NFL: Talk about Freakonomics. Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco displays some financial savvy both in his financial planning (he has a slush fund set aside to pay for fines) and in his outside-the-box thinking regarding Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Ochocinco volunteered to use said slush fund to entice Revis not to hold out, tweeting: "@revis24 dude, im stupid excited for the season, don’t hold out, you can have some of my fine fund money i set aside, let’s have fun!" Revis replied in kind on Twitter: "@OGOchoCinco well how much u willing to give me. As a matter of fact give me all the money u makin from ur reality show."
NBA: Mike Krzyzewski is recruiting Jason Kidd to be a mentor to the Team USA squad that is in Las Vegas this week preparing for the World Championships in Turkey. Kidd has an impressive 56-0 record with Team USA and two Olympic gold medals from 2000 and 2008.
MLB: You know that Pepsi Refresh Project ad that plays constantly during MLB games where Evan Longoria pitches a community service idea of having a senior prom for senior citizens? Well, the Rays are taking the idea to heart, holding said prom for said seniors at their Aug. 18 home game.
NFL: Talk about Freakonomics. Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco displays some financial savvy both in his financial planning (he has a slush fund set aside to pay for fines) and in his outside-the-box thinking regarding Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Ochocinco volunteered to use said slush fund to entice Revis not to hold out, tweeting: "@revis24 dude, im stupid excited for the season, don’t hold out, you can have some of my fine fund money i set aside, let’s have fun!" Revis replied in kind on Twitter: "@OGOchoCinco well how much u willing to give me. As a matter of fact give me all the money u makin from ur reality show."
NBA: Mike Krzyzewski is recruiting Jason Kidd to be a mentor to the Team USA squad that is in Las Vegas this week preparing for the World Championships in Turkey. Kidd has an impressive 56-0 record with Team USA and two Olympic gold medals from 2000 and 2008.
MLB: You know that Pepsi Refresh Project ad that plays constantly during MLB games where Evan Longoria pitches a community service idea of having a senior prom for senior citizens? Well, the Rays are taking the idea to heart, holding said prom for said seniors at their Aug. 18 home game.
Soccer: Tweet du jour, from Jemele Hill: "Welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to baby-daddy-hood."
Eating: Who figured the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest would lead to an arrest? Since when did professional eating need some kind of collective bargaining agreement? Would be ironic if Takeru Kobayashi went on a hunger strike, wouldn’t it?
NFL: Fly’s pal Mike Florio over at ProFootballTalk.com reports in his NFL season preview guide that Eric Mangini would like to patch things up with mentor Bill Belichick. "When I talk about him, he was my mentor. He taught me everything, and I respect him tremendously," Mangini says." That’s not bull. That’s how I feel. I hope at some point, we’ll be able to sit down and talk about things and get back to a better relationship. It’s not there right now, but at some point, things have a tendency to roll back."
NBA: Keep dreaming, Nets. The New York Daily News reports that LeBron waiting until Wednesday or Thursday gives the team more time to make salary cap room for LeBron and one of his superstar friends — most likely by trading forward Kris Humphries. According to the Daily News, the only guy the Nets won’t give up is Brook Lopez.
Soccer: Tweet du jour, from Jemele Hill: "Welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to baby-daddy-hood."
Eating: Who figured the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest would lead to an arrest? Since when did professional eating need some kind of collective bargaining agreement? Would be ironic if Takeru Kobayashi went on a hunger strike, wouldn’t it?
NFL: Fly’s pal Mike Florio over at ProFootballTalk.com reports in his NFL season preview guide that Eric Mangini would like to patch things up with mentor Bill Belichick. "When I talk about him, he was my mentor. He taught me everything, and I respect him tremendously," Mangini says." That’s not bull. That’s how I feel. I hope at some point, we’ll be able to sit down and talk about things and get back to a better relationship. It’s not there right now, but at some point, things have a tendency to roll back."
NBA: Keep dreaming, Nets. The New York Daily News reports that LeBron waiting until Wednesday or Thursday gives the team more time to make salary cap room for LeBron and one of his superstar friends — most likely by trading forward Kris Humphries. According to the Daily News, the only guy the Nets won’t give up is Brook Lopez.
Media: Author James Andrew Miller, who’s working on a book about ESPN, says Erin Andrews is staying with the network, and USA Today reported Andrews has tentatively agreed to a new two-year deal. Miller tweets, "Erin Andrews will be staying at ESPN, and no, I didn’t get it from the network." Her current contract expires Thursday. "I interviewed Erin twice for the book. She loves sports too much to leave it behind for an all entertainment career," Miller continues. His book’s working title is "ESPN — Those Guys Have All The Fun."
NFL: Count Warren Sapp among those who think Albert Haynesworth needs to suck it up. (Via the D.C. Sports Blog) Sapp says, "Let’s stop the BS, like we like to say," Sapp told Vic Carucci and Howard Balzer on Sirius NFL Radio. "I mean, c’mon, son. You sat at the table. The people told you they had a very lovely check for you….Albert Haynesworth, you took the check, now show up to the job, son. It’s that simple. You take that kind of check. I mean, I’ll flip dogs for you. I mean, c’mon, what you want me to do, you want me to return punts? I mean, what? C’mon. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it."
Soccer: Seems news of a possible baby mama in Landon Donovan’s life wasn’t exactly breaking news for Donovan’s wife, Bianca Kajilich. A spokesman for the actress told the New York Post, "She was not blindsided by this and isn’t angry." Donovan and Kajilich are in the process of getting a divorce. Donovan said Sunday that he learned during the World Cup that a British woman is saying she is pregnant with his child and that he will take responsibility if that assertion is true.
MLB: New York Daily News scribe Bob Raissman has a take on the coverage of the YES Network and FOX’s coverage of Joe Torre’s first series against the Yankees that Fly completely agrees with: "Neither outlet covered itself with glory while chronicling this eventful series. Their coverage of the Torre story, the Dodger manager’s first encounter with the team he navigated to four World Series titles and 12 consecutive playoff appearances, was rancid." YES wouldn’t give Torre even the slightest nod, and FOX was all but genuflecting. Gag.
• Tweet of the day comes from Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Not to sound like Mike Krzyzewski, but this Atlanta Braves’ season feels ‘special.’ "
High school baseball: Not quite as juicy as the whole Tim Donaghy thing, but a former New York high school assistant baseball coach was among those swept up in an illegal betting dragnet, the New York Post reports. The team’s head coach isn’t named in the indictments, but former head coach Dennis Canale is also involved with nysportswager.com, which is run by the notorious Genovese family. Five mob-related gambling rings were part of the sweep. Both coaches left Xaverian because of the investigation.
Media: Author James Andrew Miller, who’s working on a book about ESPN, says Erin Andrews is staying with the network, and USA Today reported Andrews has tentatively agreed to a new two-year deal. Miller tweets, "Erin Andrews will be staying at ESPN, and no, I didn’t get it from the network." Her current contract expires Thursday. "I interviewed Erin twice for the book. She loves sports too much to leave it behind for an all entertainment career," Miller continues. His book’s working title is "ESPN — Those Guys Have All The Fun."
NFL: Count Warren Sapp among those who think Albert Haynesworth needs to suck it up. (Via the D.C. Sports Blog) Sapp says, "Let’s stop the BS, like we like to say," Sapp told Vic Carucci and Howard Balzer on Sirius NFL Radio. "I mean, c’mon, son. You sat at the table. The people told you they had a very lovely check for you….Albert Haynesworth, you took the check, now show up to the job, son. It’s that simple. You take that kind of check. I mean, I’ll flip dogs for you. I mean, c’mon, what you want me to do, you want me to return punts? I mean, what? C’mon. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it."
Soccer: Seems news of a possible baby mama in Landon Donovan’s life wasn’t exactly breaking news for Donovan’s wife, Bianca Kajilich. A spokesman for the actress told the New York Post, "She was not blindsided by this and isn’t angry." Donovan and Kajilich are in the process of getting a divorce. Donovan said Sunday that he learned during the World Cup that a British woman is saying she is pregnant with his child and that he will take responsibility if that assertion is true.
MLB: New York Daily News scribe Bob Raissman has a take on the coverage of the YES Network and FOX’s coverage of Joe Torre’s first series against the Yankees that Fly completely agrees with: "Neither outlet covered itself with glory while chronicling this eventful series. Their coverage of the Torre story, the Dodger manager’s first encounter with the team he navigated to four World Series titles and 12 consecutive playoff appearances, was rancid." YES wouldn’t give Torre even the slightest nod, and FOX was all but genuflecting. Gag.
• Tweet of the day comes from Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Not to sound like Mike Krzyzewski, but this Atlanta Braves’ season feels ‘special.’ "
High school baseball: Not quite as juicy as the whole Tim Donaghy thing, but a former New York high school assistant baseball coach was among those swept up in an illegal betting dragnet, the New York Post reports. The team’s head coach isn’t named in the indictments, but former head coach Dennis Canale is also involved with nysportswager.com, which is run by the notorious Genovese family. Five mob-related gambling rings were part of the sweep. Both coaches left Xaverian because of the investigation.
NBA: DreamWorks SKG partner David Geffen wants to purchase 51 percent of the L.A. Clippers, spies tell the New York Post. A source also reports Geffen said he could deliver LeBron James to the Clips, as long as he has controlling interest. But Donald Sterling is unlikely to give up said controlling interest. "They (the Clippers) are his entree to Hollywood’s galaxy of stars," the source said. "You have no idea how Donald gets off swaying on the sidelines with demi-celebrities 41 nights a year."
NFL: Potential sole St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke seems to have found a way to have his NFL team and keep his NHL and NBA teams, too. The NFL prevents majority NFL owners from owning franchises in multiple leagues, though it has made an exception for Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. Kroenke plans to transfer some or all of his ownership of the Nuggets to his 30-year-old son Josh, who has a job in the team’s front office. Plans for the Avalanche are not as firm. "Our son Josh has been involved with many of our organizations for several years and that family continuity remains a priority," Kroenke said in a statement to The Denver Post. "My family looks forward to owning the Rams, Nuggets and Avalanche for years to come while being compliant with all stipulations set by the NFL. Our family remains committed to fans in St. Louis and Denver." Kroenke now owns 40 percent of the Rams, and Chip Rosenbloom and his family would like to transfer the other 60 percent to him, as well.
• Spero Dedes, radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers, will replace Dick Enberg in CBS Sports’ NFL TV lineup, Ben Maller reports. CBS will announce the move this summer, Maller reports. Dedes was part of the NFL Network’s "NFL GameDay Morning" pregame coverage in 2009, teaming with Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp.
MLB: Red Sox LF Jacoby Ellsbury is still having trouble after breaking four ribs in a collision with Adrian Beltre back in April. So he’s probably going to get a second opinion. Terry Francona says Ellsbury likely will take a trip out to the Kerlan-Jobe clinic in Los Angeles.
Tennis: One more reason to like Rafael Nadal: He’s a fan of Disney World. Rafa made a Monday appearance at the Magic Kingdom after winning the French Open on Sunday. "It’s a place I love, I often come with family and I also intend to return very soon," Nadal said.
NBA: DreamWorks SKG partner David Geffen wants to purchase 51 percent of the L.A. Clippers, spies tell the New York Post. A source also reports Geffen said he could deliver LeBron James to the Clips, as long as he has controlling interest. But Donald Sterling is unlikely to give up said controlling interest. "They (the Clippers) are his entree to Hollywood’s galaxy of stars," the source said. "You have no idea how Donald gets off swaying on the sidelines with demi-celebrities 41 nights a year."
NFL: Potential sole St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke seems to have found a way to have his NFL team and keep his NHL and NBA teams, too. The NFL prevents majority NFL owners from owning franchises in multiple leagues, though it has made an exception for Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. Kroenke plans to transfer some or all of his ownership of the Nuggets to his 30-year-old son Josh, who has a job in the team’s front office. Plans for the Avalanche are not as firm. "Our son Josh has been involved with many of our organizations for several years and that family continuity remains a priority," Kroenke said in a statement to The Denver Post. "My family looks forward to owning the Rams, Nuggets and Avalanche for years to come while being compliant with all stipulations set by the NFL. Our family remains committed to fans in St. Louis and Denver." Kroenke now owns 40 percent of the Rams, and Chip Rosenbloom and his family would like to transfer the other 60 percent to him, as well.
• Spero Dedes, radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers, will replace Dick Enberg in CBS Sports’ NFL TV lineup, Ben Maller reports. CBS will announce the move this summer, Maller reports. Dedes was part of the NFL Network’s "NFL GameDay Morning" pregame coverage in 2009, teaming with Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp.
MLB: Red Sox LF Jacoby Ellsbury is still having trouble after breaking four ribs in a collision with Adrian Beltre back in April. So he’s probably going to get a second opinion. Terry Francona says Ellsbury likely will take a trip out to the Kerlan-Jobe clinic in Los Angeles.
Tennis: One more reason to like Rafael Nadal: He’s a fan of Disney World. Rafa made a Monday appearance at the Magic Kingdom after winning the French Open on Sunday. "It’s a place I love, I often come with family and I also intend to return very soon," Nadal said.
MLB: Nationals fans—and baseball fans in general—are awaiting Stephen Strasburg’s June 8 debut with bated breath. Pay close attention, folks, because Strasburg may only pitch in the vicinity of 95 innings in the majors this season, according to the Washington Post. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams says the team uses a formula with its young pitchers, adding only about 20 percent more innings each year to the total innings the pitchers threw the year before. "We’re trying to win a championship in Washington. Our job is to protect the products of the organization as best we can."
• Yes, Jerry Manuel’s seat is warm. But it’s not that hot, say spies for the New York Daily News. A source tells the paper that the Mets never were close to firing Manuel and replacing him with Bob Melvin. At least the conversation hasn’t taken place yet.
• Have the Twins won over the hearts and minds of the Twin Cities with their new field? The Star-Tribune asks, "Is this now a Twins town?" Just when Brett Favre thought he had everyone in Minneapolis wrapped around that aging pinkie. Speaking of Favre, the Southern Mississippi baseball team just might make him honor that promise to come back if they win the College World Series. They’re on to the Regionals this week.
NBA: The biggest coaching free agent in the NBA, Phil Jackson, has girlfriend/Lakers VP Jeanie Buss’s blessing to move on to another team if he wishes after coaching the Lakers to another NBA Finals appearance. The Bulls, Nets and Cavaliers have openings, and LeBron James is rumored to be very intrigued by the possibility of playing for Jackson. "I don’t know how things will work out," Buss wrote in an e-mail to the New York Post. "I am hoping the Lakers win and everything stays status quo, but the one thing I do know is that I am not going to stand in Phil’s way if he wants to go to another team. I don’t control him — if I did I would have a ring on my finger, but I am not going to threaten to break up with him if he takes another job. Our relationship is solid no matter where he works."
College basketball: When it rains it pours, huh Carolina? 1) Miss the Tournament. 2) Watch Duke win it. 3) Lose the Wear twins. And now … get slammed by Dime magazine, which says, "Over the last couple decades, UNC has produced a string of pros with a habit of falling short of expectations and/or not living up to their potential." Ouch.
Youth sports: Not exactly surprising news, but something for the parents among Fly’s followers to consider: Overuse injuries are dramatically increasing in children, according to a Boston Globe report. Surgeries to repair shoulder, elbow, knee and hip fractures, tears and joint wear are becoming routine procedures on teens and preteens. "We can repair these injuries and get them back up and playing … but we don’t have evidence of what they will be like 20 years from now," said Dr. Mininder Kocher, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in adolescent sports medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston.
MLB: Nationals fans—and baseball fans in general—are awaiting Stephen Strasburg’s June 8 debut with bated breath. Pay close attention, folks, because Strasburg may only pitch in the vicinity of 95 innings in the majors this season, according to the Washington Post. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams says the team uses a formula with its young pitchers, adding only about 20 percent more innings each year to the total innings the pitchers threw the year before. "We’re trying to win a championship in Washington. Our job is to protect the products of the organization as best we can."
• Yes, Jerry Manuel’s seat is warm. But it’s not that hot, say spies for the New York Daily News. A source tells the paper that the Mets never were close to firing Manuel and replacing him with Bob Melvin. At least the conversation hasn’t taken place yet.
• Have the Twins won over the hearts and minds of the Twin Cities with their new field? The Star-Tribune asks, "Is this now a Twins town?" Just when Brett Favre thought he had everyone in Minneapolis wrapped around that aging pinkie. Speaking of Favre, the Southern Mississippi baseball team just might make him honor that promise to come back if they win the College World Series. They’re on to the Regionals this week.
NBA: The biggest coaching free agent in the NBA, Phil Jackson, has girlfriend/Lakers VP Jeanie Buss’s blessing to move on to another team if he wishes after coaching the Lakers to another NBA Finals appearance. The Bulls, Nets and Cavaliers have openings, and LeBron James is rumored to be very intrigued by the possibility of playing for Jackson. "I don’t know how things will work out," Buss wrote in an e-mail to the New York Post. "I am hoping the Lakers win and everything stays status quo, but the one thing I do know is that I am not going to stand in Phil’s way if he wants to go to another team. I don’t control him — if I did I would have a ring on my finger, but I am not going to threaten to break up with him if he takes another job. Our relationship is solid no matter where he works."
College basketball: When it rains it pours, huh Carolina? 1) Miss the Tournament. 2) Watch Duke win it. 3) Lose the Wear twins. And now … get slammed by Dime magazine, which says, "Over the last couple decades, UNC has produced a string of pros with a habit of falling short of expectations and/or not living up to their potential." Ouch.
Youth sports: Not exactly surprising news, but something for the parents among Fly’s followers to consider: Overuse injuries are dramatically increasing in children, according to a Boston Globe report. Surgeries to repair shoulder, elbow, knee and hip fractures, tears and joint wear are becoming routine procedures on teens and preteens. "We can repair these injuries and get them back up and playing … but we don’t have evidence of what they will be like 20 years from now," said Dr. Mininder Kocher, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in adolescent sports medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston.
MLB: All of Atlanta, it seems, is in love with Jason Heyward. But a youth outreach program is not in love with a private entrepreneur selling T-shirts with the "J-Hey" nickname, which the L.E.A.D. youth program says it holds rights to. Unlike most of these cases, the T-shirt maker is fighting back, saying he invented "J-Hey".
Media: Buzz Bissinger is using Twitter to go on the offensive. He tells Jim Rome why he’s been attacking his own Twitter followers. But we’re still wondering why he’s going off on Joe Torre and Phil Jackson. Among the gems Bissinger has posted in the past 24 hours: "Jackson just tries too hard to be something he isn’t — interesting. He needs to get rid of his Kung Fu 8 tracks. Man up and watch CSI…" And this disgusting coupling of words: "Torre and Phil Jackson. Total Douche Juice twins separated at birth. Be honest — anybody understand one word Jackson has ever said?" Hey, Buzz, how is this is more informative and salient than what’s written by any of the bloggers you deride?
MLB: All of Atlanta, it seems, is in love with Jason Heyward. But a youth outreach program is not in love with a private entrepreneur selling T-shirts with the "J-Hey" nickname, which the L.E.A.D. youth program says it holds rights to. Unlike most of these cases, the T-shirt maker is fighting back, saying he invented "J-Hey".
Media: Buzz Bissinger is using Twitter to go on the offensive. He tells Jim Rome why he’s been attacking his own Twitter followers. But we’re still wondering why he’s going off on Joe Torre and Phil Jackson. Among the gems Bissinger has posted in the past 24 hours: "Jackson just tries too hard to be something he isn’t — interesting. He needs to get rid of his Kung Fu 8 tracks. Man up and watch CSI…" And this disgusting coupling of words: "Torre and Phil Jackson. Total Douche Juice twins separated at birth. Be honest — anybody understand one word Jackson has ever said?" Hey, Buzz, how is this is more informative and salient than what’s written by any of the bloggers you deride?
NFL: Albert Haynesworth is being sued for $10 million by a Brooklyn exotic dancer, who claims Haynesworth knocked her up then dumped her. Papers filed in court claim he romanced her in Miami during Super Bowl festivities then dumped her when he found out she was pregnant and has refused to talk to her since March or giver her any money toward medical bills. Haynesworth’s agent declined to comment for the New York Post.
Golf: Tiger Woods reportedly has filed paperwork to begin work on a practice golf course, a series of pools and an oxygen therapy room for his 9,000-square-foot home in Jupiter Island, Fla. USA Today says such rooms typically feature a hyperbaric chamber, which delivers pure oxygen to a person under high atmospheric pressure. Another famous person who supposedly slept in one? Michael Jackson. Athletes sometimes use hyperbaric chambers to recover from injuries, and Woods has said he has used one before.
NBA: Joakim Noah still has his awesome bowtie from NBA Draft Night 2007.
CBK: John Calipari’s basketball players have improved their GPAs a bit. But they’re still almost one full grade point behind other Kentucky athletes. Says coach Cal: "A GPA just under 2.2 is not what we hoped for. But for the most part, every player improved from the fall semester and most finished strong."
• Who says a college sports team isn’t a sort of fraternity? UNC hoops players (and the recently-defected Wear twins) have the photographic proof (slighlty NSFW) that life is a party..
MLB: Here’s your sneak peek of what the Tampa Bay Rays will be wearing as their July 4th patriotic tip o’ the cap to the armed forces. This year the Rays are getting a jump on the patriotism, sporting their New Era "Stars & Stripes" caps from Memorial Day through July 4th.
NFL: Albert Haynesworth is being sued for $10 million by a Brooklyn exotic dancer, who claims Haynesworth knocked her up then dumped her. Papers filed in court claim he romanced her in Miami during Super Bowl festivities then dumped her when he found out she was pregnant and has refused to talk to her since March or giver her any money toward medical bills. Haynesworth’s agent declined to comment for the New York Post.
Golf: Tiger Woods reportedly has filed paperwork to begin work on a practice golf course, a series of pools and an oxygen therapy room for his 9,000-square-foot home in Jupiter Island, Fla. USA Today says such rooms typically feature a hyperbaric chamber, which delivers pure oxygen to a person under high atmospheric pressure. Another famous person who supposedly slept in one? Michael Jackson. Athletes sometimes use hyperbaric chambers to recover from injuries, and Woods has said he has used one before.
NBA: Joakim Noah still has his awesome bowtie from NBA Draft Night 2007.
CBK: John Calipari’s basketball players have improved their GPAs a bit. But they’re still almost one full grade point behind other Kentucky athletes. Says coach Cal: "A GPA just under 2.2 is not what we hoped for. But for the most part, every player improved from the fall semester and most finished strong."
• Who says a college sports team isn’t a sort of fraternity? UNC hoops players (and the recently-defected Wear twins) have the photographic proof (slighlty NSFW) that life is a party..
MLB: Here’s your sneak peek of what the Tampa Bay Rays will be wearing as their July 4th patriotic tip o’ the cap to the armed forces. This year the Rays are getting a jump on the patriotism, sporting their New Era "Stars & Stripes" caps from Memorial Day through July 4th.
Cycling: While Floyd Landis tries to throw Lance Armstrong under the bus, the seven-time Tour de France winner is out West riding in the Tour of California. And in Stage 5 he’s riding in honor of LaTrice (Haney) Vaughn, a nurse who helped Armstrong during his fight with cancer. Yeah, such a jamoke, huh Floyd? Here’s Armstrong talking about yesterday’s honoree, the Stage 4 ride and LaTrice:
MLB: Milton Bradley doesn’t want to talk with the media about his issues, but he will say he’s glad to be back with the Mariners. "I don’t have all the answers. I’m not saying I’m cured or whatever you may call it," Bradley told the Tacoma News Tribune. "But I’m working ever so hard and I’m committed to this process and it’s going to be an ongoing thing. It’s the best thing for me. And I’m glad I took this time."
MLB meets NHL: George Brett isn’t too optimistic about Kansas City landing an NHL or NBA team. He knows a bit about it having unsuccessfully tried to buy the Royals a while back. "No one stepped up in the past," Brett tells the Kansas City Star. "So for someone to step forward in the future, that means there’s gotta be someone new in town. And I don’t know anybody new in town with the deep pockets to do that."
NASCAR: Who is James Edward Neal, you ask? A former C-list NASCAR driver who got busted doing up to 140 mph on the California highways after trying to elude police in a high-speed chase. Even at 56, a racer should be able to elude a cruiser, right? As scribe Jay Busbee points out, equipment failure gets the best of ’em.
Cycling: While Floyd Landis tries to throw Lance Armstrong under the bus, the seven-time Tour de France winner is out West riding in the Tour of California. And in Stage 5 he’s riding in honor of LaTrice (Haney) Vaughn, a nurse who helped Armstrong during his fight with cancer. Yeah, such a jamoke, huh Floyd? Here’s Armstrong talking about yesterday’s honoree, the Stage 4 ride and LaTrice:
MLB: Milton Bradley doesn’t want to talk with the media about his issues, but he will say he’s glad to be back with the Mariners. "I don’t have all the answers. I’m not saying I’m cured or whatever you may call it," Bradley told the Tacoma News Tribune. "But I’m working ever so hard and I’m committed to this process and it’s going to be an ongoing thing. It’s the best thing for me. And I’m glad I took this time."
MLB meets NHL: George Brett isn’t too optimistic about Kansas City landing an NHL or NBA team. He knows a bit about it having unsuccessfully tried to buy the Royals a while back. "No one stepped up in the past," Brett tells the Kansas City Star. "So for someone to step forward in the future, that means there’s gotta be someone new in town. And I don’t know anybody new in town with the deep pockets to do that."
NASCAR: Who is James Edward Neal, you ask? A former C-list NASCAR driver who got busted doing up to 140 mph on the California highways after trying to elude police in a high-speed chase. Even at 56, a racer should be able to elude a cruiser, right? As scribe Jay Busbee points out, equipment failure gets the best of ’em.
MLB: It seems some BoSox fans are a little miffed that Theo Epstein took in a Pearl Jam concert rather than watching the Sox get beat by the Yankees on Monday. Fly’s with Globe staffer Nick Cafardo, who tells Boston fans to give it a rest. Cafardo writes, "For the past two weeks Epstein has been all over the country, watching amateur players the Sox might consider in the June draft. He had just returned to Boston Monday. He’s doing what executives do this time of the year — cross-checking prospects the scouting staff has recognized as the best players in the country. … According to a team source, Epstein has watched every pitch of every game while on the road. There’s nothing he isn’t up on. And if he had been in New York, what could he have done — tackle Alex Rodriguez so he couldn’t come to the plate and tie the game with a homer in the ninth?"
• It’s never a long ride from cheers to jeers in New York, and Joba Chamberlain is hearing it from the famously tough (some could say fickle) Yankees fans.
NBA: The Indiana Pacers are employing the old "if you don’t build us a new palace, we’re leaving" strategy in an effort to get public funding for running Canseco Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis Star asks some experts about how likely it is the Pacers would really move, and if so, where?
NASCAR: Tired of that ever-so-neutral female voice on your nav system? TomTom is introducing a new line of voices using NASCAR and IRL drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Fly’s sister publication SportsBusiness Journal reports. TomTom is an associate sponsor for all three drivers in their respective series. TomTom users can download a driver’s voice at tomtom.com/racevoices. Montoya’s turn-by-turn directions are available in either English or Spanish.
GOLF: The latest rumors on the Tiger Woods-Elin Nordegren divorce are all neatly packaged for you in one place on USAToday.com. The highlight is a Chicago Sun-Times report that Tiger wants a lifetime confidentiality clause, which would prevent Elin from doing a book or TV deal or giving any interviews about their marriage.
MLB: It seems some BoSox fans are a little miffed that Theo Epstein took in a Pearl Jam concert rather than watching the Sox get beat by the Yankees on Monday. Fly’s with Globe staffer Nick Cafardo, who tells Boston fans to give it a rest. Cafardo writes, "For the past two weeks Epstein has been all over the country, watching amateur players the Sox might consider in the June draft. He had just returned to Boston Monday. He’s doing what executives do this time of the year — cross-checking prospects the scouting staff has recognized as the best players in the country. … According to a team source, Epstein has watched every pitch of every game while on the road. There’s nothing he isn’t up on. And if he had been in New York, what could he have done — tackle Alex Rodriguez so he couldn’t come to the plate and tie the game with a homer in the ninth?"
• It’s never a long ride from cheers to jeers in New York, and Joba Chamberlain is hearing it from the famously tough (some could say fickle) Yankees fans.
NBA: The Indiana Pacers are employing the old "if you don’t build us a new palace, we’re leaving" strategy in an effort to get public funding for running Canseco Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis Star asks some experts about how likely it is the Pacers would really move, and if so, where?
NASCAR: Tired of that ever-so-neutral female voice on your nav system? TomTom is introducing a new line of voices using NASCAR and IRL drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Fly’s sister publication SportsBusiness Journal reports. TomTom is an associate sponsor for all three drivers in their respective series. TomTom users can download a driver’s voice at tomtom.com/racevoices. Montoya’s turn-by-turn directions are available in either English or Spanish.
GOLF: The latest rumors on the Tiger Woods-Elin Nordegren divorce are all neatly packaged for you in one place on USAToday.com. The highlight is a Chicago Sun-Times report that Tiger wants a lifetime confidentiality clause, which would prevent Elin from doing a book or TV deal or giving any interviews about their marriage.
GOLF: Online gaming company Bodogbrand.com doesn’t really care what Tiger Woods does off the course. Other sponsors may have run from the sex scandal following Woods since November, but Bodog wants the No. 1 golfer and is offering him a $100 million deal with a "no moral judgment" clause, according to a report in London’s Daily Mail. "Bodog Brand is not telling Tiger ‘all is forgiven.’ In BodogBrand’s eyes, there is nothing to forgive," says Bodog founder Calvin Ayre.
CFB:Press-Register columnist Paul Finebaum has a very impassioned and descriptive take on all the expansion talk in the Big Ten. Have a look: "Imagine for a moment you are Jim Delany. Once the baddest man in collegiate athletics, today you have been reduced to being Mike Slive’s personal piñata. … Delany’s Buckeyes were punked by Florida in the BCS title game, 41-14. A couple of months later, in 2007, the Gators beat the Buckeyes for the NCAA basketball title. A double shot of castor oil for Delany. It was also about this time that Delany lost his manhood to Slive and the SEC commissioner simply won’t give it back."
High School Basketball: Four former basketball players at Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., are in big trouble. They face a total of 13 misdemeanor charges in connection with an apparent hazing incident. But no one’s telling exactly what they did.
NFL: Keneche Udeze, who had to retire from the NFL to fight leukemia, recently graduated from USC with a degree in sociology. And he has a message for students that’s relevant for the rest of us. "Life very seldom goes where you want it to go," Udeze told the USC graduates, according to the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences website. "But what are you going to do? Are you going to stand there and strike out when you have balls thrown at you? Or are you going to hit the ball and keep going?"
GOLF: Online gaming company Bodogbrand.com doesn’t really care what Tiger Woods does off the course. Other sponsors may have run from the sex scandal following Woods since November, but Bodog wants the No. 1 golfer and is offering him a $100 million deal with a "no moral judgment" clause, according to a report in London’s Daily Mail. "Bodog Brand is not telling Tiger ‘all is forgiven.’ In BodogBrand’s eyes, there is nothing to forgive," says Bodog founder Calvin Ayre.
CFB:Press-Register columnist Paul Finebaum has a very impassioned and descriptive take on all the expansion talk in the Big Ten. Have a look: "Imagine for a moment you are Jim Delany. Once the baddest man in collegiate athletics, today you have been reduced to being Mike Slive’s personal piñata. … Delany’s Buckeyes were punked by Florida in the BCS title game, 41-14. A couple of months later, in 2007, the Gators beat the Buckeyes for the NCAA basketball title. A double shot of castor oil for Delany. It was also about this time that Delany lost his manhood to Slive and the SEC commissioner simply won’t give it back."
High School Basketball: Four former basketball players at Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., are in big trouble. They face a total of 13 misdemeanor charges in connection with an apparent hazing incident. But no one’s telling exactly what they did.
NFL: Keneche Udeze, who had to retire from the NFL to fight leukemia, recently graduated from USC with a degree in sociology. And he has a message for students that’s relevant for the rest of us. "Life very seldom goes where you want it to go," Udeze told the USC graduates, according to the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences website. "But what are you going to do? Are you going to stand there and strike out when you have balls thrown at you? Or are you going to hit the ball and keep going?"