ow Page 976 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Least Necessary Holiday Sports Column Update
We got some good submissions for the Least Necessary Sports Column "contest," so while you're waiting around for various balls to drop here's some light reading that will make you say, "Why did this happen?"...

Bill Simmons Sports Some Questionable New Facial Growth
I've adopted this look a couple times this year. I dubbed it "The Spanish Armada." I love it. [Sports Fella Twitter]...

<em>Washington Times</em> Sports Section Goes To That Big Moonie Wedding In The Sky
"As of this writing, the staff hasn't been told anything official, but the paper is moving forward with plans for a new product on Monday, and there have been no indications that product will include sports." RIP. [D.C. Sports Bog]...

The Year In ... On-Air Mishaps
Just like last year, we're showcasing the people, ideas and memes that made Deadspin 2009 shine. Today: The greatest "oops" moments on live TV....

At Least The Lady From "Will & Grace" Held My Hand While The Deranged Zimbabwean Doctor Took My Foreskin
Because no one reads the newspaper, and SportsCenter's anchors are too perky for this early in the morning, Deadspin combs the best of the broadsheets and the blogosphere to bring you everything you need to know to start your day....

Tim Tebow's Mom Helped Erin Andrews Through Her Peephole Ordeal
Among the many people who came to her help was one Pam Tebow. Andrews says: "We would talk on the phone and write letters to each other and her whole thing was-–'OK, What do you do with it now?'" [PennLive.com]...

Help Us Find The Least Necessary Holiday Sports Column
The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is tough for sports writers. (Just look at this site you're reading.) It's the time of the year when a desperate columnist will reach for just about anything to meet a deadline....

The Worst Bowl Game In The World (2009 Edition)
Are you busy this afternoon? Probably, because you have a life. However, if you're unemployed or otherwise indigent, get out your scraper because we've reached the very bottom of the college sports barrel. It's time for the EagleBank Bowl!...

This Is Howie Ice Our Balls
During Fox's canned-laugh reach-a-around football pre-game show, a photo of a young Howie Long spread-legged with an ice pack appeared and gave Frank Caliendo some fresh material to butcher. More importantly, it got the boys at OutSports' attention....

Leading The League In Cliché: A Treasury Of Peter King's Inane, Made-Up Statistical Categories
Drew recently brought your attention to Peter King's funny little tic of expressing abundance by saying something like, "[Person or Team X] leads the league in [Intangible Category Y]." Today? X=Steve Smith, Y=guts....

Pam Ward Is Frustrated With This Damn Injured Marshall Player
"Get him off the field, please..." she mutters. Then "Come on!" Pam Ward, ladies and gentleman. Don't let the sweet smile fool ya. She's all business. [YouTube]...

One Person You Meet On His High Horse
Mitch Albom weighs in on TMZ Sports and the good ol' days of sports journalism: "Maybe the old method wasn't telling the whole story. But at least we weren't manufacturing it." Isn't it pretty to think so? [Freep]...

Your Late Games Open Thread
Hey, Bill Cowher's coming back! It'll be his chin vs. Mike Shanahan's teeth for the most desirable 4-12 team. No good late games today, but you can discuss Curtis Painter's inevitable NFL debut here. [ESPN]...

Lady Ref Breaks The Gender Barrier No One Cared About
Sarah Thomas made history by becoming the first woman to ref a bowl game. And she acquitted herself nicely. And she only burned the roast a little bit! [Detroit Free Press]...

Little Caesars Still Getting The Hang Of This Sponsorship Thing
Because no one reads the newspaper, and SportsCenter's anchors are too perky for this early in the morning, Deadspin combs the best of the broadsheets and the blogosphere to bring you everything you need to know to start your day....

What Do You Want to Bet He Climbed Down the Ladder First?
Just going to let the text speak for itself on this one. "Perched on the rafters of the Georgia Dome, ready to drop parachuting stuffed cows, Maggie Smyth's heart was racing." How to meet a wife, after the jump....

Urban Meyer Resigns as Florida Coach, Presumably For More Than One Half
Reports are coming in that the University of Florida has announced that head football coach Urban Meyer is stepping down after the Sugar Bowl. Per the press release:...

Pete Carroll is a Foxy Fox: Your Emerald Bowl of Nuts Open Thread
I just spent like 30 minutes browsing wire images of Pete Carroll. Love that guy. Anyway, USC takes on Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. It's like Jessica Simpson dating Billy Corgan. I'll let you decide which is which!...

Snapped Femur? I Barely Even Know Her!
In memory of what once was Derrick Roland's intact leg, the Daily News presents us with a slideshow of Sports' Most Gruesome Injuries. (The final slide is captioned: "A shot of Evander, minus ear.") Fun for the whole family! [NYDN]...

Last Night's Winner: SMU Mustangs
In sports, everyone is a winner — some people just win better than others. Like the SMU Mustangs, which exerted as much effort in scoring this prestige as they did in routing Nevada. They had no competition in either regard....