guncurug

How to make Indy Cars relevant again (RealClearSports)

Jeremy Lin wins trademark to Linsanity (Bloomberg)

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey aims to pick a fight with the Feds over sports gambling, and its an election year in case you might have forgotten, (Dan Wetzel)

Ten richest sporting events in the world, according to Forbes, and number is not what you think (Forbes)

Why was the SEC in such a hurry to get Texas A&M and Missouri to join last year? To enable the league to reopen TV talks and focus on the launch of a SEC network (FS South via Football Rumor Mill)

Streaking is apparently back, at least in St. Louis where the guy was just celebrating the Loin King. (Deadspin inc.video)

Payrolls count in the NHL, well, unless you're Toronto or LA (Globe and Mail)

FIFA boss wants an alternative to penalty shootouts to decide championships (Guardian)

USOC - IOC agreement should pave the way for an Olympics return to US in 2022 or 2024 (LA Times)

I thought I would put up a few links to articles I had been reading lately since it's been a bit hectic around here these last couple of days. Hope you enjoy:

Origin of NFL nicknames (CNN), 
Remember last year's AFL throwback uniforms, you know, the Bronco's vertical stripe brown socks, well here's the story on where they came from (Mental Floss),
Reggie Bush returns Heisman Trophy, now what (LATimes)
Taxpayers still on hook after stadiums abandoned (NYT)
It's matches like last week's Spain v. Argentina that fuels clubs anger with FIFA over calendar (NYT)
NFL's highest paid players: inappropriately skewed towards rookies and unproven players (Forbes)
Did you know that Coach K and Team USA won the World Basketball Championship with the Redeem Team left at home? (SI)

Were you one of the thousands who couldn't sleep at night and tuned into ESPN's late night live broadcasts from Down Under of Aussie Rules Football?  Ever thought you could play it if given the chance?  Now is your opportunity, thanks to the creative mind of one Miro Gladovic, Melbourne native, former Footy player, and FIFA player agent.  In conjunction with the Australian Football League, Gladovic is putting together a reality show, American Footy Star, which will guarantee the winner a spot in the AFL rookie tryout camp.  A camp will be held in Dallas sometime in August to help prepare and then select participants for the show.  If you're between the ages of 16-24, you can register here.

It really must be a cold day down under, and I don't mean Australia or South Africa.  Sepp Blatter the major domo of FIFA has finally had enough of a World Cup plagued by inexcusably poor officiating and blatantly missed goals being disallowed.   Blunder masters Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda of the missing English goal against Germany and Italian Roberto Rosetti of the missed offsides allowing an Argentine goal to stand against Mexico have been let go for the balance of the tournament.  Sepp's also sorry about the mistakes and sends his apologies.

More significantly, Sepp has said that finally he is willing to discuss the use of technology to determine if a ball has actually crossed the goal line.  This will come too late to help anyone in this World Cup, sorry Brits, but, if he is really serious, then it just might be in place for Brazil 2014.  Make no mistake, there is only one opinion that counts here.  As long as Sepp is breathing, his opinion is the only one that matters and the his willingness to discuss technology, instant replay in any form is still verboten, is a major step forward.  It will still require demonstrating that it is in the natural flow of the game and doesn't detract in any way from the play on the field, which a properly set up system should not do.  If Sepp is seriously willing to listen, then a system should be approved.

Here is a link to a video of Sepp's apology.

It's all peace and love in South Africa now as FIFA and Bavaria have kissed and made up.  FIFA and the South African police have agreed to drop all charges against the Dutch brewery and the two miniskirted glad girls accused of guerilla marketing campaign.  The girls are "happy to go home and the situation is resolved."

For its part, Bavaria has agreed to respect FIFA's marketing policies through 2022 and each party would release all claims against the other.

All is well that ends well I suppose but the whole affair leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.  FIFA once again displays an incredible lack of public relations savvy, giving Bavaria far more publicity than they would have ever received by ignoring the girls altogether.  After all, the girls were only wearing orange dresses free of Bavaria logos and practically indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd, except perhaps from the extraordinary good looks and short miniskirts - it is winter in South Africa.  There is a good way and bad way to enforce your licenses and FIFA has yet to figure that out.