Sunday, November 29, 2009

NHL Fining Players for Checking

The NHL has suspended Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta two games for a hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Jared Ross.The league announced the discipline Saturday.
Kaleta was assessed a major penalty for boarding at 9:28 of the first period of Buffalo's 4-2 victory on Friday. Ross didn't return to the game.
Kaleta will miss Buffalo's game against Carolina on Saturday night and Monday at Toronto. He will be eligible to return Thursday against Montreal.
He will lose more than $5,400 in pay, with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Matt Cooke was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL on Sunday for a deliberate check to the head area of New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov on Saturday night.
Cooke, also suspended for two games in January, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Because of that, he forfeited $29,268 in salary based on the number of games (82) in a season, rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Cooke was assessed a minor penalty for interference at 7:39 of the third period. Anisimov was injured on the play and did not return to the game.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Kansas Coach in trouble for verbal abuse


Kansas coach Mark Mangino defended himself and the Jayhawks football program on Thursday, speaking on Sports Radio 610 in Kansas City.
Mangino, who is faced with allegations of verbal abuse and inappropriate physical contact against players, pointed to the team's success on the field and high graduation rates.

"We are sending kids out into the world prepared," Mangino told the radio station. "But I can't do the work of some parents, what they should have done before the players got to me. Some of these guys are bitter, they are bitter and [the allegations] are about that.
"There are some things that happen for 18 years of their lives that I can't change in four years of college. Can't do it. Can't change their behaviors, can't change their attitudes."
Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins has launched an investigation into Mangino allegedly grabbing, yelling at and putting his finger in the chest of a player who had been laughing during a walkthrough or practice prior to the Colorado game on Oct. 17, two people briefed on the situation told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday night. The Kansas City Star identified the player as senior linebacker Arist Wright.
Since then, several former Kansas players come forward with allegations of verbal abuse.
"There are people who want to embarrass the program for their 15 minutes of fame," Mangino told the radio station.
Former Jayhawks receiver Raymond Brown recalled how in 2007, after his younger brother was wounded in a shooting near his home in St. Louis, teammates gathered around and warmly pledged their support.
A few days later, Brown said, an angry Mangino ordered him to the sideline during practice and made a shockingly insensitive comment.
"He went off on me yelling, which is fine," Brown told The Associated Press. "I kept saying, tYes, sir, yes, sir,' to everything he was saying. A teammate asked me what happened. Then he started on me again and I said, tYes, sir,' and he said, 'Don't you 'yes sir' me. I'll send you back to St. Louis where you can get shot by your homies."'
Brown and another former player also told the AP that Mangino made insensitive comments about a player's father being an alcoholic.
A spokesman said Mangino, who needs three victories to become the winningest coach in school history, was not returning calls Thursday. He has said he has done nothing wrong.
The university this week confirmed that it is investigating allegations of verbal and emotional abuse by Mangino, the 2007 national coach of the year.
The probe by associate athletic director for risk management Lori Williams began Sunday after senior linebacker Arist Wright complained to athletic director Lew Perkins that Mangino had poked him in the chest while chewing him out.
None of the players interviewed by the AP had been contacted by the school, but they likely will.
"Lori Williams will talk to whomever she feels she needs to talk to to conduct this review," associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Thursday. "It will be thorough."
Mangino maintains he has done nothing wrong and is fully focused on getting the Jayhawks (5-5, 1-5 Big 12) ready to play at No. 3 Texas this Saturday.
"I have not done anything that's inappropriate," Mangino said after practice Wednesday night. "I have been in this conference for nearly 20 years, and what I can tell you is that our coaching intensity does not largely differ from the other Big Eight and Big 12 teams that I have observed. We have handled this program in terms of intensity and holding players accountable the same since 2002 to today."
Nevertheless, a rising tide of criticism seems to be threatening Mangino's job just two years after he received a raise and contract extension for going 12-1 in 2007 and beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. While some players voiced support for their coach, many former players have bitterly recalled instances where they say his comments went over the line.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Three Tennessee freshman arrested


Two of Coach Lane Kiffin's signees from his first recruiting class, were among three Tennessee football players arrested early Thursday morning in Knoxville on charges of attempted armed robbery. The third player arrested was also a freshman, defensive back Mike Edwards. It was not immediately clear if the players have attorneys. According to a Knoxville City Police report, the arrests stemmed from an attempted robbery outside a convenience store near campus. A powered pellet gun was recovered in the players' car after they were stopped by police near the Gibbs Hall dormitory on campus, where the Vols' freshman football players live.
At least one of the players arrested was wearing some type of Tennessee gear during the attempted robbery, according to police. A fourth suspect, a woman alleged to have been driving a car with the three players as passengers, was also arrested.

"At this time we are currently evaluating the circumstances surrounding an incident involving Mike Edwards, Janzen Jackson and Nu'Keese Richardson," Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a prepared statement. "Any decisions or comments regarding their status will not be made until the evaluations are complete."
"As of this afternoon his bond has been reduced from $15,000 to being released on his recognizance," Bosch told WBIR-TV in Knoxville. "Mr. Jackson vehemently asserts his innocence. And we hope that this will become apparent in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Richardson was being held Thursday afternoon on a $19,500 bond. Edwards was released on a $19,500 bond.
Kiffin declined to comment specifically about the players' status for Saturday's game at Ole Miss.
As recently as Wednesday, during the SEC coaches teleconference, Kiffin had praised his team for not having any off-the-field problems during his tenure and had repeated several times this year that the Vols had been free of any such incidents.
Jackson had started in all but two games this season for the Vols and had emerged as one of the better freshman players in the SEC. He was suspended for last week's Memphis game for what Kiffin said was a violation of team rules. According to two sources, that suspension came on the heels of a failed drug test.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Delonte West Faces Charges


Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was indicted Tuesday on additional weapons and traffic charges stemming from his Sept. 17 arrest for speeding on a motorcycle and carrying multiple weapons.The eight-count indictment sheds no new light on why West, 26, was riding a motorcycle on the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County, Md., at 10 p.m. with two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun. Prosecutors on Wednesday added an 8½-inch Bowie knife to the list of concealed weapons West was carrying.
It's illegal in Maryland to carry concealed weapons and to transport loaded handguns.
West was indicted on two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a handgun, two counts of transporting a handgun, and one count each of reckless driving and negligent driving. The charges are all misdemeanors. Each of the weapons counts carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.West was initially charged with just two counts of carrying a handgun and with driving in excess of reasonable and prudent speed.
Court records don't list a lawyer for West. His agent, Noah Croom, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.West has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder, and last week his wife filed a domestic violence report against him in Ohio. No charges have been filed in that incident.
West, who could still face a league suspension over the charges in Maryland, made his season debut during Saturday night's 90-79 win against Charlotte, scoring 13 points in 24 minutes.
Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry, who along with team doctors has been handling West's delicate state on a daily basis, issued a statement following the release of the new charges against West.
"It is our understanding that today's developments are part of the legal process that continues to take place with Delonte and he and his legal counsel will handle that," Ferry said. "We will continue to take this matter very seriously and monitor and respect the legal process as it proceeds, but not speculate or comment about it."
Cavs coach Mike Brown didn't want to speculate on the possibility of West doing jail time.
"I believe in the process, I'm going to let it unfold and go from there," Brown said.
After the arrest, West reported to training camp on time but missed the team's first four practices without an excuse. He returned, but then left the team for a week to deal with personal matters. He missed all eight preseason games and Cleveland's first three regular-season games.
West, who lives in Brandywine, Md., was riding a Can-Am Spyder motorcycle when he cut off a police officer on the beltway in Upper Marlboro, authorities said. The officer pulled him over, and the weapons were discovered.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said West will likely be arraigned by the end of the week, and the case could go to trial early next year.
West is expected to be at Cleveland's game against Washington on Tuesday night, and he is expected to play.