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<title>mineSport / Published Content / Football</title>
<link>http://minesport.com</link>
<description>mineSport.com Sports Multimedia Content Management System  votes</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:39:14 CDT</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Whata4s in a Nickname? The Origins of All 32 NFL Team Names]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Whatrsquos_in_a_Nickname_The_Origins_of_All_32_NFL_Team_Names</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Whatrsquos_in_a_Nickname_The_Origins_of_All_32_NFL_Team_Names</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:39:14 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Whatrsquos_in_a_Nickname_The_Origins_of_All_32_NFL_Team_Names</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What do newspaper headline type and the New Deal have to do with the Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles? Here are the stories behind the nicknames of the NFL&amp;rsquo;s 32 teams&amp;mdash;and what they were almost called.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Troy Polamalu's hair insured for $1 million by Head and Shoulders]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Troy_Polamalus_hair_insured_for_1_million_by_Head_and_Shoulders</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Troy_Polamalus_hair_insured_for_1_million_by_Head_and_Shoulders</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:27:02 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Troy_Polamalus_hair_insured_for_1_million_by_Head_and_Shoulders</guid>
<description><![CDATA[PITTSBURGH -- Just call Troy Polamalu the man with the million dollar hair. The long, flowing black hair that tumbles out of Polamalu's helmet and down his back -- it's nearly three feet long -- has been insured for $1 million by Head and Shoulders, the shampoo brand that is endorsed by the Pittsburgh Steelers safety.  The insurance was obtained through Lloyd's of London, which did not reveal what must be done to Polamalu's hair for anyone to collect on the policy.  Polamalu's hair has been targeted by an opposing NFL player at least once -- the Chiefs' Larry Johnson tackled Polamalu by the hair during a 49-yard interception return in a 2006 game.  Polamalu, a five-time Pro Bowl player, wears his hair long as a tribute to his Samoan heritage.<br/><br/>13 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Zoltan Meskoa4the NFL's Most Interesting Man]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Zoltan_Meskomdashthe_NFLs_Most_Interesting_Man</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Zoltan_Meskomdashthe_NFLs_Most_Interesting_Man</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:00:36 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Zoltan_Meskomdashthe_NFLs_Most_Interesting_Man</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Of the dozens of rookies signed by NFL teams this summer, perhaps the most unlikely is a 24-year-old punter from Romania who stands 6-foot-4 and sports what he calls &quot;a buzz cut and a big, goofy smile.&quot;  Zoltan Mesko speaks five languages and grew up dreaming of being an aerospace engineer before graduating from Michigan with a business degree and a master's in sports management. He got lured into football only after he smashed a ceiling light with a kick ball in his Twinsburg, Ohio, junior-high-school gym.  Yet this spring, the New England Patriots selected Mr. Mesko in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He now finds himself training with the team in Foxboro, Mass., where he rubs elbows and trades barbs with stars like Tom Brady and Randy Moss.  &quot;When I was 10 years old, I barely knew American football existed,&quot; he adds. &quot;If you would've told me I'd get two degrees and a pro contract for kicking a ball in the air, I probably would have said, 'Oh yeah? Are you going to disappear into thin air for your next act?' &quot;  The NFL has the fewest foreign-born players by far of America's four major sports. That started changing for kickers, at least, in 1964, when Hungary's Pete Gogolak introduced soccer-style place-kicking to the Buffalo Bills. Today, the position is the league's busiest port of entry. The list of foreign kickers includes the Oakland Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski, who's from Poland; former Patriot John Smith, who played soccer in England; and punter Mat McBriar, who played Aussie Rules Football before signing with the Dallas Cowboys.  As more Americans follow soccer, and more foreigners follow American football, such cross-pollination is bound to increase. For now, though, Mr. Mesko figures his distinctive background was more help than hindrance. &quot;The college coaches probably see five Jim Smiths every year,&quot; he says. &quot;But the kid with the weird Z-name is going to register.&quot;  Mr. Mesko was born and raised in Timişoara, Romania. When the Berlin Wall came do<br/><br/>14 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Michigan High School Switches Practices to 11 p.m. to 4 a.m]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Michigan_High_School_Switches_Practices_to_11_p-m-_to_4_a-m</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Michigan_High_School_Switches_Practices_to_11_p-m-_to_4_a-m</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:50:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Michigan_High_School_Switches_Practices_to_11_p-m-_to_4_a-m</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A Michigan high school football team has made a rather unique decision to start holding practices during overnight. In what sounds like another story of coach abuse or just nutty absurdity, it turns out to be a religious decision.  Fordson High, located in Dearborn, Michigan, consists of a predominantly Muslim group of players. Due to the fasting known as Ramadan, the coaching staff chose to honor Ramadan when it came to fielding a team.  They switched the practices to the moonlit hours of 11pm to 4 am, when the players and coaches could bypass the eating and drinking fasting of Ramadan.  A Michigan high school football team is holding preseason practices in the middle of the night to help its Muslim players practice both faith and football.  The predominantly Muslim squad from Dearborn says the nocturnal regimen is a way for players to eat and drink while observing the holy month of daytime fasting known as Ramadan that started last week.  The August heat also played a factor in Fordson High coach Fouad Zaban&amp;rsquo;s proposal to reverse the clock for a week of two-a-day practices.<br/><br/>16 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning leaves preseason game with gash to forehead]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=New_York_Giants_quarterback_Eli_Manning_leaves_preseason_game_with_gash_to_forehead</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=New_York_Giants_quarterback_Eli_Manning_leaves_preseason_game_with_gash_to_forehead</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:52 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=New_York_Giants_quarterback_Eli_Manning_leaves_preseason_game_with_gash_to_forehead</guid>
<description><![CDATA[EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he is fine after suffering a 3-inch laceration on his head and needing 12 stitches, the result of a second-quarter hit on Monday night. On third-and-1 at the Jets' 5-yard line with 11:03 remaining in the second quarter, Manning dropped back to pass on a running play and ran into Brandon Jacobs before getting drilled in the back by New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace.  With his helmet flying off, Manning fell forward and hit Jets safety Jim Leonhard's facemask. Manning got up before staggering to his knee as blood trickled down his face from his forehead.  Manning showed no signs of a concussion, according to the Giants, and underwent an X-ray that revealed no damage. The Giants' franchise quarterback was sent home during the Giants' 31-16 preseason opening rout over the Jets but he said he could have returned to the field if necessary.  &quot;I feel fine,&quot; Manning said in a statement released by the Giants. &quot;I feel normal.  &quot;I'll be back as soon as I can. It's really not an injury. Nothing serious. I really feel like I could go back out and play right now if I had to.&quot; Manning is the one player the team can simply not afford to lose. Backups Jim Sorgi -- who was Peyton Manning's understudy in Indianapolis -- and Rhett Bomar have never started an NFL game.  Fortunately, the Giants -- who played Monday night without 13 players who sat out mostly for precautionary reasons -- have a tough starting quarterback. Manning has started the Giants' last 87 regular-season games and it appears that streak will be intact when the Giants open the season against Carolina in September.  &quot;He was a little shaken up,&quot; said center Shaun O'Hara. &quot;That is kind of a freak thing. Eli is a little squirmy too when it comes to his own blood, so kudos to him for not fainting. But we are all concerned for Eli.&quot;  Manning took the blame for the play which was called for Jacobs to run up the middle. Manning had an option to throw<br/><br/>18 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Number of 300-pound NFL lineman still ballooning]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Number_of_300-pound_NFL_lineman_still_ballooning</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Number_of_300-pound_NFL_lineman_still_ballooning</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:06:16 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Number_of_300-pound_NFL_lineman_still_ballooning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ten or 20 years ago, Nate Newton and William &quot;The Refrigerator&quot; Perry were on a short list of larger-than-life rarities in the NFL. The 300-plus-pound behemoths made headlines simply for existing. Their every move shook the field and made people take notice.  These days, though, players their size hardly make a dent. Such is life in the ever-expanding world of the NFL.  An analysis of league rosters shows the number of 300-pounders has risen dramatically over the decades: From a single player (Gene Ferguson of the Chargers) in 1970, to three in 1980, 94 in 1990, 301 in 2000 and 394 in 2009.  &quot;Amazing, if you think about it,&quot; said Michele Macedonio, who has worked as a nutritionist for the Cincinnati Bengals for most of the past decade, when told of that figure. &quot;The question they have to ask is, 'How big is big enough and when do we stop getting bigger and think more about getting stronger and healthier and better?'&quot;  Like workers in any competitive business, NFL linemen know what they have to do to keep their jobs, and in this case that means staying big. So, this August is once again littered with scenes of 300-pounders sweating through hot training camp practices. The dangers of the combination of heat, sweat and weight were brought to the fore in 2001, when 335-pound Korey Stringer died of heat stroke during camp. There haven't been any heat-related deaths in the NFL since, which in turn has dulled the debate over whether the NFL is becoming an overweight league.  But the biggest players never forget the perilous edge they're on. They live with it every day.  &quot;It's been a struggle, but it's something you've got to work through,&quot; said Redskins nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu, who was in the 400-pound range last season when he tore his Achilles while playing with the Panthers.  A struggle how?  &quot;Eating right, getting back in shape. I have a weakness &amp;mdash; food. My weakness is a piece of steak,&quot; Kemoeatu said.  There were 532 players in the 300-pound-plus club he<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Vikings safety Husain Abdullah awaits Ramadan fast]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_safety_Husain_Abdullah_awaits_Ramadan_fast</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_safety_Husain_Abdullah_awaits_Ramadan_fast</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:23:26 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_safety_Husain_Abdullah_awaits_Ramadan_fast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[MANKATO, Minn. &amp;mdash; Husain Abdullah is approaching his most challenging month of the football season.  That's when the Minnesota Vikings backup safety observes Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and prayer. As a practicing Muslim, Abdullah will not eat or drink at all during daylight hours for the 30-day period that begins Wednesday.  Even while sprinting in the heat and humidity during drills, sometimes in full pads, Abdullah is adamant about his faith. He will not allow himself so much as a cup of water until the sun sets and before it rises.  &quot;I'm putting nothing before God, nothing before my religion,&quot; Abdullah said. &quot;This is something I choose to do, not something I have to do. So I'm always going to fast.&quot;  This time, the Vikings will be better able to help him handle the lack of nourishment.  &quot;Last year it occurred in early September, and we saw a dip in his performance,&quot; coach Brad Childress said. &quot;We said, 'What's wrong with Husain Abdullah? It doesn't seem like he has enough spunk.'&quot;  Abdullah worked recently with the team's nutritionist on a meal and hydration plan to make sure he gets enough calories to maintain his energy, stamina and health in the coming weeks. He'll eat a big breakfast and a big dinner, when it's dark of course, and get up in the middle of the night to take a protein shake.  &quot;I think we have our arms around it now and know when he is going to wake up and when he is going to eat and what we can pack on him before the sun comes up,&quot; Childress said. &quot;Last year he was shouldering it all by himself. He is playing well. He is a good special teams player. He's interchangeable and can be in the emergency nickel situation because he is a smart guy. He's got great football instincts. He is a guy you pull for.&quot;  Abdullah insisted a back and hip injury last year was more a factor in his struggles than the fasting.  &quot;I couldn't bend. I couldn't run, and I really wasn't the same player,&quot; said Abdullah, who played in all 16 games as an und<br/><br/>7 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Why Can't Terrell Owens Get a Job?]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_Cant_Terrell_Owens_Get_a_Job</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_Cant_Terrell_Owens_Get_a_Job</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:23 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_Cant_Terrell_Owens_Get_a_Job</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The freezing out of Terrell Owens is reaching the point where it makes no sense. It made a little sense in the early part of the offseason, when Owens was looking for $5 million and teams were understandably uninterested in giving that much money to a guy with that much baggage and that many question marks. But now, on the eve of training camp, Owens is being more reasonable and is looking for a job. And the fact that he hasn't found one makes no sense. The fact that teams that could seriously use him are coming out publicly and saying they're not interested is unfathomable. San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith, asked this week about his team's interest in T.O., said, &quot;We're all set right now with our receivers.&quot; With all due respect to Smith, that is a false statement. The Chargers, a pass-first team with a rookie running back and Super Bowl expectations, are anything but set at receiver. Their top wideout, Vincent Jackson, is in the middle of a contract dispute, facing a three-game suspension and, according to some league scuttlebutt, on the trading block. That basically leaves them with Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee to start the season, and not a lot of depth at the position even beyond that.  Forget whether you like Terrell Owens. Forget whether he makes football sense for you. Forget whether you plan to even speak to him about a contract. If you're A.J. Smith, it would make good business sense to let Vincent Jackson at least think you might be interested in bringing in an accomplished veteran to fill his spot. Might be the kind of thing that scares a guy back to the negotiating table. Why come out and say you're not interested in T.O. even if it's true? What is it about this guy that's so toxic that teams don't even want to be associated with him in rumors?  The Seattle Seahawks could use Owens, too. They're projecting to start Deon Butler and T.J. Houshmandzadeh at the wideouts, with Deion Branch and rookie Golden Tate in the mix. Owens could crack that lineu<br/><br/>7 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[7 of the Most Bizarre Athlete Endorsements]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=7_of_the_Most_Bizarre_Athlete_Endorsements</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=7_of_the_Most_Bizarre_Athlete_Endorsements</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:58:15 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=7_of_the_Most_Bizarre_Athlete_Endorsements</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[University of Waterloo suspends football for steroid scandal]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=University_of_Waterloo_suspends_football_for_steroid_scandal</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=University_of_Waterloo_suspends_football_for_steroid_scandal</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:49:28 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=University_of_Waterloo_suspends_football_for_steroid_scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The University of Waterloo in Ontario has suspended its football program for one year following the biggest steroid investigation in Canadian university history.  An investigation by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has revealed nine potential anti-doping infractions by members of the Warriors football team.  It followed the arrest of Warriors receiver Nathan Zettler for possession and trafficking of anabolic steroids in March.  Zettler was suspended from football, and Waterloo officials then called for the entire team to be tested.  Out of the 62 urine samples, the CCES reported nine potential infractions.  Four players admitted to steroid use. Three others tested positive, while another simply refused to be tested. The ninth case is pending an additional police investigation.  In a release, Marg McGregor, CEO of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, called the investigation the &quot;most significant&quot; doping issue in CIS history.  &quot;This situation illustrates that the CIS doping control program needs to be strengthened to ensure a level playing field and protect the rights of the vast majority of student-athletes who respect the rules and compete clean.&quot;  The CCES also conducted blood tests, but the results are not yet available. Blood tests can determine the presence of human growth hormone.  Team members were informed of the suspension Monday morning, and later addressed a news conference at the university's athletic centre.  &quot;The university said they dealt with it in a way that will set an example,&quot; fourth-year wide receiver Dustin Zender told The Canadian Press. &quot;Unfortunately, that example ruins some of the lives of our players here. And because of the actions made by some &amp;mdash; who weren't smart &amp;mdash; it now affects players who did the right thing.&quot;  CBC Sports' Teddy Katz spoke with several players at the media event.  Some questioned the justification of punishing an entire team for the actions of a few, while others expressed concern about their<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Big Ben available for a top-ten pick]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Big_Ben_available_for_a_top-ten_pick</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Big_Ben_available_for_a_top-ten_pick</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:09:12 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Big_Ben_available_for_a_top-ten_pick</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Steelers have begun contacting teams to trade Ben Roethlisberger for a top-10 pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.  This takes Tuesday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report a step further. The Steelers are reportedly being proactive, and with at least one team currently in the top ten considering a deal. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, it is not the Rams. A Roethlisberger trade now looks like a real possibility, with the Steelers perhaps targeting Jimmy Clausen at the top of the draft.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 10 Best Undrafted Players in the NFL]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Undrafted_Players_in_the_NFL</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Undrafted_Players_in_the_NFL</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:22:35 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Undrafted_Players_in_the_NFL</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the 2010 NFL Draft draws closer, hundreds of college prospects are nervously pondering whether or not their names will be called. Guys like Sam Bradford, Gerald McCoy, Eric Berry and Dez Bryant don&amp;rsquo;t have to worry. All that need concern them is when they&amp;rsquo;ll be selected and by which team. But not every future star will have a memorable draft experience. Some will not be deemed worthy by any of the 32 franchises.  However, not being drafted isn&amp;rsquo;t the kiss of death. Plenty of all-time greats never had the pleasure of walking to hearing their names called. Kurt Warner, Warren Moon and John Randle are just a few. At present, some of the league&amp;rsquo;s most renowned players went undrafted. Here are the ten best.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Brazilian Ronaldo says he'll retire at end of 2011]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Brazilian_Ronaldo_says_hell_retire_at_end_of_2011</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Brazilian_Ronaldo_says_hell_retire_at_end_of_2011</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:28:29 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Brazilian_Ronaldo_says_hell_retire_at_end_of_2011</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SAO PAULO (AP) &amp;mdash; Former world player of the year Ronaldo says he will retire after the 2011 season.  The 33-year-old Brazilian striker extended his contract with Corinthians on Monday and said he plans to play two more seasons before putting an end to a successful career of more than 17 years.  &quot;I've already made up my mind, these will be my last two years,&quot; Ronaldo said. &quot;I'll give my best and I'm hoping to have some fun and win many significant titles.&quot;  Ronaldo said that after retiring he will become an ambassador for Corinthians, Brazil's second most popular club behind Flamengo. He said one of his main goals is to help Corinthians win the Copa Libertadores, the only major competition the club is yet to win in its 100-year history.  &quot;We have very passionate fans and every day I'm more in love with this club,&quot; he said.Ronaldo won the FIFA player of the year award in 1996, 1997 and 2002 and spent 15 years in European football before returning to Corinthians in the beginning of 2009 to recover from the third serious knee injury of his career.  He won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, and remains hopeful of playing in one final World Cup with Brazil before retiring.  &quot;This upcoming World Cup is still a possibility for me,&quot; said Ronaldo, the all-time scoring leader in World Cup finals with 15 goals. &quot;But for 2014 it's impossible, times goes by for everyone.&quot;  Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 97 internationals with Brazil, but he hasn't been called up to the national team since the 2006 World Cup, when Brazil lost to France in the quarterfinals. The striker also played in the 1998 World Cup, when Brazil lost to the French in the final.  Ronaldo played most of his career in Europe with PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan. He returned to Brazil after being released by AC Milan in 2008 following an injury to his left knee.  Ronaldo has played sparingly with Corinthians this year and is preparing for the team's debut in the Copa Libertadores <br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Rajaan Bennett, Vandy Prospect, Killed in Murder-Suicide &gt; Buster Sports]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Rajaan_Bennett_Vandy_Prospect_Killed_in_Murder-Suicide_-_Buster_Sports</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Rajaan_Bennett_Vandy_Prospect_Killed_in_Murder-Suicide_-_Buster_Sports</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:27:37 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Rajaan_Bennett_Vandy_Prospect_Killed_in_Murder-Suicide_-_Buster_Sports</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rajaan Bennett, a Vanderbilt football prospect, was tragically killed early Thursday in what police are describing as an apparent murder-suicide at Bennett's mother's home in Powder Springs.  Police were alerted to danger at the house when they received a 911 call at 2:30 am with someone whispering for help.  Officers arrived about four minutes later, and &quot;as they approached and knocked on the door, they heard several gunshots,&quot; Powders Springs police Major Charles Spann told the AJC.  Immediately after the four or five shots rang out, Narjaketha Bennett, 37, and Taijan Hunter, 32, ran from the house, hysterical, police said.  Two &quot;juveniles&quot; exited the house shortly after that and when police were able to enter the house, they found two people dead: the young Bennett and the 39-year-old Clifton O'Neal Steager, an ex-boyfriend of Bennett's mother.  Bennett was the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Class AAAAA player of the year and was described by his high school coach as &quot;just one of the best ever&quot; (regarding his character). Needless to say, this is an awful, awful awful situation, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bennett family.  Much like the inexplicable death of prospect Billey Joe Johnson, Bennett's passing makes everyone wonder, &quot;Why?&quot; Clearly it seems like the case of an angry (and likely/possibly drunk) ex-boyfriend of his mother, but it's just all the more frustrating/disheartening/etc when you hear things like what was recently said by his coach to Vandy officials:  I'm sure you want to talk about Rajaan on the football field, but I promise he's a better person than he is player. He has a great head on his shoulders, a guy that has been the man in his household for quite a while, yet still worked to maintain a solid GPA in class and become such a great player.  In other words, we aren't talking about a young man who skated by with bad grades and utilizing his name value/status as a prospect -- we're talking about a legitimately bright young ma<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Super Bowl Rings Past &amp; Present]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Super_Bowl_Rings_Past__Present</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Super_Bowl_Rings_Past__Present</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:48:32 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Super_Bowl_Rings_Past__Present</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Super_Bowl_Halftime_Shows</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Super_Bowl_Halftime_Shows</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:14:16 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Super_Bowl_Halftime_Shows</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Football Too Dangerous? NFL Studies Head Injuries]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Football_Too_Dangerous_NFL_Studies_Head_Injuries</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Football_Too_Dangerous_NFL_Studies_Head_Injuries</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:14:16 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Football_Too_Dangerous_NFL_Studies_Head_Injuries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What's wrong with football? It's written in the pain on Greg Hadley's face. The senior from Colgate University, a two-time all-conference linebacker on the school's football team, is sitting in a Bedford, Mass., laboratory, staring at shattered brains of dead football players. On this Friday afternoon, Hadley has come to visit Dr. Ann McKee, a Boston University neurological researcher who has received a dozen brains donated from former NFL, college and high school players. In each one, it's simple to spot a protein called tau, which defines a debilitating disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Common symptoms of CTE include sudden memory loss, paranoia and depression during middle age. The disease is also known as dementia pugilistica, or punch-drunk syndrome, because until recently the overwhelming majority of its victims were boxers. Not anymore. Researchers like McKee have found a deep and disturbing association between CTE and America's most popular sport. Hadley wants to see, in raw, microscopic detail, what could await him. All CTE victims have had some kind of head trauma, and Hadley has received four concussion diagnoses during his college days. As they examine images under a microscope, McKee tells Hadley that the brown splotches represent the dreaded tau buildup in the brain. The brains are as brown as the pigskin itself. Hadley lets out a quiet &quot;Jesus&quot; and sinks in his chair. His girlfriend stares at him, looking as if her cat just died. &quot;I had no idea it was all over the place like that,&quot; Hadley says. He glances at a picture of a normal brain next to the stained brain of a deceased player. &quot;You look at something like that and think, This is your brain, and this is your brain on football.&quot; On Feb. 7, some 90 million people will watch the Indianapolis Colts play the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. Perhaps the Roman numerals are appropriate. Although football hasn't quite reached the bloodlust status achieved at the a<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[15 Greatest Super Bowl Grocery Pop Art/Beer Displays]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=15_Greatest_Super_Bowl_Grocery_Pop_ArtBeer_Displays</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=15_Greatest_Super_Bowl_Grocery_Pop_ArtBeer_Displays</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:20:44 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=15_Greatest_Super_Bowl_Grocery_Pop_ArtBeer_Displays</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We&amp;rsquo;ve been looking at different angles to the Super Bowl and figured that the mainstream media had the on-field storylines pretty much covered so Busted Coverage editors were asked to think outside the box.  What developed was a post dedicated to those individuals responsible for masterminding the erection of those grocery displays that amaze as you pick up several cases of caffeine or several dozen cases of beer.  In other words, these are the real men/women of genius who know just the perfect spot to mix Mountain Dew boxes to create XLII.  The &amp;ldquo;15 Greatest Super Bowl Grocery Pop Art/Beer Displays&amp;rdquo; we could find after the jump.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[This Seasona4s 25 Richest NFL Players]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=This_Seasonrsquos_25_Richest_NFL_Players</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=This_Seasonrsquos_25_Richest_NFL_Players</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:07:35 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=This_Seasonrsquos_25_Richest_NFL_Players</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Super Bowl XLIV is right around the corner. It takes guts, speed, and coordination for a team to make it to the Super Bowl. Paying your star players a king&amp;rsquo;s ransom doesn&amp;rsquo;t hurt, either.  Indeed, most top NFL players rack up a ridiculous annual income. Who are this season&amp;rsquo;s players with the mostest? We took salary and endorsement data* to determine who the richest players are for this season. (Note: This list contains more Colts than Saints. You determine the meaning of that.)<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Vow taken in '74 leaves farmer stuck with large beard after Vikings loss - Minneapolis / St. Paul News - City Pages - The Blotter]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vow_taken_in_74_leaves_farmer_stuck_with_large_beard_after_Vikings_loss_-_Minneapolis__St-_Paul_News_-_City_Pages_-_The_Blotter</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vow_taken_in_74_leaves_farmer_stuck_with_large_beard_after_Vikings_loss_-_Minneapolis__St-_Paul_News_-_City_Pages_-_The_Blotter</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:07:35 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vow_taken_in_74_leaves_farmer_stuck_with_large_beard_after_Vikings_loss_-_Minneapolis__St-_Paul_News_-_City_Pages_-_The_Blotter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A 74-year-old farmer from Welch, MN vowed in 1974 not to shave his beard until the Vikings won the Superbowl. Now that the Vikings choked away their chance for success, it looks like he's stuck with the beard into eternity. (See a picture of him here)   Emmett Pearson, who already resembles Father Time, hasn't shaved since the Vikings 1974 Superbowl loss to the Steelers, and is most definitely grief stricken after the team pissed away the game. He and his 48-year-old son talked to us this morning and Pearson's son confirmed that the beard is not coming off.  &quot;It's been a long, long time since I've seen him without a beard,&quot; he said.  According to other news reports, his life consists solely of Vikings coverage. Pearson's phone was off the hook all morning, presumably so he wouldn't have to receive any calls about the game. Luckily, his son gave me his cell phone number.  &quot;Yeah, I was down,&quot; Pearson told us this morning. &quot;I wish they would have tried a field goal before they had that last pass that was intercepted. I don't blame anyone, though. Once it went into overtime I didn't think we would do it.&quot;  Pearson is sticking to his vow and keeping his beard, but says it's unlikely that the Vikes will win anytime soon if Favre doesn't return. &quot;Sooner or later they're going to win,&quot; he said.  &quot;I hope.&quot;  Do you see what you've done, Favre? You've crushed our hopes once again, and now this man is going to die looking like a ZZ Top fan rather than a lifelong Vikes supporter.<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Philadelphia Eagles Trophy Case]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Philadelphia_Eagles_Trophy_Case</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Philadelphia_Eagles_Trophy_Case</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:22:12 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Philadelphia_Eagles_Trophy_Case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The biggest lawsuit in sports history?]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_biggest_lawsuit_in_sports_history</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_biggest_lawsuit_in_sports_history</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:32:36 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_biggest_lawsuit_in_sports_history</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Supreme Court is set to begin hearing a case Wednesday that one law professor describes as &quot;the most important sports law case in U.S. history.&quot;  That's a pretty dramatic statement. Why is American Needle v. NFL such a big deal? Because the ramifications of this case could affect nearly every aspect of NFL deals, from player contracts to video game productions.  Here's what's going on. American Needle had a cushy deal with the National Football League for decades, making clothes with team logos on them.  But American Needle got pushed out in 2002, writes law professor Michael McCann, when the NFL signed an exclusive 10-year contract with Reebok for licensed clothing.  And that caused American Needle to sue. The company says that the NFL's 32 separately-owned teams are competitors, and are breaking a portion of antitrust law that says competitors cannot conspire to harm consumers.  By offering an exclusive deal to Reebok, American Needle says the NFL has hurt consumers by not allowing other companies to sell clothing as well.  Interesting case. McCann says it boils down to whether to view the NFL as a single entity or as a group of competitors. Lower courts have been split on the issue, leaving it up to the Supreme Court to make the final call.  McCann thinks this is a big deal for several reasons. First, if the NFL is ruled as a group of competitors, it could run into antitrust trouble on any number of deals, such as an exclusive contract with a video game publisher like Electronic Arts (ERTS). Or what about the NFL Network?  McCann thinks the effect could even spread to players' salaries, free agency rights, and age eligibility restrictions.  The case is such a big deal that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees wrote an opinion piece about it in The Washington Post last Sunday. The case &quot;could have a profound impact not only on my sport but on all of American professional athletics,&quot; he wrote.  The Supreme Court's decision is being closely watched<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Top 5 Fantasy Football Overacheivers: 2009]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_5_Fantasy_Football_Overacheivers_2009</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_5_Fantasy_Football_Overacheivers_2009</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:04:41 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_5_Fantasy_Football_Overacheivers_2009</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Every Year Fantasy Football brings us countless amounts of excitement as we are drafting &amp;ldquo;The Perfect Team&amp;rdquo;, or in my case, 6 of them. We review our stat sheets, buy any fantasy football magazine our pocket books will allow after we&amp;rsquo;ve spent hundreds on league entry fees, and we concoct the perfect strategy to topple the competition once again. Sure, it&amp;rsquo;s easy to know that Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson are sure things at the top of the draft, but the key to winning many leagues is finding the hidden gems in the later rounds or on the early season waiver wire. Here is a list of the top players who came virtually out of nowhere to win your fantasy football league.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tom Brady's Indifference to Football Clearly Gisele's Fault]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Bradys_Indifference_to_Football_Clearly_Giseles_Fault</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Bradys_Indifference_to_Football_Clearly_Giseles_Fault</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:04:41 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Bradys_Indifference_to_Football_Clearly_Giseles_Fault</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Wes Welker-less Patriots got blown out at home against the Ravens Sunday, and Tom Brady played with all the enthusiasm you've come to expect from a typical Randy Moss performance.  Apparently, that's a problem. And Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, writing for the Boston Herald's Inside Track, pin Brady's sudden insouciance, in part, on his supermodel wife, Gisele B&amp;uuml;ndchen:  &quot;...Face it, Tom, you're not the ferociously focused footballer you were before marrying Brazilian glamazon Gisele Bundchen last spring, celebrating last month's birth of son Benjamin, and playing long-distance Daddy to firstborn son Jack, 2. And lest we forget, all the real-estate wheeling and dealing!&quot;<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ed Orgeron Tells Players Not to Go to Class]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ed_Orgeron_Tells_Players_Not_to_Go_to_Class</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ed_Orgeron_Tells_Players_Not_to_Go_to_Class</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:04:41 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ed_Orgeron_Tells_Players_Not_to_Go_to_Class</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you ever doubt the depths of the corruption of college football, consider this: A college coach reportedly spent Tuesday night calling players and telling them not to attend class, and he apparently was not violating any NCAA rules in doing so.  The coach in question, Ed Orgeron, quit as Tennessee's recruiting coordinator to head to USC with Lane Kiffin, and he wants to bring some Tennessee recruits with him. Some of those recruits are players who graduated from high school early and signed up for spring semester classes at Tennessee, which start this week, but now Orgeron and Kiffin want them to forget Tennessee and head to Southern California.  Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Orgeron has contacted multiple UT mid-term enrollees and encouraged them not to attend class because once you've attended class at one university, the NCAA makes it harder to transfer to another university.  So Kiffin and Orgeron can pick up and leave whenever they want, and they can encourage student-athletes to pick up and leave with them. But if those student-athletes have attended any classes, the NCAA will punish them for their attendance by preventing them from transferring without having to sit out a year.  It's utterly ridiculous that NCAA rules allow coaches to actively encourage students not to go to class. But &quot;utterly ridiculous&quot; pretty well describes everything about NCAA rules.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[What do Russell and Leaf have in common? Vegas, baby!]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=What_do_Russell_and_Leaf_have_in_common_Vegas_baby</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=What_do_Russell_and_Leaf_have_in_common_Vegas_baby</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:15:10 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=What_do_Russell_and_Leaf_have_in_common_Vegas_baby</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Remember how Jim Mora the Elder and the Indianapolis Colts' front office finally made the decision to draft Peyton Manning(notes) over Ryan Leaf in 1998? When the Colts, who had the first pick in the 1998 draft, interviewed both quarterbacks, they got very different responses to the $100 bazillion question: What are you going to do when we give you all that money? Manning seemed more interested in banking the check and getting to work in the film room, while Leaf said that the first thing he'd do is take his buddies to Vegas. Case closed.Now, Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell(notes) is bringing back the spirit of Leaf (in a super-sized version - this guy is now bigger than many of the defensive linemen who find him so easy to tackle), and he seems to be interested in putting Al Davis on the hook for a similarly huge error. Reports indicate that Russell missed the Raiders' final team meeting of the 2009 season. Not a big deal if, as it was originally believed, Russell missed the meeting for &quot;personal reasons&quot;. It's a bit more of a big deal if, as we have now learned, Russell took off for Las Vegas in lieu of that final meeting.  Selected first overall in the 2007 draft, Russell has failed to distinguish himself in any positive way, except that he's never been a team-killer or directly flaunted Davis' Commitment to Excellence (whatever that means these days) enough for the man himself to call Russell out. Lane Kiffin and Tom Cable, the team's last two coaches, have come out publicly against Russell's production and work ethic, but Davis has been his quarterback's staunch defender. That may be about to change.  The Raiders have a long history of players who studied their playbooks by the light of the closest bar, but those were great players who actually studied their playbooks. Russell has done nothing whatsoever to prove that he's interested in transcending what has been a horrible early campaign. In 2008, he finished dead last among qualifying quarter<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL to Players: Please Donate Your Brains]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_to_Players_Please_Donate_Your_Brains</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_to_Players_Please_Donate_Your_Brains</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:29:30 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_to_Players_Please_Donate_Your_Brains</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The NFL is partnering with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league's stance on concussions, The Associated Press learned Sunday.  The league now plans to encourage current and former NFL players to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which has said it found links between repeated head trauma and brain damage in boxers, football players and, most recently, a former NHL player.  &quot;It's huge that the NFL actively gets behind this research,&quot; said Robert Cantu, a doctor who is a co-director of the BU center and has spoken negatively about the league in the past. &quot;It forwards the research. It allows players to realize the NFL is concerned about the possibility that they could have this problem, and that the NFL is doing everything it can to find out about the risks and the preventive strategies that can be implemented.&quot;  NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP on Sunday that the league also is committed to giving $1 million or more to the center. Aiello said the league already has held discussions with the NFL Alumni Association about suggesting that retired players look into participating in BU's work by offering their brains for study after they die.  The league also will contact the nearly 100 retired football players who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia and are receiving benefits from the league to ask their families to consider donating those players' brains to the BU study.  &quot;The people affiliated with the center have identified the donation of brains, both from healthy people and those that have had multiple concussions, as their most critical need right now to further the research into this disease,&quot; Aiello said. &quot;We ... will discuss with the center its research needs as we go forward in this partnership.&quot;  Cantu said he and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met in October to discuss concussions and the BU project.  Sunday's news represents the latest<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL Star Chris Henry Dies]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Chris_Henry_Dies</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Chris_Henry_Dies</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:17:25 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Chris_Henry_Dies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NFL star Chris Henry has died as a result of the injuries he sustained after falling out of the back of a moving pickup truck yesterday.  Charlotte-Mecklenburg police tell TMZ Henry died at 6:36 AM EST this morning.  He was 26.  As we previously reported, cops believe Henry -- a wide receiver on the Cincinnati Bengals -- jumped into the back of the truck, in an attempt to stop his fiancee from leaving a &quot;domestic situation&quot; at her parents' home in North Carolina.  Henry was rushed to a local hospital -- where he passed away this morning.  Authorities tell us they're still investigating the situation.  Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/17/nfl-star-chris-henry-dies/#ixzz0a3Lb9TPF<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Barack Obama Watches 3 Football Games at Once While Solving Health Care Crisis]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Barack_Obama_Watches_3_Football_Games_at_Once_While_Solving_Health_Care_Crisis</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Barack_Obama_Watches_3_Football_Games_at_Once_While_Solving_Health_Care_Crisis</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:17:25 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Barack_Obama_Watches_3_Football_Games_at_Once_While_Solving_Health_Care_Crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Decade of Decadence: Counting Down Sports' Top 10 Excesses]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Decade_of_Decadence_Counting_Down_Sports_Top_10_Excesses</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Decade_of_Decadence_Counting_Down_Sports_Top_10_Excesses</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:19:39 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Decade_of_Decadence_Counting_Down_Sports_Top_10_Excesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the decadent city of Rome burned in 64 A.D., Nero fiddled. As the world of sports descended into decadence throughout the first decade of the 21st century, Pacman Jones made it rain. No single incident more summarizes the decade that was, than Jones' rainstorm in the final hours of the NBA's 2007 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.  Pacman, then a defensive back for the Tennessee Titans, began to make it rain -- throwing money in the air as if it were raining -- in a strip club called Minxx. Jones, who reportedly arrived with $100,000 in cash -- gambling winnings, carried in black trash bags -- stood on the stage and made it rain while the strippers cavorted around him. Shortly after the rainstorm began, a fight broke out as the strippers scrambled to grab the money on the gilded stage. From there a bouncer was shot outside the club, and chaos reigned.  The &quot;making-it-rain&quot; story grabbed headlines for months, was the pivotal event surrounding the NFL's new personal conduct policy, and represented, in a matter of minutes, the perfect illustration of our own decade of sports decadence. For the unaware, decadence is defined thusly: &quot;A process, condition, or period of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art; decay.&quot; And while Pacman's making it rain might have crystallized the decadent decade of sports, he had many compatriots. Dive in for the 10 most decadent events that summed up the decade that was in sports.  Before we begin, let's keep in mind that sports merely served as a reflection of our larger society's decline. Indeed, sports' own decade of decadence was set in motion by larger market forces that embraced excess. On March 10, 2000, the NASDAQ stock market hit 5132.52. New millionaires were being crowned each day thanks to the love affair with a newfangled contraption called the information superhighway. As sports fans across the country geared up for the release of the NCAA Tournament brackets in a few short days, it appeared likely that we were all g<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tom Brady, Patriots are tops in NFL decade; Lions at bottom - 2000s: The Best Danm Decade in NFL History]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Brady_Patriots_are_tops_in_NFL_decade_Lions_at_bottom_-_2000s_The_Best_Danm_Decade_in_NFL_History</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Brady_Patriots_are_tops_in_NFL_decade_Lions_at_bottom_-_2000s_The_Best_Danm_Decade_in_NFL_History</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:01:18 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tom_Brady_Patriots_are_tops_in_NFL_decade_Lions_at_bottom_-_2000s_The_Best_Danm_Decade_in_NFL_History</guid>
<description><![CDATA[PLAYER OF THE DECADE: Peyton Manning, Colts The Colts are the winningest regular-season team in the decade, and Manning's immense presence, skill, accuracy and mastery of the offense are the biggest reasons. Twenty years ago, Fran Tarkenton was the all-time leader in passing yards, with 47,003. Barring some surprise in the last month of this regular season, Manning will finish 2009 with more than 42,000 in this decade alone. He is not the leader of his offense; he is the commandant.  BEST COACH: Bill Belichick, Patriots Spygate will always stain his r&amp;eacute;sum&amp;eacute;, but it's not enough of a stain to erase the tremendous accomplishment of winning three Super Bowls in a salary-cap era and, in a fourth season, going 16-0 before losing in Super Bowl XLII. What makes Belichick's accomplishment all the more stunning is that he built his foundation in 2001 with castoffs and undeveloped players, and coached the tar out of them. He and Paul Brown may go down as the smartest to roam an NFL sideline.  BEST GM: Bill Polian, Colts Smart GMs make do with less, and because the Colts were hamstrung for much of the decade with huge contracts for stars like Manning and Marvin Harrison, Polian and his scouting staff had to find gems in middle and low rounds and college free agency. They crafted the winningest regular-season team of the decade with productive players like Gary Brackett, Antoine Bethea, Jeff Saturday, Robert Mathis and Pierre Gar&amp;ccedil;on, all either fifth-round-or-lower draft picks or college free agents.  BEST FRANCHISE: New England Patriots Three Super Bowl wins this decade, none more impressive than the first. (No other team has more than two SB wins as we head down the stretch, with only Pittsburgh capable of matching the Pats for Super Bowl kings of the 2000-2009 seasons). Before that first Super Bowl win, the salary-cap-strapped Patriots signed 17 middle- and lower-class free agents for less than $3 million in total bonus money, and seven of those playe<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Concussions: Inside NFL's Head Games]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Concussions_Inside_NFLs_Head_Games</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Concussions_Inside_NFLs_Head_Games</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:05:41 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>pakpryde</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Concussions_Inside_NFLs_Head_Games</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This week, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell set new guidelines for the treatment of NFL players who have suffered concussions, decreeing that those who show signs of such injuries must be removed from a game or practice and not allowed to return that day.  His timing was impeccable. The concussion casualty list grows every week. In the last seven days, Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis has had his season--and perhaps his career--ended by a concussion. His teammate, Brodney Pool, is out for the season because of one. And the two starting quarterback from last year's Super Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, both sat out games due to the recurring symptoms from concussion suffered the week prior. Concussions have become the National Football League's ''Big Tobacco'' moment. Earlier this year, former players were found with dementia from concussions suffered--and sometimes left untreated--during their playing days. Then Goodell was forced to answer questions in an October Congressional hearing. The next month the league's self-appointed concussion experts resigned after their research was deemed biased and incomplete. A media frenzy ensued.  But unlike Big Tobacco, which in past decades knowingly withheld the damaging effects of its products on its consumers, the NFL has begun to tackle the concussion issue head-on. Goodell's guidelines were the first blow.  ''I think the NFL has become the model for concussion management in this country,'' says Joseph Maroon, the neurosurgeon for the Steelers and a member of the NFL's concussion committee. ''What's being done in the NFL will hopefully flow down to the college and high school levels.''  Mark Lovell, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and the author of three books about concussions, says: ''The league is adapting.''<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[25 years since Footballs most legendary Hailmary pass: Doug Flutie through the years]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_years_since_Footballs_most_legendary_Hailmary_pass_Doug_Flutie_through_the_years</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_years_since_Footballs_most_legendary_Hailmary_pass_Doug_Flutie_through_the_years</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:56:29 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_years_since_Footballs_most_legendary_Hailmary_pass_Doug_Flutie_through_the_years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It was 25 years ago today that former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie threw the legendary Hail Mary pass to receiver Gerard Phelan to give the Eagles a thrilling 47-45 last-second win over the University of Miami. In a recent interview with ESPN's Brent Musburger, Flutie says that even though it's been 25 years, it's a rare day when the Hail Mary is not brought up in conversation. &quot;I know the average is well over once a day,&quot; he told Musburger. &quot;There may be a day that goes by where it doesn't come up, but they're few and far between.&quot; Here's a look back at Doug Flutie through the years.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Death of QB Brees' mother ruled a suicide]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Death_of_QB_Brees_mother_ruled_a_suicide</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Death_of_QB_Brees_mother_ruled_a_suicide</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:32:53 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Death_of_QB_Brees_mother_ruled_a_suicide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[GRANBY, Colo. (AP) &amp;mdash; The death of the mother of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been ruled a suicide.  Mina Brees, an attorney from Austin, died Aug. 7 while visiting Colorado. Grand County coroner Brenda Bock concluded this week that the 59-year-old Brees died of a prescription drug overdose and ruled the death a suicide.  Bock said Brees died while staying at the home of a friend in Granby near Rocky Mountain National Park.  It took longer than three months for autopsy results to be released, but Bock said that's typical for cases involving toxicology tests.  The Austin American Statesman reported that three days before Brees died, the Texas attorney general's office subpoenaed her business records.  She had allegedly sent letters to some restaurants in Austin and Houston stating that they had lost their rights to use their names to a company she represented, Chicksports, but they could win the rights back by paying up to $25,000. She was also the president of Chicksports but that wasn't mentioned in the letter.  Relations between Drew Brees and his mother were strained at times and the quarterback asked her to stop using his picture in TV commercials touting her candidacy for a Texas appeals court seat in 2006.  Mina Brees said she had not anticipated upsetting her son and sent out replacement commercials omitting mention of him.  At the time, Drew Brees called his relationship with his mother &quot;nonexistent,&quot; saying it crumbled six years earlier when he refused to hire her as his agent.  Austin attorney Marty Akins, the brother of Mina Brees, declined comment late Friday.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL Bans the Captain Morgan Pose]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Bans_the_Captain_Morgan_Pose</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Bans_the_Captain_Morgan_Pose</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:29:27 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Bans_the_Captain_Morgan_Pose</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Strike a pose.  OK, maybe not if you're NFL tight end Brent Celek, or any other football player on the field marketing or promoting a product during a live game.  Celek, posed in front of television cameras, mimicking the Captain Morgan pose from the famous rum's label and televison ad campaign.  It cost his Philadelphia Eagles team a 15-yard penalty for demonstration, which was incurred when Celek's teammate tried to help him achieve the perfect Captain Morgan pose.  &quot;A company can't pay a player to somehow promote it's product on the field,&quot; NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Yahoo! Sports.  The Captain Morgan pose was banned last week after the NFL learned of Captain Morgan's wider campaign aimed to get players to repeatedly strike the pose during NFL games.  The NFL takes a strong stance against companies using players for their ambush marketing purposes and guerilla tactics.  According to Captain Morgan's promotion company, their new campaign was set to launch next week.  For every time a player posed on camera striking the Captain Morgan during a regular season game, $10,000 would be donated to Gridiron Greats - a non-profit which helps retired NFL players.  If players posed during the playoffs or in the Super Bowl, the alcohol company planned to increase its charity contribution to the Gridiron Greats fund.  Currently, NFL policies prohibit wearing, displaying, promoting or otherwise conveying players' support of a commercially identified product during a game while they're on the field.  For now, Celek's still got a little bit of the Captain in him and he won't be fined.  But NFL officials say that striking the pose in future games will result in a &quot;significant&quot; penalty.<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 10 Best Players on Bad Teams]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Players_on_Bad_Teams</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Players_on_Bad_Teams</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:54:09 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Best_Players_on_Bad_Teams</guid>
<description><![CDATA[At the midway point of the NFL season, I want to commend some of the guys who are excellent at their job, but the results just don&amp;rsquo;t show up in the win column.  We won&amp;rsquo;t see these guys in the post-season because frankly, their (dis)respective teams are flat out terrible at playing football together.  Whether it&amp;rsquo;s coaching, a Swiss cheese D, or an awful QB running the show, the fact remains, the below ballers will not have an opportunity to display their talents on the grand stage of the NFL Playoffs.  These 10 guys are stuck in a moment, and they can&amp;rsquo;t get out of it. Just like these guys.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Darren Sharper, Jared Allen worthy of NFL MVP consideration]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Darren_Sharper_Jared_Allen_worthy_of_NFL_MVP_consideration</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Darren_Sharper_Jared_Allen_worthy_of_NFL_MVP_consideration</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:48:27 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Darren_Sharper_Jared_Allen_worthy_of_NFL_MVP_consideration</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The usual NFL Most Valuable Player suspects are doing their usual things. They're putting up huge numbers, winning big games and getting their faces splashed across TV and laptop screens.  Drew Brees. Peyton Manning. Adrian Peterson. Tom Brady. Toss in a few prominent and well-hyped heroes from widely popular teams -- Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger and even Brett Favre -- and there's your cast of media-man-love candidates for the NFL's biggest award for 2009.   But as much as they are deserving and popular, with entire Web sites dedicated to some MVP causes, suppose we think outside the blog.  Most valuable. It doesn't say anything about quarterbacks or running backs, although those two positions have dominated the award since 1986.  We offer, then, six non-QBs and RBs quietly making legitimate MVP noise. They won't be in most MVP discussions ... but should they?<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Joe Montana's Crib goes on the market for $49 million]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Joe_Montanas_Crib_goes_on_the_market_for_49_million</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Joe_Montanas_Crib_goes_on_the_market_for_49_million</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:48:27 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Joe_Montanas_Crib_goes_on_the_market_for_49_million</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Standing in the upstairs living room on a brisk October morning, Jennifer Montana described her husband, football great Joe Montana, as a simple guy. &quot;He needed a beer tap, a pretty good-sized television screen and a barbecue area,&quot; she said.  Simple wouldn't be the first word that comes to mind in describing the couple's retreat, which extends into both Napa and Sonoma counties. Set on 500 acres on a hilly, forested expanse with year-round creeks and uninterrupted views, the couple's 9,700-square-foot Tuscan villa-style house with a tower boasts the beer tap and many hidden flat-screen televisions, but what commands attention are the baronial flourishes and details, many of them imported from Europe.The 22-foot tall ceiling in the great room, a large space decorated with a hanging tapestry and oversized velvet furniture, is encased in wood. In the loggia nearby is an imposing fireplace; above is the Montana family crest, painted by an artist from the south of France. A pair of tall iron gates from the 16th century guard the gallery; a heavy marble bathtub needed to be moved by crane. &quot;The fish are local,&quot; joked Mr. Montana, now 52 and silver-haired, nodding to a nearby pond.  Former NFL defensive back and longtime friend Ronnie Lott said his former teammate was so drawn to the lifestyle of Italy that he considered moving there, but &quot;after building this home, he didn't have to.&quot;  In all, the Montanas devoted about a decade to locating and building their family retreat, almost as much time as Mr. Montana spent at the San Francisco 49ers, the team that made him famous. Now the couple, who moved more than 400 miles south to Thousands Oaks, Calif. to be closer to their two football-playing sons, have decided to sell their property. The asking price: $49 million. Coldwell Banker Previews International and Pacific Union, an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates, have the listing. It's an ambitious price tag, particularly in the sagging luxury market. &quot;It's an unheard-<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 32 NFL Quarterbacks and their Major League Pitching Equivalents]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_32_NFL_Quarterbacks_and_their_Major_League_Pitching_Equivalents</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_32_NFL_Quarterbacks_and_their_Major_League_Pitching_Equivalents</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:53:41 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_32_NFL_Quarterbacks_and_their_Major_League_Pitching_Equivalents</guid>
<description><![CDATA[These comparisons were based on anything from a player&amp;rsquo;s successes, awards, honors, skill level, style of play, intangibles, personality, draft selection, physical tools, length of career, and/or anything else that seemed like a logical correlation.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[If the Chicago Bears Were Simpsons]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_the_Chicago_Bears_Were_Simpsons</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_the_Chicago_Bears_Were_Simpsons</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:34:10 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_the_Chicago_Bears_Were_Simpsons</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We are back with more Bears as Simpsons characters, thanks to your suggestions and participation. I think we all know what Comic Book Guy would have said about the Bengals game: Worst. Episode. Ever. Be sure to add your inventions to the comments. And now...JCS presents: The Bears as Simpsons characters, part 2.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL Players seeking revenge]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Players_seeking_revenge</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Players_seeking_revenge</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:34:10 CST</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Players_seeking_revenge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NFL players seeking revenge  Revenge may not always be the most healthy motivation in the real world, but in the NFL? Come on, you can't beat it. With Brett Favre's much-heralded return to Green Bay as a member of the Vikings this weekend (Sunday, 4:15 p.m. ET on FOX), Adrian Hasemayer runs down some of the best &quot;revenge&quot; games in NFL history.<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[50 Greatest College Football Stadiums in the Country]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=50_Greatest_College_Football_Stadiums_in_the_Country</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=50_Greatest_College_Football_Stadiums_in_the_Country</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:09:32 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=50_Greatest_College_Football_Stadiums_in_the_Country</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The college football stadium is a church.  On Saturday, we take our sins and failures and we confess them. We take our passions and we shout them out. There are rituals, sacrifices, superstitions. There is hatred of the unknown and love of the familiar.  The stadium is more than a structure. It is an atmosphere that the structure is a part of. Naked of people, it is eerily quiet, expectant.  Here are 50 of the greatest churches in the country. At one time or another, I hope to worship at all of them.<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Top 10 revenge games in NFL history]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_revenge_games_in_NFL_history</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_revenge_games_in_NFL_history</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:01:27 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_revenge_games_in_NFL_history</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Though it threatens to become as over-played as the no-respect angle, did you notice how the revenge factor was all the rage in the NFL on Sunday?  We had Cincinnati's Cedric Benson running wild against Chicago to make the Bears pay for letting him go in the offseason of 2008; Drew Brees lighting up Miami, the team that dawdled on signing him in 2006; and even ex-Raiders head coach Bill Callahan getting the Gatorade-bath treatment from his Jets offensive linemen in celebration of New York's 38-0 victory at Oakland.  In the NFL, there's no such thing as forgive and forget. Vindication is in.  Those were mere appetizers to the main course that will be served Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, where we will be treated to the unprecedented tableau of Brett Favre returning in enemy colors.  For sheer must-see theater, what could possibly top No. 4's first trip back to Lambeau, with the NFC North division race very much in the balance, the wounds of Favre's bitter divorce from Green Bay still fresh, and both sides still convinced the other side was largely at fault for the historic breakup?  Think Cal Ripken Jr. in Yankees pinstripes, strolling back into Baltimore's Camden Yards for a first-place showdown in midsummer, and you might have something approaching a comparable situation. Might. Because let's face facts: When it comes to the landscape of pro sports in this country, Green Bay is probably unique.  So it's once again Revenge Week in the NFL, and that means nothing can keep us from fixating on the latest chapter of Favre-apalooza. In its honor, we've even come up with a list of our favorite top 10 revenge-themed games in NFL history. To be a true revenge game, there had to be some real animus involved, a palpable dislike or grudge against someone or some team that pervaded the backdrop of the pairing. We're not talking about nice guy Kerry Collins facing the Panthers or Giants here. Save the mamby, pamby crap. This stuff went deep:  Read more: http://sportsillu<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Dallas' Best Football Team is Also its Best-Looking]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Best_Football_Team_is_Also_its_Best-Looking</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Best_Football_Team_is_Also_its_Best-Looking</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:01:33 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Best_Football_Team_is_Also_its_Best-Looking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Gonna spend my Friday night ogling two of my favorites: Football 'n Females.  Been meaning to catch a Dallas Desire game this season, but lo and behold they only play two home games. The last one is Friday at 9 p.m. against the Los Angeles Temptation at Grand Prairie's QuickTrip Park.  I don't have to tell you that when Temptation meets Desire, you can throw out the records. And throw off the clothes.  The Desire would get their asses kicked by the Dallas Diamonds - mud wrestling, anyone? - but they are one of the best teams in the Lingerie Football League.  I could break down the Xs and Os and tell you that the Desire is 2-0 and has outscored its opponents 60-12. But who I am kidding? All you really want is photos and slideshows of some supple, yet strong sporty skin to get you through another rainy day.  C'mon then. Let's do this ...  How 'bout a video?  Perhaps a slideshow?  Some action shots from the Desire's first home game?  Or just the greatest football card in the history of ever?<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Oops, Pow, Surprise! The 12 Worst Cheap Shots in Recent NFL History]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Oops_Pow_Surprise_The_12_Worst_Cheap_Shots_in_Recent_NFL_History</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Oops_Pow_Surprise_The_12_Worst_Cheap_Shots_in_Recent_NFL_History</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:44:41 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Oops_Pow_Surprise_The_12_Worst_Cheap_Shots_in_Recent_NFL_History</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When bodies move quickly in motion towards each other, occasionally their contact enters the troubling strata of &quot;cheapness&quot;.  It's a difficult notion to pin down, but you can bet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is holding a lot of important meetings about it.  Luckily, we can skip those meetings and learn to just know them when we see them.  Here are twelve of the worst NFL cheap shots (with video!) from the past few years. Study them well, sirs and madams.<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Where Are They Now? NFL Draft Busts]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Where_Are_They_Now_NFL_Draft_Busts</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Where_Are_They_Now_NFL_Draft_Busts</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:44:41 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Where_Are_They_Now_NFL_Draft_Busts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The NFL draft is a time for excitement and optimism, but realistically, some of the players taken on Saturday aren&amp;rsquo;t going to pan out in the NFL. What happens to all of the old bust picks, though? They don&amp;rsquo;t just disappear, and many of them are far more successful off the field than they ever were in the NFL. In honor of the upcoming draft, here&amp;rsquo;s the scoop on how some of your favorite busts are keeping busy:<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Footballa4s wounded gladiators]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Footballrsquos_wounded_gladiators</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Footballrsquos_wounded_gladiators</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:12:54 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Footballrsquos_wounded_gladiators</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What happens in a concussion? A concussion&amp;mdash;from the Latin concutere, meaning to shake violently&amp;mdash;results from a blow to the head so jarring that the brain crashes into the skull. In that internal collision, the gray matter is temporarily compressed, like a rubber ball hitting a wall. Nerve impulses get temporarily scrambled, as the thin tendrils called axons that carry signals among brain cells stretch and break. If the blow is bad enough, the person can lose consciousness, but even when he doesn&amp;rsquo;t, the immediate result is nausea, slurred speech, grogginess, and disorientation. Some 300,000 concussions occur annually in all U.S. sports, with football&amp;mdash;high school, college, and professional&amp;mdash;accounting for about a third of them. &amp;ldquo;It&amp;rsquo;s happened to me several times,&amp;rdquo; says Steven Jackson, a St. Louis Rams tailback. &amp;ldquo;Everything just starts shaking. Things just get dizzy, blurred.&amp;rdquo;  Are the players concerned? In the macho culture of sports, players used to shrug off concussions; &amp;ldquo;getting your bell rung&amp;rdquo; or &amp;ldquo;getting dinged&amp;rdquo; was just seen as part of the game. But as evidence mounts that concussions can cause permanent damage, that attitude is changing. Three current NFL players, in fact, have agreed to posthumously donate their brains and spinal cord tissue to a Boston University Medical School program that studies the long-term effects of repeated concussions. &amp;ldquo;One of the most profound actions I can take personally,&amp;rdquo; says Arizona Cardinals receiver Sean Morey, &amp;ldquo;is to donate my brain to help ensure the safety and welfare of active, retired, and future athletes.&amp;rdquo; More than 150 retired athletes have also pledged their brains to science.  What caused the change in attitude? Both anecdotal and scientific evidence. A University of Michigan study commissioned by the NFL found last month that retired NFL players suffer dementia, Alzheimer&amp;rsquo;s, and other memory-related d<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Excessive Concentration]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Excessive_Concentration</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Excessive_Concentration</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:22:30 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Excessive_Concentration</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Top 10 Football Movies]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Football_Movies</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Football_Movies</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:09 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Top_10_Football_Movies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Best/worst of NFL's retro uniforms]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Bestworst_of_NFLs_retro_uniforms</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Bestworst_of_NFLs_retro_uniforms</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:09 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Bestworst_of_NFLs_retro_uniforms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[No, your eyes were not deceiving you on Sunday. Those were, in fact, the Kansas City Chiefs wearing the helmets of the former Dallas Texans. And yes, they were playing the Dallas Cowboys. Oh, the irony. Of course, the Chiefs aren't the only ones who have gone retro NFL-style. So whose throwback uniforms have been a success and whose have failed miserably? Joe Concha gives his take on the best and worst of the NFL's old-school jerseys.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Kyle Orton Is Shocking the World]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Kyle_Orton_Is_Shocking_the_World</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Kyle_Orton_Is_Shocking_the_World</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:19:00 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Kyle_Orton_Is_Shocking_the_World</guid>
<description><![CDATA[And a hush fell over the Chicagoland area. The Broncos and Kyle Orton beat Tom Brady and the Patriots. And this time the role of Captain Comeback was played -- spot on -- by Kyle Orton, former Bear.  To be sure, Orton has been the beneficiary of some great luck and great plays by his receivers. The defense in Denver has been phenomenal. But it's time to give the man his props. Kyle Orton played an incredible game today. The Broncos are 5-0. And Orton is a big reason they are.  It's often said that if at the end of the season you're 9-7, then you're a 9-7 team. The meaning being that it all evens out over 16 games. You get some lucky breaks in the beginning? It rarely stays that way. So are the Broncos truly a 5-0 team then? Yes. For now.  Most people thought that the Dallas and New England games would start the evening out process. It didn't. That remains the $64k question. They still have 6 road games. They still play Baltimore, Pittsburgh, San Diego (2x), Indianapolis, Philadelphia and the Giants on Thanksgiving. That 5-game stretch after the bye will indeed tell the NFL fandom if the Broncos are a certified playoff team.  As for Orton, he's definitely had his share of good karma. But against the Pats he was fantastic, leading a 98-yard drive to tie the score at 17-17 with about 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. For the year he has 7 TDs against only 1 pick and a QB rating of 97.4. He's on a brand new team with a brand new coach and he has them undefeated and leading their division. He could not possibly have his team in a better place than they are now.  The Broncos and Orton are the story in the NFL right now. Will Cutler take it back next week? Who cares? As long as Cutler continues to rack up wins, Kyle Orton can have the season of his life in Denver and all the glory in the world.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 10 Least Intimidating NFL Team Names]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Least_Intimidating_NFL_Team_Names</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Least_Intimidating_NFL_Team_Names</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:05:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_10_Least_Intimidating_NFL_Team_Names</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Keep your Lions and Tigers and Bears at bay while I break down the 10 most pitiful team nicknames around the NFL.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Some black players won't play for Rush Limbaugh if he buys Rams]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Some_black_players_wont_play_for_Rush_Limbaugh_if_he_buys_Rams</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Some_black_players_wont_play_for_Rush_Limbaugh_if_he_buys_Rams</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:25:47 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Some_black_players_wont_play_for_Rush_Limbaugh_if_he_buys_Rams</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh has some Americans that love him and plenty that hate him. And the fact that he spouts such right-wing opinions doing his day job may hurt Limbaugh's chances of getting some players if he manages to buy the St. Louis Rams, according to the New York Daily News. New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka(notes) would love to play again under Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was his defensive coordinator in New York, but Kiwanuka is saying that there is no way he would go play for St. Louis if Limbaugh takes over. New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott(notes) told the paper the same thing yesterday and it seems that it may be a general sentiment for a lot of black NFL players. &quot;All I know is from the last comment I heard, he said in (President) Obama's America, white kids are getting beat up on the bus while black kids are chanting 'right on,'&quot; Kiwanuka told the paper. &quot;He can do whatever he wants; it is a free country. But if it goes through, I can tell you where I am not going to play.&quot; At this point, Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts, who is in on the bid with Limbaugh, aren't thought to be the frontrunners for the Rams.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ugliest NFL uniforms ever]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ugliest_NFL_uniforms_ever</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ugliest_NFL_uniforms_ever</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:19:51 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>balplaya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ugliest_NFL_uniforms_ever</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In light of the atrocious, horrifying new development of the Seattle Seahawks ectoplasm-colored green alternate jerseys, Ambassador At Large's blog presents:<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL Fines Sheldon Brown $10K for Wearing Jason Mask]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Fines_Sheldon_Brown_10K_for_Wearing_Jason_Mask</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Fines_Sheldon_Brown_10K_for_Wearing_Jason_Mask</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:49:47 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Fines_Sheldon_Brown_10K_for_Wearing_Jason_Mask</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pretty sure even those fans with just a passing interest in football probably thought to themselves, &quot;Yep, he's definitely getting fined,&quot; when the Eagles' Sheldon Brown was announced prior to last Sunday's game while sporting a Jason mask. Gretz even fake tweeted it (proof reproduced after the jump).  And yesterday, the Real_RogerGoodell did what everybody expected: garnished Brown's wages for prematurely celebrating Halloween. Via PFT (via ESPN's Adam Schefter), Brown is now out $10,000 for the &quot;uniform violation.&quot;<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 5 Greatest NFL Pranks Pulled on Rookies]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_5_Greatest_NFL_Pranks_Pulled_on_Rookies</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_5_Greatest_NFL_Pranks_Pulled_on_Rookies</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:28:00 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_5_Greatest_NFL_Pranks_Pulled_on_Rookies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you&amp;rsquo;ve been keeping up with the NFL lately, you probably noticed a story about Chargers rookie linebacker Larry English getting stuck with a $14,000 plus check, after the entire team went out to eat. That&amp;rsquo;s a nice little bill.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Why do so many NFL players go bankrupt?]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_do_so_many_NFL_players_go_bankrupt</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_do_so_many_NFL_players_go_bankrupt</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:12:14 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_do_so_many_NFL_players_go_bankrupt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Within two years of retirement, 78 percent of NFL players are bankrupt or in severe financial distress. Unlike Rocket Ismail, most of those players can't blame it on the negative karma associated with getting a bear hug from Michael Irvin.  How is this possible? The minimum salary for rookies in 2009 is $310,000. That jumps to $460,000 for two year veterans. How can men who earn so much have so little after retirement?  The Business Insider looked at that question today and listed 10 ways that sports stars destroy their finances.  Most of the reasons fall under the umbrella of one of the ways, &quot;Act Dumb&quot;. (These include &quot;Do Drugs&quot;, &quot;Fight Dogs&quot; and &quot;Have Too Many Children&quot;. Two outta three ain't bad, Michael Vick(notes).)  Other paths to financial ruin like &quot;Put Money in a Ponzi Scheme&quot; or &quot;Invest Too Much In Real Estate&quot; can be more about bad luck than anything, but never underestimate the power of habitually poor judgment. (Or stupidity. Tomato/Tomahto.) Case in point, here's a blurb from the &quot;Making Bad Investments&quot; entry:    Rocket Ismail also squandered a fortune funding an inspirational movie; the music label COZ Records; a cosmetics procedure whereby oxygen was absorbed into the skin; a plan to create nationwide phone-card dispensers; a Rock N' Roll Caf&amp;eacute;, a theme restaurant in New England; and recently, three shops dubbed It's in the Name, where tourists could buy framed calligraphy of names or proverbs of their choice.  That sounds like the business plan of Kramerica Industries. Any one (or two) of those things by themselves would qualify as bad investments. Put them all together and you can understand how Ismail blew through $20 million in salary. (Of the calligraphy store, Ismail says its failure can be blamed on Hurricane Katrina. The cosmetics procedure: &quot;sharks in the beauty industry&quot;. The Rock N' Roll Cafe: It being a Rock N' Roll Cafe.)  Ismail's case is more the exception than the rule though. The 78 percent number is buoyed by the fact th<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cowboys Stadium - Recent Stadium Designs That Scored]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_Stadium_-_Recent_Stadium_Designs_That_Scored</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_Stadium_-_Recent_Stadium_Designs_That_Scored</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:50:29 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_Stadium_-_Recent_Stadium_Designs_That_Scored</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Dallas-based firm HKS Architects arrived at a balance of steel and glass that's muscular in some places, transparent in others. Giant glass doors at both ends admit views and natural light, while sloping bands of fritted glass along the sides catch the sky<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[10 of the best NFL top 10 lists of all-time]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_of_the_best_NFL_top_10_lists_of_all-time</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_of_the_best_NFL_top_10_lists_of_all-time</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:55 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_of_the_best_NFL_top_10_lists_of_all-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As many of you know, the NFL Network has put together several top 10 lists utilizing some excellent video. I really haven't seen anyone do it better (they are the NFL after all!). And since I also like to do top 10 lists, and just did one on the NFL the other day, I got to thinking, &quot;What are the top 10 top 10 lists that the NFL Network has ever put together?&quot; So I checked them out, even looked at a bunch of non-NFL Network lists, and determined that these are 10 of the best top 10 NFL lists of all-time. I hope you enjoy watching these as much as I had searching for and discovering them...<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[10 Most Hated Players In The NFL Today]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_Most_Hated_Players_In_The_NFL_Today</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_Most_Hated_Players_In_The_NFL_Today</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:55 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=10_Most_Hated_Players_In_The_NFL_Today</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you&amp;rsquo;re a fan of the NFL, then you obviously have players you absolutely hate. Sometimes it&amp;rsquo;s because they kill your favorite team during every matchup, sometimes they&amp;rsquo;re just douche bags on the field or off, other times they&amp;rsquo;re just attention whores, needing a quick attention fix. Whatever their reason may be, people generally don&amp;rsquo;t like them. There are hundreds of these players in the NFL but the next 10 were voted as the 10 Most Hated Players In The NFL by our bloggers:<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Three NFL players to donate brains for concussion research]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Three_NFL_players_to_donate_brains_for_concussion_research</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Three_NFL_players_to_donate_brains_for_concussion_research</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:22:33 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Three_NFL_players_to_donate_brains_for_concussion_research</guid>
<description><![CDATA[BOSTON (AP) &amp;mdash; Three NFL players on Monday joined a growing list of former professional athletes who have agreed to donate their brains after death to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries.  Even though dozens of former NFL players have agreed to donate their brains after death, center Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, linebacker Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks and receiver Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals are the first active players to do so.  The goal of the university's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy &amp;mdash; a collaborative venture between BU Medical School and Sports Legacy Institute &amp;mdash; is to better understand the long-term effects of repeated concussions.  &quot;When you are active, your contract &amp;mdash; what you get paid &amp;mdash; is based on the perception of your health, and no player wants to be perceived as being prone to concussions,&quot; said Chris Nowinski, the center's co-director. &quot;That's why I am so impressed with these guys. I hope they are the first of many.&quot;  More than 150 former athletes, including 40 retired NFL players, already are in the program's brain donation registry.  &quot;One of the most profound actions I can take personally is to donate my brain to help ensure the safety and welfare of active, retired, and future athletes for decades to come,&quot; said Morey, who along with Tatupu has been listed on NFL injury reports in past seasons with injuries described as concussions.  Doctors see sports-related brain trauma as a growing health crisis due to the discovery of the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a number of athletes who have recently died. The condition is caused by repetitive trauma to the brain.  &quot;This is a bigger threat than we are acknowledging,&quot; said Nowinski, who suffered concussions as a college football player and professional wrestler.  Sufferers may experience memory loss, emotional instability, erratic behavior, depression and impu<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Chicago Bears: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bears_The_Good_The_Bad_And_The_Ugly</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bears_The_Good_The_Bad_And_The_Ugly</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:18:29 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bears_The_Good_The_Bad_And_The_Ugly</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As Bears fans around the country wake up this morning, most have a feeling of dread about the season in their stomachs.  While those feelings are definitely warranted after last night&amp;rsquo;s catastrophe, there were some good things that happened as well.  Going down in a game against a divisional rival like the Packers hurts, but we have to look deeper than the win-loss column (and the horrific low-lights) to get a grip on the real stories for the Bears this week.The Good  Can we talk about Rod Marinelli and that defensive line for a minute?  Was anyone else having flashbacks to that great Bears defense of 2006?  Ogunleye was flying around, Brown looked great, Anderson was stopping the run (the last two years he&amp;rsquo;s been a &amp;ldquo;pass-rusher&amp;rdquo; who couldn&amp;rsquo;t get to the quarterback), and Tommie Harris looked reborn.  That safety was a moment of pure euphoria.  We&amp;rsquo;ve all been reading about how hard Marinelli has been pushing these guys all camp and preseason, but it really showed here.Also, the secondary didn&amp;rsquo;t look bad, besides the one terrible play at the end of the game.  Afalava looked good for a rookie, and even Tillman and Vasher seemed to have the receivers locked down.  I mean, those quick slants are almost always going to succeed against a Cover 2, but overall the CBs were on top of things.  And I just want to say one more thing about the secondary: Why isn&amp;rsquo;t Danieal Manning starting?  The Bad  That first half game plan was a joke, right?  Why did the Bears throw the ball so much?  All Lovie talks about is how the Bears are a running team.  Run the goddamn ball!  In the 2nd half they got it going a little bit, but why wait?  It&amp;rsquo;s generally a bad idea to try to &amp;ldquo;establish the run&amp;rdquo; halfway through the 3rd quarter of a game you are trailing 10-2.  In other offensive news (double meaning), the offense looked like complete shit for 75% of the game.  I&amp;rsquo;ll get to Cutler himself in &amp;ldquo;The Ugly&amp;rdquo; sec<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The Unlikely Football Hero]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Unlikely_Football_Hero</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Unlikely_Football_Hero</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:09:28 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Unlikely_Football_Hero</guid>
<description><![CDATA[&quot;Yes, it's all gone now,&quot; Craig Dunn told me the other day. &quot;If you're not from around here, you'd never know it was ever there.&quot;  Dunn is the sports editor of the Logan, Ohio, Daily News, a paper with a small circulation (around 4,000) and a small news staff (five people put the paper out, covering the entire county). Last fall, when I was crisscrossing the country on the CNN Election Express, I spoke with Dunn about the town's high school football stadium, which was being demolished.  Bill Sauer Field, it was called.  The story I wrote appeared briefly on the Political Ticker and then went away quickly; there was so much rapidly breaking news coming out of the presidential campaign that the story was little more than a blip.  Yet I found myself, during the last year, thinking about Bill Sauer Field, and Logan, Ohio, and how it's possible for all of us, if we make the effort, to find the best in ourselves -- to find the best in each other. I find myself thinking about Bill Sauer, and about what that little town did for him, more than I think about almost anything else on which I reported during our long journey through America.  And so, with a new football season beginning all across the United States, I spoke with Craig Dunn again the other afternoon.  &quot;When I drive by the place where it used to be, it's not with a sense of sadness,&quot; he said. &quot;It's with pride for what this town once did.&quot; Bill Sauer Field was the core of public life in Logan. The town, population 7,300, gravitated to the old stadium on Friday nights in autumns to watch the high school team, the Chieftains, play their games.  And who was Bill Sauer?  A self-made millionaire from the community who had bestowed the stadium upon the town? A prominent local politician? A long-gone Logan football hero?  No.  Bill Sauer was born in Logan more than 100 years ago -- in 1908. From the time he was a little boy, he could not walk. He spoke with great difficulty. His parents, desperate, searched for answer<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Sinkhole stops Fulton-Alcoa game]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Sinkhole_stops_Fulton-Alcoa_game</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Sinkhole_stops_Fulton-Alcoa_game</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:56:05 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Sinkhole_stops_Fulton-Alcoa_game</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A sinkhole stopped play in one of the area's biggest high school football games Thursday night.  Fulton and Alcoa battled through more than three quarters of action, when a portion of the field sagged. Play was stopped as coaches and school officials met to discuss the situation.  The area of concern is around the 40-yard line along the Fulton sideline. It measured about 5 yards in diameter.   A small hole had developed at one corner of the sagging turf. Officials say it's an area that recently was re-sodded.  &quot;I think a lot of people are disappointed tonight. Safety of players first and foremost,&quot; said Fulton Athletic Director Jody Wright.  Wright told 6 Sports the hole is at least 15-feet deep, and may go deeper.  The game was stopped with Alcoa leading 20-7. It will be resumed with 6:33 remaining in the 4th quarter Friday at Alcoa at 5:00 p.m.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[World Cup 2010: Top 50 World Cup moments - Telegraph]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=World_Cup_2010_Top_50_World_Cup_moments_-_Telegraph</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=World_Cup_2010_Top_50_World_Cup_moments_-_Telegraph</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:51:28 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=World_Cup_2010_Top_50_World_Cup_moments_-_Telegraph</guid>
<description><![CDATA[1. Maradona&amp;rsquo;s two minutes, 1986  No player has ever dominated a tournament as wholly as Diego Armando Maradona managed in 1986, taking a workmanlike Argentina to their second World Cup title. How he did it is encapsulated in his two goals against England in the quarter finals; the first a masterclass in the art of deception - he cheated - and the second, simply a masterclass. They were the moments that made him an icon.   Related Articles      *       England's World Cup history     *       England destroy Croatia     *       England v Croatia: in pics     *       England v Croatia: player ratings     *       Five-point plan for success     *       World Cup 2010: giant-killers  Watch YouTube clip one  Watch YouTube clip two  2. Pele&amp;rsquo;s pass, 1970  In 1966, Brazil, winners of the previous two World Cups, sent a team of cloggers to England and promptly embarrassed themselves. In 1970, they made up for lost time by sending &amp;ldquo;five number 10s&amp;rdquo; &amp;ndash; Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Gerson and Tostao &amp;ndash; and playing some of the best football ever seen. Pele&amp;rsquo;s pass for Carlos Alberto&amp;rsquo;s goal in the contemptuous demolition of Italy in the final provided a fitting epitaph for the greatest team ever to grace the finals.  Watch YouTube  3. The Goal That Never Was, Maybe, 1966  Taken from a neutral perspective, the 1966 World Cup final is arguably the best of all 18, featuring a late equaliser to send the game into extra time in a six-goal thriller between two arch-rivals. Geoff Hurst&amp;rsquo;s second, England&amp;rsquo;s third, killed off the West German resistance and kick-started a debate that still rages today, and not the one about Hans Tilkowski&amp;rsquo;s hat.  Watch YouTube  4. Cruyff&amp;rsquo;s turn, 1974  There a few tricks employed quite so often on the playground as the Cruyff turn, a devastatingly simple premise barely noted by commentators in the all-singing, all-dancing age of the Premier League. It is, then, testament to Johan Cruyff&amp;rs<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[A Dying Breed:  White Receivers In The NFL]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Dying_Breed__White_Receivers_In_The_NFL</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Dying_Breed__White_Receivers_In_The_NFL</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:42:30 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>arabiya</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Dying_Breed__White_Receivers_In_The_NFL</guid>
<description><![CDATA[All characteristics used to describe a team&amp;rsquo;s anomaly that is a white wide receiver.  As rookies, they&amp;rsquo;re the type of underdog featured on Hard Knocks and there&amp;rsquo;s no question special teams is required.  Even when they are veteran locks to make a team, fans still hope that the supposedly more athletic backup will take their place.  Below are the top 10 men who have beaten the odds and given hope to the future lil gibbs wideouts.  This list only reaches back 20 years because they were a lot more common back in the day, and because it&amp;rsquo;s my list.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Chicago Bliss Lingerie Football League]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bliss_Lingerie_Football_League</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bliss_Lingerie_Football_League</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:42:48 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Chicago_Bliss_Lingerie_Football_League</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco fined $5,000 for wearing orange chin strap]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cincinnati_Bengals_receiver_Chad_Ochocinco_fined_5000_for_wearing_orange_chin_strap</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cincinnati_Bengals_receiver_Chad_Ochocinco_fined_5000_for_wearing_orange_chin_strap</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:45:26 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cincinnati_Bengals_receiver_Chad_Ochocinco_fined_5000_for_wearing_orange_chin_strap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco was fined $5,000 for wearing an orange chin strap during a preseason game.  Ochocinco first wrote about the fine on his Twitter account Saturday, saying, &quot;WTF I got a damn fine already, it's the damn preseason, this is some b-------!!!!&quot;  Rule 5, Section 4, Article 3(a) specifies that all players must wear a &quot;Helmet with chin strap (white only) fastened and face mask attached.&quot;   &quot;Im sueing [sic] the NFL,&quot; he wrote at about 1:45 p.m. ET, &quot;I am color blind so this fine is discriminating because I'm disabled in a way, this is a sad day for me:(&quot;  He also posted a photograph of the letter he received from the league.  Ochocinco also posted a reaction to the fine on ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen's Twitter account, writing, &quot;mort this is [expletive] ridiculous, I am typing a letter back to the league office as we speak, I'm fining they a$$ [sic] back!!!! :(&quot;  In three preseason games against the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams, Ochocinco has six receptions for 151 yards and no touchdowns.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[High school football player dies in game]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=High_school_football_player_dies_in_game</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=High_school_football_player_dies_in_game</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:45:26 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=High_school_football_player_dies_in_game</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Jake Logue, 17, was a lineman from Sullivan South High School, near Kingsport, TN.  On Friday night, he collapsed during the third quarter of a football game and died.  The game was suspended.  A Knoxville Fire Department spokesperson says Logue went into cardiac arrest on the field during a play around 9:00 pm Friday.  Logue was taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.  An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cowboys' video board prompts quick revision of NFL rule book]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_video_board_prompts_quick_revision_of_NFL_rule_book</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_video_board_prompts_quick_revision_of_NFL_rule_book</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:45:26 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cowboys_video_board_prompts_quick_revision_of_NFL_rule_book</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The NFL will not ask Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to raise the video board in his new stadium so that it won't obstruct high punts, and instead is changing the rule book to allow for re-dos if the football strikes the board.  After consulting with the competition committee and NFL staff this week, Commissioner Roger Goodell today said the following rule will be in effect for all remaining exhibition, regular-season and postseason games:  &quot;If a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam or any other object, the ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot.  &quot;If there is not an on-field ruling that the ball struck an object, the replay assistant is empowered to initiate a booth review, including if the event occurs prior to the two-minute warning. If, prior to the two-minute warning, no booth review is initiated by the replay assistant, a coach's challenge is permitted under the customary procedures for such a challenge.&quot;  The rule also says that, in the event a down is replayed, the game clock will be reset, and all penalties will be disregarded except personal fouls.  The massive board in the just-opened $1.2-billion stadium hangs 90 feet above the field. In the third quarter of last Friday's exhibition game against Tennessee -- the first football game in the venue -- a punt by the Titans' A.J. Trapasso struck the underside of the gigantic video screen, which stretches from one 20-yard line to the other.  The ball bounced straight down and was ruled dead, meaning the down had to be replayed. And the plunking wasn't surprising, seeing as second-stringer Trapasso hit the video board at least three times during warmups, and starter Craig Hentrich nailed it a dozen more.  The concept of a mulligan doesn't make sense to everyone around the league.  &quot;This game wasn't created to kick and throw around obstacles,&quot; NFL Network analyst and former coach Mike Martz said in a conference call earlier this week. &quot;It just has to get<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The Making Of The F1 Bread Cara4..With Bread!]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Making_Of_The_F1_Bread_Carhellip--With_Bread</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Making_Of_The_F1_Bread_Carhellip--With_Bread</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:15:26 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=The_Making_Of_The_F1_Bread_Carhellip--With_Bread</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Total Pro Sports - Much like the &quot;Sunbird&quot; lobster-racing boat, it is made for looks rather than for speed, but this F1 bread car sure does look tasty. It order to make this masterpiece, which is currently sitting in a hotel lobby in Singapore (unless someone has eaten it by now), the Royal Plaza on Scotts' Culinary Executive Chef led a team of six chefs, two artists, two technicians, two culinary staff members, and five young volunteers. The ingredients used included 15 kg of yeast, 14 litres of water, 2 kg of salt, and 10,800 ml of varnish. In the end, 1000 loaves were made of 22 varieties of bread, costing $15,000 and taking 549 hours to assemble. When you acknowledge the time that was spent making this masterpiece in comparison to other works of art like this Michael Jordan mosaic, it is not hard to appreciate this creation. It was made in support of Community Chest Singapore, a non-profit organization that channels resources to the social service sector in Singapore.<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Fake Blood Used In Harlequins Rugby Cluba4s a4Bloodgatea4 Scandal]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Fake_Blood_Used_In_Harlequins_Rugby_Clubrsquos_ldquoBloodgaterdquo_Scandal</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Fake_Blood_Used_In_Harlequins_Rugby_Clubrsquos_ldquoBloodgaterdquo_Scandal</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:08:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Fake_Blood_Used_In_Harlequins_Rugby_Clubrsquos_ldquoBloodgaterdquo_Scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Total Pro Sports - It is amazing how far some will go to help lead their team to victory.  While some would be willing to take a few punches in order to change the momentum, others have shown that they have no problem with cheating.  Look no further than Boston's beloved franchises.  In England, the notion of cheating was taken to a whole new level.  It was all part of a plan put together by Harlequins' director of rugby Dean Richards, and club physio Steph Brennan.  Richards ordered Brennan to purchase a pack of blood capsules from a Clapham joke shop.  The capsules were to be used by players in order to fake injuries during a Heineken Cup match against Leinster.  The player they used as their subject was Quins full-back Tom Williams, a young but promising player who obliged when asked to commit the act.      Willliams admits that when he was handed the fake blood capsule on the pitch by Brennan he put it in his sock and then pulled it out after a contact situation and tried to bite on it. The capsule fell out of his mouth, forcing him to pick it up and and try the whole process again in full view of the sold-out stadium and television cameras. [ThisIsLondon.co.uk]  When officials of Leinster began yelling that the blood was not real, Williams asked the club doctor Wendy Chapman to cut the inside of his lip with a scalpel.      The pantomime nature of the incident continued in the medical rooms under the stand with Williams and Dr Chapman initially having to avoid the gaze of doubting officials and find a room where they could cut his lip. A picture was taken of the cut which was neatly done and did not require any stitches.  In a hearing on the incident, Williams claimed that he was given a lucrative offer of compensation by club chairman Charles Jillings, and chief executive Mark Evans if he agreed to hide the complete details of the situation by making a &quot;limited&quot; appeal.  The offer included compensation for a 12-month ban, a new four-year contract, and an o<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lebanon's Landmine Soccer Team]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Lebanons_Landmine_Soccer_Team</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Lebanons_Landmine_Soccer_Team</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:08:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Lebanons_Landmine_Soccer_Team</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Usain Bolt would run the 40 in WHAT?! Genetically designed for Football]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Usain_Bolt_would_run_the_40_in_WHAT_Genetically_designed_for_Football</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Usain_Bolt_would_run_the_40_in_WHAT_Genetically_designed_for_Football</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:31:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Usain_Bolt_would_run_the_40_in_WHAT_Genetically_designed_for_Football</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Usain Bolt is as tall as Calvin Johnson(notes) (6-5) and he's faster than any human, ever. Thus it shouldn't be a surprise that we occasionally speculate about his NFL potential. The world record holder in the 100-meters and 200-meters would probably hold his own at the combine.  In fact, Bolt would likely shame anyone else who's ever competed. After reviewing 20-meter splits from the world championships, ESPN track and field reporter Larry Rawson declared that Bolt would run an NFL-style 40-yard dash in &amp;hellip; well, in an absurd time. Almost inconceivably low. Way less than four seconds. You can listen to Rawson right here. You'll recall that Oakland recently gave a five-year, $38 million contract to Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes) based largely on the fact that he was the fastest receiver in his draft class. He ran a 4.30.  We can't say exactly what's in the heart of Raiders owner Al Davis &amp;ndash; probably methane, metal gears, bats &amp;ndash; but it seems safe to assume that he would be willing to spend something like $194 billion over five years for a guy with 3.73 speed. But why, you might reasonably ask, is this a fantasy topic? Because I've fielded more questions about Usain Bolt over the past week, since the 9.58, than about every rookie running back combined. If your league allows you to draft anyone without regard to NFL employment status and retain their rights for multiple seasons, then Bolt has at least crossed your mind.   But c'mon. Bolt is making a giant pile of money right now and he doesn't have to deal with defenders trying to maul him. Back in April, the New York Times reported that Bolt's endorsement earnings may exceed $3 million this year and he's eyeing the $10 million threshold by 2012. That's Larry Fitzgerald(notes) money without the tackling. Bolt simply has to run as fast as he can, unimpeded. No need for LaRon Landry(notes) to enter the discussion.  So forget him and his hypothetical 3.73, fantasy owner. Forget him, Al. Bolt is a little to<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Vince Young's magic merely a memory]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vince_Youngs_magic_merely_a_memory</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vince_Youngs_magic_merely_a_memory</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:57:55 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vince_Youngs_magic_merely_a_memory</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It's sad watching Vince Young play football these days. There's no other way to describe it.  The sensational playmaker we saw deliver a national championship to Texas no longer exists. When Young played at UT, you never missed a play because you never knew when he would deliver the spectacular.  All we knew is that it would occur &amp;ndash; and if you didn't miss a play, you didn't have to rely on descriptions from friends and other writers that simply wouldn't do it justice.  Frankly, Young should've won the Heisman Trophy instead of Reggie Bush.  All you need to know is on USC's most important play in the national championship game, Bush was standing on the sideline. On UT's most important play in the waning seconds, Young scored the game-winner.  That's among the reasons it was so difficult to watch the Tennessee Titans' backup quarterback play in a preseason game Friday against Dallas. These days, Young plays with none of the swagger of the youngster who once convinced Mack Brown it was OK to be a rapper.   The Texas Two-Step? That's just a memory.  Bobby Carpenter, trying to shed the label of first-round bust, easily tackled him in the open field as though Young was just another buster playing in the fourth quarter of a meaningless preseason game. Which he was.  If the Titans have the courage to deal with the embarrassment, none of us should be shocked if they cut him.  He's just not that good.  It's hard to believe he was recently quoted as saying he would be the next African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and that he'll eventually be in the Hall of Fame.  Actually, those comments sound like the kind of empty braggadocio usually associated with prize fighting.  Young can't even beat out Kerry Collins, an over-the-hill, faux starter with a popgun arm. Do you really think the Titans want Collins starting? Of course not.  Young's failure is hard on everyone who watched him dominate at UT.  Roy Williams needed nearly 10 seconds to figure out a way to <br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[John Madden talks retirement]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=John_Madden_talks_retirement</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=John_Madden_talks_retirement</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:01:45 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=John_Madden_talks_retirement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[For the first time in 30 years, the booming voice of John Madden will not be heard during NFL games this season, but that's just fine with the 73-year-old Hall of Fame coach who retired from broadcasting in April. After years of focusing just on the game he's calling, Madden is installing nine 63-inch televisions in his office and soundstage in Pleasanton, Calif.  &quot;I don't know how I'm going to watch them all,&quot; he said. &quot;But I'm going to try.&quot;  I caught up with Madden this week to discuss his plans for the upcoming season, his thoughts on the popularity of his video game series and if he might pull a Brett Favre and make a return to the broadcast booth in the near future.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Nick Schuyler Recounts His Survival Tale: 'I Still Ask, Why Me?']]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Nick_Schuyler_Recounts_His_Survival_Tale_I_Still_Ask_Why_Me</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Nick_Schuyler_Recounts_His_Survival_Tale_I_Still_Ask_Why_Me</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:35:01 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Nick_Schuyler_Recounts_His_Survival_Tale_I_Still_Ask_Why_Me</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Six months after a boating accident took the lives of NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith and former South Florida player Will Bleakley, the lone survivor has spoken out on the harrowing ordeal of being stranded in the ocean and watching his friends die.  Nick Schuyler, who played with Bleakley at South Florida and worked as a personal trainer for Cooper and Smith, went boating with his three friends the morning of February 28 thinking they had a fun fishing trip ahead of them. But, as he told HBO's Bernard Goldberg in an interview for Tuesday's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, things went terribly wrong when they attempted to speed the boat forward while it was still anchored.&quot;It flipped,&quot; Schuyler said, &quot;and we went right into the water.&quot;  And then Schuyler spent 46 hours clinging to the overturned boat, hoping and praying for a rescue that he thought might never come, while Cooper, Smith and Bleakley died of hypothermia, one by one around him. Schuyler said that he still wonders why it was that he made it out of the ordeal alive while his friends were lost at sea.  'I still ask every day,&quot; Schuyler said: 'Why me?''  Schuyler said that as Cooper, Smith and Bleakley died, their final words were about their families. And Schuyler, too, was thinking about his family, saying that what kept him alive was insisting to himself, &quot;There's no way I'm going to let my mother go to my funeral.&quot;  Around 24 hours after the boat capsized, Schuyler -- who was wearing thicker clothing than his friends and was less susceptible to hypothermia -- was alone and his friends had died. He spent almost another 24 hours wondering whether a rescue would ever come. But a Coast Guard crew finally did spot the overturned boat, more than 30 miles west of Tampa Bay, after a long search-and-rescue mission that was the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. That crew saved Schuyler's life.  &quot;I still can't believe it,&quot; Schuyler said of the rescue. &quot;I remember being with the Coast Gu<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL suspends Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth for 2009 season - cleveland.com]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_suspends_Cleveland_Browns_receiver_Donte_Stallworth_for_2009_season_-_cleveland-com</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_suspends_Cleveland_Browns_receiver_Donte_Stallworth_for_2009_season_-_cleveland-com</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:52:23 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_suspends_Cleveland_Browns_receiver_Donte_Stallworth_for_2009_season_-_cleveland-com</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did the Browns a huge favor by suspending receiver  Donte Stallworth without pay for the 2009 season.  It relieves the Browns of a combustible public relations issue and even costlier consequences to their team salary cap.  The Browns can keep Stallworth on the reserve/suspended list through the 2009 season. He will be out of sight and out of mind. He is able to work out on his own, according to modified terms of his house arrest granted by a Florida judge on Tuesday, but the NFL prohibits him from entering the Browns' team facility.  They won't release Stallworth because that symbolic move would cost them about $7.6 million on their salary cap. That figure is derived from details of the seven-year, $35 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2008.  As a result of Goodell's suspension, the Browns will receive cap relief of $745,000, which is Stallworth's base salary.  The Browns won't have to formally act on Stallworth's roster status until he is reinstated by Goodell after the Super Bowl in February. By then, the NFL is expected to abolish the salary cap and Stallworth, in all likelihood, will become a former Brown.  The only comments from Browns management came from coach Eric Mangini, who said he respected Goodell and his decision. As for Stallworth's future with the club, Mangini said, &quot;There's no decision been made, no timetable's been set.&quot;  As powerful as Goodell is in these NFL discipline cases, he cannot retrieve the $4.5 million roster bonus Stallworth earned the day before his fateful car accident. The Browns paid half in May and are bound by the league collective bargaining agreement to pay the final installment in January.  The only money the Browns may recoup from Stallworth, per CBA rules, is 25 percent of the pro-rated portion of Stallworth's initial signing bonus of $4.5 million. That amounts to about $160,000.  Stallworth killed pedestrian Mario Reyes while driving drunk on a Miami Beach causeway on March 14<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[If I Ran the NFL|Mena4s Journal]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_I_Ran_the_NFL%A0%A0Menrsquos_Journal</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_I_Ran_the_NFL%A0%A0Menrsquos_Journal</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:59:46 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=If_I_Ran_the_NFL%A0%A0Menrsquos_Journal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Three years into the reign of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, here is what we can say about the record of America&amp;rsquo;s second most important chief executive: nothing. Goodell is so boring that ESPN has to use special cameras just to capture the light he faintly displaces in space; in his press conferences he looks like a little piece of blond fuzz hovering tumbleweed-like above the lectern. There is not a single person alive who can remember anything Goodell has ever said, except maybe Pacman Jones, and even he only remembered that thing about trying not to get arrested anymore for a few weeks.  Goodell&amp;rsquo;s major contribution to the nation&amp;rsquo;s most popular sport has been to expand the league&amp;rsquo;s personal conduct policy, using the pulpit of the commissioner&amp;rsquo;s office to hand out slightly longer suspensions than we&amp;rsquo;re used to for players committing serious crimes. While his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, was only willing to suspend a player (Leonard Little) eight games for killing an actual human being, Goodell showed guts by suspending Jones for a whole year after his involvement in a shooting that merely left a man paralyzed. That&amp;rsquo;s basically the major policy change in the NFL over the past 10 years.   The game otherwise is essentially unchanged, which is too bad, because it could use a wrinkle or two; the pleasure we get from the league has started to feel mechanical and insincere, like a weekly front-seat hummer from a rest-stop prostitute. While it&amp;rsquo;s true that the NFL&amp;rsquo;s popularity is at an all-time high, a lot of that has to do with the fact that Americans have no lives and will watch pretty much anything, even Howie Do It or The Real Housewives of New Jersey. If the NFL weren&amp;rsquo;t a bastion of extreme reactionary conservatism even more violently change averse than, say, the John Birch Society or the pharaonic dynasties, it would recognize that there are problems with the game that could use fixing. Here are some s<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NBC Sports - Pro Football Talk]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NBC_Sports_-_Pro_Football_Talk</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NBC_Sports_-_Pro_Football_Talk</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:37:06 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NBC_Sports_-_Pro_Football_Talk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A league source tells us that Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth has been suspended for the entire 2009 season.  The suspension comes in the wake of Stallworth's guilty plea to felony DUI manslaughter in Florida.  Stallworth previously had been suspended indefinitely by Commissioner Roger Goodell, pending a full review of the case.  UPDATE:  The league has confirmed the suspension, via a press release.  Stallworth will be reinstated after the Super Bowl.  Excerpts of Goodell's letter to Stallworth can be read right here.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cleveland Browns' Donte Stallworth suspended for 2009 season]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cleveland_Browns_Donte_Stallworth_suspended_for_2009_season</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cleveland_Browns_Donte_Stallworth_suspended_for_2009_season</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:37:06 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Cleveland_Browns_Donte_Stallworth_suspended_for_2009_season</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was suspended without pay for this season Thursday after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in June. He cannot participate in any team activities until he is reinstated after the Super Bowl.  NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Stallworth placed a &quot;stain&quot; on the reputation of the league and all its players.  Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol March 14 in Miami. He pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony June 16 and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell two days later.  Stallworth was given a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of Mario Reyes, a 59-year-old construction worker who was leaving his job as a crane operator.  In a letter to Stallworth released by the NFL, Goodell wrote that he didn't take into account the sentence in determining the 28-year-old player violated the league's substances of abuse and personal conduct policies.  &quot;Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man,&quot; Goodell wrote. &quot;The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.&quot;  Police said Stallworth had spent the night drinking at a Miami Beach club and had a blood-alcohol level of .126, above Florida's .08 legal limit.  Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/08/13/stallworth/index.html?eref=BrkNews#ixzz0O4xfwmWW<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mike Vick Spent His First Night Out of Federal Custody Like Any Guy Would Have: At a Strip Club in Virginia Beach]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Mike_Vick_Spent_His_First_Night_Out_of_Federal_Custody_Like_Any_Guy_Would_Have_At_a_Strip_Club_in_Virginia_Beach</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Mike_Vick_Spent_His_First_Night_Out_of_Federal_Custody_Like_Any_Guy_Would_Have_At_a_Strip_Club_in_Virginia_Beach</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:58:03 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Mike_Vick_Spent_His_First_Night_Out_of_Federal_Custody_Like_Any_Guy_Would_Have_At_a_Strip_Club_in_Virginia_Beach</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Former NFL QB Mike Vick had been in prison for 19 months before being released into federal custody in May. Monday, he was released from federal custody. What was the first thing Vick did? The former Falcons QB went to Atlantis strip club in Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to a source who spotted him at the club and a DJ at the jiggle joint who did not want to be quoted by name. Vick was partying with NBA free agent Allen Iverson, the source and DJ both said. [Update: Vick denied visiting a strip club, saying he was &quot;out of town.&quot; The AP reported that earlier in the week, he was in Richmond. It's a two hour drive from Va. Beach to Richmond.]  After getting a tip from a reader Wednesday, and seeing this post at YBF saying the same thing, we called the club half a dozen times until we were able to get someone on the phone tonight around 10:15 pm. &amp;ldquo;Monday&amp;rsquo;s are crazy here, it&amp;rsquo;s amateur night, and it&amp;rsquo;s packed,&amp;rdquo; said the DJ, who did not to be quoted. He checked with a few of the dancers about whether or not Vick and Iverson were present Monday and said, &amp;ldquo;yup, both of them were here. It&amp;rsquo;s the first place I&amp;rsquo;d want to go as a free man, too.&amp;rdquo;  ESPN reported this week that Vick will soon be meeting with NFL commish Roger Goodell about a possible reinstatement. It doesn&amp;rsquo;t seem as if a strip club visit would be a barrier to his return to the NFL - surely even the stern Goodell could understand Vick&amp;rsquo;s first night excursion, right?  We&amp;rsquo;ve long thought that Vick has done his time and he should immediately be reinstated by Goodell. We&amp;rsquo;ve been Vick fans since we covered his first game at Virginia Tech, when he memorably flipped into the end zone during a 47-0 shellacking of James Madison. We thought he was the best player in the country as a freshman when Ron Dayne won the Heisman, we thought Vick did some great things in Atlanta despite a lack of quality WRs, and we thought - yeah, we&amp;rsquo;ll say<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Battle for the (Foos)ball with a battalion of Barbies]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Battle_for_the_Foosball_with_a_battalion_of_Barbies</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Battle_for_the_Foosball_with_a_battalion_of_Barbies</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:56:33 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Battle_for_the_Foosball_with_a_battalion_of_Barbies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I'd seen pictures of this oddly unsettling Barbie Foosball (a.k.a. table soccer) table floating around the Internet for months, but figured theChlo&amp;eacute; Ruchon designed &quot;Barbie-Foot&quot; -- the game is called &quot;babyfoot&quot; in France -- was just a one-off piece of art created for the doll's 50th birthday.  Then, just this morning, I received an e-mail informing me that: 1) said table is part of the current window installation at Colette in Paris, and 2) a supply of just nine of these limited-edition Barbie torture devices, manufactured by Bonzini, a French company that's been making such contraptions since 1936, and are available through the store  (though, as of this posting, I couldn't find an online link to purchase the table).  The real kicker isn't anywhere on the table, though -- it's the price tag. The perfect accessory for your Barbie Dream House will set you back a cool 10,000 euros. At current exchange rates that works out to just over $654 per player.<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[49ers' Crabtree conducts convoluted holdout]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=49ers_Crabtree_conducts_convoluted_holdout</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=49ers_Crabtree_conducts_convoluted_holdout</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:54:10 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=49ers_Crabtree_conducts_convoluted_holdout</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The NFL&amp;rsquo;s other 31 teams often benefit from his strange personnel moves, which allow talented draft picks and free agents to slide to them.  In April, the cross-bay San Francisco 49ers rejoiced when the Raiders selected wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes) seventh overall. It allowed the Niners to select Michael Crabtree(notes), a pass-catching machine out of Texas Tech, at No. 10. Predraft hype rated Crabtree higher than Heyward-Bey.  Now the Niners&amp;rsquo; dream pick has turned nightmare. In a convoluted strategy, Crabtree is threatening to sit out the 2009 season by negotiating off mock drafts which didn&amp;rsquo;t occur rather than the real one that did.  Crabtree has decided that he shouldn&amp;rsquo;t have to be paid less because &amp;ndash; based on all the made-up, predicted drafts &amp;ndash; Al Davis made a mistake. He wants to be paid more than Heyward-Bey, demanding his contract reflect that it was actually he who was the higher selected receiver.  It&amp;rsquo;s a ground-breaking, if intellectually bankrupt, concept.  Crabtree&amp;rsquo;s camp said Thursday that he is even willing to sit out the year and re-enter the draft next spring unless he gets more than the $23.5 million the Raiders guaranteed Heyward-Bey. The news was first reported by profootballtalk.com. Anything less than that stratospheric number is &amp;ldquo;unacceptable.&amp;rdquo;  &amp;ldquo;We are prepared to do it,&amp;rdquo; David Wells, a cousin of Crabtree, told ESPN. &amp;ldquo;Michael just wants fair market value. Michael is one of the best players in the draft, and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players.&amp;rdquo;  The ridiculousness of a guy who&amp;rsquo;s never caught a professional pass deeming $20-something million &amp;ldquo;unacceptable&amp;rdquo; is a testament to the troublesome way the NFL pays its rookies. A sense of youthful entitlement combines with a flawed structure so that the unproven rookie often makes more than the veteran All-Pro.  While NFL players tend to earn their money &amp;ndash; a distu<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Madden NFL 10's Top Ten Players]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Madden_NFL_10s_Top_Ten_Players</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Madden_NFL_10s_Top_Ten_Players</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:10:45 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brock</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Madden_NFL_10s_Top_Ten_Players</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Every year there are top performers in the NFL that are given a free roundtrip to Hawaii to participate in the Pro Bowl. But before the kicker's foot makes contact with the ball later this year and the season gets underway, fans can take a look at the predicted cream of the crop through EA Sports' Madden NFL 10.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Korean Freestyle Rollerblading]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Korean_Freestyle_Rollerblading</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Korean_Freestyle_Rollerblading</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:17:52 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Korean_Freestyle_Rollerblading</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Dallas Cowboys' New Stadium Offers $90 Pizza With No Toppings]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Cowboys_New_Stadium_Offers_90_Pizza_With_No_Toppings</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Cowboys_New_Stadium_Offers_90_Pizza_With_No_Toppings</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:17:30 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Dallas_Cowboys_New_Stadium_Offers_90_Pizza_With_No_Toppings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If man were to dig a fancy pit that rich people would fight to throw money into, we suppose it would look a lot like the Dallas Cowboys' new $1.2 billion stadium. For only $800,000 you can rent a suite that doesn't include tickets to the game &amp;mdash; or food and drink.  A witness describes the crime:      Tuesday's tour took our group into a suite that can be leased for $800,000 a year - which doesn't include the price of game or event tickets but does offer a large pizza for $90 (no toppings), 12-packs of domestic beer for $66 apiece and a four-pack of Red Bull for $22, among other ridiculously priced items.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Pato and Huntelaar: The New Sheva and Pippo?]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Pato_and_Huntelaar_The_New_Sheva_and_Pippo</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Pato_and_Huntelaar_The_New_Sheva_and_Pippo</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:17:30 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Pato_and_Huntelaar_The_New_Sheva_and_Pippo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Klaas-Jan Huntelaar appears to be the first major signing Milan has made this season. And it is a great signing. In Huntelaar, Milan has gotten the perfect complement for Alexandre Pato.   One of the things that has been clear so far in Milan&amp;rsquo;s preseason is that they have had trouble putting the ball in the back of the net.  One of the only players that has been able to score has been Filippo Inzaghi, and Huntelaar is a similar player in many respects. This bodes well for the team&amp;rsquo;s attack this season.  Pato has recently come out and said that he is not strong enough to be a true center forward.  Although Pato plays very physically for his size, this statement is probably accurate.  He is a blend of a center forward and a trequartista, and he is highly effective in that combination role.   However, the closest thing he has ever been paired with to a true CF is Inzaghi, and they have not spent a ton of time playing together. Playing next to Klaas could help bring his game to a whole new level.  Huntelaar is a legitimate &amp;ldquo;No. 9&amp;rdquo; type striker. He can score with both his left and right foot, and with his head. Over the course of his career, he has an extremely impressive goal total, and he still has room to grow, as he is only 25. He has racked up a lot of goals on every team he has played for.   Even at Real Madrid last term, he managed to return from a leg injury to score eight goals in 20 appearances, which really is pretty solid. He has the potential to put up somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-25 goals next season for Milan.  When Pato and Huntelaar develop a rapport with one another, it will make Milan&amp;rsquo;s attack scary for the teams that they have to play. With the creative skills of Pirlo and Ronaldinho backing them, there should be plenty of chances for the strikers.   Klaas will score goals and take some of the attention away from Pato, which will, in turn, lead to more scores.  And while this will help to open up the attack, it<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ex-coach Lou Holtz considering running for Congress]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ex-coach_Lou_Holtz_considering_running_for_Congress</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ex-coach_Lou_Holtz_considering_running_for_Congress</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:14:00 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Ex-coach_Lou_Holtz_considering_running_for_Congress</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After earning nearly 250 wins on the college gridiron, former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz is eyeing another competition -- as a candidate for Congress in Central Florida.  The famed skipper and ESPN analyst met with top Republicans here last week and said he was interested in challenging first-term U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D- New Smyrna Beach, according to four GOP officials who did not speak on-the-record because they don't know if Holtz actually will run.  Lou Holtz could not be reached for comment. An associate said he was flying to the West Coast for a meeting. Holtz has been one of ESPN's premier college-football analysts since 2005.  Mike Humes, a spokesman for ESPN, said Holtz &quot;told us [today] that he is committed to ESPN.&quot; He would not comment on the length of Holtz's contract and did not immediately know if the network had rules covering employees who run for office.  UPDATE: Humes now says the network reviews on-air talent running for office on &quot;a case-by-case basis.&quot;  If he ran, Lou Holtz would join an already-crowded GOP primary field that includes two state legislators and a Winter Park city commissioner. Still, the prospect of Holtz getting in has Republicans buzzing about his fundraising ability and aura of celebrity.  &quot;You put him in the ring and it's all but over,&quot; said John Dowless, an Orlando-based Republican consultant. &quot;He's on TV, he's likable, the name ID is huge and people respect him enormously.&quot;  Holtz won a national championship at Notre Dame in 1988. He was head coach at five other universities, and for one season at the New York Jets. He left his last coaching job, at the University of South Carolina, in 2004.  Holtz already lives in the east Central Florida district, near Lake Nona. And though he's never run for office, he has a reputation as a loyal GOP soldier. In 2007, he gave an hour-long pep talk to Republican House members still stung from losses in 2006.  Holtz also has been a steady GOP contributor, giving thousands of dolla<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[25 things we remember about football]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_things_we_remember_about_football</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_things_we_remember_about_football</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:14:00 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=25_things_we_remember_about_football</guid>
<description><![CDATA[1. The USFL: Unlike its wayward uncle, the World Football League, the USFL had Hall of Fame talent (Jim Kelly, Sam Mills, Steve Young, Reggie White, Gary Zimmerman), brainpower on the sidelines (George Allen, Dom Capers, Jim Fassel, John Fox, Marv Levy, Steve Mariucci, Jim Mora, Steve Spurrier) and in the front office (John Butler, Carl Peterson and Bill Polian) and even a network-TV contract (ABC). It offered an opportunity for all-comers, with little egos from the players (outside of those involved in a bidding war with the NFL), plenty of offense (including the two-point conversion) and innovation (the use of instant replay). What it didn't have was smart owners, who foolishly blew the salary cap to overpay for stars and voted to switch from playing in the spring to competing directly with the NFL in the fall. &amp;ndash;Richard Deitsch 2. Over-the-top touchdown/sack dances: Why is there a push to sterilize a game that's born of pure aggression and raw emotion? &quot;Act like you've been there before,&quot; they say. You know who says that? People who have never been there. Any one of us would turn into Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens if we reached the end zone in front of a national audience. We'd bust out Mark Gastineau's double-arm pump dance if we brought down a quarterback with 30,000-plus screaming fans egging us on. The way Barry Sanders would simply hand the ball back to the referee after scoring a touchdown was so novel because it was so different. If everybody did that, the NFL would be as dull as, well, baseball. Give me spontaneity. Give me Owens pulling a Sharpie out of his sock and autographing a ball. Give me Ernest Givens' electric slide and shimmy. Celebrations breathe unconformity into a league that punishes a player whose socks are too high. Come on, NFL, let these guys express themselves. I just did my part by breaking out the Ickey Shuffle. &amp;ndash;Cory McCartney 3. Al Davis when he was a football genius: Raiders owner Al Davis takes a lot of flak for b<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL Star Antonio Cromartie Fined $2500 Over a Tweet]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Antonio_Cromartie_Fined_2500_Over_a_Tweet</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Antonio_Cromartie_Fined_2500_Over_a_Tweet</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:14:00 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_Star_Antonio_Cromartie_Fined_2500_Over_a_Tweet</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The NFL, Twitter (Twitter), and ESPN are in a really bizarre love triangle of sorts that seems to have reached its climax today.  Last month we reported that the NFL will not allow in-game tweeting, earlier today we shared ESPN&amp;rsquo;s new self-serving twitter policy, and now in an ironic twist of news, ESPN is reporting that the Chargers cornerback, Antonio Cromartie [@crimetime31] was fined for $2,500 for a tweet.  Cromartie, a local San Diego celebrity and Pro Bowler, has a private Twitter account, but he reportedly took to Twitter and bashed the food at the Chargers training camp. Rumors were circulating throughout the day that the NFL and/or the Chargers had fined Cromartie, but ESPN has confirmed the story with Cromartie&amp;rsquo;s agent.  The $2,500 tweet in question, according to NBC Sports, originated on July 31, and states: &amp;ldquo;Man we have 2 have the most nasty food of any team. Damn can we upgrade 4 str8 years the same ish maybe that&amp;rsquo;s y we can&amp;rsquo;t we the SB we need.&amp;rdquo;  The $2,500 fine is a bit of a shocker from an organization that is very forward-thinking when it comes to social media and Twitter. Last month, Shawne Merriman answered my questions about how he uses social media in front of a packed crowd at a San Diego Tweetup. And earlier in the year, I spent time with Joel Price, the Chargers [@Chargers] staffer heading up their social media efforts. Both experiences we&amp;rsquo;re incredibly positive and demonstrated that the Chargers and their players get social media.  Today&amp;rsquo;s news, however, doesn&amp;rsquo;t necessarily discolor the Chargers social media efforts. One could compare Cromartie&amp;rsquo;s tweet to an employee bashing the company they work for on a social platform. If anything, it shows poor judgment on Cromartie&amp;rsquo;s part. But, the fine does certainly make us more aware that Twitter creates a gray area between celebrity interaction with fans and the potential for over-sharing sensitive information. We&amp;rsquo;re curious<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[A Brief History of the Hells Angels]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Brief_History_of_the_Hells_Angels</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Brief_History_of_the_Hells_Angels</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:13:18 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=A_Brief_History_of_the_Hells_Angels</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A tide of tattoos, leather and thousands of thundering Harleys will surge into South Dakota this week for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, one of the largest biker gatherings in the world. The small town's population will grow more than sixtyfold as crowds of iron-horse lovers take in a week of open roads, flowing booze and hard living. The rally attracts more than its share of weekend warriors eager for a brief interlude of escapist revelry. But for thousands of members of the Hells Angels, the nation's most notorious motorcycle gang, it's not vacation; it's a way of life.Despite the group's fame and long history, there is much about the Angels that remains shrouded in mystery. The history of the gang and its current membership are murky topics, and what goes on inside its secretive clubhouses tends to stays there &amp;mdash; just as the bikers want it. The Hells Angels Motorcycle Cub began in Fontana, Calif., in 1948, at a time when military surplus made motorcycles affordable and the placid postwar years left many veterans bored and itching for adventure. A vet named Otto Friedli is credited with starting the club after breaking from one of the earliest postwar motorcycle clubs, the Pissed Off Bastards, in the wake of a bitter feud with a rival gang. &quot;Hell's Angels&quot; was a popular moniker for bomber squadrons in World Wars I and II, as well as the title of a 1930 Howard Hughes film about the Royal Flying Corps (the phrase lost its apostrophe over time). For years, the HAMC, as members refer to the group, remained a California organization; the first chapter to open outside the state started in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1961. Eventually the club grew to most states and 30 or more countries, fueled by the alluring imagery of devil-may-care outlaws making their own rules. Pop culture helped buttress that iconic image, especially the 1954 Marlon Brando film The Wild One and Hunter S. Thompson's 1966 account of spending a year with the gang in northern California. The gro<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Giants, Eli striking a long-term deal | ProFootballTalk.com]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Giants_Eli_striking_a_long-term_deal__ProFootballTalk-com</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Giants_Eli_striking_a_long-term_deal__ProFootballTalk-com</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:13:17 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>fahim</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Giants_Eli_striking_a_long-term_deal__ProFootballTalk-com</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After months of rumors that the Giants were poised to lock up quarterback Eli Manning for the long haul, it finally has happened.  According to Jay Glazer of FOX, Manning and the team are on the verge of agreeing to a six-year extension worth $97.5 million.  Glazer reports that the deal includes $35 million in guaranteed money.  Factoring in the $9.4 million in base salary that Manning already was due to earn in 2009, the annual average of the seven-year, $106.9 million arrangement is $15.2 million.  Though Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will earn more this season under his one-year franchise tender, Manning's contract represents the biggest multi-year average that any NFL player has received.  On the surface, Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth's seven-year, $100 million deal comes close, but the reality is that it's only (only?) a four-year, $48 million package.  And the $102 million deal given last year to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger covers eight seasons.  As our own Tom Curran pointed out last month, the Manning deal likely will be the first big-money domino to fall in an ongoing string of record-setting quarterback contracts.  Next up?  Philip Rivers.  Then Tom Brady.  Then Eli's big brother, again.  UPDATE:  Albert Breer of SportingNews.com confirms the numbers first reported by Glazer.  It's a seven-year, $106.9 million deal, with $35 million guaranteed.<br/><br/>2 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tennessee's LenDale White's weight-loss secret: Stop swilling tequila]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tennessees_LenDale_Whites_weight-loss_secret_Stop_swilling_tequila</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tennessees_LenDale_Whites_weight-loss_secret_Stop_swilling_tequila</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:49:08 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Tennessees_LenDale_Whites_weight-loss_secret_Stop_swilling_tequila</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Not Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem. Forget about hiring a private chef to cook healthy meals.  LenDale White lost more than 30 pounds this offseason and is in his fourth training camp with the Tennessee Titans at his slimmest weight since high school. The running back admits he wishes he understood earlier in his career the importance of being in shape.  Just how did he lose the weight? White gave up tequila.  &quot;I really got to be honest,&quot; White said. &quot;It wasn't a lot of major diet changes. (It was) watching what I drink. I was a big Patron consumer. ... That's what it was. I was drinking a lot, drank a lot of alcohol. I cut that out of my diet all the way. I don't drink at all. I cut the drinking, I stopped drinking for six months.  &quot;It started falling off.&quot;  White committed to losing weight after the Titans' playoff loss to Baltimore in January, and he was as low as 229 pounds during the offseason program. The running back whose draft stock dropped him from a potential top-15 pick coming out of Southern California in 2006 to the second round had plenty of doubters about whether he could show up at camp still lean.  Despite an occasional glass of wine with dinner, White reported at 228 pounds. That won him bets from friends, family and even teammates convinced he couldn't stay out of trouble.  &quot;I made some people upset because they thought I'd be fat coming back, so it feels good. I'm really excited about this season,&quot; he said. &quot;It was a long time coming. I finally came into camp in shape and feel like I'm in great shape. You guys, you've seen me. It's a tremendous difference.&quot;  White has looked much faster getting through holes and upfield through the first two days of camp. The weight loss is visible just from glancing at his no-longer-pudgy face.  He credits coach Jeff Fisher with staying patient with him. White backed up Travis Henry in 2006, started 16 games and ran for 1,110 yards in 2007, and split work with Pro Bowl rookie Chris Johnson in 2<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Soccer in Seattle: A New Kind of Football Team Woos Fans]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Soccer_in_Seattle_A_New_Kind_of_Football_Team_Woos_Fans</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Soccer_in_Seattle_A_New_Kind_of_Football_Team_Woos_Fans</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:49:08 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Soccer_in_Seattle_A_New_Kind_of_Football_Team_Woos_Fans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The more than 65,000 fans who filled the seats at Seattle's Qwest stadium on a recent Saturday made clear by their neon-green body-paint and their buzzing South African-style vuvuzela horns that this was no Seahawks game. They had come to see a different kind of football, the kind that speaks the word with a foreign accent: Chelsea, erstwhile champions of England's Premier League, vs. the Seattle Sounders, the Emerald City's new Major League Soccer franchise. There was no shortage of pageantry to welcome such Chelsea legends as Frank Lampard and John Terry; a &quot;golden scarf&quot; of the match was awarded to world renowned Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly, and the national anthems of Britain and the U.S. belted as gigantic flags were pulled taut by teams of field hands and then rippled up and down amid exploding fireworks &amp;mdash; all before a ball had even been kicked.  That the Sounders went on to lose 2-0 did little to dampen the game's carefully cultivated carnival atmosphere. Since its resurrection this past March (the Sounders name was first used by a team in the old North American Soccer League in the late '70s), the team's rollout has been carefully orchestrated to appeal to a Seattle audience. To play to the city's devoted soccer fans &amp;mdash; who have loyally followed different iterations of the Sounders across more than three decades &amp;mdash; the promotion effort began with local soccer clubs and blogs. Comedian and TV star Drew Carey, one of the team's owners, announced that Seattle had won an MLS franchise at the city's long-time soccer headquarters, the George and Dragon, an English-inspired pub regularly crammed with British expats and American soccer fans.  Former Swedish national team captain and Arsenal star &amp;mdash; not to mention, Calvin Klein underwear model &amp;mdash; Freddy Ljungberg grinned down at residents from billboards around town that declared &quot;The World's Game Comes to Seattle.&quot; Kasey Keller, a native of Washington state who once starred for th<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[English Soccer Legend Robson Dies at 76]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=English_Soccer_Legend_Robson_Dies_at_76</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=English_Soccer_Legend_Robson_Dies_at_76</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:59:21 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=English_Soccer_Legend_Robson_Dies_at_76</guid>
<description><![CDATA[No matter where in the world you mention the name Bobby Robson, the response is the same: a man of soccer. A man who lived 50 adult years for the game and through the game.  A man, above all else, whose passion never tired and was never defeated by culture, language or ultimately by the insidious impact of money on the sport.  Sir Bobby Robson died in the early hours of Friday in his native Durham, in northern England. He was 76, he fought five different cancers since 1991, and even last weekend, even in a wheelchair, he was on a soccer pitch in Newcastle.  Some of the great players, his players, formed a guard of honor as he was wheeled on. They thrilled him by re-enacting the 1990 World Cup semifinal, which the England side he managed lost on penalty kicks to the West German team of Franz Beckenbauer.  Each of the players still able to kick a ball played last Saturday for as long as they were able. The match was to raise yet more money for Robson&amp;rsquo;s last great venture, his foundation for a cancer research center to trial new drugs on patients in his home city.  To that end, his life&amp;rsquo;s full circle had turned from playing the game as a coal miner&amp;rsquo;s son to managing world renowned players in England, the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Spain.  He was raised in a terraced coal miner&amp;rsquo;s cottage and left school at 15. Until soccer intervened, he was destined to follow his father down the local pit, as an electrician. &amp;ldquo;My father Philip,&amp;rdquo; he would say on introducing his parent to anybody he met. &amp;ldquo;A wonderful man, he only ever missed one shift in 51 years down the pit.&amp;rdquo; And Philip would settle into the background as people either fawned upon his son, or in his time as England team manager from 1982 to 1990, would seek to tear down his authority.  It was ever thus. From Fulham, the London club where Bobby Robson started as a professional player in 1950, to Ipswich, then Eindhoven, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and finally to take o<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Vikings: Favre Will Stay Retired]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_Favre_Will_Stay_Retired</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_Favre_Will_Stay_Retired</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:30:33 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Vikings_Favre_Will_Stay_Retired</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Brett Favre is staying retired, and the word comes directly from Vikings coach Brad Childress. Childress called the Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul personally to say that Favre's reasons behind the decision include not being able to handle the mental and physical grind of the NFL anymore.  Childress doesn't regret the team's courting of Favre, however.  &quot;I just think it was a rare opportunity to explore a Hall of Fame quarterback who had a background in the NFC and in this division,&quot; Childress told beat reporter Judd Zulgad. &quot;He knows our system inside out. .... This doesn't change anything about how I feel about our football team.&quot;  Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder: &quot;It was the hardest decision I've ever made. I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable.&quot;  Favre's decision leaves the Vikings with a tough choice in training camp, deciding whether Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels should be the starting quarterback of a very talented team.<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[NFL reinstates Michael Vick]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_reinstates_Michael_Vick</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_reinstates_Michael_Vick</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:30:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=NFL_reinstates_Michael_Vick</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell today and could play in regular season games as early as October.  Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games &amp;mdash; if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.  &amp;ldquo;Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited,&amp;rdquo; Goodell said in a letter to Vick. &amp;ldquo;I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you.&amp;rdquo;<br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[No Guts, No Glory]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=No_Guts_No_Glory</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=No_Guts_No_Glory</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:30:13 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tooutlawz</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=No_Guts_No_Glory</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The legend of Sam Bradford is growing. It's nowhere near the Tebow's legend yet as people have yet to wonder about Bradford's sexual pursuits, but it's growing. And fast. So fast, that normal autograph signings, like the one pictured above, are a thing of the past.  If by chance you leave your jerseys, photos, and media guides at home, it's cool. Sam Bradford will still honor your autograph request. Just have your newborn there ready and willing to be autographed.      Bradford, speaking Tuesday during the Big 12 Conference's annual football preview, shook his head as he recounted the incident back in the spring. Like Tebow, the revered Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, the Sooners' winner a year ago has grown accustomed to the sacrifice of privacy, to a star's life in a fishbowl. Mealtime interruptions are routine.      But the night he and some buddies decided to dine out in Norman, Okla., &quot;was a little bit different. I never pictured that happening before,&quot; he said.      The mother and father approached with their son, whom Bradford estimated at no more than a couple of months old. Could he autograph the baby?<br/><br/>5 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Why I want Michael Vick back in NFL]]></title>
<link>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_I_want_Michael_Vick_back_in_NFL</link>
<comments>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_I_want_Michael_Vick_back_in_NFL</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:11:39 CDT</pubDate>
<dc:creator>assasin007</dc:creator>
<category>Football</category>
<guid>http://minesport.com/story.php?title=Why_I_want_Michael_Vick_back_in_NFL</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I want Michael Vick back in the National Football League.  I don't care if he comes back as a quarterback and shatters every passing record on the books. It won't bother me if he switches positions and becomes a Pro Bowl player at receiver, running back or defensive back or if he simply signs with some desperate team and becomes a high-paid bench warmer.I couldn't care less if the folks from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protest at every venue Vick's new team is scheduled to visit, and I won't lose any sleep if every pit bull owner in the United States purchases season tickets for the team Vick signs with and once again makes his jersey the biggest seller in the NFL.  I want Vick back in the NFL, but probably not as much as Bill and Michael Gutweiler do.  You see, if Vick isn't allowed back in the NFL, the league is telling Bill and Michael Gutweiler that the life of Susan Gutweiler &amp;mdash; Bill's wife and Michael's mother &amp;mdash; was less meaningful than a pack of dogs.  Eleven years ago, Susan Gutweiler was driving in downtown St. Louis when a car driven by a drunk and speeding Leonard Little ran a stoplight. Little's Lincoln Navigator SUV broadsided Gutweiler's vehicle, and 12 hours later Bill Gutweiler was a widower and Michael Gutweiler &amp;mdash; who was 10 at the time &amp;mdash; lost his mother.  Little, a football player for the St. Louis Rams, was leaving a birthday party that night back in 1998. When tested, his blood alcohol level exceeded the statutory level of intoxication in the state of Missouri. Little later copped a plea to involuntary manslaughter. He was given a 90-day jail sentence, four years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and the NFL suspended him for eight games &amp;mdash; half of the 1999 season.  In 2002, Little signed a five-year, $17.5 million deal with the Rams. Two years later, he was again arrested for drunk driving and speeding. He was acquitted of driving while intoxicated, but was convicted only of the misde<br/><br/>4 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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