50 Years Ago Today Marquette football died

Though the team was struggling and a financial burden, 50 years ago today, University officials at Marquette made the most short sighted decision that could have ever been made.

Bob Wolfley has the story:

Fifty years ago on Thursday, Marquette University gave up on intercollegiate football.

The news came as a shock to most everyone at the school, except perhaps for Rev. Edward J. O’Donnell, S.J., who made the announcement on a Friday morning that the school was dropping football.

Students, players and coaches were left stunned, bewildered and dismayed by the move. Some of those feelings morphed into bitterness, a taste of which survives today, at least for a few of the players on that team.

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Students, players and coaches were left stunned, bewildered and dismayed by the move. Some of those feelings morphed into bitterness, a taste of which survives today, at least for a few of the players on that team.

“Back then we didn’t have demonstrations, we had rallies,” said Bill Johnson, 70, in a phone interview recently. Johnson was a junior quarterback then for the Golden Avalanche.

The Dec. 10 edition of the Milwaukee Sentinel carried a photograph on its front page, running the entire width, showing students surging along N. 5^th Street.

“ ‘We Want Football!’ MUers Yell” the headline honked.

“We have exhausted all possible ways of retaining the sports,” O’Donnell said. The athletic department could no longer support football, track and cross-country programs, he said, because they cost too much. He mentioned that basketball was “the principal athletic rallying point for alumni in the future.”

During a press conference at his office, O’Donnell said he had reached the decision “with deep regret.” He said the programs had been operating in the red for five straight years. He said the athletic program was $50,000 in debt in 1960 and that the track program alone lost $8,000 in 1959.

The 1960 team was 3-6. The program was a power in the 1920s and ‘30s but had not had a winning record since 1953. From 1954-’60 the team was 10-44-3.

According to one report the total attendance for the four home games in the ‘60 season was 57,600.

Joe Schulte, 70, was a defensive back/quarterback for Marquette then, a junior who had just been elected captain for the 1961 season.

Schulte remembers him and Johnson trying to persuade the MU athletic department to honor not only tuition but room and board costs.

“They said no it’s a business decision,” Johnson said. “We’re not doing it. That was upsetting to hear that in a cold fashion . . . . We felt we were not treated properly.”

George Andrie, 70, a junior end and defensive end on the team, went on to have an impressive professional career with the Dallas Cowboys. With a year a eligibility left, Andrie considered transferring to the University of Tulsa. He thought about playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He chose neither.

The Cowboys, who were interested in him, wanted him to transfer to East Texas State. He decided against that too, and returned to Marquette to finish requirements for his degree. He does to recall his time than at MU with fondness.

He thinks he would have been better off at Michigan State, which had offered him a scholarship.

“The more you found out, the more you kind of resented what they did,” Andrie said. “We didn’t have anyone we could talk to. My parents didn’t know anything about football. Hell, there were not advisers for us to turn to. They said we are going to take away part of your scholarship. That really pissed me off. It was a mess, a true mess. It really left a bad taste in my mouth.”

Andrie said his older brother, Stan, who also played at Marquette remembers his playing days there with more affection than he does. George Andrie said he is grateful for at least one aspect of his time at Marquette – he met his wife there.

Former Packers president Bob Harlan, 74, was the sports information director at Marquette in 1960. He said the program’s demise was hastened by a decision years before to play home games at County Stadium instead of the smaller, cozier Marquette Stadium, which was more accessible for students.

“Our attendance dropped tremendously,” Harlan said. “The students lost interest. Moon Mullins was the athletic director at the time and he was a Notre Dame man. His hope was to make Marquette another Notre Dame. He thought one of the ways to do that was to move to the bigger stadium. It was just brutal.”

…

Dennis Ferriter, 72, was a center, linebacker, kicker and senior captain of the 1960 team.

“A lot of the students were really upset,” Ferriter recalled. “There were marches in the street. I doubt very many students went to classes that day. What good it did I don’t know. There were a lot of disappointed people, myself included.

“I still have allegiance to Marquette,” Ferriter said. “I’m very committed. But if they had a football program, I would certainly be more committed. I absolutely would be, as I think a lot of other people would be. It’s different with a football. . . versus a basketball game. It’s not quite the same. I think (football) generates more interest. I think it generates more contribution dollars for the university.

A hat tip to Bob Wolfley for this tremendous article. He did a great job of hunting down former players and those that were involved with Marquette in the 60s. The article answers a lot of questions about the program and of course, provides a first hand account of how Marquette broke the news, and how the players reacted. There stills to be some bitterness there.

It’s unfortunate that Marquette Football was financially unstable and equally unfortunate that Marquette decided to cancel the program. Thought it will probably never come back, there always remains a shimmer of hope that Marquette will bring a Football program back to the university and the city of Milwaukee.

 

 

More on the Brett Favre sexting scandal “Dong-gate” and there are MORE GIRLS!

By now you’ve seen Deadspin and it has recently posted videos that are allegedly of Brett Favre’s dong. (Don’t click that link/watch the video if don’t want to see pictures of Favre’s peeps)

In the video here (parts of which are NSFW due to penis photos at 2:08 mark), you’ll see and hear all the strange messages Jenn Sterger received from someone she was led to believe was Brett Favre.

This is the evidence she told us about last February. Sadly, Jenn is still reluctant to talk on the record about the matter. Everything shown in the above video was acquired from a third party.

And, yes, there’s a possibility that the person communicating with Jenn was not actually Brett Favre, but rather someone trying very hard to appear to be him. But let’s look at the evidence: For an individual to put forth the effort to 1.) acquire a cellphone with a Mississippi area code; 2.) take some voice lessons; and 3.) implicate Jets handlers and perhaps other people, all within a very short period of time and for no discernible reason other than to mess with Sterger, well, that’s some very aggressive role-playing. Jenn believed it to be him. Others believed it to be him. We’ve seen far too many supposedly family-oriented and upstanding professional athletes whose off-field behavior contradicts their well-manicured public persona. If Sterger is right, Brett Favre really is like a kid out there.

It’s been reported that a Jets PR man acted as a liason for the Dongslinger’s encounter:

According to documents we’ve obtained, Jenn Sterger was contacted by Brett Favre — or by someone she was led to believe was Brett Favre — through an intermediary: Jets media relations manager Jared Winley.

We have MySpace messages, voicemails, and — yes — those photos, all apparently sent by Favre to Sterger, who at the time was working as the Jets’ in-house sideline reporter.

The courtship involved a phony MySpace account under the improbable name “Screaming Lord Byron” — a David Bowie reference. Please suspend your disbelief for a moment.

“Screaming Lord Byron” introduced himself:

This was followed by a phone number:

It was from this number that Sterger later received the two voicemails and the three cock photos that we’ll have for you tomorrow.

Here’s a bit from Brett Favre’s press conference from yesterday’s Jets/Vikings game.

And here’s what the NY Post and some other news agencies are saying:

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Now it’s also being reported by deadspin that other girls we’re on the receiving end of Favre’s lewdness:

This is about to get worse. It appears Jenn Sterger wasn’t the only woman who received unwanted and inappropriate text messages from Brett Favre while he played for the Jets. Favre also pursued two team massage therapists, according to one of the women.

The woman (who wishes to remain anonymous for now — we’ll call her “Mandy”) worked as a massage therapist for the team for a couple years, but she says never had an incident with a player until No. 4 showed up at training camp at Hofstra University, where the Jets still worked out in 2008. “He was on the table next to mine,” she tells me. “He was looking at my ass the whole time while I worked on another player. He was … ogling me.”

The woman who was massaging Brett that day (massage therapist No. 2, or “Lindsay”) exchanged numbers with him. (Mandy claims it’s common for players to take the numbers of team-contracted massage therapists should they need additional rubdowns off campus. Yeah, I know. Please don’t.)

Lindsay received a text message from Favre, according to Mandy. Lindsay assumed it was for a massage but quickly realized Brett was asking for more. He invited both Lindsay and Mandy back to his hotel room. Mandy claims that the texts became increasingly inappropriate (“just nasty stuff”), but she adds that Brett did apologize when he found out she was married.

This apology over text, however, wasn’t enough for Mandy’s husband. We’ll call him “John”.

“I called him on his phone and told him I wanted an apology. He acted all arrogant. He refused to apologize,” John tells me in a phone conversation.

Mandy and John say they approached attorneys about the situation but were told that because Mandy was a private contractor, there were no grounds for a harassment case. They didn’t pursue anything.

But, after reading the story in the New York Post this morning, they decided to come forward with their story. Mandy’s husband John reached out both to Deadspin and the Post. They don’t want to reveal their names just yet, John says, and they “don’t want photographers on their front lawn.” But they said they’re still considering going public with it. First, they want to talk to the NFL and the Jets. They gave me permission to pass along their info to the team, which I did. If someone from the NFL wants to reach out to them, they’ll talk to someone there, too.

Also? Mandy says she and Lindsay still have some of the text messages. Hooray.

Greatest Play of the 2010 College Football Season thus far

If I was the coach, I’d have a heart attack after watching my team pull this off too:

and I’m not even a Michigan State fan, but this play was absolutely amazing. (And I can’t stand ND)

Fan Ejected from Brewers Game

There was one fan that was forced to leave the game before watching Trevor Hoffman earn his 600th save. That fan was Sean A. Ottow.

A player, a manager,a coach and even a fan were ejected Tuesday night during the Milwaukee Brewers’ 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the bottom of the seventh, home plate umpire Bob Davidson stopped the game and walked to the stands near the backstop netting and motioned for a fan, Sean A. Ottow, 44, of Waukesha, Wis., wearing a T-shirt with a Brewers logo on it to leave his seat. An usher motioned for him to leave, and the fan stood and posed with his arms extended in the air in a V shape while drawing loud cheers from the fans.

Ottow was cited for disorderly conduct by police and ejected. He said he was heckling Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

“But I never swore at him,” Ottow said while handcuffed to a bench on Miller Park’s service level. “He just got the umpire to throw me out. We were bantering back and forth and I guess Molina couldn’t take it anymore.

“You’d think these guys would have tougher skin than that,” he said.

Ottow was able to watch the game on television while being processed in the Police Command Post at Miller Park and took pleasure when Molina struck out looking to end the eighth.

“I don’t care how much this costs me… you’re a loser Molina!” he shouted.

Molina declined to comment.

In the second, Milwaukee manager Ken Macha was thrown out by second base umpire Tim Timmons while arguing a call that cost the Brewers a run.

Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan was ejected from the dugout by Davidson in the third for arguing a called ball on a pitch from starter Kyle Lohse to Corey Hart.

In the fifth, Milwaukee centre-fielder Chris Dickerson was called out on strikes and slammed his helmet to the ground while walking back to the dugout, getting an immediate ejection from Davidson.

The call that got Macha ejected occurred with runners on the corners and no outs. Milwaukee starter Chris Narveson hit into a double play that appeared to let Jonathan Lucroy score from third, but Timmons ruled that Craig Counsell had interfered with shortstop Tyler Greene’s throw to first by running out of the baseline.

Under rule 7.09(f) the ball becomes dead once the interference is called, and Lucroy was forced to return to third. Rickie Weeks followed with a pop out to end the inning.

“It was a strange game for sure with all the questionable calls, but the way it turned out — I think that’s what everybody’s going to remember,” Counsell said of Trevor Hoffman earning his 600th save in the game.

Trevor Hoffman should feel lucky that Bob Davidson didn’t throw him out of the game before he’d be able to get to his 600th save. Bob Davidson seems like kind of a douche. Good for the fan!

Fantasy Football Outlook 2010

It’s that time of year again, the first preseason football has taken place, the magazines have hit the shelves and fantasy football leagues are starting to open back up. Drafts are right around the corner.  My league’s draft is a 32 hours away and counting.  It’s the 6^th year that I’ll be playing in this league, and it’s like an unofficial holiday among friends –equal to that of a birthday. It’s marked with beer, grilled food, and a

So what are my suggestions for a banner Fantasy football draft? Here you go:

First off let me say that a) my league has 8 members in it, so it’s a bit smaller of a league but my advice is still worthy and b) My league favors Packer players. Must be something to do with living in Wisconsin. But Aaron Rodgers will be over drafted, so will Ryan Grant, the packers defense and JerMichael Finely. It’s just a fact.

Second, let me explain the points system for my league. It’s uses the standard yahoo points scoring system as a base, but has some changes. There is one quarterback three wide receivers two running backs a tight end kicker defense and six bench spots.

Passing yards are 50 yards per point; 2 points at 300 yards; 4 points at 400 yards; 6 points at 500 yards. 6 points for a passing touchdown.

Rushing and receiving yards are: 25 yards per point; 2 points at 150 yards; 4 points at 200 yards; 6 points at 250 yards. Touchdowns worth 6.

Fumbles and interceptions are worth -2.

As you can see it’s a bit of a touchdown heavy league, stingy on yards. So you need to grab players accordingly.

As you can see it’s a bit of a touchdown heavy league, stingy on yards. So you need to grab players accordingly.

My first tip to fantasy owners is: Jump The Shark. Running backs are a dime a dozen and if you can’t nab a top 3 Quarterback, you should focus on wide receivers. In nearly every mock draft, the top five spots in any draft are very set.  The teams that aren’t mine are represented by the letters A,B, C, D, E, G, H. (I am F)

1. Chris Johnson (A)
2. Adrian Peterson (B)
3. Ray Rice (c)
4. Mo-Jo Drew (D)
5. Frank Gore (E)

Those 5 will go somewhere in that order, if you have a pick after the top 5, and one of those players are on the board, grab them. However if you have the 6^th pick and you have a decision to make: do you go for the 6^th best running back or a Wide receiver. The best receiver in the game is Andre Johnson and the 6^th best running back is Michael Turner. Turner has an injury concern, and fantasy owners were burned by him last year. Go for Andre Johnson, wait a round or two, pick up running backs then.  I’ll be doing that with the 6^th pick.

6. Andre Johnson

My second round pick in the 8 person league is 11^th. Tough to say who will fall to me with this pick. I’m hard pressed to believe that the two guys drafting with the 7,10 and 8,9 picks respectively will pass on Aaron Rodgers twice. If they do, he’s mine. However, I think the more logical assumption will be that one of those guys grabs a quarterback, which could start a run on that position.  Don’t fall into that trap and think you need to settle for the second or third best quarterback right away. Also with the 7-10^th picks, these two guys will have to think they need to grab another running back. With these spots they could be tempted to go for two solid running backs, but they’re players I’ll avoid. As said before, Turner may not be healthy, and he’s pretty one dimensional. Steven Jackson is once again the only offensive talent in St. Louis, plus he’s got back issues. Rashard Mendenhall and Shonn Greene are the next backs available. Greene will lose carries and touchdowns to LT, there is no question about it. I’m putting him on my players to avoid list. However G likes Shonne Green, He can take him.

7. Michael Turner (G)

8. Aaron Rodgers (h)

9.  Rashard Mendenhall (H) –this is a tough pick to predict

10. Shonne Greene (G)

With the 11^th pick the best players on the board are Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne and Larry Fitzgerald. Two of these players are on my avoid list. Without Wes Welker, Randy Moss’s production should be significantly limited. Especially when you take into consideration that New England’s running back situation is the same level of mediocrity it’s always been. Fitzgerald doesn’t have Kurt Warner to throw to him or Boldin to draw coverage. I don’t think Breston is at that level yet to step up. I don’t have the confidence in Matt Leinart yet, so that makes this pick pretty easy:

11. Reggie Wayne.  (However if Wayne is off the board here, I’m going to sink down and grab Calvin Johnson).

The rest of picks between mine at the 11^th and my next pick in the 3^rd round at 22 will be about quarterbacks and second running backs. There are a lot of running backs to avoid in this area. As said, put Shonne Greene and Steven Jackson on that list. Smile when someone wastes a pick on Moss and Fitzgerald. Hope that decisions get made for you when DeAngelo Williams and JaMaal Charles (who could lose carries and TDs to Thomas Jones) slip off the board. No telling how the Panthers will be using their running game or which back will show up which week. There’s a good chance Stewart will be taken too early if Williams gets nabbed in the 2^nd round too. I know, speaking from my league at a personal level, Ryan Grant and Chris Wells will be taken by this point. Drew Brees and Payton Manning almost certainly be gone by this point and there is a chance Romo and Brady will be too (But I see this as less likely Those guys will be taken by teams scared they’re going to be left out of the quarterback scramble). After a certain point this becomes a crapshoot. And perhaps I’ve over predicting running backs, when there are some top notch wide receivers on the board here. Calvin Johnson may not make it to my 22^nd pick, Miles Austin might not either.  The fact that I can predict to this point with any level of accuracy may be a miracle.

12. Drew Brees(E)

13. Steven Jackson(D)

14. Randy Moss(C)

15. Larry Fitzgerald (B)

16. DeAngelo Williams(A)

17. Peyton Manning (A)

18. Ryan Grant(B)

19. Jamaal Charles (C)

20. Jonathan Stewart(D)

21. Pierre Thomas(E)

With the 22^nd pick, you might be tempted to take I might be tempted to take my 3^rd wide receiver, but I won’t. In most leagues, I’d be lucky to get this player in the third round, but in my league I’ll be accused of taking this player too early.

22. Ryan Matthews (F!)

He’s a good rookie running back. And I have a knack for drafting rookie running backs. I’ve gotten Forte and AP late in the past, but Matthews is too good running in a system that gave LT two extra years of work. Virtually guaranteed rookie of the year. There is a good chance he’ll put up top 5 RB numbers, but even if he only hits his projected value, he’s only 3 touchdowns and a few hundred yards behind Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson. And I got him in the 3^rd round, and I have two top Wide receivers before most teams have one.

Finishing off the 3^rd round will be tricky. I know my league doesn’t favor players with checkered pasts so Cedric Benson could stay on the board, but health and suspensions make me want to leave him there too. If Charles isn’t taken at this point, he will be, probably an above mentioned quarterback will be taken here if they haven’t already.

The top of the fourth round is where things will get interesting. But the most important thing is to pay attention to who everyone else is drafting. I think this is a key that is rather overlooked. With an early pick in the 4^th round, You have to consider “Can you wait on a certain player, or do you have to reach? Because he won’t be on the board when the draft comes back to you?” Can you wait on a certain player because every team picking behind you has two running backs already or do you have to snatch your second because some teams drafting behind you need a second running back, or first wide receiver.

23.  Tom Brady (G)

24.Cedric Benson(H)

25. Greg Jennings(H)

26. Brandon Marshall(G)

26. Anquan Boldin (G)

My pick in the 4^th round at the 22^nd spot is very up in the air based off this list.  I highly doubt Miles Austin makes it back to me, but if he is, that will make my life so much easier. Same thing goes for Greg Jennings. Because of the uncertainty of Brett Favre, Sidney Rice’s numbers and draft value may go down quicker than any of the girls on Chad Ochocinco’s reality show. There is a better chance that Roddy White is still on the board, with a developing Matt Ryan, he may quietly find elite company with Johnson, Moss and Wayne but he gets over looked. I’ll leave Marques Colston for E since he loves Saints players. The likelihood this happens is pretty low. Like I said I may be over-valuing running backs in the 11-20 range, but I suspect that a quality of those backs will draw other guys away from drafting wide receivers. Even going outside the top 15 on Wide receivers, there is still a high chance that either Steve Smith (though I suspect team A will over draft the NY one), DeSean Jackson or Michael Crabtree is on the board. My true goal in the fourth round is DeSean Jackson (you’ll find out why later), but if any top 10 or so WR is still on the board at this point (which is a high likelihood), I’ll grab that player first.

Notice how we haven’t taken a quarterback? and I won’t take him in the 5th round either. For that pick I’ll probably pick my second running back, but that depends on the people drafting behind me. by this point a majority of them will have 2 running backs and a quarterback, working on their first wide receiver. However it might be more likely to think they’re going to be going for their second running back or even their quarterback, fearing that they can no longer wait and those teams will grab a quarterback . I suspect there will be a good chance that I could pick up LeSean McCoy, Cedric Benson or even Brandon Jacobs, At worst my second running back will be Matt Forte, a player I believe is due for a comeback season.

If at this point, 6 or 7 other teams have quarterbacks, I may use my early 6th round pick on a tight end. Three of them could be getting popped off by this round -because in all honesty a third WR and tight end put up similiar numbers. There is a good chance that a top tight end out scores the number 3 wide receiver. However since I have 3 top recievers, and two running backs, the 6th round is the place to get the tight ends. -Other teams will have just picked up or are targeting their second wide receiver if they drafted RB-QB-RB-WR-WR.  I suspect that Gates and Clark may be off the board by this point (By teams D and E), and there might even be a chance that Vernon Davis was WAY over drafted by team A, I suspect that I’ll have to chose between Jason Witten and JerMichael Finley. I really (emphasis REALLY) like Ocho-Ocho. He’s quickly becoming Aaron Rogers favorite target, and though he got popped and missed a few games this year I think he might be the best packers tight end since Chumura.

The 7th round is where I go for a quarterback, while I let other teams duke it out for tight ends and number three running backs. Even assuming that, Cutler is over rated and Favre isn’t coming back, I believe that Kevin Kolb will still be on the board and will be a tremendous player. He may have only played a short time last year, but the Eagles were ready to give McNabb the boot because of Kolb’s performance, and the Eagles have historically been fantasy gold

the 8th round is where I get my defense, but if 7 teams have quarterbacks drafted at this point, I’ll put Kolb in the 8th which is equally to an Mother-Fing STEAL. By the 8th round every team will have a full slot of players so the run on defenses will begin. Drafting a defense in my league is like having an 8 way staring contest. Whoever breaks to grab one first will cause a domino effect and each team will grab one. Going for the Jets, Packers, Vikings or Eagles are all good options. But the Bears, Chargers, Giants, steelers, saints and Ravens are all viable options. If I’m late to the party for the defenses I hope someone takes a team from that second list and I can sneak in on a top 6 team like the 49ers (YES) and the Cardinals.

For the bench I’m going to look for rookies. It’s my thing. Logically you’ll only need your bench players sporadically to fill in on bye weeks. Keep an eye on those otherwise you’re wasting a pick. For running backs I’m going to look to Jahvid Best, C.J. Spiller, Ben Tate or Montario Hardesty. But any of those players come with a risk. Best and Hardesty play for bad teams, Spiller and Tate are not guaranteed the number one spot. Safer picks are Ronnie Brown, either Cowboys running backs or either Raiders running backs. Justin Forsett is a sleeper option here.

For bench wide recievers, I may look towards rookies again. If I don’t get Miles Austin, Dez Bryant jumps to the top of my list. Arrelious Benn and DeMaryius Thomas also make my list. Brandon LaFell and Golden Tate to a lesser extent. After the first 20 wide recievers, you stop seeing 1000 yard 7 touch down projections. Thats a touchdown every other game at best.  (Which is why you need 3 top 10-15 if you can). Safer bench recievers are Masaquoi, Steve Breston, Terrell Owens, Tennesse’s top options or the Bears top options. Britt and Washington (Tennessee) or Hester and Aromashodu (Bears) could be sleepers.

If you decide to take a bench Tight end (I don’t advise this), there are still quality options out side of the top 10. Likely players you can get on waivers for a week or two. I think Chris Cooley is overrated, but catching passes from McNabb may increase his value to a starter. I’d avoid Owen Daniels because of injury. Look for someone to get confused and think Anthony Fasano, Todd Heap, Greg Olsen and Tony Scheffler are good back up options. Heath Miller, Jonh Carlson and Kellen Winslow are suitable back ups. I bet Visanthe Shiancoe gets crossed off a lot of fantasy lists without Favre, but even with T-Jackson he might still be a viable back up.

My final tip for fantasy players – the last round is for kickers, don’t go for one before that. Hell don’t even draft one, watch how the pre-season shakes out and then pick one up.

Olbermann out. I can finally watch NBC Sunday Night Football again!

Maybe not, Bob Costas still waxes poetic like a douche, and the whole cast of Football Night in America is pretty intoleable, but hell it’s better than any douchetool thats on ESPN. Looking at you Tim Cowlishaw. Heres the face you wont see in Fooball Night anymore:

But Keith Olbermann getting kicked off Sunday Night Football means Football in America has become a lot more tolerable. Hope Olbermann can tolerate going back to his two dozen fans on MSNBC.

First mentioned by HotAir:

I’m told that NBC News officials requested the move, citing Olbermann’s weekday commitment to MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. During the 2009 NFL season, Olbermann periodically did not appear on Friday editions of Countdown.

Network television sources confirmed to me that Olbermann’s departure from FNIA was not due to any conflict with cast or production crew members. I was also given no indication that Olbermann’s politics had anything to do with the move.

You know that Olbermann’s politics not having anything to do with it is a lie. If anyone with principles, such as myself, would never watch football on NBC because of him. It’s just a matter of fact, Olbermann is absolutely awful at what he does and is so full of incompetence and hate.

Sports by Brooks expanded on things:

Some members of the FNIA cast and crew were made aware of the news Monday at a preseason production meeting in New York City. Afterwards, the cast and crew adjourned to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees-Blue Jays game.

I’m told that NBC News officials requested the move, citing Olbermann’s weekday commitment to MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. During the 2009 NFL season, Olbermann periodically did not appear on Friday editions of Countdown.

Network television sources confirmed to me that Olbermann’s departure from FNIA was not due to any conflict with cast or production crew members. I was also given no indication that Olbermann’s politics had anything to do with the move.

Olbermann has hosted Countdown since 2003 and had served in varying capacities on FNIA since 2007.

My fear is that Dick Ebersol (emphasis on Dick), being the single most astounding failure in broadcast sports, will promote and equally liberal incompetent guy (like Rachel Maddow) to the Football Night in America desk. Here’s hoping that doesnt happen, even though it will. It’s too bad that Rush Limbaugh spoke his mind about an overrated black quarterback (Philly figured that out 6 years too late), I wish we could have back him, giving us football analysis. But please NBC, PLEASE for the love of God, don’t put another douchebag on TV.

The Brett Favre Saga: Jenn Sterger and the Cell Phone Sexting

Dear Readers: If you are looking for up-to-date information on Brett Favre (including dong shots) and reports that multiple girls have recieved lewd messages PLEASE CLICK HERE

The Below Story is the original report from Deadspin:

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Looks like Brett Favre caved into some of the pressures of living the life of an NFL quarterback in New York and turned to former Jets “sideline babe” Jenn Sterger for companionship. And someone to send dirty cell phone pics to.

Deadspin as the whole story:

For those who don’t know (or forget) who Jenn Sterger is: formerly buxomFlorida State Cowgirl who gained internet notoriety for being a buxom Florida State fan who parlayed that popularity into a full-time career. She did Maximshoots. Playboy shoots. She wrote a “Confessions of a Cowgirl” column for Sports Illustrated. Then, in 2008, Ms. Sterger joined the Jets as an in-house sideline reporter. It was during that fateful time that her and Mr. Favre’s paths began to cross. Sort of.

…She claimed that she’s been on the receiving end of several of those types of cell phone interactions by drunk men, some of whom were professional athletes. We later had a phone conversation about who some of the more well-known dong-shot senders were. One person, she claimed, who was very into cell phone-donging her was none other than Brett Favre. Now, at one point in his career, this news wouldn’t be too surprising. Favre’s time in Green Bay is littered with stories about his boozing and carousing. But gray-haired Favre? Oh yeah, she said. Sterger said that Favre first began to call her early in the season and leave strange, friendly messages on her voicemail. She played me one of these voicemails over the phone. It was Brett turning on the Mississippi simpleton charm on his way to practice giving Jenn a friendly good ol’ boy hello to a pretty lady. It was odd, but nothing incriminating. Then the phone calls from Brett started to turn weird.

Sterger claimed she spurned Favre’s advances because he was married, but also because she was working for the Jets at the time she didn’t think it was the best idea to start a torrid affair with the team’s highest profile player (the Jets have not responded to a question about any knowledge of the Favre/Sterger saga at this time). Plus, if she went forward with how aggressive he was and how skeeved out she was to some of her superiors, she suspected she might lose her job. The interactions were flirty and strange but she didn’t think there wasn’t anything that made her too uncomfortable. But then, one night, Sterger received a picture on her phone which was so shocking that she just tossed it across the room. It was his dick. Brett Favre’s dick. And it happened multiple times. In fact, Sterger claims that, in one of the photos Favre allegedly sent her, he’s masturbating — while wearing a pair of Crocs. In another photo, Favre is holding his penis while wearing the wristwatch he wore during his first teary-eyed retirement press conference.

But soon after Jenn told me this story, she balked about releasing the photos or voicemails she still had on her computer. They were still on her computer because they were fun to laugh at amongst friends, but she never planned to sell them or use them to bolster her profile. We invited her in into the Gawker Media lair many times to have a nice discussion about what we could do with the photos and how they could be presented and how she wouldn’t look bad in the process if she just had fun with it. Alas, that didn’t happen. When this Favre conversation first took place, Jenn started on Vs.’ “The Daily Line” show so this wasn’t the added publicity she wanted or need at the time. Plus, she really didn’t want her name attached to this whatsoever. And I was told by her to keep my big mouth shut.

…

And there’s no real evidence that Favre’s been horndoggin’ it throughout the latter part of his NFL career. Maybe he was just lonely while he spent time in New York and sought some companionship with Sterger who, if you hadn’t noticed, does resemble his wife, Deanna. One thing that is notable is this: it turns out that Brett watched last year’s Super Bowl at home in Mississippi. He didn’t watch it alone, however. According to one source, he watched the Saints miraculously defeat the Colts in the company of one special guest: Tiger Woods. I wonder what those guys talked about?

Jenn has yet to release the cell phone pics and voicemails. She seems to be balking at putting those out. So right now evidence on this whole issue seems to be a bit low. Granted, don’t think we’d just post pictures of Brett’s “little gunslinger” even if the pics came out. We’ll let Deadspin cover that. Though we are a bit surprised that he’s in Crocs and not Wrangler Jorts. Brett had a history of bad behavior, including an addiction to pain killers and enjoyed boozing and living the life, but there were no direct stories about Favre’s philandering (even if he was best friends with Mark Chumura). This seems just a touch out of place. We’ll wait and see what Deadspin does with this story.

Why Americans will never fully embrace Soccer & If American Athletes played Soccer

First let me start by saying this has nothing to do with the US losing to Ghana today. I’m not bitter about that at all, maybe it’s because I’m not that into soccer so I don’t have such an emotional investment. I’m just being pragmatic and analyzing American soccer. Maybe its because I directed too much hate that those Vuvuzelas. Also I want to say that the World Cup and America soccer entertains me. Just because I could only name 4 players before this tournament (with a little help) may not make me a diehard fan, but I think in the future, I’ll watch more international games.  With that being said, I’ll need a lot of coaxing before I wake up early on a Saturday (what day of the week do they play soccer?) to watch a Premier league game between Portsmouth and Liverpool.

However, I think there a multitude of reasons why some/many Americans will never fully get behind the sport:

1. Its kind of boring – The game is exciting around the goals but when 75 percent of the game is spent passing the ball around midfield, I just get bored.  Sure baseball can be boring but one hanging curveball and a homerun makes the game exciting. Even if NASCAR is 500 miles of left turns, the elements of horrendous crashes, pit stops, and fan favorites make it bearable.

1b. Low Scoring – A 0-0 tie should be the start of a game, but it shouldn’t be how a game ends. Americans want winners, not tie(ers). baseball is incredibly high scoring by comparison. Plus in baseball a game is equally exciting when the score is low and the pitchers are dueling. When a game is tied, there is no sense of urgency in soccer.

2. Americans have other choices – Football, baseball, basketball all at the college and pro levels, golf, NASCAR and that’s just major sports in the United States. With access to those and so many other options soccer is left in the dust. That’s probably a reason why I’ll never hear my son say “What to kick around the ol soccer ball dad?” Because we’ll already be playing catch (with a baseball) or tossing the ol pig skin around. Kids might play soccer for the first years of their life, but then they’ll realize that football basketball and baseball have 10 times the glamour and 50 times the paychecks so 98% of them will switch to the diamond, the hardwood or the gridiron.

3. Lack of stats -Goals and cards. Maybe passing and if your a keeper (goalie), saves. I love knowing a pitcher’s WHIP and ERA and a hitter’s Slugging and OBPS. I love knowing a receiver’s YAC, a running back’s yards after first hit and broken tackles and a Quarterback’s rating. Give me numbers! soccer gives me none.

4. No face of the team – I guess you could say Landon Donovan acts as that, but he’s just not a household name. And since the Best players in US soccer play professionally in Europe so even if Soccer fans wanted to watch American players, they’d rarely if ever get to see them live.

5. When does the season start? Seriously. I have no idea how the US team makes it to the World Cup outside of qualifying matches. Thats about all I got. But then there are other tournaments. Not sure how everything else works. In Football, Baseball, Basketball and everything there are seasons then playoffs then a Champioship. I get that.

6. No Rivalries  - USC vs. Notre Dame.  Boston Celtics vs LA Lakers. New York Yankees vs Boston RedSox. North Carolina vs. Duke Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears.  These are rivalries. At the national level does America have a rivalry? America vs…. England? but thats more of a military history thing. Even at the MLS level there aren’t any real rivalries. But in European soccer, teams have hated rivalries. US soccer just doesn’t have that.

7. Our Best athletes don’t play the game – Imagine LeBron, Michael Vick, Kobe and Devin Hester all played soccer.  How great would that be? What if America’s best athletes were on the American World cup team?

Now before I get into this, let me acknowledge soccer purists: NO, there is no indication that being a top player in football or Basketball means those skills will translate into soccer skills and besides, it’s a joke. Also I think age and personality should matter. Players like TO and Chad OchoCinco may have the personality for soccer, but they’d have been good 6 years ago same goes for LT and Steve Smith. Also, though it goes against the whole principle of it, Dempsey, Jozy and Tim Howard should still be on the team.

Assuming the U.S. will play the customary 4-4-2 formation…

Strikers

Reggie Bush: Unbelieveable footwork, Lightening speed. He had a girlfriend popular for having a sex tape… yeah if he played soccer all his life, there’s no doubt he’d be the best athlete in the world.

Percy Harvin: Freakishly fast and makes defenders look stupid. He could easily fit as the young gun of the American team.

Midfield:

Kobe Bryant: He already likes the game, plus ever team needs a guy with his ups to head every one of  Reggie Bush’s crosses and corners into the back of the onion bag. He’d bring in the money and a solid scandal would make him an international superstar. Can’t you see the movie title “Bend it like Bryant” coming to a theatre near you?

LeBron James: His size, ability to drive the lane and vision would help him bowl over defenders on his way to the goal would make him an intimidating force.

Chris Johnson: Best running back in the NFL? Speed? Power? Amazing footwork? Ability to see the field? Lateral running skills? Chris Johnson is all of that.

Rajon Rondo: His name sounds like a Brazilian or Portugese soccer phenom. Americans would have that guy with a one word name in Rajon! or Rondo! Either one sounds badass. Plus he’s arguably the quickest player in basketball, throw in his passing skills and vision, he’d be amazing on the pitch.

Defenders:

Champ Bailey: Clearly the veteran on the roster that is still the best at the game. When you covered the best wide receivers in the NFL for 11 seasons, Wayne Rooney wouldn’t be shit.

Troy Polamalu: His hair is too cool to be under a helmet. And when you think of having vision on the field, Troy’s name better be the first that comes to your mind.

Shawne Merriman: The guy rocks a damn mohawk (and beats tiny asian whores). You think he’d let some French sissy flop after Merriman attempts a slide tackle and get away with it? And we dare you to red card him.

Clay Matthews: He has a great look for a defender, those California golden locks would make him loved and hated. Could easily be the face of America soccer (same as Merriman). Think the Bash Brothers. And he’d have a pedigree in the sport.

Keeper: Dwight Howard: freakishly large and imposing. He’d scare whiny European fairies and take them out as he brings the ball in.

Koman Coulibaly: asshole

Terrible call by Koman Coulibaly cost the US an amazing comeback victory. A tie is ok, but it should have been 3-2 against Slovenia

See what twitter thinks of him.

He probably hates America and is generally a bad person too.

He’s just lucky he didn’t make that call against a team like Columbia or Iran. Or even The Dear Leader’s DPR.

The USSoccer twitter has been informing us on the alleged no goal:

• Landon Donovan doesn’t know what the call is. He said the referee couldn’t explain it on the field.
• Bradley on disallowed goal: He heard a few things, but thinks it may have been M. Bradley trying to free himself from a bear hug.

More on the College Football Realignment

Texas says they are committed to saving the Big 12, which is good. I didn’t think the Big 12 would go down without a fight. They have until 2011, before any of the Big changes happen so some things can happen.

ESPN has contradicted this saying that a Pac-10 move was close to happening. Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State would follow the Longhorns.

The departure of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Pac-10 is imminent, four sources within the Big 12 said Monday.

One source said commissioner Dan Beebe’s last-minute plan to save the conference has “zero” chance to succeed. Another source said it is “very unlikely” to succeed.

Texas’ interests in being aligned with the research opportunities and academic missions of Pac-10 schools is driving the decision, along with money.

TAMU looks like they are also bailing to the SEC. A statement from the Athletic Director said:

As (athletic director) Bill Byrne and I have said on several occasions, our desire was for the Big 12 Conference to continue,” Texas A&M R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement Sunday evening. “With the departure of two universities from the conference last week, the Big 12 is certainly not what it was.

“We are aggressively exploring our options, one of which is for the Big 12 to continue in some form. We have also had extensive discussions with other conferences over the past two days. We continue to evaluate our options in a deliberate manner as we work toward a decision that is in the best long-term interests of Texas A&M.”

Further contradictions indicate Oklahoma would be heading towards the SEC, while Kansas would join the Pac-10 (or whatever number that will be). Thus defeating the idea of a “Pac” based conference.

If the Big 12 can hold things together for at least a year, there is a chance that they could add a few teams to get their conference back on track. Odds of a Big 12 survival. are starting to increase. Memphis desperately needs to escape CUSA. Would the Big 12 take that big of a risk? BYU, Boise State, TCU seem like viable replacement options for Nebraska and Colorado. the Remainder of the CUSA, WAC and MWC could recombine into mediocre conferences, or join other ‘second tear’ conferences. N

The Big East has been surprisingly quiet on this whole matter, which worries me as a fan of a Big East School. I think there as good chance that the Big East football schools will break off from the Basketball only schools. I think that Basketball only schools from conferences like the Horizon, A10 and Big East need to get together soon and come up with some league that would save those schools.