Hungry Like The Red Wolf

((HT: KAIT-TV/Jonesboro, Ark))

Arkansas State cornerback Paul Stephens ((Pictured, thanks ASU SID)) has been dismissed from the team, along with defensive back Leroy Trahan and wide receiver Jarriel Norman

Stephens was hospitalized over the weekend with a gunshot wound to his midsection. A man told police that he shot an intruder trying to break into an apartment.

Arkansas State announced Stephens' dismissal from the Red Wolves on Monday night, saying it was for "conduct detrimental to the team." Trahan and Norman were also dismissed from the team.

A police report obtained by Region 8 News listed both Trahan and Norman as suspects in Saturday's incident. According to written statements by responding officers, Trahan told the officers the three men "went over to get things."

The report then says that Jarriel Norman told officers that he had let "Lil Paul" and Trahan use his vehicle.

The offical statement from the university:

"We continue to have expectations of a standard of conduct that produces a positive image of our program, and these three young men failed to live up to those expectations," said (Head Coach Steve) Roberts. "We wish them well in their future endeavors."

Roberts and the ASU Athletic Department will have no further comment on this matter.

Stephens was a senior defensive back, Trahan a junior defensive back and Norman a senior wide receiver on the team. Stephens recorded 10 tackles and one interception and Trahan posted two tackles last season during their first year on the team. Norman caught 15 passes for 220 yards over the last three seasons.

Here's your coverage from KAIT-TV/Region 8 News

State Of Kentucky Approves Funds To Fight Gillispie

((HT: Lexington Herald-Leader/Musgrave))

A state legislative panel on Tuesday approved spending up to $100,000 on a contract for a Texas law firm to help the University of Kentucky in its legal fight against former UK coach Billy Gillispie.

The law firm of Fisher & Phillips will be paid through an insurance policy, according to information the university provided to the Government Contract Review Committee.

The university needs lawyers that are licensed to practice law in Texas, the university says in its contract with Fisher & Phillips. The law firm’s contract is not to exceed $100,000 from June 23 to June 30, 2010.

Gillispie has filed a federal lawsuit against the university in Texas. The university has countered with its own lawsuit in Kentucky. At issue is how much Gillispie should be paid after he was fired from the high-profile coaching position this spring.

In his lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas, Gillispie alleged that UK’s athletics department owes him $6 million for firing him two years into a seven-year agreement. The university has countered that the university does not owe the Texas native because he never signed a formal contract.

The Government Contract Review Committee passed the measure without debate. The Department of Finance and Administration must also give its blessing to the contract.

According to court documents filed in the Kentucky case in Franklin Circuit Court, the university is having a difficult time serving Gillispie with its lawsuit. An attorney for the University of Kentucky, in a June 30 letter to the court, said that the university has tried three different times to serve Gillispie with the court papers in Texas but as of June 30 had not been able to do so.

Scout Booted From Rival Practice

((HT: TSN))

According to several sources, a Winnipeg Blue Bombers scout was caught spying on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice on Tuesday.

Ron Trentini had his notes confiscated and was escorted from Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Ticats also revoked his credentials for Saturday's game between the two teams. Trentini was reportedly recognized by Ticat scout Danny McManus.

"It's totally unethical," said Ticats general manager Bob O'Billovich, according to the Scratching Post with Drew Edwards. "It blows my mind that the guy would be dumb enough to walk into our stadium and take notes and think he wouldn't be recognized."

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Trentini had worked with the Bombers in Toronto this spring to help them prepare for the Canadian Draft.

"Maybe this used to go on a long time ago when a guy might try and watch practice with binoculars from a building across or something," said O'Billovich. "But to just walk in and just start taking notes? That's pretty dumb."

The league has been informed.

Back in September of 2007, the New England Patriots were disciplined by the NFL for videotaping the signals of the New York Jets' defensive coaches during a game.

An investigation was launched and the league fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000, docked the Patriots $250,000, and took away the team's scheduled first-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Taurasi Faces "Extreme DUI" Charge

((HT: Arizona Republic/Ferraresi))

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi ((pictured, thanks Arizona Republic/Michael Chow)) faces three drunk-driving related charges, including extreme DUI, for a July 2 incident in which she was pulled over on Camelback Road.

Results of a blood draw showed Taurasi was driving her 2006 Land Rover with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent, or more than twice the Arizona legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to a Phoenix police report released today.

Taurasi, 27, pleaded not-guilty to the charges filed recently in Phoenix Municipal Court. Her next scheduled court date is set for July 22.

According to the police report, Taurasi told her arresting officer she had "a few" drinks at an unnamed club and was on her way to the Phoenician hotel. She was trailed by friends in other vehicles.

A Phoenix officer stopped Taurasi around 2:30 a.m. near Camelback Road and Seventh Street after the officer observed the Land Rover drift outside of a traffic lane. The officer claimed Taurasi was speeding nearly 20 mph over the 35 mph limit as she drove eastbound on Camelback.

In addition to the DUI charges, Taurasi was also cited for speeding, which she pleaded not responsible to, according to court records.

Taurasi's citation came on the heels of her 22-point effort on July 1 in the Mercury's 93-81 victory over the Seattle Storm.

The point guard leads all WNBA players in fan voting for the July 25 all-star game.

A Mercury spokesman and Taurasi's personal representative did not immediately return requests for comment.

Sports Authority Member Wants More from Preds Suite Idea

((HT: Tennessean/Cass))

A proposal to create a large luxury suite at Sommet Center should look to generate more money for the city, the head of a Metro Sports Authority committee told Nashville Predators officials today.

“We’d like to see some of that gain, too. … Maybe not a 50-50 split, but something,” said Rusty Lawrence, chairman of the authority’s Finance and Audit Committee.

The Predators agreed to look at the idea but said they deserve to get the great majority of the revenue because they would take all of the risk in remodeling part of the arena.

“If this flops, we’re a half-million dollars in the hole, and maybe more,” said Ed Lang, the hockey club’s president of business operations. “If the city wants to take some of the risk, great. But the idea is that we’re trying to improve the building and increase revenue.”

The Predators want to turn two club-level sections into a 130-seat area for “high net worth individuals” and small and mid-sized companies, which would pay $20,000 per year per seat to attend all events at Sommet Center.

If the area sells out, Lawrence said, the Predators should net about $2 million a year after paying for renovations and other expenses. The team’s projections show the city making an additional $154,000 a year starting in the second year, 2010-11, based on sales tax, rent, concessions and seat use charges.

Lawrence said the city has already done its part to help the Predators by building the arena. But Lang said the city built the facility for itself in the mid-1990s, before it knew the Predators would be the main tenant.

The Predators’ sister company, Powers Management, runs the arena under a contract with Metro.

In other business, the Tennessee Titans said they would have about 150 TV sets to give the city next month after replacing them with flat-screen, high-definition TVs on the club level at LP Field. Sports authority members said they would look for other Metro agencies, like hospitals or schools, that might be able to use them.

And all the above story does is give us the excuse to play this...

HS Football Coach Held At Gunpoint

((HT: Memphis Commercial Appeal/Jason Smith))

Douglass High School head football coach Darryl Montgomery says he'll forever be indebted to them.

Montgomery was speaking Friday afternoon of Douglass assistant football coach Marcus "Doc" Holliday and the school's athletic director and boys basketball coach, Ted Anderson.

Four days earlier, the two men had convinced 16-year-old Douglass football player Marquette Wallace to lower his 9mm Glock after Wallace had pointed it at them during a weightlifting session at the school.

"All I can tell you is Marcus 'Doc' Holliday and coach Ted Anderson did a tremendous job of preventing something that could have been devastating at New Douglass High School," Montgomery said. "It could have been a catastrophe."

Wallace has been charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon on school property. He pulled the gun on Holliday and Anderson after Holliday had instructed him to put on a white football jersey to show he had reason to be in the school.

Wallace refused, electing instead to put on a red shirt, which, according to the police report, was an indication of gang affiliation. He then reached into a bundle of clothes for the gun, chambered a round and aimed the gun at Holliday and Anderson.

Montgomery was on the field with the rest of the team when the incident occurred.

"I had the majority of the kids on the field," he said. "I sent the skill (players) up to lift weights."

Police didn't find Wallace until Tuesday afternoon, when he answered the door at 1691 Ash. He has been detained without bond at Juvenile Court.

"He was going to be a senior," Montgomery said of Wallace. "His mama had passed. He was living with his granddaddy, and we were trying our best, you know, to take care of him.

"We do what we can for all the kids out here, because we know how it is out here in North Memphis. We try to be not only a coach, but a father figure and a big-brother figure to all the kids."

Less than two years ago, Montgomery was an assistant coach and teacher at Mitchell High when a 17-year-old sophomore student shot a 19-year-old senior three times during gym class in the school's cafeteria.

After the shooting, the sophomore student handed the pistol to Montgomery.

"I was the one who took the gun," he said.

Montgomery said his Douglass players are "back on track" following Monday's incident.

"I just want the kids to remain positive. It was a freak incident," he said. "We've just got to go forward.

"I just want to commend 'Coach A' and 'Coach Doc.' They did a tremendous job, a tremendous job. I'm forever grateful and thankful for what they did."

Here's the coverage from WMC-TV in Memphis. Lori Brown has the Memphis "Exclusive"

HIgh School FB Coach Guilty On Fraud, Money Laundering

((HT: OC Register/Srisavasdi))

An ex-Mater Dei assistant football coach and former Tennessee Titans player pleaded guilty today to charges related to a bogus loan program that defrauded nine individuals of more than $5 million, federal prosecutors said.

Reed Kyle Diehl, a Cota de Caza resident who was arrested in March 2008, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.

Prosecutors said Diehl told victims involved in construction projects in Mexico that he could secure multimillion-dollar lines of credit.

Diehl will be sentenced Sept. 28 and faces a statutory maximum of 70 years in prison, Mrozek added.

The plea agreement states that Diehl told investors he would pool their money with that of other investors and make hard-money loans to businesses and individuals. The investors would then profit from a supposed rate of return.

But, the loans were not secured and no rate of return was earned, according to the agreement.

"Instead, much of the investors' funds were used by defendant to make payments of interest and/or principal to earlier investors, or were withdrawn by defendant's lifestyle and activities,'' the filing said.

Six investors were duped out of a total of $810,000 in Diehl's promissory note program, while four borrowers lost $4.2 million in Diehl's line of credit program, according to the agreement.

Diehl spent one year on the Mater Dei coaching staff and briefly played for the Titans after being an All-Pac-10 player at U.C. Berkeley. He also played football at Mater Dei.

Blackhawks Shake Up Front Office

((HT: TSN))

The Chicago Blackhawks have replaced general manager Dale Tallon ((pictured, thanks David Banks/Getty)) with assistant general manager Stan Bowman.

The 36-year Bowman, who is the son of Hall of Fame coach and Blackhawks senior advisor Scotty Bowman has been with the club for nine seasons.

Tallon was reassigned and named a senior advisor of hockey operations.

"I have been with this organization in several different capacities since coming over as a player in 1973 and although my position has changed, my goals have not," Tallon said in a statement. "I've seen Stan come up through our ranks and I'm confident he is the right person to step in. This is what is best for the Chicago Blackhawks."

Tallon and the Blackhawks recently took heat over the off-season for failing to properly send free agent offers to several players by the deadline. All of the players re-signed with the Blackhawks.

The incident was an embarrassing one for the club and the NHLPA filed a grievance with the league, but it was not believed to be a major factor in the change.

Tallon became GM in 2005 and helped the club draft players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. With a crop of solid young talent, the Blackhawks showed steady improvement over the past few years.

Last season, Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The young and skilled lineup made it all the way to Western Conference final, but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in five games.

Former FSU Star Accused Of Assaulting Wife, Daughter

((HT: St. Pete Times/Thalji))

Hassan Jones, a former NFL wide receiver who starred at Clearwater High School and Florida State University, is accused of menacing his wife and daughter with a golf club and assaulting his daughter.

Jones, 45, was arrested Monday night and is being held without bail in the Pinellas County Jail on charges of aggravated assault and felony domestic battery.

Jones yanked his daughter out of the driver's seat of her vehicle by the arm around 10:13 p.m., according to police reports. He dragged her across concrete and into a residence, sat on top of her and held her by the throat, police said. The daughter was freed when her mother knocked Jones off her, police said.

They said Jones grabbed a Callaway Big Bertha driver, waved it at his wife and daughter and screamed that he was going to strike each of them in the head. He also hit walls near the victims with the club, the police reports said.

Jones was drafted out of FSU by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL draft. He spent eight seasons in the league before retiring in 1993.

In 1992 he was arrested on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. Police said he tried to board a flight at Tampa International Airport with an unloaded 9mm pistol and clip inside a gun case in his carry-on. Jones told police he forgot it was there. The disposition of the case was unavailable.

Jones was also accused of assaulting his wife in 1996, when he was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. He completed counseling and probation. In 2006 he was adjudicated guilty of DUI and lost his driver's license for six months.

Barrie Needs $10M To NHL By Friday

((HT: TSN))

It looks like Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner Len Barrie ((pictured, thanks Bruce Bennett/Getty)) will have to put his money where his mouth is.

According to a report in the St. Petersburg Times, Barrie was told by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that he had a deadline set for this Friday to have $10 million to prove that he can continue funding the club.

By the way, Damian Cristodero's piece is here...

The money would reportedly be used to cover the Lightning's financial losses for the current fiscal year as well as provide a slush fund in case more money is needed.

The Times reports that while the consequences for not meeting the deadline are unclear, it is possible that Bettman could take away Barrie's rights to manage the team.

As it stands now, co-owner Oren Koules acts as the Chief Executive Officer and league governor for the team, but Barrie's input is required for all major personnel decisions.

Bettman called a meeting with the two owners and general manager Brian Lawton on June 23 in an attempt to try to solve the power struggle that has developed between the two owners who are at odds in how to best build the team, both philosophically and financially.