Full story
RICHMOND, Va. -- A government official says imprisoned NFL star Michael Vick has been approved for release to home confinement.
NFL.com Video
The No. 4 mobile quarterback of all time is Michael Vick.Vick's lawyers have said they expected him to be moved any day into a halfway house in Newport News, Va. But the official says there's no bed space, so Vick could be released to his Hampton, Va. home as soon as May 21st.
The official has knowledge of the case but requested anonymity because the individual was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official says Vick will be on electronic monitoring and will only be allowed to leave home for activities approved by his probation officer.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Buyout frees Marbury for Celtics
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/02/25/buyout_frees_marbury_for_celtics/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1
After months of being embroiled in a soap opera, the Knicks worked out a buyout of Marbury's $21 million contract yesterday. Two NBA sources said that once the two-time All-Star clears waivers - which is expected to be Friday morning - he will sign with the Celtics for a prorated veteran minimum of $1.3 million for the rest of the season.
The Celtics also filled their need for a veteran big man by signing Moore for the rest of the season to undisclosed financial terms.
"I'm blessed to be able to move on with my career," said Marbury via e-mail. "I'm excited about the new beginning."
Marbury and the Knicks also resolved the grievance he had filed against the team over the $400,000 he had been docked for allegedly refusing to play in a game in November. The sides attended an arbitration hearing yesterday, and terms of the settlement were not announced.
Marbury, 32, averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 assists in 24 games for the Knicks last season, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game since Jan. 11, 2008. He needed surgery for bone spurs that ended his 2007-08 season, and with the arrival of president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni during the offseason, the Knicks wanted to move on from the Marbury era and start fresh.
The Celtics became intrigued with Marbury in the preseason when he averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists and went to the free throw line regularly in seven games.
He scored 16 points against Boston in an Oct. 21 game, but last played in a pre season game against New Jersey on Oct. 24. He was suspended by the Knicks shortly thereafter.
The Celtics declined comment on Marbury yesterday, but team president Danny Ainge did say he planned on signing a combo-guard or wing player for his final open roster spot. Marbury played with Celtics All-Star forward Kevin Garnett in Minnesota.
"We're looking to get a guard," Ainge said prior to the announcement of Marbury's buyout. "There is no one that we are checking on right now. But we can turn our attention to that now."
After months of being embroiled in a soap opera, the Knicks worked out a buyout of Marbury's $21 million contract yesterday. Two NBA sources said that once the two-time All-Star clears waivers - which is expected to be Friday morning - he will sign with the Celtics for a prorated veteran minimum of $1.3 million for the rest of the season.
The Celtics also filled their need for a veteran big man by signing Moore for the rest of the season to undisclosed financial terms.
"I'm blessed to be able to move on with my career," said Marbury via e-mail. "I'm excited about the new beginning."
Marbury and the Knicks also resolved the grievance he had filed against the team over the $400,000 he had been docked for allegedly refusing to play in a game in November. The sides attended an arbitration hearing yesterday, and terms of the settlement were not announced.
Marbury, 32, averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 assists in 24 games for the Knicks last season, but he hasn't played in a regular-season game since Jan. 11, 2008. He needed surgery for bone spurs that ended his 2007-08 season, and with the arrival of president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni during the offseason, the Knicks wanted to move on from the Marbury era and start fresh.
The Celtics became intrigued with Marbury in the preseason when he averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists and went to the free throw line regularly in seven games.
He scored 16 points against Boston in an Oct. 21 game, but last played in a pre season game against New Jersey on Oct. 24. He was suspended by the Knicks shortly thereafter.
The Celtics declined comment on Marbury yesterday, but team president Danny Ainge did say he planned on signing a combo-guard or wing player for his final open roster spot. Marbury played with Celtics All-Star forward Kevin Garnett in Minnesota.
"We're looking to get a guard," Ainge said prior to the announcement of Marbury's buyout. "There is no one that we are checking on right now. But we can turn our attention to that now."
Friday, February 20, 2009
Barkley goes to jail
Full text here
Opening Statement from Charles Barkley
Want to start with an apology and a thank you. My bad, my fault.
Getting a DUI is unacceptable in any way, shape or form. I owe an apology to my family, to TNT, to T-Mobile and to my NBA family. I embarrassed all of the above.
Also, I want to say thank you. I've gotten so much support. I've had hundreds of people, total strangers, who have told me to hang in there. You have no idea what that means to me. That means so much to me.
I also want to personally thank some people who took the time to check on me: Adam Silver with the NBA, David Levy, Dick Ebersol, Jeff Behnke, Larry Bird, Quinn Buckner, Mike Pearl, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, Herb Sendek, Ric Bucher, Ernie Johnson, Joey Crawford and Red McCombs. If I forget anybody, I apologize. You have no idea what it meant to me for people like that to take time out of their schedule to check on me. I will never forget that.
Ernie Johnson: Where do things stand legally with you right now?
Charles Barkley: My lawyers are currently working on it right now and really can't get into too much detail.
EJ: Will it go to trial?
CB: No, I don't believe it will go to trial.
EJ: What have they told you about going to jail?
CB: I may be looking at potentially some jail time but don't know anything yet.
EJ: Will you have to go out and do anything else?
CB: I will have to go to alcohol counseling.
EJ: Is that something that you need?
CB: Well, I think it's going to be good for me, to be honest. I need to make sure drinking is not a problem for me. I just want some professionals to talk to me about it.
EJ: What if the professionals tell you stop drinking?
CB: Then I'll have to stop drinking.
EJ: Do you think you'll be able to do that?
CB: I feel I can do anything that I put my mind to.
EJ: What was the first thing that went through your mind when you saw the lights behind you when you were pulled over?
CB: I really wasn't thinking anything, to be honest with you. Until they tell you that you're going to jail, you don't even think like that. You don't think anything bad is going to happen. So I was in shock actually.
EJ: Did you think you were over the limit before they took blood?
CB: No and I thought I did well on the sobriety test. But clearly not good enough.
EJ: When you look back at it now and see that you were almost two times over the legal limit and you got behind the wheel, what do you think?
Opening Statement from Charles Barkley
Want to start with an apology and a thank you. My bad, my fault.
Getting a DUI is unacceptable in any way, shape or form. I owe an apology to my family, to TNT, to T-Mobile and to my NBA family. I embarrassed all of the above.
Also, I want to say thank you. I've gotten so much support. I've had hundreds of people, total strangers, who have told me to hang in there. You have no idea what that means to me. That means so much to me.
I also want to personally thank some people who took the time to check on me: Adam Silver with the NBA, David Levy, Dick Ebersol, Jeff Behnke, Larry Bird, Quinn Buckner, Mike Pearl, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, Herb Sendek, Ric Bucher, Ernie Johnson, Joey Crawford and Red McCombs. If I forget anybody, I apologize. You have no idea what it meant to me for people like that to take time out of their schedule to check on me. I will never forget that.
Ernie Johnson: Where do things stand legally with you right now?
Charles Barkley: My lawyers are currently working on it right now and really can't get into too much detail.
EJ: Will it go to trial?
CB: No, I don't believe it will go to trial.
EJ: What have they told you about going to jail?
CB: I may be looking at potentially some jail time but don't know anything yet.
EJ: Will you have to go out and do anything else?
CB: I will have to go to alcohol counseling.
EJ: Is that something that you need?
CB: Well, I think it's going to be good for me, to be honest. I need to make sure drinking is not a problem for me. I just want some professionals to talk to me about it.
EJ: What if the professionals tell you stop drinking?
CB: Then I'll have to stop drinking.
EJ: Do you think you'll be able to do that?
CB: I feel I can do anything that I put my mind to.
EJ: What was the first thing that went through your mind when you saw the lights behind you when you were pulled over?
CB: I really wasn't thinking anything, to be honest with you. Until they tell you that you're going to jail, you don't even think like that. You don't think anything bad is going to happen. So I was in shock actually.
EJ: Did you think you were over the limit before they took blood?
CB: No and I thought I did well on the sobriety test. But clearly not good enough.
EJ: When you look back at it now and see that you were almost two times over the legal limit and you got behind the wheel, what do you think?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Griffey chooses Mariners
Full Text
The future Hall of Famer informed the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that he's returning to the city where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a perennial All-Star in the 1990s.
"He's coming home. ... I can't begin to tell you how ecstatic we are. He is, too," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed on Wednesday night, calling Griffey "arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Seattle area."
Two baseball sources said that Griffey made his decision after two days of debating between Atlanta, which is close to his home in Orlando, Fla., and Seattle, where he's been a fan favorite since breaking in with the Mariners as a 19-year-old phenom in 1989.
"Ken is extremely excited to be coming back to Seattle," Zduriencik said.
The future Hall of Famer informed the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that he's returning to the city where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a perennial All-Star in the 1990s.
"He's coming home. ... I can't begin to tell you how ecstatic we are. He is, too," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed on Wednesday night, calling Griffey "arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Seattle area."
Two baseball sources said that Griffey made his decision after two days of debating between Atlanta, which is close to his home in Orlando, Fla., and Seattle, where he's been a fan favorite since breaking in with the Mariners as a 19-year-old phenom in 1989.
"Ken is extremely excited to be coming back to Seattle," Zduriencik said.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Kobe N' Shaq win MVP
Full text
Teamed for probably the last time, playing together for the first time in almost five years, the two former Los Angeles Lakers teammates stole the show in Sunday's 58th NBA All-Star Game.
They were named co-MVPs as the West won 146-119.
The dynamic duo hooked up in the third quarter as O'Neal, coming off the bench, smashed home four power dunks during a four-minute span.
Teamed for probably the last time, playing together for the first time in almost five years, the two former Los Angeles Lakers teammates stole the show in Sunday's 58th NBA All-Star Game.
They were named co-MVPs as the West won 146-119.
The dynamic duo hooked up in the third quarter as O'Neal, coming off the bench, smashed home four power dunks during a four-minute span.
Friday, February 13, 2009
U of L beaten by the Fighting Irish
Full text
Luke Harangody had 32 points and 17 rebounds, and host Notre Dame shot 54 percent in a 90-57 victory over No. 5 Louisville last night that ended a seven-game losing streak
The Fighting Irish (13-10, 4-7 Big East) improved to 3-7 against ranked opponents and beat Louisville for just the second time in their last 11 meetings. The 33-point victory is the largest ever for Notre Dame against a Big East opponent. It was the second loss in three games for the Cardinals (18-5, 9-2).
"This victory, while humiliating to us, can propel them into something good," Louisville Coach Rick Pitino said. "I'm happy for them. I'm really upset at our players. The way we practiced going into this game and the way we played tonight, our five men were just totally dominated."
The Irish were in control from the start as Louisville made just one of its first 13 shots. Notre Dame made eight of its first 15, going ahead 17-4 when Kyle McAlarney scored on a reverse layup.
Luke Harangody had 32 points and 17 rebounds, and host Notre Dame shot 54 percent in a 90-57 victory over No. 5 Louisville last night that ended a seven-game losing streak
The Fighting Irish (13-10, 4-7 Big East) improved to 3-7 against ranked opponents and beat Louisville for just the second time in their last 11 meetings. The 33-point victory is the largest ever for Notre Dame against a Big East opponent. It was the second loss in three games for the Cardinals (18-5, 9-2).
"This victory, while humiliating to us, can propel them into something good," Louisville Coach Rick Pitino said. "I'm happy for them. I'm really upset at our players. The way we practiced going into this game and the way we played tonight, our five men were just totally dominated."
The Irish were in control from the start as Louisville made just one of its first 13 shots. Notre Dame made eight of its first 15, going ahead 17-4 when Kyle McAlarney scored on a reverse layup.
Farve to finally retire
Full Text
Favre had instructed his agent, James "Bus" Cook, to inform the Jets on Wednesday that he is retiring. Favre and the Jets both confirmed the retirement in separate conference calls.
"There are several things that went into decision but most importantly, the most important thing, was that physically, you know with my shoulder the last half of the year it hampered the way I played," Favre said. "I'm 39, I had several options [to have surgery] and to let it heal. How that would affect me in terms of playing I had no idea and it wasn't something I was going to risk." Jets owner Woody Johnson said it was Favre's decision to step aside.
"We had an all-encompassing conversation," Johnson said. "He told me
"Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding," Favre said in the e-mail. "My teammates -- Thomas and Kerry included -- were a pleasure to play with. Eric [Mangini] could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance."
Favre had instructed his agent, James "Bus" Cook, to inform the Jets on Wednesday that he is retiring. Favre and the Jets both confirmed the retirement in separate conference calls.
"There are several things that went into decision but most importantly, the most important thing, was that physically, you know with my shoulder the last half of the year it hampered the way I played," Favre said. "I'm 39, I had several options [to have surgery] and to let it heal. How that would affect me in terms of playing I had no idea and it wasn't something I was going to risk." Jets owner Woody Johnson said it was Favre's decision to step aside.
"We had an all-encompassing conversation," Johnson said. "He told me
"Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding," Favre said in the e-mail. "My teammates -- Thomas and Kerry included -- were a pleasure to play with. Eric [Mangini] could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pac-Man Jones gone from Dallas
Full story
IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have released Adam "Pacman" Jones, and a team source told ESPN's Ed Werder that the move was made after the team learned of new allegations against the troubled cornerback from his time with the Titans.
Jones
Jones' release came after "Outside the Lines" reporter John Barr contacted the NFL, the Cowboys and Jones' attorneys about a piece scheduled to air Sunday in which three Atlanta-area men allege that Jones arranged for someone to shoot at them two months after the football player was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2007.
The June 2007 shooting occurred outside a suburban Atlanta strip club. One of the shooting victims told "Outside the Lines" that he had a dispute with Jones inside the strip club and that not long after he and the two others left the club, a hail of bullets struck their car. The NFL knew about that incident, but charges were never brought against anyone because the victims did not see the shooter.
Mosley: Bad risk
With a two-line press release Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys ended their relationship with cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. The laughter you're hearing is coming from the Tennessee Titans' practice facility, Matt Mosley writes. Blog • Atlanta incident
"Outside the Lines" obtained information that police, investigating a separate Atlanta-area case, had been told by an informant that Jones ordered the June 2007 shooting following his dispute with one of the men. Police have said that while the case remains open, they are not actively investigating.
Jones denied the report and told the Dallas Morning News: "It will be a lawsuit in a week against ESPN. That's stupid. It's so stupid I have no more comments."
The Cowboys traded for Jones before the season even though he had been suspended in 2007 because of a series of off-field incidents. Jones, expected to give the Cowboys a boost on defense and special teams, had no interceptions and averaged just 4.6 yards per punt return.
"Surprised? Yeah, I was surprised," Jones said of the release, according to the Dallas Morning News. "All I can do is keep working hard, keep my nose clean and hope for the best."
Jones missed six games this season for violating the league's player conduct policy after an Oct. 7 scuffle with a team bodyguard at a Dallas hotel. He missed a seventh game with an injury.
The 25-year-old Jones spent part of his time away from football taking part in an alcohol rehabilitation program.
"He was surprised, and I think he was obviously somewhat hurt," Worrick Robinson, Jones' agent, said of the decision. "At the same time, he understands the business behind what is happening here."
Robinson said he did not think Jones' suspension was a factor in the Cowboys' decision to release the cornerback.
We don't have any reason to believe at this point that that off-the-field incident had anything to do with the team's decision today," Robinson said. "I know there was certainly a lot of bad that came out of that situation, but there was some good that came out of that situation as well."
IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have released Adam "Pacman" Jones, and a team source told ESPN's Ed Werder that the move was made after the team learned of new allegations against the troubled cornerback from his time with the Titans.
Jones
Jones' release came after "Outside the Lines" reporter John Barr contacted the NFL, the Cowboys and Jones' attorneys about a piece scheduled to air Sunday in which three Atlanta-area men allege that Jones arranged for someone to shoot at them two months after the football player was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2007.
The June 2007 shooting occurred outside a suburban Atlanta strip club. One of the shooting victims told "Outside the Lines" that he had a dispute with Jones inside the strip club and that not long after he and the two others left the club, a hail of bullets struck their car. The NFL knew about that incident, but charges were never brought against anyone because the victims did not see the shooter.
Mosley: Bad risk
With a two-line press release Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys ended their relationship with cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. The laughter you're hearing is coming from the Tennessee Titans' practice facility, Matt Mosley writes. Blog • Atlanta incident
"Outside the Lines" obtained information that police, investigating a separate Atlanta-area case, had been told by an informant that Jones ordered the June 2007 shooting following his dispute with one of the men. Police have said that while the case remains open, they are not actively investigating.
Jones denied the report and told the Dallas Morning News: "It will be a lawsuit in a week against ESPN. That's stupid. It's so stupid I have no more comments."
The Cowboys traded for Jones before the season even though he had been suspended in 2007 because of a series of off-field incidents. Jones, expected to give the Cowboys a boost on defense and special teams, had no interceptions and averaged just 4.6 yards per punt return.
"Surprised? Yeah, I was surprised," Jones said of the release, according to the Dallas Morning News. "All I can do is keep working hard, keep my nose clean and hope for the best."
Jones missed six games this season for violating the league's player conduct policy after an Oct. 7 scuffle with a team bodyguard at a Dallas hotel. He missed a seventh game with an injury.
The 25-year-old Jones spent part of his time away from football taking part in an alcohol rehabilitation program.
"He was surprised, and I think he was obviously somewhat hurt," Worrick Robinson, Jones' agent, said of the decision. "At the same time, he understands the business behind what is happening here."
Robinson said he did not think Jones' suspension was a factor in the Cowboys' decision to release the cornerback.
We don't have any reason to believe at this point that that off-the-field incident had anything to do with the team's decision today," Robinson said. "I know there was certainly a lot of bad that came out of that situation, but there was some good that came out of that situation as well."
Can Tiger Woods' son make him better?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/4580904/Son-could-make-Tiger-Woods-even-better.html
Tiger has proved his supernatural abilities to the world. He has very nearly proved them to himself. But Woods hasn't yet proved anything to little Charlie Axel. Do you think Tiger Woods needs more motivation? Well, he now has the biggest inspiration a professional sportsman can get. A son.
You may think that is all psychological mumbo jumbo, but consider for a moment some facts. The last three first-time winners of the Masters had all just become fathers of a son for the first time. Phil Mickelson won his first major in 2003 a year after the birth of Evan. Zach Johnson won in 2007, three months after the birth of Will. Trevor Immelman won in 2008, a year after the birth of Jacob.
There is a name for this phenomenon. It is called the 'nappy factor' and was first identified by the betting guru Keith Elliott more than 10 years ago. To begin with it was nothing more than a hunch.
Then in 2000 the European Association of Labour Economists published statistics showing that fathers' salaries rise nearly five per cent every time they have a child and that the premium was far greater for a son than a daughter. "I'm sure a son will have an amazing effect even on someone as driven as Tiger," Elliott said.
Woods has already said he became a better golfer since the birth of his daughter, Sam. But what effect will a son have? Padraig Harrington won in America for the first time 18 months after the birth of Patrick. Ernie Els won his first major for five years a month after the birth of his son,
Ben, and then finished in the top 10 in seven of his next nine majors.
The way that Woods has always spoken about his own father makes you wonder if the effect could be even more dramatic. Just last month Woods was riffing in Golf Digest about 'pops'.
He said: "Even to this day when I'm out there struggling and I don't have my best stuff I'll go back to: 'You know what, Daddy, I'm going to put the ball right there. Right there. I'm going to put that little two-iron right there, Daddy. No problem. I got it'. Boom, I put it right there. (Pause in silent reverie). Thanks pops."
Tiger, more than any sportsman you can think of, knows the value of fatherhood. He may even take 'paternity leave' and not return to competitive golf until next month. We don't know for sure yet. But the defending Masters champion Immelman knows what to expect when Tiger does return. He said: "I think he'll be better. I know him well and that's his personality."
Tiger has proved his supernatural abilities to the world. He has very nearly proved them to himself. But Woods hasn't yet proved anything to little Charlie Axel. Do you think Tiger Woods needs more motivation? Well, he now has the biggest inspiration a professional sportsman can get. A son.
You may think that is all psychological mumbo jumbo, but consider for a moment some facts. The last three first-time winners of the Masters had all just become fathers of a son for the first time. Phil Mickelson won his first major in 2003 a year after the birth of Evan. Zach Johnson won in 2007, three months after the birth of Will. Trevor Immelman won in 2008, a year after the birth of Jacob.
There is a name for this phenomenon. It is called the 'nappy factor' and was first identified by the betting guru Keith Elliott more than 10 years ago. To begin with it was nothing more than a hunch.
Then in 2000 the European Association of Labour Economists published statistics showing that fathers' salaries rise nearly five per cent every time they have a child and that the premium was far greater for a son than a daughter. "I'm sure a son will have an amazing effect even on someone as driven as Tiger," Elliott said.
Woods has already said he became a better golfer since the birth of his daughter, Sam. But what effect will a son have? Padraig Harrington won in America for the first time 18 months after the birth of Patrick. Ernie Els won his first major for five years a month after the birth of his son,
Ben, and then finished in the top 10 in seven of his next nine majors.
The way that Woods has always spoken about his own father makes you wonder if the effect could be even more dramatic. Just last month Woods was riffing in Golf Digest about 'pops'.
He said: "Even to this day when I'm out there struggling and I don't have my best stuff I'll go back to: 'You know what, Daddy, I'm going to put the ball right there. Right there. I'm going to put that little two-iron right there, Daddy. No problem. I got it'. Boom, I put it right there. (Pause in silent reverie). Thanks pops."
Tiger, more than any sportsman you can think of, knows the value of fatherhood. He may even take 'paternity leave' and not return to competitive golf until next month. We don't know for sure yet. But the defending Masters champion Immelman knows what to expect when Tiger does return. He said: "I think he'll be better. I know him well and that's his personality."
A-Rod cries that he is sorry
http://www.lohud.com/article/2008902100371
Two days after Sports Illustrated reported that he failed a drug test in 2003, Rodriguez sat for a lengthy interview in his Miami Beach, Fla., home and admitted to breaking baseball's rules, starting in 2001 after he signed with the Rangers.
"I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level, every day," Rodriguez said.
"It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time."
Rodriguez averaged 52 home runs and nearly 132 RBI during those three seasons. In his 10 other full seasons, he has averaged 39 home runs and 119 RBI. Of his 553 home runs, 156 came during those three seasons - 28 percent.
Rodriguez was once considered the player who would erase the name of Barry Bonds from the top of the career home run list. Bonds is scheduled for trial next month on charges that he lied when he told a federal grand jury that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
In a 2007 interview with "60 Minutes," Rodriguez denied ever having used performance-enhancing drugs.
Rodriguez has long been a polarizing figure among baseball fans. His admission drew a variety of responses.
"From what it sounds like, he's still not being completely truthful," said John Reilly, a Mets fan from Yonkers. "I think he'd be better off if he came clean and told the whole truth of what he did."
But Ron Walker, a Yankees fan from Pomona, praised Rodriguez.
"It takes a big man to come out and say, 'I did it,' " he said. "I respect him for that."
The Yankees have not been to the World Series since Rodriguez was acquired from the Rangers. Though he has twice been named the Most Valuable Player in the American League since joining the Yankees, he also has performed poorly in the postseason and been regularly featured in gossip columns. He is signed through the end of the 2017 season.
Two days after Sports Illustrated reported that he failed a drug test in 2003, Rodriguez sat for a lengthy interview in his Miami Beach, Fla., home and admitted to breaking baseball's rules, starting in 2001 after he signed with the Rangers.
"I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level, every day," Rodriguez said.
"It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time."
Rodriguez averaged 52 home runs and nearly 132 RBI during those three seasons. In his 10 other full seasons, he has averaged 39 home runs and 119 RBI. Of his 553 home runs, 156 came during those three seasons - 28 percent.
Rodriguez was once considered the player who would erase the name of Barry Bonds from the top of the career home run list. Bonds is scheduled for trial next month on charges that he lied when he told a federal grand jury that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
In a 2007 interview with "60 Minutes," Rodriguez denied ever having used performance-enhancing drugs.
Rodriguez has long been a polarizing figure among baseball fans. His admission drew a variety of responses.
"From what it sounds like, he's still not being completely truthful," said John Reilly, a Mets fan from Yonkers. "I think he'd be better off if he came clean and told the whole truth of what he did."
But Ron Walker, a Yankees fan from Pomona, praised Rodriguez.
"It takes a big man to come out and say, 'I did it,' " he said. "I respect him for that."
The Yankees have not been to the World Series since Rodriguez was acquired from the Rangers. Though he has twice been named the Most Valuable Player in the American League since joining the Yankees, he also has performed poorly in the postseason and been regularly featured in gossip columns. He is signed through the end of the 2017 season.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Manny still greedy
Full story
IMAGINE WALKING DOWN the street and somebody wants to hand you $25 million . . . without asking you to commit a felony or speak on behalf of Bernie Madoff.
All you have to do is continue to do your job for the next 8 months or so. If you can perform better or even as well as you did in 2008, you probably would get a similar offer next year.
Now imagine declining it.
That's basically what Manny Ramirez has done in rejecting the Dodgers' offer to return to Los Angeles. As always, there's no way to know what Manny is thinking in saying no to the 1-year, $25 million deal. Perhaps he's tired and just wants to spend time with his family. According to the Dodgers, agent Scott Boras hasn't accepted this or a previous offer of 2 years at $45 mil.
Using some numbers pried from the Internet then, here is what the Dodgers could do with 25 million clams if Manny isn't interested:
* Pay this year's salaries of 500 LA police officers or 577 LA firefighters.
* Employ 676 teachers for the year.
* Spring for 472 Los Angeles-area trauma nurses.
* Give $3,571.43 to each of the 7,000 employees of Macy's who are about to lose their jobs.
* Put new brakes on my 1999 Dodge pickup truck . . . 83,333 times.
IMAGINE WALKING DOWN the street and somebody wants to hand you $25 million . . . without asking you to commit a felony or speak on behalf of Bernie Madoff.
All you have to do is continue to do your job for the next 8 months or so. If you can perform better or even as well as you did in 2008, you probably would get a similar offer next year.
Now imagine declining it.
That's basically what Manny Ramirez has done in rejecting the Dodgers' offer to return to Los Angeles. As always, there's no way to know what Manny is thinking in saying no to the 1-year, $25 million deal. Perhaps he's tired and just wants to spend time with his family. According to the Dodgers, agent Scott Boras hasn't accepted this or a previous offer of 2 years at $45 mil.
Using some numbers pried from the Internet then, here is what the Dodgers could do with 25 million clams if Manny isn't interested:
* Pay this year's salaries of 500 LA police officers or 577 LA firefighters.
* Employ 676 teachers for the year.
* Spring for 472 Los Angeles-area trauma nurses.
* Give $3,571.43 to each of the 7,000 employees of Macy's who are about to lose their jobs.
* Put new brakes on my 1999 Dodge pickup truck . . . 83,333 times.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Full story
U of L's has scored 24, 26 and 25 in its last 60 minutes going back to the second half of West Virginia. The Cards, held to a season-low 51 points, have to find a way to generate more offense. Jerry Smith -- and I'm not just talking about tonight's loss -- has to become a scorer again.
Tonight was the third time this season he was scoreless and he's had 10 games where he's only had four attempts. There could be something more to Preston Knowles starting the second half in place of Smith.UConn coach Jim Calhoun said Stanley Robinson's foul trouble actually helped the Huskies. He said UConn's three-guard lineup did a better job of attacking the Cards pressure.
Calhoun also had the highest praise for Terrence Williams. If the vote for the conference Player of the Year Calhoun would vote Williams or Marquette's Jerel McNeal. Calhoun's philosophy of voting means the top player must come from one of the top teams. In other words, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody would not qualify although he's a top scorer and rebounder.
U of L's has scored 24, 26 and 25 in its last 60 minutes going back to the second half of West Virginia. The Cards, held to a season-low 51 points, have to find a way to generate more offense. Jerry Smith -- and I'm not just talking about tonight's loss -- has to become a scorer again.
Tonight was the third time this season he was scoreless and he's had 10 games where he's only had four attempts. There could be something more to Preston Knowles starting the second half in place of Smith.UConn coach Jim Calhoun said Stanley Robinson's foul trouble actually helped the Huskies. He said UConn's three-guard lineup did a better job of attacking the Cards pressure.
Calhoun also had the highest praise for Terrence Williams. If the vote for the conference Player of the Year Calhoun would vote Williams or Marquette's Jerel McNeal. Calhoun's philosophy of voting means the top player must come from one of the top teams. In other words, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody would not qualify although he's a top scorer and rebounder.
2nd Highest Superbowl ratings
Full story
NEW YORK -- The Arizona-Pittsburgh matchup wasn't considered ideal for television, but its finish riveted an estimated audience of 95.4 million people, second only to last year's game as the most-watched Super Bowl ever.
Viewership peaked in the fourth quarter, when Arizona took the lead on Larry Fitzgerald's 64-yard catch and sprint to the end zone only to have it snatched back when Santonio Holmes' end zone leap gave Pittsburgh the 27-23 win. More than 100 million Americans were watching between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The game was the third most-watched program in American television history, after the 106 million people who watched the "M-A-S-H" series finale in 1983 and the 97.4 million who watched the New York Giants end the New England Patriots' bid for an undefeated season in the 2008 Super Bowl.
"The Super Bowl, once again, proved its ability to capture America," said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal Sports chairman.
The NFL's championship is traditionally television's biggest event of the year. Yet between 1998 and 2004, none of the games reached the 90 million mark in viewers. Each game for the past four years topped 90 million.
Arizona's first-ever visit to the Super Bowl hadn't drawn much buzz outside of the Southwest. But Pittsburgh, perhaps because of its four Super Bowl wins in six years in the 1970s, has more of a national constituency than the city's size would suggest. Both of its last two Super Bowl trips topped the 90 million mark, with the Steelers' 1996 loss to Dallas the most popular Super Bowl until it was beaten last year.
The Super Bowl, long derided as a game that rarely lives up to its hype, now has two classics in two years.
One measure of how gripping the game was: for the first time in the seven years TiVo Inc. has been measuring, more people watched the game during the second half than watched the commercials. The ads are usually watched more because of people playing them back on digital video recorders, said Todd Juenger, general manager of TiVo's research department.
One of the biggest gambles to pay off was by Go Daddy Group Inc., the Internet domain registrar. It bought time for its "enhancement" ad with Danica Patrick during the last few minutes of the game, risking the loss of millions of people who would drift away from the Super
Bowl if the outcome was decided.
Instead, fans stayed glued to their sets and the company's ad was the most-watched commercial in the Super Bowl, TiVo said.
Eight of the 10 most-watched ads came during the second half, Juenger said.
TiVo makes its rankings by combining the number of actual viewers and its records of people who rewind to watch a particular event. If the commercial is rewound three times, that counts as four views.
The first-half Doritos ad with a well-pitched snowglobe was the commercial viewers most often stopped and rewound to give another look. Last year's E-Trade Financial Corp. ad with the talking baby was the most-watched ad but revisiting the strategy didn't seem to work: the company's ad ranked No. 37 of 143 that were measured.
The game didn't offer much help to NBC's one-hour special edition of "The Office," which aired following the trophy presentation. It had 22 million viewers -- compared to the 29 million who watched "House" after last year's Super Bowl -- but was still NBC entertainment's most-watched show since a May 2004 edition of "ER."
NEW YORK -- The Arizona-Pittsburgh matchup wasn't considered ideal for television, but its finish riveted an estimated audience of 95.4 million people, second only to last year's game as the most-watched Super Bowl ever.
Viewership peaked in the fourth quarter, when Arizona took the lead on Larry Fitzgerald's 64-yard catch and sprint to the end zone only to have it snatched back when Santonio Holmes' end zone leap gave Pittsburgh the 27-23 win. More than 100 million Americans were watching between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The game was the third most-watched program in American television history, after the 106 million people who watched the "M-A-S-H" series finale in 1983 and the 97.4 million who watched the New York Giants end the New England Patriots' bid for an undefeated season in the 2008 Super Bowl.
"The Super Bowl, once again, proved its ability to capture America," said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal Sports chairman.
The NFL's championship is traditionally television's biggest event of the year. Yet between 1998 and 2004, none of the games reached the 90 million mark in viewers. Each game for the past four years topped 90 million.
Arizona's first-ever visit to the Super Bowl hadn't drawn much buzz outside of the Southwest. But Pittsburgh, perhaps because of its four Super Bowl wins in six years in the 1970s, has more of a national constituency than the city's size would suggest. Both of its last two Super Bowl trips topped the 90 million mark, with the Steelers' 1996 loss to Dallas the most popular Super Bowl until it was beaten last year.
The Super Bowl, long derided as a game that rarely lives up to its hype, now has two classics in two years.
One measure of how gripping the game was: for the first time in the seven years TiVo Inc. has been measuring, more people watched the game during the second half than watched the commercials. The ads are usually watched more because of people playing them back on digital video recorders, said Todd Juenger, general manager of TiVo's research department.
One of the biggest gambles to pay off was by Go Daddy Group Inc., the Internet domain registrar. It bought time for its "enhancement" ad with Danica Patrick during the last few minutes of the game, risking the loss of millions of people who would drift away from the Super
Bowl if the outcome was decided.
Instead, fans stayed glued to their sets and the company's ad was the most-watched commercial in the Super Bowl, TiVo said.
Eight of the 10 most-watched ads came during the second half, Juenger said.
TiVo makes its rankings by combining the number of actual viewers and its records of people who rewind to watch a particular event. If the commercial is rewound three times, that counts as four views.
The first-half Doritos ad with a well-pitched snowglobe was the commercial viewers most often stopped and rewound to give another look. Last year's E-Trade Financial Corp. ad with the talking baby was the most-watched ad but revisiting the strategy didn't seem to work: the company's ad ranked No. 37 of 143 that were measured.
The game didn't offer much help to NBC's one-hour special edition of "The Office," which aired following the trophy presentation. It had 22 million viewers -- compared to the 29 million who watched "House" after last year's Super Bowl -- but was still NBC entertainment's most-watched show since a May 2004 edition of "ER."
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