with the Car of Tomorrow - the cars of 2006 champion Jimmie Johnson along with teammate and 2007 points leader Jeff Gordon were barred from all track activity after both cars failed inspection at Infineon Raceway. NASCAR said both cars had modifications to the front fenders deemed illegal during morning inspection. Both cars will be forced to start from the back of the field on Sunday - and also a significant points penalty is likely along with yet another lengthy unscheduled vacation for Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus, along with Gordon crew chief Steve LeTarte. Other crew chiefs are giving a sympathetic voice, one noting that NASCAR is in effect trying to create another IROC Series, and that there is already an IROC Series, which currently does not have a title sponsor. In the meantime, when is Knaus going to get the message - you DO NOT go into the gray area of the rule book, and we mean anything darker than FFFFFF.  MAKING IT RAIN IN SAN DIEGO: Baseball under the sun on a bright Thursday afternoon - you can't beat it, especailly if someone is throwing dollar bills down on you from the upper tank. That's exactly what happened during the San Diego Padres home game yesterday, as dozens of $1 bills rained on the paying customers as well as on the field itself. Not exactly hurting for pocket change, one of the players ended up giving the bills to a bat boy. Meanwhile the Padres are wearing 1982 jerseys while playing the Red Sox tonight - and I'm kind of freaking out seeing Greg Maddux wearing #30, do we have to call him 'Win, Place, and (Eric) Show' now - that number should be retired.SPEEDING TANK IN ARIZONA: It almost seems like a sordid McGwire/Sosa-like duel. Pacman Jones makes the police blotter, then this guy has to keep pace. Sure enough, Tank Johnson pulled over for speeding on the outskirts of Phoenix. Blood samples were taken, and Tank was said to been 'very cooperative' at the police station - like he has a choice??? Tank is already suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season for his already-lengthy rap sheet. An official statement from the Chicago Bears organization says that they are aware of the arrest, and will withhold comment while they gather facts. IT'S NOT A MARATHON, IT'S A 'SPRINT': NASCAR proves once again just how backwards it truly is. As if filing a $100 million suit at a corporation who wants to funnel money into the sport isn't enough, now NASCAR plans to go ahead with plans to change the branding on it's top circuit to the 'Sprint Cup'. That would be the last word one would think of an outfit whose events last upwards to four hours every week and whose season is a grueling nine-month grind. And can you imagine how stupid NASCAR will look if 3-4 years down the road AT&T decides to buy Sprint??? TWO FELONY CHARGES FOR PACMAN: Caught some hilarious debate over the potential length Pacman's suspension last night on the four-letter network, which is more like talking about air-conditioning during a hurricane. Chris Mortensen said not only is 2007 now out of the question, but 2008 is in serious doubt as well - thanks for the news flash. Also John Clayton chimed in and said that Pacman's legal mess is 'eating away at his career' - the pun might not have been intended but it should be. Pacman will be forced to surrender to Clark County authorities, and could face up to 12 years in prison. And we haven't even gotten around to the possible charges Pacman could face for getting involved with the wrong crowd in Atlanta this week. Pacman is in such deep doo right now that I doubt even the Toronto Argonauts want him... BEIJING PLANS 'DIRTY BOMB' DRILL: The Olympic hosts ability to handle a dirty bomb attack will be tested in an upcoming drill, according to city officials. The exercise, to be held outside an unspecified Olympic venue, is one of a number of drills planned ahead of the 2008 Games, according to Beijing's emergency response office. China's news agency reports that so far only $300 million has been spent on security - about only one-fifth of what was spent on the 2004 Athens games. MOP-UP DUTY, BYU TRACK STAR ARRESTED: A street in downtown Provo provided the scence for a Western-style mop fight last week. Kyle Perry, the 2006 Mountain West champ in the 1500-meters, got into it with a man carrying a mop and bucket across the street who got too close while Kyle was having as much trouble as Meadow Soprano trying to parallel park. The complaint says Perry grabbed the mop from the man and ended up hitting him upside the head with the butt-end of the mop. The pedestrian then grabbed another mop - and it was on!!! Perry winds up arrested on aggravated assault charges. If found guilty, I'm guessing he could see a few cleaing details in his future - good ol' fashioned blood retribution.  JEFF GORDON ANNOUNCERS BIRTH: Tiger and Gordon had to have set up appointments on the same day. NASCAR's four-time champion became a father Wednesday when wife Ingrid Vandebosch, gave birth to a girl named Ella Sofia. Did you REALLY think Gordon was going to miss a race??? Look for the #24 to win easily at Sonoma this weekend.MICHAEL BARRETT DEALT TO PADRES: Geez, if he knew that was coming - he could had turned on his own teammates during that brawl last weekend - what in the professional wrestling business (which Barrett knows very well) is known as a heel turn. Besides the much-publicized dust-up with Carlos Zambrano, Barrett also went at it with Rich Hill after a miscue cost the Cubs a game v. Seattle last week. Not only that, word out of Chicago was that Barrett's defensive skills were declining. Meanwhile Padres GM Kevin Towers looks at the trade as a great opportunity for Barrett for a 'fresh start' while also being reunited with Greg Maddux. The real question is how Barrett will get along with Jake Peavy, who's also getting a quick reputation as kind of a red-ass.  AMERICA'S MOST SNAKEBIT SPORTS CITIES: Both Milwaukee and San Diego are in the mix here - but a couple of Lake Erie mistakes top them all in Cleveland and Buffalo. And yes, I've been reminded plenty of 'Mr. Drug and Alcohol himself' Darrell Porter haunting the Brewers in the World Series. Pick your poison - Randall Simon/Mandy Block or Roseanne Barr singing the anthem - Ray Kroc blasting his team on the PA system or Kareem wanting out of town because 'it doesn't have enough culture' - an owner ripping your gut out by moving your beloved NFL team or someone in your backyard who just likes to rip body parts period.BROWNS ROOKIE COULD BE LOOKING AT PINK SLIP AFTER GETTING TASERED: If you were a #5 overall pick like Pacman Jones you might be able to get away with this the first eight times, but not if you are an undrafted free agent. Cleveland Browns rookie receiver Mike Mason was tasered, then arrested over the weekend after refusing demands from two off-duty officers to leave a nightclub at closing time. Mason was charged with aggravated disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and resisting arrest - all misdemeanors. Mason singed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent last month. A team spokesman says that the team was aware of Mason's arrest and 'takes matters such as these very seriously.' If Sam Wyche were coaching the Browns, I'm sure he'd be telling his players 'YOU DON'T PLAY IN CINCINNATI!!!' KOBE BRYANT CAMERAPHONE FOOTAGE: Fans get into conservation with Kobe while out of the town, where Bryant starts cussing and blasting the organization for not trading for Jason Kidd - at which point someone pulls out a camera phone and records 24 seconds worth of footage. Owners of the video plan to sell the footage on-line. Later this year, KACSPORTS is planning to begin MP3 audio interviews, I will not resort to that kind of tactic - but I imagine getting such interviews just became harder.  INDIANA FOOTBALL COACH PASSES AWAY AT 59: Indiana University announces that football coach Terry Hoeppner passed away from complications of a brain tumor early Tuesday morning. Hoeppner underwent two brain operations in the past 18 months, and had not been seen around the football program since February - when he announced he was taking a leave of absence to help regain his strength. The school had recently announced that Hoeppner would not be coaching the team in 2007. Hoeppner's most recent surgery was last September, just three days later he snuck into the press box for Indiana's game. The picture shown here is from during the pre-game of Indiana's contest v. Wisconsin just two weeks later. At that time Hoeppner said that only scar tissue was removed in the second surgery, and during press conferences tended to breeze through the true seriousness of his condition. The energetic coach was said by many players to act much younger than his 59 years of age. Hoeppner had his best success in six years coaching Miami of Ohio where he was 48-25, his most well known player was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. At Indiana Hoeppner was 9-14 over two seasons. Hoeppner's passing marks the second consecutive off-season that the Big Ten has lost an active member of it's football coaching fraternity. Northwestern coach Randy Walker, who Hoeppner considered as a mentor, died unexpectedly around this time last year.CONGRATS TO TIGER!!!!! It turns out that the 2007 U.S. Open wound up very much like the 1999 U.S. Open – Tiger Woods announces on his website late Monday night the arrival of new daughter Sam Alexis Woods. Tiger blogged that both Elin and the newborn are doing fine. As was the case with Phil Mickelson eight years earlier, the firstborn arrives just 24 hours after Woods fell one shot short of making the USGA’s archaic 18-hole playoff which would have caused an obvious conflict of schedule. But unlike Mickelson, who single-handedly held the 1999 Open at Pinehurst #2 hostage with constant threats of pulling out no matter what the scenario if his beeper went off (you really think Amy was going to call if the water breaks and Phil is up by six with three holes to play???), Tiger goes Phil Ivey and doesn’t give any clue on the arrival which was said not to be due until July. And on another matter – I’ve had enough of you Woody Paige-types out there claiming that Tiger has jumped the shark (and I don’t mean Greg Norman) because he had the audacity to finish second to a pair of B-listers in two straight majors. That will just have to go along with the two first-place major finishes Tiger closed 2006 with – I think anyone would settle for 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd. RICK ANKIEL NEARS RETURN TO MAJORS: The last many remember of the one-time pitching phenom was a baffling meltdown during the 2000 National League playoffs, in which he was pulled from the first inning of Game 2 of the NLCS after throwing five pitches past catcher Eli Marrero. Now Ankiel is on the verge of a return to the Cardinals, as an outfielder. After his disastrous ’00 playoff outings, Ankiel’s control problems got even worse in 2001, he was sent down to the rookie league after walking 17 batters and throwing 12 wild pitches in just 4 1/3 innings in AAA ball. Always known for being a potential two-way player, Ankiel wound up finishing 2001 making his league’s All-Star teams as both a pitcher and designated hitter. Ankiel soon encountered elbow soreness and more wildness, and missed most of the 2002 and ’03 seasons. After Tommy John surgery, Ankiel returned to the majors late in 2004 and was very impressive with his control both in the majors and a subsequent stint in winter ball. However Ankiel decided to give up pitching for good during Spring Training 2005 when his wildness suddenly returned. Working his way back through the Cardinal system as an outfielder, Rick has had a very impressive year at AAA Memphis, hitting 19 home runs and 52 RBI – including a three-HR game over the weekend and another two home run game a few weeks back. Manager Tony LaRussa has been coy on giving Ankiel the call back to the show, noting that he is out of options. But the season is almost half-over and the Cardinals aren’t really doing anything offensively. With each passing day, you’d think the St. Louis organization has less to lose. MINOR LEAGUE HITTING STREAK ENDS: Brandon Watson broke a 95-year old International League record Sunday by hitting in his 43rd consecutive game for AAA Columbus, but the ride is now over after Watson goes 0-5 in the Clippers 6-0 victory on Monday. Of course the dilemma of maintaining hitting streaks in the minors is that a player is liable to get a promotion if he puts up good numbers for too long. Another problem is that rainouts are often rescheduled as part of doubleheaders where the games are only scheduled for seven innings. Columbus is now an affiliate of the Washington Nationals - in case you are wondering, the 25-year old Watson is not considered one of the organization’s top prospects. Incidentally, Joe DiMaggio actually got his longest career hitting streak at the AAA level, he hit in 61 straight in the Pacific Coast League in 1933. TENTH BENGAL EARNS HIS JAIL STRIPES: Running back Quincy Wilson was charged with disorderly conduct for failing to disperse after a weekend wedding party, marking the 15th Cincinnati Bengals arrrest in the past 14 months. Wilson was among 14 booked after refusing a police arrest to leave at around 3 AM (yeah, I've seen police chasing people late in the night after wedding parties). And one other detail, Wilson played for West Virginia - same program that produced model citizens such as Chris Henry and Pacman Jones. ITP HOME RUN PROPELS PRINCE INTO ALL-STAR VOTING LEAD: It had to of, as Prince's towering fly lost in the Metrodome celing, and subsequent mad dash around the bases for an inside-the-park home run has to be one of baseball's highlights of the year. Prince taking the lead in the NL first base voting is no small feat, especially with Albert Pujols and the Cardinals loyal fan base to contend with. Expect the voting between those two to go right down to the wire - we would call Katherine Harris except the 'loser' will be selected for the game in any event. FIVE FOR FIGHTING... Derrick Lee and Chris Young both get five game bans (no doubt will be appealed), Cubs coach suspended three games. Padre pitcher Jake Peavy, who made some comments about Alfonso Soriano styling the day before that may have helped sparked Saturday's hostilities - was fined but not suspended. Might be the most steamed Peavy has been since he was told he couldn't leave his car parked in front of the Mobile airport. |
