Muhammad Ali’s Trainer Angelo Dundee Passes Away

Boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, who oversaw some of the biggest fights in boxing history and trained both Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, died Wednesday in Tampa, Florida at the age of 90. Dundee was the genial, whip-smart motivator who was behind virtually all of Ali’s career.

He attended Ali’s 70th birthday party in Louisville last month, and passed away surrounded by family.

Many in boxing laud Dundee as possibly the greatest trainer of all-time for taking a supremely talented by often distracted Ali and molding him into arguably the greatest heavyweight to ever step in the ring.

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Fan Handcuffs Self To Goal Post Mid-Game (Video)

With five minutes left in the first half of Tuesday’s English Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City, a protester managed to get onto the field and handcuff himself to Joe Hart’s goal post.

There was about a 10-minute delay to remove the fan, who failed to provide a key.

Hello, hacksaw.

That’s one way to go postal. I guess as far as fans running onto the field, this guy got it right. He won’t have to worry about getting tackled and he won’t get too tired running around evading his pursuers.

Takes some stones between the legs and rocks in the head to pull of a move like this, but bravo.

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Posted in EPL, Everton FC, International Soccer, Manchester City, Soccer | No Comments »

Alistair Overeem Charged With Misdemeanor Battery

Heavyweight Alistair Overeem made his UFC debut with a splash on December 30 with a first-round knockout of former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Apparently Overeem didn’t stop there, as he got into a tussle a few days later and has now been charged with misdemeanor battery in Las Vegas.

According to a citation released by the Clark County District Attorney’s office, the 31-year-old had been drinking when he shoved a woman in the face at Wynn Las Vegas. The incident reportedly occurred early on January 2.

Overeem’s win over Lesnar at UFC 141 earned him a shot at UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos at an undetermined date this year.

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Time Magazine Doesn’t Think U.S. Is Ready For Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the best soccer player in the world. The diminutive whiz is the three-time FIFA world player of the year. So naturally he’d grace plenty of magazine covers worldwide.

However here Stateside, King Leo apparently isn’t worthy yet (you know because soccer is still a niche sport in the U.S. despite the MLS’ continued growth and the exponential leap in interest in World Cups and Olympics – both men and women).

Time Magazine’s February 6th issue will feature Messi on its cover in Asia, Europe and Oceania. Not in the U.S. though.

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Posted in International Soccer, Lionel Messi, Soccer, Time Magazine | 7 Comments »

WPS Season Cancellation Has Plenty Upset (Don’t Laugh)

This week should be one of celebration for women’s soccer in America as the U.S. team qualified for the London Olympics emphatically, outscoring its CONCACAF opposition 38-o over five matches.

Instead, news that the Women’s Professional Soccer league is shutting down shop for the 2012 season has overshadowed any positive headlines the U.S. team’s play in Vancouver garnered.

An ongoing legal dispute between the league and Dan Borislow, owner of the league’s South Florida franchise, has crippled the WPS financially and forced the already troubled league to suspend the 2012 season.

“We have diverted so many resources into litigation,” said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “This is something that needs to be resolved before we can move forward with play.”

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Posted in Chicks Man, Soccer, U.S. Women's team, WPS | 2 Comments »

Pro Bowl Blues

You know a good joke? This game!

An excerpt from Sunday’s conversation –

Phillips: Do you think you can have something for tomorrow?

Me: Of course, no problem.

And then I realized what day it was. The day of the Pro Bowl and the NHL All-Star Game. What the hell am I going to write about?

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Posted in Hick Flick's ramblings | 1 Comment »

Even Yale Lies

The Ivy League was founded on a bunch of hoity-toity ideals that include not giving out athletic scholarships and not allowing its football champion to play in the Division I-AA (aka FCS) playoffs.

Turns out the Ivies are just as morally challenged as the rest of college football, though that probably shouldn’t come as a surprise in the same year Joe Paterno went from Last Pure Man in Sport to pariah.

Yale quarterback Patrick Witt made news this November when he was faced with a tough decision: head over to England to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship, or play against Harvard in “The Game,” a rivalry that dates back to 1875. In a move certain to win over Yale alums everywhere, he chose The Game.

As it turns out, it’s no coincidence Witt rhymes with shit, because he’s full of it.

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Posted in College Football | 1 Comment »

Texas Gives Mack Brown Extension Through 2020

The University of Texas hasn’t done so well in football over the past two seasons. The Longhorns have gone 13-12 in that span including a 6-11 record in the Big 12. After back-to-back disappointing seasons some believed long-time head coach Mack Brown’s job could be in trouble.

Clearly that’s not the case.

On Thursday the University’s Board of Regents agreed to extend Brown’s contract by four years, which ensures he will be leading the program through 2020. Brown, who makes $5.2 million a year, won’t get any more money out of the extension, but will continue to see annual raises of $100,000 per the stipulations of his current deal.

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Wayne Rooney Is Drumming With The Enemy

With plenty of extra cash to throw around, Wayne Rooney has spent plenty on cars, homes and a new hairline. Now, it looks like the Manchester United forward is setting his sights on music memorabilia.

You’d think a Scouser like Rooney would stay true to his Liverpudlian roots and go for John Lennon’s notebook or Ringo Starr’s mustache.

Nope.

Tony McCarroll, Oasis’ drummer up until 1995, is auctioning off the drum set used in the recording of the band’s multi-platinum “Definitely Maybe.” And apparently, Rooney wants it.

It’s ironic that Rooney would buy Oasis collectibles considering the hatred Liam and Noel Gallagher have for all things United. The volatile brothers are staunch Manchester City supporters, so perhaps McCarroll has an axe to grind for managing just under $1 million in a lawsuit over royalties.

“I’m not in it for the money.”

Sure you’re not, Tony.

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Posted in EPL, International Soccer, Liam Gallagher, Manchester City, Manchester United, Noel Gallagher, Oasis, Wayne Rooney | No Comments »

Boston Red Sox Make Offers To Jackson, Oswalt

The Boston Red Sox have been looking for starting rotation help all offseason and now they’ve started to make moves to add some guys there.

The Red Sox have now made offers to both Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt, the two best starters left on the free agent market. After moving an anchor of a contract in Marco Scutaro to Colorado, the Red Sox have now moved quickly in an attempt to strengthen their rotation.

The first move Boston made was to make an offer to Oswalt, who has yet to give any indication where he actually wants to play next season. The fact the veteran righty didn’t accept the offer right away, may be why the Red Sox moved immediately to offer a contract to Jackson.

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Posted in MLB, MLB Rumors, Rumors | No Comments »