Category: Sports

Blackhawks Defeat Nashville, Prepare to Meet Canucks

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From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Jonathan Toews scored a power-play goal to cap a wild first period, and the Chicago Blackhawks held on for a 5-3 victory Monday night over Nashville and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the second straight year.

The Blackhawks won the final three games of the series, setting up a second-round matchup with the Vancouver Canucks for the second consecutive season. Chicago hasn’t lost a Game 6 with the chance to eliminate an opponent since 1995.

Nashville has been eliminated in all five of its postseason appearances on home ice.

Well, Nashville still has Graceland. And those ducks.

Go Hawks!

And Go Penguins!

Johnny Weir Deemed ‘Not Family Friendly’ Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

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Johnny Weir

From GLAAD:

GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is “not family friendly.”

To say that Weir is “not family friendly” would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father’s disability prohibits him from working. Weir’s dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.

Catch that again: Weir is “putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father’s disability prohibits him from working.”

So it goes.

Did You Know Ben Roethlisberger Weighs 241 Pounds?

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Ben Roethlisberger stands once again accused of sexual assault. The alleged victim is a Georgia college student, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

In the latest incident, a 20-year-old woman attending Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, near Mr. Roethlisberger’s off-season home, is the alleged victim, according to Milledgeville police Deputy Chief Richard Malone.

"We had a sexual assault report," Deputy Chief Malone said during a news conference Friday night. "It is alleged that he was the perpetrator."

Mr. Roethlisberger and his legal team have emphatically denied the accusations in the Nevada case but have not come out as strongly in the latest incident.

Late Friday afternoon, the quarterback’s agent, Ryan Tollner, issued a statement:

"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening. We have spoken to law enforcement.

"Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night.

"Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."

Here’s the strange part:

The incident report indicates that the victim was with two female friends, ages 19 and 20. Mr. Roethlisberger’s name is obscured, but the "offender" is listed as 6-feet-5 and 241 pounds with brown hair and eyes.

241 pounds? Why not 240 pounds? Why not "between 240 and 250 pounds?" Why is "241" the magic number?

Could it have something to do with the official NFL profile of Big Ben? From NFL.com:

Ben Roethlisberger | #7 | QB
Pittsburgh Steelers | Official Team Site

Height: 6-5   Weight: 241   Age: 28
Born: 3/2/1982 Lima , OH
College: Miami (Ohio)
Experience: 7th season
High School: Findlay HS [OH]

Nailing Ben’s weight exactly is quite the coincidence.

Quite.

Chicago Bears Dole Out Millions for Top Talent: Peppers, Taylor & Manumaleuna

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These men are smiling because they are now filthy rich.

Money talks.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Bears officially announced the signing of defensive end Julius Peppers to a six-year contract, running back Chester Taylor to a four-year contract and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (Ma-nu-ma-li’u-na) to a five-year contract during a press conference at Halas Hall on Friday.

Taylor has agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $12.5 million, and Peppers is expected to get approximately $12 million per year with the first three years guaranteed.

Taylor will be guaranteed $7 million, according to a source.

Money talks.

Did I say that already?

Go Bears.

Sidney Crosby and Team Canada Takes Olympic Hockey Gold

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Congratulations to Team Canada on taking Olympic gold in hockey Sunday in Vancouver.

Congratulations to Sidney Crosby on netting the winning goal in overtime.

Congratulations to the U.S.A. with the youngest team in the tournament, clinching an overtime bid with 25 seconds left in the third period.

With the exception of the Miracle on Ice (which I have yet to see in color) and game seven of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals, that was the most amazing hockey game I’ve ever seen in my life.

O Canada! Indeed.

PETA Creates Tiger ‘Too Much Sex’ Woods Billboard

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Tiger Woods too much sex

Story from WKMG out of Orlando, Florida:

The animal rights group PETA said on Wednesday that it plans on using a billboard featuring Tiger Woods that says "too much sex can be a bad thing" to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their cats and dogs.

The PETA, which the group said it hopes to post near Woods’ Isleworth home in Windermere, shows a picture of Tiger Woods and the words "Too Much Sex Can Be a Bad Thing … For Little Tigers Too. Help Keep Your Cats (and Dogs) Out of Trouble: Always Spay or Neuter! PETA."

Woods has no formal affiliation with the organization and has not previewed or endorsed the ad, according to the group, which said the image and idea were "too good to pass up."

I’m sure Tiger will be thrilled.

Sean White Spins and Flips His Way to Halfpipe Gold

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Sean White

From the New York Times:

Sean White wanted to call his signature trick the Tomahawk, after a steak he enjoyed. Plus, it sounds much cooler than the double McTwist 1260, which is honestly as hard to get off the tongue sometimes as it may be to land. Doesn’t matter what you call the trick, it is White’s to own.

The American captured the gold medal in men’s halfpipe with as impressive a performance as any since his 2006 victory in Turin. It was his second run in the final, 48.4, that did it. But his first run of 46.8 would have been enough.

Finland’s Peetu Piiroinen took silver and Scotty Lago of the United States won bronze.

And it was sweet.

Congrats.

Oakland A’s Prospect Grant Desme Leaving Baseball For Call Of Priesthood

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From Yahoo! Sports:

Well, here’s a story you don’t see every day.

Grant Desme, a 23-year-old minor league outfielder in Oakland’s system, is retiring from baseball to follow a calling into the Catholic priesthood.

The story was first reported by Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi — perhaps appropriately with that first name of his — and this isn’t a case of a struggling player going through an early-life crisis. Desme was ranked the A’s eighth-best prospect by Baseball America after hitting .288 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in A ball in 2009 and he was just named MVP of the Arizona Fall League.

No, this is not something you don’t see every day.

Best of luck to Grant.

More here.

Chicago Bears Shock Vikings 36-30 in Overtime

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Here’s the last play from the NFL Game Center:

1-10-MIN 39 (9:21) J.Cutler pass deep right to D.Aromashodu for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

I don’t know where this team has been for most of the season, but they were incredible tonight. Jay Cutler played the game of his career, and even looked a bit choked up when it all finally ended.

I got choked up too.

From the Chicago Tribune:

For the first time this season, the Bears had a balanced and potent offense with Jay Cutler leading the way in a 36-30 overtime upset of the Minnesota Vikings.

Cutler hit Devin Aromashodu on a 39-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Bears the victory and raise their record to 6-9 going into the season finale Sunday at Detroit. Aromashodu had seven catches for a career-high 150 yards on the night.

The winning score was set up when Bears linebacker stripped the ball from Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and the Bears recovered on the Minnesota 39.

The Bears had taken a 30-23 lead with 4:55 to play in regulation on a Cutler-to-Earl Bennett 20-yard touchdown pass, only to see Brett Favre march the Vikings back for a game-tying, six-yard

TD pass on fourth-and-goal to Sidney Rice with 16 seconds  remaining in regulation.

The Bears received the kickoff to open the overtime period and moved into field-goal range, but Robbie Gould missed a 45-yard attempt wide right.

Entering the game, the Vikings appeared to be unraveling at the worst possible time,having lost three of their last four. And the Bears took it to them when the only thing they had to play for was pride and the chance to leave a late impression on the decision-makers.

Frankly, Cutler played an awesome game, completing 20 of 35 for 273 yards, 4 touchtowns and 1 interception. Brett Favre completed 26 of 40 for 321 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Bears Wide Receiver Devin Aromashodu had 7 receptions for 150 yards, including the end-of-game winning touchdown.

Nicely done.

Read more from the Tribune.

Hutchins’ Foot Boots Pitt Panthers Past UNC

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From ESPN:

Thanks to a late-game rally in front of a hostile crowd, the Panthers made a strong case they’ve returned to prominence.

Lewis rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown to move up in the record book and Dan Hutchins kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left, giving 17th-ranked Pitt a 19-17 victory over North Carolina on Saturday in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Winning 10 games for the first time since the Marino era in 1981, Pitt (10-3) overcame a disappointing loss to Cincinnati three weeks ago that cost it a spot in a BCS bowl.

"It’s back," Lewis said of Pitt football, moments after he was voted bowl MVP. "We’re not satisfied with just 10 wins. We want to get more next year."

The last win in 2009 required a remarkable 17-play drive that lasted nearly 9 minutes, included a key fourth-down conversion, a costly penalty against North Carolina and 13 runs by the dynamic Lewis.

Eclipsing Dorsett’s freshman rushing record of 1,686 yards in the first quarter, Lewis also moved past Craig Heyward into second on the school’s single-season list with 1,799 yards. Dorsett rushed for 2,150 yards in 1976 when he won the Heisman Trophy and Pitt won its last national title.

"It’s tough to describe what Dion has accomplished," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "He’s special."

I am so happy for the University of Pittsburgh. The Panther defense really played a tough game.

My father always reminds me that we were at Pitt Stadium and watched Tony Dorsett run for 303 yards against Notre Dame. Dad tells me I was in the 8th grade, and told him during the game, "I think I’d like to go to Notre Dame." It must have been the band, since the football team lost. Years later, head coach Gerry Faust and I arrived on campus. I played in the band. Faust should have. Thanks to Faust, we didn’t have to play the Victory Clog or the Victory March much during football games. We had more success at basketball and hockey games.

Right. This is about Pitt, right?

Way to go, Panthers! And hats off to Dave Wannstedt. I miss you in Chicago, but it’s good to see fellow guy from Baldwin do so well. Congratulations, coach!

More play-by-play analysis from ESPN.