NHL to Add Six Outdoor Games to 2013-2014 Season?

Originally reported by TSN's Darren Dreger, the National Hockey League is rumored to incorporate up to six outdoor games next season.  If the rumors prove to be true, the outdoor games will kick off with the NHL fan favorite Winter Classic event.  Due to the lockout, this annual game was cancelled for the 2012-2013 season earlier this year.  The 2014 Winter Classic will feature Toronto vs. Detroit at Michigan Stadium.  The  outdoor schedule would conclude with the Heritage Classic, which is expected to take place at BC Place and feature Ottawa vs. Vancouver.  Other teams expected to have a hand in the outdoor games include Anaheim, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Chicago, Pittsburgh and both New York teams.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/16/report-there-could-be-up-to-six-outdoor-games-next-season/related/

BaseBrawling in San Diego

Last night, in San Diego, the Padres hosted division rival, Los Angeles Dodgers. In the sixth inning, on a 3-2 count, to Padres slugger, Carlos Quentin, Dodgers pitcher, Zack Greinke lost control of a pitch and plunked Quentin in the left arm. The two players have had a history going back to their days in the American League Central Division, along with Quentin's notoriety for getting hit by pitches frequently. Greinke shot some unknown words at Quentin after the pitch resulting in Quentin's charging the mound and slamming into Greinke with his shoulder. The act resulted in a bench-clearing brawl and multiple ejections from both teams. When the dust was settled though, there was a bigger problem, Greinke suffered a broken collar bone on the initial hit from Quentin, and most likely will be out at least 2 months waiting for it to heal.
Dodgers coach, Don Mattingly brought up an idea after the game, an idea I found very interesting but one that could never happen. He suggested that Quentin should be suspended until Greinke is healed and able to pitch again, though the league will probably give Quentin somewhere in the range of a 2-4 game suspension.
But just imagine if that's the way things went. If there was an intentional hit on a player resulting in an injury, the suspension wouldn't be dealt out by the league, but instead the amount of time the injured player takes to come back. The extreme though could be a little too extreme. Think if someone intentionally hit Derrick Rose, causing his season-ending ACL tear. That player would still be out because Rose is taking so long to get himself prepared to return. Maybe leagues should look into this, and the severity of the injury dished out, results in how many games the aggressor would miss. Maybe the ACL tear isn't a good example, because of the usual self-injuring it comes from.
Let's look at the NFL quickly. Remember all of the hits that Austin Collie took the last few years, causing him to miss an entire season. What if every one of the defenders who lowered the crown of their helmet and hit Collie head on received half-season suspensions instead of fines in response to Collie missing an entire year. Could this be something leagues look into for the future? Maybe this could be the way that leagues, especially the MLB and NFL, can cut back on these occurrences in their respective sports.
Just something to think about.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/greinke-breaks-collarbone-brawl-padres-164135275--mlb.html

By Joe Palagonia

Whose got Rice?

Talk about treading deep water, and then drowning in it. Former Rutgers Coach Mike Rice has found himself in the hot seat once again as allegations that his behavior at Robert Morris University, his coaching position prior to Rutgers, was less than stellar. Reports that he used homophobic slurs and got into a physical altercation with a former player surfaced when a former player confronted the administration. That former player denies any wrong doing on Rice's part, but at this point, the damage has been done. Robert Morris conducted it's own internal investigation and found no evidence of wrong doing; however, it was confirmed that a player did leave Robert Morris during Rice's tenure, citing his behavior. Do you think he doesn't like Rice, or he is not a fan of getting yelled at and physically abused. Even Kobe Bryant said he would not take that from anyone and he's, well...Kobe.

UConn Women Defeat Louisville in NCAA Final

Last night, freshman Breanna Stewart led the UConn Huskies to their eighth national championship, defeating Louisville 93-60.  After missing the title game over the last two years, coach Geno Auriemma finally tied the renowned Pat Summit for the most NCAA championships in women's basketball history.  Stewart, with 23 points in title game, was awarded the Most Outstanding Player honors for the final four---only the fourth freshman to do so in the tournament's history.  This win was especially unique for the Huskies, as this was the first time that UConn failed to win a regular season or Big East tournament championship in conjunction with the NCAA title.  Congratulations to the Huskies and coach Auriemma!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/uconn-races-48-29-halftime-014928892--ncaaw.html

BMX and 3- on- 3 Basketball to be Potential Olympic Sports

There seems to be something wrong that basketball is already an Olympic sport yet 3-on-3 basketball is in the discussion to be added. If a sport such as wrestling that has been in the games since 708 B.C. has been dropped, how can the committee look to add another version of a sport that is already in the games. On another note, the United States already dominates  with elite athletes such as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant already playing on the same team. If 3-on-3 basketball is added, it almost seems as if the competition will not be close to fair when looking at the possible teams the United States could create. BMX and other extreme sports have taken off in popularity over the last decade. The case for this sport to enter the Olympics is slightly more convincing because we have never seen anything like it before. An issue with adding the sport is that BMX, moto-cross, and similar sports are all featured and highlighted in the X-games. This type of event draws a relatively large crowd because an element of exclusivity exits with such sports rarely aired on T.V. There is a chance this sport could take off with being added into the Olympics but I believe it will largely depend on the interest other countries have in it. 

http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/09/ioc-discussing-new-disciplines-for-rio/related/

-Erika Schmid

No Warm Welcome in Texas for Josh Hamilton

For the first time as a member of the Angels, Josh Hamilton returned to his old stomping grounds over the weekend. Throughout the course of the offseason, even turning up the dial in spring training, the former No.1 overall pick made a number of controversial comments regarding the Rangers, and their fans in particular. Hamilton even came out and said that his wife had to call security for the opening game of the series. However, his performance over the weekend didn't quite live up to the lofty standards of his mouth. Before a 3-5 game on Sunday, Hamilton was 0-8 with four strikeouts over the first two games of the series. Not exactly the way he envisioned his return to Texas. Running your mouth beforehand doesn't always pay dividends.

-Joe Fitzhenry

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/josh-hamilton-anaheim-angels-zings-and-misses-in-texas-return-john-farrell-boston-red-sox-toronto-blue-jays-040713

Costa Rica Asks for Rematch 

Last week the soccer game between the United States and Costa Rica was played in anything but the ordinary environment. In what is being declared "The Snow Globe Game", Costa Rica is protesting the conditions and asking for the qualifying match to be replayed. The game was more than just a friendly but soccer is typically an outdoor sport and should be treated as one. In baseball, lacrosse, and other outdoor sports, weather is a factor that athletes should expect to deal with and be comfortable to play in under any circumstances. Soccer already faces criticism as being labeled a "soft" sport in comparison to football and other high contact sports; this game does not help the cause. The game has referees for a reason and if their discretion does not permit any form of delay or rescheduling for weather conditions, then players should continue to play. While a protest has been issued, I believe the U.S.A victory should stand to set a precedent for the sport.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/costa-rica-us-rematch-world-cup-qualifier-snow-game_n_2949977.html

- Erika Schmid

Johan Santana to Miss Entire 2013 Season After Shoulder Surgery

New York Mets' ace, Johan Santana, received surgery on his left shoulder, after tearing the anterior capsule in it for the second time in three years. Santana, who's season also ended early last year had a 6-9 record while posting a 4.85 ERA. After missing the entire 2011 season with the same injury and procedure, Santana will have to show extreme perseverance to try to return to the MLB, if he even tries to return at all. This also means that Santana has most likely has thrown his last pitch in a New York Mets uniform. The pitcher, who is owed 25.5 million dollars this season, has not been the pitcher the Mets had hoped he'd be when they signed him to that 6-year 137.5 million dollar contract. After bringing home two American League Cy Young awards with the Minnesota Twins, Santana has not been the superstar in New York. As a Mets fan, I feel like Santana's tenure with the blue and orange could only receive an "incomplete", with his only true accomplishment locking up the first no-hitter in franchise history, on June 1, 2012. Here's wishing the best to Santana, and that one of the best pitchers of the past decade doesn't have to go out like this.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130329/johan-santana-mets-shoulder.ap/?sct=hp_t2_a10&eref=sihp

By Joe Palagonia

Do the Schimmel Shake!

If you claim to hear of the Schimmel sisters, you are either one of two things: related to them by blood, or a die-hard Louisville Cardinal fan. The Schimmel sisters are big topics in the media recently as their Louisville Cardinals have made headlines recently for upsetting #1 overall seed Baylor Bears in the Women’s Basketball NCAA Tournament.  How does one defeat Baylor, spear headed by 6’8 Brittney Griner? Well for starters, you have to literally shoot lights out during the game, which the Cardinal were able to do, shooting 64% from long distance throughout the game, and collapsing on Griner defensively. Baylor Head Coach Kim Mulkey wasn’t pleased with the officials throughout the contest, even at one point turning the side line into an aggressive fashion show, as she reacted to a call that she did not agree with. Regardless, Shoni and Jude Schimmel are the talk of Women’s Basketball right now, as they did what was considered unbeatable this season: defeat the defending National Champions Baylor Bears. The highlight of the game to us;however, was a sweet behind the back move by Shoni Schimmel in which she got fouled, and then stood up to Brittney Griners waist and tried to stare her down. 2 more points to Shoni Schimmel. 

-Mike 

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/tournament/2013/story/_/id/9119261/women-ncaa-tournament-2013-louisville-cardinals-stun-baylor-lady-bears-game-biggest-upset