17 replies to this topic

[Juan23]

“Winning is a habit,” legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said. “Unfortunately, so is losing.”

No need to remind fans of the Los Angeles Clippers of the latter half of that quote. The Clippers have a well-developed losing streak. In their 40 NBA seasons, the Clippers have had a grand total of six – that’s right, six – winning seasons. Since Donald Sterling, a lawyer and real estate investor, took over ownership in 1981 the Clippers have celebrated exactly two winning seasons. Their historical franchise “winning” percentage: .362.

What’s more, the Clippers share a city and the Staples Center with the winningest active NBA franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won more than 60 percent of their games and own 15 NBA titles (and just might be on their way to a 16th).Losing has hurt the Clips’ bottom line. According the Forbes valuations, the Clippers – in the No. 2 television market in the country! – rank 23rd out of 30 teams in value, at $295 million, behind even the Oklahoma City Thunder. The No. 1 team on that list: the Lakers at $607 million. Ouch.

The Clippers are supposedly in the running for free agent LeBron James. Don’t bet the house on it happening.

And yet the Clippers are merely No. 2 on our list of pro sports’ most-losing teams. The chart-toppers are the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, who’ve been around for 15 seasons and have won just over one-third of their games. We’ve always maintained that the problem with the team is its name: The “Grizzlies” is leftover from the franchise’s stint in Vancouver. Memphis Blues is more like it.

Losing teams are not just in the NBA. The NFL’s Houston Texans, who have won only 38 percent of their games, are No. 4 on our list. The Texans have never made the playoffs in their history. They had some good news last year when they had their first winning season (9-7). They had some bad news this year when it was discovered that linebacker Brian Cushing, the AP defensive player of the year in 2009, violated the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

http://sports.yahoo....beslosers052710

[Kyle]

Random sports? So we can talk about boche ball or jai alai?

[~G~]

So the other day when I was watching Slamball I was uber impressed with Josh Carlson... I mean, that guy is a double threat.  He's like a Slamball genius.  I was totally impressed.  I didn't think he was going to look the same after his injury but boy howdy I could not have been more wrong.





Just kidding.  I don't watch Slamball.

[EOG]

so this one guy has a 7-2 split right, so he lines up his shot, and then rolls this beautiful arch on his delivery and bam! wins the PBA championship. im just shittin' you. i don't watch bowling.

[Derelict]

Move over Philly, L.A. has the worst fans

By Matt Money Smith

I have lived in Los Angeles for just a few months shy of two decades, working jobs that have me traveling the country from coast to coast, attending countless sporting events. I have seen the worst of fans from every corner of the nation.

As I near my 20-year mark in L.A., I am more than comfortable saying to hell with Philadelphia, there's not a worse set of fans in the country than right here in Los Angeles.

The buildup has been gathering for years, from the Raiders' days at the Coliseum, through the near-riots that ensued after the Lakers' championships in this decade, to last weekend's parking-lot brawl at the Rose Bowl, where Arturo Cisneros (a 44-year-old man, by the way) was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder thanks to his alleged stabbing of a Cal State Fullerton kid eight times in the back.

At this point, no amount of booing Santa Claus is going to wrest that distinction away from the "City of Angels."

People will say it's a few "bad apples" and it's not fair to condemn everyone for their bad behavior. Unfortunately, the extreme element is in fact what we are defined by, because every city has a majority of people content to go to a game, sit in their seats and enjoy a sporting event without incident.

It's the choices made by those who have bad judgment, a proclivity to get completely hammered as though it's a requirement to enjoy a sporting event and ruin the experience for everyone else that determines what a city's "fan character" happens to be.

It's no different than the national perception that fans in Los Angeles show up to games late out of indifference and leave early to avoid traffic. You'd be blind to suggest there isn't an element of that, especially in the more expensive seats — but I wouldn't call it the majority. Much like I wouldn't say there are a whole lot of men like the one detailed above, but there are enough.

You can blame the booze all you want, but there's beer and tailgating at every stadium across the country. And last time I checked we don't have to read about people getting murdered in parking lots after the game. Something we've got covered as well, thanks to a 2003 shooting at Dodger Stadium.

Angelinos even got into the spirit in record time in 2009 after a fan was stabbed multiple times in the parking lot at the Dodgers' home opener.

Eagles fans made a name for themselves booing Santa and cheering opposing players lying injured on the turf, but they can't compare to L.A. when it comes to taking the "action" to the stands, to the parking lots and to the streets.

It's becoming less and less enjoyable to attend games, thanks to the aggressive behavior of more and more individuals. You might think it exists only in the rafters and pavilions, but that's simply profiling. It's in every section, of every arena, in and outside of every stadium in town. Fans take too many liberties because they happen to be in their "home" venue.

While violent incidents are the extremes, ask anyone who has gone to a game recently what the experience is like. Vulgarity is prevalent, taunting other fans is normal, and what used to be a great way to spend time with the family and bond over watching the best athletes in the world has turned into what I can best describe as a "stressful" experience.

With HDTVs becoming more norm than exception in homes across the Southland and stories on the local news about another brawl at another game, it's no surprise ticket sales are down while television revenues are up. It's much more enjoyable to watch the game with your son or daughter on the couch, secure in your own home, than having to worry about the guy who's $30 deep in beers breathing all over your neck completely oblivious to his surroundings.

And it's less hazardous to your health.

[Paul LA]

Derelict, on 08 December 2010 - 03:37 PM, said:

Move over Philly, L.A. has the worst fans

By Matt Money Smith

I have lived in Los Angeles for just a few months shy of two decades, working jobs that have me traveling the country from coast to coast, attending countless sporting events. I have seen the worst of fans from every corner of the nation.

As I near my 20-year mark in L.A., I am more than comfortable saying to hell with Philadelphia, there's not a worse set of fans in the country than right here in Los Angeles.

The buildup has been gathering for years, from the Raiders' days at the Coliseum, through the near-riots that ensued after the Lakers' championships in this decade, to last weekend's parking-lot brawl at the Rose Bowl, where Arturo Cisneros (a 44-year-old man, by the way) was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder thanks to his alleged stabbing of a Cal State Fullerton kid eight times in the back.

At this point, no amount of booing Santa Claus is going to wrest that distinction away from the "City of Angels."

People will say it's a few "bad apples" and it's not fair to condemn everyone for their bad behavior. Unfortunately, the extreme element is in fact what we are defined by, because every city has a majority of people content to go to a game, sit in their seats and enjoy a sporting event without incident.

It's the choices made by those who have bad judgment, a proclivity to get completely hammered as though it's a requirement to enjoy a sporting event and ruin the experience for everyone else that determines what a city's "fan character" happens to be.

It's no different than the national perception that fans in Los Angeles show up to games late out of indifference and leave early to avoid traffic. You'd be blind to suggest there isn't an element of that, especially in the more expensive seats — but I wouldn't call it the majority. Much like I wouldn't say there are a whole lot of men like the one detailed above, but there are enough.

You can blame the booze all you want, but there's beer and tailgating at every stadium across the country. And last time I checked we don't have to read about people getting murdered in parking lots after the game. Something we've got covered as well, thanks to a 2003 shooting at Dodger Stadium.

Angelinos even got into the spirit in record time in 2009 after a fan was stabbed multiple times in the parking lot at the Dodgers' home opener.

Eagles fans made a name for themselves booing Santa and cheering opposing players lying injured on the turf, but they can't compare to L.A. when it comes to taking the "action" to the stands, to the parking lots and to the streets.

It's becoming less and less enjoyable to attend games, thanks to the aggressive behavior of more and more individuals. You might think it exists only in the rafters and pavilions, but that's simply profiling. It's in every section, of every arena, in and outside of every stadium in town. Fans take too many liberties because they happen to be in their "home" venue.

While violent incidents are the extremes, ask anyone who has gone to a game recently what the experience is like. Vulgarity is prevalent, taunting other fans is normal, and what used to be a great way to spend time with the family and bond over watching the best athletes in the world has turned into what I can best describe as a "stressful" experience.

With HDTVs becoming more norm than exception in homes across the Southland and stories on the local news about another brawl at another game, it's no surprise ticket sales are down while television revenues are up. It's much more enjoyable to watch the game with your son or daughter on the couch, secure in your own home, than having to worry about the guy who's $30 deep in beers breathing all over your neck completely oblivious to his surroundings.

And it's less hazardous to your health.

What a pussy! Stay home with your damn kids! Sports fans have been beating each other up since the beginning of time. This is racial profiling with a mask. Next!

[Derelict]

Miss. State Statement On Cheerleader In Playboy.

Dr. Bill Kibler, Vice President of Student Affairs at Mississippi State, has released a statement regarding the school’s reaction to MSU cheerleader Taylor Corley posing nude in Playboy.

Kibler:

    “If she had identified herself as an MSU Cheerleader or used any of our marks, then the university might have pursued action. However, she was not identified as an MSU student or a cheerleader. The university did not pursue any action when this came to our attention last fall.”

As I reported Monday, Corley remains a current member of the school’s cheerleading squad.

In talking to several sources this morning about the situation, I’ve learned why MSU chose not to remove Corley from the school’s cheerleading squad.

It turns out that Corley posed for Playboy before she enrolled at Mississippi State. By the time anyone at the school knew about Corley’s modeling past - after the Playboy photos came out in November - she was already an upstanding member of the MSU cheer squad.

Corley did sign an agreement, as all cheerleaders at every school do, to not conduct herself in a manner unbecoming an official representative of Mississippi State. But because she posed for Playboy before she enrolled at Mississippi State and, from my sources, has conducted herself as a respectful and responsible member of the MSU cheer squad, the school never seriously considered removing her from the squad.

That isn’t to say there haven’t been complaints lodged to school officials since Corley’s appearance in Playboy. But even if Mississippi State officials wanted to cut her from the squad, because Corley modeled for Playboy before she entered school, the school may have faced a possible uphill legal and public relations battle.

[Juan23]

  

[Derelict]

Derelict, on 21 January 2011 - 09:44 AM, said:

Miss. State Statement On Cheerleader In Playboy.

Dr. Bill Kibler, Vice President of Student Affairs at Mississippi State, has released a statement regarding the school’s reaction to MSU cheerleader Taylor Corley posing nude in Playboy.

Kibler:

    “If she had identified herself as an MSU Cheerleader or used any of our marks, then the university might have pursued action. However, she was not identified as an MSU student or a cheerleader. The university did not pursue any action when this came to our attention last fall.”

As I reported Monday, Corley remains a current member of the school’s cheerleading squad.

In talking to several sources this morning about the situation, I’ve learned why MSU chose not to remove Corley from the school’s cheerleading squad.

It turns out that Corley posed for Playboy before she enrolled at Mississippi State. By the time anyone at the school knew about Corley’s modeling past - after the Playboy photos came out in November - she was already an upstanding member of the MSU cheer squad.

Corley did sign an agreement, as all cheerleaders at every school do, to not conduct herself in a manner unbecoming an official representative of Mississippi State. But because she posed for Playboy before she enrolled at Mississippi State and, from my sources, has conducted herself as a respectful and responsible member of the MSU cheer squad, the school never seriously considered removing her from the squad.

That isn’t to say there haven’t been complaints lodged to school officials since Corley’s appearance in Playboy. But even if Mississippi State officials wanted to cut her from the squad, because Corley modeled for Playboy before she entered school, the school may have faced a possible uphill legal and public relations battle.

UPDATE: Corley, who is from Atlanta, on the reality show pilot for which she’s been cast:

    I am about to start a new reality TV series called Girl Swagg, it’s a pilot for MTV/VH1 and I’m very excited to move forward with that. This has been planned for a few months now though. I do not have any representation yet, as of right now my mom is just helping me with everything!

When I asked about her future at Mississippi State, Corley responded with:

    I’m still out in California right now but I will be returning to MSU by the weekend then off to Atlanta to film the beginning of Girl Swagg!

Earlier this week a Mississippi State-employed administration source told me it was unlikely Corley would return to the school for her sophomore year, though her ultimate status will be determined by Corley and not MSU

Corley has quit the MSU cheerleading squad.

[BuckeyeLakerCub]

Woooooooo. I'd hit it with that girl. Hard. Really hard.

[Juan23]

Iowa wrestler defaults rather than face girl in state tournament

Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman made Iowa wrestling history Thursday when she became the first female wrestler to win a match at the state tournament. She did so when her opponent, Joel Northrup, defaulted on their first-round match rather than face a girl.

Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore wrestling for Linn-Mar, was considered one of the favorites to win the 112-pound weight class. After defaulting his first match, however, he now must wrestle in the consolation bracket.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times,” Northrup said in a statement, referring to Herkelman and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, the first girls ever to qualify for the state tournament.

“As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa.”

Northrup was 35-4 entering the tournament; Herkelman was 20-13. Several thousand fans were at Wells Fargo Arena for the opening round, and there was a smattering of cheers and boos from the crowd when Herkelman's hand was raised by the referee to signal the victory.

Tournament organizers declined to make Herkelman available for questions.

“It's nice to get the first win and have her be on the way to the medal round,” Herkelman's father, Bill Herkelman, wrote in a text message to the Associated Press. “I sincerely respect the decision of the Northup family especially since it was made on the biggest stage in wrestling. I have heard nothing but good things about the Northup family and hope Joel does very well the remainder of the tourney.”

Black, who also wrestles in the 112-pound weight class, was pinned in her first match and will also compete in the consolation bracket, perhaps setting the stage for another uncomfortable situation for Northrup.

California is one of three states, along with Hawaii and Texas, that sponsor girls-only high school wrestling tournaments.

[TZT]

Juan23, on 17 February 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:

Iowa wrestler defaults rather than face girl in state tournament

Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman made Iowa wrestling history Thursday when she became the first female wrestler to win a match at the state tournament. She did so when her opponent, Joel Northrup, defaulted on their first-round match rather than face a girl.

Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore wrestling for Linn-Mar, was considered one of the favorites to win the 112-pound weight class. After defaulting his first match, however, he now must wrestle in the consolation bracket.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times,” Northrup said in a statement, referring to Herkelman and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, the first girls ever to qualify for the state tournament.

“As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa.”

Northrup was 35-4 entering the tournament; Herkelman was 20-13. Several thousand fans were at Wells Fargo Arena for the opening round, and there was a smattering of cheers and boos from the crowd when Herkelman's hand was raised by the referee to signal the victory.

Tournament organizers declined to make Herkelman available for questions.

“It's nice to get the first win and have her be on the way to the medal round,” Herkelman's father, Bill Herkelman, wrote in a text message to the Associated Press. “I sincerely respect the decision of the Northup family especially since it was made on the biggest stage in wrestling. I have heard nothing but good things about the Northup family and hope Joel does very well the remainder of the tourney.”

Black, who also wrestles in the 112-pound weight class, was pinned in her first match and will also compete in the consolation bracket, perhaps setting the stage for another uncomfortable situation for Northrup.

California is one of three states, along with Hawaii and Texas, that sponsor girls-only high school wrestling tournaments.

Bust the jello out and let the girls rassle.

[TZT]

[Derelict]

Being a Florida Gators fan these days will not get you much publicity…unless you’re a beautiful woman, happen to be wearing jean shorts or are getting in some kind of trouble. Mitch Davie broke through that barrier by simply attending a Atlanta Braves spring training baseball game on Friday and – not as simply – making an astounding one-handed grab of a baseball bat flying into the stands (without spilling his Red Stripe).

“There was a group of nine of us that went to the game courtesy of our area manager for all our hard work these past months. So everyone on my right in my row is with me,” Davie said in his first interview about the catch. “I had told D.J. Ackley, who is in sunglasses, that if a ball came his way I’d catch it.

“Two innings later, I hear the crowd scream and I look up and see the bat flying [in my direction]. So I just timed it and threw my hand out. I told D.J. afterward that he didn’t even react; he told me he put his foot up, but I didn’t even see it because I was so focused on the bat.”

Had the Associated Press’ David Goldman not captured the moment with his camera, only a select group of people would have known about Davie’s catch. Instead, his picture has been featured on numerous websites and mentioned on television programs including Jim Rome is Burning (ESPN) and Regis and Kelly (ABC).

“I was surprised it was caught on camera and not video,” he said. “I assumed, it being a game played at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, that it would have been caught by someone’s video camera. The response has been tremendous.”

When a bat is flung into the crowd by accident, the respective team’s equipment manager often retrieves it in exchange for a replacement bat or some other memorabilia. Davie was able to keep the one he nabbed, though he jokingly wished his efforts were somewhat rewarded by the offending batter.

“The bat is in my possession,” he said. “I’m kind of upset [Atlanta second baseman] Dan Uggla left in the eighth inning, so I didn’t get an autograph. I think the least he owes me is dinner and a movie for saving him from a lawsuit!”

Davie may not get to enjoy a steak with Uggla, but he was definitely a part of a moment that Gators fans will be proud of for quite some time.

[EvenSteven]

TZT, on 17 February 2011 - 03:30 PM, said:

Good job, Timezone Timmy!!

[Derelict]

University of Florida Men's athletics won Capital One Cup.

The University of Florida men’s athletic program is the winner of the inaugural Capital One Cup, signifying the most successful program in the country. Florida will be honored along with women’s Capital One Cup winner Stanford at the ESPY Awards televised by ESPN on July 13. In addition to a trophy, the University of Florida will receive a $200,000 donation to fund student-athlete graduate-level scholarships.

The Capital One Cup honors NCAA Division I athletics programs for their cumulative on-field performance across multiple men’s and women’s sports.

“On behalf of the university, our student athletes and our fans, we are honored to accept the inaugural Capital One Cup trophy and $200,000 scholarship,” said University of Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley. “Our goal is to strive for overall athletic success, and we’re extremely proud of our men’s program winning the Capital One Cup and our women’s program placing fourth. Thank you to Capital One and its affiliated companies for their support of intercollegiate athletics.”

Florida was ranked sixth in the Capital One Cup standings prior to the College World Series, but by advancing to the championship round and finishing second in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches’ baseball poll the Gators jumped five teams and won the cup with 93 points. Virginia, which made the final four teams at the College World Series, finished second with 82 points followed by Auburn and Texas A&M, which tied for third, and Stanford, which finished fifth.

Florida’s run to the Capital One Cup was helped during the spring by top 10 finishes in outdoor track and field, tennis and baseball. Florida also had top 10 finishes in basketball and swimming and diving, plus the Gators won the NCAA championship in the indoor track and field.

Florida finished fourth in the standings for the women’s Capital One Cup.

Florida’s men’s and women’s programs are expected to finish third when the final standings of the COSIDA Director’s Cup are announced.


Men’s Capital One Cup Final Standings
1. Florida (93 pts)
2. Virginia (82)
3. (tie) Auburn (70)
3. (tie) Texas A&M (70)
5. Stanford (69)
6. California (61)
7. (tie) Connecticut (60)
7. (tie) Eastern Washington (60)
7. (tie) South Carolina (60)
10. Ohio State (52)

[Derelict]

Florida Gators Soccer Captures First SEC title since 2010

No. 11 Florida Gators soccer (14-4-1, 11-2 SEC) has captured the Southeastern Conference Championship for the first time since 2010, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-9-4, 3-7 SEC) at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium in Columbia, SC

Florida triumphed 3-0 on Thursday, getting on the board thrice in the second half.

Junior transfer forward Adriana Leon scored what would eventually become the championship-winning goal at 64’ after taking a pass from senior forward Erika Tymrak, driving inside the box and delivering a great strike.

Sophomore midfielder Annie Speese added an insurance goal for the Gators just minutes later at 73’ when she booted a rebound off of a cross into the back of the net. Speese then registered another at 87, deflecting in a perfect pass from sophomore defender Tessa Andujar while standing in the middle of the box

The SEC regular season title is the 12th in the program’s 18-year existence but the first for Florida since the team won five-straight from 2006-10.

The Gators badly needed Thursday night’s victory after unexpectedly falling to Alabama 1-0 last weekend and breaking a 19-match winning streak against the SEC West program. Instead of having the conference championship secured heading into the season finale, Florida’s title hopes came down to the wire.

UF will now look to secure its first postseason title since 2010 as the No. 1 seed in the 2012 SEC Tournament, which is set to begin on Oct. 31 and last through Nov. 4.

Go Gators!

[asiasportwriter]

An excellent Player out of Iran Making a huge shot with 29points in Game 1

In Asia (Super League -Iran) A young player had 29 points in the first game of the season. Jonas Lalehzadeh is a 23 year old with National Team experience. We may have to keep an Eye on him! He really have a potential.