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Tag: Sports

  • Julian Edelman Comments on 74-Yard Punt Return

    While the New England Patriots were throttling the Detroit Lions Sunday in a 34-9 win, wide receiver Julian Edelman logged a 74-yard punt return, though the play was nullified after a referee threw a flag.

    Patriots safety Patrick Chung committed an illegal block above the waist, soon after Edelman received the kick near the Lions’ sideline. Edelman, who has the highest average punt return in the NFL, would have logged his second return for a score for the season, and the fifth of his career.

    Edelman took the call in stride, and commented, “I guess it’s part of the game. Yeah, it’s a tough one. I hope the penalty was real. I have to see it. I hope it was real blatant, not for like a guy to get hurt, but just that there was an actual penalty. I’m sure it was.”

    Edelman added, “but it’s tough and that’s kind of one of the fine lines you’ve got to have as one of the guys on the unit. You’ve got to preach to them. You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to do this, but, I didn’t see the play, but sometimes it goes the wrong way. You can’t get mad at a guy for working hard.”

    Edelman holds the Patriots franchise record for longest punt return and the most punts returned for touchdowns:


    Edelman has been granted a few monikers by fans and teammates since being drafted by the Patriots in 2009. He has been called “Incredelman,” “Edelmania,” “Minitron” (which was granted to him by Tom Brady), and “The Energizer Bunny.”

    Edelman has said his preferred nickname is “The Squirrel.” Edelman remarked,”’Guys call me squirrel because one time on the sideline I was yelling ‘Don’t let me get squirrely out there.”’

  • Ravens Cheerleader Leaves Hospital After Hard Fall

    A Baltimore Ravens cheerleader was injured during a game Sunday, and was carted off the sideline in a stretcher after being stabilized by team medics. She was then transported to an area hospital.

    The unidentified woman hit the turf hard after a botched aerial stunt, as the Ravens faced the Tennessee Titans. She was treated for head, neck and back injuries, and a spokesman for Baltimore said she was able to walk out of the hospital unassisted.

    Cheerleading is a risky sport – Of the 2.9 million female high school athletes in the U.S., only three percent are cheerleaders, though account for 65% of all sports injuries.

    The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders team was founded in 1998, and has a co-ed squad, which is a bit unconventional. The 31 females on the team handle the dancing, and the males handle the stunts.

    Notable former members of the Ravens team include WWE Diva and once George Clooney love interest Stacy Keibler, and Molly Shattuck, who was recently charged with raping a 15-year-old boy.

    Shattuck, 47, who was once the oldest cheerleader in the NFL at age 38, posted an $84,000 bail Wednesday after being arrested on two counts of third-degree rape, four counts of unlawful sexual contact and three counts of providing alcohol to minors. The abuse began when Shattuck posted a compliment on the victim’s Instagram account.

    People Magazine has obtained court documents revealing that Shattuck’s son, or someone posing as him, mailed the victim Shattucks’s phone number on Instagram, and wrote, “You should text my mom, she is obsessed with you.”

    Police say the initial exchanges between Shattuck and the victim were very tame, though the tone changed after the sex incident at a Labor Day beach house party. Shattuck faces up to 25 years in prison.

    Shattuck’s attorney Michelle Lipkowitz commented, “This is a difficult situation for everyone involved. That’s all we have today.”

  • Adrian Peterson Loses Nike Sponsorship Following Plea

    Nike has ditched Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

    “Adrian Peterson is no longer a Nike athlete,” said a Nike spokesperson in a very brief statement.

    Peterson’s Nike deal was already suspended, following the star’s indictment. In September, a grand jury indicted Peterson on felony charges of reckless injury to a child. Police accused Peterson of injuring his four-year-old son with a switch.

    Earlier this week, Peterson pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. He’ll be fined $4,000, given 80 hours of community service to perform, and will be placed on probation. He’ll avoid jail time.

    It looks like Nike was waiting for the whole this to be resolved before coming to a definite conclusion regarding Peterson’s future with the company. But now, will the case pretty much wrapped up, Nike is dropping the high-profile athlete.

    Of course, the legal side of things is only part of Peterson’s troubles. His future in the NFL is now in the hands of commissioner Roger Goodell. Peterson, of course, wants to start playing again as soon as possible – but the NFL has already declined his request for immediate reinstatement.

    At this point, whether or not Peterson sees the field this season is completely up in the air.

    As for Nike, this is the second NFL athlete it has been forced to part ways with. Nike terminated a deal they had with former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice after that video emerged showing him knocking out his then-fiancee in an elevator.

    Image via Nike, YouTube screenshot

  • Mia Hamm, Magic Johnson Invest in New MLS Team

    Major League Soccer (MLS) this week officially announced that a new team will be coming to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) will make its MLS debut in 2017. The team will play in a new stadium that will be built specifically for the team.

    The team will be owned by an investor group led by Henry Nguyen and Peter Guber. Sports stars Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Mia Hamm Garciaparra, and Nomar Garciaparra are also members of the investment group.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Henry Nguyen, Peter Guber, Tom Penn, and their owner partners to Major League Soccer,” said Don Garber, MLS Commissioner. “This visionary ownership group will chart a course that will further elevate the sport in this great city and, combined with a new state-of-the-art stadium, accelerate us down the path toward becoming one of the top soccer leagues in the world.”

    The announcement makes LAFC the official successor to Chivas USA, the now-defunct MLS team that joined the league in 2005. Chivas had come under financial difficulties over the past few years and was acquired by the MLS in February 2014. The team was bought and officially disbanded this week as part of the LAFC deal.

    Nguyen, a prominent investor who has helped bring McDonald’s to Vietnam, will serve as managing partner for LAFC and Guber will serve as the team’s executive chairman. Guber is the CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, co-executive chairman of the Golden State Warriors, and a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

    “We believe this team can become one of the most outstanding clubs in Major League Soccer and a globally-recognized brand,” said Nguyen.

    Despite the league’s slow start in 1996, the MLS has grown significantly over the past decade. Eight teams have joined the league since 2005, including teams such as Seattle Sounders FC, Philadelphia Union, and Montreal Impact. Two more teams will take the field during the 2015 MLS season, New York City FC and Orlando City SC.

    Los Angeles is already home to one MLS team, LA Galaxy. The team has been part of the MLS since the league’s founding.

  • Muhammad Ali Is Alive And Well 40 Years After The ‘Rumble In The Jungle’

    October 30 marks the 40th anniversary of his iconic boxing fight with George Foreman, and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is alive and well. Despite suffering from a debilitating disease such as Parkinson’s, Ali is reportedly feeling well overall and his spirit remains strong.

    Ali’s daughter Hana Ali said that Parkinson’s disease has affected her father’s ability to speak and walk, but that his overall health is good. “He doesn’t mind the press talking about him dying. Sometimes he looks at me and he’ll go, ‘I’m not dying,’” said Hana.

    When Ali missed the October 8 showing of the documentary tribute to him called I Am Ali, speculation on the boxer’s health began. Hana said, however, that her father missed the premiere of the documentary because of his involvement at the 2nd Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards on September 27 in Louisville.

    — MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) October 17, 2014

    “The last time I talked to my Dad, he was joking again about making a comeback,” said Hana. “He said, ‘I’m going to take my title back for the fourth time.’ Whenever I hear him joking like that, it makes me feel good. He’s still in there.”

    Ali will reportedly be attending private events on October 30 to celebrate the anniversary of the Rumble In the Jungle, but his spokesman said that the boxing champion would not be granting interviews.

    Rumble In The Jungle, the fight between Ali and heavyweight champion George Foreman, happened on October 30, 1974 in Zaire. More than 50,000 spectators showed up to see Ali fight Foreman.

    It was during Rumble In The Jungle when Ali invented his “Rope-a-Dope” tactic of hunkering by the ropes and letting Foreman tire himself out by punching Ali’s arms. After seven rounds of grueling fight, Ali managed to knock Foreman out with a precision right hook in the eighth round.

    — Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) October 29, 2014

    Both Ali and Foreman were given $5 million each by President Mobuto of Zaire for the fight, which made the victory even sweeter for Ali in 1974.

  • Senzo Meyiwa Shot Dead During Home Invasion

    South African goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead on Sunday during a home invasion gone wrong. Meyiwa was a goalkeeper and team captain for the Orlando Pirates soccer club in Johannesburg. He had also served as goalkeeper for the South African national team during several matches throughout the past year and a half.

    Meyiwa’s death came as a shock to both fans and teammates. The Orlando Pirates held a press conference on Monday to express its sympathies to Meyiwa’s family.

    “This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it – to Senzo’s family , his extended family, Orlando Pirates, and to the nation,” said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Orlando Pirates.

    Khoza went on to say that the team was “devastated” by Meyiwa’s death and that he encouraged players to cry during a get-together early Monday morning. Khoza has asked the Premier Soccer League and the South African Football Association to postpone a scheduled match between the Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs, saying that holding the match at this time would be “insensitive.” He also requested that the media help track down Meyiwa’s killers and bring them to justice.

    South African President Jacob Zuma also released a statement expressing shock and outrage over Meyiwa’s death.

    “We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career,” said Zuma. “The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss. We wish to extend, on behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, our words of condolence to his family and relatives, his friends and peers in the football game, his club Orlando Pirates, and our national soccer team as well as the football fraternity as a whole. May his soul rest in peace.”

    According to a BBC report Meyiwa was staying at his girlfriend’s house in the Johannesburg suburb of Vosloorus at the time of the shooting. South African police stated that two men entered the house Sunday evening and demanded valuables. After Meyiwa was shot the men fled with a third man who had been standing outside the house. Early reports have suggested that Meyiwa was shot while trying to defend his girlfriend.

  • Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir to Host NBC Figure Skating

    During this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir gained fans as an on-air commentary team that clicked. Now it seems that Lipinski will continue to live out her dream of covering the Olympics.

    NBC this week announced that Lipinski and Weir have been promoted to head of NBC’s figure skating broadcast team. The pair appeared on NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning to celebrate the promotion.

    According to an AP report, Lipinski and Weir will be joined by Terry Gannon to host NBC’s figure skating coverage during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

    The new team will replace Scott Hamilton, Sandra Bezic, and Tom Hammond, the team that has helmed NBC’s Olympic figure skating coverage for over a decade. According to the AP Hamilton will remain with NBC as a special contributor during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and other large figure skating events.

    Lipinski and Weir expressed their desire to keep figure skating coverage serious, but light. Weir told the AP that the pair’s broadcasting style is “more like a conversation between us and the audience.”

    Lipinski and Weir will appear for the first time in their new roles this weekend during NBC’s broadcast of the Skate America Competition in Chicago.

    Since Lipinski and Weir appeared on NBC Winter Olympics broadcasts this year the pair have become a fixture as fashion commentators at high-profile events. The pair were part of Access Hollywood‘s coverage of this year’s Academy Awards in March and returned to to NBC in April to cover fashion during the Kentucky Derby.

    Both Lipinski and Weir are former figure skaters who competed in past Winter Olympics. Lipinski won a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics and Weir is a three-time U.S. national figure skating champion.

  • Michael Phelps Suspended From Competitive Swimming For Six Months After DUI Arrest

    USA Swimming suspended Olympian Michael Phelps on Monday after he was arrested for driving under the influence on September 30. Phelps will be banned from competing in US-sanctioned swimming events for reportedly violating the organization’s code of conduct.

    Phelps was reportedly six months into a comeback after going into a two-year hiatus post-2012 Olympics. The champion swimmer is considered the most decorated Olympian of all time, garnering a record 8 gold medals in 2012 Summer Olympics alone. His attempted return to competitive swimming is now on hold for six months, according to the decision made by USA Swimming, which also stipulates the withdrawal of Phelps’s stipend for that period.

    Among the sanctions Phelps faces is his exclusion from competing in the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Russia next August. “Michael’s conduct was serious and required significant consequences,” said USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus in a statement.

    On September 30, Phelps reportedly drove 85 mph in a 45 mph lane and crossed double lane lines in the Fort McHenry Tunnel on Interstate 95 in Baltimore. He has been charged with driving under the influence, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines, with November 19 set for his trial.

    Phelps took to Twitter on Sunday, October 5 to apologize for his conduct. In a series of tweets, he said, “I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself. I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself. Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual, and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.”

    A spokesman at Octagon, the group representing Phelps, said that the swimmer has accepted USA Swimming’s sanctions and is taking steps to address the consequences of his actions. Phelps has reportedly checked himself into rehab for six weeks.

  • Michael Phelps Arrest Forces Hold On Comeback

    Michael Phelps will have to halt his plans for an amazing comeback after his recent DUI arrest.

    The olympic swimming champ is banned from competing in the sport for six months.

    Unfortunately, Michael Phelps’ arrest also resulted in his having to drop out of next year’s world championships, which is the biggest international meet leading up to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

    Michael Phelps came out of retirement earlier this year hoping to make it to the Olympics.

    Those hopes seem a little dented now that Michael Phelps has been arrested and charged with a second DUI.

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    @c_dwyer and I after our relay win!!! #usa @mattbmclean6f @ryanlochte let's go boys!!!

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    His funding will also be suspended for the six months. Phelps was receiving a $1,750 per month spending stipend. The total loss from the suspension will be $10,500, but since he makes millions from endorsements, he probably won’t feel it.

    “Michael accepts USA Swimming’s sanctions,” according to a statement from his representatives at Octagon. “He has apologized for his actions and, as he shared yesterday, is taking steps to address them.”

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    Happy bday @stuttsydlc !!! Miss u bro!

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    US Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said of the incident, “We think the sanctions are appropriate and we are glad that Michael is seeking help. We are grateful that nobody was hurt and appreciate the speed at which USA Swimming and Michael took action.”

    After Michael Phelps’ arrest, the swimmer announced that he was entering a six-week program.

    “Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual, and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future,” Phelps said in a series of tweets.

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    Happy birthday to our one and only best country in the world! #usa

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    Good luck to Michael Phelps on his recovery!

    What do you think? Is the punishment for Micheal Phelp’s arrest appropriate?

  • Men’s Health Magazine: The Non-Sexist Advice They SHOULD Have Given

    Men’s Health magazine learned the hard way that they are coming to men about women and sports from the wrong century.

    The publication posted a teaser to an advice column meant to help men talk sports with women. That is, MOST women because if the reader “hadn’t noticed”, women typically aren’t into sports:

    Not all women share your passion for sports, in case you hadn’t noticed. The reason? They need story lines.

    It’s hard to believe an article can go so wrong this fast, but there it is. You can read the rest of the cringe-worthiness here. That’s the cached version; the offending preview has since been removed.

    The preview paragraphs shared by Men’s Health practically encouraged men to approach the topic of professional athletes as if the players had just stepped off the set of Steel Magnolias.

    Needless to say the backlash was fast and furious.

    For those gentlemen genuinely seeking advice for how to talk sports with women, please refer to the following in order to avoid coming across as an obnoxious misogynist:

    1.) NEVER assume that a woman hates sports because of her gender and gender alone

    This is no longer a safe bet in the 21st century as women sports fans are a huge untapped market.

    It could be your girlfriend loves the San Francisco 49ers, but can’t be bothered to care about the Giants. Therefore, her eyes glaze over because she’s not a baseball fan.

    She may have trophies tucked away from competitive sports that were earned long ago that you’ve never seen.

    Rather than presume, actually let her be the one to tell you how she feels about sports!

    2.) She may not be a sports fan at the moment, but that doesn’t mean she’s incapable of becoming one.

    It may not be that a woman can’t get into sports…it could be that it never occurred to her to care.

    When given the chance, she may find she enjoys the game as much as you do.

    Believe it or not, it may be for reasons which have nothing to do with how “cute” the athletes are.

    Sometimes it’s as simple as being caught up in the electric atmosphere and watching a series of outstanding displays of athleticism under pressure.

    Forget “story lines”; few things are as dramatic as the final seconds of a “must-win” game:

    3.) Do NOT treat every discussion about sports as an opportunity to impress her with how knowledgeable you are while condescending her.

    Some men make this mistake and then assume the rolled eyes are all about her not liking sports.

    Such persons really need to consider their attitude and whether or not it’s offensive. Approaching a woman in such a way is both sexist and annoying

    If you have any respect for your significant other, you’ll stop behaving in this manner.

    Do you sincerely want her to become a sports fan? Engage her like the human being she is, one capable of learning and comprehending new things. Do NOT treat her like a fangirl bimbo who is incapable of stringing together information unless a man is around to explain it to her.

    4.) If she’s not a sports fan and never will be, accept it.

    Some women really do hate sports and there’s no way to reverse their opinion.

    It could be they don’t like the games themselves. Or it could be that sports culture is historically misogynistic and exclusive towards women fans and athletes.

    Don’t think of it as a defect; think of it as a capability to have likes and dislikes just like any other person. If you want her to express an increased tolerance for your love of sports, be willing to reciprocate.

    If you demonstrate respect for her opinion on topics you aren’t personally enthusiastic about, this may result in her expressing the same level of respect when you rattle off sports stats and gush about your team’s league standings.

  • NFL Blackout Rule Nixed by FCC, but Games Could Still Go Dark

    NFL Blackout Rule Nixed by FCC, but Games Could Still Go Dark

    The Federal Communications Commission has made a huge move, eliminating the sports blackout rules that have been in place for nearly four decades. The rules, which prohibited cable and satellite providers from airing sports events which were blacked out in local broadcast markets due to lack of stadium sellouts, will no longer be enforced by the Commission.

    But that doesn’t necessarily mean your local NFL game can’t be blacked out.

    According to the FCC, the sports blackout rules are “no longer justified in light of the significant changes in the sports industry since these rules were first adopted.” The FCC argues that ticket sales used to be the primary source of revenue for the NFL, and sellouts were rare.

    Now it’s the blackouts that are rare (only two in the entirety of last season). Not only that, but the NFL’s television revenue was a reported $6 billion in 2013.

    So, the action will “remove Commission protection of the NFL’s current private blackout policy” – but could games still be blacked out?

    Yes, unfortunately for fans.

    The NFL currently has private blackout contracts with broadcast networks like CBS and FOX. These contracts, at least as of now, won’t expire until 2022.

    But according to the FCC, “the NFL will no longer be entitled to the protection of the Commission’s sports blackout rules – instead the NFL must rely on the same avenues available to other entities that wish to protect their distribution rights in the private marketplace.

    In other words, the FCC is no longer the NFL’s enforcer.

    As USA Today points out, cable and satellite operators are now, theoretically, allowed to show a local, blacked out game. This is something that broadcast networks feared could happen with a rule change.

    But once again, blackouts are extremely rare in today’s NFL.

    The NFL, for its part, had this to say:

    “NFL teams have made significant efforts in recent years to minimize blackouts. The NFL is the only sports league that televises every one of its games on free, over-the-air television. The FCC’s decision will not change that commitment for the foreseeable future.”

    Image via Parker Anderson, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Rachel Bradshaw: Why Did Bironas Leave The House?

    Rachel Bradshaw had no idea what her husband was up to on the night of his death over the weekend.

    The mysterious death of her husband, former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas, has left many questions on the minds of family and friends. However, Rachel Bradshaw is the one who will be left to put together the pieces of her husband’s last moments.

    That could be quite a momentous task.

    Bradshaw reported her husband missing on Saturday at 11:40 p.m. She says there was no argument or anything to provoke him to leave.

    According to her, they were watching a movie with one of her friends when Bironas wished her goodnight and then she assumed he went to bed. When she went to check on him later, he was gone.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEJ3TmuNoU

    She told dispatchers,

    “He came home and we were watching a movie and then he just left and that was it,” she says. “He just left. He has a white Denali and he just drove away and we haven’t seen him since.”

    “No argument. No nothing. He just left. I have a girlfriend over and then I turned around and he was gone,” she said.

    The corresponding report said nothing different.

    “She searched throughout the residence and could not locate him,” the report stated. “Rachael Bradshaw called [Rob] Bironas numerous times and did not receive an answer. She called relatives and no one had contact with him. She then called the police because she was concerned.”

    The call was placed about 40 minutes after Bironas had already fatally crashed his SUV into some trees. Before the crash, there were reports of a vehicle fittting the description given by Rachel Bradshaw driving erratically.

    One couple said that he tried to run them off the road. They told dispatch,

    “He tried to run my husband and I off the road. We pulled over and he looked at us. We don’t even know him. He sped off and my husband got out and said, ‘What is your problem?’”

    She continued, “We let him go on past us because he was trying to run us off the road. We let him speed off past us.”

    A group of college students later came forward to report a strange incident with a vehicle fitting the description of Bironas’ SUV.

    Investigations continue and, for Rachel Bradshaw’s sake, will hopefully provide details as to her husband’s state of mind before the crash that took his life.

  • Scott Ross, USC All-American Linebacker, Dead at 45

    Scott Ross, USC All-American Linebacker, Dead at 45

    Scott Ross, a former All-American linebacker and brief NFL player, has died. Ross was 45.

    Police say Ross was found dead in a car parked near a church. According to The University of Southern California, Ross died of heart failure. The LA Times says that although there were no signs of foul play at the scene, officials will await a toxicology report before making any final determinations.

    His accomplishments while playing for USC include:

    Ross was a 3-time All-Pac-10 first teamer (1988-90), winning All-American first team acclaim as a senior in 1990 when he was named USC’s team MVP, Most Inspirational Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He played in the 1988, 1989 and 1990 Rose Bowls (USC beat Michigan in the 1990 Rose Bowl), as well as the 1990 John Hancock Bowl. He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl following his 1990 senior season.

    He was then drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1991, but only played a handful of games with the team.

    After claiming that he “sustained multiple repetitive traumatic impacts and concussions, for which he was never treated by a physician while he played in the NFL,” Ross joined a large lawsuit against the league in 2012. Ross claimed to have suffered from “severe memory loss, cognitive dementia, and…chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition caused by repetitive sub-concussive and/or concussive blows to the head.”

    CTE is most commonly found in athletes who play contact sports, like football, hockey, and boxing.

    Ross leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter.

    Image via USC Trojans, Twitter

  • Hope Solo Still Playing Soccer In Spite Of Domestic Violence Charges

    Hope Solo Still Playing Soccer In Spite Of Domestic Violence Charges

    A lot of athletes have been involved in domestic violence incidents lately and most of them had been fined and either banned from a set number of games or the sport entirely.

    Hope Solo is also facing domestic violence charges, but she is still playing soccer and has so far received no punishment from the league.

    In June, Solo was arrested after she allegedly assaulted her half-sister and her nephew. Solo’s nephew called 911 and when police arrived they found Solo drunk outside the home.

    Her half-sister and nephew reportedly had scratches and marks on them and said Solo was angry with them and had attacked them several times that night.

    Solo was arrested and faces two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in Washington. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and will go to trial in November.

    Solo’s National Women’s Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign, has allowed her to play since her arrest and says that they will continue to let her play until the issue is dealt with in court.

    “U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the national team,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement. “Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it.”

    Solo’s attorney believes that he will get the charges dropped and thinks that the league is doing the right thing by allowing Solo to continue playing soccer.

    “Hope is not guilty of any crime,” her attorney Todd Maybrown said in an email to The AP following her arrest. “In fact, our investigation reveals that Hope was assaulted and injured during this unfortunate incident. We look forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon.”

    Do you think the league is right to allow Solo to play in spite of the charges?

  • Terry Bradshaw’s Son-In-Law Rob Bironas Dies In Road Accident

    Terry Bradshaw’s Son-In-Law Rob Bironas Dies In Road Accident

    Terry Bradshaw was excused from Fox’s NFL coverage on Sunday to be with his daughter, Rachel, and family following the fatal road accident that took the life of his son-in-law, NFL kicker Rob Bironas.

    “Terry will not appear on today’s edition of FOX NFL SUNDAY,” Fox’s vice president of communications Dan Bell wrote in a statement, in behalf of the network. “He flew to Nashville early this morning to be with his daughter Rachel during this tremendously difficult time. The entire FOX Sports family has Terry, Rachel, the Bironas and Bradshaw families in our thoughts and prayers.”

    Howie Long also expressed his sympathies to the Bironas family in Sunday’s pre-game.

    “Heartbreaking day,” Long said. “Terry was very emotional when he left this morning to go back home. Thoughts and prayers obviously go out to the Bironas family and to you, Rachel. We love you and we’re thinking about you.”

    According to Nashville Metro police, the former Tennessee Titans kicker was driving close to a mile from his home when he lost control of the SUV he was driving around 11pm on Saturday night. He hit several trees before coming to rest upside down in a drainage ditch. Bironas was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he was later pronounced dead. The police also stated that there was no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved in the car crash.

    Bironas, who was just 36 years old, married Bradshaw’s daughter, Rachel, in June this year, in a ceremony in Dallas, Texas.

    He played college football for Georgia Southern University and Auburn University. In 2002, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers. He went on to play for the Tennessee Titans in 2005, where he served as kicker for the past nine years.

  • Adrian Peterson Banned from Team Activities as Vikings Reverse Course

    Just a couple of days after announcing plans to reinstate star running back Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings have reversed course.

    Peterson has been placed on the exempt/commissioner’s permission list, which will bar him from all team activities until further notice. The Vikings say this will allow Peterson to “take care of his personal situation until the legal proceedings are resolved.”

    “We are always focused on trying to make the right decision as an organization. We embrace our role – and the responsibilities that go with it – as a leader in the community, as a business partner and as an organization that can build bridges with our fans and positively impact this great region. We appreciate and value the input we have received from our fans, our partners and the community,” said Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf in a statement.

    “While we were trying to make a balanced decision yesterday, after further reflection we have concluded that this resolution is best for the Vikings and for Adrian. We want to be clear: we have a strong stance regarding the protection and welfare of children, and we want to be sure we get this right. At the same time we want to express our support for Adrian and acknowledge his seven-plus years of outstanding commitment to this organization and this community. Adrian emphasized his desire to avoid further distraction to his teammates and coaches while focusing on his current situation; this resolution accomplishes these objectives as well.”

    News surfaced last week that Peterson has been indicted in Montgomery County, Texas on one felony count of reckless or negligent injury to a child stemming from an incident where Peterson reportedly whipped his four-year-old son with a switch. After that revelation, Peterson was deactivated from last Sunday’s game with the New England Patriots.

    After the Vikings announced their decision to reinstate Peterson on Monday, the team began to face immediate blowback. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton called for his immediate suspension. The Radisson hotel chain suspended its sponsorship of the Vikings. The team, its owners, and the NFL also got an earful on social media.

    “I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser,” said Peterson in response to the indictment. “I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen.”

    Just a few hours ago, Peterson posted this to Twitter:

    Unless Peterson comes to a deal with prosecutors beforehand, he’ll next appear in court October 8th.

  • NFL Football Kicks Off Tonight, and Twitter Wants You to Follow the Action There

    Twitter wants you to run to Twitter when something big is happening on TV, and have been pushing that coveted ‘second-screen’ experience for years. Today, Twitter has furthered that goal by creating new NFL-specific timelines so fans can stay up-to-date on what everyone’s saying about every game.

    Set up at #NFL, Twitter’s new main NFL timeline features football-related tweets from “people in your network, along with relevant Tweets from teams, players, coaches, press, fans and celebrities.”

    That’s useful in its own right, but what’s even more useful, potentially, are the game-specific timelines Twitter has unveiled. Accessible via the main #NFL page or by searching for team name vs. team name (#SeahawksvsPackers or #SEAvsGB, for instance), the specific timelines will feature the same customized tweet stream, but with its entire focus on each individual game.

    Twitter’s done this before – with the World Cup – so it’s not surprising that the company would tap into the sure-to-be huge opening of the NFL season. The new timelines are active now, and will be throughout the season.

    Right now, they’re only available on Twitter.com and iPhone, but Twitter says they’ll be up on Android soon.

    Image via Green Bay Packers, Twitter

  • Wes Welker Talks Four-Game Suspension

    Everyone was shocked to find out that Wes Welker received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancement policy.

    Welker said that he was just as surprised as everyone else and released a statement about the suspension.

    “I’m as shocked as everyone at todays news,” Welker said in an e-mail to The Denver Post. “I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.

    “I want any youth football players and all sports fans to know, there are NO shortcuts to success, and nothing but hard work and studying, leads to success. I have never been concerned with the leagues performance enhancing or drug abuse policies because under no scenario would they ever apply to me, but I now know, that (drug-policy procedures) are clearly flawed, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they are corrected, so other individuals and teams aren’t negatively affected so rashly like this. I have worked my whole life to be the best that I can be, and I have encountered many obstacles over my career, and THIS WILL BE NO DIFFERENT! Thank you for the outpouring of support, and I want Bronco nation to know, that no one and no thing will get in the way of our goal as a team, to bring Mr. Bowlen the trophy he and this great region deserve,” he added.

    Welker was tested for performance enhancing drugs with two tests, and failed both of them.

    Reports claim that Welker tested positive for Adderall, but he denies taking any drugs. He believes someone may have slipped something into his drink before the tests.

    “I wouldn’t have any idea where to get a Molly or what a Molly is,” he said. “That’s a joke. I don’t do marijuana, I don’t do drugs. I don’t do any drugs.”

    Welker may be upset about the suspension, but it might give him time to recover from the concussion he received during a game on August 23.

    While he is suspended, the Broncos are expected to replace Welker with a combination of tight end Jacob Tamme, who often operates from the slot, and receivers Andre “Bubba” Caldwell and rookie Cody Latimer.

  • Ex-Ravens OL Jensen Treated for Severe Sleep Apnea

    Not long before being cut from the Baltimore Ravens roster on Saturday, offensive lineman Ryan Jensen was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, a disorder which can be life-threatening, if left untreated.

    Jensen was picked up by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but the promise he displayed during his collegiate career at Colorado State University-Pueblo was lacking on the Baltimore practice field. His energy was down, as well as his mood.

    Jensen met with Harry Swayne, the Ravens’ director of player development, and Swayne voiced his concern. Jensen explained to the Baltimore Sun, “He spoke to me and said, ‘You’re not the same guy. You seem really angry. What’s going on with you?’ He reached out to help me and was worried. He suggested I get checked out. He’s a good guy.”

    Jensen underwent a sleep study, and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each of these pauses is called an apnea, and Jensen was having at least 90 apneas a night.

    Jensen remarked, “I’ve been told I choke and stop breathing in my sleep. That’s not good for your heart. In the sleep apnea test they did, I woke up almost 28 times per hour and have about 90 breathing episodes a night. They said that was probably a mild night for me. They estimated I was getting two to three hours of sleep a night. They saved my life.”

    Jensen added, “It got to the point where I was walking around like a zombie. I didn’t have that same fire because of my lack of sleep. It affected me. I’m just glad I got it figured out. I got diagnosed and got treated for it. The Ravens were understanding about it when we talked about it.”

    Now a free agent, Jensen hopes to picked up by another team.

    “I feel like I’m getting back to the normal Ryan Jensen. The plan is for me to play. Hopefully, I’m back with a team very soon.”

  • Danica Patrick Gears Up For the Oral-B USA 500

    Hot off of her 27th-place finish in the Irwin Tools Night Race last weekend at the Bristol Motor Speedway, Danica Patrick is now preparing for a big Labor Day weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Instead of one last 2014 cookout, Patrick will be entertaining NASCAR fans at this year’s Oral-B USA 500.

    The 325-lap event on the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile track is the 25th race in this year’s Sprint Cup Series. Patrick considers the oval track one of the fastest in the series – and one of the most challenging.

    “The first time I raced there was in 2012 and I did both Nationwide and (Sprint) Cup,” said Patrick. “That seems like a long time ago and that was only my fifth Cup start, so I feel a little more confident and knowledgeable than I did then. It’s a fast place. The tires definitely go off with the surface and the line moves around a lot. It’s a big weekend with a lot going on for GoDaddy, Coke Zero, and Chevrolet, so there’s a lot off the track, as well. But I’m looking forward to it.”

    Patrick drives the number 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet car for the Stewart-Haas Racing team.

    According to Patrick, she will be leaning heavily on her crew chief, Tony Gibson, during this weekend’s race. Gibson logged two wins at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the three years he was crew chief for Jeff Gordon.

    Patrick finished 21st in last year’s AdvoCare 500 race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Though disappointing, Patrick considers that race a “good” one and an overall improvement for her crew.

    “I remember that we weren’t good in the first practice,” said Patrick. “Tony Gibson and the guys worked really hard and we qualified well and then continued to get better throughout the weekend. It was a good race for us. It was a little tight at the end but, overall, we improved. The pit crew was really good and they were quick on each stop.”

  • Althea Gibson Honored With Google Doodle On Birthday

    Althea Gibson is the subject of a new Google Doodle currently gracing the search engine’s homepage in the U.S. The tennis legend was born on this day in 1927.

    Gibson was the first black athlete to play international tennis, and became the first to win a Grand Slam title (the French Open). She also won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals the following year. She won both again the year after that. She was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the AP, and won 11 Grand Slam tournaments.

    Google’s doodle is an appropriately animated one, depicting Gibson moving from side to side in the heat of a match:

    Gibson passed away eleven years ago at the age of 76 after complications from bladder and respiratory infections. She had already survived a heart attack.

    Image via Google.com