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San Diego Chargers

Shawne Merriman is too good


Anyone who saw Shawne Merriman in the Monday night game against the Oakland Raiders thought he was insanely good. He was going to be the next Lawrence Taylor with his speed, hitting, and that whole Muay Thai kickboxing business. Well, it turns out that Merriman is a freak of nature because of steroids.

A source with knowledge of the test (whatever that means) said that the 4 game suspension expected to be handed out by the NFL is “definitely for steroids . . . not one of those supplement deals.” Merriman is expected to appeal the results. Merriman is the fourth Charger to get in trouble this season but the first of those not to be arrested.

Links:
[SignOnSanDiego]: S.D. linebacker failed drug test

Categories
San Diego Chargers

Chargers still trailing Bengals by 5 arrests



Gets on the scoreboard

If the Bengals are Jailblazers East, does that make the Chargers the Bengals West or Jailblazers South? It’s hard to keep up with these nicknames for football teams anymore. On Monday cornerback Markus Curry was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. While at Michigan, Curry was arrested and put on probation for… you guessed it… domestic abuse.

Curry was immediately released by the team although GM A.J. Smith would not confirm that the release was a result of the arrest. Smith said, “There are many reasons why a player is released.” Ummm… sure. Just because B follows A doesn’t mean that A caused B. We get it. Just like Britney Spears turning into a fat disgusting mess had nothing to do with her hillbilly upbringing.

This marks the 5th arrest by a Chargers player. Shaun Phillips and Steve Foley were arrested in April, Steve Foley was arrested/shot in September. Terrence Kiel was arrested for selling cough syrup in late September. And now Curry. The Bengals have had 6 players arrested but since Chris Henry was arrested four times, they have an almost insurmountable lead in the crime department. Henry was started his two game suspension yesterday for violating the NFL’s conduct policy.

Links:
[Sign On San Diego]: Bolts CB arrested; released by team

[Salt Lake Tribune]: NFL: Suspension begins for Henry

Categories
San Diego Chargers

Chargers safety arrested for selling cough syrup

Update: The controlled substance that Kiel is accused of posessing with intent to sell is codeine-based cough syrup. Kiel admitted to shipping two parcels of prescription cough syrup to Texas.

SS Terrence Kiel was arrested after practice on Tuesday on drug chargers.  According to reports, federal DEA agents searched Kiel’s locker and car and left with the player.  Kiel has been charged with possession, possession for sale and transportation of a controlled substance. Kiel was then released on a $150k bond. The involvement of the DEA means that Kiel is screwed.

This reminds us of Dennis McKinley from the Cardinals who was caught with 1,500 lbs of pot and was arrested for being a criminal mastermind who imported drugs from Mexico and distributed it via tractor trailer to multiple states.

Kiel makes about $500,000k a year if you prorate his $1.25M signing bonus. You can’t maintain an NFL player’s lifestyle on half a mil.  Gas and rims for those SUVs cost money.  Kiel is just trying to make ends meet.  

Links:
[SignOnSanDiego]:  Chargers safety Kiel arrested at practice

Categories
MLB General

Sep 19 in Sports History: Better Times for the Cubs and Mariners



2001 AL MVP

In 1906 and in 2001: The Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners, who are tied for the ML record for wins in a season, both clinched on the same day. The Cubs were the earliest team to ever clinch a pennant and the Mariners led the AL West Division wire to wire (the Detroit Tigers were the last to do it, and they also clinched their division on this day in 1984. While both franchises won 116 regular season games, each failed to win the World Series.

In 1994: Stan Humphries and Tony Martin of the San Diego Chargers hooked up for an NFL record-tying 99 yard touchdown reception in a win over the Seattle Seahawks. Also, in 2005, Ladanian Tomlinson of the Chargers broke the NFL record by scoring a touchdown in 18 consecutive games.

In 1968: The day after the Cardinals were no-hit by Gaylord Perry of the Giants, St. Louis pitcher Ray Washburn returned the favor and tossed a 2-0 no-hitter against San Francisco. It was the only time in baseball history there were no-hitters in consecutive games in the same park.

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All Other Sports

Odds and Ends: Sometimes the internet sucks


The internet is a wonderful place — news, information, hot chicks, Borat clips… But sometimes it absolutely sucks. Like when a sportsbook decides to shut down their operations and keep everyone’s money. (Sports Business News) Betonsports.com is “moving their operations” but what that really means is that they’re kaput. We’d be seriously surprised if they came back online. Remember folks, online sports betting is not without its risks.

In other news…

[Bolt Talk]: Junior Seau to retire a Charger

[MSNBC]: Someone tell Randy Moss it’s just a preseason game

[AP]: Kevin Costner returns to Field of Dreams

[Fringe Sports Central]: Wait… Yakov Smirnoff is still alive?

[Kentucky.com]: Ryan Freel hears voices in his head but won’t go Clarett anytime soon

[Miami Herald]: US Basketball blows out Lithuania

[Scotsman.com]: Billion dollar baby passes buck again

Categories
San Diego Chargers

Ladies and Gentlemen: Your 2007 Las Vegas Chargers

It’s only a matter of time before Las Vegas gets a major sports franchise. If not the Sonics, then why not the San Diego Chargers, whose lease runs out after this year. The mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman (you know, the guy who told a bunch of fourth graders that drinking gin was a hobbie.) contacted Chargers management to make a pitch for them to relocate to Sin City. However, the Chargers are not allowed to talk to cities outside of San Diego county until after Jan 1 but there’s an amendment being passed that will change that after the mayor of San Diego said he supported the Chargers desire to explore relocating.

We realize the whole Rick Tocchet scandal might keep this from happening but why hasn’t the NHL pursued moving a team to Vegas? As we know, people will bet on anything, even if Rick Tocchet will get convicted, so why not stir up interest in the NHL by putting it in the sports gambling mecca of the world? Hell, put a team store right inside Caesars. Gambling is legal in Vegas. Embrace it, Bettman!

Links:
[SignOn SanDiego]: Las Vegas makes pass at Chargers