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 we spend most of the day away — and unfortunately, not for play…
Astros in holding pattern over Tejada (USATODAY.com) The Houston Astros haven’t determined if they will take action with Miguel Tejada being targeted for possibly lying to a congressional committee, writes the great Bob Nightengale of USATODAY.com.
Sale of the Cubs not imminent (MLB.com) Despite the new owner of the Tribune Cos. claims, MLB president Bob Dupuy said the notion of the club being sold by Opening Day is not likely.
Mayweather-De La Hoya II could be reality (ESPN.com) Via ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer states that a Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya rematch could take place in September.
Knight notches career win No. 900 (AP/Y! Sports) With Texas Tech’s 68-53 victory over the tenth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, coach Bob Knight collected his record-setting 900th win.
Aussie: Day 4 (AP/SI.com) Federer, Kuznetsova, Venus advance to third round on day four of the Australian Open.
…and finally…
NHL, NHLPA and IIHF talk player transfer deal in Wednesday meeting (CP/The Hockey News) Is that enough initials for you? Three entities trying to iron out an agreement that will allow for European — both Western and Eastern — to come to North America with little interference.
News and notes while trying to get back into the swing of things…
S. Korean boxer declared brain dead (AP/Y! Sports) Choi Yoi-sam, a South Korean boxer who lost consciousness after winning an WBO intercontinental flyweight bout last week, has been declared brain dead.
Snow, wind give outdoor NHL game extra edge (USA Today) Sports television media writer Michael Hiestand takes a look at the NHL outdoor game featuring Pittsburgh and Buffalo; an update of sorts on Arkansas running back Darren McFadden’s NFL future via FOX’s Brian Baldinger; assorted NFL media notes and a quick Pat Summerall nugget.
Michigan’s English accepts Louisville gig (AP/SI.com) Ron English accepted Louisville’s offer to be its defensive coordinator, the same job he had at Michigan, where incoming coach Rich Rodriguez fired all of Lloyd Carr’s assistants.
Nolan gives up control, keeps coaching job (Y! Sports) Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports confirms the rumors that San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will return to the “City by the Bay,” but his power, staff will see some changes.
Report: Raiders’ Sapp tells ‘mates that he’s retiring (NFL.com/The FanHouse) Via The FanHouse, the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Warren Sapp, he of the 96.5 career sacks and seven Pro Bowl appearances, has told teammates that he’s hanging up the spikes.
…and finally…
Winter Classic shootout (YouTube) We mentioned the “Winter Classic” outdoor NHL game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York. Here is the complete shootout portion of the game in perhaps one of the most electric atmospheres at a sporting event in quite some time.
News and notes while recovering from Christmas bliss…
Report: Clemens’ attorney to launch own probe (New York Times) Roger Clemens’ lead attorney told the New York Times that his firm is launching its own investigation into allegations the seven-time Cy Young winner used steroids and human growth hormone. Question: will it be like Orenthal James’ search for “the real killers?”
South Korea boxer in coma after WBO match (AP/SI.com) Cho Yoi-sam fell unconscious and was rushed to surgery shortly after he won the match Tuesday on points against Heri Amol.
$60 billion worth of retail sells still remain (CNNMoney.com) Whodathunkit: You know those gift cards you got yesterday? Apparently, there’s $60 billion worth of those that are yet to be spent.
Court documents released in Jones’ doping case (ESPN.com) Mark Fainaru-Wada and T. J. Quinn, the two writers that were recently hired due to their speciality in PEDs reporting, write that BALCO’s multipage “ledger” of dosages ingested by their athlete clients was released.
Reds deal Hamilton to Rangers (AP/SI.com) After battling back from the depth of an abyss filled with drugs and alcohol, Josh Hamilton brokeout for the Cincinnati Redlegs in 2007. On Friday, the 28-year old outfielder was dealt to the Texas Rangers for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera.
Wrigley Field naming rights deal possible (TheBizofBaseball) Do they really think anyone will call that place anything other than Wrigley? Dr. Z is apparently delusional (The FanHouse) Michael David Smith of The FanHouse explored the derivation of the phrase “West Coast Offense” and somehow, he claims, it’s from Bernie Kosar. Nice try, Paul.
Mayweather Jr. mulling switch (AP/Y! Sports) Floyd Mayweather Jr. met with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban this week to discuss competing in mixed martial arts.
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.
And the winner is… (The FanHouse) Ryan Ferguson of The FanHouse, via StiffArmTrophy.com, gives a peek at who will win the Downtown Athletic Club’s coveted trophy.
Appalachian State rolls to FCS national title game (AP/Y! Sports) After starting the season with an upset victory over upper-division Michigan, Appalachian State downed Richmond 55-35 to advance to the Football Championship Subdivision title game.
Mayorga wins majority decision over Vargas (AP/Y! Sports) Ricardo Mayorga scored a majority 12-round decision over Fernando Vargas, winning on the strength of knockdowns in the first and 11th rounds.
Cordero, Redlegs strike prelim deal (AP/SI.com) The highly-coveted closer lands at an N.L. Central rival of the Milwaukee Brewers — the Cincinnati Redlegs. The pricetag? A four-year, $46 million contract to pitch at the bandbox known at Great America.
Seeking Santana worth the money? (FOX Sports) M.L.B. news and notes from the great Ken Rosenthal, including: obtaining the services of Johan Santana may be costly in terms of talent and salary; is the aforementioned Francisco Cordero worth the dough; Torri Hunter’s contract will have a definite ripple effect on the rest of the free agent market; and the Angels could offer a tempting package for the Florida Marlins to part with Miguel Cabrera.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was sentenced to 24 hours in jail and three years’ probation for drug possession and driving under the influence.
The charges stemmed from a traffic stop in Scottsdale last December.
Roenick notches 500th goal (AP/Y! Sports) Jeremy Roenick of San Jose became the third American-born player to reach 500 goals.
…and finally…
Rockhurst wins state title (KC Star) Back-to-back days of high school swimming stuff as the Rockhurst Hawklets captured their fourth consecutive swimming title in dominating fashion. They became just the third Missouri team in 71 years to win four straight titles. Congrats, Colonel!
Calzaghe take’s WBC, WBA belts (FOX Sports) Undefeated Joe Calzaghe added Mikkel Kessler’s WBA and WBC super-middleweight titles to his own WBO crown, unanimously outpointing the previously undefeated Dane to garner the win.
Holyfield comes up short in quest for fifth championship belt (The FanHouse) Sultan Ibragimov kept his WBO title with a unanimous decision over Evander Holyfield, who turns 45 next week and was trying to become the second-oldest heavyweight champion.
Sonics’ excitement tempered over relocation talk (ESPN.com) J.A. Adande of ESPN.com writes that within the Seattle Sonics’ arbitration filing to escape their lease from KeyArena, owner Clay Bennett says fans don’t really care if they stay or not.
U.S. women rout Mexico in friendly; Solo apologizes (AP/USA Today) Just prior to a friendly with Mexico in St. Louis, keeper Hope Solo issued an apology to her teammates and fellow keeper Briana Scurry for her remarks during the Women’s World Cup last month.
Pavlik KOs Taylor in 7th round to claim WBC belt (AP/SI.com) Far behind on points after absorbing a brutal beating in the second round, Kelly Pavlik cornered Jermain Taylor and stunned him with a hard right to the jaw, then sent him down with a flurry of lefts and rights to win in Atlantic City, N.J.
Pittsburgh’s Wilson leaves field after collision (ESPN News) Shortstop Jack Wilson suffered what appeared to be a severe concussion after colliding with second baseman Matt Kata just beyond the infield dirt on a ground ball.
Ole Miss sprinter found murdered (ESPNU) Mississippi sprinter Rodney Lydale Lockhart was found shot to death Saturday at his apartment near the Ole Miss campus.
Duke president apologizes to falsely accused lax players (AP/CNN) “Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy. But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it and I apologize for it.” – Duke University President Richard Brodhead, speaking at the Duke Univ. School of Law school.
U.S. goalie Soto tossed from team (AP/SI.com) Coach Greg Ryan, with the support of the team’s 20 members, booted unhappy goalie Hope Solo from the Women’s WWC team before their third-place game against Norway.
The legend of Scott Boras (The FanHouse) TFH provided a quick glimpse of ESPN: The Magazine’s profile of agent Scott Boras and how he met soon-to-be free agent Alex Rodriguez back in ‘92.
The Pam Ward Chronicles: Week Five (Awful Announcing) The best quotes from week five of the college football broadcasts, courtesy of Awful Announcing.
In an online exclusive by SI.com writers Luis Fernando Llosa and L. Jon Wertheim, boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley stands accused of taking BALCO manufactured drugs “The Clear” and “The Cream” while training for his fight against Oscar de la Hoya in September of 2003.
Jeff Novitzky, the lead investigator in the BALCO case, told those attending an international anti-doping conference in Colorado Springs last November of the indiscretions.
Two months before the light middleweight championship fight, Mosley, a client of the BALCO lab, began using “the clear” [THG] and “the cream” [testosterone], the designer substances that Barry Bonds, among other athletes, stands accused of using. Mosley supplemented this with doses of the blood-doping drug Erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that artificially increases red blood production.
Continued great reporting by Liosa and Wertheim, who have had their collective fingers on the pulse of this ongoing story.
A-Rod to own some of the Cubs? Not likely (SportsBiz) CNBC’s SportsBiz reporter Darren Rovell dissects the New York Magazine story that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could be a minority owner via a deferred payment-as-equity method.
Where will Bonds land? (SI.com) Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated maps out possible destinations for Barry Bonds, who will not be re-resigned by the Giants.
A plea to ESPN: Dump Emmitt (AwfulAnnouncing) The growing masses want ESPN to dump “analyst” Emmitt Smith from their broadcast team. Awful Announcing is not exception.
Buying your gal a $100K Benz (The Big Lead) Mike Comrie makes some nice cash as a New York Islander — $3.375 million — but let’s not forget he’s an heir to a massive fortune. Who’d he buy the car for? Hilary Duff.
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