Kentucky Wildcats lands Knight

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/15/1206936/kentucky-signs-knight-adds-more.html


“Sort of a display of strength,” analyst Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com called the commitments by senior point guard Brandon Knight of Pine Crest, Fla., and junior forward Michael Gilchrist of Elizabeth, N.J.


Earlier this month, UK announced that five players, including four freshmen from last year’s No. 1-rated recruiting class, would enter their names in the NBA draft.


The Wildcats also announced the signing of 6-foot-10 center/forward Enes Kanter, a Turkish phenom who verbally committed to the Washington Huskies in November but then re-opened his recruitment in February.


Hayward to test NBA


Gordon Hayward couldn’t quite say no to the NBA’s money – but hasn’t said goodbye to his Butler teammates, either.


The 6-foot-9 sophomore announced that he would enter the NBA draft while retaining his option of returning to school. He has until May 8 to withdraw his name. …


Purdue forward JaJuan Johnson and guard E’Twaun Moore plan to skip their senior seasons and enter the NBA draft. The school announced the pair would not hire agents. Elsewhere


Jeff Bzdelik was introduced as the new basketball coach at Wake Forest, ending a search for a replacement for Dino Gaudio. The former coach at Air Force and the NBA’s Denver Nuggets left Colorado after three seasons, where he was 36-58. … Rutgers guard Mike Rosario has been granted a conditional release so he can transfer, meaning the Scarlet Knights can approve what school he goes to. … Wright State promoted longtime assistant Billy Donlon to head coach a day after losing Brad Brownell to Clemson.



Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/15/1206936/kentucky-signs-knight-adds-more.html#ixzz0lBmr4pbG

Eddie Jordan fired after one season

Hey, don't blame him. The GM should have went out and got decent players instead of wasting millions on thug-wanna-be Allen Iverson.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/90932549.html?cmpid=15585797

Jordan’s imminent dismissal was reported in The Inquirer over a month ago.

Comcast-Spectacor will be obligated to pay Jordan for two more seasons, or approximately $6 million, through the 2011-2012 season; On June 1, 2009, Jordan signed a four-year contract, the final season of which was a team option.

Sixers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski, who executed the three-week coaching search that resulted in Jordan’s hiring, is scheduled to make the announcement.

According to a source close to Stefanski, as of Wednesday he was continuing in his same capacity and had been given no indication he would be removed from that role.

Jordan’s firing marks the conclusion of a turbulent season, one in which Jordan never settled on a set player rotation and made a number of seemingly bizarre in-game moves and post-game comments.

Watching the post-game press conferences of Jordan was like watching his gradual, season-long undoing.

In October, Jordan came to the podium in a suit coat and tie, his put-together appearance reflecting what was still a hopeful, optimistic group. But with each passing week, Jordan’s tie became looser, the top button of his shirt became unbuttoned, and occasionally he went without a suit coat all together.

Jordan’s eyes grew dark circles around them and he often stopped offering an opening remark, saying only, “Go ahead”, and then waiting for the inevitable questions about another inevitable loss.

I'm back

I took some time off. But I am back. Can't wait to get this blog up again.

Ortiz and steroids?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4385699

NEW YORK -- David Ortiz believes then-legal supplements and vitamins likely caused him to land on a 2003 list of alleged drug users seized by the federal government, and Major League Baseball and the players' association said some of the players on the list never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances.

MLB said in a statement Saturday that 96 urine samples, at most, tested positive in the 2003 survey -- and the players' association said 13 of those were in dispute.


I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter -- legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter -- but I never buy steroids or use steroids," Ortiz said during a news conference that began about 3½ hours before his Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees.

"I never thought that buying supplements and vitamins, it was going to hurt anybody's feelings."

The New York Times reported last month that Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on the 2003 list and said earlier that Sammy Sosa was on it. In February, Sports Illustrated reported Alex Rodriguez was on it, and Rodriguez later admitted he had used performance-enhancing substances from 2001 to 2003.


[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Union general counsel Michael Weiner, left, said the MLBPA couldn't tell Ortiz if he had tested positive, only that he was on the 2003 list.
Ortiz said when he met with union lawyer Michael Weiner in 2004, he wasn't told he tested positive for steroids. Weiner, who has been designated to succeed union head Donald Fehr, said that because the list is under court seal, the union couldn't confirm to Ortiz that he tested positive, only that he was on the list.

"I want to apologize to fans for the distraction, my teammates, our manager," Ortiz said, flanked by Weiner, with Boston manager Terry Francona standing behind and to the side. "This past week has been a nightmare to me."

Some players past and present -- notably Hall of Famer Hank Aaron -- have called for the entire list to be released.

"Sure, there are some people who say 'Why don't we just get this story over with and get the list out?'" Weiner said. "I think to do that would one, be illegal, and two, be wrong. It's illegal because it's covered by court order, and it would be wrong because a promise was made by the commissioner's office and the union to every player who was tested in 2003 that the results would be anonymous."

Ortiz is against the list becoming public.

"I don't think that I would really like to see another player going through what I've been through this past week," he said.

Manning to be overpaid - Eli that is

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/08/06/2009-08-06_giants_make_eli_manning_nfls_highestpaid_player_but_hes_far_from_best_quarterbac.html

In such a tight economy, did the Giants really have to give him the agreed upon six-year, $97.5million extension (with $35million guaranteed), that added on to the $9.4 million he was already getting this season in the final year of his rookie deal, making his grand total $106.9 million over the next seven years? That covers quite a few PSL sales, you know. His annual average is $1.25 million more than his brother's and 50% more than Brady's $10 million.

It really comes down to this: That's the going rate, and the Giants had no desire to create ill will and stick him with the franchise tag next year. Was A-Rod, with no rings, worth a 10-year, $275 million extension from the Yankees? At least Manning was at his best on that final Super Bowl drive against the Patriots, although the way he played against the Eagles in the playoffs last season makes you wonder how he did it against New England.

We know he can handle the responsibility off the field of being the league's highest-paid player. But what about on the field? "Highest-paid player" now becomes part of his name. More will be expected of him. The pressure will be turned up. And he has to do without a true No. 1 receiver.

"You don't get more pressure than he already has in this market," Reese said. "He knows how to handle pressure and he's done it before. I don't expect to see anything different in his attitude and work ethic."

Manning could stay at No. 1 on the pay chart for a while considering all the top quarterbacks are locked into long-term deals. As long as Brady shows he's the same player post-knee surgery this season, the Patriots soon will want to extend/renegotiate his six-year, $60 million deal that runs through 2010. That contract is badly outdated considering Matt Cassel, who had been Brady's backup, turned his buddy's injury last year into a six-year, $63million deal with the Chiefs.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/08/06/2009-08-06_giants_make_eli_manning_nfls_highestpaid_player_but_hes_far_from_best_quarterbac.html#ixzz0NnC1FFLt

Info on Gatti's death

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxing_news/25056-brazil-provide-details-on-boxer-gattis-death.html

Michael Vick with no job - who cares?

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/rank?versionId=1&listId=341

Where will Michael Vick end up?

With Brett Favre out of the picture, all the attention now turns to the other quarterback looking for a job this offseason. Michael Vick, who has been conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, is free to sign with a team but which situation is the best fit for the league's former highest paid player?

Coming off a two-year prison sentence, many teams aren't sure about what Vick has to offer. There are questions about his fitness and skill level and the public relations hit a team could take is certainly in every owner's thoughts. Will he be the type of quarterback to stay in the pocket and throw the ball down field? Is he still the run first, pass second guy? Is quarterback even the right position for him?

Take all these questions into account as you decide which teams are most likely to step up to the plate and give Vick the second chance he so desperately wants.

Click on the team logos below to create your rankings.

Veron Forrest Killed

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/boxer-vernon-forrest-100921.html

The incident began at 11 p.m. at the Chevron on Whitehall Street in Southwest Atlanta when Forrest, 38, stopped to put air in the tires of his Jaguar, said Atlanta Police Detective Lt. Keith Meadows.

A male suspect approached Forrest and robbed him of a few items at gunpoint, he said. Forrest, who was also armed, then chased the suspect to an area near McDaniel and Fulton Streets.

Forrest was shot seven to eight times in the back, Meadows said. Meadows said there is evidence Forrest used his weapon but did not know if the suspect was shot.

An 11-year-old boy, described as a godson by Forrest’s manager Charles Watson, was in the Chevron at the time of the robbery. The boy is the son of Forrest’s girlfriend, Meadows said, and was able to provide police with a description of the suspect. Police are looking for that man and a second suspect who left in a red Monte Carlo, Meadows said.

The boy did not see the shooting, he added.

The APD is interviewing several witnesses Sunday.

Al Mitchell, who first trained Forrest when he was an amateur and then as a pro since 2000, said Forrest was “a guy who did everything right.”

“He didn’t take drugs. He wasn’t involved with gangs. He lived his life the right way. He was a gentleman,” said Mitchell, who learned of the news through Forrest’s manager, Charles Watson.

“I trained a lot of kids ... and most of them are now teachers or doing something else. They’re all good role models. They understand what life is about. They take care of their family. Vernon was like that. He took care of his mother, his sister, his son. He took care of his friends. How can something like this happen? Just in the wrong place at the wrong time – that’s all it was.”

Forrest, a longtime Atlanta resident, started boxing at age 9 and won his first major title in 2001, when he defeated Raul Frank for the IBF welterweight title. He is a recent WBC middleweight champ and 1992 Olympian who had a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts.

He achieved long-sought recognition with two wins over “Sugar” Shane Mosley in 2002 that earned him the title of Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year.

“My goal, once I’m done, is to be considered one of the best boxers in my era,” Forrest told the AJC in 2007.

In his last major match-up, in 2008, he reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title at age 37 after battering his rival, 27-year-old Sergio Mora in a unanimous decision.

Forrest was also involved in charity work. He started Destiny’s Child Inc., which provided housing and assistance to mentally challenged adults.

Mitchell says “The Viper” was training to fight again.

“He told me his plan was to fight again in September and then fight for the title in December,” Mitchell said. “He was supposed to call me this week with details.

Brett Farve drama

http://blogs.usatoday.com/thehuddle/2009/07/agent-brett-favre-needs-more-time-before-giving-vikings-an-answer.html

Brett Favre is not likely to inform the Vikings today if he's going to un-retire and join them.

ESPN's Rachel Nichols spoke with Favre's agent, Bus Cook, who indicated the quarterback needs more time to decide.

"He just doesn't feel ready yet," Nichols said of her conversation with Cook. "There are some things he's still considering."

NFL.com had reported earlier this week that Favre would give the Vikings an answer by today. But on Thursday night, NFL.com columnist Thomas George also reported that Favre needed more time.

Vikings veterans report for training camp on Thursday.
Hat tip: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Prince Fielder wins 2009 Home Run Derby

http://free-sms-mms.blogspot.com/2009/07/2009-home-run-derby-winner-prince.html

Home Run Derby 2009 was held on 13/07/2009 and the event was held at Busch Stadium.

Last years ie 2008 winner was Justin Morneau.

Some other participants other than winner Prince Fielder were :-

Nelson Cruz, Brandon Inge, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Pena and Joe Mauer.

Once again congratulations for 2009 Home Run Derby winner Prince Fielder.

2009 MLB All-Star Game Rosters

American League
Starters
Pos Player B/T

RF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA L/R

SS Derek Jeter, NYY R/R

C Joe Mauer, MIN L/R

1B Mark Teixeira, NYY S/R

LF Jason Bay, BOS R/R

CF Josh Hamilton, TEX L/L

3B Evan Longoria, TB R/R

2B Aaron Hill, TOR R/R

P Roy Halladay, TOR R/R

Pitchers
Pos Player B/T

P Andrew Bailey, OAK R/R

P Josh Beckett, BOS R/R

P Mark Buehrle, CWS L/L

P Brian Fuentes, LAA L/L

P Zack Greinke, KC R/R

P Felix Hernandez, SEA R/R

P Edwin Jackson, DET R/R

P Joe Nathan, MIN R/R

P Jonathan Papelbon, BOS R/R

P Mariano Rivera, NYY R/R

P Justin Verlander, DET R/R

P Tim Wakefield, BOS R/R


Reserves
Pos Player B/T

C Victor Martinez, CLE S/R

1B Justin Morneau, MIN L/R

1B Carlos Pena, TB+ L/L

1B Kevin Youkilis, BOS R/R

2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS³ R/R

SS Jason Bartlett, TB R/R

3B Brandon Inge, DET¹ R/R

3B Michael Young, TEX R/R

OF Carl Crawford, TB L/L

OF Nelson Cruz, TEX+ R/R

OF Curtis Granderson, DET L/R

OF Torii Hunter, LAA² R/R

OF Adam Jones, BAL R/R

OF Ben Zobrist, TB




National League
Starters
Pos Player B/T

SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA R/R

2B Chase Utley, PHI L/R

1B Albert Pujols, STL R/R

LF Ryan Braun, MIL R/R

RF Raul Ibanez, PHI L/R

3B David Wright, NYM R/R

CF Shane Victorino, PHI¹ S/R

C Yadier Molina, STL R/R

P Tim Lincecum, SF L/R

Pitchers
Pos Player B/T

P Heath Bell, SD R/R

P Chad Billingsley, LAD R/R

P Jonathan Broxton, LAD² R/R

P Matt Cain, SF² R/R

P Francisco Cordero, CIN R/R

P Zach Duke, PIT+ L/L

P Ryan Franklin, STL R/R

P Dan Haren, ARI R/R

P Trevor Hoffman, MIL+ R/R

P Josh Johnson, FLA L/R

P Ted Lilly, CHC L/L

P Jason Marquis, COL L/R

P Francisco Rodriguez, NYM R/R

P Johan Santana, NYM L/L

Reserves
Pos Player B/T

C Brian McCann, ATL L/R

1B Prince Fielder, MIL L/R

1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD L/L

1B Ryan Howard, PHI L/L

2B Orlando Hudson, LAD S/R

2B Freddy Sanchez, PIT R/R

SS Miguel Tejada, HOU R/R

3B Ryan Zimmerman, WSH R/R

OF Carlos Beltran, NYM² S/R

OF Brad Hawpe, COL L/L

OF Hunter Pence, HOU R/R

OF Justin Upton, ARI R/R

OF Jayson Werth, PHI+

Fan visit Mcnair one last time

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grrYbARZsg3ruEAqycFPRfNu2EjwD99B00NO0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Fans lined up outside a funeral home before work Thursday to pay their respects to ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair.

Inside the building, a closed silvery-gray casket sat next to a photograph of the former Tennessee Titans star.

A line formed around the corner and many mourners showed up wearing Tennessee Titans jerseys and T-shirts to pay their respects to a man they say was a leader of the team.

Former teammate Derrick Lewis said McNair "put the Titans on the map."

Lewis, wearing a jersey, said he and his family were devastated when they learned of McNair's death. Police have said McNair, 36, was shot four times July 4 by a girlfriend who then killed herself in a condo McNair shared with a friend.

"Myself and my family were completely shocked and some of us were crying because you almost feel like you are related," Lewis said.

Annetta Moore brought her grandson, Darrien James, 9, and granddaughter Olivia Cole, 11, to the funeral home and said she planned to take them to LP Field for another public memorial Thursday.

Moore said it wasn't uncommon to see McNair hanging out around town.

"I think he just blended right in with everybody," Moore said.

The Tennessee Titans have also opened LP Field to the public, where a video tribute to McNair is being shown and fans can write messages in a book for McNair's family.

McNair's wife, close friends and ex-teammates are expected at a memorial service Thursday night at Mount Zion Baptist Church where the family has attended since moving to Nashville in 1997.

McNair killed by lover

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/07/08/2009-07-08_steve_mcnair.html

"The police department has concluded that Steve McNair was murdered by Sahel Kazemi and that, in turn, Sahel Kazemi killed herself with a single gunshot wound to her head," said Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas. "The totality of the evidence clearly points to a murder-suicide."

Serpas said the findings were based on the appearance of the crime scene, evidence collected, autopsy findings and laboratory results. He said he broke the news to the widow of the former Tennessee Titan's quarterback, Mechelle, before going public.

"We believe now, at this time, that McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep," Serpas said.

"And we believe that Kazemi shot him in the right temple, then shot him twice in the chest and then shot him a final time in the left temple."

The chief said Kazemi sat down on the sofa next to the 36-year-old McNair and shot herself once in the right temple.

All five shell casings littering the crime scene matched the weapon that Kazemi purchased on Thursday and was discovered beneath her slumped over body, Serpas said.

Gunshot residue was found on Kazemi's left hand. None was discovered on McNair's hands, bolstering the case's conclusions, said Serpas.

"Because there's a lack of any evidence of a struggle or defensive wounds to McNair, his physical position on the sofa, the trajectory of the bullets and the wound pattern we still believe it was likely that Kazemi shot Mr. McNair and he didn't know," Serpas said.

In the five days leading up to her violent explosion, Kazemi had been stressed out about having to make payments on two cars, including a Cadillac Escalade she had bought with McNair, Serpas said.

Her roommate had recently announced that she was moving out and Kazemi, a waitress at a Dave and Buster's sports bar in Nashville, feared her rent would double.

Compounding her anxieties was an increasing suspicion that she was not McNair's only mistress.

"She believed McNair was involved with another woman and that, too, participated in her state of mind, we think," said Serpas.

Kazemi even tracked down the woman she assumed McNair was romantically involved with and followed her home Friday, but did not confront her, Serpas said.

"She had become very distraught and on two occasions she had told friends and associates that her life was all messed up and that she was going to end it all," Serpas said.

He added that Kazemi told a friend on Friday, "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it."

Relatives told reporters that Kazemi believed McNair, the father of four, was about to finalize a divorce from his wife of 12 years. In reality, no divorce papers were ever filed.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/07/08/2009-07-08_steve_mcnair.html#ixzz0Km942wQ8&C

Steve McNair found dead

http://ktar.com/?sid=1186571&nid=237

Josh Hamiltom caught with women who aren't his wife lol

http://ballhype.com/story/josh_hamilton_had_some_fun_with_some_drunk_asu_girls/

Shaq goes to Cavs - who cares, he is old and out of shape

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/06/25/shaq.trade.analysis/

Well ...

It's hard for me to slap Steve upside the head. For years as a player, he was eminently quotable, funny and intelligent, providing great insights into the championship teams in Chicago and San Antonio in which he was a part. And he was a terrific colleague of mine at TNT. But there is no other conclusion to make after Kerr sent Shaq to Cleveland late Wednesday for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic -- the Shaq experiment in the Arizona desert was a colossal failure, and Kerr has to take the responsibility and the major heat for that.

Every bit of the gambit failed, and the high-flying, free-wheeling Suns, the league's most exciting team this decade, were sacrificed. Shawn Marion was sent to Miami in the deal, depriving Phoenix of its best (only?) open-court defender. Mike D'Antoni was told to take his circus and go home (he wound up in New York). Amar'e Stoudemire came within hours of being dealt at the trade deadline last season (to be fair, owner Robert Sarver's finances were more of an impetus behind those trade talks). Terry Porter -- Kerr's hand-picked replacement for D'Antoni -- didn't make it to the All-Star break, having been sabotaged from within, mere months after getting a mandate to do whatever it took to make Phoenix a better halfcourt team.

So, now, a year and a half later -- and Steve Nash a year and a half older -- the Suns can get back to playing the way they play, their payroll pared more to what their ownership can bear.

Sorry about being Lazy

I've been super busy. Nice to see I am still getting a thousands hits or so a week without anything new!

Florida Gators are "good guys" - who cares about their arrest records

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4250905

No one is perfect. That was the message Florida coach Urban Meyer tried to convey Thursday as he addressed the 24 legal incidents involving Gators players since 2005.


SEC blog

ESPN.com's Chris Low writes about all things SEC in his conference blog.

• Blog network

Meyer said he's disappointed with the incidents but he and his staff are determined to educate his players and by and large they are "a pretty good group."

However, the legal problems are taking some of the luster from Meyer's program, which will attempt to win a third national title in four years this season.

Starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins was the latest Gator to have a run-in with the law when he was arrested in late May and charged with fighting and resisting arrest without violence.

"This group of players we have now are by and large a pretty good group. They are 18-to-22 years old and, like most young people, they are trying to find their way," Meyer said in a statement.

"It is a continual part of our program to mentor and guide our players and it is not an exact process. Although we have been very successful with most, we are by no means perfect. We are disappointed when we encounter some issues along the way, but we are going to continue to educate and teach our players."

ESPN college football analyst Jesse Palmer, who played quarterback at Florida from 1997 until 2000, defended Meyer in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

"[Urban] can't be out at the clubs at 1 a.m. monitoring these guys," Palmer told the Sentinel. "I think it's an internal accountability issue where these players might think they are invincible after the national title. Everybody's patting them on the back and you feel like you can do anything."

Alabama in trouble with NCAA

http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/cfootballnews.asp?articleID=260071

Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - The Alabama football program will reportedly be forced to vacate a number of wins from 2005-07 as a result of NCAA violations of textbook distribution policy.

The Birmingham News reported Thursday that the NCAA will announce the ruling at 3 p.m. (et). The report said the number of wins is at least 10, and that the NCAA will both place Alabama on three years' probation and fine the school.

The newspaper said the school, which was already on probation when the infractions occurred, must vacate all wins during the time frame in which implicated players were involved. Alabama suspended five players in 2007 after it was discovered they were involved in the acquisition of free textbooks for friends.

Because they were suspended prior to the team's win against Tennessee on October 20, 2007, the News reported Alabama will not have to vacate that victory or its bowl win over Colorado later in the year.

The paper reported several other Alabama sports were involved and will need to vacate individual records; about 200 athletes in all were involved over a four-year period.

Lakers all over Magic again

This may be over in four -

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/gameTrax?gameId=2009060713&refreshRate=30