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Rooney Wants Out

 LONDON -- Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United because of concerns that the club will not invest enough in the squad to compete for future trophies.

The England striker has almost two years remaining on his contract, but manager Alex Ferguson said on Tuesday that the 24-year-old player would not sign the new deal he had been offered by Chief Executive David Gill.

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," Rooney said Wednesday in a statement. "I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract. I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it.

"It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world."

Rooney joined United in 2004 from boyhood club Everton for $40 million.

He has since won three Premier League titles and the Champions League. But the team only won the League Cup last season after losing Cristiano Ronaldo and striker Carlos Tevez without signing any similarly high-profile replacements.

Rooney also has seen neighbor Manchester City dramatically outspend 18-time English champion United in the last two years.

As Ferguson did on Tuesday, Rooney downplayed talk about a rift between the two -- calling the manager "a genius" -- and said his decision was based solely on an ambition to win.

"I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?" Rooney said. "... Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt.

"He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18. For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one off and a genius."

Via: ESPN soccernet

Wrong Ball

This is the play our Girl's Flag Football team won with.

Thank You Bobby Cox

 ATLANTA -- The Giants were halfway on their trek from the mound to the clubhouse to continue their series-clinching celebration when the noise from the crowd became too loud to ignore.

The chants of "Bob-by! Bob-by!", had persisted, accompanied by a video montage on the scoreboard -- a tribute to retiring Bobby Cox, who had just finished managing the 4,641st major-league game of his career, a 3-2 loss to the Giants in Game 4 of the National League Division Series -- when the Turner Field fans grew louder as they were treated to an appearance and wave from the man of the hour.

The Giants, who even at the height of their euphoria, the franchise's first playoff series win since 2002, stopped and redirected their attention to the first-base dugout and added their own applause. Cox in turn tipped his cap and saluted the Giants, who now advance to face the Phillies in the National League Championship Series.

For a moment the congratulations coexisted before Cox descended the dugout steps for the final time as uniformed personnel, to the warm embrace of his players.

Back in the clubhouse, Cox began to address the Braves, to thank them for their service.

"The best I could," Cox said at his press conference of his attempt. "Told them I was really proud of them." He paused, leaned back in his chair and rubbed his left hand over his chin as tears welled up.

He regained his composure. "A grown man shouldn't do this."

Then Cox did something inexplicable: He reverted to talking about the lost game of that night, without the prompting of another question.

"But I can't say enough about Derek Lowe," Cox said, his voice growing livelier again. "He's going to be a 20-game winner next year, I think, if he gets any support at all."

He continued from there, discussing how his starting pitcher had worked long and hard with his pitching coach to adjust their game plan. Here he was, a retiring legend, addressing reporters who came to hear him talk one final time as Braves manager and doing so in a room where the exhilarating yells of the Giants could be heard in the background, and yet he was deflecting attention onto others.

It was classic Bobby.

The ultimate players' manager was retiring in the same way he spent his Hall of Fame career -- trying to improve the Braves.

"It's always about winning the game," said first-base coach Glenn Hubbard, who played or coached for Cox for 22 years. "And it's always been about winning the game."

On Monday night, the Giants won the game with a late rally sparked by timely hitting that was mostly absent for the Braves this series. After San Francisco rightfielder Cody Ross and Atlanta catcher Brian McCann traded solo home runs, the Braves led 2-1 in the top of the seventh when a combination of walk, single, walk, run-scoring error and RBI single from Ross put the Giants up 3-2, the lead they'd hold onto.

The Giants received their fourth straight quality start, this time from the rookie Madison Bumgarner, who got the win after throwing six innings of two-run ball. That starting pitching offers hope they'll be able to contend with the surging Phillies, whose potent offense this year has been joined by their best pitching staff, one headed by Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

San Francisco's bullpen turned its first scoreless performance, as Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Brian Wilson finished the Braves, who had two runners on with two outs in the ninth before Melky Cabrera grounded out to end the game.

That was the baseball Cox wanted to talk about after the game even if most of the questions were about the end of his tenure, and so he alternated between postgame manager -- all he's known for the better part of the past three decades -- and a legend set to retire.

The first question he received was, "How did that feel at the end?" Without missing a beat, the manager launched into a game summary.

"We played a really good ballgame," Cox said. "And Derek pitched great, I thought. And we got the groundballs -- they were just out of reach. We wanted this game big time to get back to San Francisco [for Game 5]. It just didn't happen. The balls were just out of reach for us, turning double plays."

Only then did he allow any sentiment to enter his answer, "I'm proud of the team. I told them that a while ago. They've come a long ways with this team. They played their hearts out, and I'll miss them."

The players said Cox didn't get far into his closed-door postgame remarks.

"He tried," veteran catcher David Ross said. "I think everybody in the here was emotional. A man like that tried to pour his heart out and couldn't -- there aren't enough good things to say about Bobby Cox."

This 2010 Braves team was about as fitting a tribute to Cox as one could find. They lost nine straight at the end of April but quickly rallied to first place. Even after they lost Chipper Jones and Martin Prado to injury, the Braves coasted along the best they could, managing to sneak into the playoffs with a final-week push.

In the postseason, however, their weaknesses were evident. The bullpen, which was pitching without Billy Wagner, who was injured in Game 2, blew leads in Games 3 and 4. The offense, only average with a healthy lineup, couldn't muster much offense without Jones or Prado.

"He's never panicked in my years with him as a coach," Hubbard said. "When we started off, we lost nine in a row, and he didn't panic. That's what I've learned from him as a coach: When you're caught in the undertow, you just keep swimming along until you get back to shore."

Even his handling of Brooks Conrad the past two days spoke volumes of who Cox has been. After Conrad made eight errors in seven games -- including three that played a key role in Atlanta's Game 3 loss -- Cox was so honest and supportive of his player that Conrad was singing Cox's praises in a brief meeting with reporters before Game 4.

"That [communication] is why he's one of the greatest managers," Conrad said.

This season was an appropriate case study of what made Bobby Cox the Atlanta institution he became, for more than just the 2,504 regular-season wins, 15 division titles (including 14 consecutively with the Braves) and one World Series championship.

"This year's remarkable what he did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I know how banged up they were all year. Got off to a slow start. Shows you what a genius this man is to get it back on track and to get to the playoffs. ... I'm going to miss this man, again, because I venerate him so much."

At the end of the day it was about winning for Cox. But how he won mattered, too.

"I just loved being with him," Hubbard said.

Cox will remain with the Braves on a five-year consulting contract, but he won't be in uniform -- cleats, stirrups and everything -- and thus this era of the franchise is over.

But it was something everyone could celebrate.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/joe_lemire/10/12/giants.braves.game.4/#ixzz127SKHoLB

FIFA looks at 13 different goal-line technology systems

 ZURICH (AP) — FIFA is studying 13 different goal-line technology systems which could help match officials make more accurate decisions.

 

FIFA said Monday that all the project proposals were presented last week, and will be further discussed at an Oct. 20 meeting of its rule-making body, known as the International Football Association Board.

The IFAB panel will gather in Newport, Wales, to help set the agenda for its annual meeting next March when the laws of soccer can be changed.

 

FIFA president Sepp Blatter re-opened the debate on using technology to help match officials after a series of mistakes affected the World Cup in South Africa, and helped eliminate England and Mexico from the tournament.

Blatter had previously resisted high-tech help for referees by insisting that human error was part of the game.

The panel also is scheduled to discuss worldwide trials using additional officials behind each goal to help referees rule on goal-line judgments and penalty area decisions.

IFAB has scheduled the experiments to continue in competitions including the Champions League until June 2012. It could then approve the five-referees system for elite competitions instead of opting for technology.

FIFA did not identify the 13 companies making proposals, who will not present their systems to the panel next week.

They are expected to include the camera-based Hawk-Eye system which is currently used in tennis and cricket, and the Cairos team which has developed a microchipped ball. Both systems were rejected by IFAB in 2008 and again last March.

Swiss watch firm Longines also has been reported as a likely candidate.

IFAB is a 124-year-old body comprising the associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, plus FIFA representing the other 204 soccer nations. Each British member has one vote, FIFA has four and a proposed new rule needs six votes to be passed.

Via USAToday

Michael Irvin gets excited about 'The U'.

Just watch Michael Irvin as the meth begins coursing through his veins at the end. lol

Didier Drogba

I know this article is a little late, but it is still more important than ever.

If soccer is a religion in England, then the Slug and Lettuce pub in Putney is its Vatican. There, over warm beer and soggy fries, middle-aged men pontificate on everything from the inherent sinfulness of the offside trap to the fallibility of Wayne Rooney's left foot. But like church officials confronted with Galileo's telescope, football's high priests can't quite make sense of Didier Drogba. "He's a weapon, not a footballer," says one. "A specimen," says another. "The scariest footballer in the world."

Drogba, 32, a striker for England's Chelsea Football Club and the captain of the Côte d'Ivoire team, has shown the world what's possible when power and grace fuse on the soccer pitch. Imagine the body of an NBA star with feet as nimble as a prima ballerina's. When the World Cup kicks off in South Africa in June, he will carry the hopes of a continent as Africa's best-known soccer star. (West African fans will toast him with a beer glass called the Drogba. It's nearly twice the size of a normal mug.)

No one knows the rickety and high-spirited but often heartbreaking touring bus that is African soccer better than Drogba. At the 2006 World Cup, his homeland ravaged by civil war, he organized a statement from the Elephants, as the Ivorian national team is referred to, calling for peace. Many credit the ensuing calm for allowing reconciliation to begin. At a match last March, 22 Ivorians were killed in the crush to see their beloved heroes play. After the game, Drogba resolved to donate every dollar he earns from endorsements to a charity he set up to build new hospitals in the country.

Drogba is conflicted about his stardom; the same love of No. 11 that brought Ivorians together in 2006 also led to the fatal tumult last year. "I'd like the country to ultimately be able to deal with political problems itself," he says in his soft, French-accented English. "It's not really good to depend on the win or defeat of the national team. That means there is something wrong."

On the pitch, Drogba is known for the strength with which he holds off opposing defenders; it's that awesome ability that scares and baffles the high priests at the Slug and Lettuce. But why should it surprise them? This sensitive young man already carries so much of Africa's weight on his wide, sturdy shoulders.

Read more: TIME

Recon-Zeal Transcend Goggles

Ok, I found these on Engadget, probably one of the coolest snowboard accessories I've ever seen. It brings video games and HUD to real life.

"Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? If you'll recall, we heard that Recon Instruments was fixing to up-end the winter sports goggle market in February of this year, with an optimistic-at-the-time ship date of October 2010. Lo and behold, the outfit has managed to nail its estimate, and the planet's first GPS-enabled goggles are now available to highfalutin' skiers and snowboarders. At least initially, the company will be rolling out a limited set, with two models to choose from: the $499 Transcend SPPX is fitted with an SPPX polarized and photochromic lens, while the $399 Transcend SPX features an SPX polarized lens. Aside from the fact that these probably cost less than those ho hum Oakleys in the ski shop, they're equipped with a Zeal Optics' frame design with a micro LCD display, which appears to hang approximately six feet in front of the user. That head-mounted display provides real-time feedback to the wearer, including speed, latitude / longitude, altitude, vertical distance traveled, total distance traveled, a chrono / stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time. Yeah, wow. You can bet we'll be trying to snag a set for review when we do our best impression of "hitting the slopes" post-CES"

Engadget

The Artwork of UEFA....in Building Form

There are some beautiful pieces of art throughout Europe, pieces of art that are filled with thousands of rabid fans. Faced paints, jerseys on, and scarfs ready to go, these people fill these stadiums every game and make these cathedrals the places they are. Below I have posted some of the top, in my opinion, arenas in all of Europe.

Camp Nou

Imagine walking out of the tunnel to 99,000 screaming fans. Camp Nou is the biggest stadium in all of Europe and for good reason, the team taking the pitch every game is always, arguably the best team in the world. Barcelona has played on these grounds since 1957, winning most of them. The stadium capacity has varied greatly over the years, opening at 106,146, but growing to 121,749 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. All these numbers are well over capacity, the stadium officially holds 98,722. In the coming months talks have started about further renovations to the stadium to add more seats, updating certain pieces of equipment and in the end making it the third biggest, non-racing stadium in the world behind Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000) and the Salt Lake Stadium in India (120,000). It held UEFA five-star stadium status which was superseded by a new system of classification. Talks were in the process to sell the practice building neighboring Camp Nou, but upon the choice of the new President, those ideas were ceased.

Wembley Stadium

This massive stadium has only been open since 2007, well technically 1923. The new Wembley was built to supersede old Wembley by increasing capacity by 8,000 and creating an all-encompassing football experience to all of England and the World. Wembley in it's current state cost about $1.57 billion. The New Meadowlands Stadium in New York City is the only athletic facility in the world to cost more. Owned by the FA, it is rented out to the English National team for all home matches as well as hosting the upcoming Champions League Final in 2011. On top of those, even the NFL and the Race of Champions have been held here, yes, a race! A signature feature of the stadium, following on from the old Wembley's distinctive Twin Towers, is the 134 metres (440 ft) high Wembley Arch. With a span of 317 metres (1,040 ft), this steel arch is the longest single span roof structure in the world. As a sidenote, the stadium contains 2,618 toilets, more than any other venue in the world.

San Siro

The industrial look of San Siro houses two of the best teams, not only in Italy, but in all of the world, A.C. Milan and Internazionale. Opening in 1926, it has gone through numerous renovations which has seen its capacity fluctuate from 26,000, all the way up to 100,000, and currently held at 80,074. The stadium underwent further renovations for the 1990 World Cup with $60 million being spent, bringing the stadium up to UEFA category 4 standard. As part of the renovations, the stadium became all seated, with an extra tier being added to three sides of the stadium. This entailed the building of 11 concrete towers around the outside of the stadium. Four of these concrete towers located at the corner to support a new roof which has distinctive protruding red girders. San Siro should be on any football fans list to visit before they die, especially for an Inter v. Milan match.

Old Trafford

The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Dreams by Bobby Charlton, has been United's permanent residence since 1910, with the exception of an eight-year absence from 1941 to 1949, following the bombing of the stadium in the Second World War. And since 1910, oh has Manchester United made it feel like home. Upon getting into the the NW side of Manchester, everything turns red. Houses, stores, even the people, everything is red and the stadium is no exception. Old Trafford's most recent expansion, which took place between July 2005 and May 2006, saw an increase of around 8,000 seats with the addition of second tiers to both the north-west and north-east quadrants of the ground. United continue to harbour plans to increase the capacity of the stadium further, with the next stage pointing to a redevelopment of the South Stand, which, unlike the rest of the stadium, remains single tier.

Allianz Arena

Allianz could be the most beautiful stadium in Europe, as well as the most technologically-advanced. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season. It was built previous to that season for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The arena facade is constructed of 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air to a differential pressure of 0.038 hPa. The panels appear white from far away but when examined closely, there are little dots on the panels. When viewed from far away, the eye combines the dots and sees white. When viewed close up however, it is possible to see through the foil. The foil has a thickness of 0.2 mm. Each panel can be independently lit with white, red, or blue light. The intention is to light the panels at each game with the colors of the respective home team, or white if the home team is the German national football team. (In the US, a similar scheme will be used for the new Meadowlands Stadium, which will light up in blue for the Giants, green for the Jets, and red for a concert.)

Emirates Stadium

"The Spirit of Highbury" shrine depicting every player to have played for Arsenal during its 93 year residence at Highbury. It's murals depicting 12 "Greatest Moments" in Arsenal history around the lower concourse. The ongoing installation of eight large murals on the exterior of the stadium, each depicting 4 Arsenal legends linking arms, such that the effect of the completed design will be 32 legends in a huddle embracing the stadium. Everything about Emirates Stadium, formally Ashburton Grove, screams Arsenal FC. The new fixtures and amenities found in Holloway would make even Wembley blush. The stadium has gone through a series of renovations that make it one of the most beautiful arenas around. The details put into everything make it the building that it is and from what it sounds like there will only be more to come for this growing stadium currently holding 60,355 fans. The naming rights deal with the airline Emirates was struck in October 2004 for £100m and will last for 15 years.

El Bernabéu

El Bernabéu, re-named in honor of their former chairman Santiago Bernabéu Yeste, is one of the world's most famous and prestigious football venues. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid C.F. It has a current capacity of 80,354 spectators. Competing with the other powerhouse in Spain, Camp Nou, these two stadiums have more history than most buildings in the world. The stadium was announced the venue for the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final in a star-studded ceremony in Nyon in 2008. However, Real Madrid was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the 2009-10 Champions League, while FC Barcelona had advanced to the semi-finals. Barça fans became obsessed with reaching the final and winning the tournament in their rival's home ground, being seen as the ultimate humiliation to Madrid. The finals for the 1982 World Cup have also been held at the Bernabéu. It is a relatively urban setting compared to the others on the list, plugged right downtown Madrid.

Stamford Bridge

'Stamford Bridge' is considered to be a corruption of 'Samfordesbrigge' meaning 'the bridge at the sandy ford'. Banners adorn the stadium tucked in West London. "The Only Place To Be Every Other Saturday", from the song Blue Day, is emblazoned at the arena as well as others paying homage to the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry, and Peter Osgood. Under Roman Abramovich's control, the club has announced that it wants to extend Stamford Bridge to around 55,000 seats, from its current capacity of 42,450. Throughout the stadium the seats, like in other arenas, have been converted into make-shift banners, the side lines reading Chelsea, while the end caps read Adidas, the teams kit sponsor.  KSS Design Group (architects) designed the complete redevelopment of Stamford Bridge Stadium and its hotels, megastore, offices and residential buildings in 2003. And as of August 2010^[update], 19 out of the last 24 major domestic trophies have gone to either Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford. In the future the Blues hope that this number can become more skewed towards the former and not the latter. 

K'naan - Wavin' Flag Live (World Cup Anthem)

In light of FIFA 11 being released in a couple days I had to post this video, K'naan live in South Africa performing his hit song Wavin' Flag for the World Cup. Anyone who has played 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa has heard this song, it's the song at the start of the game. This is a catchy tune with a great message, enjoy.

Nike: BOOM

Nike has just released a series of new commercials, Nike: BOOM. These ads have a wide variety of celebrities and athletes filling them. Everyone from Rick Ross to Bo Jackson find spots in these ads, also included, Tim Tebow, Robinson Cano, and Ndamukong Suh.These are pretty sweet commercials, fast action, quick cuts, and semi-entertaining. Look for more of these to be released in the near future. Also, there is a full-length, minute-or-so long video, that sort of encompasses all these together. Look for me to post that soon.

APR Rankings to Go Along With Earlier Article

Here are the up-to-date, as accurate as can be, rankings of how the majority (113 out of 120 possible) of D-I, BCS, college coaches rank as far as success OFF the field. The seven coaches left off the list are in their first seasons, so, understandably, it's hard to gather data about them since these numbers are collective from the 2003/04 season up to the 2008/09 one. Below are the top 25 and bottom 25 coaches as far as academic success rates in the NCAA. The grade is out of 1000, that being the best.

Best 25 coaches ranked by APR

1. Troy Calhoun, Air Force 985
(tie). Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 985
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson 982
4. Greg Schiano, Rutgers 981
5. x-Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech 980
6. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy 976
7. Randy Shannon, Miami 975
8. x-Mike London, Virginia 974
9. Chris Petersen, Boise State 973
10. x-David Cutcliffe, Duke 971
(tie). Frank Spaziani, Boston College 971
12. x-Dave Clawson, Bowling Green 969
(tie). Bob Toledo, Tulane 969
14. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin 968
(tie). Jim Harbaugh, Stanford 968
(tie). Mike Haywood, Miami, Ohio 968
(tie). Bill Lynch, Indiana 968
(tie). Joe Paterno, Penn State 968
(tie). Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee 968
20. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest 967
(tie). x-Danny Hope, Purdue 967
22. Mark Richt, Georgia 966
(tie). Bill Stewart, West Virginia 966
24. Urban Meyer, Florida 965
25. x-Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois 962
(tie). Gary Patterson, TCU 962

Worst 25 coaches ranked by APR

1. Neil Callaway, UAB 883
2. Paul Rhoads, Iowa State 889
3. Robb Akey, Idaho 908
4. Ron English, Eastern Michigan 913
5. Dave Christensen, Wyoming 916
6. Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic 918
(tie). Rickey Bustle, Louisiana-Lafayette 918
8. Bill Snyder, Kansas State 919
9. Mike Stoops, Arizona 920
10. x-Turner Gill, Kansas 921
11. x-Dennis Erickson, Arizona State 922
(tie). Stan Parrish, Ball State 922
13. x-Gene Chizik, Auburn 924
14. Mike Price, UTEP 926
(tie). Al Golden, Temple 926
(tie). Doug Martin, Kent State 926
17. x-Gary Andersen, Utah State 928
(tie). x-Lane Kiffin, USC 928
19. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina 929
20. Larry Fedora, Southern Miss 930
(tie). x-June Jones, SMU 930
(tie). Mike Sherman, Texas A&M 930
(tie). x-Houston Nutt, Ole Miss 930
24. Larry Blakeney, Troy 931
(tie). Todd Dodge, North Texas 931

Some Big Schools Not Seen on Either List:
30. Jim Tressel, Ohio State 958
37. x-Les Miles, LSU 951
37. Bo Pelini, Nebraska 951
37. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 951
47. x-Nick Saban, Alabama 947
52. Mack Brown, Texas 943
67. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 938
79. x-Rich Rodriguez, Michigan 933
82. x-Brian Kelly, Notre Dame 932

x - represents numbers from coaches current and/or previous school between 03-09 (i.e. Lane Kiffin's numbers include USC and Tennessee)

Shannon leading Miami through renaissance on and off the field

Hey there, Miami Hurricanes. Everything OK? Anything you want to talk about?

From the outside looking in, Miami might appear to be a team in turmoil. After all, the Hurricanes' turnover-laden 36-24 loss to Ohio State on September 11th spawned a flurry of auxiliary headlines:

• In the locker room after that loss, the usually stoic Randy Shannon ripped into his guys, excoriating them for missing a golden opportunity.

• Starting quarterback Jacory Harris, who took full responsibility for his four interceptions (despite the fact that his receivers were to blame for three of them), revealed the day after the game that he'd received at least one racist tweet following the loss.

• In a move he insists was unrelated, Shannon instructed the Hurricanes to shut down their Twitter accounts, citing them as a distraction.

Taken together, what does it all mean?

It means the Pitt Panthers have a problem going into their upcoming game against their former Big East foes.

By Thursday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field, the Hurricanes will have had twelve days to digest Shannon's philippic and mull over their mistakes in the Horseshoe. This is a disciplined, veteran, mentally tough team with a history of bouncing back from early-season setbacks. Seven days after suffering a 31-7 drubbing at Virginia Tech last year, the 'Canes spotted No. 8 Oklahoma 10 points, then came storming back. The dee stiffened, Harris threw three touchdown passes, and OU went home with a 21-20 upset loss.

The Hurricanes will arrive at The Big Ketchup Bottle desperate to get a bad taste out of their mouths, and that's the least of Pitt's problems. Former Heisman candidate Dion Lewis, who rushed for a jaw-dropping 1,799 rushing yards as a freshman in 2009, has averaged 2.9 yards per carry so far this season. That's not a slump, it's a disappearing act. On September 16th, star defensive end Greg Romeus had surgery on a herniated disk; he's out indefinitely.

The Panthers have had bigger problems off the field. Redshirt freshman tailback and kick returner Jason Douglas was suspended indefinitely after his arrest in connection with a DUI hit-and-run accident. (Riding shotgun with Douglas was starting middle linebacker Dan Mason, whom head coach Dave Wannstedt has since demoted to second-string.) Reserve offensive lineman Keith Coleman's suspension resulted from his arrest for aggravated assault.

Such malfeasance is hardly atypical for a Division I program. Indeed, Urban Meyer's Florida Gators make Wannstedt and the Panthers look like Father Flanagan and the inhabitants of Boys Town. On September 14, Gator running back Chris Rainey was arrested for aggravated stalking. By the Orlando Sentinel's count, Rainey's was the 30th arrest during Meyer's five-plus year tenure in Gainesville.

While that number can be deceptive -- not all arrests result in charges being filed -- it's still embarrassing for the Gators. As we were reminded while struggling to keep track of Tiger's mistresses, once the general public is keeping a tally, you've lost the p.r. battle.

I come not to bury the Gators, but to praise the Hurricanes, who boast one of the more remarkable statistics in all of sport. The erstwhile bad boys of college football, the heirs of a program long known as Thug U, have had one player arrested during the four-year tenure of Randy Shannon. That guy, quarterback Robert Marve, committed the dastardly act of vandalizing the side-view mirror on a parked car. He has since transferred to Purdue.

What's going on in Coral Gables? For one thing, most Hurricanes are in bed when a lot of their classmates are hitting the clubs and bars. For the last two years, Shannon has been starting practice at 7 a.m., with meetings beforehand. "Guys are not going out," he says. The Hurricanes have sacrificed their night lives.

Shannon has placed greater emphasis on recruiting character than any of his predecessors, dating back to Jimmy Johnson (for whom Shannon started at linebacker on the 'Canes' 1987 national championship team). When his assistants are on the recruiting trail, Shannon insists they go into private investigator mode. "We've got coaches doing as much background checking as we can," he says. Players are deputized, put to work evaluating high school visitors. "We tell our players, if they don't feel [a recruit] is the right type of guy for what we're trying to get done at Miami, tell us, and we'll cut him loose. And we've done that."

Job One, obviously, is to restore the program's luster, and Shannon has made steady progress toward that goal, posting five wins in 2007, seven in 2008 and nine last season.

What's remarkable about this renaissance-in-progress is what's going on off the field. Plenty of coaches pay lip service to the importance of graduating players: Shannon's Academic Progress Rate, a metric used by the NCAA to measure the success (or failure) of college teams to move athletes toward graduation, is best among all BCS coaches.

"Coach Shannon wants to win games, but he wants to win with high-character guys," says cornerback Brandon Harris. "We can be tough on the field, but off the field, we should be respectful, and we need to get an education."

Somewhere, Luther Campbell is frowning and shaking his head.

"It was great, those guys being the bad boys of college football," says running back Damien Berry of those Thug U teams of yore. "But we're making a different kind of statement."

While Jacory Harris doesn't deny the appeal and swagger of those dynastic Miami teams, "Our swagger is based on something else," he says. "It's based on confidence, knowing we're prepared, knowing what we're doing."

That swagger was absent for long stretches in the Horseshoe, but should be back in full force against Pitt. This is a deep, talented, veteran, resilient squad that will have a lot to say about who wins the ACC.

They just won't be saying it on Twitter.

Read more: Sports Illustrated

Is European Football Destroying Itself?

Real Madrid is broke.

It was broke before completing the two most expensive transfers ever in 2009, bringing in Kaka for $86 million and Cristiano Ronaldo for $123 million. And it was broke when setting the previous transfer records, buying Luis Figo for $57 million in 2000 and Zinedine Zidane for $71 million in 2001.

Real pulled off the Figo and Zidane acquisitions by selling its huge downtown training complex to the city of Madrid for $445 million. The president, Florentino Perez, used the cash to pay down $271 million in club debt and blew the rest on the players. After that, Real dug itself into a financial hole all over again -- a hole on which construction has yet to conclude.

Despite generating more than an estimated $500 million a year, which includes a TV deal worth more than $200 million annually, Real Madrid's debt is $414 million, according to the club's 2008-09 financial report.
Yet Real's spending hasn't stopped. Just this past transfer window, the club spent $114 million on new players and doled out what has been estimated to be around $126 million for buying out one coach and his staff and bringing in another.

Real's biggest rival is also broke.

Barcelona was broke before buying David Villa, Javier Mascherano and Adriano for $52 million, $28.4 million and $11.6 million, respectively, this summer. The club is so strapped for cash, in fact, that it took out a $195 million bridge loan to ensure that it could pay salaries.

Like Real, Barcelona also has a lucrative broadcasting deal, valued at more than $185 million a year, and brings in $293 million more in revenue. Yet like Real, Barcelona is in debt by $578 million.

But both teams show no signs of curbing their spending.

Read the rest of the article here: ESPN Soccernet

Messi Set to Return Inside Two Weeks

Lionel Messi could return to action as early as next week's trip to FC Rubin Kazan after FC Barcelona's worst fears over the forward's ankle injury were allayed.

The Spanish titleholders were braced for a lengthy absence when Messi was taken off on a stretcher in the final minutes of Sunday's 2-1 win at Club Atlético de Madrid following a heavy Tomáš Ujfaluši tackle. Yet further examinations today revealed only sprained ankle ligaments and the club's medical team believe he could be back to fitness inside ten days.

That would rule the 23-year-old out of Liga fixtures against Real Sporting de Gijón and Athletic Club, but he could be available for the trip to FC Rubin Kazan on 29 September. Messi opened his UEFA Champions League account with two goals in the 5-1 triumph over Panathinaikos FC last week, and his opener against Atlético took his tally to eight in six games this season.

Courtesy of UEFA.com

2010 Fantasy Football Team: Part II

I just completed my 3rd and final fantasy football team for the season, I know it started during Week 2, but due to complications we couldn't hold the draft until today. I don't know how my team is as stacked as it ended up but I'm still having trouble believing I got all these guys.

QB1: Drew Brees
QB2: Aaron Rodgers

WR1: DeSean Jackson
WR2: Mike Sims-Walker
WR3: Dexter McCluster

RB1: Adrian Peterson
RB 2: Arian Foster

TE1: Antonio Gates

WR/RB1: Matt Forte

K1: Rod Bironas

DP1: Ray Lewis
DP2: Antrel Rolle

DB1: Charles Woodson

DL1: Jared Allen
DL2: Will Smith

LB1: Patrick Willis
LB2: Jon Beason

DT1: Kelly Gregg
DT2: Trevor Pryce

DE1: Justin Tuck
DE2: Dwight Freeney

CB1: Asante Samuel
CB2: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

S1: Brian Dawkins

BN: Donald Driver
BN: Greg Olsen
BN: Darren McFadden
BN: Devin Aromashodu
BN: Mike Vick
BN: Darren Sharper


I don't know if this defense is good, I pretty much picked on who I know, but we shall see how it turns out.

Celebrity "Relatives"...

Lately, I have been noticing more and more, lets say, look-a-likes in the celebrity world and it was capped off with Denard Robinson, the quarterback at the University of Michigan, this past Saturday. He looks very similar to rap artists T-Pain and Ace Hood. Below I have posted some pictures of people I believe to be separated at birth.

Denard Robinson, Ace Hood & T-Pain 

Larry Fitzgerald and Ronaldinho

Chad Smith & Will Ferrell

Zooey Deschanel & Katy Perry

...And my personal favorite...Ellen Degeneres and Owen Wilson

I know there are bunch more out there and I might make a second pass at adding more but for now I'll leave you with the creepy image of Ellen and Owen somehow being related.

Calvin Johnson's "Not" Touchdown

I live in Michigan, I've been here for a while, but I have never been a Detroit Lions fan. The way they run the organization, their lack of decision-making and thought in drafting players, them in general. But watching the Bears v. Lions game today made me feel for them. Lets face it, they have been beyond terrible for a very long time (thanks Barry Sanders), but the call made today put it at an all time low. Calvin Johnson was blatantly ROBBED of a touchdown due to bullshit run created by the NFL. I understand the thought of the rule when a player in the field, but in the endzone, NO, just NO. He obviously made the catch, landed and scored. It was a disappointment to Pro Football and the refs at the game to make this call. Just another reason to watch college football.

Miami v. Ohio State

This was supposed to be the game that decided two seasons, the winner could make it to the title game, the other not so much. After the 36-24 game that I would have to say is one of the ugliest games I've ever seen a Miami team play, I still don't think the season is over. I know we lost, I GET IT, but look at the other outcomes today: GT lost to Kansas, VT lost to JAMES MADISON, not the president and yes they do actually have a football team, and FSU was beat like the ugly step-child they are by Oklahoma 47-17. GO ACC!

But seriously, that shows that the ACC Title is up in the air, people wrote it off as a guarantee to Virginia Tech but they are obviously more than beatable. So there is still a chance to go to a BCS bowl, we just need to focus on the remaining games and not take plays off like last year.

On a positive note, our defense did look good, Harris did throw 4 picks but at other times he looked flawless, Miller and Benjamin were electric in the return game, and our O-line held their own for the most part, there are a lot of things we can take away from this game we just need to remember....TURNOVERS LOSE BALL GAMES!