myopiclunacy.com

Charles Barkley, the popular Hall of Fame basketball star and Emmy Award-winning NBA television pundit with aspirations for political office, might find his career plans in jeopardy after TNT Network said he would take a leave of absence after a charge for drunken driving.

Police in Arizona said Friday that Barkley, 45, had a blood-alcohol level of .149 after his arrest in Scottsdale on New Year’s Eve. A level of .150 is a case of “extreme” inebriation, said police Lt. Eric Shuhandler. The state’s legal limit is .08.

“I have spoken with Charles Barkley regarding the incident. .. and I understand he has hired a lawyer to represent him regarding this matter,” said David Levy, president of TNT Sports, in a statement. “When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understands the significance of the situation. This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being.”

All things considered, this is probably the best move for all parties involved. It’s obviously a tough decision for TNT whether to fire Barkley or not, but there are honestly only so many negative PR hits that you can take. Even if those hits come from a media darling like Charles, at some point they’re going to add up. As I’ve said before, it’s a shame that he can’t get his life in order, because he could be a very positive voice for the Country. An incident like this just knocks your credibility back down to zero, and unfortunately for him….he really is a role model.

Update: TMZ has the audio of the arrest now. In case you want to listen to 9 minutes of sobriety testing…click below….

Charles Barkley to take leave of absence from TNT after arrest (USA Today)

We get a massive amount of tips in our inbox each week. Some are pretty interesting, but don’t get published for one reason or another.

It’s usually because they’re just so absurd or really lack even the most tenuous of news angles to give them the go-ahead. Other times it’s because they’re just absolute horseshit. But every Friday until we get sick of running them, we’ll present to you some of these not-so-shiny gems. All items should be treated as [Sic’d]. Enjoy…

It’s Not That Skimpy

Not very surprising that she flashed the TV cameras, since she wasn’t known for her modesty around the pool in Beijing. Here are a few pics of her at practice, wearing the skimpiest suit I’ve ever seen on a diver. The one she wore in competition appears to cover a bit more.

This Spam Is Schwag

Hello,

As I was surfing around google , I discovered your website: http://deadspin.com I am trying to add as many informative websites as possible to my site. Which in turn will benefit my users as well as provide you with relevant traffic to your site. I have a website with about 5,000 - 7,000 people on it per day who fit the same demographic as your site.

If you follow this link, http://www.rollitup.org you will see that I put your link on my homepage. Some website owners do not like when other sites link to them so I thought I might ask for your review.

Please get back to me when you have a chance, to let me know if the link I have placed suits your needs. Also if you would like a custom Title for it just send me a email and I will get it updated.

Have a good week,

Mark Thompson

You know, someone should really name a sandwich after it

Apparently, there’s a discount available ….

Keyshawn did not employ the Rumpy-Pump

Hey guys,

Friend of mine took this at the rose bowl, feel free to post. Not sure if this is pre or post Maualuga getting his grind on.

Do Not Mess With The Jason Whitlock Army

somebody decided to add a little whitlock love to the deadspin wikipedia that i somehow just happened to land on. found it funnier that someone took the time to add anything than what they actually wrote. i wonder how long this will last and/or how much it will escalate, no changes yet on whitlock’s wiki page.

Filed under: Ravens, Titans, AFC North, AFC South, NFL Playoffs

The Ravens enter the game as the chic pick for most, as the Titans are the most maligned 13-3 team I’ve seen since the 2001 Bears.

For the Ravens, the love is well-deserved. Since losing three in a row early in the season, they have won 10 of their last 12 games. The only losses were to the Giants — when the Giants were firing on all cylinders — and to the Steelers in the Walt Coleman game. They have dismantled opposing offenses along the way, and Ed Reed is playing the best football of anyone in the NFL right now. Seriously, when he intercepted that ball last weekend, I would have been surprised if he didn’t score.

FanHouse Preview: Ravens at Titans originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TNT has conveniently dropped the news that Charles Barkley will be taking some time off from its NBA broadcasts while he deals with all his “legal and personal issues” stemming from the DUI/blow job mess.

Via Awful Announcing via USA Today:

“I have spoken with Charles Barkley regarding the incident. .. and I understand he has hired a lawyer to represent him regarding this matter,” said David Levy, president of TNT Sports, in a statement. “When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understands the significance of the situation. This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being.”

Interesting move. Also, TMZ has the audio clip of Chuck’s failed roadside test. Here’s a summary: “Of courseshhhh…”

Hopefully, Charles takes the time away to fix himself. He might be a flawed human being, but the sports world does need him.

Charles Barkley Taking Leave of Absence From TNT [Awful Announcing]

• Inspired by last season's Celtics, the Cavaliers are working on being a close-knit team.
• There's an assumption that to make the All-Star team, your team has to be at least halfway decent. History has shown that most All-Stars come from winning teams, which could be an obstacle for the likes of Al Jefferson, Kevin Durant, or Danny Granger. However, the Washington Post's Michael Lee found there are plenty of counter-examples, and it turns out that even the worst team in NBA history had an All-Star.
• Frank from BrewHoop writes: "If you keep an eye on the all-star balloting process, you may have noticed that Luke Ridnour is a surprisingly popular guy. A while back I saw Ridnour was the leading vote-getter among Bucks and kind of shrugged–it's not like any of the Bucks are particularly popular in the grand scheme of things, and I assumed it was just a quirk of early voting returns. Well, we're now well into the voting process and Ridnour is still holding it down with 379,806 votes, which puts him well ahead of Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and Joe Johnson. Oh, and he also has more votes than Danny Granger, Josh Smith, and Brandon Roy. Wait, what? Not to take anything away from Ridnour–he's played reasonably well of late–but let's be realistic."
• Greg Oden's old-guy look, explained at last.
• A sign of how the economy is affecting the sports world: a sports marketing company that had a role stadium naming deals, closes its doors.
• If you are an NBA player, and you want to get backstage at a concert … how can you make that happen? Who do you call? If you're Jerry Stackhouse, you call Sandra Ware.
• Cleveland Cavalier fans, your new favorite musician is Bootsy Collins. This is clearly in the upper crust of team anthems.
• At about the 15-minute mark of this Colbert Report, Benicio Del Toro shows up with his marvelous acting skill, his suave jacket, and his Portland Trail Blazers shirt.
• More strange stuff from the world of officiating: A fan apparently blows a whistle, most of the Jazz and Warriors stop playing, and the Jazz get a bucket out of it.
• One of the truest tests of a stat system is to measure the quality of its predictions. Perfect basketball statistics will help me pick players now who will play in the future, right? Justin Kubatko is one of the best, and in rather involved language, he put his system to the test against Kevin Pelton's newish SCHOENE stat system. Very interesting.
• Larry Hughes, talking like he'd rather not be in Chicago. And Jamal Crawford could be a free agent.
• Brian McCormick, never shy with his opinions, tells you which players you should be excited about in the 2009 draft.
• What do you think about a coach letting his team lose, or underperform, once in a while, as a long-term lesson? Like if your player is doing something stupid in a game early in the season, maybe you let him try it and fail, so that he learns a long-term lesson. The other approach is to worry about one game at a time. Some thoughts about Phil Jackson, who seems more than willing to fail here and there in the early going.
• Despite being cut, and then traded to Memphis (funny how things work) Shaun Livingston is still rehabbing in Miami.
• Paul Shirley with a mean guide to 2008 music. He also urges you not to save candy, but instead eat it now.
• Wages of Wins suggests that not only is Joakim Noah productive, but he is the most productive player on the Bulls' roster. Nevertheless, Noah was recently the subject of an article saying he should be cut, as he is of no value.
• Anatomy of how the Suns failed on a couple of key possessions against Indiana. Very interesting stuff. One point, though, struck me as odd. There's mention of Sun players not noticing Terry Porter wanted a timeout. But can't coaches call timeouts themselves this year?
• Kyrylo Fesenko tells the Salt Lake Tribune's Ross Siler about some swearing he did on the court: "I was a little bit frustrated. I'm sorry if kids hear some bad words, but they were in Russian."
• Kevin Durant: Better shooting from the right side of the court.

Filed under: Auburn, SEC, General CFB Insanity

No, this doesn’t excuse his um, hair or his annoyingly unrepentant SEC honkery, but it’s still worth a few pennies of awesome. Tim Brando was the guest of Alabama’s legendary pot-stirrer Paul Finebaum’s radio program recently, discussing Auburn football before taking a few calls.

This being an Alabama radio program, someone was inevitably offended about something or other and went after Brando asking how much football he’d coached. That bee went straight to Brando’s bonnet and what we’re left with is radio goodness. A sampling of his ALL CAPS anger:

“No you shut the hell up. You listen to me! Ok? I’m the guest on this show. You listen to me for a second! I could care less about you!”

Audio clip of the exchange after the jump.

CBS Sports’ Tim Brando Wins Radio Shouting Match Against Auburn Fan originally appeared on Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: NBA Gossip, NBA Media Watch

It was tough to take the recent incident between Charles Barkley and the police seriously, even though it was in fact a DUI arrest. Once the juicy details about what exactly Charles was up to that caused him to run a stop sign and get pulled over were revealed, the whole thing pretty much became a joke. I guarantee you that at this point though, Barkley isn’t laughing.

Barkley’s immediate career has been placed on hold as a result of the incident, as he will be taking a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties at TNT. Turner Sports president David Levy’s comments on the matter are as follows:

“I have spoken with Charles Barkley regarding the incident. … This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being.”

You have to wonder if the details of Barkley’s comments to the police, combined with the report that his blood alcohol level came back at a ridiculous .149 forced TNT’s hand in (undoubtedly) making Charles take this leave. As you may recall, the last time Charles got himself into an embarrassing situation, all that the network required was an awkward, uncomfortable on-camera apology.

Listen to audio of Barkley’s failed sobriety test.

Charles Barkley Was Over the Legal Limit, Has Taken a Leave of Absence from TNT originally appeared on Fanhouse NBA Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On game day at Soldier Field:”Cold. My beer froze in about 15 minutes. The game was my wife’s suggestion - she grew up a Bears fan. We had a great time..” [The Big Lead]

Filed under: Pro Wrestling

On December 14, 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon sat down with federal investigators from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to testify about allegations of steroid and illegal drug use in pro wrestling.

More than a year later, that testimony has now been released (PDF), and it’s a fascinating read for anyone with interest in pro wrestling, performance-enhancing drugs, or the way the federal government uses our tax dollars to conduct investigations.

The testimony was contentious from the beginning, with McMahon repeatedly saying “I don’t know” when investigators pressed him to answer whether steroids are harmful. McMahon made the completely reasonable point that if the Committee wants to know about the health effects of steroids, it should probably ask the FDA, not the WWE.

Not long after that, McMahon told an investigator who was questioning him to “Stop trying to put words in my mouth.”

Congressional Investigators Grapple With Vince McMahon Over Steroids in the WWE originally appeared on Fanhouse Backporch on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Magic, Nuggets, Pistons

FanHouse’s NBA Guide gives you a daily look at all the games that matter … and some that don’t.

After a weak slate Thursday, the league comes back with a rather incredible line-up tonight. We’ll also have Brett Pollakoff at Mavericks-Suns, Twitterin’ away.

HEADLINERS
Boston at Cleveland, 8PM EST, ESPN

It’s easy to forget these teams have already met this season. But back in the first week, no one knew the Cavaliers would actually compete with Boston for the top seed in the East. Ta’ hell with playoff atmosphere. Given the intensity of the players involved and the stakes, this thing is Armageddon. Need a reminder?

Friday’s NBA Guide: Basketball Armageddon originally appeared on Fanhouse NBA Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Petty Enterprises, Sprint Cup, Gillette-Evernham Motorsports

I suppose you could chalk this up as one of those deals that just makes you want to go “hmmm.”

Not only did one of NASCAR’s most-storied organizations lose much of its independent identity thanks to a merger cued from financial necessity, but a driver thought to be on axe from the other merged team is back in the fold.

In other words, just another day in the always unpredictable world of NASCAR.

GEM-Petty Merger Brings Elliott Sadler Back originally appeared on Fanhouse NASCAR Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

One of the biggest downfalls of the Romeo Crennel era was that the Cleveland Browns failed to run an efficient 3-4 defense.

	AP Photo/Tony Dejak
	Eric Mangini hopes to get the Cleveland Browns back in the postseason.

Will new head coach Eric Mangini’s 3-4 scheme be any better?

This is one of the key questions that will determine the eventual success of Mangini’s tenure in Cleveland. Mangini, like Crennel, comes to the Browns with a defensive background and will undoubtedly have his imprint on it as head coach.

Both coaches had success as defensive coordinators of the New England Patriots. Mangini was a secondary coach under Crennel in New England and eventually became the defensive coordinator for one season, before becoming head coach of the New York Jets for three seasons.

But neither Mangini’s nor Crennel’s defenses have been impressive since leaving the Patriots. Crennel’s highest defensive ranking in Cleveland was No. 16 in 2005. Mangini’s best defensive year with the Jets also was No. 16 in 2008.

Defense will be key in the AFC North. It’s no secret that the two division teams still playing deep in the playoffs — the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens — are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in total defense this year, respectively.

Although the Raiders have given no official indication on who they’re leaning toward as head coach, it’s probably going to be Tom Cable, and it could be very soon. [San Francisco Chronicle]

• Not A Popular Item. Ha. This T-shirt was relevant for about three days, until the Eagles lost to Harvard. You can find it now at any Boston area gift shop. [Boston College Athletics Official Online Store]

• And I Think It’s Gonna Be A Long Long Time. Another one of those bets … since Florida beat Oklahoma, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) must sing Elton John’s Rocket Man for Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) at Nelson’s next constituent breakfast. Be sure to cover your ears when he gets to: On such a tiiii-ii-iimeless flight … [The Hill’s Blog]

• Happy Days Are Here Again. The word has just come down from top military brass: For the first time ever, U.S. troops in Iraq will be allowed to have a beer during the Super Bowl. But just one, soldier. [The Washington Post]

• Plenty Still In Stock. Here’s your chance to purchase a commemorative 2008 Oklahoma University national championship football! [YouTube]

• We’re Serious! The Trail Blazers will sue your ass if you even THINK of signing Darius Miles. [Yahoo Sports]

Image by Pacman Jonesin’

Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Panthers, NFC South, NFC West, NFL Fans, NFL Playoffs, NFL Coaching, FanHouse Previews

Stay on top of all the postseason action with FanHouse’s NFL playoff coverage.

You may recall that the Panthers have played the Cardinals once already this year. They won. Naturally, the Cardinals did not. But expecting history to repeat itself seems a touch premature (even if it happens all the time anyway) even though it appears that’s what people think — almost everyone is on the Catwagon. Normally, that would be disturbing for Panthers fans; it seems like whenever a bandwagon gets too full it always manages to topple over.

FanHouse Preview: Cardinals at Panthers originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What did the Ravens do to slow down the Titans’ defensive line? Which journeyman cost the Ravens the game? Which Steelers player is primed to have the biggest game of his career? And which team is primed to pull an upset? Bill Barnwell explores in the AFC Divisional Round preview.

read more

Yes, there are other games tomorrow. But, let’s be honest — there’s really only one that matters this weekend.

Okay, that’s not fair. The Titans/Ravens game should be entertaining. Prediction for that? Final score: Ed Reed 10, Kerry Collins -7. And of course you have the Mattoon Buzzsaw up against the Carolina Smash and Dash Panthers. Oh, here’s a fun aside: Anyone know what a Panther Swipe is? It’s a fun new disgusting sexual act. Apparently, it’s when you jerk off into your own hand, then paw it on your lady’s face right after you’ve completed. Like a panther. That’s all I’ve been thinking about anytime the Carolina Panthers come up. (This enlightenment courtesy of Josh from George A. Dondero High School’s class of ‘98.) And then Sunday we have the Chargers/Steelers match-up which will only be entertaining because when it ends, a new SHOTY champion will be crowned. (Oh, and fucking Baby Mangino made another Kansas news station. Doesn’t anyone in Kansas ever get murdered or something?)

I’m in no way confident about Sunday’s outcome, but there’s just something about this game seems a little off. Something fucked up’s gonna happen. You know when you can just feel it? Last time I had that feeling, 4th and 26 happened.

Still, I’m thoroughly convinced the Giants are due for a statement game and will just trounce over the Eagles defense and anyone in their path. You know when Cape buffalo get spooked and then just rumble through a riverbed over top baby zebras and any other creature that stands in its way? Yeah. That sort of thing. The rest of the league are the baby zebras.

Go to the top and popular stories to see what this week hath wrought.

TOMORROW: We’re still in Deadspin Recession Weekends and I’ll be popping in intermittently to provide you with various sporting updates and give you enough places for you to stay and chat about the games. (That is, if the car bombs in Brooklyn don’t paralyze me.) Dash will once again be here on Sunday.

TONIGHT: Burp.

Thank you for your continued support of Deadspin. Puck You, Miss.

See ya tomorrow.

Let the debate begin now: Whose offspring will be the more dominant athlete, Agassi-Graf, or Landlord-Parker?

The question must be asked: In these harsh economic times, can the WNBA really afford to have its best and most marketable player miss a significant chunk of the season? This would sort of be like Ana Ivanovic saying she’s pregnant right before the tennis season begins.

Ok fine, not really, but we wanted a chance to link to her bikini photos again.

As for Shelden Williams - is he a luckier NBA reserve than Marko Jaric?

Candace Parker Expecting Her First Child This Spring (WNBA)

Filed under: Florida State, ACC, NCAA FB Coaching

Bobby Bowden will be the coach of the Florida State Seminoles this year. Just like he has for the past 34. Of course, that fact becomes something along the lines of news when you’re 79 years old and your heir apparent also happens to be one of the more sought-after candidates for a gang of openings. Even if he is named Jimbo.

Moreover, with Florida State presumably in the drivers seat in their division, if not the entire conference (we’ve heard that one before, right?), it would be a good as time as any for Bowden to make a victory lap of sorts in 2009. Then again, we’ve heard that one before from Joe Pa, haven’t we? At least Tony Barnhart sees this scenario as most likely, and it’s somewhat hard to argue with. But the question that needs to be asked here is what an 82-year old is going to do with a $2 million salary other than feed his sons hush money.

Bobby Bowden Back for the 34th Time originally appeared on Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Females You’re Familiar with, and Obscure Folks: A soccer player in Boston, the very lovely Heather Mitts, is engaged to career NFL backup AJ Feeley. And NESN Boston TV girl Heidi Watney is dating a Fenway groundskeeper. (Inside Track via Fang’s Bites)

Whatever you do, don’t listen to Cris Carter. The ESPN analyst went 0-4 on Wild Card weekend. Where I stand compiles such suchery (sadly, no direct link). We don’t feel remotely confident about this weekend’s picks after last week’s 3-1 mark:

Tennessee 17, Baltimore 16
Carolina 23, Arizona 7
New York Giants 24, Philadelphia 10
Pittsburgh 20, San Diego 6

Sorry for the chalk, but it dawned upon us - for most of the season, three of these four picks consistently stayed in our Top 5 “Power Rankings.” With the exception of Baltimore - whom we like most to pull an upset - the other three were all over the place. Sure, Philly is playing well, and Arizona ran the ball well last week, and SD nearly went into Pitt and won earlier this season … but the problem with Wild Card weekend is that sometimes, one performance can obscure your view on how that team performed all season.

Enter Arizona. Compound that with the lasting images you saw of the team that just had a week (Giants and Tennessee lost; Carolina rallied late to beat a bad New Orleans team, and Pittsburgh lost its QB), and a bunch of people assume upsets will happen. The Eagles? Going on the road again to beat another stingy defense? Guess Philly could be last year’s Giants, but given two weeks to prepare, we’ll give the edge to Eli.

The Chargers? Great run to get here, but the euphoria and celebration from last Saturday’s thriller had the feel of a team that was just happy to get a Wild Card win. Unless of course Byron Leftwich comes out under center to start the game.

Thom, You Stink: “Brennaman is well suited to the rah-rah side of a college bowl game; he is an unabashed fan, a promotional voice, a starry-eyed, corny guy. I’ll accept his extravagant profusion of praise for Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, a model citizen. But if Al Michaels said, ‘When Major Wright hits you, you feel it in a major wrong way,’ his producer would rush from his truck to smack him. (NY Times) Oh, and there’s more. Someone defiled Thom’s Wikipedia page, and the Oklahoman took a couple jabs at him.

Cue the Wannabe WAGs: Busty blonde clubgoers are on alert, Jermain Defoe is returning to North London. Portsmouth are selling Kickette’s Man-Ho of the year back to his former employer for about $23 million, twice what they bought him for just one year ago. The new Spurs striker has begun training with his new club and showed up to the stadium looking like a dapper Oliver Twist, but, it’s not official yet as no one has bothered to fill out the paperwork.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving: Two seasons later, the Carlos Tevez affair still haunts West Ham. The East London club owes a possible $75 million in compensation payments to Sheffield United, which they will have difficulty paying as their Icelandic owner lost $349 million in the Landsbanki collapse. He needs to sell West Ham by March (good luck in this credit market) to avoid sending the club to administration and an automatic 10-point deduction. To pour salt on the financial fiasco, the Premier League and English FA have reopened the investigation into West Ham’s actions over Tevez, probably leading to further fines and points deductions. Elijah Wood is not optimistic.

Not Bad for a Caretaker Manager: It was only the Carling Cup, but, nonetheless, Championship side Derby County scored a heroic 1-0 victory, over Manchester United in the semifinal. Unfortunately, the semifinal has two legs, so Man U may still mangle them 4-0 when they return to Manchester for the second leg. Derby’s goal ended an impressive six-game shutout streak for Man U. Though, it wasn’t that impressive, as they only managed to score four goals. Cristiano Ronaldo took out his frustration on his Ferrari.

Former Juventus GM Convicted: An Italian court sentenced former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi to 18 months in prison, for corruption. Moggi used threats and violence to force players to sign up with his sons GEA World management agency. The agency would then force players to sign for certain clubs to benefit Juventus. The conviction is unrelated to Moggi’s infamous involvement in the 2006 Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, for which he received a five-year ban from Italian soccer. Italian Soccer Dons? Ethically questionable machinations? Backed by the threat of violence? Inconceivable!

Yes, Virginia the Spanish are Still Racists: Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos participated in a Spanish Christmas celebration over the winter holiday dressed as one of the three kings, wearing a turban and blackface.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

The Scott Pioli talk in Kansas City apparently will be on hold until after the weekend. The Kansas City Star is reporting that the Chiefs will not make an announcement regarding their opening for a general manager during the weekend.

Pioli is still considered the front-runner. If the search goes late into next week, it may be a sign that Pioli and the Chiefs are not going to come to an accord. The New England executive is considered the top general manager candidate available and his hiring would give the Chiefs instant credibility.

• The grounds crew in Pittsburgh may have to work overtime prior to Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game between the Chargers and the Steelers. A storm is expected to hit Pittsburgh Friday night and Saturday. There may be snow flurries during the game Sunday evening. The two teams played in poor weather in Pittsburgh on Nov. 16. The Steelers won, 11-10, in the final minute.

• The Denver Broncos signed tight end Adam Bergen on Friday. He’s been with Dallas and Arizona.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas

Jerry Richardson calls almost every one of his employees by a different nickname that has some deep, personal meaning.

	Paul Spinelli/Getty Images
	Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is “hopeful” that he’ll be able to attend Saturday’s playoff game.

Around the offices and in the locker room of Bank of America Stadium, there are favorite Richardson names like “Opie,” “Waffle House,” “Crash” and dozens of others. Around the offices and in the locker room of Bank of America Stadium, there’s only one name for the owner of the Carolina Panthers.

Mr. Richardson.

It’s not because he signs the paychecks. It’s because that’s the kind of respect the man commands. Inside the building and outside it. Throughout the Carolinas and throughout the National Football League.

Yeah, there might be a few exceptions, such as wife Rosalind, some other franchise owners and boyhood friends who call him Jerry. After all, that’s how he introduces himself on the telephone and what he tells others to call him.

“Yeah, but how could you possibly call him Jerry?” said Atlanta Falcons communications coordinator Ted Crews, who used to work for the Panthers. “Mr. Richardson is just one of those people who just epitomizes why you use the word ‘Mister.’ He’s so filled with class and has such a presence about him. When he’s in the building, you just know he’s there.”

That’s a common view for all who know Richardson. But the irony is the man who did more than anyone to make Charlotte a major league location isn’t even certain he’ll be in the building for one of the biggest sports events in the city’s history.

Richardson, 72, had been having health problems throughout the fall and doctors found major issues with his heart. He has been placed on a list for a heart transplant and is awaiting a donor. Richardson has been working an abbreviated schedule, mostly over the phone from home in recent weeks, and trips outside the house depend on how he’s feeling from day to day.

That’s why the Panthers are saying only that Richardson is “hopeful” of attending Saturday night’s playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s only the third home playoff game in the history of the franchise — a franchise Richardson brought to the Carolinas.

If you don’t know the history on that, we’re going with the nutshell version because there’s a lot more to tell about Richardson that deserves some significant space.

Back in the late 1950s, Richardson played wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts for a couple of seasons. He caught a few passes from Johnny Unitas, took his money and started a hamburger joint that grew into Hardees and a few other restaurant chains. In the 1980s, he started lobbying the NFL for an expansion franchise in Charlotte. He got his wish, and the Panthers started play as an expansion team in 1995 — going with Carolina in the team name because Richardson wanted North Carolina and South Carolina involved. There have been ups and downs, but the Panthers have built a dedicated fan base and are hoping to top off one of the best seasons in franchise history.

In a paragraph, that’s Richardson’s legend. But that doesn’t come close to touching what the man is all about. Richardson is one of the most unique owners in sports and it’s not just because he played the game and can relate to players.

In league meetings, Richardson has often been the bridge between the old and the new. He’s got the charm to bring Dan Rooney and Dan Snyder, and everyone else in between, to common ground.

Dealing with players and owners is a necessary skill, but Richardson takes it beyond that. He relates to fans — before most home games in Carolina history, Richardson has driven around the stadium in a golf cart or Jeep, mingling with fans. He relates to the media — calling a beat writer or columnist a couple times a year to go to lunch and asking what the Panthers could do better.

Lunch is a big thing with Richardson, and the people who work for him know that if the owner strolls by their desk at 11:45 a.m. and asks what they’re doing for lunch, they’ve got an invitation (one you don’t decline) to go to Art’s, a local greasy spoon. For the next hour, they’re going to get quizzed about their families, about their jobs and they’re going to hear Richardson’s thoughts on football, the salary cap or whatever is on his mind.

“From John Coleman [the security guard who works the front desk at the team’s offices] to [Pro Bowl defensive end] Julius Peppers, Mr. Richardson knows everyone in that building, all about their family, what their role with the team is and why it’s important,” Crews said. “He doesn’t tell you to go out and do a good job. Just by being Mr. Richardson, he makes you want to go out and do a good job.”

Richardson’s a common man in owner’s clothing. That’s what makes him so special. That’s what makes him so real.

He speaks with a strong southern drawl and carries himself with the uncommon grace of a 6-foot-4 former NFL receiver who also reached the highest levels of the business world. He also can crack a joke with the best of them or make even a big-name player, who gets in trouble off the field, sweat. But Richardson also can get a little flustered on the rare occasions he’ll agree to speak at a news conference.

That, perhaps, might be the best of Richardson’s traits. He doesn’t run around seeking attention or thumping his chest and telling you how good he is. He doesn’t have to. It’s obvious.

He’ll repeatedly tell you to call him Jerry. But you just automatically have to call him Mr. Richardson.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

Stephen Cooper doesn’t want anyone to spend unnecessary time pondering why the San Diego Chargers‘ defense has had its remarkable revival.

	Paul Jasienski/Getty Images
	Ron Rivera has made an impact since taking over as defensive coordinator.

“I think Ron Rivera,” said the Chargers’ linebacker, who has excelled since Rivera took over for the fired Ted Cottrell after eight games. “He made it real simple for us on defense to go out there and play football.”

There is no question that the San Diego defense has been playing winning football since Rivera, who was the Chicago Bears‘ defensive coordinator during their Super Bowl season in 2006, has taken over. The Chargers are the hottest team in the NFL going into their AFC divisional playoff game at Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Chargers have won five straight games, their last win coming over Indianapolis, which was riding a nine-game win streak.

The San Diego streak and its presence in the divisional playoff round is remarkable because the Chargers were 4-8 after 12 games. They are the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting 4-8.

There’s a direct correlation between San Diego’s turnaround and Rivera’s defense. The unit has improved dramatically under his watch.

“He’s made all the difference in the world,” Chargers safety Eric Weddle said. “It’s no coincidence that we’ve improved since he took over. That’s not a knock on coach Cottrell, but coach Rivera has really got the unit believing in each other. We’re really clicking under him.”

The numbers don’t lie. In addition to the Chargers’ win-loss record since they made the switch (San Diego was 3-5 when Cottrell was fired), the team’s defensive statistics have improved significantly. The Chargers gave up 6.4 fewer points in the final half of the season than they did in the first half. Their turnover ratio was plus-5 in the second half compared with minus-1 in the first half.

During San Diego’s four-game win streak to end the regular season, the Chargers gave up an average of 56.8 yards less a game than in the first 12 games. They had eight interceptions in the final four games, compared with seven in the first 12 games.

The Chargers shut down Colts quarterback Peyton Manning when they had to, holding the Colts to 17 points in a 23-17 overtime win.

The key to their success under Rivera?

“It’s just an aggressiveness,” linebacker Shaun Phillips said. “We just attack. We weren’t attacking before he came in. Now, we dictate the action.”

Rivera doesn’t hide his enjoyment. He loves the events of the past 10 weeks. He doesn’t allow himself to get caught up in elevating his impact on the Chargers’ turnaround. Others are saying it for him, but it is clear the Chargers, who have dominated opponents on defense during a five-game win streak, are winning because their defense is making plays.

“It’s been a lot of fun. I’m really enjoying this,” Rivera said. “The best part of it is because I’m a teacher and I see the results that are being made. It is very satisfying to see this thing work.”

It is working on all three phases of the defense. The defensive line, the linebacking crew and the secondary have all been noticeably better since Rivera took over. The end result, of course, is much better overall defensive play.

Some of San Diego’s defensive players said what makes Rivera — who was the team’s inside linebackers coach before his promotion — so effective is that he knows the nuances of all three phases of the defense. Cottrell’s strong suit was teaching the secondary. But Rivera, a former NFL linebacker, brings knowledge to the entire defense.

“He’s very detail-oriented,” said Weddle, one of the players whose performance has improved significantly since Rivera took over. “He has us prepared for every possible situation that can come up. It’s all details.

“I remember the day he took over; he told us it would be that way. He said he’d break it down and we’d do things his way. If anyone didn’t like it, he said they could leave. No one left and we’ve really gotten better each day since then.”

It seemed the first half of the season, in which points and yardage were being tattooed onto San Diego’s defense, the unit dwelled on playing without its signature player, Shawne Merriman. The pass-rusher was ruled out for the season after the first week with a knee injury. When Rivera took over at the bye, it seemed as if the defense realized it had to change. It has had a focus and a purpose since.

Rivera has very simple expectations. First, he wants the team to give up no more than 17 points. He figures with the Chargers’ offense, 17 points allowed should result in a San Diego win. Rivera’s other goals for his unit are to force at least four three-and-out series, create at least two turnovers and score or put the offense in a positive position.

Rivera isn’t talking much about his personal goals. Twice an NFL head-coaching candidate while with Chicago, he was pursued by Detroit earlier this week. However, Rivera released a statement through the Chargers saying that all the head-coaching talk must wait until the Chargers’ postseason run is complete. He probably will be asked to interview for jobs when that happens.

Rivera admits the Chargers’ defensive resurgence hasn’t hurt his career, but he is having too much fun working with Chargers coach Norv Turner and his players to focus on the future.

“The best part is the winning,” Rivera said. “We have a job to do here and we’ve had success and that’s the most important thing to me. My career aside, we’re winning and that’s the best part of it.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky

Four Tennessee Titans made the Associated Press All Pro Team, an honor that extends beyond Pro Bowl recognition as it combined players from both conferences.

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was one vote short of joining Baltimore safety Ed Reed as a unanimous selection.

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan and left tackle Michael Roos were first time choices, and center Kevin Mawae, who’s elbow injury will hold him out of Saturdays Ravens-Titans playoff game, received the honor for the third time.

“Wow. I don’t know if you can put that into words,” Finnegan told the AP. “That’s a goal guys want to obtain in their years of playing football. That’s the best of the best. That’s humbling to ever think you could be voted on for that. I didn’t look at that as a goal this year.”

The selections of Finnegan and Roos are particularly impressive for the Titans, who locked up both young players with long-term contracts in 2008. It also speaks well of the franchise’s ability to find top talent outside of the tops schools and conferences. Both were picked under a front office run by GM Floyd Reese, now an ESPN analyst.

Finnegan was a seventh round draft pick out of Samford in 2006 and helped the team bounce back from the Pacman Jones disaster. Roos was a second-rounder in 2005 out of Eastern Washington, who got a hearty pre-draft endorsement from Mike Munchak, the Titans offensive line coach who’s a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

The Titans matched the Minnesota Vikings for the most All Pros.

Other All-Pros from the AFC South: Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and Houston receiver Andre Johnson.

“It’s always a tremendous honor to be mentioned as one of the top guys in the league,” Johnson said in a release from the Texans. “When you go out and play and perform well, good things happen. This is another good thing that’s happened for me.”

Others from the division who got votes: Houston defensive end Mario Williams (8), Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (4), Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas (3), Tennessee right tackle David Stewart (3), Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark (2), Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday (2).

Here’s a complete position-by-position list of votes.

The AFC East didn’t get much love in balloting for the Associated Press All-Pro team.

The AFC East went into 2008 with enough star power to light a developing country, but based on feedback from the AP’s national panel of media members, the division’s most dazzling aspect was special teams.

New York Jets kick returner Leon Washington and New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski were the only players in the division named to the first team.

Patriots receiver Wes Welker, Jets guard Alan Faneca, Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins and Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter made second-team All-Pro.

The Jets had an NFL-high seven players selected to the Pro Bowl. Six Jets found their way onto All-Pro ballots, but not all of them were Pro Bowlers.

Running back Thomas Jones didn’t elicit a single vote, but it’s hard to generate attention at a position with MVP runners-up Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner. Quarterback Brett Favre was the other Jets Pro Bowler who didn’t receive any All-Pro votes.

The other Jets who received All-Pro attention: center Nick Mangold, fullback Tony Richardson and cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The division-champion Dolphins had four players with votes.

Porter finished third with 13 votes behind DeMarcus Ware’s 45 and James Harrison’s 38. Quarterback Chad Pennington received two votes. Guard Justin Smiley and cornerback Will Allen had one vote apiece.

While the Patriots had five position players named first-team All-Pro last year, only four others aside from Gostkowski were mentioned this year.

Welker was fourth with six votes. Randy Moss pulled one vote. Logan Mankins was fifth among guards with four votes. Rookie inside linebacker Jerod Mayo received one vote.

Only three Buffalo Bills received votes, and two of them were at kick returner (there is no separation between kickoffs and punts). Rookie kick returner Leodis McKelvin finished third with four votes. Roscoe Parrish received one vote for his punt returning skills.

The only Bills position player with votes was tackle Jason Peters with three.

No one in the NFL had more first-team All-Pro players than Minnesota, which placed four on the 2008 team announced Friday by the Associated Press.

Tailback Adrian Peterson, left guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams were all named to the first team. Tennessee also put four players on the team, while Baltimore (three) was the only other team with more than two first-team All-Pros.

Although the Pro Bowl gets more attention, I’ve always considered the AP All-Pro team to be the preeminent recognition of the game’s best players. Rather than split the league in half, with AFC and NFC teams for Pro Bowl purposes, the All-Pro team represents a mix of the best players in both conferences.

(The voting methods are different, of course. A total of 50 media members vote for the All-Pro team, while the Pro Bowl is determined by fans, players and coaches. Take that distinction for what it’s worth.)

If you’re a Minnesota fan, you’re probably wondering whether to be happy to see so many Vikings players recognized or bewildered that a group with four first-team All-Pros didn’t advance in the playoffs. Especially when you consider that a fifth deserving player, cornerback Antoine Winfield, was named to the second team.

The full list of NFC North representation:

FIRST TEAM

• Tailback Adrian Peterson, MIN
• Guard Steve Hutchinson, MIN
• Defensive end Jared Allen, MIN
• Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, MIN

SECOND TEAM

• Safety Nick Collins, GB
• Cornerback Charles Woodson, GB
• Cornerback Antoine Winfield, MIN

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

• Placekicker Jason Hanson, DET (3)
• Receiver Calvin Johnson, DET (1)
• Punter Brad Maynard, CHI (1)
• Nose tackle Pat Williams, MIN (1)

Here is a link to the full voting.

Stoops: He’s taking some hits on the Oklahoma message boards, but not as many as we thought. (Stat: Four trips to the National title game, most points scored is 19.) Thought he got outcoached badly last night. Mistakes: Going for it on 4th down early. Calling a pass into the middle of the field (with no timeouts, right?) inside the 10 with less than 10 seconds to play in the half. Even if the pass were caught, wouldn’t have the clock ran out? And incessant running in the second half in an effort to keep the ball away from Tebow and soften the defense failed. He waited too long to go back to the pass, and then Bradford forced a bad pass that ended the game. Florida on third down: 12-for-17. Let’s never get blinded by the Oklahoma regular season offense again, ok?

Herschel Walker and his multiple personalities, Natalie Gulbis and her twitter account, and Dennis Rodman in all his cross-dressing glory will be appearing on the Apprentice this season. Also on the show: a Kardashian, some suitcase girl from Deal or No Deal, and Brande Roderick, who you shouldn’t have to google. Fact: we’ve seen less than 90 seconds of The Apprentice since the show went on the air.

Why Tim Brando? Well, besides his constant ranting against the BCS for not having a tournament, there’s this …

Sir Charles Takes Leave of Absence: His BAC during the arrest a couple weeks back - .149. Legal limit? .08. TNT’s probably not too thrilled with this. [UPDATE]: Here’s audio of the arrest. Geez, he’s wrecked. (SI) [UPDATE II]: Barkley takes leave of absence from TNT. “Turner Sports today announced that TNT’s Charles Barkley will take a leave of absence following his December 31 arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. In a statement, Turner Sports President David Levy said Barkley “has hired a lawyer to represent him regarding this matter.” The statement adds that Barkley “is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being.”

Here’s how we’ll take you into the NFL Divisional playoffs this weekend: an interview with commissioner Roger Goodell. The son of a Senator who went from intern with the New York Jets to “The Most Powerful Man in Sports” was kind enough to carve 15 minutes out of his afternoon for his first chat with a blog. Among the topics covered: Plaxico, Mike Vick, changing the overtime format and excessive celebration flags.

Q: What’s an average day in the office like? Are you a creature of habit? Are you spending hours pouring over media clips? In meetings with players, surfing the web?

The only thing I do as a habit is work out in the morning. Almost every morning. I like to get started before 6 am – it’s the only time of the day y