ESPN Should Be UFC’s First Choice by Kelsey Philpott

So back in September on the opening night of the college football season LeGarrette Blount did something really dumb…we get it. We’ve seen the replay of it a thousand times.
Other things have happened this season that were as atrocious, and didn’t get anywhere near the attention that Blount’s punch did.

The poor guy has suffered enough, but the media has refused to let it go. While Oregon has improbably rebounded from that opening loss to now being in the driver’s seat for winning the conference and going to their first Rose Bowl game since 1994, all the media cares about is talking more about the Oregon player that threw a punch after a game two months ago.

It’s been such an obsession with the sports media that Blount should probably seek a restraining order against ESPN, as it has reached stalker level. Every article has to mention Blount, every video analysis of the team somehow squeezes in a Blount mention.

Nevermind the fact that he hasn’t played a single down for the team sine the incident, they just won’t let it go.
At games almost half the signs opposing fans make mention Blount. Every news story about Oregon mentions Blount. Every ‘expert’ mentions the incident back in September.

So when it was announced that Blount was being reinstated to the team for the 11/14/2009 game vs. Arizona State, ESPN immediately jumped on board. A game that everybody knew would be a big blowout and not of much interest was suddenly selected to be broadcast nationally on ESPN as a night game. Mere coincidence? Not a chance, base don their coverage.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy when my Ducks get broadcast nationally, but when its done simply for he-said/she-said slanderous soap opera BS stuff, that pisses me off. ESPN didn’t care about the game, all they wanted to do was milk their exploitation of LeGarrette Blount a little bit more than they already had for the previous two months.

It was obvious this was ESPN’s angle when the first words of the broadcast were “He’s back, LeGarrette Blount.” They said ‘LeGarrette Blount’ twelve times during the broadcast before the game even began.

Nevermind the fact that Blount was the 5th string RB on the team, ESPN dedicated a camera at the broadcast solely to follow around LeGarrette Blount wherever he went, whatever he did. It wasn’t a broadcast of the ASU @ Oregon game, it was a broadcast of ‘let’s further exploit and vilify this kid who made one dumb mistake months ago, set to the backdrop of a football game.’

ESPN disgusts me in general in the way they’ve turned into nothing more than sports-related soap opera gossip, but this game broadcast went over the line…

So I made a video about it, exposing just how ridiculous and wrong ESPN was to calculate their game broadcast in this manner. ESPN should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for the way they handled this, and maybe…just maybe, somebody will see this video I made and recognize for a second how effed up it was for them to handle their broadcast in this manner.

ESPN, screw you for vilifying a kid that didn’t deserve it. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Count with me the number of ‘Blount’ references they make during the broadcast…

LeGarrette Blount’s final stats for the game:
0 carries
0 yards
0 minutes played
40 mentions of his name during the broadcast

40????
40????
Are you kidding me ESPN? You felt the need to mention the 5th string running back 40 times?
You are pathetic ESPN, go back and remember what you were like once upon a time, when you actually cared about sports and broadcasting them…Because you’ve forgotten how to properly do that long ago.

There are always two sides of an event, no matter how ugly the situation is. The top sports story in the past week was not hyping the World Baseball Classic. It was not the NBA All-Star festivities. It was the fall of Alex Rodriguez, as he admitted to the world he cheated on America’s pastime as a Texas Ranger. Yet, how far did he fall? How much of his reputation has been damaged? Plus, how does this affect the sport and the administrators of the game?

It all started with a leaked report last Sunday. Sports Illustrated reporter Selena Roberts found information on 104 players that took steroids. Rodriguez was on that list and was the only name released to the press. According to her source, Rodriguez took testosterone and primobolan. Primobolan improves strength and maintains lean muscle with minimal bulk development and has few side effects. Rodriguez was looking bad in every possible way. Yet, he decided to tell his story as soon as possible.

Rodriguez was interviewed by ESPN senior reporter Peter Gammons. Some criticized the interview for being a glorified A-Rod show, but this was not the case. Gammons calmly interviewed Rodriguez while coming at him hardball style. Rodriguez answered every question truthfully about his use. He also appeared to hold his emotions in check. Rodriguez told Gammons and the world that he took steroids during his time as a Ranger. He said he did not take steroids as a Yankee or prior to Texas (including Seattle). Rodriguez apologized as he called himself “stupid, naïve.” ESPN and Gammons even showed the interview from 60 Minutes with Katie Couric, where he told her that he did not take steroids. Rodriguez told Gammons, “How can I be honest with her if I wasn’t honest with myself?” The interview seemed to be an immediate victory for Rodriguez.

The day after the interview was when all hell broke loose. Rodriguez criticized Selena Roberts and attacked her, saying that he had proof that she followed him everywhere including the University of Miami and his penthouse. Roberts released a statement saying that these allegations are false. The Miami police also said that they had no record of any incidents involving Roberts and Rodriguez. Rodriguez’s apology was not going to be trusted, but a little luck might ease the pain.

Roberts has a book on Rodriguez that will reveal more information on him and him alone. The book was supposed to be released in stores May 19^th. Yet, HarperCollins (the publisher of the book) bumped up the release date to April 19^th. A representative claimed that the information had to be released as soon as possible. Yet, this does not make Roberts well. The last time a book came out with steroid information cost two reporters to be incarcerated (see Game of Shadows). It also might not make Roberts a credible source for the truth. The scrutiny may not be that bad, but maybe that’s the reason why the other names have not been shown.

Rodriguez has endured the press well after the interview. He has not talked about steroid use, only in his quest for redemption. He seems to be doing well. Rodriguez still wants to do good for the future of this sport. His college alum, the University of Miami, still named their baseball field after him. Rodriguez gave a nice speech about owning up to mistakes, as he knows that he must rebuild his trust with the fans and the world of baseball. He also apologized to Roberts for the accusations against her during the ESPN interview. This is a good start to repairing his image.

In yesterday’s New York Times: Week in Review section, Bill Marsh’s article The Voice Was Lying. The Face May Have Told the Truth revealed a psychologist’s study on Rodriguez’s interview on 60 Minutes. Dr. Paul Ekman has specialized in the meanings of facial expressions and body movements, whether a person has lied or not. He found at least three movements. The first one is the gestural slip, where it is a slight raise of a shoulder that slips out of a full gesture. The second one is called “unilateral” contempt, which is the raising and tightening of the corner of the lip that can indicate arrogance or superiority. The third one is called “microfear,” which is a horizontal stretching of the lips that is used to conceal fearfulness. This brings up an intriguing question: Who knew that Rodriguez lied when the interview just came out?

Now, what have we learned? It turns out that you can’t trust anyone without proof. It also turns out that the people that release certain information aren’t necessarily heroes. It’s also interesting how one act from the past can turn you into public enemy number one. Who can you side with? Do you side with Rodriguez and try to forgive him? Do you side with Roberts and want even more information about his troubles? In my experiences when dealing with lies and deceit, I have learned the best side is to look at it from a “grey” perspective.

It appears that this is only the beginning of this saga. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets burned for this. Rodriguez and Roberts will probably fight over the course of this season. If we pick a side, then we must accept the bad with the good. If you side with Rodriguez, then you must defend him for his lies as well as the truth. If you side with Roberts, then you must defend her for her book and her reasons to attack Rodriguez. If you cannot do any of these things, then look at it from all sides. Nobody is perfect, so pick at your own risk.

Well, that’s it for today. If you disagree, don’t be shy. E-mail me back right here, and I’ll respond. Until then, stay cool you KNUCKLEHEADS!!!

Yours truly,

Sebastian Maldonado

Copyright © 2007 by Sebastian Maldonado

.thefun-esttoystoreever.com/catalog/images

In Afghanistan and At Home, We’re Being Driven Off a Cliff

Ron Smith – Nov. 27, 2009 Baltimore Sun

Football fans have been quite taken by a recurring segment on ESPN’s “NFL Countdown Show” called “C’mon man.” Inspired by former wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, botched plays from NFL action are highlighted, with the players involved being targeted for the “C’mon man” admonition.

It’s funny stuff. But when President Barack Obama, after weeks of indecision, prepares to tell the nation in a prime time address that tens of thousands of more troops are going to be sent into the endless war in Afghanistan, it’s not so funny. It’s depressing. It’s revealing. It’s a decidedly serious “C’mon man” moment.

Perhaps as soon as Tuesday, the president will explain best he can why tens of thousands of additional American soldiers and Marines are needed to pursue a war soon to pass Vietnam as the longest in our history. Some of our war fighters will be in their fourth or fifth tour of duty in combat zones. The cost of the war there could top a trillion dollars over the next 10 years, yet virtually all the generals and admirals and think tank armchair warriors have concluded that a military solution isn’t possible.

President Obama says this is a war we must win. Retired Army Col. Andrew J. Bacevich, a professor of international relations and history at Boston University, who has written widely on military power and its limitations, says it’s a war we cannot win…

Consider the following “hypothetical:”

-how much incentive is there for reporters to investigate “fishy” incidents involving celebrity athletes if the networks they work for are subsidized by companies who sponsor the athletes they cover?

Said differently,

-if company “X” is paying “X” athlete “X” dollars to use their products and that same company pays “X” network “X” advertising dollars, how motivated will that network be to uncover “inconvenient truths” about “X” athlete?

Say what you will about public figures and private lives. There is a price to be paid. And silly questions from an accidental observer.

ESPN tiene este video en su pagina

Listening to the hilarious recounts/speculation surrounding today’s news that Tiger Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree at 2:30 am this morning, I was reminded of a funny exchange between Abbott and Costello. The one where Bud Abbott is trying to teach Lou Costello how to drive a car. In the skit, Lou (who’s getting more and more frustrated, ala “Who’s on First?”) keeps asking Bud if he should “put it in reverse?” And Bud keeps replying, “Go ahead. GO AHEAD!”

Some of the news announcers I watched discussing the Woods’ incident, seemed to be holding back laughter as they reported on the circumstances (“Tiger Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and then a tree at 2:30 am this morning. His wife used a golf club to break a window to help free him from the vehicle. He suffered minor injuries…..”

Imagine the yarn being spun right about now.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Or can you?

Galera, tenho que confessar: ando insuportavelmente insuportável!

Senhor, eu ando com um mau humor desgraçado! Não sei se é o fim do ano, as incertezas em relação à vida (rsrsrsrs) ou sei lá o quê. Só sei que ando mau humorada! Deve ser a brusca queda dos hormônios TSH, FH, estrógeno e progesterona também… kkkkkkk!

A semana já começou pessimamente mal quando por acidente, eu, ao invés de formatar meu pen-drive, formatei meu iPod!!!!!!! Eu quase me chutei nessa hora. Se meus pés alcançassem minha bunda, com certeza teria feito isso. MANO de DEUS que ódio! Se tivesse uma arma, também teria me dado um tiro! rsrsrssrsrs Não sei nem qual era minha vontade nesse momento… passar novamente mais de 2000 músicas, caçar capinhas, organizar em álbuns… um verdadeiro teste de paciência, considerando que a minha anda extremamente curta esses dias!

Segunda-feira, fui para a faculdade e tive que passar a semana inteira lá, coisa que não fazia desde de dezembro do ano passado, então imagine meu humor em relação à isso. Cheguei lá às 10:30 e começamos a fazer trabalho, que aliás, não rendeu, então fizemos uma carioquinha (tínhamos que apresentá-lo às 15hs). Apresentamos para a professora da disciplina por causa do diretor arcaico da nossa escola. Então, imaginem fazer um relatório sobre uma aula que a gente não deu… imaginou? Pois é, lixo!

Passada a segunda, veio a terça.

Fora 11 aulas, 10 horas (das 7hs às 17:20hs), 8 salas diferentes, mais de 320 alunos diferentes, 351472259502 de gritos ou pessoas falando ao mesmo tempo, 12 cadeiras chutadas, 5 brigas, 20 minutos de almoço e 2 professoras completamente desinteressadas no ensino.

Animador, não!?

Eu só sei que eu vi um quadro completamente desestimulante. Eu sabia que dar aulas no estado não seria fácil, mas pelamordedeus, aquilo é o caos na Terra. Por que os alunos gritam tanto?! Mas o que mais me desagradou foi saber que Ciências/Biologia é obrigação e não há uma forma de torná-la mais interessante a ponto de ser relevante aos alunos porque eles estão lá por obrigação. Eu ouvi dos próprios alunos algo como: “estudar para quê? Você não vai ser nada na vida mesmo” *bege*.

Voltei arrassada, cansada, triste e provavelmente mais surda. O lado bom do estágio? Como a professoras não davam aula, aproveitei e li 11 capítulos de Lua Nova, ou seja, vou conseguir ver o filme depois de ler o livro. Impolgou? Não. Mas descobri que sou do Team Jacob! Pro inferno, Edward! rsrsrsrsrs *brincadeira*

Ah, sim, a única coisa boa do dia foi ir comer lanche com minhas amyghas! Mas perdi Esquadrão da Moda de novo!

Quarta… foi o PEOR dia. Por quê!? Não tinha absolutamente NADA para eu fazer além de estudar para prova de parasitologia. Eu fiquei completamente entediada naquele apartamento que é o verdadeiro inferno na Terra (moramos no último andar e bate sol em todos os lados do apartamente + teto = inferno). Estudei? Não! Vi Sessão da Tarde (um filme tosquíssimo com Ashton Kutcher, aliás, o difícil é filme bom com ele).

Ontem, foi a prova. Não estava difícil, puro decoreba, como 90% das coisas na Biologia (e sim, para mim, grande parteda Biologia é decoreba). Fui tentar fazer a droga da ficha catalográfica para o TCC, mas naquela biblioteca de me***, tudo tem que ser com hora marcada (e o povo NUNCA está trabalhando efetivamente). Ódio! Voltei para casa, descansei um pouco, fui para o alemão, voltei, estudei coisa de 30 minutos e fui dar aula no cursinho.

A aula foi OK (tinha uns 20 alunos), foi sobre sistema endócrino. Mas eu fiquei tão, tão triste quando tive que me despedir de um dos alunos que não virá mais. Ele vai prestar as provas no Sul agora, então só vai voltar quando o cursinho acabar. Semana que vem é minha última aula. Eu vou sentir falta desse pessoal! A gente se apega, né? Não sei nem como vai ser na semana que vem…

Na quinta à noite, eu estava um verdadeiro bagaço.

Arrumei algumas de minhas coisas para trazer de volta – entregaremos o apartamente no sábado que vem. Tinha tanto lixo, separei também um material para doar para os bixos. Ficou pouca coisa, mas tem os móveis, né? rsrsrsrs Quero ver descer com tudo aquilo (são três andares)! Sábado que vem vai ser punk, muito punk!

Hoje, cheguei em casa de mau humor (para variar). Fui assitir o Tim All Star pela ESPN e, claro, decepção. À me*** aquela transmissão. Já tinha reparado nisso no jogo da semana passada, mas não achei que eles tivessem a cara de pau de cortar lances do Jogo das Estrelas (que escolha de nome)! Achei que Lasko tiraria meu mau humor, como de fato tirou, mas acontece que o sinal da Sky é uma me*** (como tudo nessa semana) e bateu vento, fica fora do ar. SIM, ela saiu do ar no 3º set e só voltou no finzinho do 4º! Raiva mor! E eu estava gravando!

Eu também babaria, bambina!

Se liga na menina fixada no Lasko, rsrsrsrsrs! Não concordo com mocinhas no meio de um bando de marmanjos, ainda mais assim “dunayedi” e considerando que é um momento para o técnico, a comissão e o time, mas se eu fosse a garota, também desfrutaria do momento e não tiraria os olhos do Lasko ou do Cernic, bem à frente dela. SOR-TU-DA!

E comentarista da ESPN que eu desconheço o nome (não é o Maurício Jau): não culpe o belo e maravilhoso  (hunf, tietes…, rsrsrsrsrs) Lasko por todo um time ruim! Se Lasko riu na hora em que não alcançou a bola foi porque ela era inalcançável, o que eu considero altamente normal se acontecesse com qualquer outro jogador em qualquer outro momento do jogo. Queria que ele fosse um X-men e ultrapassasse o poste?! Lasko fez o que pôde e fez um maravilhoso 1º set! No 2º, o rendimento dele não foi o único a cair (obviamente como resultado de TODO um time ruim)… Sintini como levantador!? Por favor…

Ai, galera, desculpe o desabafo e post longo, mas é que essa semana foi o cão (que botou pra nóis bebê, kkkkkk)! Espero que o mau humor passe no final de semana! Quero um cinema!!!

Update: Woods was released from the hospital.  A statement from Woods’ camp says the accident was “minor.”

Glad to hear Tiger is OK!

via ESPN.com: Woods injured in crash near home

This is not good!  I actually watch a fair amount of golf for someone who doesn’t play and can’t hit a golf ball straight to save his life.  Watching Tiger when he’s in contention for a win is definitely one of my favorite past times.  Hopes and prayers go out to Tiger and his family!

By Jonathan Adler

What exactly has the NFL been feeding us? (Photo: Baltimore Sun Sports Blog)

Is the NFL taking its Thanksgiving fans for granted? It seems that year after year, the Thanksgiving Day schedule features lousy matchups and even lousier outcomes. This year, America was treated to three supremely boring football games. Detroit was beaten into submission by the Packers, Dallas hammered Oakland, and the only stirring moment in the Broncos win over the Giants was when Josh McDaniels’s f-bomb was caught by NFL Network mics.

Is it our imagination, or are we watching inferior football games on Thanksgiving? Looking at the numbers, it’s not a turkey-induced error in memory, it’s the truth: In the past five seasons, Thanksgiving Day games have been significantly less competitive than other regular season games. If we compare the average margin of victory in a regular season game to that of a Thanksgiving Day game, the difference is remarkable.

Avg. Margin of Victory 05-09: 11.96 points (1196 games, excludes Thanksgiving games)

Avg. Margin of Victory on Thanksgiving 05-09: 20.42 points (14 games)

In the past five seasons, we’ve sat through significantly worse football games on Thanksgiving. We’re seeing games that are two scores apart from the average regular season matchup. Not surprisingly, we’ve got the Lions’ futility to thank for our viewership woes. In the past five seasons, they’ve lost all of five of their games on Thanksgiving by an average of 21.4 points.

The NFL tried to offer a competitive game this year, with the Broncos v. Giants matchup. But somebody forgot to tell Eli Manning and the Giants offense not to eat a huge Thanksgiving dinner before the game.

If these games get any worse, I might have to spend time with my family.

Tiger Woods was seriously injured early Friday when he hit a fire hydrant and a tree near his Florida home, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the PGA star hit the fire hydrant and tree as he pulled out of his driveway in his 2009 Cadillac sport utility vehicle. — Source article

A happy Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods‘ bad week just got way worse. According to a breaking report on ESPN.com, Woods was rushed to hospital in Orlando early this morning with serious injuries after a car accident near his house. Not too much at this point in the way of specifics, but definitely more to come as it develops.

*UPDATE*: According to a new article, Woods has been released from hospital after suffering facial lacerations.

UPDATE 2: Were injuries caused by Tiger’s jealous wife?

UPDATE: Injured Tiger Looks to be Out of the Woods.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a car accident early this morning.

No confirmation of any specific details that I have seen yet except for brief updates by CNN and ESPN. I saw on RotoWorld.com that Tiger Woods agent told CNBC that Woods was fine. We’ll have to keep watching and hope that Tiger is OK.

If anyone does hear or find any links to more information, please feel free to leave in the comment section.

From the Associated Press:

Authorities say Tiger Woods has been seriously injured in a car wreck in Florida.

The Florida Highway Patrol says the PGA star hit a fire hydrant and a tree as he pulled out of his driveway early Friday in his 2009 Cadillac sport utility vehicle.

Woods was taken to Health Central Hospital. His condition was not immediately known, though the news release said his injuries were serious.

The highway patrol says the crash is still under investigation, and charges are pending. However, the highway patrol said the crash was not alcohol-related.

From CNN:

Golfer Tiger Woods has been taken to a Florida hospital after suffering serious injuries in a car wreck early Friday, officials said.

The one-car accident occurred about 2:25 a.m. near his home in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, according to an incident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Woods, 33, had just pulled out of his driveway and begun to drive down the street when his Cadillac SUV struck a fire hydrant, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The front of his vehicle then struck a tree. He has been transported to Health Central Hospital, the statement said.

From USA Today:

Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a car accident early this morning, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Woods pulled out of his driveway in the Isleworth community about 2:25 a.m. ET when he struck a fire hydrant, and then drove into a tree at his neighbor’s property, the FHP reported, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Woods was transported to Health Central Hospital in Ocoee in serious condition, FHP told the newspaper. However, a hospital employee said at 2:30 p.m. ET that Woods was not a patient. A hospital operator would not say if Woods had been treated and released.

From the Miami Herald:

Famous pro golfer Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a car crash early Friday outside his Orlando home, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

The single-car crash occurred early Friday when Woods, 33, apparently slammed his Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree at his neighbor’s property, the newspaper said quoting Florida Highway Patrol officials.

The crash occurred as Woods pulled out of his home in his Escalade in the Isleworth community at about 2:25 a.m.

So (expletive) what.

And why is ESPN breathlessly reporting on this non-story?

From the link:

The NFL Network accidentally aired a vulgarity yelled by Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels as he chastised his players on the sideline of their Thanksgiving night game against the New York Giants.

Coming out of a commercial break following a series of false starts near the goal line that resulted in Denver settling for a field goal, the NFL Network showed a clip of McDaniels, who yelled at his players: “All we’re trying to do is win a (expletive) game!”

Os Test Matches de novembro entramem sua reta final, o que significa, jogos emocionantes, onde as seleções buscam a última chance de melhorar a sua posição no ranking da IRB.

No Brasil, teremos jogos pelo interior e no litoral de São Paulo, Bahia, Pernambuco e no Paraná. Confira os jogos do fim de semana e programe-se!

Sabe de algum outro jogo que não está lista aqui? Informe o Blog do Rugby pelo email blogdorugby@gmail.com ou comente este post!

Se alguém tiver dicas de links de jogos pela internet, comente o post, informando o link

Sexta Feira - 27/11/09

Amistoso – Seven

19h30 Recife RC X Aliança RC 

Local: Praia da Boa Viagem

Sábado – 28/11/09

Torneio Estadual de Sevens da Bahia

Local: Salvador

Armada Sevens

Local: Santos

12h00 – Itália X Samoa

Na internet: acompanhe pelo Twitter do Blog do Rugby

12h30 – Irlanda X África do Sul

Na TV: O’Malleys

Na internet: acompanhe pelo Twitter do Blog do Rugby

12h30 – Escócia X Argentina (ao vivo)

Na internet: acompanhe pelo Twitter do Blog do Rugby

15h15 – País de Gales X Austrália

Na TV: O’Malleys

Na internet: acompanhe pelo Twitter do Blog do Rugby

Amistoso – Union

17h00 – Curitiba RC X Blumenau

Local: Paraná Esporte (Curitiba)

17h45 – França X Nova Zelândia

Na TV: TV5 (canal 108 na SKY)

Na internet: acompanhe pelo Twitter do Blog do Rugby (a confirmar)

19h00 – Escócia X Argentina (VT)

Na TV: ESPN

Campeonato Paulista do Interior (Caipirão) – Taça Ouro

ESALQ X Raça Rugby Ribeirão

Local: Piracicaba

Domingo – 29/11/09

Presidente Prudente X Wally’s Jundiaí

Local: Presidente Prudente

On this Friday that most likely nobody is at work besides me, here’s some great reading material that will keep you busy and hopefully pass the time by.  Great post by Jason Sobel of ESPN on 99 Reasons to be thankful.  There are some really great ones in there.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4643832&name=sobel_jason

The AP is reporting that the legendary professional Basketball player Allen Iverson is set to announce his retirement from the N.B.A. Iverson , a former Most Valuable Player for the N.B.A. has been in the league since the 1996 season, in which he was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Iverson

He played with the Sixers for 10 years. During his tenure he was Rookie of the Year, League MVP, 2x All-Star MVP, and led the league in scoring for four years. After his rookie season, during which he led the 76ers in points, assists and minutes, Iverson was named the 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year and was a member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The 10-time All-Star played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.

The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson last week after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time away from younger players they are trying to develop.

With no apparent interest from any other NBA teams, Allen Iverson is set to retire.

Iverson will always be credited for popularizing the streetball style move called the cross-over, and for his exciting tricky aggressive driving style of play.

He was never the tallest on the floor, just the most dangerous player that always wanted the ball.

Allen Iverson is a sho-in for the Hall of Fame, and I suspect that he can still run with the best of them, given a team that can design their plays to allow Iverson to shoot at will.

I personally enjoyed the years I got to watch him compete in the NBA, and I look forward to seeing what he does in the future.

Thanks for the 100 percent effort Allen Iverson…you were worth watching and you will be missed.

Read the full story here…

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hPZfEWbAiIKgjsNDLhC1jiVSsJZAD9C78M580

Who wouldn't love a guy that gets a standing ovation?

Alex Gonzalez is coming back to Toronto. Okay, okay not that Alex Gonzalez. A day after signing Johnny Mac to a two-year, $3 million deal, ESPN.com is reporting the Jays have also agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the other Alex Gonzalez, who hit .238 with eight homers in 112 games with Cincinnati and Boston last year.

Like his namesake, Gonzalez is also a shortstop, so his signing all but ends the Marco Scutaro era in Toronto, which, as I implied yesterday, is fine by me. Don’t get me wrong — Scutaro is cool and all, but at age 34 and coming off a career-year, he’s due to get waaaay overpaid. I’ll gladly let someone else do that.

Gonzalez will be 33 on Opening Day, having kicked around the majors since breaking in with Florida in 1998. He hit 23 homers in 2003 and added a walk-off in the World Series, which the Marlins won that year, and hit 16 and .272 as recently as 2007 before missing all of the following year with a broken kneecap. Since leaving Florida in 2006, he’s had a pair of stints in Boston and spent two seasons in Cincinnati.

Also of note (and kind of sadly), Gonzalez has a three-year-old son in Miami that’s been in a coma for two years. That really, really sucks. Anyway, all the best to the new man in town, both on and especially off the field.

Até me arrepiou esta reportagem realizada pela ESPN Classic.

Não consigo colocar aqui o video embutido, mas deixo o link para todos aqueles que sentem o que é Ser Benfiquista!

http://www.malhanga.com/_videos/ser.benfiquista/