3

In day 3 of Jim Harbaugh watch, it appears there has been a shift in choices. Or at least that’s what the Mercury News is reporting. Out are the Miami Dolphins and back in are the Denver Broncos, the Stanford Cardinals and surprise, surprise the San Francisco 49ers. Apparently, the Dolphins decided to retain Tony Sparano’s services. Wonder why they didn’t do that before this whole shenanigan but I digress.

104

The 2022 Qatar World Cup will be played in the winter months according to FIFA head Sepp Blatter. The average temperature in Qatar this past summer was a whopping 104 degrees. Not sure what kind of difference there is in the winter but you can bet at those temperatures, there would be more than a few cramps and heat strokes.

7

The Penguins have been an unstoppable force this year with Sidney Crosby in the lineup. The superstar seemingly scores at least a point a night. So how do you stop them? You take out their best player of course. Sidney Crosby will miss at least a week with a concussion according to the team. He flew back to Pittsburgh while the team was on the road to get evaluated by team doctors.

7’6″

It appears that reports of Yao Ming’s demise were greatly premature. The 7’6″ center has decided that it’s not time for him to retire just yet. Yao went under the knife to a repair a stress fracture in his foot and could miss more than 10 months of action. But that doesn’t mean he’s done just yet, or at least the Rockets and Yao have not decided one way or another to make a statement on the matter.

17.9

Wilson Chandler has certainly made an impression on the Knicks organization. In fact, you could say he’s been more than a pleasant surprise. Going into this year’s offseason, Chandler will be a restricted free-agent, but from the sounds of it, the Knicks want to lock him up well before that. And why wouldn’t they? His 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds are career highs.

1

With the votes tallied in yesterday’s Hall of Fame balloting, the message seems clear. Steroid-era players are probably never going to get in. Several players including Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro failed to even get 20% of votes. And yes, two writers cast votes respectively for Bret Boone and Benito Santiago. Who these writers are remain to be seen but I’m hoping that was just a gross error.

30-17

Despite a 30-17 record as a starter, the Tennessee Titans have decided that they’d like to part ways with quarterback Vince Young. The Titans released a statement late Wednesday night to that effect with owner Bud Adams saying, “we have two critical decisions to make, the direction of the coaching staff and the future at the quarterback position. They are separate issues to me and will be dealt with separately”.

7,000,000

The going rate for Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh may be more than any NCAA team can afford. According to various sources, the Dolphins have preliminary offers on the table in the range of $7-million dollars and higher. Oddly enough, the person making most of the moves is none other than Stephen Ross, a huge booster and alum of Harbaugh’s old school, the University of Michigan.

Watch this clip below as Dolphins special teamer Nolan Carroll streaks down the sidelines to cover a punt and cameras catching Alosi red-handed trying to trip him.

Alosi has sinced apologized for the incident releasing this statement Sunday night:

“I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment,” Alosi said in a statement. “My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for. I spoke to Coach [Tony] Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off. I have also apologized to Woody [Johnson], Mike [Tannenbaum] and Rex [Ryan]. I accept responsibility for my actions as well as any punishment that follows.

No disciplinary action has been taken as of yet, but you have to expect the Jets and/or the NFL to drop the hammer on him pretty soon. Maybe not an outright firing, but a suspension for the rest of the season seems extremely likely.

Alosi has been working in the NFL as a strength coach for nine years now and as a former player himself in the collegiate ranks, he’s more than aware of what constitutes a cheap shot.

Suffice to say, this one was the lowest of the low.

Sal Alosi apologizes, will accept “any punishment”[PFT]

It’s as if Matt Millen is channeling all of his stupidity and ignorance into one single line.

“That guy right there is one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around”, Millen said during yesterday’s broadcast of the Dolphins-Bears game. The “guy” he is referring to is none other than Rod Marinelli, the same man who spearheaded the 0-16 season for the 2008 Detroit Lions.

As a diehard Lions fan who witnessed the Matt Millen production, “Decade of Doom”, I can’t say I’m entirely shocked by his stupidity. I guess, in a way, I’m more shocked that he’s gainfully employed by people who have any intelligence whatsoever.

Oh, you’re looking for an analyst? Why not that one guy who went 31-97 as a GM? He seems to really know the ins and outs of the game.

13

Felix Hernandez won only 13 games for the Mariners in 2010. That was more an indictment of Seattle’s putrid offense as opposed to Hernandez’ prowess on the mound. Thankfully, Cy Young voters saw right through that negligible stat and gave the American League award to “King Felix”. His final numbers on the season were astounding: 2.24 ERA, 232 strikeouts.

35

It’s not often you see fourteen goals in an entire game of hockey, let alone two periods. But that’s exactly what happened in last night’s affair between the Lightning and the Flyers. Steven Stamkos led the way with his second hat trick of the season en route to an 8-7 Tampa Bay win. Many are starting to wonder if Stamkos’ name can now be mentioned with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin as the best players in the game. It might be a little early for the 20-year old, but thus far this season, he has been unworldly (35 points in 19 games).

187

The Chicago Bears are certainly making their case as the best team in the NFC. And it wasn’t that they shutout the Dolphins on the road last night, it’s that they absolutely dominated them allowing only 187 yards of total offense. Yes, their offense needs work and Jay Cutler isn’t the most trustworthy of quarterbacks, but in a year where most NFC teams are having problems off the field, the Bears are performing where it counts.

6

The fate of former MLB player Jim Leyritz now rests with a 6-person Florida jury. In December of 2007, Leyritz allegedly ran a red light while intoxicated and killed 30-year old Fredia Ann Veitch. His defense team is arguing that blood tests taken at the scene were unreliable. If convicted, Leyritz faces up to 15 years in prison.

180,000

It is not a matter of “if” Cam Newton is suspended, it is now a matter of “when”. As the FBI continues to look into the case, details of the payment plan have been leaked to the media. According to Kenny Rogers, one of the middlemen in the ordeal, a man named Bill Bell spoke to someone representing the Newton family and they asked for $80,000 the day after Cam Newton signed with MSU, $50,000 30 days later and another $50,000 30 days after that. The family claims they never gave anyone permission to represent them or talk on their behalf. Yea, that makes no sense to me either.

A hearty round of applause please for Mr. Channing Crowder folks. After allegedly being spit on by the Ravens’ Le’Ron McClain, Crowder complained to a group of media members following the game.

…when he complained to the officials, they told him they didn’t see McClain spit at him.

“Then they said something about they let [Dolphins linebacker] Karlos Dansby get away with a face mask the play before,” Crowder said. “Who the f— cares? A guy just spit in my face! I don’t give a damn about Karlos pulling somebody’s face mask. Like they didn’t see [Dolphins quarterback] Chad Henne get hit twice when he slid. Yeah, a little Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank.”

Of course, no reporter could intelligently decipher the Anne Frank part of his quote, so they asked him about it. Naturally, the hole he was digging became much deeper…

Who was that? Is that the blind girl? Helen Keller … I don’t know who the f— Anne Frank is. I’m mad right now. F— it. I’m not as swift as I usually am.

I’d let it slide if they had the same first name. Helen Frank or Ann Keller, but otherwise, this goes down as one of the dumber quotes of all-time in the NFL. And this, from the same league that routinely has players score in the single digits on Wonderlic Tests. A damn shame I tell ya.

Anyways, here’s how several Ravens’ players responded to the spitting allegation. Derrick Mason absolutely eviscerates Crowder.

Channing Crowder says he was spat on [ESPN]

60

The Bulls best decision in the offseason? No, it was not signing free agent Carlos Boozer, it was retaining the services of forward Joakim Noah. With Boozer out for two months with a fractured wrist, Noah’s exuberant play will be needed more than ever. And I’m sure he’ll be inspired….after all, he just signed a 60 million dollar extension.

40000

Chuck Cecil was fined 40k for giving a referee the middle finger during Sunday’s game with the Broncos. The obscene gesture was caught on CBS cameras as Cecil disagreed over an offsides call on his defense.

89

It’s been almost three months since Justin Morneau took a knee to the head sliding into second base. But he still feels the effects of the concussion he suffered. The Twins announced yesterday that Morneau will miss the entire postseason as he recuperates. It marks the second season in a row that the first baseman will miss the playoffs because of injury.

10-19-06

That was the last time Randy Moss was held without a single catch before last night’s game against the Dolphins. Thankfully, Moss was not needed as the Patriots’ defense and special teams did most of the damage. But if you needed a single point from Moss in a fantasy league to win, well then, my deepest apologies.

8

If there was any doubt that Tour de France winner Alberto Contador was a doper, this newest positive test should end it. Contador tested positive for a substance called plasticizer, which only comes in IV bags. And unless Contador can somehow explain eight times the amount of that in his system, he stands side by side with Floyd Landis as the newest poster boy in cheating.

1,100,000

The Commonwealth Games disaster continues. From unsanitary conditions, to using monkeys to fight off other animals, the games in New Delhi will arguably go down as “how not to run an event”. The effect is being felt in the box office as well as ticket sales are short 1.1 million from their expected goals.

The Dolphins may have lost on the field Sunday, but after seeing this video, it appears they won in the stands.

Two rather attractive females show that stripper moves can be performed, albeit poorly, without a pole.
And while I appreciate the gyrations of the young lady in the Zach Thomas jersey, someone may want to inform her that he is now retired and has not played for the Dolphins in quite some time.

Gloria Estefan was due to perform during halftime of the Dolphins-Jets game on Sunday. But she ran into a rather large problem. The door to her suite wouldn’t open. And instead of destroying a luxury suite by dismantling the door, Estefan instead decided to jump over to the next suite.

You’d think a minority owner would get better service than this.

Video via Yahoo Sports:

“What’s that again? Miami Fire Marshall on line #1?”

Tell him the words, *er*, the door got in the way (lame Miami Sound Machine reference).

Defensive end Kendall Langford has certainly spent his fair share of time seeking out elusive quarterbacks. But at Tuesday’s Dolphins practice, it was a 2.5 carat diamond earring that slipped through his grasp. Langford, along with the help of several of his teammates, scoured the grounds for his bling. At last check, the earing was still missing.

More from The Palm Beach Post:

The entire defensive line helped out for about 10 minutes, while Montavious Stanley searched for about a half hour and Ryan Baker helped for 45 minutes. Even the team’s public relations interns got into the act.

But no one found the big shiny rock.

“I’m going to go to meetings and then come back out here,” Langford said after about an hour of searching.

And of course, the poor sap was caught on video looking for it. Good to know Langford has the support of the random cameraman on the sidelines.

The search for Kendall Langford’s earring continues [PFT]

Awesome Monday night game….

It’s a wonder why more teams haven’t adapted the Wildcat formation.  You know, especially when your team sucks balls.

Yea, I’m talking to you specifically…St. Louis, Buffalo, Clev, Tampa Bay.  Your offenses blow…do something about it

Links

NFL coaches Fight Club tournament (BackPorch)
Kevin Johnson got robbed (Sports Rubbish)
Helmet to head video (NESW Sports)
Sexy Baseball illustrations (Gunaxin)
Top Ten darkest moments in Chicago Sports History (NQTC)
Its been a crazy ride so far for the Broncos (Fansided)
The worst Brett Favre jersey ever (Joe Sports Fan)
Obama for Heisman (Busted Sports)

Apparently, making a few bucks as a Tennis Star now qualifies you to buy a share in one of the most storied franchises in football…

The tennis-playing sisters will become the latest celebrities to own a stake in the Miami Dolphins, several sources told ESPN.com senior writer Greg Garber on Wednesday.

But my favorite part….

In the past, Serena Williams has professed a love of the Dolphins on her blog.

Well hell, is it that easy? I mean, I love the Lions. I used to live and die by their games. I got like 10 bucks, can I buy a share too?

What say you William Clay Ford? Throw a brother a bone before you croak buddy…

As for Serena and Venus, at the very least, I hope they become the first owner/cheerleaders…