Not that this is much of a surprise or anything... but ex-NBA'er Javaris Crittenton waived his extradition rights and is heading back to Georgia to face the murder charge hanging over his head...
On the home side of the matter, Deidra Dukes from WAGA-TV caught up with some of the victim's family and the reaction is not unexpected...
((HT: MYFoxAtlanta))
The Nashville Predators, Belak's final team, have confirmed that he was found dead in a Toronto hotel this afternoon and is dead at the age of 35.
The OPP are not suspecting foul play and there are rumors floating around about an apparent suicide, but nothing is confirmed as of now...
The Predators released this statement:
“The entire Nashville Predators organization and family is shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely passing of Wade Belak. Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Jennifer and children Andie and Alex. We offer our full support to them at this very difficult time.”
Belak played 15 games last season for the Predators, finishing with 18 penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating. He was placed on waivers by the club in February and retired shortly after clearing waivers unclaimed.
Belak is the third enforcer to die in the last four months and his death is now raising questions about whether or not the roles he, Rick Rypien, and Derek Boogaard have played a role in their deaths...
To remember what Velak was to the game, Jody Vance caught up with Belak during his time with the Preds and continued their "Wade A Minute" riff on LeafsTV...
((HT: jodyvancevids/LeafsTV))
Every player gets their day with the Cup and for the Bruins' Michael Ryder, it fell down and went boom...
This happened on the roof of a posh St. John's restaurant, at a media event attended by dignitaries including Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale.
Ryder, who was about to leave St. John's to bring the Cup to his hometown of Bonavista, posed for photographs.
Austin Trenum committed suicide two days after suffering a concussion during a high school football game in northern Virginia nearly a year ago. He ran the ball three times for a total of three yards in a 48-14 loss. Two days later, he was found dead in his bedroom...
Now his parents are speaking out. Austin's parents donated their son's brain for research, and doctors found that Austin's brain had "structural damage" during the examination. One of the doctors says he thinks it's "more likely that not" the suicide was a result of the concussion.
Austin's father, Gil, is a member of the local school board in Prince William County, Maryland. He is working to put new guidelines in place at the county's schools for all athletes- not just football players. Austin's mom and dad are maintaining that "getting your bell rung" shouldn't be seen as something cool anymore...
The HQ is interesting in seeing if this works out there...
Admittedly, when something hits you as close as the April tornadoes did the HQ, it makes you think...
And think hard...
So, as part of our TWTW coverage on the OSG High side, we're giving you a glimpse into the world of what we get to see every week during the summer and fall- small towns that wrap themselves around their football teams...
You see the work we do with Ringgold ((GA)) High and now, we'll keep you posted on Phil Campbell ((AL)) high as well... 38 people in a town of 1,200 or so were lost on that day four months ago...
And they haven't quit since...
Erika Odell has the story before and behind in their game with Cold Springs
We've chronicled the ups and downs of the Ringgold High School football team and the town after the April tornadoes that effected Alabama and Georgia...
Georgia high school football is in its second full week of doing games, and The Tigers had their season opener at their home away from home for the year- UTC's Finley Stadium- against rival Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe ((or "LFO" as the locals say))...
Let's just say it was a good night...
Here's Nate, Dave, and Darrell with the story...
Week 2 puts the Tigers in Murphy, North Carolina against Murphy High...
Javaris Crittenton's attorney, Brian Steel, says his client plans to surrender to authorities to face murder charges in Atlanta.
Steel says that Crittenton will be leaving Los Angeles and should arrive in Atlanta early Tuesday. He also maintains his client's innocence...
Atlanta police obtained a murder warrant for Crittenton in the Aug. 19 shooting of 22-year-old Jullian Jones. Police say Jones was walking with two men when she was shot and they believe one of the men with her was the target.
Crittenton was, allegedly, in the process of trying to track down the individual or individuals that he thought stole some personal effects...
FOSG's Deidra Dukes and Russ Spencer explain...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))
Those of you that follow the Premier League, and the HQ is a new convert, know that Arsenal is in trouble... in a lot of ways, and we're only at week 4 of the season...
Manager Arsene Wenger has had to deal with- the exoduses of Fabregas and Nasry are the two new examples- without suitable financial, athletic replacements on the roster sheet currently...
So, their last opponent was Manchester United at Old Trafford... and it was the worst beating The Gunners took since 1896. It was also the first time ManU scored 8 since 1999...
It was fugly... not just ugly...
Here's the highlights... and there are a lot of them... <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=835b6cc5-279d-45f4-83d8-032ddd88f924" target="_new" title="">The Red Devils bring the fire!</a>
So Rooney scores three, Young scores two, and three others tallied. And the chant from the Red fans was "You're getting sacked tomorrow" toward Wenger.
But the larger question is: Will Arsenal make a move to be competitive or will they stay in the middle of the pack...???
This is the first time that the HQ can remember something like this ever going down...
Lincoln County ((GA)) High School's Red Devils are coached by Larry Campbell. Coach Campbell has been around as head coach since 1972 and is 7th in the nation in career wins.
Garrison Hearst...??? Played under Campbell... the list of stars for all of Campbell's Class A state titles is huge, and when you see what can happen if you play under Campbell- you want to chase the bright lights.
Harlem High lost to LCHS 69-6 last weekend...
Their star running back, sophomore Mike McIntyre, after grinding out 60 yards in the loss transferred to Lincoln County...
McIntyre's eligibility is currently in question and evaluation by the Georgia High School Association and Coach Campbell has held McIntyre out of practice until he gets a final ruling...
Interesting case study... and Coach Campbell don't play...
Highlights of the Lincoln County-Harlem game are below with FOSG Chris Kane
Fast forward to the 5:20 mark...
Hey, did you know we wrote a book on Georgia high school football...???
Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton is the main suspect in the drive-by shooting death of a 22-year-old woman, according to Atlanta police. Jullian Jones was shot back on the 19th and later died of her injuries.
Police said Jones, a mother of four, is not believed to be the actual target, but the act was apparently in retaliation for an April robbery in which Crittendon was a victim.
"It's my understanding there was some jewelry and other valuables that were stolen. It appears that he may have had an NBA ring that was stolen during the robbery," said Atlanta Police Major Keith Meadow.
Meadow said police had reports of Crittenton being in the area more than once asking about the robbery. The APD said they have talked to Crittenton, and are making arrangements with the FBI for him to turn himself in.
Police said witnesses have already identified Crittenton as the shooter in the Jones death.
"We had a great deal of outrage in that community shortly after Ms. Jones was shot and we had a great deal of cooperation from people in the community," said Meadow. "We feel very good and comfortable with the evidence in this particular case."
After turning themselves in to Baton Rouge police, LSU starting QB Jordan Jefferson and LB Josh Johns have been suspended indefinitely pending a review of their case in the assault a week ago...
"Jordan and Josh have been suspended indefinitely," LSU head coach Les Miles said in a statement. "We will continue to cooperate with the authorities in an effort to find out exactly what took place during the incident.
"As sad as this incident is, it's important that we learn from this and that we take away a valuable lesson. This has weighed on all of us. It's time for us to come together as a team and focus on what we are here to do."
More when we know more...
1215 UPDATE: According to the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper, police secured arrest warrants for second-degree battery on the two. Both men went to Parish Prison this morning with their attorney, Nathan Fisher, where they are being booked on the felony counts.
Eyewitness accounts differ on who started what during the brawl last weekend. One account say that the players started the assault on Andrew Lowery where others say that Lowery threw the first punch after being escorted out of Shady's Bar...
The Baton Rouge Police Department has secured arrest warrants for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns on second degree battery. That is a felony in the State of Louisiana.
Clay Travis of OutkickTheCoverage.com had this tweet:
"Nathan Fisher [Jefferson and Johns' attorney] tells @theoktc he is with Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns at jail turning them in right now."
Travis also tweeted that Fisher hopes Jefferson and Johns will be released without bail.
And what this action does, really, is force the NCAA into a more immediate investigation into the eligibility (or lack thereof) of the athletes involved in the current Nevin Shapiro entanglement...
The HQ gets this gambit completely...
Auburn did the same thing with Cam Newton and forced the NCAA's hand into declaring him eligible. Miami is hoping the same thing will happen with their ineligibilities...
Another five players, all believed to be footballers, were not declared ineligible because the school believes the value of the gift was less than $100.
Here's Al Golden having to answer questions about stuff he shouldn't have to answer...
((HT: WFOR-TV Miami))
The only downside to the whole reinstatement process is that the NCAA looks at each case individually, so Miami will have to wait. Golden was set to name all of his eligible players Tuesday as preparation for the game against Maryland...
UPDATE:
Here's Miami head coach Al Golden Friday morning before practice. (Thanks Canes All Access)
The Texas A&M to the SEC courtship has reached another level.
Thursday Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe informing Beebe that the University is exploring its options.
Here's the letter:
Dear Commissioner Beebe:
As you know, the Texas A&M Board of Regents has authorized me to take action relating to Texas A&M University's ("Texas A&M") conference alignment. While this letter is not a notice of Texas A&M's withdrawal from the Big 12 Conference (the "Conference"), we are exploring our options. There has been a great deal of speculation and comment in the media about Texas A&M leaving the Conference, including discussions of other institutions joining the Conference.
If Texas A&M withdraws from the Conference, we want to do so in a way that complies with the Bylaws and is supportive of your efforts to seek a new member of the Conference. We would appreciate your conferring with the other member institutions and outlining for us the process to be followed by Texas A&M should it withdraw from the Conference.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
R. Bowen Loftin
President
This is the strongest indication yet that Texas A&M has no interest in staying in the Big 12 Conference. While president Bowen did not say that Texas A&M is withdrawing from the Big 12 the administration wants information on the process.
Nebraska sent a similar letter to Commissioner Beebe before they left for the Big Ten Conference.
Texas A&M has not applied for membership into the SEC but you have to think the application is on president Bowen's desk. The SEC has not extended an invitation either and doesn't seem to be in any hurry to accept Texas A&M into the conference.
LSU head football coach Les Miles's contract could be amended soon, pending on approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors.
If the board approves, the amendment would not change his basic annual pay of $3.751 million, but would increase incentives for meeting certain post-season and academic achievements.
Academic achievements...??? Bully for you, sir...
It would also increase the maximum amount LSU would owe if Miles was fired without cause. The grounds for termination with cause remain unchanged.
From a press release from Herb Vincent:
"Should the coach be terminated without cause during the term of the contract, liquidated damages amounts, which are established by the contract in advance, would be reduced by the amount of compensation previously paid during the year of termination, and further reduced by any compensation the coach receives in subsequent employment. Miles would remain under a continuing good-faith obligation to seek similar or related employment for which LSU would receive credit against the stated liquidated damages if there were a termination without cause."
The worst kept secret in NASCAR isn't a secret anymore...
Danica Patrick is racing a full-time Nationwide schedule and some Sprint Cup races in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in 2012.
"We are pleased Danica Patrick has chosen to race full time in NASCAR in 2012," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. "She has demonstrated a strong desire to compete and NASCAR provides the best opportunity to race against the top drivers in the world with the largest and most loyal fan base in motorsports on a week-to-week basis."
Here's some of the Q-and-A... for the really important stuff, like Daytona...
Here's CNBC's Darren Rovell talking about Danica's economic impact...
((HT: ESPN))
Miami head coach Al Golden has not released the Hurricanes depth chart for the season opener against Maryland Labor Day night.
According to CBS Sports.com Golden confirmed that at least 12 players will most likely be ruled ineligible by the university in hopes they will be cleared by the NCAA before the season opener.
Al Golden addressed the media Thursday morning before practice.
Police searched Jordan Jefferson's off-campus apartment as part of their investigation into last week's fight that witnesses said involved LSU football players- four of whom are being questioned, including Jefferson.
Baton Rouge police officers left with bags of evidence...
Sgt. Don Stone confirmed that it was part of the investigation and he said the apartment was where Jefferson told police he was living during their interview.
So far no arrests have been made in this investigation.
The hammer has officially dropped on former Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl- three years of a show-cause penalty while his assistants during his tenure each get one-year penalties.
Tony Jones, Steve Forbes and Jason Shay all got ones according to the full report released by the Committee On Infractions. The failure to monitor the program charge translates into a two-year probation through 2013.
Pearl violated the bump rule and failed to disclose the bump during an investigation.
The football team also had 12 violations- all minor, but still significant- during Lane Kiffin's one year in Knoxville before he was almost burned at the stake by Vols fans who congregated outside the Athletics office during his resignation presser.
The NCAA was perturbed, but didn't do anything else to the football program or Cuonzo Martin's basketball program.
"I'm very grateful to the NCAA, the committee on infractions and its chairman, Dennis Thomas, for a very fair and thorough process. I'm also very grateful that we were able to accurately and fairly present the facts in our case and that no action was taken against us. I'm pleased that the NCAA based its decision on the facts and not on perception. I'm also very grateful that the Tennessee football program was cleared of any wrongdoing. As I have said before, we always have been committed to following NCAA rules and bylaws both at Tennessee and now at USC, and we always will be. Now that this has reached its conclusion, I am looking forward to continuing to prepare our team for the upcoming season."
More when we know more...
PM UPDATE: We know more...
Steve Phillips at WBIR-TV has the lead in team coverage...
Janzen Jackson's time on the Tennessee campus has always been somewhat checkered...
Two years ago, it was because of an attempted armed robbery charge. Back in February, he announced his intention to bolt, but returned to think he could play in July...
So much for that idea... Jackson is gone, done, and otherwise out the door...
"Our program has devoted a tremendous amount of energy, resources, support, and care in an effort to help Janzen manage his personal challenges. I will always be there to help him as a person, but there comes a time when a player's actions preclude him from the privilege of playing for the University of Tennessee football team.
"Although I'm disappointed with this outcome, we will never compromise the long-term organizational values and goals we maintain here at Tennessee," Dooley said.
Dooley even talked about Jackson at practice...
Yesterday...
((HT: Knoxnews))
"Extra points, when the odds are in the 99 percent range, it is not a play." Belichick said. "Let's move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap-in."
Does Belichick take back those comments should he win or lose a game by a point?
The high school football season is either underway or just about to be underway in the state of Georgia. One eastern Georgia school is having to switch head coaches on the fly after a big no-no...
And, in the modern day and age of making sure everything is covered before your kids take the practice field, much less the field, this is huge...
FOSG Chris Kane has the rundown...
The HQ knows Blount is a good coach and cares a lot about his small town, and the HQ also knows it wasn't meant maliciously...
Former Washington Redskins DE Albert Haynesworth wandered into court today... with as much effort as he showed playing for the Redskins...
Sorry, it was too easy...
He pleaded no contest to simple assault to put an end to the case where he was accused of touching the breast of a waitress at a Washington hotel. He had been scheduled to go to trial tomorrow on a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse.
He was trying to pay his tab and either brushed the waitresses wardrobe accidentally or on purpose with the hand that was holding his credit card...
If he had been convicted of the sexual abuse charge, he could have faced up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. But the plea will stick as long as Haynesworth stays out of trouble for the next year-and-a-half.
Miami president Donna Shalala says university compliance officers are looking into the eligibility of 15 Hurricanes players who have been implicated by Nevin Shapiro's conversation with Charles Robinson.
In a video message released Monday, Shalala says the university "will move through the process thoroughly."
Here's her message to the community...
Five months ago, NCAA officials say that they started investigating Shapiro's claims. President Shalala says Miami has retained attorneys who specialize in NCAA investigations to assist with the process.
Of course, she has... she needs to keep an eye on her career dissipation light as well... remember the photo of her at the bowling alley...???
The Oakland Raiders selected former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the third round of the supplemental draft.
Davis loves quarterbacks with a big time arm and Pryor has that.
Would you be shocked if Pryor started a game toward the end of the 2011 season, that is if the Raiders have no chance to make the NFL playoffs.
Selecting Pryor in the supplemental draft is straight from the Al Davis playbook. If a player is an athlete, fast and some kind of questionable background that player qualifies to be a Raider.
Of course Pryor is suspended for the first five games for what he did at Ohio State. That makes sense.
Four teens that play football for Mainland Regional high School in Linwood, New Jersey were remembered at their football stadium as a vigil was held to recall the lives lost when the van they were travelling in lost control on a highway. The teens were part of the team caravan heading to a team meal over the weekend.
a day after four high school football players were killed and four were injured when their SUV crashed on Garden State Parkway on their way to have brunch with some teammates.
Students, parents, community members, and football team players donned in game jerseys turned out to mourn their loss. Some of the survivors in the crash were among the more than 3,000 in attendance.
Photos of the four teens killed in the crash were placed at the center of the football field...
Cathy Gandolfo has the latest...
Sgt. Julian Castellanos, a New Jersey state police spokesman, said the driver, 17-year-old Casey Brenner, apparently lost control of the vehicle as it went around a crest on the parkway and came upon heavy traffic.
The vehicle overturned several times, ejecting two passengers, one of whom was struck by a passing car, Castellanos said.
The team's first game is scheduled for September 9, three days before the school year begins.
Two men are fighting for their lives after being wounded at Candlestick Park after Saturday night's 49ers-Raiders pre-season game when two men were shot in the stomach.
One was wearing a T-shirt that had some rather unflattering things to say about the Niners. He is in critical condition.
The other was shot and suffered superficial face wounds. He is also hospitalized. Police think the shootings are related.
A man wearing a Raiders T-shirt, who was pulled off a party bus, is being called a suspect.
During the game itself, in a bathroom at the Oakland Coliseum, another man was found unconscious with severe head injuries. He is also in critical condition.
Police may have a suspect in the bathroom attack- a man described as a Pacific Islander male, between 25 and 30 years old, 6'3" to 6'5" weighing 250 lbs. with a goatee and long curly hair in a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
Obviously, someone that you didn't need to piss off in any way...
Here's the latest from the California version of British hooliganism...
The HQ knew that the Nashville Sounds' Logan Schafer could use his head, but what is below is ridiculous...
If you're scoring at home, or even on the road, the HQ thinks that is an 8-4-3 triple play...
Milb.com caught up with Schafer... "I felt like I didn't have enough time to turn around and I reached up my glove. [The ball] went straight up, hit me in the head and I tried to scoop it up. It was a whole lot of luck and it was pretty crazy."
The HQ's adopted franchise for Football League soccer overseas had their Saturday match against Hereford United at Cherry Red, drawing 1-1. Both teams scored in the first 25 minutes, and AFC had their chances to leave the field with the extra two points...
But one call in the second half kept the match a draw...
Here's your highlights...
The standings now have AFC tied for 7th after four matches this season in nPower League 2 with 7 points and a +3 goal differential. Next Saturday the team plays at Macclesfield Town.
The whole Willie Lyles shenanigan took an interesting turn in Eugene, Oregon yesterday on the University of Oregon campus...
One of the running backs at the center of the controversy of did-he-or-didn't-he get there because of Lyles, Lache Seastrunk, didn't show up at practice Saturday morning. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly released Seastrunk from his scholarship and told Lache he was free to leave...
There was talk that Seastrunk was, really, fifth on the Ducks depth-chart. But was he buried there...???
Nick Krupke leads team coverage...
The HQ thinks that Seastrunk's release was putting a certain amount of window dressing on the pig that is the current NCAA investigation. If Lache isn't around, then the ill-gotten gains of the relationship with Willie Lyles are diminished...
See...??? See...??? He's not here... we're not getting anything out of the deal anymore...???
It was supposed to be Patrick Carpentier's last race...
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was the place for the Montreal Nationwide event, but it dodn't end the way the locals wanted...
Steve Wallace created a bit of a furor that involved Carpentier, but more importantly, the pit road was the place for Wallace and a Carpentier crew man to square off...
Duke and Georgetown are over in mainland China making sure the rest of the world knows the value of the average college basketball player...
What the Hoyas may have forgotten was this was supposed to be a good will mission for all mankind without bloodshed or deportation...
In their game with the Bayi Rockets, the home team had 57 free throws versus the Hoyas 15. With the game tied at 64 in the fourth quarter, this is what happened...
((HT: blacksun73))
Head coach John Thompson III pulled his team off the floor...
"Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams," Thompson said in a statement. "We sincerely regret that this situation occurred.
"We remain grateful for the opportunity our student-athletes are having to engage in a sport they love here in China, while strengthening their understanding of a nation we respect and admire at Georgetown University."
Now, watch... the Chinese government will say something under-handed about the American game...
After three days of deliberating, the jury in the Vernon Forrest murder case convicted Demario Ware on one count of felony murder and one count of armed robbery. He was found not guilty on four counts -- malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and using a firearm during a felony. Forrest was killed in July of 2009.
He had stopped at a local gas station because he was concerned that one of the tires on his car might have been going flat and his godson needed to use the bathroom.
The defense and prosecution agreed that Ware committed an armed robbery during the series of altercation Forrest had with Ware and two others- taking Forrest's Roloex watch and a championship ring. The state alleged Ware's actions led to Forrest's death, while the defense disagreed.
The other two associated with the case, Jquante Crews and Charman Sinkfield are awaiting trial. Crews' is set for later this year, but Sinkfield's date is not set at present...
Here's a report from our friends at WAGA-TV and MyFoxAtlanta early on in the proceedings in 2009...
According to Marty Smith over at the four-letter, it looks like Danica Patrick will be driving Nationwide full-time for 2012 and running select NASCAR events for Stewart-Haas in the same calendar year with the idea of her going full-time Sprint Cup for Tony Stewart by 2013's season...
A presser is being arranged at GoDaddy's HQ in Phoenix to announce the whole idea.
"Tony Stewart has always said he'd love to have her, but we're a long ways from being at that point," Stewart-Haas spokesman Mike Arning said Wednesday. "From a Stewart-Haas Racing standpoint, things aren't there yet."
No word on how this would clash with her running in the Indy 500 every year when and if this announced...
Here was the discussion during SpeedWeeks at Indy this past year...
((HT: IndyCar/ESPN on ABC/youtube))
Now, we all know that Shapiro has an axe-and-a-half to grind since he received no assistance from the guys he helped out when they were coming out at Da U...
But, we all know that if the death penalty isn't in play here, something is definitely wrong with the NCAA...
The HQ has covered Fitzgerald High School football in our Georgia workings. We have both personal and professional friends in the town, and we feel for their loss in the DJ Searcy case...
Earlier today in Atlanta, Searcy's parents held a presser at the national headquarters for the Omega Psi Phi fraternity...
"This was such a preventable death," said attorney Benjamin Crump, representing DJ Searcy's parents. "It never should've happened."
"My question to the coaches is why didn't you call 911 on Monday night and notify me when he first went down unconscious and unresponsive," DJ's mother, Michelle Searcy, said.
The Searcy's are calling for an investigation by the Georgia High School Association as to what the Fitzgerald coaches knew and when they knew it...
Since he may bring all sorts of fun, allegations, and infractions to the University of Miami before it's all said and done...
Shapiro has a relationship with Da U that goes back almost ten years or so. He claimed that he had players on his yacht and gave a handful of players, what the NCAA would consider, illegal benefits. Some of the alleged incidents occurred in the past four years, which would be within the NCAA's statute of limitations regarding violations.
Miami officials said that when Shapiro first made his allegations nearly a year ago, he and his attorneys refused to provide any facts to the school.
"The university notified the NCAA enforcement officials of these allegations," the school said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with the NCAA and are conducting a joint investigation. The University of Miami takes these matters very seriously."
Miami head coach Al Golden knows that some things may have gone wrong, but he obviously wouldn't have any idea on what since he wasn't around then...
He addressed the matter before practice...
((HT: WFOR-TV))
Why is Shapiro coming out with all of this now...???
He's coming up on Ponzi scheme charges and has a book coming out as well...
Gloria Allred is saying that "sex discrimination" was behind the ref's decision to stop the June 4th bout because of a broken right hand for her client, Christy Martin, against Dakota Stone.
Martin's appeal is being heard Monday by the California State Athletic Commission.
Allred claims that a fight involving a male boxer in similar circumstances "would not have been stopped and that officials acted on a misguided notion of female lack of toughness or a greater need to protect female fighters."
Here's the highlights of the fight...
((HT: TopRank/youtube))
Martin was winning on all three scorecards when the ring doctor stopped the fight.
Decide for yourself if this qualifies as a colossal waste of time or not...
So, how many of you had RPM Motorsports Marcos Ambrose in the pool...???
After a wacky green-white-checkered finish, the number 9 car gets the first place points...
Here's the ending... and good for RPM...
"There were days, weeks when I was anxious," Ambrose said. "There were times I was sitting around the boardroom table and there was nobody else there. But you've got to roll the dice sometimes."
It was Ford's first victory on a road course since Geoff Bodine won there in 1996 and the 15th different winner in Cup races this year.
But it gets better... Boris Said wants a piece of Greg Biffle...
And the language is awesome...
((HT: NASCAR/ESPN/EdwinTV42))
When was the last time a driver told another that he'd show up with a black eye on a Wednesday in the future...??? The HQ doesn't care and wants to see it in person...
But that doesn't mean that it won't be in the future...
The conference big-wigs with the Ess-E-Cee voted to stay 12 for the moment
University of Florida president Dr. Bernie Machen said the conference's presidents and chancellors met on Sunday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment."
"We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league," Machen said. "We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M."
So, that leaves the door open...
The four-letter's Joe Schad introduces us to the issues with an immediate exit if both A&M and the Ess-E-Cee agreed to one...
((HT: ESPN))
All of which the HQ completely gets...
Texas head football coach was a guest on ESPN Radio with Amy Lawrence and FOSG Adnan Virk and sayrh quote:
"A lot of people are worried about that," Brown said. "Texas will be fine. I think the Big 12 will be fine regardless of what comes out of this, and we'll move forward."
"Number one, it's been a great rivalry with Texas and Texas A&M, so I hope it stays," Brown said.
Let's start where it all began earlier today...
Doug Gottlieb and David Lloyd setting the world on fire...
((HT: ESPN))
Now, life as we know it...
Texas A&M's Mike Sherman knows nothing- he's focused on football...
((HT: KBTX-TV))
There are conflicting reports on whether or not Ess-E-Cee officials are actually meeting secretly Sunday as a set-up to the Regents meeting for A&M Monday and the discussion of Item 15 on the Agenda...
Let's take stock...
From Tallahassee...
FSU head Coach Jimbo Fisher said Saturday the only things he's heard about schools leaving for the SEC is from the media. University President Eric Barron said that no one affiliated with the school has had any discussions about leaving the ACC.
Clemson University President James Barker said that the school is not changing leagues, despite reports the Tigers might head to the Ess-E-Cee.
"We are committed to the ACC," he said in a statement. "We have had no contact with the SEC."
But the OBC would dig it if they showed up...
((HT: WLTX-TV Columbia))
Missouri, Kansas, and Virginia Tech are all waiting to be heard from now... and the HQ is not surprised that the Hokies have been silent this entire time...
The 12/10 sent out a press release Saturday night saying they'd like the Aggies to stay, but if they don't the league will expand themselves...
The HQ thinks Houston and SMU are on the clock at that point...
The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors conducted a teleconference meeting today to discuss the future of the Conference given recent developments regarding Texas A&M University. The Board strongly conveyed to Texas A&M its unanimous desire that it remain a Big 12 member, and acknowledged its value to the Conference. The Board noted that Texas A&M expressed concerns about institutional networks and that the athletics directors worked together and took actions, which the Board has approved, to adequately address those concerns. The other nine members reaffirmed their long term, unconditional and unequivocal commitments made to each other and the Conference last summer. Although the Board hopes Texas A&M remains in the Conference, the Board is prepared to aggressively move forward to explore expansion opportunities. In doing so, the Board recognizes the strength of the Big 12 Conference national brand and the opportunity to capitalize on it.
The HQ has chronicled the exploits of the MLB hanger-ons thast are hanging out in the Golden Baseball League this year- mainly, the Canseco brothers and their Yuma, Arizona exploits...
We now have a nutty that is right up there with all the other nutties we've covered over the years...
Tony Phillips and Mike Marshall go at it in Chico, California
((HT: KRCR-TV/youtube))
Both dudes are now 51 years old, Phillips is now the proud owner of battery charges from Marshall and both have been suspended three games...
It's something of a national holiday over in the old country...
Opening day of the Barclay's Premier League will do that for you...
And in a day of few surprises, we had our first disagreement...
Newcastle and Arsenal... and the rep for Newcastle's Joey Barton proceeds him- a bit of an actor and a bit of a cheap-shot artist when the need arises... Newcastle fans would maintain that Barton is just the sandpaper of the roster and nothing more...
Barton and Gervinho got into it
Evidence below...
The game ended a scoreless draw... but the HQ gathers it's not the last we'll hear of Barton this season...
"Goodbye to Texas Uni-ver-sity
goodbye to the Big twelve---elve----elve----elve."
That appears to be the case in College Station Texas.
Monday at 3pm the Texas A&M System's board of regents will meet and with the final agenda of the meeting is "Authorization for the President to Take All Actions Relating to Texas A&M University's Athletic Conference Alignment, The Texas A&M University System."
It appears to that the A&M board of regents could vote as early as Monday to authorize a move into the SEC.
Their has been no confirmation from Texas A&M or the SEC that any discussions have been conducted between A&M and the SEC.
OSG favorite Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com cites a source indicating the nine member board of regents will vote to leave the Big 12 for the SEC.
The SEC remains very quiet on this subject however, rumors are flying about the domino effect Texas A&M's move to the SEC would create.
Florida State, Clemson, Missouri and Virginia Tech have been rumored to be on the SEC's short list should the conference feel the have to expand now.
Before Texas A&M votes to leave the Big 12 for the SEC consider this, Do you really want to make the move?
Does Texas A&M feel like it could challenge on a yearly basis for the SEC West title? Here's the Aggies record against the SEC West:
Texas A&M has an all-time record of 53-72-4 against the current six members of the SEC West.
24-40-3 all-time vs Arkansas
20-26-1 all-time vs LSU
1-3 all-time vs Alabama
2-0 all-time vs Auburn
4-0 all-time vs Mississippi
2-3 all-time vs Mississippi State
(Thanks FOSG Tony Barnhart of CBS Sports.com for those numbers.)
Keep in mind the NCAA favors Texas A&M's beef against Texas and the Longhorn Network as far as airing high school games and receiving the competitive advantages that go with it.
We will find out Monday if Texas A&M is moving on to the SEC and collectively says "To Hell With Texas."
The HQ admits that we used to grow up listening to Pete, Skip, and Ernie Johnson, Senior...
And when Ernie go the chance to finish a game, it would always be with the following phrase: "On this winning night from Atlanta, so long everybody..."
He retired and came back when the Braves needed a fill-in back in the early 2000's... but the former Braves pitcher that became a broadcaster will always be remembered by a generation of fans as one of the soundtracks of the youth...
It sadly loses another piece...
Here's a story that John Patrick and the old "PM Magazine" Show ran on, what is now, Fox5 Atlanta WAGA-TV...
A SWAT standoff in the home of former Notre Dame football defensive coach Corwin Brown took up almost eight hours Friday afternoon and evening. He was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the side when the standoff was over.
Police say he is currently in fair condition and do not know if the injuries are life-threatening.
The situation started out as a domestic abuse call shortly before 1PM. Police say they heard one gunshot from inside the home when they arrived. At that point in time, the SWAT team was activated.
Brown's wife and children made it out of the home. Police said Brown's wife, Melissa, had a bruise on her head.
Brown remained in the home. Police said they heard two more shots from the garage. They told neighbors to stay inside their homes and away from windows as they talked with Brown using cellphones and later bullhorns.
WSBT's Chad Damp is at the house and picks it up from there...
Ohio State University officials and former coach Jim Tressel appeared before an NCAA infractions committee for about four hours in Indianapolis, getting the third degree from the Committee on Infractions and defending their life in and around the Tattoo Six...
It'll take about another 8 to 12 weeks for any word to trickle out one way or the other on any kind of punishment. If more charges come to the surface, another meeting could be called by the CoI, but for every subsequent meeting it'll take another 8 to 12 weeks for another judgment to come down from the mountain...
Oh, and Terrelle Pryor testifying...???
tOSU doesn't want that...
Here's AD Gene Smith talking about the day and giving up the one piece of news on the day- the fact that the Buckeyes gave up their Sugar Bowl share...
Why he and Gordon Gee are still employed are anyone's guess...
Its a forgone conclusion now, Texas A&M will bolt the Big 12 for the SEC.
The powers that be that includes Texas A&M alum Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas, are in full "To Hell With Texas" mode and ready to separate from their rivals in the burnt orange.
All because Texas has gone into bed with ESPN to launch the Longhorn Network in a few weeks.
The Aggie fateful have cited competitive balance in their flirtation with the SEC. You have to think ego plays a role in this.
A&M's biggest rival is guaranteed millions of dollars from their brand new TV network and a recruiting advantage with a 24/7/365 infomercial on cable systems throughout the state of Texas.
How can Texas A&M counter? Join the best conference in college football and enjoy a financial windfall from the SEC's lucrative media deals.
The SEC has been tight lipped saying they have no plans to expand but Texas A&M would be mighty attractive. Arkansas would finally have a natural rival in the league and the SEC would have in-roads in the state of Texas plus inherit the Houston market.
Would this permanently kill the Big 12? I don't think so. Should Oklahoma remain on Texas' side the Big 12 will survive.
The Big 12 could beg and plead TCU to resist their Big East invite and join their league. Houston and SMU have stepped up their football programs and could be targeted to join too.
Before you know it you almost have a reunion of the Southwest Conference.
As for Texas A&M they've got to go, the Aggies have huffed and puffed to much to remain in the Big 12.
Heath Slater was born Heath Miller and came from West Virginia... if a security guard has it her way, Heath may be heading back that way very soon without an employer...
A security guard named Corinne Oliver claims that Miller tried to drag her into his hotel room during Wrestlemania weekend- choking her in the process and, apparently, leaving her with back pain ever since.
Here's Heath for the most of you that have no idea who in the blue hell he is on a nightly basis... and that includes the HQ...
((HT: WWE))
No charges have been filed at present and the Atlanta Police Department is investigating as is the WWE. But the Greenwich posse is stating publicly that it's a personal matter and not a personnel matter.
From Seward:
“At this point and time all she wants is justice by having him arrested for the assault that occurred on her,” Oliver's attorney, Jackie Patterson, said. “We’re just hoping that we can get a thorough investigation to get this matter resolved.”
The man who knows everything Longhorns, Chip Brown, is of the feel that on the aforementioned date, the folks over at Texas A&M may go ahead and vote on their future in the Big 12/10 and start the process on moving to the Ess-E-Cee...
The A&M folks are denying anything and everything- of course. No comment could be grabbed from former A&M yell leader, and current Texas Governor, Rick Perry since he was tied up with seven other master debaters in Iowa.
From Brown's piece:
An A&M source told Orangebloods.com the Aggies are having their lawyers look at everything, including the exit fees A&M would have to pay to leave the Big 12.
Under the current bylaws, Texas A&M would be required to relinquish 80 percent of revenues over a two-year period if the Aggies left with only a year's notice.
Nebraska and Colorado were able to pay substantially less than that by settling with the Big 12.
Sources said Thursday the SEC would be interested in adding Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech in addition to Texas A&M to form a 16-team super conference. Florida State has also been mentioned as a possible target of the SEC, according to Big 12 sources.
((HT: Dallasnews.com/Carlton))
Not that this is a shock or anything, but it seems Texas governor Rick Perry is up-to-date on the whole A&M to the Ess-E-Cee thing...
From Carlton's piece when beat reporters asked the guv about the idea this morning in Austin...
"I'll be real honest with you. I just read about it the same time as y'all did. ... As far as I know, conversations are being had. That's frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision makers over there."
Perry is a former "yell leader" at A&M... soyaknow...
And when the university was pressed on the idea, they really didn't give a denial...
"President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also into the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics."
So, is this what the Ess-E-Cee West is getting sooner ((oops)) rather than later...
((HT: AggieAthletics))
Uh, yeah...
Meanwhile Big 12 Commissioner Dan Bebee is keeping an eye on things in College Station and taking it seriously.
Beebe told the Austin American Statesman"I'll put it this way, I'm taking it very seriously. I've been talking to a number of people. Obviously, there are a significant number of Aggie supporters who are interested in going in that direction."Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin released this statement Wednesday:
President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also in the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics.
When you read between the lines of Loftin's statement you get the impression the SEC is on the table.
