Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1021 of 1503)

      Tiger Woods’ caddie calls Phil Mickelson a “prick”

      December 15, 2008 /

      Tiger Woods’ caddie Stevie Williams admitted to calling Phil Mickelson a “prick” at a recent New Zealand charity event.

      Phil MickelsonWilliams admitted yesterday he had indeed called Mickelson a “prick” and added, “I don’t particularly like the guy [Mickelson]. He pays me no respect at all and hence I don’t pay him any respect. It’s no secret we don’t get along either.”

      The sedate world of professional golf is unused to such unvarnished opinions being thrown around in public and Mickelson made his unhappiness clear. “After seeing Steve Williams’ comments all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones (his caddie, Jim Mackay) on my bag and representing me,” the American left-hander said.

      Mickelson also took issue with an unflattering story Williams told about Mickelson, calling the incident untrue. Tiger Woods has not commented on the spat, but he’s certain to face questions about it at his Chevron World Challenge tournament later this week. Donegan speculates that Woods is unhappy with his caddie’s comments (no doubt) and that Williams could be in trouble with his boss (no way).

      So far Woods has not commented on the spat between his greatest rival and his bagman, although he has a history of seeking to avoid what he deems to be non-golf related publicity. He also has a history of dealing harshly with employees who displease him.

      While Williams will likely get an earful from Team Tiger, Woods mainly cares about winning majors, and if he has the best chance to win with Williams on his bag, that’s where Williams will stay.

      Couple this story with the one about John Daly smashing a fan’s camera into a tree at the Australian Open and golf news has packed a punch lately.

      Golf

      Monte Kiffin joining son at Tennessee next season

      December 15, 2008 /

      Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has decided to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee next season. The elder Monte confirmed the news following the Bucs’ 13-10 overtime loss to the Falcons on Sunday.

      “I made the decision last weekend and I went back and forth,” Kiffin said. “It was a very, very hard decision because of players, our fans. When you’ve been in a place since 1996, you don’t just jump ship. I’ve had other opportunities. There was one that came up last year that was a great opportunity and people don’t even know for sure about the whole thing. But I stayed here, decided to sign back up for two years. But the club was very good about giving me the option to go with my son.”

      Lane Kiffin recently took the job as head coach at Tennessee, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for he and his father to do something they’ve talked about for years: work together.

      “It boiled down to one thing: It was your son, and that’s what it is,” Kiffin said. “I love these players. I addressed it Wednesday. I told (General Manager) Bruce (Allen). Jon (Gruden) was the first person I told. The head coach, he should know first. I told the defensive staff before I went downstairs at a quarter ’til 4. We had a team meeting at 4 o’clock and the whole team was there.

      “I told them kind of what I’m telling you. I said, “Guys, this was a tough decision. I went back and forth. I said I just want you to know now. I didn’t think it was right to keep carrying it out.”

      Huge, massive, enormous blow for the Buccaneers. Monte Kiffin has consistently been one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL this decade and the teams in the NFC South must be celebrating after hearing this news.

      College Football

      Is there a quarterback controversy in Minnesota now?

      December 15, 2008 /

      Tarvaris JacksonSince taking over for the injured Gus Frerotte the last two weeks, Tarvaris Jackson is 19 of 27, has thrown for 268 yards and five touchdowns. Yes, that Tarvaris Jackson – the same Tarvaris Jackson that was essentially a disaster at the beginning of the year and who prompted Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress to replace him with the ageless Frerotte.

      Frerotte will likely miss Minnesota’s next game this Sunday vs. Atlanta while he rests his injured back, but he should be healthy enough to play in the Vikings’ finale. If he is, should he start over the suddenly hot Jackson? Before he was injured, Frerotte led the Vikes to a one-game lead over the Chicago Bears in the NFC North, so doesn’t he deserve the opportunity to reclaim his starting job when he’s healthy again?

      It’s an interesting debate because on one hand, Frerotte has earned the right to be in the starting lineup. Plus, Jackson essentially had his opportunity to be the Vikings’ starting quarterback and he couldn’t make enough plays in the passing game to keep his job. Frerotte stepped up to the plate and delivered when Jackson failed and it’s not like he lost his job due to poor play – he got hurt.

      But on the other hand, Jackson has led the Vikings to two impressive wins and even though he struggled earlier in the year, maybe he just needed time to rebuild his confidence. It looks like Childress has scaled back his offense quite a bit and Jackson has flourished, making easy reads and essentially getting out of Adrian Peterson’s way.

      Personally, I think the job is still Frerotte’s. If he’s healthy, he’s earned the right to remain the starter and while it’s nice to see Jackson turn things around, he won’t always face the Lions and Cardinals defenses every week, either. In fact, maybe this Sunday will be Jackson’s first true test, as the Falcons have played very well defensively in the second half of the season.

      It’ll be interesting to see if Atlanta will stuff the box and force Jackson to beat them through the air. Arizona couldn’t stop Peterson on the edges and it opened everything up for Jackson in the passing game. If Jackson falls back to earth on Sunday, maybe this debate will seize and Frerotte will reclaim his job next week and through the playoffs if the Vikings make it. But if he turns in another solid performance, there might be a legitimate quarterback controversy in Minnesota.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Will the Redskins part with Jim Zorn following their second half collapse?

      December 15, 2008 /

      Mike Wise of The Washington Post questions whether or not Jim Zorn will retain his job following the Redskins’ collapse over the second half of the season.

      Jim ZornNow the larger question: Is Zorn’s Norv-esque finish to a Redskins season bad enough to warrant against bringing him back?

      Neither Daniel Snyder nor Vinny Cerrato seemed immediately interested in touching the vote-of-confidence issue after Sunday’s loss, and who can blame them? Even if the owner or executive vice president for football operations sound off in support of the newbie position coach they gambled on last February to replace Joe Gibbs, they give the issue credence and drive the story.

      Saying “Jim is our guy” means they had doubt in the first place. And the truth is, they have no intention of looking for another coach after last offseason.

      Suppose Zorn wins one of his last two games, or both. How to explain firing a man who installed a new offense, had the machine clicking early in the season and possibly finished with the same record as Joe Gibbs did in 2007 without a single game of head-coaching experience to start the season?

      Unless the wheels completely come off and the Redskins look dreadful in their final home game next week against the Eagles and on Dec. 28 at San Francisco, Zorn is probably going nowhere. If he goes 8-8 or 9-7, he finishes with a better record than most observers probably believed possible when he first took over for Gibbs.

      He essentially created a monster at 4-1 and 6-2. Because of injuries, mostly better competition and — let’s be honest — his sudden conservative values as a play-caller, Zorn and the Redskins have basically found their level — .500.

      I said this in training camp and I’ll say it again: Not giving Zorn at least two years to make this work flies in the face of everything the organization said it wants to be: less impulsive, more patient; about building for a championship future not merely trying to buy it in one offseason.

      It’s amazing that this is even a debate considering Zorn looked like a genius when the Redskins started the season 6-2. But he isn’t going anywhere – nor should he. It’s only his first season and given the fact that he installed a completely new offense, he’s done a pretty good job. He’ll learn from the mistakes he’s made over the past couple weeks and become a better head coach. Give the guy a chance.

      NFL

      Stars give Sean Avery the boot

      December 15, 2008 /

      Sean Avery may be ready to come back to the NHL, but his team isn’t ready to have him back. The Dallas Stars are reporting that Avery won’t be back with the team – ever.

      Sean Avery“You have to do what’s right for both parties, and that’s what we’re really trying to do,” co-general manager Brett Hull said.

      Avery was only 23 games into a four-year, $15.5 million deal when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suspended him for a crude remark about ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players. Simmering tension between Avery and his teammates and his coach boiled over in the aftermath, with the dressing room united in its stance against him ever wearing a Stars sweater again.

      “I thought [Sean] could bring a little bit of a change in our locker room and on the ice which I thought was missing,” Hull said. “Obviously, it went overboard and didn’t work out.”

      Details of Avery’s departure still must be worked out. He could be traded, sent to the minors or bought out next summer. The club said it will work with Avery to try making this an amicable divorce. They won’t try voiding his contract on grounds he’s violated the conduct clause.

      Yet there’s no telling when Avery will play again.

      He’s at an undisclosed location seeking treatment through a program set up by the NHL players association. When he was suspended, Avery told the Stars he needed help dealing with anger issues. Hull said Avery is in a 10-day, voluntary program that could be extended if counselors determine he needs a longer stay.

      Avery’s agent and publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

      See what happens when you trash Elisha Cuthbert? You get booted from the NHL.

      Who’s the sloppy seconds now, Sean?

      NHL

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