Posted on Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 10:19:13 AM EST in NFL
More on: Rick Tuten, crime, Eagles, Bills, Seahawks, Rams (all tags)

Rick Tuten played for 12 years in the NFL. Granted, he was a punter but he still made a pretty decent living for a dozen years. But apparently it wasn't enough -- Tuten was arrested for selling stolen goods. Police started investigating Tuten when they realized that he was named by a lot of burglars as the guy who they sold stuff to so they set up a sting.

During a taped telephone conversation, a police informant told Tuten she had two stolen flat screen televisions valued at $1,500.

According to an affidavit, Tuten replied, "I don't know nothing about nothing." He then instructed the woman to deliver the items to his home. Tuten paid the woman $600 for the televisions and then asked her to deliver more.

How is it possible that OJ Simpson gets to play golf every day on his NFL pension but Rick Tuten has to sell stolen goods to make ends meet? We don't get the NFLPA.

Links:
[AOL Sports]: Ex-Punter Arrested for Selling Stolen Goods

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Posted on Tue Apr 24, 2007 at 02:00:26 PM EST in College
More on: Rams, Xavier Kilby, George Hill, crime, accident, video (all tags)

Some people say that all press is good press, but the athletic department over at Colorado State might disagree with you on that. First, there was the incident involving wide receiver George Hill and 4-year-old Caden Thomas over the weekend. The boy was on the sidelines during CSU's spring youth football festival while an intrasquad game took place on the gridiron. In an attempt to catch a TD pass, Hill smashed into the kid and slammed him against the padded wall. To make a long story short; 30 stitches in the head later, lil' Caden was sent home from the hospital.

It was kind of scary `cause I got bonked by the football," the boy said, hugging his own football. "It kind of hurted.

Here's video of Caden getting walloped.

Now, that's a tough kid. Kellen Winslow Jr. would have been out of commission for six weeks after a hit like that.

But, hey, accidents happen; at least everything worked out for the little guy. Something that was avoidable and has the Colorado State community hiding their faces in disgust was the actions of Xavier Kilby. Kilby is accused of pointing a gun at the head of Ronnie Aguilar, a teammate on the basketball team, early Sunday morning. According to police, Kilby pulled out a revolver after the two argued inside of Kilby's apartment. After pointing the gun at Aguilar's head, Kilby aimed at the couch and fired off a single round.

Luckily, nobody was injured in either of the recent black-eye incidents for CSU. Now it they could just become capable of doing as much damage on the field as they do off of it, then the fans of the sports programs could actually having something to cheer about.

Links:
[1.WHDH.com]: Boy recovering after run-in with Colorado State football player
[MSNBC]: Police: CSU player pointed gun at teammate

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Posted on Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 10:56:46 AM EST in MLB
More on: Hall of Fame, MLB, Rams, Buccaneers, sports history (all tags)

In 1962: Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In an ironic twist, Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller was also elected. Feller, who is an outspoken critic of baseball's controversies to this day, openly questioned that Robinson even belonged in the major leagues. When Robinson was breaking in, Feller said, “He's all tied up in the shoulders and can't hit an inside pitch to save his neck. If he were a white man, I doubt if they would even consider him big league material.” Feller was, however, very much in favor of integrating baseball. He was just dead wrong on Robinson, who obviously showed that he belonged in baseball. Feller is spouting off even today. As the oldest living hall of famer, he is still railing against the likes of Pete Rose and Barry Bonds getting into the hall, once called Jim Thome a “journeyman first baseman” and said that Latin players “don't know the rules of the game.”

In 2000: The St. Louis Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11-6 in the NFC Championship game. In a matchup of contrasting styles, Tampa's defense shut down St. Louis' “Greatest Show on Turf” for much of the day. Trailing 6-5 in the fourth quarter (still sounds weird), Rams' quarterback Kurt Warner hit seldom-used wideout Ricky Proehl for a 30-yard touchdown. It was the Rams first Super Bowl appearance since 1979, as they were set to play the Tennessee Titans, who defeated Jacksonville earlier in the day. It was the first Super Bowl matchup of two franchises that had relocated.

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Posted on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 12:19:00 PM EST in NFL
More on: NFL playoffs, sports history, Cowboys, Rams, Browns, Raiders (all tags)

In 1976: The Dallas Cowboys became the first Wild Card team to reach the Super Bowl with a 37-7 drubbing of the Los Angeles Rams on the road. Roger Staubach, who had tortured the Vikings the week before with a miracle “Hail Mary” pass in the final seconds, threw for four touchdown passes in the blowout victory. The Cowboys were unable to complete the dream, as they lost in the Super Bowl to Pittsburgh.

In 1981: What does Sportscolumnhave against the Cleveland Browns? Nothing really -- but when the Daily History writer is from Pittsburgh, these things get mentioned. Another January Sunday, another Cleveland Browns colossal playoff failure. This time, Browns' quarterback Brian Sipe, kicker Don Cockcroft and coach Sam Rutigliano did the honors as the Browns blew another one they could've had. The warm weather Oakland Raiders were greeted with minus 37 degree wind chills (and snow balls from the Cleveland fans). But it was the Browns who were frozen, as Cockcroft missed three field goals and an extra point and Sipe threw three interceptions in a 14-12 loss. Cleveland drove to the Raiders 13 yard line in the final minutes, but Rutigliano elected not to have Cockcroft kick the game-winner (he did make two earlier) and called the infamous “Red Right 88” Sipe's pass was intercepted by Mike Davis, and the Raiders went on to become the first Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl.

In 1980: President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States Olympic Team would be boycotting the Summer Games in Moscow later that year. In a highly criticized reaction to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan a few months earlier, hundreds of American athletes were not allowed to compete in their only chance to win an Olympic medal. The Soviets responded by not boycotting the upcoming Lake Placid Winter Games (we're thankful for that- there wouldn't have been a 'Miracle On Ice') but instead by skipping the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Both boycotts backfired, as the Soviets went unchallenged in 1980 and the U.S. had no competition in '84. Really, it was just stupid, silly politics getting in the way of some great athletic contests. Carter wasn't re-elected that year.

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Posted on Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 01:54:42 PM EST in NFL
More on: NFL, Rams (all tags)

The Rams just announced that Marshall Faulk will have major reconstructive knee surgery and miss the 2006 season. Coach Scott Linehan said that Faulk wasn't ready to call it quits but with so many knee injuries in the past couple of years, it's very likely that we have seen the last of Marshall Faulk.

Most people will mention his career stats and his pro bowls. We here at Sportscolumn are focusing on one thing lately -- Fantasy Football. Faulk is arguably the greatest fantasy player in the internet era. For a 3 years stretch, anyone who had Marshall Faulk on their fantasy team was guaranteed at least the playoffs. On the Greatest Show on Turf team, Faulk was a double threat to run and catch the ball for TDs. Winning your fantasy draft lottery in 2000 and 2001 meant you would take Faulk #1 and let the rest of the league sort out the next 19 picks. There was no debate.

Good luck, Marshall.

Links:
[MSNBC]: Faulk to miss season with knee surgery
[NFL.com]: Marshall Faulk player card

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