News and notes while Daniel Alfredsson lights the lamp…

Committee reviewing McNamee tapes (New York Times) According to Duff Wilson of The New York Times, the House oversight committee is reviewing the tapes and transcripts three conversations that feature Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens’ former personal trainer who claims he injected the multi-time Cy Young Award winner with PEDs.

2008 MLB master schedule released (BizofBaseball) Want to see every team’s schedule? The Biz of Baseball has it all in PDF form.

Redskins still trying to find their man (AP/NFL.com) After rumors of the hiring of Jim Fassel being inaccurate earlier this week, the Associated Press reports that other candidates have yet to be interviewed.  Josh McDaniels or Steve Spagnuolo, anyone. (ifive to PFT.com for the tip.)

Iverson, Garnett make All-Star squads (AP/SI.com) Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtic headline the 2008 NBA All-Star Game starters, which will be held in New Orleans.

Cyclist sues USADA for drug testing plan (AP/USATODAY.com) An anonymous cyclist is suing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for “overreaching its own rules and protocols.”

…and finally…

The Super Bowl bye week jamboroo, in which Drew pauses to make a serious point about blogging as journalism, then makes chili (Deadspin.com) A great read if you’re interested in blogging.

News and notes while celebrating the 87th birthday of Stan ‘The Man’ Musial…

Landis files appeal (Reuters) It’s disgraced Tour de France “winner” Floyd Landis’ final attempt to overturn a two-year doping ban that cost him the 2006 Tour de France title.

Comcast sends NFL cease-and-desist note (AP/USA Today) Comcast has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the NFL Network demanding the channel’s representatives stop encouraging fans to leave the cable provider.

Feds ask judge to freeze Vick funds (AP/SI.com) Federal prosecutors will ask a judge to order the former NFL star to set aside nearly $1 million for the care of pit bulls seized from his dogfighting operation.

M.L.B. free agent updated (MLB.com) MLB.com has a rundown of all the key free agents trying to find a new home.

Nick Saban’s audio stupidity (ESPN Video) Instead of a school issued apology, why don’t you “man up” and apologize yourself? And while you’re at it, why don’t you take responsibility for your coaching for a change?

Cyclist Armstrong goes to bar with Ashley Olsen (NY Post)

There’s nothing unusual with an older man dating a younger woman. In fact, Matthew McConaughy’s character in “Dazed & Confused” arguably said it best (paraphrasing):  “That’s what I love about these college aged girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.”

Lance Armstrong seems to be living by this credo lately as he’s been seen at a New York City bar hanging with former “Full House” star Ashley Olsen.
More after the jump »

‘Excited’ Pereiro to get Landis’ lost yellow jersey (AP/ESPN)

In the wake of Floyd Landis’ appeals ruling, the Tour de France title needed to find a new home.

It will now have a new home as the Tour’s de-rector, Christian Prudhomme, will hand over the jersey — and the title — to Spanish cyclist Oscar Pereiro in a ceremony at Spain’s Sports Ministry Monday. 
More after the jump »

Landis files final appeal (AP/SI.com)

Does cycling ever have any good news to report?

Floyd Landis, the digraced Tour de France champion due to alleged blood doping, has filed an appeal in his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Just last month, an arbitration panel ruled the results of a test that showed the American cyclist used synthetic testosterone to fuel his spectacular comeback Tour victory.  That decision left the cyclist with a two-year ban.

News and notes while we keep former NHL exec and Hockey Hall of Famer Emile Francis in our thoughts…

Source: MRI shows serious injury to 49ers’ Smith (ESPN News Services) The dreaded words that a fan of any team doesn’t want to hear: “seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews.”

Vick to enter plea on state felony charges (USA Today)  The charges: beating or killing a dog and engaging in and promoting dogfighting.

Nationwide to sponsor Busch Series (ESPN.com) The insurance firm replaces Anheuser-Busch as a sponsor after 26 seasons.

Glavine likely done in Big Apple (SI.com) Jack Wilkinson of SI.com writes that Tom Glavine will decline his player option for ‘08 and will either retire or return for one more go-around with the Atlanta Braves.

Armstrong blasts Landis decision (AP/Y! Sports) Lance Armstrong believes an American jury surely would have ruled in favor of Floyd Landis, unlike the arbitrators who found him guilty of doping.

Former Northern Colorado backup punter Mitch Cozad sentenced to 7 years in stabbing of starter (AP/Y! Sports) Re-read the headline.

News and notes while a piece of history is sold on the auction block…

Fightin’ Phils GM doesn’t plan to return after 2008 (AP/ESPN) Pat Gillick will fulfill contract obligations, retire after ‘08 season.

Sources: Scurry to start v. Brazil (Soccernet) Veteran Brianna Scurry will start in goal instead of Hope Solo, who had started every game so far during this World Cup. Should the U.S. reach the finals, head coach Greg Ryan plans on bringing Solo back as his No. 1 keeper.

MSG boss: Plaintiff tampered with Thomas probe (AP/ESPN) More fun from the Isiah Thomas sexual harassment trial: James Dolan told a jury in U.S. District Court that another company executive told him that MSG vice president Anucha Browne Sanders tampered with an internal investigation of her discrimination claims by meeting with her employees and trying to persuade them to support her.

Landis: Anti-doping system ‘corrupt’ (AP/SI.com) Cyclist Floyd Landis wrote on his website that “the anti-doping system is corrupt.”

All-around excellence (Y! Sports) Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports writes that a third baseman in the NL and a second baseman in the AL are his choices for the Rookies of the Year Award.  The names? Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox.

For a real drug deterrent, start naming names (USA Today) John Saraceno of USA Today writes that sports organizations should release names of those involved in steroids ring as a means of deterrent for others.

News and notes while Giants fans prepare to say goodbye to the Barry Bonds-era…

TBS sets MLB post-season teams (USA Today) Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that TBS has set its broadcasting members for their inaugural coverage of baseball’s post-season: Steve Stone, Bob Brenly, Joe Simpson, Don Orsillio, Ted Robinson, Tony Gwynn, Chip Caray and the ghost of Dick Stockton.

Oklahoma hangs 50+ on Tulsa (AP/ESPN) Allen Patrick ran for 145 yards and two TDs, Sam Bradford threw two long touchdown passes to Juaquin Iglesias and the Sooners outraced Tulsa 62-21.

Attorney: Landis mulling his options (Y! Sports) Four words: Give. It. Up. Dude.

Team supports La Russa (AP/FOX Sports) Despite what appeared to be a veiled campaign to find another MLB job over the last two weeks, players on the St. Louis Cardinals — notably Jim Edmonds — support their manager and would like him to return for the ‘08 campaign.

Yahoo! snags AOL’s Mottram (The Big Lead) We’re pale white, rested and ready…give us a call, Fanhouse.

Landis banned two years for dopin in ‘06 Tour (AP/ESPN)

Cyclist Floyd Landis was given a two-year timeout for using a synthetic hormone during his Tour de France win in 2006.

The decision leaves Landis with only one avenue to take: an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (whatever the hell that is).

The ruling also means the 2006 Tour winner must forfeit his title and a retroactive suspension from January 30, 2007 onward.

News and notes while LeBron James undergoes Lasik eye surgery and wrangles it into an endorsement deal…

Prosecutors link Ullrich, Spanish doping doctor (AP/ESPN) German prosecutors claim cyclist Jan Ullrich transferred money to Spanish doc.

Giants backup QB ready, waiting if Manning can’t go (AP/Y! Sports) Don’t go rushing to add Jared Lorenzen to your fantasy teams just yet.

Nike, Ohio State reach endorsement deal (AP/USA Today) The deal is for seven-years, $26 million.

Rex Grossman, mental midget (The Big Lead) Former defensive coordinator Ron Riviera of the Chicago Bears described Rex Grossman as a “mental midget” during the San Diego Chargers’ preparation against his former team.

MNF ratings down from last year (Awful Announcing)  ESPN earned a 9.7 rating, down 14.2% from a 11.3 last year.

Cyclists collide with armadillo during Tour of Missouri (AP/SI.com)

Two cyclists competing in the Tour of Missouri were injured after their bicycles collided with a wayward armadillo while on the peloton.

Dan Schmatz, 33, of Ballwin, was riding in the peloton at about 20 mph when he and teammate Jonathan Garcia of Boulder, Colo., met with the wayward animal.

Schmatz, who lives in Longmont, Colo., was taken to a local hospital. The extent of his injuries was not known Tuesday afternoon.

Garcia returned to the second stage, when a field of 115 cyclists from 15 teams were to pedal 125.6 miles to Springfield.

News and notes while Screamin’ A. Smith gets demoted publicly…

Ex-Lakers, Princeton coach dies (AP/ESPN) Former college and professional basketball coach Butch Van Breda Kolff, who twice led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals and coached Bill Bradley at Princeton, has died after a long illness.  He was 84.

Jets deal unhappy O-lineman to Skins (ESPN.com) Since ProFootballTalk doensn’t do trackbacks, we’ll just use Len Pasquarelli’s story on the Jets dealing off OL Pete Kendall to the Redskins for a middle round draft pick.
Booted from Tour, Rasmussen looking for team (AP/USA Today) Erik Rasmussen, the Danish cyclist booted from the Tour de France while leading the race for alleged doping, is in talks to join an Italian team.

Henman to hang up the racket (AP/Y! Sports) The 32-year old British tennis star Tim Henman will play his final Grand Slam at the U.S. Open and then retire in September after the Davis Cup playoff.

Tom Brady’s baby ends holdout (KSK) A hilarious — and graphic — representation of Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady’s baby being birthed.

Armstrong’s Discovery Channel team shutting down (USA Today)

Sal Ruibal of USA Today reports that Tailwind Sports, owner of the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team, announced Friday that the team will cease operations at the end of this season.  The team’s predecessor, the U.S. Postal Service Team, won eight of the last nine Tour de France championships: seven consecutive from 1999-2005 with Armstrong and in 2007 with Alberto Contador of Spain.

By the way, we rather think it was creative genius to come up with the double-entendre “cycling” as it relates to blood doping and the sport.

News and notes while the Tour de France isn’t welcome at a German cycling race…

Bonds’ legacy still up for debate (FOX Sports) Ken Rosenthal examines where Barry Bonds falls in the game’s history.

OJ is having a bad week (Winning the Turnover Battle) The star of Superbad loses a chick at a nightclub — to O.J. Simpson.

Arena lets Altidore go to prom (USA Today) RedBulls coach lets star Jozy Altidore go to prom back in May.  He’s a player’s coach! (Tip: The Big Lead)

Quickie: Bonds 756! (danshanoff.com) All you need to know about Barry Bonds breaking the dinger record. Also of note: Rovell right on the money with Quinn, Oregon looking to play a regular season game in China and MLB pennant races.

Chris Berman to be master of ceremonies at Bill Walsh goodbye (Shakedown Sports) ESPN’s Berman to be emcee at Monster Park memorial service for the former San Francisco 49ers coach who passed away last week.

Don’t be afraid to draft a sturdy backup at RB (USA Today) Fantasy football drafts are being conducted fast and furiously, so here’s some advice.

Doping experts give investigators showing that Contador doped (AP/Y! Sports)

German authorities said Tuesday they have received documents from doping expert Werner Franke which he claims show Tour de France winner Alberto Contador was involved in doping, allegedly using HMG-Lepori as a testosterone booster and an asthma product called TGN.

It never ends…

T-Mobile fires Sinkewitz after refusing b-sample test (AP/USA Today)

German cyclist Patrik Sinkewitz, who tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in June, was fired by his T-Mobile team on Tuesday after refusing to have his backup sample tested.

We’re sure we’ll be back tomorrow with more Tour de France-related fallout.  Why, it’ll be a tradition in the making…a tradition unlike any other.