Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Marquardt not heading to Bellator as he fights off criticism from B.J. Penn

Apparently the "Nate Marquardt's a nice guy" stuff is long gone. The former UFC middleweight contender, who had run ins with both Pennsylvania and New Jersey over his testosterone replacement therapy use, is getting battered from all sides. Bellator's Hector Lombard called him a cheater earlier this week and now B.J. Penn has jumped on board the "Slam Nate Express."

@BJPenndontcom and @NathanMarquardt engaged in a little Twitter throw down yesterday.

MMA fans on Twitter are choosing sides. A newly combative Marquardt is getting blasted by some followers and spoke with MMAjunkie to defend himself.

"Some of the fighters that think they're so cool and tough by kicking a guy when he's down ? as far as my career, this has been one of the worst times of my life, and these guys are calling me a cheater and talking crap ? I've taken note as to who those guys are, and I'm going to come for them. Eventually, I'll get them. I don't care if it's in a superfight or if they want to come down to my gym. I'll beat them up for free," Marquardt said.

"I think you know who these guys are ? Ben Askren, B.J. Penn, Paul Daley, Hector Lombard, cowards talking crap about a guy when he's in such a situation. They're trying to take advantage of the situation. They're bullies. Those are the guys I want to beat up."

Not everyone is slamming Marquardt. Others on Twitter have started a #bringnateback hash tag. They're including UFC president Dana White on many of those tweets.

Marquardt and his management team must be banking on White eventually softening his stance. Bellator made an offer to Marquardt, but the two sides couldn't come to terms. It sounds like Marquardt wanted an immediate title shot against Lombard, but Bellator wouldn't back off it's standard tournament format. All new fighters are usually put into a tournament and have to earn a title shot against the reigning champ.

"The reality is that it's not often that a top-10 guy is available... especially when he's coming off a win. Nate's situation was pretty unique. It's an anomaly for a guy like that to become available, so we had discussions. But it just became pretty clear it wasn't the right fit," Rebney told MMAjunkie.

Who's making the mistake in that case? Wouldn't it benefit Bellator to steal away a high profile fighter? Or is it Marquardt, for not taking the only major opportunity that may come his way?

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Warren interview: Disappointed Bellator champ just wants fights

Joe Warren's rapid ascent to world champion has been fun to watch. Now the question is whether he can retain his Bellator featherweight world title and eventually add UFC hardware to his mantle.

To beat the best in the world, he knows he's got to log cage time. Real cage time. Warren is angry that his latest fight went by the wayside. Warren was set to face Patricio "Pitbull" Freire at Bellator 47 next week in Canada. Freire suffered a hand injury and the fight was canceled. Now he has to wait until September for his next fight.

Warren joined ESPNRadio1100's "The MMA Insiders" to talk about his career and what could be a bright future. Now, how will he handle another two months before he has to peak?

"I train full-time man. Since I can remember, I've been in the wrestling room training," Warren said. "As young as I am in fighting, I need to be in there training hard like that. My whole concern is the layoff time between fights."

Warren would love to be fighting 5-6 times a year. He already holds Bellator's 145-pound title and will work towards adding the 135 title with a tournament starting in the fall.

"I'm new at it, so I need to be in there. I can't simulate a live fighting match like I can a live wrestling match. It doesn't go down the way you ever expect it to. I feel like the only way I'm learning is in the ring," said Warren.

Warren's sense of urgency is due to his age. He's going to be 35 later this fall. He spent his 20's and early 30's on the international wrestling scene. He's rolled up a 7-1 record since making his MMA debut in March of 2009.

Warren said he plans on making one more run at the Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He'll compete in the U.S. Open in December, with an eye on the U.S. Olympic trials in February.

In the meantime, he'll continue training with guys like Scott Jorgensen and Kit Cope. He'll also mix in more time with Team Alpha Male and Urijah Faber. Warren is slated to face Alexis Vila at Bellator 51 in his opening fight of the bantamweight tournament.

Penélope Cruz Kristen Bell The Pussycat Dolls Isla Fisher Sophia Bush

Monday, July 18, 2011

Puck Headlines: Vokoun Capitals? starter; Miss USA, Canucks fan

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

? Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, shown here preparing in case Lil' Wayne is a judge at the Miss Universe pageant, tells Fox Sports West that she's a huge hockey fan ? of the Vancouver Canucks. "I don't have a favorite player, but I do like watching the Sedins score. I think I like Henrik, but I don't exactly have a particular favorite." Sorry, Daniel. [Fox Sports West]

? Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli on talks with Brad Marchand, a restricted free agent: "We've continued to talk. We've had some discussion, and we'll leave it at that." [Big Bad Blog]

? The Washington Capitals rode Michal Neuvirth through their (brief) playoff run last postseason, but Coach Bruce Boudreau says it's free-agent signee Tomas Vokoun's job: "If you're looking at a guy that's had the experience and done everything and if they're a No. 1 goalie... You've got to give Vokoun the respect that he's coming in and he's going to be the No. 1 guy. We'll see where it goes from there." [Capitals Insider]

? The 10 best free agent signings of the off-season so far. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

? BREAKING: NATO commander from New England is a Bruins fan. [CP]

? Great look at the Dallas Stars post Brad Richards from Mike Heika: "Could new coach Glen Gulutzan better use Richards on the power play now that Souray is there to take some pressure off?� On paper, that would have been the best answer.� Too bad it was never an option." [Dallas Stars Blog]

? Why the NHL turned over its ad sales to NBC Universal. [Ad Age]

? The many financial headaches for Gary Bettman this summer. [Globe & Mail]

? Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman on trade offers for Steven Stamkos from other teams: "I'm not interested in discussing a possible trade. I'm committed to re-signing Steven." [Lightning Strikes]

? Please to be welcoming Rodriguez and Granderson Are Dead to the hockey blogosphere. If this post on the salary cap is any indication, it's a great addition to the debates. [R&GAD]

? Looking at the current career arc of former top prospect Angelo Esposito, now a member of the Florida Panthers. [HOTH]

? Jaroslav Jirik, the first Czech allowed to play in the NHL during the country's communist era, died Monday in a plane crash. He was 71. [CP]

? The Phoenix Coyotes are vital to the survival of the potentially foreclosed-upon Westgate City Center, though perhaps not as vital as a Target Outlet Store would be. [Arizona Republic]

? Wayne Gretzky is selling some kind of muscle supplement miracle bill. Is the science real? Better question: Why the [expletive] is he wearing purple and silver? [Singularity Hub]

? The Anaheim Ducks sign Dan Sexton to a two-year deal that's "two-way in nature in the�first year and�one-way in 2012-13." [Ducks Blog]

? Breaking down the specifics on a Blake Comeau arbitration with the New York Islanders. [Lighthouse Hockey]

? Looking back at the early harbingers of doom on long-term player contracts in the NHL. [The Good Point]

? Interesting piece by Tyler Dellow on the value of winning faceoffs on the penalty kill, as his statistic evaluation of the season's power plays finds a small difference in effectiveness for teams that win or lose the opening draw of a kill. [mc79hockey]

? With Nicklas Lidstrom bringing up the mean, the Detroit Red Wings had the oldest defense among NHL playoff teams. The youngest on average? The Nashville Predators. [The Ruff Writers]

? Interesting analysis of Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and their numbers playing together. [Battle of Cali]

? Lee Sweatt to the Ottawa Senators. [TSN]

The Chief offers the expected response to our Commodore 64 post. We've done this dance with him for so long that we've worn out the hardwood. That said, the editor of 'Tin Foil-To-Persecution Complex' accusing someone else of an "effort at martyrdom" ranks among the most unintentionally hilarious moments of the young offseason. Kudos. [Abel To Yzerman]

? Ryan Batty on the low expectations for the Edmonton Oilers. Congrats for a nice tie-in with a personal story about his wife, and for not using "Lowe" in the headline like NHL.com would. [Copper & Blue]

? There is no offseason for NHL.com Pundays! How many ways can one site use "Brad" in headlines? [The Royal Half]

? The wife of Adam Pineault, a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick in 2004, has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, a rare form of cancer. Puck-Rakers is asking for some help, either in funds or good vibes for them. [Puck-Rakers]

? Finally, Lambert mentioned this in What We Learned, but here's Episode 1 of a behind the scenes documentary (6 part series) on the Minnesota Wild off-season. In runs about 22 minutes.

Jessica Cauffiel Emmanuelle Vaugier Sarah Silverman Larissa Meek Gina Carano

The five best (and worst) Home Run Derby performances

Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux had it right: Chicks dig the longball. And there's no better night to cruise than the first night of the All-Star break, when the Home Run Derby is held.

Love it or loathe it (especially if you're listening to Chris Berman calling play-by-play), the Derby has become almost as anticipated as the All-Star game itself. That's largely due to some impressive displays of power from baseball's most famous sluggers. The Home Run Derby might go on too long for some, but almost every year, someone makes it worth watching. Inevitably, there are also some "sluggers" who make you wish you hadn't spent time watching.

With that in mind, here are five of the best performances in the event's history, followed by five of the worst.

Get All-Star game merchandise here!

The five best Home Run Derby performances

5. David Wright, 2006: The Mets' third baseman didn't win the Derby at PNC Park, but his first-round total of 16 is one of the highest in the event's history. That didn't leave him much for the semis and finals, however, and he eventually lost to Ryan Howard.

4. Mark McGwire, 1999: The Derby may have finally become a television event when the game's most famous slugger, coming off his then-record 70-homer season, took on the Green Monster. McGwire went deep 13 times in the first round, more than twice what any of his competitors managed. Yet he didn't even make the finals, �hitting only three homers in the second round.

3. Jason Giambi, 2001: Hitting home runs at Safeco Field is not easy, but that didn't stop Giambi from going deep 14 times, twice what the next closest slugger totaled. Once again, though, a strong start didn't guarantee a win, as Giambi finished third in the second round with six homers.

2. Bobby Abreu, 2005: Viva Venezuela! Representing his country in the first and only International Derby put some sting in Abreu's swing. He hit 24 first-round homers at Comerica Park, easily the highest total ever achieved. Abreu finished strong, too, hitting 11 to beat out hometown favorite Pudge Rodriguez for the trophy.

1. Josh Hamilton, 2008: Abreu's record only lasted three years, as Hamilton brought out the big bat on arguably the sport's biggest stage. The first-time All-Star put on a slugging show, launching 28 homers out of Yankee Stadium in the first round. No one else hit more than eight. But following a familiar theme among this top five, Hamilton didn't have much left for the subsequent rounds and lost out to Justin Morneau.

(The lesson seems clear. Slow but steady may win the competition when it comes to the Home Run Derby. But fast and furious win the hearts and minds of the fans.)

Watch highlights of Hamilton's slugfest here

The five worst Home Run Derby performances

5. Brandon Inge, 2009: Inge had 14 homers in the season's first half, an effort that helped him win the AL Final Vote. But he was probably miscast as a slugger by whomever picked him for the competition: Inge failed to hit a single ball out of Busch Stadium.

4. Jim Thome, 1997: The '97 Derby was at Jacobs Field and Thome was the hometown favorite, playing for the Indians then. But he whiffed in front of the Cleveland fans, hitting zero homers.

3. Troy Glaus, 2001: As mentioned, hitting home runs at Safeco Field is not easy. But it's even worse for a right-handed hitter. Glaus hit 47 homers in 2000 and came into the Derby with 22 on the season. Yet he didn't hit a single ball over the wall.

2. Richie Sexson, 2003: U.S. Cellular Field is a launching pad. Sexson had 25 homers by the All-Star break and went on to hit 45 for the season. How did he only manage to hit one, measly home run in Chicago's notorious bandbox?

1. Jason Bay, 2005: Was it the burden of representing Canada, with the home country a mere four miles away from Comerica Park? Did some visitors from nearby Windsor turn up the pressure? Bay swung as if wrapped in a maple leaf flag, putting up a big, fat zero. Woe, Canada.

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Power Rankings: Nobody deserves to be No. 1

Time for our latest round of power rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. And just when we got things sorted out, those wacky drivers had to go and turn everything upside down. Oh, this one's going to make you mad...

Kurt Busch1. Kurt Busch. This is a case where everybody deserves to be ranked about, I dunno, third through eighth or something. Nobody who was up at the top of the charts was particularly dominant; nobody who was dominant was high enough to charge all the way to the top spot. Anyway, Kurt led the second-most laps in Sunday's race, and briefly let Evil Kurt out to play when he screamed about his car being "junk." Last week's ranking: 3.

Carl Edwards2. Carl Edwards. Another lurktastic week for Carl, who hung around within sight of the lead pack for a long time before eventually fading to 13th. (A top 10 probably would've gotten you the top spot, Carl.) Aside: I gotta say, I dig the fact that Carl jumps from the car to the broadcast booth when he wrecks out, as happened in the Nationwide series. I would love to see the NFL do this any time a quarterback gets knocked out of the game with a concussion. It'd be more fascinating commentary than Joe Buck, that's for sure.� Last week's ranking: 2.

Jeff Gordon3. Jeff Gordon. A few weeks back, we indicated that Gordon's main problem was consistency. Now, he's posted a strong run of top-10 (or just outside) finishes, and while I'm not yet convinced he's a legit championship contender, I'm convinced he's on the right path. A good break here, an avoided wreck there, and Gordon could indeed be hoisting No. 5 this fall.� Last week's ranking: 7.

Kyle Busch4. Kyle Busch. It's probably not fair for Kyle to get so dinged for mechanical failure, but you know what? So be it. Stuff happens. Best moment of Kyle's Sunday was his declaration that he didn't want to participate in the manufacturing of a story by blaming the 88 for knocking him out of the race. You want a sign that he's starting to focus more on the track than creating drama off it, there it is. Last week's ranking: 1.

Jimmie Johnson5. Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's crew screwed him with a missed lug nut in one of the late pit stops, and he still managed a fifth-place finish. That's pretty good. In totally unrelated news, I sincerely hope that Johnson's nice-guy act to Golden Tate is a total act, and he'll get the mouthy Seahawks wide receiver in� a car at Bristol and run him till he pukes. Athletically.� Last week's ranking: 4.

Ryan Newman6. Ryan Newman. Oh, how the Rocket Man needed this. After such a strong start, he was fading, fading fast. Now, he's pretty much locked himself into the Chase. His killer qualifying efforts will help him out in the Chase, and if he can work out some kind of "free burritos for a win" promotion, he'll become America's sweetheart.� Last week's ranking: 10.

Tony Stewart7. Tony Stewart. Smoke apparently got into some kind of a snit with a media member after last night's race over some kind of botched joke. As a veteran of a thousand press conferences, I can tell you this: it takes a special cat to pull off a good joke in a press conference (or a shareholders' meeting, or a funeral). It can be done, but you need somebody to give you that courtesy laugh to get you started. Smoke will not give you that courtesy laugh. Ever.� Last week's ranking: 9.

Denny Hamlin8. Denny Hamlin. Great finish for Hamlin, and strangely he's still sitting right on the edge of the top 10. Huh. He should be in regardless, but whatever. Anybody switch over and watch the end of that women's soccer game Sunday? Great stuff, huh? Tense and throat-clutching. How about a NASCAR equivalent? One lap, head-to-head, hit the start line side by side at full speed and go? I could get behind that.� Last week's ranking: 8.

Matt Kenseth9. Matt Kenseth. Not much to say about Kenseth's run; he was never higher than 8th, and finished 20th. He's in fine shape for the Chase; let's move on to another quick topic. I learned about this new iPad app called "Pit Crew Titans" from Brad Keselowski; you actually run a whole four-tire pit stop and try to get your car out of the pits as fast as possible. I've gotten out in 12.009 seconds; I forwarded my high score to Chad Knaus. � Last week's ranking: 6.

Kevin Harvick10. Kevin Harvick. Here's a great case of how a ranking can look much worse than it really is. Harvick is easily one of the best drivers in NASCAR, but right now he's not running particularly well; just two top-10s in his last five races. Plus, he's got to drive with those handcuffs on his hand around Kyle Busch. I feel a little sorry for him, don't you?� Last week's ranking: 5.

David Ragan11. David Ragan. It's looking more and more likely that The Thrilla from Unadilla (can you tell I love that nickname?) is going to make the Chase. Look, Ragan has been a punch line for so long it's tough to recalibrate our smartass meter and take him seriously, but if you aren't at least a little happy for this long-suffering guy finally seeing some sustained success, you, my friend, have no soul. Last week's ranking: 12.

Joey Logano12. Joey Logano. One pole, two top fives, three top 10s in the last five races. That's not so bad for everyone's favorite lil' pup. Funny how both Logano and Ragan are getting hot just as the seats beneath them are starting to warm up. I'm thinking that if we put drivers on race-to-race (or pit stop-to-pit stop) contracts, we'd see some great racing.� Last week's ranking: NR.

Lucky Dog: Bobby Labonte. A seventh-place finish for BLab? Impressive for a guy whom everyone had written off. One of the real shames of the contraction of teams is the fact that a guy like Labonte, who obviously still has some skill, can't get access to top-flight equipment.

DNF: Brad Keselowski. He needed a good finish to get into the top 20 and put himself into a Chase position. He got exactly the opposite, and now sits 25 points out of 20th.

Dropping out of the rankings: Dale Earnhardt Jr., who posted a fifth straight disappointing finish. Yes, he could have nailed down a top 10 had his tire changer gotten the tire out of the pits in time; yes, he fought his way from 33rd to 15th in impressive fashion at the end of the race. Doesn't matter; he's in free-fall now and desperately needs something good to happen, now.

Charging upward: Great effort by Kasey Kahne to post another top-10 finish. Logano beat him out for the 12th spot by a hairsbreadth, but Kahne is on the way up.

Next up: nothing! It's an off weekend, and nobody's going to lose points then, not even [insert driver here]. Send comments to us via Twitter at @jaybusbee, email by clicking here, and via Facebook at The Marbles page.

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Oops! Tony La Russa turns in wrong lineup card on Friday

Look, don't try to talk to Tony La Russa when he's making out the lineup card, OK?

If you do happen to shoot the bull with the St. Louis Cardinals manager while he's doing something pertaining to the game, you're liable to distract him. And if you take his focus away from the task at hand, he could end up doing something that he claims he's never done in his 33 seasons of managing in the major leagues.

As detailed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Rick Hummel, La Russa handed the wrong lineup card to the umpiring crew before Friday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He intended to give catcher Yadier Molina the night off, but accidentally wrote him on the lineup card he made out a day earlier. La Russa caught the mistake on Friday afternoon and had backup catcher Gerald Laird on the lineup card he sent to the Arizona coaches. But Molina's name was still on the card he gave to the umpires ? which was then given to the D-Backs ? at home plate.

D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson noticed the differences between the two lineup cards and brought it to home plate umpire Ed Rapuano's attention after the first inning, when Laird had taken the field. Rapuano informed La Russa that he'd effectively made a substitution, so Molina couldn't come into the game.

"No excuse," La Russa said Saturday. "Messed up, and it could have been significant."

Did the mistake end up costing the Cardinals a win?

In the ninth inning, La Russa used outfielder Jon Jay to pinch hit for Laird, which seemed like the smart move ? bringing in a left-handed batter to face right-hander David Hernandez.

The Cards were down to their last out with two runners on. And Jay (batting .295 overall, though .133 as a pinch hitter) looked like a much better option to drive in a run than Laird (batting .217).

Jay grounded out to second, closing out a 7-6 loss. But if Molina had been available, would La Russa have pinch-hit for Laird earlier, in the eighth, with a runner on? Perhaps the Cardinals would have tied the game then, and Molina would've batted in the ninth. Or, if Jay had driven in the tying run in the ninth, third-string catcher Tony Cruz would have taken the field in the 10th.

(Or maybe La Russa had the wrong catcher in there all along; Cruz hit a game-winning RBI double as a pinch hitter Saturday night.)

No outcome was assured, regardless of whether La Russa had filled out his lineup card correctly. But in a tight, four-team race at the top of the NL Central, one game ? even one at-bat ? ultimately could make a huge difference.

La Russa will surely remember that and ask for silence each time he makes out his lineup from here on out.

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This woman, ?E.G. Green,? worked as Cubs official scorer in 1880s

When Eliza Daggett ran for mayor of Attleboro, Mass. in 1920, the press made a big deal of her gender. After all, the ink on the 19th Amendment was dry and no woman had ever run for mayor in that state.

And it's true that Eliza ? whose full name after being widowed twice was Eliza G. Green Williams Brown Daggett ? had been a friend to Susan B. Anthony and a student of Mary Stafford Anthony, another famous suffragist. She had met with presidents of the United States. And, even though her mayoral bid probably would fail, she was setting an example simply by competing. Maybe the next woman would win.

But in a feature story about the woman-candidate that ran Dec. 4 of that year, the Attleboro Sun pulled a tighter focus on Eliza, who by then was 69 years old.

When she was in her 30s, Eliza had a much cooler job than mayor.

The headline screamed: ATTLEBORO CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR FIRST WOMAN OFFICIAL BASEBALL SCORER.

Whoa! From 1882-1891, Eliza was the official scorer for the National League baseball club in Chicago ? the White Stockings or Colts. In the 20th century, they would become known as the Chicago Cubs.

So, decades before women in the United States gained the full right to vote ? an era when, if a woman worked at all, she probably did so exclusively as a seamstress, nurse or school teacher ? Chicago's charter Major League Baseball franchise employed Eliza as its official scorer.

What's more amazing? Even today, women aren't official scorers in the majors. Is there even one? Have there been but a few, if any at all, since Eliza's time? Official scorers tend to be (though not necessarily) former sportswriters ?�who are men, mostly. It was the same back then, obviously.

Her gender was one of the reasons Cubs team president Albert Spalding kept Eliza's work a secret.

But how did Eliza get the job? In her own words, from the Sun, she explains:

"I was living opposite the Chicago ball field at the time," said Mrs. Daggett. "I was very much interested in the national sport and always kept a detailed score of the games. The Chicago management was experiencing no end of trouble with the kickers of the club, solely on account of the official score, and was looking for some way of getting rid of the nuisance."

As @OldHossRadbourn or another dapper gent of the period might tell you, "kickers" used to refer to ones who objected, protested, or rebelled on the playing field. Perhaps by kicking dirt, and sometimes probably on, an umpire.

So, anyway: Eliza was a not only baseball fan, but also a dedicated baseball nerd!

"President Spalding knew that I was keeping score, day after day, and made the suggestion that I try my hand at the official score. I sat in a place in the grandstand where I could see everything, and was blessed with keen vision. There was no ball hit that I did not follow in its flight and no detail of a play that I missed."

Official scorers of today, whose job pretty much works like it sounds, take down the results of every game and pass them to Major League Baseball headquarters in New York. It's the official scorer's job to determine, among other things, whether it's a hit or an error.

Spalding must have liked the way Eliza did the job, as she did it for 10 years, but he told no one about her. A woman? Scoring the national pastime for the Chicago ball team? As if!

Spalding also wanted to cut down on players trying to influence the scorer into giving them more hits, or fewer errors, whichever would benefit them. Apparently, this was a problem back in the day.

Eliza's nearly forgotten turn as the Cubs scorer has come to light again thanks in part to a sports memorabilia auction happening in Arizona, where Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is being played Tuesday night.

Phil Rogers in the Chicago Tribune recently reported on Eliza's place in history, along with some of the treasures up for bid ? specifically two pendants from the Cubs' 1908 championship season that had been in Eliza's family for several generations. Here's one with a familiar logo:

Deborah Williams, Eliza's great-great granddaughter, put the items for auction so that a true collector might treasure them. Thankfully, she also has been saving the truly important stuff ? details about Eliza's life (which would be unique even without baseball).

Eliza's son, Charles G. Williams, was the team treasurer in '08, when the Cubs ? as their most of their tortured fans know ? most recently won a World Series. (Which makes me wonder: Considering his mom worked for the Cubs before he did, did that influence Williams getting a job with them? His connection was his mother?)

But not even Williams knew, when he was a little boy, what was up with his mom and the Cubs. From the Tribune:

Charles Williams once told the Tribune his mother usually sat near the wife of Hall of Famer Cap Anson, who managed the team, but she didn't disclose her responsibilities.

"Anson never knew who was official scorer for the club, nor did any of the players, newspapers or the public,'' Charles Williams said. "My mother usually sat (in the players' wives section) at the games, and they did not know she was official scorer. I used to mail the scores to league headquarters for her, and I did not know it.

"In signing the scores she used her maiden name, and even (the league official) who received them did not know who E.G. Green was."

Eliza did become a recognized face at games and, even though players (like Anson, shown above) didn't know about her job, they seemed to trust her judgment:

"The funniest feature of my experience as official scorer was that some of the players, ascertaining that I was an expert, came to me to ask about certain plays over which disputes had arisen. They asked what I thought of the plays; were they correctly umpired, and was this a hit, was this an error? I told them what the plays, hits and errors were, as I judged them to be, and they accepted my decisions without a protest.

"Not one of them suspected what I really was doing for club management."

Not to mention what she was doing for the history of the game. Someday, Eliza's life will be on display in an exhibit at baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, preserved forever for future generations. For now, we have PDF files of old newspaper clippings and a few paragraphs at Find-a-Grave.com.

Eliza said had to quit her baseball post after the 1891 season because of an illness. And she didn't become mayor of Attleboro, by the way. Eliza G. Green Williams Brown Daggett simply came along too soon in history.

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Tiki Barber?s return to football is a treatment for depression

Professional football is not kind to running backs over the age of 30. Presumably, it's even less kind to those closer to 40 than 30 and who also haven't played in four years.

All that made it difficult to understand why Tiki Barber decided to attempt an NFL comeback. There was originally some speculation that Tiki was in financial trouble, and he needed a few NFL paychecks to pull him out of it. Now it seems like he's in emotional trouble, and is counting on football to pull him out of that.

Here's what Tiki told HBO.

Barber said football represents a necessary anchor in a life turned upside down by the depressive aftermath of scandalous divorce and disintegration of his television career.

"The game never needs you because there's always someone else to come and take your place," he said. "But right now, I need the game."

[...]

"I need to prove to myself that I can be successful at something," [Barber] told HBO. "I know I'm going to be successful as a football player. I don't know why. The odds say 'No.' I'm 36 and I haven't played in four years. But I just know."

If that's the reason -- that he needs to prove to himself that he can be good at something -- going for the title of "NFL running back" in his mid-30s might not be the best choice. Maybe try gin rummy. Or Zumba.

Not that I have any interest in telling anyone what they should or shouldn't do. I honestly hope it works out for him, and if it's what he wants to do, and he's still capable, then hey, go get yourself some, Tiki.

I just have my doubts about whether or not he can find what he's looking for. If his depression is a by-product of his divorce and not-exactly-as-envisioned TV career, then reclaiming football glory isn't going to fill the void. Those problems need to be addressed where they exist. Burying yourself in football might help temporarily, but it's not going to make anything go away.

I've got a bad feeling about this whole comeback.

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Sunday, July 17, 2011

Tito loves Dana: MMA?s favorite marriage continues, what?s next for Ortiz?

There's nothing better than the special bond between boss and employee. Dana White and Tito Ortiz are proof of that. The UFC president was looking forward to a clean separation, but Tito spoiled the party with his upset of Ryan Bader at UFC 132.

Going back to the postfight press conference at UFC 84, it's simply amazing that the Tito-Dana marriage is going to continue. Remember, that was night Ortiz was nearly denied access to the room. Las Vegas Metro Police were standing by in case some insane unfolded. Tito, girlfriend Jenna Jameson, broke into the room before White arrived. What ensued was a legendary sniping session between boss and employee. Tito probably didn't help his cause by wearing a "mean" t-shirt to the weigh-in.

Ortiz lost two more fights after the Machida defeat, but won with his back against the wall. Judging by the reaction from the fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Ortiz certainly has to be re-signed, but you have to wonder if there's any shot at a smooth negotiation. Boss and employee buried that hatchet at the UFC 132 postfight press conference.

Tito "begged" for a final fight and was getting paid $450,000 win or lose at UFC 132. Let's hope money isn't a stumbling block. We can't wait to see Ortiz back in the Octagon and more importantly, the next chapter of Tito-Dana emerge before the end of 2011.

Tito won't ever really be in the hunt for the light heavyweight title, so now it's time to make fights that the fans want to see. What do you like?

Tyra Banks Vanessa Hudgens Sarah Michelle Gellar Olivia Munn Melissa Sagemiller

Atlanta Braves take aim at 10,000th win in franchise history

One hundred and thirty-five years after their franchise was conceived in Boston, the Atlanta Braves are on the brink of becoming the third team to win 10,000 games in the major leagues.

Their first shot at five digits comes Friday night at Turner Field as the Washington Nationals come to town for a three-game series. Win and the Braves will join the San Francisco Giants (10,489) and Chicago Cubs (10,277) as the only teams to cross the 10K threshold.

A few other notes about the impending achievement:

? The path to 10,000 took the Braves through three different cities, and the team won a World Series championship at each stop (the only franchise to do so). In Boston, the team won 5,118 games from 1876-1952 as the Red Stockings, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, the Braves, the Bees and then finally the Braves again. It won 1,146 games in Milwaukee after relocating for the 1953 season and then 3,735 games in Atlanta (and counting) after moving south in 1966.

? Depending on your methods of counting victories, the Braves could also be considered the fifth team to reach 10,000. The Los Angeles Dodgers (10,176) and St. Louis Cardinals (10,154) have both passed the number, but those totals include victories that came in the American Association, before each team joined the National League. (The Cincinnati Reds are also at 9,940 overall wins, but the 549 wins they compiled in the American Association from 1882-1889 sets the clock back a bit for 10,000 major league wins.)

? Once the Braves reach 10,000 wins, former manager Bobby Cox and his 2,149 victories will account for 21.49 percent of all Braves victories. (Wow, that math was easy.) Hall of Famer Frank Selee�is next on the list with the 1,004 victories he compiled while winning five National League pennants with the Boston Beaneaters in the 1890s.

? Not that anyone's expecting this, but an extended losing streak out of the All-Star break could actually see the Braves first join the Philadelphia Phillies as the only team to lose more than 10,000 games. The Braves have 9,992 total losses heading into this first attempt at 10,000 wins.

? The Braves have a number of special activities planned for the milestone, including donating 10,000 Braves tickets to local charities, unfurling a special "10,000" flag at Turner Field and, most importantly, handing out 10,000 coupons for free Chick-fil-A.

? Finally, some of you might be wondering where your team ranks on the all-time wins list and how much further they have to go. Baseball-Reference makes it easy on this page. Of note, the New York Yankees have 9,723 victories and are the closest of any team in the American League, which started up in 1901. The team with the fewest total wins? That'd be the Tampa Bay Rays, who sport only 971 victories since their inception in 1998.

America Ferrera Haylie Duff Talisa Soto Julianne Hough Paula Garcés

Guys, let Rory McIlroy help you win back your lady

Guys! Having trouble with your lady? Has your love fallen into a bunker? Then let everyone's favorite heartthrob, "Rory McIlroy," help you out. After all, he knows how to� beg a girl to take him back win a woman's heart:

This one courtesy of those wacky cats at Tauntr.com.

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Even Congressmen enjoy making fun of Jay Cutler

Paul Ryan, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, spoke Tuesday to The Economic Club of Chicago about his debt-reduction plan. If you'd like to know more about that, you can read the full transcript here. But if you're just here for the Jay Cutler jokes, you're my kind of person, so here those are for you:

"I want to thank you all for inviting me to speak. It was especially gracious of you to host me, even though I'm a Packers fan and I assume most of you are Bears fans," Ryan began.

"But that doesn't mean we can't work together. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, I stand ready to do whatever it takes to help you re-sign Jay Cutler. I'm here to talk about the economy today -- about the need to get four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not," he continued.

Point, Paul Ryan. For a politician, that's high quality smack talk.

This all stems from Cutler's (non)performance in the NFC Championship game against the Packers last season. The Bears quarterback�spent about half of that game on the sidelines with a knee injury, one that a lot of people doubted really existed.

[Related: Jay Cutler engaged to reality TV star]

For about a week afterwards, Cutler was beaten mercilessly in the media. He was labeled everything from a quitter to a malcontent diva, and it seemed like the only people standing up for him were his teammates and a random blogger or two.

Anyway, this is what we should all be doing during the lockout -- not fretting over legal details, but reminiscing about the times when we did have football, and everyone could have a grand time arguing about Jay Cutler. I don't know what else you said, Congressman Ryan, but I thank you for your leadership on this Cutler issue.

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Presenting the debut of The Fireball Cup, recognizing excellence in NASCAR fighting

Look, let's be honest. We all like NASCAR rivalries here. But even though this is a sport that tracks every single segment of every single lap of every single driver, there is as yet no comprehensive method for tracking the many disputes that occur every week.

Until now. With a deep bow in the direction of our pals at Every Day Should Be Saturday and their Fulmer Cup, we proudly present the debut of The Fireball Cup, recognizing excellence in NASCAR brawling.

Here's how it works. Every week, we'll award points based on participation in fights or rivalries, breaking down in the following way:

? Verbal/Twitter exchange: 1 point
? Bumping cars in an aggressive, making-a-point fashion: 2 points
? Spin, non-critical: 3 points
? Spin, critical: 4 points
? Out of car, punches thrown: 5 points

So from this past weekend, Brian Vickers would get four points (critical spin on Stewart), Brad Keselowski would get three points (non-critical spin on Juan Pablo Montoya), Kasey Kahne would get three points (one for Twitter/interview shots at Montoya, two for knocking Montoya on-track), and so on.

Now, here's where you come in. We're jumping in midstream here, so we're going to have to backtrack a bit and tally up scores. In the comments below, make your best case for point values for the best fights of the season so far:

? Ryan Newman vs. Montoya
? Kyle Busch vs. Kevin Harvick
? Kyle Busch vs. Richard Childress
? Robby Gordon vs. Kevin Conway
? Carl Edwards vs. Kyle Busch
? Kurt Busch vs. his own crew

So there you have it. We'll total up the figures and award a Fireball Cup to our brawling champion at the end of the season. Any guesses who it'll be?

Paz Vega Rebecca Mader Eva Green Lauren Conrad Arielle Kebbel

Report: After Coyotes mess, Matthew Hulsizer feeling Blues

The differences between the Phoenix Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues are many. One might be that there are wealthy people who would consider owning the Blues without receiving eleventy-seventy billion dollars in taxpayer money from the city in order to complete the sale.

You know, for starters.

At one point, Matthew Hulsizer was going to be the beneficiary of that Glendale funding in purchasing the Coyotes. But politics and the economy sullied the process and he pulled out of the running last month.

Now, according to David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail, the Chicago-based businessman is kicking the tires on the St. Louis Blues after touring the Scottrade Center with Blues chairman and minority owner Dave Checketts:

A source familiar with the Blues situation said Hulsizer is discussing a price in the range of $165-million to $170-million (all currency U.S.) with Checketts. The Blues chairman said earlier this week he was given an extension on a $120-million loan with Citigroup Inc., that would give him more time to sell the team.

Checketts and his company, SCP Worldwide, took out the loan in 2006 when he bought the Blues along with TowerBrook Capital Partners, a private equity firm, from Bill and Nancy Laurie for $150-million. TowerBrook holds a 70-per-cent interest in the team and announced in May, 2010 it wanted to sell its share.

Shoalts believes Hulsizer's is one of three groups in the running for the Blues, and that "he is interested in keeping Checketts as a partner."

Despite the crap hitting the fan in Glendale, Hulsizer was a popular figure among Coyotes fans for his enthusiasm and attentive outreach to their community. He also was the NHL-approved buyer for the Coyotes, popular with the Board of Governors.

The Blues have their challenges financially, with some doom and gloom entering the process from Forbes recently. Hulsizer's interest can certainly be seen a positive development, if he's a bidder.

Marika Dominczyk Dita Von Teese Rachel Nichols Dido Joss Stone

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kurt Warner questions Marc Bulger?s desire to be a starter

Pretty much every QB-hungry team out there -- the Cardinals, Panthers, Titans, etc. -- has been linked to free-agent quarterback Marc Bulger at one point or another.

It's all purely fan and media speculation, of course, as 2011 free agency has not yet existed, and might not exist anytime in the immediate future. When it does happen, one or more of those teams will almost certainly call Bulger, but if they do, will he even be willing to take the call?

Former teammate Kurt Warner told KATR radio Bulger might not want a starting opportunity. Via Pro Football Talk:

Though Warner was careful to say that it's not a "huge knock" to not want to be a starter, Warner explained that, in his view, "football [isn't] everything" to Bulger.

"For too many guys, it's all about winning and losing, it's all about starting, it's all about how much money you can make," Warner said.� "And that's not Marc Bulger."

Warner pointed out that Bulger "got beat up pretty good" as the starter in St. Louis, and that it wouldn't surprise Warner to learn that Bulger is "happy" as a backup, and that "he can just enjoy life and not have to worry about the pressure of being an NFL starter and everything that goes with it."

Bulger spent last year as a well-paid backup with the Ravens, collecting $3.8 million and never throwing a pass. Before that lucrative little year, Bulger had spent eight years with the Rams, compiling 95 starts, 122 touchdowns, 93 interceptions, and two Pro Bowl nods.

At least two of those years were also spent getting beaten like a Weeble Wobble in front of an offensive line that offered roughly the strength and resistance of a wet paper towel.

Warner's opinion is interesting, though. He knows Bulger well, having played with him in St. Louis. But even if a guy isn't all about the money, that still might not be a great predictor of what he does if one team offers him, for example, three million over three years to be a backup, and someone else offers him seven million guaranteed over two years to start.

But if it's true that he doesn't want to start (and also doesn't want to leave the East Coast), Bulger's options are sudddenly really limited. This is all probably good news for Baltimore if they do indeed want him back as Joe Flacco's caddie.

Rachel Hunter Heidi Montag Katharine McPhee T.A.T.u. Amber Valletta

Unassuming Cubs skipper detained by airport security

As a baseball lifer, Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade likes to keep a low profile that doesn't match his status as manager of a big market baseball team. As has oft been reported, he sometimes takes the train to Wrigley Field without ever being noticed.

Quade, however, might want to rethink his humble approach after what happened at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport on Wednesday as he traveled home from the All-Star game. He was detained for nearly 40 minutes by the TSA, receiving two extended patdowns and having his bags searched multiple times. All the while, the unassuming Quade never alerted the officers to his true identity.

So what was the deal? Were TSA officers just being ever vigilant in their commitment to a safe and friendly skies? Or were they secretly part of the Cubs' stronghold of desert fans and upset about the team's status as the second-worst team in the National League?

From the Chicago Tribune:

"I guess they thought I had a bomb or something," Quade said. "I never did tell him (my job). I don't do that. I was hoping they'd ask. ? I guess one of their alarms went off. You hear about it, but now I get the full pat-down (and the question) 'Are you sensitive in any areas?'" [...]

"I was a little bit belligerent late [...] I was glad I didn't end up in Tent City with Sheriff (Joe) Arpaio."

Quade was finally released without further incident, so all's well that ends well.

On a somewhat related note, you'd be surprised to learn how unassuming former Cubs manager Lou Piniella could be out on the town. One time, he told a group of reporters (including myself) that he and his wife had used an off night to check out Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless' popular restaurant in downtown Chicago. But when they arrived, they found there was a multi-hour wait for a table. This was in 2007, a year that the Cubs won a division title, so did Piniella use his clout and popularity for immediate seating?

Hardly.

"Eh," Piniella said (and I'm paraphrasing here), making a face that suggested he didn't want to put anyone out of place. "We went by the bar and waited for a seat to open and then we sat down and ate after a little bit. No need to make a fuss."

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Tito Ortiz shocks with UFC 132 submission of Ryan Bader

Tito Ortiz came back from the brink of extinction at UFC 132 on Saturday night, winning with a guillotine in the first round over Ryan Bader.

Bader was landing intermittent strikes until Ortiz moved inside and landed a right hand directly on Bader's jaw. Bader's knees buckled, and Ortiz jumped on top of him and sunk in an arm-in guillotine. Ortiz squeezed until Bader tapped at 1:56.

He was jubilant after the fight, resurrecting his gravedigger celebration, then jumping onto the side of the cage. He thanked UFC brass Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta for pushing him to win this fight.

Ortiz knew going into this fight that it was win or lose his job. He has been a legend in the UFC, but his last win was in 2006 over Ken Shamrock. He hasn't been a champion since 2003. Battling back and neck injuries, he had never been able to return to that form until Saturday.

For Bader, it was a chance to get back on track after losing for the first time in February to eventual UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, but it didn't happen. Since being on the brink of the a title shot, Bader has gone 0-2, losing both fights by guillotine.

This win may not mean that Ortiz is ready for another title run, especially in the UFC's stacked light-heavyweight division. Nonetheless, Ortiz was on the brink of losing his job and possibly retiring, and he won in convincing fashion. That feat reminds MMA fans of why he is a legend in the sport.

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Junior Nation attacks Jimmie Johnson; Five-time gets defensive

The plan for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson was simple: stick together and push one another to the win in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, just as Junior had done to Johnson back in April at Talladega.

For most of the race, they did just that,�pitting together and mostly hanging out in the back of the pack, biding their time for a final-laps push. But when teammate�Jeff Gordon nearly wrecked, bringing�out a caution with only three�laps to go, Johnson came down pit road. Junior didn't.

Thinking his partner was behind him, Junior radioed to Johnson to talk about their�strategy, only Johnson wasn't there.

"He pitted," Junior's crew chief Steve Letarte radioed back. "I don't agree with that," referring to the decision of Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus.

That left Earnhardt without a drafting partner, which at Daytona is an absolute must.

"Don't tell me to wait for nobody. I'm not waiting for anybody with two damn laps to go," Junior said.

Though the race was extended to another green-white-checker attempt, Junior and Johnson never got close to each other again, at least not until the very�end when Earnhardt got collected in a final-turn wreck. He finished 19th; Johnson wound up 20th.

"I don't know," Junior said after the race when asked about the differing strategies. "I'm driving my car, doing what I am told and they decided to do something different. I can't run the whole damn thing from the seat of the damn race car. I'm just doing what I'm told out there. I

After the race, Johnson took to Twitter to defend his team's strategy against an apparent attack from an irate�Junior Nation:

I didn't leave Jr hanging, you people are crazy. When my crew tells me to pit, I pit. Steve and Chad sort out the details

And if you think either of us could have won from 25th, which is where we were at the caution, you're even more crazy.

Rarely, if ever, has Johnson been so defensive, at least not publically.

It is puzzling why Knaus would have called Johnson into pit. Tires were not an issue and neither was fuel.

As a result, both drivers took a hit in the points standings, but since Johnson has that Talladega win to his credit, it hurts Junior a lot more. Just two weeks after being third in the points, Earnhardt has fallen to seventh and is 36 points ahead of Ryan Newman for the final non-wild card Chase spot.

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White video: UFC president reacts to Marquardt?s excuse: ?Nate?s done?

Plenty of fans have come to the defense of Nate Marquardt and his woes with the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and his firing from the UFC. Dana White didn't see or hear about Marquardt's statement on Tuesday. White was getting a little R & R in Maine.

White is back and ready to work, but he doesn't sound ready to welcome back Marquardt or buy his story. White said this isn't about giving Marquardt a second chance. The UFC president quickly corrected that assertion saying, this is a fourth chance for Marquardt.

When asked point blank about Marquardt's future, White said sternly, "Nate is done."

Cat Power January Jones Christina DaRe Malin Akerman Melissa Joan Hart

Rory McIlroy starts ugly, finishes decently in Round 1

It's safe to say that of all the ways Rory McIlroy could have played his opening holes at Royal St. George's in his first performance since winning the U.S. Open, going 2-over after the first three holes wasn't exactly the plan.

Still, after a three-putt on the first and a missed short putt on the third, McIlroy found himself 2-over and reeling while still within the sound of the dulcet tones of Ivor Robson, the first-tee starter. Would McIlroy's hopes for a repeat performance vanish into the gray English skies before most of the golf world was even awake?

Nope. McIlroy settled down and went 1-under over the remaining 15 holes, carding two birdies against one more bogey. So how did he prevent an Augusta-esque meltdown early in the round?

"You say to yourself, there are 69 holes left in the golf tournament," McIlroy said afterward. "It's nice to get the bogeys out of the way early." He stressed patience, always a virtue at an Open Championship, and it appeared to pay off.

"I'm hitting the ball as good as I ever have," he said. "I'm controlling the trajectory, and that's what you need in windy conditions."

He's got a long way to go to get anywhere close to another major. But at least a poor start didn't take him out of it three holes in.

Abbie Cornish Krista Allen Hayden Panettiere Jules Asner Whitney Able

Tom Watson?s ace just adds to his Open legacy

There isn't another person alive today that you could say is a better links golfer than Tom Watson. Now 61 years old, Watson has taken home five Claret Jugs, and nearly won this tournament at the ripe age of 59, before falling in a playoff to Stewart Cink back in 2009.

And while he has a ton of his own memories, Thursday was reserved for another Tom, this time, Lewis, a 20-year-old amateur named for Mr. Watson that was paired with the past champion and shot the lowest score ever by a non-professional. Thursday might have been the Lewis show, but Friday showed once again that Watson can still bring the magic to this tournament.

[The R&A made us pull this one. Go here on YouTube to see it, if it's still available.]

That video was Watson's tee shot on the par-3 sixth, that took one hop, and disappeared for the second hole-in-one of the week at Royal St. George's, and has helped get Watson in the conversation here in Sandwich. It was a 4-iron from 178 yards, and doesn't need much more from us than a good golf clap.

How can you not smile when you see Watson celebrate? The guy just sweats class.

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Joe Flacco makes his wife play center in a wedding photo

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco gets to hang out under center and tell other people what to do, and the bride gets stuck at center? Seems like she should at least be at a skill position.

Also, the discipline on the right side of the line is far greater than on the left side.

Flacco married his longtime girlfriend, Dana Grady, in Philadelphia, according to the quarterback's father. The wedding also took place in the same church where Flacco's parents tied the knot.

Flacco and Grady have been dating for nine years after they started going out at the end of his senior year of Audubon (N.J.) High School.

See more of the couple's beautiful wedding photos here.

Gracias, Deadspin.

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