Yeah, We're Making A Political Statement Here... Oil Cam From The Gulf...

Watch live streaming video from wkrg_oil_spill at livestream.com

First, thanks to our friends at WKRG-TV...

The HQ has joined the rest of the planet in thinking BP Oil CEO Tony Heyward takes the cake for being an unadulterated ass of the infinite degree...

We're thinking of sending a plaque or something...

The new sound from him... meteorologists are saying the oil isn't all going to the surface. It'll hang down at the bottom of the Gulf as well, destroying newly-discovered sea life and everything it touches...

Heyward: "The oil is on the surface," Hayward said. "Oil has a specific gravity that's about half that of water. It wants to get to the surface because of the difference in specific gravity."

Obviously, he had a heart-to-heart with it as it was leaving the pipe...

Here's the latest helicopter trip from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
((HT: WWL-TV New Orleans))


The HQ solution: Name Lt. General ((Ret.)) Russell Honore in charge of the national operation and give every Louisiana resident five minutes of free shots at Heyward. The state needs to do things without waiting for national permission.

And when you get Jindal and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser together, you get what you need to hear...
((HT: WWL-TV))


Jackson Square in New Orleans became the center of a protest against BP and the Federal Government. Sandra Gonzalez was there...
((HT: WGNO-TV/ABC 26 New Orleans))
 

Now there's talk that BP "staged" the clean-up in Jefferson Parish just in time for the President to show up for his fly-over... and left just after President Obama did.
Councilman Chris Roberts addressed the idea on Fox8 in New Orleans...
((HT: Fox8live.com))

God Bless America

This is a day of remembrance and respect...

Yeah, there are baseball games and cookouts. There are fireworks displays and parades. There are those who have lost. There are those separated from their loved ones, and there are those who are lucky enough to be with those who have returned.

Under a merciful ((insert divine being here)), some have returned home without a physical wound. But the wounds may be in other places not found with a scalpel or an X-ray machine.

On this day, of all days, we should remember all those who have served or are serving to keep us free from those who would do us harm- and those who will do us harm without a second thought. And we all should make a point to thank them when we see them- regardless of what their experience did to them. It was that exact experience that keeps us all how we are.

Enjoy...
((HT: CBC/NHL/HockeyHaven76))

Jeff Burton Does Not Like Kyle Busch Anymore

As older brother Kurt won the sport's longest race of the year, younger brother Kyle was getting an earful from someone who doesn't normally get that hot and bothered...

Here's what happened late in Charlotte... with Mike, Larry, and Darrell...
((HT: NASCAR on FOX))


Jeff Burton: "First he said he didn't hit me. Then he said he got put there. Then he said he had to go. He was trying to defend himself and what he was saying wasn't making sense. That's OK. He was upset because I was yelling at him. He didn't mean to do it, but he's real aggressive and I don't mind that, but like I said, when it affects me, then I have a problem."

Kyle:"I said, 'Look, man, (it's the) last restart of the race. You have to go -- make some bold moves. It wasn't me that made it three-wide, it was your teammate.'

"Have a chat with him."

So, when's the next race on the circuit...???
File this one under: Not To Be Forgotten...

Dario Takes the 500 Under Yellow... Still Counts As A Win

Dario Franchitti survived the last lap with a huge crash to win at the Indianapolis 500 Sunday.

Franchitti held on with 1.6 gallons of fuel left in the tank...

"Still running," the winner told his crew over the radio as he crossed the finish line.

The victory made Franchitti's boss, Chip Ganassi, the first owner to win Indy and NASCAR's Daytona 500 in the same year ((Jamie McMurray)).

Here's the last lap where Mike Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay caused a lot of a stir when they collected each other and caused a yellow-flagged finish...
((HT: ABC/IndyCar Series))


Conway complained of a left leg injury following the wreck. He was immediately taken to Methodist Hospital for evaluation. He was flown because of the heavy post-race traffic.

Woman Claims Reggie Wayne Files Charges To Cover Up Affair

((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis via Brooks))

Colts star Reggie Wayne is currently hip-deep in a credit card fraud investigation involving a woman who claims she became a target only after her alleged affair with him was made public.

Natasha McKenzie said Indy city detectives told her she was being investigated for stealing Reggie Wayne's Huntington Bank debit card and charging nearly $100,000 on it.

McKenzie says, however, that everything was cool and there was no fraud on the account. She sent thank you notes and kept everything on the up-and-up...

Heather MacWilliams caught up with McKenzie...
 

All the HQ really needs to say here is : "Oops..."

But anticipate McKenzie getting arrested, as does her lawyer currently...

Evans sends Jackson back to the movies....

Ultimate Fighting Championships had what was perhaps their most hyped match ever this past Saturday.

The fighters, Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson fought for the light heavyweight championship at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas.

Evans got the better of Jackson, who had a feature role in the new A-Team movie remake, outpointing him and getting the unanimous decision win.

More from the Las Vegas Sun RIGHT HERE

((Rashad Evans with the takedown//Courtesy: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun))

There had been a lot of "Pre-fight" hype leading up to this fight as both fighters, at least publicly expressed a lot of "Dislike" to each other. However, aside from an intense pre-fight staredown, it was a close, hard-fought fight and both fighters expressed nothing but respect for each other at the conclusion.

Wittels Hit Streak At 53

Garrett Wittels used a headfirst slide to keep his hitting streak alive.

Wittels pushed his hitting streak to 53 games, five away from Robin Ventura's NCAA Division I record, with an infield single Saturday in the eighth inning of FIU's game against Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

FIU won their game 11-9 and clinched a spot in Sunday's title game.

"One of the hardest balls I ever hit," said Wittels, who finished 1 for 5. "And just out of the excitement, I decided to dive headfirst into the base. I didn't even know if their guy had a play. I don't even know if there was a throw."

The four-letter caught up with him...
((HT: ESPN))

Morales Breaks Leg During HR Celebration

As Jerry Reed's character, said to Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit..."

"Hoss, you're not gonna believe this..."
But the HQ figured it would happen eventually...

Kendry Morales fractured his lower left leg while celebrating his game-ending grand slam that gave the Los Angeles Angels a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Morales is scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday. He was leading the club in batting average (.290), home runs (11), total bases (94) and RBI (39).

He leaped toward home plate- as most in his place do- and landed awkwardly- as most in his place don't...

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, but he'll be gone a little longer than that... here's the incident/accident...
((HT: MLB on Fox/AybarAngelsGuerrero))

Game 1 Goes To Hawks By 1, 6-5

If NBC was worried about offensive output being a problem as a correlation to ratings, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals gave the Peacock a bit of a breather where that's concerned.

Flyers goalie Michael Leighton had the three shutouts in the Eastern Conference Final. In Game 1, he gave up 5 goals on 20 shots in just over 35 minutes before he was replaced by Brian Boucher.

The game had four lead changes and 5 tying goals as the Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup Finals game since Game 5 of the 1973 series 6-5 over Philadelphia.

Let's take the evening chronologically...
Here's the anthem no one heard... thanks to nhl.com


The Hawks' Tomas Kopecky was in the lineup only because of an injury.

A healthy scratch for the last five games, Kopecky was playing because Andrew Ladd's shoulder injury meant he had to sit. He took Ladd's spot on the third line with Kris Versteeg and Dave Bolland. They combined for the game-winner with 11:35 left in regulation.

Here's the highlights, thanks to the NHL on NBC...


And here's Marian Hossa and Troy Brouwer, thanks to our friends at the NHL...


How did the Hawks' Kris Versteeg sum up the night...???
"It was a lot of fun. And, I almost had a heart attack."

Game 2 is Monday night in Chicago...

Breaking: Hallady equals Perfection....

***BREAKING NEWS****

We now have 20 perfect games that have been pitched in the long history of Major League Baseball.

Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies in number 20 after he threw a "Perfecto" against the Florida Marlins on a warm Saturday night in South Florida.

More from Philly.com RIGHT HERE

((Roy Halladay tonight//Courtesy: cbc.ca))

He had to be perfect to beat Marlins ace Josh Johnson and 2 relief pitchers who held the Phillies to 1 run on 7 hits tonight.

We tip our hat to Halladay who has pretty much dominated National League Hitters upon his arrival this season.

Here's your postgame, thanks to our friends at CSNPhilly...

RIP Dennis Hopper...Coolest of the cool....

Well, they say it always happens in 3's. Dennis Hopper, one of the hippest, trippiest, coolest actors in modern times passed away today at the age of 74.

Hopper, who in Sports circles will be remembered for his role in the movie Hoosiers and in movie circles for oh...so many more great films lost a tough battle with cancer. He had been ill since even before announcing publicly that he had been battling prostrate cancer.

More from the LA Times RIGHT HERE

((Dennis Hopper//Courtesy: Sky News))

Here's a guy who made a living being the tough guy, the rogue, the epitome of the counter-culture movement.

From his introduction to pop culture with the movie "Easy Rider" through "Apocolypse Now", "Speed" and so many other movies, he was the guy everyone was drawn to. He wasn't the over-the top Jack Nicholson guy, no...he was the calm, cool, quiet and direct guy who kept your eyes and attention riveted whenever he was on the screen.

He apparently passed away at his home in the Venice area in California with his family and close friends nearby.

Enjoy one of Hopper's truly great movie moments from the movie Apocolypse Now. Thanks You Tube:

The Wrong Adam Jones....

Sometimes it isn't so great to have a common name. Just ask Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones.

Apparently sometime last night, Jones, who was in transit with his team to Toronto to face the Blue Jays, was detained at the airport in Canada.

The reason, his name showed up on a database as someone with a conviction to his name, something that Canadian authorities are now detaining people entering there country for. We aren't saying, nor is he, that he was mistaken for the ever popular Adam "Pacman" Jones, but just do the math.

More from Baltimore Sun RIGHT HERE

Overall, this will be just a "blip" on the radar screen, but it is somewhat interesting. We don't quite get how Canada can not allow people who've done something that they feel is a major offense, which might not be considered as such in their own country, but it is their country we suppose.

For those unfamiliar with Baltimore's Adam Jones, check out this video. Thanks You Tube:

It Begins...NCAA Looking into Eric Bledsoe and Kentucky

You knew that it was only a matter of time. The only question was which player was going to get it started.

The NCAA has started an investigation of Eric Bledsoe, who spent this past season, his one and only, at Kentucky. The issue, as of right now doesn't implicate Coach John Calipari or the University of Kentucky, though it raises questions about signing kids who have zero chance of ever staying in College.

More from the New York Times RIGHT HERE

((Eric Bledsoe, with John Wall and John Calipari//Courtesy: MJ Masotti/Reuters-NYTimes))

Unfortunately, none of these potential violations are surprising. It's no secret that College Basketball lives in its own universe where the rules don't apply...unless you get caught. It also brings up the even dirtier underside of High School Basketball, where if a kid is identified as being an elite player, whatever personal flaws or issues that he has will be taken care of by someone.

That's enough espousing the lack of virtue in basketball. Here is some video of young Mr. Bledsoe playing ball. Courtesy: FoxSports/You Tube:

Did A Dolphin Get Special Treatment After Arrest...?

((HT: WSVN-TV Miami))

The Broward County ((FL)) Sheriff's Office is trying to figure out whether or not they gave "special treatment" to Miami Dolphins DE Phillip Merling after his release on bond after an aggravated battery charge back on Wednesday. Merling is accused of hitting his pregnant girlfriend at their home.

Everyone, normally, goes through the front door upon exit. Merling, however, was taken around to a side door and escorted home by a BSO deputy in a marked police car once he posted his $15,000 bond.

Sufficed to say some folks, including the sheriff, are slightly more than angry if this was the case.

Derek Hayward got to stand in front of the jail...


Merling was at Dolphins mini-camp Friday going through his standard toe-touchies and stretchings. Head Coach Tony Sparano is deferring to the league until all the information is in on the charge.

Stunner there, but the HQ can see a suspension in Merling's future...

Wittels Streak Hits 51

Florida International's Garrett Wittels hit streak is now at 51.

He singled in the first inning off South Alabama's Garrett Harris Friday, moving within seven games of matching Robin Ventura for the NCAA Division I record.

The four-letter's Michelle Bonner talked to the man at the top of the ladder, Robin Ventura...
((HT: ESPN/Sun Belt Conference/JumpTV))

The Buffalo Blitzers... No Joke...

FC Buffalo is one of those new soccer teams out there, and the HQ won't lie, there's a little bit of World Cup Fever going on in anticipation of the event in South Africa.

They were having a contest to determine their nickname... an online poll... all that stuff that would make a good impact...

Here's one of the finalists before the name was made official...
((HT: CNN/Jere614))


Here's their website, and we can't wait for the mascot unveiling...

Do Not Dangle Your Porkchop In Public

((HT: YES Network via Deadspin))
There are the hazards of reporting and then there are hazards of reporting...

The YES Network's Kimberly Jones experienced a new level of hazard when she was alerting the masses of all the cool food at the Minnesota Twins new ballpark.

Her hazard... beer-swilling Yankee fan...


Whaddya wanna bet she really wanted to take what's left of the porkchop and poke the Yankee fan's eye out...???

Bonus... and Michael Kay was right...

A Good, Post-Season Base Brawl

((HT: WCIV-TV Charleston))

Jeff Melillo of the Charleston Post and Courier got a good seat for this one- a Southern Conference battle between Elon and The Citadel...

Elon's Head Coach, Mike Kennedy, summed it up this way:
"It's a black eye for our university and probably for our league," he said. "It's two great teams playing extremely hard with a lot on the line, both playing for postseason play. It's unfortunate that it took place.

"I was very angry at (Elon players). We preach to them discipline and keeping your composure, and we didn't. Neither club did.

"It was hard. Your assistants are trying to pull people off, and every time you get somebody off, something else happens. It doesn't matter how important the game is, you've got to keep your composure."

The short version: Ninth inning, 3-2 lead for Elon... hard slide at the plate...
People discuss... punches thrown... Citadel Head Coach hurt a little bit..
Citadel wins in extras 6-3...

Here's a good 40 seconds of fun...

Robby Wells Sues Savannah State

Savannah State University's ex-football coach says in a federal lawsuit that the historically black college forced him to resign because he's white and is engaged to marry a black woman.

Robby Wells' lawsuit accuses the school of racial discrimination when they forced him out of his job at the first of the year- a month after he signed a one-year contract extension.

Wells was hired as Savannah State's first white football coach in 2007 and coached for two seasons- 2008 and 2009.

The lawsuit says the college's vice president of administration told Wells that alumni would never support him because he's white and that people in Savannah would be unable to accept Wells' engagement to a black woman.

Savannah State University had no comment at present...
All the above story does is give the HQ the chance to repost this interview Jemele Hill did with Wells before the lawsuit was made public...
((HT: ESPN))


Here's Wells release when he was fired/resigned...

Gary Coleman Dies At 42

Gary Coleman has passed away at the age of 42...

The HQ knows it'd be too easy to throw some "Diff'rent Strokes" material in here, so we went sportsy...

First, here's a 1979 NBC promo with Coleman as the Manager of the San Diego Padres in the "Kid From Left Field..."
((HT: seanmc1114))


And then, here's his first at-bat from his time with the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League from two years ago. Naturally, he got tossed for having too much pine tar on his bat...which was also corked with super balls...

Insert pun here...
((HT: MaynardGMallard))


Enjoy...

8 Charges Levelled Against UConn By NCAA

((HT: WTNH-TV New Haven))

The University of Connecticut says the NCAA found eight violations in the men's basketball program.

The alleged violations include improper phone calls, text messages to recruits, and the ever-popular and nebulous "improper benefits." Coach Jim Calhoun was cited for failing to "promote an atmosphere of compliance."

Whatever that means...

The school released the infractions letter it received from the NCAA following their 15-month investigation. UConn is supposd to appear before them in October to respond to the charges.

Most of the issues center around the recruting of Nate Miles last year. Miles ended up getting in trouble with the law and was expelled from UConn. But the claim from the NCAA is that a team manager paid for meals, transportation and hotel rooms for Miles before he signed with the school.

In the meantime, two UConn assistants, assistant coach Patrick Sellers and Director of Basketball Operations Beau Archibald, agreed to step down in light of the allegations.

Here's Coach Calhoun talking about what the NCAA has charged...

BREAKING NEWS: Tour of Missouri Cancelled

Organizers of the Tour of Missouri have canceled the 2010 bicycle race after state tourism officials declined to help fund it.

Tour of Missouri chairman Mike Weiss said that organizers pulled the plug on the race after Governor Jay Nixon's administration refused to support it.

The race, started in 2007, was considered one of the top five cycling events outside Europe and attracted riders including Alberto Contador, George Hincapie and Levi Leipheimer to its peloton. Christian Vande Velde from Team Garmin was, actually, a midwesterner that participated as well.

The 2008 race attracted 434,000 watchers and the state of Missouri estimated a return of just under $30 million in economic impact for their $1.5 million investment two years ago.

Earlier Thursday, a budget committee for the Missouri Tourism Commission endorsed a $13.4 million spending plan that included no state money for the race.

Oh well...

Here's what the Tour looked like back in 2008... when it was better funded...
((HT: TeamKinder))

Atlanta Spirit's Owner Gearon Fined By NBA

Yeah, he commented on LeBron as well...

From the NBA their ownselves...

Atlanta Hawks owner Michael Gearon has been fined $25,000 for public comments made in violation of the NBA’s anti-tampering rules, it was announced today by Joel Litvin, NBA President of League and Basketball Operations.

The AJC's Kristi Swartz reminds us of the comments...

"If somebody came to us tomorrow and said you can have LeBron for max money and it puts you in the luxury tax, I’d do it in a a heartbeat. But am I going to do that for Ilgauskas? Am I going to do it for Jermaine O’Neal? I don’t think so..."

The joke the HQ is hearing is that the NBA only fined Gearon $25-grand because that's all Atlanta Spirit could afford to pay...

Wittels Hit Streak Now At 50

Florida International's Garrett Wittels hit streak is now at 50 games after a third-inning single against Western Kentucky in a Sun Belt Conference tournament elimination game.

Wittels moved within eight games Thursday of matching the NCAA Division I record of Robin Ventura's 58, set in 1987.

FIU beat Western Kentucky 7-3 in the double-elimination tournament, and FIU will play another elimination game Friday, needing to win that one to remain in the tournament.

Under NCAA rules, Wittels' streak would carry over into 2011 if his season ends.

Here's the single...
((HT: Sun Belt Conference/JumpTV))

Hawk Has Issues With Joe West

Joe West, as an umpire, is really trying to make himself look like the center of attention- which umpires, really, aren't supposed to do...

Mark Buehrle had seven balks called on him in the last five years- two in one season alone...

He had two called on him yesterday by West... who is quickly reaffirming his status as "joke on display..." as West tossed Ozzie Guillen and Buehrle in the game at the Jake...

Hawk Harrelson and Steve Stone let him know how they really felt...
((HT: MouthpieceSports1/WGN/MLB))


Then, Ozzie was asked about the situation...
Classic Ozzie...

UPDATE: Thrashers have an interested buyer... Not Rollins After All... So Far...

Yeah, you read the title correctly. It appears as though the thought of the Atlanta Thrashers being sold isn't so crazy after all.

The good news for folks in Atlanta, the one guy who has said publicly now that he would be interested in buying them, wants to keep them in Atlanta. According to a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the head of Lightning Pictures in Hollywood, Stephen Rollins, has expressed an interest in purchasing the team. Rollins grew up in Atlanta.

More from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

((Thrashers "Unleash the Fury"//Courtesy: Wallpaperpimper.com))

It appears that the Atlanta Spirit group which currently owns the team is exploring its options. The much bally-hooed option that would move the team to Winnipeg is looking less and less likely, considering that Winnipeg may be the fallback option for the Phoenix Coyotes.

We will keep an eye out on this story.

In the meantime, enjoy a classic Thrashers enforcer Eric Boulton fight. This time it is against Shawn Thornton of the Boston Bruins.

Thanks HockeyFights.com and You Tube:

FRIDAY UPDATE via Howard Bloom: The AJC's Chris Vivlamore is now reporting Rollins is not one of the three groups in current contact with Atlanta Spirit. Bruce Levenson and Don Waddell both confirmed this to the paper.

Rollins tells the paper that he is part of a "multi-city financial entity" that is set to purchase a majority interest in an NHL team.

“If the opportunity would present itself for me to participate in ownership of the Atlanta Thrashers I would be more than excited,” Rollins said. “I would be humbled with a partnership at any level.”

As in the case with Thomson-Chipman and Winnipeg, saying nothing or denying everything is, seemingly, the way to go...

Here's One Way To Prejudice A Jury Pool

Do an "exclusive" interview with a local station after a judge denied a "change of venue" motion and just before a trial...

Karen Cunagin Sypher did with WDRB-TV/Fox41's Bennett Haeberle as they get closer to trial in Louisville...

She's charged with trying to extort money from Rick Pitino. She says she gets "chills" thinking about the possibility of going to prison, and she also says she has turned down repeated plea deals from prosecutors.

Sypher says she is prepared for her trial, which is set for July 26th in U.S. District Court in Louisville, where she knows it could end with a trip to prison.

It's been widely known – though not reported by members of the press – that Sypher was offered plea deals to avoid a criminal trial.

Here's the exchange between Haeberle and Cunagin Sypher...

DEVELOPING STORY: Ex-Coach Awarded $1.2M In Tubby Smith Case

((HT: WCCO-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul))

A man Tubby Smith once considered hiring as an assistant coach has won a lawsuit against Smith and the University of Minnesota after he claimed he was offered a job but ultimately was never hired.

Jimmy Williams has been awarded ((officially)) $1,247,293 by a Hennepin County ((MN)) judge. Williams was suing Smith and the University of Minnesota after he said Smith offered him a $200,000 a year job as an assistant coach and then, under pressure from the University's athletic director, changed his mind.

Williams, according to Rochelle Olsen's piece in the Star-Tribune, says WIlliams was chasing $1.7-million.

The judge determined that Smith did not use "reasonable care" when offering Williams the job and that he was relying on the representation of Smith as a head coach.

Smith testified on Monday ((video below)) that said the job offer was never final and that Athletic Director Joel Maturi vetoed Williams because Williams had been guilty of NCAA infractions 30 years earlier when he worked at the University. Williams was actually guilty on two separate occasions...

Williams maintains Smith offered the job and that's why he quit his job at Oklahoma State.

The judge did said Williams was "harmed by the actions of the University of Minnesota and Smith."

Esme Murphy was in the newsroom for Tubby's testimony...


Look for the university to appeal... post haste...

Coach Fired For Sexting Pictures To Girlfriend...

((HT: FirstCoastNews via Brooks))

Some of you may have done this in the past, and the HQ isn't going to judge you one way or the other- it's your phone and it's your life...

We all may send cute, suggestive messages to our better halves about our emotions. But how many of you have gone a little over the line thinking that only the two of you will know what's going on and NO ONE will ever see it...

But then there's momma...

Jacksonville-Mandarin High Head Football Coach Jason Robinson sent "inappropriate pictures" to his girlfriend and the better-half's mother sent the pix to the school board.

Gene Frenette's column in the Florida Times-Union raises the legitimate questions.

Here's the First Coast News report...


Frenette is right... not all the facts are in and there seems to be plenty of blame to go around. Robinson says it was cell phone to cell phone- no school equipment was used. The school, apparently, fired him through an e-mail and not direct contact.

Apparently, the girl's mother has disapproved of the relationship. Robinson is 32, the girlfriend is 20. And this gave the mother an easy opening.

One every public figure- regardless of degree- should be aware of from this moment forward... again...

What's It Like Doing Something From The Start...??

The HQ could answer that, but we're really talking about football...

New high school, new challenges, new everything...

Here's how one school is going at it in one of the most competitive environments out there... the state of Florida and Duval County... with a well-known coach...

Brent Martineau has the story of Atlantic Coast High School...
((HT: ActionNewsJax))

BoSox Beat Rays, Ejections A Plenty

((HT: tampabay.com))

Jon Lester held the Rays to one hit over six innings last night in a 2-0 victory, the Red Sox's second in a row over Tampa.

Lester was getting a generous strike zone from Bob Davidson, but the first pitch he threw to Carl Crawford in the bottom of the fifth inning set everyone off.

Davidson called the pitch a strike, which was good enough for an argument from Crawford and then Rays manager Joe Maddon. Both were ejected for arguing.

Crawford had been called out looking earlier in the game...

"I know why I was kicked out, but I had a good time when I was out there," said Maddon, who said there was a "wide strike zone" throughout the game.

Here's the locker room... just in time for the two Rays to get suspension offers from the league office...

Squirrel versus Target Field

The joys of outdoor baseball. The Minnesota Twins can now say that they've had a game interrupted by a varmint.

The varmint in question, a squirrel that popped onto the field during the 4th inning of yesterday's game against the New York Yankees

Check out the video: (You Tube)

This gives me the opportunity to showcase my favorite "Squirrel" moment...from Doug, the dog from the movie up: (More You Tube)

Regulators Got Tickets, Did Drugs On The Job In The Gulf

((HT: CNN))

Yeah, we know this is a news story...

But with an entire ecosystem going down the tubes in Louisiana, the HQ figured you might want to know about your government at work... or not at work...

Federal inspectors overseeing oil drilling in the Gulf accepted meals and tickets to sporting events from companies they monitored, according to the Interior Department's inspector general.

Some accepted tickets to the 2005 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. One inspector told an office clerk, "Everyone has gotten some sort of gift before at some point," while another admitted that it was okay that they went because they were a big LSU fan...

This was the game held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta because of Hurricane Katrina...

An inspector in the Minerals Management Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, conducted inspections of four offshore platforms while negotiating a job with the company. Others let oil and gas company workers fill out their inspection forms in pencil, with the inspectors writing over those entries in ink before turning them in.

Let's just say that the MMS is at the center of a big joke right now that has nothing- and everything- to do with British Petroleum...

Brian Todd was on patrol in Washington, DC

Kansas...and other schools have a Ticket Brokering Problem

This is a very interesting story to read. The excellent investigative reporting staff at Yahoo Sports has uncovered a ticket brokering scheme that netted someone in the Kansas Athletic Department and the father of a Jayhawks athlete a ton of money.

The quick version of the story is that the scalping business was apparently orchestrated by 2 guys who are "Behind the Scenes" college basketball power brokers, David and Dana Pump.

Check out the excellent story by Jason Kind, Charles Robinson and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports. Follow the link RIGHT HERE

The Pump brothers are apparently a part of the seedy underside of college basketball and part of an issue that the NCAA has chosen to ignore rather than deal with. They better deal with it quickly, or the government will be doing it for them.

Jon Lovitz sued by Dodgers...Can't make this stuff up!

Yes, the headline is correct. Apparently actor/comedian Jon Lovitz has been sued by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lovitz was served for failure to pay for his season tickets. The amount he owes the team...$95,400.

More from DailyNews.com RIGHT HERE

((Jon Lovitz probably won't be doing this anytime soon//Courtesy: Getty Images))

According to the story, the team has already cancelled his "Ticket Agreement" for this year but still wants its money. Perhaps team owner Frank McCourt will use it to help with his soon to be coming alimony payments.

We find this pretty darn funny partially because Lovitz really hasn't done much over the past oh...10 years to warrant his celebrity status and in part because despite that, he was still willing to dish out that kind of money for his Dodger seats. (Our opinion)

Either way, this is just kind of interesting.

For those unfamiliar with Lovitz, here he is in funnier days playing "The Devil" in an old SNL Skit. Thanks Hulu.com:

Philadelphia's "Throw Up" Kid pleads guilty....

One of our favorite and grossest stories of the past couple of months has reached a fitting end today.

Matthew Clemmens, the 21 year-old who "Vomited" on or towards an off-duty police officer and his kids at a Philadelphia Phillies game back on April 14th, pled guilty this afternoon. Mr. Clemmens was charged with several different offenses, not including the one to humanity and had a couple of others dismissed.

More from Philly.com RIGHT HERE

Clemmens will have a sentencing hearing on July 30th. While he doesn't necessarily need to rot in jail for a long period of time, he needs to, along with the ridicule heaped upon him...fully understand the classlessness and stupidity of his behavior and actions.

Check out the TV Version of this story, from Myfoxphilly.com:

Polar Super Bowl! Big Game to Big Apple....

Yes, that's right. The self-proclaimed media/social/sports epicenter of the universe will actually really be that for a week in 2014.

The "New" and improved Meadowlands stadium will host the "Big Game" that the general public only gets to see on TV. The NFL "Group" of owners announced today that the Giants and Jets will have the opportunity to host what would be considered the "1st" Outdoor cold-weather Super Bowl.

The New York Daily News has more RIGHT HERE

((New Meadowlands Super Bowl Photo Illustration//Courtesy: NY Daily News))

This, quite honestly was not much of a surprise. The league has made a concerted effort to award their "Marquee" game to teams and/or towns that are either (a) in warm weather locations or (b) just built a billion dollar, taxpayer funded palace.

We look forward to the national group of writers who traditionally cover this game and find even the smallest thing to bitch about in the host city. They have complained about such things as; Jacksonville being too small...and cold and the lack of transportation (taxi's) in pretty much every city they've been in.

Yes, there has been some consternation about the "Game" being ruined by the weather and potential for a "Blizzard". So what? Deal with it. That is what the league wants and quite honestly, seeing a game played on a field with a foot of snow on it might be kind of fun.

In the meantime, enjoy one of my favorite snow game highlights of all-time. The Thanksgiving Day game when Leon Lett cost Dallas a game against Miami on a snow-covered field. Thanks You Tube:

Lightning Get Their Yzerman....

Go ahead Hockey fans...let's just say it together....Steve Yzerman, General Manager. Only he won't be the GM of the team that he has been associated with for 27 years, the Detroit Red Wings.

No, Stevie Y, today was named the GM....of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Check out more from TBO.com RIGHT HERE

((Stevie Y//Courtesy: Dave Sandford/Getty Images/TSN.ca))

Yzerman has been out of hockey for a few years now. He was the VP of Hockey Operations for the Red Wings and he put together this years Canadian Olympic Hockey team. He does have some idea of what he is doing.

This is also the Lightning's owner, Jeff Vinik, putting a stamp on the team that he now owns. With the talent in Tampa already, it should be very interesting to see how it will play out.

Enjoy the Lightning's New GM's Hall of Fame induction Ceremony from 2009. Thanks You Tube:

And here's some sound from the presser, thanks to our friends at Fox 2 in Detroit
((HT: MyFoxDetroit.com))

Stanley Cup Fever, Chicago Has Caught It

Strange things happen to fans when it's been a long, long time since their beloved team has won a championship. For the fans of the Chicago Blackhawks it's been 49 years since the Blackhawks skated with the Stanley Cup.

The Hawks have a shot to end that title drought now that Chicago has survived and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Blackhawk fan Joe Jammer put on the war paint, the head dress and banged his little drum to did his best impression of Big Chief Wanna Winda Cup singing the Blackhawk Battle Cry, Let's Go Hawks.

(Thanks Chicago Sun Times/Sun-Times Media)

Michigan Self-Reports And Self-Punishes Football

Is this like that old trick bigger kids used to play on us when we were little...???
Grabbing your arm and popping yourself with it...

Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself...

At least, that's what the University of Michigan did with their football team Tuesday.

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman says the sanction show that "we have said all along, we take full responsibility for knowing and following NCAA rules, and we will address concerns, quickly and head on. We believe the sanctions we have imposed fit the nature of the violations."

Sure...

Here's what they found out about themselves... and how they punished themselves in bold... the release is from their own selves...

The U-M exceeded the limit on the number of coaches allowed. Michigan has reduced the number of quality-control staff members by 40 percent and prohibited them from attending practices, games and coaches meetings for the remainder of 2010.

The U-M violated the restrictions on practice and training time. Michigan self-imposed reductions in practice and training times on a 2:1 basis, for a total of 130 hours during the next two years.

Michigan will issue letters of reprimand to seven individuals who shared in the responsibility for these violations occurring over an extended period, and one dismissal has occurred as a result of an issue of integrity.

The school found no evidence of student-athlete abuse, nor any evidence that its employees disregarded student-athlete welfare.

While Michigan could be considered a repeat violator from 2003 in men’s basketball, the institution does not believe it is warranted in this instance...

The school is recommending two years probation as punishment, but won't know it's sentencing until football season is well underway.

Here's some of what all this led to in 2009, a loss to Ohio State...
((HT: ABC))
mary

And here's coverage from our friends at Fox2 in Detroit...
((HT: MyFoxDetroit.com))

Flyers Join Chicago For Stanley Cup Finals

Much to the delight of OSG Insider Gil Tyree, his Code Orange worked tonight in Philadelphia...

The Flyers took out a tired Montreal Canadiens squad 4-2 to win their Eastern Conference final 4 games to 1.

Ending a 13-year drought, the Flyers go to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1997. The seventh-seeded Flyers travel to Chicago for Saturday's opening game of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks were the No. 2 seed in the West

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at CSNPhilly.com


And what is a celebration without fan reaction...???
((HT: Crossingbroad.com via Deadspin))



Michael Barkann did the best job of selecting fan sound, ever...
Thanks to Bill Clement for pointing that out, too...
Epic...

Heath Evans Has A Mission...

((HT: WWL-TV))

Remember that softball game where Drew Brees was knocking out home run shots in New Orleans last month...?

It helped raise over $100,000 for the Heath Evans Foundation- a foundation he started with his wife, Beth Ann, to help those who were sexually abused as a child.

So what...? You say...???

There's a reason behind the Evans' starting THAT foundation- Beth Ann was sexually abused herself by a 3rd-Grade classmate. Heath, once he found out about it, has tried to understand with Beth Ann what she's been through and how they can now help that cause...

Jim Henderson catches up with Heath...

Spieth Learns From 16th Place Finish At Byron Nelson

16-year-old Jordan Spieth shot a 2-over 72 Sunday, his highest score of the Byron Nelson tournament, and finished at 4-under 276. He walked off tied for 16th with three groups still on the course.

A paycheck ((that he didn't get)) good enough for a little over $91,000...

"It was awesome ... the entire round, the entire week," Spieth said. "Starting the week, I definitely would've taken a top-20, in a heartbeat. Obviously now, looking back, being a competitor, I look back at the mistakes I made that didn't give me an opportunity to win."

ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett caught up with Spieth for his life lessons...


A lot of tour players were impressed with the run Spieth had over the weekend...

"At 16, I wasn't going off to do what he's doing. That's pretty impressive," said Scott Verplank, a former amateur winner on the PGA tour. "Golf is looking to the next generation of kids that can play, stay out of trouble, and entertain everybody....Jordan has all the tools to help the game game of golf, and he's gotten a lot people out here this week."

Karmanos Looking To Sell Half Of The Canes

((HT: WRALSportsfan.com))

Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos, Junior says he has hired an investment bank to help him find a minority partner.

Karmanos issued a statement Monday confirming the hiring of Allen & Co. but said "the intent is in no way to sell the team."

He says he has been exploring options for finding a minority partner since general partner Thomas Thewes died in 2008, and said Allen & Co. was hired "to assist us with the process."

Here's Karmanos talking about hosting the 2011 All-Star Weekend- a good opportunity to showcase the Raleigh community to the league ((and to anyone interested in picking up the half Karmanos is interested in putting on the block...))

Losing Does Not Suit Jason Williams Well

((HT: Brooks))

No, not that Jason Williams... the one in Orlando whose season is over...

This is what happens when players with touchiness levels left on "stun" lose in the playoffs rather quickly...

He has a mighty fine locker, too...


Unless Bissinger was in the building, the HQ still has no idea who "Buzz" was...

Mike Brown...Time to Leave Cleveland, now...

The Cleveland Cavaliers did what was expected overnight and parted ways with Coach Mike Brown.

The move, which had been speculated about ever since the Cavs were abruptly dispatched from the NBA Playoffs came barely ahead of the team having to act on Brown's contract. In that contract, there was a clause that if he was not let go within 10 days of the end of the season, they owed him at least half of the next seasons salary.

More from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer RIGHT HERE

((Brown and LeBron//Courtesy: John Kuntz/Cleveland Plain-Dealer))

Brown had been the coach for the past 5 seasons.

This off-season promises to be a serious adventure for the team as they now not only have to find a new coach, they have to find a way to appease and re-sign there franchise player...one Mr. LeBron James.

Mark Schwab was live outdoors to talk about the future...
((HT: WOIO-TV))

87-Year-Old Dies During TMS Ride Along

((HT: KTVT-TV Dallas/Hernandez))

And that's really only half of what's going on here...

Don "Fred" Krusemark died after a high-performance Corvette driven by Andre Vandenberg, an employee with the Texas Driving Experience, crashed his car into a retaining wall during a two-seat ride-along at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas.

Krusemark's daughter, Carol Young, has now gotten in touch with lawyers since the Experience hasn't given her as much as word one since the accident on the 15th of this month.

Selena Hernandez of KTVT-TV in Dallas caught up with Young...


It seems to the HQ that the TDE is circling its wagons- and has been ever since the accident in the first place. We can only hope that Young gets some answers...

And, yes, that Vandenberg gets better as well...

They Said, She Said... So Is It A Full-Ride Or Not...?

((HT: KTVT-TV Dallas))

Usually, when you're offered a scholarship by a school to play a sport there. There's something in paper that you can go over and agree to that is considered a "scholarship."

In the case of one Dallas-area high school soccer player, Emily Hairston, she was under the impression she had a scholarship. When the school told her to pay up, the family was quite stunned and is/has been operating under the notion that she had a full ride.

Stephanie Lucero of CBS 11 caught up with an-SMU legacy family that is really not happy with the school right now...


The end of the Lucero part is the best part of the story...

She contacted the NCAA for an official response:

According to Jennifer Royer, Associate Director of Public and Media Relations for the NCAA, "a coach cannot ask or direct an orally-committed prospective student-athlete to make contact with or call other potential recruits for the purpose of securing other prospective students as future members of the team."

"Such actions may lead to an institutional violation of NCAA rules" says Royer.

Oops...

More when we know more...

Sandberg Throws Out First Pitch In Oakland...

((HT: KGO-TV San Francisco))

San Francisco area/Marin Catholic High School pitcher Gunnar Sandberg threw out the first pitch at the Oakland-San Francisco game Sunday afternoon...

The De La Salle player whose batted ball off a metal bat struck Sandberg, Zac Byers, caught the first pitch from Sandberg.

He was placed in a medically induced coma at Marin General Hospital after the ball struck him, and a portion of his skull was removed before he was transferred to the rehabilitation facility he is currently working in.

He was released from the rehab facility earlier this month but will undergo surgery Tuesday to replace the missing part of his skull.

Here's video of the event from Oakland...


The Sandberg incident has rekindled the whole idea of banning metal bats in high school baseball games. The California state Senate Education Committee approved a bill back on May 5th that would place a one-year moratorium on the use of metal bats in high school baseball games.

That bill, "AB7," now heads to a vote by the full Senate.

Hey, Yo! Scott Hall Busted Again...

((HT: Orlando Sentinel/Colarossi via Deadspin))

The HQ will reminisce as much as the next guy...
We like to remember Scott Hall this way... one of the most influential moments in the history of professional wrestling...

((HT: WCW/xoxEdgeLoverxox))


But this is more just repetition...

Scott Hall ((pictured, thanks Seminole County Sheriff's Office)) was arrested a little over a week ago on charges of disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer following an incident at a Seminole County bar called the "Hitching Post" in the town of Chuluota, Florida...

Seminole County Sheriff's Deputies were called on a disturbance complaint about 1:43 a.m. And remember what the HQ has said about nothing good ever happening after a certain time in the middle of the night...

A bartender was telling Hall to leave when the cops arrived, but he was yelling and cussing at anyone in sight. The deputy there also said Hall appeared "intoxicated with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes."

When the deputy advised Hall he was being placed in custody for disorderly intoxication, he tried to prepare him for the handcuffs, but Hall refused.

That's always a good sign... from the police report...

"Scott refused this directive, and instead, thrust out his chest, walking closer to me, stating, 'I ain't going down for this [expletive deleted],' " the report states. "This is [expletive deleted]. You know it's [expletive deleted]."

"Due to Scott's inordinate size, 6'05", 295 pounds, I utilized two sets of handcuffs in tandem," the deputy noted in the report.

Hall can't go back to the "Hitching Post" ever again as well...

So, this is Hall now...
((HT: TNA/alchype))

Blackhawks Sweep Sharks For Stanley Cup Berth

Dustin Byfuglien's second game-winning goal in a row has the Chicago Blackhawks in their first Stanley Cup Final since 1992.

Byfuglien's power-play goal with 5:55 remaining capped a two-goal rally and gave the Blackhawks a 4-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday afternoon.

The victory capped a four-game sweep and gives Chicago a chance to play for its first championship since 1961.

Here's the Brent Seabrook goal that started the momentum swing for Chicago...
((HT: CBC/NHL/Fel0096))


And here's the Dustin Byfuglien goal that put Chicago ahead for good...
((HT: NBC/NHL))


The Blackhawks host the Eastern Conference champ, either Philly or Montreal, when their series concludes...

No More Lima Time, Pitcher Dies At 37...

One of the true characters of baseball of the last decade, former All-Star right-hander Jose Lima died Sunday morning at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 37.

The cause of death was ruled a heart attack, according to his wife, Dorca Astacio.

"Jose was complaining while sleeping and I just thought he was having a nightmare," Astacio told ESPNdeportes.com. "I called the paramedics, but they couldn't help him."

Lima was 89-102 in 13 seasons with the Tigers, Astros, Royals, Dodgers and Mets. He was selected to the All-Star Game with Houston in 1999, when he won a career-high 21 games.

Here's one of Lima's lighter moments with the Golden Baseball League's Long Beach Armada, where his singing talents were once again on display...
((HT: LongBeachArmada))

Kanaan Problems Continue On Bump Day

((HT: IndyCars/IMS))

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Andretti Autosports...

Tony Kanaan crashed for the second day in a row as he tries to qualify his machine for the Indianapolis 500.

Here's the crash...


AA spokesperson Al Larsen says the team is taking part of Kanaan's backup car, the one he drove in Sunday's 1-hour practice session, and will piece it together with parts from Kanaan's primary car and the 17th-place qualified car of Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Talk about a jigsaw puzzle...

If that idea doesn't work, they may even go to a back-up car of one of the already-qualified Andretti machines. The team has until 6PM eastern time to qualify.

Nyjer Morgan Has Issues

A craftsman never blames his tools, but Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan, apparently, doesn't like his mitt...

You saw the video a few days ago of the Mets' Angel Pagan running in a square for an inside-the-park homerun against the Nats.

Brings us to last night, the Orioles Adam Jones hits a shot to center and Morgan has another biblically-proportioned meltdown...

Focus, grasshopper...
((HT: MASN/MLB/explosivo98))

DEVELOPING STORY: NHL Gives Glendale 12-31 Deadline On Coyotes

((HT: GlobeSports/Shoalts))

In his exclusive that ran in the Globe and Mail Saturday, resident hockey watchdog David Shoalts has it on good info that the National Hockey League has given the City of Glendale until the end of the calendar year to find a buyer that will keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town, or the league will sell to a waiting buyer who will move the team...

Those words are in the agreement that the City has figured out with the league in dealing with covering the anticipated operating losses of the franchise- the ceiling being US$25-million.

The league has only admitted to talking to three groups about the future of the Coyotes: Jerry Reinsdorf, Ice Edge, and the Chipman-Thomson ((Chipman is pictured thanks, Joe Bryksa/Winnipeg Free Press)) group that would move the team back to Winnipeg.

Naturally, no one involved is commenting on the Shoalts report...

Gary Lawless, in his piece in the Winnipeg Free Press, relays some of the document:

"The owners currently have a bona-fide offer from a viable purchaser who would relocate the hockey team to another market for the 2010-11 season and contemplates that the owners [the NHL] would break even on their investment in the team through the end of the 2009-10 NHL season as well as the NHL potentially receiving a relocation fee..." the document obtained by the Globe reads.

Don Cherry addresses the issue on Hockey Night in Canada's post-game show on CBC after the Philadelphia-Montreal game Saturday afternoon...
Starting about the 1:25 mark...
((HT: CBC/NHL/HockeyHaven76))