appic Page 65 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Vikings Decide They Need More Public Money For Their New Stadium
Here's a quote from a Vikings executive that was said with a straight face:...

Book Claims Sheryl Crow Watched Lance Armstrong Dope, Told Feds
Now that Lance Armstrong has been humbled and faced a defamation lawsuit or three, it's pretty much open season on the disgraced cyclist. Every allegation with even the slightest credibility can be brought without fear of retribution, and they very well might be true—Armstrong's got more than a deca...

How The NFL Lied Its Way Out Of Millions In Workers' Comp
Yesterday California's governor signed into law a bill that blocks athletes from filing future workers' compensation claims for games they play in the state, unless they played for a California team. It was shut down thanks to intense lobbying from the NFL and other pro sports leagues that hinged on...

Mike Ditka's "Biggest Mistake" Was Letting Obama Become President
In 2004, Mike Ditka mulled a run for Illinois's vacant senate seat. The prohibitive favorite was state senator Barack Obama, and the Republicans couldn't find someone to go against him. Committee chair George Allen, son of the hall of fame coach, met with Ditka (who described himself as "ultra-ultra...

Tomas Hertl Is Your New Favorite Hockey Player
Something became very clear last night, right around the time a 19-year-old Czech rookie was going between his legs for his fourth goal of the game: It's Tomas Hertl's world, and we're all living in it....

Jadeveon Clowney Shouldn't Play Until He Gets Paid
South Carolina's all-world DE Jadeveon Clowney didn't play this weekend with a muscle strain, or maybe bruised ribs, and also some bone spurs in his foot. He's not been particularly clear on the ailment, or the state of his recovery, and the Gamecocks were surprised and confused that Clowney himself...

The NFL Can Now Force Teams To Appear On <em>Hard Knocks</em>
After peaking with the Jets, Hard Knocks has had a hell of a time finding teams to go under the documentary microscope for training camp. After a string of refusals the 2012 edition settled for the boring Dolphins, and though the Bengals stepped up this year, it was another forgettable season. But t...

Flyers Fire Peter Laviolette
Just three games into the season, the Flyers have parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette. Surprisingly, he could not win given a garbage roster and some guys they pulled off the street in net....

Tony Romo Was Tony Romo, Until He Was Tony Romo
Broncos-Cowboys was the most satisfying game of the season, and not just because it was the sort of record-breaking, no-defense, aerial shootout the NFL seems to be moving toward. No matter what your opinion of Tony Romo coming in, it was confirmed. A win for the Broncos, perhaps a moral victory for...

Alex Rodriguez's Suit Against MLB Is The Year's Best Baseball Reading
Late last night, Alex Rodriguez filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court, accusing MLB and Bud Selig (specifically named as a defendant) of, and I'm quoting, "improperly marshal[ing] evidence that they hope to use to destroy the reputation and career of Alex Rodriguez, one of the most accompl...

Report: Alabama Assistant Loaned Money To HaHa Clinton-Dix
After yesterday's practice, Nick Saban announced that standout safety Ha'Sean "HaHa" Clinton-Dix was suspended indefinitely. No reason given, just "violation of team rules," as with many of the other nine Bama players suspended over the past eight months. Now we've got a pretty good clue: Alabama ha...

The Buccaneers Have Released Josh Freeman
So, that whole trying to trade Josh Freeman thing? Turned out nobody wants to give up a draft pick for a backup QB with league-worst stats who's still owed $6.2 million....

Reports: Buccaneers Fined Josh Freeman Three Times Last Week
As first reported by SI's Jim Trotter, and fleshed out by the Tampa Tribune, the Bucs fined QB Josh Freeman three times in two days last week, for missing two meetings and conducting an "unauthorized interview." Since opening day, that's five fines for a total of $35,230 for Freeman....

Martin Brodeur Will Not Start The Season In Net
It's something like the end of an era: Someone other than Marty Brodeur will man the pipes for the Devils on opening night, breaking an 18-season (20-year) streak. The team announced that new acquisition Cory Schneider will start tomorrow night at Pittsburgh, with Brodeur back in net on Friday again...

30 Paragraphs About 30 Teams: A Thinking Fan's Guide To The NHL Season
The following is excerpted from the team chapters of the excellent Hockey Prospectus 2013-2014, by the authors of Hockey Prospectus. Buy the PDF for $14.95 or order the printed book from Amazon....

Come Chat With America's Cup-Winning Skipper Jimmy Spithill
We're joined in the office by Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill, who led a historic comeback from seven races down to win the America's Cup. He'll be in the comments below, so ask him anything about boats, boating, being an Australian representing a "Team USA" and other boat-related questions....

Report: A-Rod Argues He Had No Idea He Was Taking PEDs
This is what was missing from all of baseball's previous arbitration hearings: leaks! As Alex Rodriguez makes his case to shorten or throw out his 211-game suspension, the New York Daily News reports A-Rod's defense strategy. It's a familiar one....

J.R. Smith Delayed Knee Surgery Until After He Signed His Contract
J.R. Smith had a pair of knee surgeries this summer, and could miss the start of the season. It wouldn't be an issue if he had the procedures done soon after the Knicks; season ended in mid-May; instead he waited until July 15th, a week after he signed a three-year $18 million extension. ...

WNBA Finals Games Kicked Out Of Philips Arena For Disney On Ice
The Atlanta Dream has to play its Finals home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, about a half hour outside of Atlanta, because Philips Arena is hosting Disney on Ice. ...

What's New In The NHL This Year?
The NHL season officially drops the puck tonight with two marquee matchups and some garbage involving the hobbled Oilers and miserable Jets. While loathe to break with our tradition of needlessly dismissive and alienating hockey previews, enough has changed this year to warrant a primer. ...