Monday, May 3, 2010

OHL Suspensions Handed Down

The Barrie Colts' Darren Archibald is suspended indefinitely after a Game 3 incident on Sunday where he ran ((and absolutely trucked)) Windsor Spitfires' goalie Phillipp Grubauer.

The incident took place late in the third period with Barrie down 5-2. Archibald caught Grubauer behind the net-knocking the goalie down. Windsor's Craig Duininck fought Archibald as a retalliation. He got a match penalty for the hit.

The Colts are down 3-0 in the series and face elimination when it resumes on Tuesday.

Windsor's Adam Wallace (inappropriate physical interaction with an opponent) and Barrie's Zac Rinaldo (physical interaction with an official) have also been suspended indefinitely.

In addition, the two teams have been fined C$5,000 each for "unprofessional off-ice conduct."

Here's the hit and the fight...
((HT: Sportsnet/OHL/JimKorn20))

BREAKING NEWS: UVa Men's Lacrosse Player Arrested In Women's Lacrosse Death


((HT: Charlottesville Newsplex/WCAV-TV))

Police have identified the victim of an apparent homicide early Monday morning at an apartment complex on 14th Street in Charlottesville, Virginia. The victim has been identified as 22-year-old Yeardley Love, a member of the UVa.'s women's lacrosse team. George Huguely, a member of the men's lacrosse team, is under arrest.
((Both are pictured, thanks UVa athletics))

Love was a fourth year University of Virginia student from Cockeysville, Maryland.

Police were called to 222 14th St. NW, Apartment 9, for a possible alcohol overdose around 2:15 a.m. Officers arrived and found Love unresponsive in the apartment. Police officers and rescue personnel who were called to the scene attempted to revive Love but were unsuccessful.

Police say preliminary investigation by detectives revealed that Love is the victim of an apparent homicide. She suffered visible physical trauma, however the specific cause of her death is undetermined pending an autopsy.

The Newsplex's Liz Palka has your first live shot


Here's UVa's President, John Casteen's, statement on the matter...

1430 UPDATE: Huguely has been charged with first-degree murder, and witnesses have told Charlottesville police that Huguely and Love were in a relationship.

Huguely is being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

1630 UPDATE: Pete Thamel of the New York Times, through his Twitter Feed, says no thoughts have been on-campus about the future of the lacrosse teams. "UVa AD Craig Littlepage said the future of the lacrosse teams' seasons "hasn't even entered our thoughts." Focus is on grieving students."

Here's the afternoon press conference on the murder with the Charlottesville Police Department, thanks again to the Newsplex...

BREAKING NEWS: Welsh Resigns From Hofstra After DWI

Hofstra basketball coach Tim Welsh has resigned days after he was charged with drunken driving.

The resignation was announced today. Welsh was hired in March and suspended by Hofstra back on Friday. The school accepted the resignation "in the best interests of the university and of the men's basketball program."

Welsh was arrested Friday morning after Nassau County police found him stopped at a green light at an intersection in the city of Levittown. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is due back in district court Tuesday.

Welsh previously coached at Iona and Providence. He spent the past two seasons as a TV commentator with ESPN. His lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message.

Here's the presser that introduced Welsh at Hofstra...
((HT: Hofstra Chronicle))


So much for that idea...
More when we know more...

FedEx Pulls Out Of Orange Bowl Sponsorship

The ACC - Big East marriage has been a rocky one for the Orange Bowl. The match-ups have been yawners and the television ratings dismal.

So with the might 4-letter taking over the BCS and relegating the Orange Bowl to basic cable, Fed Ex didn't see much bang for their buck so the company will not renew it's entitlement to the Orange Bowl.

ESPN was seeking $20 million annually for a four year commitment. Fed Ex passed.

The Orange Bowl used to be can't miss TV on New Years Day. Oklahoma or Nebraska would play someone (usually Florida State or Miami) for the national championship. The games turned into classics. The Nebraska - Miami Orange Bowl on New Years Day 1984 was one of the best college football games I ever saw.

(Thanks NBC Sports/Youtube.com)



Recently the Orange Bowl has become an afterthought of the BCS bowls. Here are the numbers during the ACC - Big East marriage:

2007 Louisville vs Wake Forest 7 Rating
2008 Kansas vs Virginia Tech 7.4 Rating
2009 Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati 5.4 Rating
2010 Georgia Tech vs Iowa 6.8 Rating
(All games broadcasted by Fox Sports)
(Source:Austin Karp, SportsBusiness Daily)

Fed Ex didn't want to commit more millions for diminishing returns no matter how many company logos are painted on the field.

Meanwhile the 4 - letter is actively shopping the Orange Bowl to any interested companies.

The Red Sox Are Wicked Awful

The odds seemed to be in the favor of Terry Francona becoming the first manager to get whacked this season. The Boston Red Sox were swept by the Baltimore Orioles, the worst team in the majors. The Red Sox are sinking toward Baltimore's depth.

American League East Standings (5/03/10)

Tampa Bay 18 - 7 .720
New York 16 - 8 .667 1 1/2
Toronto 13 - 13 .500 5 1/2
Boston 11 - 14 .440 7
Baltimore 7 - 18 .280 11

Here we are in May and the Red Sox are pretty much done. Sorry ESPN, all the Yankee/Red Sox games you covet are meaningless. (Same thing happened to ESPN's other coveted possession, the Duke/North Carolina rivalry this year. Must be the way the planets are aligned.)

Dustin Pedroia summed up the weekend series in Baltimore.

“Everyone thought Baltimore was three easy wins and we got our ass kicked three times,” Pedroia said. “We’re going to have to play a lot better, especially against those teams. And soon.”

Pedroia sounds ticked off, his general manager, Theo Epstein has reached the boiling point.

"We talked about this last week. We’re still playing bad baseball. Unintelligent, undisciplined, uninspired baseball. It’s got to change." Epstein ranted to the Boston Herald.

“It either changes itself or we have to do something to change it.”

Usually that "something to change it" means a manager is about to be fired. I would say Terry Francona is on the clock.

The Boston Herald has it covered.

The Red Sox look like a team that's in disarray and playing just for a paycheck. The holdovers from the championship years (2004 & 2007) have had enough. They keep grinding it out which was how the Sox won World Series championships but the newcomers don't seem to get it.

How many Yankee fans are enjoying how miserable the Red Sox have become.


Photo Courtesy: AP

Steven Strasburg Update: He's Human

((HT: WPMT-TV/Fox43 Harrisburg))

Harrisburg Senators ((for now)) pitcher Stephen Strasburg suffered his first loss on Sunday to the Altoona Curve 6-1.

Strasburg gave up six hits and allowed three walks after giving up four runs to the visitors. He got out of a bases loaded jam in the 5th inning, before being pulled.

Strasburg is expected to move up to Triple-A Syracuse as part of the plan for the Nationals to promote him in early June, but there was no official word after Sunday's game.

The HQ says give it time... he's on our fantasy roster, so it needs to happen...
Sooner rather than later... we need the innings...

Bill Toth and his playoff beard have your highlights...
 

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Hazards Of Arena Football

You mean, other than the league starting over...???

Take you to Amway Arena in Orlando for the game between the Predators and the Iowa Barnstormers...

When you're this close to the action, anything can happen...
Even to a waitress...

((HT: NFL Network/AFL/Jamaicankid21))

Cammalleri Stays Hot As Habs Even Series

Mike Cammalleri scored two goals and Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves as the Canadiens surprised the Pittsburgh Penguins by winning 3-1 on Sunday to even their series at a game a piece.

Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin didn't name Halak as Game 2 starter until just before the game itself considering his getting shelled in Game 1.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Montreal, followed by Game 4 on Thursday. The first playoff series between the teams since 1998 returns to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Saturday.

Here's one of Cammalleri's goals. One more suited for BP or bunt practice...
((HT: NHL on NBC))

Pittsburgh Marathon Detoured And Delayed By Bomb Scare

Runners in the Pittsburgh Marathon were detoured as they approached the finish due to a suspected pipe bomb near a bus station near the end of the course.

One officer at the scene said that the device was a "microwave with a pipe bomb inside." The microwave was found in a white box near the entrance of the bus station.

Police Chief Nate Harper would only confirm that there were suspicious contents inside the microwave.

The device was detonated and two streets in downtown Pittsburgh are still blocked off. Police are looking for who left the device at the location, but they are also going to review the surveillance video from security cameras.

Here's video of the detonation, thanks to our friends at KDKA-TV


PM UPDATE: WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh reports the microwave oven contained a suspected explosive device and pasta when it was detonated near the finish line...

The HQ thanks the Pittsburgh Police Department for their care in light of what happened in New York City Saturday night and thanks them for their carbonara a la bomb squad...

Don Cherry Does Not Like E-Mailers

Especially when they say silly things on "Hockey Night in Canada..."

To fill time these days on television, a lot of shows feel that social media is the answer- turning TV into sports talk radio to show the voice of the fan...

That, instead of actual information or something like that...

Grapes is another who does not suffer fools, and Ron McLean agrees with him for a change. The exchange starts at the 4:30 mark when Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison open up the I-Desk for jibber-jabber.

((HT: CBC/NHL/HockeyHaven76))


Bully...

Sturm Und Drag, Part Deux: Out For Playoffs

((HT: NHL on NBC/HockeyHighlightsPlus))

Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien has confirmed that Marco Sturm will miss the remainder of the playoffs with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. He got the injury in his first shift of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Sturm had to be helped off the ice after attempting to check Flyers' defenceman Matt Carle.

In a release, the Bruins stated that Sturm would undergo surgery within the next four-to-six weeks and will need at least six months to recover- meaning that he will, probably, miss the beginning of next season as well.

Here's the play and replay... Doc and Edzo are on the mic...

Chester Taylor Destroys Seventh Inning Stretch

There really are no words on two fronts...

Can anyone sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at Wrigley these days...???
The answer, obviously, is "Yes..."

Minnesota fans now can officially view Chester Taylor as a traitor...

There are no words for this speed reading...
((HT: WGN/RAVENSFANful))

Sacrilege...

Borel Goes 3 Of Last 4 In Derby

((HT: WAVE3TV- Louisville/NTRA/NBCSports))

The HQ had a funny feeling going into the 136th Kentucky Derby. After thinking Sidney's Candy was in the best place on the board at post position 20, we turned to TBH and said, "Whaddya wanna bet Calvin Borel does it again on the rail...???"

Shame the HQ did take any money on that one...

The win ended trainer Todd Pletcher's Derby oh-fer-24 drought going in as Super Saver won the race in 2:04.45.

Ice Box nipped Paddy O'Prado at the wire for second.

Borel won a shocker last year aboard 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird.
Tom Durkin was shocked then, he wasn't so much this year...

Here's the race with Durkin on the mic...

"New Jack" Edwards On The Prowl

((HT: PuckDaddy/Leahy))

It's no secret that Boston Bruins play-by-play guy Jack Edwards is in some rare air. Mainly, it's because of his homer-licious calls, that while blatantly homer-ly are also quite funny- bordering out-of-control...

Example A...
((Thanks, to NESN/NHL/JHutch2790))


The "Toucher and Rich Show" on 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston unleashed a new game the other day... and enlisted the help of Edwards- now known as "New Jack."

If you could identify the New Jack Swing artist that Jack was dead-panning the lyrics for, you could win Game 2 Bruins-Flyers tickets.

Here's the riff, which is priceless...

Word...

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Sturm Und Drag

Another playoff opener, another injury...

Boston Bruins forward Marco Sturm left their playoff game against Philadelphia in the first period with an apparent right leg injury.

The Bruins announced later in the period that Sturm "would not be returning" to Saturday's game, the first in the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Flyers.

Sturm went to the ice in the Flyers' zone in the opening minute and stayed down while play continued at the other end. After the whistle, a Bruins trainer came on and Sturm eventually got to his feet. He skated off, but favored his right leg.

More when we know more...

But here's what Sturm is known for this NHL Season: the game-winner for the Bruins against the Flyers in the Winter Classic at Fenway...
((HT: NHL on NBC/RedWingFan1340))

Staal Out For Playoffs... Maybe... Maybe Not...

((HT: Versus/NHL/FunHockeyVideos))

Depends on who you ask...

Earlier Saturday, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jordan Staal was listed as "gone for the season" after receiving a severed tendon in his right foot, thanks to the blade of Habs' defenseman PK Subban Friday night.

But... as "lower body injuries" go...
Not so fast my friends, after all... this is the playoffs...

Depending upon the healing process, Staal could join the Penguins by the Conference Final should the team advance that far.

Head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters at the morning skate on Saturday that Staal "was day-to-day."

Aren't we all...

It is a similar injury to the one that caused the Canadiens' Andrei Markov to miss 35 games at the beginning of the season.

Here's that injury... very flukey...

John Forslund and FOSG Darren Eliot continue their busy night...

Markov Returns To Montreal Off Cooke Hit

((HT: Versus/NHL/hockeyfanatik72))

The playoffs have officially ramped up a few notches...

The Montreal Canadiens have confirmed that defenseman Andrei Markov has returned to Montreal to receive treatment for an injury suffered Friday night in their Game 1 loss to Pittsburgh.

Markov was hurt when he was checked into the boards by the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke. Markov fell awkwardly into the boards, threw one of his gloves into the air and was in visible pain on the ice as some of his teammates went after Cooke.

Markov stayed down for several minutes before being helped off the ice, putting no weight on his right leg when he was exiting.

No word on a diagnosis, other than the anticipated "lower-body injury..."

Here's the injury...
John Forslund and FOSG Darren Eliot on the call...

The Story Behind "The Heath Calhoun 400..."

((HT: WWBT-NBC12 Richmond))

Heath Calhoun lost both of his legs November 7, 2003 when a rocket-propelled grenade came into the rear of the truck that he was in while on duty in Iraq. He had to have both his legs amputated above the knees.

Truth be told, he almost didn't make it home alive. He received a Purple Heart and George C. Lang Award for Courage, spent time recovering at Walter Reed and, over time, has become an accomplished paralympic skiier.

He finished eighth for Team USA in the super-G and 10th in the combined (downhill and slalom) in Vancouver. Calhoun was also the flag-bearer for Team USA in the Opening Ceremonies.

Crown Royal has a contest for their Richmond event where you can have the race named after you. Calhoun's story was submitted and he won. He's always been a NASCAR fan and now he gets the Richmond race named after him.

Ryan Nobles caught up with Heath... a guy well worth your time...

Christian LeMay Heading To UGA

((HT: Charlotte Observer-Wertz))

The North Carolina Gatorade state player of the year and national junior player of the year by several publications is heading to the University of Georgia.

Butler ((NC)) quarterback Christian LeMay declared his intentions in front of about 100 friends and family at his church, Champion Christian Center, in the town of Pineville.

"If I counted, I've been asked more than 1,000 times where I'm going this week," he said. "It's good to get this off my chest."

Here's the decision... notice the double-logo-clutch in the presentation...

Tiger Finds Quail Hollow, Joslyn James In Pursuit...

((HT: MyFoxCharlotte))

Tiger Woods matched the worst nine-hole score of his PGA Tour career and wound up with a 7-over-par 79 to miss a cut for only the sixth time in his 14-year career at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte.

He had three-putt bogeys on consecutive holes, and he had a four-putt double bogey from just over 30 feet on his 15th hole on Friday.

"It is what it is," Woods said when asked if rust or mechanics were the culprit. "Whatever it was, it wasn't good enough."

In true form, Josslyn James claimed she wasn't following Tiger around to every city he has a tour stop, but that didn't stop her and our perpetuation of the process.

Here's her stop at FoxCharlotte and Morgan Fogarty's quest to find out whether or not James is following Tiger around...
Joslyn denies it...