Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 125 of 1503)

Derrick Mason: Roger Goodell is a “joke”

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason is seen as the Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on January 2, 2011. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

During a recent radio broadcast, Ravens’ receiver Derrick Mason said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should stop worrying about blood tests and HGH and start worrying about getting a CBA deal done.

Oh, and Mason also called Goodell a joke.

Goodell said Monday that the new labor agreement will include rigorous testing for human growth hormone, with the possibility of a blood test as well.

Referencing Goodell’s comments, Mason said “He needs to stop crying about blood tests and HGH. He needs to try to get a deal done, that’s what he needs to do.

“To me, he’s a joke, because every time I look, he’s talking about performance enhancements instead of talking about trying to figure out a way to make sure football is played in August.”

Fair enough, although in Goodell’s defense if he wants to ensure that there will be HGH testing in the next CBA, this is the time to do it. It’s not like he can spend all of his time working on a new CBA deal and then turn around and say, “Ah crap, you know what I forgot? HGH testing. I swear, I’d forget my head if it weren’t bolted onto my neck!”

I think calling Goodell “a joke” was an irrational comment by Mason. Does he think that Goodell doesn’t want to get a deal done? Does he think that Goodell likes being perceived as one of the villains in this CBA mess? Does he think that Goodell isn’t focused or determined to ensure there’s a season next year? Does he think that Goodell wants to go down as a commissioner who couldn’t figure out a way for the owners and players to share billions of dollars?

Come on, we’re all fired up about the lockout but let’s relax and think rationally here. Goodell wants a deal done just as bad as anyone so things can go back to normal. Comments like “he’s a joke” are unconstructive.

Players open to mediation via court, but are the owners?

James Quinn (L), attorney for NFL players, speaks to the media after attending a federal court hearing regarding labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association in St. Paul, April 6, 2011. Attorney Jeffrey Kessler (R) listens. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL CRIME LAW BUSINESS)

It appears as though the players are willing to head back to mediation under federal court, but but it remains to be seen if the owners are prepared to do the same thing.

A day after Judge Susan Nelson urged both parties to return to mediation as she takes a couple of weeks to decide a ruling on the lockout case, a lawyer representing the players wrote her a letter saying that their side is willing to do just that.

Two people “familiar with the case” also told the AP that the NFL sent its own letter to lawyers for the players, although the people spoke on condition of anonymity because “they were not authorized to reveal the letter’s contents.” However, one person did tell the AP that the letter proposed that the two sides resume talks with federal mediator George Cohen.

Once again, it looks like the two sides are prepared to butt heads. The players are willing to go back to mediation, but under federal court. The owners are willing to go back to mediation, but under George Cohen. The two sides can’t seem to agree on anything and we’re no closer to a resolution (or there being football next year) than we were when the players decertified on March 11.

It’s amazing that when the two sides can finally agree to something (mediation in this case), they disagree on something else and throw up another hurdle to overcome.

South Carolina suspends quarterback Stephen Garcia…again.

Quarterback Stephen Garcia of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks throws a pass against the Auburn University Tigers during the first half of their NCAA SEC Championship college football game in Atlanta, Georgia, December 4, 2010. REUTERS/Chris Keane (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

For the fifth time since coming to South Carolina in January 2007 and the second time this spring, the Gamecocks’ QB has been suspended – only this time it’s indefinite according to USA Today. The university isn’t saying why they’ve suspended him, but Garcia told the AP that it wasn’t because of any arrests, nor was it drug or alcohol related.

So let’s see: No drugs, no alcohol, no arrests. Outside of academic cheating or low grades, what else could a college athlete be suspended for? (Check that – I don’t want to know.)

Actually, it doesn’t really matter what he was suspended for this time. I’m all for giving people second and even third chances, but considering this is the fifth time that Garcia has been suspended, maybe Steve Spurrier should just give him the boot for good. There comes a time when it’s obvious that a person is just taking advantage of his or her situation because they know they won’t be held accountable for their actions. If this was a one-time thing, the program should reach out and offer its hand. But five times? He’s been suspended five times? See ya.

Of course, that’s easy for me to say when I don’t have to worry about competing in the SEC. Garcia threw for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 starts last year, leading the Gamecocks to a SEC East title. If Garcia were done for good, sophomore Connor Shaw would have to shoulder the responsibility of running South Carolina’s offense. There’s no question that losing Garcia would be a blow to the Gamecocks’ chances of competing again next season.

Bonds trial wrapping up without him seeing the witness stand

Former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds arrives for his criminal trial at Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco, California March 28, 2011. The Bonds case is one of the last strands in a lengthy investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Doping revelations have tarnished the reputation of baseball, known as America’s national pastime. REUTERS/Stephen Lam (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL CRIME LAW SOCIETY)

Three years after he was first indicated, Barry Bonds’ perjury trial is finally nearing its conclusion.

Charged with three counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice, Bonds’ trial has lasted nearly three weeks. And as the jury is set to dilberate, it’s interesting that Bonds’ defense team rested their case on Wednesday without calling any witnesses – not even Bonds.

Now, that could be viewed in a couple of different ways. Maybe his defense team feels so confident about their case that they don’t need to put Bonds on the stand. Maybe they don’t want him to contradict anything that anyone else has said up to this point, or screw the pooch when he’s cross-examined by the prosecution.

Or maybe because if they put him on the stand, they know he would have to lie under oath. Or explain to a jury why he allowed someone to inject something into his body that he wasn’t 100% clear (no pun intended) about what it was or what it was intended to do. Or why he never stopped taking the substance when his head grew to the size of a grapefruit and he looked like the Incredible Hulk.

Yeah, I wouldn’t have put Bonds on the stand either.

As I wrote on Wednesday, I firmly believe that he’ll avoid jail time. If Tammy Thomas received house arrest and probation for similar charges in her BALCO scandal, then Barry freaking Bonds isn’t going to prison over his. In the end, I imagine that people will view this as a big waste of time and money.

Wrigley Field empty to start the season – are the fans boycotting?

T-shirt’s are sold outside of Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day game in Chicago on April 1, 2011. The Pirates won 6-3. UPI/Brian Kersey

It was rather surprising to see a half-empty stadium when I turned on the Cubs-Diamondbacks game today (a 6-4 Arizona victory).

If these two teams were playing in Arizona and the D’Backs were 20 games out of first place, then this obviously wouldn’t have caught my eye. But Wrigley Field? That place has been jam-packed for decades, regardless of how miserable the Cubs have been. Going to a Cubs game might as well be like going to the movies for many Chicagoans – it’s viewed as pure entertainment.

As it turns out, the announced attendance for Monday’s Cubs-D’Backs game was 26,292, the lowest attendance the ballpark has experienced since 2002. Granted, the weather has been cool in Chicago and with other sporting events to watch (the NCAA finals, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, the White Sox, etc.), it’s not a stretch to think that fans are waiting until May or June to show up to watch their “Cubbies.” (That nickname, by the way, makes me want to punch myself in the kidney.)

But Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times hopes that the empty seats are a sign that Cub fans have finally had enough.

Not showing up to the ballpark is the only power fans have. I’m not sure if they fully understand how much influence they have. When they come to the ballpark in droves year after year, they have no say in whether ticket prices increase or whether the player payroll declines. Their collective voice is heard only as a whisper when the conversation turns to publicly funded stadium renovations.

When fans don’t show up, owners get very, very nervous. Cubs fans rarely flex that muscle. But now? Is that a bulging biceps I see?

Imagine if this were a win-or-else ultimatum from the fan base. Think the Cubs might feel some urgency?

Eh, maybe. The only question I have is: Why now? Why after decades of losing would Cub fans pick this year to finally put their foot down? The Reds have started off strong, but the injuries in St. Louis and the slow start in Milwaukee gives Chicago fans a sliver of hope that their Cubs might be able to do something in the NL Central. I think most true fans are realistic about the Cubs’ chances but even the biggest doubters will still attend the games.

It’s early. Once the weather warms up, Wrigley will be jam-packed again. Besides, even if the fans were boycotting the organization, what is the front office going to do? Thanks to all the bad contracts that they’ve acquired over the years (Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, Carlos Silva, etc.), they couldn’t change the situation even if they wanted to. This team is stuck right now whether the fans like it or not.

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