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itemprop='url'/>\n<a class='timestamp-link' href='http://osgsports.blogspot.com/2012/12/phantoms-celebrate-new-years-in-style.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2012-12-31T13:58:00-05:00'>1:58 PM</abbr></a>\n</span>\n<span class='reaction-buttons'>\n</span>\n<span class='post-comment-link'>\n<a class='comment-link' href='http://osgsports.blogspot.com/2012/12/phantoms-celebrate-new-years-in-style.html#comment-form' onclick=''>\nNo comments:\n </a>\n</span>\n<span class='post-backlinks post-comment-link'>\n</span>\n<span class='post-icons'>\n<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-381508577'>\n<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6007977556512106051&postID=5558565963405611842&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>\n<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>\n</a>\n</span>\n</span>\n<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>\n<a 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Easy Money: Vandy Rolls NC State in Music City Bowl

Your highlights from the Bowl leader, ESPN:

Posted by Phil Cantor at 4:17 PM No comments: 

DEVELOPING: Boise Staying In Mountain West (UPDATED With $$$ Details)

((HT: Brett McMurphy))

And, because of that, San Diego State won't have to pay an exit fee if they decide to leave the Big East Conference and return west themselves...

Until we have more info on this whole thing, here's highlights from Boise State's win over Washington in Las Vegas...
McMurphy also says that Boise will still have to pay their $10-million exit fee. Maybe, they can go halfsies with the Aztecs... We have more from the Mountain West their own selves... MWC Commish Craig Thompson, in Hawai'i for the Diamond Head Classic, told Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune when asked about SDSU: “It’s not by any particular design that we haven’t talked to San Diego State,” Thompson said. “Maybe it’s a cat and mouse kind of deal. Boise State has been more active in this. It’s not obstinance on anyone’s part. Whenever it’s time, if it’s time, it will happen … I would have no issue talking with San Diego State if something were to develop. “To be honest, we’re just trying to figure all this out. Schools have their reasons for leaving for the Big East. Maybe they’re still valid today, maybe they’re not. But I think some schools – maybe not only Boise State – are re-evaluating that decision.” And, according to Brian Murphy at the Idaho Statesman and his Twitter: Boise State will remain in Mountain West. League will guarantee the rights to Boise State home FB games that are sold as separate package.
Posted by Jon Nelson at 2:48 PM No comments: Labels: Big East, Big East Conference, Big East Football, Boise State, Craig Thompson, Mountain West Conference, San Diego State

More Reaction From Black Monday: Philly, Cleveland, And Arizona 

Early Reaction From Black Monday...Chicago, Buffalo, Kansas City (UPDATED)



Here's Chicago...
((HT: WLS-TV))

Jay Cutler seems to have fallen on the sword a little bit, but admits change might be good for the long term...

Here's the noon lead in Buffalo after the firing of Chan Gailey and his staff...
And, now, Kansas City and Crennel... ((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City)) According to Bill Maas, Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter will be interviewing with the Chiefs tomorrow in Atlanta... and, at the same time, Clark Hunt is introducing a new structure where the new head coach reports directly to him and not to GM Scott Pioli. Apparently, Pioli is down with that for now... From Adam Teicher at the Kansas City Star: "That will really be my role, finding the right path for the Chiefs and helping them make decisions together."
Posted by Jon Nelson at 2:17 PM No comments: Labels: Black Monday, Buffalo Bills, Chan Gailey, Chicago Bears, Dirk Koetter, Kansas City Chiefs, Lovie Smith, Romeo Crennel

Phantoms Celebrate New Years In Style

((HT: @darrenrovell))

The American Hockey League, and minor league hockey in general, have never looked a good promotional opportunity in the mouth...

Here's the Adirondack Phantoms approach to New Year's... BlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Adirondack Phantoms, AHL, American Hockey League, Hockey, New Year's Eve, tuxedo

Others, not so much...

Like Chicago...

Gailey released a statement through WGR-AM55 radio: 

That should fix the problem right there...

1430 UPDATE: Once again from Rapoport... 


Arrest Made In DC-Area Football Player Murder

((HT: NBCWashington/ABC7))

Here's the report on the murder when it broke...

A candlelight vigil was held at Battlefield High on Sunday evening.
Posted by Jon Nelson at 10:49 PM No comments: 

Sepp Blatter Thinks MLS Hasn't Caught On...

((HT: Al Jazeera))

In a long-reaching interview with the folks at AJE, FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave the folks over at Major League Soccer hell for not catching on fast enough...

Whatever the hell that means...
Here's the chit-chat with Marwan Bishara for their "Empire" program...

The money quote:

"There is no very strong professional league," Blatter said. "They have just the MLS, but they have no professional leagues which are recognized by the American society."

Define "recognized..." and that's the rub in this whole thing...
Attendance is up 10-percent from year-to-year on average with the additional franchises from Montreal and Vancouver coming on line...

Blatter also wants the league to adopt the August-May schedule instead of what they have now.

The HQ would suggest that league attendance would plummet since they would be competing with college football in LA, Denver, Columbus OH, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Salt Lake, San Jose, and Kansas City... Chicago and New York- not so much...

What Blatter doesn't know is that the other football is all over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- key broadcast dates for futbol in the United States...

So, good luck on competing instead of maintaining your own identity...

Posted by Jon Nelson at 7:41 PM No comments: Labels: Don Garber, FIFA, MLS, Sepp Blatter

Norwegian Kicker Gets Jets Look, Thanks To Youtube

((HT: CNN))

Considering they need all the help they can get, it's all about promotion these days...

And Havard Rugland certainly gets the idea of self-promotion...
Trick shots, accuracy, and the left foot... it's all there...

And, when you put something on the Youtube, anything's possible...
Evidence below...
Very cool evidence below...

Let's hope the guy gets a deeper look along the line, and maybe, gets a gig out of it...
If not on this coast, back home...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 12:21 PM No comments: Labels: Havard Rugland, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Football, tryout, Youtube


Another Ridiculous Shootout Goal

((HT: Sportsnet.ca))

This time it's from Austrian hockey...

Mike Ratchuk completely schools HC Orli Znojmo goalie Filip Landsman...

Ratchuk's Olimpija Ljubljana team got the 3-2 shootout win and Ratchuk admitted on his Twitter feed that the move was an homage to New York Islanders winger Kyle Okposo...

Still, putting on the brakes for the pullback was pretty sweet...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 10:23 PM No comments: Labels: Austrian Hockey League, Filip Landsman, Kyle Okposo, Mike Ratchuk, Shootout


The skinny from Dan Duquette, Junior at NESN.com:

Very cool...

Posted by Jon Nelson at 10:04 PM No comments: 

Stage One Underway For Saban To Browns...? Shurmur and Heckert Going...?

((HT: Cleveland Plain Dealer/ESPN))

There has been talk for the past few weeks that Alabama head coach Nick Saban may have been laying the ground work for his return to the National Football League...

In no order...

In an interview with Dan LeBatard on his radio show in Miami on 790AM The Ticket as recounted by the Sun-Sentinel's Michael Casagrande, Saban apologized for his exit:

Saban acknowledged his conversation with owner Wayne Huizenga in which he said he was leaving was among the hardest he’s ever had.

“That’s always been a thing with me that I’ve never ever really felt good about,” he told LeBatard.

The interview, from the 17th of December, is hyah...

Then, back on the 11th, Coach Saban's wife, Terry (or "Miss Terry" as the coach refers to her) told Kevin Scarbinsky in an interview on 97.3FM in Birmingham:

"A victory does not feel quite as happy, as joyous. It's just relief and let's get ready for the next game. And that's unfortunate...The expectations are at the point now that everyone expects you to win and expects you to win it all."

In the same interview, she endorsed Kirby Smart as a "great fit" to be head coach at Alabama.

So, dear reader... taking those elements into whatever context you want...

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper and the always-plugged in Mary Kay Cabot, Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckart are gone as soon as "Black Monday" or "Black Tuesday" next week after the season-ender with the Steelers.

Conventional wisdom has been that new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III wants "his guys" and "his stamp" on the team. Mike Holmgren's departure was the first part of this transition. Shurmur and Heckart's removal would seem to be Part II.

From Cabot's piece when she got in touch with Shurmur:

"Listen, I get this, and my concerns are for my team and making sure that we do all the right things during the game to give our guys the best chance to win. That's where I'm at. We have not won enough football games, and I know that's the way this thing works, but in our situation I see improvement and I'll leave it at that."

NFL Network insider Mike Lombardi is the focus of chatter as Heckart's replacement, and he would in turn bring in one of his bestest buddies to be the new head coach- Saban. Saban would also get a monster salary and, possibly, a piece of the team.

Saban has always been about challenges and the idea of building something from the ground up could be that next "big challenge."

As your flashback, here is the Saban Welcome Presser in Tuscaloosa to remind us all about how he got to where he is today...
((HT: NBC6/youtube))

Posted by Jon Nelson at 9:33 PM No comments: Labels: Cleveland Browns, Dan LeBatard, fired, Jimmy Haslam, Kevin Scarbinsky, Mike Lombardi, NFL, NFL Football, Nick Saban, Pat Shurmur, Terry Saban, Tom Heckart, You're Fired

Another Donnybrook In The SPHL

((HT: Puckdaddy/brett959))

The HQ admits that we take in the every-once-in-a-while ECHL game to see the fight night...

We also know that the lower you get on the professional totem, the more fighting there is since guys feel more compelled to prove their overall worth for promotion up the chain.

The Southern Professional Hockey League could be considered Single-A in baseball vernacular...
And the fights are a level above double-a... think inverse proportionality...

The Huntsville-Mississippi fight from the other day is a good example of how things can get out of control since the level of officiating matches the lack of professional play...

129 minutes of penalties alone...
Here's the rundown...

Huntsville - Aaron McGill - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Aaron McGill - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Chapen LeBlond - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Chapen LeBlond - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Bill Baker - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Bill Baker - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Sam Cannata - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Sam Cannata - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Huntsville - Corey Fulton - (Leaving Players Bench) (Game Misconduct) (70.3), 10 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Reid Edmondson - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Reid Edmondson - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Anthony Collins - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Anthony Collins - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Branden Kosolofsky - (Fighting) (Major), 5 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Branden Kosolofsky - (Continuing Altercation) (Game Misconduct) (46.5), 10 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Branden Kosolofsky - (Spearing) (Double Minor), 4 MIN, 15:03
Mississippi Surge - Branden Kosolofsky - (Throwing Equipment) (Match) (53.5), 10 MIN, 15:03

The HQ is really fond of the "continuing altercation" rule...

The rematch, for those of you who want to travel to Biloxi, is January 20th...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 7:32 PM No comments: Labels: brawl, Huntsville Havoc, Minor League Hockey, Mississippi Surge, Southern Professional Hockey League, SPHL

OSG Prem: Arsenal Puts 7 On Newcastle

((HT: FoxSports))

Admittedly, the HQ was attending a wedding and didn't see how this one got away from Newcastle United... Demba Ba had scored to make the game tied at threes with twenty minutes to go...

And then all blue hell broke loose...

Theo Walcott ended up with a hat trick and the Gunners scored three times in the last five minutes...


Newcastle has, seemingly, under Alan Pardew decided to outscore opponents and not play defense- as evidenced by the back and forth with United last time around and the game today. That was, until, the meltdown in the last five minutes...

Olivier Giroud seems healthy after his bout with the sniffles...
Walcott is still looking for a new contract... and Newcastle is in real trouble...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 6:55 PM No comments: Labels: Arsenal, Demba Ba, Newcastle United, OSG Prem, Premier League, Theo Walcott


Could Bollywood Head To Blackburn...???

If the HQ was an investor in Blackburn Rovers, we would explode if this turned out to be true...

But there are reports, mainly from SkySports, that Blackburn advisor Shebby Singh may be...

"May be..."

...having talks with former Arsenal trainee, and former Bollywood actor, Judan Ali to take over for the recently sacked Henning Berg. Berg, you'll remember, lasted only 57 days and 10 games as Rovers dropped to 17th in the Championship table.

Here's what went down when Berg got booted...
((HT: SkySports/youtube))

Berg took over for Robbie Kean, who was at the helm when Rovers were relegated last season from the Premier League- and was in charge of the team for the first part of this season in the Championship.

Here's what Ali is trying to become on the pitch...
((HT: slenkyshots))

Former Aston Villa youth-team boss Kevin MacDonald is the favorite to replace Berg, though ex-QPR manager Mark Hughes, a former Rovers boss, and Phil Brown are also in the frame. Brown, the former Hull and Bolton boss, has confirmed he has applied for the job.

The HQ is waiting for the subsequent rebellion if Ali gets the gig...


Posted by Jon Nelson at 2:30 PM No comments: Labels: Blackburn Rovers, Bollywood, fired, Henning Berg, Judan Ali, nPower league, Robbie Kean, Shebby Singh, You're Fired

U of L Being Sued By Ex-Football Player


A former University of Louisville football player has filed a lawsuit claiming he was asked to cover up an attack on him by two of his teammates.

Patrick Grant also charges that the school and the football coaching staff didn't live up to what Grant says he was promised by them after the attack occurred.

Grant asserts on October 24th, in the U of L locker room at Papa John's Stadium, Jacob and Isaac Geffrad attacked him. Grant was beaten so badly that the lawsuit states, according to WDRB-TV:

"...he (Grant) required immediate, urgent care and nearly lost his left eye, the bones around it being fractured."

"His injuries to his left eye area were severe. Several of the bones surrounding it were broken and he was internally bruised. In other words, Patrick had sustained a 'blowout fracture' caused by a blunt trauma to the head. These are generally caused from personal altercations. His eye was bulging too. His treating physician was required to probe around the eyeball without any anesthesia in order to determine the extent of Patrick's injuries."

Grant had reconstructive surgery and the Geffrads were charged with assault and kicked off the team.

Grant's lawsuit also claims that, on the way to the hospital, university trainers told him to lie and not divulge the true source of his injuries.

His scholarship was, apparently, revoked January 4th of this year. When Grant called head coach Charlie Strong, Grant alleges that Strong refused to address the issue and hung up the phone. Grant is now suing for breach of contract, and asking also for compensatory damages of an unknown amount because if his injuries.

Here's Grant on special teams when he was a player at U of L

Posted by Jon Nelson at 1:05 PM No comments: Labels: assault, Charlie Strong, Isaac Geffrad, Jacob Geffrad, lawsuit, Louisville, Patrick Grant, University of Louisville

Remember The Alamo: Longhorns Have 2 Under Sexual Assault Investigation (UPDATED and UPDATED again)


For the 5,000th time...

Nothing good ever happens after 1AM...

Our new example is from San Antonio...

2 University of Texas players are under investigation for an alleged sexual assault along the Riverwalk in San Antonio- a little before 3 this morning...

An unidentified woman went to local police after saying that she met two Longhorns players and invited them back to her hotel room. She, then after what happened in their meeting, went to police with the allegation. Coaches have been notified of the incident and it appears that one of the players may be a starter on the two-deeps.

Further questioning should occur later today, along with the coaches press conferences...

Here's the overnight report...
More when we know more... 1400 UPDATE: We know more... Mack Brown addressed the media, but did not go into any specifics... He did say, however, the two players were suspended... The HQ is aware just how stunned you are... ((HT: KXAN-TV Austin))

Sex assault allegations made against Longhorn players before Alamo Bowl

1445 UPDATE: Two sources tell Hookem.com that Case McCoy and Jordan Hicks have been ordered home from Alamo Bowl. That can't be good... 1600 UPDATE: San Antonio police are telling various sources that there is only one suspect... even as Mack Brown sent two players home...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 11:19 AM No comments: Labels: Alamo Bowl, Case McCoy, Jordan Hicks, Mack Brown, sexual assault, Texas, Texas Longhorns

DEVELOPING: NHL Offers New Proposal As Clock Ticks


The National Hockey League is in, what "Puck Daddy" is calling, Day 104 of Stupid...

And he's right...

But, during a traditional time of not doing anything, someone did something...

The NHL has presented a new proposal to the Players' Association.

The league's offer, apparently, calls for player contract limits of six years- boosting the max length by all of one year...

Teams can also, in the new idea, buy out one guy on their roster outright- which is similar to the move in the NBA for really overpriced contracts for players who are either old, underperform, or both... but it still would count against the revenue share...

There are no plans for the two sides to meet, and it's been two weeks since both sides sat down at the same table to break bread (or each other's skulls).

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is saying that "sources" are wanting to open camp on January 12th, but Michael Grange, through his Twitter sayeth quote:

It is really hard to take seriously that the latest proposal from #NHL as 'movement' -- two sides have been inches apart for months

The guys from Sportsnet and "Hockey Central" discuss the drop-dead date for the season and the lack of urgency from both sides in the whole deal...

Here's Daren, Mayday, and Nick...
Bill Daly gave out this statement early this afternoon: "In light of media reports this morning, I can confirm that we delivered to the Union a new, comprehensive proposal for a successor CBA late yesterday afternoon. We are not prepared to discuss the details of our proposal at this time. We are hopeful that once the Union's staff and negotiating committee have had an opportunity to thoroughly review and consider our new proposal, they will share it with the players. We want to be back on the ice as soon as possible."
Posted by Jon Nelson at 10:46 AM No comments: Labels: Bill Daly, Donald Fehr, Gary Bettman, Hockey Lockout, National Hockey League, NHL, NHL Lockout, NHLPA

Today in Vague Reporting: Alleged Uproar over Braves Practice Caps Granted the choice is a bit odd, but we, like many others are trying to figure our where the uproar that is being reported over the new Atlanta Braves batting practice caps are coming from.

Major League Baseball announced yesterday their newest marketing gimmick. New BP caps. The reason: Simple, another product to sell to fans.

Read more from ESPN.com RIGHT HERE

Some of them are fairly interesting, some fairly drab and some just kind of ugly. And, well, to be honest, the Braves hat is kind of the latter. And before you ask, there are already allegations that the Braves chose this look. The "look" came from MLB Properties. Ask a pro sports team when they had final say on anything such as this....

For those unaware, the logo is the "Screaming Brave" logo the team used during the 70's and 80's. It went away when the "Politically Correct" sentiment went into full effect and people began being allegedly offended by anything they saw that didn't fit with their beliefs. It's been called "offensive", "derogatory" and a "racist insult". And yeah, maybe you can call us "Insensitive" but we don't get it.

But that isn't what we are wondering about.

The part we are wondering about is this: USA Today wrote a story that vaguely references an uproar by people over the caps.

The problem.

There are no actual people in the story. The writer just raises the specter of an "Uproar" and outcry and that massive amounts of fans are offended by this. Yet doesn't actually cite an example of anyone who is upset about it.

Read the Chris Chase/USA Today allegation RIGHT HERE

We're betting they aren't.

Will they buy these hats, yeah, sure, some will. Die Hard MLB fans will buy anything with a new look for their team on it. And no, we don't pretend to see any kind of "Nostalgic" tilt or even a chance for something different. It's a marketing (Dollar) grab, plain and simple.

I'm an unabashed Braves fan and have made no secret about it. But I'd never buy one of these. And yeah, there may be a few odd members of the PC police who will be "Offended" by this. But only if reporters tell them they are supposed to be. We are quite sure that almost nobody would even notice...or care had a couple odd writers not brought it out.

Think about it. With the gazillion people who live here, chances are if you look hard enough you can find SOMEONE who is actually offended by any logo currently in existence. And yes, the PC Police normally cries the loudest, whether they speak to the majority (which they normally don't) or not.

And yes, we get that is what reporters do, and if you want to report on it and raise the question...then raise it. But don't make vague accusations and assume the masses are offended, unless you are prepared to quote someone who actually is.

**Note**--We are quite sure that this will quash the sale of these hats before the sale ever gets started. While MLB probably won't see mass pickets and protests either, the fact that reporters are quoting panic in the streets, will be enough to stop this before it ever gets started.

Posted by Phil Cantor at 8:29 AM 1 comment: Labels: Atlanta Braves, Major League Baseball, screaming tomohawk


So Much For Avery Johnson's Employment

Avery Johnson...

You get the idea... 

The Year in Sports Profanity....

((ht: cosbysweater.com))

Because you know you want to listen.

And, oh, if you do, just be advised you might want to put on your headphones or earphones or privacy device of your choice.


Posted by Phil Cantor at 11:08 AM No comments: Labels: all sports, cursing, funny

"Mongo" McMichael to run for Mayor of Chicago Suburb

((ht: suntimes.com))

Please excuse us for finding this a bit amusing, but former Chicago Bear and Professional Wrestler Steve "Mongo" McMichael is running for mayor of Romeoville, Illinois.

And while he may very well be a rational, well-thought and efficient politician, it doesn't make the thought any less funny.

Mongo, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, will run against former mayor Fred Dewald (former cause he lost the job due to a DUI) and incumbent John Noak.

McMichael has settled in the community, with a Sports Bar bearing his name being one of the city's marquee attractions.

You'll recall, the former defensive lineman was one of the more visible members of the 1985, Super Bowl Champion Bears team. He also spent several years in WCW (World Championship Wrestling)

Here's Mongo, headlining in a match vs. WCW hero (and former NFL'er) Goldberg.

Enjoy your new mayor (haha)

Posted by Phil Cantor at 8:54 AM No comments: Labels: Chicago Bears, NFL, Pro Football, Romeoville, Steve McMichael, WCW

Posted by John Wilkerson at 7:29 AM No comments: 


Cowboys Brent Indicted On Manslaughter Charge (UPDATED w/BAC)

((HT: NBCDFW.com))

Here's early coverage from our friends at NBCDFW

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com. 

iCYMI: Clips Christmas look sets Christmas look back decades ((ht: danwoikesports))

Posted by Phil Cantor at 9:07 AM No comments: 


Andruw Jones Booked On Assault Charges

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

A team in Japan, the Rakuten Eagles of the Pacfic League, just dropped US$3.5-million on the 36-year-old (wink) outfielder after he spent the last two years with the New York Yankees. So, Jones now will have to answer to assault and battery charges on his wife early this morning off an alleged domestic dispute- according to published reports from various sources. ((His booking photo is on the right, thanks Gwinnett County Police Department/MyFoxAtlanta))

He is out on bond...

Recoirds at the Gwinnett County (GA) Detention Center in Lawrenceville have Jones was booked into the county jail around 3:45AM Tuesday and released on $2,400 bond by 11AM...

What is it that the HQ says about nothing good happening after 1AM...???

Here's what the Japanese League thinks-slash-hopes they're getting...
((HT: MLB/youtube))

Provided the Eagles front office even lets him play after this...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 8:05 PM No comments: Labels: Andruw Jones, assault, domestic violence, Japanese baseball, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Yankees, Rakuten Eagles

Colton Yellow Horn Goes Next Level In The Shootout...

((HT: Ontario Reign/ECHL))

Just watch... that's all we're going to say...

Jaromir Jagr started the whole spin-o-rama craze...
Colton Yellow Horn has added level of difficulty...

Okay, 68...
It's up to you now...

And, by the way, the HQ just likes saying "Colton Yellow Horn..."
Posted by Jon Nelson at 1:06 PM No comments: Labels: Colton Yellow Horn, ECHL, Ontario Reign, Shootout, Spin Move


No, Butch Davis is not the New Coach at FIU--Today (UPDATED) Interesting reports circulating out of Miami that banished former UNC football coach Butch Davis will be the new head coach at Florida International University.

The Miami Herald's David O'Neal posted a story saying there may or may not be an announcement next week.

You can read that RIGHT HERE

But, if you read it closely, in the next paragraph, he begins to back track on that statement.

And, in the "Next" blog post, says that he spoke with FIU AD Pete Garcia who says the rumors are totally false.

And yet the rumors are flying all over the Interwebs. Most are saying that the report was never true.


Remember THIS story from just three weeks ago

Yes, Davis could be resurfacing. But if so, it's being handled as awkwardly....as well, Garcia's firing of now former head coach Mario Cristobal.

In the meantime, Davis continues getting paid from North Carolina and if he were to take said job at FIU, the Golden Panthers would then be on the hook for the UNC money. And as much as Garcia needs a new coach, we suspect he does not quite have the budget for that.


We would not be surprised in the least to see this happen. FIU is one of the few jobs left open on the carousel and there don't seem to be a lot of takers. Stay tuned campers, this story probably has more to go.

12/28 UPDATE: From Alex Marvez at Fox Sports...

Well, now we know...

Posted by Phil Cantor at 5:00 PM No comments: Labels: Butch Davis, coaching carousel, college football, Florida International, Mario Cristobal, Pete Garcia


OSG Prem: Chelsea Lights Up Villa For 8
 

Sir Alex Calls For Ban After Williams-van Persie Incident


And, usually, what Sir Alex wants... he gets...

Watch what happened with 15 minutes to go in regulation Sunday against Swansea...
((HT: FoxSoccer))

Ashley Williams is now on ManU's hit list...

Sir Alex told SkySports:

"I think the FA has got to look into it. Irrespective of him having a yellow card he should be banned for a long, long time. It's the most dangerous thing I've seen on a football field for many, many years.

"(It was) absolutely deliberate. the whistle's gone, the game has stopped and he's done that a foot from the player. He could have killed the lad - it's a disgraceful act and he should be banned for a long, long time."

Williams sluffed it off and Swans boss Michael Laudrup hasn't even been quoted at present. But pay attention to any rematches down the line- regardless of level of competition...

Swansea grabbed a key point in the standings and trimmed the Reds lead over ManCity to four points in the Prem table...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 3:05 PM No comments: Labels: Ashley Williams, Manchester United, OSG Prem, Robin van Persie, Sir Alex Ferguson, Swansea City


Ragin' Cajuns win the New Orleans Bowl

This made The Lovely Bride's day.....

Posted by Phil Cantor at 4:28 PM No comments: 

Sac. Kings suspend DeMarcus Cousins...again

((ht: sacbee.com))

Posted by Phil Cantor at 4:15 PM No comments: 

Boise Back To Mountain West...???

Posted by Jon Nelson at 10:20 AM No comments: 


NY Jets a team only Benny Hill could love

((ht: bob's blitz))

Posted by Phil Cantor at 2:36 PM No comments: 

Johnny Football Courtside at Mavs game TNT guys wonder why?

((ht: sports.yahoo.com))

It's good to be king. Or a Heisman Trophy winner. How else can you afford to put yourself in a court side seat at an NBA Basketball game?

Yes, it may be totally innocent, but it was kind of funny to listen to TNT's NBA analyst Steve Kerr roundly call out Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel and how he could afford a high-priced seat to the Dallas Mavericks/Miami Heat game Thursday night.

For his part, after hearing of the question, Manziel tweeted the following: "Bought myself a little birthday present tonight stop hating! #HEATvsMAVS."

Read the Yahoo Sports story RIGHT HERE

All kidding aside, it does raise a bit of an eyebrow. Sure, more than likely Manziel isn't lying and he splurged on a gift for himself. And no, Kerr probably didn't need to go there with the accusation.

But it does make you wonder.

There aren't a lot of college kids who can afford the most expensive seat in the house for an NBA game. Particularly as an impulse buy. We are quite sure that there won't be anyway to prove evil-doing here, but it does make you wonder.

**--Note--** We learned after publishing this story that Manziel's parents can easily afford such an indulgence which explains quite a bit.

Heck, we make a decent living and while it wouldn't break our bank to buy a court side ticket for an NBA game, it would make a significant dent in our bank account. But then again, we didn't win the Heisman this year either.

Posted by Phil Cantor at 9:22 AM 2 comments: Labels: Dallas Mavericks, Johnny Football, Johnny Manziel, NBA Basketball, NBA on TNT, Steve Kerr, Texas A and M Aggies

Buffalo Bills to stay in Buffalo for awhile ((ht: buffalonews.com))

Read the entire story from the Buffalo News RIGHT HERE

That won't happen.

Posted by Phil Cantor at 9:06 AM No comments: 


Rodney Garner To Auburn

Phillip Marshall at Auburn Undercover gets this one... 


We know more: 

Chuck Pagano medically cleared to coach Colts ((ht: indystar.com))

Posted by Phil Cantor at 3:13 PM No comments: 

Mankato FB Coach Not Happy With 20-Day Suspension

((HT: KEYC-TV Mankato))

The head football coach of Minnesota-Mankato, Todd Hoffner, was cleared on child porn charges back on December 1st and is now having to fight a 20-day suspension delivered despite the decision.

The initial charges came from two videos that Hoffner recorded on his university cell phone of what he called "family moments" that were considered, by prosecutors, to be sexual in nature...

Here's the story at the time of the dimissal...

Hoffner has not been reinstated by the school as they maintain that there is an investigation still pending on another complaint. The 20-day suspension comes from what the school considers "improper use of a university cell phone."
Posted by Jon Nelson at 2:58 PM No comments: Labels: child pornography, Minnesota-Mankato, suspension, Todd Hoffner

The Mayan Apocalypse: ESPN's coverage of the Jets Okay, let's see a show of hands.

Who, outside of people who live in North Florida or in Bristol, Connecticut is tired of hearing non-stop endless stories about Tim Tebow?

And, if you aren't tired of it, I'd love to hear an explanation why....

For those of us who used to enjoy watching Sports on TV, this has now become a topic of conversation. And for the life of me, I have no idea why....

Sports has gone from a business of talking about the wins and losses, the big stories and crazy stories to ones that are now largely irrelevant to anyone outside a major TV market. Like a backup QB who is confused because he's still on the bench. Or the daily soap opera of a 5-8 NFL Team that nobody really cares about.

And there is one entity to blame for it all


No, I'll be critical of them, because at my age, I have no chance of them ever offering me a job. Plus, considering their fascination with things that don't fascinate fans outside of (a) New York, (b) Boston, (c) Los Angeles, (d) Chicago, (e) Miami or (f) Philadelphia, I'd probably be out of place.

What I'm having a hard time understanding is actually rather simple. Why do they KEEP talking about Tim Tebow or...The New York Jets. I turned on SportsCenter Thursday morning, and got 10-plus minutes worth of both.

Mind you, they were babbling on and making every analyst talk about a backup QB who is not of the ability to be a successful NFL QB and a team that is NOT in the playoff picture and is...well...just plain horrible.

But yet it tops Oklahoma City's NBA team winning 12 straight games. It tops the wind down of the NFL season. It tops Notre Dame's head coach winning coach of the year. It tops an ESPN analyst accusing Robert Griffin III of being too white.

Really, I guess you can't blame them for pandering.

Oh wait, yes I can.

Because that's exactly what they are doing. They are assuming that most of the audience is in New York or in the Northeast and will buy whatever they sell them. They also are well aware that when people like me get pissed and post rants such as this, it's free publicity. They know very well when Rob Parker or Skip Bayless make asinine statements on an obscure TV show, it's free publicity. And they know even if they don't source stories that came from someone else, nobody outside Twitter will care. And if they do and post something---again---free publicity.

When you are an "All-Powerful" entity who is basically unchallenged in the business, you get to dictate what is or isn't news. You get to dictate who is a "Big-Time" team and who isn't. You go to the teams or players where you believe "The Ratings" are. Or "The Advertisers".

Which is all well and good if it were something all of America was interested in. But lately, with them, it's not. You'll have to show me the research that says "Tebow" means ratings. I don't totally blame Tebow for this, but ESPN seems to have anointed him as some sort of "God-Like" figure even though he hasn't actually done anything.

Just ask now CBS radio host Doug Gottlieb about that.

And it isn't just ESPN. I know that. Heck, I get pissed off because Good Morning America (owned by same company) is 2 hours long and does 15-minutes of News before we get the latest on Lindsay Lohan. Or whatever other celebrity they deem "Newsworthy".

And, yeah, before you say it, I know I'm being unrealistic.


I just don't understand how somebody who hasn't actually done anything warrants the attention that ESPN pays to Tebow? They had (forced) their NFL analysts to sing "Happy Birthday" to the guy. Seriously, it was on NFL Live, they did it. It was the first block of SportsCenter.

Am I being too harsh or cynical here?

Do you really care that much about who the starting QB is for the New York Jets this week? Do you want to know that badly why Jets owner Woody Johnson signed Tebow to a contract? Do you really want to listen to douche-bag extrordinaire Skip Bayless troll on-and-on about how great Tebow is? Is it worth mentioning at all? Arguably. But no more so than any other story of changes on any other football team.

Oh, and I forgot the daily live Sal Palantonio report during training camp. Because by god--the Jets were going to the "Playoffs". That worked out real well, didn't it?

Somehow I've missed the lead story on the collapse of the Bears. Or how the Chiefs are recovering from the Jovan Belcher incident. Or how the Cowboys are handling the Jerry Brent story.

Maybe it is just me. Maybe I am that "Out of Touch". Maybe I am too "Old-School". Or maybe I have a vendetta? Or maybe I just "Don't get it?" After all, TV can't report on stories that interest everyone, right?

It's just really hard for me to get past the "We're ESPN, we'll tell you what you like" mentality. As much as I don't want to watch them, there's nowhere to turn. They own the BCS. All of it. They own NBA hoops, a percentage of it anyway. Thank god I don't have to watch them for NFL or baseball coverage.

Oh, did we mention they are behind all the college football teams changing conferences? Eh...that is another rant for another day....

((NOTE---I'm a 24-year veteran of the TV business. I was a Sports Producer and Photographer for 12 of those years. Just in case you were wondering))

Posted by Phil Cantor at 2:40 PM No comments: Labels: ESPN, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Football, Tim Tebow

UNC: Report says Academic issue not just athletes ((ht: newsobserver.com))

So...The University of North Carolina commissioned a former governor and a consulting firm to investigate NCAA allegations of academic fraud involving the football team.

And the big take away seems to be "It wasn't the athletic department's fault?"

If the results found by former Governor Frank Martin are true, the athletic department problems are the least of the issues in Chapel Hill. However, a cursory reading of the findings and a little homework kind of questions some of the results.

The results looked at enrollment in what has been classified as an "Athlete Friendly" course, African and Afro-American Studies. According to the investigation, grades were altered or not fair for most of students. Both athletes and students.

Martin placed the blame on a former department chairman and his assistant.

And while the results, at least preliminarily don't state enrollment in the course over the years Martin investigated 1997 to current, they do say in 2011, there were 19 students taking a particular course, 18 football players and 1 former football player.

Draw your own conclusions.

Read the full story from the Raleigh News-Observer RIGHT HERE

Yes, the NCAA is conducting their own investigation and we have a sneaky suspicion their findings may not be totally in line with this. Because quite honestly, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

The motivation behind this: Simple. North Carolina is trying to look proactive and that they are trying to "Root Out" the problem. And while they may very well be doing that, it doesn't eliminate what appears to be the fact that it occurred.

And while you can look at it and say it was the work of a "Rogue" professor, it seems like a bit of stretch. There does seem to be cursory evidence the players...or academic advisors were very aware they could put players in a course at that department to prop up the grades. And that is not only against NCAA rules, it's borderline criminal.

And if Martin's report is spot on. Well, the school has more than just an athletic problem and one can only hope it's one they are actually willing to address.
Posted by Phil Cantor at 1:56 PM No comments: Labels: college football, Frank Martin, NCAA Investigation, University of North Carolina


Sid The Kid Plays Hockey... No, Not What You Think...


It was something called "dek hockey..."

Whatever that is... even the HQ has no idea what the folks in Ohio were talking about...

He snuck on the ice to play with a buddy of his, but really the only way to "sneak" onto the ice if you're Sidney Crosby is to be the goalie...

He was and he won, 4-0...

Here's Kacie Hollins with the scoop...


Actually, we'd like you a whole lot better if the owners would get smart and let you come back to work... bu we know that's not quite happening any time soon...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 6:41 AM No comments: 


OSG High: Friday Night Lights Coach Retires

Or Kyle Chandler...

And, to him, that's unacceptable...

Not the guy who replaces the legend...
Posted by Jon Nelson at 11:11 PM No comments: 

Belcher Report Reveals Previous Problems

((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City))

There's more disturbing news in the Jovan Belcher case...

Here's the report on the report... Labels: Jovan Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Police Department, Kasandra Perkins, murder, Romeo Crennel, Scott Pioli, suicide
