Saturday, December 31, 2011

Blackburn Stuns ManU At Old Trafford

((HT: BarclaysPremierLeague/youtube/UpsYouCantDoThat))

The Premier League, to the HQ, is like having the new toy in the room...
And it takes a little while to explain to TBH what all this stuff is about.
This was like the Pittsburgh Pirates beating the New York Yankees at Yankees Stadium... it was that bad...

And a lot of people are already calling this the "Upset of the Season."

The short version... Blackburn Rovers are near the bottom of the standings (table) and could be relegated (demoted) if things don't turn around by the end of the year. Being sent to the nPower Championsip league could cause a loss of 60-million pounds (close to $100M) in operating revenue for a team that finishes in the bottom three.

So, Rovers, who thought about firing their coach... knocked off Manchester United 3-2 with a goal at the 80th minute.

And Dimitar Berbatov is still proving to be a pain in the butt for the Reds. A penalty of his led to the first goal...
((HT: SkySports))

Wagner Gets Buzzer Beater Winner

((HT: WagnerAthletics))

And it's over the backboard...

The Santa Clara play-by-play is awesome...
And, yes, it still counts...

Overeem takes out Lesnar and Lesnar retires

It appears the run of the "Next Big Thing" in the UFC may have come to an end.

And it came in somewhat surprising fashion.

Alistair Overeem ended Brock Lesnar's run in the UFC with a powerful kick to the intestinal area. You'll recall Lesnar has been unable to fight over the past year due to intestinal issues including a serious battle with diverticulitis.

The stiff kick to the area around Lesnar's liver, sent him to the mat and ended one of UFC's most meteoric careers. Lesnar, a former WWE wrestler and college wrestling champion was considered a star in the UFC ranks ever since beating UFC legend Randy Cotnure in 2008.

There have been some rumblings that Lesnar may return to his roots in the WWE, but considering his health issues, they may just be speculation.

Here's your fight video, at least until someone pulls it:



ESPN Skycam goes down...during game

Oh..and for what it is worth, the ESPN Sky View or whatever they call it camera fell during play in the 3rd quarter of the Insight Bowl between Iowa and Oklahoma.

The game was won by Oklahoma, 31-14. A handful of people watched the game and there were a decent amount of people in Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium on the Arizona State campus.

When you watch the video, you'll see the camera fall near a couple of Iowa players including receiver Marvin McNutt, who looked pretty stunned to see it. You'll also see them trying to hop out of the way as the support cable came down too. And yes, it delayed the game for awhile...

We aren't going to be as harsh as some have been about this. Knowing TV production like we do, we get why ESPN and other networks use this. The concern is using production companies that may or may not be good at putting the unit together or testing it correctly.

We've been on the field for a game that featured this camera and saw it come down very, very close to the field. So close that play had to be stopped until someone could figure out how to get the camera moved back to a safe level.

Here's your video, at least until it gets pulled:

Friday, December 30, 2011

Busy Day For BYU: Helmetless Block Leads To Score, Fake Spike For Win

While we wait for the Riley Nelson-fake spike to score the game-winning TD in the BYU-Tulsa game, we give you effort from a D1 independent chasing after a 10-win season...

Watch the lineman...
((HT: ESPN/youtube/mattgrifith72))


Nelson threw 3 TD's to Cody Hoffman on the day, and it was the 5th 10-win season in head coach Bronco Mendenhall's 7 seasons...

You go, Matt Reynolds...
And here's Riley Nelson's game-winner...
((HT: ESPN/youtube/ParadigmShift35))

Brian Williams Gets Order of Canada

((HT: CBC/CFL/youtube))

No, not that Brian Williams...

This is the guy who has been the main anchor for CBC Sports coverage forever, has called everything in the country, anchored five-ringed circuses ((including the Ross Rebagliati fiasco from Nagano- which was some of the best live, breaking news television the HQ has ever seen)), and called baseball games...

He's a pro's pro and a down-to-earth guy who has hosted "Grape Line" with Don Cherry forever, too, and has learned how to get the best out of Cherry and his interviews...

Here's a segment from his CBC days when he anchored Grey Cup coverage...


One story...

The HQ was covering a Braves-Blue Jays game in 2002... Williams was there with the late John Cerutti and during their pre-game taping from the broadcast booth at Turner Field. One of the studio lights was too close to the fire alarms and it set off the sprinkler system.

The same sprinkler system which hadn't been tested since the 1996 five-ringed circus. That meant that the water that came out of the sprinklers was black and filled with dirt- not normal clear water spray.

The water went all over their equipment, notes, and clothing.

Williams came out of the booth soaked, and I asked him if he needed to borrow a blazer for air. But the HQ will give the CBC and their local crew credit. They got three cameras to work and called the game...

Class act... congrats...

Raffi Torres Treading On Thin Ice With His Elbows

((HT: AltitudeTV/NHL/youtube))

Raffi Torres has developed a bit of a reputation that precedes him...

Elbows up...

Here's Torres' latest...


He pulled that stunt on Jan Hejda the day after Torres went after Andrew Ference and, in turn, Adam McQuaid went after Torres...

And turned his face into a crimson mask...
What say you...???

Canucks Fan Injured At Sharks Game ((By Sharks Fans...???))

((HT: NBCBayArea))

But there's a kicker...

She was a 16-year-old girl who survived a brain tumor four years ago...

Maggie Herger is a Canucks fan who received visits from players while she was in recovery. She and her sister went to the game last night and after the second Canucks goal a Sharks fan, apparently, axe-handled her from behind with both hands.

Cheryl Hurd is outside an inactive hospital...

View more videos at: http://nbcbayarea.com.


According to KGO-TV's Terry McSweeney, another Sharks fan told Herger to "suck it up" as she was being loaded into the ambulance.

Police are investigating...
More when we know more...

It Was 30 Years Ago Today... Gretzky Gets 50 In 39

((HT: NHLVideo))

Here's FOSG Rob Faulds with the recap of a record that will never be broken...
It's the DiMaggio hitting streak for hockey...

Bubba Watson Can Hit The Ball A Long Way- Revisited...

((HT: youtube/MsAK67))

Not that that is a revelation or anything, but this one was the college equivalent of a bar bet...

During a pep rally before the UGA-South Carolina game this year, Watson and women's hoops coach Andy Landers had a bet...

If Bubba could hit the ball out of Sanford Stadium, he got to be an honorary assistant coach for a game of Landers’ choice this season. If Watson failed, then Landers could caddie for Watson in a Masters practice round next year.

Here's the drive...


The HQ is still waiting for the game in question...

One Buzzer-Beater Begats Another- Durant One More Than Carter

And that's just a fancy word for "turns into..."

So, you're the Dallas Mavericks... you give the ball to Vince Carter for the last shot- which he makes, but there's still 1.4 seconds left in regulation...

Too much time away from your first win of the year...
Just ask Kevin Durant...
FOSG Beau Estes has the highlights...
((HT: SI.com))

Baylor over Washington 67-56 in Football

No, it wasn't a Basketball game. Though the score might indicate otherwise.

Last night the Baylor Bears beat the Washington Huskies 67-56 in the Alamo Bowl.

Yes, 67-56.

No, we didn't stay up and watch the game, which kicked off around 9 p.m eastern time, because we would have had to stay up way too late.

The game, featuring Baylor's Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin the III (RG3), also featured nearly 1,400 yards of total offense and a running back for Baylor (Terrance Ganaway) who ran for 5 TD's.

And for what it is worth, the losing QB, Keith Price of Washington, well he threw for 438 yards and 4 TD's...along with running for 3 more.

Here is your wrap up from the folks at KWTX TV in Waco, TX.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Oregon's Asper Gives Heimlich At Beef Bowl

((HT: KVAL-TV Eugene))

One of the highlights of Rose Bowl week is the eat-off between the two schools held at Lawry's restaurant. It's, traditionally, an astronomical amount of cow/prime rib that is inhaled by linemen on back-to-back days...

This time around, the father of Oregon's Tom Diamond, Paul, was seen in distress. Ducks lineman Mark Asper gave him the Heimlich maneuver and everything turned out okay.

Here's the interview with Asper...


Wisconsin is there today...

Cohen Kicking Dodgers Tires

((HT: KCBS-TV))

Okay...

So, we have the group with Garvey and Hershiser, the group with Fox Sports, and now hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen are all looking at the Los Angeles Dodgers to be the new owners...

Initial bids are due into the Major League Baseball offices in Milwaukee New York City by the 13th of the month...

Wonder which direction the old owners will go//rubs chin...
Here's the first story of a few on the Cohen interest...

OSG Bowling: Holy Toledo! Rockets Survive Military Bowl

((HT: WTVG-TV Toledo))

In a game that, pretty much, had everything- from Air Force converting more fourth-downs than having actual punts, onside kicks, kickoffs returned for scores, all that fun post-season stuff...

Wouldn't you know that another trick play would cost the Air Force in their Military Bowl game with Toledo...

A botched two-point attempt with less than a minute to go gave the Rockets and their 32-year-old head coach the win...

Here's how it happened...


And the HQ will admit that it was nice to see RFK in action ((or was it MAC-tion?)) for the game... and while it didn't look quite like a sell-out, it looked like a solid crowd on a cold day...

Good write-off for Northrup Grumman...

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Dan Bylsma Cares Not For Your Camera

((HT: ROOTSports/NHL/TheJWhetstone))

The HQ knows how dicey pre-game speeches can be when it comes to colorful language and whether or not the ladies and gentlemen in the TV production truck can come up with a BLEEP in time so something can make air quickly before last night's game with the Carolina Hurricanes...

Apparently, standards and practices didn't catch this in time...

It's right off the top...


But, then again, it was cable television...

Sean Williams Loses Whatever Pre-Game Meal He Had

((HT: FSMavericks/NBA/TotalProSports/youtube))

The HQ figured that a lot of the players in the Association would be out of shape for a while once the season started...

But the HQ didn't figure on one player rebelling in public...

Witness Sean Williams after being pulled in a 19-point game in the fourth quarter...


NBA Action! It's fantastic...
But we won't know if the meal was or not...

Busy Day In Ess-E-Cee: 2012 Schedule Out, Kiel Goes To LSU

Some highlights...

Missouri and Texas A&M are welcomed into the Ess-E-Cee season premiere week-and-a-half September 8th of 2012, and Alabama goes to LSU in a rematch of their rematch November 3rd.

Missouri plays in the SEC East and gets Georgia as their first home game in conference on the 8th. Texas A&M plays in the West and hosts Florida in College Station. The first conference game will be August 30th when South Carolina visits Vanderbilt.

This year's schedule is based on divisional play of eight games with six inside the division and two outside.

In other news, Gunner Kiel has gone against staying at home in Indiana and is going to LSU- please hold your surprise and shock...

Here's FOSG Jamie Newburg discussing the matter...
((HT: ESPN))

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Bill Maher Tries To Blast Tebow On Twitter

((HT: HBO Sports/VotsTownCrier))

Bill Maher was, and the HQ maintains "was...", extremely talented during his "Politically Incorrect" days. Now, the HQ maintains he's just old and crotchety and no longer funny...

New example: his own Twitter feed... and chasing The Tebow...

"Wow, Jesus just fucked #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler "Hey, Buffalo's killing them"


See...??? Politically genius commentary...and equally unfunny...

And, of course, people are now calling for everyone to boycott HBO until they get rid of Maher.

Here's a thought... don't watch his program... then, HBO won't renew it.

Here's what Maher did when he talked about the NFL being socialist back in January just to give you some frame of reference as to his current unfunny-ness...


So, this is the talent pool we're all dealing with as Maher tries to sound like George Carlin...just more uninformed...

Salt...grain...
Carry on...

DEVELOPING: Pitino Won't Coach Past End Of Contract

((HT: WDRB-TV))

Even if that is the 2016-2017 season...

That would mean, if the HQ's math is right, that he would have coached at Louisville for 16 seasons if he makes it to the end of his contract.

Pitino is the only coach to lead three different schools to a Final Four appearance, and was given a four-year contract extension back in August.

He'll be making between three and four million a year between now and the end of the contract at present...

Here's the early thoughts from Louisville...

Drew Brees Postgame Speech

((HT: ESPN/NFL/md1021))

After the New Orleans Saints put up 45 on the Atlanta Falcons last night, the team clinched the NFC South title, and there was some record set by the Saints quarterback.

Not one to talk about himself, head coach Sean Payton wanted his own "bad ass" to address the team in the locker room...

Here's the speech...


Once again, Brees starts taking about everyone but himself...

5087 And Counting

((HT: ESPN/NFL/TheFoundationOfCats))

There was talk about the differences between the league averages and what Dan Marino and Drew Brees averaged in their record-breaking seasons...

When Marino threw for 5,084 yards in 1984, his difference was in the neighborhood of 88 yards per game per week higher than his peers. Brees averaged 100 yards more in this year- with one week to play.

Brees is averaging 340 yards a game this year, and after his TD pass to Robert Meacham, everyone in the building ((Brees' linemen included)) knoew he needed 31 yards to break the 27-year-old mark.

Here's the record breaker with Brees and Sproles...
Jocularity ensues...


Oh, the Saints beat the Falcons 45-16 to clinch the NFC South title. But there is some work to do for both teams. The Saints can clinch the 2-seed with a win over Carolina and a 49ers loss. The Falcons, who once again proved that they're having issues in important situations, need to beat Tampa in order to clinch the 5th-seed ((or the 6th-seed depending on other outcomes)).

And there are only 16 games left in the regular season- Brees and his buddies may play until the game is in hand for on more week.

Look for something in the neighborhood of 5,300 yards by the end of week 16.

Congrats to the new boss...

Monday, December 26, 2011

OSG Bowling: Missouri Gets First Ess-E-Cee Win, Wild INT Helps A Little...

((HT: ESPN/phillies1801))

It was easy to see who wanted to show up and who rolled over in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport- and the answer wasn't North Carolina...

It was the Ess-E-Cee beating the ACC all over again...

And this play seemed to epitomize the whole day...


Everett Withers is heading to be the new DC with Corch Meyers, so what did it matter, right...???

Mizzou won 41-24 and it wasn't that close...

Premier League Boxing Day: Manchesters Are Even, Bunching Continues

((HT: ESPN/Premier League))

There was a lot of Boxing day action in the Premier League. And while a lot of the bottom half couldn't rightfully sort itself out, the town of Manchester hasn't resolved anything, either...

Man United was in arrears until a 5-0 blowout of Wigan led by Berbatov's hat trick...here's one of them... until it gets pulled...


And Fulham, behind Clint Dempsey's equalizer, continues Chelsea's tailspin


Here's Ian and Macca with the recap...

Torrealba Suspended 66 Games In Venezuela

Okay, the HQ initially saw the number and wondered where it came from...

But, it's the rest of this season and all of next season...

That's what happens when you do this...
((HT: youtube/7o8sports))


These kinds of suspensions don't work in the MLB, so he just has to find something else to do in the winter...

Sunday, December 25, 2011

AP Out For Season After Double Knee Injury

((HT: WCCO-TV))

Just when you thought the Minnesota Vikings season couldn't get any worse, it did...

Christian Ponder had to give way for Joe Webb after suffering "concussion-like symptoms." Webb, by the way, QB'ed the team for the win over the Redskins.

And, then, Adrian Peterson blew out both an ACL and an MCL in the injury below...


The Vikes are now 3-12 and could tie the 1984 team record for lack of winning if they don't come through next week.

Awesome NBA on TNT Season Intro

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays y'all. Greetings from your friends at OSG Sports.

Wanted to share a really cool video with you. The video ran as the open to the Knicks/Celtics game tip off on TNT Sunday afternoon.

The music is done by a group called Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, the video is pretty darn cool too.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

OSG High: Minnesota Wheelchair Athlete Sues Over Competing

((HT: KARE-TV))

Rose Hollermann is none too pleased with the Minnesota high school athletic association right now.

She was virtually paralyzed when she was very young, and has become very accomplished in wheelchair athletics as she has grown into her high school years.

Now, she wants to participate in sports with able-bodied athletes in track and field events, but the high school association won't let her at present.

Here's her beef...


The HQ thinks Rose is trying to follow in the steps of Oscar Pistorius, and we applaud her for that. If she wants to compete under parameters identical to those of Pistorius, we're all for it.

OSG High: Dad Arrested For Alleged Choke Of Son's Coach

((HT: KARE-TV))

This isn't anything new to the HQ, but this is the most recent appearance of this kind of father-coach attacking...

This go-round is during a hockey practice and it's alleged that the dad decided to try and choke out and threaten to kill his son's own coach.

Merry effing Christmas, right...?
Jay Olmstad is standing in the cold outside the arena...

Jerome Simpson goes Gymkata and scores

Wow! A full front summersault and he sticks the landing.

You've gotta check out this video (though it's a bit shaky) of Cincinnati Bengals WR Jerome Simpson going airborne. Simpson is trying to score in Saturday's game against Arizona and Cardinal linebacker Darryl Washington is in his way.

So rather than run through him, Simpson just goes over the top.

Amazing.

Here's your video: (you tube)




Here's a better video clip...(at least until it gets pulled):

OSG High: HS Hoopster Plays With Erb's Palsy

((HT: WCTV-TV))

When Florida High basketball player Landus Anderson was born, the attending physician pulled him out by his right arm and ended up disconnecting some nerve endings.

As a result, Anderson has very limited use of that right arm, but is one of the more difficult players to guard in North Florida.

Jason Kahn introduces us to a guy who has every intention of playing competitively as long as he can...

Linda Cohn Gets Punked, In A Good Way

((HT: ESPNNewYork))

For those of you who have known Linda Cohn for all these years, you know she's born-and-bred New Yawk- Rangers, Giants, Mets, Knicks... all that...

All the frustrations, all the wins, all the losses, and wearing your heart on your sleeve...

So, what happens when the Rangers take out the dreaded Flyers...???

One of the goal-scorers checks in and Linda's fandom shows...

Penn State really wants Chris Peterson

Chris Peterson
((ht: pennlive.com))

But the Penn State faithful are also slightly delusional.

According to reports in the Happy Valley area, Penn State has put the full-court press on Boise State coach Chris Peterson, hoping to entice him to come save their team.

PennLive.com reports emissaries from Penn State have made two trips out to the hinterlands of Idaho in search of Peterson and may or may not have met with him. And yes, they've returned without him.

Read more from Pennlive.com's David Jones RIGHT HERE

If you read the whole story, its hard to tell what is more unrealistic: The pursuit of Peterson or the mention of Mike Munchak, coach of the Tennessee Titans as Plan B. Peterson has made it known...repeatedly he isn't leaving the West, Munchak, while no threat to be coach of the year, has the Titans playing respectable football.

The folks in Pennsylvania need to come to grips with the fact the aren't getting an "A" list coach. And no, they should not give the job to interim coach Tom Bradley either. Part of the problem up there seems to be they don't understand that a large part of the game has passed them by.

The target should be assistants such as Green Bay Packers assistant Tom Clements or one of the other names in the PennLive article.

That isn't reaching for the stars. That is being realistic with your place in the world.

The Italian announcers go "Way" over the top

((ht: @jaybilas))

I don't know how one finds such things or why they do it. But yet they do.

ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas posted this video on Twitter and we feel obligated to pass it on if for no other reason then the sheer absurdity of it.

In this video, someone allegedly announcing the Inter vs. Siena soccer game basically loses his shit after a goal.

Not once, but twice.

But the histrionics may actually not be as funny as the two elderly men in the studio who seem to be dancing in celebration (albeit poorly) after the goal.

We're guessing this is a purely Italian thing, annoying as it is, thank god no announcers here in the states would ever be caught celebrating so wildly. (wink)

Friday, December 23, 2011

Yorvit Torrealba Stiff-Arms Ump

((HT: youtube/orlangerardo))

It's now a busy off-season for Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba...
We'll just tell you that it came after a swinging third strike call where, it appears, he was upset with himself...


Dario Rivera, Junior is your home plate umpire. He, apparently, gave Torrealba a second strike call that he didn't agree with that seemed to lead to the above...

The HQ guesses that the Caracas Lions will be missing his services for a while...

Terry Bowden Heads To Akron... Wait, What...???

((HT: ZipsAthletics))

It was, somewhat, inevitable...

But AKRON...???

Okay, the HQ will bite...

The program has been a joke for a while...
So, now Bowden, who was supposed to lead the University of North Alabama into their transition into Division I-AA is now trying to resurrect a bad Mid-American Conference program.

Makes sense... and leaves UNA in a bit of a leadership lurch...

Here's Terry a little-too-close to the camera addressing his new peeps...

Want The New Air Jordans...??? Don't Break A Mall Down To Do It...

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

One of the new items that people are stalking this Fetivus is the new Jordan sneaker. It runs $180 per pair, which turns out to $90 per shoe.

Which the HQ thinks is too damn expensive for a pair of shoes that may last a year...

Anyway, we digress...

A lot of people, not the HQ, think that these shoes are a good idea for a gift this season. But when they became available, the laws of supply and demand took over. Combine that with a mad rush of folks and you get...

Arrests...

Tacoma Perry was at Stonecrest Mall for the fallout...

Race for New Air Jordan Sneakers Turns Ugly: MyFoxATLANTA.com


$180 for a pair of shoes...
Good luck on that...

Moore, Boise Punt Arizona State For 50th Career Win

((HT: KTVB-TV))

For a lot of people, this was the "35" point game if you were playing in one of those post-season confidence pools...

Just for craps-and-giggles, of course, not for any kind of financial windfall... and, if you did, you were right on as Boise State was challenged at points, but not completely challenged...

If you get the HQ's drift...

Kellen Moore got his 50th career win for the Broncos as they manhandled the Sun Devils and their tacky, new uniforms 56-24 in the Vegas-played car care bowl game- and, to be honest, it wasn't even that close...

Here's Moore reflecting on his career- three losses by a total of five points... but, as TBH says, what do they call those three losses by a total of five points...???

Losses...

R Allen Stanford Competent To Stand Trial

((HT: CBS News))

Billionaire bilker R. Allen Stanford is competent to stand trial, according to a Houston judge.

There was an investigation ongoing as to whether or not Stanford was considered to be suicidal. That was found not to be the case, but Stanford will continue to be monitored.

Stanford is said to have taken the money in a Ponzi scheme and turned into a lifestyle that was wrapped up in not only cricket and yachting, but philanthropy.

Here's your recap on Stanford's shenanigans...
All $8-billion of it...


And here's the details from our friends at MyFoxHouston...

Stanford Ruled Competent for Trial: MyFoxHOUSTON.com


The trial starts in late January...

Thursday, December 22, 2011

DEVELOPING: Texas A&M OL Dies In Car Crash

((HT: KBTX-TV))

Texas A&M offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio died in a head-on car crash Thursday on his way home after the Aggies last practice in preparation for the bowl game played at Reliant Stadium on New Year's Eve Day in Houston.

Eyewitness reports say the senior swerved to avoid a buzzard and ended up head-on in the path of an 18-wheeler.

Here's TAMU AD Bill Byrne on Villavisencio's death...


"Joey V," as he was known on campus, had taken part in the team's presentation of gifts at the Twin City Mission in Bryan, Texas earlier in the day.

Villavisencio was a true senior radiological health engineering major at A&M.

Dutch Soccer Match Abandoned After Fan Charges Field

((HT: youtube/profistar09))

Okay, what's wrong with this picture...???
Other than the beginning...???


The Ajax-AZ Alkmaar match was abandoned after the run-on, and Dutch soccer officials are debating whether or not to pick it up from the point above.

Alkmaar's goalie, Esteban Alvarado, was given a red card for kicking the supporter.. that's what's really wrong with the above...

Alkmaar left the field in protest and the game was stopped in the 36th minute. Ajax was leading 1-0. The players' union has demanded that the red card be retracted.

The Dutch federation says it will decide whether the match should be replayed, resumed, or have Ajax declared the winner.

The 19-year-old that took his life into his own hands is in police custody along with 25 others arrested during the match.

DEVELOPING: Conlin Accusers Now Number 6

((HT: MyFoxPhilly))

Two more women have come forward to increase the number of Bill Conlin accusers to six in sexual molestation charges dating back almost forty years.

One woman, now 50 years old, says that the former Philadelphia columnist abused her on two occasions. Another woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says Conlin abused her at his home.

Here's the early returns on the new returns from Philly...

6 Now Accuse Bill Conlin Of Child Sex Abuse: MyFoxPHILLY.com


MyFoxTampaBay caught up with Conlin outside his Florida home...

"My lawyer's name is on the door. Please take it and call him, and I have nothing to say to you," Conlin said. "I think nothing of the allegations, nor can I respond to them because those are the wishes of my lawyer."

Why does the HQ think that this, too, will get uglier before it gets better...

Former NFL players sue league over concussions

((ht: ajc.com))
Scales of Justice

We are surprised this is the 1st legal action (at least that we are aware of) taken by a group of ex-NFL players against the league over concussions.

4 former stars filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Atlanta's U.S District Court stating they suffer from memory loss, headaches and other issues related to multiple brain injuries during their careers.

The players: Jamaal Lewis, Dorsey Levens, Fulton Kuykendall and Ryan Stewart.

The full story from AJC.com is RIGHT HERE

Hmmm.

We aren't lawyers, nor do we claim to be, but this one seems like it will be tough to prove in a court of law. Unless the teams or the players have medical records from their time in the league, it will be tough to offer tangible proof.

We assume that their legal team has a plan to address this. The AJC says the league hasn't responded to their request for a comment and we are reasonably certain the answer will be something along the lines of "Until we see the legal document, it wouldn't be proper for us to comment".

The NFL did on Wednesday issue a new mandate requiring a certified trainer to be at each game to monitor what happens and assist medical staffs as needed. The move is widely believed to be a response to what happened in Cleveland when the team failed to note Quarterback Colt McCoy was concussed and let him go back in a game against Pittsburgh. McCoy later admitted he didn't remember any of the 4th quarter.

Expect more of this to happen, though this case may be a measuring stick to see how far any legal action may be able to go.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Chelsea's Terry Facing Charges On Alleged Racist Slur

England and Chelsea captain John Terry is now facing prosecution over allegations that he made a racist comment towards Queen Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

The 30-year-old will appear in court on February 1st of next year.

A Chelsea statement said: "John has made it clear he denies the charge and is determined to do all he can to prove his innocence.

"Chelsea FC has always been fully supportive of John in this matter and will continue to be so.

"The club finds all forms of discrimination abhorrent and we are proud of the work we undertake campaigning on this important issue."


Here's an interview with Blackburn defender Jason Roberts discussing the matter, thank to our friends at the Guardian...
((HT: youtube/TheGuardian))


And here is one view of the play in question...
((HT: Barclays Premier League))

Yale's Williams Gone... Resume Bites Him...

Two problems for, now, former Yale head coach Tom Williams...

First reported by OSG hyah...

One, he was listed as a Rhodes candidate in 2009- which he wasn't...

Williams tried to 'splain it by saying he went through the early stages, but didn't follow all the way to the application stage.

And, two, he had himself as a member of the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 1993 on his online bio for Yale. Second problem- he wasn't on the practice squad- he had a tryout and that's as far as it got...

So, that pretty much did him in...

"I am extremely proud of my academic, athletic and coaching career,"
he said in a statement. "If there was confusion created, I take full responsibility. The timing of this inquiry has been difficult for everyone. At this point I believe it is in the best interest of my student-athletes and Yale University that I step down."

Maybe there's an opening at Central Florida...

Here's highlights from this year's The Game...
A game where Williams went 0-3...
((HT: HarvardAthletics))

OSG Buzzer Beater: Two In The Same Game

A wild game Tuesday night at Wright State University as the Raiders were hosting the Idaho Vandals.

Idaho's Landon Tatum took the inbounds pass and banked home a half court prayer to send the game into overtime.

In the O.T. Wright State's Julius Mays nailed a three pointer at the buzzer to win it for the Raiders.

Here's the highlights, Thanks WSURaiders.com



“Actually, I’ve been hitting game-winners my whole career,” Mays said after the game. “All through high school I hit ’em. I hit one my freshman year at N.C. State in a conference game, and this adds on right here.”

Guess we know who will have the ball for Wright State when the game is on the line.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Richt Paid Folks From His Own Pocket... VIOLATION!!!

Which would, normally, just add to the University of Georgia head coach being a stand-up guy...

BUT...

That's really a secondary violation in the eyes of the NCAA...
Which is pretty douchey...

The AJC, as part of an open records request, unearthed the emptying of Richt's wallet that went a little something like this:

Charlie Cantor got $10,842 over an 11-month period through March.

John Jancek got $10,000 in 2009 after the previous university administration declined to give Jancek a raise when he turned down a coaching job at another school.

John Eason got $6,150 in 2010 when his new position called for a salary reduction when he moved from an assistant coach job.

Richt paid a total of $15,227 when the school refused bowl bonuses to 10 non-coach staff members.

He paid a five-year longevity bonus of $15,337.50 to tight ends coach Dave Johnson when he took a job at West Virginia three years ago when Johnson was just short of the five-year period, and another $6,000 to fired coach Jon Fabris when Fabris couldn't find a job after his severance package ran out.

"The report stands on its own,"
athletic director Greg McGarity told the AJC. "There's nothing to add. We're moving forward."

It's the beginning of the report that Chip Towers wrote about today
, but there were other violations that included the participation of alums during Signing Day, the whole pomp-and-circumstance the school used to recruit current enigma Isaiah Crowell, and other minor stuff...

But it is a BUNCH of minor stuff...

More when we know more...

Liverpool's Luis Suarez Gets 8 Match Ban

Luis Suarez has been handed an eight game ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

From Chris Bascombe at The Telegraph:

Suárez admitted calling Evra a “Negro” once but denied it was an insult. He claimed it was in response to being called a “South American” by his opponent. Evra alleged he was racially insulted 10 times by Suárez.

The Uruguay striker had strongly denied the accusation and was fully supported by Liverpool.

Evra made the claims immediately after the match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield two months ago, telling French TV station Canal Plus that Suarez had used a racist insult to him "at least 10 times".

Evra said: "There are cameras. You can see him (Suarez) say a certain word to me at least 10 times."


Here's the BBC's Mark Lawerenson discussing the ban and the 40,000-pound fine


Nothing, naturally, will happen until the appeals process goes through and Suarez is still being looked at for allegedly flipping off fans at a Fulham match earlier in the year...

DEVELOPING: Philly Columnist Conlin "Retires" On Sexual Molestation Allegation

((HT: NBC10 Philadelphia))

According to his paper, the Daily News he did that instead of "resigning..." in the wake of a reported investigative story by Nancy Phillips claiming allegations of child molestation...

Here's the link to the Deadspin piece...

More when we know more...

But, in the interim, here's Conlin accepting a Lew Klein Award at Temple back in October of this year...
((HT: 2020VisualMedia))


The HQ had one run-in with Conlin in our time... actually, it was more of a shocking sidle...

We were at an Atlanta Braves game as they were losing to the Phillies. In the 7th inning, the young interns would bring trays of ice cream by for the working media along press row. Conlin spotted the tray and gave the girl who handed it to him a look like he was going to devour the entire thing- and the arms attached.

The intern couldn't have been more frightened and Conlin could not have been more anticipatory in his dessert-based glee...

More when we know more...

1645 UPDATE: We know more...

The Phillips piece is out...
One of the four is allegedly a niece who is now a prosecutor. She wanted to bring these accusations to light, some of which are almost 40 years old, to bring attention to the issue of statutes of limitations for the crime...

This is all Class-A creepy... and the Phillips piece is an equally-creepy must-read...

Here's the early returns from MyFoxPhilly

Bill Conlin Accused Of Child Sex Abuse: MyFoxPHILLY.com

DEVELOPING: Ohio State Learning It's Fate, Smith Still Employed

According to the Columbus (OH) Dispatch's blogsite Buckeye Extra the NCAA is going to slap a one year bowl ban on Ohio State. This would be for the 2012 season, Urban Meyer's first with the Buckeyes.

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/12/20/ncaa-report.html

More when we know it.

1400 UPDATE: According to ESPN's Joe Schad, in addition to the bowl ban there is a scholarship hit, an increased probationary period, and a show-cause penalty for Jim Tressel.

The news release from the school is hyah...

Here's an interview with Still-Surprisingly-Employed AD Gene Smith
((HT: NBC4i.com))

OSG Buzzer Beater: Dodson's 3 Shoots Down Arizona State

A crazy game in Tempe, Arizona Monday night between Southern Miss and Arizona State.

First there was a fight between Torye Pelham of Southern Mississippi and Arizona State's Rusian Pateev, both were ejected.

Then the game ended on a buzzer beater by Southern Miss' Darnell Dodson, who was coming off suspension.

Here's the highlights, Thanks Fox Sports Arizona

<a href='http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/video?videoid=f647bee6-06c9-403b-823c-27af65ecc268&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Highlights: Arizona State falls to Southern Miss 64-61'>Video: Highlights: Arizona State falls to Southern Miss 64-61</a>

Darnell Dodson, a Kentucky transfer, was kicked off the Southern Miss men's basketball team back in April after he was arrested on auto and residential burglary charges at a fraternity house. He pleaded guilty but the conviction could be lifted if he serves 500 hours of community service.

Southern Miss officials and head coach Larry Eustachy reinstated Dodson last Friday after making amends.

A buzzer beater is not a bad way to be welcomed back to the team.

"It was great to see (Dodson) out there tonight have the game that he had," Southern Mississippi coach Larry Eustachy said. "He had only practiced with our team once prior today and I just hope he can continue to keep it going like that the rest of the way."

Early Upsets In Hoops: Davidson Goes All Honey Badger On KU

((HT: SI.com))

Two upsets last night... the first was at the Sprint Center so more than 17,000 could see Davidson knock off Kansas- which they have done before...

Davidson was 11 for 33 in three-point field goals to pace the win...
((HT: ESPNU))


The other was with LSU taking out Marquette, who still does not have a football team that could help the Big east football conference...

Ralston Turner had 22 in the win...
((HT: FSNSouth))

Coaching Carousel: Ellis Johnson to Southern Miss

Ellis Johnson
((ht: saturdaydownsouth.com))

It looks like the 'ol Ball Coach will need to find a new defensive coordinator and assistant Head Coach at the University of South Carolina.

Thats because Ellis Johnson will apparently be the new head coach at Southern Mississippi.

Johnson's work with the Gamecock defense has been widely praised as they've grown into a national "Top 10" group.

According to a reports, Johnson will stick around and coach the Gamecock "D" in the Capital One Bowl versus Nebraska.

Johnson takes over for the departing Larry Fedora, who led this years Golden Eagle squad to 11-wins. Fedora is moving on to take the reins and North Carolina.

Monday, December 19, 2011

DEVELOPING: On, Off, On, Off... And We're Talking Football...

((HT: ESPN/NFL))

There were the early thoughts that it was 1989 on Candlestick Point all over again...

But it seems like it was just a transformer that sent the Niners-Steelers game into a 20 minute pre-kickoff delay...

The lights were turned back on in time to get the game to a 6-0 Niners lead early in the second quarter...

Here was some of the early coverage from power outage one...
It's Stu, the Game Manager, and Steve Young...


And here's how KGO-TV looked at it...


Then, it happened again... and the HQ is sure that Big Ben's ankle is more annoyed than anything else on the field...

More when we know more...

Italian Match-Fixing Arrests Now At 17

The number of arrests in the match-fixing/illegal betting scandal for Italian soccer is now at 17- including two active players.

Last month a player for the Gubbio franchise was approached and offered $260,300 to affect the outcome of a match between Cesena and Gubbio back on November 30th. The player refused and reported the incident to the police.

Last June, 16 people were arrested as part of the inquiry, which is being led by prosecutors in the Italian town of Cremona, and former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni was targeted as part of the investigation.

Here's the live report from earlier, thanks to our friends at Sky/TG24 where Doni was arrested...

And, yes, it's in Italian...

Sunday, December 18, 2011

OSG High: GBI Completes Warren County Investigation

((HT: WJBF-TV Augusta))

After completing 135 interviews with anyone they could find that might have been related to the whole Hancock Central-Warren County High ((GA)) football game this past season, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) has handed over their findings for grand jury consideration...

Thank (insert divine being here)...

Here's the release from the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit in full...

For those of you who have forgotten the fallout of the brawl, here's the early recap thanks to our friends at WJBF...


The HQ knows Coach Daniel and has found the lack of cooperation from Hancock County authorities until they were forced to start investigating to be both unconscionable and lacking in understanding...

We just have never gotten it from their point of view...
Ever...

And if the Hancock Central folks are found culpable in any way, there oughta be hell to pay on a lot of different levels...

OSG NAIA: Saint X Takes Out Carroll

((HT: KFBB-TV Helena))

Caoch Mike Feminis was on the platform accepting the NAIA Football Championship trophy in his 24-20 win over Carroll College Saturday night and he finished with the catch phrase of the year:

"One goal... Achieved!"

And it was... first time there, and a win...

Now, what does he do for an encore...??? That's the question...

His offense, led by QB and MVP Jimmy Coy, seemed to give the Saints defense fits early. There was no in-between for the zone read draw of Coy combined with the dink-and-dunk way of keeping the other guy off the field. Changing from a three to a four-man front slowed their offense down by the mid-point of the second quarter.

The defense looked like they were going to have Dane Broadhead beat them in the air as they sold out to the run and wouldn't let NAIA player of the year, RB Chance Demarais, run all day.

In a game that moved faster than the 10-7 Carroll win last year, it took a red-zone stand by Saint X to get it that far...

Here's the recap from our friends up north...


And from our friends at KXLH-TV in Helena...


When you're on the sidelines, as the HQ was, you run into folks...

We ran into the father of Carroll WR Matt Ritter... and it was funny and somewhat excruiating a the same time... to talk to him during that last Carroll drive as they moved right in front of him. Ritter has been a pain in the butt for a lot of NAIA schools over his four years. He had one TD catch earlier in the game, but you also see the father's anguish when the ball goes through his hands in the corner of the endzone on that last set of four downs trying to score late in the game.

Oh, the two pass interference calls on the last drive...???

The HQ knew close to half of the TV crew so we asked...

First down...??? Good defense...
Fourth down...??? Well, it was fourth down in a title game...

Another good crowd for year four- bring on year five...

Lookout for the runaway Golf Cart!!!

((ht: star-telegram.com))

Whoa! You just don't see this happen very often.

Saturday night at the end of the Texas 5A, Division II Championship game, the teams, coaches, officials and others gathered on the field to shake hands at the end of the game when it happened.

Somehow, a golf cart broke loose, careening onto the field and plowing over multiple people on the field. One man was apparently sent to the hospital with a leg injury and a couple other people were injured or shaken up trying to dodge the renegade cart.

Read the story from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram RIGHT HERE

Nobody has been able, at this time, to explain how the cart managed to break free with the accelerator on. And yeah, it is alternately scary and funny to watch.

**Note**--Check out Spring Dekaney coach Willie Amendola who was in the middle of an interview when he gets bumped into the passenger seat. He tries steering the cart before getting tossed from the bucking bronco...

So with that in mind, here is your video:



Ragin Cajuns win on Buzzer Beater

No, this isn't a basketball story.

It's the story of the University of Lousiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns who won their 1st bowl game since 1944 when Brett Baer barely pushed a 50-yard field goal through the uprights as the clock struck zero in the New Orleans Bowl Saturday night. That sealed the Cajuns 32-30 win over San Diego State.

The win moved the Cajuns to 9-4 on the season, arguably their most successful season ever. 1st year coach Mark Hudspeth helped engineer the turnaround from a 3-9 record in 2010. Quarterback Blaine Gautier was the game MVP, throwing for 470 yards and 3 TD's.

The kick came after Baer had lined up for a 55-yard field goal. However, San Diego State tried to draw the Cajuns into a procedure penalty.

It didn't work. It just moved the kick closer and that probably was the saver, because if you see the highlights. The kick barely made it.

Here's a replay of your game winner: (until its pulled)



KATC-TV takes us to a Lafayette area sports bar where the masses were watching, though apparently, they forgot to use a Nat Sound microphone.

Thanks KATC:




Saturday, December 17, 2011

OSG I-AA: It's Bearkats And Bison In Frisco

((HT: KFBB-TV Helena))

When you can't stop the Sam Houston State running game, you're in trouble...
And the Montana Grizzlies were in trouble Friday night in Texas...

Here's the long version as to how...


The other semi had too many turnovers for Georgia Southern's liking as they traveled to North Dakota State and lost 35-7...

It was the biggest game in the history of the program...
And we post these highlights much to the dismay of Brother Phil...
((HT: Valleynewslive.com/Fargo))


Now, all they have to do is find their way to Frisco, Texas (wherever in the blue hell that is) by JANUARY 7th...???

Good for y'all...

Bowl season is here: Yawn..

Hey, because we know you are only slightly more excited than the programmers at ESPN, we give you...Bowl Picks.

And yeah, we know you'll read it because for the most part...none of you will actually attend any of these and thusly, your school will end up paying the bowl game more money for unused tickets than you'll actually make for playing the game. And your college kid will pay higher student fees next year to pay it off.

Yeah, that's how the bowl system works.

So here are your picks: (and yes, there are way too many games you've never heard of)

12/17--Gildan New Mexico Bowl--Really? They play a bowl game in New Mexico?

Temple 31
Wyoming 23


12/17--Famous Idaho Potato Bowl--Congrats, you had a good season. You get to go to Idaho.

Ohio 29
Utah St. 21


12/17--R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl--At least this game has New Orleans going for it.

San Diego State 21
La.Lafayette       27 (TLB's alma mater)


12/20--Beef O'Brady's Bowl--Bad food=bad bowl game. Hope they don't cater the press meal.

FIU          31
Marshall   14


12/21--San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta--Really? Even they sponsor a game?

TCU 38
La.Tech 12


12/22--Maaco Las Vegas Bowl--What's played in Vegas stays in Vegas. Why is Boise St here?

Arizona St. 10
Boise State 44


12/24--Sheraton Hawaii Bowl--Yay Hawaii. Oh wait. How much is it going to cost Southern Miss?

Nevada                       23
Southern Mississippi  30


12/26--AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl--More fun when it was Poulan/Weedeater Bowl. Shreveport for Christmas. What a prize...

Missouri     34
N.Carolina 31


12/27--Little Caesars Bowl--The reason they sell $5 pizzas.

W.Michigan 17
Purdue          20


12/27--Belk Bowl-- Yay! Discount clothing for everybody!

Louisville 37
NC State 27


12/28--Military Bowl by Northrup Grumman--A bowl game put on by a defense contractor. How appropriate.

Toledo   18
Air Force 34


12/28--Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl-- The Who..what bowl?

California    12
Texas           19


12/29--Champs Sports Bowl--At least they get a free trip to Disney World out of this. But the penalty is playing in the decrepit Citrus Bowl stadium.

Florida State    35
Notre Dame    24

12/29--Valero Alamo Bowl--Good place to go for great food, for a bowl game...not so much.

Washington                    26
Baylor (Featuring RG3)  44


12/30--Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl--What? No military academies playing? Huh?

BYU      41
Tulsa      31

12/30--New Era Pinstripe Bowl--Congrats, your playing your bowl game in the Bronx.

Rutgers    20
Iowa St.   31

12/30--Franklin American Mortgage Music City--Yes, a mortgage company that sponsors a bowl game. Wonder how long before it is foreclosed on?

Mississippi State 10
Wake Forest        28


12/30--Insight Bowl--No insight needed. If you are here, you are playing in a half-full stadium.

Iowa          13
Oklahoma  41


12/31--Meinke Car Care Bowl of Texas--We'll ask it. Why does this game exist?


Texas A&M     35
Northwestern   38


12/31--Hyundai Sun Bowl--The only people who enjoy this work at CBS affiliates and don't have to do early news that day.

Ga.Tech     41
Utah           31


12/31--AutoZone Liberty Bowl--Come to Memphis, eat the BBQ and look for Elvis. Yawn....


Cincinnati    17
Vanderbilt    23


12/31--Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl--Come on! 6-7 UCLA in this game. Both teams here sucked this year, here is your reward.

Illinois    3
UCLA   2


12/31--Chick-fil-A Bowl--Almost always the best bowl game of the year. This might be the exception.

Virginia   17
Auburn    18


1/2/11--TicketCity Bowl--Yes, this is a real game. Though it sounds like a Bowling Alley.


Houston   43
Penn St.   21


1/2/11--Outback Bowl--Nobody goes, but best--press-meal--ever.

Michigan State  21
Georgia             28


1/2/11--Capital One Bowl--Again, yay! You get to go to Disney. Boo, you are playing in horrible football stadium.

Nebraska    13
South Carolina 28


1/2/11--TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl--Really? At least they have a good sense of humor. It should be called the Urban Meyer bowl.

Ohio State 6
Florida      7


1/2/11--Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio--A win-win only because most people will watch this on their Vizio's rather than in person.

Wisconsin     31
Oregon          28


1/2/11--Tostitos Fiesta Bowl--Chips and salsa for everyone. It's a BCS game so by divine commandment we are forced to watch.

Stanford    23
Okie State  45


1/3/11--Allstate Sugar Bowl--They should be forced to have nobody go to this game for picking Va.Tech. Unfortunately Va.Tech is going to have to pay for all the unused tickets. And student fees will go up because of it.


Michigan      34
Va.Tech       31


1/4/11 Discover Orange Bowl--Poor Orange Bowl. Saddled with a Big East team every year. We won't be watching this game.

West Virginia     37
Clemson             31

1/6/11--AT&T Cotton Bowl--Wonder how the customer service is at this game? Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Kansas State    27
Arkansas         41


1/7/11--BBVA Compass Bowl---Happy New Year, you are playing in a bowl game nobody will watch or go to in Birmingham, AL. Congratulations for that.

SMU          34
Pittsburgh   17


1/8/11--GoDaddy.com Bowl--Just like the commercials, a total tease. Misleading only because it is a bowl game nobody will watch.


Arkansas State     31
Northern Illinois  17


1/9/11--Allstate BCS Championship Game--Nothing like having to wait another month for this. Although we don't know why anyone would be excited...

Alabama  6
LSU        9










































Friday, December 16, 2011

OSG NAIA: Carroll and St. Xavier T-Minus 1

It's another year for Carroll ((MT)) College head coach Mike Van Diest to go ahead and chase the record for NAIA titles...

If he gets past St. Xavier ((IL)), as the Fighting Saints did last year in the playoffs, 27-5, it'll be another title for the kid raised in Helena...

He was, understandably, calm two days out... and, as most head coaches are in press conference situations, complimentary about his opponent. Saint X head coach Mike Feminis was the same way...

But the one thing you take away from the NAIA and their title games- they genuinely mean it. The whole hook for the national governing body is showcasing the schools and their "Champions of Character." There are kids who do blood drives, raise funds and materials for the less-fortunate, all those items that you think are cliches everywhere else...???

They're legit here...whether they're talking about their own kids... or someone else's...

Van Diest: "It's like our first time here. We have 25 players that weren't with us last year. They're a fun group to be around."

Feminis: "We try to emulate what they (Carroll) do. Don't get me wrong. We're going to try and beat their brains in Saturday, but there's no one we respect more."

Saint X has never made it to the final game- having lost three times in the semis. A lot of them (whoever the "them" actually is) thought the Cougars would be a little down this season, but Feminis admitted he felt in his heart that his team could make it this far. It took some freshmen stepping up and some second-stringers last year moving up to make it happen- that and getting a revenge win over Marion ((IN)) to get there.

What was it like for the Saints to get here...???
Check out the charter flights, thanks to our friends at KXLH-TV in Helena...

It's about kids like Saint X linebacker Michael Prosser...

Prosser is the only kid Coach Fem can recall that turned down a D1 scholarship to play at SXU. He's SGA president and looks like he could run a big busines flush out of college at 6-3, 235...

Saint X QB Jimmy Coy is at his third school after tours at Valdosta State and El Camino Junior. Has he found a home...?

The night before the title game was the Banquet of Champions at the Forum. It's where the two sides exchange gifts, pleasantries, and compliments one more time... and see Chance Demarais of Carroll get the Player of the Year award over Faulkner QB Josh Hollingsworth...

We all know Chance is taking his linemen out for a meal to celebrate this one...

The Carroll brigade gave matching pictures of Montana and an autographed book from the Governor to the president, AD, and head coach. The Saint X staff gave a really cool crystal skyline to the Carroll president, a Bears pullover for the Caroll AD, and a Jonathan Toews Blackhawks sweater and hat.

How cool is that...???

But the lines of the day...???

Apparently, Dr. Paula McNutt (the interim president at Carroll), had only two days on the job before she found out she was going to a title game. Robert Tenczar, SXU VP of Alumni Relations, subbing for university president Chris Wiseman relayed the quote that gave folks pause...

After finding out the Cougs were heading to a title game, she told Tenczar: "Maybe the Provost can handle graduation..."

Which is game day...

One last thing before tomorrow...

CEO of the NAIA Jim Carr isn't worried about any kind of social media policy on the sidelines. He knows his guys won't channel their inner Ocho-Cinco, but Coach Van took it one step further:

"My players can't do anything I don't do, and I just learned how to text."

But he did get emotional on the dais when thinking about his players that are taking the field Saturday... there are some that could play somewhere at the next level, but for most of the Fighting Saints it's over after tomorrow save the football banquet...

More after the game...

Bears cut Sam Hurd who faces $100,000 bond for drug charges

((ht: chicagotribune.com))

Sam Hurd
Congratulations Sam Hurd, not only are you now facing federal drug charges, you are now unemployed.

The Chicago Bears cut the wide receiver just a day after he was charged with buying a kilo of cocaine from an undercover federal agent posing as a drug supplier.

Hurd and his lawyers are trying to quell rumors that he supplied drugs to other players and Bears teammates. 

The challenge now is the fact the judge told Hurd he must "Maintain or seek employment" while out on bond.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune RIGHT HERE

Well, there goes that idea. Not only have the Bears waived Hurd, it is HIGHLY unlikely that another team would even venture near the guy. Why would anyone employ someone facing the list of charges that he's facing.