SportsFilter

New Tech Will Create Stats for Fielder Arm Strength, Baserunning Speed

rcade — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:19 -0400

Fascinating piece in the New York Times on new baseball technology developed by Sportvision: A new camera and software system is under development that can record the speed and location of the ball and every player on the field, allowing the most digitized of sports to be overrun anew by new statistics such as outfielder arm strength and base-running efficiency. "It will probably become the largest single advance in baseball science since the development of the box score," predicts the Times. "here come the stat rats,� said 35-year-scout Paul Ricciarini of the Houston Astros.

Giants' Sanchez Throws No-Hitter vs. Padres

rcade — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:46:14 -0400

In his first start since a two-week banishment to the bullpen, Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants against the San Diego Padres Friday night and was one error from a perfect game. He struck out 11 and walked none. The Giants won 8-0. It was the first no-hitter by the Giants in 33 years. Sanchez, 26, raises his record to 4-8. He had never pitched a complete game or a shutout before.

Winning Without a Pitch? Try This!

Howard_T — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:12:03 -0400

Alan Embry has been one-upped, as a former Washington Nationals pitcher wins one after having been traded. It's hard enough for a Nats pitcher to get a win; too bad they have to give one to someone several hundred miles away.

MMA Fighter Rampage Jackson Dry Humps Interviewer

rcade — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:06:03 -0400

Because it's Friday: UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, responding to a suggestion by reporter (and aspiring actress) Heather Nichols that they do a romantic movie together, proceeded to dry hump Nichols for an uncomfortably long amount of time as cameras rolled. "I should have thought of that," Joe Namath said when reached for comment. (Not really.)

Michael Phelps Torches World Record in 100-Meter Butterfly

rcade — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:42:08 -0400

Fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist and former recreational marijuana user Michael Phelps broke the world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national swimming championships Thursday. Phelps swam the two-lap final in 50.22, smoking Ian Crocker's mark of 50.40 set at the 2005 world championships. Phelps continues to burn through the record books, holding individual world records in the 100 and 200 flys, 200 and 400 individual medleys, and the 200 free.

NFL Won't Let Players Use Twitter During Games

rcade — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:58:21 -0400

The National Football League won't let wide receiver Chad Ochocinco play with his Twitter during games, spokesman Greg Aiello told ProFootballTalk.Com. "We already have a rule that prohibits the use of cell phones or other handheld devices in the bench area during games," he said. Ochocinco vowed to defy the rule (on Twitter, of course), posting: "Damn NFL and these rules, I am going by my own set of rules, I ain't hurting nobody or getting in trouble, I am putting my foot down!!" The second exclamation point shows he means business.

Ron Artest's Musical Tribute to Michael Jackson

Joey Michaels — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:03:40 -0400

Artest is one of several athletes who have paid tribute to Jackson this week. Others include Ken Griffey Jr. and Kei Kamara. _{via Metafilter}

MMA the new boxing?

sgtcookzane — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:10:05 -0400

As UFC 100 approaches, the audience for MMA is as large and diverse as it has ever been. Is this something boxing won't be able to overcome? The superstars in UFC are bigger than ever (No pun intented, Lesnar) and coming from all parts of the world. Boxing will never be dead, but do they need to do something to get back into the main stream audience?

Joe Sakic Announces his Retirement

MeatSaber — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:08:21 -0400

After 20 years, 1600+ points, and 2 Cups, one of hockey's good guys hang up the skates.

Legendary Rock Climber John Bachar Dies in Fall

rcade — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:44:43 -0400

Rock climber John Bachar, 51, fell to his death Sunday from a rock formation near his home in California, the New York Times reports. Bachar climbed for years without protection, sustaining his only serious injuries in a car wreck. "To critics, Bachar cut a stubborn, self-righteous figure, uncompromising on matters of daring style and minimal gear," writes Michael Brick. "To admirers, he represented the vanishing purity of a simpler age, a time when rocks and mountains were to be ascended only from the ground up, without advance rigging." Here's an interview with Bachar and a photo of him ascending Crack-a-go-go.

Has a Rising Soccer Star Been Wrongly Convicted of Rape?

rcade — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:04:50 -0400

ESPN The Pretentiously Named Magazine covers the questionable prosecution of Eric Frimpong, a soccer player from Ghana who won the national championship with UC Santa Barbara, was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Wizards and then convicted of raping a college student, in spite of a lack of DNA evidence, a lack of physical evidence and the accuser's near-toxic blood alcohol level, which makes her personal testimony dubious. "From the start, the sheriff's department felt like they had their guy," said his college coach Tim Vom Steeg. "But when the evidence didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, their position became, 'If she's willing to testify, we'll go forward.'"

Dallas Mavericks Acquire Shawn Marion in Four-Team Trade

rcade — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:53:11 -0400

The Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic have agreed on a trade that sends Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries and Greg Buckner to the Mavericks; Devean George, Antoine Wright and Hedo Turkoglu to the Raptors; Jerry Stackhouse, Quincy Douby and cash to the Grizzlies; and a $7 million trade exception to the Magic. Marion arrives with a five-year contract worth $39 million. Turkoglu's inclusion in the trade changes his free agent signing to a sign-and-trade deal. Stackhouse will be bought out with the cash, becoming a free agent. I challenge anyone to summarize this deal in fewer words. My sports blogging moves are unstoppable.

Nike Confiscates Tapes of Jordan Crawford Dunking on LeBron James

rcade — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:43:49 -0400

Xavier college guard Jordan Crawford dunked on LeBron James during a pick-up game Monday at the LeBron James Skills Academy. There's no video of the event because James directed Nike to immediately confiscate the tapes of the photographers shooting at the event, according to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports. "I'm kind of pissed," freelance photographer Ryan Miller told Parrish. "I lost my tape." Another player, Michael Gilchrist, had this to say of the dunk: "It happened, and it was bad. That was something to see."

New Football League Adopts Rules NFL Should Consider

rcade — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:38:39 -0400

The United Football League, an upstart fall pro league begun by some former NFL execs and coaches with teams in six cities, has adopted rules that some NFL fans have wanted for years. Among them: the elimination of the Tuck Rule, the allowance of group end zone and sideline celebrations, and overtimes in which both teams get at least one possession.

No Balls, No Strikes, One Win

Mr Bismarck — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:18:47 -0400

Rockies left-hander Alan Embree was credited with the win over Washington last night without throwing a pitch.