ariellejasso: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Americans Abroad: Maurice Edu Scores for Rangers

Filed under: European Soccer, International Soccer, English Premier League, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), U.S. Men's National Team

The U.S. national team's central midfield depth chart seems to get more and more crowded by the week.

Presumed starters Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley recently left less-than-enviable club situations for new homes in the English Premier League, with Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa (still to be finalized), respectively.

Stuart Holden has been starring at Bolton, Sacha Kljestan has been contributing at Anderlecht, and despite playing different positions for much of their careers, Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Bornstein are getting minutes in the middle for their clubs.

Then there's Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and José Torres, who went to the World Cup, and up-and-comers like Mikkel Diskerud and Dax McCarty.

Amid it all, Maurice Edu is doing his best to avoid getting lost in the shuffle.

Making his second start for Ranters since returning from a two-month injury layoff, Edu scored the opener in Saturday's 2-1 win over Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup semifinals.

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/31/americans-abroad-maurice-edu-scores-for-rangers/

Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough

Josh Beckett Struck by Baseball, Battling Mild Concussion Symptoms

Filed under: Red Sox, MLB Injuries

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett has mild concussion symptoms, according to the team, after he was hit in the back of the head on Monday during batting practice before Boston's exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at City of Palms Park.

Beckett walked from the field on his own, with trainers at his side. But after being examined by a doctor, he was sent home to rest. The Red Sox expect an update on Beckett Tuesday.

It is believed that he was hit by a ball batted by coaching staff assistant Ino Guerrero, who was hitting balls from the outfield back to a bucket near second base.

Beckett is coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled 6-6 season, in which he had a 5.78 ERA. Beckett, a 1999 first-round pick of the Florida Marlins, is 112-74 for his career, with four shutouts and nine complete games. This is his sixth season with the Red Sox.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/28/josh-beckett-struck-by-baseball-battling-mild-concussion-sympto/

Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello

Dodgers May Not Win World Series, but They're Shoo-Ins for 'The Smiley'

Filed under: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, NL East, NL West, Spring Training

GLENDALE Ariz. -- Every team in the National League West except the Dodgers owns a league pennant from the last 13 years, two claiming the World Series, most recently the Giants last fall. The Dodgers have gone nearly twice as long without a league flag. In that time, all four expansion teams from the 1990s cracked the World Series.

West Coast Bias doesn't want the Dodgers to feel lonely, so I'm creating a trophy -- The Smiley --- to honor them for putting smiles on the most faces.

Estimated cost of the trophy, something tinny and Dodger Blue, is $19.88 --- same year as the Dodgers' last World Series. The Smiley would be cheaper without engraving Bud Selig's name, but I'm guessing Aol will foot the bill, even after buying the Huffington Post for $315 million.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/28/dodgers-may-not-win-world-series-but-theyre-shoo-ins-for-the/

Sarah Mutch Sarah Polley Sarah Shahi

Dan Patrick Courts Disaster with Charlie Sheen as Guest

by Milton Kent

Filed under: Sports Media, Sports Business and Media

Hollywood, in its infinite wisdom, is remaking the classic '80's film, "Arthur," with Russell Brand in the role made famous by Dudley Moore as a playboy who careens through his life drunk.

Both film versions are presumably fiction, but you can certainly draw some interesting comparisons between the character of Arthur Bach and the life of actor Charlie Sheen. And, in the last three days, radio talk show host Dan Patrick has made a pretty good case for the idea that he could play the role of Hobson, Arthur's friend/confidante and butler.

Twice this week, Sheen has appeared on Patrick's show, which is simulcast on DirectTV and a number of FOX Sports Net affiliates. During the first appearance, arranged by Patrick to discuss Sheen's impromptu pep talk last week to the UCLA baseball team, Sheen came across as cavalierly endorsing casual drug and alcohol use.

On Wednesday, however, Sheen called in, presumably to reduce some of the heat he's been taking, both from Monday and in general from conduct that led CBS and Warner Bros., the network and studio that air "Two and a Half Men," the sitcom Sheen stars in, to shut the show down so as to let Sheen get his act together.

In an often rambling nine-minute conversation, an unrepentant Sheen sought to diffuse speculation that he and Chuck Lorre, the creator and executive producer of the show, were on the outs over his behavior. He said that the "real message" of his talk at UCLA, in which he advised the team to stay away from the crack and drink chocolate milk, was to "enjoy every moment."

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.com/2011/02/16/dan-patrick-courts-disaster-with-charlie-sheen-as-guest/

AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott

BYU Quarterback Jake Heaps Comes of Age After Tough Freshman Year

Filed under: Brigham Young

BYU starting quarterback Jake Heaps admits that when it comes to last season, there are parts that he'd rather forget -- the quarterback controversy, the 2-5 start, the first loss to Utah State since 1993.

But Heaps knows all of the experiences from his freshman year -- good and bad -- helped shape the quarterback that he ultimately became by the end of the season. The Cougars won five of their last seven games, including a 52-24 win in the New Mexico Bowl and Heaps proved, despite early doubts, that he could be the leader of BYU's football team.

"In my mind, I really don't remember the first half of the season. I almost kind of like to forget that it even happened," said Heaps, who played in every game for the Cougars his first season and started 10. "I think the hardest thing was at the beginning of the season, it wasn't just me, it was both me and (quarterback) Riley (Nelson) and there were two voices instead of just one. And that's always hard to do. It's almost kind of impossible, especially as a quarterback, to try and reach a team. There were times when it was really hard. After that loss to Utah State -- I was the first quarterback to lose to Utah State in I don't know how many years -- and that was a real low point.

"We really had a point on our team where we could have let the season fall and just accept the fact that we were a losing team or we were going to do something about it and make something out of the season and we ended up really coming together and being able to finish off a strong year."

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/27/byu-quarterback-jake-heaps-comes-of-age-after-tough-freshman-yea/

Tila Tequila Tina Fey Tricia Helfer

Mike Shanahan Addresses Albert Haynesworth, Donovan McNabb Drama

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, who spent much of 2010 in wars of wills with his richest players, quarterback Donovan McNabb and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, has still declined to reveal whether either is definitely finished in Washington although the former ended the season third-string and the latter on suspension.

In his first media session since his Redskins debut season ended with a 6-10 thud, Shanahan on Friday said that he and six-time Pro Bowl quarterback McNabb, for whom he gave up second- and fourth-round draft picks to acquire last April, haven't spoken in the seven-plus weeks since the end of Washington's season.

The coach finally talked with McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, on Wednesday for 90 minutes but wouldn't elaborate on their discussion other than to say the quarterback's future with the Redskins won't be decided until after this April's draft.

"I was able to address questions he had and I thought the conversation went well," Shanahan said. "I think over the next few weeks we'll get the chance to talk again, and then we'll make a decision right after the draft of the direction we'll go."

With only McNabb and the unproven John Beck under contract at quarterback -- although journeyman Rex Grossman who finished 2010 as the starter could well be back -- Shanahan is believed to be strongly considering choosing quarterbacks Cam Newton of Auburn or Blaine Gabbert of Missouri with the 10th overall selection.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/mike-shanahan-addresses-albert-haynesworth-donovan-mcnabb-drama/

Nicole Scherzinger Nicollette Sheridan Nikki Cox

MLS Commissioner Don Garber: Soccer's Steward Sits Down With FanHouse

Filed under: MLS, US Soccer

NEW YORK -- Wednesday was a good day to be at Major League Soccer headquarters.

The league unveiled its 2011 playoff format, which will include 10 clubs rather than eight for the first time. It was an eagerly awaited announcement that, like a lot of what's handed down from the midtown Manhattan office, generated plenty of conflicting opinions.

At the focal point of all those decisions and subsequent conversations is Don Garber (above, right), the 53-year-old New York City native now entering his 12th full season as MLS commissioner.

He came to soccer late in life, but one could argue that he's had more influence on the fate of the global game in its final frontier than any other American. And as MLS continues to grow, with 18 teams planning to play this year and a 19th coming aboard in 2012, there are no signs his influence is on the wane.

On Wednesday afternoon, after 22 months covering soccer for FanHouse, I had the opportunity to spend about an hour in Garber's office. We examined the day's big news (and a favorite subject of ours), of course, but also looked back to the failed 2022 World Cup bid and discussed David Beckham, branding, ESPN, the challenges of creating a soccer nation and how much power the commissioner really has, among other things.

Thanks to MLS Executive VP Dan Courtemanche and Director of Communications Will Kuhns for setting up the interview, and thanks to our readers for supporting FanHouse's soccer coverage over the past two years.

And now, the Q&A:

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/mls-commissioner-don-garber-american-soccers-steward-sits-down/

Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tiger Tees it Up in Dubai with Serviceman

Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, a nine handicap, found himself shanking balls from the rough and dropping shots into the water Wednesday in Dubai. The serviceman was nervous and rattled by his surroundings.

The reason? His playing partner was Tiger Woods.

Rowells beat 16,000 other golfers in a draw and was given the opportunity to play with Woods. Stationed in Afghanistan, Rowells had to scramble in order to get a passport and borrowed a set of golf clubs from Emirates Golf Club.

"I came in wanting to play decent and I really didn't," Rowells said. "But it didn't matter. The experience was so far beyond what my score would have been. The time with Tiger, and the time here at Emirates Golf Club, has just been tremendous regardless of how many balls I put in the water."

Though his overall game was lacking, Rowells was able to cozy up a few approach shots and drain some long par putts during the round, drawing some praise from one of the world's top golfers.

Woods is familiar with the military, as his father did a couple of tours in Vietnam, so the two spoke mainly about Rowells' service.

"He understands the services, and that is always a plus," Rowells said. "A lot of people don't quite understand what we do. I think he has decent respect for the military and that is always nice. We spoke a little about his dad, some of the places he had been, like Fort Bragg, where I'll be ending up in the next year and a half or so."

Overall, Rowells with smitten with the experience and left impressed by the golfer, who has been dealing with some trying circumstances over the past year.

"I played with a Tiger that struck the ball very well, was a complete gentleman, a class act, easygoing and put me at ease," he said. "One of the larger-than-life figures was very down to earth and very accommodating to somebody that came in to do this."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/tiger-tees-it-up-in-dubai-with-serviceman/

Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari

Bisping Denies Spitting on Cornerman, Rivera's Team Wants Suspension

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, News

In the immediate seconds following the conclusion of an emotionally charged fight between Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera, Bisping walked to the Octagon corner nearest to Rivera's team and spit. That much is clear. But the two sides disagree on what exactly he was aiming at, and whether he hit it.

Rivera's team says that the spit was directed -- and hit -- boxing coach Matt Phinney. Bisping denies it.

"No, not at all. I was spitting on the floor to let him know what I thought of him," Bisping told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani in a UFC 127 post-fight interview. "I apologized for that, and I never want to act like that."

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/27/bisping-denies-spitting-on-cornermen-riveras-team-wants-suspen/

Susan Ward Susie Castillo T.A.T.u.

Clay Matthews Led the NFL in Untouched Sacks

Filed under: Packers, NFL Analysis

Clay Matthews is one of the best pass rushers in the league, so you would think that no matter where he is, offenses would want to make sure that he's always accounted for by their pass protection scheme.

So it might surprise you to learn that Matthews led the league in unblocked sacks last year. There were four different sacks when Matthews was able to come through completely untouched to bring down the quarterback. Initially I believed that this was a credit to Dom Capers' scheme, which managed to confuse defenses enough to let the Packers' best pass rusher come free, but in checking back over my notes it's more of a credit to Matthews' ability to read a play on the fly.

Twice Matthews came on a delayed blitz where the offensive line did not account for him because it appeared he was not rushing. It's difficult to say if these were designed delayed blitzes or simply plays where Matthews was able to rush late because he was either asked to spy (one of the sacks was of Michael Vick) or because his assigned man in coverage stayed in to block.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/27/clay-matthews-led-the-nfl-in-untouched-sacks/

Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele Bündchen

Bulls Hang On to Cool Down Heat

Filed under: Bulls, Heat

CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose scored 26 points and Luol Deng added 20, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Miami Heat 93-89 on Thursday night in a wild showdown between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams.

In a game that could have playoff seeding implications, the Bulls used a big third quarter to turn a nine-point halftime deficit into a 71-67 advantage, then watched a nine-point lead in the fourth evaporate into a four-point hole before pulling it out.

Deng's 3-pointer with 16 seconds left broke an 89-all tie and sent Chicago to its 16th win in 21 games.

Dwyane Wade scored 34 points and LeBron James (shown in dejected mood in above photo) added 29 for Miami, which got outrebounded 53-39 while losing for only the second time in 13 games. Both losses have come against teams also vying for the East's top seed -- Boston beat them on Feb. 13, and the Bulls now own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Bulls beat Miami by three at the United Center last month, and this one was every bit as dramatic.

Rose and Deng led the charge in the third with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Chicago outscored Miami 27-14, and the Bulls continued to pour it on early in the fourth.

The crowd was really rocking when Ronnie Brewer nailed a jumper to make it 80-71 with 8:26 left, but the Heat weren't finished.

They answered by reeling off 13 straight points, with Mario Chalmers nailing a 3 and James hitting two free throws to put Miami ahead 84-80 with 4:52 remaining.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/bulls-hang-on-to-cool-down-heat/

Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten

MLS 2011 Jerseys Unveiled: 'Cleanliness' and Conformity Reign

Filed under: MLS, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Major League Soccer remains haunted by the ghosts of horrible uniforms past.

The men in the photo to the right, which includes World Cup veterans like Tab Ramos, John Harkes and Roy Wegerle, are wearing the clown costumes designed for the league's inaugural campaign in 1996.

The uniforms (except Harkes') looked like the result of a tragic Spin Art accident or the creations of overly eager, soccer ignorant marketers trying to be outrageous. It was totally xtreme.

They were inspired by branding profiles such as these:

Tampa Bay Mutiny: "The...logo system doesn't have any rebellious sailors. No three-masted galleons. No rolling oceans. Just little green winged cyber-mutants from the dark blue depths of space."

San Jose Clash: "The driving spirit of the San Jose Clash is the scorpion. Quick, lethal and mean ... With shapes and colors that reflect the diverse ethnic makeup and heritage of the Bay Area, the logo system is derived from the soil it represents."

Kansas City Wiz: "Breakaways, bicycle kicks and sprawling headers will be the magic potion of the soccer wizards of Kansas City."

Dallas Burn: "The ... logo system starts with the cowboy of the asphalt West: the loners, outsiders and rebels found on cycle jackets and gas tanks."

Only two logos unveiled that day -- the New England Revolution's and Columbus Crew's -- remain untouched. That's progress.

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/02/22/mls-2011-uniforms-unveiled-cleanliness-and-conformity-reign/

Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman

Houston Dynamo to Move East in MLS Realignment

Filed under: FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Major League Soccer's love of conferences will be tested in 2011 by a balanced 34-game schedule, which makes the separate standings pointless, and the addition of two clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

It addressed the second problem on Friday, announcing that the Houston Dynamo will shift to the Eastern Conference after five years in the West.

Each conference will have nine clubs, thanks to the arrival of the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The league's reasoning? Houston was the eastern-most club in the Western Conference. Done and dusted.

The move splits the Dynamo with in-state rival FC Dallas (mostly to the north, but slightly to the west), but it won't affect the number of times they'll play each other this season.

Houston's Eastern sojourn may be short. With Montreal entering the league in 2012, MLS will be forced to have one conference with 10 teams and another with nine. Houston easily could return next year, or wait until the 20th club (MLS is targeting New York City), joins the league. At that point, conferences will matter because the schedule will be unbalanced.

Either way, the Dynamo likely won't be spending too much time in the East, and they may not mind. Although the new conference offers shorter flights, it hasn't been as kind on the field. Houston has earned just 1.357 points per game against Eastern foes over the course of its five regular seasons, compared to 1.646 points per game vs. Western teams.

Follow Brian Straus on Twitter Follow FH Soccer on Twitter

The most recent existing team to switch conferences was Sporting Kansas City, which moved east in 2005.

The problem created by the balanced schedule, unfortunately, remains one that fans will have to live with in 2011. MLS has committed to determining its playoff participants based on conference standings, in part to avoid the embarrassment of seeing a Western team win the Eastern title for a third straight year.

That means the sixth place team in one conference might stay home this fall while the fifth place club in the other moves on, even if it boasts a better record playing the exact same schedule.

It's unfortunate, but it should be temporary. Unless MLS finds a way to add a 13th month to the calendar, it will return to an unbalanced schedule in 2012. At that point, conference standings will be meaningful once again.

Here's the new MLS alignment:


Eastern Conference	Western Conference
Chicago Fire	Chivas USA
Columbus Crew	Colorado Rapids
D.C. United	FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo	Los Angeles Galaxy
Sporting Kansas City	Portland Timbers
New England Revolution	Real Salt Lake
New York Red Bulls	San Jose Earthquakes
Philadelphia Union	Seattle Sounders
Toronto FC	Vancouver Whitecaps

Follow Brian Straus on Twitter Follow FH Soccer on Twitter

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/houston-dynamo-to-move-east-in-mls-realignment/

Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli Beyoncé

Clippers Trade Baron Davis to Cavaliers for Mo Williams, Jamario Moon

Filed under: Cavaliers, Clippers, NBA Rumors

The good times appear to be over for Baron Davis in Los Angeles.

As we approach Thursday's trade deadline, the hits just keep on coming. The latest deal has the Clippers sending Davis to the Cavaliers, along with an unprotected 2011 first round draft pick in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

Marc Spears first reported the deal, which was confirmed by FanHouse's Sam Amick.

From the Clippers' standpoint, anything they could do to get out from under the hefty contract of Davis would be a welcome form of relief, despite Davis' recently improved play alongside rookie sensation Blake Griffin. Davis is averaging almost 13 points and seven assists per game, but if you watch the Clips on a regular basis, you'll notice that his shot selection is largely still terrible, despite feeding Griffin for the occasionally ridiculous highlight that makes everything seem like it's working out in Los Angeles.

But it's not, because Davis is -- and now, was -- a liability for this young and developing Clippers team, plain and simple.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/report-clippers-trade-baron-davis-to-cavaliers-for-mo-williams/

Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés

Big Penalties for Broken Spoiler on Michael Waltrip's Winning Daytona Truck

Filed under: Elliott Sadler, Michael Waltrip, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Camping World Truck Series, SPEED TV, NASCAR

When MIchael Waltrip crossed the finish line a winner in the Camping World truck series race at Daytona International Speedway Friday night with only half a spoiler to retard his progress, you knew NASCAR wouldn't stand for that, at least to a degree.

Despite the broken spoiler (above), it was an emotional, stirring victory for Waltrip, coming as it did 10 years to the day of his first Daytona 500 victory in 2001 in the race that took the life of his car owner and friend, Dale Earnhardt.

In the announcing booth after the truck race, Michael's brother, Darrell, confidently predicted that the victory would stand, but NASCAR would fine the team for the broken piece.

Darrell Waltrip's prediction was spot on, as NASCAR levied hefty penalties for the spoiler, which "did not meet specifications in post-race inspection," the sanctioning body announced Wednesday.

"As a result, crew chief Doug Howe has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Owner Billy Ballew has been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points," NASCAR's statement said.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/big-penalties-for-broken-spoiler-on-michael-waltrips-winning-da/

Jordana Brewster Josie Maran Joss Stone

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview: PGA Party Continues

Filed under: PGA

The PGA Tour is enjoying a nice little run right now.

This week's Waste Management Phoenix Open could very well keep it going.

Two weeks ago the Bob Hope Classic produced a feel-good story: Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas, who first learned the game hitting rocks, brought a big smile and excitement. It was followed by last week's popular win by Bubba Watson, in an exciting dual with Phil Mickelson.

Now, it's time to party.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is loud, wacky and usually pretty interesting. The tournament traditionally draws the largest galleries in golf with a week-long attendance of some 500,000 attending what is called "a golf tournament wrapped in a social event."

Mickelson, No. 4, is the only player among the world's top 10 in the field, but other headliners will include Dustin Johnson, defending champ Hunter Mahan (pictured) and last week's Farmers Open winner Watson.

More: Waste Management Phoenix Open Tee Times

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/02/waste-management-phoenix-open-preview-pga-party-continues/

Norah Jones Noureen DeWulf Olivia Munn

Ronde Barber Receives $4 Million for Another Year With Bucs

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South

Ronde Barber will make $4 million in 2011, presumably his last season in the NFL when he will be 36 years old. The St. Petersburg Times said the deal is one year for the cornerback, who is almost assuredly going to the Hall of Fame.

It's not too much to pay an aging corner. Besides the fact he can still bump and run, Barber will get one more big paycheck because he will bring some veteran leadership to a defense still building. He will be on the corner opposite Aqib Talib.

It is a fair deal for both sides because the Bucs do not have a starting corner waiting in the wings and they need to use their first round draft pick on a pass rushing specialist. They needed Barber as much as he wanted to get another season in before retiring.

The Bucs could have chased a free agent, but Barber is a safer bet. He still plays beyond solid.

The Times reported that Barber's money is guaranteed as long as he is on the roster before the season starts. That means he would have to break down physically. The team is not going to push him aside in training camp with second thoughts, not this guy.

"He brings a lot of leadership to our football team, as you know, on and off the football field,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik told The Times. "He's really learned how to train his body so he can play a long time. I think that's the most amazing thing about Ronde is that he can play out there on an island at his age and play at such as high level the way he did last year again.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/ronde-barber-receives-4-million-for-one-more-year-with-bucs/

Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff

Ronde Barber Receives $4 Million for Another Year With Bucs

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/ronde-barber-receives-4-million-for-one-more-year-with-bucs/

Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo

Report: Bud Selig Vetoes Proposed $200M FOX Loan to Frank McCourt, Dodgers

Filed under: Dodgers, Sports Business and Media

Bud Selig vetoed a proposed loan of about $200 million from FOX to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Selig made the decision several weeks ago, according to the Times, denying McCourt a much-needed source of financing as he continues to struggle through a messy divorce and attempts to maintain control of the storied franchise.

McCourt planned to use the Dodgers' cable television rights as collateral for the loan, proposing to extend the team's contract with FOX for as many as four more years if he was unable to repay the money.

McCourt already has received an advance on television rights fees owed to the team by FOX, the Times has reported.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/bud-selig-vetoes-proposed-200m-fox-loan-to-frank-mccourt-dodge/

Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton

Brian Ebersole Looks Back on Long, Strange Journey to UFC

by Ariel Helwani

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Videos, Sports Business and Media

SYDNEY -- MMA Fighting spoke to newcomer Brian Ebersole at the UFC 127 open workouts about his long road to the UFC, what took him so long to fight for the organization, fighting Chris Lytle on short notice and much more.

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/21/brian-ebersole-looks-back-on-long-strange-journey-to-ufc/

Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci

Daytona 500: Driver Breakdown

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona Int'l Speedway

(AP) -- A look at drivers competing in the 2011 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:

No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

BORN: Oct. 10, 1974

HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, N.C.

CREW CHIEF: Steve Letarte

SPONSOR: Mountain Dew/AMP Energy/National Guard

NOTES: NASCAR's most popular driver won the Daytona 500 pole, then wrecked in practice on Wednesday. Now, he'll start Sunday's race at the back of the field. Earnhardt was a non-factor on the track for the fourth consecutive year in 2010. Earnhardt finished 21st in points. With teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon also struggling, owner Rick Hendrick shook up most of the four-car team. Will another new crew chief and a shop change be enough to overhaul Junior's fortunes?

No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

DRIVER: Jeff Gordon

BORN: Aug. 4, 1971

HOMETOWN: Pittsboro, Ind.

CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson

SPONSOR: Drive To End Hunger/DuPont

NOTES: After a winless season, Gordon was one of three drivers shuffled at Hendrick Motorsports. He moved out of the 24/48 shop into the building now known as the 5/24 shop. The four-time series champion is paired with crew chief Gustafson.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/20/dayton-500-driver-breakdown/

Tara Conner Tara Reed Tara Reid

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Remembers His Father in His Own Way

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona Int'l Speedway, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The white No. 3 decals are no bigger than a fist and sit just above and behind the driver's side window of all the Richard Childress Racing team's Chevrolets. Crew members wore black baseball caps with the same No. 3 logo and driver Tony Stewart strolled through the Daytona International Speedway garage Friday afternoon clutching one of the prized caps himself.

Friday marked exactly 10 years since the driver of the Richard Childress Racing No. 3, seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, was killed in Turn 4 of this track after crashing on the last lap of the Daytona 500. The speedway will remember the NASCAR icon with a moment of silence and fans will hold up three fingers on the third lap of Sunday's Daytona 500.

But for such an overwhelming event, it has been a subdued, subtle and suiting anniversary.

For the past week, Earnhardt's competitors, teammates and friends have shared emotional stories about that fateful Sunday afternoon. But the one person you won't see participate in any contrived memorial this weekend is Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr. No hat, no decal. None necessary.

"I'd personally rather just watch it and stand on the sidelines,'' Earnhardt said of the various tributes and memorials planned for the weekend.

"It's more fun for me hearing how other people reflect, hearing other people's stories. I know how I feel in my heart and I don't feel a real need to discuss that a lot.

"I want to do what's right and honor him, but I don't need to do it in front of a bunch of people. I feel like he carries his own weight and he doesn't need me being a part of the celebration or whatever you want to call it. I don't want to take away from it in any way.''

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/18/dale-earnhardt-jr-remembers-his-father-in-his-own-way/

Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys

Five-Step Drop: Schlichter Charged

Filed under: Notre Dame, Tennessee

FanHouse's college football staff provides you with a personal quarterback. We do the primary and secondary reads for you so you can properly start your day.

1. There's a sad update in the Art Schlichter story we told you about last week. The former Ohio State quarterback was charged Monday with stealing more than $1 million from a Columbus-area woman. Schlichter's attorney expects federal charges are also forthcoming. The charges relate to Schlichter's alleged involvement in a ticket-brokering scheme. The Columbus Dispatch has a closer look at the scheme and Schlichter's role in it. The woman he is accused of stealing from is the widow of an executive for the Wendy's hamburger chain. She says her decision to help Schlichter "has cost me nearly everything."

2. As the Horns Turn: Jerry Gray returned to his alma mater, Texas, about a month ago to become Mack Brown's defensive backs coach. That position came open when longtime Horns assistant Duane Akina left to become Mike Stoops' defensive coordinator at Arizona. Gray has now left Texas, without even coaching spring practice, to become Mike Munchak's defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. The Horns have already replaced Gray ... with Duane Akina. Never has the phrase "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" been more appropriate.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/02/15/five-step-drop-schlichter-charged/

Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller

Friday, February 25, 2011

Fans Will Blame Players for NFL Lockout

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Sports Business and Media

As the NFL's lockout calendar draws increasingly near, negotiations between the Players Association and the owners is already becoming too complicated for the average fan to follow.

Yesterday, brought news that the owners filed a complaint with the NLRB claiming that the Players Association was engaging in unfair bargaining practices. As part of that complaint, the NFL cited the player union's threat to decertify in the event the owners lock out the players.

The decertification by the NFLPA would mean the NFL would be in danger of antitrust charges because Collective Bargaining Agreements countenance some forms of antitrust activity, the antitrust exemption, so long as that antitrust activity is bargained for by two parties acting in good faith. Remove that exemption and the NFL could face serious issues when 32 teams are acting in concert with one another.

Is your head spinning from that information?

I know it is.

And things are only going to get more complicated from here. That means that fans, who just want the damn games played, are going to tune out the day-to-day babble surrounding the negotiations.
The Other Side

We expect players to act like inmates. The owners of the asylum are supposed to take the high road, only they seem to have lost the map.
-- David Whitley on why the owners are at fault in the NFL labor dispute
Those details will be significant to a tiny minority of the overall fan base. And the information, misinformation, accusations and counter-accusations are going to be flying so fast and furious from both sides that you'll need a law degree and 20 years of labor relations practice under your belt, to actually be able to parse the significant information. Nope, instead of enmeshing themselves in the details the fans are going to blame someone if come September there are no games.

And I'll tell you who eventually is going to end up being blamed for the impasse by the vast majority of fans -- the players.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/15/fans-will-blame-players-for-nfl-lockout/

Olivia Wilde Padma Lakshmi Paige Butcher

Playoff and TV Uncertainty Overshadow MLS Schedule Announcement

Filed under: MLS

mls schedule major league soccer schedule

There will be an MLS schedule on Thursday, finally. But don't expect all the confusion to be cleared up, and don't expect the pressure on the league to decrease.

The list of dates and opponents MLS unveils will leave a host of unanswered questions about the upcoming season, as well as the more distant future. And of course, it will be subject to change.

The regular season begins in five weeks (the Los Angeles Galaxy will visit the Seattle Sounders on March 15, and the rest of the clubs will kick off four days later), and the fact that clubs and fans still don't have a full fixture list to work with has been a source of frustration and embarrassment.

That discontent reached the league's Fifth Avenue headquarters.

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/playoff-and-tv-uncertainty-overshadow-mls-schedule-announcement/

Kate Moss Kate Walsh Katharine McPhee

PGA Set to Host Another Pebble Beach Party for AT&T Pro-Am

Filed under: PGA

Yep, the PGA Tour is playing again this week. It's the Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-Am.

That means Pebble Beach. Cool. Great tournament. There is the celebrity/amateur thingy that was once very, very hip when Bing Crosby was the host, but now too many people wonder "who the hell is Bing Crosby?" and Bill Murray, George Lopez and Andy Garcia are the celebrity headliners.

Play will be slow and the weather most-likely lousy, but there may be no greater piece of real estate in golf than Pebble Beach.

Remember, they did play the U.S. Open there last year.

Graeme McDowell won it, but Dustin Johnson came close. That's significant because Johnson did win the two Pebble Beach Pro-Am stops before that. So, despite the fact Johnson in June shot a final-round 82 to fall out of the hunt, he led after three rounds and also has been the winner at the previous two PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach by one shot over David Duval and J.B. Holmes last year and four in front of Mike Weir in 2009.

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/pga-set-to-host-another-pebble-beach-party-for-atandt-pro-am/

Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell Kristin Cavallari

Harry Gant, Hal Needham Live Chat Replay With FanHouse

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- FanHouse senior motorsports writer Holly Cain had another exclusive FanHouse live chat from Daytona International Speedway Saturday, this time with NASCAR legend Harry Gant (above) and stuntman and director Hal Needham.

Needham directed the classic "Smokey and the Bandit" starring Burt Reynolds, and Gant won 18 victories during 22 years of driving in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series from 1973 through 1994. Many of his wins came driving the Skoal Bandit, named after the movie.

Needham, famous in Hollywood for his stunt work before he took up directing, has authored a book on his life, "Stuntman!" that was published Feb. 9.

Below is a replay of the chat.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/19/harry-gant-hal-needham-chat-live-with-fanhouse-at-11-a-m-satur/

Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks

On Legends Night, Carmelo Anthony Starts to Build His Knicks Legacy

Filed under: Bucks, Knicks

Carmelo Anthony - Amar'e Stoudemire - Chauncey Billups

NEW YORK -- With the trade becoming official Tuesday and all physicals passed in the nick of time on Wednesday, it was a complete coincidence that the New York Knicks introduced Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups on the team's third annual legends night.

But if sometime during the 15th or 20th or 32nd annual legends night they introduce Anthony and/or Billups along with Amar'e Stoudemire as the definitive players of this decade, that would be more than acceptable with the Knicks and their fans.

As a matter of fact, that's what those fans believe they deserve. This is New York City and it is not without its great -- and at times, unreasonable -- expectations. With Stoudemire, Anthony and Billups -- two All-Stars and and a Finals MVP in the fold -- the demands have grown larger. The Knicks now have what fans have wanted for a better part of a decade: a team full of stars that has at least a plausible chance of contending for a title.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/on-legends-night-carmelo-anthony-starts-to-sculpt-his-knicks-le/

Penélope Cruz Pink Piper Perabo

Panthers Eyeing 8-10 Players, Including Cam Newton, for No. 1 Pick

Filed under: Panthers, NFL Draft

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says the team is considering Cam Newton, among others, for the No. 1 overall pick.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ron Rivera may be a defensive guy with a defensive background and may well see the NFL world through defense-colored glasses. But that doesn't mean that the Carolina Panthers' new head coach won't want a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in this year's draft.

"You look around the league, and teams that have guys that can attack you vertically are the ones that are very tough," Rivera said at a news conference Thursday morning at the NFL scouting combine. "We've got to find a situation like that, whether that guy's on our roster and we can develop him, or whether we have to find him in the draft."

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/panthers-eyeing-8-10-players-including-cam-newton-for-no-1-pi/

Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez

LeBron Admits Concern Over Current State of NBA Collective Bargaining

by Chris Tomasson

Filed under: Heat, Nuggets, USA Basketball, Sports Business and Media, NBA CBA

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James, the two-time defending MVP and the NBA's most recognizable player, is taking a more active role than he previously has during collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

And he's somewhat worried.

"It does. It does,'' the Miami Heat star said Saturday when asked if it concerns him that NBA owners haven't changed their proposal at all in one year since the one that was immediately rejected during last February's All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

Still, James is trying to stay as optimistic as he can even though NBA commissioner David Stern said there's a "huge gap'' between the players and owners. With the CBA expiring June 30 and many believing there then will be a lockout, James was among a number of NBA stars to take part in a Friday negotiating session in Beverly Hills, Calif., and was said to have been a very active participant.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/20/lebron-james-admits-concern-over-current-state-of-nba-collective/

Monica Potter Monika Kramlik Moon Bloodgood