Metallica’s ‘Fuel’: The 2011 NASCAR theme song

Cars don't run without gas.

Yes, that's the obvious statement of the century, but it seems that fuel has never been more important to success in the Sprint Cup Series than it has been so far in 2011.

While the outcome of Sunday's Heluva Good! 400 at Michigan didn't come down to which driver had the most gas in the tank, fuel was once again a major storyline thanks to team's continued issues with the self-venting fuel can that was introduced before the start of the 2011 season.

Fuel issues stole a potential top 10 away from Kasey Kahne, who ran out of gas with 45 laps to go after the team didn't get the car full of�gas on the previous pit stop and Kahne didn't get to pit road in time.

Second-place finisher Matt Kenseth's team twice couldn't get the car full of fuel, and if it weren't for a conveniently timed caution on Lap 163, Kenseth would have been forced to stop again before the end of the race while the rest of the field would have been able to stay out.

Kenseth had the same issue at Charlotte, and the problem has plagued Greg Biffle too, most notably at Las Vegas when Biffle had one of the fastest cars at the track. Tony Stewart looked like he could have stolen a win at Kansas two weeks ago, but his team didn't get his car full of fuel and he was forced to pit with less than 10 laps to go.

The new fuel can eliminates the need for the catch can man at the back of the car. However, the nozzle of the can is harder to engage and the fuel takes longer to get into the car. If it's not engaged perfectly, well, all of the fuel doesn't get into the car.

If you're sick of fuel being a storyline, well, it's not going away anytime soon. Sonoma is next and fuel is traditionally an issue because teams start to work fuel mileage backwards from the start of the race to minimize their time spent on pit road. Plus Kentucky, a 1.5-mile track, is in two weeks, and we've already seen fuel decide races at Charlotte and Kansas.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Metallica-s-Fuel-The-2011-NASCAR-theme-song?urn=nascar-wp2055

Willie Mays Willlie Shoemaker Wilma Rudolph Wilt Chamberlain

Utah AD: Talks of four-team state tourney ‘very, very preliminary’

In the two days since Chris Hill floated the idea of the state of Utah's four premier college basketball programs annually facing off in a season-opening tournament, the Utah athletic director has learned a valuable lesson.

"I'll have to remember not to let cats out of the bag too soon," he said with a chuckle.

Hill told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday that discussions about a four-team event involving Utah, Utah State, BYU and Weber State were "very, very preliminary." He has only spoken to BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and officials at Salt Lake City's Energy Solutions Arena about the idea and the talks didn't even progress far enough to discuss the merits of potential formats.

"They said let's continue to talk, so it wasn't a 'no,'" Hill said. "We've all got a lot on the plate, but it's something we may want to look into."

The notion of a four-team event comes at a time when conference realignment has put several of the state of Utah's most historic rivalries in jeopardy. Pac-12-bound Utah has renewed its rivalry with BYU, but it will not play Utah State next winter for the first time since the 1944-45 season and its series with Weber State ends with a matchup in Ogden next December.

Utah backing out of those series represents a shift in scheduling philosophy now that the Utes are part of a power six conference for the first time. They're wary of playing too many home-and-home series against teams from smaller conferences, especially against quality opponents like Utah State and Weber State who represent an RPI hit yet are very capable of defeating the Utes.

An annual four-team event involving the Beehive State's best four teams would preserve those rivalries, but a source with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo! Sports he'd be "a little bit shocked" if the schools make it happened. The source suggested Hill may have floated the idea to deflect backlash from canceling long-running series with Utah State and Weber State.

Hill acknowledged that satisfying fans who want those rivalries to continue was part of his thought process, as was creating an event that generate interest in college basketball at a time of year when football is king.

"It's just trying to think of things differently to see what may work for all of us. If you don't throw out ideas, you don't come up with new things," Hill said. "Maybe it's something that will work. Maybe it's not. But I think it's something worth considering."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Utah-AD-Talks-of-four-team-state-tourney-very-?urn=ncaab-wp3469

Matt Ryan Michael Griffin Miles Austin Outside linebacker

His daughter’s father: Cardinals’ Trever Miller pitches for Grace

Part of what motivates Trever Miller to keep pitching is a devotion to his youngest daughter, Grace.

Because she was born with two defects in her heart caused by a chromosomal disorder so rare it has no name, doctors did not expect Grace to live a year.

She turns 7 on June 28.

On Sunday, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a touching and dignified Father's Day feature on Miller, a 38-year-old pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. After breaking in with the Tigers during the 1996 season, Miller has accrued nearly 10 years of service time as a left-handed relief specialist.

Some may wonder how or why Miller continues to pitch knowing his daughter's life balances so precariously. In his way, it's a tribute to her tenacity.

"I know she would want to walk if she could. I know she would talk if she could," Miller said. "I've been given the ability to pitch. And if I can continue to do that until I'm 50, that's what I'll do."

Strauss writes that Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and manager Tony La Russa think so highly of Miller that he is free to take as much time as needed to be with his daughter in case of a crisis.

Crises frequently happen for Grace, and have throughout her often grueling life.

Genetic defects to the 16th and 20th chromosomes led to an atrial septal defect and Parent Ductus Arteriosus within her heart. Grace's case is only the 21st of its kind, reportedly, in recorded medical history.

She is unable to walk or talk, she rarely cries, and even breathing can be tricky because she usually requires a ventilator. She has endured several operations, starting with the heart surgery at 4 months old that gave her a chance to live longer than anyone else with her set of conditions.

Grace has nearly died several times ? most recently in May after surgery to remove a kidney stone went wrong. Two times, Pari has needed to revive Grace all by herself. One harrowing experience happened in 2008 at Tropicana Field as Miller ? then with the Tampa Bay Rays ? celebrated the last out of the 2008 ALCS with his teammates.

It is tough to even imagine being in the Millers' position. Despite the constant hardships, Grace gets ? and seems to give ? love and happiness. The Millers say they count Grace as a blessing, and cherish every moment they spend with her and their two older, healthier children. And Grace does more than merely exist; she's trying to learn sign language.

At a fundraiser in Chicago a year ago, Miller succinctly explained why he and Pari attempted to extend Grace's life with heart surgery rather than, as Strauss wrote, "letting nature take its course":

"A lot of doctors are apprehensive to even do the surgery," Miller said. "God blessed us with Dr. [Jim] Quintessenza, who took a chance.

"He said. 'A lot of doctors are telling you about the 'quality of life' ? but they don't know what the quality of life would be with your daughter. So maybe I can give you some time and you can work out the quality for yourself.' "

The Stew also touched on Miller's story back in February, after a feature ran in "Runner's World" about his offseason marathon training sessions pushing Grace in her stroller.

Both have been in it for the long haul.

Follow Dave on Twitter ?�@AnswerDave ? and engage�the Stew on Facebook

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/His-daughter-s-father-Cardinals-Trever-Miller-?urn=mlb-wp9884

Champ Bailey Chris Johnson Chris Snee Darnell Dockett

Links! And Man Utd’s Facebook goal challenge!

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle...

You really should be able to guess the winner of this little accuracy competition before you watch it. [101gg]

A football painting worth �5.6 million. [The Beautiful Gear]

MLS better than Brazil...in attendance. [KCKRS]

Sunderland pronounce Leeds United dead. [IBWM]

Analyzing the 16 Women's World Cup rosters. North Korea's average age: 20.47! [All White Kit]

SportsCenter prepares for Women's World Cup by learning from Sergio Busquets. [The Shinguardian]

New England Revolution have their sweary fans banned and arrested. [TDiF]

The real reasons Chelsea want Villas-Boas. [Surreal Football]

Premier League fixture list announcement day -- as it happened. [The Gaffer]

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Links-And-Man-Utd-s-Facebook-goal-challenge-?urn=sow-wp2653

Jose Valverde Justin Verlander Jered Weaver John Buck

Teenage daughter of Robert Horry dies after lifelong illness

The teenage daughter of Robert Horry died on Tuesday after a lifelong battle with a rare genetic disorder.

Ashlyn Horry, 17, suffered from 1p36 deletion syndrome, an affliction that develops when part of the first chromosome is missing. Little was known about the condition before Ashlyn was diagnosed. Up until a few years ago, it didn't have an official name.

"My little girl was the light of my life and my family's," Horry told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. "It's been tough, but we were blessed to have her for the time we did."

Horry won seven NBA championships during his career with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. He earned the nickname "Big Shot Rob" due to his clutch shooting late in playoff games.

His daughter lived 17 years with her disorder, enduring multiple surgeries and several other close calls. A 2003 L.A. Times article detailed how she spent the first six months of her life in the hospital, had a tracheotomy for three years, took in most food through a tube and slept with an IV near her bed.

In that piece, Horry said that he sometimes�couldn't help but feel bad for his daughter, like when her cousins would come over and chase butterflies while she sat and watched, unable to join in play. His wife expressed less regret.

"She's happy all the time," she said. "She doesn't know any different. That's great, and it's a peace for me. This is all she knows. She's happy, and I want to keep it that way."

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? NFL player saves 6-year-old boy's life
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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Teenage-daughter-of-Robert-Horry-dies-after-life?urn=nba-wp5053

Mario Lemieux Mark McGwire Mark Spitz Martina Navratilova

Iker Casillas says he and Ronaldo are frenemies

In case you were under the impression that the representation of top flight football as having all the melodrama of your local high school was a total fabrication of the media, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas comes along to assure you that it really isn't. From ESPN:

On his relationship with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Casillas said: "He's a friend and a team-mate, a team-mate and a friend - but he's also an enemy, because we argue a lot."

He added: "One doesn't net 40 strikes in one season in the league by chance. He's done this more than once, so he must be very good."

Note how Iker could have simply said that Ronaldo is very good instead of that he "must be very good," because this is how proper frenemies speak of each other. It looks like Cristiano will have something to add to his burn book.

Also, the picture at the top of this post could be the basis of an entire story arc on Skins.

Photo: Reuters

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Iker-Casillas-says-he-and-Ronaldo-are-frenemies?urn=sow-wp2473

Warren Spahn Wayne Gretzky Willie Mays Willlie Shoemaker

Report: Richard Childress and Kyle Busch in altercation

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- After Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway, word spread that Richard Childress and Kyle Busch were involved in an altercation in the garage after Busch and Childress driver Joey Coulter battled for fifth place late in the race.

Speed pit reporter Ray Dunlap tweeted that Childress "put a whipping" on Busch after the race.

Hot news from the track. Grandpa Childress put a whipping on Kyle Busch in the truck garage. Look for big sun glasses on kubu sun.

Shortly thereafter, SPEED Center, SPEED's racing recap show, posted this on Facebook:

CHILDRESS vs. KYLE BUSCH: multiple witnesses tell SPEED there was a physical confrontation between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch after today's NASCAR Truck Series race

The incident took place in the garage area. Childress initiated the conflict, first taking a swing at Busch, then put him in a headlock.�NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said that the sanctioning body was looking into reports of the altercation.

Busch was battling Childress driver Joey Coulter for fifth place late in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250. The racing seemed clean as Coulter and Busch didn't make contact as they were side by side, but Busch gave Coulter a door slam after the race, potentially sparking what has been reported.

Busch is on probation through June 15 in all NASCAR series for an incident with Kevin Harvick -- a Childress driver in the Sprint Cup Series -- at Darlington when Busch ran into Harvick's car after Harvick got out to confront him on pit road after the race.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Report-Richard-Childress-and-Kyle-Busch-in-alte?urn=nascar-wp1701

David Ortiz Hanley Ramirez Martin Prado Albert Pujols

NCAA bends rules to allow Mizzou to play exhibition in Joplin

Since we're always quick to skewer the NCAA for the rigidity of its rules, it's important to give the organization credit for picking an appropriate time to make an exception.

Missouri announced Thursday that the NCAA has granted the school permission to add a third exhibition game to next season's schedule, enabling the Tigers to face Division II Missouri Southern in Joplin. Schools are typically allowed a maximum of two exhibition games per season, but the NCAA granted Missouri a waiver since proceeds from the Oct. 30 game will go to rebuilding efforts in tornado-ravaged Joplin.

"The game between the Tigers and the Lions will surely be exciting and will offer a welcome relief from the stresses of the recovery effort," Missouri Southern president Bruce Speck said in a joint statement released by both schools. "The MU athletics team has already contributed much to the recovery effort and the entire Southwest Missouri region is thankful."

The game, which will be called the "One State, One Spirit Classic," will be played at Missouri Southern's 3,200-seat arena. There will be a moment of silence at 5:41 p.m., the exact time the tornado struck.

In addition to the game against Missouri Southern, the Missouri athletic department has made other efforts to provide relief for Joplin.

The Tigers have sold T-shirts with the slogan "One State. One Spirit. One Mizzou" written above the date the tornado struck. New Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith and fellow Missouri staffers also visited Joplin two weeks ago to donate items collected by the university including food, stuffed animals, diapers, formula and baby wipes.

The other efforts have not gone unnoticed, but it's scheduling a game at Missouri-Southern that has resonated most.

"You don't see Division I programs step up and do what Coach [Frank] Haith and the University of Missouri are doing," Missouri Southern coach Robert Corn told the Joplin Globe. "They know we've suffered a severe blow down in Joplin. They've definitely opened their arms up and said how can we help."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/NCAA-bends-rules-to-allow-Mizzou-to-play-exhibit?urn=ncaab-wp3298

Bill Russell Bill Tilden Billie Jean King Bob Cousy

Kyle Busch was in a no-win situation, but not a no-blame one

Admit it. You got a little grin on your face this weekend when you heard the news. Kyle Busch fought with Richard Childress? Really? NASCAR's reigning enfant terrible squaring off against one of the oldest of old-school bulldogs? Could this be the greatest off-track story of the decade?

Once the facts came out, the story shifted a bit. Turns out Busch didn't actually do any fighting; "stopping fists with one's face" doesn't really count as combat. And while Kyle reportedly got knocked to the ground, by all accounts he didn't fight back at all. Which, in the sense of the greater good, is definitely for the best; Busch already has enough trouble with his reputation without adding "assault on a grandfather" to the list.

NASCAR sided with Busch, determining that he was free from blame in the incident while slapping (lightly) Childress with a $150,000 fine and probation. Here's the thing, though: while Childress deserved what he got (and more), he doesn't make a habit of taking swings at drivers he doesn't like.

Before we go any farther: Childress was in the wrong here. This was a premeditated attack, one that deserved a lot more severe punishment than the massage he got. But viewing any incident in the garage without considering context is short-sighted, so we're broadening the field of view a bit here to consider motivation as well as action.

Kyle Busch neither started the fight nor kept it going. But can he really be free from at least some measure of the blame for it happening at all?

Yes, this is a bit of "blame the victim" mentality. But calling Kyle Busch a "victim" in this story is stretching the definition of the word to its breaking point; this isn't the same thing as blaming a woman for getting assaulted because she was dressed provocatively. Busch may not have expected to be attacked, but he surely can't have been surprised.

Busch, of course, has a long history of disputes with other drivers, from Carl Edwards to Brad Keselowski to Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Denny Hamlin. And that's not even taking into account the drivers in the Childress camp, most notably Kevin Harvick, with whom Busch had a memorable sort-of throwdown in Darlington.

Saturday, the precipitating incident was a final-lap battle with RCR driver Joey Coulter during the trucks race. Coulter and Busch battled for the fifth position, and Coulter seized it on the final lap. After the race, Busch gave Coulter what's euphemistically referred to as a "love tap" — a thump in the door.

That's what set Childress off, and it warrants the question of why the hell Busch is throwing a bump to a 20-year-old kid in a developmental series. Seriously? Does Busch need to fight that hard for a fifth-place position in a series he could win going in reverse? What's he trying to prove here?

"I don't know that I did anything out of the ordinary that would provoke something of Mr. Childress," Busch said on Sunday. That may be the problem; banging and beating like that may not be "out of the ordinary" for Busch, but at some point, enough is enough. Throwing down like that in the Sprint Cup Series, where the sport's biggest prize is at stake? Sure, go for it. (Sometimes, though, the big guys fight back.) But throwing down like that in a developmental series is like bulldozing your elementary-school cousins during the Thanksgiving Day backyard football game.

Busch, of course, always has a "take what's mine, and take some of yours too" mentality, one that serves him well on the track. You can't argue with results; the guy is one of the most successful drivers in the sport and on a path to be one of the all-time greats. But at some point, he'll have to realize that, to paraphrase an old legal saying, his rights end where another driver's fender begins. If he's going to shove people out of the way on his way to the top, he can't be surprised if a few of them decide to shove back.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Kyle-Busch-was-in-a-no-win-situation-but-not-a-?urn=nascar-wp1767

Corey Hart Yadier Molina Ubaldo Jimenez Heath Bell

Parise says ‘nothing’ going on with Devils; arbitration next?

On April 18, New Jersey Devils President/GM/Ruler of All He Surveys Lou Lamoriello said the following about re-signing star winger Zach Parise, who is tagged for restricted free agency this summer:

"I don't think I can say anymore than anybody else can say. He's an integral part, has been since he's been here and in everybody's mind he will continue to be that. So, we'll do everything we possibly can as expeditious as possible."

It is now June 11. Parise told Tom Gulitti of Fire and Ice that "nothing" is going on with his contract talks with the Devils; Gulitti feels that "it appears inevitable that the Devils will file for team-elected arbitration before next week's deadline."

From Fire and Ice:

"We talked about that with my agent," Parise said. "I guess you kind of have to look at it as a player has rights, the team has rights. If that's what they want to do, that's what they want to do. Is it a big deal? No. Whether they choose to do it or not, I don't know. That's something we have talked about and I guess we'll see if it happens."

Filing for arbitration does not mean the sides are locked into going to a hearing. In fact, Lamoriello and Parise's agents, Wade Arnott and Don Meehan, could negotiate up until an arbitrator's decision is rendered.

Still, there has been plenty of time already for the Devils to conduct negotiations and get a deal done without needing to file for arbitration

Parise notes that the Devils have some other priorities in the offseason: The No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft, finding a new coach, seeing if there are any free agents worthy of a 17-year contract. (OK, he didn't say that last one.)

There may still be time to hammer out a long-term deal. Or Parise could go to arbitration with the Devils — where Lamoriello is notorious for his candor — get a one-year deal and then be one season away from unrestricted free-agent status.

Then again, an arbitration deal for this season — after a season that was basically lost to injury for Parise — might benefit the cap-strapped Devils, who will clear Brian Rolston's contract off the cap in 2012 and are projected to have $26.3 million open in 2012-13, via Cap Geek. Get Parise in for a 1-year deal, sign him long-term during the season. But that risks UFA status. Ask the Dallas Stars about that risk.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Parise-says-nothing-going-on-with-Devils-arbi?urn=nhl-wp7033

Ichiro Suzuki Derek Jeter Miguel Cabrera Josh Hamilton

New Seagal action figure flying off the shelves

Leave it the Internet to come up with another brilliant MMA action figure. With Steven Seagal being in the news so much lately, someone came up with the Seagal action figure.

You have to love the haberdashery items. The Seagal doll comes with all the "hats" in his life - the beanie, the emergency hair triangles, and in his constant effort to keep that buff body, a chef's hat.

Of all the accessories, we particularly love the "Judo" Gene Lebell restraining order. We always love reminding people of the rumored showdown between Seagal, in his action-movie prime, and a then 59-year-old Judo Gene.

Lebell, a legend of hardcore fighting in the old days, was on the set of "Out for Justice" serving as a stuntman when Seagal, 39, decided to talk a little trash. He claimed Lebell couldn't choke him out. He was wrong.

Lebell did it twice and, on the second occasion, Seagal allegedly had an accident in his drawers. SI.com's Jon Wertheim told the story to Deadspin (1:58 mark - NSFW).

Check out the entire line of "Masato Toys" action figure photoshops. We're big fans of the Cecil Peoples' doll.

Tip via MMAMania

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/New-Seagal-action-figure-flying-off-the-shelves?urn=mma-wp2873

Adrian Peterson Alex Mack Antoine Winfield Arian Foster

Warner quotes FIFA exec as saying Qatar ‘bought’ World Cup

CONCACAF president Jack Warner threatened a "football tsunami" would soon hit FIFA, and after he learned of the suspension handed to him and the Asian Football Confederation's Qatari president Mohamed Bin Hammam over allegations of handing out cash bribes, he unleashed the first storm. Via highly professional information outlet that is the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors Facebook page.

In Warner's rambling, cut-throat response to his punishment, he shared a message from FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke (pictured above, center) that casts even further doubt over how Qatar managed to win the 2022 World Cup, which has already been subjected to one round of vote buying accusations.

Says the utterly unreliable source that is FIFA vice president Jack Warner:

On May 18 when I realised that the political battle between Blatter and Bin Hammam was getting out of hand I wrote Secretary General Valcke telling him, among other things, that the outcome of the elections may cause some fracture in the Arab world� which we can ill afford now and that I will like to ask Bin Hammam to withdraw from the race. To which Jerome replied to me and I quote :

"For MBH [Mohamed Bin Hammam], I never understood why he was running. If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB [Sepp Blatter]. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC [World Cup]. I have a bet since day one, he will withdraw but on June 1st after his 10 min speech. By doing so he can say he push Blatter to make new commitments bla bla bla and get out under applause. Before means he is a looser. So...He will get some votes. Less than 60 today after CAF support. It will be the "coup de grace" if you would officially send a message as the CONCACAF President by saying CONCACAF supports unanimously. So I am not giving you an advice but just my feeling about what I think is the situation."

Even if Warner can produce documents to back up this quote, and the fact that FIFA executives generally accept that the World Cup was bought can be proven, Jack's tsunami probably still won't be in the forecast. A passing thunderstorm, maybe, but, like cockroaches, FIFA's ability to survive anything is unmatched.

Now, implicating his alleged co-conspirator in a separate bribery case may seem like an odd way for Warner to defend Bin Hammam and himself, but it just goes to show how widespread the corruption is in this organization. They can't defend themselves/attack their fellow members on one matter without bumping into incrimination on another. It's like they're all trying to make their way through a gold-plated house of mirrors and we just have to sit and watch.

Photo: AP

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Warner-quotes-FIFA-exec-as-saying-Qatar-bought-?urn=sow-wp2066

Jack Nicklaus Jackie Joyner-Kersee Jackie Robinson Jean-Claude Killy

Tiki Barber puts his foot in it again with ‘Anne Frank’ comment

While brother Ronde appears to be the very soul of dignity as he continues his future Hall of Fame career down in Tampa Bay, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber managed to offend quite a few people with a recent comment. Explaining the media scrutiny he's received since he left his pregnant wife to be with his 23-year-old girlfriend, Barber told L. Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated that he moved into the attic of his agent, Mark Lepselter, to escape prying eyes.

"Lep's Jewish," Barber allegedly said, "and it was like a reverse Anne Frank thing."

Um, yeah. A millionaire pro football player comparing himself to a teenage Jewish Holocaust victim is going to go over about as well as Adrian Peterson's recent "modern-day slavery" comment, but at least Peterson had a bit of context with which to defend himself. Barber's comment was thoughtless at best and asinine at worst. It's certainly the wrong step to take as Barber tries to rehab his image in the wake of professional and personal failures, and as he tried to convince people that he's got a legitimate future in the NFL as a comeback story.

Barber was never known as the most tactful sort; it's well-known that his way of doing things put off some of his old teammates, especially when he questioned the leadership of the Giants quarterback as a member of the media as opposed to a guy in the locker room who would have to answer for his words. And his concept of himself as a future media magnate hasn't gone as expected. But this is a larger bump in the road. Judging from initial reactions, Barber, who is an NFL analyst for Yahoo! Sports, will have quite a time living this down.

"Holocaust trivialization continues to spread and finds new ways and expressions that shock the conscience," Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League said.� "Tiki Barber's personal behavior is his business.� But our history and experiences are ours and deserve greater respect than being abused or perverted by Tiki Barber.

"The analogy to Anne Frank is not funny, it is outrageous and perverse.� Anne Frank was not hiding voluntarily.� Before she perished at age 15 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, she hid from the Nazis for more than two years, fearing every day for her life.� The Frank family's experiences, as recorded in Anne's dairy, are a unique testimonial to the horrors of the Holocaust, and her life should never be debased or degraded by insensitive and offensive analogies."

Lepselter defended his client, according to Pro Football Talk, by claiming that Barber was trapped in the attic for a week, and mentioned that Barber was the guest of Israel's president five years ago.

Most people will ring up a "No Sale" to that, though. I don't believe it's anyone's contention that Barber was actually trying to compare his situation to Anne Frank's. But if there's one thing people need to learn when they're in the public eye, it's that the life of a celebrity doesn't have an "off" switch. If you want your words in the public record, you have to watch what you say at all times. Especially when, like Barber, your history makes you a less than sympathetic character.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tiki-Barber-puts-his-foot-in-it-again-with-Anne?urn=nfl-wp2225

Maurice Richard Michael Jordan Mickey Mantle Muhammad Ali

Scottie Pippen: LeBron ‘may be the greatest player to ever play’

At the ripe age of 26, LeBron James has won two MVP awards, he has two NBA Finals appearances, several All-Star berths, and his Miami Heat team will be the odds-on favorite to win the NBA title next week as they prepare to take on the Dallas Mavericks. He also has zero NBA titles.

At the same age, NBA legend Michael Jordan had just as many titles, just as many MVP awards, and his Bulls weren't even the favorites (despite home court advantage) as they prepared to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals.

All this was enough for Jordan teammate and guy-who-should-know Scottie Pippen to toss this out, while appearing on ESPN Radio Friday morning:

"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play the game. I may go so far as saying LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game."

Whoa, guy. Seriously?

(And is he actually wrong?)

No, James hasn't surpassed Jordan in any meaningful way yet. He hasn't won jack, in comparison to MJ's six titles. He hasn't simultaneously won a Defensive Player of the Year in the same season he led the NBA in scoring, though that might be Dwight Howard's fault more than anything else. And because James joined the Miami Heat midway through his career, he'll never be looked at as the singular drive behind any championships he earns. After all, when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, Pippen hadn't even made an All-Star team by then.

But parsed correctly, tossing in a "might be" before "the greatest player to ever play the game," and following that with a "when all is said and done," Pip has to be taken seriously, here. James is 26, and he might be the greatest player to ever play the game when all is said and done. A lot of us have felt that for years.

Pippen, as you'd guess, has been put on the defensive. Fans are getting after him on his Twitter account, and earlier on Friday he posted this:

Ah, Scottie, you don't need to be that defensive. You may be the most versatile defender in NBA history, but you don't need to darken the mood, here. You just need to brighten, and clarify. By any reasonable standard, be they rings or Player Efficiency Ratings or "I seen 'em"-recollections, Jordan is the best ever.

But LeBron James? He has the talent and the time to surpass him. And for those of us, "watching and cheering," that obsessed over every one of Jordan's minutes in his prime? We can understand that.

It's on you now, LeBron. It's not on Scottie. Because he could be right.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Scottie-Pippen-LeBron-may-be-the-greatest-play?urn=nba-wp3977

Cy Young Dick Butkus Don Budge Don Hutson

Kyle Busch flagged for driving 128 mph … in a 45-mph zone

There's a time for throttling up, and a time for throttling down.

Just days after winning the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, where he posted an average speed of 101.6 mph, Kyle Busch has been ticketed for exceeding that speed on a public North Carolina road.

Busch was cited for careless and reckless driving; deputies observed and clocked him running at 128 mph in a 45-mph zone on Tuesday afternoon.

Busch now joins a list of famous NASCAR drivers who have had a bit of trouble behind the wheel while off the track. Jimmie Johnson once injured himself after sliding off the roof of a moving golf cart. And Richard Petty famously bumped a driver out of the way for going too slowly on Interstate 85 in North Carolina.

Busch was driving on Perth Road between Troutman and Mooresville, N.C. The road, which runs parallel to Interstate 77, is rural, closely lined with trees and has few residences in the area. Busch was cited near the intersection of Perth and Judas roads, which is directly in the center of the map below:

It's somewhat surprising that more NASCAR drivers don't get caught by the police ... or, at least, their speeding incidents don't result in tickets. After all, when your job involves driving nearly 200 mph, staying at posted speed limits must feel like crawling. Not that there's any excuse for tripling the speed limit, of course.

Later in the day, Busch issued the following statement:

"Today I received a traffic citation in Iredell County. I was test driving a new sports car and I got carried away. I went� beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment. I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again. I thank the Iredell County Sheriff's Department and all law enforcement for the hard work they do every day to protect the public and to enforce the laws in a fair and equitable manner."

Still unknown is what action NASCAR may take against Busch.

-Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee, and follow Yahoo! Sports' From The Marbles on Facebook here.-

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Kyle-Busch-flagged-for-driving-128-mph-in-a-45?urn=nascar-wp1502

Ichiro Suzuki Derek Jeter Miguel Cabrera Josh Hamilton

Puck Headlines: Kings GM’s softball threat to Penner; Bruins rap

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

�

? The Green Men really have unleashed Hell on Earth for hockey fans. Here is the Tampa Bay Lightning's Cowboy Gray Man from Game 6 in all his glory. And by that we mean there's entirely too much of his Victor Hedman in his image.

? The Lightning will not have Sean Bergenheim for Game 7 … or will they? [Lightning Strikes]

? Kings GM Dean Lombardi with perhaps the greatest assessment of trade deadline bust we've ever read: "Dustin is at the crossroads of his career," Lombardi wrote in an email to Sporting News. "He can choose to use his athletic ability to either become a dominant power forward in the National Hockey League or be a dominant number four hitter for the El Cid Lounge in a men's softball league ? the choice is his." [Sporting News]

? Rudy Kelly takes the logical next step and assembles the Los Angeles Kings beer league softball team. [Battle of Cali]

? Previewing the AHL Calder Cup Finals between the Houston Aeros and the Binghamton Senators. [Star Trib, Houston Chron]

? Kerry Fraser, Wayne Gretzky, Doug Gilmour and why it still hurts 18 years later. [PPP]

? Former Rochester Americans hockey player Sean McMorrow is fighting a charge that he "conspired to transport more than 100 kilograms of marijuana into the United States from Canada" while playing in the AHL. Because they need more weed in Canada? (Ed. Note: Reading fail.) [Democrat and Chronicle]

? Nice Ian Walker piece on Henrik Sedin, who is trying to become the second European born captain to win the Stanley Cup. [Vancouver Sun]

? Proteau believes that it's best for the NHL to keep Gary Bettman off the ice when the Stanley Cup is awarded. What he doesn't tell you is that Bettman actually feeds off jeers like these creatures feed on fear. [THN]

? What, no government handouts for minor league hockey? [CBC Sports]

? Hockey Canada drops the skate on a total ban on contact with the head on hits. From President Bob Nicholson, a suggested rule clarification on existing head-checks: "In minor and female hockey, a minor penalty will be assessed to any player who accidentally contacts an opponent in the head, face or neck with their stick or any part of the player's body or equipment. If the contact is intentional then it's a double minor. In junior and senior hockey, a minor and a misconduct penalty, or a major and a game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee based on the degree of violence of impact, will be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head area in any manner. A major and a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who injures an opponent under this rule.� A match penalty will be assessed to any player who deliberately attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent under this rule." [Globe & Mail]

? Stark assessment of the Edmonton Oilers' management: "If this team is ever going to actually benefit from the rebuild we better hope that the draft continues to turn up nothing but gold because it looks unlikely that management doesn't has even the slightest clue about what they're doing when looking for help in the form of players already playing in the NHL." [Copper and Blue]

? ESPN "Outside The Lines" on Derek Boogaard. [ESPN]

? Our favorite story of the day: The Kellogg's produced, but never sold, Corn Flakes box celebrating the Vancouver Canucks' 1994 Stanley Cup championship. [Go Big Blog]

? An update on the long, long, long road back from concussion hell for David Perron. [St. Louis Dispatch]

? We can only assume the bizarre notion that Brian Lawton drafted Steven Stamkos originated with Brian Lawton. [Raw Charge]

? Down Goes Brown presents a primer for Winnipeg fans on what's happened in the NHL since 1996. [DGB]

�

? No Thrashers move announcement before Tuesday, per the AJC. [AJC]

? Gary Bettman on the Atlanta Thrashers' move: "We respect the importance of Atlanta as a city. It's a big market, but this is a franchise that's got a problem in that market." [NHL]

? Finally, here's Moises (featuring Oliveira!) with a Boston Bruins-centric cover of "You Be Killin' Em" by Fabolous, complete with Cam Neely shoutout and that funny shirtless Bruins kid. Really slick, good tune.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-Kings-GM-s-softball-threat-to-Pe?urn=nhl-wp5845

Joakim Soria Rafael Soriano Matt Thornton Jose Valverde