Stoke City's Pig-Headed Players

((HT: Fox Soccer))

The end of the season couldn't come any sooner for the mid-carders at Stoke City...

First, Michael Owen is retiring and teammates puts eggs and flour all over his rather expensive car...

Now, apparently, Kenwyne Jones became the proud owner of a pig's head in his locker...
No one is coming forward to say who put it in there even as US import Brek Shea tweeted out an image that really wasn't all that flattering after the fact...

Here's how Sky Sports chased after the story...


Jones' girlfriend, Kissa Abdullah, went off on her twitter- understandably...

"Big men acting like kids a pigs head is not a prank its just disgusting!!!!! I don't get how was that sup 2 be funny!!!! Really???

"Where I come from that's not anywhere close 2 funny! Esp not knowing religious beliefs.

"It just takes a minute to be sensitive to someone's beliefs no one says u can't have a sense of humour but let it be a joke! This wasn't!"

"The club takes seriously reports of an incident at our training ground this afternoon," the club said in a statement. "A full internal investigation will be carried out, and those responsible for any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the club's disciplinary procedures."

Makes you wonder how the team will respond in their last game of the Premier League Season at Southampton...

John L.Smith Wants You To Smile, Life Is Good

Three games into the John L. Smith era at Arkansas the Razorbacks began the season in the Top 10, lost to Louisiana – Monroe blowing a 21 point second half lead and looked really, really bad on national TV against Alabama. 

Even though the Hogs are off to a 1-2 start, Smith wants you to smile. (Thanks Arkansas Sports 360)

Of course at halftime of the Alabama/Arkansas game Smith had this classic nugget.

I’m way to biased writing this since I was born and raised a Razorback fan.  The ULM sickened me watching the Hogs get Warhawked.  Saturday I was embarrassed watching this team fold to Jolly ole St. Nick’s Alabama team.

My chin will be up coach Smith and I’m a soldier in Razorback nation.  I hope I speak for all Razorback fans in asking that you just get this team prepared to defeat Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights are pretty good.

 

Arkansas Head Coach John L. Smith Facing Bankruptcy

Arkansas Head Coach John L. Smith

Arkansas head coach John L. Smith has some financial issues.  The downturn in the real estate market has Smith considering bankruptcy.

Smith told the Associated Press he is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, perhaps during the 2012 season.

Smith invested in real estate with other partners in Kentucky while head coach at Louisville from 1998 to 2002.  Those investments involved the development of a sub-division and evolved from there.

As the real estate market began to slow Smith and his investors were in a bind and become unable to meet their financial obligations.

Smith told the AP his investment was in the “multi-millions.”

``It was a situation where we all made a little and said, `Well, that's good. Let's see if we can make a little more,''' Smith told the AP. ``At that point, the bank was willing to give away money. We got in over our head with land, and then the bubble burst and all this land value dropped and we couldn't sustain it.''

John Mason, a former partner with Smith, declared bankruptcy in December 2011 in Kentucky.  According to the AP Mason listed liabilities totaling between $10 million and $50 million.
Smith is talking now because he doesn’t want this to be a distraction during the season.

When an investment goes good initially it can become very seductive.  Investing is much like gambling, you have to know when to cash out when the market peaks. 

Smith has a paying job now and if Arkansas wins 10-11 games he may earn himself a much larger paycheck and a steady coaching gig. 

That might recoup some of his financial losses.