Categories
All Other Sports

Odds and Ends: World Dominoes Championship



Ashy Larry

ESPN would like to remind you that the World Cup is not the only “world” event happening. There’s also Dominoes motherf#@%cker! It’s as if the progamming directors at the Worldwide Leader in Hype saw the Chappelles show skit on the World Series of Dice, thought it was a real event, and decided to sign up dominoes asap. Check out The Garlic’s Top Ten Cloves: Things About ESPN Televising Dominoes Events.

In other news…

[eBay]: Ben Roethlisberger Replica Motorcycle Helmet!

[MSNBC]: Branch skips Pats’ mandatory minicamp

[Seattle PI]: Poll: 78% say “more inclined (to) let the Sonics leave Seattle”

[BBC]: The greatest World Cup legends

[ESPN]: Royals revoke credentials from two reporters for asking tough questions

Categories
Soccer

Why Americans Hate Soccer

A few months ago, Dave Eggers postulated that the main reason Americans hate soccer was because of the element of diving.


The second and greatest, by far, obstacle to the popularity of the World Cup, and of professional soccer in general, is the element of diving. Americans may generally be arrogant, but there is one stance I stand behind, and that is the intense loathing of penalty-fakers. There are few examples of American sports where diving is part of the game, much less accepted as such.

But diving in soccer is a problem. It is essentially a combination of acting, lying, begging and cheating, an unappealing mix. The theatricality of diving is distasteful, as is the slow-motion way the chicanery unfolds… American sports are, for better or worse, built upon transparency, or the appearance of transparency, and on the grind-it-out work ethic.

Nowhere was this more evident than a play in a relatively uneventful 2-0 victory by Italy over Ghana. An Italian player was fouled from behind by a Ghana player and by the look of it, someone had shot him in the achilles. He laid on the field moaning like someone killed his dog and then stopped briefly to open his eyes to see if he got the foul, then immediately closed them again and resumed moaning. After a few moments, the Docs came on the field and carried him off on a stretcher. About a minute goes by and he’s jogging back on the field and proceeds to play at full speed. It was the worst faking since Ricky Williams told us he loved the game of football / since Stu Scott pretended he was street / since Jeff Garcia dated the playboy model… hell, just insert your own joke here.

Categories
Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger accident update

Roethlisberger is in stable but serious condition following surgery. The doctors said there was no brain, spine, chest, or abdomen injuries, which is great news. People are already speculating that he could be the opening day starter. By all newspaper and television accounts, Ben should be OK.

That being said, what a dumbass. Enough people have criticized Ben for not wearing a helmet and jeopardizing his health, his career, and the Steelers so we won’t go too far down that road. However, we’d like to point out this 2005 interview with ESPN where Roethlisberger talks about his love of riding.


Roethlisberger: I think it can be a risk. It depends on how you ride. I don’t ride a sport bike. If I’m riding a sport bike and trying to do tricks, and going 200 miles down the highway, that’s probably pretty stupid. But when you’re riding a Harley or a chopper and you’re riding with a group of people and you’re not on the highway and you’re cruising, you’re relaxing. I don’t think its as much of a risk as people make it out to be.

Also, let us point out that Ben was riding a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa when he crashed. According to Suzuki, it is the fastest motorcycle in the world. Seems Ben has upgraded his bikes since the interview.

Links:
[Pittsburgh Channel]: Roethlisberger Undergoes Surgery, Still Hospitalized
[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]: Big Ben failed to heed warnings
[Steeler Blog]: Damn eBayers

Categories
College Basketball

JJ Redick arrested for DUI

The Duke lacrosse team would like to thank JJ Redick for his support. First, during the tourney, he spoke up for them and said they were a great bunch of guys. Now, his arrest for DUI means that when you search for Duke+crime, you aren’t automatically redicted to the Duke lacross homepage.

Early this morning, JJ spotted a police checkpoint and decided that he was too drunk to drive so he made an illegal u-turn and headed the other way. Unfortunately for him, that move only raises suspicions and the cops followed him and pulled him over. Redick blew. Oh, and he also registered a .11 on the breathalyzer in a state where the legal limit is .08. Redick was arrested, booked, and released on $1000 bond.

When asked how he paid the bond, he said, “Straight cash homey. Ain’t nothing but a grand. What’s a grand to me? Ain’t shit … Next time I might shake my dick.”

Links:
[News 14 Carolina]: Redick arrested on DUI charges

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Jason Grimsley gets 50 games

The amazing disgrace continues: Major League Baseball officially suspended former Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley 50 games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He is the first player to be suspended without testing positive on a drug test (can that certain someone else be next?). Not that it matters much, as Grimsley will probably never pitch again. Also, according to MLB.com, the Diamondbacks have officially filed termination papers (like he works at Pizza Hut or something) with the commissioner’s office. They claim that Grimsley was mentally unfit to play and should not be paid the remainder of the $825,000 he is under contract for.

Just plain amazing: Ichiro is at it again – albeit quietly. While Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been getting most of the press, Suzuki is arguably the hottest player in the league. The Mariners’ star is hitting .366 and already has 102 hits, which is ahead of his record-breaking pace of 262 in 2004. He is hitting .532 in June with 36 total bases during the first 12 days of the month. Despite this, he is currently in 4th place in the AL all star voting.

Sweet fifteen: Do you think Steinbrenner would like a do-over? Yankee discard Jose Contreras won his 15th consecutive decision last night for the Chicago White Sox, pitching eight innings, striking out 11 Rangers and improving to 7-0 on the season. Contreras – making a strong case to be the first on the hill in Pittsburgh July 11th – is two victories shy from tying Johan Santana’s 17 straight wins in 2004-2005, according to the Elias sports Bureau. Just think, Steinbrenner practically gave Contreras to the White Sox, only getting Esteban Loaiza in return.

On schedule: Roger Clemens’s “rehab” from being a lazy slob is right on course. Kidding. The Rocket pitched six strong innings for the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks on Sunday night, striking out 11 and looking sharper than his first outing. The struggling Astros are counting down the days until the $12.6 million aggregated superstar goes from pitching in the likes Whataburger Field to pitching in Minute Maid Park. From the How Far Will People Bend Over Backwards for Roger Clemens Department, the Astros received special permission from the Texas League for Clemens to use an official Major League baseball and Hooks‘ catcher J.R. House gladly gave up his number 22 for Clemens, according to the Houston Chronicle. Clemens is scheduled to return June 22 against the Minnesota Twins.

Ping!!!: Break out the aluminum bats and dial up the dramatic, walk-off grand slams; it’s time for the College World Series! The annual tournament, which has introduced baseball fans to the likes of Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Will Clark and Joey- uh, I mean Albert – Belle is in full swing. The usual powerhouses are there, with Clemson, Georgia Tech, Cal State-Fullerton and Rice and Miami set to play. Defending champ Texas was upset by Oregon State. Clemson is the top seed overall, and they needed one of those walk-off slams by Cubs’ first round pick Tyler Colvin to squeak by upset-minded Oral Roberts. The World Series kicks off in Omaha, Neb. on Friday.

Categories
Detroit Pistons

June 13 in sports history: Pistons win their first NBA title

In 1989: The Detroit Pistons win their first ever NBA title with a 105-97 victory over the Lakers, completing a four game sweep. It was redemption for the Pistons; after years of just falling short ( including a seven game finals loss to the Lakers the previous year), the Pistons finally break through. Finals’ MVP Joe Dumars led the Pistons, averaging 27.3 pts. per game while playing outstanding defense. The “Bad Boys,” led by Isiah Thomas, Dumars, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman (pre freak show) would go on to win next year’s NBA title as well.

In 2003: The Yankees Roger Clemens has a truly historic evening as he earns both his 300th career victory and 4,000th strikeout in a 5-2 win over the Cardinals at Yankee Stadium. It took Clemens four tries to finally join the elite 300 win club as the 21st member. The 4,000 strikeout club is much more exclusive, boasting only Clemens, Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan. The forty-three year old pitcher is still at it, with 341 wins, 4,500 strikeouts and counting.

Categories
Soccer

Odds and Ends (06.12.06): Cambodian monks and Brazilian inmates

As evidence of how important the World Cup is, the head of Cambodia’s monks has decided to allow the holy men to watch the World Cup. The monks are normally not supposed to watch tv, movies, artistic displays or any pleasurable activity. However, the supreme patriach has made an exception and they are allowed to watch the games on TV but there will be no getting excited and absolutely no gambling. We must then ask: what’s the point? Next thing you know, they won’t be allowed to have sex. Oh wait.

In other news…

[News.com.Au]: BRAZILIAN prison inmates who have staged riots in recent days have demanded the right to watch World Cup football

[Yahoo]: Ref apologizes for making a mistake in the Australia-Japan match

[Reuters]: FIFA denies bribery allegations made by BBC

[The Hater Nation]: Happy Anniversary, OJ Simpson

[Golf Gear News]: The Exploitation of Michelle Wie

Categories
Pittsburgh Steelers

Breaking News: Ben Roethlisberger injured in motocycle accident

[Update: (from Pittsbugh Live) “Roethlisberger lost most of his teeth, fractured his left sinus cavity bone, suffered a nine-inch laceration to the back of his head and a broken jaw, and severely injured both of his knees when he hit the ground, police said.”]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have confirmed that Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident this morning around 11:30 AM.


[A] witness told WTAE that Roethlisberger “T-boned” a vehicle, struck the windshield, rolled onto the ground and struck his head on the pavement. His eyes were open but he was very confused. He said that he was “okay” and tried to get up.

Still, one veteran police officer told a WTAE reporter that the accident was “pretty bad.”

Last season, the Fox Pre-game show did a feature on Roethlisberger and Drew Bledsoe’s unwillingness to ride their motorcyles with a helmet. Let’s hope Ben is OK and we’ll keep you posted.



(Photo from MSNBC)

Links:

[WTAE TV]: Roethlisberger Involved In Motorcycle Accident
[KDKA]: Steelers: Big Ben Injured In Motorcycle Accident
[Pittburgh Tribune-Review]: Roethlisberger injured in accident

Categories
Golf

AP can’t tell the difference between Wie and Se Ri Pak



Twins!

Mistakes happen. But when you’re the biggest news source in the world, perhaps it’d be a good idea to check your copy before releasing a story that Michelle Wie beat Karrie Webb in a playoff, especially when the winner was Se Ri Pak.

Perhaps Michelle Wie has gotten to be so big in LPGA play that she must be mentioned in every headline regardless of whether she is part of the story or not. Either that or the AP has problems telling Asians apart.

In other AP news, the Miami Heat go down 0-2 to the Mavs despite LeBron James’ 23 points and 8 rebounds.

Here’s a copy of the page in case the AP figures out Wie and Pak aren’t the same person.

Categories
Soccer

U.S. stumbles out of the gate



No help for Keller

The U.S. team made their World Cup 2006 debut and promptly went with a whimper to the Czech Republic. Only 5 minutes into the game, the CR scored their first goal. That was followed by two more goals in the 36th and 76th minute.

The highlight. That’s right, single highlight, for the U.S. was a shot by Claudio Reyna that hit the post. Eddie Johnson was the only other player of note as he had two quality (relative) chances in the second half.

The goat of the game was Oguchi Onyewu who was responsible for all three goals. On the first, he was out of position. On the second, he missed a clearing attempt. And on the third, he let Rosicki run right by him.

Up next: Italy on Saturday.