Brewers Dream Big After Pitching Overhaul

Filed under: Brewers, Spring Training

PHOENIX -- The Brewers' feelings about the 2011 season changed dramatically one shocking weekend in December, when the unthinkable happened.

The Brewers acquired Zack Greinke.

"Disbelief," is how Corey Hart described his reaction to the news. "Any time the Brewers outdo the big-market teams, you are always a little shocked."

Randy Wolf, who dropped from being the Brewers No. 2 starter to being the No. 4 starter when the club acquired Greinke and Shaun Marcum, said he was taken off guard -- in a good way -- when it happened.

"The discussion was whatever team loses out on Cliff Lee will try to get Zack Greinke," Wolf said, "so when the Phillies got Cliff Lee, I was wondering 'Who's going to get Greinke?' Then it was the Brewers, out of nowhere. I don't think anyone expected it. It was exciting."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/28/brewers-dream-big-after-pitching-overhaul/

Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly

Andy Gray, Richard Keys Taken Off Air for Sexist Comments

Filed under: English Premier League, Sports Business and Media

LONDON (AP) -- Two of Britain's leading soccer commentators were reprimanded by their TV network and taken off the air Monday after making sexist remarks about two female game officials and a team executive.

Andy Gray and Richard Keys were disciplined Monday for derogatory comments about Sian Massey's suitability as a lineswoman for a Premier League game the commentators were working Saturday for Sky Sports.

Gray and Keys have been respected voices in soccer for the past 20 years. They also criticized the ability of former Premier League official Wendy Toms and a column written by West Ham executive Karren Brady in the Sun newspaper that day.

The men have privately apologized to their employer. Sky said the two have been warned and "reminded of their responsibilities." They will not work the show Monday night when Bolton hosts Chelsea in the Premier League.

"They (the comments) are inexcusable from anyone at Sky, regardless of their role or seniority," said Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/24/andy-gray-richard-keys-taken-off-air-for-sexist-comments/

Taylor Swift Teri Hatcher Teri Polo Tessie Santiago Thalía

Your February Questions Answered (Part 2)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/VrAXcSv8Z0w/your-february-questions-answered-part-2.html

Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton

Cavs' Trade for Baron Davis Was All About the Draft Pick

Filed under: Cavaliers, Clippers, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- What does a rebuilding team do when it wants draft picks to help recover from the departure of the league's two-time MVP? It trades another of its popular players for a first-round pick, and agrees to take on almost $28 million in salary for an aging, oft-injured point guard.

Such is the fate of the Cleveland Cavaliers that it celebrated a trade Thursday that took point guard Baron Davis from his home in Los Angeles and dropped him in Cleveland in the middle of winter. Davis goes from playing on the same team as Blake Griffin to joining a 10-47 team.

And the Cavs were exultant -- because they acquired a first-round draft pick that will give them two lottery picks this summer. They said they were happy about acquiring Davis, too, but sending Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Clippers was much more about getting that first-round draft pick.

"Our scouting department just got a little busier, which is a good thing," said GM Chris Grant.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/cavs-trade-for-baron-davis-was-all-about-the-draft-pick/

Sara Foster Sara Spraker Sarah Gellman Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Mutch

Playoff and TV Uncertainty Overshadow MLS Schedule Announcement

Filed under: MLS

There will be an MLS schedule on Thursday, finally. But don't expect all the confusion to be cleared up, and don't expect the pressure on the league to decrease.

The list of dates and opponents MLS unveils will leave a host of unanswered questions about the upcoming season, as well as the more distant future. And of course, it will be subject to change.

The regular season begins in five weeks (the Los Angeles Galaxy will visit the Seattle Sounders on March 15, and the rest of the clubs will kick off four days later), and the fact that clubs and fans still don't have a full fixture list to work with has been a source of frustration and embarrassment.

That discontent reached the league's Fifth Avenue headquarters.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/playoff-and-tv-uncertainty-overshadow-mls-schedule-announcement/

Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy

Jorge Rivera Says 'Classless' Bisping Hit Him With Intentional Illegal Knee

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

There are moments from his UFC 127 bout with Michael Bisping in Sydney, Australia that are still fuzzy to Jorge Rivera, but there is at least one thing he knows for sure.

The illegal knee that Bisping hit him with in the first round? No matter what Bisping said later, that was no accident, Rivera told MMA Fighting on Sunday.

"That knee was deliberate, and I'll tell you exactly how I know this," Rivera said.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/27/jorge-rivera-says-classless-bisping-hit-him-with-intentional-i/

Vanessa Simmons Veronica Kay Veronika Vaeková Victoria Beckham Victoria Pratt

Trevor Bayne Becomes Youngest Winner in Daytona 500 History

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- For all the talk of a new track surface, a different style of racing and promises of the "wildest" Daytona 500 ever, Sunday's much-anticipated NASCAR season-opener still ended up like so many of those that have preceded it -- decided in the final laps.

Making his first-ever Daytona 500 start, 20-year-old rookie Trevor Bayne held off Carl Edwards, David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte to earn the venerable Wood Brothers Racing team its fifth Daytona 500 victory and first since NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson's win in 1976.

"Am I dreaming? Is this real? I don't even know where to go,'' a stunned Bayne exclaimed to his team on the radio as he crossed the finish line and drove his No. 21 Motorcraft Ford to victory circle, where he was too young to even drink the traditional celebratory champagne.

The race lived up to its billing, easily setting records for caution flags (16) and lead changes (74 among 22 drivers), but in the end it was a a great show of poise heading to the checkered flag that made Bayne the youngest winner of NASCAR's most prestigious trophy - one day after he celebrated his 20th birthday.

A five-car accident at the front of the field with four laps remaining in the 200-lap regulation period set up the first of two green-white-checkered overtime periods and all but eliminated several of the strongest cars, including Ryan Newman, Regan Smith and Clint Bowyer, who exchanged the lead in the closing 15 laps.

Robby Gordon's spin on the first restart sent cars scrambling, and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet was collected in the melee, setting up the final two-lap shootout among Bayne and the veterans.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/20/trevor-bayne-becomes-youngest-winner-in-daytona-500-history/

Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard Rachel Hunter Rachel McAdams Rachel Nichols

Family of Slain Pace Player Indignant Over Grand Jury Ruling

A grand jury in a suburb north of New York City Monday declined to indict a police officer in the death of Danroy Henry, Jr., a Pace University football player shot while driving his car outside a bar in the Westchester County town of Thornwood.

Henry's father and his lawyer said they were not surprised by the decision and vowed to take the case to the United States Department of Justice and to pursue a civil suit.

"My faith was never in district attorney (Janet) DiFiore," Danroy Henry, Sr., said in a telephone conference call. "Our faith is in God. We were hoping she would surprise us but we had no faith in her."

Henry died a week before his 21st birthday and a few hours after the homecoming game from wounds caused by bullets fired from the gun of Aaron Hess, a police officer in Pleasantville, N.Y., who responded to a call to quell a disturbance in a parking lot after 1 a.m. on Oct. 17.

Although Henry was not involved in the fighting, Hess shot him from the hood of Henry's moving car. Police and witnesses disagreed as to whether police had told Henry to move his car or if Henry's actions put the officer in danger.

In a prepared statement, DiFiore said the grand jury of 23 persons heard testimony from 85 witnesses, including two passengers in the car with Henry and also from Hess, who testified without protection of immunity from prosecution. More than 100 exhibits were admitted into evidence at a proceeding which began on Jan. 10.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/14/family-of-slain-pace-player-indignant-over-grand-jury-ruling/

Pink Piper Perabo Poppy Montgomery Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook

NASCAR Makes Another Small Rule Change for Daytona 500

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- NASCAR has made another change to cars for the Daytona 500, this one because temperatures are expected to reach 80 degrees Sunday during the season-opening race.

Sprint Cup officials say teams can add an extra inch to grill openings, allowing more air to flow to engine-cooling radiators.

The change was made following the final practice session Saturday and should help drivers keep their engines cooler at speeds nearing 200 mph around Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.

NASCAR made three changes earlier in the week, reducing the size of the horsepower-sapping restrictor plates, adding a pressure-relief valve to cooling systems and reducing the size of grill openings. The moves were made to slow downs cars after speeds topped 206 mph.

The 43-car field will take the green flag at about 1:15 p.m. ET.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks and other supplemental copy have been inserted by AOL.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/19/nascar-makes-another-small-rule-change-for-daytona-500/

Whitney Able Whitney Port Willa Ford Xenia Seeberg Yamila Diaz

Heat Outlast Wizards at Home as Dwyane Wade Puts Up 41 Points

Filed under: Heat, Wizards, Chris Bosh

MIAMI -- The Miami Heat got back to their winning ways after a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls the night before with a tougher than expected 121-113 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night. Competing on the second night of a back-to-back set, the Heat looked a bit sluggish in the opening quarter of the game as the Wizards looked nothing like a team who have only managed one road victory in 29 games. The surprisingly tough victory made it seven wins in a row at home and placed the Heat a half-game behind the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference lead.

Wade red hot from the field

Dwyane Wade got it going in the second quarter scoring 18 of his team's first 19 points with 9 straight baskets, enabling the Heat to score more than twice as many points as they did in the first quarter. Wade's 41 points came off a season high 18 field goals out of 27 attempts, though oddly enough he was wobbly from the free throw line going 3-for-9. In his finest moments, he was unstoppable as he attacked the basket while also effortlessly draining shots from all over the field including a pair of three-pointers.

"I hit some jump shots and that opened up my game," Wade explained. "I finally got it going and at the same time we needed to get back and get the lead so it was kind of one of those moments."

Wall impressive in his debut against the Heat

Even with Wade's offensive explosion, both teams played mostly even in the first half and deep into the third quarter as a result of Wizards guard Nick Young's 38 points along with prized rookie John Wall's 24 points and 12 assists. It was Wall's first game against the Heat due to injuries holding him back the first two games of the season series.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/heat-outlast-wizards-at-home-as-dwyane-wade-puts-up-41-points/

Julie Benz Julie Berry K. D. Aubert Karen Carreno Karolína Kurková

NHL Trade Deadline: San Jose Sharks

Filed under: Sharks, Western, Trade Deadline

Over the past several years, Doug Wilson has engineered some of the league's biggest trades, including those that brought Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle and Dany Heatley to San Jose.

None was a trade-deadline deal, though Thornton was acquired during the season. Still, Wilson has a reputation for wheeling and dealing boldly when required, even if he downplayed the possibilities of anything major when he spoke to FanHouse this month.

"You never say never, but a lot of it is based on supply and demand," Wilson told FanHouse. "Last year, the market in defensemen and centermen was sparse - if you have one, you're keeping them. But you never know. If there's anything out there that makes sense, our history speaks for itself."

Wilson already has done some tinkering with the deadline approach, acquiring Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood in January and Ian White this month, and considering that the team is on an upswing, there's a sense in San Jose that the Sharks might not do much more.

Wilson told FanHouse that all along, the best possible answer would be for the Sharks to hit their stride - that would do more than most trades, anyway.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/nhl-trade-deadline-san-jose-sharks/

Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton Mary Elizabeth Winstead Megan Ewing Megan Fox

Preseason match 5: United vs UC Santa Barbara

MATCH SUMMARY

It took nearly the full 90 minutes, but D.C. United finally broke down the University of California Santa Barbara's defense on Tuesday evening in the 81st minute. Only moments after coming on as a substitute, 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft selection Blake Brettschneider bagged this third goal in two matches after volleying home a Brandon Barklage cross. The club is now 5-0 in exhibition matches in 2011. 

Source: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/02/preseason-match-5-united-vs-uc-santa-barbara

Rihanna Robin Tunney Rosario Dawson Rose Byrne Rose McGowan

Man Has $50,000 Puck Shot Overturned? It Must Be a Movie

by Greg Couch

Filed under: Sports Business, Sports Business and Media

"All right everybody, let's hear it for Tropical Time and let's hear it for Bush Bavarian. If you're going to drink a beer, you might as well make it Busch Bavarian.''

That's how Jackie Moon, played by Will Ferrell in the movie Semi-Pro, made the introduction.

You know how Ferrell movies are just too ridiculous? How they could never come true?

Think again.

"Ladies and Gentlemen,'' he said. "I want you to welcome this man that's going to attempt the impossible, the $10,000 free throw from the other side of the court. The moonshot.''

That was the movie, about a fictional and fledgling team from the old ABA, running ridiculous stunts and promotions to try to stay alive.

This is real life: On Saturday night, the Indianapolis Ice of the United States Hockey League held its own impossible-shot promotion. Shoot the puck the length of the ice into the far net, which was blocked off entirely except for a three-inch slot at the bottom.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.com/2011/02/15/man-has-50-000-puck-shot-overturned-it-must-be-a-movie/

Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard Rachel Hunter Rachel McAdams Rachel Nichols

Capitals Deficiencies Exposed by Rangers Once Again

Filed under: Capitals, Rangers, NHL Injuries, NHL Rumors, Trade Deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Good thing Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee is one of the most deliberate executives in the NHL.

If not, Friday's 6-0 loss to the New York Ranges -- Washington's worst loss at home since November 2006 -- could mean plenty of changes ahead of Monday's trade deadline.

"George is not a knee-jerk guy at all," said Capitals forward Mike Knuble, one of four players available to the media after the game. "Whether we won 5-0 or lost 6-0 like tonight, it probably wouldn't have changed his approach to the deadline. He's had last summer to think about it and a lot of this season. He's probably already formulated his plans."

And this game for the fifth-place Caps exposed the same sorts of elements that were absent when they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs last season despite winning the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular season record.

Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/capitals-deficiencies-exposed-by-rangers-once-again/

K. D. Aubert Karen Carreno Karolína Kurková Kasey Chambers Kat Von D

Indians' Shin-Soo Choo Takes Elbow Injury in Stride

Filed under: Indians, Spring Training

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The nights have been long for Shin-Soo Choo these last few years.

The Cleveland right fielder has spent the last six years trying to make a career for himself in the Major Leagues, far from his home in South Korea.

And for all of that time he had South Korea's mandatory two years of military service hanging over his head.

No more. Choo, 28, helped South Korea win the gold medal in baseball's Asian Games in November, and one of the perks was an exemption handed him by the government from his two years of duty. He hit .571 in the tournament with three homers and 11 RBIs.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/27/indians-shin-soo-choo-takes-elbow-injury-in-stride/

Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler

Coming to North America Was No-Brainer For Top Prospect From Sweden

Filed under: NHL Draft, NHL Rumors, International Hockey, Minor League Hockey, Junior Hockey

KITCHENER, Ontario, Canada -- A steely resolve came over Gabriel Landeskog's face when he was asked whether he did the right thing by moving to Canada in his mid-teens to play major junior hockey and possibly take a shortcut to the NHL.

Landeskog (in yellow uniform in photo, right) is in his second season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League and the skills he used to become one of the youngest players ever in the Swedish Elite League a couple of years ago have also vaulted him to the top of the NHL's rankings of skaters in North America for the NHL Draft in June.

If selected first overall, Landeskog will be the first Swede to go that high since Mats Sundin went to the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.

"I thought it would be the best thing for my development," says Landeskog about coming to this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "I didn't want to be a guy playing five minutes a game in the Swedish Elite League. This is the junior NHL. It's the best junior league in the world and that's why I wanted to come here.

"And I also wanted to show the Swedish kids back home that this is a path you can take. It is a great life and it is a great experience. This is an experience you would never get in Sweden."

It was at the world under-18 championship in April 2009 when Landeskog first caught the attention of Kitchener coach Steve Spott, who was an assistant coach with Canada. After Landeskog scored a power-play goal, he skated by the Canadian bench and stared the Canadians down.

Spott, who is also the general manager of the Kitchener Rangers, made a mental note to himself to find out whom that kid was "because he's got a lot of moxie."

Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/coming-to-north-america-was-no-brainer-for-top-prospect-from-swe/

January Jones Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis Jennifer Garner

Pebble Power Rankings: Dustin Johnson Aims for Hat Trick

Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends

The Tour heads back to California for one of the most scenic stops all year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Players will be competing on three courses, all of which measure less than 7,000 yards and demand accuracy and a solid short game. Tiger Woods might be on the other side of the world this week, but the field in Northern California doesn't lack star power.

Favorites

Dustin Johnson -- After back-to-back top 10s to open the year, Johnson (pictured) might have made it three straight had the weather in Scottsdale not caused delays everyday. Less than 30 minutes after his opening-round 64, he was back on the tee for round two and shot nine strokes worse. The two-time defending champ at this event was a disastrous final round away from winning the U.S. Open here last summer.

Vijay Singh -- Don't look now, but the Big Fijian looks to be regaining his form. Winless since 2008, Singh has improved each week and earned his first top three finish in three years, which is pretty unbelievable. The 2004 winner here also has three runner-up finishes at the AT&T

Mark Wilson -- Winner in two of his three starts this season, Wilson's game is primed for the trip to Pebble Beach. He sits top 5 on Tour in greens in regulation, scrambling, and scoring, and his consistency will benefit him this week. While his past results here aren't spectacular, the FedEx Cup points leader hasn't missed the cut at the AT&T since 2003.

Jim Furyk -- Last season's FedEx Cup winner took a month off since missing the cut at the Sony Open. He also took a month break after playing both tournaments on the islands to open 2007, returning to the AT&T and finishing T6. Maybe that trend could be a bit of a stretch, but there's no doubt Furyk enjoys Pebble Beach - he hasn't finished outside of the top 40 since 1999.

J.B. Holmes -- The two-time Tour winner nearly added number three at the AT&T a year ago. Holmes finished one stoke behind Dustin Johnson in a tie for 2nd and hasn't missed the cut in four starts at this tournament. One of the longest hitters on tour, he also sits sixth in birdie average after a T5 at the WMPO.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/10/pebble-power-rankings-dustin-johnson-aims-for-hat-trick/

Tricia Helfer Tricia Vessey Trista Rehn Tyra Banks Uma Thurman

Tiger Woods Knocked Out in First Round of Match Play

Filed under: PGA

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) -- The slow road back for Tiger Woods took another detour Wednesday when he followed a clutch birdie with a shocking shot into the desert and lost to Thomas Bjorn in the first round of the Match Play Championship.

It was only the second time that Woods, the No. 3 seed, had been eliminated in the first round.

But this was stunning even to Woods.

Moments after he made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the match, he hit a 3-wood so far to the right that it landed in a desert bush. It took two shots just to get it back onto the grass. After badly missing an 18-foot bogey putt, he conceded to Bjorn.

"I blew it," Woods said.

Twice he had simple chips on the back nine and failed to convert them into birdies, losing his lead on the 13th and falling behind on the 15th. He missed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th that he figured he should make "every time."

And then came No. 1, the first extra hole.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/tiger-woods-knocked-out-in-first-round-of-match-play/

Laura Harring Laura Prepon Lauren Bush Lauren Conrad Lauren German

Miguel Cabrera Arrives at Spring Training, Set to Enter Treatment Program

Filed under: Tigers, MLB Police Blotter

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -- Miguel Cabrera arrived at spring training Thursday for the first time since he was arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving and promptly apologized as Major League Baseball said he will undergo treatment set up by doctors administered by management and its players' union.

The 27-year-old was arrested Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned on March 16.

"I am very sorry for what I have done," Cabrera said through a translator. "I have worked hard for a period of time and I hope everyone forgives me. All I ask for is forgiveness."

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said last week that Cabrera would undergo treatment before arriving. Tigers position players reported on Feb. 18.

Cabrera didn't deny that he had an alcohol problem, but said he was willing to undergo treatment and the Tigers have been working with doctors to find a solution. Cabrera said the incident was out of the ordinary and that he had been working on his treatment in Detroit and his hometown in Venezuela.

He refused to say he is an alcoholic.

"I have it under control," Cabrera said. "It was just a bad decision. I plan to continue with treatment. I made a mistake this time, and all I can do is continue treatment."

Cabrera said he is eager to meet with his teammates, but he won't give a clubhouse speech begging for forgiveness.

"There won't be a big meeting," Cabrera said. "I want to meet with everyone face to face over the next few days. I've learned a lot of lessons in my life, and this was a tough one."

Cabrera does not have a Florida driver's license, but he does have a driver's permit that allows him to drive. He said he didn't plan to do any driving this spring training.

Dombrowski said Cabrera will be treated throughout the season and it is up to manager Jim Leyland to decide when Cabrera will be ready to play.

"We are in the process of trying to help, but he is committed to helping himself," Dombrowski said. "He's a quality person with a great heart."

Asked whether Cabrera might get the same kind of treatment as AL MVP Josh Hamilton of Texas, Dombrowski said it was an option and the Tigers will monitor the situation. After battling drugs and alcohol, Hamilton has a companion on the road at all times to make sure he doesn't stray from sobriety.

Cabrera will suit up with the Tigers for his first workout on Friday, but won't see any action when the Tigers scrimmage Florida Southern College. Leyland said he expects Cabrera in the starting lineup when the Tigers open the season on March 31.

Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, said Cabrera has been evaluated by representatives of a treatment board operated by MLB and the union.

"Cabrera has voluntarily cooperated and has been completely forthcoming in this process," Manfred said, adding that Cabrera was recommended "a multifaceted, professionally-administered program" that will "include supervision as is necessary to ensure that he adheres to his program."

"Cabrera understands the importance of this program and is fully committed to the program," Manfred said. "He also understands that any future alcohol-related incidents could involve more serious consequences."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/miguel-cabrera-arrives-at-spring-training-set-to-enter-treatmen/

Xenia Seeberg Yamila Diaz Yvonne Strzechowski Zhang Ziyi Zoe Saldana

Bryce Harper to Make Nationals Spring Training Debut Monday

Filed under: Nationals, Prospects, Spring Training

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Top draft pick Bryce Harper is to make his spring training debut Monday when the Washington Nationals visit the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie for their spring training opener.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said he expects the 18-year-old Harper will get at least one at-bat in the game.

"I'm hoping that he kind of blends in," Riggleman said. "I'm not looking for him to excel against major league pitching."

Harper is learning a new position, moving from catcher to the outfield. Nationals outfielder Jerry Hairston said it will take time to make the adjustment.

"He's got a good head on his shoulders," Hairston said. "We've talked a little bit. He's a humble guy. He realizes what's going on. I'm sure everybody's excited about watching him play. He's a great talent. It's a spring training game. I know he's going to be a little excited."

Jayson Werth, who signed to a $126 million, seven-year contract with Washington in the offseason, will not make the trip. Neither will All-Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Adam LaRoche. Their debuts likely will come Tuesday or Wednesday when Washington hosts the Mets and the Florida Marlins.

Chad Gaudin will pitch the first game for Washington on Monday. Livan Hernandez throws Tuesday and John Lannan goes Wednesday.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/bryce-harper-to-make-nationals-spring-training-debut-monday/

Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra

Fight of the Century: Smokin' Joe Frazier's Smashing Success

PHILADELPHIA -- Richard Nixon was rooting for Joe Frazier.

That fact can be interpreted a number of ways, even by those who weren't born when Frazier took on Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in the "Fight of the Century'' on March 8, 1971. So much more was on the line that night than the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world -- politically, socially and emotionally -- that you could easily form an opinion on the fight based on who else was rooting for or against one of the fighters.

At the time, Nixon's support was important to Frazier for one reason: Frazier had gone to the president to convince him to get Ali's boxing license reinstated. The governing bodies had revoked it following Ali's refusal to enter the military based on his opposition to the war in Vietnam due to religious beliefs.

"That's the only way he was able to fight,'' Frazier recalled Thursday as he sat behind his desk in his business office, a suite on an upper floor of a hotel three blocks from Independence Hall. "And I went up to President Nixon to let his license go free, so we can get it on. And (Nixon) said, 'Joe, do you think you can take him?'

"I said, 'I got him in my back pocket.' I told the president that.'' Frazier chuckled, something he did a lot during an hour-and-a-half conversation that traveled all around the world, from his poor upbringing in the Jim Crow South to his adopted Philadelphia hometown to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics (where he won a gold medal at age 20) and, eventually, to the Garden.

Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/fight-of-the-century-smokin-joe-fraziers-smashing-success/

China Chow Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe

Tennessee Receives NCAA Notice of Allegations; Lane Kiffin Cited

Filed under: Tennessee, SEC

The NCAA has cited former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin with a failure to monitor charge in a Notice of Allegations letter released by the University of Tennessee on Wednesday. Overall, the school was charged with 9 major violations, two in football -- both tied to Kiffin -- and seven in basketball.

The story was first reported here by FanHouse earlier this month.

Kiffin has also been hit with a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance charge. The levying of these two charges against the former coach rather than the Vol program represents a last-minute appeal by Tennessee to avoid the saddling of the program itself with the penalties. Instead, Tennessee deftly stepped aside and served up the head of Kiffin to the NCAA.

Meanwhile Bruce Pearl, head basketball coach of the University of Tennessee was cited by the NCAA for, per the UT release, "impermissible contact with prospective student-athletes during an unofficial visit, acting contrary to the principles of ethical conduct, failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance, and failure to monitor the activities regarding compliance of all assistant coaches within the men's basketball program."

The majority of these charges stem from Pearl's lying about having junior recruits over to his house for a barbeque. Hosting juniors at the home of a head coach is a secondary violation, but Pearl's lie made the matter a major violation that led to a dock in pay, an eight-game SEC suspension, and more punishment to come, potentially, from the NCAA.

While Tennessee declined comment other than posting the letter, Pat Haden, the athletic director at USC, released this statement in support of Kiffin:

"We have received from the NCAA a notice of allegations against Lane Kiffin pertaining to his tenure as the head football coach at Tennessee. The NCAA enforcement process provides for Tennessee and Lane to address those charges. Until that process is completed, it would be unfair and premature for me or USC to comment on this matter."

"However, I will say this: Since his return to USC last year as our head football coach, Lane has been vigilant in making sure he and the football program follow the NCAA's rules and compete the right way. Lane has my support as our head football coach."

For his part, Kiffin, who declined comment when FanHouse broke this story, released the following statement: "On the advice of my legal counsel, we cannot comment other than to say we look forward to working through the process with the NCAA."

Tennessee will have 90 days to respond to the NCAA's notice of allegations and then will appear before the Committee on Infractions in early June.

Follow Clay Travis on Twitter here. With All That and a Bag of Mail back on a weekly basis, you can e-mail him questions at Clay.Travis@gmail.com.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/tennessee-receives-ncaa-notice-of-allegations-lane-kiffin-cited/

Samaire Armstrong Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Samantha Mumba Sanaa Lathan

Houston Dynamo to Move East in MLS Realignment

Filed under: FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Major League Soccer's love of conferences will be tested in 2011 by a balanced 34-game schedule, which makes the separate standings pointless, and the addition of two clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

It addressed the second problem on Friday, announcing that the Houston Dynamo will shift to the Eastern Conference after five years in the West.

Each conference will have nine clubs, thanks to the arrival of the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The league's reasoning? Houston was the eastern-most club in the Western Conference. Done and dusted.

The move splits the Dynamo with in-state rival FC Dallas (mostly to the north, but slightly to the west), but it won't affect the number of times they'll play each other this season.

Houston's Eastern sojourn may be short. With Montreal entering the league in 2012, MLS will be forced to have one conference with 10 teams and another with nine. Houston easily could return next year, or wait until the 20th club (MLS is targeting New York City), joins the league. At that point, conferences will matter because the schedule will be unbalanced.

Either way, the Dynamo likely won't be spending too much time in the East, and they may not mind. Although the new conference offers shorter flights, it hasn't been as kind on the field. Houston has earned just 1.357 points per game against Eastern foes over the course of its five regular seasons, compared to 1.646 points per game vs. Western teams.

Follow Brian Straus on Twitter Follow FH Soccer on Twitter

The most recent existing team to switch conferences was Sporting Kansas City, which moved east in 2005.

The problem created by the balanced schedule, unfortunately, remains one that fans will have to live with in 2011. MLS has committed to determining its playoff participants based on conference standings, in part to avoid the embarrassment of seeing a Western team win the Eastern title for a third straight year.

That means the sixth place team in one conference might stay home this fall while the fifth place club in the other moves on, even if it boasts a better record playing the exact same schedule.

It's unfortunate, but it should be temporary. Unless MLS finds a way to add a 13th month to the calendar, it will return to an unbalanced schedule in 2012. At that point, conference standings will be meaningful once again.

Here's the new MLS alignment:

Eastern Conference	Western Conference
Chicago Fire	Chivas USA
Columbus Crew	Colorado Rapids
D.C. United	FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo	Los Angeles Galaxy
Sporting Kansas City	Portland Timbers
New England Revolution	Real Salt Lake
New York Red Bulls	San Jose Earthquakes
Philadelphia Union	Seattle Sounders
Toronto FC	Vancouver Whitecaps

Follow Brian Straus on Twitter Follow FH Soccer on Twitter

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/houston-dynamo-to-move-east-in-mls-realignment/

Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas Eva Green

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals Ace, Needs Tommy John Surgery

Filed under: Cardinals, MLB Injuries

Ace Adam Wainwright will need Tommy John surgery, the Cardinals announced Thursday. The pitcher, who finished second in NL Cy Young voting last year and third in 2009, felt a tug in his right elbow while throwing batting practice on Monday.

He returned to St. Louis on Wednesday for examination, and it was there that the Cardinals' worst fear was realized -- Wainwright has a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and will need it replaced.

Both Dr. George Paletta, the team's head physician, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum recommended Tommy John surgery for Wainwright, which typically carries with it a 12-18 month timetable for recovery and rehab.

"It's not a real surprise to us this morning, but certainly a disappointment and a finality to this process." Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told reporters in Jupiter, Fla.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/adam-wainwright-cardinals-ace-needs-tommy-john-surgery/

Melania Trump Melissa George Melissa Howard Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft

PGA Set to Host Another Pebble Beach Party for AT&T Pro-Am

Filed under: PGA

Yep, the PGA Tour is playing again this week. It's the Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-Am.

That means Pebble Beach. Cool. Great tournament. There is the celebrity/amateur thingy that was once very, very hip when Bing Crosby was the host, but now too many people wonder "who the hell is Bing Crosby?" and Bill Murray, George Lopez and Andy Garcia are the celebrity headliners.

Play will be slow and the weather most-likely lousy, but there may be no greater piece of real estate in golf than Pebble Beach.

Remember, they did play the U.S. Open there last year.

Graeme McDowell won it, but Dustin Johnson came close. That's significant because Johnson did win the two Pebble Beach Pro-Am stops before that. So, despite the fact Johnson in June shot a final-round 82 to fall out of the hunt, he led after three rounds and also has been the winner at the previous two PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach by one shot over David Duval and J.B. Holmes last year and four in front of Mike Weir in 2009.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/pga-set-to-host-another-pebble-beach-party-for-atandt-pro-am/

Laura Prepon Lauren Bush Lauren Conrad Lauren German LeAnn Rimes

NHL Trade Deadline: Anaheim Ducks

Filed under: Ducks, Western, Trade Deadline

Everything appeared to be going swell for the Anaheim Ducks until the all-star break.

They were quietly hovering in the upper reaches of the Western Conference and, even with injuries, looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Then Jonas Hiller, their world-class goaltender, took a shot on the mask in the annual no-check game. Now, the Ducks rest below the playoff bar and are in a battle to qualify.

Although he has played at times, Hiller has been sidelined for extended stretches with what has been described as dizziness, fatigue and vertigo, but not necessarily in that order. The team and the goaltender have insisted that he does not have a concussion, but he did see a Vancouver chiropractor who specializes in treating head injuries.

Hiller has resumed light on-ice workouts, but is not considered close to returning from his latest hiatus. The problem is serious enough that general manager Bob Murray acquired two veteran goaltenders -- the enigmatic Ray Emery, who was signed as a free agent, and the puzzling Dan Ellis, picked up in a trade from Tampa. Emery is pegged as the replacement starter while Ellis is penciled in as the backup.

But Emery, 28, has not played in the NHL this season after undergoing off-season hip surgery to repair a degenerative condition. He played only 29 games with Philadelphia in 2009-10. He was exiled to Russia in 2008-09 and part of 2009-10 after Ottawa let him go for disciplinary reasons and no other team wanted to sign him. He has not participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2006-07, when the Senators fell to Anaheim in the finals.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/nhl-trade-deadline-anaheim-ducks/

Maria Bello Maria Menounos Maria Sharapova Mariah Carey Mariah OBrien

Tennessee Receives NCAA Notice of Allegations; Lane Kiffin Cited

Filed under: Tennessee, SEC

The NCAA has cited former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin with a failure to monitor charge in a Notice of Allegations letter released by the University of Tennessee on Wednesday. Overall, the school was charged with 9 major violations, two in football -- both tied to Kiffin -- and seven in basketball.

The story was first reported here by FanHouse earlier this month.

Kiffin has also been hit with a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance charge. The levying of these two charges against the former coach rather than the Vol program represents a last-minute appeal by Tennessee to avoid the saddling of the program itself with the penalties. Instead, Tennessee deftly stepped aside and served up the head of Kiffin to the NCAA.

Meanwhile Bruce Pearl, head basketball coach of the University of Tennessee was cited by the NCAA for, per the UT release, "impermissible contact with prospective student-athletes during an unofficial visit, acting contrary to the principles of ethical conduct, failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance, and failure to monitor the activities regarding compliance of all assistant coaches within the men's basketball program."

The majority of these charges stem from Pearl's lying about having junior recruits over to his house for a barbeque. Hosting juniors at the home of a head coach is a secondary violation, but Pearl's lie made the matter a major violation that led to a dock in pay, an eight-game SEC suspension, and more punishment to come, potentially, from the NCAA.

While Tennessee declined comment other than posting the letter, Pat Haden, the athletic director at USC, released this statement in support of Kiffin:

"We have received from the NCAA a notice of allegations against Lane Kiffin pertaining to his tenure as the head football coach at Tennessee. The NCAA enforcement process provides for Tennessee and Lane to address those charges. Until that process is completed, it would be unfair and premature for me or USC to comment on this matter."

"However, I will say this: Since his return to USC last year as our head football coach, Lane has been vigilant in making sure he and the football program follow the NCAA's rules and compete the right way. Lane has my support as our head football coach."

For his part, Kiffin, who declined comment when FanHouse broke this story, released the following statement: "On the advice of my legal counsel, we cannot comment other than to say we look forward to working through the process with the NCAA."

Tennessee will have 90 days to respond to the NCAA's notice of allegations and then will appear before the Committee on Infractions in early June.

Follow Clay Travis on Twitter here. With All That and a Bag of Mail back on a weekly basis, you can e-mail him questions at Clay.Travis@gmail.com.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/tennessee-receives-ncaa-notice-of-allegations-lane-kiffin-cited/

Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough

College Basketball Poll Is Just a Sham

by Kevin Blackistone

Filed under: NCAA Basketball, Sports Business and Media, college-sports

In 1869, in Cardiff, N.Y., -- just south of Syracuse's Carrier Dome where this week's 17th-ranked men's college basketball team plays -- some farmers digging a well announced they found petrified remains of a giant man. (No, he was not the first big stiff Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim recruited.) He was 10-feet tall. And the fellow who spoke for the discovery, a cigar maker named George Hull, started charging 50 cents to see the Cardiff Giant turned to stone.

But a Yale paleontologist, who inspected the find, debunked it as nothing more than a tall tale after finding it was made of gypsum. The would-be amateur anthropologists confessed to fashioning fiction.

Yet, people continued to flock to see the hoax and -- now at the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., -- still do.
After all, we love fakes. Elvises. IDs. The Colbert Report.

How about the college basketball poll?

 

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Source: http://kevin-blackistone.fanhouse.com/2011/02/16/college-basketball-poll-is-just-a-sham/

Lake Bell Larissa Meek Laura Harring Laura Prepon Lauren Bush