Thursday, February 28, 2013

ICYMI: Internet Freaks Out Over New Adidas Basketball Uni's

It's been very interesting this morning here at OSG HQ monitoring the reaction of pretty much every Sports Writer/producer on the internet over the new uniforms adidas has announced they'll provide for 6 NCAA teams.

And yes, the reviews haven't been pretty.

Most compare the look, which features short sleeves rather than a tank top and striped shorts as a "Zubaz" style look.

For those of you unware, Zubaz were a style/brand of sweatpants that were popular in the late 80's and early 90's.

Here's some video of them:



Quite honestly, if you look at the photo above, the 6 uniform looks don't look so bad to us. Well, aside from the puke, lime-green Notre Dame jersey anyway.

Always remember writers and people who post to Twitter regularly are the snarkiest of the snarks and generally don't like anything different than what they only see.

And no, not all of these work. We like the Louisville look. A lot. Cincinnati, Baylor and Kansas aren't horrible. But UCLA's look like pajamas and we already spoke about the awful Notre Dame look.

Either way, it's free publicity for Adidas who's been struggling to keep up with the Nike's and Under Armour's of the world. So for that reason, we say "Why not?" If you have an interest in such things, you might actually watch the conference tournaments these teams are in. And if they all make the field of 68, you might tune in to see them there too.


ICYMI: Monta Ellis With The Walk-Off Buzzer Beater

Alrighty then. Nothing like winning a game with the crazy, off balance prayer of a 3-pointer and immediately sprinting off the court rather than celebrating.

That's exactly what happened last night in Houston when Monta Ellis of the Milwaukee Bucks let his team head out of town victorious with a 110-107 win over the Houston Rockets.

There's not much more narrative we can give here, so watch the NBA.com video:


Brett Williams of NC State With Early Catch of the Year Bid

((ht: biglead.com))

This folks, is impressive.

Check out Centerfielder Brett Williams of North Carolina State who on Wednesday made what could arguably be considered an early season candidate for "Catch of the Year".

Williams takes a flying leap after a sinking line drive catches, somersaults and totally sticks the landing. Oh, yeah, he made the catch too.

Nicely done young man.

Here's the video proof from NC State their ownselves...

 

ICYMI: Wizards Play By Play Guy Calls Game Winner That Never Happened

((ht: awfulannouncing.com))

Yes, for a guy calling a professional or for that matter any sports game on TV, there's nothing more exciting to call a "Game Winner".

And that's what makes this call so funny.

Steve Buchantz, who calls Washington Wizards games for Comcast Sports was so ready to call a game winning 3-pointer that he actually called it, even though the shot, by Wizards forward Trevor Ariza drew nothing but air, just tickling the bare-bottom part of the net.

What's funnier, is despite the despondent look on Ariza's face and cutaways of the victorious Detroit Pistons, Buchantz stayed with the buzzer beater call for a minute.

Check out the video:


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Rafa Benitez Explodes After Chelsea Win

((HT: SkySports))

There is no secret that Roman Abramovich is very rich, and as a result, very impulsive when it comes to his Champions League squad and their continued (and somewhat mandatory) success...

The 5th Round of the FA Cup had the Blues at Middlesborough and won 2-0, but that didn't stop Benitez from giving a rant of the ages toward his "interim" title as manager, the fans that continue to rail against Benitez (and Abramovich for hiring him)...

Here's the rant in full...


If Benitez hasn't signed his occupational death warrant with the inconsistent play of the team since he took over for Roberto di Matteo, then this outburst probably did him in...

DEVELOPING: Holdsclaw Indicted On 6 Count Indictment

((HT: AJC/11Alive.com))

Take you back to November of 2012 and the disturbing case of a former WNBA player and her girlfriend in a dispute...

A big dispute...
Here's Jeff Hullinger...
Fulton County (GA) DA spokeswoman Yvette Jones says that a six-count indictment on Chamique Holdsclaw that includes charges of aggravated assault, criminal damage and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

No one was injured at the time of the incident, and Holdsclaw's attorney said at the time that Holdsclaw and Jennifer Lacy were trying to patch up their differences.

No word on if that actually happened, either...

Ex State Trooper Indicted In Crash That Killed Wife Of Braves Trainer

((HT: AJC/MyFoxAtlanta))

Here's your primer from back on New Year's Eve 2011
Marc Teichner has the story at the time...
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Christopher Seward now updates that Crozier has been indicted on charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, reckless driving and violation of oath by public officer.

Porter, obviously, isn't commenting- from Spring Training or anywhere...

From Seward's piece:

An investigation found Crozier had activated his lights and sirens, but the trooper did not slow his Dodge Charger patrol car enough to make sure the Porters’ Ford Expedition, which had a green light, had yielded to his patrol car before proceeding through the intersection.

Crozier, who had been on the force for 10 years, was fired after the incident. He released a statement following the accident expressing his sorrow. “I am so sorry for their loss and I think of them and pray for them every day,” he said in the statement released by his attorney.


The case will be heard in Fulton County (GA), but no date has been set yet...


Scott Cochran Loves Him His New Weight Room

((HT: al.com/Kausler))

Don Kausler got the chance to keep up with Alabama's chief nutcase strength and conditioning coach, Scott Cochran.

He's known for things like this...


And this...


Cochran is known for being a little more than insane when it comes to his weights, his weight rooms, and his hanging, banging, and clanging...

He got a new toy in Tuscaloosa...
2-stories, and 37,000 square feet of screaming metal...

Here's his description...
Because they can turn up like this:

Sac-Town... Too Little, Too Late On New Arena...???

((HT: News10.net))

The Sacramento City Council approved the vote to continue/start/re-start negotiations to build a new arena and they had to do it just to even keep the wheels moving...

It was the last time, physically, that the city council could make a decision before Sacramento's counter-offer is due to the NBA on March 1. Mayor Kevin Johnson have to be able to tell the NBA their counter-offer is to purchase the Sacramento Kings as well as build a new facility.

Outgoing and "out-going" Commissioner David Stern has told Sac-Town that they can't keep the Kings without a new arena to replace aging Arco Arena...

Here's team coverage of too little, too late...

Mayor KJ has told everyone willing to listen that billionaire Ron Burkle and local millionaire Mark Mastrov lead the local group trying to keep the Kings in town. Burkle currently owns the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, and Mastrov earned his fortune after starting and then selling 24-Hour Fitness.

Your Average JuCo Buzzer-Beater

((HT: AJC.com))

But, really, when is a buzzer-beater ever really average...???

This one reminded the HQ of Trent Tucker, considering there was only .7 of a second when the ball was launched...
((HT: Aeroace2008))


Gordon State (GA) freshman Xavier Habersham gets the three, but Georgia Perimeter won 70-68...

From Alexis Stevens' piece:

“I was really shocked when it went in. Really shocked,” Habersham told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I know I just didn’t make this shot.”

But he did.

“I just threw it like a quarterback would throw a football."

UMaine Women's Hoops In Bus Crash

((HT: WLBZ-TV Bangor))

The University of Maine women's basketball team was involved in a bus accident on its way to their game in Boston against BU, but school officials say no players have been seriously injured. One basketball player was treated for a broken hand while Head Coach Richard Barron also was treated for cuts on his face.

Massachusetts State Police say the driver of the bus was the only person seriously hurt.
He was air lifted to a Boston hospital.

The bus was headed south when it crossed both the median and northbound lanes. At that point, the bus went off the highway into a nearby woods.

AD Steve Abbott toured the morning shows...

The game with Boston University has been cancelled...

Arrested Alabama Football Players Kicked Off Team

It didn't take long for the long arm of Nick Saban's law to take care of some troublesome football players.

The University of Alabama announced today that Eddie Williams, Tyler Hayes, D.J Pettway and Brent Calloway are no longer a part of the team nor the University.

You'll recall the four were arrested for a pair of robberies that took place on campus Feb. 11th. Their status had been in limbo while the schools Student Judicial Board waited to rule on their fate.

Read the story from ESPN.com RIGHT HERE

The short moral of the story here is no, Nick Saban ain't putting up with this kind of behavior. From anyone.

Nor should he or any other college football coach have to.

We say that knowing full well Alabama is a program that can tell a 5-star recruit (Williams) to just go away. The question is really how many D-1 coaches striving to be like Alabama can?

We commend the Tide (both the school and the team) for taking quick, decisive action if for no other reason than there cannot be an atmosphere where students fear being bullied or robbed by football players.

Hopefully that message will be received though we do have our doubts...

So, When Do The Hawks Stop Not-Losing...?

In regulation, anyway...

The Chicago Blackhawks non-losing in regulation streak is now at 19...

How many of us had that one at the beginning of the year...???

But, the HQ is fairly certain that at least one friendly wager in some sports
book somewhere had the overtime win...

And this time, it was Marian Hossa for the game-winner...

Evidence below...
((HT: CSN Chicago/NHL))


16-0-3...
Who knew...???

The larger question will come when we hit the post-season to figure out if the hot start was only that and leads to one of those Seattle Mariners-like first-round fails...

APB: One Racing Italian Sausage Missing in Milwaukee

Photo Courtesy: Milwaukee Brewers
((ht: jsonline.com))

Milwaukee Police are on a heightened state of alert after reports that one of the town's most beloved mascots has gone missing after an alleged night of barhopping.

No, there is no truth to the rumors he was found cut to pieces in a bowl of cooked peppers and no, he wasn't found inserted in a giant roll, slathered with onions either.

It appears, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, someone stole the Giant Sausage costume, used as a part of the "Sausage Races" at Milwaukee Brewers games. During the off-season it seems you can rent the costume from a local costume shop.

Check out the JSOnline story RIGHT HERE

We are reasonably certain that unlike the recent hullabaloo surrounding the Giant Teddy Roosevelt head who broke his winless streak at Washington Nationals game, this is not a publicity stunt by the Brewers. Though in a way, it would be highly applaudable if it were.

It is kind of amusing to think of what the APB for such a thing would actually be: "Attention all cars--be on the look out for a missing person. Age unkown, wearing what appears to be a giant Italian Sausage costume. Be advised, the Sausage is known for having sprinters speed, please exercise care if found".....

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Goalie Fight! Goalie Fight! Everybody Dance...

And for that... we go to the Central Hockey League...

Fort Worth and Allen went at it the other night...

The game was 6-1 at the 6:28 mark of the 3rd for the Brahmas when the following went down...
((HT: Moezilla2k))


The end result...??? From the Central Hockey League their own selves...

Allen Americans forward Alex Penner, defenseman Trevor Hendrikx and Head Coach Steve Martinson have all been suspended for their part in the incident that occurred at the 6:28 mark of the third period of the Fort Worth Brahmas 6-1 win over Allen on Saturday night (Feb. 23).

Penner has been suspended indefinitely upon further review and will begin serving his suspension today when the Americans host the Brahmas. Penner received an instigating minor penalty, five minute fighting major, fighting instigator misconduct and two game misconducts. The final determination on Penner’s suspension will be announced after further review.

Hendrikx has been suspended one game (1) for his actions in multiple altercations in last night’s game and will also miss this afternoon’s game against Fort Worth.

Martinson has been suspended one game (1) for failure to control his team given the score of the game and time remaining. He will not be behind the bench for today’s re-match.

Further penalties, fines and suspensions that arise after further review will be announced at a later time.


Of course, they will...
But what is minor league hockey without something like this... and that's why the HQ has its affinity for it...

OSG Prem: Nathan Dyer REALLY Wanted That Hat Trick

((HT: SkySports))

The Capital One Cup was decided today at Wembley between Premier League side Swansea City and League Two side Bradford City. The Bantams knocked off three Prem sides- Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Wigan on their way to the final.

But today was an entirely different ballgame for them...

It ended up being a 5-0 whitewash for the Swans as Nathan Dyer and Jonathan DeGuzman scored twice and Michu scored once. They become the first Welsh side to win the Cap One Cup, but not without a heated moment...

The Bantams keeper, Matt Duke, took out Dyer that set up the penalty kick at 3-0 early in the second half. Dyer was the player Duke fouled, but he didn't get to take the PK...

Dyer wasn't happy about it...


It would have been the first player to get a hat trick in the history of the event, but the Swans will have to settle for having the largest margin of victory...

EA Shuts Down 50 Cent

((HT: NASCAR on Fox))

Don't get The LA Kings Jarrett Stoll mad at you...

And had what happened during the pre-race at Daytona gone full, he would have...


Good dodge by Erin, there...

Hey, it was a pre-race show...
Let the woman do her job...

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Now, That's A Season Opener... Some Basebrawl For Your Weekend...

((HT: KCRA-TV, Sacramento))

Sacramento State and UC-Riverside were in the state capitol for the season opener for the home team...

And, what's a season opener without some swinging...
FOSG Gulstan Dart takes the lead...


Sacramento State second baseman Andrew Ayers, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, and two UC Riverside players (Eddie Young and Drake Zarate) will be suspended for four games each for what went down...

Them's the rules by the folks in Indianapolis...

Gen 6 Gets Their First Big Wreck At Daytona

And it was at the end of the Nationwide race...

Evidence below...
((HT: NASCAR on ESPN))


Regan Smith was dancing with Brad Keselowski and, by the time it was over Kyle Larson went airborne and lost the entire front of his car. Larson, Michael Annett, and eight others were involved in the final lap wreck. There was a 13-car wreck that caused the green-white-checkered after the race had been red flagged..

Tony Stewart survived the melee and won the 300-miler...

Six fans are listed as injured, two of them are considered in critical condition and the damage to the grandstand came from Larson's engine and the fluids coming form other cars involved in the wreck

"The engine came right through the fence, injuring about six people," said a Daytona International Speedway supervisor, speaking under the condition of anonymity to yahoo!Sports.

Here's the NASCAR version of what went down..
((HT: NASCAR.com))

More when we know more...

Ess-E-Cee's Dumbest Criminal: Ty Flournoy-Smith

((HT: AJC/Towers))

The third-string tight end for the University of Georgia decided that, when he was done with his text books, that he would turn them in for cash and then call the cops telling then that the same books had been stolen...

Not smart... as Ty Smith got busted in very short order...

He had to check into the local hoosegow and was released on $1,000 bond.

It all happened pretty quick," UGA Police chief Jimmy Williamson said. "Unfortunately books and back-packs are stolen all the time and we know all the places they take them. It became apparent that Ty had returned the books himself."

According to Towers, Flournoy-Smith sent out a tweet at 2 a.m. from his Twitter account, @SeeMyAmbition80__ that said, "You live, and you learn."

Flournoy-Smith was an all-state selection from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia...

Insert your dig at Colquitt head coach Rush Propst hyah...

Here's Colquitt highlights of their title game appearance in 2010
((HT: Gwinnett Daily Post))




Friday, February 22, 2013

"Crack Addict" Crosby Fires Back At Milbury

((HT: NHL on NBC))

First, the HQ will show you what in the world started all this...


Now, knowing that Mike Milbury referred to both 87 and 71 as crack addicts, Crosby felt compelled to shoot back at the comments from the Pens-Flyers game...

“I wasn't aware of it,” Crosby said. “He watches so much hockey, he must know. I'll try to do a better job of playing defensively.”

What the HQ can't give you is the level of supposed sarcasm in the quote...

“It's a little irritating,” Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “I try not to get too flustered by it. He always has a bonehead remark to make.”

But it wouldn't be Milbury if there wasn't the occasional flash fire like this... and all it does is give NBCSN more ammo for their nights...

Saint Louis PBP Guy Vs. Officials Makes For Funny Radio

It has not been a week for play-by-play guys...

First, the North Dakota play-by-play announcer, Paul Ralston, gets suspended for calling his team's loss to Northern Arizona "a choke job." And now, Saint Louis voice Bob Ramsey had to keep the zebras at bay after calling a "cheap foul" on the broadcast against VCU...

And the call is... awesome...
((HT: Awful Announcing))


"Just improve a little..."

Hockey Harlem Shake (Sort of--and doesn't suck)

((ht: deadspin.com))

So, we've already gone on record as not getting this whole Harlem Shake thing. We've kind of figured it out, but not before and endless--and mostly stupid parade of various, a sundry groups posting crappy YouTube videos of themselves dancing to it.

Here's one we kind of like (thanks: Deadspin). The folks at HockeyVideos HD put together a brief 30-second "Shake" video of a crowded around the crease goal by Nicklas Grossman during Tuesday's Pittsburgh/Philadelphia NHL game.

Check it out, it's actually kind of funny:

 

Pistorius Day 5: Sprinter Granted Bail

To the tune of 1,000,000 rand (or about US$113,000)...

Here's analysis from Roger Cossack
((HT: ESPN))


Oscar Pistorius now must also hand over his passports and turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria without the permission of his probation officer and cannot return to his home for any reason during the investigation.

Since it's still a crime scene...

His next court appearance is set for June 4th...

And, for those of you wondering, South Africa doesn't have the death penalty.

Best Cheerleader Basketball Trick Shot Ever

We'd give you the "Don't try this at home" qualifier for this trick shot, but we're pretty sure that you still wouldn't be able to do this.

Words can barely describe this running flipl, pick-up-the ball at half court while upside down launch it in during the roll and it goes in shot by Ashlee Arnau, a cheerleader at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

((OSG Note--William Carey is part of the NAIA's Southern States Conference who's weekly TV show is produced by your friends at OSG Sports Media))

This may be the greatest half-court trick shot ever.

 


Thursday, February 21, 2013

OSG High: Dell McGee Heading To Auburn

And, now, it's time of the year for college staffs to add to their groups...

One day after Jeff Herron is leaving Camden County (GA) High for Prince Avenue Christian (Bogart, GA), another prime Georgia high school job is now open.

Antonio (Dell) McGee is leaving Carver-Columbus to join the support staff at Auburn- his alma mater- where he was a standout during his playing days. In nine years as head coach, McGee went 88-19 with a state title in 2007 when his Columbia Blue went 15-0.

Ask anyone and McGee is widely regarded as a respected coach and man. After graduating from Kendrick-Columbus (GA) High, he went to Auburn where he was considered to be one of the team's best cover corners by the time he graduated in 1996. He bounced around the NFL, Arena Football League, and the XFL before retiring to be a coach.

Universal kudos are circulating for the Gus Malzahn hire...

Here's an interview PrimeTimeGridironTV did with McGee in the 2011 season

Bradford City To Honor Valley Parade Victims In Cap One Final

((HT: youtube))

League 2 Bradford City has had a run for the ages in the Capital One Cup and they'll go against Swansea for the title.

But they'll have others on their mind when they take to Wembley for the Cup...

Their tracksuit tops will have the number 56 and the words 'Always With Us' embroidered on the front- marking the occasion by remembering the 56 fans who died in the fire at their home stadium, Valley Parade, almost 28 years ago.

Bradford City supporters camped out overnight in the snow last week for tickets and almost 32,000 will get to go to Wembley.

But here's how the event fell out live May 11th, 1985...

Pistorius Day 4: New Lead Investigator

((HT: SABC/ESPN/ABC))

Since, you know, having a murder investigation on the lead investigator of a high-profile murder case himself is never really a good idea...

Hilton Botha, is facing attempted murder charges that were reinstated against him in relation to a 2011 shooting incident, when he and two other police officers allegedly fired shots at a minibus.

Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation.
((HT: Telegraph.co.uk))


Botha is not suspended from his job with the South African police in the interim, and police were aware of his charges before he was assigned to the Pistorius case. Botha will, seemingly all over again, face internal investigation and criminal investigation simultaneously...


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

ACM Takes Care Of Barca In Champions

And, no, that's not a misprint...

AC Milan stunned Barcelona 2-0 in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie in the UEFA Champions League.

Kevin-Prince Boateng gave Milan the lead in the 57th minute, but Barcelona wanted to challenge as it looked like Cristian Zapata looked like he could have been called for a hand ball on the Riccardo Montolivo assist.

Sulley Muntari sealed the win with nine minutes to go...
((HT: FoxSoccer/UEFA))


Barcelona only had two shots on goal the entire match...

And, to think, that ACM started out 15th in Serie A after their first 8 matches...
FCB is in trouble and has to go pedal down in the rematch...

DEVELOPING: Sabres Fire Ruff

The Buffalo Sabres, at 6-10-1, started out the season winning their first two games- then, they've gone 4-10-1
That got the team's winningest coach ever (532-400-151), Lindy Ruff, fired...

Buffalo's 13 points are the fewest in the Northeast Division and tied for the third-fewest in the Eastern Conference. Ruff played left wing and defense with the club from 1979 to 1989, before coaching the team starting in 1997-98- giving him a 25-year association with the team and the mark for the longest tenured coach in the league.

After this morning's 90-minute skate, Ruff was relieved of duty and a night after this...

Next up for the Sabres is a game against Toronto Thursday...

Pistorius Day 3: Prosecution Tries To Solidify Case

The lead police investigator took the stand in Day 3 of the Oscar Pistorius bail hearing and admitted in open court that there are consistencies in the testimony of the defense and what the police are discovering.

Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha said that the path of the bullets fired from the 9mm pistol found in the Pistorius home were on a downward path- which, the police intimate, mean that Pistorius put on his prosthetic legs before opening fire into the bathroom killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp with four shots. His statement says he fired the weapon while on his stumps.

The holster for the gun was found under the part of the bed where Steenkamp slept, the prosecution says, which also means that Pistorius would have had to know Steenkamp wasn't sleeping.

Police also say they found two boxes of testosterone and needles in Pistorius' bedroom. But Pistorius' attorney, Barry Roux, said the substance was an "herbal remedy" and not a steroid or a banned substance. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel also had to correct Officer Botha in open court when he called the substance "steroids."

Botha said "testosterone" and needles were found in Pistorius' bedroom during their investigation.

Here's your Day 3 wrap from Many Weiner...


Prosecution attorneys are also offering up witnesses who say that they heard an argument from 4 blocks away at that time of the early morning- which, to even the HQ, sounds really interesting...

More when we know more...

Here's analysis from ABC's Bazi Kanani
((HT: ESPN))

Miami On Notice With NCAA

((HT: WSVN-TV))

Miami's athletics program is now on the clock with the NCAA and they now have 90 days to respond to the letter of allegation set forth by the NCAA in their investigation in and around Nevin Shapiro...

Those words "lack of institutional control" are being bandied about...

And President Donna Shalala thinks the school has been punished enough and punished itself enough...

Thanks for that thought, Madame President...

You can't punish yourself... unless you really wanted your football team to go to the Belk Bowl...

In addition to the alleged 72 athletes Shapiro claims benefited in the football program, former head men's basketball coach Frank Haith has been named as part of the deal. He did address the letter after his win over Virginia:

"There was no unethical conduct in my notice of allegation," Haith said. "And it is just an allegation, so we get a chance to defend ourselves."

Haith is alleged of failing "to promote an atmosphere for compliance," a charge specific to how he handled things when Shapiro allegedly wanted money in exchange for not going public with accusations that he paid to help the Hurricanes recruit a player.

So, there's that...

Here's Steve Shapiro...with that and highlights...
WSVN-TV -

President Shalala wrote a rather lengthy rebuttal to the NCAA's allegations, saying in part:

"Despite their efforts over two and a half years, the NCAA enforcement staff could not find evidence of prostitution, expensive cars for players, expensive dinners paid for by boosters, player bounty payments, rampant alcohol and drug use, or the alleged hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts given to student-athletes, as reported in the media. The fabricated story played well -- the facts did not."

The whole response can be found hyah, thanks again to WSVN...

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

OSG High: An Off-Season Game Changer In Ga HSFB; Herron Leaves Camden

((HT: AJC/Holcomb, Oconee Democrat/Matthews))

There are no other words but "stunner" is a good start...

Long-time Camden County (GA) head football coach Jeff Herron is leaving the toughest region and classification for the smallest classification and Prince Avenue Christian (GA) School. Herron has won state titles at Oconee County (GA) High School in 1999 and at Camden in 2003, 2008 and 2009 and was 158-18 in his 13 seasons in Kingsland. He is one of 12 coaches in the state of Georgia to win a title at two different schools.

Prince Avenue was 11-3 and lost in the Class A private championship game to Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. Head coach Mark Farriba resigned to return to his alma mater, Stratford Academy in Macon.

Herron’s overall record is 242-45 and is set to be announced tomorrow...

Camden, surprisingly to some, lost in the 6A quarter-finals to Norcross in Kingsland as the Blue Devils made their way to a state championship. The team started off strongly, nationally-ranked for a while, with a win over Peachtree Ridge in Week One.
((HT: GPB))

More when we know more...

Rudy Gay Vs. Wale- Not Quite Spike And Reggie

((HT: Sportsnet/BeyondTheBuzzer))

Rudy Gay seemed to be in mid-conversation with rapper Wale for most of their game this evening...


But to be involved with both Gay and the broadcast crew takes some doing- and some effort in search and destroy...

The HQ gives Wale credit for his intuitiveness, but there's a time and place...
And there is no way that Gay and Wale are anywhere close to this...
((HT: NBA on NBC))

Father Allegedly Beats Son Over Bedlam Allegiance

((HT: KFOR-TV))

The HQ knows all about Bedlam...

We know about rivalries, what they mean, and how they effect families- even cutting them in pieces. You've all seen the license plates about houses divided and all that stuff...

We now have our extreme example as to what rivalries mean... and this one is pretty extreme...

A 41-year-old father from a town outside Stillwater, Oklahoma is accused of beating his 9-year-old son because his son liked Oklahoma and the Sooners, not sharing the father's allegiance to OSU...

Awesome...

Here's their coverage from a small town...


Apparently, this wasn't the first time this may have happened, either...
Even more awesome...

The HQ thinks that this father, when behind bars, will make new friends very quickly...
And not in a good way...

DEVELOPING: Garagiola Retiring From D-Backs Booth

From the Diamondbacks their own selves...

At as press conference set for tomorrow, Hall of Fame broadcaster and former Major League catcher Joe Garagiola will be at an announcement with D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall where Garagiola will be ending his tenure after 15 seasons as an analyst on select D-backs television broadcasts.

The 1991 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will discuss his decision to officially retire from the booth following a broadcasting career that began in 1955.

And no one will ever has to ask him this line of questioning again...


Sad when a guy still has it, but in the landscape it's not a surprise...

More when we know more...

Dan Hawkins Is The New Head Chef In Montreal

((HT: FoxSports))

The Montreal Alouettes have named Dan Hawkins their new head coach- replacing Marc Trestman, who is now coach for the Chicago Bears. All Trestman did was take the Als to back-to-back Grey Cup titles in 2009 and '10 and was named the CFL's coach of the year in '09.

Hawkins last coaching gig was at Colorado where he flamed out gloriously- going 19-39 after going 53-11 at Boise...

The Als announced it this way on their website:

Le propriétaire des Alouettes de Montréal Bob Wetenhall ainsi que le directeur général Jim Popp ont annoncé mardi que Dan Hawkins est devenu le 20e entraîneur-chef de l’histoire de la concession.

Or, in English from the team their own selves...

“During our selection process we have had extensive interviews with many fine candidates with an emphasis on candidates from Quebec, the rest of Canada and both the professional and college coaching ranks in the US,” continued the Alouettes owner (Bob Wetenhall).

"At the end of this process, it became clear to us that Dan was the best candidate at this time in the Alouettes history. We are looking ahead to his continuing the tradition of the Alouettes' success. Dan very well understands my three goals for the franchise, to institutionalize the Alouettes in Montreal, to make meaningful contributions to the community we serve and to win football games."

Here's our reminder for Hawkins about the C-NFL...


You have been warned...
So, meet Coach Hawk...
((HT: MontrealAlouettes))

Pistorius Charged With Murder, Bail Answer Tomorrow

((HT: SABC))

The Pistorius legal team doesn't deny firing four shots into the bathroom at the home, but still hold onto the notion that the sprinter thought Reeva Steenkamp was an intruder.

Magistrate Desmond Nair told the Pistorius legal team that there was little chance of getting bail unless there could be an extenuating circumstance or more evidence stating there wasn't any premeditation

Here's the early outs from the courtroom


The bail hearing will continue Wednesday morning...

And here's your recap from outside the courtoom


Steenkamp was cremated in a private ceremony in her home town and the media were asked not to attend...

Monday, February 18, 2013

TV Reporter Falls Victim To Ronda Rousey (VIDEO)

((HT: KTLA-TV))

The HQ knows what live, morning TV is all about...

Getting yucks and ratings points...

FOSG Allie MacKay was told she was going into the ring to get some pointers from UFC women's champ Ronda Rousey, but what Rousey didn't tell MacKay was that it was going to get a little more physical...


The HQ hopes that MacKay wasn't seriously injured and got out of there alive...

OSG High: Texas Bill To Limit Full-Contact Practice

((HT: ETFinalScore))

The HQ is well aware of what concussions and helmet-to-helmet contact have done to football players these days...

All you have to do is look...

On one side, you have OJ Brigance and Steve Gleason who are dealing with ALS and, on the other, there are all the deaths of football players who have been diagnosed with CTE.

One Texas state legislator is looking at the collision sport and trying to trim the number of contact practices even further...

Brownsville rep Eddie Lucio is putting a bill to the floor in the state house in Austin to restrict full contact practices to one per week.

“If you don’t allow (a) muscle or bone to heal, it’s going to break,” he told Ben Kamisar of the Austin Statesman. “The same thing is relative to the brain. It can only heal itself at a certain rate, and any additional hits could cause more damage.”

Coaches gave Kamisar alternating opinions:

"I’ve always felt like good coaching prevents those things,” Austin-Cedar Park (TX) head coach Joe Willis said. “…If you have one day (of full-contact practice), and you go out there with bad technique on that one day, you might get a concussion anyway.”

Lake Travis High School head coach Hank Carter said that his team already doesn’t tackle players to the ground during regular season practice to limit injuries.

The HQ will be interested to see where this goes...

Here's some analysis on the early changes in the UIL during last football season...

Arsene Wenger's Presser Doesn't Go Well...

((HT: Goal TV))

Arsenal's loss to Blackburn over the weekend in the FA Cup didn't go over well to anyone on either side of the pond who follow the Gunners. The side was loudly booed as they left the pitch at the Emirates and now it seems to be a match race as to who might be on the chopping block sooner rather than later- manager Arsene Wenger or Manchester City's Roberto Mancini...

Arsenal is getting ready for a matchup against Bayern Munich and people wanted to talk about a variety of topics with Wenger- one uncharacteristically, sent him off...

Here's the testiness at the presser...


Don't ask the man about his money, the HQ guesses...???

DEVELOPING: Jerry Buss Dies At 79

According to the LA Times, long-time Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss has died at the age of 79...

He had been receiving treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for an "undisclosed form of cancer" in the middle of last week.

From Mike Bresnahan's article last week, he discloses Buss' recent medical problems:

He underwent an undisclosed surgery last August and was admitted a month earlier for what the team said was dehydration. He was also hospitalized in December 2011 for blood clots in his leg caused by excessive travel, according to the Lakers.

A report Thursday from radaronline.com said that players were visiting Buss because of “what they expect to be his final days.”


Buss is largely credited with bringing showtime elements to both the Lakers and the NBA with the installment of talent he brought to the Forum in the 1980's, and being integral to its renaissance...

Here's his speech when he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame...


More when we know more...

BUZZER BEATER: A 60 Foot Game Winner For Colorado College

Ryan Milne of Colorado College nails a 60 footer to win it for the Tigers 64-62 over Southwestern University Sunday.



Milne led Colorado College with 21 points on 8-15 shooting, 4-8 from behind the three point arch.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

DEVELOPING: AHL Game Suspended After On-Ice Seizure

((HT: The AHL/HockeyVideoHD))

The game between the Springfield Falcons and Adirondack Phantoms was suspended when Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Wade McLeod was checked into the boards by Phantoms' defenseman Brandon Manning and, subsequently, suffered a seizure on the ice.

Manning got a two-minute penalty for boarding on the play...

Here's the hit and McLeod being taken off the ice...


McLeod is listed as stable in a Springfield area hospital.

The team released the following information on their website:

Springfield Falcons forward Wade MacLeod was stable and alert after suffering a seizure following a hit into the glass during the second period of Sunday afternoon's game against the Adirondack Phantoms.

MacLeod was brought by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Players and coaching staffs on each team unanimously agreed to postpone the game.


The family released a statement on their own:

"We would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming show of support for Wade tonight. Wade is alert, in good condition, in positive spirits, and is resting comfortably at Baystate Medical Center. He will remain at the hospital while he undergoes tests. We are deeply appreciative of all the caring and kind words we have received from family, friends, and fans."

More when we know more...

Mayor KJ Tries To Keep His Kings

((HT: CBS Sacramento/News 10))

Pick whatever sports cliche you want, but Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson is trying to make his last case for keeping his team and not having the group out of Seattle take them over and move them out of town...

It was the major topic of Commissioner David Stern's last press conference as commissioner at the All-Star Game in Houston...

The full press conference of Stern talking about everything in the NBA is hyah...

Here's the local spin...the first take...


And here's the one-on-one in Houston...

OSG Prem: Warnock Not A Fan Of Leeds Fans

((HT: FA Cup/youtube))

Manchester City is rolling right now in the FA Cup...

They took it to Leeds United 4-0 after pairing Yaya Toure, Tevez, and Aguero up front for the first time since the pre-season.

During the latter stages at the game, Leeds fans jumped on manager Neil Warnock chanting "Warnock- time to go" in their fan's end as the game came to a close.

"I don't deserve that (abuse) after the year I have had, but I am unlucky to have been at three clubs with three takeovers," he said.

"I understand their feelings and the noise they make shows what sort of club it is. If we go up, the owners know I won't be here and the further away we get (from promotion) the club will be looking to see what they're going to do and, if I can, I will help them."

Here's Warnock after the loss...


Warnock has been involved with 8 straight promotion opportunities and Leeds United is eight points away from the playoff picture in the Championship.

DEVELOPING: Danica Gets Daytona Pole (UPDATED)

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

Fastest in practice... fastest in the race for the pole...

Danica and the #10 car ended up qualifying early and finishing early- good enough for a little history...

Here's the run...


196.43 miles per hour gets her up front knocking off her boss in the series, Tony Stewart...

“It would be really nice, it’s a very big pole out of all of them during the year for attention and especially for GoDaddy. … That’s who that helps the most,’’ Patrick said before pole qualifying. “There are other races throughout the year that as a driver you feel more proud of yourself to get, but this is a whole team effort. I don’t give much credit to myself for driving and turning left; it’s very much about the car and the engine.

“The pole at Daytona is very much a team goal. I think being fastest on the chart, being fast in general just shows everybody else how serious (crew chief) Tony Gibson is with his guys and he wants to get me a pole and do absolutely everything he can.”


She was on the pole for Nationwide Series racing last season, but now it's an entirely different ballgame...
Jeff Gordon qualified second...

How's that for an "Oh, by the way..."

Here's the reaction... which is understandable...
((HT: ESPN))

Half-Court Heave By Coach Gets Free Tuition

((HT: Brandon University Bobcats their own selves))

Brandon University in Manitoba has an activity on campus where, if a member of the basketball team hits a half-court shot, the student associated with it gets free tuition...

Mason Kaluzniak chose a member of the team all right... the head coach, Gil Cheung...

Here's what happened...


“Being a smaller university we have get to know our students really well, and in turn get to have a lot of fun with them,” said Cheung. “This was a lot of fun for everyone involved and I'm just happy I was able to make the shot for Mason.”

Pistorius Update: Police Investigating Bloody Cricket Bat

((HT: London Telegraph))

Sources (and we all know how important sources are) close to the Reeva Steenkamp murder investigation are now chasing the use of a bloody cricket bat that was found at the scene of the murder.

There are two theories wit the bat and the investigation of Oscar Pistorius in the murder of Steenkamp- either that the bat was used as a weapon during the crime or that it was used for creating access to Steenkamp in the house so Pistorius could kill her.

"There was lots of blood on the bat. Forensic tests will show whose blood it was," according to the "source."

Pistorius plea and bail hearing are set for either Monday or Tuesday- depending on when the prosecution feels they have enough evidence to convict. The family, however, is taking the offensive...

Here's his uncle, Arnold, refuting any and all charges at present...


Local police also have asked for a blood sample of Pistorius to defend and refute a possible "roid rage" defense...

Saturday, February 16, 2013

OSG Prem: FA Cup Has More Surprises- Arsenal Out, Oldham Hanging Around

((HT: Fox Soccer/FA))

The HQ, these days, is enjoying watching live sporting events early on weekend mornings with all the soccer from across the pond...

We'll get to the early shock in a second, but League 1 mid-carder Oldham United has earned another replay with Everton after a late, late equalizer at home that wasn't without a bit of controversy...

Here's the equalizer with the answer...


But the larger surprise came from The Emirates where relegated Blackburn knocked off Arsenal 1-0 in Round 5...
Colin Kazim-Richards score in the 72nd minute gave the Gunners fans plenty of reason to boo when the game was over...


"I have said it for a while but it is about hard work, organisation and team effort. I thought the lads were fantastic," manager Michael Appleton said afterwards.

"We will enjoy that and then focus on Hull City in the league on Tuesday night. Matches like that have to be great for the confidence.

"The fans were great and I'm sure they will have a good night."

The HQ would agree on that one...

College Ump Goes Over The Top...

And head over heels...

This is the time of year where the "snowbird" schedule takes over...

You always see weird match-ups from non-conference opponents- and the HQ even called some in the college years where northern schools head south for the beginning of the season...

Your example in modern days is Rhode Island visiting Dick Howser Stadium to play the HQ's alma, Florida State...

And the home plate umpire got a little overzealous in a strike call...
((HT: ESPN))


Oops...

It's a long season... it should all be in the pacing...

And This Goalie Goal Makes 11

((HT: Cincinnati Cyclones hockey their own selves))

During a delayed penalty, Cyclones goalie Brian Foster became the 11th ECHL goaltender to do this...


And it wasn't even at the end of the game... just the first period in their 2-1 win over Trenton...
The victory gave the Cyclones four straight and padded their lead in the North Division to five points.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Day 1 At Daytona= Wreck One

((HT: NASCAR on Speed))

What the HQ used to call the Clash is now something called the Unlimited...

We don't know if the ground rules are the same or not, but they're practicing at Daytona for the 500 mile race next Sunday.
Which, of course, means that big drivers may end up damaging their new paint schemes...

Matt Kenseth would be the guilty one there...

Here's the crash that took out Montoya, Martin, Kurt Busch, and Edwards...


"That was 100 percent driver error, my driver error," Kenseth said when asked about it afterwards. "I had no idea anybody was there and he had a run at the same time and I came down in front of him and he couldn't get slowed up from staying out of me. It was a hundred percent my fault."

So, the Car of Tomorrow is yesterday and we're now with Gen 6...

Graham James Sentence Increased To 5 Years

One of the creepiest stories in hockey got a little more justice added to it today in Winnipeg...

Notorious junior hockey coach Graham James, convicted of sexual abuse against minors whom he coached- including Theoren Fleury- had his sentence increased from two years to five.

The full Court of Appeals decision can be read hyah, thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press...

The original sentence was widely argued as being too light as James admitted last year that he molested two players between 1983 and 1994. James won't be eligible for parole until this fall.

James attorneys, in their argument to the Court of Appeals, maintained that James was a "changed man" and didn't deserve an uncharacteristic increase in his sentence.

Fleury, in an interview with Charles Adler, said it was a great day for all survivors. That interview can be heard hyah...

Fleury also thinks that James is less than changed citing his fleeing the country of Canada for Mexico- where CBC's Bob McKeown found him...

Meteorite Damages KHL Arena

And the comments about karma can start here...

The meteor that passed 17,000 miles from the planet caused a lot of damage in Russia- over a thousand injured and a lot of buildings got taken out of commission...

There's a lot of cool dashcam video out there like this one from the Chelyabinsk region in the Ural mountains...


But what it did was knock out part of the Traktor arena...

Here's the statement from the league:

The meteor shower which struck Chelyabinsk and its environs has also caused some disruption to the hockey season schedule. The emergency services have confirmed that the walls of the Arena Traktor were among those structures to suffer damage, and therefore large-scale events at the stadium have been postponed. The sporting facilities will undergo an inspection by experts to assess the readiness of the arena to return to full operational use.

The results of the assessment will be made public on Monday, after which it will become clear whether the Chelyabinsk club can stage the first games of the play-offs. The knockout stages of the Gagarin Cup get underway on Wednesday, and as Traktor is already assured of a top four place in the Eastern conference, the team is due to start the play-offs with home games on the 21st and 22nd of February.

At this time, the meteor shower has not affected Traktor’s schedule, as the Chelyabinsk men finish their regular season campaign with a trip on the road to Magnitogorsk on Sunday. However, three events -today’s and tomorrow’s Youth Hockey League games between Belye Medvedi of Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk’s Stalnye Lisy and Saturday’s planned opening of the Traktor’s museum - have had to be postponed.


Goalie Michael Garnett is on Traktor's roster and he thought it was something serious:

"I thought for sure there was an explosion, and then I thought it might have been a natural gas leak or it could have been a bomb or a missile or a plane crash," he told CBC Radio.

Traktor is third in the Western Division and are in the thick of the playoffs race, and the team CEO is confident about the arena.

"The damage to the wall is not substantial, and there will not be any severe consequences to the integrity of the building," Vladimir Krechin said in a statement.

"The arena personnel have been evacuated in order for the rescue crew and the Ministry for Emergencies to carry out a further analysis of the situation. I would also like to point out that nobody has been hurt due to this incident; everyone was at their workplaces when this happened and left Traktor Arena immediately as soon as emergency evacuation was in effect."

Pistorius Arrives For Court Appearance

((HT: London Telegraph))

Pretoria, South Africa prosecutors will pursue a charge of premeditated murder against Oscar Pistorius for killing his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, overnight Thursday at his home. She was shot four times by the world-class sprinter who claims he thought she was an intruder.

Here's the video of Pistorius arriving in court...


Pistorius' family and management team produced the following statement after they left the courtroom where no plea was entered:

"The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms... He would also like to express his thanks through us today for all the messages of support he has received -- but as stated our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family -- regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy,"

The bail hearing has been postponed until Tuesday and Wednesday. And the idea of the premeditated murder charge would make it more difficult, by design, to get a bail figure. The charge carries a life in prison charge...

OSG High: Idiot Hockey Dad May Get Punished After All...

((HT: Winnipeg Sun, youtube/atacandman))

First thing the HQ will do is give you a little backgrounder...
Just watch what happened Monday night in a rink near Winnipeg...


The Sun is now reporting that Jason Boyd, the booming voice in the arena of 15-year-olds, has been banned and may face further action...

“My son was hit and was laying on the ice, not moving, and the rink became deathly quiet,” said Chuck Kitson. “And out of that quiet came a big booming voice, yelling at the referee that my son is a midget.”

Boyd has told anyone who has gotten in touch with him that the comment was made in the “heat of the moment” and that he regretted what he did. Kitson went on to tell the Sun that Boyd kept going after the video above was shot- including a moment when his son had his arm broken on a play later in the game.

There's talk of having all parents in the organization taking an online course about sportsmanship, but there's no way of policing it...

And the HQ also thinks this won't be the last time that something like this happens when parents continue to live through their kids since something went wrong in their own adolescent lives that prevented a future...

Blech...

DeAndre Jordan and the Worst Free-Throw Ever

((ht: cbssports.com))

Ooofff...pity the poor backboard at the Staples Center.

Take a look at the video below. It's Los Angeles Clippers Center DeAndre Jordan getting fouled by the Los Angeles Lakers and attempting a free throw after the foul.

And it ain't pretty.

Somehow Jordan doesn't shoot an airball...but his aim was a bit right.

Might be time to get the scope adjusted....

Oh, by the way, the Clippers embarrassed the pathetic Lakers yet again 125-101. (Yes, we predicted the Laker experiment was going to fail months ago--look it up)


Charles Barkley Takes Shot at Alabama on National TV

((ht: larrybrownsports.com))

Okay, this is pretty funny. Though we suspect the folks at the University of Alabama probably don't think so.

TNT NBA Analyst Charles Barkley, an Auburn grad with--let's just say a pretty good sense of humor--had a little fun with the University of Alabama football player arrests from earlier in the week.

Check out this video of Sir Charles wearing a bandage with an alleged blood spot. He describes, jokingly, going to Tuscaloosa to congratulate the Crimson Tide and getting mugged and his credit cards stolen.

Hilarity ensues....sort of.


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Frank Martin, Welcome To The Ess-E-Cee (VIDEO)

And the Ess-E-Cee gets one of its first Martin Post-Game Meltdowns...



This is what happens after an 18-point blowout Thursday to LSU (behind Johnny O'Bryant and his 30 points) The Tigers crushed the Gamecocks at home 64-46. It was the most points scored by a LSU player since Tasmin Mitchell had 38 against Auburn in 2010. O'Bryant reached double figure points and rebounds for the seventh time in the last eight games.

The loss gave Martin a five-game losing streak- the longest of his coaching career- at any level and any job which includes stops at Kansas State and three high school coaching gigs in Miami at North Miami High, Miami Senior, and Booker T. Washington High...

All of that leads us to his first high-decibel maneuver off the floor...

The printed, short version:

“The desire to play is not there. I’ve always taken pride to get guys to do what I ask me to do. That’s not happening right now. I shouldn’t coach basketball again if this is how my team is going to look.”

“If this was the NBA, we would fine them and take their money,” Martin said. “We would release them and say, ‘Good luck ever finding another job.’ It is not the NBA. We’re in education. Somehow, some way we have to reach them. But it is embarrassing.

“I’ve been telling our team for team weeks that there is a word that if it is not in your vocabulary – whatever you do in life – if the word ‘pride’ is not in your vocabulary, you have no chance of ever sniffing success. I’m a lot of things, but I’ve got pride. … I have never been so embarrassed. I shouldn’t coach basketball ever again if this is how my team plays.”
South Carolina is now 12-11 after the loss...

Here's the video version...
((HT: WLTX-TV))

Bama Recruit Reuben Foster Sleeps Like a Vampire

((ht: lostlettermen.com))

It's not that unusual for high school kids to--on occasion, fall asleep in class.

But when they do that, they are subject to be messed with by fellow students.

Such is the fate suffered by Alabama prize recruit and current Auburn High School senior Reuben Foster.

Check out the photos.

The first one is kinda funny. The second one. Well, besides defying gravity, it also kind of defies description.

How exactly does one fall asleep like that? We've seen dogs and vampires do it...

But that's about it.

We're guessing someone will pay for this, and Foster will probably pay for it too. His soon-to-be coach will probably not be thrilled to see his prize recruit at least appearing to slack off while tending to his schoolwork.

Tech Hoops Coach Watches Wife Get Seduced By Mascot

((ht: ajc.com))

Happy Valentine's Day indeed.

This is actually kinda funny. It's meant to be a humorous riff asking people to come see Georgia Tech's Basketball team play Clemson on Valentine's Day eve.

The video show Tech coach Brian Gregory calling his wife to tell her he won't be home to celebrate because he's got a game. She sounds and appears to be okay with it...because she has Georgia Tech's mascot at home to keep her happy.

Well, that was the intent.

It sort of comes off like Ms. Gregory is ditching Mr. Gregory for Buzz. Which is kinda funny unto itself.

Enjoy the laugh and realize you probably won't see this on next weeks Academy Awards show...


Diamondbacks Harlem Shake: Can Someone Please Explain this?

((ht: mlb.com))

Okay. We don't profess to be totally hip and we are on occasion not quite up to speed with some pop-culture phenomenons.

Which is why we are completely baffled by the "Harlem Shake".

The latest in the ever growing line of sports teams and oh-so-many more to jump on the bandwagon: The Arizona Diamondbacks.



So...is the fascination with this musical? Or just the strange non-rythmical gyrations? And beffore you cynics say it, we aren't ripping the dancing, we just don't get it...

The whole thing just reminds us of this:


Auburn Student Hits 4 Shots in 24 Sec's for Tuition Money

((ht: thebiglead.com))

Hmmmm....after you see this video, you might wonder why Auburn coach Tony Barbee doesn't sign this kid up. After all, Barbee's Tigers are a robust 9-15 on the season with little hope of any post-season action.

Check out the routine this kid goes through for the money. A layup, a free-throw, 3-pointer and a half-court shot at the buzzer for the money.

Trust us when we say this; "It ain't easy to that".

Thanks Auburn Athletics for the video:


Rays Pitcher Peralta Injures Neck Grabbing Sandwich

So...after seeing this, we just kind of felt obligated to pass it on, mostly because it's funny.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta has now, in the 1st week of Spring Training, had the worst Spring Training of anybody.

Why you ask?

Because Peralta apparently hurt his neck Wednesday getting out of his Camaro to pick up a sandwich at the "Cuban Taste" restaurant in Port Charlotte, Florida.

The injury is described as "Not Serious", though it would be kind of tough to consider an injury like that as being serious in any way, shape or form.

Of course, the obvious, unanswered question here is "How does one get hurt getting out of a car?"

DEVELOPING: Oscar Pistorius Mistakes Girlfriend As Intruder, Shoots And Kills Her (UPDATED)

((HT: SkySports/youtube))

Disturbing news out of South Africa as world-class sprinter Oscar Pistorius has shot and killed his girlfriend. Pistorius was asleep in his home and, early reports relay that he may have thought his girlfriend was an intruder.

She was shot twice and there is also thought that she was planning a Valentine's Day surprise...

Here's the breaking story from Sky Sports


More when we know more...

UPDATE: Pistorius has been charged with murder as Reeva Steenkamp was shot four times. He will appear in court later Thursday on the charge of murder and court documents show there had "previously been incidents at the home of Mr. Oscar Pistorius."

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Your Gus Update: Game One In Football (Not THAT Kind Of Football, The Other Kind)

((HT: Fox Sports))

It's an interesting mix... Gus Johnson and football...
He was paired with Warren Barton to call the first leg of the work with ManU and Real Madrid...

Here's a sample of the goal calls from his debut... an understated Gus...
But it sets the growth curve...


It's an interesting experiment that David Hill is trying for their expanded coverage in the sport...

It makes you ask:
1) How he did and,
2) Does every soccer announcer have to be British to be accepted...???

The HQ would answer in the negative and give JP Dellacamera as our example...

What do you think, dear reader...???

DEVELOPING: Nerlens Noel Out For Season

((HT: Julie Quittner))

For the five of you that haven't seen this yet... here's the injury that put Noel out of the Florida game and out of the season...


Now, we all know the actual damage- even as Noel is set to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft after one year less than one year in Lexington...

Torn ACL, out for the season...

Coach Cal said in a few Tweets:

"Obviously this is not a career-ending injury and it's one that athletes bounce back from all the time."

"The good news is he is insured, so he would have been fine even if the injury would have been worse."

"The way he is already dealing with this injury lets me know that he is going to come back stronger than ever."

"I met with Nerlens earlier today. The meeting was really positive, and I loved his attitude."

"I've been coaching for 22 years and this is the first injury we've had of this kind during the season, which makes it even more devastating."


Here was the nervous anticipation in and around campus
((HT: WLEX-TV))
And here is the current vibe on the continuing coverage... ((HT: Broadway Video/NBC))
More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Updyke Bond Revoked

((HT: OANow.com/Taylor))

At his bond hearing this morning in Opelika, Alabama Circuit Judge Jacob A. Walker III revoked Harvey Updyke’s bond due to an outstanding arrest warrant in Louisiana (pictured right, thanks WTVM-TV)

District attorneys asked for the bond to be revoked on an incident that happened in Hammond, Louisiana back in September with a Lowe's store employee over the lawn mower that Updyke wanted to return. He was charged with assault after being initially charged with "making terroristic threats." Updyke, also apparently, failed to appear for a court appearance in November for the charge.

Here was the report from the lawnmower incident...
((HT: ESPN))


Updyke will remain in the Lee County (AL) Detention Facility until his trial starts on April 8 or until a motion for his release is granted. Updyke is charged with in the Toomer's poisoning case:

Two counts of first-degree criminal mischief,
Two counts of desecrating a venerated object and,
Two counts of unlawful damage, vandalism or theft of property from a farm animal or crop facility

The defense for Updyke also is asking for a change of venue for jury pool selection and court administration...

None of that is a surprise to the HQ...


The Redcoats Are Here! Hey, Isn't That...???

((HT: Time Warner Cable/Lakers Network))

Some men are funny, some men have funny thrust upon them, and then there's Will Ferrell...

Last night at Staples Center, he was in full mustache as a security guy on the court...

And very few men can make us laugh by just standing there... and getting people kicked out of the arena that are much larger than he is...

Evidence below...

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Former NBA Star Mike Bibby Kicked out of Son's H.S Game

((ht: abc15.com))

You stay classy Mike Bibby.

Former NBA point guard Mike Bibby was escorted out his son's High School Basketball game this past Friday night by police.

According to ABC 15 in Phoenix, Bibby was watching son Michael, a freshman,  play at Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School when the refs wanted him tossed from the stands for trying to argue with them. Police were called at that point because Bibby apparently continued arguing and didn't want to leave.

Read the entire ABC 15 story RIGHT HERE

Way to set an example there Mr. Bibby. Are you bored?

Bibby, the elder played some 14-years in the NBA with multiple teams. And no, that pedigree alone doesn't give him the right to act the fool.

Nor does the fact that he's a graduate of the same school his son attends and who's game he was ejected from. And his jersey hangs from the rafters.

Really?

There isn't much else we can do but shake our head, hopefully Bibby is embarrassed about this, because he should be. We aren't going to preach good behavior and responsibility here, mostly because in an instance such as this, it should be understood.

No, we'll just say: Watch the video--(Thanks ABC15)