Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 102 of 1503)

      Uncle Mo scratched from Kentucky Derby, Dialed In now clear favorite

      May 6, 2011 /
      Kentucky Derby hopeful Uncle Mo with exercise rider Hector Ramos gallop on the track during early morning workout at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 5, 2011. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT HORSE RACING)

      For weeks, the notion surrounding the Kentucky Derby is that there is no clear-cut favorite this year. But given the latest news on contender Uncle Mo, one may have just emerged.

      During a press conference on Friday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole announced that Uncle Mo had been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection after fishing a disappointing third in the Wood Memorial on April 9. He was then treated with antibiotics and had appeared to be improving, but after consulting with a trio of veterinarians Pletcher and Repole came to the conclusion that their colt wouldn’t be ready in time for Saturday’s race.

      So Uncle Mo has been scratched.

      The main beneficiary of Uncle Mo’s misfortune is Dialed In, who has been considered the favorite for weeks. But his odds were listed at +350 on Monday, while Uncle Mo was +400 – thus the reason that observers didn’t feel as though there was a clear-cut favorite this weekend.

      But now Dialed In is listed at +250, while the thoroughbred with the next best odds is Nehro at +700. Oddly enough, Nehro was going off at +600 on Monday, +400 on Wednesday and is now +700, so his odds have actually gotten worse despite the news that Uncle Mo has been scratched.

      Either way, Dialed In would appear to be the clear-cut favorite to win this Saturday. And if recent history is any indication, that may not be a good thing. Big Brown was the last favorite to win the Kentucky Derby back in 2008. Since then, two long shots in Mine That Bird and Super Saver have won. But maybe this is the year that the favorite gets back into the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs.

      External Sports, horse racing

      Cardinals interested in Kyle Orton?

      May 6, 2011 /
      Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton (L) is about to get sacked by Arizona Cardinals Clark Haggans (R) during the first quarter of the Cards Broncos game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ December 12,2010. UPI/Art Foxall

      According to Rotoworld (via 3TV News in Phoenix), the Cardinals have had preliminary contact with the Broncos about quarterback Kyle Orton’s availability.

      Profootballtalk’s Gregg Rosenthal has it on good authority that teams can discuss trades “generally” even if following through isn’t yet allowed. Neither team is breaking the rules by engaging in hot-stove talk. The Broncos reportedly believe the Cardinals’ interest in Orton is strictly as a “Plan B” in case a deal can’t be worked out for Kevin Kolb. It’s refreshing to hear Arizona’s fallback plan is more than just a wink-and-nod understanding with Marc Bulger.

      Orton would certainly be a better option than Bulger, who hasn’t taken a snap since 2009 and hasn’t been effective since 2006. Orton can put up good numbers in any offense and would probably flourish with a couple of key playmakers around him. As Rotoworld points out, he would be a nice fallback option for the Cards if they couldn’t acquire Kevin Kolb from Philly.

      External Sports, NFL

      Morris shoots down report that Talib is out in Tampa

      May 5, 2011 /
      Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris talks to the coaches overhead during play against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on November 21, 2010. The Bucs defeated the 49ers 21-0. UPI/Terry Schmitt

      Bucs’ head coach Raheem Morris refuted a St. Petersburg Times report that the team has already decided to move on from troubled cornerback Aqib Talib.

      “Just to say that we’ve come out and made a decision about what’s going to happen with Aqib Talib’s future is completely false and bad information,” Morris said.

      “The NFL has a discipline policy for our players that is also part of the collective bargaining agreement. Discipline throughout the league and off-the-field issues are always handled through the league office,” Morris said. “There are extra things internally that we do. We might fine people, we may take money, we may sit you out of practice, we may sit you out of games, we may not allow you to participate in certain things.

      “The public stuff and the public knowledge is always handed down by the NFL, usually. Right now, the guy has not been judged. Once he gets judged, I’m sure the NFL, or whatever happens there, will step into play. Then we will step into play also.”

      This is smart on Morris’ part. You don’t want to even suggest that you’re going to cut a guy that hasn’t been proven guilty of anything (even though the odds are clearly stacked against Talib). If Morris and the Bucs did, they would be inviting the media and fans to scrutinize their decision-making.

      If or when Talib is found guilty and the NFL makes a decision on his future, then Morris and the Bucs can get involved. Until then, Morris has it right: We (Bucs) haven’t made a decision about anything regarding Aqib Talib.

      External Sports, NFL

      Justice Department to NCAA: Why is there no playoff system in football?

      May 5, 2011 /
      Auburn Tigers players celebrate as they run off the bench after defeating the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 10, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      USA Today’s Jack Carey wrote an interesting piece on Thursday about how the Department of Justice has sent a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert asking why the association does not have a major-college football playoff.

      Christine A. Varney, assistant attorney general in the Justice Departmen’s Antitrust Division, pointed out in the letter sent Tuesday that “serious questions” continue to arise as to whether the BCS system is consistent with federal antitrust laws.

      Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff recently said he plans an antitrust lawsuit against the BCS, and Varney wrote that 21 professors have requested the Justice Department conduct an investigation of the system.

      “Your views would be relevant in helping us to deternine the best course of action with regard to the BCS,” Varney wrote.

      NCAA spokesman Bob Williams, in a statement Wednesday, said that the association will respond when it receives the letter.

      “It should be noted that President Emmert consistently has said … that the NCAA is willing to help create a playoff format for Football Bowl Subdivision football if the FBS membership makes that decision,” he said.

      To date, the FBS schools have opted to stick with the bowl system.

      When I was reading the article, I was waiting for someone to mention how the Department of Justice should have bigger things to worry about than whether or not the NCAA has a playoff system. And then it came…

      Bill Hancock, the BCS executive director, has long expressed confidence that the BCS complies with the law. “With all that’s going on in the world right now and with national and state budgets being what they are, it seems like a waste of taxpayers’ money to have the government looking into how college football games are played,” he said.

      Matthew Sanderson, a founder of PlayoffPAC.com fired back with a good response:

      “I’m surprised the BCS still trots out that tired argument. This issue may not be of international importance, but this is a billion-dollar enterprise involving tax-exempt entities and institutions of higher learning.”

      Whether the Justice Department has bigger fish to fry is irrelevant now: The issue is on the their radar whether the NCAA disagrees or not. And if the NCAA is violating anti-trust laws, then maybe we’ll finally see a college football playoff some day.

      Or nothing will come of this and the crooked BCS will continue to rip everyone off.

      College Football, External Sports

      Nessler and Mayock hired to save dreadful Thursday night NFL Network broadcasts

      May 5, 2011 /

      Finally, the NFL Network has wised up when it comes to its Thursday night broadcasts.

      Assuming there’s even a season next year, Brad Nessler will do the play-by-play for the Thursday night broadcasts on the NFL Network, while Mike Mayock will be his color man. Nessler, who mostly does college football and basketball announcing, has an outstanding voice and brings some much-needed experience to the Thursday night booth. For those who follow the NFL draft coverage every year, you know Mayock knows his football (even though he can be a tad over-the-top at times).

      This is a major improvement over the brutal trio of Bob Papa, Joe Theismann and Matt Millen. Of course, those three weren’t quite as bad as Bryant Gumbel, but that’s like saying Rebecca Black’s studio version of the song “Friday” is better than her acoustic rendition. Either way, it’s crap. (Who was the genius at the NFL Network that thought of the brilliant idea to have Gumbel announce Thursday night games despite the fact that he had zero play-by-play experience? His I’m-better-than-all-of-you style was a perfect fit for blue-collar NFL fans.)

      The NFL Network is doing itself and fans a solid by going with Nessler and Mayock, although the revamping shouldn’t stop there. The network needs to take a long, hard look at its production quality as well, because for years the Thursday night broadcasts look like they’re being shot in a cave. It’s hard to explain, but the sound and lighting have never looked right to me, even on a HD screen. And they could play the games in a surround sound theatre and it would still sound muffled.

      That said, Nessler and Mayock are a great fix. Nice job, NFL Network. It’s too bad only 34 get the network…

      External Sports, NFL

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