1972 Perfect Dolphins Team Honored by the Prez

((ht: sun-sentinel.com))

We like this story. Well, most of it anyway.

The legendary, undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins got an honor that not many pro sports teams get. They got an audience with the president.

And for a die-hard, grew up rooting for them and still do Dolphins fan like me, this was way cool.

Seeing now 83-year old Don Shula on stage with Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and others brought a smile to my face, the presidents face and if you are a football fan, hopefully yours.

For those of you old enough to remember, the 72 Dolphins are still the only team in NFL history to make through the regular season and playoffs undefeated and they went on to win the Super Bowl with a 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins.

31 players, Coach Shula, former Assistant Howard Schnellenberger and others made the trip, one that the original team didn't get to make.

The reason: back when this happened, the nation was in the midst of the Watergate scandal and the White House just plain didn't make a habit of inviting athletes at that time.

Read more about the event from the Miami Herald RIGHT HERE

We salute the 'Fins as well, and I will sheepishly admit, though I was very young...7-years old, at the time this happened, I did attend a game during that season. We lived in Hollywood, Florida at the time and my father's company had seasons tickets.

Yes, it was at the old Orange Bowl, a stadium that is hard to describe if you've never been to, but suffice to say it was an old, rickety, metallic piece of junk in a crappy part of town.

But we went.

That's where my love of the Dolphins began and as you ALL know, you can't change your love from your favorite childhood team.

The Associated Press with video of today's events:

A Bowl Game in the Bahamas?

((espn.com))

Huh?

Last year there weren't enough 6-6 college football teams to play in the over-abudance of post-season exhibitions--uh, we mean bowl games, so they allowed a few 5-7 and 6-7 teams.

But yet today, the NCAA allowed more bowl games.

ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy reports that beginning next season, there will be bowl games in Boca Raton, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas.

Yes, the Bahamas.

The games will have ties to Conference USA and bring the bowl game total to 38.

Why?

We don't really know. We assume there is a call for such a thing. The Boca game will be played at Florida Atlantic's new facility, the Bahamas game, uh...15,000 seat Thomas Robertson stadium. Which, is interesting.

We've been to Nassau twice on scuba diving trips and had nary the idea such a stadium existed.

Yet it apparently does.

We also don't understand exactly how these games will be filled. Though our guess is that it will be from the mildly successful teams in C-USA and say, the Sun Belt.

Because in College Football, though a 7-5 record with no conference title will get you a pretty decent bowl game, in the smaller D-1 leagues, it might not.

So...since there apparently is a large enough segment of the population who is completely lacking in having any life and will watch anything that has the word "Football" attached on T.V, our friends at the 4-letter helped these two games be born.

Good luck.

And if you are playing in the Bahamas bowl, we hope you enjoy conch and bring your scuba gear.

Some pre-travel planning advice from your friends at OSG Sports:

DEVELOPING: Dempster Gets 5 Games

((HT: ESPN/MLB))

For This...???


What say you, faithful reader...???
Is it a worthy punishment...???

He was fined an undisclosed amount for "intentionally throwing at and hitting Alex Rodriguez."

"I was just trying to pitch inside," he said after the game in defense...

Sadlowski Breaks Golf Channel Simulator Again

((HT: Golf Channel))

Jamie Sadlowski broke the Golf Channel simulator with his driver a while back...

Well, he is a long drive champ...

So, Golf Channel brought him in and had him use a 7-iron for approach shots...

He did it again...


Is it going to be a wedge that Sadlowski will use next time...???
The HQ thinks that the Golf Channel either won't ask him back or he'll have to putt from now on...

College Baseball Player Killed Because Kids Were "Bored" (UPDATED With Charges Filed)

((HT: KFOR-TV))

Australian Christopher Lane, a baseball player for East Central University in the south Oklahoma town of Ada, was visiting his girlfriend Friday in the town of Duncan- 85 miles east. Police allege that three teens drove up and shot him in the back "because they were bored" as one of the suspects who confessed to the crime apparently told Duncan, Oklahoma police.

The suspects’ car was identified on security cameras and hours later, the three suspects – ages 15, 16 and 17 – were arrested.

All three suspects are still being held at the Stephens County (OK) jail on a first-degree murder complaint. Their arraignment was postponed until Tuesday afternoon after initially being scheduled for Monday.

Here's the story from Duncan...


"He was an absolute joy to coach," baseball coach Dino Rosato said in a statement issued by the school. "Chris was an extremely well-respected teammate. ... He set a great example for all of his teammates, but more importantly for the younger players. He was a mature student-athlete who his teammates could look to for advice and support."

Mike Smith of the Duncan (OK) Banner newspaper caught up with town sheriff Danny Ford:

Ford said the 17-year-old suspect implicated the 16-year-old as the one who pulled the trigger while the three drove by in a car.

The 17-year-old was the only one providing any details, he said. Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said the teens were being isolated from one another and other inmates at the Stephens County Jail. Police have not found the gun or bullet casing but Ford said statements made by the 17-year-old lead police to think it might have been a revolver.

The mother of the 16-year-old has come forward and apologized to Lane's family. But she also believes that her son was not the one who pulled the trigger.

TUESDAY UPDATE:

Officials have charged 15-year-old James Edwards Jr. and 16-year-old Chancey Luna with first-degree murder as adults.

In addition, 17-year-old Michael Jones is facing two felony counts of discharging a weapon and accessory to murder after the fact.

He is being charged as a juvenile.

June 2012 Murder Weapon Found In Massachusetts, Linked To Hernandez

((HT: CBS 3 Springfield))

Jailene Diaz-Ramos of Bristol, Connecticut was involved in an car accident June 21st in Springfield, Massachusetts and taken to a local hospital. Police inventoried her car and found a Smith and Wesson .38 in a black briefcase in the trunk of her car.

The gun was sent for testing and state police confirmed it was the weapon used in the killing of two men outside a Boston bar in 2012. That murder has been linked to former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.

Diaz-Ramos told police the gun belonged to a friend she referred to as "Chicago." She told police she drove "Chicago" and his friends to work, and that they are football players- for whom and for what level of football wasn't disclosed. She also said that the people she drove to work wanted to leave the briefcase in the trunk so they wouldn't have to bring it into work.

Diaz-Ramos was arraigned in Springfield district court for illegal possession of a gun and ammunition and released on $1,000 bail.

Here's the story from Springfield...
CBS 3 Springfield - WSHM

Mark Martin Picks Up Tony Stewart's Ride

Injured car owner/driver Tony Stewart finally found someone to finish out his 2013 Sprint Cup season.

Monday afternoon, it was announced that veteran driver Mark Martin will bring the #14 Chevy home for the next 13 races. Newcomer Austin Dillon will driver the car for one race--at Talladega.

You'll recall Stewart broke his leg in 2 places in an August 5th short track race in Iowa. He was on the fringe of qualifying for the Sprint Cup Championship, which takes place during the last 12 races of the year. Those points stay with the car. And with the #14 car in 13th place, it's quite possible Martin could still get the car into the Chase.

Martin, who had been scheduled to drive the #55 for Michael Waltrip for 10 races, got a release from owner Michael Waltrip to move over and pick up Stewart. Brian Vickers, who will take over the #55 full-time next season, will finish those races.