Burress Had Help

As more information because available we are learning more about what happened Friday night when Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg. Apparently lineback Antonio Pierce was with him at the club and attempted to hide the gun after helping Burress leave the club. There are also reports that there may or may not have been a third Giants teammate involved in the incident. Medical experts are saying that Burress should be healthy enough to return in 2-4 weeks if no tissue damage is found, but will the league let him?

This has gone from bad to worse for the New York Giants. This has to be a distraction for the team and the fact that other players besides Burress were involved is also bad news. The last thing the Giants need is a disruptive player in the locker room when they are trying to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Burress also faces felony weapons chargers which could further impact his league status. Don't be surprised if he doesn't play another game for the New York Giants.

Plaxico Burress Accidentally Shot Himself In The Leg

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg last night at a club. The injury is not life threatening and he has been released from the hospital. While Burress was already listed as out for this weekend's game against the Redskins, it is unknown how long this injury will take to heal.

This seems like one of the stories that can't possible be as simple as it sounds. First off, what is Plax doing with a gun in a club? You don't bring a gun with you to a club unless you're looking for or expecting trouble. Even then you bring body guards with you to protect you instead of packing heat yourself. Secondly, how do you accidentally shoot yourself? Did the gun have a hair trigger? Did he forget to put the safety on? There's a lot of questions that need to be answered regarding this sitaution, but I'm not sure I want to know the answers. At least now he has an excuse not to show up to team meetings.

Steve & Barry's Going Out of Business

Our current financial crisis has claimed another victim. This time discount sports apparel retailer Steve & Barry's is going out of business for good after announcing bankruptcy back in July. They announced today that they are closing all stores for good once they sell off the majority of their merchandise. This is interesting because normally discount retailers do well during tough economic times, but even this company, which is known for selling most items for under $10, couldn't survive.

Steve & Barry's is best known for Stephon Marbury's Starbury shoes and Venus Williams' Eleven Brand. It's tough for Steve & Barry's to sell shoes of someone who isn't playing. I wonder what kind of "Going out of Business" sale they will have. Things can't get much cheaper than they already are unless they start giving items away for free.

Naming Rights For Mets New Stadium In Jeopardy?

Two year ago, the New York Mets sold the naming rights to their new stadium to Citi Group Financial. The deal, which is worth $400 million over 20 years, could be in jeopardy due to the recent financial crisis and the speculation that Citi Group is in trouble. CNBC's Darren Rovell speculates that there is no way any company would have paid $20 million a year in naming rights now and that the Mets displayed good timing in getting this deal locked up two years ago. Today, the federal government approved a $20 billion (with a b) cash injection for Citi Group which makes the $20 million (with a m) naming rights deal look like peanuts. However, today we saw General Motors end their sponsorship deal with Tiger Woods. It is obvious that Wall Street's financial crisis is starting to have an impact on the sports world. It's just a matter of how bad it will get and how far it will spread. With what looks like an iron clad agreement, Citi is unlikely to be able to get out of the deal, but shareholders might start questioning if that $20 million annually could be put to better use.

Tiger Woods Ends Sponsorship With GM

Tiger Woods and General Motors have mutually decided to end their sponsorship of GM's Buick division on Monday. It is said that Tiger was looking for a sponsorship with more exposure and GM had to cut costs due to their financial situation. GM is also cutting their Cadillac sponsorship of the Master's Golf Tournament. It is clear that that financial crisis is having an effect on the business surrounding sports. Sports teams have been forced to create ticket sales promotions (here and here) to increase sales. Everyone always wondered why Tiger endorsed a car like Buick instead of something like Mercedes, Lexus, or BMW. Maybe one of these will be next now that Tiger is lacking an automobile sponsorship.

Worst Coach In The NFL

Afte watching last night's Colts vs Chargers game, I came to the realization that Norv Turner has to be the worst coach in the NFL. Everything this guys touches turns to mush. He was handed a 14-2 team the year he first got to San Diego. The following year the team went had a slow start in the regular season, but finished 11-5 and almost made it to the Super Bowl. This year however has been a disaster. After last night's last second 23-20 defeat, the Chargers stand at 4-7 and need a miracle to make the playoffs (and it's not because Shawn Merriman is hurt).

While a watching the game and following San Diego's play calls, I realized that they have gotten away from what used to be their bread and butter.; run Tomlinson to the outside to set up the inside carries and get the ball to Antonio Gates over the middle and in the red zone. This worked so well for San Diego under Marty Schottenheimer and I can't believe they have gotten away from it. There's a saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Well the Chargers we're broke and Norv Turner attempted to fix them. How can San Diego justify keeping a man who is 15-12 over the last two seasons when they fired a guy after going 14-2 just because he didn't make it to the Super Bowl? Turner's career coaching record speaks for itself, 73-94 combined with the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and the San Diego Chargers. If this guys isn't the worst coach in the NFL he certaintly is the most overrated.

How Bad Can It Get?

If you thought last week last was bad for the Philadelphia Eagles, things just got a whole lot worse this week in their 36-7 loss to Baltimore. Not only did McNabb get pulled after turning the ball over three times in the first half, his replacement, Kevin Kolb, came in and turned the ball over twice more. Neither quarterback passed for 100 yards and the Eagles did not score and offensive touchdown in the game. It has become very clear now that the Eagles are not a playoff team and one must wonder if they will even finish 8-8 this season. If you thought Philly fans were pissed last week, I can't wait to see their reaction after this debacle. Philly fans got their wish when Kevin Kolb replaced Donovan McNabb, but he is clearly not ready to lead the team. I still feel that McNabb gives them their best chance to win, even with his pension for turnovers.

Jimmy Connors Arrested

Jimmy Connors, the former #1 ranked tennis player in the world, was arrested Friday night outside the arena where top ranked North Carolina was playing a basketball game against UC Santa Barbara. He was arrested for refusing to leave the area near the entrance to the arena after a confrontation. Details surrounding the confrontation are not known, but Connors was known for his fiery temper on the tennis court. I think it's safe to speculate that this is nothing more than an argument between a couple of drunk guys before a basketball game.

NBDL Team With Promotion Linked To Stock Market

CNBC has reported that the Reno Bighorns of the NBDL has instituted an interesting season ticket sales promotion that is linked to the stock market. The promotion states that buyers of season tickets will only have to pay off half their balance at the time of purchase and the remaining half is not due until the day the Dow Industrials Average reaches 10,000 or by November 15, 2009, which ever comes first. In case you don't avidly watch the stock market, the Dow Industrial Average closed at 8,046.42 on Friday. Bighorns officials also believe that this is the first time a professional sports team has linked a promotion to the stock market.

I have no reason why no professional sports team (if you can even call the Reno Bighorns a professional sports team) has linked a promotion to the stock market before. Maybe because it's a stupid promotion. What makes these people think that season ticket holders will have more money next year than this year? What if next year turns out to be worse than this year and people all of a sudden can't afford to pay off their season tickets? This is a case of someone trying to be a little too clever. This promotion has disaster written all over it.

Annika Going Out With A Bust

Annika Sorenstam is playing in her final golf tournament as a professional this week at the ADT Championship and it looks as though she will miss the cut. Sorenstam currently sits at 5-over par and tied for 21st with the top 16 making the cut. This would be a sad ending to a wonderful career. Sorenstam single handily put the LPGA Tour on the map. If the scores hold and she misses the cut I wonder if she will come back for another tournament and keep playing until she goes out with a fitting ending. I for one hope that she goes ahead with her retirement because otherewise annoucing a retirement would be meaningless. Instead of retiring, athletes should just say, "I don't feel like playing right now, but I reserve the right to change my mind at anytime so I can leave on my own terms just in case the last sports memory of me isn't a good one." Barry Sanders was the last athlete to retire early and actually live up to it when he announced his retirement back in 1999 at the age of 31. Athletes need to take a page out of his book and wait until they are really ready to retire before announcing it getting everyone's hopes up.

Iona Nixes Football Program

Iona College annouced that they are dropping their football program effective immediately. Iona College was in Division I FCS, formerly Division IAA. The team began back in 1967 as a club and was a founding member of the MAAC Conference in 1993. However, six MAAC schools also dropped their football programs between 2002-2007 leaving only Iona and Marist. With only three wins this season and what their Athletic Director described as "a lack of equitable opponents in Division I FCS Football" Iona has decided to drop their football program.

Why I Never Got Into Wrestling

Besides having a fairly slight body frame, this picture sums

up why I never got into wrestling.

Goddell Wants To Bring Super Bowl/Team To LA

CNBC guest columnist Jim Zissler reports that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants to bring the Super Bowl to Los Angeles in 2016 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the first Super Bowl at the LA Coliseum in 1966. The commish also sees a need to bring an NFL franchise back to LA, which is the #2 media market in the country. Zissler also presents some staggering numbers as to the financial impact the Super Bowl has on its host city. The Super Bowl generates between $300-$400 million for the host city compared to the Final Four ($50-$75 million) and NBA All-Star Weekend ($90 million).

While agree with Goodell in bringing both the Super Bowl and a NFL franshise back to LA, I disagree with him wanting to bring the Super Bowl to London. Why would you host the greatest American sporting event outside the U.S.?

These Girls Sure Know A Lot About Football

These girls have everything any man could ever want from a fantasy sports reporter, except for any fantasy sports knowledge, but hey who needs it when you look like this. I know where I'll be going for my weekly fantasy updates.

Red Sox Fan Sues Over Playoff Promotion

Tom Rotunno of CNBC Sports has reported that Boston Red Sox fan Gisela Levin has filed a class action law suit against Taunton, MA based furniture company Jordan's Furniture. She claims their promotion, which offers free furniture to anyone who purchased furniture during a promotional period if the Red Sox sweep the World Series, is an illegal lottery and therefore against the law in Massachusetts. Jordan's Furniture ran a similar promotion in 2007 when the Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies, resulting in them issuing between $20-$30 million worth of furniture to 24,000 Red Sox fans for free. Jordan's has announced that they do not expect the judge to rule against them as precedents have already been established in their favor.

Mississippi State Tennis Player Accused Of Rape

20 year-old British tennis player Christopher Richard Doerr, is accused of raping a 20-year old girl during a party at his apartment in Mississippi. Doerr, who is attending Mississippi State University, reached as high as #420 in the world rankings and #11 in the English national rankings. This is no surprise, but from all accounts Christopher is a good all around student who is studying to be a lawyer and would never hurt a fly. He faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. He seems like a decent enough guy to me.

Knicks Offering Tickets For 40% Off

According to Tom Rotunno of CNBC sports, the New York Knicks are offering tickets located in level 300 at a 40% discount if you purchase them at Costco. The New York Knicks are a popular team and the fact that they need to resort to offering discounted tickets to fill the stands is bad news. It gives the consumer the impression that you are devaluing the brand and maybe unintentionally implying that your tickets should always be offered at a discounted price. This may not have been a bad idea last year when the team was struggling, but they are showing signs of improvement this year under new coach Mike D'Antoni.

Soccer Players Really Are Gay

This just proves what I've known all along, soccer players really are gay. Apparently the Italian soccer team Catania is implementing a strategy of dropping their shorts during a free kick in an attempt to block the goal keepers vision. Some former players and referees have called this maneuver "unsportsmanlike," I would simply call it gay. Next thing you know soccer will be played naked in an attempt to distract everyone from watching the game, because lets face it, who watches soccer anyways?

Need more proof....click here

There's Going To Be Instant Replay To Review Instant Replay

The NFL is mulling over the idea of allowing referees to use instant replay a 2nd time in case they screw up on their ruling the first time and make the wrong decision. This was the case in this weekends Chargers vs Steelers game when the referees incorrectly ruled that there was an illegal forward pass when there wasn't, costing the Steelers 7 points and gamblers millions of dollars.

This would undoubtedly be the worst decision the NFL could make. I know the purpose of instant replay is to get the call right, but if they can't get it right the first time they look at the replay what makes you think they will get it right the second time? I think the real problem is the quality of officiating that is in the NFL these days. Either the new refs are poorly trained or they just don't care.

16 Year Old Girl To Play Pro Baseball In Japan

Eri Yoshida will become the first woman to ever play alongside men in a Japanese professional baseball league. Yoshida was drafted for a new independent league that will start play in April. Apparently she throws a nasty side-armed knuckle ball and mentions Red Sox knuckle baller Tim Wakefield as her inspiration.

This has bad news written all over it. Not only is a she a woman playing and traveling with men, but she's only 16! Who knows what kind of harassment she is going to have to deal with. I just don't see this ending well, even though she looks nothing like the girl pictured.

Breaking News: Mark Cuban Accused Of Insider Trading

Billionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been accused of insider trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company whose stock is in question is mamma.com, a small search engine. Cuban sold his shares in this company when he got word that they were going to dilute their shares. I guess the Chicago Cubs knew something when they decided not to let Cuban buy them.

Why Even Play The Game?

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals played to a 13-13 tie on Sunday. This is the first tie since 2002 when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons played to a 34-34 tie. While there have only been 17 ties since 1974 when overtime was first instated, the NFL needs to establish a no tie rule. Play as many sudden death quarters as needed to decide a winner. When there is a tie no one feels satisfied; not the players and certainly not the fans. Fans go to a game to see their team win, if they lose it's acceptable because no team is perfect, but when there is a tie you don't know whether to be excited or pissed. If you ask either team I bet they would all be in favor of playing until a winner is decided. When there is a tie it is a dejected feeling as though you played for no reason. This isn't soccer or hockey, this is football a real sport there shouldn't be ties!

Top 10 Hottest Wives Currently In Sports

This weekend was pretty boring...so for your viewing pleasure I assembled this Top 10 List.

1. Jennifer Walcott- Married to Oakland Raider Safety Adam Archuleta

2. Joumana Kidd- Married to Dallas Mavericks Point Guard Jason Kidd

3. Carmella DeCesare- Married to Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jeff Garcia

4. Laura Posada- Married to New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada.

5. Lisa Dergan- Married to Colorado Rockies Outfield Scott Podsednik.

6. Jamie Kotsay- Married to Red Sox Outfielder Mark Kotsay.

7. Cheryl Tweedy- Married to Chelsea Soccer Player Ashley Cole

8. Michele Damon- Married to New York Yankee Outfelder Johnny Damon

9. Elin Nordegren- Married to Golfer Tiger Woods

10. Eva Longoria- Married to San Antonio Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker

It Runs In The Family

Brett Favre's nephew, Dylan Favre, set a state record last friday for the most touchdown passes in a season with 43. Dylan, who is in his junior year, talks with his famous uncle before each game and has already sparked the interest of several top schools including Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Southern Miss, and UCLA.

Playing quarterback with the last name Favre on your jersey isn't an easy thing to do. No matter what, he will always draw similarities to his uncle Brett and will always have the pressure of living up to his uncle's ability. With that said, there will never be another Brett Favre, and no matter how much we want this kid to succeed, the sad thing is he will never be able to live up to the hype. The true test of his abilities will be whether or not he can deal with the reality of that and not try to be Brett Favre, but rather just be himself.

Pack It In Roy!!

What started off as a promising fight for Roy Jones Jr. against Joe Calzaghe turned into a good 'ole fashion beat down. The once unstoppable Jones Jr. is now a shell of his former self losing in a unanimous decision Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. What he provided the public with was just another reason for why boxers should retire while they are still on top instead of trying to prove they can box at any age. We have seen this many times before with boxers like George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson. Some fighters do it because they need the money while others do it to prove they can still box. Boxers need to realize that there comes a time when the body can't do what the mind wants it to. If Calzaghe were smart he would stick to his original plan and retire while he is in fact on top.

No Cubbies for Cuban

It has become apparent that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has no intentions of allowing Mark Cuban to purchase the Chicago Cubs from owner Sam Zell. Cuban, who is owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, placed the highest bid of $1.3 billion.

This is absolutely disgraceful. While Mark Cuban is a very public and very controversial owner, everything this man touches turns to gold. He became an Internet billionaire during the dot com boom when he purchased the Dallas Mavericks. He has turned that lowly franchise into a perennial contender. This man is a business man and does not accept failure. If you ask me, this is just the type of owner the Chicago Cubs need. Afterall, what they've been doing for the last 100 years hasn't worked so what do they have to lose? If I were a Chicago Cubs fan I would protest this decision and welcome Cuban as the team owner. He is a man of change and change is what the Cubs need.