News and notes while cleaning things up around the domicile…
Source: Yankees wouldn’t stand in way NHL contest (ESPN News Services) The NHL would like to place their next “Winter Classic” at the soon-to-be closing Yankee Stadium in January 2009, the final event at “The House That Ruth Built.”
Fitzgerald to stay with Gridbirds (Larry-Fitzgerald.com) Pending the approval of the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals and wideout Larry Fitzgerald have agreed to terms on a contract extension for four years.
Ex-Ram, fans drop suit against Patriots (Boston Globe) Remember that ridiculous lawsuit filed by former St. Louis Rams player Willie Gary against the New England Patriots for millions of dollars? It was dropped due to what lawyers cite as an “exercise in futility”.
Heels to retire Hansbrough’s jersey (AP/SI.com) As a reward for winning a national player of the year award courtesy of the Sporting News, junior Tyler Hansbrough will have his jersey retired to the Dean Dome rafters.
Comcast, Big Ten Network coming to agreement? (SPORTSbyBROOKS) Via the sports marketing publication the Sports Business Journal, cable company Comcast and the Big Ten Network may finally be coming to an agreement to have the cable giant to carry the network on its airwaves.
…and finally…
Clayton Kershaw has a wicked curve(YouTube) Not as wicked as the “Uncle Charlie” that St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright dropped on New York’s Carlos Beltran in the 2006 NLCS, but it’s still really, really, really neat-o.
Pence injured in sliding door tumble (MLB.com) Houston’s young star Hunter Pence has trouble with sliding glass door, cuts hand and knees. Something tells us the story will change a bit here.
Tejada won’t discuss Mitchell Report (AP/SI.com) Expect answers similar to Chico Escuela when asked about his involvement in the Mitchell Report.
Report: Giants, Coughlin close to deal (The Sports Network) The Super Bowl champion New York Giants and their head coach Tom Coughlin are closing in on a pact that would keep the bench boss in the Meadowlands till 2011.
Noel Devine in some hot water (The Dominion Post) Morgantown Police investigating incident that involves WVU star running back Noel Devine (i-Five to TheBigLead for the tip).
The NHL is no stranger is pranks(YouTube) On Monday, we brought you the Kyle Kendrick prank. Today, some NHL veterans have some fun with a rookie’s car keys.
Ranking the best GMs in the game (SI.com) Jon Heyman of SI.com has the usual suspects atop the list. Great nugget: The poster boy of “Moneyball” is retiring. Jeremy Brown, the pudgy OBP machine, is hanging ‘em up at age 28.
Questions good enough to launch a rocket (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal writes for FOXSports.com that it’s now gametime as Congressional hearings are set to go Wednesday for Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee.
Vikes’ Udeze has leukemia (KSTP.com) The Minnesota Vikings are extending their “thoughts and prayers” to defensive end Kenechi Udeze after a television station reported Monday that he has a form of leukemia.
Mayock doesn’t see McFadden in top-20 (Pancake Blocks) NFL Network draft expect Mike Mayock released his top-10 overall picks Monday and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden didn’t make the cut — or a spot in the top-20 (i-five to TheFanHouse for the story). Malarchuk remembers the blood (Calgary Herald) The former NHL goalie who had his jugular vein sliced 19-years ago speaks out on the similar injury suffered by Florida Panthers defenseman Richard Zednik on Sunday.
…and finally…
Chris Berman video fun (YouTube/The Big Lead) We missed out on the Chris Berman video frenzy in the last week or so, but The Big Lead found one Tuesday that we have to share.
Kevin Everett: Standing tall (AP/Y! Sports) Five months after accident, the Buffalo Bills tight end is walking, standing tall.
Giants GM Reese hits jackpot in first draft (USA Today) In his first year on the job, New York Giants GM Jerry Reese has done a solid job in the NFL Draft, writes Tom Weir of USATODAY.com.
Irish hire Tenuta as assistant coach (AP/SI.com) Jon Tenuta, who guided the Georgia Tech defense to a 20th-ranked finish in ‘07, has been hired as assistant head coach for defense. He’ll assist DC Corwin Brown.
Agent meets with committee lawyers (AP/MLB.com) An employee of the sports agency that represents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte spoke Thursday to the congressional committee investigating drugs in baseball.
ESPN bloopers(YouTube) The YouTubes had the Chris Berman clip of him going batshit crazy over a production error. Today, we bring you other ESPN bloopers.
Mets sit down with Santana’s agent (AP/SI.com) With a short negotiating window that ends at 5 PM ET Friday, the New York Mets and the agent for left-hander Johan Santana sit down to lay the framework for a mega-deal.
Umps’ neighbors quizzed on controversial topics (USATODAY.com) In the wake of the NBA/Tim Donaghy scandal, MLB decided it would be a good idea to do background checks on their umpires. Apparently, investigators have some odd questions about their subjects.
Hockey legend Lafleur wanted by police (CP/The Hockey News) According to authorities in Montreal, Que., hockey legend Guy Lafleur is wanted for giving contradictory evidence as a witness at his son’s bail hearing last fall, his lawyer said.
Strahan living it up (Y! Sports) Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports writes that New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is enjoying his second crack at an NFL title.
Tollner named QBs coach/assistant to the head coach (The Press Democrat) Matt Maiocco of The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) writes that the San Francisco 49ers have officially tabbed Ted Tollner to coach to quarterbacks and will also be an assistant to head coach Mike Nolan.
Brooks not hired, yet (PFT.com) Despite Len Pasquarelli’s confirmation, ProFootballTalk.com states that the Washington Redskins have not hired — or have come to any agreement — with Larry Brooks to coach the defensive line.
Fresno St. OC will take same job with ‘Bama (SportingNews) Sources have told Sporting News’s Tom Dienhart that Jim McElwain will replace Major Applewhite as offensive coordinator at Alabama.
Browns, Crennel agree to two-year extension (AP/NFL.com) The Cleveland Browns extended the contract of Romeo Crennel after he led the club to a 10-6 mark, their best record since 1999.
A thank you to Larry Smith (STLToday.com) Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Missouri football fans owe Larry Smith, who passed away Monday at age 68, thanks for getting the program on the road to respectability.
Kidd: Time to ‘move on’ (ESPN.com) Ric Bucher, who seems to get more things wrong than right as it relates to Kobe Bryant, reports that the agent for New Jersey’s Jason Kidd is seeking a trade for his client.
Webber: ‘Done deal’ to return to Warriors (AP/SI.com) In an email to the Associated Press, Chris Webber has confirmed that he has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors.
Detroit group buys into English soccer (AP/USATODAY.com) A Detroit, Michigan-based group led by former Detroit Pistons exec Andy Appleby has bought a stake in Derby County of the English Premier League. Appleby tried pursuing the NHL’s St. Louis Blues two years ago.
Star showcase finally lives up to the hype (THN.com) The folks at The Hockey News write that this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game activities in Atlanta, Georgia lived up to expectations.
The party is in Glendale. You are not invited. (The Sporting Blog) Will Leitch of Deadspin.com turns in a piece for The Sporting News’ sports blog The Sports Blog while on assignment covering the Super Bowl festivities in Glendale, Ariz.
Tiki’s burnt bridges coming to the forefront (Awful Announcing) Remember Tiki Barber’s blistering comments directed at his former coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning? Well, the chickens are coming home to roost as the Giants appear to be preventing him from snatching any exclusives from his former club.
Marlins inch closer to stadium deal (MLB.com) The seemingly never-ending saga of the Florida Marlins landing a new stadium in south Florida apparently is inching forward as a Feb. 5 meeting of the Miami-Dade County commissioners looms.
Royals lead Santana race? (Joe Posnanski) The Kansas City Star’s Joe Posnanski pokes a little fun at the ridiculousness of the daily updates regarding the “race” for Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana. Final Vick defendant gets probation, fine (USATODAY.com) The final defendant connected to Michael Vick’s dogfighting case netted three years probation and a $500 fine after he cooperated with prosecutors.
Phoenix Suns president has outdoor pre-season game in works (Business Journal of Phoenix) The Phoenix Suns are planning to play the NBA’s first outdoor game during next year’s preseason at the Indian Wells (Calif.) Tennis Garden, Suns president and CEO Rick Welts said, according to the Business Journal of Phoenix.
IUPUI hoops coach’s shoe drive for charity a huge success (Indianapolis Star) UPUI coach Ron Hunter, who coached barefoot against Oakland University Thursday, got a huge response, with more than 110,000 pairs of athletic shoes donated.
…and finally…
Whitlock: ‘Mike & Mike’ aren’t big stars (FOXSports.com) Another Kansas City Star writer shares this space as Jason Whitlock, writing for FOXSports.com, takes a look at the Dana Jacobson controversy and offers an opinion on it within this notes column. (ifive to The Big Lead for the info.)
Regina Schaffer of The Press of Atlantic City writes an overview of the current controversy surrounding ESPN’s Dana Jacobson and her comments at a “Mike & Mike” celebrity roast.
According to “At the Shore” editor Scott Cronick, Jacobson never uttered the magic phrase that has her in hot water with a portion of the Catholic faith.
“She was out of control,” Cronick said. “When she started slugging vodka straight from the bottle, the whole crowd just groaned. Most people in the audience, including me, felt bad for (Notre Dame head coach) Charlie Weis, because he was sitting right next to the podium and she was just going off on him and Notre Dame. They got her off the stage once, but she somehow found her way back to the stage and just dug her hole deeper.”
Also worth mentioning: The Big Lead has some pics up (as does The Press of Atlantic City) of Jacobson’s appearance at said event.
Writer: Dana Jacobson didn’t day “Fuck Jesus” (The Big Lead) According to Atlantic City Press writer Scott Cronick, who attended the “Mike & Mike” celebrity roast, ESPN First Take co-host Dana Jacobson did not say the magic words that pissed off The Catholic League.
Jim Brown calls out Tiger on ‘lynch’ controversy (ESPN.com) NFL Hall of Fame player Jim Brown said Thursday that Tiger Woods should have spoken out against racially insensitive remarks made by Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman that led to her two-week suspension from the airwaves.
Belichick refuses to talk about Brady injury (WJZ.com) Patriots coach Bill Belichick refused to address questions regarding the “Injury Heard ‘Round the World” that has been hampering Tom Brady.
Rick Majerus takes a stand (STLToday.com) Earlier, we linked to a story by St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, who penned a column featuring an extensive interview with Rick Majerus. In his online blog, Miklasz writes a bit more extensively on his interview with the Saint Louis University hoops coach, as well as some background on their relationship and the letters of support Majerus has received.
…and finally…
Tony Romo dumps Jessica Simpson? (OK! Magazine) Via SPORTSbyBROOKS, OK! Magazine is reporting that Dallas Cowboys signal caller Tony Romo has dumped singer/entertainer Jessica Simpson.
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