This Week's NASCAR Fight With Brad Keselowski Where Jeff Gordon Cusses

((HT: NASCAR on ESPN))

And, instead of involving Matt Kenseth, it involves Jeff Gordon with a possible cameo from Kevin Harvick...


The lowdown this time...

Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were going at it and the Blue Deuce wedged his way in between them to make it three wide in a green-white-checkered situation. Gordon ended up a lap down with the damage and in 29th at the restart.

Needless to say, #24 was not happy about it and did you notice that Jamie Little ended up in the middle of it...???

We imagine that everyone involved will be involved in a visit to the Big Red Truck.

PM UPDATE: When asked about Keselowski's behavior, Gordon cussed on live TV
((HT: Jay Busbee's Vine))


Yahoo!Sports Jay Busbee brings up a good point: Will Gordon get fined for his outburst...???

From the Column:

Gordon is about to head into one of the most critical races of his career. If NASCAR were to deduct points from a driver in the midst of a championship hunt for a minor, inconsequential violation, hurled just after a fight, well ... the criticism would be unrelenting. NASCAR is loving the extra press now, but a hammer on Gordon for language would turn every bit of that attention to the negative.

Looks Like Milan Lucic Might Get A Fine (UPDATE: Yep, He Did)

((HT: NESN/NHL))

It's no secret that the Bruins and Canadiens don't like each other...

Last night was another example...

Late in the game, Milan Lucic decided to introduce himself to Alexei Emelin


But only after Emelin got to him first two minutes in...


Which led to this move as Lucic went to the penalty box
((HT: Some Hockey Videos))


So, yeah, we think there's at least a fine coming...

PM UPDATE: The fine ended up being $5,000

The fine money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund

Smoke And The Blue Deuce Visit The Big Red Truck

((HT: NASCAR their own selves/NASCAR on ESPN))

You remember the end of the Charlotte race and all of the associated shenanigans...

Well, if you don't, we'll show you...


And, if that wasn't all, Keselowski did this in the infield garage. The long version was missed by ESPN cameras...

IN THE INFIELD GARAGE!!!


NASCAR came down with their decisions today:

NASCAR has assessed behavioral penalties to drivers Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart for their involvement in post-race incidents on Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Keselowski has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:

· Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
· Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty – involved in post-race incidents

Stewart has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:

· Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
· Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty – involved in a post-race incident

“These penalties are about maintaining a safe environment following the race,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president, competition and racing development. “We knew that the new Chase format was likely going to raise the intensity level and we want our drivers to continue to be themselves. However, the safety of our drivers, crew members, officials, and workers is paramount and we will react when that safety could be compromised.”

"Behavioral penalties..."

Never heard that one before...

Does anyone remember that Kevin Harvick actually won the race...???

Iowa State AD Fined For Postgame Rant On Officials

((HT: CyclonesTV))

Iowa State was hanging with Oklahoma State for a while at T.Boone Pickens Stadium over the weekend, but in the second half it was all Cowboys in the win, 37-20.

One play in particular drew the ire of AD Jamie Pollard at the end of the first half...
(Which you can see in the highlights below)


After the game Pollard let the assembled media know about it after the fact- and he thinks his Cyclones get screwed all the time


As a result of his rant, Pollard got fined $25,000 by the conference and they were less than pleased:

“Mr. Pollard’s public statements called into question the integrity and competence of game officials and the Conference’s officiating program,” stated Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “To insinuate that games are called unfairly to negatively impact a program is irresponsible and completely baseless. Accordingly, the seriousness of this violation warrants a public reprimand and a financial penalty. We take pride in our officiating programs and will continue to strive for the highest possible standards and the fairest competition.”

So there...

DEVELOPING: Irsay Fined $500K, Suspended 6 Games

((HT: WISH-TV))

As an after-effect of his plea bargain that led to one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated, the National Football League has suspended Indianpolis Colts owner Jim Irsay for six games and fined him half-a-million dollars- the maximum amount under league rules.

Irsay sent out the following statement shortly after the announcement of his suspension:

I acknowledge the mistake I made last March and stand responsible for the consequences of that mistake, for which I sincerely apologize to our community and to Colts fans everywhere. Even more importantly, though, I am committed to do everything in my power to turn this whole experience into a positive event for myself, my family, and the community. In retrospect, I now know that the incident opened my eyes to issues in my life that needed addressing and helped put me on the path to regain my health. I truly hope and pray that my episode will help in some small measure to diminish the stigma surrounding our country’s terrible and deadly problem of addiction. It is a disease like other progressive, terminal diseases—one that can only be successfully treated by understanding, committed hard work, and spiritual growth. I am deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support during these past few months from my family, friends, care-givers, and our great community. Please know I am firmly committed to staying on my path to good health and I look forward to a great season.

Here's the latest after the arraignment in Indianapolis


Irsay cannot be present at the Colts facility, practices, or games. He cannot be at any league or league committee meetings- or anything involving any other team for that matter. He also cannot do media interviews or say anything team-related on any form of social media... something he always was fond of doing on his Twitter feed.

He will also be subject to treatment, counseling, and testing during his suspension.

OSG High: Prime Prep Opens For School Year Despite Murky Future

((HT: WFAA-TV))

You recall all of the problems that the Deion Sanders-created Prime Prep Academy is having to face at present...

Possible decertification, charter revocation, and an unfit building for starters...

Well, we're at the beginning of the school year and PPA is still in business- for now...

Now word on how long the place may be open, may stay open, or might fold in general...

Drake Fined For Remarks On Kevin Durant, Tim and Sid Disagree

((HT: Sportsnet))

Drake is on a bit of a roll as an ambassador for the Toronto Raptors...

And he's trying to get anyone of the big names in the NBA to come to the T-Dot for their next contract...

At a concert he wanted to bring Kevin Durant to the Raptors and, upon hearing this, the NBA fined the team $25,000.

Tim and Sid disagreed with the assessment

Machado Suspended For Five Games For Bat Toss

((HT: MLB.com/MASN))

Major League Baseball announced that Orioles 3B Manny Machado got a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his bat toss in the team's 11-1 loss Sunday.

He felt that he had been thrown at on a previous pitch and tried to exact some kind of revenge on Oakland reliever Fernando Abad.

Gary Thorne's analysis was pretty spot on...


Abad got a fine and no suspension...

DEVELOPING: Sterling Refusing Sanctions, Hiring Lawyers

((HT: SI/TheScore))

Michael McCann over at SI has details that embattled Clippers owner Donald Sterling has hired a big-time antitrust lawyer, Maxwell Blecher, who has told the NBA that his client "has done nothing wrong" and will not pay the $2.5-million fine imposed.

In the McCann article, Blechler's approach to combating the NBA is: 1) Saying that Sterling has not violated the NBA Constitution and, 2) Sterling's "due process" was violated.

The NBA seems to already have most, if not all, of their plan in place in battling Sterling. But the guy wants to go to the wall on all of this- not shocking the HQ one damn bit...

Here's the report from last night in Los Angeles that had the story up-to-date to the McCann article

Sterling's Next Steps: Banned For Life, Big Fine, No Sale Yet...But Silver Thinks He Can Get The Votes

((HT: TMZ Sports))

According to Harvey Levin, the Clippers owner is indefinitely suspended from his activities as owner of the NBA franchise. He is not being forced to sell the team at present and the fine that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has put forth is $2.5-million. For a man, in Sterling, that is worth almost $2-billion, a $5-million fine is like handing over a few hundred bucks...

Which the HQ feels he may have in between the cushions of the first couch he finds...

The Commish also had a forensic expert review the tapes that included a voice that was confirmed to be Sterling's. Silver offered a follow-up discussion for Sterling, but he backed out.

TMZ also says that Sterling's girlfriend, V. Stiviano, had Sterling's permission to record their conversation.

The best description that has been given to the Sterling situation and its multiple levels was given by Bomani Jones, who EIGHT YEARS AGO, exposed the Clippers owner for who he is. He pipe-bombed him yesterday on the "Dan LeBatatard Show" on ESPN Radio


Current head coach Doc Rivers has said that he will not return next season if Sterling is still around.
The HQ doesn't quite know how an indefinite suspension will play with "still being around."

Silver addressed the large group of assembled media in New York City Tuesday afternoon. Sterling had not been told of his fate before the press conference in midtown Manhattan. The investigation is complete, in Silver's terms, and the voice on the tapes is Sterling's.

Silver called the words on the tape "deeply offensive and harmful" and the fact that they came from an owner "heightened the damage." He apologized on behalf of the league and banned Sterling.

Sterling is barred from Board of Governors meetings and fined $2.5-million- the maximum amount allowed by the NBA Constitution.

Silver will urge the BoG to force a sale of the team... 22 of 30 owners would have to vote for such a transfer.

From the NBA their own self:

As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity.

Commissioner Silver also announced that he will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team.

The discipline issued today is based on the Commissioner’s conclusion that Mr. Sterling violated league rules through his expressions of offensive and hurtful views, the impact of which has been widely felt throughout the league.