It's Holiday Week here at The Marbles, and we're going to hammer you with all the NASCAR-themed holiday garbage we can possibly dig up. Like, for instance, 
We've got plenty more coming your way this week, but we're always looking for more. If you have some bizarre NASCARiana for this holiday season, drop us a line at jay.busbee@yahoo.com and we'll run your links here. Have at it, friends, and happy holidays!
Amber Arbucci Christina Aguilera Kate Hudson Adriana Lima Brittany Daniel
You can't have a set of NASCAR theme weeks without focusing on wrecks. It's the law. And it's also why we watch races, to see what kind of carnage will ensue. Oh, you can 
So this week, we'll focus on that most dramatic of moments in a NASCAR race, that instant when victory becomes defeat and hopes get smashed into dented sheet metal. We'll hit all the high points, of course, but along the way we'll delve into some lesser-known wrecks and some more, shall we say, interesting accidents. If you've got one you'd like to see in the spotlight, by all means let us know at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. Strap in, it's going to be a wild week ... try to stay shiny-side-up, rubber-side-down, willya?
Daniella Alonso Gina Gershon Ehrinn Cummings Sienna Miller Cindy Taylor
In the greatest tennis carpool ever, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal drove together to an exhibition match in Zurich. Federer picked up the world's top-ranked player at the airport and took a jaunt through downtown before heading to the stadium.
Nadal arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday morning for the first of two exhibition matches this week with Federer, his long-time rival. He was met on the airport runway by the all-time winningest Grand Slam champion and then hopped in Fed's red Mercedes SLS AMG with gullwing doors (retail price: around $200,000).
[Rewind: Nadal's $500,000 watch stolen from locker]
The world's top-ranked players are competing in an exhibition on Tuesday afternoon in Zurich and then will fly to Madrid for another exhibition in Nadal's native Spain on Wednesday. Both matches will be broadcast by ESPN2 (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET; Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET). Proceeds from the exhibitions will go the players' respective charities.
These sorts of matches are great for the sport and it should be an enjoyable event to watch. Some will try to take meaning from the results, but those will be just as important as the final score of a preseason football game. It's meaningless, frivolous fun. Expect two three-setters (gotta give the fans their money's worth) and for each man to win the match in his homeland.
[Related: Tennis great predicts Nadal will top Federer]
But forget all that. I'm more interested in this Federer airport pickup. It's like Nadal is his Keith Hernandez. What do you think these two talked about while driving down the streets of Zurich? (Closes eyes and imagines the conversation, as twinkly music plays in the background.)
(silence)
Nadal: "Did you watch the Davis Cup."
Federer: "Not really, no."
Nadal: "Me neither."
(more silence)
Federer: "So, uh, how's Spain."
Nadal: "Good, good."
(longer silence)
Nadal: "How are the twins?"
Federer: "They're good. They're good. Getting to that really, really cute age."
(even longer silence)
Federer: "Man, that Sampras is an idiot."
Nadal: (loudly) "I know, right!"
(give high-fives)
[Rewind: Federer's mystery comment censored]
More pictures after the jump. (All from Federer's Facebook page.)
They look remarkably similar there, no? Maybe it's the gray and the fact that their hair is the same color and parted the same, but this could totally be a Christmas Card picture for some G5-owning family.
[Related: Nadal's family congratulates Federer]
"I painted a picture of a butterfly! I tuned the piano!"
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Michelle Trachtenberg Amanda Bynes Ana Ivanovi Jessica Cauffiel Emmanuelle Vaugier
The first time Keselowski showed up on most NASCAR fans' radar was when he and Denny Hamlin scuffled after a 2008 Nationwide race. About a year later, he sent Carl Edwards into the wall to take the checkers in Talladega, and Edwards retaliated early in 2010 with a tap that sent Jet Ski airborne in Atlanta. The fact that Edwards was a lap down and out on the track exclusively to hunt down Keselowski was seen by some as unconscionable, and by others as justifiable payback.
Not long after Atlanta, we compiled a video list of the grievances that many drivers, including Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, had with Keselowski over the course of 2009. Still, Atlanta, and a later Edwards battle at Gateway, seemed to calm Jet Ski a bit -- or, perhaps, snuff out a bit of his fire -- and he ran in late 2010 without incident.
As a result of some of his battles, Keselowski knows he's viewed differently from, say, Joey Logano, but from his perspective, it's not all his fault: "I feel like the drivers out there that are saying you need to earn respect or show respect and then you’ll get it, blah, blah, blah," he said. "I think there’s a lot of hypocrisy in the sport. But I don’t think I necessarily look for a fight. I think a lot of the trouble I get in as a race car driver, where I make some of my competitors angry, is because I throw them off balance and they don’t know what to expect. I force them into making their own mistakes."
Keselowski admits to keeping a close eye on the NASCAR media -- hey, Brad, what's shaking? -- and worries that his image gets manipulated in a way that's out of his control. Still, he knows there are much larger problems in the sport:
"I’m worried every time I walk out on pit road at the start of a race and don’t see a sellout," he said. "I worry when I walk out of the garage and the truck race is going on and there’s 75 fans camped outside the garage looking for an autograph while there’s still a race going on; I worry about what that says."
Like so many other drivers -- Kyle Busch, for one -- Keselowski continues to labor under the image created in his first days in the sport, and it's an image that may not bear a whole lot of connection to the real man. But as long as he and Edwards are racing together, they'll be linked, in storylines if not by bumpers. But once Keselowski starts running well without incident, the image dings of his earliest days will fade.
Paulina Rubio Kirsten Dunst Vanessa Minnillo Katie Holmes Victoria Beckham
60. Hootie Johnson: William "Hootie" Johnson is one of those Augusta natives that just couldn't get away from their prized jewel. The chairman of Augusta National from 1998-2006, Johnson was a big game changer with the Masters, allowing 18-hole television coverage for the first time (as my dad used to say, "Most of us didn't know a thing about the first nine holes of Augusta"). Maybe the most famous moment of Hootie's reign with Augusta came in '02, when the name Martha Burk started being tossed around golf circles. Burk set up pickets at the Masters because the club wouldn't allow women members, something that still stands to this day. Sponsors pulled out, but the Masters kept on chugging, and Hootie remained in charge.
59. Johnny Miller: Most younger sports fans know Miller as the lead voice for NBC's golf coverage, but Miller was an incredible golfer back in his day, carding two major championships and 25 total PGA Tour wins, meaning he's exempt for life on the PGA Tour as a player. Miller's most famous moment (and now most joked about because of his propensity to bring it up in telecasts) came in 1973, when a final round 63 at Oakmont won Miller his only U.S. Open by a shot over John Schlee. That 63 is still regarded as one of the best final rounds in the history of golf.
58. Phil Mickelson: A name we modern day fans know well, Mickelson is one of that talents on the golf course that come around every few decades. Phil burst on the scene as a college kid at ASU, winning the NCAAs three times in his four years as a Sun Devil, including a U.S. Amateur trophy. Along with that, "Lefty," as he's called in the golf circle, won his first PGA Tour victory in 1991 as an amateur. He quickly turned pro, and now has 38 wins on the PGA Tour, and 46 worldwide. For years, Phil was saddled with "Best Player to Never Have Won a Major" until 2004, when Mickelson birdied five of his last seven holes on Sunday at Augusta National, including an 18-footer on the 72nd hole that slipped in the side of the cup, forcing Phil to leap in the air, making it one of the most exciting finishes in Masters history. Phil has since won two other Masters and a PGA Championship, despite his continued struggles at the U.S. Open, where Mickelson has finished in second place a record five times.
57. David Fay: Now the executive director for the USGA, Fay has been working for the United States Golf Association since 1979, and has been both influential and controversial with course setup throughout the years. Fay is an everyday guy that is known to answer his own phone at the office, but when it comes to golf, he's known as "golf's chief bureaucrat."
56. Joe Gibbs: Don't get confused by the name, this Joe Gibbs is the one that did one simple thing for golf; bring us "The Golf Channel." Gibbs, along with Arnold Palmer, pushed TGC live in 1995, but Gibbs had been thinking up the idea since 1991. Along with Arnie, Gibbs raised $80 million to start the network, and his idea that a lot thought was crazy at the time has blossomed into a regular network for sports fans and golfers alike.
55. Wally Uihlein: The chairman and CEO of the Acushnet Company, Uihlein oversees golf companies like Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra, and Scotty Cameron. Uihlein has been with the company since 1973, and made a lot of his brands the pinnacle in the golfing world.
54. Jimmy Demaret: One of the most accomplished golfers during his time as a professional, Demaret won 31 PGA Tour tournaments including three Masters, becoming the first to accomplish that. While he never won any other majors besides at Augusta, Jimmy finished runner-up to Ben Hogan at the 1948 U.S. Open and finished third at the PGA Championship four times. Demaret, born in Houston, died of a heart attack in 1983 at the age of 73 as he was, of course, getting ready for a round of golf.
53. Harry Cooper: Cooper, a winner of 31 PGA Tour events, might be best known as the most talented golfer to not win a major championship. Cooper, born in England but raised in the United States, finished in the top-10 at majors an astonishing 20 times, but said he could never picture himself in the winner's circle.
52. Nick Faldo: Arguably the best golfer to ever come out of England, Faldo won six major championships over his decorated career, and is fifth all-time on the European Tour wins list with 30. Faldo was ranked number one in the world for a total of 98 weeks, and is now a broadcaster for CBS. A guy that always seemed to struggle with the media, Faldo has softened over the years, highlighted when he wore a "I Love New York" baseball cap during the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, following the September 11 attacks the year prior. Faldo was knighted in 2009 for his services to golf.
51. Kathy Whitworth: Whitworth, born in 1939, is the benchmark for golf, winning 88 LPGA events over her career, the highest number of wins for any golf tour in the world, eclipsing Sam Snead's PGA Tour record by six wins. Whitworth turned pro in 1958, winning her first event as a pro, and added six major championships to her resume.
Previous Lists
Claudette Ortiz Julia Stiles Marisa Miller AnnaLynne McCord Emma Heming
Complex.com -- a pop culture and style website and magazine -- recently released a slideshow of "The 50 Dirtiest Players in Sports History."
Yes, that's history, so conceivably, every NASCAR driver was eligible for Complex's list, but only two present-day drivers made it: Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. (Side note: It always amuses us when people who have no clue about NASCAR attempt to be knowledgeable.)
Edwards, who was No. 48, made the list because of his flip of Brad Keselowski. Interestingly, there was no mention of the fact that many in the NASCAR fanbase feel that Keselowski is a "dirtier" driver.
Busch came in at No. 38, and the video that the site used for his example was of his middle finger towards NASCAR at Texas. Really Complex, really? If during-competition middle fingers makes one dirty, the entire list should have been comprised of NASCAR drivers.
In an awesome twist, the comments below the main page are about NASCAR, wondering why Dale Earnhardt Sr. isn't on the list. Who else do you think should have been on the list?
If we were compiling a list of the 10 dirtiest drivers in NASCAR, I'd wager that Busch and Edwards wouldn't be near the top.
Paris Hilton Victoria Pratt Shakara Ledard Vanessa Marcil Rachel McAdams
As pre-emptive punishment for the childish behavior that will eventually get him expelled from the team, AC Milan blast Antonio Cassano into the sun in a cage made of glass and steel.
Or, the squad visits the highest tower in the world while training in Dubai.
Marla Sokoloff Jennifer Love Hewitt Tina Fey Gina Philips Jamie Gunns
You can't have a set of NASCAR theme weeks without focusing on wrecks. It's the law. And it's also why we watch races, to see what kind of carnage will ensue. Oh, you can
So this week, we'll focus on that most dramatic of moments in a NASCAR race, that instant when victory becomes defeat and hopes get smashed into dented sheet metal. We'll hit all the high points, of course, but along the way we'll delve into some lesser-known wrecks and some more, shall we say, interesting accidents. If you've got one you'd like to see in the spotlight, by all means let us know at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. Strap in, it's going to be a wild week ... try to stay shiny-side-up, rubber-side-down, willya?
Lionel Messi
Hahaha sleeping on my head feels funny. ... I wonder if Santa got my letter. ... I really need that Lego Hogwarts Castle. ... I can't believe Dani Alves said Santa died in grease fire. That's not true at all. ... If everyone gets me Lego sets this year it's going to be the best Christmas ever. ... I really hope Pep doesn't give me a vest and a skinny tie like his again. ... I also hope Maradona doesn't dress like Santa and fall asleep in my refrigerator again. ... Hahaha it wasn't even Christmas when that happened...
Cristiano Ronaldo
For Christmas I demand my own island. It will be called Cristiano Island. ... I also demand a new baby. It will be called Cristiano Another One. ... I also demand my own television channel. It will be called Cristiano on the Television. ... I also demand that Pique stop bleeding all the time and Barcelona let us win La Liga. ... And finally, I demand that everyone stops laughing at me when I tell them that Christmas has been renamed Cristianomas. ... Merry Cristianomas to all and to all a good night...
Mario Balotelli
Oh no. ... It's almost December 25. ... That weird day when someone sneaks into my house and dumps coal all over the place. ... I hate that day so much. ... Everybody talks about this Santa person but I have no idea who that is. ... If he ever gets to meet me, I'll show him my Golden Boy trophy and remind him who won it. ... I think I might be suffocating on my snood. ... 2011 is going to be so great for me. ... Can't wait to piss off everyone...
Didier Drogba
Time for the holiday disgraces. ... First, our match against Man United was postponed last weekend. That was a kind of beneficial f***ing disgrace. ... Then, I found out that the Christmas present I wanted most -- a computer that looks like Mr. T and shouts "It's a f***ing disgrace!" at people -- doesn't exist. That's a disappointing f***ing disgrace. ... Then, Kitier Katba found all the gifts I bought him, totally ruining the suprise. That was a nosy f***ing disgrace. ... Then, Kalou sat on my gingerbread house and he didn't even apologize. That's a rude f***ing disgrace. ... Then, there were the times those two bald referees who probably tell school children that they are talentless blobs cheated us out of the Champions League. That...that was a...
Photos: AP,
Julie Benz Saira Mohan Brittny Gastineau Ashley Tisdale Rachel Blanchard
As this final week brings 2010 to a close, the five main Big League Stew staffers will take a look at the stories that captured their fancy the most. This isn't necessarily a rundown of the biggest moments, mind you — our own Jeff Passan already did that here — just a recollection of the interesting moments that made up the year.
In 135 seasons of professional baseball, we had never seen anything quite like the year that Jose Bautista just posted with 54 home runs.
When the Toronto Blue Jays slugger emerged from obscurity to lead the major leagues in home runs, producing the highest total in three years, many people said he "came out of nowhere." But that isn't really true. Before 2010, he had played six seasons in the majors, four of them relatively full seasons, and all were relatively ineffective, as he'd made forgettable whistle stops with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates. He had more than 2,000 plate appearances in the major leagues, and he was 29 years old when the season started. There was no reason to think that he was anything more than a journeyman outfielder.
Needless to say, Jose Bautista was not who we thought he was.
Let's clear the elephant out of the room right now — he hit a ton of homers last season after hanging around for most of a decade and never doing much of anything, and I believe there is no way that steroids caused his leap. It's a sad fact that playing in the 2000s guarantees that the question will be asked — and it was — and there is admittedly no way to know whether or not he used anything, but PEDs alone simply do not account for what happened to Jose Bautista. The notion that simply taking a drug could turn a man from a career journeyman to a 50-homer behemoth is nothing more than an urban legend unsupported by any known evidence.
Let's put it another way: Jose Bautista's story is simply too improbable for steroids alone to have been able to explain it. Hundreds of players are known to have used performance-enhancing drugs, and none of them had a career like Bautista has had.
Bautista also served me a slice of humble pie, as he was the subject of perhaps my worst prediction of the year:
"Jose Bautista will hit 35 homers this year, a career high he will never again come close to matching."
He had 24 when I wrote that on July 16, and he took less than a month to hit his 36th, ultimately dwarfing my prediction by almost 20 taters. (Nearly as marvelous as his 54 homers? His 100 walks, fourth in all of baseball and second in the American League to Daric Barton's 110. His previous career high in walks was merely 68.) Bautista's success this year gives me a good reason to doubt the second half of my prediction, that he would "never again come close" to 35 jacks. Frankly, I'm not ready to bet against Joey Bats in 2011.
Bautista's story isn't completely unparallelled. Hank Sauer missed time in World War II and only got a couple of cups of coffee before turning 31. The moment he became a regular, though, he was one of the best players in the league, hitting at least 30 home runs in each of his first five seasons, winning the MVP as a 35-year-old in 1952. David Ortiz, instructed by Tom Kelly's Twins not to pull the ball or hit for power, was unleashed as a monster as soon as he reached Fenway Park's friendly confines. A bit like Sauer, Raul Ibanez didn't become a regular player until he was 30, and then became one of the better left-handed hitters in baseball for most of the past decade.
But none of those guys emerged from obscurity to hit 50 homers.
Certainly, there was some magic in the air at Toronto's Rogers Centre this year. Toronto led the majors in home runs by 46 — the distance between Toronto and second-place Boston was greater than the distance between Boston and ninth-place Philadelphia. Bautista had a career year, but so did catcher John Buck and shortstop Alex Gonzalez (before he was traded), and centerfielder Vernon Wells had his best season since 2006, when he signed his mammoth extension. Even the team's biggest disappointments, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind, both hit over 20 home runs, so while their batting average collapsed their power stayed impressive. So while Bautista is alone in history, his booming bat wasn't alone on his own team.
Will there be any pixie dust left for 2011? Can I write this same story next year? Many assumed that GM Alex Anthopoulos traded Shaun Marcum for Brewers top prospect Brett Lawrie in order to make a push for Zack Greinke, but Greinke went to the Brew Crew too, and the Jays still play in the world's toughest division. But no one in Toronto can say they don't believe in miracles.
They just witnessed one.
Other favorite stories of Big League Stew staffers
'Duk — Dallas Braden vs. A-Rod
David Brown — The Luke Scott Obama interview
Mark Townsend — The Rockies-Giants humidor saga
Kelly Hu Michelle Rodriguez Mena Suvari Georgina Grenville Michelle Trachtenberg
Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl: Louisville 31, Southern Miss 28.
Such resilient Cards
Outgained by 100 yards
Eagles here to help.
That 14-point lead?
Ancient history by half.
But check out this catch!
These special teams gaffes?
Bad snap, blocked kick, kickoff lapse.
'Tis giving season.
- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Amber Arbucci Christina Aguilera Kate Hudson Adriana Lima Brittany Daniel
TV Azteca's Ines Sainz was basically harassed out of covering the NFL, but she's still on the sports beat. Those who questioned her credentials to be around athletes were way off base. She's been covering boxing and other sports for years now. Here she is interviewing Antonio Margarito and his wife Michelle before the boxer's big fight this weekend in Dallas against Manny Pacquiao.
In a shocking development, no one is whistling at her or criticizing Sainz's choice of clothing.
Sainz made national headlines early in the NFL season when she got embroiled in a controversy over whether she dressed too provocatively around the New York Jets. The Jets childish behavior became a side story to stupid question of whether women belong in men's locker rooms.
Top Rank President Todd duBoef said Sainz was the obvious choice to work at the fight card.
"We could've got a Jeremy Schaap or Al Bernstein, but that's been done every time," duBoef said. "Ines is obviously pleasing to the eye, and we're repositioning our sport to hit all markets, to make us more contemporary."
L.A. Times tip via The Big Lead
Taylor Swift Milla Jovovich Maggie Grace Luján Fernández Charli Baltimore
Well hello there.
I see you've caught me holding up my mayonnaise-filled gloves after scoring two goals on Boxing Day to give Manchester United yet another win and make myself the top scorer in a little league called "Premier." I would say that this was a delightful surprise, but it wasn't. It was actually one of several things I requested from Father Christmas after I pushed several children aside to sit on his lap. After about two hours he said he would give me whatever I wanted if I would just get off his lap and stop massaging his earlobes, and it appears it he held up his end of our agreement. Ha-HA!
I apologize for not looking directly at you as I seduce you with my unmatched Berba-bilities. Even through my peripheral vision, I can tell that you are as radiant as ever today and your sparkling eyes could easily seduce any man into enjoying a hot tub party with you and several strangers who smell like vinegar. But I fear that if I look into your eyes with my piercing and sensual gaze when my powers are at their zenith, your underpants will instantly melt. Ha-HA! ... Oh, you don't think that will happen? Well, trust me, I've done it before. ... When? I don't remember exactly when it was, but it did happen. ... You wouldn't know her. She's from Canada.
Nevermind that -- I feel I should notify you of my other wishes that Father Christmas promised to fulfill before his security team banned me from the premises. One is that Manchester United will be renamed "Sexy Tickles United." Another is that Wayne Rooney will continue to be hilariously bad. And finally, that you and I fall madly in love in the confines of my carpeted van while my cousin Timitar videotapes it all and Chicharito a.k.a. Little Berba giggles in the corner. So, since all my Christmas wishes are coming true, perhaps we should make our way to my love wagon now?
Oh-OHHH! Wayne Rooney's failed penalty kick against Arsenal just hit me in the head! Oh, that hurt so much! Of all the places for that ball to land upon its descent back into the Earth's atmosphere, it had to land directly on my aphrodisical widow's peak. Oh, that was not one of my Christmas wishes at all!
Join us again next time for another chapter in the life of...The Continental...
Photo: Getty Images
Eva Longoria Susan Ward Emmy Rossum Kim Yoon jin Melania Trump
A college football conference is not a democracy, which was more apparent than ever this week when the Big Ten unveiled its plan to name its two new divisions the "Legends" and "Leaders" when the league expands to 12 teams next year. If it had put it to a vote, it would have found out pretty quickly: Everyone thinks these names are really, really stupid.
At the very least, commissioner Jim Delany would have been somewhat aware of the minefield of public opinion he was wandering into as the face of the conference. And he certainly wouldn't have had to go on WGN radio in Chicago Friday morning – four days after he asked fans to give the new branding effort "24 to 36 hours" to sink in – to commence the backtracking:
"[We were] not very well prepared [for the backlash], I can tell you that," Delany said. "We've had enough experience with names and expansion and development of divisions that we know that you never – rarely – get a 90 percent approval rating. But to get a 90 percent non-approval rating was really surprising.
"It showed that we didn't connect with our fans in a way that we wanted to. It's humbling, to say the least, because we're trying to build fan bases, not push them away. So I was surprised. I've been around this business a long time, and I would say it’s one of the more surprising things. There's a sensibility there that we did not connect with, did not read well.
[…]
"Obviously there's a lot of push-back," he said. "We're still listening and trying to figure it out. And I think we'll probably make an assessment about whether or not it's sustainable, we'll try to do a little education, let it breathe a bit, and then probably revisit it after the first of the year."
For his own sake, I hope Delany is prepared to follow through on that promise, because there's no turning back now: The world knows that he knows that the names are stupid. Holding on to "Legends" and "Leaders" now would be like a middle finger to the entire fan base.
Here's an idea: Just go ahead and call them "East" and "West." No, it's not original or "evocative" of any schmaltzy ideals. And OK, technically, they're not aligned that way. It's close enough. The two Eastern-most schools (Ohio State and Penn State) are already in the same division; call it the "East." And the three Western-most schools (Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska) are already in the same division, along with Michigan, which has always fashioned its teams as the "champions of the West." The remaining six have been traveling back and forth between their respective campuses for 100 years; they're practically within shouting distance. They can deal with some slightly fudged geography.
So I say now, Mr. Delany: Tear down these cheesy titles! Toss them into the dustbin of history, and embrace the anachronism. I mean, the other anachronism.
- - -
Hat tip: Adam Rittenberg. Yes, the t-shirt is for sale.
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Paulina Rubio Kirsten Dunst Vanessa Minnillo Katie Holmes Victoria Beckham
70. Colin Montgomerie: Monty has vaulted himself to a higher level by leading the European Ryder Cup team to victory this past year. Prior to that, he was known only as one of the best players never to win a major, finishing second an astonishing five times. His highest world ranking? Second, of course.
69. John McDermott: His most significant achievement? He was the first player to break par over 72 holes in a major event: the 1912 U.S. Open. The first U.S.-born golfer to win the U.S. Open, and still the youngest-ever winner, at age 19. (Take that, Rory McIlroy.) Sadly, he suffered setbacks from an accident where he was on board a ship that wrecked, and he never played golf after age 23.
68. Willie Anderson: A Scottish immigrant who was the first player to win four U.S. Opens, in 1901, 1903, 1904 and 1905. He won titles using both the old-style guttie golf ball and the newfangled rubber-core version that was introduced in 1902. In his 14 U.S. Opens, he finished in the top 5 11 times, and never lower than 15th.
67. Coburn Haskell: Who? The guy who created the 20th century golf ball, that's who. While waiting to play golf in Akron, Ohio in 1898, Haskell wound rubber thread into a ball -- he's also the first guy to create the legendary office rubber-band ball, apparently -- and was thrilled to see it nearly hit the ceiling. Haskell put a cover on the ball, and instantly it phased out the old-style guttie ball.
66. Jim McKay: The longtime announcer was the first voice many golf fans heard when the game was breaking big in the 1960s. Best known for his coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, he nonetheless covered numerous Masters, U.S. Opens and British Opens, bringing golf to the masses with a friendly voice.
65. George S. May: He pioneered golf as a spectator sport, broadcasting the first-ever golf tournament in 1953 from the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Illinois. Probably not in HD.
64. Jack Grout: Played on the PGA Tour from the 1930s to the 1950s. Won four events. Friends with Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. So why's he this high on the list? Because he was Jack Nicklaus' first and only teacher, that's why.
63. Ben Crenshaw: A singular player from the 1970s to the 1990s, he won his very first PGA Tour event, the 1984 Masters Tournament, and kept on winning right up to the 1995 Masters. One of the finest putters in the history of the game; during his 1995 Masters win, he didn't have a single three-putt all week.
62. Bernard Darwin: Grandson of the famous naturalist Charles Darwin, Bernard was instrumental in the evolution of golf, becoming the first writer ever to cover the game on a daily basis. But unlike most media members, he could play the game at its highest levels. While writing on the first Walker Cup, he was pressed into emergency service and went 1-1. Also served as Captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in the 1930s.
61. Fred Raphael: Another broadcast pioneer, he developed "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" in the 1960s and the Legends of Golf series in the 1970s, the latter of which led directly to the creation of the Senior (now Champions) Tour. The show's style helped personalize golfers; competitors included everyone from Nicklaus to Mickelson, Casper to Sorenstam.
Previous lists
Dania Ramirez Lucy Liu LeAnn Rimes Adrianne Curry Jennifer Gimenez
In 2009, Carl Long became the poster boy for how tough it can be for small NASCAR teams to make it. That May, the engine for Long's car was found to have a displacement 0.17 cubic inches greater than the maximum allowed displacement.
That violation carried a penalty of 200 points and a much more crippling $200,000 fine. Since then, Long hasn't attempted a Sprint Cup race.
But let's venture back to happier times for Long, shall we? Below is a clip from the 2004 race at Rockingham, where Long got together with Joe Nemecheck and slid down the backstretch on his side.
(OK, so flipping and crashing a car isn't a moment for celebration, but given the severity and results of the penalty, it seems downright joyful)
Brittany Daniel Kate Moss Zhang Ziyi Nikki Reed Natasha Bedingfield
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Webb — who just signed a one-year deal worth $3 million plus incentives with the defending AL champs — plans to wear No. 33 in honor of Jon Hooker, who wore the digits as a friend and teammate at the University of Kentucky.
If you don't remember Hooker's name at first, you might when reminded of the particularly tragic circumstances of his death.
Back in 2006, he and his wife, Scarlett, were getting ready to head to a honeymoon in California. They had just been married the night before and they were just getting ready to start a new life together.
But they were aboard the Comair Flight 191 that crashed near the end of a too-short runway at the Lexington, Ky., airport and the Hookers plus 47 others lost their lives. The news quickly spread around major league clubhouses that morning — Jon had played in the minor leagues for a few years and had made a solid impresssion on many others — and it hit Webb and Joe Blanton (another Wildcat teammate) very hard.
"He was probably my best friend since we were roommates my freshman year in college," Webb said in the days after the tragedy. "Me and him were pretty much inseparable."
Then-Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin gave Webb the option of skipping his next start — which came just the day after the crash — but the righty took the mound and earned a win over the San Diego Padres, pitching solidly into the eighth inning.
Four years later — while most of the world has moved on and Webb faces the greatest challenge of his career — the former NL Cy Young winner is still working to keep the memory of his good friend alive by leaving his old No. 17 behind in Arizona. It's a very honorable move and we wish Webb the best when he dons his new numbers.
Bonus link: Buck Showalter just did something similar with the No. 26 that Johnny Oates wore when he managed the Baltimore Orioles.
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As expected, Antonio Margarito will be the much bigger fighter tonight in Dallas. After hitting the scales at 150 on Friday, "The Tijuana Tornado" weighed in today at 165 pounds. He'll hold a 17-pound weight advantage over the much shorter Manny Pacquiao.
The 5-foot-6 Pacquiao chose to cut off efforts to bulk up during training camp. He weighed in yesterday at 144.6.
There is no issue with the weight disparity but there was a minor discussion about Margarito long goatee beard. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach complained to the Texas Commission that the bushy beard could provide a little extra cushion. Before filing an official complaint, Pacquiao told the trainer that he was fine with beard. According to HBO's Jim Lampley, Pacquiao said it gave him a target to punch.
The weigh disparity hasn't changed what bettors think of the fight. Pacquiao is a huge favorite at minus-450. Margarito can be had at plus-325.
Pacquiao-Margarito betting odds (Courtesy Lagasse Stadium):
Antonio Margarito (+325) v. Manny Pacquiao (-450) - 150-pound catchweight
Will go 10 rounds (+120) v. Won't go (-150)
Over 9.5 rounds (Even) v. Under 9.5 (-135)Method of Victory -
Pacquiao by KO, TKO, or DQ (-140)
Manny by Decision (+225)
Antonio Margarito by KO, TKO, or DQ (9/2)
Antonio Margarito by Decision (11/1)
Length of Fight -
Fight goes distance (+180)
Fight won't go distance (-240)
Hilary Swank Whitney Port Minka Kelly Carol Grow Erika Christensen
What kind of suit goes best with a mohawk? MMA has lost one its icons as Chuck Liddell officially announced he's retiring as an active fighter and moving into a executive role with the UFC. The former light heavyweight champ will serve one of the company's top six or seven officials in the position of executive vice president of business development.
Does the trademark mohawk stay or go? The UFC is anything but a traditional business, so the guess here is that you may see a gray haired mohawk pitching the sport some 20 years from now.
The 41-year-old announced his retirement at yesterday's UFC 125 prefight press conference. The usually jovial, relaxed Liddell got a bit emotional.
"Most of all, I want to thank my fans and my family. I love the sport, and I'm excited to go into a new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world, the sport I love," the UFC Hall of Famer said as he choked back tears.
Lorenzo Fertitta, the UFC owner was also present at the presser. For the most part, the casino mogul lays low but felt it was important to show his support for promotion's biggest star during its key growth period.
"This is a big deal to us as a company," UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. "Chuck Liddell has contributed so much to the UFC over the years. He's literally seen this sport evolve from a very small niche sport to what it has become today. We continue to grow here in the North America, but we've got so many more things to do around the world, so we welcome Chuck Liddell to the UFC executive team."
UFC president Dana White has a strong friendship with Liddell. It dates back to the days before White was part owner of the promotion.
"Chuck Liddell has been with us from day one," White told ESPN.com. "And before that I managed him. We've been together for like 13 years."
White gave a few details about the legend's new role with the company.
"He's probably going to be doing a lot of stuff with the legislation, the sanctioning end and other forms of business development. And he will be traveling to other countries with [UFC CEO] Lorenzo [Fertitta]."
Making a transition from the world of kickboxing, Liddell debuted back in 1998 at UFC 17, where beat Noe Hernandez in Mobile, Alabama.
He finished his career with a 21-8 record, that included 13 knockouts. The slugger held the UFC light heavyweight title for most of 2005 and 2006. His presence was huge in the UFC's development as a pay-per-view juggernaut. His fight against Tito Ortiz and two more against Randy Couture helped pull in 1.73 million buys. He fought Vernon White at UFC 49. That show sold only 80,000 PPVs. Thirty months later at UFC 66, with the help of Liddell, the promotion eclipsed the one million mark.
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The CFL and CIS seasons may be over, but there's still plenty of football for three-down pigskin aficionados. The NCAA is entering its bowl season, and in addition to spread offences and passing attacks CFL fans will find familiar, it offers a glimpse of some of the talents who might be heading north of the border in the next few seasons. The NFL is also kicking into high gear, and one of its top players at the moment just happens to have a strong north-of-the-border connection.
CFL fans will surely remember Cameron Wake (pictured above sacking Chicago's Jay Cutler in a Nov. 18 game), who tore up the league in 2007 and 2008, claiming rookie of the year in his initial campaign and defensive player of the year the following season. Wake made an impact right from his first game with the B.C. Lions, recording three sacks and seven tackles in a Lions' victory over Toronto. He finished the 2007 campaign with a league-high 16 sacks and a blocked field goal, but then went on to even greater success in 2008, putting up an incredible 23 sacks. That was only three less than the entire Hamilton Tiger-Cats squad recorded that season. Wake was one of the league's most dominant players, and you can bet that plenty of quarterbacks around the CFL breathed a sigh of relief when he headed to the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2009.
With the Dolphins, Wake transitioned back to the outside linebacker position he'd played at Penn State instead of the defensive end spot he'd played in the CFL. He only started one game in 2009, and was competing for playing time with the likes of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor, but still managed to record five and a half sacks, 19 solo tackles, a knocked-down pass and a forced fumble. The Dolphins parted ways with both Porter and Taylor in the offseason, paving the way for Wake to start, and he hasn't disappointed.
Wake has piled up 12 sacks so far, tops in the NFL. He's turned into a force against the run as well, recording 36 solo tackles and eight assisted ones; he's also forced two fumbles. Offences are paying more and more attention to him all the time in their blocking schemes, but that hasn't slowed him down much; Wake's still managed to record three and a half sacks in his last three games. At this rate, he seems likely to earn a Pro Bowl berth. Wake's made the CFL-to-NFL transition very well, and seems poised to be a four-down star for years to come.
One of Wake's former B.C. teammates is also doing well on the American gridiron. Stefan Logan delivered an impressive rookie campaign for the B.C. Lions in 2008, rushing 122 times for 889 yards and hauling in 52 passes for 477 yards. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009 and made the team as a return man, where he performed quite well; he didn't record a touchdown, but picked up 1466 yards on kick returns and 280 more on punt returns, breaking the Steelers' record for single-season return yardage in the process. After training camp this year, though, Pittsburgh decided to go in a different direction and released Logan. He caught on another brand of Lions in Detroit, though, and he's picked up 1239 kick return yards, 286 punt return yards and a kick return touchdown so far this year.
Some CIS players are finding success down south as well. The Manitoba Bisons' Israel Idonije is having a career year with the Chicago Bears, putting up seven sacks and 37 total tackles so far. The Regina Rams' Jon Ryan is still punting for Seattle, and Concordia's Cory Greenwood (the third-overall pick in this year's CFL draft, by Toronto) has managed to hang on with the Kansas City Chiefs and is seeing some game time, mostly as a special-teams player. Other Canadian-born players, including the Rams' O.J. Atogwe and the Lions' Nate Burleson, are also continuing to do well.
The transition from the Canadian to the American game isn't an easy one, though. None of the 18 CFL players who signed with NFL teams this offseason appear to remain on active rosters (John Chick is on Indianapolis' practice roster). Many have returned to the CFL successfully, including Calgary's Dimitri Tsoumpas, Montreal's S.J. Green and Hamilton's Stevie Baggs, but some, like Saskatchewan's Ryan Grice-Mullen, haven't had an easy time coming back, and others, like Martell Mallett, Titus Ryan and Larry Taylor, haven't even been able to lock down another CFL job at the moment. The rarity of successful transitions between the two leagues makes what Wake's done even more impressive. Wake's current #91 jersey may be teal and orange instead of orange and white, but he's still a treat to watch for both CFL and NFL fans.
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The former Masters, which was then named The Masters Cup and, finally, named the ATP World Tour Finals, has started. What was seen as a thrilling event some years ago has lost part of its legend. But it doesn't mean that the eight players who will fight this week in London aren't worthy of our interest. Yet, when a Grand Slam begins, no one can doubt the motivation of every player in the field. The same can't be said for this event. In theory, it should be the peak of the player's successful seasons. But combining the specificity of the surface (hard indoor court), their will and each player's fatigue gives us a good idea of how this will go.Let's look at the groups in detail:
Group A
Rafael Nadal: Even if he's the No. 1 player in the world, the Spaniard won't be the main favorite this year. He hasn't played a single tournament since the Asian leg of the tour. He withdrew in Paris because of the start of left shoulder tendonitis. Adding to this that the surface here is one of the least suited to him -- his results in indoor events are way less impressive than in outdoor events -- and it doesn't look good for Rafa. And let's not forget that his main weapon, the desire of winning that allows him to display all his abilities, is already turned towards the Australian Open. Anyway, he's battling in a group totally manageable for him and we all know how he hates losing. Furthermore, if he's able to get back-to-back wins, he'll be obviously become a threat for the title. Despite all of that, I don't put him on top of my list.
Novak Djokovic: Even if the Serbian is undoubtedly one of the stronger players of this latter half of the season and even if the surface suits him, he has clearly stated that both his heart and mind are focused on the Davis Cup final in a few weeks. He'll remain a serious contender, but people shouldn't expect too much from him this week because he'll be without his warrior mindset, which makes him most dangerous when motivated.
Tomas Berdych: The situation is vastly different for the big Czech than it was when he took to the court in the Wimbledon final. It can only be noticed that since that event his results look more like the ones of a top 50 player rather than a Grand Slam finalist. He tried to explain it some days ago, fully aware that his results demanded an explanation. In his opinion, he experienced issues about being thought of as a clear favorite after reaching the semifinal at the French Open and then the final in London. So, this week Tomas will be focused but his lack of confidence over the past few months should prevent him from going very far.
Andy Roddick: Andy isn't the same player anymore compared to some years ago. His results aren't consistent enough and he was weak at the majors. His best showing was making the quarters at the Australian. He showed great things in March with a more complete, varied game. His fitness was at its best too. He lost a lot of weight and seemed so eager to win. He made the final in Indian Wells and won in Miami. Since then, he's had some ups but mainly a lot of lows. He gained weight back and I've been really surprised to see how he struggles on his serve. Even if he's not complaining about it, I think he may have shoulder pain, so he's only giving his all when it's really needed and when his body allows him to. The American, who should get advantage with his serve indoors, won't be one of the main contenders at all.
In a group containing both out of shape players and players with other things in their heads, we're wondering who's going to take advantage of this: the not-really-motivated-but-in-shape ones or the motivated-ones-without-much-confidence.
Group B
Robin Soderling: Robin has just won the Masters 1000 of Paris-Bercy. He's improving again and reached the top four this week. The Swedish player would have had a huge chance to reach the semifinals in London if he hadn't been set with Andy Murray and Federer. Even with his new improved game, he's still not able to move well enough in order to beat those players. Always dangerous when he's the aggressive one, he's way more fragile when faced with players who can play very fast and who are able to read his serve. His second serves are also a good option to attack him.
Andy Murray: Here comes the second big favorite of the week. The Scotsman is playing at home in front of a devoted crowd. We know that the worst enemy of Andy is being stuck in a bad mood when things don't go as he wants them to. This "weakness" shouldn't be an issue in London because he'll be cheered on by the public, which will help him get through his frustration. As far as the game is concerned, Murray is capable of the best and the worst. Motivated and inspired, he can shine like in Toronto where he won against Federer and Nadal by playing in an amazing way. But we've also seen him sinking at the US Open against Wawrinka or for the six months after his loss in the Melbourne final. He's relying on desire and emotion. This week he'll be over-motivated and in a positive state of mind, so he'll be dangerous.
David Ferrer: The Spaniard will be the second victim of this group. This model player, always motivated, always fighting, is coming back at the top this year and the best players can lose against him when they're not at their best. But indoor and with Federer and Murray, his chances are really slim.
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Because you can never go wrong with NASCAR drivers and cute animals, check out the seventh edition of the Greg Biffle Foundation's NASCAR Pets calendar. Eleven NASCAR drivers, including Biffle, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., are featured in the calendar. Proceeds from the calendar benefit humane societies, no-kill shelters, and spay and neuter clinics across the country.
You can buy the calendar at the Biffle Foundation website. My copy is hanging above my dog Toby's crate.
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As owner Massimo Moratti demanded, Inter won the Club World Cup on Saturday, beating TP Mazembe 3-0. While this fact remains wholly unimportant to the vast majority of football fans on this planet, what was interesting was Samuel Eto'o's goal celebration after putting Inter up 2-0 in the final.
Once he scored, Eto'o jogged over to the Inter bench and was handed a pair of plastic bags, which appeared to contain a water bottle in each. He did a little dance with them, then was held up by Marco Materazzi. But what was with the plastic bags? Was it a way of reminding himself to go food shopping later? Was he showing his allegiances in the eternal question of paper or plastic? Had he been sniffing glue earlier that day?
One possible answer is that, as he told Time Magazine, when Eto'o was a kid in Cameroon, he would "play barefoot with balls that we made out of plastic bags, wrapped tight and bound with tape." So perhaps the bags were a reference to his own childhood in Africa after scoring a goal against the first African team to ever make the Club World Cup final?
Video of Eto'o's goal and celebration right this way...
Photo: Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has a brash exterior. He's known for being a tough negotiator, saying what he thinks, and dropping f-bombs at will. It turns out that he also has a heart of gold. White stepped up to pay for a life-saving surgery for the 7-month-old daughter of a popular Thai MMA trainer at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket.
UFC fighters like Mike Swick and Jon Fitch have relied on Tiger Muay Thai to improve their striking game, and instructor Kru Nai has helped several top fighters. His daughter Tuptim was diagnosed with bilary obstruction, a serious liver condition. A surgery could save her life, but it cost $50,000. Without it, she was given just weeks to live.
The MMA community came together to try to raise money for her surgery. To bring attention to the issue, a poster on the Underground, a popular MMA message board, asked White to give the cash:
Mr. DANA WHITE, If you are a true ambassador for the sport.....PAY FOR THIS SURGERY!!!
Please help, no donation to small........the clock is ticking
That's exactly what White is doing. He confirmed to Yahoo! Sports on Monday that he will pay for Tuptim's surgery.
"I was reading the Underground and saw it and clicked on it and I don't know, I just did. She needs it fast, so I did it," White said via text.
Kudos to the White for stepping up and helping out. White's generosity to the Nai family makes him better than Santa Claus.
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Golf Girl's Diary brings us the details, noting that these posters are art forms in Europe -- where, you know, people pay attention to posters and not to silly things like the blogs we have over here.
Anyway, there are 15 posters up for consideration, ranging from straightforward photography to borderline-surrealism, like that golf ball crème brûlée deal presented there at right.
So if you're of a mind to get a little art with your golf, go check out the nominees and vote. I have no idea what you're signing up for when you vote, so if you don't read French, be careful so that you don't end up filling your inbox with a whole bunch of le spam.
The poster idea is a great one, and I'd love to see more of this kind of thing take place stateside. Can you imagine what the poster would look like for the Waste Management Phoenix Open? Like "Tin Cup" crossed with frathouse floor, I'm guessing.
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During his legendary tennis career, Pete Sampras earned dozens of trophies, medals and plaques for his on-court achievements and acquired the treasure trove of memorabilia you'd expect from one of the most famous athletes in America.
Most of it is now gone, stolen from a storage unit in which Sampras had been keeping the objects. The 14-time Grand Slam champion told Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times that he discovered the theft three weeks ago.
The 14 Grand Slam trophies Sampras won are safe, with the exception of the award from the 1994 Australian Open. The other 13 are at his home or in Portland's NikeTown. Everything else, though -- the 64 trophies from non-majors, rewards from his two Davis Cup wins, an Olympic ring, his six year-end trophies for finishing No. 1 -- was stolen.
Sampras said he doesn't know whether the memorabilia was targeted or whether the thieves wanted to take his furniture (also stored in the units) and ended up with a lot more.
[Related: Another tennis champ's $525,000 watch stolen from locker]
The married father of two had the memorabilia at the storage facility in West Los Angeles because his family has moved homes so many times in the past few years. He tells Dwyre that it never occurred to him that his items might not be safe.
Other items stolen included magazine covers, newspaper clippings and autographs from famous admirers like Eddie Vedder, Elton John and Carlos Santana.
[Photo: Stolen car found oddly placed on golf course]
Sampras didn't seem to be as disappointed in the loss of the trophies, but rather in the history lesson they could provide for his two sons, who are ages 5 and 8. He told The Times:
"I'm not one to gloat about trophies, or show them off. I've never been like that. I just want them for my kids to see. They didn't see me play, but I'd like them to see these things. [...]
"For me to have it for my kids is priceless. I just hope it hasn't already been destroyed. That's why I wanted to get the word out now. I know this is a longshot, but I'd regret it if I didn't at least try. Maybe somebody knows something.
"That's all I can hope for."
Just like stealing a Van Gogh, there can't be too much of a legitimate market for stolen tennis trophies. What do the robbers plan to do with this stuff? I'm pretty sure somebody will get suspicious if the 1996 winner's trophy from Kitzbühel, engraved with the name Pete Sampras, pops up on eBay.
[Rewind: Wild stories of stolen World Cup trophies]
Police are investigating the thefts.
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"I recorded the whole thing and we're screaming - then we get hit with hot coffee,'' Koch said Friday. "We got coffee in our faces. Brent was so mad because he got hot coffee in his mouth. He was infuriated.''
Another civilian in the front of the ride was also hit by the coffee. Hawkins and the man chased after the kid, but weren't able to catch him.
"We ended up getting our money back,'' Koch said. "Brent's hoodie was covered in coffee. It was a good prank and it's pretty funny now.''
It's good that no one was hurt and these guys can laugh about this. There's obviously a humourous mental picture there, considering the size of the Riders involved. Williams is a 232-pound linebacker/defensive lineman and Hawkins and Ike are both defensive linemen listed around 244 pounds. Koch is a more moderately-sized 6'0, 200 pound receiver, but still not the kind of guy most would pick a fight with. For one kid to go after all of them is pretty crazy.
It is quite awesome that several Riders headed to the West Edmonton Mall (the fifth-largest shopping mall in the world!), though. It is a pretty cool place, complete with indoor lake, hockey rink, waterpark and miniature golf amongst other things, and it's definitely one of Edmonton's big tourist destinations. It's funny to see the Riders playing tourist like many of the rest of us in town for the Grey Cup.
Moreover, the roller coaster voyage could absolutely describe Saskatchewan's season, which got off to a stunning start in their Canada Day opener with a 54-51 double-overtime victory over Montreal in a 2009 rematch. It went well for a while at first, found some substantial drops (including season-ending injuries to Luca Congi and Rob Bagg), hit some loopy patches (signing a punter off the beach, getting involved in another controversy when said punter missed a game-winning single attempt, winding up in a firestorm over wearing pink in games), caused us to roll (the revamped Fantuz Flakes), went down a steep drop (their four-game losing streak near the end of the year), and then started to climb again with playoff wins over B.C. and Calgary. We'll have to wait for Sunday if this climb is setting up a climactic exit to the platform to claim the Grey Cup, or if it's preparing them for the biggest drop of all with a loss to Montreal. The Riders will just be hoping the Alouettes don't throw coffee in their faces, though.
Karen Carreno Bijou Phillips Marika Dominczyk Dita Von Teese Rachel Nichols
