ESPN: Rice Told Goodell He Hit Fiancee In June

((HT: ESPN))

Which would immediately contradict the interview he gave Norah O'Donnell Tuesday night for CBS.

Which would NOT be good...

Here's Don Van Natta with John Anderson


Former FBI chief Robert Mueller is now leading an independent inquiry of how the Rice situation has been handled to date overseen by New York Giants owner John Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney.

No word on a timetable for the investigation to be completed, but it does appear that Ray Rice is going to appeal his suspension early next week. The HQ figures that Rice's legal team will argue that the suspension is a direct violation of the NFL by-laws that state the Commissioner can not suspend someone for the same violation twice.

Meanwhile, CBS Sports James Brown got to ask Ravens owner Steve Biscioti about the surveillance tape as well...

New Hillsborough Inquests Underway At Liverpool

((HT: Sky Sports))

For those of you unfamiliar, it was one of the darkest days in all of football...

96 fans lost their lives and another 766 people were injured after a crush in an enclosed and overcrowded terrace at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15, 1989. This happened during the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest...

Here's how ITV News covered the disaster


In some of the most shameful cover-ups ever, it was discovered by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September 2012 that no Liverpool fans were responsible for the deaths. Attempts had been made by local police authorities to conceal what happened- including the changing the content of 116 witness statements relating to the disaster.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police- David Crompton, Football Association Chairman- David Bernstein, and Kelvin MacKenzie, then-editor of The Sun newspaper, all apologized at the time.

Here's how BBC's "Panorama" program covered all the shenanigans...


In September 2012, the Panel concluded that up to 41 of the 96 fatalities might have been avoided had they received prompt medical treatment.

A new series of inquests were ordered in December 2012 when the High Court set aside the original death verdicts. The proceedings are expected to last up to 12 months as families hope they finally get the answers they have been chasing for a quarter-century.

The Ministry of Justice has built the biggest courtroom in England and Wales in an office building near the town of Warrington, to host them. A jury will hear the evidence and will be asked to decide on the verdict- an unusual step in inquests like these.

OSG Prem: West Brom's Anelka Facing Ban For Anti-Semitic Gesture

((HT: BPL))

First of all... tell us what you think this gesture means...


Anelka scored twice in West Brom's 3-3 draw with West Ham, but the FA is asking him what in the blue hell he was thinking when he gave the French "quenelle" salute- made famous by French comedian Dieudonne, a close personal friend of Anelka, and linked to anti-Semitism in France.

Anelka is claiming that it was just a nod to his friend while the rest of the world is coming down hard...

French minister for sport Valerie Fourneyron called the move "shocking" and "disgusting" through her official Twitter account.

"Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There's no place for anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred on the football field."

Richard Ferrer, of the Jewish News, told Sky Sports News:

"This is either a lack of awareness on Anelka's part, or something more sinister...he must be aware of the 'quenelle's meaning and the baggage it carries. Surely he was making a statement? It's a major concern for the Football Association."

European Jewish Congress president Moshe Kantor told Sky: "This salute is merely a lesser known Nazi salute and we expect the same kind of punishment to be handed down by the authorities as if Anelka had made the infamous outstretched arm salute."

The HQ guesses that Anelka is in a load of trouble...

Artemis 72 Crash Won't Stop America's Cup... Yet...

((HT: KGO-TV))

The America's Cup is supposed to be a showcase of some of the best boatsmen in the world...

And the crash of Artemis 72 and death of Andrew Simpson is raising questions as to whether or not the sport has out-sped itself for the sake of attracting folks to the redefined catamaran racing in San Francisco Bay.

America's Cup director Stephen Barclay said he is waiting for the results of an internal inquiry before making any official race changes or adjustments. Regatta director Iain Murray is in charge of the internal investigation.

Here's team coverage...


The challenger series starts in July while the America's Cup challenge itself starts against Larry Ellison's Oracle team in August.