Experts Archive - fly.tsn (%2)

• Fly: Playmate claims she's seen Tiger with men
  posted on January 07, 2010 - 11:47:36 am
  
  
  
  
• Fly: Tiger Woods reportedly returning for match play event in Arizona
  posted on February 03, 2010 - 12:46:49 pm
  
  

  A new report with quite a caveat ("Numerous reports, all of them, however, unsubstantiated") has Tiger Woods Fly: Shockey thinks Plaxico could return to NFL
  posted on February 04, 2010 - 07:48:40 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be West Virginia recruits?

  
  
  
• Fly: The other Manning brother's story
  posted on January 29, 2010 - 07:01:50 am
  
  
  Caught On The Fly

  Hey, didn't you used to be the best quarterback ever to have bagged groceries?

  
  
  
• Fly: A paper to follow as Favre watch resumes
  posted on January 25, 2010 - 10:13:08 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be a bandwagon Vikings fan?

  
  
  
• Fly: Eric Mangini coulda been a contender
  posted on January 21, 2010 - 09:50:52 am
  
  

  Hey defending college hoops champions, didn't you used to be ranked in the Top 25?

  
  
  
• Fly: Stanley Cup safe and sound, resting at home
  posted on January 19, 2010 - 10:42:50 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be a washed up/out football coach?

  
  
  
• Fly: Kiffin leaves Knoxville -- and Knox -- behind
  posted on January 14, 2010 - 11:36:10 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be 'Knox' Kiffin?

  
  
  
• Fly: Pats pursuing Peppers after playoff loss?
  posted on January 12, 2010 - 09:49:43 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the next coach at USC/USF?

  
  
  
• Fly: Tebow spurs Senior Bowl ticket sales
  posted on January 11, 2010 - 10:08:29 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be invincible in the playoffs?

  
  
  
• Fly: Paper or plastic? Michael Jordan doesn't want either
  posted on December 22, 2009 - 10:19:44 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the coach who would save the Browns?

  
  
  
• Fly: OJ Simpson reportedly working on play, sitcom
  posted on December 16, 2009 - 09:21:17 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be Philly's favorite ballplayer?

  
  
  
• Fly: Molina tells Mets he wants three-year deal
  posted on December 15, 2009 - 06:59:16 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the Yankees' World Series hero?

  
  
  
• Fly: LeBron James to the Clippers? Really?
  posted on December 09, 2009 - 08:24:07 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be out of Heisman contention because you played DT?

  
  
  
• Fly: The London Jaguars? Sounds doubtful
  posted on December 08, 2009 - 09:52:38 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be watching Indianapolis instead of Isleworth (for one day, anyway)?

  
  
  
• Fly: Baron Davis tweets that he'll honor Michael Jackson
  posted on July 07, 2009 - 10:15:22 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be playing fantasy sports at work instead of watching car chases and Michael Jackson memorials?

  Baron Davis says on his Twitter feed, "R.I.P To the greatest entertainer ever! I'm rocking a glove to every NBA game in honor of MIKE! Needs my fans to wear one also! Luv u mj!!!" Yeah, but will the glove be bedazzled?

  Speaking of Twitter, Chad 'Ocho Cinco' says he's going to Twitter during NFL games. "I'm going to really make it fun. I'm using Twitter during games, during halftime, after the games. I'm going to be taking it to the next level."

  Dallas Morning News scribes are wondering how Shawn Marion would fit in with the Mavericks. And worry that a long-term commitment would be troubling.

  Can't get enough sports news? Perhaps you should move to Arlington, the most sports-obsessed town in America.

  
  
  
• Fly: Vernon Wells may be part of Halladay deal
  posted on July 09, 2009 - 08:11:31 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be Jose the slugger, not Jose the fighter?

  For sale: One ace, plus one albatross. Spies at the New York Post whisper that any team lookin' to acquire Roy Halladay better be willing to take on Vernon Wells and his big, fat contract, too. "Since Wells has $107 million remaining starting next year, that's going to be hard to swallow. Especially because Halladay will likely seek a long-term deal in Sabathia's $161 million range to waive his no-trade clause," the Post scribe suggests.

  Fly's familiar with pitchers having blister problems, but he hears less about blisters on their feet. Apparently the harder mounds in MLB compared with Japan's soft dirt are causing problems for Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.

  Chicago Tribune headline: Alfonso Soriano upset over latest benching. Fly's take: Cubs fans upset $17-million-man Soriano can't play better in left than prospect Sam Fuld.

  You knew it wouldn't be long before Landon Donovan did a little backpedaling on backstabbing Becks. At least Donovan isn't denying that he said David Beckham mailed in his performance with the Galaxy last season. "I'm not going to apologize for the way I felt. What I feel badly about is that I should have been a man and told David how I felt as opposed to telling a reporter. David and I will sit down when he gets back and just talk it through. We all want David to be here. We all want him to succeed, and he wants to succeed."

  In case you missed it earlier this week, Jeremy Mayfield has company from former figure skater Nicole Bobek as those accused of messing with meth. Bobek's in a bit more trouble, though, as she's accused of distributing it. Nicole's mom, Jana, says today that she firmly believes her daughter wouldn't do anything criminal: "Did she party? Probably, yes," Bobek's mother said. "I know she's a wonderful person and she has a very good heart, and a lot of times that's been taken advantage of."

  
  
  
• Fly: Posada to blame for Yanks' pitching woes?
  posted on June 16, 2009 - 08:43:14 am
  
  

   'Hey, didn't you used to call ballgames for a living?

  Could Jorge Posada be part of the problem with the Yankees' pitching staff? As shocking as that sounds, the staff's ERA is 6.31 when Posada's behind the plate -- and 3.81 with Francisco Cervelli, Jose Molina and Kevin Cash combined.

  
  
  
  
• Fly: Is Mark Cuban interested in buying Dodgers?
  posted on November 10, 2009 - 07:44:47 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be that unbelievably good team in Denver?

  Mark Cuban is in the news regarding owning a baseball team again. This time it's the Dodgers, not the Cubs. As the Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce continues to affect the future of L.A.'s NL team, Cuban says he has heard from Dodgers fans pleading with him to buy their team. "More than I can count," he says. However, he tells the Dallas Morning News that he has no interest in buying the Dodgers.

  In the baseball GM meetings, the Cubs' Jim Hendry is workin' the crowd for interest in Milton Bradley. Spies in Chitown say the Rangers appear to be most interested but would want the Cubs to swallow most of Milt's money.

  Uniform update: Looks like Nike is taking its funky uniforms outside the state of Oregon. TCU's Horned Frogs will be suiting up in their "Nike Pro Combat" apparel this weekend against Utah. Check out those sorta snakeskin pants ... er, frogskin, I guess?

  Jay Feely's Twitter profile says, "Kicker for the New York Jets, 9 yrs in NFL, Husband, Father of 4, golfing fanatic, fishermen, Christian, with political aspirations." Nothing is more political than religion these days, and Feely is boycotting Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic because they won't mention "Christmas" in their ad campaigns -- and he started a Twitter discussion about it.

  
  
  
• Fly: Saban says he'd like to play Notre Dame
  posted on June 19, 2009 - 08:58:39 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the peeps holding Round 1 U.S. Open tickets?

  Hey, Bama fans, Nick Saban kinda wants to schedule Notre Dame. In case you haven't noticed, when Saban talks, people listen.

  
  
  
• Fly: Broadcaster Hrabosky draws La Russa's ire
  posted on July 13, 2009 - 06:45:55 am
  
  
  Caught on the Fly

  Hey, didn't you used to be the Nationals' manager?

  All baseball-lovin' eyes are on St. Louis for the All-Star Game, but not all is roses in Cardinals land. Manager Tony La Russa and broadcaster Al Hrabosky are still trading barbs about a play Friday in which catcher Yadier Molina didn't exactly break for first base on a popup. Says Hrabosky: "We've seen a lot of this and never said a word. In this case I thought it deserved mention. Like I've been told: If you hustle, you never embarrass yourself." Says La Russa: "I'm really disappointed in Al. You're making this comment so you must give it some credibility. I think it's a bunch of malarkey." (BTW, the Cardinals won Friday's game against the Cubs 8-3.)

  BoSox manager Terry Francona sheds some light on how tough it was for Dustin Pedroia to skip the All-Star Game to be with his wife, Kelli, who went into premature labor last week. Francona says, "I said, 'Pedey, look. What's the worst-case scenario if you don't go to the All-Star Game?' He said, 'Well, I'm mad.' I said, 'What's the worst-case scenario if you go and Kelli is not ... ' And he said, 'I can't go.' " Puts it all in perspective, huh?

  Don't look now, but it looks like a leaner Eddie Curry is ready to get serious about helping the Knicks. Donnie Walsh says the 6-11 Curry has lost 30 pounds. "It's definitely different," Curry said. "My body just reacts a lot faster. Before everything I did was real calculated. Now it's instant."

  Don't know Kentucky's fight song? Well you can learn it if you tune in to 1630 AM in Lexington and 1640 AM in Louisville while driving around. As college football season approaches, billboards will have radio transmitters that play a recording of "On, On U of K" that can be heard up to a mile away.

  Good to know that the U.S. national soccer team has yet another thin-skinned coach. In a chat Thursday with Brazil's president, Barack Obama responded to teasing about the U.S. team's loss to Brazil by saying, "we're not gonna give up a two-goal lead." An irritated Bob Bradley told the Boston Globe, "It's easy for him to say that. That's what I would say to that."

  
  
  
• Fly: No, no Godzilla won't go to Boston
  posted on November 12, 2009 - 10:25:34 am
  
  
  Caught on the Fly

  Hey, didn't you used to be just begging for more NHL content?

  A Japanese sports Web site, Nikkan Sports, says the Red Sox might pursue Hideki Matsui. The Boston Globe spies, though, say that's highly unlikely. The BoSox would have to deal David Ortiz to even have a good place to put Godzilla.

  Hey, Rangers fans (the Texas kind, not the New York kind), things might be looking up for you. Brian Cashman, GM of the World Series Champeen Yankees, says of Texas, "They're a team that has an opportunity to really make some noise as early as 2010."

  And from your sports gossip pages: The new love of Jim Nantz's life, 29-year-old Courtney Richards says she "has champagne taste on a beer budget." Something tells Fly that IMG, where Ms. Richards is a vice president, doesn't pay all that bad, but good thing Nantz gets $7 million a year.

  News from the world of sports journalism: Stephen A Smith announces his return to print via Twitter: "Fyi.....the reports are true. Today at 12 Noon I RETURN TO THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER as a full-time General Sports Columnist. Details later!"

  Oh, and the Huffington Post is adding sports coverage. Jury's still out on whether that's good or really, really bad.

  
  
  
• Fly: Cutler would love to have Marshall in Chicago
  posted on June 23, 2009 - 08:42:33 am
  
  

   Hey, didn't you used to be the future of the Celtics?

  
  
  
• Fly: Does Joba have any pull over Pettitte?
  posted on November 18, 2009 - 06:27:59 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be coach of the Buffalo Bills?

  Andy Pettitte's decision on whether to return next season rests with his family, the pitcher says. But that won't keep Joba Chamberlain from trying to influence his teammate and friend. "It's always worth a shot," Chamberlain told the New York Daily News. "Andy has become one of my best friends, so we pull no punches with each other. I always throw a jab in there every once in a while that I'll keep him young no matter what."

  On the N.L. side of New York, weirdness swirls around Jerry Manuel and newly appointed Brooklyn Cyclones manager Wally Backman. See, rumor has it that Backman was angling for Manuel's job back when Manuel was managing the ChiSox. Backman calls that B.S. and says he's just glad the Mets gave him a chance. Backman was pretty much persona non grata in baseball after claims of physical abuse by his first wife, a domestic dispute with his second wife, a DUI conviction and bankruptcy.

  Cowboys tackle Marc Colombo says he is eager to begin rehab after ankle surgery. He also tells the Dallas Morning News he wants to be back in six weeks and expects the team to keep a roster spot open for him. Oh, and Colombo the restaurateur likes his SmashBurger in the BBQ, Bacon & Cheese variety.

  Best headline of the day (via L.A. Times): "Who would have guessed? Rick Neuheisel has UCLA playing as well as USC." Plus, more texts from press row.

  Must read, even if it is on ESPN: Rick Reilly's column on ridiculous athlete tattoos.

  
  
  
• Fly: Devin Hester defends Jay Cutler
  posted on June 24, 2009 - 12:39:26 pm
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the guy who really wanted to leave the Carolina Panthers?

  More Bears news for you Fly readers today: Devin Hester is defending Jay Cutler, saying he's sick of hearing that Cutler is not a mature, capable leader. "If you haven't been around a person like Cutler, how could you say something like that?," Hester asks the Chicago Tribune.

  Now that the Bucks have cleared some cap space by dealing away Richard Jefferson, spies say Milwaukee's next move could be dumping Luke Ridnour.

  Hey, batter, batter, batter ... the Reds need you! But Walt Jocketty says he's not using Bronson Arroyo as bait to get that big bopper.

  Fly told you Albuquerque was gonna go nuts for Manny. But cheering groundouts? Really?

  Latest Brett Favre gossip: He's shopping for a house not far from the Vikings' practice facility.

  
  
  
• Fly: As the college football coaching carousel turns
  posted on November 23, 2009 - 08:37:26 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be a beloved college football coach?

  Which coach gets fired first: Charlie Weis, Ralph Friedgen or Mark Mangino? Place your bets now. While we're on the subject of the coaching carousel, the Miami Herald spies hear that Florida State president T.K. Wetherell keeps waffling on the Seminoles situation and might want to let Bobby Bowden come back for one more season in 2010.

  Ever wonder what former football wonder O.J. Simpson's up to in prison? Lifting weights and reading James Patterson novels. "O.J. works out every day. He's lost a lot of weight and he's in great shape," Simpson's longtime producer, Norman Pardo, tells The New York Post. "He says that's one of the benefits of not being able to go out and party all the time like he used to."

  Who knew you could get healing via text? Fly gets new-age medicine, but this is sort of different. Ricky Williams practices pranic healing. Here's how practitioner Daniel O'Hara tells the Miami Herald it works: "Ricky will send me a text message saying, for example, to work on his ankle. I visualize Ricky's ankle as if he's standing in front of me. I visualize him glowing. I make a sweeping motion over my ankle to remove the dirty energy from his ankle that's creating an abnormality and give his body fresh, revitalizing energy. Ricky could be doing anything when I'm doing this." Hey, whatever works. The 5-5 Dolphins could use some more fresh, revitalizing energy from Williams.

  The Detroit Tigers' misfortune could be the Chicago Cubs' fortune if Chicago can lure local high school product Curtis Granderson back to the Windy City.

  The L.A. Times gives us the rundown on Stephen Colbert's run with the U.S. Olympic bobsled team on Sunday. Here's how Colbert described the ride: "It felt like I was being hit in the head with ice hammers," he said. "It was like losing the worst snowball fight of your life."

  And for your Monday amusement ... where sports and Craigslist intersect: Duke basketball (language is safe for work, but might make you cringe).

  
  
  
• Fly: Wallace wonders if Artest is still drinking
  posted on December 03, 2009 - 07:00:26 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be worried about Tiger's knee?

  
  
  
• Fly: T.O. says no to Mexico during bye week
  posted on November 05, 2009 - 10:44:32 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the Hideki Matsui that some said was all washed up earlier this season?

  Terrell Owens is having a miserable season, but at least he isn't making his current quarterback miserable. He's still picking on the old one. Asked what he would be doing during the Bills' bye week, Owens replied, "I'm definitely not going to Mexico, not going to Cabo," referencing Tony Romo's controversial trip to Mexico in 2007 with Jessica Simpson.

  And the merchandising machine wastes no time cashing in on the Yankees' 27th World Series Champeenship: It paraded hoodies on Amazon bright and early Thursday. Oh yeah, there's the video, too.

  Some Colorado football fans are using Facebook to call on fans to protest the coaching (yeah, that's you, Dan Hawkins) of the Buffaloes by wearing powder blue to Saturday's game against the Texas A&M Aggies. Why? Because powder blue was part of the team's uniforms when they were horrible in the early 1980s. Says the plea: "The POINT OF THIS is NOT to disrespect the players that bust their ass many days of the week. It is to show that we want a change in the people controlling this team. Not going to the game is not being a fan. Go to the game supporting your University's football team, but wear POWDER BLUE to show your frustrations."

  A reality show starring Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian is faked? Fly is simply shocked. Rashad McCants tells the New York Post that an episode in which the Ks are seen hacking into his voice mail and listening to suggestive phone messages left for him by a female fan is entirely staged. McCants says the sisters did not have his current phone number and he and Khloe "had already called it quits" in January, before the segment was taped. Fly's still taking bets on how long the Khloe-Lamar Odom marriage lasts.

  
  
  
• Fly: Practice, riding the bench two of Allen Iverson's least favorite things
  posted on November 03, 2009 - 08:37:49 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be the improved Browns?

  

  Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton, decked out in his black jersey, rolls out to pass against South Carolina Saturday.

  Are you surprised that Allen Iverson is complaining about playing time already and pushing for a starting job? Well, you shouldn't be. "I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said after Monday's 127-116 OT loss to the Kings. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

  One thing you have to admire about Pete Carroll is his willingness to admit mistakes. And he's admitting that the defensive scheme USC used against Oregon was a big ol' mistake. "This plan in particular ... it's going in the can. I'm real disappointed it turned out that way." Carroll told the L.A. Times the complicated scheme caused less-seasoned players to play too cautiously.

  Like those black Vols jerseys? You might be able to have one of the Halloween specials. They cost the team $7,100 and may be auctioned for charity.

  Speaking of charity ... this ginormous tube slide at Bristol Motor Speedway looks like fun. It's built for Speedway In Lights, an annual event that raises money for Tennessee charities.

  Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose sees himself as a sort of Vince Vaughn copycat after his days in the NBA are over. "You will probably see me in some movies or something," Rose told ESPN Chicago after Monday's practice. Rose says he's a fan of Vaughn and enjoyed the recently released "Couples Retreat." "The dry humor. It seems like (Vaughn) is serious about everything, but he's funny. That would be me right there."

  Is college baseball ready for a Guillen? Spies say Ozney Guillen, son of ChiSox manager Ozzie, has Louisville, South Florida, Marshall and San Diego State on his short list. The younger Guillen is a first baseman and outfielder for Monsignor Pace High School in Miami and is expected to be drafted in the first five rounds of the 2010 MLB draft. Ozzie Guillen checked out the USF football team over the weekend, saying, "I guess if my kid goes to school here, I'll have to root for them."

  
  
  
• Fly: Peterson's swath of destruction extends to teammates
  posted on November 02, 2009 - 08:39:37 am
  
  

  Hey, didn't you used to be Kurt Warner? (He apparently went as Jake Delhomme for Halloween.)

  You may or may not have noticed that Minnesota Vikings FB Naufahu Tahi was unable to play against the Packers on Sunday. Apparently Tahi and Adrian Peterson were goofin' in the locker room and Tahi wound up injuring the area around his eye. Peterson did fine without Tahi's blocking, accumulating 97 yards and 1 TD at Lambeau.

  So Brett Favre emerges from his Green Bay "homecoming" unscathed. Maybe Packers fans can ease their pain by purchasing this T-shirt.

  Manu Ginobili insists he did not kill a bat that interrupted a Spurs game on Halloween. He says he stunned it. No official word on the bat's fate. In case you missed it, here's the video of Ginobili blocking the bat in flight.

  Seems odd to even think about it today, but if the Yankees don't bring Johnny Damon back, the Boston Globe spies think he'd be a nice fit with the Chicago White Sox. Yeah, Fly bets folks in Boston would be glad to see Damon shipped off to the ChiSox. He had six homers against the BoSox this year and 12 RBIs.

  Anyone out there think Manny Ramirez actually will opt out of his option year with the Dodgers?