We interrupt our hiatus to bring you this story: according to TheGolfChannel.com, recent U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods has decided to end his 2008 golf season due to a stress fracture that occurred right before the Open.
He experienced a small stress fracture in his left leg about two weeks before the U.S. Open, which was causing him the pain, and ultimately the doctors feel that he needs ACL surgery and rest to get him back to 100%.
It just adds to the lore of the epic 91-hole U.S. Open Championship, doesn’t it?
***UPDATED at 11:36 AM ET*** Sources tell the Associated Press that Woods will indeed abruptly end his ‘08 season to have surgery.
***UPDATED at 11:39 AM ET*** TigerWoods.com confirms that the golfer will undergo season ending surgery.
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.
The National Football League has reportedly given the go-ahead for the Buffalo Bills to play an annual regular-season game in Toronto, Ontario.
The decision by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will make the Bills the first NFL squad to play annual regular season games outside the United States.
As part of the deal, per the Associated Press, the Bills would play some preseason games and one annual regular-season game at the downtown Rogers Centre — a domed stadium with a retractable roof — through 2012.
Pettitte will discuss Clemens, lawyers say (New York Times) According to Duff Wilson and Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times, the lawyers for Mitchell Report informant Brian McNamee say that NY Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will disclose the PEDs usage of Roger Clemens before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
With Santana Mets ease September pain (Y! Sports) By acquiring winning Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins, Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown writes, the New York Mets have helped ease the pain of their late 2007 crash from atop the NL East standings.
MU hoops coach suspends five indefinitely (STLToday.com) Graham Watson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Missouri hoops coach Mike Anderson has suspended five players indefinitely for violating teams rules by being at a Columbia nightclub early Sunday morning.
Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi is in fight for his life (SI.com) Tim Layden of SI.com profiles former New England Patriots guard Joe Andruzzi, who is battling Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that advances with such haste that it can double in size in just 24 hours.
KU coach Mangino undergoes tests (Kansas City Star) J. Brady McCollough writes that Kansas football coach Mark Mangino underwent tests at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for undisclosed reasons.
Indianapolis planning bid for 2012 Super Bowl (AP/USATODAY.com) With getting ready to open Lucas Oil Stadium, a retractable-roof facility, the city of Indianapolis is prepping a bid for the 2012 Super Bowl.
Katz closer to buying Oilers (Edmonton Sun) Jonathan Huntington of The Edmonton Sun writes that billionaire Daryl Katz is closer to becoming the new owner of the Edmonton Oilers after another potential bid has fallen through.
MLB to end Hall of Fame Game (MLB.com) The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs will take part in the last game to be played at Cooperstown, New York’s Doubleday Field.
Barbaro’s ashes to be interred at Churchill Downs (AP/Y! Sports) It’s been awhile since we posted something about the legendary racehorse Barbaro, so we give you this: his ashes will be interred at Churchill Downs. Say a little prayer!
An arbitrator has ruled that Terrell Owens owes the Philadelphia Eagles $769,120 in signing bonus money.
The Eagles sought to recover the money after the all-pro wide receiver was suspended for four games without pay during the 2005 season. Not long after, Eagles coach Andy Reid told Owens to stay home for the remaining five games.
The bonus money will be applied to the Eagles’ salary cap for 2008.
The Toronto Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, who we like to call the “Larry Brooks of the Canadian Press” because he loves to make up trade rumors, reports that the National Hockey League is strongly considering making major changes to its all-star festivities.
Though cancelling the game seems a little harsh, there are proponents of that route in the NHL headquarters.
At the very least, it would appear the skills competition is going to become a victim of the changes once the league figures out what direction it wants to take.
[…]
“I haven’t heard any positive comments about the skills competition at all,” a league executive yesterday said. “The players think it’s painful, the changes to the competition didn’t work and quite frankly, the players are bored with the whole thing.”
This comes on the heels of an article we posted from The Hockey News that praised this year’s festivities.
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.)
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.
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.”
Majerus defiant — with respect (STLToday.com) Bernie Miklasz of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Saint Louis University basketball coach Rick Majerus stands by his comments made late last week in regards to his views on abortion and stem cell research.
Baylor knocks off No 16 Texas A&M — in 5OTs (AP/USATODAY.com) You read that right: it took unranked Baylor five overtimes to take out Big XII rival Texas A&M, 116-110. Good thing you read because you certainly couldn’t watch it thanks to the lousy contract the conference has lined up.
No Fassel deal — yet (ESPN.com) The tag-team duo of ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli and Chris Mortensen report that the Washington Redskins have not yet come to terms with Jim Fassel on becoming their next head football coach. Jim Zorn, who was mentioned Wednesday as the new offensive coordinator, is among the top picks for the spot.
Samuels, Cooley to wear ‘21‘ (Redskins.com) Speaking of Washington, Chris Cooley and Chris Samuels will honor former teammate — and fellow Pro Bowler — Sean Taylor by wearing his old jersey number during the upcoming event on February 10.
Beane’s blueprint calls for pinching pennies (Y! Sports) National baseball writer Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports profiles Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, whose Moneyball means of management will once again be utilized in the Bay Area.
…and finally…
Rangers to retire Leetch’s No. 2 (CP/The Hockey News) One of our favorites growing up will see his number retired by the New York Rangers Thursday. Brian Leetch, the stalwart rearguard who helped the Rangers win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, will see his No. 2 raised to the Madison Square Garden rafters.
News and notes while ESPN continues to roll out the unfunny, stupid ‘True Hollywood Story’ of the (Tom) Brady Bunch…
Archbishop Burke would deny communion to Rick Majerus (STLToday.com) We gave our thoughts on it yesterday and now the worm continues to turn: the St. Louis Archbishop told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he would deny Saint Louis University coach the sacrament of communion if he did not change his positions on abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. And yes, he’s still asking for the the school, which is not owned or controlled by the Jesuits, to discipline Majerus. Good luck with that, Raymond.
Cowboys owner Jones: T.O. will return (AP/SI.com) Get your $3 million roster bonus ready: Terrell Owens will be back in Dallas after owner Jerry Jones tells reporters at the Senior Bowl they’ll pick up his bonus.
Rays to announce Shields deal (MLB.com) The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and pitcher Scott Shields are planning announce a contract extension that will keep the hurler in Tampa for…seven years?
ESPN’s Dana Jacobson emails apology to the Catholic League (Awful Announcing) While at a celebrity roast (and we use that term loosely) honoring ESPN’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, First Take co-host Dana Jacobson used expletives to describe Notre Dame (Mike Golic’s college). After pressure from the Catholic League, she emailed an apology. Welcome to 2008.
Bucs reward coach Gruden, GM Allen with extensions (ESPN.com) Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have given head coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen with three-year contract extensions.
Report: Forberg to attempt comeback (Camden Courier-Post) Chuck Gormley, the Flyers beat writer for the Camden Courier-Post, reports that forward Peter Forsberg will begin skating with MoDo, the Swedish Elite League club (no direct link, so scour the page).
Mets, Chavez agree to terms (MLB.com) Outfielder Endy Chavez and the New York Mets agreed Tuesday to a $3.85 million, two-year contract.
Canseco finds new publisher for ‘Juiced’ sequel (New York Times) The New York Times reported Tuesday that Simon Spotlight Entertainment has picked up “Vindicated” and will publish it in time for Opening Day 2008.
Belichick defends Seymour (AP/ESPN.com) Patriots coach Bill Belichick rebuffed claims that defensive lineman Richard Seymour played dirty in the AFC championship victory over San Diego.
Selig satisfied with testing program (MLB.com) in front of a packed house in St. Louis, MLB commish Bud Selig told the audience that he’s confident the game’s testing program will improve going forward.
Could relationship with A-Rod be fueling A-Rod deals? (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal, the baseball guru over at FOXSports.com, writes an interesting piece on the fallout of Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras’ partnership on other free agent deals. As usual with most Rosenthal columns, it’s also chalked full of other MLB notes.
Day 9: Serena’s out (AP/USATODAY.com) The women’s defending champ lost 6-3, 6-4 to third-seeded Jelena Jankovic. Other notables: American James Blake advanced to the quarterfinals to face Roger Federer; Fifth-seeded David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Venus Williams downed someone named Marta Domachowska and No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 7-5, 6-0.
News and notes while Dan Marino’s cell phone rings — again…
Report: Tulowitzki, Rockies agree to record pact (MLB.com) Via The Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki have agreed on a contract extension that will pay him $30 million over six seasons.
Dungy to announce future on Monday (ESPN.com) According to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen, Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay believes that head coach Tony Dungy is leaning towards returning.
New Golfweek editor will apologize for controversial cover (USATODAY.com) Jeff Babineau, the newly appointed editor of Golfweek, will apologize for a picture of a noose on its cover to illustrate a package of stories about Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman.
Source: UCLA hires Chow as OC (ESPN.com) Norm Chow has been hired by UCLA as offensive coordinator, sources close to Chow told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Louisville’s Brohm will not play in Senior Bowl (SI.com) According to SI.com’s Tony Pauline, Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm has elected not to take part in the Senior Bowl. He joins Boston College signal caller Matt Ryan on the list of top-rated quarterbacks backing out.
NHLPA head: More teams for Canada (Palm Beach Post) Within this Florida Panthers notebook for the Palm Beach Post, NHL Player’s Association topper Paul Kelly would like for the league to consider Canadian cities should they decide to expand again in the near future.
…and finally…
Q&A with Brian Boitano (USATODAY.com) What would Brian Boitano do? Sit down with Amy Rosewater of USATODAY.com, that’s what (sorry, we just wanted to use a South Park reference).
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