Osborne declares himself Nebraska’s interim coach (Omaha.com)
Tom Osborne is back as Nebraska’s football coach — but just for now.
Osborne, the legendary 70-year old football coach is already the interim athletic director, on Wednesday declared himself interim head coach until he hires a successor to Bill Callahan.
Why did he make this decision? For recruiting purposes, of course.
Angels tried to acquire Cabrera — twice (Miami Herald)
The Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer writes that the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim!) nearly landed the object of their affection, Florida’s Miguel Cabrera, twice on Wednesday.
That’s right — twice.
Tony La Russa’s video of his DUI arrest (KMOV.com)
St. Louis television station KMOV-TV acquired some video of St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa’s DUI arrest from the morning of March 22, 2007.
In the video, police officers are seen tapping on the window to wake the skipper up, as well the police administering field sobriety checks that La Russa visibly struggles with handling. He also has the knack of looking at his cell phone clock at the oddest times while standing for his next instructions.
As you’ll see roughly three quarters through (and the text after the jump), he mangles the alphabet — badly.
News and notes while winter dealings could spice up the M.L.B.’s winter meetings…
Michigan gets permission to talk to LSU’s Miles (ESPN.com) Pat Forde of ESPN.com confirms via LSU A.D. Skip Bertman’s spokesperson that Les Miles has been granted permission to talk to Michigan about their head coaching job.
Ellsbury package could land Santana (SI.com) Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Boston Red Sox could land star lefty Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins — if they are willing to part with phenom Jacoby Ellsbury.
Free agent Percival could set up for Yanks (FOX Sports) Ken Rosenthal seems to think he’d be a good add for the Yankees. If ESPN’s report Wednesday of Percival inching closer to signing with Tampa, they’ll have to look elsewhere.
Helio, fiancee call are splitsville (AP/ESPN) We really don’t care, but the two females are easy on the eyes.
The 1986 Rams were full of sexual innuendos (The Postmen) N.F.L. videos from the 1980s are fantastically awful — and funny.
Twins close to landing Delmon Young (StarTribune)
A published entry by LaVelle Neal on Twins Insider states that the Minnesota Twins are close to dealing pitcher Matt Garza to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Delmon Young.
Writes Neal:
The main pieces changning teams would be outfielder Delmon Young and righthander Matt Garza. But indications were strong on Wednesday that as many as six players could be involved.
In addition to Garza, the Twins would send Tampa Bay shortstop Jason Bartlett and reliever Juan Rincon for Young, shortstop Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie. Pridie was with the Twins during spring training of 2006 as a Rule 5 pick.
Stay tuned…
***UPDATED at 4:43 PM ET***
Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that in addition to this deal, the Rays might be on the verge of signing Troy Percival.
***UPDATED at 12:16 AM ET***
The deal is done: The Twins and Rays completed a blockbuster six-player deal Wednesday night that sent pitcher Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and Minor League pitcher Eduardo Morlan to Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Delmon Young and two other players.
Report: Tuberville, Auburn agree in principle to contract extension (Birmingham News)
Coach Tommy Tuberville and Auburn have agreed in principle to a contract extension, but major contract issues must still be resolved, according to a report in The Birmingham News.
Despite some issues that are yet to be resolved, Auburn AD Jay Jacobs and Tuberville might have things ironed out as early as Wednesday.
“The president will evaluate our performance and what we did and how we did it and what he thinks,” said Tuberville, whose contract pays him $2.8 million next season and runs through 2011. “I’ll make some recommendations and we’ll go from there.”
As we’ve learned so well from Nick Saban and others over the years, college football coaching contracts don’t mean anything.
By the way, his current deal runs through the 2011 football season.
ESPN’s Erin Andrews is Playboy.com’s sexiest sportscaster in America (Press Release/Deadspin)
Duh:
ESPN’s leggy, lovely sideline reporter pulled in nearly 40 percent of the votes to win, after more than 50,000 visitors to Playboy.com made a pick for their favorite sideline siren. Second place went to Lindsay Soto of Fox Sports Net West, and NASCAR reporter and Speed Channel host Krista Voda took third.
There were others in the contest? We had no idea…really.
(ifive to Deadspin for the tip.)
Report: NHL may pass on 2014 Games (TSN.ca/Reuters)
According to a published interview with Reuters, N.H.L. commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the league might not authorize its players to compete in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
Why?
‘It is a strain on the players, on the schedule and on our fans here,” Bettman told Reuters. ”It has an impact on the momentum of the season and the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they’re in distant time zones.”
We’re sure the current situation with the International Ice Hockey Federation has nothing to do with the stance.
Reports: Namath’s life to be subject of movie (ESPN News Services)
That’s right: the life of Joe Namath, a.k.a. “Broadway Joe”, will be depicted on the big screen in a Universal Studios production.
In what reads like a press release, the lead (or lede) of the story reads thusly:
Joe Namath was larger than life. He was a highly-touted high school prospect who starred for Bear Bryant at Alabama, took New York City by storm and led the New York Jets of the upstart AFL to a Super Bowl victory he had brashly guaranteed.
Since Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star in the bio-pic, who will play ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber?
News and notes while Yankees fans get in a lather over possibly landing Johan the Great...
Hearing begins in wrongful death suit against ex-NHLer Rob Ramage (The Hockey News) Rob Ramage was far over the legal limit for impairment when he was involved in a traffic accident that claimed the life of former Chicago Blackhawks star and coach Keith Magnuson.
Police: No suspects in Taylor slaying (AP/ESPN) Authorities continue to gather evidence in the murder of Washington Redskins Pro Bowler Sean Taylor.
Two say they were hit by Coach Knight in dove hunt (AP/SI.com) Two people said Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight or his hunting companion hit them with birdshot on two occasions last month.
Hall of Fame ballot: Rice and Goose, but not ‘Big Mac’ (The Big Lead) Blogging extraordinaires The Big Lead weigh the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.
Robert Cade: This Gatorade is for you (SportsBiz) CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes on the passing of Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of sports drink Gatorade who inspired Mr. Rovell to write the book “First In Thirst: How Gatorade Turned The Science of Sweat Into A Cultural Phenomenon.”
LaRussa pleads guilty to DUI (AP/ESPN)
St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence charges, stemming from a March arrest in Jupiter, Florida.
La Russa was found asleep at the wheel of his SUV while stopped at an intersection near his residence and was subsequently arrested for DUI. He had a blood alcohol content of 0.093 percent, Jupiter police have said. Florida’s legal driving limit is 0.08 percent.
Plummer loves life after NFL (Rocky Mountain News)
Jake Plummer, who abruptly retired after getting dealt last season to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is finding retirement, well, awesome in northern Idaho.
Travel, skiing, concerts, boating, backpacking, handball, Ultimate Frisbee. The recreational choices are endless in Sandpoint, a mountain community less than an hour south of the Canadian border.
“I think he’s finally getting to live a kind of life that he’s never really had a chance to,” said older brother Eric Plummer, who also lives in Sandpoint. “Football always sort of dominated his time and his energies. Now, sort of for the first time, he’s got a chance to do some of things that football has precluded him from doing most of his life.”
The best thing about it — besides leaving more than $5 million on the table? He has no regrets.
What keyed Plummer’s relaxation in retirement?
Rams to retire Marshall Faulk’s jersey (STL Today)
The St. Louis Rams will retire Marshall Faulk’s No. 28 jersey during halftime of a scheduled game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Dec. 20.
Faulk, the N.F.L.’s M.V.P. in 2000, led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in his first season in St. Louis after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in a trade. He was also the league’s offensive player of the year for three straight seasons — 1999-2001.
Faulk retired in March due to lingering concerns over bulky knees and currently works as an analyst for the N.F.L. Network.
News and notes while the death of Sean Taylor continues to stun his former team and the NFL…
Lute Olson returns to ‘Zona practice (AP/SI.com) Legendary coach returns to the parquet for practice, but return to handle game duites still undecided.
Racing’s Castroneves wins ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (AP/ESPN) The two-time Indy winner beat out Spice Girl Melanie Brown on ABC reality show.
Hall of Fame jockey Hartack dead at 74 (AP/SI.com) Former jockey joined Eddie Arcaro as the only five-time Kentucky Derby winners.
Orenthal James to plead not guilty (AP/Y! Sports) Former N.F.L. star is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday to 12 charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.
Billy Wagner accesses the Metropolitans offseason issues (MLB.com) When New York Metropolitans closer Billy Wagner speaks, you can expect him to insert foot afterward.
Angels reached deal with Hunter at Del Taco (Press-Enterprise) You read that right: Torri Hunter, multi-Glove Winner, had his deal consummated at a a Del Taco fast-food restaurant in Corona, Calif. (i-five to The Fan House of the tip).
Indians’ Lara suffered brain damage, spinal injury (AP/ESPN)
Days after suffering injuries in an automobile accident, doctors have diagnosed Cleveland Indians reliever Juan Lara with a spinal fracture and brain damage.
Lara was returning from a winter league game on Saturday evening in his native Dominican Republic when the vehicle he was navigating hit a motorcycle, killing the cyclist’s driver and his passenger.
More after the jump »
Report: Injury ends Ricky Williams’ 07 comeback (Palm Beach Post)
Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who was reinstated last month after a one-year suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, suffered a torn chest muscle in the Dolphins’ 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, the Palm Beach Post reported, citing an unnamed source.
On his sixth carry of the evening, the former All-Pro got injured when Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons stepped on his shoulder blade while in a fight for a fumble.
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