The most-mentioned driver in NASCAR this season isn’t Junior

Those of you who think that NASCAR telecasts do nothing but talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr. all race long, guess what: you're wrong! Way wrong, like 180 degrees wrong!

According to Joyce Julius & Associates, the firm that told us a few weeks ago that Jeff Gordon was the most-mentioned NASCAR driver on telecasts, there's a new champion in town: one Kyle Busch.

According to the firm's calculations, Busch has received 1,221 mentions and 11 interviews. Next up: Jimmie Johnson, with 739 mentions and six interviews, and Gordon, with 735 mentions and five interviews. Junior has totaled less than half of Busch's mentions, at 557 and five interviews. (For the full top 10 list, click here.)

The figures run through Martinsville, so obviously that's changed somewhat now that Busch hasn't been a significant factor of late. Even so, the implications are obvious: Busch is a polarizing figure and gives good-slash-snarky interviews when the mood strikes him, so it's natural that the cameras would find him. There's a lesson in there somewhere.

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A violent turn in the saga of Harvey Updyke, Iron Bowl tree poisoner

In legal justice news, infamous Alabama fan Harvey Updyke waived his preliminary hearing today in Lee County District Court on felony charges for allegedly poisoning a pair of landmark oak trees on Auburn's campus after the Crimson Tide blew a 24-0 lead in an eventual 28-27 Auburn win last November. Updyke appeared "very remorseful," and the judge agreed to amend his bond to allow him to travel to Louisiana to live with relatives. Afterwards, he chatted with reporters outside the courtroom (right, looking on with his lawyer, Glennon Threatt) about his earliest experience with Alabama football and naming his children "Crimson Tyde" and "Bear."

In illegal, vigilante news, Updyke was reportedly attacked a few minutes after the hearing at a nearby gas station*, according to Threatt, who called Birmingham-based radio host/oracle Paul Finebaum during Finebaum's daily show to report that Updyke was being treated for "facial bruises and a split on his brow" at a local emergency room and released.

"Somewhere right outside of Opelika, Harvey stopped at a gas station to get a drink and some gas and when he got out of his car, it went black." Threatt said. "He woke up on the ground. He'd been hit in the head with something. So he wandered into the gas station, in pain, and they directed him to a local emergency room. He responded to that emergency room." Updyke didn't require stitches, according to Threatt, but may have "a slight concussion." (Listen to Threatt's call here.) He also claimed that the alleged attacker called a Montgomery television station to report (falsely) that Updyke had been stabbed.

An Opelika police captain told the Opelika Daily News that Updyke's injuries were "minor" and could result in misdemeanor charges following an investigation, but added that Updyke couldn't identify or describe the assailant and the gas station didn't have video surveillance in the parking lot: "[Updyke] has not really been too cooperative at this point."

The fact that Threatt actually had to say, on the air, "I had nothing to do with my client getting attacked at a gas station" should raise your cynicism meter to the appropriate level re: the veracity of his and/or his client's account. On the other hand, the Updyke Affair — a story that has served as the distilled essence of a century of symbolic malice between instate rivals from the second it broke back in February —�has more than proven itself as precisely the kind of soapy, real-life theater in which anything seems possible.

Is it conceivable that Harvey Updyke was attacked by an outraged Auburn fan seeking vigilante justice? So conceivable that someone probably should have seen it coming. Is it conceivable that he was attacked by an enraged Alabama fan, for casting a black mark across all of Tide-dom? Or hoping to somehow pin it on an enraged Auburn fan to "settle the score" in terms of public embarrassment? I just conceived it. Is it conceivable that the "attack" was somehow staged to cast Updyke, universally vilified as he was after his arrest, as a sympathetic figure? Well, see above. In Crazy Town, every dot connects.

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*The gas station? A Tiger Express, naturally. This is not a joke.

Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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NCAA formally charges Jim Tressel with lies, coverup of OSU violations

Initially, before coach Jim Tressel was outed for essentially lying to his bosses and the NCAA, it looked like Ohio State was getting off kind of easy. In exchange for OSU's cooperation, the NCAA was willing to play good cop. It could have suspended five ineligible players who allegedly sold and/or bartered memorabilia to a local tattoo shop for the Sugar Bowl, but it didn't. It could have declared all five players retroactively ineligible and stricken all eleven Buckeye wins in 2010 from the books, along with their share of the Big Ten title, but it didn't. It could have gone after Ohio State the way it went after USC, in search of bowl bans and significant scholarship losses, but it didn't. In the wake of the sledgehammer that fell on the Trojans last summer, the punishment for Ohio State ?�a straightforward five-game suspension for four of the offending players to start the 2011 season, games the Buckeyes are likely to win, anyway ?�seemed minimal, perfunctory. Which is one of the reasons it made so many people so angry, or confused, or both.

That, of course, was before Tressel's long-running, deliberate coverup of the violations saw the light of day, and before it became clear that the NCAA ? and possibly the higher-ups at Ohio State themselves ? had been misled by one of the most respected men in the profession. What cooperation will buy you in leniency, deception will buy in retribution, and the NCAA began to extract its pound of flesh Friday with an official notice of allegations to the university.

It makes three allegations of "potential major violations," specifically:

? That, between November 2008 and May 2010, multiple student-athletes received preferential treatment and "sold institutionally issued athletics awards, apparel and equipment to Edward Rife, owner of a local tattoo parlor," adding up to more than $13,000 in cash, free tattoos, a loan and a discount on a used car one of the players bought from Rife.

? Under the same heading, that Tressel "knew or should have known" that at least two players had made inappropriate transactions with Rife, per a credible email tipster, but "he failed to report information to athletics administration and, as a result, permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition while ineligible."

? That, as reported by the university, Tressel "failed to deport himself in accordance with the honest and integrity normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics as required by NCAA legislation and violated ethical-conduct legislation" by failing to report emails alerting him to violations, withholding the information for months, allowing possibly ineligible players to play for the entire season and "falsely attest[ing] that he reported to the institution any knowledge of NCAA violations" when he signed a compliance form last September.

So the other shoe falls, and the shoe is a bomb. Collateral damage TBA.

Per standard procedure, Ohio State has 90 days to reply to the allegations by substantially agreeing or disagreeing with the findings (with copious documentation either way), after which it will appear in front of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, which will hand down a verdict and sentencing, which will then be appealed, etc. The NCAA is moving fast on this, for the NCAA, but it almost certainly isn't going to get around to additional sanctions before the start of the season in September, and ?�assuming Ohio State appeals anything that threatens to inflict real pain ?�certainly won't get around to enforcement until well into 2012. The scenario for 2011 is the same: Tressel and four offensive starters remain sidelined for the first five games, and will return in mid-October with another Big Ten championship squarely in their sights. A full recruiting class will sign on next February.

Beyond that, though, whatever spoils the Buckeyes take in 2011 may be their last in a long while: Vacated wins, a postseason ban and possible scholarship restrictions are very much on the table, as is Tressel's job, arguably the safest seat in college football at the start of the year.� It certainly doesn't help the case that Tressel seems to have informed everyone except Ohio State or the NCAA about what he knew as early as last April: New documents obtained by the Columbus Dispatch show that Tressel ? in addition to his extended correspondence with tipster Christopher Cicero and quarterback Terrelle Pryor's hometown "mentor" back in Pennsylvania, which we already knew ?�Tressel also called an FBI agent within days of Cicero's first email alerting him to players' involvement in a federal drug investigation. Altogether, Tressel sent dozens of emails, phone calls and text messages to Cicero and the "mentor," Ted Sarniak, whom he called within hours of Cicero's first email.

Among the people Tressel appears to have had no contact with about the violations, according to the records: Athletic director Gene Smith, OSU president Gordon Gee or anyone in the Ohio State compliance office. I'm just guessing, but that doesn't seem like the kind of commitment to "confidentiality" that's going to hold up in front of the Infractions Committee. Not this time.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Tiger Woods has a reply for all his mean, mean critics

All right, that Twitter response isn't addressed to the haters. Tiger Woods took to the social network Friday to chat with his hundreds of thousands of followers. And here's what we learned:

? That response above was to a question about why Woods doesn't play more tournaments right now to improve his image.

? John Mayer and Keith Urban will be playing at this year's "Tiger Jam" in Vegas.

? Tiger's favorite ice cream is vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.

? He may or may not be made of graham crackers, but he still plays regardless.

? He was curt in his post-Masters interview because he was still focused on a possible playoff. Or something like that.

? He always flies on the left side of the plane.

So, there you have it. You can see more of his answers in his Twitter stream, if you're so inclined.

Oh, and as if this isn't enough non-course Tiger news for you, be sure to check out his website, where he plays a little ping-pong with Chinese gold-medal hurdler Liu Xiang. Woods has a little game with the paddle, I'd say.

... sweet heaven, Tiger, get back on the course again soon. Please.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Golfer breaks toe with club, withdraws from tournament
? David Beckham's royal wedding faux pas
? NFL draft fashion: Which pick looked like a 'high-end ice cream man'?

Trista Rehn Moon Bloodgood Kristin Kreuk Molly Sims Monika Kramlik

What’s wrong with Roger Federer?

Patrick Mouratoglou is a world-renowned tennis coach who has worked with Marcos Baghdatis and Aravane Rezai. His French tennis academy is considered one of the top in the world. He is a frequent contributor to Busted Racquet.

Even if he denies it in front of the press, even if he refuses to talk about a changing of the guard, Roger Federer can't get away from it now: His game is slipping, fast. This isn't to attack his credentials or past but to try and approach the situation with a sober mind, which Federer doesn't want to seem to do. He's still good enough to reach at least the semifinals of the events he's entering but not to put away other top players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. What's the problem?

His serve doesn't hurt like it used to. Whereas it was a huge weapon for him, this shot isn't decisive anymore and that's why he now has to play many rallies from the baseline. So Federer is giving up easy points on his service games and can't put on the usual pressure when he returns. He once used to get 10 to 15 aces per match and many more winners (not to mention all the short balls he was getting behind his first serve). Now he's struggling with his serve and it weakens his whole game.

A defensive backhand. If this shot was always his "weakness," it was still way better than many others on the Tour. Nowadays he's abusing the chop, which puts him too often on the defense. Furthermore, this shot has less velocity on it than in years past. It's not low or fast enough. His attacking backhand is often leading to many unforced errors when his rivals stick him on that side, as Djokovic did in the Indian Wells semis.

Slowing stamina. Roger remains ? and his fitness trainer should be thanked ? one of the quickest players on court. His footwork allows him to quickly turn around on his backhand and to take the ball as early as possible. Yet Federer is now suffering on the long runs during a match; some of his ups and downs can be explained by a general fitness that looks like it's slowing.

Distracted focus. It's one of his biggest issues of the moment. While he can still play some matches at a very high level, he also can play others in which he commits a lot of unforced errors. Federer's fitness may be suspect, but his focus is low enough where it appears to be tough for him to keep the same level of commitment during a whole match. It's enough to beat many players, but it hampers him when he battles the top players, who take advantage when Federer first cracks that door.

Mischa Barton Jamie Lynn Sigler Stacy Keibler Rihanna America Ferrera

Police say postal worker attacked by Jeremy Mayfield’s dogs

Jeremy Mayfield just can't stay out of the headlines for long.

Police in Catawba County, NC say that a postal worker was attacked by five of Mayfield's dogs at his home when she was delivering a package that was too big for his mailbox to his house.

The worker had bite marks on her legs, arms and shoulders from Mayfield's five pit bull-lab mixes and police say Mayfield carried the woman inside his house after he saw what happened.

The dogs are currently in quarantine at the Catawba County Animal Shelter.

Mayfield apologized in February for hinting that his stepmother killed his father. He also recently claimed that Speed edited an interview on the request of NASCAR to make him look bad.

Mayfield is currently suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for failing a random drug test (leading to all of the comedy that has ensued). Not familiar with the Mayfield v. NASCAR saga or would like a refresher course? Grab a cold beverage and click here.

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Devil Ball Proving Ground: TaylorMade Corza Ghost Putter

Welcome to Devil Ball's Proving Ground, where we put the latest golf equipment through its paces. Today, Shane Bacon and I focus on TaylorMade's spooky Corza Ghost putter.

Busbee: It's not enough anymore for a new club to play well. It's got to look good too, and when I pulled the new Corza Ghost putter out of the shipping crate, I wanted to call my regular playing partners and drive by their houses to show it off. But since it was late in the day, I contented myself with running it through initial tests by putting from room to room of my house. Initial feedback: the Corza Ghost is money whether you're putting on carpet, hardwood or kitchen tile, and sometimes all three in one long room-to-room-to-room jaunt.

However, few courses these days feature hardwood flooring on their greens, so let's talk about how it actually plays on the course. Mr. Bacon, you're away.

Bacon: Some might not like the new white revolution from TaylorMade (and Cobra), but I do. I think the Ghost is a different look over the ball, and for some reason, seems easier to get the ball on line. The first few rounds I putted with this thing drew positive comments from my playing partners, and while it is a bit more upright than I usually like my putters, I feel like I have an easier time hitting them solid and actually, and this is going to sound crazy, MAKING PUTTS.

I feel like no matter the handicap, just having a club that is white and looks good (and is different) will give you confidence, even if it's just mental. I think that's the deal with all the white clubs. You now have the club that everyone else in the group wants. It's no wonder my uncle has already put a Ghost in his bag as well.

Busbee: The circular hole behind the sight lines takes a little getting used to, as well, but according to TaylorMade PR, it gives you a second method of orientation on the ball, another way to ensure you're lined up properly. Sure, I guess that could work.

What's of more interest is the grooving along the face. The idea is that when you strike the ball, the putter doesn't impart as much backspin, and thus the ball doesn't spend its first few feet off the club pulled in two directions, momentum-wise. Now, this at first seems like a solution created for a problem that nobody knew existed, like tartar-control toothpaste, but I will grant that the ball is indeed smoother coming off the face. Once I actually got out onto some real live greens, there was a noticeable fluidity to the ball that wasn't there. In other words, the ball looked very sleek as I ran it past the hole on that knockdown four-footer.

Bacon: So, an honest question; does it amaze you that technology has now gone into the putters? Do you think that all of this could really make, say, a 14-handicap a better player, or is it all just a sleek look to sell clubs?

Busbee: For golfers who time their putting strokes to heartbeats, yes, technology makes an enormous difference. For the higher-handicap types, this is more flash-and-dazzle than actual game improvement. But I will say that since confidence plays such a huge role in the golf game, if you feel like a club that looks like it came from the Death Star will improve your game, you're going to be more comfortable out there on the course. Will it shave strokes off your card? Probably not more than one or two, but you'll be a lot less likely to hurl this club into the rough when you lip that critical putt. Then again, you could buy five beater clubs for the cost of one Ghost and hurl away till your heart's content, which has its own benefits.

My bottom line: if you can afford the Ghost, which runs about $150, you're going to like the Ghost. A lot. And you, sir?

Bacon: I completely agree. If you can do it, pull the trigger, because if nothing else, you'll have the coolest putter in your group. And I agree with what you said about the putter; a nice looking one that you're proud of will do, if nothing else, make you confident again in your stroke, even if it looks like you're trying to hit a hard slice on the green. Do it. You'll thank us later.

Samples of products are provided to Devil Ball for review. Got a product for us to consider for the Proving Ground? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com.

Previous Proving Ground entries:
? Callaway's Diablo Octane driver
? SkyCaddie SGX / Bushnell Hybrid

Leighton Meester Dominique Swain Jamie Chung Alicia Witt Radha Mitchell

Boxing promoter Lou DiBella working on Nick Diaz vs. Sergio Martinez

Fernando Vargas is out, now Cesar Gracie says Nick Diaz and company are working on a boxing match with Jeff Lacy. But there may be a new wildcard in this effort to get the Strikeforce 170-pound champion a boxing match. The talk of a crossover fight has piqued the interest of boxing promoter Lou DiBella.

DiBella told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole that response from MMA fans via email and Twitter about the possibility of a Sergio Martinez-Diaz fight has been overwhelming. DiBella has embarked on a fact-finding mission to see if he can really match his star middleweight champ against Diaz.

Why would a top three pound-for-pound boxer waste his time fighting someone like Diaz, with little professional boxing experience? Sadly, DiBella can't find Martinez (47-2, 26 KOs) a top-notch opponent or a network to take the fight. Martinez is coming off one-sided victories where he dismantled and finished Paul Williams and Serhiy Zdinziruk. While they are plenty of intriguing fights out there at 154 and 160 for Martinez, nothing has materialized. HBO turned down a Martinez-Sebastian Zbik fight in lieu of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. versus Zbik on June 4.

Diaz has long talked about wanting to box. He again complained about his MMA career during a postfight interview with HDNet following his victory over Paul Daley.

"They don't have anyone else for me to fight now. I'm better than all the guys they have," Diaz said. "The guys they have ranked above me, I'm sure they don't want to fight me. I don't see much of a future in this sport for me. I seriously don't."

Gracie told the network that Diaz wants to box, signed a deal to fight former world champion Fernando Vargas and was awaiting a response from Vargas' camp (0:35 mark). Now it looks like Vargas' comeback is in jeopardy because of undisclosed medical issues.

DiBella said he planned on reaching out to UFC president Dana White and Gracie to inquire about Diaz's ability to sign a boxing deal.

The television ideas for a possible Martinez-Diaz fight range anywhere from finding a spot on a cable television network to putting it on pay-per-view. Making the fight an eight-round exhibition is also a possibility.

As far as Diaz's MMA contract, Gracie said his fighter did not sign a special provisional deal with Zuffa. Gracie hasn't spoken to Strikeforce's Scott Coker about the topic.

"I don't even know how much in charge of things he is any more," Gracie said. "Ultimately, it's going to have to go through the UFC, so the only people to talk about it with would be them. What am I going to talk to Scott about? He doesn't own anything any more."

According to Gracie, Diaz's MMA contract has been "re-worked" and he's now free to box. Stay tuned on this one.

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Jones-Evans soap opera done for now: Davis in for injured ‘Bones’

Rashad Evans can't catch a break. The former UFC light heavyweight champ turned to the only option he thought he had by agreeing to fight teammate Jon Jones for the title. Now Jones is out with an injury and the UFC has slotted in Phil Davis.

The Canadian Press' Neil Davidson first reported the change.

The verbal sparring on the Internet, through blog and radio interviews, was getting pretty intense between Jones and Evans. Evans called Jones childish at one point. Jones later responded by suggesting he dominated the veteran at times during training camps.

For Evans, this is a huge blow. He loses another immediate shot at the title and gets a tough bout in Davis. The former Penn State has only fought six times with the promotion and a win over Evans� could launch him into the title chase. Evans has everything to lose in this fight rumored to be going down at UFC 133 in Philadelphia.

Evans also has to deal with the awkward scenario of possibly rejoining his team in Albuquerque. He decided to leave Jackson's Submission Fighting and allow Jones to work with the team there. Now that it's Davis on the docket, will he return?

John Morgan from MMAjunkie reports that Jones is still recovering from a right hand ligament injury he suffered during his win over Rua and that he faces a "long recovery."

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Bad idea? Cubs plan to sell $3 beer in Wrigley Field bleachers

Far be it from me to sneer at any professional sports team that actually wants to lower the price of its beer ? let alone one that has sold me plenty of suds throughout the past 13 years.

But this desperate attempt by the Chicago Cubs to jump-start attendance at weekday games by offering $3 beers to those who buy bleacher tickets at Wrigley Field?

I really can't imagine it's going to end well.

From cubs.com:

During all Tuesday home games, starting May 10 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, fans 21 years of age and older can purchase Bud Light or Budweiser products at specific concession stands in the Bud Light Bleachers for $3.

Now, don't get me wrong. Three-buck beer is great, fantastic, sing-to-the-heavens type of news for the large number of us who partake responsibly. As are the other promotions ?free T-shirts on Monday, $1 Vienna Beef hot dogs on Wednesday ? the Cubs and Budweiser are planning in the "Bud Light Bleachers."

But c'mon, do the Cubs really think that what essentially amount to half-priced beer won't attract the type of people who will have opposing outfielders calling up Jay Johnstone to see where he got that umbrella hat from his classic Fleer card? After all, it was only two years ago that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino was doused with a beer as he made a catch on the warning track and that was with beer prices clocking in at north of $6. What's going to happen once you price the beers cheaper than what they're selling for at Murphy's or Cubby Bear?

Combine that infamous Victorino incident with some other highly publicized transgressions from the Wrigley Field inhabitants that can't handle their beer and it was enough to get me ? a writer who quite literally wrote the book about drinking and having fun at the Friendly Confines ? to suggest a temporary ban on beer. Some of my fellow Cubs "fans," I thought, could no longer be trusted with this country's greatest combination.

The beer and baseball culture had to be stemmed, if only for a bit.

Instead, the Ricketts family is now headed the other way, thanks to their failure to either 1) price their product correctly or 2) �field an appealing product that people will pay exorbitant prices to see.

Guess the draw of Derek Jeter didn't do much for ticket sales, eh guys?

I'd like to think the end result of this promotion will just be a nice way for some of us to enjoy a couple of beers without breaking the bank on a summer night of baseball. But after seeing Wrigley increasingly turn toward the demographic that doesn't know Tyler from Rosevelt Colvin and is only interested in Ryne Sandberg's number as something to shoot for on a breathalyzer, I think I probably know better.

What do you think? Will the Cubs regret reducing the price of their beer?

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Join us for the latest Marbles chat, Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET!

Time again for another weekly Marbles NASCAR chat, where we'll discuss anything and everything under the sun, including everyone's favorite sport-on-four-wheels. However, questions must be asked two-by-two this week, so get ready. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. ET. See you here!

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Tiger Woods has a reply for all his mean, mean critics

All right, that Twitter response isn't addressed to the haters. Tiger Woods took to the social network Friday to chat with his hundreds of thousands of followers. And here's what we learned:

? That response above was to a question about why Woods doesn't play more tournaments right now to improve his image.

? John Mayer and Keith Urban will be playing at this year's "Tiger Jam" in Vegas.

? Tiger's favorite ice cream is vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.

? He may or may not be made of graham crackers, but he still plays regardless.

? He was curt in his post-Masters interview because he was still focused on a possible playoff. Or something like that.

? He always flies on the left side of the plane.

So, there you have it. You can see more of his answers in his Twitter stream, if you're so inclined.

Oh, and as if this isn't enough non-course Tiger news for you, be sure to check out his website, where he plays a little ping-pong with Chinese gold-medal hurdler Liu Xiang. Woods has a little game with the paddle, I'd say.

... sweet heaven, Tiger, get back on the course again soon. Please.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Golfer breaks toe with club, withdraws from tournament
? David Beckham's royal wedding faux pas
? NFL draft fashion: Which pick looked like a 'high-end ice cream man'?

Lokelani McMichael Freida Pinto Eva Longoria Susan Ward Emmy Rossum

Anderson Silva documentary video: Misunderstood or has he mismanaged his brand?

The main event is set for the UFC's August stop in Brazil. The middleweight champ Anderson Silva will face Yushin Okami.

If the first thought that pops into your head is, "this could be trouble," you're not wrong based on historical data.

Okami, a grappler, may have trouble getting his hands on the champ. On several occasions like that in the past, Silva has clown, danced and made a mockery of the fight when his opponent (Demian Maia, Patrick Cote) was unwilling to engage a striking war. Why does he do that?

A new documentary featuring Silva, "Like Water," may give us an explanation. It's set to debut at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival at different theatres around New York on Apr. 21, 23, 28 and 30.

The preview (NSFW) focuses an awful lot on Silva's performance issues in the past, but the overall piece sounds like an effort to show us the true Silva.

From TribecaFilm.com:

[...] From Silva's life in Brazil with his wife, three sons, and two daughters, to training with his team in Los Angeles and Miami, first-time filmmaker Pablo Croce peels back the layers of an ultimate fighter to reveal the heart of a champion.

A man of few words, Silva does not shamelessly play into the media hype machine?although he is continuously taunted by opponents who do. [...] Croce's hard-hitting documentary exposes the unseen side of Ultimate Fighting and culminates in one heart-pounding fight that signifies more than just another championship.

Croce says the name of the documentary was inspired by a Bruce Lee philosophy:

"Water has the adaptive abilities, but also the power to crush."

Croce, a first-time filmmaker, wasn't familiar with the world of MMA and started with a fresh slate:

"There is a huge contrast in what I got personally from this man?not what I know from the media or his job as a fighter?but the first few weeks, when I saw there's a great character here; a guy who is very open and friendly?there's a whole stereotype how media casts fighters.� I think there's a really good look at the pressures behind the man who prepares for such a big event, a fight.� There's a good look at what can be driving his persona, to be perceived somehow differently or stereotyped."

It should be noted Ed Soares, Silva's manager, is listed on the project as an executive producer.

Genelle Frenoy Shania Twain Gwen Stefani Sunny Mabrey Karolína Kurková

Danny Watkins: firefighter, trailblazer, NFL star, CFL issue?

One of the most notable stories of Thursday's first round of the NFL draft was the Philadelphia Eagles' selection of offensive lineman Danny Watkins 23rd overall. Watkins is intriguing on several fronts, as he was the oldest player selected in the first round since 1980, a former firefighter, the first Canadian to be chosen in the NFL's first round since Tim Biakabutka in 1996, the first player to be chosen in the first round of both the CFL and NFL drafts since Mike Schad in 1986 and only the fourth Canadian ever picked in the NFL's first round (after Schad, Tony Mandarich and Biakabutka). His story is incredible, and it illustrates a wide number of important topics, including how many different paths there are to professional football, how age isn't always everything and how difficult it can be for CFL teams to properly evaluate NFL interest in a player.

Watkins' path to the NFL is one of the most unusual in recent years. Unlike most NFL prospects who've played organized football for much of their lives, he only got into football at California's Butte Junior College after the coach noticed his size. It's remarkable that he was even there, too; a junior college is one of the few places that would work as an introduction to high-level football for a guy with so little gridiron experience, but Watkins didn't choose Butte because of its football program. He only went to junior college to study fire science at the suggestion of Lionel Bateman, a captain he'd worked with in West Kelowna, B.C.'s fire service. but that path led him to a stellar NCAA career at Waco, Texas' Baylor University, saw him selected fourth overall in last year's CFL draft, and then took him to New York for the first round of this year's NFL draft.

Watkins clearly still remembers where he came from, too; he brought five of his old West Kelowna firefighter buddies to New York for the draft, and they visited the site of Ground Zero beforehand, where 343 New York firefighters died along with almost 3,000 others in the September 11 attacks. After sharing that sobering moment with him, his firefighter friends got to experience a much happier one, giving Watkins (pictured above with his guests after being drafted) a standing ovation (which you can see here) when the Eagles chose him 23rd overall.

Watkins' story may read like a Hollywood script, but stories aren't everything. His talent shouldn't be overlooked just because of his unconventional path to pro football. Yes, Philadelphia is the city of fictional underdog hero Rocky and real-life underdog Vince Papale, who went from bartending to playing wide receiver for the Eagles (a story memorialized in the 2006 movie Invincible), but the NFL's business is built on winning games and players are chosen specifically for what they can bring on the field, especially in the first round. Watkins fits that mould; some have already pegged him as a Pro Bowl prospect, and as Shutdown Corner's Doug Farrar breaks down, Watkins' strength and agility could make him a tremendous asset to the Eagles:

Having never played guard in game situations before Senior Bowl week, Watkins kicked inside nonetheless and looked as if he'd played the position for years. He has a natural low stance from which he explodes into the defender. He also has tremendous upper-body strength; even when he's bent back at the point of attack, he can resurface and win the power battle. Has a wide lower body which he naturally uses to establish a strong base as he gets his second foot down and in position.

For his size (6-foot-4, 312 pounds), Watkins has real side-to-side agility; he's very good at preventing defenders from getting around him with quick outside moves. Played out of a two-point stance most of the time at Baylor, but told me at the Senior Bowl that he's just as happy to put his hand down and blow defenders out. Also practiced at the center position and had an equal affinity for that position.

It's worth reinforcing that while there are some football advantages to Watkins' unconventional background (for example, at 26, he's probably more mature and more suited to step in quickly than your typical NFL draft pick; his late start in football also means he's got less wear and tear on his body), he's been picked based on his football talents, not his story. The NFL is about what players can do on the field, not how they got to the field. For example, the most recent first-round pick with an unconventional story along the lines of Watkins was Michael Oher, also picked 23rd overall by the Ravens in 2009, and made famous in the book (and film) The Blind Side. The publicity got Oher attention among fans, but it's his size and agility that has made him a successful NFL tackle, and he's done very well so far. We don't know if Watkins' story will eventually get the Hollywood treatment as well, but if he's able to find NFL success, it's going to be on his own merits, not his narrative. (That success could be good for him, too; as the Goal-Line Stand guys pointed out, his current vehicle doesn't exactly fit the NFL mould.)

The Watkins tale does pose some issues for the CFL, however. As mentioned above, Watkins was selected fourth overall in the 2010 CFL Draft by the B.C. Lions. The CFL's eligibility rulesare quite strange, and they revolve around players being eligible four years after they've started college or university football (regardless of redshirting, injuries, et cetera), so Watkins was eligible for that draft in 2010 (technically, he could have declared for last year's NFL draft as well, but chose to return to Baylor for his senior year). At that time, there was some NFL buzz around Watkins, but nowhere near first-round levels. That made picking him risky, which is why he didn't go first overall last year, but given his talent and the limited levels of that buzz, he was still a very enticing prospect. Watkins really shot up NFL draft boards with his play during the 2010 season and at the Senior Bowl, though, and it's highly unlikely he'll ever play three-down football now.

As TSN's Dave Naylor tweeted today, that could prompt calls for the CFL to change its draft eligibility rules and stop selecting players who are eligible for a later NFL draft. That deserves a more thorough look down the road, but for now, Watkins and his incredible story are off to the NFL, and the B.C. Lions won't likely get any return on their selection of him. They're about the only ones who won't, though; Watkins' tale is inspiring for Canadian football players everywhere, his story makes great copy for us sportswriters, and his skills should reward the Eagles for taking a chance on him. It's heartwarming all around-unless you spent a first-round CFL draft pick on him.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliant header to win the Copa del Rey

In the latest installment of the never-ending series of Clasicos, Cristiano Ronaldo executed an utterly perfect header in the first period of extra time to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win over Barcelona and its first Copa del Rey since 1993.

Though Ronaldo's goal was pure class, Real's win was a total team effort. Jose Mourinho's tactics and Iker Casillas' hands withstood the overwhelming onslaught of Barcelona's attack, and after so many close calls on both ends of the pitch, Madrid came out of it with a nice bit of silverware. And yet another victory for The Special One, who wins the first trophy available to him since going to Spain.

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Links! And Dejan Stankovic’s wonder goal against Roma!

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle...

It wasn't a volley from midfield, but Dejan Stankovic's goal to give Inter a 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Roma was still pretty fantastic. [YouTube]

Help fund a documentary about an underfunded girls team that the Guardian has called "the future of American soccer." [Kickstarter]

Liverpool's new away shirt is actually pretty nice. [The Beautiful Gear]

10-year-old becomes first American ever signed by Barcelona's academy. [Barcaloco]

Lu-Lu-Lu Lukas Podolski got married. And it looks like he did quite well. [Kickette]

Everything you've ever wanted to ask a referee. [TSS]

Harry Redknapp is worried about collusion. [The Spoiler]

The evolution of Pep's sad face. [The Offside]

Man City and Man United fans physically attacking each other. [Unprofessional Foul]

Mystery team take out super injunction to keep sordid 5-0 defeat private. [The Gaffer]

Phasing out the Y-word. [Studs Up]

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DTotD: Zakuani suffers horrifc leg break, remains incredibly positive

(Warning: This is gross.)

On Friday, the Seattle Sounders' Steve Zakuani endured a nightmarish fracture of his tibia and fibula when the Colorado Rapids' Brian Mullan plowed into him and made his leg go floppy in the third minute of the Sounders' 1-0 win. On Saturday, Zakuani underwent successful to repair the damage. And on Sunday, the 23-year-old displayed an admirably positive outlook on Twitter.

Said Zakuani:

"Overwhelmed by msgs of support/encouragement. Can't change the past, but I'm gonna control my future by remaining positive! One love!

"Surgery went well and I am on the road to recovery. 'A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.' Speak to you all soon!"

After the match, Mullan repeatedly apologized to Zakuani in an interview and probably didn't help his cause by stating that this was a tackle he has done "hundreds of times and I'd probably do it again." Seriously. He said that. Because he wants to be sure you know that he's not only reckless, but not very bright, either.

If/when the league decides on a ban for Mullan, lets hope they can only think of numbers larger than a billion.

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Racy Serena Williams commercial won’t appear on TV

A racy video game commercial featuring Serena Williams was shelved by developer 2K Sports after it was deemed too risqu� for television.

The 60-second spot for "Top Spin 4" features a scantily-clad Serena playing the new video game against an actress wearing even less clothing. The matchup is billed as "the world's sexiest tennis player" against "the world's sexiest tennis gamer." There are shots of nearly bare bottoms, unseemly facial expressions and lots of cleavage, accompanied by a thumping techno beat and suggestive moaning. At the end of the ad, Williams asks breathily, "You realize this is a fantasy, right?" (Click here to watch the banned advertisement. Borderline NSFW.)

A link to the video was sent out on Twitter earlier this week by the actress who appears in the ad. After an immediate backlash, 2K Sports distanced itself from the commercial.

[Photos: See more of Serena Williams' latest outfits]

"As part of the process for creating marketing campaigns to support our titles, we pursue a variety of creative avenues," the company wrote in a statement. "This video is not part of the title's final marketing campaign and its distribution was unauthorized."

The objections ring hollow, and so does the outrage. The 2K Sports commercial was commissioned, produced and wrapped under the company's supervision or the supervision of a designated advertising firm. It went viral and gained the attention of countless consumers who would have never heard of the game otherwise, and it's gaining even more attention now thanks to the controversy.

[Photos: See the best-dressed athletes]

It's hard to see how 2K Sports didn't hit their target with this one. And it's hard to see how this particular commercial crossed a line not already trampled by other athletes. After all, a half-naked Rafael Nadal is appearing on billboards all over Europe in a new Armani underwear campaign that's pretty much a carbon copy of the Calvin Klein ads from a few years ago that featured soccer stars like David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg.

Williams appeared to be proud of the commercial; last week she tweeted that fans should be on the lookout for an "awesomely sexy video." If she's fine with it, so am I. And so, I'm sure, is 2K Sports. A little controversy never hurts sales.

That was the whole point of this in the first place, right?

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Other popular Yahoo! Sports stories:
? Why coach John Calipari didn't draft Kobe
? A very uncommon goal during NHL game
? What Tommy Lasorda is up to nowadays

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Fundraiser marks Bruce Pearl’s return to Thompson-Boling Arena

Whereas ex-Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin was practically chased out of Knoxville by revenge-seeking Vols fans two years ago, fired basketball coach Bruce Pearl still calls the city home.

Pearl's even comfortable making a public appearance at Tennessee less than two months after losing his job as a result of a series of rules violations that landed the program in the NCAA's crosshairs.

On Saturday, Pearl and his wife Brandy will return to Thompson-Boling Arena to co-chair a black-tie fundraiser benefiting the Cancer Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The cause has been important to Pearl since former guard Chris Lofton beat testicular cancer after being diagnosed with it in 2007 prior to his senior season.

Asked during a radio interview this week if he considered ceding responsibility for the fundraiser in the wake of his firing, Pearl told WNML-AM that never crossed his mind. He has tried to stay out of the limelight the past month out of deference to new coach Cuonzo Martin, but he and his wife felt a responsibility to do what he could to fight cancer.

"This is not about me," Pearl said. "This is about my wife Brandy. This has been Brandy's project for the last year. She and I are chairs for the event. That night we're going to have about 400 UT students involved in dancing, singing, drama. We're going to show off some of UT's best and brightest students."

The subject of the interview inevitably turned to Tennessee basketball, and Pearl was very complimentary of Martin. He expressed hope that some of this past year's role players may flourish under Martin as a result of the opportunities created by graduation and by the possible departures of early-entry candidates Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson.�

"Sometimes coaching change can be very uplifting to a returning player," Pearl said. "Particularly a returning player that may not have flourished or been presented with the type of role they may have wanted."

What's next for Pearl? He said working as a TV analyst is "certainly a possibility."

"But you know right now, we've got to get through the hearing in front of the committee of infractions coming up in June," Pearl said. "When we get through that we'll take a look at what our options are."

(Thanks, College Basketball Nation)

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DTotD: Kevin-Prince Boateng stars in unwilling strip show

During Milan's 1-0 win over Brescia last weekend, Gaetano Berardi got a little grabby while defending Kevin-Prince Boateng in the box and ended up pulling the shirt off his back. As play continued, Boateng picked up his top and even got a shot off while carrying it around. Boateng and Berardi then exchanged unpleasantries and the Ghanaian international was able to get dressed again.

When questioned by Boateng as to why he did this, Berardi most likely used lyrics Nelly's "Hot in Herre" as his defense.

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Video: FAU players out-scheme a field full of inert construction equipment

Construction crews have been hard at work since last year on Florida Atlantic's first on-campus stadium in Boca Raton, a 30,000-seat addition that will put an end to the Owls' half-hour treks to the smaller venue it currently shares with a pair of high schools in Fort Lauderdale and complete the 11-year-old program's maturation into a real live boy. The new stadium is expected to be finished in time for the 2011 season.

In the meantime, though, there's really no hurry — armed with their training as foot soldiers in coach Howard Schnellenberger's decades-long war against heavy machinery, the players are fully prepared to hit the field under pretty much any circumstances:

Attention Coach Schnellenberger: Alfred Morris' unbridled enthusiasm and commitment to perfection in the face of tetanus, Porta-Johns and the aluminum equivalent of Terrance Cody is impressive. Continue to get that man the ball.

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Hat tip: The man with the mike, Chuck King.

Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Randy Couture reiterates even with a win at UFC 129, he’s doing it his way and retiring

Randy Couture would make Frank Sinatra, and just about every other former fighter proud. The 47-year-old MMA legend wants to go out "his way" and not on terms set by anyone else. Tuesday during the UFC 129 prefight teleconference, he repeated his claim that he's done, following his fight versus Lyoto Machida.

"It's been an ongoing transition for me," Couture told the media. "I kind of want to go out on my own terms and decide when enough is enough. I think that time has come."

Couture said fighting a top contender like Machida at a mega-event in front of 55,000 fans in Toronto is a great way to end things. It'll also be his 30th pro fight in MMA.

"I think it's time to focus on the other things going on in my life after this fight," Couture said. "And I've pushed it pretty far. I don't think anybody is going to push it as far as I have the last 14 years."

Even if he wanted to change his mind, Couture's schedule sounds like it's booked through the fall of 2011. He begins filming a new movie "Hijacked" in late May and then it's back with Sylvester Stallone for the "Expendables II" in September.

Couture has no plans of filing some sort of official retirement papers, but indicated he won't be talked back into the cage after this one.

"I'm sure that they're probably gonna have ideas for other fights. They're gonna try and entice me into coming back and fighting again. And I anticipate all those decisions. I see myself hopefully being with Zuffa and getting involved with them in some other way, shape or form."

Couture said he's healthy now and doesn't want doctors telling him he can't fight any longer.

He sounds interested in becoming part of the UFC's broadcast team down the road. With the number of events UFC/Strikeforce is going to be putting on around the world, that's a great idea. Couture's transition to the booth may not be the best news for some of the current announcers employed by Zuffa and Showtime.

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Meme Watch: In search of a running back for all seasons

Back in Alabama, they're busy comparing Mark Ingram to Emmitt Smith, another short, stout and prolific SEC star whose versatility, vision and balance more than made up for his less-than-awe-inspiring speed. And the scouts don't necessarily disagree: Ingram is almost unanimously considered the best back on the board as we approach the start of the NFL Draft on Thursday. So why is he suddenly on the verge of falling out of the first round altogether?

Maybe, as suggested by Yahoo! colleague Dan Wetzel, it's because no one in the quarterback-dominated NFL is looking for Emmitt Smith anymore:

The NFL has turned its back on its ball carriers. Modern thinking says the position is best handled by a pool of competent runners, not a single superstar that a high NFL draft pick — and subsequent high salary — would cost. Offensive coordinators want fresh legs and see backs as not just interchangeable but replaceable.
[…]
Previous generations of football executives loved running backs. In the 20 drafts held from 1971-90, 34 backs were taken in the first round, 18 of them in the top 5, including four No. 1 overalls. As recently as 2005 and 2006, Ronnie Brown and Reggie Bush, respectively, went second overall.

Today, selecting a running back that high would be considered unorthodox. The rage is defensive lineman (Shutdown Corner's latest two-part mock predicts 11 will go in the first round). That's how quickly the game has changed and how, for the top backs of today, timing is a curse.

Ingram's slide may be an extreme version of the trend, if there's a trend at all —�some 20 running backs have come off the board since 2005, when Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Cadillac Williams all went in the top five —�but it does reflect the reality of a league that passed on more than 55 percent of all downs last year for two-thirds of its total yards. In that context, the selling point for top backs like Ingram and Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray is less their ability to rack up big, workhorse-like numbers than their value as a "three-down" back —�a guy who can run, catch, pick up blitzes and never have to leave the field because he doesn't fit the call or the situation. "Versatility is what I always try to do," Ingram told Wetzel. "I try to control every facet of the game. I take pride in being able to break a 70-yard run and being able to get one yard on third and one."

Obviously, the standard for staying on the field in college isn't quite as high: You don't have to be 220 pounds to handle 20 carries per game or pick up a yard in a spread offense. But that doesn't make the true all-purpose back —�the guy who does everything well enough that you want him on the field under almost any circumstances — any more�prevalent or any less valuable. In 2011, you've got maybe a handful of those guys coming back, at best:

? MARCUS LATTIMORE, South Carolina. Other guys may run for more yards, but there won't be a better back in the country this fall because no one else ranks so near the top by so many different criteria. As a freshman, Lattimore managed the rare feat of emerging as both one of the nation's most reliable between-the-tackles workhorses — in Carolina's biggest games, he shouldered 37 carries against Georgia, 23 against Alabama, 29 against Tennessee, 40 at Florida and 23 at Clemson, all Gamecock wins —�and one of its best route-runners out of the backfield, averaging a wide receiver-like 14.2 yards on 29 catches.

He was also a machine in short yardage, plowing ahead for 15 first downs on 18 carries with three yards or less to go on third down. With the possible exception of a halfback pass, there are no situations in which Lattimore wouldn't be one of the first two or three guys you'd pick to have in your backfield regardless of the system, and I only single out the halfback pass because he hasn't attempted one.

? TRENT RICHARDSON, Alabama. Injuries dramatically slowed Ingram's heir apparent after Halloween, but Richardson has flashed the full range over his first two seasons as a power runner, a home-run threat, a receiver, a return man, and a pass blocker. The only thing he hasn't done yet is put all of it together as the Tide's feature back.

? DOUG MARTIN, Boise State. Think of the infamous Muscle Hamster as Ingram's Rocky Mountain doppelg�nger: 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, and equally capable of breaking a game open as a runner or receiver, which he did last year to the tune of 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns for an offense that didn't have any extra touches — or spotlights — to spare.

? STEPFAN TAYLOR, Stanford. If the Cardinal offense begins and ends with quarterback Andrew Luck, much of the overlooked middle sections belong to Taylor, a sturdy 210-pounder who racked up 1,400 yards from scrimmage as a sophomore and consistently kept the chains moving: Seventeen of his 22 touches on third/fourth-and-short resulted in Stanford first downs.

? BRANDON BOLDEN, Ole Miss. He's always looked the part of a first-rate workhorse at 5-11, 220 pounds, but Bolden's first season in a feature role also left him as the Rebels' most frequent target with 32 catches. If he matches his junior production (976 yards rushing, 344 receiving, 17 total touchdowns) Bolden will leave as Ole Miss' all-time leader in rushing yards, all-purpose yards and touchdowns, knocking two other all-purpose stars — Deuce McAllister and Dexter McCluster —�out of the books in the process.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Zorilla rising: Rays’ Zobrist has 10 RBIs ?�so far ?�in doubleheader

But first, because all Ben Zobrist highlight reels must begin this way, The Stew brings you video of his wife ? recording artist Julianna Zobrist ? singing the Star-Spangled Banner.

"And the home ... of the ... braaaaave!"

OK, on to Zobrist's game; It was like he was assembling a hitting r�sum�: He set a team record with 8 RBIs, going 4 for 6 with a home run and two doubles in the Tampa Bay Rays' 15-3 thumping of the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

UPDATE: Zorilla hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat of Game 2 to give him 10 RBIs today ? one short of the AL record and three shy of the major league mark (owned by Nate Colbert and Mark Whiten) for a doubleheader.

Watch Zorilla rake in Game 1

It's the most RBIs in one game since Adam Lind knocked in nine Aug. 31 2009.

Even accounting for the random nature of RBIs, Zobrist has an astonishing number of them over the past four games: 16.

He came into the day batting .205/.272/.482, but Zobrist has gone 8 for 18 during his recent RBI spree to take the league lead with 23. That's more like the guy the Rays signed for $18 million over four years before the 2010 season.

Zobrist, seemingly a humble guy, rightly spread the credit for his outburst, noting that the Rays collected 19 hits and six walks. And hey: Zobrist actually stranded three runners!

He told the media at Target Field, via The Heater:

"Any time you have that many RBIs, it's just because your teammates are on base for you every time. That's what it was about today. We hit well up and down the lineup. Everybody hit. Hopefully, we saved a few for the second game."

Since we're on an RBI kick, Zobrist's performance ties for the third-most RBIs with just one homer since 1919, says this chart at Baseball Reference. The most recent eight-RBI, one-homer performance came from Houston's J.R. Towles (really!) in 2007.

In 1944, Phil Weintraub of the New York Giants drove in 11 with one homer to set the standard for that bit of statistical gymnastics.

Follow Dave on Twitter ?�@AnswerDave ? and engage�the Stew on Facebook

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Lillibridge’s grabs against Yankees prompt Wikipedia vandalism

Among the famous and semi-famous, it has become a rite of passage in the Internet Age: Do something noteworthy and have your Wikipedia biography hilariously altered by naughty cyber gremlins.

In that sense, Chicago White Sox part-timer Brent Lillibridge came off the bench and became a man Tuesday night in the Bronx.

With Chicago clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth inning against the heart of the New York Yankees order, Lillibridge made two game-saving catches ? the first while banging against the fence in right on a drive hit by Alex Rodriguez, and a second on an all-out dive to snare a liner by Robinson Cano.

The Yankees stranded runners at first and second base and White Sox won 3-2.

Watch the catch at the fence

Watch the diving catch to end the game

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he has found his new closer: "Lillibridge."

"Wow," captain Derek Jeter could be seen saying. A-Rod called the plays "incredible." Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko said he doubted that either ball would be caught.

"You've got to be bleepin' me!" screamed White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Yankees fans probably said something likewise.

Not only did Lillibridge earn the admiration of his teammates, the respect of the Yankees (along with the head-shaking scorn of their fans), but he also earned brief Wikipedia immortality when someone tweaked the "Early Life" section of his page:

Lillibridge was born in the deepest caverns of ancient mesopotamia. When he was five years old he mastered the art of natural pwning through rightfield. His dad, the famous god Marduk gave him the power of ultimate invincibility, giving him the force to withstand glass. Due to a virgin birth, his mother never loved him :'( but it didn't matter because his friends were there for him. One thousand years later, he laid dormant until the white sox discovered his frozen body in the jungles of Mexico.

None of that is true (or at least verifiable) and minutes after the passage was added, Wikipedia minions erased it. (Integrity!) Thankfully, someone (I) had come along and screen-capped the moment for posterity.

Getting the Wikipedia Treatment is quite a statement for Lillibridge, a youthful-looking 27-year-old backup infielder by trade with 153 appearances to his credit in parts of four major league seasons.

Lillibridge had come in as a pinch runner in the top of the eighth and scored on Paul Konerko's go-ahead two-run homer.� He stayed to play defense ? at a position where he has 32 career innings. And it was a good thing for the White Sox he did.

Big BLS H/T: @CajoleJuice (via @CapitolAvenue)

Follow Dave on Twitter ?�@AnswerDave ? and engage�the Stew on Facebook

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TSN Radio launches with plenty of CFL/Argonauts content

Observers of the Canadian sports media scene will have noticed by now that there's a new big-name outlet out there; specifically, TSN Radio, which launched on Toronto's 1050 AM frequency Wednesday (and can be listened to anywhere on the web here). They already have plenty of prominent personalities in the lineup, including Mike Richards, Bryan Hayes, James Cybulski, Gareth Wheeler, Dave Naylor, Bruce Arthur and Dave Feschuk, and it's going to be interesting to see what kind of content they turn out. What takes this from a sports media story to a CFL story is the amount of three-down football content they've had so far, though, and what they're planning to do in the future.

The CFL was a big part of the station's launch Wednesday, and that's particularly notable considering that we're not only in the middle of the offseason, but also that it was the first day of the NHL playoffs and that David Beckham was in town with the L.A. Galaxy to play Toronto FC (and make controversial comments about refs). All of those other subjects got plenty of attention on TSN Radio, but so did the CFL, which doesn't always receive high billing in Toronto sports circles, especially while it's the offseason. Argonauts' head coach/general manager Jim Barker was in studio with Mike Richards for an hour on the morning show, and league commissioner Mark Cohon dropped in to the afternoon show with Argonauts Rob Murphy and Ricky Foley (Murphy was as funny as usual, and mentioned to me that he's already been invited back). This morning saw Cohon, TSN's Brian Williams and former Argonaut/current NFL Network analyst Joe Theismann make appearances. The station's also going to be broadcasting every Argonauts game this year, and acting programming director Robert Gray told me via e-mail today that the CFL's going to be an important part of their lineup going forward:

"Much like TSN on the television side, the plan is to feature CFL content on all of our shows across the week, plus a 1 hour all-Argos show, and extensive training camp coverage for the Argos - taking a couple of our shows live on-location during camp for in depth coverage," Gray wrote. "[We'll have] coach & player segments, plus lots of content from TSN's roster of CFL & football experts."

Increased CFL coverage obviously isn't going to please everyone. This is Canada, after all, and plenty of people in Toronto in particular only care about the Leafs; of the group that do have wider interests, some of them are only into hockey generally, while others only care about the Jays, Raptors or Toronto FC. In fact, the CFL coverage served as one of the prime complaints in this Toronto Sports Media post on the TSN Radio launch:

I know that TSN is covering the Argos, but was Jim Barker for a whole hour really the way to go? I mean Mccown used to do all Argos all the time when his buddies owned them and it was as popular as Watters talking the Rock when sunny boy was running them. I am not bashing the Argos or the CFL, but really is that the best they could do on launch day? Personally, I would rather have heard the head hauncho of TSN on the radio.

...

As one of you pointed out, I think they need to lose the ‘voice of the Argos' as they're primary promo line. I'm not sure what their obligations to the CFL were in terms of getting the Argos on the radio but TSN has to have more clout then this. This isn't Saskatchewan. Too many people pinged me today asking why there was so much CFL coverage on their launch day. I assume it will ease off a bit.

As that piece alludes to, in one respect, it does serves TSN's interests to have CFL content on their platforms. They broadcast CFL games both on TV and the radio now, and more interest in the league as a whole and the Argonauts in particular is likely to translate into better ratings for them. Before crying foul, though, it's worth remembering that every sports media outlet tends to have conflicts of interest. Just in Toronto, for example, the FAN 590 broadcasts the Jays, Raptors and TFC (and they're part of Sportsnet, which also has a lot of Jays programming), and AM 640 broadcasts Leafs games. That doesn't mean you can jump to the conclusion that every talk programming decision revolves around what sports are carried by the station, as all of those stations tend to talk about sports that are carried on other networks as well (and their talk shows would likely lose listeners if they didn't).

Also, I don't see how the previous piece jumps to the conclusion that talking about the Argonauts is somehow irrelevant because "this isn't Saskatchewan". They are a Toronto team, and they've got a substantial fan following, so from this perspective it's perfectly legitimate for a Toronto sports station to be talking about them (and league-wide issues, such as player safety and concussions); perhaps the CFL coverage only stood out on TSN Radio because of other stations' programming decisions that didn't include it. There's a balancing act involved in any sports media outlet's programming decisions, and from this corner, TSN Radio's done that rather well so far. The CFL hasn't always received all that much attention in Toronto, so it's nice to see a new station making the league an important part of their coverage.

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