• Official size and weight.
• Deeper pebbles and firmer texture.

Product Description
Official Ball of the National Football League, NFL, Football, Leather football, Wilson, The Duke, F1000, F1100, Official size, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Autograph balls, Mini autograph balls... More >>

Wilson F1415 NFL MVP Football

Post from: Sports

Wilson F1415 NFL MVP Football

Perhaps this is something Zach Galifianakis should have done before he took a razor to his signature beard on Saturday during his appearance on SNL. That beard was central to his identity and he wiped most of it out like it was nothing.

Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis understands the value of facial hair. He's allowing fans to vote on one of four facial hair designs he could sport on Opening Day against the Yankees. There's his usual goatee, the Magnum P.I. mustache, the clean shaven look that is bizarre and bound to lose and the Fu Manchu (which would copy the Youk Manchu he grew last year for his official photo). A little limiting, if you ask me. Huge mutton chops and a soul patch deserve a right to compete.

Of course, frivolity can't exist for frivolity's sake, so there is a charity element to all this. In order to vote, a $1 donation has to be made to Youk's charity, Hits for Kids, which describes itself as "dedicated to rallying local and corporate support for charities and organizations focused on the health and wellbeing of children". Essentially, it's a charity for charities. Good to know. Either way, you're doing somebody some good and you potentially get to make a ballplayer look ridiculous.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

Design Youk’s Facial Hair And Help Some Kids

Product Description
5 piece orange rubber throw down home plate, pitcher's plate and three base set. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Made of washable and flexible rubber. Wt 4 lbs.
... More >>

Set of Orange Throw Down Bases-5 Piece - Baseball

Post from: Sports

Set of Orange Throw Down Bases-5 Piece – Baseball

View full post on NBCSports.com: Sports

Post from: Sports

St. Mary’s stuns Gonzaga, snags NCAA berth

Post from: Sports

Golf’s Longest Driver

SEC officials did not have a good year in 2009. Ask any Arkansas fan.
Before you do so, make sure he's strapped to a table and there aren't
any children within a five mile radius, but go ahead and ask if you need
evidence here.

You probably don't, however, since you know that the SEC admitted
error from the crew that did the Arkansas-Florida game, suspended
them, retroactively announced that flags
in the Georgia-LSU game were ridiculous, failed to call Terrence
Cody for taking his helmet off after he blocked a potentially
game-winning Tennessee field goal, gave Florida a
phantom touchdown against Mississippi State, and did not give LSU an
obvious interception in their game against Alabama. In all of this,
SN's Matt Hayes provided the closest thing to a defense: "SEC
officials just bad, not crooked." A ringing endorsement, that.

The last two are the worst because both of them were reviewed and the
calls were still wrong. People sitting at home watched the replay twenty
times, saw it was an incorrect call twenty times, and were then told not
to trust their lying eyes. It was almost like the guy at home with high
definition was getting a better view of replay than the guy in the stadium at the booth. What
say you, national coordinator of football officials Dave Parry?

"Sometimes a guy at home with high definition was getting a
better view of replay than the guy in the stadium at the
booth."

Wha?

High-definition televisions are coming to instant replay this
football season in three or four conferences, including the SEC.

You mean to say that big time college football couldn't shell out for
HDTVs until it was definitively proven that attempting to rely on a
black and white RCA television from 1956 might not be the world's best
idea?

What other blindingly obvious revelations have you come to
recently, national coordinator of football officials Dave Parry?

Some conferences will do more training of replay officials this
off-season, Parry said. "We're finding people are less forgiving
for the replay official's errors than an on-field official. We're still
relatively new at this. We've tweaked it every year."

Argh argh argh argh argh. This is because they get to look at the
play twenty times and sometimes they do crazy things like arbitrarily
declare the pylon to be part of the field. This is because replay
officials are usually decrepit former officials who are evidently very
confused these days. There is a certain amount of tolerance people have
for difficult split-second decisions. That tolerance disappears when any
idiot with a 54-inch plasma screen can clearly see something is wrong but the
people in charge of things can't.

But, hey, they finally shelled out a few thousand dollars to keep the
brain hemorrhages down this year. So they've got that going for
them.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

Collegiate Instant Replay No Longer Using Your Grandma’s TV

• Great Value
• The Terra Glider PO Soccer Ball by adidas
• COVER: 32 panels of machine stitched PU for a soft touch
• BLADDER: Butyl for air retention
• Please Note: Ball shipped deflated

Product Description
Butyl bladder for best air retention. Machine stitched. This construction (nylonwound carcass/TPU) ensures soft touch and high durability.About adidas
The vision of company founder Adolf Dassler has long become reality, and his corporate philosophy the guiding principle for successor generations. The idea was as simple as it was brilliant. Adi Dassler’s aim was to provide every athlete with the best possible equipment. It all began in 1920, when Adi Dassler made his first shoes using the few materials available after the First World War. The adidas name dates back to 1948, deriving from the first two syllables of Adi Dassler’s first and last name. One year later, Adi Dassler registered the Three Stripes as a trademark. After a period spanning almost 70 years, the Dassler Family withdrew from the company in 1989, and the enterprise was transformed into a corporation ("Aktiengesellschaft"). French-born Robert Louis-Dreyfus was Chairm... More >>

adidas TerraPass Glider Soccer Ball

Post from: Sports

adidas TerraPass Glider Soccer Ball

Post from: Sports

american football … pick me

“Don’t leave your car unlocked. Because you never know what celebrity might take it.”

The Orlando Sentinel has the ridiculous story of how Darrell Waltrip's car was (mistakenly) stolen, from the parking lot of a private Nashville-area airport, by Tim Tebow, his brother Robbie and the CEO of D1 Sports, Will Bartholomew.

It turns out, Tebow and his brother drove to the airport in their own car, meeting Jim Denton – another one of his agents – to go to the NFL Combine. The Tebow clan flew back with Bartholomew, who was told to drive Denton's car back to the D1 offices. Well, it turns out there were two black SUVs next to each other, and while Denton has a Mercedes, Bartholomew pulled out in a Lexus that had the doors unlocked and the key inside. That's when the hilarity ensued.

Later that night, Waltrip returned to the private Nashville airport after the NASCAR race in Las Vegas to find his black Lexus SUV gone. The only black SUV in the parking lot? A Mercedes. He asked the folks at the airport what happened to his car. They all looked at each other sheepishly.

“They turned to me and said, ‘Tim Tebow has your car,’” Waltrip said in a telephone interview. “I said, ‘What is he doing with my car? I didn’t tell him he could take my car.’ The guys said, ‘We thought you told him he could drive your car.’ I know the guy, but I’ve never met the man. I didn’t tell him he could take my car.”

It turns out, Tebow's agents had the car for some time without realizing it was the wrong one. When Waltrip found out that Tebow had his car – point of fact that Tebow, himself, was actually never in possession of the car – he wanted to call the cops to play a prank on the quarterback.

“I was going to call the police and have them say, ‘I thought you were a nice Christian boy. We didn’t know you were a car thief, too!’” Waltrip said with a laugh.

No word yet on how this will impact his draft status, but I assume Tebow's involvement in some inadvertent grand theft auto will be filed under "intangibles."

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

Darrell Waltrip and the Accidental Saga of Grand Theft Tebow

Post from: Sports

Dance Off USF vs Uconn 2009 Big East Baseball Tournament as seen on PTI.

View full post on NBCSports.com: Sports

Post from: Sports

WashPost: NFL enters twilight zone — the un-capped year

Hitting it big is not everything at Pole Creek Mountain golf resort. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner on the covered patio surrounded by majestic 13,000 foot snow capped peaks of the Continental Divide. Don't be surprised to see some of our local natives roaming our course; elk, deer, fox or red-tailed hawks. Delight in the spectacular display of wildflowers around the clubhouse and across the courses, or just sit back and breathe in the clean refreshing mountain air.

2007 GREEN FEES (includes cart) High Season* Low Season

18 Holes $89 $69

9 Holes $54 $44

Twilight Special (times vary) $54 $44

Seniors (over 65) $79 $59

Juniors (18 and under) play for half the rates above.

RENTAL RATES Pull Cart Club Rental

9 Holes $2.50 $20**

18 Holes $5 $35**

Practice Balls $4

* High season runs from June 10th – September 10th

** Brand New Cobra FP Irons and F-Speed woods

Tournaments at Pole Creek:

We do the work. You have the fun.

GROUP GREEN FEES (12 or more persons)

Includes 18 holes, practice balls, golf cart, a $5 gift certificate for each player to our pro shop, and our renowned professional services that make your tournament run smoothly at our Colorado golf resort.

High Season Group Rate - $89 per person, anytime.

Low Season Group Rate - $69 per person, anytime.

2007 Golf Tournament Schedule:

Grand Opening - 25th Anniversary Golf Tournament

Pole Creek Golf Club

Friday, May 18, 2007

Fraser River Valley Lions Club "Cozen's Cup" Golf Tournament

Pole Creek Golf Club

Saturday, June 09, 2007

2007 CNI Open, Presented in Memory of William McK. Thompson

Pole Creek Golf Club

Monday, June 11, 2007

Pole Creek Classic

Pole Creek Golf Club

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Shining Stars Foundation Golf Tournament

Pole Creek Golf Club

Friday, July 20, 2007

3rd Annual High Country Golf Tournament

Pole Creek Golf Club

Saturday, August 04, 2007

3rd Annual High Country Golf Tournament

Pole Creek Golf Club

Saturday, August 04, 2007

The 3rd Annual SIDS Golf Classic

Pole Creek Golf Club

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Pole Creek and Winter Park are located 67 miles from Denver. Take I-70 West to Exit 232 onto U.S. 40, then follow U.S. 40 to Winter Park. Pole Creek is 11 miles beyond the Town of Winter Park. Turn left at the 220 mile marker and follow the signs to the Colorado golf course.

Post from: Sports

Colorado Golf Resort

Improbable departure
the first:

George Edwards' tenure as the Florida Gators defensive coordinator
sure didn't last long.

Less than a month after joining Urban Meyer's staff, Edwards left one
of the nation's top college programs on Thursday to become the Buffalo
Bills defensive coordinator and be reunited with newly hired head coach
Chan Gailey.

Improbable departure
the second:

Ron Turner wasn't out of the NFL
for long.

Four weeks after becoming the offensive coordinator at Stanford,
Turner is back in the league, accepting a job on the Colts'
staff. It is believed Turner will become the wide receivers coach, but
the team had yet to make an announcement.

Way to reach for the creative ledes, guys.

Anyway, it's possible that the spurned schools got off easy here:
these guys ditched Gainesville and Palo Alto for Indianapolis and
Buffalo. Also, Turner went from offensive coordinator to wide receivers
coach. They could be in the first stages of syphilitic dementia.
(Kidding! Don't send lawyers. Just take penicillin. Or don't, because I
didn't mention it at all.)

If I was a guy who wrote single-sentence paragraphs and had a Very
Serious Photo I'd probably go on about the decline of society here
but...
actually, isn't this kind of a societal decline? Surely these guys did
not take jobs intending to leave almost before a two-week notice could
even be provided. And yet, there they go.

It probably comes down to money-even Florida's unlikely to shell out
what an NFL team will for a coordinator and Stanford is not exactly
paying top dollar-just like everything does, but in my day people waited
around for 14 long months before leaving their university in a lurch
with nothing to do but riot
festively and draw
penises on rocks (not that you have to be told, but that is as NSFW as
a cave painting gets).

Kids these days have no respect, I tell you. No respect at all.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

One-Upping Lane Kiffin: Yes, It Can Be Done

Read more on AP via Yahoo! Sports

Portuguese Football Results
LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Results from the 21st round of the Portuguese first-division football league (home teams listed first): Friday's Game Leiria 0, Guimaraes 1 Saturday's Games Naval 2, Maritimo 1 Braga 3, Olhanense 1 Leixoes 0, Benfica 4 Sunday's Games Pacos Ferreira 5, Setubal 3 Academica 0, Rio Ave 1 Sporting 3, FC Porto 0 Monday's Game Nacional vs. Belenenses

Read more on AP via Yahoo! Sports

Post from: Sports

Portuguese Football Results

The first and the earliest written obviousness of the baseball in America are a written payment in 1791 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The document, discovered by Society for Spine of John of member of research of baseball in 2004, strong obviousness of offers that the baseball is a single American play, and it expresses doubts on held length belief that the baseball was derived from the baseball, a British play. It also to increase the question of origins of cricket, as one largely thought that the baseball followed the cricket, which was developed starting from a known folk play under the name of swell of saddles (1085 A.D).

As of 2000 B.C. the plays type of ball and stick were played. The hiŽroglyphes depict the ancient Egyptians inside playing a game similar to the baseball 1500 B.C., although there exists some principal differences between its description and modern play.

The payment 1791 of Massachusetts prohibited the play of the play to less than 80 yards of the house of meeting of city. The formal organization initially documented with the baseball of play in America was the jodhpurses of NY established above September 23, 1845. The first rules were written by Alexandre Cartwright, considered the father of the modern baseball. However, a long time before this the play of ball of time of a certain type was noted per many authors and inside many documents.

At May 8, 1844 schedule city in New York City prohibits the ball of it the play of left. It was said that abner Doubleday has invented play of baseball inside 1839. although a posterior investigation proved this to be a role of CartwrightøS of myth inside the baseball was also called into question. The majority of the experts and historians are appropriate now that it was simply the first to note the rules which had existed for completely a certain hour. Moreover, there is obviously strong that the changes of rule were one of the Cartwright reasons wrote them.

There much was written about the sport after the foundation Jodhpurses, such as articles relating to popularity and evolvement play rules of York of New in the principal current of the baseball. The original The jodhpurses reign the addressed stinking lines and supprimentes the plug outside, which implied striking the runner with the ball to gain an exit. They also traced the label-outside and the force-outside. Curiously, they it donÁøT provide a distance of pitching or a length of base line. The steps of Forty-two were the real distance written of at the house at the second base, and of initially with the third the Innings were also not mentioned. Instead of that, the first team with twenty and one were declared gaining it, given the two teams are allowed an equal number of with-beaters. Pitching the method was also described like underhand, perhaps similar to the ball of city, another play early with the English roots.

The rules can be initially written by Cartwright, but there is a length and implied history of the plays earlier with the similar rules. Much American and the English complaints of opposition to invent the baseball tried to discuss theirs positions by presenting the obviousness to support their complaints. In spite of all this, the origin of the modern baseball remains always a mystery.

After 1845, the history of the baseball in America starts to be rather clear. Rules were standardized in 1857. In 1858, the first league of baseball, the national Association of the low players of ball (NABBP), emerged. They were not professional players considered, because they did not receive any money for theirs participation. However, the plays were public and the admission was charged with be pilot plays. The first documented game of baseball of university was played in 1859 as Amherst A demolishes Williams 73-32 in 26 turns of beater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

In 1860, play of York of New generally indicated under the name of national of the pastime in much of written work. The baseball accelerated in popularity and draw aside slowly in all the country during the civil war. More than 100 clubs took place in existence when the finished war and 1869, the world first the professional team of baseball was established. Bottoms Of Red Of Cincinnati their first unconquered season finished. The NABBP crossed in two groups, for amateurs and that for the professionals. The leg of amateur of dissolved association after only a few years.

The national league, which always exists, was established in 1875 afterwards NABBP proved ineffective on several levels. Power shifted with the club the organizations and the baseball entered an age completely of conflict, pointed out most of the time for the dreaded clause of reservation of player who oppressed players and was held they like slaves with their contracts.

Nonwhite blacks and the Hispanic ones or all the other players on several occasions were forced out of, omitted, or sent to the minor leagues. It was a ashamed practice that endøof the didnÁt until 1947. The Western league of the players of baseball, a minor the league of the area of states of Great Lakes became the American league in 1899. A new era in the baseball started in 1901. It was known as era of ball of Dead , because of a reduction marked in offence produced in the two leagues. This era continued until the appearance of the Ruth baby in 1919.

Post from: Sports

Some History of Baseball

View full post on NBCSports.com: Sports

Post from: Sports

Beat Canada twice? Sounds golden for Team USA

• Replica of the World Cup 2010 South Africa official match ball
• Hand-stitched soccer ball is FIFA inspected and was tested for circumference, weight, rebound and water absorption
• Latex bladder for best rebound characteristics
• High-quality materials and construction offer exceptional durability
• Polyurethane construction

Amazon.com
Get World Cup fever with the adidas® World Cup 2010 South Africa Repliqué match ball. Jabulani, the name given to the official ball, means "to celebrate" in isiZulu.

The World Cup Repliqué Soccer Ball features 11 colors, representing the 11 official languages of South Africa, the 11 diverse South African communities that exist throughout the country, and the 11 players on the pitch. The design features eight panels, bigger sweet spots, and an all-new grip 'n groove profile. The grip is enhanced with a raised micro structure to give strikers more precision, while aerodynamic grooves allow this ball cut straight through the air like an arrow. The 11 different colors on the ball represent the 11 official languages of South Africa, the 11 diverse South African communities that exist throughout the country, and the 11 players on the pitch. About adidas
The vision of company founder Adolf Dassler has long become reality, and his corporate p... More >>

adidas World Cup 2010 Repliqué Soccer Ball

Post from: Sports

adidas World Cup 2010 Repliqué Soccer Ball

Olympic dream over. Don't think I've ever been so sad.

That somber tweet is how Canadian skier Brian McKeever announced he would not be racing in Sunday's 50-kilometer event. The decision by Canadian ski team coach Inge Braten to race four stronger skiers than McKeever makes sense: it gives Canada a better chance to win its first-ever medal in cross-country skiing.

Not letting McKeever start only prevents him from becoming the first winter athlete to compete in the Paralympics and Winter Olympics. Oh, and it absolutely destroys the nice little ad campaign Visa had put together in support of McKeever, who has less than 10 percent of his vision thanks to a genetic disorder.

How is it that everyone around McKeever is so blind?

It's arguable that Team Canada was in a no-win situation entering today: start McKeever over a better skier, and risk criticism for playing to the cameras; start a better skier over McKeever, and get torched for stringing him along before dashing his dream. The only theoretical feel-good scenario left -- another Canadian skier refusing to race, ceding his spot to McKeever -- just shifts the anguish to another athlete.

There were three ways to head off this situation, but they were closed off long ago, and two aren't much better. Those less-than-stellar alternative? Canada not inviting (and not exploiting) McKeever in the first place, or taking just four skiers and including McKeever. Both would have been embarrassing, but neither would have been as massive a blunder as inviting him has proven to be, even if it meant choosing between not taking a skier who won a race at the Olympic Selection Trials in December or not taking a medal contender. Few were paying attention to Canada's Olympic team outside its borders at that point; now, the powers that be are subject to the rancor of sports media as a seething body.

Or the Canadian officials could have taken a stand behind something unorthodox: petitioning the IOC for an extra spot in any event -- which they did, limited only to this event -- for Paralympians who demonstrate athletic excellence of Olympic caliber, and threatening to not compete in this event as protest. It wouldn't be affirmative action for Paralympians, but an assurance that if they can compete with Olympians, they will, politics and medal hopes of nations be damned. (Who wants to bet the first writer to complain about a Paralympian being given a spot will have a name that rhymes with Shmariotti, Shmayless, or Shupica?)

For Canada, it would have been a nice gesture of faith in a meritocracy for all, not just medal contender, and helped save any Olympic body from falling into a McKeever-style catch-22. For the world at large, a having a nation with Canada's stature as a Winter Olympic power and status as the host, might have force the IOC to descend from its throne and listen.

Brian McKeever earned his chance to compete in the Olympics as every Olympian should: by beating other great athletes. Barring an extraordinary act of selflessness from another Canadian skier, he will not get it.

But Team Canada could have done more to both preserve their chances at garnering a medal and uphold the Olympic ideal of letting the best compete.

And down the road, that short-sighted decision will leave more than McKeever out in the cold.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

Once More, Olympic Myopia In Vancouver: Canada Sits Skier Brian McKeever

• Pack of 15 golf balls designed for distance and durability
• Large, high-energy core boosts distance for all swing types
• Dimple Technology creates high surface area for better ball flight
• Firm ionomer cover provides guaranteed cut-proof durability
• Ideal for any swing speed; balls come in white

Product Description
The XL Distance Golf Ball and XL Straight Golf Ball have been the go to balls for distance, durability, and value since the 1980s. Now with significant advancements, the XL line is still the ball to tee up when you want to leave your buddies shots in the dust. Afterburner Core Technology provides more distance and feel, while the Distance Dimple Technology creates more streamlined ball flight. Basically, the XL line is longer than ever and it lasts until the cows come home. Even better, the XL Distance Golf Ball and XL Straight Golf Ball are both available in value rich packs of 15 golf ballsAmazon.com Product Description
Top-Flite's XL Distance and Straight golf balls have been the go-to balls for distance, durability, and value since the 1980s. Now with significant advancements, the XL line is still the ball to tee up when you want to leave your buddy's shots in the dust. This particular ball--the XL Distance--features a large, high-energy core... More >>

Top-Flite XL Distance Golf Balls

Post from: Sports

Top-Flite XL Distance Golf Balls

The Opening Pitch: Injuries change everything.

They are the X-factor that take sky-high expectations and turn them into coulda-woulda-shoulda lamentations. I'm thinking of two situations today:

— Lindsey Vonn crashed in the giant slalom, breaking her finger and otherwise battering her body. It's unclear if she will be able to compete — let alone medal — in tomorrow's slalom, her final event. For now, she has had a solid but not transcendent Games, with two medals and two spills. She can define her own myth by book-ending that Games-starting gold with another medal to finish it out.

— Purdue's Robbie Hummel tweaked his knee last night, and while the Boilermakers are good enough to win without him — barely — at Minnesota, they are not good enough to fulfill their Final Four potential with a four- or five-win run in the NCAA Tournament without him. There is plenty of time for Hummel's knee to heal, but it raises the reality that Purdue's dream season is tenuous. Would you pick Purdue to advance to the Final Four if they didn't have a completely healthy Hummel? I wouldn't. Call it the "Colt McCoy Rule."

We all want to see our athletes and teams competing based on ideal conditions. Where things get most interesting — and obviously not always for the better — is when those conditions change.

Canada crushes Russia: Is it possible — just possible — that losing to the U.S. was the best thing to ever happen to Canada? What's the chance they play as motivated (and jaw-droppingly well) as they did against Russia if it wasn't on the heels of being humiliated by the U.S.?

(The U.S. advanced — not particularly impressively — to meet Finland in tomorrow's semifinal round, which will — get this — be carried live, even though the game will be at 3 p.m. Obviously, that's the right call by NBC, and it should make for a really fun late-afternoon with everyone watching the game.)

Olympics: On tap, biggest night yet? For all the stories about eye-popping TV ratings for these Games, the biggest night yet could come tonight, with the women's figure skating long-form "free" skate.

NFL Draft Combine: The most intriguing moment might come today, when Sam Bradford undergoes a "pre-physical" and an X-ray on that bum shoulder. I don't care how talented he is; I find it hard to believe that his shoulder will be able to withstand the combo of punishment from NFL D-lineman and a mediocre line in front of him.

L.T. leaves San Diego: Given that he has all the money he will ever need, Tomlinson should take a "champ's discount" to join a contender. To Drew Brees's point, why NOT New Orleans? Or New England?

CBB Bubble Watch: Tough losses for San Diego State (at BYU) and Dayton (at Temple). They aren't out of it yet, but if the field was set today, they would be NIT-bound. Still time to help their resume, though.

Pitt confounds: After rolling through Nova, at Marquette and West Virginia, the Panthers lose to Notre Dame (playing without Luke Harangody). It's like a big flashing sign "WILL BUST YOUR BRACKET."

Varnado a record-setter: No matter how Mississippi State finishes the season — NCAAs or NIT or nothing — center Jarvis Varnado can always claim that he became the NCAA's leading career shot-blocker.

Big Ten expansion: No Texas? UT AD DeLoss Dodds insists that he hasn't talked with the Big Ten about joining them. That doesn't mean that (a) no one related to Texas has talked with anyone related to the Big Ten or (b) Texas hasn't talked about it amongst themselves. They would be crazy not to model out the numbers.

McGwire Scandal, Cont'd: Needless to say, Mark's brother Jay doesn't quite agree with his sibling's story.

Derek Jeter and the Yankees: It's not that Jeter doesn't want to be a Yankee or that the Yankees don't want Jeter; it's the uncomfortable reality that a few years down the line, they'll be paying him a ton to not be very good and he will likely still be insisting he continue to play shortstop.

If Adrian Gonzalez won't give the Padres a hometown discount, that dramatically increases the chance that his next hometown will be with a new team — say, Boston — that can afford him.

NBA Talking Points: Kobe might be back, but that doesn't mean he's ready for back-to-back road games, including the second one being at revamped, energized Dallas. I'm sure Kobe is thinking: "Whatever. Let's see you in May."

Durant streak over: His streak of games scoring at least 25 points (3rd-longest in NBA history) was ended at 29 games by the Spurs.

Tiger Watch: You know your brand has eroded when PETA is making fun of you on a billboard.

The Last Word: "I was like a pretzel."

— Lindsey Vonn, after her crash in the giant slalom.

Dan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

Shanoff’s WUC: Vonn, Hummel, Expectations

Read more on Goal.com via Yahoo! Sports

Iowa football coach shooting trial goes to jury
Prosecution and defense attorneys have made their final arguments to jurors in the first-degree murder trial of a former Iowa football player accused of killing his high school coach.

Read more on AP via Yahoo! News

Post from: Sports

Iowa football coach shooting trial goes to jury

Post from: Sports

Goofy “How To Play Baseball”

View full post on NBCSports.com: Sports

Post from: Sports

Kim makes short work of short program

Dan Levy captured this moment during the U.S.-Sweden women's hockey game today. Kenny Albert relates a story about the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" being shown on tape delay -- the game had a 5 p.m. Eastern start -- and color analyst A.J. Mleczko stabs this dagger into the heart of NBC's Winter Olympics coverage:

"It would never work in this day and age. Too much technology, and text messaging, and other sort of social media. People would know the score the instant it happened."

To NBC's minimal credit, the instant classic from last night was shown live to anyone with MSNBC. But when even their on-air personnel are saying a current policy "would never work," doesn't it seem like NBC is in one dream world while the rest of us trudge along, shouting at the heavens?

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

NBC Hockey Announcer Says Tape-Delayed Miracle on Ice "Would Never Work" Today

Yet another Soccer World Cup is around the corner. World Cup Qualifying Matches are in full swing and fan’s frenzy has already started building up and most of the football freaks must have already booked their travel packages for their much awaited soccer trip. 2010 Soccer World Cup is expected to be one of the most spectacular events of this most loved and widely played game in the world. The world has already witnessed some dramatic results in the 2010 Soccer World Cup Qualifying Matches recently. Australians were the underdogs for many years but this time they are all set to have back to back appearances in the upcoming world cup. They are on the verge of qualifying and must have started planning for their soccer travel too. But may be Argentina has other plans, the way they are playing it seems they have plans of booking some other travel packages. Chances are they won’t be there for playing but they can always register there appearance as tourists in the picturesque South Africa. After all the country has something or the other for anyone visiting this proud nation which is honored to host the Grand Event for the very first time.

Even though people who are least interested in the game have found another reason to get their travel packages booked well in advance as bookings for the soccer travel are already on a high for South Africa. South Africa is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. This is one of the reasons why people who won’t be watching any football matches are queuing up for bookings under soccer travel packages fearing they are not left behind in the rush and perhaps for while they would be unconventional football fans having an unexpected soccer trip to Africa. But nobody is complaining and there is no reason to. People are taking full advantage of various soccer travel packages on offer. So, this time around the whole world seems to be preparing for its “soccer trip” to South Africa.

There is every reason why one should spent a bit over budget on his travel packages. This glorious country has so much to offer that even if your teams or players didn’t do well, your hard earned money spent on soccer travel packages won’t go down the drain. Whether you are looking for a wildlife, beach or adventure holiday with family, it is all there. So your dream soccer trip cannot just end at the soccer stadiums. African Safari must find its place on your soccer travel destinations.

And your soccer trip just doesn’t end there. You must book your soccer travel packages for the iconic and adventurous Kruger Park. A visit at the Garden Route would be memorable which is spread out along the coast, like a giant natural theme park, it is a rich tapestry of very large trees, freshwater lakes etc. It won’t be a bad idea if your soccer trip also includes a visit at Devil’s Peak in Cape Town, Nature Reserves of St. Lucia and Drakensberg in Durban and Shamwari Game Reserve in Port Elizabeth to say the least but South Africa has far more to it what you can imagine and it is up to you, how much you can add to your soccer trip. One thing is assured that your 2010 soccer trip to this glorious country of South Africa would be one you would cherish for the rest of your life.

For More information on World Cup 2010 Packages or Soccer Tickets and Travel Packages for any major soccer tournaments or matches across the world visit: www.worldfootballtravel.com

Post from: Sports

Soccer Trips to South African Safari for World Cup 2010

Read more on AP via Yahoo! Sports

Tiger Woods says sorry, golf return still unknown
Missing his smile and aura of invincibility, Tiger Woods finally showed his face to a waiting world Friday and apologized again for cheating on his wife, without revealing the scope of his infidelity or when he will return to golf.

Read more on AP via Yahoo! News

Post from: Sports

Tiger Woods says sorry, golf return still unknown

Remember a few weeks ago when Clint Dempsey had just done something terrible to his knee and the USMNT was forced to seriously consider putting Eddie Johnson on a plane to South Africa? With Dempsey probably shelved, Charlie Davies laid up after a horrific car crash, and Oguchi Onyewu still recovering from a serious knee injury of his own, the dream draw the States picked up was almost mocking the team's chances.

Yeah, maybe a full-strength USA team could expect to go through, but if Conor Casey and Eddie Johnson are starting, all bets are off. Fate gives, and fate takes. Yours truly at the time:

Who else wants to die? The USA has lost an established Premiership forward and an emerging star who had just transferred to a solid Ligue One side. In their place are Jozy Altidore, who is promising but can't get off the bench at Hull, and… oh God… Eddie Johnson? Brian Ching? Some other MLS striker? Sweet Jesus.

Well, forget about all that. 

Dempsey's injury turned out to be mild enough that his World Cup won't be affected. Oguchi Onyewu is training with the national team and Charlie "Wolverine" Davies is not only walking around and stuff but has actually just returned to France to train with his club. As a bonus, the two injury-plagued Americans at Rangers are finally seeing the field. Maurice Edu went the full 90 in a recent cup match and DaMarcus Beasley started the game before that.

In on-field news, Landon Donovan's latest European adventure is a 180 from his previous two. In eight games at Everton, Donovan's dropped in a goal and three assists, drawn a penalty, and was just named his club's player of the month by the fans. After winning five times in twenty attempts to start the season, the Toffees have five wins in Donovan's brief tenure. Jozy Altidore had some midseason issues but has returned to the field of late and played well for Hull City. Hell, even Freddy Adu is scoring. He's a consistent starter in the Greek league and has two goals in his brief time at Aris. The Greek league is a long way off from the Premiership, but when things are looking sunny for Freddy Adu, you know it's been your kind of month.

The last outposts of lame are Jermaine Jones's inexplicably persistent shin injury—he's doing some work with the ball but has missed eight months and is a World Cup longshot at this point—and a smattering of annoying injuries that shouldn't last long enough to affect World Cup selection.

Right now, it looks like it's England that will have the greater injury worry after Donovan broke Ashley Cole's ankle (accidentally, and on a fair tackle). Knock on wood. Salt and all that. 

If Donovan's spleen explodes, I didn't write this.

View full post on The Sporting Blog

Post from: Sports

U.S. National Team Alarm Klaxons Downgraded To Annoying

Tyrone Braxton

Tyrone Braxton played pro football as a starting cornerback and safety for Denver for most of his career from 1987 to 1999. With Denver, Braxton had 4 visits to the "Big Show" (SB XXII, SB XXIV, SB XXXII, SB XXXIII) and has 2 Championship rings. In SB XXXII, he had an interception against Brett Favre that set up a key Denver touchdown and ultimately played a big role in bringing home the major championship trophy to "Mile High City".

Braxton finished his 13 seasons with 40 interceptions, which he returned for 617 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also recorded 3 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 106 yards. In 1996, Braxton led the PROS in interceptions and was invited to Honolulu to play with the best of the best. Braxton also played one season with the Miami in 1994 and led the PROS in interceptions in 1996.

Braxton played college football at North Dakota State University where he earned all-conference honors as a senior and won 3 National Championships in 4 years. He was a Defensive back and punt return specialist who earned all-conference honors as a senior after posting 128 tackles, one INT and two FR. He led the conference with five INTs and a punt return average of 15.0 as a junior. He was a member of the North Central Conference champion outdoor 400-meter relay squad and competed in the national championship. Braxton was drafted by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
 

Post from: Sports

Football Plays And Strategies For A Winning Season!

Read more on USA Today

S.Korea shortens baseball games to help save environment
South Korea will speed up its baseball games and install energy-saving equipment at major parks as part of a "green sports" plan to cut emissions, officials said Friday.

Read more on AFP via Yahoo! News

Post from: Sports

S.Korea shortens baseball games to help save environment

View full post on NBCSports.com: Sports

Post from: Sports

Bode’s silver in super-G sets U.S. Alpine mark