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Couple Charged In Milion-Dollar Scheme Involving Dwight Freeney

2012-03-29T13:55:00.005-04:00

It's nothing new to hear a professional athlete being taken for millions of dollars. Either a shady financial adviser or bad investments.

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney should consider himself lucky that his victimizers were caught before his situation was made worse than it was.

A financial adviser for Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney and the adviser's lover have been arrested on federal wire fraud charges that allege they swindled about $2.2 million from the lineman.

Eva Weinberg, 48, of Los Angeles, and Michael Stern, 51, of Miami, were arrested last week by FBI agents who believe the couple were trying to flee the United States.

From what was in the article, Freeney wasn't named directly in the case but Stern's attorney, Henry Bell confirmed the victim was indeed Freeney.

Athletes and entertainers make tons of money but squander lots of it and make bad financial decisions. It's made worse when the people that you trust with your money are stealing it from you. More players need to be aware of who they are trusting.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Fake Andrew Luck Jerseys Now On Sale

2012-03-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

Andrew Luck hasn't even been drafted, but it hasn't stopped a website for putting up images of an Indianapolis Colts jersey bearing Luck's name and college number 12.

NFLteamedgestore.com has the jersey, but you have to figure it's a fake since Luck hasn't even been assigned a team or number.

“I can tell you it’s not authorized by the Colts,” said Chuck O’Hara, the club’s senior director of marketing.

Said league spokesman Brian McCarthy: “Our legal department is aware and looking into it.”

I'm pretty sure someone has gotten paid from the sales of the "fake" Luck jersey, but there will be some trouble on the horizon when the league decides it wants to investigate a little deeper into the matter.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Danny Manning To Be Named Coach at Tulsa

2012-03-29T13:52:00.000-04:00

Kansas head coach, Bill Self is having a tough time keeping his staff intact. Yesterday, assistant Barry Hinson was announced as the new head coach at Southern Illinois. There are reports surfacing that Danny Manning has agreed to take the coaching job at Tulsa.

Manning has been an assistant at Kansas since 2007.

Could the pending departures propel Kansas to the national championship? That remains to be seen.

I'm sure there are some people in Norman that are still bitter about Manning.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

NCAAB Rumors: Could Larry Brown Be Coaching for SMU?

2012-03-29T13:47:00.000-04:00

SMU hasn't had much success in college basketball since the days of Jon Koncak. There isn't much news surrounding the program, so it was a surprise to me a few days ago when I finally found out that SMU fired Matt Doherty.

The Mustangs will be joining the Big East soon, more of a football move than a basketball one, so the hiring of a new coach is critical for the program.

The Mustangs have targeted Marquette's Buzz Williams, but he isn't going anywhere, so the Mustangs will have to scout on a new route. One name that hasn't been mentioned, but reportedly reached out to SMU is the retired Larry Brown.

Brown has said that he wanted to coach again at the college level, but at SMU? Brown must be incredibly bored with the millions he's taken in buyouts to want to coach at SMU. I'm not saying that it's a bad job, I just don't think he'll fit, but stranger things have happened. Brown could be the one to lead SMU back to respectability since he is a teacher and his name and track record would lend credibility to the program. I just don't see him going there.

SMU might not have a choice but to hire Brown unless they hire a low major coach, because no one from a good mid major or big program will take the job. Even with the departures of Syracuse and Pittsburgh, the Mustangs will need someone to shepherd them through the Big East landscape.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Bar Ordered To Stop Selling "Leyland Smoking" T-Shirts

2012-03-28T16:42:00.001-04:00

Jim Leyland's style and personality seems to fit the city of Detroit quite well. Some people love Leyland for bringing the Detroit Tigers from the abyss into one of the top teams in the American League.

The Dirty Trick bar in Detroit also thinks so highly of Leyland that they've started selling a t-shirt of Leyland's mug with a cigarette dangling out the side of his mouth. A creative idea for sure, except that the Tigers don't think so.

The shirts were being sold for $22 at the bar Sunday night, but owner Louis Colombo said Monday he might halt sales because of a legal dilemma with the team. Colombo, 42, said a member of the Tigers legal counsel called him Monday afternoon and said the bar is expected to receive a cease-and-desist order this week.

Tigers officials appear to have a problem with the Old English D logo being used because it resembles their trademarked team logo, as well as the image the shirt portrays, Colombo said.

Colombo, however, claims the shirt is intended to honor Leyland's colorful personality and his success as manager of this gritty, sports-crazed town.

"There's nothing negative about it," said Colombo, a married father of seven children from Grosse Pointe Park. "I think Jim Leyland is amazing, that's why I did it. Besides Sparky Anderson, he's my favorite Tigers manager. I just thought that if I were to do a Tigers shirt, I would have to put Jim Leyland's face on it."

Colombo has offered to tweak the Old English D so that he can continue selling the shirt. I would hope that the Tigers would let this pass and let Colombo continue selling the shirts at the bar. Or at least they could come together and give all profits to charity.

That would be a good idea.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Jason Richardson Recovers Stolen Ring from College

2012-03-28T16:29:00.000-04:00

Jason Richardson was a member Michigan State's 2000 national championship winning team. So even in college you still get a championship ring.

However, Richardson realized his ring was missing and found it being sold by a memorabilia dealer for $7,500. But there is a silver lining in this story as the Michigan State athletics office had the ring remade.

"I see the ring, and I thought, 'Oh, wow, they have a complete picture and replica of my ring,'" Richardson recently told ESPN.com. "Then I see one side of the ring says, 'Richardson, 23.' I thought, 'Oh, wow, they even have my name on it.' And then I scrolled down further and it says you can have this ring for $7,500! I was like, 'How the hell they get my ring?'"

According to ESPN, Richardson hadn't seen his ring much since winning the title more than a decade ago. Because he's now in the NBA and on the road, he had his uncle watching the ring.

But when he recently installed a new trophy case at his home, he called his uncle for the ring back.

The uncle, though, didn't know where it was. According to ESPN, he hadn't seen it since sending it back to Michigan State for repairs years ago. The Michigan State athletics office hadn't seen it, either.

"I call the guy up and say I'm checking in on the Jason Richardson championship ring, and he said they've received a few calls on that," Richardson told ESPN. "So I say, 'Uh, yeah, this is Jason Richardson. And that's my ring. That ring was stolen.'"

The sports memorabilia dealer reportedly wouldn't tell Richardson how he got his hands on the ring. This is quite certain: Having made more than $85 million in the pros, Richardson had no reason to sell it himself. He said no matter what, he'd never sell it.

Now if you ask me, it sounds like someone making his trophy case lifted the ring from his home. I know Richardson did some investigating but he should be calling the company that installed his trophy case. And it sounds like the memorabilia dealer was in cahoots with the thief of the ring.

All of it is moot now, because the ring has zero value since Michigan State remade the ring for Richardson. I bet J-Rich keeps a closer eye on it more than ever now.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Lamar Odom Bothered by Fans' "Booing"

2012-03-28T16:26:00.001-04:00

This has been a trying season for Lamar Odom. There was the trade to the Dallas Mavericks and numerous off court issues, including his public marriage to Khloe Kardashian. There were reports that Odom approached Mark Cuban about a buyout.

Odom seems to be the most sensitive player in the NBA if you ask me. He's sulked his way through most of this season and some of it I understand. But I believe when he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers hurt him the most. Personally he should get over it. I do have a little sympathy for him, but it's hard to sympathize with someone that gets paid millions to play basketball.

Odom has said that the fans' booing has bothered him and he finds it confusing.

"I've never been booed in my life," he said. "So if it's to the point where I'm playing a basketball game at home and I'm getting booed, I would say _ no disrespect _but maybe I think people took things the wrong way.

"I admitted that I was out of shape for different reasons when I came into camp. I admitted what I've been through. I was honest about how my summer went, how I almost left the game and everything I went through. And I think people just took it the wrong way, like if I had a reason not to be here _ or I didn't want to be here.

"I think people took that the wrong way. Next thing I know, I'm trying to come out of a slump and I check into the game and I'm getting booed. I'm not really used to that."

"It's part of the game," he said. "I understand, but it usually happens on the road. I've always had a lot of pride to play for the name on the back of my jersey. I've always been more prideful to play for the name that's on the front of my jersey _ whether it be USA or whether it be the Mavericks or the other team I came from. I always had a lot of pride.

"So it was a little confusing and a little hurtful, but it's the sport world. I understand. We're in a business that it's all about what have you done lately, or the last game or the next game?"

"I would say confused. I wouldn't say angry, because there are a lot of sides to Lamar Odom, know what I mean? Sportsman is one of them. I'm a father, a husband, someone's son, someone's cousin. So there's a lot of roles that I have to play in life. Basketball is just one of them. So I can't let it get me angry because I have a lot of other roles to fulfill."

Odom needs to just man up and play ball. He has the ability but it always seems like his head has never been in the right place. Maybe a move back to Miami or Los Angeles might be in store for Odom in order to get his groove back.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

NCAAB Rumors: VCU, George Mason, Butler To Join Atlantic 10?

2012-03-25T20:47:00.000-04:00

In the latest news of conference realignment, Butler, George Mason, and VCU are having discussions about joining the Atlantic 10 for the 2013-2014 school year.

For this to happen the schools would need to get permission from their respective school boards and would have to negotiate some kind of exit fee from their conference.

The three schools would help replace schools that are leaving the A-10. Temple is headed to the Big East and sources told CBSSports.com that Charlotte has received an “informal invitation” to the Sun Belt. The 49ers are starting up a football program in 2013 at the FCS level, but couldn't make a move to the FBS until 2015.

Creighton's names has also been thrown around, but the Atlantic 10 isn't a geographical fit for the school but there have been some strange alignments before and it wouldn't shock me if a invite were given to the Blue Jays that they would say no.

Butler, VCU, and George Mason reside in one bid basketball leagues right now, although the quality of play in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) has improved in recent years. If the three schools mentioned join the Atlantic 10 the league would improve greatly.

I'm not predicting future Final Four berths for the conference, but with Xavier, St. Louis, and Dayton already there it would make the Atlantic 10 more competitive.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Dodgers' Andre Ethier Buying Uniforms for Phoenix High School Team

2012-03-25T19:16:00.006-04:00

Positive sports stories hardly ever make news. No one ever reports the good that professional athletes do on their own time. Except for the televised charity work.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, Andre Ethier, has done a big favor for a Phoenix area high school. Ethier's buying new uniforms for the baseball team at Camelback High School. Ethier attended St. Mary’s High in Phoenix.

“I’ve been pretty excited and choked up about this,” Camelback Coach Todd Goertzen said.

Camelback reached the state finals in 1985, but the baseball program declined as the surrounding neighborhood changed. Most of the players are sons of Mexican immigrants who didn’t play baseball before high school because of the high cost of equipment. Many players come from single-parent households. Until recently, the team had one bat for the entire team.

The Spartans have won one game in each of the last two seasons; they are winless this season and lost one of their games by a 38-0 margin.

I can imagine being excited for new uniforms, especially being supplied by a major league player. A local product in this case making for a classic hometown hero story.

New Balance, which recently signed Ethier to an endorsement deal, will provide the team with shoes.

Hopefully Ethier's contributions will spark a new interest in the baseball program at Camelback.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

MLB Rumors: Roy Oswalt to the Los Angeles Angels?

2012-03-25T17:57:00.001-04:00

Just when you thought Roy Oswalt would be a mid-season addition, here comes news that he could be had by the start of the regular season.

ESPN's Jim Bowden tweeted that the Los Angeles Angels are the front runners to land Oswalt.

Bowden added that the Boston Red Sox “remain in the picture” while the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals are fading.

I still think Oswalt will take his time making a decision rather than being a late pickup in spring training. I still think he's taking a Brett Favre like approach in his decision. Maybe he just wants to make sure he's in peak condition before stepping on the mound.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

FOX Sports Looking to Hire Sean Payton For 2012 NFL Season

2012-03-25T17:52:00.000-04:00

Even though New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is suspended for this year, it won't stop others looking to employ him.

A report in the New York Times says that the FOX network is exploring the option of hiring Payton. Het a guy has to make a living right?

Payton will lose at least $6 million in salary from the Saints and could seek work elsewhere, perhaps in television. On Friday, representatives for ESPN, NBC and CBS indicated that they had no plans to hire him. But Fox Sports, which carries N.F.C. games during the season, is open to the possibility. “Our feeling about Sean is that he’s bright, articulate and obviously contemporary,” said Lou D’Ermilio, Fox’s senior vice president for communications. “Any network with N.F.L. rights would have to consider it.”

The league responded in a statement: “He is suspended from the N.F.L. for the season. His involvement in any non-N.F.L. employment or business matters is not our decision.”

Even though I do think the Saints should've been punished, it was a bit harsh. But maybe if Payton or Gregg Williams would've told (commissioner) Roger Goodell the truth they might've got off with a lighter penalty. But who knows. They were only doing what most in their position probably would've done and that is cover their ass.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Ndamukong Suh Puts In Good Word for Incoming Nebraska Basketball Coach

2012-03-25T17:49:00.000-04:00

The Nebraska Cornhuskers ended their search for a basketball coach when they hired Tim Miles from Colorado State. Miles led the Rams to their first NCAA tournament since 1998 and would've been considered a favorite for the Mountain West title next season.

Miles will now head up a rebuilding job in Lincoln. Athletic director Tom Osborne was impressed by the way Miles has built programs at his previous stops. But it helps when you have former players of the football program helping you get the job.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh reportedly was one of three Nebraska supporters that recommended Miles for the job.

Miles said he and Suh have a mutual friend who put them contact this week.

Osborne joked (we think) that he wasn't about to ignore the Detroit Lions defensive tackle's recommendation.

"When Ndamukong calls, I always listen. And if I don't listen," Osborne told the Omaha World Herald, "he'll break my neck."

I guess when you donate $2.6 million back to your alma mater, that your opinions on who gets hired around there matters.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Lem Barney Wishes He Had Never Played Football

2012-03-24T17:27:00.001-04:00

For all the success Hall of Fame NFL player Lem Barney had, he wishes he never played football. Those are strong words from someone who excelled at every level of the sport.

Barney still is in relatively good health for his age (66), but says that if he had been presented with a different choice he never would've played football.

"I call it blessed," Barney said. "It's that type of game. It's a lethal game. Again, as I tell people, 'Do you miss the game, Lem?' And sincerely, I don't miss the game."

"If I look at the game now and I look back on it retrospectively, if I had another choice I'd never played the game, at all, in my life," he said. "Never. Never. From all-city, all-state, all-conference, all-American, seven times All-Pro, I'm in eight Hall of Fames, it wouldn't be. It would be golf or tennis. I'm serious. Very serious."

His reasoning behind that. Concussions. Back when he played the league or doctors didn't diagnose concussions like they do now. Barney never knew how many he had until he went to visit a doctor when his playing days were over.

"(He) told me that he saw where I had at least seven or eight concussions," Barney said. "One (spot) was as large as a silver dollar, and he said, 'You were out for a long time.' And there was about 30 minutes that I was out -- down at Tiger Stadium playing against the Bengals. It was just amazing.

"And then the other ones that he saw -- I can remember them. The ones I remember fondly was big Rufus Mayes from Ohio State, 6-9, 290, and he put his right knee right in the right temple when I came up to cut him down on a sweep. Next thing I know, it's like la-la land. Was out for a long time.

If you were knocked around back then, you cleared the cobwebs and went back to playing.

"I related concussions to boxers," he said. "I didn't put one and two together. You get KO'd on the football (field) like getting KO'd in the damn ring, it's a concussion. I didn't put that together because, again, no doctors from middle school through high school through college through the league called them concussions. They all called them dingers and stingers."

He does have some advice for current Lions running back Jahvid Best.

"If he wants to play again, God bless him, but if he can come back and still be comprehensible and still be able to understand things and still live a real good life," Barney said. "I would tell him, if he's going to play, they've got to get some kind of special helmet for him because it's not going to take much longer if he keeps getting those dinger, stinger and bell-ringers as the boxers used to call them, or even the concussions, that he's going to be around here.

"I would tell him to maybe look at doing something else rather than coming back again after having those back-to-(back) concussions. It's a dangerous game. Like I said, I don't have anything against it, I just don't have anything for it now."

For fans that thought Barry Sanders quit on the Lions now you can see why. The man wanted to walk away with his health.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

MLB Spring Training 2012: Joakim Soria Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

2012-03-24T03:48:00.000-04:00

The Kansas City Royals bullpen took a big hit, because closer Joakim Soria opted to have Tommy John surgery. This won't be his first time under the knife as he had the surgery back in 2003 while he was in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Soria sought the opinion of three doctors before finally deciding that surgery was his best option.

Plans call for Dr. Lewis Yocum to perform the surgery April 3 in Los Angeles. The typical recovery period ranges from 10-14 months.

Soria definitely will miss this season and will possibly miss the early part of the 2013 season.

Soria, 27, was one of baseball's best closers from 2008-10, but he had a down year last season. He closed 28 games in 35 chances with a 4.03 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. He looked like a good bounce-back candidate heading into this season. Instead, he'll have to hope for a good second half in 2013 before he hits free agency at the conclusion of that season.

This will hurt the back end of the Royals bullpen as Jonathan Broxton, Greg Holland, and Aaron Crow will have their roles shuffled with Soria out.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

St. Paul Saints To Have a Bounty Promotion

2012-03-23T18:14:00.000-04:00

Minor league baseball teams are always cooking up some kind of comical gimmick and the St. Paul Saints are no stranger to it.

Their latest brainstorming session has resulted in the Saints coming up with a "bounties for big hits" promotion for their Sept. 1 game against the Wichita Wingnuts. It's clearly a shot at the New Orleans Saints and the "bountygate" scandal, but it's all in the name of charity so I do see some humor in it.

On Saturday, September 1, the one year anniversary of Minnesota’s youth concussion law going into effect, the St. Paul Saints will be gunning for the opposition and plan to PAY a TON of money for a worthy cause. For each bone crunching hit the Saints will collect a bounty and the bigger the hit, the larger the sum: a single is worth $100, a double $200, a triple $300 and a home run is worth $400. For every pitcher the Saints “knock-out” another $50 will be collected. Each time a Saints pitcher “punches out” an opposing hitter, $10 will be donated. At the end of the night all the money collected from the bounty system will be placed in a LOOMIS armored truck and taken to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and donated to their new concussion research program.

The first 1,500 fans entering the game that night will receive a football helmet piggy bank with the Saints logo on one side (the S will be in the shape of a $) and the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota logo on the other. It should be a BREEZE for fans to fill it up with their own bounty and they can take the piggy bank to the Children’s (either the Minneapolis or St. Paul hospital locations) to donate the money to concussion research.

Since this is in the Twin Cities, the locals will have a good time with this one, since it might've been some of the Saints' (New Orleans) dirty play that made Brett Favre a bit gimpy and possibly ruined their shot a t a Super Bowl.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

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Mike Leach Would Like a 64-Team College Playoff

2012-03-23T18:12:00.000-04:00

Inevitably college football will be heading toward a playoff. All the talking heads have to agree upon is how many teams will in the derby. If it were up to Washington State coach Mike Leach he would have it just like the NCAA tournament and have 64 teams in a playoff.

"The minimum should be 16 teams,’’ he said. “I think 32 is better than 16, but I think 64 would be ideal," he started to explain to me, without taking a breath.

"You could cut the regular season down to 10 games, but guarantee everybody 12 games. In the end, the champion would play 16 games."

Don't bring up school workload to him as an argument. "That's a bunch of foolishness," he chided, in a nice, polite tone.

"Basketball players go to school, volleyball players go to school, baseball players go to school and they play a lot more games than football [players do]."

Although I do support a playoff, this is a little insane, but Leach always seemed to be in his own world anyway. I'm with him about the "school" part. The talking heads believe that it would take too much class time away from the "student-athelete". Everyone knows that's a load of bull.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

NFL Rumors: Will Drew Stanton Be Leaving the Jets?

2012-03-22T23:30:00.000-04:00

When former Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton signed with the New York Jets, he signed there with the knowledge that he would be the number two quarterback behind starter Mark Sanchez. But the Jets went out and traded for Tim Tebow and now his backup status is in doubt and Stanton wants out of New York.

Stanton passed over other teams and more money to sign with the Jets and now he feels screwed. The Jets are trying to accommodate Stanton by seeking out a trade for the disgruntled third stringer.

"When we signed Drew, obviously this (trading for Tebow) was not contemplated in that decision," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum told the newspaper on Wednesday. "When you get an unexpected opportunity to add a player like Tim, you have to take advantage of that."

If I'm Stanton I'd just wait on getting released. Not that he is a bad player, it's just that there is hardly a trade market for him. But hey we said the same thing about Tebow.

UPDATE: Drew Stanton has now reportedly been traded to the Colts.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Prince Fielder's Mother To Publish a Book

2012-03-22T19:04:00.000-04:00

The tension in the Fielder family might get a little worse by the end of spring. Father and son already don't get along and now mother, Stacey August, is getting in the act. She has a book in the works and it could be out by next month.

The book will be title "Stealing Home On A Fielder's Choice" and is due to be available online and in stores this spring, maybe by next month.

August said the nine-chapter, 300-page, self-published book subtitled "A Revelation of a Ravished Rose," details the triumphs and adversity the Fielder family experienced throughout Cecil's professional baseball career and Prince's childhood before his rise to big league stardom.

August says the book won't be focused on the Prince-Cecil relationship although it will talk about how it changed over the years.

"I hope it gives other families a sense of hope that, at the end of the day, love may not conquer all, but it does cover all," August said. "It's a story of grace and mercy."

"It's a spiritual memoir that really talks about the core issues," she said. "It goes a little deeper for the underlying issues. It will address the situation that has happened to the two of them."

August says that both Cecil and Prince know about the book and don't have any problems with it. We'll have to see how long either of them will hold out on saying they don't like the book.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

UNLV Basketball Coach, Jerry Tarkanian, Has Mild Heart Attack

2012-03-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

The battle Jerry Tarkanian has now is bigger than any with the NCAA.

The former longtime UNLV basketball coach has been hospitalized by a mild heart attack.

"It was a mild heart attack," son Danny Tarkanian said. "He said he feels pretty good, but he was scared."

"He was very alert, and he sounded good. Hopefully he's going to be OK for a while," Danny Tarkanian said. "As a family, we feel pretty relieved at this point.

Tarkanian was one of the best college coaches of all time, however his long time battle with the NCAA overshadowed his sideline accomplishments. Here's to a timely recovery by Tark the Shark.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Antonio Cromartie Doesn't Want Tim Tebow on the Jets

2012-03-21T18:28:00.003-04:00

With Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos, everyone figures Tim Tebow will be useless. So everyone is in a haste to trade Tebow. I wouldn't but I'll save that for later. The frontrunners in the Tebow derby are the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm sure new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano could develop a package of plays for Tebow and the Jaguars probably could sell more tickets and jerseys.

There is one Jet that doesn't want Tebow with the Jets. The outspoken Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie says the Jets don't need Tebow and they should let him go elsewhere.

"We don't need Tebow," Cromartie wrote on his Twitter account. "We sell out every home game, let him go to Jacksonville, Tampa or Miami. Out wildcat offensve can (be) run by (Jeremy) Kerley or Joe McKnight. We straight."

At least Cromartie is showing support for other teammates. But he's not in the front office and they are the ones that call the shots. Also if I'm the Broncos I might be in no hurry to trade Tebow. I know he's not the greatest quarterback, but maybe, just maybe he could watch and learn under Manning and be a better player because of it. Also, what if Manning gets hurt because his neck isn't right? Then you're back to ground zero. Unless John Elway already has a plan for the draft and free agency for a backup.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Southern Miss Revokes Scholarships After Racist Chants

2012-03-21T18:26:00.002-04:00

That didn't take long. The that I'm referring to is the University of Southern Mississippi administration taking away the scholarships of those who participated in the "Where's Your Green Card?" chant directed at Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez.

The five members of the pep band lost their scholarships, were removed from the band, and ordered to complete a two-hour cultural sensitivity training course this week.

USM issued an apology last week to Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez after he was the target of chants of "Where's your green card?" during the Wildcats' 70-64 second-round victory in the NCAA tournament. Rodriguez had 13 points and four assists in the game.

"The students have been forthcoming, cooperative, contrite and sincerely remorseful. They acted rashly and inappropriately, and now see the gravity of their words and actions," Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Joe Paul said in a statement. "This is a teachable moment, not only for these students but for our entire student body and those who work with them."

Rodriguez has taken all of this in stride and to his credit hasn't made much of a stir about it.

Rodriguez said last week he accepted the apology because "there's ignorant people and I know that's not how they want to represent their university.

Besides, Rodriguez is from Puerto Rico which is a U.S. commonwealth and don't need green cards to come over to the great 48. Next time they might want to get their facts straight.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Trey Zeigler Will Be Leaving Central Michigan

2012-03-21T18:24:00.000-04:00

Trey Zeigler and Ray McCallum Jr. were decorated, four star recruits coming out of high school. Both decdied against high major offers to play for their fathers at Central Michigan (Ernie Zeigler) and Detroit (Ray McCallum Sr.) respectively.

Zeigler reportedly will be leaving Central Michigan after his dad was fired from his head coaching position.

Central Michigan star Trey Zeigler, whose father, Ernie, was fired as CMU's head coach last week, has been granted his release from school, according to collegebasketballtalk.com, and will transfer.

Zeigler will visit Duke this weekend, and also has heard from UCLA, Pittsburgh, Michigan and Michigan State, according to a tweet from All Eyes on U Hoops, which covers Midwest basketball recruiting. The Recruit Scoop tweeted that Zeigler will choose from MSU, Duke, UCLA and Detroit Mercy.

I think he might wind up with UCLA as they were one of his finalists coming out of high school. With Michigan State signing Gary Harris in next year's class and Michigan's class full I don't think he'll land at either one of those schools. I don't know about situations elsewhere, but the darkhorse in this derby would be Detroit, as McCallum and Zeigler are reportedly pretty good friends.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

Lance Berkman Feels Bud Selig Extorted the Astros

2012-03-21T18:21:00.000-04:00

Lance Berkman may find himself in a meeting with the commissioner for some rather opinionated statements he had regarding the sale and impending move of the Houston Astros to the American League.

Berkman was a long time Astro and still a popular figure in the Houston area, even though he plays for the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. He didn't bite his tongue on his feelings about how Bud Selig handled the sale of the Astros and says he would tell him if he was given the chance.

"I hate it. I feel like, basically, the commissioner extorted Jim Crane into moving the Astros," Berkman said of Houston's new owner during a conversation with two reporters.

"If he (Selig) called me, I would tell him," Berkman said.

Berkman also said he would have no problem telling Selig he extorted the Astros.

"Yeah, because I think that's exactly what it was: "We're going to hold the sale of the team up until you guys agree to switch'," Berkman said. "And it just so happens that the Astros were being sold right at the optimal time for that to happen."

Furthermore Berkman doesn't like the Astros' move to American League and doesn't care for their style of baseball. He says it makes no sense for the Astros to go to the American League and if anyone should go it should be the Milwaukee Brewers.

"It makes a heck of a lot more sense for the Brewers to go back to the American League from a historical standpoint," Berkman said. "Maybe not geographically, but it makes limited sense for the Astros to move from a geographic standpoint because they have the Rangers but then most of their away games are going to be starting at 9:30 p.m. Houston time.

"I just think when you have a franchise that has 50 years as a National League entity, and then you switch over to the American League, I just don't like it. I'm not in favor of it. I don't like the AL style of baseball to begin with. That plus the history element of it makes it ... I don't like it."

I do agree that Milwaukee should make the switch back to the American League since they have a team built for that style of play. But from a competitive standpoint, I don't think the Brewers can win consistently with the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels and Rangers around.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

MLB Rumors: Vladimir Guerrero to Play in Japan?

2012-03-20T18:35:00.001-04:00

Surprisingly no one has given any thought of signing Vladimir Guerrero. He can still swing it, even though he has to cheat on fastballs, but he can no longer play in the field.

That almost spells it out for anyone. I guess no one has room for a one trick pony on their roster, if your name isn't Manny Ramirez. Guerrero does plan on playing somewhere though. He just doesn't know where. According to his agent, one of his options may be playing in Japan.

Fernando Cuza indicated to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that Guerrero will wait around for the phone to ring until the end of spring training, but considering he has no business playing the outfield at this point and so few teams aren’t already set with designated hitter options the market for Guerrero seems unlikely to heat up.

Guerrero, who had a reputation of being a notorious bad ball hitter, was one of my favorites because of that aforementioned trait. I wouldn't like to see him end his career in Japan, but you have to do what you have to do. I wouldn't want to see him flailing away helplessly and being overmatched against major league pitching.

I would bet on someone throwing him a bone before the season starts.

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72

20 Questions

2012-03-20T18:34:00.000-04:00

1. Shouldn't Vlad Guerrero be signed already?

2. Why doesn't Pete Gillen have job?

3. Is this the official end of Tebowmania?

4. Did the Lakers make the best trade deadline moves and are they in prime position to challenge the Thunder?

5. Have the Wizards finally rid themselves of their headcases?

6. Will Gilbert Arenas have an impact on the Grizzlies?

7. Can Peyton Manning get the Broncos multiple Super Bowl trophies?

8. Don't you think if Florida State had an offense like the old Pat Kennedy days they'd be advancing?

9. Wouldn't Shaka Smart be wise to stay at VCU?

10. Isn't it good to see N.C. State on the national stage?

11. Who is impressed with how Royce White played this season?

12. When will there be another great American heavyweight?

13. Is this the year everyone stops knocking LeBron?

14. What will it take for Pacquiao and Mayweather to step into the ring?

15. Does Michigan really have a chance against Alabama in college football's opener?

16. Why do women's basketball produce so many blowouts?

17. Is Perry Jones III really a lottery pick?

18. Will the Phillies dominate the NL East again?

19. Wouldn't it be nice to see UNLV return to their renegade winning ways?

20. Will Tiger Woods ever win another major?

Written by Chris Edwards, Writer

I love to talk sports.Just a fan that blogs about what goes on in the world of sports. Everyone feel free to discuss their take on what's going on.

Follow on Twitter @justsports72