Olympics

Radio host Paul Finebaum, a former columnist for al.com who last year wrote that Vanderbilt should be kicked out of the SEC for not being competitive in football, is joining SI.com as a columnist. He reported the news on Twitter, saying his first column will run Thursday. Perhaps his first piece will address the ongoing story involving USA Today oddsmaker Danny Sheridan, who recently went on Finebaum’s radio show claiming to know who paid Cam Newton‘s father, Cecil, so that the 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner would attend Auburn. Sheridan has refused to name the alleged “bag man,” claiming his source within the NCAA would lose their job. The NCAA, for their part, says Sheridan’s claims are without merit.

Finebaum’s popular radio show is syndicated throughout the southeast and can also be heard on Sirius XM Radio (Channel 91).

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.

After back-and-forth rumors, Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest will compete in the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Artest is still interested in playing for Cheshire Jets of the British Basketball League. If Artest really can’t dance like he claims, he will be free to play basketball by Oct. 1.

He will be joined by David Arquette, Chaz Bono, Elisabetta Canalis, Kristin Cavallari, Nancy Grace, Rob Kardashian, Carson Kressley, Ricki Lake, J.R. Martinez, Chynna Phillips and Hope Solo on the season premiere Sept. 19.

So much for getting those A-listers.

 

With Vin Scully announcing his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday night, all eyes were on Spanish radio broadcaster Jaime Jarrin to see if he would return to the booth next season as well.

Just two days later, Jarrin announced he would return in 2012 for his 54th season as the Spanish voice of the Dodgers.

“The Dodgers have invited me back for another season, so you will have to be by my side again,” Jarrin told partner Fernando Valenzuela during Sunday’s Dodgers-Rockies game. “I love what I do. It’s something I love and it brings me great joy to work alongside you and Pepe Yniguez.”

Yesterday we reported that the Baseball Hall of Fame was considering shortening its waiting period for induction from five years to three years, and we cited a story by Kevin Kernan of the New York Post, who wrote that the Post had learned this info (though it didn’t say from where). Brad Horn, the Hall’s senior director of communications and education, said Kernan’s story is erroneous.

“I’m writing to point out an erroneous report in the New York Post today regarding the Hall of Fame’s voting procedures and the five-year waiting period. This account of a proposed reduction in the five-year waiting period is entirely untrue.”

Kernan had written, “One reason Hall officials would want to shorten the waiting period is to make it a more ‘immediate’ event. There is a lot to be said for that because, why should sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famers have to wait five years?

“We’re much more of a quick-response world, and a three-year waiting period would fit the bill. This five-year waiting period was first enacted in the 1950s. Times have changed.”

New York Yankee fans can breath easy once again.

The New York Times Co. sold more than half of its stake in the Boston Red Sox for $117 million, selling off 390 of its 700 units.

The company has been reportedly trying to sell their stake in the Red Sox since 2008. They paid $75 million for 750 units in 2002. According to the regulatory filing, The Times Co. expects a pre-tax gain of approximately $64 million.

Retired venture capitalist Henry F. McCance purchased 50 units last year from The Times Co. for $9 million.

 

 

 

It’s the summer, when the weather is miserable and there’s few things to keep you entertained on a Thursday afternoon. If you live in Pittsburgh, the city elders have your malaise in mind, scheduling a noon rally in front of the City-County Building on Grant Street to honor Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward for his third Super Bowl victory for having an illegal blocking rule named in his honor for winning Dancing With the Stars, the reality TV show that’s a huge hit with women and women.

Mr. Ward and dance partner Kym Johnson will be present.

Fans are encouraged to wear black and gold and bring Terrible Towels to the rally.

“City residents and the Steelers Nation have contacted my office asking for the city to properly thank our hometown hero for once-again shining the spotlight on Pittsburgh,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

Nick Charles, the first sports anchor at CNN, died Saturday morning from bladder cancer. He was 64.

According to his wife, Cory, Charles died peacefully at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Charles was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in 2009 and took a leave of absence from calling boxing fights on Showtime. Thanks to HBO, Charles had a chance to call one last fight in March, working alongside Bob Papa on Boxing After Dark.

Born Nicholas Charles Nickeas in Chicago, Charles graduated from Columbia College Chicago. Before arriving at CNN in 1980, Charles worked in Washington D.C. and Baltimore.

 

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered another setback Monday when Major League Baseball rejected a proposed Fox television contract.

Under the proposed $3 billion deal, owner Frank McCourt would have received $385 million upfront. The Dodgers have struggled to meet payroll all season and reportedly doesn’t have enough cash to meet his June 30 obligations. Below is the statement released by MLB regarding the proposed deal:

“Pursuant to my authority as Commissioner, I have informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today in a detailed letter that I cannot approve the club’s proposed transaction with FOX. This decision was reached after a full and careful consideration of the terms of the proposed transaction and the club’s current circumstances. It is my conclusion that this proposed transaction with FOX would not be in the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, the game of Baseball and the millions of loyal fans of this historic club. Read more

Rachel McCoy, the wife of quarterback Colt McCoy, randomly called into The Herd with Colin Cowherd Tuesday and discussed the boosters that were associated with the University of Texas football program.

According to Rachel, free meals and gifts were the norm during McCoy’s time at UT:

Regularly it’s just dinner. People in Texas are just being friendly, they don’t mean anything by it at all. They don’t realize realize most of the time it’s a violation. At Texas you’re taught to take absolutely nothing, I don’t care if it’s a hot dog or soda. Read more

Detroit Red Wings analyst Mickey Redmond will be honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his contributions to hockey, an honor Redmond will receive in November during the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Toronto. Redmond, who partners with Ken Daniels on Fox Sports Detroit, began his broadcasting career in 1979 after injuries shortened his on-ice career.

He told The News-Messenger in Ohio that he was surprised by the honor.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to continue the Redmond family tradition in the great game of hockey,” he said. “My dad played in the Quebec league, my brother (Dick) spent 13 years in the National Hockey League as well, and my mom probably forgot more about hockey than most people know.

“It was really good when a couple of words in that statement were ‘for contributions to the game of hockey.’ That’s where my heart lies, so it felt really good to see that.”