Archive for August, 2012

Mo Isom is trying to become the fourth female to score in a college football game.

Mo Isom knows the odds are long, but with what she’s overcome in life, becoming LSU’s first female placekicker might not seem such a tall order.

Isom, who starred at Cobb County’s Lassiter High and has been the goalkeeper for the LSU women’s soccer team for the past four seasons, will continue a two-day tryout Wednesday. She tweeted about her first day’s performance Tuesday:

“Good 1st day of tryouts. Great initial height & good accuracy, just need a little more power from distance. Time to rest up & prep for tomorrow!”

And later:

“It’s hard to sleep when you’re living your dreams.”

LSU Coach Les Miles told the NOLA.com website that he didn’t see Isom kick Tuesday, but will be briefed by assistant athletic director Sam Nader.

Miles is expected to announce a decision on Thursday.

Isom tried out during spring practice and failed to make the team, but Miles promised her she could try again in the …

Continue reading Former Lassiter goalkeeper wants to kick for LSU »

Alabama uber-fan Harvey Updyke is awaiting trial on charges he poisoned the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner.

It’s apparently mission accomplished for Harvey Updyke.

A new report by Auburn University says the famed oak trees at Toomer’s Corner, allegedly poisoned by Updyke two years ago, are probably doomed and will need to be replaced, the Associated Press reports.

The report says the trees’ branches will continue to die, leaving them “aesthetically dead if not actually dead,” AP said.

Updyke, the rabid Alabama fan who allegedly boasted of his deed on a radio talk show — under the name “Al from Dadeville” — after Auburn defeated the Tide in 2010, is awaiting trial on charges of criminal mischief and desecrating a venerable object. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 1, although his attorneys are seeking a change of venue.

The study, which was conducted by experts after a recent pruning, says a preservation committee will …

Continue reading Study says Auburn oaks likely doomed »

Cindy Earnhart says her son should be able to play against kids one-third his size. (AP Photo)

Herschel Walker’s mom once told Lewis Grizzard that she was not keen on her son playing football for fear of injury — to other players.

That’s not a concern for a Texas mother, who insists her nearly 300-pound son should be able to play peewee football against kids one-third his size.

According to the Associated Press, Mesquite Pee Wee Football Association President Ronnie Henderson said 12-year-old Elijah Earnheart is not eligible because at 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds, he exceeds the league’s weight limit for seventh-graders — by more than 160 pounds.

Cindy Earnheart, the boy’s mother, was furious.

“They would not even let him weigh in on the scales like every single boy out there,” she said. “He might be the size of a grown man but he’s 12 years old and he has feelings, too.”

Continue reading Mom: Football league discriminates against 297-pound son »

Too rich for your blood? (Groupon)

Groupon, the site that offers “50 to 90 percent” discounts on everyday services and goods has a deal for you.

In a nutshell (as they say), for the mere price of $30,000 one bidder will get to:

Throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game; the experience includes a personal suite for you & 13 friends, a tour of Wrigley & memorabilia.

Other add-ons include a full Cubs uniform and your very own press conference. Sorry guys, DOB won’t be there. The Cubs face the Milwaukee Brewers that day – 1:30 pm. start.

The Cubs – who we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention have not won a World Series in more than 100 years … and counting – are in the midst of a downturn. The team is fifth in the NL Central and its average attendance swirls around 30,000. Hmm, wonder if that’s how they came up with the price?

There are still eight days left to pool your pennies and take a advantage of “the deal”. Portions of the sale go to charity, no mention whether it’s tax …

Continue reading Throw the first pitch for $30,000 »

There has been a lot of speculation over where former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu would play next.

It appears the answer is nowhere – for the time being.

Mathieu’s father told WVUE-TV in New Orleans Thursday night that the Heisman Trophy finalist has checked into a rehab center and will not attend a college or play football this season.

Mathieu is being mentored by former NBA coach John Lucas and is being treated at a facility in Houston, said Tyrone Mathieu, according to several media reports.

Mathieu, aka “The Honey Badger,” was dismissed last week for violating team rules.

Earlier this week LSU coach Les Miles declined to close the door completely on the possibility, however remote, that Mathieu would return to the team. About 20 college football programs have asked LSU for permission to speak with All-America cornerback, with only Nicholls State publicly saying they were granted permission to pursue Mathieu.

As a sophomore Mathieu won the Bednarik Award as national …

Continue reading Tyrann Mathieu checks into rehab »

A look at the preseason performances of quarterbacks suiting up in new places around the NFL:

Robert Griffin III, Redskins: The Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by Washington, finished 4 of 6 for 70 yards in his NFL debut. He also lost a fumble. “He stepped up. Made some plays, some excellent throws,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He was very calm, cool, collected. Excellent for his first game.”
Andrew Luck, Colts: The No. 1 pick in April’s draft finished 10-of-16 passing for 188 yards and two TDs. His first pass, a short one to Donald Brown, turned into a 63-yard TD.

 Loading …

 Loading …

Tim Tebow, …

Continue reading Key QBs make debuts around NFL »

The Games of the XXX Olympiad end Sunday and the U.S. is on top of the medal standings.

American athletes have also conducted themselves well, with no controversies in an Olympics that included other athletes being banned for racial comments and drug use.

The biggest controversies involving Americans were more silly than serious, from comments about gymnast Gabby Douglas’s hair to track standout Lolo Jones’s appearance, to swimmer Ryan Lochte having an American flag on his teeth during a medal ceremony.

Are you proud of the skill and behavior of the American squad? Have these athletes represented the country well and made you proud to be an American?

 Loading …

What has been your favorite Olympic moment? Was it Michael Phelps setting an all-time Olympic record for number of medals, or the U.S. women winning gold in soccer, or the men’s basketball team rolling …

Continue reading 2012 Olympics: Proud of the USA? »

LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu has been dismissed from the team, head coach Les Miles announced Friday.

Miles said Mathieu, a.ka. “The Honey Badger” was dismissed for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Miles said the violation was a school and team violation.

Miles said Mathieu was not yet eligible to turn pro, but he believed Mathieu “still has a bright future.”

Miles said it was a “longstanding rule” that Mathieu violated.

LSU enters the season with a preseason No. 1 ranking, but the loss of Mathieu removes one of the Tigers’ top playmakers, both on defense and special teams, where he was one of the top kick returners in the nation.

“It’s difficult at best,” said Miles, who called Mathieu “a quality, quality guy who had behavior issues.”

Matthieu was suspended for last season’s Auburn game for reportedly violating the team’s drug policy.

Mathieu becomes the third high-profile player to be dismissed from a Top 10 team in less than two months, joining Georgia’s Isaiah …

Continue reading LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu dismissed from team »

Former Falcons coach Jim Mora says he had no idea two students were murdered near the USC campus. (AP photo)

L.A.’s a big town, but it might not be big enough for both Lane Kiffin and Jim Mora Jr.

Two large egos, two large mouths — it was only a matter of time before they butted heads.

USC coach Kiffin took exception to comments that Mora, his cross-town rival at UCLA, made on the radio Wednesday about the safety of the two schools’ campuses.

According to the L.A. Times, KLAA 830-AM host Roger Lodge asked Mora how he sells UCLA to recruits, and the former Falcons coach responded with a thinly veiled shot at USC.

“When you’re talking about UCLA, it’s one of the great schools in the world — not just America, but in the world. It’s a safe, beautiful campus in a great area of town. I mean, we don’t have murders one block off our campus.”

In April, two USC students from China were fatally shot in an apparent robbery attempt near campus.

Mora was defiant when asked about the …

Continue reading Mora’s comments ignite feud with Kiffin »

Venting, even a tad, has its rewards, so says Braves third-baseman Chipper Jones.

(Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)

Jones took to Twitter on Thursday to complain about his accommodations at New York’s Grand Hyatt hotel, according to Deadspin.com. He was in New York for the Braves’ series against the Mets.

Chipper, whose Twitter moniker is @RealcJ10, complained about the hotel’s AC, his bed and even  the movie channels.

@RealcJ10 first tweeted, “If anyone was thinkin about stayin at the Grand Hyatt in NY,dont! My AC is set on 65 and its north of 80 in here. Like a freaken sauna!”

He next tweeted to his 100,817 followers: “The movie channels dont work and the beds make my back spasm up! Am i complaining too much? Im sorry, gotta vent to someone. Love yall!!!”

Evidently the Midtown Manhattan hotel’s management got wind of the tweet rant because soon afterward there must have been a knock at Jones’ door.

“Ahh the power of social media,” Jones’ last …

Continue reading Chipper Jones tweets foul play at NY’s Grand Hyatt »