College Football, Div. I-A Quiz: Rushing…easy one…1) Who holds the single season record for yards per game at 238.9? 2) Who holds the record for rushing yards in one game at 406? [Currently in the NFL] 3) Most consecutive games gaining 100 yards or more at 31? [Hint: 1970s…not Tony Dorsett] Answers below.
Kevin Baxter has a piece in the Los Angeles Times on the threat posed to baseball’s integrity by the Dominican Republic, which on one hand supplies MLB with one in 10 players, but on the other is steroid central. Says Charles Farrell, a former Washington Post journalist and co-founder of the Dominican Republic Sports and Education Academy, “Baseball in the Dominican Republic is in jeopardy. Just from the integrity issue. There’s no simple solution.”
Cheating of all kinds is rampant. MLB and the FBI are investigating on three major fronts.
“Drugs. Over the least season and a half, 59% (81 of 137) of the minor league players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs were from the Dominican, home to a quarter of all minor leaguers.
“Document fraud. In a bid to pass themselves off as younger, and thus better, prospects use fake birth certificates or other falsified documents even though hundreds of players have already been caught lying about their identity or age – the Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal and the Angel’s Ervin Santana among them.
“Skimming and kickbacks. MLB and FBI investigators since 2008 have found that employees from several MLB teams working in the U.S. and Latin America were involved in skimming tens of thousands of dollars from contract bonuses intended for Dominican and Venezuelan players.”
Some say the biggest problem is with identification. The head of Dominican operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, Eddy Toledo, said, “You can control a little bit of the drug stuff…But the identification? They need to make an effort to stop that.”
Yet the bonus money only gets bigger. Even the Oakland A’s handed out a $4.25 million bonus to a 16-year-old Dominican pitcher, Michael Ynoa, who spent the summer on the disabled list with a sore arm.
It’s been quite a year for Ms. Fox, who hosts the premiere of Saturday Night Live’s new season this Saturday. As Chris Lee of the Los Angeles Times notes, Megan has become the first bona fide sex symbol of the 21st century; others such as Paris Hilton and Bar Refaeli having careers “too inextricably connected to selling products – reality TV shows, lingerie, a ‘famous for being famous’ myth.” And:
“What we have come to know so far: that she carried on a lesbian love affair with a Russian stripper at age 18; that Fox was once ‘obsessed’ with porn star Jenna Jameson; that Fox struggles with the idea she has a ‘mild form of schizophrenia,’ fearing she’ll wind up like her idol Marilyn Monroe (whose face is tattooed on Fox’s right inner forearm); and that Fox ‘was always ubersexual.’….
“With her mane of black hair, taut physique, eight tattoos, and bedroom eyes, she projects an unapologetic sultriness whether she’s wearing a bikini in GQ or bending over a ’76 Camaro in a tiny blouse in her breakthrough role in 2007’s ‘Transformers.’”
But Fox’s stardom is in danger as she crosses the line with some of her comments, like in her remark that on-gain-off-again boyfriend Brian Austin Green needed to stop talking about her because she was going to kill him. “I’m going to stab you with something.”
Others, though, say that these days, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Here’s another from Megan:
“Actors are the worst assholes to hang out with…they’re either narcissistic douche bags or raging alcoholics.”
And in an interview with Rolling Stone’s Erik Hedegaard, we learn Fox “sleeps naked, with two pillows cushioning her head, another pillow pinned between her legs and a fourth pillow clutched to her torso. ‘I like to feel like I’m in a cocoon. I cocoon myself.’” Also, Fox “can’t touch anyone while sleeping.”
Fox says she was taunted as a youth and called “slut” and “whore,” for reasons she doesn’t understand since she didn’t lose her virginity until she was 17.
But wait…there’s more! Fox told RS, “If you have a vagina and an attitude (in Hollywood), then that’s a lethal combination.”
And, “(If) a conversation with a guy is going somewhere I don’t like, you can manipulate it and build a dynamic that causes that person to fear you sexually. You do it with men by making them feel small, and men usually feel small when they’re attracted to someone…. Men are scared of vaginas. And then when you give them a powerful, confident vagina, they’re terrified.”
Fox also said she could never have sex with someone she doesn’t love. “The idea makes me sick. I’ve never even come close to having a one-night stand.”
Oh, and that stripper story…that Fox had a hot affair with “Nikita”? Never happened. She made it up.
But now that “Jennifer’s Body” is bombing at the box office, it would seem, has Fox already peaked? I’ll say yes.
–Granted, only a handful of you may care about the sport of Formula One auto racing, but a scandal threatened its very existence as Renault announced it would not contest allegations it authorized one of its drivers to cause a crash in last September’s Singapore Grand Prix in order to help another Renault driver leap from a mid-field position to an upset victory. Two directors responsible for setting up the crash left the team as they awaited a hearing.
Some have compared this to the 1919 Black Sox scandal in the World Series and there had been zero allegations of race fixing in Formula One for over 70 years, though there have been instances such as the McLaren-Mercedes team’s stealing of Ferrari’s technical documents, for which McLaren was fined $100 million two years ago.
The whole issue with Renault came about when Nelson Piquet Jr., one of the two drivers, and his father, Nelson Sr., the latter a three-time world champion in the 1980s, spilled the beans on the 2008 Singapore race. Nelson Jr. had been underperforming and was in danger of losing his ride for 2009.
“The Piquets said that the younger Piquet was told at a Singapore meeting with (the two directors) that they wanted him to crash at a narrow spot on the track shortly after an unusually early refueling stop by Alonso. The plan, the Piquets said, was for debris from the crash to slow the field behind the safety car, allowing (teammate) Fernando Alonso to seize the lead as the early front-runners made their own refueling stops.
“Piquet crashed on the 14th lap of the race, after Alonso’s refueling stop on the 12th lap, bringing out the safety car. Alonso went on to win.” [John F. Burns / New York Times]
Alonso, himself a two-time Formula One champion, evidently was not aware of the plans.
But in the end, the sport’s governing body, F.I.A., confirmed Renault’s guilt but stopped short of suspending the team because Formula One desperately needs all the teams it can get these days, the sport being incredibly expensive to compete in. [Renault’s cost for its two cars are estimated to be in the range of $160 million.] Flavio Briatore, one of the two team bosses implicated, was handed a lifetime ban from the sport. The other was handed a five-year ban.
–The LPGA Tour lost another sponsor, Anheuser-Busch, which after seven years is pulling out of its tourney at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va. [Prior to this, the PGA Tour held an event here for 22 years.] The company said it would continue to work with the tour but wanted to spread out its sponsorships over a wider range of events.
So this means the LPGA has lost seven sponsors since 2007, when the LPGA had 34 events on its schedule. This year it had 27 and lost all three in Hawaii. For 2010, only 20 events are currently slated, though more could be added.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had lost 21 of 24 thru Tuesday. Yikes.
The Mets, who have lost 12 of 15, have just 88 home runs. Next on the major league list is San Francisco with 111. The Mets are on pace to hit under 100 for the first time since 1992 and only the second team in baseball since 1994 to do so. First baseman Daniel Murphy leads the club with 11. By contrast the Yankees have seven players with 22 or more.
Arizona’s Mark Reynolds has 43 homers and 100 RBI, but on Tuesday he set another major league record for strikeouts with 206, surpassing his record of 204 for last year. Reynolds says, “So what?”
Baltimore’s Brian Roberts has 55 doubles and a shot at 60. Only six others in major league history have attained that mark. [Earl Webb’s 67 (1931) is the record.]
Back to the Mets, the Times’ Ben Shpigel notes that should you so desire you can purchase game-used items such as an autographed ball from Josh Thole’s major league debut ($125), or a lineup card signed by Daniel Murphy ($200).
“Among the items not for sale: Murphy’s grass-stained pants from his outfield tumble April 21 in St. Louis, the ball dropped by Luis Castillo with two outs in the ninth inning of the Mets’ June 12 loss at Yankee Stadium and the third-base bag Ryan Church stepped over in Los Angeles on May 18 (one of his helmets, however, was available for $100).”
David Norman of Woodbury, N.Y., looking at used bases that were available, said, “I don’t know why any people would want bases from 2009.” You got that right. Most of us just desperately want the season to end, not that I’m exactly looking forward to 2010, either.
–Interesting tidbit in Wall Street Journal by Darren Everson on which conference is best in college football. Including bowl games, following are the won-loss records for the six major conferences when playing against each other, through Saturday.
–You’ve got to love Jets coach Rex Ryan…at least us Jets fans do. The other day he was informed that the San Francisco 49ers had filed tampering charges against the Jets; the 49ers having failed to sign their first draft pick, receiver Michael Crabtree – the 10th pick overall in the recent draft.
So Ryan, in disputing the charges, said “I think it’s ridiculous, personally. I wish we were playing them.” You tell ‘em, Rex.
–Just a pitiful scene on Tuesday as Plaxico Burress headed off to serve two years in prison. He could get released in June 2011 with time off for good behavior, which would make him 34 at the start of the 2011 NFL season (he was born Aug. 1977) so it’s possible he gets one more shot. His case, though, has certainly sent a clear message to today’s pro athletes to think twice when going out. Best to leave the gun at home. Then again, the Cavaliers’ Delonte West had no problem packing three weapons on his person the other day in Maryland. So strike my last comment. Many of these guys are just total idiots.
–So the issue of the name Washington Redskins is being taken to the U.S. Supreme Court as a group of Native Americans say that due to its offensiveness, it is not subject to any commercial protection under U.S. law. Personally, I really don’t give a damn any more, except I do hope Chief Wahoo of Cleveland survives this final purge.
–At first, South African officials blasted the media and track and field’s global governing body for questioning the sex of Caster Semenya, who recently set a world record in the women’s 800 meters at the world championships in Berlin.
But now the country is outraged that the president of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Leonard Chuene, admitted he had repeatedly lied that he had no knowledge of tests carried out on Ms. Semenya.
Semenya won her medal on Aug. 19, but it turns out tests were conducted on Aug. 7 in Pretoria that revealed Semenya had internal testes and was producing abnormal amounts of testosterone for a woman. She thus should not have run in the world championships. The rules are clear.
But right after the event, Chuene and other ASA officials characterized the media speculation as racist. “Who are white people to question the make-up of an African girl? I say this is racism, pure and simple,” said Chuene.
The cover-up was revealed when a South African newspaper published leaked e-mails showing officials were aware of the Pretoria test and the chief medical officer for the athletics federation recommended she be withdrawn, but then proposed keeping the tests confidential. Chuene finally realized the game was up and admitted his treachery.
Semenya, of course, is a victim. Leonard Chuene and others, however, are the ultimate dirtballs in exploiting her.
—Bode Miller will announce on Thursday that he is rejoining the U.S. ski team in an attempt to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Miller is now 32 and won two silver medals at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, but then failed to pick up a single medal in 2006, despite being the gold-medal favorite in several events.
—1969 Mets, continued…we’re almost finished, sports fans. As we pick up our story, the Mets are 91-58 and suddenly five up on the Cubs. But they stumble at home against the Pirates.
Sept. 19…game one of another doubleheader. Mets lose to the Pirates, 8-2, as Bob Veale (13-12) bests Nolan Ryan (6-3).
Sept. 19…Mets lose nightcap, 8-0, as Luke Walker (3-6) goes all the way for the Bucs. Jim McAndrew (6-7) gets hit hard.
Sept. 20…Mets lose their third in a row and are no-hit in the process! Bob Moose (12-3) throws the no-no, walking 3 and striking out 6. Gary Gentry (11-12) takes the loss.
Sept. 21…Mets win first of another doubleheader against the Pirates, 5-3, as Jerry Koosman (16-9) goes all the way. Dock Ellis (10-17) is the loser. Art Shamsky hits his 14th homer for New York.
Sept. 21…Mets win nightcap, 6-1, as Don Cardwell (8-9) goes all the way. The loser is Steve Blass (15-10).
Sept. 22…Mets home to the Cardinals and win, 3-1, as Tom Seaver (24-7) throws another complete game. Nelson Briles (15-13) takes the loss.
Sept. 23…Mets beat the Cards, 3-2, in 11 innings. Tug McGraw (9-3) goes 4 scoreless in relief of starter Jim McAndrew. Bob Gibson (18-13) goes 10 1/3 as the Mets win in the bottom of the 11th.
Sept. 24…Before 54,928 at Shea Stadium, the Mets clinch the pennant, 6-0, behind Gary Gentry’s complete game shutout. Donn Clendenon hits two home runs (Nos. 14 and 15) and drives in 4, while Ed Charles hits his 3rd homer. Steve Carlton (17-11) is lit up and fails to get out of the first.
Phil Pepe / New York Daily News
“At precisely 9:06 p.m. last night, the Mets stopped being a joke. At precisely 9:06 last night, the Mets stopped being the symbol of frustration, ineptness and futility; stopped being the subject of ridicule….
“Confetti streamed down on the field, firecrackers were set off and, within moments, fans swarmed on the field like locusts and Met players were trapped in a mass of jubilant humanity.
“They chanted ‘we’re No. 1’ and, in their joy they clutched at everything in sight, Mets’ caps, bases, even dirt from the pitcher’s mound as they released the emotion that has been pent up since the Mets were officially formed seven years, seven months and seven days ago.”
Sept. 26…Mets travel to Philadelphia and defeat the Phils, 5-0, as Jerry Koosman (17-9) goes all the way. Woodie Fryman (12-15) takes the loss, while Clendenon clouts No. 16.
Sept. 27…Mets win 1-0 as Tom Seaver (25-7) bests the Phils’ Grant Jackson (14-17). The Mets have six complete games in their last seven contests.
[That day, the Mets extended Manager Gil Hodges’ contract three years. Gil received a $10,000 raise to $70,000. Imagine what he’d make today.]
Sept. 28…Mets defeat the Phils, 2-0, the team’s fourth straight shutout, as Gary Gentry (13-12) gets the win with help from Ron Taylor who records his 13th save. Jerry Johnson (6-13) takes the loss.
Mets are now 99-61 with two meaningless games remaining before the playoffs. I’ll wrap it up Oct. 8.
“U.S. scientists for the first time captured a giant squid – larger than a New York City taxi – in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
“The squid measuring almost 20 feet in length and weighing more than 100 pounds was caught July 30 by a trawl, pulled behind a research vessel, more than 1,500 feet deep, the agency said in a statement.
“While another giant squid was found floating dead in the Gulf in 1954, this is the first time one has been captured during scientific research in the area, NOAA said.
“ ‘As the trawl net rose out of the water, I could see that we had something big in there,’ Anthony Martinez.” I’ll say. Not sure on why there was a nearly two-month delay in issuing a statement, but the squid was preserved and sent to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
–Wow…you see that a cougar has been sighted on the campus of Microsoft out there in Redmond, Washington? According to the Wall Street Journal, “Microsoft’s security department has advised employees to be careful in the wooded areas.” Steve Ballmer seems like the type that would want to wrestle it…potentially with tragic results. In other words, I wouldn’t be an aggressive buyer of MSFT until the cougar is neutralized.
–Good lord…Khloe Kardashian is marrying the Lakers’ Lamar Odom after dating for like 12 days. I like Lamar. What is he thinking?!
Top 3 songs for the week 9/29/79: #1 “My Sharona” (The Knack) #2 “Sad Eyes” (Robert John) #3 “Rise” (Herb Alpert)…and…#4 “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (Michael Jackson) #5 “After The Love Has Gone” (Earth, Wind & Fire) #6 “Lonesome Loser” (Little River Band) #7 “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” (Dionne Warwick) #8 “Sail On” (Commodores) #9 “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” (The Charlie Daniels Band) #10 “Don’t Bring Me Down” (Electric Light Orchestra…all of this 30 years ago. Where did the time go?!)
College Football, rushing quiz answers: 1) Barry Sanders averaged 238.9 yards per game at Oklahoma State, 1988 [2,628 in 11 games] 2) LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 406 yards for TCU vs. UTEP, Nov. 1999…287 of the yards were in the second half…that must have been amazing to see. 3) Archie Griffin ran for at least 100 yards in 31 consecutive games between 1973-75.
Next Bar Chat, Monday. Traveling to Ireland over the weekend so will be abbreviated.
