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Gary Glitter, Famed for 'Rock and Roll Part 2,' Called 'A Threat to Domestic Morality'

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 8:03PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: TV and Movies


You might not know who Gary Glitter is, but you definitely know his most famous song, "Rock and Roll Part 2," if you're a sports fan. It's the song that's played in stadiums all over the world, the song that is all instrumental except for shouts of "Hey!"

In addition to writing that song in 1972, Glitter has had a long history of legal troubles, including a conviction for possession of child pornography in England and a conviction for molesting two girls in Vietnam.
Continue Reading Gary Glitter, Famed for 'Rock and Roll Part 2,' Called 'A Threat to Domestic Morality'

International Olympic Committee Promises to Investigate Chinese Gymnast's Age

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 6:59PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: China, USA

The Chinese gymnast He Kexin, who won the gold medal in the uneven bars and won another gold for China in the team competition, has long been the subject of scrutiny surrounding her age.



News organizations have reported that she's 14 -- which would make her two years too young to compete under Olympic rules -- and the eyeball test tells us that she doesn't look 16, which is how old the Chinese government claims she is.

Now the International Olympic Committee says it's going to investigate. The Times of London reports:
The investigation was triggered as a US computer expert claimed today to have uncovered Chinese government documents that he says prove she is only 14 - making her ineligible to compete in the Olympics - rather than 16, as officials in Beijing insist is her age.

Mike Walker, a computer security expert, told The Times how he tracked down two documents that he says had been removed from a Chinese government website. The documents, he said, stated that He's birth date was January 1 1994 - making her 14 - and not January 1 1992, which is printed in her passport.
The International Olympic Committee has taken a "see no evil, hear no evil" approach to China during the Games, but it's long past time for this investigation to commence. The evidence appears strong that He is too young to compete. That means she should be disqualified, and the silver medalists (the Americans in the team competition and Nastia Liukin in the uneven bars) deserve the gold.

Judo Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Challenges Fedor Emelianenko

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 5:45PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Asia

After Japan's Satoshi Ishii won the gold medal in heavyweight judo this week, he made a bold statement: Ishii said he wants to fight the top heavyweight in mixed martial arts, Fedor Emelianenko.

Dave Meltzer reports that Ishii is a national hero in Japan, and that if he did fight Fedor, it would probably be a bigger draw in that country than an experienced, legitimate MMA heavyweight taking on Fedor would be.

Fedor is currently sidelined after breaking a bone in his hand while punching the daylights out of Tim Sylvia, but he has said he expects to be ready to participate in his annual New Year's Eve fight in Japan. So could Ishii be his opponent?

It sounds like a long shot, but not totally out of the question. There's no such thing as professional judo, and if Ishii wants to make a living off his skills, MMA might be the best bet. I'd prefer to see Fedor fight an experienced MMA heavyweight, but if Ishii is his next opponent, I'll be watching.

Did Tiki Barber Say the C-Word on NBC?

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 5:25PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, NFL Media Watch

This clip has a whole lot of people buzzing:


That was former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, now an NBC Sports commentator, talking to Jenna Wolfe and Brian Williams. Wolfe made a joke about Barber not having a Super Bowl ring, and a short time later, after Williams made a comment about the Olympic "medal count," Barber said what sounded to some like the C-word, perhaps insulting Wolfe after he felt that she had insulted him. (A poll at popeater.com shows 56% of respondents saying that Barber said the C-word.)

I'm not totally sure what Barber said, although I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was just repeating Williams' "medal count" and slipped up a little bit.

More at Awful Announcing and Pro Football Talk.

Sean Gannon-Kimbo Slice Won't Be on CBS, Jake Shields-Paul Daley Will Be

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 4:47PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: EliteXC

Responding to yesterday's report that Kimbo Slice would take on Sean Gannon in a fight on CBS on October 4, EliteXC officials say it's not going to happen.

EliteXC vice president Jared Shaw wouldn't tell MMAWeekly.com who Kimbo will fight in his next network television appearance, but he would say, "There are several options we're considering right now. Gannon is not the guy."

That's good news. A Kimbo vs. Gannon fight would be the ultimate freak show. Kimbo should take on a legitimate MMA fighter, perhaps for the EliteXC heavyweight title that will be vacated after Antonio Silva's positive steroid test.

Even better news: Shaw said EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields, perhaps EliteXC's best pound-for-pound fighter, will fight on the October 4 show against Cage Rage welterweight champion Paul Daley. Daley is a hard striker with knockout power, and he and Shields should give viewers a solid fight.

EliteXC is troubled financially, but the combination of Kimbo fighting someone, a Shields-Daley fight and the already announced Gina Carano-Kelly Kobald fight provide hope that the organization's third CBS show will be a good one.

Notes From the Clubhouse: Kevin Youkilis Becoming a Darkhorse MVP Candidate

Andrew JohnsonPosted Aug 21st 2008 4:35PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Red Sox, MLB Awards

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

The Red Sox don't worry about individual awards. They don't even like to talk about them out of fear that it might distract them from the task at hand, winning a third World Series in five years. That's probably part of the reason why they've been baseball's most successful franchise in the past decade.

If Kevin Youkilis finishes with a bang, they might have to start.

The player once dubbed "a fat third baseman, who couldn't run, throw or field," in Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" is having quite the season. He entered play Thursday with 24 home runs, 88 RBI and a .321 batting average. He ranks in the top 10 in those categories as well as on-base percentage, slugging average, OPS, total bases, doubles, triples and walks.

He might not look like an MVP. He certainly doesn't act like one, grinding hard in every at-bat and taking every out personally in a manner ex-Yankee Paul O'Neill would be proud of, but like it or not, he's a serious contender for the award with under six weeks to go in the season.

"It's been fun to watch," says Dustin Pedroia of Youkilis' season. "He's been the biggest part of our offense."

"He's growing into his power," says Jason Varitek. "He's always been a really good hitter."
Continue Reading Notes From the Clubhouse: Kevin Youkilis Becoming a Darkhorse MVP Candidate

Yes, Folks, It's Come to This: Carl Pavano Starts for the Yankees on Saturday

Matt WatsonPosted Aug 21st 2008 4:33PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Yankees, AL East

Carl PavanoThe rumor surfaced earlier this week and today his agent officially confirmed the news: Carl Pavano will start for the Yankees on Saturday.

Wait, let me re-phrase that: barring any unforeseen circumstances (a car accident, a falling piano, a stubbed toe ...), Carl Pavano is scheduled to start for the Yankees on Saturday. Don't laugh, you can't take anything for granted with Pavano, especially considering he missed a bullpen session earlier this week due to stiffness in his elbow.

The Yankees have been backed into this dark, scary corner thanks to multitudes of injuries as well as Phil Hughes' continued insistence to underwhelm everything with a pulse (but don't worry! Phil has glasses now!). But hey, what do the Yankees have to lose? I mean, besides that 13-year streak of making playoffs ...

That said, perhaps we're being too critical of Pavano, who's notoriously made just 19 starts since signing that big, fat $39.95 million contract before 2005 season. As WasWatching points out, 19 starts is nothing to sneeze at: only seven other pitchers have more starts for the Yankees in that same span. Everybody can't be as durable as Shawn Chacon, you know.

EliteXC Heavyweight Champ Antonio Silva Tests Positive for Horse Steroid

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 4:01PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: EliteXC


EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva has been suspended from mixed martial arts for one year following a positive drug test at last month's EliteXC show, the California State Athletic Commission has confirmed.

The drug Silva tested positive for was boldenone, an anabolic steroid commonly used on racehorses.

In addition to the one-year suspension, Silva got a $2,500 fine, which doesn't mean a lot considering that he was paid $200,000 for his victory over Justin Eilers for the EliteXC heavyweight title. It's not clear whether he'll have to forfeit any or all of his purse, but he will presumably have to give up his win bonus, as he will no longer be considered to have won the fight.

The Athletic Commission also announced that Affliction fighter Edwin Deweees failed a steroid test last month.

Olympic 5 Things: United States vs Argentina

Tom ZillerPosted Aug 21st 2008 3:30PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: FIBA, USA Basketball



During the remainder of the Olympic men's basketball tournament, FanHouse will give you 5 Things to watch for in each game.

Where's the heart of Argentina? There has been little news regarding the health of Andres Nocioni. One Argentine report (via HoopsHype) said he will not play, but based on Nocioni's record to date it is clear we should not count him out until we see him in blue jeans or John Paxson's invisible dungeon. (Paradox!) Noces was actually a bit terrible Wednesday against Greece, as he limped around on a bum wheel which relegated him to spot-up shooter status. But he's a stud player, maybe Argentina's third most valuable. Any team which loses a top threat will suffer; against an opponent as virile as Team USA, it's almost a pre-emptive death blow. Nocioni needs to be at his best for Argentina to compete diligently.

Another defensive test. Team USA's slashing defense got a test against quick Patrick Mills and the solid backcourt of Australia. Through the first half, Australia kept ahold of the ball and didn't allow Dwyane Wade and the American point guards to get their klepto on. But it fell apart in the third quarter. Can Argentina's Pablo Prigioni, Manu Ginobili and Carlos Delfino keep it up the entire game? Prigioni has been a marvelous protector of the ball, with only four Olympic turnovers in almost 200 minutes (and through 27 assists). Manu will also bring the ball up some, and Delfino took over those duties briefly in the fourth against Greece. The Americans might be able to pressure Manu and Delfino, and certainly bat about at Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto. But Prigioni should be a tough pastry to smash.
Continue Reading Olympic 5 Things: United States vs Argentina

Now We'll Know What The Twins Are Made Of

Tom FornelliPosted Aug 21st 2008 2:50PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Twins, White Sox, AL Central

While folks around baseball keep talking about what a surprise the A.L. Central has been this season with the faltering Tigers and Indians losing more ground everyday to the White Sox and Twins, when you think about it, it isn't surprising at all. Contending for a division title is what the Twins do.

What I'm wondering is how much longer will the Twins still be in the race. They're only a game behind the White Sox right now, and a half game behind Boston for the wild card at the moment, but that could be changing very soon. You see, while the Twins are pretty dominant at home (46-23), much like everybody else in baseball this season they've struggled on the road (26-31).

Well, thanks to the Republican National Convention hitting Minneapolis this week, the Twins are about to embark on a 14-game road trip starting tonight in Los Angeles against the best team in baseball. After their two week trip they'll get to return home for six games before heading out on another 10-game trip.

Which means 24 of the Twins next 30 games will be played out of a suitcase. Meanwhile the White Sox get to play 13 of their next 22 games in Chicago, where they're even better at home, going 45-19. The way I figure, if the Twins can't manage to win at least half of their games on these two road trips, by the time they take on the Sox at the Twinkie Dome in for a three game set starting on September 23rd, their season will already be over.
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