Categories
College Football

Odds and Ends: Point shaving at Toledo

Since Friday, the arrest of Harvey “Scooter” McDougle Jr. has sent shockwaves through the sports gambling community.  Actually, no it hasn’t.  We realize that Toledo is DIV I and all but you gotta be pretty desperate to bet on Toledo vs Akron. Still, the question is always whether it could happen at a big time program that garners big time bets.  

According to the Detroit News, a man named Garry Manni gave McDougle cash, a car,  valuables and trips in exchange for affecting outcomes of games.   Although he was only a 4th string running back, McDougle was able to influence other players on both the football and basketball teams.  

Toledo officials held a press conference today to announce that they were unsure whether others would be charged.   Uh yeah… thanks for the staggering info guys.

In other news…

[Still Listen to Gangsta Music]: Another Tony Parker rap video you can’t understand

[NY Times]: Cheerleading responsible for more than half of the catastrophic injuries to female high school and college athletes

[Hockey Rants]: St. Louis blews play strip shootout

[Sydney Morning Herald]: Ian Thorpe to use the I was hammered that night defense

[Our Book of Scrap]: Something about women’s golf… we’re too distracted by Carmen Electra and Joan Jett rumors

And finally, here’s a video of a trick bowling shot.  Yep, that’s right.  Trick Bowling.

Categories
New Jersey Devils

You should see what they planned to do if he was in second place

Lou Lamoriello, one of the best GMs in sports according to Forbes, fired Claude Julien today.  The Devils are first place in the division, won four of the last five and are headed into the playoffs as potentially the number 2 seed in the conference.  Does Lou Lamoriello think he’s Pat Riley or something.

This is the oddest firing we’ve ever heard of.  We’ll let James Mirtle do the commentary:


Obviously there are some tensions behind the scenes to which we haven’t been privy to — but my guess is that’s something that will come out over the next few days. Duhatschek notes that many players looked at the team’s coaching situation as one where Lamoriello was pulling the strings from on high anyway.

Of course, hockey’s wiliest GM has pulled this stunt more than once before, which makes me wonder just who will be willing to take on the Devils’ coaching role in the future given their volatile boss and a lack of job security.

Behind the scenes?  Hmmmm… did someone sleep with someone’s wife?

Links:
[James Mirtle]: Lamoriello cans his coach

Categories
Boston Celtics

Hard to decide which sucks more: the Celtics or the Post Office


It used to be a privilege to be on the postage stamp. Now you can basically put anything on a stamp no matter how lowly or mundane. Which of course explains why the Boston Celtics are selling custom Celtics stamps on their website.

The stamps will feature Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West and Gerald Green. That’s the worst stamp collection in the history of philately. (That’s our big word of the day… it means… stamp collection.) Larry Bird is not coming through that mail slot, fans. Kevin McHale is not coming through that slot, and Robert Parish is not coming through that mail slot.

No word on whether Danny Ainge will pay 53 cents for a 39 cent stamp based on upside.

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Celts, Pierce putting stamp on U.S. mail

Categories
College Football

Hey bro, I just said it’d be nice if you could come to the game



We talkin bout practice!

It’s nice when a man cares so much about his brother that he will go out of his way to attend a spring scrimmage for the Carolina Gamecocks. Not only did Demetrius Pepper shoot a coworker at his grocery store in the face and steal her car to get to the game, when that car broke down, he shot and killed a retired schoolteacher and stole her car. That’s perseverance folks. He didn’t just give up because the first car broke down. Nope, he had a meaningless scrimmage game to go to.

Demetrius was arrested just 15 minutes after the game started when someone noticed a suspicious car outside the stadium and police found him at the vehicle that belonged to the slain schoolteacher. He is being held without bail.

Nathan Pepper, who is a sophomore defensive tackle at USC, had no comment. You have to feel sorry for the two shooting victims who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time when Demetrius went batshit crazy and decided it was perfectly ok to shoot people and steal cars because he needed to get somewhere. Guess what Demetrius, it’s gonna be even harder to see the games from prison.

Links:
[The State]: Man charged with murder

Categories
MLB General

Hope Springs Eternal aka Opening Day

Ahhhh opening day, when even Cubs and Royals fans have hope for the upcoming season.  Well, in the case of the Royals, it might be delusion.  Then again, nobody thought the Tigers had much of a shot last year either.  

The Mets officially kicked it out yesterday by beating the Cards but today is the real opening day for the rest of baseball.  Here is a rundown of the 2007 MLB Predictions and Previews from major sports sites and around the blogosphere:

ESPN: 2007 Predicted Standings / Expert Picks

Fox Sports: MLB Predictions for 2007 / Team Previews

CBS Sportsline:  Expert Picks

TSN: 2007 MLB Preview

WBRS Sports:
And Finally the Long Awaited, Unsanctioned WBRS Baseball Preview

Vigilante Sports: Major League Baseball 2007 Preview and Predictions

phsports: 2007 MLB Preview: Part III of III [Predictions]

Thunder Matt’s Saloon: Baseball Preview

The House That Dewey Built: We Predictiate the 2007 Season! And Opening Day thoughts

And if that’s still not enough for you, here are more previews than you can shake a stick at.

Categories
NFL General

Ex-NFL player throws old man off balcony


At one time, Hubert D. Thompson was considered to be the top-rated defensive end prospect in the nation by many analysts. Now, the former Spartan and Saint will be need to learn how to become proficient at defending his own rear end because he’s about to be locked up for a long time.

Thompson was involved in a seven-hour standoff with SWAT teams surrounding his apartment in Lombard, IL, after he threw a 66-year-old man off of a third story balcony. Thompson is being held on $3 million bond and is charged with the murder of James Malone.

There is currently no motive for the Suge Knight/Vanilla Ice recreation gone wrong, but police said that it could have been just a case of Malone being in the wrong place at the wrong time as Thompson went berserk and punched the old man in the face while out in the hallway before tossing him over the edge.

The allegation is that it was unprovoked,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett told the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald. “This individual is going to be evaluated, I’m sure.

Lombard Police Deputy Chief Dane Cuny said that his officers had several encounters with Thompson in the past due to his “emotional issues” and said that this was possibly another “emotional episode” by Thompson. Calling this an emotional episode is like saying Mike Tyson only has a slight anger management problem. We like to refer to something like this as more of an emotional meltdown.

Links:

[ChicagoSports.com]: Ex-NFL player facing murder charges
[SI.com]: Ex-MSU player charged with murder
[Chicago Tribune]: Ex-football pro held on murder charge

Categories
College Basketball

Joakim Noah doesn’t like being called "good"

We all know that Joakim Noah looks funny. And we all know that Joakim Noah dances funny. But did you know that Joakim Noah could be funny behind the mic. Well, it’s not exactly Eddie Murphy or George Carlin funny but we still think that you’ll get a chuckle out of Noah’s reaction to being called “good” by Ohio State guard Ron Lewis. Apparently, Noah has been attending the Alicia Silverstone school of comedy.

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Sun burned


1. Another Mavs’ streak bites the dust
The last time the Mavs and Suns got together it was an instant classic, but the rematch didn’t quite have the same pizzazz. Dallas got spanked by 22, 126-104, as Phoenix shot 65 percent for the game and Steve Nash had another great game against his former club. The teams are 2-2 in the season series and the way it appears it’s going to shake out the two won’t be meeting up again unless they make it to the Western Conference finals. But Dallas shouldn’t take the loss too hard because they can still claim an impressive 61-8 record since beginning the season with a four game losing streak, and they are expected to sign veteran big man Kevin Willis to a 10-day contract today. That’s a great move because you can never have too many big bodies when it comes time to bang it out with the other power teams in the West.

2. Broken hand, broken heart

The Wizards win over the Bucks, coupled with a Miami loss to Detroit yesterday gave Washington a ½ game lead over the Heat in the Southeast Division. But the results of the day aren’t that great; after all, Washington lost their second best player with a broken hand which will keep him sidelined for what will most likely be the remainder of the year. Even if the Wiz get home court advantage in the playoffs, the loss of Caron Butler leaves Washington as a one man show with the hopes of the franchise riding solely on the shoulders of Gilbert Arenas. If the post season began today Agent 0, I mean the Wizards would be facing the Bulls in the first round. Good luck with that one.

3. It’s so good to be back
Toronto fans have known that this day was coming for some time now, but yesterday their dreams became a reality as the Raptors locked up a post season berth for the first time in five years. As usual, it was Chris Bosh who led the way by scoring 24 points and pulling down 16 rebounds in the 107-94 victory over the Bobcats. Right now Toronto has the third seed in the East which would place them against a hot Heat team that will be welcoming D-Wade back to practice today. So, the Raptors might want to enjoy this feeling while it lasts because it could be a very quick return to the playoffs, perhaps only a four or five game stay.

Sunday’s Player of the Day: Yao Ming vs. Utah 40 min, 35 pts (FG: 11-24, FT: 13-15), 16 reb, 4 blk

Monday’s Game to Watch: Sorry, no games on the schedule for today. But do you really want to watch the pros play tonight anyway?

Buzzer Beater: Jordan Farmar became the first player to ever to pull off a head scratching feat in the NBA, and it wasn’t going 2-for-5 from the field for four points. However, Farmar did become the first player to play a game in a Development League and the NBA in the same day. Before joining the Lakers for a contest against the Kings in LA, Farmar scored 18 points to go along with six assists and three steals for the Los Angeles D-Fenders. While the pay isn’t as good, Farmar had to enjoy racking up 41 minutes and jacking up 16 shots in the contest. That’s the closest he’ll ever get to being like his MVP candidate teammate.

Categories
College Football

Odds and Ends: Jim Harbaugh takes the opening shot



What did I say?

Jim Harbaugh just got the job as Stanford’s coach and he’s already making enemies. Harbaugh came out and said that USC’s Pete Carroll would not be with the program come next year. Pete denied the statement and fired back with the ol’ “And if he has any questions about it he should call me.” Sounds like we have an old fashioned feud a brewin’, too bad these two won’t be suiting up when their teams get together on October 6.

In other news…

[Steroid Nation]: George Mitchell is taking his sweet time with this steroid inquiry

[Page Six]: Beckham says, why can’t I check the menu?

[BostonHerald.com]: A marathon isn’t squat after going to the moon and back

[Page Six]: LeBron like Karl Malone, loves big breaseses.

[The Big Lead]: Carl Pavano should go hang out with LeBron now

[AdFreak.com]: Christian Laettner has already ordered two boxes

And for all you ladies out there, here’s a story to help you sleep a little better at night.

Categories
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lionel Gates gets locked up



And I thought I was nuts.

Tampa Bay running back Lionel Gates is a piece of trash. Even Mike Tyson thinks Gates went too far after he punched a pregnant woman in the face before he shoved her into a wall on Thursday night. Gates is currently sitting in jail without bond on charges of burglary of a dwelling, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman and criminal mischief.

Gates went ballistic at the apartment of Peggy Lavender as he kicked in the front door, smashed a pair of TV’s and went Ron Artest on Lavender.

Charges such as those facing Lionel Gates are taken seriously by the Buccaneers organization,” the team said in a statement. “We plan to meet with Lionel as soon as possible after which we will deal with this matter appropriately.

If the Bucs have any guts at all they will kick this punk off their team without any further questions asked and Roger Goodell will ban him from the league. But that’s just our wishful thinking, after all, he has yet to make an example out of Chris Henry or Pacman Jones, and their criminal history reads like a novel.

Links:

[TBO.com]: Bucs player accused of assaulting pregnant woman
[CBSSportsline.com]: Bucs RB Gates arrested, charged with assaulting pregnant woman