ap Page 1498 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Wrapping Up The Lesbian Cheerleaders Story
We've reached the saturation point, we think, on the Carolina Panthers cheerleader story, but, frankly, we don't care, and we suspect you don't either. Here's an update on what we've all got, to close this out. Smile wide:...

OK, Seriously, Knock It Off You Guys
All right, we know we've mentioned this already, but we're still kind of obsessed with this daily SportsCenter feature of Steve Phillips "playing" the role of every team's GM. At first, we thought this was just going to be a Boston thing, playing with the Theo Epstein press conference last week. ...

Manning's Cute Little Cheerleader Problem
As you might have noticed, sometimes we like to make fun of Peyton Manning's (heavily) rumored sexual orientation from time to time. But our degenerate gambler brother at Oddjack has a strange little scoop that implies Peyton likes to hang out with cheerleaders of his own. From former Indianapolis...

Freestyle With Ron Artest And He'll Be Your Best Friend
We remain impressed by the quality of guests that AOL Sports Bloggers Live have been bringing to their program. Dwyane Wade was on just the other day, and, in what's pretty clearly their best one yet, Ron Artest shows up and, as he tends to do, just starts freestyle rapping out of nowhere....

Internal Shakeups At ESPN's Original Entertainment
We hear serious rumblings of some big changes in ESPN's Original Entertainment. We hear that current executive producer Mike Antinoro is leaving the network for destinations yet unannounced (off to play with Bugs Bunny and Dan Snyder with his old buddy Mark Shapiro?), and that Executive Vice Presi...

Panthers Cheerleader Story Remains Hot Hot
Well, we're on day two of the Carolina Panthers cheerleaders story, and, frankly, we're not seeing much letup in the demand for more news news news! And we're with you. Today's big scoop (and big "ups," as the kids say) goes to the fine lads at YAYSports! who have brand-new EXCLUSIVE! photos culle...

Sure, Yeah, Critics, ESPN's Totally Listening
Maybe it's that ridiculous Steve Phillips mock press conference thing that "SportsCenter" is doing right now, but for whatever reason, there's all kinds of anti-ESPN invective out there today....

Ugie's "Friday The 13th" Moment
We have to say, as far as free agents jockeying for leverage go, we're getting some excellent case studies in how not to handle one's self. Matt Lawton proved the "getting tested positive for steroids" theory of bargaining doesn't work, and now Ugueth Urbina is mastering the "being arrested for at...

Is Peyton Ready For His Closeup?
Well, we've finally rid ourselves of that long-running subplot; the Colts have finally beat the Patriots, in a sadly dull Monday nighter. (Honestly, nobody shows less joy than Peyton Manning after a victory; it's like interviewing a hickish, slightly fey math teacher after he gives a test.) Indian...

Manning Vs. Brady, Monday Night Football. That'll Work.
Tonight's the game that's so huge that Sports Illustrated actually resisted the temptation to put Terrell Owens on the cover for it: Colts at Patriots, Manning vs. Brady, stats vs. results, dogs vs. cats, gay vs. straight, you name it....

Smells Like Team Spirit In Carolina
As you would probably expect, we're getting all kinds of tips and info about the two Carolina Panthers cheerleaders who sis-boom-bahhed each other over the weekend, and we've even got some people on the inside whispering in our ear....

Blogdom's Best: Carolina Panthers
It might not — yet — have the online fanaticism and cachet of baseball, but the NFL and its fans are starting to catch up in the world of team-devoted blogs. To this end, Deadspin salutes these modem-addled souls and proudly presents Blogdom's Best, given to the most outstanding blog for each NFL ...

The Sad Faces Of Buster Olney And Jeremy Schaap
For anyone who wondered just what sacrifices that legitimate journalists like Jeremy Schaap and Buster Olney have to suckle from ESPN's cash teat, look no further than this morning's "SportsCenter." In it, baseball analyst Steve Phillips answers mock questions in a mock press conference, pretendi...

Now We Know Why The WNBA Doesn't Have Cheerleaders
Well, these type of stories don't come along every day. As we're sure most of you have heard by now, two Carolina Panthers cheerleaders were arrested in Tampa early Sunday morning after, police say, the two of them were getting them some Sheryl Swoopes in the bathroom. That itself isn't illegal (t...

Blogdom's Best: Indianapolis Colts
It might not — yet — have the online fanaticism and cachet of baseball, but the NFL and its fans are starting to catch up in the world of team-devoted blogs. To this end, Deadspin salutes these modem-addled souls and proudly presents Blogdom's Best, given to the most outstanding blog for each NFL ...

Artest's Penthouse Shoot In A Grand Tradition
Well, the December edition of Penthouse has hit the stands, and everybody's favorite el hombre de muy loco Ron Artest is on the cover (ESPN has a nice rundown of the interview here). We don't have much more to add — though we wonder if the nice elderly people Artest is such buddies with in Indiana...

Do Not Steal From Ugueth Urbina. Seriously.
Philadelphia Phillies reliever Ugueth Urbina takes his personal property very seriously. At a welcome-home party for the pitcher in his native Venezuela, after many drinks, Urbina discovered that one of his laborers might have stolen a firearm. According to a witness, his response was measured, ra...

The Great Reggie Miller Corn Maze
Like any good Midwesterners, we've spent more than our fair share of time in corn mazes. For those of you who didn't spent their formative years surrounded by combines and grain elevators, a corn maze is exactly that; an entire cornfield formed into a giant maze, with checkpoints, dead-ends, exits...

Welcome Back, Artest! Glad To Have Ya!
That Ron Artest is back for a whole season is destined to be one of the sublime joys of the upcoming NBA season; that he vows to be as crazy as ever makes us want to get an NBA League Pass, stat. From an interview with Dave D'Alessandro in today's Newark Star-Ledger:...

ESPN Proceeding With World Domination Plans
Big huge story in Business Week this week looking at the challenges facing ESPN Networks and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer as the network looks for more opportunities to grow. (Because that's what ESPN needs: To be bigger.) The story is a fascinating look at a company — and a leader — th...