The Seattle Seahawks have turned down an opportunity to be on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series, which is a summer reality series about NFL teams and training camps.

The HBO series has been hard-pressed to find another team for its 2012 season, and the Seahawks have reportedly turned down the possibility of being on the show.

PFT’s Michael David Smith wrote, according to the Seahawks site that:

“Schneider said the Seahawks weren’t formally offered the spot, but that when they were approached, they decided they didn’t want to do it.”

Pete Carroll, the Seattle team’s head coach, explained on Friday why they refused the gig. NFL.com reports that Carroll stated:

“That’s just not going to suit what we’re trying to get done here. I think it’s a great show, I love watching it, I loved Rex (and) the Bengals.”

He went on to say of the Seattle Seahawks’ turning the show down that:

“I just don’t want to put that in the middle of our process. We’re trying to win football games and hopefully we can entertain that way than rather on the show. It’s just not our style here.”

The Seahawks GM John Schneider went on Pro Football Talk Live on Wednesday to let fans know the team would not be participating, according to SBNation.

Seattle PI’s Nick Eaton wrote of the news that:

“I’m not surprised the Seahawks declined. Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll like to sometimes make a splash — think first-round draft choice Bruce Irvin — but they don’t particularly like being under the microscope. Especially if the image is broadcast on national TV.”

He went on to say that:

“But hey, it would have been cool, right? The Seahawks have a lot of interesting stories this offseason, including in no small part a three-way competition for starting quarterback among Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and Russell Wilson.”

Would you have liked to see the Seattle Seahawks on this summer’s season of “Hard Knocks?”

Seattle Seahawks Turn Down HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Vanderjagt, an ex-kicker for the Indianapolis Colts, could lose his part-time coaching job at a middle school, following accusations that he grabbed a student by the neck.

AOL Sporting News reports that Vanderjagt was suspended from his coaching position in the city of Marco Island, Florida, following the March 12th incident, although he reportedly faces no criminal charges.

The Marco charter school board has voted 4-2 for the middle-school’s principal to decide if Vanderjagt, 42, will be reinstated as a part-time coach.

The student in question was reportedly taunting Mike Vanderjagt by saying “Wide left, wide left,” a reference to missing his final kick as an Indianapolis Colt, according to the Detroit Free Press. The ex-kicker missed a field goal late in the 2006 division playoffs against the Steelers; the Colts lost the game 18-21.

Vanderjagt denies he put his had around the boy’s neck, stating instead that he put his hand on the boy’s shoulder, however a fellow student testified to the choking incident. The Detroit Free Press notes that police have not filed charges in the case.

The Naples News reports that:

“The reason he touched the child, Vanderjagt told police, was to hold him in place while he spoke to him. Vanderjagt stated he had no intention of hurting or threatening the student. He also mentioned that George Abounader, the school’s principal, was in the area at the time of the incident.”

They go on to report that the principal, while in the parking lot when the incident occurred, did not see it happen. Brad Wells of Stamped Blue, writes that:

“If Vanderjagt did assault a student for taunting in in a parking lot, he should be fired from coaching. Mike was subject to far worse verbal abuse during his playing career, and he never ran up into the stands and tried to grab any grown men by the throat (for the simple reason that, if he did, he probably wouldn’t make it out of the stands alive).”

Do you think that Mike Vanderjagt really choked a middle school student for taunting him? If so, should he get fired for the incident?

Check out footage of Mike Vanderjagt’s missed kick against the Steelers here:

Mike Vanderjagt, Former Colts Kicker, Accused Of Choking Middle School Student is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you have an extra $3 billion in your piggy bank, you could be the new owner of the New York Yankees.

That’s how much the team is said to be worth on the open market if it was put up for sale. According to two veteran sportswriters, the family of the late George Steinbrenner is less than enamored with Yankees huge payroll and the MLB luxury tax and might consider selling the team that has captured 27 World Series championships and  40 American League pennants.

George Steinbrenner, who passed away in July 2010, bought the Yankees, perhaps the most successful sports franchise of all time,  for $8.8 million in 1973 dollars, which by today’s standards is chump change.

According to Michael O’Keefe and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News…

Multiple baseball and finance sources told the Daily News they are hearing that the team the Steinbrenner family has led to seven World Series titles could be put on the block in the wake of the record sale price of $2.175 billion the Los Angeles Dodgers went for in April.

“There has been chatter all around the banking and financial industries in the city for a couple of weeks now,” one high-level baseball source told The News.

The article suggests that Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner “doesn’t share his father’s passion for baseball,” especially given the Yankees massive player payroll, including brother Hank’s agreeing to a $275 million contract with the fading Alex Rodriguez.

Most of America can’t stand the “Evil Empire” either, given that particularly since the mid 1990s, the Yankees incessant free agent signings seemed to be an attempt to buy championships by inserting All-Stars at every position. Yankees management gave  the impression that Yankees management thought that only the Yankees can have good players.  Not all of these signings panned out,  obviously.  Under the Steinbrenner ownership, the Yankees won the World Series in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009.

Forbes.com suggests, however, that the New York Yankees is actually a good investment:

If you’re the Steinbrenner family, selling the Yankees makes no sense. The partners are making fistfuls of cash through their new stadium and YES Network. Ownership is in the midst of new initiatives such as its Legends Hospitality business.  What other asset is going yield the kind of cash – over $400 million in revenue last year – the Yankees do? Would you rather be getting 1.8% interest -and zero fun and perks – from a Treasury Bond?

Hal Steinbrenner and other executives have said in no uncertain terms that there is no truth to the Daily News story.  The original version of the Daily News story (which is now apparently scrubbed) indicated that the prestige of owning the New York Yankees was the only reason for the Steinbrenners to keep the team. It also quoted a source, apparently referring to Hal, that “he hates the players and he hates the media.”

Do you think it makes sense for the Steinbrenner family to sell the New York Yankees?

Yankees Owners May Sell Team: Report is a post from: The Inquisitr

J.R. Smith was arrested on Thursday in South Beach.

According to TMZ, the NBA star was pulled over during a routine traffic stop but was hauled in to jail once officers realized that there was a warrant out for Smith’s arrest.

The warrant stemmed from an incident in May 2011 when J.R. Smith was ticketed for riding a scooter without a license. Smith was ordered to stand trial on July 25th but he never showed. The judge issued a warrant for his arrest, and last night, well, J.R. was arrested.

Smith was booked into Miami-Dade County jail around midnight. He was released shortly after on bond.

The NY Times reports that this is just the latest in a long string of legal trouble for the New York Knicks’ star. In 2007, Smith had his license suspended after a reckless driving accident killed his friend Andre Bell. The suspension ended in March of this year. It was the sixth time that Smith has had his license suspended.

Smith stayed out of trouble for the most part this season but was fined by the NBA after he tweeted a photo of his naked girlfriend. 

J.R. Smith Arrested In Miami is a post from: The Inquisitr

Here’s what we know about Lolo Jones. She’s an Olympic hurdler. She’s a 29-year-old virgin. She’s single. And she’s pretty funny.

Lolo Jones gained thousands of Twitter followers (Yahoo reports that she gained 20,000 followers this week for a total of 88,000 foll0wers) after she told HBO’s Real Sports that staying a virgin has been harder than training for the Olympics. But the “controversy” over her virginity isn’t the only reason to follow Jones. She’s also pretty funny.

Whether she’s giving updates about her Olympic journey (Happy with my first race in Top Three. I shouldn’t have helped Super Woman catch villains late last night… perhaps,I would’ve ran better) or talking about life as a single woman (the good thing about being single is you don’t have to charge your phone but every three of four days) Jones Twitter feed is a constant string of funny anecdotes.

Here are some of Lolo Jones best jokes in less than 140 characters.

• Friday night, alone and Watching bridal shows on TV. Its like being on death row and asking for a TV dinner as your last meal?
• I just called my ex boyfriend 50 times (back to back) because lets face it, for the next 24 hours, my crazu still cant top Pilar Sanders
• Wendy Williams said I could be a super model. I didn’t have the heart to tell her my hopes are to be a plus size model after the Olympics.
• fellas, fellas, fellas… do you really want to watch “Say Yes to the Dress” with me?… cos I have that lined up for date #1
• Alone at home and I got a surprise visit from drug testers. Not mad they showed up, I’m mad they knew I’d be home on Friday night #single
• I want my own reality tv show. Come film me as I lay on the couch watching other reality TV shows.

Do you follow Lolo Jones on Twitter?

The International Olympic Committee is working to make the 2012 London Olympics the most social in history. The IOC has already partnered with FourSquare and the group is encouraging fans to follow their favorite athletes on social media sites.

So why not start with Lolo Jones?

Lolo Jones Has Bright Future As Twitter Comic is a post from: The Inquisitr

There’s good news and there’s bad news. Doug O’Neill, the trainer of I’ll Have Another, the horse who could win the Triple Crown in 1978, has been handed a 45-day suspension by California racing officials. The good news is that the suspension won’t go into effect until after the Belmont.

The Associated Press reports that O’Neill was suspended after his horse Argenta was found with excessive levels of TCO2. This usually occurs when horses are given a performance-enhancing mixture but O’Neill adamantly denied that he “milkshaked” the horse. The California racing officials agreed with O’Neill, but since a trainer is responsible for the horse’s condition, he was given a 45-day suspension.

O’Neill said:

“I’m gratified that the CHRB found that I did not “milkshake” a horse or engage in any intentional conduct that would result in an elevated TC02 level. I plan on examining and reviewing all of my options following the Belmont Stakes, but right now I plan on staying focused on preparing for and winning the Triple Crown.”

The suspension and fine, which O’Neill can appeal, will go into effect after the Belmont Stakes.

I’ll Have Another has already won the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby. He has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 when he races at Belmont on June 9th.

Doug O’Neill, Trainer Of I’ll Have Another, Gets Suspended is a post from: The Inquisitr

New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco was not upset when his SUV was broken into on Wednesday and his wallet, credit cards, iPod and other personal belongings were stolen, however the NFL player was inconsolable after the thief got a hold of his Starbucks gold card.

In a two minute video the WR posted on his Twitter account he told his fans:

“I earned the gold card. You know how many coffees I’ve had to drink and lemon loafs I’ve had to purchase to get to that gold card? I had $220 left on my Starbucks card. Not just any Starbucks card, but a gold Starbucks card.”

The Starbucks gold card is only given to Starbucks customers who spend a lot of money at the company’s various locations, once achieved users must use the card at least 30 times per year in order to maintain its benefits.

Special service for the card includes a free drink for every 15 times its used, free soy milk and free syrup in any coffee purchased. The card is also personalized with the customers name so the barista making their coffee will known them by name.

According to Ochocinco he still had more than $200 on his card which is now gone.

Chad Ochocinco said of the entire ordeal:

“I feel like I’m about to tear up.”

The wide receivers wallet was found later that same day in Providence, R.I. by one of his Twitter followers mothers and while it had his credit cards and license his Starbucks gold card had been removed.

Fear not for Mr. Ochocinco, Starbucks contacted him on Twitter and agreed to replace his gold card.

Here’s Ochocinco’s video:

Ochocinco Broken Up Over Theft Of Starbucks Gold Card [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Earlier today I reported that Shaquille O’Neal was being considered for the general manager for the Orlando Magic, a role that Shaq has now said he will not pursue after turning down an invitation to interview with the team.

In a public statement made on Thursday night O’Neal wrote:

“When I first heard about the vacancy for the Orlando Magic general manager position, I was clearly intrigued.”

Shaq then added:

“I was drafted by the Magic, I have a great love for the franchise, and I have made the city of Orlando my home. Additionally, I have great admiration and respect for the DeVos family.

Before concluding:

“However, this is not a job I have an interest in pursuing. I feel very fortunate to be with TNT and to have the best job in sports. I look forward to many more years with Charles (Barkley), Kenny (Smith) and E.J. (Ernie Johnson). I wish the best for the Magic and I am confident that they will select a great GM and coach.”

The main consideration for the Orlando Magic was believed to be O’Neil’s chances at keeping Dwight Howard on the team.

In the meantime Shaq will continue with his job as an analysts for TNT.

Shaquille O’Neil was drafted and then played for the Orlando Magic from 1992 through the 1996 season, in 1995 he took the club to the NBA Finals before leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996.

Do you think Shaq would make a good general manager for the Orlando Magic?

Shaquille O’Neil Turns Down Orlando Magic Interview For General Manager Job is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nikolay Davydenko has beaten top-seeded John Isner on Thursday, and will now compete in the semi-finals of the Open de Nice tournament.

Isner (6-4, 7-6 (4)) finished the match with 13 aces, however Davydenko saved three break points, and broke his opponent once in the first set, according to The Washington Post.

Davydenko will join second-seeded Gilles Simon and No. 3 ranked Nicolas Almagro, who also won their matches on Thursday.

The Russian, Davydenko, was once ranked No. 3, according to Yahoo News. He will play the winner of the match between American Brian Baker and Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Gilles Simon, who grew up in Nice, did not face any break points in a 7-5, 6-0 victory against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci on thursday. He and Nicolas Almagro will play against each other for a spot in Saturday’s final.

Bellucci beat Belgium’s Steve Darcias 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals, reports Yahoo News.

Brian Baker is a 27-year-old semi-retired player, who is currently coaching at an american university, according to Nine MSN. He last won in 2005 on the AP Tour, before the tournament started, stunning the world No. 13 Gael Monfils in the last round of the tournament.

Nikolay Davydenko also performed well in the Mutua Madrid Open earlier this month, where he defeated Croatian opponent, Ivo Karlovic, in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-3 in the opening match, according to Talys Darren at Bettor.com. Davydenko stated of his match against Spanish Rafael Nadal that:

“He has less confidence against me on hard court; I have beaten him more times there. On the clay I have never beaten him. He is the best player on clay for sure.”

Nikolay Davydenko will play again on Friday and Saturday, provided he wins the semifinals match.

Nikolay Davydenko Beats John Isner, Will Play In Semis is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to the lawsuit, Winslow, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week, ruined $381,000 of furniture, rugs, and designer drapes in the rental home and left the place littered with animal feces and urine.

The home’s owners, Ahmad and Nona Zarei are seeking $133,000 in damages done to the walls, floors, furniture and rugs.

In addition to the “animal waste” problems and destruction of furniture, the suit claims “numerous holes” were punctured in the master bedroom walls and that cigarette and cigar burn holes marked up the outdoor furniture.

Winslow, who moved into the lavish Rancho Sante Fe home in January 2011 and stayed until July 1, 2011 at the cost of $9,000 a month, is also accused of shorting the owners $500 on the final months rent and leaving almost $3,000 in unpaid utility bills.

In response to the lawsuit, Winslow’s attorney Brian Watkins has run to his client’s defense, calling the claims “bogus” and a “shakedown of a professional athlete.”

“I don’t believe there was any damage. They said house smelled of urine. I did two walk-throughs and could not smell anything,” said Watkins. “That’s their motivation. They think they’ll get that from a professional athlete and it’s not going to happen.”

Watkins added:

“They want to portray it as though … Winslow had a fraternity of football friends partying. But the house was rented for his wife, who was pregnant. She was living there with her mother and a housekeeper. There was no partying … Kellen was rarely even there.”

via USA Today

Kellen Winslow Hit With $130K Lawsuit, Accused of Trashing Rental Home is a post from: The Inquisitr

There’s a chance that the New York Giants will start the 2012 season without wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Nicks fractured his right foot during practice today and will miss ”approximately 12 weeks.”

The Associated Press reports that Nicks is scheduled to have surgery this Friday. According to CBS, Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot while running a route during practice.

The estimated “12 week” recovery period is a rough estimate and the AP notes the fifth metatarsal generally takes a long time to heal. Brook Lopez suffered a similar fracture during the 2012 NBA season. Brooks missed 33 games before returning to the lineup. In 2011, Prince Amukamara broke his fifth metatarsal in training camp in early August. He didn’t return until the end of November.

Having Nicks on the sidelines would definitely hurt the defending champs, who lost Mario Manningham during the off-season.  The Giants still have Victor Cruz and LSU draft pick  Rueben Randle. New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that he’s confident that Nicks will be catching passes at the start of the season.

Coughlin said:

“The doctors have expressed it as being something that they think will heal very, very well…. (We’re) going to be sitting right up next to that opening game, and we certainly hope that Hakeem is correct in saying that he heals fast.”

Nicks had his second straight 1,000 yard season last year. He had 1,192 yards, a career high, and averaged 15.7 yards per catch.

Giants’ Hakeem Nicks Breaks Right Foot, Out For 12 Weeks is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat will head into game 6 a man down as Udonis Haslem has just been given a one game suspension.

Haslam was given a flagrant 1 foul after a hard hit on Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough in game five. The foul was reviewed by the NBA and upgraded to a flagrant 2 foul. Haslem, who has stepped up to fill the shoes of Chris Bosh, will be sitting out of a potential series clinching game 6 in Indiana.

Coach Eric Spoelestra said:

“We’ll accept the decision. We don’t agree with it. We totally support Uonis as a player and as a family member. He has supported his teammates and this Miami family for nine years. His reputation speaks for itself. He’s a hard-nosed player, a physical player, who is a clean player and he doesn’t play over that line.”

Spoelestra also said that the NBA hasn’t been consistent with its suspensions, saying that the league has ignored several hard fouls on Dwyane Wade and Lebron James.

“The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys… In nine games now, there’s been over a dozen hard fouls to the face, some of the tomahawk variety, some of them have drawn blood. They don’t have a problem with it, so we don’t have a problem with it. Our guys will continue to attack, they will play their game, and we will focus on what we can control tonight, and that’s the game.”

Dexter Pittman was also suspended for a flagrant foul on Lance Stephenson late in Game 5. Pittman was suspended for three games.

Miami forward Shane Battier said:

“It’s very disappointing, obviously. But we’re a resilient group… The verdict process is a mystery to players, and so we don’t get caught up in it. We can’t control it. We know the NBA’s going to do what they feel they need to do and we need to live with the consequences. So it’s really out of our hands, not worth getting riled up. We’re going to put together an effort that will make Udonis and Dexter proud.”

Tyler Hansbrough, who was given a flagrant 1 foul after a hard foul on Dywane Wade, will be playing in tonight’s game.

Lebron James said:

“Hansbrough, it’s not the first time he went after one of our players this year… You know, we have two guys suspended, and basically they have no one suspended.”

Do you think the Miami Heat will be able to close out the series tonight?

Udonis Haslem Suspended From Game 6 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Now sources close to the teams talks with Ray Rice have revealed to NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones that the Ravens are tirelessly working on a long-term deal that should be hammered out by July.

When Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about his star RBs negotions and if he had anything to report he simply responded, “No I Don’t” at which point he smiled and said “Does that surprise you?”

Rice was a key component to the Ravens offense during the 2011-2012 season, leading the NFL in yard from scrimmage.

The Baltimore Ravens were quick to slap the franchise tag on Rice which means he’ll earn $7.742 million in base salary for the 2012-2013 NFL season.

According to the  Baltimore Sun both sides have been “talking regularly” and certain milestones have been reached in their dealings while a long term deal is still a ways off.

It is believed that Ray Rice’s eventually deal will fall close to the upper levels of other top running backs which includes Arian Foster and his four-year, $40.758 million extension and LeSea McCoy and his five-year, $45 million extension.

In the meantime it will be in the Baltimore Ravens’ best interest to lock up their star player as quickly as possible, avoiding the chances that he becomes disillusioned and looks elsewhere when his contract finally expired.

Baltimore Ravens Hope To Secure Ray Rice Well Into The Future is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sources close to the discussions told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard on Thursday that the big man could be brought in soon rather than later. That same source says while Shaq has no front office experience the team believe it could help them retain Dwight Howard and potentially attract other big names to the teams roster in the future.

The Orlando Magic are currently seeking a new general manager and a new head coach however Marc Stein has refused to publicly acknowledge any team decisions or meetings at this time.

Shaq played for the Orlando Magic from 1992 to 1996 and led the team to the NBA Finals in 1995.

While Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard have publicly feuded in the past over Shaq’s own “Superman” nickname, sources close to both men say they are friendly and often text message one another and Shaq has acted as a confidante for Dwight Howard during the past season.

It’s a well known fact that Shaq loves the city of Orlando, after leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 he kept his home in the city and has held onto it ever since.

If Shaquille O’Neal accepts the Orlando Magic’s general manager position he could get a big boost in the coaching staff from former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan who is said to be seeking a position with the Charlotte Bobcats or Orlando Magic. Sloan retired last year after 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz.

Jerry Sloan sits in third place on the all-time regular-season NBA coaching victories list with 1,221 wins.

Orlando Magic Wooing Shaquille O’Neil Towards GM Position is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bud Selig, Major League Baseball Commissioner, told a small group on Wednesday that he doesn’t believe more video review of umpires’ calls is necessary, at least right now.

Selig, who was previously reluctant to add replay for umpires, instituted the practice in August of 2008 for use during boundary calls on potential home runs, according to ESPN.

Now, however, the MLB is seeking to increase video review for calls, such as for trapped balls, fair-or-foul rulings down the lines and fan interference all over the ballpark. These changes, require the approval of the commission, as well as the unions who represent players and umpires, The Detroit Free Press writes.

They have also said that any expansion on the program has been delayed until at least 2013.

Selig has indicated that adding replays for balls that are hit down the line, as well as for trapped balls, may be in the future, but he also reported that:

“I’ve had very, very little pressure from people who want to do more.”

Bud Selig, who has been teaching sports law at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukiee, Wisconsin for the past four years, states that he hopes to retire after his extended commission in 2014, according to The Detroit Free Press. Few people in the MLB world believe him, however, as this is not the first time he has said he will retire.

The Baseball Commissioner also stated that he is looking forward to seeing Wednesday night’s game between Philadelphia and Washington. The last time the two played, according to ESPN, Cole Hamels of the Phillies pitched against teenage rookie Bryce Harper of the Nationals, and deliberately hit Harper with a pitch.

Selig stated of Hamel’s admission post-game that he deliberately pegged the 19-year-old Harper that:

“Sometimes, some things are better unsaid. But I have to let that thing play out. I think the discipline was fair. I think we handled it well. Cole Hamels has been great since then. Harper’s been good. Both clubs have been good. I didn’t hear from either club.”

What do you think of Bud Selig’s lack of interest towards implementing more video replay for umpires?

Bud Selig: MLB Does Not Need More Video Replay Right Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

Facebook and Twitter have made it incredibly easy to share personal information with your family, friends, fans, and complete strangers. But some information should probably stay off of social media sites. You know, like HIV test results. But WR Dave Clowney was just too overjoyed with his test results that he just couldn’t keep them to himself.

So he did what anyone would do. He took a picture of his STD test results and tweeted out to the world.

Clowney tweeted:

“Got My HIV Results Back!! Thank God for keeping my body healthy and safe”

And in case you’re wondering, and I know you were, Clowney also doesn’t have hepatitis.

Helmet 2 Helmet reports that Clowney’s strange tweet is probably the biggest story of his career. Clowney entered the NFL as a fifth round draft pick in 2007. He has played with the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills. He wasn’t on the active roster in 2011 and just just 22 total receptions in his career.

But who cares about his stats. The important thing to note here is that Clowney does not have HIV. And he has proof.

WR David Clowney Tweets HIV Results is a post from: The Inquisitr

The penalty shootout victory against Germany’s Bayern Munich “was a Cinderella story,” Bleacherreport.com reported.

During normal play time, the Germans dominated the soccer field, however, Chelsea’s defense held strong for the most part.  When Bayern finally did break through, they were staring down the field at the often theatrical Didier Drogba.

The old war horse that is Drogba – in what is quite likely his last game with the club, as his contract expires next month in June – sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong direction to win the shootout 4-3 against Bayern in their hometown Allianz Arena.  Bastian Schweinstelger of Bayern missed the prior penalty shot in the shootout which came after Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Petr Cech, saved a spot-kick, in extra time, by Arjen Robben.

Early on, the game seemed swayed in favor in Bayern who won the toss to send the shootout to the home.  The Germans essentially dominated for the first 83 minutes of the game.

Bayern had an opportunity to win the match during extra time, however, they lost their chance during the lottery that is the penalty shootout as Juan Mata’s attempt was prevented by Manuel Neuer and Bastrian Schweinsteiger’s shot hit a post, leaving the match in the more than capable hands of Drogba.

Drogba scored with an impressive header that Neuer was unable to block, FoxSports.com reported.  Chelsea FC wins.

What were your thoughts on Chelsea’s 2012 UEFA Champions League win?

2012 Champions League Winner: Chelsea is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s a car? A motorcycle? Nope, it’s a T-Rex. Ben Wallace’s flashy sports vehicle popped on Twitter today and tongues started wagging.

The T-Rex, which is made by Campagna Motors, isn’t exactly a car and it isn’t exactly a motorcycle. It’s a close relative of the Trike and maybe a first cousin of the Can-Am Spyder. However you classify it, it’s a pretty cool vehicle.

Campagna writes:

“The one and only Original T-REX powered by a Kawasaki 1400cc engine. Comfortable and powerful, it has very unique and exclusive look… Prepare your journey and hit the road. Evolve the way you travel. Enjoy the electrifying thrills  and the absolute comfort of this unique piece of engineering everytime you go out.”

The T-Rex retails for close to $60,000. Which isn’t really a problem from Wallace, given that he’s made over $87 million during his 16-year NBA career.

But Wallace wasn’t out showing off his new motorcycle. He brought it into the shop on Monday morning and SB Nation blogger Evan Dunlap just happened to be in the same garage. Dunlap snapped a picture of the bike and sent out to Twitter.

What do you think of Ben Wallace’s ride? Here’s a better look at the vehicle.

Ben Wallace Rides A T-Rex is a post from: The Inquisitr

Udonis Haslem is remaining unapologetic for his hard foul against Tyler Hansbrough during the Miami Heat’s Tuesday night victory against the Indiana Pacers.

When asked about the hard foul in the first half of Tuesday night’s game Haslem says:

“I made a play on the ball. You can’t suspend me for making a play on the ball.”

Haslem also reminds reporters and the league that during his nine-years in the NBA he has never once been charged with a violent act against another player.

The league still has the option to upgrade the foul to a Flagrant 2 foul which would lead to a one game suspension however at this time there is no indication that such a call will be made.

For his part Hansbrough has been very low key about the foul, revealing:

“I really haven’t looked at it. Some people have told me it looked pretty bad, so I have to see it and make my own opinion about it … I don’t usually talk a lot.”

Players for the Indiana Pacers in the meantime are convinced that Udonis Haslem through the foul on purpose in retaliation against Hansbrough who landed a similarly hard hit against Dwayne Wade earlier in the game. Wade was hit so hard he started dripping blood from just above his right eye which led to a Flagrant 1.

Pacers forward Danny Granger tells the Sun-Sentinel:

“Obvious, it was retaliation for the Tyler’s foul on Wade … I saw it was bad in the game, then I came back here [the locker room] and saw the replay. It was about three times as worse. I’ll be shocked if they don’t upgrade it after looking at it.”

Do you think a Flagrant 2 upgrade is necessary following the hit?

Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem Remains Unapologetic: “I Made A Play On The Ball” is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat have fought back to a 3-2 lead in their 7 game series against the Indiana Pacers, but game six could be a tough one, especially if Udonis Haslem gets suspended for his flagrant foul on Tyler Hansbrough.

Fox News reports that the NBA will review the foul and will decide on a punishment, if any, before game six. Star Pacers player Danny Granger said that he expects Udonis to be on the bench during their next match-up.

Granger said:

“Obviously it was retaliation for Tyler’s foul on [Dwyane] Wade… I mean, I saw it was bad in the game. Then I came back here and I saw the replay. It looked about three times worse. That was all-out. I expect to see Flagrant 2. I’d be shocked if they don’t upgrade it after looking at that play. … Seeing it in slow motion, it was obvious what [Haslem's] intent was. I think it was just as dangerous as what Metta World Peace did to James Harden. I know he was trying to protect his teammate, but it was a hard foul.”

Haslem, of course, disagrees. Haslem, who is arguably the Heat’s best option to replace Chris Bosh, said that he’s been in the NBA for a long time and he’s never set out to hurt anyone.

Haslem said:

“Check my rap sheet. Nine years in this game, I ain’t never tried to hurt nobody… I made a play on the ball. You can’t suspend me for making a play on the ball.”

Here’s a look at Udonis Haslem’s hard foul on Tyler Hansbrough.

Do you think Haslem should be suspended? The Miami Heat will travel to Indiana on Thursday with the hopes of ending the series.

Udonis Haslem Should Be Suspended, Says Danny Granger is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom Brady’s dad may have raised a NFL star, but he doesn’t think the trend toward younger kids playing the rough contact sport is a great thing.

Nowadays, if you want your kid to grow up to be a Tom Brady, you are urged to start them very, very young in any pursuit- particularly athletic ones. And 20 years ago, sport wasn’t as competitive on the youth level as it is now, but another factor was at play, making the decision to start a kid on athletics when they’re still developing slightly more weighted.

Tom Brady will be 35 this summer, and growing up in the 80′s, the rules for everything physical were slightly different. Kids rarely wore helmets for bike-riding and padding to skate, and less was known about the impact of head injuries among youths playing sports.

But now we know, and Tom Brady’s dad thinks not enough care is given to protecting younger kids when playing dangerous sports like football. In an interview, Brady’s father explains:

“This head thing is frightening for little kids. There’s the physical part of it and the mental part- it’s becoming very clear there are very serious long-term ramifications. I think Kurt Warner is 100 percent correct. He’s there to protect his children, and these other people who are weighing in are not addressing the issue of whether it’s safe or not for kids.”

Tom Brady’s dad continues:

“All this stuff about, ‘He made his fame and fortune off of football,’ that’s true- but we didn’t know then what we know now. Apparently, they don’t take their own parenting responsibility very seriously, or they don’t value their children’s health as much as they should.”

Brady’s dad make the remarks in response to some “controversial” commentary from Kurt Warner on the subject of kids and football.

Tom Brady’s Dad is Wary of Kids Playing Football, Advises Caution on Head Injuries is a post from: The Inquisitr

Track star Lolo Jones bared all during a recent documentary aired on ESPN, and the athlete discussed in depth the frustrations of growing up poor and her struggles to remain a virgin before marriage.

Now 29, Jones talks about growing up in a family of six raised mostly by a single mom. Living at the Salvation Army, she speaks of shame when interacting with her peers, waking up early in order to avoid friends at day camp learning she slept in the same building’s basement.

Of her struggles to avoid others noticing how poor her family was, Lolo Jones says she became adept at stealing from grocery stores. She explains:

“I definitely would say, by sixth grade, I was a professional shoplifter- and not because I wanted to. I’m not going out to shoplift earrings or clothes or shoes like the average teenager… I was shoplifting frozen dinners at a grocery store. I could shoplift four frozen dinners, easily.”

Lolo Jones suffered a devastating setback at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but her reaction to the upset endeared her to fans as she prepares for the upcoming games. But while training for the Olympics is hard, Jones also says that it’s not the hardest thing she’s done- citing abstaining from sex as a larger challenge.

Of virginity, Lolo Jones says:

“It’s just something, a gift that I want to give to my husband… but please, understand, this journey has been hard… If there’s virgins out there, I’m going to let them know, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life- harder than training for the Olympics, harder than graduating from college, has been to stay a virgin before marriage.”

The track star continues, saying that the road to three decades of virginity wasn’t a smooth one:

“I’ve been tempted. I’ve had guys tell me, ‘You know, if you have sex, it will help you run faster.’”

Lolo Jones is currently gearing up for the Olympics qualifiers in Oregon.

Lolo Jones Talks Virginity, Says She Was a ‘Professional Shoplifter’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Houston Astros fan Shaun Dean (above, right) achieved every fan’s dream by catching a home run ball from the bat of one of his heroes – and then caught a second in the same game.

The 25-year-old Dean made his once- twice-in-a-lifetime catches from his position in the stands during Sunday’s staggering 18-inning Game 4 between the Astros and the Atlanta Braves.

First he caught Lance Berkman’s (above, left) grand slam, then got his hands around Chris Burke’s series-winning (not to mention historic) homer – Burke’s home run granted Houston a 7-6 victory and ended the longest postseason game in baseball history. Dean admitted, “I never caught one in a game before.”

Berkman’s eighth-inning homer flew straight at Dean’s seat in the second row of the boxes above the left-field wall at Minute Maid Park. “It came right at me,” Dean told the Houston Chronicle. “I just reached over and caught it.”

His second catch, from Burke, was not as straightforward. Dean said the ball “came more toward my father-in-law, and he just leaned over and I reached down and caught it.”

In an admirable gesture, construction worker Dean isn’t selling the balls for a ridiculously inflated price on eBay – instead, he’s handing them in to a Hall of Fame representative later this week.

In return for his goodwill, the Astros are giving him four box seats for Saturday’s game against St. Louis. Dean added:

“It’s cool to be able to give them back. It’s awesome. Without the home runs, these baseballs would mean nothing. They hit them. I just caught them. I’ve got no interest in cashing in.”

Houston Astros Fan Catches Two Home Run Balls is a post from: The Inquisitr

Joe Paterno spent 61-years coaching at Penn State and for his efforts he earned $13.4 million in state pension funds.

Sue Paterno, the widow of the late Joe Paterno said through her spokesman on Tuesday that the family would receive a single payment of $10.1 million from the state of Pennsylvania by the end of May with the remaining $3.3 million to be paid out over the next two years.

Joe Paterno’s retirement pension was fairly easy to figure out by applying his earned income over his time at Penn State and then applying that earned income to the State Employees’ Retirement System which pays out equal amounts to all employees based on their state paid income levels.

After receiving the rather large pension the Paterno family plans to donate $1.5 million to Penn State-related and State College-area charities.

Paterno began his coaching career at Penn State in 1950 and he took over the program in 1966 where he remained head coach until he was fired last year by school officials in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal that involved at least 10 children.

Penn State proceeded to pay Joe Paterno a $1.02 million compensation package last year. Paterno’s last payment did not include any type of endorsement deals. Paterno’s compensation package was actually rather small in comparison to other coaches such as Alabama’s Nick Saban who netted $4.6 million per year and Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and his $4 million.

Joe Paterno claimed throughout his career that he could care less about the money, in fact the Paterno family had given back nearly $9 million to Penn State and other local charities during his time at the university. The Penn State library bears the name of the Paterno family after they donated almost $4 million for its construction.

Joe Paterno’s State Pension Worth $13.4 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

The New York Knicks  and coach Mike Woodson are believed to be in the final stages of contract talks which will secure the coaches job in the next few days.

A source close to the talks tells ESPNNewYork.com:

“They’re just waiting on paperwork.”

A second source also called the contract “just a matter of time.”

Mike Woodson took over coaching duties after Mike D’Antoni stepped down on March 14. Under Woodson’s leadership the Knicked finished the regular season with an 18-6 record and a seventh place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Since taking over many of the Knicks top players including Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin have voiced their support for Woodson.  Earlier this month Carmelo Anthony wrote:

“I’m hopeful he’s back. There’s no need to try to change it up now. I’m a big believer in sticking with what you have.”

Rumors had been circulated over the last several weeks that the Knicks would try to woo former Bulls and Lakers head coach Phil Jackson out of retirement while another source claimed it would be Kentucky coach John Calipari.

In the meantime it doesn’t appear as if Phil Jackson wants out of his retirement and Calipari has repeatedly said he is not interesting in leaving his college coaching job for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Woodson in the meantime is no slouch, having taken the Atlanta Hawks to the playoffs in three of his six seasons with the club.

The New York Knicks front office is refusing to comment on Woodson’s contract negotiations at this time.

New York Knicks Close To Finalizing Mike Woodson Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

While the NFL has been battling cries for better concussion detection and management the league went in a different health direction on Tuesday, announcing a rule change that will require all players to wear thigh and knee pads starting in the 2013 season.

While the players’ union could oppose the rule because it was not collectively bargained, Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee says the rule is a “playing rule” and can therefore be implemented unilaterally.

Team owners also took time during their meeting to move from trading deadline from Week 6 to after Week 8 and they agreed to allow one “marquee” player placed on injured reserve to return to practice after the sixth game and then return to play after the eighth game. Team owners agreed that the returning player must be on the teams 53-man roster after the final preseason cut.

In the meantime NFL team owners agreed to wait on the 2013 thigh and knee pad rules so equipment manufacturers could work on the comfort and safety features for those pads, helping to ensure that performance decline is minimal for all players.

The NFL has come under fire over the last several years because of concussion and other injury related accidents, NFL team owners, commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL executives have promised since that time to make the sport a more friendly environment towards avoiding injury.

Do you think requiring thigh and knee pads in the NFL is a smart move for team owners to make on behalf of their players?

NFL Makes Knee And Thigh Pads Mandatory For 2013, Approves Other Immediate Rule Changes is a post from: The Inquisitr

It takes a big man to repeatedly get punched in the face but it takes a bigger man to admit his mistakes and that’s what UFC champion Jon “Bones” Jones did on Tuesday, apologizing to his UFC fans for “letting them down” after he was arrested one week earlier on charges of driving under the influence (DUI).

Speaking about his Saturday morning arrest Jones said he was “truly sorry” and added in no uncertain terms “I screwed up, big time.”

The 24-year-old was arrested on Saturday morning after his drunken escapes led to him totaling his Bentley in Upstate New York.

Following the incident Jon Jones wrote on his Facebook page:

“I screwed up, big time. Just needed to say thank you to all you guys for being amazing friends/supporters.”

The message continued:

“Although the hell that will come with this hasn’t even started yet, I want you guys to know how much better you’ve all made me feel, not only about this situation but about life, everything. It’s good to feel that people are there and care. With that being said, I felt I should apologize to you first. I’m truly sorry to those of you that I may have embarrassed in any way, to those of you with kids that I may have let down. I will prove to them as well as to myself, that no matter what is happening in life, we can always work our way back and make things even better than before.”

For whatever reason Jon “Bones” Jones has deleted the message from his Facebook page at this time but the sentiment still remains.

UFC Champ Jon “Bones” Jones Apologizes To Fans After DUI Arrest is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jessica Ennis was justifiably pleased when she bested Olympic champion Dawn Harper in the 100-meter hurdles race this past Sunday, but any joy she might have had was quickly dashed.

Not even an hour after Ennis passed up Harper and took the lead in the final stretch to win the hurdles race, her victory was taken from her thanks to an error on the part of the race organizers: Rather than having ten hurdles like everyone else, Ennis had nine.

‘We had an incredible day in Manchester yesterday,” Nova International spokesman David Hart said in a statement Monday (via Daily Mail). “We had 40,000 people taking part in the Great Manchester Run in the morning and we had a CityGames where we managed to lay 220 metres of perfectly flat track out on Deansgate and then didn’t put the last hurdle out for a race, so it’s not our proudest moment.

“Clearly as organizers of major sporting events it’s an unacceptable error and we are disappointed and sorry,” Hart continued. “I think it’s pretty safe to say that this mistake won’t happen again.”

It may be an error that Nova doesn’t intend to let happen again, but the news still came as a major disappointment to Ennis. The British heptathlete later said that she felt “let down,” “annoyed” and “disappointed.”

Still, Ennis’ coach, Toni Minichiello, said that she has moved on, and is instead focusing on her next run. “It’s a mistake, nobody’s aiming to make mistakes,” he said. “It’s unfortunate but you move on.”

Jessica Ennis Hurdles Victory Denied Due To Mix-Up is a post from: The Inquisitr

21-year-old Cheyenne Woods, the niece of famed golfer Tiger Woods, now shares something else with her uncle beyond their last name–they also now share agents.

On Monday, Woods, who just finished graduated Wake Forest University earlier on in the month, inked a deal with Excel Sports Management’s Mark Steinberg, who also happens to have been Tiger’s agent for around 13 years.

“We are excited about the opportunity to represent Cheyenne,” Steinberg said in a statement. “She had an outstanding career at Wake Forest and has the chance to be a major star on the women’s golf scene.”

“I am really looking forward to pursuing my goals and dreams to compete on the highest level,” said Woods, the daughter of Earl Woods Jr., Tiger’s half-brother. “As I begin my professional career, I am confident and excited about working with Excel as they help shape my future.”

Woods has big steps to follow considering her uncle Tiger is a 14-time major winner who is currently ranked seventh overall in the official global golf ranking, but she’s already off to a very good start. Cheyenne averaged 73.7 strokes per round during her senior year at the North Carolina school.

On top of that, Woods also was named an All-American in 2011, and she already has two collegiate tournament wins under her belt in her amateur career. Woods is planning on playing in LGPA events over the summer on sponsor exemptions.

Tiger Woods’ Niece Signs With Her Uncle’s Agent is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kellen Winslow, veteran tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is headed to the Seattle Seahawks after his now-former team traded him in exchange for a draft pick on Monday.

Considering Winslow’s comments in a recent SiriusXM radio interview with Ross Tucker, the trade doesn’t come as much of a surprise. In the interview, Winslow said that Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano was “upset” with him because he hadn’t been working out with the team during the offseason, and that the team was actively looking to trade him. On Monday, they did.

Instead of working out with his team, Winslow instead opted to go solo with his own workout program, doing most of it near his home in San Diego. Before he was scheduled to head back to Tampa on Monday for training with the team, he received a call from Schiano over the weekend with the bad news.

“He was kind of upset that I wasn’t there working out with the team in the offseason and for the first week of OTAs,” Winslow said during the interview with SiriusXM (via ESPN).

“But I’ve been there the last three years and I’ve had a successful career so far,” he added. “You don’t just get rid of one of your best players because of that. … I don’t have nothing bad to say about coach Schiano. It was just a disagreement on why I’m not there yet.”

Do you think that the Buccaneers made the right decision by trading Kellen Winslow?

Kellen Winslow Traded to Seahawks is a post from: The Inquisitr

At the start of the 2011 NBA season, no one really knew who Jeremy Lin was. The surprise point guard from Harvard created Linsanity when he took to the court and quickly became one of the New York Knicks’ most popular players.

Well, now it’s time to negotiate a contract and Lin said that he isn’t sure that he’ll be staying in New York.

Lin said:

“There’s always going to be uncertainty until the final contract is signed, so definitely nothing is set in stone. Nothing’s set in stone until it’s really written.”

Lin’s agent Roger Montgomery reiterated Lin’s sentiment, saying that there was no guarantee that Lin would continue to be a Knick. Montgomery said:

“We don’t have assurances of anything. I know history shows most restricted free agents go back to their team, but I’m not going to assume anything. We’re waiting to see what happens.”

When Jeremy Lin came to the New York Knicks he was a firm bench player that never really got to showcase his talents on the court. But now that Lin has proven himself to be worthy of a starting position, the Knicks will have to decide if they’re willing to pay to have Lin stay.

While a new contract is written up, and while various teams make pitches to Lin, the New York star will be heading to the Olympics as part of the USA Select Team. Lin won’t by playing for any medals, but he’ll be playing against the American Olympians during scrimmages.

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman, said in a statement:

“The USA Select Team was a vital part of the USA Men’s National Team’s training in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and again in 2012 we’ll utilize this team of select NBA players to help get our National Team ready for the very competitive summer that is ahead of us. Being chosen for the Select Team is quite an honor, and it’s an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s National Team program in the future. In the past, current national team finalists like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Iguodala, as well as many other outstanding players got their USA National Team start through the Select Team.”

Do you think Jeremy Lin will end up with the New York Knicks next year?

Jeremy Lin: It’s Possible That I’ll Leave New York Knicks is a post from: The Inquisitr

Well, it finally happened. The Orlando Magic fired head coach Stan Van Gundy.

NBA.com reports that President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Otis Smith has also agreed to step away from the team.

Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said:

“We sincerely appreciate and thank Otis and Stan for all that they have done on and off the floor for the Orlando Magic. These are the days you dread in this business, but we feel it’s time for new leadership and new voices…. They both brought die-hard dedication and an unmatched work ethic on a daily basis. Their success is well documented, as the Orlando Magic has had the fourth best record in the NBA over the last five years, and entering the playoffs this year the third most playoff wins over that period of time. The disappointment of getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs these past two seasons played a primary role in our decision, as we feel our momentum towards winning a championship has paused. We wish Otis and Stan all the best and we look forward to taking the next step towards winning that championship.”

USA Today reports that Van Gundy went 259-135 during his career with the Orlando Magic. The Magic made the playoffs every year with Van Gundy at the helm but only made it to the finals once in 2009.

Van Gundy battled with star Dwight Howard throughout the 2011-12 season. At one point, it was rumored that Howard wouldn’t re-sign his contract unless the Magic got rid of Van Gundy. 

After the Magic’s disappointing loss to the Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Van Gundy said that he wanted to return to the team next season. He also said that he hoped management would look at the results, and not dwell on the personal relationship between himself and Howard.

Van Gundy said:

“When you’re talking a professional relationship, what matters — at least to me — is the results. I don’t care if it’s a business relationship where two people at work are driving a business to make money, or if it’s a sports relationship, where the object is to win games. Those kinds of professional relationships should be based on results, not on do we like each other or whatever. So to me, the relationship was great. There’s a lot of wins and everything else.”

Do you think the Magic made the right decision by getting rid of Stan Van Gundy?

Stan Van Gundy Fired By Orlando Magic is a post from: The Inquisitr

Peyton Manning stepped out onto the field today in a Denver Broncos jersey. The long time Colt, who has been resting his throwing arm for months after he had shoulder surgery last year, completed his first mini-camp session today in Dove Valley, Colorado.

Manning told the Denver Post:

“It felt good to be out there. I haven’t really been out there like this for a year and a half. It’s a day I’ve been waiting on for a long time. I’ve always believed you develop your timing for the passing game in the offseason. You can’t just show up in September and expect to be on the same page. Offseason workouts, it’s a great time to make an impression on the coaches. Coaches are always evaluating, so there are a lot of benefits from this work.”

Manning missed most of last season due to injuries and in March he was officially let go by the Colts. Manning spent the spring talking to different teams about his future and eventually signed with the Denver Broncos. Tim Tebow, the Broncos starting quarterback in 2012, was traded to the New York Jets.

Offensive coordinated John Fox said:

“He’s getting better every day. His progress has been outstanding. We’re excited where he is. I think he’s pretty good right now, and we think he’ll get better. He definitely raises all boats, that’s for sure. That’s not just with the young players, but with the veterans.”

Here’s a video of Peyton Manning throwing passes with the Denver Broncos.

Do you think Peyton Manning will bring the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl this year?

Peyton Making Makes Passing Debut With Broncos [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Shanahan, Redskins coach, was knocked to the ground in a scary collision at the team’s new indoor practice facility on Monday.

Shanahan, in his third year with the Washington Redskins, was hit by receiver Pierre Garcon and cornerback Brandyn Thompson, after quarterback Robert Griffin III threw a deep pass, according to The Washington Post.

The coach was lying on the ground motionless for almost two minutes, before slowly getting to his feet. He was able to continue practice following several minutes with the team’s medical staff, and even smiled, despite a large red welt on his left cheek.

The Washington Times reports that linebacker London Fletcher stated:

“It was pretty bad looking. Obviously concerned about his safety. He wasn’t able to brace himself for the collision, either. He had his back to the play, so definitely a very scary feeling for a while out there.”

Griffin, the rookie quarterback who threw the ball, stated of Mike Shanahan’s collision:

“He showed some toughness…that’s a [benchmark] of our team. It was pretty scary, actually, seeing two guys running full-speed smack dab into your coach. We’re glad he got up, glad he was fine. We hope he’s fine tomorrow because usually hits like that don’t kick in until the next day.”

Garcon, one of the two players who hit Shanahan, remarked:

“Coach even asked who hit him. I was hoping he wasn’t (knocked) out. But you know how that is. It was a scary moment, you just never know.”

 According to The Washington Post, public relations director Tony Wylie called off the Redskin’s after practice media session, citing that Mike Shanahan was “not in a condition” to speak with reporters after the incident.

Mike Shanahan Bowled Over During Redskins Practice is a post from: The Inquisitr

How could you make a game about football and not include Tebowing? The world’s most famous touchdown dance will be featured in the new John Madden football game, Madden NFL ’13, which is set for release in August.

Mike Young, the game’s creative director, wrote on Twitter:

“Tebowing is in for #madden13.”

It isn’t clear if gamers will be able to control their players in order to make them strike the famous pose or if Tebowing will only come into effect after Tim Tebow crosses into the end zone. Regardless, it will be a pretty popular part of “Madden NFL ’13.”

Tebowing became an internet sensation when Tim Tebow lead the Denver Broncos to several miraculous wins last season. Since then, Peyton Manning has taken over the starting position in Denver and Tebow has been traded to the New York Jets.

Touchdown dances have been a staple of Madden NFL games since they first came out, so it isn’t a big surprise that Tim Tebow will be Tebowing in “Madden NFL ’13.”

Here are some touchdown dances from previous Madden games.

“Madden NFL ’13″ will feature Calvin Johnson on the cover. The game is set for an August 28th release.

Madden ’13 To Feature Tebowing is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Big Ten Conference has released the 2015 and 2016 football schedules, allowing the universities involved to scope out the competition.

Greg Pickel of PennLive.com stated for Penn State fans that:

“If you always dreaded Penn State’s proverbial noon kick-off at Northwestern, stop fretting.”

Penn State’s website also announced the new schedules for the Big Ten, noting that:

“Penn State will have a blockbuster conference home schedule in 2016, hosting Michigan State (Nov. 12) and Leaders Division rivals Indiana (Oct. 15), Ohio State (Oct. 29) and Wisconsin (Nov. 26). The Nittany Lions and Badgers are meeting in the final regular season game every year from 2011-16.”

Justin Dickens, writing for MGoBlue.com, wrote that Michigan State fans should be excited to renew their rivalry with Wisconsin, who they have not played against since 2010. They will host the Badgers on October 10 2015.

The Big Ten Conference’s website, bigten.org, stated in the announcement that:

“The 2015 campaign will culminate with the fifth annual Big Ten Football Championship Game, to be held Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, which is set to host the first five title contests. The 2016 season will conclude with the sixth annual Big Ten Football Championship Game, to be held Dec. 3 at a site to be determined. FOX will serve as the official broadcast partner of the Big Ten Football Championship Games through 2016. The full 2015 and 2016 Big Ten schedules are attached as PDFs.”

The conference’s announcement explained the scheduling by saying that each school will be playing the other five withing it’s division, and also will see games with three teams from the other division. This reportedly includes a “cross-division matchup.” They announced that the following cross-matchups were guaranteed:

“Iowa-Purdue, Michigan-Ohio State, Michigan State-Indiana, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Nebraska-Penn State and Northwestern-Illinois.”

Click here for the full schedules for the 2015 and 2016 Big Ten Conference seasons.

Big Ten Conference Announces 2015 And 2016 Football Schedules is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apparently all it takes for Tim Tebow to become an E! Entertainment Television celebrity these days was a decent college football career, a couple of come-from-behind NFL wins and a very public belief in god.

Sports Illustrated is reporting that Tim Tebow is getting his own 30-minute special airing on E! although what the airing will showcase about the New York Jets quarterback is still unknown.

We do know that E! camera crews were on hand with nearly 200 media members when Tim Tebow was introduced In New York on March 26.

It is not very often that a backup quarterback in the NFL receives the type of press attention Tebow is receiving however an E! executive says of his celebrity:

“Tebow is a pop culture phenomenon, and the interest in his life expands beyond the world of sports.”

In the meantime Jets quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh thinks Tim Tebow could step out of the shadows as a future starting QB for the Jets. According to Cavanaugh:

“I was pleasantly surprised when I saw him over an extended period of time … not just watching him play on film. I think he’s certainly got the arm strength. He has good mechanics. They’re getting better every day.”

Let’s be honest about something for a moment, Tim Tebow is known for an anti-abortion commercial, praying after touchdowns and being ditched by the Denver Broncos in favor of Peyton Manning, other than that a 30-minute special seems a bit premature for a backup quarterback.

Tim Tebow Gets E! Entertainment Documentary is a post from: The Inquisitr

Babe Ruth continues to set records well after his death. The Sultan of Swat’s jersey from the 1920s managed to rake in $4.4 million this week, setting a world record as the world’s most expensive piece of sports memorabilia.

Sold by SCP Auctions the final price for the jersey was $4,415,658, surpassing the former record for the “original rules of basketball” which were written by Dr. James Naismith who created the game at a YMCA in 1891. The rules of basketball fetched $4,338,500 at auction.

This time around the winning bidder of the Babe Ruth jersey has chosen to remain anonymous.

The bid also means the famous T-206 Honus Wagner tobacco baseball car is no longer the most expensive piece of baseball memorabilia. The Wagner sold in 2007 for $2.8 million.

Bidding for the Babe Ruth jersey reached a frenzy as 36 people placed bids on the piece of sports history on April 30. Before going up for sale the jersey was housed in a Baltimore museum from 2004-2009 courtesy of a private collector.

The auction also produced some other big ticket items including Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring which fetched $230,401 alongside a Ruth cap that was worn by former Yankee David Wells which brought in $537,278. The auction also brought in $366,967 for the jersey Mickey Mantle was wearing when he hit his 535th home run.

If you really want to own a piece of Babe Ruth history his former Massachusetts home is up for sale with a buying price of 5,124, a steal if you consider it comes with 5,124 square feet.

Babe Ruth Jersey Sells For $4.4 Million At Auction is a post from: The Inquisitr

New York Ranger forward Brandon Prust has been suspended for one game by NHL officials after he elbowed New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Prust was part of a telephone hearing with NHL discipline specialist Brendan Shanahan on Sunday afternoon. During the chat the two men discussed the elbow to Volchenkov’s helmet during the Rangers’ 3-0 win on Saturday.

Prust will likely be replaced by forward Brandon Dubinsky who hasn’t played since injuring his right foot during Game 7 of the playoff’s first round.

While Prust will suffer through a one-game suspension Volchenkov appeared fine following the hit, while he stayed down on the ice for a short period of time he didn’t miss a shift and no penalty was called at the time of the elbow.

The one game suspension was handed down because no injury was reported and because Prust in his five seasons has never been disciplined for violent behavior.

In explaining the one-game suspension Shanahan said Prust “flared his elbow” when hitting Volchenkov.

Defending his player was New York Rangers coach John Tortorella who said the hit didn’t warrant a suspension.

In the meantime playoff suspensions have definitely not been sparse with Brendan Shanahan handing out 13 suspensions since the playoffs began and the second handed out to a Rangers player after Rookie forward Carl Hagelin was put on a three-game suspension for elbowing Daniel Alfredsson in the head during the teams seven-game series against the Ottawa Senators.

Do you think Brandon Prust got what he deserved or did Brendan Shanahan overreact?

New York Rangers Forward Brandon Prust Suspended One Game For Elbowing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring sold for more than $230,000 at auction.  Current Giant Osi Umenyiora was bested by the fans as he admitted that he will fail at his attempt to get the ring back for Taylor.

$192,001 is all it took to win the ring after the deadline for bids was extended and the bid was down to three votes. With the addition of buyer’s premium the price settled for about $230,401.20.

Current Giants defensive end Umenyiora, had made a deal with Taylor that if he could get his Twitter followers to rise to 500,000 he would win the ring and give it back to Taylor.

When the list never got higher than 55,000 Umenyiora tweeted,

“Well i guess we didn’t make it to 500k for LT. But i appreciate the people who tried. #respect# you can now unfollow me.”

Lawrence Taylor wasn’t even aware that the ring was up for auction.  He won the ring at the end of the 1990-1991 campaign which saw the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl.

A longtime representative of Taylor told FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer on Friday that the former NFL legend had given the ring to his son TJ.  It really wasn’t on Lawrence Taylor to tell his son what to do with the ring.

Mark Lepselter. Taylor’s agent, told Glazer.

“Lawrence was in fact unaware of it but said he gave it to TJ and it’s his right to do what he wants with it. He’s fine with whatever TJ decided,”

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV Ring Sold For $230,000 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The gesture came after LeBron James missed a free throw following a technical  foul in the third quarter of the Pacers’ 94-75 Game three win.

On Saturday Stephenson told NBA.com:

“I was wrong and disrespectful to my teammates, the Miami Heat and their organization. I’m sorry that I did that. It was very disrespectful.”

Stephenson then continued:

“(I) try to talk to other players, but in a good way. Get them off their game a little bit but not being disrespectful. I just got out of hand one time, and I’ll never do it again.”

While the replay of his choking gesture has been shown many times on television over the last several days Miami Heat’s LeBron James had avoided the media fallout until finally revealing on Saturday:

“Lance Stephenson? You want a quote about Lance Stephenson? I’m not even going to give him the time. Knock it off.”

You may recall that James is no stranger to strange NBA playoffs moments, in 2007 he compared himself to Jay-Z and Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson to one-hit wonder Soulja Boy.

In the meantime its not like Lance Stephenson has had a chance to choke on his own, he has only played for one minute in the Miami Heat series and during his 42 games this season he averaged just 2.5 points. It is sure easy not to choke when you spend most of your time warming the bench.

Lance Stephenson Apologizes For Inappropriate LeBron James Gesture is a post from: The Inquisitr

I’ll Have Another kept his triple crown hopes alive with a win today at the Preakness. The Kentucky Derby winner chased down the Preakness Stakes favorite Bodemeister to become the first horse since 2008 to win the first two races of the Triple Crown.

USA Today reports that I’ll Have Another will head to the Belmont Stakes in three weeks with the hopes of becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978.

I’ll Have Another’s trainer Doug O’Neill said:

“I can’t even put it into words, it’s just incredible… What a ride. (Jockey Mario Gutierrez) was so patient. We’re thinking Triple Crown, baby. Come on, why not.”

O’Neill said last week that he hoped to run out front during the Preakness. But the race played out just like the Kentucky Derby. Favorite Bodemeister pulled out ahead, but just like in the Derby, I’ll Have Another was able to run him down and take the win.

O’Neill said last week:

“You never know, but as long as we continue to train like our horse has trained, we won’t be that far off Bodemeister. If anything, Bodemeister might be behind us early. I could see him chasing us, I really could.”

O’Neill will have a few weeks to figure out his strategy for the Belmont. Do you think I’ll Have Another will win the Triple Crown?

I’ll Have Another Wins Preakness is a post from: The Inquisitr

An only-only isolation camera will be focused on the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner, I’ll Have Another.  For those looking for an isolation camera on the favorite, Bodemeister, it appears as if you’re out of luck at this year’s Preakness 2012.

To watch the second leg of the Triple Crown in Pimlico live online, visit NBC Sports to view the Preakness Stakes live online stream.

I’ll Have Another pulled off an improbable win earlier in the season in the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs with 15-1 odds.  During the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister took off fast from the gates, but ran out of steam as the race came to an end.

Police in Baltimore have indicated that up to 50,000 individuals showed up at Pimlico for the 2012 Preakness Stakes.  The police department expects roughly 112,000 people to show up at the event by the time the big race has been run.  Last year’s attendance was reported to have been around 107,398, making it the sixth largest.  A decline in attendance in previous years has been attributed to the elimination of the B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beer) drinking policy.

Regardless of the elimination of the B.Y.O.B. policy, beer at the event appears plentiful as race organizers are offering all-you-can drink draft beer.  While the lines might be long, the spirits are certainly flowing.

Who do you think is going to win the 2012 Preakness?

2012 Preakness Stakes Live Stream: Watch The Race Online is a post from: The Inquisitr

The award, named after the NBA’s second commissioner, is presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.  The annual award is given to the trainer, coach, or player who exhibits outstanding service and dedication to the community.

In regards to Gasol’s achievement, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, who is also the president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association, was quoted by NBA.com having said:

“Pau’s work epitomizes all that is good about NBA players and their charitable works not only in their own communities but around the world. Working to help children realize their potential and to provide them with opportunities they might not otherwise get truly characterizes outstanding service and dedication.”

Gasol has served as a UNICEF ambassador for the past seven years and as such, he has traveled the world in the off-season in order to work with programs focused on education and nutrition for children, LA Times reported.

The 2010-11 winner of the Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship Award was Ron Artest, also of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Prior to Gasol and Artest of the Lakers receiving of the prestigious award, Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers received the citizenship award.

Gasol is scheduled to play for Spain in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, England between July 29 and August 12.  The professional athlete attended medical school at Spain’s University of Barcelona.  His maintained interest in the field of healthcare has resulted in his having witnessed a spinal surgery back in 2010.

What are your thoughts on the charitable efforts of Pau Gasol?

Pau Gasol Takes Home The NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is a post from: The Inquisitr

Following Wade’s atrocious performance and the Heat’s trouncing, Miami fans were left wondering if their hard-court hero was playing hurt.

While Wade’s teammates said that they were unaware of any injuries plaguing the star, ESPN reports that the former NBA champion may have been actually playing in pain.

ESPN’s Michael Wallace writes:

Wade is dealing with lingering injuries that forced him to miss several games late in the regular season, and the Miami Heat guard required treatment in recent days for knee and leg soreness, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.

Along with the horrible night he experienced on the court, Wade also caught some attention off it as well.

In the third quarter of the Heat’s 94-75 blowout loss, Wade and coach Erik Spoelstra had a heated verbal altercation. Spoelstra downplayed the tiff in a post-game conference saying confrontations like those are routine during intense moments in games and practices

“Anybody that has been part of a team or has been a coach or been a player, you have no idea how often things like that happen,” Spoelstra said. “That was during a very emotional part of the game. We were getting our butt kicked. Dwyane and I have been together for a long, long time. We’ve been through basically everything.”

Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless discuss the Dwayne Wade – Erick Spoelstra verbal spat in the clip below:

Regardless of what is going on with Dwayne Wade (other analysts have attributed his struggles to the absence of injured Chris Bosh) one thing is clear: he will need to get his act together before Sunday’s game 4, or be faced with a reality that has his team taking the early bus home and the Pacers headed to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Source/img via ESPN

Dwyane Wade Injured? Miami Heat Star Reportedly Playing in Pain is a post from: The Inquisitr

Brian Price was hospitalized for three days, following the death of his sister in a hit-and-run car accident.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Price, 23, looked up to his sister. He stated on Friday that:

“Yeah, she was like my personal cheerleader, like my No. 1 fan. She would be there every day, especially after every game. Win, lose or draw, she was like, ‘Go get them next time.’”

The Tampa Bay defensive tackle, a former UCLA star, has been struggling with his sister’s death, the third sibling he has lost. Both of the 23-year-old’s older brothers in gang related shootings in L.A. before he was 15.

The L.A. Times reports that Chuck Price (no relation), the defensive tackle’s agent, told reporters that:

“He physically broke down. He had a high fever, was dehydrated, and couldn’t hold anything down. That stress just plays a wicked role.”

Brian Price’s sister, Bridget, left behind two sons, 7 and 9, who reportedly look up to the NFL star, and consider him a father-figure. Price reportedly wants to adopt the two boys, whose fathers are not in their lives.

The Tampa Bay player took the boys to their first baseball game the day before Bridget was killed. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Price stated:

“When they got home, she sent me a text and said, ‘I really appreciate you doing that. You’re their father figure. I love you so much. You’ve had such a positive impact.’ It was a real long text and really emotional.”

The NFL player learned of his sister’s accident when he was going through security at the Los Angeles Airport. He was on his way to the hospital when another sister called to tell him that his sister didn’t make it through surgery. He told reporters that:

“It didn’t feel real. I started cussing her out because I didn’t know it was real. I was like, ‘What the hell are you talking about.’ After it happened, it didn’t seem real. It still doesn’t seem real. It hasn’t really hit me. Sometimes it hits me for a couple of minutes. But it still doesn’t feel real.”

Brian Price has seen more tragedy in his life than most people at the age of 23, as Bridget was his third sibling to die young. The Tampa Bay Times reports that he stated:

“When tragedy does strike you, you have to look up to the skies and know that everything happens for a reason. We may not know that reason. I get (mad) just thinking about it, thinking why does this have to happen. But who am I to question God. I’m just a humble servant.”

Brian Price Hospitalized Following Death Of Sister is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Italian player called for the trainer after falling behind 3-0. She had her wrist re-taped, but the pain ended up being too much and she was forced to concede during the fifth game after 28 minutes of play.

“For me it was good because I have played every day and I haven’t had a day off,” said Williams, who won Italy’s clay-court tournament 10 years ago. “I hope she is feeling better.”

The victory extended Williams’ winning streak to 17 matches following titles in Charleston and Madrid. She also has two victories in Fed Cup.

Williams’ next opponent will be French Open champion Li Na, who eliminated fourteenth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Older sister Venus Williams plays defending champion Maria Sharapova later Friday.

On men’s side, No. 3 ranked Rafael Nadal got the upper hand against Tomas Berdych, grinding out a 6-4, 7-5 entertaining victory to seal his place in the semi-finals of a Rome Masters event which he is seeking a sixth title.

“I played one of my best matches of the year today,” Nadal told a news conference following the match. “Tomas is a player with a lot of confidence and playing very well, so I am very happy with how I played.

“I did one fantastic thing, in my opinion. I stepped inside the court a lot, with my forehand and my movements were fantastic.”

Next up for Nadal will be sixth-seeded David Ferrer, who beat Richard Gasquet 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will play No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later today and Federer will be up against Andreas Seppi of Italy.

via USA Today
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Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal Reach Italian Open Semifinals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kerry Wood’s career is coming to a close. The Chicago Cubs pitcher is expected to announce his retirement after today’s game.

Wood is 0-2 this season with an 8.64 ERA. The 34-year-old has been battling health issues and has decided to call it quits. Wood will be available to pitch today but it’s not clear whether or not Dale Sveum will call him to the mound one last time.

The Cubs have not commented on the situation.

Wood’s biggest accomplishment game during his rookie season when he tied the Major League strikeout record with 20 and earned the nickname Kid K. He helped the Cubs find their way to the playoffs in 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2008. Wood spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs but also played with Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees.

Wood was a two-time All-Star and will finish his career with an 86-75 record and 3.67 ERA. He also had 63 saves.

Wood returned to Chicago in 2011 but his trip back to Wrigley hasn’t gone exactly as planned. Last Wednesday he blew a 1 run lead against St. Louis. The week prior Wood threw his hat and gloves into the stands after a poor performance against Atlanta.

But today, if Kerry Wood steps out to the mound, fans will hopefully remember him for moments like this.

Kerry Wood To Retire After Today’s Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake has been an unsung hero for his team in this years NBA playoffs. In game 7 of his teams first-round series against the Denver Nuggets he scored 19 points which in turn helped the Lakers claim a win. Now he’s realizing after a 77-75 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday how quickly fans can turn against him.

During game 3 of the Thunder series Blake missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer and after the game Blake and his wife Kristen were inundated on Twitter with foul-mouthed tweets and death threats.

As one below average intelligence Twitter user tweeted:

“I hope your family gets murdered.”

Kristen retweeted that idiots remarks with the simple word: “Wow.”

Blake’s wife then also mentioned that she had to block more than 500 people from her timeline because of similar comments while she quoted the a bible verse: ”Pray for those who abuse you.”

After a Lakers practice on Thursday Blake said of the situation:

“It’s pretty disappointing that there are a lot of hateful people out there, but you move on. I just don’t appreciate it when it’s toward my family. You can come at me all you want but when you say things about my wife and my kids, that makes me upset.”

Steve Blake admits that he doesn’t pay attention to his Twitter feed and that it was his wife who noticed the threats against him.

Sticking up for his Lakers teammate was Kobe Bryan who tweeted:

“Lakers fans who said bad things to Blake and his wife on twitter — you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Lakers Guard Steve Blake, Wife Receive Death Threats After Playoff Loss is a post from: The Inquisitr

ESPN is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed star running back LeSean McCoy to a five-year contract extension worth a whopping $45 million.

Per the report, McCoy’s deal — which (monetarily speaking) catapults him to an elite class of RBs that include Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson — includes about $20.765 million of guaranteed money and puts him under contract through the 2017 season.

“We are excited to continue this offseason of taking care of our own players,” coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “LeSean is one of the most electrifying running backs in the National Football League. He can do it all — run, catch, block and score touchdowns from anywhere on the field. He’s worked extremely hard to turn himself into a Pro Bowl running back and he is well deserving of this contract extension. I give a lot of credit to Howie Roseman and Drew Rosenhaus for hammering out this deal.”

So just how good is LeSean McCoy?

In 2011, the 23-year-old second round draft pick set franchise records with 17 touchdowns rushing, and 20 total scores, while earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Sports Illustrated writes he also led the NFL with 102 first downs and 48 runs of 10-plus yards, while averaging 4.8 yards per carry and finishing as the league’s fourth-leading rusher with 1,309 yards.

“I love this team, and I’m kind of a hometown kid from Harrisburg which is like an hour and a half away,” McCoy said Thursday night after news of his deal went public. “Nothing could be better than being here for the long term. Once you kind of realize the feeling of wanting to be here for the long term, we contacted the team and it was a mutual feeling. So, it kicked off from there.”

McCoy, who, prior to his new deal, was scheduled to be paid $615,000 in base salary for 2012, also took to Twitter to offer some additional thanks.

“Thank u lord for everything because nothing would b possible without u… To the whole eagles management THANK YOU !!!!”

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles Agree to 5-Year, $45M Extension is a post from: The Inquisitr