Last July, we posted the story on one Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee sprinter who was trying to gain eligibility to compete with able-bodied sprinters at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Fast-forward to Saturday where word will likely to come down that the International Association of Athletics Federations — the sporting body with a heart — will declare the sprinter ineligible to compete in the Beijing Games.
News and notes while the date resembles the last time the Cubs won a World Series…
McNamee’s lawyer calls on Congress (MLB.com) A lawyer for Brian McNamee called on Congress to demand and make public the recording of a December interview between his client and two private investigators hired by Roger Clemens’ attorneys.
Police: McNamee lied about ‘01 incident (AP/SI.com) Meanwhile, police in St. Petersburg, Fla. released documents alleging that the former Clemens trainer lied to them during a rape investigation in 2001. The timing is very convenient. What’s next? We’ll find out McNamee has $10.24 in overdue library fines.
Sources: Falcons want to interview USC’s Carroll for vacancy (ESPN.com) Len Pasquarelli, who just happens to be Mr. Atlanta Falcon Insider, reports that the organization is pursuing USC’s Pete Carroll for their vacant head coaching position. Good move: Carroll did oh so well in his first stint in the league.
Hawai’i AD fired after Jones’ departure (AP/SI.com) After failing to keep head football coach June Jones on the island, Hawai’i AD Herman Frazier was canned for reason of “in the best interest of the athletics program.”
Bowl season finishes with decline in viewership (USAToday.com) Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that the BCS title game drew 17% less viewers than last year’s tilt that featured champion Florida taking on The Ohio State.
Angels reportedly pursuing Konerko (MLB.com) Lynn Spencer of MLB.com reports via The Los Angeles Daily News that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Southern California That’s Located North of San Diego Along the Five are in discussions with the Chicago White Sox regarding the services of first baseman/DH Paul Konerko. The White Sox have a glut of hitters with the recent acquisition of Nick Swisher from Oakland last week.
Vick may get out early (Yahoo! Sports) According to a report by Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Cole and Charles Robinson, incarcerated NFL “star” Michael Vick may only serve have of his sentence.
Dallas assistant Sparano interviews with Dolphins (AP/USA Today) The much-in-demand Dallas assistant coach Tony Sparano met with the Miami Dolphins to discuss their head coaching position. it was the third team he talked to in less than 24 hours with the Ravens and Falcons being the two others.
NBC adds studio analyst for post-season (Awful Announcing) Obviously not doing anything else on the field, the photogenic DE of the Miami Dolphins, Jason Taylor, has been added to the crew of NBC post-season NFL playoff coverage.
Report: Ex-Georgia Tech hoops player detained in Israel (AP/ESPNU) Will Bynum, a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball player now playing in Israel, was arrested Saturday and accused of running over a man after leaving a nightclub brawl.
McKay offered extension to remain as Falcons president (AJC.com) Rich McKay was offered a multiyear contract extension with a raise to remain as Falcons president by owner Arthur Blank. McKay was reportedly relieved of his GM duties two weeks ago.
Losman wants out of Buffalo (AP/ESPN) After losing starting job, Buffalo Bills’ former No. 1 pick J.P. Losman wants to be traded.
Source: Hawaii’s Jones to interview at SMU (DallasNews.com) Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News chimes in with another SMU-June Jones story: the Hawaii Warriors bench boss will travel to Dallas Saturday to talk about the SMU head coaching position. Hawaii, according to Hairopoulos via Jones’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, has offered him an extension to stay on the island.
Brodeur nets 96th career shutout (CP/The Hockey News) With his 96th career whitewashing in the regular season, New Jersey Devils backstop Martin Brodeur sits just seven behind NHL Hall of Famer Terry Shawchuk on the all-time list.
…and finally…
Hamill undergoing treatment for breast cancer (AP/SI.com) Dorothy Hamill, one of only seven U.S. women to win an Olympic ice skating medal, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will miss time on the “Broadway on Ice” tour while undergoing treatment.
Grimsley affidavit unveils more names (AP/MLB.com) Earlier this year, Deadspin tried to link St. Louis’ Albert Pujols to this affidavit via a trainer of Jason Grimsley’s. As it turns out, they were dead wrong.
Clemens’ lawyer issues new statement (MLB.com) The lawyer for Roger Clemens blasts the Los Angeles Times for an October 2006 story that linked the seven-time all-star to steroids in the recently unsealed Jason Grimsley affidavit.
Final column wraps up lifetime in baseball (USA Today) Long-time USA Today scribe Hal Bodley is leaving his post as the national baseball writer for the U.S. daily after 25 years.
Schilling calls out Clemens in blog (38Pitches.com) Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling called on Roger Clemens to give up the four Cy Young Awards he’s won since 1997 if he can’t clear his name from allegations that he used steroids to prolong and enhance his career.
Parcells officially takes job with Dolphins (MiamiHerald.com) After it was first thought that he would sign on with Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons, Bill Parcells spurned them — for the second time in his career — and accepted the Miami Dolphins offer of head of football operations after assurances from owner Wayne Huizenga that he wouldn’t sell the club as rumored.
Mourning injures knee; career could be over (AP/USA Today) After tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee in Miami’s game against Atlanta on Wednesday, 37-year-old Heat center Alonzo Mourning was placed on the stretcher, but he refused the ride.
Big Ten to probe into referee’s alleged history of bankruptcy, abuse (AP/ESPNU) A day after Yahoo! Sports uncovered that a Big Ten official had a history of bankruptcy, casino gambling, child abuse and allegations of sexual harassment, the Big Ten has decided that it will investigate the allegations.
The Mag: Portis/Cooley For Love or The Game (ESPN Video) The Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley’s fiancee answer questions on who knows Cooley better.
Congress comes calling again (AP/SI.com)
The U.S. Congress announced on Tuesday that they plan on scheduling hearings next month to review the use of PEDs in major league sports and it’s expected that major sports stars, including Mitchell Report author George Mitchell, to be in attendance.
Meanwhile, a Senate Republican and Democrat on Tuesday announced legislation to limit access to those substances and stiffen criminal penalties for abuse and distribution.
Progress made in developing HGH test (MLB.com) Don Catlin, one of the world’s foremost scientists in the fight against doping, said he has made some headway on finding an effective urine test to detect human growth hormone.
D’Backs extend manager Melvin (MLB.Diamondbacks.com) After a successful turnaround in ‘07, the Arizona Diamondbacks will extend the contract of field boss Bob Melvin through 2010.
Arena Bowl returning to New Orleans (AP/Y! Sports) AFL commissioner David Baker notes that such a move makes good economic sense for the city and the league.
CBS finds new way to draw line in snow at Browns game (USA Today) Michael Hiestand’s media notes include: creating virtual yard markers on the fly in Cleveland; ESPN’s Fernando Viña is eerily quiet after being named in Mitchell report; piling on Petrino is a new media pastime and Jessica Simpson shows up at the Eagles-Cowboys game to cheer for boyfriend Tony Romo.
A-Rod gets the Couric treatment (Bugs & Cranks) A brief dissection of the Alex Rodriguez-Katie Couric interview on 60 Minutes.
While sitting around reading up the news of the day, we can’t help but notice how some sports fans get bent out of shape on how their team owners spend their money.
So we got to thinking: what if the marketing mavens at Anheuser-Busch composed a little diddy for Bud Light’s “Real Men of Genius” campaign? It’ll go something like this:
Real Men of Geniussssssssss….
Today we salute you, Mr. Super-Serious-Baseball-Fan…
Your favorite team is owned by a cheapskate and you go to games while dropping a $100 and what you get? Sub-par baseball…
Dang, he missed the cutoff
But not you — you demand he throws money at any free agent that has more than one syllable or eats up innings with finesse pitches and a religious bent…
Forget balan-cing the checkbook
You want more than a sinkhole with stagnant water outside the stadium? Well, move to Pittsburgh…
So crack open an ice cold Bud Light, Mr. Super-Serious-Baseball-Fan because you, sir, deserve what you pay for: a perennial pennant contender….
Sprinter Marion Jones, who admitted early this year that she took PEDs, has been formally stripped of her five Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee and thus, erasing her names from the record books.
As part of their ruling, the IOC also informed Jones that she is banned from attending the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
Last month, the International Association of Athletics Federations erased all of Jones’ results dating to September 2000, but it was up to the IOC to formally disqualify her and take away her Olympic medals.
Stan Conte, the founder of BALCO who pleaded guilty to operating a steroids distribution ring, tells the Associated Press that he will be meet with World Anti-Doping Agency Dick Pound to talk about the rampant use of PEDs in sports.
“Ironically, I feel it’s some of the poor decisions and past mistakes I’ve made that uniquely qualifies me to make a contribution,” Conte said. “I plan to share specific knowledge of past and present Olympic caliber athletes, coaches and suppliers involved with doping around the world and how they’ve been able to easily circumvent the anti-doping procedures in place.”
Call us immature, but is there a better name around than Dick Pound?
Sauerbrun cited for simple assault (The FanHouse) The Denver Broncos punter got into it with a cab driver after the driver asked him to get out of the vehicle.
IOC will wait to decide fate of Jones’ Olympic medals (AP/USA Today) The International Olympic Committee decided to postpone their decision on what to do with the stripped Olympic medals of Marion Jones, who admitted to taking PEDs earlier this year.
Rumor roundup, Western Conference (The Hockey News) Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey contributes a rumor column to The Hockey News website.
Fans taunt ESPN’s Melrose (WCBSTV.com) Barry Melrose made his first appearance in Newark, NJ after making comments that walking around town is “dangerous.” No surprise, fans at the Capitals-Devils over the weekend gave him the bidness.
Nike courts prep powerhouses (Cincinnati Enquirer) Nike employees dance for some of their shoe deals with high schools? (i-five to TheSportingBlog for the tip).
Mayweather KOs Hatton (AP/SI.com) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. knocked down Ricky Hatton with a left hook, only to see him get back up after eight seconds to continue on with the fifth. It didn’t last much after that as Mayweather, Jr. pummeled Hatton with a flurry of punches that ended up falling the challenger.
It’s Tebow! (AP/USA Today) In a complete jack’s lack of surprise, Florida’s Tim Tebow became the first sopohmore to take home the coveted stiff-armed, helmeted football player. Tebow garnered 1,957 points and 462 first-place votes, finishing 254 points ahead of Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, who finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive year.
Brewers, Gagne agree on pact (Y! Sports/AP) A perfect match: a guy who desires to be a closer (Eric Gagne…you remember him) and a team that would like one (Milwaukee) agree to a one-year, $10 million pact. Meanwhile, the Brewers bolstered their bullpen by dealing for Pittsburgh’s Solomon Torres.
Another suitor for Bonds? Maybe (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com writes that the San Diego might be another team with some interest in the all-time home run king. Other notes: a new home for Chone Figgins?; the Scott Rolen watch; Guillen vs. Rowand and other notes from around the MLB.
Thrashers claim vet Recchi (THN.com) Atlanta will get Recchi for half of his US$1.75-million contract with the Penguins paying the other half.
News and notes while remembering those that died at Pearl Harbor on this date in 1941…
Niedermayer’s return has ‘tag’ attached (USA Today) The Anaheim Ducks need to clear some salary room before all-world defenseman Scott Niedermayer can take to the ice, writes USA Today’s hockey guru Kevin Allen.
Tebow wins O’Brien, Maxwell awards (AP/SI.com) In perhaps a precursor to Saturday’s Heisman Trophy award, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the Davey O’Brien (nation’s top QB) and the Maxwell (best all-around player) awards. FYI: None of the last seven Maxwell winners have gone on to win college football’s most prestigious individual award.
Winter meetings winners and losers (Y! Sports) Despite the mild level of activity by MLB clubs at the winter meetings, Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan still managed to give out a few grades.
Experts: Bonds to have tough time in perjury case (USA Today) Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today delves into the Barry Bonds perjury case, on the very day that his arraignment is scheduled for 12 noon ET in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
According to the great website SPORTSbyBROOKS, the NFL Network’s last televised game of the season could be an historic one: the New England Patriots will be taking on the New York Giants.
Per SbB:
The same Pats that might be looking for a 16-0 record when they face the G-Men. The same Pats hoping to become the first undefeated NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins.
This historic event won’t be shown on your local FOX or CBS affiliate, but broadcast on a station that reaches as many homes as the Big Ten Network.
A University of Alabama booster was awarded a win in a lawsuit that was filed that alleged defamation by the NCAA.
The state court jury awarded Ray Keller $3 million in punitive damages, $1 million for mental anguish, $500,000 for economic loss and $500,000 for damage to reputation.
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