8:01 PM Interesting statistical analysis by the college hoops blog Storming The Floor on the sons of famous basketball players. The apple falls a lot farther from the tree than most people probably realize.
7:41 PMChris Mortensen reports: "As I reported earlier on SC & MNCD, Big Ben is telling teammates and friends he's fine, will play vs. Ravens on Sunday night."
7:20 PM ESPN has announced college football's award finalists. One glaring omission: USC's Taylor Mays not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given annually to CFB's top defensive back.
Anaheim Ducks captain Chris Pronger appeared to have caught the NHL’s unofficial superstars’ exemption, when it was announced by the league earlier in the week that he would not be suspended for what was clearly a skate stomp on the leg of Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler during their game Wednesday.
Not so, said the league today, and Pronger was hit with an eight-game suspension without pay. Read more…
It’s a shame Anaheim Ducks defender Chris Pronger isn’t in the NFL, as he’d fit right in with the Giants’ “Stompin’ You Out” mentality, to say nothing of Albert Haynesworth. Apparently, the NHL had no problem with his stomping on Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler on Wednesday, opting not to take any disciplinary against Pronger.
Those looking for consistency in their dispensation of penalties might be a little flummoxed by this development, what with the New York Islanders’ Chris Simon getting a 30-game suspension for a similar stomp on the Penguins’ Jarkko Ruutu. But he’s not an all-star! Nuts to him!
ISLES’ SIMON TAKING TIME OFF AFTER SAT. SKATE STOMP: After stomping on the foot of an opposing player, hockey goon Chris Simon is going to take a little time off:
The NEW YORK TIMES reports that the Islanders forward is taking a paid leave of absence in order to undergo counseling, according to team owner Charles Wang.
During Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, Simon was heading to the bench, when he snuck up on the Penguins’ Jarkko Ruuttu and stomped his skate on the player’s foot:
It’s not even the first time this year Chris has attempted injury on the ice. Back in March, Simon was suspended 25 games for hitting the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick:
Simon has already been suspended six times in his NHL career, with #7 likely coming on Tuesday. When asked why Simon hasn’t been shipped out, coach Ted Nolan responded, “The easiest thing to do is to make the problem go away. We’re much more compassionate than that.”
Plus, they don’t want Simon showing up at Nassau Coliseum in another team’s jersey, looking for revenge.