Source: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/2011/06/08/dont-bet-against-serena-defending-wimbledon-crown/
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Don?t bet against Serena defending Wimbledon crown
Serena Williams has been out of tennis for 12 months but, with the women's game in a state of flux, she stands a chance of retaining her Wimbledon title.
Testimony: O?Leary cast out trainers, water, berated struggling UCF player before fatal ?08 collapse
Testimony in that suit finally began last week, with the case essentially hinging on sparring doctors advancing competing claims on the cause of death: Citing the an autopsy, the family insists Plancher died as a result of sickle cell trait, a genetic disorder cited in the death of multiple Division I football players over the last decade (and for which many schools test every player), while the university counters that the culprit was an unrelated congenital heart defect that ? unlike sickle cell trait ?�it couldn't have known about. Either way, though, if the jury is inclined to believe Monday's testimony by one of Plancher's former teammates on O'Leary's alleged decision to angrily cast out water and trainers just before the fateful collapse, the distinction may not matter:
Anthony Davis said that UCF coach George O'Leary ordered all water and trainers out of the indoor fieldhouse during the practice on March 18, 2008. He also testified during the wrongful death trial in Orlando that the coach was yelling obscenities at Plancher as he told him to get up after falling during an obstacle course drill.
[?]
Davis said he had to help the 19-year-old Plancher during one of the drills and also helped carry him off the field after his collapse. He described the workout that included weightlifting, conditioning exercises, an obstacle course and sprints as "intense."The 25-year-old described O'Leary as angry when he ordered water and trainers off the field.
"He said it in a mean voice," Davis said. "He was mad and upset. It felt like he was punishing us because we didn't do the obstacle course right."
The Orlando Sentinel account elaborates on Davis' testimony:
Davis said following the obstacle course, he could tell Plancher was in distress. "You could see his eyes almost as though they were rolling in the back of his head," Davis said.
[Davis] said the team then lined up to do gassers, which are sprints from the sideline to sideline that must be completed in 18 seconds. Davis said Plancher lined up with the sophomores and fell immediately. Davis said he did not think Plancher tripped or stub his toe, instead falling because he was tired. Davis said players on the sideline were moving to help him up, but the coaches ordered them to step back and cursed at Plancher to get up. Davis said Plancher slowly finished the drill last.
"It was scary, pretty much to me, in my opinion," Davis said. "Actually seeing him like that, not being able to help, hearing the language I heard, it made it seemed he was pretty much on his own and there was nothing anyone could do."
UCF lawyers were quick to point out contradictions between Davis' testimony and his sworn statement for the record in April 2008, which didn't mention water or trainers being ordered off the field. Davis responded that he wasn't specifically asked about either at the time, only to "tell his story," and that he felt intimidated by the presence of one of O'Leary's friends in the room during that interview. Beforehand, Davis said, O'Leary told players "these people don't care about you" and "keep it simple."
But Davis' description is far from the only one incriminating the basic response of coaches and trainers. Another player had already testified that no one intervened when Plancher began showing signs of distress. The witness that followed Davis on the stand, University of Connecticut kinesiology professor Douglas Casa, cited seven player depositions reporting that Plancher showed signs of distress or abnormally lagging behind teammates in the workout, called UCF's training staff at the time "woefully understaffed" ? especially because it didn't include a full-time physician ?�and concluded that "most of the policy and procedures weren't followed with regard to sickle cell trait."
The university's counter: Casa is a witness for the defense and stands to make up to $50,000 for his work on the case over the last three years. The jury may buy that, and UCF's claim that trainers didn't know about Plancher's sickle cell trait before his death. Maybe jurors will find the differences between the 2008 and 2011 versions of Davis' story too unpersuasive to stick the university with legal consequences.
But regardless of the eventual verdict, I think it's a given after Monday that more than a few people around Orlando are going to start asking some pointed questions about O'Leary's paycheck, too, questions that have been long in coming since players first indicated the workout crossed the line immediately following Plancher's death. And then, after that, maybe the paychecks of some of the bosses who saw fit to keep the head coach around for three years, at least in part, to avoid admitting culpability for what appears to have been an avoidable student death. Even if the jury decides in their favor financially, O'Leary and Central Florida have already lost.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Strange Play
With Marlins on first and third with one out in third, Gaby Sanchez drew a walk with the runner on first on the move. It was a close pitch, and Kurt Suzuki did not wait for the call to throw to second. Emilio Bonifacio broke from third, and Jemile Weeks made a nice throw to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Baseballmusingscom/~3/nfBge912Gzk/click.phdo
Ortiz Plays First, Red Sox Still Can?t Hit
The Red Sox move Adrian Gonzalez to rightfield and placed David Ortiz at first, but the two combined for a 1 for 8 night as the Phillies won a squeaker 2-1. Boston managed five hits and two walks, while Raul Ibanez delivered a solo home run in the seventh to break the tie and give [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Baseballmusingscom/~3/wZO118IUft8/click.phdo
Puck Headlines: Wisniewski and the BJs; Jagr decision day
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
? For his 26th birthday, reader Zach Wolek built himself a custom Chicago Blackhawks bag toss set. "The bags themselves are filled with corn from the Buffalo Trace distillery, which would have become my favorite bourbons in Buffalo Trace/Eagle Rare (the chemist at BT I contacted regarding this project turned out to be born raised as a die hard South Side Blackhawks fan)." Awesome.
BREAKING: Paul Kariya officially retires from the NHL. More coming up from Leahy. [Globe & Mail]
? Dwyane Roloson is back with the Lightning for 1 year at $3 million, per Ryan Rishaug of TSN. [Rishaug]
? The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman James Wisniewski's negotiating rights from the Montreal Canadiens for a seventh-round pick next season that will become a fifth if he signs. Really impressed at the Blue Jackets' sudden epiphany that a functioning power play might increase their chances at a playoff spot. [Puck-Rakers]
? Via Josh Rimer at XM Home Ice, it sounds like the Wiz isn't gong to let Scott Howson blow this: "Excited about Columbus trading for his rights! He said that he's happy that team believes in him." [@JoshRimerHockey]
? Nikita Filatov, meeting the press for the Ottawa Senators: "I don't want to really say anything about Columbus." [Sens]
? Todd Marchant retires from the Anaheim Ducks and joins the front office. [Ducks]
? The 10 reasons Jaromir Jagr should return to Pittsburgh. [Pens Universe]
? The Pensblog has been on JagrWatch since before dawn, debunking Russian media reports and tracking his flight. [The Pensblog]
? Jagr's arrival at JFK. Clever as always from Benstonium. [Benstonium]
? The Boston Bruins have emailed the rest of the NHL to let them know that Tomas Kaberle's negotiating rights are up for grabs. Does that include BBurke1967FU@yahoo.ca? [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
? Dale Tallon on Florida Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun: "We're in negotiations with him as we speak, very hopeful. All I can tell you.'' [On Frozen Pond]
? Jim Rutherford's Pimp Hand, Vol. 1: The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed right wing Chad LaRose on a two-year contract. The deal will pay LaRose $1.5 million in 2011-12, and $1.9 million in 2012-13. [Canes]
? Jim Rutherford's Pimp Hand, Vol. 2: Via Chip Alexander, "Jussi Jokinen's agent says he hopes to have deal done with Canes before Friday. We'll see." [@Ice_Chip]
? There appears to be a conflict of opinion between two Philadelphia Flyers writers who work for the same media company, with regard to Steven Stamkos. [Crossing Broad]
? Anthony San Filippo on what the Flyers need to do to tender an offer sheet to Stamkos: "They have to make sure their offer is the best offer. There are a lot of other teams interested in signing Stamkos to an offer sheet and many of them are in a better cap situation to offer a maximum allowed deal, which would better the Flyers." [In The Room]
? Will Steven Stamkos's next contract financially cripple the Tampa Bay Lightning? [Sportsnet]
? This has been viewed 58,000 times, so we're guessing you might have seen it but it's new to us: Winnipeg Jets domino fall. That first domino looks like the Marian Hossa trade. [Via Roitman]
? The top 10 and/or 11 moments of the Boston Bruins playoff run. [SCOC]
? Chris Pronger on whether the Philadelphia Flyers are a better team now than they were at the end of the season: "Well we won't know that for awhile. You can sit here and 'armchair quarterback' and speculate and do all the rest of that, but at the end of the day talk is cheap and you gotta go out and perform and prove it." [Sports Radio Interviews]
? The top 10 UFAs on the market for July 1. [NHL Hot Stove]
? For those asking about Drew Doughty's deal with the Los Angeles Kings, Eric Cooney's thinking: "If it's a long deal, expect a cap hit similar to Duncan Keith's of Chicago, about $5.6 million per season. �However, if Doughty opts for a shorter deal so he can become a UFA, expect a higher cap number. �I wouldn't be surprised to see it go as high as $7 million per season." Waaaah?! [Pro Sports Blogging]
? Cam Barker clears waivers for the Minnesota Wild; so now what? [Russo]
? Blues players T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, Carlo Colaiacovo and Ben Bishop� walked the red carpet Wednesday at the premiere of the new movie, "Zookeeper," which stars actor Kevin James and opens in theaters everywhere on July 8. "Kevin James is such a great actor and a funny guy to watch," said Colaiacovo. Obviously hasn't seen whatever the hell that Vince Vaughn flick was called. [Blues]
? David Jones gets a 1-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. [NHL]
? Adam Hall signs a 1-year deal with the Lightning. [Lightning Strikes]
? The Dallas Stars have re-signed defenseman Brad Lukowich to a one-year, two-way contract, and hired Paul Jerrard as an assistant coach. [CP]
? Buffalo locks up Nathan Gerbe with a 3-year deal. He signed it with a mini-golf pencil that was twice his size. /shortjokes4life [CP]
? George Richards celebrates the Florida Panthers' AHL reunion with San Antonio the only way he knows how: With overt Pee-Wee Herman reference. [On Frozen Pond]
? Finally, here's a hockey-centric commercial for Sweden's second most popular beer, Falcon. The most popular? You guessed it: Michelob Holmstrom.
Falcon - Hockey from Bobby on Vimeo.
Kinsler Klouts
Ian Kinsler hit two home runs Wednesday night as the Rangers defeated the Astros 3-2. Before arriving in Houston, Kinsler hit just one home run in June. His pair tonight gives him three in the series. Ian hit his home runs in his first two at bats, leading off the game and again in the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Baseballmusingscom/~3/zmctPFPq0pM/click.phdo
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Dastardly hackers perfect their Kenny Britt impression. The Titans receiver stopped driving like a dickhead long enough to post a retirement message on his Facebook account. Shortly thereafter Britt returned to Facebook to announce a “change of heart,” before declaring that he “will accept any penalty like a man.” He then issued a third post [...]
Source: http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2011/06/36935.html
Portland has a decision to make with Greg Oden
The money wouldn't be spent on Oden the player, though. This would be an attempt to cling to Oden the asset. Not that Portland is going to trade him to another team, NBA cap bylaws make that very complicated when dealing with players working under their QO years, but because it gives Portland a better chance to hang onto Oden should he ever find a way to make it to one start to an end of a season without breaking anything. If that sounds cruel and cynical, well, welcome to the NBA.
Dwight Jaynes, longtime Portland scribe, thinks that the extended offer is a no-brainer, and even while we accept that it's not our money to spend, and don't really think "a teetering Marcus Camby" is a problem in the middle (my man, 25 NBA teams have a "problem in the middle"), the rest of his reasoning is sound.
From CSNNW.com, via Sekou Smith's Hangtime blog:
Funny thing, though. As dependent as the Trail Blazers are going to be on Oden next season for any real improvement, a long lockout may be just what the doctor ordered. All indications are that Oden won't be fully recovered and ready to play until January. That may be right about the time the NBA players come to their senses and accept the whipping they're going to take at the bargaining table.
A 50-game season would be the perfect prescription for Oden. The last time the league went to one of those abbreviated seasons, of course, it had to jam three-games-in-three-nights situations into the schedule and Oden would probably have to sit out the middle of those games, but no matter.
Call me a teetering optimist, but I see this as a necessary transaction regardless of the lockout, and any truncated season.
This sounds like a bad joke, but Oden has built up a close relationship with the training staff in Portland, and to send him on his way this summer would just be as cruel as it gets. Locked out players are not supposed to be in contact with team officials of any capacity during a lockout, but to know that Oden wouldn't be hooking back up with the Trail Blazers' staff that have given so much to him at the end of the lockout's particular tunnel? Harsh work, Portland.
That's assuming they decline the offer, which even in these tough economic times, and even as the league opens itself up to criticism for overpaying players, just seems like a ridiculous notion.
I mean, they have to extend an offer to Oden, right? Right?
Arizona may lose Pac-12?s best receiver to mysterious, ?serious? cause
For the record, Arizona already has plenty to worry about going into the 2011 season: It's replacing an all-senior offensive line in 2010 with five brand new behemoths who have combined for one career start, and had to watch two of the most productive veterans on an already depleted defense go down with knee injuries in the spring. But with senior quarterback Nick Foles and his top four receivers back in the fold, the passing game wasn't supposed to be on the list.
[Running back recruit Ka'deem] Carey's availability somewhat offsets concerns that All-Pac-10 receiver Juron Criner might not be available for training camp in August. Criner's status for the 2011 season remains uncertain because of undisclosed medical reasons.
That's what I call burying the lede. Criner easily led the Pac-12 in receptions, receiving yards and big-play receptions last year on the heels of a breakout sophomore campaign in 2009, picking up a first-team All-Pac-10 nod and a few second-team/honorable-mention All-America notices for his trouble. With that kind of production and a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, he's firmly on the NFL's radar, too.
Criner has struggled through assorted injuries in his career, including a persistent turf toe that by his own admission limited him to 75 or 80 percent last year. The vagueness and obscurity of the most recent report suggests something more ominous, though, as does today's follow-up by the San Jose Mercury News' Jon Wilner, who was told Criner's current issue is "not an injury, but it's serious." ESPN's Bruce Feldman adds via Twitter that he's also heard Criner isn't hurt, but has "some personal stuff [that] needs sorting out."
Depending on how serious we're talking about here, the upcoming football season may be the last thing on Criner's mind. Until we know for sure, though, his status is going to be the first thing on the mind of Arizona fans.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Former Army cornerback continues to fight off Patti LaBelle
R&B diva Patti LaBelle was just trying to wade her way through this "Mean Ol' Man's World" when former West Point cadet Richard King started yelling racial insults at her in the pickup area of the Bush Continental Airport in Houston on March 11.
Aside: See what I did there? I took a Patti LaBelle song title and made it relevant to the story.
That's what LaBelle alleges in a countersuit filed against King, a man her three bodyguards seemingly jumped for no reason, last week.
King, a former football player who was dismissed from West Point after the incident and sent to active duty, filed his lawsuit earlier this month, naming LaBelle, the three bodyguards, one of whom is the singer's son, and two others as defendants. King claims he was talking on his cell phone when LaBelle's bodyguards attacked him and sent him crashing into a concrete pillar. LaBelle's bodyguards claim King was drunk and was hurling insults at the limousine.
Luckily, there's airport surveillance video available (follow the guy from the top to the bottom of the screen in a yellowish shirt) so you can draw your own conclusion. King does seem to be moving awkwardly as he comes from behind a bus at the top of the screen and toward LaBelle's limo. While he is on his phone, he does appear to be gesturing toward the limo, which is out of the frame on the right. However, eyewitnesses claim the attack was unprovoked.
Still, LaBelle isn't conceding without a fight.
There's also something to be said about LaBelle countersuing a young man who's is going to be fighting for our country. No soapbox or anything here, but it just seems a little petty.
In LaBelle's countersuit, King is accused of being drunk, staggering around the terminal, screaming obscenities and trying to enter LaBelle's limo. Again, the video is inconclusive especially since there's no sound.
The bodyguards also told Houston police that King attacked them. These are the same Houston police who are seen taking pictures with LaBelle after the incident.
King's attorney, John Raley, said LaBelle's allegations in her countersuit are full of the same falsehoods she told the police.
"Several eyewitnesses saw and clearly heard the incident. The counter-claim is completely without merit," Raley said in a statement.
Both King and LaBelle are seeking unspecified damages.
Tweaking the Giants Lineups
The Crazy Crabbers use the Lineup Analysis Tool to look at what the Giants can expect from various batting orders the rest of the way.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Baseballmusingscom/~3/SNjcUnUqc2A/click.phdo
Hockey Hall Class of 2011: Howe, Gilmour, Nieuwendyk, Belfour
There must be some mistake: Mark Howe never played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Oh, right: He was a Marlie.
Mark Howe is also a Hockey Hall of Famer, ending a lengthy wait for the call (since 1998!) to immortality for a defenseman whose career spanned from the Houston Aeros in the WHA to the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings in the NHL over the course of 929 games. He's the story today: The player that many hoped would get the call but who was perpetually a runner-up for the selection committee.
The Class of 2011:
Ed Belfour, G (stats)
The mystery today wasn't if Belfour would be a Hall of Famer, because two Vezinas, a Stanley Cup and third in career wins (484) necessitates it. It was if he'd be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, given some of his off-ice foibles.
That turned out to be secondary to his numbers and his impact. He may not be Patrick Roy, he may not be Dominik Hasek, but he can easily lay claim to having been the best goalie in the game in two different years and being in the conversation for top three in his position during his prime, which is a handy measure for the Hall of Fame.
Doug Gilmour, C (stats)
He had 450 goals, 1,414 points, one Stanley Cup and a Selke Trophy, along with being tied for seventh in career playoff points (188). A complete player and a tenacious competitor. Should have gone in last year.
Mark Howe, D (stats)
Why Howe? Bill Fleischman's 2008 piece from the Flyers website makes the case:
He's a three-time first-team NHL all-star defenseman. In his first six seasons with the Flyers, he scored 115 goals operating from the blue line. During his 22-year pro hockey career, he collected 405 goals and 1,246 points and has a +400 rating. He is the youngest hockey player to ever win an Olympic medal.
Yet, Mark Howe is still not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
He is now. More from Bill Houston back in 2006. This is a long, long time coming.
Joe Nieuwendyk, C (stats)
As we said in our Hall of Fame preview, Nieuwendyk has the prestige. Three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe and a Calder to go along with his being 11th all-time in power-play goals at 215. Best at his position? Hardly. A model player in the NHL? Totally.
The snubs? No Eric Lindros or Pavel Bure or Adam Oates or Dave Andreychuk. No Pat Burns, which remains a tarnish on this process.
What's interesting about this Class of 2011: No builders for the first time since 2011, and we get four players after getting only one last season. Was this due to the incredible Class of 2012 first-ballot guys (Sakic, Sundin, Shanahan,Roenick, Joseph, Gary Roberts among others) coming up?
"The committee are so involved and serious about their job. They do look at the candidates that are up, and I do not believe that they take into consideration the people that are coming up in the following year," said HHOF selection committee co-chair Jim Gregory.
The full release from the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame. More coverage later:
TORONTO� (June 28, 2011) ? Bill Hay, Chairman and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame,� Jim� Gregory and Pat Quinn, Co-Chairmen of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Selection� Committee,� announced� today Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and� Joe� Nieuwendyk� have� been� elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player� Category.� The� vote took place today at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto
"The� Hockey� Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these four hockey legends as Honoured� Members,"� said Jim Gregory.� "Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved."
Ed Belfour, a native of Carmen, Manitoba, played on five NHL teams from the 1988 to 2007 seasons, winning the Stanley cup in 1999 as a member of the Dallas Stars.� A two-time Vezina trophy winner, he also won a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
"It� is� hard� to� put into words what this means to me," said Belfour.� "I would like to thank all of my teammates and people along the way who helped me achieve my hockey dreams."
Doug� Gilmour was born in Kingston, Ontario and played Junior hockey nearby as� a� member of the Cornwall Royals, winning a Memorial Cup in 1981.� Doug played� 20� years in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.
"This� is� an overwhelming honour and one that makes me reflect back on the teammates and coaches I have had over years," said Gilmour.� "Larry Mavety, who� gave� me� a chance in Tier II hockey and Gord Wood who drafted me into Junior� at� Cornwall,� are� two� people who were instrumental in helping me establish myself as a player".
Mark� Howe� played his Junior hockey in Toronto before turning professional with the Houston Aeros in 1973.� He stayed in the WHA until the merger with the� NHL,� playing� with� the Hartford Whalers, the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings before retiring in 1995.
"I� was� elated� to have this dream come true given that it is a tremendous honour� just� to� have my name mentioned with the upper echelon of hockey," said� Howe.� "To actually have my name in the Hall of Fame with my Dad will mean so much to my family."
Joe� Nieuwendyk� played� three seasons at Cornell University before turning professional� with� the Calgary Flames, winning Rookie of the Year in 1988.
Joe� went� on� to win the Stanley Cup with Calgary the following season and twice more ? with Dallas in 1999 and New Jersey in 2003.
"Every player does their best year after year and strives to play at a very
high� level," said Nieuwendyk.� "I truly love the game and love to compete,and I'm pleased to be honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame."
The 2011 Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 14th at the Hockey� Hall� of Fame in Toronto.� For more information regarding the 2011 Induction Weekend/Celebration, visit http://www.hhof.com.
The time a cherry bomb was thrown on the field at County Stadium
When it comes to creative baseball blog concepts, the fellas at PastKast are at the top of the list. After starting the popular @tweetsfrom1982 and @tweetsfrom1987 Twitter accounts last year,�this pair of nostalgia-minded Milwaukee Brewers fans have conceived�1982Brewers.com and 1987Brewers.com. Each day the sites feature a game recap that corresponds to the same date from those years. Sure, it's a little nerdy and obsessive, but it's a fun-to-follow (and altogether different) exercise.
Especially when J. Scott and Rob tread on bloggable incidents that would have been featured on the front page of a 1987 Big League Stew. For instance, Tuesday marks the 24th anniversary of the June 28, 1987 game when a fan threw a cherry bomb on the County Stadium field during a game with the Toronto Blue Jays. The incident happened during the seventh inning and the fan was reportedly arrested by the ninth.
As for the cherry bomb,�Rob Deer was stunned.
"I couldn't believe it," Deer told the Journal. "That's when you know things are going bad. It was loud. It felt like someone took both hands and slapped them on my ears." [...]
"I don't think they were throwing at us," [Tom Trebelhorn] said of the cherry bomber. "I think someone was bound and determined to have a little fun with pyrotechnics and chose that particular time.
"I didn't take it personally."
Classic line from Trebelhorn there ? "I don't think they were throwing at us" ? considering that the Brewers lost to the Jays 8-1 that day.
Of course, we can chuckle at this when looking back because no one was hurt. But in researching this post, I was surprised to learn that the idiocy of lighting off a cherry bomb at a ballpark wasn't limited to this day. There were reports of the small explosives being lit by fans at Disco Demolition Night and Ten Cent Beer Night, and a young boy was injured at an Oakland A's game in 2003 when a fan threw one out of the upper deck and into the bleachers. Nostalgic blogs may be a fairly recent invention, but bloggable stupidity has existed forever.
Werth It?
Jayson Werth wore out his welcome quickly: At this hour, Jayson Werth is still standing at home plate (with Scott Boras behind him) with the bat on his shoulder, looking at strike 3 with the potential go-ahead run on second. Just another 0-5, 3 K night for Werth; good thing he has 6 1/2 more [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Baseballmusingscom/~3/5ftXnURjZS0/click.phdo
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tiger Woods says no timetable on return to the golf course
In terms of some of the decisions Woods has made, this one seems very well prepared and as smart as anything he's done the last 15 months, especially after he admitted on Tuesday that he probably returned too soon when he showed up at The Players Championship.
Say what you want about the state of the game, but golf needs Tiger way more than Tiger needs golf right now. The ratings at the U.S. Open showed that no matter what other argument you can make, when Tiger is in the field, and in the hunt, people tune in more than when he's on his couch watching Dora the Explorer (a show he admitted on Tuesday is driving him mad). His presence is definitely becoming less of a "must" for events, but it is still there, and he knows that when he comes back to golf, he wants to be there for years to come, not just months.
Maybe Tiger will never be 100 percent healthy, and maybe this knee problem will linger on until he decides to hang up the blades, but for now, getting as healthy as he can get is miles more important than showing your passport and flying across the Atlantic in hopes you're ready for competitive golf again.
Tiger will eventually be back, but for now, he's just going to take it day by day and hope that eventually everything feels like it should, and he can get back to what he does best: trying to win tournaments.
I'm sure he'd speak for any athlete that has ever been sidelined with an injury when he says the competition is way more fun than the rehabilitation.
Own a life-sized, bronzed Tim Tebow statue for just $12,000
How would you like to own your very own Tim Tebow statue?
That's right, for the low, low price of $12,000, you too can have a bronzed Tebow breaking tackles in your living room.
The sculpture was made by artist Franco Castelluccio and measures 16H x 24W, which is pretty huge. While there are no definitive team markings on the statue, I believe it's from Tebow's Florida days. How do I know this? Well, the helmet stripe. Yeah, I know, random. The Denver Broncos, Tebow's current team, have a helmet stripe, but it doesn't go all the way to the front of the helmet and it's also pointed. The Florida helmet stripe goes from front to back and is raised similar to the one in the sculpture. Trust me, it took me like 10 minutes to figure this out.
So, for all you Tebow Gator fans out there, this one is for you.
Castelluccio seems to dabble in dancing figurines and the like, but every once in awhile he busts out a sports sculpture. He did a life-sized sculpture of former Giants receiver David Tyree making his famous helmet catch in the Super Bowl. He also did a really cool World Cup statue.
If $12,000 is too steep for you, Castelluccio's PR folks state the price can be lower if you don't need the statue bronzed.
And if you're the one who actually buys this, please be sure to drop us a line.
Graham Watson is a regular contributor to Dr. Saturday. Find her on Twitter: @Yahoo_Graham
QB Focus: Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois’ new flight plan
? Typecasting. Unlike many of his "dual threat" counterparts in the 2009 recruiting class, Scheelhaase was never regarded as anything but a quarterback at the D-I level, and didn't lack for opportunities to flash his arm last year as a first-time starter. But even at the beginning, he was first and foremost a running threat, and increasingly grew into the role as the Illini's spread option attack flourished as the No. 1 rushing offense in the Big Ten. By the end of the regular season, Scheelhaase had run at least 19 times in each of the last five games, topped 100 yards on the ground five times and was on the verge of a 1,000-yard campaign before sacks. (He cracked that mark in the bowl game, thanks to the easiest 55-yard touchdown run of all-time against Baylor.)
As a runner and a passer, though, all of Scheelhasse's success (and failures) came in the context of taking snaps alongside prolific tailback Mikel Leshoure, the Big Ten's leading rusher, who exploded over the second half of the season. Even excluding their 20 overtime points in an epic, 67-65 loss at Michigan in November, the Illini averaged just shy of 40 points on almost 450 yards per game over the last seven, and with Leshoure off to the draft a year early, the spotlight shifts abruptly to Scheelhasse's evolution from Plan B to primary playmaker.
? At his best... His reputation as a scrambler shouldn't suggest by any means that Scheelhasse is doomed when asked to throw. As a passer, his debut was divided into seven solid-to-brilliant games and six awful ones, without much gray area in between. When he was on, he was on: During one four-game stretch in October and November, Scheelhaase connected on 11 touchdown passes with no interceptions in high-scoring outings against Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Minnesota, and delivered sky-high efficiency ratings (upwards of 160) on either side of that run in routs of Penn State and Baylor. He put up at least 20 passes in each of those games, completed better than two-thirds of them and finished the year with better than a 2:1 touchdown:interception ratio.
As often as not, though, Scheelhaase resembled a solid second tailback, in spite of his lack of workhorse size (considering his 6-foot-3 frame, he remains on the slightly scrawnier side at 195 pounds) or home run speed. In the Big Ten, only Leshoure and Michigan dynamo Denard Robinson accounted for more runs covering at least 10 yards, and Scheelhaase also ranked near the top of the conference with eight runs that picked up at least 20 yards. Senior running back Jason Ford may pick up most of Leshore's carries from one-back sets, but like predecessor Juice Williams after star tailback Rashard Mendenhall went pro three years ago, Scheelhaase is the most dangerous option in the backfield and the most likely to keep the attack revving at the same RPMs it reached over the back half of 2010.
? At his worst... His occasionally strong numbers through the air shouldn't suggest by any means that Scheelhaase necessarily worries any competent defense with his arm. His seven competent efforts as a passer came against a I-AA team (Southern Illinois), the bottom five pass-efficiency defenses in the Big Ten (Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Minnesota) and one of the most generous secondaries in the Big 12 (Baylor). In his other six games, he completed less than half of his passes, had just three touchdowns to eight picks and topped out with an 87.1 efficiency rating, reminiscent of Juice Williams' notoriously awful debut as a freshman in 2006. Against the likes of Missouri, Ohio State and Michigan State, the Illini went nowhere.
Of course, that's also true for most young quarterbacks who run into the defenses from Missouri, Ohio State and Michigan State, which tried (and succeeded) to turn up the pressure on Scheelhaase by largely taking away his most potent weapon. Now that Scheelhasse himself appears to be the most potent weapon in the running game, it's not clear that he has the arm or the surrounding cast to make defenses pay for overloading against the run: Not counting a couple big plays against overmatched Southern Illinois, Scheelhasse connected on just two passes last season — a 42-yarder at Michigan State and a 52-yarder in the bowl game —�that covered more than 40 yards.
? Fun Fact. Scheelhaase has a good reputation as a student and "leader," etc. on campus, but he was willing to indulge in a little customary April Fool's Day mirth this year with the help of a pair of master thespians —�teammate Steve Hull (in the white hat) and Illini basketball player Brandon Paul:
Good show, fellows! An atmosphere of proper jocundity now achieved, let us now return to the pursuit of scholarship with corresponding gusto, posthaste.
Bonus fact: Scheelhaase is actually an Iowa legacy: His father, Nate Creer, was a starter on the Hawkeyes' 1985 Rose Bowl team, and his uncle, two-sport star Owen Gill, was a second-round draft pick out of Iowa that same year. The Hawkeyes were hot on Scheelhaase's tail as a recruit, like a lot of other schools, but ultimately ran into the cold shoulder along with the rest of them.
? What to expect in the fall. First-year offensive coordinator Paul Petrino won a lot of credit for reviving a genuinely struggling offense in 2010, and Leshoure took most of the credit on the field. With even a little bit more from the defense, the Illini could have been ten-game winners —�their final three losses after Halloween were down-to-the-wire heartbreakers in which they scored 65, 34 and 23 points, respectively. If the offense can hold court in the neighborhood of 32 points per game, this can be a vastly improved team in terms of the final record.
To hit that mark again without its undisputed star in the running game, though, the offense will have to strike more balance, and Scheelhaase will have to emerge as a true "dual threat" against at least a couple of defenses that aren't wallowing at the bottom of the stat sheets. We know he can run with an All-American occupying the same backfield; the next stage is creating his own lanes by convincing defenses he's at least an occasional threat to hurt them downfield.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Walden
…it is error upon error and clout upon clout, and our best virtue has for its occassion a superfluous and evitable(?) wretchedness. Henry David Thoreau wrote the above after living at Walden, although he might have written it about Jordan Walden, who blew his fifth save as the Dodgers defeated the Angels 3-2. He walked [...]
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Monday Update
The Day by Day Database is up to date.
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Am I Blue?
Dave Cameron finds that blue-eyed players hit just fine in the day time. That being said, I doubt that all blue eyed people have the same genetic causes. I remember in my genetics course in college being shown a picture of an albino couple who produced normally pigmented children. The albinism was caused by different [...]
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JayPa blames media for the fall of Terrelle Pryor
As Ohio State continues to clean up the mess left after quarterback Terrelle Pryor decided to leave the school and turn pro last week, there are several other schools that should be rejoicing about Pryor not picking them during his big press conference four years ago.
Of course at the time, teams such as Michigan, Penn State and Oregon would have given anything to snag the nation's top recruit, which is why hindsight is definitely 20/20. But Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno doesn't buy into the idea that the Nittany Lions should be relieved that Pryor decided to move out of state. If anything, the entire saga with Pryor and Ohio State makes JayPa a little sad about college football.
This time of year, college football is generally out of the spotlight until late July or August when fall camp begins for the upcoming season.
Not this summer: It has been a steady chorus of allegations, accusations and investigations resulting in resignations and NCAA litigation. (That's some good final-syllable alliteration)
At recent alumni events, I've been asked by Penn Staters about the Ohio State situation and about Terrelle Pryor. The night he left school, I even got messages from people who were almost gleeful about the latest developments.
When Pryor went to Ohio State, both Joe Paterno and I were blamed by some media members and fans for being the reason he went elsewhere. Most would expect that I was happy the way things turned out.
Watching how this story has ended hasn't given me any joy. Quite the contrary, it has bothered and even saddened me.
Paterno blamed media for "vilifying" Pryor when, in fact, the media might have created the type of person Pryor ultimately became.
During the current NCAA investigation, it has been easy for members of the media to vilify a young man for mistakes he made. The decisions and the path he chose were all a result of behavior that was learned from adults.
It is not instinct; it is learned behavior.
Where else in the world can a 17- or 18-year-old get a national television audience to tell everyone where he is going to college? What are we telling these young men? We grant them an inflated sense of their self-importance, and then we are surprised when they believe the hype we created for them.
The cruelest lesson for all of the young men out there is how quickly it all turns on you. The members of the media and public who threw you bouquets your whole life are the same ones slinging rocks at you as soon as things go badly. The people who placed you atop the pedestal have become the ones trying to knock you off.
Most of what Paterno says is true, but it's ignorant not to place some of the blame on Pryor.
<Getting on my saopbox in 3, 2, 1...>
He's not a kid, he's an adult who made some poor choices and will face little repercussion for them. The debt will ultimately fall on Ohio State and current and future players while Pryor is off making money and playing pro ball.
Ohio State did have a lack of institutional control, but Pryor is still his own person. He knows the NCAA rules. He knows right from wrong. And the fact that he was a football players with "an inflated sense of self-importance" doesn't excuse his actions.
So yes, we can all feel bad for the monster Pryor became thanks to his hype, but at some point, people have to be held accountable.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Commenter Draft: Animal DNA to Combine with the Human Genome
Today’s draft supposes this: scientists have selected YOU to be the subject of their horrific, God-angering plan to combine animal DNA with the human genome. You will gain the awesome traits of one animal, but not in a sexy way like Spider-Man, who gets to crawl on walls and have super-strength while still looking human. [...]
Headlinin’: Recruiting flights put Georgia ‘backer in NCAA’s sights
? We would have gotten away with it, too, if not for those pesky detectives. Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, a former top 100 recruit projected to start this fall as a redshirt sophomore, faces certain NCAA scrutiny and could be declared ineligible after being connected to an unauthorized bank account controlled by two employees of his hometown Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department. According to Columbus police, the men used the account to funnel benefits to members of a city-funded, Nike-sponsored AAU basketball team, including airfare to and from Los Angeles for Jones (who initially signed with USC in 2009, and saw the field there as a true freshman) and paying off a $280 cell phone bill for the mother of hyped hoops prospect Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed with Georgia last year. (Personally, I can't help but imagine the guys behind this as the Tom Haverford and Jean-Ralphio of Columbus, Ga.)
The NCAA is reportedly aware of the issue, as is Georgia, though a UGA spokesman said the school hasn't heard from Big Brother in Indianapolis yet. Meanwhile, UGA fans are recalling the four-game suspension handed down against star receiver A.J. Green last summer and trying not to panic. [Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dawg Sports]
? Comings and goings, part one. As expected, former Alabama running back Corey Grant confirmed his plans to transfer to Auburn, where he'll reportedly walk on this fall. The rare intra-rivalry swap probably stems from some combination of homesickness and opportunism ? Grant grew up in Auburn's backyard, and was likely bound for third or fourth-string at best in the Crimson Tide's crowded backfield ?�though he insists the defection is strictly Xs and Os. "Alabama is more of a pro-style, down-hill offense and Auburn is more spread," Grant told AuburnSports.com. "With the kind of player that I am, I just think I will be a perfect fit at Auburn." [Al.com, AuburnSports.com]
? Comings and goings, part two. Florida defensive end Chris Martin, a former five-star recruit who initially committed to Notre Dame and signed with California before transferring to Gainesville last year, has decided to switch schools again on the heels of a marijuana arrest earlier this year. Because he burned his redshirt season on the move to Florida, Martin will be down to three years of eligibility on the other side of his second stint in transfer purgatory ?�or in junior college ? this fall. [Gainesville Sun]
? The Rap Sheet. Spectacularly named Mashall running back Tron Martinez was arrested Friday night on a pair of misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct and obstruction, likely nixing his hopes of emerging as the Herd's starting tailback this fall. Martinez walked on last year after spending nearly a year in jail and home confinement on 11 felony charges, including gang participation, all of which were eventually dropped. He was awarded a scholarship earlier this year and topped the depth chart coming out of the spring, but now appears to have a new doghouse to crawl out of. [Huntington Herald-Dispatch]
Quickly… The Pac-10 officially becomes the Pac-12 at the end of the week. … A home game in Baltimore is worth $2 million more for Maryland than a home game in College Park. … The story behind Boone Pickens' $165 million donation to his alma mater. … Georgia offensive lineman Brent Benedict is leaving the team for "personal reasons." … Penn State picks up a pair of defensive tackle commitments over the weekend. .. And West Virginia retailers work fast, yo.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Ian Poulter had trouble reading the rules sheet
The rain got so bad, in fact, that officials allowed players to�pick up their ball from the extremely soggy fairways, clean it off, and then place it back on the ground for the first three rounds. You rarely see such a thing take place during a professional golf tournament.
But when players showed up on Sunday, most noticed the rule from earlier in the week was nowhere to be found on the rules sheet.
Except for Poulter. Teeing off on the first hole in the final round, he walked to his ball ... and promptly picked it up to clean it off. He was immediately informed that they were playing the ball down for the day, and that he'd be adding a penalty stroke to his first hole.
Oops! The bogey ended up being his only of the day, as he finished in a tie for 24th. Had Poulter read the rules closer, he would have taken home an extra $32,089, which ended up being the difference between T-17 and T-24.
Hey, at least Poults can take solace in the fact that the violation happened in the final round of an event he probably wasn't going to win. �Last year, he cost himself the chance at a title�when he was penalized during a playoff for his ball moving his marker when he was on the green.
Poulter penalized for picking up ball [PGA Tour]
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