Friday, March 24, 2006

Judge Denies Bonds' Request To Block "Game of Shadows"

A judge has denied a request by Barry Bonds' lawyers to block the authors and publishers of 'Game of Shadows' from profiting from the book. The book claims Bonds used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds' lawyers say the book's authors, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts of the book, should be liable for publishing ``illegally obtained grand jury transcripts.'' There have been no denial of any of the accounts from the book, just how the authors got them.

- Bonds Bid To Block `Game of Shadows' Profits Tossed By Judge (Bloomberg)
Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 2:02 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Racial Slur Gets Talk Host The Boot From Two Jobs

Dave Lenihan, who was in his second week as a morning show host on The Big 550 KTRS (550 AM) in St Louis, Missouri, when a slip of the tongue, and a really stupid racial slur, got him in big trouble.

While describing why U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would fit well as commissioner of the NFL, the word "coon" slipped out. I'll say slipped because if you listen to the audio of his slip up, you'll hear it is totally out of context. Doesn't really matter, stupid action got him fired just about immediately.

And then it got worse. Lenihan, who has a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, was also a professor at Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, where he has taught anatomy and neuroanatomy since September of 2004. At least it was it seems like a plausible 'he once taught' since he has been suspended while the school reviews his conduct.

- Talk Show Host Fired After On-Air Racial Slur (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Fired Radio Host Also Loses Job As College Instructor (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Audio (CrooksandLiars.com)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 2:03 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Taylor versus Wright: A Gentleman’s Press Conference?

Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and challenger Winky Wright are doing something you might not expect from top fighters--they're showing each other a lot of respect.

At a news conference yesterday to promote their June 17th bout, the two greeted each other with a handshake and an embrace, with Wright saying Taylor is a great young fighter. And Taylor saying it's an honor to fight Wright.

This is defininatly a different tone from Taylor's lost bout, his rematch with Bernard Hopkins.

- Taylor All Smiles Over Wright Fight (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 1:00 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

"Game Of Shadows" Hits Bookstore Shelves Today

Barry Bonds isn't the only big name cloaked in suspicion of illegal steroid use in the new book "Game of Shadows." The book says BALCO's performance-enhancing drugs were used by several athletes, including track stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, NFL players such as Bill Romanowski, and sluggers including Bonds, Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi. According to a book, Bonds juiced out of jealousy, Sheffield was following Bond's lead as a training partner, and Jason Giambi did it to please his perfectionist father.

"Game of Shadows," written by San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, hits bookshelves today.

- Book drags Sheffield into mire (Chicago Tribune)
- New Book Unveils New Details Of Doping In US Sports (KOTV-TV)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 12:44 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

In The D-League, Five Teams Are In The Four Team Playoffs

This is semi-interesting to us folks in Arkansas, and kinda interesting to basketball fans in general. In the D-League, the Arkansas RimRockers get a big win over the first-place Fort Worth Flyers, and have moved into a tie four way tie for second place. Only the top four teams in the NBA Development League go to the playoffs, so as it stands, one of the four number 2 teams will bounced out.

The RimRockers claimed the ABA championship last year in their inaugural and only season in that league.

- RimRockers Ground Flyers Late (NBA.com)

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And Japan Rules The World...Baseball Classic

Japan now holds the title as the first true World Champion in Baseball. Japan beat Cuba in the finals of the World Baseball Classic last night 10-6. And maybe the presence of American big leaguers matters, as Team Japan has two (Ichiro Suzuki of the Settle Seahawks and Akinori Otsuka of the Texas Rangers) to Cuba's zero.

No, I don't believe that for a second. Major League talent apparently wasn't necessary. It just took talent, and Team USA should had plenty, with much more to spare.

Blame the silliness of the round-robin rules of the early rounds is you want. Team USA has the same problem that any casual fan can pick up on when watching just about any underachieving team in just about any sport. If they would made some more runs, they might have won some more games.

- Japan Becomes Envy Of World (Chicago Sun-Times)
- World's Best? Japan's Proof Is In The Results (ESPN)
- Cuban Ballplayers To Be Honored By Castro Upon Return (CBS SportsLine.com)
- Classic's Timing, Formula All Mixed Up (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 8:52 AM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Ballplayer Goes Missing When Asked To Switch Positions

Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals was missing when his team took the field in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night. The four-time All-Star second baseman was asked by his new team to take Left field since they already have an All-Star second baseman in Jose Vidro. Soriano indicated he doesn't want to do that, and yesterday provided his most visible objection.

General manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition could go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week. By the way, the Nats take a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night's, 11-5.

- Soriano Refuses To Play Outfield For Nationals (Yahoo! Sports)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 8:35 AM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Clippers Hit Retro Success On Retro Night

The year was 1976, and the Buffalo Braves were siting at 13 games of .500. Twenty years later, that same franchise, now located in Los Angeles and called the Clippers, has finally achieved the same level of sucess on the court.

Wearing orange and black Braves uniforms from the franchise's inaugural 1970-71 season for retro night, Sam Cassell scored 24 points and Corey Maggette added 20 points in a Clippers win over the Houston Rockets last night.

- Clippers Move To 13 Games Over .500 (San Jose Mercury News)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 7:57 AM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Monday, March 20, 2006

Change Are Coming, Change Is Here, For The NFL

Two big changes for the NFL for the 2006 season. Yes, we will have a new commissioner! Paul Tagliabue will retire in July after 16 years at the helm.

And no one's seen him don a black hat yet, but Terrell Owens has joined the Dallas Cowboy family, signing a three year, $25 million deal over the weekend.

- NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Calling It Quits (Sports Network)
- Cowboys Sign Troubled, Talented Wideout (Forbes)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 1:47 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Friday, March 17, 2006

Team USA Beat At Its Own Game

Yesterday, we needed only a short dissertation to explain the World Baseball Classic elimination situation for Team USA. South Korea beat Japan, 2-1, giving Team USA a chance to advance to the next round with just a win over Mexico last night, with Roger Clemens taking the mount for Team USA in that game.

Mexico wins 2-1.

South Korea had a 3-0 second-round record in Group One, with Team USA, Japan and Mexico all going 1-2. Japan earned the second semifinal berth from the group by allowing the fewest runs in games between the tied teams.

The Americans go home, or at least back to spring training. Most of which is in Arizona, where Team USA was playing its WBC games anyway.

I am still confused.

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 7:10 AM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Some Programs At University Of Arkansas Lacking

An NCAA study of academic progress among college athletes found some programs at our big school, the University of Arkansas, lacking. The Razorbacks' baseball and cross-country teams fell below standards set by the NCAA, according to figures released yesterday.

The Razorback baseball team ranked 11th out of 12 teams in the Southeastern Conference, a rate blamed on a number of players either transferring or entering the Major League draft. Arkansas' cross country team finished last among the 10 SEC teams in the sport. Most sports teams were in good standing, for example the Arkansas men's basketball team ranked second-best in the Southeastern Conference, behind only Vanderbilt.

Ninety-nine teams at 65 Division I schools will lose scholarships because of poor academic performances by student-athletes. The University of Arkansas will lose any scholarships because of the deficiencies.

- Arkansas Won't Lose Grants Despite Some Poor Academic Performances (KOTV-TV)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 4:44 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Anaheim Loses Case To Get Angels To Stop Using Their Stupid New Name

What’s in a name? A lot if you are the Major League Baseball franchise known as the Angels. The city of Anaheim has been shot down once again in its attempt to get the name of the Angels changed back to the Anaheim Angels. The city filed suit over a year ago when the team changed its name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. An Orange County judge today ruled he didn't have the authority to reverse the ruling of a jury three weeks ago that decided in the teams favor.
- Judge Rejects Request By Anaheim To Force Angels Name Change (San Jose Mercury News)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 12:48 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

NFL Talks Break Down With The Possibility Of The Salary Cap (& Football Parity) To Expire

NFL labor talks broke off three days before the start of free agency, leaving teams and players in a quandary about negotiating new contracts. The league said it would not extend Friday's deadline for the start of free agency. Although the contract does not expire until after the 2007 season, the winkle comes with the scheduled start of on Friday. If the deal is not extended, this would be the last year with a salary cap, so agents and team officials want to know how to structure contracts.

The players association has stated if the salary cap expires, they will never agree to reinstate a new one.

- Upshaw Calls NFL Labor Talks 'Deadlocked' (Washington Post)

Posted by J. Cleveland Payne @ 1:46 PM   0 comments ---------------------------------------

Manny Still Being Manny

Manny Ramirez has finally arrived at spring training for the Boston Red Sox. His arrival comes six days after the team's first full-squad workout and one day after Major League Baseball's mandatory reporting date.

Ramirez said shortly after his arrival that he will not play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Which starts in two days. Because he would have to leave Red Sox's camp a day after he finally reported. Six days late.

- Ramirez Arrives For Spring Training (SI.com)
- Slugger Says He Will Not Play In World Baseball Classic (Colorado Rockies News)

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