Possible New NBA Name For Ex-Sonics

Here are the names that could be the new name of the Sonics.

• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Oklahoma City Marshalls
• Oklahoma City Energy
• Oklahoma City Wind
• Oklahoma City Barons
• Oklahoma City Bison

Top 10 Worst Jerseys To Wear

Found this great list over at Bleacher Report. Goes into detail about what jerseys would be the worst to wear.

10. Any WNBA jersey (just wanted to get that out of the way first).

9. Randall Gay - I don’t think I’m really homophobic, saying that, I don’t even think a gay man would wear a jersey with "Gay" on the back of it. Good for Gay, he already has a Super Bowl ring, and in March, he's headed back to his home state of Louisiana, signing with the Saints for $17.6 million.

8. Bill Buckner - Even after the Sox broke the curse and have one two World Series in the last few years, has anybody really forgiven Buckner in Boston? I don’t think I would take the chance of sporting a Buckner jersey anywhere around the Boston area.

7. Leon Lett - Although he was a two-time Pro Bowler and part of the Dallas Cowboys' three Super Bowl victories in the ‘90s, he will probably be remembered for two real stupid/hilarious plays.

The first play coming in Super Bowl XXVII. Lett recovered a fumble on the 45-yard line and was running it back for a clear touchdown, at around the 10, Leon outstretched his arm with the ball. Not seeing a hustling Don Beebe, the ball was stripped and knocked out of the end zone, which resulted in a touchback. Granted, the play had no effect on the game at all, it must have been really embarrassing for Cowboy’s nation.

The second play came on a Thanksgiving Day game in ’93. With the Cowboys leading the Dolphins 14-13 in the closing seconds, Miami attempted a field goal. During the game, there was a rare snowstorm in Dallas which covered the field. Anyway, the Cowboys wound up blocking the kick.

While his teammates made a circle around the ball and started celebrating, Lett broke through to recover the ball. I don’t know if he even knows what he was thinking, but he slipped on the ice when trying to get it. The Dolphins recovered the ball on the one-yard line. Miami wound up winning the game.

Come to think of it, maybe I would wear his jersey; it would be a conversation starter.

6. Jose Canseco - Do I really have to explain why? Maybe I would wear his twin brother's, Ozzie, jersey, now he was something special.

5. Rae Carruth - He was a first-team All-American wide receiver out of Colorado who was the 27th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 1997. In his rookie year, Carruth led all rookie receivers in receptions and receiving touchdowns. He showed a lot of promise. It all came to an end in 1999, when he conspired to commit murder. The victim was Carruth’s girlfriend who was pregnant with his twins at the time. He’s still in jail.

Wearing his jersey would be, let’s say in bad taste? Carruth’s number? 89. I guess it wasn’t the number; Steve Smith seems to be alright with it, unless he conspired in the elimination of running back Stephen Davis. Is it just me, or did he disappear very quickly?

4. Gheorge Muresan - The tallest player ever to play in the NBA. His number was 77, which was in reference to his 7'7" frame. He was named Most Improved Player in the 1995-96 season when he put up solid numbers, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He also gave a riveting performance co-starring with Billy Crystal in the movie My Giant where he played a big guy.

Did anybody ever sport a Muresan jersey? There had to of been, I think I remember them in the stands in his Washington Bullets days. As for me? I don’t like anybody over seven feet.

3. Aaron Rodgers - His jersey will be a novelty item the way things are going now. Will he ever start a game? Just a thought wouldn't it be cool to see the Packers fans wearing Rodgers' jerseys and the Packers fans wearing Favre jerseys fight? It would be a Green Bay Civil War.

2. Scott Norwood - "No Good! Wide right!" With Norwood’s 47-yard field goal miss, the Giants won Super Bowl XXV. Although he was the Bills all-time leading scorer, he will always be remembered for that kick. I might try to get a Ray Finkle jersey though. Finkle was the kicker based on Norwood in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, for those of you who didn’t get the reference. If only the laces were out, Norwood could be a Buffalo hero.

1. O.J. Simpson - Although the Juice is loose, his jersey isn’t. Pretty funny that his jersey has spent more time locked up than him. That is, until he finally catches the true killers. Then I can finally dust the magnificent shirt off, it just looks weird in my closet. I just can’t get rid of it; he is a former Heisman winner.

Bleacher Report

Yankees Looking At Bonds?

New Yankees Boss Hank Steinbrenner is said to be at least open to the idea of bringing embattled and unemployed superstar Barry Bonds to the Yankees. However, other top club decisionmakers are less enamored of the idea, people familiar with the Yankees' thinking say, after the team's top brass met in Tampa to discuss Bonds and other potential targets.

While it is said that "nobody ruled (Bonds) out completely'' after the lengthy debate of the pros and cons of Bonds on Thursday, Yankees people still call a Bonds signing "unlikely'' or even "highly unlikely.''

While one person close to the new' Yankees leader claimed, "Hank wants to do it,'' top Yankees officials say that no vote was taken at Thursday's trade meeting, and that no one lined up firmly in one camp or the other.

Instead, the decision was made on Thursday to table the talk until after the July 31 trade deadline while the team pursues other offensive options.

SI On Bonds

College Football Power Rankings: Pre-Season

WhatIfSports simulated every possible matchup in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 100 times, and used the winning percentages from those 700,000+ games to deterministically evaluate all teams to come up with the best possible ranking of how every team compares to every other team. The inputs to the simulations are based on a rigorous analysis of each team that first considers strength-of-schedule-adjusted team and player ratings from 2007 and then makes modifications for 2008 based on returning starters (who, where and how many), expected progression of returning players in new roles, depth at each position and incoming recruits and transfers.

Team	Win Pct	PF/G	PA/G
1.	Ohio State Buckeyes	98.9%	48.9	7.6
2.	Georgia Bulldogs	97.7%	45.5	10.3
3.	Oklahoma Sooners	94.8%	48.2	18.2
4.	LSU Tigers	94.6%	42.6	11.5
5.	USC Trojans	94.0%	41.2	10.6
6.	W. Virginia Mountaineers	91.5%	41.6	17.8
7.	Clemson Tigers	89.1%	36.6	14.5
8.	Florida Gators	86.1%	39.2	18.7
9.	Missouri Tigers	86.0%	41.7	22.6
10.	Wisconsin Badgers	84.5%	34.7	16.4

29.

Oregon Ducks

66.6%

28.7

20.7

What IF Sports

Minor League Brawl

Huge Minor League Brawl - Watch more free videos

Julio Castillo, a pitcher for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League, will be arraigned in court Friday morning on a felony assault charge after throwing a baseball into the stands and hitting a fan during a wild brawl Thursday night.

According to the Dayton Daily News, Castillo appeared to be trying to hit a Dayton player in the dugout. However, he missed and instead struck a fan, who had to be hospitalized. Castillo was kept overnight at Montgomery County Jail.

Fifteen players and both managers were ejected following a 10-minute, benches-clearing brawl in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday’s Midwest League contest between affiliates of the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. Peoria is managed by former Cubs great Ryne Sandberg, who was not present at the game.

You can read the rest of the story here.

David Hester Holding Out

The tranquil start to Bears training camp disappeared faster than a Devin Hester touchdown return today when the Bears special teams ace refused to show up for the opening practice in a contract holdout.

Hester did not report to camp on Tuesday night before midnight as players were required to do and missed team meetings this morning, but he officially became a contract holdout with the start of practice at 3 p.m.

His decision not to report to camp had to be a surprise to a franchise that reached 12th-hour contract solutions for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and rookie left tackle Chris Williams in an effort to ensure the entire roster would report on time. Hester has two years remaining on the four-year, $2.86 million deal he signed as a second-round pick in 2006. The team has been negotiating an extension with Hester¹s agent, Eugene Parker, before the dramatic turn of events today. Parker did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Redskins Take Intern Matt's Advice & Play Dodgeball

Sounds like the Redskins have taken my advice and have played dodgeball with the QBs. Word from the 'Skins blog is that they started this back in June during the OTAs and have broken the drill back out again this week.

Zorn, who has a reputation for "thinking outside the box" (hate that term but I'm kinda rushing here so I'm taking a lazy cop-out), brought out some huge silver exercise balls and started up a game of dodgeball. For real.

One quarterback held the ball in the pocket and the other quarterbacks chucked the balls at him from various directions. The QB holding the football - not the dodgeball - would have to slither and slide away from the big silver balls, simulating having to elude an oncoming defensive player ... without the obvious risk of injury.

"It 's (a drill) I've been doing to get the quarterbacks to be able to move without a real live guy (chasing them)," Zorn said. "It's been an effective drill to help improve the quarterback's feet and his lateral movement, and what's great with those big balls we use, if we were using smaller balls all they'd have to do is duck; here you really have to move your feet to get out of the way."

Dodgeball

Well, this week he broke them back out in force. Here is Colt Brennan and Jason Campbell playing a little dodgeball during practice on Tuesday.

Breaking it out

George Brett's Blow Up Birthday

Pac-10 Media Football Poll

Four-time defending Pac-10 champion USC is a unanimous selection to win the 2007 Pacific-10 Conference football title in a preseason poll of West Coast media members who regularly cover the league. It marks the fifth consecutive year the Trojans have been the choice to win the title. It is only the third time in 46 years of the poll that a team has been a unanimous pre-season pick to win the title, but all three times have been recent, as USC was also a unanimous pick to win in 2004 and 2005 as well as this year. The Trojans did not disappoint in those previous two years, winning outright Pac-10 crowns by going undefeated in league play as part of a Pac-10-record 34-game winning streak and playing in consecutive BCS National Championship Games. USC has won the last four Pac-10 titles and has two National Championships and a national runner-up finish in the last four years. The Trojans fashioned an 11-2 mark last season, capped by a 32-18 win against Michigan in the Rose Bowl. For the fourth consecutive year, CALIFORNIA has finished second in the poll behind the Trojans. The media poll has correctly selected the Conference Champion in 24 of 46 previous polls, including the last seven years in a row. Following are the results of the preseason media poll (points 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses):

1. USC (39) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  390
2. California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
3. UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
4. Arizona State . . . . . . . . . . . 242
5. Oregon State  . . . . . . . . . . . 237
6. Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
7. Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
8. Washington State . . . . . . . . . . . 115
9. Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  98
10. Stanford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47

Pac-10 Poll

Chicago Bear's Staff Flips Coin To Determine Starting QB

Rex Grossman has won the starting quarterback job -- for the first day of practice. There was a coin toss at a Wednesday morning quarterback meeting. Kyle Orton called it, but Grossman won it and will run with the first-team offense Wednesday.

Orton didn't seem too hurt about losing the flip with Grossman.

"We will get the same number of reps," he said.

A coin toss won't be used daily, offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. The quarterbacks will alternate from now until the end of camp as they battle for the starting job.

Should be interesting.

Coin Flip

Urine Test For HGH Created

A team of scientists from the USA and Italy say they have developed a urine test that detects human growth hormone. The finding is a potential breakthrough in efforts to find a non-invasive way to screen for the performance-enhancing drug that is banned throughout the athletic world.

Governing bodies and U.S. pro leagues have long sought a test that doesn't require blood to detect HGH, a synthetic hormone that aids in recovery and bolsters muscle growth. Even with the blood test, no prominent athlete has tested positive for HGH. Former track and field star Marion Jones and some baseball players, including New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, have admitted using it.

Virginia-based Ceres Nanosciences, partnered with George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and Italy's Istituto Superiore di Sanità, could have the test on the market within six months, company CEO Thomas Dunlap says. Ceres' intention was first reported by the Washington Business Journal.

Widespread adoption of the test probably would depend on lengthy scientific reviews by anti-doping authorities, leagues and players unions. World Anti-Doping Agency representatives had a conference call with Ceres officials last week, WADA spokesman Frederic Donze says.

USA Today

Top 10 List Dump

Thanks to Top Ten Chicago Sports for this Batman list that gives us the best 10 athletes who could be villains in the movies.

10. The Scarecrow = Bob Sanders

Like Dr. Jonathon Crane, the 5-7 Sanders isn’t physically imposing at first glance. But both Scarecrow and Sanders are masters of creating fear. Just ask any NFL receiver who try to go over the middle against the Colts.

9. Ichiro = Ra’s al Ghul

After hearing about Ichiro’s profanity laced All-Star Game pep talks, is there any doubt that he’d make a great superhero villain? People also seem to believe the impossible from Ra’s al Ghul, which is kind of similar to how everyone thinks Ichiro could hit a lot homers, you know, if he was into that sort of thing.

8. Poison Ivy = Madonna

Though she’s not technically an athlete, Madonna has been at the center of sports biggest story for the last month. Anyways, we’re pretty sure he could kick Mike Fontenot’s ass, so that’s got to count for something.

7. Catwoman = Camilo Villegas

The picture speaks for itself.

6. Mr. Freeze = Greg Norman

Get it, because Norman ‘freezes’ up in golf’s biggest moments? Come on, I thought it was creative. Plus, Norman’s wife, former tennis star Chris Evert, is old enough to soon be cryogenically frozen. The similarities are remarkable.

5. The Riddler = Ricky Williams

Much like Edward Nigma, you never know what you’re going to get from Williams. One day he was the NFL’s best tailback, the next he quit the league and forfeited millions so he was free to get cheesy.

4. Bane = Shawne Merriman

Both Bane and Merriman seem to possess other worldly strength, and neither did it naturally. Still, I personally have never seen Bane taken out by Maurice Jones Drew. Advantage: Bane.

3. The Joker = Milton Bradley

The Joker is all about anarchy, and I would imagine Milton Bradley shares the same values. Both Joker and Bradley seem to act on a whim, while destruction surrounds them. Just the way they like it.

2. Two Face = Carlos Boozer

Boozer seemed like a good guy at Duke and in Cleveland, just as Harvey Dent did as Gotham’s DA. But both took a turn for the worst. Say what you will about Dent, but at least he never screwed over a blind man.

1. The Penguin = John Daly

Both are fat slobs that moonlight as heroes of the underground. Both have bad vices: for Daly, it's Hooters and ciggarettes, for Penguin it's birds and umbrellas. Maybe the strangest coincidence? Both of these freaks are filthy rich.


SI's Top 5 Cat Fights They'd Like To See

1. Bobby Bowden vs. Joe Paterno: Might be like watching the tortoise versus the tortoise. I'd definitely order it on PPV.

2. Roger Clemens vs. Brian McNamee: I'm pretty sure I know how this would play out, but it might be entertaining to watch anyway.

3. Bill Parcells vs. Jason Taylor: The Tuna seems to style himself as a tough guy but armed with just a towel against Jason Taylor, I wonder if Parcells would stand down?

4. Ana Ivanovic vs. Ashley Harkleroad: For obvious reasons.

5. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: Maybe these two could duel with their headbands instead of towels.

Army Wont Let Grad Get NFL Shot

Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions who drafted him in this past April's draft due to policy.

Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.

But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy.

In a letter to Lions president Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."

Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010.

Liba said Campbell was allowed to enter the draft "in good faith."

No Go For Campbell

WNBA Gets First Brawl

In case you didn't catch the news last night there was a brawl between the LA Sparks and the Detroit Shock.

Here is the video of the actual fight:

Childress Spurns NBA Heads To Greece

Josh Chilress, a free agent for the Atlanta Hawks has agreed to a contract for the Greek club Olympiakos, reversing the course of the many international stars who have signed with the NBA.

Heading overseas allows Childress to make more money than he could have as a restricted free agent in the United States. The Hawks had the right to match an offer from another NBA team, but not from an international club.

Agent Jim Tanner said Wednesday the three-year deal was worth about $20 million after taxes. The money is guaranteed, and Childress can opt out of the contract after each year.

The deal is the most lucrative current contract in European basketball and the biggest in Euroleague history, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported the signing. It follows the decision by top prep prospect Brandon Jennings to sign with an Italian club team rather than play a season at Arizona.

The newspaper reported Monday the Hawks had a deal on the table worth nearly $36 million, with a first-year salary in excess of the midlevel exception of $5.6 million.

"I've talked to a few guys, and it could become a trend," Childress said on a conference call about other Americans following his lead. "I'm not so sure it won't. It's different. We thought out of the box a little on this one."

Steve Bartman Offered 25K For Autograph

SportsBuy.com and the National Sports Collectors Convention are offering $25,000 -- a briefcase with 250 $100 bills inside -- to infamous Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman if he attends the show and signs a single autograph.

Bartman, for those not cursed by Cubs history, is the fan who reached out for a foul ball during the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, a ball that could have been caught for an out by left fielder Moises Alou. Instead, the Cubs blew a 3-0 lead, lost the game and their chances at going to the World Series vanished with a Game 7 loss to the Florida Marlins.

To collect the cash, all Bartman has to do is show up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31, prove his identity and sign a photograph of the infamous play. It will then be auctioned on the Web site with the proceeds going to a Chicago-based charity, according to a news release for the event.

"No one in sports memorabilia history has ever been paid $25,000 to sign one autograph -- not Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or any other athlete,” said Mike Berkus, co-Executive Director of The National. "Steve Bartman has been a recluse for years, but we’re hopeful that he will accept our invitation and generous offer to appear ... We have personal security to provide to Steve at The National and to a destination of his choosing.”

Orlando Sentinel

Justin's Top 10 College Football Headaches

adfa

10. Oregon Duck Uniform Watch


9. Heisman Watch

8. East Coast Bias



7. West Coast Whiners


6. Notre Dame Talk


5. Ohio State


4. Pre-Season Rankings


3. Pre-Season All-Americans


2. Fox Sports Net



1. Mark May

Fighting On The Links

Nicholas Shampine, 33, of Puyallup has been charged with second-degree assault for hitting another golfer in the head with his 6-iron during an argument at Auburn Golf Course on July 13.

The victim, James Compton, 45, of Puyallup suffered a broken cheekbone, skull fracture and a subdural hematoma. He arrived in serious condition and is now in satisfactory condition and out of the intensive care unit.

It was in the middle of a sunny Sunday when the phone rang at the pro shop. The foursome of Compton; Jerry Jackola, 51; and Compton's stepsons, Shiloh Richter, 32, and Ramey Harguess, 32, called to complain about the slow-playing group in front of them. That foursome included Shampine; Shampine's dad, Jerry, 57; Shampine's brother, Greg, 34; and family friend John Harris, 43.

Because the course marshal was on the front nine, head pro Chris Morris asked John Coffey, who works behind the counter, to handle the complaint.

When he got to the 13th hole, Coffey asked Compton's group to be patient. He talked to Shampine's group, which volunteered to let Compton's group play through. But Coffey said it wouldn't help with several groups in front of them.

Nicholas Shampine saw the wrestling match and noticed that Harguess and Richter were on both sides of his brother.

"For me, it looked like I needed to go protect (him)," Nicholas Shampine said.

While struggling with Greg Shampine, Compton was facing Nicholas Shampine when he was hit on the left side of his head and face. The 6-iron was swung with such force that the shaft was bent, and Compton fell to the ground.

Fighting On the Links

Breaking News: Favre Uses Packers Phone

As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

StarTribune Blog

Packers Thinking Of Doing Un-Thinkable

The Packers have asked multiple teams what they would be willing to offer for their team icon and former NFL MVP, the NFL Network reported -- a state of affairs once unthinkable in Green Bay according to ESPN.Com's latest article.

While it is not known how many teams the Packers have contacted about Favre, they have not limited their inquiries to AFC teams, according to the report.

Favre retired in early March, but recently has been having second thoughts about playing in 2008. He has asked to be released from his contract, a request the team has no plans to grant. The team has said it is committed to Aaron Rodgers, Favre's former understudy, as its quarterback of the future.

The next step for Favre could be to petition NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement, a move that would force the Packers to release him or place him on their active roster. But last week, Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, said Favre has no plans to do so immediately.

Italian Mafia Try To Buy Pro Soccer Club

Italian police arrested seven people Tuesday in a crackdown on an organized crime group that allegedly tried to buy the Lazio soccer team with laundered money.

Three people were still at large in an investigation that targeted nine Italians and a Hungarian, police said. They tried to acquire the club through money coming from illicit activities of the Casalesi clan, a group of the Naples-based Camorra crime syndicate, police added.

Among those still being sought was former Italy and Cosmos star Giorgio Chinaglia, now living in the United States, police official Gianluca Campana said. Two years ago, authorities first ordered his arrest on charges of extortion and insider trading at Lazio, he added.

Chinaglia, who helped Lazio win its first Italian title in 1974 and later became the club's president, is accused of trying to influence the price of Lazio shares, prosecutors said in 2006.

He allegedly tried to oust current club president Claudio Lotito by falsely claiming therewas a Hungarian investment group interested in buying a controlling stake in the club.

Mafia Trys To Buy Team

Milka Duno vs Danica Patrick

This entire post has to have credit to the Orlando Sentinel Blogger Chris Olds

First, here is the video of the two ladies having a verbal fighting match:



Now here is Olds part:

	vs.
This 36-year-old Venezuelan driver made her IRL debut in 2007 and has no wins or poles, but a top finish of 20th.	One-line career summary	This 26-year-old Wisconsin-born driver made her IRL debut in 2005 and has one career win and three poles.
Previously drove in several racing leagues, including the Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans.	Pro sports resume	2005 IRL Rookie of the Year and three-time Most Popular Driver award winner.
Citgo and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Races for ...	Motorola and Andretti Green Racing
I own all of her 2007 Rittenhouse IRL cards. (I'll admit it.)	Cards in my collection?	I own all of her 2007 Rittenhouse IRL cards. (I'll admit it.)
53 items currently for sale	eBay stat	1,262 items currently for sale
Autographed 2008 Indy 500 program ($99.95 Buy It Now, $9 shipping)	eBay highlight	A Tissot T-touch limited edition watch ($769.99 Buy It Now, $15 shipping)
$3 (2007 Rittenhouse IRL No. 16)	Rookie card is worth?	$6 (2007 Rittenhouse IRL No. 1)
$40 (2007 Rittenhouse IRL Autographs, above)	Autographed RC is worth?	$400 (2007 Rittenhouse IRL Autographs, above)
$19, eBay, on July 17	Autographed rookie card last sold for	$150, eBay, on July 16
Low -- she doesn't have a towel.	Rookie card intimidation factor	Seriously low. Has she ever been photographed while smiling before?
Low. Easily confused with dairy products.	One-name wonder status	High. Danica is a household name.
No.	Sports Illustrated gigs?	Two covers and an appearance in the swimsuit issue.
Appearance in Speed Racer movie.	TV ties	Used to work for David Letterman.
Thankfully, no, but Madge may have seen Speed Racer. (OK, OK. She didn't -- she made Guy take Lourdes and Rocco to the UK premiere.)	Alleged Madonna ties?	Thankfully, no. (Although she did appear on Letterman ...)
Milk -- it does a body good.	Not to be confused with ...	Dan Patrick.
Swinging a vicious towel at IRL's golden child.	Altercation claim to fame?	Trying to start yet another pit-road rumble.
The towel.	Why she wins	She's Danica.

Chris Kaman Copying Becky Hammon; Plays For Germany

Wyoming native Chris Kaman, a former Central Michigan standout and current center for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, is headed to the Beijing Olympics in August after helping Germany clinch the last qualifying spot Sunday in Athens, Greene.

Kaman had 10 points and 12 rebounds in Germany's 96-82 win over Puerto Rico in the third-place game of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Kaman was granted German citizenship earlier this month thanks to his great grandparents.

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki lead Germany to its first Olympic berth since 1992 with 32 points. It will join the United States in Group B.

"I've only been here 12 days but Dirk has waited 12 years for this to happen," Kaman told The Agence France-Presse. "I can't even imagine the emotions that he must be feeling at this moment."

Kaman Plays For Germany

Carson Palmer Rips On Ohio State

Carson Palmer, the Bengals quarterback who was drafted out of USC, was not at all hesitant to let his true feelings show when an LA-based sports radio station (KLAC) asked about his loyalties in college football. The interview took place Thursday, July 17th, when Carson was in Los Angeles for Matt Leinart’s charity bowling event. Listen to his comments below.

Carson Palmer Hates The Buckeyes [1:04m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Carson On Buckeyes

Panthers Sign One Duck Draftee Waiting On Other

Geoff Schwartz who was drafted this past April in the NFL 2008 Draft has come to terms on his rookie contract with the Carolina Panthers today.

Schwartz started 36 of 41 games at offensive tackle for Oregon, where he opened holes for Stewart and helped the Ducks lead the Pac-10 in rushing.

The other Oregon Duck drafted by the Panthers, Jonathan Stewart, is still working out his contract and is one of two picks left not signed.

NFL Trades

Two semi large blockbuster NFL trades went through this weekend and early Monday morning. The Washington Redskins got Jason Taylor from Miami to replace their two injured D-Ends and the Saints were able to aquire Jeremy Shockey from the NFL Champs New York Giants.

According to ESPN.com's John Clayton, Taylor told the Redskins he did not need to renegotiate and was willing to play for the final two years of his contract. He is scheduled to make $8.1 million this season. With around $9 million of cap room, the Redskins were able to work the trade quickly.

The Dolphins had been waiting for an opportunity to trade Taylor, who asked to be moved to a playoff contender at the beginning of the offseason. Before the draft, the Dolphins were asking for a first-round draft choice. They lowered the demand later to a second-rounder.

Jason Taylor Trade Article

The Saints had been trying since February to acquire the disgruntled New York Giants tight end. First, they offered a second-round pick. Before the draft, they increased the offer to a second- and a fifth-round draft choice, but the Giants felt he was too valuable to lose until a few days before the start of their training camp.

As Payton and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis did their last few minutes of office work before heading to Jackson, Miss., for Wednesday's start of training camp, they received a call from the Giants saying that Shockey was theirs.

Shockey, 28, a four-time Pro Bowler, has 371 catches for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns during his six-year NFL career. He grew disgruntled with the Giants because he wanted to be more involved with some downfield passing. The Giants valued his run blocking.

Shockey Trade Article