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TOP STORIES - AUGUST 22, 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 FOOTBALL IS HERE: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS/KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES  ICONIC ORIOLES FAN PASSES ON: Baltimore Orioles honor 'Wild Bill' Hagy before Tuesday night's home game, Hagy was found dead in his home on Monday at age 68. A scraggly bearded, beer-bellied cab driver, Hagy was considered the team's 'unofficial' cheerleader during the late 70's/early 80's, leading his 'O-R-I-O-L-E-S' chant from the upper tank of Memorial Stadium. The team later let Hagy do his cheer from on top of the team's dugout during playoffs and other important games. It's said that Hagy frowned on attending games after the team moved to Camden Yards, saying that the fan base had become too much of the 'upper crest' cell-phone talking type. But Hagy did reprise his role during the team's playoff games during the mid-1990's.STATE NOW WANTS IT'S SHOT ON VICK: If you think #7 might escape with a mere 12-18 months from the Feds, think again. The state of Virginia is now pushing for it's own prosecution, where punishment might far exceed the maximum five years in prison that could await him in his federal case.  VA TECH DOES NOT PLAN TO DISASSOCIATE FROM VICK: AD says that although he doesn't condone Vick's actions, the school does not plan on lowering the #7 flag from Lane Stadium. The school's football facilities also includes Michael Vick Hall, which was named in exchanged for a donation the quarterback made shortly after leaving school. Meanwhile views are mixed between students and fans on whether Vick's legacy should continue to be honored by the schoolBODY FROM SUV/TRAIN CRASH IDENTIFIED AS EDDIE GRIFFIN: Former NBA forward Eddie Griffin died last week when his SUV collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Houston medical examiner's office has announced. Dental records had to be used to identify the badly burned body, who also did not have any identification. The 25-year old Griffin was the #7 pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and had battled substance abuse problems throughout his career, and was suspended by the NBA earlier this year for violating its anti-drug program. It's said the Griffin ignored the flashing lights and went through a barrier before striking the moving train at around 1:30 in the morning.  WILL DONAGHY ROLL ON OTHER NBA REFS??? The NBA is telling you that Timmy Donaghy is just a lone, 'rouge isolated criminal' that somehow got loose. But it now says that the former official will reportedly give federal prosecutors information that will implicate other referees in 'some forms of gambling activity' as part of his cooperation with government officials. Potentially, the names of up to 20 officials will be involved - with the specifics believed to include betting in casinos, not to be confused with betting on NBA games that they are actually working in.VICK DONE 'AT LEAST' UNTIL 2010??? You could just as easily argue that Vick is done period, and may have not even had much to lose going to trial. Maybe O.J. Simpson and his dream team made an escape, but this is the Feds, not Marcia Clark. Vick, as expected, has pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges, and is expected to serve 12-18 months in prison, although the judge could opt to a term up to five years. The plea comes just before the prosecution follows through on their threat of additional charges including gambling as well as a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charge. The other question is whether the NFL's suspension will run concurrently with the jail time, that answer is probably no. Even 2009 is a stretch at this point, and Vick will be 30 and at least a step slower by 2010. But who's going to be the NFL team that would take the PR chance on Vick at that point??? Maybe the Raiders - but then even MV is going to have to kiss a lot of rear ends by that point. Another question is whether Vick would possibly throw names of other NFL players in this mess as part of the plea, in that case he is really done with the league. In a statement by the league, the NFL is said 'to be dissapointed' not only of the Vick indictment but for findings inconsistent with what Vick originally told the league and the Falcons. BIGGEST FALL EVER??? The NFL and professional sports have seen remarkable talents throw it all away before, but Vick case may take the cake.NASCAR IN UNCHARTED WATERS (LITERALLY): Apocolyptic rains have socked the midwest all weekend and are slowly moving east, postponing the Michigan NASCAR Cup race until Tuesday morning. It is said to be the first time that NASCAR has been rained out two consecutive days in the modern era. The forecast looks slightly more promising for Tuesday, and officials say they are willing to wait until Wednesday to get the race in, although a Wednesday race would cause some logistical problems since activities leading up to Saturday's Cup race at Bristol begin on Wednesday night. Keep in mind though that they only have to get half the advertised distance in over the next two days. Should they not be able to get the race in, the race would be moved to the end of the season, much like how a postponed race in New Hampshire was run in 2001. That date would be November 23rd, and would also become the last race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup - and don't ask what happens if ten inches of snow happens to fall that day or it's 20 degrees. WEBB-GEM, D-BACKS ACE EXTENDS SCORELESS STREAK TO 42 INNINGS: Brandon Webb makes easy work of the Atlanta Braves in a 4-0 shutout, and is within 17 innings of Orel Hershiser's record consecutive scoreless inning streak. Judging by the next two opponents, Webb has a real shot. Brandon gets the Brewers at home next week and his next start would be against a San Diego Padre team that is dead last in MLB in batting. Incidentally, it was in San Diego where Hershiser bested Don Drysdale's record of 58 2/3 scorless innings by pitching 10 scoreless racks in a late-season game in 1988. MORE HORRIFIC DETAILS ON VICK DOG OPERATION EMERGE: No plea agreement yet, but things look as bleak as ever with Michael Vick the last man standing with even more ghastly details of his dogfighting operation emerging. According to testimony from Vick's cohorts, eight dogs that were not performing were hung, five of them did not die immediately, so Vick assisted in putting buckets over the dogs, drowning them. And then there are the 'rape stands' and the blood-splattered walls all over the Vick compound. Vick really has no choice but to accept a plea, even though (as someone said on Nancy Grace tonight) he's not going to like what's under curtain number 3. If Vick does not accept a plea soon, a superseding indictment that would add a reco charge as well as tax evasion charges, would take effect. In an interview before the Falcons pre-season game in Buffalo tonight, owner Arthur Blank said that the team is expecting the plea agreement at any time. Meanwhile the AJ-Constitution's D. Orlando Letbetter reports that speculation already has Vick eventually returning to the NFL after prison as a running back. That's WAY off in the future, you can ask Jamal Lewis on how somebody's football skills can deteriorate after a prison stint. There is also the matter on whether Vick would ever be allowed to return to the NFL - after all Vick did flat out lie to Roger Goodell at the NFL Draft, ensuring the commissioner that he was not personally involved in the dogfighting operation.  BLACK-AND-BLUEFISH UPDATE: Black and blue as oppossed to blackballed, which is what Jose Offerman will now be from any future coaching or front office position in baseball - you can ask Kermit Washington about his luck trying to find a position with an NBA organization over the last 25 years or so. Former teammate Torii Hunter sounds like one of those whose going to distance himself from Offerman from now on, his shocked reaction to his assault was 'Did you see that? There's demons in everybody. Some people snap. Was it hot there, or something? Did the guy say something about his mama? You take a bat out there, you can get blackballed from baseball. That's deep.' Not surprisingly, Offerman has not been answering his cellphone the last couple of days. Then there's pitcher Matt Beech and catcher John Nathans. Beech has a broken middle finger in his non-pitching hand, he thinks he can make his next start. Nathans doesn't sound as fortunate, he tried to stay in the game after taking Offerman's backswing, but later collapsed in the dugout and was diagnosed with a severe concussion, his season his likely done. Nathans is being credited though from preventing Beech from taking a direct hit. You can imagine the various legal angles we go from this point.FIT TIGER v. FAT DALY: John Daly made it clear this week that he has no intention of changing his lifestyle despite the advice from the example set by world Number One Tiger Woods, who suggested that more golfers would had a chance in the blast furnace that was the PGA Championship if they were in better shape. Daly meanwhile shot 67 in the first round even though he played slots at the casino instead of playing a practice round the previous day. Big John would slowly fade shooting 73 in each of the final three days. Daly says that he felt he fared better in Tulsa than those who do work out, and also added that all working out does for him is make him throw up after an hour, and if he really wants to do that he could just go out drinking. Daly adds 'I'm flexible enough, there are probably some things I could do to keep my flexibility up, but I'd rather smoke, drink diet Cokes and eat. I get enough exercise walking five or six miles (per golf round).' Bottom line, I don't think John is going to beat out Tiger in too many tournaments from this point forward, and there may also be some angioplasty in John's not-too-distant future. But one place where John will continue to do well win-lose-or withdraw is in the endorsement department, and his popularity grows with each diet coke, donut, smoke, and alimony payment.  TIGER TO ECLIPSE JACK BY END OF 2010??? At first glance that sounds like a tall order even for TW, to win six of the next 12 majors. That of course would be .500 and even with Tiger's torrid pace, he has 'only' won 12 of the last 33 (.364) majors. And since winning for consecutive majors from 2000-01 Tiger has 'slumped' to 7-27 (.259). But then there is the 2008-10 schedule, as broken down in this JSONLINE article. TW is always top-three at the Masters, you can look for 1-2 Green Jackets in the next three years. Even more daunting for Tiger foe's is his record at the next three U.S. Open venues. Bethpage Black (2009) will be the most tricky, TW only won by three strokes there in 2002. The 2008 Open will be at Torrey Pines, a home game for Woods where he has won five times in the regular season - while the '10 event will be at Pebble Beach, where Tiger won the last Open played there by only 15 strokes, and also holed out a couple holes on the back nine of the regular Tour event in 2000 - two out of the next three U.S. Open titles sounds very possible. St. Andrews is also coming up in the British Open rotation, TW has won the previous two events there by eight and five strokes. Tiger has had by far the worst luck at the next three PGA Championship venues, Tiger has previously placed second at Hazeltine ('02), 24th at Whistling Straits ('04), and 82nd as an amateur at a U.S. Open played at Oakland Hills. I think Tiger will find a way to get dialed in one of those tournaments though. I say it happens by 2011 at the latest, the only question is how many majors does Tiger win when it's all said and done - the scariest part is at age 31 Tiger's career is not even half over. I say 25 majors minimum, and perhaps as many as 30. And when Nicklaus' recored (a mere 18) does fall - it will be the biggest record-breaker in North American sports since Hank Aaron took down Babe Ruth, and I don't think I'm making an overstatement. COULD SCHILLING BE FORCED TO PITCH TO BONDS IN COURTROOM??? Barry Bonds has bolstered his legal team and could be preparing to slap a lawsuit on Curt Schilling, according to a published report. On a TV interview earlier this year, Schilling discussed Bonds' former mistress, and her potentially damaging grand-jury testimony.FORMER INDY DRIVER SENTENCED TO 26 MONTHS: Former Indianapolis 500 driver Salt Walther has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for nonsupport of dependents and violating terms of an earlier sentence. The 59-year-old Walther owes more than $21,000 in child support, according to the prosecutors. Salt had been wanted earlier in the summer, and actually eluded authorities on a chase after he was identified at a gas station. Known as a driver who had much better finances/euqipment than driving talent, Walther's life has been marred by legal problems as well as painkiller dependence dating back to the vicious crash he somehow survived at the green flag of the catastrophe-marred 1973 event. Walther was one of a dozen cars caught up as a car slowed when the green flag waved. Walther's car ended up flying against the catchfence, spraying gasoline amongst the spectators and leaving the driver's legs exposed as what was left of the vehicle came back onto the track. It would take three days that year before the race got in, and that wound up being shortened by the weather. On that day Swede Savage was involved in a savage wreck in Turn 4. At the time it appearred that Swede would survive the wreck but he wound up dying five weeks later from what they say was a tainted blood transfusion. Also a crewman for Savage died after he was hit by a truck running across pit road trying to reach his driver. And there was yet another fatality earlier that month in the practice leading to qualifying. You think someone upstairs was trying to tell them NOT to run that race???  OFFERMAN OFF HIS ROCKER!!! Actually, Rocker used to play for this team also. Longtime MLB shortstop Jose Offerman was arrested Tuesday night after charging the mound with bat in hand, and hitting the opposing pitcher and catcher with it. The pitcher wound up with a broken finger while the catcher got it in the head and wound up with nausea. Offerman plays for the Long Island Ducks these days, the Independent League team fast becoming a home for washed-up Major Leaguers. In addition to the arrest, Offerman also faces a certain lengthy suspension and possible outright banishment. But if you were to do a pool at which L.I. Duck was most likely to be arrested for actions incurred during a game, Offerman would not be the first choice - Carl Everett is also on the Ducks payroll. Get Albert Belle and Kevin Mitchell on the roster and you would have a squad that would fare better in the standings of the International Fight League.VICK NOW LINKED TO GAMBLING, AL-QAEDA??? Things sounded bad enough yesterday when the rest of his co-defendants flipped on him. Now just when you think it cannot possibly get any worse for Michael Vick comes a pair of new stories. First off a bizarre hand-written lawsuit is filed by a South Carolina prison inmate who is suing for a cool $63 billion (that's with a b) claiming Vick sold his dogs on E-Bay and that the quarterback even has ties with Al-Qaeda. The prisoner wants the $63 billion 'backed by gold and silver' and delivered to the front gates of his prison - don't think that's going to happen, even NHL goaltender Eddie Belfour thinks that number is over the top. In a second, and potentially way more damaging development, the feds are preparing new charges against Vick involving gambling on dogfighting, and plan to add those charges if Vick does not accept a plea-bargain. It's said the new charges could increase his possible prison time from six to a whopping 27 years. Even if Vick mucks his hand and accepts the plea, any evidence of gambling could be game, set, match, and career as far as the NFL is concerned. I think Pacman might be announcing his new tag-team partner next week on TNA... TODAY'S YOUTUBE: Pacman Jones 'attacked' off-camera and laying 'injured' - then packed off on a stretcher in a neck brace. That was all acting for him. Now for someone with a real spinal cord injury, specifically that bouncer that got shot in Vegas. You think that dude wants to walk again just so he can sign on with TNA and get Pacman in a steel cage match. Even if not able to walk he might put Pacman through the damn canvas...  THINGS LOOKING EVEN BLEAKER FOR VICK: The two remaining co-defendants in Michael Vick's federal dogfighting case have now scheduled hearings to enter plea agreements, and will cooperate with the feds to procure more evidence in the prosecution against Vick himself. Forget the 2007 season, Vick's very career could be down the crapper.PRO WRESTLING BODY COUNT GETS ANOTHER ADDITION: Former pro wrestler Brian 'Crush Adams found dead at his home at age 44 - no physical signs of injury and foul play not suspected. A former world tag team champion, Adams last performed for WWF in 2001 and was on the promotion's roster on and off since 1990. A WWE spokesman has no comment on the passing. SONICS SOUND HEADED FOR THE LAND OF SONICS: That would be where the southern-based fast food chain does a lot of their business, I see a promotional tie-in coming. Even whie conceding he could make more money in Seattle, the Oklahoma tycoon who bought the team says he did not make the purchase to stay in Seattle, and says he would be happy if the franchise just broke even in OKC. The new owners have said they will stay in Seattle only if they get a new arena deal (and i'm guessing it better be of the sweetheart variety) by October 31, which just happens to be the day after the NBA season opens. PACMAN TAKES 'BUMP': In a spectacle that featured phony cops and quack EMT's, Pacman Jones' appearance on TNA's pay-per-view ends with him laid out after being 'attacked' on camera. Pacman appears on an interview segment billed as 'the most controversial man in professional sports today' (no argument here) where he gets promptly challenged by a wrestler who gets restrained by security. Pacman then gets 'attacked' off-camera backstage and is later shown being loaded into an ambulance. Per the deal hammered out in the courts late in the week, Pacman could appear on the show, but not take part in any physical contact. Adam might end up being the first man in professional wrestling history to participate while wearing a red 'no-contact' jersey. JAVON WALKER TELLS TALE OF TRAGIC NIGHT: With his blood-stained clothes from that night still serving as a reminder, Javon Walker is set to relive the events of the night that claimed the life of friend and teammate Darrent Williams. According to the interview set to air on HBO this week, the incident began when Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall started spraying champagne around at a club, infuriating another party who confronted the football players then flashed gang signs. Walker did not see the incident but sensed trouble when he saw Marshall and Williams arguing with the other party outside, and attempted to intervene. Fearing for Walker's safety, Darrent offered Walker a ride in his limo - less than a mile from the club that vehicle would be sprayed with bullets, killing Darrent. Walker would not attend Williams' funeral and instead took a trip to Las Vegas, fearing that he still might be targeted by the perpetrators. The suspects are still at large, although police believe several men in custody on federal drug charges have information about the slaying. Walker also says he contemplated asking for a trade from the Broncos thinking that would be the only possible way to put the tragedy behind him. Walker says the HBO segment will be the only time he talks publicly about the incident. |
