Media Navelgazing:NFL Network Won't Let Deion Sanders Express His Opinions on Michael Vick: This week Sanders wrote a follow-up column, dealing with some of the reaction to the original. But NFL Network said the column can't run. Sanders apparently has a contract with NFL Network that stipulates that it has exclusive rights to his opinions, and NFL Network wants Prime Time to shut up about the Vick case -- at least until he's in the Total Access studio.
Hoover High School Principal Fired in Wake of Scandal-Plagued, MTV-Hyped Football Team: Now the principal is fighting back, saying he was directed to turn a blind eye to bizarre things he was told about the head football coach, including that coach Rush Propst had a "secret family and a completely separate life."
'Wrong Ball Play' Lands High School Football Players on David Letterman: I love trick plays in football, but there's something about the "wrong ball play" that strikes me as unsportsmanlike.
Emil Brown, Caught on Tape! There's good video, there's great video, and then there's video of Emil Brown hitting a Kansas City television reporter in the face with a pellet gun. Since no one was seriously injured, feel free to laugh.
MLB:
Rowand Sidelined After Violent Game of Tag: How do I know it was violent? Because someone got hurt, and in all my years of playing tag, I don't recall anyone ever getting hurt.
Donnie Sadler Suspended 50 Games: In yet another addition to the "Wait, he's roiding?" file, Diamondbacks infielder Donnie Sadler -- who has one at-bat all year, and no hits -- has been suspended fifty games under MLB's minor league drug program.
NFL:| NFL FanHouse Camp Battles: AFC North, AFC East |
| NFL FanHouse Camp Battles: AFC West, AFC South |
| NFL FanHouse Camp Battles: NFC North, NFC East |
| NFL FanHouse Camp Battles: NFC West, NFC South |
Pacman Jones Becoming a Pro Wrestler: Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer worries that Jones's presence in pro wrestling will only make pro wrestling's bad public image worse. That is, after all, why the NFL got rid of him.
Clinton Portis Wants to Turn Training Camp Into a Resort: "My idea of improving training camp is turning this into a resort, and that's going into the season healthy. I think the more guys you can get into the season healthy, the better chance you have, but Coach Gibbs and them's idea is totally different than mine, and they the rulers of this team."
Texans Players Praise Matt Schaub, Praise David Carr Not So Much: Typically, the Texans are very good at keeping team grumbling down to a minimum during the season, but now that David Carr is gone, the players are speaking freely about the differences between this year and previous years.
Should Michael Vick Pull a Jamal Lewis? If Vick does plead guilty, he'd probably get out of prison in about a year. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell certainly wouldn't let him off with the kind of punishment Lewis got from Goodell's predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, but he might not give him a lifetime ban, either.
Fun With Reading:
Jose Canseco Has 'Stuff' on A-Rod: He told Boston's WEEI Radio on Friday that he had "other stuff" on A-Rod that will be coming out. When asked directly if Rodriguez had used steroids, Canseco replied: "Wait and see."
Charles Oakley Is Writing a Book: "I'm not pulling any punches, true stories. It ain't one of those Charles Barkley fake books, it's a Charles Oakley book," Oakley said. "It's not an O.J. book, it's an Oakley book."
NBA:Pau Gasol Really Is a Rock Star in Spain: There's some kind of Elvis thing going on here, assumedly because Gasol plays in Memphis for the moment. The cover also states Pau reveals his secrets. Maybe he wants to be traded? That'd be shocking.
Eddy Curry Victim of Home Invasion: Deputy chief of police John Madden said three offenders restrained Curry, his family and an employee with duct tape inside the Burr Ridge home.
Allen Iverson on NBA's Biggest Scandal: 'Glad It's Not Us Players': In light of the sport's most damaging scandal, he's relieved to see that (for once) it's not one of his peers who's taking the blame.
Livingston Almost Lost Part of His Leg: He of the grisly, over-exposed knee injury, is gradually making his way back to health.
NASCAR:
Evernham: Personal Relationship Hurt Crocker's Racing Career: Finally, some honesty. People have doubted the existence of this relationship and questioned my credibility since I first hinted at and then confirmed the relationship between the owner, who turns 50 years old next month, and his 26-year-old driver on Answer this... in April of 2006.
Soccer:
Werder Bremen Fan: We're Number One! At least one Werder Bremen fan (top left) would like Hamit Altintop of Bayern Munich to know that his goal celebration is not particularly appreciated.
