A Japanese high school pleaded for a regional game to be abandoned after surrendering 66 runs in less than two innings, local media reported on Thursday.
The hapless hurler had already sent down over 250 pitches, allowing 26 runs in the first inning and 40 in the second before Kawamoto asked for mercy.
School team hit for 66 runs in two innings | Oddly Enough | Reuters
Well hello all!
I’m back with another update. DHL turned up a short while ago with my package containing my new face cage and skates. Got my face cage fitted and it is alot easier to see now so no excuses for not seeing a puck on Saturday. Furthermore my new skates are absolutly superb, super soft wheels, heavily armoured and awesome comfort, so I’m looking forward to using them in the match. These should really support my ankles better!
Well I am afraid I have to go now as I have a coursework deadline tomorrow, but I will be going for a haircut and the gym over the next 24 hours.
Matt Wylde, #14 UPRHC
Major League Baseball strengthened its drug-testing program on Friday in response to the Mitchell Report on the use of drugs in the sport.Commissioner Bud Selig said 600 additional drugs tests would be performed each year and the number of off-season tests would double on average.
Baseball toughens its drug-testing program | Sports | Reuters
The San Francisco Giants will not reconsider a decision to part ways with controversial home run king Barry Bonds, the team president said on Wednesday.Last season Bonds passed Hank Aaron to become Major League Baseball’s career home run record holder, packing the stands at the Giants ballpark on the scenic San Francisco Bay.
But the club, who at the end of the season said they would not re-sign the free agent, have now removed prominent tributes in the stadium to the slugger, who has steroid allegations and perjury charges hanging over his head.
The legal case is expected to drag out for many months after a federal judge told prosecutors to restructure the indictments against the seven-time National League Most Valuable Player and single-season home run record holder.
Giants repeat no to Bonds, remove his images | Sports | Reuters
Controversial home-run king Barry Bonds said he has no intention of retiring and still hopes to sign with a team despite steroid allegations and perjury charges hanging over his head.“I’m not going to retire. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Bonds, 43, said in an interview on MLB.com on Wednesday. “I’m working out, I’m training. If my phone rings, it rings, if it don’t, it don’t.
Despite setting baseball’s all-time home run record last season, pushing his career total to 762, there has been little interest in signing the free agent slugger, who faces perjury and obstruction of justice charges stemming from an investigation into the BALCO steroid scandal.
The government case alleges Bonds lied in 2003 when he told a federal grand jury investigating the BALCO lab behind closed doors that he had never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. In December 2007, he pleaded not guilty.
The seven-time National League MVP said he is still hoping to sign with a new team for the 2008 season after the San Francisco Giants, for whom he has played since 1993, did not renew his contract.
Bonds retains desire to continue playing career | Sports | Reuters
The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays engaged in a benches-clearing brawl in an exhibition game on Wednesday.Trouble had been brewing between the teams since Saturday when the Rays’ Elliot Johnson crashed into Francisco Cervelli at the plate, leaving the Yankees catcher with a broken wrist.
On Wednesday, Yankees pitcher Heath Phillips was ejected in the first inning after grazing highly regarded prospect Evan Longoria with a pitch.
In the second, Shelley Duncan of the Yankees slid with his spikes high into Rays’ Akinori Iwamura, cutting the Japanese player’s knee.
Players from both dugouts and bullpens charged onto the field. Tampa outfielder Jonny Gomes raced from right field and knocked into Duncan from behind.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre bid an emotional goodbye to the NFL on Thursday, making it clear he had no second thoughts about his decision to retire.Two days after informing the Packers he would not be back for an 18th season, Favre met with the media at Lambeau Field and within seconds of stepping to the podium was waging a losing battle to hold back the tears.
“As they say, all good things must come to an end, I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me,” the 38-year-old told a televised news conference, his voice cracking. “It’s been a great career, it’s over.
“I’ve given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football and I don’t think I’ve anything left to give.
“I know I can play but I don’t think I want to.”
No second thoughts as Brett Favre packs it in | Sports | Reuters
Is set for UFC 86 on July 5.
Jackson and Griffin are currently serving as opposing coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7, which is set to debut on April 2 on the SpikeTV network. It’s a pairing of two extremely charismatic and colorful personalities who never seem to take themselves to seriously (sans the Griffin in-ring meltdown after the loss to Keith Jardine.)
However, Melzter also recently reported that Jackson and Griffin get into a heated confrontation at some point during this season — something that perhaps doesn’t seem possible, but certainly will add some fireworks if indeed accurate leading up to the Independence Day weekend event.
The UFC’s only five-time champion had fans lined up in the street Sunday at the Fizogen Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts Training Center. He signed autographs, posed with fans of all ages inside a cage and held a grappling demonstration.
“He is ‘Captain America.’ He attracts a crowd everywhere he goes. He is a great image for the sport and people still want to see him fight.
“He will stay around until everyone has their picture or autograph. He will not wave anyone off like other pro athletes in other sports. He is a hero of everybody. He’s not just a fighter, he is a person like us.”
Couture, a Greco-Roman wrestler with skills in mixed martial arts, is known for his brute strength and takedowns. He is the only fighter to hold championship titles in both heavyweight (three) and light-heavyweight (two).
Orlando Magic big man Dwight Howard donned a Superman costume as part of a performance that allowed him to capture the NBA Slam Dunk competition in New Orleans on Saturday.Howard beat Gerald Green, last year’s winner, in the final round of the event, which came at the end of a night of skills as part of the All-Star Weekend.
The highlight of Howard’s performance saw him remove his jersey to unveil a Superman shirt and then add a cape, which he bought in a New Orleans shop. He then flew through the air and threw the basketball through the hoop.
“Take off a just try to fly,” Howard told a television audience. “Just take off as far as I could. I decided to put the cape on and found one on the street.”
Minnesota’s Green, who won last year’s contest while playing for the Boston Celtics, had one dunk that saw him put a cupcake on top of the rim and have it lit before he blew it out during a dunk.
Superman Howard flies to slam dunk contest win | Sports | Reuters
Baseball home run king Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2000, months before his record breaking 73-home run season, U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday.
The allegation came in a legal filing in his steroid perjury case which referred to Bonds’ long-time trainer, Greg Anderson.
“At trial, the government’s evidence will show that Bonds received steroids from Anderson in the period before the November 2000 positive drug test, and that evidence raises the inference that Anderson gave Bonds the steroids that caused him to test positive in November 2000,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote.
The filing twice referred to a failed drug test in 2001 as well as a failed test in 2000, but prosecutors later said there was a failed test only in 2000. “It’s a typo. We’ll file a corrected copy tomorrow,” said Josh Eaton, a spokesman for Russoniello. “Nothing nefarious is going on here.”
U.S. says Bonds failed steroid test before record | Sports | Reuters
“Let me tell about a little movie called ‘Rocky 4’,” jokes Serra. “I don’t know if you ever saw it; if not, rent it, it will change your life. Seriously though, I never once said I’m fighting here and not there, there and not here; that’s not my style. I never once picked an opponent, I never refused an opponent, and I’m pretty easy going. The fact that it’s in his backyard, hey, as far as I’m concerned, as long as it’s the same cage, I don’t care if it’s in his living room. I’m a professional fighter, and the key word is ‘professional’. I’m not sweating it. It’s a fight, and if anything, it’s more pressure on him. Mentally, I can’t be broken. I’m a big believer in myself, even when the people don’t. I’ve proven it before and I’m ready to do it again.”
It’s what we want to hear from our champions, and similar to the thoughts of middleweight king Anderson Silva when he traveled to Cincinnati last year to fight and beat hometown hero Rich Franklin a second time. Of course, having a first round win over your opponent - like Silva did and like Serra does – doesn’t hurt either. But while the mental edge of having that type of victory is evident, from a gameplan point of view, what do you do for fight two when you fought the perfect fight the first time?
“You’re gonna just have to adapt and overcome,” said Serra. “Now we have less of the element of surprise, at least with the standup. Nobody thought I was any threat standing up and I guess now they’re gonna look at that differently. The good thing about that is, if you want to take it to the floor, I guarantee my jiu-jitsu will be on point. That’s how I made my name, through my jiu-jitsu, and I have so many techniques in the arsenal that I was preparing to use the first time that I didn’t get to use, and more so since. Hey, if I go out there, throw one punch and it’s over, that’s awesome, but you are remembered for your battles and your wars, and that’s what you’re also gonna remember when you’re old and gray, so if this is gonna be a bloody battle, bring it on, I’m ready.”
