Say What?
Kyle Busch blows lead at Pocono when he runs out of gas
You might think that with all the technology available to a NASCAR team, the driver and crew would know when a car is low on gas – before it entirely runs out. But Kyle Busch, seemingly on his way to a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup victory, lost his lead on the final lap of Sunday’s 400-miler at Pocono when the Toyota he was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing ran out of fuel. “We got greedy,” Busch said. “I can’t fault the team.” But then he went on to say, “Normally when I get that close, I get harped on a lot to save. They were just telling me to save and not put too much pressure on the car. I wish I would have saved a little more that last run.” The only consolation: teammate, Matt Kenseth, won the race. Busch was placed 21st after his car was given a boost to put it over the line.
Kraft apologizes to Brady for trusting Goodell
After NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell refused to reduce the four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady for his role in tampering with footballs prior to the AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he was “wrong to put my faith in the league.” He said he now wants “to apologize to the fans and to Tom Brady.” Kraft, a long-time close friend of Goodell, said in May he would accept the league’s punishment, which included the team giving up first-and fourth-round draft picks along with $1 million. The dispute has moved to federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ordered Brady and Goodell to appear in New York City on Aug. 12 for a hearing concerning his mandated settlement. The judge indicated that if the two sides cannot settle the matter, he will make public much of their testimony, which is likely to be embarrassing to both Brady and the NFL. While Brady has cited errors in the Wells Report and in ESPN coverage of Deflategate, the evidence is conclusive that the quarterback had much more discussion of the condition of game balls than he admitted to the news media following the AFC Championship Game.
Tyndall accused of hiring assistants solely for cheating
The NCAA accused Donnie Tyndall of four Level 1 violations while he was coaching basketball at Southern Mississippi from 2012 to 2014, before he left to coach the Tennessee Volunteers. One of Tyndall’s former assistant coaches said he hired two assistants “for the purpose of engaging in academic misconduct.” Infractions included assistant coaches traveling to states where recruits were living and completing coursework for them. The NCAA also alleged that Tyndall’s staff gave $6,314 to one player and $2,198 to another. Tyndall also was accused of constant contact with the high school coaches of his prized recruits “using burner phones as well as a cell phone in his mother’s name.” The NCAA said Tyndall obstructed the investigation by deleting pertinent emails and providing false information to enforcement staffers. Tyndall was fired in March after the administration at Tennessee was informed of his violations at Southern Miss. Tyndall said he did not “knowingly violate NCAA rules.”
More cheating? Larry Brown investigated again
Larry Brown, SMU’s basketball coach who is no stranger to controversy, is facing an NCAA investigation for “lack of coach control” over his program. Yahoo Sports reported one issue is his former assistant coach, Ulric Maligi, who took an indefinite leave in January after suspicions arose about the coursework of former Mustangs guard Keith Frazier. This is the third time the 74-year-old coach has been investigated by the NCAA for infractions. The other times, at UCLA and Kansas, his team went on probation.
Between the Lines: Brown misses the days when the worst thing he was accused of was sleeping with co-eds. His sins are forgiven because he’s immortalized by national championships coaching both student athletes and pros. Who can blame him if he gets confused?
Eagles linebacker Graham says Tebow ‘will play a lot’
Tim Tebow has made changes in his throwing motion to try to become an NFL-styled passer, and at least one of his teammates in the Phildelphia Eagles’ training camp is impressed. Brandon Graham, outside linebacker, told WPGR Radio in Detroit that “Tim Tebow is going to shock a lot of people, because he’s going to make the team. And I think he will play a lot.” Tebow is competing with Matt Barkley to be No. 3 QB behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida is hoping to play in goal-line packages and be a dual threat as a runner/passer.
Redskins sign Galette, unwanted in New Orleans
Linebacker Junior Galette, who created so much controversy in New Orleans that the Saints waived him after signing him to a four-year, $41 million contract extension, was signed by the Washington Redskins to play for the NFL minimum salary of $754,000. Galette led the Saints with 10 QB sacks last season, but he has been accused of violence against two women, but he’s not expected to stand trial. Whether the league decides to suspend him is another question. And he still faces a civil lawsuit filed by one of his accusers. “Obviously I’ve made mistakes,” he said. “We’ve all made mistakes. But it’s what you do after that.”
Meyer suspends All-America Bosa, three other Buckeyes
Joey Bosa, All-America defensive end for Ohio State, has been suspended for the team’s opening game at Virginia Tech (Sept. 7). Urban Meyer, coach of the national champion Buckeyes, also suspended three other players – H-back Jalen Marshall and Dontre Wilson and wide recever Corey Smith – for “unspecified violations of athletic department policy.” Marshall was second on the team with 38 receptions last season, and Smith also was a projected starter. Despite the suspensions in a game against a respected opponent, Ohio State was ranked No. 1 nationally in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.
Mejia has second drug suspension in a year
Just back from an 80-game suspension for drugs, New York Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia drew a new 162-game suspension for his second violation of Major League Baseball’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs. He was cited for using Stanozolol and Boldenone. “I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system,” he said. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said, “I was totally shocked, incredulous . . . that this could happen so swiftly on the heels of a past suspension.” Mejia, 25-year-old right-hander, led the Mets with 28 saves last season.