7:17 PM The Associated Press reports, "three lacrosse players at Sacred Heart (CT) college have been charged with conspiring to sexually assault a female student." Lawyer for one of the accused says the allegations are "grossly exaggerated."
7:15 PM I've heard from several Michigan fans who say they'll be wearing ski masks for next MSU-UM game. Sorry Sparty.
College football fans will likely recall Matt Vasgersian’s epic call of Owen Schmitt’s touchdown in West Virginia’s upset win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. As the burly Schmitt barreled down the sideline en route to a long touchdown, Vasgersian yelled, “Like a runaway beer truck!”
(This isn’t a mugshot, but whatever his mugshot looked like is undoubtedly inferior to this.)
It was an iconic nickname in an era where so few are spontaneous and evocative, and one that stuck with him as he joined the NFL. Spontaneous and evocative, yes, but now, extremely unfortunate.
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.
During Rick Sutcliffe’s epic drunken on-air rant back in 2006 in San Diego, he kept asking Padres announcer Matt Vasgersian why he was still in San Diego, and that he should be doing bigger and better things. Well, you finally got your wish, Sut. Vasgersian has been hired as the lead anchor of the new MLB NETWORK, which is launching in January.
Vasgersian is one of “those guys” in the sports announcing world. It seems like he’s everywhere. He calls football games for Fox, worked for NBC at the Olympics this year, and also hosts poker shows. His rapport with Mark “Mud” Grant on Padres broadcasts have helped make the Padres actually watchable over the past few seasons.
