Tuesday Morning News - 12/15/09

The NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox will be the opening game of the 2010 season, playing at Fenway Park on April 4th. [Yankees.com]

The NFL is planning on holding two games in London next season and already has two teams who have agreed to be the home team. [BBC]

Houston Rockets F Trevor Ariza has been suspended one game for attempting to elbow Toronto's DeMar DeRozan. [Houston Chronicle]

A Belgian court has suspended the one-year anti-doping bans of tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse, citing administrative errors. [ABC Grandstand Sport]

Wednesday Morning News - 12/2/09

FSU head football coach Bobby Bowden has announced he will retire following FSU's upcoming bowl appearance. [SI.com]

The Philadelphia Eagles extended the contract of TE Brent Celek. [Delaware Online]

Florida DE Carlos Dunlap has been suspended indefinitely after being arrest for drunk driving. He will miss at least the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. [Palm Beach Post]

Michigan State has suspended eight members of its football team who are believed to have taken part in an assault in campus dormitory. [Detroit News]

Washington Capitals F Alexander Ovechkin has been suspended 2 games for a knee-to-knee hit on Carolina Hurricanes D Tim Gleason. [NY Times Slap Shot]

The NHL has approved the sale of the Montreal Canadiens to the Molson family. [National Post]

Former NY Yankee Tommy Henrich, the first player to hit a walk-off home run in the World Series and the last surviving teammate of Lou Gehrig, has died at the age of 96. [

The Sunday News - 11/29/09

Week 13 college football upsets: Georgia 30 - No 7 Georgia Tech 24, West Virginia 19 - No 9 Pitt 16, Oklahoma 21 - No 12 Oklahoma State 0, South Carolina 34 - No 18 Clemson 17, NC State 28 - No 24 UNC 27, Mississippi State 41 - No 25 Ole Miss 27 [ESPN]

MLB commisioner Bud Selig plans on stepping down when his contract runs out after the 2012 season. [MLB.com]

Orlando Magic SF Matt Barnes has been fined $20,000 for tossing a ball into the stands after a game against the Miami Heat. Barnes will appeal. [Orlando Sentinel]

Buffalo Sabres F Patrick Kaleta has been suspended 2 games after a hit on Philadelphia Flyers Jared Ross. [USA Today]

Colorado Avalanche F David Jones will mis 4-6 months with a torn ACL. [Denver Post]

Louisville head football coach Steve Kragthorpe has been fired after going 15-21 in three seasons with the school. [Pittsburgh Tribune Review]

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo broke the schools record for wins by beating Massachusetts, 106-68. It was his 341st win with the program. [MLive.com]

Tuesday Morning News - 11/24/09

AL MVP: C Joe Mauer(MIN) [MLB.com]

Montreal Canadiens F Geroges Laraque has been suspended 5 games for a knee-to-knee hit on Detroit Red Wings D Niklas Kronwall. [Detroit Free Press]

Lorena Ochoa has won her fourth consecutive LPGA Player of the Year title. [USA Today]

Northeastern University will be ending their football program after 74 years, due to the costs of fielding a competitive team. [Berkshire Eagle]

Saturday Morning News - 11/21/09

NY Giants LB Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a bulging disk in his neck. [NJ.com]

Jacksonville Jaguars S Reggie Nelson has been fined $7,500 for an unnecessary blow to the head on Jets QB Mark Sanchez. [Pro Football Talk]

Dallas Stars F James Neal has been suspended 2 games for a major boarding penalty against Columbus Blue Jackets F Derek Dorsett. [National Post]

Syracuse wins the 2k Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, upsetting 6 Syracuse, 87-71. [Greensboro News-Record]

Wednesday Morning News - 11/18/09

AL Cy Young Award: Zach Greinke(KC) [MLB.com]

The Buffalo Bills fired their head coach after a 3-6 start. Dick Jauron will be replaced by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. [NFL.com]

Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe has been suspended four games for violating the NFL PED policy. [KansasCity.com]

LA Laker Kobe Bryant had his 100th career 40-point game in a 106-93 win over the Detroit Pistons. [NBC Sports]


Raja Bell, who was sent to the Golden State Warriors in a trade Monday could miss the rest of the season after upcoming surgery on his wrist. [Examiner]

Orlando Magic PR Jameer Nelson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee. [Sporting News]

Portland Trailblazer Travis Outlaw will miss 6-8 weeks with a broken bone in his left foot. [Blazers Beat]

Brendan Shanahan has retired from the NHL. He played for 21 years, and is one of the last two active players to play for the Hartford Whalers. [NY Times]

Thursday Morning News - 11/12/09

NL Gold Glove Winners: P Adam Wainwright(STL), C Yadier Molina(STL), 1B Adrian Gonzalez(SD), 2B Orlando Hudson(LAD), 3B Ryan Zimmerman(WAS), SS Jimmy Rollins(PHI), OF Shane Victorino(PHI), OF Michael Bourn(HOU), OF Matt Kemp(LAD) [MLB.com]

Jim Riggleman is getting promoted from interim manager to permanent manager of the Washington Nationals. [Nationals Journal]

Bad news for Eagles fans: CB Ellis Hobbs will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury that will require surgery, and CB Joselio Hanson is suspended 4 games for violating the NFL PED policy. [Philly.com]

The NHL is moving closer to a ban on blindside hits. [London Free Press]

Retired boxer Mike Tyson was detained by police after allegedly hitting a photographer at LAX. [Miami Herald]

Wednesday Morning News - 10/11/09

AL Gold Glove Winners: P Mark Buehrle(CWS), C Joe Mauer(MIN), 1B Mark Teixeira(NYY), 2B Placido Polanco(DET), 3B Evan Longoria(TB), SS Derek Jeter(NYY), OF Torii Hunter(LAA), OF Adam Jones(BAL), OF Ichiro Suzuki(SEA) [MLB.com]

Basbeball's general managers decided not to hold a vote on the expansion of instant replay. [Chicago Breaking Sports]

Memphis Grizzlies C Hasheem Thabeet broke his jaw in a collision with teammate Zach Randolph during last night's loss to Portland. [NBC Connecticut]

Illinois' Jeff Jordan, oldest son of Michael, has been suspended 2 games for playing in an unsanctioned event over the summer. [USA Today]

The University of Arkansas has handed out suspensions to five players. Glenn Bryant will miss 2 games, Marcus Britt will miss 6, Nick Mason will miss the entire fall semester, and Stefan Walsh and Courtney Fortson are out indefinitely, all for violating team rules. [Fayetteville Flyer]

German goalkeeper Robert Enke has died. His death is believed to have been a suicide. [Examiner]

Joe Cada is now the youngest person to win the World Series of Poker Main Event. [OnlinePoker.net]

Tuesday Morning News - 11/3/09

The Philadelphia Phillies have won Game 5, 8-6. Chase Utley's 2 HRs tied him with Reggie Jackson for most in a single World Series. [Newsday]

The Cleveland Browns have fired GM George Kokinis. Kokinis was hand picked by head coach Eric Mangini after Mangini was hired in January. [The Huddle]

Philadelphia Flyer Simon Gagne will miss 6-8 weeks after ungergoing surgery on a double hernia. [SB Nation]

Anaheim Duck James Wisniewski has been suspended two games for an illegal hit on Phoenix Coyote Shane Doan. [LA Times]

A US Bankruptcy Court judge has approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL. [ESPN]

Doug Barron is the first player suspended under the PGA Tour's anti-doping policy. The drug he tested positive for is not being released, and he will miss one year of competition. [Golf Channel]

David Beckham will be returning to AC Milan on a six month loan from the LA Galaxy. [Times Online]

Suspension coming for Florida's Brandon Spikes? **UPDATED**

Florida needed to finally put up a big showing, after struggling offensively the past few weeks. And they did, beating Georgia 41-17. But theres no excuse for what the cameras caught in the middle of the third quarter:

If you didn't notice it, watch #51, Brandon Spikes. Specifically watch his right hand.


I know a lot of dirty things happen in the pile in football, and I know a lot of trash talk was going back and forth in this game. That is no excuse for what is clearly a player trying to injure another player. Spikes clearly reached into Washaun Ealey's facemask and gouged at his eyes, clearly with the intent to injure him. If he had succeeded, an eye injury could cause permanent damage, and even end a player's career. In 1999, Orlando Brown of the Cleveland Browns was hit in the eye by a penaly flag thrown by a ref. He missed three years and never fully regained his vision. For a player who is a freshman and just beginning his football career, like Ealey is, this could have been a quick career ender. Spikes should get suspended the rest of the year, at the very least.

**UPDATE** Good videos of this will probably keep getting taken down, so if this one disappears, just click here.

**UPDATE 2** Spikes has been suspended for the first half this week against Vanderbilt by head coach Urban Meyer. The SEC has accepted this punishment and will not take further action.

Thursday Morning News - 10/29/09

The Philadelphia Phillies have won World Series Game 1, beating the Yankees 6-1. Philly P Cliff Lee bacame the first pitcher to have 10 Ks, 0 walks, and 0 earned runs in a World Series game. [FOX Sports]

Larry Johnson has officially been suspended until November 9. He is expected to appeal. [Reuters]

The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked #1 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. [ESPN]

The Sunday News - 10/25/09

UFC 104 results: Lyoto Machida beat Mauricio Hua by unanimous decision, Cain Velasquez stopped Ben Rothwell in the second round, Anthony Johnson scored a knockout over Yushiyuki Yoshida in the first round [The Sun]

Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu has been suspended 3 games for a viscious baording penalty on Colorado Avalanche Darcy Tucker that left him hospitalized with a concussion. [Sporting News]

All seven undefeated FCS schools won yesterday.

Thursday Morning News - 10/22/09

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL pennant, winning the NLCS 4-1. Ryan Howard was named NLCS MVP. [ABC 12 ]

St Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols uderwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips and bone spurs in his right elbow. He is expected to be fully healthy for next season. [STLToday.com]

Twelve players on the Cleveland Browns have come down with the flu, including seven starters. The team is expected to receive roster exemptions to replace the sick players. [Baltimore Sun]

The SEC officiating crew for the Georgia-LSU and Florida-Arkansas games has been suspended after the conference found the crew made incorrect calls in both games. [Atlanta Journal Constitution]

Pittsburgh Penguin Sergei Gonchar is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after breaking his wrist against the St Louis Blues. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Tuesday Morning News - 10/20/09

Carolina Panther Dante West has been suspended without pay for one game after an illegal hit on Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith on Sunday. [ESPN]

Baltimore Raven Samari Rolle is not expected to play this season, while suffering from a chronic neck problem he had surgery on recently. [HometownAnnapolis.com]

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was cited for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside a bar near Heinz Field after the Steelers win on Sunday. [Washington Post]

The LA Angels and Philadelphia Phillies each won 5-4 last night. The Angels trail 2-1 in their series, and the Phillies lead 3-1.

Wednesday Morning News - 9/30/09

The Boston Red Sox clinched the AL Wild Card when the LA Angels beat the Texas Rangers last night. [Boston Herald]

With Chad Pennington out for the season, the Miami Dolphins traded and undisclosed draft pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for QB Tyler Thigpen. [KansasCity.com]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed four-time Pro Bowl LB Jeremiah Trotter and cut QB Jeff Garcia yesterday. [MyFOXPhilly.com]

St Louis Ram David Vobora has been suspended by the NFL for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances. [Missourinet]

The NBA has announced they are going ahead with replacement refs while they attempt to reach a labor deal with the NBRA. [USA Today]

The Yankees are expected to announce today Yankee Stadium will host a college bowl game beginning in 2010. [Newsday]

Magic Number Update: The Philadelphia Phillies and LA Dodgers numbers to clinch their divisions are at 1. The Phillies can clinch with a win tonight OR an Atlanta loss, and the Dodgers can clinch with a win tonight OR a Colorado loss. Colorado's number is at 3 over the Braves for the NL Wild Card.

Monday Morning News - 9/21/09

Mark Martin has won the opening race of the Chase for the Cup. [Chicago Tribune]

Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken collar bone. [Seattle Post Intelligencer]

Chicago Cub Milton Bradley has been suspended the remainder of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner set an NFL record, completing 92.3% of his passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars. [Yahoo Shutdown Corner]

The 49ers have officially charged the NY Jets of tampering in their negotiations with WR Michael Crabtree, according to the NY Daily News. [NYDN]

Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck Left Sunday's game against the 49ers with a rib injury. He is expected to play next week. [Seattle Times]

Saturday Morning News

Boston Bruin Phil Kessel has finally been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The trade proves that NHL talent evalution is absurd, as Boston got two first-round picks and a second-round pick in return. Had Kessel been signed as an unrestricted free agent, Boston would have gotten a first-, second-, and third-round pick instead. [HockeyJournal.com]

Ichiro Suzuki led the Seattle Mariners to victory over the Yankees with his second consecutive walk-off hits. Mariano Rivera gave up the two-run homer for only his second blown save of the season. [YESNetwork.com]

Floyd Mayweather came in two pounds overweight for tonight's fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. ESPN is reporting that Mayweather will lose and Marquez will gain $300,000 for each pound Mayweather is over. [ESPN]

Michigan's James Mouton has been suspended one game for throwing a punch during last weeks game against Notre Dame. He will miss today's game against Eastern Michigan. [Bleacher Report]

Suspending baseball players is a joke, and now MLB pretty much admitted it

It has long been understood that the suspensions handed out to starting pitchers and hitters when an HBP leads to a fight are unfair. A first baseman suspended 5 games misses 5 games. A starting pitcher misses 1, at worst. But the results of Tuesday's Blue Jays-Yankees fight shows MLB knows no one takes them seriously.

Lets recap: Blue Jays batter gets hit by a pitch. Bottom of the eigth, Jay's reliever Carlson throws rediculously far behind Posada. Posada has words with Carlson. Posada would later come around to score from second, and bumps into Carlson, who was coming over to backup home plate if there was a throw. Carlson takes offense, benches clear, punches are thrown. As a result, Posada and Carlson are suspended four games each, Duncan is suspended three, and there are various other fines.

Oh, you heard they were all suspended three games each? Look a little deeper.

What pretty much every news story I've seen on the subject is glossing over is the fact that they were suspended four games, then had the suspensions reduced to three BECAUSE THEY AGREED NOT TO APPEAL! Oh sure, its in the stories, but usually as a throw away line at the beginning, or at the very end where no one will notice it. And I'm left asking, whats the point? Why even bother suspending people?

Sure, baseball has some harsh penalties. If you gamble on the game, you're out for life. Fail three drug tests, and out for life. Now Mike Scioscia might be facing fines for comments about the officiating in last nights Angels-Red Sox game. But the suspensions handed down for fighting and intentionally throwing at an opponent have become the laughingstock of the sports world. A suspended pitcher can immediately sit out a five game suspensions and miss one start, or his start can be pushed back and he won't really miss any. A fielder in an important series can appeal his suspension, enabling him to continue playing until the suspension is heard. Or he can just drop his suspension when the series is over or hes scheduled for a rest anyway, and begin serving his suspension when he or his teams wants him to. Not to mention the fact that appeals are usually successful in reducing a suspension by at least a game. And now this.

What Baseball has pretty much done now is take the appeals process out of the equation. Its as if they said "We know four games is too high, so if you agree to not drag out the appeals process, we'll drop it to three." This sets an interesting precedent for suspensions in the future. Could a starting pitcher now agree to immediately sit a five game suspension, miss four instead, and not even worry about interrupting his routine? Are we headed towards a point where a batter can say "I'll take four games, but only if I can serve them during our series against Kansas City next month"? What needs to be done is finally set up a mandatory length of time for suspensions of this type. Pitchers have to miss three trips through the rotation. Batters sit three games. The appeals system will remain the same, but they can only reduce a suspension one game, and if the appeal is lost, they must sit another game.

After all, if a pitcher intentionally throws at a batter, the pitcher's manager automatically sits one game with no appeal. Why not hold the players a little more responsible for their actions?