Former Ohio State wide receiver Ray Small says school newspaper The Lantern “flipped my words around” one day after the paper published a story in which Small was quoted as saying “everybody” on the football was breaking NCAA rules including selling memorabilia and getting deals on cars from program supporters.

In an interview today with WBNS-10TV in Columbus, Ohio, Small said, “It’s hard being an athlete. That was basically what I was saying. (The Lantern author) just flipped my words around and make the whole Buckeye Nation hate me.”

In short, Small changed his story after he received negative feedback from the OSU faithful.

Small told the newspaper that he sold his Big 10 championship rings to make ends meet and that the “best deals” came from working with car dealerships. Among the players who didn’t appreciate his allegations was center Mike Brewster, who tweeted, “Show me a coward and I will show you Ray Small. He isn’t part of the sacred brotherhood anymore. Never on time, never accountable, never sacrificed for the team. Can you trust his word?”

The Lantern, for its part, stands by its story and the newspaper’s editor said the interview with Small was recorded. Read more

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was overheard telling an aide to ban an Associated Press reporter from an upcoming press conference after the reporter asked Ferguson a question about Manchester United player Ryan Giggs, who has been named as the player at the center of a legal gag order concerning a sex scandal.

Ferguson was speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona when the reporter Rob Harris said, “The most experienced Champions League player in the team is obviously Ryan Giggs. How important is he for the team on Saturday?”

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Colin Cowherd might not be the only ESPN personality with a television show this fall.

ABC Studios is working with radio host Mike Greenberg (and Justin Bieber lover) to develop a pilot based on his book Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot.

Greenberg will write the pilot for the single-camera project that revolves around a sportscaster who is trying to juggle his relationship his with his radio co-host and wife.

Lowell Mate and Mayhem Pictures will produce with ABC Studios.

Kobe Bryant, who last week was fined $100,000 for calling an NBA official a “faggot,” has joined his Lakers teammates to record a public service announcement urging people to “think before you speak.” In it Bryant and his teammates say, among other things, “Whether someone is different than you in race, ethnicity, political beliefs, religion or sexual orientation, words can be hurtful.” Check out the clip for yourself and decide how sincere it seems.

Next year is the 100^th anniversary of Fenway Park and the Red Sox have launched a MLB-sponsored Web site (FenwayPark100.com) that outlines the history of the fabled Boston ballpark and what plans the team has to commemorate its centennial.

Fans are invited to share stories (“Dude, I got sooo wasted during that Yankees game…”) and ideas for the park’s 100^th anniversary. For a measly $250 you can also get your name etched on a 4×8 brick that will be placed on a concourse within the ballpark. Or if you’re feeling really generous (and vain), you can drop $475 for an 8×8 brick. Bricks go on sale on April 28.

According to the site, personal inscriptions are allowed. So how many Yankee fans are gonna pony up the cash to buy a brick that reads “Boston sux”? It’s bound to happen.

Following recent criticism (ie: Erin Andrews‘ Reebok deal) ESPN announced their new endorsement guidelines for their 1,000-plus commentators Wednesday.

Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, took to the company’s new Front Row blog in order to explain the guidelines:

As you would expect, we will bring careful consideration to each situation presented and we recognize that clearly there will be exceptions. In fact, you will note one passage of the guidelines deals with the inherent differences between former coaches, players and administrators turned analysts and other commentators. Read more

Joel Feld, who was the executive vice president of programming and executive producer of NESN, left the network on Thursday after five years.

“Leaving NESN is one of the most difficult career moves I’ve ever had to make. The talent and production team – behind and in front of the camera – are the best in the business,” Field said in a statement. “The standards and work ethic they bring to the office every day made my job a whole lot easier and more fun than I ever could have imagined when I came to Boston in 2005. I’m especially grateful to the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins organizations who provided me a professional opportunity that people dream of their entire lives. Read more

In Sports Illustrated‘s crystal ball, they see the Boston Red Sox defeating the San Francisco Giants to win the 2011 World Series.

Below is the entire list of SI‘s predictions:

A mere two months after ESPN crossed the 100 million subscriber mark, ESPN2 will cross the hurdle on April 1. Starting Friday ESPPN2 will be available in 100,004,000 homes, just shy of the bigger sibling’s 100,122,000 homes.

Of course, ESPN has a much higher subscription fee, which helps explain why it’s distribution has slowed, while ESPN2′s has soared. ESPN brings in over $4 per subscriber per month, while ESPN2 brings in around $054 per month, according to SNL Kagan.

ESPN2 is the hub of much of ESPN’s NASCAR coverage, as well as its tennis coverage.

World Wrestling Entertainment announcer Michael Cole tweeted a homophobic slur to colleague Josh Matthews, less than two weeks after the company announced a partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Cole deleted the tweet and issued an apology via his Twitter account. “I apologize to any and all who were offended by my tweet toward young Josh Mathews,” Cole tweeted. “It was obviously not meant the way it was taken. I was not ordered to apologize I said I am sorry because I am. Now can I get back to being a character again please?” Read more