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Better Know An Umpire: Bill Welke
Welcome to Better Know An Umpire, an effort to educate ourselves on the human elements who have ultimate decision-making power over some 2,500 Major League Baseball games a year. ...

Today In Cool Basketball Photos
Today FIBA's Twitter account posted this photo of one devoted baller, digging out the snows of Norway to practice his baseline J. We're reposting it because it's totally neat. Nothing can stop basketball, except maybe Dwight Howard's fake back spasms. [Twitter]...

Will ESPN Walk Away From Rick Reilly And His $3 Million Contract? Probably, Source Says
Since 2007, Rick Reilly's "ridonkulous" ESPN contract has been the envy of sports journalists everywhere: He reportedly earns $3 million a year or so to do … whatever it is he does. Write a bunch for the site! Appear on TV! Go on the radio once in a while! Tweet photos of his wife!...

Lucky Gore: WWE Wins With A Real Punch And Accidental Blood
On last night's WWE Raw, something happened that's fairly unusual in the world of wrestling: one guy hit another guy....

Metta World Peace Nearly Threw Away A Win With This Terrible Inbound Pass Against The Hornets
When he's not suggesting Lamar Odom be a ball boy, Metta World Peace is sharing the love—even with opposing teams....

Perhaps The Red Sox Are Struggling Because David Ortiz Is Attempting To Steal Bases
The Boston Red Sox are 0-3 and (as of this writing) losing again tonight to the Toronto Blue Jays, against whom David Ortiz attempted to steal second base in the seventh inning of tonight's matchup. Ortiz, who reached on a single, apparently took matters into his own hands in trying to spark the ...

TV People Have Mispronounced Louis Oosthuizen's Name At Least 20 Different Ways In The Past 24 Hours
Bubba Watson's sudden-death Masters win yesterday over Louis Oosthuizen and the albatross Oosthuizen hit early in the Sunday round have placed television anchors and reporters in the unenviable position of having to pronounce the name of the South African pro. We found dozens of mispronunciations...

Here's How Four Broadcast Teams Described The Orioles Streaker On Friday
The ad hoc policy to not televise fans who run onto the field during baseball games is intended to discourage copycats, though its effectiveness is debatable at best. Yet while viewers may be blind to the rogue fan's activities, announcers can't resist providing their own take on the action....

This Rare Photo, Up For Auction, Was Stolen From The Baseball Hall Of Fame
This rare photo of Nap Lajoie is expected to fetch $15,000 at auction, and it's stolen from the Hall of Fame. Finding that out is as easy as looking on the back....

Mario Balotelli Won't Be Doing Things On A Soccer Pitch For Awhile After A Shameful Sunday Display
Mario Balotelli's season is likely over, as is his career with Manchester City after a reckless display at Ashburton Grove during City's 1-0 loss to Arsenal yesterday....

Rob Gronkowski Filmed Himself Spiking A Megatron Doll In His House
Ordinarily we have a do-not-treat-"viral"-advertising-like-it-is-news policy. But according to the official hierarchy of Deadspin editorial policies, the everything-even-tangentially-involving-Rob-Gronkowski-is-news policy trumps the one I mentioned in the last sentence....

Augusta National's Gallery Reacted Beautifully To Bubba Watson's Missed Putt In Sudden Death
While Bubba Watson's Masters championship will be remembered best for his miracle shot from the pine straw, it's worth recalling that he actually missed the putt to win on 18 in the first sudden death hole of his playoff with Louis Oosthuizen....

PGA's Young Golfers Form Parody Boy Band, Sing And Rap Horribly, We All Die A Little Inside
Bubba Watson just won the 2012 Masters. Let's celebrate with this wonderful video (made for charity!), originally published June 14, 2011....

The New Season Has Its First Walkoff Homer, And It Capped Off A Classic Red Sox Meltdown
The promise of a new season hasn't shown much inspiration for the Boston Red Sox, as the disappointment at how last season ended has been reflected in their first three games of 2012: all of them losses, and two of them in walkoffs....

Tim Tebow's Sermon On The Hill
If there were any doubt about Tim Tebow's portrayal in the press as the living embodiment of Jesus Christ, this write up of a question and answer session Tebow gave this afternoon is the final nail in palm. Maybe it's deliberately tongue in cheek, but forgive me if I have my doubts....

Someone Should Just Blow Up The Orlando Magic At This Point
In the ongoing Dwight Howard-Stan Van Gundy bitchfest, there is only one true solution: just get rid of everyone. Trade Howard. Fire Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith. Then sell the team. Until then Orlando will have a superstar who does not want to be there being coached by a coach who does...

Spend This Easter Sunday With Tim Tebow, A Supreme Court Justice's Cousin And A Cocaine Businessman
In a win for guile over coincidence this weekend, the New York Daily News has a fluffy profile piece on the redemptive powers of Tim Tebow highlighted by the story of four criminals (rather than the traditional two). It is your standard fare: Tim Tebow is a good Christian, visits prison, inspires i...

JaVale McGee In 60 Seconds Goaltends, Misses A Dunk, Falls Down, And Has A Shot Blocked Into His Face
If ever a minute of basketball was the JaVale McGee Experience, this is it. In the second quarter of tonight's Nuggets-Warriors matchup our favorite NBA star did everything for which he's known, from egregiously goaltending, missing dunks, falling down on defense, and finally getting a shot block...

Nolan Ryan And Robin Ventura Exchanged Pleasantries Yesterday
For the first time since participating in the glorified noogie seen 'round the world, Nolan Ryan and newly-minted White Sox manager Robin Ventura met up with each other prior to the Rangers home opener against Chicago. Ryan, the face of the Rangers franchise, and Ventura have somehow never crossed ...

How The Masters Theme Song Came To Be: An Interview With The Third Cousin Of Kenny Loggins
On the 14th hole at Augusta, with the breeze blowing through the trees, musician Dave Loggins had his inspiration. It was April 1981, his first trip to the Masters. His friend Ken Chance, an attorney, had scored passes, and they were walking the course. They paused at 14, and lyrics popped into Lo...