si Page 922 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

The Wintry Economic Climate Finally Catches Up To The WWL
"ESPN began making a round of previously announced job cuts Wednesday, informing about 100 Connecticut employees that they would be laid off this week.The Bristol-based sports news network said in February that it would eliminate 200 vacant and occupied positions worldwide following a 60- to 90-day ...

Scientists: Barry Zito Is An Optical Illusion
Next time you whiff on a curveball, blame it on your brain. Visual scientists recently applied the functions of foveal and peripheral vision to baseball, proving the curveball's sudden and severe "break" is a trick of the eyes. The graphic will occupy you for hours. Plus, it's science. [Illusion Sci...

Whoops, Sports Aren't So Recession-Proof After All
Turns out, it's proving difficult for the next Theo Epsteins and Jerry Maguires to catapult from frat parties to their dream jobs, so they're stuck cleaning minor league stadiums and taking unpaid internships at women's tennis tournaments. Tell me about it. I would write more, but Daulerio needs lun...

College Kid Sleeps On Toilet Before Amazing Runs
College student Justin Weber didn't have a hotel room the night before running a big ten-mile race, so he slept in a port-a-john. Then he won the race in the morning. I don't know about you, but I think that story is a bunch of crap. [The Jock Itch]...

Sidney Crosby Taunts The Hockey Gods
The Penguins polished off a nice cold pitcher of Hurricanes last night, earning a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and a chance at redemption. Then captain Sidney Crosby just thumbed his nose at all that by skating around the ice with the Prince of Wales Trophy....

The Evil Umpire: Who Once Called Pitches For Randy Johnson?
Tom Verducci wrote up Randy Johnson in last week's Sports Illustrated and included this odd — and oddly unnoticed — anecdote:...

Michael Jordan Loves Chicago Almost As Much As He Loves Nike
An animatronic Jordan doll donned a Blackhawks jersey at the United Center this weekend, to show his support for the "hometown" boys—but not before he had team officials sew a red patch over the Reebok logo. Nothing to see here, Mr. Knight! [Puck Daddy]...

The Sports Fella's Dream Is Dead
Minnesota picks ex-Pacers GM David Kahn to run their basketball operations. "I promise that nobody will outwork or outthink us as we build one of the best front offices in the league and a team that begins a climb to the top." They should put that on a plaque. [NBA.com]...

Many Trees Died In The Making Of Simmons' Next Tome
Have you ever thought, Man, I really want to read a 720-page hardcover about basketball by the Sports Fella? Then today — or October 27, 2009 — is your lucky day. [Leitch]...

OK, Here's Your NHL Open Thread...
Apparently, the RBC Center might be the loudest hockey arena in the country (err, North America). We'll see if it affects Sid the Kid and the Penguins tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Now go talk about it. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]...

Patriots Team Up With State Lotto; NFL Conveniently Forgets That It Pretends To Hate Gambling
Remember the NFL's feigned outrage over sports gambling in Delaware? All that sanctimonious stuff about tarnishing the game's image and leading children to degenerate lives of laying the points with the Pats on the road? Well, apparently none of that applies to state-run lotteries....

A Closer Look At Michael Strahan's <i>Brothers</i>
Any comedy show staring some who has played for the New York Giants in automatically funny, of course, but what exactly can you expect from Michael Strahan's new Fox sitcom? I've just seen the first trailer, so let's break it down, shall we?...

Obama's Two Favorite Things Are The Steelers, Making Children Cry
A group of kindergarteners had their hearts broken yesterday when they showed up for a White House tour and were told they couldn't come in because staff had to prepare for the President's visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, because the tears of the innocent give Barack Obama sustenance....

This Is What Happens When You Annnounce A Woman's Age On Camera
Got an image you'd like to see in here first thing in the morning? Send it to [email protected]. Subject: Morning crap...

In Praise Of Dr. Z
In an otherwise touching account of Monday's benefit for the stricken Dr. Z, Peter King shares this depressing detail: "It's been almost six months since he's spoken, and he can't write, and he can't read."...

James Harrison Has A Fear Of Flying, Not Of White House
Just when James Harrison became 1000% scarier due to his seemingly bizarre decision and reasoning to not visit the White House with his Steeler teammates, we find out he's not the anti-authoritarian lunatic we thought....

It's The Michael Strahan Show!
I was just thinking the other day that primetime television needs more shows featuring NFL sack leaders in key acting roles. And look at that! It happened. Michael Strahan is the newest member of the Fox family....

Mariotti Offers A Comforting Hand To Kornheiser, Himself
Shouty Jay Mariotti says he'll miss Tony Kornheiser on MNF, a man with whom he feuded cattily for indeterminate reasons over the years. This seems mystifyingly bighearted until you realize he's actually writing about himself....

What Are The Nuggets Going To Do When WWE Runs Wild On Game 4?
Game 4—if necessary! (oh right)—of the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for next Monday night at the Pepsi Center, but there's a scheduling snafu. "Monday Night Raw" already has the place booked....