Memphis Redbirds forfeit game due to ineligible player (AP/USA Today)

From the AP:

Memphis Redbirds had to forfeit a win over the Iowa Cubs because of an ineligible player, the Pacific Coast League announced Tuesday.

The Redbirds 7-6 win over Iowa on Aug. 18 was nullified because Kelly Stinnett was placed on Major League Baseball’s restricted list by the St. Louis Cardinals on July 1. The Cardinals are the parent team for Memphis.

The Cardinals reactivated Stinnett for the Aug. 18 game in Des Moines, where he entered the game as pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and singled in a run.

The transaction was not approved by Major League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League.

Major League rules state that no player can be removed from the Restricted List after Aug. 1, except under special circumstances that did not apply for Stinnett, the PCL said in a news release.

Drug allegations against Tim Couch (Y! Sports)

Yahoo! Sports’ Josh Peter reports that obtained documents suggest that Tim Couch, the former NFL quarterback who just recently attempted a comeback with the Jacksonville Jaguars, had regimens that included the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH).

The details were listed on the documents that had the player’s name across the heading. 

Couch, the No. 1 pick in the 1999 NFL draft, told Yahoo! Sports he briefly took HGH – which is banned by the NFL – in hopes the drug would help him recover from shoulder surgery. But he denied using steroids or any other banned drugs and said he had never seen the documents.

The documents allegedly prepared for Couch were provided by a source who requested anonymity because he said he fears for his safety. He is a former associate of Brian Yusem, a self-styled nutritionist in Boca Raton, Fla., who has worked with Couch since January 2006.

The documents outline regimens for the use of steroids and other drugs banned by the NFL during three cycles of more than two months.

Tip o’the cap to Deadspin for the informational link.

Briggs says he panicked, reported car stolen (AP/ESPN)

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs claims he panicked after he wrecked his $350,000 Lamborghini Murcielago Monday morning on a Chicago-area expressway.

“When it happened, the first thing I did was, obviously, I panicked,” Briggs said. “I didn’t want there to be a big scene there. And so I left the scene. When I left, I called the tow truck. I also was startled, and I called to report that my car was stolen. Within probably 10 minutes, I called back and accepted responsibility for what I did because it was ridiculous in the first place.”

At least he’s claiming responsibility for his stupidity on the Chicago highways and bi-ways.  Just don’t ask the head coach if he was drinking.

Stabbing charge is Alston’s second arrest in month (AP/ESPN)

Troubled Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston was arrested — and subsequently released on bail — after being charged with stabbing a man at a Manhattan nightspot early Monday. The complaint alleges that Alston slashed a man at the club in the neck during a melee.

This is the second time in a month that he’s been arrested.  Alston was arrested after he was alleged to have grabbed a parking attendant’s arm, shaking him and spitting on him after Alston’s vehicle was towed from a lot. The attendant claims that the Rockets guard parked illegally and didn’t pay to park.

News and notes while Travis Henry writes another child support check…
Federal court upholds HS metal bat ban (AP/ESPN) A judge ruled Tuesday that it was constitutional for the city to ban metal bats from high school baseball games.

Can D’Backs, Mariners continue to overachieve? (SI.com)  Tom Verducci of SI.com profiles two MLB contending teams that are defying the odds.

Lalas attacks MLS for ‘ridiculous schedule’ (Y! Sports)  We still don’t think this beats Lalas’ “MLS is on par with English Premier League” gem a few months back.

The Quickie: Vick, Brohm, Utley, Virginia Tech and more! (Dan Shanoff)  The news of the day in rapid-fire precision.

One part Vick, one part every other sporting topic on earth (Mr. Irrelevant)  Mr. Irrelevant sat through all the Michael Vick coverage yesterday on “The Teaser.” We hope this is the last of our Vick-related post till December.  We somehow doubt it.

Capitals owner Ted Leonis buys son Slingbox (OffWing Opinion) Why is this important? Because the other sports frown on Slingbox’s properties while the NHL embraces it.  Maybe the NHL is finally getting something right. Hell, even commish Gary Bettman has one: he watches games on his Motorola “Q.”

Simon to try to resume career with Titans (AP/ESPN)

Defensive tackle Corey Simon, late of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, has come to terms with the Tennessee Titans in an attempt to resume his career, the Associated Press is reporting.

Indianapolis released Simon on Aug. 4 after he failed his physical with the Colts at the start of training camp. He had arthroscopic knee surgery but was placed on the non-football illness-injury list Oct. 5 with an undisclosed ailment a year after signing a five-year, $30 million contract.

Seville’s Puerta, 22, dies after on-field collapse (AP/ESPN)

On Monday, we told you about the midfielder for Seville who collapsed on the field during the Spanish League’s match against Getafe.

Sadly, Antonio Puerta has passed away after spending two days in intensive care in the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Madrid, Spain.  He was 22.

Puerta lost consciousness and fell near his own goal Saturday in the 31st minute, but was able to walk off minutes later after being treated by team doctors. Shortly thereafter, he collapsed in the locker room before being taken to the hospital.

Sources: Texas coach Brown to get extension through 2017 (ESPN.com)

According to Joe Schad of ESPNU, the University of Texas Board of Regents is expected to announced a lengthy extension for the school’s football coach, Mac Brown, that would keep the bench boss in Austin till 2017.

The regents’ agenda for a Tuesday evening conference call includes an item for “discussion and appropriate action regarding change in compensation” for the coach, who is entering his 10th season. Texas won the national championship in 2005. Brown signed a 10-year contract before the 2005 Rose Bowl. His current salary is about $2.6 million with an annual $100,000 raise.

Passing a legend: Schoendienst is ready (STL Today)

Baseball clubs have different legendary faces that represent the franchise.

In Chicago, it’s Ernie Banks; in San Francisco, it’s Barry Bonds Willie Mays; in Florida, It’s Orestes Destrade.

In St. Louis, it’s “The Man,” Stan Musial.

But there’s also another legend who has been with the organization since 1945, mostly in uniform either on the field or on the bench.

Albert “Red” Schoendienst.

More after the jump »

The greatest female XI!!! (The Beautiful Game)

On the Internets, there’s several ways to rank women in sports: there’s the always classic NCAA-style “Tournament of Hotties” (OurBookofScrap’s Hottest Wife/Girlfriend in Sports); ranking of female sports reporters and ranking the female personalities based upon their MySpace pages.

And then there’s The Beautiful Game, who have come up with a different idea: a soccer team filled with beautiful females.

Note: No actual female soccer players were harmed in this ranking…so there.

Tip o’the cap to The Big Lead for the informational link.

Lawrence: Gibson’s legacy complete with tribute (SI.com)

Tennis honored the memory of Althea Gibson at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Arthur Ashe Court Monday. It was 50 years ago Saturday when Gibson became the first black player — male or female — to win the U.S. National Championship (the precursor to the current U.S. Open).

SI.com’s Andrew Lawrence chronicles the ceremonies and profiles the tennis legend.

Gibson was more inclined to see herself as a pioneer. Standing 5-foot-11 and possessing a powerful serve, she was certainly a rarity in the sport. As a singles and doubles player, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments, capturing her first — the ‘56 French Open — at the relatively ripe age of 23.

Much of the racism Robinson endured was overt, but he at least had the support of Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey and the strength of his teammates to lean on. Gibson had to weather the more covert slings and arrows of institutional racism all by herself. She was denied rooms at the hotels; one even refused to book reservations for a dinner in her honor.

It was an honor overdue for one of tennis’ all-time greats.

The morning after a light schedule filled with key match-ups in MLB…

The Yankees loss to Detroit was the most one-sided road shutout loss in the team’s history, topping a 15-0 defeat at the Chicago White Sox on July 15, 1907; the Braves halted a losing skid in which they lost five of their last six contests; the Indians turned the franchise’s first triple play in 15 years on the way to slowing down the hot Twins and the Fightin’ Phils came out slugging against their NL East-rival New York Mets in a series opener.

Twins 3, Indians 8 — Cleveland’s Paul Byrd allowed three runs in six innings to move to 4-0 this season and 10-3 in his career against the Twins in the Indians 8-3 victory over Minnesota.

Tigers 16, Yankees 0 — Justin Verlander gave up just three hits in seven scoreless innings to earn his third win in four starts and Mike Mussina was chased after allowing six runs in just three innings of work for the Yankees as the Tigers cruised to a 16-0 whooping of New York.

Angels 6, M’s 0 — Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim near Chavez Ravine and residing in Orange County, home of the NHL’s Ducks starter John Lackey pitched a gem, scattering just seven hits in a complete game shutout of the Seattle Mariners, 6-0.  The win netted Lackey his 16th victory.

More after the jump »

News and notes while Lovie Smith got upset with reporters after they asked if Lance Briggs was drinking…

Briggs charged with leaving the scene of accident (AP/USA Today) Police allege that Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs left the scene — and his Lamborghini Murcielago — alongside Interstate Highway 94 around 3:15 a.m. Monday.

MLBPA pursues information from MLB regarding threats (The Biz of Baseball) Via The Sports Business Journal: the Players Association is seeking information from MLB headquarters as part of an internal investigation into whether clubs were threatened to keep signing bonuses at or below league requested recommendations for signing bonuses for this year’s draft picks.

Day one baguette from U.S. Open (SI.com) Sports Illustrated Jon Wertheim answers questions from readers while highlighting the first day at the U.S. Open in Flushing, New York.

Team USA rolls over Mexico in FIBAs (ESPN) What’s the reason the U.S. still instituted the “Dream Team” program again?

Niedermayer! may still return this season (TSN.ca) The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL playoff MVP tells TSN of Canada that he still may return to the NHL at some point this upcoming season.

Your week one college football announcing teams (Awful Announcing) Want to find out who is broadcasting a college football game you might be watching this weekend? Awful Announcing as all the scoop.