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Your Grierson & Leitch Oscar Predictions: The Big Eight Categories You Actually Care About
Yesterday, to help you out with your pool, Grierson made predictions in all the technical Oscar categories. Today, we both make our predictions for the eight major categories, the ones you actually care about. Let's go to it....

The Worst Free-Throw Attempt Ever, Explained By The Woman Who Took It
On Monday, we brought you footage of what we described as the worst free-throw attempt of all time. The shot truly is a thing to behold, and we couldn't help but wonder (after watching it for the 20th time) how exactly a free throw could fall so far from the rim. This was a question that we neede...

A Strong Day For Oscar Pistorius's Defense, As Lead Investigator Struggles Under Cross-Examination
Today was the second day in Oscar Pistorius's bail hearing, and it started as a bit of a circus. Hundreds of media members and spectators were turned away from the courtroom (here's a 360-degree panorama that shows just how small it is), and a promised overflow room was not made ready—and some membe...

The NCAA And Miami Prepare For Battle
The NCAA has always gotten what it wanted. Because it made up the rules, and is the sole enforcer of them, the NCAA has never not been able to push around anyone in its way, be it players, programs or politicians. This time could have been different. After the investigation was screwed up so spectac...

Reports: "Boxes And Boxes" Of Steroids Found In Oscar Pistorius's Home
This might seem ancillary, in the wake of Oscar Pistorius's transformation from "inspirational athlete" to "accused murderer," but the news that banned drugs were found in Pistorius's home may end up playing a major role in his trial—a line of argument by the prosecution or the defense....

Prosecutor: Oscar Pistorius Strapped On His Prosthetic Legs Before Shooting Reeva Steenkamp Through The Bathroom Door
The funeral of Reeva Steenkamp was held today at a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth, while 700 miles away, in a Pretoria court, Oscar Pistorius was charged with her murder. For the first time, Pistorius's lawyer officially offered up the defense he's going to use: that Pistorius mistook Steenkamp,...

Jerry Buss, Surrounded By Boobs: A Tribute To The Greatest NBA Owner Ever
Jerry Buss died today. The 80-year-old was arguably the greatest NBA owner in the history of the league. He was also a world-class Playmate aficionado who frequently dated teenage girls and used to host his birthday party at a brothel. To put it in more appropriate obituary terms, the man was "known...

UK Hockey Team Ditches New American Owner After It Turns Out He's A Registered Sex Offender
For the NHL's litany of poor potential owners—John Spano's swindling, Boots Del Biaggio's fraud, Greg Jamison straight up not having the money—at least this has never happened. The Belfast Giants, in the UK's EIHL, were recently sold to American Floridian Christopher Knight. That was before they lea...

Why Your Children's Television Program Sucks: <em>Max & Ruby</em>
A look at the awful children’s programming you’re forced to endure before you can finally kick the kids out of the TV room to watch sports for eight hours. Illustration by Jim Cooke. ...

When Is It OK For A Coach To Shove A Player?
Early in the second half, with Cal down 12 to USC at home, head coach Mike Montgomery called a timeout. When junior Allen Crabbe, the Golden Bears' leading scorer, reached the bench he was met with a sharp shove in the chest. Crabbe and Montgomery exchanged angry words, and Crabbe had to be separ...

Time To Retire The Verducci Effect: What <em>Really</em> Predicts Pitcher Injuries?
Originally published in Baseball Prospectus....

As Charl Schwartzel Lined Up His Birdie Attempt At 17, A Couple In The Gallery Got Fingerbang-y
While the 2011 Masters remains South African golfer Charl Schwartzel's sole PGA Tour win, he hasn't exactly faded to obscurity like many other recent one-and-done major winners. Indeed, Schwartzel found himself a stroke away from a playoff at this weekend's Northern Trust Open in California, a mis...

A Text Message From A South African Rugby Player May Be At The Center Of The Pistorius Shooting
Over the weekend, we learned of a South African rugby player, Francois Hougaard, who may or may not have once dated the woman Oscar Pistorius shot and killed, Reeva Steenkamp. According to one report, Pistorius and Steenkamp were fighting over a text message from Hougaard early Thursday morning, sho...

Top Fuel Dragster Explodes, Showers Track With Shrapnel, Leaves Driver Unscathed
Upon reaching the finish line in something called the NHRA "Winternationals" today, Antron Brown was going around 300 mph when his 8,000 horsepower engine exploded, causing his two back tires to also explode. He then lost control of the car as it burst into flames and careened into the wall. It th...

Reports: A Bloodied Cricket Bat Was Found At Oscar Pistorius's Home And Reeva Steenkamp's Skull Was "Crushed"
South Africa's City Press is reporting that a bloodied cricket bat was found in Pistorius's home and that it may have been used against his girlfriend of four months, Reeva Steenkamp. Police are investigating several different scenarios involving the bat, including whether it was used against Steen...

How Clark Olson Beats Everyone Else In Fantasy Everything
The guy who just beat everyone else in America at all the fantasy sports, again, is a computer science professor who is not so much into trades but who is really, really into spreadsheets. Clark Olson, the 2012 winner of ESPN's omnibus Uber Challenge fantasy game, again, tallied the high score acros...

"I'm Gonna Tell You What I'm Gonna Do": What It Was Like To Guard Michael Jordan, According To Craig Ehlo
In honor of Michael Jordan's 50th birthday, we reached out to a man who, possibly more than anyone, understands the sneering greatness of Jordan in his prime: Craig Ehlo, the former NBA player (14 seasons with the Rockets, Cavaliers, Hawks, and SuperSonics) who was on the wrong side of "The Shot" in...

How To Cook Sausage And Peppers: A Guide For The Stir Crazy
This is the worst time of year....

Report: Oscar Pistorius Attempted To Revive Reeva Steenkamp, Who Was Sitting On The Bathroom Sink When Shot
South African newspaper Beeld has contacted sources close to the police investigation of Oscar Pistorius's shooting of Reeva Steenkamp and filled in a few details about that morning: First, police believe that Steenkamp was sitting "on the lavatory"—bathroom sink—when Pistorius shot her through the...
