Where We'll Party with Samaki Walker and Darius Miles Any Day of the Week
July 22, 2011 Leave a comment
There is a sporting event going on right now that hardly anyone knows about or is paying attention too. It is arguably the world’s most grueling high-profile race, with the men competing being tested to the absolute limits of their physical ability and mental psyche. Barney is here to fill you in on all things Tour de France and tell you why you should tune in for the race’s potentially epic climax.
July 21, 2011 Leave a comment
Not an hour ago NFL owners voted to approved the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association, putting the potential end to the 128 day labor struggle in the hands of the players. The owners voted 31-0, with only the Oakland Raiders abstaining. In related news, it remains to be seen whether Al Davis is still alive. Anyone? Nonetheless, it appears as though we are finally on the bring of having football again (and the country collectively exhales). The owners have notified the players that the deal is contingent on the players “recertifying” as a union, and resolving all union-related matters. Each of the 32 teams player representatives will be on a conference call with union officials and lawyers tonight at 8PM EST to decide whether or not to accept the agreement the owners have approved. They also will discuss how to go about reconstituting the player union, which was disbanded when the lockout began in March. All 1,900 players have to vote on the recertification issue, with a 51% majority needed to officially reconstitute the union. This is expected to be the biggest hurdle left in the process of having football return. If all goes according to plan, the new league year is expected to officially begin next Wednesday, with free agency starting on that day and training camp beginning on August 1st. The August 7th Hall of Fame game has already been cancelled, as both the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams simply do not have adequate time to prepare for the game. All other games are expected to be played, pending the issues with the players union being ironed out. As we here at the Creatures like to say, more to play…
Update (7:59PM): Sports Business Journal’s Liz Mullen just tweeted the following: “Breaking–NFLPA’s De Smith says Players did not agree to terms passed by NFL owners today, in letter Smith just sent to Players” WOW!
Update (8:15PM): The following is the email sent from NFLPA Executive Chairman DeMaurice Smith to the players: “As you know the Owners have ratified their proposal to settle our differences. It is my understanding they are forwarding it to us. As you may have heard, they apparently approved a suplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions. As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open…Other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unsolved. There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time. I look forward to our call tonight.”
Update (10:00PM): The players DID NOT vote on a deal tonight. The reason being the players felt as thought the owners were trying to slip things into the deal that they had not previously agreed upon. The celebratory mood that was a result of the owners ratifying the deal quickly turned into a more surreal mood when NFLPA Exec. Director DeMaurice Smith sent an email to players saying there was no agreement in place between the NFL and the players. Saints fullback Heath Evans tweeted: “Here is what the ‘Real’ fans need to know: The owners tried to slip many things in to the CBA “they” voted on that were NEVER agreed to!#PRPlay,” This is a sentiment shared by many players around the league. It will be interesting to see whether the players and owners can get past tonight’s issues and continue negotiating. If all the major players step up, it shouldn’t be hard to hammer out the remaining issues. But it may take a bit longer than many fans, players, and owners expected and wanted. The players are expected to vote on a deal on Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen.
July 20, 2011 Leave a comment
It seems as though Tiger Woods is trying to shed every reminder of his past life. One wouldn’t blame him, given what he has gone through since that fateful November day in 2009, but today’s news is quite surprising. Woods announced on his website that he will part ways with longtime caddie Steve Williams, who has lugged Woods’ bag around golf courses for 12 years. Read more of this post
July 17, 2011 1 Comment
This is probably the first and only time I’ll ever post on a weekend, but this is just too good. C-LO and I are putting in some late hours at the Bleacher Creature headquarters and decided to tune into the 2AM SportsCenter just to see how bad it would be. Naturally, any true SC fan will know that ESPN saves it worst talent for the late night, weekend broadcasts. This is where the likes of Jonathan Coachman and Bram Weinstein did their yeoman’s work before being called up to the “Big Leagues” (the weekday evening shows). We never knew it got this bad though. As you can see in the picture at the right, Ducis Rodgers (his name is DUCIS) and Cindy Brunson took it to whole level on tonight’s “broadcast” (it was more like a debacle). To be honest, this isn’t even bad…it’s just weird. Who thought this would be a good idea? Were they on some sort of hallucinogenic drug? I mean, given the past drug culture at ESPN I wouldn’t be all that surprised. Whatever the case, this provided some much needed late night entertainment.
July 14, 2011 Leave a comment
Somehow, even with three current students on staff, not one article on the new site has had to do with the fine athletic programs of Syracuse University. Now, obviously, college basketball season is just a blip on the radar at this point, and it’s not like we’re gonna take our time to write about the field hockey’s team pursuit of a national championship. Although, on a side note, while we didn’t write about it, all three Orangemen on the Creature staff were absolutely thrilled when Fab Melo got into trouble with the law last month. In fact, we planned on picketing at his trial to demand stricter sentencing guidelines but figured Fab wasn’t worth our time (which he isn’t). But, a story surfaced today about none other than our up and coming (yes, we’re getting there) football program and its fearless leader, who is also apparently the friendliest man in college football. How’s that you ask? Find out after the jump.
July 13, 2011 Leave a comment
It has been somewhat of a depressing time in sports lately, given the lack of anything to watch and the tragedy in Texas last Thursday. But today brings some very uplifting news, and not in the form of the Women’s World Cup. Pictured at left is Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand. Last October, in a game against Army, LeGrand made an awkward tackle on a kickoff return. He laid motionless on the field for several minutes before being taken off in an ambulance in front of stunned spectators at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Doctors diagnosed his injuries as a fracture to his C3 and C4 vertebrae. At that time, LeGrand was told by his doctors that he would never walk again and he would never come off a ventilator. Well, five weeks later, he defied all odds and was taken off of his ventilator. And today, another breakthrough. For the first time since the injury, he stood upright. Obviously with assistance, but not too bad for a guy who was told nine months ago that he would never be able to walk again. LeGrand has been extremely persistent in his recovery efforts and his determination and fighting spirit continues to amaze doctors week after week. This kid–who is only 20 mind you, the age of myself and many of our readers–has been dealt a real shitty set of cards yet carries on everyday with a smile on his face and a willingness to overcome his horrific injury. All of us here at the Bleacher Creatures wish Eric the best and are extremely happy to see how much progress he has been able to make. For a great profile on Eric and his injury, check out this piece done by ESPN’s resident tear-jerker Tom Rinaldi.
July 12, 2011 Leave a comment
As you can see in the picture at the left, baseball fan Keith Carmickle came periously close to falling 20 feet headfirst at Monday night’s Home Run Derby before being miraculously caught by his friend and his brother. Now, just about everyone knows about the tragedy that occurred in Texas last Thursday night. 39 year-old Rangers fan Shannon Stone fell a similar distance headfirst after reaching over a railing to catch a foul ball thrown to him by Josh Hamilton. Stone, who was attending the game with his 6-year old son, died en route to the hospital, in what has to be one of the saddest incidents to take place at a baseball game in a long, long time. Now, not to make light of that tragedy, but after last night’s near incident, it’s clear that baseball fans need to be a little more careful when it comes to catching balls. Especially this guy Carmickle, who I have no problem calling an absolute idiot. The guy stepped up onto a metal table about 18 inches wide and reached down to catch a home-run ball hit by Prince Fielder. When it fell short of his glove, his momentum carried him forward and he almost tumbled to his death. And, to top it off, he already had caught 3 home run balls as it was. What a stupid move! Was that ball really worth more than your life? Especially after what happened in Texas not one week ago, did ya think it was a smart idea to stand up on a small table and reach over a 20 foot drop to catch a useless baseball? Everyone is saying how Major League Baseball needs to make ballparks safer for fans in light of the Texas tragedy. But maybe the real issue is not the safety of the ballparks but some people’s lack of safety for their own well being. It’s just a round, leather ball. I’d hope everyone reading this would agree their life is worth more. (AP Photo/Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)
July 11, 2011 1 Comment
Barney is mad. Why, you ask? Because we’ve reached the least wonderful time of the year. Yes, sports fans, we have reached that infamous week on the sports calendar where there is simply nothing on to keep us diehards entertained. And not only is the lack of sporting events upsetting to Barney, but the sporting events that actually take place are even more upsetting. Let him explain. (Editors Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part, investigative series on the insufferability of the MLB All-Star Game. For Part 1, click here.)
July 11, 2011 1 Comment
Barney is mad. Why, you ask? Because we’ve reached the least wonderful time of the year. Yes, sports fans, we have reached that infamous week on the sports calendar where there is simply nothing on to keep us diehards entertained. And not only is the lack of sporting events upsetting to Barney, but the sporting events that actually take place are even more upsetting. Let him explain. Read more of this post
July 6, 2011 Leave a comment
Before I head out to lunch, I thought I’d provide everyone with a good laugh at the expense of a Frenchman (which always increases the humor of just about anything). Golfer Thomas Levet was on cloud nine last Sunday after winning the French Open, a tournament I’ve never heard of even though I consider myself a competent fan of golf. Nonetheless, apparently for Levet, who is French by birth, this was a really big deal. Such a big deal, in fact, that he decided to jump into a lake of unknown depth to celebrate his victory, as is pictured at the left (Levet is in the foreground). Well, apparently the lake wasn’t exactly deep, and Levet ended up breaking his shin. What an idiot! Ahhh I won the French Open! Take a good picture, honey, ahhh I broke my shin! As a result, he was forced to withdraw from next week’s British Open at Royal St. George’s. And the best part about it? He was replaced in the Open by none other than the PGA Tour’s resident pothead, Robert Garrigus. (Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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