Medaglia d'Oro sold posted by Jan Hoadley

The Thoroughbred Times is reporting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley USA has purchased leading 2nd crop sire Medaglia d'Oro, not only for his sire power in top 3 year old Rachel Alexandra but also some yearlings that caught their eye. Darley has an even more impressive lineup of young stallions!Continue reading "Medaglia d'Oro sold"

Steelers Game By Game Preview of the 2009-2010 Season 1/2 posted by Rob Preston

As OTA's and minicamps progress while training camp begin to roll over the horizon, America's favorite sport nears its regular season.  While nobody knows how well teams will do in a season with the randomness of injuries and several other factors, it's always interesting to look ahead at the schedule and prognosticate.  Unlike most people, I'm not going to give just a win or loss for each game, rather I'm going to predict how many times the Steelers would win if they played a team 10 times.  For instance if the Steelers were playing a very crappy team, I would say 9/10 or 10/10.  At the end i will add up the wins and divide by 10, giving us how many wins they will have this season.

Week 1 Titans at Steelers

A great season opener with two teams that have plenty of history as well as new found bad blood.  The Titans are coming off a very disappointing post-season last year after earning the best regular season record last year.  While the Titans should still be a good team, they are losing quite possibly the most dominating DT in the game, Albert Haynesworth.  Unfortunately when the Titans "stomped" the Steelers last season, Haynesworth didn't play either, so no real gain there.  The big question will be Kerry Collins, and I think his arm will just about fall off.  I'll give the Steelers 6/10.

Week 2 Steelers at Chicago

The 2009 Bears will be a team to watch in 2009 with the addition of Jay Cutler.  With his ability to throw the ball down the field, Devin Hester may finally be able to reach his potential as a burner at WR.  The Bears will also be returning their star RB, Matt Forte, who impressed last season with over 1,200 yards.  Their defense should be solid as always, but the major question will be chemistry with Cutler and the WR's.  By week 2, will they have enough time together to have their timing down?  Probably not.  I give the Steelers 8/10.

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NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. May Need a Vision Test posted by finfan74

First let me say I'm a huge Jr. fan, I loved watching his dad race, and I think he carries on that legacy flawlessly.  After Dale Earnhardt Sr. passed on to that big oval track in the sky, I wondered even doubted that his son could carry on the buccaneer like racing style his father perfected.  Since then, I've become a loyal follower, Dale Jr has without doubt proved to me and millions of other fans that he is all the man his father was and maybe even more.  But I have to wonder what is going on with missing the pit box.  It seems to be becoming a repetitive issue.  And I just wonder if maybe his vision is slipping a little.  Now, I'm not a stalker/fan so I really have no idea if he wears glasses or is color blind.  So if he does or is please feel free to correct me.  Now I know, its gotta be confusing pulling into the pits, with people racing in and out, but pitting should be second nature to a NASCAR driver.  He's just to good of a racer to make mistakes like that.  Who knows maybe he's got some outside distractions influencing him a bit.  Whatever the case may be, I have faith in his abilities and look forward to following what I'm sure will be a long and illustrious career, filled with action and his daring racing style that kindled my love for the sport long ago.  Good Luck at Talladega you Son of Gun.

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NFL Draft Day One: Bears Trade Down and Out & Other Notes posted by Joe Anello

So there is barely any news on the Chicago front. After waiting over five hours to make their only pick of the day at number 17 in the second round (49th overall), the Chicago Bears made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. The Bears sent their 2nd round selection to Seattle and received the Seahawks’ 3rd round (68th overall) and 4th round (105th) choices, both of which will be on Sunday.

This struck me as fairly odd. Georgia wide-out Mohamed Massaquoi and Missouri safety William Moore were still on the board at 49. Massaquoi was the last remaining receiver that would warrant a high selection and could have slid in at the number two spot in the Bears’ offense. Moore was Mel Kiper’s top-rated safety in the entire draft. Maybe Jerry Angelo didn’t think Moore had the instincts for the free safety spot, but Massaquoi was a target all along. Instead, the Bears trade out of the first day of the draft and will have an extremely busy Sunday with nine selections in the final four rounds.

Dallas also traded out of the first day, which means Jerry Angelo did something Jerry Jones-like. (Weird, I know.) It sparked comments from the analysts on ESPN and the NFL Network that scouts told them that this draft class wasn’t very strong or deep. If the Bears really didn’t feel any player they wanted was available, trading down is the right idea. Still, trading down from the middle of the second round when it is your first pick will always confuse me.

In related Bears news:

The Denver Broncos used the third round pick from Chicago (acquired in the Jay Cutler deal) in a package to move back into the second round to pick tight end Richard Quinn.  In the more puzzling move out of Denver, they sent their original first round selection in 2010 to Seattle so they could draft cornerback Alphonso Smith in the early second round (37th). They still have Chicago’s first rounder, which means Denver thinks they’ll finish ahead of the Bears in the standings, thus keeping the higher pick. (Could be an interesting topic of discussion, given the lackluster divisions each team occupies.) Denver’s day was odd. Giving up a first-rounder next year is risky, given 2010’s believed status as a better draft class.

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Matthew Stafford Will Exorcise "The Curse of Bobby Layne" & Chien-Ming Wang's Arm Will Be Fine. Johnny Damon's Mouth Had Better Be! posted by Colin Linneweber

 Matthew Stafford Will Exorcise "The Curse of Bobby Layne"

The 2009 NFL Draft will transpire this weekend at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and fans in Detroit are imploring the Lions organization to select former University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first pick to finally exorcise the “Curse of Bobby Layne."

 

Layne, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968, quarterbacked the pathetic Lions franchise during some of their rare glorious years in the 1950’s.

Layne, a five-time Pro-Bowl selection that Sports Illustrated named “The Toughest Quarterback Who Ever Lived,” helped lead the Lions to three league championships from 1950 to 1958 before their rudderless brass traded their brave signal-caller to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In response to being jettisoned from Motown, Layne, who was ranked number 52 on The Sporting News list of Football’s 100 Greatest Players, allegedly predicted that the Lions “would not win for 50 years.”

Curiously, Detroit has recorded one measly playoff victory since Layne’s proclamation and the Lions have accumulated the worst winning percentage of any team in the NFL during this ominous 50 year span.

On the 50th anniversary of Layne's curse, the 2008 Lions established a benchmark for futility by becoming the only team in NFL history to lose all 16 regular-season games and finish with a disgraceful mark of 0-16.

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Top 6 Worst Hairstyles in the NBA posted by kellex

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/02/top-6-worst-hairstyles-in-nba.h

I've had some extra time over the last week to really watch a ton of NBA and have enjoyed the hell out of it. As I watched, the more I noticed the ridiculous hairstyles of many of the players in the league. What are these guys thinking? When you have millions of dollars in the bank ( for now anyway), can't you hire a stylist or at least someone to give you some style tips on your hair and clothing?

With that said, it's time to give some of these hairstyles some credit and provide a list of the worst! Horrific corn rows, bad buzzes, weird mullets and balding messes all found their way onto our list. Let's go!


6. The 'Sideshow Bob'


Anderson Varajao just makes me cringe! We all know the guy makes horrible decisions like holding out on a contract this past year only to eventually screw himself out of millions. Well the bad decisions don't just stop there, and in fact they started long ago with the hairdo. Thank you for bringing back memories of our favorite Simpsons character.


5. The 'Corn Row Kings'

Continue reading "Top 6 Worst Hairstyles in the NBA"

Andy Pettitte, Snitch, Hero, Whistleblower, Phony posted by jason

yes,  pettitte had been described with all of the of the above adjectives.re "snitch":  there is no reason he had to dime his man clemens....all he had to say was what the you know what would i know about what clemens does behind close doors ( apparently the rocket lets guys take a needle and shoot up his wifes @$$ ) and how could anyone say otherwise.....he is no hero either as we listen to him tell us: he only took it twice, well why would i suddenly believe that he speaks only the truth.....and why was his father picking up steroids at a local gym in texas in 2004? please dont give me the he's a religious man jive either, when you are talking 10's of millions of dollars on the line as well as fame and international acclaim many a professional athlete has found a new religion, the cash register.Continue reading "Andy Pettitte, Snitch, Hero, Whistleblower, Phony"

NBA Cautions Fans About Counterfeit All-Star Merchandise posted by kellex

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/02/nba-cautions-fans-about-counter

As the NBA All-Star game approaches in New Orleans, the NBA is starting to prepare to deal with the millions of dollars to be made from counterfeit merchandise at th event. Since 1993 the NBA has seized over 9 million pieces of counterfeit merchandise valued at over $329 million.

Here are some tips for fans:

• Look for the hologram sticker or holographic hangtag and a sewn-in or screen printed neck label identifying the merchandise as "genuine" or "official," as authorized by the NBA


• Shop at NBA-authorized retail locations, such as the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans Arena, NBA Store on 52nd & 5th Avenue in New York City, NBAStore.com and official hotels – rather than buying items from street vendors, flea markets, or other questionable sources.


• Beware of ripped tags or irregular markings on apparel.

“The NBA insists upon the highest quality products, to protect both our authorized vendors and our fans,” said Ayala Deutsch, senior vice president & chief intellectual property counsel for the NBA. “Counterfeiting is a lose-lose situation, harming those retailers who play by the rules and cheating fans out of the lasting NBA mementos they deserve.”

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New Offensive Coordinator for the Lions posted by Tina Musial

Well, Detroit went out and hired a new Offensive Coordinator.  It seems like their genius lost his sense once he crossed the state line.  Or maybe it was when he entered Ford Field.  The Lions as a clubhouse seem to have that effect on people.

Look at Steve Mariucci.  He was one of the greatest coaches.  He took the 49ers to a Superbowl...and won!  He came to Detroit and he didn't look like the same man.  everything fell apart.  I'm telling ya, it's like a warp zone once the great and awesome coaches cross some invisible line.

And don't even get me on star players that fall below the mark.  Charles Rogers...nevermind.  I'll save that for a future article. 

Here's the down and low on Jim Colletto, the offensive line coach who was promoted to OC:

He has been coaching for 40 years (40!)

That's all I can say.  Let's see if he can step up to the plate and get the job done.

Continue reading "New Offensive Coordinator for the Lions"

Mr. Rogers' New Neighborhood? posted by Macklen Jackson

Today the news broke that the Detroit Lions are looking to move Shaun Rogers via trade or release and, while I do not understand or agree with their decision, the Jets must try to acquire the seventh year defensive tackle.

Just by looking at his 2007 stats, it’s easy to see him as an upgrade to the Jets’ current D-line. Rogers had 39 tackles, 7 sacks, and one interception (which was returned for a touchdown). The Jets’ starting front three accounted for a mere 10.5 sacks with their nose tackle, Dewayne Robertson garnering only 4 of them. Robertson also had 57 tackles to his name; even though that’s more than Rogers, Robertson benefited from the 3-4 scheme the Jets run, while Rogers was in a 4-3 and had to split tackles with three others on the front line.

Rogers was the leading sacker on his own D-line, and he could contribute astronomically to a Jets defense against which everyone likes to run the ball. Shaun Rogers would add such a dominant presence to their pass rush that teams would run the ball against them even more consistently than they already do. Now, on a third and three, opposing teams would normally spread three wideouts and go play-action. But if there’s a serious threat to the passer, more teams would check into a run and the Jets could stack the box with a safety. Kerry Rhodes is a good run defender, but seldom gets to exhibit his run stop talent because he is needed further back from the ball.

But, losing Robertson’s talents isn’t the only way to incorporate the likes of Shaun Rogers. The Jets should also consider switching to a 4-3. Their linebackers absolutely have the intelligence and agility to make the 4-3 work, but for whatever reason it has not been successful. Possibly because the team pass defense isn’t exceptional, so without constant pressure on the quarterback, they can’t lock up the receivers for more than five seconds or so. Putting an extra down lineman on the field would up the pressure on the quarterback just enough that they could survive with one less pass defender.

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Jags trade WR Northcutt to Lions for S Alexander

The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded receiver Dennis Northcutt to the Detroit Lions for safety Gerald Alexander.The deal was finalized Tuesday after both players passed physicals.Northcutt gives the Lions a veteran receiver opposite rising star Calvin Johnson.Alexander, a second-round pick in 2007, gives Jacksonville depth in the secondary. He started 16 games as a rookie, but missed most of last year following a neck injury. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NFL

Jaguars deal WR Northcutt to Lions (AP)

The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded receiver Dennis Northcutt to the Detroit Lions for safety Gerald Alexander. The deal was finalized Tuesday after both players passed physicals. Northcutt gives the Lions a veteran receiver opposite rising star Calvin Johnson. Alexander, a second-round pick in 2007, gives Jacksonville depth in the secondary. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Lions sign C Raiola to 4-year extension (AP)

[read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Source: Lions C Raiola banks $20M in new deal

In 2008, Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola was a member of the worst team in NFL history. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NFL