(By Joel Auerbach, US PRESSWIRE) (PhatzRadio / USA Today) — To most people it would seem the NFL sits safely atop the American sports pyramid, but former quarterback Troy Aikman says the league could be in for a fall. Aikman, who is in the college football and Pro Football Halls of Fame and is now an analyst for Fox, was participating last week on a panel examining whether Los Angeles is ready for an NFL team when he expressed concern about the direction of the league, specifically the NFL’s attempts to reign in the rate at which players are sustaining concussions. “The long-term viability, to me anyway, is somewhat in question as far as what this game is going to look like 20 years from now,” Aikman said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Aikman’s 12-year career was cut short as a result concussions. He doesn’t have a son but said if he did he would have second thoughts about sending him into a career as a football player. “I wouldn’t tell him he couldn’t play football,” he said. “If he wanted to, I would say ‘OK, great.’ But I don’t know if I would be encouraging him to play. Whereas, with the other sports, you want your kids to be active and doing those types of things.” Aikman, 45, also said the NFL may be making other strategics mistakes that will set itself up for a fall, including televising too many games. He said the fact L.A. has been without a team since 1994, and doesn’t seem to miss it, is evidence that the NFL isn’t a must in people’s lives. “At one time, watching football was an event,” Aikman said. “Monday Night Football was a big event. Now you get football Sunday, you get it Monday, you get it Thursday and, late in the year, you get it on Saturday. “People in Los Angeles realized, ‘You know what, life’s OK without the NFL.’ If I’m an owner, I don’t want any fan thinking that.” The NFL continued to draw strong TV ratings last season, including a record 111.3 million viewers for the the Super Bowl earlier this month. Aikman acknowledges there’s not much to support his point of view but says wait and see. “I believe, and this is my opinion, that at some point football is not going to be the No. 1 sport. You talk about the ebbs and flows of what’s popular and what’s not. At some point, the TV ratings are not going to be there,” he said. “I can’t justify that because the numbers say otherwise, but I guess time will tell.” Aikman says concussions, saturation could be NFL’s downfall is a post from: PhatzRadio.com … [Read more...]
UFC’s Dana White calls Mayweather a racist
(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — UFC president Dana White is also a boxing fan. But clearly not a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan. In a feature called Presidential Address, he calls Mayweather a racist for his comments on the Knicks Jeremy Lin and on fellow boxer Manny Pacquiao. And while he had our attention he told Mayweather to “shut up and make the (Pacquiao) fight Floyd.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EUruWdpk66Y UFC’s Dana White calls Mayweather a racist is a post from: PhatzRadio.com … [Read more...]
NFL: Brady’s personal quarterback coach Martinez dies
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots works with his receivers on the field before the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (February 4, 2012 – Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America) SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) — Tom Martinez, the longtime personal coach to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, has died at 67. His wife, Olivia, told the San Mateo Daily Journal that he died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack while receiving dialysis treatment. The San Francisco Chronicle reported he died in Redwood City. Tom Martinez worked with Brady when he was a teenager growing up in San Mateo, where Martinez coached at College of San Mateo. Their relationship continued during Brady’s NFL career. Martinez told the San Francisco Chronicle before the Patriots’ Super Bowl matchup against the New York Giants this year that he always enjoyed working with Brady and watching him play. Brady was equally complimentary, telling reporters before the Super Bowl that Martinez taught him how to throw a football, and he was “forever indebted” to him. “He’s been a great friend of mine for a long time,” Brady said, adding that Martinez had been seeking a kidney for some time. “A lot of people are looking for kidneys or some different type of transplants, but he’s very deserving,” Brady said. “He’s a great man.” A spokesman for the Patriots said early Wednesday that Brady could not immediately be reached for comment. The team posted to Twitter late Tuesday, “Our sincere condolences go out to the Martinez family & all those he mentored throughout his incredible career.” Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman also tweeted, “RIP coach Tom Martinez. He was such a great mentor to many in the bay area. His legacy will always live on.” Olivia Martinez told the Daily Journal in an email that Martinez “leaves three children . their spouses . six grandchildren and hundreds of young athletes in the Bay Area and around the country.” Doctors told Martinez last spring that he had months or less to live due to a combination of kidney and heart problems, the Daily Journal reported. His prognosis was, at least temporarily, debunked when specialists discovered that it was his pacemaker that was killing him. The pacemaker was turned off in June and he had been fighting to get stronger while awaiting a kidney transplant. Martinez was hired at College of San Mateo to coach football and teach physical education but added softball and women’s basketball to his coaching load. His teams won 32 championships. He had 400 career wins in football, a state record 565 wins in basketball and 800 wins in softball over 32 years, the Daily Journal reported. “He really was the representation of Bulldog athletics,” said College of San Mateo athletic director … [Read more...]
NBA Roundup: Heat win 7th straight, beat Kings
Dwyane Wade scored 30 points and 10 assists to help the Heat win their 7th straight game. (Issac Baldizon/Getty Images) Heat 120, Kings 108 (PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — MIAMI — Dwyane Wade scored 30 points and added 10 assists, Mario Chalmers and Chris Bosh each scored 20 points and the NBA-leading Miami Heat stretched their winning streak to seven games with a 120-108 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. LeBron James scored 18 points, Norris Cole had 12 and Udonis Haslem added 10 for Miami (26-7), which has won each of its games during this streak by at least 12 points. Wade shot 11 for 16, the 11th straight game he’s shot at least 50 per cent, matching his career best in that department. He also had a run of 11 such games in his rookie season. Isaiah Thomas scored 20 of his 24 points in the third quarter for Sacramento, which dropped its sixth straight. Marcus Thornton scored 23, and Tyreke Evans finished with 21 points and 10 assists. Cavaliers 101, Pistons 100 CLEVELAND — Antawn Jamison scored 32 points and rookie Kyrie Irving led Cleveland’s comeback from a 17-point deficit with 17 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Cavaliers to a 101-100 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Alonzo Gee, who scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, put the Cavaliers ahead for good, 97-95, by rebounding his own miss with a dunk with 25.4 seconds left. Irving, who scored 25 points, and Gee combined for 30 of Cleveland’s 35 points in the fourth quarter. Cleveland, which trailed 72-55 late in the third quarter, ended Detroit’s three-game winning streak. Brandon Knight led the Pistons with 24 points while Greg Monroe scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds. Pacers 117, Hornets 108 INDIANAPOLIS — Roy Hibbert had a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 117-108 overtime win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night. Paul George scored 20 points and Darren Collison had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, winners of three straight. Trevor Ariza scored 21 points to lead the Hornets, who have lost 10 of their last 13. New Orleans, which snapped a three-game winning streak Monday at Oklahoma City, concludes a stretch of three games in three days — all on the road — Wednesday at Cleveland. The Pacers went on a 10-0 run in overtime. Hibbert and Collison combined for eight points and West scored to take a 113-102 lead. The Hornets scored back-to-back baskets and only scored once more. Grizzlies 89, 76ers 76 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol had 15 points and 14 rebounds, Rudy Gay scored 14 points and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Philadelphia 76ers 89-76 on Tuesday night. O.J. Mayo added 13 points and Marreese Speights had 12 to help the Grizzlies (19-15) move a season high-tying four games above .500. Gasol, who’s headed to this weekend’s All-Star Game in Orlando, finished three assists shy of a triple double. Jrue Holiday scored 22 points — none in the … [Read more...]
NHL Roundup: Carter’s hat trick leads Columbus outburst in win
Cam Fowler #4 of the Anaheim Ducks falls to the ice for the puck in front of Jeff Carter #7 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Honda Center on February 3, 2012 in Anaheim, California. (February 2, 2012 – Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Jeff Carter had three goals — two on the power play during Columbus’ four-goal first period — and the last-place Blue Jackets handed the San Jose Sharks their season-high fourth straight loss, 6-3 on Tuesday night. R.J. Umberger and Rick Nash, who is the subject of trade rumors with the deadline less than a week away, had a goal and an assist. David Savard also scored for Columbus. Vinny Prospal added three assists while Derick Brassard had two. Steve Mason made 38 saves to get the win and surpass Marc Denis as the Blue Jackets’ career wins leader. Logan Couture scored twice and Joe Thornton also had a goal for San Jose. Starting goalie Antti Niemi was pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots. The Sharks fell to 1-4-1 on their season-long, nine-game road trip. Carter scored his 15th goal of the season and the third of the game for his second hat trick of the season at 1:26 of the third to give Columbus a 6-2 lead. Couture scored his team-leading 27th goal on a redirection on a power play to make it 6-3 at 8:35 of the third. Then just 13 seconds later, the Sharks thought they pulled closer when Jamie McGinn batted in another high puck that went into the air behind Mason. But the play went to video review and it was ruled the puck was hit when it was above the crossbar and the goal was disallowed. Columbus started strong, scoring twice in the first seven minutes. The Blue Jackets then made it 3-0 that ended Niemi’s night and added one more with 30 seconds left in the period. Niemi was replaced by Thomas Greiss, who stopped 21 of 24 shots. Umberger opened the scoring as he stuffed in his own rebound for his 10th of the season at 4:55. Carter made it 2-0 at 6:51 on the power play with a shot from the high slot past Niemi after a nice give and go passing play with Prospal. Then Nash curled out of the right corner, and scored on a wrister from between the circles for his 20th at 15:18, sending Niemi to the bench. Flyers 5, Jets 4 (0T) WINNIPEG (AP) — Jaromir Jagr scored at 4:16 of overtime to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds sent the game into the extra period with a goal with 10 seconds left in regulation. Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves in the victory for Philadelphia (33-19-7). Claude Giroux had a goal and two assists, while Scott Hartnell added a goal and an assist. Maxime Talbot also scored for the Flyers. Ondrej Pavelec made 50 saves for Winnipeg (29-26-7). Evander Kane made it 4-3 for the Jets at 4:57 of the third period on the power play. Andrew Ladd scored a pair of goals 64 seconds apart and Dustin Byfuglien had a goal and an assist for … [Read more...]
College Basketball Roundup: No. 1 Kentucky rallies against Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 18 points, Anthony Davis added 13 points and 11 rebounds and No. 1 Kentucky rallied to beat Mississippi State 73-64 Tuesday night. The Wildcats (27-1, 13-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed 41-28 at halftime — which was their biggest deficit of the season — but slowly climbed back to take their first lead at 63-62 with 4:11 remaining on a layup by Kidd-Gilchrist. They never trailed again, winning their 19th straight game. Kidd-Gilchrist scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half and also added 10 rebounds for the double-double. Kentucky finished the game on a 20-4 run. Dee Bost led Mississippi State (19-9, 6-7) with 21 points while Arnett Moultrie added 13 points and 11 rebounds for his SEC-leading 16th double-double of the season. The Bulldogs have lost four straight games. It was a tense game throughout with three technical fouls, including two for the Wildcats. The tight game wasn’t a surprise considering the recent competitive history. The programs have split the past six games in the series, with three going to overtime. Mississippi State came into the game on a surprising three-game losing streak — falling to Georgia, Auburn and LSU— that has put its standing for an NCAA tournament at-large bid on shaky ground. And the Bulldogs played like a desperate team. In front of a rowdy Humphrey Coliseum crowd, Mississippi State couldn’t have asked for a much better start. Renardo Sidney nailed a 3-pointer and Bost found Moultrie for an alley-oop to take a quick 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs stretched that advantage to 25-13 on Bost’s 3-pointer that danced around the rim before falling through the hoop. While Mississippi State was cruising, Kentucky was uncharacteristically rattled. The Wildcats couldn’t get the ball inside to their talented big men, instead settling for contested shots on the perimeter. Marquis Teague was called for a technical which Mississippi State turned into a five-point swing, with Bost making both free throws and then a 3-pointer for a 34-21 lead. Jalen Steele put the exclamation point on a dominant first half, knocking down a 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 41-28 halftime lead. The only bad news for Mississippi State was the loss of Rodney Hood, who suffered a bruised knee late in the first half and didn’t return. The Bulldogs already had a thin playing rotation before his injury and were down to a seven-man rotation without him. It appeared to be a factor as Kentucky slowly wore Mississippi State down. The Wildcats responded with an 11-2 run to start the second half as the game turned tight, with Kentucky’s Davis and Mississippi State’s Moultrie both receiving technical fouls. The Wildcats pulled within 55-53 with 7:17 left on a layup by Terrance Jones, but Mississippi State responded with a dunk from Moultrie and a 3-pointer from Bost to push the lead back to 60-53. That’s when Kentucky started … [Read more...]
Soccer: Chelsea falls to Napoli – Champions League
Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, centre, of Uruguay, celebrates with teammates Ezequiel Lavezzi, left, and Marek Hamsik after scoring, during a Champions League match on Tuesday. (Salvatore Laporta/Associated Press) (PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — Chelsea’s troubles worsened after sloppy defending led to a 3-1 loss at Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, and nine-time winner Real Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow. Chelsea, which has slipped to fifth in the Premier League, threw away a 1-0 lead in the first leg in Italy when Ezequiel Lavezzi scored twice and Edinson Cavani added another goal. It was also a disappointing night for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose Madrid side failed to take its dominant domestic form into Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead with his 36th goal of the season, but CSKA midfielder Pontus Wernbloom scrambled the ball into the net with the last kick of the match in the third minute of stoppage time to equalize for the Russian club. While Madrid holds a 10-point lead over Barcelona to be on course to win the Spanish league, Chelsea has now failed to win for a fifth straight game in all competitions. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas gambled by not starting with Frank Lampard or Michael Essien, while captain John Terry was ruled out just before the match as he requires knee surgery. Luck, however, was initially in Chelsea’s favour with Juan Mata’s opening goal somewhat of a gift from Napoli. After being picked out by Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge’s resulting cross was inexplicably mis-kicked by Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro back toward his own goal. The ball fell perfectly for Mata to slot into the net past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis in the 27th minute. Napoli levelled 11 minutes later when Lavezzi collected the ball on the edge of the area, eluded Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles, before curling it into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Petr Cech’s outstretched hand. Cavani, whose goals helped to eliminate Premier League leader Manchester City in the group stage, scored his fifth goal in seven Champions League appearances this season right on halftime when he turned Gokhan Inler’s cross into the net from close range. “We had a chance to go 2-0 up and a couple of defensive mistakes that against Napoli, with their attacking strength, will get punished,” Villas-Boas said. After Chelsea defender David Luiz gave the ball away sloppily, Cavani turned provider, squaring it past an outrushing Cech for Lavezzi to slot into an empty net in the 65th. “We always say we keep working hard on the training ground but unfortunately we don’t seem to transport that on the pitch,” Cech said. “We have quality players who can turn it around, but it could be better because we don’t have time to recover. We have a lot of games coming up and we are not in a position to drop many points in league. “It’s … [Read more...]
Horse Racing Recap: Leparoux lands a Derby favorite, and a bride-to-be
Jockey Robby Albarado aboard Court Vision #9 (R) edges out jockey Julien Leparoux on Turallure #13 (L) to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile a during the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs on November 5, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (November 4, 2011 – Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images North America) (PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Julien Leparoux is on a winning streak, on and off the racetrack. Over the past 10 days, the French jockey landed the ride aboard early Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags, revealed he’ll be racing in New York shortly and flew cross-country to win the El Camino Real Derby in California aboard Daddy Nose Best. He also announced his engagement just before Valentine’s Day to Shea Mitchell, the daughter of California-based trainer Mike Mitchell. The wedding is set for December. “I’m engaged to the most wonderful man,” Mitchell posted on her Twitter feed Feb. 12. In his public reply, Leparoux tweeted: “You are the best my love, I’m a very lucky man.” With three victories and a narrow loss in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Union Rags is set to make his 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. Union Rags remains No. 1 in The Associated Press’ latest Run to the Roses Top 10 list of Derby contenders going into a race that features a slew of Derby hopefuls, including Algorithms, who remains No. 2 this week. Javier Castellano had been the rider for both colts, but chose to stay with Algorithms, trained by Todd Pletcher. Castellano rides several other Derby contenders for Pletcher; Union Rags is trained by Michael Matz. On Sunday, Union Rags worked a half-mile in 48.64 seconds at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla. “He’s ready to go,” Matz said. “Other than running in a race, he’s as ready as he could possibly be.” So is Leparoux, who has been based in Kentucky since his first full riding season in 2006. He’s leaving, agent Steve Bass says, because New York has “the better racing dates and better purses.” On Monday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert pulled off a double in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, winning the 11-horse first division with 6-1 choice Castaway and the 10-horse second division with 3-5 favorite Secret Circle. The twin wins give Baffert more Derby hopefuls to go along with No. 4-ranked Liaison and impressive allowance winner Fed Biz. Over the weekend, there were a pair of photo finishes in California: Daddy Nose Best beat Lucky Chappy by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, and Baffert’s Drill held off American Act by a nose in the seven-furlong San Vicente at Santa Anita on Sunday, a race contested by four horses. After the San Vicente, Baffert said he’s not sure if Drill will remain on the Derby trail. City to City takes Buena Vista at Santa Anita ARCADIA, … [Read more...]
CFL: Ticats officially introduce Fantuz
Former Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz, right, signed a four-year deal with Hamilton that reportedly included a six-figure signing bonus. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) (PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — Just just 28 years of age, Andy Fantuz suddenly finds himself a CFL elder statesman. On Tuesday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats introduced a tanned Fantuz, who spent last week on vacation in Africa, after agreeing to terms with the free-agent slotback Friday. Fantuz will call Ivor Wynne Stadium home for the next four seasons after spending the first six years of his career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Hamilton dug deep to secure Fantuz as the native of Chatham, Ont., will reportedly earn $190,000 annually. And while the Ticats are expecting a definite bang for their buck from Fantuz, the CFL’s 2010 top Canadian will open the season as their second-oldest receiver behind 32-year-old slotback Dave Stala. Fantuz sees adopting a dual role in Hamilton of not only becoming quarterback Henry Burris’s go-to receiver but also serving as a mentor to talented sophomores Chris Williams, Aaron Kelly and Bakari Grant. “The great, young receivers on this team I can help them out and teach them some of the things I’ve acquired and the knowledge I’ve acquired and some of the tips on the field,” Fantuz said. “I want to work with the whole group, really bring the team together and try to make it a cohesive unit and become a family and try to get us working as a team.” The six-foot-four, 220-pound Fantuz not only gives Hamilton another set of reliable hands but also enhances its inside presence, where he can create mismatches with linebackers and come up with the tough catch. Those are qualities new Hamilton coach George Cortez says make a player like Fantuz “a quarterback’s best friend.” “Andy is driven, wants to be successful and wants the ball thrown to him, which is really important for a receiver,” Cortez said. “We’re looking for big things from the position. “He’s a more physical receiver than most people give him credit for.” Fantuz had 289 receptions for 4,311 yards and 23 touchdowns with Saskatchewan. He was named the CFL’s top Canadian in 2010 after posting 87 catches for 1,380 yards and six TDs. Patience is a virtue Fantuz missed the first half of last season while attending the Chicago Bears camp before being released. But he only played in four games with Saskatchewan due to an ankle injury. Fantuz will also be preaching the value of patience with his new teammates, that wins are more important than statistics and teams succeed collectively, not with individuals. Fantuz certainly knows what it takes to get to the Grey Cup, playing in three CFL title games with the Riders and winning in ’07 when he was named the top Canadian in the Riders’ win over Winnipeg. Hamilton hasn’t played in the Grey Cup since winning it … [Read more...]
