Rutgers University Fires Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Rice After Video Aired of Him Shoving, Grabbing & Throwing Balls at Players and Using Gay Slurs

Rutgers University fires Men’s basketball coach Mike Rice after video surfaces …

The University of Rutgers Scarlet Knights have fired Mike Rice, the men’s basketball coach after a video went viral of him shoving, grabbing, throwing balls at players and making gay slurs during practice. However, here lies the rub, the incidents in the videos are not new, they took place last year. Rutgers athletic director Pernetti had previously seen the video and last Fall suspended Rice for three games, fined him $50,000 and ordered him to attend anger management classes. So why is there a difference now? Of course the actions of the coach were way over the top, but the question remains, why after watching the same video that is now so outrageous, was it found to be a ok to suspend him previously, but not now?

Rutgers fired basketball coach Mike Rice on Wednesday after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players and using gay slurs during practice.

The videotape, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” prompted sharp criticism from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and the head of the New Jersey Assembly called for Rice to be fired.

With mounting criticism on a state and national level, the school relieved Rice of his duties after three largely unsuccessful seasons at the Big East school. There will be a national search to replace him.

Rutgers fired basketball coach Mike Rice on Wednesday after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players and using gay slurs during practice.

The videotape, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” prompted sharp criticism from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and the head of the New Jersey Assembly called for Rice to be fired.

With mounting criticism on a state and national level, the school relieved Rice of his duties after three largely unsuccessful seasons at the Big East school. There will be a national search to replace him.

Some are calling for the heads of President Robert Barchi and Athletic Director Tim Pernetti.

This may be a bit syndical, but it is the truth and some one needs to say it. Mike Rice was fired because he had been at the school three years and had yet to have a .500 season. In the Big East he went just 44-51 in three seasons. Rice posted a 16-38 mark in the conference after going 73-31 in three seasons at Robert Morris. If Rice had been a successful coach, had the team headed in the right direction and was bringing $’s to the university, the outcome might have been a bit difference.

On a personal note I will say the following after playing sports my entire life from Pee-wee’s to Elementary School. High School and College … has a coach ever put their hands on me, grabbed me by the face mask, yelled (screamed) in my face or thrown a ball at me … yes. A ball at my head, no. I will also note that this coach did get a tab bit too physical with the player and cross a line. But there seem to be other issues in this incident that would not have ever been a consideration in the past. Have I ever experienced a coach ever used what today’s PC media calls a gay slur, gee ya think? I guess being told that men were playing like girls would be a no-no today as well? But of course we live in a different world today where you cannot hurt another’s feelings or make them feel uncomfortable. I do think that this coach stepped over the line, but keep in mind there is a line. Grabbing a player is hardly a fireable offense. Sometimes shoving is not either. Anyone who has ever played a sport knows exactly what I am talking about and knows that most of lives greatest lessons are taught to them in the realm of athletics.

The only conclusion I can draw from this was it was not his actions that got him fired, but the VIDEO. Let this be a lesson to every coach in a world where ever 10 year old has a video phone.

Barack Obama Booed at NCAA Elite 8 Game in Washington, DC Between Syracuse and Marquette

Just curious … what are exactly the cut backs for Obama due to sequestration, actually doing work for the American people?

President Barack Obama was booed when his mug was displayed on the huge screen at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. during the NCAA Elite 8 game between Syracuse and Marquette. A little more than have the crowd booed while some cheered after they realized the Bracketologist in Chief was being dissed. Rather interesting that Obama was booed in of all places DC. So why so many boos, other than the obvious failed job as president? Maybe because his final 4 picks, No. 1 seeds Louisville and Indiana, No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 3 seed Florida are in deep trouble except for the obvious pick of Louisville. Indiana and Ohio St have already lost, the Gators are presently losing 25-15 to Michigan. Or Maybe they booed, because if you watch the following VIDEO, Obama seems to put more effort in his NCAA College basketball picks that he does the US budget, job growth, debt reduction or unemployment. Or maybe it is because Obama has closed the White House tours from “We the People” citing Secret Service sequester cutbacks, yet he has no trouble making sure there is enough in the budget for Obama to attend a tournament game, play golf or have his kids go on multiple spring break vacations.

One would have expected a friendlier crowd for the President, but there are still several possible explanations for the boos. Obama and his White House team had supported Georgetown (Syracuse’s rival) in the past, and the President had forecast Indiana (who was eliminated by Syracuse) to win the East Regional and go on to win the national title, for example.  Or, perhaps they booed because POTUS had gone to the game with Secret Service agents while the White House remains closed to tours.

It was quite a busy day for Obama as he did none of the work of the American people, NOT! First  playing golf with his buds and then attending the NCAA Elite tournament game. What he do later that night, play on-line games with Pelosi and Reid?

Just in case some of you think that the above video is false, Twitter exploded when Obama was booed yesterday. Mark Packer, the Host of College Sports Today on SiriusXM tweeted the following. Also, CBS tweets as well that Obama was met with jeers and cheers.

International Diplomacy … Massive Brawl Breaks Out During World Baseball Classic Between Canada and Mexico

International Base Brawl …

So much for these games don’t matter as a brawl broke out during the World Baseball Classic between Canada and Mexico. Hardly two teams one would think would get into a bench clearing brawl, but the game got a bit chippy. There is nothing like a bunt single in the 9th inning when you are up by 6 to get the Latin American blood boiling. The result, a subsequent throwing at a batter and a bench clearing melee. How many GM’s and MLB owners must have had their hearts in their mouth when they saw this happened fearing an injury of one of their key players or superstars. If more of this happens, look for MLB to restrict players from taking part in the World Baseball Classic.

The seven ejected players … Team Mexico’s Arnold Leon, Oliver Perez, Eduardo Arredondo, Andrew Albers and Alfredo Aceves and Canada’s Pete Orr, Rene Tosoni and Jay Johnson. The players will not face discipline beyond the ejections, according to a statement released by the World Baseball Classic, Inc.

From the Yard Barker:

In a chippy game that had previously involved a late takeout slide and a collision at home plate, Canadian Chris Robinson bunted to lead off the ninth inning with Canada holding a 9-3 lead. Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon responded by throwing at Rene Tosoni and missing as both teams were warned by the umpire. Then, Leon hit Tosoni on the next pitch and the benches emptied.

Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves was heavily involved in the fray, seen wrestling with Tyson Gillies and appearing to suffer a blow to the head. Aceves’ Red Sox teammates were reported to have cheered at the sight of their pitcher fighting.

Former NBA Player Dennis Rodman Says,Obama and Kim Jong Un Could Bond If They Shoot Hoops … Also, ‘Won’t Apologize’ For ‘My Friend’ Kim Jong Un’s Murderous Regime: ‘We Do The Same Thing Here’

MY FRIEND FLICKA KIM JUNG UN …

File this one under why you don’t let idiots go to an oppressive Communist country and become “useful idiots” for propaganda.  Some called it ”BASKETBALL DIPLOMACY”, personally I call it IDOCY and more Dennis Rodman attention seeking behavior. What a joke. Is this what we have come to in the United States in allowing a fool like Dennis ‘The Worm” Rodman to act as an ad hoc diplomat?  Then again, John Kerry is now in charge of the State Department, I guess anything is possible.

Why would anyone take this clown seriously?

Former NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman and attention seeking whore who thrives on the outrageous recently visited North Korea and spent time palling around with communist dictator Kim Jong Un. However, after returning to the US, Rodman told reporters that Barack Obama and Kim Jong Un could bond if they shot hoops. Wow, who knew that North Korea would stop threating to nuke America and killing their own people if Kim Jong Un and Obama played a game of HORSE or played some one on one? WTF!!! Rodman stated in his interview on ABC’s ‘This Week’, that Kim Jong Un wanted Obama to call him. I almost have to ask why the media even interviewed Rodman and gave anything he does credibility. Rodman is a fool, an attention seeking fool. Nothing more. Either Rodman is ignorant to the fact of what actually goes on in North Korea, or he does not care. North Koreans are being unjustly imprisoned and they are being starved to death and we have a bridal dress wearing Dennis Rodman allowed to go there and act like this brutal leader is like everyone else. Unreal. Just curious, why did State Department allow this A$$ clown to go there?

DENNIS RODMAN, otherwise known as a “USEFUL IDIOT”.

During the interview with George Stephanopoulos on ‘This Week,’ Rodman kept referring to Kim Jong Un as his friend and a good guy. When pressed about the prison camps, the lack of human rights and the murderous North Korean regimes, Rodman made excuses and said that “we do the same thing here”. REALLY? As reported at Mediaite, Dennis Rodman ‘Won’t Apologize’ For ‘My Friend’ Kim Jong Un’s Murderous Regime: ‘We Do The Same Thing Here’.

Check out Rodman’s comments below that the US has death camps and that the North Korean dictator is his friend. Some how an ignorant Rodman is able to over look the killing and starving of people because the dude is his friend. Newsflasf to Dennis, the North Korean people do not respect Kim Jong Un, they fear him.  If they showed the slighted bit of opposition, they would be imprisoned or killed.

Rodman downplayed his trip that some are calling “basketball diplomacy” saying that he is not a diplomat while brushing aside allegations about North Korean death camps by saying “we do the same thing here.”

“I don’t condone that. I hate the fact that he’s doing that. I didn’t talk about that. I saw people respected him, his family. He’s only 28. He’s not his dad. He’s not his grandpa. He is 28 years old. He’s very humble. He’s a very humble man. He don’t want war, that’s one thing he don’t want. He loves power. He loves control, because of his father, you know, stuff like that. But he’s just…he’s a great guy. He’s just a great guy. You sit down and talk to him,” said Rodman.

When Stephanopoulos went after Rodman on not talking about North Korean death camps he said, “We do the same things here.”

A dumbfounded Stephanopoulos replied, “We have prison camps here in the United States?”

“This is all politics right? He don’t want to do that,” said Rodman.

“It sounds like you’re apologizing for him?” said Stephanopoulos.

“No, I’m not apologizing for him. He was a great guy to me. He was my friend. I don’t condone what he does. But as a person to person, he’s my friend. What I did was history. He’s a friend to me. That’s about it,” said Rodman.

Daytona 500: 50 Cent Does His Best Imitation of Joe Namath … Rapper Tries to Hit on and Kiss Erin Andrews

I wonder if President Barack Obama considers the following a “war on women” and just who did 50 Cent vote for in the last election?

This is quite embarrassing, can you say AWKWAR? 50 Cent tries to hit on FOX Sports Erin Andrews in the pit area prior to yesterday’s Daytona 500. It would seem that the 37 year old rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was the first car wreck of the day as Andrews thwarted his advance. What is most amazing is the fact that Erin Andrews was the center of a major stalking incident and well talked about and seen internet video. That demeaning situation for Erin did not seem to stop 50 Cent.  I guess 50 Cent was channeling his inner Joe Namath.  Remember years back another majorly awkward moment when ESPN’s Suzy Colber was hit on by a rather amorous former NY Jet QB Joe Namath.

Erin Andrews was out in the Daytona pit area prior to Sunday’s race. She was looking for Danica Patrick, but she found … 50 Cent. And 50 Cent is quite smitten.

Watch as 50 Cent tries to plant a smooch on Andrews’ cheek and follows her on a two-man Danica hunt.

However, the following is still one of the most awkward moments for a female broadcaster and the perils of dealing with over affectionate males. Add a lot of alcohol to the mix and we get the following.Remember the amazingly awkward moment on the sidelines of Suzy Kolber interviewing Joe Namath … “I want to kiss you … I couldn’t care less about the team struggling”

Daytona 500 Grand Marshal James Franco Disses Danica Patrick At Start of Race … “Drivers and Danica, start your engines.”

Just another reason why actors should stick to the script …

Did you miss it yesterday at the start of the Daytona 500? James Franco, the Grand Marshall of the Daytona 500, decided to go off script, added his PC’ness to the starting instruction and botched the entire thing. Instead of saying the obvious, “Gentleman and Danica, start your engines” as obviously Danica Patrick was the only female driver in the race. However, Franco flubbed the line and in doing so dissed Danica when he said, “Drivers and Danica, start your engines.” So I guess Danica is not a driver? The sad part was I actually think that Franco was trying to give Danica a special shout out and botched the it completely. Say, who was that doing the start if the race, Joe Biden?

With all due respect to the haters of Danica Patrick, she is a driver. Last time I checked she won the pole, was the first woman to ever lead a lap in the Daytona 500 and is one of a hand full of drivers to lead a lap in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. Face it folks, Danica is finally doing the job on the track and getting the well deserved kudos after having received all of the media attention for her off the track exploits and Go Daddy racy commercials.

In fairness to James Franco, the traditional Daytona 500-opening phrase, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” doesn’t really work, what with Danica Patrick in the pole position and all.

It desperately needed a rewrite and, presumably, got one. So Franco probably meant to say, “Gentlemen and Danica” or “Drivers,” but, like hosting the Oscars, this is a tricky gig. And what came out was all wrong.

When will Hollywood actors ever learn to just stick to the script, they are hardly paid to ad lib.

Carl Pistorius, the Brother of Oscar Pistorius Also Facing Homicide Charges in Death of a Female Motorcyclist in 2008 Traffic Accident

South African murder charges, keeping it all in the Pistorius family … Carl Pistorius is facing Homicide charges as well?

As if the bizarre nature of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial could not get any more bizarre? First we are presented with the premeditated murder charges against one of South Africa’s most beloved and recognizable individuals. Oscar “the Blade Runner” Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius is claiming that it was an accident and thought he was firing at an intruder who was entering his home. Of course it seems rather unbelievable that one would know that their girlfriend was in their home, hears a noise, then fires four gun shots into a locked bathroom door without first asking who’s there or first making sure your girlfriend who is supposed to be in the bed is safe. Oh well, that’s for a judge to decide after listening to the evidence. The trial then got more bizarre when it was learned that the lead investigator in the murder case is also facing murder charges of his own.

Now we learn that Oscar Pistorius’ brother Carl is facing homicide charges of his own. Carl Pistorius is facing homicide charges in the death of a female motorcyclist stemming from a 2008 traffic accident. The motorcyclist died in a hospital a couple of days after the accident.  Culpable homicide refers to “unlawful negligent killing.” in South Africa. Prosecutors claim that  Carl Pistorius was driving recklessly in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, when he crashed with the motorcyclist in the daytime. Carl Pistorius’ defense attorney is disputing the charges and claims that the female motorist rode into his client. Carl Pistorius is supposed to be in court in March 2013.

Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide over the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident in 2008, his lawyer said.

The case has no relation to the charges against Oscar Pistorius over the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.

The Paralympic star – who was released on bail on Friday – denies murder.

The charge against Carl Pistorius over an accident involving his car in which a woman on a motorcycle died has only just emerged.

It was confirmed to the BBC by Pistorius family lawyer Kenny Oldwage, who said Carl appeared in court the day before his brother’s judgement in the bail hearing last week.

He is due to appear again in March.

Terrible Crash on Last Lap of Nationwide Series Race at Daytona International Speedway Injurues 11 NASCAR Fans (VIDEO of Tire Hitting Fan) (Update: 30 Fans Injured)

At least 11 NASCAR fans were injured, some in serious condition, following  a terrible crash on the last lap of a Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. According to reports, large chunks of race car debris, including a tire, flew into the stands and through the fence. The crash that occurred on the final lap of the race sent rookie Kyle Larson’s car sailing into the fence. Kyle Larson, Regan Smith, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Nemechek, Robert Richardson, Trevor Bayne, Mike Wallace, Travis Pastrana, Elliott Sadler, Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski, and Justin Allgaier were all involved in the accident. While Tony Stewart won the race, its was little concern as 11 14 15 fans were transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, and an additional 14 were treated at the at-track care center.

VIDEO from Fox News Sports

At least 11 NASCAR fans were injured Saturday when large chunks of debris, including a tire, sailed into the grandstands when a car flew into the fence on a frightening last-lap accident in the second-tier Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The crash began as the field closed in on the finish line and sent rookie Kyle Larson’s car sailing into the fence that separates the track from the seats. Large chunks of Larson’s car landed in the grandstands. The car itself had its entire front end sheared off, with the burning engine wedged through a gaping hole in the fence. Nathan Kimpel, 24, who works at a concession stand near where the crash happened, told CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz that he saw 10 to 15 fans being carried out on stretchers. “As soon as I saw the accident I just turned my head because I didn’t want to get injured or anything,” Kimpel told Diaz. “I saw the fence separate and more pieces of car parts flying up.”

ESPN reports the following:

Sergeant John Creamer of the Daytona Beach Police said 17 fans were injured, with two suffering “major injuries.” Eleven were sent to Halifax Medical Center where one adult is in surgery with life-threatening head trauma, and a 14-year-old is in critical, but not life threatening condition, hospital representative Byron Cogdell told ESPN.

Six of the injured fans were transported to Florida Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, and are expected to be treated and released.

At least one tire from Larson’s car flew into the seating area at Daytona. Police officers and NASCAR safety officials quickly ran to the location where part of the car went through the fencing, destroying one section of the catch fence.

Initial photos showed several people being placed on stretchers in the grandstands. One woman’s leg was bleeding as she was carried away.

“Right now, the function is to determine what damage was done,” NASCAR president Mike Helton said. “They are taking some folks to Halifax Medical Center. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone they are working on.

 UPDATE I: NASCAR makes YouTube take down eyewitness video of crash.

Really NASCAR, do you really want to go there and be like the rest sports who John Q. Public have run away from to watch NASCAR? NASCAR claims they took the video down out of respect for the injured fans. BS!!! You don’t get to make the call as to what is and is not shown and only filtered through the prism of NSACAR. The following VIDEO from The Verge is still available.

VIDEO of fan getting hit by tire. You can see in this fan video the tire in the stands

Bizarre: Lead Police Investigator in Oscar Pistorius Murder Case of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is Facing Attempted Murder Charges of his Own

The murder case of Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius just got a little more bizarre. Pistorius has been charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. However, we now have learned that the lead investigator, Hilton Botha, several other police officers are facing attempted murder charges of their own. The officers were allegedly drunk at the time, were arrested on seven counts of attempted murder in 2009. The charges against the officers had been provisionally withdrawn, but the Director of Public Prosecution reinstated them Wednesday and plans to move ahead on the charges later this year. Hmm, the timing of this is rather curious indeed. Four years after the fact and following the high profile murder case of Pistorius which Botha was the lead investigator, this comes out? Interesting indeed.

As Oscar Pistorius returned to court Thursday to seek bail, the sensational case took a new turn when police said the lead investigator is facing seven counts of attempted murder stemming from an incident four years ago.

That investigator, Hilton Botha, and several other police officers apparently fired at a minibus they were chasing in late 2009, spokesman Neville Malila told CNN affiliate eNCA.

The officers were allegedly drunk at the time, the spokesman said.

They were arrested on seven counts of attempted murder — one for each occupant in the minibus, the spokesman said. They were also charged with using firearms under the influence of alcohol, and all of them appeared in court.

The charges were provisionally withdrawn, but the Director of Public Prosecution reinstated them Wednesday and plans to move ahead on the charges later this year, the spokesman said.

In court Thursday, the prosecutors said neither the state, nor Botha, was aware that he might face attempted murder charges, thinking the case had been dropped.

Oscar Pistorius Denies Murder in Killing of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp … “I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated”

This morning in a court room in Pretoria, South Africa, Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee Olympic track star, flatly stated that  he did not kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. In an affidavit read by his defense attorney Barry Rou, it stated, “I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated.” “I had no intention to kill my girlfriend.” Pistorius denied that he intended to take her life when he opened fire at a closed bathroom door at his home last week. One has to ask the following question, did he ever ask, who was there? Who shoots indiscriminately at a closed, locked door when you knew your girlfriend was in the home?  Judge Nair adjourned the case until Wednesday without ruling on whether the athlete would be granted bail.

VIDEO from ABC News

Facing a charge of premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star and one of the world’s best-known athletes, flatly denied on Tuesday that he intended to take her life when he opened fire at a closed bathroom door at his home last week.

His assertion contradicted an earlier accusation from the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, that Mr. Pistorius committed premeditated murder when he rose from his bed, pulled on artificial legs, walked more than 20 feet from a bedroom and pumped four bullets into the door, three of which struck Reeva Steenkamp on the other side.

It was the first time that either the prosecution or Mr. Pistorius had publicly provided details of their radically divergent accounts of a killing that has shocked the nation and made news around the world.

However, the judge in the case, Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair, has sided with the prosecution and has determined that  Oscar Pistorius will be charged with premeditated murder.

As his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, cowered behind a locked door in a tiny bathroom, Oscar Pistorius strapped on his prosthetic legs, grabbed his pistol, strode seven yards to the door and fired through it four times, killing her, prosecutors alleged Tuesday as they laid out their case against the double-amputee Olympic runner in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

According to prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Pistorius’ actions amounted to premeditated murder.

In a major blow for Pistorius, Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair sided with the prosecution, ruling that for the purposes of the bail hearing the charge against Pistorius was premeditated murder, a decision that will make it difficult for him to be granted bail.