Tuesday a misdemeanor battery allegation filed by a woman against Warren Sapp the day before the Super Bowl was dropped. David Ovalle of the MIAMI HERALD reports the galling details:

The woman had claimed Sapp pushed her during an argument in a room at the Shore Club, and she fell awkwardly on her leg. She said she was in “excruciating pain” and had to limp through the hotel lobby with the help of an unknown man who had been walking through the hallway.

But witnesses and hotel video surveillance indicated the woman was “walking in high heeled stilettos, and acting in a jovial manner” as she left the Shore Club.

Because of glaring inconsistencies in her testimony — one witness also said the woman kept partying at her house after the incident — prosecutors felt they could not prove the misdemeanor battery count, according to a close-out memo filed by Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Heather Ravich.

That allegation caused the NFL Network to yank Sapp off its Super Bowl coverage and subsequent broadcasts. Not to mention heaping scorn from the public on the former All-Pro NFL player. (The abuse on Twitter.com alone was astonishing.)

Who knows how much the allegation will ultimately damage Sapp’s reputation and future earning power. Not to mention lost income the past two months.

Meanwhile the identity of the New York City woman who made the false accusation against Sapp continues to be kept secret by the media. Until now.

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At first blush, we’re all thinking ‘Vince Young, as crazy as ever.’ (Exception, Mike Greenberg: ‘I really like pie.’). And truthfully, I’m not really ready to let him do my taxes or babysit the kids. But could it be, perhaps, that the Titans quarterback is on the road to recovery?

The man has had his ups and downs to be sure. In an article that appeared on ESQUIRE.COM on Tuesday, Young talked about his life, his tribulations, and his belief that he will rise from the ashes. And not only did he give notice that he will win a Super Bowl title, but he also had another, bigger prediction. Read more…

With a new NFL season approaching, we’re looking forward to another year of exciting & titillating coverage. And we know just the lady to provide it: Ines Sainz.

As you may or may not recall (but will be happy to be reminded), Ms. Sainz is a sports reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca. She made quite an impression at Super Bowl Media Day a few years back, and last season even got a camera-shy Terrell Owens to come out of his shell. (TV tip to T.O.: Get Ines on your reality show, and folks might actually tune in.)

Let’s hope that CBS or Fox or NBC or ESPN can broker some kind of talent exchange deal with TV Azteca, so we can see Ines strut her stuff on the sidelines from San Diego to Cincinnati, move her money maker from Miami to Minnesota, bounce that butt from Baltimore to the Bay Area … well, you get the idea.

(More pics of Ines after the jump.)

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TMZ reports that Michael Jackson has died. The self-proclaimed King of Pop apparently suffered a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home Thursday afternoon.

The site says paramedics arrived at Jackson’s home but could not revive him. He was later taken to a hospital where further resuscitation proved unsuccessful. The 50-year-old entertainer leaves behind three children.

*UPDATE*: The LOS ANGELES TIMES confirms Jackson’s death.

And Jacko’s connection to sports? Read more…

In its never-ending quest to spread the global fame of its fair sport, the National Football League is thinking about moving the Super Bowl overseas.

(London Fletcher soon won’t be the only London in the NFL)

The BBC reports that NFL officials have had “substantial talks” with officials from the city of London about bringing the Big Game to the land of bangers & mash. Since the last couple of regular season games have done so well in Wembley Stadium, the league & London seem serious about holding a Super Bowl across the pond:

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• The Mets are mad at Dwight Gooden for holding an impromptu autograph session on their brand new Citi Field walls.

• Some pretty exciting playoff performances by the Bulls & Sixers so far. Too bad it’s all a formality until the Lakers-LeBron finals.

• It’s one thing for linemen to get the late-night munchies, but stealing $82 worth of hamburgers & Hot Pockets from other people’s fridges?

• Looks like the Cavs have found their new playoff anthem, thanks to Joe Smith … er, Joe Beast.

• Another great use for Twitter: Calling local sportswriters fat.

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• Danica Patrick has a cute li’l back tattoo, but you wouldn’t have known it from her latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot.

(Danica: with tattoo and without)

• Just how bad have things become for the San Francisco 49ers? They might soon welcome in Michael Vick AND Raiders fans.

• Hasheem Thabeet survives a fall, but his #1 UConn Huskies do not.

• Mike Leach & Texas Tech are taking their cases to the media.

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• Super Bowl viewers in Tucson were treated to a 30-second clip of some guy’s schlong. And for those who are curious, here’s what they saw.

• That pornographic interruption was probably more fun than actually going to a Super Bowl party.

• Should Erin Andrews and other female sports reporters get the chance to graduate from the sidelines to the broadcast booth?

• The USOC is seething over a strip club hosting its own “Pole Olympics“.

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Last week Richard wrote a piece for SbB about prostitution at the Super Bowl. The post centered on a woman named Karen Tyborowski. Tyborowski was busted for offering sex to a police officer for $150, which eventually resulted in this regrettable mugshot:

(Poll below: Did busted hooker “save face” with “realistic” photos?)

Today Tyborowski emailed us to address the “national joke” she thinks we made out of her. Here’s excerpts from a couple of emails she sent:

Since i was made a national joke out of and my mugsh– is hideous (i tried to hang myself in booking, btw, spent 20 days to get out and see what a joke was made of me) i wanted to show you what i REALLY look like. Hopefuly you’ll have the heart to post some better pics up of me. I’m embarassed enough, and forever will wear a scarlet letter; can you at least give me the opportunity to “save face” and post some pics of me that are REALISTIC?

… I have prior arrests (3 of them) however, 2 times out of the 3 the charges were dropped. Women get arrested daily for prostitution, I dont understand why I had to be the one made an example of.

The other 3 charges (2 possession of cocaine, 2004, 2006 were both dropped as the drug wasnt mine..the “battery” I had in 05 is my only prior. People had a field day w/ me and I’m just trying to do some damage control.

Try to have a little empathy.

thanks,

Karen Tyborowski

OK Karen, you got it. Some of her “realistic” pics are after the jump.

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It’s not quite the postgame classic that “I’m going to Disney World!” is, but across recent years, Cadillac has steadily made its delivery of the Super Bowl MVP’s Cadillac of his choice an annual staple, in both the Super Bowl and World Series. Well, this year the postgame car delivery service was conspicuously absent, and there may be a perfectly legitimate conspiracy theory behind it: GM just doesn’t want to be shown giving away free cars with the taxpayers’ bailout money.

(Cadillac may downgrade to toy Escalades for future MVPs.)

According to the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Cadillac specifically asked not to be mentioned in postgame festivities or news conferences. And before you think this is all just a conspiracy theory, consider this: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell openly admits that Cadillac was left out of the post-event celebration because they wanted no part of it.

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