A veteran sportswriter and columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News was accused in a newspaper report Tuesday of molesting three girls and a boy in the 1970s, including his niece, who is now a prosecutor.
Authorities said no criminal charges would be pursued against Bill Conlin because the allegations of abuse happened too long ago.
Conlin, a Hall of Fame baseball writer and author, retired just ahead of the story's publication online by The Philadelphia Inquirer, his former editor said. Conlin's lawyer said his client would not comment about the story but would fight the claims.
"Mr. Conlin is obviously floored by these allegations which supposedly happened 40 years ago. He's engaged me to do everything possible to bring the facts forward to vindicate his name," said attorney George Bochetto.
The newspaper reported that the four accusers claim Conlin groped and fondled them in the 1970s, when they were ages 7 to 12.
Kelley Blanchet, a niece of Conlin's who is now a prosecutor in Atlantic City, N.J., and others told the newspaper they were speaking out in part because of the child sex abuse allegations being faced by Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State University assistant football coach. Like in the Sandusky case, people aware of the allegations involving Conlin years ago did not go to police, the newspaper said.
"This is a tragedy," Blanchet said. "People have kept his secret. It's not just the victims, it's the victims' families. There were so many people who knew about this and did nothing."
Prosecutors in Gloucester County, N.J., took videotaped statements from the four accusers last year but said no charges would be pursued because assaults that occurred before 1996 fall under the statute of limitations. The alleged victims said they also came forward to highlight the shortcomings of those time limits.
Conlin had worked at the newspaper for more than four decades, starting in 1965 and becoming the beat writer for the Phillies the next year. He held that job for 21 years and became a columnist in 1987. He also was a commentator on the ESPN program "The Sports Reporters" and wrote two baseball-related books, the "Rutledge Book of Baseball" and "Batting Cleanup, Bill Conlin."
He received the 2011 J.G. Taylor Spink Award presented at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and is honored in the hall's "Scribes and Mikemen" exhibit. The Baseball Writers' Association of America said the allegations would not affect his award.
Daily News editor Larry Platt, speaking at a news conference, said he accepted Conlin's offer to retire by phone on Tuesday afternoon. Platt would only characterize the conversation as "painful."
Platt said he didn't know about the allegations until Tuesday. He described the emotions in the newsroom as "overwhelmingly a sense of shock, a sense of outrage, a sense of sadness."
The Daily News and Inquirer are owned by the same company, Philadelphia Media Network, and operate out of the same building downtown but compete on stories. Inquirer editor Stan Wischnowski said at the news conference the story had been in the works for about a month.
In one recent column titled "Tough Guys Are Talking About Sandusky," Conlin questioned people who say they would have intervened had they witnessed child sex abuse.
"Everybody says he will do the right thing, get involved, put his own ass on the line before or after the fact. But the moment itself has a cruel way of suspending our fearless intentions," he wrote.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
No. 15 Wisconsin beats Savannah Condition
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan has simple rules for his defense.
Get rid of the other team's habits. Remain in position. Pressure tough shots. Cleanup the glass after.
Once more, the 15th-rated Badgers demonstrated they're good audience.
Jared Berggren obtained 13 points to guide four Wisconsin gamers in double figures because the Badgers beat Savannah Condition 66-33 on Thursday evening.
It had been the 4th time this year Wisconsin (10-2) held a rival to 33 points or less, while permitting just two teams to get involved with the 60s.
"We stuck to the rules," Ryan stated simply from the effort of his Badgers, who arrived quitting a national-best 44.7 points a game title.
The Badgers were largely dominant from beginning to end, save for any brief letup to begin the other half.
Wisconsin used runs of 11- and 11-2 within the first half to push their result in 30-10 with 4 minutes left. The Tigers (4-8) then appeared as if they may give Wisconsin challenging at the start of the other half. They cut charge to fifteen points two times, the final time at 41-26 with only under 14 minutes to visit.
But Wisconsin put it on after that, spinning off a 23-4 go beyond the following 12 minutes before Ryan drawn the starters.
Cedric Cruz and Arnold Lewis brought the Tigers with eight points each.
Jordan Taylor and Ryan Evans obtained 12 points each for Wisconsin, while Josh Gasser added 10.
It had been the final time the Badgers performed before final exams. They go back to action 12 ,. 23 against Mississippi Valley Condition, and Taylor stated the Badgers reduced as much as start the other half.
"Individuals are lapses we are not likely to have the ability to afford against other teams," Taylor stated.
Regrettably for that Tigers, their numerous struggles offensively avoided them from benefiting from the outlet.
Shooting just 33 percent for the overall game, the lone vibrant spots for that Tigers were the 12 offensive rebounds that brought to 10 second-chance points.
But which was about this. They'd no outdoors presence, going for 3 from three-point range, despite the fact that the Tigers averaged 16 3-point attempts entering the overall game. Additionally they reached the free throw line just five occasions, striking three.
"I figured we did an excellent job of removing the things they posed his or her risks," Ryan stated. "All the games you are trying to achieve that.Inch
Savannah Condition regularly saw the Badgers take advantage of their mistakes, turning 16 turnovers into 24 points.
It did not assist the Tigers' cause that leading scorer Rashad Hassan committed his second foul under a few minutes into the overall game and would be a nonfactor. He seemed to be drawn at the start of the other half after missing a layup, not coming back until half way with the period. Calculating 13 points a game title arriving, he carried out with six in only 12 minutes.
Savannah Condition coach Horace Broadnax stated he limited Hassan's minutes within the other half to transmit a note towards the redshirt junior, who sitting out last season. Instead of taking the layup he skipped at the start of the other half, Broadnax stated he wanted Hassan to visit strong towards the ring and check out dunking the ball because he preaches used.
Likewise, he sitting Preston Blackmon for some time to transmit a note over his failure to chase a loose ball. The guard is third around the team in scoring at 7.5 points a game title, but he'd just two points in 16 minutes.
"He will be okay,Inch Broadnax stated of Hassan. "We want him to experience in a greater level only at that level to become competitive. If he isn't going to get it done, he then just must be an assistant coach for some time.Inch
Get rid of the other team's habits. Remain in position. Pressure tough shots. Cleanup the glass after.
Once more, the 15th-rated Badgers demonstrated they're good audience.
Jared Berggren obtained 13 points to guide four Wisconsin gamers in double figures because the Badgers beat Savannah Condition 66-33 on Thursday evening.
It had been the 4th time this year Wisconsin (10-2) held a rival to 33 points or less, while permitting just two teams to get involved with the 60s.
"We stuck to the rules," Ryan stated simply from the effort of his Badgers, who arrived quitting a national-best 44.7 points a game title.
The Badgers were largely dominant from beginning to end, save for any brief letup to begin the other half.
Wisconsin used runs of 11- and 11-2 within the first half to push their result in 30-10 with 4 minutes left. The Tigers (4-8) then appeared as if they may give Wisconsin challenging at the start of the other half. They cut charge to fifteen points two times, the final time at 41-26 with only under 14 minutes to visit.
But Wisconsin put it on after that, spinning off a 23-4 go beyond the following 12 minutes before Ryan drawn the starters.
Cedric Cruz and Arnold Lewis brought the Tigers with eight points each.
Jordan Taylor and Ryan Evans obtained 12 points each for Wisconsin, while Josh Gasser added 10.
It had been the final time the Badgers performed before final exams. They go back to action 12 ,. 23 against Mississippi Valley Condition, and Taylor stated the Badgers reduced as much as start the other half.
"Individuals are lapses we are not likely to have the ability to afford against other teams," Taylor stated.
Regrettably for that Tigers, their numerous struggles offensively avoided them from benefiting from the outlet.
Shooting just 33 percent for the overall game, the lone vibrant spots for that Tigers were the 12 offensive rebounds that brought to 10 second-chance points.
But which was about this. They'd no outdoors presence, going for 3 from three-point range, despite the fact that the Tigers averaged 16 3-point attempts entering the overall game. Additionally they reached the free throw line just five occasions, striking three.
"I figured we did an excellent job of removing the things they posed his or her risks," Ryan stated. "All the games you are trying to achieve that.Inch
Savannah Condition regularly saw the Badgers take advantage of their mistakes, turning 16 turnovers into 24 points.
It did not assist the Tigers' cause that leading scorer Rashad Hassan committed his second foul under a few minutes into the overall game and would be a nonfactor. He seemed to be drawn at the start of the other half after missing a layup, not coming back until half way with the period. Calculating 13 points a game title arriving, he carried out with six in only 12 minutes.
Savannah Condition coach Horace Broadnax stated he limited Hassan's minutes within the other half to transmit a note towards the redshirt junior, who sitting out last season. Instead of taking the layup he skipped at the start of the other half, Broadnax stated he wanted Hassan to visit strong towards the ring and check out dunking the ball because he preaches used.
Likewise, he sitting Preston Blackmon for some time to transmit a note over his failure to chase a loose ball. The guard is third around the team in scoring at 7.5 points a game title, but he'd just two points in 16 minutes.
"He will be okay,Inch Broadnax stated of Hassan. "We want him to experience in a greater level only at that level to become competitive. If he isn't going to get it done, he then just must be an assistant coach for some time.Inch
Weber's late goals lead Potential predators over Red-colored Wings
The Nashville Predators' red-colored-hot energy-play unit got one chance from the Detroit Red-colored Wings making probably the most from it.
Shea Weber obtained two goals late within the third period, including one using the guy advantage, to provide the Potential predators a 4-3 win from the Red-colored Wings on Thursday.
Detroit native David Legwand and Jordin Tootoo also obtained for Nashville in the 4th consecutive victory.
Tomas Holmstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom obtained for that Red-colored Wings, whose three-game winning streak ended.
"In large moments, you'll need your top gamers to step-up, and Shea walked up inside a huge way today," Nashville coach Craig Trotz stated of his captain. "The Detroit Red-colored Wings, how they happen to be playing, they've been the very best team within the league the final month. They're tough to play against."
Nashville took its only energy play of the overall game with 4:46 residing in the 3rd when Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard was evaluated a connecting penalty on Tootoo. Only 22 seconds following the penalty was known as, Weber's blast previously mentioned the left faceoff circle beat a tested Howard around the glove side.
"Whenever we got that energy play, we understood i was going to need to score because we were not getting a different one,Inch Weber stated. "I was lucky enough to acquire one therefore we used the momentum in the crowd next.Inch
The Potential predators have obtained a energy-play goal in seven consecutive games and therefore are 14-for-43 over their last 13 games.
Weber's wrist shot in the right point just below three minutes later returned while watching internet and ended up by Howard for that eventual champion.
"They were given an excellent bounce there in the finish," Howard stated. "Weber just put a knuckle-puck on internet, it returned right before me and went over my shoulder."
Holmstrom obtained the game's first goal at 5:15 from the opening period.
Using the Red-colored Wings on the energy play, Ian White's shot in the right point deflected off two Potential predators before landing around the edge of Holmstrom's stick just left of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Holmstrom had a simple tap-set for his sixth goal of year.
Legwand came the Potential predators even half way with the first when he collected their own rebound right from the Detroit goal and set it past a diving Howard.
"You want to have fun with charge a bit more,Inch Legwand stated. "We don't wish to need to return in each and every game we play."
Detroit obtained charge with 9:57 to use the 2nd on Zetterberg's energy-play goal. Within the low slot, Todd Bertuzzi found Jiri Hudler within the left circle. Hudler rapidly found Zetterberg around the right side, where he sent a wrist shot right into a virtually open internet.
Before Thursday, Nashville hadn't permitted a energy-play goal in the last five games.
Lidstrom gave Detroit a 3-1 lead with 8:30 left within the second when his slap shot in the left point beat Rinne high towards the glove side.
"It's disappointing, especially getting charge starting the 3rd and using the penalty with under 5 minutes left," Lidstrom stated. "It always stings when you're losing, particularly when you play a division rival that you want to beat."
Nashville clarified with 2:38 remaining at that time on the goal by Tootoo, who converted the rebound of Kevin Klein's shot in the left side.
Tootoo has ten points in the last ten games.
Shea Weber obtained two goals late within the third period, including one using the guy advantage, to provide the Potential predators a 4-3 win from the Red-colored Wings on Thursday.
Detroit native David Legwand and Jordin Tootoo also obtained for Nashville in the 4th consecutive victory.
Tomas Holmstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom obtained for that Red-colored Wings, whose three-game winning streak ended.
"In large moments, you'll need your top gamers to step-up, and Shea walked up inside a huge way today," Nashville coach Craig Trotz stated of his captain. "The Detroit Red-colored Wings, how they happen to be playing, they've been the very best team within the league the final month. They're tough to play against."
Nashville took its only energy play of the overall game with 4:46 residing in the 3rd when Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard was evaluated a connecting penalty on Tootoo. Only 22 seconds following the penalty was known as, Weber's blast previously mentioned the left faceoff circle beat a tested Howard around the glove side.
"Whenever we got that energy play, we understood i was going to need to score because we were not getting a different one,Inch Weber stated. "I was lucky enough to acquire one therefore we used the momentum in the crowd next.Inch
The Potential predators have obtained a energy-play goal in seven consecutive games and therefore are 14-for-43 over their last 13 games.
Weber's wrist shot in the right point just below three minutes later returned while watching internet and ended up by Howard for that eventual champion.
"They were given an excellent bounce there in the finish," Howard stated. "Weber just put a knuckle-puck on internet, it returned right before me and went over my shoulder."
Holmstrom obtained the game's first goal at 5:15 from the opening period.
Using the Red-colored Wings on the energy play, Ian White's shot in the right point deflected off two Potential predators before landing around the edge of Holmstrom's stick just left of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Holmstrom had a simple tap-set for his sixth goal of year.
Legwand came the Potential predators even half way with the first when he collected their own rebound right from the Detroit goal and set it past a diving Howard.
"You want to have fun with charge a bit more,Inch Legwand stated. "We don't wish to need to return in each and every game we play."
Detroit obtained charge with 9:57 to use the 2nd on Zetterberg's energy-play goal. Within the low slot, Todd Bertuzzi found Jiri Hudler within the left circle. Hudler rapidly found Zetterberg around the right side, where he sent a wrist shot right into a virtually open internet.
Before Thursday, Nashville hadn't permitted a energy-play goal in the last five games.
Lidstrom gave Detroit a 3-1 lead with 8:30 left within the second when his slap shot in the left point beat Rinne high towards the glove side.
"It's disappointing, especially getting charge starting the 3rd and using the penalty with under 5 minutes left," Lidstrom stated. "It always stings when you're losing, particularly when you play a division rival that you want to beat."
Nashville clarified with 2:38 remaining at that time on the goal by Tootoo, who converted the rebound of Kevin Klein's shot in the left side.
Tootoo has ten points in the last ten games.
Friday, December 2, 2011
New youth reporter 'blessed' by opportunity
Throughout her 14 years, ninth-grader Meggie Zahneis has never shied from a challenge and continues to conquer one obstacle after another.
That determination, and a charming personality, has not only given a life without limits, it's opened many doors. And the one she's about to walk through is a really big one.
Meggie, who penned the grand-prize-winning essay last summer in Major League Baseball's Breaking Barriers initiative, will become MLB.com's youth reporter and get to write stories about her hometown Cincinnati Reds and baseball at large.
"I am really blessed and really honored to be a part of something like this. It's a pretty cool feeling," Meggie said just before an assembly in her honor Thursday at the Lakota West Freshman School.
With several dignitaries representing the game, Major League Baseball held a presentation for Meggie to announce her new job featuring Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball icon Jackie Robinson and the founder of the Breaking Barriers program.
As about a dozen media members and MLB staffers entered the auditorium before her classmates, Meggie was poised and didn't shrink under the spotlight. She even embraced Phillips not long after he walked in and the two had an extended private conversation -- although at one point, Meggie couldn't help shouting to her father, "Dad, come meet Brandon Phillips!"
The two had interacted in the past at games or events, but Phillips didn't really meet her until Thursday.
"She said I was so nice to sign her autographs all the time," Phillips said. "There's something about her presence that just makes you want to smile. I feel like I can just sit around and talk with her all day. She's very well-spoken."Florida Marlins Jerseys
Breaking Barriers began in 1997, and each year it has held a contest for students in grades 4-8 to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles they faced, still face or overcame.
Meggie was born with a very rare disorder known as HSAN II (Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, type 2), which causes her to be unable to feel pain, temperature and touch like most people.
"With her disorder, there are not a lot of people that have it," said Meggie's mother, Cindy Zahneis. "So there is no one to look to to see what's going to happen or what's possible. I think she has pretty much exceeded what people thought might be possible."
Meggie is also 100 percent deaf, if not for the aid of her cochlear implants.
"It may not be on a baseball field, but I face many of the same social and emotional barriers that Jackie Robinson did," Meggie's winning essay read. "Every day, I try to make a conscious commitment to focus on the things I CAN do, and not the ones I can't. I like to think I have the determination to forge forward with my strengths and use them to the advantage of not only myself, but of other kids with special needs. It's my dream that someday, just like Mr. Robinson paved the way for African-Americans to play baseball, I can pave the way, through my writing, for other kids with special needs."
Meggie's essay was one of 10,000 received by Breaking Barriers this year. That large pool was broken down to 100 finalists. Meggie's was the clear winner, according to Robinson.
"First of all, she is a very good writer," Robinson said. "The focus of her essay was on doing what I can do. What she can do is write. It was such a positive essay and a positive spirit that came out, and a great message for kids in general -- and adults. I know adults who have been inspired by her story, as well. It's a message for everybody. Be fearless. Don't let anyone stop you or tell you that you can't do something. Be fearless and move past it. Be the best you can be."
Phillips was also impressed with the essay, especially the part about Meggie focusing her life on what she can do.
"It really inspired me," Phillips said. "It touched my heart and showed me people should look at the world different. You really don't know what people go through."
The grand prize was initially supposed to be a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix, but more opportunities soon came. Robinson and MLB asked Meggie to attend a game at the World Series in Arlington, and that was where she walked into the suite of Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig.
Meggie has a way of making fast friends with people from all walks of life, and this one opened another door for her.
"I've brought a number of kids to the Commissioner's office for the Breaking Barriers contest. He met her very briefly at the All-Star Game, and I knew it wasn't enough," Robinson said. "I said I needed a picture of Meggie and the Commissioner together at the World Series for our program.
"[Selig] just embraced her immediately. What he didn't know was just how strong her knowledge was about baseball. The two of them sat down and fell into this conversation where they were laughing and talking. And they were talking baseball. When he called me, he said, 'I couldn't get her off my mind. She reminds me of [my daughter] Wendy when she was a young girl.' She was that interested in baseball and that knowledgeable."
Meggie impressed Selig in a profound way. With full support of the leadership at MLB.com and in the league office, he knew Meggie should have a meaningful opportunity in baseball. By the end of the World Series, her breakthrough job was in place. Selig personally told Meggie about the offer on a recent conference call that included Robinson. Meggie also will become a special envoy for Breaking Barriers to continue to share her experience and to encourage kids to write their own stories.
"It was a dream come true," Meggie said of the All-Star Game and World Series. "Now to be able to go and do that on a regular basis, I can't even imagine."
"MLB just keeps calling us and it's one thing after another -- getting to do all the things she has, the World Series and now this wonderful opportunity," Cindy Zahneis said. "She loves to write and loves baseball. She's had to struggle in her life with different things, but there have been a lot of positive things to keep her going. And this, obviously, I don't know how it can be topped."
On Thursday, Robinson announced that the Breaking Barriers essay contest was expanding to allow ninth-grade applicants to share their experiences.
Not only did Meggie get her entire school out of class for nearly an hour, her schoolmates can thank her for another bonus. While speaking, Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini invited the entire school of about 600 students to a game at Great American Ball Park in April.
"The fact that she's from Cincinnati and a Reds fan, this is her accomplishment," Castellini said. "We're just blessed to be along for the ride with her. We're blessed it's our town she is from and she supports our team. This is a day for her, but my thought coming here was, 'Let's make it a special day for the whole school and just make what's she has done all the more the special, because more people will get to enjoy it with her.'"
During the event, Meggie presented Phillips with a special Breaking Barriers jersey with Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the back.
"Amazing, especially as a Reds fan. I've always been a fan of him," Meggie said of Phillips earlier. "To get to meet him, it's absolutely amazing."
Now she will get to meet and speak with Reds players all season long. The next time, it will be part of her job.
That determination, and a charming personality, has not only given a life without limits, it's opened many doors. And the one she's about to walk through is a really big one.
Meggie, who penned the grand-prize-winning essay last summer in Major League Baseball's Breaking Barriers initiative, will become MLB.com's youth reporter and get to write stories about her hometown Cincinnati Reds and baseball at large.
"I am really blessed and really honored to be a part of something like this. It's a pretty cool feeling," Meggie said just before an assembly in her honor Thursday at the Lakota West Freshman School.
With several dignitaries representing the game, Major League Baseball held a presentation for Meggie to announce her new job featuring Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball icon Jackie Robinson and the founder of the Breaking Barriers program.
As about a dozen media members and MLB staffers entered the auditorium before her classmates, Meggie was poised and didn't shrink under the spotlight. She even embraced Phillips not long after he walked in and the two had an extended private conversation -- although at one point, Meggie couldn't help shouting to her father, "Dad, come meet Brandon Phillips!"
The two had interacted in the past at games or events, but Phillips didn't really meet her until Thursday.
"She said I was so nice to sign her autographs all the time," Phillips said. "There's something about her presence that just makes you want to smile. I feel like I can just sit around and talk with her all day. She's very well-spoken."Florida Marlins Jerseys
Breaking Barriers began in 1997, and each year it has held a contest for students in grades 4-8 to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles they faced, still face or overcame.
Meggie was born with a very rare disorder known as HSAN II (Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, type 2), which causes her to be unable to feel pain, temperature and touch like most people.
"With her disorder, there are not a lot of people that have it," said Meggie's mother, Cindy Zahneis. "So there is no one to look to to see what's going to happen or what's possible. I think she has pretty much exceeded what people thought might be possible."
Meggie is also 100 percent deaf, if not for the aid of her cochlear implants.
"It may not be on a baseball field, but I face many of the same social and emotional barriers that Jackie Robinson did," Meggie's winning essay read. "Every day, I try to make a conscious commitment to focus on the things I CAN do, and not the ones I can't. I like to think I have the determination to forge forward with my strengths and use them to the advantage of not only myself, but of other kids with special needs. It's my dream that someday, just like Mr. Robinson paved the way for African-Americans to play baseball, I can pave the way, through my writing, for other kids with special needs."
Meggie's essay was one of 10,000 received by Breaking Barriers this year. That large pool was broken down to 100 finalists. Meggie's was the clear winner, according to Robinson.
"First of all, she is a very good writer," Robinson said. "The focus of her essay was on doing what I can do. What she can do is write. It was such a positive essay and a positive spirit that came out, and a great message for kids in general -- and adults. I know adults who have been inspired by her story, as well. It's a message for everybody. Be fearless. Don't let anyone stop you or tell you that you can't do something. Be fearless and move past it. Be the best you can be."
Phillips was also impressed with the essay, especially the part about Meggie focusing her life on what she can do.
"It really inspired me," Phillips said. "It touched my heart and showed me people should look at the world different. You really don't know what people go through."
The grand prize was initially supposed to be a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix, but more opportunities soon came. Robinson and MLB asked Meggie to attend a game at the World Series in Arlington, and that was where she walked into the suite of Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig.
Meggie has a way of making fast friends with people from all walks of life, and this one opened another door for her.
"I've brought a number of kids to the Commissioner's office for the Breaking Barriers contest. He met her very briefly at the All-Star Game, and I knew it wasn't enough," Robinson said. "I said I needed a picture of Meggie and the Commissioner together at the World Series for our program.
"[Selig] just embraced her immediately. What he didn't know was just how strong her knowledge was about baseball. The two of them sat down and fell into this conversation where they were laughing and talking. And they were talking baseball. When he called me, he said, 'I couldn't get her off my mind. She reminds me of [my daughter] Wendy when she was a young girl.' She was that interested in baseball and that knowledgeable."
Meggie impressed Selig in a profound way. With full support of the leadership at MLB.com and in the league office, he knew Meggie should have a meaningful opportunity in baseball. By the end of the World Series, her breakthrough job was in place. Selig personally told Meggie about the offer on a recent conference call that included Robinson. Meggie also will become a special envoy for Breaking Barriers to continue to share her experience and to encourage kids to write their own stories.
"It was a dream come true," Meggie said of the All-Star Game and World Series. "Now to be able to go and do that on a regular basis, I can't even imagine."
"MLB just keeps calling us and it's one thing after another -- getting to do all the things she has, the World Series and now this wonderful opportunity," Cindy Zahneis said. "She loves to write and loves baseball. She's had to struggle in her life with different things, but there have been a lot of positive things to keep her going. And this, obviously, I don't know how it can be topped."
On Thursday, Robinson announced that the Breaking Barriers essay contest was expanding to allow ninth-grade applicants to share their experiences.
Not only did Meggie get her entire school out of class for nearly an hour, her schoolmates can thank her for another bonus. While speaking, Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini invited the entire school of about 600 students to a game at Great American Ball Park in April.
"The fact that she's from Cincinnati and a Reds fan, this is her accomplishment," Castellini said. "We're just blessed to be along for the ride with her. We're blessed it's our town she is from and she supports our team. This is a day for her, but my thought coming here was, 'Let's make it a special day for the whole school and just make what's she has done all the more the special, because more people will get to enjoy it with her.'"
During the event, Meggie presented Phillips with a special Breaking Barriers jersey with Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the back.
"Amazing, especially as a Reds fan. I've always been a fan of him," Meggie said of Phillips earlier. "To get to meet him, it's absolutely amazing."
Now she will get to meet and speak with Reds players all season long. The next time, it will be part of her job.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
With a final round of 4-under 68, Ken Duke won the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island and punched his ticket back to the PGA Tour for 2012. Duke won the season finale by two shots over 54-hole leader Scott Brown. Duke went from 36th to seventh on the money list with the win. The top 25 players on the money table earn PGA Tour status for next season. The 42-year-old said his hard work brought him back to the big tour. “I’m older now, but I’ve hired a trainer and have worked very hard to keep up,” said Duke. “I’ve lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of strength in my core. I have a lot more flexibility and hopefully I can keep right on going.” Duke returns to the PGA Tour after playing in 2004 and from ’07-’09, earning three runner-up finishes. Brown finished eighth on the money list, one behind Duke, and earned a tour card as an outstanding consolation prize. “This is an absolute dream come true,” said Brown. “I’m still numb. I’m sure it will come to me later on tonight. The year has been kind of like a rollercoaster….up and down, but the finishes have been up there. I can’t wait to get to that next level and see how I measure up.” J.J. Killeen, twice a winner this season, topped the money list with $414,273 in earnings.
With a final round of 4-under 68, Ken Duke won the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island and punched his ticket back to the PGA Tour for 2012.
Duke won the season finale by two shots over 54-hole leader Scott Brown. Duke went from 36th to seventh on the money list with the win. The top 25 players on the money table earn PGA Tour status for next season.
The 42-year-old said his hard work brought him back to the big tour.
“I’m older now, but I’ve hired a trainer and have worked very hard to keep up,” said Duke. “I’ve lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of strength in my core. wholesale jerseys I have a lot more flexibility and hopefully I can keep right on going.”
Duke returns to the PGA Tour after playing in 2004 and from ’07-’09, earning three runner-up finishes.
Brown finished eighth on the money list, one behind Duke, and earned a tour card as an outstanding consolation prize.
“This is an absolute dream come true,” said Brown. “I’m still numb. I’m sure it will come to me later on tonight. The year has been kind of like a rollercoaster….up and down, but the finishes have been up there. I can’t wait to get to that next level and see how I measure up.”
J.J. Killeen, twice a winner this season, topped the money list with $414,273 in earnings.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Red Sox and Braves Complete Historic Collapses, Miss Playoffs
The Boston Red Sox completed their September collapse in horrific and historic fashion, falling out of the playoff chase by allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.
The Red Sox held a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race after Sept. 3, but a 7-19 swoon left them tied with Tampa Bay entering the final day of the regular season.
Only minutes after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 win over the New York Yankees in 12 innings.
Even if Tampa Bay lost, the Red Sox faced the prospect of a quick turnaround following a long night at Camden Yards that included a rain delay of 1 hour, 26 minutes in the middle of the seventh inning.
When the rain came, Tampa Bay trailed 7-0. By the time play resumed, the Rays and Yankees were tied at 7 heading into the 10th inning.
The Orioles won the game in the ninth against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon (4-1), who struck out the first two batters before giving up a double to Chris Davis.
Nolan Reimold followed with a double to score pinch-runner Kyle Hudson, and Robert Andino completed the comeback with a single to left that Carl Crawford couldn’t glove.
Boston became the first team to miss the postseason after leading by as many as nine games for a playoff spot entering September, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Jim Johnson (6-5) worked the ninth for Baltimore.
On the National League side in Houston, Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals completed one of baseball’s greatest comebacks, clinching the NL wild card Wednesday night with an 8-0 win over Houston and a later loss by Atlanta.
The Cardinals got their playoff spot when the Braves fell to Philadelphia 4-3 in 13 innings.
St. Louis trailed Atlanta by 101/2 games on Aug. 25. The Cardinals won 23 of their last 31 games.
The Cardinals will open the postseason on Saturday at NL East champion Philadelphia. In the other NL playoff cheap jerseys shop matchup, Arizona visits Milwaukee.
Carpenter (11-9) struck out 11 and allowed two hits in his 15th career complete-game shutout as St. Louis kept up its improbable September charge.
“We had nothing to lose. We were already out of it,” Carpenter said. “People were telling us we were done. We decided to go out and play and not embarrass ourselves and do what we can. We played ourselves back into it.”
The Cardinals poured onto the field after Carpenter fielded J.D. Martinez’s weak grounder for the final out. The celebration was brief and muted, as the team raced into the clubhouse to watch the end of the game in Atlanta.
“It was exciting, there’s no doubt about it,” Carpenter said. “The way these guys have played the past month and a half has been amazing, every single night grinding, playing their butts off, not giving up.”
The Red Sox held a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race after Sept. 3, but a 7-19 swoon left them tied with Tampa Bay entering the final day of the regular season.
Only minutes after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 win over the New York Yankees in 12 innings.
Even if Tampa Bay lost, the Red Sox faced the prospect of a quick turnaround following a long night at Camden Yards that included a rain delay of 1 hour, 26 minutes in the middle of the seventh inning.
When the rain came, Tampa Bay trailed 7-0. By the time play resumed, the Rays and Yankees were tied at 7 heading into the 10th inning.
The Orioles won the game in the ninth against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon (4-1), who struck out the first two batters before giving up a double to Chris Davis.
Nolan Reimold followed with a double to score pinch-runner Kyle Hudson, and Robert Andino completed the comeback with a single to left that Carl Crawford couldn’t glove.
Boston became the first team to miss the postseason after leading by as many as nine games for a playoff spot entering September, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Jim Johnson (6-5) worked the ninth for Baltimore.
On the National League side in Houston, Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals completed one of baseball’s greatest comebacks, clinching the NL wild card Wednesday night with an 8-0 win over Houston and a later loss by Atlanta.
The Cardinals got their playoff spot when the Braves fell to Philadelphia 4-3 in 13 innings.
St. Louis trailed Atlanta by 101/2 games on Aug. 25. The Cardinals won 23 of their last 31 games.
The Cardinals will open the postseason on Saturday at NL East champion Philadelphia. In the other NL playoff cheap jerseys shop matchup, Arizona visits Milwaukee.
Carpenter (11-9) struck out 11 and allowed two hits in his 15th career complete-game shutout as St. Louis kept up its improbable September charge.
“We had nothing to lose. We were already out of it,” Carpenter said. “People were telling us we were done. We decided to go out and play and not embarrass ourselves and do what we can. We played ourselves back into it.”
The Cardinals poured onto the field after Carpenter fielded J.D. Martinez’s weak grounder for the final out. The celebration was brief and muted, as the team raced into the clubhouse to watch the end of the game in Atlanta.
“It was exciting, there’s no doubt about it,” Carpenter said. “The way these guys have played the past month and a half has been amazing, every single night grinding, playing their butts off, not giving up.”
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The New York Yankees can clinch their 16th playoff berth in the last 17 years by winning once in their day-night doubleheader Wednesday vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees reduced their magic number for a postseason berth to 2 with Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Rays. Any combination of Yankees wins and Rays losses totaling two vaults New York into its customary place in the playoffs.The Yankees (93-60) also have a magic number of 3 for clinching the American League East Division. If they sweep the doubleheader and Boston mlb jerseys cheap (88-67) loses to Baltimore, they clinch the division.The Red Sox are two games ahead of the Rays (85-68) in the race for the AL wild card but just one game in the loss column.On the fringe of the wild card race are the Los Angeles Angels (84-70), who are 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox and five games behind the first-place Texas Rangers (89-65) in the AL West. The Rangers have a magic number of 4.In the National League wild card race, the Atlanta Braves (88-67) maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals (85-69) as both teams won Tuesday. The defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants (83-71) lost Tuesday and are 4 1/2 games behind the Braves.The Milwaukee Brewers (91-64) have a magic number of 3 to clinch the NL Central, as do the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-66) to wrap up the NL West.
The Yankees reduced their magic number for a postseason berth to 2 with Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Rays. Any combination of Yankees wins and Rays losses totaling two vaults New York into its customary place in the playoffs.The Yankees (93-60) also have a magic number of 3 for clinching the American League East Division. If they sweep the doubleheader and Boston mlb jerseys cheap (88-67) loses to Baltimore, they clinch the division.The Red Sox are two games ahead of the Rays (85-68) in the race for the AL wild card but just one game in the loss column.On the fringe of the wild card race are the Los Angeles Angels (84-70), who are 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox and five games behind the first-place Texas Rangers (89-65) in the AL West. The Rangers have a magic number of 4.In the National League wild card race, the Atlanta Braves (88-67) maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals (85-69) as both teams won Tuesday. The defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants (83-71) lost Tuesday and are 4 1/2 games behind the Braves.The Milwaukee Brewers (91-64) have a magic number of 3 to clinch the NL Central, as do the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-66) to wrap up the NL West.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Oswalt, Pence lose in return to Houston
In the end, it was more of a housecoming than a homecoming for Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence. Gone were the teammates they used to share. Gone were the fans they used to play in front of. Gone was just about any sign of life that once inhabited Minute Maid Park. The only familiar thing for the two former Astros was the end result: a loss, this time as members of the Phillies, who fell, 5-1, in the first of a three-game series.
Oswalt and Pence each received a healthy ovation from the fans who bothered to show up to watch a Houston team that entered the night with the worst record in the majors. The folks who did turn out covered less than half of the lower bowl of seating at the cozy ballpark (the announced paid attendance was 22,231).
Neither player saw much that he recognized in the place they used to call home. Pence, who was traded to the Phillies on July 29, never started a game with half of the regulars the Astros fielded. Humberto Quintero and Carlos Lee were the only participants who used to play with him or Oswalt on a regular basis, not including pitching coach and former Astros reliever Doug Brocail, who played with both of them in 2008 and '09.
"I probably played with him more than anybody," Oswalt said. "Everybody else is pretty new."
The irony, of course, is that the Astros actually managed to win a game, tallying their 50th victory while handing the Phillies their 50th loss. Oswalt allowed five earned runs in seven innings, although two of them came thanks to defensive miscues.
Both of those runs discount jerseys were scored in the fourth inning, when Raul Ibanez misjudged a routine fly to put runners on the corners with one out. During the next at-bat, Jimmy Rollins and Pete Orr converged on a grounder up the middle and ended up colliding.
Although the miscues were ruled singles by the official scorer, both are plays the Phillies usually make, which means that in normal circumstances, Oswalt would have been out of an inning that started with a leadoff double by J.D. Martinez. Instead, the Astros scored two runs, the second coming on a double by Quintero that gave them a 2-1 lead.
"They bother me a lot," manager Charlie Manuel said of the miscues. "That's kind of what led to us losing. I think they played a big role. I thought we played very sloppy."
Oswalt's biggest mistake came in the fifth, when he hung a curveball to Lee, who dispatched it into the seats in leftfield for a two-run homer that gave the Astros a 4-1 lead. Houston added another run in the seventh, which proved to be more than enough to hand the Phillies their second straight loss.
The Phillies were unable to generate much offense against former teammate Brett Myers (5-13), who allowed six hits and one walk with four strikeouts in eight innings. Their only run came in the second inning, when Ibanez led off with a double and scored on a one-out single by Orr.
Pence, who finished 2-for-4, had the only other extra-base hit off of Myers, a double in the first. Oswalt, who had two walks, two strikeouts and hit a batter, fell to 7-9 with a 3.88 ERA.
The Phillies have lost 10 of the last 12 games they have played against the Astros after the All-Star break the last 3 years, including a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park last August and a four-game sweep at Minute Maid Park in August 2009. Myers, a former first-round draft pick and top-of-the-rotation starter who never reached his potential in Philadelphia, logged his third straight quality start against the Phillies since leaving the organization after the 2009 season.
"Actually, when you get right down to it, we got outplayed," Manuel said. "We definitely got outplayed."
The Phillies, who fell to 94-50, could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory due to the Cardinals' 6-5 loss to the Pirates. Now, they can clinch with either a victory or a Cardinals loss.
Oswalt and Pence each received a healthy ovation from the fans who bothered to show up to watch a Houston team that entered the night with the worst record in the majors. The folks who did turn out covered less than half of the lower bowl of seating at the cozy ballpark (the announced paid attendance was 22,231).
"I probably played with him more than anybody," Oswalt said. "Everybody else is pretty new."
The irony, of course, is that the Astros actually managed to win a game, tallying their 50th victory while handing the Phillies their 50th loss. Oswalt allowed five earned runs in seven innings, although two of them came thanks to defensive miscues.
Both of those runs discount jerseys were scored in the fourth inning, when Raul Ibanez misjudged a routine fly to put runners on the corners with one out. During the next at-bat, Jimmy Rollins and Pete Orr converged on a grounder up the middle and ended up colliding.
Although the miscues were ruled singles by the official scorer, both are plays the Phillies usually make, which means that in normal circumstances, Oswalt would have been out of an inning that started with a leadoff double by J.D. Martinez. Instead, the Astros scored two runs, the second coming on a double by Quintero that gave them a 2-1 lead.
"They bother me a lot," manager Charlie Manuel said of the miscues. "That's kind of what led to us losing. I think they played a big role. I thought we played very sloppy."
Oswalt's biggest mistake came in the fifth, when he hung a curveball to Lee, who dispatched it into the seats in leftfield for a two-run homer that gave the Astros a 4-1 lead. Houston added another run in the seventh, which proved to be more than enough to hand the Phillies their second straight loss.
The Phillies were unable to generate much offense against former teammate Brett Myers (5-13), who allowed six hits and one walk with four strikeouts in eight innings. Their only run came in the second inning, when Ibanez led off with a double and scored on a one-out single by Orr.
Pence, who finished 2-for-4, had the only other extra-base hit off of Myers, a double in the first. Oswalt, who had two walks, two strikeouts and hit a batter, fell to 7-9 with a 3.88 ERA.
The Phillies have lost 10 of the last 12 games they have played against the Astros after the All-Star break the last 3 years, including a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park last August and a four-game sweep at Minute Maid Park in August 2009. Myers, a former first-round draft pick and top-of-the-rotation starter who never reached his potential in Philadelphia, logged his third straight quality start against the Phillies since leaving the organization after the 2009 season.
"Actually, when you get right down to it, we got outplayed," Manuel said. "We definitely got outplayed."
The Phillies, who fell to 94-50, could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory due to the Cardinals' 6-5 loss to the Pirates. Now, they can clinch with either a victory or a Cardinals loss.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Ruthless Federer races to Monaco victory
Roger Federer was left waiting until almost midnight to start his US Open fourth round match on Monday, but made up for the delay with a brutal 6-1 6-2 6-0 win over Argentine Juan Monaco to reach the quarter-finals.
The five-time champion took the first set in 18 minutes and barely slowed down after that as the third-seeded Swiss eliminated his unseeded opponent in just 82 minutes under the Arthur Ashe Stadium court floodlights.
The lightning-quick win, which came as rain clouds gathered and mist filled the air at the National Tennis Center, marked the Swiss master's 30th successive trip to the quarter-finals of a grand slam event, dating back to the 2004 French Open.
The 16-time major champion advanced to a mouth-watering clash against 11th seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who rallied to overcome eight-seeded American Mardy Fish in five sets earlier in the day.
The five-time champion took the first set in 18 minutes and barely slowed down after that as the third-seeded Swiss eliminated his unseeded opponent in just 82 minutes under the Arthur Ashe Stadium court floodlights.
The lightning-quick win, which came as rain clouds gathered and mist filled the air at the National Tennis Center, marked the Swiss master's 30th successive trip to the quarter-finals of a grand slam event, dating back to the 2004 French Open.
The 16-time major champion advanced to a mouth-watering clash against 11th seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who rallied to overcome eight-seeded American Mardy Fish in five sets earlier in the day.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Report: Texas A&M informs Big 12 it's leaving
The New York Times is reporting Texas A&M has notified the Big 12 it will withdraw from the conference.
The newspaper reported on its website Monday night that Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton to inform the league it was leaving.
The New York Times story cited two unidentified college officials with direct knowledge of the decision.
Texas A&M's departure would cast doubt on the future of the Big 12 and could lead to more major changes to college athletics.
Earlier in the day, Texas A&M received a letter from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe outlining the withdrawal procedure should the Aggies decide to leave the league.
University spokesman Jason Cook Wholesale nfl jerseys said the letter "outlines the withdrawal procedures according to the financial provisions of the Big 12 bylaws and mutual waivers of legal claims."
Cook wouldn't provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be.
The Aggies are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference and the letter comes less than a week after they formally told Beebe they are exploring their options and asked for the conference to outline the process if they decide to leave. The league's board of directors addressed the possible departure of the Aggies this weekend.
"I certainly appreciate the discussion among the Big 12 presidents/chancellors and the expression of their desire for Texas A&M to remain in the conference," Loftin said in a statement. "We all agree that Texas A&M is an extremely valuable institution; thus, it is incumbent upon me, as the president of the university, to ensure that we are in a position to enhance our national visibility and future financial opportunity."
Loftin added this is a "complex and long-term decision," but "it is not our intent to prolong our conference exploration for an extended period of time."
The SEC said earlier this month it was happy with its current 12-school membership but left the door open to expansion. Loftin then received authority from the board of regents to take any action he deems necessary in terms of realignment.
There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league last July. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider nfl jerseys wholesale how their departure would impact the future of Big 12 before any decision is made.
The Big 12 would need to find a team to replace the Aggies if they exit the conference and there has been a lot of speculation about possible schools. So far, the only school to publicly express interest in moving to the Big 12 is SMU. Athletics director Steve Orsini said he's had informal talks with Big 12 officials for some time to inform them of the school's improvements and growth.
In the letter Loftin sent to the Big 12 last week, he said if the Aggies leave, they would want to do it in a manner that complies with league bylaws. He also has said financial concerns will factor into any decision to leave; the school likely would face an exit fee.
The Big 12, including Texas A&M, agreed to a 13-year television deal with Fox Sports in April worth more than $1 billion. There is a chance the contract could be voided if the Aggies leave the conference, which could lead to legal issues for Texas A&M and its new league.
The Big 12 declined to comment on Monday's letter.
The newspaper reported on its website Monday night that Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton to inform the league it was leaving.
The New York Times story cited two unidentified college officials with direct knowledge of the decision.
Texas A&M's departure would cast doubt on the future of the Big 12 and could lead to more major changes to college athletics.
Earlier in the day, Texas A&M received a letter from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe outlining the withdrawal procedure should the Aggies decide to leave the league.
University spokesman Jason Cook Wholesale nfl jerseys said the letter "outlines the withdrawal procedures according to the financial provisions of the Big 12 bylaws and mutual waivers of legal claims."
Cook wouldn't provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be.
The Aggies are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference and the letter comes less than a week after they formally told Beebe they are exploring their options and asked for the conference to outline the process if they decide to leave. The league's board of directors addressed the possible departure of the Aggies this weekend.
"I certainly appreciate the discussion among the Big 12 presidents/chancellors and the expression of their desire for Texas A&M to remain in the conference," Loftin said in a statement. "We all agree that Texas A&M is an extremely valuable institution; thus, it is incumbent upon me, as the president of the university, to ensure that we are in a position to enhance our national visibility and future financial opportunity."
Loftin added this is a "complex and long-term decision," but "it is not our intent to prolong our conference exploration for an extended period of time."
The SEC said earlier this month it was happy with its current 12-school membership but left the door open to expansion. Loftin then received authority from the board of regents to take any action he deems necessary in terms of realignment.
There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league last July. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider nfl jerseys wholesale how their departure would impact the future of Big 12 before any decision is made.
The Big 12 would need to find a team to replace the Aggies if they exit the conference and there has been a lot of speculation about possible schools. So far, the only school to publicly express interest in moving to the Big 12 is SMU. Athletics director Steve Orsini said he's had informal talks with Big 12 officials for some time to inform them of the school's improvements and growth.
In the letter Loftin sent to the Big 12 last week, he said if the Aggies leave, they would want to do it in a manner that complies with league bylaws. He also has said financial concerns will factor into any decision to leave; the school likely would face an exit fee.
The Big 12, including Texas A&M, agreed to a 13-year television deal with Fox Sports in April worth more than $1 billion. There is a chance the contract could be voided if the Aggies leave the conference, which could lead to legal issues for Texas A&M and its new league.
The Big 12 declined to comment on Monday's letter.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Miami president says 15 Hurricanes players are being investigated
The probe into Miami athletics is growing, with the university looking into the eligibility of 15 athletes who may have accepted improper benefits from a rogue booster.
Miami President Donna Shalala did not reveal any names of the players under investigation as she released a video statement Monday. The booster, convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro, told Yahoo Sports for an article published last week that 12 current football players and one men's basketball player got money, gifts and other items from him.
“We cannot let the actions of some define the many,” Shalala said.
The football players who were named by Shapiro in interviews with Yahoo Sports are Jacory Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Dyron Dye, JoJo Nicholas and Sean Spence. Shapiro also alleged to Yahoo Sports that he paid US$10,000 to ensure that basketball player DeQuan Jones signed with the Hurricanes.
Most, if not all, the current football players Shapiro named would likely be major contributors if they get to take the field.
Citing the ongoing investigation, school officials would not say Monday if any of those players have been cleared to play, or who the additional names linked to the investigation are.
“The Miami athletic compliance staff, in a joint effort with the NCAA, is now beginning the process of reviewing the eligibility of 15 current student-athletes,” Shalala said. “With the season fast approaching I know our players, coaches and fans are eager to know the results. The process, however, must be deliberate and thorough to ensure its integrity.”
The university wants to decide the status of the football players by the end of this week. Football coach Al Golden is planning to release a depth chart in the coming days for the Sept. 5 opener at Maryland, a process that would become very difficult if players like Harris, Spence, Forston, Telemaque, Armstrong and Benjamin — some of the team's on-field leaders — are ineligible.
“We will move forward,” Golden said Saturday.
If Miami uses any player later deemed ineligible by the NCAA, then the Hurricanes run the risk of having to retroactively vacate games. If the Hurricanes sit the players implicated in the scandal, then their chances of winning now figure to take a serious hit.
Miami's football team held a closed scrimmage Monday, which Golden said would be the final audition of sorts for players trying to make the 60-person travel roster to Maryland.
Golden and other members of the football NFL Jerseys Cheap program will be unavailable for comment until Thursday, school officials said.
For much of the past few days, Shalala has tried to keep some sense of normalcy.
Miami's freshman class arrived on campus last week, and Shalala mingled with many of them at a women's soccer game Friday night. On Sunday, she hosted a picnic at her home for new students, although she also met with senior staff throughout the weekend about the status of the investigation. Some football players popped into another women's soccer game Sunday night, getting words of encouragement from some longtime Miami supporters.
“The past eight days have been difficult. ... However, I'm heartened by the kind of displays of support in recent days, phone calls, text messages, emails and letters from so many of you,” Shalala said. “When our values are called into question, as they have been this past week, we have only one option: Do what is right and have the confidence in tomorrow. We will not let others define us.”
Five months ago, NCAA officials began investigating claims that Shapiro, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million scam, provided 72 football players — 65 of whom suited up for the Hurricanes — with cars, money, gifts and even prostitutes between 2002 and 2010. Shapiro's claims also implicate 10 Miami football and basketball coaches, none of whom are still employed by the university.
Shalala says Miami has retained attorneys who specialize in NCAA investigations to assist with the process.
“We have been open and co-operative with investigators,” Shalala said.
Shalala has not been available for interviews, outside of one given last week to Miami's student newspaper. Her video message lasted just a bit under six minutes.
“The NCAA has instructed us not to comment on specific details of the investigation,” Shalala said. “It's frustrating for us — for me — to be unable to speak more freely or to answer questions. However we must protect the integrity of the investigation and have patience as the work proceeds.”
Miami has joined a growing list of schools with major football programs to be investigated by the NCAA for rule-breaking in the past 18 months. Others include Southern California, Ohio State, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and LSU.
Federal officials said Shapiro, 42, remained imprisoned Monday at a facility in Tallahassee, Fla. His attorney has said Shapiro is in the process of being transferred to another prison, possibly one in South Florida, and that his transit is expected to be completed within days.
Miami President Donna Shalala did not reveal any names of the players under investigation as she released a video statement Monday. The booster, convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro, told Yahoo Sports for an article published last week that 12 current football players and one men's basketball player got money, gifts and other items from him.
“We cannot let the actions of some define the many,” Shalala said.
The football players who were named by Shapiro in interviews with Yahoo Sports are Jacory Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Dyron Dye, JoJo Nicholas and Sean Spence. Shapiro also alleged to Yahoo Sports that he paid US$10,000 to ensure that basketball player DeQuan Jones signed with the Hurricanes.
Most, if not all, the current football players Shapiro named would likely be major contributors if they get to take the field.
Citing the ongoing investigation, school officials would not say Monday if any of those players have been cleared to play, or who the additional names linked to the investigation are.
“The Miami athletic compliance staff, in a joint effort with the NCAA, is now beginning the process of reviewing the eligibility of 15 current student-athletes,” Shalala said. “With the season fast approaching I know our players, coaches and fans are eager to know the results. The process, however, must be deliberate and thorough to ensure its integrity.”
The university wants to decide the status of the football players by the end of this week. Football coach Al Golden is planning to release a depth chart in the coming days for the Sept. 5 opener at Maryland, a process that would become very difficult if players like Harris, Spence, Forston, Telemaque, Armstrong and Benjamin — some of the team's on-field leaders — are ineligible.
“We will move forward,” Golden said Saturday.
If Miami uses any player later deemed ineligible by the NCAA, then the Hurricanes run the risk of having to retroactively vacate games. If the Hurricanes sit the players implicated in the scandal, then their chances of winning now figure to take a serious hit.
Miami's football team held a closed scrimmage Monday, which Golden said would be the final audition of sorts for players trying to make the 60-person travel roster to Maryland.
Golden and other members of the football NFL Jerseys Cheap program will be unavailable for comment until Thursday, school officials said.
For much of the past few days, Shalala has tried to keep some sense of normalcy.
Miami's freshman class arrived on campus last week, and Shalala mingled with many of them at a women's soccer game Friday night. On Sunday, she hosted a picnic at her home for new students, although she also met with senior staff throughout the weekend about the status of the investigation. Some football players popped into another women's soccer game Sunday night, getting words of encouragement from some longtime Miami supporters.
“The past eight days have been difficult. ... However, I'm heartened by the kind of displays of support in recent days, phone calls, text messages, emails and letters from so many of you,” Shalala said. “When our values are called into question, as they have been this past week, we have only one option: Do what is right and have the confidence in tomorrow. We will not let others define us.”
Five months ago, NCAA officials began investigating claims that Shapiro, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million scam, provided 72 football players — 65 of whom suited up for the Hurricanes — with cars, money, gifts and even prostitutes between 2002 and 2010. Shapiro's claims also implicate 10 Miami football and basketball coaches, none of whom are still employed by the university.
Shalala says Miami has retained attorneys who specialize in NCAA investigations to assist with the process.
“We have been open and co-operative with investigators,” Shalala said.
Shalala has not been available for interviews, outside of one given last week to Miami's student newspaper. Her video message lasted just a bit under six minutes.
“The NCAA has instructed us not to comment on specific details of the investigation,” Shalala said. “It's frustrating for us — for me — to be unable to speak more freely or to answer questions. However we must protect the integrity of the investigation and have patience as the work proceeds.”
Miami has joined a growing list of schools with major football programs to be investigated by the NCAA for rule-breaking in the past 18 months. Others include Southern California, Ohio State, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and LSU.
Federal officials said Shapiro, 42, remained imprisoned Monday at a facility in Tallahassee, Fla. His attorney has said Shapiro is in the process of being transferred to another prison, possibly one in South Florida, and that his transit is expected to be completed within days.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Rodman always on the rebound
The numerous tattoos, piercings and entourage were expected. What else to expect from Dennis Rodman’s trip to the Naismith Hall of Fame? Flamboyance is normal for Rodman.
Perhaps his goal was to overshadow his career accomplishments, or obscure the insecurities of the poor kid from Dallas who turned himself into one of sports biggest personalities, setting a trail for professional athletes who determine their own brand.
Last night, donning a black-glittered sweatsuit with Pistons and Bulls spelled on the back, Rodman held back tears during his 11-minute acceptance speech, finally attempting to make amends with his estranged mother, Shirley, who was in the audience.
It was a brilliant admission by someone who became a trailblazer in determining his fate, however adversely it affected his career. Although his appearance, off-the-court antics, and bizarre on-court behavior often blurred his impact as a remarkable rebounder and team player, Rodman did not apologize for his actions until last night.What he proved during his 14-year NBA career with the Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, and Mavericks was that an athlete could seize control of his image. While Michael Jordan cherished and protected his image almost obsessively, Rodman was a champion for self-expression, regardless of how it tarnished his public persona.
So why should he care now? Because deliberation and contemplation are the themes for every Hall of Famer this weekend in Springfield. The great ones consider what they could have done better, and Rodman is a great one. He outworked his opponents on the boards, leading the league in rebounding a whopping seven times, including three seasons of averaging 17 or more.
Rodman averaged in double figures in scoring just once in his career - his second season with Detroit - but he’s in Springfield because of hustle and sacrifice.
At 50, Rodman realizes his impact on the game, but he also understands how his selfishness and self-indulgence affected his family. The exhibitionism came at a cost. The expression was painful and has lasted into life after basketball, where he has endured troubles and demons.
But he seems willing to accept his detractors, because basketball, in the end, was his focus.
“I never imagined to be here,’’ Rodman said. “If you would have told me this 15 years ago, I would have told you I never knew what this was. It’s hard to be an entertainer and athlete and be a smart basketball player at the same time. As you can see, some guys try to do it but they don’t know how to put the game of basketball first. That’s one thing I did. Entertainment could come at any time of the ballgame.
“Thankful for me I went to Chicago, and they let me be the person I wanted to be. Everywhere I go around the world, you catch 8-, 9-year-old kids saying ‘Oh my God, I love you, I love you’ and [they’ve] never seen me play. You don’t know who I am. I haven’t had a job in 15 years, but I am relevant around the world. And I’m still being an integral part of people’s lives. I respected the game of basketball and that’s why I think I am here.’’
And NBA observers who judged Rodman’s every drop of dye, every ink of tattoo, and every marriage ceremony, acknowledged his greatness in spite of his strangeness. So that’s why he is here. He has spent the weekend respecting the Hall, mostly avoiding his brutal and sometimes painful honesty.
“I have one regret about playing basketball and being an athlete,’’ said Rodman, who has three children. “Being a father, a regret. That’s about it. Basketball, I would never change anything but off the court, it’s a whole different ballgame, bro. I would be there [with my kids] instead of being selfish. Instead of being the clown, the jester, the look-at-me-now type of person. If I would have took a few more days to understand what it was like to be a well-grounded and great human being instead of a great athlete, I think I would probably be a better person.’’
Rodman said he wanted his 10-year-old son D.J. to present him last night, and his second choice was Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, but he accepted Phil Jackson after the Hall of Fame committee made the decision. D.J. and Rodman’s daughter Trinity walked with their father down the aisle as he was introduced, and D.J. sported dad’s cowboy hat.
“I’m not going to live forever, I need to decide if I need to balance my life out with the party life or the scene or the other stuff in my life, or live my life and try to keep my family together and look at my kids be happy and grow up,’’ Rodman said.
“I don’t need the Hall of Fame to hold a major press conference to tell people how [bad off] I was. I don’t need this. This is to let people know I’m not just an entertainer. But to let people know I do have a family. I do have some cool kids. I do have a wife that’s living. I do have a mother that’s living. I have good, caring people that’s been through thick and thin with me and had my back.’’
Rodman seemingly had gotten so much out of this trip to Springfield.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Judge expected in N.Y. for NFL talks: source
Talks to end the NFL lockout will resume with the court-appointed mediator in New York on Monday and could continue through Thursday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on Sunday on condition of anonymity, because the discussions are supposed to remain confidential.
The mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, originally had ordered representatives of the league's owners and players to meet with him Tuesday in Minneapolis. Now Boylan is expected to arrive in New York on Monday to oversee talks aimed at ending the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.
The owners have a special meeting set for Thursday in Atlanta, where they potentially could ratify a new deal — if one is reached by then. Any agreement also must be voted on by groups of players, including the named plaintiffs in a federal antitrust suit against the league, and the NFL Players Association's 32 team representatives.
More than four months into the lockout, owners and players have made significant progress on the framework of an agreement. But re-establishing the union and figuring out what it will take for nine NFL players — including star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees — to settle that antitrust suit are among key issues blocking a deal to end the lockout, people familiar with the negotiations told the AP on condition of anonymity.
The unresolved matters also include how the TV networks case, in which the players accused the owners of setting up "lockout insurance," will be settled.
Among the parts mostly squared away following significant progress last week:
- how the more than US$9 billion in annual league revenues will be divided;
- a rookie salary system;
- free agency rules;
- a cap of about $120 million for player salaries in 2011, with about another $20 million in benefits.
The lockout began March 12, when negotiations broke down and the old collective bargaining agreement expired. The NFLPA announced it was dissolving itself and would no longer be a union that could bargain for all players under labour law, instead saying it was now a trade association. That allowed players to take their chances against the NFL in federal court under antitrust law.
There is a possibility that the sides will be able to put together a tentative agreement in principle in time to keep the preseason completely intact. The exhibition opener is scheduled to be the Hall of Fame game between the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears on Aug. 7, and as of Sunday, no preseason games had been cancelled.
Members of the legal and financial teams for the two groups met in New York on Saturday, while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith spoke with each other. The larger negotiating teams that gathered for more than 30 hours of intensive face-to-face talks spread across Wednesday through Friday — including owners and current or former players — did not meet Saturday.
Among the parts of the deal that people familiar with the negotiations told the AP are largely in place:
- The players' portion of the league's full annual revenues will be on a sliding scale with a floor of 46.5 per cent and a ceiling of 48.5 per cent. There no longer will be the old formula, under which owners got a cut off the top for various operating expenses before revenues were divided.
- Most players will be able to become unrestricted free agents after four years in the league, and the owners' hope for being able to get a right of first refusal on three players per team in 2011 was dropped.
- First-round draft picks will sign four-year deals, with a club option for the fifth year. The new rookie salary system will help curtail first-year players' soaring salaries, with much of that money going to veterans.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Open champion Darren Clarke reveals he almost quit in April
Darren Clarke thought about giving up professional golf in April after a round of 81 in Morocco but was persuaded, against his instincts, to go on holiday, regroup and come back refreshed. On balance, the new Open champion probably made the right decision.
For one thing, he is now considerably richer. Along with the £900,000 winner's cheque, he will receive a £2m bonus from one of his sponsors on Wednesday, as well as countless other benefits – appearance fees and such like – that come the way of major champions.
More importantly, by sticking with the game the Northern Irishman was sticking with the very fibre of his being. He is – as he confirmed during the course of a hungover post-victory press conference at Royal St George's – a golfer to the core. The son of a greenskeeper picked up the game as an 11-year-old, discovered an aptitude and developed a love. He turned professional in 1990, won his first European Tour event three years later and over the next 20 years fashioned a career that could be a judged a solid B+. But now this: the Champion Golfer of the Year, as the R&A designates the winner of its annual shindig.
When the prize-giving was over and the hordes had departed Royal St George's, Clarke returned to a rented house for the party of all parties.
The Claret Jug was passed around and admired as the champion mingled with family and guests and posed for photographs. Clarke's ubiquitous agent and long-time friend, Andrew Chandler, spoke of the frustrations that drove his man to the brink this year. "He was so low he thought about giving it up," he said. "It was the lowest I have ever seen him. He wasn't hitting the ball like he used to in Morocco, so I told him to take extra holiday. He went away for three weeks and came back refreshed." Two weeks after his return Clarke won a European Tour event in Mallorca.No offence to the Iberdrola Open and those who played in it, but in the grander scheme of things Clarke's victory that week did not set the world alight. And it certainly did not portend the events at Sandwich over the weekend.
Yet it takes talent to win a golf tournament and that victory, his first in three years, suggested Clarke was not ready to go quietly into the golfing night just yet. "It happens about once every three years that I get in the right mood and play the kind of golf I am capable of playing," he explained between glasses of champagne.
This time the gap between victories was three months – a dramatic shortening of the cycle for which he gave credit to his fiancee, Alison Campbell, and to a reunion with the sports psychologist Bob Rotella, with whom he has worked sporadically over the course of his career. The pair had not met face to face for a year until the start of last week. They were inseparable for the duration.
"No, I won't," Clarke said when asked to explain what he and Rotella had spoken about. Fortunately, the psychologist was not so shy. "Darren had been getting more and more frustrated with his putting and that was affecting his whole game," Rotella said. "I told him, 'You are going to have to go unconscious'. I told him I didn't want him to think about technique. I just wanted him to look where he wanted the ball to go and hit it – like he did when he was 12 years old.
"I used to work with stammerers: 98% of them could talk when they were in their bathroom; it was just that little doubt in public which tied them up. He had the skills – he's a talented athlete; it was a question of freeing them up."
Easier said than done, of course, especially in the madness of an Open Championship setting. Luckily for Clarke, who practises regularly in bad weather at Royal Portrush, his home club, the conditions at Sandwich were appalling. This meant two-thirds of the field, those who had neither the tools nor the inclination to persevere in the squalls, could immediately be dismissed. As for the other third, including players such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, they did not have the tools to match a man enjoying the golfing week of his life.
"I play my best when I'm fat," Clarke said a couple of times during the week, and on widescreen television screens up and down the land he cuts a less than athletic figure. But standing next to him at his celebration party he did not look fat at all. He looked solid, athletic even, with huge hands and arms that look capable of bending raw steel.
More than anything he looked fulfilled – a changed man, as he conceded. "I used to give myself airs and graces when I was younger," he said in the glow of victory. "I have to admit I was a prat. I was rude to people if I'd had a bad round, and it wasn't right. But I like to think I have learned from my mistakes."
Open champion Darren Clarke reveals he almost quit in April
Darren Clarke thought about giving up professional golf in April after a round of 81 in Morocco but was persuaded, against his instincts, to go on holiday, regroup and come back refreshed. On balance, the new Open champion probably made the right decision.
For one thing, he is now considerably richer. Along with the £900,000 winner's cheque, he will receive a £2m bonus from one of his sponsors on Wednesday, as well as countless other benefits – appearance fees and such like – that come the way of major champions.
More importantly, by sticking with the game the Northern Irishman was sticking with the very fibre of his being. He is – as he confirmed during the course of a hungover post-victory press conference at Royal St George's – a golfer to the core. The son of a greenskeeper picked up the game as an 11-year-old, discovered an aptitude and developed a love. He turned professional in 1990, won his first European Tour event three years later and over the next 20 years fashioned a career that could be a judged a solid B+. But now this: the Champion Golfer of the Year, as the R&A designates the winner of its annual shindig.
When the prize-giving was over and the hordes had departed Royal St George's, Clarke returned to a rented house for the party of all parties.
The Claret Jug was passed around and admired as the champion mingled with family and guests and posed for photographs. Clarke's ubiquitous agent and long-time friend, Andrew Chandler, spoke of the frustrations that drove his man to the brink this year. "He was so low he thought about giving it up," he said. "It was the lowest I have ever seen him. He wasn't hitting the ball like he used to in Morocco, so I told him to take extra holiday. He went away for three weeks and came back refreshed." Two weeks after his return Clarke won a European Tour event in Mallorca.No offence to the Iberdrola Open and those who played in it, but in the grander scheme of things Clarke's victory that week did not set the world alight. And it certainly did not portend the events at Sandwich over the weekend.
Yet it takes talent to win a golf tournament and that victory, his first in three years, suggested Clarke was not ready to go quietly into the golfing night just yet. "It happens about once every three years that I get in the right mood and play the kind of golf I am capable of playing," he explained between glasses of champagne.
This time the gap between victories was three months – a dramatic shortening of the cycle for which he gave credit to his fiancee, Alison Campbell, and to a reunion with the sports psychologist Bob Rotella, with whom he has worked sporadically over the course of his career. The pair had not met face to face for a year until the start of last week. They were inseparable for the duration.
"No, I won't," Clarke said when asked to explain what he and Rotella had spoken about. Fortunately, the psychologist was not so shy. "Darren had been getting more and more frustrated with his putting and that was affecting his whole game," Rotella said. "I told him, 'You are going to have to go unconscious'. I told him I didn't want him to think about technique. I just wanted him to look where he wanted the ball to go and hit it – like he did when he was 12 years old.
"I used to work with stammerers: 98% of them could talk when they were in their bathroom; it was just that little doubt in public which tied them up. He had the skills – he's a talented athlete; it was a question of freeing them up."
Easier said than done, of course, especially in the madness of an Open Championship setting. Luckily for Clarke, who practises regularly in bad weather at Royal Portrush, his home club, the conditions at Sandwich were appalling. This meant two-thirds of the field, those who had neither the tools nor the inclination to persevere in the squalls, could immediately be dismissed. As for the other third, including players such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, they did not have the tools to match a man enjoying the golfing week of his life.
"I play my best when I'm fat," Clarke said a couple of times during the week, and on widescreen television screens up and down the land he cuts a less than athletic figure. But standing next to him at his celebration party he did not look fat at all. He looked solid, athletic even, with huge hands and arms that look capable of bending raw steel.
More than anything he looked fulfilled – a changed man, as he conceded. "I used to give myself airs and graces when I was younger," he said in the glow of victory. "I have to admit I was a prat. I was rude to people if I'd had a bad round, and it wasn't right. But I like to think I have learned from my mistakes."
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Darren Clarke dedicates Open victory to his children
The Northern Irishman won by three shots after shooting a level-par 70 to win his first major title.
Afterwards he paid tribute to Heather, who died in 2006 from breast cancer, and their sons Tyrone and Conor.
Clarke said: "There's obviously somebody watching from up there and I know she'd be very proud. But I think she'd be more proud of my two boys."
"It's for the kids," he added. "They played golf at Royal Portrush this morning and were watching on TV.
"Heather would probably be saying, 'I told you so'."
The 42-year-old becomes Northern Ireland's third major champion in little over a year, following Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy's wins at the US Open.
Clarke's five-under par total for the tournament saw off the American pair of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who finished joint second, with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn a shot further back in fourth.
It left the Northern Irishman promising "a long and very enjoyable" night of celebration.
"I'm on Weight Watchers tomorrow morning," he quipped after completing his victory. "There's five points in a pint of Guinness... I think this could probably be a bad week for me to try and start."
Clarke will next be in action at the Irish Open in Killarney on 28 July and he promised: "I may not be sober for the Irish Open, but I will be in Killarney.
"It's pretty amazing right now, to tell you the truth. It's been a dream since I've been a kid to win the Open, like any kid's dream is, and I'm able to do it, which just feels incredible.
"I played okay today, I did what I needed to do. The last couple of holes I was trying not to make any stupid mistakes. I just tried to play really carefully and it was good enough to win."
The Sandwich tournament was the 54th major in which Clarke had participated, and he had not had a top-10 finish for a decade.
But he said: "I've got here in the end. It may be the only major that I win, it may not be the only major that I win, but at least I've gone out there today and did my best, and my best was good enough to win.
"If it hadn't come off and I hadn't won, I could still have said I did my best. I ask my two boys to do their best and that's what they do, so I think their dad should try and do the same."
Clarke went into the final round with a one-shot lead over playing partner Dustin Johnson and five ahead of Mickelson, but that gap was wiped out in seven holes as left-handed Mickelson registered three birdies and an eagle.
But the Northern Irishman refused to panic and matched Mickelson's eagle on the seventh before chalking up nine pars in a row to give him breathing room over the last few holes.
Mickelson and Clarke have long been good friends and they shared a private moment after Clarke had sunk his winning putt.
The pair became close because of their shared experience of watching loved ones battling breast cancer - Mickelson's wife Amy and mother Mary have both experienced it - and Clarke said: "It is something that I could talk about but I'm not going to.
"(But) he has turned into a very good friend of mine through thick and thin, and he said some very, very kind words to me there which is great."
Mickelson said his friend would be a hugely popular Open champion. "He couldn't be a nicer guy," he said. "There's a lot of players that are extremely happy for him.
"He was one of the first people that called us, Amy and I, a couple years ago. He's been through this and couldn't have been a better person to talk to.
"He's a tremendous person and a very good friend, and I couldn't be happier for him."
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Players' secret lockout insurance could have sparked talks
From the moment he was elected executive director of the NFL Players Association in March 2009, DeMaurice Smith always took the long view when it came to negotiations with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
It's one of the reasons that slightly more than a year ago he received approval from the executive committee to secure insurance that would pay each player roughly $200,000 if there were no football in 2011.
Smith disclosed the fund to only a handful of people outside of the executive committee. However with negotiations seemingly at a standstill late Wednesday night, the decision was made to play one of their aces in the hole. So in the relative quiet of the sides' New York City bargaining room the next morning, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth informed the owners of the previously secret lockout fund.
Was that the shove in the back that moved the sides closer to a potential agreement? Only the owners know for sure, but a source close to one of them said the disclosure definitely got that side's attention. Perhaps for good reason.
The common perception has been that the players' solidarity would crumble once they started missing paychecks. However the foundation beneath that line of thinking would be as solid as Jell-O if the players could couple the insurance with a large financial award from U.S. District Judge David Doty, who previously ruled the owners had illegally created a $4.3 billion lockout fund for themselves by renegotiating their TV deals at the expense of the players.
"Players Association leadership looked into this as a last possible resort to keep players together in case games would be missed," one players-side source said of the insurance war chest. "It was never intended to be used as a bargaining chip or negotiating point until things became critical."
Thursday was a critical point. If the sides could not advance negotiations then the possibility of hundreds of millions of dollars being lost to canceled preseason games was real. And if the owners allowed the impasse to get that far, what was to stop them from testing the players' pain threshold by extending the lockout into the regular season?
The Players Association began informing its membership about the insurance fund over the past week and brought it up in the negotiating room for the first time Thursday. There's no way to know at this time whether it was the final oomph that pushed negotiations onto positive ground, but it's hard to believe it didn't have some impact considering the talks were "not in a good place" the previous night when the sides broke for the day.
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