SportsFilter

U.S. Women Storm into London Olympics

rcade — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:22:36 -0500

The U.S. Women's soccer team has qualified for the Summer Olympics in London, defeating four opponents in CONCACAF qualifying by a combined score of 34-0. A 3-0 win over Costa Rica Friday night put them in the Olympics for the fifth time. Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan scored the goals.

Kravitz: 'Peyton Manning is Done in Indianapolis'

rcade — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:55:15 -0500

After Peyton Manning gave an interview to Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz about how everyone's "walking around on eggshells" at the Indianapolis Colts facility because of all the staff turnover, Colts owner Jim Irsay called Manning a "politician" and said he should've kept his comments "in the family." Kravitz said the spat shows that Manning's not going to be kept by the team: "My fervent hope is this doesn't continue to devolve. We are talking about good people in a bad situation, the thorniest situation since the 49ers traded Joe Montana."

The Ultimate Football Draft

yerfatma — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:15:16 -0500

and the season's (simulated) results.

Florida Requires Pro Sports Teams to Take In Homeless

rcade — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:06:24 -0500

Two Republican state legislators in Florida have introduced bills that would require the state's pro sports franchises to house homeless people in their stadiums or give back the millions they've received from the state. "I want to make good citizens out of them," said state Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton), who authored the legislation with state Rep. Frank Artilles (R-Miami). A never-enforced 1988 law required teams that take state money to house the homeless when they're not playing. "The rule was you took the money you were supposed to use it for a program for homeless people and you didn't do it and therefore we want our money back."

Donors Pay Sarah Burke's Huge Medical Bill

rcade — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:46:11 -0500

The family of Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke has raised several hundred thousand dollars to cover medical costs incurred after she was injured in a Jan. 10 training accident that ultimately ended her life. Donations on Give Forward have reached $294,000. "Enough funds have been raised to cover the anticipated costs related to Sarah's medical care," the family states. "Future donations will go towards post-hospital arrangements such as services and memorial costs and to establish a foundation to honor Sarah's legacy."

Colts Hire Chuck Pagano as Head Coach

yerfatma — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:45:52 -0500

The Indianapolis Colts have chosen Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to be their new head coach, succeeding Jim Caldwell. Pagano, 51, has never been a head coach. He was coordinator this year for the Ravens after three years coaching defensive backs and had prior stints with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.

NFL Logos of the Non-Existent Past

rcade — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:50:28 -0500

"Gridiron League is a collection of idealized NFL insignias that pay tribute to each team's history and geography in a period-specific aesthetic that glorifies the Vince Lombardi-era over the Cold-Activated-era. ... Many NFL franchises ... have updated their uniforms and logos to a swooshed-out, dropped-shadowed, and more commercial-ready image, ignoring a good deal of their team's heritage and the original rough-and-tumble character that the league stood for." -- Wes Kull

Vikings Punter Trolls Skip Bayless for Kicks

rcade — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:44:24 -0500

How does Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe feel about ESPN commentator Skip Bayless' idea of taking field goal kicking out of football entirely? "Hey [expletive]," he told him on Twitter. "Let's not forget you haven't done a single athletic thing in your life. Go french kiss a flamethrower." Kluwe said a lot more and followed up by telling a sports columnist what he'd like to tell Bayless on ESPN's First Take: "I hope you fall down an elevator shaft onto a burning pile of rusted AIDS needles."

Tigers Sign Prince Fielder for 9 Years, $214 Million

rcade — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:03:48 -0500

The Detroit Tigers have signed Prince Fielder to a 9-year, $214 million deal, the fourth-largest in baseball history. Fielder's dad Cecil played in Detroit from 1990 to 1996. As a 12-year-old, Prince once hit an upper-deck home run at the old Tigers Stadium while hanging out with dad at the yard. "It raises the question ... about what the Tigers will do in 2013, when Fielder, Cabrera and Martinez seemingly would be in line for two spots: first base and DH," reports the Detroit Free-Press.

The Celtics held the Magic to 56 points last night

yerfatma — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:05:59 -0500

and Off The Dribble takes a look at the man and the technique that revived their defense. More hometown coverage of Avery Bradley's effort here.

Giants Sought to Give Kyle Williams Another Concussion

rcade — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:23:59 -0500

Several players for the New York Giants said they targeted San Francisco 49ers returner Kyle Williams because of his history of concussions. "We knew he had four concussions, so that was our biggest thing, was to take him outta the game," said Giants special teamer Jacquian Williams. "He's had a lot of concussions. We were just like, 'We gotta put a hit on that guy,'" said another Giant, Devin Thomas.

Giants, Patriots in Super Rematch

rcade — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:08:53 -0500

The New England Patriots and New York Giants booked a rematch of Super Bowl 0x2A on Sunday. Lawrence Tynes kicked a 31-yard overtime field goal to give the Giants a 20-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC, while the Patriots won 23-20 over the Baltimore Ravens when kicker Billy Cundiff missed on a 32-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining in the AFC.

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Dies

rcade — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:31:43 -0500

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has died after a battle with lung cancer, his family said. He was 85. Penn State's Board of Trustees fired him in November after a grand jury indictment revealed that Paterno was told former assistant Jerry Sandusky engaged in a sexual act with a 10-year-old boy in the team's showers but did not notify police. He was the winningest coach in college football history after 46 years leading the school.

Whether he retired or was fired, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is officially no longer with the Pittsburgh Steelers

scully — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:36:13 -0500

Despite a second straight 12-4 season, two 1,000 yard receivers, and a running game that averaged 4.4 yards per carry, Arians is out. Now the speculation begins about who will replace Ben Roethlisberger's favorite coach. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports writer, Gerry Dulac, writes that since running back coach Kirby Wilson was badly burned in a house fire earlier this month, he is unlikely to be able to take the position as had been expected. So will the Steelers look outside the organization for only the 3rd time since 1969 or will they promote from within? Perhaps current quarterback's coach Randy Fichtner?

Volleyball's Wizard of Westwood to retire at the end of this season

Ufez Jones — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:38:58 -0500

"The era of Al Scates coaching UCLA is a special era in collegiate athletics that, maybe because it's men's volleyball, most people don't appreciate." This will be Coach Scates 50th and final season as the head coach at UCLA, highlighted by 19 NCAA titles, 44 USMNT members, 27 Olympians, and 42 seasons of "mutually agreed-upon one-year contracts".