Categories
San Francisco Giants

Barry Bonds is a good teammate


The New York Daily News is reporting that Barry Bonds failed a drug test and violated MLB’s amphetamine policy last season but blamed it on a teammate. According to Bonds, he took a substance from Mark Sweeney’s locker and it turned out to be amphetamines. Hmmmm…. so what we have here is a world class athlete under intense scrutiny for performance enhancing drugs just randomly putting stuff in his body that he found in a teammate’s locker. Unless that substance was a bucket of friend chicken he found in Pedro Cerrano’s locker, we’re calling bullshit.

Amphetamines (speed), long used in baseball and known as “greenies” are a performance enhancing drug but does not fall under the steroid category so Bonds wasn’t suspended 50 games. Instead he was given counseling and treatment. A second offense would have meant a 25 game suspension.

Bonds and all his defenders have always said that he never did anything wrong because even if he took steroids, it was before the league banned them outright and he has never failed a drug test. Well, that argument is out the window. He has failed a drug test for a performance enhancer. Is there really any question that Bonds is not a “natural” athlete and a cheater? And on top of that, in a team sport, he throws a teammate under the bus. It really will be a shame if Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s home run record.

Links:
[NY Daily News]: Failure leaves a testy Barry

[Palm Beach Post]: Baseball and amphetimines

Categories
Denver Broncos

Jan 11 in Sports History: The Drive


In 1987: A hilarious thing happened to the Cleveland Browns on their way to Super Bowl XXI: John Elway. Old Municipal Stadium (that’s the Mistake by the Lake to you and me) was at Armageddon decibels when Brian Brennan hauled in a 48-yard touchdown pass from Bernie Kosar to tale a 20-13 lead over the Denver Broncos with 5:43 to play in the AFC Championship game. When Denver mishandled the kickoff at the two yard line, it didn’t get much quieter. Elway stepped in, however, and marched the Broncos 98 yards, converting three third downs (including a 3rd and 18) and barely escaping Cleveland’s constant pressure. The Drive, as it would forever be known, ended with an Elway bullet that found Mark Jackson in the end zone to tie the score. Still, the Browns felt confident, as they had won three overtime games already that season (including one against the Jets a week earlier in the playoffs). The Broncos won the coin toss though, and the barefooted Rich Karlis booted a 33-yard field goal minutes later for a 23-20 victory that sent the Broncos to Pasadena, the Browns to the front nine and Elway to the Hall of Fame (or at least put him on a fast track). A friend I had from Cleveland swore to me that he was at the game and most of the crowd stuck around and cheered the team for an hour after the game. I never believed him, because if it were me, I would’ve been too busy alternating between pounding alcohol and a cinder block against my skull as to kill the memories. Of course, the laughs doubled the following year…(remember Cleveland, it got better the following year)

In 1998: Ok. It would only be fair to include another Broncos victory in an AFC Championship game that happened on the same day 11 years later. Once again, Elway went on the road and broke the hearts of the home crowd, this time beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 at Three Rivers Stadium to go to Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego. Elway had help though, this time from Steelers’ quarterback Kordell Stewart, who began showing his true postseason mettle (more like metal in the space where his brain was believed to have occupied) by throwing three interceptions (two in the Broncos end zone) and losing a fumble, and Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher (who kept relying on Stewart instead of a strong Jerome Bettis). Elway was good enough to lead the Broncos to a 10-point halftime lead which Pittsburgh could never recover from. It would be Denver’s fifth Super Bowl appearance.

Categories
Soccer

Cheryl Tweedy, meet Carmella Decesare


Most of you probably don’t know who Cheryl Tweedy (Cole) is. That’s ok, she’s just some pop singer in England. But she is also smokin’ hot. The reason why this is sports related? She’s married to a footballer (that’s soccer player) named Ashley Cole, who is rumored to be gay.

Cheryl lashed out today at people who think her husband Ashley is gay and dismissed the rumors as ridiculous.


At first I laughed my head off because the suggestion was so ridiculous. But Ashley wasn’t laughing. It wasn’t very nice for either of us, but it certainly wasn’t a good time for him. But I was there for him when people had a go at him in the street or asked if he was gay. He says it doesn’t hurt him when stuff is said but deep down I know it must do. To be honest, it’s more devastating for me than it is for him because I love him and I know what he’s going through.

So basically, Ashley Cole is the Jeff Garcia of soccer. Remember when Carmella Decesare (2004 Playmate of the Year) came out to defend her boyfriend against the accusation by Terrell Owens that Jeff was gay? (“I can attest 100 percent that he is not gay.”)

We think that Cheryl Tweedy should call up Carmella and ask her for advice on how to deal with the situation. And then maybe meet up for coffee… and then maybe go lingerie shopping together… and then… what were we talking about again?

Links:
[Pink News]: Mrs Ashley Cole attacks “ridiculous” rumours
[YouTube]: How did Jeff Garcia land Carmella? GARY BARBERA!

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Divorce Court



It’s over?

1. Gold Digger Alert
By this point, everyone is familiar with the unusual circumstances surrounding the divorce proceedings between Jason Kidd and his wife Joumana. But did you know that Kidd isn’t the only Net who is going through a split. In a far less entertaining manner, Vince Carter and his wife, Ellen Rucker, have initiated the paperwork to dissolve their relationship as well. So far, “Half-Man, Half-A Commitment” has not publicly admitted to quitting on the marriage, but the breakup could be the leading factor in a move from New Jersey. Rucker will most likely move to Orlando or her hometown of Charlotte and take the couple’s daughter with her. Carter will become a free agent at the end of the year, making these very tempting destinations as they might be able to offer Vince, the dad, an incentive that no other team could. By the way, the Nets have finally moved into first place in their division thanks to a 15-19 record that management would like to annul.

2. Sixers buyout Chris Webber
Speaking of divorces, the Sixers are getting rid of all their big contracts this year. The latest is a buyout of Chris Webber’s contract. Scheduled to make $45M combined this year and next, Webber is expected to only give back less than $5M and becomes a free agent. This is a win-win because Webber potentially gets to make more money or goes to a contending team for less than his usual asking price while the Sixers get salary cap and luxury tax relief — not to mention no-defense-playing relief.

3. We’re Going Streaking!
Believe it or not, but teams other than Dallas can string together consecutive wins. And since the Mavs latest streak is currently only at one, there’s an opportunity to recognize them as well. Phoenix is no stranger to great spurts of play, and owns the longest active win streak at seven. This comes after the Suns ripped off 15 in a row earlier in the year. The Cavs can take credit as the hottest team in the East after winning their last five games. On the other side of the coin, New Orleans and Seattle get to share the humiliation of being the leagues reigning bottom feeders since both teams have dropped their previous five contests.

4. Five Times the Pain
Nobody has every questioned Bobby Jackson’s work ethic in the past, and now we know why. Jackson was injured during a game in late November against Toronto and it was determined that he had a cracked rib. The painful injury kept him sidelined until January 4th when he returned to play for ten minutes against Detroit. On Tuesday, a CT scan showed that Jackson had played with not one, but five cracked ribs. And the former sixth man of the year is only listed as day to day! Talk about a pain threshold. Luckily, no additional damage was sustained in his brief return to the court, but Jackson might want to reconsider his choice of medical practitioners before his next annual checkup.

Tuesday’s Player of the Day: Nick Collison @ Phoenix 44 min, 29 pts (FG: 12-18, FT: 5-9), 21 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk

Wednesday’s Game to Watch: Chicago (20-15) @ Washington (19-14) Chicago has struggled recently by losing three of their last four games, but they remain one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference behind a solid starting five and one of the best sixth men the league has ever witnessed. Ben Gordon leads the Bulls in scoring despite being fourth on the team in minutes. But when it comes to scoring, it’s Washington that has the obvious advantage with MVP candidate Gilbert Arenas. Arenas is second in the league scoring and has been collecting 40 point games like stamps all year long. The Bulls will have to step up their pathetic play on the road against a Wiz team that is 13-3 in D.C. if they plan to escape the Verizon Center with a win.

Buzzer Beater: T.J. Ford had one of the worst games of his career last night against the Nets. In 18 minutes, Ford missed all of his shots (0-8) and finished with zero points and one assist. After being wheeled off the court on a stretcher, this is no big deal for Ford, but Toronto has got to be worried about the recent play from their point guard. An ankle injury has benched Ford in three of the last five games after he averaged 17 points and nine assists with five double-doubles in December.

Categories
Dallas Cowboys

The Tony Romo Action Figure


Sometimes ebay is full of crap like an uneaten hotdog from the Seahawks NFCCG that fetches a bunch of money for no reason. But once in a while, you get a really clever auction item. Here is the Tony Romo Wildcard Playoff Edition action figure, custom made to look like Romo tackled at the 1 1/2 yard line after botching the snap.

Now, while the action figure botching a snap would have been better, you have to work with what is available.
The current bid is over $200 and for something this clever, it’s not worth it to us but the creator deserves a couple hundred for his efforts.

We’re eagerly awaiting the Koy Detmer FG holder action figure. After Romo’s gaffe, the placekick holder is getting way too much attention.

Links:
[eBay]: DALLAS TONY ROMO CUSTOM MCFARLANE NFL PLAYOFFS JERSEY

Categories
New Jersey Nets

Kidd Abuse

(Come on… someone had to use that headline.)



There’ll be no more of this

While it might seem great to be the son of an NBA superstar, sometimes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. First, you have tons of people making fun of your huge head cause your mom brings you to Nets games. Then you become a part of NY Post tabloid fodder when your dad files a complaint against you mom for “domestic violence” which everyone is whispering is about child abuse. (Oh and your dad once punched your mom in the mouth over a french fry — but she totally was flirting with the Hamburgler so you know…)

This little tidbit from the Post article left us wondering why Jason Kidd is still even talking to his wife:


One of the final straws for Jason Kidd likely came after his wife showed up at a Net game at the Meadowlands taunting him from the sidelines while flailing about with a cellphone in her hands, several sources said.

Come on, your wife heckles you from the stands? That’s something not even T.O. deserves.

By the way, we don’t mean to make fun of child abuse (or punching people in the mouth over a french fry… actually re the french fry — yes we do) but we seriously doubt the kids are all messed up or anything. When we were young, dad used to make us cut down the switch he’d hit us with. And we’re just fine thank you. We’ve got an unhealthy fear of trees… but whatever.

Links:
[NJ.com]:
J-Kidd soap opera takes odd turn

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Overlooked


1. Forgotten Nugget
With Yao Ming on the sideline with an injured knee, it’s unsure if he can make a return in time to suit up for the All-Star game in mid-February. Maybe the NBA should consider inserting Denver center Marcus Camby as a replacement. Camby is currently averaging 12 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks and he is coming off an impressive game against Milwaukee that saw him score 19 points, grab 15 rebounds and swat seven shots. And that was with a broken finger. Unfortunately for Camby, if he’s going to receive a ticket to the game it will have to come via a coach’s decision because despite his solid season, he’s still sitting in the fifth spot for Western Conference centers behind Yao, Amare Stoudemire, Erick Dampier and Mehmet Okur. As always, the fans don’t have the tightest grip on reality, but hopefully the coaches’ vote will more accurately portray reality and not popularity.

2. New Face in S.A.?
San Antonio broke out of a three game losing slump on Sunday when they easily defeated the Grizzlies without guard Tony Parker, who missed the game with a strained hip. When asked about the team’s improvement in the absence of the soon to be Mr. Longoria, Tim Duncan responded, “We need to trade (Parker) or get rid of him or something.” Obviously Duncan was being sarcastic with his comment, but the Spurs are serious about making a trade, but not for Tony. S.A. would love to add the athleticism of Corey Maggette to their lineup and an aging Brent Barry along with Beno Udrih is a small price to pay for the ability to run with the West’s progressively up-tempo style. But at this point, what team isn’t on Maggette’s radar as a possible new destination. Toronto’s Morris Peterson is also drawing some attention from Gregg Popovich as a possible compliment to the team’s guard/forward rotations.

3. Redd Alert
It’s going to be tough for any team to replace 27.7 points per game, but for the Milwaukee Bucks it’s going to be impossible. The injury to Michael Redd will keep him sidelined for anywhere from four to six weeks and by the time he returns, the Bucks ship might be sunk. Milwaukee is currently clinging to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and they can directly attribute that to the offensive outbursts by Redd. Look at how the Sixers have handled losing their star scorer; and Philly actually got something in return when they lost 30 points from the lineup! Their upcoming schedule is not exactly terrifying, but nobody on the calendar can be taken lightly when your only 16-18. And with the mediocrity that saturates the East, there are far too many teams with losing records who are dying to back into the playoffs for Milwaukee to think they can survive without their shooting star.

Monday’s Player of the Day: Ruben Patterson @ Denver 38 min, 29 pts (FG: 13-21, FT: 3-6), 12 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl

Tuesday’s Game to Watch: Dallas (27-8) @ Utah (24-10) The Jazz have been sporadic of late but they remain strong at home where they are 14-2. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams continue to provide a modern day version of Utah Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton. But the Stockton/Malone pick-n-roll might not be enough to slow down the white hot Mavs. Even though Dallas lost to the Lakers and had their impressive streak ended, nobody has been better than the Mavericks this season. Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard can already make their reservations for Las Vegas in February. However, Dallas’ weakness has been in their blue uniforms as they’ve dropped five games away from home.

Buzzer Beater: You’ve got to love a guy like Melvin Ely who can ask for a trade with a smile on his face. The Bobcats’ forward realizes that he is going to be stuck on the bench behind youngsters like Emeka Okafor and Sean May but instead of making waves, Ely has demanded for a trade in a professional manner that can only improve his appeal to other teams. Too often trades involve negative feelings between players and management, but its guys like Ely who understand they make an extremely profitable livelihood by playing a child’s game, and despite the unfavorable circumstance, there is no losing situation.

Categories
New York Giants

Bad Rumor Alert: Parcells to the Giants?


Remember that “false rumor mongerer” Adam Schefter, the one who predicted that the Raiders would fire Art Shell after one season? Well, he’s got a new rumor floating about: The Giants are trying to lure Parcells back to the NY Giants as GM.

Schefter is reporting that, even though it’s a long shot, the Giants are considering hiring Bill Parcells to come in and clean house. However, an artile in the Star-Ledger (NJ) claims that Bill Parcells was the one who contacted the Giants about becoming GM but the Giants said no thanks. NY wants someone to be there long term and with his age and recent wanderings, no one expects Parcells to be in his next (or current) job very long.

We would love to see Parcells back in the Big Apple. It would make for interesting press conferences and media coverage, not to mention the two times a year that the Giants go up against the Cowboys. Parcells leaving would also leave the door open for TO to blow up in Dallas and call his head coach a moron and say how he’s very happy to have the new head coach (Mike Martz/Denny Green/Bill Cowher/whoever) directing the offense and exploting what he “brings to the table”.

Alas… it is not to be. But can we all agree that there is no way in hell that Parcells and Owens will be on the same team next year? Or at least past the trade deadline next year.

Links:

[NFL.com]: Parcells may be lured back to Big Apple

[NJ.com]: Giants: Say no thanks to Parcells

Categories
Dallas Cowboys

Kim Etheredge has less reasons to be alive


The publicist who said “Terrell has 25 million reasons why he should be alive” has been fired by Owens. Not only did she insult the Dallas police department, she also provided one of the unintentionally funniest soundbites of 2006.

Now granted, she looked like a crack addict that day but we assume that if she weren’t up for 24 hours and dealing with TO, that she might look halfway decent when she cleans up. So there lies the moral of the story. Never hire someone just cause she’s good looking. Etheredge is/was probably the most incompetent publicist an athlete has ever had. She did more harm to TO’s image than any other publicist in the history of sports. Considering how low TO’s image was to begin with, that’s quite a feat. Maybe Nick Saban can hire her to make him look more like a money grabbing double talking weasel.

Links:
[Star Telegram]: Owens fires publicist

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Dal-loss


1. It’s Over
The Dallas Mavericks have finally fallen. After a streak of 13 straight wins, the Mavs lost in a closely contested battle against the Lakers by a score of 101-98. But Dallas should be able to rebound quickly considering that double-digit win streaks are as common to Dirk’s posse as fumbles are to Tony Romo. Dallas has been leaving teams in their wake as they’ve raced to the best record in the league at 27-8 behind the play of Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. But Kobe Bryant led a fourth quarter comeback by the Lakers that gave their head coach, Phil Jackson the 900th win of his career and snapped the Mavs hopes of surpassing the 1971-72 Lakers’ record 33 game win streak. Dallas’ next chance to renew their winning ways comes on Tuesday when they travel to Utah, while L.A. can look forward to a six game span that includes games against Houston, Orlando, Miami, San Antonio, and a rematch with Dallas.

2. On Pace to Relocate
Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal has stated that if he can’t lead his team to “another level” by the end of the season he will leave the organization in search of greener pastures elsewhere. Well, O’Neal might want to notify his real estate agent because Indy has far too many holes for O’Neal to think he can single handedly turn things around. O’Neal will always be a stat machine in Indiana but the team currently lacks the overall quality and depth needed to beat teams like Detroit, Chicago, Orlando or Cleveland. Sure, the Pacers are one of a handful of teams to own a record above .500 in the East, and they’re on pace to get into the playoffs, but if the outcome of this season is going to serve as the litmus test for O’Neal’s decision, then he will be wrapping up his Pacers career once they finish a short playoff stint.

3. Net Loss
It looks like New Jersey could be on the verge of being dismantled and, apparently, nobody is off limits in the team’s transition. The Nets are 14-19 and management is desperate to inject some life into a limp lineup that can’t seem to find their way into playoff contention despite playing in one of the most pathetic divisions in league history. Vince Carter has been linked to trades for Corey Maggette in L.A., while Chicago appears to have their eye on Richard Jefferson, and it has even been rumored that the cornerstone of the franchise, Jason Kidd, could be involved in a move before the trade deadline passes on February 22. You can’t blame the front office for wanting to give up on a trio of stars who can’t separate themselves from recent league doormats like Toronto, New York, Boston and Philadelphia.

Sunday’s Player of the Day: Manu Ginobili @ Memphis 27 min, 34 pts (FG: 10-15, 3FG: 6-8, FT: 8-9), 4 reb, 3 ast, 5 stl

Monday’s Game to Watch: Houston (21-13) @ Chicago (20-14) The Rockets are coming off a road loss to Minnesota but continue to look impressive as Tracy McGrady elevates his game in the absence of an injured Yao Ming. McGrady has been more than willing to increase his load of the scoring without Yao and has strung together five consecutive games of at least 30 points. The Bulls are 1-2 in January after losing only three games in all of December but Chicago is still getting All-Star performances from Luol Deng, Ben Wallace and Ben Gordon. Chicago is 15-3 at home but all three of those loses have come to Western Conference teams.

Buzzer Beater: Kevin Garnett is definitely having a happy new year as his game continues to sizzle since David Stern brought back the leather b-ball. The Timberwolves are 4-0 in 2007, including three straight wins in overtime, and K.G. is averaging 27.5 points, while shooting 48 percent, and pulling down 14.5 rebounds during the span. But the only numbers Minnesota is truly concerned with is the number of games between themselves and Northwest Division leader Utah. That number is currently at six and shrinking after the Jazz’s sub par play of late.