Back Porch FanHouse

Balloon Boy Hoax? 'We Did This for the Show,' Falcon Heene Says

Michael David Smith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:37:00 EST

Was the "balloon boy" a big hoax? A comment that 6-year-old Falcon Heene made in a CNN interview -- "We did this for the show" -- has people questioning whether Falcon's parents knew all along that he was hiding in their attic, while cable news went crazy over him and rescue personnel scrambled to save him.

Later in the CNN interview, Wolf Blitzer pressed Falcon's father, Richard Heene, to explain what Falcon meant by the "we did this for the show" comment:

"I have no idea," Richard said. "I think he was talking about the media."

When Blitzer repeated the question, Heene replied, "I think I can see the direction you guys are hedging on this... We weren't even going to do this interview... I'm kind of appalled... that you guys are trying to suggest something else. I'm really appalled."

The New York Times reports that skeptics of the Heene family abound, with many pointing to that interview and to the Heene family's long history of doing things to seek attention, including appearing on Wife Swap, as evidence that the Heenes are the type of people who might make something like this up.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told The Associated Press that his office believed the family was telling the truth, but that Falcon's comment on CNN "has raised some questions."

Balloon Boy Hoax? 'We Did This for the Show,' Falcon Heene Says originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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6-Year-Old Balloon Boy Falcon Heene Found Safe at Home

Michael David Smith — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Breaking News

Falcon Heene, the 6-year-old kid who earned the nickname "Balloon Boy" when news outlets reported that he was stuck in a runaway helium balloon over Denver, Colorado, has been found safe at home. He was not in the balloon and had been hiding out at his house.

Channel 7 news in Denver quotes Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden as saying, "He's at the house and he's fine." He was hiding in a cardboard box in the attic above the family's garage.

Authorities spent more than four hours searching for Falcon, who was thought to be in the helium balloon that crashed at 1:35 p.m. local time in Weld County, Colorado, but when rescue personnel got to the balloon, which had traveled about 50 miles, he was not inside.

All the cable news channels broke into their regularly scheduled programming to offer live coverage of the balloon sailing through the air, with anchors breathlessly speculating on what might happen to the boy inside.

Falcon is the youngest son of Richard and Mayumi Heene, a family described as obsessed with weather and science experiments. The family has appeared on the ABC show Wife Swap and frequently appears in videos chasing storms. On Wife Swap, the Heenes were accused of "chaotic parenting." But on Thursday, the chaos was on cable news, while Falcon was at home all along.

For updates, follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

6-Year-Old Balloon Boy Falcon Heene Found Safe at Home originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Helium Balloon Flies, Crashes, No Word on 6-Year-Old Boy's Condition

Michael David Smith — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Breaking News

A 6-year-old boy whose family was known for loving science and seeking adventure reportedly got stuck in a giant helium balloon near Fort Collins, Colorado, leaving ballooning and aviation experts scrambling to determine how to rescue him before it crashed to the ground just after 1:30 PM local time. But when it hit the ground, rescue personnel said the boy was not inside.

Related: Heene's on Wife Swap | Family chases Hurricane Gustav

The boy, who has been identified as Falcon Heene, apparently climbed into the experimental aircraft built by his parents and floated into the sky when it became untethered. All the cable news channels broke from their normal schedules to give viewers non-stop coverage of the boy in the balloon, who became something of a 21st Century Jessica McClure.

The ABC show Wife Swap featured the Heenes for its special 100th episode, referring to them as "the storm-chasing, science-obsessed Heene family from Colorado." The description of the Wife Swap episode said:

When the Heene family aren't chasing storms, they devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm. In this ultimate swap, the Heenes swap lives with a psychic mom who speaks to the dead and can control the weather, her husband and her children -- who believe they are destined to be stars. This show will feature aliens, punk rockers, past-life regression and, for the first time ever, the children from the two families will face off in a kids' table meeting. "Heene/Silver," the 100th episode of Wife Swap, destined to become a classic!

The balloon has been described as a saucer-shaped, Mylar-coated helium balloon that is 20 feet long and 5 feet high. After it crashed to the ground rescue personnel immediately converged on it, but there was no immediate information about Falcon, who may have fallen out or may never have been in the balloon in the first place.

For updates, follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Helium Balloon Flies, Crashes, No Word on 6-Year-Old Boy's Condition originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skier Buried in Avalanche Survives

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Outdoor Sports, Winter Sports

Anytime I see somebody wearing a helmet cam while attempting something dangerous -- whether it be bungee jumping, sky-diving or, in this case, snow skiing -- I just expect the worse. I liken it to the guy who's hanging out near the river unaware of the alligator a few feet away right as the Faces of Death camera truck pulls up. You can pretty much guarantee something bad is about to take place.

With that in mind, here you go: helmet cam video of one poor skier who is buried under an avalanche as he tries to make his way down the mountain.

There's a happy ending, though (around the 6:00 mark): his friends managed to dig him out.

[Avalanche Skier POV Helmet Cam Burial & Rescue in Haines, Alaska]

Skier Buried in Avalanche Survives originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big-Boned Man Streaks Across Outfield at Tigers-Royals Game

Will Brinson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, MLB

Streakers are always funny. Am I right? Huh? Huh?!?

Sorry. Anyway, yeah, they're hysterical, because it's someone naked running across a field in public. Whatever, people cheer, we post YouTubes and everyone laughs, as long as there's no violence. Of course, when the streaker weighs like 400 pounds, the only things you're worried about are 1) a heart attack or 2) him falling on a player.

Pointing, gawking after the jump.

(Added bonus: because this is a Tigers-Royals game, it's almost a perfect metaphor for the AL Central!)

Big-Boned Man Streaks Across Outfield at Tigers-Royals Game originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Wright's Helmet Has Its Own Moon

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports

Photos courtesy of AP, MGM/Everett Collection, and Getty Images

At this point, nearly 24 hours after David Wright unveiled what our big-brained descendants will be wearing in the Buck Rogers-future, there isn't much to add to "Head! Move!". Wright, who took a fastball to the grill with a regulation batting helmet, traded that in for the Gatorade cooler turned upside down you see above.

Safety first, as they say. But here's the thing: that's all the progress we've made when it comes to technological advancements in helmet design? Since 2002, football players have had the option of wearing a helmet that reduces concussions by more than 30 percent. And not only that, they can do it without looking like, well, Mark Kelso.

He was the original David Wright. The former Buffalo Bills defensive back was best known for sporting a "pro cap," which is a euphemism for "really big foamy thing to fit over a football helmet to help reduce concussions." But that was 15 years ago. When Kelso was trying to maintain his balance with that thing on his head the only person with a cell phone was Zack Morris.

Now everybody has smart phones and netbooks, WiFi abounds, and, technologically speaking, everything is getting smaller. Except when it comes to batting helmets. It's weird, frankly. But until something better comes along, we're left to stare, jaw agape, in gravity-defying wonderment at that thing balancing precariously atop David Wright's noggin. If nothing else it's a brief distraction from the Mets.

Via MPS

David Wright's Helmet Has Its Own Moon originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roy Williams and His Tight End-Like Speed Not Happy With Madden Rating

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports

Roy Williams is the first to admit that he didn't have a great 2008 season. Partly because he arrived in Dallas midway through the year, but also because his roles wasn't well defined. Terrell Owens was the team's No. 1 receiver (on paper, anyway), Jason Witten was Tony Romo's favorite target, and Marion Barber spearheaded the running game.

So it's no surprise that Williams didn't contribute much. Expectations are different this year, though; T.O. is gone and Roy will be Romo's primary downfield threat. At least that's the plan. Not everybody has full confidence in that eventuality. In fact, the programming nerds at EA Sports don't have much faith in Williams' ability to get open.

Via the San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn:

"I opened up the Madden today, and I'm pretty (mad) about that game," Williams said. "They've got me at an 86 (out of 100) speed, 87 hands and like 84 overall or something like that.

"I can't be mad because I didn't have a good year last year. They go off that year, but geez Louise, 86 speed? That's like tight-end speed, like I'm a slowpoke."

Okay, so 86 isn't blazing, but according to the '09 ratings, he was faster than Witten AND Martellus Bennett, so there's that. (Although this probably doesn't help: Roy Williams the wideout was slower than Roy Williams the safety. You know, the same dude who was criticized weekly for not being able to cover tight ends and slot receivers.)

On the other hand, Michael Vick, fresh off a two-year stint in the joint, has a speed rating of 90, which can't do much for Roy's confidence. Upside: Williams is the better passer.*

* Speculation, though almost certainly true.

Roy Williams and His Tight End-Like Speed Not Happy With Madden Rating originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeAngelo Hall Explains How He Shut Down JJ Redick During AAU Days

Ryan Wilson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports

DeAngelo Hall has gone from widely loathed to universally loved since joining the Redskins midway through last season after lasting just eight games (and $8 million!) in Oakland. And I'll be honest, I was front and center in the "MeAngelo is more dime back than Pro Bowler" PR blitz.

Now, though, I'll happily admit that he's a completely different player. Hey, people change. One thing that remains the same, though, is Hall's love for gum-flapping. And this time, he can even back it up. Sort of.

The Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg talked to DeAngelo about his successful AAU basketball career, and specifically the one time he outplayed the even more hateable J.J. Redick.

"He was like the best player in the state," Hall recalled. "He had averaged like 32 a game. I went for like 31, he had like 12....He was so easy [to guard]. You just deny him the ball. You know what I'm saying, he wasn't quicker than me, more athletic than me. I don't know why guys didn't just do that the whole season, just deny him the ball. We went box and 1, that's all we did, and I manned him up."

Apparently, somebody asked Redick about his memories of the game and he disputed Hall's account.

"I said, 'Man, you crazy, I whooped y'all ass, that's how I got a state championship and you don't,' " Hall said. "We was just joking back and forth. I mean, the [stuff's] documented. He had 12 points, I had 32. I checked him. I shut him down. I mean, you can lie about it all you want, but it's on film."

One thing we can all agree on: Hall's assessment of Redick, NFL cornerback: "Oh, he doesn't stand a chance," Hall said. "Does. Not. Stand. A. Chance."

DeAngelo Hall Explains How He Shut Down JJ Redick During AAU Days originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steelers, Plaxico Post-Incarceration Reunion Makes Perfect Sense*

Ryan Wilson — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

The plan was for Ben Roethlisberger to ride the pine as a rookie. That changed when Tommy Maddox went down two weeks into the 2004 season. Five years, two Super Bowl championships and one helmetless asphalt head-butt later, it's all worked out.

Much of Big Ben's early success, particularly that first year, can be attributed to a bruising running game, a pared down playbook, and a 6-5, 230-pound downfield target. Plaxico Burress was Roethlisberger's security blanket, his go-to guy. And when Burress' contract expired following Ben's rookie campaign, the quarterback lobbied the organization to keep him.

It didn't happen, Plax eventually landed with the Giants, won his own Super Bowl ring in 2008 and now will spend two years in the joint for, well, accidentally shooting himself in the leg. It happens.

Losing out on Burress hasn't kept Roethlisberger from periodically asking for a tall wide receiver, though. And the Steelers have obliged. The problem is that they have yet to find the next Plax. The team drafted 6-4 Fred Gibson in 2005 (he didn't make the final 53-man roster), 6-3 Dallas Baker in 2007 (most of his Steelers' career has been on the practice squad), 6-4 Limas Sweed in 2008 (after a forgettable rookie year, Sweed has shown improvement during the preseason), not to mention Big Ben's big college teammate, 6-3 Martin Nance (he spent '08 on the practice squad and is a long shot to make the final roster this time around).

Of course, you could argue that Santonio Holmes more than makes up for Burress' loss, but he only has two years left on his rookie deal. Which means that the Steelers could be facing another "Eh, we'll just sign the next Cedrick Wilson and the offense won't miss a beat" scenario should they not be able to re-up Holmes.

Or, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette writes, the Steelers could already be positioning themselves for a run at Plax when he's released from the can.

Let's be the first to report the Steelers are the most logical team to sign Plaxico Burress when he becomes eligible to play in the NFL again, likely the 2011 season. Heck, he'll be the tall receiver Ben Roethlisberger has not had since 2004, when he had Plax. Not to mention the Steelers have strong ownership and coaches, a veteran team and fans who don't care that Plax shot himself in the leg.

Exactly.

Bouchette continues: "If nothing else, he'll have fresh legs when he emerges from prison at age 34. And, since Michael Vick signed only a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers would be the most likely suitor for him as a free agent as well. Add Donte Stallworth to the mix, and you have one dynamic offense in the making."

So, Ed, you're telling me there's a chance?!

* Joke. It's makes absolutely no sense -- and there's no chance, but that doesn't mean people won't speculate that it will happen. Like, you know, Michael Vick.

Steelers, Plaxico Post-Incarceration Reunion Makes Perfect Sense* originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Northern League Manager Doug Simunic Throws Down

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

The Northern League is an independent minor league that has been around off and on for decades. Its most recent revival came in 1992, and the league has existed since then.

One of its teams is based in Fargo, N.D. The club -- known as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks -- has been managed for 14 years by Doug Simunic. In becoming the winningest manager in league history, Simunic has also drawn controversy many times for his on-field antics. The latest incident happened Monday.

With both Fargo-Moorhead and rival Winnipeg fighting for the league's regular-season title, the teams met in Winnipeg. In the fourth inning, Winnipeg pitcher Ace Walker threw a ball behind Fargo-Moorhead hitter Nic Jackson. It sparked an altercation between Simunic and Goldeyes hitting coach Tom Vaeth, who was serving as acting manager.

Yes, you did hear the announcer calling it "the ol' hockey fight". That's kind of fitting, since this game was played in Canada.

The Northern League chose not to suspend either man, instead fining both. League director of operations Harry Stavrenos almost immediately expressed regret over this decision.

"The bottom line is this: I blew the call," said Stavrenos, who is in charge of doling out fines and suspensions for the Northern League. "I don't know what I was thinking. Both of those guys should have been suspended. Days ago I told them nothing would happen, so I can't go back now."

Stavrenos is right to be upset about it. Simunic has quite a history in the league over his 17 years in it.

Stavrenos said the league does not have a record of how many times Simunic has been fined or suspended during his 17-year Northern League career. But Stavrenos estimates that Simunic - who has the most managerial wins in league history - has been ejected close to seven times in the last three seasons.

Simunic was suspended six games earlier this year for leaving the clubhouse after he was ejected during a playoff game last year in Kansas City. The suspension was later reduced to four games. He was also suspended two games when former RedHawks pitcher Yosandy Ibanez charged the field with a bat during an on-field altercation earlier this month.

Last year, Simunic was suspended for four games for repeat criticism of the league in the media. He was also fined in 2008 for similar comments.

It's a history that should have been taken into account when handing out punishment. Had Simunic been a first-time offender, Stavrenos could have more easily justified not suspending him.

Northern League Manager Doug Simunic Throws Down originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skydiver Falls 10,000 Feet, Survives

Ryan Wilson — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sports of an Extreme Nature, Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

Not a year goes by that we don't hear about some poor sap who got the great idea to intentionally jump out of a perfectly functioning aircraft only to suffer the misfortune of not having their parachute open.

Miraculously, a good number of them walk away (or limp ... OK, are transported via emergency vehicle) virtually intact and unscathed. The latest almost-statistic: Paul Lewis, who fell 10,000 feet and crashed onto a hangar roof after his main parachute failed to open and his reserve chute malfunctioned. (Upside: he was 9,000 feet into his jump before he realized he was in serious trouble.)

And what does falling more than three football fields get you? If you're Davis, head and neck injuries, none too serious that he won't make a full recovery.

[Colin] Fitzmorris, who [owns the Parachute Centre and ] saw the accident happen, said: "He had a malfunction on his main parachute, which he cut away normally, but had some kind of control problem on his reserve which continued to spiral until he hit the hangar roof.

"The roof of the hangar broke his fall and flexed sufficiently to reduce the impact. He has no fractures but some neck injury, and we are sure that he will make a full recovery. He is very lucky."

Thank God for flexible metal hangar roofs, I suppose. Lewis jumped from 10,000 feet, but the Telegraph reports that skydivers have survived falls from greater heights. In 2007, Michael Holmes sustained only a punctured lung and a broken ankle after plummeting some 12,000 feet and crashing into a tree.

And in 1972, Vesna Vulović set the world record (unwittingly I'm guessing, given the circumstances) after she fell 33,000 feet from an airliner that exploded in midair. "The 22-year-old landed in snow in the former Czechoslovakia," the Telegraph writes, as if it's as routine as walking outside to get the morning paper.

Skydiver Falls 10,000 Feet, Survives originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Softball Game Breaks Out at Girl Fight

Ryan Wilson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Women's Sports, Youth Sports

Here's something you don't see everyday. Or at least I don't (primarily because, other than the occasions when it's on my television, I've lost the remote, and I'm too lazy to change the channel, I happily admit to not following softball.): a fight breaking out during a game after a player was hit by a pitch.

But that's what happened yesterday at a girls high school game in Colorado Springs.

As police headed to the complex more calls poured in describing up to 30 people, some armed with bats, fighting, the blotter said.

The combatants were members of the Cheyenne Mountain and Wasson High School girls softball teams, police said. The basebrawl started after a player was hit by a pitch and charged the mound, police said.

The player who charged the mound was ejected, a coach began ranting and the game was stopped by an umpire, police said.

It gets weirder:

Police say the brawl spilled into a parking lot and involved as many as 30 people. Two adults and two minors were arrested, and two people hospitalized. It wasn't immediately clear how badly the victims were hurt or if one of them was the girl hit by a pitch.

No idea anybody took softball that seriously. On the upside, it's one way to raise the sport's visibility: girl fights. Hmm, somebody should tweet this idea to Carolyn Bivens.

Oh, and sadly, there was no photo evidence. But when I searched Getty Images for "softball fight," I got this fantastic picture of Nick Lachey and Goose Gossage wrasslin' during a celebrity event. Via the photo caption:

HOUSTON - JULY 11, 2004: Singer/Actor Nick Lachey wrestles Rich 'Goose' Gossage, former All-Star Pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees to the ground in a play fight during the Major League Baseball Legends and Celebrity Softball Game at Minute Maid Park on July 11, 2004 in Houston, Texas.

Seemed oddly fitting.

Softball Game Breaks Out at Girl Fight originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USA Football Junior National Team Ekes By France, 78-0

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, College Sports, High School, Outdoor Sports, Youth Sports

Poor France. It's bad enough that they're still living down the 1940 German takeover, which turned out to be more of an understanding than an invasion. Now they have again suffered an international embarrassment, although that may be overselling it a tad.

Whatever, the French fell to the Americans in the inaugural Football Junior World Championship yesterday in Canton, Ohio. The final, 78-0, was slightly less surprising than getting run out of their own country by the Germans during World War II. Primarily because unlike the French army, considered the most powerful in Europe at the time, there wasn't much in the way of expectations for the French Junior National Team.

Also not helping: most of the American squad was made up of future Division I players, including running back David Wilson (Virginia Tech), who rushed for 181 yards on 12 carries, and scored four touchdowns.

For France, it was a learning experience.

"We knew that it would be a really tough game to play. When we qualified by finishing third in the European Junior Championship, we knew we would play USA this July. (USA) had more days of camp than us; they are bigger, faster and stronger, and they were more prepared," said France head coach Olivier Moret.

"Football is a game of fight and you have to prepare them to play well, even though you know the game will be long and lost."

Running back Thomas Ruiz, who earned France's MVP award, said: "It is the toughest game I have ever played. But it was also the best. I have learned today that I have got to work harder."

Stat worth mentioning: the French passed for 38 yards but rushed for -31, a 0.1-yard per play average. Other fun facts: The U.S. racked up 610 yards of total offense, and their defense had 20 tackles for loss, three sacks and two picks.

Next up for the Americans: a second-round showdown with Team Mexico, who squeaked by the Swedes, 41-0. Fun starts at 7 PM ET Wednesday.

Via NFLPRGuy's Twitter feed

USA Football Junior National Team Ekes By France, 78-0 originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iranian Soccer Players May Have Been Banned for Supporting Mousavi

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

I think some members of the Iranian Men's National Team might agree with Lord Acton, who said, "The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the party that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections."

Two weeks ago, Iran held its presidential election. The incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was announced the winner, and protesters, questioning the veracity of the results, promptly mobilized. Seventeen people have since died although the demonstrations continue.

The protesters included several members of Iran's soccer team, who showed their solidarity with opposition leader Mir Hossain Mousavi by wearing green armbands during the June 17 World Cup qualifying match against South Korea.

Green was adopted as the colour of Mousavi's campaign and has been widely displayed in opposition street protests in Iran's post-election turmoil.

At least seven Iranian players wore the bands in the first half against South Korea, although most were forced to take them off before the second.

Following the match it was reported that two Iranian players who had worn the green wristbands, Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia, had been "banned for life" from the national team, although other news outlets suggested that they had just "retired."

FIFA later asked Iran to clarify the reports, and yesterday they got their response:

The governing body of world football says the Iranian Football Federation has denied claims that national team players were punished for wearing green wristbands in solidarity with the political opposition during a World Cup qualifier.

FIFA says it received a letter from the Iranian federation "which stated that no disciplinary action has been imposed on any players of the Iran national team by any authority."

I'm guessing there's more to it than that, even if this is the last we hear of it. Either way, it offers some perspective: sometimes it's about more than just soccer.

Iranian Soccer Players May Have Been Banned for Supporting Mousavi originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rugby Coach Fines Himself $10,000 for Drunken Night Out

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:50:00 EST

Filed under: Rugby, Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

Here's what I know about rugby: it involves tight-fitting clothing, and a lot of guy-on-guy action. So, right, I'm no expert. But you really don't have to know the rules to appreciate this story.

According to the Herald Sun, Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler fined himself $10,000 and issued a public apology after the pressures of the job caused him to temporarily lose his mind.

Police were called to Townsville's Holiday Inn early on Friday morning after two female guests reported a "creepy man'' with a "hairy chest'' - wearing only shorts - was trying to get into their room.

Police arrived at 3.15am to find a "very drunk'' Fittler still outside the room. Fittler got out of the elevator at the wrong floor and shook the room's door, mistaking it for his.

To be fair, all guys are considered creepy at 3:15 in the morning -- hairy chest or otherwise -- when they're trying to break into a hotel room. As for how it got to the point where the coach was drunk off his ass, team owner Nick Politis explained: "Brad hardly drinks, he never drinks ... It's against his nature, it's silly. 'He's probably a bit stressed out with the way we're going, which you can't blame him. We all are."

And when Politis was asked about Fittler's job prospects going forward, he only offered this: "I'm not going to go down that road, we've been through it before. "It's unfortunate, it's disappointing, it's not his nature, he made a mistake. What are we going to do, hang him? He feels bad enough, believe me. He rang me and apologised. I'm disappointed just as much as he is.''

Translation: thanks for coming. And while the 10 grand fine was a nice gesture, Fittler might have been better off keeping the money. He'll probably need it.

Rugby Coach Fines Himself $10,000 for Drunken Night Out originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US National Team Goalkeeper Tim Howard Drafted by Harlem Globetrotters

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, Outdoor Sports

As I write this, the United States Men's Soccer Team leads Spain 1-0. The match is in its 64th minute and despite the surprising score two-thirds the way through this, the Americans are getting outclassed by the Spaniards everywhere but on the scoreboard.

ESPN's John Harkes (who was also a member of USMNT until Steve Sampson unceremoniously dumped him from the roster prior to the 1998 World Cup) actually observed that "I haven't seen a U.S. goalkeeper under as much pressure as Tim Howard since Kasey Keller against Brazil in '98." I was thinking Brad Friedel against the South Koreans in '02, but whatever.

Either way, Howard, who currently plays for Everton in the English Premier League, has a fallback plan in case his soccer career doesn't take off: the Harlem Globetrotters.

The U.S. National Team keeper got selected as the Harlem Globetrotters' fifth and final pick in their annual draft Monday. ...

He's very proud of that fact his North Brunswick (NJ) High School team beat a St. Joseph's of Metuchen team in the postseason that included future National Player of the Year Jason Williams (not the always-in-trouble Net big man, but the injured ex-Bulls guard). And just in case you think Tim's just talking, he's not. I covered that game, and Howard was pretty good.

That's right, just like ... well, these guys, who were presumably not awful when they played organized basketball that didn't include buckets of confetti and the three-man weave.

Actually, Howard is the latest in a long line of great U.S. goalkeepers, following Friedel and Keller, and, of course, Tony Meola and David Vanole.*

* I'm kidding about Meola, and Vanole was so bad he was good.

** (Also: Holy hell, the U.S. just scored again -- Clint Dempsey, this time -- and, by my unofficial count, that puts the shots on goal at 427 to 2, Spain.)

US National Team Goalkeeper Tim Howard Drafted by Harlem Globetrotters originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston Marathon: Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher Both Finish 3rd for U.S.

Will Brinson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:18:00 EST

Filed under: Distance Running, Endurance, Action Sports, Current Events

The Boston Marathon -- a Patriot Day staple -- took place Monday and the results were, well, both shocking and encouraging for the U.S. Ethopia's Deriba Merga and Kenya's Salina Kosgei were the winners of the men's and women's races, respectively, but America managed to place third in each division as well, as Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall led the way for the U.S.

Perhaps third is not what most competitors strive for, but America's finish is the best in quite some time, considering that no American has won the event since 1985 when Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took home the women's title.

Kosgei, the women's winner, said the weather made finishing the race difficult.

"I decided I must try. So, I tried," she said in a television interview. "The wind was a bit stronger. ... So, it was very hard."

The weather didn't seem to bother the Americans too much, though, as Hall finished the race 62 seconds off the winning pace (2:09:40), while Goucher finished just nine seconds behind Kosgei (2:32:25).

Ultimately, though, Ethiopa and Kenya dominated the races, placing a ridiculous 14 runners total in the top-10 of both the men's and women's races, and showed that America still has some ground to make up when it comes to marathon racing.

(But, at least Hall and Goucher appear to be rebutting some companies' idea that America is getting fatter.)

Boston Marathon: Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher Both Finish 3rd for U.S. originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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82-Foot Buzzer-Beater by High School Basketball Player Is Your Shot of the Day

Will Brinson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports, College Sports

Buzzer beaters are what make youth (non-NBA, anyway) basketball so fantastic. Perhaps it's just me, but I feel like in college and high school basketball, there are typically way more buzzer-beaters than in the NBA. This could, perhaps, have to do with the significantly greater number of teams, but I'm not a math major. Anyway, the point of it all is that you very rarely see an 82-foot buzzer beater.

It's similar to other stuff we've seen from high-schoolers in the past, but still, when someone hits a full-court heave, it's going to be newsworthy. Most amazingly, though, is just how fast this stuff travels across the internet. Not to sound like Corky Simpson, but regardless of how often something like this spreads, I'm still amazed.

82-Foot Buzzer-Beater by High School Basketball Player Is Your Shot of the Day originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former American Gladiator 'Nitro' Says Steroids Ruined His Sex Life

Matt Snyder — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:36:00 EST

Filed under: PEDs, Action Sports

Here's a great way to keep teenage boys off steroids and other performance enhancers. Boys, if you take steroids, sex will hurt and you'll grow giant man-boobs!

Honestly, I think that needs to be in some sort of commercial. What 16 year-old boy would try to labor through the work of obtaining illicit substances, evading drug tests -- and all the other trouble it would be to juice -- in order to forego his adult sex life and grow female features?

Dan Clark, the American Gladiator formerly known as "Nitro," is coming out with a book about his life. In it, he says that he eventually had to undergo breast reduction surgery, in 1996, to free himself of the dreaded man boobs. On the bedroom performance ... uh ...

(Steroids) also took their toll on his private parts, so much so that he embarrassingly had to explain to women what was going on. "My b- - -s never really regained their size. They're kind of shriveled," he sadly told one bedmate. In addition, steroids subjected him to a "dull throbbing pain" every time he had sex.

Other than wondering how something can be both throbbing and dull at the same time, I don't think I really want to imagine the after effects of abusing your body like that for 20 years.

If you think you can handle the drug in small doses, think again, says Clark:

After finally going for therapy, Clark kicked his habit. He writes: "The treacherous steroid path. I always thought I could handle it. But the drug handled me. Easily and completely . . . I was never big enough or strong enough for myself."

People, let's just make a pact to steer clear of body-altering drugs with significant side effects, okay? Lord knows I don't ask you for much.

Hat-tip: Game On

Former American Gladiator 'Nitro' Says Steroids Ruined His Sex Life originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorcycle Racer Craig Jones Dies in Crash

Michael David Smith — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Action Sports

British motorcycle racer Craig Jones died yesterday after this crash at the World Supersport Championship:

Sports Deaths in 2008

Craig Jones, Aug. 3: The 23-year-old racer, seen here after the Qatar Supersport motorcycle race in February, died hours after a horrific high-speed crash at the World Supersport Championship.

Hasan Jamali, AP

Skip Caray, Aug. 3: The longtime Atlanta Braves broadcaster, and son of Hall of Famer Harry, dies in his sleep at 68.

Atlanta Braves, MLB / Getty Images

Gyorgy Kolonics, July 15: The two-time gold medalist, who has won 15 world championships, collapsed in his canoe while training for the Olympics.

Scott Barbour, Getty Images

Todd Doxey, July 13: A redshirt freshman on the Oregon football team died tragically after trying to swim the McKenzie River during an inner-tube trip with several teammates.

San Diego Union Tribune / Zuma Press

Bobby Murcer, July 12: The long-time Yankees star and broadcaster lost his battle with brain cancer at 62.

Julie Jacobson, AP

Mando Ramos, July 6: The two-time lightweight boxing champion, seen here in 1967, who claimed he "never really trained, not for a single fight," went into respiratory arrest and passed away at his home.

Ben Olender, The Los Angeles Times / AP

Terrence Kiel, July 3: The former Chargers safety is killed in a car crash in an affluent San Diego neighborhood. Witnesses say they asked him not to drive home from a party, and told police he appeared to be driving in the wrong direction when he crashed.

Brian Bahr, Getty Images

Dan Cook, July 3: The San Antonio sports writer and broadcaster was most famous for coining the phrase "the opera ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Eric Gay, AP

John Pont, July 1: The former college football coach guided Indiana to its only Rose Bowl appearance 40 years ago and also coached at Northwestern, Yale and Miami of Ohio.

Ron Alvey, The Hamilton Journal News / AP

Uga VI, June 27: The well-known and beloved mascot of the University of Georgia passed away from congestive heart failure. He had been the school's mascot since 1999.

John Bazemore, AP

His mother said today that he died doing what he loved:

"I hated him racing. When he crashed in 2001, I never wanted him to race again.

"But he said to me, 'Mum, you might as well cut off my arms and legs if you say I can't race'.

"It was what he loved. He died doing what he loved best. We do take comfort from that.

"He told me, 'If I die racing, I will die happy.'

Jones was 23.

Motorcycle Racer Craig Jones Dies in Crash originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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