3:16 PM The Notre Dame coaching situation is a lot simpler than most people make out. If Charlie Weis wins out, he keeps his gig for one more year at the most. If he doesn't, he's gone. What's so hard about that to understand?
3:04 PMSteve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle has one of the funniest pieces I've read this year - somehow centered on bizarre finish of the Tulsa-Houston football game. Shut up and read homie.
2:47 PM Sounds pretty harsh, but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was suspended for four games and fined $30,000 for saying the presiding referee in his team's last match was too fat.
2:31 PM Those of you who thought the Super Bowl halftime show couldn't possibly get any lamer? Yeah, wrong. Reportedly. (Will this pull Pete away from his *research*?)
You have to feel bad for Deuce McAllister. The two-time Pro Bowler who might be the greatest running back in New Orleans Saints history (sorry, Dalton Hilliard) was cut by the team a few weeks ago, a victim of the salary cap and the Saints’ continued belief that Reggie Bush is an every down back.
And it appears that McAllister is a victim of harsh economic realities in more ways than one. It seems that Deuce has several business interests, including Deuce McAllister Nissan in Jackson, Mississippi. As you might have heard, the US auto market is in freefall mode, and McAllister’s dealership is no exception: The JACKSON CLARION-LEDGER is reporting the dealership is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as Nissan is looking to recover almost $7 million owed to them.
How badly have sales slumped? Deuce McAllister Nissan sold 107 cars in February 2008. Last month they sold 28. And these are Nissans, cars that people actually want, not Fords or Chevys. McAllister was also a victim of bad timing, as he expanded the dealership just as the market tanked.
Not only does Nissan say McAllister’s dealership owes him $6.9 million, but they also claim that it exceeded its credit limit by more than $1.6 million. Which makes me wonder - shouldn’t someone at Nissan have done something when the dealership exceeded it’s credit line by, oh, say, $1 million? If I am one day late with a credit card payment, I’m getting hounded by phone calls.
Meanwhile, Matt Vasgersian’s potty mouth has gotten him into trouble again. Back in 2007 while working as the play-by-play voice for the Padres, he was caught making a (what he thought was off-air) expletive-laden tirade against St. Louis Cardinals fans and the city. Matt’s now the main studio host for the MLB Network, and as SHARAPOVA’S THIGH says, last night he had a slightly unprofessional (and NSFW) reaction to confusing Fernando Valenzuela and Fernando Vina:
If this is going to be what the MLB Network is all about, I might be more inclined to tune in. More swearing, less replays of Game 3 of the 2008 World Series, please.
Finally, the BBC says that a man has been arrested and charged with breaking into Manchester United player Darren Fletcher’s home and threatening his fiancee at knifepoint. Here’s the frightening part: this is believed to be the 14th soccer player from Manchester and the Merseyside area who has been attacked in the past three years. No wonder Cristiano Ronaldo was so eager to leave.
A funny find by NESW SPORTS: a video highlighting NBA trash talk from the 1980s. Apparently Larry Bird was also a legend at running his mouth:
Darryl Strawberry tells the AP that he understands how tempted Alex Rodriguez must have been to use steroids, and that if they were readily available in the 1980s they “probably would have been in my system.“Along with enough cocaine to give an elephant a heart attack.
In a display of grotesque irony, the MISSISSIPPI PRESS says that CFL wide receiver Jason Armstead - who has the words “Speed” and “Kills” tattooed on his legs - was chased down on foot and arrested by a cop after Armstead allegedly flashed a gun at his former girlfriend. The cop is expected to sign a contract with the Roughriders later this week.
Miami has dropped its bid for an MLS expansion team because of the current economic market, according to the MIAMI HERALD. Miami had been considered a front-runner, with a bid backed by soccer powers Barcelona.
And any GMs out there, Barry Bonds wants to play again so, you know, call him or whatever. MLB.COM has the story, which is probably enough for Matt Vasgersian to drop a few more f-bombs.
INSIDE WORLD SOCCER says the manager of struggling English soccer team Southhampton has told his players to give up sex and “live like monks“ until they are safe from relegation.
I agree with MLB TRADE RUMORS that Odalis Perez’s comments that “nine or 10 teams” are interested in his services for the upcoming season should be treated with skepticism. Unless those teams are in independent minor leagues, or maybe somewhere in Asia.
With Carmelo Anthony’s recent suspension in mind, COMPLEX breaks down five great moments of NBA insubordination. But it only covers in-game incidents. Sorry, Latrell Spreewell, this means you’re not on the list.
Josina Anderson of FOX 31 in Denver reports “There has been a ‘rash of positive tests under the steroid policy as a result of players taking water pills to lose weight,’ a highly-placed NFL source said.
“The source told FOX 31’s Josina Anderson Friday morning that New Orleans Saints’ running back Deuce McAllister, and defensive end Will Smith were included in the web of positive tests. There are about six to ten overall positive tests. Three to four of them are from the Saints organization alone including McAllister and Smith.”
Water pills? What the hell? Why would anyone care about that? Well, apparently those “water pills” can help mask the usage of steroids. Read more…
