A lot of old-school NFL people will brush off the non-padded offseason workouts as meaningless. They’re wrong.

The OTAs are the first time coaches get a look at their new toys. It’s also the first time we get a gander at initial depth charts, which can help us uncover the hidden gems that decide fantasy titles.

Recent sleepers, such as Arian Foster and Denarius Moore, first shined during these workouts. With that in mind, let’s take a look:

Brick in the Wall

New Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is a dream for fantasy owners. He gets his receivers open vertically, doesn’t throw to running backs and keeps the pedal to the metal at all times. Larry Fitzgerald is going to have a bounce-back campaign, but the No. 2 wideout in this scheme is also set up for success. Andre Roberts ended the 2012 season in that spot, but second-year man Michael Floyd opened up OTAs as the starter. A rare strength/speed talent, Floyd is an ideal sleeper.

On the Ball

Montee Ball’s NFL career is off to a fast start. Although coach John Fox has a reputation for holding rookies back, he’s been heaping praise on the former Wisconsin back. VP John Elway is comparing Ball to Terrell Davis and Fox is downplaying the disappointing 4.66 wheels he showed at the combine. Once the Broncos cut loose Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno, Ball’s stock is going to soar.

Hop to it

Sometimes, a rookie steps onto the field and is even better than the franchise expected. That appears to be the case with DeAndre Hopkins. Check out these quotes from coach Gary Kubiak: “He’s special. Ball skills are extremely special. Very long; long arms. Big hands. He’s going to help us early, and we know that, and that’s why we brought him here.” Hopkins is in line for instant impact.

MLB news

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly won’t say it, but his actions point toward a change at the closer spot. Kenley Jansen is the one that got a one-out save on Tuesday and he’s the one with the real lights-out stuff. Brandon League’s time is just about done.

MLB pickups

Andrew Bailey, RP, Red Sox: Bailey is ready to come off the DL as soon as Monday. The saves shouldn’t be far behind.
Heath Bell, RP, Diamondbacks: It probably won’t be pretty, but Bell is holding off David Hernandez for now.
Dayan Viciedo, 3B, White Sox: Now over his oblique strain, Viciedo is hitting .429 with four RBIs in his first five games back.

The post Living the Fantasy: Early NFL depth charts appeared first on Metro.us.

The injury that Kevin Ware suffered in Sunday’s NCAA regional final between Louisville and Duke was, arguably, the most sickening sight in sports television history.

If you get queasy when watching someone roll an ankle or have a finger popped back into place, do not, I repeat, DO NOT watch this video:

• 
  View Video

  Louisville’s Kevin Ware breaks leg (gruesome)

If you are an under-the-weather puppy that DOES like to watch this type of stuff, with one eye closed at least, then you will want to compare Ware’s injury with these disgusting breaks:

The gold standard

The video is grainy and it’s tough to tell just how bad he got it, but every sports fan over the age of 40 swears that Joe Theismann breaking his leg against the Giants is the the most gruesome sports injury of all-time. There is breaking your leg and then there is BREAKING your leg like Theismann did that night.

Theismann’s name is so synonymous with this type of injury that his tweet Sunday was agreed to be the most relevant tweet of all: “Watching Duke/ Louisville my heart goes out to Kevin Ware.”

Your knee isn’t supposed to bend like that

The world was watching when University of Miami running back Willis McGahee had his knee bashed in during the 2002 National Championship game. Most in the world wished that ABC never showed the replay 500 times.

Who says wrestling is fake?

WCW was in a ratings war with WWE at the time of this hideous leg injury. Things were so ridiculous at the time that many thought that the injury was just a ploy by WCW to grab more viewers. Nope. It was all too real for Psycho Sid that night.

The post Kevin Ware leg injury was disgusting – you sick puppies will like these too appeared first on Metro.us.

“He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years,” said Livestrong cancer foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane.

“It was a very sincere and heartfelt expression of regret over any stress that they’ve suffered over the course of the last few years as a result of the media attention,” she said.

The apology came on the day that Armstrong was scheduled to tape an interview with Oprah Winfrey to air on Thursday — his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

The disgraced cyclist plans to admit in the interview to doping throughout his career, USA Today reported on Saturday. McLane declined to comment on whether Armstrong will admit to doping during the interview.

Armstrong has always vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs and has never been proven to have tested positive.

But an October report from the U.S. anti-doping body USADA cited Armstrong’s involvement in what it characterized as the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen,” involving anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, blood transfusions and other doping.

Less than two weeks later, Armstrong’s seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union ratified the USADA’s sanctions against him.

Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer, stepped down as a Livestrong board member in November.

The post Lance Armstrong apologizes to staff of Livestrong ahead of Oprah interview appeared first on Metro.us.

Australian Jaimie Fuller, whose SKINS company is a partner of the elite Rabobank team and Cycling Australia among others, has written an open letter to McQuaid warning of catastrophic consequences of the body’s “inertia”.

The UCI has yet to rule on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s report into Armstrong, which alleges that the now retired seven-times Tour de France champion achieved his success on the back of a highly sophisticated doping scheme.

“I’m just devastated and horrified by what has happened,” Fuller told Reuters by telephone on Thursday.

“The initial response of the UCI to USADA was defensive and questioning not cooperative and the longer the subsequent silence goes on it’s getting much worse for the sport of cycling.

“I’m an optimist and I would desperately hope that common sense would see the light of day.

“(But) if Mr McQuaid and his cohorts are not prepared to say what they are going to do about this systemic issue, to rip the scabs off of what has happened, there is no question they should resign.”

The UCI, who can either confirm Armstrong’s life ban and strip him of his seven Tour titles or take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, have until October31 to rule on the case.

FESTINA AFFAIR

Sportswear manufacturer Nike Inc and beer maker Anheuser-Busch have both decided to terminate their relationships with Armstrong in the wake of the report.

Fuller warned the commercial impact would go beyond the American and could dwarf the damage the sport suffered in the wake of the Festina team doping scandal of 1998.

“It happened at the end of the 90s with the Festina affair, to the point where German television refused to show the Tour de France,” Fuller said.

“There’s no question that there was a commercial hit that happened to the sport of cycling. I genuinely believe that what we’re seeing now is way worse.

“When Armstrong was winning, when he was doing unbelievable things, the glow he cast across the whole sport was fabulous. Now, we’re going to see the exact reverse.”

Fuller said SKINS, which produces therapeutic compression clothing for athletes, would have to reconsider its association with cycling if the UCI failed to act.

“I’m really most concerned with the impact on the popularity of cycling,” he said.

“That has both an emotional impact on those who love the sport as well as a commercial impact on we businesses who are involved in the sport.

“Our whole brand is built on the philosophy of integrity in sport. We enable relationship with lead athletes around the world on those grounds and we also enter into relationships with consumers with those beliefs.”

The post Call for UCI chief to act on Lance Armstrong doping affair after Nike drops him appeared first on Metro.us.

According to a newly released poll conducted by Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, the majority of Americans will be watching at least some of the upcoming games in London.

80 percent of adults plan to tune into the Olympics, including 19 percent who said they will be watching a great deal of the events and competitions and 23 percent who said they will follow a good amount of the games. Only 20 percent of Americans said they have no plans to follow the Olympics.

Older Americans (60 and older) are the most interested in this year’s Olympics, with 84 percent saying they will tune in. 80 percent of people age 45 to 59 will be watching.  While the majority of people under 30, at 74 percent, do plan to watch the Olympics, they are the least interested age group of fans.

Americans are also adopting a competitive edge with 50 percent saying they’re more looking forward to seeing how many medals U.S. athletes can win, while 43 percent are just interested in seeing world records broken, regardless of the country responsible.

“When it comes to nationalism versus records, nationalism still wins,” Dr. Keith Strudler of Marist College said. “But records are more important to many Olympic viewers. That’s why both are stressed during Olympic coverage by U.S. media, and you’ll see select superstar athletes from other countries on top of the normal American fare.”

Olympic fans also weighed in on who they believe American’s biggest competition will be in London. According to 41 percent of Americans, China will be the Team USA’s largest threat this summer. 15 percent said it will likely be Russian athletes.

When it comes to the star athletes who will be capturing attention during the Olympics, 50 percent said swimmer Michael Phelps is still the biggest male standout, 17 percent said basketball player LeBron James and 8 percent said Jamaican track star Usain Bolt. Only 5 percent of Americans said swimmer Ryan Lochte, who has been the center of media buzz when favored to beat Phelps.

When it comes to women athletes, the majority of people — 43 percent — said Serena Williams will be the star this summer. Soccer player Hope Solo snagged 11 percent of the vote and the much-talked-about track athlete Lolo Jones was favored by 9 percent.

Gymnastics proved to be the most popular Olympics sport with 30 percent of viewers saying they will watch it the most. Swimming is the second favorite with 23 percent of people and track & field is third-ranked with 18 percent of the vote.

Finally, when it comes to how viewers will watch the games, TV is still king, with 61 percent of people saying they will only experience the games through television. 31 percent of people said they might watch both television and online, but only 3 percent said they will view the games exclusively online.

The post Poll: Most Americans planning to watch 2012 Olympics appeared first on Metro.us.

Ryan Lochte is the name to know in 2012.

A six-time Olympic medalist and holder of three world records, the Canandaigua, N.Y. native is considered among many to be the best swimmer in the world. Yes, even better than Michael Phelps.

The 27-year-old has been building an arsenal of super-human speed since the 2008 Olympics where he won two gold medals, but also finished behind Phelps and Hungarian swimmer László Cseh in two individual events.

Now, with the 2012 Olympic Games in London just days away, Lochte has emerged as the new face of the sport he’s been training for since age 5.

Lochte, who has been known to wear diamond “grillz” over his teeth and sparkly high-top sneakers, has captured the attention of the world, in part, because of his relatable demeanor. He can often be heard repeating rapper Young Jeezy’s famous “jeah!” as his own personal catchphrase. 

With the chiseled body of an athlete and the bone structure of a male model, Lochte, who is half Cuban, is the major sex symbol of the London Olympics. He’s managed to capitalize on the media frenzy, becoming the face of sponsors like Gatorade, Gillette and Nissan, and morphing himself into a household name in the months leading up to London.   

But make no mistake — he is as serious an athlete as the world will see at the Olympics. Despite the Vogue photo spread and the scores of adoring fans, Lochte has one thing in mind: Gold.   

Metro caught up with Lochte for an exclusive interview as he prepares to enter the world’s spotlight at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Metro: What is the one thought that has been running through your mind most as you prepare for London?   

Lochte: Things have been moving pretty fast since Olympic trials.  I was lucky to get to go home for a couple of days before heading to training camp, so I could drive my new car that my sponsor Nissan delivered to me.  I know that I have trained well for London, so I am feeling pretty confident as far as my training goes.  I know that everyone else is going to bring their best game, so I guess I have to say that focusing on being the best swimmer in my events has been running through my mind mostly.

Who do you believe will be your biggest competition at the games?    

I don’t go into competition or get up on the blocks thinking who is my biggest competition, because I really feel that this is my time. I have prepared well by eating right, training hard and staying refueled and hydrated with all the great products provided to me by my sponsor, Gatorade. I know that I have done everything right for the games, so I am ready to go!

Do you have any lucky charms or superstitions you stick to before an event?   

No, I do not have any superstitions or lucky charms before an event. At home, I would say that my dog, Carter, is my lucky charm though!

What is your pre-event ritual? Any songs you like to listen to or inspirational words you like to read?    

I have rituals as far as what I eat when I compete and train.  I use the Gatorade Prime, Pro Recover, G-Fit, Pro Energy Chews and Protein Recovery Shakes. I would have to say without those as part of my ritual of training, that I would not be the athlete I am today. And, of course, Gillette has provided me with the best razor for shaving down, too! Jeah!

Songs that I like to listen to: Lil Wayne “Sky’s the Limit,” by DJ Khaled, Kanye West and Rick Ross; Drake’s “I Wish you Would”; French Montana’s “Pop That”; Drake’s “Made”; Lil Wayne’s “Shine”. I love Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein quotes.

What’s your favorite meal before a competition?

My pre-event meal could be a salad with some protein.

What is your diet like when you are not strictly training for a big event? Do you ever let yourself splurge or indulge in a favorite guilty pleasure?  

I would say having a pizza and wings are my guilty pleasures.  I don’t eat them a lot anymore, but think anything in moderation is okay.  

As a native New Yorker, do you have any message you’d like to send to the people of New York state who will be cheering you on?   

I would like to thank everyone from New York.  Some of my biggest fans are New Yorkers and I still have family there! I really appreciate their support as I head to London!  I love New York!

The post Meet the Olympian: Ryan Lochte appeared first on Metro.us.

Aly Raisman discovered gymnastics at age two when her mother enrolled her in a “Mommy and Me” class and she hasn’t quit since. Fresh from the Olympic trials, where she qualified for the U.S. Women’s team, the Needham, Massachusetts-native is now gearing up for a week-long training camp in Texas where she will spend six-and-a-half hours in the gym each day, putting the finishing touches on her routines for London.

Raisman spent years training at Brestyan’s American Gymnastics in Burlington under the guidance of head coach Mihai Brestyan, where she worked tirelessly to improve herself for competitions and championships around the globe. At age 18, she conducts herself with poise beyond her years and seems to effortlessly stave off the pressure that comes with being a team leader.

Metro caught up with Raisman as she prepares to embark on the athletic journey of a lifetime.

Metro: How much pressure did you feel at the Olympic trials? What is it like to participate in a single event that had so much impact on your career?

Raisman: I tried not to think so much about the pressure and that my whole world would never be the same regardless of how I did. But making the Olympic team, I know my life won’t ever be the same, so I just wanted to go in and enjoy it because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

What were your first thoughts after learning that you qualified?

I was kind of overcome with emotions. We were all so excited and so happy. It was like a sigh of relief because I had been thinking about it for so long. In the months leading up, I was so anxious. At the same time, it was a mixed feeling because the nerves came back again, because I know I have to compete in London and it’s going to be a tough competition, and I want to do as well as I can for my country.

You’re just 18-years-old — which is a mature age for a gymnast — but what is it like to be heading to the biggest event of your career so early on in your life?

It’s really crazy and so surreal and I’m so happy that at 18, I can accomplish my life-long goal. I’m the oldest girl on the team, but I’ve been to two world championships, so I also have the most experience on the team. It’s so exciting and I just can’t wait to compete. We have such a great bond and can’t wait to share the experience with them.

Fellow gymnast Alicia Sacramone has called you the “backbone” of the US team. How do you stay strong under pressure as a leader for your teammates?

I try not to think of it as pressure, but more as confidence when I’m competing. When I’m in team competitions, I just do what I do everyday and work so hard and listen to my coaches’ advice. They always tell me the right things and push me to my limits so by the time I get to the competitions, I feel like I can do the routines in my sleep.

Who do you think your biggest competition will be in London?

Definitely the Russians, and the Romanians just beat them in the European championship so that’s obviously a problem for us because we have to worry about China and Romania. So those three countries are the ones to beat.   

Do you have any role models who help you find inspiration?

My teammates. Even though they are younger, I still look up to them because they work so hard and they inspire me to do better every day. We work so well together as a team and have such a strong bond.

Do you ever have an off day during training and how do you get through it?

Of course I have off days, and it’s never easy. I think the hardest time is getting into routine shape because sometimes you’ve lost endurance and it’s all very mental. Your body is telling you you can’t do more but your mind has to be tough enough to do more when your coaches ask you to do another routine. I think the harder days are what make you stronger because when you have a really good workout you can compare it and feel that accomplishment.

What is your favorite meal to eat before an event? How about after an event?

I like to just have chicken. It’s light but has enough protein to give me enough energy. After the Olympics, it will be a different story, because we will have a little break. But because gymnastics is year round, you can’t really splurge or have something you shouldn’t have. Like my coaches always say, right after a meet is right before the next competition, so I just try to have something healthy again, more protein to replenish my muscles.

Do you have any superstitions or lucky charms?

I really don’t have superstitions. I realized as I competed more, that doesn’t have any effect on how I do. It’s more about a positive attitude. I like to call my parents before I compete because it makes me feel better to hear their voices. Usually, they aren’t at the competitions with me. So it’s like a 30-second phone call, but it makes me feel better.

With such an intense schedule, how do you make time for regular teen stuff like hanging out with friends or dating?

I do feel like I have a good social life and I feel lucky to get the best of both worlds. But my social life in the last couple months, it’s been on a halt. I still text my school friends and they might come by and see me when I don’t want to go out or go shopping and I’d rather sit and rest. It’s all worth it, though, and I got to go to prom. I went with a guy friend, Jamie, who is not my boyfriend, but he’s a really nice kid.

As a Needham-native, do you have a message to the people of your town and state who will be cheering you on at the Olympic Games?
 
Thank you for all the support. I really appreciate it and it helps me a lot. It means the world to me to know they are rooting for me, and I hope to make them proud.

What are your post-Olympic plans? Are you heading to school or keeping your focus on gymnastics?

I think after the Olympics, I will do the Kelloggs Tour, which is 40 cities in three months, and the guy gymnasts are doing it, too, so it will be fun experience. School is in my plans but not next year because I’m going on tour. But I definitely want to do something in fashion.

The post Meet the Olympian: Aly Raisman appeared first on Metro.us.

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, denied the charges in a statement: “I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.”

The Post cited a 15-page charging letter by the USADA.

It said the agency, which oversees anti-doping in Olympic sports in the United States, was empowered to bring charges that could lead to suspension from competition and the rescinding of awards but did not have authority to bring criminal charges.

A spokesman for the USADA was not immediately available to comment.

The post Lance Armstrong faces new doping charges, banned from triathlons appeared first on Metro.us.

Or in the case of University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino, you can’t have an affair with a 25-year-old volleyball player, hire her to your staff, give her $20,000, go on a motorcycle joy ride with her, crash, break some ribs, lie about being alone on the bike to cover up the affair, and get away with it.

(Sigh) It’s getting harder and harder to be an entitled, overpaid college football coach.

The ye olde saga of 51-year-old coach Bobby Petrino began when the married father of four started an affair with 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell, a former volleyball player for the Razorbacks. The two carried on for quite some time, according to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long. At one point, Dorrell accepted a gift of $20,000 from her sugar daddy, and later she was hired to his staff (she needed that job, a measly 20K here and there ain’t gonna pay the bills!).

The secret romance came to a screeching halt when the two took a cruise together on a motorcycle — and crashed. Petrino lied repeatedly and said he was alone on the bike in an effort to cover up his affair with Dorrell. Unfortunately for these two lovers, the truth came out — it always does.

“He made the decision, a conscious decision, to mislead the public on Tuesday, and in doing so negatively and adversely affected the reputation of the University of Arkansas and our football program,” Long said in an emotional announcement, as reported by ESPN. “In short, coach Petrino engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior designed to deceive me and members of the athletic staff, both before and after the motorcycle accident.”

So Petrino lost his job, his multimillion dollar contract, his dignity, and possibly his marriage. What did he have to say for himself?

“The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry. These two words seem very inadequate,” Petrino said.

Understatement of the year, coach.

The post Bobby Petrino fired: Why it’s bad to lie about your 20-something mistress, motorcycle appeared first on Metro.us.

In honor of Manning’s multi-dimensionality, here are 14 pictures of Eli Manning’s Eli Manning Face from the past two weeks. Feel free to make whatever use of them you wish.

The post 14 pictures of Eli Manning’s face during Super Bowl Media Week appeared first on Metro.us.

Last night, a large man jumped over another large man and made a basket during a professional game of basketball.

Something about this must have been really important because many people are talking and tweeting about it. We’ve observed the footage and can confirm that a dunk took place… and yes, it looks cool, but we’re not entirely sure why it’s different from other dunks, mainly because we haven’t watched video of other dunks in an effort to compare and contrast.

Here’s what we’ve figured out so far.

Blake Griffin, a Clippers player who bears a striking resemblance to Kris Humphries (now, that guy we know), ran towards the basket and leapt a giant leap. Kendrick Perkins, a Thunder player, extended his arm, trying to block Griffin, but he made the dunk anyway. Griffin looked jacked up afterwards and broke free from a behind bear hug from a fellow player. Other players beat their chests. Everyone got excited. Kewl.

Observe.

The post VIDEO: Blake Griffin’s dunk over Kendrick Perkins, as told by someone who knows nothing about basketball appeared first on Metro.us.

Williams is at the center of plenty of criticism on the internet today. Some fans, though, are sending him cyber death threats, tweeting him deplorable comments and wishing horrible things upon him and, at times, his family.

Here’s a taste of what Williams is waking up to today, you know, aside from the guilt of destroying his team’s shot at Super Bowl glory. Someone needs to tell these people there are more things in life than sports.

@KyleWilliams_10. I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it

— JAVIER PASQUEL (@javpasquel) January 23, 2012

Jim Harbaugh, please give @KyleWilliams_10 the game ball. And make sure it explodes when he gets in his car.

— Justin Junio (@UBE_fiasco) January 23, 2012

LOOOOL #FadeCity RT @TrillSmith: Plan ya funeral bruh RT @antdeshawn: Dont let me see you in these streets @KyleWilliams_10

— Mobbdeen (@Deen8) January 23, 2012

Williams did find comfort, though, from teammate Patrick Willis.

@KyleWilliams_10 keep ur head up. U r my brother n teammate N I would put u back there all over again. We all lost this game tonight not u.

— Patrick willis (@PatrickWillis52) January 23, 2012

The post People on Twitter want to kill 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams appeared first on Metro.us.

Posada, 40, has played on five World Series championship teams. He finishes his career with .273 batting average with 900 runs, 379 doubles, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI in 1,829 games.

He is one of just five players in baseball history to record at least 1,500 hits, 350 doubles, 275 home runs and 1,000 RBI while playing at least half of his games at catcher.

The Puerto Rican native is a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He has hit home runs in 29 different ballparks, the most by any player in Yankees history. He is ranked seventh on the Yankees’ all-time list.  

Posada will officially announce his retirement at a press conference at Yankee Stadium at 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Yankees.

The post Yankees catcher Jorge Posada to retire appeared first on Metro.us.

This post from Gary Cobb summed up the reaction:

If DeSean Jackson wants to frequent strip clubs in Miami,
Florida that’s his business, but when he decides to start taking
pictures with the strippers, then it’s our business.  He’s got no
business taking pictures like this because it isn’t good for his
reputation especially at this key point in his career.

Can you smell the self-serving hypocrisy here? Gary Cobb
think DeSean Jackson shouldn’t be photographed in strip clubs, because
if he does then people like Gary Cobb will be forced to write articles
about DeSean Jackson that hurt DeSean Jackson’s reputation — even
though Gary Cobb thinks there’s nothing inherently wrong with strip
clubs.

Look, DeSean Jackson did have a poor season that fell wildly short of
expectations, and so it’s understandable for Eagles fans to be a little angry
when they see him enjoying himself on vacation. It reminds us that
athletes often don’t — or can’t — feel the same about losses that fans
do.

But to act mock-offended when DeSean stands next to a woman who strips
for a living — as if “stripper” was right next to “KKK leader” and
“Saddam Hussein” in the category of “people whose company you should be
ashamed to be in” — is the worst kind of moralizing BS. A young single
man met a young woman who was a fan of his, and she asked to take a picture
with him. People like Gary Cobb think he should have refused this
woman’s small request, because of what her job was. And they’re the ones taking the moral high ground?

The post Wait, why can’t DeSean Jackson get photographed with strippers? appeared first on Metro.us.

I am talking, of course, about the circus that is the 1-4 Denver Broncos. Kyle Orton was the team’s starting quarterback and the Broncos passed up a few opportunities to trade him. Then, Orton was dreadful Sunday and he was yanked for one of the league’s most popular players (who has accomplished zero so far) — Tim Tebow.

A nation cheered.

It’s unclear when Tebow leaped over third-stringer Brady Quinn, because they were just about even in the preseason. Why does Quinn matter? Because his girlfriend is Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone. Her popularity has never been higher — she just got naked for ESPN’s “Body Issue” (her hands were strategically placed, leaving a little to the imagination).

Monday, while NFL talking heads everywhere were getting frothy over Tebow being named the starter — nevermind that the Broncos have a bye this Sunday, so he wouldn’t be starting for another 13 days — Quinn was already by Sacramone’s side in Charlotte. She was due to have surgery, and after the Broncos lost to the Chargers, Quinn jumped on a red eye to fly east and be by her side. She tweeted that Quinn was the “best boyfriend ever.”

This must be a tough time to be Kyle Orton.

What a total hot dog

Have you seen the video of a deranged fan charging the green while Tiger Woods was lining up a putt, shouting “Tiger!” and then hurling a hot dog in his direction? The crazed lunatic — he was taken down almost immediately by security and then cops — had Carl Lewis-like accuracy (the hot dog didn’t come close to Tiger), but the scene was absolutely bizarre.

I’m puzzled by the hot dog selection. Why not a hamburger? Based on shape, I would assume if flung like a Frisbee, you could toss it farther. The man’s toss was a weak one, but as security bum-rushed him, the man dropped to the ground and put his hands up in the air as if he knew the routine.

Was he drunk? (Police say he wasn’t intoxicated or on drugs.) Just having fun? (I love to throw hot dogs at people, too!) Although the man was charged with disturbing the peace, it is only a misdemeanor, so his name wasn’t released.

That’s too bad. I’d love to know his motive.

– Jason Raj McIntyre covers athletes off the field and runs the popular blog, The Big Lead.

The post Ride that bucking Bronco appeared first on Metro.us.

It is impossible to even hit at a 50 percent rate with level one thinking. What we need to do is understand how an oddsmaker comes up with a line, why a line moves, trends to follow, how to find the best line and much, much more. We’ll attack all these angles in due time.

For now, we’re going to isolate one of my favorite trends in college football: Betting against a team that is off of a emotional game or big win. The benefits of this trend are two-fold:

A) College teams and young players in general often have a letdown after an emotional game or big win. Everyone on campus is slapping them on the back. They don’t practice as hard. It’s hard to perform at optimal levels two weeks in a row.

B) The point-spread is often inflated. Everyone saw Team X get that huge win last week and now they are running to the window to bet on them. So even though the true difference between Team X and Team Y is Z, the posted spread is Z+3. That creates value.

OK, enough of the abstract symbols. Let’s get to this weeks’ NCAA plays based on this trend:

BOSTON COLLEGE +21 at Clemson: This is a situation where Clemson has beaten not one, not two but three ranked teams in a row. Now they get a middling Boston College team in an afternoon game with no national spotlight. It’s a perfect spot for a letdown.

VANDERBILT +28.5 at Alabama: Last Saturday night, Alabama went into Florida’s swamp and won a night game. That’s emotional and epic. This week, they have to play the “nerds” from Vanderbilt. It’s a spot where ’Bama will be looking ahead.

MISSOURI -3 at Kansas State: I think K-State is underrated, but the line speaks volumes here. They are ranked and undefeated yet are a home underdog to a 2-2 Missouri team. Kansas State is off wins in Miami (FL) and home against a previously 15th-ranked Baylor team.

TOLEDO -21 vs. Eastern Michigan: One of the things we’ll talk about is getting value out of the smaller conferences. Since there is less media attention on these games, there is often more value. In this case, Toledo is coming off games in Syracuse and at Temple (a win). It’s time for them to come back to earth.

The post Going beyond Level 1 reasoning appeared first on Metro.us.

That’s how we find guys like Kenny Britt, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Hernandez. And that’s how we can identify guys that won’t help us.

If a player isn’t a special talent, it will eventually catch up with him in terms of role, production or both. Sell on these mediocre talents before it’s too late:  

Still waiting

Shonn Greene’s breakout was going to happen last year. Nope. It was surely going to be this year, right? Wrong again. Greene is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry this season even though teams aren’t stacking the box against the Jets. He doesn’t play on passing downs, is a poor receiver out of the backfield and isn’t showing any burst. With the Jets’ offensive line already underperforming and getting ready to play without C Nick Mangold (ankle), it doesn’t figure to get any better.          
          
Roll up the Blount

LeGarrette Blount is a lot like Greene. He’s not that athletic so he struggles as a receiver and in space. When the Bucs are behind, Earnest Graham is usually their primary back. Now is a perfect time to sell Blount, who scored two touchdowns in Week 2.       

Pushed up Hillis

The most appealing part of Peyton?Hillis’s fantasy game are his monster workloads. It’s also a curse. By touching the ball 25 to 30 times a game, he gets worn down. Hillis is getting just 3.4 YPC?this year after sinking to 3.9 over the final eight games of last year. And now his coach is saying that he wants to back off Hillis and get Montario Hardesty more involved. The time to bail is now.

Top NFL picks

David Nelson
WR, Bills
With Roscoe Parrish out for the year, Nelson is taking over in Chan Gailey’s highly-targeted slot position. This is the 6-foot-5 Nelson’s chance to break out.    

Denarius Moore
WR,?Raiders
Don’t be fooled by Moore’s slide in April’s draft. The rookie has elite talent right now and will hold off Darrius Heyward-Bey for the starting job all year.

Eric Decker
WR, Broncos
Once Eddie Royal gets back from his groin injury in a month or so, he won’t have a job. Decker is bigger, stronger and better after the catch.

The post A red light for Shonn Greene appeared first on Metro.us.

The Philadelphia Eagles might have made the biggest splash in free agency this offseason, but they aren’t the clear-cut favorites to win anything — not even the NFC?Championship. Heck, even their owner knows that.

“We’re about as far from a dream team as you can be, we’re playing catch up,” Jeffrey Lurie said during training camp. “The only dream team I know is the Green Bay Packers.”

The Eagles certainly were the biggest winners of free agency, since they picked up the most marquee names. However, the team still has to prove it can jell in time.

In the AFC, the Jets brought in former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress, but will the attention the signing received match the on-field production? And then there’s the Patriots. Bill Belichick kept up his notorious bad-guy signing spree by bringing in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the new faces in different places this season. Some of the names on this list might surprise you, others probably won’t. Either way, here’s our list of players we expect to make the biggest impacts in their new homes. 

Quintin Mikell
Old team: Eagles
New one: Rams
The Eagles usually know when to cut ties with aging players, but hear us out. The 30-year-old can still bring the wood and fills a huge void left by longtime starter Oshiomogho Atogwe. Plus, he’s being reunited with former Eagles assistant and defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo in St. Louis.

Kevin Kolb
Old team:  Eagles
New one: Cardinals
The kid that made Donovan McNabb expendable gets a second shot at starting — and, with a $65 million price tag, we’re thinking it lasts longer than one game. Still, we have strong doubts about Kolb’s pocket presence and penchant for chucking interceptions. It certainly won’t hurt to be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald though.

Albert Haynesworth
Old team: Redskins,
New one: Patriots
Bill Belichick is attempting to breathe life into the former Redskins bust. Despite only playing in one preseason game, we expect big things. Belichick is a master of getting the most out of his players (see: Randy Moss, 2007) — and he has too much talent.

Cullen Jenkins
Old team: Green Bay
New one: Packers
Everyone points to Nnamdi Asomugha as the Eagles’ biggest prize in free agency. Maybe. Then again, maybe it’s Jenkins. The last time the team had a havoc-creating, sack-hungry defensive tackle was back in 2004, when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.

Plaxico Burress
Old team: Prison
New one: N.Y. Jets
Not many teams wanted the former inmate when he hit the open market in early June. But outspoken Rex Ryan isn’t one to pass on a reclamation project. At 6-foot-5, the Jets see Burress as a way to solve Mark Sanchez’s accuracy problems.

Tim Hightower
Old team: Cardinals
New one: Redskins
The running back was shoved out the front door three seasons ago in Arizona, when they drafted his potential successor. Now, Hightower has found new life in D.C. where he averaged 6.8 yards per carry in three preseason games.

The post Old face, new place: 6 NFL players to keep an eye on appeared first on Metro.us.

The final few picks of your draft must not be throwaways. We need to build depth and take shots on players that have high ceilings. Here are the best fliers with average draft positions of 110 or higher:  

Sir Lance
Drew Brees begged for the Saints to retain Lance Moore in free agency and they did just that. Now that Reggie Bush is gone, there are more slot targets for Moore, and he’s reportedly having the best training camp of any New Orleans receiver.   

Law firm issues
Third-round rookie RB?Stevan Ridley has been the star of the preseason so far, going over 100 total yards in two straight games. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is far from an elite talent, so Ridley could very well get his shot as soon as this season. And if the “Law Firm” were to get injured, Ridley would have big upside as the clear goal-line back.

Cook on site
The only reason Jared Cook still has an ADP of 158.9 is because no one knows who he is. After the public gets a look at his freakish talent and major role in the offense, that will change. Cook is a good bet to lead the Titans in receptions and seize top-10 tight end value by the end of the year.

The post Take a shot of favorite fliers appeared first on Metro.us.

Last season, 11 of the top 12 fantasy running backs were 25 years old or younger and they had an average age of 24.1. Only Michael Turner, 28, bucked the trend.

By now, everyone should realize how short a running back’s shelf life is. They fall off a cliff without much warning, succumbing to dead legs and injuries. While unproven talent seems riskier, the old guard actually comes with the most risk.

That’s because the established players have a higher price tag on draft day. By targeting younger runners, we get discounts while simultaneously avoiding potential cliff-divers. 

So take the plunge and get on the right side of career arcs with backs like these:

Jahvid Best, Lions
Now that Best is healthy and Mikel Leshoure is out for the year, the sky is the limit. Best’s all-world speed on the Ford Field turf is scary.

Shonn Greene, Jets
LaDainian Tomlinson has been reduced to a third-down role only. Greene is the bell cow and will push for 300 carries in a run-first offense.

Mark Ingram, Saints
As the star of Saints camp so far, Ingram is locked into the starting job. And as the only true goal-line option in an explosive offense, double-digit touchdowns are a real possibility.

Don’t touch players

These four are being drafted way too high and will bust:

WR Marques Colston
Where he’ll go: 4
Why not: Colston is coming off tricky knee surgery and will lose red-zone chances to Jimmy Graham. We’ve seen the peak.

WR Greg Jennings
Where he’ll go: 2
Why not: With Jermichael Finley healthy and James Jones re-signed, Jennings’ targets are going to take a hit. He’ll regress this season.

TE Chris Cooley
Where he’ll go: 10
Why not: Cooley was already in a bad spot thanks to the Redskins’ poor offensive line and quarterback play. Now he has knee issues.

RB Cedric Benson
Where he’ll go: 5
Why not: Benson managed just 3.5 yards per carry last season and is now a year older with an
inferior supporting cast. There’s no hope.

Must-own players

These four can be had relatively cheap and will break out:

WR M. Manningham
Target in Round: 6
Why: With Steve Smith gone, Manningham will see a major bump in targets. He’s a big play waiting to happen.

QB Matt Stafford
Target in Round: 8
Why: Now fully healthy, Stafford is at the controls of a pass-happy, potentially explosive offense. His aggressiveness will lead to heaps of TDs.

TE Jared Cook
Target in Round: 11
Why: Cook is an athletic freak that is now locked into the “move” tight end position. Matt Hasselbeck already loves throwing to his new toy.

RB Felix Jones
Target in Round: 4
Why: For the first time, Jones has this backfield all to himself from jump street. We know he’s explosive and now he’s staring at 16-18 touches per game.

Cream of the crop: The overall Top 10

1. Arian Foster, RB, Hou. — Elite talent running behind the best offensive line in the NFL. Can’t miss.

2. Chris Johnson, RB, Ten. — Don’t worry about the holdout. Johnson will have more space in new regime.

3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Min. — Worries about his supporting cast knock “All Day” out of the top 2.

4. Jamaal Charles, RB, KC — Now established as one of the game’s premier backs, Charles’ workload will grow.

5. Michael Vick, QB, Phi. — If you’re worried about injury, snag Vince Young late as a handcuff.

6. Ray Rice, RB, Bal. — Willis McGahee is gone, leading to goal-line work for Rice.

7. Andre Johnson, WR, Hou. — No wideout is a safer bet for 1,400 yards and 8 TDs.

8. Darren McFadden, RB, Oak. — Elite pure talent that plays on all three downs. Get Michael?Bush as handcuff.

9. Calvin Johnson, WR, Det. — As the Lions’ offense improves, Megatron will see less double-teams.

10. Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB — Underrated running ability makes A-Rod worth a first-rounder.

Local prospects

Hakeem Nicks
Metro WR Rank: 5
Outlook: Nicks is Eli Manning’s top target and one of the premier playmakers in the game.
Strategy: An upside pick in the late second round.

Plaxico Burress
Metro WR Rank: 51
Outlook: He’ll start, but he hasn’t played football since 2008, and remember, he is 34 years old.
Strategy: Name is worth more than game. Avoid.

Ahmad Bradshaw
Metro RB Rank: 21
Outlook: After flopping on the open market, Bradshaw figures to lose more carries to Brandon Jacobs. 
Strategy: A solid player, but will go too high.

The post Fantasy football 2011 draft guide appeared first on Metro.us.

Here are his exact words: “Pride 2 the side.. just filled out a application at Home Depot.. Lockout aint a game..”

He’s talking, of course, about the NBA lockout. The work stoppage is expected to cost the league at least half the season — perhaps all of it. If you look at West’s salary, conservatively, he took home $8 million after taxes and paying his agent and lawyer. Obviously $8 million over seven years is still good loot, but we’re talking about the NBA here, and you know how players in the league roll. If you’re not driving a big-body Benz, you might as well be playing in the D-League.

I firmly believe West actually applied to Home Depot. Why not go and play overseas? Some wonder if his September 2009 arrest for driving a three-wheel motorcycle with a 9mm Beretta pistol, .357 Magnum and a Remington 870 arsenal in a guitar case on his back is the reason. Or maybe he’s just not in high demand?

Boris Said what?

Would you believe me if I told you the best trash talk this week didn’t take place on the baseball diamond or the football field … but in the NASCAR infield?

I think Boris Said could win trash talking quote of the year for this smackdown of fellow driver Greg Biffle:

“He is the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I’ve ever seen in my life. He wouldn’t even fight me like a man after. So if someone texts me his address, I’ll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a [freakin’] whooping and I’m going to give it to him. It’s not right to wreck cars, but he’ll show up at a race with a black eye one of these days.”

Burn! The threat of a black eye and showing up at Biffle’s house is real talk.

Beauty queen update

Giants pitcher Barry Zito is dating and possibly engaged to Miss Missouri (2007), Amber Seyer. She’s kind of, sort of, a cross between two of his previous celebrity girlfriends (Alyssa Milano, Hilary Duff).

Dallas Mavericks’ guard Rudy Fernandez is dating Miss Spain (2000), Helen Lindes. And, yes, that obviously means that Fernandez is required to go out to dinner with new teammate J.J. Barea … remember, he’s dating Zuleyka Rivera, the 2006 winner of Miss Universe.

– Jason Raj McIntyre covers athletes off the field and runs the popular blog, The Big Lead.
Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. Opposing viewpoints are welcome. Send 300-word submissions to letters@metro.us.

The post Previous job experience: NBA Player appeared first on Metro.us.

Umenyiora — who’s embroiled in a contract dispute and also a “he said, he said” entanglement with general manager Jerry Reese — was seen running with the first team and joking with teammates as if nothing ever happened.

That sight was a far cry from Umenyiora’s public statement over the weekend when he said the Giants’ incentive-laden offer was “unacceptable and shows they don’t really respect the fact I sacrifice my health for the franchise … I will play under my current deal because I love and respect my coaches, my teammates, the fans and myself [but] not for those incentives.”     

The ninth-year veteran seemed much happier yesterday. Although he didn’t have time for the little folks, there were plenty of co-workers willing to speak on his virtues and the importance of his return.  

“It’s good to see him back. He was spirited and practice was very good. He jumped right in there and it was good to see that,” said head coach Tom Coughlin, adding he hopes the drama is over. “I hope it’s all behind us. He’s here and wants to work and wants to be a part of the team. And we certainly want him here but we don’t want part of him. We want it all.”  

Umenyiora jumped back into the starting lineup, but Coughlin said that doesn’t mean the rush end position is exclusively his. The coach said there’s definitely someone breathing down his neck who’s capable of stepping right in if needed.

“He had a nice battle with [Will Beatty],” Coughlin said of Umenyiora and the left tackle. “But we’ll also see JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul] on the other side and rotating with each end.”

When asked if Umenyiora will play next Monday night against the Bears, Coughlin was noncommittal, saying the Giants have enough depth along the defensive line to not rush Umenyiora’s return.  

The post Osi Umenyiora: You, again! appeared first on Metro.us.

He sure didn’t look like one yesterday.

Bradley maintained ice-cold composure to top Jason Dufner in a three-hole playoff to win the 93rd PGA Championship outside Atlanta yesterday.

Bradley had trailed Dufner by five strokes in regulation. But the two went in very opposite directions down the stretch.

Bradly’s victory in his debut major ended an unprecedented run of six majors without an American champion. It was his second title on the PGA Tour this season.

Bradley holed a four-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole, the par-4 16th, to hold an early advantage over Dufner who missed his attempt there from six feet.

Though Bradley could only par the tricky 160-yard 17th, where a large pond guards the front of the green, he found himself two strokes ahead after Dufner ran up a three-putt bogey.
metro/reuters

The post Bradley wins PGA in 3-hole playoff appeared first on Metro.us.

Niese (11-9) was the hard luck loser, 3-2, Thursday against the Padres. On a day in which the bullpen was depleted, Niese was strong. He limited San Diego to three runs — two earned — in 7 2/3 innings. Niese scattered seven hits and two walks while striking out seven. He tied a career high with 122 pitches.

“Ronny [Paulino] and I mixed it up pretty well. We threw all of our pitches. He made me throw my change-up a little bit more and got some early outs with that,” Niese said.

“Johnny pitched an absolutely outstanding ballgame,” manager Terry Collins said.  denis gorman

The post Niese strong despite Mets loss appeared first on Metro.us.

Tomorrow’s tilt in Carolina may not mean anything as far as the regular season win-loss column, but it means something to Big Blue in that they’ll get to finally see what they have in terms of talent.  

So much focus has been on what the Giants have lost — and what the Eagles have gained — that head coach Tom Coughlin is looking forward to facing the Panthers and finally get the focus back on the playing field. He said practices are needed, but real game action is the real way to evaluate talent.  

“Without a doubt [pre-season takes on more importance]. You hit it on the head because we haven’t had any practices to really evaluate,” Coughlin said. “There’s a great chance to play for a lot of guys.”   

Coughlin said he has no set amount of plays for the starters, but figures they’ll at least get 15-18 plays or about a full quarter of action. Coughlin added that three of the four quarterbacks will see action [Eli Manning, Sage Rosenfels and David Carr] which means second-year quarterback Ryan Perrilloux will most likely be the odd man out. Perrilloux has impressed the Giants brass though, and Coughlin said whoever doesn’t play, will in the second preseason game.   

The Giants have plenty of question marks heading into Saturday night’s game and Coughlin hopes they answer some of them immediately. He said he’s aware of the new faces — and old faces lost — but hasn’t yet decided if he’ll allow the new fill-ins extra work so they can adjust to the gameplan.      

“We’ll take into consideration any [new] players and any with [physical] limitations,” he noted. “But more playing time is not necessarily [given to new starters who might need longer to get acclimated] because there are a lot of players to evaluate.”   

1. Will Cam Newton show starting ability?

This isn’t about the Giants, but the most interesting storyline may be what we see from No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton.

The defending Heisman Trophy winner and national champion will likely play backup to Jimmy Clausen Saturday, but he’ll get plenty of snaps — including some with the first-team offense.

He will be without Steve Smith, but new Panther Jeremy Shockey will get a chance to play against the team that drafted him.

We’ll have to wait and see how Newton handles playing in a pro-style system.

2. Which receiver takes Steve Smith’s spot?

As of right now it’s Victor Cruz, Domenik Hixon, Michael Clayton, Jerrel Jernigan, Devin Thomas, and Duke Calhoun vying for that vaunted slot receiver position.

And that’s not even counting Ramses Barden, who’s nursing an injury.

All of those guys will be playing a lot of snaps in this game, so we should at least get some idea of who is playing well. It’s a crowded field, but with no tangible leader of the pack, yet. 

3. Which of the young linebackers shines?

General manager Jerry Reese has been lambasted for not making a free agent splash at the position.
Outside of weakside linebacker Michael Boley and defensive lineman-turned strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, the Giants’ linebackers average just 1.3 years of NFL experience.

Reese said he’s comfortable with what he has at linebacker. Now is the time for the youngsters to reward his faith.  

Follow Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8 for live updates from Giants training camp.

The post Giants vs. Panthers: 3 storylines to watch appeared first on Metro.us.

“I’m a bit of a normal bloke, aren’t I?” Clarke said. “I like to have a pint, I like to go the pub and have a pint, jump on Easy Jet, fly home, buy everybody a drink. I’m just a normal guy playing golf, having a bit of fun.”

Clarke said he prepared for the final round by enjoying a good meal and some “very nice” red wine. Known for his love of expensive cigars and a few pints of Ireland’s most famous liquid export, the 42-year-old said his three-stroke win over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson might interfere with a planned weight-loss program.

“I’ll probably get bored with it in a week and give up,” Clarke said. “I think this could probably be a bad week for me to try and start.”

The post Darren Clarke wins one for the everyman appeared first on Metro.us.

Around the horn

Phillies at Mets
Friday, 7:10 p.m. (SNY)
Baseball has the stage to itself this weekend, but Bud Selig won’t put on a show. This is the only rivalry or game worth flipping on all weekend — what else are you going to watch? Yankees at Mariners with a lovely 10:10 p.m. first pitch? And even this NL East clash is lacking, as neither Roy Halladay nor Cliff Lee will take the mound. That’s fine with the Mets, who dropped two of three in each of the first two meetings with the Phils. Ryan Howard is hitting .320 vs. N.Y. with three homers and nine RBIs, while his cleanup counterpart Jason Bay is just 1-for-13 against the Phillies.

NHL playoffs

Lightning at Bruins
Friday, 8 (VERSUS)
Hockey and summer go together like Kelly Clarkson and a diet. Still, with the NBA finals basically decided, this Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals will be the most competitive game on this side of the pond this weekend. The Lightning lit up Tim Thomas for five goals on 26 shots in a Game 6 win, while Tampa’s Dwayne Roloson improved to 7-0 in elimination games. Boston is trying to reach the Cup finals for the first time in 21 years, but Martin St. Louis, with four goals and seven points in this series, should lead the Lightning to a win.

Across the pond

Barcelona vs. Man. U
Saturday, 2 (FOX)
Soccer’s two biggest powers collide in the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in three years. Barcelona won the 2009 crown with an early netter and 2-0 victory. Manchester United will show a balanced, conservative defense to trip up Lionel Messi and try to steal a win at Wembley on the golden boot of 22-year-old Javier Hernandez, who has scored 20 goals since joining the club 13 months ago.

Greens fees

BMW PGA Championship
Sat./Sun., 9 a.m. (GOLF)
Stay overseas if you want to watch real contenders on the course. A Tiger-less PGA Tour has taken a backseat to the European Tour, and it stays that way this weekend on the outskirts of London. All four reigning major champions and six of the world’s top seven players are competing, including No. 2 Luke Donald, who shot a 7-under 64 to take the first-round lead Thursday. The Byron Nelson in Dallas, meanwhile, boasts just one top-10 player in American Matt Kuchar.

Rev your engines

Indianapolis 500
Sunday, noon (ABC)
You may know only two names at this year’s race, but it’s still worth checking out. Literally. Danica Patrick snuck into the field after a top-10 finish last year, while Ashley Judd could be in the winner’s circle yet again if husband Dario Franchitti takes the checkered flag for a third time. Franchitti, the defending champ, and Scott Dixon are the co-favorites to win the 100th running of this iconic race.

Court of appeal

French Open
Monday, noon (ESPN2)
Rafael Nadal continues his march to a record sixth French Open title, while Caroline Wozniacki will try to move on to the quarterfinals for the second straight year. Novak Djokovic may end up stealing the spotlight, though, if he remains undefeated this season.

Big screen

Take in a matinee
Monday, noon (AMC)
We told you baseball was bogus this weekend. That’s why we suggest tuning in to “Patton” at noon, then “The Longest Day” at 4 p.m. After that, it’ll be the longest month-plus until one of the best shows on TV right now, “Breaking Bad,” comes back for Season Four in July.

The post Memorial Day Weekend: Sports Viewing Guide appeared first on Metro.us.

It just seems that whenever he makes contact, the ball has this funny tendency to sail over fences.

Entering last night’s game in the Bronx, Toronto’s Bautista was pounding one homer in every 9.7 at-bats since 2010. Quite a jump from 29.7, which was his  rate from 2004 to 2009.

“It’s more of the timing of everything,” the major-league leader in homers said before crushing his 19th jack in a 7-3 win over the Yankees. “I start way earlier and I’ve been talking about that for the last two years. It has created a night and day difference because I can get myself to that good hitting position consistently – see the ball better and attack the ball before it gets too deep in the strike zone and those good hitting counts, it’s no joke.

“You can look up historically when people are hitting 2-0, 3-1 counts batting average and power production is way better than 0-2 or behind in the count."

The numbers certainly tell the story. After facing those counts, Bautista is hitting .435 with 17 home runs and 37 RBIs since the start of last season.

Also telling the story is the difference in Bautista’s on-base percentage from last year. It currently sits at .500 after being .378 and that is the by-product of improved patience.

“I haven’t really changed much,” said Bautista, who also leads the majors with 45 walks “It’s just that I’m more patient and that’s allowing me to get more walks and also get into more hitting counts, and that has led to a higher batting average.”

And a higher OPS. His whopping 1,316 OPS is .214 points higher than the next best figure belonging to ex-Yankee and current Cardinal Lance Berkman.  Bautista also leads the majors in runs scored (39), total bases (115) and extra-base hits (88).

He’s not the only surging slugger in this series.

The Yankees’ Curtis Granderson has hit 30 home runs since August 14, six fewer than Bautista in that span. He is the third Yankee to reach 16 home runs in the first 45 games (Tino Martinez 1997 and Alex Rodriguez 2005 and 2007), leading to the chatter about being a power hitter.

“I’m not that type of guy, if it happens – great,” said Granderson, who is on pace for 54 long balls after never having more than 30 in a season. “It’s not something I try to do. I don’t put myself in a category like Bautista or a Ryan Howard or an Alex Rodriguez, except for the fact we’re all baseball players.”

Manager Joe Girardi, though, clearly sees the similarities.

“Bautista you saw a whole year of the same thing and now you’ve seen two months of it,” Girardi said. “Curtis, it’s been the past four months, but it was two months one year and maybe people forget. It’s not glaring how many home runs he hit last year, but then you look at his two months this year and you say, wow, he’s got a lot at this point. It’s two guys that have made adjustments and have become big power hitters.”

So now the AL home run race presently comes down to two well-adjusted outfielders in the AL East.

“After you hit a certain amount of home runs, you can’t help it and people are going to give you all that treatment,” Bautista said. “Whether that means they’re going to change the way they pitch to you or not, then that’s different but he is a power hitter and he might as well embrace it as soon as possible.”

The post Bautista’s bombs are ‘no joke’ appeared first on Metro.us.

Even God hates LeBron James
The King sits just seven wins from his first championship. Since the end’s coming before the finals, it appears he’s taking his talents to the afterlife without a ring.

A weekend with Woods
On the plus side, can we expect Tiger Woods’ hedonism to return with the end times? We can only hope the golfer/cheat has a 24-hour party planned somewhere this weekend. What’s to lose?

No princess in Playboy
She’s done ads and “DWTS.” The next logical step for Erin Andrews would have been a lucrative mag shoot. Stupid Rapture — now the world will never see her pom-poms.

Pacman’s heroic ‘Money’ shot
The one bout that saves boxing, Manny Pacquaio vs. Floyd “Money” Mayweather. Pacman would have won by TKO, “Tyson Punch-Out” style, then revealed a $50M betting ticket he took out on himself. Tweet that, Floyd.

Jimmer Time runs out
The best thing to happen to college basketball since the Fab Five won’t ever get to be the best thing to happen in the NBA. Jimmer Fredette’s game and religion lined up perfectly to be selected by Utah at No. 12 in June’s NBA draft.

Best QB class since 1983
The QB class of 2011 would have had an extra year to prepare because of the lockout. Cam Newton would have learned how to call out an NFL play, Jake Locker would have learned how to slide and Ryan Mallett would have finally been clean after going on one last bender.

The post We’ll miss sports when the world ends appeared first on Metro.us.

Consider the athletes you follow. They’re trend-setters. They’re flashy. They’re original. They’re a little weird (in a good way).

Here are some of the Gaga-est athletes on the globe. Let’s just hope we never see any of them in a meat dress.

Icon on the brink

Kevin Durant
If you watch the NBA, you can’t miss this guy. Dude dropped 39 points in Game 7 of the West finals — he’s going to be huge for years.

Iconoclast

Ron Artest
There have been some real negatives in Artest’s career. That’s not why he’s in this space. Spend 10 minutes watching his postgame interviews on YouTube, then tell us Artest isn’t the most interesting — and most misunderstood — man in the NBA.

Fashionplate

Dennis Rodman
A boa, technicolor hair or a wedding dress. It all works for The Worm, who just had his jersey retired at a strip club. We can’t wait for his HOF induction outfit.

Attention seeker

Chad Ochocinco
He’s never met a QB he didn’t hate and a bit of publicity he didn’t like. He just rode a bull for 1.5 seconds, making him the only NFL player worth talking about during the lockout.

The post Who are the Lady Gagas of the sports world? appeared first on Metro.us.