we have a winner! err, loser?

[cranrab]

Isaiah Rider charged with kidnapping
/ Associated Press
Posted: 3 hours ago

MARIN, Calif. (AP) - Troubled former NBA player Isaiah Rider was arrested by Marin County sheriff's deputies Thursday on charges of kidnapping a female acquaintance, authorities said.

Rider, 34, was being held on $2 million bail at Marin County Jail on charges of kidnapping and battery, said Sgt. Bruce Baker of the Marin County Sheriff's office. Rider, who also faces an outstanding warrant for resisting arrest in Alameda County, was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Rider, the 1994 slam dunk champion, allegedly got into an argument Wednesday night with the unidentified female acquaintance and drove off with her against her will, Baker said. The woman began to scream, attracting the attention of police. Authorities tracked Rider down early Thursday morning and arrested him, Baker said. The woman was not injured.

Rider racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and suspensions in his NBA career, which ended in 2001. His offenses ranged from being tardy to practice to spitting at fans and airport personnel to crimes of assault and marijuana possession.

He spent two days in jail for failing to perform court-ordered community service for a 1994 assault charge - kicking a woman in the back after a disagreement at an autograph signing.

In May 1997 he was convicted of marijuana possession and later pleaded no contest to possessing unregistered cellular phones.

Rider was the fifth overall pick by Minnesota in the 1993 NBA draft and spent three seasons with the Timberwolves, winning the slam dunk championship his rookie season.

He was then traded to Portland in 1996 and spent three seasons with the Trail Blazers. He was suspended for a total of 12 games during his time in Portland, including three by the NBA in 1997 for spitting at a fan in Detroit.

After getting traded to Atlanta for Steve Smith on Aug. 2, 1999, Rider was late to his first day of camp, and never could get along with coach Lenny Wilkens. He was released in March 2000 after refusing to accept a three-game suspension for being late to a game.

He spent the 2000-01 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and was suspended five games that season for violating the league's anti-drug program.

He joined Denver the next season and was waived in November 2001 after playing just 10 games with the Nuggets. Rider never played again in the NBA.

Rider averaged 16.8 points per game in his career.

 

[cranrab]

Wtf?

New details revealed about Long's death
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 day ago

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Terry Long committed suicide by drinking antifreeze, a revised death certificate shows, and did not die as a direct result of football-related head injuries.

The Allegheny County coroner ruled in September that Long, 45, who had attempted suicide before, had died of meningitis. The condition, a swelling of the lining of Long's brain, was caused by football-related "chronic traumatic encephalopathy," also known as "punch-drunk syndrome," said the coroner at the time, Dr. Cyril Wecht.

But a revised death certificate, which Wecht's office never publicly announced, was filed Oct. 19, listing the manner of Long's death as suicide from drinking antifreeze. The ruling was changed when outside laboratory tests on Long's tissue and urine showed they contained ethylene glycol, the active ingredient in antifreeze, county officials said.

Joseph Dominick, chief of operations at the medical examiner's office, said Thursday that the antifreeze was what caused the swelling of the brain and the brain lining, and the football-related brain injuries were a contributing factor to the death.

The finding was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday.

Long died in a hospital about five hours after he was found unresponsive in his suburban Pittsburgh home on June 7.

The original findings reinvigorated the debate over the dangers football players - particularly linemen - face from repetitive head injuries.

The medical examiner felt Long's history of brain injury was still a "significant factor" in the death and that he would be remiss in not mentioning it in the updated report, Dominick said.

"People with chronic encephalopathy suffer from depression," Dr. Bennet Omalu, a neurologist who worked on Long's autopsy and is still with the medical examiner's office, told the newspaper. "The major depressive disorder may manifest as suicide attempts. Terry Long committed suicide due to the chronic traumatic encephalopathy due to his long-term play."

But Steelers team physician Dr. Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon and nationally recognized expert on concussions, disagreed with Omalu.

"I think it's fallacious reasoning, and I don't think it's plausible at all," Maroon said. "To go back and say that he was depressed from playing in the NFL and that led to his death 14 years later, I think is purely speculative."

Long started at right guard for the Steelers from 1984 until 1991, when he attempted suicide with rat poison after he was suspended for violating the NFL's steroid policy. Long later rejoined the team although he was not re-signed after one season.

In March, Long was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges he fraudulently obtained loans for a chicken-processing plant which prosecutors allege he burned to the ground for the insurance money. At the time he died, Long's neighbor said he was separated from his second wife and was depressed about that as well as the federal charges he faced.

 

[cranrab]

Additional charges raise stakes for Taylor
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago

MIAMI (AP) - Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor faces up to 46 years in prison after two additional assault charges were filed against him Friday.

Michael Grieco, an assistant state attorney, said the charges reflect Taylor's alleged threatening of three people with a gun in an armed confrontation over an all-terrain vehicle on June 1.

Taylor, 22, now faces three counts of aggravated assault, each of which carries a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of 15 years in prison. He also faces one misdemeanor battery charge that carries a potential one-year prison term.

Trial is scheduled to begin March 20 for Taylor, a former University of Miami star who signed a seven-year, $18-million contract after being drafted by the Redskins in 2004. He has six interceptions and 120 tackles in his two seasons.

Taylor's attorney, Edward Carhart, said the additional charges surprised him.

"The state has had this case since June and now they're filing these added charges? It's bizarre," Carhart said.

Taylor has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $16,500 bond.

The Redskins lost to the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago in the NFC playoffs. In a playoff victory against Tampa Bay, Taylor was ejected after spitting in the face of Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman. Earlier in that game, he ran a fumble back for a touchdown.

 

[Diamels]

"Easy" Rider getting arrested? I am shocked. He was such a pillar of the community, I would have never figured that he would do someting like that

 

[cranrab]

Andersen dismissed from league for violating drug policy

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
January 27, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- New Orleans Hornets forward Chris Andersen was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA on Friday for violating the league's drug policy.

Andersen must wait two years before he can apply for reinstatement, the league said.

According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, a player can only be disqualified for a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, or a first positive test for "drugs of abuse."

The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.

Andersen has not previously been suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Under the CBA, the first positive test for performance-enhancing drugs results in a 10-game suspension.

Andersen, 27, averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32 games this season, his fifth in the NBA. He played three seasons for the Nuggets before joining the Hornets.

Known as "Birdman" for his high-flying dunks, Andersen was a fan favorite among Hornets fans in Oklahoma City, where the team is playing most of its home games this season.

Hornets owner George Shinn said in a statement released by the team, "we were obviously disappointed and saddened to hear that Chris has been dismissed from the league.

"On behalf of his teammates, coaches and the entire organization, we wish him well and hope he learns from this experience," Shinn said.

Neither the NBA nor the union is allowed to comment on specifics of a player's drug test.

"The players' association plans on filing a grievance on Chris Andersen's behalf," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said. "Our expectation is that a grievance hearing will take place in approximately two weeks."

The hearing will be heard by an independent grievance arbitrator.

Andersen played in 67 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds.

He is best known for his performance in the NBA's dunk contest last year when he needed eight tries to finish his first dunk.

Andersen is the first player kicked out because of drugs since Stanley Roberts in 1999.

Associated Press Writer Murray Evans in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

 

[cranrab]

damn cuttino!

did you have some crackheads staying with you?

leave the house unattended while you had some work done?

WTF?

most of the homes in bel air have alarm systems and armed patrol...

Mobley's home robbed of cash, jewelry
Associated Press
Posted: 9 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thieves stole $500,000 in cash, jewelry and other items from Los Angeles Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley's Bel-Air home, authorities said Sunday.

Mobley's home was burglarized Saturday night, Los Angeles police officer Mike Lopez said. He declined to release details or whether detectives had any suspects.
On Saturday night, Mobley had 19 points in the Clippers' home victory over Denver.

 

[cranrab]

Rider pleads not guilty to kidnapping charge
/ Associated Press
Posted: 2 hours ago

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) - Former NBA player Isaiah Rider pleaded not guilty to felony charges that he forced an ex-girlfriend into his car last month.

Rider was arrested last week and freed on $2 million bail. The 34-year-old the former NBA slam dunk champion appeared in court Friday to face charges of kidnap and false imprisonment.
The woman said Rider forced her into his car and refused to release her. Outside court, Rider said both he and his ex-girlfriend disagree with prosecutors' version of the dispute, but he did not offer details.

Rider racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and suspensions in his NBA career, which ended in 2001. His offenses ranged from being tardy to practice to spitting at fans and airport personnel to crimes of assault and marijuana possession.

Rider was the fifth overall draft pick by Minnesota in 1993 and spent three seasons with the Timberwolves. He was traded to Portland in 1996 and spent three seasons there.

He was dealt to Atlanta in 1999 and played the 2000-01 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined Denver the next season and was waived after 10 games. Rider never played again in the NBA. He averaged 16.8 points in his career.

 

[cranrab]

Former Ohio State star indicted
/ Associated Press
Posted: 25 minutes ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Former Ohio State star tailback Maurice Clarett was indicted on charges of robbing two people behind a bar and carrying a concealed weapon, a prosecutor said Friday.

Clarett is accused of flashing a gun and demanding property from a man and a woman early Jan. 1. Police said he got into a sport utility vehicle with two men after he was identified by the bar owner, who happened to come out into the alley.
No one was injured, and only a cell phone was taken, police said.

Clarett, who led Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and four lesser robbery counts, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.

He only would be sentenced on two robbery charges if convicted, but O'Brien said the extra counts are "backup charges" to give a jury options.

If convicted of the two most serious armed robbery charges, he would face up to 26 years in prison.

Clarett's attorney, William Settina, said he might issue a statement later Friday. He refused to discuss details of the case.

Clarett, 22, was sought by police for almost two days before he turned himself in about the time the Buckeyes were completing a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2. He posted $50,000 bond and was released from jail.

Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 16 touchdowns as an Ohio State freshman in 2002.

His final touchdown, in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl, gave the Buckeyes a 31-24 upset of top-ranked Miami for the national title.

The prosecutor urged the two people who were reportedly with Clarett in the SUV to come forward. Authorities are continuing to search for them and have not identified them, O'Brien said. They could face charges of being accomplices.

 

[cranrab]

speak of the devil?

Trail Blazers guard fined after gun found on plane

By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer
February 15, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Trail Blazers fined guard Sebastian Telfair on Wednesday after a loaded gun was found on the team's private jet at Boston's Logan Airport.

The handgun was found in a pillowcase belonging to Telfair as the team plane was being prepared for a flight from Boston to Toronto, the team said in a statement.

Telfair explained to local authorities that the gun belonged to his girlfriend and that he had inadvertently grabbed the wrong bag when leaving for the team's road trip.

"We did sweep the plane and we did find the handgun, and it was a loaded handgun," said Jennifer Peppin, a regional spokeswoman based in Seattle for the Transportation Security Administration. "Once we got that we turned it over to the state police in Boston."

The gun is registered in Oregon to Samantha Rodriguez, Telfair's girlfriend of five years.

The Trail Blazers left Portland on Feb. 7 for their five-game trip. The team was in Oklahoma City for a game against the Hornets on Wednesday night.

The matter was turned over to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which said no charges would be filed.

Portland coach Nate McMillan said Telfair would continue to play with the team. He said "everything has checked out as far as the Boston authorities and what happened."

"It was a mistake," McMillan said. "... I'm sure he is embarrassed by the situation. There's nothing he can do about it now except to make sure that he is aware of where his weapons are. He's fine. He's OK.

"In a situation like that, I think it was smart of him not to carry the thing around. He didn't want to carry that thing around, so he never did. We do have security with us, and he should make them aware of situations like that."

The first-year Blazers coach said players were told about the rules regarding weapons before the season and again after the Telfair situation. A Blazers spokesman said Telfair was not available for comment before the game.

"They are well aware that they can't carry firearms on the plane. That is something bigger than the organization. The league is involved in that," McMillan said. "... Whenever you are doing something with the NBA, you can't carry any type of weapons, whether they are guns or knives or anything else when you are doing business with the NBA."

The team fined Telfair an undisclosed amount for violating league and team policy. The NBA is reviewing the matter.

"While we had to allow the legal process to run its course, and were grateful it appears that the authorities have determined Sebastian initially made an innocent mistake, he clearly compounded the situation by making the wrong choice by not notifying the team's traveling security agent about his situation immediately," Blazers president Steve Patterson said Wednesday.

"He has apologized profusely, but he knows he must be held accountable for his actions."

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Re: speak of the devil?

The gun is registered in Oregon to Samantha Rodriguez, Telfair's girlfriend of five years.

Ride or die chick?

 

[cranrab]

Belle accused of stalking ex-girlfriend
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Albert Belle tracked his ex-girlfriend with a GPS device and repeatedly threatened her, according to a police probable cause statement filed in support of stalking charges.

The 39-year-old former baseball star was arrested in Scottsdale on Thursday and charged with stalking. He made an initial court appearance late Thursday, and a judge set bail at $108,000, ordered him to be electronically monitored and to stay away from the victim.

Reached by The Associated Press on Friday morning, Belle declined to comment on the case.

"You didn't write a story about my Hall of Fame induction," Belle said. "You guys never report the good stuff that I do."

Belle's next court appearance is set for Feb. 24.

Despite impressive statistics, Belle collected just 40 of the 390 votes needed to reach the Hall of Fame in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in January. His prickly past was blamed by many for his low vote total.

The police probable cause statement said that Belle's former girlfriend discovered a Global Positioning System tracking device that had fallen off her car on Jan. 26. Believing that Belle was responsible, she called police, who began an investigation.

The unidentified woman told investigators that for several months Belle "had been showing up everywhere she went (the store, on dates, the gym, etc.)," the probable cause document stated. The woman asked Belle if he had placed the tracking device on her car, and he initially denied it.

But on Feb. 3, he left her a message apologizing for "doing all that tracking stuff," the statement said. A later recording had Belle threatening the woman, telling her she needed to hire a bodyguard for protection and that she "would never know what hit her," the statement said.

The volatile Belle often ran into trouble on and off the field during his playing days.

A five-time All-Star outfielder, Belle hit 381 career home runs in a 12-year career that began with the Cleveland Indians in 1989. He also played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore before retiring in 2000 after his second season with the Orioles.

He was fined in 1994 for using a corked bat and suspended after instigating a brawl by elbowing an opposing player. In 1991, he threw a baseball into the chest of a fan taunting him. Years later, he was fined $50,000 for berating a TV reporter and tossed a ball at a photographer.

Belle, who has lived in Arizona for several years, was arrested on a DUI charge in September 2002.

 

[Havoc]

What the hell is wrong with people?!

 

[cranrab]

here's another one...

MISL coach suspended for two years
/ Associated Press
Posted: 19 hours ago

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore Blast coach Tim Wittman has been suspended for the next two seasons by the Major Indoor Soccer League for putting a game official in a chokehold.

Wittman was also fined an undisclosed amount following a review and investigation, MISL commissioner Steve Ryan announced Monday.
Wittman had already been suspended for the remainder of the 2005-06 season, including the playoffs.

According to newspaper reports, Wittman put official Yader Reyes in a chokehold after Baltimore lost 8-6 to the California Cougars in Stockton, Calif., on March 18. A California player broke up the altercation, and Wittman was escorted off the field by his goalkeeper.

Wittman was charged with battery by Stockton police, The (Baltimore) Sun reported.

Following the incident, defender Danny Kelly was named interim player-coach for the remainder of the 2005-06 season. The Blast defeated the Milwaukee Wave in the MISL semifinals and will face the St. Louis Steamers in the two-game championship series starting Friday.

 

[TrojansFan]

Re: damn cuttino!

did you have some crackheads staying with you?

leave the house unattended while you had some work done?

WTF?

most of the homes in bel air have alarm systems and armed patrol...

Mobley's home robbed of cash, jewelry
Associated Press
Posted: 9 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thieves stole $500,000 in cash, jewelry and other items from Los Angeles Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley's Bel-Air home, authorities said Sunday.

Mobley's home was burglarized Saturday night, Los Angeles police officer Mike Lopez said. He declined to release details or whether detectives had any suspects.
On Saturday night, Mobley had 19 points in the Clippers' home victory over Denver.

If you were so in the loop with NBA players as you claim. You would know that he was robbed a female. A female who was a guest of his which would render the alarm system useless.

 

[cranrab]

Re: damn cuttino!

If you were so in the loop with NBA players as you claim. You would know that he was robbed a female. A female who was a guest of his which would render the alarm system useless.

i never claimed to be 'in the loop', although i am friends with a small handful of former college and professional teammates and opponents. i have also mentored a couple current players.

i also have professional relationships with some coaches. if you consider that to be 'in the loop', so be it.

and i certainly never claimed to be friends with (or acquaintances with) cuttino mobley...

 

[cranrab]

ricky may just be the winner in this one... good luck and god bless, young man...

Dolphins' Williams suspended again
/ Associated Press
Posted: 16 minutes ago

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time.

The league announced the suspension after Williams' appeal of his latest positive drug test was denied. Williams met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash on April 10 in an attempt to have the league overturn the test.
"I'm disappointed with the decision, but I respect it," Williams said in a statement released by the team. "I'm proud of my association with the National Football League and look forward to returning to the Dolphins in 2007."



Williams' previous positive tests were for marijuana, which he acknowledged using. The latest test apparently involved a drug other than marijuana.

Williams had been participating in the offseason training program at the Dolphins' complex and was there working out shortly before the league announced its decision.

The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner at Texas and 2002 NFL rushing champion, Williams retired and sat out the 2004 season, then returned last year to play for new Miami coach Nick Saban.

Williams served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2005 season for his third violation of the drug program, then ran for 743 yards and averaged 4.4 yards a carry while sharing playing time with rookie Ronnie Brown.

News that Williams had failed another drug test surfaced in February, while he was in India studying yoga and holistic medicine.

Saban repeatedly has praised Williams' conduct and performance last season and supported him in the appeal process.

"This is a league decision, and we are disappointed in what it means for Ricky and the team," Saban said in a statement. "Ricky did an outstanding job for the Dolphins, not only as a player but also what he added as a person to the team's chemistry and to our overall success."

Attorney David Cornwell represented Williams in his appeal.

"We raised substantial and legitimate issues arising out of the application of the NFL's policy and program for substances of abuse," Cornwell said in a statement. He urged the players' union and ownership to "review the issues we raised on the appeal ... and restore the original intention of the NFL's policy to put equal focus on helping NFL players as is put on testing and suspending them."

The suspension represents a financial blow for Williams, who owes the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract when he retired in 2004. His return last season was motivated partly by the need for a paycheck, and that may be a motivation for him to return in 2007.

It's possible the suspension could mean the end of the mercurial running back's career. If he does try to return next year, he'll be 30 years old and will have played a total of 12 games in the previous three seasons.

"Ricky is obviously disappointed," said his agent, Leigh Steinberg. "He'll need to work hard to get back to the league in 2007."

 

[Dolemite]

Re: damn cuttino!

i never claimed to be 'in the loop', although i am friends with a small handful of former college and professional teammates and opponents. i have also mentored a couple current players.

i also have professional relationships with some coaches. if you consider that to be 'in the loop', so be it.

and i certainly never claimed to be friends with (or acquaintances with) cuttino mobley...

I thought Cuttino's only friend was Stevie

 

[cranrab]

mo money mo dirt

this shit has daily developments... more twists and turns than the duke rape case...

Lawyer: Bush's family received $100,000
/ Associated Press
Posted: 22 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) - The parents of Southern California football star Reggie Bush received $100,000 in cash from investors in a sports marketing company that hoped to sign the running back, an attorney for the investors said in a letter obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune.



Attorney Brian Watkins told the newspaper on Friday that Bush's parents, LaMar and Denise Griffin, asked for the money partly to resolve financial problems. Watkins said the money included an initial payment of about $30,000 to help start up the New Era Sports and Entertainment agency.

Watkins said the money was disbursed throughout 2005 and was given on more than one occasion at the home of Lloyd Lake, an investor in the company and a documented gang member. Watkins described him as a longtime friend of the Heisman Trophy winner.

Watkins described the $100,000 in disbursements in a letter dated Feb. 13 in which he asked David Cornwell, the Bush family's attorney, if USC should be included in settlement discussions.

"We would not object to their (USC's) participation as we understand their wanting to be involved due to the fact this matter was ongoing during their Championship season of 2004 as well as the entire season of 2005, and any lawsuit filed might have an adverse effect on them," Watkins' letter said.

USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said he was unaware of the letter and declined comment.

The content of the letter was reported hours after the Houston Texans, who have first overall selection in Saturday's draft, passed on Bush and signed North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams.

Watkins said earlier this week that Bush's parents didn't pay $54,000 in rent during the year they lived in a house owned by a sports marketing agency investor who wanted to represent the football star.

The money dispute began after Bush signed with another agent and marketing representative, ending any chance of a deal with New Era.

Bush's mother and stepfather had agreed to pay landlord Michael Michaels $4,500 in monthly rent when they moved into the Spring Valley house Michaels bought for $757,000 in March 2005. Michaels said the Griffins told him they eventually would pay him rent from Bush's earnings when he went pro.

Also Friday, agent David Caravantes, who is under investigation by the NFL Players Association for his role in the housing arrangement, said he has had nothing to do with the Southern California star.

Caravantes told The Associated Press he is unaware of the investigation, adding: "I have had no involvement with Reggie Bush. The truth will come out."

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA, confirmed Friday that the probe of Caravantes has begun.

Watkins, who represents Lake and Michaels, said Bush's family defrauded his clients out of $300,000 over 1 1/2 years using "the carrot" of Bush's future football career as an enticement.

Bush, who signed with agent Joel Segal, said he believes the matter will be cleared up in a few weeks.

"I've got to get back to football," he said. "My life is parallel to a horse race. They have blinders on to keep them from being distracted in the race and keep them focused on winning the race. That's kind of like my life. Focus on the goal, not the things coming at me from the side."

Watkins sent the player's parents an eviction notice on April 3 and they moved out of the house last week. Bush has said his parents left because they found another place to live.

Watkins said he plans to file a fraud lawsuit against Bush's parents and possibly Bush.

David Cornwell, the Bush family attorney, did not return phone calls for comment.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement Friday, "Based on the information presented by Reggie Bush's attorney, our office has advised the attorney to consider referring these matters to law enforcement authorities."

The NCAA is investigating whether the living arrangement violated rules prohibiting student-athletes and their families from receiving extra benefits from agents or their representatives.

 

[cranrab]

Dolphins' Taylor stabbed in road rage incident
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 1 hour ago

Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor suffered a minor stab wound in a road rage incident Sunday night, according to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"My wife and I were the victims of an unfortunate incident last night, but we are both fine," Taylor said Monday in a statement released by his charity foundation. "I truly appreciate everyone's concern."

Jason Taylor and his wife were involved in an alleged road-rage incident in South Florida. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Redmond Charles Burns was arrested on three charges, including aggravated battery/hate crime, after he allegedly assaulted Taylor.

Seth Levit, who is the chairman of the Jason Taylor Foundation, said the cut on Taylor's left forearm was so minor that he wasn't wearing a bandage while playing in a charity golf tournament on Monday morning to benefit the charity foundation of Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks.

The Sun-Sentinel, citing a Davie, Fla. police report, said Taylor and his wife Katina (the sister of Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas) were driving home from church when they noticed a red pickup truck driving toward them on State Road 84's westbound lanes. Taylor honked his horn and the two vehicles avoided an accident.

Taylor was later driving behind the truck, which was traveling at 10 mph when he tried to pass on the left. As Taylor passed, the red truck intentionally swerved toward him, effectively forcing the Dolphins' veteran to drive off the road.

With the two cars stopped, an unidentified passenger got out of the truck and banged on Taylor's trunk. Burns, who had been driving the truck, also got out and started using racial obscenities and then threatened to kill Taylor.

The 5-foot-11 Burns retrieved an unknown metal object from the truck and tried to stab the 6-foot-6 Taylor.

Taylor was cut on his left forearm as he backed away from Burns.

Taylor drove after the truck, called 911, and later identified Burns from a photo lineup after losing sight of the vehicle.

During the arrest, Burns kicked and punched a police officer and later at a window in a police car before police used pepper spray to subdue him.

In addition to the battery charge, the 24-year-old Burns was arrested for resisting with and without violence.

 

[cranrab]

Daly says that gambling might do him in
/ Associated Press
Posted: 22 minutes ago

John Daly says he has lost between $50 million and $60 million during 12 years of heavy gambling, and that it has become a problem that could "flat-out ruin me" if he doesn't bring it under control.

Daly discussed his addiction to gambling in the final chapter of his autobiography, John Daly: My Life In and Out of the Rough to be released next Monday.
He told one story of earning $750,000 when he lost in a playoff to Tiger Woods last fall in San Francisco at a World Golf Championship. Instead of going home, he drove to Las Vegas and says he lost $1.65 million in five hours playing mostly $5,000 slot machines.

"If I don't get control of my gambling, it's going to flat-out ruin me," he says in the book, co-written with Glen Waggoner and published by HarperCollins.

The book got the attention of PGA Tour headquarters, and commissioner Tim Finchem met with Daly on Monday at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

Finchem said the book does not violate PGA Tour regulations, although "it is clear that he continues to be concerned about and grapple with significant personal challenges."

"I have expressed to John the tour's concern for his well-being, as well as his ongoing need to uphold the image and standards of the PGA Tour," Finchem said. "While we will continue to enforce the regulations and policies of the PGA Tour, I have advised John of the tour's willingness to support him in his efforts to deal with his personal issues."

The two-time major champion wrote that he has spent the last 10 years paying off gambling debts with his sponsorship income, hustling appearance money and "running myself ragged doing corporate outings instead of spending time with my family and working on my game."

He recalled former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson telling him at a Tucson, Ariz., rehab center in 1993 that Daly would find something he loves as much as drinking, and that he would have to be careful.

"The people around me ... were hoping, of course, that the 'something' would be practicing golf. No such luck," Daly wrote. "What I found was gambling."

He said he owed $4 million to casinos in two years of gambling until he won the 1995 British Open at St. Andrews, his second major. That victory and the ability to get handsome appearance fees, enabled him to pay off the debt.

But the gambling continued.

Daly three-putted from 15 feet on the second playoff hole against Woods at Harding Park. He headed to Las Vegas and lost $600,000 within 30 minutes. He said he took out another $600,000 line of credit and lost that in two hours.

"And here's how my sick mind analyzed the situation," Daly wrote. "My sponsorship payments would be coming through in January, so I'd be able to pay everything off and get back to even by the beginning of the new year. Everything's fine. Everything's OK. No problema. Hell, yes, there's a problema."

Daly says he has taken more control of his life in the last six years.

"I'm off those ... medications. I don't drink JD (Jack Daniels) anymore. I don't beat up on hotel rooms and cars as much. Only gambling remains a problem," he wrote.

He said he plans to start at the $25 slots in the casinos and set a "walkout loss number," which would tell him it's time to leave.

"If I make a little bit, then maybe I move up to the $100 slots or the $500 slots, or maybe I take it to the blackjack table," he wrote. "It's their money. Why not give it a shot, try to double it? And if I make a lot, I can ...

"Well, that's my plan."

Daly has been one of the most popular figures on the PGA Tour since he won the 1991 PGA Championship as the ninth alternate. He has five PGA Tour victories and career earnings of $8.7 million.

 

[cranrab]

Accused Palace cup-tosser sentenced to jail
/ Associated Press
Posted: 18 hours ago

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (AP) - The man accused of throwing the cup that sparked a 2004 brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail on an assault and battery charge.

John Green also was sentenced to two years' probation. The 41-year-old Green was convicted in March of one count of assault and battery for punching former Pacers player Ron Artest during the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Green was found not guilty of a second count of throwing the cup before Artest charged into the stands.
Judge Lisa Asadoorian ordered Green to attend anger management classes and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and stay away from the Palace while he is on probation.

Green's attorney, Shawn P. Smith, said he would seek a stay of the sentence while it's appealed.

"In light of everything else, everything everyone else got, it was not fair," Smith told the Detroit Free Press.

Others charged with assault and battery in the same brawl, including Artest, were sentenced to probation and fined but received no jail time. Green, however, was the only one to take his case to trial.

Green, whose image was caught on video during the melee, said he was innocent because he hit Artest in defense of himself and his fellow fans. He also argued that he merely lobbed the cup into the air and never meant to hit anyone with it.

 

[SpiritualPorn]

Re: damn cuttino!

i never claimed to be 'in the loop', although i am friends with a small handful of former college and professional teammates and opponents. i have also mentored a couple current players.

i also have professional relationships with some coaches. if you consider that to be 'in the loop', so be it.

and i certainly never claimed to be friends with (or acquaintances with) cuttino mobley...

Cran,

He is mad that you aren't Kobe

Keep postin

Your shit is better than the news

 

[SpiritualPorn]

Accused Palace cup-tosser sentenced to jail
/ Associated Press
Posted: 18 hours ago

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (AP) -
Green, whose image was caught on video during the melee, said he was innocent because he hit Artest in defense of himself and his fellow fans. He also argued that he merely lobbed the cup into the air and never meant to hit anyone with it.

"I just shot the gun

I didn't know it would hit anyone"

At least there was some action taken.

 

[cranrab]

fraud!

Vikes fire Foley for resume inaccuracies Associated Press
Posted: 16 minutes ago



MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Fran Foley, the Minnesota Vikings' personnel director, was fired by the team on Wednesday, more than a week after acknowledging there were inaccuracies on the resume he presented to the team when he was hired in January.

The Vikings made the announcement in a one sentence statement. Owner Zygi Wilf declined to comment on the decision after a Wednesday afternoon news conference at Capitol, where the team is trying to secure public funding for a new stadium.
Foley signed a three-year contract with Minnesota on Jan. 26, coming over from the San Diego Chargers. But he admitted to several inaccuracies on the resume he provided the team, including his early work history and exaggerating his playing career at Framingham State College.

Foley was part of a three-way executive structure that included coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski. He had just finished helping direct the team's draft.

On a resume given to the Vikings, Foley said that he held coaching positions with the Citadel, Rutgers and Colgate when he was actually a graduate assistant at all three schools.

He also said that he played four seasons at Framingham State, when he only played two.

The team issued a revised biography for Foley last month.

 

[cranrab]

Dolphins' Taylor stabbed in road rage incident
/ FOXSports.com

Burns faces hate crime charges
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 day ago

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - The man charged with assaulting Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor faces hate crime charges, police said Monday.

Redmond Charles Burns, 24, allegedly used racial epithets and yelled obscenities at Taylor, whose father is black, during an alleged highway confrontation Sunday night. Taylor told police that Burns grabbed his shirt, ripping it in several places, and suffered a "minor laceration" on a forearm from a metal object Burns allegedly used to attack him.

Taylor, who played in a charity golf tournament Monday in Tampa, said in a statement issued by the Dolphins that his injury was minor.

"My wife and I were the victims in an unfortunate incident last night, but we are both fine," Taylor said.

Burns, who is white, faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, which police have also classified as a hate crime that would permit tougher penalties. Burns also is charged with obstruction for allegedly resisting arrest after Taylor identified him from a photo array.

Burns was being held Monday on $10,600 bond at the Broward County jail. It wasn't immediately clear Monday if he had a lawyer to represent him.

Taylor, 31, has played nine seasons with the Dolphins and emerged as one of the team's best defensive players. Last season Taylor had 12 quarterback sacks among his 52 tackles. For his career, Taylor has 540 tackles and 92½ sacks.

According to Davie police, Taylor and his wife, Katina, were on their way home from church Sunday evening when Taylor saw a red pickup truck backing up at an intersection in the path of his car. Katina Taylor is the sister of Zach Thomas, another starting Dolphins linebacker.

As Taylor attempted to pass, the driver of the pickup "intentionally swerved directly at Taylor" and caused him to run off the road.

The passenger in the truck, who wasn't charged, allegedly got out and started to bang on the hood of Taylor's trunk. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Taylor then got out of his car and was confronted by the 5-foot-11, 168-pound Burns, who was allegedly yelling racial insults and threatening to kill Taylor, according to a police report.

After grabbing Taylor's shirt, Burns allegedly went back to his truck, got an "unknown metal object" and tried to stab Taylor with it. Taylor suffered a minor wound to his left forearm but declined medical treatment.

Both men then jumped back in the truck and took off, with Taylor following and dialing 911. He lost the truck in a trailer park but was able to identify Burns from a photo lineup that police provided.

Taylor has a home in Davie, which is also the location of the Dolphins' training facility.

 

[cranrab]

Sampson now faces four charges
/ Associated Press
Posted: 48 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal grand jury added two charges to the two already facing former NBA and Virginia star Ralph Sampson.

A superseding indictment, dated Wednesday, charges Sampson with mail fraud and making a false statement. A trial scheduled for May 16 on previous charges of perjury and making a false claim will instead be an arraignment on the new counts.
U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer likely will set a new trial date at the arraignment.

Sampson, who lives near Atlanta, is accused of lying about his financial situation to a federal court in Georgia to obtain court-appointed counsel. Sampson made his first court appearance in Georgia after being charged with child-support violations in Virginia.

Sampson already has pleaded guilty in federal court in Richmond to charges of failing to pay court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing in that case was delayed after Sampson was charged with perjury.

The new indictment alleges that when Sampson went to court on the child-support charges, he claimed he was self-employed by "Sampson Communications" and had no income. According to the indictment, Sampson was earning $5,000 per month as a consultant for one company and made commercials and promotional appearances for another in exchange for a $200,000 home.

Sampson also allegedly denied he owns a $43,000 sport utility vehicle, which he purchased using a corporate identity, and allegedly sent documents regarding the SUV from Georgia to Virginia for the purpose of defrauding a financing company.

Sampson remains free on bond with travel restrictions.

The Houston Rockets made Sampson the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft. Over nine NBA seasons, Sampson averaged 15.4 points per game.

 

[dentskins]

Sampson now faces four charges
/ Associated Press
Posted: 48 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal grand jury added two charges to the two already facing former NBA and Virginia star Ralph Sampson.

....
Sampson, who lives near Atlanta, is accused of lying about his financial situation to a federal court in Georgia to obtain court-appointed counsel. Sampson made his first court appearance in Georgia after being charged with child-support violations in Virginia.

Sampson already has pleaded guilty in federal court in Richmond to charges of failing to pay court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing in that case was delayed after Sampson was charged with perjury.

.........

what is wrong with Ralph??? This musta been the 'bad' pussy he hit...

 

[cranrab]

Nets' Robinson suspended five games
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 day ago

New Jersey forward Clifford Robinson was suspended five games without pay by the NBA on Friday after violating terms of the league's drug policy for the second time in two seasons.

Robinson will miss at least the rest of the Eastern Conference semifinals. His suspension begins Friday night with Game 3 of the Nets' series against the Miami Heat, and leaves New Jersey without one of its possible options for defending Shaquille O'Neal.
Robinson was also suspended five games in February 2005 while playing for Golden State. Under terms of last year's collective bargaining agreement, a player would be suspended five games for a third positive test for marijuana.

The 39-year-old Robinson is a valuable reserve for the Nets. He averaged 6.9 points in 80 games this season, his 17th in the NBA.

 

[cranrab]

what is wrong with Ralph??? This musta been the 'bad' pussy he hit...

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sampson pleads not guilty to lying to authorities

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. -- Ralph Sampson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child support case. His trial was scheduled for July 17.


The former NBA and Virginia star waived the reading of the indictment and answered routine questions during a 10-minute court appearance. He responded "not guilty" when asked for his plea on each of the four counts.


He is charged with perjury, making a false claim, mail fraud and making a false statement. If convicted in the nonjury trial, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count, federal prosecutor Sara Flannery said.


The 7-foot-4 ex-player remains free on bond with travel restrictions.


Sampson pleaded guilty last year in Richmond to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing was postponed after Sampson was indicted on the perjury and false claim charges in January. A superseding indictment on May 3 added the mail fraud and false statement charges.


The 46-year-old Sampson, who lives in Atlanta, made his first court appearance on the child support charges in Georgia. The latest indictment alleges that Sampson told authorities there that he was self-employed by "Sampson Communications" and had no income. Prosecutors claim Sampson was earning $5,000 per month as a consultant for one company and made commercials and promotional appearances for another in exchange for a $200,000 home.


The indictment also says Sampson denied owning a $43,000 sport utility vehicle, which he bought using a corporate identity, and that he sent documents regarding the SUV from Georgia to Virginia for the purpose of defrauding a financing company.


Sampson was drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Rockets in 1983. In nine NBA seasons, he averaged 15.4 points.

 

[cranrab]

not again!

Belle accused of stalking ex-girlfriend
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Albert Belle tracked his ex-girlfriend with a GPS device and repeatedly threatened her, according to a police probable cause statement filed in support of stalking charges.

The 39-year-old former baseball star was arrested in Scottsdale on Thursday and charged with stalking. He made an initial court appearance late Thursday, and a judge set bail at $108,000, ordered him to be electronically monitored and to stay away from the victim.

Reached by The Associated Press on Friday morning, Belle declined to comment on the case.

"You didn't write a story about my Hall of Fame induction," Belle said. "You guys never report the good stuff that I do."

Belle's next court appearance is set for Feb. 24.

Despite impressive statistics, Belle collected just 40 of the 390 votes needed to reach the Hall of Fame in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in January. His prickly past was blamed by many for his low vote total.

The police probable cause statement said that Belle's former girlfriend discovered a Global Positioning System tracking device that had fallen off her car on Jan. 26. Believing that Belle was responsible, she called police, who began an investigation.

The unidentified woman told investigators that for several months Belle "had been showing up everywhere she went (the store, on dates, the gym, etc.)," the probable cause document stated. The woman asked Belle if he had placed the tracking device on her car, and he initially denied it.

But on Feb. 3, he left her a message apologizing for "doing all that tracking stuff," the statement said. A later recording had Belle threatening the woman, telling her she needed to hire a bodyguard for protection and that she "would never know what hit her," the statement said.

The volatile Belle often ran into trouble on and off the field during his playing days.

A five-time All-Star outfielder, Belle hit 381 career home runs in a 12-year career that began with the Cleveland Indians in 1989. He also played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore before retiring in 2000 after his second season with the Orioles.

He was fined in 1994 for using a corked bat and suspended after instigating a brawl by elbowing an opposing player. In 1991, he threw a baseball into the chest of a fan taunting him. Years later, he was fined $50,000 for berating a TV reporter and tossed a ball at a photographer.

Belle, who has lived in Arizona for several years, was arrested on a DUI charge in September 2002.

Belle arrested again on stalking charges
/ Associated Press
Posted: 10 hours ago

PHOENIX (AP) - Albert Belle was arrested on a new stalking charge for allegedly making phone calls to a woman he already was charged with harassing.

The 39-year-old former baseball star was arrested by Scottsdale police at his home Wednesday after they investigated new allegations that he made calls to his ex-girlfriend, Sgt. Mark Clark said. Belle is set for a court appearance Thursday in Scottsdale.
Belle was awaiting trial on a felony stalking charge filed in February. The police probable cause statement in that case said his former girlfriend discovered a GPS device that had fallen off her car in January, and that he had threatened her. He was released on bail, subject to electronic monitoring and ordered not to contact her.

Last month, the former girlfriend called police and said she was receiving hang-up phone calls, Clark said. Detectives began an investigation and checked phone records, which showed the calls were coming from Belle. Last week, Belle called and spoke with the woman.

"The nature of the conversation was harassing but not threatening," Clark said.

That was enough probable cause to arrest Belle for felony stalking and violating the previous court order, he said. Clark said because Belle is accused of committing another felony while out on bond, he is ineligible for bail in the new case.

A probable cause statement filed in the new case says the woman "became terrified and asked the defendant if he was crazy contacting her while on release" from the earlier case.

The volatile Belle often ran into trouble on and off the field during his playing days.

A five-time All-Star outfielder, Belle hit 381 career home runs in a 12-year career that began with the Cleveland Indians in 1989. He also played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore before retiring in 2000 after his second season with the Orioles.