First, we want to make this clear: Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett, who was seriously injured in the first game of the season on a kickoff tackle against Denver, has been improving. It was feared at first that Everett may not walk again or perhaps, not even survive. However, he has been making substantial progress in his recovery. And there is no making light of Everett's condition.

Second, we want to make this clear: The person you are about to see IS NOT Kevin Everett, although a local TV news show in Florida apparently broadcast this clip in describing Everett's situation.

Big Ooops here.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

U.S. women's soccer goalie Hope Solo has apologized to teammate Briana Scurry after Solo blasted coach Greg Ryan for playing Scurry over Solo in the World Cup semifinal that the Americans lost to Brazil, 4-0, on Thursday.

Solo said she stands by her criticism of the coach's decision but added that she didn't intend to take a shot at Scurry. In her initial remarks, Solo said Ryan's move was rooted in Scurry's past performances in big U.S. victories, such as the 1999 World Cup.

"You have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past,"  Solo said after the game.

On her MySpace Web site today, Solo tried to make amends for what was a fairly clear swipe at Scurry.

Her Web site carried the following message: "I only wanted to speak of my own abilities yet also recognize that the past is the past. Things were taken out of context, or analyzed differently from my true meaning of my own words. For that, I am sorry. I hope everybody will come to know I have a deep respect for this team and for Bri. For all of whom I disappointed, I am truly sorry."

Posted by Bill Ordine at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
                    

You know, the NCAA gets wound up about a lot of things ... so how about this one?

The Texas A&M football coach, Dennis Franchione, has been selling what amounts to an insider's tip sheet to an elite group of Aggie boosters for $1,200 a pop. Apparently, this has been going on for three years. Franchione now says he'll no longer do it and is refunding the money.

The newsletter, titled VIP Connection, listed injury information not otherwise available to the public and passed along Franchione's unvarnished opinions about players and their skills.

Franchione dismissed gambling concerns saying that subscribers were "asked ...to sign something," apparently saying that they would not use the closely held information for those purposes. And besides, the coach said, "these people are tremendously loyal Aggies."

While the newsletter -- which was written by Franchione's personal assistant -- may appear to be expensive, reportedly there were only about a dozen subscribers. And Franchione insisted that he didn't personally profit but that proceeds went to underwrite his Web site, coachfran.com. The kicker to this surprising little tale is that Franchione already makes about $2 million a year on a deal that runs through 2011.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

The United States women's soccer team was bounced in the semifinals of the World Cup yesterday, getting trounced by Brazil, 4-0. And it was full of controversy.

Brazil's first score came on a U.S. own goal and the Americans finished with 10 players because of a two-yellow card ejection. But things really heated up when Hope Solo, who had been the starting goalie but was replaced by Briana Scurry for the Brazil game, criticized the decision by coach Greg Ryan.
Ryan said that Solo broke ranks with a team code to keep criticism private.

"Players have the right to say whatever they want to say," Ryan said. "You want to go out in front of everybody and stand together."

Here's what Solo had to say.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)
                    

After going 3-1 last week, we're 5-1-2 on the year against the spread. A development that many  handicappers have noticed is the that over-under was dominated by the over last week. The reason has been simple, a lot more passing. But it goes beyond that. More and more teams are using no-huddle offenses, even teams that you don't associate with that type of attack. No-huddles lengthen games, meaning more plays, and that means more points. Look at last week's Cardinals-Ravens game. The O-U was 38. With a minute left in the first half, the point total was 16 and then Yamon Figurs returned a punt 75 yards for a TD (normally in that situation, the best Baltimore does is drive for a field goal). But the real influence on the O-U came in the fourth quarter with the Ravens in position to sit on a 23-6 lead (nine points under the line). Arizona went to a no-huddle with a hot Kurt Warner and busted the O-U with 10 minutes left in the game (the final was 26-23) . So, if you're an O-U bettor, consider whether either or both teams have become no-huddle converts.

Green Bay at Minnesota (1) -- Shopping this one online, I've seen spreads making the Packers 1- to 3-point favorites. This has long been a contrarian's play. The road team is 9-1 in the last 10 against the spread and the underdog is 17-4 in the last 21.  As most football fans know, the hot Packers are 3-0 and Brett Favre is about to break Dan Marino's all-time record for TD passes. This may be a trap play but I've sipped the Kool-Aid on Favre at the moment. If I can get the little points, I'm with the Pack. Pick: Packers, giving 1.

Houston at Atlanta (2 1/2) -- This one is teetering between 2 1/2 and 3 on the Internet with the smaller number leading. If you've been reading, you know that Houston is one of my favorite teams and Atlanta one of my least-favorites (in terms of beating the spread, that is). So we have an eclipse here.  The Texans put up some stubborn resistance against the Colts last week on a day when QB Matt Schaub was not at his best so that shows Houston is a more well-rounded team than they've been given credit for. Houston WR Andre Johnson is still out (knee). But Atlanta CB DeAngelo Hall will sit part of the game (discipline). Pick: Houston, giving 2 1/2.

Tampa Bay at Carolina (-3) -- I think the Buccaneers are sneaky good, mainly because of an upgrade at quarterback in Jeff Garcia (above), who has always been underrated. This is one of those games where I think the 'dog can win outright. I wasn't too thrilled with the way Carolina let Atlanta hang around last week, either. I also like the under on this one at 40 but I confess, I don't have a good enough handle on whether either one of these clubs is inclined to pull the no-huddle out of its bag of tricks (see above). Pick: Buccaneers, getting 3.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants (2 1/2) -- I will admit that if you want the Eagles at less than a field goal, you have to shop hard. But I did. I found a 2 1/2-point line. Both teams are 1-2 and need this one badly with Dallas at 3-0. Eli Manning is having a pretty good season, and he has played well against Philadelphia in the past. The New York defense finally dug in its cleats against Washington in the second half last week. And the concern with the Eagles is that so many key players are nicked, especially RB Brian Westbrook (abdominal strain). The actual evaluation here is whether Westbrook plays. I think he does. Pick: Eagles, giving 2 1/2.

Photo credit: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Orioles take their comforts where they can find them these days, regardless of how modest. And one of those meager victories came last night -- not so much in the 8-5 win over Toronto  that helps Baltimore stay out of the AL East cellar -- but in rookie pitcher Jeremy Guthrie's return to the mound.

Guthrie, a first-half All-Star candidate who had missed the last three weeks with a strained oblique, tossed five innings of three-run ball. It certainly wasn't Guthrie at his most dominant, and he wasn't even all that efficient (he threw 48 strikes in 80 pitches), but that he returned at all and showed some semblance of his early-season form was heartening for Orioles fans. 

As usual, Guthrie, 7-5 this season, came away with a no-decision. Earlier this year, a lack of run-support cost Guthrie several victories as he had built a 7-3 record by late July. Last night, defensive problems torpedoed him. But he pitched. And he pitched well enough to have won given some better circumstances. For Baltimore baseball these days, that's what we call a "bright spot."

*  In the National League, the Mets find themselves facing the very real possibility of not making the playoffs after having had a seven-game lead in the NL East with 17 games remaining. New York has lost seven straight at home after being shut out, 3-0, last night by the Cardinals. The Phillies beat Atlanta, 6-4, and have climbed into a tie with the Mets. Both teams play their final three regular-season games at home -- the Mets against Florida and the Phillies against Washington.

Both NL East contenders are one-game behind San Diego in the wild-card race. The Padres are one game behind first-place Arizona in the NL West, and Colorado, which has won 11 straight, is one game behind San Diego. Somewhere, baseball draws more than yawns this time of year.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan on stopping Cleveland's running game which, of course, now includes former Baltimore star running back Jamal Lewis. After acknowledging that Cleveland has one of the top rushing offenses at the moment (5.5 yards per carry), Ryan said:

"If we were playing Jim Brown right now, we would stop him. ... Now, Jim Brown is 65 years old right now.  But if we  were playing Jim Brown right now, we would stop him.  You can write that down."

Actually, Brown is 71. So he'd probably only gain 50, 60 yards, tops.

Photo credit: Trading card courtesy of Vintage Football Card Gallery

Posted by Bill Ordine at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

We're always a little dismayed by the lack of Ravens videos available on the Internet while YouTube seems to be brimming with stuff about teams such as the Cowboys and Packers.But this one has come to our attention and props go out to WHFS 105.7 for its role in this outstanding tribute to Baltimore's Mr. Clutch, Matt Stover. The YouTube liner notes credit radio personalities Kirk & Mark. Last week, Stover was four-for-four on field goal tries in the 26-23 win over Arizona with each attempt being progressively longer -- 21, 28, 43 and finally, the 46-yard game-winner at the buzzer. We encourage Ravens fans to let us know if they produce music videos and post on YouTube. We'll try to make you a star. Thanks to colleague Rick Maese and D.C. Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg for pointing it out. Music fans will recognize Daughtry's It's Not Over here. Photo credit: Associated Press

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

While the Ravens' quarterback switch from Steve McNair to Kyle Boller on Sunday has created chatter here about how Baltimore coach Brian Billick may juggle his two QBs, the real raging controversy was created on the other side of the field, where Arizona came up just short, 26-23.

McNair and Boller are 1A and 1B statistically and Billick is indicating that future use of Boller is likely to be associated with helping McNair avoid aggravating what certainly is a delicate muscle strain.

But for the losing Cardinals, the contrast couldn't have been more stark. Starter Matt Leinart was a deer caught in the headlights, helpless in the face of the Ravens' defense. Veteran backup Kurt Warner looked like the league MVP and Super Bowl champion that he was when he played with the Rams, and nearly pulled off an extraordinary comeback.

In the aftermath, the tap dance that Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt is doing in the Valley of the Sun is so artful that it's really quite amusing to watch. What Whisenhunt is selling out there is that Leinart will continue to start unless they want to use the hurry-up offense and then they'll go to Warner because he's better at that very limited portion of the playbook.

Does that sound like, "We're going with the first-round draft pick until we get behind and then we're going to ask the vet who we think is only going to be here a couple more seasons to save our butts?"

Just for the record, here are the passing lines for these guys against Baltimore.

Leinart: 9-for-20, 53 yards, 0 TDs, 0 interceptions

Warner: 15-for-20, 258 yards, 2 TDs, 0 interceptions

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Last night, Barry Bonds played his final game as a San Francisco Giant -- maybe his last game ever in the major leagues. As you read the account of Bonds' farewell in his home ballpark, it's hard not to be reminded of Cal Ripken's famous trot around Camden Yards.

The fans in San Francisco were every bit as adoring.The player who was the focus of their adulation was exceedingly gracious. Opposing players clapped respectfully. He went 0-for-3 in a Giants loss to the Padres, but it mattered not.

And yet we all recognize -- at least those of us outside the self-delusional confines of the Bay Area -- the gulf that separates a Ripken from a Bonds. It is so evident, I won't belabor it. But it is discouraging to be reminded that, for hometown fans, basking in the reflected glory of a local athlete seems to make up for everything.

There are a lot of takes on Bonds on the Internet. This one seems to combine/contrast how San Francisco sees him as opposed to the rest of the baseball world.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

That Rick Dempsey is a brave guy.

The former Orioles catcher, World Series MVP and current broadcaster will be at the Inner Harbor ESPN Zone today for a Q&A session with fans from noon to 1 p.m.  Dempsey is expected to discuss the team's future, including the minor leaguers Oriole followers may see next season, and sign autographs. This is the final such fan session of a series that has featured players and members of the Orioles' organization at the restaurant.

Photo credit:  Jim McIsaac/Getty

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

At least the Orioles allowed their fans to call it an early night. For the fifth time in the last month or so, the O's gave up at least eight runs in a single inning; in this case, it happened to be eight in the first inning with Toronto the lucky opponent. 

The Blue Jays -- who also apparently called it a night early because they never did score again-- won, 8-5, at Camden Yards. Victor Zambrano (left) was the Orioles' starter (obviously, also an early night). With four games remaining, Baltimore is two games ahead of Tampa Bay in an effort to stay out of the AL East cellar. There's also an opportunity for the O's to finish with the worst record in baseball.

*  All the playoff spots in the American League are decided and none are settled in the National League.  The Yankees clinched at least a wild card with a win over Tampa Bay and they'll  probably have to be satisfied with that finish since they trail first-place Boston by three games in the AL East with four to go.  Cleveland has clinched the AL Central and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in lovely Orange County conveniently located off I-5 on Gene Autry Way won the AL West and the honor of having most awkward full name in professional sports.

*  Meanwhile, in the National League, every playoff spot is up for grabs. The Mets were swept by the Nationals last night, trimming their NL East lead over Philadelphia to a single game with four to go. In the NL Central, the Cubs are two games in front of the Brewers and a restraining order has been issued, prohibiting Steve Bartman from coming within 3,000 feet of any Cubs game regardless of where it's being played. And in the NL West, Arizona leads San Diego by one game and Colorado by two. The Padres are the wild-card leader with the Phillies and Rockies a game back.

Photo credit:  Associated Press

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The fashion designer who won an online auction for the baseball that Barry Bonds hit for his 756th home run announced that the ball will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Marc Ecko had essentially conducted an Internet election where the choices were to send the ball to Cooperstown unmarked, have it marked with an asterisk, or blasted into space.

What the mark with certainly do is ensure that the ball will become one of the most visited artifacts at the Hall of Fame.

Photo credit: Kathy Willens/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Baseball in the National League Central, and particularly in Milwaukee, isn't much on our radar screen in these parts, but there's an interesting and sort of sad little drama going on there.

Brewer slugger Prince Fielder hit two homers last night against St. Louis -- Nos. 49 and 50, making him the youngest player in major league history to reach that mark (23 years, 139 days to be exact). Willie Mays was the previous youngest ever (24 in 1955) to hit 50.

But Fielder's reflection on his accomplishment and the possibility of winning the National League's Most Valuable Player Award is shaded by his ongoing estrangement from his father, Cecil, a power hitter himself with several American League teams in the late 1980s and 1990s. 

Rather than simply bask in the glory of his youngest-ever feat, Prince Fielder (right) said he looked forward to hitting 52 homers so that he would eclipse his father's best (51) and that he wanted to win the MVP because, again, that is something his father never accomplished.

Like most family squabbles, there are two sides to the story. However, it is disheartening to hear a son say as Prince did in a Milwaukee newspaper article: "I don't mind people comparing me to him but I'm a completely different player. One day I want people to mention my name and not have to mention his."

Photo credit: Morry Gash/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Just three weeks into the NFL season only five teams remain undefeated and the surprise among that group, especially considering they've beaten three playoff clubs, is Green Bay.
This Sunday, the Pack plays the Vikings in Minnesota, where they are 1 1/2-point favorites. As the object of adoration by a fanatical following, the Packers are the subject of numerous Internet tributes and this is one that we like best -- mainly because of the Vince Lombardi speech a couple of minutes into it where the NFL's patron saint preaches the gospel of victory (with a backdrop of America the Beautiful).

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

A week after former Maryland-current 49er tight end Vernon Davis met with San Francisco coach Mike Nolan to say he hoped to be become more active in the team's offense, Davis finds himself out of action for an estimated two weeks. Davis suffered a sprained knee against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a play where the officials ruled Davis dropped an apparent reception before hitting the ground. The 49ers disagree.

After meeting with Nolan and reviewing game tapes to show he's been open more than his production would have indicated, Davis had four catches for 56 yards in the 49ers' 37-16 loss to the Steelers on Sunday. Davis has just eight catches for 83 yards and no TDs this season. After scoring a 31-yard touchdown on his first NFL reception as a rookie a year ago, Davis has failed to live up to the hopes the 'Niners had for him when they made him the No. 6 overall pick in the '06 draft. Now there have to be concerns about his durability. He missed six games with a cracked fibula last year.

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Some things are so funny, all you have to do is introduce them with almost no comment. It's something I learned from George Burns, who admitted to doing just that throughout his career and marriage to Gracie Allen.

So here we have the Panthers' own Luke and Bo -- Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith, or the other way around -- in a fast food commercial. Props to the With Leather blog (which, in turn, credits Grimey of the LOL Athletes blog) for bringing this to light.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It doesn't take long in the NFL for a whole offseason of a city's frothy expectations to turn into full-scale panic.

Atlanta, New Orleans and Chicago are three franchises in deep trouble before we even get out of September.

* The Falcons' woes were entirely predictable. In this case, fans couldn't have been expecting much from the team to begin with. Michael Vick's legal problems -- which just got worse when state prosecutors in Virginia decided to pile on the federal government's already incredibly effective investigation -- have doomed Atlanta for the foreseeable future. That is unless you think Byron Leftwich can be the answer. ... I didn't think so. The fiasco involving CB DeAngelo Hall (left), where he cost his team 67 yards on three penalties and then blew up on the coaching staff, was beyond belief.  The Falcons actually had a chance to win that game before Hall flipped out.  Reportedly, he's being dinged with a six-figure fine but no suspension.

* New Orleans is simply a sad situation that may be righted -- but it has to happen quickly. As much as an 0-3 start hurts, the season-long loss of much-respected running back Deuce McAllister is even worse. McAllister's absence puts even more weight on Reggie Bush, and I don't think he can be effective if he has to touch the ball 25 or 30 times every game. At least not at this stage of his career.

* And in Chicago, coach Lovie Smith reportedly is pulling the plug on QB Rex Grossman after a 1-2 start. The belief in Chicagoland is that the unspectacular but steadier Brian Griese will be enough of an improvement to allow the Bears' defense and special teams win games. It'll help, but I don't think it'll be enough. The Chicago defense is a very good one, but I don't think they can consistently give Griese a short field and following the Cowboys' lead, a lot of opponents will not give Devin Hester the chance to beat them. The Bears have to win both games against Green Bay to win the NFC North, and I don't see that happening as long as there's breath left in Brett Favre.

Photo credit:  John Bazemore/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Nothing about this last week of the baseball season for the Orioles is is about this season. It's all about next season -- if, in fact, anything meaningful can be derived from 2007 that be projected into 2008.

If recent games -- such as last night's 11-4 loss to Toronto -- do have any message for next season, it's pretty gloomy. A few days ago, Daniel Cabrera continued his second-half tailspin that has to make everyone connected with the Orioles wonder whether his potential and performance will ever meet on the same street corner. Last night, pitcher Brian Burres -- a guy who was just being praised by manager Dave Trembley as a factor going into next season -- looked awful in surrendering seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.

In addition, the Orioles revealed that relief pitcher Danys Baez will miss all of next year recovering from ligament transplant surgery. Closer Chris Ray is also already out for '08. Whether it has been long periods (Adam Loewen) or much briefer ones (Erik Bedard), pitchers who are expected to make up the strength of the staff next year have spent time on the disabled list, making you wonder whether they'll hold up over the long run.

Bottom-line, team president Andy MacPhail will be a busy guy in the offseason -- and busy translates to expensive. Orioles fans have come to their judgments about owner Peter Angelos. I won't go there. However, I will say this: This offseason needs to be a watershed for the Baltimore baseball franchise. If this team does not make the right significant moves over the next four or five months that at least get it headed toward contention, the franchise is looking at another half decade of the same.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Maybe you've heard by now -- even have seen by now -- Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy's animated critique of a column in a local newspaper discussing the benching of quarterback Bobby Reid. In short, the column suggested Reid was being replaced because he lacked the Right Stuff you would expect in a quarterback.

Rather than come to any conclusions for you, we thought this would be an excellent chance to allow the thing to play out. We have three videos here: Gundy after OSU beat Texas Tech on Saturday; the columnist and the sports editor telling their side; and Gundy a day or two after the postgame press conference.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)