Owner: The Jock Itch URL:http://thejockitch.blogspot.com Join Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:12:28 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: At The Jock Itch we bring you baseball, basketball, football, fantasy sports, wild opinion, without favor or discretion. Site statistics:Click here
Yao Out the Rest of the Year 2008-02-26 14:36:03 All-Star center Yao Ming is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, a stunning blow to the surging Houston Rockets. General manager Daryl Morey made the announcement Tuesday, hours before the Rockets put their 12-game winning streak on the line against the Washington Wizards. "This is unbelievable," Rockets owner Les Alexander told KRIV-TV in Houston. "This is the most heart-breaking. This is the worst I've felt." Yao Ming is one of just six players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds or assists per game this season."It is not an injury we feel he can play with," Rockets team doctor Tom Clanton said. "I've made the recommendation that it be treated surgically and we are working with him to get other opinions just to be certain that that is indeed what should be done."If
Cassell Seeks Buyout 2008-02-26 14:33:59 Sam Cassell acknowledged Monday that he is seeking a buyout of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, opening the possibility he could land with the Boston Celtics or another NBA team priming for a playoff run."They've been discussing it, so what more can I say?" Cassell said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Both parties are getting to a number and saying, 'OK, this is what we'll do it for.' I just want to be treated fairly."The Boston Globe reported that according to a Clippers source, the team will announce the buyout on Tuesday. The Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets are preparing to make Cassell an offer once he clears waivers in 48 hours, NBA sources indicated, according to the report.If Cassell wants to join a playoff-bound team, a buyout and subsequent release by Read more:Buyout
Who is the Worst Run Franchise in Sports at the Moment? 2008-02-21 12:06:36 After surfing the internet for a while I found a few interesting articles about past franchises that were in the dumps, so I decided to take a peak at some of the newly crowned, worst franchises in any of the major sports at this moment in time.Obviously some of the first teams that come to mind have to be the 1-15 Miami Dolphins, but they seem to be headed in the right direction with Bill Parcels taking over the reigns. I know the LA Clippers of old were awful for every year of their existence. Same with the Detroit Lions who have been terrible for a decade now (came on this year though). But I'm talking, here and now. Who, in each of the three major sports, dubbs the title of "The Worst Franchise" in its respective sport?After some careful thought the envelope please:Football - The O Read more:Sports
, Moment
Shaq Returns While Kobe Gets the Win 2008-02-21 09:38:35 Anyone watch the long awaited return of Shaq Diesel last night against his arch nemesis Kobe. I liked the fresh shave by Shaq for fresh start in Phoenix, made him look young again. He looked pretty awful the first few minutes he was out there. But grant it, he was coming off an injury and it was his first game with a new team in a completely new system. O'Neal was doing his best to fit in with the Suns offense. However, the first time he caught the ball he was on the move, coming across the free-throw line, and tried to make a move, got stuck, and just looked out of sorts. He was definitely hustling out there and a couple of times he even beat Nash down the floor on the break, although he didn't get a touch.On a more positive note, Amare Stoudemire moved back to the power forward position Read more:Returns
The King and HOV 2008-02-21 09:25:39 Cleveland Cavalier superstar Lebron James is a free agent at the end of the 09-10 season. Same said 09-10 off-season the New Jersey Nets will be making their move from East Rutherford to Brooklyn.The Nets happen to be just one of rap mogul, Jay Z’s, semi-recent investments. Jay Z and Lebron happen to be very close friends and even recently celebrated Lebron’s 23rd birthday and Jay Z’s club opening, together in Vegas.Everyone knows when you hear Lebron speak about being the one the best in the league, he always mentions how his aim is bigger, not to be just an NBA superstar, but a global icon. Achieving this goal, although close already, is not easy to do playing in Cleveland, Ohio. What better stage for his stardom to explode then with his friend, the Jiggaman himself, in the biggest
Suns, Nuggets will play October game in open-air arena 2008-02-19 14:23:05 The NBA will hit the blacktop this summer when the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets square off in an outdoors October
exhibition game.The matchup will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., on Oct. 11, The Arizona Republic reports. The stadium seats 16,100 fans and annually hosts the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament. According to the newspaper, the Suns visited the game site last summer and put down a basketball court on the tennis surface. The Suns are also expected to bring a scoreboard and video boards for the game.Once before, according to the paper, an NBA game has been played outdoors. Phoenix was also part of that event when it faced Milwaukee in Puerto Rico in 1972.
Read more:arena
Kidd to Dallas a Done Deal 2008-02-19 14:17:55 Jason Kidd is a Dallas
Maverick, again, and will get to resurrect his Western conference resume. After a few provisions and additions to the original deal that was in place, Mark Cuban has finally got his million dollar man, literally. According to NBA sources, the deal will cost Cuban an extra $11 million then originally scripted courtesy of payroll rises and luxury-tax costs. On paper, it looks to be worth it with Dallas sporting a starting 4 of (I don't know who the 5th will be - Erick Dampier maybe); Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd. That's a very dangerous top 4, and extremely deadly team from behind the arc. Dallas gets its first elite point guard since the departure of Steve Nash in the summer of 2004. In order to get it done, the new deal was as follows Read more:Done Deal
All-Star Weekend in the Big Easy 2008-02-14 13:31:30 Ahh All-Star weekend is upon us. For NBA fans, and basketball fans alike, this weekend showcases some of the best talent the ‘League’ has to offer. Hopefully this year’s event will be conducted and handled much better then last years debacle in Vegas. Oh, and that there wont be any Pacman sightings.So I have a few minor nuances with the NBA and All-Star weekend. For the love of god, can we get rid of the skills competition and the Shooting Stars, they are a waste of time. The WNBA was created for women to have their own league, so get them their own All-Star game, and keep em out of the weekend as a whole . And what is up with the dunk contest lately, it used to be incredible but has significantly declined in recent years. Come on, four contestants, that’s it. This number has to be Read more:Weekend
The Weekly Burn: The Roger Clemens Saga 2008-02-14 12:10:58 Roger, Roger, Roger….Stick a fork in ya buddy, your done! Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to interrupt when someone is speaking to you? Exactly who do you think you are, disrupting a federal official while being under oath? You’re a fraud, a liar, a cheat, and a scumbag. I hope you go to jail and rot away in a prison cell for charges of perjury. Hopefully, for your sake, it will be a humbling experience. Who knows, you might actually learn a few things, perhaps how to take some balls and sticks (whoops, I mean balls and strikes).Your boy, Andy Pettitte even ratted on you and is now corroborating his story with McNamee.Your claim; ‘Andy “mis-remembers” things’.Mis-remembers?? Is that even a word? How do you think this makes you look? A few words that quickly come to mind Read more:Weekly
, Roger
, Clemens
Update: Devean George Has a No Trade Clause! 2008-02-13 22:09:46 Apparently the deal will not go down just yet. Devean George
waived his no-trade clause, in his 1 year contract, to kill the deal at the moment. Devean George, No-TradeClause
?!? That blows my mind. Does everyone have these built into their contracts now? Who's next? Matt Carroll.Upon further reading, Dallas is still in heated discussion with the Nets front office in order to get something done. Stay tuned for details.
Read more:Update
Report: Mavs, Nets Close to Kidd Deal 2008-02-13 16:21:16 Could Jason Kidd be going back to the team he was originally drafted by. According to ESPN it looks that way. Here are the details:Dallas will send Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and swingman Devean George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen. Sources say Dallas will also send the Nets the league-maximum $3 million, the Mavs' first-round draft pick this June and a first-rounder in 2010.The Nets are expected to buy out Stackhouse's contract immediately, which could enable him to re-sign with Dallas if he waits 30 days. ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that the Nets and the Mavs are likewise poised to complete a separate trade that will send swingman Antoine Wright to Dallas for a future second-roun Read more:Close
NBA Denies Howard's Request to Raise Rim 2008-02-13 13:32:43 So once again Dwight Howard
's proposal to have the rim raised to 12 feet during the annual dunk contest at All-Star Weekend has been rejected by the NBA
.The league confirmed to ESPN.com on Tuesday that the Orlando Magic's All-Star center has again formally requested to have the rim hiked from the regulation 10 feet to 12 feet for at least one of his dunks in New Orleans this weekend, as Howard continues to seek ways to prove that his leaping ability is no less impressive that the hops possessed by shorter rivals.Yet as with last February in Las Vegas -- when Howard was planning to wow judges with a 360 dunk at 12 feet and an attempt at 11½ feet which called for him to shift the ball between his legs in mid-air -- league officials balked.They've ruled that changing the height of the rim, w
Cats Get Trounced 2008-02-13 10:19:28 Kentucky has basically fallen off the map as a perennial powerhouse in college hoops. Last night they got slaughtered, manhandled, destroyed (whatever phrase you fancy) by 19th ranked Vandy 93-52.The winningest program in college hoops history got wiped off the floor in the first half, with the score at half being 41-11. The final score of 93 - 52 marks the worst defeat Kentucky has ever endured. With a grotesque record of 12-10 Kentucky's hopes of making the NCAA tournament are slim to none, leaning more towards the NONE side.Kentuckys bright spot, freshmen Patrick Patterson said this of the whoopin' , "To have them to stomp us into the ground like that, it's horrible. They played like men, and we played like boys."
Spree Sells Yacht, Could Lose Home 2008-02-12 09:00:15 Former NBA star Latrell Sprewell's home is up for foreclosure and his yacht sold at auction to help pay off the $1.3 million he owes on the boat, according to court filings.Sprewell, who once turned down a three-year,$21 million contract extension saying, "I've got my family to feed," has apparently fallen on tough times.RBS Citizens NA, or Citizens Bank, filed a foreclosure suit last week in Milwaukee County for the $405,000 home Sprewell bought in the Milwaukee suburb of River Hills in 1994. In court documents, the bank said Sprewell owed $295,138 in outstanding payments plus interest. Sprewell failed to make his mortgage payments of $2,593 per month from September 2007 to January 2008, the documents said. The Associated Press tried to reach Sprewell for comment Monday but a telephone nu Read more:Spree
, Yacht
Takes "All Day" for NFC to Win Pro Bowl 2008-02-11 10:44:09 Did anyone actually watch the Pro Bowl yesterday? Well if you did not get a chance to catch it, Vikings rookie sensation, "All Day" Adrian Peterson capped a ridiculous first NFL season by rushing for 129 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the PRO BOWL. That's right folks, against the best assembled defense the AFC had to offer. This kid is going to be special and I am thoroughly excited to watch him run "All Day" for my fantasy team next year, assuming he's still on the board for my FIRST OVERALL PICK.Peterson’s big day won him the MVP trophy and, more importantly, a new car, which he says he will keep.Before the game AP declared that next year his personal goal is 2,000 rushing yards. That's a pretty big feat to conquer for a second year back, but if anyone can do it, this kid can.
Some Highlight Material from the Week 2008-02-07 13:01:01 Deron Williams breaks CP3's ankles then throws down over Tyson Chandler.Wednesday's NBA TV Top 10Tuesday's NBA TV Top 10LeBron is just plain ridiculous.
Read more:Highlight
Most Incredible 5:06 of College Hoops in a Long Time 2008-02-07 08:13:56 Who watched the beginning of the Duke UNC game last night?In my 23 years and 10 months of life I have seen a lot of college basketball and last nights first 5 minutes and 6 seconds was one of the most electrifying games I have seen in a while. There was not one stoppage of play until 14:54 for an "Official" TV timeout. In that 5 minutes and 6 seconds there was 20 total shots taken. That's 1 every 15 seconds. If you are any kind of college basketball fan, screw it, just basketball fan, that was one segment of hoops for the ages. It was tough, hard-nosed, ACC, in-your-face, "March Madness" is in the air, basketball. I forced my girlfriend to watch most of it with me, after having to watch American Idol before (it was actually pretty funny) and she was even on the edge of her seat. In the cla Read more:Incredible
, College
, Hoops
Doug Williams Freaks 2008-02-06 19:14:10 Do Not Mess with FORMER Pro Football Players!Thank You Biglead for finding this gem.
Read more:Williams
NBA Daily Dish and Last Nights Recap 2008-02-06 14:58:08 So the big news out of the NBA
today is the possible deal between the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat that will send Marcus Banks and the "Matrix" Shawn Marion to the Heat for Shaq. ESPN The Mag's Ric Bucher broke the story Tuesday night that O'Neal is scheduled to arrive in Phoenix on Wednesday to undergo a physical. A source close to Marion told ESPN.com early Wednesday that the Suns have informed the 29 year old that the deal will go through, with the forward eager now to move on after playing with the Suns for his entire career.Word on the street is that O'Neal talked to Suns players including Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, The Arizona Republic reported. "I will not let you down," O'Neal reportedly told Nash on the phone.There is also a sweet write up from all the different media out Read more:Daily
, Recap
Berman Goes Crazy 2008-02-05 13:11:46 Thank you to Deadspin, where I first saw this:You're With Me, Leather!
Read more:Berman
, Crazy
The Weekly Burn: Did Terry Bradshaw Say the F-Word During Fox Super Bowl Broadcast? 2008-02-05 13:07:51 There's some talk that Fox broadcaster Terry
Bradshaw dropped an F-bomb on live TV during the Fox pregame show. Near the end of this clip, when Howie Long puts on a hat, some viewers thought Bradshaw referred to Long's "Big f---ing head".But I think, as Pro Football Talk says, that it sounds like "Big bucket head." What do you think?
Read more:Weekly
, Super
, Broadcast
Super Bowl XLII Commercials 2008-02-05 11:46:22 Which was your favorite?Amp jumpstarts a carAmp energy drink helps a man jumpstart a car like never before.MacBook AirApple computers shows off its ultra-thin new MacBook Air.AT&T Mobile rapA man uses his AT&T mobile phone to rap a message to his loved one.AT&T Mobile monkeyA father stays in touch with his family via AT&T wireless communication.Audi R8Audi makes a man an offer he can't refuse.Bridgestone saves squirrelBridgestone tires save a squirrel from meeting his demise.Bridgestone saves SimmonsBridgestone Tires save Richard Simmons and Alice Cooper from certain death.Bud Light Carlos MenciaCarlos Mencia and Bud Light help individuals adapt to American culture.Bud Light cheese runGuys sneak Bud Light beer into their girlfriends' cheese party.Bud Light goes flyingBud Li Read more:Super
, Commercials
, Super Bowl
Djokovic Captures Aussie Crown 2008-01-28 08:54:40 Novak Djokovic took the expected barrage from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first set, then gave back some of his own to make the Australian Open his first Grand Slam title.No. 3-ranked Djokovic fended off Muhammad Ali lookalike Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in the final on Sunday night, ending a sequence of 11 straight majors won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since Marat Safin's triumph here in 2005.The 20-year-old Djokovic had not lost a set in six matches leading into the final, including his semifinal win over two-time defending champion Federer.But with unseeded Tsonga coming out swinging like he did in his straight-sets upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals and three other top 14 players, that streak came to a sudden end.The 20-year-old Djokovic rebounded in the second and Read more:Aussie
, Crown
LeBron Trumps Kobe as Cavs Win 2008-01-28 08:54:24 The final seconds ticked away, with the Los Angeles Lakers needing a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.That shot was never even attempted.LeBron James won his personal matchup with Kobe Bryant in a duel of the NBA's leading scorers, tallying 14 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Los Angeles 98-95 Sunday for their fifth straight win over the Lakers.
Read more:Trumps
NBA All-Star Starters Announced 2008-01-25 14:33:31 With a late rally, Allen Iverson is an All-Star starter again. Being a Philadelphian myself, I still have love for AI. He played his heart out here in the city of Brotherly Love. The starting lineups shape up as follows:THE WEST G: Allen IversonG: Kobe BryantF: Carmelo AnthonyF: Tim DuncanC: Yao MingMy Opinion: The West is a pretty solid squad with everyone earning their respective spots. I just don't agree with the fact that they dont pick a legitimate PG. Yea I love AI but this led to the SNUBBING of Chris Paul (21.0 ppg, 10.4 apg) who is having an outstanding year as well as Steve Nash (17.5 ppg, 12.1 ppg) who is playing great as usual. And who can forget the best beard in the NBA
, Baron Davis (22.3 ppg, 8.1 apg) who is playing lights out. THE EAST G: Jason KiddG: Dwyan
Ronaldo goes Both Ways 2008-05-07 10:07:44 Futbol sensation Ronaldo
hit the headlines when it was detailed that he had had an encounter with three transvestites in a Rio hotel on the eve of April 28th.The 31 year old international soccer star told police that he picked up the three transvestites, believing that they were female prostitutes, and did not realize they were trannies until they got to the hotel and revealed their packages.Ronaldo also accused one of the transvestites, Andreia Albertini (these foreign names, is that a guy or a guy or both) of trying to extort him, allegedly asking for $30,000 in exchange from leaking Ronaldos unfortunate account with multiple media outlets.According to the report: The tranny has now hit back at these claims. "I have never asked him for money to buy a house,” Albertini said.“Ronaldo
The Mailman 2008-05-07 09:15:41 Anyone ever heard of Demetrius Bell, the Bills rookie defensive tackle? Yeah, I haven't either. Well, he’s former Utah Jazz great Karl Malone’s kid. Neat, right? Ummmm….not so much. Bell's mother actually only happens to be 13 years older then her son Demetrius. That would mean that 'the Mailman' was a sophomore at Lousiana Tech at the time. Yeah. Do the math? Malone has had no involvement in raising or providing for his child (class act) and according to a report told Demetrius when he was 18 that, ''It was too late for him to be his father and that Bell would 'earn his money on his own". His mother Gloria Bell told the Salt Lake Tribune in 1998, “Demetrius is ashamed that his dad doesn’t claim him. But I’ve told him it is not his fault.” Still a Karl Malone fan? Forg
Way to Go Guy 2008-05-07 09:07:06 In arguably the biggest game of the Montreal Canadiens season their head coach, Guy Carbonneau, decided to go in favor of his back-up rookie goalie Jaroslav Halak over their other netminder, Carey Price. The 20 year old Price only had a .853 save percentage in the last three games against the Flyers, but was outstanding the entire regular season and in the first round against Boston.Carbonneau who led the Canadiens to a 47-25-10 record (104 pts) and landed them the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, deferred from the guy they rode all season and went against all of his coaching wisdom in hopes of a minor spark. That spark obviously did not ignite the fire. Halak, who was making his first career postseason start, actually his 5th start of the entire season, allowed 3 goals on 25 shots fir
T.O on TV 2008-05-12 16:03:10 TO will make his acting debut Wednesday night on Flavor Flav’s MyNetworkTV show “Under One Roof.” To will play Flav’s long-lost brother who is trying to get him to invest in his website.Flava Flav knows how to use a computer and the internet??“I see dollar signs,” Owens said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m trying to kind of smooth my way into the family, but Flav is
NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Semis 2008-05-15 15:08:33 New Orleans Hornets (+7) @ San Antonio SpursGame 6, 9:00 PM on ESPNCP3 and Co. will finally dismiss the San Antonio Spurs from the playoffs in the Alamo tonight. Big Fundamentals and Frenchie have played great so far this series but the younger Hornets are too fast and too talented for the aging Spurs. Head Coach of the Year, Byron Scott, will let his boys run wild tonight and hopefully run San Read more:NBA
, Playoffs
, Western
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