Chattanooga Race Has Marathon Record, Except It's Not...

((HT: WRCB-TV))

Tabatha Hamilton won a marathon in the Chattanooga area over the weekend.

Her time was absolutely amazing- a world record by more than two full minutes. But there's an issue. Hamilton was disqualfied because of her time that was registered through her chip and her splits.

She would have run the back half of her marathon in less than 50 minutes- beating the men's record in the half and shattering the women's record by almost ten minutes.

Michelle Heron actually found Hamilton to find out her side of the story...
WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

Zersenday Tadese has the men's record at 58:23


While Florence Kiplagat has the women's mark at 65:12 this past February in Barcelona


If Hamilton got the win, good for her... But the whole chip-thing...???

The HQ isn't holding it's breath...

Is This The Worst Trick Play Execution Of The Year...???

((HT: James Poling's Vine))

Well, it was Syracuse...


So, it was supposed to be a double-reverse, flea-flicker pass.

Didn't work at all...

OSG Prem: How Do You Allow 8 GOALS IN A GAME???!!!

((HT: NBCSN/BPL))

Honestly, the short answer is: Ask Sunderland manager Gus Poyet...

Who, in all actuality, may not be Sunderland manager after this display of epic failness and futility- losing 8-0 on the road at Southampton. The Saints are now third in the table because of an outburst we haven't seen in a while...

Two own goals added to six offensive displays put Sunderland on the ropes for the full 90 minutes.
This effort by Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone seems to sum the whole day up...


Graziano Pelle continues his torrid pace early on with two more goals on the day. Cork, Tadic (who is turning into a fantasy beast after a 4-assist day), Wanyama, and Mane all scored for the winners.

Remember all those people who thought all the sales to Liverpool and all the off-season change would be a disaster...???

Not yet...

Pelle was understated and sounds pretty shocked...

OSG Prem: Sunderland's Vergini Scores Gorgeous Fail

((HT: BPL on NBCSN))

It has been a horrible day on the pitch for Sunderland- down 3-0 at the break against Southampton

This play seems to personify the whole day...

Defender Santiago Vergini scores a beautiful goal, but on his own keeper as he was trying to clear...


See...???

Gorgeous, but in the wrong direction...

OSG Prem: Newcastle's Odd Season Gets More Odd With Scoreboard Fail

((HT: Iain Macintosh's Vine))

Newcastle United seem to be the Schleprock of the Premier League this season.

Frankly, the HQ doesn't know how manager Alan Pardew is still employed with all the talk of locker room squabbling and poor results on the pitch.

Today, they were set to unveil a new scoreboard in a corner of St. James Park, but there was an issue...

It was flapping in the breeze and created a safety hazard.


A delay of, at least, an hour resulted before their match with Leicester City

Oooofff...

Banner Bests Mites Football Squad

((HT: James Cracolici))

Wallkill's (NY) 6 and 7-year-old football team got to do what every other football team in the country does for their home games...

Run through a banner to get to the sidelines...

Almost...


They won 24-0, by the way, so the embarassment of the pre-game didn't stick...

BREAKING: Mickelson In The Tents Again

((HT: PGA Tour))

On Friday, Phil Mickelson was out of control with his driver on the 5th at The Barclays- hitting his drive into the hospitality tents. It gave him a bout of creativity where he his his second from the carpets and, eventually, bogeyed the hole.

This just happened in his third round


Legendary words: "Oh no! Not again..."

How Do You Score This One In The Book...???

((HT: Clinton Lumber Kings their own selves))

Okay...

Here's the situation...

Runners at first and second, two outs, 5-5 score, and the pop-up gets lost up the elevator...

How would you score this one...???

Post by Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club.

The HQ thinks it's a double and a two-base throwing error...

Here's the official word, thanks to Mike Weisman and the Lumber Kings:

Tyler O'Neill popped up just in front of the plate. The ball landed on the dirt, no more than two feet in fair territory in between the entire Wisconsin infield. As Barbosa crossed the plate, Matos fielded the ball, and in an attempt to throw out O'Neill at second base, threw it into centerfield, as O'Neill and Thomas both scored. The third baseman was charged with two errors on the plate, as Clinton let 8-5 after four innings.

However, Wisconsin came back to win 10-9

This Was NOT The Way To Start Your Open

((HT: BBC/R&A))

Ernie Els left the first hole today with a triple-bogey 7, but it could have been a lot better if he hadn't done this


Els finished with a 7-over par 79, tying him for 148th out of the 156 golfers

A Good Craftsman Never Blames His Tools

((HT: MLB))

Unless, of course, you're a fan in Oakland


Yes, the fan lost the ball to the lower bowl and Stephen Vogt didn't comply with another foul the guy's way...

So there...

OSG High: So, About That Broken $60-Million Stadium...

((HT: WFAA-TV))

The Allen Independent School District (ISD) met last night in a closed-door meeting to figure out how in the blue hell they're going to get their three-year-old, mega-stadium figured out and fixed in time for the 2015 high school athletics season.

Two engineering firms are assisting the ISD in the analysis, but the construction company that was involved in making Eagle Stadium was not around for the meeting last night.

The stadium has been closed because of structural flaws and the inability for the stadium to support proper weight distributions of fans and the stadium itself.

Allen ISD is less than pleased that, it looks like, someone cut corners to get the barn up in time. And the ISD are waiting for the appraisal of the damage before giving the construction company their marching orders from this moment forward.

Jobin Panicker is outside the building

And Costa Rica Tells Uruguay To Stick It

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

A lot of firsts, except for Jon Champion calling both of the early shockers in the soccer matches in Brazil...

Costa Rica gets their first win in over a decade in the competition and they put THREE in Uruguay in a decisive 3-1 win. Cavani put home a PK in the 24th minute to give the Uruguayans and their smedium uniforms a 1-0 lead. They carried the lead into the break and then, well, they broke.

The Ticos scored the most goals ever in a game with Campbell, Duarte, and Urena knocking it in the net. Maxi Pereira picked up a red card for a silly challenge on Campbell and it's on in Group D.

There was a question about the Duarte goal and whether or not the play should have been whistled offsides...
But the Urena goal had a great amount of slice spin on it for the dagger


And now Uruguay has to fight uphill for the rest of Group stage

Mahan And Donaldson Play Each Others Balls... Which Is Wrong...

((HT: Golf Central Daily/BBC/USGA))

On a few different levels...

And it's a two-stroke penalty on the course...

On their 9th hole of the day (the 18th at Pinehurst No.2), Hunter Mahan played Jaime Donaldson's ball and vice versa. That is a two-stroke penalty for both golfers- regardless of intent- and both guys are having issues trying to make the cut at the US Open

Here's what you do next after you realize it...


Both double-bogeyed the hole...

Here's the rule in the books:

Rule 15-3:

If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.

The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.

Strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in his score. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.

Exception: There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not count in the competitor’s score.

Pens Lose 3 In A Row To Rangers, Head To Golf Course...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 102 of the last 105 shots he faced in the Rangers-Penguins series. Because of that, an anemic offense that Sidney Crosby had nothing to do with, a power play that didn't exist, and shaky goaltending by Marc-Andre Fleury the New York Rangers won the last three games in the Round 2 Eastern Conference series and will play either Boston or Montreal in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pens head coach Dan Bylsma has now lost three big series in a row (if you count the Olympics as a series) and may be out of a job. He hadn't thought that far ahead when asked after the game...
Here's Crosby speaking the obvious... The team rallied around Martin St. Louis after the loss of his mother and you could tell the series and the series win meant a lot to him being a part of his new team... ((HT: CBC/NHL)) And here's how it happened...

Donald Sterling Talking Was A Bad Idea (UPDATED: Silver Responds)

((HT: CNN/youtube))

A terribly, horrificly-executed, oh-my-GAWD-why-in-the-blue-hell did you do this-and WHO TOLD YOU TO TALK TO CNN- kind of an interview that rambled and proved that the Clippers owner has no business being an owner of anything ever again...

Trying to garner sympathy early, the old man told stories about grandchildren...
This wasn't a bad gambit...


But then denigrating Magic Johnson in a deeply disturbing manner...
The transcript from Deadspin:

Here is a man.. he acts so holy. He made love to every girl in every girl in America in every city and he had AIDS. When he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and I prayed for him.

What has Magic Johnson done? He's got AIDS. Did he do any business? Did he help anybody in south L.A.? I think he should be ashamed of himself. What does he do for the black people? I'm telling you he does nothing. It's all talk.

I spent millions on giving away and helping minorities. Does he do that? That's one problem I have. Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people.

And some of the African-Americans, maybe I'll get in trouble again. They don't want to help anybody. What has Magic Johnson really done for Children's Hospital which kids are lying in the hallways. They are sick. They need a bed. What has he done for any hospital? What has he done for any group?

Seriously... that's where Sterling went...

"Those AIDS"

Here is a gentleman who just screams "white guy entitlement" and is out of touch with the rest of us.

He firmly believes his players love him- which they don't...

He is quite enamored with his own successes which lend themselves to, Sterling thinks, the adoration and respect of others.

He bought the team for a mere pittance, wanted nothing to do with San Diego, was involved in a lawsuit with the NBA over the relocation of the franchise- which he was going to do regardless of what anyone thought- even the fellow members of his trade association.

He failed to invest in the franchise early- causing them to be a laughing stock in the league. And when he finally did, shocking no one except maybe Sterling, the team started having on-the-court success. Which is where they are now...

He treated employees with a profound lack of respect (see Elgin Baylor) and thinks of himself as bullet-proof in the consequences.

He thinks V. Stiviano set him up- which may be the only part of truth in this whole proceeding- thinking that either the Sterlings were going to divorce and her gravy train was going to end or she was going to be kicked to the curb outright- and if he wasn't aware of the recording in a two-person state... the person who leaked the recording may be guilty of a crime.

And, regardless of what anyone thinks, the sides in the Sterling marriage are putting up their battle lines for what surely will be some tremendous legal drama over the next however-long-this-will-take. Shelly Sterling and her attorney will almost certainly chase after Donald Sterling's competency as an owner and may even maintain that the statements he has been making publicly are that of someone in the throes of a disease. Donald Sterling will be unfit to own and has been unfit to own for however long the disease has been effecting his brain.

Donald Sterling will battle the competency angle and say he wants a divorce from his wife of 60 years. The divorce proceeding will be running in tandem with the Shelly Sterling lawsuit. And it will all be a test.

It will be a test for the NBA next season for the players who won't play for a Sterling but will have Dick Parsons as a CEO who the Sterlings and their representatives may or may not even want to answer to in questions involving authority and day-to-day operation of the franchise.

Who will want to stay? Who will want to play? And will anyone even be around for the franchise come the beginning of training camp in the 2014-15 season...???

We're not even close to being done...

2245 UPDATE: Commissioner Adam Silver responded and it's what you would expect

"I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling's interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn't need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible."

OSG Prem: Liverpool Commits Epic Collapse To Draw Palace

((HT: NBCSN/BPL/BBC Sport))

There is no other way to describe it...

The collapse of Liverpool was nothing short of jaw-dropping in the last 20 minutes of their match with Crystal Palace. And, frankly, it was a ten minute stretch where the game went from 3-0 Liverpool to a 3-3 draw. It amounts to an amazing home finale for Palace and the run that manager Tony Pulis had when he was named manager during the season.

And it amounts to leaving the title in Manchester City's hands as the Citizens have a game in hand that they make up this week against Aston Villa. A win on Wednesday will eliminate Chelsea from title contention and leave it to a two-team race on the final day. City plays West Ham at home while Liverpool takes on Newcastle.

Here's the collapse- edited, of course...


And the Reds knew it, too, once the final whistle sounded...


And the HQ gives mad props to Arlo White, Lee Dixon, and Rebecca Lowe in the broadcast. White and Dixon laid out (That's a TV term for "not talking") for almost 2:30 to let the above breath. And Lowe, in her talk back in studio expressed the right amount of context as to JUST HOW GAWDAWFUL important and outright shocking it was.

Here's Brendan Rodgers afterwards all-but-conceding the title


Now, Liverpool needs to make sure ManCity draws or loses Wednesday to get back in it.
Hey, happened when Norwich played Chelsea...

So You Think You Can Fight Chara...???

((HT: Deadspin/NHL on NBC))

The Detroit Red Wings Brendan Smith thought he wanted to...

But this happened... thanks to the 7-inch height advantage...


Dumb idea...

Just dumb...

Here's A Guy Who Should Be Fired

((HT: ProSoccerTalk/WhoAteAllThePies))

The HQ told you yesterday about how Blackpool's season seems to be circling the drain- as is their possible tenure in the Championship...

The tangerines and tennis balls hitting the turf in protest of their owner in the game against Burnley...
And now, the video is up of the coach hitting his player before he had the chance to check in for that game...

From Neil Burgess' Vine


Assistant coach Bob Malcolm hits out at Stephen Dobbie and Malcolm gets sent to the stands...

Pro Soccer Talk's Nicholas Mendola goes over the season from hell for the Tangerines. It includes a sacking, sending the former manager's son off to Crystal Palace, and the owner falling on the grenade...

That makes for a successful franchise...

MAGIC JOHNSON???!!! MAGIC JOHNSON???!!! "Jeopardy" Epic Fail On Hockey

((HT: Pensblog/King World))

This game show contestant is, obviously, not a hockey fan...

EVEN AS IT IS THE EASIEST HOCKEY QUESTION IN THE WORLD!!!


Get after it, Trebek!!!

Epic Collapse: Canucks Give Up 7 In The 3rd

((HT: Sportsnet))

There really are no words for this other than "total and utter shock"

The Canucks were up 3-0 going into the third period and lost 7-3...

Yep...highlights...
And Torts was stunned...
How have the Canucks lost 12 of their last 14...???

That's a good example of how...