News and notes while Rick Majerus waits for communion Godot…
Chang, two others get Tennis Hall of Fame nod (AP/USATODAY.com) French Open winner Michael Chang was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and IMG founder Mark McCormack and Tennis Week magazine founder Eugene Scott were selected posthumously.
Source: Cameron to join Ravens staff (ESPN.com) As initially reported by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, Len Pasquarelli writes that the Baltimore Ravens are on the fringe of hiring Cam Cameron to be their new offensive coordinator.
Baseball’s never been better (FOXSports.com) Baseball guru Ken Rosenthal writes that Major League baseball has never been better after surviving a gambling scandal, a cocaine epidemic and the strike.
St. Louis special… (JoePosnanski.com) The great sportswriter Joe Posnanski writes about his experience at the BBWA dinner in St. Louis Monday.
News and notes while ESPN continues to roll out the unfunny, stupid ‘True Hollywood Story’ of the (Tom) Brady Bunch…
Archbishop Burke would deny communion to Rick Majerus (STLToday.com) We gave our thoughts on it yesterday and now the worm continues to turn: the St. Louis Archbishop told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he would deny Saint Louis University coach the sacrament of communion if he did not change his positions on abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. And yes, he’s still asking for the the school, which is not owned or controlled by the Jesuits, to discipline Majerus. Good luck with that, Raymond.
Cowboys owner Jones: T.O. will return (AP/SI.com) Get your $3 million roster bonus ready: Terrell Owens will be back in Dallas after owner Jerry Jones tells reporters at the Senior Bowl they’ll pick up his bonus.
Rays to announce Shields deal (MLB.com) The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and pitcher Scott Shields are planning announce a contract extension that will keep the hurler in Tampa for…seven years?
ESPN’s Dana Jacobson emails apology to the Catholic League (Awful Announcing) While at a celebrity roast (and we use that term loosely) honoring ESPN’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, First Take co-host Dana Jacobson used expletives to describe Notre Dame (Mike Golic’s college). After pressure from the Catholic League, she emailed an apology. Welcome to 2008.
Bucs reward coach Gruden, GM Allen with extensions (ESPN.com) Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have given head coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen with three-year contract extensions.
Report: Forberg to attempt comeback (Camden Courier-Post) Chuck Gormley, the Flyers beat writer for the Camden Courier-Post, reports that forward Peter Forsberg will begin skating with MoDo, the Swedish Elite League club (no direct link, so scour the page).
Mets, Chavez agree to terms (MLB.com) Outfielder Endy Chavez and the New York Mets agreed Tuesday to a $3.85 million, two-year contract.
Canseco finds new publisher for ‘Juiced’ sequel (New York Times) The New York Times reported Tuesday that Simon Spotlight Entertainment has picked up “Vindicated” and will publish it in time for Opening Day 2008.
On Monday, former ESPN Radio jock and current SI.com contributor Dan Patrick appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and talked sports, mainly the upcoming Super Bowl that will feature the upstart New York Giants taking on the runaway train that is the New England Patriots.
His answer may surprise you (but not us):
While it’s fashionable to pick the underdog, we happen to agree with him — to a point. We think it will be a more close game than people think and the Giants will definitely challenge for the win.
But there’s just one thing that has us hesitating to come out and say “Giants” at the moment: Bill Belichick has two weeks to prepare.
Belichick defends Seymour (AP/ESPN.com) Patriots coach Bill Belichick rebuffed claims that defensive lineman Richard Seymour played dirty in the AFC championship victory over San Diego.
Selig satisfied with testing program (MLB.com) in front of a packed house in St. Louis, MLB commish Bud Selig told the audience that he’s confident the game’s testing program will improve going forward.
Could relationship with A-Rod be fueling A-Rod deals? (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal, the baseball guru over at FOXSports.com, writes an interesting piece on the fallout of Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras’ partnership on other free agent deals. As usual with most Rosenthal columns, it’s also chalked full of other MLB notes.
Day 9: Serena’s out (AP/USATODAY.com) The women’s defending champ lost 6-3, 6-4 to third-seeded Jelena Jankovic. Other notables: American James Blake advanced to the quarterfinals to face Roger Federer; Fifth-seeded David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Venus Williams downed someone named Marta Domachowska and No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 7-5, 6-0.
News and notes while getting prepped for some football…
Chargers: Rivers doubtful (SignonSanDiego.com) Despite what sources are saying within the organization, Phillip Rivers is considered “doubtful” for the AFC Championship. Rivers is said to have a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in addition to a sprained medial collateral ligament.
WVU faces new criticism, this one alleging hiring bias (ESPNU) College football writer Ivan Maisel unveils more details on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report that former West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin Magee didn’t get a shot at the head coaching job because he was black.
Jones Jr. wins handily over Trinidad (AP/SI.com) Roy Jones, Jr. dominated opponent Felix Trinidad in a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden.
Day 7: Henin, Sharapova cruise (AP/USATODAY.com) Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova rolled forward to the Australian Open quarterfinals after each closed out their opponents in less than 75 minutes. Other notables: Roger Federer closed out his match roughly 4 1/2 hours; Lleyton Hewitt’s match began at 11:47 PM local time (he won nearly five hours later); Former No. 1 Ray Ferrero advanced, as did Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic.
Landon Donovan sets goal scoring mark (USSoccer.com) In a friendly with Sweden, Landon Donovan became the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Men’s National Team after scoring from the penalty spot in the second half to help defeat the Swedes, 2-0, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
News and notes while Andy Roddick finds another way to lose in a Slam event…
Day 6: Aussie Open (AFPi) A day of some upsets: No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze fall to their opponents. Meanwhile, American James Blake won a five-set marathon over Sebastien Grosjean.
Mora won’t be Redskins’ next coach (Washington Post) Bob Lamonte, the agent for Jim Mora, Jr., tells Washington Post writers Jason La Canfora and Jason Reid that his client has withdrawn from consideration for the head coaching position of the Washington Redskins. Two face charges nearly a year after Jason Ray’s death (Charlotte Observer) Prosecutors have charged two men in connection with a fatal wreck that killed Jason Ray, the UNC mascot who was struck by an SUV in New Jersey last March.
Mats Sundin & Wayne Gretzky: Making like Jordan & Bird(YouTube) From the late 1990s-early 2000s, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and Toronto Maple Leafs center Mats Sundin do their best Michael Jordan and Larry Bird impression.
Bobby Fischer, the reclusive chess champion who defeated Russian chess whiz Boris Spassky in Yugoslavia in 1972, died of kidney failure in Reykjavik, Iceland.
He was 64.
An American chess champion at 14 and a grand master at 15, Fischer dethroned the Spassky in 1972 in a series of games in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, to become the first officially recognized world champion born in the United States.
Immunity unlikely for McNamee(MLB.com) Brian McNamee’s lawyer has asked for immunity in exchange for his testimony and deposition before Congress and will likely get turned down. Within this story is mention that Roger Clemens’ lawyers have tried to serve McNamee in his defamation lawsuit 12 times — without success.
Odom expected to announce he’ll retire at season’s end (ESPNU.com) Citing several sources, Andy Katz of ESPN.com reports that South Carolina Gamecocks hoops coach Dave Odom is expected to announce his retirement on Friday.
Mangino wins Bear Bryant award(AP/USATODAY.com) KU’s Mark Mangino nabbed the Paul A. “Bear” Bryant Award for college football’s coach of the year, edging out seven finalists that included Les Miles, who coached LSU to the national championship, Missouri’s Gary Pinkel and Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech.
Our friend “Slinger” has done it again: he sends us this hilarious YouTube video depicting the final two plays of the Tony Romo’s offensive explosion against the New York Giants on Sunday.
With apparently nothing much else to write about leading up to another playoff game in “The Frozen Tundra” — you can almost hear Chris Berman gurgling it out — ESPN.com breaks down all the things we should know about games in cold-weather.
Here are some things we just have to know:
Should a quarterback wear a glove during cold weather?
Hey, Len Pasquarelli, will the Super Bowl ever be played outdoors in a cold-weather city?
Why do lineman insist on wearing short-sleeve jerseys when it’s 20 degrees?
Rockies back to business (The Denver Post) Troy Renck of The Denver Post writes that the Colorado Rockies and outfielder Matt Holliday have made no progress in contract talks.
Moss comments on accusations (Boston.com) Randy Moss defends recent allegations that he assaulted a woman and is hit with a restraining order.
Bills name Schonert new OC (AP/ESPN.com) Turk Schonert, the Bills quarterbacks coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Steve Fairchild who departed for Colorado State to become head coach.
Aussie round-up: Djokovic rolls in straight sets (AP/SI.com) Early winners in the Australian Open include Novak Djokovic, David Nalbandian and Marcos Baghdatis for the men and Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze and Daniela Hantuchova for the ladies.
Selig’s legacy in play in next round of Congressional hearings (ESPN.com) Investigative reporters for ESPN.com T.J. Quinn and Mark Fainaru-Wada take a deep look at how the Congressional hearing will help continue to shape MLB commissioner Bud Selig’s mark on the game.
Clemens deposition appears in flux (Chronicle.com) Speaking of PEDs — The Houston Chronicle’s Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes that the lawyer for Roger Clemens met with the staff of the House Oversight Committee investigating steroids use in baseball Monday in Washington, but it remains unclear if Clemens will have to give a full formal deposition under oath prior to his testimony before the committee next month.
LaRoche agrees to $5 million pact (MLB.com) Pittsburgh first sacker Adam LaRoche and the Pirates avoided arbitration after the two sides agreed to a one year deal that will pay the slugger $5 million in ‘08.
Leafs reportedly ask Fletcher about interim job (TSN.ca) “Toronto Front Office Watch ‘08″ rolls on: The Sports Network’s hockey insider Bob McKenzie reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs have asked former club GM Cliff Fletcher — and a number of others — if they’d be interested in the job now on an interim basis.
..and finally…
Dude — Football! (YouTube) FOXSports’ Joe Buck appears in a Bud Light commercial and, of course, comedy ensues!
Source: Yankees pull trade offer for Santana (1050 ESPN New York) NY Yankees Hank Steinbrenner still can’t make up his mind, having a change of heart on making a deal for Minnesota ace Johan Santana, reports Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN in New York.
If Rolen’s healthy, Blue Jays better (GlobeSports.com) Jeff Blair of the Globe & Mail writes the obvious. So we’ll respond with the obvious: if our aunt had testicles, she’d be our uncle.
Report: Women approached to throw matches (AP/SI.com) In an interview with BBC Sports, WTA commissioner Larry Scott stated that several women were approached to throw matches and the association will aggressively investigate it.
Amputee ineligible for Games (New York Times) Sprinter Oscar Pistorius’ quest for the 2008 Beijing Games have hit a roadblock after the IAAF officially announced their decision to prevent the sprinter from competing against “able-bodied” sprinters.
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