Category: External Sports (Page 295 of 821)

      Florida officially cuts ties with Urban Meyer to avoid violations

      February 2, 2011 /

      The SEC and NCAA was suspicious when Urban Meyer signed a deal to become a college football analyst less than two months after he resigned from Florida. So to avoid being USC’d, the Gators officially cut ties with Meyer on Wednesday.

      From the Orlando Sentinel:

      Meyer had remained on UF’s payroll in an undefined role since resigning as coach in December. But earlier this week when he signed a deal to become a college football analyst for ESPN, it raised red flags with the SEC and NCAA. After UF contacted those organizations about the potentially problematic situation, the wheels were set in motion for Meyer to being taken off the university’s payroll.

      It would have been a dicey situation for UF and possibly against NCAA rules had Meyer, who is appearing today on ESPN’s coverage of National Signing Day, publicly discussed potential recruits as a paid employee and representative of UF.

      Former coaches join TV networks all the time, so it’s not surprising that Meyer would do the same after resigning as head coach at Florida. But one would think that UF was paying him more than ESPN, right? Not that he needs the money, but this wouldn’t be Meyer’s way of forcing Florida to cut ties with him so he would be free to sign with another school, would it?

      Nah, you’re right. He’s not that devious. No way he doesn’t resurface at Ohio State in a couple of years…

      On a semi-related note, did a bitter Gator fan write the intro for Meyer’s Wikipedia page? Check this out:

      Urban Oscar Meyer, III (born July 10, 1964) is a college football analyst for ESPN, a retired American college football coach and former bench warmer…He is best known for his exclusive, romantic relationship with quarterback Tim Tebow, as well as coaching the Florida Gators to two BCS National Championship Game victories during the 2006 and 2008 seasons…

      Former bench warmer? His exclusive, romantic relationship with quarterback Tim Tebow? Ouch.

      Hey, I’m not saying those two references aren’t statements of fact. I mean, look at that photo up above and tell me you know exactly where Meyer’s hands are (and aren’t). But one would think that someone with Meyer’s best interest at heart wouldn’t have painted him in that light.

      College Football, External Sports

      Brady only received half of the votes for OPOY? Whaa?

      February 2, 2011 /
      New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady yells during stretches with his team before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on November 21, 2010. UPI/Matthew Healey

      It’s not surprising that Tom Brady was named AP Offensive Player of the Year. The two-time recipient of the award led the league in touchdowns, fewest interceptions, passer rating and hasn’t thrown an interception in 355 regular season attempts (which is a record).

      What is surprising is the fact that he received less than half the votes (21 out of 50). Michael Vick received 11 votes, Arian Foster received seven, Philip Rivers received five, while Roddy White, Aaron Rodgers and DeSean Jackson received two apiece.

      All of those players deserve recognition but none of them accomplished what Brady did this past year. How does Vick receive 11 votes? Did people think they were voting for comeback player of the year and not offensive player of the year? I know he had a great season, but he missed four games due to injuries and after getting off to a MVP-like start, he struggled some down the stretch. (All six of his interceptions came in his final five games of the season.)

      Rodgers also had better overall numbers than Vick and he only received two votes. He threw seven more touchdowns, had a higher passer rating by (albeit by a slim margin), threw for nearly 1,000 more yards and completed a higher percentage of passes. Granted, Vick did have five more rushing touchdowns than Rodgers but again, I think voters were still in a trance over what Vick was able to accomplish two years after being released from prison.

      In the end, it doesn’t matter how many votes a player receives as long as the most deserving player wins. And honestly, I’m not sure if the award should be held for signal callers. Quarterback stats will usually hold more importance than rushing and receiving yards, because the position is held in higher regard. Of course, the argument against my argument is that Brady was clearly the most productive offensive player this season, so why shouldn’t he win the Offensive Player of the Year regardless of what position he plays? Still, I think it’s a bit of an unfair advantage.

      External Sports, NFL

      Forrest Griffin Interview

      February 2, 2011 /

      Spencer Kyte of HeavyMMA.com chats with former TUF winner (and former light heavyweight champ) Forrest Griffin about hepatitis, being heckled by teenage girls and fighting Rich Franklin.

      Heavy: I’ll be sure to include the fact in the interview.

      Griffin: That is important.

      Heavy: So that everybody is aware and everybody knows, Forrest Griffin does not have hepatitis.

      Griffin: Actually, you just go ahead and tell all the single women that I do have hepatitis so they stay away.
      Heavy: Perfect. I think my wife might want me to share that plan from now on too.

      Griffin: Just drop it casually, like, whenever you’re talking to women. What I always do is the “you know my wife” thing, just to make sure it doesn’t get awkward. Then you can just drop my hepatitis things too.

      Heavy: In the year-and-a-half I’ve been married, I’ve become very skilled at the “my wife and I” any time there are single women around. She’ll be glad to read that.

      Griffin: Well there is some exciting news for me, are we recording this, because this is the good shit?

      Heavy: I am, we are; we’re ready to go.

      Griffin: Good. Alright, well, I actually just had a very uncomfortable experience. I guess I was going to Starbucks the same time the school here let out, and I got cat-called by a bunch of teenage girls. It wasn’t as fun as you would imagine. It was actually kind of degrading.

      Read the full interview.

      External Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC

      Jose Canseco trying to make a serious comeback attempt in baseball

      February 1, 2011 /

      According to Business Insider, Jose Canseco has elicited the help of former football agent Nello Gamberdino in order to make a comeback attempt in baseball.

      “The main obstacle that I’ve had to get over as his agent,” Gamberdino explained, “is when you initially throw his name out there, people think it’s a joke. We’re trying to make it clear that, no, he’s not doing this as a publicity stunt; he’s doing this because he wants to play, he loves baseball, and he still feels he can contribute as a player. In this country where everyone has a second, third, and sometimes fourth chance at redemption, why can’t someone step up and help him? There are certainly guys in baseball that have done far worse than write a book.”

      “It must be nice for people to sit on their high horse and judge him,” Gamberdino said defensively, “but Jose’s had to do those things for financial reasons.” (It’s unclear how, exactly, Canseco blew the nearly $50 million he made in his 15 year career). Canseco hasn’t made many friends since writing his two tell-all books, and Gamberdino – who only began representing the slugger after he signed on for March’s “Celebrity Apprentice” premier – reminds him that his extra-curricular activities do not portray him as someone who takes baseball seriously. But he’s got the name, Gamberdino said. “And until he can make some money in baseball, celebrity appearances are the best way to pay the bills.”

      Gamberdino can’t blame anyone for thinking this is a joke because his client is Jose Canseco. This is the same man who once said he would “rent” a day hanging out with him in his Florida home. (That’s right, for $5,000 you could spend the entire day with a former juicer at his very own home.)

      Although I wonder how someone could blow through $50 million, I don’t judge Canseco for whoring himself out for money. But everyone’s chickens eventually come home to roost. If you make a mistake, you’re going to pay for that mistake in some way or another. He bragged about introducing steroids to the game of baseball and then tried to cash in by exposing players for juicing. Sorry, but you leave yourself open for criticism when you do something like (along with his many other transgressions).

      I wish Canseco luck. He’s going to need it.

      External Sports, MLB

      Blake Griffin and Chris Paul need each other

      February 1, 2011 /
      Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin dunks over Miami Heat in fourth quarter action in Los Angeles on January 12, 2011. The Clippers defeated the Heat 111-105. UPI/Jon SooHoo

      Hornets fans are going to cringe when they read the title of this post. I get it — the Hornets are a solid 31-18 and the Chris Paul trade talk has died down considerably since last summer.

      But these facts remain: 1) New Orleans is not a legit contender, 2) the team’s second-best player (David West) is getting older (30) and approaching free agency, and 3) Paul can become a free agent in the summer of 2012.

      After some trade rumors were floating around last summer, Paul met with the New Orleans newly-hired braintrust and has since kept his mouth shut, playing the role of good soldier. He’s having a good season (16.7 points, 9.7 assists, 2.6 steals) and the Hornets are having a nice year. But virtually no one believes that they’ll be representing the West in the Finals this summer. One online casino’s long-term market shows the Hornets as a 19-1 longshot to make the Finals. That’s pretty telling considering how inconsistent the Lakers have been this season.

      So what does this have to do with Blake Griffin? Well, I went to see my beloved Bucks take on the Clippers last night at the Staples Center and got to see Griffin in person. He went for 32-11-6, and generally killed Milwaukee with a plethora of post moves, drives and long jumpers. The Bucks are a good defensive team, but they had no answer for Griffin who flat-out dominated the game offensively for the Clippers.

      Griffin is a special talent. He can jump out of the gym, but he has the ability to channel his athleticism into effective basketball talent which is not always easy for someone so athletic. The 31-year-old Baron Davis is serviceable at point guard, but if the Clippers could somehow acquire Paul (25), and surround the dynamic duo with a couple of shooters and a defensive center, Griffin and Paul could lead the Clippers to the Promised Land.

      How do the Clippers acquire Paul? I doubt the Hornets are going to listen to trade offers right now, but if I’m Clipper GM Neil Olshey, I’d call up Dell Demps and make a standing offer of Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and the Minnesota Timberwolves unprotected 2012 first rounder. The deal would net the Hornets a future All-Star in Gordon, as well as cap relief and solid post play in the form of Kaman. With the direction the T-Wolves are headed, that 2012 draft pick will probably be in the Top 5. Gordon would be a steep price to pay, but if you want a Top 2 point guard in a point guard-dominated league, you’re going to have to give something up.

      Paul and Griffin would be devastating in the pick-and-roll and Griffin’s ability to post up would take the pressure off of Paul and allow him to take over in the clutch if the situation warranted it. Paul would also love playing with D’Andre Jordan, who has already shown a Tyson Chandler-like ability to finish alley-oops with outstanding power.

      Worried about L.A. being a Laker town? Kobe is starting to show his age and if Paul and Griffin are headlining the Clippers, it won’t take long for a good portion of the Laker “faithful” to switch sides and start rooting for the city’s other team.

      I’m not suggesting this is likely to happen, or even remotely possible. I’m just saying that it should happen. Even if Donald Sterling is the worst owner in the league.

      Oh, and if CP3 isn’t available, Deron Williams would work too.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

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