John Fox Out After Panthers' Season Finale Sunday

Filed under: Panthers, NFL Coaching

John Fox and his staff will not be back in Carolina next year, the team announced Friday. Fox will coach the Panthers at Atlanta Sunday.

"I told John today that I appreciate everything he has done for us over the last nine years," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said in a statement, "but as happens in this business, it is time for both sides to move in different directions."

The decision comes as no surprise -- the contracts of Fox and his staff are up at the end of the season, and the sides have been rumored to be on the verge of a split all season. Fox holds a 73-72 regular-season record for the Panthers, but Carolina has limped along to an NFL-worst 2-13 mark this season.

 

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Gator Bowl Coaches Rodriguez and Mullen Head in Opposite Directions

Filed under: Michigan, Mississippi State, Big 10, SEC, Coaching, Bowl Games

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- One coach received a four-year contract extension worth $10.6 million in the days preceding the Gator Bowl.

The other hasn't heard a peep about his job status in more than a month -- at least from the person who matters.

The contrast this week between the futures of Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez underscored what's at stake Saturday when their teams meet at EverBank Stadium.

For Mullen and No. 21 Mississippi State (8-4), a victory over college football's winningest all-time program would continue the upward trajectory he embarked upon in 2009.

For Rodriguez and the Wolverines (7-5), a loss could cement a decision on the coach's future in Ann Arbor.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon has declined to address Rodriguez's job status since the regular season ended with a 37-7 loss to Ohio State.

Brandon has said only that he would render his evaluation of the program following the Gator Bowl.

 

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Bills vs. Jets Preview, Score and More

Filed under: Bills, Jets, AFC East

In what may be viewed as another meaningless game inside the AFC East, New York Jets' Head Coach Rex Ryan's decision to start second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez against the Buffalo Bills will be what ends up being scrutinized the most. The Jets clinched one of the AFC wildcard spots last week so he really does not need to start Sanchez. However, the Jets were the beneficiary of two teams -- the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals -- resting their starters at the end of the 2009 season and wound up getting hot in the playoffs, so momentum obviously was a key factor in his decision.

Meanwhile, Buffalo would like to end the season on a high note with a win after losing big to New England last week. A victory would mean that after an 0-8 start the Bills will have won five of their last eight games under new Head Coach Chan Gailey. If quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has developed well under Gailey this season, can exploit New York's suspect defense like he has other teams of late, that would give Ryan cause to be concerned heading into the playoffs.

Look for Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis to have a big game and Sanchez to find wide receivers Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller, as well as running back LaDainian Tomlinson out of the backfield, early and often as the Jets cannot afford to go into the postseason losers of four of their last five games.

 

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In Longhorn Country, Locals Are Going Purple for TCU

Filed under: TCU, Wisconsin, Bowl Games

Consider this: At UCLA, which has nearly 400,000 living alumni and a legendary men's basketball program, administrators are desperately trying to raise $100 million to rebuild the campus arena. They're still well short of that target, even after 18 months of effort.

Meanwhile, at Texas Christian University, a small Fort Worth private school that's been a college sports vagabond and hasn't won a national title in football since the '30s, administrators began soliciting donors earlier this year for a $90 million stadium renovation. They raised it all -- in eight months. .

"This is a transformation," said TCU athletic director Chris del Conte, who arrived 15 months ago after stints at Rice and Arizona. "We have a better stronghold on the community than we've had in the past, no question."

That's no small feat, especially in a metropolitan area consumed by the Dallas Cowboys, and in a pigskin-mad state that's long been clad in the burnt-orange of Texas (total enrollment: 50,000) or the maroon of Texas A&M (48,000). But in 2010, Lone Star fans are embracing purple - TCU's color - as the No. 3-ranked Horned Frogs prepare to play No. 5 Wisconsin on Saturday in TCU's first appearance in the Rose Bowl.

 

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What's it like to skate inside a football stadium?

PITTSBURGH - So what is it like to skate inside a football stadium?

Lace 'em up underneath the stands at Heinz Field, as the NHL allowed the media to do Thursday. Walk past the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room - the Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing room for Saturday's Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals. Go down a ramp, up some steps and into the yawning bowl of yellow seats.

Step onto the ice.

I could compare it to playing pond hockey growing up in suburban Detroit, riding my bike through the subdivision with my skates and stick on my handlebars, playing until my ears got crunchy from the cold, then riding home to thaw out.

I could compare it to practicing on an outdoor rink with my youth team, wearing baseball batting gloves under my hockey gloves and a cutoff hockey sock under my helmet to keep warm, the ice never better than outside at 6 o'clock on a frigid Michigan morning.

I could compare it to skating in an NHL arena or standing on the field for a Steelers game, both of which I have had the good fortune to do in my career as a sportswriter.

But it wasn't quite like any of those things.

The Winter Classic romanticizes the game's roots. To those who have played outdoor hockey -- if only shinny on a backyard rink -- it does back memories. It also melds hockey with a baseball or football atmosphere, depending on where it is played. (That really was Steelers great Franco Harris standing there by the rink Thursday.)

Yet it's unique, a big event all its own. It's unlike anything you can experience elsewhere. That's why it has carved a niche for itself among American sports fans, drawing a TV audience for hockey on a day that used to be reserved for college football. And that's why it's worth the NHL's effort, even though there is a risk that the weather can break it as well as make it.

For me, this was most striking thing as I skated around Heinz Field for 45 minutes: From the ice, it doesn't feel forced. You can't see the gaps between the rink and the stands -- that it's a hockey rink temporarily installed on a football field. The seats seem to descend to the top of the boards. It feels almost natural, almost like the rink was there first and the seats were made to surround it. At the same time, it's surreal, seeing those thousands of seats blur past, looking up at the last rows towering so high above, spotting a snippet of the Pittsburgh skyline past the scoreboard at the open end of the stadium.

The second most striking thing: It wasn't nearly as cold as any other time I've skated outside. The temperature was in the high 40s. But while the refrigerated ice wasn't great to start -- and became soft and rutted toward the end of the session -- it wasn't terrible. It wasn't much different than a public skate at your local arena.

The big worry for Saturday isn't the temperature but rain. The forecast calls for a high of 49 degrees and an 80 percent chance of precipitation. NHL chief operating officer John Collins smiled, saying the league plans to play at 1 p.m. as scheduled and expects to get the game in, though it could be delayed Saturday or postponed until Sunday.

The NHL can't control the weather but will do whatever it can to put on the show. There's too much at stake -- from the TV deals to the sponsorships to the teams' scheduling to all the people traveling for the game. I'm sure the players want to get on the ice, too, purely for the fun of it. I didn't want to get off.

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Devil Ball 100: The five most important people in golf history

Welcome to the Devil Ball 100, our ranking of the 100 most important people in the history of golf. Over the next couple weeks, we'll be rolling them out, 10 at a time. Our list includes everyone from golfers to politicians to actors, and each one had a dramatic impact on the game as we know it today. Some names you'll recognize, some you won't. Some positions you'll agree with, and some will have you wondering if we've gone insane. Enjoy the rollout, and see where your favorites made the list! And now we've reached the end of the line ... start your arguments now!

5. Francis Ouimet: If you were to name one tournament that changed the history of golf, you'd point to the 1913 U.S. Open. That's the year Francis Ouimet, an all-but-unknown amateur, beat the heralded Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18-hole playoff. He made national news, and cemented golf, then still a growing sport, as one which could capture the public imagination at any moment. He opened American perceptions to golf, and inspired generations of amateurs to take up a game which had previously been reserved for only elites and private-course members. If you've ever swung a golf club and you're not a millionaire, you owe Ouimet a debt of thanks.

4. Jack Nicklaus: The Golden Bear won more majors than anyone ever, a record 18 that may stand forever. His rivalry with Arnold Palmer kicked off golf's golden age, and his win at Augusta in 1986 remains one of the greatest moments in all of sports history. He remains a vital and vibrant figure in the game today, and he's worthy of all the respect he receives and more.

3. Bobby Jones: Perhaps the greatest golfer in history, and he did it on a part-time basis. Codified the legend of the genius amateur, the player who could excel in both sport and business at once. Jones helped design Augusta National, and exemplified the best that golf had to offer in sportsmanship, grace and public bearing. Every golfer who behaves with a modicum of discretion on the course after a bad shot does so because of Jones' example. Most famously, at the 1925 U.S. Open, he called a two-stroke penalty on himself that cost him the tournament. When praised about it, he replied, "You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank."   

2. Tiger Woods: No athlete in the last 40 years has had the transformative effect on any sport that Tiger Woods had on golf. He brought multiculturalism into a previously white-dominated sport, he turned golf into a high-energy spectacle for the masses, and he transcended the sport to become a cultural icon. The fact that his scandal made worldwide news for more than two months is a testament to his celebrity, and the fact that golfers are regularly banking seven-figure annual incomes is a testament to the money he's brought into the game. He's one of the most significant figures in sports history, and only one man has had a greater effect on the game of golf.

1. Arnold Palmer: The King. His rise to prominence coincided exactly with the rise of televised golf, meaning he was the first golf star most of America knew. Good-looking, dashing and insanely talented, Palmer was one of the pioneers of the age of televised sports. Others won more than his seven majors, others won more tournaments or more money, but nobody has ever equaled his influence. All of golf history led to Arnold Palmer, and all of golf history since then proceeds directly from him.

Previous Lists 

6-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, & 91-100

Thanks to all of you for hanging with us for all 100! Take your cuts at the final order in the comments below. And if you can think of anyone we missed, let us know that too!

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Bobby Jenks Looking Forward to Not Playing for Ozzie Guillen

Filed under: Red Sox, White Sox

In a big-picture sense, Bobby Jenks didn't want to leave the White Sox. But Chicago's former closer sees plenty of positives in moving on.

Jenks, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Red Sox to serve as a setup man (for now, anyway) to Jonathan Papelbon, spoke at length with MLB.com and reflected on his time in Chicago. And even though he said it "hurt" when the White Sox non-tendered him and he would have stayed if given the choice, it sounds as if he's looking forward to having Terry Francona rather than Ozzie Guillen determining when and how he'll be used out of the bullpen.

"I'll always respect (Guillen) as a person and give him credit that's due," Jenks said. "But I want to play for a manager who trusts his relievers, regardless of what's going on."

He added: "Why would I come back to that negativity? I'm looking forward to playing for a manager who knows how to run a bullpen."

 

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Riders' notes: Getzlaf weighs in, Johnson draws a crowd

Two of the Riders' players commanding plenty of attention at today's media availability in Edmonton were slotback Chris Getzlaf, whose 109 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches were key to Saskatchewan's West Final win over Calgary to set up this matchup, and punter Eddie Johnson, whose status as "The Most Interesting Punter In The World" is only growing firmer by the moment. Both had some interesting things to say. For Getzlaf, one of the key topics was the strength of Montreal's defence.

"Across the board, they're really good," Getzlaf said. "They don't really have a weak spot in their defence."

He said the physical presence Montreal brings on defence can make it tough to run routes against them.

"They have strong DBs," he said. "They're able to block you pretty good, which hinders you a bit."

Getzlaf isn't particularly intimidated, though. He's confident Montreal will play well, but he's sure he can raise his own game to match them.

"They're going to win some plays, I'm going to win some plays," he said. "That's just football."

One storyline sure to be a hot topic this week is the weather. It's around -14 degrees in Edmonton today, with the wind chill making that feel like -28 or so. It is predicted to warm up slightly by Sunday, with a recent forecast of -8 by kickoff. Getzlaf said the weather can have an impact, especially for receivers, but he doesn't expect it to play a huge factor this weekend.

"From what I hear, it's supposed to warm up, so I don't think it will affect us much at all. It should be similar to last year," he said. "Obviously when you're cold it's harder to catch the football, but you've just got to find a way to keep your body warm and make plays."

A crucial key to Saskatchewan's success so far has been the depth of their receiving corps. Andy Fantuz led the league in receiving yards this season with 1,380, and Weston Dressler was eighth overall with 1,189, but Getzlaf, Cary Koch, Jason Clermont and the now-injured Rob Bagg all had spectacular moments. Getzlaf said the Saskatchewan offence is always aware of what a defence might do, and their depth allows them to spread the ball around if certain receivers are heavily covered. He said that's why he saw so many passes against Calgary.

"In our previous game against Calgary, they put [Brandon] Browner on Fantuz and rotated a safety, sometimes two over to help him out," Getzlaf said. "You've got to know as a receiver that they're going to be doing man to man coverage on you, and you've got to win that."

Much of Saskatchewan's depth has come from Canadian receivers, with Getzlaf (brother of NHL star Ryan), Fantuz, Bagg and Clermont all counting as non-imports. It's rare to see that amount of Canadian talent at one position on one team. Getzlaf said part of it's excellent scouting and player evaluation, but part of it has to do with how the Riders support each other.

"I think a lot of it has to do with who they bring in," he said. "It's a tribute to the guys in the locker room that we talk so well together and work so well together that it helps to bring guys up in the system."

Getzlaf played two years of CIS football with the Regina Rams. He said he was thrilled to hear that the CIS Vanier Cup will be held in conjunction with the Grey Cup in 2011, as that should lead to further recognition for the university game.

"I think that's cool," he said. "I think that will bring more publicity to the CIS, which it needs. The CIS over and over is producing more players now, and I think the level of the game is getting more respect."

Getzlaf said he thinks the quality of the CIS product has improved since his time with the Rams, which ended when Hamilton drafted him in 2007. He made the jump to the CFL quite quickly, dressing for his first two games with Hamilton and then sticking on the practice roster all year with first Hamilton, then Saskatchewan.

"I think it's a better league now," Getzlaf said. "I only got to play two years in CIS, but I think it's growing year after year and producing more players that can come up and actually contribute."

Getzlaf may play a major role on Sunday, but he can't compete with his punter in terms of drawing a crowd. Eddie Johnson (pictured, right) drew much of the media attention Wednesday afternoon, and for good reason. His incredible story of going from journeyman NFL punter to Laguna Beach bartender to Regina stands on its own, but he's also incredibly entertaining. I didn't catch one of his best quotes personally, but fortunately, Bruce Arthur did:

Saskatchewan punter Eddie Johnson, native of California, asked why it's called the Grey Cup: "I'm assuming the cup would be grey."

Johnson's sense of humour certainly doesn't seem to be affected by the cold too much, and he doesn't seem too unhappy about it in general either. The forecast calls for temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius in Laguna Beach Sunday rather than the chilly ones in Edmonton, but Johnson said he's happy to be here instead. He said he's counting on his mustache to keep him warm, even if he has to keep pulling ice out of it.

Most of the Riders' players were being entirely serious most of the time, but Johnson was having a blast and delivering jokes right, left and centre.One of his best was about his arrival in Regina, which he claimed was due to a Craigslist ad.

"It said punter for hire, with stache, will travel," Johnson said.

I somehow doubt that's exactly how Johnson got here, but he's certainly proven to be a capable punter while with the Riders (even if he wasn't quite able to pull off a game-winning single). He definitely has plenty of personality, too, and he was even combing his mustache on camera today (and parting TSN's Ryan Rishaug's hair as well). He's growing the 'stache for Movember to raise funds for prostate cancer research, but he said it has on-field benefits that help his punting too.

"With the 'stache, the ball gets scared."

 You can follow me on Twitter for further coverage of this week's Grey Cup events.

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Tentative All-Star Game voting results are here

The second round of NBA All-Star Game voting is in, and you probably won't be surprised at who the fans have voted to start for this February's midseason classic:

Out East, the fans would like to see Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo at the guards, with LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard up front. Pretty fearsome, and despite Rondo and KG's recent injury woes, pretty accurate.

Out West is a bit flightier. Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul would start in a backcourt for the ages, but Yao Ming is slated to start at center, with Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant up front.

Two out of the last three are a big miss, which is why we're glad voting doesn't end until late January.

We'll get into our picks for the team when, say, nearly a half-season has been put together, but Yao (who is out for the year, and played just a week's worth of hoops to start it) is clearly the wrong choice. Kevin Durant deserves an All-Star nod, as he continues to score like a mad man, but he struggled overall to start the year. Carmelo Anthony certainly hasn't been playing better basketball than Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol (who we'd love to see listed as a center, NBA, if you could be a bit more flexible), Blake Griffin, or Kevin Love.

There's still time to remedy that, of course. And still time to get the word out about the reserves in order to sway the usually way-way wrong assistant coaches that vote to fill out the All-Star benches. Because players like Love and Griffin should not be penalized for having to share court time with Wayne Ellington or Rasual Butler.

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With first round KO, Berto states his case for fight with one of the big boys

LAS VEGAS _ It hasn't been an easy year for Andre Berto. Because of the tragic earthquake in his homeland of Haiti, Berto missed out on a chance at a signature win at the start of 2010. Now he can enter 2011 with an exclamation point after crushing Freddy Hernandez in just over two minutes.

The fight was just heating up when Berto (27-0, 21 KOs) landed a perfect right hook on Hernandez's chin. The Mexican crumbled to the mat. He got to his feet, but he was out of it and the fight was waved off at 2:07 of the first.

Berto remains unbeaten and retained his WBC welterweight title. He's now defended it successfully five times. Berto's in the mix for some big fights but realistically has zero shot at the division's current king Manny Pacquiao. He knows that's the case and is seeking a fight against Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto. 

Compubox told the story of an abbreviated fight. Berto was 9-of-26 while Hernandez landed just 3-of-26.

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Jeff Bagwell a 'No' for This Hall Voter

Filed under: Astros, MLB Hall of Fame, MLB PEDs

No, I didn't vote for Jeff Bagwell for the Hall of Fame. Yes, it's for the reason everybody loves to hate. I don't know for sure that Bagwell took steroids or any other performance-enhancing drugs to help him attain his Hall of Fame-caliber numbers. I don't have evidence, like we do against Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. But I'm suspicious. And this year, that suspicion was enough to make me send back my ballot without the Bagwell box checked. I'd rather withhold the vote based on suspicion than vote the guy in only to find out later that he cheated and I shouldn't have.

I understand the position of those voters (and non-voters, for that matter) who insist it's not fair to take such an action without hard proof. Understand it and actually agree. It's not even slightly fair. But it's the world in which we voters and Bagwell and his fellow Hall candidates now live -- a world of the cheaters' creation. If Bagwell's upset about it, and if he truly is innocent, then he has my apology, but I'd also advise him to seek one from McGwire and Palmeiro and all of his peers and contemporaries who decided they had to cheat and break the law in order to play baseball better.

 

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Eto'o celebrates Club World Cup goal with plastic bags

As owner Massimo Moratti demanded, Inter won the Club World Cup on Saturday, beating TP Mazembe 3-0. While this fact remains wholly unimportant to the vast majority of football fans on this planet, what was interesting was Samuel Eto'o's goal celebration after putting Inter up 2-0 in the final.

Once he scored, Eto'o jogged over to the Inter bench and was handed a pair of plastic bags, which appeared to contain a water bottle in each. He did a little dance with them, then was held up by Marco Materazzi. But what was with the plastic bags? Was it a way of reminding himself to go food shopping later? Was he showing his allegiances in the eternal question of paper or plastic? Had he been sniffing glue earlier that day?

One possible answer is that, as he told Time Magazine, when Eto'o was a kid in Cameroon, he would "play barefoot with balls that we made out of plastic bags, wrapped tight and bound with tape." So perhaps the bags were a reference to his own childhood in Africa after scoring a goal against the first African team to ever make the Club World Cup final? 

Video of Eto'o's goal and celebration right this way...

Photo: Getty Images

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The Best of 2010: The year's best bloopers

Prep sports are just like anything else: In the pursuit of a great omelet, a few eggs need to be broken ... or something like that. In the case of building great prep sports highlights, you end up with a few terrific bloopers, a crop which we've attempted to cut down to the absolute best, all of which will be anonymized. After all, just because a teen athlete had a misfortunate moment doesn't mean they need to be branded with it for the rest of their scholastic days.

• Honorable Mention: South Umpqua's ill-times sprinklers

This happens more than once a year, but the brief suspension of a football game between South Umpqua and Newport due to a "sprinkler system malfunction" was a particularly wet example of technology striking back.

• 5) A cheerleading lift gone wrong

We use the plural tense with this blopper because it's happened to just about any prep cheerleading squad anywhere. And hey, it's not easy to hold up a similarly sized human being, either!

• 4) When watching too much Italian soccer goes horribly wrong

There are melodramatic dives, and then there's this diva plunge from a boys soccer game this fall. It's up for a People's Choice Award, so make sure to tune in next week ...

• 3) Sometimes having a blocking convoy is a bad thing

High School Touchdown Broken Up By Teammates @ Yahoo! Video

It's rare when being surrounded by a phalanx of teammates -- and no opponents -- is a bad thing, yet that's precisely what happened to one California team earlier this fall.

• 2) Watch out for that goalpost!

Really, the title of this video is all you need to know, we think. Kick returner meet goalpost. Goalpost? Likewise.

• 1) Epic football fail

Yes, we know: For those who insist on being toeing a very technical line, this didn't actually happen in 2010. Yet it was only brought into the public consciousness this year, and for that we're eternally grateful, for we may never see a more ill-fated prep football play in all our lives.

Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Bobby Jenks Looking Forward to Not Playing for Ozzie Guillen

Filed under: Red Sox, White Sox

In a big-picture sense, Bobby Jenks didn't want to leave the White Sox. But Chicago's former closer sees plenty of positives in moving on.

Jenks, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Red Sox to serve as a setup man (for now, anyway) to Jonathan Papelbon, spoke at length with MLB.com and reflected on his time in Chicago. And even though he said it "hurt" when the White Sox non-tendered him and he would have stayed if given the choice, it sounds as if he's looking forward to having Terry Francona rather than Ozzie Guillen determining when and how he'll be used out of the bullpen.

"I'll always respect (Guillen) as a person and give him credit that's due," Jenks said. "But I want to play for a manager who trusts his relievers, regardless of what's going on."

He added: "Why would I come back to that negativity? I'm looking forward to playing for a manager who knows how to run a bullpen."

 

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Serbia issues commemorative stamps for Davis Cup champions

Among the rules determining which people and subjects can be featured on a commemorative U.S. postal stamp: no living person may appear, no stamp will be issued for a deceased person until five years after their death and historical events can only be celebrated in multiples of 50 years.

Serbia has no such rules.

One day after the country's Davis Cup team earned the first title in the country's history, the joyous nation issued a commemorative stamp celebrating its "new sporting heroes." The stamp features action shots of the four players who led Serbia to the historic victory over the French: Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic.

Here on this side of the pond, it's fashionable to bash the Davis Cup and ask how the tournament can be fixed. But in Serbia, the final match between Troicki and Michael Llodra was the most-watched sporting event in history.

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Margarito's appeal may help Pacquiao outdraw his first Cowboys Stadium visit

Dallas-area fans have had plenty to be passionate about in the sports world. The Texas Rangers made an amazing playoff run to the World Series. Cowboys Stadium has been a host to several huge college football games and, of course, there's the NFL team that plays there too. OK, that hasn't gone so well, but it has produced passion because of the Dallas Cowboys' 1-7 start. Now the area gets another event to get hyped about and decide whether it wants to plunk down the money to see hero Manny Pacquiao against villain Antonio Margarito.

There's no lack of confidence in the camp of Top Rank Promotions.

"Boxing is a world sport, and this is played to a world stage," said Todd du Boef, president of Top Rank. "The Rangers and Cowboys are localized products. The Super Bowl is a global product, and that's what championship fights bring. It brings global products."

Bob Arum is banking on the Mexican fanbase, especially when it comes to the walk up ticket buyers Friday and Saturday.

"They say when they do Mexican soccer games, the walk-up is more than the advance sales," Arum said. "If you have an event that appeals to Mexicans, they tend to be the last-minute buyers."

At minus-450, Las Vegas may not believe Margarito has much of a shot but that's not what casual fans think of the "Tijuana Tornado." And those are the people who can push this crowd to the 60,000 level. Top Rank has been wise in dropping the cost of many of the high- and medium-priced tickets and there's still plenty of cheapies at just $59.

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Liezel Huber discovered Christopher Columbus #liezelfacts

Over the weekend, a tongue-in-cheek a fantastic Twitter hashtag called #liezelfacts briefly took over the feeds of all tennis fans, as they tried to one-up each other with ridiculous "truths" about the American Fed Cup member. The meme, a reference to the legendary Chuck Norris facts, plays on the patriotism of Liezel Huber, the South Africa-born doubles specialist who became a U.S. citizen in 2007.

Though Huber didn't get to play in the Fed Cup finals loss this weekend to Italy (the tie was decided before her scheduled doubles match), but she'll always have the knowledge that death once had a near-Liezel Huber experience.

Our favorites from the 36 hour marathon of #liezelfacts:

@bradhunter: A Chick-fil-A restaurant opened its doors on Sunday once, because Liezel wanted a chicken biscuit. #liezelfacts

@jonscott9: The music genre was almost named "rhythm and Reds" but then Liezel said her favorite color was "blue." #liezelfacts

@bellyflopz: Liezel watches Jay Leno and finds him hilarious. #liezelfacts

@Curtos07: Uncle Sam is the brother of Leizel Huber's father. #liezelfacts

@Chalk_Flew_Up: Herb Brooks used Liezel Huber's birth four years earlier to inspire the American hockey team to pull off the "Miracle on Ice." #liezelfacts

@DailyForehand: Lisa Murkowski will be disappointed to find out that 99% of write-in votes were for Liezel. #liezelfacts

@JoeyDillon: Time was so scared of Liezel, it created Daylight's Savings. #liezelfacts

@bellyflopz: The movie "National Treasure" was really about Liezel's birth. #liezelfacts

A favorites list could have been compiled simply from the Twitter feed of FOBR (Friend of Busted Racquet) @FortyDeuceTwits. Here were my five favorites (of about 30 great ones):

@FortyDeuceTwits: Bruce Springsteen calls Liezel "The Boss." #liezelfacts

@FortyDeuceTwits: Liezel can see Russia from her house. #liezelfacts

@FortyDeuceTwits: School children pledge allegiance to Liezel. #liezelfacts

@FortyDeuceTwits: Liezel goes Osama hunting in the off season. #liezelfacts

@FortyDeuceTwits: The Dallas Cowboys are commonly referred to as "Liezel Huber's Team." #liezelfacts

The Dallas Cowboys wish they were playing as well as Liezel.

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Celtic's Cha Du-Ri likes Freddie Ljungberg's underpants

Underpants!!!

Celtic are working on signing Freddie Ljungberg after his stint in MLS, and one member of the team that is delighted with the possibility of the former Calvin Klein underwear model joining the team, it's South Korean defender in his first year with the club, Cha Du-Ri.

From Soccernet:

The full-back said: "Freddie Ljungberg is a very famous player and I like his underwear. I have a lot of Calvin Klein underwear at home, maybe I'll show him."

Uh, OK. Taking a new teammate back to your house to show him your underwear collection isn't the typical "welcome to the club" gesture, but you do whatever feels right, Cha.

"Seriously, he's a good player and if he comes to us then I think he can help us. It's great for us.''

And who knows, maybe he'll autograph some of our underwear while he's here. 

Photo: Getty Images

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Making case against Chris Osgood for Hockey Hall of Fame

Is Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood a Hall of Famer?

Your answer to this question is likely influenced by your feelings about the Red Wings; about whether credit is shared between a goaltender and a stellar defense or if the defense makes the goalie; about statistic achievement vs. the abstract notion of elite status; about the weight of postseason success; about your personal standards for the Hockey Hall of Fame vs. the actual standards for enshrinement from the clandestine voters.

On Monday, Osgood became the 10th netminder in NHL history to win 400 regular-season games. Six goalies on that list are in the Hall of Fame; Martin Brodeur is a sure-thing; Ed Belfour, who has a Cup ring, is eligible in 2011; Curtis Joseph, who does not, retired earlier this year and the Puck Daddy readership was split on his candidacy.

The case for Osgood is rather easy to make: 400 wins; three Stanley Cups (and a starter for two of them); a respectable 2.49 GAA and .905 save percentage for his career; two Jennings Trophies; two-time All-Star; led the league in wins during 1995-06 (39). But its his playoff stats that really solidify his chances, if you believe they're more vital than regular-season numbers: His GAA of 2.09 puts him ahead of Jacques Plante; his save percentage of .916 is No. 15 all-time; and he's eighth in playoff wins with 74.

Simply put: He's one of the best postseason goaltenders of the last two decades.

So that's the case for Osgood. Since he won No. 400, his critics have made the case against; is it compelling enough for you?

Kevin Baumer spelled out the usual opposition via Business Insider:

But Osgood's is a case where stats don't tell the whole story.  He's been a solid player, there's no doubt about that, but he also happened to play for one of the few modern day sports dynasties.  The Detroit Red Wings do well every year, and it may not matter much who's between the pipes.  Osgood got to play with some all time greats with the Red Wings; Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Brett Hull, etc. all in their primes.

Whether the Red Wings would have been as successful without Osgood is debatable.  But the talent they've had over the last 15 years is undeniable.  And that is what Osgood's critics point to when they say that Osgood has had a wonderful career because of the Red Wings, rather than in spite of them.

Another devil's advocate take from Paul Harris of the Examiner:

Many argue that he is only a little better than average goalie who has benefited from playing with a good team for most of his career and who has allowed way too many soft goals, many on long-range shots, in his career to ever merit Hall of Fame consideration.

They can even point to the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when Osgood was in goal for the Red Wings as they won their second consecutive Cup.

He allowed a goal from outside the blue line in each of the first three rounds of the playoffs – Phoenix's Jeremy Roenick in the first round, St. Louis' Al McInnis in the second round and Dallas' Jamie Lagenbrunner OT winner in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Rob Otto of MLive.com wrote a piece Wednesday that apologized to Red Wings fans for not buying Osgood as a HOFer:

I want you to honestly answer one question for me:  Is Chris Osgood one of the best players to ever play the game?

It is a simple yes or no question without regard to his numbers or who else is in the Hall.  Unless you're looking through Red Wing-colored glasses, you have to say no. That is where Osgood falls short.  The eyeball test.  If you've seen him play, it is hard to say he is one of the best ever.

How often was he considered one of the best players among his contemporaries in the NHL?  How often was he even considered one of the best players on his team?  Heck, how often was it a 100-percent lock that he was even the best goalie on his team?

Thing is, the "eyeball test" is a test for some other Hall of Fame that isn't the current incarnation of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dino Ciccarelli wouldn't pass it. Glenn Anderson wouldn't pass it. Bernie Federko wouldn't pass it. It's the standard that should exist but never has.

No, this is a stats-based argument, and Scott Burnside of ESPN thinks that makes it a no-brainer:

Osgood now breathes rarified air when discussing the game's most successful goaltenders. From our vantage point, it is a no-brainer.

When you take a look at the other nine netminders who have hit the 400-win mark, six are already in the Hockey Hall of Fame (Patrick Roy, Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall and Grant Fuhr). Martin Brodeur, the winningest goaltender of all time, is a lock, while Ed Belfour is considered a good Hall bet next year in his first year of eligibility. Curtis Joseph is fourth all-time with 454 wins, but never won a Cup.

That leaves Osgood, who has 400 wins and owns three Stanley Cup rings. In the spring of 2009, he was also one win away from a fourth when the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the Wings 2-1 in Game 7 in Detroit.

If the Hall of Fame was about immortals, then Chris Osgood would not be a part of it. He isn't one. Anyone arguing that he's on that level is delusional.

What Osgood is, we think, is the Glenn Anderson of goaltenders. Tremendous postseason success, both as a driving force and as a passenger for Cup teams, and playoff stats that are among the best in NHL history. Their regular-season numbers are well above average and Osgood's win total puts him on another level among goaltenders. Both benefitted from playing with elite talent.

Was Glenn Anderson ever the best player in his team? No, and neither was Osgood.

Was Glenn Anderson ever one of the five best players in the NHL? No, and neither was Osgood.

Did Glenn Anderson ever win a major individual award? No, and neither did Chris Osgood.

They both fail the "eyeball" test, yet both have the numeric and championship-level impact that charms HOF voters.

Glenn Anderson is in the Hall of Fame. Claiming Osgood won't be is a harder case to make than claiming he will.

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Unconventional receiving corps key to Riders' success

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have one of the best receiving corps in the CFL, but it's quite an unconventional one thanks to both its depth and its composition. They're led by the league's top receiver in Canadian Andy Fantuz and feature a star import slotback in Weston Dressler, but lost a crucial component (Canadian wide receiver Rob Bagg) midseason and have persevered in the playoffs thanks to huge days from Canadian wide receiver Chris Getzlaf (pictured above running a sideline route and anticipating a Darian Durant pass near the goal line Friday), Canadian slotback Jason Clermont, import WR Cary Koch and others.

The Riders' receivers work as a team, and they seem to get that Saskatchewan's success is more important than individual stats. They block for each other, they run hard to draw coverage even when they're not the target, and they seem to have deep chemistry on and off the field. That was demonstrated at Friday's practice, when Dressler (pictured, right) wore Bagg's number to honour his injured comrade.Like Getzlaf, Fantuz attributes much of the Riders' success to their receiving depth, but he also thinks part of it's thanks to their chemistry and ability to react quickly.

"We work really well together," he said. "I think we have a smart group of receivers. We see the field, we communicate well and we adjust on the fly really well. Playing above the shoulders, playing with what you see out there is our biggest asset."

Fantuz said Friday that Saskatchewan's array of talented receivers means defences have to choose who they're going to shut down. Last week against Calgary, the Stampeders focused on stopping Fantuz and Dressler, and they were largely successful, but they got burned by Getzlaf and Koch.

"They can't cover everybody," Fantuz said. "You've kind of got to pick your poison against us. Certain teams with certain matchups, if they take someone out, we'll look elsewhere. We have confidence in everybody across the board. That's the beauty of having as many good receivers as we do."

It's rare to see so many Canadians playing prominent roles in a receiving corps at the moment, but Fantuz thinks that may not be the case for long.

"I think minor football in Canada is getting better every year," he said. "Coaching is getting better, the universities are getting better. Kids are starting younger, so the talent level is growing every year coming out of college. That in turn makes the CFL draft better and better every year, so the players coming in can contribute right away. You see it on our team, Shomari Williams played all 18 games and has done really well for us, so he's just the prime example of that."

Fantuz was a CIS football star with the Western Mustangs before being drafted by the Riders in 2006. He said he's happy to hear the Vanier Cup will be reunited with the Grey Cup next year in B.C., the first time the two events have been held together since 2007. Fantuz was a member of the Roughriders for that Grey Cup, and said he loved seeing the Vanier in town at the same time.

"I remember in Toronto the Vanier Cup was a big part of the weekend," he said. "Either way, I think they do a good job with the Vanier, but if they play it in the same city, I think they'll have more attendance."

Weather can make the passing game more difficult, and the field at Commonwealth Stadium has seen plenty of snow this week, but Fantuz said he doesn't think it's going to be too much of a factor Sunday.

"The first day was pretty cold, so we modified practice a bit," he said. "The last two days have been gorgeous, so we've got a lot of good work in. We're expecting it to be a little colder than this on game day, but whatever it is, we'll be ready for it."

Fantuz claimed the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian award for the first time Thursday, and is following in some pretty distinguished footsteps. One two-time winner of the trophy, Clermont, just happens to play on the Riders as well. Fantuz said he's always been a big fan of Clermont's, and has enjoyed working with him.

"I've admired him throughout his whole career," Fantuz said. "I've learned a lot from him. Becoming his teammate, he's just a terrific person, so he's a great friend of mine now. He's a funny guy, keeps it loose in the locker room, and he has great input in the meeting room too. He has a lot of experience, so he knows what works and what doesn't. He helps us out as an offence."

Clermont (pictured at right lining up for a play Friday) downplayed his role in helping younger Canadian receivers like Fantuz and Getzlaf over the last two seasons, but said he's learned from them.

"They were guys thrown into the fire early, young in their careers," he said. "There's not a whole lot they need to learn. I think they learn from each other, and I think I'm able to learn some things from their youthfulness and a lot of the things they do, and I think it's reciprocal."

He said he was thrilled to see Fantuz claim his award Thursday.

"Absolutely," Clermont said. "It was great to see Andy healthy for the season and able to do the things he did and to come in and have our whole team here to see him get that award."

Clermont also expects the Riders' receiving depth to play a crucial role on Sunday.

"It's already been important," he said. "We lost one of our top soldiers in Rob Bagg. We can't replace the things that he does, so we're just trying to fill the void the best way we can."

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Braidwood case shouldn't reflect on Tillman, the CFL or MMA

Edmonton Eskimos' defensive end Adam Braidwood (shown above trying to bring down the Argonauts' Michael Bishop in 2007) may not carry that title much longer. Braidwood looked like he might be a good-news story this year; he got off to a strong start in the CFLin 2006 before running into significant injuries, spending time focusing on boxing and MMA and then trying to make a CFL comeback this year. His on-field comeback actually went pretty well, but his off-field actions are far more concerning, and they're what may result in his departure from the CFL.

Braidwood was charged with aggravated assault and forcible confinement during Grey Cup Week for involvement with a group that attacked a man and forced him into a car. He was back in the news again Monday, and not for anything good. Here are the details of the new charges, from Dean Bennett of The Canadian Press:

Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman Adam Braidwood is in more trouble with the law and the CFL team is signalling his checkered career with the club may be coming to an end.

The 26-year-old football player appeared in provincial court Monday to face 10 new charges relating to a domestic assault alleged to have occurred at a north-end Edmonton home.

The charges include assault, uttering threats, weapons violations and breaching bail conditions.

Police spokesman Clair Seyler wouldn't reveal the circumstances of the case, but said the domestic offender crime section is investigating. That section focuses on crimes involving spouses, marriages and relationships.

Since then, it's come out that Braidwood's bail hearing on the new charges won't be until Thursday and the Crown is going to try to have his bail from the first set of charges revoked. The Eskimos apparently haven't yet made a firm decision on what to do with Braidwood, but this statement from general manager Eric Tillman Monday certainly doesn't bode well for his future with the team:

"Learning of this second alleged incident with Adam is incredibly disappointing. We had a very candid discussion a couple of weeks ago, where I expressed our sincere concerns about Adam as a human being while at the same time being crystal clear about what our organization expected of him going forward. He understood our message was a balance of compassion and accountability. With this latest development, we will gather more information via the legal process and then do what is best for the Edmonton Eskimos."

Of course, Braidwood is hardly the first CFL player to get in trouble off the field, and Tillman knows a thing or two about that as well. If the Eskimos do in fact decide to get rid of Braidwood, some will undoubtedly argue that Tillman is being hypocritical; if he received a chance at redemption, shouldn't he then extend that chance to others? I don't agree with that viewpoint, and I think there are good reasons why the situations are quite different.

For one thing, Tillman's case carried several extenuating circumstances, and it's important to keep in mind that he received an absolute discharge. In his case, involving a charge of sexual assault in a 2008 incident with a 16-year old girl who was babysitting his children, court heard that he "came up behind the teen, put his hands on her hips with his fingers through her belt loops and pulled the girl towards him." That certainly isn't excusable behaviour, but keep in mind that the victim and her family publicly forgave him and the legal system concluded he had committed a crime but didn't deserve further punishment; the absolute discharge means he doesn't even have a criminal record. The incident is still significant and can't be shoved under the rug, but Tillman's remorse for his actions and moves to try and make amends for what he did are also noteworthy. You can make a case that he never should have received another CFL job, but the Eskimos decided to give him a second chance, and he's done a terrific job of rebuilding their organization so far.

Braidwood's situation is rather different. He hasn't yet been proven guilty or innocent of anything in court, so final conclusions on if the Eskimos should keep him are tough to draw at the moment. However, the information that's come out for far doesn't speak well for him, especially considering both the number and severity of the charges raised against him. What's particularly frightening is that the 10 charges from the second incident appear to have come while he was out on bail from the first one, and after he was warned by Tillman and the organization to clean up his act in the future.

That's a disturbing pattern of behaviour, and one that rings similar to the Josh Boden situation. The Lions gave Boden a chance after some troubling run-ins with the law, but cut him despite his football talent after he was charged with domestic assault and robbery. Those charges were eventually dropped and Boden signed with the Tiger-Cats, but he didn't last long there and soon was charged again with firearms offences and sexual assault. This year, he faced more charges in relation to breaking and entering and sexual assault. Braidwood certainly hasn't hit Boden levels yet, but the Lions and Tiger-Cats must be glad they aren't involved with him any more, and the Eskimos' organization may consider that case when they're thinking about Braidwood.

The CFL has definitely had its share of outlaws and renegades over the years, and Braidwood hasn't yet reached the level of many of them from the information that's come out so far. However, from this corner, the Eskimos and the league need to consider each individual situation on its own merits. There are considerable differences between Ricky Williams and Lawrence Phillips, just like there's a wide gulf between Tillman's past and what Braidwood's accused of. Some individuals will use a second chance to improve themselves, help others and make sure they don't slip back into their past; others will take advantage of being given another opportunity. Tillman and the Eskimos' front office know Braidwood better than any of us on the outside, and it will be up to them to decide which category he fits.

My biggest concern with this case is that some may use it to try and make generalizations about larger groups. Just because Braidwood's facing these charges, it doesn't mean that the Eskimos are a renegade organization full of criminals. In fact, they've even been known for fighting crime in the past! Another one that may come up is Tillman's past; just because he has his own history with criminal proceedings doesn't mean he has to welcome all players who continually run into trouble.

Similarly, just because Braidwood and other CFL players in the past have gotten in trouble with the law, that doesn't mean the league's full of dangerous people. Most CFL players are terrific role models who spend tremendous amounts of time working to help others. Braidwood's also competed in boxing and mixed martial arts in the past (he's shown above training for MMA in 2006), and some might use this as another chance to rail against MMA, but that's also disingenuous. Just because Braidwood's from Delta, B.C., no one's going to attempt to argue that all British Columbians are criminals, or all Canadians are criminals. It's just as silly to try and do that about the sports he's competed in.

Whether Braidwood is retained or tossed by the Eskimos should be a decision based upon the circumstances of the charges against him, the eventual outcomes in court and the organization's opinion of his prospects for redemption. If Tillman and company really think he can turn his life around, then fine; keep him. If they don't, they should axe him. Neither decision should be dictated by Tillman's own past or larger perceptions of the Eskimos or the CFL.

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Tyreke Evans' Game-Winner From Beyond Halfcourt Snaps Kings' Losing Streak

Filed under: Grizzlies, Kings, NBA Videos

The Sacramento Kings may have the worst record in the league, their coach and general manager may be holding onto their jobs by a thread and their best player may be on the verge of sitting for a month or two with injury, but they'll always have this:



Beating the buzzer with a desperate heave from 50 feet away, Tyreke Evans finally gave the tortured fans at Arco Arena reason to celebrate. The 100-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies snapped the Kings' eight-game losing streak, and marked just the second win in the last 18 games.

Had Evans missed the last-second prayer, Wednesday's game, a meaningless affair between two last-place teams, would have been quickly forgotten. But by making the shot, Evans provided perhaps the most incredible ending to a game this year -- no matter what the sport.

 

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Donaire puts big fight at risk by fighting Sidorenko

Someone must've slipped something in Nonito Donaire's Thanksgiving dinner. He's doing the unheard of this Saturday.

With an HBO superfight against Fernando Montiel on the horizon, "The Filipino Flash" is moving up a weight class to take on a former champion this Saturday in Anaheim.

Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) is already regarded by some as a Top 10 pound-for-pound fighter, but he has yet to get the premium exposure he might deserve. HBO is fired up for the February Donaire-Montiel fight at 118. Donaire, who has surprising power winning six of his last seven by KO or TKO, is prepping for his jump by facing Ukranian bruiser Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2, 7 KOs).

Since a huge win over Vic Darchinyan back in 2007, Nonaire said his recent opponents down at 115, like Hernan Marquez, Manuel Vargas and Rafael Concepcion, were too easy.

"There was a lack of motivation for those fights," Donaire admits. "There was a 'just another day at the office' kind of feeling. That's one of the motivations for the training camp because I'm fighting somebody good, an elite fighter. It does help a lot to be in there with somebody who is going to be really tough."

Donaire will try to become the first opponent to finish Sidorenko.

"We're in there against a tough guy and we have to come up with a good game plan. But Nonito's style and his footwork are perfect for either outboxing this guy and looking great against him, or even trying to go for a knockout if possible," Donaire's assistant trainer Roberto Garcia said. "I know that he's never been down or out, but Nonito has very good power so he can be the first to knock him out."

Donaire isn't worried about focus. He know he's got to get by Sidorenko if he wants that shot on HBO.

"I've never been really motivated like this before. I've never been in as tremendous shape as I am now. I'm in the best shape of my life,' Donaire said. "I want to see where that takes me. I think that being in the best shape gets me to see my real potential in boxing and my ability." 

Donaire-Sidorenko is now the main event of this weekend's "In Harm's Way" PPV. Julio Cesar Chavez had to bail from his fight because of the flu. The card also features Humberto Soto against Urbano Antillon.

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Anelka and Henry still want their World Cup bonuses

In November, the disgraced French World Cup team decided to try and improve its image by agreeing to give its estimated €2-3 million bonus from sponsorship revenue to various charities. So, every member of the squad signed a document from the French Football Federation agreeing to forgo their bonuses. But now it turns out there are still two players who haven't done so. And yes, one of them is the guy who got kicked off the team.

From the AP:

Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry are the only players from the France squad that lost in the first round of the World Cup yet to agree to give up their tournament bonuses. [...]

Communications director Francois Manardo told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the federation has not heard from Anelka or Henry and does not know “whether they will sign.”

The Liberation newspaper claimed that Anelka was refusing to sign after being suspended for 18 games following his clash with former coach Raymond Domenech at the World Cup.

The report said Henry is showing his discontent at being used as a substitute in South Africa.

Keeping money that is to be given to charity? Oh yeah, that'll show 'em. 

In case you can't tell, the embarrassing reverberations of France's doomed 2010 World Cup debacle will continue forever. Every time we start to forget, the rumbling will begin again and Raymond Domenech will crawl back into your thoughts.  

UPDATE: According to Anelka, he was never asked to sign the waiver and only heard about the arrangement through the press. And because of that, plus his lingering discontent with the FFF, he has decided to keep his bonus and give it to causes of his own choosing. 

UPDATE II: And now Henry has agreed to donate his bonus, as well. The wonders of public pressure at work...

Photo: AP

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