Ultimate Sports Blog Aggregator
- Because You’re Probably Planning A 4th Of July Celebration Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:14:56

OK, this looks kinda tawdry. But I’m told Jerry Jones gave Wade Phillips a case of this stuff for Xmas and it goes really well with Ed “Too Tall” Jones’ Charcoal Briquettes
- A Michael Jackson……Tribute……..Sort of……. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:18:00
The untimely death of pop superstar……..Michael Jackson …..has definitely made all of us pause….pay our respects….etc.
But Arland Bruce……a football player in the CFL, took it to a whole new level.
Courtesy of YouTube……….enjoy:
- Oakland Scribe : La Genius Owes Jose Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:16:28

Jose Canseco (above, right) didn’t take part in last week’s 20th Anniversary reunion of the 1989 Oakland A’s World Series Champs, and in the wake of considerable bashing of one half of the Bash Bros., former Sacramento Bee beat reporter Susan Fornoff stands up for Canseco in today’s SF Chronicle. “On steroids or not, selfish or not, antisocial or not,” Fournoff writes, “Canseco played a pivotal role in the success of the late-1980s A’s, their manager and his players. Why make the retro-face of the team Stewart, who pitched only every fifth day? Why make it Dennis Eckersley, who pitched only when the team’s bats had already given it the lead?”
Tony La Russa has never cared about whether a player is a good person or a bad person or whether he is, as he said of Canseco, “into his contract and his celebrity.”
La Russa cares only about a player’s contribution to the success of the team. He has always had a reputation as a veterans’ manager and for good reason: La Russa does not mentor. He considers the main part of his job to be filling out the best possible lineup every day, which is why America’s hotel bars are littered with napkins containing his scribble. He fathered daughters, not sons, and has not been a father figure to his players.
This is by no means a flaw. La Russa has been successful, and so have his teams, which is what matters in the world of sport. After Dave Kingman embarrassed the A’s organization by sending me a gift-wrapped rat in 1986, La Russa wanted to bring Kingman back in 1987 because he felt Kingman’s bat would have lifted the A’s record. The A’s did not sign Kingman, and neither did anyone else. But La Russa would have; it wasn’t about character, it was about home runs.
it is neither fair nor classy, 20 years later, for La Russa to say Canseco was not a team player when it mattered not a bit to the manager as long as the slugger, the 1988 Most Valuable Player, was hitting 17 home runs in 1989 despite missing all but 65 games that year with a broken wrist. If Canseco was good enough for La Russa to put in the lineup every day he was healthy in 1989, he is good enough to share in the celebration of that season 20 years later.
- A Man Who Wears the 10 lbs. of Gold… Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:13:00
You know those cheesy questions that are normally asked of celebrities and athletes on boring talk shows? The ones like “If you could have dinner with 4 people living or dead, who would they be”? Those questions are fucking stupid. I don’t want to waste my time talking to Abe Lincoln or Joaquin Andujar over a chicken casserole. That shit is boring.If I’m going to dip into the black arts in order to hang out with somebody, I’d at least like to tie one on and see if I can’t manage to get us into a bar fight. (I mean, imagine all those assholes who include Jesus in their group of four and how aghast they’d be to see JC knocking back shots of Patron and talking to hookers. Do you really want to be in the same category as them? Well do you?). Anyway, if I had a talk show (any day now) the cheesy question I’d ask is What famous person living or dead would you like to get dirty, stinking drunk with? I feel as though you could probably get a better feel for your guest this way, as opposed to beating around the bush and talking about a fucking dinner party. (I’m guessing Rob goes to dinner parties, and I’m hoping he fucking hates them.)
So, since the rest of the G:TB crew are too drunk, lazy or stupid (or all three in TJ’s case) to post anything today you’re getting a clip of one of my top answers to this question. Ric Fucking Flair.
If I had my druthers, I’d like to go back to the early 80’s and get dirty stinking drunk with Ric. Right around the time of his athletic and celebrity apex. Can you honestly tell me that you don’t think a night spent boozing with the Nature Boy in a bunch of bars in the deep south wouldn’t supply you with enough ridiculous stories to last a lifetime? At minimum you’d get in a fight, vomit, have sex with some random southern girl in the bathroom, shoot or be shot at with a shotgun, vomit again, snuggle up to Arn Anderson’s beard, get in another fight and finally end up with your hair feathered before you eventually passed out to the sounds of Flair screaming ‘WOOOOOOOO!‘ and dancing around like some kind of re-tard.
Dusty Rhodes may have been the “American Dream” but its Flair who lived the American Dream. He took his redneck roots and essentially overdid everything about them, thereby creating an entire image and persona that would position him as the king of the rednecks and, eventually, the king of wrestling. If Ric Flair isn’t the epitome of what’s great about America then I’m moving with Greg to Dubai.
Enjoy your night…and by all means, have too much to drink for Flair’s sake.
- Texas A&M Forced to Layoff 17 in Athletic Department Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:37:00
by Terrance HarrisFiled under: Texas A&M, Big 12
It’s no secret the economy has had an adverse effect on most industries.
Initially athletics seemed like they might be insulated from the strife. But more and more we’ve heard of professional teams struggling, big-time donors having to give less and athletic departments having to monitor copy machines.
Texas A&M, one of the premiere schools in the Big 12, announced Friday that it’s having to cut 17 positions from its athletic department in order to balance the budget. Facilities director Billy Pickard, 75, apparently is one of the casualties although he is the lone remaining link in the department to legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant from the 1950s.
Texas A&M Forced to Layoff 17 in Athletic Department originally appeared on Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:37:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Keith Hernandez (from UniWatch’s Paul Lukas) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:48:55

(above : not Keith Hernandez. Probably)
I watched some of yesterday’s Mets/Pirates make-up game, but apparently not the right parts. In what I watched, the Mets were hitting singles and Keith Hernandez was shit-talking the ineffective, soft-tossing Paul Maholm — “where was this guy in the 1980s,” he said after Nick Evans hit something like the fifth straight single off Maholm in the fifth inning — and then the Mets bullpen was wearily slouching towards a K-Rod breakdown. Sadly, I missed the part in which Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen discussed the fact that the Mets were staying in the same hotel as a bunch of attendees from this week’s Furry Convention in Pittsburgh. Thankfully, UniWatch’s Paul Lukas was there to catch and transcribe the discussion.
Gary Cohen: There’s the Pirate Parrot, entertaining. One of many, uh, animal figures in town today.Keith Hernandez: Saw a few around the hotel, didn’t we?
Cohen: The strangest convention I’ve ever seen is at our hotel here in Pittsburgh. You know, you travel around the country and you see parts of our society and our culture you never would’ve encountered anywhere else. There is a group of people, about 4,000 strong, convening in Pittsburgh this week. People who dress up as stuffed animals.
Hernandez: They’re cuddly bears. They like to cuddle.
Cohen: Bears, birds, dogs…
Hernandez: What are they called..?
Cohen: …wolves…
Hernandez: Ferriers..? All’s I know is I got in the elevator with four of them and the odor was horrific. [Camera shows the Pirate Parrot again.]
Cohen: Not the Pirate Parrot. He’s a natural mascot.
Hernandez: I had to get off. I’m not lyin’. I was on the 17th floor, goin’ down. I had to jump off on the 10th floor. I almost passed out.
Cohen: Guess those costumes don’t breathe very well. But it was, it was something, we walked into the hotel last night, comin’ from Milwaukee, and there was a, a, person in a wolf’s costume. And another person in a dog costume.
Hernandez: I saw a guy with, with his pet beaver. He had his hand, he was stroking it, he was petting it. [Long pause.] I’m serious! It was a, like a stuffed animal, and he was comforting it. Very bizarre.
Cohen: It’s a different world.
Lukas sees Hernandez’s language — “gettin’ off,” “goin’ down” — as pro-plushy semaphore. “Just come out and admit you’re a total perv who fantasizes about banging the Philly Phanatic and then we can all move on with our lives,” Lukas advises. And while this may well be the case, I prefer to think that the reliably mustachioed Mex was just bummed not to be the furriest guy in the building.
- FOA 2009 Preview: Running Backs Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:57:53
Our final preview of Football Outsiders Almanac 2009 gives you a peek at some of the player comments and fantasy football projections.
- Celtics Reportedly Offer MLE to Rasheed Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00
by Gary WashburnFiled under: Celtics, Pistons, NBA Rumors
The Boston Celtics’ courting of Rasheed Wallace culminated with a contract offer, according to the Boston Globe, believed to be for two years at the mid-level exception, approximately $5.8 million.Wallace, formerly of the Detroit Pistons, has his share of suitors and is in no hurry to make a decision. Orlando and San Antonio have expressed interest in Wallace, who re-signed a five-year, $57 million deal with Detroit in July 2004. The Pistons decided to allow Wallace to walk and agreed to deals with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Free agents aren’t allowed to officially sign until July 8.
Celtics Reportedly Offer MLE to Rasheed originally appeared on Fanhouse NBA Blog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Bates Loses Libel Case, Will Resume Writing Foes’ Phone Numbers On Toilet Walls Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:06:41

Former club director Melvyn Levi has won a high court libel judgement against Leeds’ Ken Bates (above right). The Guardian’s David Conn provides details from Sir Charles Gray’s verdict, the case stemming from Bates repeatedly hammering Levi in his Leeds programme notes, calling his predecessor a “shyster” and an “enemy within”
Sir Charles particularly highlighted the “gratuitous inclusion of Mr Levi’s home address” in one of the programme articles, and in another, “the reference to [Mr Levi’s] home telephone number being in the telephone book, which was in effect an invitation to Leeds fans to pester Mr Levi.”
Bates was ordered to pay Levi’s costs which, together with Bates’ own costs, are estimated to be approaching £1.5m. In his evidence last month, Bates told the court that despite receiving £17m from Roman Abramovich when the Russian oligarch bought Chelsea from him in 2003, Bates does not in fact have much cash. He said he was not in a position to put money into Leeds when the club was in financial difficulties, because: “People can be rich, but not cash rich - they have assets.” Sir Charles asked Bates if he was saying that was his position, and Bates replied: “Yes.”
- Hedo Turkoglu’s About Face Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:16
Have you ever bought a house?
You know the deal. You shop around. You look at the prices, and then at some point you find the house you like.
You make an offer. The offer sounds good to the sellers. You agree to buy the house. You agree on the price, and the house comes off the market.
Then there’s that period between agreeing on the basics, and the closing. That’s the day when contracts are exchanged and you get your keys. In between there are inspections, and haggling over little things like whether or not that chandelier will be staying in the entryway.
During this period, there is a nervous and tentative love. Everyone is so excited that this big project is almost done. And everyone knows that there’s just some percentage of a chance that something crazy will happen.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Hedo Turkoglu went all the way down that road. They made it through the inspections, and by mid-day Friday, all the important parts of the deal were done. It was nearly celebration time for all involved.
The only question marks were little things, mostly related to hearing the salary cap numbers from the NBA next week, which would inform how the deal would be structured.
Then, according to sources, something crazy happened. Hedo Turkoglu shifted course, deciding late in the day that he wanted a different house.
The Raptors had been serious in their pursuit of Shawn Marion and Carlos Delfino. Now the most likely scenario is that they’ll be renounced or traded, along with Anthony Parker. To clear the kind of cap room that would be required to sign Turkoglu would probably take renouncing every free agent Toronto has, including Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Jake Voskuhl and some cap holds from players overseas. That would give the Raptors room to offer Turkoglu more money than Portland was offering — although there are plenty of details left to be worked out, especially as Toronto may first try to trade some of those players instead of letting them go for nothing.
Toronto, as a roster and a city, offer an international flavor that Portland does not have. And with similar money, that proved more appealing than anyone had thought it would.
As for the Blazers? Well, no one likes wasting all that time almost getting a deal done. But there are worse thing than being back on the market, with nearly $9 million a year to spend.
- Maybe Turkoglu Can Play For 2 Teams Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:30:00
by Tim PovtakFiled under: Raptors, Trail Blazers
For awhile Friday, it sounded like Hedo Turkoglu was trying to become an NBA double dipper, playing for two different teams at the same time. Or like one of those traveling salesmen who quietly kept different wives in different cities.And maybe he thought since the teams — Portland and Toronto — are in different countries, he might be able to slip by. You could just imagine that sly smile of his as he nodded yes to both teams.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Either Turkoglu got cold feet or several news organizations got it wrong.
Maybe Turkoglu Can Play For 2 Teams originally appeared on Fanhouse NBA Blog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Kings Acquire Ryan Smyth, Avalanche Dump Salary Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:20:00
by Adam Gretz
The Los Angeles Kings entered the offseason with a fair amount of cap space and plethora of young assets that could have been used to bring in a big-name player to help boost a young team from Western Conference bottom-feeder to legitimate playoff contender. Personally, I was pushing for disgruntled Senators forward Dany Heatley, who seemed like he would have been a nice fit. The Kings, however, may have found an even better fit, when you consider Heatley is, apparently, out of his mind and doesn’t quite know what he wants or where he wants to go.Late Friday night, the Kings acquired veteran forward Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing, and a fifth-round draft pick. For the Kings? They get a gritty, veteran leader still capable of scoring 25-30 goals. For the Avs? It’s a salary dump, and a head start in the season-long quest for Taylor Hall.
Kings Acquire Ryan Smyth, Avalanche Dump Salary originally appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:20:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Turkoglu to Blazers, For Five Years $50 million, Approximately Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:24:51
Former Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, pending Wednesday’s announcement of the 2009-10 salary cap. The contract should approximate the $50 million he wanted.Don’t think that vaults Portland to the top. But, it should alleviate some of Roy’s ballhandling and scoring. Hollinger believes they overpaid, but it was a decent use of cap space.
Rip City Project thinks this may help Greg Oden as well.
- Palin Resigns As Governor of Alaska Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:45:52
A Bit of Political Friday: Sarah Palin will resign as Gov. of Alaska, ready to bring her infectuous charm and bible-thumping to the lower 48. (NYTimes)
- Manny Returns, Apologizes … Sort Of Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:48:00
by Jeff FletcherFiled under: Dodgers, MLB PEDs
SAN DIEGO — Manny Ramirez took a page out of Jason Giambi’s book.When Giambi came back to the Yankees after it was reported that he testified before a federal grand jury that he had used steroids, Giambi apologized, but he was careful not to say what he did wrong.
When Ramirez addressed reporters en masse for the first time since he was suspended for 50 games for a violation of baseball’s drug policy, Ramirez gave vague apologies, but not much else.
“I want to say I’m sorry to the fans, to my teammates,” Ramirez said Friday in a packed press conference before the Dodgers played the Padres at Petco Park. “They were always there for me. I want to thank them for their support. I’m here. I’m excited.”
Manny Returns, Apologizes … Sort Of originally appeared on Fanhouse MLB Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:48:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Starting Five: More History for Pujols Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:00:00
by Andrew JohnsonFiled under: Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Mets, Phillies, Twins, Starting Five
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day’s baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know …
That the milestones keep coming for Albert Pujols. He went into the record book in grand fashion Friday night, belting his 31st home run of the season. The drive was his fourth grand slam of the season and 10th of his career, both Cardinals’ franchise records. The latter mark nudges him past Stan Musial on the club list.
“He broke Stan Musial’s career record?” manager Tony La Russa asked. “I’ll go bow to his feet here in a second. That’s a serious point to make.”
Pujols is on pace to finish 2009 with 61 home runs. And just in case that’s not enough for you, it came in the eighth inning with the Cardinals down 3-0 to the Reds. St. Louis went on to beat Cincinnati 7-4.
Starting Five: More History for Pujols originally appeared on Fanhouse MLB Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Boston Cops Busted for Steroids Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:39:00
by Michael David SmithFiled under: PEDs
The Boston Police Department has disciplined 11 officers as a result of a federal investigation that uncovered steroid use in the department’s ranks.
“There is an emerging trend of steroid use in law enforcement that we’re monitoring very closely,” Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said. “Unfortunately, we were on the leading edge of this being disclosed.”
Boston Cops Busted for Steroids originally appeared on Fanhouse Backporch on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:39:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- MMA Upset of the Half Year Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:00:00
by Ariel HelwaniFiled under: Affliction, Dream, UFC, Strikeforce, Sengoku
We’ve been handing out our half-year MMA awards, so here’s my take on the biggest upset of the last six months.
As is often the case in MMA, there were plenty of upsets to choose from. But at the end of the day, I had to go with Joe Warren defeating Kid Yamamoto via split decision at Dream.9 on May 26 (part one of the fight is above; part two is here.)
MMA Upset of the Half Year originally appeared on Fanhouse MMA Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Happy Independence Day! Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:30:00
Be safe, have fun! - UFC on YouTube, the Beginning: Rampage, Cro Cop and Silva vs. Lutter Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:59:00
by Michael David SmithFiled under: MMA Videos, UFC
The UFC has probably done more to market itself on YouTube than any other sports organization, and since it’s a slow news day, I thought it would be fun to take a stroll back through memory lane to January 26, 2007, when the UFC first launched its YouTube channel. Above is the preview video posted that day for UFC 67, with a main event of Anderson Silva vs. Travis Lutter, and below are a couple videos promoting the UFC debuts of Rampage Jackson and Mirko Cro Cop, both of whom were making their Octagon debuts at UFC 67.
UFC on YouTube, the Beginning: Rampage, Cro Cop and Silva vs. Lutter originally appeared on Fanhouse MMA Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:59:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Celebrating 4th of July With American Hockey Highlights Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:00:00
by Adam GretzFiled under: NHL Fans, NHL Videos, Team USA
There are many different ways to celebrate the 4th of July holiday: You can cross state lines and purchase hundreds of dollars worth of illegal fireworks. You can stuff your face with food, whether it be for fun or in the name of “competition.” You can spend quality time with family and friends. You can combine all of the above and stuff your face with food, in the presence of family and friends, while you dodge the local police and set off hundreds of dollars worth of illegal fireworks.You can also spend a few minutes and watch a bunch of random videos that feature American-born hockey players.
Enjoy.
Celebrating 4th of July With American Hockey Highlights originally appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bills Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:30:00
by R.J. WhiteFiled under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team — one per day until we’ve done them all. Meet The …
City/team so desperate for attention they signed Terrell Owens to a one-year deal! Seriously, it could pan out well — but we all know that Roger Goodell is in the middle of not-so-quietly handing this franchise to Canada (hello publishing date irony!).Of course, a big season from the Bills could do some good in staving off that run for the border, but that will require a number of very good things to happen: Marshawn Lynch needs to return from suspension with a vengeance, Fred Jackson needs to be happy, Owens needs to be really happy, Trent Edwards needs to be good and, well, yeah, there are lots of ifs. But there’s also a lot of value on this team for fantasy owners that might slip under the radar.
Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bills originally appeared on Fanhouse Fantasy Football on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Please, No More National Anthem Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00
by Terence Moore
We’re in the Jeffersonian spirit of July, fireworks and the founding of our country, but something needs to be said: The playing of our National Anthem before every sporting event has gotten out of control.
If nothing else, the practice has gotten old. And get this: There isn’t anything in the United States Constitution declaring that we must do such a thing. Neither is it ordered by a higher power than even Roger Goodell, Bud Selig, David Stern and Gary Bettman. Nor is it mandated in the bylaws of any pro sports league.
The Star Spangled Banner is sung prior to games out of tradition, with no regard as to whether it makes sense or not.
It doesn’t.
So here’s an idea: Let’s stop doing it.
Please, No More National Anthem originally appeared on Fanhouse Backporch on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Sisters Are Hogging Wimbledon Titles For Themselves [UPDATED] [Wimbledon] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:03
The women’s final at Wimbledon is underway, and it’s the Williams sisters meeting in it for the fourth time. Who will win? Who will lose? You’ll have to wait (or call Richard Williams) to find out!Venus is going for her third straight (and sixth career) Wimbledon singles title, while Serena is trying to up her Grand Slam finals record against big sis to 6-2 (and she’s got two Wimbledon titles herself). The sisters have met 20 times previously on tour; they’ve each won 10 of ‘em.
But does this sibling rivalry manifest itself away from tennis? Not really, says Venus: “We’re not that competitive off court, she just tricks me a lot. But I’m getting hip to that now. We’ll be in the store, I’ll try something on and she’ll say ‘that doesn’t look good’. As soon as I put it down, she’ll put it on”.
Said an eye-rolling Wladimir Klitschko: “Tell me about it, sister.”
Venus and Serena are currently in a tiebreak in the first set.
UPDATE: Serena wins. That last game was kind of exciting…I guess.
I won’t show sister Serena any mercy in Wimbledon final, says Venus [Daily Record]
- Wimbledon Women’s Final 2009: Serena Wins Battle of Williams Sisters Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:31:00
by Michael David SmithFiled under: Wimbledon

Serena Williams won the 2009 Wimbledon women’s singles final Saturday, beating older sister Venus Williams 7-6, 6-2.“She was too good,” Venus said afterward. “She had an answer for everything and she played the best tennis today. So, congratulations.”
Wimbledon Women’s Final 2009: Serena Wins Battle of Williams Sisters originally appeared on Fanhouse Tennis on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:31:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Haunted Floating Bat Stalks Manny In Return [Wake Up Deadspin!] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:45:59
Got an image you’d like to see in here first thing in the morning? Send it to tips@deadspin.com. Subject: Morning crapWell, that was a quick 50 games. Manny Ramirez returned from his summer vacation last night, going 0 for 3 with a walk in a 6-3 L.A. win over San Diego. None of his MLB-leading Dodger teammates could be reached for comment, however, as they were all too busy cramming fertility drugs in his celebratory champagne.
******
Good morning, and Happy July 4th. We’ve got Wimbledon! We’ve got Tiger! And…um…hopefully some late-breaking athlete-related fireworks mishaps!
Wake up, boys and girls in America.
- Rafael Palmeiro Still Denies Knowingly Taking Steroids Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:57:00
by Tom FornelliFiled under: Cubs, Orioles, Rangers, MLB Rumors, MLB PEDs
There have been plenty of moments in baseball involving steroids that stand out in our memories, but one that’s always stuck in the back of my mind was Rafael Palmeiro sitting in front of Congress back in March 2005. There he was wagging his finger at Congress and saying “I have never used steroids. Period. I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than that.”Then five months later Palmeiro was being suspended 10 games by Major League Baseball for failing a steroid test. Of course Palmeiro then began backtracking and saying that he’d never “knowingly” taken any steroids in his life, and he wasn’t changing his story on Friday as he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rafael Palmeiro Still Denies Knowingly Taking Steroids originally appeared on Fanhouse MLB Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:57:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- F1 Boss Ecclestone: Hitler “Got Things Done” [Formula One] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:35:59
He also managed to compliment Saddam Hussein and offend black people all in the same interview. And he thinks Hitler was efficient?In an interview published in today’s The Times, Bernie Ecclestone, the 78-year-old British head honcho of Formula One racing, waxed psychotic on a number of things, including his frustration with modern political leaders and the benefits of tyranny. Some noteworthy quotes:
In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done…In the end he got lost, so he wasn’t a very good dictator because either he had all these things and knew what was going on and insisted, or he just went along with it . . . so either way he wasn’t a dictator.
And:
We did a terrible thing when we supported the idea of getting rid of Saddam Hussein. He was the only one who could control that country. It was the same [with the Taliban]. We move into countries and we have no idea of the culture. The Americans probably thought Bosnia was a town in Miami. There are people starving in Africa and we sit back and do nothing but we get involved in things we should leave alone.
But it’s not all bad. Ecclestone, no stranger to controversy, did display an emerging sensitive side, expressing concern about racing fans “blacking up” to mock British driver Lewis Hamilton. This followed recent comments he made about how he “would love to have a good lady race driver and preferably black and Jewish too, but they might take maternity leave.”
Reaction has been swift and understandably perplexed:
Stephen Pollard, Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: “Mr Ecclestone is either an idiot or morally repulsive.”
Can’t it be both?
Hitler? He got things done, says Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone [The Times]
F1’s Ecclestone criticized after Hitler comments [AP] - Hedo Turkoglu Spurns Trail Blazers for Raptors [Nba] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:15:34
ESPN is reporting that Toronto is giving him five years and $53 million. In addition, he won’t have those pesky playoffs ruining his summers.Ric Bucher says that Hedo did visit Portland, where a deal appeared all but certain, but ultimately decided that because Toronto was closer to his native Turkey, has a large Turkish population, and is a “cosmopolitan city”…
(pauses to sip mimosa, adjust monocle)
…it was the more attractive destination. Plus, he’s already spent significant time in the city as co-host of The Basketball Jones.
Kind of strange how Hedo, a crucial cog in the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals, ends up with the Raptors right after he gets replaced in Orlando by Vince Carter. And while some may blanche at the team giving $50 million plus to a thirty-year-old, even the faintest notion that he got pushed out the door for that über-talented marshmallow will be enough to endear him to Toronto fans forever.
Sources: Turkoglu headed to Toronto [ESPN]
- Cro Cop-UFC Drama Not Done Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:20:00
by Michael David Smith
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s on-again, off-again relationship with the UFC might not be off again after all.Cro Cop — who signed with the UFC in 2006, lost two of his three fights in 2007, fought in Japan in 2008 and successfully returned to the Octagon in 2009 — infuriated UFC President Dana White when he abruptly quit after winning at UFC 99, reportedly agreeing to go back to Japan to fight for Dream.
But a new report in Cro Cop’s native Croatia says UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta may have convinced Filipovic to step back into the Octagon.
Cro Cop-UFC Drama Not Done originally appeared on Fanhouse MMA Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Formula One Head in Hot Water for Remarks About Hitler Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:00:00
by FanHouse Newswire
LONDON (AP) — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone faced criticism from politicians and Jewish groups Saturday after being quoted as saying that Adolf Hitler “got things done.”
In an interview with London’s The Times newspaper, Ecclestone expressed a preference for “strong leaders,” citing former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Max Mosley, outgoing head of Formula One’s governing body, as examples.
He was quoted as saying that democracy “hasn’t done a lot of good for many countries — including this one.”
Formula One Head in Hot Water for Remarks About Hitler originally appeared on Fanhouse Motorsports Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2009: Joey Chestnut Beats Kobayashi Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:01:00
by Michael David SmithFiled under: Random Acts of Sport
Wolfing down an incredible 68 hot dogs, Joey Chestnut defeated Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi at the 2009 edition of the Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
It was the third consecutive victory for Chestnut, and Kobayashi, the six-time champion, once again finished in second place. Last year, Chestnut and Kobayashi tied at 59 dogs in the 10-minute regulation time, and then Chestnut won in overtime. This year Kobayashi improved, eating 64 dogs, but he didn’t improve as much as Chestnut did.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2009: Joey Chestnut Beats Kobayashi originally appeared on Fanhouse Backporch on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:01:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- WNBA Star Busted Driving Under The Influence [Wnba] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:30:00
The Mercury’s Diana Taurasi was cited Thursday night in Phoenix, a few hours after her team’s win over the Seattle Lone Professional Basketball Franchises.Taurasi is both the leading vote-getter for the WNBA’s July 25th All-Star Game and, as the Phoenix Business Journal points out, the newest addition to a growing list of current and former Phoenix ball players who have been busted recently for drunk driving (a list rounded out by ex-Sun and celebrated blowjob ranker Charles Barkley, and current Sun Jason Richardson).
What is it about living in the desert that makes people so thirsty?
Phoenix police: Mercury’s Taurasi cited for DUI [AP]
Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi cited for DUI [Phoenix Business Journal] - Roger Clemens’ Lawyer Says Rocket Not On ‘The List’ Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:50:00
by Matt SnyderFiled under: MLB PEDs
Back in 2003, Major League Baseball performed rounds of sample drug testing. If there was more than a certain percentage of positive tests, the league would move forward with mandatory testing. As we all know now, 104 players tested positive and the league implemented a program which suspends players for positive tests. Thanks to some leaks — on records which were supposed to be confidential — we know Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa were on that list. Now, if we were to speculate on the rest, it’s pretty obvious most people would believe Roger Clemens was on it as well. But, according to his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, the Rocket tested negative.
Roger Clemens’ Lawyer Says Rocket Not On ‘The List’ originally appeared on Fanhouse MLB Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Brock Lesnar: ‘I’ve Improved Dramatically’ Since First Frank Mir Fight Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:00:00
by Michael David SmithFiled under: UFC
UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is hoping to avenge his only loss and unify the heavyweight title against interim champion Frank Mir at UFC 100. And Lesnar says Mir is going to find out when they fight that Lesnar is a much better fighter than he was when they first met a year and a half ago.“I’ve improved dramatically,” Lesnar said on a call this week to promote their main event bout at UFC 100.
Brock Lesnar: ‘I’ve Improved Dramatically’ Since First Frank Mir Fight originally appeared on Fanhouse MMA Blog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- The Tour De France is, How You Say, “Underway” [Tour De France] Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:20:10
Lance Armstrong began his quest for eight with a solid start in the first-stage time trial. And that’s the only mention of France we’ll have on this July 4th, I can promise you that! East Coast Bias has you covered.Tour de France: Stage 1 [East Coast Bias]
- Serena Simply Best at Wimbledon, but She Doesn’t Show It Often Enough Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:22:00
by Greg CouchFiled under: Wimbledon
Quite frankly, to use her own words, Serena Williams really is the best. She said so a few months ago, when the computer dropped her from the No. 1 ranking, and then embarrassed herself a few times, even losing to a journeyman hours after her self-proclaimed greatness.But on Saturday, she proved it. She’s right. Serena beat her sister, Venus Williams, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to win Wimbledon.
Serena is the best.
More Coverage: Serena Triumphs Over Venus in Sister Act
Serena Simply Best at Wimbledon, but She Doesn’t Show It Often Enough originally appeared on Fanhouse Tennis on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:22:00 EDT . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
- Berman : Lee To Cash In On Turkoglu’s Flip-Flop Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:07:42

(Lee in a still from his short lived MSG show, “Non-Stars On Non-Stars”)
The past several days of musical chairs in the NBA left some observers to conclude David Lee would have no choice but to return to the Knicks, with few, if any suitors having the requisite cap space to recruit the former Gator. While the Daily News’ Frank Isola encourages the Knicks to pursue free agent PG Allen Iverson, Hedu Turkoglu’s stunning decision to bail on Portland’s offer in favor of a 5-year pact with Toronto makes the Blazers Lee’s most likely new suitors, the New York Post’s Marc Berman.
The Blazers have long lusted after Lee, who also seeks $10 million per season, exactly the amount the Blazers are under the cap. Bartlestein said because Lee is restricted, the Blazers were fearful of waiting 10 days to see if the Knicks would match and instead jumped at the surer thing in Turkoglu.With Memphis and Detroit making other moves and Portland involved with Turkoglu, the Knicks’ chances of re-signing Lee for $7 to $8 million had seemed to increase.
Bartlestein claims he’s talked to nearly 15 over-the-cap teams who have proposed sign-and-trade deals with the Knicks for Lee. But because he is a base-year compensation player, it is difficult to make the math work under the CBA.
Turkoglu leaving Orlando also affects their other free agent, Nate Robinson. As the Knicks await word on Jason Kidd’s decision, they are anxious to see if Robinson will sign an offer sheet on July 8 with another club. The Knicks would have 10 days to match — and that obviously would depend if they sign Grant Hill or Kidd.
- Sister Act: Venus and Serena in the Wimbledon Final; Turkoglu Burns Blazers for … Raptors? Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:14:10
Head-to-head, they’ve won 10 apiece. But in Grand Slam finals, Serena’s won five of the last seven. Venus is better on grass. We’ll be watching, but wondering what the F Hedo Turkoglu was thinking. The much-coveted SF pulled out of his verbal deal with Portland so he could make $3 million more … in the NBA wasteland known as Toronto. Doesn’t he know the Raptors are going to trade Chris Bosh before the All-Star break? Poor guy. NBA Finals to a first-round ouster.Turkoglu will make about $3 million more over the life of the contract than he would have made in Portland, but a bigger reason for his change of heart, a source told ESPN.com, was his desire to play in Toronto, a more international and cosmopolitan city — one with a large Turkish population — and his familiarity with the Eastern Conference after having spent the last five seasons with the Magic.
As for Portland … what a death blow. Just when it had the SF it needed to round out a great starting lineup … they’re back to the decidedly less exciting toss-up of Nicholas Batum or Travis Outlaw.
- Happy Birthday America, from CSTB and Jack Buck Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:43:51
As Albert Brooks once pointed out, every baseball game in America starts with the National Anthem, and yet one team always loses. Today, I’d like to break with that tradition and post this poem, with fireworks, by St. Louis legend Jack Buck. This way, none of us are losers.
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