ap Page 1604 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Happy Leap Day, Everyone!
So does today actually exist or not? After watching Lost last night, I'm more confused than ever ... and this article is no help. Anyway, on the off chance that today really does exist, I'll be posting a full day's worth of sports outtakes, bloopers and practical jokes. Will is still on vacation, so...

About Last Night
What you missed while ... is that a PLEDGE PIN? On your UNIFORM??! ... • NBA: Lakers win 10th straight, but does it count if it was against the Heat? • MLB: Dodgers beat Braves in Torre's debut, causing Alyssa Milano to jump up and down and squeal with delight. Welcome back, baseball. • College bask...

Media Approval Ratings: Cris Carter
On the day we say goodbye to Sean Salisbury on ESPN, we think it's perhaps fitting that our Media Approval Ratings look at his replacement....

About Last Night
What you missed while overdosing on charm ... • College basketball: Yes, we called this, but anyone could see it coming a mile away. Vanderbilt 72, Tennessee 69. • Politics: Newsweek's Howard Fineman likened Tuesday's Democratic debate to an Ali vs. Frazier fight. Hmm, I don't recall Frazier wearing...

Media Approval Ratings: Erin Andrews
Honestly, it can't be easy to be an attractive female sideline reporter. Well, OK: The job doesn't look THAT hard; how many different ways can you ask a coach what he told his team at halftime? (Of course, he could always attack you.)...

Tampa Bay Manager Knows Not Of This Barry Bonds You Speak
Your dream of seeing Barry Bonds play in a lopsided pirate ship has been dashed once again. Despite rumors to the contrary, Tampa Bay Devil Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said that the team is not pursuing him. Said manager Joe Maddon: "It was a minor discussion, it was thrown out the...

Media Approval Ratings: Gus Johnson
For some reason, we tend to forgive Gus Johnson for sins we'd find unforgivable in other broadcasters. He's high histrionics, high volume, high intensity, high volume, high pitch, all of it. He's 95 percent bluster. Of course, this is why we love him....

The Best Rappers of the NBA
Back in 1994 a truly epic album was released to an eager public. If you aren't familiar with Immortal Record's B-Ball's Best Kept Secret then get ready for an extensive education. Over at Mental Floss they've taken it upon themselves to review the standout tracks from the All-Star lineup of NBA rapp...

Media Approval Ratings: Billy Packer
We're getting awfully darned close now to the NCAA tournament business, which means one thing: The return of Billy Packer as the central force in our lives for a month. We know, we know, he broadcasts games throughout the regular season, but it's not until the Tournament that he takes over the voice...

Media Approval Ratings: Brent Musberger
We remain stunned by the Scott Van Pelt results yesterday; we like Van Pelt too, but 94.3 percent approval? We are absolutely certain we would not get 94.3 percent approval ourselves. Anyway, let's go for the generational shift today; Good ole Brent Musberger....

Attention Terrell Owens: Help Is On The Way
So a guy in Brazil, not content with the normal tattoo options in his area, has had octopus suction cups grafted onto his arms. Cool! My guess is that Belichick has already made this required surgery for all of his receivers; and Derek Jeter is looking into it as well. Whereas Ichiro Suzuki just lo...

Media Approval Ratings: Scott Van Pelt
Of all the anchors on "SportsCenter," it would seem unlikely that Scott Van Pelt would be the one with such a long history with this here site. He doesn't have the Berman boom, the Vitale scream, the STEPHEN A. SMITH blare or the Skip Bayless smirk. But with one phone call, he became part of Deadspi...

Other Than That, How Was The Race, Mrs. Lincoln?
New weekend editor Christmas Ape tried out to be one of the guys who run the Presidents Races at Washington Nationals games. Here's how it went....

Media Approval Ratings: Doug Gottlieb
So here's something scary we learned from Wikipedia just now: Doug Gottlieb is younger than we are....

Media Approval Ratings: James Brown
Bill Simmons has implied that the success of CBS' pregame show over FOX's is because James Brown, Harvard grad (and former Atlanta Hawks draft pick), switched to the Eye in 2006. We would like to remind you all, by the way, that this guy hosted "America's Funniest Home Videos." Also, and we didn't r...

What Would An All-Star Game Be Without Fug Unis?
Hey, loogit, there's an All-Star Game on. And it sounds as though it's slightly less boring than pointless spectacles past! I don't know, I'm at work and can't watch it. But the uniforms? Ugly!...

Happy Presidents Race
It's been a great opening stint of Weekend Daddy Duty for me, despite my many unplanned trips to Deadspin future. As a result of my poor choice of journalism as a career I'm now at the office and will be through the rest of the evening covering shootings and such in D.C. but luckily I'm off tomorro...

Romanian Strip Clubs Disturbingly Full of Male French Tennis Players
Notch a critical victory in the Davis Cup over Romania? A common American response to winning is to while away hours and hours and perhaps your signing bonus in the strip club. Just ask the G-men....

Brett Myers is Full of Trickery
When not occupied with domestic abuse or calling reporters retards, Phillies pitcher Brett Myers fancies himself quite the mischievous clubhouse presence. Here, he's gotten manager Charlie Manuel, some beat reporters and GM Ruben Amaro in on the act of fooling pitcher Kyle Kendrick into thinking he...

Grab Your Mop, Whitey
At what point is it okay to call in the all-white team? Just ask UNC. [Mister Irrelevant]...