This comes after his second DUI arrest in about a month’s time.
After his boating DUI charge, Cedric Benson remained a starting running back in the eyes of coach Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears.
His weekend DUI charge while in a car in Austin, Texas, has led to his release, however. The Bears placed Benson on waivers Monday, two years before the end of his contract and three years into a disappointing career with the team.
“Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate,” Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. “As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of ‘team’ will not play for the Chicago Bears.”
Benson wasn’t present at the Bears’ organized practice Monday. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on its Web site that Benson showed up and was sent home by Smith.
Benson had been a big disappointment for Chicago ever since the team took him with the 4th overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft. I haven’t watched Benson enough to know if he could still salvage a career in the NFL. The first thing the RB needs to do however, is put his life together.
Monday, Griffey became the sixth player in major league history to hit 600 home runs. He deposited a Mark Hendrickson first-inning pitch about a dozen rows up into Section 130 of the right-field bleachers as part of a 9-4 Reds win at Dolphin Stadium. Stuck on 599 since May 31, Griffey is 10 shy of eclipsing Sammy Sosa for fifth on the all-time list.
Just 10 of Griffey’s 600 homers have come against the Marlins, a team he did not face until 2000. Five of those have come at Dolphin Stadium, where he hadn’t hit one since June 1, 2004.
Here’s the video.
So far as I know, no one has mentioned Griffey as a user of steroids. Griffey, who began his career with the Seattle Mariners, will make the Hall of Fame. Abusers like Sammy Sosa will have a long wait if they ever do get voted in. As Mark McGwire is presently finding out.
When Michelle tees it up on June 26th, it will be her fourth LPGA event of 2008. From AP-
ROCKVILLE, MD — Despite playing 36 holes on a humid day with temperatures nearly reaching triple digits, Michelle Wie was still able to flash a big smile as she sat down with the media.
Qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open will do that.
Playing on two different courses, Wie carded rounds of 70 and 67 and her 137 total was the second-best score on the day and more than enough to qualify her for the 2008 Open, to be played later this month at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.
“I think I did pretty well. It feels good to be playing good again,” said Wie, who has struggled with her game for much of the last year. “There were a lot of shots that I left out there today with the putting and a couple of errant tee shots in the middle, but other than that I’m pretty pleased with my round and I’m really happy to be playing at the U.S. Open.”
Wie’s strong finish in Germany is encouraging so far as a sign the teen’s golf game is returning. I still believe more evidence is needed before saying conclusively Michelle Wie is back.
Sports fan my age(mid 40’s) will not forget Jim McKay due to his work on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. No question, McKay was a legend in the field of sports broadcasting. RIP.
Jim McKay, 86, a longtime television sports journalist, has died of natural causes in Maryland, according to a statement from the McKay family.
McKay is best known for hosting “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” and 12 Olympic Games.
McKay won numerous awards for journalism, including the George Polk Memorial Award and two Emmys — one for his sports coverage, the other for his news reporting — for his work at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which were tragically affected by the Black September terrorists’ attack on the Israeli athletes in the Olympic Village.
“There are no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay. He meant so much to so many people. He was a founding father of sports television, one of the most respected commentators in the history of broadcasting and journalism,” ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
“For more than 60 years he brought sports into the homes of Americans on Wide World of Sports, the Olympics and many other programs that captured the essence of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
“Jim was the ultimate colleague, having helped generations of people who have now taken his mantle. He was also a warm and devoted family man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Margaret, Sean and Mary for their loss. And I know that countless people, around the world, have been touched by this great man. We will miss him.”
In 1968, McKay won the first of his 13 Emmy Awards, becoming the first sports commentator to receive that honor.
His 12th Emmy, in 1988, was not for his talents as a broadcaster but as the writer of the openings for ABC Sports’ coverage of the 1987 Indianapolis 500, the British Open and the Kentucky Derby. He is the only broadcaster to have won Emmys for sports and news broadcasting and for writing.
In 1990 he was the recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement in Sports award from the Academy. In 1992 he was the recipient of an Emmy Award in the Individual Achievement category for the ABC Sports special, “Athletes and Addiction: It’s Not a Game.”
In 1989 McKay received the Peabody Award, which is presented annually to recognize the most distinguished and meritorious public service programming rendered each year on radio and television.
McKay was the first American network sports commentator to visit mainland China. In 1991, he visited Cuba to interview Fidel Castro.
McKay was with “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” since its inception in April 1961.
Jim McManus (McKay’s real name) was born in Philadelphia on September 24, 1921, and moved to Baltimore when he was 15.
White becomes the second member of the famed ‘Steel Curtain’ to die this year. Ernie Holmes was the other. I was a heavy football watcher in the 70’s and recall Dwight White very well. RIP.
PITTSBURGH — Dwight White, the Steel Curtain defensive end known as “Mad Dog” who helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 58.
The Steelers said White died at a Pittsburgh hospital. The cause was not disclosed. The team said White was released from the hospital after having back surgery, but then was readmitted with complications.
White is the second member of the original four-man Steel Curtain to die this year. Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes died Jan. 17 in a car accident in Texas.
White, a two-time Pro Bowl player, was chosen as one of the 33 members of the Steelers’ 75th anniversary all-time team last season.
White was best known for climbing out of a hospital bed to play in the Steelers’ first Super Bowl victory, 16-6 over the Minnesota Vikings in 1975. White lost 18 pounds after being diagnosed with pneumonia and a lung infection, yet played nearly the entire game.
White made three tackles for no yards as the Vikings ran seven of their first eight running plays his way and went on to finish with only 17 yards rushing on 21 attempts. White also accounted for the only points of the first half when he sacked Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety.
White, a former player at East Texas State (now Texas A&M-Commerce), gained his nickname because of his intensity. He often said that playing on the defensive line was like having “a dog’s life.”
Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said that inner drive was the reason the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder could play so well only hours after being hospitalized.
“He played with a relentlessness that led us to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s,” Rooney said in a statement. “Dwight refused to be denied, as was evidenced when he walked out of the hospital with pneumonia to play in Super Bowl IX and had an outstanding game. Dwight will be remembered by those who knew him even more for being a wonderful and caring person.”
Rooney’s son, Steelers president Art Rooney II, said the organization “lost an important member.”
“He always seemed to rise to the occasion when it counted most and added an element of toughness that was synonymous with our teams of the 1970s,” Rooney II said.
According to a Los Angeles Times survey in 2006, one-fifth of the former NFL players from the 1970s and 1980s who died through that year were former Steelers.
White was a fourth-round draft pick in 1971 after being a first-team All-Lone Star Conference player and team captain at East Texas State as a senior.
White made his first Pro Bowl in 1972, playing on a Steelers defensive line that also featured Hall of Famer Mean Joe Greene and defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
White repeated as a Pro Bowl selection in 1973 and his 46 sacks from 1971-80 are the seventh most in Steelers history. He had 33½ sacks from 1972-75, with three in the Steelers’ 21-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the January 1976 Super Bowl.
White was chosen by The Associated Press as a first team All-AFC player in 1973.
White retired after the 1980 season — one of the first players from the Steelers’ Super Bowl teams to do so — and became a prominent stock broker in Pittsburgh and one of the most successful former Steelers in the business world.
Most recently, he was senior managing director of public finance for Mesirow Financial in Pittsburgh. Before that, he was a partner and principal operator of the Pittsburgh office of W.R. Lazard & Co., plus a company board member, and worked for investment firms Balche-Halsey and Daniels & Bell.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - John Tortorella was fired Tuesday as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, four years after leading the team to its only Stanley Cup championship. He had one season remaining on his contract.
The Lightning were 239-222-36-38 and made the playoffs four times in 6 1/2 seasons under Tortorella.
“This has been a very difficult decision because of everything that John Tortorella has meant to and done for this organization,” Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement.
“Torts came to Tampa and not only built the foundation under our club but he also changed the culture and raised the expectations, eventually leading us to the Stanley Cup in 2004. What he accomplished during his tenure in Tampa was nothing short of remarkable and our organization will always owe him our thanks, gratitude and deep respect.”
The firing came as no surprise. There has already been speculation about television analyst and former Los Angeles Kings coach Barry Melrose possibly replacing Tortorella.
If Tampa Bay replaces Tortorella with Melrose, the Lightning are going to remain in the Southeast Division’s cellar for some time to come. Melrose hasn’t coached in the NHL for over 10 years and I think is out of touch with the game today.
I’d like to see the Florida Panthers now hire Tortorella. The cats have been leaderless since Jacques Martin stepped down as coach almost two months ago. Martin, who is still the Panther’s GM, hasn’t hired a new coach yet. I say hire Tortorella, the listless Panthers could use the kick in the ass this firey coach would give them. Unfortunately I don’t think the Panthers will make that move. They’ll play it safe again with the head coaching job and miss the playoffs again.
For dark horses consider impressive rookies Na Yeon Choi and Yani Tseng, as well as Juli Inkster, who turns 48 this month and just needs to remember that she is a great putter to win again.
A Hall of Famer, barely a month separated from losing a tournament in a playoff, somehow qualifies as a dark horse? That is laughable.
The laughs aren’t done yet. Sirak’s article is datelined Maryland, where the tournament is taking place. How does a sober golf reporter not know a player he’s writing about isn’t even in the field? Inkster isn’t, she’s back in California in order to attend her daughter’s junior high school graduation. I heard of Inkster’s plan to skip the LPGA Championship at least a month ago. It was also reported in last Sunday’s Baltimore Sun.
Anyone tell me why Golf World lets this idiot cover the LPGA?
For further examples of Sirak’s cluelessness, click here, here, here, here.
Lee defeated Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in a playoff. This a result of Webb three-putting the first hole of sudden death from fifteen feet.
Sophie Gustafson began the final round of the Ginn Tribute with a 6 shot lead. After birdies on the first and third holes, Gustafson was at 20 under and up by seven. If Sophie had played the last 15 holes in 6 over, she would have been in a playoff. Instead she played them in 9 over, which included two back nine double bogeys to finish the tournament with a disasterous 79.
This week is one of those few times I find myself rooting against a player. I just don’t like Sophie Gustafson. Her attitude on the course, possible cheating at her last win in 2003, and the sourpuss look on her face just turn me off about this golfer.
Lee’s win today may have been appropriate. She was the last South Korean to win on the LPGA Tour, taking the HSBC Match Play in July 2007. The week after that win, and the week before today’s triumph, both saw Jeong Jang lose LPGA tournaments in a playoff. Today was Lee’s 3rd win in three years on tour and will qualify her for the ADT Championship in November.
Lee is a very unsung player, even when you take into consideration the golf media’s tendency not to give the South Koreans their due.(When I was covering the Stanford International in April, a few members of the media were surprised when I said no South Korean had won in 9 months) Seon Hwa coasted to the 2006 Rookie of the Year award, over the much more heralded Ai Miyazato and media darling Morgan Pressel. Look at this blog post of mine, and note how a golf writer couldn’t be bothered to pen the name Seon Hwa Lee. Lee has topped Pressel(and the still winless Miyazato) in wins, top 10s, top three finishes, money, and stroke average since they both came on tour. Morgan has a major, but her career was been disappointing to date. Until her 2nd place finish in New Jersey two weeks ago, Morgan had been stinking up the tour(Missed cuts three weeks in a row) for most of 2008. Don’t expect any talk of Lee being a top 5 player by the golf media, in spite of the fact she is that on this year’s money list and last year’s. Ask golf writers to list their top 10 LPGA players right now, I don’t think more than 3 in ten would list Lee in the top 10. On the other hand 3 or more would list Pressel, in spite of Morgan having the better record. Want proof? Read this post of mine and check where Lee and Pressel are ranked.
Lee will keep on winning LPGA tournaments. Sooner or later the golf media will give Seon Hwa her due. At least I think they will.
Lee defeated Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in a playoff. This a result of Webb three-putting the first hole of sudden death from fifteen feet.
Sophie Gustafson began the final round of the Ginn Tribute with a 6 shot lead. After birdies on the first and third holes, Gustafson was at 20 under and up by seven. If Sophie had played the last 15 holes in 6 over, she would have been in a playoff. Instead she played them in 9 over, which included two back nine double bogeys to finish the tournament with a disasterous 79.
This week is one of those few times I find myself rooting against a player. I just don’t like Sophie Gustafson. Her attitude on the course, possible cheating at her last win in 2003, and the sourpuss look on her face just turn me off about this golfer.
Lee’s win today may have been appropriate. She was the last South Korean to win on the LPGA Tour, taking the HSBC Match Play in July 2007. The week after that win, and the week before today’s triumph, both saw Jeong Jang lose LPGA tournaments in a playoff. Today was Lee’s 3rd win in three years on tour and will qualify her for the ADT Championship in November.
Lee is a very unsung player, even when you take into consideration the golf media’s tendency not to give the South Koreans their due.(When I was covering the Stanford International in April, a few members of the media were surprised when I said no South Korean had won in 9 months) Seon Hwa coasted to the 2006 Rookie of the Year award, over the much more heralded Ai Miyazato and media darling Morgan Pressel. Look at this blog post of mine, and note how a golf writer couldn’t be bothered to pen the name Seon Hwa Lee. Lee has topped Pressel(and the still winless Miyazato) in wins, top 10s, top three finishes, money, and stroke average since they both came on tour. Morgan has a major, but her career was been disappointing to date. Until her 2nd place finish in New Jersey two weeks ago, Morgan had been stinking up the tour(Missed cuts three weeks in a row) for most of 2008. Don’t expect any talk of Lee being a top 5 player by the golf media, in spite of the fact she is that on this year’s money list and last year’s. Ask golf writers to list their top 10 LPGA players right now, I don’t think more than 3 in ten would list Lee in the top 10. On the other hand 3 or more would list Pressel, in spite of Seon Hwa having the better record. Want proof? Read this post of mine and check where Lee and Pressel are ranked.
Lee will keep on winning LPGA tournaments. Sooner or later the golf media will give Seon Hwa her due. At least I think they will.
Update- One note and a clarification.
Webb has been to playoffs four times against one of the South Korean ladies. Three times against Se Ri Pak, and then today’s playoff. Karrie Webb has lost each and every time.
I’m not saying Lee is a top-five player. Top 10 yes. I am however saying her record is much stronger than Pressel’s, who people are much more likely to rank than Seon Hwa.
A 18-year-old South Korean won the Ladies German Open today.
MUNICH, Germany – South Korean teenager Amy Yang shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday to win the Ladies German Open by four strokes.
*****
Yang, an 18-year-old who had a course-record 63 on Saturday, finished with a 21-under 267 total for her first victory as a professional. Sweden’s Louise Stahle was second at 17 under, and Gwladys Nocera of France was another stroke back in third.
This isn’t even Yang’s first win in a professional golf tournament. In 2006 she won the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia. An event considered a major championship by the golfers from down under. Yang is also the leading money winner on the LET(Ladies European Tour) so far for 2008. Next week is the LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock. Yang, who only has non-exempt status on the LPGA Tour, would be a good long shot pick for the LPGA. At present Amy looks unlikely to be in the field.
Michelle Wie was also playing in Germany this week. How did she do?
Michelle Wie had a solid final round to finish sixth.
*****
Wie shot 67 to finish 14 under, the first time since the Evian Masters in July 2006 that she completed a tournament under par – a streak of 13 events that included seven missed cuts.
Michelle Wie shot 4 straight rounds under par, by far the best golf she has played in two years. So is Michelle back? I’d wait to see how she plays at the Wegman’s in three weeks before passing judgment. Michelle was given a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Rochester New York LPGA Tour stop.
Very tragic, for Bourdon was only twenty-one. He played 27 games this year for the Vancouver Canucks. RIP.
SHIPPAGAN, New Brunswick - Luc Bourdon, a promising rookie defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks, was killed Thursday when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in a crash near his hometown. He was 21.
His death was confirmed by sister Eve Bourdon and stepmother Maryse Godin. Both declined further comment when reached at the family’s home in Shippagan.
Police wouldn’t confirm the identity of the victim but said a motorcyclist was killed in the early afternoon on a road between Shippagan and Lameque.
“Luc was an extremely talented player with a bright future,” Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement. “He brought great passion to the game and was a valued team member on and off the ice.”
Bourdon’s agent, Kent Hughes, called his client a winner and a competitor.
“There was no quit in him,” said Hughes, who knew Bourdon since the player was 15. “He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate.”
Bourdon was the first-round draft pick of the Canucks in 2005, selected 10th overall. He split time this season with the Canucks and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. In 27 games with the Canucks, he scored twice and had no assists.
“Through hard work and perseverance, Luc was able to realize his dream of becoming an NHL player,” Paul Kelly, executive director of the players’ union. “Luc had a promising life and career ahead of him and he will certainly be missed.”
Bourdon played on the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2006 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver and made the tournament’s all-star team. He helped Canada win another gold at the 2007 tournament in Sweden.
Bourdon played for Val d’Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.
